Needleless connector

Abstract

To enable the creation of needleless connectors that are useful for improving sealing, suppressing cracks, and reducing the risk of leakage. [Solution] The needleless connector 100 comprises a housing 103 and a bottomed cylindrical plunger valve 101. The housing 103 has an insertion port housing 153 that constitutes an insertion port 151 and covers the outside of the plunger valve 101, and an outlet port housing 154 that constitutes an outlet port 152. The inter-port flow path has an outer flow path formed on the outside of the plunger valve 101, an inner flow path 196 formed on the inside of the plunger valve 101, and a valve through passage 127 that penetrates the plunger valve and connects the outer flow path and the inner flow path 196. The plunger valve 101 has a sealing portion 114 that liquid-tightly seals the housing 103 on the second side of the valve through passage 127.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a needleless connector.

Background Art

[0002] When administering additional chemical solutions or the like to a patient undergoing infusion or blood transfusion, it may be necessary to provide a port in the fluid circuit and administer the chemical solution or the like from the port. There are various types of ports provided in the fluid circuit, but a needleless connector using a slit valve that communicates with the circuit when a male luer connector is inserted and closes when removed is widely used. A port using a needleless connector eliminates the risk of needle stick accidents such as those associated with puncture ports and also eliminates the risk of errors due to switching operations as in the case of using a three-way stopcock or the like.

[0003] However, in a port using a needleless connector, when the male luer connector is removed, the internal pressure decreases, and there is a risk that liquids such as blood and chemical solutions in the main flow path will be drawn into the needleless connector.

[0004] In order to make drawing less likely to occur, a positive flow type needleless connector that houses a plunger valve that is deformed by inserting a male luer connector and restored by removing it has been considered (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A flow path is formed outside the plunger valve, and the inner cavity is isolated from the flow path. When the male luer connector is inserted and the plunger valve is pressed, the air in the cavity inside the plunger valve is discharged to the outside of the needleless connector and deformed. As a result, the flow path outside the plunger valve is expanded and the liquid flows. When the male luer connector is removed, the plunger valve is restored, so the flow path is reduced and the chemical solution in the flow path is pushed out to the tip side. Therefore, reduction of drawing can be expected.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2013-500128 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] However, with positive-flow type needleless connectors, the greater the positive flow, the greater the load caused by the large pressure changes, which can lead to problems at various points.

[0007] In positive-flow type needleless connectors, the plunger valve is sandwiched between the inner and outer housings. However, because the liquid flow path is formed at the sandwiched portion, increasing the flow path width to ensure reliable flow formation makes it difficult to securely seal the plunger valve to the housing.

[0008] Furthermore, positive-type needleless connectors that house plunger valves are larger in size than needleless connectors that house slit valves alone. In particular, if the second side of a plunger valve is larger than the first side, and a portion of the first side extends into the interior of the second side, the size of the second side of the plunger valve will inevitably be larger. To form a flow path on the outside of the second side of such a plunger valve, a groove can be easily created in the outer housing, but this results in a thin wall and carries the risk of cracking. Alternatively, the wall thickness could be increased only in the grooved portion, but in that case, the maximum outer diameter of the outer housing would increase.

[0009] Furthermore, positive-flow type needleless connectors are sometimes equipped with not only plunger valves but also slit valves. In this case, to improve ease of assembly, the housing is sometimes divided into outer and inner sections for the slit valve. However, in positive-flow type connectors, where internal pressure changes are large, the more sections there are where housings meet in the flow path, the higher the risk of leakage due to pressure changes.

[0010] The problem addressed by this disclosure is to enable a positive-flow type needleless connector to achieve at least one of the following: improved sealing, crack suppression, and reduced leakage risk. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] A first aspect of the needleless connector of the present disclosure comprises a cylindrical housing having an insertion port at a first end into which a male connector is inserted and an outlet port at a second end, and a bottomed cylindrical plunger valve housed in the housing which deforms to expand the volume of an inter-port passage connecting the insertion port and the outlet port when a male connector is inserted into the insertion port, and returns to its original state to reduce the volume of the inter-port passage when the male connector inserted into the insertion port is removed, wherein the housing comprises an insertion port housing which constitutes the insertion port and covers the outside of the plunger valve, and an outlet port housing which constitutes the outlet port, and the inter-port passage comprises an outer passage formed on the outside of the plunger valve, an inner passage formed on the inside of the plunger valve, and a valve through passage which penetrates the plunger valve and connects the outer passage and the inner passage, and the plunger valve has a sealing portion which liquid-tightly seals the housing on the second side of the valve through passage.

[0012] In the first embodiment of the needleless connector, the connection between the outer and inner flow paths is made by a valve passage formed in the side wall of the plunger valve, and the insertion port housing and the outlet port housing are fixed to the second side of the valve passage. In this way, since the flow path is not located at the fixing part between the insertion port housing and the outlet port housing, the airtightness of the fixing part is not affected even if the flow path is enlarged. Therefore, the plunger valve can be fixed to the housing with high airtightness.

[0013] In a first embodiment of the needleless connector, the sealing portion has an annular projection that protrudes radially, and the annular projection can be compressed radially by the housing. By providing an annular projection that is compressed radially in the sealing portion, a liquid-tight seal can be easily achieved without providing a projection or the like on the housing side that compresses the sealing portion. This simplifies the shape of the housing and improves moldability. Furthermore, the design of the housing mold becomes easier.

[0014] In a first embodiment of the needleless connector, the outer flow path may include a portion formed between a valve body outer groove formed first on the sealing side of the plunger valve and the inner surface of the insertion port housing. By forming at least a portion of the outer flow path with a valve body outer groove, it is not necessary to form a large groove on the housing side, thereby reducing the size of the housing and the risk of cracking in the housing.

[0015] In a first embodiment of the needleless connector, the outflow port housing may have a collar portion surrounding the outflow port, and the insertion port housing may have an extension portion surrounding the collar portion. With this configuration, since the insertion port housing extends to the portion surrounding the outflow port, a wider area of ​​the insertion port housing within the housing is secured, making it easier to grip and improving operability.

[0016] In this case, the collar portion and the extension portion can be fixed by welding or by fitting using engaging claws and engaging holes. This allows for efficient manufacturing and good assembly of the collar portion and the extension portion. When welding, it is preferable to weld the upper surface of the flange formed on the collar portion to the lower end of the extension portion, and when fitting, it is preferable that the claws formed on the outer surface of the collar fit into the opening formed on the extension portion. This allows for stable formation of the threaded portion on the collar portion and reduces the risk of deformation of the collar portion, which can make it difficult for the threads to engage.

[0017] In a first embodiment of the needleless connector, a slit valve is further provided on the first side of the plunger valve and closes the insertion port. The insertion port housing has a plunger valve cover portion that covers the plunger valve and a slit valve cover portion that is provided on the first side of the plunger valve cover portion and covers the slit valve. The slit valve is clamped and fixed by the slit valve cover portion and the plunger valve cover portion. The plunger valve cover portion has an inner cylindrical portion that extends inward of the slit valve and an outer cylindrical portion that extends outward of the plunger valve, and the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion can be integrally molded. With this configuration, sealing performance around the slit valve can be easily ensured. In addition, since the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion are integral, the number of joints between housings in the flow path can be reduced compared to when the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion are separate members, thereby reducing the risk of leakage.

[0018] In a first embodiment of the needleless connector, the plunger valve and the outlet port housing may have a positioning structure that defines their circumferential positions relative to each other. This configuration facilitates alignment between the valve body passage and the radial flow path, thereby improving productivity. Various positioning mechanisms can be employed, but for example, a configuration in which a recess or protrusion provided around the valve body passage on the inner surface of the plunger valve engages with a protrusion or recess provided around the radial flow path on the outer surface of the outlet port housing.

[0019] In a first embodiment of the needleless connector, the housing may have a parting line, which is formed in a position that does not overlap with the sealing portion. This configuration prevents the parting line from affecting the sealing portion and reduces the occurrence of leaks.

[0020] In a first embodiment of the needleless connector, the plunger valve has a first plunger portion and a second plunger receiving portion, the plunger receiving portion having an internal space with a larger cross-sectional area than the lower end of the plunger portion, and the inter-port flow path can include a portion formed by the valve body outer surface groove formed on the outer surface of the plunger receiving portion and the inner surface of the insertion port housing. With this configuration, a portion of the inter-port flow path is formed by the valve body outer surface groove formed on the outer surface of the plunger receiving portion, so there is no need to provide a large groove on the housing side, and there are no thin-walled portions or portions that protrude significantly outward from the housing. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the housing and the risk of cracking in the housing.

[0021] A second embodiment of the needleless connector comprises a cylindrical housing having an insertion port at a first end into which a male connector is inserted and an outlet port at a second end, and a bottomed cylindrical plunger valve housed in the housing which deforms to expand the volume of the inter-port passage connecting the insertion port and the outlet port when a male connector is inserted into the insertion port, and returns to its original state to reduce the volume of the inter-port passage when the male connector inserted into the insertion port is removed, wherein the housing comprises an insertion port housing which constitutes the insertion port and covers the outside of the plunger valve, and an outlet port housing which constitutes the outlet port and holds the plunger valve between itself and the insertion port housing, wherein the plunger valve has a first plunger portion and a second plunger receiving portion, the plunger receiving portion having an internal space with a larger cross-sectional area than the lower end of the plunger portion, and the inter-port passage includes a portion formed by an outer surface groove of the valve body formed on the outer surface of the plunger receiving portion and the inner surface of the insertion port housing.

[0022] In a second aspect of the needleless connector, a portion of the inter-port flow path is formed by an outer groove on the valve body formed on the outer surface of the plunger receiving portion. Therefore, there is no need to provide a large groove on the housing side, which can reduce the size of the housing and the risk of housing cracking. Furthermore, because the valve body is flexible, cracks will not occur even if a thin-walled portion is formed on the valve body.

[0023] A third aspect of the needleless connector includes a cylindrical housing having an insertion port into which a male connector is inserted at an end on the first side and an outflow port at an end on the second side, and a plunger valve that is housed in the housing and is deformed so that the volume of the inter-port flow path connecting the insertion port and the outflow port expands when the male connector is inserted into the insertion port, and that is restored so that the volume of the inter-port flow path shrinks when the male connector inserted into the insertion port is removed. The plunger valve is a bottomed cylindrical shape. The needleless connector further includes a slit valve provided on the first side of the plunger valve and closing the insertion port. The housing includes an insertion port housing that forms the insertion port and covers the outside of the plunger valve, and an outflow port housing that forms the outflow port and holds the plunger valve between the insertion port housing and the outflow port housing. The insertion port housing has a plunger valve cover portion covering the plunger valve and a slit valve cover portion provided on the first side of the plunger valve cover portion and covering the slit valve. The slit valve is sandwiched and fixed by the slit valve cover portion and the plunger valve cover portion. The plunger valve cover portion has an inner cylindrical portion extending inside the slit valve and an outer cylindrical portion extending outside the slit valve, and the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion are integrally formed.

[0024] In the third aspect of the needleless connector, in the plunger valve cover portion, an outer cylindrical portion that extends outside the slit valve and houses a part of it, and an inner cylindrical portion that extends inside the slit valve, covers a part of the plunger valve, and is located inside the slit valve are integrally formed. Therefore, compared with the case where the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion are separate members, the joint between the housings on the flow path can be reduced, and the risk of leakage can be lowered.

Advantages of the Invention

[0025] According to the needleless connector of the present disclosure, at least one of improvement in sealing performance, suppression of cracks, and reduction of leakage risk can be achieved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] [Figure 1] This is an exploded perspective view showing a needleless connector according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view showing a needleless connector according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view in a direction perpendicular to Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing a plunger valve. [Figure 5] This is an exploded perspective view showing a modified needleless connector. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the needleless connector 100 of this embodiment includes a cylindrical housing 103 having an insertion port 151 into which a male connector is inserted on the first side and an outlet port 152 which is a male connector on the second side, a bottomed cylindrical plunger valve 101 housed in the housing 103, and a slit valve 106 that allows the insertion port 151 to be opened and closed. The orientation in which the needleless connector 100 is used is not particularly limited, but in the following description, the first side will be referred to as the upper side and the second side as the lower side.

[0028] The housing 103 includes an insertion port housing 153 having an insertion port 151 and an outlet port housing 154 having an outlet port. The plunger valve 101 is housed in a space formed between the insertion port housing 153 and the outlet port housing 154. The insertion port housing 153 includes a plunger valve cover portion 155 that covers the plunger valve 101 and a slit valve cover portion 157 that covers the slit valve 106. The slit valve 106 is clamped and fixed between the plunger valve cover portion 155 and the slit valve cover portion 157.

[0029] The insertion port 151 and the outlet port 152 are connected by an inter-port passage formed by an external passage formed outside the plunger valve 101, an internal passage formed inside the plunger valve 101, and a valve passage 127 that penetrates the plunger valve 101. When a male connector is inserted into the insertion port 151 in such a way as to expand the slit valve 106, the plunger valve 101 deforms and the volume of the inter-port passage increases. This ensures that a passage is available between the insertion port 151 and the outlet port 152 for liquid to flow at a sufficient rate. When the male connector is withdrawn from the insertion port 151, the slit valve 106 closes and the plunger valve 101 returns to its original state, reducing the volume of the inter-port passage. Therefore, when the male connector is withdrawn, the inside of the needleless connector 100 is less likely to become negatively pressurized, and the occurrence of liquid backflow can be suppressed.

[0030] In this embodiment, the outer flow path formed on the outside of the plunger valve 101 and the inner flow path formed on the inside of the plunger valve 101 are connected by a valve passage 127 formed in the plunger valve 101. Therefore, since it is not necessary to provide a configuration below the plunger valve 101 to connect the outer flow path and the inner flow path, the portion of the plunger valve 101 below the valve passage 127 can be used as a seal to liquid-tightly seal the insertion port housing 153 and the outlet port housing 154.

[0031] By using the lower part of the plunger valve 101 as a seal, it is not necessary to provide a sealing function to the joint between the insertion port housing 153 and the outlet port housing 154 itself. This simplifies the configuration of the joint and allows for a smaller joint. Furthermore, compared to cases where a seal ring or the like is provided as a separate component, the number of parts can be kept to a minimum, and assembly is improved.

