JP2021191378A - Medical male connector - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a medical connector having a new structure which can improve the reliability in connection between connectors through a coupler.SOLUTION: There is provided a medical male connector 10 in which a coupler 14 having a peripheral wall part 26 in which a female screw 28 for screwing to a female connector 42 is provided on the inner peripheral surface is attached to a plug 12 connected to the female connector 42 rotatably and movably in the axial direction. A flexible piece 30 which protrudes on the inner peripheral side of the peripheral wall part 26 is provided in the coupler 14. The plug 12 includes a fastening engagement surface 18 that is tilted in parallel with the central axis on the outer peripheral surface or in the direction of expanding the diameter toward the base end side. With the fastening of the coupler 14 to the female connector 42, the flexible piece 30 is brought into contact with a portion apart in the axial direction from the base end on the fastening engagement surface 18. A rotation angle of the coupler 14 at which the contact of the flexible piece 30 to the fastening engagement surface 18 is released is between 50° and 130°.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a medical male connector, and more particularly to a medical male connector having a coupler.

Conventionally, connection by a luer connector has been adopted in medical devices such as three-way stopcocks, syringes, catheters, and tubes. In addition, a medical male connector equipped with a coupler is also used for the purpose of improving the connection reliability of the luer connector. The medical male connector is a lock as a coupler that is rotatable and axially movable with respect to the plug, for example, as in the medical connector shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-148477 (Patent Document 1). Equipped with a nut. Then, by screwing the locknut into the female connector connected to the plug, the plug and the female connector are connected with high reliability.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-148477

By the way, in order to secure the sealing property between the connectors and to connect them securely, it is necessary that the medical male connector does not loosen in the release direction. Conventionally, relative rotation has been prevented by increasing the initial torque required for relative rotation as much as possible, but when an unintended impact is applied, relative rotation occurs, resulting in incomplete sealing. It was newly discovered that the connection between the connectors may be disconnected.

An object of the present invention is to provide a medical male connector having a novel structure capable of improving reliability in connection between connectors by a coupler.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for grasping the present invention will be described, but each of the embodiments described below is described as an example, and not only can be appropriately combined with each other and adopted, but also described in each embodiment. The plurality of components of the above can be recognized and adopted independently as much as possible, and can be appropriately adopted in combination with any of the components described in another embodiment. Thereby, in the present invention, various other embodiments can be realized without being limited to the embodiments described below.

In the first aspect, a coupler having a peripheral wall portion provided with a female screw for screwing to the female connector on the inner peripheral surface of the plug connected to the female connector is rotatable and axially oriented. A movable male connector for medical use, the coupler is provided with a flexible piece protruding on the inner peripheral side of the peripheral wall portion, and the plug is parallel to the central axis or the proximal end on the outer peripheral surface. It has a tightening engagement surface that is inclined in a direction that increases in diameter toward the side, and by tightening the coupler to the female connector, the flexible piece is axially from the base end on the tightening engagement surface. The coupler is characterized in that the rotation angle of the coupler, which is placed in contact with a distant portion and the contact of the flexible piece with the tightening engagement surface is released, is 50 ° or more and 130 ° or less. It is something to do.

According to the medical male connector having a structure according to this aspect, the flexible piece comes into contact with the tightening engagement surface provided on the outer peripheral surface of the plug in a state where the coupler is fastened to the female connector. Therefore, due to the frictional resistance acting between the flexible piece and the tightening engagement surface of the plug, the coupler is hard to loosen due to unintended rotation, and the connection between the plug and the female connector is hard to loosen. Will be done.

When the coupler is tightened to the female connector, the flexible piece is in contact with the portion axially away from the base end of the tightening engagement surface, so that the coupler is tightened to the female connector. When loosening, the flexible piece moves while sliding against the tightening engagement surface of the plug. As a result, until the coupler is sufficiently moved from the tightening end to the base end side, a resistance force due to friction between the flexible piece and the tightening engagement surface acts on the rotation of the coupler, so that the rotation of the coupler The progress of loosening of the coupler is prevented during unintended rotation of the coupler where the angle cannot be increased.

When the coupler is rotated by the action of an unintended external force, the contact between the flexible piece and the tightening engagement surface is not released because the rotation angle of the coupler is small. Therefore, the resistance to the rotation of the coupler due to the friction between the flexible piece and the tightening engagement surface is not released, and the rotation of the coupler is restricted, so that the loosening of the coupler is suppressed.

When a user such as a medical worker intentionally rotates and loosens the coupler, the contact between the flexible piece and the tightening engagement surface is released without rotating the coupler to an excessively large rotation angle. Then, the resistance to the rotation of the coupler is released. Therefore, it is easy to loosen the coupler and disconnect the connectors.

The second aspect is that in the medical male connector according to the first aspect, the coupler is made of a material harder than the plug.

According to the medical male connector having a structure according to this aspect, the durability of the flexible piece provided in the coupler is ensured. Further, it becomes easy to set the elasticity of the flexible piece to a large value, and it is possible to obtain a large resistance force due to the friction between the flexible piece and the tightening engagement surface.

The third aspect is the medical male connector according to the first or second aspect, in which the flexible piece and the tightening engagement surface are in contact with each other on the tightening engagement surface side. The inner surface of the flexible piece has an inclined surface that is inclined toward the tip of the flexible piece in a direction approaching from the tightening engagement surface, and the axial length of the inclined surface is the possible. At least twice the axial length of the contact surface of the flexible piece with the tightening engagement surface, and at least two-thirds the length from the base end of the contact surface to the base end of the flexible piece. Any of the above is satisfied.

