1
FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
1. ' MEDICAL VALVE '
2.
1. (A) NIPRO CORPORATION
(B) Japan
(C) 9-3, Honjo-nishi 3-chome, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 5318510, Japan
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is
to be performed.
2
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a medical valve used for a fluid flow path in
the medical field such as for a transfusion route or the like, and is capable of connecting a
medical connecting tool (male connector) such 5 as a syringe or the like to the fluid flow path.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] With fluid flow paths for performing transfusion, blood collection or the like, a
medical valve is used as necessary for making it possible to connect a male connector such as
a syringe. For example, with a three-way stopcock or Y-shaped connector which are types of
10 fluid flow path forming members, the fluid flow path is formed between a pair of flow path
opening parts, and the medical valve is mounted at the other remaining flow path opening
part. Then, by making it possible to connect a male connector such as a syringe or the like to
the fluid flow path via this medical valve, it is possible to perform mixed injection of drug
solutions or the like.
15 [0003] As one type of medical valve of this kind of medical connector or the like, a
split septum type medical valve noted in Japanese Domestic Publication of International
Patent Application No. JP-A-H02-502976 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Unexamined
Patent Publication No. JP-A-2004-237133 (Patent Document 2) is known. This medical valve
has a structure with a disk-shaped elastic valve body having a slit formed at the center part
20 mounted on an opening member of the housing constituting the opening part of the fluid flow
path. Then, by directly inserting the tip of the male connector into the slit of the elastic valve
body, it is possible to connect the male connector to the fluid flow path in a communicating
state. Also, by extracting the tip of the male connector such as the syringe or the like
connected this way from the elastic valve body, with the recovery action of the elastic valve
25 body simultaneous with extracting, the cutoff state of the fluid flow path is maintained.
[0004] Also, with the split septum type medical valve, so as not to have separation of
the elastic valve body occur when attaching and detaching the male connector, it is necessary
to firmly fix the elastic valve body to the opening of the opening member. In light of that, in
the past, as shown in both Patent Documents 1 and 2, a structure is used whereby the outer
30 periphery part of the elastic valve body is sandwiched and supported from both sides in the
thickness direction by a pair of claw-shaped annular locking projections provided on the
opening member.
[0005] However, the background art constitution, by which the outer periphery part of
the disk-shaped elastic valve body is sandwiched and supported by the pair of claw-shaped
35 annular locking projections, was still insufficient to prevent the problem of the outer
periphery part of the elastic valve body separating and falling out from the annular locking
projection.
3
BACKGROUND ART DOCUMENT
PATENT DOCUMENT
[0006] Patent Document 1: JP-A-H02-502976
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2004-237133
5
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEM THE INVENTION ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE
[0007] The present invention has been developed in view of the above-described
matters as the background, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a medical
valve with a novel structure w 10 hich is able to reliably support the outer periphery part of the
disk-shaped elastic valve body on the housing, and to prevent the problem of the elastic valve
body falling out inward.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM
[0008] A first mode of the present invention provides a medical valve wherein a
15 disk-shaped elastic valve body having a slit formed on a center part thereof is mounted on an
opening member constituting an opening part of a fluid flow path, and the elastic valve body
is configured to enable a male connector to be repeatedly inserted and removed through the
slit, the medical valve being characterized in that: the elastic valve body includes a slim part
that is provided at an outer peripheral side of the center part and is thinner than the center part,
20 and a tubular support part that is formed further to the outer peripheral side than the slim part
and projects inward in an axial direction; the opening member includes a tube-shaped outside
holding part overlapping an outer peripheral surface of the tubular support part and a
tube-shaped inside holding part overlapping an inner peripheral surface of the tubular support
part so that the slim part of the elastic valve body is sandwiched and supported between the
25 inside holding part and the outside holding part in the axial direction; the tubular support part
is sandwiched and supported at a part projecting inward in the axial direction between the
inside holding part and the outside holding part; and the tubular support part has, at the part
projecting inward in the axial direction, an axial direction dimension larger than a radius of
the center part of the elastic valve body.
30 [0009] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode, with the tubular
support part of the elastic valve body, by having the projection height inward in the axial
direction be larger, it is possible to increase the area that is supported by the opening member,
and possible to ensure a large bearing capacity of the elastic valve body by the opening
member.
35 [0010] Also, since the male connector is inserted inward in the axial direction of the
medical valve, when inserting the male connector, push-in force is applied inward in the axial
direction on the elastic valve body. Along with this push-in force, a tensile force, which is the
opposite direction to the push-in force, is applied outward in the axial direction on the tubular
support part at the part projecting inward in the axial direction. Therefore, with the tubular
4
support part, by making the projection height inward in the axial direction large, the friction
between the opening member and the elastic valve body increases, and combined with the
hooking operation of the inside engaging part, makes it possible to reduce the risk of the
elastic valve body falling out inward in the axial direction. In particular, by the tubular
support part having the axial direction dimension o 5 f the part that projects inward in the axial
direction greater than the radius of the center part of the elastic valve body as with this mode,
it is possible to ensure that the cubic volume of the tubular support part is sufficiently larger
than the space (slim part) between the axial directions of the outside holding part and the
inside holding part at the inner peripheral side from the tubular support part. This makes it
10 possible to even further reduce the risk of the tubular support part falling out inward in the
axial direction passing through between the outside holding part and the inside holding part in
the axial direction.
[0011] In fact, with the tubular support part of the elastic valve body, by making the
projection height large inward in the axial direction which is opposite to the opening direction
15 of the opening member, it is possible to increase the bearing capacity by the opening member,
thereby keeping the projection height small in the opening direction of the tubular support
part and the opening member. Therefore, it is possible to avoid deterioration in insertion and
removal operability of the male connector or larger overall size of the medical valve which
easily become problems along with an increase in projection height to outside the opening
20 member at the periphery of the elastic valve body.
[0012] A second mode of the present invention provides a medical valve wherein a
disk-shaped elastic valve body having a slit formed on a center part thereof is mounted on an
opening member constituting an opening part of a fluid flow path, and the elastic valve body
is configured to enable a male connector to be repeatedly inserted and removed through the
25 slit, the medical valve being characterized in that: the elastic valve body includes a slim part
that is provided at an outer peripheral side of the center part and is thinner than the center part,
and a tubular support part that is formed further to the outer peripheral side than the slim part
and projects inward in an axial direction; the opening member includes a tube-shaped outside
holding part overlapping an outer peripheral surface of the tubular support part and a
30 tube-shaped inside holding part overlapping an inner peripheral surface of the tubular support
part so that the slim part of the elastic valve body is sandwiched and supported between the
inside holding part and the outside holding part in the axial direction; the tubular support part
is sandwiched and supported at a part projecting inward in the axial direction between the
inside holding part and the outside holding part; and the tubular support part includes a radial
35 direction projecting part integrally formed at a tip side of the part projecting inward in the
axial direction and extending in a radial direction, and the radial direction projecting part is
engaged with the opening member.
[0013] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode, by an engaging
action on the opening member by the radial direction projecting part provided to the tubular
5
support part at the tip side of the part projecting inward in the axial direction, the elastic valve
body can be mounted on the opening member with an even greater slip-out resistance force.
[0014] A third mode of the present invention provides the medical valve according to
the second mode, wherein the radial direction projecting part extends outward in the radial
direction from the tubular support part, 5 and the slim part and the radial direction projecting
part of the elastic valve body are compressed in the axial direction in an attached state to the
opening member.
[0015] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode, since the slim part
and the radial direction projecting part of the elastic valve body are both supported on the
10 opening member in a compressed state, there is always a fixing force operating with the
elastic reaction force of each part, increasing the bearing capacity of the elastic valve body in
relation to the opening member.
[0016] A fourth mode of the present invention provides the medical valve according
to the second or third mode, wherein a locking projection projecting outward in the axial
15 direction is formed on the radial direction projecting part, and the locking projection is locked
to the opening member.
[0017] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode, by further forming
a locking projection on the radial direction projecting part provided on the tip side of the
tubular support part of the elastic valve body, based on the locking action on the locking
20 projection, it is possible to further increase the retaining direction bearing capacity of the
tubular support part by the opening member.
[0018] A fifth mode of the present invention provides a medical valve wherein a
disk-shaped elastic valve body having a slit formed on a center part thereof is mounted on an
opening member constituting an opening part of a fluid flow path, and the elastic valve body
25 is configured to enable a male connector to be repeatedly inserted and removed through the
slit, the medical valve being characterized in that: the elastic valve body includes a slim part
that is provided at an outer peripheral side of the center part and is thinner than the center part,
and a tubular support part that is formed further to the outer peripheral side than the slim part
and projects inward in an axial direction; the opening member includes a tube-shaped outside
30 holding part overlapping an outer peripheral surface of the tubular support part and a
tube-shaped inside holding part overlapping an inner peripheral surface of the tubular support
part so that the slim part of the elastic valve body is sandwiched and supported between the
inside holding part and the outside holding part in the axial direction; the tubular support part
is sandwiched and supported at a part projecting inward in the axial direction between the
35 inside holding part and the outside holding part; and the tubular support part includes a thin
part and a thick part provided in the part projecting inward in the axial direction, and the thick
part is positioned further inward in the axial direction than the thin part.
[0019] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode, by providing the
thin part on the tubular support part, the bearing capacity by the inside holding part and the
6
outside holding part that sandwich and support the tubular support part from both inside and
outside can operate even more effectively as a retaining resistance force in relation to the
thick part positioned further inward in the axial direction than the thin part. As a result, it is
possible to further improve the falling-out prevention effect of the elastic valve body. With
the tubular support part in relation 5 to the inside holding part and outside holding part
overlapping its inner and outer peripheral surfaces, it is not necessary that the changes in the
axial direction in the respective thickness dimensions have a corresponding relationship.
