Irrigation connector with shut-off valve

Claim 2

In a liquid drainage system including a catheter and a liquid drainage tube, an irrigation connector comprising: a flexible body member having a main channel extending longitudinally through the body member, said main channel communicating with a lumen in the drainage tube through one end of the body member and communicating with a lumen in the catheter through the other end of the body member, a side arm having a channel which opens into said main channel, a flexible bellows intermediate the side arm opening and said one body member end, and a seat spaced from the bellows in the main channel and intermediate the side arm opening and said one body member end; and a stem having a passageway extending from one end of the stem to an opening in the stem intermediate said one stem end and a plug adjacent the other end of the stem, with said stem plug and opening being received in the main channel of the body member, said one body member end being movable between an outer position with the bellows extended and the plug spaced from the seat to permit liquid drainage from the catheter through the stem passage to the drainage tube, and an inner position with the bellows flexed and the plug engaged against the seat to prevent drainage of liquid to said tube during irrigation of the catheter through said side arm.

Claim 3

The irrigation connector of claim 1 wherein said side arm and main channels define an acute angle relative to said one body member end.

Claim 4

The irrigation connector of claim 1 including a cap removably positioned on the outer end of said side arm to close the side arm channel during drainage of liquid from the catheter to the drainage tube.

Claim 5

The irrigation connector of claim 3 wherein said cap includes an outer annular rim and an inner plug defining a circumferential channel to snugly receive the end of the side arm, said plug being recessed from the annular rim to prevent contamination to the cap plug when the cap is removed from the side arm.

Claim 6

The irrigation connector of claim 1 wherein said plug includes a frustro-conical portion tapered toward said other stem end, and a ring, and said seat includes a corresponding frustro-conical portion and annular recession, whereby the plug ring is received in said seat recession to releasably lock the frustro-conical portions in sealing engagement in the inner position of said one body member end.

Claim 7

The irrigation connector of claim 1 including a pin projecting outwardly from the other end of the stem along its longitudinal axis to guide said plug in the seat during movement of the one body member end from said outer to inner position.

Claim 8

In a liquid drainage system including a catheter and a liquid drainage tube, an irrigation connector comprising: a stem having one end connected to said catheter, a plug adjacent the other end of the stem, and a passageway communicating with a drainage lumen in the catheter and extending from said one stem end to an opening in the stem intermediate the plug and one stem end; and a flexible body member having a first end connected to the drainage tube with said main channel communicating with a lumen in the tube, a second eNd to receive the other stem end with the stem plug and opening positioned in a main channel extending longitudinally through the body member, a side arm having a channel extending through the side arm and opening into the main channel adjacent the opening in the stem, a seat in the main channel intermediate the side arm opening and the first body member end, and a flexible bellows intermediate the side arm opening and seat, said first body member end being movable between an outer position with the bellows extended and the plug spaced from the seat to permit liquid drainage from the catheter to the drainage tube, and an inner position with the bellows flexed and the plug engaged against said seat to prevent drainage of liquid to said tube during irrigation of the catheter through said side arm.

Claim 9

In a liquid drainage system including a catheter and a liquid drainage tube, an irrigation connector comprising: a stem having one end connected to said catheter, a plug adjacent the other end of the stem, and a passageway communicating with a drainage lumen in the catheter and extending from said one stem end to an opening in the stem intermediate the plug and one stem end; and a flexible body member having a first end connected to the drainage tube with said main channel communicating with a lumen in the tube, a second eNd to receive the other stem end with the stem plug and opening positioned in a main channel extending longitudinally through the body member, a side arm having a channel extending through the side arm and opening into the main channel adjacent the opening in the stem, a seat in the main channel intermediate the side arm opening and the first body member end, and a flexible bellows intermediate the side arm opening and seat, said first body member end being movable between an outer position with the bellows extended and the plug spaced from the seat to permit liquid drainage from the catheter to the drainage tube, and an inner position with the bellows flexed and the plug engaged against said seat to prevent drainage of liquid to said tube during irrigation of the catheter through said side arm.

Claim 10

The irrigation connector of claim 7 wherein said plug includes a frustro-conical portion tapered toward said other stem end, the larger end of said frustro-conical portion terminating in a planar portion substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stem, and said seat includes a corresponding frustro-conical portion terminating at its larger end in a planar portion substantially parallel to the planar portion of the plug, whereby the planar portion of the plug engages the planar portion of the seat to releasably lock the frustro-conical portions of the plug and seat in sealing engagement in the inner position of said second body member end.

Claim 11

The irrigation connector of claim 7 wherein said bellows comprises a relatively thin cylindrical wall having a plurality of outwardly directed flanges extending circumferentially around the wall.

Claim 12

In a liquid drainage system including a catheter and a liquid drainage tube, an irrigation connector comprising: a stem having an annular rim adjacent one end of the stem, a plug adjacent the other end of the stem, a passageway extending through the rim to an opening in the stem intermediate said plug and rim, and means connecting said one stem end to the drainage tube with the passageway communicating with a lumen in the tube; and a flexible body member having an annular wall of first diameter adjacent one end of the body member, a tubular portion of second smaller diameter having a channel extending through the tubular portion and communicating with a lumen in the catheter adjacent the other end of the body member, a flexible bellows connecting said tubular portion and annular wall, said stem being received in a chamber defined by the wall and bellows with the inside of the annular wall frictionally engaging the outside of the stem rim, a seat in the channel of the tubular portion adjacent said bellows, and a side arm extending outwardly from the tubular portion and having a channel extending through the side arm and opening into the channel in the tubular portion intermediate the seat and the other end of the body member, said stem being movable between an outer position with the bellows extended and the plug spaced from the seat to permit liquid drainage from the catheter to the drainage tube, and an inner position with the bellows folded inwardly into the chamber and the plug engaged against said seat to prevent drainage of liquid to said tube during irrigation of the catheter through said side arm.

Claim 13

In a liquid drainage system including a catheter and a liquid drainage tube, an irrigation connector comprising: a stem having an annular rim adjacent one end of the stem, a plug adjacent the other end of the stem, a passageway extending through the rim to an opening in the stem intermediate said plug and rim, and means connecting said one stem end to the drainage tube with the passageway communicating with a lumen in the tube; and a flexible body member having an annular wall of first diameter adjacent one end of the body member, a tubular portion of second smaller diameter having a channel extending through the tubular portion and communicating with a lumen in the catheter adjacent the other end of the body member, a flexible bellows connecting said tubular portion and annular wall, said stem being received in a chamber defined by the wall and bellows with the inside of the annular wall frictionally engaging the outside of the stem rim, a seat in the channel of the tubular portion adjacent said bellows, and a side arm extending outwardly from the tubular portion and having a channel extending through the side arm and opening into the channel in the tubular portion intermediate the seat and the other end of the body member, said stem being movable between an outer position with the bellows extended and the plug spaced from the seat to permit liquid drainage from the catheter to the drainage tube, and an inner position with the bellows folded inwardly into the chamber and the plug engaged against said seat to prevent drainage of liquid to said tube during irrigation of the catheter through said side arm.