WO2022091502A1

WO2022091502A1 - Conversion connector

Info

Publication number: WO2022091502A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/027261
Authority: WO
Inventors: 河内恵太
Original assignee: 株式会社ジェイ・エム・エス
Priority date: 2020-10-29
Filing date: 2021-07-21
Publication date: 2022-05-05
Also published as: JPWO2022091502A1

Abstract

A conversion connector (1) is provided with a first female connector (10) at one end and a second female connector (20) at the other end. The female connector (10) is provided with: a first female member (11) into which a first male member (801) of a first male connector (800) is inserted; and engagement protrusions (16) that engage with engagement claws (816) of the first male connector (800). The second female connector (20) is provided with: a second female member (21) into which a second male member (901) of a second male connector (900) is inserted; and a male screw (24) that is formed on the outer circumference surface of the second female member (21) such that the male screw (24) is threaded with a female screw (904) of the second male connector (900). The first female member (11) is in communication with the second female member (21) via a flow path (31).

Description

Conversion connector

The present invention relates to a conversion connector that allows two male connectors with different locking mechanisms to be connected.

Enteral nutrition is known as a method of administering a nutritional supplement, a liquid diet (generally referred to as "enteral nutritional supplement"), or a liquid substance containing a drug or the like to a patient who cannot take a meal by mouth. In enteral nutrition, a flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into the gastrointestinal tract (for example, stomach) from outside the body and placed in the patient. As the tube, a nasal tube inserted through the nose of a patient, a fistula tube inserted into the stomach through a hole (fistula) formed in the abdomen of the patient, and the like are known. The liquid is stored in a container. A connector consisting of a male connector and a female connector is used to form a series of flow paths through which the liquid material flows from the container to the tube placed in the patient.

In order to maintain the connection state between the male connector and the female connector and prevent them from being unintentionally separated, the connector is often provided with a lock mechanism. For example, when pumping a highly viscous enteral nutritional supplement, the locking mechanism counteracts the pressure exerted on the enteral nutritional supplement. As the lock mechanism, a claw lock mechanism and a screw lock mechanism are known.

Patent Document 1 describes a connector provided with a claw lock mechanism. The connector consists of a male connector (referred to as "first connector" in Patent Document 1) attached to the port of a container in which a liquid material is stored, and a tube (for example, an extension tube connected to a fistula tube). It consists of a female connector attached to the upstream end (referred to as a "second connector" in Patent Document 1). The male connector has a cylindrical pedestal, and the engaging claws project outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the pedestal. The female connector includes an engaging protrusion (referred to as an "inwardly convex portion" in Patent Document 1) that can be engaged with the engaging claw. The engaging claws of the male connector and the engaging protrusions of the female connector form a claw lock mechanism.

Patent Document 2 (particularly, see FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6 of Patent Document 2) describes a connector having a screw lock mechanism. The connector consists of a male connector provided at the upstream end of a nasal tube (referred to as a "nasal catheter" in Patent Document 1) and a female connector provided at the tip of a syringe (injector). .. The male connector includes a male member (referred to as "male luer" in Patent Document 2) and an outer cylinder surrounding the male member. A female screw is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder. The female connector includes a cylindrical female member (referred to as an "insertion portion" in Patent Document 2). On the outer peripheral surface of the female member, a male screw that can be screwed with the female screw of the male connector is provided. The female screw and the male screw form a screw lock mechanism.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-180048 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-158656

The connector of Patent Document 1 and the connector of Patent Document 2 have different locking mechanisms. Therefore, it is not possible to connect the male connector provided with the claw lock mechanism of Patent Document 1 attached to the port of the container to the male connector provided with the screw lock mechanism of Patent Document 2 provided at the upstream end of the nasal tube. .. However, in the medical field, it may be desired to connect two male connectors having such different locking mechanisms to each other.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to connect two male connectors having different locking mechanisms.

The conversion connector of the present invention is provided with a first female connector that can be connected to the first male connector at one end and a second female connector that can be connected to the second male connector at the other end. The first female connector includes a first female member into which a first male member of the first male connector is inserted, and an engaging protrusion that engages with an engaging claw of the first male connector. The second female connector is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second female member into which the second male member of the second male connector is inserted and the female screw of the second male connector so as to be screwed into the second female member. It is equipped with a provided male screw. The first female member and the second female member communicate with each other via a flow path.

According to the present invention, the first male connector provided with the claw lock mechanism and the second male connector provided with the screw lock mechanism can be connected via the conversion connector of the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the conversion connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the first female connector side. FIG. 1B is a plan view of the conversion connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional perspective view of the conversion connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional view of the conversion connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a method of using the conversion connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the first male connector. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the first male connector. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the second male connector. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the second male connector. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first male connector and the second male connector are connected via the conversion connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the first male connector and the second male connector are connected via the conversion connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the conversion connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the first female connector side. FIG. 7B is a plan view of the conversion connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional perspective view of the conversion connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7D is a bottom view of the conversion connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a state in which the first male connector and the second male connector are connected via the conversion connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the conversion connector according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the conversion connector according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional perspective view along another surface of the conversion connector according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10C is a bottom view of the conversion connector according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In one aspect of the conversion connector of the present invention, the inner peripheral surface of the first female member has the first female member and the first male member when the first male connector is connected to the first female connector. It may be configured to form a liquidtight seal between the two. Such an embodiment is advantageous for preventing the liquid substance from leaking to the outside world from between the first female member and the first male member.

