Medical device connector fitting

• US 7,316,679 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Venetec International Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Venetec International Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Bierman, Steven F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schell; Laura C.
• Application Number:
  US09/767,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20020099360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,542 Days
• Field of Search: 604533-538, 604174-180, 128/DIG.26
• US Class Current: 604/535
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1033 Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors, bayonet-connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1077 Adapters, e.g. couplings adapting a connector to one or several other connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters

Abstract

A releasable medical device connector comprises a connector fitting with a spin nut which connects to an adaptor. The connector fitting has at least one radially extending member with a variable radius cross section. The spin nut is disposed upon the connector fitting proximal of the radially extending member and is both axially slidable and rotatable upon the elongated body of the connector fitting. A screw thread within a proximal portion of the spin nut is used to secure the tapering portion of the connector fitting to an external thread disposed upon the adaptor. To release the connector, the spin nut is unscrewed from the adaptor and slid so that a distal receptacle of the spin nut engages the radially extending member of the connector fitting. With the spin nut and connector fitting engaged, the medical line can be released from the adaptor by twisting and pulling upon the spin nut. The radially extending member of the connector fitting may also be used to secure the medical line to a retainer comprising one or more slots.

Claims

1. A connector fitting in combination with a retainer for releasably securing a medical article to an adaptor with a tubular portion, the connector fitting comprising:

an elongated body having a longitudinal axis, at least a portion of which is adapted to insert into the tubular portion of the adaptor, and at least one radially extending member disposed upon the elongated body, the at least one radially extending member having at least one contact surface; and

a spin nut comprising a generally tubular body slidably and rotatably disposed upon the elongated body, a screw thread disposed upon an inner surface of the spin nut, and a receptacle disposed distally upon the spin nut having an internal cross section, the receptacle having at least one contact surface disposed proximally of the distal end of the spin nut, the at least one contact surface configured and arranged to interact with the at least one contact surface of the radially extending member when the receptacle receives at least a portion of the radially extending member so as to transfer both axial and rotational forces between the spin nut and the connector fitting without deforming the spin nut in a direction towards the longitudinal axis, wherein the connector fitting is disposed upon a proximal end of the medical article; and

the retainer comprising a channel that extends through the retainer along a longitudinal axis, and at least one slot which receives the at least one radial member of the connector fitting.

2. A connector fitting as in claim 1, wherein the medical article is a medical line.

3. A connector fitting for releasably securing a medical article to an adaptor in combination with a retainer, the connector fitting comprising:

an elongated body with at least one radially extending member disposed upon the elongated body; and

a spin nut comprising a generally tubular body slidably and rotatably disposed upon the elongated body, a screw thread disposed upon an inner surface of the spin nut, and a receptacle disposed distally upon the spin nut having an internal cross section which varies radially about its circumference, at least a portion of the radially extending member being adapted to be inserted into the receptacle of the spin nut so as to align with the portion of the receptacle having the varying cross section, said portion extending entirely around an axis of the elongated body; and

the retainer comprising a channel that extends through the retainer along a longitudinal axis, and at least one slot which receives the at least one radial member of the connector fitting.

4. A connector fitting as in claim 3, wherein the medical article is a medical line.

5. A connector fitting for releasably securing a medical article to an adaptor with a tubular portion, the connector fitting comprising:

an elongated body, at least a portion of which is adapted to insert into the tubular portion of the adaptor, and at least one radially extending member disposed upon the elongated body, the at least one radially extending member having at least one contact surface;

a spin nut comprising a generally tubular body slidably and rotatably disposed upon the elongated body, a screw thread disposed upon an inner surface of the spin nut, and a receptacle disposed distally upon the spin nut having an internal cross section, the receptacle having at least one contact surface disposed proximally of a distal end of the spin nut, the at least one contact surface configured and arranged to interact with the at least one contact surface of the radially extending member when the receptacle receives at least a portion of the radially extending member so as to transfer both axial and rotational forces between the spin nut and the connector fitting without deforming the spin nut, wherein the connector fitting is disposed upon a proximal end of the medical article; and

wherein the connector fitting includes a second radially extending member which is configured to cooperate with a slot of an anchoring system.

6. A connector fitting as in claim 5, wherein the medical article is a medical line.

7. A connector fitting for releasably securing a medical article to an adaptor with a tubular portion, the connector fitting comprising:

an elongated body, at least a portion of which is adapted to insert into the tubular portion of the adaptor, and at least one radially extending member disposed upon the elongated body, the at least one radially extending member having at least one contact surface; and

a spin nut comprising a generally tubular body slidably and roratably disposed upon the elongated body, a screw thread disposed upon an inner surface of the spin nut, and a receptacle disposed distally upon the spin nut having an internal cross section, the receptacle having at least one contact surface disposed proximally of a distal end of the spin nut, the at least one contact surface configured and arranged to interact with the at least one contact surface of the radially extending member when the receptacle receives at least a portion of the radially extending member so as to transfer both axial and rotational forces between the spin nut and the connector fitting without deforming the generally tubular body of the spin nut, wherein the connector fitting is disposed upon a proximal end of the medical article, and wherein the internal cross section of the receptacle of the spin nut has a generally hexagonal shape.

8. A connector fitting as in claim 7, wherein the medical article is a medical line.

9. A connector fitting for releasably securing a medical article to an adaptor with a tubular portion, the connector fitting comprising:

an elongated body, at least a portion of which is adapted to insert into the tubular portion of the adaptor, and at least one radially extending member disposed upon the elongated body, the at least one radially extending member having at least one contact surface; and

a spin nut comprising a generally tubular body slidably and rotatably disposed upon the elongated body, a screw thread disposed upon an inner surface of the spin nut, and a receptacle disposed distally upon the spin nut having an internal cross section, the receptacle having at least one contact surface disposed proximally of a distal end of the spin nut, the at least one contact surface configured and arranged to interact with the at least one contact surface of the radially extending member when the receptacle receives at least a portion of the radially extending member so as to transfer both axial and rotational forces between the spin nut and the connector fitting without deforming the generally tubular body of the spin nut, wherein the connector fitting is disposed upon a proximal end of the medical article, and wherein the internal cross section of the receptacle of the spin nut has a star shape.

10. A connector fitting as in claim 9, wherein the medical article is a medical line.

11. A connector fitting for releasably securing a medical article to an adaptor with a female portion, the connector fitting comprising:

an elongated body extending along an axis and having a first section and a second section with a lumen through both sections, a proximal end portion of the second section having a tapering outer shape configured for insertion into the female portion of the adaptor, and at least one contact member disposed on the first section of the elongated body, the contact member extending outwardly relative to an outer surface of the elongated body and extending generally in a longitudinal direction, the contact member having at least one contact surface; and

a spin nut comprising a generally tubular body slidably and rotatably disposed on the first section of the elongated body, a screw thread formed on an inner surface of the spin nut, the inner surface being disposed apart from the elongated body such that the screw thread does not engage with the elongated body, and a receptacle disposed distally upon the spin nut, the receptacle having at least one contact surface being disposed within the receptacle, the contact member extending inwardly towards the outer surface of the elongated body and extending generally in the longitudinal direction, the at least one contact surface configured and arranged to interact with the at least one contact surface of the contact member when the receptacle receives at least a portion of the contact member so as to transfer both axial and rotational forces between the spin nut and the connector fitting while limiting distal longitudinal movement of the spin nut relative to the elongated body,

wherein the spin nut and the elongated body include cooperative structures that limit proximal longitudinal movement of the spin nut relative to the elongated body.

12. A connector fitting as in claim 11, wherein the cooperative structures include a retaining ridge disposed on the elongated body.

13. A connector fitting as in claim 11 in combination with a retainer comprising a channel that extends through the retainer along a longitudinal axis, and at least one slot which receives the at least one contact member of the connector fitting.

14. A connector fitting as in claim 11 wherein the receptacle has an internal cross section with a generally hexagonal shape.

15. A connector fitting as in claim 11, wherein the receptacle has an internal cross section with a star shape.

16. A connector fitting as in claim 11, wherein the medical article is a medical line.

17. A connector fitting as in claim 11, wherein the contact member on the elongated body extends perpendicular to the axis of the elongated body.

18. A connector fitting as in claim 11, wherein the at least one contact surface of the elongated body and the at least one contact surface of the spin nut lie generally parallel to the axis of the elongated body.

