U.S. patent application number 12/602745 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-15 for female connector and connector.
This patent application is currently assigned to JMS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Naotsugu Ito, Takahiko Kunishige.
Application Number | 20100176584 12/602745 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40129484 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100176584 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ito; Naotsugu ; et
al. |
July 15, 2010 |
FEMALE CONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR
Abstract
A female connector (100) to be connected to a male connector
(170) having a tubular section (172), out of which a liquid-like
substance flows, is disclosed. The female connector has an adaptor
(110) installed on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular
section, and a handle (120) fitted on the adaptor. The adaptor has
a tube-shaped section (112) having an opening (119a) at one end.
The tube-shaped section includes an insertion section (119) into
which the tubular section is inserted from the opening, and the
insertion section has flexibility and elasticity. The handle has a
rigidity higher than that of the insertion section of the adaptor.
There is provided movement limitation means that limits a range in
which the handle is capable of moving relative to the adaptor from
an end of the adaptor on an opposite side of the opening to an end
thereof on the opening side in a direction of a center axis (111)
of the adaptor.
Inventors: |
Ito; Naotsugu; (Hiroshima,
JP) ; Kunishige; Takahiko; (Hiroshima, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON, P.C.
P.O. BOX 2902
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0902
US
|
Assignee: |
JMS CO., LTD.
Hiroshima
JP
|
Family ID: |
40129484 |
Appl. No.: |
12/602745 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
May 13, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2008/058757 |
371 Date: |
December 2, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
285/23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 2039/1094 20130101;
A61M 39/10 20130101; A61J 1/1475 20130101; A61J 1/10 20130101; A61M
39/1011 20130101; A61M 2039/1077 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
285/23 |
International
Class: |
B65D 59/00 20060101
B65D059/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 8, 2007 |
JP |
2007-153356 |
Claims
1. A female connector to be connected to a male connector having a
tubular section, out of which a liquid-like substance flows,
comprising: an adaptor installed on an outer peripheral surface of
the tubular section, and a handle fitted on the adaptor, wherein
the adaptor has a tube-shaped section having an opening at one end
thereof, the tube-shaped section includes an insertion section into
which the tubular section is inserted from the opening, and the
insertion section has flexibility and elasticity, the handle has a
rigidity higher than that of the insertion section of the adaptor,
and there is provided movement limitation means limiting a range in
which the handle is capable of moving relative to the adaptor from
an end of the adaptor on an opposite side of the opening to an end
thereof on the opening side in a center axis direction of the
adaptor.
2. The female connector according to claim 1, wherein the movement
limitation means includes a flange section provided at the end of
the tube-shaped section of the adaptor on the opening side or in a
vicinity thereof so as to protrude outward from the outer
peripheral surface of the tube-shaped section, and a flange holding
section provided on the handle so as to hold a surface of the
flange section on an opposite side of the opening.
3. The female connector according to claim 1, wherein the movement
limitation means further limits a range in which the handle is
capable of moving relative to the adaptor from the end of the
adaptor on the opening side to the end thereof on the opposite side
of the opening in the center axis direction of the adaptor.
4. The female connector according to claim 3, wherein the movement
limitation means includes an annular groove in a circumferential
direction, provided on a surface of one of the tube-shaped section
and the handle opposed to the other, and a fitting section provided
on the other of the tube-shaped section and the handle so as to be
fitted in the groove.
5. The female connector according to claim 4, wherein, when a width
of the groove is defined as W1 and a width of the fitting section
is defined as W2 in the center axis direction of the adaptor,
1.0.ltoreq.W1/W2.ltoreq.1.5 is satisfied.
6. The female connector according to claim 3, wherein the movement
limitation means includes a bonding section that bonds the adaptor
to the handle.
7. The female connector according to claim 1, wherein an inner
peripheral surface of the insertion section of the adaptor has a
tapered surface whose inner diameter increases toward the
opening.
8. The female connector according to claim 1, wherein an inner
peripheral surface of the insertion section of the adaptor is
provided with an annular protrusion in a circumferential
direction.
9. The female connector according to claim 1, wherein an inner
peripheral surface of the insertion section of the adaptor is
provided with an annular difference in level in a circumferential
direction, and the difference in level changes an inner diameter of
the insertion section in a stepped shape so that the inner diameter
of the insertion section on the opening side with respect to the
difference in level becomes larger than the inner diameter of the
insertion section on an opposite side of the opening with respect
to the difference in level.
10. The female connector according to claim 2, wherein the adaptor
is provided with a holding mechanism holding the handle.
11. The female connector according to claim 10, wherein the holding
mechanism is a locking protrusion that protrudes outward from the
outer peripheral surface of the tube-shaped section of the adaptor
so as to abut on an end of the handle on an opposite side of the
male connector.
12. The female connector according to claim 10, wherein the holding
mechanism is a contact protrusion that protrudes outward from the
outer peripheral surface of the tube-shaped section of the adaptor
so as to abut on an inner peripheral surface of the handle.
13. The female connector according to claim 2, wherein a tube
connected to an end of the adaptor on an opposite side of the
opening is provided with a holding mechanism holding the
handle.
14. The female connector according to claim 2, wherein the handle
is provided with a holding mechanism so as to be held by a tube
connected to an end of the adaptor on an opposite side of the
opening or the adaptor.
15. The female connector according to claim 1, wherein the handle
has an annular shape surrounding the adaptor without any rift.
16. The female connector according to claim 1, wherein an inner
peripheral surface of the handle has a tapered surface whose inner
diameter decreases toward the male connector.
17. The female connector according to claim 1, wherein an inner
peripheral surface of the handle has a small-diameter section whose
inner diameter is smaller than that of the other sections.
18. The female connector according to claim 1, wherein the handle
is provided with a slit connecting an upper end to a lower end
thereof so as to be discontinuous in a circumferential direction of
the adaptor.
19. The female connector according to claim 18, wherein a hinge is
formed at a position to which the slit of the handle is opposed,
and two halves constituting the handle are connected rotatably via
the hinge.
20. The female connector according to claim 18, wherein the handle
includes diameter expansion limitation means that limits a diameter
expansion of the handle.
21. The female connector according claim 1, wherein the handle
includes an engagement shape capable of being engaged with the male
connector.
22. The female connector according to claim 21, wherein the handle
includes a brim section that protrudes on the male connector side
with respect to the movement limitation means, and the engagement
shape is provided at the brim section.
23. The female connector according to claim 22, wherein an inner
peripheral surface of the brim section opposed to a center axis of
the handle includes an engagement wall that extends in a
circumferential direction, a concave portion provided on an
opposite side of the engagement wall with respect to the male
connector, and a convex portion provided adjacent to the concave
portion on either one side in the circumferential direction with
respect to the concave portion, and the engagement shape includes
the engagement wall.
24. The female connector according to claim 1, wherein the handle
includes a frame having the movement limitation means, a pair of
clips protruding on the male connector side with respect to the
frame, and a pair of operation sections protruding on an opposite
side of the male connector with respect to the frame, wherein a
surface on a side opposed to each of the pair of clips is provided
with an engagement tab, and when the frame is deformed elastically
so as to narrow an interval between tip ends of the pair of
operation sections, an interval between tip ends of the pair of
clips is widened.
25. The female connector according to claim 1, wherein the handle
includes a female thread on the male connector side with respect to
the movement limitation means.
26. The female connector according to claim 1, wherein the
liquid-like substance is a transintestine nutrient in a
transintestine nutrition therapy.
27. A connector comprising a male connector having a tubular
section, out of which a liquid-like substance flows, and a female
connector to be connected to the male connector, wherein the female
connector is the female connector according to claim 1.
28. The connector according to claim 27, wherein, when the tubular
section of the male connector is inserted into the insertion
section of the adaptor of the female connector, the insertion
section is squeezed by the tubular section and the handle.
29. The connector according to claim 27, wherein the male connector
and the handle of the female connector are provided with engagement
shapes that are engaged with each other.
30. A connector comprising a male connector having a tubular
section, out of which a liquid-like substance flows, and a female
connector to be connected to the male connector, wherein the female
connector is the female connector according to claim 23, the male
connector has a platform in which the tubular section protrudes
from a center thereof, an outer peripheral surface of the platform
is provided with an engagement tab protruding in a radial direction
with respect to a center axis, and the engagement tab is stored in
the concave portion of the handle, and the engagement tab is
engaged with the engagement wall of the handle.
31. The connector according to claim 30, wherein the engagement tab
of the male connector abuts on the convex portion of the handle to
regulate a rotation of the handle with respect to the male
connector.
32. The connector according to claim 30, wherein the engagement tab
is provided along a surface of the platform, on which the tubular
section is provided.
33. A connector comprising a male connector having a tubular
section, out of which a liquid-like substance flows, and a female
connector to be connected to the male connector, wherein the female
connector is the female connector according to claim 24, the male
connector has a platform in which the tubular section protrudes
from a center thereof an engagement protrusion protruding in a
radial direction with respect to a center axis is provided
continuously over the outer peripheral surface of the platform, and
the engagement tab of the handle is engaged with the engagement
protrusion.
34. The connector according to claim 33, wherein the engagement
protrusion is provided along a surface of the platform, on which
the tubular section is provided.
35. A connector comprising a male connector having a tubular
section, out of which a liquid-like substance flows, and a female
connector to be connected to the male connector, wherein the female
connector is the female connector according to claim 25, the male
connector has a platform in which the tubular section protrudes
from a center thereof, a male thread is formed on an outer
peripheral surface of the platform, and the female thread of the
handle is screwed with the male thread.
36. The connector according to claim 27, wherein the connector is
provided on a line connecting a container storing a transintestine
nutrient in a transintestine nutrition therapy to a patient.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a female connector to be
connected to a male connector, out of which a liquid-like substance
flows. The present invention also relates to a connector composed
of a male connector and a female connector.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] As a method for administering a nutrient or a drug to a
patient parenterally, a transintestine nutrition therapy and an
intravenous nutrition therapy are known. According to the
transintestine nutrition therapy, a liquid-like substance such as a
nutrient, a liquid diet, or a drug (generally called a
"transintestine nutrient") is administered through a tube running
from the nasal cavity to the stomach or the duodenum of a patient
(generally called a "nasotracheal tube") or through a tube inserted
in a gastric fistula formed in the abdomen of the patient
(generally called a "PEG tube") (the operation for forming a
gastric fistula is called "Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy").
Further, according to the intravenous nutrition therapy, a
liquid-like substance containing a nutrient component such as
glucose or a drug component (generally called an "infusion
solution") is administered through an infusion solution line
inserted in the vein of a patient.
[0003] The transintestine nutrition therapy through a nasotracheal
tube will be described. A liquid-like substance to be administered
to a patient is stored in a medical container. A male connector,
out of which the liquid-like substance flows, is provided at a
lower end of the medical container. The liquid-like substance in
the medical container generally is administered to a patient
through a transintestine nutrient set and a nasotracheal tube. A
female connector to be connected to the male connector is provided
at one end of a tube constituting the transintestine nutrient set
(see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004] The male connector provided at the medical container
generally has a tubular section, out of which the liquid-like
substance flows. There are no specifications as standards regarding
the shape and size of the tubular section, and the shape and size
of the tubular section vary depending upon manufacturers of the
medical container and the male connector. FIGS. 46A to 46I are side
views showing tubular sections 901A to 901I of conventional male
connectors adopted by respective manufacturers. As shown in these
figures, the specifications regarding the shape, outer diameter,
length, and the like of an outer peripheral surface of the tubular
section of the male connector vary depending upon
manufacturers.
[0005] In a facility (for example, a medical care organization)
performing transintestine nutrition, conventionally, a container to
be filled with a transintestine nutrient and a transintestine
nutrient set mostly are reused, and in that case, washing,
disinfection, and filling of a transintestine nutrient are
performed while the container and the transintestine nutrient set
are connected to each other. However, recently, in view of the
prevention of infection, a pre-filled nutrient, which is on sale
under the condition that a disposable container is filled with a
transintestine nutrient, is spreading. Along with the spread of the
pre-filled nutrient, chances are growing that a container and a
transintestine nutrient set are dealt with as separate bodies, and
the problem of mismatching (connection defect) between a male
connector of a container and a female connector of a transintestine
nutrient set is becoming conspicuous, which is caused by the
presence of various specifications regarding the tubular section of
the male connector of the container as described above.
[0006] As a conventional general-purpose female connector capable
of being connected to various male connectors, as shown in FIG.
47A, a cylindrical rubber tube 902 with elasticity connected to one
end of a tube 903 has been used so as to be connected to a tubular
section 901 of various male connectors having different shapes and
sizes. As shown in FIG. 47B, the rubber tube 902 is fitted in a
direction indicated by an arrow 910 so as to cover the outer
peripheral surface of the tubular section 901, and as shown in FIG.
47C, the rubber tube 902 and the tubular section 901 are connected
to each other. The rubber tube 902 stretches and is deformed in
accordance with the tapered shape of the outer peripheral surface
of the tubular section 901, and comes into tight contact with the
outer peripheral surface of the tubular section 901 due to the
elastic recovery force.
Patent Document 1: JP 11(1999)-28244 A
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0007] However, the conventional general-purpose female connector
made of the rubber tube 902 shown in FIG. 47A has a problem in that
it is difficult to perform an operation of connecting the rubber
tube 902 to the tubular section 901, due to the friction generated
between the tubular section 901 and the rubber tube 92. In the
connection operation, the outer peripheral surface of the rubber
tube 902 is grasped with two fingers. In FIG. 47B, when a region
902a of the rubber tube 902 covering the tubular section 901 is
grasped, the grasping force increases the friction between the
tubular section 901 and the rubber tube 902, which makes it
difficult to move the rubber tube 902 with respect to the tubular
section 901. In FIG. 47B, when a region 902b of the rubber tube 902
not covering the tubular section 901 or the tube 903 is grasped,
the rubber tube 902 is buckled and deformed easily by the force in
the direction indicated by the arrow 910, which also makes it
difficult to move the rubber tube 902 with respect to the tubular
section 901.
[0008] When the flexibility of the rubber tube 902 is enhanced so
that the rubber tube 902 elongates easily, the rubber tube 902
further becomes likely to buckle and deform, which rather makes it
difficult to perform a connection operation. Further, when the
inner diameter of the rubber tube 902 is increased, the friction
between the tubular section 901 and the rubber tube 902 can be
decreased. Therefore, the connection operation between the tubular
section 901 and the rubber tube 902 becomes easy. However, in this
case, there arises a new problem in that the rubber tube 902 fitted
on the tubular section 901 comes off easily, or the liquid-like
substance leaks from between the tubular section 901 and the rubber
tube 902.
[0009] There also is a problem that it may take time and trouble to
insert the tubular section 901 into the rubber tube 902 depending
upon the shape and size of the outer peripheral surface of the
tubular section 901 of the male connector.
[0010] The above-mentioned problems similarly occur even in the
case of connecting a PEG tube or a tube constituting an infusion
solution line used in the intravenous nutrition therapy.
