JP2020175282A - Connector for enteral nutrition - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a connector for medical use capable of maintaining a clean state of a lock nut.SOLUTION: A medical connector comprises: a cylindrical connector body 101; a lock nut 102 which is fitted to the surrounding of the connector body 101 on a device position and is moved in a tip end direction from the device position for being separated from the connector body 101; and a movement regulation part 103 for regulating movement of the lock nut 102 in an axial direction. The movement regulation part 103 comprises: a first movement regulation part for regulating movement of the lock nut 102 toward a tip end side; and a second movement regulation part for regulating movement of the lock nut 102 toward a base end side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present disclosure relates to medical connectors, especially medical connectors that can be used in enteral nutrition.

Various medical devices such as syringes, catheters and tubes are connected by luer connectors. Luer connectors are roughly divided into slip connectors and lock connectors. The slip connector is engaged by friction between the outer peripheral surface of the male connector inserted into the female connector and the inner peripheral surface of the female connector. The lock connector is provided with a lock nut threaded on the inner surface around the plug of the male connector, and a screw thread or the like that engages with the screw of the lock nut is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the female connector. By engaging the lock nut of the male connector with the thread of the female connector and tightening it, the reliability of the connection can be improved. For this reason, the use of lock connectors has become common.

In enteral nutrition, which administers nutrition and drugs to patients without oral administration, lock connectors are also used to connect the catheter inserted in the patient and the supply container for liquid substances such as enteral nutrition. .. As for the connector used for enteral nutrition, a standard is adopted in which a female connector is provided at the downstream end on the supply side and a male connector is provided at the upstream end on the patient side in order to avoid erroneous connection with other lines. Therefore, when separating the male connector and the female connector, there is a high possibility that the male connector will be treated as facing upward. If the connector is separated with the male connector facing up, the overflowing nutrient may flow into the gap between the connector body and the lock nut.

If the stains on the nutrients that have flowed into the gaps are left unattended, germs will propagate, so it is important to remove the stains on the gaps. However, it is difficult to completely wipe off dirt in narrow gaps. Therefore, it has been studied to use an instrument for cleaning the gap between the connector body and the lock nut (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, such cleaning instruments are cumbersome to handle. When attaching the cleaning tool to the connector, it is necessary to attach it accurately so that the cleaning liquid does not leak. In addition, a complicated operation using two syringes is required to clean the sealed space so that liquid leakage does not occur. Further, what can be cleaned using such an instrument is a type in which the lock nut is fixed to the connector body, and cannot be used in a type of connector in which the lock nut rotates freely with respect to the connector body.

Therefore, a connector capable of separating the lock nut from the plug has been studied (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2015-188522 Jikken 04-38149 Gazette

However, such a connector is difficult to attach / detach because the lock nut is attached / detached by forcibly overcoming the tapered portion on the plug surface. In addition, repeated use can damage the lock nut and plug engagement.

An object of the present disclosure is to make it possible to realize a medical connector in which the lock nut can be easily removed from the plug and kept in a clean state.

One aspect of the medical connector is a tubular connector body and a lock nut that is rotatably attached around the connector body at the mounting position and can be separated from the connector body by moving from the mounting position toward the tip. And a movement restricting part that regulates the movement in the axial direction from the mounting position of the lock nut, and the movement restricting part engages with the tongue piece that can move in the radial direction provided on the locknut side. By having the engaging portion to be engaged and moving the radial position of the tongue piece, the engagement with the engaging portion is released, and the lock nut can be moved to the tip side.

One aspect of the medical connector includes a lock nut that can be separated from the connector body by moving it from the mounting position toward the tip. Therefore, the lock nut can be separated from the connector body for cleaning or replacement, and it is easy to keep the connector clean. Further, it is provided with a movement restricting portion having a claw portion provided on the lock nut side and an engaging portion provided on the connector body and engaging with the claw portion, so that unintended separation from the mounting position is unlikely to occur. Further, the claw portion is provided at the end portion of the tongue piece which is anon-annular provided in the lock nut and whose end portion can be moved in the radial direction, so that the separation operation is easy.

