Connection structure

Abstract

This connection structure has a female connector and a male connector. The female connector has a connector body having a connection port and an elastic valve body. The elastic valve body has a valve body and a fixing part. The male connector has a flow passage pipe member having an opening, an elastic opening / closing part, an urging part, and a housing. The male connector changes from a first form in which the opening is closed to a second form in which the opening is opened by a connection operation. The housing has a housing restriction part. The valve body has a slit and the bottom surface thereof is provided with a protrusion. The elastic opening / closing part has an inserted part and a slit. The connector body has a rib against which the protrusion is pressed by the valve body being pressed into the depth side of the connection port by the inserted part through the connection operation.

Description

Connection structure

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connection structure.

[0002] A connection structure is known that has a female connector and a male connector connectable to the female connector, wherein the male connector has a flow path pipe member that defines an axial direction and has an opening in a portion toward the axial tip end, an elastic opening / closing portion, and a biasing portion that can bias the elastic opening / closing portion toward the axial tip end, and the male connector changes its form from a first form in which the opening of the flow path pipe member is closed by the elastic opening / closing portion to a second form in which a connecting operation occurs in which the elastic valve body of the female connector is pressed against the tip surface of the elastic opening / closing portion against the biasing force of the biasing portion, causing the elastic opening / closing portion to move toward the axial base end with respect to the flow path pipe member, thereby causing the axial tip end portion of the flow path pipe member to protrude toward the axial tip end from the elastic opening / closing portion, thereby opening the opening of the flow path pipe member (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] International Publication No. 2022 / 149339

[0004] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a connection structure that can suppress fluid leakage by achieving good adhesion between the elastic open-close portion of the male connector and the elastic valve body of the female connector when connected.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure is as follows.

[0006] [1] A connection structure having a female connector and a male connector connectable to the female connector, wherein the female connector has a connector main body having a connection port and an elastic valve body, the elastic valve body having a valve main body closing the connection port and a fixing portion extending from the outer circumferential surface of the valve main body and fixed to the connector main body, the male connector having a flow path pipe member defining an axial direction and having an opening at a portion on the axial tip side, an elastic open-close portion, a biasing portion capable of biasing the elastic open-close portion toward the axial tip side, and a housing connected to the flow path pipe member, the male connector changing form from a first form in which the opening of the flow path pipe member is closed by the elastic open-close portion to a second form in which the axial tip side portion of the flow path pipe member protrudes toward the axial tip side from the elastic open-close portion by a connecting operation in which the elastic valve body is pressed against a tip surface of the elastic open-close portion against the biasing force of the biasing portion, causing the elastic open-close portion to move toward the axial base end side relative to the flow path pipe member, thereby opening the opening of the flow path pipe member, a connection structure in which the housing has a housing regulating portion that regulates movement of the female connector toward the axial tip side relative to the elastic opening and closing portion by changing its form from the first form to the second form; the valve body has a slit that penetrates the valve body and a convex portion provided on the bottom surface so as to surround the slit; the elastic opening and closing portion has an inserted portion that is inserted into the connection port by the connecting operation and a slit that penetrates the elastic opening and closing portion through the inserted portion; and the connector body has a rib against which the convex portion is pressed when the valve body is pushed toward the back of the connection port by the inserted portion by the connecting operation.

[0007] [2] The connection structure according to [1], wherein the inserted portion has an outer diameter that is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the connection port of the connector body.

[0008] [3] The flow path pipe member defines a radial direction, the male connector has a moving body having a retaining opening in which the elastic opening and closing part is arranged and held, and a moving body regulating part that moves radially inward due to resistance from the housing generated by the connecting operation, thereby regulating movement of the female connector toward the axial tip side relative to the elastic opening and closing part, and the inserted part of the elastic opening and closing part protrudes from the retaining opening toward the axial tip side. A connection structure described in [1] or [2].

[0009] [4] The connection structure according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the protrusion is provided in an annular shape so as to surround the slit of the valve body.

[0010] [5] The connection structure according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the rib is provided in a ring shape so as to surround the connection port.

[0011] [6] The connection structure according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the male connector and the female connector are each configured as a medical device.

[0012] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connection structure that can suppress fluid leakage due to good adhesion between the elastic open-close portion of the male connector and the elastic valve body of the female connector when connected.

[0013] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before connection in a connection structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of Fig. 1 at an angle different by 90°. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state when the connection operation has been further advanced and completed from the state of Fig. 3, which is a cross-sectional view showing a state when the connection operation has started from the state of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of Fig. 4 at an angle different by 90°.

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 , a connection structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a connection structure 1 having a female connector 2 and a male connector 3 connectable to the female connector 2, wherein the female connector 2 has a connector main body 4 having a connection port P and an elastic valve body 5, the elastic valve body 5 having a valve body 5a that closes the connection port P and a fixing portion 5b that extends from the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 5a and is fixed to the connector main body 4, the male connector 3 has a flow path pipe member 6 that defines an axial direction and has an opening 6a at a portion on the axial tip side, an elastic open-close portion 7, a biasing portion 8 that can bias the elastic open-close portion 7 toward the axial tip side, and a housing 9 connected to the flow path pipe member 6, and the male connector 3 is configured to move from a first mode (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ) in which the opening 6a of the flow path pipe member 6 is closed by the elastic open-close portion 7, and when the elastic valve body 5 is pressed against a tip surface 7c of the elastic open-close portion 7 against the biasing force of the biasing portion 8, the elastic open-close portion 7 closes the flow path pipe member 6 a connecting operation in which the axial tip side portion of the flow path pipe member 6 protrudes axially from the elastic opening / closing portion 7 toward the base end relative to the opening 6a of the flow path pipe member 6, thereby changing the form to a second form (see Figures 4 and 5) in which the opening 6a of the flow path pipe member 6 is opened; the housing 9 has a housing regulating portion 9a that regulates the movement of the female connector 2 toward the axial tip side relative to the elastic opening / closing portion 7 as the form changes from the first form to the second form; the valve body 5a has a slit 5a1 that penetrates the valve body 5a and a convex portion 5a2 that is provided on the bottom surface 5c so as to surround the slit 5a1; the elastic opening / closing portion 7 has an inserted portion 7a that is inserted into the connection port P by the connecting operation, and a slit 7b that penetrates the elastic opening / closing portion 7 through the inserted portion 7a; and the connector body 4 has a rib 4a against which the convex portion 5a2 is pressed when the valve body 5a is pushed toward the back of the connection port P by the inserted portion 7a by the connecting operation.

[0016] According to the above configuration, from a first configuration in which the flow path (male connector flow path C1) inside the flow path pipe member 6 of the male connector 3 is closed by the elastic open-close portion 7 and the flow path (female connector flow path C2) inside the connector body 4 of the female connector 2 is closed by the elastic valve body 5, a connecting operation presses the elastic valve body 5 against the elastic open-close portion 7 to move it to a second configuration, thereby connecting the male connector flow path C1 and the female connector flow path C2 through the opening 6a of the flow path pipe member 6 and allowing fluid to flow. During the connecting operation, the inserted portion 7a of the elastic open-close portion 7 is inserted into the connection port P of the female connector 2 by the biasing force of the biasing portion 8, so that the inserted portion 7a can firmly press against the top surface 5d of the elastic valve body 5, which is fixed to the connector body 4 via the fixing portion 5b and located within the connection port P. At this time, the elastic valve body 5 pressed by the inserted portion 7a can be supported in the opposite direction by the rib 4a provided on the connector body 4 of the female connector 2 via the protrusion 5a2 provided on the bottom surface 5c of the elastic valve body 5. Therefore, good contact between the top surface 5d of the elastic valve body 5 and the tip surface 7c of the elastic open-close portion 7 can be ensured during the connecting operation. In this state, the flow path pipe member 6 can pass through the slit 7b of the elastic open-close portion 7 and the slit 5a1 of the elastic valve body 5, thereby suppressing fluid leakage during the connecting operation from the first configuration to the second configuration. Furthermore, when the connecting operation shifts to the second configuration, the housing restriction portion 9a maintains the connection state in a good condition. Therefore, a connection structure 1 can be realized that can suppress fluid leakage due to good contact between the elastic open-close portion 7 of the male connector 3 and the elastic valve body 5 of the female connector 2 during connection.

[0017] The inserted portion 7a has an outer diameter that is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the connection port P of the connector main body 4. According to the above configuration, the inserted portion 7a can be easily inserted into the connection port P of the female connector 2 during the connecting operation, thereby improving the adhesion between the elastic valve body 5 and the elastic opening / closing portion 7.

[0018] The flow path pipe member 6 defines the radial direction, and the male connector 3 has a movable body 10 having a retaining opening Q in which the elastic opening-closing part 7 is disposed and retained, and a movable body restricting part 10a that moves radially inward due to resistance from the housing 9 generated during the connecting operation, thereby restricting movement of the female connector 2 toward the axial tip side relative to the elastic opening-closing part 7, and the inserted part 7a of the elastic opening-closing part 7 protrudes toward the axial tip side from the retaining opening Q. With the above configuration, the movable body restricting part 10a can satisfactorily maintain the state in which the elastic valve body 5 is pressed against the tip surface 7c of the elastic opening-closing part 7 during the connecting operation.

[0019] In this embodiment, the protrusions 5a2 do not contact the ribs 4a in the first configuration. However, the protrusions 5a2 may be configured to contact the ribs 4a in the first configuration.

[0020] The protrusions 5a2 are provided in an annular shape (circular in this embodiment) so as to surround the slits 5a1 of the valve body 5a. According to the above configuration, the annular protrusions 5a2 provide a good support force for the elastic valve body 5 from the rib 4a, thereby further improving the adhesion between the elastic valve body 5 and the elastic opening-closing part 7. Note that the protrusions 5a2 are not limited to being annular, and may be provided intermittently so as to surround the slits 5a1 of the valve body 5a.

[0021] The convex portion 5a2 has a first step portion 5a3 that is annularly arranged to surround the slit 5a1 of the valve body 5a, and a second step portion 5a4 that protrudes from the outer peripheral edge of the first step portion 5a3 toward the axial tip side, and the slit 5a1 of the valve body 5a is linear when viewed in the axial direction, and the second step portion 5a4 consists of a pair of protrusions 5a5 that face each other in a direction along the slit 5a1 of the valve body 5a.

[0022] The rib 4a is provided in an annular shape (circular in this embodiment) so as to surround the connection port P. According to the above configuration, the annular rib 4a can provide good support force for the elastic valve body 5, further improving the adhesion between the elastic valve body 5 and the elastic opening / closing portion 7. Note that the rib 4a is not limited to being annular, and may be provided intermittently so as to surround the connection port P.

[0023] The fixed portion 5b of the elastic valve body 5 has a clamped portion 5b1 that continues around the entire outer surface of the disk-shaped valve main body 5a, a tip-side annular convex portion 5b2 that protrudes around the entire circumference from the radial outer peripheral edge of the clamped portion 5b1 toward the tip end in the axial direction, and a base-side annular convex portion 5b3 that protrudes around the entire circumference from the radial outer peripheral edge of the clamped portion 5b1 toward the base end in the axial direction, and the connector main body 4 has a clamping portion 4b that clamps the clamped portion 5b1 of the fixed portion 5b of the elastic valve body 5.

[0024] The elastic valve body 5 of the female connector 2 is made of, for example, rubber or elastomer, and the connector body 4 is made of, for example, resin.

[0025] The moving body restricting portion 10a hooks onto the female connector 2, thereby restricting movement of the female connector 2 toward the axial tip side relative to the elastic open-close portion 7. That is, the moving body restricting portion 10a has a moving body hooking portion 10a1 that hooks onto the moving body hooked portion 11 of the female connector 2. The moving body restricting portion 10a can be released from being hooked onto the female connector 2 by swinging radially outward as it recovers from elastic deformation. The moving body restricting portion 10a has an arm portion 10a2 that extends radially outward and toward the axial tip side, and a protrusion 10a3 that protrudes radially inward from the end of the arm portion 10a2 on the axial tip side and constitutes the moving body hooking portion 10a1.

[0026] The movable body 10 has a holding portion 10b that forms the holding opening Q and holds the elastic opening / closing portion 7, and a cylindrical movable body base portion 10c that connects the holding portion 10b to the base of a movable body regulating portion 10a that is located axially closer to the base end than the holding portion 10b. The holding portion 10b, the movable body regulating portion 10a, and the movable body base portion 10c form an integrated movable body 10. The movable body 10 has a first movable body regulating portion 10a and a second movable body regulating portion 10a, and the holding portion 10b is located between the first movable body regulating portion 10a and the second movable body regulating portion 10a, or the first movable body regulating portion 10a and the second movable body regulating portion 10a are arranged to face each other (shifted by 180°).

[0027] The housing restricting portion 9a restricts movement of the female connector 2 toward the axial tip side relative to the elastic open-close portion 7 by hooking onto the housing hooked portion 12. That is, the housing restricting portion 9a has a housing hooking portion 9a1 that hooks onto the housing hooked portion 12. The housing restricting portion 9a is hooked onto the housing hooked portion 12 by swinging. The housing restricting portion 9a is hooked onto the housing hooked portion 12 by swinging radially inward of the flow path pipe member 6 by recovering from elastic deformation.

[0028] The housing hook portion 12 is provided on the female connector 2. The housing hook portion 12 may be provided on a separate member (for example, the movable body 10 having the movable body restriction portion 10a) that moves integrally with the female connector 2 during the connection operation.

[0029] The elastic opening / closing portion 7 and the biasing portion 8 form an integral elastic member. The elastic opening / closing portion 7 and the biasing portion 8 are made of, for example, rubber or elastomer. The movable body 10, the flow path pipe member 6, and the housing 9 are made of, for example, resin.

[0030] The housing 9 has a housing base 9b that is connected to the flow path pipe member 6 and forms a hollow portion S in which the flow path pipe member 6 is located, a housing restriction portion 9a that has a housing hook portion 9a1 on its axial tip end and is connected to the housing base 9b on its axial base end side so as to be swingable, and an operation portion 9c that extends from the housing restriction portion 9a to the axial base end side. The housing restriction portion 9a can be released from the hooked portion 12 by swinging radially outward of the flow path pipe member 6 due to elastic deformation when the operation portion 9c is operated radially inward.

[0031] The housing 9 has a first housing regulating portion 9a, a first operating portion 9c extending from the first housing regulating portion 9a toward the base end in the axial direction, a second housing regulating portion 9a, and a second operating portion 9c extending from the second housing regulating portion 9a toward the base end in the axial direction, and the flow path pipe member 6 is positioned between the first housing regulating portion 9a and the second housing regulating portion 9a, or the first housing regulating portion 9a and the second housing regulating portion 9a are arranged to face each other (shifted by 180°).

[0032] The flow path pipe member 6 and the base portion of the housing base 9b form an integral member. The housing restricting portion 9a, the portion of the housing base 9b other than the base portion, and the operating portion 9c form an integral member.

[0033] The male connector 3 and the female connector 2 are each configured as a medical device. The male connector 3 and the female connector 2 can form, for example, an infusion set. The infusion set includes, for example, the male connector 3, the female connector 2, an infusion container, a drip tube, and a medical tube. The fluid is not particularly limited and may be, for example, a medicinal solution (infusion solution, nutrient, anticancer drug, etc.), physiological saline, etc.

[0034] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the above-described embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0035] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Connection structure 2 Female connector 3 Male connector 4 Connector body 4a Rib 4b Clamping portion 5 Elastic valve body 5a Valve body 5a1 Slit 5a2 Convex portion 5a3 First step portion 5a4 Second step portion 5a5 Projecting portion 5b Fixing portion 5b1 Clamped portion 5b2 Tip-side annular convex portion 5b3 Base-side annular convex portion 5c Bottom surface 5d Top surface 6 Flow path pipe member 6a Opening 7 Elastic opening / closing portion 7a Inserted portion 7b Slit 7c Tip surface 8 Urging portion 9 Housing 9a Housing regulating portion 9a1 Housing hook portion 9b Housing base portion 9c Operating portion 10 Moving body 10a Moving body regulating portion 10a1 Moving body hook portion 10a2 Arm portion 10a3 Protrusion 10b Holding portion 10c: Mobile body base portion 11: Mobile body hooked portion 12: Housing hooked portion C1: Male connector flow path C2: Female connector flow path P: Connection port Q: Holding opening S: Hollow portion

Claims

1. A connection structure having a female connector and a male connector connectable to the female connector, wherein the female connector has a connector main body having a connection port and an elastic valve body, the elastic valve body having a valve main body closing the connection port and a fixing portion extending from the outer circumferential surface of the valve main body and fixed to the connector main body, the male connector having a flow path pipe member defining an axial direction and having an opening at a portion on the axial tip side, an elastic opening and closing portion, a biasing portion capable of biasing the elastic opening and closing portion toward the axial tip side, and a housing connected to the flow path pipe member, the male connector changes its form from a first form in which the opening of the flow path pipe member is closed by the elastic opening and closing portion to a second form in which the axial tip side portion of the flow path pipe member protrudes from the elastic opening and closing portion toward the axial tip side due to a connection operation in which the elastic valve body is pressed against the tip surface of the elastic opening and closing portion against the biasing force of the biasing portion, causing the elastic opening and closing portion to move toward the axial base end side relative to the flow path pipe member, thereby opening the opening of the flow path pipe member, a connection structure in which the housing has a housing regulating portion that regulates movement of the female connector toward the axial tip side relative to the elastic opening and closing portion by changing its form from the first form to the second form; the valve body has a slit that penetrates the valve body and a convex portion provided on the bottom surface so as to surround the slit; the elastic opening and closing portion has an inserted portion that is inserted into the connection port by the connecting operation and a slit that penetrates the elastic opening and closing portion through the inserted portion; and the connector body has a rib against which the convex portion is pressed when the valve body is pushed toward the back of the connection port by the inserted portion by the connecting operation.

2. The connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the inserted portion has an outer diameter that is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the connection port of the connector body.

3. The connection structure described in claim 1, wherein the flow path pipe member defines a radial direction, the male connector has a moving body having a retaining opening in which the elastic opening and closing part is arranged and held, and a moving body regulating part that moves radially inward due to resistance from the housing generated during the connecting operation, thereby regulating movement of the female connector toward the axial tip side relative to the elastic opening and closing part, and the inserted part of the elastic opening and closing part protrudes from the retaining opening toward the axial tip side.

4. The connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is annularly provided so as to surround the slit of the valve body.

5. The connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the rib is provided in a ring shape so as to surround the connection port.

6. The connection structure of claim 1, wherein the male connector and the female connector are each configured as a medical device.

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