SELF-SEALING MALE LUER CONNECTOR WITH MULTIPLE SEALS

• US 20110257607A1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: WHITLEY, KENNETH
• Granted Patent: US 8,241,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/246
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/261 where the fluid space within the valve is increasing upon disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/263 where the fluid space within the valve is decreasing upon disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/267 having a sealing sleeve around a tubular or solid stem portion of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/268 wherein the stem portion is moved for opening and closing the valve, e.g. by translation, rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/045 pre-slit to be pierced by blunt instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24

Abstract

A self-sealing male Luer connector attaches to any standard female Luer valve to open a flow channel between the two. The self-sealing male Luer connector includes a rigid housing having a distal end with a rigid male Luer connector and a proximal end at which a proximal seal is formed. The distal end of the housing includes a valve seat. Located within the housing is a resilient biasing member that biases an actuator into contact with the valve seat to prevent fluid flow through the male connector. Upon engagement with a female connector, the actuator is moved in the proximal direction to open the distal valve and then the proximal seal. A partial vacuum is formed within the male connector upon disengagement with the female connector that draws any fluids on the external surface of the distal end of the male Luer connector into the male tip.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A method of engaging a male connector with a female connector, comprising:

inserting a tubular male portion of the male connector into the female connector, the male connector having a distal end at which the male portion is located and a proximal end;

moving an actuator positioned within the tubular male portion in a proximal direction as the male portion and female connector are engaged;

opening a distal valve located at the distal end of the male connector and a proximal valve located at the proximal end of the male connector with the actuator as the actuator is being moved in the proximal direction;

disengaging the tubular male portion of the male connector from the female connector;

moving the actuator in a distal direction as the male portion and female connector are disengaged; and

closing the proximal and distal valves as the actuator is being moved in the proximal direction.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of piercing a proximal seal that forms the proximal valve with a piercing element that forms a part of the actuator.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of opening the distal and proximal valves comprises opening first the distal valve and then opening the proximal valve.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of closing the proximal and distal valves comprises closing first the proximal valve and then closing the distal valve.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of closing the proximal and distal valves comprises:

closing first the proximal valve;

producing within the housing a partial vacuum at the distal end of the housing;

drawing fluid residing on an outer distal surface of the housing into the housing with the partial vacuum; and

then closing the distal valve.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of producing the partial vacuum comprises allowing an internal resilient member to bias the actuator toward the distal end of the housing thereby increasing the volume inside the resilient member as such movement of the actuator toward the distal end occurs thereby creating the partial vacuum within the housing to draw fluid into the housing.