Abstract:
A connector for switching communication-to-interception states between liquid transfusion tubes. The connector comprises a connector body, a seal member, and a valve with an improved sealing which limits contact with air and minimizes generation of bacteria during medical use.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a connector for switching communication-to-interception states between liquid transfusion tubes, which is coupled to a plurality of liquid transfusion tubes and the like of medical use. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In conventional practice, a predetermined liquid medicine or serum and the like are supplied internally to a patient by using a plurality of liquid transfusion tubes. In such a case, the tubes are connected by using a connector such as a medicinal plug. The connector includes a plurality of branched tubes to which a rubber plug that can be penetrated by a injection needle is attached to the inner of a predetermined branch tube (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-16437). 
         [0003]    This connector comprises two branched tubes horizontally extending from an injector body portion and an injector connecting port formed at the upper portion of the injector body part. Also, the injector connecting port is provided with a seal valve having an insertion part passing through from the upper side to the lower side thereof. Therefore, by inserting a twist locking injector into the insertion part of the seal valve, the twist locking injector can communicate with the internal body of the connector. By this, the liquid medicine can be injected from the twist locking injector to the inner part of the body of the connector or, conversely, the liquid medicine can be extracted from the body of the connector. 
         [0004]    In the conventional connector mentioned above, the body of the connector is occluded by inserting the twist locking injector into the slit-like insertion part of the seal valve to so that the twist locking injector can communicate with the inner of the body of the connector, and then pulling out the twist locking injector of the insertion part to occlude the insertion part. However, when the slit-like insertion part is provided with such a seal valve, it is difficult to occlude the body of the connector while being at a high level of liquid tightness and, thus, there is a risk of liquid leakage occurring at the insertion part. Further, the risk of generation of bacteria at the inner surface of the insertion part by contacting or accumulating air thereon is also increased. 
         [0005]    In the light of these aforementioned problems, the object of the invention is to provide a connector with improved sealing capability and suppression of the generation of the bacteria through contact with air. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In order to achieve the above object, the configuration of the connector according to the current invention is that the connector comprises a connector body including a chamber part and a plurality of branch tubes extended from said chamber part in different directions having at least one upper branch tube upwardly extended from the chamber part; and a seal member connected to one predetermined branch tube of the plurality of branch tubes for opening and closing the predetermined branch tube, the seal member being comprised of a fixing piece fixed to a predetermined portion at the opening side of the predetermined branch tube, and a seal member body coupled to the fixing piece for occluding the opening portion of the predetermined branch tube as well as for communicating the inner of the chamber with the inner of a connecting tube by inserting the connecting tube from the opening of the predetermined branch tube to the inside thereof to push the seal member body into the inside of the predetermined branch tube. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a plane view illustrating the connector of one embodiment in accordance with the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the connector; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the connector; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the connector; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the connector of  FIG. 4  in which the male luer part is inserted into the seal member; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view illustrating the relation between the body and the valve of the connector. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    In one embodiment, the connector in accordance with the invention is described in detail with the reference to the drawings as follows.  FIGS. 1 to 3  show a connector A of the same embodiment in accordance with the invention wherein the connector A comprises a seal member  20  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) mounted within the connector body  10 , a cap member  25  and a valve  30 . Also the connector body  10  includes a cylindrical chamber part  11  having an axial length that is shorter than the radial length and three branch tubes comprising a downstream branch tube  12  connected perpendicularly to the outer peripheral surface of the chamber part  11 , an upper branch tube  13  and an upstream branch tube  14 . 
         [0014]    The chamber part  11 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , is disposed with the axial direction in the longitudinal direction (lying from the right to the left in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) and formed into a generally cylindrical shape with the rear closed, and, a ring shaped engagement part  11   b  forwardly extended from the inner surface of a rear wall  11   a  of the chamber part  11  with the predetermined space apart from the inner peripheral surface of the chamber part  11 . Further, communication holes  15   a ,  15   b  and  15   c  (see  FIGS. 4 to 6 ) are provided at the generally central region of the chamber part  11  in the axial direction. Among these communication holes  15   a ,  15   b  and  15   c , the communication hole  15   b  is formed such that the central position thereof is slightly deviated toward the front side from the central parts of other communication holes  15   a  and  15   c.    