[0020] A sixth mode of the present invention provides a medical valve wherein a
disk-shaped elastic valve body having a slit formed on a center part thereof is mounted on an
10 opening member constituting an opening part of a fluid flow path, and the elastic valve body
is configured to enable a male connector to be repeatedly inserted and removed through the
slit, the medical valve being characterized in that: the elastic valve body includes a slim part
that is provided at an outer peripheral side of the center part and is thinner than the center part,
and a tubular support part that is formed further to the outer peripheral side than the slim part
15 and projects inward in an axial direction; the opening member includes a tube-shaped outside
holding part overlapping an outer peripheral surface of the tubular support part and a
tube-shaped inside holding part overlapping an inner peripheral surface of the tubular support
part so that the slim part of the elastic valve body is sandwiched and supported between the
inside holding part and the outside holding part in the axial direction; the tubular support part
20 is sandwiched and supported at a part projecting inward in the axial direction between the
inside holding part and the outside holding part; and the inside holding part is configured to
be pressed to a side of the tubular support part on an outer periphery thereof by the elastic
valve body that elastically deforms in accordance with insertion of the male connector into
the slit.
25 [0021] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode, with the tubular
support part of the elastic valve body, the part projecting inward in the axial direction is
sandwiched and supported between the inside holding part and the outside holding part of the
opening member. In light of that, when the male connector is inserted in the elastic valve
body, the elastically deformed elastic valve body abuts the inside holding part, and the inner
30 peripheral surface of the inside holding part is pressed toward the outer periphery. As a result,
the bearing capacity in relation to the tubular support part between the inside holding part and
the outside holding part can be increased, and falling out of the elastic valve body inward in
the axial direction can be inhibited.
[0022] With this mode, for example, it is preferable for the tubular support part to
35 have the axial direction dimension of the part projecting inward in the axial direction larger
than the radius of the center part of the elastic valve body. By so doing, the center part of the
elastically deformed elastic valve body can apply pressing force on the inside holding part
across the entire surface, and it is possible to have the tubular support part sandwiched with
even more stability between the inside holding part and the outside holding part.
7
[0023] A seventh mode of the present invention provides the medical valve according
to the sixth mode, wherein a rigidity of the inside holding part is smaller than rigidities of the
outside holding part and the male connector.
[0024] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode, with the tubular
support part of the elastic valve bod 5 y supported between the inside holding part and the
outside holding part, based on the inner peripheral surface of the inside holding part being
pressed by the elastic valve body by the male connector being inserted, the effect of
improving the holding force on the tubular support part is more effectively achieved.
[0025] An eighth mode of the present invention provides a medical valve wherein a
10 disk-shaped elastic valve body having a slit formed on a center part thereof is mounted on an
opening member constituting an opening part of a fluid flow path, and the elastic valve body
is configured to enable a male connector to be repeatedly inserted and removed through the
slit, the medical valve being characterized in that: the elastic valve body includes a slim part
that is provided at an outer peripheral side of the center part and is thinner than the center part,
15 and a tubular support part that is formed further to the outer peripheral side than the slim part
and projects inward in an axial direction; the opening member includes a tube-shaped outside
holding part overlapping an outer peripheral surface of the tubular support part and a
tube-shaped inside holding part overlapping an inner peripheral surface of the tubular support
part so that the slim part of the elastic valve body is sandwiched and supported between the
20 inside holding part and the outside holding part in the axial direction; and the tubular support
part is held in a compressed state at a part projecting inward in the axial direction between the
inside holding part and the outside holding part.
[0026] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode, since the tubular
support part is fixed in a compressed state at the part projecting inward in the axial direction
25 between the inside holding part and the outside holding part, a repellent force is always
applied from the tubular support part in relation to the inside holding part and the outside
holding part. By so doing, it is possible to increase the friction between the tubular support
part and the inside holding part as well as between the tubular support part and the outside
holding part, and falling out of the tubular support part is even more effectively prevented.
30 This makes it possible to further increase the falling-out prevention effect for the elastic valve
body.
[0027] With this mode, it is possible to suitably use a mode for which the opening
member main body includes a supporting wall for supporting the tubular support part at the
radial direction outside end part of the tip of the part projecting inward in the axial direction,
35 and a projecting part for welding that projects onto the overlapping surfaces in the axial
direction of the supporting wall and the outside holding part is formed, and by the projecting
part for welding being ultrasonically welded, the outside holding part is fixed to the
supporting wall.
[0028] With this medical valve, the projecting part for welding is formed projecting
8
onto the overlapping surfaces in the axial direction of the supporting wall and the outside
holding part provided on the opening member main body, and since the opening member
main body and the outside holding part are ultrasonically welded at the projecting part for
welding, it is possible to efficiently and reliably perform this ultrasonic welding. Furthermore,
since the outside holding part is fixed to 5 the supporting wall which is positioned on the outer
peripheral side and close to the tubular support part, compared to when fixed at a position far
from the tubular support part, the elastic valve body and the opening member are positioned
with high precision, and the bending stress due to external force applied in the pull-out
direction of the tubular support part in relation to the outside holding part is also kept small,
10 thereby advantageously ensuring strength at the fixing sites of the outside holding part as
well.
[0029] A ninth mode of the present invention provides a medical valve wherein a
disk-shaped elastic valve body having a slit formed on a center part thereof is mounted on an
opening member constituting an opening part of a fluid flow path, and the elastic valve body
15 is configured to enable a male connector to be repeatedly inserted and removed through the
slit, the medical valve being characterized in that: the elastic valve body includes inner and
outer annular grooves that extend in a circumference direction respectively on both inner and
outer surfaces of an outer periphery part of the elastic valve body, and a slim part positioned
between bottom parts of the inner and outer annular grooves, and a tubular support part that is
20 formed at an outer peripheral side of the slim part and projects inward and outward in an
axial direction; the opening member includes a tube-shaped outside holding part overlapping
an outer peripheral surface of the tubular support part and a tube-shaped inside holding part
overlapping an inner peripheral surface of the tubular support part so that the outside holding
part and the inside holding part are engaged with the respective annular grooves on the outer
25 surface and the inner surface of the elastic valve body; the tubular support part is sandwiched
and supported at a part projecting inward in the axial direction between the inside holding
part and the outside holding part; and with the elastic valve body, the tubular support part has,
at the part projecting inward in the axial direction, an axial direction dimension larger than an
axial direction dimension of the center part of the elastic valve body.
30 [0030] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode, with the tubular
support part of the elastic valve body, the projection height inward in the axial direction is
ensured to be large, so that the same effect as that of the first mode is exhibited. Specifically,
it is possible to ensure a large bearing capacity of the elastic valve body by the opening
member, and to reduce the risk of the elastic valve body falling out inward in the axial
35 direction.
[0031] A tenth mode of the present invention provides the medical valve according to
any of the first to ninth modes, wherein the elastic valve body includes inner and outer
annular grooves that extend in a circumference direction respectively on both inner and outer
surfaces in the axial direction at the outer peripheral side of the center part, and the slim part
9
is constituted between bottom parts of the inner and outer annular grooves, the outside
holding part includes an outside engaging claw that enters the outer annular groove on the
outer surface of the elastic valve body while the inside holding part includes an inside
engaging claw that enters the inner annular groove on the inner surface of the elastic valve
body, and an inner surface of a base end side of the 5 inside engaging claw of the inside holding
part inclines and expands inward in the axial direction so as to define an expanding inclined
surface.
[0032] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode, the inner surface is
inclined at the base end part of the inside engaging claw and expands inward in the axial
10 direction. Thus, during insertion of the male connector, it is possible to ensure a broad
internal space of the inside holding part into which the elastic valve body enters during elastic
deformation. By so doing, elastic deformation of the elastic valve body is easily allowed
during insertion of the male connector, and it is possible to reduce insertion resistance.
[0033] The inner surface shape at the tip part of the inside engaging claw is not
15 limited in any way, but it is preferable that the tip side inner surface corner of the inside
engaging claw be a convex curved surface, and furthermore, that at least a part of the outside
engaging claw and the inside engaging claw mutually overlap when viewed in the axial
direction, and that the curved surface of the inside engaging claw be positioned on the axial
direction extension line of the radial direction inside end part of the outside engaging claw.
20 By so doing, for example if the male connector is inserted so as to follow the inner peripheral
surface of the outside engaging claw of the outside holding part or the like, and even if a large
deformation occurs on the outer periphery part of the elastic valve body, it is possible to
disperse concentration of push-in force of the male connector or local distortion of the elastic
valve body by allowing it to escape along the curved surface of the inside engaging claw. As
25 a result, for example even if the male connector is inserted decentered from the center of the
elastic valve body, or inserted diagonally with an incline to the center axis of the elastic valve
body, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of cracks or the like in the elastic valve body,
and to improve durability.
[0034] An eleventh mode of the present invention provides the medical valve
30 according to any of the first to tenth modes, wherein the outside holding part has a wall
thickness that becomes gradually larger as it goes inward in the axial direction at least at an
axial direction middle part for which a screw thread is not provided on an outer peripheral
surface thereof, and the outside holding part gradually inclines outward in a radial direction
as it goes inward in the axial direction, and each of the inner peripheral surface of the tubular
35 support part at the part projecting inward in the axial direction and an inner peripheral surface
of the inside holding part inclines at a sharper angle than an inner peripheral surface of the
outside holding part and broadens inward in the axial direction, at least at a part further
inward than a middle part in the axial direction.
