Medical connector

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A medical connector for selectively permitting fluid to flow between a first medical device and a second medical device, the medical connector comprising:
a housing comprising an upstream end adapted to receive the second medical device, a downstream end with an interface configured to receive the first medical device, an outer surface, a base member with an annular surface, an upper housing cavity extending from the upstream end of the housing to the annular surface of the base member, and an interior cannula extending from the annular surface toward the upstream end of the housing; and a valve member at least partially positioned within the housing, the valve member configured to control a flow of fluid through the housing, the valve member comprising a seal body made of a flexible material, the seal body having a downstream end, an upstream end configured to receive at least a portion of the second medical device, and a normally closed passage in fluid communication with the downstream end of the seal body and the upstream end of the seal body, the seal body comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the second sidewall opposing the first sidewall, the first and second sidewalls diverging in a downstream direction such that the passage has a non-zero volume when in an undisturbed state in which a first end of the second medical device is not in contact with the upstream end of the seal body; wherein the valve member comprises a lead lumen at the downstream end of the seal body configured to fit over an outside surface of the interior cannula such that the downstream end of the seal body is separated from the annular surface of the base member by a first distance when the valve member is in a closed state, and wherein, upon insertion of the portion of the second medical device into the passage, the downstream end of the seal body slides in the downstream direction along the outer surface of the interior cannula such that the downstream end of the seal body is separated from the annular surface of the base member by a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance; wherein the valve member comprises a transverse flange having a slit opening therethrough in fluid communication with the passage; and wherein the valve member comprises shoulders configured to engage corresponding edges of the housing, wherein the distance between the upstream end of the housing and the edges is greater than the distance between the transverse flange and the shoulders, such that the valve member is under a preload when the shoulders engage the edges causing the transverse flange to bear on the upstream end of the housing.