         [0015]    Moreover, the downstream branch tube  12  adjoins the portion in the chamber part  11  to which the communication hole  15   a  corresponds. The inside of the chamber part  11  and the flow path  12   a  formed within the downstream branch tube  12  communicate with each other through the communication hole  15   a . Additionally, the communication hole  15   b  has a diameter greater than that of the communication holes  15   a  or  15   c . At the outer peripheral portion of the communication hole  15   b , on the outer peripheral surface of the chamber part  11 , a generally ring shaped collar  16  to attach the upper branch tube  13  is provided. 
         [0016]    Further, at both right and left sides of the inner peripheral surface of the communication hole  15   b , a guide part  17  for partitioning the communication hole  15   b  into front and rear sides. The upper surface of the guide part  17  is formed into a curved surface having a front side at a high position and the height of the surface is gradually lowered as it approaches the rear side generally along an arc. The upstream branch tube  14  is aligned with the communication hole  15   c . Further, the inside of the chamber part  11  and the flow path  14   a  formed within the upstream branch tube  14  communicate with each other through the communication hole  15   c.    
         [0017]    The downstream branch tube  12  is integrally formed with the chamber part  11  and comprises a basal end part  12   b  in the chamber part  11  side and a male luer part  12   c  formed so as to be narrower than the basal end part  12   b  at the tip end side. The male luer part  12   c  is tapered such that the tip end side portion is narrower than the basal end part  12   b  side portion. Then, at the boundary between the basal end portion  12   b  and the male luer part  12   c  at the outer peripheral surface of the downstream branch tube  12 , projections  12   d  for engagement are formed along the periphery. 
         [0018]    The upper branch tube  13  is constructed to be a generally short cylindrical body having a diameter that is gradually reduced along the height from the lower end to the upper end. The lower end periphery  13   b , formed to be thick, is engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the opening edge for connecting to collar  16  so as to secure it to the chamber part  11 . Also, to the rear portion at the upper end opening of the upper branch tube  13 , a notch part  13   c  is formed and the inner surface of the upper branch tube  13  is formed into a flow path  13   a  for the flow of a liquid such as medicinal liquid therethrough. Further, a cap member  25  for fixing the seal member  20  with the upper branch tube  13  is attached to the outer periphery of the upper branch tube  13 . 
         [0019]    The cap member  25  includes an upper portion  26  that is formed into a generally cylindrical shape having a short length and a dimension set to be capable of engagement with the outer periphery of the upper end opening of the upper branch tube  13 . A lower portion  27  is formed into a generally cylindrical shape having a short length and a dimension set to be capable of engagement with the outer peripheral surface of the opening edge for connecting collar  16 . Also, the diameter of the cap member  25  is gradually reduced from the lower side to the upper side between the upper portion  26  and the lower portion  27 . Therefore, the cap member  25  is formed into a generally cap shape having a short length and an elliptical shape having a longer length in the direction from the front to the rear in the plan view as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0020]    The cap member  25  is detachably mounted to the connector body  10  by engaging the upper portion  26  with the outer peripheral surface of the upper end opening of the upper branch tube  13  and engaging the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion  27  with the outer peripheral surface of the opening edge for connecting collar  16 . Further, a ring-like ceiling part  26   a  is extended from the upper end of the upper portion  26  to the inside of the cap member  25 . Thus, a hole is formed at the center of the ceiling part  26   a . Accordingly, the seal member  20  is secured by mounting this cap member  25  to the upper branch tube  13 . 
         [0021]    The seal member  20  is comprised of an elastic member such as natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers or elastomers and includes a seal member body  21  of a thick disk-like shape and a fixing piece  22  of band-like shape coupled to the rear upper end of the seal member body  21 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the seal member body  21  is pushed into the upper end opening of the upper branch tube  13  while the coupled portion of the seal member body  21  and the fixing piece  22  in the seal member  20  are positioned within the notch part  13   c  whereby the seal member  20  is attached to the upper branch tube  13 . Then, by the attachment of the cap member  25  to the upper branch tube  13  in that condition, the seal member  20  is secured by the upper branch tube  13  and the cap member  25 . 
