SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD EMPLOYED WITH ENTERAL SYSTEMS

• US 20190321265A1
• Filed: 06/28/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kpr U.S., LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kpr U.S., LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schuessler, Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 11,433,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/00 Feeding-tubes for therapeutic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0092 Valves on feeding tubes tube valves A61M39/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0096 Provisions for venting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1033 Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors, bayonet-connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1077 Adapters, e.g. couplings adapting a connector to one or several other connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1418 Clips, separators or the like for supporting tubes or leads
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 15/04 with additional sealings
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 15/08 with supplementary elements F16L15/04, F16L41/00 and F16L43/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/08 with additional locking means F16L17/035, F16L17/04, F16L21/04, F16L21/06 take precedence; screwed joints F16L19/08; couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/00

Abstract

A connector system is configured to fluidly connect a nasogastric tube assembly including a lumen and a tube to a medical device. The system includes a connector including: a fitting configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the medical device; a neck coupled to the fitting, the neck configured to attach to the nasogastric tube assembly; and a body coupled to the neck, the body configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the nasogastric tube assembly when at least partially inserted within the lumen; and a first tether including a first fastening region defining a first opening configured to receive the neck, a second fastening region defining a second opening configured to couple to the nasogastric tube assembly, and a link coupling the first fastening region to the second fastening region, the link configured to maintain a fixed distance separating the first fastening region from the second fastening region.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A connector system configured to fluidly connect a nasogastric tube assembly including a main tube and a tube extension to a medical device, the system comprising:

a connector including;

a fitting configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the medical device;

a neck coupled to the fitting, the neck configured to attach to the nasogastric tube assembly; and

a body coupled to the neck, the body configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the nasogastric tube assembly when at least partially inserted within the main tube;

a first tether including a first fastening region defining a first opening receiving the neck, and a second fastening region configured to couple to the nasogastric tube assembly;

a cap configured to seal the fitting; and

a second tether including a first fastening region received around the neck of the connector, and a second fastening region attached to the cap to couple the cap to the neck of the connector.

21. The connector system of claim 20, wherein the first fastening region is defined by a first semi-circular segment extending along an arc through an angle of greater than 180°

.

22. The connector system of claim 21, wherein the second fastening region is defined by a second semi-circular segment extending along an arc through an angle of greater than 180°

.

23. The connector system of claim 20, wherein the second tether is more flexible than the first tether.

24. The connector system of claim 20, wherein the cap includes a knob and a plug coupled to the knob, the plug including at least one thread sized and configured to complete a fluid-tight threaded attachment of the cap to the fitting.

25. The connector system of claim 24, wherein the knob includes an annular surface having raised regions.

26. The connector system of claim 20, wherein the second fastening region defines a second opening, and

wherein the first tether includes a resilient arm moveable between a latched position that secures the tube extension included in the nasogastric tube assembly within the second opening and an unlatched position that permits the tube extension included in the nasogastric assembly to be removed from the second opening.

27. The connector system of claim 20, wherein the neck has a first length and the body has a second length, the first length being less than the second length.

28. A kit comprising:

a connector including;

a fitting including a longitudinal axis, an annular collar having an inside surface and an outside surface, the fitting including a threaded region located on the inside surface and configured to complete a fluid-tight connection with a medical device;

a fastening region coupled to the fitting, the fastening region including a neck; and

a body coupled to the fastening region, the body configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the nasogastric tube assembly when at least partially inserted within the nasogastric tube assembly; and

a rigid tether secured around the neck of the fastening region of the connector;

the kit including the connector and the rigid tether being located in a single sealed product package.

29. The kit of claim 28, wherein the rigid tether comprises a first fastening region and a second fastening region spaced from the first fastening region by a fixed distance, the neck being received in the first fastening region.

30. The kit of claim 29, further comprising a nasogastric tube assembly comprising medical tubing including a main lumen and a vent lumen, and a tube extension attached to the medical tubing and fluidly coupled to the vent lumen, the nasogastric tube assembly being located in the single sealed product package.

31. The kit of claim 30, wherein the tube extension of the nasogastric tube assembly is received in the second fastening region securing the tube extension to the connector in the single sealed product package.

32. The kit of claim 31, wherein the body is received in the main lumen of the medical tubing securing the connector to the medical tubing in the single sealed product package.

33. The kit of claim 28, further comprising a cap including a knob and a plug coupled to the knob, the plug including at least one thread sized and configured to complete a fluid-tight threaded attachment of the cap to the fitting.

34. The kit of claim 30, wherein the rigid tether includes a resilient arm moveable between a latched position that secures the tube extension within the second fastening region and an unlatched position that permits the tube extension to be removed from the second fastening region.

35. A method of assembling an adapter kit, the method comprising:

providing an adapter configured to complete a fluid-tight connection between a medical device and medical tubing including a main tube and a tube extension, the adapter including a fitting with a collar having a first outside diameter, a body and a neck connecting the fitting to the body, the neck sized and configured with a second outside diameter smaller than the first outside diameter, the body configured to provide a fluid tight connection to the medical tubing when at least partially inserted therein;

attaching a rigid tether around the neck of the adapter; and

packaging the adapter and rigid tether in a single sealed product package.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the rigid tether comprises a first fastening region and a second fastening region, the neck of the adapter being received in the first fastening region.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising receiving the tube extension of the medical tubing in the second fastening region prior to packaging the adapter and rigid tether in the single sealed product package.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising inserting the body of the adapter in the main tube of the medical tubing prior to packaging the adapter and rigid tether in the single sealed product package.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising providing a cap including a plug, a knob, and a neck region connecting the plug to the knob, the plug configured to form a fluid tight connection with the fitting via a threaded connection to the fitting.

40. A connector system configured to fluidly connect a nasogastric tube assembly including a main tube and a tube extension to a medical device, the system comprising:

a connector including;

a fitting configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the medical device;

a neck coupled to the fitting, the neck configured to attach to the nasogastric tube assembly; and

a body coupled to the neck, the body configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the nasogastric tube assembly when at least partially inserted within the lumen; and

a rigid tether configured to secure to the nasogastric tube assembly, the rigid tether comprising a first fastening region defined by a first semi-circular segment extending along an arc through an angle of greater than 180°

, a link extending from an end of the first fastening region and defined by a first linear segment, a second fastening region defined by a second semi-circular segment extending along an arc through an angle of greater than 180° and

extending from an end of the link.

41. The connector system of claim 40, wherein the rigid tether comprises a resilient arm extending from an end of the second fastening region and defined by a second linear segment.