Medical connector

• US 7,291,134 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2004
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith P. Rowan Jr
• Original Assignee: P. Rowan Smith, Jr.
• Inventors: Fitzgerald, Lisa M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stigell; Theodore J.
• Application Number:
  US10/971,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20060089605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 604 9901- 9904, 604/167.03, 604/236, 604/237, 604/320, 604/323, 604/537, 604/249, 604/284, 604/247, 604/256, 604/246
• US Class Current: 604/247
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0205 for injecting media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/242 designed to open when a predetermined pressure or flow rate has been reached, e.g. check valve actuated by fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2433 Valve comprising a resilient or deformable element, e.g. flap valve, deformable disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2466 being fixed in its center
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24

Abstract

A needleless connector for adding medication to a parenteral fluid is provided. The needleless connector comprises a connector adapted to receive a syringe and having a check valve to seal the port in place of a puncture pad. The check valve comprises a resilient disc held in place and biased closed by the tensile stress of the check valve material. When a syringe or other apparatus having a male luer connector is engaged with the connector and fluid pressure is applied to the check valve the resilient disc is deformed which allows the medication to flow through the connector into the tubing and thus to the patient.

Claims

1. A connector for adding medication from a syringe to an intravenous fluid comprising:

(a) a hollow cylindrical body having

(i) a first port on one end for adding medication to the intravenous fluid,

(ii) a second port on another end for connection to a catheter which is inserted into the vein of a patient, and

(iii) a third port intermediate said first and second ports for attachment to a intravenous fluid source;

(b) a luer connection on an open end of said first port;

(c) a valve housing secured within said first port and having a spider dividing said housing into an upper cavity and a lower cavity and a valve seat on an underside of an upper end of said upper cavity opposite said spider;

(d) a valve stem having a notch near the middle and mounted within said housing by the engagement of said notch with said spider;

(e) a resilient disc mounted on said stem and biased against said seat;

(f) said resilient disc being displaced from said seat by the force of fluid passing through said first port into said body.

2. A connector for adding medication from a syringe to an intravenous fluid comprising:

(a) a hollow cylindrical body having

(i) a first port on one end for adding medication to the intravenous fluid,

(ii) a second port on another end for connection to a catheter which is inserted into the vein of a patient, and

(iii) a third port intermediate said first and second ports for attachment to a intravenous fluid source;

(b) a luer connection on an open end of said first port;

(c) a valve housing secured within said first port, said valve housing being divided into an upper cavity and a lower cavity by a spider;

(d) a valve seat on an underside at an upper end of said upper cavity opposite said spider;

(e) a valve stem having a notch near the middle and securely mounted between said cavities by the engagement of said notch with said spider;

(f) a resilient disc mounted on said stem and biased against said seat;

(g) said resilient disc being displaced from said seat by the force of fluid passing through said first port into said body.