         [0022]    That is to say, the fixing piece  22  projecting from the notch part  13   c  is sandwiched by the upper portion of the upper branch tube  13  and the upper portion  26  of the cap member  25 , whereby the fixing piece  22  is prevented from moving out from between the upper portion of the cap member  25  and the upper portion of the upper branch tube  13 . Accordingly, the fixing piece  22  is strongly fixed and the seal member body  21  is downwardly pressed, thereby downwardly moving from the upper end opening of the upper branch tube  13 . Further, the fixing piece  22  and the proximity of the connecting portion of the seal member body  21  and the fixing piece  22  are extended as the seal member body  21  downwardly moves. 
         [0023]    Moreover, when the seal member body  21  is located at the upper portion of the upper branch tube  13 , the flow path  13   a  is in the occluded condition. Also, when the flow path  13   a  of the upper branch tube  13  is used, a flow path  28  communicated with the flow path  13   a  can be formed within the male luer part  28  by inserting, for example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , male luer part  28  of a syringe (not shown) into the hole at the center of the upper surface of the cap member  25 . In this case, the seal member body  21  is downwardly pressed by the male luer part  28  and moved from the upper end opening of the branch tube  13  to the lower side of wider dimension. Accordingly, the syringe is communicated with the inner of the upper branch tube  13 . At that time, the lower end portion of the seal member body  21  also moves with the upper surface of the guide part  17  along an arc. 
         [0024]    The upstream branch tube  14  is integrally formed with the chamber part  11  in which a flow path  14   a  comprised of a tapered hole is formed. This flow path  14   a  is communicated with a communicating hole  15   c  and is formed into a tapered shape having a diameter that is gradually reduced closest to the communicating hole  15   c  and the diameter is gradually increased at the section farthest from the communicating hole  15   c . Also, the upstream side portion of the flow path  14   a  (the right side in  FIG. 6 ) is formed into a tapered shape such that the diameter thereof is gradually increased as closed to the opening of the upstream branch tube  14 . Further, a threaded part for connecting collar  14   b  is provided to the outer peripheral surface of the opening of the upstream branch tube  14 . 
         [0025]    The valve  30  comprises a generally cylindrical valve body  31  and an operation part  32  connected to the front end of the valve body  31 . Also, a ring-like groove  31   a  which is capable of engaging with the engagement part  11   b  of the chamber part  11  is formed at the rear end surface of the valve body  31 . The valve body  31  is positioned within the chamber part  11  while the groove  31   a  is engaged with the engagement part  11   b  of the chamber part  11 , whereby the valve body  31  is rotated about the axis of the chamber part  11  by operating the operation part  32 . Further, two grooves  33  and  34  are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the valve body  31 . 
         [0026]    These grooves  33  and  34  are formed so as to communicate with the downstream branch tube  12  and the upstream branch tube  14 , respectively. By rotationally operating the valve  30  the downstream branch tube  12  can be communicated with the upstream branch tube  14  through the flow path  13   a  of the upper branch tube  13  or only one of the downstream branch tube  12  and the upstream branch tube  14  can be communicated with the inside of the chamber part  11  by communicating the grooves  33 ,  34  with the downstream branch tube  12  or the upstream branch tube  14 . Accordingly, when the downstream branch tube  12  is communicated with the upstream branch tube  14  by operating the operational part  32  of the valve  30 , the medicinal liquid and the like can flow into the downstream branch tube  12  from the upstream branch tube  14  through the chamber part  11  and the upper branch tube  13 . 
         [0027]    In this case, the medicinal liquid and the like flowing from the upstream branch tube  14  to the downstream branch tube  12  passes through the flow path  13   a  at the upper of the chamber part  11 , thereby preventing air or the like from accumulating within the chamber part  11  or the flow path  13   a . The operational part  32  includes three operating pieces  32   a ,  32   b  and  32   c  formed so as to maintain the angle of 90 degrees to correspond to the downstream branch tube  12 , the upper branch tube  13  and the upstream branch tube  14 , respectively. 
