Medical tubing connector assembly incorporating strain relief sleeve

• US 7,331,613 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2004
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Schulte, Gregory T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunwoody; Aaron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kee; Fannie C.
• Application Number:
  US10/844,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20050253389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 285/239, 285/256, 285/382, 285/382.1, 285/382.2, 285/382.4, 285/382.5, 285/398, 285/417, 285/258, 285370-371, 285/397, 285/131.1, 604/241, 604/533
• US Class Current: 285/239
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1044 Verifying the connection, e.g. audible feedback, tactile feedback, visual feedback, using external light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1066 having protection means, e.g. sliding sleeve to protect connector itself, shrouds to protect a needle present in the connector, protective housing, isolating sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/138 using an axially movable sleeve

Abstract

A connector assembly for interconnecting separate sections of tubing, e.g., medical tubing. Connector assemblies are a two-piece construction having a connector pin and a connector sleeve. The connector sleeve includes a first end, a second end, and a passageway extending between the first and second ends. The passageway is stepped, e.g., defined by both a bore of a first diameter and a bore of a second diameter.

Claims

1. A connector assembly for connecting sections of medical tubing, the assembly comprising:

a connector pin comprising;

a first end portion, a second end portion, and a lumen extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; and

a central portion located between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the central portion has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of both the first and second end portions, and wherein the central portion is bounded by stop surfaces perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the connector pin; and

a tubular connector sleeve comprising a first end, a second end, and a passageway extending between the first end and the second end, the passageway comprising a stop surface that is perpendicular to an axis of the connector sleeve such that the passageway is defined by;

a generally uniform bore having a first diameter extending between the first end of the sleeve and the stop surface of the passageway; and

a generally uniform bore having a second diameter extending between the stop surface of the passageway and the second end of the sleeve, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a polymer.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises one or more suture grooves on an exterior surface.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first end portion, the second end portion, and the central portion are substantially cylindrical in shape.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal length of the sleeve is greater than a longitudinal length of the connector pin.

6. A connector assembly for connecting sections of medical tubing, the assembly comprising:

a connector pin comprising;

a first end portion for insertion into a first section of medical tubing;

a second end portion for insertion into a second section of medical tubing, wherein a lumen extending between the first end portion and the second end portion is operable to permit fluid communication between the first and second sections of medical tubing; and

a central portion located between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the central portion has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of at least one of the first and second end portions, and wherein the central portion is bounded by stop surfaces generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the connector pin; and

a flexible connector sleeve operable to secure the first and second sections of medical tubing relative to the connector pin, the connector sleeve comprising a first end, a second end, and a stepped passageway extending between the first and second ends, the stepped passageway comprising;

a first section comprising an inner surface defined by a bore of a first diameter, the bore of the first diameter extending both from an inwardly extending protrusion, formed along the inner surface of the first section of the stepped passageway, to the first end; and

from the protrusion to a stop surface located within the stepped passageway; and

a second section comprising an inner surface defined by a bore of a second diameter, the bore of the second diameter extending from the stop surface of the stepped passageway to the second end of the connector sleeve, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the inwardly extending protrusion is operable to engage a groove formed on an outer surface of the central portion of the connector pin.

8. A catheter connector assembly comprising:

a connector pin having a lumen therein, the connector pin comprising;

a first end portion for insertion into a first catheter;

a second end portion for insertion into a second catheter; and

a central portion located between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the central potion has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of one or both of the first and second end portions; and

a tubular strain relief sleeve operable to engage the first and second catheters and the connector pin, the sleeve comprising;

a first end, a second end, and a passageway extending between the first end and the second end, the passageway comprising a stop surface located between the first end and the second end, wherein the passageway is further defined by a generally uniform bore of a first diameter extending from the stop surface of the passageway to the first end of the tubular strain relief sleeve, and a generally uniform bore of a second diameter extending from the stop surface of the passageway to the second end of the tubular strain relief sleeve, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter, and further wherein the stop surface is operable to abut the central portion of the connector pin when the connector assembly is assembled.

9. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the first diameter of the passageway is sized to receive the outer diameter of the central portion of the connector pin.

10. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the outer diameter of the central portion comprises a surface having a circumferential groove therein.

11. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the bore of the first diameter of the passageway is defined by a first inner surface, the first inner surface comprising an inwardly extending protrusion operable to engage the circumferential groove of the central portion.

12. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the sleeve comprises a polymer.

13. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the connector pin comprises a noble metal.

14. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein a longitudinal length of the sleeve is greater than a longitudinal length of the connector pin.

15. A connector assembly for connecting sections of medical tubing, the assembly comprising:

a connector pin comprising;

a first end portion, a second end portion, and a lumen extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; and

a central portion located between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the central portion has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of both the first and second end portions, and wherein the central portion is bounded by stop surfaces generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the connector pin; and

a tubular connector sleeve comprising a first end, a second end, and a passageway extending between the first end and the second end, the passageway defining a stop surface that is generally perpendicular to an axis of the connector sleeve such that the passageway is defined by;

a generally uniform bore having a first diameter extending between the first end of the sleeve and the stop surface of the passageway; and

a generally uniform bore having a second diameter extending between the stop surface of the passageway and the second end of the sleeve, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter, and wherein the generally uniform bore of the first diameter comprises a first lock portion operable to engage a second lock portion formed on the central portion.

16. The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the first lock portion comprises a protrusion extending inwardly from a wall of the passageway.

17. The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the second lock portion is defined by a groove formed on the outer diameter of the central portion.