Patent ID: 8721614
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
Classification: A61J,A61M

Abstract:
1. A connector assembly comprising: a first connector; and a second connector for being inserted in the first connector, the first connector including a tubular first connector body provided at a distal end thereof with an opening for insertion of the second connector and at a proximal end thereof with a first connection section for connection with a first medical instrument, a hollow needle provided in an inner cavity section of the first connector body so as to communicate with the first connection section and which is provided with an opening part opening at a distal end portion thereof, a first sealing member for sealing the inner cavity section of the first connector body and which is made of an elastic material, the first sealing member having a first puncture section capable of being punctured by the hollow needle, and a biasing member for biasing the first puncture section in a distal end direction, and the second connector including a tubular second connector body provided at a distal end thereof with a second connection section for connection with a second medical instrument, and a second sealing member for sealing an inner cavity section of the second connector body and which is made of an elastic material and provided at a proximal end of the second connector body, the second sealing member having a second puncture section which makes close contact with the first puncture section when the second connector is inserted in the first connector body, wherein the first connector is provided with operation restricting means which, when the second connector is inserted into the first connector, temporarily restricts the insertion operation and permits resumption of the insertion operation if the restriction is released, and which, when the second connector is withdrawn from the first connector, temporarily restricts the withdrawing operation and permits resumption of the withdrawing operation if the restriction is released; in the process of insertion of the second connector into the first connector, the insertion operation is temporarily restricted by the operation restricting means when the first puncture section and the second puncture section make close contact with each other, and, upon resumption of the insertion operation by releasing a restricted state of the insertion operation by the operation restricting means, the first puncture section and the second puncture section in the close contact state are punctured by the hollow needle, and the opening part of the hollow needle is located on the distal end side relative to the second puncture section and then exposed to the inside of the inner cavity section of the second connector body; and in the process of withdrawal of the second connector from the first connector, the withdrawing operation is temporarily restricted by the operation restricting means when the opening part of the hollow needle is located on the proximal end side relative to the first puncture section in the close contact state, and, upon resumption of the withdrawing operation by releasing a restricted state of the withdrawing operation by the operation restricting means, the first puncture section and the second puncture section are separated away from each other, the connector assembly further comprising locking means for locking the close contact state of the first puncture section and the second puncture section in conjunction with a releasing operation for releasing the restricted state of the insertion operation by the operation restricting means, wherein the first connector body includes an outer tube, and an inner tube displaceably disposed inside the outer tube, the locking means includes a plurality of engagement pieces disposed on the inner tube around an axis of the inner tube and being elastic, a pressing part provided on the outer tube and operative to press the engagement pieces against elastic forces of the engagement pieces for displacing the engagement pieces inward in conjunction with the releasing operation, and an engagement section provided on the second connector body and operative to engage with each of the engagement pieces when each of the engagement pieces is pressed by the pressing part, and wherein the first connector body is provided with a releasable stopper for restricting movement of the second connector body in the distal end direction in conjunction with the insertion operation in a state where the opening part of the hollow needle is located on the distal end side relative to the second puncture section and exposed to the inside of the inner cavity section of the second connector body.