Abstract: Tube management structures for an automatic compounder system are provided. A tube management structure may be implemented as a backpack attached to a pump cartridge of the compounder system. Flexible tubing may extend from an output port of the pump cartridge into an internal recess of the backpack. A connector may be provided on an end of the tubing that extends out of the backpack through an opening in the backpack. An additional opening may be provided in the backpack in which the connector may be stored when the cartridge is not in use by the system. The compounder system may include a sensor configured to view the connector through an opening in the cartridge when the connector is disposed in the additional opening. The tubing may be pulled from within the backpack so that the connector can be connected to a receiving container.

Abstract: Needleless connectors are described. An example needleless connector includes a housing and a compressible valve. The housing may define an internal cavity and may include a body section having a first port and one or more internal contact tabs and a base section having a valve mount and a second port. The compressible valve may be disposed within at least a portion of the internal cavity and be movably retained within the housing. The compressible valve may include a flange portion for securing the compressible valve within the housing. A central longitudinal axis of the housing may be defined by a coaxial arrangement of the first and second port. The one or more internal contact tabs may be arranged to contact an outer side surface of the flange portion such that a radial force substantially orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis is provided for securement.

Abstract: Needleless connectors are described. An example needleless connector includes a housing and a compressible valve. The housing may define an internal cavity and may include a body section having a first port and one or more internal contact tabs and a base section having a valve mount and a second port. The compressible valve may be disposed within at least a portion of the internal cavity and be movably retained within the housing. The compressible valve may include a flange portion for securing the compressible valve within the housing. A central longitudinal axis of the housing may be defined by a coaxial arrangement of the first and second port. The one or more internal contact tabs may be arranged to contact an outer side surface of the flange portion such that a radial force substantially orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis is provided for securement.

Abstract: A prophy angle system includes a the prophy angle, a hand piece configured to drive a central shaft within the prophy angle, means within the hand piece for advancing at least one push rod from a distal end of the hand piece, and a paste cartridge configured to fit within the cavity of the prophy angle without interfering with rotation of the central shaft, the cartridge including a plunger positioned at a proximal end of the cartridge such that when the at least one push rod pushes against the plunger in a distal direction, paste may be dispensed distally through the cavity in the prophy angle and into the prophy cup.

Abstract: A positive-displacement needleless access connector is disclosed that has a housing with a first luer fitting at a proximal end thereof, a base with a second luer fitting at a distal end thereof, and a valve element with a proximal end that creates a seal at the first luer fitting and fastens to the base so that a surface of the valve element is substantially flush with a surface of the base.

Abstract: A needleless connector has a body having an internal cavity with a sealing ridge, a port, an output flow channel, and a fluid flow path between the port and output flow channel. The connector also has a collapsible valve disposed within the cavity. The valve includes a cylindrical wall having a center axis, an internal surface, and a shoulder configured to sealingly contact the ridge of the body, thereby blocking the fluid flow path. The valve also includes a head fixedly attached to the wall. The head has a smiley cut at a first angular position about the center axis and a continuous top surface that is generally perpendicular to the axis. The valve also includes a dimple formed in the internal surface of the cylindrical wall. The dimple extends around the internal surface over an angle.

Abstract: A connector for transferring fluid and method therefor. The connector may have a first port and a second port which may be coupled together at a main channel with a valve element therein controlling fluid flow through the first port. The first port joins the main channel to provide a fluid path around the valve element and through the second port.

Abstract: Syringes for providing fluid communications are provided. The syringes include a connector body section having a tip portion and a gravity-assisted valve, and a barrel section. One or more syringes include a configuration of the gravity-assisted valve to allow bidirectional fluid communications between the tip portion and a fluid reservoir when the syringe is pointed downward. One or more syringes include a configuration of the gravity-assisted valve to prohibit fluid communication from the fluid reservoir to the tip portion when the syringe is pointed upward. One or more syringes include a gas pathway extending from an interstitial space of the connector body section to an interior volume of the plunger defining a gas reservoir.

Abstract: A medical connector is described which is formed by a body having an inlet port, an outlet port through a male luer portion of the body, and a fluid path between the inlet port and the at least one outlet ports. A retractable post extends through the fluid path in the male luer sealing a tip of the male luer thereby closing the fluid path when the connector in not activated. There is a seal between the retractable post and the body that forms a fluid volume within a portion of the cavity. The fluid path passes through the fluid volume. When actuated, the retractable post is forced away from the tip of the male luer, thereby opening the fluid path through the medical connector and decreasing the fluid volume.

Abstract: A needleless connector has a body having an internal cavity with a sealing ridge, a port, an output flow channel, and a fluid flow path between the port and output flow channel. The connector also has a collapsible valve disposed within the cavity. The valve includes a cylindrical wall having a center axis, an internal surface, and a shoulder configured to sealingly contact the ridge of the body, thereby blocking the fluid flow path. The valve also includes a head fixedly attached to the wall. The head has a smiley cut at a first angular position about the center axis and a continuous top surface that is generally perpendicular to the axis. The valve also includes a first dimple formed in the internal surface of the cylindrical wall. The dimple extends around the internal surface over an angle in the range of 90-270°.