         [0028]    Moreover, as described herein above, the syringe can be detachably mounted to the upper branch tube  13 . This syringe includes a medicinal liquid containing part for holding the medicinal liquid and the like and a cylinder-like male luer part  28  of small diameter, in which the inside of the medicinal liquid containing part can be communicated with the flow path  13   a  of the upper branch tube  13  by inserting the male luer part  28  from the hole at the center of the upper surface of the cap member  25  into the upper branch tube  13 . In this case, the seal member body  21  is downwardly pressed by the male luer part  28  and moved down from the upper end opening to the wide portion of the lower side of the upper branch tube as the fixing piece  22  and near portion thereof are extended. 
         [0029]    Further, when the front upper end of the seam member body  21  is moved downwardly out of the cylindrical portion forming the upper end opening of the upper branch tube  13 , the seal member body  21  is inclined such that the front lower end is located at a position lower than the rear lower end to contact with the front side portion of the guide part  17  (became at higher position). Further, as the male luer part  28  is pressed into the upper branch tube  13 , the front lower end of the seal member body  21  is moved from the fore side to the rear side along with the upper surface of the guide part  17 . At that time, the front lower end of the seal member body  12  moves along an arc. 
         [0030]    Further still, when the male luer part  28  is inserted into the opening of the upper branch tube  13  to position the front lower end of the seal member body  21  at the center portion of the guide part  17  as shown in  FIG. 5 , the inside of the medicinal liquid container of the syringe is properly communicated with the flow path  13   a  of the upper branch tube  13 . Therefore, the medicinal liquid and the like can flow from the upstream branch tube  14  to the downstream branch tube  12  by communicating the upstream branch tube  14  with the downstream branch tube  12  while another medicinal liquid and the like from the syringe can be mixed with the medicinal liquid and the like. Alternatively, another medicinal liquid and the like can flow from the syringe to the downstream branch tube  12  while the chamber part  11  is blocked from the upstream branch tube  14 . 
         [0031]    In this configuration, when two different medicinal liquids are supplied to the inside of the body of a patient (not shown), at first, the rear end of a liquid transfusion tube (not shown) equipped with an in-dwelling needle for penetrating and dwelling within the patient is coupled to the downstream branch tube  12 . Then, the male luer part provided at the tip end of the liquid transfusion tube extended from a container and the like containing one of the medicinal liquids to be supplied to the patient is connected to the upstream branch tube  14 . Next, the male luer part  28  is inserted from the hole at the center on the upper surface of the cap member  25  into the upper branch tube  13  while the other medicinal liquid is suctioned into the medicinal liquid containing part of the syringe. 
         [0032]    Then, the medicinal liquid is passed through liquid transfusion lines, including the chamber part  11 , and the medicine in the container is delivered to the patient while the in-dwelling needle is penetrated and residing within the body of the patient after all the air within the liquid transfusion lines have been discharged to the outside. Also, the medicinal liquid in the syringe is properly injected into the chamber part  11  through the flow path  13   a  of the upper branch tube  13 . In this case, since all the space within the chamber part  11  becomes a flow path for the medicinal liquid, air is not accumulated therein. Hence, air is prevented from mixing with the medicinal liquid to be supplied to the patient. 
         [0033]    When the male luer part  28  is pulled out of the upper branch tube  13  after the completion of the delivery of the medicinal liquid from the syringe, the seal member body  21  is released from the pressure of the male luer part  28  and is returned to the original condition shown in  FIG. 4  by the restoring force. Moreover, in accordance with the connector A, since the inside of the upper branch tube  13  is occluded by the seal member  20 , the upper branch tube  13  can be occluded and liquid-tight and the generation of bacteria, resulting from the entry of air into the chamber part  11 , can be prevented. 
         [0034]    Accordingly, in the connector A of one embodiment of the present invention, the seal member  20  comprises the fixing piece  22  fixed at a position between the rear potion of the opening of the upper branch tube  13  and the cap member  25 , and the seal member body  21  coupled to the fixing piece  22  for opening and closing the opening of the upper branch tube  13 . Also, when the seal member body  21  is positioned within the opening of the upper branch tube  13 , the upper branch tube  13  can be sealed therewith and the inner of the chamber part  11  can be communicated with the syringe by inserting the male luer part  28  from the opening side into the inside of the upper branch tube  13  to press the seal member body  21  into the inside of the upper branch tube  13 . 