[0032] The plunger valve 101 of this embodiment has a small-diameter plunger portion 111 provided at the top, a large-diameter plunger receiving portion 113 provided at the bottom, an intermediate portion 112 formed between the plunger portion 111 and the plunger receiving portion 113, and a seal portion 114 extending downward from the plunger receiving portion 113. The intermediate portion 112 is formed in a gently curved shape that is convex upward, connecting the plunger portion 111 and the plunger receiving portion 113. By adopting such a shape, it is possible to easily generate the elastic force necessary for the plunger valve 101 to return to its original position.

[0033] A notched groove 125 is formed on the outer surface of the plunger portion 111. The notched groove 125 extends from the top of the upper end of the plunger portion 111 toward the middle portion 112. The notched groove 125 is formed by cutting out a portion of the outer surface of the plunger portion 111 in a roughly triangular shape in cross-section. That is, the radial depth of the notched groove 125 gradually decreases from top to bottom. By providing the notched groove 125, the liquid flow can be made smoother and stagnation can be made less likely. An outer valve body groove 126 extending in the vertical direction is formed on the outer surface of the plunger receiving portion 113. By providing the outer valve body groove 126, it is easy to secure the volume of the outer flow path and secure the flow rate. The notched groove 125 and the outer valve body groove 126 are formed at positions offset from each other around the axis. By offsetting the axial positions of the notched groove 125 and the valve body outer surface groove 126, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of liquid accumulation on the outer surface of the plunger portion 111. A valve passage 127 is formed at the lower end of the valve body outer surface groove 126, which penetrates the plunger receiving portion 113. The notched groove 125 and the valve body outer surface groove 126 can be provided as needed, or they can be omitted. For example, the groove can be provided in the housing instead of the valve body.

[0034] The sealing portion 114 is formed at the lower end of the plunger receiving portion 113 and is located below the valve passage 127. The sealing portion 114 is sandwiched between the insertion port housing 153 and the outlet port housing 154, and provides a liquid-tight seal between the insertion port housing 153 and the outlet port housing. In this embodiment, an annular projection 115 that protrudes radially is formed at the lower end of the sealing portion 114. The portion of the annular projection 115 is greatly compressed radially between the insertion port housing 153 and the outlet port housing 154, thereby improving the sealing performance.

[0035] The plunger valve cover portion 155 of the insertion port housing 153 has a main cylinder portion 161, a base portion 164 formed at the upper end of the main cylinder portion 161, and an inner cylinder portion 166 and an outer cylinder portion 165 that protrude upward from the base portion 164. The inner cylinder portion 166 is located radially inward from the outer cylinder portion 165 and extends upward from the outer cylinder portion 165. The tip of the inner cylinder portion 166 is a lower claw portion 167 that protrudes upward.

[0036] The slit valve cover portion 157 includes a flange portion 171, an insertion port cylinder 172 that protrudes upward from the flange portion 171 and has an opening at its upper end, an outer ring 173 that protrudes downward, and an inner ring 174. The upper end of the insertion port cylinder 172 is folded inward, forming an upper claw portion 175 that protrudes downward. An external thread 176 is formed on the outer surface of the insertion port cylinder 172, which engages with the collar of the male connector inserted into the insertion port 151.

[0037] The outlet port housing 154 includes a disc-shaped base portion 191, an outlet port 152 which is a male Luer portion projecting downward from the center of the base portion 191, a collar portion that surrounds the outlet port 152 and has internal threads, and a support wall 194 that projects upward from the base portion 191. The base portion 191 has a radially extending inner flow path 196 that connects a side opening 197 formed on the side of the base portion 191 to the outlet port 152, and an axially penetrating air vent passage 198. An outer rim 199 that projects radially outward is formed at the lower end of the collar portion 193.

[0038] The main cylindrical portion 161 of the insertion port housing 153 extends downward from the base portion 191 of the outlet port housing 154 and has an extension portion 162 that surrounds the collar portion 193 of the outlet port housing 154. The outer diameter of the extension portion 162 is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the outer rim 199 of the outlet port housing 154, and the lower end of the extension portion 162 abuts against the upper surface of the outer rim 199, with the abutment portion being welded.

[0039] To achieve high sealing performance through ultrasonic welding, it is preferable to perform the welding in a state where the two parts to be welded can vibrate as independently as possible. However, since the relative movement between the insertion port housing and the outlet port housing is restricted by the plunger valve, ultrasonic energy is not easily transmitted to the welding area. Therefore, if liquid-tight sealing is to be achieved solely by welding, the welding area must be made larger. However, in this embodiment, the sealing portion 114 of the plunger valve 101 is responsible for the sealing function, so the welding area itself is not required to have the function of liquid-tight sealing between the insertion port housing 153 and the outlet port housing 154. Therefore, sealing performance can be ensured even if the structure of the welding area is simplified and its size is reduced.

[0040] The sealing portion 114 of the plunger valve 101 is sandwiched between the outer surface of the collar portion 193 and the inner surface of the extension portion 162, thereby creating a liquid-tight seal between the collar portion 193 and the main cylinder portion 161. In this embodiment, since the sealing portion 114 is sandwiched so as to be compressed radially, there is no need for a flange or other structure that protrudes radially outward, as in the case of axial compression. Therefore, a housing with fewer protrusions and a smaller outer diameter can be easily realized. As a result, gripping becomes easier, and protruding parts are less likely to interfere with or get caught on other tools, improving operability.

[0041] Furthermore, since the extension 162 covers the lower end of the collar portion 193, the strength of the collar portion 193 can be improved, and it becomes less likely that the collar portion 193, which has internal threads, will deform, making it difficult for the threads to engage.

[0042] In this embodiment, the sealing portion 114 has an annular projection 115 that protrudes radially. The annular projection 115 is compressed radially by the outer surface of the collar portion 193 and the inner surface of the extension portion 162, thereby making the sealing performance of the sealing portion 114 more reliable. In this embodiment, the annular projection 115 protrudes in both radially inward and radially outward directions, but it can also protrude in only one direction. The annular projection 115 is provided near the lower end of the sealing portion 114, but the annular projection 115 can be provided at any position on the sealing portion 114.

[0043] To improve the sealing performance of the seal portion 114, an annular projection for pressing the seal portion can be provided on at least one of the outer surface of the collar portion 193 and the inner surface of the extension portion 162. The annular projection on the seal portion 114 side and the annular projection on the housing 103 side can both be provided, or only one of them can be provided.

[0044] In this embodiment, the sealing portion 114 extends to the portion of the collar portion 193 where the internal thread is formed. This allows the sealing portion 114 to be sufficiently long in the vertical direction, thereby further improving the sealing performance. However, it is also possible to configure the lower end of the sealing portion 114 to be located near the lower end of the base portion 191.

[0045] In this embodiment, sealing between the insertion port housing 153 and the outlet port housing 154 is achieved by radially sandwiching the sealing portion 114 of the plunger valve 101 between the insertion port housing 153 and the outlet port housing 154. In this case, in order to further improve sealing performance, it is preferable that there are no parting lines or gate marks on the inner surface of the insertion port housing 153 and the outer surface of the outlet port housing 154 in the portion that sandwiches the sealing portion 114.

[0046] In this embodiment, the plunger valve 101 is fitted onto the support wall 194, base portion 191, and collar portion 193 of the outlet port housing 154 and fixed in a liquid-tight manner. Above the base portion 191, an internal space 120 is formed inside the plunger valve 101, isolated from the outer flow path. The side opening 197 of the inner flow path 196, which extends radially inside the base portion 191, is aligned with the valve through passage 127, and the outer flow path and the inner flow path 196 are connected.

[0047] A protrusion 182 projecting radially outward is formed on the side of the base portion 191 at the portion of the side opening 197. Furthermore, a recess 181 complementary to the protrusion 182 of the side opening 197 is formed on the inner surface of the plunger receiving portion 113 at the portion of the valve passage 127. By aligning the protrusion of the side opening 197 with the recess 181 of the valve passage 127, the circumferential positions of the valve passage 127 and the side opening 197 can be easily aligned. Additionally, the engagement of the protrusions and recesses makes it difficult for the plunger valve 101 to rotate relative to the outlet port housing 154, thus reducing the likelihood of misalignment during assembly.

[0048] The mechanism for aligning the valve passage 127 and the side opening 197 and preventing misalignment is not limited to this configuration, and various configurations can be adopted. For example, the valve passage 127 side can be made into a convex portion, and the side opening 197 side into a concave portion. Complementary protrusions and recesses can also be provided on parts other than the valve passage 127 and the side opening 197. It is also possible to have a configuration that only has the function of alignment. For example, alignment can be achieved by providing positioning marks on the plunger valve 101 and the outflow port housing 154.

[0049] The internal space 120 inside the plunger valve 101 has an upper internal space 121 located below the plunger portion 111 and a lower internal space 122 located inside the intermediate portion 112 and the plunger receiving portion 113, extending from the lower end of the plunger receiving portion 113 to the lower part of the plunger portion 111. While providing the upper internal space 121 facilitates adjustment of the spring force of the plunger valve 101, it is also possible to have a configuration where the entire plunger portion 111 is solid and the upper internal space 121 is not provided.

[0050] The cross-sectional area of ​​the lower internal space 122 is larger than the external cross-sectional area at the lower end of the plunger portion 111. Therefore, when the male connector is inserted into the insertion port 151 and the plunger portion 111 is pressed downward, a part of the plunger portion 111 deforms so that it is pushed into the plunger receiving portion 113. When the male connector is removed, the elastic force of the intermediate portion 112 pushes the plunger portion 111 back, and the plunger valve 101 returns to its original shape. In accordance with the deformation of the plunger valve 101, air is pushed out of the internal space 120 or flows into the internal space 120 through the air vent passage 198.

