Valve member for connector, needleless connector and method of providing same

Abstract

The invention provides a valve member for a connector, a needleless connector and a method of providing the same. The valve member includes a head portion including a top section and an outer side surface, the outer side surface including a notch and a circumferential lip seal, the top section defining a first sealing portion extending radially outward from the outer side surface, and the circumferential lip seal extending radially outward from the outer side surface; and a body portion having a proximal end forming a second sealing portion and extending longitudinally from the head portion to a distal end of the body portion, with a circumferential lip seal disposed between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the application filed on July 30, 2021, with application number 202110875072.0 and invention title "Needleless Connector with Check Valve with Lip Seal". Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure generally relates to pinless connectors, and more particularly to pinless connectors with a valve member having a sealing lip. Background Technology

[0003] Medical treatments typically involve infusing medical fluids (e.g., saline or liquid medications) into a patient using an intravenous (IV) catheter connected to a fluid source, such as an IV bag, via an arrangement of flexible tubing and fittings (generally referred to as an "IV kit"). Certain needleless connectors can be used in IV kits and may have self-sealing ports to prevent fluid leakage when a mated medical device is disengaged from such a needleless connector. Furthermore, needleless connectors may include mechanical valves, such as retractable valves comprising flexible materials, for providing self-sealing ports and controlling the flow of fluid within the IV kit.

[0004] Due to the nature of the geometry of existing and / or prior art needleless valves, fluid often deposits on the surface of the valve head when the medical device (e.g., a mating male Luer connector) used to apply axial force to place the valve member in the open position is removed. In these existing needleless valves, the fluid deposited on the valve head may occasionally separate from the valve member and flow into the fluid path used for drug delivery to the patient, causing anxiety and potential blood flow disorders.

[0005] The descriptions provided in the Background section should not be considered prior art simply because they are mentioned in or associated with the Background section. The Background section may include information describing one or more aspects of the subject matter. Summary of the Invention

[0006] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, a valve member for a connector may include a head portion and a body portion, the head portion including a top section defining a first sealing portion, and the body portion extending longitudinally from the head portion and defining a second sealing portion at its proximal end. The second sealing portion may be disposed distal to the first sealing portion. The valve member may further include a circumferential lip seal extending radially outward from the outer surface of the head portion. The circumferential lip seal may be disposed between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion.

[0007] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the pinless connector may include a housing having: a proximal end defining an inlet port of the housing; a distal end including a base defining an outlet port of the housing; and an inner surface defining an internal chamber extending between the inlet port and the outlet port. The pinless connector may further include a resilient valve disposed within at least a portion of the internal chamber and movably retained within the housing. The resilient valve may include: a head portion including a top section and a body portion extending distally from the head portion; and a circumferential lip seal extending radially outward from the outer surface of the head portion and disposed between the top section and the body portion. In the open state of the resilient valve, a gap exists between the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal may engage at least a portion of the inner surface of the housing to prevent fluid from flowing from the internal chamber toward and onto the top section of the head portion.

[0008] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory, and are intended to provide further explanation of the claimed subject matter. It should also be understood that other aspects may be utilized, and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the subject matter. Attached Figure Description

[0009] The following figures are included to illustrate certain aspects of the embodiments and should not be considered as exclusive embodiments. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure, the disclosed subject matter is capable of considerable modifications, alterations, combinations, and equivalents in form and function.

[0010] Figure 1 This is a partially sectional perspective view of the housing of a pinless connector according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein an elastic valve is installed.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a perspective view illustrating an example of a resilient valve of a pinless connector according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0012] Figure 3 It is in the closed position according to some embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of the assembled pinless connector housing and compressible valve.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a partially cut cross-sectional view of a housing of a pinless connector according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the pinless connector having a compressible valve mounted therein, wherein an axial force is applied to place the valve in an open position. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The detailed description below depicts various constructions of the subject matter and is not intended to represent the only construction that can be practiced with the subject matter. The detailed description includes specific details intended to provide a thorough understanding of the subject matter. Therefore, dimensions regarding certain aspects may be provided as non-limiting examples. However, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the subject matter can be implemented without these specific details. In some cases, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the concept of the subject matter.

[0015] It should be understood that this disclosure includes examples of the subject matter and does not limit the scope of the appended claims. Various aspects of the subject matter will now be disclosed based on specific, but not limiting, examples. The various embodiments described in this disclosure can be implemented in different ways and variations and depending on the desired application or implementation.

[0016] Various embodiments of this disclosure generally relate to a self-sealing pinless connector comprising a resilient compressible valve disposed within a housing of the connector, wherein the resilient valve has a circumferential lip seal that acts as a wiper or dam on the inner surface (inner diameter) of the engaging housing to prevent fluid from moving from the chamber toward the top of the valve via a temporary gap created between the valve and the housing when the valve is tilted, tilted, pressed down, or otherwise compressed.

[0017] More specifically, various embodiments of this disclosure relate to a pinless connector having a housing and a compressible valve configured such that when subjected to axial force, tilting of the head portion of the compressible valve (which forms a fluid flow path in conventional pinless connectors) is eliminated.

[0018] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, when the axial force is removed, the resilient valve begins to expand to return to its sealed configuration position within the housing. As the resilient valve expands, the circumferential lip seal engages the inner surface of the housing and flips or otherwise bends, thereby acting as a wiper or dam to prevent fluid from moving from the housing chamber toward the valve face via a temporary gap. Therefore, the construction of the valve member with the circumferential lip seal in the various embodiments described herein is advantageous because it prevents fluid droplets from accumulating on the top surface of the valve by preventing fluid from moving from the chamber toward the top surface via the temporary gap. Since the circumferential lip seal minimizes the amount of fluid that can deposit on the valve face, it advantageously prevents anxiety and potential blood flow disorders typically associated with fluid deposits on the valve face (top surface) of the valve head.

[0019] While the following description pertains to the administration of medical fluids to a patient by a healthcare professional using the disclosed needleless connector, it should be understood that the description is merely an example of use and does not limit the scope of the claims.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a partially cross-sectional perspective view of a housing 110 of a pinless connector 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein a resilient valve is mounted. As shown, the housing 110 may have a proximal end 105 defining an inlet port 112 of the housing 110 and a distal end 120 including a base portion 160 defining an outlet port 123 of the housing 110. In some embodiments, the housing 110 may further include an inner surface 130 defining an internal chamber 133 extending at least partially between the proximal end 105 and the distal end 120 of the housing 110. The housing 110 may be formed by a body portion 115 coupled to or otherwise integrally formed with the base portion. However, in some embodiments, the housing 110 may be formed from a combination of other workpieces or parts of similar dimensions to accommodate the resilient valve 200 therein. In operation, for example, a fluid path from the inlet port 112 to the outlet port 123 may be established via the pinless connector 100. As mentioned herein, the proximal side refers to the orientation toward the inlet port 112 of the housing 110, while the distal side refers to the orientation toward the base portion 160 or bottom of the housing 100, opposite to the inlet port 112.

[0021] As shown in the figure, housing 110 includes, in addition to being for use with medical devices (e.g., male Luer connector 300, etc.), Figure 4 In addition to the inlet port 112 of the housing 110 (as shown), the housing 110 may further include an opening 155 for connection with the base 160 of the housing 110. As shown, the body portion 115 of the housing 110 may include one or more fluid flow channels 144 and one or more internal support pillars (not shown). The lower section of the body portion 115 (e.g., the section near the opening 155) may have an increased diameter and include one or more internal contact protrusions (not shown). When assembled in the pinless connector 100, one or more internal contact protrusions may provide a radial force substantially orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis X1 of the housing 110 to the flange portion of the resilient valve 200, which is arranged on the valve mounting portion of the base portion 160.

[0022] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, inlet port 112 may include a top port surface 114 and a channel defined in an internal chamber 133. Inlet port 112 may include engagement features 135 for coupling to another device (e.g., a fluid delivery assembly). For example, engagement features 135 may include mating mechanical elements (such as internal or external surface threads, chucks, bayonet-type locking elements, etc.) and other surface features (such as a tapered Luer surface for friction engagement). In some embodiments, inlet port 112 may define a female Luer fitting with Luer locking threads 135. The inner surface 130 and the internal chamber 133 defined therein may extend longitudinally from the opening of the top port surface 114 of inlet port 112 into the body portion 115 of housing 110.

[0023] In some embodiments, the internal sealing edge 122 may be defined on the inner surface 130 of the housing 110. The internal sealing edge 122 may be a circumferential edge and is configured to retain the resilient valve 200 within the internal chamber 133 of the assembled pinless connector 100. In operation, the internal sealing edge 122 may be arranged to provide a barrier to fluid flow together with the main sealing portion 225 of the compressible valve 200.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a perspective view illustrating an example of a resilient valve of a pinless connector according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 2 An exemplary resilient valve 200 is shown separately. The resilient valve 200 may include a head portion 220 and a body portion 230 extending distally from the head portion 220. In some embodiments, the head portion 220 includes a columnar segment 218 that may define an axial center X2 of the resilient valve 200. When assembled in a needleless connector housing 100, in the closed state of the resilient valve 200, the axial center X2 may substantially correspond to the central longitudinal axis X1 of the needleless connector housing. In an inactive state (e.g., alone, or within the connector but not displaced by a medical device), the axial center X2 may extend longitudinally through the head portion 220 and body portion 230 of the compressible valve 200 (e.g., ...). Figure 1 (As shown). In the aforementioned state, the main body portion 230 of the compressible valve 200 may have the same axial center as the head portion 220 or other portions of the compressible valve 200. However, as described in further detail below, in the activated state (e.g., when an axial force is applied to the compressible valve 200 using a medical device (e.g., a male Luer connector 300), the axial center X2 of the resilient valve 200 may change and pivot relative to the central longitudinal axis X1 when the resilient valve 200 is activated by the medical device.

[0025] According to some embodiments, the head portion 220 may include a top section 212 defining a first or secondary sealing portion 214 of the resilient valve 200. The body portion 230 may further define a second or main sealing portion 225 at a proximal end of the body portion 230. As shown, the main sealing portion 225 may be disposed distal to the secondary sealing portion 214.

[0026] According to various aspects of this disclosure, the head portion 220 may further include a circumferential lip seal 215 extending radially outward from the outer surface of the head portion 220. As shown, the circumferential lip seal 215 may project radially outward from the outer surface of the head portion 220 toward the inner surface 130 of the housing 110. The circumferential lip seal 215 may be a thin, flexible member that engages the inner surface 130 of the housing 110 of the connector 100. For example, as will be discussed in further detail below, the circumferential lip seal 215 may form a thin seal (approximately 0.0005-0.005 inches) that prevents fluid from flowing from the inner chamber 133 to the valve face (i.e., the top surface 216) during removal of the medical device (e.g., syringe 300). Thus, during removal of the medical device 300, the circumferential lip seal 215 may function to prevent most of the fluid flowing from the inner chamber from reaching the top surface 216 of the valve 200. The aforementioned thin and flexible construction of the circumferential lip seal 215 is advantageous because it is thin enough to flip during syringe insertion and slide with minimal resistance during syringe removal. Therefore, the circumferential lip seal 215 can allow fluid to move in one direction. For example, the circumferential lip seal 215 can allow fluid to flow from a first chamber 145 toward a second chamber 165 or otherwise drain, the first chamber being formed between the circumferential lip seal 215 and the secondary sealing portion 214, and the second chamber being formed between the circumferential lip seal 215 and the main sealing portion 225.

[0027] In some embodiments, the distance H1 by which the circumferential lip seal 215 extends radially outward from the outer surface of the head portion 220 may be less than or shorter than the distance H2 between the circumferential lip seal 215 and the first (secondary) sealing portion 214. The aforementioned configuration allows the circumferential lip seal 215 to bend upward or otherwise deflect toward the secondary sealing portion without the risk of breaking or otherwise becoming stuck between the inner surfaces of the housing 130 as the valve 200 expands from the open to the closed state.

[0028] In some embodiments, a circumferential lip seal 215 may be disposed between a first (secondary) sealing portion 214 and a second (primary) sealing portion 225. Specifically, as shown, the circumferential lip seal 215 may be disposed closer to the secondary sealing portion 214 than the primary sealing portion 225. For example, a distance or height H2 may be defined between the circumferential lip seal 215 and the secondary sealing portion 214. Similarly, a distance or height H3 may be defined between the circumferential lip seal 215 and the primary sealing portion 225. In some embodiments, the distance or height H2 may be shorter or smaller than the distance or height H3. The aforementioned configuration is advantageous in order to minimize the volume of fluid that may accumulate in the first chamber 145.

[0029] The top section 212 may include a top flat surface 216 oriented perpendicular to the axial center X2 of the columnar section 218. In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the circumferential lip seal 215 can be oriented parallel to and / or concentrically arranged relative to the top planar surface 216. However, the various embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to the configurations mentioned above. In other embodiments, the circumferential lip seal 215 can be oriented at a non-parallel angle relative to the top planar surface 216. In these embodiments, during syringe insertion, when the head portion 220 is subjected to an axial force F (such as...), Figure 4 As shown, when the head portion 220 is tilted, bent, or otherwise deflected as illustrated, the circumferential lip seal 215 can be oriented such that it is parallel to the top port surface 114. This configuration can be advantageous because the largest periphery or the entire periphery of the circumferential lip seal 215 can simultaneously contact the inner surface 130 of the housing. Therefore, the sealing capability of the circumferential lip seal 215 can be optimized when the entire periphery of the circumferential lip seal 215 engages the inner surface 130 of the housing 110.

[0030] As previously stated above, and as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the columnar section 218 can define the axial center X2 of the head portion 220, and the circumferential lip seal 215 can be oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axial center X of the head portion. When the resilient valve is in the closed position, the above-mentioned configuration allows for maximum exposure and engagement of the circumferential lip seal 215 with the inner surface 130 of the housing. However, in other embodiments, the circumferential lip seal 215 can be oriented at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the axial center of the head portion. For example, in some embodiments, the circumferential lip seal 215 can be oriented at an angle such that when the head portion 220 is subjected to an axial force F causing the head 220 to tilt, bend, or otherwise deflect, the circumferential lip seal 215 can be oriented such that the largest periphery or the entire periphery of the circumferential lip seal 215 can simultaneously contact the inner surface 130 of the housing. Therefore, the sealing capability of the circumferential lip seal 215 can be optimized when the entire periphery of the circumferential lip seal 215 engages the inner surface 130 of the housing 110.

[0031] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, the head portion 220 may include at least one notch 210 disposed along the outer surface of the columnar segment 218. For example... Figure 2 As shown, columnar segment 218 can be a generally solid cylindrical segment. Regarding... Figure 3 As can be seen from the longitudinal sectional view, at least one notch 210 may be in the form of an arc-shaped recess within the columnar segment 218. However, it should be understood that embodiments of the notch 210 may include various shapes and sizes, such as, but not limited to, notches having triangular or various geometric cross-sections.

[0032] In some embodiments, the head portion 220 of the resilient valve 200 may not include a notch, but may instead have discontinuous segments disposed on the columnar section 218. For example, one side or a portion of one side of the columnar section may be formed of a different material (or the same material with a different hardness value) than the rest of the columnar section. Furthermore, one side or a portion of one side of the columnar section may be hollow, while the other side or the rest of the columnar section may be solid. Thus, an effective change in the resilientness in response to head movement can be achieved (similar to an effective change in volume due to the removal or extraction of the notch). It should be understood that although the notches 210 are shown as generally opposite each other on the columnar section 218, other arrangements of at least one notch 210 on the columnar section 218, including three or more notches, are also conceivable.

[0033] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, the flexible valve 200 may comprise any of a variety of materials used in the production of mechanical valves for needle-free connectors and other medical devices. In some embodiments, the head portion 220 may comprise a resilient material, such as, but not limited to, a silicone compound. Furthermore, the main sealing portion 225 and the lower portion 230 may comprise a resilient material. In some embodiments, all or part of the flexible valve may be formed from liquid silicone rubber.

[0034] Furthermore, according to various embodiments, the elastic material of the head portion 220 may have a higher stiffness value than the elastic material of the lower portion 230. For example, the contractile function of the lower portion 230 associated with facilitating fluid flow paths in the pinless connector 100 may benefit from more flexible material or compositional properties for operation, while the head portion 220 and the main seal portion 230 may require a more rigid structure to disengage from the main seal 225.

[0035] According to some embodiments, and again with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The main sealing portion 225 may have a cross-sectional area larger than that of the columnar segment 218 of the head portion 220. For example, the main sealing portion 225 may be in the form of a truncated conical surface 222 for engaging with the inner sealing edge 122 of the connector housing 110. The truncated conical shape of the main sealing portion 225 may be configured such that a first cross-sectional area of ​​the main sealing portion 225 near the head portion 220 is smaller than a second cross-sectional area of ​​the main sealing portion 225 away from the head portion 210. In other words, the main sealing portion 225 may be narrower toward the head portion 220 and wider toward the lower portion 230.

[0036] In some embodiments, the lower portion 230 may be in the form of an elongated tubular member 231 having a closed end near the main sealing portion 225 and an open end away from the main sealing portion 225. This defines an internal air space within the resilient valve 200. According to some aspects, the resilient valve 200 may be retractable when operating with a needleless connector assembly. In these embodiments, according to different embodiments of this disclosure, the lower portion 230 may include various shallow recesses and / or cutouts to facilitate appropriate retraction functionality. Furthermore, while the head portion 220 of the resilient valve 200 may have a generally cylindrical characteristic, allowing it to operate with the tapered end of a male Luer connector of a medical device or similar interconnection device, the lower portion 230 may be in the form of a variety of shapes, sizes, and features associated with the function and operation of the resilient valve in conjunction with a needleless connector device using it. In some embodiments, when the lower portion 230 has a tubular section 231, the section 231 may include a variety of tubular shapes, such as, but not limited to, cylindrical, rectangular, hexagonal, and tubular shapes.

