Medical Connectors

Abstract

A medical connector comprising a housing which is provided with a male connector attaching / detaching part and forms a liquid flow path, and a valve which can be moved up and down with respect to the housing, between a closed position for closing the male connector attaching / detaching part and an open position that allows a flow path in the male connector to communicate with the liquid flow path by the valve being pressed down from the closed position by the male connector against an urging force, wherein the valve comprises a head part which closes the male connector attaching / detaching part when the valve is in a closed state at the closed position, and a body part which is connected to the bottom end of the head part and receives the urging force, and the Young's modulus of the body part is larger than that of the head part.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to medical connectors. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, medical instruments such as catheters, medical tubes, and syringes have been connected to each other to form a fluid delivery line between the medical instruments and a body cavity of a living body such as a human body, and fluid delivery for infusion, blood transfusion, artificial dialysis, etc. has been performed through this fluid delivery line.

[0003] A known medical connector for connecting medical instruments to form such fluid delivery lines has a housing that has a male connector detachable portion and forms a liquid flow path, and a valve that can be raised and lowered relative to the housing between a closed position that blocks the male connector detachable portion and an open position that is pushed down by the male connector from the closed position against an urging force to connect the flow path within the male connector to the liquid flow path, the valve having a head that blocks the male connector detachable portion when the valve is in the closed position, and a body that is connected to the lower end of the head and receives the urging force (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2015 / 145998 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2016 / 157886 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] A medical connector is required to be resistant to both bolus and backflow during the attachment and detachment of the male connector to and from the male connector attachment / detachment portion. A bolus refers to the liquid inside the medical connector being pushed out of the medical connector. A backflow refers to the liquid outside the medical connector being drawn into the medical connector. For example, in a medical connector provided at the base end of a catheter, there is a risk that blood drawn into the catheter from the body by backflow will coagulate and form a thrombus, and that the thrombus will be administered from the catheter into the body by a bolus.

[0006] However, in medical connectors such as those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the body is formed from the same material as the head, and therefore is compressed evenly with the head in the open position, which makes it difficult to realize a structure that meets the above requirements.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a medical connector that can easily achieve a neutral structure that is less likely to cause bolus or backflow when attaching or detaching a male connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the medical connector of the present disclosure comprises a housing having a male connector detachable portion and forming a liquid flow path, and a valve that can be raised and lowered relative to the housing between a closed position that blocks the male connector detachable portion and an open position that is pushed down by the male connector from the closed position against an urging force to connect the flow path within the male connector to the liquid flow path, the valve having a head that blocks the male connector detachable portion when the valve is in the closed position, and a body that is connected to the lower end of the head and receives the urging force, and the Young's modulus of the body is greater than that of the head.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the valve has an internal flow path that passes through at least the body and connects the flow path in the male connector to the liquid flow path when the valve is in the open position.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the internal flow passage is defined solely by the inner surface of the valve.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the internal flow passage passes through the head and has an open / closed end that opens as the valve descends.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the open and closed ends are formed by slits.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the internal flow path has a side end that opens to a side surface of the body portion.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the liquid flow path has a side port that opens to a side surface of a storage chamber that accommodates the body portion so that it can be raised and lowered, and the side port faces the side end of the internal flow path at least in the open state.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, in the open state, the upper part of the side end communicates with the open / close end only via the lower part of the side end that does not face the side opening.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the internal flow path includes two side ends that open to side surfaces of the body, and the liquid flow path includes two side ports that open to side surfaces of a storage chamber that stores the body so that it can be raised and lowered, one of the side ends facing one of the side ports in both the closed state and the open state, and the other side end facing the other of the side ports in both the closed state and the open state.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the two side edges are provided facing opposite to each other.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the internal flow path has a vertical flow path extending downward from the opening and closing end and a horizontal flow path extending to both sides from the lower end of the vertical flow path, and the lower surface of the horizontal flow path is convex formed by two inclined surfaces that slope upward from the two side ends toward the inside of the valve.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the torso has shoulders extending laterally from the lower end of the head.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the body portion has an upward protrusion into which the lower end of the head portion fits.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an elastic member that generates the biasing force is provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a medical connector that easily achieves a neutral structure that is less likely to cause bolus or backflow when attaching or detaching a male connector. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a medical connector according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the housing shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of the housing shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the valve shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the valve shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the elastic member shown in FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a male connector is attached to the medical connector shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a medical connector according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a male connector is attached to the medical connector shown in FIG. 8. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a medical connector according to a third embodiment. [Figure 11] 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a male connector is attached to the medical connector shown in FIG. 10. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used to designate corresponding elements.