According to the medical male connector having a structure according to this aspect, the reaction force exerted on the flexible piece by the contact with the tightening engagement surface is dispersed and transmitted to the portion of the flexible piece having the inclined surface. It is easy to improve load bearing capacity. Further, by providing the inclined surface over a sufficiently long region in the axial direction, it is possible to reduce the inclination angle of the inclined surface while arranging the contact surface at a position close to the tightening engagement surface. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively disperse the contact reaction force acting on the flexible piece by the contact between the contact surface and the tightening engagement surface.

If the flexible piece is thickened toward the contact surface by the inclined surface, the pressing force of the flexible piece against the tightening engagement surface based on the elasticity of the flexible piece can be adjusted. That is, since the flexible piece becomes thinner as it moves away from the contact surface toward the base end side, the flexible piece can be brought into contact with the tightening engagement surface, and the flexible piece can be brought into contact position. It can be expected that a large pressing force on the tightening engagement surface based on elasticity can be obtained, and the contact force of the flexible piece with respect to the tightening engagement surface can be stably exerted. In particular, since the axial length of the inclined surface is long, it is possible to obtain a large degree of freedom in adjusting the elasticity of the flexible piece.

A fourth aspect is that in the medical male connector according to any one of the first to third aspects, the rotational resistance characteristic in the detachment operation of loosening the coupler from the tightened state of the coupler to the plug is exhibited. An initial resistance region in which the rotational resistance value of the coupler has a peak, and a continuous resistance region having a substantially constant rotational resistance value smaller than the peak in the initial resistance region and continuing over a rotation angle larger than the initial resistance region. It has.

According to the medical male connector having a structure according to this aspect, since the rotational resistance value of the coupler shows a peak in the initial resistance region, loosening of the coupler with respect to the plug is unlikely to occur when the initial input is small. Further, since a substantially constant rotational resistance value continues due to the contact between the tightening engagement surface and the flexible piece in the continuous resistance region, a substantially constant response can be obtained in the continuous resistance region when the coupler is disengaged. In addition, since the continuous resistance region continues over a rotation angle larger than the initial resistance region, for example, when a shocking force is erroneously input, the coupler does not immediately disconnect from the plug, and the connection state between the coupler and the plug is maintained. Be maintained.

A fifth aspect is the medical male connector according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, in which the flexible piece is formed into an annular shape continuous in the circumferential direction of the coupler.

According to the medical male connector having a structure according to this aspect, when the annular flexible piece is deformed to the outer periphery, the shape restoration force based on the elasticity of the flexible piece is greatly exerted, and the shape restoration force of the flexible piece is exerted. The flexible piece is strongly pressed against the tightening engagement surface. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a large resistance force against the rotation of the coupler based on the frictional resistance acting between the flexible piece and the tightening engagement surface, and the unintended rotation of the coupler is prevented.

A sixth aspect is in the medical male connector according to the fifth aspect, in which the plug has the tightening engagement surface all around and the flexible piece has the entire circumference around the tightening engagement surface. It is something that can be brought into contact with each other.

According to the medical male connector having a structure according to this aspect, a large contact area between the flexible piece and the tightening engagement surface can be obtained in the circumferential direction, and friction between the flexible piece and the tightening engagement surface can be obtained. It is possible to obtain a large resistance force.

A seventh aspect is the medical male connector according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the plug has a large diameter portion protruding to the outer periphery, and the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion is the said. It is provided with a tightening engagement surface.

According to the medical male connector having a structure according to this aspect, the tightening engagement surface is provided on the large diameter portion of the plug so that the tightening engagement surface protrudes toward the flexible piece. It becomes easy to arrange, and it becomes easy to bring the flexible piece into contact with the tightening engagement surface.

Eighth aspect is the medical male connector according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the flexible piece has a protrusion protruding toward the inner circumference of the coupler, and the protrusion. The portion is brought into contact with the tightening engagement surface.

According to the medical male connector having a structure according to this aspect, the flexible piece is tightened at the protruding portion by projecting the protruding portion toward the inner circumference which is the tightening engagement surface side of the flexible piece. It becomes easy to make contact with the engaging surface.

A ninth aspect is the medical male connector according to the eighth aspect, wherein the plug includes a locking portion that is axially locked to the protrusion.

According to the medical male connector having a structure according to this embodiment, the locking portion of the plug and the protruding portion of the flexible piece are locked in the axial direction, so that the tightening end of the coupler with respect to the female connector is set as the coupler. It can be specified as the relative position of the plug.

A tenth aspect is the contact portion between the flexible piece and the plug that abuts due to the axial movement of the coupler in the medical male connector according to any one of the first to ninth aspects. In the above, the flexible piece is deformed to the outer peripheral side, and a guide inclined surface for guiding the flexible piece so as to ride on the tightening engagement surface is provided.

According to the medical male connector having a structure according to this embodiment, when the coupler is axially moved toward the tip side by tightening the coupler to the female connector, the plug and the flexible piece come into contact with each other on the guide inclined surface. , The flexible piece is guided to deform to the outer peripheral side and ride on the tightening engagement surface. Therefore, the movement of the flexible piece onto the tightening engagement surface is realized without causing problems such as catching.

According to the present invention, in a male medical connector, even if an unintended relative rotation occurs due to an impact applied to the coupler, the rotation resistance is not released and the rotation of the coupler is restricted, so that the coupler is loosened. Can be suppressed and the connection reliability between the connectors can be improved.

