초록 ▼

A needle free medical connector includes a housing with a first port and a second port. The connector also includes a piston element defining a fluid passageway between the first and second ports. The piston element is movable between flow and non-flow positions. The piston element has a compressibl

A needle free medical connector includes a housing with a first port and a second port. The connector also includes a piston element defining a fluid passageway between the first and second ports. The piston element is movable between flow and non-flow positions. The piston element has a compressible section having a variable inner width that forms a part of the flow path through the connector. As the piston is compressed to the flow position, the compressible section self-expands in width thereby maintaining or increasing the volume of the fluid passageway through the connector. The compressible section has a configuration permitting the continuous flow of fluid through its entirety.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A connector for controlling the flow of fluid, the connector having an internal fluid passageway by which fluid may flow through the connector, the connector comprising: a housing having a first port and a second port, the first port being adapted to receive a blunt cannula and the second port ad

1. A connector for controlling the flow of fluid, the connector having an internal fluid passageway by which fluid may flow through the connector, the connector comprising: a housing having a first port and a second port, the first port being adapted to receive a blunt cannula and the second port adapted for fluid communication with a fluid conduit; and a movable element positioned within the housing, the movable element having a first position at which the movable element blocks fluid flow through the housing and a second position at which the movable element permits fluid flow through the housing, the movable element comprising: a head defining a bore forming a part of the fluid passageway through the connector, the head being configured such that when the movable element is in the second position, the bore self-opens to permit fluid flow, the head being further configured such that when the moveable element is in the first position the bore moves to a closed configuration preventing fluid flow; a compressible section defining an inner conduit forming a part of the fluid passageway through the connector, the inner conduit having a width moveable between a first width and a second width, the compressible section being configured so that when the moveable element is in the second position the compressible section self-expands so that the inner conduit has the second width, the inner conduit being further configured so that when the moveable element is in the first position the inner conduit moves to the first width, wherein the first width is smaller than the second width; a support tube having opposing ends, the support tube defining a lumen extending between the opposing ends, one end being in fluid communication with the second port and the lumen forming a part of the internal fluid passageway through the connector; wherein the support tube comprises a wall, the wall defining a slot providing a fluid path between the exterior of the tube and the lumen. 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the support tube is configured in relation to the moveable element such that, when the movable element is in the second position, the lumen and slot of the support tube are positioned, at least in part, within the inner conduit of the compressible section such that fluid may flow through the inner conduit of the compressible section, through the slot, through the lumen of the support tube, and through the second port of the housing. 3. The connector of claim 2 wherein: the inner conduit of the compressible section has opposing first and second ends, the first end being adjacent the bore of the head; and the movable element defines an orifice located at the second end of the inner conduit, the orifice forming part of a flow path extending from the bore, through the inner conduit, and out of the inner conduit through the orifice. 4. The connector of claim 3 wherein: the lumen and slot of the support tube extend, at least in part, to a location outside the inner conduit of the compressible section when the movable element is at the second position; and said flow path further extends from the orifice, through the slot, and into the lumen at the location outside of the inner conduit. 5. The connector of claim 3 wherein: the moveable element further comprises a spring section connected to the compressible section; and said flow path further extends from the orifice, and into the spring section whereby the spring section provides a portion of the internal fluid passageway. 6. The connector of claim 5 wherein: the spring section is extended when the moveable element is in the first position and when extended, the spring section has a first internal volume; and the spring section is compressed when the moveable element is in the second position and when compressed, the spring section has a second internal volume, the second internal volume of the spring section being greater than the first internal volume of the spring section; where by the internal volume of the portion of the flow path provided by the spring section is greater when the spring section is compressed. 7. A connector for controlling the flow of fluid, the connector having an internal fluid passageway by which fluid may flow through the connector, the connector comprising: a housing having a first port and a second port, the first port being adapted to receive a blunt cannula and the second port adapted for fluid communication with a fluid conduit; and a movable element positioned within the housing, the movable element having a first position at which the movable element blocks fluid flow through the housing and a second position at which the movable element permits fluid flow through the housing, the movable element comprising: a head defining a bore forming a part of the fluid passageway through the connector, the head being configured such that when the movable element is in the second position, the bore self-opens to permit fluid flow, the head being further configured such that when the moveable element is in the first position the bore moves to a closed configuration preventing fluid flow; a compressible section defining an inner conduit forming a part of the fluid passageway through the connector, the inner conduit having a width moveable between a first width and a second width, the compressible section being configured so that when the moveable element is in the second position the compressible section self-expands so that the inner conduit has the second width, the inner conduit being further configured so that when the moveable element is in the first position the inner conduit moves to the first width, wherein the first width is smaller than the second width; and wherein the inner conduit is configured such that fluid may continuously flow through the entire inner conduit when the movable element is in the second position; and a support tube having opposing ends, the support tube defining a lumen extending between the opposing ends, one end being in fluid communication with the second port and the lumen forming a part of the internal fluid passageway through the connector; wherein the support tube comprises a wall, the wall defining a slot providing a fluid path between the exterior of the tube and the lumen. 