[0011] The present invention solves the above-mentioned
conventional problems, and its object is to provide a female
connector that can be connected to various male connectors having
different shapes and sizes and that is connected to a male
connector easily, and a connector.
Means for Solving Problem
[0012] A female connector of the present invention to be connected
to a male connector having a tubular section, out of which a
liquid-like substance flows, includes: an adaptor installed on an
outer peripheral surface of the tubular section, and a handle
fitted on the adaptor. The adaptor has a tube-shaped section having
an opening at one end thereof, the tube-shaped section includes an
insertion section into which the tubular section is inserted from
the opening, and the insertion section has flexibility and
elasticity. The handle has a rigidity higher than that of the
insertion section of the adaptor. There is provided movement
limitation means limiting a range in which the handle is capable of
moving relative to the adaptor from an end of the adaptor on an
opposite side of the opening to an end thereof on the opening side
in a center axis direction of the adaptor.
[0013] A connector of the present invention includes a male
connector having a tubular section, out of which a liquid-like
substance flows, and a female connector to be connected to the male
connector, wherein the female connector is the above-mentioned
female connector of the present invention.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0014] According to the present invention, since the insertion
section of the adaptor has flexibility and elasticity, the female
connector can be connected to various male connectors having
different shapes and sizes. Further, the force in a direction
approaching the male connector can be applied to the adaptor via
the handle having a rigidity higher than that of the insertion
section of the adaptor, and hence, the connection operation between
the female connector and the male connector is easy.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of a female connector according to Embodiment 1 of
the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the female connector
shown in FIG. 1A.
[0017] FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of an adaptor constituting the female connector
according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the adaptor shown in
FIG. 2A.
[0019] FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of a handle constituting the female connector
according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the handle shown in
FIG. 3A.
[0021] FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing a schematic configuration
of an example of a medical container and a male connector.
[0022] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing a method for
connecting the female connector according to Embodiment 1 of the
present invention to a male connector, illustrating a state before
the connection.
[0023] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing a method for
connecting the female connector according to Embodiment 1 of the
present invention to a male connector, illustrating a state after
the connection.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which
the female connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention is connected to a male connector having a tubular section
with a small outer diameter.
[0025] FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of another adaptor constituting the female connector
according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the adaptor shown in
FIG. 7A.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of still another adaptor constituting the female
connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 9A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of the adaptor provided with a mechanism holding a
handle in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view showing an operation of
the mechanism holding a handle, provided on the adaptor shown in
FIG. 9A.
[0030] FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of the adaptor provided with another mechanism
holding a handle in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the adaptor taken
along a line 10B-10B in FIG. 10A.
[0032] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of the female connector provided with another
mechanism holding a handle in Embodiment 1 of the present
invention.
[0033] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of the female connector provided with another
mechanism holding a handle in Embodiment 1 of the present
invention.
[0034] FIG. 13A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of another handle constituting the female connector
according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view of the handle shown in
FIG. 13A.
[0036] FIG. 14A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of still another handle constituting the female
connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 14B is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of still another handle constituting the female
connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 15A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of still another handle constituting the female
connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view of the handle shown in
FIG. 15A.
[0040] FIG. 16A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of still another handle constituting the female
connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view of the handle shown in
FIG. 16A.
[0042] FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of still another handle constituting the female
connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 18A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of still another handle constituting the female
connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 18B is a plan view of the handle shown in FIG. 18A.
[0045] FIG. 19A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of still another handle constituting the female
connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0046] FIG. 19B is a plan view of the handle shown in FIG. 19A.
[0047] FIG. 20A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of another female connector according to Embodiment 1
of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 20B is a cross-sectional view of the female connector
shown in FIG. 20A.
[0049] FIG. 21A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of an adaptor constituting another female connector
according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0050] FIG. 21B is a cross-sectional view of the adaptor shown in
FIG. 21A.
[0051] FIG. 22A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of a handle constituting another female connector
according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0052] FIG. 22B is a cross-sectional view of the handle shown in
FIG. 22A.
[0053] FIG. 23A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of still another female connector according to
Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0054] FIG. 23B is a cross-sectional view of the female connector
shown in FIG. 23A.
[0055] FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of a male connector according to Embodiment 2 of the
present invention.
[0056] FIG. 25A is a front view showing a schematic configuration
of the male connector according to Embodiment 2 of the present
invention.
[0057] FIG. 25B is a bottom view showing a schematic configuration
of the male connector according to Embodiment 2 of the present
invention.
[0058] FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of a handle constituting the female connector
according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0059] FIG. 27A is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of
the handle constituting the female connector according to
Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0060] FIG. 27B is a front view showing a schematic configuration
of the handle constituting the female connector according to
Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0061] FIG. 27C is a right side view showing a schematic
configuration of the handle constituting the female connector
according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0062] FIG. 28A is a cross-sectional view of the handle taken along
a line 28A-28A in FIG. 27B.
[0063] FIG. 28B is a cross-sectional view of the handle taken along
a line 28B-28B in FIG. 27C.
[0064] FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view showing a method for
connecting a female connector to a male connector in Embodiment 2
of the present invention.
[0065] FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing a state in which the
female connector and the male connector according to Embodiment 2
of the present invention are connected to each other.
[0066] FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of a male connector according to Embodiment 3 of the
present invention.
[0067] FIG. 32A is a front view showing a schematic configuration
of the male connector according to Embodiment 3 of the present
invention.
[0068] FIG. 32B is a bottom view showing a schematic configuration
of the male connector according to Embodiment 3 of the present
invention.
[0069] FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of a handle constituting a female connector according
to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[0070] FIG. 34A is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of
the handle constituting the female connector according to
Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[0071] FIG. 34B is a front view showing a schematic configuration
of the handle constituting the female connector according to
Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[0072] FIG. 35A is a cross-sectional view of the handle taken along
a line 35A-35A in FIG. 34A.
[0073] FIG. 35B is a cross-sectional view of the handle taken along
a line 35B-35B in FIG. 34B.
[0074] FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view showing a method for
connecting a female connector to a male connector in Embodiment 3
of the present invention.
[0075] FIG. 37 is a perspective view showing a state in which the
female connector and the male connector according to Embodiment 3
of the present invention are connected to each other.
[0076] FIG. 38 is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of a male connector according to Embodiment 4 of the
present invention.
[0077] FIG. 39A is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of
the male connector according to Embodiment 4 of the present
invention.
[0078] FIG. 39B is a bottom view showing a schematic configuration
of the male connector according to Embodiment 4 of the present
invention.
[0079] FIG. 40 is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of a handle constituting the female connector
according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
[0080] FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view taken along a center axis
of the handle constituting the female connector according to
Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
[0081] FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view showing a method for
connecting the female connector to the male connector in Embodiment
4 of the present invention.
[0082] FIG. 43 is a perspective view showing a state in which the
female connector and the male connector according to Embodiment 4
of the present invention are connected to each other.
[0083] FIG. 44 is a view showing another exemplary schematic
configuration of a medical container.
[0084] FIG. 45A is a schematic perspective view of a male connector
(port) used in a medical container in FIG. 44.
[0085] FIG. 45B is a front view of the male connector (port) shown
in FIG. 45A.
[0086] FIG. 45C is right side view of the male connector (port)
shown in FIG. 45A.
[0087] FIG. 46A is a side view showing an example of a tubular
section of a conventional male connector.
[0088] FIG. 46B is a side view showing another example of the
tubular section of the conventional male connector.
[0089] FIG. 46C is a side view showing still another example of the
tubular section of the conventional male connector.
[0090] FIG. 46D is a side view showing still another example of the
tubular section of the conventional male connector.
[0091] FIG. 46E is a side view showing still another example of the
tubular section of the conventional male connector.
[0092] FIG. 46F is a side view showing still another example of the
tubular section of the conventional male connector.
[0093] FIG. 46G is a side view showing still another example of the
tubular section of the conventional male connector.
[0094] FIG. 46H is a side view showing still another example of the
tubular section of the conventional male connector.
[0095] FIG. 46I is a side view showing still another example of the
tubular section of the conventional male connector.
[0096] FIG. 47A is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a
method for connecting a conventional general-purpose female
connector to a male connector, illustrating the state before the
connection.
[0097] FIG. 47B is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a
method for connecting a conventional general-purpose female
connector to a male connector, illustrating the state during the
connection.
[0098] FIG. 47C is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a
method for connecting a conventional general-purpose female
connector to a male connector, illustrating the state after the
connection.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0099] In the above-mentioned female connector of the present
invention, the movement limitation means may include a flange
section provided at the end of the tube-shaped section of the
adaptor on the opening side or in a vicinity thereof so as to
protrude outward from the outer peripheral surface of the
tube-shaped section, and a flange holding section provided on the
handle so as to hold a surface of the flange section on an opposite
side of the opening. Since the flange section is provided at the
end of the tube-shaped section on the opening side or in the
vicinity thereof, the rigidity of an edge of the opening of the
tube-shaped section is enhanced. Thus, when the tubular section of
the male connector is inserted into the opening of the tube-shaped
section of the adaptor, the tube-shaped section is unlikely to be
deformed. Further, since the tubular section can be inserted into
the tube-shaped section while the flange section provided on the
tube-shaped section is being held by the flange holding section of
the handle, the tube-shaped section can be prevented from being
buckled and deformed. Thus, according to the preferred embodiment,
the insertion operation of the tubular section into the adaptor is
facilitated further.
[0100] In the above-mentioned female connector of the present
invention, the movement limitation means further may limit a range
in which the handle is capable of moving relative to the adaptor
from the end of the adaptor on the opening side to the end thereof
on the opposite side of the opening in the center axis direction of
the adaptor. This allows the handle to be held by the adaptor at
all times, so that the handle can be prevented from moving to a
position far away from the adaptor. Thus, the operability for
connecting the female connector to the male connector is enhanced,
and further, the handle can be prevented from being damaged
accidentally in the production step of a transintestine nutrient
set, a PEG tube, or the like.
[0101] In this case, it is preferred that the movement limitation
means includes an annular groove in a circumferential direction,
provided on a surface of one of the tube-shaped section and the
handle opposed to the other, and a fitting section provided on the
other of the tube-shaped section and the handle so as to be fitted
in the groove. This can provide the movement limitation means
easily at a low cost.
[0102] In this case, it is preferred that, when a width of the
groove is defined as W1 and a width of the fitting section is
defined as W2 in the center axis direction of the adaptor,
1.0.ltoreq.W1/W2.ltoreq.1.5 is satisfied. When W1/W2 is smaller
than the lower limit, it is difficult to fit the fitting section in
the groove. When W1/W2 is larger the upper limit, the movable range
of the handle relative to the adaptor is enlarged, so that the
center axis of the handle is likely to tilt with respect to the
center axis of the adaptor, which makes it necessary to perform a
complicated operation such as the correction of the direction of
the tilting handle, and which may cause the fitting section to come
of the groove.
[0103] In the above-mentioned female connector of the present
invention, the movement limitation means may include a bonding
section that bonds the adaptor to the handle. This also can realize
the movement limitation means limiting a range, in which the handle
is capable of moving relative to the adaptor in a direction of the
center axis of the adaptor, easily at a low cost.
[0104] In the above-mentioned female connector of the present
invention, it is preferred that an inner peripheral surface of the
insertion section of the adaptor has a tapered surface whose inner
diameter increases toward the opening. According to the above
configuration, even when the shape, size, and the like of the
tubular section of the male connector vary, at least a part of the
outer peripheral surface of the tubular section of the male
connector and at least a part of the inner peripheral surface of
the insertion section of the adaptor can be brought into tight
contact with each other. Therefore, the female connector can be
connected to various male connectors precisely without the leakage
of a liquid-like substance.
[0105] In the above-mentioned female connector of the present
invention, it is preferred that an inner peripheral surface of the
insertion section of the adaptor is provided with an annular
protrusion in a circumferential direction. According to the above
configuration, the annular protrusion of the insertion section can
be deformed appropriately and brought into tight contact with the
outer peripheral surface of the tubular section, depending upon the
shape, size, and the like of the tubular section of the male
connector. Thus, the female connector can be connected to various
male connectors precisely without the leakage of a liquid-like
substance.
[0106] In the above-mentioned female connector of the present
invention, it is preferred that an inner peripheral surface of the
insertion section of the adaptor is provided with an annular
difference in level in a circumferential direction, and the
difference in level changes an inner diameter of the insertion
section in a stepped shape so that the inner diameter of the
insertion section on the opening side with respect to the
difference in level becomes larger than the inner diameter of the
insertion section on an opposite side of the opening with respect
to the difference in level. According to the above configuration,
in the case where the tubular section of the male connector is
thick, the tubular section comes into tight contact with a portion
of the insertion section of the adaptor on the opening side with
respect to the difference in level, and in the case where the
tubular section of the male connector is thin, the tubular section
comes into tight contact with a portion of the insertion section of
the adaptor on an opposite side of the opening with respect to the
difference in level. Thus, the female connector can be connected to
the tubular section having various thicknesses precisely without
the leakage of a liquid-like substance.
[0107] In the above-mentioned female connector of the present
invention, it is preferred that the adaptor is provided with a
holding mechanism holding the handle. This can prevent the handle
from moving to a position far away from the adaptor. Thus, the
operability for connecting the female connector to the male
connector is enhanced, and further, the handle can be prevented
from being damaged accidentally in the production step of a
transintestine nutrient set, a PEG tube, or the like.
[0108] In the above, the holding mechanism may be a locking
protrusion that protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface
of the tube-shaped section of the adaptor so as to abut on an end
of the handle on an opposite side of the male connector.
Alternatively, the holding mechanism may be a contact protrusion
that protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface of the
tube-shaped section of the adaptor so as to abut on an inner
peripheral surface of the handle. In any case, the holding
mechanism can be realized with a simple configuration. Further,
since the holding mechanism can be molded integrally with the
adaptor, so that an adaptor with a holding mechanism can be created
inexpensively and efficiently.
[0109] In the above-mentioned female connector of the present
invention, a tube connected to an end of the adaptor on an opposite
side of the opening may be provided with a holding mechanism
holding the handle. Alternatively, the handle may be provided with
a holding mechanism so as to be held by a tube connected to an end
of the adaptor on an opposite side of the opening or the adaptor.
In any case, the handle can be prevented from moving to a position
far away from the adaptor. Thus, the operability for connecting the
female connector to the male connector is enhanced, and further,
the handle can be prevented from being damaged accidentally in the
production step of a transintestine nutrient set, a PEG tube, or
the like.
