US5676346A — Needleless connector valve

Claim 1

Independent Claim 155 words

A needleless connector valve comprising: a hollow housing having a connection port and exit orifice wherein the housing includes a first section of a first preselected cross-sectional shape and size disposed directly adjacent the connection port and a second section of a second preselected cross-sectional shape and size situated adjacent the first section; a resiliently deformable piston head, having a bore formed therethrough, received within the housing so as to be shiftable between the first and second sections, wherein positioning of the piston head within the first section causes it to be deformed so as to occlude the bore while positioning of the piston head within the second section allows the piston head to assume its un-deformed state in which the bore is un-occluded to thereby provide a fluid path between the connection port and the exit orifice; and means for biasing the piston head into the first section to close off the fluid path.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 155 words

A needleless connector valve comprising: a hollow housing having a connection port and exit orifice wherein the housing includes a first section of a first preselected cross-sectional shape and size disposed directly adjacent the connection port and a second section of a second preselected cross-sectional shape and size situated adjacent the first section; a resiliently deformable piston head, having a bore formed therethrough, received within the housing so as to be shiftable between the first and second sections, wherein positioning of the piston head within the first section causes it to be deformed so as to occlude the bore while positioning of the piston head within the second section allows the piston head to assume its un-deformed state in which the bore is un-occluded to thereby provide a fluid path between the connection port and the exit orifice; and means for biasing the piston head into the first section to close off the fluid path.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 1 wherein the piston head is elliptical in cross-section, and the first section of the housing is circular in cross-section.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 2 wherein the bore formed in the piston head has a marquise-shaped cross-section having its major axis oriented perpendicularly to the major axis of the elliptical cross-section of the piston head.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 35 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 3 wherein the second section of the housing is circular in cross-section and wherein the diameter of the second section is greater than the diameter of the first section.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 57 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 4 wherein a frustoconical section separates the first and second sections of the housing, and wherein the piston head has a taper-lock section extending distally therefrom that conforms to the frustoconical section so as to limit proximal movement of the piston head to a position flush with the surrounding connection port.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 1 wherein the biasing means comprises a hollow resiliently collapsible member extending distally from the piston head and sealingly seated about the exit orifice.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 6 wherein the hollow collapsible member comprises a fluid path between the piston head and the exit orifice.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 7 wherein a taper-lock section of circular cross-section is disposed between the piston head and the resiliently collapsible member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 8 wherein a section elliptical and conical in shape is positioned between said piston head and said taper-lock section.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 9 wherein the piston head, the taper-lock section and the resiliently collapsible member comprise a single rubber molding.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 10 wherein a taper lip seal is formed about the distal end of the bore.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 1 wherein the connection port is dimensioned to receive a male luer.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 12 wherein the housing includes means for enabling the luer to lock thereto.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 201 words

A needleless connector valve, comprising: a hollow housing having a connection port and an exit orifice wherein the housing includes a first section of circular cross-section having a first diameter disposed directly adjacent the connection port and a second section of circular cross-section having a second diameter larger than the first diameter disposed adjacent the first section; a resiliently deformable piston head of elliptical cross-section, having a bore formed therethrough oriented along is longitudinal axis, received within the housing so as to be shiftable between the first and second sections, wherein positioning of the piston head in the first section causes it to be deformed so as to have a circular cross-section thereby occluding the bore extending therethrough while positioning of the piston head in the second section allows it to assume is un-deformed elliptical shape in which the bore extending therethrough is un-occluded to thereby provide a fluid path between the connection port and the exit orifice; and means for biasing the piston head into the first section to close off the fluid path whereby insertion of a fluid conduit device into the connection port serves to shift the piston head into the second section to open the fluid path.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 201 words

