Medical Connectors

Abstract

A medical connector according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided with: a valve body which has a slit formed therein; a cylindrical outer housing which houses the valve body in the cylindrical shape thereof and retains the valve body therein; a cylindrical inner housing which is inserted into the the cylindrical shape of the outer housing so as to support an under surface of the valve body. A joint is formed between the valve body and the outer housing. The joint is positioned radially outward of the connector beyond the upper edge of the inner housing.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a medical connector having a valve body with a slit formed therein, and more particularly to a medical connector used in fluid paths in the medical field such as intravenous lines and blood circuits for dialysis. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, medical connectors that can connect to male connectors such as syringes have been used in fluid pathways for administering medicines such as infusions, drawing blood, dialysis, etc. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a medical connector that includes a valve body with a slit formed therein, a cylindrical housing that holds the valve body, and an annular pressing member. These medical connectors have a structure in which the valve body is assembled to the housing, and the peripheral edge of the valve body is sandwiched from both sides in the thickness direction by the housing and the pressing member. In addition, an annular groove is formed on the peripheral edge of the valve body, and the pressing member is formed with a claw-shaped locking protrusion that is inserted into the groove. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-130501 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The medical connector of Patent Document 1 is used by inserting a male connector such as a syringe into a slit in a valve body. However, depending on the medical procedure, the medical connector may be used over an extended period of time and the male connector may be connected multiple times. In this case, deformation of the valve body may cause the peripheral edge of the valve body to come off the locking protrusion of the pressing member and fall inward. One method for preventing the peripheral edge of the valve body from falling out is to apply a lubricant to the slit in the valve body to increase the sliding properties between the male connector and the slit and reduce the load on the peripheral edge of the valve body. However, as the male connector is connected, the effectiveness of the lubricant decreases and sliding resistance increases, making it difficult to prevent the peripheral edge of the valve body from falling out.

[0005] Furthermore, as a result of investigations by the inventors, it was found that when the upward extension of the valve body is formed to surround the outer periphery of the locking protrusion of the pressing member, if the apex of the upward extension is not restrained by a housing, etc., the upward extension is likely to come off the locking protrusion and fall inward when the valve body is pressed and deformed by the male connector inserted into the slit. In particular, if the apex of the upward extension is unevenly located radially inward of the extension, the upward extension is more likely to fall out.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a medical connector that can more reliably prevent a valve body from falling off when a male connector is connected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the medical connector of the present invention comprises a valve body having a slit formed therein, a cylindrical outer housing that houses and holds the valve body within a cylinder, and a cylindrical inner housing that is inserted into the cylindrical outer housing and supports the underside of the valve body, and is characterized in that a joint is formed between the valve body and the outer housing, and the joint is located radially outward of the connector from the upper end of the inner housing.

[0008] According to the above configuration, the valve body is firmly fixed in place because it is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing, and the peripheral edge of the valve body is prevented from dropping into the inside of the connector when the male connector is connected. Furthermore, because the joint is located radially outward of the connector relative to the upper end of the inner housing, the force applied to the valve body when the male connector is connected is less likely to act on the joint, and separation of the joint is prevented.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is a medical connector comprising a valve body having a slit formed therein, a cylindrical outer housing that houses and holds the valve body within the cylinder, a pressing member fixed to the upper end of the outer housing, and a cylindrical inner housing that is inserted into the cylindrical outer housing and supports the underside of the valve body, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the valve body and the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing are joined to each other by insert molding or multi-color molding, and the pressing member is arranged to surround the upper surface of the valve body in a plan view.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the outer peripheral surface of the valve body is bonded to the inner peripheral surface of the external housing, preventing the peripheral edge of the valve body from collapsing into the connector when the male connector is connected. When insert molding or multi-color molding is performed by injecting the resin constituting the valve body into a support member having minute features such as small grooves and gaps, the resin may not penetrate the minute features, resulting in the formation of air bubbles. Air bubbles may easily become the starting point for peeling, making the valve body more likely to peel from the support member. In contrast, according to the above configuration, by using a retaining member and internal housing separate from the external housing, the valve body and external housing can be integrally molded, and then the retaining member and internal housing can be assembled. This allows the external housing to have a simple shape and eliminates the minute features that tend to trap air bubbles during insert molding. This means that air bubbles are less likely to form at the joint surface between the valve body and external housing, ensuring high joint strength.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is a medical connector comprising a valve body having a slit formed therein, a cylindrical outer housing that houses and holds the valve body within a cylinder, and a cylindrical inner housing that is inserted into the cylindrical outer housing and supports the underside of the valve body, wherein the valve body has a valve main body portion having a slit formed therein and an extension portion that extends downward beyond the lower end of the valve main body portion and is positioned between the outer housing and the inner housing, and the outer surface of the extension portion and the inner surface of the outer housing are joined to each other.

[0012] According to the above configuration, the outer surface of the extension portion of the valve body is joined to the inner surface of the external housing, resulting in a large joining area and a strong fixing force of the valve body to the external housing, which prevents the peripheral portion of the valve body from falling inside the connector when the male connector is connected.

[0013] Another aspect of the present invention is a medical connector comprising a valve body having a slit formed therein, a cylindrical outer housing that houses and holds the valve body within a cylinder, and a cylindrical inner housing that is inserted into the cylindrical outer housing and supports the underside of the valve body, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the valve body and the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing are joined to each other, a portion of the valve body is inserted into the cylindrical inner housing, and the outer peripheral surface of the valve body and the inner peripheral surface of the inner housing are not joined to each other.

[0014] According to the above configuration, the outer peripheral surface of the valve body is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing, which prevents the peripheral edge of the valve body from falling into the inside of the connector when the male connector is connected. On the other hand, the outer peripheral surface of the valve body inserted into the cylindrical inner housing is not joined to the inner peripheral surface of the inner housing, which reduces resistance when connecting the male connector and makes the male connector connection operation smoother. Note that if the outer peripheral surface of the valve body and the inner peripheral surface of the inner housing are joined, the joint will separate due to deformation of the valve body when connecting the male connector, but at that time, a force is required to separate the joint, which increases the resistance.

[0015] Another aspect of the present invention is a medical connector comprising a valve body having a slit formed therein and a cylindrical housing that accommodates and holds the valve body, with a locking protrusion provided at the upper end of the housing, the valve body having a valve body having a slit formed therein, an upper groove portion into which the locking protrusion is inserted, and an upward extension portion that extends across the upper groove portion to face the outer peripheral surface of the valve body, the apex of the upward extension portion being formed outside the widthwise center of the upward extension portion, and the outer peripheral surface of the upward extension portion and the inner peripheral surface of the housing being joined to each other.

