Patent ID: 11896795
Assignee: ICU MEDICAL, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  Y | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A medical connector comprising:
a housing comprising a proximal housing portion coupled to a base portion;
the proximal housing portion comprising:
a proximal opening, a proximal channel, a slanted internal abutment surface, and a distal portion, the proximal channel comprising an inner surface extending distally between the proximal opening and the internal abutment surface, wherein the distal portion of the proximal housing portion comprises a first plurality of longitudinally extending protrusions on an inner surface, the first plurality of longitudinally extending protrusions comprising distal tapering portions;

the base portion comprising:
a distally extending male end;
a proximal portion comprising an outside surface and an inside surface, the outside surface comprising a second plurality of longitudinally extending protrusions, the second plurality of longitudinally extending protrusions comprising proximal tapering portions, the second plurality of longitudinally extending protrusions of the base portion being interposed between the first plurality of longitudinally extending protrusions of the proximal housing portion in an interposing region, thereby resisting rotation between the proximal housing portion and the base portion;

an internal cavity formed by the proximal housing portion and the base portion; and
a rigid, hollow elongated portion with a distal end in a fixed position with respect to the base portion, the elongated portion comprising a closed proximal tip positioned within the proximal housing portion, and one or more lateral openings positioned distally from the closed proximal tip, the one or more lateral openings comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the one or more lateral openings being more distal than the abutment surface of the proximal housing portion, the one or more lateral openings leading into an internal fluid passageway within the elongated portion, the internal fluid passageway having a region distal from the one or more lateral openings comprising a first taper in a first location and a second taper in a second location, the second taper being less than the first taper; and
an elastomeric seal with a closed position and an open position, at least a portion of the elastomeric seal being compressible to transition the elastomeric seal from the closed position to the open position, the elastomeric seal comprising:
a proximal portion with a proximal end, the proximal portion comprising a radially outer surface, and a distal portion with a distal end, the proximal end comprising a septum having a longitudinal thickness and a slit biased to a closed position, wherein the elastomeric seal is integrally formed of a single piece of material from the proximal end at the proximal opening of the proximal housing portion in the closed position to the distal end in contact with the base portion of the housing, the proximal portion of the elastomeric seal being positioned within the proximal channel of the proximal housing portion in the closed position, the radially outer surface of the proximal portion of the elastomeric seal contacting the inner surface of the proximal channel of the proximal housing portion in the closed position; and
a collar forming part of the elastomeric seal, a portion of the elongated portion being positioned within the collar in the closed position of the elastomeric seal, a portion of an internal surface of the elastomeric seal within the collar closely surrounding and conforming with an outer surface of the elongated portion within the collar in the closed position of the elastomeric seal; a longitudinal thickness of the collar being greater than the longitudinal thickness of the septum of the elastomeric seal; and wherein no guide member surrounds the collar;

wherein in the closed position, the collar of the elastomeric seal contacts the abutment surface of the proximal housing portion, thereby limiting proximal axial movement of the elastomeric seal, but not distal axial movement of the elastomeric 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 elastomeric seal such that the proximal end of the elastomeric seal is distal from the proximal tip of the elongated portion.