JP2947105B2 - Medical connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical connector for connecting a peritoneal catheter or extension tube installed in a patient to a bag containing a dialysate in peritoneal dialysis or the like. The present invention relates to a connector suitable for use in a device for automatically attaching and detaching both.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the peritoneal dialysis method, the peritoneum is used as a dialysis membrane. A peritoneal dialysis set with a bag containing a dialysate is connected to a peritoneal catheter implanted in the abdominal cavity of a patient. It is injected into the abdominal cavity, drained after storing for a certain period of time. The dialysate is stored for a certain period of time, and waste and water are removed to purify the blood by the difference in solute concentration and osmotic pressure generated between the dialysate and blood in the capillaries distributed in the peritoneum.

[0003] As described above, peritoneal dialysis consists of a cycle of drainage, bag exchange, infusion of dialysate, and storage, and the patient must frequently perform this cycle 3 to 5 times a day, and is not accustomed to it. It is a very troublesome operation for the person. Particularly problematic is the detachment of the patient-side connector provided at the tip of the extension tube connected to the abdominal cavity catheter and the bag-side connector of the set with the dialysate bag. Attention should be paid to bacterial adherence to peritonitis, as it can cause peritonitis. Also the connector
The problem at the time of attachment / detachment is not only the adhesion of bacteria, but also a serious situation such as a connection error or a liquid leak may be caused by an erroneous operation of a patient's eye or hand.

Therefore, various devices and methods have been conventionally proposed in order to solve the problem of attaching and detaching the connector. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 56-63186 and Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 63-4
JP-A-6317 and JP-A-5-31178 disclose a connector having a double (wall) structure and a pod (protective sleeve) having an elastic valve having a slit. In these devices, since the inner cylinder through which the liquid passes is located at a position retracted from the outer cylinder and the protective sleeve, hands and the like do not touch the inner cylinder. Therefore, at least the chemical solution in the inner cylinder is prevented from being contaminated. Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-67711 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-529
No. 86, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-49299, etc., a device that sterilizes by irradiating ultraviolet rays at the time of detachment of a connector, a device that automatically detaches and attaches a connector, etc. Has been developed.

[0005] However, these still have problems, and medical professionals or patients have requested improvements. That is, by adopting a connector having a double (wall) structure and a connector having a protective sleeve as in the former, the chance of bacterial contamination is certainly reduced, but the contamination is caused by the manual operation. The problem still exists, and the problem due to the manipulation error has not been solved at all. On the other hand, an ultraviolet irradiation device or an automatic connection device for a connector such as the latter performs sterilization when the connector is detached,
Since there is no need to carry out desorption by a procedure, there is no fear of bacterial contamination or erroneous manipulation of the procedure. However, since the above-mentioned automatic connection device is expensive, not all patients can always use it, and it is often used only for patients who have difficulty in eyes and hands. Therefore, even if a patient who normally detaches and attaches a connector by a manual operation attempts to detach and attach the connector with an automatic connector using a conventional connector, the patient cannot use the connector because the connect system is not compatible with the device.
Also, in general, even a patient using the above-mentioned device may be forced to detach the connector by a manual operation. For example,
For example, when the automatic connection device is out of order, or when the patient goes out and cannot bring the device. All connectors applied to the automatic connection device are required to have a simple attachment / detachment mechanism. Therefore, all the connectors are of the spike (puncture) type. Connectors are not preferred because of the risk of bacterial contamination and shedding. Furthermore, many of the currently available peritoneal dialysis bag connectors are lockable (threaded) suitable for the procedure, and the connectors are not available in the automatic connection devices currently used for peritoneal dialysis. As described above, a connector must have a simple structure in order to be applied to an automatic connection device, and a lock-type connector needs to perform a complex series of functions such as rotation, detachment, and joining. Therefore, it is difficult to adapt to the automatic connection device. When a necessary rotation operation is performed on the lock type connector, a tube connected to the connector (a dialysate bag or an abdominal cavity catheter is connected to another end) rotates together. There was a problem that it was difficult to twist and connect.