[0110] In the above-mentioned female connector of the present
invention, it is preferred that the handle has an annular shape
surrounding the adaptor without any rift. This enhances the
rigidity of the handle. Thus, the force in a diameter direction
applied to the handle when two fingers grasp the handle for
connecting the female connector to the male connector is unlikely
to be transmitted. Therefore, the friction between the adaptor and
the tubular section of the male connector will not increase. Thus,
the connection operation of the female connector with respect to
the male connector becomes easy. Further, by bringing at least a
part of the inner peripheral surface of the handle into tight
contact with the outer peripheral surface of the insertion section
while the tubular section of the male connector is being inserted
in the insertion section of the adaptor, the insertion section can
be pinched strongly (squeezed) by the tubular section and the
handle. Consequently, the connection strength between the tubular
section and the adaptor is enhanced, and the adaptor can be
prevented from coming off accidentally to enhance stability.
[0111] In this case, an inner peripheral surface of the handle may
have a tapered surface whose inner diameter decreases toward the
male connector. Alternatively, an inner peripheral surface of the
handle may have a small-diameter section whose inner diameter is
smaller than that of the other sections. The outer peripheral
surface of the tubular section of the male connector has a taped
surface that becomes thinner toward the tip end side thereof in
most cases. The inner peripheral surface of the handle has a
tapered surface whose taper direction (a direction in which the
diameter decreases gradually) is opposite to that of the outer
peripheral surface of the tubular section and has a small-diameter
section, whereby a part of the inner peripheral surface of the
handle locally can be brought into tight contact with the outer
peripheral surface of the insertion section while the tubular
section of the male connector is being inserted in the insertion
section of the adaptor. As a result, the insertion section is
pinched further strongly by the tubular section and the handle, so
that the connection strength between the tubular section and the
adaptor is enhanced further.
[0112] In the above-mentioned female connector of the present
invention, the handle may be provided with a slit connecting an
upper end to a lower end thereof so as to be discontinuous in a
circumferential direction of the adaptor. According to the above
configuration, the female connector can be connected even to a male
connector having a thicker tubular section. Further, if the width
of the slit is set to be large, a female connector, with respect to
which the handle can be attached/detached, is obtained. Thus, in
the case where the handle is not required or is not matched with a
male connector, the handle can be removed, and thereafter, be
attached again, if required.
[0113] It is preferred that a hinge is formed at a position to
which the slit of the handle is opposed, and two halves
constituting the handle are connected rotatably via the hinge.
According to the above configuration, the female connector can be
connected to even a male connector having a thicker tubular
section. Further, a female connector, with respect to which the
handle can be attached/detached, is obtained.
[0114] In this case, the handle may include diameter expansion
limitation means that limits a diameter expansion of the handle.
According to the above configuration, the insertion section can be
pinched strongly to be squeezed by the tubular section and the
handle.
[0115] In the above-mentioned female connector of the present
invention, it is preferred that the handle includes an engagement
shape capable of being engaged with the male connector. According
to the above configuration, the adaptor connected to the tubular
section of the male connector can be prevented from coming off the
tubular section accidentally.
[0116] In this case, it is preferred that the handle includes a
brim section that protrudes on the male connector side with respect
to the movement limitation means, and the engagement shape is
provided at the brim section. The engagement shape is provided at
the brim section that protrudes on the male connector side with
respect to the movement limitation means, whereby the male
connector and the female connector can be engaged with each other
easily.
[0117] In this case, it is preferred that an inner peripheral
surface of the brim section opposed to a center axis of the handle
includes an engagement wall that extends in a circumferential
direction, a concave portion provided on an opposite side of the
engagement wall with respect to the male connector, and a convex
portion provided adjacent to the concave portion on either one side
in the circumferential direction with respect to the concave
portion, and the engagement shape includes the engagement wall.
[0118] In this case, it is preferred that the female connector and
the following male connector are combined to constitute a
connector. Specifically, the male connector has a platform in which
the tubular section protrudes from a center thereof, and an outer
peripheral surface of the platform is provided with an engagement
tab protruding in a radial direction with respect to a center axis.
Then, the engagement tab is stored in the concave portion of the
handle, and the engagement tab is engaged with the engagement wall
of the handle.
[0119] According to the above configuration, the male connector and
the handle can be engaged with each other and the engagement can be
cancelled merely by rotating the handle slightly around the center
axis with respect to the male connector. Then, the adaptor
connected to the tubular section of the male connector can be
prevented from coming off the tubular section accidentally by
engaging the male connector and the handle with each other.
Further, since the handle is provided with a convex portion
adjacent to a concave portion, if the engagement tab of the male
connector is inserted in the concave portion and further is moved
to abut on the convex portion, the engagement tab and the
engagement wall can be engaged with each other precisely.
[0120] In the above configuration, it is preferred that the
engagement tab of the male connector abuts on the convex portion of
the handle to regulate a rotation of the handle with respect to the
male connector. According to the above configuration, the male
connector and the handle can be locked together precisely by a
simple operation of rotating the handle with respect to the male
connector until the rotation is restricted.
[0121] Further, it is preferred that the engagement tab is provided
along a surface of the platform, on which the tubular section is
provided. This can reduce the size of the male connector and the
handle in the center axis direction.
[0122] In the above-mentioned female connector of the present
invention, it is preferred that the handle includes a frame having
the movement limitation means, a pair of clips protruding on the
male connector side with respect to the frame, and a pair of
operation sections protruding on an opposite side of the male
connector with respect to the frame, wherein a surface on a side
opposed to each of the pair of clips is provided with an engagement
tab, and when the frame is deformed elastically so as to narrow an
interval between tip ends of the pair of operation sections, an
interval between tip ends of the pair of clips is widened.
[0123] In this case, it is preferred that the female connector and
the following male connector are combined to constitute a
connector. Specifically, the male connector has a platform in which
the tubular section protrudes from a center thereof, and an
engagement protrusion protruding in a radial direction with respect
to a center axis is provided continuously over the outer peripheral
surface of the platform. Then, the engagement tab of the handle is
engaged with the engagement protrusion.
[0124] According to the above configuration, the male connector and
the handle can be engaged with each other and the engagement can be
cancelled merely by moving the handle with respect to the male
connector in the center axis direction. Then, the adaptor connected
to the tubular section of the male connector can be prevented from
coming off the tubular section accidentally by engaging the male
connector and the handle with each other.
[0125] In the above configuration, it is preferred that the
engagement protrusion is provided along a surface of the platform,
on which the tubular section is provided. This can reduce the size
of the male connector and the handle in the center axis
direction.
[0126] In the female connector of the present invention, it is
preferred that the handle includes a female thread on the male
connector side with respect to the movement limitation means.
[0127] In this case, it is preferred that the female connector and
the following male connector are combined to constitute a
connector. Specifically, the male connector has a platform in which
the tubular section protrudes from a center thereof, and a male
thread is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the platform.
Then, the female thread of the handle is screwed with the male
thread.
[0128] According to the above configuration, the male connector and
the handle can be engaged with each other and the engagement can be
cancelled merely by rotating the handle around the center axis with
respect to the male connector. Then, the adaptor connected to the
tubular section of the male connector can be prevented from coming
off the tubular section accidentally by engaging the male connector
and the handle with each other.
[0129] It is preferred that the liquid-like substance is a
transintestine nutrient in a transintestine nutrition therapy. In
this case, for example, in a transintestine nutrition therapy
through a nasotracheal tube, the female connector can be provided
at one end of a transintestine nutrient set, the other end of which
is connected to a nasotracheal tube inserted in the nose of a
patient, and the male connector can be provided at a container
storing the transintestine nutrient. Alternatively, in a
transintestine nutrition therapy through a PEG tube, the female
connector can be provided at one end of the PEG tube, the other end
of which is inserted in the gastric fistula of a patient, and the
male connector can be provided at a terminating end of a
transintestine nutrient set connected to a container storing the
transintestine nutrient.
[0130] A connector of the present invention includes a male
connector having a tubular section, out of which a liquid-like
substance flows, and a female connector to be connected to the male
connector, and the female connector is the above-mentioned female
connector of the present invention.
[0131] In the above-mentioned connector of the present invention,
it is preferred that, when the tubular section of the male
connector is inserted into the insertion section of the adaptor of
the female connector, the insertion section is squeezed by the
tubular section and the handle. According to the above
configuration, the insertion section is pinched strongly by the
tubular section and the handle, whereby the connection strength
between the tubular section and the adaptor is enhanced, so that
the adaptor can be prevented from coming off the tubular section
accidentally to enhance the safety.
[0132] In the above-mentioned connector of the present invention,
it is preferred that the male connector and the handle of the
female connector are provided with engagement shapes that are
engaged with each other. According to the above configuration, the
adaptor connected to the tubular section of the male connector can
be prevented from coming off the tubular section accidentally.
[0133] It is preferred that the connector is provided on a line
connecting a container storing a transintestine nutrient in a
transintestine nutrition therapy to a patient.
[0134] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in
detail by way of preferred embodiments in a transintestine
nutrition therapy through a nasotracheal tube. It should be noted
that the following embodiments merely are examples obtained by
embodying the present invention, and the present invention is not
limited thereto.
Embodiment 1
[0135] FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of a female connector 100 according to Embodiment 1
of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view
thereof. The female connector 100 of Embodiment 1 includes an
adaptor 110, and a handle 120 fitted on the adaptor 110. In FIG.
1B, alternate long and short dashed lines 111 indicate a center
axis of the adaptor 110, which is matched with a center axis of the
female connector 100 and a center axis of the handle 120. The
direction of the center axis 111 is defined as an up-and-down
direction, and an upper side on the drawing surfaces of FIGS. 1A
and 1B (a side connected to a male connector described later) will
be referred to as an "upper side" and a lower side on the drawing
surfaces of the figures will be referred to as a "lower side".
[0136] FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of the adaptor 110 constituting the female connector
100 according to Embodiment 1, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional
view thereof. The adaptor 110 includes a tube-shaped section 112 in
a hollow cylindrical shape, and an annular flange section 113 that
is formed at an upper end of the tube-shaped section 112 and
protrudes outward (in a direction orthogonal to the center axis
111) from an outer peripheral surface of the tube-shaped section
112. A tube 107 having flexibility is fused to a lower end of the
tube-shaped section 112. At an upper end of the tube-shaped section
112, an opening 119a in which a tubular section of the male
connector is inserted is formed. It is planned that the tubular
section of the male connector is inserted in the direction of the
center axis 111. A region of the tube-shaped section 112 including
an end on the opening 119a side will be referred to as an insertion
section 119. The adaptor 110 is made of a material having
flexibility and elasticity, and examples of the material include
but are not particularly limited to thermoplastic resin such as
natural rubber, synthetic rubber (e.g., PBD (polybutadiene)), PVC
(polyvinyl chloride resin), ABS (acryl-butadiene-styrene
copolymer), polyamide resin, and EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate
copolymer), polyurethane resin, and the like. Due to the use of
such a material, portions (including the insertion section 119 and
the flange section 113) other than the portion to which the tube
107 is fused have flexibility and elasticity.
[0137] FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of the handle 120 constituting the female connector
according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is
across-sectional view thereof. The handle 120 has a substantially
tubular shape as a whole, and has a large-diameter section 123 with
an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the flange
section 113 at the upper end thereof and a small-diameter section
122 with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the
tube-shaped section 112 of the adaptor 110 and smaller than the
outer diameter of the flange section 113 on the lower side of the
large-diameter section 123. Then, a flange holding section 121 is
formed between the small-diameter section 122 and the
large-diameter section 123. The flange holding section 121 has a
surface orthogonal to the center axis 111. The handle 120 is made
of a material having a rigidity and a hardness higher than those of
the adaptor 120, and examples of the material include but are not
particularly limited to polypropylene resin, polycarbonate,
polyacetal, PVC, and PBD.
[0138] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the adaptor 110 is inserted in
a through-hole at the center of the handle 120, whereby the female
connector 100 of Embodiment 1 is configured. At this time, the
handle 120 surrounds the periphery of the insertion section 119 of
the adaptor 110. Further, the flange section 113 of the adaptor 110
is stored in the large-diameter section 123 of the handle 120, and
a lower surface 114 of the flange 113 (a surface of the flange
section 113 on a side opposite to the surface opposed to the male
connector) abuts on the flange holding section 121 of the handle
120. As is apparent from the above, the flange section 113 and the
flange holding section 121 function as movement limitation means
that sets a terminating end on an upper side (upper limit position)
in a range in which the handle 120 can move relative to the adaptor
110 in the direction of the center axis 111.
[0139] FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing a schematic configuration
of an example of a medical container 910 and a male connector
170.
[0140] The medical container 910 includes a pouch 920, and a port
930 for injecting a liquid-like substance into the pouch 920 or
taking out the liquid-like substance stored in the pouch 920.
[0141] The pouch 920 is a bag-shaped material obtained by
laminating two flexible sheets with the same size and joining them
to each other in a seal region 921 at a peripheral edge by a method
such as heat seal. As the sheets, composite sheets of two or more
layers can be used, which are made of materials different from each
other selected from plastic materials such as polyethylene
terephthalate, nylon, polypropylene, and polyethylene. Further, a
thin film of aluminum oxide, silica, or the like may be formed on
the sheet as a barrier layer. It is preferred that at least one of
the two sheets is transparent or semi-transparent so that the
amount of the liquid-like substance in the pouch 920 and the like
can be checked. In the vicinity of a position, in the seal region
921 of the pouch 920, farthest from a position where the port 930
is attached, an opening 922 used for hanging the medical container
910 is formed.
[0142] The port 930 includes a cylindrical section 932 in which a
through-hole 931 for passing the liquid-like substance is formed, a
joint section 935 provided on an outer peripheral surface on one
end side of the cylindrical section 932, and a male thread section
936 formed on the outer peripheral surface on the other end side of
the cylindrical section 932. The port 930 further includes a
locking section 938 in a substantially C-shape used for locking a
medical tube having flexibility or hanging the medical container
910. The port 930 is made of a material relatively harder than the
pouch 920, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride,
polyethyleneterephthalate, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a
thermoplastic elastomer, or polyacetal, and can be produced
integrally, for example, by injection molding. The joint section
935 has a quadratic prism shape with a bottom surface having a
substantially diamond shape, and is joined to be integrated with
the pouch 920 by heat seal with the joint section 935 interposed
between the peripheral edges of the two sheets constituting the
pouch 920.
[0143] The male connector 170 has a cap section 180 and a tubular
section 172. A female thread (not shown) to be screwed with the
male thread section 936 of the port 930 is formed on an inner
peripheral surface of the cap section 180. The tubular section 172
protrudes downward from the center on the lower surface of the cap
section 180. The outer peripheral surface of the tubular section
172 of the present example has a tapered surface (truncated cone
surface) whose outer diameter increases toward the cap 180. The
tubular section 172 has a through-hole 172, out of which the
liquid-like substance in the pouch 920 flows. There is no
particular limit to the material for the male connector 170, and a
known material used conventionally can be used. For example,
polyolefin resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene,
polycarbonate resin, or the like can be used.
