Disposable electro-fluidic connector with data storage

• US 5,197,895 A
• Filed: 05/10/1991
• Issued: 03/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bird Products Corporation (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Bicore Monitoring Systems, Inc. (Allied Healthcare Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stupecky, Josef J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US07/698,589
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 439/194, 439/195, 439/353, 439/409, 439/210, 285/119, 285/137.1, 285/921, 285/309, 285/312, 285/907, 285/322, 73/861.53, 604/905, 604/283, 128/725
• US Class Current: 439/194
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/005 Electrical coupling combined with fluidic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/502 composed of different pieces H01R13/514 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/921 Snap-fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/955 including electronic identifier or coding means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A modular constructed connector for interconnecting with a single male and female connector a plurality of electrical lines and fluid lines while maintaining a consistent bubble-tight fluid interconnection. The modular design permits the number of fluidic and electrical connections to be varied depending upon the particular application. In one embodiment, a programmable microchip is mounted within this connector. This chip stores the response characteristics of a flow meter used, for example, as an air flow measurement device in a respiratory circuit.

Claims

1. A multiple electrical and fluidic connector for medical apparatus for rapidly connecting and disconnecting with a single male and female connector a plurality of electrical lines and fluid lines while maintaining consistent, bubble-tight fluid interconnection thereof, said connector having a modular design so that the number of fluidic and electrical connections may be varied depending upon the particular application, said connector comprising:

a common upper cover shell and a common lower cover shell each being substantially identical regardless of the number of electrical and fluid connections;

a core member retained between and within said upper and lower cover shells, said core having a male configuration comprising;

male tubular hollow fluidic pins, corresponding to the number of fluid connections, extending from the end of said core; and

male electrical pins, corresponding to the number of electrical connections, extending from the end of said core, the external wall of said fluidic pins having a tapered angle throughout most of their length and merging into a cylindrical portion;

said core having a female configuration comprising;

a female fluidic receptacle having female fluidic socket openings corresponding to said male fluidic pins and female electrical socket openings corresponding to said male electrical pins, said female fluidic socket openings each having a larger circumferential opening than the cylindrical portion of said male fluidic pins, said openings tapering to a narrower internal cylindrical portion having an internal diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the male fluidic pin so that an interference fluid-tight fit is created when said male fluidic tubular pins are inserted into said female receptacle fluidic sockets, without any requirement that the end of the male pin abut a seat at the bottom of a female receptacle socket,

said connector compensating for inaccuracies inherent in the mass production of said cores and cover shells by;

i) retention of said male core member so as to permit some slight movement of the male core within said upper and lower cover shells so as to tolerate misalignment with respect to the mating female core member;

ii) constructing said male fluidic pins so as to allow some bending thereof along their longitudinal axis so that the male pins will bend slightly to compensate for misalignment between said fluidic male pins on said male core and fluidic receptacle socket openings in said female core, and

means for preventing mismating of the male and female core members by forming mating key portions in said male and female connectors to prevent an improper reverse insertion therebetween.

2. A multiple electrical and fluidic connector for medical apparatus for rapidly connecting and disconnecting with a single male and female connector a plurality of electrical lines and fluid lines while maintaining consistent, bubble-tight fluid interconnection thereof, said connector having a modular design so that the number of fluidic and electrical connections may be varied depending upon the particular application, said connector comprising:

a common upper cover shell and a common lower cover shell each being substantially identical regardless of the number of electrical and fluid connections;

a core member retained between and within said upper and lower cover shells, said core having a male configuration comprising;

male tubular hollow fluidic pins, corresponding to the number of fluid connections, extending from the end of said core; and

male electrical pins, corresponding to the number of electrical connections, extending from the end of said core, the external wall of said fluidic pins having a tapered angle throughout most of their length and merging into a cylindrical portion;

said core having a female configuration comprising;

a female fluidic receptacle having female fluidic socket openings corresponding to said male fluid pins and female electrical socket openings corresponding to said male electrical pins, said female fluidic socket openings each having a larger circumferential opening than the cylindrical portion of said male fluidic pins, said openings tapering to a narrower internal cylindrical portion having an internal diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the male fluidic pin so that an interference fluid-tight fit is created when said male fluidic tubular pins are inserted into said female receptacle fluidic sockets, without any requirement that the end of the male pin abut a seat at the bottom of a female receptacle socket,