In one aspect of the conversion connector of the present invention, the inner peripheral surface of the second female member may be provided with a tapered surface whose inner diameter increases toward the tip of the second female member. According to such an embodiment, the second male member can be tapered and fitted to the second female member. This is advantageous in forming a liquidtight seal between the second female member and the second male member with a simple configuration.

The entire conversion connector may be integrally formed as one component. According to such an embodiment, it is possible to easily and inexpensively provide a conversion connector having a small size, high strength, and a simple structure.

The opening on the first female member side of the flow path may have a shape corresponding to the opening shape at the tip of the first male member. According to such an embodiment, a sudden change in the flow resistance of the liquid material between the opening of the first male member and the flow path of the conversion connector is reduced. This reduces the retention that occurs in the flow of the liquid and improves the liquid permeability.

When viewed from the second female member side along the axis of the conversion connector, the opening of the flow path on the second female member side protrudes inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface of the second female member. The protrusion may be provided. Such an embodiment is advantageous in preventing erroneous puncture in which the puncture needle, which should not be inserted originally, is accidentally and deeply inserted into the flow path from the second female member.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to suitable embodiments. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. For convenience of explanation, each figure referred to in the following description is a simplified representation of the main members constituting the embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention may include any member not shown in each of the following figures. Further, within the scope of the present invention, each member shown in each of the following figures may be changed or omitted. The same or corresponding members are designated by the same reference numerals in different drawings. The description of such members is omitted in the subsequent embodiments, and the description of the preceding embodiments should be taken into consideration as appropriate.

In the present invention, the "axis" of a member (for example, a conversion connector, a female connector, a male connector, a female member, a male member) means the central axis of the member. The "axis" passes through the center of the circle contained in the member and / or coincides with the central axis of the cylinder or cone (taper) contained in the member. Some of the drawings cited in the description below omit the illustration of axes for the sake of simplicity.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the conversion connector 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a plan view of the conversion connector 1. FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional perspective view of the conversion connector 1. FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional view of the conversion connector 1. The cross section of FIG. 1C is along the plane containing the line 1C-1C of FIG. 1B, and the cross section of FIG. 1D is along the plane containing the line 1D-1D of FIG. 1B. The cross section of FIG. 1C and the cross section of FIG. 1D are orthogonal to each other along the axis 1a (see FIG. 1D) of the conversion connector 1. For the convenience of the following explanation, the direction orthogonal to the axis 1a is referred to as "radial direction". In the radial direction, the side closer to the axis 1a is referred to as "inside", and the side away from the axis 1a is referred to as "outside". The direction of rotation around the axis 1a is called the "circumferential direction".

The conversion connector 1 includes a first female connector 10 and a second female connector 20 arranged coaxially, and a base 30 between the first female connector 10 and the second female connector.

The first female connector 10 includes a first female member 11. The first female member 11 is a concave portion having a circular plan view shape concentric with the shaft 1a. The inner peripheral surface 12 of the first female member 11 includes a tapered surface (female tapered surface) whose inner diameter slightly increases toward the tip end 11a of the first female member 11. The flat surface 13 surrounds the first female member 11. The flat surface 13 extends along a plane perpendicular to the axis 1a. An annular groove 14 continuous in the circumferential direction is provided on the flat surface 13. The plan-view shape of the annular groove 14 (the shape seen along the shaft 1a) is a circle concentric with the shaft 1a. The annular groove 14 surrounds the first female member 11. The tip 11a of the first female member 11 is along a plane along which the flat surface 13 is aligned. In the present invention, the annular groove 14 can be omitted. In this case, the flat surface 13 extends outward in the radial direction from the open end (tip 11a) of the first female member 11.

The first female connector 10 further includes a pair of engaging walls 15. The engaging wall 15 is arranged radially outside the flat surface 13, and extends from the flat surface 13 toward the tip end side of the first female connector 10 (the side opposite to the second female connector 20). The engaging wall 15 is along a cylindrical surface coaxial with the shaft 1a. The engaging protrusion 16 projects inward in the radial direction from the tip of the engaging wall 15. The engaging projection 16 extends substantially along the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 1D, the left end of the engagement projection 16 is open when viewed from the shaft 1a. The right end of the engaging projection 16 descends toward the flat surface 13 to form a stop end 18. The surface (lower surface) 16a of the engaging projection 16 facing the flat surface 13 includes three inclined surfaces having different inclinations. The pair of engaging walls 15 including the engaging projections 16 are symmetrical with respect to the axis 1a. The pair of engaging protrusions 16 constitutes a claw lock mechanism (see Patent Document 1).

The second female connector 20 includes a second female member 21. The second female member 21 has a hollow cylindrical shape coaxial with the shaft 1a. The inner peripheral surface 22 of the second female member 21 includes a tapered surface (female tapered surface) whose inner diameter increases toward the tip of the second female member 21. A male screw 24 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second female member 21. The male screw 24 constitutes a screw lock mechanism (see Patent Document 2).

