1. A needleless connector comprising:
a housing having an internal cavity with an interior surface, a port, an output flow channel, and a fluid flow path through the cavity between the port and the output flow channel; and
a collapsible valve disposed within the cavity, the valve comprising:
at least two rings each having a respective surface in sealing contact with the interior surface of the housing; and
one or more notches formed in each of the at least two rings, wherein the one or more notches in a first ring of the at least two rings are circumferentially offset from the one or more notches in a second ring of the at least two rings that is adjacent to the first ring, the one or more notches in at least one of the at least two rings comprise two notches circumferentially disposed 180\xb0 from each other,
wherein the fluid flow path passes through one of the one or more notches in each of the at least two rings.
2. The needleless connector of claim 1, wherein the interior surface and the respective surfaces of the at least two rings are cylindrical.
3. The needleless connector of claim 1, further comprising one or more toroidal flow channels formed between adjacent rings of the at least two rings and the interior surface of the housing, wherein the flow path passes through one of the one or more notches in a first ring of the at least two rings, along a portion of a toroidal flow channel that is formed between the first ring, a second ring of the at least two rings that is adjacent to the first ring, and the interior surface of the housing, and then through one of the one or more notches in the second ring.
4. The needleless connector of claim 1, wherein:
a first ring of the at least two rings comprises two notches circumferentially disposed 180\xb0 from each other; and
a second ring of the at least two rings is adjacent to the first ring and comprises two notches circumferentially disposed 180\xb0 from each other and circumferentially offset from the two notches of the first ring by 90\xb0.
5. The needleless connector of claim 1, wherein the valve further comprises one or more bellows respectively formed under the one or more rings, the bellows configured to partially collapse as the needleless valve moves from an unactuated position to an actuated position while allowing the respective surfaces of the one or more rings to remain in sealing contact with the interior surface.
6. The needleless connector of claim 1, wherein the valve further comprises a smiley cut proximate the port, wherein a portion of the valve folds around the smiley cut when the needleless connector is in an actuated position.
7. The needleless connector of claim 1, wherein:
the valve further comprises a shoulder; and
the housing further comprises a ridge disposed on the interior surface and configured to sealingly contact the shoulder when the needleless connector is in an unactuated position so as to block the fluid flow path.
8. The needleless connector of claim 1, wherein the valve further comprises an unbroken top surface that is flush with the port of the housing when the needleless connector is in an unactuated position.
9. The needleless connector of claim 1, wherein a portion of the housing that is proximate to the port is configured to sealingly mate with a male Luer fitting.
10. A needleless connector comprising:
a housing having an internal cavity with an interior surface, a port, an output flow channel, and a fluid flow path through the cavity between the port and the output flow channel;
a collapsible valve disposed within the cavity, the valve comprising:
at least two rings each having a respective surface in sealing contact with the interior surface of the housing; and
one or more notches formed in each of the at least two rings, wherein the one or more notches in a first ring of the at least two rings are circumferentially offset from the one or more notches in a second ring of the at least two rings that is adjacent to the first ring; and
one or more toroidal flow channels formed between adjacent rings of the at least two rings and the interior surface of the housing, wherein the flow path passes through one of the one or more notches in a first ring of the at least two rings, along a portion of a toroidal flow channel that is formed between the first ring, a second ring of the at least two rings that is adjacent to the first ring, and the interior surface of the housing, and then through one of the one or more notches in the second ring,
wherein the fluid flow path passes through one of the one or more notches in each of the at least two rings.
11. The needleless connector of claim 10, wherein the interior surface and the respective surfaces of the at least two rings are cylindrical.
12. The needleless connector of claim 10, wherein:
a first ring of the at least two rings comprises two notches circumferentially disposed 180\xb0 from each other; and
a second ring of the at least two rings is adjacent to the first ring and comprises two notches circumferentially disposed 180\xb0 from each other and circumferentially offset from the two notches of the first ring by 90\xb0.
13. The needleless connector of claim 10, wherein the valve further comprises one or more bellows respectively formed under the one or more rings, the bellows configured to partially collapse as the needleless valve moves from an unactuated position to an actuated position while allowing the respective surfaces of the one or more rings to remain in sealing contact with the interior surface.
14. The needleless connector of claim 10, wherein the valve further comprises a smiley cut proximate the port, wherein a portion of the valve fold around the smiley cut when the needleless connector is in an actuated position.
15. The needleless connector of claim 10, wherein:
the valve further comprises a shoulder; and
the housing further comprises a ridge disposed on the interior surface and configured to sealingly contact the shoulder when the needleless connector is in an unactuated position so as to block the fluid flow path.
