Catheter-to-Device Locking System

• US 20080319421A1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Inventors: Fisher, Mark S., Bizup, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 8,696,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/535
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment

Abstract

A locking component (100,200,300,400) for locking a catheter proximal end onto a stem (16,56) of a medical device such as a venous access port assembly (10,50). The locking component has upper and lower parts (104,102;204,202) that self-secure to each other, preferably in a first position partially open but still assembled, and a second position, locked fully together. The locking component has a compression surface (106,206) to compress the catheter lumen wall against the stem at a location axially offset from the protuberance(s) along the stem of the medical device. A method is disclosed for mechanically securing a catheter to a medical device by the locking component can involve placing the pre-assembled locking component along the catheter prior to securing the proximal catheter end to the stem of the medical device and then moving the locking component into position around the stem and then pressing it together into its second locked position, compressing the catheter lumen wall against the stem.

Claims

1. A catheter locking component for assuredly locking a catheter end onto a stem of a medical device, where the stem has at least one protuberance therealong for enabling the catheter end portion to grip thereonto, comprising:

an assembly having at least a locked position and adapted to be placed around a stem onto which a catheter end portion has been placed in a manner that includes the protuberance being within the catheter end portion spaced axially and distally from the catheter end;

the assembly defining a channel extending therethrough for a catheter to extend through the channel at least when the catheter has been urged onto and around the stem;

the assembly including a pair of opposed compression surfaces adjacent to the catheter outer wall when the assembly is positioned around the stem onto which the catheter end portion has been positioned in a manner that the opposed compression surfaces are axially offset proximally from the at least one protuberance; and

the assembly being adapted to be manipulatable into the locked position so that the compression surfaces compress outer surfaces of an end portion of the catheter against the stem at a location axially spaced from the protuberance.

2. The locking component of claim 1, wherein the opposed compression surfaces are closer together than the greatest outer dimension of the protuberance of the stem, when the assembly is in the locked position.

3. The locking component of claim 1, wherein the assembly is dimensioned larger at a first end than at a second end, including at least a larger inside dimension of the channel thereat.

4. The locking component of claim 1, wherein, when the assembly is in the locked position, all outer corners and edges of the assembly are rounded.

5. The locking component of claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises upper and lower portions joined to each other along one side by a living hinge, and along the other side include latching sections defining at least a locked position of the assembly.

6. The locking component of claim 1, wherein the assembly includes a frustoconical section extending distally along the catheter upon assembly.

7. The locking component of claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises first and second parts self-securable to each other.

8. The locking component of claim 7, wherein the first and second parts are initially separate from each other.

9. The locking component of claim 8, wherein the first and second parts include a latching arrangement to self-secure to each other.

10. The locking component of claim 9, wherein the latching arrangement comprises at least one pair of latch arms receivable into respective latch-receiving apertures wherein the latch arms latch onto corresponding latching ledges within the apertures.

11. The locking component of claim 10, wherein the latching arrangement comprises two pairs of latch arms receivable into respective latch-receiving apertures.

12. The locking component of claim 11, wherein the two pairs of latch arms are spaced apart to either side of the opposed compression surfaces.

13. The locking component of claim 11, wherein the latching arrangement provides first and second positions of latching such that the first and second parts can be fastened to each other in a first partially open position and in a second locked position.

14. The locking component of claim 13, wherein, when the assembly is in its first partially open position, the assembly is adapted to be moved along the catheter to the catheter end portion that is inserted over the stem, and the opposed compression surfaces are sufficiently spaced apart to pass over the protuberance when the catheter has been inserted over the protuberance.

15. A method for assuredly and sealing connecting a catheter proximal end to a medical device having a stem that includes at least one protuberance, comprising the steps of:

providing a medical device having a stem for being inserted into a proximal end of a catheter, the stem having at least one protuberance over which the catheter proximal end portion will be urged during connection to the medical device;

providing a locking assembly having at least two sections movable with respect to each other until manipulatable into a locked position, the locking assembly having a channel therethrough sufficiently large for the stem with a catheter proximal end portion urged thereonto to be disposed through the locking assembly, and the locking assembly having along the channel inside surfaces opposed compression surfaces for engagement with and compression of an outer wall of the catheter proximal end portion against the stem therewithin;

urging the catheter proximal end portion onto the stem such that the end of the catheter proximal end portion passes over and proximally beyond the at least one protuberance;

placing the locking assembly about the stem having the catheter proximal end portion urged thereonto, such that the opposed compression surfaces are axially spaced from each at least one protuberance; and

manipulating the locking assembly into a locked position compressing the catheter outer wall portions against the stem therewithin.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein before the step of urging the catheter proximal end portion onto the stem, including the step of placing the locking assembly along the catheter near the proximal end thereof.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of placing the locking assembly along the catheter includes the step of providing the locking assembly in a first partially open position such that the locking assembly remains assembled around the catheter and slidable therealong.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of placing the locking assembly about the stem includes the step of assembling the locking assembly directly around the stem having the catheter urged thereonto.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of placing the locking assembly directly around the stem includes the step of assembling the locking assembly into a first partially open position such that the locking assembly remains assembled around the catheter urged onto the stem.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the steps of providing the medical device having a stem, and of providing the catheter, and of providing the locking assembly, comprise providing them together in a kit.