IP Library › Granted Patent US 12678611
Granted Patent B2
US 12678611 · App. 18/733,592 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Fluid connector system

Inventors: Manish Kumar (Bengaluru, IN); Praveen Nalawade (Belagavi, IN); Karthik MR (Bangalore, IN); Balaji K (Chennai, IN)
Assignee: CAREFUSION 303, INC.
A61M39/26A61M39/10F16L37/30F16L37/33A61M2039/1061A61M2039/2426A61M2039/2433A61M2039/246
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12678611
App. No.
18/733,592
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Fluid connector systems including first and second connector portions that can form a fluid pathway when coupled together and can resist fluid flow therethrough when separated. Each connector portion can include a connector housing, a luer portion, and a spherical valve member. The spherical valve member is disposed within the connector housing extends partially through a valve opening of the connector housing. When the first and second connector portions are coupled together, the spherical valve members contact each other and displace away from their respective valve openings. This forms a fluid path between the first and second connector portions.

Claims (48)

1 . A connector comprising:

a first connector portion comprising:

a connector housing comprising a connector body defining a housing volume, a luer opening and a valve opening, wherein the housing volume is in fluid communication with the luer opening and the valve opening;

a luer portion comprising a luer end and a housing end, the luer portion defining a lumen extending between the luer end and the housing end, wherein the housing end of the luer portion extends through the luer opening of the connector body to couple the luer portion to the connector housing and the lumen is in fluid communication with the housing volume; and

a spherical valve member disposed within the housing volume,

wherein the spherical valve member is configured to obstruct the valve opening to prevent fluid flow from the housing volume through the valve opening when the first connector portion is spaced apart from a second connector portion,

wherein the spherical valve member is configured to displace away from the valve opening and permit fluid flow from the housing volume through the valve opening when the first connector portion is coupled to the second connector portion and a second spherical valve member of the second connector portion contacts the spherical valve member.

2 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the first connector portion comprises a valve housing coupled to the spherical valve member, and the valve housing is configured to urge the spherical valve member toward the valve opening.

3 . The connector of claim 2 , wherein the connector housing and the luer portion retain the valve housing within the housing volume.

4 . The connector of claim 2 , wherein the valve housing defines at least one channel and the at least one channel is configured to permit flow through the connector housing.

5 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the connector body comprises a planar connector surface and the valve opening is defined through the planar connector surface.

6 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the luer portion is releasably coupled to the connector housing.

7 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the connector housing further comprises an engagement lip extending radially from the connector body.

8 . A connector comprising:

a first connector portion comprising:

a connector housing comprising a connector body defining a housing volume, a luer opening and a valve opening, wherein the housing volume is in fluid communication with the luer opening and the valve opening;

a luer portion comprising a luer end and a housing end, the luer portion defining a lumen extending between the luer end and the housing end, wherein the lumen is in fluid communication with the housing volume; and

a spherical valve member disposed within the housing volume, wherein the spherical valve member is configured to selectively obstruct the valve opening to prevent fluid flow from the housing volume through the valve opening and to displace away from the valve opening and permit fluid flow from the housing volume through the valve opening; and

a second connector portion comprising:

a second connector housing comprising a second connector body defining a second housing volume, a tubing opening and a second valve opening, wherein the second housing volume is in fluid communication with the tubing opening and the second valve opening; and

a second spherical valve member disposed within the second housing volume,

wherein the first and second connector portion are configured to be releasably coupled,

wherein, when the first and second connector portions are spaced apart, the spherical valve member and the second spherical valve member are configured to selectively prevent fluid flow through the respective housing volume and the second housing volume,

wherein, when the first and second connector portions are coupled, the spherical valve member and the second spherical valve member contact each other to displace the spherical valve member and the second spherical valve member away from the respective valve opening and the second valve opening and permit fluid flow between the first and second connector portions.

9 . The connector of claim 8 , wherein the first connector portion comprises a valve housing coupled to the spherical valve member, and the valve housing is configured to urge the spherical valve member toward the valve opening.

10 . The connector of claim 9 , wherein the connector housing and the luer portion retain the valve housing within the housing volume.

11 . The connector of claim 9 , wherein the valve housing defines at least one channel and the at least one channel is configured to permit flow through the connector housing.

12 . The connector of claim 8 , wherein the connector body comprises a planar connector surface and the valve opening is defined through the planar connector surface.

13 . The connector of claim 8 , wherein the luer portion is releasably coupled to the connector housing.

14 . The connector of claim 8 , wherein the connector housing further comprises an engagement lip extending radially from the connector body.

15 . The connector of claim 14 , wherein the second connector housing comprises an engagement groove disposed around the second connector body, and the engagement lip is configured to releasably engage the engagement groove.

16 . A connector comprising:

a first connector portion comprising:

a connector housing comprising a connector body defining a housing volume, a luer opening and a valve opening, wherein the housing volume is in fluid communication with the luer opening and the valve opening;

a luer portion comprising a luer end and a housing end, the luer portion defining a lumen extending between the luer end and the housing end, wherein the housing end of the luer portion extends through the luer opening of the connector body to couple the luer portion to the connector housing and the lumen is in fluid communication with the housing volume;

a spherical valve member disposed within the housing volume; and

a movable flange movably coupled to the connector housing, wherein the movable flange comprises a protrusion and defines a first flange channel in a main body of the movable flange and a second flange channel in the protrusion,

wherein the spherical valve member is configured to prevent flow between the housing volume, the first flange channel, and the second flange channel when the first connector portion is spaced apart from a second connector portion,

wherein the spherical valve member is configured to displace away from the valve opening and permit fluid flow between the valve opening, the first flange channel, and the second flange channel when the first connector portion is coupled to the second connector portion and a second spherical valve member of the second connector portion contacts.

17 . The connector of claim 16 , further comprising a flange biasing member to urge the flange away from the spherical valve member.

18 . The connector of claim 16 , further comprising a valve biasing member to urge the spherical valve member toward the valve opening.

19 . The connector of claim 16 , wherein the second connector portion comprises:

a second connector housing comprising a second connector body defining a second housing volume, a tubing opening and a second valve opening, wherein the second housing volume is in fluid communication with the tubing opening and the second valve opening,

wherein the second spherical valve member is disposed within the second housing volume

wherein the movable flange further comprises a second protrusion defining a third flange channel,

wherein the second spherical valve member is configured to prevent flow through the second housing volume when the second protrusion of the movable flange is spaced apart from the second spherical valve member,

wherein the second spherical valve member is configured to displace away from the second valve opening and permit fluid flow between the first and second connector portions when the first and second connector portions are coupled and the second spherical valve member and the second protrusion of the flange are in contact.

20 . The connector of claim 19 , further comprising a second valve biasing member to urge the second spherical valve member toward the second valve opening.