Medical connector with internal valve member movable within male luer projection

• US 9,592,344 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2016
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Simpson, Philip J., Gillespie, Walter D., Matsuura, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bosworth, Kami A
• Application Number:
  US15/169,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20160271327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3103 Leak prevention means for distal end of syringes, i.e. syringe end for mounting a needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3128 Incorporating one-way valves, e.g. pressure-relief or non-return valves
• 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 2205/19 Constructional features of carpules, syringes or blisters
• 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 39/22 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: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31 Details
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3134 characterised by constructional features of the distal end, i.e. end closest to the tip of the needle cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/34 Constructions for connecting the needle , e.g. to syringe nozzle or needle hub connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a valve assembly comprising a male luer end portion and a female luer end portion and a passage for the transfer of fluids extending between the male and female luer end portions, valve means movable between a first position, in which the passage is closed, and a second position, in which the passage is open, biasing means for biasing the valve means toward the first position, and actuating means extending into the male luer end portion and coupled to the valve means to actuate the valve means when a female luer end portion of a medical accessory is engaged with the male luer end portion.

Claims

1. A medical connector configured to receive a male luer end of a syringe, the medical connector comprising:

an exterior surface, an interior region, proximal and distal housing portions, and proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal and distal housing portions form at least a portion of the exterior surface of the connector and wherein the proximal and distal housing portions are separate from each other and coupled together, the proximal housing portion extending further in a proximal direction than the distal housing portion, and the distal housing portion extending further in a distal direction than the proximal housing portion;

a female luer in the proximal housing portion of the connector, the female luer configured to receive the male luer end of the syringe into the proximal end of the connector;

a male luer projection in the distal housing portion of the connector, the male luer projection comprising interior and exterior surfaces, and proximal and distal ends, the interior surface of the male luer projection comprising a first region with a first cross-sectional width and a second region with a second cross-sectional width, the first cross-sectional width being smaller than the second cross-sectional width;

a threaded sheath surrounding a portion of the male luer projection;

a sheath cavity positioned between the exterior surface of the male luer projection and an inner surface of the threaded sheath, the sheath cavity having a proximal end and a distal end;

a valve member being longitudinally movable between a closed position and an open position, the valve member comprising;

(i) an internal fluid pathway, (ii) a first portion positioned outside of the male luer projection in both the open and the closed positions, and (iii) a second portion distal from the first portion;

the second portion of the valve member comprising;

(i) transverse openings, (ii) a distal plug portion with curved sidewalls that are distal from the transverse openings, the distal plug portion being closed in both the open and closed positions so as to obstruct fluid communication between an interior region of the male luer projection and the internal fluid pathway of the valve member in the closed position, and (iii) a distalmost end tip that is positioned distal of the proximal end of the sheath cavity in the closed position; and

a seal that, in the closed position, contacts a portion of the valve member that is within the distal housing portion in a seal-contacting region of the valve member with only straight sidewalls, said seal-contacting region being located in a proximal direction from the curved sidewalls of the distal plug portion of the valve member, the seal being located within the distal housing portion in a proximal direction from both the first and second regions on the interior surface of the male luer projection;

wherein the valve member is biased toward the closed position.

2. The medical connector of claim 1, wherein the distalmost end tip of the second portion of the valve member is flat.

3. The medical connector of claim 2, wherein the distalmost end tip of the second portion of the valve member is flush with the distal end of the male luer projection in the closed position.

4. The medical connector of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises two seals.

5. The medical connector of claim 1, wherein the curved sidewalls of the distal plug portion contact the interior surface of the male luer projection in the closed position.

6. The medical connector of claim 1, wherein the valve member moves in a proximal direction to transition from the closed position to the open position.

7. A combination of the medical connector of claim 1 and the syringe.

8. A medical connector comprising:

a housing comprising an exterior surface, an interior region, proximal and distal regions, and proximal and distal ends;

a female luer in the proximal region of the housing that is integral with the housing;

a male luer projection in the distal region of the housing that is integral with the housing, the male luer projection comprising interior and exterior surfaces, and proximal and distal ends;

a threaded sheath surrounding a portion of the male luer projection;

a sheath cavity positioned between the exterior surface of the male luer projection and an inner surface of the threaded sheath, the sheath cavity having a proximal end and a distal end;

a valve member that is separate from the female luer, the valve member being movable between a closed position and an open position, the valve member comprising;

(i) an internal fluid pathway, (ii) a first portion, and (iii) a second portion distal from the first portion, wherein the first portion of the valve member is positioned outside of the male luer projection in both the open and closed positions;

the second portion of the valve member comprising;

(i) at least one transverse opening;

(ii) a distal plug portion with curved sidewalls that are distal from the at least one transverse opening, the distal plug portion being closed in both the open and closed positions so as to obstruct fluid communication between an interior region of the male luer projection and the internal fluid pathway of the valve member in the closed position, and (iii) a distalmost end tip that is positioned distal of the proximal end of the sheath cavity in the closed position, wherein a portion of an outer surface of the second portion of the valve member proximal from the curved sidewalls of the distal plug portion is positioned adjacent to a portion of the interior surface of the male luer projection in the closed position; and

a seal that contacts the valve member;

wherein the valve member is biased toward the closed position.

9. The medical connector of claim 8, wherein the outer surface of the second portion of the valve member contacts the interior surface of the male luer projection in the closed position.

10. The medical connector of claim 8, wherein the second portion of the valve member is positioned within the interior region of the connector in both the open and closed positions.