Sectional drawing which shows the medical male connector as the 1st Embodiment of this invention. Cross-sectional view showing the medical male connector shown in FIG. 1 in a connected state with the female connector. A graph showing the measurement results of the rotation angle of the coupler and the magnitude of torque required for rotation in a male medical connector. An enlarged sectional view showing a part of a medical male connector as another embodiment of the present invention. An enlarged sectional view showing a part of a medical male connector as another embodiment of the present invention. An enlarged sectional view showing a part of a medical male connector as still another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a medical male connector 10 as a first embodiment of the present invention. The medical male connector 10 is an male luer connector having a structure in which a coupler 14 is arranged around a plug 12. In the following description, as a general rule, the axial direction refers to the left-right direction in FIG. 1, the right side in FIG. 1 is the tip side, and the left side in FIG. 1 is the base end side.

The plug 12 has a substantially cylindrical shape and extends axially from the proximal end side to the distal end side. The plug 12 has a luer taper in which the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion has a smaller diameter from the proximal end side to the distal end side. The lumen of the plug 12 has a large diameter toward the tip, but may have a substantially constant cross section in the axial direction, for example.

The plug 12 is provided with a large diameter portion 16 in an intermediate portion in the axial direction. The large diameter portion 16 projects to the outer periphery of the plug 12 and is partially provided in the axial direction of the plug 12. Since the large diameter portion 16 is provided so as to partially project, the outer diameter of the plug 12 is partially increased in the large diameter portion 16.

The large-diameter portion 16 of the plug 12 is provided with a plug-side engaging surface 18 as a tightening engaging surface on the outer peripheral surface. The plug-side engaging surface 18 is continuously provided on the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 16 over the entire circumference, and is a cylindrical surface that is not inclined with respect to the axial direction of the plug 12 and extends substantially in parallel. .. The plug-side engaging surface 18 is arranged in an axially intermediate portion of the large-diameter portion 16, and the proximal end side of the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 16 with respect to the plug-side engaging surface 18 is directed toward the proximal end. The guide inclined surface 20 having a small diameter is used. The axial length dimension of the plug-side engaging surface 18 is larger than the axial width dimension of the tip surface of the thread in the female screw 28 of the coupler 14 described later.

The large diameter portion 16 includes a locking portion 22 protruding to the outer periphery. The locking portion 22 is an annular shape that is continuous over the entire circumference, and is arranged adjacent to the tip side with respect to the plug-side engaging surface 18. The locking portion 22 protrudes from the plug-side engaging surface 18 to the outer periphery, and is a first locking surface 24 having an annular plane in which the end surface on the proximal end side extends orthogonally to the axial direction. The outer peripheral surface of the locking portion 22 is a cylindrical surface whose base end portion adjacent to the first locking surface 24 extends substantially parallel to the axial direction, and has a tapered tubular shape whose tip portion has a smaller diameter toward the tip end. It is said to be a face.

The coupler 14 includes a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 26. A thread extending spirally is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion 26, and a female screw 28 for screwing to the female connector 42, which will be described later, is provided. A guide portion 29 projecting toward the inner circumference is provided at the base end of the coupler 14.

A flexible piece 30 projecting from the proximal end side toward the distal end side is provided at the inner peripheral end portion of the guide portion 29 constituting the proximal end of the coupler 14. The flexible piece 30 has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and is provided continuously in the circumferential direction of the coupler 14 with a substantially constant cross-sectional shape. The tip surface of the flexible piece 30 is a tapered open surface 32 whose inner peripheral portion is inclined toward the outer peripheral side toward the tip. The flexible piece 30 is arranged at a position away from the peripheral wall portion 26 of the coupler 14 inwardly, and the flexible piece 30 is provided with a space 34 provided between the flexible piece 30 and the peripheral wall portion 26. Elastic deformation to the outer circumference is allowed. In the present embodiment, the female screw 28 of the coupler 14 is formed up to the outer periphery of the flexible piece 30, and the thread of the female screw 28 protrudes into the space 34. For example, the female screw 28 is on the tip side of the flexible piece 30. The thread of the female screw 28 may not protrude into the space 34. In the state shown in FIG. 1 in which the coupler 14 is not fastened to the female connector 42 described later, the flexible piece 30 is inclined inward toward the tip, and the cross-sectional center line L shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. Is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the coupler 14.

The flexible piece 30 includes a protrusion 36 that projects toward the inner circumference. The projecting portion 36 is provided in an annular shape over the entire circumference at an intermediate portion off both ends in the axial direction of the flexible piece 30. Since the projecting portion 36 is partially provided in the intermediate portion of the flexible piece 30, the inner diameter dimension on both sides of the flexible piece 30 that is axially deviated from the projecting portion 36 is the intermediate portion including the projecting portion 36. It is larger than the inner diameter.

The inner peripheral surface of the protrusion 36 is provided with a nut-side engaging surface 38 as a contact surface. The nut-side engaging surface 38 is provided at the tip portion in the axial direction of the protruding portion 36. The nut-side engaging surface 38 is continuously provided over the entire circumference of the protruding portion 36, and is a cylindrical surface extending in parallel with the cross-sectional center line L of the flexible piece 30. Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 1 in which the coupler 14 is not tightened to the female connector 42 described later, the nut-side engaging surface 38 is a tapered tubular surface that inclines inward toward the tip side and has a small diameter. There is. The length dimension of the nut-side engaging surface 38 in the extending direction of the cross-sectional center line L is smaller than the axial length dimension of the plug-side engaging surface 18 provided on the plug 12.

The base end side of the inner peripheral surface of the protrusion 36 with respect to the nut-side engaging surface 38 is a tapered cylindrical inclined surface 39. In the vertical cross section shown in FIG. 1, the inclined surface 39 is inclined and extends with respect to the cross-sectional center line L, has a smaller diameter toward the tip side, and is inclined with respect to the cross-sectional center line L with respect to the nut-side engaging surface 38. The angle has been increased. Since the outer peripheral surface of the flexible piece 30 is substantially parallel to the cross-sectional center line L, the flexible piece 30 gradually becomes thicker toward the tip in the formed portion of the inclined surface 39. There is. The length dimension of the protrusion 36 in the extending direction of the cross-sectional center line L is made larger than the axial length dimension of the thread in the female screw 28 of the coupler 14.

