Medical connector with swabbable stopper

摘要

A medical fluid flowline connector comprised of axially aligned relatively rotatable parts preferably comprising a male Luer and a female Luer and an axially compressed elastomeric valve element therebetween includes an elastomeric swabbable stopper permanently positioned in the female Luer, the stopper having a head urged by spring force outwardly of the female Luer when the spring is compressed and also being retained therein by the spring. The spring may comprise an axially compressible resilient portion of the stopper or it may comprise a separate compressible element. An axially extending elongated post integral with the female Luer is configured with axially extending lobes which define flow passageways and has an end which contacts a deformable slit in a head on the stopper to ensure deformation and opening of the slit as a male Luer at the end of a fluid flowline is inserted against the stopper and displaces and deforms the stopper into the female Luer of the flowline connector during flowline connection. The exposed undeformed outer end of the stopper presents a substantially smooth surface which may be swabbed with alcohol and which prevents ingress of contaminants into the female Luer of the connector.