WO2019225604A1 - Lever-locked male connector - Google Patents

Lever-locked male connector Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2019225604A1
WO2019225604A1 PCT/JP2019/020112 JP2019020112W WO2019225604A1 WO 2019225604 A1 WO2019225604 A1 WO 2019225604A1 JP 2019020112 W JP2019020112 W JP 2019020112W WO 2019225604 A1 WO2019225604 A1 WO 2019225604A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
slider
male
lever
male member
connector
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2019/020112
Other languages
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
原田靖子
加藤秀俊
沖山忠
Original Assignee
株式会社ジェイ・エム・エス
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 株式会社ジェイ・エム・エス filed Critical 株式会社ジェイ・エム・エス
Publication of WO2019225604A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019225604A1/en

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M39/00—Tubes, tube connectors, tube couplings, valves, access sites or the like, specially adapted for medical use
    • A61M39/10—Tube connectors; Tube couplings
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M39/00—Tubes, tube connectors, tube couplings, valves, access sites or the like, specially adapted for medical use
    • A61M39/22—Valves or arrangement of valves
    • A61M39/26—Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a male connector provided with a lock mechanism for maintaining a connection state with a female connector.
  • a connector composed of a male connector and a female connector is used to form a flow path (sometimes referred to as a “circuit”) through which various liquids such as chemicals and blood flow.
  • a male connector provided with a lock mechanism is known.
  • a lock mechanism a lever lock type is known in which a claw is provided at the tip of a lever (lock lever) that rotates (swings) elastically.
  • Patent Document 1 describes a lever-lock type male connector in which a lock lever having a cantilever support structure is disposed to face a rod-shaped male member. A claw protrudes from the tip (free end) of the lock lever toward the male member. The operation lever extends from the back surface (the side opposite to the male member) of the lock lever to the fixed end side of the lock lever.
  • the claw provided on the lock lever engages with the female connector (locked state). As long as the claw is engaged with the female connector, the connection between the male connector and the female connector is maintained. In this state, when the tip of the operation lever is pushed inward in the radial direction, the lock lever is elastically bent and deformed so that the claw is separated from the male member, and the engagement between the claw and the female connector is released (unlocked). Status). The female connector can be separated from the male connector.
  • the above-mentioned lever lock type male connector of Patent Document 1 can release the engagement of the claw with the female connector by a simple operation of pushing the operation lever inward in the radial direction. For this reason, when the male connector collides with a surrounding object or the male connector becomes a patient's underlay, the operation lever is pushed, and an accident that the female connector is unintentionally separated from the male connector occurs. there is a possibility.
  • An object of the present invention is to prevent a lock state of a lock mechanism from being unintentionally released in a male connector provided with a lever lock type lock mechanism for maintaining a connection state with a female connector.
  • the lever-locked male connector of the present invention includes a rod-shaped male member that can be inserted into and removed from the female connector, a lock lever that is disposed to face the male member, and the lock so as to protrude toward the male member.
  • the male connector further includes a slider that moves between a first position and a second position in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the male member. The claw is configured to be able to engage with the female connector when the male member is inserted into the female connector and the slider is in the first position. When the slider is moved from the first position to the second position, the slider elastically bends and deforms the lock lever so that the claw is separated from the male member.
  • the claw of the lock lever engages with the female connector.
  • the lock lever provided with the claw functions as a lever lock type lock mechanism for maintaining the state where the female connector is connected to the male connector.
  • the lock state of the lock mechanism can be released by moving the slider from the first position to the second position in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the male member. In normal use of the male connector, it is very unlikely that a force toward the second position is unintentionally applied to the slider in the first position. Therefore, the present invention is advantageous in preventing the lock state of the lock mechanism from being unintentionally released.
  • FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a lever-locked male connector according to an embodiment of the present invention with a slider in a first position.
  • 1B is a cross-sectional perspective view of the lever-lock male connector of FIG. 1A.
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lever lock male connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional perspective view of a male connector body constituting a lever-locked male connector according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the male connector body constituting the lever-locked male connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a slider constituting the lever lock male connector according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a male connector main body to which a slider is attached in an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a shield constituting the lever-lock male connector according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing a male connector and a female connector immediately before being connected in an embodiment of the present invention. The slider is in the first position.
  • FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 7A.
  • FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing a male connector and a female connector connected to each other in an embodiment of the present invention. The slider is in the first position, and the locking mechanism is in the locked state.
  • FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 8A.
  • FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing a male connector and a female connector connected to each other in an embodiment of the present invention. The slider is in the first position, and the locking mechanism is in the locked state.
  • FIG. 9A is a perspective view showing a male connector and a female connector connected to each other in an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the slider is in the second position and the locking mechanism is in an unlocked state.
  • FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 9A.
  • the engagement of the claw with the female connector may be released.
  • the locking mechanism is reliably switched from the locked state to the unlocked state.
  • One of the slider and the lock lever may include an inclined surface inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the male member.
  • the other of the slider and the lock lever may slide on the inclined surface, whereby the claw is moved from the male member.
  • the lock lever may be elastically bent and deformed so as to be separated. According to this aspect, the movement of the slider along the longitudinal direction of the male member can be converted into the movement of the claw in the radial direction with a simple configuration. This is advantageous for simplifying the configuration of the male connector.
  • the lock lever When the female connector is separated from the male connector and the slider is in the first position, the lock lever may not be substantially bent and deformed. According to this aspect, when the connector is not used, the elastic recovery force of the lock lever can be prevented from being lowered by storing the connector in the first position.
  • the slider may be disposed on the opposite side of the male member with respect to the lock lever. According to this aspect, it becomes difficult for an operator or patient to touch the lock lever. This is advantageous, for example, in reducing the possibility of an accident in which the patient accidentally pulls the lock lever radially outward to release the lock state when the lock mechanism is in the lock state.
  • the male connector may further include a guide surface that does not move relative to the male member. When the slider moves between the first position and the second position, the slider may slide on the guide surface. Such an aspect is advantageous for reliably switching the lock mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state when the slider is moved from the first position to the second position.
  • the male connector may further include a hood configured to position the female connector in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the male member.
  • the guide surface may be provided on the hood.
  • the slider may block at least a part of a gap between the lock lever and the hood. Such an embodiment is advantageous for preventing chemicals, blood, and the like from adhering to the operator through the gap.
  • FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a lever-locked male connector (hereinafter simply referred to as “male connector”) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional perspective view of the male connector 1.
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the male connector 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the male connector 1 includes a male connector body 10, a slider 40, and a shield 60.
  • FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional perspective view of a male connector main body (hereinafter simply referred to as “main body”) 10, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the main body 10.
  • the main body 10 includes a rod-shaped male member 11.
  • the cross section of FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B contains the central axis 1a (refer FIG. 3B) along the longitudinal direction of the male member 11.
  • FIG. 3B the longitudinal direction of the male member 11 is referred to as “vertical direction”, and the direction parallel to a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the male member 11 is referred to as “horizontal direction”. In the vertical direction, “upper” and “lower” are defined based on the orientation of FIG. 3B.
  • the direction of the straight line orthogonal to the central axis 1a of the male member 11 is referred to as “radial direction” or “diameter direction”, and the direction of rotation around the central axis 1a is referred to as “circumferential direction”.
  • the side away from the central axis 1a is referred to as “outer side”, and the side closer to the central axis 1a is referred to as “inside”.
  • the outer peripheral surface (that is, the side surface) of the male member 11 is a tapered surface whose outer diameter slightly decreases as it approaches the tip (that is, the upper end) of the male member 11.
  • the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the male member 11 is not limited to this, and can be arbitrarily selected.
  • the outer peripheral surface of the male member 11 may be a cylindrical surface having a constant outer diameter in the vertical direction.
  • a flow path 12 is formed along the longitudinal direction thereof.
  • Two lateral holes 13 are provided near the tip of the male member 11 (see FIG. 3B).
  • the lateral hole 13 extends along the radial direction of the male member 11 and communicates with the flow path 12.
  • the two horizontal holes 13 are provided along a straight line, but the number of the horizontal holes 13 is not necessarily two, and may be one or three or more.
  • the base 18 extends from the base end of the male member 11 along the radial direction.
  • the base 18 is a substantially circular flat plate.
  • the hood 20 and the lock lever 30 extend from the outer peripheral edge of the base 18 toward the same side as the male member 11.
  • the hood 20 has a hollow cylindrical shape coaxial with the male member 11, surrounds the male member 11, and is separated from the male member 11 in the radial direction.
  • the hood 20 extends further upward than the male member 11 and the lock lever 30.
  • the inner peripheral surface of the hood 20 (the surface facing the male member 11) is a cylinder having an inner diameter that is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the female connector 100 (see FIG. 7A described later) to which the male connector 1 is connected. Surface.
  • the lock lever 30 has an elongated thin plate shape (strip shape) with a constant width (dimension in the circumferential direction).
  • the lock lever 30 faces the male member 11 in the radial direction and is disposed substantially parallel to the male member 11.
  • a claw (lock claw) 35 protrudes from the upper end (or the vicinity thereof) of the lock lever 30 toward the male member 11.
  • claw 35 is provided with the inclined surface 35a above the protrusion (part closest to the male member 11).
  • the inclined surface 35a is inclined so as to approach the base 18 toward the protruding end of the claw 35 (that is, to descend).
  • the claw 35 protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the hood 20 to the male luer 10 side.
  • a slot (cut) 32 having a constant width extends straight from the lower end of the lock lever 30 upward by a predetermined length.
  • the slot 32 penetrates the lock lever 30 in the radial direction.
  • a portion of the lock lever 30 in which the slot 32 is provided (that is, a portion on both sides in the circumferential direction with respect to the slot 32) is referred to as an elastic portion 33.
  • the lock lever 30 has a cantilever support structure in which the lower end of the lock lever 30 connected to the base 18 is a fixed end and the upper end of the lock lever 30 is a free end.
  • the lock lever 30 can be elastically bent and deformed in the direction of arrow A (see FIG. 3B) (radially outward) so that the claw 35 is separated from the male member 11.
  • 3A and 3B including the central axis 1 a of the male member 11 is referred to as a “deformation surface” of the lock lever 30.
  • the lock lever 30 is bent and deformed along the arrow A within the deformation surface.
  • the hood 20 is provided with an opening 22 that penetrates the hood 20 in the radial direction.
  • the lock lever 30 is disposed in the opening 22.
  • the edge defining the opening 22 has a generally inverted “U” shape.
  • the edge of the opening 22 is separated from the lock lever 30 via a gap so that the lock lever 30 can be bent and deformed.
  • the lock lever 30 is substantially along the cylindrical surface along which the hood 20 extends.
  • a guide surface 26 is provided along the edge of the opening 22 that defines the circumferential width of the opening 22.
  • the guide surface 26 is a flat surface that extends along the vertical direction and is perpendicular to the deformation surface of the lock lever 30.
  • a groove 27 is provided adjacent to the guide surface 26 on the side opposite to the opening 22. The groove 27 extends from the upper end of the guide surface 26 along the vertical direction corresponding to a region having a predetermined length.
  • a connecting cylinder 17 is provided coaxially with the male member 11 on the side surface of the base 18 opposite to the male luer 10.
  • the connecting cylinder 17 has a substantially cylindrical shape and communicates with the flow path 12 of the male member 11.
  • the inner peripheral surface of the connection cylinder 17 is a tapered surface (for example, a 6% tapered surface) whose inner diameter increases as the distance from the base 18 increases.
  • a male screw is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting cylinder 17.
  • the connecting cylinder 17 may be compliant with, for example, ISO 594-2.
  • a flexible tube constituting a flow path (also referred to as a circuit) through which a liquid (for example, a chemical solution, blood, etc.) flows can be connected to the connection cylinder 17 directly or indirectly through some connector.
  • the configuration on the side opposite to the male member 11 with respect to the base 18 is arbitrary.
  • the connecting cylinder 17 may have a configuration different from that of the present embodiment, or a configuration other than the connecting cylinder 17 may be provided
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view seen from the inside of the slider 40.
  • the slider 40 has a substantially arc shape in plan view, and has a shape that approximates a part of a cylindrical surface as a whole.
  • a guide piece 42 having a thin plate shape protrudes from an inner surface 41 which is a concave curved surface of the slider 40.
  • the guide piece 42 is disposed in the vicinity of the lower end of the slider 40 in parallel with the vertical direction.
  • a protrusion 43 extends upward from the upper end of the guide piece 42.
  • the protrusion 43 is separated from the inner surface 41 of the slider 40.
  • An inclined surface 43 a is provided on the edge of the protrusion 43 that faces the inner surface 41.
  • the inclined surface 43a is inclined or curved so as to be away from the inner surface 41 upward (see FIG. 1B).
  • a pair of arms 44 protrude from the inner surface 41 so as to sandwich the guide piece 42 in the horizontal direction.
  • the arm 44 has a thin plate shape.
  • the pair of arms 44 and the guide piece 42 between them are spaced apart and parallel to each other.
  • a claw (engagement claw) 45 protrudes from the tip of each arm 44 (the place farthest from the inner surface 41) toward the guide piece 42.
  • a flat sliding surface 46 is provided at both ends of the slider 40 in the horizontal direction.
  • the sliding surface 46 extends along the vertical direction over the entire vertical length of the slider 40.
  • a protrusion 47 is provided adjacent to the sliding surface 46. The protrusion 47 extends from the upper end of the slider 40 by a predetermined length along the vertical direction.
  • the main body 10 and the slider 40 are preferably made of a hard material. Specifically, resin materials such as polyacetal, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyamide, polypropylene, and hard polyvinyl chloride can be used. Each of the main body 10 and the slider 40 can be integrally manufactured as a whole by using these resin materials by an injection molding method or the like.
  • the slider 40 is mounted on the main body 10 along the radial direction with the inner surface 41 (see FIG. 4) facing the lock lever 30.
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the main body 10 to which the slider 40 is mounted.
  • the shield 60 (see FIGS. 1B and 2) is omitted.
