Medical connectors and methods of use
First Claim
1. A medical connector that is resistant to retrograde fluid flow comprising:
- a base member comprising a male tip protrusion extending in a distal direction, the male tip protrusion comprising an internal proximal opening, a distal opening, and a passageway extending between the proximal and distal openings;
a proximal body member affixed to the base member in a permanent manner, the proximal body member including a proximal end opening;
a proximal seal member with a first position and a second position, the proximal seal member comprising a proximal end surface and a distal end, the proximal end surface being generally even with the proximal end opening of the body member in the first position and being displaced distally from the proximal end opening of the body member in the second position, and the proximal seal member comprising an interior passage with a proximal end and a distal end;
a support member positioned within the medical connector in a fixed position with respect to the base member, the support member comprising a base portion, one or more fluid openings, and an internal fluid passageway; and
a dome valve positioned in a region inside of the medical connector between the base portion of the support member and the internal proximal opening of the male tip protrusion, a portion of the support member extending into an interior region of the dome valve, and the distance from the distal end of the proximal seal member to a proximal end of the dome valve being less than the distance from the internal proximal opening of the male tip protrusion to the distal opening of the male tip protrusion;
wherein the dome valve is configured to open to permit fluid to flow from a proximal side of the dome valve to a distal side of the dome valve under a first fluid pressure differential between a proximal region of the medical connector and a distal region of the medical connector, and the dome valve is configured to open to permit fluid flow from the distal side of the dome valve to the proximal side of the dome valve under a second fluid pressure differential between a distal region of the medical connector and the proximal region of the medical connector that is higher than the first fluid pressure differential, and wherein opening of the dome valve is not functionally dependent on opening of the proximal seal member.
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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.
778 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A medical connector that is resistant to retrograde fluid flow comprising:
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a base member comprising a male tip protrusion extending in a distal direction, the male tip protrusion comprising an internal proximal opening, a distal opening, and a passageway extending between the proximal and distal openings; a proximal body member affixed to the base member in a permanent manner, the proximal body member including a proximal end opening; a proximal seal member with a first position and a second position, the proximal seal member comprising a proximal end surface and a distal end, the proximal end surface being generally even with the proximal end opening of the body member in the first position and being displaced distally from the proximal end opening of the body member in the second position, and the proximal seal member comprising an interior passage with a proximal end and a distal end; a support member positioned within the medical connector in a fixed position with respect to the base member, the support member comprising a base portion, one or more fluid openings, and an internal fluid passageway; and a dome valve positioned in a region inside of the medical connector between the base portion of the support member and the internal proximal opening of the male tip protrusion, a portion of the support member extending into an interior region of the dome valve, and the distance from the distal end of the proximal seal member to a proximal end of the dome valve being less than the distance from the internal proximal opening of the male tip protrusion to the distal opening of the male tip protrusion; wherein the dome valve is configured to open to permit fluid to flow from a proximal side of the dome valve to a distal side of the dome valve under a first fluid pressure differential between a proximal region of the medical connector and a distal region of the medical connector, and the dome valve is configured to open to permit fluid flow from the distal side of the dome valve to the proximal side of the dome valve under a second fluid pressure differential between a distal region of the medical connector and the proximal region of the medical connector that is higher than the first fluid pressure differential, and wherein opening of the dome valve is not functionally dependent on opening of the proximal seal member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A medical connector that is resistant to retrograde fluid flow comprising:
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a base member comprising a male tip protrusion extending in a distal direction, the male tip protrusion comprising an internal proximal opening, a distal opening, and a passageway extending between the proximal and distal openings; a proximal body member affixed to the base member in a permanent manner, the proximal body member including a proximal end opening; a proximal seal member with a first position and a second position, the proximal seal member comprising a proximal end surface and a distal end, the proximal end surface being generally even with the proximal end opening of the body member in the first position and being displaced distally from the proximal end opening of the body member in the second position, and the proximal seal member comprising an interior passage with a proximal end and a distal end; a support member positioned within the medical connector in a fixed position with respect to the base member, the support member comprising a distal base portion and an elongate portion with a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the elongate portion being positioned within the proximal seal member, in a proximal region of the interior passage in the first position, the support member further comprising one or more fluid openings, and an internal fluid passageway; a dynamic regulator; and a dome valve positioned in a region inside of the medical connector between the distal base portion of the support member and the internal proximal opening of the male tip protrusion, the distance from the distal end of the proximal seal member to a proximal end of the dome valve being less than the distance from the internal proximal opening of the male tip protrusion to the distal opening of the male tip protrusion; wherein the dome valve is configured to open to permit fluid to flow from a proximal side of the dome valve to a distal side of the dome valve under a first fluid pressure differential between a proximal region of the medical connector and a distal region of the medical connector, and the dome valve is configured to open to permit fluid flow from the distal side of the dome valve to the proximal side of the dome valve under a second fluid pressure differential between a distal region of the medical connector and the proximal region of the medical connector that is higher than the first fluid pressure differential, and wherein opening of the dome valve is not functionally dependent on opening of the proximal seal member.
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Specification