The present invention relates to a connecting device for an infusion line provided in an infusion line or the like for allowing flow of blood or drug solution therethrough. In this specification, the term “rear end side” (or “base portion side”) represents the upstream side of the liquid flow when the drug solution or the like is administered via the connecting device in the invention, and the term “distal side” (or “distal portion side”) represents the downstream side.
In the infusion line of a medical instrument, a closed system having an infection preventing function or an injection accident preventing function at a connecting portion is employed. For example, there is the one in which connection to the infusion line is achieved by providing a rubber-like resilient member, a so-called “septum”, for preventing infection, for allowing passage of a male connector tube therethrough at an infusion hole of a female connector of a three-way cock, and inserting the male connector tube through the septum on the female connector.
The state of the art includes [Patent Document 1] JP-T-8-500983 (pp.2,
However, in the prior art connecting device for the infusion line having the liquid discharge port 73 at the distal end of the male Luer 71 of the male connector 70, liquid can leak from the liquid discharge port 73 after priming (air discharge) or may drip after the connector is disconnected and so easily become unclean, and protection of the portion near the liquid discharge port 73 is insufficient. A side surface of the male Luer 71 is exposed to the outside, whereby dust or fungus or leaked liquid may attach to the side surface and a peripheral portion thereof, and thus easily become unclean.
A technical object of the present invention is to keep the portion in the vicinity of a liquid discharge port in a clean state even when priming and connecting, and to achieve easy connecting and disconnecting to an infusion line without loss of liquid from the liquid discharge port even when the connection is released.
A connecting device for an infusion line according to the present invention is configured as follows. In a connecting device for an infusion line including a male connector and a female connector, the male connector and the female connector being provided at a connecting portion for an infusion line and forming a communication channel, a tube forming a flow channel of the male connector includes at the distal end portion a gas discharge portion for blocking discharge of liquid and allowing discharge of air from the flow channel and a liquid discharge port for allowing discharge of liquid therefrom, the tube is provided with shutter means around the distal end portion thereof, and the shutter means opens the liquid discharge port upon receiving a pressing force from the female connector when the tube is connected, and the shutter means returns to its former state and closes the liquid discharge port when the pressing force is released.
The gas discharge portion of the male connector includes an opening formed at the distal end of the male connector tube and a filter integrated with the tube and covering the opening so as to block discharge of liquid from the flow channel and allow discharge of gas therefrom, and the liquid discharge port is composed of a hole formed on a side wall of the distal portion of the male connector tube.
The gas discharge portion of the male connector includes a first side hole formed on the side wall of the distal end portion of the male connector tube, and a filter integrated with the tube and covering the first side hole so as to block discharge of liquid from the flow channel and allow discharge of gas therefrom, and the liquid discharge port is composed of a second side hole formed upstream of the first side hole on the side wall at the distal end portion of the male connector tube.
Shutter dislodging preventing means for preventing dislodging of the shutter means from the male connector tube is provided.
The male connector tube is provided with a protruding portion the shape of an outwardly extending flange, protruding at the axial midsection of the male connector tube, and an outer cylinder extending axially from the outer peripheral edge of the protruding portion toward the distal end and surrounding the distal end portion of the tube. The shutter dislodging preventing means includes a groove-like recess formed on the inner surface of the outer cylinder so as to extend axially, and a stopper projecting from the shutter means, capable of being slidably fitted in the groove-like recess and engaging with the distal end surface of the groove-like recess.
Holding means for holding the connection between the male connector and the female connector is provided.
The rear end portion of the female connector is formed so as to be capable of being fitted into the outer cylinder of the male connector, and the holding means includes a hook-shaped notch formed by forming a groove at the front end surface of the outer cylinder of the male connector and a projection formed on an outer surface of the rear end portion of the female connector so as to project therefrom and be capable of engaging with the hook-shaped notch of the male connector.
An infusion hole of the female connector that allows insertion of the male connector tube is provided with a rubber-like resilient member having a slit configured to allow insertion of the male connector tube and have a thickness allowing penetration of the liquid discharge port of the male connector tube.
The male connector is integrally provided at the distal end of a syringe.