The end surface on the distal end side of the protrusion 36 is a second locking surface 40. The second locking surface 40 is an annular plane that extends substantially orthogonal to the cross-sectional center line L. Therefore, the second locking surface 40 is a plane substantially orthogonal to the nut-side engaging surface 38. The radial width dimension of the second locking surface 40 is preferably equal to or larger than the radial width dimension of the first locking surface 24 provided on the plug 12, and in the present embodiment, the first locking surface 40 is first locked. It is made larger than the radial width dimension of the surface 24.

Both the plug 12 and the coupler 14 are made of resin. The resin material that forms the plug 12 and the coupler 14 is not particularly limited, but preferably the coupler 14 is formed of a material that is harder than the plug 12. Specifically, for example, the coupler 14 is made of polycarbonate, nylon or the like, and the plug 12 is made of polypropylene, polyethylene or the like. The plug 12 and the coupler 14 may be made of an opaque material, but are preferably made of a transparent or translucent material.

The coupler 14 is extrapolated to the plug 12 and is arranged so as to surround the plug 12. The coupler 14 is attached to the plug 12 so as to be movable in the axial direction and rotatable in the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, the guide portion 29 provided on the coupler 14 is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the plug 12, so that the rattling when the coupler 14 moves in the axial direction with respect to the plug 12 is reduced.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a state where the coupler 14 is not fastened to the female connector 42 described later, the flexible piece 30 of the coupler 14 is located at the proximal end of the plug 12 with respect to the large diameter portion 16. The nut-side engaging surface 38 provided on the flexible piece 30 is located on the inner circumference of the plug-side engaging surface 18 provided on the large-diameter portion 16. The protruding portion 36 of the flexible piece 30 is arranged at a position where it overlaps with the guide inclined surface 20 of the large diameter portion 16 in the axial direction. The outer peripheral end of the locking portion 22 of the large diameter portion 16 is arranged at a position where it overlaps with the expanded surface 32 of the flexible piece 30 in the axial direction.

In the medical male connector 10 having such a structure, the plug 12 is connected to the female connector 42 as shown in FIG. The female connector 42 is made of resin, and a luer taper corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the plug 12 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the base end portion having a substantially cylindrical shape. At the base end of the female connector 42, a male screw 44 protruding to the outer periphery is formed. The material for forming the female connector 42 is not particularly limited, but a resin material softer than the coupler 14 is preferable, and for example, a resin material similar to the plug 12 is used.

Then, the female connector 42 is fitted externally to the plug 12 from the tip end side. Further, the coupler 14 moves toward the tip side with respect to the plug 12, and the female screw 28 of the coupler 14 is tightened and screwed to the male screw 44 of the female connector 42. As a result, the medical male connector 10 and the female connector 42 are liquid-tightly connected, and the coupler 14 realizes a highly reliable connection.

The coupler 14 moves toward the tip of the plug 12 as it is tightened to the female connector 42. Then, the protruding portion 36 of the flexible piece 30 provided on the coupler 14 comes into contact with the guide inclined surface 20 of the large diameter portion 16 provided on the plug 12. Since a force toward the outer periphery acts on the flexible piece 30 as a reaction force of contact with the guide inclined surface 20, the flexible piece 30 is guided and inclined as the coupler 14 moves toward the tip side with respect to the plug 12. It is expanded by the surface 20 and the flexible piece 30 is elastically deformed to the outer periphery. Due to the elastic deformation of the flexible piece 30 to the outer periphery, the cross-sectional center line L of the flexible piece 30 is substantially parallel to the axial direction of the coupler 14 in the connected state of the female connector 42 shown in FIG.

The locking portion 22 of the plug 12 is inserted into the tip portion of the flexible piece 30 expanded by the guide inclined surface 20. The locking portion 22 abuts in the axial direction with the protruding portion 36 provided on the flexible piece 30. Then, the first locking surface 24, which is the base end surface of the locking portion 22, and the second locking surface 40, which is the tip end surface of the protruding portion 36, are locked in the axial direction, whereby the plug of the coupler 14 is plugged. Movement to the tip side with respect to 12 is restricted. As a result, the coupler 14 is positioned at the tightening end located in the state where the tightening to the female connector 42 is completed. The plug 12 and the female connector 42 are axially sandwiched between the second locking surface 40 of the coupler 14 and the thread of the female screw 28, and are urged to the approaching side in the axial direction to liquid. It is connected in a tightly sealed state.

By tightening the coupler 14 to the female connector 42 and positioning it at the tightening end, the flexible piece 30 of the coupler 14 is radially overlapped with the large diameter portion 16 of the plug 12. More specifically, the protrusion 36 of the flexible piece 30 expanded by the contact with the guide inclined surface 20 is continuous with the tip end side of the guide inclined surface 20 by moving along the guide inclined surface 20. You will be guided to ride on the plug-side engaging surface 18 provided. Then, the nut-side engaging surface 38 of the protruding portion 36 of the flexible piece 30 is superposed on the plug-side engaging surface 18 of the large-diameter portion 16 in a radial direction in contact with each other. Since the outer peripheral surface of the locking portion 22 is separated from the inner peripheral surface of the flexible piece 30, the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 can be superposed in contact with each other. , It is surely realized without being hindered by the contact between the outer peripheral surface of the locking portion 22 and the inner peripheral surface of the flexible piece 30.

The nut-side engaging surface 38 is substantially parallel to the plug-side engaging surface 18 due to elastic deformation of the flexible piece 30 in a state where the coupler 14 is located at the tightening end, and the plug-side engaging surface 18 is formed. And the nut side engaging surface 38 are overlapped with each other in a surface contact state. The plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 are pressed against each other by the elasticity of the flexible piece 30, and are overlapped in a frictionally engaged state in which they are engaged in the axial direction by a frictional force. The plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 are preferably in contact with each other over the entire circumference, but may be in contact with each other at least in a part in the circumferential direction. In the contact state between the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38, the inclined surface 39 of the coupler 14 is inclined inward toward the tip in the axial direction parallel to the nut-side engaging surface 38. is doing.

The nut-side engaging surface 38 is in contact with a portion of the plug-side engaging surface 18 that is axially distant from the base end, and in the present embodiment, the nut-side engaging surface 38 is overlapped with the tip portion of the plug-side engaging surface 18. Therefore, the plug-side engaging surface 18 extends toward the proximal end side from the nut-side engaging surface 38. However, the nut-side engaging surface 38 may be in contact with the base end of the plug-side engaging surface 18 in addition to the portion of the plug-side engaging surface 18 that is axially separated from the base end. Further, the nut-side engaging surface 38 may be in contact with an intermediate portion of the plug-side engaging surface 18 that is axially away from the base end and axially away from the tip end.

When the tightening of the coupler 14 to the female connector 42 is loosened and the coupler 14 moves from the tightening end to the base end side with respect to the plug 12, the plug-side engaging surface 18 provided on the plug 12 and the coupler 14 The nut-side engaging surface 38 provided in the above is in sliding contact with the nut-side engaging surface 38. Then, a resistance force due to friction acts between the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38, which are in contact with each other and are frictionally engaged with each other. As a result, a large force (torque) is required for rotation to loosen the coupler 14, and unintended rotation of the coupler 14 is less likely to occur. Therefore, due to the unintentional loosening of the coupler 14, poor connection such as deterioration of the sealing property of the connection portion between the medical male connector 10 and the female connector 42 or disconnection is avoided, and the desired connection is achieved. The state can be maintained stably.

Since the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 both extend with a certain length in the axial direction, the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 are in sliding contact with each other. It is possible to obtain a large frictional resistance force due to the above. Further, until the coupler 14 moves to the proximal end side with respect to the plug 12 by a predetermined amount or more, the frictional resistance force due to the sliding contact between the plug side engaging surface 18 and the nut side engaging surface 38 is continuously exerted. To. Therefore, loosening of the coupler 14 due to unintended rotation of the coupler 14 is less likely to occur.

In the present embodiment, the rotation angle of the coupler 14 from which the contact between the plug-side engaging surface 18 of the plug 12 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 of the flexible piece 30 is released is in the range of 50 ° or more and 130 ° or less. It is set. As a result, due to a slight rotation of the coupler 14 that may occur unintentionally, the frictional resistance force due to the contact between the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 is not released, and the coupler 14 is prevented from loosening. To. Further, in the operation of intentionally loosening the coupler 14, the amount of rotation operation of the coupler 14 required to release the resistance force against the rotation of the coupler 14 does not become too large, and the operability of disconnecting the connection with the female connector 42 does not become too large. It is possible to realize an excellent medical male connector 10. The rotation angle of the coupler 14 at which the contact between the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 is released is more preferably set in the range of 80 ° or more and 110 ° or less.

By rotating the coupler 14 against the resistance force to a predetermined rotation angle set within the above-mentioned angle range, the coupler 14 has the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface with respect to the plug 12. It moves to the base end side to the position where the friction due to the contact of 38 is released. When the friction caused by the contact between the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 is released, the coupler 14 can rotate with a small force thereafter.

Further, the plug-side engaging surface 18 is made longer in the axial direction than the nut-side engaging surface 38, and the nut-side engaging surface 38 is in contact with a portion of the plug-side engaging surface 18 away from the base end to the tip. The plug-side engaging surface 18 extends from the nut-side engaging surface 38 to the proximal end side. As a result, even if the coupler 14 slightly moves to the base end with respect to the plug 12, the contact area between the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 does not change. Therefore, the resistance force due to the sliding contact between the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 is maintained, and unintended rotation of the coupler 14 that is large enough to cause the coupler 14 to loosen is further less likely to occur.

It is desirable that the axial length dimension of the plug-side engaging surface 18 is at least twice the length dimension of the nut-side engaging surface 38. According to this, when the coupler 14 is rotated, the entire nut-side engaging surface 38 is plugged over more than half of the rotation operation amount at which the contact between the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 is released. It comes into contact with the side engaging surface 18, and the resistance force due to the sliding contact between the plug side engaging surface 18 and the nut side engaging surface 38 is made substantially constant. The axial length dimension a of the plug-side engaging surface 18 is 50p / 360≤a≤130p / 360 with respect to the pitch p of the thread of the female screw 28 of the coupler 14.

In the contact state between the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38, the axial length dimension of the inclined surface 39 of the coupler 14 is more than twice the axial length dimension of the nut-side engaging surface 38. Has been done. Further, the axial length dimension of the inclined surface 39 of the coupler 14 is set to be two-thirds or more of the axial length dimension from the base end of the nut-side engaging surface 38 to the base end of the flexible piece 30. .. As a result, the reaction force exerted on the flexible piece 30 by the contact between the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 is dispersed and transmitted to the base end side of the flexible piece 30 having the inclined surface 39. It is easy to improve the load bearing capacity of the flexible piece 30. Further, by providing the inclined surface 39 over a long region in the axial direction, the inclined surface 39 is arranged at a position where the nut-side engaging surface 38 protrudes to the inner peripheral side while ensuring the protruding height of the protruding portion 36. The inclination angle with respect to the cross-sectional center line L can be reduced. Therefore, the dispersion of the contact reaction force acting on the flexible piece 30 can be realized more effectively.

