Connector assembly for communication of medical liquids
Inventors
Tüysüz, Mehmet • BASARAN, Ahmet Reha
Assignees
Asset Medical Inc • Asset Medikal Tasarim Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12357808-B1
Publication Date
2025-07-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A connector assembly for communication of medical liquids includes an attachment part for removably engaging a delivery device, a connection part for connecting a container, and a flexible sealing member circumferentially enclosed between the attachment part and connection part around a main axis. The sealing member includes a cylindrical body extending along the axis and a sealing head at an axially distal end of the sealing member with regard to the body. The attachment part includes a first inner wall surface that extends transverse or orthogonal with respect to the axis, and opposes the connection part in the direction of axis. The body is shaped and sized for maintaining a non-contact mechanical status with regard to the first inner wall surface.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a connector assembly for communication of medical liquids, comprising an attachment part for removably engaging a delivery device, a connection part for connecting a container, and a flexible sealing member circumferentially enclosed between the attachment part and connection part around a main axis (A). The sealing member includes a sealing head at an axially distal end and a cylindrical body extending along the main axis (A), and has a closed first state in which the head is received into the access opening and an open second state in which the head is retracted away from the access opening when compressed through the access opening along the axis (A).
A key aspect is the shaping and sizing of the sealing member to maintain a non-contact mechanical status with regard to a first inner wall surface in the closed first state. The sealing member further comprises columns on a side surface of the cylindrical body that radially protrude away from the axis (A) and extend parallel to the axis (A), and the columns are sized and shaped for, when in the first state, maintaining a positive value of distance to the respective first inner wall surface.
The sealing member includes a foot portion at an axially distal end with a diameter (D1) greater than the diameter of the cylindrical body (D2), arranged for mechanical contact with the connection part and engagement with a seating surface. A diameter relationship is maintained so that a diameter of the sealing member around the axis (A) does not decrease in-between the cylindrical body and the foot portion, and the outer surface of each column is spaced from the axis (A) by a distance equal to the spacing provided by the outer surface of the foot portion adjacent the foot portion.
Claims Coverage
The provided claims include two independent claims for connector assemblies for medical liquids, with a shared focus on a flexible sealing member configured to move between a closed first state and an open second state, while maintaining non-contact mechanical status via a defined geometry and columns.
Needle-free connector with closed and open sealing states driven by axial compression
A connector assembly comprising an attachment part for removably engaging a delivery device, a connection part for connecting a container, and a circumferential flexible sealing member between the attachment part and connection part around a main axis (A), where the sealing member has a closed first state and an open second state when compressed through the access opening along the axis (A).
Non-contact mechanical status maintained by cylindrical body geometry
The cylindrical body is shaped and sized for maintaining a non-contact mechanical status with regard to the first inner wall surface of the attachment part in the first state.
Columns that preserve a positive distance to an inner wall surface in the closed state
The sealing member further comprises columns on a side surface of the cylindrical body, where the columns radially protrude away from the axis (A), extend parallel to the axis (A), and are sized and shaped for, when in the first state, maintaining a positive value of distance to the respective first inner wall surface.
Foot portion larger diameter with diameter relationship that does not decrease
A foot portion at an axially distal end with a diameter (D1) greater than the diameter of the cylindrical body, the foot portion arranged for mechanical contact with the connection part, where a diameter of the sealing member around the axis (A) does not decrease in-between the cylindrical body and the foot portion.
Column spacing equal to foot portion spacing via defined column ends and surfaces
Each column includes an outer surface and ends positioned relative to the foot portion, wherein the outer surface of each column is spaced from the axis (A) by a distance equal to the distance that the outer surface of the foot portion is spaced from the axis (A).
Across the independent claims, the core coverage centers on a connector assembly with an attachment part access opening and a flexible sealing member having a sealing head and cylindrical body that transition between closed and open states under axial compression, while geometry-defined columns maintain non-contact separation by preserving positive distance relationships tied to the foot portion spacing from the main axis.
Stated Advantages
Reduced friction and easier actuation by shaping the sealing member body to maintain non-contact positive clearance to an axially opposing inner wall surface in the closed state.
Improved resilience and facilitates recovery/closure by reinforcing the sealing member with radially protruding axial columns.
Documented Applications
IV therapy / medical liquid communication using a swabbable needle-free valve configuration.
Interested in licensing this patent?