MEDICAL CONNECTOR

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/854,524, filed Oct. 25, 2006(entitled “MEDICAL CONNECTOR”), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The inventions relate generally to medical connectors. In particular, certain embodiments of the inventions relate to medical connectors for use with standard luer connectors. In certain embodiments, the medical connectors generate a positive flow of fluid away from a medical implement as the implement is removed from an end or port of the medical connector.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Medical connectors are often used to selectively open and close fluid pathways for use in treating patients. In some connectors, a small amount of retrograde fluid flow occurs when the connector is closed, drawing fluid away from the patient and toward the connector. This retrograde flow can lead to clotting or obstructions in the fluid line, effectively shortening the time period during which a particular injection point is useable. In many applications, it is advantageous to minimize or eliminate such retrograde flow or to produce a positive flow of fluid toward the patient as the valve closes.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,599,273(incorporated herein in its entirety) includes a general description of some examples of medical connectors in which retrograde fluid flow may occur. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,245,048, 6,428,520, 6,695,817, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006-0161115A1(incorporated herein in their entireties) include general descriptions of some examples of medical valves in which a positive flow of fluid is produced away from the medical connector and toward the patient as the connector closes. There are many different types of medical connectors, and the foregoing patents are cited merely to illustrate some ways in which fluid can be transferred through connectors. The methods, structures, and principles disclosed herein can be used in or adapted to function with the connectors (and components thereof) disclosed in the foregoing patents as well as in many different types of medical connectors known or used in this field.

[0007] In some embodiments, a medical connector for use with a first and second medical implement is described including a housing having a first proximal end and a second distal end, each configured for attachment to standard luer connectors. In some embodiments, the connector further includes an inner rigid element extending within the housing having at least one opening on a side thereof. The inner rigid element may be substantially hollow in its interior with the said opening extending from an outer surface of the inner rigid element to the hollow interior. A substantially hollow flexible element may be positioned within the housing substantially surrounding the inner rigid element. The flexible element may include at least one inward projection on an inner wall thereof, wherein at least a portion of the inward projection may be shaped to cooperate with the opening in the inner rigid element such that when the connector is in a substantially closed position, wherein fluid is not permitted to flow through the connector, the portion of the inward projection is within the opening and when the connector is in a substantially open position, the portion of the inward projection is outside of the opening to permit a reduction in the inner volume of the flexible element and/or the interior of the inner rigid element when the connector is in the substantially closed position.

[0022] While the description sets forth various embodiment specific details, it will be appreciated that the description is illustrative only and should not be construed in any way as limiting the invention. Furthermore, various applications of the invention, and modifications thereto, which may be apparent to those who are skilled in the art, are also encompassed by the general concepts described herein. For example, any of the structures in the devices illustrated or described in the patent documents incorporated herein by reference may be combined with or used instead of the structures disclosed herein.

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a male luer connector 10 with a luer end 12 and a luer lock 14 approaching a female connector 16. The female connector 16 has a proximal end 18, a distal end 20, with a male luer 22 on its distal end. The distal end 20 may further include a luer lock. The female connector 16 includes a housing 24. FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the female connector 16. The proximal end 48 of a flexible element 26 is illustrated. The flexible element 26 may include an orifice 27 that is normally closed until a distally directed force is applied to flexible element 26. FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the connector 16 in which the male luer 22 on the distal end 20 of the connector is visible.

[0024] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connector 16 of FIG. 2. Some of the internal components of connector 16 are illustrated, such as flexible element 26 and rigid element 28. In some embodiments of the assembled configuration, an inner rigid element 30 is provided and can fit within a cavity 32 inside of flexible element 26. Orifice 27 is shown closed in this exploded perspective view. In some embodiments, orifice 27 is open when flexible element 26 is separate from housing 24. In some embodiments, contact between the inner cavity of the housing 24 and portions of the proximal end 48 of flexible element 26 upon insertion of flexible element 26 into housing 24 may cooperate to substantially close orifice 27 such that the fluid flow path through connector 16 is impeded.

[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of rigid element 28 having a proximal end 31 and a distal end 33. Distal end 33 may include radialy projecting elements 35. Radial elements 35 interact with corresponding features in the internal wall of housing 24 to secure rigid element 28 within housing 24 upon assembly of the connector 16. Radial elements 35 extending along the longitudinal axis of connector 16 may interact with housing 24 to inhibit rotation of rigid element 28 inside of housing 24 when connector 16 is manipulated, for example when a female connector is attached to the distal end 20 of connector 16.