said upper and lower shells of the male connector having respective flexible locking leaves for engagement with an abutting shoulder in the female connector, said leaves having sufficient flexibility so that when their ends are unconstrained, the respective leaves will flex apart to disengage from said shoulder, and

a locking sleeve surrounding said flexible locking leaves and movable between an unlocked position remote from the respective ends of said flexible leaves and a locked position in juxtaposition with the ends of said flexible leaves to prevent flexure of said leaves so as to prevent their disengagement from said shoulder.

3. A multiple electrical and fluidic connector for medical apparatus for rapidly connecting and disconnecting with a single male and female connector a plurality of electrical lines and fluid lines while maintaining consistent, bubble-tight fluid interconnection thereof, said connector having a modular design so that the number of fluidic and electrical connections may be varied depending upon the particular application, said connector comprising:

a common upper cover shell and a common lower cover shell each being substantially identical regardless of the number of electrical and fluid connections; and

a core member retained between and within said upper and lower cover shells, said core having a male configuration comprising;

male tubular hollow fluidic pins, corresponding to the number of fluid connections, extending from the end of said core; and

male electrical pins, corresponding to the number of electrical connections, extending from the end of said core, the external wall of said fluidic pins having a tapered angle throughout most of their length and merging into a cylindrical portion;

said core having a female configuration comprising;

a female fluidic receptacle having female fluidic socket openings corresponding to said male fluid pins and female electrical socket openings corresponding to said male electrical pins, said female fluidic socket openings each having a larger circumferential opening than the cylindrical portion of said male fluidic pins, said openings tapering to a narrower internal cylindrical portion having an internal diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the male fluidic pin so that an interference fluid-tight fit is created when said male fluidic tubular pins are inserted into said female receptacle fluidic sockets, without any requirement that the end of the male pin abut a seat at the bottom of a female receptacle socket.

4. A multiple fluidic connector for medical apparatus for rapidly connecting and disconnecting with a single male and female connector a plurality of fluid lines while maintaining consistent, bubble-tight fluid interconnection thereof, said connector having a modular design so that the number of fluidic connections may be varied depending upon the particular application, said connector comprising:

a common upper cover shell and a common lower cover shell each being substantially identical regardless of the number of fluid connections;

a core member retained between and within said upper and lower cover shells, said core having a male configuration comprising;

male tubular hollow fluidic pins, corresponding to the number of fluid connections, extending from the end of said core, the external wall of said fluidic pins having a tapered angle throughout most of their length and merging into a cylindrical portion;

and said core having a female configuration comprising;

a female fluidic receptacle having female fluidic socket openings corresponding to said male fluid pins, said female fluidic socket openings each having a larger circumferential opening than the cylindrical portion of said male fluidic pins, said openings tapering to a narrower internal cylindrical portion having an internal diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the male fluidic pin so that an interference fluid-tight fit is created when said male fluidic tubular pins are inserted into said female receptacle fluidic sockets, without any requirement that the end of the male pin abut a seat at the bottom of a female receptacle socket, said connector compensating for inaccuracies

inherent in the mass production of said cores and cover shells by;

i) retention of said male core member so as to permit some slight movement of the male core within said upper and lower cover shells so as to tolerate misalignment with respect to the mating female core member;

ii) constructing said male fluidic pins so as to allow some bending thereof along their longitudinal axis so that the male pins will bend slightly to compensate for misalignment between said fluidic male pins on said male core and fluidic receptacle socket openings in said female core, and

means for preventing mismating of the male and female core members by forming mating key portions in said male and female connectors to prevent an improper reverse insertion therebetween.

