Connector having a medical cannula

• US 5,514,117 A
• Filed: 12/22/1994
• Issued: 05/07/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence A. Lynn
• Original Assignee: Lawrence A. Lynn
• Inventors: Lynn, Lawrence A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US08/361,694
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 604/200, 604/285, 604/86, 604/905, 604/411-414, 604/198, 604/29, 604/87, 604/88, 604/244, 604/283
• US Class Current: 604/536
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1475 Inlet or outlet ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2058 having multiple connecting ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3109 Caps sealing the needle bore by use of, e.g. air-hardening adhesive, elastomer or epoxy resin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/04 having pierceable self-sealing members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/14 for connecting tubes having sealed ends needle sets A61M5/162; having valves closing automatically on disconnection of line A61M39/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3213 Caps placed axially onto the needle, e.g. equipped with finger protection guards axially-extensible protective sleeves A61M5/3243

Abstract

A medical connector for manually connecting a fluid conveying conduit that is in fluid communications with a patient'"'"'s vasculature and having a junction terminal at an end thereof to a fluid conduit for administration of fluid to the patient. The connector is formed of two components. The first component includes a cannula hub to which a cannula is mounted, a base extending from the hub and fingers extending from the base. The second component is a collar including a support and bars extending therefrom. The collar is manually slidable along the first component in the direction the cannula extends between a retracted position and a locking position. The bars engage the fingers to flex into engagement with the junction terminal. The bars are elastically deformable to provide a spring force for locking the fingers on the junction terminal.

Claims

1. A medical connector for connecting a secondary intravenous tubing system having an open end to a primary intravenous tubing system having a junction terminal, the junction terminal including a tube defining an axis having an outer axial surface and a bore extending to a junction end, the junction end being occluded by an elastic sealing member, the connector comprising:

a. a base having a first open end and a lumen extending through said base, said base having means for connecting to said open end of said secondary tubing,

b. a cannula extending axially from said base, said lumen extending through said cannula from said base,

c. at least two cantilevered fingers extending axially from said base and about said cannula, at least the distal portions of said fingers being moveable from (1) a first, resting position wherein said junction end can be received between said fingers and said cannula can penetrate said sealing member so that said lumen of said cannula is in fluid communication with said bore, to (2) a second, flexed position wherein said junction terminal is received by said fingers so that displacement of said junction terminal from between said fingers when inadvertent retraction force is applied to one said primary system and said secondary system is substantially prevented,

d. a collar slidable along said connector from, (1) a retracted position allowing said fingers to rest in said first position to, (2) an advanced position, said collar engaging said fingers to flex said fingers from said first position to said second position when said collar is moved from said retracted position to said advanced position,

e. each said finger having a cam defined thereon, said collar engaging said cam upon displacement of said collar toward said advanced position, engagement by said collar deflecting at least the distal portion of the respective finger toward said flexed position.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein only two fingers are provided, said fingers being oppositely opposed to flex directly toward each other when said collar is moved to said advanced position.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein said sealing member includes a portion covering said outer surface adjacent said end and wherein said fingers have a proximal portion and a distal portion and wherein said proximal portion is narrow and further wherein said distal portion is wide, said narrow portion defining a flexion region and said wide portion defining a gripping region, said wide portion gripping adjacent said covered portion of said junction terminal when said junction terminal is inserted between said fingers and said collar is moved to said advanced position.

4. The connector of claim 1 wherein said base includes upper and lower walls separating said fingers and wherein said upper and lower walls are flat so that said connector has a low profile.

5. The connector of claim 1 wherein said junction terminal sealing member includes a portion covering said outer surface adjacent said end and has an end face adjacent said junction end and wherein said connector includes a stop connected to and about said cannula, said stop preventing further advancement of said terminal when said face engages said stop, said cannula including a portion projecting from adjacent said stop, said fingers projecting axially beyond said stop for a greater distance than the length of said covering portion of said elastic member so that said fingers project beyond said covering portion when said junction terminal is maximally advanced between said fingers.

6. The connector of claim 1 wherein said sealing member includes a portion covering said outer surface adjacent said end and has a distal end adjacent said end of said junction terminal, and wherein said covering portion of said sealing member has a proximal annular end, said proximal end defining an elevated annular lip adjacent said longitudinal wall of said tube, said fingers engaging said lip when one said primary system and said secondary system is inadvertently pulled away from the other.