[0006]

The technical problems to be solved by the present invention are as follows. That is, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector which can be detached by a manual operation or an automatic connection device, and has a structure capable of reducing the chance of bacterial contamination and erroneous operation even when detached by a manual operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector having a simple and reliable connection function that can be attached and detached by a connection device. More specifically, it is a lock-type connector that can be applied to an automatic connection device. Further, even when the connector or a cap attached to the connector is rotated at the time of detachment of the connector, the tube connected to the connector can be rotated. The object of the present invention is to provide a connector having a structure devised so as not to twist the hub.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the medical connector of the present invention comprises a pair of connectors to be connected, one of which is a dialysate bag-side connector and the other is a patient-side connector. The two connectors each have a tube connecting portion provided at a base end of each connector, and a connector for peritoneal dialysis having a distal end cylindrical portion provided at an end different from the base end of each connector. And inside each of the distal end cylindrical portions of the connectors, there is an annular luer portion connected to the proximal end portion of the connector, and each connector distal end cylindrical portion covers the distal end of each annular luer portion. When the two connectors are extended and connected to each other, the annular luer portions are in liquid-tight contact with each other, and the distal end cylindrical portion of the dialysate bag side connector rotates independently of the base end portion of the connector. Is formed to be possible Medical connector which is characterized the door -
It is.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a female screw is formed on the inner periphery of the distal end cylindrical portion of the dialysate bag-side connector, and a male screw is formed on the outer periphery of the distal end cylindrical portion of the patient-side connector. The medical connector is also included.

Further, it is considered that the medical connector of the present invention includes the following embodiments in which technical improvements which are not a main part of the present invention are added to the present invention.

[0010] For example, the connector is a medical connector in which a cap is attached to each connector before the connectors are connected.

A cap attached to a connector having an annular luer portion includes an inner cylinder in which a plug fitted or in contact with the annular luer portion is attached to the inner periphery, and a screw formed in a distal end cylindrical portion of the connector. An outer cylinder formed with a screw to be screwed, the outer cylinder tip is extended to cover the inner cylinder tip, and a sterilizing pad containing a sterilizing agent is attached to the inner peripheral bottom of the outer cylinder. The medical connector.

[0012] The medical connector, wherein a sealing member made of an elastic material is mounted on a peripheral contact portion.

[0013] The medical connector, wherein the sealing portion is formed by two-color molding.

The medical connector used in an automatic connection device for automatically attaching and detaching the connector.

When used in the automatic connection device, any one or all of the cylindrical surface of the tip or the connector cap has a polygonal shape so that the connector or cap can be easily gripped by the holder of the automatic connection device. The medical connector having a grip.

[0016]

Since the connector has a tip cylindrical portion rotatable independently of the tube connecting portion, the dialysis is performed by rotating the tip cylindrical portion after bringing the connector close when connecting the connector. The connector can be screwed and connected without rotating the tube connected to the liquid bag or the abdominal cavity catheter (ie, without twisting the fixed tube).

With the above-described mechanism, a lock-type connector applicable to an automatic connection device is made possible. Also, by making the structure of the above-mentioned connector a double wall, the connector can be detached and attached by a procedure. Even the chance of bacterial contamination and misoperation can be reduced. Therefore, the connector according to the present invention
Can be attached and detached both by a procedure and by an automatic connection device.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings shown below, taking peritoneal dialysis as an example.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of each connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows the first connector-1.
0, FIG. 1 (b) shows the first connector cap 20, FIG.
FIG. 1C shows the second connector cap 40, and FIG. 1D shows the second connector 30. In this embodiment, the first connector 10 is a connector on the dialysate bag side,
The connector 30 will be described below as a patient-side connector, but this does not limit the present invention and can be changed as appropriate according to the purpose.