[0016] According to the above configuration, since the upper extension portion is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the housing and the apex of the upper extension portion is formed outside the center of the width direction of the upper extension portion, the elongation of the upper extension portion is suppressed compared to when the apex of the upper extension portion is biased toward the radially inner side of the extension portion, and falling off of the upper extension portion can be more effectively prevented. Specifically, when the apex of the upper extension portion is biased toward the radially inner side of the extension portion, the radially inner side of the upper extension portion becomes thick in the axial direction, and when pulled radially inward by the male connector, this thick portion elongates and is partially displaced inside the locking protrusion, which may become caught on the inside of the locking protrusion and not return to the outside of the locking protrusion.

[0017] In the medical connector according to the present invention, the valve body and the outer housing are preferably integrally molded. In this case, the joining strength between the valve body and the outer housing can be easily increased, and separation at the joint can be further suppressed. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent the valve body from falling off when connecting the male connector.

[0018] In the medical connector according to the present invention, a groove is formed on the underside of the valve body, into which the upper end of the internal housing is inserted, and the groove is preferably formed radially inward of the connector relative to the outer edge of the valve body that is exposed to the outside. In this case, when the male connector is connected, the valve body deforms at the portion where the groove is formed, reducing the force acting on the joint. This more effectively prevents the valve body from falling off when the male connector is connected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the medical connector of the present invention, it is possible to more reliably prevent the valve body from falling off when the male connector is connected. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a medical connector according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 10A and 10B are a plan view and a front view of a medical connector according to a second embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a syringe is connected to the medical connector of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are a plan view and a front view of a medical connector according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a syringe is connected in the medical connector of the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing other examples of applications of the medical connector. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing other examples of applications of the medical connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] An example of an embodiment of a medical connector according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. Furthermore, it is anticipated from the beginning that the components of the multiple embodiments and modifications described below may be selectively combined.

[0022] [First embodiment] A medical connector 1 according to a first embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 6. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the medical connector 1, and Figure 2 is a plan view and a front view of the medical connector 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Figure 2.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the medical connector 1 comprises a valve body 10, a cylindrical outer housing 20 that houses and holds the valve body 10, and a cylindrical inner housing 30 that is inserted into the cylindrical outer housing 20 and supports the underside of the valve body 10. The valve body 10 has a slit 13 formed therein that allows insertion of a male connector such as a syringe 100 (see Figure 5 described below) that does not have a metal needle. The slit 13 is closed when the male connector is not connected, and the valve body 10 blocks the upper end opening of the outer housing 20. The outer housing 20 and the inner housing 30 are cylindrical bodies that are open at both the top and bottom ends (both axial ends).

[0024] In this specification, the direction along the axial direction of the outer housing 20 is referred to as the "up-down direction" of the medical connector 1 and each component of the connector, and the side on which the valve body 11 of the valve element 10 on which the slit 13 is formed is referred to as the "upper." The outer housing 20 and the inner housing 30 are arranged so that their axial directions coincide with each other.

[0025] The medical connector 1 is a female connector that is connected by inserting a male connector into a slit 13 in a valve body 10. The valve body 10 is an elastic body made of, for example, silicone rubber, and is configured so that when the tip of the male connector is inserted into the slit 13, it is pushed downward and elastically deformed, opening the slit 13. Furthermore, when the tip of the male connector is pulled out of the valve body 10, the valve body 10 returns to its original shape and the slit 13 closes. The medical connector 1 is a so-called needleless connector that can be connected to a male connector that does not have a metal needle.

[0026] As will be described in more detail below, the outer edge of the portion of the valve body 10 exposed to the outside is located radially outward of the medical connector 1 relative to the upper end P2 of the inner housing 30, and is joined to the inner circumferential surface of the outer housing 20. Here, the outer edge of the portion of the valve body 10 exposed to the outside is the upper end P1 of the outer circumferential surface in this embodiment. Furthermore, the joint 17 between the valve body 10 and the outer housing 20 is located radially outward of the connector relative to the upper end P2 of the inner housing 30, and is configured to prevent separation when the male connector is connected. This effectively prevents the valve body 10 from falling off, and also prevents infiltration of medicinal liquids and the like between the valve body 10 and the outer housing 20.

[0027] In this embodiment, the medical connector 1 is attached to a plug base 50, and a medical plug 5 is configured that includes the medical connector 1 and the plug base 50. The medical plug 5 is a connecting device used to connect an intravenous line, a blood circuit, a blood access catheter, etc. In the medical plug 5, the lower end opening of the medical connector 1 is connected to the upper end opening of the inner cylindrical portion 52 of the plug base 50. The medical plug 5 may be attached to a T-shaped tube base 60 shown in FIG. 10 or a three-way stopcock base 70 shown in FIG. 11 , which will be described later.

[0028] The plug base 50 includes an outer cylindrical portion 51 and an inner cylindrical portion 52, and has a structure in which a flow path through which a medicinal solution or the like flows is formed inside the inner cylindrical portion 52. The inner cylindrical portion 52 is a male luer portion that is inserted into a female connector (not shown), and has a tapered shape in which the outer diameter gradually decreases toward the bottom end. The outer cylindrical portion 51 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the inner cylindrical portion 52, and is disposed so as to surround the inner cylindrical portion 52. A spiral locking groove 58 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 51. The female connector to which the inner cylindrical portion 52 is connected is, for example, inserted between the outer cylindrical portion 51 and the inner cylindrical portion 52, and is coupled to the plug base 50 using the locking groove 58.

[0029] The plug base 50 is made of a hard resin material. The resin constituting the plug base 50 is, for example, a polyolefin such as polypropylene, but may also be polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, or the like, and is not particularly limited. The outer cylindrical portion 51 and the inner cylindrical portion 52 are integrally molded and connected to each other at the top of the plug base 50. The upper end of the inner cylindrical portion 52 is positioned so as to be aligned radially with the upper end of the outer cylindrical portion 51, while the lower end of the inner cylindrical portion 52 protrudes downward beyond the lower end of the outer cylindrical portion 51.

