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Publication Number
US-12734348-B2
Publication Date
2026-09-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method fluidly connects a male luer connector and a female luer connector. To that end, a housing having a first end and a second end is provided. The housing has a first opening nearer to the first end that is configured to receive the male luer connector. The housing also includes a second opening nearer to the second end that is configured to receive the female luer connector. The male luer connector is positioned into the first opening in a direction that is along a central axis of the housing. The female luer connector is positioned into the second opening in a direction that is transverse to a central axis of the housing. The method then advances the male luer connector into the opening of the female luer connector so as to form a fluid connection therebetween.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system for fluidly connecting a male luer connector and a female luer connector. The female luer connector is configured to be located adjacent or upon a patient, and the system includes the male luer connector having a guide element and a housing having a first end and a second end.
Within the housing, an interior formed by a wall includes a track starting nearer to the first end. The track is configured to contain at least a portion of the male luer connector so that the guide element cooperates with the track to guide the male luer connector along a central axis of the housing from a retracted position to an engagement position.
The housing also includes an opening nearer to the second end and located on a bottom of the housing, the opening configured to receive at least a portion of the female luer connector such that movement of the housing toward the patient guides the female luer connector along an axis transverse to the central axis while the male luer connector is in the retracted position. As the housing transitions from a first position to a second position, the female luer connector is located along the central axis of the housing, and moving the male luer connector and guide element along the track into the engagement position establishes fluid communication between the male luer connector and the female luer connector.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims covering a system and a method for fluidly connecting male and female luer connectors using a housing that coordinates movement along a central axis and along an axis transverse to that central axis. Across the independent claims, the core inventive features include the track-based guidance of the male luer connector, the transverse-axis guidance of the female luer connector via a bottom opening, and the establishment of fluid communication by advancing the male luer connector into the female luer connector engagement position.
Central-axis track guidance for male luer connector
A housing having an interior formed by a wall having a track starting nearer to the first end, the track configured to contain at least a portion of the male luer connector; the guide element cooperating with the track to guide the male luer connector along a central axis of the housing from a retracted position to an engagement position.
Transverse-axis bottom opening guidance for female luer connector
An opening nearer to the second end and located on a bottom of the housing, the opening configured to receive at least a portion of the female luer connector such that movement of the housing toward the patient from a first position toward a second position guides the female luer connector along an axis transverse to the central axis of the housing while the male luer connector is in the retracted position; the housing transitioning from the first position to the second position to locate the female luer connector along the central axis of the housing.
Fluid communication established by advancing male along track into female
Moving the male luer connector and guide element along the track into an engagement position establishes fluid communication between the male luer connector and the female luer connector.
Method coordinating housing movement to guide female transverse to central axis
Providing a housing having an interior formed by a wall having a track starting nearer to the first end configured to contain at least a portion of the male luer connector by positioning the male luer connector into the track in a direction along a central axis; providing an opening nearer to the second end and located on a bottom of the housing configured to receive at least a portion of the female luer connector by positioning the female luer connector into the opening in a direction transverse to the central axis; moving the housing toward the patient from a first position toward a second position thereby guiding the female luer connector into the second opening along an axis transverse to the central axis.
Advancing male connector into female to form fluid connection
Advancing the male luer connector and the guide element along the track into an opening of the female luer connector to form a fluid connection between the male luer connector and the female luer connector.
Across the independent claims, the invention coordinates a housing track that guides a male luer connector along a central axis from a retracted position to an engagement position, and a bottom opening that guides a female luer connector along an axis transverse to the central axis as the housing moves toward a patient; fluid communication is established when the male luer connector is advanced along the track into the engagement position or into an opening of the female luer connector.
Stated Advantages
Establishes fluid communication between the male luer connector and the female luer connector.
Guides the female luer connector along an axis transverse to the central axis while the male luer connector is in the retracted position, and locates the female luer connector along the central axis before advancement.
Controls the timing of male advancement via a stop that prevents male advancement until a stop is disengaged.
Biasing member and optionally a housing cap drive the male luer connector into fluid connection.
Allows integration of the housing into a patch or a dressing adjacent to a patient.
Biosensors may be integrated into the patch or the dressing.
Documented Applications
A patient-adjacent connector system in which a catheter hub/luer serves as the female luer connector and a housing integrated into a patch/dressing is positioned on the patient so fluid communication is established.
A patch/dressing form factor providing biosensors for catheter/patient conditions (e.g., EMG sensors, blood sensors, photoplethysmography sensors, temperature sensors, flow rate sensors, accelerometers).
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