The first connector 10 has a double wall of a first annular luer portion 11 and a first cylindrical end portion 12, and a proximal end portion 15 of the first annular luer portion 11 is connected to a dialysate bag. A first tube connection 16 is present. 1st tip cylindrical part 12
Are a concave portion 17 provided on the outer periphery of the first connector-base end portion 15 and the first distal end cylindrical portion 12.
The first tube connecting portion 16 and the first annular luer portion 11 are rotatably fitted independently via a convex portion 18 provided at the base end of the first tube connecting portion. The distal end of the first distal end cylindrical portion 12 extends long so as to cover the distal end of the first annular luer portion 11, and a female screw 13 is formed on the inner periphery of the first distal end cylindrical portion 12. In addition, a sealing member 14 made of an elastic material is embedded in the inner peripheral surface near the tip of the first annular luer portion 11 for sealing in a liquid-tight manner. ).

On the other hand, the second connector 30 includes a second connector-tip cylindrical portion 32, a second annular luer portion 31 formed inside the cylindrical portion 32, and (a patient's abdominal cavity catheter or extension tube). A second connector having a second tube connection 35 (connected to the tube). The base end of the second connector-tip cylindrical portion 32 is the second connector-base end portion 34.
The second connector-tip cylindrical portion 32 is extended to cover the tip of the second annular luer portion 31. A female screw 13 provided on the inner periphery of the distal end cylindrical portion 12 of the first connector is provided on the outer circumference of the second connector distal end cylindrical portion 32.
And the outer periphery of the second annular luer portion 31 can be in fluid-tight contact with the sealing member formed on the inner periphery of the distal end of the first annular luer portion 11. .

Since the first connector and the second connector have the above-described structure, when these two connectors are screwed together, the tube connected to the base end of each connector is connected. Can be connected without rotating together with the connector tip cylindrical portion 12 to be screwed. That is, the two connectors are brought close to each other, and the first connector-the tip cylindrical portion 1
By rotating only 2 independently, tube 19 connected to the dialysate bag or tube connected to the peritoneal catheter.
The two connectors can be connected without twisting the valve 36. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view when both connectors are connected to each other, and shows a first connector 10 and a second connector 30.
Is a female screw 13 formed on the inner periphery of the first tip cylindrical portion 12.
And a sealing member 14 and a second annular luer portion 31 which are screwed together by a male screw 33 formed on the outer periphery of the second connector-end cylindrical portion 32 and which is attached to the distal end or inner periphery of the first annular luer portion 11. The liquid flowing through the two connectors is maintained in a liquid-tight manner by contacting the distal end or the outer periphery of the connector, and the liquid flow path directly connected to the abdominal cavity is protected from contamination by bacteria and the like.

The second connector-cap 40 is connected to the third inner cylinder 4
1, a third outer cylinder 42 connected to the base end of the third inner cylinder 41 and formed concentrically around the third inner cylinder 41, and a stopper 46 fitted to the distal end of the third inner cylinder 41. I have. The third outer cylinder 42
Of the third inner cylinder 41 is extended long so as to cover the axial end of the third inner cylinder 41, and is screwed to an external thread 33 formed on the outer periphery of the second connector-tip cylindrical portion 32 on the inner periphery of the third outer cylinder. A female screw 43 is provided, and a sealing member 45 made of an elastic material is provided at an inner edge of the distal end of the third outer cylinder where the female screw 43 ends. The stopper 46 is formed of an elastic material, and is mounted so as to press against the second annular luer portion 31 of the second connector so as to be sealed in a liquid-tight manner. Also, a bactericide (usually, popidone yo-
The sterilization pad 44 containing the second connector 30 is attached to the base end of the third inner cylinder 41, and when the second connector 30 is screwed into the second connector cap 40, the second connector
The tip cylinder can be sterilized. In order to further enhance safety, a sealing member 45 is attached to the inner edge of the distal end of the third outer cylinder so as to protect the inside of the second connector cap screwed with the second connector from external contamination. I have.

The first connector-cap 20 has a fourth distal cylindrical portion 21 having a male screw 22 formed on the outer periphery of the cap 20 so as to be screwed into the female screw 13 formed on the inner periphery of the first distal cylindrical portion 12. And a fourth cap base end 23.