[0030] An opening 53 and a first groove 54 are formed in the upper part of the outer tube 51. The opening 53 is a portion into which the locking claw 23 of the medical connector 1 is inserted. The opening 53 penetrates the tube wall of the outer tube 51 and is used to connect the medical connector 1 to the plug base 50. Considering the need to join the outer housing 20 to the valve body 10, the material of the outer housing 20 is limited. Furthermore, if the medical connector 1 and the plug base 50 are fixed by welding or adhesive, the material of the plug base 50 is also limited. By physically connecting the medical connector 1 and the plug base 50, it is possible to mold the plug base 50, which is a liquid-contacting member, from a preferred material. A plurality of openings 53 are formed around the circumferential direction of the outer tube 51. Furthermore, first grooves 54 are formed between each opening 53, extending vertically from the upper end of the outer tube 51. The protrusions 24 of the medical connector 1 are inserted into the first grooves 54.

[0031] A recess 55 extending vertically is formed on the outer peripheral surface of outer tube portion 51. Recess 55 extends from the vertical center to the lower end of outer tube portion 51, and multiple recesses 55 are formed along the circumferential direction of outer tube portion 51. When connecting medical plug 5 to the female connector, for example, the portion of outer tube portion 51 where recess 55 is formed is gripped and rotated, and by providing multiple recesses 55, unevenness is formed in the lower part of outer tube portion 51, improving the gripping ability of plug base 50.

[0032] The upper end of the inner tubular portion 52 has a tapered shape with the outer diameter gradually decreasing from the connection portion with the outer tubular portion 51 toward the upper end. In this embodiment, the upper end of the inner tubular portion 52 is inserted into the cylinder of the inner housing 30 of the medical connector 1. Because the diameter of the inner housing 30 gradually decreases from the lower end toward the upper end P2, it is preferable that the upper end of the inner tubular portion 52 have a tapered shape that matches the shape of the inner housing 30. In addition, the inner diameter of the inner tubular portion 52 is larger near the upper end.

[0033] A ring-shaped second groove 56 is formed between the outer tubular portion 51 and the inner tubular portion 52 at the top of the plug base 50, surrounding the inner tubular portion 52. In this embodiment, the lower end of the inner housing 30 is inserted into the second groove 56. A protrusion 57 is formed on the outside of the second groove 56. The protrusion 57 is formed in a ring shape surrounding the second groove 56. The protrusion 57 presses against the lower end of the valve body 10 and, together with the outer housing 20, clamps the lower end of the valve body 10. The protrusion 57 may have a flat tip, but a pointed tip formed with two slopes is preferable because it can compress the valve body 10 more strongly. A gap is formed between the outer tubular portion 51 and the protrusion 57, allowing the locking claw 23 of the medical connector 1 to be inserted.

[0034] As described above, the medical connector 1 includes the valve body 10, the outer housing 20, and the inner housing 30. Each of the components of the medical connector 1 will be described in detail below.

[0035] [Valve body 10] As described above, the valve element 10 has a slit 13 penetrating the valve element 10, and is a member that elastically deforms when a male connector such as a syringe 100 is inserted into the slit 13. The valve element 10 is inserted into the cylindrical outer housing 20, supported by the inner housing 30, and closely contacts each housing. The valve element 10 is preferably made of a material containing an elastomer, and a thermosetting elastomer is preferable. For example, the valve element 10 is made of synthetic rubber such as butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, isoprene rubber, fluororubber, styrene-based rubber, or silicone rubber. Among these, styrene-based rubber and silicone rubber are preferable from the viewpoint of bondability with the outer housing 20 during injection molding.

[0036] The valve element 10 has a valve body 11 in which a slit 13 is formed, and an extension 12 formed on the outer periphery of the valve body 11. The valve body 11 is formed in a substantially disk shape, and is large enough that the valve body 11 and the valve outer periphery together close the upper end opening of the external housing 20. The upper surfaces of the valve body 11 and the valve outer periphery have a perfect circular shape, are formed flat along the radial direction of the external housing 20, and are flush with the upper end of the external housing 20. The upper surface of the external housing 20 is entirely exposed and is not covered by the external housing 20 or any other member.

[0037] The valve main body 11 and the valve outer periphery have a thickness that can seal the upper end opening of the outer housing 20 and does not interfere with the insertion of a male connector. An example of the thickness of the valve main body 11 is 0.5 mm to 2 mm. The slit 13 is formed in the radial center of the valve main body 11, penetrating the valve main body 11 in the thickness direction. The slit 13 is formed in the shape of a thin line when viewed from above. In this embodiment, three slits 13 are formed at equal intervals along the radial direction from the center of the upper surface of the valve main body 11, but the length, number, etc. of the slits 13 are not particularly limited. The slit 13 may be formed as a single straight line when viewed from above, or four or more slits may be formed radially.

[0038] The outer peripheral surface of the valve body 10 is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the external housing 20, and is tightly adhered to the valve body 10 with enough strength to prevent separation even when the male connector is connected. A joint 17 between the valve body 10 and the external housing 20 is formed at least at the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 10. In this embodiment, the joint 17 is formed from the upper end of the valve body 10 (upper end P1 of the outer peripheral surface) to the lower end of the extension portion 12. The joint 17 may be formed with an adhesive, but is preferably formed by injection molding. The valve body 10 and the external housing 20 are preferably integrally molded products.

[0039] A groove 14 is formed on the underside of the valve body 10, into which the upper end of the internal housing 30 is inserted. The valve body 11 is formed to be thick, and the portion where the groove 14 is formed forms a thin-walled portion 15 that is thinner than the remaining portions. The upper end P2 of the internal housing 30 abuts against the thin-walled portion 15 at the innermost portion of the groove 14. When a male connector is inserted into the slit 13, the valve body 10 bends at the thin-walled portion 15 and elastically deforms.

[0040] The groove 14 is formed in a ring shape along the circumferential direction on the peripheral edge of the lower surface of the valve body 11. The groove 14 is formed radially inward of the medical connector 1 relative to the upper end P1 of the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 10. In other words, the upper end P1 of the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 10 is located radially outward of the valve body 10 relative to the groove 14. In this case, when the male connector is connected, force is less likely to act on the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 10, effectively preventing separation of the joint 17. Furthermore, the upper end of the groove 14 is located above the central portion of the axial length of the valve body 11, forming a large space within the groove 14. This increases the distance until the valve body 10 abuts against the inner surface of the internal housing 30 when the male connector is inserted, thereby reducing insertion resistance and the load on the peripheral edge of the valve body 10. On the other hand, the thick wall of the valve body 11 inside the groove 14 allows for a tight seal with the outer peripheral surface of the male connector.