16. The needleless connector of claim 10, wherein the valve further comprises an unbroken top surface that is flush with the port of the housing when the needleless connector is in an unactuated position.
17. The needleless connector of claim 10, wherein a portion of the housing that is proximate to the port is configured to sealing mate with a male Luer fitting.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-30. (canceled)
31. A formulation comprising a polysaccharide, polymer or protein in an effective amount to increase one or more physical properties of lung mucus lining fluid selected from the group consisting of surface tension, surface elasticity, and surface viscosity.
32. The formulation of claim 31, wherein the polysaccharide, polymer or protein is present in an effective amount to treat one or more pulmonary disorders or infections.
33. The formulation of claim 31, wherein the formulation comprises a dry powder of particles of less than ten microns.
34. The formulation of claim 31, wherein the formulation is an aqueous solution.
35. The formulation of claim 31, wherein the formulation is a solution comprising an organic solvent.
36. The formulation of claim 31, wherein the polysaccharide is dextran.
37. The formulation of claim 31, wherein the polymer is a biodegradable synthetic polymer.
38. The formulation of claim 31, wherein the polymer is polyethylene oxide.
39. The formulation of claim 31, wherein the protein is albumin.
40. The formulation of claim 31, further comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of an antiviral, an antibiotic, a bronchodilator, and a steroid.
41. The formulation of claim 31, wherein the polysaccharide, polymer or protein is present in an effective amount to reduce particle shedding in a patient.
42. An apparatus for limiting viral particle shedding in an animal comprising
a tent or other containment facility which permits livestock to pass through, and
a nebulizer disseminating a formulation comprising a polysaccharide, polymer or protein in an effective amount to increase one or more physical properties of lung mucus lining fluid selected from the group consisting of surface tension, surface elasticity, and surface viscosity.
43. A method for treatment of pulmonary disorders or infections in a patient in need of treatment comprising pulmonarily administering to the patient a formulation comprising a polysaccharide, polymer or protein in an effective amount to increase one or more physical properties of lung mucus lining fluid selected from the group consisting of surface tension, surface elasticity, and surface viscosity.
44. The method of claim 43, comprising administering an effective amount of the polysaccharide, polymer or protein to dampen the rate of droplet formation from lung mucus lining fluid.
45. The method of claim 44, wherein the droplets comprise virus or bacteria.
46. The method of claim 43, wherein the formulation comprises a dry powder of particles of less than ten microns.
47. The method of claim 43, wherein the formulation is an aqueous solution.
48. The method of claim 43, wherein the formulation is a solution comprising an organic solvent.
49. The method of claim 43, wherein the polysaccharide is dextran.
50. The method of claim 43, wherein the polymer is a biodegradable synthetic polymer.
51. The method of claim 43, wherein the polymer is polyethylene oxide.
52. The method of claim 43, wherein the protein is albumin.
53. The method of claim 43, further comprising administering with the formulation a compound selected from the group consisting of an antiviral, an antibiotic, a bronchodilator, and a steroid.
54. The method of claim 43, wherein the pulmonary infection is a viral infection.
55. The method of claim 54, wherein the virus is selected from the group consisting of SARS, influenza, hoof and mouth disease, RSV and cytomegalovirus.
56. Sew) The method of claim 43, wherein the disorder is an allergy or asthma.
57. The method of claim 43, wherein the formulation is administered using a dry powder inhaler.
58. The method of claim 43, wherein the formulation is administered using a metered dose inhaler.
59. The method of claim 43, wherein the formulation is administered using a nebulizer.
60. A method for reducing particle shedding in a patient comprising pulmonarily administering to the patient a formulation comprising a polysaccharide, polymer or protein in an effective amount to increase one or more physical properties of lung mucus lining fluid selected from the group consisting of surface tension, surface elasticity, and surface viscosity.
61. The method of claim 60, comprising administering an effective amount of the polysaccharide, polymer or protein to reduce viral particle shedding in the patient.
62. The method of claim 60, comprising administering an effective amount of the polysaccharide, polymer or protein to reduce bacterial particle shedding in the patient.
63. The method of claim 60, wherein the formulation comprises a dry powder of particles of less than ten microns.
64. The method of claim 60, wherein the formulation is an aqueous solution.
65. The method of claim 60, wherein the formulation is a solution comprising an organic solvent.
66. The method of claim 60, wherein the polysaccharide is dextran.
67. The method of claim 60, wherein the polymer is a biodegradable synthetic polymer.
68. The method of claim 60, wherein the polymer is polyethylene oxide.
69. The method of claim 60, wherein the protein is albumin.
70. The method of claim 60, further comprising administering with the formulation a compound selected from the group consisting of an antiviral, an antibiotic, a bronchodilator, and a steroid.