[0144] A method for connecting the female connector 100 to the male
connector 170 in Embodiment 1 will be described. FIG. 5A is a
cross-sectional view showing a state before the connection, and
FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing a state after the
connection. As shown in FIG. 5A, the adaptor 110 is inserted into a
through-hole at the center of the handle 120, and the lower surface
114 of the flange section 113 of the adaptor 110 is held by the
flange holding section 121 of the handle 120. In this state, the
outer peripheral surface of the handle 120 is grasped with two
fingers, and the adaptor 110 is installed on the tubular section
172 in a direction indicated by an arrow 102 so that the adaptor
110 covers the outer peripheral surface of the tubular section 172
of the male connector 170.
[0145] The flange section 113 is formed at the upper end of the
tube-shaped section 112 of the adaptor 110, and hence, the rigidity
of the peripheral edge of the opening 119a of the tube-shaped
section 112 is enhanced relatively. Thus, even if the tip end of
the tubular section 172 collides against the edge of the opening
119a when the tubular section 172 is inserted into the opening
119a, the tube-shaped section 112 is unlikely to be deformed. This
enables the tubular section 172 to be inserted into the opening
119a easily.
[0146] Further, the insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110 has
flexibility and elasticity. Therefore, the insertion section 119 is
deformed, e.g., its diameter is enlarged in accordance with the
shape of the outer peripheral surface of the tubular section 172 of
the male connector 170, and the insertion section 119 comes into
tight contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tubular
section 172 due to the elastic recovery force.
[0147] On the other hand, the handle 120 hardly is deformed due to
its high rigidity even when pinched with two fingers. Therefore,
the grasping force applied to the handle 120 in a diameter
direction by the two fingers hardly is transmitted to the insertion
section 119 of the adaptor 110. Thus, unlike the conventional
connection operation of the rubber tube 902, the grasping force of
the two fingers will not increase the friction between the
insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110 and the tubular section
172.
[0148] Further, the force applied to the handle 120 in the
direction indicated by the arrow 102 by the two fingers is
transmitted to the flange section 113 of the adaptor 110 via the
flange holding section 121 of the handle 120. The flange section
113 is formed at a front end of the adaptor 120 in the direction
indicated by the arrow 102, and hence, the adaptor 110 will not be
buckled and deformed by the force.
[0149] As described above, in Embodiment 1, it is easy to move the
adaptor 110 in the direction indicated by the arrow 102 with
respect to the tubular section 172 of the male connector 170. Thus,
as shown in FIG. 5B, the male connector 170 and the female
connector 100 can be connected to each other while the insertion
section 119 of the adaptor 110 is in tight contact with the outer
peripheral surface of the tubular section 172 due to the elastic
recovery force thereof. Even if the shape, size (for example, a
taper angle, an outer diameter, etc.) and the like of the outer
peripheral surface of the tubular section 172 of the male connector
170 vary depending upon manufacturers and specifications, since the
insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110 is deformed elastically in
accordance with the outer peripheral surface of the tubular section
172 of the male connector 170, the male connector 170 and the
female connector 100 can be connected to each other precisely
without the leakage of the liquid-like substance.
[0150] It is preferred that the inner peripheral surface of the
insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110 is a tapered surface whose
inner diameter increases toward the upper end, as shown in FIG. 2B.
According to this configuration, even if the shape, size (for
example, a taper angle, an outer diameter, etc.) and the like of
the outer peripheral surface of the tubular section 172 of the male
connector 170 vary depending upon manufacturers and specifications,
at least a part of the outer peripheral surface of the tubular
section 172 can be brought into tight contact with at least a part
of the inner peripheral surface of the insertion section 119, so
that the male connector 170 and the female connector 100 can be
connected to each other precisely without the leakage of the
liquid-like substance.
[0151] It is preferred that continuous annular protrusions 115 in a
circumferential direction (i.e., along a circle formed by a plane
orthogonal to the center axis 111 and the inner peripheral surface
of the insertion section 119) are formed on the inner peripheral
surface of the insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110, as shown
in FIG. 2B. According to this configuration, as shown in FIG. 5B,
when the adaptor 110 is connected to the tubular section 172 of the
male connector 170, the protrusions 115 come into tight contact
with the outer peripheral surface of the tubular section 172 easily
to be deformed elastically. The degree of the deformation varies
depending upon the shape, size (for example, a taper angle, an
outer diameter, etc.), and the like of the tubular section 172 of
the male connector 170. Thus, the protrusions 115 on the inner
peripheral surface of the insertion section 119 can be deformed
appropriately to be brought into tight contact with the outer
peripheral surface of the tubular section 172, depending upon the
shape, size and the like of the outer peripheral surface of the
tubular section 172 of the male connector 170. It is preferred that
the annular protrusions 115 are provided at a plurality of
positions in the direction of the center axis 111, as shown in FIG.
2B. According to this configuration, even if the shape, size, and
the like of the outer peripheral surface of the tubular section 172
of the male connector 170 vary depending upon manufacturers and
specifications, at least one of a plurality of protrusions 115 can
be brought into tight contact with the outer peripheral surface of
the tubular section 172 to be deformed, depending upon the shape,
size, and the like of the tubular section 172. Needless to say, one
annular protrusion 115 may be used.
[0152] As shown in FIG. 2B, it is preferred that a difference in
level 116, which changes the inner diameter of the inner peripheral
surface of the insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110 in a step
shape so that the inner diameter becomes smaller at the lower end
side compared with that at the upper end side, is formed on the
inner peripheral surface in an annular shape continuously in the
circumferential direction. According to this configuration, even if
the tubular section 172 is thin, the adaptor 110 can be connected
thereto. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the outer peripheral surface
of the thin tubular section 172 comes into tight contact with a
portion 119b with a smaller inner diameter on the lower end side of
the difference in level 116 of the inner peripheral surface of the
insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110. This enlarges the range
of the shape, size, and the like of the outer peripheral surface of
the tubular section 172 of the male connector 170 that can be
connected to the female connector. It is preferred that a portion
of the inner peripheral surface of the insertion section 119 on the
lower end side of the difference in level 116 has a tapered surface
whose inner diameter increases toward the upper end, in the same
way as in a portion on the upper end side of the difference in
level 116. Further, a continuous annular protrusion in the
circumferential direction may be formed. A plurality of differences
in level 116, which change the inner diameter in a step shape, may
be provided in the direction of the center axis 111.
[0153] The above embodiment is an example, and the present
invention is not limited thereto.
[0154] For example, the inner peripheral surface of the insertion
section 119 of the adaptor 110 may be a cylindrical surface with an
inner diameter being constant in the direction of the center axis
111, instead of the tapered surface. Further, the inner peripheral
surface of the insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110 may not be
provided with the protrusions 115. Further, the difference in level
116 may not be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the
insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110. In any case, since the
insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110 is deformed elastically
depending upon the shape, size, and the like of the tubular section
172 of the male connector 170, the male connector 170 and the
female connector 100 can be connected to each other precisely
without the leakage of the liquid-like substance.
[0155] Further, the flange section 113 does not need to be provided
at the upper end of the adaptor 110 in the direction of the center
axis 111 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The flange section 113 may be
provided at a position on a lower end side slightly away from the
upper end of the adaptor 110 as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. As long
as the flange section 113 is formed in the vicinity of the upper
end of the adaptor 110, the adaptor 110 can be installed on the
tubular section 172 of the male connector 170 without being buckled
and deformed. If a distance D1 from the upper end of the adaptor
110 to the flange 113 is too large, a portion from the upper end of
the adaptor 110 to the flange 113 is likely to be budded and
deformed when the adaptor 110 is installed on the tubular section
172 of the male connector 170. The distance D1 can be set
appropriately considering the mechanical characteristics and the
like of the adaptor 110, and generally is set to be 10.0 mm or
less, preferably 5.0 mm or less.
[0156] Further, it is not necessary that the flange section 113 is
formed in an annular shape continuously in the circumferential
direction of the adaptor 110, and the flange section 113 may be
formed, for example, as two flange sections 113a, 113b shown in
FIG. 8 independently in the circumferential direction. In the case
where the flange section 113 is formed so as to be divided in the
circumferential direction, the number thereof is not limited to two
as shown in FIG. 8. The flange section 113 may be divided into
three, four, or five or more.
[0157] In the female connector 100 shown in the above embodiment,
when the hand is taken off the handle 120 after the adaptor 110 of
the female connector 100 is connected to the tubular section 172 of
the male connector 170 as shown in FIG. 5B, there is a possibility
that the handle 120 may drop downward. Since the tube 107 passes
through a through-hole at the center of the handle 120, the handle
120 will not drop from the tube 107. However, when the handle 120
moves to a position far away from the adaptor 110, an operation
becomes complicated, for example, in the case where the adaptor 110
is attached/detached repeatedly with respect to the tubular section
172 of the male connector 170. Further, in the course of production
of a transintestine nutrient set, when the handle 120 moves to a
position away from the adaptor 110, an external force is applied to
the handle 120 accidentally when handling of the transintestine
nutrient set or the like is performed, with the result that the
handle 120 may be broken. Thus, it is preferred that a mechanism
holding the handle 120 at a desired position is provided at the
female connector.
[0158] For example, as the mechanism holding the handle 120, as
shown in FIG. 9A, a pair of locking protrusions 117 (in FIG. 9A,
one of the locking protrusions 117 is not seen) protruding outward
(in a direction orthogonal to the center axis 111) may be provided
on the outer peripheral surface of the tube-shaped section 112 of
the adaptor 110. As shown in FIG. 9B, the locking protrusions 117
prevent the handle 120 from dropping by abutting on the lower end
of the handle 120. That is, the handle 120 has its movement in the
direction of the center axis 111 with respect to the adaptor 110
limited by the flange section 113 and the pair of locking
protrusions 117. The locking protrusions 117 can be molded
integrally with the adaptor 110, using the same material as that
for the adaptor 110. Thus, the locking protrusions 117 can be
deformed elastically and allow the handle 120 to move beyond the
locking protrusions 117 from one side to the other side with
respect to the locking protrusions 117 in the direction of the
center axis 111. Although the number of the locking protrusions 117
is two in the example shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the present
invention is not limited thereto, and one or at least three locking
protrusions 117 may be used. In the case where a plurality of
locking protrusions 117 are provided, it is preferred that they are
placed at an equal angular interval with respect to the center axis
111. It is preferred that the plurality of locking protrusions 117
are provided at the same position in the direction of the center
axis 111. Further, the locking protrusions 117 may be continuous in
an annular shape in the circumferential direction of the
tube-shaped section 112.
[0159] Alternatively, as the mechanism holding the handle 120, a
plurality of contact protrusions 118 protruding outward (in a
direction orthogonal to the center axis 111) may be provided on the
outer peripheral surface of the adaptor 110, for example, as shown
in FIGS. 10A and 10B. FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taken
along a line 10B-10B in FIG. 10A. The plurality of contact
protrusions 118 in the present example are formed in a ridge shape
in an up-and-down direction at an equal angular interval with
respect to the center axis 111 on the outer peripheral surface of
the tube-shaped section 112 of the adaptor 120. The contact
protrusions 118 can be molded integrally with the adaptor 110,
using the same material as that for the adaptor 110. The plurality
of contact protrusions 118 prevent the handle 120 from dropping by
the static friction generated when the plurality of contact
protrusions 118 come into contact with at least a part of the inner
peripheral surface of the handle 120 (in particular, the inner
peripheral surface of the small-diameter section 122) and are
slightly deformed elastically. The shape and placement of the
contact protrusions 118 are not limited to those in the example
shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. For example, the contact protrusions
118 may be any of protrusions in a ridge shape extending in the
circumferential direction, protrusions in a ridge shape extending
in a spiral shape, protrusions in a columnar shape or a cone shape,
and the like.
[0160] Even in the case where the locking protrusions 117 shown in
FIGS. 9A and 9B, and the contact protrusions 118 shown in FIGS. 10A
and 10B are provided on the adaptor 110, the handle 120 can be
moved to a position away from the adaptor 110. Thus, for example,
in the case where it is difficult to insert the tubular section 172
deeply into the insertion section 119 since the outer diameter of
the insertion section 119 is enlarged by the thick tubular section
172 and the outer peripheral surface of the insertion section 19
bumps against the inner peripheral surface of the handle 120, the
handle 120 can be moved to a position where the handle 120 does not
become an obstacle for inserting the tubular section 172 into the
insertion section 119.
[0161] As the mechanism holding the handle 120, for example, as
shown in FIG. 11, a holding member 150 may be attached to the tube
107 connected to the lower end of the adaptor 110. The holding
member 150 is made of a material capable of being deformed
elastically, and has a substantially doughnut shape. Since the
inner diameter of the holding member 150 is the same as or slightly
smaller than the outer diameter of the tube 107, the holding member
150 can be fixed to an arbitrary position of the tube 107 using
friction. Since the outer diameter of the holding member 150 is
larger than the inner diameter of the handle 120, the handle 120
cannot move beyond the holding member 150 to a position far away
from the adaptor 110. The holding member 150 is provided with a
slit 151 in a radial direction. The holding member 150 is deformed
elastically so that two end faces of the holding member 150
sandwiching the slit 151 separate from each other in the
up-and-down direction, whereby the position in the longitudinal
direction of the tube 107 to which the holding member 150 is
attached can be changed, and the holding member 150 can be
attached/detached with respect to the tube 107 by allowing the tube
107 to pass through the slit 151. FIG. 11 shows an example, to
which the present invention is not limited. For example, the
holding member may be configured in such a manner that the tube 107
is sandwiched by two bar-shaped members placed in parallel.
Further, the holding member may be bonded to the tube by a method
such as adhesion or welding. Further, the holding member having a
configuration similar to the above may be attached to the vicinity
of the lower end of the adaptor 110, instead of the tube 107.
[0162] Alternatively, as the mechanism holding the handle 120, for
example, as shown in FIG. 12, a holding member 160 may be attached
to the handle 120. The holding member 160 is composed of a band 161
to be mounted on the tube 107, and a cord 162 connecting the band
161 to the handle 120. The band 161 has flexibility, and one end
thereof is provided with a protrusion 163 and the other end thereof
is provided with a through-hole 164. The distance between the
protrusion 163 and the through-hole 164 is substantially the same
as or shorter than the outer peripheral length of the tube 107. The
band 161 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the tube
107, and the protrusion 163 is inserted into the through-hole 164
to engage them with each other, whereby the band 161 is mounted so
as to tighten the outer peripheral surface of the tube 107. In this
state, the handle 120 cannot move to a position far away from the
band 161 beyond the length of the cord 162. The band 161 may be
mounted in the vicinity of the lower end of the adaptor 110,
instead of the tube 107, by adjusting the length of the band 161
appropriately.
[0163] The handle 120 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B has the
large-diameter section 123 so as to store the flange section 113 of
the adaptor 110. However, the handle of the present invention only
needs to have the flange holding section 121 holding the lower
surface 114 of the flange section 113 and may not have the
large-diameter section 123. For example, as in a handle 120A shown
in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the inner peripheral surface and the outer
peripheral surface may have a tapered surface without a difference
in level in a step shape. In this case, the upper end face of the
handle 120A functions as the flange holding section 121.