7. A connector as in claim 1, further comprising an assembly which prevents said collar from being advanced beyond said advanced position.

8. A connector as in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said collar is elastically distortable to define a spring force resiliently urging said fingers against said junction terminal, whereby when any of a variety of transverse sizes, shapes, external configurations, and rigidities of junction terminals are received between said fingers, said collar can be moved to said advanced position and said junction terminal will be held tightly by said fingers.

9. A medical connector for connecting a secondary intravenous tubing system having an open end to a primary intravenous tubing system having a junction terminal, the junction terminal including a tube defining an axis having an outer axial surface and a bore extending to a junction end, the junction end being occluded by an elastic sealing member, the connector comprising:

a. a base having a first open end and a lumen extending through said base, said base having means for connecting to said open end of secondary tubing.

b. a cannula extending axially from said base, said lumen extending through said cannula from said base,

c. at least two cantilevered fingers extending axially from said base add about said cannula, said fingers being moveable from (1) a first, resting position wherein said junction end can be received between said fingers and said cannula can penetrate said sealing member so that said lumen of said cannula is in fluid communication with said bore, to (2) a second, flexed position wherein said junction terminal is held tightly by said fingers, said fingers gripping said junction terminal to prevent displacement of said junction terminal from between said fingers when inadvertent retraction force is applied to one said primary system and said secondary system,

d. a collar slidable along said connector from (1) a retracted position allowing said fingers to rest in said first position, to (2) an advanced position, said collar engaging said fingers to flex said fingers from said first position to said second position when said collar is moved from said retracted position to said advanced position, at least a portion of said collar being elastically distortable to define a spring force resiliently urging said fingers against said junction terminal, whereby when any of a variety of transverse sizes, shapes, external configurations, and rigidities of junction terminals are received between said fingers, said collar can be moved to said advanced position and said junction terminal will be held tightly by said fingers, and

wherein said open end of said base includes a female luer connector sized to receive an open male connector defined at said open end of said secondary intravenous tubing system, the female connector having a flange defined on an outer portion thereof for threading attachment to a female end defined about said male connector of said secondary tubing.

10. The connector of claim 9 wherein said collar includes a support and first and second opposed cantilevered bars projecting axially from said support and overlying said fingers when the collar is in said advanced position, said bars deflecting said fingers from said first position to said second position when said collar is moved from said retracted position to said advanced position, each said bar being elastically displaceable outwardly relative to said support to define said spring force when said collar is moved to said advanced position.

11. A medical connector for connecting a secondary intravenous tubing system having and open end to a primary intravenous tubing system having a bore, said primary system further including a junction terminal, said terminal comprising a tube having an end and defining a longitudinal axis, said tube having rigid side walls, said terminal end being occluded by an elastic sealing member, the connector comprising:

a. a base having a first open end and a lumen extending through said base, said base having means for connecting to said secondary tubing adjacent said first open end, said base further having first and second generally flat side walls,

b. a cannula extending axially from said base, said lumen extending through said cannula from said base,

c. two directly oppositely disposed cantilevered fingers extending axially from said base and about said cannula, said fingers having arcuate distal ends, said fingers being moveable from, (1) a first position wherein said covered portion of said junction terminal can be received between said fingers and said cannula can penetrate said sealing member so that said lumen of said cannula is in fluid communication with said bore of said primary intravenous tubing system and, (2) a second position wherein said junction terminal is held tightly by said fingers, said fingers gripping tightly against said rigid side walls to prevent displacement of said junction terminal from between said fingers when one said primary system and said secondary system is accidentally pulled away from the other,

d. a collar slidable along said connector from (a) a retracted position allowing said fingers to rest in said first position to (b) an advanced position, said collar engaging said fingers to flex said fingers from said first position to said second position when said collar is moved from said retracted position to said advanced position, said collar having arcuate portions for selectively overlaying said arcuate distal ends of said fingers and flat portions for selectively overlaying said flat side walls of said base, whereby the connector can lie flat against a flat surface.