  • the guide piece 42 and the protrusion 43 of the slider 40 are inserted into the slot 32 of the lock lever 30.
  • the inclined surface 43 a of the protrusion 43 faces the upper end 32 a of the slot 32 on the inner surface of the lock lever 30 in the vertical direction.
  • the arm 44 of the slider 40 is inserted into the opening 22 (see FIG. 2) of the main body 10.
  • the lock lever 30 is located between the two arms 44.
  • a claw 45 provided at the tip of the arm 44 faces the lock lever 30 in the radial direction.
  • the claw 45 is engaged with the lock lever 30. Once the claw 45 engages the lock lever 30, it is difficult to separate the slider 40 from the main body 10 radially outward.
  • the slider 40 covers most of the lock lever 30.
  • a sliding surface 46 (see FIG. 4) of the slider 40 is in contact with or close to the guide surface 26 of the main body 10.
  • the protrusion 47 of the slider 40 is fitted in the groove 27 of the main body 10. Most of the gap (opening 22, see FIG. 2) between the lock lever 30 and the guide surface 26 is blocked by the slider 40.
  • the slider 40 is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the main body 10 while being attached to the main body 10.
  • the downward movement of the slider 40 relative to the main body 10 is restricted by the lower end 46a (see FIG. 4) of the sliding surface 46 of the slider 40 coming into contact with the base 18 of the main body 10 in the vertical direction.
  • the slider 40 is located at the lowest position with respect to the main body 10.
  • the lowest position of the slider 40 with respect to the main body 10 shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 5 is referred to as a “first position”.
  • the lock lever 30 is not substantially bent and deformed.
  • the position of the slider 40 in the radial direction with respect to the main body 10 is regulated by the claw 45 engaging with the lock lever 30 and the sliding surface 46 abutting on the guide surface 26.
  • the circumferential position of the slider 40 with respect to the main body 10 is regulated by the guide piece 42 being fitted into the slot 32, the lock lever 30 being located between the two arms 44, and the protrusion 47 being fitted into the groove 27. Is done.
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the shield 60.
  • the shield 60 includes a head 61, a peripheral wall 65, and a base 68 in this order from top to bottom.
  • the shield 60 can be deformed relatively easily by an external force, and a soft material (so-called elastomer) having elasticity (or flexibility) so that the state before the deformation (natural state) is restored as soon as the external force is removed. ).
  • the soft material that can be used is not limited, but examples include soft polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene elastomers, olefin elastomers, and polyurethane elastomers, rubbers such as isoprene rubber, silicone rubber, and butyl rubber. be able to.
  • the shield 60 can be integrally manufactured as a whole by using the above materials.
  • the peripheral wall 65 has a hollow cylindrical shape as a whole.
  • the peripheral wall 65 is elastically compressed and deformed so that the vertical dimension is shortened (see FIG. 8B described later). Configured to recover to a state.
  • a tapered (conical) portion whose outer diameter and inner diameter increase downward and a cylindrical portion whose outer diameter and inner diameter are constant in the vertical direction are alternately arranged in the vertical direction on the peripheral wall 65.
  • the structure of the surrounding wall 65 is not limited to this embodiment, For example, a bellows shape etc. can be changed arbitrarily.
  • the head 61 has a lumen 62 that communicates with the internal space of the peripheral wall 65.
  • the inner peripheral surface of the lumen 62 preferably has a shape along the outer peripheral surface of the male member 11 so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the male member 11.
  • the inner peripheral surface of the lumen 62 is a cylindrical surface whose inner diameter is constant in the vertical direction.
  • a slit 63 that penetrates the head 61 in the vertical direction is formed at the deepest portion of the lumen 62.
  • the slit 63 is a straight cut having a planar view shape of “ ⁇ ” (minus).
  • a conical (or mushroom-shaped or umbrella-shaped) convex portion 64 protrudes upward. The slit 63 passes through the top of the center of the convex portion 64.
  • the shield 60 is fixed to the main body 10 using the base 68.
  • the base portion 68 of the present embodiment protrudes outward in the radial direction from the lower end of the peripheral wall 65.
  • the base 68 is placed on the base 18 of the main body 10 (see FIG. 1B), and an annular fixing ring (not shown) is externally attached to the shield 60 and placed on the base 68.
  • the fixing ring is locked in a through hole 19 (see FIGS. 1A, 3A, and 5) provided in the hood 20 of the main body.
  • the shield 60 is fixed to the main body 10.
  • the fixing method with respect to the main body 10 of the shield 60 is not limited to this, and is arbitrary. Depending on the fixing method, the configuration of the base 68 may be changed as appropriate.
  • the tip of the male member 11 and the vicinity thereof are inserted into the lumen 62 of the shield 60.
  • the inner peripheral surface of the lumen 62 is expanded by the male member 11 and is in close contact with the male member 11.
  • the lateral hole 13 of the male member 11 is liquid-tightly closed by the inner peripheral surface of the lumen 62 (see FIG. 7B described later).
  • the shield 60 is not substantially compressed and deformed in the vertical direction, the slit 63 is closed, the slider 40 is in the first position, and an external force is not substantially applied to the lock lever 30. This state is referred to as an “initial state” of the male connector 1.
  • FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing the male connector 1 immediately before connecting to the female connector 100.
  • FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 7A.
  • the female connector 100 includes a disk-shaped partition wall member (hereinafter referred to as “septum”) 101 made of an elastic material such as rubber.
  • a linear slit (cut) 102 that penetrates the septum 101 in the thickness direction is formed.
  • the slit 102 is closed in a liquid-tight manner.
  • the septum 101 is placed at the tip of a cylindrical base 110 having an inner cavity 111.
  • a cap 130 is put on the septum 101.
  • the cap 130 is fixed to the base portion 110 by fitting a locking claw 115 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 110 into a through hole 135 formed in the cylindrical portion 133.
  • the septum 101 is sandwiched between the base 110 and the cap 130 in the vertical direction.
  • a circular opening 132 is formed at the center of the circular top plate 131 of the cap 130.
  • the slit 102 of the septum 101 is exposed through the opening 132.
  • An annular protrusion 112 that is continuous in the circumferential direction protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the base 110.
  • the annular protrusion 112 is adjacent to the upper side (the side opposite to the septum 101) with respect to the cylindrical portion 133 of the cap 130.
  • the outer peripheral surface of the annular protrusion 112 constitutes a substantially identical cylindrical surface as the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 133.
  • a male luer 120 having a tapered outer peripheral surface and a female screw 122 coaxial with the male luer 120 are provided on the opposite side to the base 110.
  • the structure of the part on the opposite side to the base 110 of the female connector 100 is not limited to this, and is arbitrary.
  • the female connector 100 is opposed to the male connector 1.
  • a flexible tube is directly or indirectly connected to the connection tube 17 of the male connector 1
  • a flexible tube is also directly or indirectly connected to the male luer 120 of the female connector 100. It is connected to the.
  • the male connector 1 is in the initial state shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
  • the cap 130 of the female connector 100 is inserted into the hood 20 of the male connector 1, and the female connector 100 is further pushed toward the male connector 1.
  • the female connector 100 collides with the convex portion 64 of the shield 60 and moves the head 61 downward.
  • the male member 11 passes through the slit 63 of the shield 60 and further enters the slit 102 of the septum 101.
  • the outer peripheral edge 131 a of the top plate 131 of the cap 130 contacts the inclined surface 35 a of the claw 35 of the lock lever 30.
  • the outer peripheral edge 131a elastically bends and deforms the lock lever 30 in the direction in which the claw 35 is separated from the male luer 10 (the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 3B) while sliding on the inclined surface 35a.
  • the claw 35 slides on the cylindrical portion 133 and the annular protrusion 112 of the cap 130 in order.
  • the lock lever 30 recovers elastically, and the claw 35 engages with the annular protrusion 112.
  • FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing the male connector 1 connected to the female connector 100.
  • FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 8A.
  • the male member 11 passes through the slit 63 of the shield 60 and the slit 102 of the septum 101 in order.
  • the septum 101 is greatly deformed by the male member 11 toward the lumen 111 side of the base 110.
  • the lateral hole 13 of the male member 11 is exposed in the lumen 111.
  • the flow path 12 of the male member 11 and the lumen 111 of the female connector 100 communicate with each other.
  • the peripheral wall 65 is compressed and deformed so that the shield 60 receives a compressive force in the vertical direction and the vertical dimension thereof is reduced.
  • the lock lever 30 has recovered to substantially the same state as the initial state.
  • the claw 35 of the lock lever 30 is engaged with the annular protrusion 112 of the female connector 100 (locked state).
  • the slider 40 In order to separate the female connector 100 from the male connector 1, the slider 40 is moved upward as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.
  • the position of the slider 40 shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B is referred to as a “second position”.
  • the inclined surface 43 a provided on the slider 40 collides with the upper end 32 a of the slot 32 of the lock lever 30 in the process of moving the slider 40 to the second position.
  • the inclined surface 43a moves the upper end 32a radially outward while sliding upward on the upper end 32a.
  • the lock lever 30 (especially its elastic portion 33, see FIGS. 3A and 3B) is elastically bent and deformed, and the claw 35 moves radially outward.
  • the engagement of the claw 35 with the annular protrusion 112 is released (non-locked state).
  • the female connector 100 can be separated from the male connector 1.
  • the septum 101 is elastically restored immediately after the male member 11 is removed, and the slit 102 is closed in a liquid-tight manner.
  • the shield 60 is stretched by its own elastic recovery force.
  • the slit 63 is liquid-tightly closed as soon as the male member 11 is pulled out. Thereafter, the slider 40 is returned to the first position.
  • the lock lever 30 recovers elastically.
  • the male connector 1 returns to the initial state (see FIGS. 1A, 1B, 7A, and 7B).
  • the male connector 1 of this embodiment includes the lock lever 30 provided with the claws 35.
  • the claw 35 can be engaged with the female connector 100 in a state where the male member 11 is inserted.
  • the lock lever 30 provided with the claw 35 functions as a lever lock type lock mechanism for maintaining the state where the female connector 100 is connected to the male connector 1.
  • the female connector 100 is connected to the male connector 1 even if a force is applied to the male connector 1 and the female connector 100 in a direction to separate them. It cannot be separated from 1.
  • the male connector 1 includes a slider 40 that moves in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the male member 11 between a first position and a second position.
  • the claw 35 moves in the radial direction in conjunction with the movement of the slider 40 between the first position and the second position.
  • the slider 40 When the slider 40 is in the first position, the claw 35 engages with the female connector 100 into which the male member 11 is inserted, and the locking mechanism is in a locked state (see FIGS. 8A and 8B).
  • the slider 40 is moved to the second position, the engagement of the claw 35 with respect to the female connector 100 is released, and the lock mechanism is brought into an unlocked state in which the locked state is released (see FIGS. 9A and 9B). In the unlocked state, the female connector 100 can be separated from the male connector 1.
  • the locked state can be released by pushing the operation lever inward in the radial direction. For this reason, when the operating lever is pushed due to a male connector colliding with a surrounding object or underlaying a patient, the locked state is unintentionally released.
  • the male connector 1 of this embodiment in order to release the locked state, it is necessary to move the slider 40 from the first position to the second position along the longitudinal direction of the male member 11. Even if the male connector 1 (see FIGS. 8A and 8B), to which the female connector 100 is connected and locked, collides with a surrounding object or underlies a patient, the slider 40 is moved from the first position to the second position. It is very unlikely that a force for moving to a position will be applied. For this reason, the possibility that an accident in which the locked state is unintentionally released and the female connector 100 is separated from the male connector 1 is low. The possibility that the liquid flow path constituted by the male connector 1 and the female connector 100 is unintentionally cut is low, and the male connector 1 is excellent in safety.
  • the interlock between the slider 40 and the claw 35 occurs when the slot upper end 32a of the lock lever 30 slides on the inclined surface 43a of the slider 40.
  • the vertical movement of the slider 40 is converted into the radial movement of the claw 35 (or the lock lever 30).
  • the lock lever 30 In a state where the female connector 100 is separated from the male connector 1 and the slider 40 is in the first position (ie, the initial state, see FIGS. 1A, 1B, 7A, and 7B), the lock lever 30 is substantially No bending deformation. For this reason, when storing for a long period of time without using the male connector 1, it is preferable to set the slider 40 to the first position. This is advantageous in avoiding a problem that the recovery force of the lock lever 30 decreases due to the state in which the lock lever 30 is bent and deformed for a long time, and the claw 35 does not engage with the female connector 100. is there.
  • the slider 40 is disposed radially outward with respect to the lock lever 30 and covers at least a part of the lock lever 30. For this reason, it is difficult for an operator or patient to touch the lock lever 30. This is advantageous, for example, in reducing the possibility of an accident in which the patient accidentally pulls the lock lever 30 outward in the radial direction to release the locked state in the locked state (see FIGS. 8A and 8B). It is.
  • the slider 40 can be disposed close to the lock lever 30 in the radial direction. For this reason, the increase in the radial dimension of the male connector 1 due to the provision of the slider 40 is slight.
  • the male connector of Patent Document 1 described above has problems such as an operation lever protruding from the lock lever being caught by a surrounding object or a patient's clothing.
  • the slider 40 of this embodiment has a smooth convex curved surface (substantially cylindrical surface), the above-described problem of the male connector of Patent Document 1 is solved.
  • the slider 40 closes at least a part of the gap between the edge of the opening 22 of the hood 20 and the lock lever 30. For this reason, possibility that an operator's finger
  • the slider 40 moves along the guide surface 26 between the first position and the second position.
  • the guide surface 26 is provided immovably with respect to the male member 11. This is advantageous in reliably releasing the engagement of the claw 35 with respect to the female connector 100 when the slider 40 is moved from the first position to the second position.
  • the hood 20 is configured so that the female connector 100 can be positioned in the horizontal direction. This is advantageous for stably engaging the claw 35 with the female connector 100.
