JP2013252165A - Female connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent deformation and damage of a cap for holding a partition member caused by application of unintended external force, with a female connector connected to a male connector with a locking mechanism.SOLUTION: A female connector 1 includes: a partition member 10 which is formed with a through-hole 11 at a center part and is composed of an elastic material; a base 20 which holds the peripheral part of one face of the partition member; and a cap 30 which is formed with an opening 32 that exposes the through-hole of the partition member. The cap is fixed to the base such that the partition member is held in the thickness direction thereof between the base and the cap. A step 23 with which a claw 134 of a male connector 100 engages is formed on the base.

Description

  The present invention relates to a female connector to which a male connector can be connected to form a path for transporting liquid. In particular, the present invention relates to a female connector capable of connecting a male connector provided with a lock mechanism for maintaining a connection state with the female connector.

  When a patient is transfused or transfused, or when extracorporeal blood circulation is performed during surgery, it is necessary to form a route (transport line) for transporting a liquid such as a drug solution or blood. The transportation line is generally formed by connecting containers, various instruments, a liquid feeding tube, and the like. Moreover, when injecting a chemical solution to be administered to a patient into a chemical solution bag (container), it is necessary to connect the chemical solution bag to a syringe or the like. Thus, male and female connectors are used to removably interconnect different members.

  The chemical solution may contain a drug designated as a powerful drug, for example, some anticancer drugs. In addition, blood may contain pathogens. It is necessary to avoid such a situation that such dangerous chemical liquid or blood or the like leaks and adheres to the finger of the worker or the worker sucks the vapor.

  Therefore, it is desirable that the opening of the female connector be sealed so that liquids such as chemicals and blood do not leak from the female connector when not connected to the male connector. On the other hand, in the state where the male connector is connected to the female connector, the male connector and the female connector being connected are separated unintentionally and liquids such as chemicals and blood do not leak out. It is desirable that an engagement structure (lock mechanism) for maintaining a connection state with the connector is provided.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe a female connector and a male connector with a lock mechanism that meet such demands. This will be described below.

  11A is a cross-sectional view of a conventional female connector 900, and FIG. 11B is a front view thereof. The female connector 900 includes a disk-shaped partition member (hereinafter referred to as “septum”) 910 made of an elastic material such as rubber and having a linear slit (cut) 911 formed in the center. The septum 910 is placed on the cylindrical base 920, and then the cap 930 is put on the septum 910. The cap 930 includes a top plate 931 and a cylindrical peripheral wall 935 extending downward from the outer peripheral edge of the top plate 931. A pair of locking projections 922 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base 920 is fitted into a pair of locking holes 936 formed in the peripheral wall 935 of the cap 930. The locking protrusion 922 and the locking portion 935 a of the peripheral wall 935 are engaged, and the cap 930 is fixed to the base 920. The septum 910 is sandwiched between the upper end of the base 920 and the top plate 931 of the cap 930. A circular opening 932 is formed at the center of the top plate 931, and the slit 911 of the septum 910 is exposed in the opening 932.

  12A is a side view of a conventional male connector 950 with a lock mechanism, and FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view of the male connector 950. The male connector 950 includes a cylindrical male luer 960 that is inserted into the female connector 900. The lock mechanism includes a pair of lock levers 970 arranged in parallel with the male luer 960 with the male luer 960 interposed therebetween. Each lock lever 970 is connected to the base end portion 969 of the male luer 960 via a support piece 971 provided at a substantially central position in the longitudinal direction. A claw 974 that engages with the female connector 900 is formed on the surface of one end of the lock lever 970 facing the male luer 960. The end of the lock lever 970 where the claw 974 is not formed is an operation portion 975 for operating the lock lever 970. When the operation portions 975 of the pair of lock levers 970 are gripped in the direction approaching each other, the support piece 971 is elastically bent and deformed, and the lock lever 970 is displaced in a direction in which the claws 974 are separated from the male luer 960. A substantially cylindrical hood 952 surrounds the male luer 960 and is fixed to the proximal end portion 969. A part of the pair of lock levers 970 is disposed in a notch provided in the hood 952. Reference numeral 965 denotes a cylindrical portion communicating with the male luer 960, and a flexible tube (not shown) is connected thereto.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the male luer 960 is inserted into the septum 910 of the female connector 900, and the claws 974 provided at the tips of the pair of lock levers 970 are engaged with the lower ends of the peripheral walls 935 of the cap 930. Since the male luer 960 passes through the slit 911 of the septum 910, the female connector 900 and the male luer 960 communicate with each other. Since the claw 974 of the lock lever 970 is engaged with the cap 930, the connection state between the female connector 900 and the male luer 960 is maintained (locked). Even if the female connector 900 and the male connector 950 are pulled away from each other, the female connector 900 and the male connector 950 cannot be separated because the claw 974 of the lock lever 970 is engaged with the female connector 900. .