[0025] First, a medical connector 1 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. The medical connector 1 according to this embodiment shown in Figure 1 has a housing 2, a valve 3, and an elastic member 4. The medical connector 1 also has a male connector detachable portion 5 to which medical devices such as medical tubing and syringes can be connected to form a fluid transfer line or the like between the medical connector 1 and a body cavity of a living organism such as a human body.

[0026] The housing 2 has a male connector attachment / detachment portion 5 and forms a liquid flow path 6. The valve 3 is movable up and down relative to the housing 2 between a closed position (see FIG. 1) in which the valve 3 closes the male connector attachment / detachment portion 5 and an open position (see FIG. 7) in which the valve 3 is pushed down by the male connector 7 (see FIG. 7) from the closed position against an urging force (that is, for ease of explanation, the direction in which the valve 3 is pushed by the male connector 7 will be referred to as "downward" and the opposite direction will be referred to as "upward") to open the flow path 8 in the male connector 7 to the liquid flow path 6. The valve 3 also has a head 9 that closes the male connector attachment / detachment portion 5 in the closed state at the closed position, and a body 10 that is connected to the lower end of the head 9 and receives the urging force. The elastic member 4 generates the urging force.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the housing 2 has a cylindrical male connector attachment / detachment portion 5 centered on an axis O extending in the vertical direction. A male connector 7 configured as a locking male luer can be attached and detached to the male connector attachment / detachment portion 5. The male connector attachment / detachment portion 5 is configured to comply with, for example, ISO 80369-7 (2016).

[0028] In the following description, a direction along a straight line perpendicular to the axis O is referred to as a radial direction, and a direction going around the axis O is referred to as a circumferential direction.

[0029] The lower end of the male connector attachment / detachment portion 5 is connected to an expanded diameter portion 11 having a conical surface shape that expands in diameter downward and is centered on the axis O. The lower end of the expanded diameter portion 11 is connected to a housing main body portion 12. The housing main body portion 12 forms a storage chamber 13 that stores the body portion 10 of the valve 3 so that it can be raised and lowered. The storage chamber 13 is concave and is formed by a cylindrical inner circumferential surface centered on the axis O and a bottom surface.

[0030] 1, the housing main body 12 forms a liquid flow path 6. The liquid flow path 6 has a side port 6a that opens to a side surface of the storage chamber 13, a side flow path 6b that extends downward along the storage chamber 13 from an upper end that communicates with the side port 6a to a lower end that is lower than the storage chamber 13, a lower horizontal flow path 6c that extends radially inward from the lower end of the side flow path 6b to below the storage chamber 13, and a lower vertical flow path 6d that extends downward coaxially with the axis O from the radially inner end of the lower horizontal flow path 6c.

[0031] The lower member 2b forming the lower portion of the housing main body 12 forms a male connector configured as a locking male luer having the lower end of the side channel 6b, the lower horizontal channel 6c, and the lower vertical channel 6d therein. Therefore, the medical connector 1 is configured as an I-shaped connector. The male connector of the lower member 2b is configured to comply with, for example, ISO 80369-7 (2016). The housing 2 is formed by integrally connecting two components, an upper member 2a and a lower member 2b, by welding or the like, as shown in FIG. 2. The lower member 2b may form a medical device other than a male connector. The housing 2 may be formed of one component, or three or more components. The housing 2 is formed of a hard material such as synthetic resin.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5, the valve 3 has a head 9 formed of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer, and a body 10 formed of a hard material such as a synthetic resin such as polycarbonate, polypropylene, ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), or POM (Polyoxymethylene).