  • the hood 20 has a cylindrical shape continuous in the circumferential direction and surrounds the male member 11. This is advantageous for improving the strength of the hood 20. For example, since the accuracy of positioning the female connector 100 in the horizontal direction is improved, the claw 35 can be stably engaged with the female connector 100. Further, since the accuracy of the guide surface 26 on which the slider 40 slides is improved, the engagement of the claw 35 with the female connector 100 can be reliably released when the slider 40 is moved from the first position to the second position. It becomes possible. Moreover, the cylindrical hood 20 surrounding the male member 11 makes it difficult for the operator to touch the shield 60. This is advantageous in isolating an operator from chemicals or blood that may be attached to the shield 60 or the like after the female connector 100 is separated.
  • the male connector 1 of the above embodiment includes only one lock lever 30, the male connector of the present invention may include a plurality of lock levers 30.
  • a slider 40 is provided for each lock lever 30.
  • the two lock levers 30 may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the male member 11.
  • the two sliders 40 corresponding to the two lock levers 30 may be configured to move independently, or may be configured to move together by connecting the two sliders 40.
  • the mechanism for deforming the lock lever 30 in the process in which the slider 40 moves from the first position to the second position is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate.
  • the inclined surface 43a of the slider 40 may be omitted, and instead, the lock lever 30 may be provided with an inclined surface that is inclined (or curved) so as to approach the male member 11 from the first position toward the second position. .
  • the lock lever 30 can be bent and deformed similarly to the above-described embodiment by sliding on the sliding surface.
  • the slider 40 may be detachable from the main body 10.
  • the male connector of the present invention may be configured such that the slider 40 can be separated from the main body 10 when the slider 40 is moved downward beyond the base 18.
  • the slider 40 is attached to the main body 10 only when the locked state by the lock lever 30 is released, and otherwise the slider 40 is detached from the main body 10. This is advantageous in preventing an accident in which the slider 40 in the first position unintentionally moves to the second position and the locked state is released.
  • the second position is disposed above the first position (the distal end side of the male member 11). On the contrary, the second position is disposed below the first position. It may be.
  • the shape of the lock lever 30 is not limited to an elongated thin plate shape extending substantially parallel to the male member 11.
  • the lock lever 30 has a substantially “L” -shaped side view shape that extends radially outward from a fixed end connected to the base 18 and then bends upward at a substantially right angle. May be.
  • the lock lever 30 may not be disposed in the opening 22 of the hood 20.
  • the lock lever 30 may be provided on the radially outer side of the hood 20 and spaced from the hood 20.
  • the claw 35 of the lock lever 30 can be engaged with the female connector 100 through a small opening formed in the hood 20 or above the upper end of the hood 20.
  • the male connector 1 of the above embodiment includes the hollow cylindrical hood 20 surrounding the male member 11, the configuration of the hood 20 is not limited to the above embodiment.
  • the hood does not need to be annularly continuous in the circumferential direction, and may be a plurality of plate-like bodies (or rod-like bodies) extending in parallel with the male member 11, for example.
  • a guide surface 26 on which the slider 40 slides can be provided on at least one of the plurality of plate-like bodies.
  • the hood 20 may be omitted. Since the female connector 100 is roughly positioned in the horizontal direction by inserting the male member 11, the claw 35 of the lock lever 30 can be engaged with the female connector 100.
  • the outer peripheral surface of the female connector 100 can be used as a guide surface on which the slider 40 slides. With the claw 35 engaged with the female connector 100, the slider 40 is moved from the first position to the second position while sliding on the outer peripheral surface of the female connector 100. The slider 40 can bend and deform the lock lever 30 so that the claw 35 moves outward in the radial direction.
  • the portion of the female connector 100 with which the claw 35 of the lock lever 30 engages may be changed as appropriate according to the configuration of the female connector 100.
  • the shape and position of the claw 35 can be changed according to the portion engaged with the female connector 100.
  • the horizontal hole 13 of the male member 11 extends along the radial direction in the above embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this, and at an arbitrary angle other than a right angle with respect to the central axis 1 a of the male member 11. You may extend along the intersecting straight line.
  • the lateral hole 13 may be omitted, and the flow path 12 may open upward from the tip of the male member 11.
  • the configuration of the shield 60 can be arbitrarily changed.
  • the self-closing slit 63 may be omitted, and the lumen 62 may penetrate the head 61 in the vertical direction.
  • the male connector of the present invention may not have the shield 60.
  • the female connector to which the male connector of the present invention is connected is not limited to the above embodiment.
  • the female connector may be a mixed injection port provided in the middle of the flexible tube.
  • the female connector may not include the septum 101.
  • the female connector may include a rubber stopper such as a mouth of a vial bottle or a port of various containers.
  • the male member 11 is changed to a puncture needle having a sharp tip so that the rubber plug can be punctured.
  • the claw 35 of the lock lever 30 is changed so as to engage with an enlarged diameter flange surrounding the rubber stopper.
  • the application field of the present invention is not particularly limited, but can be widely used as a male connector connected to and disconnected from a female connector.
  • the present invention is advantageous for preventing sudden disconnection of the flow path through which the liquid flows and leakage of the liquid to the outside due to this.
  • the present invention can be preferably used to configure a flow path for, for example, infusion, blood transfusion, and artificial dialysis.
  • the present invention can be preferably used to configure a flow path through which a liquid (for example, a dangerous chemical liquid such as an anticancer drug or blood) that needs to be prevented from being exposed to an operator flows. it can.
  • the present invention is preferably used in the medical field, but can also be used in various fields that handle liquids other than medical foods and chemicals.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Pulmonology (AREA)
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Abstract

A locking lever (30) is disposed facing a rod-shaped male member (11). A claw (35) is provided on the locking lever (30) so as to project toward the male member (11). A male connector (1) is provided with a slider (40) that moves between a first position and a second position in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the male member (11). The claw (35) is configured so as to be capable of engaging with a female connector (100) when the male member (11) is inserted into the female connector (100) and the slider (40) is in the first position. When the slider (40) is moved from the first position to the second position, the slider (40) causes the locking lever (30) to elastically flexurally deform so that the claw (35) moves away from the male member (11).

Description

レバーロック式オスコネクタLever lock type male connector
　本発明は、メスコネクタとの接続状態を維持するためのロック機構を備えたオスコネクタに関する。 The present invention relates to a male connector provided with a lock mechanism for maintaining a connection state with a female connector.
　医療の分野において、薬液や血液などの各種液体が流れる流路（「回路」と呼ばれることもある）を構成するために、オスコネクタとメスコネクタとからなる接続具が用いられる。互いに接続されたオスコネクタとメスコネクタとが意図せずに分離されるのを防止するために、ロック機構が設けられたオスコネクタが知られている。ロック機構としては、弾性的に回動（揺動）するレバー（ロックレバー）の先端に爪が設けられたレバーロック式が知られている。 In the medical field, a connector composed of a male connector and a female connector is used to form a flow path (sometimes referred to as a “circuit”) through which various liquids such as chemicals and blood flow. In order to prevent the male connector and the female connector connected to each other from being unintentionally separated, a male connector provided with a lock mechanism is known. As a lock mechanism, a lever lock type is known in which a claw is provided at the tip of a lever (lock lever) that rotates (swings) elastically.
　特許文献１には、片持ち支持構造のロックレバーが、棒状のオス部材に対向して配置されたレバーロック式オスコネクタが記載されている。ロックレバーの先端（自由端）から、オス部材に向かって爪が突出している。操作レバーが、ロックレバーの背面（オス部材とは反対側面）から、ロックレバーの固定端側に延びている。 Patent Document 1 describes a lever-lock type male connector in which a lock lever having a cantilever support structure is disposed to face a rod-shaped male member. A claw protrudes from the tip (free end) of the lock lever toward the male member. The operation lever extends from the back surface (the side opposite to the male member) of the lock lever to the fixed end side of the lock lever.
　オスコネクタにメスコネクタを接続したとき、ロックレバーに設けられた爪がメスコネクタに係合する（ロック状態）。爪がメスコネクタに係合している限り、オスコネクタとメスコネクタとの接続が維持される。この状態で、操作レバーの先端を半径方向内向きに押すと、爪がオス部材から離れるようにロックレバーが弾性的に曲げ変形し、爪とメスコネクタとの係合が解除される（非ロック状態）。メスコネクタをオスコネクタから分離することが可能になる。 When the female connector is connected to the male connector, the claw provided on the lock lever engages with the female connector (locked state). As long as the claw is engaged with the female connector, the connection between the male connector and the female connector is maintained. In this state, when the tip of the operation lever is pushed inward in the radial direction, the lock lever is elastically bent and deformed so that the claw is separated from the male member, and the engagement between the claw and the female connector is released (unlocked). Status). The female connector can be separated from the male connector.
国際公開第２０１３／１５４０５０号International Publication No. 2013/154050
　上記の特許文献１のレバーロック式オスコネクタは、操作レバーを半径方向内向きに押すという簡単な操作でメスコネクタに対する爪の係合を解除することができる。このため、オスコネクタが周囲の物体に衝突したり、オスコネクタが患者の下敷きになったりすると、操作レバーが押されて、メスコネクタがオスコネクタから意図せずに分離してしまうという事故が起こる可能性がある。 The above-mentioned lever lock type male connector of Patent Document 1 can release the engagement of the claw with the female connector by a simple operation of pushing the operation lever inward in the radial direction. For this reason, when the male connector collides with a surrounding object or the male connector becomes a patient's underlay, the operation lever is pushed, and an accident that the female connector is unintentionally separated from the male connector occurs. there is a possibility.
　本発明の目的は、メスコネクタとの接続状態を維持するためのレバーロック式ロック機構を備えたオスコネクタにおいて、ロック機構のロック状態が意図せずに解除されるのを防止することにある。 An object of the present invention is to prevent a lock state of a lock mechanism from being unintentionally released in a male connector provided with a lever lock type lock mechanism for maintaining a connection state with a female connector.
　本発明のレバーロック式オスコネクタは、メスコネクタに対して挿抜可能な棒状のオス部材と、前記オス部材に対向して配置されたロックレバーと、前記オス部材に向かって突出するように前記ロックレバーに設けられた爪とを備える。前記オスコネクタは、第１位置と第２位置との間で前記オス部材の長手方向と平行な方向に移動するスライダを更に備える。前記爪は、前記オス部材が前記メスコネクタに挿入され且つ前記スライダが前記第１位置にあるときに、前記メスコネクタに係合することができるように構成されている。前記スライダを前記第１位置から前記第２位置に移動させると、前記爪が前記オス部材から離間するように前記スライダが前記ロックレバーを弾性的に曲げ変形させる。 The lever-locked male connector of the present invention includes a rod-shaped male member that can be inserted into and removed from the female connector, a lock lever that is disposed to face the male member, and the lock so as to protrude toward the male member. A claw provided on the lever. The male connector further includes a slider that moves between a first position and a second position in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the male member. The claw is configured to be able to engage with the female connector when the male member is inserted into the female connector and the slider is in the first position. When the slider is moved from the first position to the second position, the slider elastically bends and deforms the lock lever so that the claw is separated from the male member.
　本発明によれば、スライダが第１位置にあるとき、ロックレバーの爪がメスコネクタに係合する。爪を備えたロックレバーは、オスコネクタにメスコネクタが接続された状態を維持するためのレバーロック式ロック機構として機能する。ロック機構のロック状態の解除は、スライダを、オス部材の長手方向と平行な方向に、第１位置から第２位置へ移動させることにより可能である。オスコネクタの通常の使用において、第１位置にあるスライダに、第２位置へ向かう力が意図せずに加えられる可能性は極めて低い。従って、本発明は、ロック機構のロック状態が意図せずに解除されるのを防止するのに有利である。 According to the present invention, when the slider is in the first position, the claw of the lock lever engages with the female connector. The lock lever provided with the claw functions as a lever lock type lock mechanism for maintaining the state where the female connector is connected to the male connector. The lock state of the lock mechanism can be released by moving the slider from the first position to the second position in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the male member. In normal use of the male connector, it is very unlikely that a force toward the second position is unintentionally applied to the slider in the first position. Therefore, the present invention is advantageous in preventing the lock state of the lock mechanism from being unintentionally released.
図１Ａは、スライダが第１位置にある、本発明の一実施形態にかかるレバーロック式オスコネクタの斜視図である。FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a lever-locked male connector according to an embodiment of the present invention with a slider in a first position. 図１Ｂは、図１Ａのレバーロック式オスコネクタの断面斜視図である。1B is a cross-sectional perspective view of the lever-lock male connector of FIG. 1A. 図２は、本発明の一実施形態にかかるレバーロック式オスコネクタの分解斜視図である。FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lever lock male connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. 図３Ａは、本発明の一実施形態にかかるレバーロック式オスコネクタを構成するオスコネクタ本体の断面斜視図である。FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional perspective view of a male connector body constituting a lever-locked male connector according to one embodiment of the present invention. 図３Ｂは、本発明の一実施形態にかかるレバーロック式オスコネクタを構成するオスコネクタ本体の断面図である。FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the male connector body constituting the lever-locked male connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. 図４は、本発明の一実施形態にかかるレバーロック式オスコネクタを構成するスライダの斜視図である。FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a slider constituting the lever lock male connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. 図５は、本発明の一実施形態において、スライダが装着されたオスコネクタ本体の断面斜視図である。FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a male connector main body to which a slider is attached in an embodiment of the present invention. 図６は、本発明の一実施形態にかかるレバーロック式オスコネクタを構成するシールドの断面斜視図である。FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a shield constituting the lever-lock male connector according to one embodiment of the present invention. 図７Ａは、本発明の一実施形態において、接続される直前のオスコネクタ及びメスコネクタを示した斜視図である。スライダは第１位置にある。FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing a male connector and a female connector immediately before being connected in an embodiment of the present invention. The slider is in the first position. 図７Ｂは、図７Ａの断面図である。FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 7A. 図８Ａは、本発明の一実施形態において、互いに接続されたオスコネクタ及びメスコネクタを示した斜視図である。スライダは第１位置にあり、ロック機構はロック状態にある。FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing a male connector and a female connector connected to each other in an embodiment of the present invention. The slider is in the first position, and the locking mechanism is in the locked state. 図８Ｂは、図８Ａの断面図である。FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 8A. 図９Ａは、本発明の一実施形態において、互いに接続されたオスコネクタ及びメスコネクタを示した斜視図である。スライダは第２位置にあり、ロック機構は非ロック状態にある。FIG. 9A is a perspective view showing a male connector and a female connector connected to each other in an embodiment of the present invention. The slider is in the second position and the locking mechanism is in an unlocked state. 図９Ｂは、図９Ａの断面図である。FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 9A.
