Medical connector and method for connecting medical tubing

• US 5,405,339 A
• Filed: 09/03/1993
• Issued: 04/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Terry L. Wiles
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Palm, Jeffry C., Struve, Roger L., Kohnen, Jane L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILKENS, FRANK
• Application Number:
  US08/117,386
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 604/7, 604/29, 604/93, 604/174, 604/283, 604/905, 285/169, 285/176, 285/177
• US Class Current: 604/535
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A medical connector and method of using the connector to connect separate sections of medical tubing, especially tubing which is to be implanted in the human body. The connector includes generally cylindrical first and second end portions, the diameter of which are smaller than an enlarged middle portion. The end portions are sized to fit within the lumens of the tubing sections. The connection is made by grasping the enlarged middle portion and slipping each end portion into a respective tubing section until the tubing sections abut tubing stop surfaces located at each end of the enlarged middle portion. The enlarged middle portion makes the connector easy to handle and the tubing stop sections provide for accurate alignment of the connector between the tubing sections.

Claims

1. A connector for medical tubing comprising:

a first generally cylindrical end portion for insertion in medical tubing,

a second generally cylindrical end portion for insertion in medical tubing, said first and second end portions each including means for securing the medical tubing to said first and second end portions; and

an enlarged middle portion lying between said first and second end portions, said enlarged middle portion being generally cylindrical and having a diameter larger than the diameter of said first and second end portions, said enlarged middle portion including a substantially circumferential groove and having a first tubing stop section adjacent said first end portion and a second tubing stop section adjacent said second end portion, said first end portion, said second end portion and said enlarged middle portion defining a central lumen.

2. A method of connecting catheter sections comprising;

inserting a first end portion of a connector in the first catheter section, said first end portion being substantially cylindrical,

inserting a second end portion of the connector in a second catheter section, said second end portion being substantially cylindrical, said first and second end portions each including means for securing the medical tubing to said first and second end portions, and

sliding the first and second end portions into the first and second catheter sections until the sections abut against first and second catheter stop surfaces of an enlarged middle portion of the connector lying between the first and second end portion, said enlarged middle portion being generally cylindrical and having a diameter larger than the diameter of said first and second end portions, said enlarged middle portion further including a substantially circumferentially groove.

3. A connector for medical tubing comprising:

a first generally cylindrical end portion for insertion in medical tubing;

a second generally cylindrical end portion for insertion in medical tubing, said first and second end portions each including means for securing the medical tubing to said first and second end portions, said means for securing including at least one circumferentially raised ridge, each said ridge having a substantially equal circumference which is greater than the circumference of said generally cylindrical first and second end portions; and

an enlarged middle portion lying between said first and second end portions, said enlarged middle portion being generally cylindrical and having a diameter larger than the diameter if said first and second end portions, said enlarged middle portion having a first tubing stop section adjacent said first end portion and a second tubing stop section adjacent said second end portion, said first end portion, said second end portion and said enlarged middle portion defining a central lumen.

4. A connector for medical tubing comprising:

a first generally cylindrical end portion for insertion in medical tubing;

a second generally cylindrical end portion for insertion in medical tubing, said first and second end portions each including means for securing the medical tubing to said first and second end portions, said means for securing including at least one circumferentially depressed section having a circumference which is less than the circumference of said generally cylindrical first and second end portions; and

an enlarged middle portion lying between said first and second end portions, said enlarged middle portion being generally cylindrical and having a diameter larger than the diameter if said first and second end portions, said enlarged middle portion having a first tubing stop section adjacent said first end portion and a second tubing stop section adjacent said second end portion, said first end portion, said second end portion and said enlarged middle portion defining a central lumen.

5. A connector for connecting catheter body sections comprising:

a first end portion for insertion in a catheter body section, said first end portion being substantially cylindrical; and

a second end portion for insertion in a catheter body section, said second end portion being substantially cylindrical, said first and second end portions each including means for securing the medical tubing to said first and second end portions, said means for securing including at least one circumferentially raised ridge, each said ridge having a substantially equal circumference which is greater than the circumference of said generally cylindrical first and second end portions, and an enlarged middle portion lying between said first and second end portions, said enlarged middle portion being generally cylindrical and having a diameter larger than the diameter of said first and second end portions, said enlarged middle portion having a first catheter stop section adjacent said first end portion and a second catheter stop section adjacent said second end portion, said first end portion, said second end portion and said enlarged middle portion defining a central lumen substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the connector, such that fluids may pass between the catheter body sections through the central lumen.

6. A connector for connecting catheter body sections comprising:

a first end portion for insertion in a catheter body section, said first end portion being substantially cylindrical; and

a second end portion for insertion in a catheter body section, said second end portion being substantially cylindrical, said first and second end portions each including means for securing the medical tubing to said first and second end portions, said means for securing including at least one circumferentially depressed section having a circumference which is less than the circumference of said generally cylindrical first and second end portions, and an enlarged middle portion lying between said first and second end portions, said enlarged middle portion being generally cylindrical and having a diameter larger than the diameter of said first and second end portions, said enlarged middle portion having a first catheter stop section adjacent said first end portion and a second catheter stop section adjacent said second end portion, said first end portion, said second end portion and said enlarged middle portion defining a central lumen substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the connector, such that fluids may pass between the catheter body sections through the central lumen.

7. A method of connecting catheter sections comprising:

inserting a first end portion of a connector in a first catheter section, said first end portion being substantially cylindrical;

inserting a second end portion of the connector in a second catheter section, said second end portion being substantially cylindrical, said first and second end portions each including means for securing the medical tubing to said first and second end portions, said means for securing including at least one circumferentially raised ridge, each said ridge having a substantially equal circumference which is greater than the circumference of said generally cylindrical first and second end portions; and

sliding the first and second end portions into the first and second catheter sections until the sections abut against first and second catheter stop surfaces of an enlarged middle portion of the connector lying between the first and second end portions, said enlarged middle portion being generally cylindrical and having diameter larger than the diameter of said first and second end portions.

8. A method of connecting catheter sections comprising:

inserting a first end portion of a connector in a first catheter section, said first end portion being substantially cylindrical;

inserting a second end portion of the connector in a second catheter section, said second end portion being substantially cylindrical, said first and second end portions each including means for securing the medical tubing to said first and second end portions, said means for securing including at least one circumferentially depressed section having a circumference which is less than the circumference of said generally cylindrical first and second end portions; and

sliding the first and second end portions into the first and second catheter sections until the sections abut against first and second catheter stop surfaces of an enlarged middle portion of the connector lying between the first and second end portions, said enlarged middle portion being generally cylindrical and having diameter larger than the diameter of said first and second end portions.