LUER ACTIVATED DEVICE WITH VALVE ELEMENT UNDER TENSION
First Claim
1. A medical valve for the bi-directional transfer of fluid comprising:
- a valve housing having an inlet adapted for receiving a male luer, an outlet and a passageway therethrough; and
a fluid flow controller received within the valve housing, said fluid flow controller havinga valve element fixedly attached to said inlet, said valve element having a resealable aperture for receiving a male luer and sealing the inlet, andan extending portion extending away from the valve element and fixedly attached to said outlet, said extending portion defining a fluid flow path in communication with said aperture and said outlet, wherein said fluid flow controller is maintained in a tensioned state within the valve housing and insertion of a male luer into the inlet decreases the tension in at least a portion of the fluid flow controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A luer activated device includes an inlet adapted to receive a male luer, an outlet associable with a fluid flow system, and a fluid flow path therebetween. The flow path is defined by an elastomeric flow controller extending between the inlet and outlet and maintained in a tensioned state. When a male luer is inserted into the inlet, some of the tension in the flow controller is relieved, allowing the flow path to deform and change in volume. The flow path is adapted such that the change in volume results in no net fluid displacement or minimal positive fluid displacement when the male luer is inserted into the inlet. Other aspects include tensioned flow controllers having a plurality of sealing layers for the inlet and methods of manufacturing valves having a tensioned fluid flow controller.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A medical valve for the bi-directional transfer of fluid comprising:
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a valve housing having an inlet adapted for receiving a male luer, an outlet and a passageway therethrough; and a fluid flow controller received within the valve housing, said fluid flow controller having a valve element fixedly attached to said inlet, said valve element having a resealable aperture for receiving a male luer and sealing the inlet, and an extending portion extending away from the valve element and fixedly attached to said outlet, said extending portion defining a fluid flow path in communication with said aperture and said outlet, wherein said fluid flow controller is maintained in a tensioned state within the valve housing and insertion of a male luer into the inlet decreases the tension in at least a portion of the fluid flow controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A medical valve comprising:
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a valve housing having an inlet adapted for receiving a male luer; and a fluid flow controller associated with the valve housing, said fluid flow controller having a valve element fixedly attached to said inlet in a tensioned state, said valve element having a first sealing layer defining a first resealable aperture, a second sealing layer defining a second resealable aperture, and a channel therebetween and in communication with said apertures, wherein said channel is substantially closed in the tensioned state and open in an untensioned state. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification