| abstract |
A quick-connect, needleless coupling assembly configured to shield its critical areas from contamination by environmental surfaces has a pair of interlocking, flow-through male and female components which may be used as part of a larger medicinal liquid therapy system. The male component has a generally rigid, blunt, open-ended cannula which is recessed with respect to a surrounding concentrically spaced collar so that the open end of the cannula is protected against contact from environmental surfaces which might otherwise contaminate the cannula. The female component has a socket which receives the male cannula to place the two components into liquid flow communication with one another. In the preferred form of the invention, the two components are threadably interlocked with one another, the female component being provided with an internal depressible valve stem which is operated by the rigid cannula when the components are threaded together, thereby opening an anti-back flow check valve within the female component. |