In one aspect of the medical connector, the movement restricting portion has a claw portion provided on the tongue piece so as to project inward in the radial direction, and the engaging portion is an engaging convex portion protruding from the connector body, and the claw portion. Is engaged with the surface of the engaging convex portion on the proximal end side, and the surface of the engaging convex portion on the proximal end side can be a vertical surface perpendicular to the axial direction or an inclined surface inclined toward the proximal end side. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent unintended separation of the lock nut.

In this case, the lock nut has a nut body having a thread groove on the inner surface and a sheath-shaped portion provided on the base end side of the nut body and having a diameter smaller than that of the nut body, and the tongue piece has a sheath-like shape. It may be configured by cutting out a part of the portion. With such a configuration, the structure of the lock nut can be simplified.

In one aspect of the medical connector, the tongue piece has a pressing portion, and the tongue piece can be moved in the radial direction by pressing the pressing portion. With such a configuration, the lock nut can be easily separated by pressing the pressing portion.

In this case, the pressing portion may have an arm extending from the tongue piece toward the tip end side. With such a configuration, the separation operation becomes easy.

In one aspect of the medical connector, the lock nut may have a columnar portion protruding outward and the tongue piece may be connected to the columnar portion. The claws can be easily moved greatly, and the lock nut can be securely attached and separated.

In this case, the tongue piece is connected to the columnar portion at the intermediate portion, and the pressing portion can be a portion closer to the tip side than the columnar portion of the tongue piece. With such a configuration, the separation operation becomes easy.

In one aspect of the medical connector, the tongue piece may press the pressing portion so that the end portion on the proximal end side moves radially outward with the portion in contact with the engaging portion as a fulcrum. .. With such a configuration, the configuration can be simplified.

In one aspect of the medical connector, the movement restricting portion has a claw portion provided on the tongue piece inward in the radial direction, and the engaging portion is supported at a distance from the surface of the connector body and has a claw portion. A wall body having a plurality of engaging holes that can be engaged with, the claw portion engages with the surface on the base end side of the corresponding engaging hole, and the surface on the base end side of the wall body is axial. It may be configured as a vertical vertical surface or an inclined surface inclined toward the tip side. With such a configuration, the lock nut can be easily separated by pressing the pressing portion.

In this case, the wall body may be provided in an annular shape so as to surround the connector body. With such a configuration, the lock nut can be securely fixed at the mounting position.

In one aspect of the medical connector, the movement restricting portion has a claw portion provided on the tongue piece inward in the radial direction, and the engaging portion is a ring body supported at a distance from the surface of the connector body. The claw portion is engaged with the surface on the base end side of the ring body, and the surface on the base end side of the ring body is a vertical surface perpendicular to the axial direction or an inclined surface inclined to the tip end side. can do. With such a configuration, the lock nut can be rotated in the circumferential direction at the mounting position, and the tube can be less likely to be twisted.

In one aspect of the medical connector, the lock nut has a nut body having a threaded groove on the inner surface and a sheath-like portion provided on the proximal end side of the nut body and having a diameter smaller than that of the nut body. May be configured by cutting out a part of the sheath-like portion.

In one aspect of the medical connector, the tongue piece has a pressing portion, and the tongue piece can be moved in the radial direction by pressing the pressing portion. With such a configuration, the lock nut can be easily separated by pressing the pressing portion.

In this case, the pressing portion may be a convex portion provided so as to project radially outward from the tongue piece. With such a configuration, the separation operation becomes easy.

In one aspect of the medical connector, the tongue piece can also be pressed by a pressing jig to move its radial position. With such a configuration, it becomes easy to limit the persons who can perform the separation operation of the lock nut.

