Medical connector

Claim 2

A medical connector for connecting two fluid conveying conduits, comprising a first connecting portion (244) adapted to be connected to a first fluid conveying conduit (150) having a septum (152) at an end thereof, and a second connecting portion (266) adapted to be connected to a second fluid conveying conduit (120), characterised in that the second connecting portion (266) has one end adapted to be connected to the second fluid conveying conduit (120) and has at its other end a fluid conveying needle (270), and in that the first connecting portion (244) defines a space into which the needle (270) extends towards an open end of the space and which is adapted to receive the septum (152) of the first fluid conveying conduit (150) so that the needle penetrates the septum, the first connecting portion (244) including flexible gripping means (248) extending towards the said open end of the space and bounding the space, and there being providing locking means (242) manually moveable from a first position in which the septum (152) may be inserted into the said space through the said open end to be penetrated by the needle (270), to a second position where the locking means (242) flexes the gripping means (248) inwardly to trap and lock the septum (152) in the space.

Claim 3

A connector according to claim 1 in which the flexible gripping means comprise flexible fingers (248) extending towards the open end of the said space.

Claim 4

A connector according to claim 1 or 2 in which the locking means (242) extends around the first connecting portion (244) and is slidable on the first connecting portion (244).

Claim 5

A connector according to claim 2 or 3 in which the needle (270) is positioned in the said space at a location such as to reduce accessibility to manual contact by an operator.

Claim 6

A universal medical connector for manually connecting a first fluid conveying conduit (150) in fluid connection with a patient's vasculature, and having a septum (152) at an end thereof, to a second fluid conveying conduit (120) in fluid connection with a source (26) of fluid for administration to a patient, and having an open end thereof, comprising: means defining a needle hub having one end adapted to couple to said open end of said second fluid conveying conduit (120), the other end adapted for connection to a fluid conveying needle (270), and a bore extending therebetween for conveying fluid from an open ended conduit (120) coupled to said one end to a needle (270) connected to said other end; a single needle (270) mounted to said other end of said needle hub; means (244) defining a space through which said needle (270) extends toward an open end thereof and adapted for receiving said septum (152) of said first fluid conveying conduit (150) so that said needle penetrates said septum and fluid flows through said needle (270) into said first conduit (150), said needle being positioned in said space so as to be inaccessible to the fingers of a person connecting said conduits (120 and 150), said defining means (244) further including flexible fingers (248) extending toward said open end of said space and bounding said space; and locking means (242) mounted about said space defining means (244) and manually moveable from a first position in which said septum (152) may be inserted into said space through said open end to be penetrated by said needle (270) to a second position flexing said fingers (248) inwardly to trap and lock said septum (152) in said space.

Claim 7

A universal medical connector for manually connecting a first fluid conveying conduit (150) in fluid connection with a patient's vasculature, and having a septum (152) at an end thereof, to a second fluid conveying conduit (120) in fluid connection with a source (26) of fluid for administration to a patient, and having an open end thereof, comprising: means defining a needle hub having one end adapted to couple to said open end of said second fluid conveying conduit (120), the other end adapted for connection to a fluid conveying needle (270), and a bore extending therebetween for conveying fluid from an open ended conduit (120) coupled to said one end to a needle (270) connected to said other end; a single needle (270) mounted to said other end of said needle hub; means (244) defining a space through which said needle (270) extends toward an open end thereof and adapted for receiving said septum (152) of said first fluid conveying conduit (150) so that said needle penetrates said septum and fluid flows through said needle (270) into said first conduit (150), said needle being positioned in said space so as to be inaccessible to the fingers of a person connecting said conduits (120 and 150), said defining means (244) further including flexible fingers (248) extending toward said open end of said space and bounding said space; and locking means (242) mounted about said space defining means (244) and manually moveable from a first position in which said septum (152) may be inserted into said space through said open end to be penetrated by said needle (270) to a second position flexing said fingers (248) inwardly to trap and lock said septum (152) in said space.

Claim 8

A connector according to claim 5 wherein said one end of said needle hub is provided with a flange (267) surrounding the opening of said bore so that an open end of a second conduit (120) can be releasably received on said flange (267) or releasably received into said opening of said bore.

Claim 9

A connector according to claim 5 or 6 wherein said space defining means (244) is a inner tube of molded plastic and said locking means (242) is an outer tube of plastic and is more rigid than said inner tube (244).

Claim 10

A connector according to claim 7 wherein said outer tube (242) is slidable along said inner tube (244) in the direction said needle (270) extends.

Claim 11

A connector according to claim 7 or 8 wherein said inner tube (244) is provided with separated stop surfaces (252) limiting the sliding movement of said outer tube (242).

Claim 12

A connector according to any of claims 5 to 9 wherein said finger (248) has a thickened portion (254) adjacent the end thereof which flexes inwardly to lock said septum (152) in said space.