　本発明の上記のオスコネクタにおいて、前記オス部材が前記メスコネクタに挿入され且つ前記スライダが前記第２位置にあるとき、前記メスコネクタに対する前記爪の係合が解除されてもよい。かかる態様によれば、スライダが第２位置に移動されると、ロック機構はロック状態から非ロック状態へ確実に切り替わる。 In the above male connector of the present invention, when the male member is inserted into the female connector and the slider is in the second position, the engagement of the claw with the female connector may be released. According to this aspect, when the slider is moved to the second position, the locking mechanism is reliably switched from the locked state to the unlocked state.
　前記スライダ及び前記ロックレバーのうちの一方は、前記オス部材の長手方向に対して傾斜した傾斜面を備えていてもよい。前記スライダが前記第１位置から前記第２位置に移動する過程で、前記スライダ及び前記ロックレバーのうちの他方が前記傾斜面上を摺動してもよく、これにより前記爪が前記オス部材から離間するように前記ロックレバーが弾性的に曲げ変形してもよい。かかる態様によれば、簡単な構成で、スライダのオス部材の長手方向に沿った移動を、爪の半径方向の移動に変換することができる。これは、オスコネクタの構成を簡単化するのに有利である。 One of the slider and the lock lever may include an inclined surface inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the male member. In the process of moving the slider from the first position to the second position, the other of the slider and the lock lever may slide on the inclined surface, whereby the claw is moved from the male member. The lock lever may be elastically bent and deformed so as to be separated. According to this aspect, the movement of the slider along the longitudinal direction of the male member can be converted into the movement of the claw in the radial direction with a simple configuration. This is advantageous for simplifying the configuration of the male connector.
　前記メスコネクタが前記オスコネクタから分離され且つ前記スライダが前記第１位置にあるとき、前記ロックレバーは実質的に曲げ変形していなくてもよい。かかる態様によれば、コネクタを、不使用時には、スライダを第１位置にして保管することにより、ロックレバーの弾性回復力の低下を防止することができる。 When the female connector is separated from the male connector and the slider is in the first position, the lock lever may not be substantially bent and deformed. According to this aspect, when the connector is not used, the elastic recovery force of the lock lever can be prevented from being lowered by storing the connector in the first position.
　前記スライダは前記ロックレバーに対して前記オス部材とは反対側に配置されていてもよい。かかる態様によれば、作業者や患者がロックレバーに触れるのが困難になる。これは、例えば、ロック機構がロック状態のときに、患者がロックレバーを誤って半径方向外向き引き出してロック状態を解除してしまうという事故が起こる可能性を低減するのに有利である。 The slider may be disposed on the opposite side of the male member with respect to the lock lever. According to this aspect, it becomes difficult for an operator or patient to touch the lock lever. This is advantageous, for example, in reducing the possibility of an accident in which the patient accidentally pulls the lock lever radially outward to release the lock state when the lock mechanism is in the lock state.
　前記オスコネクタは、前記オス部材に対して不動の案内面を更に備えていてもよい。前記スライダが前記第１位置と前記第２位置との間を移動するとき、前記スライダは前記案内面上を摺動してもよい。かかる態様は、スライダを第１位置から第２位置へ移動させたときにロック機構をロック状態から非ロック状態へ確実に切り替えるのに有利である。 The male connector may further include a guide surface that does not move relative to the male member. When the slider moves between the first position and the second position, the slider may slide on the guide surface. Such an aspect is advantageous for reliably switching the lock mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state when the slider is moved from the first position to the second position.
　前記オスコネクタは、前記メスコネクタを前記オス部材の長手方向に垂直な方向に位置決めすることができるように構成されたフードを更に備えていてもよい。前記案内面は前記フードに設けられていてもよい。かかる態様は、オスコネクタの構成を簡単化するのに有利である。 The male connector may further include a hood configured to position the female connector in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the male member. The guide surface may be provided on the hood. Such an aspect is advantageous for simplifying the configuration of the male connector.
　前記スライダは、前記ロックレバーと前記フードとの間の隙間の少なくとも一部を塞いでもよい。かかる態様は、薬液や血液などが隙間を介して作業者に付着するのを防止するのに有利である。 The slider may block at least a part of a gap between the lock lever and the hood. Such an embodiment is advantageous for preventing chemicals, blood, and the like from adhering to the operator through the gap.
　以下に、本発明を好適な実施形態を示しながら詳細に説明する。但し、本発明は以下の実施形態に限定されないことはいうまでもない。以下の説明において参照する各図は、説明の便宜上、本発明の実施形態を構成する主要な部材を簡略化して示したものである。従って、本発明の範囲内において、図面に示されていない任意の部材を追加したり、あるいは、図面に示された任意の部材を変更もしくは省略したりしてもよい。異なる図面において、同一の部材には同一の符号が付されている。そのような部材については、重複する説明が省略されており、先行する図面の説明を適宜参酌すべきである。 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail while showing preferred embodiments. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Each drawing referred to in the following description is a simplified illustration of main members constituting an embodiment of the present invention for the convenience of description. Therefore, within the scope of the present invention, arbitrary members not shown in the drawings may be added, or arbitrary members shown in the drawings may be changed or omitted. In different drawings, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals. For such members, overlapping description is omitted, and the description of the preceding drawings should be taken into consideration as appropriate.
　図１Ａは、本発明の一実施形態にかかるレバーロック式オスコネクタ（以下、単に「オスコネクタ」という）１の斜視図である。図１Ｂは、オスコネクタ１の断面斜視図である。図２は、オスコネクタ１の分解斜視図である。図２に示されているように、オスコネクタ１は、オスコネクタ本体１０、スライダ４０、シールド６０を備える。 FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a lever-locked male connector (hereinafter simply referred to as “male connector”) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional perspective view of the male connector 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the male connector 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the male connector 1 includes a male connector body 10, a slider 40, and a shield 60.
　図３Ａは、オスコネクタ本体（以下、単に「本体」という）１０の断面斜視図、図３Ｂは本体１０の断面図である。本体１０は、棒状のオス部材１１を備える。図３Ａ及び図３Ｂの断面は、オス部材１１の長手方向に沿った中心軸１ａ（図３Ｂ参照）を含む。以下の説明の便宜のため、オス部材１１の長手方向を「上下方向」と呼び、オス部材１１の長手方向と直交する平面に平行な方向を「水平方向」と呼ぶ。上下方向において「上」及び「下」は図３Ｂの向きに基づいて定義する。更に、オス部材１１の中心軸１ａに直交する直線の方向を「半径方向」又は「直径方向」といい、中心軸１ａの回りを回転する方向を「周方向」という。半径方向において、中心軸１ａから離れる側を「外側」、中心軸１ａに近づく側を「内側」という。これらの定義は、本体１０のみならず、オスコネクタ１及びそのすべての構成部材（図２参照）、さらには、オスコネクタ１に接続されるメスコネクタ１００（後述する図７Ａ参照）にも適用される。なお、「上下方向」及び「水平方向」は、オスコネクタ１の実際の使用時での向きを意味するものではない。 3A is a cross-sectional perspective view of a male connector main body (hereinafter simply referred to as “main body”) 10, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the main body 10. The main body 10 includes a rod-shaped male member 11. The cross section of FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B contains the central axis 1a (refer FIG. 3B) along the longitudinal direction of the male member 11. FIG. For convenience of the following description, the longitudinal direction of the male member 11 is referred to as “vertical direction”, and the direction parallel to a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the male member 11 is referred to as “horizontal direction”. In the vertical direction, “upper” and “lower” are defined based on the orientation of FIG. 3B. Furthermore, the direction of the straight line orthogonal to the central axis 1a of the male member 11 is referred to as “radial direction” or “diameter direction”, and the direction of rotation around the central axis 1a is referred to as “circumferential direction”. In the radial direction, the side away from the central axis 1a is referred to as “outer side”, and the side closer to the central axis 1a is referred to as “inside”. These definitions apply not only to the main body 10, but also to the male connector 1 and all of its constituent members (see FIG. 2), and further to the female connector 100 (see FIG. 7A described later) connected to the male connector 1. The The “vertical direction” and “horizontal direction” do not mean the orientation of the male connector 1 in actual use.
　オス部材１１の外周面（即ち、側面）は、オス部材１１の先端（即ち、上端）に近づくにしたがって外径がわずかに小さくなるテーパ面である。但し、オス部材１１の外周面の形状は、これに限定されず、任意に選択することができる。例えば、オス部材１１の外周面は、上下方向において外径が一定である円筒面であってもよい。 The outer peripheral surface (that is, the side surface) of the male member 11 is a tapered surface whose outer diameter slightly decreases as it approaches the tip (that is, the upper end) of the male member 11. However, the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the male member 11 is not limited to this, and can be arbitrarily selected. For example, the outer peripheral surface of the male member 11 may be a cylindrical surface having a constant outer diameter in the vertical direction.
　オス部材１１内には、その長手方向に沿って流路１２が形成されている。オス部材１１の先端近傍に２つの横孔１３が設けられている（図３Ｂ参照）。横孔１３は、オス部材１１の半径方向に沿って延び、流路１２と連通している。本実施形態では、２つの横孔１３が一直線に沿って設けられているが、横孔１３の数は、２つである必要はなく、１つ又は３つ以上であってもよい。 In the male member 11, a flow path 12 is formed along the longitudinal direction thereof. Two lateral holes 13 are provided near the tip of the male member 11 (see FIG. 3B). The lateral hole 13 extends along the radial direction of the male member 11 and communicates with the flow path 12. In the present embodiment, the two horizontal holes 13 are provided along a straight line, but the number of the horizontal holes 13 is not necessarily two, and may be one or three or more.
　オス部材１１の基端から、半径方向に沿って基台１８が延びている。基台１８は、略円形の平板である。基台１８の外周端縁から、フード２０及びロックレバー３０が、オス部材１１と同じ側に向かって延びている。 The base 18 extends from the base end of the male member 11 along the radial direction. The base 18 is a substantially circular flat plate. The hood 20 and the lock lever 30 extend from the outer peripheral edge of the base 18 toward the same side as the male member 11.
　フード２０は、オス部材１１と同軸の中空の円筒形状を有し、オス部材１１を取り囲み、オス部材１１から半径方向に離間している。フード２０は、オス部材１１及びロックレバー３０よりも更に上方にまで延びている。フード２０の内周面（オス部材１１に対向する面）は、オスコネクタ１が接続されるメスコネクタ１００（後述する図７Ａ参照）の外径とほぼ同じかこれよりわずかに大きな内径を有する円筒面である。 The hood 20 has a hollow cylindrical shape coaxial with the male member 11, surrounds the male member 11, and is separated from the male member 11 in the radial direction. The hood 20 extends further upward than the male member 11 and the lock lever 30. The inner peripheral surface of the hood 20 (the surface facing the male member 11) is a cylinder having an inner diameter that is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the female connector 100 (see FIG. 7A described later) to which the male connector 1 is connected. Surface.
　ロックレバー３０は、幅（周方向の寸法）が一定の細長い薄板形状（短冊形状）を有する。ロックレバー３０は、オス部材１１に対して半径方向に対向し、且つ、オス部材１１に略平行に配置されている。爪（ロック爪）３５が、ロックレバー３０の上端（またはその近傍）からオス部材１１に向かって突出している。爪３５は、その突端（オス部材１１に最も近い部分）より上側に、傾斜面３５ａを備える。傾斜面３５ａは、爪３５の突端に向かって基台１８に近づくように（即ち、下降するように）傾斜している。爪３５は、フード２０の内周面よりもオスルアー１０側に突出している。一定幅のスロット（切り込み）３２が、ロックレバー３０の下端から上方に向かって所定長さでまっすぐに延びている。スロット３２は、ロックレバー３０を半径方向に貫通している。ロックレバー３０のうち、スロット３２が設けられた部分（即ち、スロット３２に対して周方向両側の部分）を弾性部３３という。 The lock lever 30 has an elongated thin plate shape (strip shape) with a constant width (dimension in the circumferential direction). The lock lever 30 faces the male member 11 in the radial direction and is disposed substantially parallel to the male member 11. A claw (lock claw) 35 protrudes from the upper end (or the vicinity thereof) of the lock lever 30 toward the male member 11. The nail | claw 35 is provided with the inclined surface 35a above the protrusion (part closest to the male member 11). The inclined surface 35a is inclined so as to approach the base 18 toward the protruding end of the claw 35 (that is, to descend). The claw 35 protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the hood 20 to the male luer 10 side. A slot (cut) 32 having a constant width extends straight from the lower end of the lock lever 30 upward by a predetermined length. The slot 32 penetrates the lock lever 30 in the radial direction. A portion of the lock lever 30 in which the slot 32 is provided (that is, a portion on both sides in the circumferential direction with respect to the slot 32) is referred to as an elastic portion 33.
