CONNECTOR

Abstract

A connector has a connection port closed by a sealing member. The connection port is attached to a first body portion which in turn is connected to a second body portion by an elastic bellows. When a Luer connector is withdrawn from the port, the bellows first extends and then retracts creating an overpressure within the connector

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a three-way stopcock pertaining to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a three-way stopcock pertaining to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of a three-way stopcock pertaining to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross section at A-A in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is cross section B-B in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an oblique view schematically representing the valve member pertaining to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows the operation when coinjecting from the third branch tube of the three-way stopcock in the first embodiment of the present invention; (a) shows the situation before the Luer part is inserted into the valve member, (b) when the Luer part is inserted in the valve member but the valve member is still closed, and (c) when the Luer part is inserted into the valve member and the valve member is open.

FIG. 8 shows the same operation as FIG. 7 obliquely.

FIG. 9 pertains to the first embodiment of the present invention and shows the relationship between the pushing force and the lifting force acting on the main body of the valve member.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a three-way stopcock pertaining to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a partial side cross section of a three-way stopcock pertaining to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows the operation when coinjecting from the third branch tube of the three-way stopcock pertaining to the second embodiment of the present invention; (a) shows the situation the situation before the Luer part is inserted into the valve member, (b) when the Luer part is inserted in the valve member but the valve member is still closed, and (c) when the Luer part is inserted into the valve member and the valve member is open.

FIG. 13 shows the same operation as in FIG. 12 obliquely.

FIG. 14 pertains to the second embodiment of the present invention and shows the relationship between the pushing force and the lifting force acting on the main body of the valve member.

FIG. 15 shows a coinjection appliance pertaining to a third embodiment of the present invention; (a) is a front view, (b) a plan view and (c) a side view.

FIG. 16 is a cross section of the coinjection appliance pertaining to the third embodiment of the present invention; (a) is cross section A-A in FIG. 15 (b), (b) cross section B-B in FIG. 15 (a), and (c) cross section C-C in FIG. 15 (b).

FIG. 17 shows a connector pertaining to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; (a) is a front view, (b) a side view, and (c) a plan view.

FIG. 18 is a cross section of the connector pertaining to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; (a) is cross section A-A in FIG. 17 (b), and (b) is cross section B-B in FIG. 17 (a).

FIG. 19 is cross section A-A in FIG. 2 for a three-way stopcock pertaining to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is cross section B-B in FIG. 3 for the three-way stopcock pertaining to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 shows the operation of the valve member of the three-way stopcock pertaining to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. (a) shows the situation before the Luer part is inserted, (b) when Luer part (52) has been inserted, (c) while Luer part (52) is being pulled out, and (d) after Luer part (52) has been pulled out.

Claims

1. A connector comprising a housing having a plurality of connection ports, said housing defining a fluid flow through channel therein whereby said connection ports are selectably connectable via said through channel wherein one of said connection ports is an injection port, said injection port incorporating a valve member for sealingly closing said injection port whereby said valve member is arranged so as to be movable in a direction towards said through channel in response to an external pressure being applied thereto so as to open said injection port to fluid flow and wherein said housing comprises: a first body part and a second body part, said second body part incorporating said injection port and wherein said first body part is connected to said second body part by an elastic member.

2. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said elastic member is arranged to exert a force on said second body part such that in an equilibrium state, said second body part is biased toward said first body part.

3. The connector according to claim 2 wherein said injection port is shaped so as to exert a frictional restraining force on a luer connector inserted into said injection port.

4. The connector according to claim 3 wherein said friction force is of a magnitude sufficient such that when said luer connector is withdrawn, said second body part is displaced away from said first body part.

