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 valve comprising:
a housing, the housing having an upstream end, a downstream end, an outer surface, and a lumen extending through a central portion thereof, and the housing defining an interior cavity near the upstream end and an interface near the downstream end, the interface configured to receive a first medical device; and
a flexible member, the flexible member comprising:
a seal element, at least a substantial portion of the seal element being positioned within the interior cavity, the seal element configured to receive a second medical device and to control a flow of fluid through the housing lumen; and
a sleeve disposed over at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing, and the sleeve unitarily formed with the seal element;
wherein the housing comprises at least one vent between the interior cavity and the interface.