Abstract: A medical valve has a resilient member that is forcibly expanded to an expanded volume from a normal volume. Specifically, the valve operates in a closed mode that prevents fluid flow, and an open mode that permits fluid flow. To these ends, the valve has a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and the noted resilient member within the housing. The resilient member and housing form a fluid channel between the inlet and the outlet. The fluid channel at least in part extends through the resilient member. The fluid channel has a given portion formed by a variable volume portion of the resilient member. The variable volume portion has a normal volume when in the closed mode, and an expanded volume when the open mode. The expanded volume is greater than the normal volume.

Abstract: A medical valve having an open mode to permit fluid flow and a closed mode to prevent fluid flow has a body and a valving element within the interior of the body. The body also has a valving element within its interior, and a proximal port and a distal port. The valving element controls fluid flow between the proximal and distal ports. Moreover, the valving element includes a resilient member and a plug. The resilient member forms a variable sized fluid chamber within the interior of the body, while the plug cooperates with the gland to provide an internal seal (within the interior of the body) that is spaced from the proximal port. The plug is capable of radially expanding the resilient member when the valve transitions from the closed mode to the open mode. The fluid chamber has a larger volume when in the open mode than when in the closed mode.

Abstract: A medical valve transitions between an open mode that permits fluid flow, and a closed mode that prevents fluid flow. To that end, the valve has a housing with an inlet and an outlet, and actuator moveable distally within the housing. The medical valve also has a resilient member with an aperture. The distal movement of the actuator opens the aperture within the resilient member, thereby transitioning the medical valve from the open to the closed mode.

Abstract: A normally closed valve that may be opened upon insertion of a nozzle permits two-way flow when opened by a luer-taper nozzle. The valve also is able to resist large back pressures. The valve includes a substantially rigid housing that defines a passageway having an inlet section and an outlet section. The housing has an exterior inlet face to which the inlet section opens. The inlet section preferably has tapered and expanding zones. The tapered zone is adjacent to the exterior inlet face and is shaped to receive the nozzle. The expanding zone is adjacent to the tapered zone and has a larger inner diameter than the tapered zone's inner diameter. The exterior of the inlet section of the housing may have threads to accept luer-lock threads that may surround the nozzle.

Abstract: A medical valve has a translating member that enlarges the volume of the interior of the valve when the valve is in an open mode (permitting fluid flow), and decreases the volume of the interior when the valve is in a closed mode (preventing fluid flow). This varying volume should substantially eliminate drawback into the valve. To that end, the valve includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and a fluid channel extending between the inlet and the outlet. The fluid channel includes a variable volume region. The valve further includes the above noted translating member, which is secured to the housing and at least partly bounds the variable volume region. The translating member has at least a portion that moves distally when the valve transitions from the closed mode to the open mode. The distal movement of the translating member enlarges the volume on the variable volume region.

Abstract: A medical valve has a first housing portion and a second housing portion capable of mating with the first housing portion to form an interior. The medical valve also has a valving element within the interior. The first and second housing portions have mating longitudinal snap-fit structures for longitudinally mating the first housing portion to the second housing portion. The first and second housing portions also have mating rotational snap-fit structures for substantially preventing the first housing portion from rotating relative to the second housing portion when the longitudinal snap fit structures are mated.

Abstract: A medical valve for valving fluid includes a housing defining a chamber having an inlet, an outlet, and an interior wall, a compressible member within the chamber, and a fluid channel defined by the interior wall. The fluid channel directs fluid received from the inlet toward the outlet.

Abstract: A medical valve has an open mode that permits fluid flow, and a closed mode that prevents fluid flow. Among other things, the medical valve includes a housing forming an interior having a fluid chamber, and a valve mechanism within the interior. The valve mechanism has a movable member that includes a needle (e.g., a hypetube). The needle may extend into the fluid chamber when the valve is in the open mode.

Abstract: A medical valve has a translating member that enlarges the volume of the interior of the valve when the valve is in an open mode (permitting fluid flow), and decreases the volume of the interior when the valve is in a closed mode (preventing fluid flow). This varying volume should substantially eliminate drawback into the valve. To that end, the valve includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and a fluid channel extending between the inlet and the outlet. The fluid channel includes a variable volume region. The valve further includes the above noted translating member, which is secured to the housing and at least partly bounds the variable volume region. The translating member has at least a portion that moves distally when the valve transitions from the closed mode to the open mode. The distal movement of the translating member enlarges the volume on the variable volume region.