The flow path 31 penetrates the base 30 along the shaft 1a. The cross-sectional shape of the flow path 31 along the plane perpendicular to the axis 1a is circular. The flow path 31 communicates the first female member 11 and the second female member 21. The inner diameter of the flow path 31 is smaller than either the inner diameter of the first female member 11 or the inner diameter of the second female member 21.

The outer surface of the base 30 includes a pair of gripping surfaces 33. Each gripping surface 33 is a substantially flat surface parallel to the shaft 1a. The pair of gripping surfaces 33 are arranged parallel to each other with the shaft 1a interposed therebetween. The pair of gripping surfaces 33 facilitates the operator to apply a rotational force around the shaft 1a to the conversion connector 1.

The material of the conversion connector 1 is not limited, but is preferably a hard material, for example, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyacetal, polyamide, hard polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, styrene ethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, butylene styrene. A resin material such as a block copolymer can be used. Considering that it is used for medical purposes and its durability, polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene are preferable. It is preferable that the conversion connector 1 is integrally manufactured as a whole by injection molding a resin material.

The usage of the conversion connector 1 will be explained.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating how to use the conversion connector 1. The conversion connector 1 can be used to connect the first male connector 800 and the second male connector 900.

The first male connector 800 is attached to a port (not shown) of a container 890 that stores a liquid substance. The container 890 is a laminated pack (also referred to as a pouch) formed by laminating a plurality of flexible sheets in a bag shape. In the container 890, a liquid substance (for example, an enteral nutritional supplement) to be administered to the patient in enteral nutrition is stored.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the first male connector 800, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view of the first male connector 800. The first male connector 800 includes a pedestal 810 provided on the cap portion 830 and a first male member 801 provided on the pedestal 810. The cap portion 830, the pedestal 810, and the first male member 801 are arranged coaxially.

The cap portion 830 includes a cylindrical portion 831 having a hollow cylindrical shape. A female screw 832 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 831. The bottom plate 833 closes the opening on the distal end side of the cylindrical portion 831. The bottom plate 833 is a flat plate perpendicular to the axis of the cap portion 830.

The pedestal 810 protrudes from the bottom plate 833. The pedestal 810 has a hollow cylindrical shape having a smaller diameter than the cylindrical portion 831. The top plate 813 closes the opening on the distal end side of the pedestal 810. The top plate 813 is a flat plate perpendicular to the axis of the pedestal 810. A pair of engaging claws 816 project outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral edge of the tip of the pedestal 810. The engaging claw 816 extends along the circumferential direction (direction of rotation about the axis of the pedestal 810). The engaging claw 816 is axially separated from the bottom plate 833. The surface 816a of the engaging claw 816 facing the bottom plate 833 is configured by combining three inclined surfaces having different inclinations. The surface of the engaging claw 816 opposite to the bottom plate 833 constitutes a plane common to the top plate 813. The pair of engaging claws 816 are symmetrical with respect to the axis of the pedestal 810. The pair of engaging claws 816 constitutes a claw locking mechanism (see Patent Document 1).

The first male member 801 protrudes from the top plate 813 of the pedestal 810. The first male member 801 has a hollow cylindrical shape having a diameter smaller than that of the pedestal 810. A shielding plate 804 having an opening 805 is provided at the tip of the first male member 801. The opening 805 has a substantially cross shape composed of a circle 805a concentric with the first male member 801 and four notches (slits) 805b extending radially outward from the circle 805a. The shielding plate 804 partially closes the opening at the tip of the first male member 801. The shielding plate 804 in which the opening 805 is formed is provided to prevent an puncture needle having a sharp tip from being accidentally inserted into the first male member 801. The first male member 801 has an outer peripheral surface 802 which is a substantially cylindrical surface as a whole. More specifically, the outer peripheral surface 802 includes a large diameter portion 803 having a maximum outer diameter at a position substantially intermediate in the axial direction of the first male member 801. The outer peripheral surface 802 has tapered surfaces on the tip end side and the base end side (pedestal 810 side) of the first male member 801 with respect to the large diameter portion 803, whose outer diameter decreases as the distance from the large diameter portion 803 increases. It is provided.

The cap portion 830, the pedestal 810, and the first male member 801 communicate with each other. The female screw 832 of the cap portion 830 is screwed into a male screw (not shown) provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical port of the container 890. The liquid material in the container 890 flows out through the opening 805 of the first male member 801.

The material of the first male connector 800 is not limited, but can be selected from the resin materials of the conversion connector 1 described above. It is preferable that the first male connector 800 is integrally manufactured as a whole by injection molding a resin material.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the second male connector 900, and FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the second male connector 900. The second male connector 900 has a second male member 901 having a hollow cylindrical shape and an outer cylinder 903 surrounding the second male member 901. The outer peripheral surface 902 of the second male member 901 includes a tapered surface (so-called male tapered surface) whose outer diameter decreases toward the tip of the second male member 901. The second male member 901 is provided with a flow path 907 that penetrates the second male member 901 along the longitudinal direction thereof. The outer cylinder 903 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is arranged coaxially with the second male member 901 and radially separated from the second male member 901. A female screw 904 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 903 facing the second male member 901. The female screw 904 constitutes a screw lock mechanism (see Patent Document 2).