Abstract: A syringe includes a plunger having a plunger tube with proximal and distal ends, a center tube with a center passage that extends within the plunger tube, and a balloon disposed over the center tube and sealingly fixed to at least one of the center tube and the plunger tube. The syringe also includes a barrel having a barrel tube having proximal and distal ends and an interior configured to accept a portion of the plunger, a tip fixedly coupled to the proximal end of the barrel tube, a post fixedly attached to the tip and extending within the barrel tube toward the distal end, the tip configured to partially extend into the center passage of the plunger, and a gas passage extending from a proximal end of the tip to the distal end of the post.

Abstract: A multi-port connector such as a closed intravenous (IV) access device with a y-port needle-free connector may be provided. The multi-port connector may include a main housing with a longitudinal axis, a needle free connector disposed along the longitudinal axis, and a y-port extending from a sidewall of the main housing at an angle that is non-parallel with the longitudinal axis. The needle-free connector may include a compressible sealing member that, when compressed opens a first fluid pathway from a first port, through a chamber within the housing, and to an output port. The y-port may be fluidly coupled to the chamber and the output port.

Abstract: A pre-charged prophy angle having a (a) housing that includes a paste chamber, a rotatable head, a drive shaft, and a tube defining in part the paste chamber, the housing and paste chamber configured such that paste within the paste chamber can be dispensed without contacting the drive shaft; (b) a cup secured to the rotatable head, and (c) a paste dispensing assembly having a plunger movably secured to a push rod configured to reciprocally move linearly within the housing, the plunger including a clip for gripping the push rod such that linear movement of the push rod in a first direction causes the plunger to move in the first direction, while the clip precludes movement of the plunger in a second direction when the push rod in directed in the second direction.

Abstract: A medical connector for minimizing leakage of fluids during connection and disconnection is described. The medical connector includes a body having an inlet port, at least one outlet port adjacent to a male luer portion of the body, and a fluid path between the inlet port and the at least one outlet ports. A retractable seal adjacent to the male luer portion of the body and blocks the outlet ports of the body when the male luer portion of the medical connect is in a disconnected state. The retractable seal is positioned on the body such that it is moved away from the outlet ports upon insertion of the male luer portion of the medical connector into a medical access device thereby unblocking the outlet ports and creating a fluid path through the medical connector.

Abstract: A medical connector for minimizing leakage of fluids during connection and disconnection is described. The medical connector includes a body having an inlet port, at least one outlet port adjacent to a male luer portion of the body, and a fluid path between the inlet port and the at least one outlet ports. A retractable seal adjacent to the male luer portion of the body and blocks the outlet ports of the body when the male luer portion of the medical connect is in a disconnected state. The retractable seal is positioned on the body such that it is moved away from the outlet ports upon insertion of the male luer portion of the medical connector into a medical access device thereby unblocking the outlet ports and creating a fluid path through the medical connector.

Abstract: A needleless connector includes a body having a fluid path, a vent path, and a male fitting. The needleless connector also includes a valve disposed within the male fitting. The valve is configured to move between a first configuration, in which the fluid path is blocked, and a second configuration, in which the fluid path is open. The needleless connector further includes a seal disposed around the valve. The seal is configured to separate the fluid path from the vent path in the first and second configurations. Moving the valve from the first configuration to the second configuration also opens the vent path. The seal maintains the separation between the fluid path and the vent path when the valve moves from the first configuration to the second configuration.

Abstract: Syringes for providing fluid communications are provided. The syringes include a connector body section having a tip portion and a gravity-assisted valve, and a barrel section. One or more syringes include a configuration of the gravity-assisted valve to allow bidirectional fluid communications between the tip portion and a fluid reservoir when the syringe is pointed downward. One or more syringes include a configuration of the gravity-assisted valve to prohibit fluid communication from the fluid reservoir to the tip portion when the syringe is pointed upward. One or more syringes include a gas pathway extending from an interstitial space of the connector body section to an interior volume of the plunger defining a gas reservoir.

Abstract: A pre-charged prophy angle having a (a) housing that includes a paste chamber, a rotatable head, a drive shaft, and a tube defining in part the paste chamber, the housing and paste chamber configured such that paste within the paste chamber can be dispensed without contacting the drive shaft; (b) a cup secured to the rotatable head, and (c) a paste dispensing assembly having a plunger movably secured to a push rod configured to reciprocally move linearly within the housing, the plunger including a clip for gripping the push rod such that linear movement of the push rod in a first direction causes the plunger to move in the first direction, while the clip precludes movement of the plunger in a second direction when the push rod in directed in the second direction.

Abstract: A female connector has a body with an internal cavity having a port and an internal surface. A collapsible valve is disposed within the internal cavity. The valve has a head with an external surface, wherein the head is in sealing contact with the internal surface of the internal cavity at a first location separated from the port so as to create a primary seal and at a second location proximate to the port so as to form a secondary seal when the female connector is not mated with a compatible male connector. The valve also has a neck coupled to the head proximal to the primary seal. The neck has a smiley cut. The valve also has a base portion coupled to the neck proximal to the smiley cut.

Abstract: A needleless connector has a body having an internal cavity with a sealing ridge, a port, an output flow channel, and a fluid flow path between the port and output flow channel. The connector also has a collapsible valve disposed within the cavity. The valve includes a cylindrical wall having a center axis, an internal surface, and a shoulder configured to sealingly contact the ridge of the body, thereby blocking the fluid flow path. The valve also includes a head fixedly attached to the wall. The head has a smiley cut at a first angular position about the center axis and a continuous top surface that is generally perpendicular to the axis. The valve also includes a first dimple formed in the internal surface of the cylindrical wall. The dimple extends around the internal surface over an angle in the range of 90-270°.