[0037] Figure 3 This is a partial cross-sectional view of an assembled needleless connector 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein, prior to insertion of a medical device, Figure 1 The housing 110 and the compressible valve 200 are in the closed position. (Refer to...) Figure 3 Meanwhile, continue to refer to Figure 1 ,like Figure 3 The assembled pinless connector 100 shown is in a sealed configuration such that any fluid from the interconnected fluid path coupled to the outlet port 123 is sealed by the inlet port 112. In some embodiments, the pinless connector 100 may be assembled such that the flange portion 240 of the compressible valve 200 is coupled, snapped, or otherwise attached to the valve mounting portion of the base portion 160.

[0038] The internal chamber 133 of the housing 110 can be arranged on top of the compressible valve 200 connected to the base portion 160, such that the head portion 220 of the compressible valve 200 is aligned and disposed within the inlet port 112. During assembly, when the head portion 220 engages within the inlet port 112 of the housing 110, the top surface 216 of the head portion 220 of the compressible valve 200 can have a plane substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis X2 or axial center of the columnar section 218 of the head portion 220. Additionally, one or more internal contact protrusions (not shown) disposed on the lower section of the body portion 115 of the housing 110 can surround and pressurize the sidewall of the flange portion 240 to secure and / or anchor the compressible valve 200 within the housing 110. In operation, when the axial force F (in Figure 4 When applied to the top surface 216 of the compressible valve 200 (as shown in the figure), the resilient valve 200 of the pinless connector can be compressed, contracted, tilted and / or folded, and when the axial force is removed, the resilient valve expands and realigns, which will be described in further detail below.

[0039] Therefore, one or more internal contact protrusions (not shown) can provide radial forces substantially orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis X2 on the sidewalls of the flange portion 240. In this regard, when an axial force F is applied to the top surface 216 of the head portion 220 of the compressible valve 200, the effect of any final axial force applied by the compressible valve 200 to the base portion 120 of the housing 100 will be reduced, even if it is not eliminated. Such a final axial force applied to the base portion 120 can adversely affect or damage, for example, the fusion joint between the base portion 120 and the body portion 115, and may adversely lead to fusion joint breakage and / or separation over time.

[0040] Figure 4This is a partially cut cross-sectional view of a housing of a pinless connector according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the pinless connector having a compressible valve mounted therein, wherein an axial force is applied to place the valve in an open position. Figure 4 A longitudinal sectional view of the needleless connector 100 is provided, showing the resilient valve 200 as the medical device 300 is initially inserted into the inlet port 112. As the medical device 300 (e.g., a syringe) is initially inserted into the inlet port 112 of the needleless connector 100, an axial force F is applied to the resilient valve 200, causing the resilient valve to shift distally, resulting in the separation of the truncated conical surface 222 of the main sealing portion 225 from the inner sealing edge 122.

[0041] As the axial force F continues to be applied, the medical device 300 can descend further into the inlet port 112, and the head portion 220 of the valve 200 can be further compressed, contracted, tilted, and / or folded. When one notch 210 folds or contracts, the other notch 210 can open or expand, allowing the top surface 216 to tilt downwards (distally), as... Figure 4 As shown. Therefore, a temporary gap can be formed between the inner surface 130 of the housing 110 and the head portion 220 of the resilient valve 200. In this respect, a fluid path can be established from the medical device 300 in the inlet port 112 through the interior of the needleless connector 100 to the outlet port 123. For example, a fluid path can be established between the inlet port 112 and the outlet port 123 via the internal chamber 133.

[0042] As the medical device 50 is removed from the first port 252, the resilient valve 100 can begin to expand to return to its position within the housing as it was in. Figure 3 The location of the sealing configuration is shown. As the resilient valve expands, the circumferential lip seal 215 engages the inner surface 130 of the housing 110 and flips or otherwise bends, thereby acting as a wiper or dam to prevent fluid from moving from the chamber 133 toward the top surface 216 of the valve 200 via a temporary gap. Therefore, the construction of the valve member with the circumferential lip seal 215 in the various embodiments described herein is advantageous because it prevents fluid droplets from accumulating on the top surface 216 of the valve 200 by preventing fluid from moving from the chamber 133 toward the top surface 216 via the temporary gap.