[0164] Further, the shape of the handle seen from above and below
is not limited to a circle. For example, the shape seen from above
and below may be a rectangle as in a handle 120B shown in FIG. 14A,
a triangle as in a handle 120C shown in FIG. 14B, or other shapes
such as a polygon, an oval, and an ellipse. Further, when seen from
above and below, it is not necessary that the shape of the outer
peripheral surface of the handle is matched with the shape of the
inner peripheral surface thereof. For example, when seen from above
and below, the inner peripheral surface surrounding the adaptor may
be a circle and the outer peripheral surface may be a rectangle.
Further, the inner peripheral surface of the handle may be provided
with a plurality of protrusions in a dome shape, a cylindrical
surface shape, or the like, or unevenness in a gear shape in the
circumferential direction, and further, the inner peripheral
surface of the handle may be provided with a minute uneven
pattern.
[0165] Further, the inner size of the inner peripheral surface of
the handle and/or the outer size of the outer peripheral surface
thereof do not need to change in a tapered shape so that the upper
end side is larger than the lower end side, and may be constant in
the direction in the center axis 111. Alternatively, the inner size
of the inner peripheral surface of the handle and/or the outer size
of the outer peripheral surface thereof may change in a tapered
shape so that the upper end side is smaller than the lower end
side.
[0166] In particular, as in a handle 120D shown in FIGS. 15A and
15B, the inner size of the inner peripheral surface may change in a
tapered shape so that the upper end side is smaller than the lower
end side. As shown in FIG. 5A, the outer peripheral surface of the
tubular section 172 of the male connector generally has a tapered
surface so that the outer diameter decreases toward the tip end in
most cases. When the handle 120D shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B is used
with respect to the tubular section 172 of such a male connector,
the inner diameter becomes minimum. An opening edge 131 on the
upper end face locally comes into tight contact with the insertion
section 119, in which the tubular section 172 is inserted, to
fasten the insertion section 119. That is, a "squeezing effect" is
obtained, in which the local part of the insertion section 119 is
pinched strongly by the tubular section 172 on the inner side
thereof and the opening edge 131 of the handle 120D on the outer
side thereof. This enhances the connection strength between the
tubular section 172 of the male connector and the adaptor 110.
Thus, in the case of using the squeezing effect, the possibility
that the adaptor 110 comes off the tubular section 172 accidentally
is reduced and safety is enhanced, compared with the case of not
using the squeezing effect.
[0167] The shape of the handle exhibiting the above-mentioned
squeezing effect is not limited to the handle 120D shown in FIGS.
15A and 15B. For example, as in a handle 120E shown in FIGS. 16A
and 16B, a small-diameter section 132 whose inner size is smaller
than that of the other portions may be formed at a position
slightly away from the flange holding section 121 on the inner
peripheral surface of the handle 120E. The small-diameter section
132 is formed in an annular shape continuously in the
circumferential direction. An edge 133 on the upper side of the
small-diameter section 132 locally comes into tight contact with
the insertion section 119, in which the tubular section 172 is
inserted, to tighten the insertion section 119, thereby exhibiting
the squeezing effect. In FIGS. 16A and 16B, the inner size of the
inner peripheral surface of the small-diameter section 132 changes
in a tapered shape so that the upper side is smaller than the lower
side. This enables a larger squeezing effect to be obtained. It
should be noted that the inner size of the inner peripheral surface
of the small-diameter section 132 may be constant in the
up-and-down direction.
[0168] In FIGS. 15A and 15B, and 16A and 16B, the position where
the handle comes into tight contact with the outer peripheral
surface of the insertion section 119 in which the tubular section
172 is inserted has an annular shape continuous in the
circumferential direction. However, the present invention is not
limited thereto, and the position where the handle comes into tight
contact with the outer peripheral surface of the insertion section
119 may be discontinuous in the circumferential direction. For
example, a plurality of protrusions in a dome shape, a cylindrical
surface shape, or the like, or unevenness in a gear shape is formed
in the circumferential direction at a position of the inner
peripheral surface of the handle which is to come into tight
contact with the outer peripheral surface of the insertion section
119, or the inner peripheral surface of the handle that comes into
tight contact with the outer peripheral surface of the insertion
section 119 is formed in a polygonal or oval shape, whereby the
position where the insertion section 119 is squeezed may be made
discontinuous.
[0169] Further, various uneven shapes or the like may be provided
on the outer peripheral surface of the handle so as to enhance the
grasping property and slip prevention for fingers.
[0170] Further, although the above-mentioned handles 120, 120A,
120B, 120C, 120D, and 120E all have an annular shape surrounding
the adaptor 110 without a rift, the handle of the present invention
is not limited thereto. For example, as in a handle 120F shown in
FIG. 17, a slit 125 connecting the upper end to the lower end of
the handle 120F may be formed so that the handle becomes
discontinuous in the circumferential direction. The shape of the
handle 120F seen from above and below is a substantially C-shape.
This enables, for example, the following effect to be obtained.
When the adaptor 110 is installed on the thick tubular section 172
with a handle, the insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110
elongates in accordance with the outer diameter of the tubular
section 172 and the outer diameter of the insertion section 119
becomes large. If the handle is not provided with the slit 125, the
upper limit of the outer diameter of the insertion section 119 is
matched with the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface of
the handle that abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the
adaptor. Thus, the upper limit of the outer diameter of the tubular
section 172 capable of being connected to the adaptor 110 depends
upon the inner diameter of the handle. In contrast, in the case of
the handle 120F provided with the slit 125, the handle 120F is
deformed elastically, whereby the inner diameter of the inner
peripheral surface thereof can be enlarged. Thus, even in the
handles having the same inner diameter, if the handle 120F provided
with the slit 125 is used, the adaptor 110 can be connected to the
thicker tubular section 172, compared with the handle not provided
with the slit 125.
[0171] There is no particular limit to a width D2 of the slit 125
in the circumferential direction. Tithe width D2 is set to be
narrow so that the adaptor 110 and the tube 107 connected thereto
cannot pass through the slit 125, the handle 120F can be prevented
from dropping. Conversely, for example, the width D2 can be set so
large that the tube 107 can pass through the slit 125. By setting
the width D2 as such, the handle 120F can be removed after the
adaptor 110 is connected to the tubular section 172 of the male
connector 170, using the handle 120F, and thereafter, the handle
120F can be attached again. That is, a female connector, with
respect to which the handle 120F can be attached/detached, can be
realized. For example, when the outer diameter of the insertion
section 119 of the adaptor 110 is enlarged by the thick tubular
section 172 of the male connector, and the elastic deformation of
the handle 120F exceeds the upper limit of the allowable range, the
handle 120F may be removed from the adaptor 110. Further, in the
case where the handle does not have an engagement shape (see
Embodiments 2 to 4 described later) adaptable to the male
connector, the handle may be removed after the adaptor 110 and the
tubular section 172 are connected to each other. Further, after
that, in the case of connecting the adaptor to another tubular
section, the handle can be fitted again.
[0172] A handle 120G shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B is provided with a
slit 126 connecting the upper end to the lower end of the handle
120G. A hinge 127 capable of being deformed elastically is formed
at a position opposed to the slit 126 by setting the thickness
relatively small. More specifically, the handle 120G has two halves
120G.sub.1, 120G.sub.2. The slit 126 is formed between each one end
of the halves 120G.sub.1, 120G.sub.2, and the respective other ends
are connected to each other via the hinge 127. On the end faces of
the two halves 120G.sub.1, 120G.sub.2 opposed to each other via the
slit 126, fitting shapes 128a, 128b to be fitted with each other
are formed. The two halves 120G.sub.1, 120G.sub.2 can be rotated in
directions indicated by arrows 129a, 129b with respect to the hinge
127 by deforming the hinge 127 elastically, which allows the end
faces of the two halves 120G.sub.1, 120G.sub.2 opposed to each
other via the slit 126 to separate from each other. The fitting
shapes 128a, 128b prevent the positional shift between the end
faces of the two halves 120G.sub.1, 120G.sub.2 when the end faces
are brought into contact with each other. The handle 120G enables
the adaptor 110 to be connected to the thick tubular section 172 in
the same way as in the handle 120F. Further, a female connector,
with respect to which the handle 120G can be attached/detached, can
be realized.
[0173] As shown in FIGS. 17, 18A, and 18B, when the handles 120F,
120G are provided with the slits 125, 126, the rigidity of the
handles 120F, 120G decreases, so that the above-mentioned squeezing
effect by the handle decreases. In order to obtain a desired
squeezing effect even when a slit is formed, diameter expansion
limitation means 140 that limits the expansion of the diameter of
the handle may be provided as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B. A handle
120G' shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B is the same as the handle 120G
shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B except that the diameter expansion
limitation means 140 is provided. As shown in FIG. 19A, the
diameter expansion limitation means 140 includes a band 141 made of
a material that is unlikely to elongate (i.e., that has a very high
spring coefficient) and having flexibility. One end of the band 141
is fixed to the half 120G.sub.1 with a fixing pin 142, and a
locking pin 143 is attached to the other end of the band 141. A
locking hole 144 is formed in the half 120G.sub.2. In the case
where the squeezing effect of the handle 120G' is required, the
locking pin 143 is inserted into the locking hole 144, as shown in
FIG. 19B. In the case where the outer diameter of the tubular
section 172 is large, the hinge 127 is deformed elastically so that
the two halves 120G.sub.1, 120G.sub.2 separate from each other and
the diameter of the handle 120G' expands; however, the band 141
placed across the two halves 120G.sub.1, 120G.sub.2 limits the
expansion of the diameter of the handle 120G'. This enables the
squeezing effect to be obtained. It is preferred that the upper
limit for the diameter of the handle 120G' to expand varies
depending upon the outer diameter of the tubular section 172, and
for this purpose, for example, the length of the band 141 is
changed, or a plurality of locking holes 144 are formed at
different positions so as to change appropriately the locking hole
144 into which the locking pin 143 is inserted. FIGS. 19A and 19B
show an example in which the diameter expansion limitation means
140 is provided at the handle 120G shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B,
however, similar diameter expansion limitation means may be
provided at the handle 120F shown in FIG. 17. The diameter
expansion limitation means 140 shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B is an
example, and the present invention is not limited to this
configuration as long as the expansion of the diameter of the
handle can be limited.
[0174] The movement limitation means of the female connector of the
present invention sets at least the terminating end on the upper
side (upper limit position) of the range in which the handle can
move relative to the adaptor in the direction of the center axis
111 of the adaptor. As an example, in the above-mentioned female
connector 100, the adaptor 110 is provided with the flange section
113, and the handle 120 is provided with the flange holding section
121 that abuts on the lower surface of the flange section 113 (FIG.
1).
[0175] However, the movement limitation means of the female
connector of the present invention is not limited to the above, and
further, the movement limitation means may set the terminating end
on the lower side (lower limit position) of the range in which the
handle can move relative to the adaptor in the direction of the
center axis 111 of the adaptor.
[0176] FIG. 20A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of a female connector 100A according to Embodiment 1
having the movement limitation means that sets the terminating ends
on the upper and lower sides of the range in which the handle moves
with respect to the adaptor, and FIG. 20B is a cross-sectional view
thereof. FIG. 21A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of an adaptor 110A constituting the female connector
100A, and FIG. 21B is a cross-sectional view thereof. FIG. 22A is a
perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a handle 120H
constituting the female connector 100A and FIG. 22B is a
cross-sectional view thereof. In these figures, members having the
same functions as those shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B
are denoted with the same reference numerals as those therein, and
the description thereof will be omitted.
[0177] The adaptor 110A shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B is different
from the adaptor 110 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B in that the flange
section 113 is not provided and an annular groove 190 is formed,
which is placed on the outer peripheral surface of the tube-shaped
section 112 in the circumferential direction.
[0178] The handle 120H shown in FIGS. 22A and 22B is different from
the handle 120 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B in that the flange holding
section 121 and the large-diameter section 123 are not provided,
and an annular fitting section 191 is formed, which protrudes from
the inner peripheral surface and is placed in the circumferential
direction.
[0179] As shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the fitting section 191 of
the handle 120H is fitted in the groove 190 of the adaptor 110A. As
is apparent from them, in the female connector 100A, the groove 190
of the adaptor 110A and the fitting section 191 of the handle 120H
function as the movement limitation means that sets the terminating
ends on the upper and lower sides (upper and lower limit positions)
of the range in which the handle 120H can move relative to the
adaptor 110A in the direction of the center axis 111.
[0180] Further, the fitting section 191 provided on the handle 120H
is allowed to exhibit the above-mentioned squeezing effect.
[0181] When the width of the groove 190 in the direction of the
center axis 111 is defined to be W1 and the width of the fitting
section 191 in the direction of the center axis is defined to be
W2, it is preferred that 1.0.ltoreq.W1/W2.ltoreq.1.5 is satisfied.
When the W1/W2 is smaller than the lower limit, it is difficult to
fit the fitting section 191 of the handle 120H in the groove 190 of
the adaptor 110A. When W1/W2 is larger than the upper limit, the
range in which the handle 120H can move relative to the adaptor
110A is enlarged. Therefore, the center axis of the handle 120H
becomes likely to tilt with respect to the center axis 111 of the
adaptor 110A, which makes it necessary to perform a complicated
operation such as the correction of the direction of the tilting
handle 120H or causes the fitting section 191 to come off the
groove 190.
[0182] In the above-mentioned female connector 100A, a part of the
inner peripheral surface of the handle 120H in the direction of the
center axis 111 is protruded to form the fitting section 191;
however, the entire inner peripheral surface of the handle 120H in
the direction of the center axis 111 may be used as a fitting
section. More specifically, the entire handle in the direction of
the center axis 111 may be designed so as to be fitted in the
groove 190 formed in the adaptor 110A.
[0183] In the above-mentioned female connector 100A, the groove 190
is provided on the surface of the adaptor 110A opposed to the
handle 120H, and the fitting section 191 is provided on the surface
of the handle 120H opposed to the adaptor 110A. However, a groove
may be provided on the surface of the handle 120H opposed to the
adaptor 110A, and a fitting section to be fitted in the groove may
be provided on the surface of the adaptor 110A opposed to the
handle 120H.
[0184] FIG. 23A is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of a female connector 100B according to Embodiment 1
having the movement limitation means that sets the terminating ends
on the upper and lower sides of the range in which the handle moves
with respect to the adaptor, and FIG. 23B is a cross-sectional view
thereof. The female connector 100B includes an adaptor 110B and a
handle 120I fitted on the adaptor 110B. In FIGS. 23A and 23B,
members having the same functions as those in FIGS. 1A and 1B are
denoted with the same reference numerals as those therein, and the
description thereof will be omitted.
[0185] The female connector 100B shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B is
different from the female connector 100 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B in
that the adaptor 110B does not have the flange section 113, the
handle 120I does not have the flange holding section 121 and the
large-diameter section 123, and the adaptor 110B and the handle
120I are bonded to each other by a bonding section 195. In the
female connector 100B, the bonding section 195 functions as the
movement limitation means that sets the terminating ends on the
upper and lower sides (upper and lower limit positions) of the
range in which the handle 120I can move relative to the adaptor
110B in the direction of the center axis 111.