[0033] The head 9 has a generally cylindrical shape centered on the axis O. The head 9 has an openable and closable slit 14. The slit 14 is located in the center of the head 9 in a top view, and when closed, forms a straight line perpendicular to the axis O in a top view. Both longitudinal ends of the slit 14 are equally spaced from the outer periphery of the head 9 in a top view. The slit 14 penetrates the head 9 in the vertical direction. In a natural state before elastic deformation, the upper part of the head 9 has an elliptical shape in a top view, in which the width Y in a direction perpendicular to the slit 14 is greater than the width X in a direction along the slit 14. In addition, in a natural state, the slit 14 has an elongated elliptical shape in a top view. In other words, the slit 14 is open in a natural state, forming a flow path through which liquid can pass. When the head 9 is pushed into the male connector attachment / detachment part 5, which has a circular shape in a top view, the head 9 is compressed in the Y direction, thereby closing the slit 14.

[0034] The shapes of the slit 14 and the upper part of the head 9 are not limited to those described above. However, it is preferable that the shapes of the slit 14 and the upper part of the head 9 are such that the slit 14 is open in its natural state and closes when the head 9 is pushed into the male connector detachable part 5.

[0035] The body 10 has a generally cylindrical shape centered on the axis O, and has an upward convex portion 15 into which the lower end of the head 9 fits, and a shoulder portion 16 extending laterally from the lower end of the head 9. The upward convex portion 15 protrudes from the upper surface of the body 10 and has a generally cylindrical shape centered on the axis O. The outer peripheral surface of the upward convex portion 15 has an annular convex portion 15a centered on the axis O. The head 9 has a recess 17 on its bottom surface, the inner peripheral surface of which is complementary to the outer peripheral surface of the upward convex portion 15. The recess 17 of the head 9 fits into the upward convex portion 15, thereby holding the head 9 in the body 10. The shoulder portion 16 has a conical surface shape centered on the axis O and expanding in diameter downward. The outer peripheral surface of the body 10 below the shoulder portion 16 is cylindrical.

[0036] The shape of the shoulder portion 16 is not limited to a conical surface, but can be changed appropriately depending on the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter portion 11 of the housing 2.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 6, the elastic member 4 is made up of a coil-shaped compression spring. As shown in FIG. 1, the elastic member 4 is arranged in the storage chamber 13 so as to be located between the bottom surface of the body 10 and the bottom surface of the storage chamber 13, and applies an upward biasing force to the bottom surface of the body 10. The elastic member 4 may also be made up of a compression spring other than a coil-shaped one, such as a bellows-shaped one. The elastic member 4 is provided separately from the body 10. However, it may also be formed integrally with the body 10, for example, by two-color molding. The elastic member 4 is made of, for example, synthetic resin, rubber, elastomer, or a metal material such as stainless steel.

[0038] 1 and 7, the elastic member 4 generates a biasing force that returns the valve 3 from the open position to the closed position. A vent 18 that leads to the outside of the medical connector is provided on the side (outer peripheral surface) of the storage chamber 13. As the valve 3 descends, air within the storage chamber 13 is discharged through the vent 18, while as the valve 3 ascends, air is introduced into the storage chamber 13 through the vent 18, thereby enabling smooth movement of the valve 3 up and down. However, the configuration may also be such that the vent 18 is not provided.

[0039] When the valve 3 descends, the lowest position of the valve 3 is determined by the position of the lower end (tip) of the male connector 7 when the male connector 7 is mated with the male connector attachment / detachment portion 5. When the valve 3 ascends, the highest position of the valve 3 is determined by the position at which the shoulder portion 16 abuts against the lower surface (inner peripheral surface) of the enlarged diameter portion 11 of the housing 2.

[0040] As shown in Figures 1 and 7, the valve 3 has an internal flow path 19 that passes through both the head 9 and the body 10 and connects the flow path 8 in the male connector 7 to the liquid flow path 6 when the valve 3 is in the open position. The internal flow path 19 is formed only by the inner surface of the valve 3. The internal flow path 19 passes through the head 9 and has an open / close end 19a that opens as the valve 3 descends. The open / close end 19a is formed by a slit 14. The internal flow path 19 has a side end 19b (see Figures 5 and 7) that opens to the side surface (outer peripheral surface) of the body 10.

