Locking Y-connector for selective attachment to exterior of medical tubing
First Claim
1. A connector for selective attachment to the exterior of an elongated member of circular cross-section, said connector comprising:
- a. An attachment fitting having formed therethrough a bore sized to slidably receive a portion of the length of the elongated member;
b. a compression recess formed in said attachment fitting having opposed first and second ends, said bore communicating with said first end of said compression recess and being disposed in coaxial alignment therewith, said compression recess between said first and second ends thereof having sidewalls enlarged radially relative to said bore and configured to encircle a portion of the length of the elongated member distinct from the portion thereof received in the bore;
c. a resilient, annular gripping member housed in said compression recess and configured to encircle the portion of the elongated member therein;
d. a locking hub configured for encircling the elongated member at said second end of said compression recess and having a compression face projecting into said compression recess from said second end thereof, said locking hub being movable longitudinally relative said attachment fitting between a disengaged position in which the elongated member is slidable relative to said gripping member and an engaged position in which said compression face bears against and deforms said gripping member to preclude sliding of the elongated member relative said gripping member by urging said gripping member into radial engagement with the portion of the elongated member in said compression recess; and
e. cooperating means located on opposing portions of said attachment fitting and said locking hub for selectively locking said locking hub in said engaged position thereof, and wherein said cooperating means comprises a retention pin and a retention slot configured to receive said retention pin in said engaged position of said locking hub, said retention pin entering said retention slot due to relative movement between said locking hub and said attachment fitting as said locking hub moves from said disengaged to said engaged position thereof.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector for applying to the exterior of an elongated member of circular cross-section circumferentially uniform radially directed compressive forces by which to effect attachment and fluid-tight sealing thereagainst. The connector comprises an attachment fitting having formed therethrough a bore for slidably receiving the elongated member and a coaxially disposed, radially enlarged compression recess communicating therewith. A flexible annular gripping member resides in the compression recess slidably circling the elongated member. A locking hub disposed at the end of the compression recess remote from the bore has a compression face which extends into compression recess. The locking hub is longitudinally slidable relative to the attachment fitting between a disengaged position in which the elongated member is slidable relative to the gripping member and an engaged position in which the compression face bears against and deforms the gripping member to preclude sliding of the tubing relative to the gripping member by urging the gripping member into radial engagement with the portion of the tubing in the compression recess. A retention pin and cooperating retention slot on opposed portions of attachment fitting and the locking hub secure the locking hub in its engaged position. The connector has specific utility in terminating the proximal end of a coaxial lumen tube assembly used to interconnect an implanted extrapulmonary blood gas exchange device with extracorporeal support equipment.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A connector for selective attachment to the exterior of an elongated member of circular cross-section, said connector comprising:
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a. An attachment fitting having formed therethrough a bore sized to slidably receive a portion of the length of the elongated member; b. a compression recess formed in said attachment fitting having opposed first and second ends, said bore communicating with said first end of said compression recess and being disposed in coaxial alignment therewith, said compression recess between said first and second ends thereof having sidewalls enlarged radially relative to said bore and configured to encircle a portion of the length of the elongated member distinct from the portion thereof received in the bore; c. a resilient, annular gripping member housed in said compression recess and configured to encircle the portion of the elongated member therein; d. a locking hub configured for encircling the elongated member at said second end of said compression recess and having a compression face projecting into said compression recess from said second end thereof, said locking hub being movable longitudinally relative said attachment fitting between a disengaged position in which the elongated member is slidable relative to said gripping member and an engaged position in which said compression face bears against and deforms said gripping member to preclude sliding of the elongated member relative said gripping member by urging said gripping member into radial engagement with the portion of the elongated member in said compression recess; and e. cooperating means located on opposing portions of said attachment fitting and said locking hub for selectively locking said locking hub in said engaged position thereof, and wherein said cooperating means comprises a retention pin and a retention slot configured to receive said retention pin in said engaged position of said locking hub, said retention pin entering said retention slot due to relative movement between said locking hub and said attachment fitting as said locking hub moves from said disengaged to said engaged position thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A connector for attaching an auxiliary fixture to the exterior of a length of medical tubing, said connector comprising:
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a. an attachment fitting having said fixture secured thereto and having formed therethrough a bore sized to slidably receive a portion of the length of the tubing; b. a compression recess formed in said attachment fitting having opposed first and second ends, said bore communicating with said first end of compression recess and being disposed in coaxial alignment therewith, said compression recess between said first and said second ends thereof having sidewalls enlarged radially relative to said bore and configured to encircle a portion of the length of the tubing distinct from the portion thereof received in the bore, said first end of said compression recess tapering from said sidewalls thereof to said bore; c. a resilient, annular gripping member housed in said compression recess and configured to encircle the portion of the tubing therein, said gripping member having a lead end disposed adjacent said first end of said compression recess and a trailing end disposed adjacent said second end of said recess, the edge of said leading end of said gripping member being beveled on the outer radial surface thereof; d. a locking hub configured for encircling the tubing at said second end of said compression recess and having a compression face projecting into aid compression recess from said second end thereof, said locking hub being movable longitudinally relative said attachment fitting between a disengaged position in which the tubing is slidable relative to said gripping member and an engaged portion in which said compression face bears against and deforms said gripping member to preclude sliding of the tubing relative to said gripping member by urging said gripping member into radial engagement with the portion of the tubing in said compression recess; and e. cooperating means located on opposing portions of said attachment fitting and said locking hub for selectively locking said locking hub in said engaged position thereof, and wherein said cooperating means comprises a retention pin and a retention slot configured to receive said retention pin in said engaged position of said locking hub, said retention pin entering said retention slot due to relative movement between said locking hub and said attachment fitting as said locking hub moves from said disengaged to said engaged position thereof. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 39, 40)
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34. A connector for effecting selective fluid-tight attachment of a cap portion for an outer lumen tube of a coaxial lumen tube assembly to the outside of an inner lumen tube thereof, the connector comprising:
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a. an attachment fitting secured at one end thereof to the cap portion in coaxial alignment therewith, said cap portion and said attachment fitting having formed therethrough a bore sized to slidably receive a portion of the length of the inner lumen tube; b. a compression recess formed in said attachment fitting having opposed first and second ends, said bore communicating with said first end of said compression recess and being disposed in coaxial alignment therewith, said compression recess between said first and second ends thereof having sidewalls enlarged radially relative to said bore and configured to encircle a portion of the length of the inner lumen tube distinct from the portion thereof received in the bore; c. a resilient, annular gripping member housed in said compression recess and configured to encircle the portion of the inner lumen tube therein; d. a locking hub configured for encircling said inner lumen tube at said second end of said compression recess and having a compression face projecting into said compression recess from said second end thereof, said locking hub being movable longitudinally relative said attachment fitting between a disengaged position in which the inner lumen tube is slidable relative to said gripping member and an engaged position in which said compression face bears against and deforms said gripping member to preclude sliding of the inner lumen tube relative said gripping member by extruding a portion of said gripping member adjacent said first end of said compression recess into said bore and urging said gripping member into radial engagement with the portion of the inner lumen tube in said compression recess; e. a retention pin located on said attachment fitting; and f. a retention slot formed in said locking hub opposite said retention pin and configured to receive said retention pin in said engaged position of said locking hub, said retention pin entering said retention slot due to relative movement between said locking hub and said attachment fitting as said locking hub moves from said disengaged to said engaged position thereof. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A locking connector for effecting a fluid-tight termination of an outer lumen tube against an inner lumen tube of a coaxial lumen tube assembly, said connector comprising:
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a. an attachment fitting having formed therethrough a bore sized to slidably receive a portion of the length of the inner lumen tube; b. means for sealingly connecting said fitting to the outer lumen tube; c. a compression recess formed in said attachment fitting having opposed first and second ends, said bore communicating with said first end of said compression recess and being disposed in coaxial alignment therewith, said compression recess between said first and said second ends thereof having side walls enlarged radially relative to said bore and configured to encircle a portion of the length of the tubing distinct from the portion thereof received in the bore, said first end of said compression recess tapering from said sidewalls thereof to said bore; d. a resilient, annular gripping member housed in said compression recess and configured to encircle the portion of the inner lumen therein, said gripping member having a lead end disposed adjacent said first end of said