A needleless connector valve, comprising: a hollow housing having a connection port and an exit orifice wherein the housing includes a first section of circular cross-section having a first diameter disposed directly adjacent the connection port and a second section of circular cross-section having a second diameter larger than the first diameter disposed adjacent the first section; a resiliently deformable piston head of elliptical cross-section, having a bore formed therethrough oriented along is longitudinal axis, received within the housing so as to be shiftable between the first and second sections, wherein positioning of the piston head in the first section causes it to be deformed so as to have a circular cross-section thereby occluding the bore extending therethrough while positioning of the piston head in the second section allows it to assume is un-deformed elliptical shape in which the bore extending therethrough is un-occluded to thereby provide a fluid path between the connection port and the exit orifice; and means for biasing the piston head into the first section to close off the fluid path whereby insertion of a fluid conduit device into the connection port serves to shift the piston head into the second section to open the fluid path.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 36 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 14 wherein the bore formed in the piston has an elliptical cross-section having its major axis perpendicularly oriented relative the major axis of the elliptical cross-section of the piston head.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 15 wherein the biasing means comprises a hollow resiliently collapsible member extending distally from the piston head and sealingly seated about the exit orifice.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 16 wherein the biasing means comprises an accordioned structure.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 17 wherein the piston head and the resiliently collapsible member comprise a single rubber molding.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 26 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 18 further comprising a taper lip seal positioned about the distal end of the bore extending through the piston head.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 44 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 18 wherein the piston head has a flat proximal surface, and further comprising means to limit movement of the piston head in a proximal direction to a position wherein the flat surface is flush with the connection port.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 26 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 18 wherein the collapsible member is hollow and provides a fluid path between the piston head and the exit orifice.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 18 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 21 wherein the connection port is dimensioned to receive a male luer.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 19 words

The needleless connector valve of claim 22 wherein the housing includes means for enabling the luer to lock thereto.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 191 words

A valve mechanism for incorporation within a connector device having a bore formed therein extending between a connection port and an exit orifice, wherein the bore has a first section of reduced diameter directly adjacent the connection port and a second section of enlarged diameter distally adjacent the first section, comprising: a resiliently deformable piston head of elliptical cross-section having a bore extending therethrough, wherein the piston head is disposed within the connector device so as to be shiftable between the first and second sections, and wherein positioning the piston head within the first section causes it to be deformed to a circular shape to occlude the bore extending therethrough while positioning the piston head in the second section allows the piston head to assume its un-deformed elliptical shape wherein the bore is un-occluded to provide a fluid path from the connection port to the exit orifice; means for biasing the piston head to position in the first section to close off the fluid path whereby insertion of a fluid conduit device into the connection port serves to shift the piston head into the second section to open the fluid path.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 191 words

A valve mechanism for incorporation within a connector device having a bore formed therein extending between a connection port and an exit orifice, wherein the bore has a first section of reduced diameter directly adjacent the connection port and a second section of enlarged diameter distally adjacent the first section, comprising: a resiliently deformable piston head of elliptical cross-section having a bore extending therethrough, wherein the piston head is disposed within the connector device so as to be shiftable between the first and second sections, and wherein positioning the piston head within the first section causes it to be deformed to a circular shape to occlude the bore extending therethrough while positioning the piston head in the second section allows the piston head to assume its un-deformed elliptical shape wherein the bore is un-occluded to provide a fluid path from the connection port to the exit orifice; means for biasing the piston head to position in the first section to close off the fluid path whereby insertion of a fluid conduit device into the connection port serves to shift the piston head into the second section to open the fluid path.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 33 words

The valve mechanism of claim 24 wherein the bore extending through the piston head is marquise-shaped in cross-section having a major axis oriented perpendicularly relative the major axis of the elliptical piston head.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 19 words

The valve mechanism of claim 25 wherein the bias means comprises a resiliently collapsible extension of the piston head.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 25 words

The valve mechanism of claim 26 wherein the collapsible extension is hollow to provide a fluid path between the piston head and the exit orifice.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 27 words

The valve mechanism of claim 26 further comprising means for preventing the biasing means from extending the piston head beyond a position flush with the connection port.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 25 words

The valve mechanism of claim 26 further comprising a taper lip seal positioned about the distal end of the bore extending through the piston head.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-10-13	2001-04-14	2001-10-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-10-13	2005-04-14	2005-10-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-10-13	2009-04-14	2009-10-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Needleless connector valve

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