According to the present invention, it is possible for only gas to be discharged from the inside of the tube forming the flow channel of the male connector while blocking discharge of liquid therefrom (during priming), and hence the interior of the tube can be filled with liquid. Therefore, even though the male connector is disconnected, little leakage of liquid occurs. Therefore, attachment of fungus or dust occurs mainly on the outer surface of the shutter means, and can be removed easily by wiping. Consequently, the liquid discharge port or the peripheral portion thereof can be kept constantly in a clean state.
1 male connector
2 infusion tube (tube)
4 infusion portion (distal end portion of tube)
7, 7A gas discharge portion
8 liquid discharge port (hole)
8A liquid discharge port (second side hole)
9 opening of gas discharge portion
11, 11A filter of gas discharge portion
12 protruding portion
13 outer cylinder
15 shutter dislodging preventing means
16 groove-like recess
17 distal end surface of groove-like recess
18 stopper
20, 20A shutter means
29 hook-shaped notch
30 female connector
33 single cylindrical portion (rear end portion of female connector)
34 projection
35 holding means
37 interior space (infusion hole of female connector)
38 slit
39 septum (rubber-like resilient member)
50 syringe
60 first side hole (opening of gas discharge portion)
The connecting device for an infusion line according to this embodiment includes a male connector 1 and a female connector 30 formed of synthetic resin that are provided at a connecting portion to the infusion line and define a communication channel. The male connector 1 is provided with a tube defining a flow channel to which liquid such as drug solution is infused, that is, an infusion tube 2 as shown in
The infusion tube 2 is provided at its distal end portion with a gas discharge portion 7 that blocks discharge of liquid from the flow channel and allows discharge of gas therefrom, and a liquid discharge port 8 that allows discharge of liquid, and around its distal end with shutter means 20 which opens the liquid discharge port 8 when it receives a pressing force from the female connector 30 at the time of connection and blocks the liquid discharge port 8 when it returns to its original state upon release of the pressing force.
More specifically, the gas discharge portion 7 includes an opening 9 formed at the distal end of the infusion tube 2, and a filter 11 integrated with the infusion tube 2 by fusion or adhesion and covering the opening 9 so as to block discharge of liquid from the flow channel and allow discharge of gas therefrom. Here, a moisture permeable/water-proof film formed mainly of polypropylene or polyethylene and having innumerable micron-sized fine holes formed thereon is used for the filter 11. The moisture permeable/water-proof film has the characteristic that it permits the passage of gas such as air but blocks liquid such as water. The liquid discharge port 8 is composed of a plurality of holes formed on a side wall of the distal end portion of the infusion tube 2 of the male connector 1.
The infusion tube 2 is formed with an protruding portion 12 which protrudes in the shape of an outward flange in the axial midsection of infusion tube 2, and an outer cylinder 13 that extends from the outer peripheral edge of the protruding portion 12 axially toward the distal end so as to surround the distal end portion of the infusion tube 2, that is, the infusion portion 4. Provided between the outer cylinder 13 and the infusion portion 4 of the infusion tube 2 is a space 14, and the shutter means 20 is mounted in the space 14 via shutter dislodging preventing means 15 so as to be capable of axial sliding movement. The shutter dislodging preventing means 15 is means that prevents dislodging of the shutter means 20 from the infusion portion 4, and is composed of a groove-like recess 16 formed on the inner surface of the outer cylinder 13 extending in the axial direction, and a stopper 18 that is formed projecting from the shutter means 20 and is capable being slidably fitted in the groove-like recess 16 and engaging with the distal end surface 17 of the groove-like recess 16. The stopper 18 also has a function to guide the entire shutter means 20 in the space 14 of the outer cylinder 13 in the axial direction by being slid in the groove-like recess 16.
The shutter means 20 includes, as shown in
The rear end portion of the shutter body 21 protrudes radially outward so as to serve as a tightening portion 27, and the inner peripheral surface of the tightening portion 27 is formed into a tapered shape extending along the outer peripheral surface of the distal, reduced diameter portion of the tapered infusion portion 5. The portion of the shutter body 21 near the axial center is formed into a cylindrical portion 28 which can be deformed into an accordion or concertina as shown in
The male connector 1 is formed with hook-shaped notches 29 formed on the front end surface on the outer cylinder 13 at a plurality of positions along the circumference.