FIGS. 3A to 3D are external views of the connector and the cap. As shown in (e) and (f), the shaft portions of the connector and the cap are gripped by grippers 51 and 52 (12A, 23A, 32A, 32A, 4
2A) is formed in a polygonal shape (octagonal in the drawing), is hard to slip when gripped by the device, and the positions to be gripped by the connector and the cap are shifted from the holder portion of the device. Even so, it is designed so that it can be easily corrected (to increase the tolerance).

The combination sequence of the above-mentioned connector and cap connection will be described with reference to FIG. During storage, a second connector (patient side) cap 40 is screwed into the second connector (patient side connector) 30. The second connector (patient side) cap 40 is removed from the drainage (reserved liquid) second connector (patient side connector) 30. In addition, Y type tube
The first connector (bag-side connector) 10 to the first connector (bag-side) cap 20 attached to the set in which the dialysate bag 60 and the drainage bag 61 are connected by the
[FIG. 4 (a) → FIG. 4 (b)].

Next, the second connector (patient connector)
The first connector (bag-side connector) 10 is screwed into the connector 30 [FIG. 4 (c) → FIG. 4 (d)]. In this state, the dialysate stored in the abdominal cavity of the patient is discharged into the empty drainage bag 61. The first connector (bag-side connector) 10
Has not only an empty drainage bag 61 but also a dialysate bag 60 containing dialysate, so that the valve is switched to discharge the fluid from the abdominal cavity of the patient and inject the dialysate. I have. Dialysate Injection After drainage is complete, inject dialysate from the dialysate bag into the patient's peritoneal cavity. At the end of the operation When the dialysate injection is completed, the second connector (patient connector) 30 and the first connector (bag connector) 10 are disconnected [FIG. 4 (d) → FIG. 4 (e)]. The second connector (patient connector) 30 has a new second connector (patient side) cap 40 and the first connector (bag side connector) 10 has a first connector (bag side) cap 20. And screw them in [Figure 4
(F) → FIG. 4 (g)].

FIG. 5 shows a basic configuration diagram of an automatic connection device for automatically attaching and detaching the above-mentioned connector and cap.

The automatic connection device 70 includes a screw rod 71 rotated by a driving unit, and a block 72 screwed to the screw rod 71.
And a second gear 79 that moves integrally with the block 72 and can be independently rotated by another driving unit, and a second connector that holds the second gear 79 and a second cap holder that holds the cap 40. 77A, a second connector-holder 78A that also engages with the second gear 79 and holds the grip portion 12A of the first connector 10, and holds the first tube connection portion 16 or the first connector base end portion 15. Tube connecting portion holder 78B, a pinion gear 73 that can be independently rotated by another driving portion, a board 74 formed at the bottom with a rack that meshes with the pinion gear 73, and a second connector provided on the board 74. A first connector-holder 75 for holding the first -30 is provided, and a first cap holder 76 for holding the first connector-cap 20 also provided on the substrate 74. By the rotation of the screw rod 71 and the second gear 79,
Each holder holding the connector and the cap rotates, and the cap is removed from the connector. At this time,
The tube connecting portion 16 is held by a tube connecting portion holder 78B, and the tip end cylindrical portion 12 of the first connector is held by a second connector holder 78A, and is rotated independently of the tube connecting portion 16. Therefore, the tube is not twisted when the connector is attached or detached using the automatic connection device. Further, by the rotation of the pinion gear 73,
The board 74 slides and comes out of the cap or connector
Each connector separated from the connection between them can move in parallel. The rotation of the screw rod 71, the second gear 79 and the pinion gear 73 is controlled centrally by the instrumentation part of each drive unit. However, by separately providing a stopper and a limiter, the screw rod 71 can be rotated by the second gear 79 and the pinion gear 73. It is also possible to operate with a single drive unit by meshing with the pinion gear 73.

