NEEDLELESS MEDICAL CONNECTOR WITH EXPANDABLE VALVE MECHANISM

摘要

A needleless connector (10) for medical use, adapted to facilitate the flow of fluid therethrough, includes a housing (12) having an inlet port (14) and an outlet port (18). The connector (10) also includes a flex-tube assembly (22) defining a fluid path between the inlet port (14) and the outlet port (18). The flex-tube assembly (22) is movable between uncompressed and compressed states. The flex-tube assembly (22) has a first internal volume when in the uncompressed state and a second internal volume, greater than or substantial ly equal to the first internal volume, when in the compressed state.