[0035] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode, at the inside
10
holding part and the outside holding part extending in the axial direction of the opening
member, the thickness dimension of the base end part positioned inward in the axial direction,
for which great stress occurs easily due to eternal force applied when the male connector is
inserted or the like, is made large, so that the member strength and durability are improved.
Also, the 5 bearing capacity by the inside holding part and the outside holding part that
sandwich and support the tubular support part from both the inner and outer sides operates
even more effectively as a retaining resistance force on the base end side of the tubular
support part which gradually becomes thicker. In fact, the inside holding part and the outside
holding part that sandwich and support the base end side of the tubular support part also have
10 the base end side made thicker, so that the bearing capacity on the base end side of the tubular
support part is exhibited even more effectively. In addition, since the inner peripheral surface
of the inside holding part broadens inward in the axial direction, it is also possible to ensure a
large internal space of the inside holding part into which the elastic valve body elastically
deforms and enters during insertion of the male connector.
15 [0036] A twelfth mode of the present invention provides the medical valve according
to any of the first to eleventh modes, wherein the inside holding part includes a thin wall part
at the axial direction middle part thereof with the radial direction thickness made smaller than
those of both axial direction end parts thereof.
[0037] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode, at the thin wall part
20 of the inside holding part, there is even more advantageous exhibition of the effect of
increasing the bearing capacity in relation to the tubular support part exhibited based on being
pressed by the elastic valve body toward the outer peripheral side when the male connector is
inserted in the elastic valve body. Also, with this inside holding part, with the tip side that
supports the slim part of the elastic valve body and the base end side for which the initiation
25 stress is large, the respective radial direction thickness is sufficiently obtained. Thus, it is also
possible to effectively ensure engaging force on the annular groove of the elastic valve body
at the tip side, supporting strength at the base end side, and the like.
[0038] A thirteenth mode of the present invention provides the medical valve
according to any of the first to twelfth modes, wherein the tubular support part includes an
30 angle change part for which an inclination angle in the axial direction changes at the inner
peripheral surface thereof on which the inside holding part is overlapped.
[0039] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode, at the angle change
part provided at the inner peripheral surface of the tubular support part on which the inside
holding part is overlapped, fallout resistance power of the tubular support part by the
35 engaging action on the inside holding part is exhibited. In this way, in addition to the bearing
capacity by sandwiching by the inside and outside holding parts, this engaging action will be
exhibited. Accordingly, it is possible to more effectively prevent falling out of the elastic
valve body from the opening member when inserting the male connector.
[0040] A fourteenth mode of the present invention provides the medical valve
11
according to any of the first to thirteenth modes, wherein with the opening member, the inside
holding part and the outside holding part are made to be separate members, and each tip end
surface positioned inward in the axial direction of the inside holding part and the outside
holding part is supported by the opening member main body.
[0041] A fifteenth mode 5 of the present invention provides the medical valve
according to the fourteenth mode, wherein the inside holding part is not joined to either the
opening member main body or the outside holding part.
[0042] A sixteenth mode of the present invention provides the medical valve
according to any of the first to fifteenth modes, wherein the outside holding part includes a
10 step-shaped annular shoulder part broadening in the radial direction on the axial direction
middle part thereof, and with the tubular support part of the elastic valve body, the tip of the
part projecting inward in the axial direction projects further inward in the axial direction than
the annular shoulder part.
[0043] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode, with the tubular
15 support part of the elastic valve body, a large projection height is ensured inward in the axial
direction. Thus, the same effect as with the first mode can be exhibited, and in particular, it is
also possible to efficiently apply a large sandwiching force on the tubular support part by the
outside holding part made substantially thicker at the annular shoulder part. Also, by
combining with the third mode and the tenth mode described above, it is possible to broaden
20 the internal space of the opening member. In specific terms, by combining with the third
mode, with the tubular support part, the radial direction projecting part that expands to the
outer peripheral side from the tip side of the part projecting inward in the axial direction can
be skillfully arranged in a sandwiched and compressed state using the space made inside in
the axial direction of the annular shoulder part.
25 [0044] A seventeenth mode of the present invention provides a medical valve wherein
a disk-shaped elastic valve body having a slit formed on a center part thereof is mounted on
an opening member constituting an opening part of a fluid flow path, and the elastic valve
body is configured to enable a male connector to be repeatedly inserted and removed through
the slit, the medical valve being characterized in that: the elastic valve body includes inner
30 and outer annular grooves that extend in a circumference direction respectively on both inner
and outer surfaces of an outer periphery part of the elastic valve body, and an annular joining
part positioned between bottom parts of the inner and outer annular grooves, and a tubular
support part that is formed at an outer peripheral side of the annular joining part and projects
inward and outward in an axial direction; the opening member includes a tube-shaped outside
35 holding part overlapping an outer peripheral surface of the tubular support part and a
tube-shaped inside holding part overlapping an inner peripheral surface of the tubular support
part so that the outside holding part and the inside holding part are engaged with the
respective annular grooves on the outer surface and the inner surface of the elastic valve
body; the tubular support part has a projection height from the annular joining part inward in
12
the axial direction larger than a projection height from the annular joining part outward in the
axial direction; and the tubular support part is sandwiched and supported at a part projecting
inward in the axial direction between the inside holding part and the outside holding part.
[0045] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode, the tubular support
part of the elastic valve body ensures a large 5 projection height inward in the axial direction,
so that the same effect as that of the first mode can be exhibited. Specifically, it is possible to
ensure a large bearing capacity of the elastic valve body by the opening member, and to
reduce the risk of the elastic valve body falling out inward in the axial direction.
[0046] An eighteenth mode of the present invention provides a medical valve wherein
10 a disk-shaped elastic valve body having a slit formed on a center part thereof is mounted on
an opening member constituting an opening part of a fluid flow path, and the elastic valve
body is configured to enable a male connector to be repeatedly inserted and removed through
the slit, the medical valve being characterized in that: the elastic valve body includes inner
and outer annular grooves that extend in a circumference direction respectively on both inner
15 and outer surfaces of an outer periphery part of the elastic valve body, and an annular joining
part positioned between bottom parts of the inner and outer annular grooves, and a tubular
support part that is formed at an outer peripheral side of the annular joining part and projects
inward and outward in an axial direction; the opening member includes a tube-shaped outside
holding part overlapping an outer peripheral surface of the tubular support part and a
20 tube-shaped inside holding part overlapping an inner peripheral surface of the tubular support
part so that the outside holding part and the inside holding part are engaged with the
respective annular grooves on the outer surface and the inner surface of the elastic valve
body; with the tubular support part, a tip of a part projecting inward in the axial direction is
positioned further inward in the axial direction than an axial direction inner surface of the
25 center part of the elastic valve body; and the tubular support part is sandwiched and
supported at the part projecting inward in the axial direction between the inside holding part
and the outside holding part.
[0047] With the medical valve constituted according to this mode as well, the tubular
support part has a large projection height inward in the axial direction, and the tubular
30 support part is sandwiched and supported at the part projecting inward in the axial direction
between the inside holding part and the outside holding part of the opening member.
Therefore, roughly the same as with the medical valve of the seventeenth mode, the bearing
capacity of the elastic valve body by the opening member is largely ensured, and falling out
of the elastic valve body inward in the axial direction is inhibited.
35 EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0048] With the medical valve according to the constitution of the present invention,
by the action of friction or the like between the inside/outside holding parts sandwiching and
supporting the tubular support part and the elastic valve body, it is possible to make the
bearing capacity by the opening member greater, and possible to effectively prevent falling
13
out of the elastic valve body during insertion of the male connector or the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0049] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medical valve as a first embodiment of the present
5 invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the medical valve shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the medical valve shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the medical valve shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a cross section view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.
10 FIG. 6 is a cross section view with the key parts in FIG. 5 enlarged.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an elastic valve body constituting the medical
valve shown in FIG 1.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the elastic valve body shown in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the elastic valve body shown in FIG. 7.
15 FIG. 10 is a cross section view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 is a view suitable for explaining the state with a male connector inserted in the
medical valve shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 12 is a vertical cross section view showing another mode of the medical valve of
the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 5.
20
EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0050] Following, we will describe embodiments of the present invention while
referring to the drawings.
[0051] First, in FIG. 1 to 6, a medical valve 10 is shown as a first embodiment of the
25 present invention. The medical valve 10 has a constitution wherein a roughly disk-shaped
elastic valve body 16 on which a slit 14 is formed is mounted on an opening member 12
constituting an opening part of a fluid flow path, and a male connector can be repeatedly
inserted and removed through the slit 14 of this elastic valve body 16. With the description
below, the vertical direction and the directions outward/outside and inward/inside in the axial
30 direction all mean the vertical direction in FIG. 2.
[0052] In more detail, the opening member 12 overall has a roughly tubular shape,
and is constituted having an assembled structure of three separate members including an
outside holding part 18 and an inside holding part 20, both of which are roughly tube-shaped,
and a valve housing main body 22 as an opening member main body. Specifically, the
35 opening member 12 is constituted by the inside holding part 20 being attached without
bonding to the top of the valve housing main body 22, the outside holding part 18 being
overlapped on the outer peripheral side of the inside holding part 20, and the valve housing
main body 22 and the outside holding part 18 being adhered.
[0053] With the valve housing main body 22, a peripheral wall part 26 is provided on
14
the outer peripheral side of a center tube-shaped part 24 extending vertically in the axial
direction, and by the respective top end parts being connected by an upper bottom part 28, the
valve housing main body 22 is constituted. The axial direction dimension of this center
tube-shaped part 24 is made larger than the axial direction dimension of the peripheral wall
part 26, and the center tube-shaped p 5 art 24 projects downward inside the peripheral wall part
26.
