Needleless connector with in-line filter

12201,799

16/822759

March 18, 2020

Needleless connectors are described herein. A needleless connector includes a housing comprising a cavity and a proximal fluid port in fluid communication with the cavity. The connector further includes a filter support disposed at least partially within the cavity. The filter support can include a distal fluid port in fluid communication with the proximal fluid port. The connector further includes a filter disposed circumferentially around the filter support and between the proximal fluid port and the distal fluid port.

CareFusion 303, Inc. (San Diego, CA, US)

CareFusion 303, Inc. (San Diego, CA, US)

1. A needleless connector, comprising: a housing comprising a cavity and a proximal fluid port in fluid communication with the cavity; a filter support disposed at least partially within the cavity, the filter support comprising a distal fluid port in fluid communication with the proximal fluid port; and a filter disposed circumferentially around the filter support and between the proximal fluid port and the distal fluid port, wherein a proximal end of the filter radially expands away from the filter support to prevent fluid flow through a filter medium to the proximal fluid port.

2. The needleless connector of claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises a conical shape.

3. The needleless connector of claim 2 , wherein a distal end of the filter comprises a first radius and the proximal end of the filter comprises a second radius, and the first radius is greater than the second radius.

4. The needleless connector of claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises an average filter opening of 0.2 microns.

5. The needleless connector of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the filter is in contact with a circumferential rib of the filter support.

6. The needleless connector of claim 1 , wherein the filter support comprises a rigid material.

7. The needleless connector of claim 1 , wherein the filter support comprises a plurality of axial ribs to support the filter.

8. The needleless connector of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible valve element disposed within the cavity to selectively permit flow between the proximal fluid port and the distal fluid port.

9. The needleless connector of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the filter comprises an expandable radius to prevent fluid flow through the filter medium to the proximal fluid port.

10. A needleless connector, comprising: a housing comprising a cavity and a proximal fluid port in fluid communication with the cavity; a filter support disposed at least partially within the cavity, the filter support comprising a distal fluid port in fluid communication with the proximal fluid port, the housing and the filter support defining a flow path between the proximal fluid port and the distal fluid port; and a filter disposed around the filter support, wherein the filter is expandable to be removed from the flow path.

11. The needleless connector of claim 10 , wherein a distal end of the filter comprises a first radius and a proximal end of the filter comprises a second radius, and the first radius is greater than the second radius.

12. The needleless connector of claim 10 , wherein the filter comprises a conical shape.

13. The needleless connector of claim 10 , wherein a proximal end of the filter comprises an expandable radius to remove the filter from the flow path.

14. The needleless connector of claim 13 , wherein the proximal end of the filter radially expands away from the filter support.

15. A method to selectively filter a fluid flow, the method comprising: introducing a first fluid flow from a first fluid port into a needleless connector; directing the first fluid flow through a filter disposed within the needleless connector; directing the first fluid flow to a second fluid port out of the needleless connector; imparting a force against an inner surface of the filter via a second fluid flow to radially expand the filter; and expanding the filter to prevent fluid flow through a filter medium to the second fluid port.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising: introducing the second fluid flow from the second fluid port into the needleless connector; bypassing the filter disposed within the needleless connector; and directing the second fluid flow to the first fluid port out of the needleless connector.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising: expanding a radius of the proximal end of the filter to prevent fluid flow through the filter medium to the second fluid port.

18. A method to selectively filter a fluid flow, the method comprising: introducing a first fluid flow from a first fluid port into a needleless connector; directing the first fluid flow through a filter disposed within the needleless connector; selectively permitting the first fluid flow through a filter medium of the filter; directing the first fluid flow to a second fluid port out of the needleless connector; imparting a force against an inner surface of the filter via a second fluid flow to radially expand the filter; introducing the second fluid flow from the second fluid port into the needleless connector; bypassing the filter disposed within the needleless connector; and directing the second fluid flow to the first fluid port out of the needleless connector.

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