[0026] In some embodiments, inner rigid element 30 has multiple openings. For example, openings 34 can be used to permit fluid to flow into an internal passage or fluid-flow path 36 inside of inner rigid element 30. In some embodiments, two openings 34 are disposed on opposite sides of inner rigid element 30. Additional openings similar to opening 34 can also be provided. In some embodiments, an opening can be provided at the proximal end 31 of inner rigid element 30. In some embodiments, one or more of openings 34 and 38 are combined (i.e., the same openings(s) are configured to receive fluid and to receive one or more protrusions 52 (see FIG. 7A). Inner rigid element 30 may be blunt, pointed, opened-ended, closed-ended, or shorter or longer, or wider or narrower than shown here. Inner rigid element 30 may have many different shapes. For example, it may be configured as a tube-like structure as shown, configured as a sleeve with one or more longitudinal openings or slits extending partially along the length of the sleeve or along the entire length of the sleeve, or the inner rigid element 30 may be eliminated entirely. Inner rigid element 30 may be in a fixed position inside of the housing 24 or it may be moveable or floating inside of the housing 24. In the absence of inner rigid element 30, one or more fluid openings may be provided at or near a distal region of the cavity inside the housing to convey fluid within the housing cavity to the male end of the connector.

[0027] In some embodiments, one or more openings 38 are provided in inner rigid element 30, and may be located in a direction distal from opening 34. As will be described below, in some embodiments, opening 38 is intended to receive a protrusion on an internal surface of flexible element 26 when the connector 16 is in the closed configuration (see FIG. 8A). In some embodiments, opening 38 is adapted to receive fluid flow. Where opening 38 is used to facilitate fluid flow through inner rigid element 30, opening 34 may or may not be included.

[0028] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate orthogonal cross-sections of rigid element 28 taken in a vertical plane. In some embodiments, as illustrated, the proximal edges 40, 42 of openings 34, 38 can be flat and substantially horizontal, and the distal edges 44, 46 of openings 34, 38 can be slanted or beveled.

[0029] As illustrated, the fluid-flow path 36 may extend from the proximal end of the inner rigid element 30 along a generally axially-oriented linear path to the male end 22. In some embodiments, as illustrated, the fluid-flow path 36 in the distal region of the inner rigid element 30 is generally non-tortuous; for example, the fluid-flow path 36 may not turn in a direction that is perpendicular to or substantially non-parallel with the axis of the inner rigid element 30, and/or it may not include fluid-exiting side openings in the distal region of the inner rigid element 30. Such a fluid-flow path may provide a higher fluid flow rate and create less turbulence in the fluid flow (which can be especially advantageous when the fluid includes blood cells).

[0030] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate orthogonal cross-sections of flexible element 26 taken in a vertical plane. Flexible element 26 can be longitudinally compressed and/or moved by a force applied to the proximal end 48 toward the distal end 50. A plurality of inwardly projecting elements 52 are provided in an internal cavity 32 of flexible element 26. In some embodiments, there is one such protrusion 52. In the illustrated embodiment, there are two protrusions 52. In some embodiments, there can be multiple openings 38, some of which can be positioned along different regions of inner rigid element 30, and there can be additional corresponding protrusions 52 that can be designed to selectively fit within or be withdrawn from one or more openings 38. In some embodiments, as shown, the internal edges or faces 53 of the opposing protrusions 52 can be positioned and oriented to contact each other and/or be close to each other when the connector 16 is in a substantially closed position. The protrusions 52 can extend into the inner rigid element 30 at an intermediate position within the fluid-flow path 36 of the inner rigid element 30. In some embodiments, the wall of the inner rigid element 30 is not positioned between the opposing edges or faces 53 of the protrusions 52 in the substantially opened position. Openings 38 can have a variety of different shapes and sizes. For example, one or more of openings 38 can be round, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, elliptical, etc. Opening 38 can be larger than opening 34. In some embodiments, opening 38 can be approximately at least one-fifth, one-quarter, one-third, one-half, or more of the length of inner rigid element 30. Protrusions 52 can also have a variety of different shapes and sizes, which may correspond to or be different from the shapes and/or sizes of openings 38. As shown, the protrusions 52 can be substantially planar. In some embodiments, the volume of the one or more protrusions 52 can be approximately equivalent to or greater than the volume in the proximal region of the connector adapted to receive the luer 12.