　ロックレバー３０は、基台１８に接続されたロックレバー３０の下端を固定端とし、ロックレバー３０の上端を自由端とする片持ち支持構造を有する。ロックレバー３０は、爪３５がオス部材１１から離間するように、矢印Ａ（図３Ｂ参照）の向き（半径方向外向き）に弾性的に曲げ変形可能である。オス部材１１の中心軸１ａを含む、図３Ａ及び図３Ｂの断面をロックレバー３０の「変形面」と呼ぶ。ロックレバー３０は、この変形面内で矢印Ａに沿って曲げ変形する。 The lock lever 30 has a cantilever support structure in which the lower end of the lock lever 30 connected to the base 18 is a fixed end and the upper end of the lock lever 30 is a free end. The lock lever 30 can be elastically bent and deformed in the direction of arrow A (see FIG. 3B) (radially outward) so that the claw 35 is separated from the male member 11. 3A and 3B including the central axis 1 a of the male member 11 is referred to as a “deformation surface” of the lock lever 30. The lock lever 30 is bent and deformed along the arrow A within the deformation surface.
　図２に示されているように、フード２０には、フード２０を半径方向に貫通する開口２２が設けられている。ロックレバー３０は、この開口２２内に配置されている。開口２２を規定する端縁は、略逆「Ｕ」字形状を有する。開口２２の端縁は、ロックレバー３０が曲げ変形可能なように、ロックレバー３０から隙間を介して離間している。ロックレバー３０は、フード２０が沿う円筒面にほぼ沿っている。開口２２の周方向幅を規定する開口２２の端縁に沿って案内面２６が設けられている。案内面２６は、上下方向に沿って延び、ロックレバー３０の変形面に垂直な平坦面である。案内面２６に対して開口２２とは反対側に隣接して溝２７が設けられている。溝２７は、案内面２６の上端から所定長さの領域に対応して、上下方向に沿って延びている。 As shown in FIG. 2, the hood 20 is provided with an opening 22 that penetrates the hood 20 in the radial direction. The lock lever 30 is disposed in the opening 22. The edge defining the opening 22 has a generally inverted “U” shape. The edge of the opening 22 is separated from the lock lever 30 via a gap so that the lock lever 30 can be bent and deformed. The lock lever 30 is substantially along the cylindrical surface along which the hood 20 extends. A guide surface 26 is provided along the edge of the opening 22 that defines the circumferential width of the opening 22. The guide surface 26 is a flat surface that extends along the vertical direction and is perpendicular to the deformation surface of the lock lever 30. A groove 27 is provided adjacent to the guide surface 26 on the side opposite to the opening 22. The groove 27 extends from the upper end of the guide surface 26 along the vertical direction corresponding to a region having a predetermined length.
　基台１８のオスルアー１０とは反対側面には、接続筒１７がオス部材１１と同軸に設けられている。接続筒１７は、略円筒形状を有し、オス部材１１の流路１２と連通している。接続筒１７の内周面は、基台１８から離れるにしたがって内径が大きくなるテーパ面（例えば６％テーパ面）である。接続筒１７の外周面には、雄ネジが設けられている。接続筒１７は例えばＩＳＯ５９４－２に準拠していてもよい。接続筒１７には、液体（例えば薬液、血液など）が流れる流路（回路ともいう）を構成する柔軟なチューブが、直接的に、又は何らかのコネクタを介して間接的に、接続されうる。但し、基台１８に対してオス部材１１とは反対側の構成は任意である。接続筒１７が本実施形態と異なる構成を有していてもよく、あるいは、接続筒１７以外の構成が設けられていてもよい。 A connecting cylinder 17 is provided coaxially with the male member 11 on the side surface of the base 18 opposite to the male luer 10. The connecting cylinder 17 has a substantially cylindrical shape and communicates with the flow path 12 of the male member 11. The inner peripheral surface of the connection cylinder 17 is a tapered surface (for example, a 6% tapered surface) whose inner diameter increases as the distance from the base 18 increases. A male screw is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting cylinder 17. The connecting cylinder 17 may be compliant with, for example, ISO 594-2. A flexible tube constituting a flow path (also referred to as a circuit) through which a liquid (for example, a chemical solution, blood, etc.) flows can be connected to the connection cylinder 17 directly or indirectly through some connector. However, the configuration on the side opposite to the male member 11 with respect to the base 18 is arbitrary. The connecting cylinder 17 may have a configuration different from that of the present embodiment, or a configuration other than the connecting cylinder 17 may be provided.
　図４はスライダ４０の内側から見た斜視図である。スライダ４０は、略円弧状の平面視形状を有し、全体として円筒面の一部に近似した形状を有する。スライダ４０の凹曲面である内面４１から、薄板形状を有するガイド片４２が突出している。ガイド片４２は、上下方向に平行に、スライダ４０の下端近傍に配置されている。ガイド片４２の上端から、上方に向かって突起４３が延びている。突起４３は、スライダ４０の内面４１から離間している。突起４３の内面４１に対向する端縁には傾斜面４３ａが設けられている。傾斜面４３ａは、上方に向かって内面４１から離れるように傾斜または湾曲している（図１Ｂ参照）。 FIG. 4 is a perspective view seen from the inside of the slider 40. The slider 40 has a substantially arc shape in plan view, and has a shape that approximates a part of a cylindrical surface as a whole. A guide piece 42 having a thin plate shape protrudes from an inner surface 41 which is a concave curved surface of the slider 40. The guide piece 42 is disposed in the vicinity of the lower end of the slider 40 in parallel with the vertical direction. A protrusion 43 extends upward from the upper end of the guide piece 42. The protrusion 43 is separated from the inner surface 41 of the slider 40. An inclined surface 43 a is provided on the edge of the protrusion 43 that faces the inner surface 41. The inclined surface 43a is inclined or curved so as to be away from the inner surface 41 upward (see FIG. 1B).
　ガイド片４２を水平方向に挟むように、内面４１から一対のアーム４４が突出している。ガイド片４２と同様に、アーム４４も薄板形状を有する。一対のアーム４４とこの間のガイド片４２とは、互いに離間し且つ平行である。各アーム４４の先端（内面４１から最も遠い箇所）から、ガイド片４２に向かって爪（係合爪）４５が突出している。 A pair of arms 44 protrude from the inner surface 41 so as to sandwich the guide piece 42 in the horizontal direction. Like the guide piece 42, the arm 44 has a thin plate shape. The pair of arms 44 and the guide piece 42 between them are spaced apart and parallel to each other. A claw (engagement claw) 45 protrudes from the tip of each arm 44 (the place farthest from the inner surface 41) toward the guide piece 42.
　スライダ４０の水平方向の両端縁には、平坦な摺動面４６が設けられている。摺動面４６は、スライダ４０の上下方向の全長にわたって上下方向に沿って延びている。摺動面４６に隣接して突起４７が設けられている。突起４７は、スライダ４０の上端から上下方向に沿って所定長さで延びている。 A flat sliding surface 46 is provided at both ends of the slider 40 in the horizontal direction. The sliding surface 46 extends along the vertical direction over the entire vertical length of the slider 40. A protrusion 47 is provided adjacent to the sliding surface 46. The protrusion 47 extends from the upper end of the slider 40 by a predetermined length along the vertical direction.
　本体１０及びスライダ４０は、硬質の材料からなることが好ましい。具体的には、ポリアセタール、ポリカーボネート、ポリスチレン、ポリアミド、ポリプロピレン、硬質ポリ塩化ビニル等の樹脂材料を用いうる。本体１０及びスライダ４０のそれぞれは、これらの樹脂材料を用いて射出成形法等により全体を一部品として一体的に製造することができる。 The main body 10 and the slider 40 are preferably made of a hard material. Specifically, resin materials such as polyacetal, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyamide, polypropylene, and hard polyvinyl chloride can be used. Each of the main body 10 and the slider 40 can be integrally manufactured as a whole by using these resin materials by an injection molding method or the like.
　図２に示すように、スライダ４０は、その内面４１（図４参照）をロックレバー３０に対向させて、半径方向に沿って本体１０に装着される。 As shown in FIG. 2, the slider 40 is mounted on the main body 10 along the radial direction with the inner surface 41 (see FIG. 4) facing the lock lever 30.
　図５は、スライダ４０が装着された本体１０の断面斜視図である。図５では、シールド６０（図１Ｂ、図２参照）は省略されている。スライダ４０のガイド片４２及び突起４３が、ロックレバー３０のスロット３２に挿入されている。突起４３の傾斜面４３ａが、ロックレバー３０の内側面でのスロット３２の上端３２ａに上下方向に対向している。スライダ４０のアーム４４が、本体１０の開口２２（図２参照）に挿入されている。２つのアーム４４の間にロックレバー３０が位置している。アーム４４の先端に設けられた爪４５が、ロックレバー３０に半径方向に対向している。爪４５は、ロックレバー３０に係合している。一旦爪４５がロックレバー３０に係合すると、スライダ４０を本体１０から半径方向外向きに分離させることは困難である。 FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the main body 10 to which the slider 40 is mounted. In FIG. 5, the shield 60 (see FIGS. 1B and 2) is omitted. The guide piece 42 and the protrusion 43 of the slider 40 are inserted into the slot 32 of the lock lever 30. The inclined surface 43 a of the protrusion 43 faces the upper end 32 a of the slot 32 on the inner surface of the lock lever 30 in the vertical direction. The arm 44 of the slider 40 is inserted into the opening 22 (see FIG. 2) of the main body 10. The lock lever 30 is located between the two arms 44. A claw 45 provided at the tip of the arm 44 faces the lock lever 30 in the radial direction. The claw 45 is engaged with the lock lever 30. Once the claw 45 engages the lock lever 30, it is difficult to separate the slider 40 from the main body 10 radially outward.
　図１Ａに示されているように、スライダ４０は、ロックレバー３０の大部分を覆っている。スライダ４０の摺動面４６（図４参照）は、本体１０の案内面２６に当接又は接近している。スライダ４０の突起４７は、本体１０の溝２７に嵌入している。ロックレバー３０と案内面２６との間の隙間（開口２２、図２参照）の大部分は、スライダ４０によって塞がれている。 As shown in FIG. 1A, the slider 40 covers most of the lock lever 30. A sliding surface 46 (see FIG. 4) of the slider 40 is in contact with or close to the guide surface 26 of the main body 10. The protrusion 47 of the slider 40 is fitted in the groove 27 of the main body 10. Most of the gap (opening 22, see FIG. 2) between the lock lever 30 and the guide surface 26 is blocked by the slider 40.
　スライダ４０は、本体１０に装着された状態で、本体１０に対して上下方向に移動可能である。本体１０に対するスライダ４０の下方への移動は、スライダ４０の摺動面４６の下端４６ａ（図４参照）が本体１０の基台１８に上下方向に当接することによって規制される。図１Ａ、図１Ｂ及び図５では、スライダ４０は、本体１０に対して最も下方に位置している。図１Ａ、図１Ｂ及び図５に示す、本体１０に対するスライダ４０の最下位置を「第１位置」という。スライダ４０が第１位置にあるとき、ロックレバー３０は実質的に曲げ変形していない。 The slider 40 is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the main body 10 while being attached to the main body 10. The downward movement of the slider 40 relative to the main body 10 is restricted by the lower end 46a (see FIG. 4) of the sliding surface 46 of the slider 40 coming into contact with the base 18 of the main body 10 in the vertical direction. In FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 5, the slider 40 is located at the lowest position with respect to the main body 10. The lowest position of the slider 40 with respect to the main body 10 shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 5 is referred to as a “first position”. When the slider 40 is in the first position, the lock lever 30 is not substantially bent and deformed.
　本体１０に対するスライダ４０の半径方向の位置は、爪４５がロックレバー３０に係合すること、及び、摺動面４６が案内面２６に当接することによって規制される。本体１０に対するスライダ４０の周方向の位置は、ガイド片４２がスロット３２に嵌入すること、２つのアーム４４間にロックレバー３０が位置すること、及び、突起４７が溝２７に嵌入することによって規制される。 The position of the slider 40 in the radial direction with respect to the main body 10 is regulated by the claw 45 engaging with the lock lever 30 and the sliding surface 46 abutting on the guide surface 26. The circumferential position of the slider 40 with respect to the main body 10 is regulated by the guide piece 42 being fitted into the slot 32, the lock lever 30 being located between the two arms 44, and the protrusion 47 being fitted into the groove 27. Is done.
　図６は、シールド６０の断面斜視図である。シールド６０は、上から下に、頭部６１、周壁６５、基部６８をこの順に備える。シールド６０は、外力によって比較的容易に変形可能であり、且つ、外力を取り除くと直ちに変形前の状態（自然状態）に回復するように、弾性（あるいは可撓性）を有する軟質材料（いわゆるエラストマー）からなる。使用しうる軟質材料としては、制限はないが、軟質ポリ塩化ビニルや、スチレン系エラストマー、オレフィン系エラストマー、ポリウレタン系エラストマー等の熱可塑性エラストマー、イソプレンゴム、シリコーンゴム、ブチルゴム等のゴム等を例示することができる。シールド６０は、上記の材料を用いて、全体を一部品として一体的に製造することができる。 FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the shield 60. The shield 60 includes a head 61, a peripheral wall 65, and a base 68 in this order from top to bottom. The shield 60 can be deformed relatively easily by an external force, and a soft material (so-called elastomer) having elasticity (or flexibility) so that the state before the deformation (natural state) is restored as soon as the external force is removed. ). The soft material that can be used is not limited, but examples include soft polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene elastomers, olefin elastomers, and polyurethane elastomers, rubbers such as isoprene rubber, silicone rubber, and butyl rubber. be able to. The shield 60 can be integrally manufactured as a whole by using the above materials.
　周壁６５は、全体として中空の筒形状を有している。周壁６５は、シールド６０に上下方向の圧縮力が印加されると、その上下方向寸法が短縮するように弾性的に圧縮変形し（後述する図８Ｂ参照）、圧縮力から解放されると直ちに初期状態に回復するように構成される。本実施形態では、周壁６５に、下方に向かって外径及び内径が大きくなるテーパ状（円錐状）部分と、上下方向において外径及び内径が一定である円筒状部分とが上下方向に交互に配置されている。但し、周壁６５の構成は、本実施形態に限定されず、例えば蛇腹形状など任意に変更しうる。 The peripheral wall 65 has a hollow cylindrical shape as a whole. When a compressive force in the vertical direction is applied to the shield 60, the peripheral wall 65 is elastically compressed and deformed so that the vertical dimension is shortened (see FIG. 8B described later). Configured to recover to a state. In the present embodiment, a tapered (conical) portion whose outer diameter and inner diameter increase downward and a cylindrical portion whose outer diameter and inner diameter are constant in the vertical direction are alternately arranged in the vertical direction on the peripheral wall 65. Has been placed. However, the structure of the surrounding wall 65 is not limited to this embodiment, For example, a bellows shape etc. can be changed arbitrarily.
