US 12,233,231 B2
Vented connector for medical fluid vessels and tapered plug
Aaron N. Ingram, Canton, GA (US); Benjamin Martin Davis, Woodstock, GA (US); Mark M. Costello, County Mayo (IE); David A. Doornbos, Woodstock, GA (US); and John Burke, Galway City (IE)
Assigned to Avent, Inc., Alpharetta, GA (US)
Filed by Avent, Inc., Alpharetta, GA (US)
Filed on May 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/743,558.
Application 17/743,558 is a continuation of application No. 16/001,282, filed on Jun. 6, 2018, granted, now 11,357,964.
Application 16/001,282 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/844,956, filed on Sep. 3, 2015, granted, now 10,668,263, issued on Jun. 2, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/515,880, filed on Jun. 6, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/192,614, filed on Jul. 15, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/047,389, filed on Sep. 8, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2022/0265987 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. A61M 39/20 (2006.01); A61J 15/00 (2006.01); A61M 39/10 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 39/20 (2013.01) [A61J 15/0026 (2013.01); A61M 39/10 (2013.01); A61M 2039/205 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A connector for connection to a fluid vessel and to a cooperating connector, the connector comprising:
a first end configured to attach to the fluid vessel, a second end coaxial with the first end, and a lumen extending through the connector from the first end to the second end;
a fluid-seal fitting that at least partially defines the lumen and is configured to sealingly mate with the cooperating connector to provide conveyance of a fluid;
an outer housing positioned around the fluid-seal fitting to form an annular space therebetween with an access opening at the second end of the connector, wherein the outer housing comprises a sidewall arranged coaxially with the fluid-seal fitting and the access opening, the outer housing having at least one connector vent opening configured to provide fluid communication between the annular space and an environment external to the annular space; and
a cap repositionable between a plugged position capping the second end of the connector and an unplugged position not capping the second end of the connector, the cap including one or more cap vent openings, wherein the at least one connector vent opening, the one or more cap vent openings, and the annular space form a continuous passageway, wherein the continuous passageway provides fluid communication from the one or more cap vent openings to the annular space and to the environment external to the annular space through the at least one connector vent opening when the cap is in the plugged position capping the access opening of the annular space, wherein the one or more cap vent openings allow for drainage and air-drying of any residual amount of fluid in the annular space,
wherein the cap further comprises a plug for providing sealed engagement with the lumen, the plug comprising an elongate body extending from a first end to a second end, an outer peripheral surface, and at least one projection extending around the outer peripheral surface of the plug, the at least one projection providing for an interference fit with an internal surface of the lumen to seal the lumen from outside contamination.