Medical connection device with valve and method

1. An improved connector assembly comprising:

a female connector portion comprising a cannula comprising a passage, the passage extending between first and second ends of the cannula;

a plurality of septum units;

said septum units being positioned within said cannula;

said cannula being adapted to receive a slip portion of a male connector;

said septum units each comprising slits defining flaps;

said flaps, when in a first position, occluding said passage, and when in a second position, opening said passage;

the cannula further comprising a cone shaped portion defined by a cone shaped perimeter wall comprising resilient material, the cone shaped perimeter wall defining a distally tapering space;

said space being unobstructed by the septum units when the flaps are in the first position; and

said cone shaped perimeter wall surrounding the passage of the cannula and being positioned between the flaps and the cannula second end when the flaps are in the first position such that the flaps, when in the second position, come in contact with and compress the cone shaped portion.

2. The improved connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

the female connector portion comprising a shoulder defining a seat, each of said septum units comprising a housing ring, said rings being positioned within said seat.

3. The improved connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

said plurality of septum units comprising first and second septum units, said flaps of said first septum unit overlapping said slits of said second septum unit when the flaps of the first and second septum units are in the first position.

4. The improved connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

said plurality of septum units comprising first and second septum units sharing a central longitudinal axis;

when the flaps of the first septum unit are in the first position, said slits of said first septum unit extending from a first septum unit outer perimeter and converging at a first septum off-center position with respect to said central longitudinal axis;

when the flaps of the second septum unit are in the first position, said slits of said second septum unit extending from a second septum unit outer perimeter and converging at a second septum off-center position with respect to said central longitudinal axis; and

the first and second septum units being arranged such that the off-center position of the first septum unit is different from the off-center position of the second septum unit.

5. The improved connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

said septum units being arranged adjacent to one another.

6. The improved connector assembly of claim 5 , wherein said slits of each septum unit do not align with the slits of an adjacent septum unit.

7. The improved connector assembly of claim 6 , wherein:

said slits of at least one of said septum units comprising a “Y” configuration.

8. An improved connector assembly comprising:

a female connector portion comprising a cannula and first and second septum units;

said cannula comprising a passage, the passage extending between first and second ends of the cannula;

a male connector comprising a slip portion;

said septum units being positioned within said cannula;

said cannula being adapted to receive the slip portion of said male connector;

said septum units each comprising slits defining flaps;

said flaps, when in a first position, occluding said passage, and when in a second position, opening said passage;

the female connector portion further comprising a shoulder defining a seat, each of said septum units comprising a housing ring, said rings being positioned within said seat;

said flaps of said first septum unit overlapping said slits of said second septum unit, when the flaps of the first and second septum units are in the first position;

the cannula further comprising a cone shaped portion defined by a cone shaped perimeter wall comprising resilient material, the perimeter wall defining a distally tapering space;

the cone shaped portion being positioned between the flaps and the cannula second end when the flaps are in the first position;

said space being unobstructed by the first and second septum units when the flaps are in the first position; and

said cone shaped portion being adapted to be contacted and compressed by said flaps when said slip portion is in an inserted position.

9. The improved connector assembly of claim 8 , wherein said septum units are arranged adjacent to one another.

10. The improved connector assembly of claim 8 , wherein said slits of at least one of said septum units comprise a “Y” configuration.

11. A method of preventing fluid reflux and air ingestion through a fluid catheter connection assembly comprising the steps of:

providing a connector assembly for infusion of fluids, the assembly comprising a female connector portion comprising a cannula comprising a passage therein, the passage extending between first and second ends of the cannula;

said passage comprising first and second passage ends;

said female connector portion comprising first and second septum units, each of said septum units comprising slits;

said septum units occluding said passage when in a first position and opening said passage when in a second position;

the cannula further comprising a cone shaped portion defined by a cone shaped perimeter wall comprising resilient material, the perimeter wall defining a distally tapering space;

said space being unobstructed by the septum units when the septum units are in the first position;

said cone shaped portion being positioned between the septum units and the cannula second end when the septum units are in the first position;

the cone shaped portion being adapted to be contacted and compressed by the septum units when the septum units are in the second position;

passing a male slip into the passage first end;

contacting the first septum unit with an end of said male slip;

using said male slip, forcing said first septum unit into the second septum unit such that said first and second septum units are in the second position, thereby opening said passage; and

retracting said male slip from said passage such that said first and second septum units return to said first position, thereby closing said passage.

12. The method of preventing fluid reflux and air ingestion through a fluid catheter connection assembly of claim 11 , wherein:

said first and second septum units comprise flaps, said flaps of said first septum unit overlapping said slits of said second septum unit when the first and second septum units are in the first position.

13. The method of preventing fluid reflux and air ingestion through a fluid catheter connection assembly of claim 12 , wherein:

said first and second septum units share a central longitudinal axis;

when the flaps of the first septum unit are in the first position, said slits of said first septum unit extend from a first septum unit outer perimeter and converge at a first septum off-center position with respect to said central longitudinal axis;

when the flaps of the second septum unit are in the first position, said slits of said second septum unit extend from a second septum unit outer perimeter and converge at a second septum off-center position with respect to said central longitudinal axis; and

the first and second septum units being arranged such that the off-center position of the first septum unit is different from the off-center position of the second septum unit.

14. The method of preventing fluid reflux and air ingestion through a fluid catheter connection assembly of claim 13 , wherein:

said slits of at least one of said septum units comprise a “Y” configuration.

15. The method of preventing fluid reflux and air ingestion through a fluid catheter connection assembly of claim 11 , wherein:

the female connector portion comprises a shoulder defining a seat, each of said septum units comprising a housing ring, said rings being positioned within said seat.

16. The method of preventing fluid reflux and air ingestion through a fluid catheter connection assembly of claim 11 , wherein:

said septum units are arranged adjacent to one another.