[0054] Furthermore, on the top surface of the upper bottom part 28, a circular fixing
groove 34 is formed so as to extend across the entire circumference in the circumference
direction at the radial direction middle part. Then, this fixing groove 34 opens at the top
10 surface of the upper bottom part 28. A specified inclination angle is given to the opposite
inner surfaces of both inner and outer walls of the fixing groove 34, and the cross section
shape of the fixing groove 34 gradually expands in diameter toward the opening direction.
[0055] Also, as will be described later, the end parts of each base end side (inside in
the axial direction) of the outside holding part 18 and the inside holding part 20 are engaged
15 on the fixing groove 34 of the upper bottom part 28. Also, the wall part on the outer
peripheral side of the fixing groove 34 is used as an annular supporting wall 35 that positions
the outside holding part 18 and the inside holding part 20 in relation to the valve housing
main body 22 in the radial direction.
[0056] Yet further, a projecting part for welding 36 projecting upward is integrally
20 formed on the top surface of the supporting wall 35. Then, as is described later, the outside
holding part 18 is overlapped on the top surface of the supporting wall 35 of the valve
housing main body 22, and by adhering the projecting part for welding 36 using ultrasonic
welding, the outside holding part 18 is adhered to the valve housing main body 22. The
projecting part for welding 36 of the valve housing main body 22 is substantially melted and
25 lost in the product state, but in FIG. 6, to make it easier to explain and understand, the
projecting part for welding 36 is shown virtually by a dotted line. Also, the projecting part for
welding 36 can also be provided on the outside holding part 18 overlapped on the supporting
wall 35 of the valve housing main body 22.
[0057] Also, while a circular step surface 37 that broadens in the axis-perpendicular
30 direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface near the top end of the peripheral wall part
26, below the step surface 37, a plurality of recesses 38 (ten with this embodiment) extending
in the axial direction are formed across the entire periphery in the circumference direction.
By giving dents and bumps to the outer peripheral surface using these plurality of recesses 38,
it is possible for the user to easily grasp the outer peripheral surface of the valve housing
35 main body 22 of the medical valve 10. Meanwhile, a lock groove 40 is formed on the inner
peripheral surface of the peripheral wall part 26, making it possible to connect a Luer lock
connector or the like.
[0058] Above the valve housing main body 22 having this constitution, the outside
holding part 18 of the outer peripheral side and the inside holding part 20 of the inner
15
peripheral side are attached as separate parts. The axial direction top end of the outside
holding part 18 is positioned further upward in the axial direction than the axial direction top
end of the inside holding part 20. Also, the axial direction bottom end of the outside holding
part 18 is overlapped in the axial direction on the step surface 37 of the valve housing main
5 body 22.
[0059] The outside holding part 18 has a structure wherein a lower large diameter
tube part 46 and an upper small diameter tube part 48 are integrally connected by a
step-shaped annular shoulder part 50 that broadens in the radial direction. Said another way,
the annular shoulder part 50 is provided at the axial direction middle part of the outside
10 holding part 18, and the upper side of this annular shoulder part 50 is used as the small
diameter tube part 48, while the lower side thereof is used as the large diameter tube part 46.
As can be understood from the explanation given later, with this embodiment, the outside
holding part as a member that supports the elastic valve body 16 between it and the inside
holding part 20 is constituted by the small diameter tube part 48 for which the annular
15 shoulder part 50 is formed on the axial direction base end part. Thus, the large diameter tube
part 46 is understood to operate as an auxiliary part for fixing of the outside holding part to
the valve housing main body 22.
[0060] Here, the inner peripheral surface and outer peripheral surface of the small
diameter tube part 48 have a tapered shape for which it becomes gradually smaller in
20 diameter as it goes outward in the axial direction. Also, with the small diameter tube part 48,
at the base end part (bottommost part) for which the inner diameter dimension is greatest, the
inner diameter dimension is smaller than the opening diameter of the outer peripheral side
wall of the fixing groove 34 while being larger than the opening diameter of the inner
peripheral side wall of the fixing groove 34. Meanwhile, with the small diameter tube part 48,
25 at the tip part (topmost part) for which the inner diameter dimension is smallest, the inner
diameter dimension is roughly equal to the outer diameter dimension of the elastic valve body
16.
[0061] Furthermore, the top part of the small diameter tube part 48 of the outside
holding part 18 is used as a circular tip wall part 51 that broadens in a bent state to the inner
30 peripheral side, and at the inner periphery edge part of the tip wall part 51, an outside
engaging claw 52 is formed extending downward so as to be folded back inward in the axial
direction. With this embodiment, the outside engaging claw 52 is formed in a circular shape
extending across the entire periphery in the circumference direction, and at the outer
peripheral side of the outside engaging claw 52, an outside holding groove 54 extending in
35 the circumference direction having a designated width in the radial direction is formed as a
circular groove opening downward in the axial direction.
[0062] On the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter tube part 48, a male
screw part 56 is formed with which a female screw part of a Luer lock connector is screwed
together, for example. The male screw part 56 is a double thread screw that can connect with
16
a female screw part of a Luer lock connector regulated by ISO594, for example. To ensure
sufficient screwing together with the female screw part of the Luer lock connector, the
annular shoulder part 50 is preferably positioned downward by 3 mm or more from the upper
end of the male screw part 56 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outside holding
5 part 18 (small diameter tube part 48).
[0063] Also, with the outer diameter dimension of the outside holding part 18, in a
case where the male screw part 56 like that of this embodiment is not formed, the outer
diameter of the small diameter tube part 48 is preferably set within a range from 5.5 to 7.2
mm, and where the male screw part 56 is formed as with this embodiment, the outer diameter
10 of the small diameter tube part 48 including a screw thread is preferably set within a range
from 7.2 to 8.5 mm.
[0064] Yet further, with the small diameter tube part 48, at the axial direction middle
part between the annular shoulder part 50 on the base end side and the outside holding groove
54 on the tip side, the thickness dimension of the peripheral wall for which the screw thread
15 for the male screw part 56 is not formed changes to be gradually larger toward the base end
side from the tip side in the axial direction. Specifically, at the axial direction middle part of
the small diameter tube part 48, the inclination is sharper with the inner peripheral surface
than with the outer peripheral surface, and the inclination angle in relation to the
axis-perpendicular direction is made larger.
20 [0065] Furthermore, at the lower surface of the annular shoulder part 50 of the outside
holding part 18, an engaging groove 58 that opens downward is formed. Also, at the inner
periphery edge part of the annular shoulder part 50, a locking convex part 60 is formed
projecting downward in the axial direction. In particular with this embodiment, the engaging
groove 58 is used as the annular groove extending across the entire periphery in the
25 circumference direction, and the locking convex part 60 is also used as the annular convex
part extending across the entire periphery in the circumference direction.
[0066] With this embodiment, as the end surface of the axial direction base end side
of the small diameter tube part 48, the bottom surface of the engaging groove 58 is
overlapped and supported on the top surface of the supporting wall 35 of the valve housing
30 main body 22. Specifically, with the valve housing main body 22, the base end side outer
peripheral surface of a tubular support part 70 described later of the elastic valve body 16 is
positioned and supported at the inner peripheral surface of the supporting wall 35, and the
outside holding part 18 is fixed by welding to the valve housing main body 22 by the
projecting part for welding 36 projecting on the top surface of the supporting wall 35
35 positioned near on the outer peripheral side in relation to the supporting surface of the tubular
support part 70.
[0067] Meanwhile, the inside holding part 20 has an overall tapered tube shape for
which the diameter becomes smaller as it goes from inside to outside in the axial direction,
and the bottom end part of the inside holding part 20 is used as an annular base end part 62 as
17
a radial direction projecting part extending to the outer peripheral side with a fixed thickness
dimension (vertical direction in FIG. 5).
[0068] This annular base end part 62 has a size and shape that fits into the fixing
groove 34 of the valve housing main body 22, and the axial direction inside end surface of the
inside holding part 5 20 including the annular base end part 62 is overlapped and supported on
the bottom surface of the fixing groove 34. The axial direction thickness dimension of the
annular base end part 62 is smaller than the depth dimension of the fixing groove 34, the axial
direction inside end part of the small diameter tube part 48 of the outside holding part 18 fits
into the opening part of the fixing groove 34, and is fit to the wall surface of the outer
10 peripheral side of the fixing groove 34. By so doing, with this embodiment, each axial
direction inside end part of the inside holding part 20 and the outside holding part 18 is fit
into the fixing groove 34, and accordingly, the inside holding part 20 and the outside holding
part 18 are positioned in the radial direction in relation to the valve housing main body 22.
[0069] Also, at the axial direction top side part of the inside holding part 20, an
15 annular receiving seat part 63 narrowing to the inner peripheral side is formed with a
gooseneck shaped curved cross section. Also, on the inner periphery edge part of the
receiving seat part 63, an annular inside engaging claw 64 projecting upward in the axial
direction is formed. Specifically, a part from the base end side inner surface of the inside
engaging claw 64 to the inner surface of the receiving seat part 63 is an expanding inclined
20 surface 65 for which the inner diameter gradually becomes larger inward in the axial
direction. By providing this expanding inclined surface 65, during insertion of the male
connector (Luer) described later into the elastic valve body 16, escape areas for both side
parts of the slit 14 which is pressed apart while being pressed inward are advantageously
ensured inside the inside holding part 20, and the insertion resistance of the male connector
25 and the like is reduced. The tip end surface of the inside engaging claw 64 has a convex
curved cross section shape for which the end edge part of the inner peripheral side has the
corners rounded. For this curved cross section shape, for example preferably a round shape
having a roughly fixed curvature radius is used, but it is also possible to use one for which the
curvature radius differs in parts.
