Male medical device electrical connector with engineered friction fit

• US 20070149011A1
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATL Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: MEDCONX, Inc. (ATL Technology, LLC)
• Inventors: Roff, Thor, Levante, James, Fine, Aaron, Kent, Harold, Layton, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,507,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/508 assembled by a separate clip or spring
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5202 Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90

Abstract

A male connector includes a body and an elastomeric member. The body has a proximal end and a distal end. The elastomeric member is disposed around an outer surface of the distal end of the body. The distal end of the body is configured to be received into a female connector interface in a device. The proximal end of the body is configured to couple with an electronic block connector selected from a plurality of electronic block connectors, each of which has a different pin arrangement but a common coupling interface.

Claims

1. A male connector, comprising:

a body having a proximal end and a distal end; and

an elastomeric member disposed around an outer surface of the distal end of the body, wherein the distal end of the body is configured to be received into a female connector interface in a device, and wherein the proximal end of the body is configured to couple with an electronic block connector selected from a plurality of electronic block connectors, each of which has a different pin arrangement but a common coupling interface.

2. The male connector of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric member is an O-ring.

3. The male connector of claim 2, wherein the elastomeric member is made of at least one of the group of materials consisting of Nitrile (Buna-N, NBR), EP (EPR, EPDM, Ethylene Propylene), VitonR (Fluorocarbon), Neoprene (Chloroprene), Fluorosilicone, Silicone, and KalrezR.

4. The male connector of claim 2, wherein the elastomeric member has a constant cross section.

5. The male connector of claim 2, wherein the elastomeric member has a variable cross section.

6. The male connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a second elastomeric member disposed on the outer surface of the distal end of the body.

7. The male connector of claim 1, wherein the body is tubular.

8. The male connector of claim 1, wherein the body is hollow.

9. The male connector of claim 1, wherein the device is a generator.

10. The male connector of claim 1, wherein the device is an industry standard medical device.

11. The male connector of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric member is received into a groove on the outer surface of the distal end of the body.

12. The male connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a collar extending from the body, the collar being dimensioned to limit the depth to which the male connector is received into the female connector.

13. The male connector of claim 1, further comprising:

one of the plurality of electronic block connectors received into the proximal end of the body.

14. The male connector of claim 13, wherein the electronic block connector comprises:

an electronic block connector body;

an electronic contact on the electronic block connector body;

a plurality of metal contact pins extending from the electronic block connector body; and

at least one wire electrically connected to the contact on the electronic block connector body.

15. The male connector of claim 14, wherein the plurality of metal contact pins extending from the electronic block connector body are arranged in an industry standard pattern for insertion into respective contact holes in an industry standard female connector interface.

25. The male connector of claim 11, wherein the groove has a variable cross section.

26. The male connector of claim 11, wherein the groove is positioned to line up with a recess on the inner surface of the female connector interface when the male connector is fully received within the female connector interface.

27. The male connector of claim 11, wherein the groove is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis extending through the male connector.

33. The male connector of claim 1, wherein the device is a custom medical device.

16. A method of providing a male connector for use with a female connector interface on an industry standard device, comprising:

determining the dimensions and electrical configuration of a female connector interface in an industry standard device;

selecting a male connector body having a distal end dimensioned to be received into the female connector interface, wherein an elastomeric member is disposed on the distal end of the male connector body, and wherein a proximal end of the male connector body is dimensioned to receive an electronic block connector selected from a plurality of electronic block connectors, each of which has a common coupling interface with a different pin arrangement, with each being configured for operation with the female connector interface in the device;

selecting one of the plurality of electronic block connectors configured for operation with the female connector interface in the device; and

inserting the selected electronic block connector into the proximal end of the male connector body.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the male connector body and the electronic block connector are selected independently of one another prior to inserting the electronic block connector into the proximal end of the male connector body.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the male connector body is selected from a family of different male connector bodies, each member of the family being configured to be received into a different female connector interface in an industry standard device, and each member of the plurality of electronic block connectors being configured to be connected to a different industry standard device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the members of the family of different male connector bodies and the members of the plurality of electronic block connectors are both fabricated prior to determining the dimensions and electrical configuration of a particular female connector interface in an industry standard device.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein each member of the family of different male connector bodies has the same outer diameter.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein selecting the male connector body having an elastomeric member disposed on its distal end comprises:

selecting a preferred tactile feel of the connector.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein selecting the male connector body having an elastomeric member disposed on its distal end comprises:

selecting a preferred retention strength of the connector.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein selecting the male connector body having an elastomeric member disposed on its distal end comprises:

selecting a preferred insertion strength of the connector.

24. A male connector, comprising:

a body having a proximal end and a distal end;

wherein the distal end of the body is configured to be received into a female connector interface in a device, the female connector interface comprising an elastomeric member disposed around an inner surface, and wherein the proximal end of the body is configured to receive an electronic block connector selected from a plurality of electronic block connectors, each of which has a common coupling interface.

28. A connector, comprising:

a body having a proximal end and a distal end; and

means for coupling the distal end of the body to a mating connector interface.

29. The connector of claim 28, wherein the connector is a male connector.

30. The connector of claim 28, wherein the connector is a female connector.

31. The connector of claim 28, wherein the connector is a hermaphroditic connector.

32. The connector of claim 28, further comprising:

a second elastomeric member disposed on the outer surface of the distal end of the body.

36. The connector of claim 28, wherein the means for coupling comprises:

an elastomeric member disposed around a surface of the distal end of the body, wherein the distal end of the body is configured to be retained in a mating connector interface.

34. A method of providing a male, female, or hermaphroditic connector for use with a mating connector interface on an industry standard or custom device, comprising:

determining the dimensions and electrical configuration of a receiving connector interface in an industry standard or custom device;

selecting a connector body having a distal end dimensioned to be received into the mating connector interface, wherein an elastomeric member is disposed on the distal end of the mating connector body, and wherein a proximal end of the mating connector body is dimensioned to receive an electronic block connector therein, wherein the elastomeric member provides a friction fit with the mating connector interface to retain the distal end in association with the mating connector interface;

selecting an electronic block connector configured for operation with the male, female, hermaphroditic connector interface in the device; and

inserting the electronic block connector into the proximal end of the male, female, or hermaphroditic connector body.

35. A male, female, or hermaphroditic connector, comprising:

a body having a proximal end and a distal end;

wherein the distal end of the body is configured to be received into a mating connector interface in a device, the mating connector interface comprising an elastomeric member disposed around an inner surface, and wherein the proximal end of the body is configured to receive an electronic block connector selected from a plurality of electronic block connectors, each of which has a common coupling interface.