[0051] In this embodiment, the plunger valve 101 in its initial, undeformed state has almost no gap between it and the inner surface of the housing 103, except for the notched groove 125 and the outer surface groove 126 of the valve body. Therefore, when the male connector is not inserted into the insertion port 151, the volume of the outer flow path is small. When the male connector is inserted into the insertion port 151 and the plunger valve 101 deforms, the plunger portion 111 is pushed down, the intermediate portion 112 and the upper part of the plunger receiving portion 113 deform, increasing the volume of the outer flow path and allowing liquid to flow easily through the inter-port flow path. When the male connector is removed, the plunger valve 101 returns to its initial state and the volume of the outer flow path decreases, making it less likely for negative pressure to form inside the needleless connector 100 and suppressing backflow from the outlet port 152.

[0052] The portion of the plunger receiving section 113 below the support wall 194 is fitted onto the outlet port housing 154, so it hardly deforms even when the male connector is inserted and the plunger section 111 is pushed down. In this embodiment, the plunger receiving section 113 has an outer valve groove 126 that extends from the intermediate section 112 to the valve passage 127. Therefore, a sufficient volume of outward flow can be secured even in the portion below the support wall 194 where hardly any deformation occurs.

[0053] Instead of or in addition to the valve body outer surface groove 126, a groove may also be formed on the inner surface of the main cylinder portion 161 of the insertion port housing 153. However, by providing the valve body outer surface groove 126, it is not necessary to form a large groove in the main cylinder portion 161, which has the advantage of reducing the size of the housing 103 and the risk of cracking. In this embodiment, since there are no parts that protrude significantly radially outward in the main cylinder portion 161 and the extension portion 162, the needleless connector 100 can be firmly grasped by hand. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which a recess 168 is formed to facilitate gripping, but a configuration without the recess 168 is also possible.

[0054] In the configuration where the flow path is secured by the outer groove 126 of the valve body, unlike when the groove is formed on the insertion port housing 153 side, the positional relationship between the notched groove 125 and the outer groove 126 of the valve body, and the positional relationship between the outer groove 126 of the valve body and the valve passage 127 are fixed. Therefore, since it is not necessary to align the plunger valve 101 and the insertion port housing 153, the advantage of easier assembly is obtained.

[0055] In this embodiment, the notched groove 125 formed in the plunger portion 111 and the valve body outer surface groove 126 formed in the plunger receiving portion 113 are formed offset by 90° in the circumferential direction. This configuration allows liquid to flow over the entire outside of the plunger valve 101, making it less likely for stagnation to occur inside the housing 103. However, the positional relationship between the notched groove 125 and the valve body outer surface groove 126 is not limited to this relationship; they can be aligned in the circumferential direction or offset by a position other than 90°. Although an example is shown in which two notched grooves 125 and two valve body outer surface grooves 126 are formed, the number of notched grooves 125 and valve body outer surface grooves 126 can be appropriately changed as needed.

[0056] The slit valve 106 has a slit 134, a central portion 131 that closes the opening of the insertion port 151, and a skirt-like portion 132 that surrounds the central portion 131. The skirt-like portion 132 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the central portion 131. A narrow section is formed between the central portion 131 and the skirt-like portion 132. A valve body flange 133 that protrudes radially outward is formed at the lower end of the skirt-like portion 132.

[0057] The plunger valve cover portion 155 and the slit valve cover portion 157 are fixed to each other with the slit valve 106 sandwiched between them. The outer cylindrical portion 165 of the plunger valve cover portion is positioned between the outer ring 173 and the inner ring 174 of the slit valve cover portion 157, and the upper surface of the outer cylindrical portion 165 and the lower surface of the flange portion 171 are welded together. The skirt-like portion 132 of the slit valve 106 is sandwiched between the outer surface of the inner cylindrical portion 166 of the plunger valve cover portion 155 and the inner surface of the insertion port cylinder 172 of the slit valve cover portion 157. The narrow portion of the slit valve 106 is sandwiched and fixed between the upper claw portion 175 and the lower claw portion 167. The valve body flange 133 is positioned between the outer cylindrical portion 165 and the inner cylindrical portion 166, and is sandwiched vertically by the upper surface of the base portion 164 and the lower surface of the inner ring 174.

[0058] In this embodiment, the plunger valve cover portion 155 is integrally molded with an inner cylindrical portion 166 extending inward from the slit valve 106 and an outer cylindrical portion 165 extending outward from the slit valve 106. Therefore, there is no seam between the inner cylindrical portion 166 and the outer cylindrical portion 165, thus preventing leaks from this area. Furthermore, the slit valve cover portion 157, which covers the outside of the slit valve 106, clamps and fixes the slit valve 106 between itself and the inner cylindrical portion 166 and is welded to the outer cylindrical portion 165. Since the space between the slit valve cover portion 157 and the inner cylindrical portion 166 is sealed by the slit valve 106, the risk of leaks occurring between the plunger valve cover portion 155 and the slit valve cover portion 157 can also be greatly reduced. Moreover, the plunger valve cover portion 155 is integrally molded seamlessly from the upper end to the lower end of the plunger valve 101. Therefore, the risk of leaks occurring on the plunger valve 101 side can also be greatly reduced.