5. A multiple fluidic connector for medical apparatus for rapidly connecting and disconnecting with a single male and female connector a plurality of fluid lines while maintaining consistent, bubble-tight fluid interconnection thereof, said connector having a modular design so that the number of fluidic connections may be varied depending upon the particular application, said connector comprising:

a common upper cover shell and a common lower cover shell each being substantially identical regardless of the number of fluid connections;

a core member retained between and within said upper and lower cover shells, said core having a male configuration comprising;

male tubular hollow fluidic pins, corresponding to the number of fluid connections, extending from the end of said core, the external wall of said fluidic pins having a tapered angle throughout most of their length and merging into a cylindrical portion;

and said core having a female configuration comprising;

a female fluidic receptacle having female fluidic socket openings corresponding to said male fluid pins, said female fluidic socket openings each having a larger circumferential opening than the cylindrical portion of said male fluidic pins, said openings tapering to a narrower internal cylindrical portion having an internal diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the male fluidic pin so that an interference fluid-tight fit is created when said male fluidic tubular pins are inserted into said female receptacle fluidic sockets, without any requirement that the end of the male pin abut a seat at the bottom of a female receptacle socket,

said connector compensating for inaccuracies inherent in the mass production of said cores and cover shells by constructing said male fluidic pins so as to allow some bending thereof along their longitudinal axis so that the male pins will bend slightly to compensate for misalignment between said fluidic male pins on said male core and fluidic receptacle socket openings in said female core.

6. A multiple fluidic connector for medical apparatus for rapidly connecting and disconnecting with a single male and female connector a plurality of fluid lines while maintaining consistent, bubble-tight fluid interconnection thereof, said connector having a modular design so that the number of fluidic connections may be varied depending upon the particular application, said connector comprising:

a common upper cover shell and a common lower cover shell each being substantially identical regardless of the number of fluid connections; and

a core member retained between and within said upper and lower cover shells, said core having a male configuration comprising;

male tubular hollow fluidic pins, corresponding to the number of fluid connections, extending from the end of said core, the external wall of said fluidic pins having a tapered angle throughout most of their length and merging into a cylindrical portion;

and said core having a female configuration comprising;

a female fluidic receptacle having female fluidic socket openings corresponding to said male fluid pins, said female fluidic socket openings each having a larger circumferential opening than the cylindrical portion of said male fluidic pins, said openings tapering to a narrower internal cylindrical portion having an internal diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the male fluidic pin so that an interference fluid-tight fit is created when said male fluidic tubular pins are inserted into said female receptacle fluidic sockets, without any requirement that the end of the male pin abut a seat at the bottom of a female receptacle socket.

7. A multiple fluidic connector for medical apparatus for rapidly connecting and disconnecting with a single male and female connector a plurality of fluid lines while maintaining consistent, bubble-tight fluid interconnection thereof, said connector having a modular design so that the number of fluidic connections may be varied depending upon the particular application, said connector comprising:

a common upper cover shell and a common lower cover shell each being substantially identical regardless of the number of fluid connections;

a core member retained between and within said upper and lower cover shells, said core having a male configuration comprising;

male tubular hollow fluidic pins, corresponding to the number of fluid connections, extending from the end of said core, the external wall of said fluidic pins having a tapered angle throughout most of their length and merging into a cylindrical portion; and

said core having a female configuration comprising;

a female fluidic receptacle having female fluidic socket openings corresponding to said male fluid pins, said female fluidic socket openings each having a larger circumferential opening than the cylindrical portion of said male fluidic pins, said openings tapering to a narrower internal cylindrical portion having an internal diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the male fluidic pin so that an interference fluid-tight fit is created when said male fluidic tubular pins are inserted into said female receptacle fluidic sockets, without any requirement that the end of the male pin abut a seat at the bottom of a female receptacle socket; and

means for preventing mismating of the male and female core members by forming mating key portions in said male and female connectors to prevent an improper reverse insertion therebetween.

8. The multiple fluidic connector as described in claim 7, wherein said means for preventing mismating of the male and female connectors comprises a chamber formed at one corner of said female core and a triangular portion formed in one of said male cover members conforming to said chamber.

9. The multiple fluidic connector described in claim 7, wherein said means for preventing mismating of the male and female connectors comprises a structural member having a predetermined configuration formed on said female connector and a mating structural member on said male connector.

