Patent ID: 8603048
Filing Date: 2013-12-10
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. Connector for establishing a fluid communication for use in the medical field, said connector comprising a rigid casing, defining an elongated chamber along an axis, said chamber having a distal end and a proximal end, the casing further having a truncated cone-shaped section transitioning from said proximal end of said chamber into an axial channel adjacent the proximal end of the chamber, adapted to receive a movable end piece, said casing having an upper wall at an interface between said axial channel and said chamber, said axial channel having a diameter smaller than a diameter of said distal end of said chamber, a fixed end piece protruding axially into the distal end of the chamber an elastically deformable valve, said valve being a single-piece, leak-proof walled tubular body made of an elastomeric material and housed inside the chamber, said valve having a distal end with an outer circumference and an inner tubular space filled by said fixed end piece, there being no dead volume in said tubular space between said fixed end piece and said valve, said valve having a proximal end with a convex contour, said proximal end of said valve forming a plug inside said axial channel, said plug having an axial slot comprising two stages, one of said stages being a proximal stage of said axial slot formed by a bore that is normally open, said proximal stage closing in response to movement of said plug from a position outside of said channel where said plug is not compressed to a position inside said channel where said plug is laterally constrained by the wall of the channel, and a distal stage of said axial slot formed by a split in said plug for connecting said proximal stage of said slot with said tubular space when said proximal stage of said slot is open, the plug being elastically movable between a closed position with said proximal end of said plug within said axial channel wherein it obstructs, and is in sealed contact with and laterally constrained by a wall of, said axial channel for closing the slot, and an open position within said chamber wherein the plug is no longer laterally constrained by the wall of the channel and the proximal end of the plug abuts against said upper wall, there being a space between said valve outer circumference and an inner wall of said chamber, said valve being sufficiently deformable for enlarging said slot and expanding said valve radially into said space between said valve outer circumference and said inner wall of said chamber sufficiently to prevent obstruction of said axial channel for permitting said movable end piece to penetrate said slot, and to resume the initial shape thereof when the movable end piece is withdrawn from said slot.