11. The medical connector of claim 8, wherein the valve member moves in a proximal direction to transition from the closed position to the open position.

12. A medical connector comprising:

a housing comprising an exterior surface, an interior region, proximal and distal regions, and proximal and distal ends;

a male luer projection in the distal region of the housing, the male luer projection comprising an exterior surface, an interior region, and proximal and distal ends;

a valve member movable longitudinally between a closed position and an open position, the valve member being made of a single piece of material, and the valve member comprising a hollow interior with an internal fluid pathway, a proximal end of the internal fluid pathway of the valve member being located, in the closed position, within a portion of a proximal region of the connector that is configured to retain a male luer end of a syringe in the open position, wherein a distal end tip of the valve member is narrower than a transverse width of the interior region of the male luer projection, the distal end tip being positioned inside of the interior region of the male luer projection in the closed position to obstruct fluid communication between the interior region of the male luer projection and the internal fluid pathway of the valve member in the closed position; and

a seal portion positioned closer to the distal end of the housing than to the proximal end of the housing, the seal portion contacting the valve member, the seal portion extending around a portion of the valve member in both the open and closed positions, a distal end of the hollow interior of the valve member extending distally beyond the seal portion;

wherein the valve member is biased toward the closed position.

13. The medical connector of claim 12, wherein a portion of an outer surface of the valve member adjacent to the distal end tip is positioned adjacent to a portion of an interior surface of the male luer projection in the closed position.

14. The medical connector of claim 12, wherein there is no seal portion positioned in a distal direction from the distal end tip of the valve member in either the open or closed positions.

15. The medical connector of claim 12, wherein in the closed position the distal end tip of the valve member is flush with the distal end of the male luer projection.

16. The medical connector of claim 12, wherein the connector comprises separate proximal and distal housing portions that are attached together.

17. The medical connector of claim 16, wherein the seal portion is located within the distal housing portion.

18. The medical connector of claim 12, wherein the valve member moves in a proximal direction to transition from the closed position to the open position.

19. The medical connector of claim 12, wherein a proximal end of the valve member is configured to receive the male luer end of the syringe.

20. A combination of the medical connector of claim 12 and the syringe.

21. A medical connector configured to receive a male luer end of a syringe, the medical connector comprising:

a housing comprising an exterior surface, an interior region, separate proximal and distal regions that are attached to each other and form at least a portion of the exterior surface of the medical connector, and proximal and distal ends, the proximal region of the housing comprising a proximal half and a distal half, the proximal half comprising a maximum outer cross-sectional width, a minimum outer cross-sectional width, and a transverse outer annular region proximal from the maximum outer cross-sectional width;

a male luer projection in the distal region of the connector housing, the male luer projection comprising interior and exterior surfaces, and proximal and distal ends;

a threaded sheath surrounding a portion of the male luer projection;

a sheath cavity positioned between the exterior surface of the male luer projection and an inner surface of the threaded sheath, the sheath cavity having a proximal end and a distal end;

a valve member movable between a closed position and an open position, the valve member comprising a proximal first portion and a second portion distal from the first portion, the first and second portions of the valve member being formed of a single piece of material, and the first and second portions of the valve member being configured to move longitudinally between the closed and open positions such that a proximal end of the first portion is positioned more proximally the closed position than the transverse outer annular region of the proximal half of the proximal region;

the first portion of the valve member being positioned outside of the male luer projection in the closed position, and a distal end tip of the second portion of the valve member being positioned distal of the proximal end of the sheath cavity in the closed position;

the valve member further comprising an internal fluid pathway, and a distal plug portion that is closed in both the open and closed positions, the plug portion being part of the second portion of the valve member, and the plug portion being configured to obstruct fluid communication between an interior region of the male luer projection and the internal fluid pathway of the valve member in the closed position;

a seal portion contacting the valve member, the seal portion positioned adjacent to where the proximal and distal regions of the housing are attached to each other, the seal portion extending around the valve member in both the open and closed positions; and

wherein the valve member is biased toward the closed position.

22. The medical connector of claim 21, wherein the distal plug portion of the valve member remains within the male luer projection in both of the open and closed positions.

23. The medical connector of claim 21, wherein the distal plug portion of the second portion of the valve member is positioned in a distal direction from the seal portion in both of the open and closed positions.

24. The medical connector of claim 21, wherein a proximal end of the internal fluid pathway is located radially within a proximal threaded region of the connector in the open position.

25. The medical connector of claim 21, wherein the proximal first portion of the valve member is configured to contact the syringe in the open position.

26. The medical connector of claim 21, wherein a portion of an outer surface of the second portion of the valve member proximally adjacent to the distal plug portion contacts a portion of the interior surface of the male luer projection in the closed position.

27. The medical connector of claim 26, wherein there is no seal portion positioned in a distal direction from the distal plug portion of the second portion of the valve member in either the open or closed positions.

28. The medical connector of claim 27, wherein the first portion of the valve member comprises a female luer end portion.

29. The medical connector of claim 21, wherein an exterior surface of the connector comprises a minimum cross-sectional width of the exterior surface of the connector that is located in the proximal region of the connector.

30. The medical connector of claim 21, wherein in the closed position the distal plug portion of the valve member is flush with the distal end of the male luer projection.

31. The medical connector of claim 21, wherein the proximal and distal regions are attached to each other in an overlapping region.

32. The medical connector of claim 31, wherein the seal portion is located within the distal housing portion.

33. The medical connector of claim 21, wherein the valve member moves in a proximal direction to transition from the closed position to the open position.

34. A combination of the medical connector of claim 21 and the syringe.