Luer connector with torque indicator
First Claim
1. A luer connector comprising:
- a threaded male luer component;
a threaded female luer component rotationally engageable with said male luer component; and
a first protuberance comprising indication means connected to at least one of said luer components for tactilely indicating, after the male and female luer components have been connected, that a predetermined torque has been applied to said connector to complete a fluid-tight seal between the male and female luer components and to warn against overtightening of said connector; and
a second protuberance comprising deflectable means connected to at least one of said luer components for preventing further application of torque after said predetermined torque has been applied,wherein said first protuberance and said second protuberance cooperate together to provide a tactile response.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A luer connector is provided with a tactile and audible torque indicator. The indicator comprises a detent incorporated between the female cylindrical component of the luer connector and a rotatable collar mounted thereon. As the collar is turned in a clockwise direction, the collar is impeded by the detent formed by opposingly projecting protuberances between the inside of the collar and the outside of the female cylindrical luer component. As the threaded luer connection is tightened, requiring additional torque to tighten it further, the additional torque overcomes the resistance of the detent, allowing the collar protuberance to slip past the cylinder protuberance. The female luer component may also be provided with a color patch or pattern, to indicate by its rotation, when the detent has been overcome, that the luer connection has been appropriately tightened. In an alternative embodiment, oppositely disposed grooved wings are provided on the rotatable threaded collar of the male luer component to provide indication of proper torque by deflection and failure of the wings just prior to overtightening. The wings may be provided with gussets to strengthen the wings for rotation in the loosening direction.
230 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A luer connector comprising:
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a threaded male luer component; a threaded female luer component rotationally engageable with said male luer component; and a first protuberance comprising indication means connected to at least one of said luer components for tactilely indicating, after the male and female luer components have been connected, that a predetermined torque has been applied to said connector to complete a fluid-tight seal between the male and female luer components and to warn against overtightening of said connector; and a second protuberance comprising deflectable means connected to at least one of said luer components for preventing further application of torque after said predetermined torque has been applied, wherein said first protuberance and said second protuberance cooperate together to provide a tactile response. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A luer connector comprising:
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a threaded male luer component; a threaded female luer component rotationally engageable with said male luer component; and indication means connected to at least one of said luer components for tactilely indicating, after the male and female luer components have been connected, that a predetermined torque has been applied to said connector to complete a fluid-tight seal between the male and female luer components and to warn against overtightening of said connector; and deflectable means connected to at least one of said luer components for preventing further application of torque after said predetermined torque has been applied, wherein said tactile indication means comprises a collar rotatably mounted on one of said luer components; and detent means connected to one of said luer components to retard the rotation of said collar on said component to allow tightening of the luer components together until sufficient resistance is encountered to require torque sufficient to overcome the resistance of said detent means. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A luer connector comprising:
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a threaded male luer component; a threaded female luer component rotationally engageable with said male luer component; and indication means connected to at least one of said luer components for tactilely indicating, after the male and female luer components have been connected, that a predetermined torque has been applied to said connector to complete a fluid-tight seal between the male and female luer components and to warn against overtightening of said connector; and means for visually indicating that the predetermined torque has been applied to said connector to complete the fluid-tight seal; and deflectable means connected to at least one of said luer components for preventing further application of torque after said predetermined torque has been applied; therein said visual indication means comprises a color patch applied to at least one of said male and female components, whereby the rotational position of said color patch provides an indication that sufficient relative torque has been applied to said connector to complete the fluid-tight seal.
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8. In a luer connector having a threaded male luer component and a threaded female luer component rotationally engageable with said male luer component, the improvement comprising a first protuberance which comprises indication means connected to at least one of said luer components for tactilely indicating, after the male and female luer components have been connected, that a predetermined torque has been applied to said connector to complete a fluid-tight seal between the male and female luer components and to warn against overtightening of said connector;
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a second protuberance which comprises deflectable means connected to at least one of said luer components for preventing further application of torque after said predetermined torque has been applied, wherein said first protuberance and said second protuberance cooperate together to provide a tactile response.
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9. A luer connector comprising:
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a threaded male luer component; a threaded female luer component rotationally engageable with said male luer component; and indication means connected to at least one of said luer components for tactilely indicating, after the male and female luer components have been connected, that a predetermined torque has been applied to said connector to complete a fluid-tight connector seal between the male and female luer components and to warn against overtightening of said connector; and deflectable means connected to at least one of said luer components for preventing further application of torque after said predetermined torque has been applied; wherein said indication means comprises a collar rotatably mounted on one of said luer components; and detent means connected to one of said luer components for retarding the rotation of said collar, said detent means prohibiting tightening of the luer connector after a predetermined torque sufficient to overcome the resistance of said detent means is applied. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A luer connector comprising:
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a threaded male luer component; a threaded female luer component rotationally engageable with said male luer component; and indication means connected to at least one of said luer components for tactilely indicating, after the male and female luer components have been connected, that a predetermined torque has been applied to said connector to complete a fluid-tight connector seal between the male and female luer components and to warn against overtightening of said connector; and wherein said indication means are deflectable and are connected to at least one of said luer components for preventing further application of torque after said predetermined torque has been applied; wherein said indication means comprises at least one deflectable wing member attached to and radiating from one of said luer components;
.wherein said wing member is deflected by the application of a predetermined torque to said wing to fully tighten said luer connector; and wherein said wing member includes a longitudinal groove defined in said wing member adjacent to and axially parallel to said one of said luer components to structurally weaken said wing member to allow said wing member to fail upon application of said predetermined torque. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A luer connector comprising:
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a threaded male luer component; a threaded female luer component rotationally engageable with said male luer component; and a first protuberance comprising tactile indication means cooperating with the male luer component and the female luer component to provide tactile indication, after the male and female luer components have been connected, of a predetermined torque being reached upon relative rotation of said male and female components, said predetermined torque being that just necessary to effect a fluid-tight seal between the male and female luer components and to warn against overtightening of said connector; and a second protuberance comprising deflectable means connected to at least one of said luer components for preventing further application of torque after said predetermined torque has been applied, wherein said first protuberance and said second protuberance cooperate together to provide a tactile response.
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14. A luer connector comprising:
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a threaded male luer component; a threaded female luer component rotationally engageable with said male luer component; and a first protuberance comprising audible indication means cooperating with the male luer component and the female luer component to provide audible indication, after the male and female luer components have been connected, of a predetermined torque being reached upon relative rotation of said male and female components, said predetermined torque being that just necessary to effect a fluid-tight seal between the male and female luer components and to warn against overtightening of said connector; and a second protuberance comprising deflectable means connected to at least one of said luer components for preventing further application of torque after said predetermined torque has been applied, wherein said first protuberance and said second protuberance cooperate together to provide a tactile response. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A luer connector comprising:
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a threaded male luer component; a threaded female luer component rotationally engageable with said male luer component; and audible indication means cooperating with the male luer component and the female luer component to provide audible indication, after the male and female luer components have been connected, of a predetermined torque being reached upon relative rotation of said male and female components, said predetermined torque being that just necessary to effect a fluid-tight seal; deflectable means connected to at least one of said luer components for preventing further application of torque after said predetermined torque has been applied; means for visually indicating that the predetermined torque has been applied to said connector to complete a fluid-tight connection; wherein said visual indication means comprises a color patch applied to at least one of said male and female luer components, whereby the rotational position of said color patch provides an indication that sufficient relative torque has been applied to said connector to complete the fluid-tight seal.
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Specification