The flexible piece 30 is provided with an inclined surface 39 on the inner peripheral surface, and the outer peripheral surface is a cylindrical surface substantially parallel to the center line L of the cross section, and the nut side in the formed portion of the inclined surface 39. It is gradually thickened toward the engaging surface 38. As described above, since the cross-sectional shape of the flexible piece 30 changes in the extending direction of the cross-sectional center line L, the nut-side engaging surface 38 based on the elasticity of the flexible piece 30 is attached to the plug-side engaging surface 18. The pressing force can be adjusted. In particular, since the length dimension of the inclined surface 39 is increased in the stretching direction of the cross-sectional center line L, the elasticity of the flexible piece 30 can be adjusted with a large degree of freedom.

Both the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 are cylindrical surfaces and are in contact with each other over the entire circumference, so that a large contact area is secured in the circumferential direction. Therefore, a large frictional resistance force acting between the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 can be obtained, and unintended rotation of the coupler 14 can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, since the flexible piece 30 is annular, the elastic deformation of the flexible piece 30 caused by the large diameter portion 16 of the plug 12 being pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the flexible piece 30 is This is an embodiment in which the annular flexible piece 30 is expanded and deformed. Therefore, the elastic shape restoring force of the flexible piece 30 is large, and the nut-side engaging surface 38 of the flexible piece 30 is strongly pressed against the plug-side engaging surface 18 of the large-diameter portion 16 to plug the flexible piece 30. The frictional resistance acting between the side engaging surface 18 and the nut side engaging surface 38 becomes large. Therefore, it is possible to set the torque required for the rotation of the coupler 14 sufficiently large, and the loosening due to the unintended rotation of the coupler 14 is prevented.

The coupler 14 is made of a resin material that is harder than the plug 12. Therefore, the flexible piece 30 provided on the coupler 14 is also formed of a hard resin material, and the durability of the elastically deformable flexible piece 30 can be improved. Further, a large shape restoration force based on the elasticity of the flexible piece 30 can be obtained, and the nut-side engaging surface 38 of the flexible piece 30 can be strongly pressed against the plug-side engaging surface 18.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the coupler is tightened to the plug (the coupler is tightened to the plug) for the medical male connector (example) having the structure according to the present invention and the medical male connector (comparative example) having the conventional structure. It is a graph of the measurement result (rotational resistance characteristic) that measured the rotation angle of the coupler, the torque required for the rotation of the coupler, in other words, the rotation resistance value of the coupler in the detachment operation of loosening from the state (positioned at the end). In the graph of FIG. 3, the rotation resistance characteristic of the embodiment according to the present invention is shown by a solid line, and the rotation resistance characteristic of the comparative example according to the conventional structure is shown by a broken line. The horizontal axis of the graph in FIG. 3 is the rotation angle of the coupler, and the unit of the rotation angle is “°”. The vertical axis of the graph in FIG. 3 is the torque (rotational resistance value) required for the rotation of the coupler, and the unit of the torque is “N · cm”.

According to the graph of FIG. 3, in the detachment operation of loosening the coupler, the rotational resistance characteristic of the embodiment has an initial resistance region and a continuous resistance region.

The initial resistance region has a chevron shape in which the torque of the coupler with respect to the rotation angle of the coupler shows a peak. More specifically, the initial resistance region is a region in the graph of FIG. 3 in which the rotation angle of the coupler is from 0 ° to a region exceeding 20 °, and the torque is maximum (around the rotation angle reaching 20 °). It has a peak of about 8.0 N · cm).

The continuous resistance region is a region from the torque decrease after exceeding the peak of the initial resistance region to about 3.0 N · cm until the rotation angle reaches around 100 °, and is from the peak of the initial resistance region. The graph is flat because it shows a small and substantially constant torque. The continuous resistance region is a region where the rotation angle of the coupler exceeds 20 ° to around 100 °, and is larger than the initial resistance region which is a region from 0 ° to around 20 °. It continues over.

The rotation angle becomes 0 ° on the horizontal axis of the graph of FIG. 3 is the connection state (see FIG. 2) in which the coupler 14 is located at the tightening end with respect to the plug 12, and becomes stationary as the rotation angle increases. The coupler 14 moves toward the proximal end side with respect to the plug 12 with the change and continuation of the resistance from friction (maximum static friction) to dynamic friction. Therefore, from the graph of FIG. 3, the sliding of the nut-side engaging surface 38 and the plug-side engaging surface 18 of the flexible piece 30 over the entire initial resistance region and continuous resistance region in an angle range of about 0 ° to 100 °. The resistance due to contact is demonstrated. In particular, due to the rotation resistance characteristic of FIG. 3, which has an initial resistance region and a continuous resistance region, when the coupler 14 is rotated and loosened, after a relatively hard response at the initial rotation (0 ° to 20 °), 20 ° to It was confirmed that the response can be substantially constant over a wide angle range of 100 °.

In FIG. 3, in the continuous resistance region, the torque increases to about 4.0 N · cm when the rotation angle of the coupler exceeds 45 °, and the torque increased to around 100 ° is maintained. .. It is considered that this is due to the change in the contact mode between the female thread of the coupler and the male thread of the female connector, and what is the rotational resistance of the coupler due to the contact between the flexible piece and the tightening engagement surface? Since they are different, the torque of the coupler can be regarded as substantially constant in the continuous resistance region. For example, by adjusting the shape, pitch, material, etc. of each thread of the female thread of the coupler and the male thread of the female connector, the change in torque in the continuous resistance region due to the change in the contact mode of the thread can be reduced. Can also be avoided.