  The female connector 900 and the male connector 950 are separated from each other by applying a force F1 in a direction approaching the operation portion 975 of the pair of lock levers 970 to displace the lock lever 970 and the claw 974 of the lock lever 970 and the female connector. This is possible by releasing the engagement with 900. When the male luer 960 is removed from the slit 911 of the septum 910, the slit 911 of the septum 910 is immediately closed. Therefore, no liquid leaks from the slit 911.

  In FIG. 13, a pair of locking projections 922, a pair of locking holes 936, and a pair of claws 974 are present in the same cross section, but this is merely for ease of understanding. In practice, the pair of locking protrusions 922 and the pair of locking holes 936 and the pair of claws 974 do not necessarily coincide with each other in the rotational direction around the male luer 930.

  The above-described female connector 900 into which a rod-shaped male luer 960 having no sharp tip such as an injection needle is inserted is generally called a “needleless port”.

JP 2010-194105 A JP 2004-483 A

  In a medical field, various unintended external forces may be applied to the female connector 900 and the male connector 950 connected as shown in FIG.

  In the conventional female connector 900 described above, the claw 974 of the lock lever 970 of the male connector 950 engages with the lower end of the peripheral wall 935 of the cap 930. Therefore, when a large external force in a direction away from the female connector 900 (upward in FIG. 13) is applied to the male connector 950 connected to the female connector 900 as shown in FIG. 13, the external force is applied to the base 920. There is a possibility that the peripheral wall 935 of the cap 930 (particularly the engaging portion 935a and its vicinity) may be plastically deformed or damaged by acting on the engaging portion between the stop protrusion 922 and the engaging portion 935a of the cap 930. is there. As a result, the sealing performance between the tip of the base 920 and the septum 910 is lowered, and there is a risk of liquid leakage.

  In order to prevent this, if the thickness (radial dimension) T (see FIG. 11A) of the locking portion 935a is increased, the outer diameter of the peripheral wall 935 of the cap 930 is increased, and thus the female connector 900 is reduced in size. It becomes difficult. It is also difficult to reduce the size of the male connector 950 connected to the female connector 900.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems of the conventional female connector, and deformation or breakage of the cap that holds the partition wall member (septum) occurs even when an unintended external force is applied in a state where it is connected to the male connector with a lock mechanism. An object of the present invention is to provide a female connector with improved safety.

  The female connector of the present invention is a female connector capable of connecting a male connector having a rod-shaped male luer and a claw for maintaining the state in which the male luer is inserted. A partition member in which a through-hole into which the male luer is inserted is formed, a base for holding a peripheral portion of the partition member, and a cap in which an opening for exposing the through-hole of the partition member is formed. The cap is fixed to the base so that the partition member is sandwiched between the base and the cap in the thickness direction of the partition member. A step is formed on the base to engage the claw of the male connector.

  In the female connector of the present invention, the claw of the male connector engages with the step of the base, not the cap. Therefore, when an unintended force is applied to the male connector in a state where the male connector is connected to the female connector, the force acts not on the cap but on the step of the base. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cap from being deformed or damaged due to an unintended force acting on the fixing portion between the cap and the base, thereby improving safety.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a female connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a side view of the female connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a sectional view thereof. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the female connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a male connector with a lock mechanism that can be connected to the female connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the male connector with a locking mechanism shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the elastically deformed lock lever in the male connector with a lock mechanism shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the female connector according to the embodiment of the present invention and the male connector with a locking mechanism shown in FIG. 4 immediately before connection. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the female connector according to the embodiment of the present invention and the male connector with a locking mechanism shown in FIG. 4 immediately before connection. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the female connector according to the embodiment of the present invention whose connection state is locked by the lock mechanism and the male connector with a lock mechanism shown in FIG. 4. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the female connector according to an embodiment of the present invention whose connection state is locked by the lock mechanism and the male connector with a lock mechanism shown in FIG. FIG. 11A is a sectional view of a conventional female connector, and FIG. 11B is a front view thereof. FIG. 12A is a side view of a conventional male connector with a locking mechanism, and FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view of a conventional male connector with a locking mechanism. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a conventional male connector with a lock mechanism is connected to a conventional female connector.

  The female connector of the present invention is a female connector capable of connecting a male connector having a rod-shaped male luer and a claw for maintaining the state in which the male luer is inserted. A partition member in which a through-hole into which the male luer is inserted is formed, a base for holding a peripheral portion of the partition member, and a cap in which an opening for exposing the through-hole of the partition member is formed. The cap is fixed to the base so that the partition member is sandwiched between the base and the cap in the thickness direction of the partition member. A step is formed on the base to engage the claw of the male connector.

