JP2019122725A - Medical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a novel structure medical connector that can be retrofitted to an end portion of a catheter.SOLUTION: In a medical connector 10, a connector main body 18 is provided with a port portion 42 to which a catheter 12 having an external diameter of 3 mm or less is externally mountable. The connector main body 18 also has, between the connector main body and a tightening cap 16, a tightening mechanism 82 which makes the tightening cap 16 axially approach the connector main body 18 by a relative rotation of 180 degrees or less to guide the tightening cap to a fixed position where the catheter 12 externally mounted to the port portion 42 is held. The connector main body further includes a lock mechanism 80 which prevents, at the fixed position, a relative rotation of the tightening cap 16 in a direction returning to the connector main body 18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical connector retrofittable to the end of a catheter.

  BACKGROUND Conventionally, a catheter is known as a type of medical device used for examination, treatment, etc. of a patient. In addition, since a catheter is often used by connecting another catheter, a syringe or the like, a medical connector that enables connection is often attached to the end of the catheter.

  By the way, it is desirable that the length of the catheter be appropriately set so as to be suitable for treatment such as examination and treatment. Therefore, for example, in JP-A-54-21087 (Patent Document 1) and JP-A-2006-334302 (Patent Document 2), for example, medical applications which can be retrofitted to the end of a catheter cut into an appropriate length. Connectors have been proposed.

  However, the medical connectors described in these Patent Documents 1 and 2 are all attached to the catheter by rotating the tightening cap on the connector body and screwing the connector, so the number of circumferences is increased. It was necessary to operate the screw. Therefore, not only the mounting operation is troublesome and time-consuming, but also the screw end may be twisted due to the screw rotational force exerted on the end of the catheter, and the catheter may be deformed or damaged. .

  In addition, since the hollow catheter is attached to the end of the catheter by being tightened from the outer peripheral surface by the screwing force between the connector body and the tightening cap, the deformation of the stenosis or collapse is likely to occur at the end of the catheter. The Therefore, it is difficult to stably obtain a strong clamping force with respect to the catheter, and there is also a possibility that the fluid flow path in the catheter may be narrowed to adversely affect the fluid flow characteristics.

  In particular, medical catheters are thin-walled and can be inserted into the lumen of a human body, for example, catheters having an outer diameter of 3 mm or less, such as distortion or distortion of the catheter when attaching the conventional medical connector as described above. Problems and stability of the clamping force tended to be even more serious.

JP-A-54-21087 JP, 2006-334302, A

  The present invention has been made in the background of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the problem to be solved is a novel structure of which the end of the catheter can be easily and stably retrofitted. To provide a medical connector.

  A first aspect of the present invention is a medical connector retrofittable on a catheter, which clamps and secures an end portion of a catheter between inner and outer peripheral surfaces between a connector body and a clamp cap assembled to each other, The connector body is provided with a port portion on which a catheter having an outer diameter of 3 mm or less can be fitted and attached, while the relative rotational operation is axially performed between the connector body and the tightening cap Tightening mechanism that moves the clamp cap axially close to the connector body by relative rotation of 180 degrees or less, and guides it to a fixed position sandwiching the catheter externally fitted to the port portion And a lock mechanism which prevents relative rotation of the clamp cap in the return direction with respect to the connector body in such a fixed position.

  In the medical connector having the structure according to the present embodiment, the end portion of the catheter is sandwiched and fixed between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the clamp cap and the connector body, thereby preventing the catheter from being constricted or crushed. It becomes possible to apply a clamping and fixing force stably. Moreover, since the attachment to the catheter is realized by the rotational operation of the connector body and the tightening cap of 180 degrees or less, the twist of the catheter at the attachment to the catheter is reduced as compared with the conventional screw structure. In addition, the catheter can be quickly attached and detached.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the medical connector according to the first aspect, the connector main body and the tightening cap both have flat outer surfaces different in outer dimensions in two orthogonal directions perpendicular to each other. The connector main body and the tightening cap are provided in a state where the major axis directions of the flat portions are aligned with each other by relative rotation of half or less from the relative position where the major axis directions of the flat portions are different from each other. It is considered to be the fixed position.

  According to the medical connector structured in accordance with the present embodiment, the condition before tightening and the condition of tightening on the catheter are facilitated from the appearance by matching and mismatching in the circumferential direction of each flat portion of the connector body and the tightening cap. To understand. Further, the operability of the rotation operation can be improved by inputting to the flat portions provided on the connector main body and the tightening cap.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the medical connector according to the first or second aspect, the tightening mechanism and the locking mechanism are provided separately.

  According to the medical connector having the structure according to the present aspect, the shapes, deformation rigidity and the like of the portion constituting the tightening mechanism and the portion constituting the locking mechanism in the connector main body and the tightening cap can be set separately. The design freedom can be improved.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention is the medical connector according to the third aspect, wherein the tightening mechanism and the locking mechanism are provided at positions separated in the axial direction of the connector main body. .

  According to the medical connector structured in accordance with the present aspect, for example, transmission of stress and deformation between the connector body and the portion constituting the tightening mechanism and the portion constituting the locking mechanism in the tightening cap is also reduced. It becomes possible to form with a higher degree of freedom in design by avoiding the above.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the medical connector according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the tightening mechanism includes a recessed groove portion extending in a circumferential spiral direction, The lead angle of the spiral in the recessed groove portion is 15 degrees to 45 degrees.

  According to the medical connector structured in accordance with the present aspect, the lead angle of the spiral of the concave groove portion constituting the tightening mechanism is set within an appropriate range, whereby the rotational operation force of the tightening cap with respect to the connector main body is obtained. It is possible to achieve both reduction and securing of the amount of axial movement better.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the medical connector according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the tightening mechanism comprises an outer peripheral surface of the connector main body and an inner peripheral surface of the tightening cap. A concave groove portion provided on one side and extending in a circumferential spiral direction and a convex portion provided on the other side and engaged with the concave groove portion are configured, and the concave groove portion and the convex portion are respectively provided in the connector The main body and the tightening cap are provided in a pair at mutually opposing positions in the direction perpendicular to the axis.

  According to the medical connector structured in accordance with the present aspect, the concave groove portion and the convex portion constituting the tightening mechanism are provided in a pair at positions opposed to each other in the direction perpendicular to the axis between the connector main body and the tightening cap. Therefore, when the tightening cap rotates and moves in the axial direction with respect to the connector main body, relative tilting of both members is suppressed, and a mechanically stable tightening action can be exhibited.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the medical connector according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the locking mechanism is formed by an outer circumferential surface of the connector main body and the clamping cap And the elastic piece is elastically deformed before reaching the fixed position by relative rotation of the connector main body and the tightening cap so that the elastic piece is deformed to go over the protruding portion. It is the

  According to the medical connector having the structure according to the present aspect, the elastic piece runs over the protrusion as the clamp cap rotates with respect to the connector body, and the elastic piece and the overrun protrusion mutually engage with each other. The rotation in the return direction may be blocked while allowing the lock mechanism to rotate the clamp cap relative to the connector body in the clamp direction.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the medical connector according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the guide start position at which the rotation of the clamp cap relative to the connector body starts being guided by the clamp mechanism. The tightening cap is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the catheter externally fitted to the port portion.

  According to the medical connector structured in accordance with the present embodiment, the clamp cap is already pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the catheter at the stage where the clamp cap starts to rotate relative to the connector body according to the clamp mechanism. By rotating the clamp cap from this stage, the catheter can be held more securely between the clamp cap and the connector body even with a small rotation of 180 degrees or less.