　頭部６１は、周壁６５の内部空間と連通した内腔６２を有する。内腔６２の内周面は、オス部材１１の外周面に密着するように、オス部材１１の外周面に沿った形状を有することが好ましい。本実施形態では、内腔６２の内周面は、その内径が上下方向において一定である円筒面である。内腔６２の最深部には、頭部６１を上下方向に貫通するスリット６３が形成されている。スリット６３は、「－」（マイナス）字の平面視形状を有する直線状の切り込みである。頭部６１の上面には、円錐面状（またはキノコ状もしくは傘状）の凸部６４が上方に向かって突出している。スリット６３は凸部６４の中央の頂部を通る。 The head 61 has a lumen 62 that communicates with the internal space of the peripheral wall 65. The inner peripheral surface of the lumen 62 preferably has a shape along the outer peripheral surface of the male member 11 so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the male member 11. In the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the lumen 62 is a cylindrical surface whose inner diameter is constant in the vertical direction. A slit 63 that penetrates the head 61 in the vertical direction is formed at the deepest portion of the lumen 62. The slit 63 is a straight cut having a planar view shape of “−” (minus). On the upper surface of the head 61, a conical (or mushroom-shaped or umbrella-shaped) convex portion 64 protrudes upward. The slit 63 passes through the top of the center of the convex portion 64.
　シールド６０は、基部６８を用いて本体１０に固定される。本実施形態の基部６８は、周壁６５の下端から半径方向外向きに突出している。基部６８を本体１０の基台１８上に載置し（図１Ｂ参照）、環状の固定リング（図示せず）をシールド６０に外挿し基部６８上に被せる。固定リングは、本体のフード２０に設けた貫通孔１９（図１Ａ、図３Ａ、図５参照）に係止される。かくして、シールド６０は本体１０に固定される。但し、シールド６０の本体１０に対する固定方法はこれに限定されず、任意である。固定方法に応じて基部６８の構成は適宜変更しうる。 The shield 60 is fixed to the main body 10 using the base 68. The base portion 68 of the present embodiment protrudes outward in the radial direction from the lower end of the peripheral wall 65. The base 68 is placed on the base 18 of the main body 10 (see FIG. 1B), and an annular fixing ring (not shown) is externally attached to the shield 60 and placed on the base 68. The fixing ring is locked in a through hole 19 (see FIGS. 1A, 3A, and 5) provided in the hood 20 of the main body. Thus, the shield 60 is fixed to the main body 10. However, the fixing method with respect to the main body 10 of the shield 60 is not limited to this, and is arbitrary. Depending on the fixing method, the configuration of the base 68 may be changed as appropriate.
　図１Ｂに示されているように、シールド６０の内腔６２内にオス部材１１の先端及びその近傍部分が挿入される。内腔６２の内周面はオス部材１１によって拡径され、オス部材１１に密着している。オス部材１１の横孔１３は、内腔６２の内周面によって液密に塞がれている（後述する図７Ｂ参照）。図１Ｂでは、シールド６０は上下方向に実質的に圧縮変形されておらず、スリット６３は閉じ、スライダ４０は第１位置にあり、ロックレバー３０には外力が実質的に作用していない。この状態を、オスコネクタ１の「初期状態」という。 As shown in FIG. 1B, the tip of the male member 11 and the vicinity thereof are inserted into the lumen 62 of the shield 60. The inner peripheral surface of the lumen 62 is expanded by the male member 11 and is in close contact with the male member 11. The lateral hole 13 of the male member 11 is liquid-tightly closed by the inner peripheral surface of the lumen 62 (see FIG. 7B described later). In FIG. 1B, the shield 60 is not substantially compressed and deformed in the vertical direction, the slit 63 is closed, the slider 40 is in the first position, and an external force is not substantially applied to the lock lever 30. This state is referred to as an “initial state” of the male connector 1.
　以上のように構成されたオスコネクタ１の、メスコネクタ１００に対する接続及び分離の方法を説明する。 A method of connecting and separating the male connector 1 configured as described above with respect to the female connector 100 will be described.
　図７Ａは、メスコネクタ１００に接続する直前のオスコネクタ１を示した斜視図である。図７Ｂは、図７Ａの断面図である。 FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing the male connector 1 immediately before connecting to the female connector 100. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 7A.
　メスコネクタ１００は、ゴム等の弾性材料からなる円板状の隔壁部材（以下「セプタム」という）１０１を備える。セプタム１０１の中央には、セプタム１０１を厚さ方向に貫通する直線状のスリット（切り込み）１０２が形成されている。オス部材１１が挿入されていない自然状態では、スリット１０２は液密に閉じられている。セプタム１０１は、内腔１１１を有する筒状の基部１１０の先端に載置される。セプタム１０１にキャップ１３０が被せられる。キャップ１３０は、その円筒部１３３に形成された貫通孔１３５に、基部１１０の外周面から突出した係止爪１１５が嵌入することによって、基部１１０に固定される。これにより、セプタム１０１は、基部１１０とキャップ１３０とによって上下方向に挟持される。キャップ１３０の円形の天板１３１の中央には円形の開口１３２が形成されている。セプタム１０１のスリット１０２が開口１３２を介して露出している。基部１１０の外周面から、周方向に連続した環状突起１１２が突出している。環状突起１１２は、キャップ１３０の円筒部１３３に対して上側（セプタム１０１とは反対側）に隣接する。環状突起１１２の外周面は、円筒部１３３の外周面と略同一の円筒面を構成する。基部１１０とは反対側には、テーパ状の外周面を備えたオスルアー１２０と、オスルアー１２０と同軸の雌ネジ１２２とが設けられている。但し、メスコネクタ１００の基部１１０とは反対側の部分の構成は、これに限定されず、任意である。 The female connector 100 includes a disk-shaped partition wall member (hereinafter referred to as “septum”) 101 made of an elastic material such as rubber. In the center of the septum 101, a linear slit (cut) 102 that penetrates the septum 101 in the thickness direction is formed. In the natural state where the male member 11 is not inserted, the slit 102 is closed in a liquid-tight manner. The septum 101 is placed at the tip of a cylindrical base 110 having an inner cavity 111. A cap 130 is put on the septum 101. The cap 130 is fixed to the base portion 110 by fitting a locking claw 115 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 110 into a through hole 135 formed in the cylindrical portion 133. As a result, the septum 101 is sandwiched between the base 110 and the cap 130 in the vertical direction. A circular opening 132 is formed at the center of the circular top plate 131 of the cap 130. The slit 102 of the septum 101 is exposed through the opening 132. An annular protrusion 112 that is continuous in the circumferential direction protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the base 110. The annular protrusion 112 is adjacent to the upper side (the side opposite to the septum 101) with respect to the cylindrical portion 133 of the cap 130. The outer peripheral surface of the annular protrusion 112 constitutes a substantially identical cylindrical surface as the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 133. On the opposite side to the base 110, a male luer 120 having a tapered outer peripheral surface and a female screw 122 coaxial with the male luer 120 are provided. However, the structure of the part on the opposite side to the base 110 of the female connector 100 is not limited to this, and is arbitrary.
　図７Ａ及び図７Ｂに示すように、オスコネクタ１にメスコネクタ１００を対向させる。図示していないが、オスコネクタ１の接続筒１７には、柔軟なチューブが直接的にまたは間接的に接続されており、メスコネクタ１００のオスルアー１２０にも柔軟なチューブが直接的にまたは間接的に接続されている。オスコネクタ１は、図１Ａ及び図１Ｂに示した初期状態にある。そして、メスコネクタ１００のキャップ１３０をオスコネクタ１のフード２０内に挿入し、更にメスコネクタ１００をオスコネクタ１に向かって押し込む。メスコネクタ１００は、シールド６０の凸部６４に衝突し、頭部６１を下方に移動させる。オス部材１１は、シールド６０のスリット６３を貫通し、更に、セプタム１０１のスリット１０２に進入する。これと並行して、キャップ１３０の天板１３１の外周端縁１３１ａが、ロックレバー３０の爪３５の傾斜面３５ａに当接する。外周端縁１３１ａは、傾斜面３５ａ上を摺動しながら、爪３５がオスルアー１０から離れる向き（図３Ｂの矢印Ａの向き）にロックレバー３０を弾性的に曲げ変形させる。爪３５は、キャップ１３０の円筒部１３３及び環状突起１１２上を順に摺動する。爪３５が環状突起１１２を通過し終えると、ロックレバー３０が弾性回復し、爪３５は環状突起１１２に係合する。 7A and 7B, the female connector 100 is opposed to the male connector 1. Although not shown, a flexible tube is directly or indirectly connected to the connection tube 17 of the male connector 1, and a flexible tube is also directly or indirectly connected to the male luer 120 of the female connector 100. It is connected to the. The male connector 1 is in the initial state shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Then, the cap 130 of the female connector 100 is inserted into the hood 20 of the male connector 1, and the female connector 100 is further pushed toward the male connector 1. The female connector 100 collides with the convex portion 64 of the shield 60 and moves the head 61 downward. The male member 11 passes through the slit 63 of the shield 60 and further enters the slit 102 of the septum 101. In parallel with this, the outer peripheral edge 131 a of the top plate 131 of the cap 130 contacts the inclined surface 35 a of the claw 35 of the lock lever 30. The outer peripheral edge 131a elastically bends and deforms the lock lever 30 in the direction in which the claw 35 is separated from the male luer 10 (the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 3B) while sliding on the inclined surface 35a. The claw 35 slides on the cylindrical portion 133 and the annular protrusion 112 of the cap 130 in order. When the claw 35 finishes passing through the annular protrusion 112, the lock lever 30 recovers elastically, and the claw 35 engages with the annular protrusion 112.
　図８Ａは、メスコネクタ１００に接続されたオスコネクタ１を示した斜視図である。図８Ｂは、図８Ａの断面図である。オス部材１１は、シールド６０のスリット６３、及び、セプタム１０１のスリット１０２を順に貫通している。セプタム１０１は、オス部材１１によって基部１１０の内腔１１１側へ大きく変形されている。オス部材１１の横孔１３は、内腔１１１内に露出している。オス部材１１の流路１２とメスコネクタ１００の内腔１１１とが連通している。シールド６０は、上下方向の圧縮力を受け、その上下方向寸法が縮小するように、特に周壁６５が圧縮変形されている。ロックレバー３０は、初期状態と実質的に同じ状態に回復している。ロックレバー３０の爪３５は、メスコネクタ１００の環状突起１１２に係合している（ロック状態）。 FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing the male connector 1 connected to the female connector 100. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 8A. The male member 11 passes through the slit 63 of the shield 60 and the slit 102 of the septum 101 in order. The septum 101 is greatly deformed by the male member 11 toward the lumen 111 side of the base 110. The lateral hole 13 of the male member 11 is exposed in the lumen 111. The flow path 12 of the male member 11 and the lumen 111 of the female connector 100 communicate with each other. In particular, the peripheral wall 65 is compressed and deformed so that the shield 60 receives a compressive force in the vertical direction and the vertical dimension thereof is reduced. The lock lever 30 has recovered to substantially the same state as the initial state. The claw 35 of the lock lever 30 is engaged with the annular protrusion 112 of the female connector 100 (locked state).
　オスコネクタ１からメスコネクタ１００を分離するためには、図９Ａ及び図９Ｂに示すようにスライダ４０を上方に移動させる。図９Ａ及び図９Ｂに示すスライダ４０の位置を「第２位置」という。図８Ａ及び図８Ｂと比較すれば理解できるように、スライダ４０が第２位置へ移動する過程で、スライダ４０に設けられた傾斜面４３ａが、ロックレバー３０のスロット３２の上端３２ａに衝突する。傾斜面４３ａは、上端３２ａ上を上方に向かって摺動しながら、上端３２ａを半径方向外向きに移動させる。ロックレバー３０（特にその弾性部３３、図３Ａ及び図３Ｂ参照）が弾性的に曲げ変形し、爪３５が半径方向外向きに移動する。スライダ４０が第２位置に到達すると、環状突起１１２に対する爪３５の係合が解除される（非ロック状態）。この状態で、オスコネクタ１とメスコネクタ１００とを互いに離れる向きに引っ張れば、メスコネクタ１００をオスコネクタ１から分離することができる。セプタム１０１は、オス部材１１が抜き去られると直ちに弾性回復し、スリット１０２は液密に閉じられる。シールド６０は自身の弾性回復力によって伸張する。スリット６３は、オス部材１１が引き抜かれると直ちに液密に閉じられる。その後、スライダ４０を第１位置に戻す。ロックレバー３０は弾性回復する。オスコネクタ１は初期状態（図１Ａ、図１Ｂ、図７Ａ、及び図７Ｂ参照）に戻る。 In order to separate the female connector 100 from the male connector 1, the slider 40 is moved upward as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. The position of the slider 40 shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B is referred to as a “second position”. As can be understood by comparing with FIGS. 8A and 8B, the inclined surface 43 a provided on the slider 40 collides with the upper end 32 a of the slot 32 of the lock lever 30 in the process of moving the slider 40 to the second position. The inclined surface 43a moves the upper end 32a radially outward while sliding upward on the upper end 32a. The lock lever 30 (especially its elastic portion 33, see FIGS. 3A and 3B) is elastically bent and deformed, and the claw 35 moves radially outward. When the slider 40 reaches the second position, the engagement of the claw 35 with the annular protrusion 112 is released (non-locked state). In this state, if the male connector 1 and the female connector 100 are pulled away from each other, the female connector 100 can be separated from the male connector 1. The septum 101 is elastically restored immediately after the male member 11 is removed, and the slit 102 is closed in a liquid-tight manner. The shield 60 is stretched by its own elastic recovery force. The slit 63 is liquid-tightly closed as soon as the male member 11 is pulled out. Thereafter, the slider 40 is returned to the first position. The lock lever 30 recovers elastically. The male connector 1 returns to the initial state (see FIGS. 1A, 1B, 7A, and 7B).
