Medical connector apparatus

• US 6,244,882 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2000
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Greenstein, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US09/489,639
• Time in Patent Office: 505 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 having,

an interior chamber,

a semi-cylindrical portion having a semi-cylindrical surface extending into the interior chamber,

a housed electrical connector comprising two conductive sleeves disposed in a single column and electrically insulated from each other by an insulating member, and

a front end having a first aperture to receive a cable connector having a semi-cylindrical portion;

a backside;

a second aperture formed on the backside and connected 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; and

the cable connector inserted into the first aperture and comprising two electrical conductors each electrically connected to a respective conductive sleeve of the housed electrical connector.

2. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing unit further comprises 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.

3. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cable connector further comprises a socket including two conductive rings electrically insulated from each other by an insulating member, each conductive ring electrically connected to a respective electrical conductor.

4. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 3 further comprising an expandable tube surrounding the socket, the expandable tube expanding when the socket makes electrical connection with the housed electrical connector.

5. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cable connector further comprises a wiping ring to provide a wiping action to the housed electrical connector.

6. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein the semi-cylindrical portion of 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 the semi-cylindrical surface of the semi-cylindrical portion of the housing unit when the cable connector is inserted in the housing unit.

7. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the semi-cylindrical portion of the housing unit comprises an opening; and

the cable connector further comprises a light-covering portion that covers the opening of the semi-cylindrical portion of the housing unit when the cable connector is inserted in the housing unit.

8. An electrical medical cable connector comprising:

a shell;

two electrical conductors each electrically connected to a respective conductive ring, the conductive rings electrically insulated from each other by an insulating member and disposed in a single socket within the shell;

a semi-cylindrical surface formed in the shell to slide over 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; and

a wiping ring to provide a wiping action to an electrical connector of the 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 an expandable tube in the shell surrounding the socket.

10. The electrical medical cable connector of claim 8 further comprising a light-covering portion extending over the channel 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.

11. 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,

a housed electrical connector comprising two conductive sleeves electrically insulated from each other by an insulating member, and

a front end having an aperture for receiving the electrical medical cable connector; and

wherein the electrical medical cable connector comprises,

two electrical conductors each electrically connected to a respective conductive ring, the conductive rings electrically insulated from each other and located in a socket within a shell of the electrical medical cable connector,

a semi-cylindrical channel formed in the shell to slide over the semi-cylindrical surface of the housing unit when the cable connector is inserted in the aperture to make electrical contact between the cable connector and the housing unit,

an expandable tube in the shell surrounding the socket, and

a wiping ring to wipe the housed electrical connector when the cable connector is inserted in the aperture.

12. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 11 wherein the housing unit is formed from a rigid material and the cable connector is formed from a pliable material.

13. 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,

a housed electrical connector comprising two conductive sleeves electrically insulated from each other by an insulating member,

a front end having a first aperture for receiving the electrical medical cable connector,

a bottom wall, and

a second aperture connecting with the interior chamber to provide an outlet for environmental residue; and

wherein the electrical medical cable connector comprises,

two electrical conductors each electrically connected to a respective conductive ring, the conductive rings electrically insulated from each other and located in a socket within a shell of the electrical medical cable connector,

a semi-cylindrical channel formed in the shell to slide over the semi-cylindrical surface of the housing unit when the cable connector is inserted into the first aperture to make an electrical connection with the housing unit, and

a wiping ring to wipe the housed electrical connector when the cable connector is inserted in the first aperture.

14. The electrical medical connector apparatus of claim 13 wherein the housing unit is formed from a rigid material and the cable connector is formed from a pliable material.

15. A medical connector apparatus comprising:

a female mating connector having a semi-cylindrical interior chamber housing with an electrical connector therein comprising two conductive sleeves electrically insulated from each other by an insulating member, each sleeve formed from a respective ring contact located on a respective end of the insulating member, and a light pipe having a light therein extending along the interior chamber,

wherein the interior chamber of the female mating connector slidably receives a male mating connector having a socket including two conductive ring electrically insulated from each other by an insulating member, each conductive ring for receiving a corresponding sleeve of the female mating connector; and

wherein the female mating connector is formed of a material of greater rigidity than the male mating connector.

16. The medical connector apparatus of claim 15 wherein the male mating connector further comprises an expandable tube surrounding the socket, the expandable tube expanding when the socket makes electrical connection with the female mating connector.