[0043] For convenience, various examples of aspects of this disclosure are described according to numbered clauses (1, 2, 3, etc.). These are provided by way of example and do not limit the technical subject matter. Identification marks and reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are provided below by way of example only for illustrative purposes, and the clauses are not limited by these marks.

[0044] Clause 1: A valve member for a connector, the valve member comprising: a head portion including a top section defining a first sealing portion; a body portion extending longitudinally from the head portion and defining a second sealing portion at its proximal end, wherein the second sealing portion is disposed distal to the first sealing portion; and a circumferential lip seal extending radially outward from an outer surface of the head portion, the circumferential lip seal being disposed between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion.

[0045] Clause 2: The valve component according to Clause 1, wherein the circumferential lip seal includes a flexible member configured to engage the inner surface of the connector and deflect as the valve component reciprocates within the connector.

[0046] Clause 3: The valve component according to Clause 1, wherein the distance between the circumferential lip seal and the first sealing portion is less than the distance between the circumferential lip seal and the second sealing portion.

[0047] Clause 4: The valve component according to Clause 1, wherein the circumferential lip seal extends radially outward from the outer surface of the head portion by a distance less than the distance between the circumferential lip seal and the first sealing portion.

[0048] Clause 5: The valve component according to Clause 1, wherein the top section includes a top flat surface and the circumferential lip seal is oriented parallel to the top flat surface.

[0049] Clause 6: The valve component according to Clause 1, wherein the top section includes a top flat surface and the circumferential lip seal is oriented at a non-parallel angle relative to the top flat surface.

[0050] Clause 7: The valve component according to Clause 1, wherein the head portion further includes a columnar section defining an axial center of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axial center of the head portion.

[0051] Clause 8: The valve component according to Clause 1, wherein the head portion further includes a columnar section defining an axial center of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the axial center of the head portion.

[0052] Clause 9: The valve member according to Clause 1, wherein the head portion further includes a columnar section defining an axial center of the head portion, the columnar section further defining at least one notch disposed along the outer surface of the head portion.

[0053] Clause 10: A valve component according to Clause 1, wherein at least one of the head portion or the circumferential lip seal comprises an elastic material.

[0054] Clause 11: The valve component according to Clause 1, wherein the circumferential lip seal comprises a silicone resin compound.

[0055] Clause 12: A pinless connector comprising: a housing having a proximal end defining an inlet port of the housing, a distal end including a base defining an outlet port of the housing, and an inner surface defining an internal chamber extending between the inlet port and the outlet port; and a resilient valve disposed within at least a portion of the internal chamber and movably retained within the housing, the resilient valve comprising: a head portion including a top section and a body portion extending distally from the head portion; and a circumferential lip seal extending radially outward from an outer surface of the head portion and disposed between the top section and the body portion, wherein, in an open state of the resilient valve, a gap exists between the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal engages at least a portion of the inner surface of the housing to prevent fluid from flowing from the internal chamber toward and onto the top section of the head portion.

[0056] Clause 13: The pinless connector according to Clause 12, wherein the body portion defines a primary sealing portion at its proximal end, the top section of the head portion defines a secondary sealing portion, and the circumferential lip seal includes a seal located between the primary sealing portion and the secondary sealing portion.

[0057] Clause 14: The pinless connector according to Clause 13, wherein the distance between the circumferential lip seal and the secondary seal portion is less than the distance between the circumferential lip seal and the primary seal portion.

[0058] Clause 15: The pinless connector according to Clause 13, wherein the circumferential lip seal extends radially outward from the outer surface of the head portion by a distance less than the distance between the circumferential lip seal and the secondary seal portion.

[0059] Clause 16: The pinless connector according to Clause 12, wherein the diameter of the circumferential lip seal is greater than the diameter of the inner surface at the inlet port.

[0060] Clause 17: The pinless connector according to Clause 16, wherein the circumferential lip seal includes a flexible member that, as the valve member reciprocates within the housing between an open and a closed state, engages the inner surface of the housing at the inlet port to deflect into an overturned shape.

[0061] Clause 18: The pinless connector according to Clause 12, wherein the top section includes a top flat surface and the circumferential lip seal is oriented parallel to the top flat surface.

[0062] Clause 19: The pinless connector as described in Clause 12, wherein the top section includes a top flat surface and the circumferential lip seal is oriented at a non-parallel angle relative to the top flat surface.

[0063] Clause 20: The pinless connector according to Clause 12, wherein the head portion further includes a columnar section defining an axial center of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axial center of the head portion.

[0064] Clause 21: The pinless connector according to Clause 12, wherein the head portion further includes a columnar section defining an axial center of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the axial center of the head portion.

