Medical connector apparatus

• US 6,048,218 A
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Heartstream, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Greenstein, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US09/281,709
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 439/680, 439/488, 439/490, 439/387, 439/732, 439/205, 439/909, 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 and an electrical medical cable connector, the housing unit having an interior chamber, the housing unit forming a semi-cylindrical surface extending into the interior chamber, the housing unit further comprising two housed electrical connectors therein, and a front end having an aperture for receiving an electrical medical cable connector, wherein the electrical medical cable connector comprise, two electrical conductors electrically connected to two conductive sockets within a shell of the electrical medical cable connector, wherein each of the conductive electrical sockets of the cable connectors are connected to each of the electrical conductors; and

a semi-cylindrical channel formed in the shell adapted to slide over and surround the semi-cylindrical surface of the housing unit when the cable connector is inserted to make electrical contact between the cable connector and the housing unit and further wherein expandable tubes in the shell surround each conductive socket.

2. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cable connector further comprises a wiping portion adapted to providing a wiping action to the housed electrical connectors.

3. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing unit is formed from a rigid material and the cable connector is formed from a pliable material.

4. A medical connector apparatus comprising:

a female mating connector having a semi cylindrical interior chamber housing with two electrical connectors therein, each connector formed from a pin contact on an end of the receptive connectors, a light pipe having a light therein extending along the interior chamber and positioned between said electrical connectors,

wherein the interior chamber of the female mating connector is adapted to slidably receive a male mating connector having two female chambers, each female chamber having a conductive socket for receiving the corresponding pin of the female mating connector.

5. The medical connector apparatus of claim 4 wherein the electrical conductors of the male mating connector further comprise an expandable tube surrounding each conductive socket, the expandable tubes expanding when the sockets make electrical connection with the male mating connector.

6. The medical connector apparatus of claim 4 wherein the female mating connector is formed of a material of greater rigidity than the male mating connector.