[0186] A method for bonding the adaptor 110B and the handle 120I to
each other by the bonding section 195 is not particularly limited,
and for example, coating of an adhesive or welding can be used.
[0187] Various modified examples as described above can be applied
to the above-mentioned female connectors 100A, 100B. The following
should be noted: the movement range of the handles 120H, 120I with
respect to the adaptors 110A, 110B is limited, so that the female
connector having such movement limitation means does not require
the mechanisms for holding a handle at a predetermined position
shown in FIGS. 9 to 12.
Embodiment 2
[0188] In Embodiment 2, a female connector in which an engagement
shape for preventing an adaptor connected to a tubular section of a
male connector from coming off the tubular section accidentally is
provided on a handle, and a male connector provided with an
engagement shape corresponding thereto will be described.
[0189] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a male connector 270
according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 25A is a
front view of the male connector 270, and FIG. 25B is a bottom view
thereof. In FIG. 24, alternate long and short dashed lines 271
indicate a center axis of the male connector 270. The direction of
the center axis 271 is defined as an up-and-down direction, and an
upper side on the drawing surface of FIG. 24 (a side connected to
the port 930 of the medical container 910) will be referred to as
an "upper side", and a lower side on the drawing surface of the
figure (a side to which a female connector is connected) will be
referred to as a "lower side".
[0190] On the inner peripheral surface of a cap section 280, a
female thread 281 (see FIG. 30) to be screwed with the male thread
section 936 (see FIG. 4) of the port 930 of the medical container
910 is formed. On the lower surface of the cap section 280, a
circular region protrudes downward by a height HM21 from the center
compared with an annular region 283 in the surrounding of the
circular region, whereby a platform 282 is provided. A tubular
section 272 protruding downward is provided at the center of the
platform 282. The outer peripheral surface of the tubular section
272 of the present example has a tapered surface (truncated cone
surface) with an outer diameter increasing toward the cap 280. In
the tubular section 272, a through-hole 273, out of which the
liquid-like substance in the pouch 920 flows, is formed.
[0191] On the outer peripheral surface of the platform 282, a pair
of engagement tabs 284 are formed so as to protrude in a radial
direction with respect to the center axis 271 at symmetrical
positions with respect to the center axis 271. The engagement tab
284 includes an engagement chip 285 extending substantially in a
horizontal direction, and a lock protrusion 286 formed so as to
protrude upward at one end of the engagement chip 285. The lower
surface of the platform 282 is a flat surface, and is matched with
the lower surfaces of the pair of engagement tabs 284. The shapes
of the pair of engagement tabs 284 are symmetrical with respect to
the center axis 271. The outer diameter of the platform 282 is
DM21, and the distance between tops of the pair of engagement tabs
284 is DM22 (DM22>DM21).
[0192] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a handle 220 constituting
the female connector according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 27A is a plan
view of the handle 220, FIG. 27B is a front view thereof, and FIG.
27C is a right side view thereof. FIG. 28A is a cross-sectional
view taken along a line 28A-28A in FIG. 27B, and FIG. 28B is a
cross-sectional view taken along a line 28B-28B in FIG. 27C. Since
an adaptor constituting the female connector according to
Embodiment 2 together with the handle 220 is the same as that
described in Embodiment 1, the description thereof will be omitted.
In FIGS. 28A and 28B, alternate long and short dashed lines 111
indicate the center axis of the adaptor described in Embodiment 1
to be inserted into the handle 220, and the center axis of the
adaptor is matched with the center axis of the female connector of
Embodiment 2 and the center axis of the handle 220. As described in
Embodiment 1, the direction of the center axis 111 is defined as an
up-and-down direction, and a side connected to the male connector
will be referred to as an "upper side", and an opposite side
thereof will be referred to as a "lower side".
[0193] The handle 220 has a substantially cylindrical shape as a
whole, and has a large-diameter section 223 having an inner
diameter larger than the outer diameter of the flange section 113
of the adaptor 110 in the vicinity of the upper end thereof, and a
small-diameter section 222 having an inner diameter larger than the
outer diameter of the tube-shaped section 112 of the adaptor 110
and smaller than the outer diameter of the flange section 113 on
the lower side of the large-diameter section 223. Then, a flange
holding section 221 is formed between the small-diameter section
222 and the large-diameter section 223. A grasping section 224 in a
substantially cylindrical shape is provided on the lower side of
the small-diameter section 222.
[0194] A pair of brim sections 230 are formed around and on the
upper side of the large-diameter section 223. The brim section 230
includes an arc-shaped wall 231 substantially along the cylindrical
surface with the center axis 111 being a center axis, and a bridge
section 232 that extends in a direction perpendicular to the center
axis 111 and connects the lower end of the arc-shaped wall 231 to
the upper end of the large-diameter section 223. The arc-shaped
wall 231 roughly is classified into three regions: a passage region
233, an engagement region 234, and a sliding region 235, in
accordance with the difference in shape of the inner peripheral
surface opposed to the center axis 111. The inner peripheral
surface of the passage region 233 is a part of the cylindrical
surface with a diameter DF21, and the inner peripheral surface of
the sliding region 235 is a part of the cylindrical surface with a
diameter DF22 (DF22<DF21). The engagement region 234 between the
passage region 233 and the sliding region 235 includes an
engagement wall 236 at an upper end, which extends in the
circumferential direction so as to connect the upper end of the
passage region 233 to the upper end of the sliding region 235. A
region between the engagement wall 236 and the bridge section 232
is dented in a concave shape, and in the present example, a
through-hole 237 opened in the radial direction is formed. The
inner peripheral surface of the engagement wall 236 opposed to the
center axis 111 is a part of the cylindrical surface with a
diameter DF22. Thus, when seen from the center axis 111, the
through-hole 237 provided on the bridge section 232 side with
respect to the engagement wall 236 is recessed relatively to form a
concave portion, and the sliding region 235 adjacent to the
through-hole 237 in the circumferential direction protrudes
relative to the through-hole 237 to form a convex portion. On the
lower surface (the surface on the bridge section 232 side) of an
end of the engagement wall 236 on the sliding region 235 side is
provided with a lock concave portion 238 dented in a concave shape.
The height of the arc-shaped wall 231 from the upper surface of the
bridge section 232 in the direction of the center axis 111 is HF21.
The pair of brim sections 230 are symmetrical with respect to the
center axis 111. A distance HF22 in the direction of the center
axis 111 between the upper surface of the flange holding section
221 and the upper surface of the bridge section 232 is
substantially the same as or slightly larger than the distance in
the direction of the center axis 111 from the upper end of the
adaptor 110 to the lower surface 114 of the flange section 113.
[0195] The inner size DF21 between a pair of opposed passage
regions 233 is larger than the distance DM22 between the tops of
the pair of engagement tabs 284 of the male connector 270
(DM22<DF21). The inner size DF22 between a pair of opposed
sliding regions 235 is smaller than the distance DM22 between the
tops of the pair of engagement tabs 284 of the male connector 270
and larger than the outer diameter DM21 of the platform 282
(DM21<DF22<DM22). The height HF21 of the arc-shaped wall 231
is substantially the same as the height HM21 of the platform 282 of
the male connector 270 (HF21.apprxeq.HM21).
[0196] A method for connecting the female connector to the male
connector 270 in Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to
FIG. 29. In FIG. 29, a medical container including a port, to which
the male connector 270 is connected, is omitted. The adaptor 110 is
inserted into the handle 220, and the lower surface 114 of the
flange section 113 of the adaptor 110 is supported by the flange
holding section 221 of the handle 220. In this state, the outer
peripheral surface of the grasping section 224 of the handle 220 is
grasped with two fingers, and the adaptor 110 is installed on the
tubular section 272 in the direction indicated by an arrow 202 so
that the adaptor 110 covers the outer peripheral surface of the
tubular section 272 of the male connector 270. In the same way as
in Embodiment 1, the insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110 has
flexibility and elasticity, so that the insertion section 119 is
deformed in accordance with the shape of the outer peripheral
surface of the tubular section 272 of the male connector 270 and
comes into tight contact with the outer peripheral surface of the
tubular section 272 due to the elastic recovery force. On the other
hand, the handle 220 has a high rigidity, so that the grasping
force applied to the handle 220 in a diameter direction thereof by
the two fingers will not increase the friction between the
insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110 and the tubular section
272. Further, the flange section 113 is formed at a front end of
the adaptor 110 in the direction indicated by the arrow 202, so
that the adaptor 110 will not be buckled and deformed due to the
force applied to the handle 220 in the direction indicated by the
arrow 202 by the two fingers.
[0197] After the tubular section 272 of the male connector 270 is
inserted deeply into the insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110,
the handle 220 further is pushed in the direction indicated by the
arrow 202 with respect to the male connector 270. The flange
section 113 of the adaptor 110 is deformed elastically in the
direction indicated by the arrow 202 by the flange holding section
221 of the handle 220, and the outer peripheral surface of the
platform 282 of the male connector 270 is fitted between the pair
of sliding regions 235 of the arc-shaped walls 231 of the handle
220. Finally, the upper end faces of the arc-shaped walls of the
handle 220 abut on the annular region 283 of the male connector
270, and the upper surfaces of the bridge sections 232 of the
handle 220 abut on the lower surface of the platform 282 of the
male connector 270. In this state, the handle 220 is rotated
clockwise around the center axis 111 with respect to the male
connector 270. The pair of engagement tabs 284 formed on the outer
peripheral surface of the platform 282 of the male connector 270
pass through the pair of passage regions 233 of the arc-shaped
walls 231 of the handle 220 to reach the engagement regions 234.
The inner size DF22 between the pair of sliding regions 235 is
smaller than the distance DM22 between the tops of the pair of
engagement tabs 284 of the male connector 270. Therefore, after the
engagement tabs 284 abut on the ends of the sliding regions 235 on
the engagement region 234 side, the handle 220 cannot be rotated
any more with respect to the male connector 270. When the hand is
taken off the handle 220 in this state, the handle 220 moves
slightly in the direction opposite to the arrow 202 due to the
elastic recovery force of the flange section 113 of the adaptor 111
that is deformed elastically in the direction indicated by the
arrow 202, the lock protrusions 286 of the engagement tabs 284 of
the male connector 270 are fitted in the lock concave portions 238
of the handle 220, and the engagement chips 285 of the engagement
tabs 284 of the male connector 270 and the engagement walls 236 of
the handle 220 are engaged with each other. Thus, the handle 220
and the male connector 270 are engaged with each other, whereby the
adaptor 110 can be prevented from coming off the tubular section
272. FIG. 30 shows a state in which the female connector and the
male connector 270 are connected to each other. Since the lock
protrusions 286 of the engagement tabs 284 of the male connector
270 are fitted in the lock concave portions 238 of the handle 220,
even when a small impact such as the touch of a hand is applied,
the engagement state between the engagement chips 285 of the
engagement tabs 284 of the male connector 270 and the engagement
walls 236 of the handle 220 will not be broken.
[0198] The female connector can be separated from the male
connector 270 by performing the above operation in an opposite way.
That is, while the handle 220 is being pressed in the direction
indicated by the arrow 202 with respect to the male connector 270,
the handle 220 is rotated counterclockwise around the center axis
111 with respect to the male connector 270. Consequently, the lock
protrusions 286 of the engagement tabs 284 of the male connector
270 come off the lock concave portions 238 of the handle 220, and
the engagement tabs 284 of the male connector 270 move into the
passage regions 233 of the handle 220. The handle 220 moves
slightly in the direction opposite to the arrow 202 clue to the
elastic recovery force of the flange section 113 of the adaptor 110
that is deformed elastically in the direction indicated by the
arrow 202, whereby the engagement between the engagement chips 285
of the engagement tabs 284 and the engagement walls 236 of the
engagement regions 234 is cancelled. Then, the adaptor 110 is
pulled out from the tubular section 272 of the male connector
270.
[0199] If the shape of the periphery of the engagement tab 284
including the platform 282, provided on the male connector 270,
corresponds to the shape of the brim section 230 provided on the
handle 220, the handle 220 and the male connector 270 can be
engaged with each other. That is, even if the shape, size, and the
like of the tubular section 272 of the male connector 270 vary
depending upon the manufacturers and specifications, the handle 220
and the male connector 270 can be engaged with each other.
[0200] On the other hand, in Embodiment 2, in the same way as in
Embodiment 1, even if the shape, size (for example, a taper angle,
an outer diameter, etc.), and the like of the outer peripheral
surface of the tubular section 272 of the male connector 270 vary
depending upon the manufacturers and specifications, the insertion
section 119 of the adaptor 110 is deformed elastically in
accordance with the outer peripheral surface of the tubular section
272 of the male connector 270, so that the male connector 270 and
the female connector 200 can be connected to each other precisely
without the leakage of the liquid-like substance.
[0201] Thus, in the case where the male connector has the
engagement tab 284 corresponding to the shape of the brim section
230 of the handle 220 in Embodiment 2, the adaptor 110 can be
connected to the tubular section of the male connector, using the
handle 220, and further, the handle 220 and the male connector can
be engaged with each other.
[0202] On the other hand, in the case where the male connector does
not have the engagement tab 284 corresponding to the shape of the
brim section 230 of the handle 220 in Embodiment 2, the handle 220
is used only for connecting the adaptor 110 to the tubular section
of the male connector. In this case, it is preferred that the
mechanism (see FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A, and 10B) holding the handle 220,
described in Embodiment 1, is provided on the adaptor 110 so that
the handle 220 does not move to a position far away from the
adaptor 110 after the adaptor 110 is connected to the tubular
section of the male connector.
[0203] According to Embodiment 2, the handle 220 and the male
connector 270 can be engaged with each other, and the engagement
can be cancelled merely by rotating the handle 220 around the
center axis 111 with respect to the male connector 270. Further,
the rotation angle required at this time is small, i.e., less than
180.degree. in the above example, and thus, the operability is
satisfactory.
[0204] Further, the height HF21 of the arc-shaped wall 231 is
substantially the same as the height HM21 of the platform 282 of
the male connector 270 (HF21.apprxeq.HM21). Thus, when the upper
end face of the arc-shaped wall 231 of the handle 220 abuts on the
annular region 283 of the male connector 270, the upper surface of
the bridge section 232 of the handle 220 simultaneously abuts on
the lower surface of the platform 282 of the male connector 270.
Consequently, the handle 220 and the male connector 270 can be
engaged with each other precisely. Further, after the engagement,
the gap between the arc-shaped wall 231 of the handle 220 and the
annular region 283 of the male connector 270 can be reduced, so
that the connecting portion between the adaptor 110 and the tubular
section 272 of the male connector 270 can be substantially covered
with the arc-shaped wall 231, which is advantageous from the
sanitary point of view.
[0205] Further, since the lower surface of the platform 282 of the
male connector 270 is matched with the lower surface of the
engagement tab 284 (that is, the engagement tab 284 is provided
along the lower surface of the platform 282), the height HF21 of
the platform 282 of the male connector 270 can be reduced. Thus,
the height HF21 of the arc-shaped wall 231 of the handle 220 also
can be reduced. This can reduce the size in an up-and-down
direction of the male connector 270 and the handle 220.
[0206] The above-mentioned embodiment is an example, and the
present invention is not limited thereto.
[0207] For example, in the above embodiment, although the region
between the engagement wall 236 and the bridge section 232 of the
engagement region 234 of the handle 220 is the through-hole 237,
the through-hole 237 may be dosed with a wall. This enables the
connecting portion between the adaptor 110 and the tubular section
272 of the male connector 270 to be covered with the arc-shaped
wall 231 of the brim section 230, which is advantageous from the
sanitary point of view. At this time, the inner peripheral surface
of the wall needs to be recessed from the inner peripheral surface
of the engagement wall 236 so as to store the engagement tab 284,
and for example, the inner peripheral surface of the wall may be a
part of the cylindrical surface with the diameter DF21 that is the
same as that of the inner peripheral surface of the passage region
233.
[0208] Although the height HF21 of the arc-shaped wall 231 and the
height HM21 of the platform 282 of the male connector 270 are
substantially the same (HF21.apprxeq.HM21), both the heights may be
different from each other.
[0209] Further, the lower surface of the platform 282 of the male
connector 270 and the lower surface of the engagement tab 284 may
not be matched with each other.
[0210] Although the lock concave portion 238 is provided at an end
of the engagement wall 236 on the sliding region 235 side, the lock
concave portion 238 only needs to be provided on the engagement
wall 236 without being limited to the above position. Similarly,
the lock protrusion 286 is provided at one end of the engagement
chip 285; however, the lock protrusion 286 only needs to be
provided at the engagement chip 285 without being limited to the
above position.
[0211] Although the platform 282 of the male connector 270 has two
engagement tabs 284, the number of the engagement tabs 284 may be
three or more, instead of being limited to two. It is preferred
that the plurality of engagement tabs 284 are placed at an equal
angular interval with respect to the center axis 271 of the male
connector 270, irrespective of the number of the engagement tabs
284. Similarly, the number of the brim sections 230 of the handle
220 may be three or more, instead of being limited to two.
[0212] Further, in the above embodiment, although the two brim
sections 230 are formed discontinuously around the handle 220, the
brim sections 230 may be formed in an annular shape continuously
around the handle 220. Even in this case, the engagement region 234
is placed considering the arrangement of the engagement tab 284 of
the male connector 270, and the passage region 233 and the sliding
region 235 are placed with the engagement region 234 interposed
therebetween. The operation of engaging the handle 220 and the male
connector 270 with each other is facilitated by enlarging the
length of the passage region 233 in the circumferential direction.
The connecting portion between the adaptor 110 and the tubular
section 272 of the male connector 270 can be covered substantially
with the arc-shaped wall 231 of the brim section 230 by forming the
brim section 230 in an annular shape, which is advantageous from a
sanitary point of view.
[0213] In the present embodiment, the description of Embodiment 1
can be adapted as it is or with obvious alterations added thereto
appropriately.
Embodiment 3
[0214] In Embodiment 3, a female connector in which an engagement
shape for preventing an adaptor connected to a tubular section of a
male connector from coming off the tubular section accidentally is
provided on a handle, and a male connector provided with an
engagement shape corresponding thereto will be described.
[0215] FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a male connector 370
according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 32A is a
front view of the male connector 370, and FIG. 32B is a bottom view
thereof. In FIG. 31, alternate long and short dashed lines 371
indicate a center axis of the male connector 370. The direction of
the center axis 371 is defined as an up-and-down direction, and an
upper side on the drawing surface of FIG. 32 (a side connected to
the port 930 of the medical container 910) will be referred to as
an "upper side" and a lower side on the drawing surface of the
figure (a side connected to a female connector) will be referred to
as a "lower side".
[0216] On the inner peripheral surface of a cap section 380, a
female thread 381 to be screwed with the male thread section 936
(see FIG. 4) of the port 930 of the medical container 910 is formed
(see FIG. 37). On the lower surface of the cap section 380, a
circular region protrudes downward from the center compared with an
annular region 383 in the surrounding of the circular region,
whereby a platform 382 is provided. A tubular section 372
protruding downward is provided at the center of the platform 382.
The outer peripheral surface of the tubular section 372 of the
present example has a tapered surface (truncated cone surface) with
an outer diameter increasing toward the cap 380. In the tubular
section 372, a through-hole 373, out of which the liquid-like
substance in the pouch 920 flows, is formed.
[0217] On the outer peripheral surface of the platform 382, an
engagement protrusion 384 protruding in the radial direction with
respect to the center axis 371 is formed in an annular shape
continuously over the entire periphery of the platform 382. The
lower surface of the platform 382 is a flat surface, and is matched
with the lower surface of the engagement protrusion 384. An
undercut section 385 with an outer diameter smaller than that of
the engagement protrusion 384 is formed between the engagement
protrusion 384 and the annular region 383.
[0218] FIG. 33 is a perspective view of a handle 320 constituting
the female connector according to Embodiment 3 of the present
invention. FIG. 34A is a plan view of the handle 320, and FIG. 34B
is a front view thereof. FIG. 35A is a cross-sectional view taken
along a line 35A-35A in FIG. 34A, and FIG. 35B is a cross-sectional
view taken along a line 35B-35B in FIG. 34B. Since an adaptor
constituting the female connector according to Embodiment 3
together with the handle 320 is the same as that described in
Embodiment 1, the description thereof will be omitted. In FIGS. 35A
and 35B, alternate long and short dashed lines 111 indicate the
center axis of the adaptor described in Embodiment 1 to be inserted
into the handle 320, and the center axis of the adaptor is matched
with the center axis of the female connector of Embodiment 3 and
the center axis of the handle 320. As described in Embodiment 1,
the direction of the center axis 111 is defined as an up-and-down
direction, and a side connected to the male connector will be
referred to as an "upper side", and an opposite side thereof will
be referred to as a "lower side".
[0219] The handle 320 includes a frame 330 in an elliptical shape,
at the center of which a through-hole 322 is formed. The inner
diameter of the through-hole 322 is larger than the outer diameter
of the tube-shaped section 112 of the adaptor 110 and is smaller
than the outer diameter of the flange section 113. A pair of flange
holding sections 321 bulged upward are formed in the vicinity of
the through-hole 322 on the upper surface of the frame 330. The
pair of flange holding sections 321 are formed in an arc shape so
as to surround the through-hole 322 on both sides in a major axis
direction (a right-and-left direction on the drawing surface of
FIG. 34A) of the frame 330 with respect to the through-hole 322.
The diameter of the arc constituting the pair of flange holding
sections 321 is smaller than the outer diameter of the flange
section 113 of the adaptor 110.
[0220] A pair of clips 340 protruding upward and a pair of
operation sections 331 protruding downward are formed at both ends
in the major axis direction of the frame 330.
[0221] In each of the pair of clips 340, a pair of engagement tabs
341 protruding toward the clip 340 on the partner side and a pair
of abutment surfaces 343 directed upward are formed on a surface
(an inner peripheral surface) on the side opposed to the clip 340
on the partner side. The engagement tab 341 is formed at the upper
end of the clip 340 or in the vicinity thereof. On the upper
surface of the engagement tab 341, an inclined surface 342 inclined
with respect to the center axis 111 is formed. The abutment surface
343 is positioned slightly below the engagement tab 341.
[0222] A method for connecting the female connector of Embodiment 3
to the male connector 370 will be described with reference to FIG.
36. In FIG. 36, a medical container including a port, to which the
male connector 370 is connected, is not shown. The adaptor 110 is
inserted into the through-hole 322 of the handle 320, and the lower
surface 114 of the flange section 113 of the adaptor 110 is
supported by the flange holding sections 321 of the handle 320. In
this state, the outer peripheral surface of the frame 330 of the
handle 320 is grasped with two fingers, and the adaptor 110 is
installed on the tubular section 372 in the direction indicated by
an arrow 302 so that the adaptor 110 covers the outer peripheral
surface of the tubular section 372 of the male connector 370. In
the same way as in Embodiment 1, the insertion section 119 of the
adaptor 110 has flexibility and elasticity, so that the insertion
section 119 is deformed in accordance with the shape of the outer
peripheral surface of the tubular section 372 of the male connector
370 and comes into tight contact with the outer peripheral surface
of the tubular section 372 due to the elastic recovery force. On
the other hand, the handle 320 has a high rigidity, so that the
grasping force applied to the handle 320 in a diameter direction
thereof by the two fingers will not increase the friction between
the insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110 and the tubular
section 372. Further, the flange section 113 is formed at a front
end of the adaptor 110 in the direction indicated by the arrow 302,
so that the adaptor 110 will not be buckled and deformed due to the
force applied to the handle 320 in the direction indicated by the
arrow 302 by the two fingers.
[0223] After the tubular section 372 of the male connector 370 is
inserted deeply into the insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110,
the handle 320 further is pushed in the direction indicated by the
arrow 302 with respect to the male connector 370. The flange
section 113 of the adaptor 110 is deformed elastically in the
direction indicated by the arrow 302 by the flange holding sections
321 of the handle 320. Then, the inclined surfaces 342 formed at
the tip end of each clip 340 of the handle 320 abut on the
engagement protrusion 384 of the male connector 370, and the frame
330 is deformed elastically in a direction in which the upper ends
of the pair of clips 340 separate from each other. Further, when
the handle 320 is pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow
302 with respect to the male connector 370, the engagement tabs 341
of the clips 340 overpass the engagement protrusion 384 of the male
connector 370. Then, the frame 330 is recovered elastically, and
the engagement tabs 341 of the clips 340 are fitted in the undercut
section 385 of the male connector 370. Simultaneously, the upper
end faces of the clips 340 abut on the annular region 383 of the
male connector 370, and the abutment surfaces 343 of the clips 340
abut on the lower surface of the platform 382 of the male connector
370. In this state, when the hand is taken off the handle 320, the
handle 320 moves slightly in the direction opposite to the arrow
302 due to the elastic recovery force of the flange section 113 of
the adaptor 111 that is deformed elastically in the direction
indicated by the arrow 302, and the engagement tabs 341 of the
clips 340 and the engagement protrusion 384 of the male connector
370 are engaged with each other. Thus, the handle 320 and the male
connector 370 are engaged with each other, whereby the adaptor 110
can be prevented from coming off the tubular section 372. FIG. 37
shows a state in which the female connector and the male connector
370 are connected to each other. The engagement state between the
engagement tabs 341 of the clips 340 and the engagement protrusion
384 of the male connector 370 cannot be cancelled unless the frame
330 is deformed elastically in a direction in which the upper ends
of the pair of clips 340 separate from each other. Therefore, even
when a small impact such as the touch of a hand is applied, the
above engagement state will not be cancelled.
[0224] The female connector can be separated from the male
connector 370 by performing the above operation in an opposite way.
That is, the pair of operation sections 331 of the handle 320 are
pinched with two fingers, and the frame 330 is deformed elastically
in a direction in which the upper ends of the pair of clips 340
separate from each other. Consequently, the engagement between the
engagement tabs 341 and the engagement protrusion 384 is cancelled,
and the handle 320 moves in the direction opposite to the arrow 302
due to the elastic recovery force of the flange section 113 of the
adaptor 110 that is deformed elastically in the direction indicated
by the arrow 302. Then, the adaptor 110 is pulled out from the
tubular section 372 of the male connector 370.
[0225] If the shape of the periphery of the engagement protrusion
384 including the platform 382, provided on the male connector 370,
corresponds to the shape of the clips 340 provided on the handle
320, the handle 320 and the male connector 370 can be engaged with
each other. That is, even if the shape, size, and the like of the
tubular section 372 of the male connector 370 vary depending upon
the manufacturers and specifications, the handle 320 and the male
connector 370 can be engaged with each other.
[0226] On the other hand, in Embodiment 3, in the same way as in
Embodiment 1, even if the shape, size (for example, a taper angle,
an outer diameter, etc.) of the outer peripheral surface of the
tubular section 372 of the male connector 370 vary depending upon
the manufacturers and specifications, the insertion section 119 of
the adaptor 110 is deformed elastically in accordance with the
outer peripheral surface of the tubular section 372 of the male
connector 370, so that the male connector 370 and the female
connector can be connected to each other precisely without the
leakage of the liquid-like substance.
[0227] Thus, in the case where the male connector has the
engagement protrusion 384 corresponding to the shape of the clips
340 of the handle 320 in Embodiment 3, the adaptor 110 can be
connected to the tubular section of the male connector, using the
handle 320, and further, the handle 320 and the male connector can
be engaged with each other.
[0228] On the other hand, in the case where the male connector does
not have the engagement protrusion 384 corresponding to the shape
of the clips 340 of the handle 320 in Embodiment 3, the handle 320
is used only for connecting the adaptor 110 to the tubular section
of the male connector. In this case, it is preferred that the
mechanism (see FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A, and 10B) holding the handle 220,
described in Embodiment 1, is provided on the adaptor 110 so that
the handle 320 does not move to a position far away from the
adaptor 110 after the adaptor 110 is connected to the tubular
section of the male connector.
[0229] According to Embodiment 3, the handle 320 and the male
connector 370 can be engaged with each other merely by moving the
handle 320 in the direction indicated by the arrow 302 with respect
to the male connector 370. Further, the engagement between the
handle 320 and the male connector 370 can be cancelled merely by
grasping the pair of operation sections 331 and moving the handle
320 in the direction indicated by the arrow 302.
[0230] Further, the lower surface of the platform 382 of the male
connector 370 is matched with the lower surface of the engagement
protrusion 384 (that is, the engagement protrusion 384 is provided
along the lower surface of the platform 382), so that the height of
the male connector 370 from the annular region 383 of the platform
382 can be reduced. Consequently, the height of the clips 340 from
the abutment surfaces 343 also can be reduced. This can reduce the
size in an up-and-down direction of the male connector 370 and the
handle 320.
[0231] The above-mentioned embodiment is an example, and the
present invention is not limited thereto.
[0232] Although the pair of engagement tabs 341 and the pair of
abutment surfaces 343 are provided in one dip 340 of the handle
320, the number of the engagement tabs 341 and the abutment
surfaces 342 to be provided in one clip 340 may be one or three or
more, instead of being limited to two. Further, the abutment
surfaces 343 can be omitted.
[0233] Although the flange holding sections 321 are formed as two
separate parts in the vicinity of the through-hole 322 on the upper
surface of the frame 330, the flange holding sections 321 may be
continuous in an annular shape. Further, the flange holding
sections 321 do not need to be bulged, and may be a flat surface
common to the upper surface in the surrounding of the frame
330.