  In the female connector according to the present invention, it is preferable that an engagement structure for engaging and fixing the cap to the base is formed on the base and the cap. Thereby, in the assembly of the female connector, the process of fixing the cap to the base can be performed easily and quickly.

  It is preferable that the engagement structure is a structure in which an engagement claw formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base and an engagement claw formed on the cap mesh with each other in the circumferential direction. As a result, it is easy to reduce the diameter of the female connector, and it is also possible to reduce the diameter of the male connector.

  The step is preferably formed continuously around the entire periphery of the base. Thereby, when connecting a male connector to a female connector, it is not necessary to align a male connector with respect to a female connector in the rotation direction. Further, since the male connector can be freely rotated with respect to the female connector while the male connector is connected to the female connector, for example, twisting of the tube connected to the female connector and / or the male connector can be easily eliminated. be able to.

  The step may be a protrusion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base. In this case, it is preferable that the top portion of the protrusion forms substantially the same surface as the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the cap. Accordingly, when the male connector is connected to and separated from the female connector, the claws of the male connector can slide without being caught by the boundary between the peripheral wall of the female connector cap and the protrusion. Therefore, workability of connection and separation is improved.

  Below, this invention is demonstrated in detail, showing suitable embodiment. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. For convenience of explanation, the drawings referred to in the following description show only the main members necessary for explaining the present invention in a simplified manner among the constituent members of the embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention can include arbitrary components not shown in the following drawings. In addition, the dimensions of the members in the following drawings do not faithfully represent the actual dimensions of the constituent members and the dimensional ratios of the members.

<Female connector>
1 is a perspective view of a female connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A is a side view of the female connector 1, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the female connector 1. Further, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the female connector 1. In FIG. 2B, 1a is the central axis of the female connector 1. For convenience of the following description, a direction parallel to the central axis 1 a is referred to as “vertical direction” of the female connector 1. The side to which the male connector is connected (the upper side of the paper surface in FIGS. 2A and 2B) is referred to as the “upper side” of the female connector 1, and the opposite side is referred to as the “lower side” of the female connector 1. The direction of a straight line orthogonal to the central axis 1a is referred to as “radial direction”, and the direction of rotation around the central axis 1a is referred to as “circumferential direction”.

  The female connector 1 includes a disk-shaped partition member (hereinafter referred to as “septum”) 10, and a base 20 and a cap 30 that sandwich and fix the septum 10 in the vertical direction.

  Similar to the septum 910 of the conventional female connector 900, the septum 10 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and a linear slit (cut) 11 penetrating the septum 10 in the vertical direction is formed at the center thereof. .

  The base 20 has a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole. The outer peripheral surface of the base 20 has a cylindrical surface shape, and a pair of engaging protrusions 21 and an annular protrusion 23 continuous in the circumferential direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface so as to protrude outward in the radial direction. Yes. Each engagement protrusion 21 includes a pair of engagement claws 22 protruding in the circumferential direction, and has a substantially “T” shape as a whole. The pair of engaging protrusions 21 are disposed at symmetrical positions with respect to the central axis 1a. The annular protrusion 23 is provided on the lower side (opposite to the septum 10) with respect to the engaging protrusion 21. The top portions (the portions farthest from the central axis 1a) of the engaging protrusions 21 and the annular protrusions 23 constitute a common cylindrical surface coaxial with the central axis 1a.

  A male luer 27 communicating with the inner cavity 25 of the base 20 and a female screw 28 coaxial with the male luer 27 are formed below the base 20. The outer peripheral surface of the male luer 27 has a tapered surface (conical surface) whose outer diameter decreases as it approaches the tip (that is, as it moves away from the base 20). The male luer 27 and the female screw 28 can be formed in accordance with, for example, ISO594-2.

  The cap 30 includes a top plate 31 having a disk shape and a peripheral wall 35 having a cylindrical shape extending downward from the outer peripheral edge of the top plate 31. A circular opening (through hole) 32 is formed at the center of the top plate 31. The peripheral wall 35 is formed with a pair of notches 36 that are notched upward from the lower end thereof. The circumferential dimension of each notch 36 is locally narrow by the pair of engaging claws 37. The pair of notches 36 are disposed at symmetrical positions with respect to the central axis 1a.

  The septum 10 is placed on the upper end of the base 20, and the cap 30 is put on the septum 10 from above. The engagement protrusion 21 formed on the base 20 is inserted into the notch 36 formed on the cap 30, and the engagement claw 22 and the engagement claw 37 are engaged. Thus, the cap 30 is fixed to the base 20 (see FIG. 1). The septum 10 is sandwiched between the upper end of the base 20 and the top plate 31 of the cap 30 in the thickness direction (that is, the vertical direction). The slit 11 of the septum 10 is exposed in an opening 32 formed in the top plate 31. The annular protrusion 23 formed on the base 20 is located below the peripheral wall 35 of the cap 30. The tops of the engagement protrusions 21 and the annular protrusions 23 constitute a cylindrical surface that is substantially the same as the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 35.