[0031] In some embodiments, upper or proximal edges 54 of protrusions 52 can be slanted and/or beveled. Similarly, lower or distal edges 56 of protrusions 52 can be also slanted and/or beveled. Slanting or beveling these surfaces may facilitate fluid flow through the connector 16 and may minimize turbulence in the fluid flow. In general, the shape, materials, and structure of rigid element 28 and flexible element 26 can be selected to allow protrusions 52 to be positioned within openings 38 when the connector is closed, and protrusions 52 can be completely or partially withdrawn from openings 38 when the connector is opened. When the connector 16 is in the substantially closed position, the inward protrusions 52 function so as to reduce the fluid space within the connector 16 and the fluid flow path as compared to when the connector 16 is in the substantially open position.

[0032] In some embodiments, flexible element 26 can be made of silicon, and the remaining components of connector 16 can be made of a polymer material such as polycarbonate. A proximal region 58 of flexible element 26 can include a portion with an increased wall thickness or a structure (or materials of composition) that contribute to the proximal region 58 being stiffer or harder than the portion of the flexible element 26 that flexes during compression. By providing increased stiffness or hardness for the proximal region 58, there is a lower likelihood that fluid within the valve will be forced back into the fluid path 32 inside of flexible element 26 as flexible element 26 expands to its original height when the valve is closed. Moreover, in some embodiments, a proximal portion 60 of fluid pathway 32 inside the flexible element 26 has a horizontal cross-sectional area that is substantially less than the horizontal cross-sectional area of a region in the fluid path 36 of element 28, so that fluid flow out of the distal end of the connector is encouraged and retrograde fluid flow toward the proximal end of the connector is discouraged.

[0033] In some embodiments, orifice 27 extends along an axis substantially perpendicular to inward projections 52, as shown in FIG. 7A. In other embodiments, orifice 27 extends along substantially the same plane as projections 52.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 7A and B, proximal portion 60 may include a non-rotationally symmetrical cross-sectional diameter. In some embodiments, the proximal portion 60 has smaller cross-sectional diameter in the plane perpendicular to orifice 27 and a larger cross-sectional diameter in the plane of orifice 27. In some embodiments, portions of proximal portion 60 have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional area.

[0035] FIG. 8A illustrates a vertical cross-section of the male luer 10 and female connector 16 illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIGS. 8A and 8B, a portion of rigid element 28 is positioned within the internal cavity 32 of flexible element 26. Inward protrusions 52 are positioned within openings 38, and more particularly, in the fluid flow path through connector 16. Fluid flow within connector 16 is substantially occluded. The proximal end 48 of flexible element 26 may be swabbable with antiseptic in a sweeping motion across the proximal end 18 of the connector 16, and the proximal end 48 may extend above the housing, may be substantially flush with the housing, or may be recessed within the housing.

[0036] FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an embodiment of the female connector 16 after it is connected to the male luer connector 10 in orthogonal vertical cross-sections. In some embodiments, flexible element 26 can be compressed and/or moved by a distally directed force applied by the male luer 12. As shown, a portion of inner rigid element 30 can extend in a proximal direction beyond orifice 27 during compression. In some embodiments, inner rigid element 30 does not extend further in a proximal direction than the proximal end 48 of the flexible element 26 when compressed. In some embodiments, orifice 27 may automatically open to allow fluid flow through the connector 16 upon insertion of the male luer connector 10 into connector 16.

[0037] In FIGS. 9A and 9B, the medical connector 16 is substantially open to fluid flow between the male luer 10 and the distal end 20 of the female connector 16. As shown in FIG. 9A, the protrusions 52 can be partially or completely withdrawn from the openings 38 so that the volume inside of the fluid path 36 during the open stage of the connector 16 is substantially larger than the fluid volume inside of the fluid path 36 when the connector 16 is closed (see, e.g., FIG. 8A). This can diminish, or eliminate, retrograde fluid flow from the patient toward the proximal end 18 of the connector 16, or even produce a positive flow of fluid upon closure in the direction of the distal end 20 of the connector 16 and toward the patient. In some embodiments, proximal region 58 resists compression to a greater extent than a region on flexible element 26 positioned distal from the region 58 during the insertion of the mail luer connector 10 into the female connector 16. Proximal region 58 can substantially maintain its height, before and after compression and/or movement, as fluid flow is enabled through the connector 16, which may reduce any vacuum effect in this portion of flexible element 26.

[0038] The foregoing description is provided to illustrate certain examples. The inventive concepts, principles, structures, steps, and methods disclosed herein can be applied to the devices and methods disclosed in the attached patents and in many other types of medical connectors.