[0041] The valve body 10 is disposed with the portion surrounded by the groove 14 inserted into the cylindrical internal housing 30. The groove 14 is formed in a generally inverted V-shape in cross section, and the portion of the valve body 10 inserted into the cylindrical internal housing 30 has a tapered shape with a gradually decreasing diameter toward the lower end. The internal housing 30 also has an inner diameter that gradually increases from the upper end P2 toward the lower end. Therefore, when the male connector is inserted, a space is formed between the valve body 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the internal housing 30, allowing the valve body 11 to displace outward, and the presence of this space reduces the insertion resistance of the male connector.

[0042] In this embodiment, as described above, a portion of the valve body 11 is inserted into the cylindrical inner housing 30, but a large gap exists between the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the inner housing 30, and the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the inner housing 30 are not joined to each other. In this case, compared to a configuration in which the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the inner housing are joined, no force is required to peel the joint when connecting the male connector, reducing resistance during connection and making the male connector connection operation smoother. Note that, although the valve disc 10 and the inner housing 30 are not joined in this embodiment, the valve disc 10 and the inner housing 30 can also be joined. In this case, the groove 14 is formed large, so the joint area between the inner surface of the inner housing 30 and the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 11 can be minimized, reducing the possibility of the joint hindering the elastic deformation of the valve disc 10.

[0043] The extension portion 12 is formed on the outer periphery of the valve, extends downward, and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. From the viewpoint of increasing the bonding area with the outer housing 20, it is preferable that the extension portion 12 extend downward from the valve main body 11. The vertical length of the extension portion 12 is longer than the vertical length of the center of the valve main body 11. It is also preferable that the extension portion 12 is larger than the outer diameter of the valve main body 11. It is also preferable that the extension portion 12 is larger than the diameter of the portion of the valve body 10 exposed to the outside. It is also preferable that the extension portion 12 is larger than the outer diameter of the valve body 10. It is also preferable that the vertical length of the extension portion 12 is longer than the thickness of the valve main body 11, and the extension portion 12 extends to near the lower ends of the outer housing 20 and the inner housing 30, and the outer peripheral surface of the extension portion 12 is bonded to the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing 20. By providing such an extension 12, the joining area can be increased, the holding ability of the valve body 10 can be improved, and the joining state between the valve body 10 and the outer housing 20 can be maintained in a good condition.

[0044] Similar to the inner housing 30, the extension portion 12 has a shape in which the inner and outer diameters gradually increase from the upper end to the lower end. The extension portion 12 is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing 20, but is not joined to the inner housing 30. The extension portion 12 is sandwiched between the outer housing 20 and the inner housing 30, and is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner housing 30. The lower portion of the extension portion 12, together with the outer housing 20 and the inner housing 30, is inserted into the upper portion of the plug base 50.

[0045] A protrusion 16 that protrudes radially outward is formed at the lower end of the extension 12. The protrusion 16 is preferably formed in a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the extension 12. In this embodiment, the protrusion 16 and the external housing 20 are joined together to increase the joint area. A groove is formed on the upper surface of the protrusion 16, and the inner surface of the external housing 20 is joined to the outer surface of the groove. The lower surface of the protrusion 16 is flat and concave due to being pressed by the protrusion 57 of the plug base 50. The protrusion 16 is also pressed from above and below by the protrusion 57 and the protrusion 26 of the external housing 20. The protrusion 16 is firmly clamped between the external housing 20 and the plug base 50, further improving the retention of the valve body 10. The valve body 10 extends above the extension 12 to the upper end of the medical connector 1 and is joined to the external housing 20, which also extends to the upper end of the medical connector 1. That is, the upper side of the valve body 10 is also joined to the external housing 20. A joint portion 17 is formed on the radially outer side of the slit 13 of the valve body 10, and the joint area is large.

[0046] [External Housing 20] The outer housing 20 is a cylindrical member that is open at both the top and bottom ends, covers the outer peripheral surface of the valve disc 10, and holds the valve disc 10 together with the inner housing 30. The valve disc 10 does not protrude from both the top and bottom ends of the outer housing 20, and is entirely contained within the cylindrical outer housing 20. The outer housing 20 is made of a hard resin material. Examples of resins that can be used to make the outer housing 20 include polycarbonate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyether ether ketone, polyphenylene ether, polyphenylene oxide, polyamide, and polyolefin. Of these, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyamide are preferred.

[0047] The outer housing 20 has a small diameter portion 21 and a large diameter portion 22. The small diameter portion 21 has an outer diameter smaller than that of the large diameter portion 22 and is formed at the upper part of the outer housing 20. Similar to the valve body 10 and the inner housing 30, the small diameter portion 21 has a shape in which the inner and outer diameters gradually increase from the upper end to the lower end. In addition, a screw thread 25 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 21. The screw thread 25 is used to lock the male connector that is to be connected to the medical connector 1.

[0048] The large diameter portion 22 is formed with locking claws 23 and protrusions 24. As described above, the locking claws 23 and the protrusions 24 are used for connection to the plug base 50. A plurality of the locking claws 23 and the protrusions 24 are alternately formed along the circumferential direction of the large diameter portion 22. The locking claws 23 extend in the vertical direction, with their lower portions projecting radially outward. The locking claws 23 are inserted between the outer tube portion 51 and the protrusions 57 of the plug base 50, and the lower portions of the locking claws 23 are inserted into the openings 53 of the outer tube portion 51 and hooked onto the upper edge of the openings 53. The protrusions 24 are inserted into the second grooves 56 of the outer tube portion 51 and are formed in the shape of plates parallel to the vertical and radial directions.

[0049] A downwardly protruding protrusion 26 is formed on the large diameter portion 22, radially inward of the locking claws 23 and the protrusion 24. The protrusion 26 is formed, for example, in an annular shape along the circumferential direction of the outer housing 20. The protrusion 26 is arranged so as to overlap in the vertical direction with the protrusion 57 of the plug base 50, thereby increasing the contact area with the valve body 10. After assembly, the protrusion 26, together with the protrusion 57, holds the protrusion 16 of the valve body 10. The protrusion 26 has a pointed tip so that the protrusion 16 can be easily compressed by the protrusion 57.