　以上のように、本実施形態のオスコネクタ１は、爪３５が設けられたロックレバー３０を備える。爪３５は、オス部材１１が挿入された状態のメスコネクタ１００に係合可能である。爪３５を備えたロックレバー３０は、オスコネクタ１にメスコネクタ１００が接続された状態を維持するためのレバーロック式ロック機構として機能する。爪３５がメスコネクタ１００に係合したロック状態（図８Ａ及び図８Ｂ参照）では、オスコネクタ１とメスコネクタ１００とに、これらを引き離す向きの力が加えられても、メスコネクタ１００をオスコネクタ１から分離させることはできない。 As described above, the male connector 1 of this embodiment includes the lock lever 30 provided with the claws 35. The claw 35 can be engaged with the female connector 100 in a state where the male member 11 is inserted. The lock lever 30 provided with the claw 35 functions as a lever lock type lock mechanism for maintaining the state where the female connector 100 is connected to the male connector 1. In the locked state where the claw 35 is engaged with the female connector 100 (see FIGS. 8A and 8B), the female connector 100 is connected to the male connector 1 even if a force is applied to the male connector 1 and the female connector 100 in a direction to separate them. It cannot be separated from 1.
　オスコネクタ１は、第１位置と第２位置との間でオス部材１１の長手方向と平行な方向に移動するスライダ４０を備える。スライダ４０の第１位置と第２位置との間での移動に連動して、爪３５が半径方向に移動する。スライダ４０が第１位置にあるとき、爪３５はオス部材１１が挿入されたメスコネクタ１００に係合し、ロック機構はロック状態になる（図８Ａ及び図８Ｂ参照）。スライダ４０を第２位置に移動させると、メスコネクタ１００に対する爪３５の係合が解除され、ロック機構はロック状態が解除された非ロック状態になる（図９Ａ及び図９Ｂ参照）。非ロック状態では、オスコネクタ１からメスコネクタ１００を分離可能である。 The male connector 1 includes a slider 40 that moves in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the male member 11 between a first position and a second position. The claw 35 moves in the radial direction in conjunction with the movement of the slider 40 between the first position and the second position. When the slider 40 is in the first position, the claw 35 engages with the female connector 100 into which the male member 11 is inserted, and the locking mechanism is in a locked state (see FIGS. 8A and 8B). When the slider 40 is moved to the second position, the engagement of the claw 35 with respect to the female connector 100 is released, and the lock mechanism is brought into an unlocked state in which the locked state is released (see FIGS. 9A and 9B). In the unlocked state, the female connector 100 can be separated from the male connector 1.
　上述した特許文献１のレバーロック式オスコネクタでは、操作レバーを半径方向内向きに押すことによりロック状態を解除することができる。このため、オスコネクタが周囲の物体に衝突したり患者の下敷きになったりすることによって操作レバーが押されてしまうと、意図せずにロック状態が解除されてしまうという課題があった。 In the lever lock type male connector of Patent Document 1 described above, the locked state can be released by pushing the operation lever inward in the radial direction. For this reason, when the operating lever is pushed due to a male connector colliding with a surrounding object or underlaying a patient, the locked state is unintentionally released.
　これに対して、本実施形態のオスコネクタ１では、ロック状態を解除するためには、スライダ４０を第１位置から第２位置へ、オス部材１１の長手方向に沿って移動させる必要がある。メスコネクタ１００が接続され且つロック状態にあるオスコネクタ１（図８Ａ及び図８Ｂ参照）が、周囲の物体に衝突したり患者の下敷きになったりしても、スライダ４０に第１位置から第２位置へ移動させる向きの力が加えられる可能性は極めて低い。このため、ロック状態が意図せずに解除されて、メスコネクタ１００がオスコネクタ１から分離してしまうという事故が起こる可能性は低い。オスコネクタ１及びメスコネクタ１００によって構成された液体の流路が意図せずに切断される可能性が低く、オスコネクタ１は、安全性に優れている。 On the other hand, in the male connector 1 of this embodiment, in order to release the locked state, it is necessary to move the slider 40 from the first position to the second position along the longitudinal direction of the male member 11. Even if the male connector 1 (see FIGS. 8A and 8B), to which the female connector 100 is connected and locked, collides with a surrounding object or underlies a patient, the slider 40 is moved from the first position to the second position. It is very unlikely that a force for moving to a position will be applied. For this reason, the possibility that an accident in which the locked state is unintentionally released and the female connector 100 is separated from the male connector 1 is low. The possibility that the liquid flow path constituted by the male connector 1 and the female connector 100 is unintentionally cut is low, and the male connector 1 is excellent in safety.
　スライダ４０と爪３５との連動は、ロックレバー３０のスロット上端３２ａがスライダ４０の傾斜面４３ａ上を摺動することによって起こる。簡単な構成で、スライダ４０の上下方向の移動が、爪３５（またはロックレバー３０）の半径方向の移動に変換される。 The interlock between the slider 40 and the claw 35 occurs when the slot upper end 32a of the lock lever 30 slides on the inclined surface 43a of the slider 40. With a simple configuration, the vertical movement of the slider 40 is converted into the radial movement of the claw 35 (or the lock lever 30).
　メスコネクタ１００がオスコネクタ１から分離され、且つ、スライダ４０が第１位置にある状態（即ち、初期状態、図１Ａ、図１Ｂ、図７Ａ、及び図７Ｂ参照）では、ロックレバー３０は実質的に曲げ変形していない。このため、オスコネクタ１を使用せずに長期間保管する場合には、スライダ４０を第１位置にすることが好ましい。これは、ロックレバー３０が曲げ変形した状態が長期間継続することによってロックレバー３０の回復力が低下し、爪３５がメスコネクタ１００に係合しないという問題が生じるのを回避するのに有利である。 In a state where the female connector 100 is separated from the male connector 1 and the slider 40 is in the first position (ie, the initial state, see FIGS. 1A, 1B, 7A, and 7B), the lock lever 30 is substantially No bending deformation. For this reason, when storing for a long period of time without using the male connector 1, it is preferable to set the slider 40 to the first position. This is advantageous in avoiding a problem that the recovery force of the lock lever 30 decreases due to the state in which the lock lever 30 is bent and deformed for a long time, and the claw 35 does not engage with the female connector 100. is there.
　スライダ４０は、ロックレバー３０に対して半径方向外側に配置され、ロックレバー３０の少なくとも一部を覆っている。このため、作業者や患者がロックレバー３０に触れるのは困難である。これは、例えば患者が、ロック状態（図８Ａ及び図８Ｂ参照）において、ロックレバー３０を誤って半径方向外向き引き出してロック状態を解除してしまうという事故が起こる可能性を低減するのに有利である。 The slider 40 is disposed radially outward with respect to the lock lever 30 and covers at least a part of the lock lever 30. For this reason, it is difficult for an operator or patient to touch the lock lever 30. This is advantageous, for example, in reducing the possibility of an accident in which the patient accidentally pulls the lock lever 30 outward in the radial direction to release the locked state in the locked state (see FIGS. 8A and 8B). It is.
　スライダ４０は、ロックレバー３０に、半径方向に接近して配置することができる。このため、スライダ４０を設けたことによるオスコネクタ１の半径方向寸法の増加はわずかである。上述した特許文献１のオスコネクタは、ロックレバーから突出した操作レバーが周囲の物体や患者の衣類に引っかかるなどの課題を有している。これに対して、本実施形態のスライダ４０は、その外周面がなめらかな凸曲面（略円筒面）であるので、特許文献１のオスコネクタの上記の課題が解消される。 The slider 40 can be disposed close to the lock lever 30 in the radial direction. For this reason, the increase in the radial dimension of the male connector 1 due to the provision of the slider 40 is slight. The male connector of Patent Document 1 described above has problems such as an operation lever protruding from the lock lever being caught by a surrounding object or a patient's clothing. On the other hand, since the slider 40 of this embodiment has a smooth convex curved surface (substantially cylindrical surface), the above-described problem of the male connector of Patent Document 1 is solved.
　スライダ４０は、フード２０の開口２２の端縁とロックレバー３０との間の隙間の少なくとも一部を塞ぐ。このため、開口２２を介して作業者の指などがシールド６０に触れる可能性が低減する。これは、メスコネクタ１００を分離後にシールド６０の凸部６４等に付着しているかもしれない薬液や血液などから作業者を隔離するのに有利である。 The slider 40 closes at least a part of the gap between the edge of the opening 22 of the hood 20 and the lock lever 30. For this reason, possibility that an operator's finger | toe etc. will touch the shield 60 through the opening 22 reduces. This is advantageous in isolating an operator from a chemical solution or blood that may have adhered to the convex portion 64 of the shield 60 after the female connector 100 is separated.
　スライダ４０は、第１位置と前記第２位置との間を案内面２６に沿って移動する。案内面２６は、オス部材１１に対して不動に設けられている。これは、スライダ４０を第１位置から第２位置へ移動させたときにメスコネクタ１００に対する爪３５の係合を確実に解除するのに有利である。 The slider 40 moves along the guide surface 26 between the first position and the second position. The guide surface 26 is provided immovably with respect to the male member 11. This is advantageous in reliably releasing the engagement of the claw 35 with respect to the female connector 100 when the slider 40 is moved from the first position to the second position.
　フード２０は、メスコネクタ１００を水平方向に位置決めすることができるように構成されている。これは、爪３５をメスコネクタ１００に安定的に係合させるのに有利である。 The hood 20 is configured so that the female connector 100 can be positioned in the horizontal direction. This is advantageous for stably engaging the claw 35 with the female connector 100.
　フード２０は、周方向に連続した筒形状を有し、オス部材１１を取り囲む。これは、フード２０の強度の向上に有利である。例えば、メスコネクタ１００を水平方向に位置決めする精度が向上するので、爪３５をメスコネクタ１００に安定的に係合させることが可能になる。また、スライダ４０が摺動する案内面２６の精度が向上するので、スライダ４０を第１位置から第２位置へ移動させたときにメスコネクタ１００に対する爪３５の係合を確実に解除することが可能になる。また、オス部材１１を取り囲む筒形状のフード２０は、作業者がシールド６０に触れるのを困難にする。これは、メスコネクタ１００を分離後にシールド６０等に付着しているかもしれない薬液や血液などから作業者を隔離するのに有利である。 The hood 20 has a cylindrical shape continuous in the circumferential direction and surrounds the male member 11. This is advantageous for improving the strength of the hood 20. For example, since the accuracy of positioning the female connector 100 in the horizontal direction is improved, the claw 35 can be stably engaged with the female connector 100. Further, since the accuracy of the guide surface 26 on which the slider 40 slides is improved, the engagement of the claw 35 with the female connector 100 can be reliably released when the slider 40 is moved from the first position to the second position. It becomes possible. Moreover, the cylindrical hood 20 surrounding the male member 11 makes it difficult for the operator to touch the shield 60. This is advantageous in isolating an operator from chemicals or blood that may be attached to the shield 60 or the like after the female connector 100 is separated.
　上記の実施形態は例示に過ぎない。本発明は、上記の実施形態に限定されず、適宜変更することができる。 The above embodiment is merely an example. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate.
　上記の実施形態のオスコネクタ１は、ただ１つのロックレバー３０を備えていたが、本発明のオスコネクタは、複数のロックレバー３０を備えていてもよい。この場合、各ロックレバー３０に対してスライダ４０が設けられる。例えば、２つのロックレバー３０をオス部材１１に対して対称に配置してよい。２つのロックレバー３０に対応する２つのスライダ４０は、独立して移動するように構成してもよく、あるいは、２つのスライダ４０を連結して一体的に移動するように構成してもよい。 Although the male connector 1 of the above embodiment includes only one lock lever 30, the male connector of the present invention may include a plurality of lock levers 30. In this case, a slider 40 is provided for each lock lever 30. For example, the two lock levers 30 may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the male member 11. The two sliders 40 corresponding to the two lock levers 30 may be configured to move independently, or may be configured to move together by connecting the two sliders 40.
　スライダ４０が第１位置から第２位置へ移動する過程でロックレバー３０を変形させるための機構は、上記の実施形態に限定されず、適宜変更しうる。例えば、スライダ４０の傾斜面４３ａを省略し、この代わりにロックレバー３０に、第１位置から第２位置に向かってオス部材１１に近づくように傾斜（または湾曲）した傾斜面を設けてもよい。スライダ４０が、第１位置から第２位置へ移動する過程で、この摺動面上を摺動することにより、上記の実施形態と同様にロックレバー３０を曲げ変形させることができる。 The mechanism for deforming the lock lever 30 in the process in which the slider 40 moves from the first position to the second position is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate. For example, the inclined surface 43a of the slider 40 may be omitted, and instead, the lock lever 30 may be provided with an inclined surface that is inclined (or curved) so as to approach the male member 11 from the first position toward the second position. . When the slider 40 moves from the first position to the second position, the lock lever 30 can be bent and deformed similarly to the above-described embodiment by sliding on the sliding surface.
　スライダ４０が、本体１０に対して着脱可能であってもよい。例えば、本発明のオスコネクタは、スライダ４０を基台１８を越えて下方に移動させると、スライダ４０を本体１０から分離できるように構成されていてもよい。ロックレバー３０によるロック状態を解除するときのみスライダ４０を本体１０に装着し、それ以外はスライダ４０を本体１０から取り外す。これは、第１位置にあるスライダ４０が意図せずに第２位置に移動してロック状態が解除されてしまうという事故を防止するのに有利である。 The slider 40 may be detachable from the main body 10. For example, the male connector of the present invention may be configured such that the slider 40 can be separated from the main body 10 when the slider 40 is moved downward beyond the base 18. The slider 40 is attached to the main body 10 only when the locked state by the lock lever 30 is released, and otherwise the slider 40 is detached from the main body 10. This is advantageous in preventing an accident in which the slider 40 in the first position unintentionally moves to the second position and the locked state is released.