The second male connector 900 further includes a connection cylinder 921 coaxial with the second male member 901. The connecting cylinder 921 has a hollow cylindrical shape and communicates with the male member 911. A pair of grip portions 923 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connection cylinder 921. The pair of grip portions 923 project from the connecting cylinder 921 in the opposite direction along the radial direction. The grip portion 923 facilitates the operator to apply a rotational force around the axis of the second male connector 900.

A flexible hollow tube 909 is inserted into the connection cylinder 921 and fixed to the connection cylinder 921 with an adhesive or the like. The flow path 907 of the second male member 901 communicates with the tube 909. The tube 909 may be a nasal tube inserted through the patient's nasal cavity into the stomach or esophagus. Alternatively, the tube 909 may be a tube (extension tube) connected to a nasal tube or a fistula tube.

The second male connector 900 is further provided with a removable cap 930 at the tip of the second male connector 900. The cap 930 has a substantially disk shape having a diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 903. The cap 930 can close the flow path 907 of the second male member 901 and the gap between the second male member 901 and the outer cylinder 903. A flexible band 935 extends from the outer peripheral edge of the cap 930. The band 935 connects the cap 930 to the ring 937 fixed to the second male connector 900.

The cap 930, band 935, and ring 937 can be integrally molded as one part. Materials for these integrated products, including the cap 930, include relatively hard resin materials such as polypropylene and polyethylene, rubber (eg, isoprene rubber, silicone rubber, butyl rubber) or thermoplastic elastomers (eg, styrene elastomers). , Olefin-based elastomer, polyurethane-based elastomer) and other soft materials having rubber elasticity (so-called elastomer) can be used.

Except for the above-mentioned integrated product including the cap 930, the second male connector 900 can be integrally molded as a whole using a hard material. The hard material preferably has mechanical strength (rigidity) to such an extent that it is not substantially deformed by an external force. As the hard material, for example, resin materials such as polypropylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, polycarbonate, polyacetal, polystyrene, polyamide, polyethylene, and hard polyvinyl chloride can be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the conversion connector 1 is arranged between the first male connector 800 and the second male connector 900 and can be used to connect them. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first male connector 800 and the second male connector 900 are connected via the conversion connector 1. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. In FIG. 6, the container 890 is not shown in order to simplify the drawing. The first female connector 10 of the conversion connector 1 is connected to the first male connector 800, and the second female connector 20 of the conversion connector 1 is connected to the second male connector 900.

The connection between the conversion connector 1 and the first male connector 800 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the first female connector 10 of the conversion connector 1 and the first male connector 800 are coaxially opposed to each other. The direction connecting the pair of engaging protrusions 16 (see FIG. 1A) of the first female connector 10 and the direction connecting the pair of engaging claws 816 (see FIG. 3A) of the first male connector 800 are made substantially orthogonal to each other. In this state, the conversion connector 1 is brought closer to the first male connector 800. The pedestal 810 of the first male connector 800 is inserted between the pair of engaging walls 15 of the first female connector 10. The conversion connector 1 and the first male connector 800 are rotated in opposite directions to each other. With respect to the first male connector 800 until one end of the engaging claw 816 (see FIG. 3A) of the first male connector 800 abuts on the stop end 18 (see FIGS. 1A, 1C, 1D) of the first female connector 10. And rotate the conversion connector 1. Thus, the conversion connector 1 and the first male connector 800 are connected (see FIG. 5).

As shown in FIG. 6, the first male member 801 of the first male connector 800 is inserted into the first female member 11 of the first female connector 10. The large diameter portion 803 (see FIG. 3A) of the first male member 801 is fitted to the inner peripheral surface (female tapered surface) 12 (see FIG. 1A) of the first female member 11 to form a liquidtight seal between them. Will be done. The flat surface 13 of the first female connector 10 and the tip end 11a (see FIG. 1A) of the first female member 11 are in contact with the top plate 813 (see FIG. 3A) of the pedestal 810 of the first male connector 800. The engaging projection 16 of the first female connector 10 is axially engaged with the engaging claw 816 of the first male connector 800. The three inclined surfaces (see FIG. 1D) provided on the surface 16a of the engaging projection 16 are fitted with the three inclined surfaces (see FIG. 3A) provided on the surface 816a of the engaging claw 816. This is advantageous for maintaining the engaged state (locked state) between the engaging claw 816 and the engaging protrusion 16.

The connection between the conversion connector 1 and the second male connector 900 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the second female connector 20 of the conversion connector 1 and the second male connector 900 are coaxially opposed to each other. In this state, the conversion connector 1 is brought closer to the second male connector 900. The second male member 901 (see FIG. 4A) of the second male connector 900 is inserted into the second female member 21 (see FIG. 1C) of the second female connector 20. The second female member 21 is inserted into the gap (see FIG. 4A) between the second male member 901 of the second male connector 900 and the outer cylinder 903. The conversion connector 1 and the second male connector 900 are rotated in opposite directions to each other. The male screw 24 (see FIG. 1A) of the second female connector 20 is screwed into the female screw 904 (see FIG. 4A) of the second male connector 900. Thus, the conversion connector 1 and the second male connector 900 are connected (see FIG. 5).

