Medical connector

Abstract

Disclosed is a connector for introducing medication into a patient in a safe, convenient way. It comprises a pair of plastic tubular members adapted to be manually pushed together to engage in a male-female relationship, and a locking mechanism that detachably secures the members together. The male member has a sealed entry port at its end, and the female member safely houses within it a needle which centrally pierces the seal of the port upon engagement of the members. Preferably, the locking mechanism provides a “click” sound when it locks the members together.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A safety connector system which permits the transfer of fluid from a first conduit to a second conduit, said first conduit having a hollow tube at an end thereof, said second conduit having a resilient, resealable septum at an end thereof, comprising: 
 a generally flat outer surface at the end of said second conduit;    said septum adapted to allow said hollow tube to penetrate said septum and adapted to reseal when said tube is removed from said septum;    a locking mechanism for locking said first conduit to said second conduit;    said first conduit and said second conduit capable of transferring a fluid between said first conduit and said second conduit when said first conduit is locked to said second conduit; and    said first conduit and said second conduit capable of being disengaged after said first conduit is locked to said second conduit.    
     
     
         2 . The connector system of  claim 1 , wherein said first conduit and said second conduit are capable of penetrating, locking, transferring fluid, and disengaging at least two times.  
     
     
         3 . The connector system of  claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises complementary threads on said first conduit and second conduit for engaging said first conduit to said second conduit.  
     
     
         4 . The connector system of  claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises at least one lever arm for engaging said first conduit to said second conduit.  
     
     
         5 . The connector system of  claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism is capable of locking said first conduit to said second conduit without relative rotation of said first conduit with respect to said second conduit.  
     
     
         6 . The connector system of  claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises a pin on said first conduit for insertion into a slot in said second conduit.  
     
     
         7 . The connector system of  claim 1 , wherein said hollow tube is disposed within a guard housing which substantially surrounds said hollow tube.  
     
     
         8 . The connector system of  claim 7 , wherein said end of said second conduit is capable of being guided inside said guard housing of said first conduit such that said hollow tube penetrates said septum.  
     
     
         9 . A safety connector system for safely administering medication intravenously to a patient comprising: 
 a cap member having a cavity therein;    a port element having a first end and a second end, said first end having a seal extending thereacross and presenting a generally flat outer surface for insertion into said cap member;    a piercing element contained in said cavity for penetrating said generally flat outer surface of said seal;    a first locking element on said cap member for engaging a second locking element on said port element for removably securing said port element to said cap member; and    said seal capable of resealing said first end of said port element when said piercing element in removed from said seal.    
     
     
         10 . The safety connector system of  claim 9 , wherein said second locking element on said port element comprises a lip for locking said first locking element of said cap member with respect to said lip.  
     
     
         11 . The safety connector system of  claim 10 , wherein said port element and said cap member are adapted to be removabley secured to each other without relative rotation of said cap member with respect to said port element.  
     
     
         12 . The safety connector system of  claim 9 , wherein said cap member is capable of being engaged to said port element by rotating said cap member with respect to said port element.  
     
     
         13 . The safety connector system of  claim 12 , wherein said cap member further comprises a J-type slot having an entryway and a base.  
     
     
         14 . The safety connector system of  claim 13 , wherein said second locking element of said port element comprises a pin for engaging said entryway of said J-type slot and sliding along said slot until said pin reaches said base.  
     
     
         15 . A safety connector system for administering medication intravenously to a patient, comprising: 
 a port element having a first end and a second end, said port element having a seal located at the first end and having a generally flat outer surface, said second end being in fluid communication with the patient;    a cap member having a locking element thereon for locking and engaging with said port element;    said first end of said port element adapted to be inserted into a cavity of said cap member;    said seal of said first end of said port element adapted to be penetrated by said cap member such that said first end of said port element is placed in fluid communication with said cap member;    said locking element adapted to detachably lock said cap member and said port element by engaging said locking element on said cap member such that said first end of said port element is secured within said cavity of said cap member; and    said first end of said port adapted to seal with said seal upon disengagement of said cap member and said port element.    
     
     
         16 . The safety connector system of  claim 15 , wherein said port element comprises a lip for locking said locking element of said cap member with respect to said lip.  
     
     
         17 . The safety connector system of  claim 15 , wherein said locking element is capable of detachably locking said cap member to said port element without relative rotation of said cap member with respect to said port element.  
     
     
         18 . The safety connector system of  claim 15 , wherein said locking element is adapted to detachably lock said cap to said port element by rotating said cap member with respect to said port element.  
     
     
         19 . The safety connector system of  claim 18 , wherein said locking element of said cap member comprises a J-type slot having an entryway and a base.  
     
     
         20 . The safety connector system of  claim 19 , wherein said port element comprises a pin for engaging said entryway of said J-type slot and sliding along said slot until said pin reaches said base.