Medical connector with closeable male luer

• US 7,803,139 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Fangrow, Thomas F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERDICHEVSKY, AARTI
• Application Number:
  US11/417,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20070088324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 604/246, 604/249, 604/256, 251/149
• US Class Current: 604/256
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1033 Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors, bayonet-connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1066 having protection means, e.g. sliding sleeve to protect connector itself, shrouds to protect a needle present in the connector, protective housing, isolating sheath
• 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 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87973 Coupling interlocked with valve, or closure or actuator

Abstract

A luer connector comprising a housing with a hollow bore having first and second ends. The hollow bore also has a male luer tip and a tapering interior surface. The luer connector also comprises a rigid valve member configured to at least partially extend through the housing. The valve member has a first opened end and a second closed end. The valve member also comprises a passageway within the valve member and an outwardly extending flange near the second end adapted to seal the hollow bore at the second end of the housing when placed in contact with a tapering interior surface of the housing. The valve member further comprises at least one opening near the closed end of the valve member extending outward from the passageway through the valve member and at least one strut attached to the valve member. At least a portion of the strut extends substantially parallel to the central axis of the valve member. The luer connector also comprises a retaining member configured to couple the valve member and the housing and a sealing element disposed within the housing. The sealing element is configured to inhibit fluid communication through the hollow bore of the housing between the interior of the male luer tip of the housing and the first end of the housing.

Claims

1. A luer connector comprising:

a housing with a hollow bore, the housing having a first end, a second end, and a male luer tip;

a rigid valve member configured to at least partially extend through the housing, the valve member having a first opened end and a second closed end and comprising;

a passageway within the valve member;

an outwardly extending flange near the second end of the valve member adapted to seal the hollow bore at the second end of the housing when placed in contact with the second end of the housing; and

at least one opening near the closed end of the valve member extending outwardly from the passageway through the valve member;

at least one strut attached to the valve member, at least a portion of the strut extending substantially parallel to the central axis of the valve member;

a resilient member connected to the valve member and the housing; and

a sealing element disposed within the housing and configured to inhibit fluid communication through the hollow bore of the housing between the interior of the male luer tip of the housing and the first end of the housing, the sealing element having a body portion, at least one ring portion generally coaxially aligned with the body portion, and at least one protrusion extending from an outside wall of the body portion.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the sealing element is configured such that the ring portion is positioned at an end portion of the body portion.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the body portion is substantially cylindrically shaped.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein at least one protrusion has a generally rectangular cross-sectional shaped.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the sealing element has at least two protrusions extending from an outside wall of the body portion.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the sealing element is formed from a silicon-based material.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is configured to bias the valve member towards the second end of the housing while permitting the valve member to displace towards the first end of the housing when a force is applied to the valve member.

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein the force is applied to the second closed end of the valve member.

9. The connector of claim 7, wherein the force is applied to the at least one strut attached to the valve member.

10. The connector of claim 1, wherein the resilient member has at least two rings.

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein at least two of the rings are interconnected.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein the two rings are interconnected by at least one elastic member.

13. The connector of claim 11, wherein at least two of the rings are interconnected by two elastic members.

14. The connector of claim 11, wherein at least one of the rings is supported on the outside of the housing.

15. The connector of claim 11, wherein at least one of the rings is supported on the inside of the housing.

16. The connector of claim 11, wherein at least one of the rings is supported by the valve member.

17. The connector of claim 11, wherein at least one of the rings is configured to surround the passageway within the valve member.

18. The connector of claim 1, wherein one or more depressions are formed in an outside surface of the housing, the depressions being sized and configured to assist a user in grasping and/or twisting the housing with his or her fingers.

19. The connector of claim 1, wherein the one or more of depressions extend substantially entirely around the outer surface of the housing.