Enternal tube incorporating a ferrule

• US 5,234,417 A
• Filed: 12/21/1990
• Issued: 08/10/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Medical Innovations Corporation (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Harry, Decaria, Christine, Fishman, Udi, Parks, Stephen K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CERMAK, ADAM
• Application Number:
  US07/632,776
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 604/103, 604/264, 604/280, 604/283, 604/905, 604/80, 604/81, 604/258, 16/2, 16/108, 16/109
• US Class Current: 604/533
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/00 Feeding-tubes for therapeutic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0026 Parts, details or accessories for feeding-tubes external tubes from medical containers to a connector outside of the body A61M39/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0042 inflatable
• 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 2039/1083 having a plurality of female connectors, e.g. Luer connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1088 having a plurality of male connectors, e.g. Luer 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: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A ferrule for use as a medical device which makes mechanical connection with external connector tubes is provided; the ferrule comprises an inner wall defining a conduit extending between an inlet opening and an outlet opening; a first taper lock surface is defined by a first region of the inner wall for forming a taper lock with a first connector portion having first dimensions; and a second taper lock surface is defined by a second region of the inner wall for forming a taper lock with a second connector portion having second dimensions.

Claims

1. A feeding device comprising:

an elongated tube formed from a flexible material;

an inlet end portion formed from the flexible material and integrally connected to the elongated tube and defining first and second inlet port openings;

a ferrule disposed within said inlet end portion, said ferrule including,

a first inner wall defining a first main conduit,

a first inlet defining a first inlet conduit and providing fluid communication between the first inlet port opening and said first main conduit, and

a second inlet defining a second inlet conduit and providing fluid communication between the second inlet port opening and said first main conduit.

2. The feeding device of claim 1 wherein the first main conduit is aligned along a first main axis and the first inlet conduit is aligned along a first inlet axis offset from the first main axis.

3. The feeding device of claim 1 wherein:

said inlet end portion defines a third inlet port opening; and

wherein said ferrule further includes,

a third inlet defining a third inlet conduit offset from the first main conduit and providing fluid communication between the third inlet port opening and said first main conduit.

4. The feeding device of claim 1 wherein said first inlet includes gripping means for making mechanical connection with an external connector.

5. The feeding device of claim 1 wherein said gripping means includes:

first taper lock means for forming a taper lock with a first external connector having first dimensions.

6. The feeding device of claim 5 wherein said gripping means further includes:

second taper lock means for forming a taper lock with a second external connector having second dimensions.

7. The feeding device of claims 4, 5 or 6 wherein said gripping means includes a threaded region about a portion of said first inlet conduit.

8. The feeding device of claim 4 wherein said gripping means includes:

at least one conical barb upstanding from said first inlet.

9. A feeding device comprising:

an elongated tube formed from a flexile material;

an inlet end portion formed from the flexible material and integrally connected to the elongated tube and defining first and second inlet port openings;

a ferrule disposed within said inlet end portion, said ferrule including,

a first inner wall defining a first main conduit,

a first inlet defining a first inlet conduit and providing fluid communication between the first inlet port opening and said first main conduit, and

a second inlet defining a second inlet conduit and providing fluid communication between the second inlet port opening and said first main conduit,

wherein said first inlet includes barbed gripping means for making mechanical connection with an external connector.

10. A feeding device comprising:

an elongated tube formed from a flexible material;

an inlet end portion formed from the flexible material and integrally connected to the elongated tube and forming a plurality of respective inlet port openings;

a ferrule disposed within said inlet end portion, said ferrule including,

an inner wall defining a main conduit, and

a plurality of respective inlet conduits, each corresponding to a respective inlet port opening, and each providing fluid communication betwen a respective inlet port opening and the main conduit.