[0050] In this embodiment, the valve body 10 and the outer housing 20 are configured as an integrally molded product (hereinafter referred to as "integrally molded product (Z)"). The entire outer surface of the valve body 10 that contacts the inner surface of the outer housing 20, from the upper end of the valve body 10 to the lower end of the convex portion 16, forms a joint 17. The joint 17 has, for example, a substantially constant joint strength (peel strength) over the entire area. It is preferable that the joint 17 has a joint strength sufficient to prevent peeling when a male connector is inserted into the slit 13 and the valve body 10 is elastically deformed. The valve body 10 is also joined to a protrusion 26. By providing the protrusion 26, the area of ​​the joint 17 can be increased.

[0051] The integrally molded product (Z) is manufactured by, for example, insert molding. In this case, the resin that constitutes the valve body 10 is injected into the outer housing 20 set in an injection mold, and the outer housing 20 and the resin are integrated. As a specific example, an outer housing 20 made of polyethylene terephthalate or polycarbonate is set in the mold, and two-component curing liquid silicone rubber is injected into the mold as the resin that constitutes the valve body 10. The melting point (softening point) of the resin that constitutes the outer housing 20 is preferably higher than the molding temperature of the valve body 10. The liquid silicone rubber hardens and is molded into the valve body 10 that is tightly adhered to the inner surface of the outer housing 20, resulting in an integrally molded product (Z) in which the valve body 10 and the outer housing 20 are integrated. The integrally molded product (Z) can also be manufactured by other molding methods, such as insert molding or multi-color molding (particularly two-color molding).

[0052] In the portion of the valve body 10 exposed to the outside, the upper end of the outer peripheral surface is located toward the upper end of the medical connector 1 and radially outward of the upper end P2 of the inner housing 30 inserted into the groove 14 of the valve main body 11, as described above, and is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing 20. In this embodiment, the valve body 10 and the outer housing 20 are an integrally molded product (Z), and the entire surface where the respective components contact forms a joint 17 having a substantially constant joint strength, but only the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 10 may be joined to the outer housing 20, or the joint strength of the upper end may be higher than that of other portions. In addition, the upper end of the outer housing 20 may be provided with an annular portion extending radially inward.

[0053] In this embodiment, the entire outer peripheral surface of the valve disc 10, including the upper end P1 (the outer edge of the portion of the valve disc 10 exposed to the outside) of the outer peripheral surface of the valve disc 10, is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing 20. In this case, the valve disc 10 is stably held and it is easier to prevent chemicals and the like from penetrating between the valve disc 10 and the outer housing 20. An annular groove 14 and a thin-walled portion 15 are formed on the peripheral edge of the valve main body 11, and the upper end P1 is located radially outward of the groove 14 and the thin-walled portion 15. Note that the existence of a non-jointed portion at the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the valve disc, provided it does not impair the object of the present invention, is considered to be equivalent to the present invention.

[0054] The diameter of the upper surface of the valve body 10 and the inner diameter of the upper end of the outer housing 20 are larger than the outer diameter of the upper end P2 of the inner housing 30, and the entire outer edge of the upper surface of the valve body 10 is located radially outward of the upper end P2 of the inner housing 30 in the medical connector 1. At the upper end of the medical connector 1, an annular joint portion 17 is formed along the outer edge of the upper surface of the valve body 10. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the valve body 10 (extension portion 12) and the inner diameter of the outer housing 20 increase in diameter from the upper end to the lower end, so the entire joint portion 17 is located radially outward of the upper end P2 of the inner housing 30.

[0055] [Internal Housing 30] The internal housing 30 is a cylindrical member that is open at both the top and bottom ends, has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the external housing 20, and is disposed within the external housing 20. The internal housing 30 is inserted into the extension portion 12 of the cylindrically formed valve body 10, and its upper end is inserted into the groove portion 14 of the valve body 10 and abuts against the thin-walled portion 15. The internal housing 30 presses the valve body 10 from the inside, and holds the valve body 10 together with the external housing 20. A male connector such as a syringe 100 is inserted into the cylindrical internal housing 30. For this reason, the internal diameter of the internal housing 30 is larger than the outer diameter of the insertion portion of the male connector to be connected.

[0056] The internal housing 30 is made of a hard resin material. The internal housing 30 may be made of the same resin as the external housing 20, or a different resin. The internal housing 30 is not integrally molded with the valve disc 10; it is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the valve disc 10 but is not bonded to the valve disc 10. Therefore, it is not necessary to select a resin material taking into consideration bonding with the valve disc 10. In this embodiment, the lower end of the internal housing 30 extends downward beyond the extension portion 12 of the valve disc 10 and is inserted into the second groove portion 56 of the plug base 50. When assembling the internal housing to the integrally molded external housing and valve disc, the portions except for the vicinity of the upper end P2 may be fixed with an adhesive or the like, so that only the vicinity of the upper end P2 is not bonded. Alternatively, the internal housing may be made of two components, upper and lower, with only the upper component not bonded to the valve disc 10.

[0057] The inner housing 30 gradually expands in diameter from the upper end P2 toward the lower end, with the degree of expansion being greater at the upper end. A step 31 is formed at the upper end of the inner housing 30, and the degree of expansion varies across the step 31. The step 31 is, for example, annularly formed above a position corresponding to the lower end of the valve body 11. By increasing the degree of expansion at the upper end of the inner housing 30, a large space can be secured for the valve element 10, which is deformed by the connection of the male connector, to escape, thereby reducing the insertion resistance of the male connector. Furthermore, the inner surface of the upper end of the inner housing 30 expands in diameter upward. Therefore, even if the outer periphery of the externally exposed portion of the valve element 10 is located further outward than the upper end P2 of the inner housing 30, the male connector can be guided inward. Furthermore, the inner surface of the upper end of the inner housing 30 has a curved shape that is less likely to form an edge, thereby reducing the risk of the valve element 10 being cut off by load when sandwiched between the inner housing 30 and the male connector.

[0058] The connection form of the male connector of the medical connector 1 having the above configuration will be described below with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Here, as an example of the male connector, a syringe 100 having a male luer without a metal needle is shown. Figure 5 shows the state in which the syringe 100 is connected, and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in Figure 5.

[0059] 5 and 6, by inserting the tip of the syringe 100 into the slit 13 of the valve body 10, a connected state is achieved in which the interior of the syringe 100 and the medical plug 5 are in communication with each other. When the tip of the syringe 100 is inserted into the slit 13, the valve body 10 is pressed downward and elastically deformed, opening the slit 13 and introducing the tip of the syringe 100 into the cylinder of the inner housing 30. The tip of the syringe 100 is inserted, for example, up to near the upper end of the inner cylindrical portion 52. The medicinal solution contained in the syringe 100 passes through the interior of the inner cylindrical portion 52 and is supplied to a fluid path, such as an intravenous line or a blood circuit for dialysis, to which the medical plug 5 is connected.