  A ninth aspect of the present invention is the medical connector according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the end portion of the catheter is sandwiched and fixed between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the port portion in the connector main body At least one of the pinched portions of the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the tightening cap is an inclined surface in the axial direction.

  According to the medical connector having the structure according to the present aspect, the port portion and the tightening cap are axially opposed to each other with the peripheral wall of the catheter interposed therebetween by the inclined surface in the axial direction. Therefore, the axial force generated by the tightening mechanism as the connector body and the tightening cap rotate relative to each other causes the end peripheral wall of the catheter to act more efficiently as a pinching force between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces. Can be

  In the medical connector configured in accordance with the present invention, the catheter can be stably attached to the catheter while avoiding narrowing and crushing by pinching the end of the catheter between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces. In addition, the connector can be easily attached to the catheter with less rotation operation of the connector body and the tightening cap.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a medical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a tightening cap is in a fixed position relative to a connector body. FIG. 2 is a front view of the medical connector shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the medical connector shown in FIG. 1; IV-IV sectional drawing in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 3. FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a clamp cap that constitutes the medical connector shown in FIG. 1, shown in a single piece prior to being extrapolated to the end of the catheter. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the medical connector shown in FIG. 1 in a state in which a tightening cap is at a guiding start position with respect to a connector body. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the medical connector shown in FIG. 7, corresponding to FIG. 4. IX-IX sectional drawing in FIG. 7. XX sectional drawing in FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a medical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the tightening cap is in a fixed position relative to the connector body. FIG. 12 is a front view of the medical connector shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the medical connector shown in FIG. XIV-XIV sectional drawing in FIG. XV-XV sectional drawing in FIG. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the medical connector shown in FIG. 11 in a state in which a tightening cap is at a guiding start position with respect to the connector body.

  Hereinafter, in order to clarify the present invention more specifically, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, FIGS. 1 to 5 show a medical connector 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention fixed to an end of a catheter 12. One longitudinal end (distal end) of the catheter 12 is inserted into the patient's body and the other longitudinal end of the catheter 12 whose length is adjusted, for example, by cutting. The medical connector 10 is post-fixed to the portion (proximal end portion). The medical connector 10 is provided with a connection port 14 at the proximal end, and an external flow path such as a syringe (not shown) is connected to the connection port 14 to allow the patient's body to pass through the medical connector 10 and the catheter 12. The drug solution is infused into the patient's body, and blood etc. is drawn from the patient's body. In the following description, the axial direction refers to the lateral direction in FIG. 2 which is the central axial direction of the clamp cap 16 and the connector main body 18 which constitute the medical connector 10. Further, the distal end side refers to the left side in FIG. 2 where the catheter 12 is connected to the medical connector 10, and the proximal end side is a diagram where the external flow path is connected to the medical connector 10 We say the right in 2

  More specifically, the catheter 12 is constituted by a tube formed of a soft synthetic resin, that is, it comprises a cylindrical peripheral wall 13 having an inner peripheral surface 13a and an outer peripheral surface 13b, and the peripheral wall 13 is a predetermined one. It has a length dimension. The catheter 12 is, for example, a catheter inserted into a patient's body, a blood vessel of the brain, a spinal cord or the like at the time of treatment or examination, and is a small diameter catheter having an outer diameter of 3 mm or less. The distal end of the catheter 12 is inserted into the patient's body by a conventionally known procedure, and the medical connector 10 is fixed to the proximal end.

  The medical connector 10 as a whole has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the substantially cylindrical clamping cap 16 located on the distal end side and the substantially cylindrical connector main body 18 located on the base end side mutually intersect in the axial direction. Are connected in series with each other.

  That is, as shown also in FIG. 6, the tightening cap 16 is provided with a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall portion 22 having an inner hole 20 penetrating in the axial direction at the center, and the catheter 12 with respect to the inner hole 20. The proximal end portion of is inserted. That is, the inner diameter of the inner hole 20 is substantially constant in the axial direction, and is substantially equal to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the catheter 12. In the present embodiment, the distal end portion of the inner hole 20 extends substantially straight in the axial direction, and the inner diameter of the proximal end portion of the inner hole 20 gradually increases toward the proximal side, that is, with respect to the axial direction An inclined surface 23 is provided. However, the inner diameter of the inner hole 20 may be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the catheter 12 in each single-piece state before the tightening cap 16 is extrapolated to the proximal end portion of the catheter 12. The proximal end portion may be inserted into the inner hole 20 of the clamp cap 16 while radially compressing it.

On the other hand, the outer dimension of the peripheral wall portion 22 varies in the axial direction, and in the present embodiment, the distal end side of the peripheral wall portion 22 has an outer shape of a substantially perfect circle in an axial direction view and the base end side in an axial direction view It has a substantially flat outer shape. Then, the outer size of the substantially flat outer portion (flat portion 26) is larger than the outer diameter of the substantially circular portion (full circular portion 24) in the axial direction, The two portions 24 and 26 are continuous with a smooth curved surface whose outer dimension gradually increases toward the proximal end. Specifically, the flattened section 26, as compared to the outer dimension D ₁ of the vertical direction in FIG. 2 (see FIG. 2), (see FIG. 3) the outer dimensions D ₂ of the vertical direction in FIG. 3 is larger That is, the outer shape of the flat portion 26 is an oblong shape, an elliptical shape, a substantially rectangular shape, or the like in which the outer dimensions in two directions perpendicular to each other are orthogonal to each other. In short, in the flat portion 26, the vertical direction in FIG. 2 is the short axis direction, and the vertical direction in FIG. 3 is the long axis direction.

  A pair of outer wall portions 28 and 28 projecting to the base end side are provided on both sides of the flat portion 26 in the longitudinal direction. The inner surfaces of the outer wall portions 28 and 28 have flat surfaces, and the outer surfaces have a curved surface shape corresponding to the flat portion 26. The flat portion 26 and the pair of outer wall portions 28 and 28 In addition, an assembly recess 30 is formed which is open at the same time and which penetrates in the minor axis direction of the flat portion 26. Therefore, the inner peripheral surface 31 of the tightening cap 16 includes the inner peripheral surface 31 a of the inner hole 20, the inner surface of the assembling recess 30, that is, the proximal end surface of the flat portion 26 and the inner surfaces of the outer walls 28, 28. It consists of In addition, since the outer surface of the outer wall portion 28, 28 has a shape corresponding to the flat portion 26, the flat portion 26 whose outer shape is flat is considered to be configured to include the outer wall portion 28, 28. It is also possible to grasp that the above-mentioned assembling recessed part 30 is formed in the flat part 26 concerned.

  Furthermore, on the inner surface of the projecting end (axial direction base end) of each outer wall portion 28, there is provided a convex portion 32 projecting inward in the opposite direction, that is, inward in the long axis direction of the flat portion 26. . That is, the pair of convex portions 32 are provided on the inner circumferential surface 31 of the tightening cap 16 so as to face each other in the direction perpendicular to the axis, that is, at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Further, these convex portions 32 are provided on one side of each of the outer wall portions 28 in the minor axis direction of the flat portion 26. Specifically, in the upper outer wall portion 28 in FIG. 3, the convex portion 32 protrudes downward in FIG. 3 from the upper portion in FIG. 2, while in the lower outer wall portion 28 in FIG. A convex portion 32 protrudes upward in FIG. 3 from a lower portion in FIG. That is, these convex portions 32 project from the proximal end opening of the assembly recess 30 toward the inside of the assembly recess 30. In the present embodiment, a curved surface 33 is formed on the projecting tip end surface of the convex portions 32, and the curved surface 33 substantially corresponds to the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 46 in the connector main body 18 described later. ing.