10. A multiple electrical and fluidic connector for medical apparatus for rapidly connecting and disconnecting with a single male and female connector a plurality of electrical lines and fluid lines while maintaining consistent, bubble-tight fluid interconnection thereof, said connector comprising:

a common upper cover shell and a common lower cover shell each being substantially identical regardless of the number of electrical and fluid connections;

a core member retained between and within said upper and lower cover shells, said core having a male configuration comprising;

male tubular hollow fluidic pins, corresponding to the number of fluid connections, extending from the end of said core; and

male electrical pins, corresponding to the number of electrical connections, extending from the end of said core, the external wall of said fluidic pins having a tapered angle throughout most of their length and merging into a cylindrical portion;

and said core having a female configuration comprising;

a female fluidic receptacle having female fluidic socket openings corresponding to said male fluid pins and female electrical socket openings corresponding to said male electrical pins, said female fluidic socket openings each having a larger circumferential opening than the cylindrical portion of said male fluidic pins, said openings tapering to a narrower internal cylindrical portion having an internal diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the male fluidic pin so that an interference fluid-tight fit is created when said male fluidic tubular pins are inserted into said female receptacle fluidic sockets, without any requirement that the end of the male pin abut a seat at the bottom of a female receptacle socket; and

a sleeve surrounding said upper and lower cover shells of said male connector, said sleeve having the dual functions of;

i) holding together said upper and lower cover shells,

ii) permitting some movement of the male core member between said upper and lower cover shells so as to tolerate misalignment with respect to the mating female core member, and

iii) locking together said male and female connectors by sliding over said upper and lower cover shells from an unlock to a lock position,

said connector further compensating for inaccuracies inherent in the mass production of said cores and cover shells by constructing said male fluidic pins so as to allow some bending thereof along their longitudinal axis so that the male pins will bend slightly to compensate for misalignment between said fluidic male pins on said male core and fluidic receptacle socket openings in said female core.

11. A multiple electrical and fluidic connector for medical apparatus for rapidly connecting and disconnecting with a single male and female connector a plurality of electrical lines and fluid lines while maintaining consistent, bubble-tight fluid interconnection thereof, said connector having a male configuration comprising:

male tubular hollow fluidic pins, corresponding to the number of fluid connections, extending from the end of said male connector; and

male electrical pins, corresponding to the number of electrical connections, extending from the end of said male connector, the external wall of said fluidic pins having a tapered angle θ

throughout most of their length and merging into a cylindrical portion;

and said connector having a female configuration comprising;

a female fluidic receptacle having female fluidic socket openings corresponding to said male fluid pins and female electrical socket openings corresponding to said male electrical pins, said female fluidic socket openings each having a larger circumferential opening than the cylindrical portion of said male fluidic pins, said openings tapering along an angle β

slightly larger than angle θ

to a narrower internal cylindrical portion having an internal diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the male fluidic pin so that an interference fluid-tight fit is created when said male fluidic tubular pins are inserted into said female receptacle fluidic sockets, without any requirement that the end of the male pin abut a seat at the bottom of a female receptacle socket,

said connector compensating for inaccuracies inherent in the mass production of said male and female connectors by constructing said male fluidic pins so as to allow some bending thereof along their longitudinal axis so that the male pins will bend slightly to compensate for misalignment between said fluidic male pins and said fluidic female receptacle socket openings

12. A multiple connector for medical apparatus for rapidly connecting and disconnecting with a single male and female connector a plurality of fluid lines while maintaining consistent, bubble-tight fluid interconnection thereof, said connector having a male configuration comprising:

male tubular hollow fluidic pins, corresponding to the number of fluid connections, extending from the end of said male connector, the external wall of said fluidic pins having a tapered angle throughout most of their length and merging into a cylindrical portion;

and said connector having a female configuration comprising;

a female fluidic receptacle having female fluidic socket openings corresponding to said male fluid pins, said female fluidic socket tapering to a narrower internal cylindrical portion having an internal diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the male fluidic pin so that an interference fluid-tight fit is created when said male fluidic tubular pins are inserted into said female receptacle fluidic sockets.

13. A multiple electrical and fluidic connector for medical apparatus for rapidly connecting and disconnecting with a single male and female connector a plurality of electrical lines and fluid lines while maintaining consistent, bubble-tight fluid interconnection thereof, said connector having a modular design so that the number of fluidic and electrical connections may be varied depending upon the particular application, said connector comprising:

a common upper cover shell and a common lower cover shell each being substantially identical regardless of the number of electrical and fluid connections;

a core member retained between and within said upper and lower cover shells, said core having a male configuration comprising;

male tubular hollow fluidic pins, corresponding to the number of fluid connections, extending from the end of said core; and

male electrical pins, corresponding to the number of electrical connections, extending from the end of said core, the external wall of said fluidic pins having a tapered angle throughout most of their length and merging into a cylindrical portion;

said core having a female configuration comprising;

a female fluidic receptacle having female fluidic socket openings corresponding to said male fluid pins and female electrical socket openings corresponding to said male electrical pins, said female fluidic socket openings each having a larger circumferential opening than the cylindrical portion of said male fluidic pins, said openings tapering along an angle β

slightly larger than angle θ

to a narrower internal cylindrical portion having an internal diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the male fluidic pin so that an interference fluid-tight fit is created when said male fluidic tubular pins are inserted into said female receptacle fluidic sockets, without any requirement that the end of the male pin abut a seat at the bottom of a female receptacle socket,

said connector compensating for inaccuracies inherent in the mass production of said cores and cover shells by;

i) retention of said male core member so as to permit some slight movement of the male core within said upper and lower cover shells so as to tolerate misalignment with respect to the mating female core member;

ii) constructing said male fluidic pins so as to allow some bending thereof along their longitudinal axis so that the male pins will bend slightly to compensate for misalignment between said fluidic male pins on said male core and fluidic receptacle socket openings in said female core, and

means for preventing mismating of the male and female core members by forming mating key portions in said male and female connectors to prevent an improper reverse insertion therebetween.

14. A multiple electrical and fluidic connector for medical apparatus for rapidly connecting and disconnecting with a single male and female connector a plurality of electrical lines and fluid lines while maintaining consistent, bubble-tight fluid interconnection thereof, said connector having a modular design so that the number of fluidic and electrical connections may be varied depending upon the particular application, said connector comprising:

a common upper cover shell and a common lower cover shell each being substantially identical regardless of the number of electrical and fluid connections; and

a core member retained between and within said upper and lower cover shells, said core having a male configuration comprising;

male tubular hollow fluidic pins, corresponding to the number of fluid connections, extending from the end of said core; and

male electrical pins, corresponding to the number of electrical connections, extending from the end of said core,

said core having a female configuration comprising;

a female fluidic receptacle having female fluidic socket openings corresponding to said male fluid pins and female electrical socket openings corresponding to said male electrical pins.

15. A multiple electrical and fluidic connector for medical apparatus for rapidly connecting and disconnecting with a single male and female connector a plurality of electrical lines and fluid lines while maintaining consistent, bubble-tight fluid interconnection thereof, said connector having a modular design so that the number of fluidic and electrical connections may be varied depending upon the particular application, said connector comprising:

a common upper cover shell and a common lower cover shell each being substantially identical regardless of the number of electrical and fluid connections;

a core member retained between and within said upper and lower cover shells, said core having a male configuration comprising;

male tubular hollow fluidic pins, corresponding to the number of fluid connections, extending from the end of said core; and

male electrical pins, corresponding to the number of electrical connections, extending from the end of said core,

said core having a female configuration comprising;

a female fluidic receptacle having female fluidic socket openings corresponding to said male fluid pins and female electrical socket openings corresponding to said male electrical pins; and

means for selectively locking together said male and female connectors.

16. The multiple electrical and fluidic connector of claim 15, wherein said means for selectively locking together said male and female connectors comprises:

respective flexible locking leaves on said upper and lower shells of the male connector for engagement with an abutting shoulder in the female connector, said leaves having sufficient flexibility so that when their ends are unconstrained, the respective leaves will flex apart to disengage from said shoulder, and

a locking sleeve surrounding said flexible locking leaves and movable between an unlocked position remote from the respective ends of said flexible leaves and a locked position in juxtaposition with the ends of said flexible leaves to prevent flexure of said leaves so as to prevent their disengagement from said shoulder.