Wedge coupling

• US 9,057,468 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2008
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: DeCarlo, Arnold V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Nathan R
• Application Number:
  US12/271,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20090138010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,405 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 604/103, 604533-536, 285/246, 285/255, 285/256, 285/319
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00964 Features of probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0231 Characteristics of handpieces or probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• 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 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/098 by means of flexible hooks
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/56 for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies

Abstract

A wedge coupling for coupling a tubing to a housing is disclosed. The wedge coupling includes a base having an opening defined therein and configured to receive a portion of the tubing therethrough and a plurality of prongs disposed on the base and around an inner periphery of the opening. The plurality of prongs are configured to slidably engage the housing and to deflect inwardly to secure the tubing to a nozzle adapter disposed within the housing.

Claims

1. An assembly for use with an ablation probe, the assembly comprising:

an inflow housing defining an inflow axis, and an outflow housing defining an outflow axis, the inflow housing and the outflow housing extending longitudinally along their respective axes in side-by-side relation and parallel orientation relative to one another, the inflow housing and the outflow housing each including;

a funnel-shaped inner surface;

a nozzle adapter connected to the funnel-shaped inner surface; and

a housing base from which the nozzle adapter extends, the housing base including at least one trough defined therein;

an inflow tubing and an outflow tubing, each tubing configured to slide into the respective funnel-shaped inner surface and over the respective nozzle; and

an inflow wedge coupling and an outflow wedge coupling, each including;

a base having an opening defined therein configured to receive a portion of the respective tubing therethrough; and

a plurality of prongs disposed on the respective base around an inner periphery of the respective opening, the plurality of prongs configured to slidably engage an the respective housing and to deflect inwardly to secure the respective tubing to the respective nozzle adapter,

wherein the at least one trough of each of the inflow housing and the outflow housing is configured to accommodate spreading of the respective tubing when the respective tubing is coupled to the respective housing.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each housing base includes a plurality of concentrically-spaced troughs defined therein.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each funnel-shaped inner surface includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a transitional portion having sloping walls at a first predetermined angle.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein each prone of each plurality of prongs includes a tapered portion at a distal end thereof, the tapered portion having a tooth-shaped feature configured to engage the respective tubing.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the tapered portion is tapered at a second predetermined angle that is larger than the first predetermined angle thereby providing for deflection of each prong of the plurality of prongs upon insertion into the respective housing.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of box clips coupled to respective ones of each of the plurality of prongs, wherein each box clip of the plurality of box clips is configured to deflect upon insertion into the respective housing and to interface with a corresponding window defined within the respective housing.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inflow housing and the outflow housing share a common housing portion disposed between the axes thereof.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the inflow wedge coupling and the outflow wedge are each configured to contact the common housing portion upon insertion of the respective wedge coupling into the respective housing.