On the other hand, in the comparative example, the maximum torque (about 10.0 N · cm) is exerted when the rotation angle of the coupler reaches 8 °, and then the torque drops sharply due to further rotation. Then, the torque becomes 0 when the rotation angle reaches 30 °, and the coupler is in a state where it can rotate freely without resistance. In short, the rotation resistance characteristic of the coupler of the comparative example is a chevron that shows a peak as a whole, and the torque drops sharply after the peak is exceeded.

As described above, the medical male connector of the embodiment according to the present invention has a resistance to the rotation of the coupler until the rotation angle of the coupler becomes larger than that of the medical male connector of the comparative example according to the conventional structure. do. In the medical male connector of the comparative example, the resistance to the rotation of the coupler is greatly reduced by the slight rotation of the coupler, so that the resistance is also reduced by the unintended slight rotation of the coupler due to the coupler. The connection between the connectors may not be maintained. On the other hand, in the medical male connector of the embodiment, the resistance to the rotation of the coupler is exhibited until the rotation angle of the coupler is close to 100 °, so that even if the coupler unintentionally rotates slightly. , Resistance is maintained and the progress of loosening of the coupler is prevented. Therefore, in the medical male connector of the embodiment, the connection failure between the connectors due to the unintentional loosening of the coupler, which is a problem in the comparative example, can be avoided, and a more reliable connection between the connectors can be realized.

The rotational resistance characteristics of the medical male connector shown in the graph of FIG. 3 are merely examples, and the magnitude of torque, the angle range of the initial resistance region and the continuous resistance region, and the like can be appropriately changed. For example, depending on the material and shape of the large diameter portion 16 of the plug 12 and the flexible piece 30 of the coupler 14, the frictional drag force (normal force or friction coefficient) between the plug side engaging surface 18 and the nut side engaging surface 38 ) Can be adjusted to adjust the magnitude of the torque exerted in the continuous resistance region, or the axial length of the plug-side engaging surface 18 can be adjusted to adjust the angular range of the continuous resistance region. can.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited by the specific description thereof. For example, in the above embodiment, the annular flexible piece 30 that is continuous over the entire circumference of the coupler 14 is exemplified, but the flexible piece is not limited to the annular shape that is continuous all around. Specifically, for example, if the flexible piece has a plate shape having a length less than one circumference in the circumferential direction, the elastic restoring force of the flexible piece is reduced as compared with the annular flexible piece 30. , The torque required for the rotation of the coupler 14 can be adjusted to be smaller. A plurality of flexible pieces may be provided, and for example, a plurality of flexible pieces may be arranged in the circumferential direction.

The plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38 of the above-described embodiment are each tubular surfaces, but the plug-side engaging surface and the nut-side engaging surface are both continuous cylinders over the entire circumference. It is not limited to the surface. However, it is preferable that at least one of the plug-side engaging surface and the nut-side engaging surface is a tubular surface that is continuous over the entire circumference, whereby the plug is plugged regardless of the circumferential orientation of the plug 12 and the coupler 14. The contact area between the side engaging surface and the nut side engaging surface can be made constant.

In the above embodiment, the plug-side engaging surface 18 is longer than the nut-side engaging surface 38 in the axial direction, and the plug-side engaging surface 18 extends toward the proximal end side from the nut-side engaging surface 38. However, the axial length of the plug-side engaging surface may be the same as the nut-side engaging surface, or may be shorter than the nut-side engaging surface. When the axial length of the plug-side engaging surface is shorter than the nut-side engaging surface, it is preferable that the plug-side engaging surface is in contact with a portion of the nut-side engaging surface that is axially distant from the tip. .. According to this, the frictional resistance between the plug-side engaging surface and the nut-side engaging surface is maintained until the coupler moves more toward the axial proximal end with respect to the plug, preventing unintentional loosening of the coupler. can do.

Like the plug-side engaging surface 52 as the tightening engaging surface provided on the large-diameter portion 50 shown in FIG. 4, the tightening engaging surface is an inclined surface that inclines toward the outer periphery toward the proximal end side. obtain. Further, as in the nut-side engaging surface 58 provided on the protruding portion 56 of the flexible piece 54 shown in FIG. 4, the contact surface of the flexible piece 54 with the tightening engaging surface is directed toward the proximal end side. It can be an inclined surface that inclines toward the outer circumference. In FIG. 4, the tilt angle of the plug-side engaging surface 52 and the tilt angle of the nut-side engaging surface 58 are substantially the same as each other, and the plug-side engaging surface 52 and the nut-side engaging surface 58 are surfaces. They are overlapped in contact with each other. If the plug-side engaging surface 52 and the nut-side engaging surface 58 are inclined surfaces as described above, the resistance force due to the sliding contact between the plug-side engaging surface 52 and the nut-side engaging surface 58 can be applied to the engaging surface 52. It may also be possible to adjust by the tilt angle of, 58. When the plug-side engaging surface 52 and the nut-side engaging surface 58 are inclined surfaces as shown in FIG. 4, the plug-side engaging surface can be easily tightened and removed from the female connector of the coupler. The inclination angle of 52 with respect to the axial direction is preferably 20 ° or less. Further, the inclination angle of the plug-side engaging surface and the nut-side engaging surface with respect to the axial direction may be gradually or stepwise changed in the axial direction. In the description of FIG. 4 and FIGS. 5 and 6 described later, the same members and parts as those of the other embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the above embodiment, the flexible piece 30 of the coupler 14 has a nut-side engaging surface 38 that abuts on the plug-side engaging surface 18 of the plug 12, but the flexible piece has a flexible piece with respect to the plug-side engaging surface. It is not always necessary to make surface contact. Specifically, for example, in the protruding portion 56 of the flexible piece 54 shown in FIG. 5, the entire inner peripheral surface is inclined with respect to the plug-side engaging surface 18, and the flexible piece 54 is engaged on the plug side. It is in contact with the mating surface 18 at the edge 60 at the tip of the inner peripheral surface of the protruding portion 56. In this way, the flexible piece may be in line contact with the tightening engagement surface (plug-side engagement surface). The contact portion between the flexible piece and the tightening engagement surface may not extend in the circumferential direction, and the flexible piece may contact the tightening engagement surface at a point.

