New Application-Specific Connectors Will Replace Luers to Combat Misconnections

​Several new standards defining the design and dimensions of application-specific small-bore connectors are expected to be published beginning this year. These new connectors are intended to replace Luer connectors, whose standard design and widespread use across device types pose a risk for misconnections. Though adopting the new connectors will not be mandatory for most hospitals, the new design can help reduce the risk of misconnections between medical devices and accessories.

The standards are a joint effort of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and are part of the ANSI/AAMI/ISO 80369 series. They will standardize new connectors across healthcare settings and will classify them by delivery system:1

80369-2: Breathing systems...