Patent ID: 7182313
Filing Date: 2007-02-27
Classification: A61M,F16L

Abstract:
1. A medical connector for engaging a female connector having a female connector housing, the medical connector comprising: a medical connector housing having a forward opening, the medical connector housing sized to allow the female connector housing to travel over the forward opening; and a resilient sleeve disposed within the medical connector housing and defining a chamber through which a medical fluid may flow, the resilient sleeve having a front portion at one end of the chamber and an outer surface located rearwardly of the front portion, the outer surface adapted to engage the female connector housing, the resilient sleeve configured for movement between a compressed configuration and an uncompressed configuration, the resilient sleeve moving to the compressed configuration in response to the outer surface engaging the female connector housing traveling over the forward opening of the medical connector housing, the resilient sleeve moving to the uncompressed configuration in response to loss of engagement with the female connector housing, the front portion of the resilient sleeve located at a first position spaced apart from the forward opening when the resilient sleeve has moved to the compressed configuration, the front portion located at a second position forward of the first position when the resilient sleeve has moved to the uncompressed configuration.