  The material of the septum 10 is not particularly limited, but is preferably a soft material. For example, isoprene rubber, silicone rubber, butyl rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, or the like can be used. On the other hand, the material of the base 20 and the cap is not particularly limited, but is preferably a hard material. For example, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyacetal, polyamide, hard polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, or the like can be used.

<Male connector>
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a male connector with a lock mechanism (hereinafter simply referred to as “male connector”) 100 that can be connected to the female connector 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the male connector 100.

  The male connector 100 includes a rod-shaped male luer 110 as a male member. In FIG. 5, 110 a is the central axis of the male luer 110. For convenience of the following description, the longitudinal direction of the male luer 110 (direction parallel to the central axis 110a) is referred to as “vertical direction”. Further, the direction of a straight line orthogonal to the central axis 110a is referred to as “radial direction”, and the direction of rotation around the central axis 110a is referred to as “circumferential direction”.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the male luer 110 is a rod-shaped member protruding from a disk-shaped base 119. In the present embodiment, the outer peripheral surface (that is, the side surface) is a tapered surface whose outer diameter slightly decreases as the distance from the base portion 119 increases. However, the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the male luer 110 is not limited to this, and can be arbitrarily selected. For example, it may be a cylindrical surface having a constant outer diameter in the vertical direction.

  A flow path 111 is formed in the male luer 110 along the longitudinal direction thereof. The flow path 111 is not open to the tip surface 110 t of the male luer 110. Instead, a lateral hole 112 communicating with the flow path 111 is formed in the vicinity of the tip of the male luer 10. The lateral holes 112 penetrate the male luer 110 in the radial direction and open at two locations on the outer peripheral surface of the male luer 110. The lateral hole 112 may be opened at only one place on the outer peripheral surface of the male luer 110 without penetrating the male luer 110.

  On the opposite side of the base 119 from the male luer 110, a cylindrical portion 115 having a flow path communicating with the flow path 111 is formed. The inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 115 is a tapered surface whose inner diameter increases as the distance from the base portion 119 increases. A male screw is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 115. The cylindrical part 115 can be comprised based on ISO594-2, for example. For example, a syringe or the like can be connected to the cylindrical portion 115. However, the configuration of the base 119 on the side opposite to the male luer 110 is arbitrary, and a configuration other than the cylindrical portion 115 may be provided.

  A hood 120 is erected from the base 119 on the same side as the male luer 110 so as to surround the male luer 110. The hood 120 has a hollow cylindrical shape coaxial with the male luer 110, and the height (vertical dimension) is higher than the height of the male luer 110. The inner peripheral surface of the hood 120 (surface facing the male luer 110) is a cylindrical surface having an inner diameter that is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cap 30 and the annular protrusion 23 of the female connector 1.

  A lock lever 130 having a cantilever support structure faces the male luer 110. The lock lever 130 has a thin plate shape (strip shape) whose longitudinal direction is substantially parallel to the central axis 110 a of the male luer 110. One end portion in the longitudinal direction of the lock lever 130 is a free end 130 a and is disposed on the distal end side of the male luer 110. The other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the lock lever 130 is a fixed end 130b, and is disposed on the base end side (that is, the base portion 119 side) of the male luer 110. The lock lever 130 can be elastically bent and deformed in a plane including the central axis 110 a of the male luer 110.

  The lock lever 130 having a cantilever support structure is formed by forming a substantially “U” -shaped slit 121 penetrating the hood 120 in the hood 120. In other words, the lock lever 130 is surrounded by the slit 121. As a result, the bridging portion 122 that connects the portion of the hood 120 that sandwiches the lock lever 130 in the circumferential direction exists above the free end 130a of the lock lever 130 (the side far from the base end 119). The upper edge 120a of the hood 20 has a circular plan view shape, and is continuous in the circumferential direction at the same height.

  A claw 134 that protrudes toward the male luer 110 is formed on the surface of the free end 130 a of the lock lever 130 that faces the male luer 110. The claw 134 includes an inclined surface 134a and an engaging surface 134b. The inclined surface 134a is inclined so as to move away from the male luer 110 as the distance from the base portion 119 increases. The engaging surface 134b is disposed on the base 119 side with respect to the inclined surface 134a, and is a plane substantially parallel to the horizontal direction (a direction parallel to the surface orthogonal to the central axis 110a). The top of the claw 134 (portion closest to the male luer 10) protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the hood 120 toward the male luer 110.