Abstract: A medical coupling device manufactured from a device material provides an secure friction fit to a male nozzle device. To that end, the medical coupling device includes a fluid port (with an inner periphery) for receiving a male nozzle with a nozzle outer diameter, and a coupling material having a coupling material frictional value that is greater than the device material frictional value. The coupling material preferably is disposed about the inner periphery of the fluid port, while it and the inner periphery form an opening having an opening inner diameter. The opening inner diameter preferably is sized to receive and secure the male nozzle. The device material frictional value preferably is lower than the coupling material frictional value.

Abstract: A fluid delivery manifold and a method of manufacturing a fluid delivery manifold is provided. A first manifold portion having a contoured interior face is set in registry with a second manifold portion having a contoured interior face to form an uncoupled manifold having a plurality of fluid inlets and a plurality of fluid outlets. The contoured interiors of the first and second manifold portions form a plurality of material channels and a plurality of fluid channels in the uncoupled manifold. A second shot material is injected into the material channels to couple the first and second manifold portions and to compensate for any variation or differences between the pitch of the fluid inlets and fluid outlets.

Abstract: A normally closed valve that may be opened upon insertion of a nozzle permits two-way flow when opened by a luer-taper nozzle. The valve also is able to resist large back pressures. The valve includes a substantially rigid housing that defines a passageway having an inlet section and an outlet section. The housing has an exterior inlet face to which the inlet section opens. The inlet section preferably has tapered and expanding zones. The tapered zone is adjacent to the exterior inlet face and is shaped to receive the nozzle. The expanding zone is adjacent to the tapered zone and has a larger inner diameter than the tapered zone's inner diameter. The exterior of the inlet section of the housing may have threads to accept luer-lock threads that may surround the nozzle.

Abstract: A normally closed valve that may be opened upon insertion of a nozzle, wherein an actuator that engages the nozzle is shaped to enhance the ability to flush thoroughly the interior volume of the valve, which includes a valving chamber. Located in the valving chamber is an actuateable valve element that, in a first position, blocks flow through the passageway passing through the housing and that, in a second position, permits flow through the passageway. The actuator, which has a perimeter wall, is disposed adjacent the actuateable valve element. The inlet end of the actuator engages the nozzle when the nozzle is inserted into the valve, and the actuator urges the actuateable valve element into the second position when the nozzle pushes on the actuator. The perimeter wall may define an interior actuator path passing through the inside of the actuator. An exterior actuator path passes between the perimeter wall and the housing.

Abstract: A Luer-activated valve constructed of a single-piece valve element with integral biasing base and ventilated riser disposed within a valve housing providing a valve seat and buttress for the biasing base.

Abstract: A flow control device in which flow channels converge in a housing containing an injection site and a pre-biased flow control diaphragm. The injection site may include a diaphragm. The diaphragm can be acted upon by an internal actuator or plunger that extends into one of the flow channels where the plunger can be engaged by an external member such as a Luer fitting. The actuator or plunger may be of rigid or flexible construction is at the entry position of an intermediate channel and extends to an output channel of the injection site.

Abstract: A drip chamber apparatus wherein the base of the drip chamber includes an apertured disk with a series of concentric stepped recesses against which is positioned a valve diaphragm. There is provided a pre-biasing member which applies pressure to the valve diaphragm to maintain the valve seated in a closed position. The pre-biasing member is axially adjustable to vary the pre-biasing pressure.

Abstract: A flow device including a plurality of flow channels which converge in a common housing containing a pre-biased flow control diaphragm at the position of convergence of at least two channels. The control diaphragm is pre-biased by a set of prongs which extend from an integral portion of the common housing.

Abstract: A harnessing device formed by a locking head and an attached, apertured and multi-section strap. The head contains a plurality of longitudinal guide channels for receiving adjoiningly connected longitudinal sections of the strap, after encirclement of the items to be harnessed. The head also contains a plurality of deflectable internal locking tangs, one for each section of the strap.

Abstract: An assembly of closely spaced attachments, a method of manufacturing an assembly of closely spaced attachments and a method of applying interleaved attachments to objects. The assembly has alternating attachments having different types of heads and having different lengths. The shorter attachments may be subsequently stretched to engage the longer attachments. In this manner the spacing between attachments can be decreased. One result of using such an assembly with a conventional dispensing device is that the advancing mechanism of the device can advance attachments two at a time by only contacting a single position at every other attachment in the assembly.