  Further, an elastic piece 34 protruding toward the base end side is provided at the protruding distal end (axial base end) of each outer wall portion 28. These elastic pieces 34 are formed in a circumferential direction central portion of the outer wall portion 28 so as to have a smaller dimension in the circumferential direction and a thickness dimension than the outer wall portion 28 and can be easily elastically deformed in the thickness direction. And the latching claw 36 which protrudes toward inward in the opposing direction is provided in the front-end | tip of protrusion of these elastic pieces 34. As shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, one circumferential surface (the surface in the rotational direction of the tightening cap 16 with respect to the connector main body 18 described later) of the locking claw 36 is a curved surface 38, while the circumference of the locking claw 36 is The other surface in the direction is a vertical surface 40 perpendicular to the axial direction. The outer surface of the elastic piece 34 is also in the shape of a curved surface corresponding to the flat portion 26 and the outer wall portion 28, and it can be understood that the flat portion 26 is configured including these elastic pieces 34, 34. It is.

  On the other hand, the connector main body 18 is generally cylindrical as a whole, and a substantially cylindrical port portion 42 inserted into the proximal end of the catheter 12 is provided at the distal end portion. The internal diameter of the port portion 42 is substantially constant in the axial direction. In addition, although the outer diameter dimension is substantially constant in the axial direction, in the present embodiment, the tip end portion of the port portion 42 is provided with the inclined surface 44 whose outer diameter dimension gradually increases toward the base end side. In addition, the proximal end portion of the port portion 42 extends substantially straight with a substantially constant outer diameter dimension. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the minimum outer diameter of the port portion 42, that is, the outer diameter at the tip of the inclined surface 44 is approximately equal to or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the catheter 12, and the port 42 The catheter 12 is inserted so as to push the peripheral wall 13 against the proximal end portion of the catheter 12. The relationship between the outer diameter of the port 42 and the inner diameter of the catheter 12 is not limited.

  Furthermore, the outer diameter dimension (maximum outer diameter dimension of the inclined surface 44) of the portion extending substantially straight on the proximal end side of the port portion 42 extends substantially straight on the distal end side of the inner hole 20 of the clamping cap 16. The inclined surface 44 on the tip side of the port portion 42 is larger than the inner diameter of the portion (minimum inner diameter of the inclined surface 23), and when the clamp cap 16 and the connector main body 18 are fixed. It is arranged to be close to the proximal inclined surface 23 of the inner hole 20 so that a clamping force can be exerted while sandwiching the proximal end portion of the catheter 12 extrapolated to the port portion 42. .

  In addition, an annular wall 45 extending to the outer peripheral side is integrally formed at the base end of the port 42, in other words, from the inner peripheral edge of the annular wall 45 extending in the direction perpendicular to the axis Protruding to the side. Then, from the outer peripheral edge portion of the annular wall portion 45, a substantially cylindrical small diameter portion 46 whose outer diameter size is smaller than that of a large diameter portion 54 described later protrudes toward the proximal end side. The inner diameter of the small diameter portion 46 is larger than the inner diameter of the port portion 42, and the outer diameter is substantially constant in the axial direction, and the small diameter portion 46 has a substantially perfect outer shape in the axial direction. have. The outer diameter dimension of the small diameter portion 46 is greater than the width dimension of the assembling recess 30 in the tightening cap 16 (that is, the dimension in the long axis direction of the flat portion 26 and the distance between the facing surfaces of the outer wall portions 28 and 28) The maximum separation distance between the outer surfaces of the groove wall portions 48 and 48 described later is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the width dimension in the assembling recess 30. Further, the outer diameter of the portion of the small diameter portion 46 excluding the groove wall portions 48, 48 is substantially equal to the opposing distance in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the convex portions 32, 32 (curved surfaces 33, 33) of the tightening cap 16 Or slightly smaller.

  A groove wall 48 protruding to the outer peripheral side is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tip end portion of the small diameter portion 46 with a predetermined circumferential dimension and an axial dimension. In the present embodiment, the groove wall portion 48 is formed to have a circumferential dimension of approximately 1⁄4 circumference, and the axial dimension of the groove wall portion 48 is approximately half of the axial dimension of the small diameter portion 46 The groove wall portion 48 is provided from the substantially front end in the axial direction of the small diameter portion 46 to the substantially central portion. Further, in the present embodiment, on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 46, a pair of groove wall portions 48, 48 is provided at positions opposed in the direction perpendicular to the axis, and the state of FIGS. In a state where the clamp 16 and the connector body 18 are assembled and before the clamp cap 16 is rotated with respect to the connector body 18, the clamp cap 16 is provided circumferentially between the pair of groove wall portions 48, 48. The convex portion 32 is to be inserted. In particular, one circumferential surface of the groove wall portion 48, that is, the surface contacting the convex portion 32 when the clamp cap 16 is rotated with respect to the connector main body 18, is circumferentially helically inclined. The circumferential direction between the groove wall portions 48 and 48 is a concave groove portion 52 extending in a circumferential spiral direction with the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 46 as a groove bottom surface. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a pair of the recessed groove portions 52 are provided at positions facing each other in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction, that is, at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

  In particular, the lead angle of the spiral of the recessed groove 52, that is, the inclination angle θ (see FIG. 7) with respect to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the inclined guide surface 50 is preferably 15 degrees or more. Further, such an inclination angle θ is preferably 45 degrees or less. In the present embodiment, the lead angle θ of the spiral of the recessed groove portion 52 is 30 degrees. By setting the inclination angle θ within the above range, when the tightening cap 16 is rotated relative to the connector main body 18 as described later, the convex portion 32 and the groove wall portion 48 (inclined guide surface 50 The amount of axial movement of the clamp cap 16 with respect to the connector main body 18 can be sufficiently secured while suppressing the contact force (operation force of the rotation operation) accompanying the contact with the connector.

A substantially cylindrical large diameter portion 54 whose outer dimension is larger than that of the small diameter portion 46 is integrally formed on the proximal end side of the small diameter portion 46 having such a shape. In the present embodiment, substantially the entire large diameter portion 54 has a flat outer shape substantially corresponding to the flat portion 26 in the peripheral wall portion 22 of the tightening cap 16, and the large diameter portion 54 flattens the connector main body 18. The part is made up. That is, the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 54 is different in the two orthogonal directions perpendicular to each other, and the dimension in the short axis direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) is the short axis direction in the flat portion 26 of the tightening cap 16. along with being substantially equal to the dimension D _1, the dimension in the major axis direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3) is either substantially equal to the dimension D ₂ of the long axis direction of the flat portion 26 of the tightening cap 16, slightly It is enlarged. Therefore, the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 54 is an oval, an oval, or a substantially rectangular shape similar to the flat portion 26 of the tightening cap 16.

