A collapsible valve for use in a needleless access connector to reduce the priming volume of the needleless access connector. A needleless access connector with a small priming volume. A method of connecting a first medical device to a second medical device with a needleless access connector with a small priming volume.

A connector system for medical fluid includes a male connector and a female connector that have a closed configuration when detached from one another. The first end of the male connector is configured to mate with a first end of the female connector. When the male connector is coupled with the female connector, complementary structures engage to move seals away from ports in the male connector and the female connector, opening a fluid pathway through the connectors. The mating ends of the connectors are not exposed to the medical fluid when the connectors are coupled so that when the connectors are disconnected, the mating ends are substantially free of residual medical fluid.

A bag connector system includes a first coupling element, with a self-closing seal and a housing having a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port, and a second coupling element, with a housing having a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end. The fluid inlet end is configured to displace the self-closing seal when inserted into the fluid outlet port of the first coupling element. A bag connector system optionally includes a locking mechanism to maintain the first coupling element and second coupling element in a coupled state. Uncoupling of the first and second coupling elements results in minimal fluid contamination on the outer surfaces of the coupling elements. The bag connector systems provided herein are included in medical appliances for waste management.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a fluid connector assembly, comprising a housing, comprising an upper housing including a female luer port, a lower housing including a male luer port and a cannula flow channel passing through the male luer port, and an internal volume fluidly connected to a first end and a second end and an elastomeric valve disposed in the internal volume, the elastomeric valve comprising a cavity, wherein when the male luer port is inserted into the female luer port of the upper housing, the elastomeric valve is configured to be stretched and pushed downwards, allowing a tip of the male luer port to interface with the cannula flow channel and for fluid to flow through the fluid connector assembly.

A needleless connector includes a housing having a central longitudinal axis, a body portion, and a base portion. The body portion includes an inner surface forming an internal cavity, and a first port forming a first fluid passage to the housing cavity. The base portion includes a top end section and a bottom end section. The top end section has a protrusion, and the bottom end portion has a second port forming a second fluid passage to the housing cavity. The needleless connector further includes a valve having a wall with an inner surface forming a valve cavity. The valve is coupled with the housing such that the protrusion is positioned in the valve cavity, and a proximal end of the protrusion is spaced apart from a proximal end of the valve cavity.

A medical connector includes: a housing comprising a male connector attachment/detachment part, the housing defining a liquid flow path; and a valve that is vertically movable with respect to the housing between a closed position for closing the male connector attachment/detachment part, and an open position in which a flow path in a male connector communicates with the liquid flow path, by the valve being pressed down from the closed position by the male connector against a biasing force. The valve comprises a head portion that closes the male connector attachment/detachment part when the valve is at the closed position, and a body portion that is connected to a bottom end of the head portion and receives the biasing force. A Young's modulus of the body portion is larger than a Young's modulus of the head portion.

The present invention relates to a multiple-use intravenous (IV) catheter assembly septum and septum actuator. In particular, the present invention relates to an IV catheter assembly having a stationary septum actuator and a blood control septum, wherein the blood control septum is configured to slide within a catheter adapter of the IV catheter assembly between a compressed state and an uncompressed state. When in the compressed state, a slit of the blood control septum is opened and the septum comprises stored compressive potential energy. When the septum is released from the compressed state, the stored compressive potential energy is release and the blood control septum is restored to its original shape, thereby closing the septum's slit.

A self-flushing connector includes a housing having a cavity, a first inlet port, a second inlet port, and an outlet port. A collapsible valve is disposed within the cavity. A first flow path extends from the first inlet port to the outlet port. The first inlet port and the second inlet port are fluidly connected through a gap defined between the body of the collapsible valve and an inner wall of the housing defining the cavity. A second flow path extends from the second inlet port to the first flow path. When the collapsible valve is in a closed state, the collapsible valve fluidly disconnects the second flow path from the first flow path while allowing fluid to flow through the first flow path. When the collapsible valve is in an open state, the second flow path is fluidly connected to the first flow path.

The present teachings may generally include a first fluid connector that includes a first body having a first central cavity that defines a first fluid pathway and a first seal within the first central cavity. The first seal includes a pair of first interfacing elements positioned adjacent one another at a distal end of the first seal and a first opening configured to remain sealed closed when the first interfacing elements are adjacent, and the first opening opens when the first interfacing elements are separated. The first connector is configured to fluidly connect to a second connector by engaging the first interfacing elements and with a pair of second interfacing elements of the second connector, thereby causing both pairs of first and second interfacing elements to separate causing the opening of first opening and second opening.

A connector system for medical fluid includes a male connector and a female connector that have a closed configuration when detached from one another. The first end of the male connector is configured to mate with a first end of the female connector. When the male connector is coupled with the female connector, complementary structures engage to move seals away from ports in the male connector and the female connector, opening a fluid pathway through the connectors. The mating ends of the connectors are not exposed to the medical fluid when the connectors are coupled so that when the connectors are disconnected, the mating ends are substantially free of residual medical fluid.