30 [0070] Also, the inside engaging claw 64 of the inside holding part 20 is positioned
across a gap in the axial direction in opposition to the outside engaging claw 52 of the outside
holding part 18. The inside engaging claw 64 and the outside engaging claw 52 preferably
have at least a portion overlapping each other when viewed in the axial direction, and would
suitably mutually overlap when viewed in the axial direction over an area of half or more in
35 the radial direction. In particular, with this embodiment, the round shaped curved surface
provided on the inner peripheral side corner of the inside engaging claw 64 is positioned on
the axial direction extension line of the inner periphery end (radial direction inside end part)
of the outside engaging claw 52.
[0071] Also, the receiving seat part 63 of the inside holding part 20 is arranged
18
roughly in opposition to the tip wall part 51 of the outside engaging claw 52 in the axial
direction.
[0072] Furthermore, the inside holding part 20 has the wall thickness dimension of its
periphery wall differ in the axial direction. In particular with this embodiment, the receiving
seat part 63 and the inside engaging claw 64 are formed by 5 the tip side positioned outward in
the axial direction being made thick. Also, the part positioned near the bottom of the
receiving seat part 63 is used as a thin wall part 66 whose thickness dimension is smallest,
and the thickness gradually increases as it goes inward in the axial direction from this thin
wall part 66. Specifically, with the small diameter tube part 48, at the axial direction middle
10 part between the receiving seat part 63 on the tip end and the annular base end part 62 on the
base end, the inner peripheral surface expands in a taper shape downward in the axial
direction at a sharper inclination angle than the outer peripheral surface. Changes in the
thickness dimension in the axial direction with the inside holding part 20 are given
continuously and smoothly by the inner and outer peripheral surfaces being curved or the like
15 in the axial direction.
[0073] Also, the outer diameter dimension of the inside holding part 20 is smaller
than the inner diameter dimension of the outside holding part 18, and as shown in FIG. 5 and
the like, a space for mounting the elastic valve body 16 is formed between the outside
holding part 18 and the inside holding part 20.
20 [0074] The single item state of the elastic valve body 16 to be mounted in this
mounting space is shown in FIGS. 7 to 10. The elastic valve body 16 is roughly disk-shaped,
and the slit 14 is formed in a center part 68. Also, the tubular support part 70 is provided so as
to project inward and outward in the axial direction on the outer periphery part of the elastic
valve body 16. The outer peripheral surface of the tubular support part 70 is overlapped on
25 the inner peripheral surface of the outside holding part 18, while the inner peripheral surface
of the tubular support part 70 is overlapped on the outer peripheral surface of the inside
holding part 20. Furthermore, by the center part 68 and the tubular support part 70 being
connected by an annular joining part 72 extending across the entire periphery in the
circumference direction, the elastic valve body 16 is formed as an integrally molded article.
30 [0075] With regard to the elastic valve body 16, with the male connector in a
non-inserted state shown in FIG. 5, the top end surface of the center part 68 and the top end
surface of the opening member 12 are positioned on the same plane. Also, with this
embodiment, the slit 14 is a straight line piercing through the thickness direction of the elastic
valve body 16, but it is also possible to use thee or more slits extending radially from the
35 center or the like.
[0076] The annular joining part 72 is formed by making the thickness dimension
smaller than that of the center part 68 of the elastic valve body 16. Specifically, at the outer
periphery part of the elastic valve body 16, groove-shaped outer annular groove 74 and inner
annular groove 76 are formed respectively on the axial direction outer surface and inner
19
surface so as to extend across the entire periphery in the circumference direction. A
constriction is formed at the outer periphery part of the elastic valve body 16 by these annular
grooves 74 and 76, and this constricted part, specifically the part between the bottom parts of
the annular grooves 74 and 76 in the axial direction is used as the annular joining part 72.
Therefore, with the elastic val 5 ve body 16, at further to the outer peripheral side than the
center part 68, the slim part that is thinner than the center part 68 is constituted by the annular
joining part 72.
[0077] The respective shapes of both annular grooves 74 and 76 roughly correspond
to the outside engaging claw 52 and the inside engaging claw 64, and the outside and inside
10 engaging claws 52 and 64 are allowed to be fitted. Also, a recess groove part 78 is formed on
the wall part on the inner peripheral side of the inner annular groove 76, and the inner surface
shape of the recess groove part 78 roughly corresponds to the inner peripheral surface shape
of the tip of the inside engaging claw 64. By so doing, during insertion of the male connector
described later, the inner peripheral surface of the tip of the inside engaging claw 64 and the
15 inner surface of the recess groove part 78 overlap and abut, reducing the risk of formation of
a gap at the fluid flow path 90 within the medical valve 10.
[0078] Also, the tubular support part 70 connected to the outer peripheral side of the
annular joining part 72 has a shape corresponding to the mounting space between the outside
holding part 18 and the inside holding part 20. Specifically, the tubular support part 70 is
20 constituted including an upper support part 80 projecting outward in the axial direction from
the annular joining part 72 and a lower support part 82 projecting inward in the axial
direction.
[0079] In other words, the upper support part 80 has a designated axial direction
dimension and projects upward from the annular joining part 72, and the radial direction
25 width dimension thereof is made roughly the same as or slightly bigger than the radial
direction width dimension of the outside holding groove 54. Also, while the inner peripheral
surface shape of the upper support part 80 roughly corresponds to the outer peripheral surface
shape of the outside engaging claw 52, the outer peripheral surface shape of the upper support
part 80 roughly corresponds to the inner peripheral surface shape of the small diameter tube
30 part 48. Furthermore, the lower support part 82 has a designated axial direction dimension
and projects downward from the annular joining part 72, and with this embodiment, during
attachment of the opening member 12 and the elastic valve body 16, the lower support part
82 projects as far as a position below the annular shoulder part 50 of the outside holding part
18. Also, while the inner peripheral surface shape of the lower support part 82 roughly
35 corresponds to the outer peripheral surface shape of the inside holding part 20, the outer
peripheral surface shape of the lower support part 82 corresponds to the inner peripheral
surface shape of the small diameter tube part 48.
[0080] By so doing, the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the lower support part
82 is sandwiched and supported in the radial direction which is the thickness direction
20
between the inside holding part 20 and the outside holding part 18 (small diameter tube part
48). Here, the outer peripheral surface of the inside holding part 20 is a sharply inclined
surface having an inclination angle in the axial direction larger than that of the inner
peripheral surface of the outside holding part 18. Thus, the lower support part 82, which is
5 arranged in a housed state sealed between opposite faces in the radial direction of the inside
and outside holding parts 20 and 18, has a wall thickness dimension that becomes gradually
larger as it goes inward in the axial direction.
[0081] Specifically, the outer peripheral surface of the tubular support part 70 is a
tapered inclined surface that gradually expands inward in the axial direction at roughly the
10 same inclination angle as that of the inner peripheral surface of the outside holding part 18
(small diameter tube part 48) across the entirety of the upper support part 80 and the lower
support part 82. Also, with regard to the inner peripheral surface of the tubular support part
70, the inner peripheral surface of the upper support part 80 is an inclined surface that
expands slightly outward in the axial direction, roughly corresponding to the outer peripheral
15 surface of the outside engaging claw 52. Meanwhile, the inner peripheral surface of the lower
support part 82 has a shape roughly corresponding to the outer peripheral surface shape of the
inside holding part 20.
[0082] In specific terms, on the inner peripheral surface of the lower support part 82,
an angle change part 83 for which the inclination angle in the axial direction changes is
20 provided so as to be positioned near the annular joining part 72. This angle change part 83
has a recessed round surface as shown in FIG. 6, and at this angle change part 83 having a
round surface, the thickness dimension of the lower support part 82 is made to be smallest
and is used as a thin part 84. Also, the part positioned outward in the axial direction from the
angle change part 83 (upward in FIG. 6) is made thicker and is connected to the annular
25 joining part 72, and this thick part is supported by the receiving seat part 63 of the inside
holding part 20. Meanwhile, at the part positioned inward in the axial direction from the
angle change part 83 (downward in FIG. 6), the inner peripheral surface of the lower support
part 82 is a tapered inclined surface that gradually expands inward in the axial direction at
roughly the same inclination angle as that of the outer peripheral surface of the inside holding
30 part 20. In other words, the inner peripheral surface of the lower support part 82 and the inner
peripheral surface at the axial direction middle part of the inside holding part 20 have a
greater inclination angle than that of the inner peripheral surface of the small diameter tube
part 48 of the outside holding part 18.
[0083] Also, with the lower support part 82, the diameter dimension of the projecting
35 direction tip side (downward in FIG. 5) is made larger than that of the projecting direction
base end side (upward in FIG. 5), and a flange part 85 as a radial direction projecting part
broadening to the outer peripheral side is integrally formed on the projecting tip part (lowest
end in the axial direction). Specifically, with the lower support part 82 of this embodiment,
while the thickness dimension is made to be smallest at the thin part 84, the thickness
21
dimension (radial direction dimension) at the flange part 85 positioned further inward in the
axial direction than the thin part 84 is made to be biggest. Therefore, with this embodiment, at
the lower support part 82, the thick part is formed including the flange part 85. The radial
direction width dimension of this flange part 85 is roughly equal to the radial direction width
dimension at the top surface of the annular base end part 5 62 of the inside holding part 20.
Furthermore, on the top surface of the flange part 85, a locking recess 86 extending across the
entire periphery in the circumference direction is formed at a position and size corresponding
to the locking convex part 60 of the outside holding part 18, and the outer peripheral side of
this locking recess 86 is used as a locking projection 87 projecting outward in the axial
10 direction.
[0084] The outside holding part 18, the inside holding part 20, and the valve housing
main body 22 constituting the opening member 12 of this embodiment are each preferably
formed from material having strength that can reliably hold the elastic valve body 16, and a
thermoplastic resin can be suitably used. Also, the elastic valve body 16 is formed from a
15 material having elasticity, and considering airtightness and resealability, preferably a
synthetic rubber such as isoprene rubber, silicone rubber or the like, natural rubber, or a
thermoplastic elastomer or the like is used.
[0085] Also, with the elastic valve body 16, the outer diameter dimension at the top
end part of the upper support part 80 is preferably set within a range from 5.0 to 7.0 mm.
20 [0086] Also, the thickness dimension of the center part 68 of the elastic valve body 16
is preferably set within a range from 1.0 to 4.0 mm. This is because if the thickness
dimension of the center part 68 is smaller than 1.0 mm, there is the risk that there will be
insufficient sealing properties when the syringe or the like is not inserted. On the other hand,
if the thickness dimension is greater than 4.0 mm, insertion resistance of the male connector
25 becomes greater, and there is the risk of the insertion operation being difficult.
[0087] With this embodiment, the inside holding part 20 is attached to the valve
housing main body 22 in a shape as noted above without being bonded. Specifically, the
annular base end part 62 of the inside holding part 20 is fit into the fixing groove 34 formed
on the opening side end part of the valve housing main body 22, and is positioned in the
30 radial direction. Also, the flange part 85 of the elastic valve body 16 is overlapped on the top
surface of the annular base end part 62, and the inside engaging claw 64 of the inside holding
part 20 is pressed into the inner annular groove 76 of the elastic valve body 16 so as to dig
into it.
[0088] In this state, the outside holding part 18 is overlapped from outside in the axial
35 direction, and as necessary, the outside holding part 18 is pressed in the axial direction on the
valve housing main body 22. By so doing, the annular shoulder part 50 of the outside holding
part 18 is overlapped in an abutted state on the projecting part for welding 36 projecting on
the supporting wall 35 of the upper bottom part 28 of the valve housing main body 22. Also,
by operating the ultrasonic energy with concentration on the projecting part for welding 36 by
22
placing the horn of the ultrasonic welding device while pressing the abutting site against the
projecting part for welding 36 in the axial direction, the projecting part for welding 36 and
the abutting site are welded, and the projecting part for welding 36 is substantially melted and
lost so that adhering is completed in a state with the annular shoulder part 50 of the outside
holding part 18 overlapped on the upper bottom 5 part 28 of the valve housing main body 22.
When doing ultrasonic welding, the axial direction positioning of the valve housing main
body 22 and the outside holding part 18 can be regulated by, in accordance with melting loss
of the projecting part for welding 36, a rapid increase in the abutting surface area between the
supporting wall 35 and the annular shoulder part 50, the end surface of the large diameter
10 tube part 46 of the outside holding part 18 abutting the step surface 37 of the valve housing
main body 22, or the like.
[0089] As a result, in the product state with the ultrasonic welding completed, the step
surface 37 provided on the valve housing main body 22 and the bottom end surface of the
large diameter tube part 46 of the outside holding part 18 are substantially abutted, and the
15 upper bottom surface of the engaging groove 58 provided on the annular shoulder part 50 and
the outer wall upper surface of the fixing groove 34 are in a roughly abutted state. Also, the
locking convex part 60 provided on the inner surface of the outside holding part 18 is fit into
and locked with the locking recess 86 provided on the elastic valve body 16, and the locking
projection 87 of the elastic valve body 16 is fit into the fixing groove 34 of the valve housing
20 main body 22 and locked to the inner peripheral surface of the supporting wall 35.
[0090] Furthermore, the upper support part 80 of the tubular support part 70 is
pressed into the outside holding groove 54 of the outside holding part 18 to be supported, and
the outside engaging claw 52 of the outside holding part 18 is pressed into the outer annular
groove 74 of the elastic valve body 16 so as to dig into it. In this state, the medical valve 10
25 of this embodiment is constituted by the upper bottom surface of the engaging groove 58 and
the outer wall top surface of the fixing groove 34 being adhered. The adherence of the upper
bottom surface of the engaging groove 58 and the outer wall top surface of the fixing groove
34 is preferably done using ultrasonic welding utilizing the projecting part for welding 36 as
described above, but for example it is also possible to use adhesion that does not utilizing the
30 projecting part for welding.
[0091] Specifically, with this embodiment, the lower support part 82 of the tubular
support part 70 is sandwiched and supported between the outside holding part 18 and the
inside holding part 20. Also, by adhering the outside holding part 18 to the valve housing
main body 22 by pressing in the axial direction, the inside holding part 20 positioned inward
35 in the axial direction of the outside holding part 18 is supported with restraint in a
non-adhered mode without bonding or the like on either the valve housing main body 22 or
the outside holding part 18 or the like, thus being attached in a fixed manner.
[0092] Furthermore, by the locking convex part 60 of the outside holding part 18
being fit into the locking recess 86 of the flange part 85, and the outside holding part 18 being
23
pressed from outside in the axial direction on the valve housing main body 22 to be adhered
thereto, the flange part 85 of the elastic valve body 16 is sandwiched and supported between
the outside holding part 18 and the annular base end part 62 of the inside holding part 20 in
the axial direction. Specifically, with this embodiment, the elastic valve body 16 is not
bonded but is positioned and fixed in t 5 he radial direction and the axial direction with respect
to the opening member 12.
[0093] Here, in an attached state of the inside and outside holding parts 20 and 18 to
the valve housing main body 22, the radial direction distance between the opposite surfaces
of the inside and outside holding parts 20 and 18, which are overlapped on the inner and outer
10 peripheral surfaces of the lower support part 82 of the elastic valve body 16, is roughly the
same or slightly larger than the radial direction thickness dimension of the lower support part
82 of the elastic valve body 16 before attachment. By so doing, in the attached state, the
lower support part 82 of the elastic valve body 16 is made not to be compressed by the inside
and outside holding parts 20 and 18.
15 [0094] In addition, in the attached state of the inside and outside holding parts 20 and
18 on the valve housing main body 22, the axial direction distance between the opposite
surfaces of the annular base end part 62 of the inside holding part 20 and the axial direction
inside end part of the small diameter tube part 48 of the outside holding part 18, which are
overlapped on both axial direction surfaces of the flange part 85 of the elastic valve body 16,
20 is smaller than the axial direction thickness dimension of the flange part 85 of the elastic
valve body 16 before attachment. By so doing, in the attached state, an effective bearing
capacity is always exhibited with compression force by the inside and outside holding parts
20 and 18 applied to the flange part 85 of the elastic valve body 16.
[0095] Also, with the elastic valve body 16 of this embodiment, at the tubular support
25 part 70, the axial direction length of the lower support part 82 (B in FIG. 6) is made greater
than the axial direction length of the upper support part 80 (C in FIG. 6). In particular with
this embodiment, in the attached state of the opening member 12 and the elastic valve body
16 having the shape described above, the distance B (see FIG. 6) from the lower surface of
the annular joining part 72 to the axial direction inside end of the lower support part 82 is
30 made greater than the distance A (see FIG. 6) from the top surface of the annular joining part
72 to the axial direction outside end of the outside holding part 18 (A < B). Specifically, the
axial direction dimension B of the lower support part 82 is made greater than the axial
direction dimension A which is assumed to be maximum for the upper support part 80.
[0096] Yet further, with this embodiment, the axial direction length (B) of the lower
35 support part 82 is made greater than the axial direction length (D in FIG. 6) of the center part
68 of the elastic valve body 16 (B > D). Furthermore, the axial direction length (B) of the
lower support part 82 is made greater than the radius of the center part 68 (E in FIG. 6) of the
elastic valve body 16 (B > E).
[0097] Furthermore, FIG. 11 shows a state for which a tip part of the syringe 88
24
serving as the male connector is inserted in the medical valve 10 constituted as described
above. Specifically, by inserting the tip part of the syringe 88 in the elastic valve body 16, the
slit 14 is opened, and the center part 68 of the elastic valve body 16 is pressed inward in the
axial direction to be elastically deformed. By so doing, a fluid flow path 90, which goes from
a catheter or the like (not illustrated) to 5 inside the human body via the interior of the syringe
88 and the interior of the medical valve 10, is put in a communicating state. Said another way,
by the syringe 88 being inserted in the elastic valve body 16 mounted on the opening member
12 constituting the opening part of the fluid flow path 90, the slit 14 is opened and the fluid
flow path 90 is put in a communicating state.
10 [0098] Here, in the state with the syringe 88 inserted, a push-in force inward in the
axial direction is generated on the elastic valve body 16. In relation to this push-in force, with
the medical valve 10 of this embodiment, the axial direction projection dimension B of the
lower support part 82 is made large, and the area of the elastic valve body 16 supported by
the opening member 12 is ensured to be large. Thus, there is a decrease in the risk of the
15 elastic valve body 16 falling out from the medical valve 10.
[0099] In particular, by making the projection dimension inward in the axial direction
large, it is possible to make the friction greater between the opening member 12 and the lower
support part 82 in relation to the tensile force outward in the axial direction which is applied
to the lower support part 82. Accordingly, combined with the hooking operation of the elastic
20 valve body 16 by the inside engaging claw 64, the effect of preventing falling out of the
elastic valve body 16 from the medical valve 10 can be efficiently exhibited.
[0100] In particular with the present invention, by the lower support part 82 of the
tubular support part 70 projecting further inward in the axial direction than a valve internal
surface 94 (see FIG. 6) in the axial direction of the round-disk shaped center part 68 of the
25 elastic valve body 16 where the slit 14 is formed, and which broadens in a roughly fixed axial
direction thickness, it is possible to effectively apply the bearing capacity by the inside and
outside holding parts 20 and 18 on the lower support part 82.
