IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,285,584
Granted Patent B2
US 12,285,584 · App. 18/806,623 · Granted Apr 29, 2025

Medical connector with elongated portion within seal collar

Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow (Mission Viejo, CA)
Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.
A61M39/1011A61M39/02A61M39/10A61M39/22A61M39/221A61M39/24A61M39/26A61M2039/1033A61M2039/2406A61M2039/2433A61M2039/262A61M2039/263A61M2039/266A61M2039/267A61M2207/00A61M2230/005A61M2230/30A61M2230/40Y10T29/494Y10T137/87917
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,285,584
App. No.
18/806,623
Granted
Apr 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to medical connectors with a housing comprising a proximal body member and a base member that form an internal cavity with a proximal abutment surface. An elastomeric seal with a collar and without a guide member is positioned within the internal cavity. A rigid, hollow elongated portion is located within the internal cavity such that in an open configuration, a tip of the elongated portion is more proximal than a proximal surface of the elastomeric seal.

Claims (37)

1. A medical connector comprising:

a housing comprising a proximal region and a base region, the proximal region comprising a proximal opening and a slanted internal abutment surface;

a rigid, hollow elongated portion that is stationary with respect to the housing, the elongated portion comprising a closed proximal tip positioned within the proximal region, an internal fluid passageway within the elongated portion, and at least one side opening into the internal fluid passageway positioned distal from the closed proximal tip; and

an elastomeric seal with a closed position and an open position, the seal comprising a proximal end, a collar, and a distal end, the proximal end of the seal being generally flush with the proximal opening of the proximal region of the housing so as to permit wiping for effective disinfection;

wherein the seal is integrally formed of a single piece of material from the proximal end of the seal to the distal end of the seal adjacent to the base region of the housing;

wherein in a vertical section view of the closed position of the medical connector, a shape of a first portion of an internal surface of the seal within the collar matches an outer surface of the elongated portion on the left lateral side of the elongated portion, and a shape of a second portion of the internal surface of the seal within the collar matches an outer surface of the elongated portion on the right lateral side of the elongated portion;

wherein no guide member surrounds the collar;

wherein in the closed position, a portion of the side opening of the elongated portion is within the collar, and the collar contacts the internal abutment surface of the proximal region, thereby impeding proximal axial movement of the seal; and

wherein in the open position, the collar is separated from the internal abutment surface, and the closed proximal tip of the elongated portion passes through the proximal end of the seal such that the proximal end of the seal is distal from the closed proximal tip of the elongated portion.

2. The medical connector of claim 1 wherein the internal surface of the seal within the collar contacts the outer surface of the elongated portion in the closed position.

3. The medical connector of claim 2 wherein the internal surface of the seal within the collar contacts the outer surface of the elongated portion around the perimeter of the elongated portion in the closed position.

4. The medical connector of claim 1 , wherein the medical connector is configured to achieve neutral displacement.

5. The medical connector of claim 4 , further comprising a regulator.

6. The medical connector of claim 5 , further comprising an internal closure system.

7. The medical connector of claim 6 , wherein the internal closure system comprises a dome valve.

8. The medical connector of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the seal is even with the proximal opening of the housing in the closed position.

9. The medical connector of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the seal protrudes proximally slightly beyond the proximal opening of the housing in the closed position.

10. The medical connector of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the seal comprises an undulating contour shape configured to facilitate resilient compression, the contour shape being produced by a series of structures integrally formed together, a structure of the series of structures of the seal being positioned within an annular wall of the base region of the housing in the closed position of the seal.

11. The medical connector of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the seal comprises an undulating contour shape.

12. A medical connector comprising:

a housing comprising a proximal region and a base region, the proximal region comprising a proximal opening and an internal abutment surface;

a rigid, hollow elongated portion with a closed proximal tip, an internal fluid passageway, and a distal end, the proximal tip of the elongated portion being positioned within the proximal region, the distal end of the elongated portion being fixed to the base region of the housing, and at least one side opening into the internal fluid passageway positioned distal from the closed proximal tip; and

an elastomeric seal with a closed position and an open position, the seal comprising a proximal end, a collar, and a distal end, the proximal end of the seal being generally flush with the proximal opening of the proximal region of the housing so as to permit wiping for effective disinfection;

wherein the seal is integrally formed of a single piece of material from the proximal end of the seal to the distal end of the seal adjacent to the base region of the housing;

wherein in a vertical section view of the closed position of the medical connector, a shape of a first portion of an internal surface of the seal within the collar matches an outer surface of the elongated portion on the left lateral side of the elongated portion, and a shape of a second portion of the internal surface of the seal within the collar matches an outer surface of the elongated portion on the right lateral side of the elongated portion;

wherein no guide member surrounds the collar;

wherein in the closed position, a space encompassed by the side opening of the elongated portion is within the collar, and the collar contacts the internal abutment surface of the proximal region, thereby impeding proximal axial movement of the seal; and

wherein in the open position, the collar is separated from the internal abutment surface, and the proximal tip of the elongated portion passes through the proximal end of the seal such that the proximal end of the seal is distal from the proximal tip of the elongated portion.

13. The medical connector of claim 12 wherein the internal surface of the seal within the collar contacts the outer surface of the elongated portion in the closed position.

14. The medical connector of claim 13 wherein the internal surface of the seal within the collar contacts the outer surface of the elongated portion around the perimeter of the elongated portion in the closed position.

15. The medical connector of claim 12 , wherein the medical connector is configured to achieve neutral displacement.

16. The medical connector of claim 15 , further comprising a regulator.

17. The medical connector of claim 16 , further comprising an internal closure system.

18. The medical connector of claim 17 , wherein the internal closure system comprises a dome valve.

19. The medical connector of claim 12 , wherein the proximal end of the seal is even with the proximal opening of the housing in the closed position.

20. The medical connector of claim 12 , wherein the proximal end of the seal protrudes proximally slightly beyond the proximal opening of the housing in the closed position.

21. The medical connector of claim 12 , wherein a portion of the seal comprises an undulating contour shape.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2025
From: ICU MEDICAL, INC.; EXCELSIOR MEDICAL CORPORATION; TANGENT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073428/0588 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2025
From: FANGROW, THOMAS F., JR.
To: ICU MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 070665/0218 →
Continuity (13)
Continuation 18648228 · Apr 26, 2024
Continuation 18584970 · Feb 22, 2024
Continuation 18426229 · Jan 29, 2024
Continuation 18123181 · Mar 17, 2023
Continuation 17121226 · Dec 14, 2020
Continuation 16412326 · May 14, 2019
Continuation 15828317 · Nov 30, 2017
Continuation 14977550 · Dec 21, 2015
Continuation 13857019 · Apr 4, 2013
Continuation 12730074 · Mar 23, 2010
Provisional Application 61251232 · Oct 13, 2009
Provisional Application 61163367 · Mar 25, 2009
Related Publication 20240399132A1 · Dec 5, 2024
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