Medical coupling site including slit reinforcing members
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A medical coupling site valve element comprising:
- a body portion including first and second body portion ends and inner and outer walls defining an interior and an exterior of said body portion, said body portion defining a longitudinal axis;
a diaphragm extending diametrically across said body portion interior at said first body portion end;
means defining a slit extending diametrically across said diaphragm, said slit including opposing ends; and
ribs formed integrally with said diaphragm and extending radially inwardly from said inner wall to locations adjacent to said ends of said slit to prevent said diaphragm from tearing adjacent to said slit when a male luer is inserted into said site through said slit.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a medical coupling site including an elastomeric valve element defined by a tubular body portion and a diaphragm extending diametrically across an end of the body portion. The diaphragm includes a slit having opposing slit ends which terminate in spaced relation to an inner wall of the body portion. First and second elastomeric stiffening ribs are formed integrally with the diaphragm and the body portion adjacent to the ends of the slit, and the stiffening ribs act to prevent the diaphragm from tearing adjacent to the slit ends and facilitate alignment of adjoining surfaces in the diaphragm defining the slit.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A medical coupling site valve element comprising:
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a body portion including first and second body portion ends and inner and outer walls defining an interior and an exterior of said body portion, said body portion defining a longitudinal axis; a diaphragm extending diametrically across said body portion interior at said first body portion end; means defining a slit extending diametrically across said diaphragm, said slit including opposing ends; and ribs formed integrally with said diaphragm and extending radially inwardly from said inner wall to locations adjacent to said ends of said slit to prevent said diaphragm from tearing adjacent to said slit when a male luer is inserted into said site through said slit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A medical coupling site valve element comprising:
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a body portion formed of an elastomeric material, said body portion including first and second body portion ends and inner and outer walls defining an interior and an exterior of said body portion; a diaphragm formed integrally with said body portion and extending diametrically across said body portion interior at said first body portion end; means defining a slit extending diametrically across said diaphragm, said slit including opposing ends; and ribs formed integrally with said diaphragm and extending radially inwardly from said inner wall to locations adjacent to said ends of said slit to prevent said diaphragm from tearing adjacent to said slit when a male luer is inserted into said site through said slit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18)
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17. A valve element comprising:
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a tubular body portion formed of an elastomeric material and including first and second body portion ends and inner and outer walls defining an interior and an exterior of said body portion, said body portion defining a longitudinal axis; an elastomeric diaphragm formed integrally with said body portion and extending diametrically across said body portion interior at said first body portion end; means defining a slit extending diametrically across said diaphragm and including opposing slit ends in spaced relation to said inner wall; and first and second elastomeric stiffening ribs formed integrally with said diaphragm and said body portion, said stiffening ribs extending radially inwardly from opposing sides of said inner wall and terminating adjacent to respective slit ends, said stiffening ribs acting to prevent said diaphragm from tearing adjacent to said slit ends and facilitating alignment of adjoining surfaces defining said slit.
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Specification