A connector includes an elastic valve body that includes a top face on which a slit is formed and a bottom face opposite the top face; and a holding section that is in contact with the top face and the bottom face of the elastic valve body and holds the elastic valve body. The holding section surrounds the slit, and the elastic valve body includes a peripheral section that is positioned outward of a portion of the elastic valve body that is held by the holding section. The elastic valve body and the holding section are configured such that a volume of the peripheral section in a state in which the elastic valve body is held by the holding section is larger than a volume of the peripheral section in a state in which the elastic valve body is not held by the holding section.

A soft grip medical connector comprises a housing with an upstream end, a downstream end and a lumen extending through a central portion thereof. A flexible member comprises a valve portion integrally formed with a sleeve portion. The valve portion is positioned within a section of the housing and is configured to control a flow of fluid through the housing lumen. The sleeve is inverted to envelope at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing. In some embodiments the gripping portion is integrally formed with the valve portion. In some embodiments, the connector is also generally configured to create a positive pressure in a catheter lumen upon removal of a syringe or other medical device from the upstream end of the connector. Methods of making a medical fluid connector generally comprise forming a valve member with a sleeve extending there from, and assembling the valve, sleeve and housing.

Liquid transfer devices based on commonly owned WIPO International Publication No. WO 2007/052252 entitled Needleless Additive Control Valve. The liquid transfer devices include either an integral vial adapter and/or an integral infusion set for reducing cost and facilitating use by reducing user steps.

Catheter assemblies are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to catheter assemblies having a tip protector, a valve, a valve opener, and optionally a needle wiper. The valve opener is disposed inside a catheter hub and is configured to be pushed by an IV set luer connector to open a valve following successful catheterization to pass fluids or other solutions through the catheter. A tip protector is incorporated to block the needle tip and prevent the same from accidental needle stick. A wiper is optionally included to wipe blood deposits from the needle when the same is retracted from the catheter.

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing a sheath tip with a solid end surface configured to be pierceable by an instrument, where the solid end surface is configured to distribute force of impact with a tissue surface across the solid end surface. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a closed sheath tip has a solid end surface configured to be pierceable by an instrument. The closed sheath tip is configured to be disposed at a distal end of a sheath defining therein a lumen configured to convey the instrument therethrough. When the closed sheath tip is presented at a tissue surface, the solid end surface of the closed sheath tip is configured to distribute force of impact with the tissue surface across the solid end surface and to permit the instrument to pierce the solid end surface and extend therethrough toward the tissue surface.

Ports, such as the ports of ported catheters or of female luer fittings, can be configured to include an antimicrobial septum for disinfecting devices that are attached to the ports. The antimicrobial septum can be positioned within the lumen of the port. The lumen can include an annular recess for securing the antimicrobial septum in place during use. The antimicrobial septum can include an antimicrobial lubricant which transfers onto a device, such as a male luer, as the device passes through the septum thereby killing any microbes that may be present on the surfaces of the device. The antimicrobial septum can be configured in various shapes including a continuous disk shape, a ring shape, or an elongated ring or tube shape. When configured as a ring or tube shape, the inner surfaces of the antimicrobial septum may contain slits or grooves. The slits or grooves can facilitate the compression of the septum as a device passes through it, while also increasing the surface area of the septum on which antimicrobial lubricant can be contained.

A flow component particularly for hemodialysis medical lines includes a duct having a first and a second end tubular connector coaxial to each other and designed to be connected to the line, and an intermediate tubular connector of the female luer type arranged orthogonally to the duct. A hollow elastic element substantially extends along the entire intermediate tubular connector and the body is internally configured so that, in use, the flow along the duct is partly diverted towards the intermediate tubular connector and introduced with a swirling motion along the cavity of the hollow elastic element.

A connector includes an elastic valve body that includes a top face on which a slit is formed and a bottom face opposite the top face; and a holding section that is in contact with the top face and the bottom face of the elastic valve body and holds the elastic valve body. The holding section surrounds the slit, and the elastic valve body includes a peripheral section that is positioned outward of a portion of the elastic valve body that is held by the holding section. The elastic valve body and the holding section are configured such that a volume of the peripheral section in a state in which the elastic valve body is held by the holding section is larger than a volume of the peripheral section in a state in which the elastic valve body is not held by the holding section.

A medical connector for use in a fluid pathway includes a housing configured to permit fluid flow between a first medical device and a second device or location. The medical connector includes a valve member configured to be positioned at least partially within the housing. The valve member is configured to receive the first medical device. The valve member can be moved into a second state. The connector can be adapted for use with a catheter assembly.

A male reflux valve comprising a distal body portion and a proximal body portion, the proximal body portion having a male connection for connection to a female connection of an access device, a valve element operatively positioned within the distal body portion, a core operatively positioned within the distal body portion to retain the valve element into sealing engagement with the distal body portion and an actuator reciprocably retained within a generally circular cylindrical longitudinal bore of the proximal body portion in engagement with the valve element to open the valve element when engaged by the female connection of the access device.