5. The connector according to claim 1 wherein said elastic member is an elastic bellows.

6. A connector having a housing, said housing having an opening portion opened to the outside and a connecting port connected to a tube and which has a flow channel space that allows flow of liquid through said connecting port formed inside it, characterized in that the connector includes a closure comprising: a valve member for attachment to said opening portion and for allowing a liquid from outside to flow into said flow channel space after opening of said valve membersaid valve member having a main body portion that seals said opening portion liquid tight and can be moved to the side of said flow channel space under the pressing force from the outside, and a supporting portion, which is connected to said main body portion and is engaged to said housing, and which has an elastic force that acts on said main body portion when said main body portion moves to the side of said flow channel space under the pressing force from the outside;said main body portion has an outer surface facing the outside and the inner surface facing the flow channel space while said opening portion is blocked liquid tight;and, on said outer surface, a connecting surface is formed that is connected to said flow channel space when said main body portion is pressed into the side of said flow channel space under the pressing force from outside and wherein said housing comprises:a first body part and a second body part, said second body part incorporating said opening portion and wherein said first body part is connected to said second body part by an elastic member.

7. A connector according to claim 6 wherein said elastic member is arranged to exert a force on said second body part such that in an equilibrium state, said second body part is biased toward said first body part.

8. The connector according to claim 7 wherein said opening portion is shaped so as to exert a frictional restraining force on a luer connector when inserted into said opening portion.

9. The connector according to claim 8 wherein said friction force is of a magnitude sufficient such that when said luer connector is withdrawn, said second body part is displaced away from said first body part.

10. The connector according to claim 6 wherein said elastic member is an elastic bellows.

11. A connector having a housing, which has an opening portion opened to the outside and a connecting port connected to a tube and which has a flow channel space that allows flow of liquid through said connecting port formed inside it, characterized in that said connector comprises: a valve member for attachment to said opening portion and for allowing a liquid from outside to flow into said flow channel space after opening of said valve membersaid valve member having a main body portion that seals said opening portion liquid tight and can be moved to the side of said flow channel space under the pressing force from the outside, and a supporting portion, which is connected to said main body portion and is engaged to said housing, and which has an elastic force that acts on said main body portion when said main body portion moves to the side of said flow channel space under the pressing force from the outside;said main body portion has an outer surface facing the outside and the inner surface facing the flow channel space while said opening portion is blocked liquid tight;and, on said outer surface, a connecting surface is formed that is connected to said flow channel space when said main body portion is pressed into the side of said flow channel space under the pressing force from outside and wherein said housing comprises:a first body part and a second body part, said second body part incorporating said opening portion and wherein said first body part is connected to said second body part by an elastic member.

12. A connector according to claim 11 wherein said elastic member is arranged to exert a force on said second body part such that in an equilibrium state, said second body part is biased toward said first body part.

13. The connector according to claim 12 wherein said opening portion is shaped so as to exert a frictional restraining force on a luer connector when inserted into said opening portion.

14. The connector according to claim 13 wherein said friction force is of a magnitude sufficient such that when said luer connector is withdrawn, said second body part is displaced away from said first body part.

15. The connector according to claim 11 wherein said elastic member is an elastic bellows.

16. A fluid through-flow connector having at least one connection port, said connection port comprising a connection port housing having an inner surface defining an inner volume and an outer surface, characterized in that said connector further comprises a sealing member, said sealing member having an inner portion extending within said inner volume and at least one outer portion extending externally of said housing, wherein said inner portion includes an inner slit extending from a lower surface of said inner portion and wherein said sealing member is of an elastically deformable material, wherein said sealing member is arranged such that it is deformable from a first closed state in which said sealing member is arranged in a fluid sealing configuration to a second open state in which said sealing member is arranged in a fluid non-sealing configuration and in which said inner portion is displaced into said inner volume and in which said at least one outer portion exerts a restoring force on said inner portion urging said inner portion to return to said first closed state, said deformation from said first closed state to said second open state being caused by the making of a connection to said connection port and wherein said housing comprises: a first body part and a second body part, said second body part incorporating said connection port and wherein said first body part is connected to said second body part by an elastic member.

17. A connector according to claim 16 wherein said elastic member is arranged to exert a force on said second body part such that in an equilibrium state, said second body part is biased toward said first body part.

18. The connector according to claim 17 wherein said connection port is shaped so as to exert a frictional restraining force on a luer connector when inserted into said connection port.

19. The connector according to claim 18 wherein said friction force is of a magnitude sufficient such that when said luer connector is withdrawn, said second body part is displaced away from said first body part.

20. The connector according to claim 16 wherein said elastic member is an elastic bellows.