compression recess and a trailing end disposed adjacent said second end of said recess, the edge of said leading edge of said gripping member being beveled on the outer radial surface thereof; e. a locking hub configured for encircling a portion of the length of said inner lumen tube at said second end of said compression recess and having a compression face projecting into said compression recess from said second end thereof, said locking hub being movable longitudinally relative said attachment fitting between a disengaged position in which the inner lumen tube is slidable relative to said gripping member and an engaged position in which said compression face bears against and deforms said gripping member to prelude sliding of the inner lumen tube relative t said gripping member by urging said gripping member into radial engagement with the portion of the inner lumen tube in said compression recess; f. a retention pin located on the exterior of said attachment fitting; and g. a retention slot formed in a sleeve of said locking hub overlying said retention pin, said retention slot being configured to receive said retention pin in said engaged position of said locking hub due to rotation of said locking hub relative said attachment fitting, entry of said retention pin thereinto causing longitudinal movement of said locking hub parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bore in a direction that advances said compression face into said compression recess. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A fixture for use with an implantable extrapulmonary blood gas exchange device which communicates when implanted in a patient with extracorporeal support equipment through an inner and an outer lumen tube of a coaxial lumen tube assembly, said fixture comprising:
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a. an attachment fitting having formed therethrough a bore sized to slidably receive a portion of the length of the inner lumen tube; b. A cap portion secured to one end of said attachment fitting and sized to mate with the outer lumen tube, said bore extending through said cap; c. means for sealingly connecting said cap to the outer lumen tube; d. a compression recess formed in said attachment fitting having opposed first and second ends, said bore communicating with said first end of said compression recess and being disposed in coaxial alignment therewith, said compression recess between said first and said second ends thereof having side walls enlarged radially relative to said bore and configure dot encircle a portion of the length of inner lumen tube distinct from the portion thereof received in the bore, said first end of said compression recess tapering from said sidewalls thereof to said bore; e. a resilient, annular gripping member housed in said compression recess and configured to encircle the portion of the inner lumen tube therein, said gripping member having a lead end disposed adjacent said first end of said compression recess and a trailing end disposed adjacent said second end of said recess, the edges of said leading and said trailing ends of said gripping member being beveled on the outer radial surfaces thereof; f. a locking hub configured for encircling a portion of the length of said inner lumen tube at said second end of said compression recess and having a compression face projecting into said compression recess from said second end thereof, said locking hub being movable longitudinally relative said attachment fitting between a disengaged position in which the inner lumen tube is slidable relative to said gripping member and an engaged position in which said compression face bears against and deforms said gripping member to prelude sliding of the inner lumen tube relative said gripping member by urging said gripping member into radial engagement with the portion of the inner lumen tube in said compression recess; and g. cooperating means located on opposing portions of said attachment fitting and said locking hub for selecting locking said locking hub in said engaged position thereof and wherein said cooperating means comprises a retention pin located on said attachment fitting and a retention slot formed in said locking hub opposite said retention pin and configured to receive said retention pin in said engaged position of said locking hub due to relative movement between said locking hub and said attachment fitting. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A method for selectively attaching a fixture to the exterior of a length of medical tubing, said method comprising the steps:
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a. inserting an annular gripping member into a compression recess formed in an attachment fitting, said compression recess being coaxially aligned and communicating at one end thereof with a bore through said attachment fitting; b. slidably disposing a portion of the length of the tubing in said bore, a portion of the length of the tubing distinct from the portion thereof received in the bore being encircled by said gripping member; c. installing a locking hub encircling the tubing at the end of said compression recess opposite said bore, said locking hub having a compression face extending into said compression recess from the end thereof opposite said bore; d. longitudinally advancing said locking hub toward said attachment fitting to bring said compression face to bear against and deform said gripping member, thereby to urge said gripping member into radial engagement with the portion of the inner lumen tube in said compression recess; e. positively securing said locking hub in position with said compression face deforming said gripping member and wherein said step of positively securing comprises the step of entering a retention pin on said attachment fitting into a retention slot on said locking hub by effecting relative movement of said locking hub and said attachment fitting; and f. attaching the fixture to said attachment fitting. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68)
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Specification