  The operation arm 135 protrudes outward (opposite to the male luer 110) from the surface of the lock lever 130 on the opposite side to the male luer 110. A portion of the operation arm 135 connected to the lock lever 130 is referred to as a base end 135b. The operation arm 135 extends from the base end 135b in a curved manner toward the fixed end 130b while being separated from the lock lever 130. In a direction parallel to the central axis 110a, the operation arm 135 extends to a lower side (tubular portion 115 side) than the fixed end 130b of the lock lever 130 (in the present embodiment, up to substantially the same position as the base portion 119). . An operation unit 135 a is provided at the tip of the operation arm 135. The operation arm 135 has a mechanical strength that can be regarded as a substantially rigid body.

  When a finger is pressed against the operation unit 135a and a pressing force F directed to the male luer 110 (that is, the hood 120) is applied to the operation unit 135a, as shown in FIG. 6, the fixed end 130b of the lock lever 130 and the operation arm A portion (elastic portion 131) between the base end 135b of 135 is elastically bent and deformed, and the claw 134 is displaced in a direction away from the male luer 110 along a substantially radial direction.

  In order for the claw 134 to be displaced as described above, the operation arm 135 is preferably separated from the fixed end 130 b of the lock lever 130. Further, in the vertical direction, the operation arm 135 extends beyond the fixed end 130b of the lock lever 130 to the lower side of FIG. 6 (the cylindrical portion 115 side), and the operation portion 135a is below the fixed end 130b (the cylindrical portion). 115 side). Furthermore, it is preferable that the base end 135b of the operation arm 135 is located closer to the free end 130a than the fixed end 130b of the lock lever 130 (that is, not including the case where the base end 135b is at the fixed end 130b).

  The hood 120 and the lock lever 130 with the operation arm 135 described above constitute a lock mechanism of the male connector 100 of the present embodiment.

  The male luer 110, the base 119, the hood 120, the lock lever 130, and the operation arm 135 are preferably made of a hard material. Specifically, the male luer 110, the base 119, the hood 120, the lock lever 130, and the operation arm 135 are integrally molded using a resin material such as polyacetal, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyamide, polypropylene, and hard polyvinyl chloride. Can be created by the method.

<Connection and separation between female connector and male connector>
A method for connecting and separating the female connector 1 and the male connector 100 of this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the female connector 1 and the male connector 100 immediately before connection, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view thereof. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the male connector 100 is opposed to the female connector 1. Then, the cap 30 of the female connector 1 is inserted into the hood 120 of the male connector 100, and further the female connector 1 is pushed toward the male connector 100. The tip of the male luer 110 abuts on the septum 10 exposed in the opening 32 of the cap 30 and enters the slit 11. In parallel with this, the inclined surface 134 a of the claw 134 of the lock lever 130 contacts the outer edge 30 a of the top plate 31 of the cap 30. The end edge 30a slides on the inclined surface 134a and elastically bends and deforms the elastic portion 131, thereby displacing the lock lever 130 in a direction in which the claw 134 is separated from the male luer 110. As the female connector 1 enters the hood 120, the claw 134 sequentially slides on the peripheral wall 35 and the annular protrusion 23 of the cap 30. Then, when the claw 134 finishes passing through the annular protrusion 23, the elastic portion 131 is elastically recovered, and the claw 134 and the annular protrusion 23 are engaged (locked state).

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the female connector 1 and the male connector 100 that are connected and locked, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view thereof.

  The lock lever 130 is in substantially the same position as in the initial state (see FIGS. 4 and 5), and its claw 134 (particularly its engagement surface 134 b (see FIG. 5)) engages with the annular protrusion 23 of the female connector 1. ing. The male luer 110 passes through the slit 11 of the septum 10, whereby the septum 10 is greatly elastically deformed. The opening of the lateral hole 112 of the male luer 110 is exposed in the lumen 25 of the base 20. In this state, liquid can be circulated between the male luer 110 and the female connector 1 via the flow path 111 and the lateral hole 112.

  The female connector 1 and the male connector 100 can be separated by placing the finger on the operation portion 135a of the lock lever 130 and displacing the lock lever 130 so that the claw 134 is separated from the male luer 110 (see FIG. 6). . Thereby, the engagement between the claw 134 and the annular protrusion 23 is released. In parallel with this, if the female connector 1 and the male connector 100 are pulled away from each other, the female connector 1 and the male connector 100 can be separated. The septum 10 is elastically restored as soon as the male luer 110 is removed, and the slit 11 is closed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the claw 134 of the male connector 100 is engaged with the annular protrusion 23 of the female connector 1 with the male luer 110 penetrating the septum 10. Therefore, the male luer 110 is prevented from unintentionally coming off the septum 10.