[0041] The body 10 has a vertical flow path 19c that extends vertically downward from the upper surface of the upward convex portion 15 through the center of the body 10 in a top view, and a horizontal flow path 19d that extends from the lower end of the vertical flow path 19c to a side end 19b. The internal flow path 19 is composed of an opening / closing end 19a formed by the slit 14, a gap 19e between the upper surface of the upward convex portion and the lower surface of the head 9, the vertical flow path 19c, the horizontal flow path 19d, and the side end 19b.

[0042] Side end 19b faces side opening 6a of liquid flow path 6 in both the closed state (see FIG. 1) and the open state (see FIG. 7). Side end 19b may be configured not to face side opening 6a in the closed state (see FIG. 1) but to face side opening 6a in the open state (see FIG. 7). When side end 19b and side opening 6a are configured not to face each other in the closed state, pressure fluctuations due to deformation of valve 3 are confined within internal flow path 19, making it difficult for pressure fluctuations to occur in liquid flow path 6, making it even easier to achieve a neutral structure.

[0043] 1, 5, and 7, the body 10 has a seal member 20 that surrounds the side end 19b. The seal member 20 is integrally provided on the side surface of the body 10 and slides up and down on the side surface of the storage chamber 13 as the valve 3 moves up and down. The seal member 20 can prevent the liquid in the internal flow path 19 and the liquid flow path 6 from leaking from the gap between the side surface of the storage chamber 13 and the side surface of the body 10.

[0044] In this embodiment, the Young's modulus (modulus of longitudinal elasticity) of the body 10 is greater than that of the head 9. Therefore, according to this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 7, it is possible to easily realize a structure in which the volume change of the liquid flow path (i.e., the internal flow path 19 and the liquid flow path 6) within the medical connector 1 is small between the open and closed states, that is, a neutral structure in which neither a bolus nor a backflow is likely to occur when the male connector 7 is attached or detached. Note that, as long as the Young's modulus of the body 10 is greater than that of the head 9, the materials of the head 9 and the body 10 are not limited to those described above.

[0045] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the valve 3 has an internal flow path 19 that passes through at least the body portion 10 and connects the flow path 8 in the male connector 7 to the liquid flow path 6 when in the open state, making it even easier to achieve a neutral structure.

[0046] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the internal flow path 19 is formed only by the inner surface of the valve 3, which makes it easier to achieve a neutral structure. Also, it is possible to prevent liquid from accumulating inside the medical connector 1.

[0047] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the internal flow path 19 has an open / close end 19a that passes through the head 9 and opens as the valve 3 descends, making it even easier to achieve a neutral structure.

[0048] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the open / closed end 19a is formed by the slit 14, which makes it even easier to achieve a neutral structure.

[0049] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the internal flow path 19 has the side end 19b that opens to the side surface of the body portion 10, which makes it even easier to achieve a neutral structure.

[0050] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the liquid flow path 6 has a side opening 6a that opens to the side surface of the storage chamber 13 that stores the body 10 so that it can be raised and lowered, and the side opening 6a faces the side end 19b of the internal flow path 19 at least in the open state, making it even easier to achieve a neutral structure.

[0051] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the body 10 has the shoulder 16 extending laterally from the lower end of the head 9, so that a neutral structure can be easily achieved with a simple structure.

[0052] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the body 10 has the upward convex portion 15 into which the lower end of the head 9 fits, so that a neutral structure can be easily achieved with a simple structure.

[0053] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the medical connector 1 has the elastic member 4 that generates a biasing force, so that a neutral structure can be easily realized with a simple structure.

[0054] Next, a medical connector 1 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. The medical connector 1 according to this embodiment shown in Figures 8 and 9 differs in configuration from the first embodiment only in that, in the open state (see Figure 9), the upper part of the side end 19b communicates with the open / close end 19a only via the lower part of the side end 19b that does not face the side opening 6a. In addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the second embodiment also has the effect of suppressing the accumulation of liquid within the internal flow path 19.