[0059] It is preferable to first clamp and fix the slit valve 106 between the plunger valve cover portion 155 and the slit valve cover portion 157, and then weld the insertion port housing 153 and the outlet port housing 154 together. Fixing the slit valve cover portion 157 first makes it easier to grip with a jig, thus reducing the likelihood of distortion during welding.

[0060] In this embodiment, the insertion port housing 153 has a flat surface 169 at the upper end of the main cylindrical portion 161. The flat surface 169 is formed to face the outer rim 199 of the outlet port housing 154, with the main cylindrical portion 161 and the extension portion 162 in between. Therefore, the transducers of the ultrasonic welding device can be placed on the flat surface 169 and the lower surface of the outer rim 199 to perform welding. By placing the transducers on the flat surface 169, the distance between the transducers can be shortened compared to when the transducers are placed at the upper end of the insertion port housing 153, so that ultrasonic energy can be efficiently supplied and the lower end surface of the extension portion 162 and the upper surface of the outer rim 199 can be welded.

[0061] While examples of fixing the insertion port housing 153 and the outlet port housing 154, and the plunger valve cover portion 155 and the slit valve cover portion 157, by welding are shown, these can also be done by adhesive or other means. Furthermore, the insertion port housing 153 and the outlet port housing 154 can also be fixed by mechanical fitting.

[0062] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a modified needleless connector. In this modified example, the insertion port housing 153A has an opening 201 formed in the extension portion 162A and a notch 202. The inlet port housing 154A has a mating claw 205 protruding from the outer surface of the collar portion 193A and a position-relieving projection 206. The mating claw 205 restricts the relative axial movement between the insertion port housing 153 and the outlet port housing 154. The position-relieving projection 206 is inserted into the notch 202 and restricts the relative circumferential movement between the insertion port housing 153 and the outlet port housing 154.

[0063] In this embodiment, the fitting claw 205 has a triangular cross-section that widens towards the bottom, and its lower end surface is an upright surface that rises from the outer surface of the collar portion 193A. As a result, when the opening 201 is aligned with the fitting claw 205 and the insertion port housing 153 is moved downward relative to the outlet port housing 154, the fitting claw 205 and the opening 201 can be easily engaged, while the engagement cannot be easily disengaged. Therefore, the ease of assembly can be greatly improved.

[0064] While the configuration shown involves providing separate members for restricting axial movement and circumferential movement, it is also possible to restrict both axial and circumferential movement with a single member. Furthermore, a configuration can be provided where a mating projection is provided on the inner surface of the insertion port housing and a recess is provided on the outer surface of the outlet port housing. However, when the mating component is provided on the collar, it is preferable to provide the projection on the collar side to ensure the strength of the collar. Additionally, the mating component is not limited to the collar but can also be provided on the base or other parts.

[0065] In this modified example, the plunger valve 101A is configured such that the lower end of the seal portion 114A is located below the inner flow path 196 and above the upper ends of the fitting claw 205 and the positioning projection 206. This prevents the fitting mechanism from interfering with the seal portion 114A.

[0066] In the embodiments and modified examples, the housing is not particularly limited, but can be made of a resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or rigid polyvinyl chloride. It is preferable that the housing be made of a resin that is easily welded. When the insertion port housing and the outlet port housing are fixed by fitting, it is preferable to use a resin with relatively high strength. The plunger valve and the slit valve can be made of an elastic material such as synthetic rubber, natural rubber, or silicone rubber. [Industrial applicability]

[0067] The needleless port of this disclosure can achieve at least one of improved sealing, crack suppression, and reduced leakage risk, and is useful as a medical connector. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0068] 100, 100A Needleless Connector 101, 101A Plunger valve 103 Housing 106 Slit valve 111 Plunger section 112 Middle section 113 Plunger receiving part 114,114A Seal section 115 Annular protrusion 120 interior space 121 Upper interior space 122 Lower internal space 125 Notched grooves 126 Valve body outer surface groove 127 Valve passage 131 Central part 132 Skirt-like part 133 Valve body flange 134 slits 151 Insertion Port 152 Outflow Port 153, 153A Insertion port housing 154,154A Outlet Port Housing 155 Plunger valve cover 157 Slit valve cover section 161 Main cylinder part 162,162A Extension 164 Flange section 165 Outer cylinder part 166 Inner cylinder part 167 Lower claw part 168 recess 169 Flat surface 171 Base 172 Insertion port tube 173 Outer Ring 174 Inner Ring 175 Upper claw part 176 External thread 181 recess 182 Convex part 191 Base section 193, 193A Color section 194 Support Wall 196 Inner channel 197 Side opening 198 Air vent passage 199 Outer Rim 201 Opening 202 Notch 205 Attaching claws 206 Positioning protrusion

