Medical connector

• US 9,884,176 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2016
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Fangrow, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAY, PHILLIP A
• Application Number:
  US15/235,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20170128710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 604533-284
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/263 where the fluid space within the valve is decreasing upon disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/266 where the valve comprises venting channels, e.g. to insure better connection, to help decreasing the fluid space upon disconnection, or to help the fluid space to remain the same during disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/02 characterised by a particular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/586 Ergonomic details therefor, e.g. specific ergonomics for left or right-handed users
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/045 pre-slit to be pierced by blunt instrument
• 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: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A soft grip medical connector comprises a housing with an upstream end, a downstream end and a lumen extending through a central portion thereof. A flexible member comprises a valve portion integrally formed with a sleeve portion. The valve portion is positioned within a section of the housing and is configured to control a flow of fluid through the housing lumen. The sleeve is inverted to envelope at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing. In some embodiments the gripping portion is integrally formed with the valve portion. In some embodiments, the connector is also generally configured to create a positive pressure in a catheter lumen upon removal of a syringe or other medical device from the upstream end of the connector. Methods of making a medical fluid connector generally comprise forming a valve member with a sleeve extending there from, and assembling the valve, sleeve and housing.

Claims

1. A soft grip medical connector comprising:

a housing with an upstream end and a downstream end;

a fluid pathway between the upstream end and the downstream end;

protrusions on an outer surface of the housing, wherein the protrusions extend laterally away from a longitudinal axis of the housing; and

a flexible member made of a flexible material disposed over the outer surface of the housing, the flexible member comprising;

a gripping portion; and

openings in the flexible material, wherein the protrusions on the outer surface of the housing extend through the respective openings in the flexible material such that the flexible material is adjacent to the protrusions on a downstream side and on an upstream side of the protrusions, and such that the protrusions on the housing extend beyond an outer surface of the flexible member adjacent the openings.

2. The soft grip medical connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to provide a high fluid flow rate through the connector.

3. The soft grip medical connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to provide a fluid flow rate of at least 600 cubic centimeters per minute through the connector.

4. The soft grip medical connector of claim 1, further comprising a valve member, the valve member having a closed state configured to impede flow of fluid through the connector, and the valve member having an open state configured to permit fluid flow through the connector.

5. The soft grip medical connector of claim 4, wherein the flexible member comprises the valve member integrally formed with the gripping portion.

6. The soft grip medical connector of claim 4, wherein the valve member and gripping portions are separately formed components.

7. The soft grip medical connector of claim 1, wherein the downstream end is connected to a catheter.

8. The soft grip medical connector of claim 1, wherein the flexible material comprises one or more of silicone rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, and urethane formulations.

10. The soft grip medical connector of claim 1, wherein the protrusions have rounded or beveled edges.

11. The soft grip medical connector of claim 1, wherein the protrusions include a first protrusion positioned on a first side of the connector and a second protrusion positioned on a second side of the connector, the second side opposite the first side.

21. The soft grip medical connector of claim 1, wherein the protrusions are spaced downstream from the upstream end of the housing.

22. The soft grip medical connector of claim 1, wherein the housing has a continuous annular surface at the furthest upstream edge of the housing.

23. The soft grip medical connector of claim 1, wherein the flexible material surrounds the sides of the protrusions.

9. A soft grip medical connector comprising:

a housing with an upstream end and a downstream end;

a fluid pathway between the upstream end and the downstream end;

protrusions on an outer surface of the housing, wherein the protrusions extend laterally away from a longitudinal axis of the housing; and

a flexible member made of a flexible material disposed over the outer surface of the housing, the flexible member comprising;

a gripping portion; and

openings in the flexible material, wherein the protrusions on the outer surface of the housing extend through the respective openings in the flexible material such that the protrusions on the housing extend beyond an outer surface of the flexible member adjacent the openings;

wherein the flexible material surrounds an entire circumference of the housing at the gripping portion.

24. The soft grip medical connector of claim 9, wherein the housing has a continuous annular surface at the furthest upstream edge of the housing.

25. The soft grip medical connector of claim 9, wherein the connector is configured to provide a high fluid flow rate through the connector.

26. The soft grip medical connector of claim 9, wherein the connector is configured to provide a fluid flow rate of at least 600 cubic centimeters per minute through the connector.

27. The soft grip medical connector of claim 9, wherein the downstream end is connected to a catheter.

28. The soft grip medical connector of claim 9, wherein the flexible material comprises one or more of silicone rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, and urethane formulations.

12. A soft grip medical connector comprising:

a housing made of a rigid material, the housing comprising an upstream end and a downstream end;

a fluid pathway between the upstream end and the downstream end; and

a gripping portion between the upstream end and the downstream end, the gripping portion comprising;

a tapered portion that is inwardly tapered towards the downstream end such that the gripping portion is configured to prevent a finger and thumb from slipping when gripping the gripping portion;

a flexible material disposed over an outer surface of the housing such that the tapered portion includes the flexible material; and

at least one of bumps, ridges, indentations, and protrusions on the outer surface of the gripping portion.

13. The soft grip medical connector of claim 12, wherein the tapered portion is inwardly tapered to a smaller-width region, and wherein the tapered portion is outwardly tapered from the smaller-width region toward the downstream end to a larger-width region.

14. The soft grip medical connector of claim 12, wherein the at least one of bumps, ridges, indentations, and protrusions include the flexible material.

15. The soft grip medical connector of claim 12, wherein the upstream end comprises lugs for receiving threads a Luer connector of a medical device.

16. The soft grip medical connector of claim 12, wherein the connector is configured to provide a high fluid flow rate through the connector.

17. The soft grip medical connector of claim 12, wherein the connector is configured to provide a fluid flow rate of at least 600 cubic centimeters per minute through the connector.

18. The soft grip medical connector of claim 12, further comprising a valve member, the valve member having a closed state configured to impede flow of fluid through the connector, and the valve member having an open state configured to permit fluid flow through the connector.

19. The soft grip medical connector of claim 12, wherein the downstream end is connected to a catheter.

20. The soft grip medical connector of claim 12, wherein the flexible material surrounds an entire circumference of the housing at the gripping portion.

29. The soft grip medical connector of claim 12, wherein the housing has a continuous annular surface at the furthest upstream edge of the housing.