Luer clip

• US 20050120523A1
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Inventors: Schweikert, Timothy M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,614,123 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/552
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/105 Multi-channel connectors or couplings, e.g. for connecting multi-lumen tubes multi-channel connectors in general F16L37/56
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 24/91 One-piece
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44573 including track or way guided and retained gripping member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44829 Segments form opposed engaging faces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7176 Resilient clip

Abstract

The present invention provides a clip for retaining a first conduit to a second conduit, the first conduit including a first connector and the second conduit including a second connector. The first connector is releasably connected to the second connector. The clip comprises a base portion and a first clip portion extending away from the base portion. The first clip portion has a first opening that is sized to frictionally retain the first connector. The clip further comprises a second clip portion disposed, on the base portion away from the first clip portion. The second clip portion includes a second opening that is sized to frictionally retain the second connector. A method for securing a first conduit to a second conduit by attaching a clip to the first conduit and the second conduit is also provided.

Claims

1. A clip for retaining a first conduit to a second conduit, wherein the first conduit includes a first connector and the second conduit includes a second connector releasably connectable to the first connector, wherein the clip comprises:

a base portion;

a first clip portion disposed on the base and extending generally perpendicularly from the base;

a second clip portion disposed on the base, away from the first clip portion, and extending away from the base and generally parallel to the first clip portion;

wherein the first clip portion includes a first opening sized to retain the first connector, and wherein the first clip portion further comprises at least one extension extending from the first clip portion away from the second clip portion and the base; and

a second clip portion extending away from the base portion and having a first opening sized to retain the second connector.

2. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is a male luer fitting and the second connector is a female luer fitting.

3. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is a female luer fitting and the second connector is a male luer fitting.

4. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the clip is removably connectable to the first conduit and the second conduit.

5. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the first connector further comprises at least one ridge and the first clip portion further comprises a first leg and a second leg, wherein at least one of the first and second leg has a tang extending towards the other of the first and second leg, wherein at least one of the first and second legs has a flat interior surface adapted to engage at least one ridge disposed on the first connector.

6. A clip for retaining a first conduit to a second conduit, wherein the first conduit includes a first connector and the second conduit includes a second connector releasably connected to the first connector, wherein the clip comprises:

a proximal clip portion, a distal clip portion and a means for adjustably connecting the proximal clip portion to the distal clip portion;

wherein the proximal clip portion has a first proximal leg and a second proximal leg;

wherein the second proximal leg is attachable to the first connector; and

wherein the distal clip portion has a first distal leg and a second distal leg;

wherein the second distal leg is attachable to the second connector.

7. The clip according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the first connector and the second connector further comprises at least one ridge;

wherein one of the second proximal leg and the second distal leg further comprises a first leg and a second leg, wherein at least one of the first leg and second leg has a tang extending towards the other of the first leg and second leg, wherein at least one of the first leg and second leg has a flat interior surface disposed between the base portion and the tang; and

wherein the flat interior surface is adapted to engage the at least one ridge of the at least one of the first connector and the second connector.

8. The clip according to claim 6, wherein the first proximal leg is releasably connectable to the first distal leg.

9. The clip according to claim 6, wherein the first connector and the second connector comprise a luer connection.

10. The clip according to claim 6, wherein the first connector is threadingly connectable to the second connector.

11. The clip according to claim 6, wherein the first proximal leg comprises a plurality of locking slots.

12. The clip according to claim 6, wherein the first distal leg comprises a beveled tab.

13. The clip according to claim 6, wherein the first proximal leg comprises a plurality of ratchet teeth extending therefrom.

14. The clip according to claim 13, wherein the first distal leg comprises a locking pawl adapted to mate with one of the plurality of ratchet teeth.

15. A clip for retaining a first conduit having a first connector to a second conduit having a second connector;

wherein the first connector comprises one of a male luer fitting and a female luer fitting, a narrowed neck portion, and a freely rotatable threaded portion disposed between the narrowed neck portion and the one of a male luer fitting and a female luer fitting;

wherein the second connector comprises the other of the male and the female luer fitting, at least one ridge disposed on an exterior surface of the second connector and a threaded portion disposed between the at least one ridge and the other of the male and the female luer fitting, wherein the threaded portion is threadingly matable to the freely rotatable threaded portion;

wherein the clip comprises a base portion having a first end and a second end, a first clip portion disposed at the first end and extending generally perpendicularly away from the base portion, and a second clip portion disposed at the second end and extending generally perpendicular to the base portion and parallel to the first clip portion;

wherein the first clip portion is adapted to frictionally engage the narrowed neck portion of the first connector;

wherein the second clip portion comprises a first leg and a second leg, wherein at least one of the first leg and second leg has a tang extending towards the other of the first leg and second leg, wherein the at least one of the first leg and second leg having the tang comprises a flat interior surface disposed between the tang and the base;

wherein the flat interior surface is adapted to engage the at least one ridge of the second connector.

16. The clip according to claim 15, wherein the first clip portion further comprises at least one extension extending from the first clip portion away from the second clip portion and the base.

17. A method for securing a first conduit to a second conduit comprising:

providing;

a first conduit having a first connector comprising one of a male luer connector and a female luer connector, a narrowed neck portion and a freely rotating threaded portion disposed between the one of a male luer connector and a female luer connector and the narrowed neck portion;

a second conduit having a second connector comprising the other of the male luer connector and the female luer connector and a threaded portion disposed proximate to the other of the male luer connector and the female luer connector; and

a clip having a base portion comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a first clip portion extending perpendicularly from the base and the second end comprises a second clip portion extending perpendicularly from the base;

wherein the first clip portion comprises an opening extending through the first clip portion and adapted to frictionally engage the narrowed neck portion and at least one extension extending from the first clip portion away from the base and the second clip portion;

wherein the second clip portion comprises a second opening sized to frictionally retain the second connector;

connecting the first connector to the second connector;

engaging the second clip portion with the second connector; and

engaging the first clip portion with the narrowed neck portion.

18. A method for securing a first conduit to a second conduit comprising:

providing;

a first conduit having a first connector comprising one of a male luer connector and a female luer connector;

a second conduit having a second connector comprising the other of the male luer connector and the female luer connector, at least one ridge disposed on an outside surface of the second connector and a threaded portion disposed between the at least one flat and the other of the male luer connector and the female luer connector; and

a clip having a base portion comprising a first end and a second end;

wherein the first end is adapted to frictionally engage the first connector and the second end comprises a second clip portion extending perpendicularly from the base;

wherein the second clip portion comprises a first leg and a second leg, wherein at least one of the first leg and second leg has a tang extending towards the other of the first leg and second leg, wherein the at least one of the first leg and second leg that has the tang comprises a flat interior surface disposed between the tang and the base;

wherein the flat interior surface is adapted to engage the at least one ridge of the second connector;

connecting the first connector to the second connector;

engaging the second clip portion with the second connector; and

engaging the first clip portion with the narrowed neck portion.

19. A method for securing a first conduit to a second conduit comprising:

providing;

a first conduit having a first connector comprising one of a male luer connector and a female luer connector;

a second conduit having a second connector comprising the other of the male luer connector and the female luer connector, and

a clip comprising;

a proximal clip portion, a distal clip portion and a means of adjustably connecting the proximal clip portion to the distal clip portion;

wherein the proximal clip portion has a first proximal leg and a second proximal leg;

wherein the second proximal leg is attachable to the first connector; and

wherein the distal clip portion has a first distal leg and a second distal leg;

wherein the second distal leg is attachable to the second connector;

connecting the first connector to the second connector;

engaging the second proximal leg with the first connector;

engaging the second distal leg with the second connector;

connecting the first proximal leg with the first distal leg; and

adjusting the distance between the second distal leg and the second proximal leg.