Patent ID: 7497849

Claim:
A high flow rate needleless medical connector having a downstream end for receiving a first medical device and an upstream end for receiving a second medical device having a standard medical Luer tip, the medical connector comprising: a housing having an interface configured to receive a connector portion of the first medical device, the housing comprising a cavity extending from the upstream end of the medical connector to a lower inner surface of the housing, and a lead cannula extending from the lower inner surface toward the upstream end of the medical connector, the lead cannula having a substantially cylindrical outer surface and an inner diameter of the lead cannula being similar in size to an inner diameter of an end of the second medical device; and a seal element having a downstream end and an upstream end, the seal element comprising: a body made of flexible material and having a downstream end and an upstream end opposite the downstream end; a neck formed proximal to the upstream end of the body; and a transverse flange proximal to an end of the neck opposite the body; the downstream end of the seal element being in fluid communication with the interface, the upstream end of the seal element being suitable for receiving the second medical device, and a normally substantially closed passage in the seal element being in fluid communication with the downstream end and the upstream end of the seal element such that a substantial portion of the end of the second medical device is permitted to enter the passage when the second medical device is inserted into the medical connector; wherein the downstream end of the seal element is permitted to move toward the lower inner surface of the housing when the second medical device is inserted into the medical connector, and the downstream end of the seal element is permitted to move away from the lower inner surface of the housing when the second medical device is removed from the medical connector; wherein at least a portion of the seal element closely fits about the outer surface of the lead lumen proximal an upstream opening in the lead lumen when the second medical device is inserted into the medical connector; and wherein the upstream end and the downstream end of the medical connector are disposed on substantially the same axis to assist in providing a substantially straight fluid-flow path.