US 11,730,944 B2
Needleless connector with support member
Jonathan Yeh, Brea, CA (US); Christopher J. Zollinger, Chino Hills, CA (US); George Michel Mansour, Diamond Bar, CA (US); and Matthew Quach, San Gabriel, CA (US)
Assigned to CAREFUSION 303, INC., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by CareFusion 303, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on May 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/323,835.
Application 17/323,835 is a continuation of application No. 14/745,199, filed on Jun. 19, 2015, granted, now 11,033,726.
Application 14/745,199 is a continuation of application No. 13/829,187, filed on Mar. 14, 2013, granted, now 9,089,682, issued on Jul. 28, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0268258 A1, Sep. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. A61M 39/24 (2006.01); A61M 39/26 (2006.01); A61M 39/10 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 39/24 (2013.01) [A61M 39/10 (2013.01); A61M 39/26 (2013.01); A61M 2039/2406 (2013.01); A61M 2039/2433 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A needleless connector, comprising:
a valve element at least partially disposed within a body, the valve element comprising a cylindrical portion having an inner surface, the cylindrical portion comprising an outwardly extending flange at a distal end, the flange having a bottom surface, and the inner surface defining an interior volume; and
a base comprising a rim defining a recess, an air passage extending through the recess to an ambient environment, a fluid flow passage through the base and separate from the air passage, wherein a portion of the rim extends into the recess to form at least one support member, the rim comprising a top surface defining a first plane,
wherein, when the top surface of the rim is engaged against an outer area of the bottom surface of the flange, the at least one support member engages an inner area of the bottom surface of the flange, and the at least one support member is configured to resist deformation of the flange toward the recess.