  The claw 134 of the male connector 100 engages with the annular protrusion 23 formed on the base 20, not the cap 30 of the female connector 1. Therefore, in the state where the female connector 1 and the male connector 100 are connected (see FIGS. 9 and 10), even if a force in a direction away from the female connector 1 is unintentionally applied to the male connector 100, the force is It acts on the annular protrusion 23 with which the claw 134 is engaged, but does not act on the cap 30. Therefore, the problem of the conventional female connector 900 (see FIGS. 11 to 13) that the cap 930 is plastically deformed or damaged by an unintended external force does not occur in this embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, an unintended force applied to the male connector 100 acts on the annular protrusion 23 with which the claw 134 is engaged. In order for the annular protrusion 23 to counter this force, for example, the width (dimension in the direction of the central axis 1a) W (see FIG. 2B) of the annular protrusion 23 may be increased. In the conventional female connector 900, when the thickness T (see FIG. 11A) of the locking portion 935a of the cap 930 is increased to counteract the force acting on the male connector 950, the outer diameter of the cap 930 increases. It was difficult to reduce the size of the connector 900 and the male connector 950. On the other hand, in this embodiment, if the width W of the annular protrusion 23 is increased, it is not necessary to enlarge the outer diameters of the cap 30 and the annular protrusion 23. When the width W of the annular protrusion 23 is increased, the dimension of the peripheral wall 35 of the cap 30 in the direction of the central axis 1a can be reduced accordingly. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to realize the female connector 1 having a strength for resisting the force acting on the male connector 100 without increasing the size of the female connector 1 and the male connector 100.

  In the conventional female connector 900, the cap 930 is fitted to the base 920 by fitting the locking protrusion 922 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base 920 into the locking hole 936 formed in the peripheral wall 935 of the cap 930. Fixed (see FIG. 11A). In such an engagement structure that engages in the radial direction, in order to firmly fix the cap 930 to the base 920, the protrusion height in the radial direction of the locking projection 922 is increased and the outer diameter of the cap 930 ( In particular, it is necessary to increase the thickness T) of the locking portion 935a. This made it difficult to downsize the female connector 900 and the male connector 950. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the cap 30 is attached to the base 20 by engaging the engaging claw 22 of the base 20 with the engaging claw 37 of the notch 36 formed in the peripheral wall 35 thereof. It is fixed (see FIGS. 1 and 3). In such an engagement structure in which the engagement claw 37 and the engagement claw 22 are engaged in the substantially circumferential direction, the fixing strength of the cap 30 with respect to the base 20 is such that the engagement claw 37 and the engagement claw 22 are engaged in the circumferential direction. Depends on depth. That is, unlike the conventional engagement structure that meshes in the radial direction, the cap 30 can be firmly connected to the base 20 without changing the outer diameter of the cap 30. Therefore, the engagement structure of the joint claw 37 and the engagement claw 22 of this embodiment is advantageous for reducing the diameter of the female connector 1 and the male connector 100.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in the state where the female connector 1 and the male connector 100 are connected (see FIGS. 9 and 10), the possibility that an unintended large external force is applied to the cap 30 is low. Therefore, the fixing strength of the cap 30 with respect to the base 20 can be reduced as compared with the conventional case. Thereby, the meshing depth of the engagement claw 37 and the engagement claw 22 in the circumferential direction can be reduced. This facilitates the work of attaching the cap 30 to the base 20 by engaging the engaging claws 37 and the engaging claws 22, which is advantageous in improving the assembling property of the female connector 1.

  However, the engagement structure similar to the conventional engagement structure engaged in the radial direction in which the locking projection 922 of the base 920 fits into the locking hole 936 of the peripheral wall 935 of the cap 930 is based on the cap 30 of this embodiment. It may be used as an engagement structure for fixing to the base 20. Even in this case, in this embodiment, the possibility that an unintended large external force is applied to the cap 30 is low, and therefore the cap 30 can be made smaller in diameter than the conventional cap 930.

  Since the annular protrusion 23 is continuous over the entire circumference of the base 20, when the male connector 100 is connected to the female connector 1, the male connector 100 rotates in the direction of rotation around the central axes 1 a and 100 a with respect to the female connector 1. The pawl 134 can be engaged with the annular protrusion 23 even at an arbitrary position. This is advantageous in improving the operability of connection between the female connector 1 and the male connector 100. Moreover, the male connector 100 can be freely rotated around the central axes 1a and 100a with respect to the female connector 1 while the female connector 1 and the male connector 100 are connected. Therefore, in a state where the female connector 1 and the male connector 100 are connected, for example, twisting of the tube connected to the female connector 1 and / or the male connector 100 is easily eliminated.

