Patent ID: 8105314
Filing Date: 2012-01-31
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A medical connector for use with a first and second medical implement, the medical connector comprising: a housing having a first proximal end and a second distal end; an inner rigid element positioned within the housing and including an inner surface defining a substantially hollow interior, a first inner opening on said inner surface, an outer surface, a first outer opening on said outer surface, and a first passage extending between said first inner opening and said first outer opening; a substantially hollow flexible element positioned within the housing, said flexible element comprising at least one inward projection on an inner wall thereof, at least a portion of said inward projection projecting through said first outer opening, said first passage, and said first inner opening, thereby occupying at least a portion of the substantially hollow interior of said inner rigid element when said connector is in a substantially closed position, and wherein said portion of said inward projection is positioned outside of said first outer opening when said connector is in a substantially opened position, the movement of the inward projection out of the first outer opening and back into the first outer opening facilitating a change in an inner fluid volume of the connector when said connector is in said substantially closed position relative to said substantially open position.