In one aspect of the medical connector, the lock nut may have ribs that are provided on the outer peripheral surface and extend in the axial direction. With such a configuration, the lock nut can be easily gripped by a finger.

According to the medical connector of the present disclosure, the lock nut can be easily removed from the plug and kept in a clean state.

It is a perspective view which shows the medical connector which concerns on one Embodiment. It is sectional drawing in line II-II of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which pressed the pressing part. It is a side view which shows the medical connector which concerns on 1st modification. It is sectional drawing which shows the medical connector which concerns on 2nd modification. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which pressed the pressing part of the medical connector which concerns on 2nd modification. It is a perspective view which shows the medical connector which concerns on 3rd modification. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the medical connector which concerns on 4th modification. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the medical connector which concerns on 5th modification. It is sectional drawing in the XII-XII line of FIG.

Hereinafter, the side connected to the tube of the connector will be described as the base end side, and the side inserted into the female connector will be described as the tip end side. Further, the direction along the passage through which the liquid in the connector flows will be described as the axial direction, and the direction intersecting the axial direction will be described as the radial direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the medical connector of this embodiment is a male connector used for enteral nutrition. The medical connector of the present embodiment includes a tubular connector main body 101 and a lock nut 102, and the lock nut 102 can be separated from the connector main body 101 by moving it from the mounting position toward the tip end.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional configuration when the lock nut 102 is in the mounting position. The connector body 101 is provided between the plug 111 provided on the tip side and inserted into the female connector, the tube connecting portion 112 provided on the proximal end side and to which the tube is connected, and the plug 111 and the tube connecting portion 112. It has an intermediate portion 113 provided. The lock nut 102 includes a nut body 121 having a thread on the inner surface, a sheath-shaped portion 122 provided on the base end side of the nut body 121 and having a diameter smaller than that of the nut body 121, and a part of the sheath-shaped portion 122. It has a tongue piece 123 that is cut out and becomes a tongue piece.

The intermediate portion 113 of the connector main body 101 is provided with an engaging convex portion 131 protruding radially outward from the surface. A claw portion 125 protruding inward in the radial direction is provided at an end portion of the tongue piece 123 on the proximal end side. When the lock nut 102 is in the mounting position, the claw portion 125 is located closer to the proximal end side than the engaging convex portion 131. Further, the radial inner end portion of the claw portion 125 is located inside the radial outer end portion of the engaging convex portion 131. Therefore, the claw portion 125 and the engaging convex portion 131 engage with each other to form a movement restricting portion 103 that restricts the movement of the lock nut 102 toward the tip end side. Further, a flange-shaped portion 115 having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the sheath-shaped portion 122 is provided between the intermediate portion 113 of the connector main body 101 and the tube connecting portion 112 to the base end side of the lock nut 102. Movement is also restricted. The flange-shaped portion 115 may or may not be provided as needed.

An arm-shaped pressing portion 126 extending toward the tip end is connected to the vicinity of the central portion of the tongue piece 123. As shown in FIG. 3, when the pressing portion 126 is pressed inward, the tongue piece-shaped tongue piece 123 moves radially outward with the fixed end on the tip side as a fulcrum. .. As a result, the engagement between the claw portion 125 and the engaging convex portion 131 is released, and the lock nut 102 can move to the tip end side. By moving the lock nut 102 to the tip side, the lock nut 102 can be separated from the connector main body 101.

The surface of the engaging convex portion 131 on the proximal end side is preferably a vertical surface perpendicular to the axial direction or an inclined surface inclined toward the proximal end side. Further, it is preferable that the surface on the tip end side of the claw portion 125 is formed at an angle along the surface on the base end side of the engaging convex portion 131. With this configuration, the claw portion 125 can be prevented from being disengaged from the engaging convex portion 131.

The connector of the present embodiment engages the claw portion 125 and the engaging convex portion 131, which constitute the movement restricting portion 103, by pressing the arm-shaped pressing portion 126 in the radial direction of the claw portion 125. The position is moved to release it. As a result, the lock nut 102 can be moved toward the tip end side, and the lock nut 102 can be easily separated from the connector main body 101.

After separating the lock nut 102, the connector body 101 can easily wipe off dirt and the like on the surface. The separated lock nut 102 can be easily cleaned. It can also be replaced with a new clean lock nut 102 if necessary. Therefore, the medical connector of the present embodiment can be easily maintained in a clean state.

The engaging convex portion 131 can be provided in an annular shape surrounding the connector main body 101. In this way, the lock nut 102 can be rotated once. A cut narrower than the width of the claw portion 125 in the circumferential direction may be provided in the engaging convex portion 131. Further, the engaging convex portion 131 may be provided only on the portion corresponding to the claw portion 125.

In the present embodiment, the claw portion 125 has a shape in which the end face on the tip end side is substantially vertical and the end face on the base end side has an inclination. With such a configuration, the claw portion 125 can easily get over the engaging convex portion 131 toward the base end side even if the pressing portion 126 is not pressed, and the claw portion 126 is not pressed if the pressing portion 126 is not pressed. It is possible to prevent the portion 125 from easily getting over the engaging convex portion 131 toward the tip end side. In the engaging convex portion 131, an example is shown in which the surface on the tip end side and the surface on the proximal end side are substantially vertical surfaces, but the surface on the distal end side of the engaging convex portion 131 is on the proximal end side of the claw portion 125. The surface may be inclined according to the surface. With such a configuration, the claw portion 125 can easily get over the engaging convex portion 131 toward the proximal end side even if the pressing portion 126 is not pressed. Not limited to these shapes, the shapes of the claw portion 125 and the engaging convex portion 131 may be other shapes.

In the present embodiment, the tongue piece 123 provided with the claw portion 125 is a tongue piece-shaped portion formed by cutting out a part of the sheath-shaped portion 122, and the tip end side is connected to the sheath-shaped portion 122. The base end side is a free end separated from the sheath-shaped portion 122. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an example is shown in which the tongue piece 123 is formed by providing two notch grooves extending to the base end of the sheath-shaped portion 122, but a U-shaped notch groove is provided. It can also be provided to form the tongue piece 123.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a pair of tongue pieces 123 are provided at opposite positions on the circumference. Further, a pair of pressing portions 126 are provided so as to form a U-shaped arm extending on both sides. With such a configuration, the pressing portion 126 can be sandwiched between two fingers and easily pressed inward in the circumferential direction. Further, since the claw portion 125 has a structure in which the engaging convex portion 131 is sandwiched from both sides, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the engagement between the claw portion 125 and the engaging convex portion 131 is unintentionally released. .. However, the tongue piece 123 provided with the claw portion 125 may be provided on only one side, and the pressing portion 126 may also be provided on only one side.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a protrusion 124 can be provided at the base end portion of the sheath-shaped portion 122 excluding the tongue piece 123. With such a configuration, in addition to the engagement between the claw portion 125 and the engaging convex portion 131, the engaging convex portion 131 and the protrusion 124 are engaged, so that the connector main body 101 and the lock nut 102 are intended. It is possible to make it difficult for the situation of separation to occur without doing so.

A protrusion can be provided on the inner surface of the sheath-shaped portion 122. The protrusion on the inner surface of the sheath-shaped portion 122 is located closer to the base end side than the engaging convex portion 131 when the lock nut 102 is in the mounting position, and when the lock nut 102 is moved from the mounting position to the tip end side, Overcome the engaging protrusion 131. By providing such a protrusion, it is possible to make it difficult for the lock nut 102 to move toward the tip side when the pressing portion is not pressed.

The pressing portion 126 may have an arm shape extending toward the tip end side of the fixed portion fixed to the tongue piece 123. With such a configuration, the end portion of the tongue piece 123 on the proximal end side can be moved radially outward by pressing. By changing the length of the arm of the pressing portion 126, the position of the fixing portion, and the like, the pressing force required to disengage the claw portion 125 can be adjusted. As in the first modification shown in FIG. 4, if the length of the arm is shortened, the force required to disengage the claw portion 125 can be increased. On the contrary, if the length of the arm is increased, the force required to disengage the claw portion 125 can be reduced. Further, when tightening the lock nut 102, there is an advantage that the arm is less likely to get in the way.

Further, the pressing portion 126 is not limited to an arm shape as long as the portion of the tongue piece 123 on the base end side where the claw portion 125 is provided can be pressed so as to move outward in the radial direction. For example, as in the second modification shown in FIG. 5, a protruding pressing portion 126 projecting outward in the radial direction can be provided at the central portion of the tongue piece 123. By pressing the pressing portion 126 inward in the radial direction, the tongue piece 123 bends with the portion in contact with the engaging convex portion 131 as a fulcrum as shown in FIG. 6, and the claw portion 125 can be moved outward in the radial direction. it can.

An example of using the tongue piece 123 formed by partially cutting out the sheath-shaped portion 122 has been shown, but as in the third modification shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a columnar portion protruding radially outward from the lock nut 102. A tongue piece 123A made of a plate body connected to 128 can also be used. In this case, the intermediate portion of the tongue piece 123A can be connected to the columnar portion 128, the claw portion 125 can be provided at the end portion on the proximal end side, and the portion closer to the tip end side than the columnar portion 128 can be used as the pressing portion 126. By pressing the pressing portion 126, the tongue piece 123A moves radially outward with the portion connected to the columnar portion 128 as a fulcrum, so that the end portion on the base end side where the claw portion 125 is provided is radially outward. Moving.

With such a configuration, the displacement of the claw portion 125 can be increased when the pressing portion 126 is pressed. As a result, there is a malfunction in which the engagement between the claw portion 125 and the engaging convex portion 131 is released even though the pressing portion 126 is not pressed, and the engagement with the claw portion 125 is engaged even though the pressing portion 126 is pressed. It is possible to prevent a malfunction in which the engagement with the convex portion 131 is not released.

The tongue piece is not limited to these configurations, and may have any configuration as long as it is acyclic and the end can be moved in the radial direction.

In the above embodiments and modifications, the movement restriction in which the engagement between the claw portion and the engaging portion is released by moving the end portion on the base end side where the claw portion of the tongue piece is provided radially outward. An example of the part is shown. However, it is also possible to provide a movement restricting portion having a configuration in which the engagement with the engaging portion is released by moving the claw portion inward in the radial direction. In this case, the engaging portion can be provided at a distance from the surface of the connector body so as to engage with the claw portion.

For example, when the pressing portion is not pressed, the inner end portion in the radial direction is inside the outer end portion in the radial direction of the claw portion, and a member that engages with the claw portion is used as an engaging portion around the connector body. Can be provided. Specifically, as in the fourth modification shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the engaging portion is provided so as to face the surface of the connector main body 101 at a distance from the surface of the connector main body 101 and engage. It can be a wall body 133 having a hole 133a. The axial movement of the lock nut 102 is restricted by engaging the claw portion 125 provided at the end end side of the tongue piece 123 with the engaging hole 133a provided in the wall body 133. By pressing the pressing portion 126 provided in the central portion of the tongue piece 123 so as to project radially outward, the claw portion 125 provided at the end end side of the tongue piece 123 on the proximal end side moves inward in the radial direction. .. As a result, the engagement between the claw portion 125 and the engaging hole 133a is released, and the lock nut 102 can be moved to the tip end side. Since the radial outer end of the claw portion 125 is located outside the outer peripheral surface of the wall body 133, it is possible to prevent the claw portion 125 from being disengaged.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, the wall body 133 is provided in an annular shape so as to surround the connector main body 101. Further, the base end side is supported by a flange-shaped portion 115 provided between the intermediate portion 113 of the connector main body 101 and the tube connecting portion 112. With such a configuration, the strength of the wall body 133 can be ensured. However, the support portion that supports the wall body 133 does not have to be the flange-shaped portion 115, and for example, the wall body 133 can be supported by a plurality of pillars that radially project from the connector main body 101. Further, the wall body 133 does not have to surround the connector main body 101, and can be provided only at a portion that engages with the claw portion 125.

The surface on the base end side of the wall body 133 is preferably a vertical surface perpendicular to the axial direction or an inclined surface inclined toward the tip end side. Further, it is preferable that the surface on the tip end side of the claw portion 125 is formed at an angle along the surface on the base end side of the wall body 133. With this configuration, the claw portion 125 can be prevented from coming off from the wall body 133.

The claw portion 125 has a shape in which the end face on the tip end side is substantially vertical and the end face on the base end side has an inclination. With such a configuration, the claw portion 125 can be easily fitted into the engaging hole 133a even when the pressing portion 126 is not pressed. Further, if the pressing portion 126 is not pressed, the claw portion 125 can be prevented from easily coming out of the engaging hole 133a. As shown in FIG. 8, by inclining the end surface of the wall body 133 on the tip end side in accordance with the inclination of the claw portion 125, the claw portion 125 is easily fitted into the engaging hole 133a. However, the shape of the claw portion and the wall body may be other shapes.

The engaging hole 133a provided in the wall body 133 may be sized so that the claw portion 125 can be fitted. Further, although the example in which the engaging hole 133a is an opening that penetrates the wall body 133 is shown, the engaging hole 133a does not have to penetrate the wall body 133. In the fourth modification, an example in which four engaging holes 133a are provided is shown, but the number can be the same as that of the claw portion 125. As in the fourth modification, two claw portions 125 are provided at opposite positions on the circumference, and the engaging holes 133a are provided at four locations by shifting them by 90 °, so that the lock nut 102 is provided at four locations by 90 °. It can be rotated one by one. As a result, it is possible to prevent the tube from being twisted or the like when connecting to the female connector. Further, in the third modification, a protrusion is provided at a position 90 ° deviated from the claw portion 125 so as to engage with the engaging hole 133a which is not engaged with the claw portion 125. As a result, the lock nut 102 can be held more stably at the mounting position. The number of engaging holes and the angle at which the engaging holes are provided are not particularly limited.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a protrusion 124 can be provided at the base end portion of the sheath-shaped portion 122 excluding the tongue piece 123. With such a configuration, in addition to the engagement between the claw portion 125 and the engagement hole 133a, the wall body 133 and the protrusion 124 are engaged with each other, so that the connector body 101 and the lock nut 102 are unintentionally separated. It is possible to make it difficult for the situation to occur.

The engagement hole can also be lengthened in the circumferential direction. In this way, the lock nut 102 can be rotated in the circumferential direction at the mounting position. As a result, it is possible to prevent the tube from being twisted or the like when connecting to the female connector.

The engaging portion may be a ring body supported at a distance from the surface of the connector main body 101 instead of the wall body provided with the engaging hole. For example, in the fifth modification shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the ring body 136 is supported by two pillars 137 at intervals from the surface of the connector main body 101. In this case, the claw portion 125 can freely rotate between the two pillars 137. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tube from being twisted when connecting to the female connector.

In the fifth modification, the tongue piece 123 provided with the claw portion 125 projects from the sheath-shaped portion 122 toward the proximal end side. Therefore, at the mounting position, the end face on the tip end side of the claw portion 125 is in contact with the end face on the base end side of the ring body 136, and the base end of the sheath-shaped portion 122 is in contact with the end face on the tip end side of the pillar 137. As a result, the movement of the lock nut 102 to the tip end side and the base end side is restricted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the base end of the sheath-shaped portion 122 may be provided in a tapered shape whose diameter is reduced toward the base end. With such a configuration, the sheath-shaped portion 122 can be easily inserted into the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the connector main body 101 and the ring body 136, and the base end of the sheath-shaped portion 122 is the end surface on the tip end side of the pillar 137. Can be easily contacted with.

Also in the fifth modification, the claw portion 125 has a shape in which the end face on the tip end side is substantially vertical and the end face on the base end side has an inclination, and can be easily moved to the base end side and to the tip end side. If the pressing portion 126 is not pressed, it is difficult to move. Also in the fourth modification, the end face on the tip end side of the ring body 136 can be inclined according to the inclination of the claw portion 125.

The surface of the ring body 136 on the proximal end side is preferably a vertical surface perpendicular to the axial direction or an inclined surface inclined toward the proximal end side. Further, it is preferable that the surface on the tip end side of the claw portion 125 is formed at an angle along the surface on the base end side of the ring body 136. With this configuration, the claw portion 125 can be prevented from coming off from the ring body 136.

In the fifth modification, the two pillars 137 support the ring body 136 from the proximal end side. However, it suffices if the ring body 136 can be supported, and the ring body 136 may be supported from the tip side, or a pillar 137 may be provided between the ring body 136 and the connector body 101 to support the ring body 136 from below. It can also be. Further, the number of pillars 137 may be one or three or more. Further, the ring body 136 may not be supported by the pillar 137 rising from the connector main body 101, but may be supported by a connecting convex portion or the like extending from the flange-shaped portion 115 provided on the base end side to the tip end side. Since the radial outer end of the claw portion 125 is located outside the outer peripheral surface of the ring body 136, it is possible to prevent the claw portion 125 from being disengaged.

In the second modification, an example in which the pressing portion 126 protruding outward in the radial direction is provided is shown. Further, in the fourth modification and the fifth modification, the pressing portion 126 protrudes from the tongue piece 123 to form a convex portion higher than the nut body 121. By doing so, the pressing portion 126 can be easily pressed, and the lock nut 102 can be easily detached. However, on the contrary, the shape may be such that the pressing portion is not easily pressed, so that the lock nut 102 is less likely to be unintentionally detached. Further, the shape of the tongue piece cannot be pressed without using a dedicated pressing jig, and the release of the lock nut can be restricted so that only the person holding the pressing jig can remove the lock nut. For example, a convex portion is provided around the tongue piece of the sheath-shaped portion so that the pressing portion of the tongue piece is located in the concave portion, and the pressing portion provided on the tongue piece is provided unless a pressing jig with a protruding pin is used. It can be prevented from being pressed. Further, the pressing portion may be the same as the claw portion, and the claw portion engaged with the engaging portion may be directly pressed by the jig to release the engagement between the claw portion and the engaging portion. ..

In the examples and each modification, ribs 127 extending in the axial direction are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the nut body 121. By providing the rib 127, it is possible to prevent slipping when the lock nut 102 is rotated. The number and position of the ribs 127 are not particularly limited. Further, instead of the rib 127, another non-slip structure can be provided.

In the embodiment and each modification, the movement restricting portion has a pressing portion, and by pressing the pressing portion, the end portion on the base end side of the tongue piece is moved in the radial direction to form a claw portion and an engaging portion. The configuration for disengaging the engagement has been described. However, the engagement between the claw portion and the engaging portion may be released by a method other than pressing the pressing portion. For example, the engagement between the claw portion and the engaging portion may be released by adjusting the engaging force between the claw portion and the engaging portion and pulling the lock connector toward the tip side.

The connector of the embodiment and each modification is not particularly limited, but it is preferably formed of a semi-hard or hard material that satisfies the ISO standard. Specifically, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate resin, acrylic-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin and the like can be used.

The connector of this embodiment and each modification can be used in enteral nutrition, but is not limited to this, and can also be used as a connector in other applications.

The connector of the present disclosure is easy to remove from the plug and keeps the lock nut in a clean state, and is useful as a medical connector or the like.

