| abstract |
A medical adapter is disclosed having a proximal end with a valve assembly attached thereto and a distal end with a rotatable connector attached thereto. The valve assembly includes an enlarged compression chamber having a shoulder leading to a smaller passage. A tubular seal is housed within the compression chamber and has a distal end face with an annular tongue distally projecting therefrom and interlocking with a receiving groove on the shoulder of the compression chamber. The tubular seal also has a proximal end face with an annular second tongue proximally projecting therefrom and interlocking with a second receiving groove positioned at the distal end of a tubular shaft. The tubular shaft advances within the compression chamber to constrict and block the passage through the seal. The rotator assembly has an enlarged annular flange positioned on the distal end of the adapter with a cap rotatably encircling the body proximal of the flange. A split ring is positioned between the flange and cap and prevents removal of the cap. A tubular hub receives the distal end of the body and is ridgedly attached to the cap so as to rotatably encircle the body concurrently with the cap. Positioning of the split ring on the body proximal of the flange is accomplished by a positioning apparatus comprising a shaft having a first cylindrical portion, a second cylindrical portion, and a frustoconical transition portion extending therebetween. The second cylindrical portion has a recess for receiving the flange on the body within. The shaft is configured to be received within a housing having a passageway extending therethrough which raises and lowers relative to the shaft for dispensing the split ring onto the body as they are forced by a weight. |