Catheter connector

• US 20080009720A1
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Schefelker, Richard, Secora, Gary, Vadodaria, Sachin
• Application Number:
  US11/433,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20080009720A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00018 using electrical cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00112 Connection or coupling means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath

Abstract

A system includes a patient bed configured to support a patient in a patient care facility. The system also includes a medical instrument system configured to obtain medical data of the patient. The system also includes an medical instrument system cable coupled to the medical instrument system at one end. The system may include a catheter configured to be inserted into the patient to cooperate with the medical instrument system to obtain the medical data. The system also includes a catheter cable coupled to the catheter at one end and coupled to the medical instrument system cable at another end. The medical instrument system cable and the catheter cable are connected to each other at a site outside a patient sterile zone including the patient bed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a patient bed configured to support a patient in a patient care facility;

a medical instrument system configured to obtain medical data of the patient;

a medical instrument system cable coupled to the medical instrument system at one end;

a catheter configured to be inserted into the patient to cooperate with the medical instrument system to obtain the medical data; and

a catheter cable coupled to the catheter at one end and coupled to the medical instrument system cable at another end, wherein the medical instrument system cable and the catheter cable are connected to each other at a site outside a patient sterile zone including the patient bed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the catheter cable is longer than the medical instrument cable.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the catheter cable is at least 3 feet long between the catheter and the medical instrument system cable connection.

4. The system of claim 1, including a connector coupled to one end of each of the catheter cable and medical instrument system cable, with each connector configured to couple with each other.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical instrument is an ultrasound imaging system.

6. A method of connecting a catheter cable and medical instrument system cable outside of a patient sterile zone, the method comprising:

connecting a first cable terminal coupled to the catheter cable and a second cable terminal coupled to the medical instrument system cable to each other defining a connector assembly; and

placing the connector assembly outside the patient sterile zone,

wherein the connection of the first and second cable terminals is outside the patient sterile zone.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the catheter cable is longer than the medical instrument system cable.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the catheter cable is at least 3 feet long between the catheter and the first cable terminal.

9. The method of claim 6, including coupling the medical instrument system cable to a medical instrument device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the medical instrument device is an ultrasound imaging system.

11. A cable for connecting a medical instrument device to an medical data sensor, the cable comprising:

a first conductor pair coupled at one end to the medical data sensor and coupled to a first connector at another end; and

a second conductor pair coupled at one end to the medical instrument device and coupled to a second connector at another end,

wherein the medical instrument device and medical data sensor are connected when the first and second connectors are coupled together and the first conductor pair are configured so that the first connector is outside a sterile zone defined in a patient care facility when the medical instrument device is in use.

12. The cable of claim 11, wherein the first conductor pair is longer than the second conductor pair.

13. The cable of claim 12, wherein the first conductor pair is at least 3 feet long between the medical data sensor and the first conductor.

14. The cable of claim 11, wherein the medical data sensor is an ultrasound imaging array.