As shown in FIG. 6, the outer peripheral surface (male tapered surface) 902 (see FIG. 4A) of the second male member 901 is on the inner peripheral surface (female tapered surface) 22 (see FIG. 1C) of the second female member 21. It is fitted. The diameter and taper angle of the male tapered surface 902 and the female tapered surface 22 are the same. Therefore, the male tapered surface 902 is tapered and fitted to the female tapered surface 22, and a liquidtight seal is formed between the two.

Thus, the first male connector 800, the conversion connector 1, and the second male connector 900 are coaxially connected in order (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The first male connector 800 (first male member 801) and the second male connector 900 (second male member 901) are communicated with each other via the flow path 31 of the conversion connector 1.

The conversion connector 1 can be separated from the first male connector 800 by performing an operation opposite to the above connection operation. That is, the conversion connector 1 is rotated with respect to the first male connector 800 in the direction opposite to the above to disengage the engaging projection 16 with the engaging claw 816. After that, the conversion connector 1 and the first male connector 800 are pulled in opposite directions to each other.

The conversion connector 1 can be separated from the second male connector 900 by performing the operation opposite to the above connection operation. That is, the conversion connector 1 is rotated with respect to the second male connector 900 in the direction opposite to the above to release the screwing of the male screw 24 with respect to the female screw 904. After that, the conversion connector 1 and the second male connector 900 are pulled in opposite directions to each other.

The first female connector 10 of the conversion connector 1 can be repeatedly connected and separated from the first male connector 800. Further, the second female connector 20 of the conversion connector 1 can be repeatedly connected to and separated from the second male connector 900.

As described above, the conversion connector 1 is provided with a first female connector 10 that can be repeatedly connected to and separated from the first male connector 800 at one end, and is repeatedly connected to and separated from the second male connector 900 at the other end. The second female connector 20 is provided.

The first female connector 10 includes a first female member 11 into which the first male member 801 of the first male connector 800 is inserted. The first female connector 10 further includes an engaging protrusion 16 that can be engaged with the engaging claw 816 of the first male connector 800. The first female connector 10 provided with the first female member 11 and the engaging protrusion 16 is compatible with a female connector (not shown) with a claw lock mechanism that can be connected to and separated from the first male connector 800. have. Therefore, the first female connector 10 and the first male connector 800 can be connected with a connection strength equivalent to that of a connector provided with a claw lock mechanism (Patent Document 1). This is advantageous in preventing the conversion connector 1 from unintentionally separating from the first male connector 800.

The second female connector 20 includes a second female member 21 into which the second male member 901 of the second male connector 900 is inserted. The second female connector 20 further includes a male screw 24 that can be screwed into the female screw 904 of the second male connector 900. The second female connector 20 provided with the second female member 21 and the male screw 24 is compatible with a female connector (not shown) with a screw lock mechanism that can be connected to the second male connector 900. Therefore, the second female connector 20 and the second male connector 900 can be connected with a connection strength equivalent to that of a connector provided with a screw lock mechanism (Patent Document 2). This is advantageous in preventing the conversion connector 1 from unintentionally separating from the second male connector 900.

The first female member 11 and the second female member 21 communicate with each other via the flow path 31. Therefore, the first male connector 800 and the second male connector 900 can be connected and communicated with each other via the conversion connector 1.

In enteral nutrition, a liquid substance (for example, enteral nutritional supplement) to be administered to a patient may be provided in a state of being stored in a container 890 (FIG. 2), for example. However, the first male connector 800 provided in the container 890 cannot be connected to the second male connector 900 provided at the upstream end of the tube 909. The first male connector 800 can be connected to the second male connector 900 via the conversion connector 1. The liquid material in the container 890 can be flowed to the first male connector 800, the conversion connector 1, the second male connector 900, and the tube 909 in this order.

Many liquids administered to patients in enteral nutrition are highly viscous. When administering this liquid to a patient, it is necessary to pump the liquid. For example, the container 890 (see FIG. 5) is pressed to push the liquid out of the container 890. Even in such a case, both the connection between the first male connector 800 and the conversion connector 1 and the connection between the conversion connector 1 and the second male connector 900 are reliably maintained. Liquids do not leak to the outside world.

As described above, the conversion connector 1 of the first embodiment has the first male connector 800 provided with the claw lock mechanism and the second male connector 900 provided with the screw lock mechanism, while the respective locking mechanisms are effectively functioning. Allows you to connect.

There is no restriction on whether to connect the conversion connector 1 and the first male connector 800 or the conversion connector 1 and the second male connector 900 first. When the conversion connector 1 is connected to the first male connector 800 first, the conversion connector 1 functions as an adapter for converting the male connector 800 with the claw lock mechanism to the female connector 20 with the screw lock mechanism. Further, when the conversion connector 1 is connected to the second male connector 900 first, the conversion connector 1 functions as an adapter for converting the male connector 900 with the screw lock mechanism to the female connector 10 with the claw lock mechanism. In this way, the conversion connector 1 makes it possible to connect two

male connectors

800, 900 having different locking mechanisms, which cannot be normally connected to each other.