12. A medical connector for connecting a secondary intravenous tubing having an open end to a primary intravenous system having a bore, said primary system further having a junction terminal, the junction terminal having a rigid outer wall defining a longitudinal axis, the junction terminal further having an open end, the junction end being occluded by an elastic sealing member, the connector comprising:

a. a base having a first open end and a lumen extending through said base, said base having means for connecting said secondary tubing adjacent said secondary tubing end,

b. a cannula extending axially from said base, said lumen extending through said cannula from said base,

c. said connector including at least two cantilevered fingers extending axially from said base and about said cannula, at least the distal portions of said fingers being moveable from (1) a first position wherein said junction terminal can be received between said fingers and said cannula can penetrate said sealing member so that said lumen of said cannula is in fluid communication with said bore of said primary intravenous tubing system and (2) a second position wherein said junction terminal is received by said fingers so that displacement of said junction terminal from between said fingers is substantially prevented,

d. a collar slidable along said connector from (a) a retracted position allowing said fingers to rest in said first position to (b) an advanced position, said collar engaging said fingers to flex said fingers from said first position to said second position when said collar is moved from said retracted position to said advanced position, said collar having an elastically deformable distal end, said collar and said fingers interacting to define a spring force, said spring force being directed transversely to said wall axis and inwardly against said rigid outer junction terminal wall to cause said fingers to squeeze against said longitudinal outer surface of said junction terminal to prevent displacement of said junction terminal from between said fingers, said spring force being induced by interaction between said collar and said fingers when said collar is moved to said advanced position and when said fingers are inhibited from flexing inwardly by said wall, said distal end of said collar being elastically deformed outwardly by said interaction with said fingers, said collar elastically resisting said deformation to define said spring force directed against said fingers to cause said fingers to grip against said longitudinal outer surface of said junction terminal, said spring force causing tight gripping frictional engaging force between said fingers and said junction terminal, said frictional force preventing inadvertent longitudinal disengagement of said connector and said junction terminal,

e. each said finger having a cam defined thereon, said collar engaging said cam upon displacement of said collar toward said advanced position, engagement by said collar deflecting at least the distal portion of the respective finger toward said flexed position.

13. The connector of claim 12 wherein said junction terminal further includes a covered portion defining an elevated lip adjacent said longitudinal sidewalls, said fingers engaging said lip when said junction terminal has been received between said fingers and when said collar is moved to said advanced position and when at least one said primary and said secondary system is inadvertently pulled away from the other, both said gripping spring force and said engagement with said lip comprising combined forces, said forces inhibiting displacement of said junction terminal from between said fingers.

14. A medical connector for connecting a secondary intravenous tubing having an open end to a primary intravenous system having a bore, said primary system further having a junction terminal, the junction terminal having an outer wall defining a longitudinal axis, the junction terminal further having an open end, the junction end being occluded by an elastic sealing member, the connector comprising:

a. a base having a first open end and a lumen extending through said base, said base having means for connecting said secondary tubing adjacent said secondary tubing end,

b. a cannula extending axially from said base, said lumen extending through said cannula from said base,

c. said connector including at least two cantilevered fingers extending axially from said base and about said cannula, at least the distal portions of said fingers being moveable from, (1) a first resting position wherein said junction terminal can be received between said fingers and said cannula can penetrate said sealing member so that said lumen of said cannula is in fluid communication with said bore of said primary intravenous tubing system and, (2) a second position wherein said junction terminal is received by said fingers so that displacement of said junction terminal from between said fingers is substantially prevented,

d. a collar slidable along said connector from, (a) a retracted position allowing said fingers to rest in said first position to, (b) an advanced position, said collar engaging said fingers to flex said fingers from said first position to said second position when said collar is moved from said retracted position to said advanced position, said collar and said fingers interacting to define a spring force, said spring force being directed inwardly against said junction terminal wall to cause said fingers to squeeze against said longitudinal outer surface of said junction terminal to prevent displacement of said junction terminal from between said fingers, said spring force being induced by interaction between said collar and said fingers when said collar is moved to said advanced position and when said fingers are inhibited from flexing inwardly by said junction terminal, said spring force pressing tightly against said longitudinal wall, said spring force being continuous whenever said junction terminal is received between said fingers and said collar is in said advanced position, said connector being free from said spring force when said collar is in said advanced position and said junction terminal has not been received between said fingers,

e. each said finger having a cam defined thereon, said collar engaging said cam upon displacement of said collar toward said advanced position, engagement by said collar deflecting at least the distal portion of the respective finger toward said flexed position.

15. A connector as in claim 14, wherein said fingers squeeze directly against said junction terminal wall.