Needleless connector with check valve equipped with lip seal

Abstract

The valve member for the connector includes a head portion, a body portion, and a circumferential lip seal extending radially outward from an outer surface of the head portion. The head portion includes an upper section defining a first seal portion. The body portion extends longitudinally from the head portion and defines a second seal portion at a proximal end thereof. The second seal portion is disposed distal to the first seal portion. The circumferential lip seal is disposed between the first seal portion and the second seal portion.

Claims

1. A valve member for a connector, wherein the valve member is A head portion comprising a column section and an upper section, wherein the column section defines the axial center and a solid cylindrical section of the head portion, and the upper section defines a first sealing portion; The main body portion, the main body portion extending longitudinally from the head portion, defining a second sealing portion at its proximal end, the second sealing portion being disposed distal to the first sealing portion, and the main body portion; A circumferential lip seal extending radially outward from the outer surface of the head portion and disposed between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion, wherein the circumferential lip seal includes a flexible member, the flexible member engaging with the inner surface of the connector and configured to flex when the valve member reciprocates within the connector, and Valve components, including those mentioned above.

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

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

4. The valve member according to claim 1, wherein the upper section includes a planar upper surface, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented parallel to the planar upper surface.

5. The valve member according to claim 1, wherein the upper section includes a planar upper surface, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented at an angle not parallel to the planar upper surface.

6. The valve member according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential lip seal is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axial center of the head portion.

7. The valve member according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential lip seal is oriented at an angle not perpendicular to the axial center of the head portion.

8. The valve member according to claim 1, wherein the column section further defines at least one notch disposed along the outer surface of the column section.

9. The valve member according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the head portion or the circumferential lip seal comprises an elastomer material.

10. The valve member according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential lip seal comprises silicone or a silicone compound.

11. A needleless connector, wherein the needleless connector is A housing comprising a proximal end defining an inlet port of the housing, a distal end including a base defining an outlet port of the housing, and an inner surface defining an internal cavity extending between the inlet port and the outlet port; An elastic valve, wherein the elastic valve is disposed in at least a portion of the internal cavity and is movably held within the housing, and Includes, The elastic valve is A head portion including an upper section, and a body portion extending distally from the head portion, the body portion having a primary seal portion at its proximal end; A circumferential lip seal, wherein the circumferential lip seal extends radially outward from the outer surface of the head portion and is disposed between the upper section and the body portion, and Includes, A needleless connector wherein, in the closed position of the elastic valve, the primary seal portion and the circumferential lip seal engage with the inner surface of the housing to prevent fluid from flowing along the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port; in the open position of the elastic valve, the elastic valve is compressed, the head portion is displaced toward the internal cavity, a gap is formed between the inner surface of the housing, the outer surface of the head portion and the circumferential lip seal, allowing fluid to flow along the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port; when the elastic valve moves from the closed position to the open position, the primary seal portion separates from the inner surface of the housing; and when the elastic valve moves from the open position to the closed position, the circumferential lip seal engages with at least a portion of the inner surface of the housing to prevent fluid from flowing along the fluid path.

12. The needleless connector according to claim 11, wherein the upper section of the head portion defines a secondary sealing portion, and the circumferential lip seal includes a seal positioned between the primary sealing portion and the secondary sealing portion.

13. The needleless connector according to claim 12, wherein the distance between the circumferential lip seal and the secondary sealing portion is smaller than the distance between the circumferential lip seal and the primary sealing portion.

14. The needleless connector according to claim 12, wherein the distance over which the circumferential lip seal extends radially outward from the outer surface of the head portion is smaller than the distance between the circumferential lip seal and the secondary seal portion.

15. The needleless connector according to claim 11, wherein the diameter of the circumferential lip seal is greater than the diameter of the inner surface in the inlet port.

16. The needleless connector according to claim 15, wherein the circumferential lip seal includes a flexible member which engages with the inner surface of the housing in the inlet port and flexes to an inverted shape when the elastic valve reciprocates within the housing between the open and closed positions.

17. The needleless connector according to claim 11, wherein the upper section includes a planar upper surface, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented parallel to the planar upper surface.

18. The needleless connector according to claim 11, wherein the upper section includes a planar upper surface, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented at an angle nonparallel to the planar upper surface.

19. The needleless connector according to claim 11, wherein the head portion further includes a column section defining the axial center of the head portion, and the circumferential lip seal is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axial center of the head portion.

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