When the conversion connector 1 is connected to the first male connector 800, the inner peripheral surface 12 of the first female member 11 (see FIG. 1A) and the outer peripheral surface 802 of the first male member 801 (particularly the large diameter portion 803, see FIG. 3A). A liquid-tight seal is formed between and. The liquidtight seal prevents the liquid material from leaking to the outside world through between the first female member 11 and the first male member 801. Since the inner peripheral surface 12 of the first female member 11 includes a female tapered surface, a liquid-tight seal can be formed with a simple configuration. However, in the present invention, the inner peripheral surface 12 of the first female member 11 does not need to have a female tapered surface, for example, even if the inner peripheral surface 12 is a cylindrical surface whose inner diameter is constant in the axis 1a direction. good. Even in this case, it is possible to form a liquid-tight seal between the inner peripheral surface 12 and the large-diameter portion 803 of the outer peripheral surface 802. Alternatively, the outer peripheral surface 802 of the first male member 801 may be provided with a male tapered surface, and the male tapered surface may be tapered and fitted with the female tapered surface 12 of the first female member 11 to form a liquidt seal.

A female tapered surface is provided on the inner peripheral surface 22 (see FIG. 1C) of the second female member 21 of the second female connector 20 of the conversion connector 1. Therefore, with a simple configuration, a liquid-tight seal can be formed between the inner peripheral surface 22 of the second female member 21 and the outer peripheral surface 902 of the second male member 901. The liquidtight seal prevents the liquid material from leaking to the outside world through between the second female member 21 and the second male member 901.

In the first embodiment, in the claw lock mechanism, when the first male connector 800 is rotated clockwise with respect to the conversion connector 1 when viewed from the first male connector 800 side, the engaging claw 816 has the engaging protrusion 16 It is configured to engage with. The screw lock mechanism is configured such that the male screw 24 is screwed into the female screw 904 when the conversion connector 1 is rotated clockwise with respect to the second male connector 900 when viewed from the conversion connector 1 side. That is, the rotation directions for locking and unlocking are the same for the claw lock mechanism and the screw lock mechanism. Therefore, for example, the first male connector 800 and the second male connector 900 are picked up by different hands, and the first male connector 800 is clockwise with respect to the second male connector 900 when viewed from the first male connector 800 side. By rotating in the direction, both the claw lock mechanism and the screw lock mechanism can be simultaneously transferred to the locked state.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the conversion connector 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7B is a plan view of the conversion connector 2. FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional perspective view of the conversion connector 2 along the plane including the line 7C-7C of FIG. 7B. The conversion connector 2 of the second embodiment is different from the conversion connector 1 of the first embodiment in terms of the cross-sectional shape of the flow path 231. That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, the cross-sectional shape of the flow path 231 is composed of a circle 232a concentric with the axis of the conversion connector 2 and four notches 232b extending radially outward from the circle 232a. It has a substantially cross-shaped shape. The flow path 231 corresponds to the flow path 31 of the first embodiment provided with four notches 232b (four grooves 232b extending along the shaft 1a).

The opening on the first female member 11 side of the flow path 231 has a shape (substantially cross shape) corresponding to the shape (substantially cross shape, see FIG. 3A) of the opening 805 of the first male member 801 of the first male connector 800. are doing. As shown in FIG. 8, when the conversion connector 2 is connected to the first male connector 800 (that is, when the engaging claw 816 is engaged with the engaging protrusion 16), the four cuts of the flow path 231 are cut. The notch 232b coincides with the four notches 805b (see FIG. 3A) of the opening 805 in the circumferential direction. Further, the difference between the area of the opening 805 and the opening area of the flow path 231 on the first female member 11 side is smaller than that of the first embodiment. Therefore, a sudden change in the flow resistance of the liquid material between the opening 805 of the first male member 801 and the flow path 231 is reduced. This reduces the retention that occurs in the flow of the liquid and improves the liquid permeability.

FIG. 7D shows a bottom view of the conversion connector 2 as seen from the second female connector 20 side. The opening 236 on the second female member 21 side of the flow path 231 has a substantially cross shape similar to the opening on the first female member 11 side (see FIG. 7B). More specifically, the opening 236 of the flow path 231 has four protrusions 237 protruding inward in the radial direction from a virtual circle circumscribing the opening 236 (this circle is concentric with the axis of the conversion connector 2). It is a substantially cross shape formed by. When viewed from the side of the second female member 21, four protrusions 237 project inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface 22 of the second female member 21. The substantially cross-shaped opening 236 is advantageous in preventing an puncture needle that should not be inserted originally from being accidentally deeply inserted into the flow path 231 from the second female member 21 (hereinafter referred to as "erroneous puncture"). Is. For example, in a state before the conversion connector 2 is connected to the first male connector 800 (see FIG. 2) and the second male connector 900 (see FIG. 2) is connected to the second female connector 20 of the conversion connector 2. The operator may attempt to erroneously connect the puncture needle to the second female member 21 of the second female connector 20. The puncture needle has a sharp tip whose outer diameter decreases toward the tip so that a rubber stopper such as a vial can be punctured. When the puncture needle is inserted into the second female member 21, in many cases, the tip of the puncture needle abuts on the protrusion 237, so that the insertion of the puncture needle into the flow path 231 is prevented. Even if the tip of the puncture needle is inserted into the gap between the protrusions 237, the puncture needle is sandwiched between the protrusions 237, so that the deep insertion of the puncture needle into the flow path 231 is prevented. The operator can easily notice that the puncture needle is punctured because the puncture needle cannot be deeply and stably connected to the second female member 21. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the puncture needle is connected to the second female member 21 to form an erroneous flow path for the liquid material flowing from the container 890.

