BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to medical connectors used in fluid transfer applications. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a syringe adapter for the transfer of fluids in medical settings.

Medical connectors are widely used to transmit, prepare, and deliver medical fluids. The delivery of a medical fluid may include administering the medical fluid intravenously through an intravenous (IV) set from a fluid source such as a syringe.

Unlike other fluid sources, such as collapsible bags, the fluid-filled syringe includes a rigid structure and cannot collapse when the plunger of the syringe is stationary and the fluid is being pulled from the syringe. As a result, ambient air needs to be introduced into the syringe to replace the fluid that is being pulled from the syringe. A traditional approach to allow air to enter the syringe, as fluid is being pulled from the syringe, includes attaching a device between the syringe and the IV set. For example, the device conventionally includes an open female Luer with a cannula that protrudes past the female Luer. The cannula is inserted into the syringe, such that a filter at the other end of the cannula provides an air path into the syringe through the cannula. When the syringe is empty and needs to be removed and replaced with another syringe, however, the female Luer will be exposed to the atmosphere, due to the cannula protruding past the female Luer, creating an open system during syringe changes.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a syringe adapter for coupling with a syringe. The syringe adapter comprises a housing and a needle-free connector disposed in the housing. A communication member is in slidable engagement with the housing. The communication member is slidable, with respect to the housing, between an unactuated state and an actuated state of the syringe adapter. A cannula extends from the communication member. In the unactuated, the cannula is retracted within the needle-free connector. In the actuated state, the cannula protrudes through and axially beyond the needle-free connector.

In some aspects, a piston element is disposed in the needle-free connector. The piston element comprises a piston head and a sealable orifice disposed through the piston head, wherein the sealable orifice is in a sealed state when the piston element is in an uncompressed state and is in an opened state when the piston element is in a compressed state.

In some aspects, the needle-free connector comprises a connection port sealingly flush with the piston head and the sealable orifice when the syringe adapter is uncoupled with the syringe.

In some aspects, a conduit extends from, and is disposed through, the communication member, wherein the conduit is fluidly separated from the needle-free connector when the syringe adapter is coupled with the syringe and in the unactuated state.

In some aspects, the conduit is in fluid communication with the needle-free connector when the syringe adapter is coupled with the syringe and in the actuated state.

In some aspects, a duct extends from, and through, the communication member, wherein the duct fluidly couples the cannula to at least one vent disposed in a filter housing.

In some aspects, a filter is disposed in the filter housing and a valve is disposed between the filter and the cannula, wherein the valve is configured to allow fluid to flow from the at least one vent through the filter to the cannula and is configured to prevent fluid flow from the cannula to the filter.

In some aspects, a first fluid path and a second fluid path is provided when the syringe adapter is coupled to the syringe and in the actuated state.

In some aspects, the first fluid path is configured to provide filtered ambient air into the syringe and the second fluid path is configured to allow fluid from the syringe to flow to an intravenous set coupled to the syringe adapter.

In some aspects, the first fluid path flows through at least the cannula, the duct, and the at least one vent.

In some aspects, the second fluid path flows through at least the connection port, the piston element, and the conduit.

Some other aspects of the present disclosure provide a syringe adapter for coupling a syringe to a fluid system. The syringe adapter comprises a female connector. A body is in fluid communication with the female connector. A male connector is in fluid communication with the female connector and the body. The male connector is configured to couple with a medical device. A cannula extends axially through the body and out through the female connector. A filter housing is in fluid communication with the cannula. The filter housing is elevated axially beyond the female connector, wherein a first fluid path is formed through the filter housing and the cannula and a second fluid path is formed through the female connector, the body, and the male connector. The filter housing is configured to prevent a filter disposed in the filter housing from contacting fluid in the first fluid path and a closed system is provided when the male connector is uncoupled from the medical device.

In some aspects, a flexible tubing fluidly couples the filter housing to the cannula.

In some aspects, the female connector is coupled to the syringe such that the cannula is arranged within a chamber of the syringe.

In some aspects, a clip is arranged around the syringe and the flexible tubing. The clip is configured to secure the flexible tubing to the syringe.

In some aspects, the medical device is an intravenous set. In further aspects, the medical device is a needle-free connector.

Some other aspects of the present disclosure provide a syringe adapter for coupling with a syringe. The syringe adapter comprises a female connector configured to couple with the syringe. A body is in fluid communication with the female connector. A male connector is in fluid communication with the female connector and the body. The male connector is configured to couple with a medical device. A chamber extends from, and is in fluid communication with, the body, wherein the chamber is configured to receive fluid from the syringe for subsequent delivery to the medical device. A needle-free connector is disposed at, and in fluid communication with, the female connector, wherein the needle-free connector is configured to provide a closed system when the female connector is uncoupled from the syringe.

In some aspects, a valve is disposed between the female connector and the needle-free connector.

In some aspects, the chamber is one of a resilient bag, a non-resilient bag, and a collapsible plastic container.

Additional features and advantages of the subject technology will be set forth in the description below, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the subject technology. The advantages of the subject technology will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the subject technology as claimed.