[0101] Also, by providing the outside holding part 18 and the inside holding part 20
on the opening member 12, and positioning the lower support part 82 therebetween, it is
30 possible to skillfully use the internal space of the opening member 12. Therefore, while
suppressing the distance A from the annular joining part 72 to the axial direction outside end
of the outside holding part 18 which is difficult to extend, it is possible to make the projecting
dimension B of the lower support part 82 downward in the axial direction larger, so as to
increase the bearing capacity of the elastic valve body 16 by the opening member 12. In
35 particular, since the aforementioned distance A is kept small, it is possible to avoid a decrease
in insertion and removal operability of the male connector or an increase in size of the
medical valve 10.
[0102] Furthermore, with this embodiment, the flange part 85 broadening to the outer
peripheral side is provided at the projecting tip part of the lower support part 82, and by the
25
flange part 85 being compressed and sandwiched between the outside holding part 18 and the
inside holding part 20 in the axial direction, falling out of the elastic valve body 16 from the
medical valve 10 is even more effectively prevented. In particular, the lower support part 82
extends further downward in the axial direction than the annular shoulder part 50 of the
outside holding part 18, and the space provided for the flange 5 part 85 can also be efficiently
ensured.
[0103] Yet further, with this embodiment, the locking convex part 60 is provided so as
to project downward from the inner surface of the outside holding part 18, and the locking
recess 86 is provided on the top surface of the flange part 85 at a position corresponding to
10 the locking convex part 60. By these locking convex part 60 and the locking recess 86 being
fit and locked, it is possible to even more effectively prevent the elastic valve body 16 from
falling out from the medical valve 10.
[0104] In particular with this embodiment, the thin wall part 66 is provided at the
axial direction middle part of the inside holding part 20, and the thickness becomes gradually
15 larger therefrom toward inside in the axial direction. Thus, the thickness of the axial direction
middle part of the inside holding part 20, for which the elastic valve body 16 that is
elastically deformed during insertion of the syringe 88 is pressed against its inner peripheral
surface, is made relatively small. In addition, with the inside holding part 20, by making the
thickness smaller, considering the material setting, or the like, the deformation rigidity at least
20 at the axial direction middle part is smaller than that of the male connector part of the syringe
88 and the small diameter tube part 48 of the outside holding part 18.
[0105] By so doing, when the elastic valve body 16 elastically deformed in
accordance with insertion of the syringe 88 is pressed on the inner peripheral surface of the
inside holding part 20, this pressing force can be efficiently transmitted as a pressing force on
25 the lower support part 82 of the elastic valve body 16 arranged tightly on the outer peripheral
side of the inside holding part 20. In particular, with this embodiment, the axial direction
dimension B of the lower support part 82 is made greater than the radius E of the center part
68 of the elastic valve body 16, so that it is possible to apply the pressing force to the lower
support part 82 across the entire surface of the center part 68. Also, since the rigidity of the
30 outside holding part 18 is high, the lower support part 82 is sandwiched even more strongly
between the inside holding part 20 and the outside holding part 18 so as to be held with a
high bearing capacity. In addition, the angle change part 83 is provided at the inner peripheral
surface at the axial direction middle part of the lower support part 82. In particular, by the
angle change part 83 having a concave round surface, the thin part 84 is formed at the lower
35 support part 82. In combination with the lower support part 82 being gradually thicker inward
in the axial direction than the thin part 84, pulling out of the lower support part 82 is more
strongly inhibited, and falling out of the elastic valve body 16 is more effectively prevented.
[0106] Also, in the initial attached state, the lower support part 82 is attached in a
state not compressed between the inside holding part 20 and the outside holding part 18 in the
26
radial direction. By so doing, deformation or absorption is allowed in relation to external
force or the like that occurs when an object bumps the outer peripheral surface of the housing,
reducing the damage rate of the outside holding part 18, the inside holding part 20 or the like
constituting the housing. Also, even in a case when the elastic valve body 16 that is elastically
deformed with insertion 5 of the syringe 88 is pressed on the inner peripheral surface of the
inside holding part 20, this pressing force is transmitted with a reduction by compression of
the lower support part 82. As a result, it is possible to avoid having excessive external force
applied to the outside holding part 18, and damage of the outside holding part 18 is
effectively prevented.
10 [0107] With the medical valve 10 of this embodiment, the outside holding part 18, the
inside holding part 20, and the valve housing main body 22 are respectively separate
members. Also, the mode wherein the inside holding part 20 is supported between the outside
holding part 18 and the valve housing main body 22 can be realized by ultrasonic welding of
the outside holding part 18 and the valve housing main body 22.
15 [0108] Also, with this embodiment, at the lower support part 82, since the diameter
dimension of the projecting direction tip side is greater than that of the projecting direction
base end side, it is possible to ensure a large capacity of the fluid flow path 90 inside of the
medical valve 10. By so doing, during insertion of the syringe 88, the elastic deformation area
of the elastic valve body 16 is stably ensured, and it is easily possible to insert the syringe 88
20 in the medical valve 10.
[0109] Furthermore, the outside holding part 18 and the inside holding part 20 have a
tube shape that broadens inward in the axial direction, and are shaped so that the radial
direction distance between the opposite surfaces of the inside and outside holding parts 20
and 18 becomes larger inward in the axial direction. In specific terms, the outside holding
25 part 18 has its thickness dimension gradually become larger inward in the axial direction, and
the inclination angle of the inner peripheral surface of the lower support part 82 and the inner
peripheral surface at the axial direction middle part of the inside holding part 20 is greater
than that of the inner peripheral surface of the small diameter tube part 48 of the outside
holding part 18, so that the thickness dimension becomes gradually larger inward in the axial
30 direction for the lower support part 82 and the inside holding part 20 as well. By so doing, the
support of the outside and inside holding parts 18 and 20 and the elastic valve body 16 by the
valve housing main body 22 can be realized with even more stability.
[0110] Above, we gave a detailed description of the embodiment of the present
invention, but the present invention is not limited by those specific descriptions, and can be
35 implemented in modes with various modifications, revisions, improvements and the like
added based on the knowledge of a person skilled in the art, and those kinds of mode of
embodiment are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they do not
stray from the gist of the present invention.
[0111] For example, with the embodiment noted above, the lower support part 82 of
27
the tubular support part 70 extends further inward in the axial direction than the annular
shoulder part 50 of the outside holding part 18, and the flange part 85 and locking recess 86
or the like are formed on its tip, but the invention is not limited to this mode. Specifically, as
shown in FIG. 12, for example it is also possible to suitably use a mode with which in the
5 attached state, the lower end surface of the lower support part 82 is positioned above the
annular shoulder part 50, and the axial direction dimension B’ from the lower surface of the
annular joining part 72 to the axial direction inside end of the lower support part 82 is made
larger than the axial direction dimension A from the top surface of the annular joining part 72
to the axial direction outside end of the outside holding part 18 or the axial direction
10 dimension C from the top surface of the annular joining part 72 to the tip end surface of the
upper support part 80 (A < B’ or C < B’). With this mode, the radial direction distance
between the opposite surfaces of the inside and outside holding parts 20 and 18 is slightly
smaller than the radial direction thickness dimension of the lower support part 82 of the
elastic valve body 16 before attaching, so that the lower support part 82 is compressed by the
15 inside and outside holding parts 20 and 18. Also, as is clear from FIG. 12 as well, the flange
part 85, the locking convex part 60 and the locking recess 86 and the like are not essential.
With the medical valve having this constitution, it is possible to make the friction between the
lower support part 82 and the inside/outside holding parts 20, 18 greater, thereby sufficiently
exhibiting the fall-out prevention effect of the elastic valve body 16. Of course, the size of the
20 axial direction dimension B from the lower surface of the annular joining part 72 to the axial
direction inside end of the lower support part 82 is not limited in any way as long as it
extends further downward than the annular joining part 72 in the attached state of the elastic
valve body 16 to the opening member 12.
[0112] Also, with the embodiment noted above, the inside holding part 20 and the
25 valve housing main body 22 were separate parts, but they can also be integrally formed.
[0113] Furthermore, with the embodiment noted above, the locking convex part 60
was formed projecting downward at the lower opening end edge part of the small diameter
tube part 48 of the outside holding part 18, but the invention is not limited to this mode.
Specifically, the locking convex part 60 can be formed on the outside holding groove 54 or
30 the axial direction middle part of the outside holding part 18, or can also be formed projecting
upward from the inside holding part 20.
[0114] Also, when providing the radial direction projecting part at the axial direction
inside end part of the lower support part 82 of the elastic valve body 16, instead of or in
addition to the flange part 85 extending outward in the radial direction as with the
35 embodiment noted above, it is also possible to use a radial direction projecting part extending
inward in the radial direction, and to engage it in the axial direction with the opening member
12 such as the inside holding part 20 or the like, or to hold it compressively in the axial
direction.
[0115] With the embodiment noted above, the inside and outside engaging claws 64
28
and 52 and the inner and outer annular grooves 76 and 74 were formed annularly across the
entire periphery in the circumference direction, but for example it is also possible to have the
inner and outer engaging claws formed intermittently in the circumference direction, or to
change the height of the engaging claws on the circumference in a stepwise or continuous
manner. Also, the inner and outer annular grooves can also 5 be formed intermittently by
corresponding with the position and size of the inner and outer engaging claws or the like.
Since the upper support part of the elastic valve body can more easily separate from the
housing (opening member) than the lower support part, it is preferable that the elastic valve
body have at least an outer annular groove. Of course, the outer annular groove and the inner
10 annular groove are not essential for the present invention, and it is acceptable as long as there
is a slim part supported by the inner and outer holding parts. Also, it is preferable that the
outside engaging claw provided on the outside holding part be engaged with the outer annular
groove.