　上記の実施形態では、第２位置は第１位置よりも上側（オス部材１１の先端側）に配置されていたが、これとは逆に、第２位置が第１位置より下側に配置されていてもよい。 In the above-described embodiment, the second position is disposed above the first position (the distal end side of the male member 11). On the contrary, the second position is disposed below the first position. It may be.
　ロックレバー３０の形状は、オス部材１１と略平行に延びた細長い薄板形状に限定されない。例えば、ロックレバー３０は、基台１８に接続された固定端から半径方向外向きに延び、その後、上方に向かって略直角に折れ曲がった、略「Ｌ」字形状の側面視形状を有していてもよい。 The shape of the lock lever 30 is not limited to an elongated thin plate shape extending substantially parallel to the male member 11. For example, the lock lever 30 has a substantially “L” -shaped side view shape that extends radially outward from a fixed end connected to the base 18 and then bends upward at a substantially right angle. May be.
　ロックレバー３０はフード２０の開口２２内に配置されていなくてもよい。例えば、ロックレバー３０をフード２０よりも半径方向外側に、フード２０から離間して設けてもよい。ロックレバー３０の爪３５は、フード２０に形成した小さな開口を介して、または、フード２０の上端よりも上側においてメスコネクタ１００に係合させることができる。 The lock lever 30 may not be disposed in the opening 22 of the hood 20. For example, the lock lever 30 may be provided on the radially outer side of the hood 20 and spaced from the hood 20. The claw 35 of the lock lever 30 can be engaged with the female connector 100 through a small opening formed in the hood 20 or above the upper end of the hood 20.
　上記の実施形態のオスコネクタ１は、オス部材１１を取り囲む中空筒状のフード２０を備えていたが、フード２０の構成は上記の実施形態に限定されない。例えば、フードは、周方向に環状に連続している必要はなく、例えばオス部材１１と平行に延びた複数の板状体（または棒状体）であってもよい。複数の板状体の少なくとも一つに、スライダ４０が摺動する案内面２６を設けることができる。 Although the male connector 1 of the above embodiment includes the hollow cylindrical hood 20 surrounding the male member 11, the configuration of the hood 20 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the hood does not need to be annularly continuous in the circumferential direction, and may be a plurality of plate-like bodies (or rod-like bodies) extending in parallel with the male member 11, for example. A guide surface 26 on which the slider 40 slides can be provided on at least one of the plurality of plate-like bodies.
　本発明ではフード２０を省略してもよい。メスコネクタ１００はオス部材１１が挿入されることによって水平方向に概略位置決めされるから、ロックレバー３０の爪３５をメスコネクタ１００に係合させることができる。メスコネクタ１００の外周面を、スライダ４０が摺動する案内面として利用することができる。爪３５がメスコネクタ１００に係合した状態で、スライダ４０を、メスコネクタ１００の外周面上を摺動させながら第１位置から第２位置へ移動させる。スライダ４０は、爪３５が半径方向外向きに移動するようにロックレバー３０を曲げ変形させることができる。 In the present invention, the hood 20 may be omitted. Since the female connector 100 is roughly positioned in the horizontal direction by inserting the male member 11, the claw 35 of the lock lever 30 can be engaged with the female connector 100. The outer peripheral surface of the female connector 100 can be used as a guide surface on which the slider 40 slides. With the claw 35 engaged with the female connector 100, the slider 40 is moved from the first position to the second position while sliding on the outer peripheral surface of the female connector 100. The slider 40 can bend and deform the lock lever 30 so that the claw 35 moves outward in the radial direction.
　ロックレバー３０の爪３５が係合するメスコネクタ１００の部分は、メスコネクタ１００の構成に応じて適宜変更してよい。メスコネクタ１００に係合する部分に応じて、爪３５の形状や位置を変更することができる。 The portion of the female connector 100 with which the claw 35 of the lock lever 30 engages may be changed as appropriate according to the configuration of the female connector 100. The shape and position of the claw 35 can be changed according to the portion engaged with the female connector 100.
　オス部材１１の横孔１３は、上記の実施形態では半径方向に沿って延びていたが、本発明はこれに限定されず、オス部材１１の中心軸１ａに対して直角以外の任意の角度で交差する直線に沿って延びていてもよい。横孔１３を省略し、流路１２がオス部材１１の先端から上方に向かって開口していてもよい。 The horizontal hole 13 of the male member 11 extends along the radial direction in the above embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this, and at an arbitrary angle other than a right angle with respect to the central axis 1 a of the male member 11. You may extend along the intersecting straight line. The lateral hole 13 may be omitted, and the flow path 12 may open upward from the tip of the male member 11.
　シールド６０の構成は任意に変更しうる。自閉式のスリット６３を省略し、内腔６２が頭部６１を上下方向に貫通していてもよい。本発明のオスコネクタは、シールド６０を有していなくてもよい。 The configuration of the shield 60 can be arbitrarily changed. The self-closing slit 63 may be omitted, and the lumen 62 may penetrate the head 61 in the vertical direction. The male connector of the present invention may not have the shield 60.
　本発明のオスコネクタが接続されるメスコネクタは、上記の実施形態に限定されない。メスコネクタが、柔軟なチューブの途中に設けられた混注ポートであってもよい。メスコネクタは、セプタム１０１を備えていなくてもよい。例えばメスコネクタが、バイアル瓶の口や各種容器のポートのように、ゴム栓を備えていてもよい。この場合、オス部材１１は、ゴム栓に穿刺可能なように、鋭利な先端を有する穿刺針に変更される。また、ロックレバー３０の爪３５は、ゴム栓を取り囲む拡径したフランジに係合するように変更される。 The female connector to which the male connector of the present invention is connected is not limited to the above embodiment. The female connector may be a mixed injection port provided in the middle of the flexible tube. The female connector may not include the septum 101. For example, the female connector may include a rubber stopper such as a mouth of a vial bottle or a port of various containers. In this case, the male member 11 is changed to a puncture needle having a sharp tip so that the rubber plug can be punctured. Further, the claw 35 of the lock lever 30 is changed so as to engage with an enlarged diameter flange surrounding the rubber stopper.
　本発明の利用分野は特に制限はないが、メスコネクタに対して接続及び分離されるオスコネクタとして広範囲に利用することができる。本発明のオスコネクタは、メスコネクタが意図せずに分離してしまう可能性が低減されている。このため、本発明は、液体が流れる流路の突然の切断や、これによる液体の外界への漏出の防止に有利である。このような観点から、本発明は、例えば輸液、輸血、人工透析などの流路を構成するために好ましく利用することができる。また、本発明は、作業者が被爆するのを防止する必要がある液体（例えば、抗がん剤のような危険な薬液や血液など）が流れる流路を構成するために好ましく利用することができる。本発明は、医療分野で好ましく利用されるが、医療用以外の食品や化学などの液体を取り扱う各種分野においても利用することもできる。 The application field of the present invention is not particularly limited, but can be widely used as a male connector connected to and disconnected from a female connector. In the male connector of the present invention, the possibility that the female connector is unintentionally separated is reduced. For this reason, the present invention is advantageous for preventing sudden disconnection of the flow path through which the liquid flows and leakage of the liquid to the outside due to this. From such a point of view, the present invention can be preferably used to configure a flow path for, for example, infusion, blood transfusion, and artificial dialysis. In addition, the present invention can be preferably used to configure a flow path through which a liquid (for example, a dangerous chemical liquid such as an anticancer drug or blood) that needs to be prevented from being exposed to an operator flows. it can. The present invention is preferably used in the medical field, but can also be used in various fields that handle liquids other than medical foods and chemicals.
１　レバーロック式オスコネクタ（オスコネクタ）
１０　オスコネクタ本体（本体）
１１　オス部材
２０　フード
２２　開口（隙間）
２６　案内面
３０　ロックレバー
３５　爪
４０　スライダ
４３ａ　傾斜面
６０　シールド
１００　メスコネクタ 1 Lever lock male connector (male connector)
10 Male connector body (main body)
11 Male member 20 Hood 22 Opening (gap)
26 Guide surface 30 Lock lever 35 Claw 40 Slider 43a Inclined surface 60 Shield 100 Female connector

Claims (8)

  1. 　メスコネクタに対して挿抜可能な棒状のオス部材と、
    　前記オス部材に対向して配置されたロックレバーと、
    　前記オス部材に向かって突出するように前記ロックレバーに設けられた爪とを備えたレバーロック式オスコネクタであって、
    　前記オスコネクタは、第１位置と第２位置との間で前記オス部材の長手方向と平行な方向に移動するスライダを更に備え、
    　前記爪は、前記オス部材が前記メスコネクタに挿入され且つ前記スライダが前記第１位置にあるときに、前記メスコネクタに係合することができるように構成され、
    　前記スライダを前記第１位置から前記第２位置に移動させると、前記爪が前記オス部材から離間するように前記スライダが前記ロックレバーを弾性的に曲げ変形させることを特徴とするレバーロック式オスコネクタ。     A rod-shaped male member that can be inserted into and removed from the female connector;
    A lock lever disposed opposite the male member;
    A lever lock type male connector provided with a claw provided on the lock lever so as to protrude toward the male member,
    The male connector further includes a slider that moves in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the male member between a first position and a second position,
    The claw is configured to be able to engage with the female connector when the male member is inserted into the female connector and the slider is in the first position;
    When the slider is moved from the first position to the second position, the slider elastically bends and deforms the lock lever so that the claw is separated from the male member. connector.
  2. 　前記オス部材が前記メスコネクタに挿入され且つ前記スライダが前記第２位置にあるとき、前記メスコネクタに対する前記爪の係合が解除される請求項１に記載のレバーロック式オスコネクタ。 The lever lock type male connector according to claim 1, wherein when the male member is inserted into the female connector and the slider is in the second position, the engagement of the claw with the female connector is released.
  3. 　前記スライダ及び前記ロックレバーのうちの一方は、前記オス部材の長手方向に対して傾斜した傾斜面を備え、
    　前記スライダが前記第１位置から前記第２位置に移動する過程で、前記スライダ及び前記ロックレバーのうちの他方が前記傾斜面上を摺動し、これにより前記爪が前記オス部材から離間するように前記ロックレバーが弾性的に曲げ変形する請求項１又は２に記載のレバーロック式オスコネクタ。     One of the slider and the lock lever includes an inclined surface inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the male member,
    In the process of moving the slider from the first position to the second position, the other of the slider and the lock lever slides on the inclined surface so that the claw is separated from the male member. The lever lock type male connector according to claim 1, wherein the lock lever is elastically bent and deformed.
  4. 　前記メスコネクタが前記オスコネクタから分離され且つ前記スライダが前記第１位置にあるとき、前記ロックレバーは実質的に曲げ変形していない請求項１～３のいずれか一項に記載のレバーロック式オスコネクタ。 The lever lock type according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the female connector is separated from the male connector and the slider is in the first position, the lock lever is not substantially bent and deformed. Male connector.
  5. 　前記スライダは前記ロックレバーに対して前記オス部材とは反対側に配置されている請求項１～４のいずれか一項に記載のレバーロック式オスコネクタ。 The lever-lock type male connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the slider is disposed on the opposite side of the lock lever from the male member.
  6. 　前記オスコネクタは、前記オス部材に対して不動の案内面を更に備え、
    　前記スライダが前記第１位置と前記第２位置との間を移動するとき、前記スライダは前記案内面上を摺動する請求項１～５のいずれか一項に記載のレバーロック式オスコネクタ。     The male connector further includes a guide surface that does not move relative to the male member,
    The lever-locked male connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the slider moves between the first position and the second position, the slider slides on the guide surface.
  7. 　前記オスコネクタは、前記メスコネクタを前記オス部材の長手方向に垂直な方向に位置決めすることができるように構成されたフードを更に備え、
    　前記案内面は前記フードに設けられている請求項６に記載のレバーロック式オスコネクタ。     The male connector further comprises a hood configured to be able to position the female connector in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the male member,
    The lever locking male connector according to claim 6, wherein the guide surface is provided on the hood.
  8. 　前記スライダは、前記ロックレバーと前記フードとの間の隙間の少なくとも一部を塞ぐ請求項７に記載のレバーロック式オスコネクタ。 The lever-locking male connector according to claim 7, wherein the slider closes at least a part of a gap between the lock lever and the hood.
PCT/JP2019/020112 2018-05-22 2019-05-21 Lever-locked male connector WO2019225604A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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JP2018097742A JP7163617B2 (en) 2018-05-22 2018-05-22 Lever lock type male connector
JP2018-097742 2018-05-22

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Cited By (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2022149339A1 (en) * 2021-01-08 2022-07-14 テルモ株式会社 Male connector and medical appliance

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP7445745B2 (en) 2020-03-19 2024-03-07 テルモ株式会社 Connector set and female connector

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WO2013154050A1 (en) * 2012-04-13 2013-10-17 株式会社ジェイ・エム・エス Male connector equipped with lock mechanism
WO2016152169A1 (en) * 2015-03-26 2016-09-29 テルモ株式会社 Medical connector
JP2018007719A (en) * 2016-07-11 2018-01-18 株式会社ジェイ・エム・エス Male connector

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013154050A1 (en) * 2012-04-13 2013-10-17 株式会社ジェイ・エム・エス Male connector equipped with lock mechanism
WO2016152169A1 (en) * 2015-03-26 2016-09-29 テルモ株式会社 Medical connector
JP2018007719A (en) * 2016-07-11 2018-01-18 株式会社ジェイ・エム・エス Male connector

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2022149339A1 (en) * 2021-01-08 2022-07-14 テルモ株式会社 Male connector and medical appliance

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