The flow path 231 of the second embodiment has a substantially cross-shaped cross-sectional shape over its entire length, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the opening on the first female member 11 side of the flow path 231 has a shape (substantially cross-shaped) corresponding to the shape of the opening 805 of the first male member 801 and is on the second female member 21 side of the flow path 231. The opening has a shape (circular shape) corresponding to the shape of the opening at the tip of the flow path 907 of the second male member 901, and the cross-sectional shape of the flow path 231 smoothly changes between the openings at both ends. May be good. This is advantageous for improving the liquid permeability between the opening 805 of the first male member 801 and the flow path 907 of the second male member 901.

The second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the above. The description of the first embodiment is appropriately applied to the second embodiment.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the conversion connector 3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The conversion connector 3 of the third embodiment is different from the

conversion connectors

1 and 2 of the first and second embodiments in terms of the shape of the inner peripheral surface defining the flow path 331. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the cross-sectional area of the flow path 331 smoothly changes between the first female member 11 and the second female member 21. More specifically, the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 331 is a conical surface (or tapered surface) coaxial with the axis of the conversion connector 3, and its inner diameter is from the first female member 11 toward the second female member 21. It gets smaller. The inner peripheral surface 12 of the first female member 11 is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 331 without a step in the radial direction. Similarly, the inner peripheral surface 22 of the second female member 21 is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 331 without a step in the radial direction.

According to the third embodiment, since the cross-sectional area of the flow path 331 smoothly changes between the first female member 11 and the second female member 21, the first female member 11 and the second female member 2 The retention of liquid matter is reduced and the liquid permeability is improved.

In the present invention, the fact that the cross-sectional area of the flow path 331 "smoothly changes" between the first female member 11 and the second female member 21 means that the inner peripheral surface 11 and the second female member 11 of the first female member 11 change smoothly. It means that there is no portion along the plane perpendicular to the axis of the conversion connector 3 between the female member 21 and the inner peripheral surface 21. In FIG. 9, the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 331 is a conical surface, but the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 331 whose cross-sectional area changes smoothly is not limited to this. For example, in a cross section along a surface including the axis of the conversion connector, the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 331 may be represented by a continuous curve that smoothly changes between the inner peripheral surface 11 and the inner peripheral surface 21. ..

The third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the above. The description of the first embodiment is appropriately applied to the third embodiment.

(Embodiment 4)
10A and 10B are cross-sectional perspective views of the conversion connector 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Both the cross section of FIG. 10A and the cross section of FIG. 10B include the axis of the conversion connector 4 (not shown) and are orthogonal to each other on the axis. FIG. 10C is a bottom view of the conversion connector 4 as viewed from the second female connector 20 side. The conversion connector 4 of the present embodiment 4 is different from the conversion connector 1 of the first embodiment in terms of the cross-sectional shape of the flow path 431. The opening 435 on the first female member 11 side of the flow path 431 has the same circular shape as that of the first embodiment. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10C, the opening 436 on the second female member 21 side of the flow path 431 has a slot shape (or a long hole shape) in which the pair of engaging walls 15 extend in the opposite direction. have. The opening diameter of the opening 436 in the major axis direction is larger than the opening diameter of the opening 435, and the opening diameter of the opening 436 in the minor axis direction is smaller than the opening diameter of the opening 435. As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the cross-sectional shape of the flow path 431 smoothly changes between the

openings

435 and 436.

The opening 436 of the flow path 431 is a slot formed by two protrusions 437 protruding inward in the radial direction from a virtual circle circumscribing the opening 436 (this circle is concentric with the axis of the conversion connector 4). The shape. When viewed from the side of the second female member 21, two protrusions 437 project inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface 22 of the second female member 21. Similar to the substantially cross-shaped opening 236 of the second embodiment, the slot-shaped opening 436 mistakenly and deeply inserts a puncture needle that should not be inserted into the flow path 431 from the second female member 21 (erroneous). It is advantageous to prevent puncture).

The present embodiment 4 is the same as the first and second embodiments except for the above. The description of the first and second embodiments is appropriately applied to the fourth embodiment.

The above embodiments 1 to 4 are merely examples. The present invention is not limited to the above-described first to fourth embodiments, and can be appropriately modified.

The conversion connectors 1 to 4 of the above-described embodiments 1 to 4 are integrally formed as one component as a whole, but the conversion connector of the present invention is configured by combining a plurality of separately manufactured components. You may. For example, the first female connector 10 and the second female connector 20 may be manufactured separately as separate parts, and these may be connected by a flexible hollow tube. In this case, the tube constitutes a flow path for communicating the first female member 11 and the second female member 21.