In the outer peripheral surface of the tip end portion of the large diameter portion 54, housing concave portions 56, 56 are formed with predetermined circumferential dimensions on both sides in the long axis direction. As a result, the outer dimension D ₃ (see FIG. 3) in the major axis direction of the distal end portion of the large diameter portion 54 is smaller than the outer dimension in the major axis direction of the proximal end portion of the large diameter portion 54. In short, the distal end portion of the large diameter portion 54 has a smaller outer dimension in the long axis direction than the proximal end portion, and the portions recessed on both sides in the long axis direction rather than the proximal end portion ing. Incidentally, such an outer dimension D ₃ in the longitudinal direction at the tip portion of the large diameter portion 54, together are slightly smaller than the facing surface distance between the elastic pieces 34 and 34 in the tightening cap 16, the elastic piece 34, 34 The distance between the facing surfaces of the locking claws 36 and 36 provided at the tip of the projection of

  Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion of the large diameter portion 54, locking concave portions 58, 58 opened to the outer peripheral side are formed on both sides in the long axis direction. That is, the outer dimensions of the large diameter portion 54 in the long axis direction are further reduced at the formation positions of the locking recesses 58, 58, and the outer dimensions of the large diameter portion 54 at the formation positions of the locking recesses 58, The separation distance between the bottom surfaces of the locking recesses 58, 58) is approximately equal to or slightly smaller than the distance between the facing surfaces of the locking claws 36, 36. Furthermore, the wall surfaces on both sides constituting the inner surface of the locking recess 58 are vertical surfaces 60, 60 extending in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction. In the present embodiment, the locking recess 58 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and is the circumferential dimension (the dimension in the horizontal direction in FIG. 5) of the locking recess 58 substantially equal to the circumferential dimension of the locking claw 36? The axial dimension of the locking recess 58 is made larger than the axial dimension of the locking claw 36 while being slightly enlarged.

  Then, as described later, by rotating the tightening cap 16 with respect to the connector body 18, the locking claws 36, 36 of the tightening cap 16 are fitted into the locking recesses 58, 58 of the connector body 18. In such a fitted state, the rotation of the clamp cap 16 relative to the connector body 18 is prevented. That is, among the wall portions on both sides of the locking recess 58, the wall portion on the front side in the rotational direction of the clamp cap 16 with respect to the connector main body 18 serves as the rotation blocker 62 that blocks the forward rotation of the clamp cap 16. There is. At the same time, since the locking claws 36 get over the wall portion in the rotational direction of the tightening cap 16 with respect to the connector main body 18 of the both side walls of the locking recess 58 and fit into the locking recess 58 The wall portion is formed as an overturning projection 64 which protrudes relatively to the outer peripheral side than the locking recess 58.

  Here, the maximum protrusion height from the bottom surface of the locking recess 58 in the rotation preventing portion 62 is slightly larger than the maximum protrusion height from the bottom surface of the locking recess 58 in the running projection 64, and the rotation preventing portion The positive direction rotation of the tightening cap 16 with respect to the connector main body 18 is more reliably prevented by the reference numeral 62, and the locking claw 36 easily rides over the protrusion 64. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the overrun projection 64 is a steeply inclined surface 66 whose inclination angle with respect to the direction perpendicular to the axis is steeper than that of the outer peripheral surface of the rotation preventing portion 62. By providing such a steeply inclined surface 66, when the tightening cap 16 rotates with respect to the connector main body 18, rotation inhibition of the tightening cap 16 due to the contact between the locking claw 36 and the outer peripheral surface of the protruding projection 64 is possible. As a result, the elastic deformation of the locking claw 36 (elastic piece 34) to the outer peripheral side is more easily caused, and the rotational operation force can be reduced.

  Further, the inner surface of the wall portion on the axial direction distal end side of the run-over projection 64 is an inclined surface 68 which is inclined in the direction in which the thickness dimension of the wall portion gradually decreases toward the distal end side. The inclined surface 68 is an inclined curved surface which is curved in a circumferential spiral manner. That is, the inner surface of the portion adjacent to the distal end side with respect to the steeply inclined surface 66 is the inclined surface 68 in which the thickness dimension of the wall gradually becomes smaller toward the distal end side, whereby the clamp cap 16 When the locking claw 36 and the wall portion on the axial direction front end side of the protruding projection 64 abut against each other when rotating with respect to 18, the rotation of the tightening cap 16 is prevented from being inhibited. The inclined surface 68 may be in contact with the locking claw 36 when the tightening cap 16 rotates with respect to the connector main body 18, but by adopting a mode in which these do not contact, the locking claw 36 is used. Can be prevented from being generated due to the sliding of the slider against the inclined surface 68.

  The connection port 14 protrudes to the proximal end side from the center of the proximal end surface of the large diameter portion 54 having such a shape. The connection port 14 is configured to include a substantially cylindrical projecting cylindrical portion 70 that protrudes to the proximal end side. In addition, a male screw portion 72 protruding to the outer peripheral side is provided at the base end of the projecting cylindrical portion 70, and a luer lock type syringe or the like can be connected to the connection port 14. However, such an external thread portion 72 is not essential, and the external flow path connected to the connection port 14 may not be of the luer lock type.

  As described above, in the connector main body 18, the central axis of each of the port portion 42, the small diameter portion 46, the large diameter portion 54, and the protruding cylindrical portion 70, which are all substantially cylindrical, is approximately equal to each other. It is connected in the axial direction. That is, an inner bore 74 penetrating in the axial direction is formed in the connector body 18, and the inner bore 74 includes the inner bores of the port portion 42, the small diameter portion 46, the large diameter portion 54 and the projecting cylindrical portion 70. It consists of In the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 46, the large diameter portion 54, and the projecting cylindrical portion 70 in the inner hole 74 is smoothly continuous, and particularly in the present embodiment, the small diameter portion 46 and the large diameter portion A tapered surface 76 having an inner diameter that gradually increases toward the proximal end is constituted by the inner peripheral surface 54 of the projecting cylindrical portion 54 and the projecting cylindrical portion 54.

  Further, the outer peripheral surface 78 of the connector main body 18 is configured to include the outer peripheral surfaces of the port portion 42, the annular wall 45, the small diameter portion 46, the large diameter portion 54 and the projecting cylindrical portion 70. That is, the groove wall portion 48, the concave groove portion 52, the locking concave portion 58, the running over projection 64 and the like provided on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 46 and the large diameter portion 54 are all provided on the outer peripheral surface 78 of the connector main body 18 There is.

  The medical connector 10 of the present embodiment is configured to include the clamp cap 16 and the connector main body 18 configured as described above, and the medical connector 10 is disposed behind the proximal end of the catheter 12. It is attached and fixed. A method of attaching the medical connector 10 to the catheter 12 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the distal end of the catheter 12 to which the medical connector 10 is attached is inserted into a lumen such as a blood vessel of a patient. While the catheter 12 may be attached to another component such as another connector at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction or at the proximal end when inserted into the body, the medical connector 10 according to the present invention is attached. At the time of being carried out, for example, the proximal end side of the catheter 12 is cut or the like, and a separate part is not attached to the proximal end portion of the catheter 12. Such a catheter 12 may be cut at the proximal end portion projecting from the patient as needed to adjust the length dimension, etc.

  Then, the clamping cap 16 is extrapolated to the proximal end portion of the catheter 12 whose distal end is inserted into a lumen such as a patient's blood vessel. Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the proximal end of the catheter 12 is extrapolated to the port 42 of the connector body 18, and the clamp cap 16 and the connector body 18 are assembled to each other. That is, the small diameter portion 46 of the connector main body 18 is inserted into the assembling recess 30 of the tightening cap 16, and the convex portion 32 projecting from the tightening cap 16 is formed between the groove walls 48 and 48 in the circumferential direction. The groove 52 is inserted. In this case, the curved surface 33 provided on the projecting end surface of the convex portion 32 is a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 46 that is circumferentially deviated from the groove wall portions 48 (that is, the groove of the concave groove portion 52 Bottom surface) or slightly separated. Further, the long axis direction of the flat portion 26 of the tightening cap 16 and the long axis direction of the flat portion (large diameter portion 54) of the connector main body 18 are different from each other, and the proximal end side of the tightening cap 16 protrudes The elastic pieces 34 and 34 are located on the outer peripheral side of the tip end portion of the large diameter portion 54 of the connector main body 18 at a portion that is circumferentially out of the housing concave portions 56 and 56. In the present embodiment, the long axis direction of the flat portion 26 of the tightening cap 16 and the long axis direction of the flat portion (large diameter portion 54) of the connector main body 18 are different from each other and approximately 90 degrees around the central axis. It has an angle difference.

