Medical connector

• US 9,724,504 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2014
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Fangrow, Jr., Thomas F., Lopez, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, BRANDY SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US14/470,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20150051555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• 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 selectively openable and closeable male luer connector that is configured to couple with a male luer of a second medical implement, the closeable male luer connector comprising:

a rigid housing comprising;

(i) a first end portion comprising an internally threaded shroud and a rigid tubular male luer member; and

(ii) a rear end portion;

a rigid tubular female luer member coupled to the rear end portion of the housing, the female luer member being configured to receive the male luer of the second medical implement;

the tubular female luer member comprising a first rotation-inhibiting stage in which the female luer member is inhibited from rotating with respect to the rear end portion of the housing in at least one direction by at least one engaging surface to enable the female luer member to rotatably receive the male luer of the second medical implement, and a second substantially freely rotating stage in which the female luer member is configured to substantially freely rotate with respect to the rear end portion of the housing, wherein after the female luer member has transitioned from the first stage to the second stage, the engaging surface cannot be used to decouple the female luer member from the male luer of the second medical implement;

a valve member disposed within the housing, the valve member comprising a tapered first end, an internal fluid passageway, and at least one port positioned on a side of the valve member, the first end of the valve member being axially moveable between a closed position in which the first end of the valve member is positioned inside of the rigid tubular male luer member and in which fluid flow through the connector is inhibited and an open position in which fluid flow through the connector is permitted;

at least one moveable strut positioned between the shroud and the male luer member, the strut being configured to facilitate opening the connector to fluid flow;

a resilient member comprising;

(i) a portion connected to the valve member; and

(ii) a ring portion in contact with the rigid housing;

wherein a portion of the resilient member stretches to extend further in a rearward direction when the valve member is in the open position than when the valve member is in the closed position, and the resilient member biases the valve member toward the closed position.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is separable from the valve member.

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

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the rotation-inhibiting stage is produced by a locking arrangement.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the rotation-inhibiting stage is produced by one or more tabs configured to shear or break away.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the valve member comprises a second end that is configured to move axially when the first end moves axially.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the female tubular member does not move axially in transitioning between the rotation-inhibiting and freely rotating stages.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first end of the valve member in the closed position is flush with a first end of the male luer member.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the first end of the valve member is closed in both the open and closed positions.

10. The connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one strut is unitary with the valve member.

11. The connector of claim 1, wherein the strut and the valve member are made of the same material.

12. The connector of claim 1, wherein the portion of the resilient member connected to the valve member is a ring that extends around the valve member.

13. The connector of claim 12, wherein the resilient member is formed separately from the valve member.

14. The connector of claim 13, wherein the resilient member is connected to the valve member during assembly.

15. The connector of claim 1, wherein the portion of the resilient member that stretches to extend further in a rearward direction is a narrow, elongate elastic member.

16. The connector of claim 1, wherein the portion of the resilient member that stretches to extend further in a rearward direction is positioned at least partially outside of the housing.

17. The combination of the connector of claim 1 and the second medical implement.

18. The connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one engaging surface is located on the rear end portion of the rigid housing.

19. The connector of claim 18, wherein the at least one engaging surface is on a radially inwardly facing surface of the rear end portion of the rigid housing.

20. The connector of claim 19, wherein the at least one engaging surface is a recess on a radially inwardly facing surface of the rear end portion of the rigid housing, the recess being configured to receive a portion of the female luer member in the first stage.

21. The connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one engaging surface is on the female luer member.

22. The connector of claim 21, wherein the at least one engaging surface is a protrusion on the female luer member.

23. The connector of claim 22, wherein the at least one engaging surface is a protrusion on a radially outwardly facing surface of the female luer member.

24. The connector of claim 23, wherein the at least one engaging surface on the female luer member is configured to be positioned within a recess on the rear end portion of the rigid housing in the first stage.