[0055] Next, a medical connector 1 as a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 11. The medical connector 1 as this embodiment shown in Figures 10 to 11 differs in configuration from the first embodiment in that the internal flow path 19 includes two side ends 19b that open to the side of the body 10, and the liquid flow path 6 includes two side ports 6a that open to the side of the storage chamber 13. The other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0056] One side end 19b faces one side opening 6a in both the closed state and the open state, and the other side end 19b faces the other side opening 6a in both the closed state and the open state. The two side ends 19b are provided facing opposite to each other.

[0057] The liquid flow path 6 has one flow path extending from one side port 6a and the other flow path extending from the other side port 6a. The liquid flow path 6 is provided in the housing main body 12 of the housing 2.

[0058] The internal flow path 19 has a vertical flow path 19c extending downward from the open / close end 19a, and horizontal flow paths 19d extending to both sides from the lower end of the vertical flow path 19c. The lower surface of the horizontal flow path 19d is convex, formed by two inclined surfaces 21 that slope upward from the two side ends 19b toward the inside of the valve 3.

[0059] The body 10 has two seal members 20 surrounding the two side ends 19b. One seal member 20 surrounds one side end 19b, and the other seal member 20 surrounds the other side end 19b.

[0060] According to the third embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment, the following effects can also be obtained.

[0061] According to the third embodiment, the internal flow path 19 includes two side ends 19b, the liquid flow path 6 includes two side openings 6a, one side end 19b faces one side opening 6a in both the closed state and the open state, and the other side end 19b faces the other side opening 6a in both the closed state and the open state, so that the medical connector 1 can be realized as a connector for mixed injection.

[0062] According to the third embodiment, the medical connector 1 having two side ends 19b facing opposite directions can be realized as a T-shaped connector or a Y-shaped connector.

[0063] According to the third embodiment, the internal flow path 19 has a vertical flow path 19c extending downward from the opening / closing end 19a and a horizontal flow path 19d extending to both sides from the lower end of the vertical flow path 19c, and the lower surface of the horizontal flow path 19d is convex formed by two inclined surfaces 21 that slope upward from the two side ends 19b toward the inside of the valve 3, thereby preventing liquid from stagnating within the internal flow path 19.

[0064] The above-described embodiment is merely an example of the present disclosure, and various modifications are possible, for example, as described below.

[0065] The medical connector 1 comprises a housing 2 having a male connector detachable portion 5 and forming a liquid flow path 6, and a valve 3 that can be raised and lowered relative to the housing 2 between a closed position in which the male connector detachable portion 5 is blocked and an open position in which the valve 3 is pushed down by the male connector 7 against an urging force from the closed position to connect the flow path 8 in the male connector 7 to the liquid flow path 6, the valve 3 having a head 9 that blocks the male connector detachable portion 5 when the valve 3 is in the closed position, and a body 10 that is connected to the lower end of the head 9 and receives the urging force, and various modifications are possible as long as the Young's modulus of the body 10 is greater than that of the head 9.

[0066] However, the valve 3 preferably has an internal flow passage 19 that passes through at least the body 10 and connects the flow passage 8 in the male connector 7 to the liquid flow passage 6 when the valve 3 is in the open position.

[0067] Furthermore, the internal flow path 19 is preferably formed only by the inner surface of the valve 3 .

[0068] The internal flow passage 19 preferably has an open / close end 19a that passes through the head 9 and opens as the valve 3 descends.

[0069] The open and closed ends 19 a are preferably formed by slits 14 .

[0070] The internal flow path 19 preferably has a side end 19 b that opens to the side surface of the body portion 10 .

[0071] The liquid flow path 6 has a side port 6a that opens to the side surface of the storage chamber 13 that stores the body 10 so that it can be raised and lowered, and it is preferable that the side port 6a faces the side end 19b of the internal flow path 19 at least in the open state.

[0072] In the open state, the upper part of the side end 19b preferably communicates with the open / close end 19a only via the lower part of the side end 19b that does not face the side opening 6a.