  From this state, the convex portion 32 moves in the recessed groove portion 52 by rotating the tightening cap 16 with respect to the connector main body 18 as described later, and the proximal end of the catheter 12 is tightened with the tightening cap 16 The position between the connector main body 18 and the clamp cap 16 shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 is a guide start position at which the rotation with respect to the connector main body 18 is guided.

  Here, when the tightening cap 16 is in the guiding start position shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the inner and outer peripheral surfaces 13a and 13b of the proximal end of the catheter 12 are tightened with the outer peripheral surface 78 of the connector main body 18 The inner circumferential surface 31 of the cap 16, specifically, the outer circumferential surface 78 a of the port portion 42 of the connector main body 18 and the inner circumferential surface 31 a of the inner hole 20 of the tightening cap 16. In the present embodiment, the inclined surface 44 is provided on the outer peripheral surface 78a of the port portion 42, and the inclined surface 23 is provided on the inner peripheral surface 31a of the inner hole 20. The inner and outer peripheral surfaces 13a and 13b of the catheter 12 are provided. Are held in contact with the inclined surfaces 44 and 23. That is, the outer peripheral surface 78a of the port portion 42 including the both inclined surfaces 44 and 23 and the inner peripheral surface 31a of the inner hole 20 form a pinching portion for pinching the proximal end of the catheter 12. In particular, in the present embodiment, the outer peripheral surface 13 b of the proximal end portion of the catheter 12 externally fitted to the port portion 42 in the state where the tightening cap 16 is at the guiding start position is the inner peripheral surface 31 of the tightening cap 16. It is a state where it is zero touch or slightly pressed against the inner peripheral surface 31a of the inner hole 20 which is

  By rotating the clamp cap 16 relative to the connector body 18 from such a guiding start position, the clamp cap 16 is displaced to a fixed position with respect to the connector body 18 as shown in FIGS. There is. That is, as the convex portions 32, 32 of the tightening cap 16 are brought into contact with and guided by the inclined guide surfaces 50, 50 of the recessed groove portions 52, 52 extending in the circumferential spiral direction, the rotational operation force is in the axial direction. The movement force is converted to move the clamping cap 16 in a direction toward the connector body 18, that is, to move proximally with respect to the connector body 18. By moving the clamp cap 16 to the proximal end side while rotating with respect to the connector main body 18 in this manner, the inner peripheral surface 31 of the clamp cap 16 (the inner peripheral surface of the inner hole 20) 31a) and the outer peripheral surface 78 of the connector body 18 (the outer peripheral surface 78a of the port portion 42), the proximal end portion of the catheter 12 is tightened more firmly between the tightening cap 16 and the connector body 18 It is supposed to be. In the state where the tightening cap 16 is rotated with respect to the connector main body 18, the convex portion 32 is positioned between the groove wall portion 48 and the large diameter portion 54 in the axial direction, and the curve of the convex portion 32 The surface 33 abuts or is slightly separated from the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 46.

  In addition, when the tightening cap 16 rotates with respect to the connector main body 18, the elastic pieces 34, 34 and the locking claws 36, 36 of the tightening cap 16 located at a position deviated in the circumferential direction from the housing concave portions 56, 56. Are accommodated in the accommodation recesses 56, 56. In the present embodiment, in the clamping cap 16 and the connector main body 18, both of which are substantially flat, the dimensions in the major axis direction and the minor axis direction are substantially equal to each other. By aligning the longitudinal direction with the main body 18, the medical connector 10 is configured to have a substantially flat shape as a whole. In the present embodiment, the long axis direction of the tightening cap 16 and the long axis direction of the connector main body 18 coincide with each other by rotation of 180 degrees (half circumference) or less, specifically about 90 degrees. The clamping cap 16 is positioned at a fixed position relative to the connector body 18. However, the rotation of the clamping cap 16 in the opposite direction in the connector body 18 is blocked by the abutment of the vertical surface 40 on the rotational direction rear side of the locking claw 36 and the outer circumferential surface of the rotation preventing portion 62, In the first place, a rotation of 180 degrees or more relative to the connector body 18 of the clamping cap 16 is not permitted.

  And as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a state in which the long axis direction of the flat portion 26 of the tightening cap 16 and the long axis direction of the flat portion (large diameter portion 54) of the connector main body 18 coincide with each other (tightening cap 16 In the fixed position with respect to the connector body 18), the locking recesses 58, 58 provided on the outer peripheral surface 78 of the connector body 18 are provided on the inner peripheral surface 31 of the tightening cap 16 The claws 36, 36 are adapted to enter. That is, by rotating the tightening cap 16 with respect to the connector main body 18, the locking claws 36, 36 move over and contact the steeply inclined surfaces 66, 66 which are the outer peripheral surfaces of the protrusions 64, 64. , 34 are elastically deformed to the outer peripheral side. As a result, it is possible for the locking claws 36, 36 to move over the protruding portions 64, 64 and enter into the locking recesses 58, 58 to reach the fixed position. In short, by rotating the tightening cap 16 with respect to the connector main body 18, the elastic piece 34 is elastically deformed to the outer peripheral side before reaching the fixed position, and the overriding projection 64 is overcome. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the surfaces on the front side in the rotational direction of the locking claws 36, 36 are curved surfaces 38, 38, the overcoming operation of the overriding projections 64, 64 by the locking claws 36, 36 is It is easy to realize.

  Then, the locking claw 36 enters the locking recess 58 and abuts on the vertical surface 60 of the rotation preventing portion 62, whereby the positive rotation of the tightening cap 16 with respect to the connector body 18 is blocked. There is. At the same time, when the locking claw 36 abuts on the vertical surface 60 of the overturned projection 64, the rotation of the tightening cap 16 in the reverse direction (returning direction) with respect to the connector body 18 is blocked. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the surfaces on the rear side in the rotational direction of the locking claws 36, 36 are the vertical surfaces 40, 40, the locking effect of the locking claw 36 on the overriding projection 64 is sufficiently exhibited. As a result, the risk of loosening the fastening between the tightening cap 16 and the connector body 18 is reduced.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the lock mechanism 80 that fixes the clamp cap 16 in a fixed position with respect to the connector body 18 and blocks rotation at least from the fixed position in the return direction includes a locking claw 36. It is configured to include a piece 34 and a runout projection 64. Further, the clamping mechanism 82 for clamping the catheter 12 by rotating the clamping cap 16 with respect to the connector body 18 and guiding it to the above fixed position comprises the convex portion 32 of the clamping cap 16 and the concave groove 52 of the connector body 18. And is included.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the lock mechanism 80 and the tightening mechanism 82 are separately provided. In particular, in the present embodiment, the lock mechanism 80 and the tightening mechanism 82 are provided separately in the axial direction.

  A syringe or the like as an external flow passage (not shown) is inserted and connected to the proximal end opening 84 of the connection port 14 of the medical connector 10 fixed to the proximal end of the catheter 12 as described above. Thus, a medical fluid injection or blood or other suction process can be performed via the catheter 12 and the medical connector 10.

