Non-luer connectors
Drug delivery devices having integrated non-luer connectors are described. An exemplary drug delivery device includes a container with a non-luer connector that prevents connection of a standard female luer connector to the container. One or more embodiments pertain to a container with a non-luer connector that prevents the formation of a fluid-tight seal between a standard female luer connector and the container. A non-luer connector for attachment to a container having a non-luer element is also described.
1 . A drug delivery device comprising:
a closed container consisting essentially of a syringe, the container having an open distal end including a distal wall, and a sidewall including an inside surface defining a fluid chamber for retaining a fluid; and
a non-luer connector comprising an integrally formed, linearly tapered, male, non-luer elongate tip extending in a distal direction from the distal wall, the elongate tip including a distal end and an opening on the distal end of the elongate tip for providing access to the fluid chamber, wherein the distal end of the elongate tip includes four notches, disposed at 90 degree intervals, which radiate outwardly from the opening through a body wall of the elongate tip to form a plurality of apertures in the body wall of the elongate tip at the distal end of the elongate tip, wherein the notches prevent fluid-tight connection of a standard female luer connector to the container, and wherein the notches are in fluid communication with the opening on the distal end of the elongate tip for extending the opening across the distal end of the elongate tip to an outside surface of the body wall of the elongate tip, wherein the outside surface of the body wall of the elongate tip extends from the distal end of the elongate tip to the distal wall of the container, the notches form a path to provide an outlet for leakage of the fluid from the fluid chamber to escape from the opening along the outside surface of the elongate tip to the distal wall of the container when the elongate tip is connected to the standard female luer connector.
2 . The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein, upon attachment of the standard female luer connector to the elongate tip, the notches are disposed at a distance from an inside surface of the standard female luer connector, preventing formation of a fluid-tight seal between the distal end of the elongate tip and the standard female luer connector.
3 . The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the notches have a dimension or shape that prevents an inside surface of the standard female luer connector from enclosing or sealing the notches.
4 . The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the elongate tip has a dimension or taper that allows the notches to be positioned in a manner in which an inside surface of the standard female luer connector cannot enclose or seal the notches.
5 . The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the notches form a beveled or curved edge extending to the distal end of the elongate tip and being adjacent to the outside surface of the elongate tip to form the apertures at the distal end of the elongate tip.
6 . A system comprising: the drug delivery device of claim 1 , and a female non-luer connector being removably attached to the elongate tip, the female non-luer connector including a hub body including an open proximal end and an interior surface defining a cavity dimensioned for fluid-tight connection of the female non-luer connector to the elongate tip and a needle cannula attached to the hub body, the needle cannula including an open distal end in fluid communication with the opening of the elongate tip.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein upon attachment of the female non-luer connector to the container, the notches are in contact with the interior surface of the hub body and a fluid-tight seal is formed between the distal end of the elongate tip and the female non-luer connector.
8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the outside surface of the elongate tip includes a 5% taper in a proximal-to-distal direction and an outer cross-sectional dimension sized to prevent connection of the standard female luer connector to the container.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the interior surface of the hub body has a 5% taper in a proximal-to-distal direction.
10 . The system of claim 6 , wherein a cross-sectional dimension of the cavity is selected to form a fluid-tight seal with the outside surface of the elongate tip.
11 . The system of claim 6 , wherein, upon attachment of the female non-luer connector to the elongate tip, the notches are in contact with the interior surface of the hub body and a fluid-tight seal is formed between the distal end of the elongate tip and the female non-luer connector.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the outside surface of the elongate tip includes a 5% taper in a proximal-to-distal direction and an outer cross-sectional dimension sized to prevent connection of the standard female luer connector to the container.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the interior surface of the hub body has a 5% taper in a proximal-to-distal direction.
14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein a cross-sectional dimension of the cavity is selected to form a fluid-tight seal with the outside surface of the elongate tip.