Pneumatic connector for small-bore medical tubing
First Claim
1. A fluid connector apparatus for tubing comprising:
- a male connector having a body and a dome at a distal end of the male connector, a fluid channel extending through the dome to a proximal end of the male connector, and a first coupling structure to couple the male connector to a female connector; and
a female connector having a body and a cavity at a distal end which is sized and shaped to mate with the dome of the male connector, a fluid channel extending from the cavity to a proximal end of the female connector, and a second coupling structure to couple the female connector to the male connector, wherein the fluid channels of the male and female connectors form a continuous fluid channel when the male and female connectors are coupled together,wherein one of the coupling structures comprises a pair of extending arms and the other of the coupling structures comprises a pair of undercuts into which the arms fit when the male and female connectors are coupled together,wherein the male and female connectors are coupled together by inserting the dome into the cavity and axially rotating at least one connectors with respect to the other connector, and further wherein the connector bodies exhibit an asymmetrical relationship to each other when the connectors are joined but not fully rotated, and a symmetrical relationship to each other when the connectors are joined and rotated into a fully coupled condition, andfurther comprising a first hose barb located at the proximal end of the male connector and a second hose barb located at the proximal end of the female connector, wherein the fluid channel of each connector extends through the hose barb.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector apparatus for small-bore medical tubing includes a male connector (20) with a dome (22) which fits into a mating cavity (42) of a female connector (40) when the two connectors are coupled together. A fluid channel extends through the connectors, the dome, and into the cavity to form a continuous fluid passageway when the connectors are coupled together. The dome is compressed into the cavity to form a fluid-tight connection when the connectors are coupled together. Each connector has a coupling structure which mates with the other to compress the connectors together when fully engaged. The connectors are engaged by inserting the dome of one of the connectors into the cavity of the other connector, then rotating the connectors to fully couple them together.
29 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A fluid connector apparatus for tubing comprising:
-
a male connector having a body and a dome at a distal end of the male connector, a fluid channel extending through the dome to a proximal end of the male connector, and a first coupling structure to couple the male connector to a female connector; and a female connector having a body and a cavity at a distal end which is sized and shaped to mate with the dome of the male connector, a fluid channel extending from the cavity to a proximal end of the female connector, and a second coupling structure to couple the female connector to the male connector, wherein the fluid channels of the male and female connectors form a continuous fluid channel when the male and female connectors are coupled together, wherein one of the coupling structures comprises a pair of extending arms and the other of the coupling structures comprises a pair of undercuts into which the arms fit when the male and female connectors are coupled together, wherein the male and female connectors are coupled together by inserting the dome into the cavity and axially rotating at least one connectors with respect to the other connector, and further wherein the connector bodies exhibit an asymmetrical relationship to each other when the connectors are joined but not fully rotated, and a symmetrical relationship to each other when the connectors are joined and rotated into a fully coupled condition, and further comprising a first hose barb located at the proximal end of the male connector and a second hose barb located at the proximal end of the female connector, wherein the fluid channel of each connector extends through the hose barb. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A fluid connector apparatus for tubing comprising:
-
a male connector having a body and a dome at a distal end of the male connector, a fluid channel extending through the dome to a proximal end of the male connector, and a first coupling structure to couple the male connector to a female connector; and a female connector having a body and a cavity at a distal end which is sized and shaped to mate with the dome of the male connector, a fluid channel extending from the cavity to a proximal end of the female connector, and a second coupling structure to couple the female connector to the male connector, wherein the fluid channels of the male and female connectors form a continuous fluid channel when the male and female connectors are coupled together, wherein one of the coupling structures comprises a pair of extending arms and the other of the coupling structures comprises a pair of undercuts into which the arms fit when the male and female connectors are coupled together, wherein the male and female connectors are coupled together by inserting the dome into the cavity and axially rotating at least one connectors with respect to the other connector, and further wherein the connector bodies exhibit an asymmetrical relationship to each other when the connectors are joined but not fully rotated, and a symmetrical relationship to each other when the connectors are joined and rotated into a fully coupled condition, and wherein at least one of the arms and undercuts are tapered to provide a snug fit when the connectors are coupled together. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
-
Specification