[0234] In the present embodiment, the description of Embodiment 1
can be adapted as it is or with obvious alterations added thereto
appropriately.
Embodiment 4
[0235] In Embodiment 4, a female connector in which an engagement
shape for preventing an adaptor connected to a tubular section of a
male connector from coming off the tubular section accidentally is
provided on a handle, and a male connector provided with an
engagement shape corresponding thereto will be described.
[0236] FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a male connector 470
according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. FIG. 39A is a
front view of the male connector 470, and FIG. 39B is a bottom view
thereof. In FIG. 38, alternate long and short dashed lines 471
indicate a center axis of the male connector 470. The direction of
a center axis 471 is defined as an up-and-down direction, and an
upper side on the drawing surface of FIG. 38 (a side connected to
the port 930 of the medical container 910) will be referred to as
an "upper side", and a lower side on the drawing surface of the
figure (a side to which a female connector is connected) will be
referred to as a "lower side".
[0237] On the inner peripheral surface of a cap section 480, a
female thread 481 to be screwed with the male thread section 936
(see FIG. 4) of the port 930 of the medical container 910 is formed
(see FIG. 43). On the lower surface of the cap section 480, a
circular region protrudes downward from the center compared with an
annular region 483 in the surrounding of the circular region,
whereby a platform 482 is provided. A tubular section 472
protruding downward is provided at the center of the platform
482.
[0238] The outer peripheral surface of the tubular section 472 of
the present example has three tapered surfaces (truncated cone
surfaces), the outer diameters of which increase toward the cap
480, arranged in the direction of the center axis 471. In the
tubular section 472, a through-hole 473, out of which the
liquid-like substance in the pouch 920 flows, is formed.
[0239] On the outer peripheral surface of the platform 482, a male
thread 484 is formed. The male thread 484 is a quadruple thread. In
the quadruple thread, the distance (lead) by which the male thread
484 proceeds in the axis direction when making one rotation is four
times an interval (pitch) in the axis direction of a screw thread.
The annular region 483 is provided with a pair of protrusions 485
at symmetrical positions with respect to the center axis 471.
[0240] FIG. 40 is a perspective view of a handle 420 constituting
the female connector according to Embodiment 4 of the present
invention. FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view taken along the center
axis of the handle 420. Since an adaptor constituting the female
connector according to Embodiment 4 together with the handle 420 is
the same as that described in Embodiment 1, the description thereof
will be omitted. In FIG. 41, alternate long and short dashed lines
111 indicate the center axis of the adaptor described in Embodiment
1 to be inserted into the handle 420, and the center axis of the
adaptor is matched with the center axis of the female connector of
Embodiment 4 and the center axis of the handle 420. As described in
Embodiment 1, the direction of the center axis 111 is defined as an
up-and-down direction, and a side connected to the male connector
will be referred to as an "upper side", and an opposite side
thereof will be referred to as a "lower side".
[0241] The handle 420 has a substantially cylindrical shape as a
whole. The handle 420 has a large-diameter section 423 having an
inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the flange section
113 of the adaptor 110 in the vicinity of the upper end thereof,
and a small-diameter section 422 having an inner diameter larger
than the outer diameter of the tube-shaped section 112 of the
adaptor 111 and smaller than the outer diameter of the flange
section 113 on the lower side of the large-diameter section 423.
Then, a flange holding section 421 is formed between the
small-diameter section 422 and the large-diameter section 423. A
grasping section 424 in a substantially cylindrical shape is
provided on the lower side of the small-diameter section 422.
[0242] A screw-up section 430 in a substantially cylindrical shape
is formed on the upper side of the large-diameter section 423. A
female thread 431 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the
screw-up section 430. The female thread 431 is a quadruple thread
capable of being screwed with a male thread 481 formed on the male
connector 470. On the upper surface of the screw-up section 430, a
plurality of protrusions 432 are formed.
[0243] A method for connecting the female connector of Embodiment 4
to the male connector 470 will be described with reference to FIG.
42. In FIG. 42, a medical container including a port to which the
male connector 470 is connected is not shown. The adaptor 110 is
inserted into the handle 420, and the lower surface 114 of the
flange section 113 of the adaptor 110 is supported by the flange
holding section 421 of the handle 420. In this state, the outer
peripheral surface of the grasping section 424 of the handle 420 is
grasped with two fingers, and the adaptor 110 is installed on the
tubular section 472 in the direction indicated by an arrow 402 so
that the adaptor 110 covers the outer peripheral surface of the
tubular section 472 of the male connector 470. In the same way as
in Embodiment 1, the insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110 has
flexibility and elasticity, so that the insertion section 119 is
deformed in accordance with the shape of the outer peripheral
surface of the tubular section 472 of the male connector 470 and
comes into tight contact with the outer peripheral surface of the
tubular section 472 due to the elastic recovery force. On the other
hand, the handle 420 has a high rigidity, so that the grasping
force applied to the handle 420 in a diameter direction thereof by
the two fingers will not increase the friction between the
insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110 and the tubular section
472. Further, the flange section 113 is formed at a front end of
the adaptor 110 in the direction indicated by the arrow 402, so
that the adaptor 110 will not be buckled and deformed due to the
force applied to the handle 420 in the direction indicated by the
arrow 402 by the two fingers.
[0244] After the tubular section 472 of the male connector 470 is
inserted deeply into the insertion section 119 of the adaptor 110,
the handle 420 further is pushed in the direction indicated by the
arrow 402 with respect to the male connector 470, and the handle
420 is rotated clockwise around the center axis 111 with respect to
the male connector 470. The male thread 484 of the male connector
470 and the female thread 431 of the handle 420 are engaged with
each other, and the handle 420 rises. Finally, the upper surface of
the screw-up section 430 of the handle 420 abuts on the annular
region 483 of the male connector 470. At this time, the pair of
protrusions 485 formed in the annular region 483 of the male
connector 470 respectively are engaged with any of the plurality of
protrusions 432 formed on the upper surface of the screw-up section
430 of the handle 420. Therefore, the screwed-together between the
male thread 484 and the female thread 431 can be prevented from
being loosened. Further, the flange section 113 of the adaptor 110
is deformed elastically in the direction indicated by the arrow 402
by the flange holding section 421 of the handle 420, and the
elastic recovery force thereof generates friction between the male
thread 484 and the female thread 431, so that the screwed-together
state between the male thread 484 and the female thread 431 can be
prevented further from being loosened. Thus, the handle 420 and the
male connector 470 are engaged with each other, whereby the adaptor
110 can be prevented from coming off the tubular section 472. FIG.
43 shows a state in which the female connector and the male
connector 470 are connected to each other. Since the male thread
484 and the female thread 431 are screwed with each other, and the
above configuration is provided so as to prevent the screwed
together state from being loosened, even when a small impact such
as the touch of a hand is applied, the engagement state between the
male thread 484 of the male connector 470, and the female thread
484 of the handle 420 will not be cancelled.
[0245] The female connector can be separated from the male
connector 470 by performing the above operation in an opposite way.
That is, the handle 420 is rotated counterclockwise around the
center axis 111 with respect to the male connector 470.
Consequently, the pair of protrusions 485 formed in the annular
region 483 of the male connector 470 overpass the plurality of
protrusions 432 formed on the upper surface of the screw-up section
430 of the handle 420, whereby the engagement state between the
male connector 470 and the handle 420 is cancelled. By rotating the
handle 420 further, the engagement between the male thread 484 of
the male connector 470 and the female thread 431 of the handle 420
is cancelled. Then, the adaptor 110 is pulled out from the tubular
section 472 of the male connector 470.
[0246] If the shape of the male thread 484 provided on the male
connector 470 corresponds to the shape of the female thread 431
provided on the handle 420, the handle 420 and the male connector
470 can be engaged with each other. That is, even if the shape,
size, and the like of the tubular section 472 of the male connector
470 vary depending upon the manufacturers and specifications, the
handle 420 and the male connector 470 can be engaged with each
other.
[0247] On the other hand, in Embodiment 4, in the same way as in
Embodiment 1, even if the shape, size (for example, a taper angle,
an outer diameter, etc.), and the like of the outer peripheral
surface of the tubular section 472 of the male connector 470 vary
depending upon the manufacturers and specifications, the insertion
section 119 of the adaptor 110 is deformed elastically in
accordance with the outer peripheral surface of the tubular section
472 of the male connector 470, so that the male connector 470 and
the female connector 400 can be connected to each other precisely
without the leakage of the liquid-like substance.
[0248] Thus, in the case where the male connector has the male
thread 484 corresponding to the shape of the female thread 431 of
the handle 420 in Embodiment 4, the adaptor 110 can be connected to
the tubular section of the male connector, using the handle 420,
and further, the handle 420 and the male connector can be engaged
with each other.
[0249] On the other hand, in the case where the male connector does
not have the male thread 484 corresponding to the shape of the
female thread 431 of the handle 420 in Embodiment 4, the handle 420
is used only for connecting the adaptor 110 to the tubular section
of the male connector. In this case, it is preferred that the
mechanism (see FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A, and 10B) holding the handle 220,
described in Embodiment 1, is provided on the adaptor 110 so that
the handle 420 does not move to a position far away from the
adaptor 110 after the adaptor 110 is connected to the tubular
section of the male connector.
[0250] According to Embodiment 4, the handle 420 and the male
connector 470 can be engaged with each other, and the engagement
thereof can be cancelled merely by rotating the handle 420 around
the center axis 111 with respect to the male connector 470.
[0251] The above embodiment is an example, and the present
invention is not limited thereto.
[0252] For example, the quadruple threads are used as the male
thread 484 and the female thread 431; however, the present
invention is not limited thereto. A multiple thread other than the
quadruple thread may be used or a single thread may be used. It
should be noted that, if the multiple thread is used, the male
thread 484 and the female thread 431 can be engaged with each other
with a small rotation angle of the handle 420.
[0253] The pair of protrusions 485 formed in the annular region 483
of the male connector 470 and the plurality of protrusions 432
formed on the upper surface of the screw-up section 430 of the
handle 420, having a thread locking function, can be omitted.
[0254] In the present embodiment, the description of Embodiment 1
can be adapted as it is or with obvious alterations added thereto
appropriately.
[0255] In Embodiments 1-4, as shown in FIG. 4, an example has been
described in which the male connector 170 is provided integrally
with the cap section 180 having the female thread section to be
screwed with the male thread section 936 formed on the port 930 of
the medical container 910; however, the present invention is not
limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 44, a tubular
section 531 to be inserted into an adaptor of a female connector
may be formed integrally with a port 530 to be joined to a pouch
520 by heat seat. That is, the port 530 can be considered as a male
connector provided with the tubular section 531. In FIG. 44,
reference numeral 500 denotes a medical container, 520 denotes a
pouch, 521 denotes a seal region of two seats constituting the
pouch, 522 denotes an opening used for hanging the medical
container 500, and 523 denotes a fastener.
[0256] FIG. 45A is a schematic perspective view of a male connector
(port) 530 to be used for the medical container 500 in FIG. 44;
FIG. 45B is a front view thereof, and FIG. 45C is right side view
thereof. In these figures, alternate long and short dashed lines
539 indicate a center axis of the male connector 530. The direction
of the center axis 539 is defined as an up-and-down direction, and
an upper side on the drawing surfaces of the figures (a side
connected to the pouch 520) will be referred to as an "upper side"
and a lower side on the drawing surfaces of the figures (a side to
which the female connector is connected) will be referred to as a
"lower side".
[0257] The male connector 530 includes a joint section 532 to be
integrated with the pouch 520 by heat seal, while being sandwiched
between edges of two sheets constituting the pouch 520, the tubular
section 531 provided with a through-hole (not shown) out of which
the liquid-like substance filling the pouch 520 flows, and an
engagement plate (platform) 533 provided between the joint section
532 and the tubular section 531. The tubular section 531 protruding
downward is provided at the center of the lower surface of the
engagement plate 533. On the outer peripheral surface of the
engagement plate 533, a pair of engagement tabs 534 are formed so
as to protrude in a radial direction with respect to the center
axis 539 at symmetrical positions with respect to the center axis
539. The engagement tab 534 includes an engagement chip 535
extending substantially in a horizontal direction and a lock
protrusion 536 formed so as to protrude upward at one end of the
engagement chip 535. The pair of engagement tabs 534 have a
function similar to that of the pair of engagement tabs 284 formed
on the male connector 270 described in Embodiment 2.
[0258] Although the male connector 530 has the pair of engagement
tabs 534 that function similarly to the pair of engagement tabs 284
described in Embodiment 2, the male connector 530 may have a member
that functions similarly to the engagement protrusion 384 described
in Embodiment 3 or a member that functions similarly to the male
thread 484 described in Embodiment 4.
[0259] In Embodiments 1-4, the case has been described where the
male connector provided at a medical container and the female
connector provided at one end of a transintestine nutrient set are
connected to each other; however, the present invention is not
limited thereto. For example, the present invention can be applied
to the case where a male connector provided at one end of a tube
through which a liquid-like substance passes and a female connector
provided at one end of another tube are connected to each
other.
[0260] The female connector described in Embodiments 1-4 can be
provided at one end of a PEG tube. In this case, a male connector
to be connected to the female connector can be provided at one end
of a nutrient set to be connected to a container (for example, a
pouch) storing a liquid-like substance such as a nutrient or a
liquid diet. Since there are no specifications to be standards
regarding the shape and size of the male connector to be connected
to the PEG tube, it is highly significant that the present
invention is applied to the PEG tube.
[0261] In order to keep the inside of the PEG tube dean, the PEG
tube may be filled with diluted vinegar, when the liquid-like
substance is not administered. In such a case, since an adaptor of
the female connector is wet, even when the adaptor is connected to
a tubular section of the male connector, the adaptor may come off
the tubular section easily. Further, it is necessary to push out
the liquid-like substance toward a patient in the case where the
liquid-like substance has high viscosity. In this case, the adaptor
of the female connector also is likely to come off the tubular
section of the male connector due to the pressure applied to the
liquid-like substance. Thus, in the case where the present
invention is applied to the PEG tube, as described in Embodiments
2-4, it is preferred to provide an engagement shape to be engaged
with the male connector on a handle of the female connector.
Further, it is preferred that the male connector is provided with
an engagement shape capable of being engaged with the engagement
shape provided on the handle. This can prevent the adaptor of the
female connector connected to the tubular section of the male
connector from coming off the tubular section accidentally.
[0262] The embodiments described above are shown strictly for the
purposes of clarifying the technical contents of the present
invention; the present invention should not be interpreted only
based on such specific examples and can be carried out in various
modifications within the scope of the spirit of the invention and
the claims, and should be interpreted in a broad meaning.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0263] There is no particular limit to the field of the invention,
and the present invention can be used, for example, in a female
connector or a connector to be used for performing a transintestine
nutrition therapy or an intravenous nutrition therapy. In addition,
the present invention also can be used in a female connector, a
connector, or the like to be used for dealing with a liquid-like
substance such as food other than those for medical purposes.
* * * * *