Needleless connector

Abstract

A needleless connector includes a body having a distal end connection and a proximal cannula including a solid endmost crown portion and a plurality of laterally extending cross ports, a cap joined with the body and including a proximal end connection, and a valve stem disposed between the body and the cap and including an annular distal end portion receiving the cannula and a proximal end portion retained in a neck portion of the proximal end connection and including an elastically expandable laterally extending slit. The valve stem is configured to maintain sealing engagement between an inner surface of the valve stem and the plurality of laterally extending cross ports when a delivery tube is pressed through the slit and into the neck portion of the proximal end connection until an actuating fluid pressure in the delivery tube deforms the valve stem.

Description

NEEDLELESS CONNECTORCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to and all benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Serial No. 63 / 701,365, filed on September 30, 2024 and entitled NEEDLELESS CONNECTOR WITH NEUTRAL FLUID DISPLACEMENT, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This invention relates to needleless medical connectors commonly employed in intravenous (IV) lines. More particularly, this invention relates to a medical connector having a valve employing an internal elastomeric valve stem.BACKGROUND

[0003] Presently there exist numerous types of needleless connectors for various applications, including, for example, for fluidly interconnecting intravenous (IV) and other lines. To preclude fluid flow through the connector when not being accessed, some needleless connectors employ a normally-closed valve. Common valves comprise a valve body with an internal elastomeric valve stem positioned to be swabbable by an alcohol pad to sterilize the same prior to being accessed by a fluid delivery device (e.g., delivering fluid to or from the connector), such as by the tip of a male Luer fitting on the end of a syringe or other IV component. Representative patents that teach needleless connectors having elastomeric valve stems are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,651,956, 6,089,541, 6,036,171 and 9,839,774, the entire disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.

[0004] Elastomeric valve stems typically comprise a through-slit that is forced or otherwise maintained in a closed condition when positioned within the connector body when the connector is in a disconnected or non-accessed condition. During accessing or connection with a fluid delivery device (e.g., by assembly of the fluid delivery device with a proximal (e.g., inlet) end connection of the needleless connector), the tip or delivery tube of the fluid delivery device forces the valve stem inwardly into the valve body allowing the tip to force itself into the slit to open the valve stem, thereby allowing fluid flow from the fluid delivery device, through its tip and then through the forced-open slit to a distal (e.g., outlet) end connection of the needleless connector, to supply fluid to a connected catheter. Upon removal of the tip of the fluid delivery device from the valve (e.g., by disconnecting the fluid deliverydevice from the proximal end connection), the elastomeric properties of the valve stem resiliently move the valve stem outwardly to return to its forced, normally closed, at rest, position within the valve body.

[0005] Upon disengagement from a fluid delivery device, a conventional needleless fluid connector may experience negative fluid displacement or backflow, a condition in which fluid is drawn into the connector from the distal end connection (e.g., from a connected catheter) as the connector returns to its non-accessed / disconnected state from an accessed / connected state. In many medical applications, this negative fluid displacement may undesirably contaminate the needleless connector with blood or other fluid from the downstream device (e.g., catheter). Past attempts to reduce or eliminate negative fluid displacement include clamping the IV tubing between the connector and the IV catheter prior to removal of the delivery tube from the connector or continued injection of fluid into the connector from the male delivery device while the male device is being disengaged from the connector. Still another approach included providing an internal cannula or spike inside the connector body that is positioned to force open the slit of the valve stem upon depression of the stem against the tip of the cannula. The internal cannula has an orifice at its tip and, upon engagement by the access device, the stem is forced inwardly causing its slit to spread open over the internal cannula (or spike), thereby creating fluid communication with the internal cannula to reduce changes in volume of the fluid-flow path through the connector, and any resulting vacuum draw of fluid into the connector during valve closure. An example of one such arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,802,490, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.SUMMARY

[0006] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a needleless connector includes a body, a cap, and a valve stem. The body includes a distal end connection and a proximal cannula defining an axial passageway. The cap is joined with the body and includes a proximal end connection. The valve stem is disposed between the body and the cap and includes an annular distal end portion receiving the cannula, and a proximal end portion retained in a neck portion of the proximal end connection and including an elastically expandable laterally extending slit. The cannula includes a plurality of laterally extending cross ports sealingly engaged by an inner surface of the valve stem, and a solid endmost crown portion. The valve stem is configured to maintain sealing engagement between the inner surface of the valve stem and the plurality of laterally extending cross ports when a deliverytube is pressed through the slit and into the neck portion of the proximal end connection, until an actuating fluid pressure in the delivery tube deforms the valve stem to effect disengagement of the inner surface of the valve stem from at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of laterally extending cross ports to allow fluid flow between the delivery tube and the axial passageway.

[0007] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a needleless connector includes a body including a distal end connection and a proximal cannula defining an axial passageway, a cap joined with the body and including a proximal end connection, and a valve stem disposed between the body and the cap and including an annular distal end portion receiving the cannula and a proximal end portion retained in a neck portion of the proximal end connection and including a laterally extending slit, the proximal end portion being elastically deformable to enlarge the laterally extending slit. The cannula includes a tapered portion in contact with an inner surface of the valve stem, a plurality of laterally extending cross ports intersecting the tapered portion, and a solid endmost crown portion spaced apart from the valve stem inner surface by a proximal valve stem cavity.

[0008] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a fluid connecting system includes a needleless connector and a fluid delivery device. The needleless connector includes a body including a distal end connection and a proximal cannula defining an axial passageway and including a plurality of laterally extending cross ports and a solid endmost crown portion, a cap joined with the body and including a proximal end connection, and a valve stem disposed between the body and the cap and including an annular distal end portion receiving the cannula and a proximal end portion retained in a neck portion of the proximal end connection and including a laterally extending slit. The fluid delivery device includes an end connection configured to connect with the proximal end connection and a delivery tube sized to be received through a neck portion of the proximal end connection. When the end connection of the fluid delivery device is connected with the proximal end connection of the cap, the delivery tube is pressed against the proximal end portion of the valve stem to enlarge the laterally extending slit and receive the deliver tube therethrough, with the valve stem maintaining sealing engagement between an inner surface of the valve stem and the plurality of laterally extending cross ports until an actuating fluid pressure is supplied to the delivery tube, such that the actuating fluid pressure deforms the valve stem to effect disengagement of the inner surface of the valve stem from at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of laterally extending cross ports to allow fluid flow between the delivery tube and the axial passageway.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Further advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following description and appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a needleless connector, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the needleless connector of FIG. 1 showing the connector body, the stem and the connector cap of the needleless connector of the invention;

[0012] FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the body of the needleless connector of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a side view of the connector body of FIG. 3;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a top view of the connector body of FIG. 3;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector body of FIG. 3;

[0016] FIG. 7 is another side view of the connector body of FIG. 3;

[0017] FIG. 8 is another upper perspective view of the connector body of FIG. 3;

[0018] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the needleless connector of FIG. 1, shown in a closed, disconnected condition;

[0019] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the needleless connector of FIG. 1, shown assembled with a fluid delivery device in a closed condition; and

[0020] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the needleless connector of FIG. 1, shown assembled with a fluid delivery device in an open condition.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] This Detailed Description merely describes exemplary embodiments and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Indeed, the invention as claimed is broader than and unlimited by the described embodiments, and the terms used in the claims have their full ordinary meaning.

[0022] While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the inventions may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within thescope of the present inventions. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the inventions— such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, circuits, devices and components, software, hardware, control logic, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on— may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present inventions even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present disclosure, however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. Parameters identified as “approximate” or “about” a specified value are intended to include both the specified value, values within 5% of the specified value, and values within 10% of the specified value, unless expressly stated otherwise. Further, it is to be understood that the drawings accompanying the present disclosure may, but need not, be to scale, and therefore may be understood as teaching various ratios and proportions evident in the drawings. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention, the inventions instead being set forth in the appended claims. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes are not limited to inclusion of all steps as being required in all cases, nor is the order that the steps are presented to be construed as required or necessary unless expressly so stated.

[0023] According to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, negative displacement into a fluid connector, such as a needleless connector, may be reduced or prevented by maintaining a seal between the upstream or proximal connection and the downstream or distal connection when a fluid delivery device (e.g., syringe or other delivery tube) is partially or fully installed in the proximal connection of the connector. When fluid pressure is applied to the installed fluid delivery device, the internal valve seal of the connectoris opened or disengaged to permit forward flow of the fluid from the fluid delivery device to the distal connection.

[0024] In some such arrangements, a needleless connector includes an internal flowpath partially defined by a ported cannula received in an elastically deformable valve stem, with the internal surface of the valve stem sealing against flow ports of the internal cannula. The valve stem and cannula are configured to maintain sealing engagement against low (e.g., less than about 5 psig relative upstream pressure, or less than about 3 psig, or between about 0.5 psig and 5 psig, or up to about 0.5 psig) positive or vacuum upstream pressure when a fluid delivery device (e.g., syringe tip or other delivery tube) is partially or fully installed into the connector through a sealing slit in the proximal end of the valve stem. When fluid pressure (e.g., at or above the “actuating” or “cracking” fluid pressure of the valve seal) is applied to the installed fluid delivery device, the valve stem is elastically deformed to effect disengagement of the inner surface of the valve stem from at least a portion of at least one of the cannula flow ports (e.g., from an entire periphery of the flow port, or from only a proximal end portion of the flow port) to permit forward flow of the fluid from the fluid delivery device to the distal connection. The minimal actuating or cracking fluid pressure of the valve seal may be selected to not significantly affect the rate of fluid flow through the connector when in use.

[0025] When the fluid delivery device is disconnected from the proximal connection of the needleless connector, the resulting reduction in upstream fluid pressure causes the inner surface of the elastically deformable valve stem to reseal against the flow ports of the cannula, thereby preventing the generation of a vacuum pressure sufficient to draw downstream fluid into the connector (i.e., negative fluid displacement). The actuating or cracking pressure may also be selected to reduce or prevent additional fluid flow from the fluid delivery device during disconnection (i.e., positive displacement), when the delivery tube is not yet fully withdrawn from the valve stem.

[0026] In other arrangements, full insertion of the delivery tube, without application of an actuating fluid pressure, may move the valve seal to an open or partially open condition, relying on nominal upstream pressure in the delivery tube to minimize or prevent negative fluid displacement into the connector. In such arrangements, initial withdrawal movement of the delivery tube from the proximal end connection may effect valve seal closure before complete withdrawal from the proximal end connection, such that elastic recovery expansion of the valve stem does not pull a vacuum on the connector to draw fluid into the distal end connection.

[0027] FIGS. 1 - 11 illustrate various views of an exemplary needleless connector 10, according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The illustratedconnector 10 includes a body 12, a cap 14, and a valve stem 16. The body 12 includes a distal end connection 22 (e.g., a female luer fitting, as shown) and a proximal cannula 24 defining an axial passageway 26. The cap 14 is joined with the body 12 (e.g., by sonic welding or other suitable attachment) to define an internal cavity 13, and includes a proximal end connection 20 (e.g., a male luer fitting, as shown). The valve stem 16 is disposed in the connector cavity 13, between the body 12 and the cap 14, and includes an annular distal end portion 32 that receives the cannula 24, and a proximal end portion 36 retained in a neck portion 45 of the proximal end connection 20. The proximal end portion 36 of the valve stem 16 includes an elastically expandable laterally extending slit 18 for receiving a delivery tube 66 (e.g., syringe tip) of a fluid delivery device 68 (see FIG. 10), for example, when an end connection 67 (e.g., female luer fitting) of the fluid delivery device is assembled with the proximal end connection 20. The slit 18 in the valve stem 16 may include a generally straight through-slit as shown in US Patent 6,651,956 in which the slit is normally-closed when uncompressed but is forcibly squeezed more tightly closed due to the compression of the valve stem when inserted into the connector body. Alternatively, the valve stem may comprise a normally-open slit, such as disclosed in US Patent 5,699,821, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, which is then forcibly squeezed closed when the valve stem is inserted into the connector body.

[0028] The cannula 24 includes one or more laterally extending cross ports 28 (e.g., four circumferentially spaced cross ports, as shown), intersecting the axial passageway 26, that are sealingly engaged by the inner surface 17 of the valve stem 16, and a solid (i.e., non- apertured) endmost crown portion 25. The valve stem 16 and cannula 24 may be configured to maintain sealing engagement between the valve stem inner surface 17 and the laterally extending cross ports 28 when the delivery tube 66 is pressed through the slit 18 and into the neck portion 45 of the proximal end connection 20 (e.g., during connection of the delivery device 68 to the proximal end connection). Once in this installed or connected condition, an actuating fluid pressure (e.g., between about 0.5 psig and about 5 psig, or less than about 3 psig, or up to about 0.5 psig) supplied to the delivery tube 66 deforms the valve stem 16 to effect disengagement of the valve stem inner surface 17 from at least a portion of at least one of the cross ports 28 (e.g., from an entire periphery of the cross port, or from only a proximal end portion of the flow port) to allow fluid flow between the delivery tube and the axial passageway 26, for supplying fluid through the distal or downstream connection 22 of the connector 10 to a downstream device (e.g., catheter). When the fluid delivery device 68 is disconnected from the needleless connector 10, the resulting reduction in the upstream fluid pressure below the actuating fluid pressure causes the inner surface 17 of the valve stem 16 toreseal against the cross port(s) 28 of the cannula 24, to reduce or prevent additional fluid flow into the connector 10 from the delivery tube 66 (positive fluid displacement) or from the distal end connection 22 (negative fluid displacement). In some embodiments, an actuating fluid pressure may be a negative (positive downstream) or vacuum fluid pressure.

[0029] The illustrated valve stem 16 includes a cylindrical annular distal portion 32 of an increased diameter, a tapered (e.g., frustoconical) medial portion 34 and a reduced diameter cylindrical proximal end portion 36. The distal portion 32 is dimensioned to sealingly engage or seat against an annular lateral wall 33 of the body 12, extending radially outward from a base portion of the cannula 24. The body 12 may further include an annular outer wall 38 extending proximally from the annular lateral wall 33, with the annular distal portion 32 of the valve stem 16 being received in an annular space between the cannula 24 and the annular outer wall. The annular distal portion 32 may include an annular indentation 40 extending about the periphery of the valve stem 16 above the height of the annular outer wall 38 to better define the point at which the valve stem 16 begins collapsing during fluid delivery device installation.

[0030] To accommodate the valve stem 16, the cap 14 includes an increased diameter distal portion 42, a tapered inner shoulder or medial portion 44 and a reduced diameter proximal portion 46 that are dimensioned to sealingly receive the respective distal, medial, and proximal portions 32, 34 and 36 of the valve stem 16 during assembly. The axial lengths of the cap portions 32, 34 and 36 relative to the valve stem portions 42, 44 and 46 may be appreciably less such that the valve stem 16 is under axial compression between the cap 14 and body 12 when assembled, thereby increasing the sealing between the respective complementally- configured portions.

[0031] The inner surface 17 of the valve stem 16 comprises a configuration that seals about the periphery 28P of each of the side ports 28. The durometer and dimensions of the valve stem 16 are designed such that the peripheral seal formed about the periphery 28P of each of the side ports 28 has a nominal cracking pressure, for example, between about 0.5 psig and about 5 psig, less than about 3 psig, or up to about 0.5 psig, sufficient to minimize or eliminate fluid displacement during accessing of the connector 10. It is noted that the peripheral edges 28P of the ports 28 may be smoothly rounded (i.e., chamfered) for minimal interference with good fluid flow but sufficient to attain the desired cracking pressure.

[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, the cannula 24 includes a tapered (e.g., frustoconical) portion 30 in contact with the inner surface 17 of the valve stem 16, with the cross ports 28 intersecting with the tapered portion. As shown, the crown portion 25 may include a cylindrical side wall 29c extending axially from the tapered portion 30 of the cannula24, an outer chamfer 29b diverging radially inward from the valve stem inner surface 17, and an end face 29a (e.g., planar, as shown) spaced apart from the valve stem inner surface by a proximal valve stem cavity 19.

[0033] Vent slots or ridges 58 may be incorporated into the inner surface of the annular wall 38 (and / or the outer surface of the valve stem distal portion) to vent air that might otherwise be trapped and compressed within the valve stem 16 during assembly and thereby interfere with the smooth operation of automatic assembly equipment. Another vent slot 60 may be formed between the outer wall of the body 12 and the inner surface of the cap 14 to vent the dead space 62 surrounding the valve stem 16 within the interior cavity 13 that might otherwise compromise the proper operation of the stem 16 during accessing of the connector 10.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 10, when the fluid delivery device (e.g., syringe) 68 is fully connected or installed with the proximal end connection 20 of the connector 10, the slit 18 is elastically expanded around, and elastically sealing against, the inserted delivery tube 66 of the syringe.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 11, when an actuating fluid pressure is applied to the inserted delivery tube 66, the pressurized fluid deforms the valve stem 16 (e.g., expanding the medial portion 34 of the valve stem away from the cannula crown portion 25 and tapered portion 30), to separate from at least a portion of one or more of the cannula cross ports 28, permitting fluid flow F from the delivery tube, through the cross port(s), and into the axial passageway to supply fluid through the distal end connection 22 to a downstream connected device (e.g., catheter, not shown).

[0036] Prior to or during disconnection of the fluid delivery device 68 from the connector 10, reduction of fluid pressure to a pressure below the actuating fluid pressure causes the valve stem inner surface 17 to re-seal against the cannula cross port(s) 28, for example, to prevent unintended or undesirable fluid flow through the connector from the delivery tube (positive fluid displacement) or vacuum draw of fluid through the distal end connection 22 into the connector (negative fluid displacement).

[0037] The inventive aspects have been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments. Modification and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A needleless connector comprising: a body including a distal end connection and a proximal cannula defining an axial passageway; a cap joined with the body and including a proximal end connection; and a valve stem disposed between the body and the cap and including an annular distal end portion receiving the cannula and a proximal end portion retained in a neck portion of the proximal end connection and including an elastically expandable laterally extending slit; wherein the cannula includes at least one laterally extending cross port sealingly engaged by an inner surface of the valve stem, and a solid endmost crown portion; wherein the valve stem is configured to maintain sealing engagement between the inner surface of the valve stem and the at least one laterally extending cross port when a delivery tube is pressed through the slit and into the neck portion of the proximal end connection until an actuating fluid pressure in the delivery tube deforms the valve stem to effect disengagement of the inner surface of the valve stem from at least a portion of the at least one laterally extending cross port to allow fluid flow between the delivery tube and the axial passageway.

2. The needleless connector of claim 1, wherein the actuating fluid pressure is less than about 3 psig.

3. The needleless connector of claim 1, wherein the actuating fluid pressure is up to about 0.5 psig.

4. The needleless connector of claim 1, wherein the actuating fluid pressure is a vacuum pressure.

5. The needleless connector of any of claims 1-4, wherein the actuating fluid pressure in the delivery tube deforms the valve stem to effect disengagement of the inner surface of the valve stem from an entire periphery of the at least one laterally extending cross port to allow fluid flow between the delivery tube and the axial passageway.

6. The needleless connector of any of claims 1-5, wherein the cannula includes a tapered portion in contact with the inner surface of the valve stem, with the at least one laterally extending cross port intersecting the tapered portion.

7. The needleless connector of any of claims 1-6, wherein the tapered portion of the cannula is frustoconical.

8. The needleless connector of any of claims 1-7, wherein the crown portion of the cannula comprises a cylindrical side wall extending axially from the tapered portion.

9. The needleless connector of any of claims 1-8, wherein the solid endmost crown portion is spaced apart from the valve stem inner surface by a proximal valve stem cavity.

10. The needleless connector of any of claims 1-9, wherein the distal end connection comprises a female luer fitting.

11. The needleless connector of any of claims 1-10, wherein the proximal end connection comprises a male luer fitting.

12. The needleless connector of any of claims 1-11, wherein the crown portion of the cannula comprises an outer chamfer diverging radially inward from the valve stem inner surface.

13. The needleless connector of any of claims 1-12, wherein the crown portion of the cannula comprises a planar end face.

14. The needleless connector of any of claims 1-13, wherein the body comprises an annular lateral wall extending radially outward from a base portion of the cannula, with the annular distal end portion of the valve stem being seated against the annular lateral wall.

15. The needleless connector of claim 14, wherein the body comprises an annular outer wall extending proximally from the annular lateral wall, with the annular distal end portion of the valve stem being received in an annular space between the cannula and the annular outer wall.

16. The needleless connector of any of claims 1-15, wherein the proximal end connection includes a tapered inner shoulder and the valve stem proximal end portion includes a tapered outer shoulder seated against the tapered inner shoulder.

17. The needleless connector of claim 16, wherein the tapered inner shoulder extends axially into the neck portion of the proximal end connection.

18. A needleless connector comprising: a body including a distal end connection and a proximal cannula defining an axial passageway; a cap joined with the body and including a proximal end connection; and a valve stem disposed between the body and the cap and including an annular distal end portion receiving the cannula and a proximal end portion retained in a neck portion of the proximal end connection and including a laterally extending slit, the proximal end portion being elastically deformable to enlarge the laterally extending slit; wherein the cannula includes a tapered portion in contact with an inner surface of the valve stem, at least one laterally extending cross port intersecting the tapered portion, and a solid endmost crown portion spaced apart from the valve stem inner surface by a proximal valve stem cavity.

19. The needleless connector of claim 18, wherein the distal end connection comprises a female luer fitting.

20. The needleless connector of any of claims 18-19, wherein the proximal end connection comprises a male luer fitting.

21. The needleless connector of any of claims 18-20, wherein the tapered portion of the cannula is frustoconical.

22. The needleless connector of any of claims 18-21, wherein the crown portion of the cannula comprises a cylindrical side wall extending axially from the tapered portion.

23. The needleless connector of any of claims 18-22, wherein the crown portion of the cannula comprises an outer chamfer diverging radially inward from the valve stem inner surface.

24. The needleless connector of any of claims 18-23, wherein the crown portion of the cannula comprises a planar end face.

25. The needleless connector of any of claims 18-24, wherein the body comprises an annular lateral wall extending radially outward from a base portion of the cannula, with the annular distal end portion of the valve stem being seated against the annular lateral wall.

26. The needleless connector of claim 25, wherein the body comprises an annular outer wall extending proximally from the annular lateral wall, with the annular distal end portion of the valve stem being received in an annular space between the cannula and the annular outer wall.

27. The needleless connector of any of claims 18-26, wherein the proximal end connection includes a tapered inner shoulder and the valve stem proximal end portion includes a tapered outer shoulder seated against the tapered inner shoulder.

28. The needleless connector of claim 27, wherein the tapered inner shoulder extends axially into the neck portion of the proximal end connection.

29. The needleless connector of any of claims 18-28, wherein the valve stem is configured to maintain sealing engagement between the inner surface of the valve stem and the at least one laterally extending cross port when the delivery tube is pressed into the neck portion of the proximal end connection, such that an actuating fluid pressure in the delivery tube deforms the valve stem to effect disengagement of the inner surface of the valve stem from at least a portion of the at least one laterally extending cross port to allow fluid flow between the delivery tube and the axial passageway.

30. The needleless connector of claim 29, wherein the actuating fluid pressure is less than about 3 psig.

31. The needleless connector of claim 29, wherein the actuating fluid pressure is up to about 0.5 psig.

32. The needleless connector of claim 29, wherein the actuating fluid pressure is a vacuum pressure.

33. The needleless connector of any of claims 29-32, wherein the actuating fluid pressure in the delivery tube deforms the valve stem to effect disengagement of the inner surface of the valve stem from an entire periphery of the at least one laterally extending cross port to allow fluid flow between the delivery tube and the axial passageway.

34. A connecting system comprising: the needleless connector of any of claims 1-33; and a fluid delivery device comprising an end connection configured to connect with the proximal end connection and a delivery tube sized to be received through the neck portion of the proximal end connection.

35. A connecting system comprising: a needleless connector comprising: a body including a distal end connection and a proximal cannula defining an axial passageway and including at least one laterally extending cross port and a solid endmost crown portion; a cap joined with the body and including a proximal end connection; and a valve stem disposed between the body and the cap and including an annular distal end portion receiving the cannula and a proximal end portion retained in a neck portion of the proximal end connection and including a laterally extending slit; and a fluid delivery device comprising an end connection configured to connect with the proximal end connection and a delivery tube sized to be received through the neck portion of the proximal end connection; wherein when the end connection of the fluid delivery device is connected with the proximal end connection of the cap, the delivery tube is pressed against the proximal end portion of the valve stem to enlarge the laterally extending slit and receive the deliver tube therethrough, with the valve stem maintaining sealing engagement between an inner surface of the valve stem and the at least one laterally extending cross port; andwherein when an actuating fluid pressure is supplied to the delivery tube, the actuating fluid pressure deforms the valve stem to effect disengagement of the inner surface of the valve stem from at least a portion of the at least one laterally extending cross port to allow fluid flow between the delivery tube and the axial passageway.

36. The connecting system of claim 35, wherein the needleless connector comprises the needleless connector of any of claims 1-33.

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