  In the medical connector 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the proximal end of the catheter 12 is sandwiched and fixed between the clamp cap 16 and the connector body 18, so that the base of the catheter 12 is obtained. Constriction or crushing at the end can be avoided. Thus, the catheter 12 can be stably supported and adverse effects on fluid flow through the catheter 12 can be effectively prevented. In addition, since the clamping cap 16 and the connector body 18 are fixed to each other by rotating the clamping cap 16 about 90 degrees with respect to the connector body 18, the case where the clamping cap 16 is rotated one or more turns In comparison, the fixing operation can be facilitated.

  Furthermore, there is a possibility that the catheter 12 may be twisted by rotating the connector body 18 side when the clamping cap 16 and the connector body 18 are rotated relative to each other, but the relative rotation amount between the clamping cap 16 and the connector body 18 is small. By doing this, the twist of the catheter 12 can be avoided or the amount of twist can be reduced. In particular, by adopting a thin catheter 12 with an outer diameter of 3 mm or less, which is easy to twist, the above effects can be effectively obtained.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the lock mechanism 80 and the tightening mechanism 82 are separately provided, the guide effect by the tightening mechanism 82 can be obtained by appropriately designing the shapes of both mechanisms 80, 82 and the like. The rotation prevention effect by the lock mechanism 80 can be achieved at the same time in a highly compatible manner. In particular, by providing the lock mechanism 80 and the tightening mechanism 82 at positions separated in the axial direction as in the present embodiment, the lock mechanism 80 can be provided on the outer peripheral side more than the tightening mechanism 82. . As a result, when the tightening cap 16 is rotated with respect to the connector body 18, the couple force exerted on the locking mechanism 80 with respect to the tightening mechanism 82 can be increased. As a result, the rotational operation force of the tightening cap 16 realized according to the tightening mechanism 82 can be made smaller, and the elastic deformation of the elastic pieces 34, 34 for operating the lock mechanism 80 is more effective. It is easy to occur.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the elastic pieces 34 and the overrunning projections 64 that constitute the lock mechanism 80 are provided in a pair at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the axis, the lock mechanism 80 is provided. In the case where, for example, the elastic piece 34 runs over the projection 64 during operation, the possibility of the clamping cap 16 and the connector body 18 mutually tilting is effectively reduced, and a stable lock operation is achieved. It can be realized. Similarly, since the convex portion 32 and the concave groove portion 52 constituting the tightening mechanism 82 are provided in a pair at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the axis, the tightening cap 16 is provided. When rotating with respect to the main body 18, the possibility that the tightening cap 16 and the connector main body 18 tilt with each other is effectively reduced, and a stable guiding effect and a tightening effect of the catheter 12 can be exhibited.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface 31 of the clamp cap 16 and the outer peripheral surface 78 of the connector body 18 at the guide start position where the rotation of the clamp cap 16 relative to the connector body 18 starts being guided by the clamp mechanism 82. Since the inner and outer peripheral surfaces 13a and 13b of the catheter 12 are pinched at this point and the inner peripheral surface 31 of the tightening cap 16 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface 13b of the catheter 12, the tightening cap 16 is further By rotating the catheter 12, the catheter 12 can be tightened more firmly between the clamp cap 16 and the connector body 18.

  Further, on the inner peripheral surface 31 of the tightening cap 16 and the outer peripheral surface 78 of the connector main body 18, inclined surfaces 23 and 44 inclined with respect to the axial direction are provided, respectively. Since the surface 13b is sandwiched between the inclined surfaces 23 and 44, removal of the catheter 12 from the medical connector 10 is more reliably prevented, as compared with the case where the surface sandwiching the catheter 12 is parallel to the axial direction. Not only that, but also insertion of the port portion 42 into the bore 20 with the catheter 12 interposed therebetween can be realized more easily.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the tightening cap 16 is provided with the flat portion 26 and the connector body 18 is also provided with the flat portion (large diameter portion 54). The major axes of these flat portions 26, 54 The lock operation by the lock mechanism 80 is realized when the directions match. As a result, the user can easily grasp whether or not the tightening cap 16 and the connector main body 18 are in the locked state by visual inspection or touch. Further, by providing the flat portions 26 and 54 on the clamp cap 16 and the connector main body 18, the user can easily perform an operation of gripping both members 16 and 18 and tightening the clamp cap 16. .

  Next, FIGS. 11 to 15 show a medical connector 90 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Also in the medical connector 90 of the present embodiment, the basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the lock mechanism 96 and the clamp mechanism configured between the clamp cap 92 and the connector main body 94 The shape of 98 is different from the first embodiment. The same members and portions as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  That is, the tightening cap 92 according to the present embodiment is generally cylindrical as a whole, and the distal end side is provided with a tapered cylindrical portion 100 whose diameter gradually increases toward the proximal end side, and the proximal end side. A flat portion 102 having a flat, substantially cylindrical shape is provided. The flat portion 102 of the present embodiment has a substantially oval or substantially rounded rectangular shape in which the outer dimension in the left-right direction is larger than the outer dimension in the vertical direction in FIG. Is the major axis direction, and the vertical direction in FIG. 15 is the minor axis direction.

  Further, in the tapered cylinder portion 100 and the flat portion 102, an inner hole 104 penetrating in the axial direction is formed. The inner diameter of the flat portion 102 on the proximal side is made larger than the inner diameter of the tapered cylindrical portion 100 on the distal end side. In the present embodiment, in particular, in the inner hole 104, the tip end portion of the tapered cylinder portion 100 has a straight shape in which the inner diameter dimension is substantially constant, and the inner circumferential surface of the proximal end portion of the tapered cylinder portion 100 The inclined surface 106 has a diameter gradually increasing toward the proximal end. On the other hand, the inner hole 104 in the flat portion 102 has a straight shape in which the inner diameter dimension is substantially constant.

  And in the peripheral wall part 108 of this flat part 102, the outer wall parts 110 and 110 protrude in the proximal end side from the long-axis direction (left-right direction in FIG. 15) both sides, respectively. The outer wall portions 110 have predetermined circumferential dimensions and thickness dimensions. In the present embodiment, each outer wall portion 110 protrudes from each one in the short axis direction (vertical direction in FIG. 15), that is, outer wall portions 110 and 110 are provided at the upper right and lower left in FIG. The outer wall portions 110, 110 are mutually opposed in the direction perpendicular to the axis. In addition, these outer wall portions 110, 110 have a thickness dimension to a certain extent, so that elastic deformation in the thickness direction is less likely to occur. The inner peripheral surface of the outer wall portion 110 is a curved surface 111 substantially corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the groove wall portion 132 described later.

  Further, at each projecting end of the outer wall portion 110, a convex portion 112 is provided which protrudes in a direction substantially parallel to the short axis direction. That is, in the present embodiment, the inner circumferential surface 113 of the tightening cap 92 is configured to include the inner circumferential surface 104 a of the inner hole 104 and the inner circumferential surface of the outer wall portion 110. On the circumferential surface 113, a pair of convex portions 112, 112 are provided to face each other in a direction perpendicular to the axis. Specifically, the convex portion 112 protrudes downward in FIG. 15 from the outer wall portion 110 positioned at the upper right in FIG. 15, and the convex portion 112 is illustrated from the outer wall portion 110 positioned at the lower left in FIG. It projects upward in 15th. The outer peripheral surface of the convex portion 112 is a curved surface 114 having a substantially semicircular cross section, and the clamp cap 92 rotates smoothly with respect to the connector main body 94 in contact with an inclined guide surface 134 described later. It is supposed to

  Furthermore, an elastic piece 116 extending in the circumferential direction protrudes from one side in the circumferential direction at a substantially axial center portion of the outer wall portion 110. The elastic pieces 116 and 116 respectively extend substantially parallel to the minor axis direction, that is, the elastic piece 116 protrudes downward in FIG. 15 from the outer wall portion 110 located at the upper right in FIG. An elastic piece 116 projects upward in FIG. 15 from the outer wall portion 110 located at the lower left. Also, these elastic pieces 116 have predetermined thickness dimensions and axial dimensions, and the thickness dimension is made sufficiently small, so that the elastic pieces 116 can be easily elastically deformed in the thickness direction. There is. Furthermore, the elastic piece 116 has an axial dimension smaller than that of the outer wall portion 110, protrudes from a substantially central portion in the axial direction of the outer wall portion 110, and has a predetermined size in the axial direction with the peripheral wall portion 108. A gap 118 is formed. Thereby, elastic deformation of the elastic piece 116 is easily generated.

  Further, at the protruding tips of the elastic pieces 116, locking claws 120 are provided which protrude inward in the opposite direction, that is, inward in the long axis direction. The outer surface of the locking claw 120, that is, the surface in the rotational direction front of the clamp cap 92 with respect to the connector main body 94 described later is a substantially semicircular curved surface 122, while the inner surface of the locking claw 120, that is, the connector The rotational direction rear surface of the clamp cap 92 with respect to the main body 94 is a vertical surface 124 extending in the direction perpendicular to the axis.

  On the other hand, as in the first embodiment, the connector body 94 includes the port portion 42 having the inclined surface 44, the substantially cylindrical small diameter portion 126, and the substantially cylindrical large diameter portion 128 as a flat portion; And a connection port 14 configured to include the projecting cylindrical portion 70. In the present embodiment, the small diameter portion 126 provided in the axial direction between the port portion 42 and the large diameter portion 128 is a substantially straight cylindrical body whose inner diameter dimension and outer diameter dimension are substantially constant. Further, the inner diameter of the inner hole 74 of the connector body 94 is gradually increased toward the proximal end, and the inner diameter of the small diameter portion 126 is increased as compared with the inner diameter of the port portion 42. Furthermore, the inner diameter of the proximal end of the large diameter portion 128 is larger than the inner diameter of the small diameter portion 126, and the inner surface of the portion is a tapered surface 76 whose diameter gradually increases toward the proximal end. ing.

  Further, also in the present embodiment, the large diameter portion 128 has a flat shape substantially similar to the flat portion 102 of the tightening cap 92, and the left and right direction in FIG. The vertical direction in 15 is the short axis direction. On the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 128, the housing recesses 130 and 130 are formed on both sides in the long axis direction, and the outer size at the formation position of the housing recesses 130 and 130 is reduced. These accommodation recesses 130 and 130 have predetermined circumferential dimensions, and in the present embodiment, in the upper right and lower left in FIG. 15 corresponding to the positions of the outer wall portions 110 and 110 in the tightening cap 92. It is formed.

  A groove wall portion 132 projecting outward in the long axis direction is formed at the tip of the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 128 of which the housing recess 130 is formed and the outside size is reduced. The groove wall portion 132 has a predetermined circumferential dimension and an axial dimension and protrudes in the accommodation recess 130. In this embodiment, it is formed with a circumferential dimension extending from the substantially upper end portion and the lower end portion in FIG. 15 to a substantially central portion in the vertical direction, and is formed with an axial dimension smaller than the accommodation recess 130. The inner surface on the proximal end side of the groove wall portion 132 is provided with an inclined surface which is inclined in a direction in which the thickness dimension of the groove wall portion 132 becomes larger as the rotational direction of the tightening cap 92 with respect to the connector main body 94 goes forward. In particular, in the present embodiment, the inclined surface is formed as the inclined guide surface 134 which is inclined in a circumferential spiral manner. As a result, in the axial direction between the groove wall portion 132 and the wall portion on the base end side which constitutes the accommodation concave portion 130, a concave groove portion 136 which extends in a circumferential spiral direction is formed. In short, the pair of recessed groove portions 136 are provided opposite to each other in the direction perpendicular to the axis on the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 128, that is, the outer peripheral surface 78 of the connector main body 94. Further, also in the present embodiment, the lead angle θ of the spiral of the recessed groove portion 136, that is, the inclination angle θ with respect to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the inclined guide surface 134 is 30 degrees.

  Furthermore, on the outer peripheral surface of the groove wall portion 132, a circumferentially one end, that is, an end on the front side in the rotational direction of the tightening cap 92 with respect to the connector main body 94 Is formed. The outer surface of the protruding end of the run-over projection 138, that is, the end surface on the rear side in the rotational direction of the tightening cap 92, is a curved surface 140, and the locking claw 120 easily rides over the run-off projection 138. On the other hand, the inner surface of the overturning projection 138 is a vertical surface 142 extending in the direction perpendicular to the axis.

  Further, between the circumferential direction between the run-over protrusion 138 and one of the circumferential wall portions constituting the accommodation recess 130, a locking recess 144 opened outward in the long axis direction is formed. By forming the locking recess 144, the locking claw 120 of the tightening cap 92 enters the locking recess 144 when the tightening cap 92 is rotated relative to the connector main body 94 as described later. It has become. Further, among the wall portions constituting the locking recess 144, the wall portion on the opposite side of the overlying projection 138 (one circumferential wall portion constituting the accommodation recess 130) and the locking claw 120 abut on each other. Further forward rotation of the clamp cap 92 is prevented, and such a wall portion is used as a rotation blocking portion 146. Further, also in the present embodiment, the rotation prevention portion 146 protrudes outward beyond the protruding portion 138 in the long axis direction, and the inner surface of the rotation prevention portion 146 is a vertical surface 148 extending in the direction perpendicular to the axis. Thus, the locking claw 120 is easily slipped over the protrusion 138, and the positive rotation of the tightening cap 92 is more reliably prevented.

  The medical connector 90 configured to include the clamp cap 92 and the connector body 94 configured as described above is adapted to be post-fixed to the proximal end of the catheter 12. That is, as in the embodiment described above, the clamp cap 92 is externally inserted to the proximal end portion of the catheter 12 and the connector body 94 is inserted to rotate the clamp cap 92 with respect to the connector body 94 As a result, the clamping cap 92 and the connector body 94 are fixed to each other.

  Here, the state before the tightening cap 92 and the connector main body 94 are assembled to each other and before the tightening cap 92 is rotated is shown in FIG. 16, that is, the state where the tightening cap 92 is in the guiding start position. Is shown in FIG. In short, in the state shown in FIG. 16, the convex portion 112 of the tightening cap 92 is located at the circumferential end of the recessed groove 136 of the connector main body 94, and from this state By rotating 92, the convex portion 112 moves in the recessed groove 136 while being in contact with the inclined guide surface 134 in the recessed groove 136. As a result, the tightening cap 92 moves axially close to the connector body 94 as the tightening cap 92 rotates relative to the connector body 94. In this embodiment, the tightening mechanism 98 The convex portion 112 and the concave groove portion 136 are configured.

  In the state where the tightening cap 92 is at the guiding start position, the peripheral wall 13 at the proximal end portion of the catheter 12 may be pinched by the tightening cap 92 and the connector main body 94 as in the first embodiment. It is preferable that the outer peripheral surface 13b of the peripheral wall 13 of the catheter 12 is abutted or slightly pressed against the inner peripheral surface 104a of the tightening cap 92 (inner hole 104) with zero touch.