[0030]

According to the medical connector of the present invention, the tube connected to the dialysate bag or the abdominal cavity catheter can be securely connected by screwing without rotating together with the connector. . That is, the tube is not twisted even when the connector is rotated. Therefore, it is possible to apply the lock type connector to an automatic connection device. In addition, even if the connector is attached and detached by a procedure without using an automatic connection device, the risk of erroneous operations such as bacterial contamination and dropout of spike needles is reduced due to the structure as described above. it can.

As described above, the connector of the present invention can reduce bacterial contamination and needle detachment even when detached by a technique, and can be securely detached by an automatic connection device with a simple mechanism.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a structure of a connector and a cap according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a first connector and a second connector in a connected state.

3 (a) to 3 (d) are front views of the connector and the cap of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3 (e) and 3 (f) are side views.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the order of interconnection of the connector and the cap according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views showing a basic configuration of an automatic connection device using the connector of the present invention, wherein FIG.
Is an assembly drawing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10. 1st connector-11. First annular luer part 12. 1st tip cylindrical part 12A. Grip part 13. Female screw 14. Sealing member 15. First connector-proximal end 16. First tube connecting portion 17. Recess 18. Convex part 19. Tube 20. First connector-cap 21. Fourth tip cylindrical portion 22. Male screw 23. Fourth cap base end 23A. Grip part 30. Second connector 31. Second annular luer portion 32. Second tip cylindrical portion 32A. Grip part 33. Male screw 34. Second connector-proximal end 35. Second tube connecting portion 36. Tube 40. Second connector-cap 41. Third inner cylinder 42. Third outer cylinder 42A. Grip part 43. Female screw 44. Sterilization pad 45. Sealing member 46. Stopper 51. Grip part 52. Grip part 60. Dialysis bag 61. Drainage bag 62. Peritoneal cavity 70. Automatic connection device 71. Screw rod 72. Block 73. Pinion gear 74. Substrate 75. First connector-holder-76. First cap holder 77A. Second cap holder 78A. Second connector-holder 78B. Tube connection part holder 79. 2nd gear

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A61M 1/28 A61M 1/14 593

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pair should consolidate connectors - made, its
One is the dialysate bag side connector and the other is the patient
Side connectors, wherein each of the two connectors has a tube connecting portion provided at a base end of each connector, and a peritoneum having a tip cylindrical portion provided at an end different from the base end of each connector. Dialysis connector, both connectors
On the inside of the cylinder at the tip of the tar
Each connector has a cylindrical luer part,
Are extended so as to cover the tip of each annular luer.
When connecting the connectors, the two annular luer parts are in liquid-tight
A medical connector characterized in that a distal cylindrical portion of a dialysate bag-side connector is formed so as to be rotatable independently of a base end of the connector. 2. A cylindrical tip of the connector on the dialysate bag side.
A female screw is formed on the inner periphery of the
A male screw which can be screwed to the female screw is formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion.
The medical connector according to claim 1. 3. The connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein
3. The medical connector according to claim 1 , wherein a cap is attached to each connector before the connection . 4. A cap attached to a connector having an annular luer portion, wherein a cap fitted on or around the annular luer portion is screwed to an inner cylinder having an inner periphery attached thereto and a screw formed at a distal end cylindrical portion of the connector. An outer cylinder having a thread formed therein, wherein the outer cylinder tip is extended to cover the inner cylinder tip,
The medical connector according to claim 3, wherein a sterilizing pad containing a sterilizing agent is mounted on an inner peripheral bottom of the outer cylinder.
- 5. The sealing member according to claim 1, wherein a sealing member made of an elastic material is mounted on a peripheral contact portion which is peripherally contacted in a liquid-tight manner.
The medical connector according to claim 1. 6. The medical connector according to claim 5, wherein said sealing portion is formed by two-color molding . 7. A serial to any one of claims 1 to 6 for use in automatic connection apparatus for automatically detaching the connector
Onboard medical connector. 8. When used in the automatic connection device, any one or all of the tip cylindrical portion and the connector cap have a polygonal surface so that the connector or the cap can be easily gripped by a holder of the automatic connection device. The medical connector according to claim 1, further comprising a grip.
Doctor.