[0060] When the tip of the syringe 100 is inserted into the slit 13 and pushed downward, the valve body 10 bends at the thin-walled portion 15, and the portion surrounded by the thin-walled portion 15 enters the cylindrical interior of the internal housing 30. At this time, the slit 13 opens, and the tip of the syringe 100 is introduced into the cylindrical interior of the internal housing 30. Because a large gap exists between the valve main body 11 and the internal housing 30, contact between the valve body 10 and the internal housing 30 is suppressed at least in the initial stage of insertion of the syringe 100, reducing insertion resistance of the syringe 100. In addition, the radially inward load generated at the joint 17 is reduced, improving the durability of the valve body 10.

[0061] Because the valve body 11 is supported from the inside by the inner housing 30 and its upper end is joined to the outer housing 20, even if the syringe 100 presses the valve body 11 downward, the entire valve element 10 does not fall into the cylindrical interior of the inner housing 30. The pressing force from the syringe 100 acts on the thin-walled portion 15, causing the thin-walled portion 15 to bend. At this time, a certain amount of force also acts on the joint 17 between the valve element 10 and the outer housing 20. However, because the joint 17 is located radially outward of the thin-walled portion 15 in the medical connector 1, the pressing force is less likely to act on the joint 17, thereby preventing the joint 17 from peeling off. In other words, because the joint 17 is spaced from the syringe, the deformability of the valve element 10 is improved, and the load on the joint 17 generated when the male connector is connected is alleviated. Furthermore, the pressing force acts on the upper end P2 of the inner housing 30, which supports the thin-walled portion 15, and the pressing force is received by the inner housing 30. Therefore, the pressing force of the syringe 100 acting on the joint 17 is reduced compared to when the outer edge of the externally exposed portion of the valve body 10 is located at the same position in the radial direction as the upper end of the inner housing 30.

[0062] According to the medical connector 1, the outer surface of the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 10 is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing 20 even when the syringe 100 is connected, so the joining area can be increased and the holding state of the valve body 10 can be maintained stably. Furthermore, even when the joining between the valve body 10 and the outer housing 20 is maintained, the connection of the syringe 100 is not hindered and a good connection operation can be performed. In this embodiment, the joining portion 17 is formed along the upper end P of the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 10, in other words, the outer edge of the upper surface of the valve main body 11, so that the intrusion of medicinal liquids and the like between the valve body 10 and the outer housing 20 is highly suppressed, and the medical connector 1 can be maintained hygienic.

[0063] In the first embodiment, the joint formed between the valve body and the outer housing is located radially outward of the upper end of the inner housing, and an extension (downward extension) of the valve body is formed, and the outer surface of the extension and the inner surface of the outer housing are joined to each other, but either of these configurations can be omitted as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired. However, when both configurations are provided, it is easier to achieve the above-mentioned effects compared to when only one of the configurations is provided (the same applies to the second embodiment).

[0064] [Second embodiment] A medical connector 1x according to a second embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 7 to 9. Figure 7 shows a plan view and a front view of the medical connector 1x, and Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in Figure 7. In the following, the same reference numerals will be used for components common to the first embodiment, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0065] 7 and 8, the medical connector 1x is similar to the medical connector 1 in that it includes a valve body 40, an outer housing 20x, and an inner housing 30x. The connection structure between the medical connector 1x and the plug base 50 is the same as that of the medical connector 1, and the outer housing 20x is provided with a locking claw 23 that engages with an opening 53 of the plug base 50. Similar to the medical connector 1, the medical connector 1x has a structure in which the valve body 40 is disposed inside the outer housing 20x and the inner housing 30x is disposed inside the valve body 40, with the valve body 40 sandwiched between the outer housing 20x and the inner housing 30x.

[0066] The valve element 40 has a valve main body 41 with a slit 43 formed therein, a substantially cylindrical downward extension 42a extending downward from the outer periphery of the valve element, and an upward extension 42b extending upward from the outer periphery of the valve element, and is housed within the cylindrical outer housing 20x. A lower groove 44 is formed in the underside of the valve element 40, and the upper end of the inner housing 30x is inserted into the lower groove 44. A protrusion 46 extending radially outward is formed at the lower end of the downward extension 42a, and the protrusion 46 is pressed from above and below by the protrusion 26 of the outer housing 20x and the protrusion 57 of the plug base 50. Note that although the lower part of the valve main body 41 is inserted within the cylindrical inner housing 30x, the outer periphery of the valve main body 41 and the inner periphery of the inner housing 30x are not joined to each other.

[0067] The valve element 40 is preferably made of, for example, silicone rubber and integrally molded with the external housing 20x. By integrally molding the valve element 40 with only the external housing 20x, forming an intermediate member where the valve element 40 and the external housing 20x are joined, and then assembling the retainer member 90 and the internal housing 30x, air bubbles are less likely to form at the joint surface, preventing separation of the joint surface. Air bubbles that form at the joint surface can easily become the starting point for separation, but in this embodiment, air bubbles are less likely to form at the joint surface, ensuring high joint strength. Furthermore, because the upper ends of the valve element 40 and the internal housing 30 can be left unattached to the inner surfaces of the valve element 40 and the retainer member 90, the valve element 40 has good mobility, reducing the sense of resistance when inserting a male connector.

[0068] The medical connector 1x differs from the medical connector 1 in that it includes a presser member 90 fixed to the upper end of the outer housing 20x. The presser member 90 presses the valve body 10 from above and holds the valve body 10 together with the inner housing 30x. The presser member 90 is an annular member arranged to surround the upper surface of the valve body 40 in a plan view. In the medical connector 1x, the upper surface of the presser member 90 is flat and is flush with the upper surface of the valve body 40. The outer diameter of the presser member 90 is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the upper end of the outer housing 20x.

[0069] The valve body 40 has an upper groove 45 into which a portion of the retainer member 90 is inserted, and the upward extension 42b extends across the upper groove 45 to face the outer circumferential surface of the valve main body 41. As described above, the outer circumferential surface of the valve body 40 and the inner circumferential surface of the outer housing 20x are joined to each other, but it is preferable that the outer circumferential surface of the upward extension 42b, including the apex (upper end) of the upward extension 42b, is joined to the inner circumferential surface of the outer housing 20x. In this case, even if the valve body 40 is pressed downward by the syringe 100 or the like and elastically deforms, the extension of the upward extension 42b is suppressed, and the upward extension 42b is sufficiently prevented from coming off the retainer member 90 and falling inward.

