Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
324 words
A valved adapter for a medical device comprising: a body with a longitudinal axis having a proximal first end comprising a female luer fitting having a proximal surface, a distal second end and a passageway therethrough having an inside surface, said passageway having a chamber defined by a proximal shoulder and a segmented distal shoulder projecting inwardly from said surface of said passageway, said distal shoulder having openings therethrough between said segments, said chamber being intermediate said first end and said second end; a valve contained within said chamber for selectively obstructing and allowing fluid flow through said passageway, said valve comprising an elongate resilient member having an axis substantially coaxial to said longitudinal axis of said body and having a distal end and a proximal end, said resilient member being axially compressed between said proximal shoulder and said distal shoulder, said compression of said elongate resilient member biasing said valve to a normally closed position wherein said proximal end of said resilient member forms a fluid tight seal with said proximal shoulder thereby obstructing fluid flow through said passageway; and a pusher on said elongate resilient member for selectively further axially compressing said elongate resilient member so that said proximal end of said elongate resilient member no longer forms said fluid tight seal with said proximal shoulder thereby opening said valve and allowing fluid flow through said passageway, said pusher having a proximally extending portion within said female luer fitting so that when a fluid handling device having a male luer fitting is mounted on said proximal end of said adapter having said female luer fitting, the male luer fitting will engage said pusher thereby further compressing said resilient member so that fluid may flow through said passageway, said pusher proximally extending portion having a surface forming a substantially continuous surface with said female luer fitting proximal surface thereby closing said female luer fitting when said valve is in said normally closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein said surface of said proximally extending portion of said pusher further includes a proximal projection to facilitate fluid flow from the male luer fitting into said adapter from the male luer fitting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein said distal end of said body comprises attachment means for attachment of said adapter to a medical device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The adapter of claim 3 wherein said distal end attachment means of said body comprises a male luer fitting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The adapter of claim 3 wherein said distal end of said body comprises a fixedly attached catheter tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein said chamber includes a plurality of channels for facilitating fluid flow around said elongate resilient member when said valve is open.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein said elongate resilient member further includes a cavity substantially coaxial to said axis of said member, said cavity having an open end at said proximal end of said member for receiving said pusher, said cavity having a plurality of inward projections and ribs, said plurality comprising proximal projections and distal ribs within said cavity, said proximal projections serving to retain said pusher and, in conjunction with said distal ribs, serving to form a region of collapse when said resilient member is further axially compressed for opening said valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein said plurality of projections and ribs comprises two diametrically opposed proximal projections and two diametrically opposed distal ribs, said proximal projections and said distal ribs being arrayed with said diametric opposition lines being orthogonal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein said body is cylindrical and further includes a side arm having a passageway therethrough fluidly connected to said chamber, said side arm for mounting a tube for fluid access to said chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A "Y" type adapter having two proximal arms each comprising valved adapters of claim 1 with said distal second ends of said valved adapter being fluidly connected and joined to a common male luer fitting.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A manifold connector comprising a plurality of valved adapters of claim 1 being fixedly attached together.