Claims

1. A cylindrical housing having an insertion port at the first end into which a male connector is inserted, and an outlet port at the second end, The valve comprises a bottomed cylindrical plunger valve housed in the aforementioned housing, which deforms to expand the volume of the inter-port passage connecting the insertion port and the outlet port when a male connector is inserted into the insertion port, and returns to its original state to reduce the volume of the inter-port passage when the male connector inserted into the insertion port is removed, The housing comprises an insertion port housing that constitutes the insertion port and covers the outside of the plunger valve, and an outlet port housing that constitutes the outlet port. The inter-port passage comprises an outer passage formed on the outside of the plunger valve, an inner passage formed on the inside of the plunger valve, and a valve through passage that penetrates the plunger valve and connects the outer passage and the inner passage. The plunger valve has a sealing portion that liquid-tightly seals the housing on the second side of the valve passage, and is a needleless connector.

2. The sealing portion has an annular projection that protrudes radially, The needleless connector according to claim 1, wherein the annular protrusion is compressed radially by the housing.

3. The needleless connector according to claim 1, wherein the outer flow path includes a portion formed between a valve body outer groove formed on the first side of the seal portion of the plunger valve and the inner surface of the insertion port housing.

4. The outlet port housing has a collar portion surrounding the outlet port, The needleless connector according to claim 1, wherein the insertion port housing has an extension portion surrounding the collar portion.

5. The needleless connector according to claim 4, wherein the collar portion and the extension portion are fixed by welding or by fitting together with engaging claws and engaging holes.

6. The system further includes a slit valve provided on the first side of the plunger valve, which closes the insertion port. The insertion port housing has a plunger valve cover portion that covers the plunger valve, and a slit valve cover portion that is provided on the first side of the plunger valve cover portion and covers the slit valve, The slit valve is held and fixed by the slit valve cover portion and the plunger valve cover portion. The plunger valve cover portion has an inner cylindrical portion extending inward from the slit valve and an outer cylindrical portion extending outward from the slit valve. The needleless connector according to claim 1, wherein the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion are integrally molded.

7. The needleless connector according to claim 1, wherein the plunger valve and the outflow port housing have a positioning structure that defines their circumferential positions relative to each other.

8. The housing has a parting line, The needleless connector according to claim 1, wherein the parting line is formed in a position that does not overlap with the sealing portion.

9. The plunger valve has a first plunger portion and a second plunger receiving portion. The plunger receiving portion has an internal space with a larger cross-sectional area than the lower end of the plunger portion. The needleless connector according to claim 1, wherein the inter-port flow path includes a portion formed by the valve body outer surface groove formed on the outer surface of the plunger receiving portion and the inner surface of the insertion port housing.

10. A cylindrical housing having an insertion port at the first end into which a male connector is inserted, and an outlet port at the second end, The system includes a bottomed cylindrical plunger valve housed in the aforementioned housing, which deforms to expand the volume of the inter-port channel connecting the insertion port and the outlet port when a male connector is inserted into the insertion port, and returns to its original state to reduce the volume of the inter-port channel when the male connector inserted into the insertion port is removed, The housing comprises an insertion port housing that constitutes the insertion port and covers the outside of the plunger valve, and an outlet port housing that constitutes the outlet port and holds the plunger valve between itself and the insertion port housing. The plunger valve has a first plunger portion and a second plunger receiving portion. The plunger receiving portion has an internal space with a larger cross-sectional area than the lower end of the plunger portion. The inter-port channel of the needleless connector includes a portion formed by the outer surface groove of the valve body formed on the outer surface of the plunger receiving portion and the inner surface of the insertion port housing.

11. A cylindrical housing having an insertion port at the first end into which a male connector is inserted, and an outlet port at the second end, A bottomed cylindrical plunger valve, housed in the aforementioned housing, deforms to expand the volume of the inter-port passage connecting the insertion port and the outlet port when a male connector is inserted into the insertion port, and returns to its original state to reduce the volume of the inter-port passage when the male connector inserted into the insertion port is removed, The system includes a slit valve provided on the first side of the plunger valve and which closes the insertion port, The housing comprises an insertion port housing that constitutes the insertion port and an outlet port housing that constitutes the outlet port. The insertion port housing has a plunger valve cover portion that covers the plunger valve, and a slit valve cover portion that is provided on the first side of the plunger valve cover portion and covers the slit valve, The slit valve is held and fixed by the slit valve cover portion and the plunger valve cover portion. The plunger valve cover portion has an inner cylindrical portion extending inward from the slit valve and an outer cylindrical portion extending outward from the slit valve. A needleless connector in which the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion are integrally molded.

Images