8. The connector of claim 7 wherein the support tube is configured in relation to the moveable element such that, when the movable element is in the second position, the lumen and slot of the support tube are positioned, at least in part, within the inner conduit of the compressible section such that fluid may flow through the inner conduit of the compressible section, through the slot, through the lumen of the support tube, and through the second port of the housing. 9. The connector of claim 8 wherein: the inner conduit of the compressible section has opposing first and second ends, the first end being adjacent the bore of the head; and the movable element defines an orifice located at the second end of the inner conduit, the orifice forming part of a flow path extending from the bore, through the inner conduit, and out of the inner conduit through the orifice. 10. The connector of claim 9 wherein: the lumen and slot of the support tube extend, at least in part, to a location outside the inner conduit of the compressible section when the movable element is at the second position; and said flow path further extends from the orifice, through the slot, and into the lumen at the location outside of the inner conduit. 11. The connector of claim 10 wherein: the moveable element further comprises a spring section connected to the compressible section; and said flow path further extends from the orifice, and into the spring section whereby the spring section provides a portion of the internal fluid passageway. 12. The connector of claim 11 wherein: the spring section is extended when the moveable element is in the first position and when extended, the spring section h as a first internal volume; and the spring section is compressed when the moveable element is in the second position and when compressed, the spring section has a second internal volume, the second internal volume of the spring section being greater than the first internal volume of the spring section; whereby the internal volume of the portion of the flow path provided by the spring section is greater when the spring section is compressed. 13. A connector for controlling the flow of fluid, the connector having an internal fluid passageway by which fluid may flow through the connector, the connector comprising: a housing having a first port and a second port, the first port being adapted to receive a blunt cannula and the second port adapted for fluid communication with a fluid conduit; a movable element positioned within the housing, the movable element having a first position at which the movable element blocks fluid flow through the housing and a second position at which the movable element permits fluid flow through the housing, the movable element comprising: a head defining a bore forming a part of the fluid passageway through the connector, the head being configured such that when the movable element is in the second position, the bore self-opens to permit fluid flow, the head being further configured such that when the moveable element is in the first position the bore moves to a closed configuration preventing fluid flow; a compressible section defining an inner conduit forming a part of the fluid passageway through the connector, the inner conduit having a width moveable between a first width and a second width, the compressible section being configured so that when the moveable element is in the second position the compressible section self-expands so that the inner conduit has the second width, the inner conduit being further configured so that when the moveable element is in the first position the inner conduit moves to the first width, wherein the first width is smaller than the second width, the inner conduit being configured such that fluid may continuously flow through the entire inner conduit when the movable element is located in the second position; and a support tube having a first end and a second end with the second end being in fluid communication with the second port, the support tube having a lumen forming a part of the internal fluid passageway through the connector, the support tube having a wall that defines the lumen and a longitudinal slot formed through the wall and into communication with the lumen whereby fluid may flow into and out of the lumen through the longitudinal slot; wherein the lumen and slot of the support tube are located within the inner conduit of the compressible section when the movable element is in the second position whereby fluid may flow through the inner conduit of the compressible section, through the slot, through the lumen of the support tube, and through the second port of the housing. 14. The connector of claim 13 wherein: the inner conduit of the compressible section has a first end and a second end; and the movable element also comprises an orifice located at the second end of the inner conduit that provides a flow path between the inner conduit and a location of the fluid passageway that is outside of the inner conduit. 15. The connector of claim 14 wherein: the lumen and slot of the support tube extend to a location outside the inner conduit of the compressible section when the movable element is at the second position; and the orifice provides a flow path between the inner conduit and the slot and the lumen of the support tube at the location outside of the inner conduit. 16. The connector of claim 15 wherein: the moveable element further comprises a spring section connected to the compressible section, the spring section located over the lumen and slot of the support tube that extend to the location outside the inner conduit; and the orifice provi des the flow path through the spring section. 17. The connector of claim 16 wherein: the spring section is extended when the moveable element is in the first position and when extended, the spring section has a first internal volume; and the spring section is compressed when the moveable element is in the second position and when compressed, the spring section has a second internal volume, the second internal volume of the spring section being greater than the first internal volume of the spring section; whereby the internal volume of the portion of the flow path provided by the spring section is greater when the spring section is compressed. 18. The connector of claim 13 further comprising a narrowed region adjacent the first port of the housing at which the head of the movable element is located when the movable element is in the first position, the size of the narrowed region selected so as to cause the bore of the head to close to prevent fluid flow through the fluid passageway of the connector. 19. The connector of claim 13 further comprising a narrowed region adjacent the first port of the housing at which the compressible section is located when the movable element is in the first position, the size of the narrowed region selected o as to cause the inner conduit of the compressible section to move to its second width. 20. The connector of claim 19 wherein: the compressible section is connected to the head; and the moveable element further comprises a spring section connected to the compressible section, the spring section being adapted to urge the movable element to the first position at which the compressible section is placed within the narrowed region. 21. The connector of claim 20 wherein the head, and the compressible section, and the spring section are molded as an integral element from a resilient material. 22. The connector of claim 13 wherein the compressible section comprises a plurality of substantially inflexible wall elements and a plurality of substantially flexible membrane elements, the membrane elements connecting together adjacent edges of the wall elements. 23. The connector of claim 22 wherein the membrane elements are adapted to fold radially inwardly when the inner conduit has the second width.