[0065] This disclosure is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. This disclosure provides various examples of the subject matter, and the subject matter is not limited to these examples. Various modifications to these aspects will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other aspects.

[0066] Unless otherwise specified, references to singular elements are not intended to mean "one and only one," but rather "one or more." Unless otherwise specified, the term "some" refers to one or more. Masculine pronouns (e.g., his) include feminine and neuter pronouns (e.g., her and its), and vice versa. Titles and subtitles (if any) are used for convenience only and do not limit the invention.

[0067] The term “exemplary” as used herein means “serving as an example or illustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as being better or more advantageous than other aspects or designs. In one aspect, the various alternative configurations and operations described herein may be considered at least equivalent.

[0068] As used herein, the phrase “at least one” preceding a series of items (where any item is separated by the term “or”) modifies the list of items as a whole, rather than each item listed. The phrase “at least one” does not require the selection of at least one item; rather, it allows for the inclusion of at least one of any of the items, and / or at least one of any combination of items, and / or at least one of each item. For example, the phrase “at least one of A, B, or C” can refer to: only A, only B, or only C; or any combination of A, B, and C.

[0069] Phrases such as "aspect" do not imply that such an aspect is necessary for the present subject matter, or that such an aspect applies to all configurations of the present subject matter. Disclosure relating to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. An aspect may provide one or more examples. Phrases such as "aspect" may refer to one or more aspects, or vice versa. Phrases such as "embodiment" do not imply that such an embodiment is necessary for the present subject matter, or that such an embodiment applies to all configurations of the present subject matter. Disclosure relating to an embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. An embodiment may provide one or more examples. Phrases such as "embodiment" may refer to one or more embodiments, or vice versa. Phrases such as "configuration" do not imply that such a configuration is necessary for the present subject matter, or that such a configuration should apply to all configurations of the present subject matter. Disclosure relating to a configuration may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A configuration may provide one or more examples. Phrases such as "configuration" may refer to one or more configurations, or vice versa.

[0070] In one aspect, unless otherwise stated, all measurements, numerical values, ratings, positions, sizes, dimensions, and other specifications set forth in this specification (including in the appended claims) are approximate, not precise. In one aspect, they are intended to have a reasonable range consistent with the function they pertain to and with the custom of the art to which they belong.

[0071] It should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps or operations in the disclosed process or method is an illustration of an exemplary method. Depending on implementation preferences or scenarios, it should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps, operations, or processes can be rearranged. Some steps, operations, or processes may be performed simultaneously. In some implementation preferences or scenarios, some operations may be performed or may not be performed. Some or all of the steps, operations, or processes can be performed automatically without user intervention. The appended method claims present elements of various steps, operations, or processes in an exemplary order and are not intended to limit one to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

[0072] All structural and functional equivalents of elements throughout the various aspects described herein, as known or as will be known by one of ordinary skill in the art, are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be included in the claims. Furthermore, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be offered to the public, whether or not such disclosure is expressly stated in the claims. No claim element shall be construed under 35 U.S.C., 112(f), unless it is expressly stated using the phrase “means for…” or, in the case of a method claim, using the phrase “steps for…”. Moreover, with regard to the extent to which the terms “comprising,” “having,” etc., are used, such terms are intended to be included in a manner similar to the term “including,” as interpreted when “comprising” is used as a transitional word in a claim.

[0073] The title, background, overview, brief description of the drawings, and abstract of this disclosure are thus incorporated into this disclosure and are provided as illustrative examples rather than limiting descriptions. This application is filed based on the understanding that they are not intended to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Furthermore, it will be apparent from the detailed description that it provides illustrative examples, and various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of simplification. This approach to disclosure should not be construed as reflecting an intention to require more features than expressly stated in each claim. Rather, as reflected in the appended claims, the inventive subject matter lies in all features of fewer than those in a single disclosure configuration or operation. The appended claims are thus incorporated into the detailed description, wherein each claim exists independently as a separate claimed subject matter.

[0074] The claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects described herein, but rather conform to the full scope consistent with the language claims and include all legal equivalents. Nevertheless, none of the claims are intended to cover subject matter that fails to meet the requirements of Sections 101, 102, or 103 of Title 35 of the United States Code, nor should they be interpreted in this manner.

Claims

1. A valve component for a connector, the valve component comprising: The head portion includes a top section and an outer side surface, the outer side surface including a notch and a circumferential lip seal, the top section defining a first sealing portion extending radially outward from the outer side surface, and the circumferential lip seal extending radially outward from the outer side surface; as well as The main body portion has a proximal end forming a second sealing portion and extends longitudinally from the head portion to the distal end of the main body portion, wherein the circumferential lip seal is disposed between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion.

