Male connector and medical appliance

Abstract

A male connector according to the present disclosure comprises: a housing; a conduit member; and a valve body. The housing includes a housing body and a moving body. In a plan view seen along a removal direction, the moving body includes an edge section that surrounds the periphery of the valve body, and the valve body includes a protruding section that protrudes from the edge section in an insertion direction. In the plan view, the protruding section is adjacent to the inner side of the edge section, and includes an inclined surface that is inclined away from the edge section in the insertion direction as the distance from the edge section increases. The inclination angle of the inclined surface with respect to a plane perpendicular to an extension direction changes so as to decrease in the insertion direction.

Description

Male Connector and Medical Device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a male connector and a medical device.

[0002] When performing an infusion on a patient, it is necessary to form a path (infusion line) for transporting a fluid such as a drug solution. The infusion line is generally formed by connecting an infusion tube or the like. Also, when injecting a fluid such as a drug solution to be administered to a patient into a drug solution bag, it is necessary to connect the drug solution bag and a syringe or the like. In order to detachably interconnect different members in this way, male connectors and female connectors are used.

[0003] Among drug solutions, there are drug solutions containing drugs designated as highly toxic drugs such as anticancer drugs, and medical staff need to pay sufficient attention so that fluids such as such dangerous drug solutions do not adhere to fingers or the like during the attachment / detachment operations of male connectors and female connectors.

[0004] International Publication No. 2018 / 056465

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a male connector having a configuration capable of suppressing leakage of a fluid such as a drug solution to the outside when disconnecting from a female connector. According to the male connector described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to suppress adhesion of a liquid such as a drug solution to the finger of a medical staff.

[0006] The male connector described in Patent Document 1 has room for further improvement from the viewpoint of achieving both adhesion to the female connector and ease of connection.

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a male connector that can easily achieve both adhesion to a female connector and ease of connection, and a medical device including this male connector.

[0008] A male connector as a first aspect of the present disclosure is: (1) a male connector connectable to a female connector having an elastic valve body, comprising: a housing that partitions a hollow portion; a flow channel member extending within the hollow portion and having an opening formed at one end in the direction of extension; and a valve body located within the hollow portion and capable of closing the opening of the flow channel member, wherein the housing comprises: a housing body; and a movable body that moves relative to the housing body in the direction of extension to deform or move the valve body such that it changes shape between a first form in which the opening of the flow channel member is closed by the valve body and a second form in which the opening of the flow channel member is open from the valve body, wherein in a plan view along the withdrawal direction from one end to the other end of the flow channel member in the direction of extension, the movable body has an edge portion surrounding the valve body, and the valve body has a projection portion projecting from the edge portion in the insertion direction opposite to the withdrawal direction in the direction of extension, The aforementioned projection is adjacent to the inside of the edge in a plan view and has an inclined surface that slopes away from the edge in the insertion direction as it moves away from the edge in a plan view, and the inclination angle of the inclined surface with respect to a plane perpendicular to the extending direction changes so as it moves toward the insertion direction, the male connector.

[0009] A male connector as one embodiment of the present disclosure is (2) the male connector according to (1) above, wherein the inclined surface comprises, in plan view, an outer portion adjacent to the inside of the edge and an inner portion surrounded by the outer portion, the outer portion being linear in cross-sectional view along a plane containing the central axis of the flow channel member, and the inclination angle of the outer portion with respect to a plane perpendicular to the extending direction is greater than the inclination angle of the inner portion with respect to a plane perpendicular to the extending direction.

[0010] One embodiment of the male connector of the present disclosure is the male connector described in (2) above, wherein the inclination angle of the outer part is 60 degrees or less.

[0011] A male connector as one embodiment of the present disclosure is the male connector according to (2) or (3) above, wherein the inclination angle of the inner portion is 10 degrees or more.

[0012] A male connector as one embodiment of the present disclosure is the male connector according to any one of (2) to (4) above, wherein the inclined surface has a shape in which a plurality of surfaces with different inclination angles are connected, and each of the plurality of surfaces is straight in cross-sectional view.

[0013] A male connector as one embodiment of the present disclosure is the male connector according to any one of (1) to (5) above, wherein the inclined surface forms the end of the protruding portion in the insertion direction.

[0014] A male connector as one embodiment of the present disclosure is the male connector according to any one of (1) to (6) above, wherein the valve body partitions a housing space that houses the flow channel member, and the housing space extends to the position of the protruding portion.

[0015] A medical device as a second aspect of the present disclosure is (8) a medical device comprising a male connector as described in any one of (1) to (7) above.

[0016] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a male connector that easily achieves both tight contact with a female connector and ease of connection, and a medical device equipped with this male connector.

[0017] This is a perspective view showing a male connector and a female connector connectable to this male connector as one embodiment of the present disclosure. This is a side view of the male connector and female connector shown in Figure 1 before connection. This is a side view of the male connector and female connector shown in Figure 1 before connection, viewed from a different position than Figure 2. This is a cross-sectional view along line II in Figure 2. This is a cross-sectional view along line II-II in Figure 3. This is a perspective view showing the housing body of the male connector shown in Figure 1 by itself. This is a perspective view showing the first movable body of the male connector shown in Figure 1 by itself. This is an exploded perspective view of the flow channel member, valve body and second movable body of the male connector shown in Figure 1. This is a cross-sectional view at the same position as Figure 4 showing the male connector and female connector shown in Figure 1 in the process of being connected. This is a cross-sectional view at the same position as Figure 5 showing the male connector and female connector shown in the process of being connected, as shown in Figure 9. This is a cross-sectional view at the same position as Figures 4 and 9 showing the first connected state of the male connector and female connector shown in Figure 1. This is a cross-sectional view at the same position as Figures 5 and 10 showing the male connector and female connector in the first connected state shown in Figure 11. This is a cross-sectional view at the same position as Figures 4, 9 and 11 showing the second connected state of the male connector and female connector shown in Figure 1. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the male and female connectors in the second connection state shown, at the same position as in Figures 5, 10, and 12. This figure shows the movement of the second movable body relative to the first movable body of the male connector shown in Figure 1. This figure shows a medical device as one embodiment of the present disclosure. This figure shows a state in which a female connector other than the female connector shown in Figure 1 is connected to the male connector shown in Figure 1. This is a plan view of the male connector as seen from the distal side, showing a part of the male connector. This is an enlarged view of section X in Figure 4. This is an enlarged view of section Y in Figure 13.

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the male connector and medical device relating to this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Common components in each figure are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0019] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a male connector 1 as one embodiment of the male connector according to this disclosure, and a female connector 2 that can be connected to this male connector 1. The male connector 1 of this embodiment is a so-called "closed type male connector" in which the flow channel tube body 46 (see Figure 4, etc.), which will be described later as a male luer, is not exposed to the outside when it is not connected to the female connector 2.

[0020] Figures 2 and 3 are side views of the male connector 1 and female connector 2 shown in Figure 1. Figures 2 and 3 are side views taken from different positions. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Figure 3. The male connector 1 and female connector 2 shown in Figures 1 to 5 are shown in their individual states before being connected to each other (hereinafter simply referred to as the "pre-connection state"). As will be described in detail later, the male connector 1 and female connector 2 of this embodiment can be connected by simply moving them closer to each other in the extending direction A of the flow channel member 40 from the state shown in Figure 1. Hereinafter, in the male connector 1 and female connector 2 of this embodiment, the downstream side of the fluid flow path of the infusion line (to the right in Figure 1, and upward in Figures 2 to 5) will be referred to as the "distal side," and the upstream side of the fluid flow path of the infusion line (to the left in Figure 1, and downward in Figures 2 to 5) will be referred to as the "proximal side."

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the male connector 1 comprises a housing 10, a flow channel member 40, and a valve body 50. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the housing 10 defines a hollow portion 11. The flow channel member 40 extends within the hollow portion 11 of the housing 10. An opening 42 is formed at one end of the flow channel member 40, which is the distal end in the extending direction A. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the valve body 50 is located within the hollow portion 11 of the housing 10. Also, as shown in Figure 4, the valve body 50 closes the opening 42 of the flow channel member 40. As will be described in detail later, the male connector 1 is capable of changing configurations between a first configuration in which the valve body 50 closes the opening 42 of the flow channel member 40 (see Figure 4, etc.) and a second configuration in which the valve body 50 opens the opening 42 of the flow channel member 40 (see Figures 13 and 14).

[0022] Hereinafter, the extending direction A of the flow channel member 40 will be simply referred to as "extending direction A". Also, the radial direction B of the virtual circle around the central axis O of the flow channel member 40 will be simply referred to as "radial direction B". Furthermore, the circumferential direction C around the central axis O of the flow channel member 40 will be simply referred to as "circumferential direction C".

