Medical connector

• US 9,114,242 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2011
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Fangrow, Thomas F., Lopez, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, BRANDY SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US13/210,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20120041391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 604533-284, 604/256, 604/192, 604/218
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1033 Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors, bayonet-connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1038 Union screw connectors, e.g. hollow screw or sleeve having external threads
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1044 Verifying the connection, e.g. audible feedback, tactile feedback, visual feedback, using external light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1061 Break-apart tubing connectors or couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/261 where the fluid space within the valve is increasing upon disconnection
• 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 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/14 for connecting tubes having sealed ends needle sets A61M5/162; having valves closing automatically on disconnection of line A61M39/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/143 both tube ends being sealed by meltable membranes pierced after connection by use of heat, e.g. using radiant energy
• 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

Abstract

Some embodiments comprise a connector including a rigid housing having a first end and a second end. A second member can be positioned at a second end portion of the housing and be engageable with a second device. The second member can have a body portion having a first body portion, a second body portion, and a flow lumen extending axially through the body portion, an annular covering portion extending in a radial direction away from the body portion, a receiving portion extending away from the covering portion in an axial direction, and at least one protrusion extending radially away from an outside surface of the body portion. In some embodiments, the second member can be supported by the housing such that, in an assembled state, the first body portion is positioned within the housing and such that the annular covering portion and the second body portion are positioned outside the housing.

Claims

1. A luer connector configured to provide a permanent connection between medical devices, the medical connector comprising:

a rigid housing having a first end portion configured to be engageable with a first device or medical implement and positioned at a first end of the housing and a second end portion comprising an end cap portion;

the end cap portion being positioned at a second end portion of the housing, the end cap portion configured to be engageable with a corresponding portion of a second device or medical implement, the end cap portion comprising;

an end cap component having a first body portion, a second body portion, and a flow lumen extending axially through the end cap component; and

an annular covering portion extending in a radial direction away from the end cap component, the annular covering being positioned axially between the first body portion and the second body portion;

a valve member configured to alter the flow of a fluid through a hollow bore of the luer connector;

wherein;

the end cap portion is supported by the housing such that, in an assembled state, the first body portion of the end cap portion is positioned within the housing and such that the annular covering portion and the second body portion are positioned outside the housing;

the end cap portion is configured to rotate substantially freely in either a first direction or a second opposite direction relative to the housing and is configured to inhibit the ability of the connector from becoming decoupled from the corresponding portion of the second device or medical implement;

the valve member at least partially extends through the housing in an axial direction and comprises;

a first opened end and a second end;

a passageway within the valve member;

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

at least one strut connected to the valve member and extending towards the second end of the valve member, the at least one strut extending substantially parallel to the central axis of the valve member and at least partially surrounding a narrow section of the valve member ending in the second end;

a retaining member configured to couple 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 housing and an outer surface of the valve member.

2. The luer connector of claim 1, comprising a pair of protrusions extending radially away from an outside surface of the end cap component.

3. The luer connector of claim 1, wherein the first member comprises a rigid tubular male member.

4. The luer connector of claim 1, wherein the end cap portion comprises a rigid tubular female member.

5. The luer connector of claim 1, wherein the first body portion comprises an annular groove formed therein, the annular groove being configured to receive a complementary annular protrusion supported on an internal surface of the luer connecter to axially restrain the end cap portion to the housing without substantially impeding a rotatability of the end cap portion relative to the housing, the protrusion being configured to break off when the second device or medical implement is rotated in the first direction beyond a point where the second device or medical implement is substantially fully engaged with the end cap portion.

6. The luer connector of claim 1, wherein the first body portion comprises a second annular groove formed therein, the second annular groove being configured to receive a seal therein to create a substantially fluid tight seal between an outside surface of the first body portion and an inside surface of a passageway within the housing.

7. The luer connector of claim 1, wherein the second body portion is configured to receive the second device or medical implement about at least an outside surface of the second body portion.

8. The luer connector of claim 1, further comprising at least one protrusion extending radially away from an outside surface of the end cap component.

9. The luer connector of claim 1, wherein the valve member is rigid.

10. The luer connector of claim 1, comprising one or more channels or protrusions spaced about the outside surface of the end cap component of the end cap portion.

11. A luer connector configured to provide a permanent connection between medical devices, the medical connector comprising:

a rigid housing having an end cap portion supported by the housing at an end portion of the housing and configured to be engageable with a corresponding portion of a second device or medical implement, the end cap portion comprising;

an end cap component having a first body portion, a second body portion, and a flow lumen extending axially through the end cap component; and

an annular covering portion extending in a radial direction away from the end cap component, the annular covering being positioned axially between the first body portion and the second body portion;

a valve member configured to alter the flow of a fluid through the luer connector;

wherein;

the end cap portion is supported by the housing such that, in an assembled state, the first body portion of the end cap portion is positioned within the housing and such that the annular covering portion and the second body portion are positioned outside the housing; and

the end cap portion is configured to rotate substantially freely in either a first direction or a second opposite direction relative to the housing and is configured to inhibit the ability of the connector from becoming decoupled from the corresponding portion of the second device or medical implement.

12. The luer connector of claim 11, comprising a pair of protrusions extending radially away from an outside surface of the end cap component.

13. The luer connector of claim 11, wherein the luer connector further comprises a rigid tubular male member at a second end of the connector opposite the end portion of the housing supporting the end cap portion.

14. The luer connector of claim 11, wherein the second body portion comprises a rigid tubular female member.

15. The luer connector of claim 11, wherein the first body portion comprises an annular groove formed therein, the annular groove being configured to receive a complementary annular protrusion supported on an internal surface of the luer connecter to axially restrain the end cap portion to the housing without substantially impeding a rotatability of the end cap portion relative to the housing, the protrusion being configured to break off when the second device or medical implement is rotated in the first direction beyond a point where the second device or medical implement is substantially fully engaged with the end cap portion.

16. The luer connector of claim 11, wherein the first body portion comprises a second annular groove formed therein, the second annular groove being configured to receive a seal therein to create a substantially fluid tight seal between an outside surface of the first body portion and an inside surface of a passageway within the housing.

17. The luer connector of claim 11, wherein the second body portion is configured to receive the second device or medical implement about at least an outside surface of the second body portion.

18. The luer connector of claim 11, further comprising at least one protrusion extending radially away from an outside surface of the end cap component.

19. The luer connector of claim 11, wherein the valve member is rigid.

20. The luer connector of claim 11, comprising one or more channels or protrusions spaced about the outside surface of the end cap component of the end cap portion.

21. The luer connector of claim 11, further comprising a retaining member configured to couple the valve member and the housing.

22. The luer connector of claim 11, further comprising a sealing element disposed within the housing and configured to inhibit fluid communication through a hollow bore of the housing between the interior of the housing and an outer surface of the valve member.

23. The luer connector of claim 11, wherein the valve member further comprises at least one strut connected to the valve member and extending towards the second end of the valve member, the at least one strut extending substantially parallel to the central axis of the valve member and at least partially surrounding a narrow section of the valve member ending in the second closed end.

24. The luer connector of claim 11, wherein the second end of the valve member is closed.