Luer connector assembly

• US 7,837,659 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Newby, C. Mark, Fleischer, Gene, Bush, Charles F. Jr., Hwang, Charles G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): WITCZAK, CATHERINE
• Application Number:
  US12/170,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20080269697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 604533-539, 604240-243, 604/202, 604/237, 604/215, 285/345, 285/334.1, 285/332.4, 285/332.2, 285/332.1, 285/332
• US Class Current: 604/243
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/32 Needles; Details of needles pertaining to their connection with syringe or hub infusion needles A61M5/158; Accessories for bringing the needle into, or holding the needle on, the body A61M5/42, A61M5/46 take precedence; guide needles for catheters A61M25/065; Devices for protection of needles apparatus specially adapted for cleaning or sterilising needles A61M5/001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3216 Caps placed transversally onto the needle, e.g. pivotally attached to the needle base
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3293 characterised by features of the needle hub
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/346 friction fit A61M5/344 takes precedence

Abstract

A luer connector assembly is provided for enhancing the frictional engagement between medical devices such as syringes and needle assemblies. The assembly needle includes a female luer fitting having a passageway and a relatively soft, resilient member bounding the passageway. The passageway is also bounded by the body of the fitting, which is harder than the soft, resilient member. A male luer fitting inserted into the passageway engages both the soft, resilient member and the body of the female luer fitting. A method of manufacturing such a connector assembly is further provided. A first material is injected into a mold to form the body of a female luer fitting, the fitting including a passageway and a recess extending into the body. A second material is then injected such that it extends into the recess and bounds the passageway. The second material, when cool, is softer than the first material.

Claims

1. A needle assembly comprising a male luer fitting having an exterior side wall extending from a distal end to a proximal end;

a female luer fitting having a body including an outside surface, a distal end, a proximal end and a passageway therethrough, the passageway having a frusto-conically shaped portion with an interior surface and a diameter for receiving the male luer fitting, the interior surface having a recess;

a cannula connected to the distal end of the body of the female luer fitting the cannula being in fluid communication with the passageway; and

a soft, resilient member positioned in the recess and bounding the passageway, wherein the diameter of passageway is smaller where it is bounded by the soft, resilient member and the soft resilient member forms an engagement surface such that, upon insertion of the male luer fitting into the passageway, the soft, resilient member surrounds the exterior side wall of the male luer fitting and the soft, resilient member and a portion of the interior surface of the passageway distal to the soft, resilient member both frictionally engage the exterior side wall of the male luer fitting;

the body of the female luer fitting having at least one channel extending from the recess to the outer surface, the soft, resilient member extending into the channel;

wherein the soft, resilient member is softer than the body of the female luer fitting.

2. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the portion of the interior surface bounding the passageway is distal to the recess.

3. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the soft, resilient member is comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer.

4. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the body defines a proximally angled shoulder bordering a proximal end of the recess.

5. The needle assembly of claim 4 wherein the shoulder extends at an angle of between about 56 to 60 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the passageway.

6. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the recess within the interior surface is generally annular and the soft, resilient member substantially fills the recess.

7. The needle assembly of claim 1 further including a needle shield having a cavity therein hingedly connected to the female luer fitting, the needle shield capable of rotating from an open position wherein the cannula is exposed, to a closed cannula protecting position wherein at least a distal position of the cannula is in the cavity.

8. The needle assembly of claim 7 further including means for locking the needle shield in the closed needle protecting position.

9. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the soft, resilient member is radially outwardly displaceable and insertion of a male luer fitting into the passageway, causes the soft, resilient member to be displaced radially outwardly until the member is substantially flush with the interior surface of the body.

10. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the soft, resilient member is compressible and insertion of a male luer fitting into the passageway, compresses the soft, resilient member until the member is substantially flush with the interior surface of the body.

11. A needle assembly comprising a male luer fitting having an exterior side wall extending from a distal end to a proximal end;

a female luer fitting comprising a first material, the female luer fitting including a body, a distal end, and a proximal end, wherein the body defines a passageway therethrough and has an outer surface;

wherein the passageway has a frusto-conically shaped portion with an interior surface for receiving the male luer fitting and the interior surface has a recess;

a cannula connected to the distal end of the body of the female luer fitting, the cannula being in fluid communication with the passageway; and

a tubular member defining an axial cavity, fixedly coupled to the body and positioned in the recess such that, upon insertion of the male luer fitting into the passageway, the male luer fitting is disposed within the axial cavity of the tubular member and the tubular member surrounds the exterior side wall of the male luer fitting and the tubular member and a portion of the interior surface of the passageway distal to the tubular member both frictionally engage the exterior side wall of the male luer fitting;

the body of the female luer fitting having at least one channel extending from the recess to the outer surface, the tubular member extending into the channel;

wherein the tubular member is made of a second material that is softer than the body of the female luer fitting.

12. A needle assembly comprising a male luer fitting having a frusto-conical shape and an exterior side wall extending from a distal end to a proximal end;

a female luer fitting comprising a first material, the female luer fitting including a body, a distal end, and a proximal end, wherein the body defines a passageway extending axially therethrough, a cavity extending radially and has an outer surface;

wherein the passageway has a frusto-conically shaped portion with an interior surface for receiving the male luer fitting;

a cannula connected to the distal end of the body of the female luer fitting, the cannula being in fluid communication with the passageway; and

a member having a cylindrical shape and an exterior and defining an axial cavity adapted to receive the exterior wall of the male luer fitting;

portions disposed at the exterior of the member fixedly coupled to the body at the cavity such that, upon insertion of the male luer fitting into the passageway, the male luer fitting is inserted into the axial cavity of the member and the member surrounds the exterior side wall of the male luer fitting and the member and a portion of the interior surface of the passageway distal to the member both frictionally engage the exterior side wall of the male luer fitting;

the body of the female luer fitting having at least one channel extending from the cavity to the outer surface, the member extending into the channel;

wherein the member is made of a second material that is softer than the body of the female luer fitting.

13. The needle assembly of claim 12 wherein portions of the member fixedly coupled to the body are distal to the portion of the interior surface of the passageway that frictionally engages the exterior side wall of a male luer fitting when inserted into the passageway.

14. The needle assembly of claim 13 wherein the member is comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer.

15. The needle assembly of claim 14 wherein the body defines a proximally angled shoulder bordering a proximal end of the cavity.

16. The needle assembly of claim 15 wherein the shoulder extends at an angle of between about 56 to 60 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the passageway.

17. The needle assembly of claim 12 further including a needle shield having a cavity therein hingedly connected to the female luer fitting, the needle shield capable of rotating from an open position wherein the cannula is exposed, to a closed cannula protecting position wherein at least a distal position of the cannula is in the cavity.

18. The needle assembly of claim 17 further including means for locking the needle shield in the closed needle protecting position.