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the female connector 2 comprises a housing 60 and an elastic valve body 70. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the housing 60 has a hollow section that divides the male connector insertion section 61 and the flow path 66. The elastic valve body 70 is located at the proximal end of the male connector insertion section 61 of the housing 60 and closes the male connector insertion section 61. The top surface 72 of the elastic valve body 70 is exposed to the outside of the female connector 2. The flow path tube body 46 (see Figure 4, etc.), which will be described later, of the flow path tube member 40 of the male connector 1 is inserted into the male connector insertion section 61 from the side of the top surface 72 of the elastic valve body 70.

[0024] The configurations of male connector 1 and female connector 2 will be described in detail below. For the sake of explanation, the housing 10 of male connector 1 will be referred to as "first housing 10," and the housing 60 of female connector 2 will be referred to as "second housing 60." Also for the sake of explanation, the flow path 41 of male connector 1 will be referred to as "first flow path 41," and the flow path 66 of female connector 2 will be referred to as "second flow path 66."

[0025] <Male Connector 1> [First Housing 10] The first housing 10 comprises a housing body 20 and a movable body 30 that is movable relative to the housing body 20. The hollow portion 11 of the first housing 10 is composed of a hollow portion 29 partitioned by the housing body 20 and a hollow portion 39 partitioned by the movable body 30.

[0026] [Housing Body 20] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the housing body 20 alone. The housing body 20 comprises a cylindrical portion 21 extending in the extending direction A and a locking claw portion 22 protruding from the cylindrical portion 21. The cylindrical portion 21 has openings 21a that penetrate in the radial direction B at opposing positions in the radial direction B. In addition, a plurality of recesses 21c that are recessed toward the proximal side are formed on the distal end face of the cylindrical portion 21 in the extending direction A. In this embodiment, four recesses 21c are formed on the end face of the cylindrical portion 21, spaced apart in the circumferential direction C.

[0027] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, a long groove 21b is formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 21, extending along the extension direction A. The proximal end of the long groove 21b extends to the proximal end of the cylindrical portion 21 and is open at the proximal end of the cylindrical portion 21. In contrast, the distal end of the long groove 21b terminates at the position of the wall portion 21b1 formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 21.

[0028] The locking claw portion 22 comprises a support portion 22a, a claw body portion 22b, and an operating portion 22c.

[0029] The support portion 22a of the locking claw portion 22 protrudes radially outward B from the cylindrical portion 21. In this embodiment, the support portion 22a supports the claw body portion 22b and the operating portion 22c. In this embodiment, the support portion 22a is provided at opposing positions in the radial direction B of the cylindrical portion 21. Specifically, the two support portions 22a of this embodiment are positioned at the same location in the circumferential direction C as the two openings 21a of the cylindrical portion 21.

[0030] The claw body portion 22b protrudes distally from the support portion 22a in the extending direction A. The claw body portion 22b is provided with a locking claw 22b1 at its distal end, which is its tip, protruding inward in the radial direction B. The claw body portion 22b is pivotable in the radial direction B with the support portion 22a as the pivot point. As the claw body portion 22b pivots in the radial direction B, the locking claw 22b1 also moves in the radial direction B. In this embodiment, the locking claw 22b1 of the claw body portion 22b is inserted into the opening 21a of the cylindrical portion 21 in the pre-connection state shown in Figure 1, etc.

[0031] The distal end face of the locking claw 22b1 is provided with an inclined surface 25a that slopes towards the proximal side in the extending direction A as it moves from the outside in the radial direction B towards the inside. In this embodiment, the inclined surface 25a extends to the inner end of the locking claw 22b1 in the radial direction B.

[0032] The proximal end face of the locking claw 22b1 is provided with a hooking surface 25b that is substantially parallel to the radial direction B. In this embodiment, the hooking surface 25b extends to the inner end of the locking claw 22b1 in the radial direction B.

[0033] The operating part 22c protrudes from the support part 22a toward the proximal side in the extension direction A. The operating part 22c is pivotable in the radial direction B with the support part 22a as the pivot point. By moving the operating part 22c inward in the radial direction B, the claw body part 22b moves outward in the radial direction B with the support part 22a as the pivot point. In other words, by pivoting the operating part 22c in the radial direction B, the claw body part 22b can be moved in the radial direction B.

[0034] [Movable body 30] The movable body 30 is movable in the extending direction A relative to the housing body 20. By moving the movable body 30 in the extending direction A relative to the housing body 20, the valve body can be deformed or moved (deformed in this embodiment) so that its shape changes between the first and second forms. The "first form" is a form in which the opening 42 of the flow channel member 40 is closed by the valve body 50. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, in this embodiment, the first form is realized by the valve body 50 covering one distal end of the flow channel member 40 in the extending direction A and closing the opening 42. The "second form" is a form in which the opening 42 of the flow channel member 40 is open from the valve body 50. Details will be described later, but in this embodiment, the second form is realized by the flow channel member 40 penetrating the valve body 50 and the opening 42 being exposed distal to the valve body 50 (see Figures 13 and 14).

[0035] The mobile body 30 of this embodiment comprises a first mobile body 31 and a second mobile body 32. The first mobile body 31 and the second mobile body 32 are relatively movable in the extending direction A.

[0036] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the first movable body 31 as a single unit. The first movable body 31 comprises a cylindrical body portion 31a and a locking claw portion 31b. The cylindrical body portion 31a has a substantially cylindrical outer shape. As shown in Figure 7, the body portion 31a has elongated holes 31a1 that penetrate radially B at opposing positions in the radial direction B. The elongated holes 31a1 are elongated openings in the extending direction A.

[0037] Furthermore, the main body portion 31a is provided with projections 31a2 that protrude outward in the radial direction B at opposing positions in the radial direction B. As shown in Figure 5, the projections 31a2 are fitted into the elongated groove portion 21b (see Figure 6) of the housing body 20 described above. As the projections 31a2 move along the elongated groove portion 21b, the first movable body 31 can move in the extending direction A relative to the housing body 20. The first movable body 31 can move distally in the extending direction A relative to the housing body 20 until the projections 31a2 abut against the wall portion 21b1 (see Figure 6) of the elongated groove portion 21b. In other words, the elongated groove portion 21b of the housing body 20 is a guide groove that guides the movement of the first movable body 31 in the extending direction A. Furthermore, the wall portion 21b1 of the long groove portion 21b of the housing body 20 is a movement restricting wall that contacts the first movable body 31 and restricts the first movable body 31 from moving further distally in the extension direction A.

[0038] The locking claw portion 31b protrudes radially outward B from the main body portion 31a. More specifically, the locking claw portion 31b of this embodiment comprises an arm portion 31b1 that protrudes radially outward B from the main body portion 31a in a direction inclined with the extending direction A, and a locking claw 31b2 that protrudes radially inward B from the distal end, which is the tip of the arm portion 31b1. The arm portion 31b1 is pivotable radially B with respect to its proximal end, which is the base end connected to the main body portion 31a. An engagement surface 33 facing the proximal side of the extending direction A is provided on the radially outward B surface of the arm portion 31b1. This engagement surface 33 engages with the distal end surface of the housing body 20 in the extending direction A. More specifically, the engagement surface 33 of this embodiment abuts and engages with a recess 21c formed on the distal end surface of the housing body 20 in the extending direction A. The engagement surface 33 engages with the end face of the housing body 20, thereby restricting the movement of the first movable body 31 toward the proximal side in the extending direction A relative to the housing body 20.

[0039] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the flow channel member 40, valve body 50, and second movable body 32 of the male connector 1. As shown in Figures 4, 5, and 8, the second movable body 32 comprises a substantially cylindrical outer cylinder portion 32a, an annular flange portion 32b, and an inner cylinder portion 32c.

[0040] The outer surface of the outer cylinder portion 32a is provided with projections 32a1 that protrude radially outward in the radial direction B. The projections 32a1 are provided at opposing positions in the radial direction B. The projections 32a1 fit into the elongated hole 31a1 of the first movable body 31 described above. The projections 32a1 are movable in the extending direction A within the elongated hole 31a1. As a result, the second movable body 32 is movable in the extending direction A relative to the first movable body 31 to the extent that the projections 32a1 are movable in the extending direction A within the elongated hole 31a1.

[0041] The flange portion 32b protrudes radially inward from the inner surface of the outer cylinder portion 32a in the radial direction B. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the flange portion 32b is in contact with the distal surface of the flange portion 58 of the valve body 50. Therefore, when the second movable body 32 is moved to the proximal side in the extending direction A, the flange portion 32b presses the flange portion 58 of the valve body 50 to the proximal side. As a result, by moving the second movable body 32 to the proximal side in the extending direction A, the valve body 50 can be compressed and deformed to the proximal side in the extending direction A. Conversely, when the valve body 50, which is compressed and deformed to the proximal side in the extending direction A, extends to the distal side in the extending direction A due to the restoring force, the flange portion 58 of the valve body 50 presses the flange portion 32b of the second movable body 32 to the distal side. As a result, the second movable body 32 can be returned to its original position. The details of this will be described later.

[0042] The inner cylinder portion 32c protrudes distally in the extending direction A from the inner edge of the flange portion 32b. The inner cylinder portion 32c is positioned inside the outer cylinder portion 32a in the radial direction B.

[0043] The inner surface of the inner cylinder portion 32c is provided with an annular projection 32c1 that protrudes inward in the radial direction B. The annular projection 32c1 fits into an annular groove 57a (see Figure 8) on the outer surface of the tip portion 57 of the valve body 50. As a result, the tip portion 57 housed within the inner cylinder portion 32c is less likely to fall out of the inner cylinder portion 32c towards the proximal side in the extending direction A.

[0044] As materials for the housing body 20, the first moving body 31, and the second moving body 32 that constitute the first housing 10, for example, polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylene-propylene copolymer; ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA); polyvinyl chloride; polyvinylidene chloride; polystyrene; polyamide; polyimide; polyamideimide; polycarbonate; poly-(4-methylpentene-1); ionomer; acrylic resin; polymethyl methacrylate; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS resin); acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer (AS resin); butadiene-styrene copolymer; polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polycyclohexane terephthalate (PCT); polyether; polyether ketone (PEK); polyether ether ketone (PEEK); polyether imide; polyacetal (POM); polyphenylene oxide; modified polyphenylene oxide; polysulfone; polyether sulfone; polyphenylene sulfide; polyarylate; aromatic polyester (liquid crystal polymer); various resin materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, and other fluorine-based resins can be mentioned. Also, blends or polymer alloys containing one or more of these may be used. In addition, various glass materials, ceramic materials, and metal materials may also be used.

[0045] [Flow path tube member 40] The flow path tube member 40 demarcates a first flow path 41 inside. The first flow path 41 communicates with the outside through an opening 42. The flow path tube member 40 is connected to the proximal end of a housing body 20 that constitutes the proximal end of the first housing 10. Thereby, the proximal side of the hollow portion 29 of the housing body 20 is sealed by the flow path tube member 40. The flow path tube member 40 includes, at its proximal end, a medical instrument connection portion 43 that can be connected to a medical instrument such as a medical tube. Further, the flow path tube member 40 includes a flow path tube main body 46 that extends into the hollow portion 11 of the first housing 10 and has an opening 42 formed at its distal end. The first flow path 41 communicates from the proximal end of the medical instrument connection portion 43 to the opening 42 at the distal end portion of the flow path tube main body 46. Also, the flow path tube member 40 includes, at its distal end, a tip portion 44 that tapers in diameter toward the distal side in the extending direction A. In the present embodiment, the tip portion 44 has a shape consisting of two tapered portions with different diameter reduction rates, but it may have another tapered shape such as a conical shape. The distal end of the tip portion 44 may not be sharp and may be formed in a planar shape along the radial direction B.

[0046] Also, the flow path tube member 40 includes an annular flange portion 45 that protrudes outward in the radial direction B from the medical instrument connection portion 43. The proximal end of the bellows cylinder portion 56 of the valve body 50 described later is supported by the distal side surface of the flange portion 45.

[0047] The flow path tube member 40 can be formed of the same material as the first housing 10 described above.

[0048] [Valve body 50] The valve body 50 covers the flow path tube main body 46 inside the first housing 10. Specifically, the valve body 50 of the present embodiment includes a bellows cylinder portion 56 that can be elastically deformed in the extending direction A, a tip portion 57 that is continuous with the bellows cylinder portion 56 so as to close the distal side of the hollow portion of the bellows cylinder portion 56 and is housed in the inner cylinder portion 32c of the second moving body 32, and a flange portion 58 that protrudes outward in the radial direction B from the bellows cylinder portion 56.

[0049] The proximal end of the bellows portion 56 is supported by the flow channel pipe member 40. More specifically, with the bellows portion 56 and the tip portion 57 covering the flow channel pipe body 46 of the flow channel pipe member 40, the proximal end of the bellows portion 56 is supported by contacting the distal surface of the flange portion 45 of the flow channel pipe member 40.

[0050] At least a portion of the tip portion 57 is held within the inner cylinder portion 32c of the second movable body 32 of the movable body 30. As shown in Figure 8, an annular groove 57a is formed on the outer surface of the tip portion 57 in this embodiment. As described above, the annular projection 32c1 (see Figure 4) provided on the inner surface of the inner cylinder portion 32c fits into the annular groove 57a on the outer surface of the tip portion 57. This makes it difficult for the tip portion 57 to fall out of the inner cylinder portion 32c towards the proximal side in the extending direction A. Furthermore, the tip portion 57 is configured so that the flange portion 58 abuts against the flange portion 32b of the second movable body 32 as described above, preventing it from falling out of the inner cylinder portion 32c towards the distal side in the extending direction A. In this way, the tip portion 57 remains housed within the inner cylinder portion 32c of the second movable body 32.

[0051] Furthermore, an opening 99 is formed in the tip portion 57, extending from the proximal side to the distal side. Details of this will be described later.

[0052] In the male connector 1 shown in Figures 1 to 5 before connection, the opening 42 of the flow channel member 40 is closed by the valve body 50, which is the first configuration. As shown in Figure 4, in this embodiment, the distal end of the flow channel member 40a, including the opening 42, is covered by the valve body 50, thereby closing the opening 42.

[0053] The valve body 50 preferably has a Shore A hardness of 10 to 70, and more preferably a Shore A hardness of 20 to 50. If the hardness is less than Shore A hardness 10, there is a risk that fluid such as chemical solution may leak to the outside when the pressure in the first flow path 41 increases. If the hardness is greater than Shore A hardness 70, the contact between the valve body 50 and the elastic valve body 70 of the female connector 2 will be insufficient, and there is a risk that fluid such as chemical solution may leak to the outside when the connection to the female connector 2 is disconnected. Furthermore, if the valve body 50 has a Shore A hardness of 20 to 50, suitable sealing with the female connector 2 can be ensured, and leakage of fluid such as chemical solution to the outside when the connection to the female connector 2 is disconnected can be more reliably suppressed.

[0054] The valve body 50 is formed by mold molding and is elastically deformable. Examples of materials for the valve body 50 include various rubber materials such as natural rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, butyl rubber, acrylic rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, hydrin rubber, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, and fluororubber, as well as various thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene-based, polyolefin-based, polyvinyl chloride-based, polyurethane-based, polyester-based, polyamide-based, polybutadiene-based, trans-polyisoprene-based, fluororubber-based, and chlorinated polyethylene-based materials. One or more of these may be used in a mixture. The valve body 50 can be formed from different materials or from the same material.

[0055] <Female Connector 2> [Second Housing 60] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the second housing 60 includes a cap 62 that demarcates the male connector insertion portion 61 into which the male connector 1 is inserted from the outside, and a holder 63 that supports the cap 62 and demarcates the second flow path 66. The male connector insertion portion 61 is a hollow portion demarcated by the cap 62 and the holder 63. The second flow path 66 is a hollow portion demarcated by the holder 63. The male connector insertion portion 61 is demarcated proximal to the second flow path 66. The hollow portion demarcated by the second housing 60 consists of the male connector insertion portion 61 and the second flow path 66.

[0056] An annular groove 65 is formed on the outer circumferential wall of the cap 62, which serves as a locking portion into which the locking claw 31b2 of the locking claw portion 31b of the first movable body 31 can be fitted. The locking claw 22b1 of the locking claw portion 22 of the housing body 20 can also be fitted into the annular groove 65. Details of fitting the locking claws 31b2 and 22b1 into the annular groove 65 will be described later (see Figures 9 to 14). The cap 62 is also formed by two members that clamp and fix the elastic valve body 70 from both sides in the extending direction A.

[0057] The second housing 60 can be formed from the same material as the first housing 10 of the male connector 1 described above.

[0058] [Elastic Valve Body 70] The elastic valve body 70 has a slit 71 that penetrates from the proximal side to the distal side. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the top surface 72 of the elastic valve body 70 is exposed to the outside. The elastic valve body 70 can be made of the same material as the valve body 50 of the male connector 1 described above. The elastic valve body 70 preferably has a Shore A hardness of 20 to 60. Furthermore, it is preferable that the elastic valve body 70 has a hardness greater than that of the valve body 50 of the male connector 1. By making the hardness of the elastic valve body 70 greater than that of the valve body 50, it becomes easier to suppress the amount of deformation of the elastic valve body 70 when the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 are connected, while suppressing the leakage of fluids such as chemical solutions to the outside when the pressure in the second flow path 66 increases. If the deformation of the elastic valve body 70 is large, when the male connector 1 is removed from the female connector 2, negative pressure may be generated in the second flow path 66, potentially causing blood to be drawn from the patient's blood vessel that is in communication with the second flow path 66.

[0059] <Connection Operation of Male Connector 1 and Female Connector 2> The connection operation of male connector 1 and female connector 2 will be described below with reference to Figures 4, 5, and 9 to 15. As mentioned above, Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views showing the state of male connector 1 and female connector 2 before connection. Figures 9, 11, and 13 are cross-sections at the same position as Figure 4, with Figure 9 showing the intermediate connection state, Figure 11 showing the first connection state, and Figure 13 showing the second connection state. Similarly, Figures 10, 12, and 14 are cross-sections at the same position as Figure 5, with Figure 10 showing the intermediate connection state, Figure 12 showing the first connection state, and Figure 14 showing the second connection state. Figure 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the second movable body 32 from the intermediate connection state shown in Figures 9 and 10 to the first connection state shown in Figures 11 and 12. Details of the first and second connection states will be described later.

[0060] The male connector 1 and the female connector 2 can be connected by moving them closer to each other in the extending direction A from the pre-connection state shown in Figures 4 and 5. Figures 9 and 10 show the state in which the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 are brought closer to each other in the extending direction A from the pre-connection state shown in Figures 4 and 5, and the top surface 52 of the valve body 50 of the male connector 1 and the top surface 72 of the elastic valve body 70 of the female connector 2 are in contact. In this way, when the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 of this embodiment are connected, the top surface 52 of the valve body 50 of the male connector 1 and the top surface 72 of the elastic valve body 70 of the female connector 2 make contact first. When the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 are brought further closer to each other in the extending direction A, the top surface 62a of the cap 62 of the female connector 2 comes into contact with the distal end 32c2 of the inner cylinder portion 32c of the second movable body 32 of the male connector 1. Figures 9 and 10 show a state in which the top surface 52 of the valve body 50 of the male connector 1 is in contact with the top surface 72 of the elastic valve body 70 of the female connector 2, and the distal end 32c2 of the second movable body 32 of the male connector 1 is in contact with the top surface 62a of the cap 62 of the female connector 2.

[0061] As the male connector 1 and female connector 2 are brought closer together in the extending direction A from the state shown in Figures 9 and 10, the top surface 62a of the cap 62 of the female connector 2 presses the distal end 32c2 of the inner cylinder portion 32c of the second movable body 32 of the male connector 1 towards the proximal side of the extending direction A. As a result, the second movable body 32 moves from the state shown in Figure 15(a) to the state shown in Figure 15(b) towards the proximal side of the extending direction A. As shown in Figures 15(a) and 15(b), at this time the second movable body 32 moves relative to the first movable body 31 and the housing body 20. At this time, the first movable body 31 maintains a state in which it is locked to the housing body 20 so as not to move in the extending direction A. More specifically, as shown in Figures 15(a) and 15(b), the engagement surface 33 of the locking claw portion 31b of the first movable body 31 is maintained in contact with the recess 21c on the end face of the cylindrical portion 21 of the housing body 20. As a result, the first movable body 31 is maintained in a locked state that prevents relative movement to the housing body 20 in the proximal direction A.

[0062] As shown in Figures 15(a) and 15(b), the second movable body 32 of this embodiment is movable in the extending direction A relative to the first movable body 31 from a position where the projection 32a1 abuts the distal wall of the elongated hole 31a1 to a position where the projection 32a1 abuts the proximal wall of the elongated hole 31a1. When the second movable body 32 moves from the state shown in Figure 15(a) to the state shown in Figure 15(b), the valve body 50 is also compressed and deformed in the extending direction A. Specifically, the flange portion 32b of the second movable body 32 (see Figure 4, etc.) presses the flange portion 58 of the valve body 50 (see Figure 4, etc.) towards the proximal side in the extending direction A. As a result, the bellows portion 56 of the valve body 50 is elastically deformed and compressed in the extending direction A.

[0063] When the second movable body 32 is further pressed proximal to the extending direction A from the state shown in Figure 15(b), the projection 32a1 of the second movable body 32 presses the proximal wall of the elongated hole 31a1 proximal to the extending direction. As a result, the engaging surface 33 of the locking claw portion 31b of the first movable body 31 moves radially inward B so that it slides against the recess 21c, which is part of the end face of the cylindrical portion 21 of the housing body 20 (see Figure 11). As a result, the entire locking claw portion 31b of the first movable body 31 enters the cylindrical portion 21 of the housing body 20. In other words, the state in which the first movable body 31 is locked to the housing body 20 so as not to move proximal to the extending direction A is released. As a result, the first movable body 31 becomes movable proximal to the extending direction A relative to the housing body 20.

[0064] Figures 11 and 12 show the state in which the entire locking claw portion 31b of the first movable body 31 has entered the cylindrical portion 21 of the housing body 20, from the state shown in Figure 15(b). As shown in Figure 11, when the locking claw portion 31b of the first movable body 31 moves inward in the radial direction B, the locking claw 31b2 enters the annular groove 65 of the cap 62 of the female connector 2. As a result, the first movable body 31 can lock the female connector 2 so that it does not move distally in the extending direction A. Therefore, the state in which the valve body 50 of the male connector 1 and the elastic valve body 70 of the female connector 2 form a contact area can be stably maintained. In this embodiment, the state in which the locking claw 31b2 enters the annular groove 65 of the cap 62 of the female connector 2 is called the "first connection state".

[0065] As the male connector 1 and female connector 2 are brought closer together in the extending direction A from the state shown in Figures 11 and 12, the first movable body 31 and the second movable body 32 move further proximal to the housing body 20 in the extending direction A, while the first movable body 31 remains locked to the female connector 2. As a result, the bellows portion 56 of the valve body 50 is further compressed and deformed in the extending direction A. Consequently, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, the tip of the flow channel body 46 of the flow channel member 40 penetrates the valve body 50 and the elastic valve body 70 through their contact area. As a result, the male connector 1 changes shape from a first form in which the valve body 50 closes the opening 42 of the flow channel member 40 (see Figures 4, 9, and 11) to a second form in which the valve body 50 opens the opening 42 of the flow channel member 40 (see Figure 13). Then, the first flow path 41 of the male connector 1 and the second flow path 66 of the female connector 2 become liquid-tightly connected.

[0066] Then, as the first movable body 31 and the second movable body 32 move further proximal to the extending direction A relative to the housing body 20, as shown in Figure 14, the locking claw 22b1 of the locking claw portion 22 of the housing body 20 overcomes a part of the outer circumferential surface of the cap 62 of the female connector 2. As a result, the locking claw 22b1 enters the annular groove 65 of the female connector 2. More specifically, the locking claw 22b1 is pressed radially outward B by the sliding of its inclined surface 25a against the outer edge of the top surface 62a of the cap 62 of the female connector 2. As a result, the claw body portion 22b moves to swing radially outward B. As a result, the locking claw 22b1 moves radially outward B and can overcome a part of the outer circumferential surface of the cap 62. In other words, the operating portion 22c of the locking claw portion 22 does not need to be operated during the connection operation of the male connector 1 and the female connector 2. In this embodiment, the male connector 1 and female connector 2 can be made to engage the locking claw 22b1 into the annular groove 65 of the female connector 2 simply by moving them toward each other in the extending direction A. As a result, while the locking claw 31b2 remains engaged in the annular groove 65 (see Figure 13), the locking claw 22b1 can also be made to engage in the annular groove 65, as shown in Figure 14. In this embodiment, the state in which the locking claw 31b2 is engaged in the annular groove 65 of the cap 62 of the female connector 2, and the state in which the locking claw 22b1 is engaged in the annular groove 65 of the cap 62 of the female connector 2, is referred to as the "second connection state".

[0067] The male connector 1 and the female connector 2 are connected when they achieve the second connection state described above.

[0068] <Removal Operation of Male Connector 1 and Female Connector 2> Next, the removal operation for disconnecting the male connector 1 and female connector 2, which are in the second connected state shown in Figures 13 and 14, will be described. When removing, the operating part 22c of the locking claw portion 22 of the male connector 1 is pressed inward in the radial direction B. In this way, the claw body portion 22b, which is located on the opposite side of the operating part 22c with the support portion 22a in between, can be moved outward in the radial direction B, with the support portion 22a as the pivot point. As a result, the locking claw 22b1 that is engaged in the annular groove 65 of the cap 62 of the female connector 2 also moves outward in the radial direction B and comes out of the annular groove 65. In other words, the second connected state is released.

[0069] When the locking claw 22b1 disengages from the annular groove 65, the elastic force acting as the restoring force of the bellows cylinder portion 56 of the valve body 50, which had been compressed and deformed, pushes the second movable body 32 distally in the extending direction A. More specifically, the flange portion 58 of the valve body 50 pushes the flange portion 32b of the second movable body 32 distally. As a result, the second movable body 32 moves distally in the extending direction A.

[0070] The state in which the locking claw 31b2 of the first movable body 31 is engaged with the annular groove 65 of the cap 62 of the female connector 2 is maintained at this point. Therefore, when the second movable body 32 moves distally in the extending direction A, the first movable body 31 and the female connector 2 also follow and move distally in the extending direction A.

[0071] In this way, the first movable body 31, the second movable body 32, and the female connector 2 move together toward the distal end in the extending direction A, thereby disengaging the flow channel body 46 of the flow channel member 40 from the valve body 50 and the elastic valve body 70. In other words, the flow channel body 46 of the flow channel member 40 can be disengaged from the valve body 50 and the elastic valve body 70 while the first connection state, in which the locking claw 31b2 of the first movable body 31 is engaged in the annular groove 65 of the cap 62 of the female connector 2, is maintained. As a result, the flow channel body 46 of the flow channel member 40 can be disengaged from the valve body 50 and the elastic valve body 70 through the contact area while the contact area of ​​the valve body 50 and the elastic valve body 70 is stably formed. As a result, it is possible to suppress the adhesion of liquids such as chemical solutions to the top surface 52 of the valve body 50 and the top surface 72 of the elastic valve body 70 after removal; in other words, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of "residual droplets" on the top surface 52 of the valve body 50 and the top surface 72 of the elastic valve body 70.

[0072] Then, after the flow channel body 46 of the flow channel member 40 is removed from the valve body 50 and the elastic valve body 70, the engaging surface 33 of the locking claw portion 31b of the first movable body 31 reaches a position in the extending direction A of the recess 21c, which is part of the end face of the cylindrical portion 21 of the housing body 20. At that time, due to the elastic force acting as the restoring force of the arm portion 31b1, the locking claw portion 31b moves outward in the radial direction B, and the locking claw 31b2 disengages from the annular groove 65. In other words, the first connection state is released. As a result, the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 become capable of separating in the extending direction A.

[0073] The first movable body 31 and the second movable body 32 return to the state shown in Figures 4 and 5 due to the restoring force of the valve body 50. That is, the first movable body 31 returns to a position where the projection 31a2 (see Figure 7, etc.) contacts the wall portion 21b1 (see Figure 6, etc.) of the elongated groove portion 21b of the housing body 20. The second movable body 32 returns to a position where the projection 32a1 (see Figures 8, 15, etc.) contacts the distal wall of the elongated hole 31a1 (see Figures 7, 15, etc.) of the first movable body 31. In other words, the second movable body 32 returns to a state where it protrudes distally to the first movable body 31 in the extending direction A.

[0074] As described above, the male connector 1 can change its configuration between a first configuration in which the valve body 50 closes the opening 42 of the flow channel member 40 (see Figures 4, 5, 9 to 12) and a second configuration in which the valve body 50 opens the opening 42 of the flow channel member 40 (see Figures 13 and 14). In this embodiment, the first configuration is realized by covering the entire flow channel body 46 of the flow channel member 40 with the valve body 50. In this embodiment, the second configuration is realized by the tip of the flow channel body 46 of the flow channel member 40 penetrating the valve body 50, and the opening 42 located at the tip extending outside the valve body 50. However, the configurations that realize the first and second configurations are not limited to the configurations of this embodiment. Therefore, the configurations of the flow channel member 40 and the valve body 50 are not limited to the configurations of this embodiment, as long as the configurations that realize the first and second configurations are possible.

[0075] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the movable body 30 of the male connector 1 is provided with a locking claw 31b2 as a first locking portion that can lock the female connector 2 when the valve body 50 and the elastic valve body 70 of the female connector 2 are in contact. As shown in Figure 11, in the first embodiment, the locking claw 31b2 as the first locking portion on the first movable body 31 of the movable body 30 can be fitted into the annular groove 65 of the female connector 2 when the valve body 50 and the elastic valve body 70 are in contact and form a contact area.

[0076] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the housing body 20 of the male connector 1 includes a second locking claw 22b1 that can lock the female connector 2 at a position different from the position where the first locking claw 31b2 locks the female connector 2, while the first locking claw 31b2 locks the female connector 2. As shown in Figure 14, in the second embodiment, the second locking claw 22b1 of the housing body 20 can be fitted to a different position in the annular groove 65 of the female connector 2 while the first locking claw 31b2 is fitted into the annular groove 65 of the female connector 2.

[0077] The first locking portion of this embodiment is composed of a locking claw 31b2, but any configuration that restricts the movement of the female connector 2 toward the distal end of the extending direction A so that the female connector 2 does not separate toward the distal end of the extending direction A is acceptable, and the configuration is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the second locking portion of this embodiment is composed of a locking claw 22b1, but any configuration that restricts the movement of the female connector 2 toward the distal end of the extending direction A so that the female connector 2 does not separate toward the distal end of the extending direction A is acceptable, and the configuration is not particularly limited.

[0078] The ability of the male connector 1 to change its shape between the first and second forms prevents fluids such as chemical solutions from leaking out when the connection with the female connector 2 is disconnected. Furthermore, the inclusion of the first and second locking parts described above in the male connector 1 improves the stability of the connection with the female connector 2.

[0079] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the locking claws 31b2 of the first movable body 31, which serve as the first locking portion of the movable body 30, are provided in pairs at intervals in the circumferential direction C. More specifically, the two locking claws 31b2 in this embodiment are positioned opposite each other in the radial direction B. Thus, it is preferable that the locking claws 31b2 as the first locking portion do not have an endless configuration such as a cylindrical shape. This makes it possible to realize locking claws 31b2 that can move easily in the radial direction B. However, the number and position of the first locking portions are not limited to this embodiment. The first locking portions may be provided as a single portion in a part of the circumferential direction C, or there may be three or more provided at intervals in the circumferential direction C.

[0080] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the locking claw 31b2, which serves as the first locking portion of the movable body 30, is movable in the radial direction B as the movable body 30 moves in the extending direction A relative to the housing body 20. More specifically, the locking claw 31b2 of the first movable body 31, which serves as the first locking portion of the movable body 30 in this embodiment, is movable in the radial direction B as the first movable body 31 moves in the extending direction A relative to the housing body 20. As shown in Figure 4 and other figures, the first movable body 31 in this embodiment is locked to the housing body 20 by its engaging surface 33 contacting and catching on a recess 21c, which is part of the end face of the cylindrical portion 21 of the housing body 20, thereby restricting its movement toward the proximal side in the extending direction A. From this state, when the first movable body 31 is pressed towards the proximal side in the extending direction A, the arm portion 31b1 of the locking claw portion 31b of the first movable body 31 elastically deforms inward in the radial direction B, and the aforementioned engaging surface 33 moves inward in the radial direction B from the recess 21c. As a result, as shown in Figure 11, the locking of the first movable body 31 to the housing body 20 is released. Also, the locking claw 31b2, which acts as the first locking part, moves inward in the radial direction B. In other words, the locking claw 31b2, which acts as the first locking part, can move inward in the radial direction B in conjunction with the movement of the first movable body 31 towards the proximal side in the extending direction A (see Figure 11). Conversely, when disconnecting from the female connector 2, the locking claw 31b2, which acts as the first locking part, moves outward in the radial direction B due to the restoring force of the arm portion 31b1 in conjunction with the movement of the first movable body 31 towards the distal side in the extending direction A. As a result, the locking claw 31b2, which acts as the first locking part, returns to the position shown in Figure 4, etc.

[0081] However, the configuration of the locking claw 31b2 in this embodiment is not limited to the first locking part, as long as it is configured to move in the radial direction B in conjunction with the movement of the movable body 30 in the extending direction A.

[0082] The movable body 30 of the male connector 1 is equipped with a first locking portion that moves radially B in conjunction with the movement of the movable body 30 in the extending direction A. This makes it possible to lock the female connector 2 by the first locking portion during the connection operation of the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 by proximity movement in the extending direction A alone.

[0083] Furthermore, in this embodiment, two locking claws 22b1, which serve as the second locking portion of the housing body 20, are provided spaced apart in the circumferential direction C. More specifically, the two locking claws 22b1 in this embodiment are positioned opposite each other in the radial direction B. Thus, it is preferable that the two locking claws 22b1, which serve as the second locking portion, are positioned opposite each other. This allows the female connector 2 to be stably locked. In particular, in this embodiment, the locking state of the locking claw 22b1 with the female connector 2 is released by pushing the operating portion 22c inward in the radial direction B. Therefore, when disconnecting from the female connector 2, a medical professional can easily release the locking state of the locking claw 22b1 with the female connector 2 by operating the two operating portions 22c, which are positioned opposite each other, in a manner that sandwiches them.

[0084] However, the number and position of the second locking portion are not limited to those of this embodiment. The second locking portion may be provided as a single portion in a part of the circumferential direction C, or it may be provided as three or more portions spaced apart in the circumferential direction C.

[0085] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the locking claw 22b1, which serves as the second locking part of the housing body 20, is released from locking the female connector 2, the restoring force of the deformed valve body 50 causes the movable body 30 to move distally to the housing body 20 in the extending direction A. As a result, the male connector 1 changes shape from a second form in which the opening 42 is open to a first form in which the opening 42 is closed. In other words, the male connector 1 of this embodiment can change shape from the second form to the first form in conjunction with the operation of releasing the locking state of the female connector 2 by the locking claw 22b1, which serves as the second locking part. This makes it possible to more reliably close the opening 42 of the flow channel member 40 by the valve body 50 when disconnecting from the female connector 2.

[0086] In this embodiment, as described above, the movable body 30 can be returned to its original position by the restoring force of the bellows portion 56 of the valve body 50, which is compressed and deformed in the extending direction A. However, the configuration is not limited to this. The male connector 1 may be configured to include, for example, a biasing member that biases the valve body 50 or the movable body 30 toward the distal side in the extending direction A. In other words, the male connector 1 may return the movable body 30 to its original position by the biasing force of the biasing member.

[0087] Furthermore, in this embodiment, after the configuration changes from the second configuration in which the opening 42 is open to the first configuration in which the opening 42 is closed, the restoring force of the valve body 50 causes the movable body 30 to continue moving distally in the extending direction A relative to the housing body 20. This releases the locking claw 31b2, which acts as the first locking part, from locking the female connector 2. More specifically, when disconnecting from the female connector 2, the locking claw 31b2, which acts as the first locking part in this embodiment, moves outward in the radial direction B due to the restoring force of the arm portion 31b1 in conjunction with the movement of the movable body 30 distally in the extending direction A (see Figures 9 and 11). This causes the locking claw 31b2, which acts as the first locking part, to disengage from the annular groove 65 of the female connector 2, and the locking claw 31b2 from locking the female connector 2 is released. In other words, with the male connector 1 of this embodiment, the restoring force of the valve body 50 releases the locking state of the female connector 2 by the locking claw 31b2 as the first locking part, and as a result, it becomes possible to completely separate the female connector 2 from the male connector 1. In other words, with the male connector 1 of this embodiment, the change in form from the second form to the first form and the release of the locking state of the female connector 2 by the locking claw 31b2 as the first locking part can be achieved simply by releasing the locking state of the female connector 2 by the locking claw 22b1 as the second locking part. That is, with the male connector 1 of this embodiment, medical personnel can easily disconnect from the female connector 2 by simply pinching the operating part 22c when disconnecting from the female connector 2. As described above, the male connector 1 of this embodiment can be easily connected to the female connector 2 by simply bringing it close to the female connector 2 in the extending direction A when connecting to the female connector 2.

[0088] Furthermore, as described above, the movable body 30 of this embodiment includes a first movable body 31 and a second movable body 32 that are relatively movable in the extending direction A. As shown in Figures 15(a) and 15(b), the second movable body 32 is movable in the extending direction A relative to the first movable body 31 and the housing body 20, while the first movable body 31 is locked to the housing body 20 so as not to move in the extending direction A. More specifically, the second movable body 32 is movable in the extending direction A relative to the first movable body 31 between a protruding position (see Figure 15(a)) and a retracted position (see Figure 15(b)), while the first movable body 31 is locked to the housing body 20 so as not to move in the extending direction A. The "protruding position" means the position in which the second movable body 32 protrudes together with the valve body 50 toward the distal side of the extending direction A from the first movable body 31 (see Figure 15(a)). Furthermore, the "retracted position" refers to the position where the second movable body 32 retracts together with the valve body 50 to a position proximal to the extension direction A from the protruding position (see Figure 15(b)).

[0089] Thus, by providing the movable body 30 with a first movable body 31 and a second movable body 32 that can move relative to each other in the extending direction A, the movement between the protruding position and the retracted position of the second movable body 32 described above can be achieved. By positioning the second movable body 32 in the protruding position, the top surface 52 of the valve body 50 held by the second movable body 32 can be positioned in a location that is easy to clean from outside the male connector 1. In this embodiment, the top surface 52 of the valve body 50 constitutes the distal end of the entire male connector 1.

[0090] <Details of the movable body 30 and valve body 50> Next, further details of the movable body 30 and valve body 50 will be described with reference to Figures 18 to 20. Figure 18 is a plan view of the male connector 1 as seen from the distal side. For the sake of explanation, only the valve body 50 and the distal end 32c2 of the inner cylinder portion 32c are shown in Figure 18. Figure 19 is an enlarged view of section X in Figure 4. Figure 20 is an enlarged view of section Y in Figure 13.

[0091] For the sake of explanation, the direction in which the flow channel member 40 extends from one end of the flow channel member 40 where the opening 42 is formed toward the other end of the flow channel member 40 will be referred to as the "removal direction A1". The direction in which the flow channel member 40 extends opposite to the removal direction A1 will be referred to as the "insertion direction A2". In this embodiment, the removal direction A1 is the same as the proximal side. Also, in this embodiment, the insertion direction A2 is the same as the distal side.

[0092] As shown in Figure 18, the movable body 30 has an edge portion 90 that surrounds the valve body 50 in a plan view along the removal direction A1 (in this embodiment, this is the same as a plan view from the distal side; hereinafter simply referred to as "plan view"). Specifically, the edge portion 90 of the movable body 30 in this embodiment is the distal end 32c2 of the inner cylinder portion 32c of the second movable body 32 of the movable body 30 (see Figure 9, etc.).

[0093] As shown in Figure 19, the valve body 50 has a protruding portion 91 that protrudes in the insertion direction A2 from the edge portion 90 of the movable body 30. As described above, the tip portion 57 of the valve body 50 in this embodiment is held within the inner cylinder portion 32c of the second movable body 32 of the movable body 30 (see Figure 4, etc.). The protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 in this embodiment is the portion of the tip portion 57 of the valve body 50 that protrudes in the insertion direction A2 from the distal end 32c2 of the inner cylinder portion 32c.

[0094] As shown in Figures 18 and 19, the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 is adjacent to the inside of the edge portion 90 in a plan view and has an inclined surface 93 that slopes away from the edge portion 90 in the insertion direction A2 as it moves away from the edge portion 90 in a plan view. Specifically, in this embodiment, the top surface 52 of the valve body 50 has an inclined surface 93. More specifically, the top surface 52 of the valve body 50 in this embodiment is composed of an inclined surface 93. Also, as shown in Figure 18, the inclined surface 93 in this embodiment has an outer portion 93a adjacent to the inside of the edge portion 90 in a plan view and an inner portion 93b surrounded by the outer portion 93a. The inclined surface 93 in this embodiment is composed of an outer portion 93a and an inner portion 93b. As shown in Figure 19, the outer portion 93a and the inner portion 93b in this embodiment are straight in a cross-sectional view (hereinafter simply referred to as "cross-sectional view") along a plane containing the central axis O of the flow path pipe member 40.

[0095] As shown in Figure 19, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 93 with respect to a plane perpendicular to the extending direction A (hereinafter simply referred to as "inclination angle of the inclined surface 93") changes so as it approaches the insertion direction A2. Specifically, the inclination angle θ1 of the outer part 93a with respect to a plane perpendicular to the extending direction A (hereinafter simply referred to as "inclination angle θ1 of the outer part 93a") is greater than the inclination angle θ2 of the inner part 93b with respect to a plane perpendicular to the extending direction A (hereinafter simply referred to as "inclination angle θ2 of the inner part 93b"). In other words, because there are outer parts 93a and inner parts 93b with different inclination angles, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 93 in this embodiment changes so as it approaches the insertion direction A2. "Inclination angle of the inclined surface 93" means the acute angle that the inclined surface 93 makes with a plane perpendicular to the extending direction A in a cross-sectional view. Therefore, "the inclination angle θ1 of the outer portion 93a" refers to the acute angle that the outer portion 93a makes with a plane perpendicular to the extension direction A in a cross-sectional view. Similarly, "the inclination angle θ2 of the inner portion 93b" refers to the acute angle that the inner portion 93b makes with a plane perpendicular to the extension direction A in a cross-sectional view.

[0096] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the above-described relationship between the inclination angle θ1 of the outer portion 93a and the inclination angle θ2 of the inner portion 93b (i.e., the relationship θ1 > θ2) also holds in a cross-sectional view along a plane at any position including the central axis O of the flow channel member 40. However, the above-described relationship between the inclination angle θ1 of the outer portion 93a and the inclination angle θ2 of the inner portion 93b (i.e., the relationship θ1 > θ2) may only hold in a cross-sectional view along a specific plane including the central axis O of the flow channel member 40.

[0097] As described above, the valve body 50 is provided with a protrusion 91. This makes it easier for the protrusion 91 to be compressed by the female connector 2 when connecting the male connector 1 and the female connector 2. As a result, the airtightness of the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 can be improved, and leakage of liquids such as chemical solutions to the outside can be suppressed in the first and second connection states. On the other hand, when the valve body 50 is provided with a protrusion 91, as shown in Figure 20, when connecting the male connector 1 and the female connector 2, the protrusion 91 of the valve body 50, which is pressed by the female connector 2, bulges out in a direction perpendicular to the extension A, and this bulging portion (hereinafter simply referred to as "bulging portion 95") may get caught in an unintended area between the male connector 1 and the female connector 2. Specifically, Figure 20 shows a state in which the bulging portion 95 is caught between the edge portion 90 and the top surface 62a of the cap 62 of the female connector 2. If the bulging portion 95 is sandwiched between the edge portion 90 and the female connector 2, the ease of connecting the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 may decrease. In particular, the greater the height H (see Figure 20) of the bulging portion 95 sandwiched between the edge portion 90 and the female connector 2 in the extending direction A, the more likely the ease of connecting the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 is to decrease.

[0098] In contrast, the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 in this embodiment is provided with an inclined surface 93. The presence of the inclined surface 93 reduces the volume of the portion of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 adjacent to the inside of the edge portion 90, compared to the case in which the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 is not provided with an inclined surface 93. As a result, the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50, when pressed by the female connector 2, is less likely to bulge in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction A. As a result, it is possible to suppress the bulging portion 95 from being pinched between the edge portion 90 and the female connector 2. Furthermore, even if the bulging portion 95 is pinched between the edge portion 90 and the female connector 2, it is possible to suppress an increase in the height H (see Figure 20) of the bulging portion 95 in the extending direction A. These measures prevent a decrease in the ease of connection between the male connector 1 and the female connector 2.

[0099] Furthermore, the presence of the inclined surface 93 makes it easier to shape the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 into a tapered shape toward the insertion direction A2. As a result, when connecting the male connector 1 and the female connector 2, the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 of the male connector 1 can more easily enter the elastic valve body 70 of the female connector 2. Consequently, it becomes easier to increase the entry length L (see Figure 20) of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 of the male connector 1 into the elastic valve body 70 of the female connector 2, thereby further improving the airtightness between the male connector 1 and the female connector 2.

[0100] Furthermore, as described above, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 93 changes to decrease toward the insertion direction A2. In this way, the volume of the portion of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 adjacent to the inside of the edge portion 90 can be efficiently reduced while ensuring the overall volume of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50. This prevents a decrease in the airtightness between the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 due to insufficient overall volume of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50, while efficiently reducing the volume of the portion of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 adjacent to the inside of the edge portion 90, thereby preventing a decrease in the ease of connection between the male connector 1 and the female connector 2.

[0101] As described above, the male connector 1 makes it easier to achieve both a tight seal and ease of connection with the female connector 2.

[0102] In this embodiment, the outer portion 93a is straight in cross-sectional view. This allows for an efficient reduction in the volume of the portion of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 adjacent to the inside of the edge portion 90, compared to the case where the outer portion 93a is convex in cross-sectional view. In this embodiment, both the outer portion 93a and the inner portion 93b are straight in cross-sectional view. This allows for an even more efficient reduction in the volume of the portion of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 adjacent to the inside of the edge portion 90. However, at least one of the outer portion 93a and the inner portion 93b may be convex in cross-sectional view. When the outer portion 93a is convex in cross-sectional view, the "inclination angle θ1 of the outer portion 93a" means the maximum value of the acute angle made by the tangent line on the outer portion 93a with the plane perpendicular to the extension direction A in cross-sectional view. Furthermore, if the inner portion 93b is convex in cross-sectional view, the "inclination angle θ2 of the inner portion 93b" means the maximum value of the acute angle that the tangent line on the inner portion 93b makes with the plane perpendicular to the extension direction A in cross-sectional view.

[0103] From the viewpoint of achieving both a tight seal with the female connector 2 and ease of connection, the inclination angle θ1 of the outer portion 93a is preferably 60 degrees or less, and more preferably 45 degrees or less. Also from the viewpoint of achieving both a tight seal with the female connector 2 and ease of connection, the inclination angle θ2 of the inner portion 93b is preferably 10 degrees or more, and more preferably 24 degrees or more.

[0104] As shown in Figure 18, the outer portion 93a of this embodiment has an oval shape in plan view. However, the shape of the outer portion 93a is not limited to this. For example, the outer portion 93a may have a circular shape in plan view. Also, as shown in Figure 18, the inner portion 93b of this embodiment has a circular shape in plan view. However, the shape of the inner portion 93b is not limited to this. For example, the inner portion 93b may have an oval shape in plan view.

[0105] The inclined surface 93 in this embodiment has a shape in which multiple surfaces with different inclination angles (in this embodiment, two surfaces, the outer part 93a and the inner part 93b) are connected. Each of these multiple surfaces is linear in cross-sectional view. This makes it easy to process the inclined surface 93 and allows for the formation of the inclined surface 93 with high precision. The inclined surface 93 may also have a shape in which three or more surfaces with different inclination angles and linear in cross-sectional view are connected.

[0106] In this embodiment, the inclined surface 93 forms the end of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 in the insertion direction A2. Specifically, in this embodiment, the inner portion 93b of the inclined surface 93 forms the end of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 in the insertion direction A2. This makes it possible to make the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 tapered toward the insertion direction A2 up to the end of the insertion direction A2. Therefore, when connecting the male connector 1 and the female connector 2, the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 of the male connector 1 can more easily enter the elastic valve body 70 of the female connector 2. As a result, it becomes easier to increase the entry length L (see Figure 20) of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 of the male connector 1 into the elastic valve body 70 of the female connector 2, and the airtightness between the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 can be further improved. However, the inclined surface 93 does not necessarily have to form the end of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 in the insertion direction A2. In other words, for example, the end of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 in the insertion direction A2 may be formed by a flat surface parallel to the radial direction B.

[0107] As shown in Figure 4, the valve body 50 of this embodiment demarcates a housing space 98 that accommodates the flow channel member 40. As shown in Figure 4, this housing space 98 extends to the position of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50. By doing so, the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 can be deformed more easily compared to the case where the housing space 98 does not extend to the position of the protruding portion 91. As a result, when connecting the male connector 1 and the female connector 2, the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 of the male connector 1 can be inserted more easily into the elastic valve body 70 of the female connector 2. As a result, the insertion length L (see Figure 20) of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 of the male connector 1 into the elastic valve body 70 of the female connector 2 can be increased, and the airtightness of the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 can be further improved. Also, as shown in Figure 4, the housing space 98 of this embodiment is located in the insertion direction A2 relative to the flow channel member 40 in the pre-connection state and includes a gap partitioned between the flow channel member 40 and the valve body 50. The presence of this gap makes it easier to deform the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50, allowing the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 of the male connector 1 to more easily enter the elastic valve body 70 of the female connector 2 when connecting the male connector 1 and the female connector 2. However, in order to reduce the risk of liquids such as chemical solutions adhering to the valve body 50 leaking to the outside within this gap, the configuration may be made without this gap.

[0108] As shown in Figures 4 and 19, the valve body 50 of this embodiment has an opening 99 that penetrates in the extending direction A. More specifically, the opening 99 is formed at the end of the protruding portion 91 of the valve body 50 in the insertion direction A2. The housing space 98 communicates with the outside of the male connector 1 through the opening 99. This makes it easier to pass the flow path pipe member 40 housed in the housing space 98 through the valve body 50 when connecting the male connector 1 and the female connector 2. As a result, it becomes easier to connect the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 with less force, further improving the ease of connection with the female connector 2. The opening 99 in this embodiment is a slit-shaped opening, but it may have other shapes. As described above, since the valve body 50 is configured to seal the opening 42, the opening 99 may be in an open state at all times, and a configuration can be made in which liquid such as chemical solution does not leak out to the outside.

[0109] <Medical device equipped with male connector 1> Finally, with reference to Figure 16, the infusion tube set 100 as a medical device equipped with the male connector 1 described above will be explained. Figure 16 shows how the infusion tube set 100 equipped with the male connector 1 is connected to another infusion tube set 110 equipped with the female connector 2 described above. The infusion tube set 100 and the other infusion tube set 110 are used to administer infusion fluids such as drug solutions to a living body. As shown in Figure 16, the infusion tube set 100 includes a connecting device 102 that is connected to a drug solution container 200, a male connector 1 located distal to the connecting device 102, and a medical tube 103 that connects the connecting device 102 and the male connector 1. In addition, a clamp 104 that closes that part may be attached in the middle of the medical tube 103. This clamp 104 is configured to press and squeeze the medical tube 103 from the outside, thereby compressing the inside of the medical tube 103.

[0110] In an infusion tube set 100 with this configuration, with the clamp 104 open, the liquid such as the drug solution in the drug solution container 200 flows from the connecting device 102 through the medical tube 103 into the male connector 1. Then, if the male connector 1 is connected via the female connector 2 to another infusion tube set 110, which is equipped with the female connector 2 described above as an injection port, the liquid that flows into the male connector 1 passes through the male connector 1 and the female connector 2, flows into the other infusion tube set 110, and is supplied to the body.

[0111] The connecting device 102 includes a first connecting portion 105 located at its proximal end and connected to the drug solution container 200, a second connecting portion 106 located at its distal end and connected to the medical tube 103, and a third connecting portion 107 provided protruding laterally from the outer wall and connected to a syringe. Inside the connecting device 102, there is a main flow path that communicates from the first connecting portion 105 to the second connecting portion 106 and is capable of transporting the liquid in the drug solution container 200 to the medical tube 103, and a sub-flow path that communicates between the first connecting portion 105 and the third connecting portion 107 and is capable of transporting liquid between the drug solution container 200 and the syringe connected to the third connecting portion 107.

[0112] Therefore, for example, by connecting a syringe containing a drug solution including an anticancer drug to the third connection part 107 of the connecting device 102, the drug solution in the syringe can be transported to the drug solution container 200 via the sub-channel of the connecting device 102. The drug solution containing the anticancer drug contained in the drug solution container 200 is then supplied to the male connector 1 through the main channel of the connecting device 102 and the medical tube 103.

[0113] As described above, by connecting the female connector 2 to the distal end of the male connector 1 and supplying the drug solution containing the anticancer drug into another infusion tube set 110, the drug solution containing the anticancer drug can be administered to the body. When the drug administration is complete and the connection between the male connector 1 and the female connector 2 is released, the valve body 50 of the male connector 1 closes, thereby preventing the drug solution containing the anticancer drug from leaking out from the distal end of the male connector 1.

[0114] Although the infusion tube set 100 was given as an example of a medical device equipped with the male connector 1, the male connector 1 can be used in other medical devices as well as infusion tube sets. For example, a syringe equipped with the male connector 1 at the tip of the syringe body may be used. In such a case, for example, the third connection part 107 of the connecting device 102 described above may be configured in the same way as the female connector 2, and the syringe equipped with the male connector 1 may be connected to the third connection part 107.

[0115] The male connector and medical device equipped with the male connector according to this disclosure are not limited to the configuration of the embodiments described above, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the scope of the claims. The valve body 50 in the embodiments described above is configured to be compressible and deformable in the extending direction A by the bellows cylinder portion 56, but is not limited to this configuration. The valve body 50 may be configured to move in the extending direction A together with the movable body 30, for example. In addition, the opening 99 of the valve body 50 and the slit 71 of the elastic valve body 70 do not have to be provided in advance, and the valve body 50 may be configured to be punctured into the flow channel member 40 and be able to communicate with it. In addition, a slit penetrating from the proximal side to the distal side may be formed at the tip portion 57 of the valve body 50 instead of the opening 99.

[0116] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the locking claws 31b2 as the first locking portion and 22b1 as the second locking portion of the male connector 1 are fitted into the same annular groove 65 as the locked portion of the female connector 2, thereby locking the female connector 2. However, the configuration is not limited to this. In other words, the locked portion that the first locking portion of the male connector 1 engages with and the locked portion that the second locking portion of the male connector 1 engages with may be different parts of the female connector 2. Also, the configuration of the locked portion is not limited to the annular groove 65 of this embodiment and can be appropriately changed to match the configuration of the first locking portion and the second locking portion.

[0117] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a so-called "I-type connector" having a straight-type second flow path 66 was described as an example of a female connector 2 connectable to the male connector 1, but the configuration is not limited to this. The female connector 2 connectable to the male connector 1 may be, for example, a T-type female connector having an upstream port, a downstream port, and a plugging port to which the male connector 1 can be connected. Moreover, the male connector 1 of the above-described embodiment is configured to be connectable not only to the straight-type female connector 2 shown in Figure 1, etc., but also to a T-type female connector 82, as shown in Figure 17. The plugging port 83 of the T-type female connector 82 has the same configuration as the part of the female connector 2 shown in the above-described embodiment that can be connected to the male connector 1. In the T-type female connector 82, the upstream port 84 and downstream port 85 are configured to extend outward through the positions of the remaining two recesses 21c that do not engage with the locking claw portion 31b (see Figure 1, etc.) in the pre-connection state (see Figure 4) of the four recesses 21c formed on the end face of the cylindrical portion 21 of the housing body 20 when the male connector 1 is connected to the injection port 83. In the male connector 1 of the above embodiment, the two recesses 21c that engage with the locking claw portion 31b (see Figure 1, etc.) in the pre-connection state (see Figure 4) are positioned opposite each other in the radial direction B. In addition, in the male connector 1 of the above embodiment, the two recesses 21c that receive the upstream port 84 and downstream port 85 of the female connector 82 are also positioned opposite each other in the radial direction B.

[0118] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the movable body 30 of the male connector 1 comprises a first movable body 31 and a second movable body 32 that are relatively movable in the extending direction A, but the configuration is not limited to this. The movable body 30 may be composed of a single movable body.

[0119] This disclosure relates to male connectors and medical devices.

[0120] 1: Male connector 2: Female connector 10: First housing 11: Hollow section 20: Housing body 21: Cylindrical section 21a: Opening 21b: Long groove section 21b1: Wall section 21c: Recess 22: Locking claw section 22a: Support section 22b: Claw body section 22b1: Locking claw (example of second locking section) 22c: Operating section 25a: Inclined surface 25b: Catching surface 29: Hollow section 30: Movable body 31: First movable body 31a: Body section 31a1: Long hole 31a2: Projection 31b: Locking claw section 31b1: Arm section 31b2: Locking claw (example of first locking section) 32: Second movable body 32a: Outer cylinder section 32a1: Projection 32b: Flange section 32c: Inner cylinder section 32c1: Annular projection 32c2: Distal end 33: Engaging surface 39: Hollow section 40: Flow channel member 41: First flow channel 42: Opening 43: Medical device connection section 44: Tip section 45: Flange section 46: Flow channel body 50: Valve body 52: Top surface 56: Bellows section 57: Tip section 57a: Annular groove 58: Flange section 60: Second housing 61: Male connector insertion section 62: Cap 62a: Top surface 63: Holder 65: Annular groove 66: Second flow channel 70: Elastic valve body 71: Slit 72: Top surface 82: Female connector 83: Injection port 84: Upstream port 85: Downstream port 90: Edge section 91: Protruding section 93: Inclined surface 93a: Outer section 93b: Inner section 95: Bulging section 98: Containment space 99: Opening 100: Infusion tube set (example of a medical device with a male connector) 110: Infusion tube set 102: Connecting device 103: Medical tube 104: Clamp 105: First connection part 106: Second connection part 107: Third connection part A: Direction of extension of the flow channel member A1: Removal direction A2: Insertion direction B: Radial direction of the flow channel member C: Circumferential direction of the flow channel member O: Central axis of the flow channel member

Claims

1. A male connector connectable to a female connector having an elastic valve body, comprising: a housing that partitions a hollow portion; a flow channel member extending within the hollow portion and having an opening formed at one end in the direction of extension; and a valve body located within the hollow portion and capable of closing the opening of the flow channel member, wherein the housing comprises: a housing body; and a movable body that deforms or moves the valve body so as to change shape between a first form in which the opening of the flow channel member is closed by the valve body and a second form in which the opening of the flow channel member is open from the valve body, by moving relative to the housing body in the direction of extension, wherein in a plan view along the withdrawal direction from one end to the other end of the flow channel member in the direction of extension, the movable body has an edge portion surrounding the valve body, and the valve body has a projection portion projecting from the edge portion in the insertion direction opposite to the withdrawal direction in the direction of extension, The male connector wherein the protruding portion is adjacent to the inside of the edge in a plan view and has an inclined surface that slopes away from the edge in the insertion direction as it moves away from the edge in a plan view, and the inclination angle of the inclined surface with respect to a plane perpendicular to the extending direction changes so as it decreases in the insertion direction.

2. The male connector according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface comprises, in plan view, an outer portion adjacent to the inside of the edge and an inner portion surrounded by the outer portion, the outer portion being linear in cross-sectional view along a plane containing the central axis of the flow channel member, and the inclination angle of the outer portion with respect to a plane perpendicular to the extending direction is greater than the inclination angle of the inner portion with respect to a plane perpendicular to the extending direction.

3. The male connector according to claim 2, wherein the inclination angle of the outer portion is 60 degrees or less.

4. The male connector according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the inclination angle of the inner portion is 10 degrees or more.

5. The male connector according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the inclined surface has a shape in which a plurality of surfaces with different inclination angles are connected, and each of the plurality of surfaces is straight in cross-sectional view.

6. The male connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inclined surface forms the end of the protruding portion in the insertion direction.

7. The male connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the valve body partitions a housing space that houses the flow path pipe member, and the housing space extends to the position of the protruding portion.

8. A medical device comprising a male connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

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