The protrusion 36 provided on the flexible piece 30 of the embodiment is not essential. Specifically, for example, a structure having no protruding portion protruding toward the inner circumference, such as the flexible piece 70 shown in FIG. 6, can be adopted. Further, in the structure of FIG. 6, the guide inclined surface is provided on the coupler 14 side. That is, the inner peripheral portion of the tip surface of the flexible piece 70 is a guide inclined surface 72 that inclines toward the tip and expands to the outer circumference. When tightening the coupler 14 to a female connector (not shown), the flexible piece 70 before reaching the tightening end shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 6 has a large diameter protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the plug 12 on the guide inclined surface 72. It abuts on the portion 74. Then, a contact reaction force toward the outer periphery acts on the flexible piece 70, and the flexible piece 70 is expanded and guided onto the plug-side engaging surface 18 which is the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 74. The flexible piece 70 guided onto the plug-side engaging surface 18 is pressed against the plug-side engaging surface 18 on the nut-side engaging surface 38 constituting the inner peripheral surface. As a result, in the structure of FIG. 6, a frictional resistance force acts between the plug-side engaging surface 18 and the nut-side engaging surface 38, and the relative rotation of the coupler 14 with respect to the plug 12 is limited by the frictional resistance force. Loosening of the coupler 14 is prevented.

In addition, both the guide inclined surface 20 on the plug 12 side and the guide inclined surface 72 on the coupler 14 side may be provided, and for example, the guiding action is exhibited by the guide inclined surfaces 20 and 72 coming into contact with each other. You may do so.

The first locking surface 24 and the second locking surface 40 of the above embodiment are each continuous annular over the entire circumference, but the first locking surface and the second locking surface are not necessarily limited to the annular shape. .. Further, the first locking surface and the second locking surface are not limited to a flat surface, and may be, for example, an inclined surface or a curved surface. Further, the first locking surface and the second locking surface do not have to be orthogonal to the axial direction as long as the coupler can be positioned at the tightening end in the axial direction by contacting each other.

In the above embodiment, the tightening end of the coupler 14 is provided on the first locking surface 24 provided on the large diameter portion 16 having the plug side engaging surface 18 and the flexible piece 30 provided on the nut side engaging surface. It was defined by locking with the second locking surface 40. However, the structure for defining the tightening end of the coupler may be provided separately from the portion provided with the plug-side engaging surface and the nut-side engaging surface.

10 Medical male connector 12 Plug 14 Coupler 16 Large diameter part 18 Plug side engaging surface (tightening engaging surface)
20 Guide inclined surface 22 Locking part 24 First locking surface 26 Peripheral wall part 28 Female screw 29 Guide part 30 Flexible piece 32 Expanded surface 34 Space 36 Protruding part 38 Nut side engaging surface (contact surface)
39 Inclined surface 40 Second locking surface 42 Female connector 44 Male screw 50 Large diameter part 52 Plug side engaging surface (tightening engaging surface)
54 Flexible piece 56 Protruding part 58 Nut side engaging surface (contact surface)
60 Edge 70 Flexible piece 72 Guide inclined surface 74 Large diameter part

Claims (4)

A coupler having a peripheral wall portion provided with a female screw for screwing to the female connector on the inner peripheral surface was mounted on the plug connected to the female connector so as to be rotatable and axially movable. It ’s a medical male connector.
The coupler is provided with a flexible piece that protrudes on the inner peripheral side of the peripheral wall portion.
The plug has a tightening engagement surface that is parallel to the central axis on the outer peripheral surface or is inclined in a direction that increases in diameter toward the proximal end side.
By tightening the coupler to the female connector, the flexible piece is brought into contact with a portion of the tightening engagement surface axially distant from the proximal end, and the flexible piece is brought to the tightening engagement surface of the flexible piece. A medical male connector in which the rotation angle of the coupler from which the contact is released is 50 ° or more and 130 ° or less. The medical male connector according to claim 1, wherein the coupler is made of a material harder than the plug. In the contact state between the flexible piece and the tightening engagement surface, the inner surface of the flexible piece on the tightening engagement surface side approaches the tip of the flexible piece from the tightening engagement surface. It has an inclined surface that inclines in the direction of
The axial length of the inclined surface is at least twice the axial length of the contact surface of the flexible piece with the tightening engagement surface, and the base of the flexible piece from the base end of the contact surface. The medical male connector according to claim 1 or 2, which satisfies any of 2/3 times or more of the length to the end. The rotational resistance characteristic in the detachment operation of loosening the coupler from the state of being tightened to the plug of the coupler is higher than the peak of the initial resistance region and the initial resistance region in which the rotational resistance value of the coupler has a peak shape. The medical male connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which has a continuous resistance region that continues over a rotation angle larger than the initial resistance region with a small substantially constant rotation resistance value.

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