[0116] Furthermore, with the tubular support part of the medical valve, the thin part
15 provided at the part projecting inward in the axial direction or the radial direction projecting
part provided at the tip of the part projecting inward in the axial direction or the like do not
have to be formed continuously across the entire periphery in the circumference direction,
and can also be provided partially on the circumference. Also, with the tubular support part,
the radial direction projecting part does not have to be provided at the tip of the projecting
20 part that projects inward in the axial direction, and can also be provided at the axial direction
middle part of that projecting part, for example.
KEYS TO SYMBOLS
[0117] 10: Medical valve, 12: Opening member, 14: Slit, 16: Elastic valve body, 18:
25 Outside holding part, 20: Inside holding part, 22: Valve housing main body (opening member
main body), 35: Supporting wall, 36: Projecting part for welding, 50: Annular shoulder part,
52: Outside engaging claw, 60: Locking convex part, 64: Inside engaging claw, 65:
Expanding inclined surface, 66: Thin wall part, 68: Center part, 70: Tubular support part, 72:
Annular joining part, 74: Outer annular groove, 76: Inner annular groove, 80: Upper support
30 part, 82: Lower support part, 83: Angle change part, 84: Thin part, 85: Flange part (radial
direction projecting part), 86: Locking recess, 87: Locking projection, 88: Syringe (male
connector), 90: Fluid flow path
29
WE CLAIM:
1. A medical valve wherein a disk-shaped elastic valve body having a slit formed on a
center part thereof is mounted on an opening member constituting an opening part of a fluid
flow path, and the elastic valve body is configured 5 to enable a male connector to be
repeatedly inserted and removed through the slit, the medical valve being characterized in
that:
the elastic valve body includes a slim part that is provided at an outer peripheral side
of the center part and is thinner than the center part, and a tubular support part that is formed
10 further to the outer peripheral side than the slim part and projects inward in an axial direction;
the opening member includes a tube-shaped outside holding part overlapping an outer
peripheral surface of the tubular support part and a tube-shaped inside holding part
overlapping an inner peripheral surface of the tubular support part so that the slim part of the
elastic valve body is sandwiched and supported between the inside holding part and the
15 outside holding part in the axial direction;
the tubular support part is sandwiched and supported at a part projecting inward in the
axial direction between the inside holding part and the outside holding part; and
the tubular support part has, at the part projecting inward in the axial direction, an
axial direction dimension larger than a radius of the center part of the elastic valve body.
20
2. A medical valve wherein a disk-shaped elastic valve body having a slit formed on a
center part thereof is mounted on an opening member constituting an opening part of a fluid
flow path, and the elastic valve body is configured to enable a male connector to be
repeatedly inserted and removed through the slit, the medical valve being characterized in
25 that:
the elastic valve body includes a slim part that is provided at an outer peripheral side
of the center part and is thinner than the center part, and a tubular support part that is formed
further to the outer peripheral side than the slim part and projects inward in an axial direction;
the opening member includes a tube-shaped outside holding part overlapping an outer
30 peripheral surface of the tubular support part and a tube-shaped inside holding part
overlapping an inner peripheral surface of the tubular support part so that the slim part of the
elastic valve body is sandwiched and supported between the inside holding part and the
outside holding part in the axial direction;
the tubular support part is sandwiched and supported at a part projecting inward in the
35 axial direction between the inside holding part and the outside holding part; and
the tubular support part includes a radial direction projecting part integrally formed at
a tip side of the part projecting inward in the axial direction and extending in a radial
direction, and the radial direction projecting part is engaged with the opening member.
30
3. The medical valve according to claim 2, wherein
the radial direction projecting part extends outward in the radial direction from the
tubular support part, and
the slim part and the radial direction projecting part of the elastic valve body are
compressed in the a 5 xial direction in an attached state to the opening member.
4. The medical valve according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a locking projection projecting
outward in the axial direction is formed on the radial direction projecting part, and the
locking projection is locked to the opening member.
10
5. A medical valve wherein a disk-shaped elastic valve body having a slit formed on a
center part thereof is mounted on an opening member constituting an opening part of a fluid
flow path, and the elastic valve body is configured to enable a male connector to be
repeatedly inserted and removed through the slit, the medical valve being characterized in
15 that:
the elastic valve body includes a slim part that is provided at an outer peripheral side
of the center part and is thinner than the center part, and a tubular support part that is formed
further to the outer peripheral side than the slim part and projects inward in an axial direction;
the opening member includes a tube-shaped outside holding part overlapping an outer
20 peripheral surface of the tubular support part and a tube-shaped inside holding part
overlapping an inner peripheral surface of the tubular support part so that the slim part of the
elastic valve body is sandwiched and supported between the inside holding part and the
outside holding part in the axial direction;
the tubular support part is sandwiched and supported at a part projecting inward in the
25 axial direction between the inside holding part and the outside holding part; and
the tubular support part includes a thin part and a thick part provided in the part
projecting inward in the axial direction, and the thick part is positioned further inward in the
axial direction than the thin part.
30 6. A medical valve wherein a disk-shaped elastic valve body having a slit formed on a
center part thereof is mounted on an opening member constituting an opening part of a fluid
flow path, and the elastic valve body is configured to enable a male connector to be
repeatedly inserted and removed through the slit, the medical valve being characterized in
that:
35 the elastic valve body includes a slim part that is provided at an outer peripheral side
of the center part and is thinner than the center part, and a tubular support part that is formed
further to the outer peripheral side than the slim part and projects inward in an axial direction;
the opening member includes a tube-shaped outside holding part overlapping an outer
peripheral surface of the tubular support part and a tube-shaped inside holding part
31
overlapping an inner peripheral surface of the tubular support part so that the slim part of the
elastic valve body is sandwiched and supported between the inside holding part and the
outside holding part in the axial direction;
the tubular support part is sandwiched and supported at a part projecting inward in the
5 axial direction between the inside holding part and the outside holding part; and
the inside holding part is configured to be pressed to a side of the tubular support part
on an outer periphery thereof by the elastic valve body that elastically deforms in accordance
with insertion of the male connector into the slit.
10 7. The medical valve according to claim 6, wherein a rigidity of the inside holding part
is smaller than rigidities of the outside holding part and the male connector.
8. A medical valve wherein a disk-shaped elastic valve body having a slit formed on a
center part thereof is mounted on an opening member constituting an opening part of a fluid
15 flow path, and the elastic valve body is configured to enable a male connector to be
repeatedly inserted and removed through the slit, the medical valve being characterized in
that:
the elastic valve body includes a slim part that is provided at an outer peripheral side
of the center part and is thinner than the center part, and a tubular support part that is formed
20 further to the outer peripheral side than the slim part and projects inward in an axial direction;
the opening member includes a tube-shaped outside holding part overlapping an outer
peripheral surface of the tubular support part and a tube-shaped inside holding part
overlapping an inner peripheral surface of the tubular support part so that the slim part of the
elastic valve body is sandwiched and supported between the inside holding part and the
25 outside holding part in the axial direction; and
the tubular support part is held in a compressed state at a part projecting inward in the
axial direction between the inside holding part and the outside holding part.
9. A medical valve wherein a disk-shaped elastic valve body having a slit formed on a
30 center part thereof is mounted on an opening member constituting an opening part of a fluid
flow path, and the elastic valve body is configured to enable a male connector to be
repeatedly inserted and removed through the slit, the medical valve being characterized in
that:
the elastic valve body includes inner and outer annular grooves that extend in a
35 circumference direction respectively on both inner and outer surfaces of an outer periphery
part of the elastic valve body, and a slim part positioned between bottom parts of the inner
and outer annular grooves, and a tubular support part that is formed at an outer peripheral
side of the slim part and projects inward and outward in an axial direction;
the opening member includes a tube-shaped outside holding part overlapping an outer
32
peripheral surface of the tubular support part and a tube-shaped inside holding part
overlapping an inner peripheral surface of the tubular support part so that the outside holding
part and the inside holding part are engaged with the respective annular grooves on the outer
surface and the inner surface of the elastic valve body;
the tubular 5 support part is sandwiched and supported at a part projecting inward in the
axial direction between the inside holding part and the outside holding part; and
with the elastic valve body, the tubular support part has, at the part projecting inward
in the axial direction, an axial direction dimension larger than an axial direction dimension of
the center part of the elastic valve body.
10
10. The medical valve according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein
the elastic valve body includes inner and outer annular grooves that extend in a
circumference direction respectively on both inner and outer surfaces in the axial direction at
the outer peripheral side of the center part, and the slim part is constituted between bottom
15 parts of the inner and outer annular grooves,
the outside holding part includes an outside engaging claw that enters the outer
annular groove on the outer surface of the elastic valve body while the inside holding part
includes an inside engaging claw that enters the inner annular groove on the inner surface of
the elastic valve body, and
20 an inner surface of a base end side of the inside engaging claw of the inside holding
part inclines and expands inward in the axial direction so as to define an expanding inclined
surface.
11. The medical valve according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein
25 the outside holding part has a wall thickness that becomes gradually larger as it goes
inward in the axial direction at least at an axial direction middle part for which a screw thread
is not provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and the outside holding part gradually
inclines outward in a radial direction as it goes inward in the axial direction, and
each of the inner peripheral surface of the tubular support part at the part projecting
30 inward in the axial direction and an inner peripheral surface of the inside holding part inclines
at a sharper angle than an inner peripheral surface of the outside holding part and broadens
inward in the axial direction, at least at a part further inward than a middle part in the axial
direction.