[0070] The valve body 40 is thinner at the portions where the lower groove portion 44 and the upper groove portion 45 are formed. Furthermore, the upper groove portion 45 is formed on the upper surface of the valve body 40 at a position where it overlaps the lower groove portion 44 in the vertical direction, and narrowed portions where the lower groove portion 44 and the upper groove portion 45 are formed are formed on both vertical sides. The narrowed portions of the valve body 40 are pressed from above and below by the pressing member 90 and the inner housing 30x.

[0071] In the medical connector 1x, like the medical connector 1, the external housing 20x and the valve body 40 are molded by insert molding or multi-color molding, and the external housing 20x and the valve body 40 are joined together. For example, in the medical connector 1x, the external housing 20x to be joined with the resin and a nest that is not joined with the resin and is used to form the shape of the valve body 40 are placed in an injection mold, and then resin is injected. The resin is injected from the inside toward the external housing 20x, flowing from the filled space between the nests (thin-walled portions of the valve body 40) into the filled space between the nests and the external housing 20x (extension portions of the valve body 40). In other words, the upward extension portion 42b of the valve body 40 is molded from multiple components, namely the nest and the external housing 20x, and the downward extension portion 42a is also molded from multiple components, namely the nest and the external housing 20x. It is easy to create tiny gaps between multiple components that allow gas to pass through but not resin. Therefore, when resin is later poured into the filled spaces that will form the extension portions, the gas present in the filled spaces can be released through the tiny gaps between the outer housing 20x and the insert. This makes it difficult for air bubbles to remain in the intended joining areas, allowing for a larger joining area and reducing the possibility of separation starting points due to air bubbles.

[0072] In this embodiment, the upper end of the external housing 20x is formed with an annular protrusion extending inward and having an L-shape in cross section. It is difficult to ensure the length of the upper extension portion 42b of the valve body 40 compared to the lower extension portion 42a, and the bond strength of the upper extension portion 42b is lower than that of the lower extension portion 42a. However, the L-shape of the upper end of the external housing 20x allows for a larger bond area. The upper end of the upper extension portion 42b is formed substantially flat and bonded to the annular protrusion. That is, the upper end (apex) of the upper extension portion 42b is not biased toward either the radially inner or outer side of the extension portion. The apex of the upper extension portion is formed outside the center of the upper extension portion in the width direction and is bonded to the external housing. In this case, the upper extension portion 42b can be more effectively prevented from coming off the pressing member 90 and falling off. In addition, the upper end of the upward extension portion 42b may be non-flat, and the upper end (apex) of the upward extension portion 42b may be located radially outward from the widthwise center at the base of the extension portion, with the widthwise center being used as a reference, so that the apex of the upward extension portion is formed outside the widthwise center of the upward extension portion.

[0073] The annular protrusion extending radially inward on the outer housing 20x is not limited to the upper end of the outer housing 20x, but may be provided at any location where a strong bond is desired. In this embodiment, the upper end of the outer housing 20x is molded in an L-shape, but in this case, there is a possibility that minute air bubbles may remain near the bending point. Therefore, the annular protrusion extending inward can be eliminated to create a shape that is less likely to retain air bubbles. In this case, the space created by eliminating the annular protrusion can be used to position the pressing member 90 or the valve body 40.

[0074] Like the extension portion 12 of the valve element 10, the downward extension portion 42a is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and preferably extends downward from the valve main body portion 41 in order to increase the joining area with the external housing 20x. The vertical length of the downward extension portion 42a is longer than the vertical length of the center of the valve main body portion 41. The downward extension portion 42a is also longer than the width dimension (diameter) of the portion of the valve element 40 that is inside the constricted portion. The downward extension portion 42a and the upward extension portion 42b are formed in a substantially cylindrical shape on the outer periphery side of the valve element 40 relative to the constricted portion, and form the outer periphery surface of the valve element 40 that is joined to the external housing 20x.

[0075] The pressing member 90 is made of a hard resin material, preferably the same type of resin as the outer housing 20x. The pressing member 90 is joined to the upper end of the outer housing 20x by, for example, ultrasonic welding. Note that a welding protrusion that protrudes downward is formed on the periphery of the pressing member 90 before ultrasonic welding, and by melting this welding protrusion, the lower surface of the pressing member 90 and the upper surface of the outer housing 20x are integrated. This welding protrusion is formed in an annular shape along the circumferential direction of the pressing member 90.

[0076] The presser member 90 has a protrusion 91 that protrudes downward, radially inward from the joint with the outer housing 20x. The protrusion 91 protrudes downward significantly and is formed in an annular shape along the inner edge of the presser member 90. The protrusion 91 is also arranged to overlap the upper end P2 of the inner housing 30x in the up-down direction. The upper end of the inner housing 30x is inserted into the lower groove 44 of the valve body 40, and the protrusion 91 of the presser member 90 is inserted into the upper groove 45.

[0077] The inner diameter of the pressing member 90 is smaller than the diameter of the inner housing 30x at the upper end P2, and the upper end P1 (the outer edge of the portion exposed to the outside of the valve body 40) of the outer peripheral surface of the valve main body 41 is located radially inward of the medical connector 1x relative to the upper end P2. The inner peripheral surface of the pressing member 90 is in substantial contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve main body 41, but the pressing member 90 is disposed so as to surround the upper surface of the valve body 40 in a plan view without being joined to the valve body 40. The pressing member 90 and the inner housing 30x are assembled to an intermediate member formed by molding the outer housing and the valve body, and therefore the pressing member 90 and the inner housing 30x are not joined to the valve body 40.

[0078] As described above, the valve body 40 is not joined to the pressing member 90, but the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 40 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing 20x are joined to each other. The valve body 40 and the outer housing 20x are preferably configured as an integrally molded product (Z), with the entire outer peripheral surface of the valve body 40 that contacts the outer housing 20x forming the joint 47. The outer housing 20x has a simple shape with no U-shaped cross-section at the joint with the valve body 40, which allows for a more bubble-free and favorable valve body 40 to be obtained when the valve body 40 and the outer housing 20x are integrally molded. The joint 47 has, for example, a substantially constant joint strength throughout. In the medical connector 1x, the upper end of the joint 47 is located radially outward from the upper end P2 of the inner housing 30x, but the upper end P1 of the outer peripheral surface of the valve main body 41 is located radially inward from the upper end P2.