  The top of the annular protrusion 23 (the part farthest from the central axis 1 a) forms substantially the same surface as the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 35. As a result, the operation of connecting the male connector 100 to the female connector 1 and the operation of separating the connected male connector 100 from the female connector 1 are performed on the peripheral wall 35 of the cap 30 and the annular protrusion 23 with the tip of the claw 134. This can be done while sliding. Therefore, it is advantageous for improving the workability of connection and disconnection. Similarly, the fact that the top portion of the engaging protrusion 21 (the portion farthest from the central axis 1a) forms substantially the same surface as the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 35 is also advantageous for improving the workability of connection and separation. .

  The male connector 100 is engaged with the annular protrusion 23 of the female connector 1 with only one claw 134. When the pressing force F (see FIG. 6) is applied to the operation unit 135a to displace the claw 134, the female connector 1 is held by the hood 120 and therefore hardly moves. Therefore, the engagement between the claw 134 and the annular protrusion 23 can be reliably released simply by applying the pressing force F to the operation portion 135a to displace the claw 134. This is advantageous for simplifying the unlocking operation of the locked state and improving operability.

  Further, in order to release the engagement (locked state) between the claw 134 and the annular protrusion 23, a pressing force may be applied so that the operation unit 135a approaches the hood 120. This operation can be performed with only one finger of one hand. Accordingly, it is possible to stably hold the member connected to the hood 120 or the cylindrical portion 115 with the remaining fingers and palm of the one hand. For example, when the distal end (so-called mouth portion) of the outer cylinder of the syringe is connected to the cylindrical portion 115, the operation section 135a can be pushed with the thumb or index finger of the hand while holding the outer cylinder of the syringe with one hand. That's fine. As described above, the locked state can be released with only one finger while holding the member integrally connected to the hood 120 or the male connector 100. Therefore, the locked state can be released while the male connector 100 is stably held.

  The above embodiments are merely examples. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate.

  In the above embodiment, the claw 134 provided in the locking mechanism of the male connector is engaged with the annular protrusion 23 provided in the female connector 1, but the shape provided in the female connector 1 to engage the claw 134. Is not required to be a “projection” as long as the claw 134 can be engaged, and may be a “groove” or a “recess”, for example. In general, the claw 134 can be engaged if it is a “step” caused by unevenness formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base 20.

  In the above embodiment, the annular protrusion 23 is continuous all around the base 20, but the present invention is not limited to this. The level | step difference which the nail | claw 134 provided in the locking mechanism of the male connector engages may be intermittently formed in the circumferential direction. Such a step may be, for example, a rib-like protrusion extending in the circumferential direction, or a groove extending in the circumferential direction. Rotation that limits the rotation of the male connector relative to the female connector to prevent unintentional release of the claw 134 and the step when the step is not continuous in the circumferential direction. It is preferable that the limiting mechanism is provided in the female connector. As such a rotation restricting mechanism, a second step (protrusion) extending in a direction parallel to the central axis 1a provided at both ends of the step in the circumferential direction so as to restrict the movement of the claw 134 in the circumferential direction. Or a recessed part) can be illustrated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the tops of the annular protrusions 23 and the engaging protrusions 21 are substantially flush with the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 35, but the tops of the annular protrusions 23 and / or the tops of the engaging protrusions 21 are the peripheral walls. It may protrude with respect to the outer peripheral surface of 35, or may be depressed.

  The base 20 only needs to have a passage (inner cavity 25) for circulating the liquid, and does not need to have a cylindrical shape as in the above embodiment. For example, it may have a hollow polygonal column shape (regular square column shape, regular hexagonal column shape, etc.). The shape of the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 35 of the cap 30 can be set so as to fit into the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the base 20.

  The configuration on the lower side (opposite side of the septum 10) than the step (the annular protrusion 23 in the above embodiment) with which the nail 134 of the male connector engages is arbitrary. In the above embodiment, the male luer 27 and the female screw 28 are formed on the lower side of the base 20, but may have other configurations.

  In the above embodiment, the cap 30 is fixed to the base 20 by engaging the engaging claw 22 and the engaging claw 37. The method of fixing the cap 30 to the base 20 by engaging the engaging structures formed respectively on the cap 30 and the base 20 is advantageous for assembling the female connector easily and quickly. However, in the present invention, the method of fixing the cap 30 to the base 20 is not limited to engagement, and any fixing method such as adhesion or welding can be used. Examples of the bonding method include a method using an adhesive such as cyanoacrylate, urethane, and epoxy, and a method using a solvent that dissolves the material of the cap 30 and / or the base 20. As the welding method, known methods such as ultrasonic welding, high frequency welding, and thermal welding can be used.