101 Connector body 102 Lock nut 103 Movement control part 111 Plug 112 Tube connection part 113 Intermediate part 115 Collar-shaped part 121 Nut body 122 Sheath-shaped part 123 Tongue piece 123A Tongue piece 124 Protrusion 125 Claw part 126 Pressing part 127 Rib 128 Columnar part 131 Engagement convex part 133 Wall body 133a Engagement hole 136 Ring body 137 Pillar

Claims (8)

A tubular connector body having a plug to be inserted into a female connector, a base provided on the base end side of the plug and to which a tube is connected, and an intermediate portion provided between the plug and the base. When,
A lock nut that is mounted around the connector body at the mounting position and can be separated from the connector body by moving from the mounting position toward the tip.
It is provided with a movement control unit that regulates the axial movement of the lock nut.
The movement restricting unit includes a first movement restricting unit that regulates the movement of the lock nut toward the tip end side, and a second movement restricting unit that regulates the movement of the lock nut toward the proximal end side.
The first movement restricting portion has a tongue piece that is provided on the lock nut and is movable in the radial direction, and an engaging portion that is provided on the intermediate portion and engages with the tongue piece.
By moving the radial position of the tongue piece, the engagement with the engaging portion is released, and the lock nut can be moved toward the tip end side.
The second movement restricting portion is a convex portion that is provided so as to project radially outward in the intermediate portion and the base end surface of the lock nut abuts on the tip surface, and is an enteral nutrition connector. The enteric nutrition connector according to claim 1, wherein the movement restricting unit does not hinder the relative rotation of the lock nut with respect to the connector body. The engaging portion has an engaging convex portion that protrudes radially outward from the intermediate portion.
The enteric nutrition connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the engaging convex portion has a lower protruding height than the convex portion of the second movement restricting portion. The engaging portion has an engaging convex portion that protrudes radially outward from the intermediate portion.
The enteric nutrition connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the engaging convex portion is common to the convex portion of the second movement restricting portion. The first movement restricting portion has a claw portion provided on the tongue piece so as to project radially outward.
The engaging portion is a wall body that is supported at a distance from the surface of the connector body and has an engaging hole that can engage with the claw portion.
The claw portion engages with the surface of the corresponding engaging hole on the base end side,
The enteric nutrition connector according to claim 1, wherein the surface on the base end side of the wall body is a vertical surface perpendicular to the axial direction or an inclined surface inclined toward the tip end side. The first movement restricting portion has a claw portion provided on the tongue piece so as to project radially outward.
The engaging portion is a ring body supported at a distance from the surface of the connector body.
The claw portion engages with the surface on the proximal end side of the ring body and
The enteric nutrition connector according to claim 1, wherein the surface on the proximal end side of the ring is a vertical surface perpendicular to the axial direction or an inclined surface inclined toward the distal end side. The lock nut has a nut body having a thread groove on the inner surface and a sheath-shaped portion provided on the base end side of the nut body.
The tongue piece has a pressing portion for moving the position in the radial direction.
The enteric nutrition connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pressing portion is provided on the sheath-shaped portion. A tubular connector body having a plug to be inserted into a female connector, a base portion provided on the base end side of the plug, and an intermediate portion provided between the plug and the base portion.
A lock nut that is mounted around the connector body at the mounting position and can be separated from the connector body by moving from the mounting position toward the tip.
It is provided with a movement control unit that regulates the axial movement of the lock nut.
The lock nut has a nut body having a thread groove on the inner surface and a sheath-shaped portion provided on the base end side of the nut body.
The first movement restricting portion has a tongue piece that is provided on the lock nut and is movable in the radial direction, and an engaging portion that is provided on the intermediate portion and engages with the tongue piece.
By moving the radial position of the tongue piece, the engagement with the engaging portion is released, and the lock nut can be moved toward the tip end side.
The tongue piece has a pressing portion for moving the position in the radial direction.
The pressing portion is an enteral nutrition connector provided in the sheath-shaped portion.

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