Catheter information ring

• US 20030066218A1
• Filed: 10/04/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Inventors: Schweikert, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 6,823,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/299.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/284 Lever clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0295 Labels or tickets for tubes, pipes and the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/16 by clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/205 specially adapted for electric cables, pipes or the like

Abstract

An information ring for use with a catheter is disclosed. The information ring includes a body having a first end and a second end. The body has a first body face extending between the first end and the second end, and a second, generally convex face extending between the first end and the second end. The body has an opening extending therethrough between the first body face and the second face. A first indicia portion is located at the first end. The first indicia portion has a first indicia face sized to allow indicia to be printed on the first indicia face.

Claims

1. An information ring comprising:

a body having a first end and a second end, wherein the body includes;

a first body face extending between the first end and the second end; and

a second body face extending between the first end and the second end, and wherein the body has an opening extending therethrough between the first body face and the second body face; and

a first indicia portion at the first end of the body, wherein the first indicia portion has a first indicia face sized to allow indicia to be printed on the first indicia face.

2. The information ring according to claim 1, further comprising a second indicia portion at the second end having a second indicia face.

3. The information ring according to claim 2, wherein the second indicia face of the second indicia portion includes indicia printed on the second indicia face.

4. The information ring according to claim 2, wherein the second indicia portion is generally circular.

5. The information ring according to claim 2, wherein the second indicia portion is generally elongated.

6. The information ring according to claim 2, wherein the second indicia portion is integral with the body.

7. The information ring according to claim 1, wherein the indicia is printed on the first indicia face.

8. The information ring according to claim 1, wherein the first indicia portion is generally circular.

9. The information ring according to claim 1, wherein the first indicia portion is generally elongated.

10. The information ring according to claim 1, wherein the opening is generally circular.

11. The information ring according to claim 1, wherein the opening is a generally U-shaped channel.

12. The information ring according to claim 11, wherein the body further comprises a first tab extending into the channel.

13. The information ring according to claim 12, wherein the body further comprises a second tab extending into the channel toward the first tab.

14. The information ring according to claim 11, wherein the channel has an open portion and an opposing closed portion, and wherein the channel is sized to allow a conduit to be inserted into the open portion and retained against the closed portion.

15. The information ring according to claim 1, wherein the first body face is generally planar.

16. The information ring according to claim 1, wherein the first indicia portion is integral with the body.

17. The information ring according to claim 1, wherein the body has a first body portion proximate the first end and a second body portion proximate the second end, wherein the first body portion has one of a male and a female connector and the second body portion has the other of the male connector and the female connector, wherein the male connector is insertable into the female connector, such that the first body portion is connected to the second body portion.

18. The information ring according to claim 17, wherein the male connector engages the female connector with a press fit.

19. A conduit assembly comprising:

a conduit having a first end and a second end;

an information ring comprising;

a body having a first end and a second end, wherein the body has a first body face extending between the first end and the second end, and a second body face extending between the first end and the second end, and wherein the body has an opening extending therethrough between the first body face and the second body face; and

a first indicia portion at the first end of the body, wherein the first indicia portion has a first indicia face sized to allow indicia to be printed on the first face; and

a conduit clamp having first and second openings along an axis, wherein the information ring is disposed such that the opening extending between the first body face and the second body face of the information ring is along the axis between the first and second openings of the conduit clamp and wherein the conduit extends through the first and second openings of the conduit clamp and the channel opening extending between the first body face and the second body face of the information ring along the axis.

20. The conduit assembly according to claim 19, wherein the conduit further comprises a first fitting fixedly connected to the first end of the conduit and a second fitting fixedly connected to the second end of the conduit.

21. The conduit assembly according to claim 20, wherein the information ring is configured to allow the conduit to be removed from the opening extending between the first body face and the second body face of the information ring without removing either of the first and second fittings from the conduit.

22. The conduit assembly according to claim 19, wherein indicia is printed on the indicia face.

23. The conduit assembly according to claim 19, further comprising a second indicia portion having a second indicia face provided at the second end of the body of the information ring.

24. The conduit assembly according to claim 23, wherein the second indicia face of the second indicia portion is sized to allow indicia to be printed on the second indicia face.

25. The conduit assembly conduit assembly according to claim 23, wherein the second indicia portion is generally circular.

26. The conduit assembly according to claim 23, wherein the second indicia portion is generally elongated.

27. The conduit assembly conduit assembly according to claim 23, wherein the second indicia portion is integral with the body.

28. The conduit assembly according to claim 19, wherein the first indicia portion is generally circular.

29. The conduit assembly according to claim 19, wherein the first indicia portion is generally elongated.

30. The conduit assembly according to claim 19, wherein the body further comprises a first tab extending into the opening extending between the first body face and the second body face of the information ring.

31. The conduit assembly according to claim 30, wherein the body further comprises a second tab extending into the opening extending between the first body face and the second body face of the information ring toward the first tab.

32. The conduit assembly according to claim 19, wherein the opening extending between the first body face and the second body face of the information ring is a generally U-shaped channel having an open portion and an opposing closed portion, and wherein the opening extending between the first body face and the second body face of the information ring is sized to allow a conduit to be inserted into the open portion and retained against the closed portion.

33. The conduit assembly according to claim 19, wherein the first body face is generally planar.

34. The conduit assembly according to claim 19, wherein the first indicia portion is integral with the body.

35. A method of inserting an information ring onto a catheter assembly comprising:

providing a conduit assembly comprising;

a conduit having a first end and a second end, wherein a first fitting is connected to the first end and a second fitting is connected to the second end; and

a conduit clamp adapted to releasably retain the information ring over the conduit, wherein the conduit is disposed within opening in the conduit clamp;

providing an information ring comprising;

a body having a first end and a second end, wherein the body has a first body face extending between the first end and the second end, and a second body face extending between the first end and the second end, and wherein the body has an opening extending therethrough between the first body face and the second body face; and

a first indicia portion having a first face extending from the first end of the body of the information ring, wherein the first indicia portion is sized to allow indicia to be printed on the first face; and

installing the information ring in the conduit assembly, such that the conduit is disposed within the opening between the first body face and the second body face of the information ring and the conduit clamp releasably retains the information ring over the conduit.

36. A catheter information ring comprising:

a first portion having a first connecting end and a first free end, wherein the first connecting end includes at least one of a male connector or a female connector and wherein the first free end has a first face sized to enable indicia to be printed thereon; and

a second portion having a second connecting end and a second free end, wherein the second connecting end has at least the other of a mating male connector or a mating female connector and wherein the second free end has a second face;

wherein, when the at least one of the male connector or the female connector is engaged with the at least one of the mating male connector or the mating female connector, a generally circular opening is formed in the ring such that a catheter conduit is sized to fit within the opening.

37. The catheter information ring according to claim 36, wherein the first face has indicia thereon.

38. The catheter information ring according to claim 36, wherein the second face has indicia thereon.

39. The catheter information ring according to claim 36, wherein the at least one of the male connector or the female connector is engaged with the other one of the mating male connector or the mating female connector with a press fit.

40. The catheter information ring according to claim 36, wherein the first portion is cyclically removable from and connectable with the second portion.