Luer taper

The Luer taper is a standardized conical fitting system used to connect small-bore fluid pathways in medical and laboratory equipment. It consists of mating male and female conical surfaces and is commonly used in hypodermic needles, syringes, stopcocks, catheters and other fluid-handling components. Luer connections are available in slip and locking forms. Slip fittings rely primarily on friction between the mating tapers, whereas locking fittings use an additional thread or collar to help retain the connection. The conical surfaces provide the mating interface, while the locking mechanism primarily helps prevent accidental separation. For healthcare applications, requirements for relevant small-bore connectors are specified in parts of the ISO 80369 series. ISO 80369-7 applies to connectors for intravascular or hypodermic applications. It does not apply to every type of Luer connection or to every small-bore connector used in medical and laboratory equipment.