Connector for Fluid Communication

• US 20140150925A1
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Co Ltd (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Co Ltd (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Sjgren, Jesper, Ullman, Fredrik
• Granted Patent: US 9,724,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/94
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2051 having tap means, e.g. tap means activated by sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2055 having gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003

Abstract

A fluid connector for selectively establishing fluid communication between a first medical container and a second medical container is provided. The fluid connector includes an adapter configured to removably attach to the first container. The adapter includes an access port and a cap. The connector further includes an outer sleeve connected to the adapter and a tubular body retained at least partially within the outer sleeve. The body has a proximal end connected to the adapter and a distal end connected to the second container. The fluid connector is transitionable from a first position in which the first container and the second container are in fluid isolation to a second position in which the first container and the second container are in fluid communication. At least a portion of the cap of the adapter is retained within the outer sleeve.

Claims

1. A fluid connector comprising:

an adapter configured to removably attach to a first container, the adapter comprising an access port and a cap;

an outer sleeve connected to the adapter; and

a tubular body retained at least partially within the outer sleeve, the body having a proximal end connected to the adapter and a distal end connected to a second container,

wherein the fluid connector is transitionable from a first position in which the first container and the second container are in fluid isolation to a second position in which the first container and the second container are in fluid communication, and

wherein at least a portion of the cap of the adapter is retained within the outer sleeve.

2. The fluid connector of claim 1, wherein a portion of the cap retained within the outer sleeve comprises a latching mechanism configured to engage a corresponding latching structure positioned on an inner sidewall of the outer sleeve.

3. The fluid connector of claim 1, wherein the tubular body comprises a needle extending longitudinally through the tubular body from the proximal end to the distal end, the needle defining a lumen.

4. The fluid connector of claim 3, wherein in the first position, the needle is entirely enclosed within the fluid connector and in the second position the needle extends beyond a distal end of the fluid connector, and wherein in the first position, the tubular body extends beyond a distal end of the outer sleeve and in the second position the outer sleeve covers the tubular body.

5. The fluid connector of claim 4, wherein the outer sleeve further comprises an enlarged end portion configured to cover the distal end of the tubular body, when the connector is in the second position.

6. The fluid connector of claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve further comprises a latch for establishing a non-removable engagement with the distal end of the tubular body.

7. The fluid connector of claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve comprises a grip portion.

8. The fluid connector of claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve comprises a first dominant color and the tubular body comprises a second color, the second color being non-dominant.

9. The fluid connector of claim 1, wherein the tubular body comprises a detent, and wherein the outer sleeve comprises a notch which, when the connector is in the second position, accepts the detent.

10. The fluid connector of claim 9, wherein the detent is visible to a user after it is accepted within the notch of the outer sleeve.

11. The fluid connector of claim 10, wherein the outer sleeve is a first dominant color, the detent is a second dominant color, and the tubular body is a non-dominant color.

12. The fluid connector of claim 11, wherein the outer sleeve includes visible lines which direct a user'"'"'s attention to the notch.

13. A fluid connector comprising:

an adapter for connecting the connector to a container;

an outer sleeve connected to the adapter; and

a tubular body retained at least partially within the sleeve,

wherein the outer sleeve comprises a dominant color and the tubular body comprises a non-dominant color.

14. The fluid connector of claim 13, wherein the outer sleeve further comprises a grip portion.

15. The fluid connector of claim 13, wherein the fluid connector is transitionable from a first position in which a first container and a second container are in fluid isolation to a second position in which the first container and the second container are in fluid communication.

16. The fluid connector of claim 15, wherein the connector is configured such that a user transitions the connector from the first position to the second position by grasping the outer sleeve.

17. A fluid connector comprising:

an adapter for connecting the connector to a first container;

an outer sleeve connected to the adapter; and

a tubular body retained at least partially within the sleeve and having a proximal end connected to the adapter and a distal end connected to a second container,

wherein the fluid connector is transitionable from a first position in which the first container and the second container are in fluid isolation to a second position in which the first container and the second container are in fluid communication, and

wherein the tubular body comprises a detent and the outer sleeve comprises a notch which, when the connector is in the second position, is configured to accept the detent.

18. The fluid connector of claim 17, wherein the detent is visible to a user after it is accepted within the notch of the outer sleeve.

19. The fluid connector of claim 18, wherein the outer sleeve is a first dominant color, the detent is a second dominant color, and the tubular body is a non-dominant color.

20. The fluid connector of claim 19, wherein the outer sleeve includes visible lines which direct a user'"'"'s attention to the notch.