IV connector lock and stabilizer

• US 4,826,486 A
• Filed: 08/18/1987
• Issued: 05/02/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dale Medical Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dale Medical Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Palsrok, Gary, Palsrok, Bonnie
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Ralph
• Application Number:
  US07/086,894
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 604/174, 604/905, 128/DIG. 26, 285/82, 285/114, 285/305, 285/337, 285/340, 285/364, 285/374, 285/403, 285/407, 285/420, 24/339, 24/346
• US Class Current: 604/174
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/024 having a clip or clamp system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3444 Circular work engageable

Abstract

An IV lock for preventing IV connectors from separating. The IV lock has two split-fork locks at each end for releasably securing a male IV fitting or connector to the IV lock and for releasably securing a catheter to the IV lock. The IV lock may also include a snap-fit clamp intermediate the two split-fork locks for securing an intermediate connector coupled between the male IV fitting and the catheter fitting from moving laterally and axially relative to its length. The male IV fitting and catheter are prevented from moving axially and transversely of their length when secured in the IV lock.

Claims

1. A bracket for preventing separation and fluid leakage between an elongate incoming intravenous connector fitting fluidly couple with an elongate outgoing intravenous connector fitting, wherein said bracket comprises:

an elongated base having a first end, a second end, and a substantially flat surface;

first clamp means attached to said first end of said base for releasably locking said incoming connector fitting to said base so that said incoming connector fitting is blocked from moving transversely away from said base and axially along the axis of elongation of said base away from said second end toward said first end;

second clamp means attached to said second end of said base for releasably locking said outgoing connector fitting to said base so that said outgoing connector fitting is blocked from moving transversely away from said base and axially along the axis of elongation of said base away from said first end toward said second end;

wherein said first clamp member comprises;

(a) a first member attached at its bottom end to said first end of said base, said first member having a substantially flat inner surface extending so as to form an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to said substantially flat surface of said base, said first member having a top end opposite said bottom end;

(b) an aperture extending through said first member;

(c) a slot extending through said first member coupled with said aperture so as to split said first member into first and second sections, said slot intersecting said top end of said first member;

(d) first and second fingers attached, respectively, to said first and second sections so as to extend toward said second end of said base; and

(e) a slot extending between said first and second fingers coupled with said slot in said first member.

7. A bracket according to claim 1, 2 or 3 which said bracket is made of a resilient, dense synthetic polymer.

8. A bracket according to claim 7 in which said polymer is nylon.

2. A bracket for preventing separation and fluid leakage between an elongate incoming intravenous connector fitting fluidly coupled with an elongate outgoing intravenous connector fitting, wherein said bracket comprises:

an elongated base having a first end, a second end, and a substantially flat surface;

first clamp means attached to said first end of said base for releasably locking said incoming connector fitting to said base so that said incoming connector fitting is blocked from moving transversely away from said base and axially along the axis of elongation of said base away from said second end toward said first end;

second clamp means attached to said second end of said base for releasably locking said outgoing connector fitting to said base so that said outgoing connector fitting is blocked from moving transversely away from said base and axially along the axis of elongation of said base away from said first end toward said second end;

wherein said second clamp member comprises;

(a) a second member attached at its bottom end to said second end of said base, said second member having a substantially flat inner surface extending so as to form an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to said substantially flat surface of said base, said second member having a top end opposite said bottom end;

(b) an aperture extending through said second member;

(c) a slot extending through said second member coupled with said aperture so as to split said second member into first and second sections, said slot intersecting said top end of said second member;

(d) first and second fingers attached, respectively, to said first and second sections so as to extend toward said first end of said base; and

(e) a slot extending between said first and second fingers coupled with said slot in said first member.

3. A bracket for preventing separation and fluid leakage between an elongate incoming intravenous connector fitting fluidly coupled with an elongate outgoing intravenous connector fitting, wherein said bracket comprises:

an elongated base having a first end, a second end, and a substantially flat surface;

first clamp means attached to said first end of said base for releasably locking said incoming connector fitting to said base so that said incoming connector fitting is blocked from moving transversely away from said base and axially along the axis of elongation of said base away from said second end toward said first end;

second clamp means attached to said second end of said base for releasably locking said outgoing connector fitting to said base so that said outgoing connector fitting is blocked from moving transversely away from said base and axially along the axis of elongation of said base away from said first end toward said second end;

wherein bracket further comprises;

(a) third clamp means mounted to said base for releasably locking an intermediate connector fitting positioned between and fluidly coupled with said incoming connector fitting and said outgoing connector fitting so as to restrain said intermediate connector fitting from moving axially toward and away from said first and second ends and transversely toward and away from said base.

4. A bracket according to claim 3 in which said third clamp means comprises a cylindrical member attached to said base, said cylindrical member having (1) approximately 25% of the entire circumference of said cylindrical member removed to form an open top portion and (2) an inner wall.

5. A bracket according to claim 4 in which said third clamp means further comprises a base portion that positions said cylindrical member away from said base so that the inner wall of said cylindrical member is axially aligned with said apertures of said first and second clamp means.

6. A bracket according to claim 4 or 5 in which said intermediate connector fitting comprises a needle holder, further wherein said third clamp means is adapted to restrain said needle holder from moving axially toward and away from said first end and said second end and transversely toward and away from said base.

9. A bracket for preventing separation and fluid leakage between an elongate incoming intravenous connector fitting fluidly coupled with an elongate outgoing intravenous connector fitting, said incoming connector fitting comprising a first shoulder and said outgoing connector fitting comprising a second shoulder, said first and second shoulders being spaced apart from one another a selected distance when said incoming connector fitting is fluidly coupled with said outgoing connector fitting, wherein said bracket comprises:

an elongated base having a first end, a second end, and a substantially flat surface;

first clamp means attached to said first end of said base for releasably locking said incoming connector fitting is blocked from moving transversely away from said base and axially along the axis of elongation of said base away from said second end toward said first end;

second clamp means attached to said second end of said base for releasably locking said outgoing connector fitting to said base so that said outgoing connector fitting is blocked from moving transversely away from said base and axially along the axis of elongation of said base away from said first end toward said second end;

wherein said first clamp member comprises;

(a) a first member attached at its bottom end to said first end of said base, said first member having a substantially flat inner surface extending so as to form an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to said substantially flat surface of said base, said first member having a top end opposite said bottom end;

(b) an aperture extending through said first member;

(c) a slot extending through said first member coupled with said aperture so as to split said first member into first and second sections, said slot intersecting said top end of said first member;

(d) first and second fingers attached, respectively, to said first and second sections so a to extend toward said second end of said base; and

(e) a slot extending between said first and second fingers coupled with said slot in said first member;

wherein said first clamp means is substantially spaced from said second clamp means said selected distance so that said first clamp means is positioned to engage the first shoulder of the incoming connector fitting and said second clamp means is positioned to engage the second shoulder of the outgoing connector fitting when said incoming and outgoing connector fittings are locked to said bracket.

10. A bracket for preventing separation and fluid leakage between an elongate incoming intravenous connector fitting fluidly coupled with an elongate outgoing intravenous connector fitting, said incoming connector fitting comprising a first shoulder and said outgoing connector fitting comprising a second shoulder, said first and second shoulder being spaced apart from one another a selected distance when said incoming connector fitting is fluidly coupled with said outgoing connector fitting, wherein said bracket comprises:

an elongated base having a first end, a second end, and a substantially flat surface;

first clamp means attached to said first end of said base for releasably locking said incoming connector fitting to said base so that said incoming connector fitting is blocked from moving transversely away from said base and axially along the axis of elongation of said base away from said second end toward said first end;

second clamp means attached to said second end of said base for releasably locking said outgoing connector fitting to said base so that said outgoing connector fitting is blocked from moving transversely away from said base and axially along the axis of elongation of said base away from said first end toward said second end;

wherein said second clamp member comprises;

(a) a second member attached at its bottom end to said second end of said base, said second member having a substantially flat inner surface extending so as to form an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to said substantially flat surface of said base, said second member having a top end opposite said bottom end;

(b) an aperture extending through said second member;

(c) a slot extending through said second member coupled with said aperture so as to split said second member into first and second sections, said slot intersecting said top end of said second member;

(d) first and second fingers attached, respectively, to said first and second sections so as to extend toward said first end of said base; and

(e) a slot extending between said first and second fingers coupled with said slot in said first member; and

wherein said first clamp means is substantially spaced from said second clamp means said selected distance so that said first clamp means is positioned to engage the first shoulder of the incoming connector fitting and said second clamp means is positioned to engage the second shoulder of the outgoing connector fitting when said incoming and outgoing connector fittings are locked to said Blackest.

11. A bracket for preventing separation and fluid leakage between an elongate incoming intravenous connector fitting fluidly coupled with an elongate outgoing intravenous connector fitting, said incoming connector fitting comprising a first shoulder and said outgoing connector fitting comprising a second shoulder, said first an second shoulder being spaced apart from one another a selected distance when said incoming connector fitting is fluidly coupled with said outgoing connector fitting, wherein said bracket comprises:

an elongated base having a first end, a second end, and a substantially flat surface;

first clamp means attached to said first end of said base for releasably locking said incoming connector fitting to said base so that said incoming connector fitting is blocked from moving transversely away from said base and axially along the axis of elongation of said base away from said second end toward said first end;

second clamp means attached to said second end of said base for releasably locking said outgoing connector fitting to said base so that said outgoing connector fitting is blocked from moving transversely away from said base and axially along the axis of elongation of said base away from said first end toward said second end;

third clamp means mounted to said base for releasably locking an intermediate connector fitting positioned between and fluidly coupled with said incoming connector fitting and said outgoing connector fitting so as to restrain said intermediate connector fitting from moving axially toward and away from said first and second ends and transversely toward and away from said base; and

wherein said first clamp means is substantially spaced from said second clamp means said selected distance so that said first clamp means is positioned to engage the first shoulder of the incoming connector fitting and said second clamp means is positioned to engage the second shoulder of the outgoing connector fitting when said incoming and outgoing connector fittings are locked to said bracket.