  In the above embodiment, the through hole of the septum 10 into which the male luer is inserted is a linear slit, but the shape of the through hole is not limited to this. For example, the shape of the through hole in plan view (the shape viewed from above) may be an arbitrary shape such as a curved shape, two or more straight lines or a shape in which curved lines intersect (for example, a cross shape), or a dot shape. Regardless of the shape of the through-hole, the through-hole is elastically deformed according to the shape of the outer surface of the male luer when it is inserted, allowing the male luer to be inserted. It is preferable to close the return liquid tightly.

  The female connector of this invention can be used for arbitrary uses. For example, it may be provided on a transport line for transporting a liquid such as a chemical solution or blood. In this case, the female connector may be provided at one end of a flexible tube constituting the transportation line, or may be provided as a mixed injection port for injecting a chemical solution or the like into the transportation line.

  The configuration of the male connector connected to the female connector of the present invention is not limited to the male connector 100 shown in the above embodiment.

  For example, the lock lever 130 of the above embodiment is formed by forming a substantially “U” -shaped slit 121 in the hood 120. For example, the lock lever is outside the hood 120 (the side far from the male luer 110). Further, it may be provided separately from the hood 120. At this time, the fixed end of the lock lever can be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the hood 120 or on the base portion 119 protruding from the hood 120. The claw of the lock lever can be engaged with the female connector 1 through an opening formed in the hood or above the upper edge 120a of the hood.

  The shape of the operation arm 135 can also be arbitrarily changed. The operation portion 135a of the operation arm 135 is configured to displace the lock lever 130 as it moves away from the fixed end 130b in the vertical direction below the fixed end 130b of the lock lever 130 (on the side opposite to the free end 130a). The pressing force F (see FIG. 6) required for the operation can be reduced. The base end 135b of the operation arm 135 is preferably provided at a position away from the fixed end 130b so that the area of the lock lever 130 between the base end 135b and the fixed end 130b can be secured as the elastic portion 131. However, when the base end 135b is brought close to the free end 130a, it is necessary to lengthen the operation arm 135, and the mechanical strength of the operation arm 135 is reduced. In general, it is preferable to provide the base end 135b of the operation arm 135 at a substantially intermediate position between the fixed end 130b and the free end 130a as in the above embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the horizontal hole 112 of the male luer 110 extends along a straight line (that is, in the radial direction) orthogonal to the central axis 110a. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is perpendicular to the central axis 110a. It may extend along a straight line that intersects at an angle other than. The number of the lateral holes 112 is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be arbitrarily changed. Further, the flow path 111 may be opened in the distal end surface 110 a of the male luer 110 without forming the lateral hole 112.

  The lock mechanism of the male connector does not need to be configured by only a single lock lever 130 as in the above embodiment, and may include a plurality of lock levers. In this case, the claw formed on each of the plurality of lock levers may engage with a step formed on the base of the female connector. The male connector 950 with the conventional locking mechanism shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B may be used as the male connector. In this case, it goes without saying that the claw 974 engages with a step formed on the base of the female connector (the annular protrusion 23 in the above embodiment).

  Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular in the utilization field of this invention, it can utilize widely as a female connector connected with the male connector provided with the locking mechanism for maintaining the connection state with a male luer. In particular, it can be preferably used in the medical field handling dangerous drugs (for example, anticancer drugs) and blood. Furthermore, it can also be used in various fields that handle liquids such as foods other than those for medical use.

1 Female connector 10 Bulkhead member (septum)
11 Slit (through hole)
20 Base 21 Engaging projection 22 Engaging claw (engaging structure)
23 Annular projection (step)
30 Cap 32 Opening 35 Peripheral Wall 37 Engaging Claw (engaging structure)
100 male connector 110 male luer 120 hood 130 lock lever 134 claw

Claims (5)

A female connector capable of connecting a male connector having a rod-shaped male luer and a claw for maintaining the male luer inserted,
A partition member made of an elastic material and having a through-hole into which the male luer is inserted at the center,
A base for holding the peripheral edge of the partition member;
A cap formed with an opening that exposes the through hole of the partition member;
The cap is fixed to the base so that the partition member is sandwiched between the base and the cap in the thickness direction of the partition member,
A female connector, wherein the base is formed with a step to engage the claw of the male connector.   The female connector according to claim 1, wherein an engagement structure for engaging and fixing the cap to the base is formed on the base and the cap.   The female connector according to claim 2, wherein the engagement structure is a structure in which an engagement claw formed on an outer peripheral surface of the base and an engagement claw formed on the cap mesh with each other in a circumferential direction.   The female connector according to claim 1, wherein the step is formed continuously around the entire periphery of the base.   The knife according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the step is a protrusion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the base, and a top portion of the protrusion forms substantially the same surface as the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the cap. connector.

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