The shape of the opening on the second female member 21 side of the flow path for preventing the puncture needle from being erroneously pierced into the second female member 21 is the substantially cross shape of the second embodiment (see FIG. 7D) or the embodiment. The shape is not limited to the slot shape of Form 4 (see FIG. 10C), and may be any shape such as a substantially polygonal shape (substantially square, substantially rectangular, substantially triangular, etc.), a star shape, an ellipse, and a circle. Generally, when viewed from the second female member 21 side along the axis of the conversion connector, the opening on the second female member 21 side of the flow path is radially inward from the inner peripheral surface 22 of the second female member 21. If a protruding protrusion is provided on the surface, it is possible to prevent erroneous puncture of the puncture needle. The shape, number, arrangement, etc. of the protrusions are arbitrary. For example, in the second embodiment, the number of protrusions 237 may be three or five or more. It is preferable that the plurality of protrusions are arranged rotationally symmetrically with respect to the axis of the conversion connector. A part or all of the plurality of protrusions may be connected through the shaft of the conversion connector. For example, in the second embodiment, the four protrusions 236 may extend to the axis of the conversion connector 2 and be connected to each other to form a substantially cross-shaped protrusion as a whole.

The protrusion may be an annular protrusion continuous in the circumferential direction. In this case, the opening on the second female member 21 side of the flow path may be circular or elliptical in diameter smaller than the inner peripheral surface 22 of the second female member 21. Even in this case, the annular protrusion that protrudes inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface 22 of the second female member 21 can prevent erroneous puncture of the puncture needle. However, if an annular protrusion continuous in the circumferential direction is provided in the flow path so that the opening on the second female member 21 side of the flow path becomes a single circle, the flow path area becomes small and the flow path is made. The flow resistance of the flowing liquid increases. Therefore, it is preferable that the protrusion is provided so that the opening on the second female member 21 side of the flow path is non-circular.

The protrusion for preventing erroneous puncture of the puncture needle may be provided in the opening on the second female member 21 side of the flow path. The protrusion may extend over the entire length of the flow path as in the protrusion 237 of the second embodiment, or may be provided only in the opening on the second female member 21 side of the flow path.

The container to which the first male connector 800 is mounted is not limited to the laminated pack 890, and may be, for example, a container made of a hard material that does not substantially deform. Further, the first male connector 800 may be attached to a member other than the container, for example, a syringe, a liquid feed pump for delivering a liquid material, a flexible tube, or the like. The configuration of the cap portion 830 may be appropriately changed depending on the member to which the first male connector 800 is mounted.

The tube 909 provided with the second male connector 900 may be a nasal tube, a fistula tube, or an extension tube connected to these, or may be any tube other than these. The second male connector 900 may be provided on a member other than the tube 909. In this case, the configurations of the connection cylinder 921 and the grip portion 923 can be changed as appropriate.

The conversion connector of the present invention is not limited to the flow path through which the liquid material is pumped, and can be applied to, for example, the flow path through which the liquid material flows by using gravity.

The conversion connector of the present invention can be used to form a flow path of a liquid substance to be administered to a patient in enteral nutrition such as a nasal method using a nasal tube and a fistula method using a fistula tube. Further, in any field other than enteral nutrition, the conversion connector of the present invention can be utilized to form a channel.

The field of application of the present invention is not limited and should be widely used when connecting a first male connector provided with a claw lock mechanism and a second male connector provided with a screw lock mechanism, which cannot be originally connected. Can be done. In particular, the present invention can be preferably used in the medical field, especially in enteral nutrition.

1, 2, 3, 4 Conversion connector 10 1st female connector 11 1st female member 12 Inner peripheral surface of 1st female member 16 Engagement protrusion 20 2nd female connector 21 2nd female member 22 Inner circumference of 2nd female member Face 24 Male screw 31,231,331,431 Channel 236,436 Opening 237,437 on the second female connector side of the flow path 800 1st male connector 801 1st male member 816 Engagement claw 900 2nd male connector 901 2nd male member 904 female screw

Claims

A conversion connector having a first female connector that can be connected to the first male connector at one end and a second female connector that can be connected to the second male connector at the other end.
The first female connector includes a first female member into which a first male member of the first male connector is inserted, and an engaging protrusion that engages with an engaging claw of the first male connector.
The second female connector is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second female member into which the second male member of the second male connector is inserted and the female screw of the second male connector so as to be screwed into the second female member. Equipped with a male screw provided
A conversion connector characterized in that the first female member and the second female member communicate with each other via a flow path.
On the inner peripheral surface of the first female member, a liquidtight seal is formed between the first female member and the first male member when the first male connector is connected to the first female connector. The conversion connector according to claim 1, which is configured in 1.
The conversion connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner peripheral surface of the second female member is provided with a tapered surface whose inner diameter increases toward the tip of the second female member.
The conversion connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the entire conversion connector is integrally formed as one component.
The conversion connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the opening on the first female member side of the flow path has a shape corresponding to the opening shape at the tip of the first male member.
When viewed from the second female member side along the axis of the conversion connector, the opening of the flow path on the second female member side protrudes inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface of the second female member. The conversion connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the protrusion is provided.