The female connector 30 is formed as double tubular portion at the distal side of the main body, and a female screw 32 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of an outer cylinder 31 of the double cylindrical portion, so that connection to a port or the like of a three-way cock is achieved by screwing in this female screw 32. The rear end side of the main body of the female connector 30 is formed as a single cylindrical portion 33 continuing from the outer cylinder 31, and the single cylindrical portion 33 is provided with projections 34 that can engage with the hook-shaped notches 29 (
As shown in
The septum 39 is formed with an annular groove 47 on the peripheral portion of its rear end surface, in which can be fitted the inner ring 42 of the holding member 41. The holding member 41 prevents the septum 39 from dislodging from the female connector body.
In order to connect an infusion line via the male connector 1 and the female connector 30 of the connecting device according to this embodiment configured as described above, infusion solution is filled into the infusion portion 4 from the introduction portion 3 in the infusion tube 2 of the male connector 1 as a first step. Accordingly, only air is discharged through the filter 11 at the distal end of the infusion tube 2 and priming is completed.
Subsequently, the distal surface of the annular projection 24a and the distal surface of the bottom 22 of the shutter means 20 of the male connector 1 are brought into abutment and pressed against the rear end surface of the female connector 30 positioned, for example, on the side of the three-way cock. Accordingly, the shutter means 20 is guided in the groove recess 16 on the outer cylinder 13 and retracts in the space 14. At this time, the distal infusion portion 6 of the infusion tube 2 is inserted into the slits 38 from the rear side of the septum 39 of the female connector 30, moving relative to the shutter means 20. When the shutter means 20 is further retracted, the tightening portion 27 of the shutter body 21 comes into abutment with the protruding portion 12, which corresponds to the bottom of the outer cylinder 13. When the shutter means 20 is further pushed in this state, the cylindrical portion 28 of the shutter body 21 is deformed into an accordion shape. Then, from this state, by rotating the male connector 1 while pushing the same, the respective projections 34 of the female connector 30 are fitted and engaged to the respective hook-shaped notches 29 of the male connector 1 as shown in
In this manner, since the shutter means 20 of the male connector 1 comes into abutment with the rear end surface of the female connector 30 and is pushed and shortened, the male connector 1 and the female connector 30 are connected with communication between the two, the liquid discharge port 8 of the distal infusion portion 6 of the male connector 1 opening only in the interior space 37 in the female connector 30 and not opening to the outside air. In the case in which the connected male connector 1 and female connector 30 become disconnected by mistake, the shutter means 20 is returned to the distal side by the restoration force of the shutter body 21 when the male connector 1 separates, so that the liquid discharge port 8 of the distal infusion port 6 of the male connector 1 is closed by the valve forming portion 24 of the shutter body 21, whereby discharge of liquid is restrained.
In other words, when the male connector 1 and the female connector 30 are connected with communication between the two, the shutter means 20 is in the state of retraction, and the tightening portion 27 of the shutter body 21 is forcedly opened by the tapered surface of the tapered infusion portion 5 which increases in diameter toward the base. Furthermore, since the cylindrical portion 28 of the shutter body 21 is deformed into an accordion shape and hence is compressed in the axial direction, restoration force in the radially inward direction on the tapered surface is generated, and a component force thereof acts to push the shutter means 20 toward the distal end. Therefore, when the male connector 1 is pulled out from the female connector 30, the shutter body 21 slides along the tapered surface toward the small diameter side of the tapered infusion portion 5, and accordingly, the shutter means 20 is guided by the groove-like recess 16 of the outer cylinder 6 to move toward the distal end, and thus the valve forming portion 24 of the shutter body 21 closes the liquid discharge port 8 of the distal infusion portion 6, whereby the state shown in
In this manner, according to this embodiment, it is possible merely by filling infusion solution into the infusion portion 4 from the introduction portion 3 in the infusion tube 2 of the male connector 1 to discharge air through the filter 11 at the distal end of the infusion tube 2, and priming can be completed. Also, since the tapered infusion portion 5 is provided at the infusion portion 4 of the male connector 1 so as to provide a resilient force in the radial direction (a component of which acts toward the distal end) to the tightening portion 27 of the shutter body 21, and the cylindrical portion 28 which is deformable in the accordion shape is provided in the shutter body 21 to provide an axial resilient force, an urging force on the shutter means 20 toward the distal end can be generated, so that the liquid discharge port 8 of the distal infusion portion 6 of the male connector 1 can normally be closed by the shutter means 20. Therefore, leakage of liquid at the time of priming can be minimized, whereby diffusion of liquid which tends to be a breeding ground of infection can be prevented. In addition, ingress of dust or the like in the interior space 14 of the outer cylinder 13 can be prevented, so that the infusion portion 4 and the periphery thereof can be maintained constantly in a clean state.