[0079] As shown in Figure 9, the syringe 100 is connected to the medical connector 1x by inserting the tip of the syringe 100 into the slit 43 of the valve body 40. When the tip of the syringe 100 is inserted into the slit 43, the valve body 40 is pushed downward and elastically deformed, opening the slit 43. When the tip of the syringe 100 is inserted into the slit 43 and pushed downward, the valve body 41 bends at the thin-walled portion sandwiched between the pressing member 90 and the inner housing 30x, and the portion surrounded by the thin-walled portion enters the cylindrical interior of the inner housing 30x. At this time, the slit 43 opens, and the tip of the syringe 100 is introduced into the cylindrical interior of the inner housing 30x.

[0080] In medical connector 1x, the outer peripheral surface of valve body 40 is joined to the inner peripheral surface of outer housing 20x, which prevents the peripheral edge of valve body 40 from dropping into medical connector 1x when connecting syringe 100. Furthermore, the upper end of joint 47 is located radially outward of the thin-walled portion of valve main body 41 that bends when connecting syringe 100, so the pressing force of syringe 100 is less likely to act on joint 47, preventing joint 47 from peeling off.

[0081] Furthermore, because the retaining member 90 is not joined to the valve body 40, the elastic deformation of the valve body 40 is not hindered when connecting the syringe 100. This makes it possible to smoothly connect the syringe 100 while preventing the valve body 40 from falling off.

[0082] In the second embodiment, the constricted portion of the valve disc 40 is pressed from above and below by the convex portion 91 of the retaining member 90 and the internal housing 30x, but it is possible to omit the retaining member by providing an engaging convex portion on the external housing that presses the valve disc 40 from above. Furthermore, the internal housing that supports the underside of the valve disc and the upward extension of the valve disc are important components for preventing the valve disc from falling off, but either one of these components can be omitted as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired. However, when both components are provided, it is easier to achieve the above-mentioned effects than when only one of these components is provided.

[0083] The above-described embodiments can be modified as appropriate without impairing the purpose of the present invention. For example, while the above-described embodiments illustrate a valve body 10 having a cylindrical extension 12 extending from the peripheral edge of the valve body 11, the valve body may not have the extension 12. The valve body may be disk-shaped as disclosed in JP 2016-028753 A. Furthermore, the outer housing of the medical connector may not be formed with the locking claws 23 and the protrusions 24. The medical connector 1y illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 includes an outer housing 20y having a cylindrical large-diameter portion 22y.

[0084] In the example shown in Fig. 10, a medical connector 1y is attached to a T-tube base 60, constituting a T-shaped mixed injection tube 6 including the medical connector 1 and the T-tube base 60. The large diameter portion 22y of the outer housing 20y may be joined to the T-tube base 60 by ultrasonic welding or the like, or may be fixed by threading on the inner circumferential surface and threaded engagement. In the example shown in Fig. 11, a medical connector 1y is attached to a three-way stopcock base 70, constituting a three-way stopcock 7 including the medical connector 1y and the three-way stopcock base 70. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1,1x,1y medical connector, 5 medical plug, 6 T-shaped mixed injection tube, 7 three-way stopcock, 10,40 valve body, 11,41 valve body, 12 extension portion, 13,43 slit, 14 groove portion, 15 thin-walled portion, 16,24,46 convex portion, 17,47 joint portion, 20,20x,20y outer housing, 21 small diameter portion, 22,22y large diameter portion, 23 locking claw, 25 thread, 26,57 protrusion, 30,30x inner housing, 31 step, 42a downward extension portion, 42b upper extension portion, 44 lower groove portion, 45 upper groove portion, 50 plug base, 51 outer cylinder portion, 52 inner cylinder portion, 53 opening portion, 54 first groove portion, 55 recess portion, 56 second groove portion, 58 Lock groove, 60 T-shaped tube base, 70 Three-way stopcock base, 90 Pressing member, 91 Convex portion, 100 Syringe

Claims

1. a valve body having a slit formed therein; a cylindrical outer housing that accommodates the valve body and holds the valve body; a cylindrical inner housing inserted into the cylindrical outer housing and supporting a lower surface of the valve body; Equipped with an outer edge of a portion of the upper surface of the valve body that is exposed to the outside is located radially outward of an upper end of the inner housing; a joint is formed between the valve body and the outer housing; The joint portion is formed on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the valve body that includes an upper end thereof, and is located radially outward of the connector relative to an upper end of the inner housing.

2. a valve body having a slit formed therein; a cylindrical outer housing that accommodates the valve body and holds the valve body; a pressing member fixed to an upper end of the outer housing; a cylindrical inner housing inserted into the cylindrical outer housing and supporting a lower surface of the valve body; Equipped with an outer peripheral surface of the valve body and an inner peripheral surface of the outer housing are joined to each other by insert molding or multi-color molding; The medical connector, wherein the pressing member is arranged to surround the upper surface of the valve body in a plan view and is not joined to the valve body.

3. A medical connector as described in claim 2, wherein a portion of the valve body is inserted into the tube of the internal housing, and the outer surface of the valve body and the inner surface of the internal housing are not joined to each other.

4. a valve body having a slit formed therein; a cylindrical outer housing that accommodates the valve body and holds the valve body; a pressing member fixed to an upper end of the outer housing; Equipped with the pressing member includes a protrusion that protrudes downward, and is not joined to the valve body, A medical connector, wherein the valve body has a valve main body portion in which the slit is formed, an upper groove portion into which the convex portion is inserted, and an upward extension portion extending across the upper groove portion so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the valve main body portion, the apex of the upward extension portion being formed outside the widthwise center of the upward extension portion, and the outer peripheral surface of the upward extension portion and the inner peripheral surface of the external housing being joined to each other.

5. A medical connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the valve body has a valve main body portion in which the slit is formed, and an extension portion that extends downward beyond the lower end of the valve main body portion and is positioned between the external housing and the internal housing, and the outer peripheral surface of the extension portion and the inner peripheral surface of the external housing are joined to each other.

6. a groove into which an upper end of the inner housing is inserted is formed on the lower surface of the valve body; The medical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the groove portion is formed radially inward of the connector relative to an outer edge of the portion of the valve body that is exposed to the outside.

Images