         [0035]    Further, the upper branch tube  13  can be occluded at a high level of liquid tightness when the upper branch tube  13  is blocked by the seal member  20 , since there is no insertion such as a slit formed therein. Also, because no space for air accumulation is provided to the seal member body  21 , the generation of bacteria due to such air accumulation does not easily occur. Moreover, since the seal member body  21  goes into the upper branch tube  13 , being guided by the guide part  17  when the seal member body  21  is pressed into the inside of the upper branch tube  13  by the male luer part  28 , the position is fixed and the inner of the chamber part  11  and the inner of the syringe are communicated with each other. In this way, proper communication condition between the inner of the chamber part  11  and the inner of the syringe is provided. 
         [0036]    The connector in accordance with the invention is not intended to be limited to the above mentioned embodiments; various modifications can be made thereto. For example, while a plug type connector having the valve  30  is employed in each embodiment described herein above, any connector not having a valve wherein the medicinal liquid and the like can be delivered from the upstream branch tube to the downstream branch tube all the time as well as another medicinal liquid and the like can be delivered from the upper branch tube to the chamber part may be employed as a connector of the invention. The connector comprising only the upper branch tube and the downstream branch tube, or one without the upstream branch tube, may be used. 
         [0037]    In the connector in accordance with the invention constructed as mentioned in above, the seal member comprises the fixing piece fixed to the predetermined portion at the opening side of the branch tube and the seal member body coupled to the fixing piece for occluding the opening of the predetermined branch tube. Also, when the predetermined branch tube is communicated with the connecting tube, the connecting tube is inserted from the opening of the predetermined branch tube into the inside thereof, thereby pushing the seal member body into the inside of the branch tube to communicate the inner of the camber with the inner of the connecting tube. 
         [0038]    According to this, since the need to provide the insertion part comprised by slit and the like to the seal member is eliminated, the branch tube can be occluded at a high level of liquid tightness as the branch tube is occluded. Furthermore, since a space where air may be accumulated is difficult to be formed in the seal member, the generation of bacteria by the accumulation of the air is unlikely to occur. Of the plurality of branch tubes in the present invention, each represents a tube having a liquid flow path extending from the chamber part. Also, any type of connector, for example, an active plug-type having a valve for communicating or blocking the predetermined branch tube, or a regularly communicating type for allowing the flow of liquid medicine between branch tubes, can be employed as the connector in accordance with the invention. 
         [0039]    In another embodiment for configuring the connector of the present invention, a guide part is provided at the lower side portion within the predetermined branch tube for guiding the seal member body so as to allow movement along the predetermined track when the seal member body is pushed into the inside of the predetermined branch tube to communicate the inner of the chamber with the inner of the connecting tube. 
         [0040]    According to this embodiment, when the seal member body is pushed inside the predetermined branch tube by inserting the connecting tube from the opening of the predetermined branch tube toward the interior, the seal member body enters to the inside of the predetermined branch tube moving along the proper track. Therefore, as the communication of the inner of the chamber with the inner of the connecting tube is obtained the constant position of the seal member body is achieved, thereby providing the proper communication condition between the inner of the chamber and the inner of the connecting tube. Also, the guide part in this case is preferably formed to have the upper surface into a guide surface where the lower end of the seal member body is contacted thereto. More preferably, the guide surface is formed to have an arc-like curved surface tracking a circle about the connecting portion between the fixing piece and the seal member body as a center thereof. 
         [0041]    Also, in another configuration of the connector according to the invention, a notch part is formed at the edge of the opening of the predetermined branch tube and the connecting part of the seal member body, and the fixing piece is engaged with that notch part while the fixing piece is protruded from the outer side of the opening, then a cap member is mounted to the outer side of the opening to fix the fixing piece to the predetermined branch tube. By such a construction, the fixing piece can be fixed at the correct and proper position by a simple mechanism. 
         [0042]    Further, yet another configurational characteristic of the connector in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is that a valve for communication with any one of the plurality of branch tubes is provided within the chamber. According to this, conditions of communication and occlusion between the liquid transfusion tubes connected to the connector can optionally be switched. Also, the movement of the valve can be rotation about an axis or axial travel.