[0073] The internal flow path 19 includes two side ends 19b that open to the side of the body 10, and the liquid flow path 6 includes two side ports 6a that open to the side of the storage chamber 13 that stores the body 10 so that it can be raised and lowered, and it is preferable that one side end 19b faces one of the side ports 6a in both the closed state and the open state, and the other side end 19b faces the other side port 6a in both the closed state and the open state.

[0074] The two side ends 19b are preferably provided facing opposite to each other.

[0075] The internal flow path 19 has a vertical flow path 19c extending downward from the opening / closing end 19a and a horizontal flow path 19d extending to both sides from the lower end of the vertical flow path 19c, and it is preferable that the lower surface of the horizontal flow path 19d be convex formed by two inclined surfaces 21 that slope upward from the two side ends 19b toward the inside of the valve 3.

[0076] The body 10 preferably has a shoulder 16 extending laterally from the lower end of the head 9 .

[0077] The body 10 preferably has an upward projection 15 into which the lower end of the head 9 fits.

[0078] The medical connector 1 preferably has an elastic member 4 that generates a biasing force. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1 Medical Connector 2. Housing 2a Upper member 2b Lower member 3 valves 4 Elastic member 5 Male connector detachable part 6 Liquid flow path 6a side entrance 6b Side channel 6c Lower cross channel 6d Lower vertical channel 7 male connector 8 Flow path in male connector 9 head 10. Torso 11 Expanded diameter part 12 Housing body 13 Containment Room 14 Slit 15 Upward convex part 15a Convex part 16 Shoulder 17 Recess 18 Ventilation 19 Internal flow path 19a Opening and closing end 19b Side edge 19c Vertical channel 19d Cross flow path 19e Gap 20 Sealing material 21 Slope

Claims

1. a housing having a male connector attachment / detachment portion and forming a liquid flow path; a valve that can be raised and lowered relative to the housing between a closed position that closes the male connector attachment / detachment portion and an open position that is pushed down by the male connector from the closed position against an urging force to connect a flow path in the male connector to the liquid flow path, the valve has a head portion that closes the male connector attachment / detachment portion when the valve is in the closed state at the closed position, and a body portion that is connected to a lower end of the head portion and receives the biasing force, the Young's modulus of the body is greater than that of the head; the valve has an internal flow passage that passes through at least the body and connects the flow passage in the male connector to the liquid flow passage when the valve is in the open position; The internal flow path has a side end that opens to a side surface of the body portion.

2. The medical connector of claim 1 , wherein the internal flow path is defined solely by the interior surface of the valve.

3. The medical connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the internal flow path has an open / closed end that passes through the head and opens as the valve descends.

4. The medical connector according to claim 3 , wherein the open and closed ends are formed by slits.

5. the liquid flow path has a side port that opens to a side surface of a storage chamber that stores the body portion so that the body portion can be raised and lowered; The medical connector according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the side port faces the side end of the internal flow path at least in the open state.

6. 6. The medical connector according to claim 5, wherein the upper part of the side end, in the open state, communicates with the open / close end only via the lower part of the side end that does not face the side opening.

7. the internal flow path includes two side ends that open to side surfaces of the body portion; the liquid flow path includes two side ports that open to side surfaces of a storage chamber that stores the body portion so that the body portion can be raised and lowered; one of the side ends faces one of the side openings in both the closed state and the open state; 5. The medical connector according to claim 3, wherein the other side end faces the other side opening in both the closed state and the open state.

8. The medical connector according to claim 7 , wherein the two side ends are provided facing opposite each other.

9. the internal flow path has a vertical flow path extending downward from the opening and closing end and horizontal flow paths extending to both sides from a lower end of the vertical flow path, 9. The medical connector according to claim 8, wherein the lower surface of the lateral flow path is convex and formed by two inclined surfaces that slope upward from the two side ends toward the inside of the valve.

10. The medical connector according to claim 1 , wherein the body portion has a shoulder portion extending laterally from a lower end of the head portion.

11. The medical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the body portion has an upward convex portion into which a lower end of the head portion fits.

12. The medical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising an elastic member that generates the biasing force.

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