MEDICAL CONNECTOR
First Claim
1. A plug connector, comprising:
- a latching mechanism movable from a first engaged position to a second disengaged position,the latching mechanism further including a latch release surface, anda means for latching the mechanism to an opposed surface;
a plurality of metal contacts, each contact configured to accept a wire;
a housing to locate and align the plurality of metal contacts, the housing further including an exterior and an interior; and
a passageway extending from the exterior of the housing to the interior of the housing.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plug connector for use with a receptacle. The plug connector and receptacle combination may prevent more than one use of the single use plug connector, thereby necessitating disposal of the plug connector and associated, disposable, specialized instrumentation to which the plug connector is connected. The plug connector may be keyed and otherwise identified to the receptacle by shape, tactile indicia and visual indicia so that it cannot be mistakenly used with a different receptacle, while providing proper orientation for rapid assembly. When designed for single use or limited multiple use, the insertion of the plug connector into the receptacle moves a jumper contact in the plug connector from a first position to a second position where it is captured. The receptacle and plug connector may include an interface for a light pipe and a light path that illuminates the plug connector to facilitate assembly and disassembly in areas in which light is limited, such as operating rooms, as well as communicating information to the user.
41 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A plug connector, comprising:
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a latching mechanism movable from a first engaged position to a second disengaged position, the latching mechanism further including a latch release surface, and a means for latching the mechanism to an opposed surface; a plurality of metal contacts, each contact configured to accept a wire; a housing to locate and align the plurality of metal contacts, the housing further including an exterior and an interior; and a passageway extending from the exterior of the housing to the interior of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A receptacle, comprising:
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a plurality of metal spring contacts, each contact having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to accept a wire and the second end configured to mate with a corresponding metal contact of a plug connector, each contact having a first fixed length; a housing to locate and align the plurality of spring contacts with the fixed metal contact, the housing having a first end and a second end, the second end of the spring contacts and the fixed metal contact extending away from the second end of the housing; and means for locking a mating plug connector. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A plug connector/receptacle assembly, comprising:
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a plug connector, including a latching mechanism movable from a first engaged position to a second disengaged position, the latching mechanism further including a latch release surface, and a means for latching the mechanism to an opposed surface; a plurality of metal contacts, each contact having a first end and a second end, the first end of each contact configured to accept a wire; a housing having a predetermined geometric configuration to locate and align the plurality of metal contacts, the housing further including an exterior and an interior, the exterior of the housing further including at least one of visual and tactile indicia to facilitate proper mating of the plug connector, and a passageway extending from the exterior of the housing to the interior of the housing; and a receptacle, the receptacle having a predetermined geometric configuration that mates with the geometric configuration of the plug connector so that the plug connector is capable of unique mating to the receptacle and further including a plurality of metal spring probes, each probe having a first end and a second end, the first end of each spring contact configured to accept a wire and the second ends of the plurality of metal spring contacts configured to mate with the second end of the plurality of metal contacts of the plug connector, each of the metal spring contacts having a second length, a housing for locating and positioning the plurality of metal spring contacts, the housing having a first end and a second end, the second end of the spring contacts extending away from the second end of the housing, and a surface that includes means for locking the mating plug connector, the means for locking mating with the means for latching of the plug connector. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification