Soft-grip medical connector
A soft grip medical connector comprises a housing with an upstream end, a downstream end and a lumen extending through a central portion thereof. A flexible member comprises a valve portion integrally formed with a sleeve portion. The valve portion is positioned within a section of the housing and is configured to control a flow of fluid through the housing lumen. The sleeve is inverted to envelope at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing. In some embodiments the gripping portion is integrally formed with the valve portion. In some embodiments, the connector is also generally configured to create a positive pressure in a catheter lumen upon removal of a syringe or other medical device from the upstream end of the connector. Methods of making a medical fluid connector generally comprise forming a valve member with a sleeve extending there from, and assembling the valve, sleeve and housing.
1 . A medical connector for selectively permitting fluid to flow between a first medical device and a second medical device, the connector comprising:
a housing having an upstream end, a downstream end, an outer surface, and a lumen extending through a central portion thereof, the housing comprising:
an upstream housing portion; and
a downstream housing portion coupled to the upstream housing portion, the downstream housing portion having an interface configured to couple to the first medical device; and
a flexible member comprising:
an elastomeric valve portion positioned substantially within the upstream housing portion, the valve portion configured to receive the second medical device and to control a flow of fluid through the housing lumen; and
an elastomeric gripping portion disposed over substantially all of the outer surface of the housing such that the gripping portion provides a soft, grippable outer surface over the housing.
2 . The medical connector of claim 1 , wherein the valve portion is configured to urge the flow of fluid toward the downstream end of the housing upon withdrawal of the second medical device from the valve portion.
3 . The medical connector of claim 1 , wherein the upstream housing portion and the downstream housing portion are configured to couple in an aligned orientation relative to one another.
4 . The medical connector of claim 3 , wherein the upstream housing portion comprises at least one ridge and the downstream housing portion comprises at least one recess configured to receive the at least one ridge of the upstream housing portion when the upstream housing portion and the downstream housing portion are coupled in the aligned orientation.
5 . The medical connector of claim 1 , wherein the upstream housing portion and the downstream housing portion are configured to securely couple to one another.
6 . The medical connector of claim 5 , wherein the upstream housing portion comprises at least one tab and the downstream housing portion comprises at least one recess configured to receive the at least one tab when the upstream housing portion and the downstream portion are matingly coupled.
7 . The medical connector of claim 6 , wherein the at least one tab has a wedge-shaped profile comprising a lead-in surface and an interference surface.
8 . The medical connector of claim 1 , wherein the upstream housing portion comprises a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly therefrom for receiving a connector.
9 . The medical connector of claim 1 , wherein the downstream housing portion comprises a threaded Luer cavity.
10 . The medical connector of claim 9 , wherein the threaded Luer cavity includes vents.
11 . The medical connector of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a space formed between the upstream housing portion and the downstream housing portion in a coupled state, the space sized and configured to retain an end of the gripping portion.
12 . The medical connector of claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion is adhered to an outer surface of the housing.
13 . A medical connector for selectively permitting fluid to flow between a first medical device and a second medical device, the connector comprising:
a housing having an upstream end, a downstream end, an outer surface, and a lumen extending through a central portion thereof, the housing comprising:
an upstream housing portion; and
a downstream housing portion coupled to the upstream housing portion, the downstream housing portion having an interface configured to couple to the first medical device; and
a flexible member comprising:
a valve portion with a slit, the valve portion being positioned substantially within the upstream housing portion, and the valve portion being made of a material sufficiently flexible to permit the slit to open when a cannula is inserted into the valve portion and to close when the cannula is withdrawn; and
a gripping portion disposed over substantially all of the outer surface of the housing, the gripping portion being made of a material sufficiently flexible to permit the gripping portion to be stretched over substantially all of the outer surface of the housing.
14 . The medical connector of claim 13 , wherein the valve portion is configured to urge the flow of fluid toward the downstream end of the housing upon withdrawal of the second medical device from the valve portion.
15 . The medical connector of claim 13 , wherein the valve portion and the gripping portion are unitary.
16 . The medical connector of claim 13 , wherein the upstream housing portion comprises at least one ridge and the downstream housing portion comprises at least one recess configured to receive the at least one ridge of the upstream housing portion when the upstream housing portion and the downstream housing portion are coupled in the aligned orientation.
17 . The medical connector of claim 13 , wherein the upstream housing portion and the downstream housing portion are configured to securely couple to one another.
18 . The medical connector of claim 13 , wherein the upstream housing portion comprises at least one tab and the downstream housing portion comprises at least one recess configured to receive the at least one tab when the upstream housing portion and the downstream portion are matingly coupled.
19 . The medical connector of claim 13 , wherein the upstream housing portion comprises a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly therefrom for receiving a connector.
20 . The medical connector of claim 17 , wherein the housing further comprises a space formed between the upstream housing portion and the downstream housing portion in a coupled state, the space sized and configured to retain an end of the gripping portion.
21 . The medical connector of claim 13 , wherein the gripping portion is adhered to an outer surface of the housing.