Locking luer fitting

• US 7,503,596 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2008
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Rome, Sandra J., Rome, Guy T.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOCHNA, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/046,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20080150281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 285/384, 285/353, 285/85, 285/86, 285/92, 604/533, 604/241, 604/242
• US Class Current: 285/384
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1033 Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors, bayonet-connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1038 Union screw connectors, e.g. hollow screw or sleeve having external threads
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/105 Multi-channel connectors or couplings, e.g. for connecting multi-lumen tubes multi-channel connectors in general F16L37/56
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1055 Rotating or swivel joints in general F16L27/00

Abstract

A fluid line connector to establish fluid communication with a conventional male luer fitting. The fluid line connector includes a housing with a hub member having a proximal opening adapted to receive a distal portion of the male luer fitting, a threaded profile circumscribing the proximal opening, and a cam member. The cam member engages the threaded surface of the male luer fitting collar to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the male luer fitting from the housing.

Claims

1. A fluid line connector to establish fluid communication with a conventional male luer fitting, comprising:

a housing including an inner member, having a proximal opening adapted to receive a distal portion of the male luer fitting, and an outer member rotationally disposed about the inner member;

a threaded profile circumscribing the proximal opening of the inner member adapted to interface with a threaded inner surface of a rotatable collar on the male luer fitting; and

a cam member positioned about the inner member to engage the threaded inner surface of the rotatable collar, engagement of the cam member preventing disengagement of the male luer fitting from the housing.

2. The fluid line connector according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing member coupled to the cam member.

3. The fluid line connector according to claim 2, wherein the biasing member comprises a rotary spring that biases the cam member in a counterclockwise direction.

4. The fluid line connector according to claim 3, wherein rotation of the outer member in a clockwise direction displaces the cam member in a clockwise direction, permitting counterclockwise rotation of the male luer fitting to disengage from the housing.

5. The fluid line connector according to claim 1, wherein the cam member comprises a partial ring with a tapered distal end.

6. The fluid line connector according to claim 1, wherein the cam member comprises a tab configured for movement within a slot of the outer member, the slot limiting the range of rotation of the cam member.

7. The fluid line connector according to claim 1, further comprising a retaining ring attached to the inner member and configured to limit the degree of rotation of the outer member with respect to the inner member.

8. The fluid line connector according to claim 1, further comprising a protrusion disposed distal of the threaded profile on the inner member, a portion of the cam member positioned to slide over the protrusion.

9. The fluid line connector according to claim 1, wherein the cam member comprises a wedge disposed on the threaded profile of the inner member.

10. The fluid line connector according to claim 1, wherein the cam member comprises a rolling member disposed on the threaded profile of the inner member.

11. A fluid line connector, comprising:

a housing including a hub member with a proximal opening adapted to receive a distal portion of a male luer connector and a threaded profile circumscribing the proximal opening adapted to interface with a threaded surface of a male luer connector collar; and

a means for engaging the threaded surface of the collar to prevent de-coupling from the hub member by preventing rotation of the collar in a de-coupling direction, wherein the engaging means comprises a partial ring with a tapered distal end.

12. A fluid line connector, comprising:

a housing including a hub member with a proximal opening adapted to receive a distal portion of a male luer connector and a threaded profile circumscribing the proximal opening adapted to interface with a threaded surface of a male luer connector collar; and

a means for engaging the threaded surface of the collar to prevent de-coupling from the hub member by preventing rotation of the collar in a de-coupling direction, wherein the housing further comprises a protrusion disposed distal of the threaded profile on the hub member, a portion of the engaging means positioned to slide over the protrusion.

13. A fluid line connector, comprising:

a housing including a hub member with a proximal opening adapted to receive a distal portion of a male luer connector and a threaded profile circumscribing the proximal opening adapted to interface with a threaded surface of a male luer connector collar; and

a means for engaging the threaded surface of the collar to prevent de-coupling from the hub member by preventing rotation of the collar in a de-coupling direction, wherein the engaging means comprises a wedge disposed on the threaded profile of the hub member.

14. A fluid line connector, comprising:

a housing including a hub member with a proximal opening adapted to receive a distal portion of a male luer connector and a threaded profile circumscribing the proximal opening adapted to interface with a threaded surface of a male luer connector collar; and

a means for engaging the threaded surface of the collar to prevent de-coupling from the hub member by preventing rotation of the collar in a de-coupling direction, wherein the engaging means comprises a rolling member disposed on the threaded profile of the hub member.

15. A method for establishing fluid communication with a male luer fitting, comprising:

providing a fluid line connector including an inner member and an outer member rotationally disposed about the inner member, the inner member including a threaded profile circumscribing a proximal opening and a cam member positioned at least partially around the inner member on or adjacent the threaded profile; and

threading a rotatable collar of the male luer fitting on the threaded profile by rotating the rotatable collar about the inner member in a first direction, the cam member preventing rotation of the rotatable collar in a second direction opposite the first direction by engaging a threaded inner surface of the rotatable collar.