Fluid flow connector permitting forceful lateral separation

Abstract

A fluid flow connector comprises a connector body which carries a first connector tube having a lumen for receiving a second connector tube when the connectors are joined. The first connector tube has a lumen and a lumen wall. The first connector tube typically has an end portion that carries a plurality of circumferentially spaced, outerwardly extending lugs to engage the second connector tube when connected. The fluid flow connector is made of a plastic having a flexural modulus that is low enough to allow deformation, permitting a connected, engaging second connector to pop loose from connection with the fluid flow connector when laterally struck, rather than breaking the fluid flow connector. Also, the first, fluid flow connector may optionally be frictionally retained in a retracted position where fluid flow is blocked through the connectors by a skirt of the second connector, which skirt has an inner diameter in frictional engagement with radially outer surfaces of the lugs of the first connector, for frictional retention of the connectors.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Extracorporeal blood sets are used for conveying blood from a patient to an extracorporeal blood treatment device, such as a dialyzer. These blood sets conventionally contain various components for obtaining access to an intermediate portion of the blood set, such as an injection site access port, a Y connector access port, or the like. Also, an access port may be carried on a flow-through chamber positioned in the set between the ends thereof. Such a chamber may be a pressure chamber having rigid walls for pressure measurement, and may carry a fluid flow connector access site, for example a needleless access site of a known type, such as a needleless access site of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,744.[0002]This access site may be connected with a syringe, or a tube set having a luer or luer lock connector, for the administration of parenteral solution or other medicament, or for venting air, or for administration of blood, or the like.[000...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]Typically the conical lumen wall shape is at an angle of greater than three degrees to the lumen axis, thus providing lateral movability or rotatability to the engaging first and second connector tubes.

[0012]The above embodiments allow a measure of lateral movement between the first and second connector tubes, to facilitate the popping loose of the second connector if forcefully and laterally struck.

[0013]When the fluid flow connector carries an elastomeric, slit diaphragm, in a manner similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,744, (the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein), the second connector tube can effectively open the diaphragm by opening the perforation, to open flow through the connected system. Then, when the second connector tube is withdrawn again out of engagement with the perforated diaphragm, the elastomeric diaphragm reseals again to block fluid flow.

[0016]Thus, a syringe which carries a second connector may be brought into connection with the first fluid flow connector, and advanced so that the second connector tube of the second connector penetrates and opens the diaphragm, or the second connector can be in a retracted position, but is still frictionally retained with the first fluid flow connector, with the second connector tube being spaced from the diaphragm, so that the diaphragm is closed, and flow through the system is prevented.

[0018]As stated above, the first fluid flow connector may be made of plastic having a flexural modulus that is low enough to allow deformation permitting a connected, engaging second connector to pop loose from connection with the fluid flow connector when laterally struck. In some embodiments, this flexural modulus may be no more than about 370,000 psi, for example from about 250,000 to 350,000 psi, as determined by ASTM D 790. As stated, this popping away, rather than breaking of the fluid flow connector, is facilitated by the low flexural modulus as indicated for the plastic, as well as by a space defined between the first and second connector tubes permitting some lateral motion, with or without pivoting, between the first and second connector tubes when laterally struck. Also, momentary deformation of at least a portion of the first connector tube from cylindrical to a substantially oval cross section may take place upon the lateral striking, to facilitate spontaneous disconnection rather than breakage.

[0020]In some embodiments, the first connector tube may have a length of 3.5-6 mm, which is less than a conventional ANSI connector, and which facilitates spontaneous disconnection upon lateral striking.

Problems solved by technology

This, of course, is a serious problem, requiring immediate action and causing great inconvenience and possibly loss of blood.

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