The closed state of the liquid discharge port 8 in the normal state can be maintained by the shutter dislodging preventing means 15 and the shutter means 20 is prevented from dislodging from the outer cylinder 13.
When necessary, it is possible merely by applying a force in the direction toward the base side to the shutter means 20 to open the liquid discharge port 8 of the distal infusion portion 6, and hence usability is improved.
Since the connected state between the male connector 1 and the female connector 30 can be maintained by the holding means 35, reliability can be secured easily.
The connecting device for an infusion line in the second embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in the method of generating a restoration force in the shutter means 20A provided on the distal end portion of the infusion tube 2, opening the liquid discharge port 8 with pressing force received from the female connector 30 when connected, and returning to the original state when the pressing force is released, thereby closing the liquid discharge port 8.
Specifically, in the first embodiment (
More specifically, a shutter body 21A, formed of a resilient member, of the shutter means 20A is composed only of the column-shaped valve forming portion 24, and a coil spring 40 for urging the valve forming portion 24 constantly in the distal end direction so that the stopper 18 of the shutter dislodging preventing means 15 engages with the distal end surface 17 of the groove-like recess 16 is arranged between the back surface of the valve forming portion 24 and the inner surface of the protruding portion 12 which corresponds to the bottom of the outer cylinder 13. Other structures including the gas discharge portion 7 and the holding means 35 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.
In the connecting device for an infusion line in this embodiment, in addition to the same effects as in the first embodiment, the resilient force (restoration force) can easily be changed merely by changing the spring constant. Therefore, there are the advantages that design freedom including selection of material of the shutter body 21 is increased, and operation is stable.
In the connecting device for an infusion line in this modification, basically, the introduction portion 3 of the infusion tube 2 of the male connector 1 described in conjunction with the first embodiment (
In the connecting device for an infusion line in this modification, by pressing a plunger 51 of the syringe 50 and filling infusion solution from the syringe 50 into the infusion portion 4 in the state in which the liquid discharge port 8 is closed and protected by the shutter means 20, only air is discharged through the filter 11 on the gas discharge portion 7 at the distal end of the infusion portion 4 and hence the priming is completed.
In this manner, in the connecting device for an infusion line according to this modification, since the priming can be performed with the liquid discharge port 8 closed, a protective cap or the like which was necessary for the syringe in the related art is not necessary any longer, and hence usability is improved.
According to the connecting device for an infusion line according to this modification, a gas discharge portion 7A of a male connector is composed of a plurality of first side holes 60 formed on a side wall of the distal portion of the infusion portion 4 of the male connector and a filter 11A integrated to the infusion portion 4 and covering the respective first side holes 60 by fusion or adhesion so as to block discharge of liquid from the flow channel and allow discharge of gas therethrough, and a liquid discharge port 8A is composed of second side holes formed upstream of the first side holes 60 on the side wall of the distal portion of the infusion portion 4 of the male connector. This modification may be applied to either the first or second embodiment, and the modifications (
In the connecting device for an infusion line in this modification, the distal end of the infusion portion 4 projects from the shutter means 20 to an extent in which the respective gas discharge portions 7A are opened in the normal state and, in this state, the respective liquid discharge ports 8A are closed by the valve forming portion 24 of the shutter means 20. In other words, the priming can be performed with the respective liquid discharge ports 8A closed.
When connecting with the female connector 30, the septum 39 is penetrated to the portion where there are the respective liquid discharge ports 8A, so that the respective liquid discharge ports 8A are opened, allowing infusion.
In the connecting device for an infusion line in this modification, the distal end of the infusion portion 4 is completely closed and it looks like a solid shaft in appearance. Therefore, resistance applied when penetrating the septum 39 can be reduced, and hence the usability is improved.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2005-007425 | Jan 2005 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2006/000237 | 1/12/2006 | WO | 00 | 4/22/2008 |