  Further, along with such rotation operation, the locking claw 120 of the tightening cap 92 and the overturning projection 138 of the connector main body 94 come into contact with each other, whereby the elastic piece 116 including the locking claw 120 is It is elastically deformed to the outer peripheral side, and the locking claw 120 rides over the protrusion 138 and enters the locking recess 144. As a result, since the locking claw 120 and the rotation preventing portion 146 abut each other, the positive rotation of the tightening cap 92 is blocked, and the locking claw 120 and the overlying projection 138 Come into contact with each other to prevent reverse rotation of the clamp cap 92. That is, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 15, the rotation of the tightening cap 92 with respect to the connector main body 94 is blocked by the locking claw 120 being locked in the locking recess 144, as shown in FIG. The position of the clamp cap 92 shown at 15 is a fixed position. Further, in the present embodiment, the lock mechanism 96 for blocking the rotation of the tightening cap 92 at least in the return direction is constituted by the elastic piece 116 having the locking claw 120 and the run-over projection 138. Therefore, although the lock mechanism 96 and the tightening mechanism 98 are separately provided in the present embodiment, in the present embodiment, the lock mechanism 96 and the tightening mechanism 98 are substantially the same in the axial direction. It is provided in the position.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the fastening cap 92 located at the guiding start position is rotated 180 degrees or less, specifically about 60 degrees, relative to the connector body 94 to reach the fixed position. That is, also in the medical connector 90 in the present embodiment, the clamp cap 92 is positioned at the fixed position by rotating the connector main body 94 by 180 degrees or less, so that the medical connector 90 is the same as the first embodiment. An effect can be exhibited.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not to be interpreted as being limited by the specific description in the embodiments, and various changes, modifications, improvements, etc. based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. It can implement in the aspect which added.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, the tightening cap 16, 92 and the connector main body 18, 94 have the flat portions 26, 54, 102, 128, respectively, but the present invention is not limited to this aspect. That is, the clamping cap and the connector main body may have a cylindrical shape whose cross section is substantially a circle or a regular polygon over substantially the whole without having a flat portion.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the lock mechanisms 80 and 96 and the clamping mechanisms 82 and 98 were provided separately, a locking mechanism and a clamping mechanism may be integrally formed. That is, for example, when the convex portion constituting the tightening mechanism moves in the recessed groove portion, the locking mechanism is constituted by getting over the overriding projection provided in the recessed groove portion, and the tightening cap for the connector main body The rotation may be prevented.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment, the convex portions 32 and 112 are provided on the tightening cap 16 and 92, and the concave grooves 52 and 136 are provided on the connector bodies 18 and 94. However, the convex portions and the concave grooves are Each may be provided in the opposite way. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the convex portions 32, 112 and the concave groove portions 52, 136 are provided in a pair at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction (opposite in the direction perpendicular to the axis). The number of recessed groove portions is not limited in any way, and one or three or more in the circumferential direction may be provided.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the tightening caps 16 and 92 are provided with the elastic pieces 34 and 116 protruding to the base end side, and the connector main bodies 18 and 94 are provided with the protruding portions 64 and 138, The connector main body may be provided with an elastic piece projecting to the front end side, and the clamping cap may be provided with a protruding portion. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the elastic pieces 34 and 116 and the overrunning projections 64 and 138 are provided in a pair at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction (oppositely in the direction perpendicular to the axis). The number of parts is not limited at all, and may be one or three or more in the circumferential direction.

  Furthermore, the rotation angle of the tightening cap with respect to the connector main body is not limited to 90 degrees or 60 degrees as in the above embodiment, and may be 90 degrees or more as long as it is 180 degrees or less.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the recessed groove portion 52 which is relatively concave by forming the groove wall portion 48 projecting to the outer peripheral side with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 46 is formed. A recessed groove that is recessed with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the portion 46 may be formed directly. Similarly, in the second embodiment, the groove wall portion 132 protruding to the outer peripheral side with respect to the outer peripheral surface (bottom surface extending in the circumferential direction of the housing recess 130) of the large diameter portion 128 is relatively concave Although the concave groove portion 136 is formed, the concave groove portion which is concave with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 128 may be directly formed.

  In the above embodiment, the inclined surfaces 23, 44 and 106 are provided on the surface for sandwiching the catheter 12, but the surface for sandwiching the catheter may be a plane substantially parallel to the axial direction. The inclined surface may be provided by fixing a separate member having the inclined surface to the surface parallel to the axial direction.

10, 90: medical connector, 12: catheter, 13a: inner peripheral surface of catheter, 13b: outer peripheral surface of catheter, 16, 92: clamping cap, 18, 94: connector main body, 23, 44, 106: inclined surface , 102, 102: flat portion, 31, 104a: inner circumferential surface of tightening cap, 32, 112: convex portion, 34, 116: elastic piece, 42: port portion, 52, 136: concave groove portion, 54, 128 A large diameter portion (flat portion) 64, 138: a protruding protrusion 78: an outer peripheral surface of the connector body 78a: an outer peripheral surface of the port portion 80, 96: a locking mechanism 82, 98: a tightening mechanism

Claims (9)

A medical connector retrofittable on a catheter, which clamps and secures an end portion of a catheter between inner and outer peripheral surfaces between a connector body and a clamping cap assembled to each other,
While the connector main body is provided with a port portion on which a catheter with an outer diameter of 3 mm or less can be fitted and attached,
Between the connector body and the clamp cap, the relative rotational operation is converted into axial movement, and the clamp cap is axially approached with respect to the connector body by relative rotation of 180 degrees or less A tightening mechanism for moving and guiding the catheter attached to the port section to a fixed position sandwiching the catheter;
And a lock mechanism for preventing relative rotation of said clamp cap in said return direction relative to said connector body in said fixed position.   Both the connector body and the tightening cap are provided with flat portions having different outer dimensions in two orthogonal directions perpendicular to each other, and the long axes of the flat portions are different from each other. The medical connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector main body and the tightening cap are in the fixed position in a state in which the long axis directions of the two coincide with each other by relative rotation less than half a circumference from a position.   The medical connector according to claim 1, wherein the tightening mechanism and the locking mechanism are provided separately.   The medical connector according to claim 3, wherein the tightening mechanism and the locking mechanism are provided at positions separated in the axial direction of the connector body.   The said clamping mechanism is comprised including the ditch | groove part extended in the circumferential direction spiral shape, The lead angle of the spiral in this ditch | groove part is made into 15 degree-45 degrees. Medical connector as described in.   The tightening mechanism is provided on one of the outer peripheral surface of the connector main body and the inner peripheral surface of the tightening cap, and is provided on a groove extending in a circumferential direction in a helical manner and the other convexly engaged with the groove 6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the concave groove portion and the convex portion are respectively provided at positions facing each other in the direction perpendicular to the axis in the connector body and the tightening cap. The medical connector according to any one of the preceding claims.   The locking mechanism is configured to include a protruding projection formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connector body and an elastic piece provided on the tightening cap, and the relative rotation between the connector body and the tightening cap The medical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the elastic piece is elastically deformed to reach over the overlying projection before reaching the fixed position.   The clamping cap is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the catheter externally fitted to the port portion at a guiding start position where rotation of the clamping cap with respect to the connector body is guided by the clamping mechanism. The medical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   At least one of the pinched portions of the outer peripheral surface of the port portion and the inner peripheral surface of the tightening cap in the connector main body, which clamps and fixes the end portion of the catheter between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces, is an inclined surface in the axial direction The medical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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