Medical connector with automatic valves and volume regulator
First Claim
1. A medical connector for use in a fluid pathway, the connector comprising:
- a housing having a proximal female end with a proximal opening and a distal male end with a distal opening;
a first valve member positioned substantially within the housing, the first valve member being configured to selectively seal the proximal opening; and
a second valve member positioned within the housing, the second valve member being configured to selectively seal within the housing in a distal direction from the first valve member, wherein;
the second valve member automatically opens or remains open, independent of connecting or disconnecting the medical connector at the distal end, to permit fluid flow in a first direction when the pressure in a proximal region within the connector is greater than the pressure in a distal region within the connector by a first threshold value, the first direction being from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion;
the second valve member automatically opens or remains open, independent of connecting or disconnecting the medical connector at the distal end, to permit fluid flow in a second direction when the pressure in the distal region within the connector is greater than the pressure in the proximal region within the connector by a second threshold value, the second direction being from the distal end portion to the proximal end portion, and the second threshold value being greater than the first threshold value; and
a dynamic regulator comprising a flexible material, the dynamic regulator being configured to buckle, flex, or move so as to reduce the internal volume from a first internal volume to a second internal volume when the first valve member is open and the second valve member is closed, and a pressure change occurs at the proximal end, thereby diminishing the pressure change within the proximal region of the connector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a medical connector having a backflow resistance module configured to prevent fluid from being drawn into the connector when a backflow inducing event occurs. In some embodiments, the backflow resistance module can include a variable-volume chamber configured to change in volume in response to a backflow-inducing event and a check valve configured to resist backflow. In some embodiments, the medical connector can include a fluid diverter configured to direct fluid flowing through the medical connector into the variable volume chamber to prevent fluid stagnation therein. In some embodiments, the medical connector includes a body member, a base member, a seal member, a support member, and a valve member.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A medical connector for use in a fluid pathway, the connector comprising:
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a housing having a proximal female end with a proximal opening and a distal male end with a distal opening; a first valve member positioned substantially within the housing, the first valve member being configured to selectively seal the proximal opening; and a second valve member positioned within the housing, the second valve member being configured to selectively seal within the housing in a distal direction from the first valve member, wherein; the second valve member automatically opens or remains open, independent of connecting or disconnecting the medical connector at the distal end, to permit fluid flow in a first direction when the pressure in a proximal region within the connector is greater than the pressure in a distal region within the connector by a first threshold value, the first direction being from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion; the second valve member automatically opens or remains open, independent of connecting or disconnecting the medical connector at the distal end, to permit fluid flow in a second direction when the pressure in the distal region within the connector is greater than the pressure in the proximal region within the connector by a second threshold value, the second direction being from the distal end portion to the proximal end portion, and the second threshold value being greater than the first threshold value; and a dynamic regulator comprising a flexible material, the dynamic regulator being configured to buckle, flex, or move so as to reduce the internal volume from a first internal volume to a second internal volume when the first valve member is open and the second valve member is closed, and a pressure change occurs at the proximal end, thereby diminishing the pressure change within the proximal region of the connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification