Retractable closure cap

Claim 2

In a liquid drainage system including a drainage lumen, an irrigation side arm having a channel extending through the side arm and communicating with said drainage lumen, and a closure cap for said side arm channel, the improvement in combination therein wherein said cap comprises: a rim removably secured to the outer end of said side arm; a stem having a bottom end and a top end; and a flexible wall extending between said rim and the stem adjacent said bottom end of said stem, said stem being movable between an inner position with said bottom end of the stem and wall received in the side arm channel and an outer position with the bottom end of the stem removed from said channel and said wall folded through the rim substantially out of said channel, said stem having a sufficient length to extend beyond the rim in said inner position, said closure cap constituting means preventing the passage of fluid between the side arm channel and the outside of the closure cap when said rim is secured to the outer end of the side arm.

Claim 3

In the combination of claim 1, a closure cap wherein a substantial portion of said wall engages the inner surface of said side arm channel in the inner stem position.

Claim 4

In the combination of claim 1 wherein said side arm channel is tapered toward the drainage lumen, a closure cap wherein said wall and one stem end have a frustro-conical shape with said stem in the inner position.

Claim 5

In the combination of claim 1, a closure cap wherein said rim includes a first annular flange having its inner edge connected to one end of the flexible wall, and a second annular flange depending from the first flange, with the inner surface of the second flange frictionally engaging the outer surface of the side arm adjacent Its outer end to releasably retain the cap in position on the side arm.

Claim 6

In the combination of claim 1, a closure cap wherein the wall has a sufficient length to move said one stem end out of the rim in the outer stem position.

Claim 7

In the combination of claim 1, a closure cap wherein said wall has a sufficient length to position the one stem end adjacent a juncture of the side arm channel and the drainage lumen in said inner stem position.

Claim 8

In the combination of claim 1 wherein said drainage system includes an irrigation connector having a main arm tubular portion with said lumen extending longitudinally through the main arm portion and with said side arm projecting outwardly from the main arm portion.

Claim 9

In the combination of claim 1 wherein said drainage system includes an irrigation connector having a first tubular portion with the drainage lumen extending through the first tubular portion, a side arm extending from the first tubular portion with said channel being generally aligned with the lumen in the first portion, and a second tubular portion offset at an angle from the first portion with the drainage lumen extending through the second portion and communicating with the lumen in the first portion and said channel.

Claim 10

An irrigation connector comprising: a. a main arm body portion having a drainage lumen passing therethrough and having a first end thereof in communication with a drainage lumen of a tube from a body cavity and a second end thereof in communication with a drainage lumen of a tube for connection to a liquid collector unit; b. a side arm extending from said main arm body portion of the connector and having a channel passing therethrough, one end of which interconnects with the drainage lumen at a juncture intermediate said first and second ends, and the other end of which terminates at an outer open end of said side arm to provide access for the introduction of an irrigating fluid therein; and c. a closure cap comprising, a rim removably secured to the outer end of said side arm, a stem having a bottom end and a top end, and a flexible wall extending between said rim and the stem adjacent said bottom end of said stem, said stem being movable between an inner position with said bottom end of the stem and wall received in the side arm channel and an outer position with the bottom end of the stem removed from said channel and said wall folded through the rim substantially out of said channel, said stem having a sufficient length to extend beyond the rim in said inner position, said closure cap constituting means preventing the passage of fluid between the side arm channel and the outside of the closure cap when said rim is secured to said side arm.

Claim 11

An irrigation connector comprising: a. a main arm body portion having a drainage lumen passing therethrough and having a first end thereof in communication with a drainage lumen of a tube from a body cavity and a second end thereof in communication with a drainage lumen of a tube for connection to a liquid collector unit; b. a side arm extending from said main arm body portion of the connector and having a channel passing therethrough, one end of which interconnects with the drainage lumen at a juncture intermediate said first and second ends, and the other end of which terminates at an outer open end of said side arm to provide access for the introduction of an irrigating fluid therein; and c. a closure cap comprising, a rim removably secured to the outer end of said side arm, a stem having a bottom end and a top end, and a flexible wall extending between said rim and the stem adjacent said bottom end of said stem, said stem being movable between an inner position with said bottom end of the stem and wall received in the side arm channel and an outer position with the bottom end of the stem removed from said channel and said wall folded through the rim substantially out of said channel, said stem having a sufficient length to extend beyond the rim in said inner position, said closure cap constituting means preventing the passage of fluid between the side arm channel and the outside of the closure cap when said rim is secured to said side arm.