Dual purpose adapter

• US 20050245899A1
• Filed: 04/21/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Rork Swisher
• Original Assignee: David Rork Swisher
• Inventors: Swisher, David Rork
• Application Number:
  US11/112,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20050245899A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/533
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1066 having protection means, e.g. sliding sleeve to protect connector itself, shrouds to protect a needle present in the connector, protective housing, isolating sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1077 Adapters, e.g. couplings adapting a connector to one or several other connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1088 having a plurality of male connectors, e.g. Luer connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0482 Enteral feeding product
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves

Abstract

A connector is provided that can be used for both fluid aspirating applications and fluid introduction applications without a requirement for additional adapters. Direct connection to a vacuum tube or an enteral feeding connector can be possible without need of an additional rubber sleeve and/or an additional enteral feeding adapter. In one example, a first tubular portion has at least one protrusion along an exterior surface. A second tubular portion is also provided and coaxially located with respect to the first tubular portion. The second tubular portion has a first end within the first tubular portion and a second end external to the first tubular portion. The second tubular portion can have a stepped internal lumen forming the plurality of internal diameters and can be formed of a more pliable material than the first tubular portion. A method for forming a dual use adapter is also provided.

Claims

1. A dual use adapter, comprising:

a first tubular portion having at least one protrusion along an exterior surface; and

a second tubular portion, coaxially located with respect to the first tubular portion, having a first end within the first tubular portion and a second end external to the first tubular portion and having a stepped internal lumen forming the plurality of internal diameters;

the second tubular portion formed of a more pliable material than the first tubular portion.

2. The dual use adapter of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of internal diameters mate with a plurality of external diameters of an enteral feeding connector.

3. The dual use adapter of claim 1, the second tubular portion having internal diameters tapered between steps.

4. The dual use adapter of claim 1, the first tubular portion having a plurality of circumferential protrusions along an exterior surface, configured to retain a tube fitted over the circumference of the first tubular portion.

5. The dual use adapter of claim 1, the first tubular portion having a plurality of circumferential protrusions along an exterior surface, at least two of the circumferential protrusions having different outside diameters.

6. The dual use adapter of claim 1, the second tubular portion having a tapered exterior diameter of the second end, decreasing in diameter approaching a distal end of the second end.

7. The dual use adapter of claim 6, the second tubular portion having a tapered interior diameter of the second end, increasing in diameter approaching the distal end of the second end.

8. The dual use adapter of claim 7, the distal end of the second end of the second tubular portion having a rounded outside edge and a chamfered inside edge.

9. The dual use adapter of claim 1, the at least one protrusion along an exterior surface being a circumferential protrusion.

10. The dual use adapter of claim 1, the at least one protrusion along an exterior surface being a tapered external diameter, increasing in diameter away from a location at which the first end of the second tubular portion meets the second end of the second tubular portion.

11. The dual use adapter of claim 1, the at least one protrusion along an exterior surface being at least one barb.

12. The dual use adapter of claim 1, the first tubular portion being formed of polycarbonate.

13. The dual use adapter of claim 1, the second tubular portion being formed of polyvinyl chloride.

14. The dual use adapter of claim 1, the first tubular portion having a first color and the second tubular portion having a second color different from the first color.

15. The dual use adapter of claim 1, the first tubular portion being integral with a valve housing.

16. A dual use adapter, comprising:

a first tubular portion having at least one protrusion along an exterior surface; and

a second tubular portion, coaxially located with respect to the first tubular portion, having a first end within the first tubular portion and a second end external to the first tubular portion, the second end having a tapered exterior diameter decreasing in diameter approaching a distal end of the second end, and the second end having a tapered interior diameter increasing in diameter approaching the distal end of the second end.

17. The dual use adapter of claim 16, the second tubular portion formed of a more pliable material than the first tubular portion.

18. The dual use adapter of claim 16, the distal end of the second end of the second tubular portion having a rounded outside edge and a chamfered inside edge.

19. The dual use adapter of claim 16, the second tubular portion having a stepped internal lumen forming the plurality of internal diameters.

20. The dual use adapter of claim 16, the at least one protrusion along an exterior surface being at least one barb.

21. The dual use adapter of claim 16, the first tubular portion being integral with a valve housing.

22. A dual use adapter having a receiving end, comprising:

a first tubular portion having at least one circumferential protrusion along an exterior surface; and

a second tubular portion, coaxially located with respect to the first tubular portion, having a first end within the first tubular portion and a second end external to the first tubular portion at the receiving end of the dual use adapter;

the second tubular portion formed of a more pliable material than the first tubular portion;

the receiving end configured to mount within a vacuum tube.

23. The dual use adapter of claim 22, the second tubular portion having a tapered interior diameter of the second end, increasing in diameter approaching the distal end of the second end, the interior diameter including a stepped interior diameter, decreasing in diameter approaching the first end of the second tubular portion.

24. The dual use adapter of claim 22, further comprising a valve housing located at an end of the first tubular portion opposite the receiving end of the dual use adapter.

25. A method of forming a dual use adapter, comprising the steps of:

providing a first tubular portion with at least one protrusion along an exterior surface and having a first interior lumen;

providing a second tubular portion formed of a more pliable material than the first tubular portion and having a stepped internal lumen forming a plurality of internal diameters; and

affixing the second tubular portion partially into the first tubular portion, the second tubular portion having a first end within the first tubular portion and a second end external to the first tubular portion.

26. The method of claim 25, the act of affixing comprising bonding.

27. The method of claim 25, the act of affixing comprising insert molding.

28. The method of claim 25, the act of affixing comprising co-molding.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing a valve housing coupled to the first tubular portion and in communication with the first interior lumen.