19. A connector fitting for releasably securing a medical article to an adaptor having a female portion, the connector fitting comprising:

an elongated body having a tapering proximal end and at least one radially extending member disposed upon the elongated body, the tapering proximal end being configured for insertion into the female portion of the adapter, the at least one radially extending member having an external cross section with at least one contact surface disposed on the periphery of the radially extending member and being generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the elongated body; and

a spin nut comprising a generally tubular body slidably and rotatably disposed on the elongated body, a screw thread being formed on an inner surface of the spin nut and extending about the elongated body but not connecting with the elongated body, and a receptacle disposed distally upon the spin nut having an internal cross section which corresponds in shape to the external cross section of the at least one radially extending member, at least a portion of the radially extending member being adapted to be inserted into the receptacle of the spin nut, said portion extending entirely around the axis of the elongated body,

wherein the spin nut and the elongated body include cooperative structures that limit proximal longitudinal movement of the spin nut relative to the elongated body.

20. A connector fitting as in claim 19, wherein the cooperative structures include a retaining ridge disposed on the elongated body.

21. A connector fitting as in claim 19 in combination with a retainer comprising a channel that extends through the retainer along a longitudinal axis, and at least one slot which receives the at least one radial member of the connector fitting.

22. A connector fitting as in claim 19, wherein the medical article is a medical line.

23. A connector fitting for releasably securing a medical article to an adaptor having a female portion, the connector fitting comprising:

an elongated body having a tapering end portion configured to be inserted into the female portion of the adaptor, and at least one radially extending member disposed upon the elongated body, the at least one radially extending member having multiple contact surfaces; and

a spin nut comprising a generally tubular body slidably and rotatably disposed upon the elongated body and being configured to secure to an adaptor independent of the radially extending member, and having multiple contact surfaces disposed upon the spin nut, the multiple contact surfaces of the spin nut corresponding in shape to the multiple contact surfaces of the radially extending member so as to transfer both axial and rotational forces between the spin nut and the connector fitting while limiting distal longitudinal movement of the spin nut relative to the elongated body, wherein the spin nut further comprises a receptacle disposed distally upon the spin nut and wherein the at least one contact surface of the spin nut is disposed within the receptacle of the spin nut,

wherein the spin nut and the elongated body include cooperative structures that limit proximal longitudinal movement of the spin nut relative to the elongated body.

24. A connector fitting as in claim 23, wherein the cooperative structures include a retaining ridge disposed on the elongated body.

25. A connector fitting as in claim 23, wherein the medical article is a medical line.

26. A connector fitting for releasably securing a medical article to an adaptor having a female portion, the connector fitting comprising:

an elongated body, at least an end portion having a tapering shape configured for insertion into the female portion of the adaptor, the elongated body having at least one radially extending member disposed upon the elongated body, the radially extending member having at least one contact surface disposed on the periphery of the radially extending member; and

a spin nut disposed upon the elongated body and having a first cavity portion and a second cavity portion, the first cavity portion and the second cavity portion being disposed on opposite ends of the spin nut, the first cavity portion having a screw thread formed on an inner surface and being configured to secure to the adapter and not to the elongated body, the second cavity portion having at least one contact surface disposed upon an inner surface, the at least one contact surface of the spin nut configured and arranged to interact with the at least one contact surface of the radially extending member so as to transfer both axial and rotational forces between the spin nut and the connector fitting without deforming the second cavity portion and while limiting distal longitudinal movement of the spin nut relative to the elongated body.

27. A connector fitting as in claim 26, wherein the spin nut and the elongated body include cooperative structures that limit proximal longitudinal movement of the spin nut relative to the elongated body.

28. A connector fitting as in claim 26, wherein the cooperative structures include a retaining ridge disposed on the elongated body.

29. A connector fitting as in claim 26, wherein the engagement between the spin nut and the radially extending member when the spin nut is in a distal position provides transfer of distally directed force from the spin nut to the connector fitting and provides transfer of rotational torque from the spin nut to the connector fitting.

30. A connector fitting as in claim 26, wherein a greatest radius of the radially extending member is greater than a least radius of the receptacle.

31. A connector fitting as in claim 26, wherein the connector fitting includes a second radially extending member which is configured to cooperate with a slot of an anchoring system.

32. A connector fitting as in claim 26, wherein the medical article is a medical line.