2. The valve component according to claim 1, wherein, The distance between the circumferential lip seal and the first sealing portion is less than the distance between the circumferential lip seal and the second sealing portion.

3. The valve component according to claim 1, wherein, The distance by which the circumferential lip seal extends radially outward from the outer side surface of the head portion is less than the distance between the circumferential lip seal and the first sealing portion.

4. The valve component according to claim 1, wherein, The top section includes a top flat surface, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented parallel to the top flat surface.

5. The valve component according to claim 1, wherein, The top section includes a top flat surface, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented at a non-parallel angle relative to the top flat surface.

6. The valve component according to claim 1, wherein, The head portion further includes a columnar section defining an axial center of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axial center of the head portion.

7. The valve component according to claim 1, wherein, The head portion further includes a columnar section defining an axial center of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the axial center of the head portion.

8. The valve component according to claim 1, wherein, The head portion further includes a columnar section defining an axial center of the head portion, wherein the notch is an arc-shaped recess within the columnar section.

9. The valve component according to claim 1, wherein, At least one of the head portion or the circumferential lip seal includes an elastic material.

10. The valve component according to claim 1, wherein, The circumferential lip seal comprises silicone resin or silicone resin compound.

11. The valve component according to claim 1, wherein, The main body portion is shaped as an elongated tubular member, having an open end at the distal end of the main body portion and a closed end near a second sealing portion of the main body portion.

12. A pinless connector, comprising: A housing having a proximal end defining an inlet port of the housing, a distal end defining an outlet port of the housing, and an inner surface defining an internal chamber extending between the inlet port and the outlet port; as well as A valve member disposed within at least a portion of the internal chamber and movably retained within the housing, the valve member comprising a head portion and a body portion, the head portion comprising a top section and an outer side surface, the outer side surface comprising a notch and a circumferential lip seal, the top section defining a first sealing portion extending radially outward from the outer side surface, the circumferential lip seal extending radially outward from the outer side surface, and the body portion having a proximal end forming a second sealing portion and extending longitudinally from the head portion to a distal end of the body portion, wherein the circumferential lip seal is disposed between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion; In the closed state of the valve member, the entire outer periphery of the first sealing portion and the circumferential lip seal engages the inner surface of the housing. In the open state of the valve member, a gap is formed between the inner surface of the housing and the first sealing portion of the head portion, and at least a portion of the outer periphery of the circumferential lip seal engages the inner surface of the housing to prevent fluid from flowing from the internal chamber toward the first sealing portion. When the valve member moves from the closed state to the open state, the circumferential lip seal deflects relative to the inlet port of the housing.

13. The pinless connector according to claim 12, wherein, The distance between the circumferential lip seal and the first sealing portion is less than the distance between the circumferential lip seal and the second sealing portion.

14. The pinless connector according to claim 12, wherein, The distance by which the circumferential lip seal extends radially outward from the outer side surface of the head portion is less than the distance between the circumferential lip seal and the first sealing portion.

15. The pinless connector according to claim 12, wherein, The diameter of the circumferential lip seal is larger than the diameter of the inner surface at the inlet port.

16. The pinless connector according to claim 15, wherein, As the valve component reciprocates within the housing between the open and closed states, the circumferential lip seal deflects into an inverted shape.

17. The pinless connector according to claim 12, wherein, The top section includes a top flat surface, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented parallel to the top flat surface.

18. The pinless connector according to claim 12, wherein, The top section includes a top flat surface, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented at a non-parallel angle relative to the top flat surface.

19. The pinless connector according to claim 12, wherein, The head portion further includes a columnar section defining an axial center of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axial center of the head portion.

20. A method of providing a pinless connector, comprising: A housing is provided having a proximal end defining an inlet port of the housing, a distal end defining an outlet port of the housing, and an inner surface defining an internal chamber extending between the inlet port and the outlet port; as well as A valve component is provided, the valve component including a head portion and a body portion, the head portion including a top section and an outer side surface, the outer side surface including a notch and a circumferential lip seal, the top section defining a first sealing portion extending radially outward from the outer side surface, and the circumferential lip seal extending radially outward from the outer side surface, and the body portion having a proximal end forming a second sealing portion and extending longitudinally from the head portion to a distal end of the body portion, wherein the circumferential lip seal is disposed between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion; The valve component is disposed within at least a portion of the internal chamber, such that the head portion and the circumferential lip seal are movable relative to the inlet port.

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