Medical connector apparatus

• US 5,967,817 A
• Filed: 11/21/1995
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Heartstream, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Greenstein, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US08/561,527
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 439/680, 439/488, 439/490, 439/387, 439/732, 439/205, 439/909, 439/843, 609/149-153
• US Class Current: 439/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5227 with evacuation of penetrating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6641 with diode with LED H01R13/7175
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7172 Conduits for light transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A medical connector apparatus that includes: (1) a first mating connector having a first conductive portion, (2) a second mating connector having a second conductive portion for electrically coupling to the first conductive portion, and (3) a housing unit with an interior chamber housing the second mating connector. In one embodiment of the invention, two apertures extend between the interior chamber and the housing unit'"'"'s exterior. In another embodiment of the invention, the first mating connector further has a wiping portion for cleaning a portion of the second mating connector adjacent to the second conductive portion.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the housing chamber further has a light source positioned near the aperture through which the first mating member enters to electrically couple the first and second conductive portions. In this embodiment, the first mating connector has a light covering portion for covering the light source when the first and second conductive portions couple. The embodiments of the medical connector apparatus described above can serve as electrode connectors for all types of defibrillators.

Claims

1. An electrical medical connector apparatus comprising:

a housing unit having a semi-cylindrical portion, the semi-cylindrical portion comprising an interior chamber, a semi-cylindrical surface extending into the interior chamber, two housed electrical connectors, a front end having a first aperture for receiving a cable connector and the housing unit having a bottom wall including a second aperture connecting with the interior chamber to provide an outlet for environmental residue within the interior chamber when the cable connector is inserted into the first aperture to make an electrical connection with the housing unit.

2. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cable connector inserted into the first aperture of the housing unit, the cable connector comprising two electrical conductors electrically connected to the housed electrical connectors.

3. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cable connector further comprises a conductive socket electrically connected to each of the two electrical conductors and an expandable tube surrounding each conductive socket, the expandable tubes expanding when the sockets make electrical connection with the housed electrical connectors.

4. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cable connector further comprises a wiping portion adapted to providing a wiping action to the housed electrical connectors.

5. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cable connector further comprises a semi-cylindrical channel formed in the exterior of the cable connector, the semi-cylindrical channel adapted to slide over and surround a semi-cylindrical surface of the housing unit when the cable connector is inserted into the housing unit.

6. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cable connector further comprises a light covering portion surrounded by semi-cylindrical surface of housing unit when the cable connector is inserted in the housing unit.

7. An electrical medical cable connector comprising:

a shell;

two electrical conductors electrically connected to two conductive sockets within the shell;

a semi-cylindrical channel formed in the shell adapted to slide over and surround a semi-cylindrical surface of a housing unit into which the cable connector is inserted to make electrical contact between the cable connector and the housing unit;

wherein each of the conductive electrical sockets is connected to each of the two electrical conductors and expandable tubes in the shell each surrounding each conductive socket.

8. The electrical medical cable connector of claim 7 further comprising a wiping portion adapted to providing a wiping action to electrical connectors of a housing unit into which the cable connector is inserted to make electrical contact between the cable connector and the housing unit.

9. The electrical medical cable connector of claim 8 further comprising a light covering portion extending over the channel and adapted to cover a light disposed within the channel when the cable connector is inserted in the housing unit to make electrical contact between the cable connector and the housing unit.