Needleless luer access connector
First Claim
1. A needleless luer access connector, comprising:
- a housing having a top portion defining an inlet opening, a channel defined by at least one sidewall extending from the inlet opening and having a cross section, and a bottom portion defining an outlet opening extending from the channel;
a barb formed along the sidewall of the channel and extending into the channel;
a septum disposed in the housing, the septum having a proximal portion, a medial portion having an external surface and a cross section less than a cross section of the top portion and less than the cross section of the channel and a distal portion;
a longitudinal slit extending through the septum from the proximal portion through the medial portion and into the distal portion; and
at least one rib formed on the external surface of the medial portion such that the rib is displaced from the barb until a male luer taper is inserted into the slit, at which point the rib engages the barb.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A needleless luer access connector is disclosed having a septum disposed in a housing. The septum has a proximal portion with a cross section, a medial portion with a cross section smaller than the cross section of the proximal portion, and a distal portion. A longitudinal slit extends through the septum from the proximal portion to the distal portion. The septum and housing are designed so that septum will not be rotated or removed from the housing when the connector is accessed by a male luer taper. In addition, the septum and housing are designed to bias the slit at the distal portion closed and so a male luer connector does not have to extend completely through the distal portion to open the slit at the distal portion. Finally, the septum and housing are designed to minimize the amount of dead space in the connector when accessed with a male luer taper.
270 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A needleless luer access connector, comprising:
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a housing having a top portion defining an inlet opening, a channel defined by at least one sidewall extending from the inlet opening and having a cross section, and a bottom portion defining an outlet opening extending from the channel;
a barb formed along the sidewall of the channel and extending into the channel;
a septum disposed in the housing, the septum having a proximal portion, a medial portion having an external surface and a cross section less than a cross section of the top portion and less than the cross section of the channel and a distal portion;
a longitudinal slit extending through the septum from the proximal portion through the medial portion and into the distal portion; and
at least one rib formed on the external surface of the medial portion such that the rib is displaced from the barb until a male luer taper is inserted into the slit, at which point the rib engages the barb. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification