Granted Patent B2

US 12,280,230 · App. 18/045,245 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Inventors: Thomas F. Fangrow (Mission Viejo, CA); Bruce Hubrecht (Canyon Lake, CA); Harold Anderson (Wildomar, CA); Christopher Lopez (Laguna Beach, CA)

Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.

A61M39/10A61M39/26A61M2039/1027A61M2039/1072A61M2039/261A61M2039/267A61M2039/268

Abstract

Claims (16)

1. A closeable medical fluid connector configured to couple to a separate medical fluid connector and to transition between a closed position to an open position when coupling to the separate medical fluid connector, the closeable medical fluid connector comprising:

a housing having a first end, a second end, and an internal chamber between the first and second ends;

the first end of the housing including an outer radial wall that is radially spaced from a male projection extending from a base, the male projection including a first open end and a passageway extending from the open end toward the second end of the housing; and

an internal valve member positioned at least partially within the passageway of the male projection;

wherein:

the internal valve member is axially moveable between a first position in which a first portion of the internal valve member provides a substantially fluid-tight seal with respect to the first open end of the male projection so as to substantially prevent a flow of fluid through the male projection when the closeable medical fluid connector is in the closed position;

the first portion of the internal valve member being spaced apart from the first open end so that fluid is permitted to flow through the first open end of the male projection;

a second end portion of the internal valve member cooperating with a resilient member that compresses as the valve member moves from the first position and uncompresses as the valve member returns to the first position, said resilient member extending radially outward; and

first and second valve struts extending through the base and along a portion of the male projection toward the first end, said struts cooperating with the second end portion of the internal valve member and configured to be moved toward the second end of the housing during coupling to the separate medical fluid connector.

2. The closeable medical fluid connector of claim 1 , wherein the first and second valve struts contact a surface of the separate medical fluid connector during coupling.

3. The closeable medical fluid connector of claim 1 , wherein the first and second valve struts each have a radial outer surface and the resilient member extends radially further than the radial outer surface of the first and second valve struts.

4. The closeable medical fluid connector of claim 1 , wherein the first and second valve struts are coupled directly to the internal valve member.

5. The closeable medical fluid connector of claim 4 , wherein the first and second valve struts are integrally formed with the internal valve member.

6. The closeable medical fluid connector of claim 1 , wherein fluid is configured to flow around the internal valve member within the passageway of the male projection.

7. The closeable medical fluid connector of claim 1 , wherein fluid is configured to flow through a portion of the internal valve member within the passageway of the male projection.

8. The closeable medical fluid connector of claim 1 , wherein male projection defines an external male luer taper.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (9)

References Cited (400)

Cited By (2)

US 1,105,422 US 12,636,481