Infusion flow system and fluid coupling
First Claim
1. A fluid coupling apparatus comprising:
- a housing comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the housing, wherein the housing further comprises;
a primary bore comprising an opening facing the distal end of the housing and a proximal face located within the bore, the proximal face facing the distal end of the housing, anda supply line passage formed in the housing, the supply line passage extending from the proximal end of the housing to an opening in the proximal face of the primary bore;
a sleeve comprising a proximal end located in the primary bore, wherein the sleeve further comprises;
a seal end facing the proximal face of the primary bore,a collet bore comprising a collet compression surface at a proximal end and an opening at a distal end, anda sleeve passage extending from the proximal end of the sleeve into the collet bore;
a collet comprising a proximal end located in the collet bore of the sleeve, wherein the collet further comprises;
a plurality of collet fingers surrounding a collet passage, wherein each of the collet fingers comprises an inclined surface proximate the proximal end of the collet,wherein the inclined surfaces of the plurality of collet fingers are in contact with the collet compression surface of the sleeve such that movement of the collet in a proximal direction towards the proximal end of the housing forces the collet fingers towards a center of the collet passage;
a compliance member comprising a proximal end in contact with the distal end of the collet, and wherein the compliance member comprises a resiliently compressible elastomeric polymer; and
a collet compression member engaged with the housing, wherein the collet compression member comprises an inner surface, an outer surface facing away from the inner surface, and a tubing passage formed through the collet compression member from the inner surface to the outer surface;
wherein advancement of the collet compression member in the proximal direction towards the proximal end of the housing causes the following;
the inner surface of the collet compression member is forced against a distal end of the compliance member such that the proximal end of the compliance member is forced against the collet,the inclined surfaces of the plurality of collet fingers are forced against the collet compression surface of the sleeve, andthe seal end of the sleeve is forced towards the proximal face of the primary bore.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Fluid infusion systems and fluid couplings are described herein. The infusion systems may include one or more fluid couplings used to make fluidic connection between a supply line and delivery tubing. The fluid couplings separate the functions of providing a seal around a delivery tube and retaining the delivery tube within the fluid coupling. The seal provided around the delivery tube prevents leakage around an exterior surface of a delivery tube such that fluid passing through the coupling must pass through the delivery tube rather than leak around the delivery tube. The structure used to retain the delivery tube in the fluid coupling prevents ejection of the delivery tube from the coupling due to the fluid pressures present in the coupling. The separate functions are performed by different structures within the fluid couplings.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fluid coupling apparatus comprising:
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a housing comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the housing, wherein the housing further comprises; a primary bore comprising an opening facing the distal end of the housing and a proximal face located within the bore, the proximal face facing the distal end of the housing, and a supply line passage formed in the housing, the supply line passage extending from the proximal end of the housing to an opening in the proximal face of the primary bore; a sleeve comprising a proximal end located in the primary bore, wherein the sleeve further comprises; a seal end facing the proximal face of the primary bore, a collet bore comprising a collet compression surface at a proximal end and an opening at a distal end, and a sleeve passage extending from the proximal end of the sleeve into the collet bore; a collet comprising a proximal end located in the collet bore of the sleeve, wherein the collet further comprises; a plurality of collet fingers surrounding a collet passage, wherein each of the collet fingers comprises an inclined surface proximate the proximal end of the collet, wherein the inclined surfaces of the plurality of collet fingers are in contact with the collet compression surface of the sleeve such that movement of the collet in a proximal direction towards the proximal end of the housing forces the collet fingers towards a center of the collet passage; a compliance member comprising a proximal end in contact with the distal end of the collet, and wherein the compliance member comprises a resiliently compressible elastomeric polymer; and a collet compression member engaged with the housing, wherein the collet compression member comprises an inner surface, an outer surface facing away from the inner surface, and a tubing passage formed through the collet compression member from the inner surface to the outer surface; wherein advancement of the collet compression member in the proximal direction towards the proximal end of the housing causes the following; the inner surface of the collet compression member is forced against a distal end of the compliance member such that the proximal end of the compliance member is forced against the collet, the inclined surfaces of the plurality of collet fingers are forced against the collet compression surface of the sleeve, and the seal end of the sleeve is forced towards the proximal face of the primary bore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A fluid coupling apparatus comprising:
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a housing comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the housing, wherein the housing further comprises; a primary bore comprising an opening facing the distal end of the housing and a proximal face located within the primary bore, the proximal face facing the distal end of the housing, and a supply line passage formed in the housing, the supply line passage extending from the proximal end of the housing to an opening in the proximal face of the primary bore; a sleeve comprising a proximal end located in the primary bore, wherein the sleeve further comprises; a seal cavity opening towards the proximal face of the primary bore, a collet bore comprising a collet compression surface at a distal end of the sleeve, wherein the collet bore opens towards the distal end of the sleeve, and a sleeve passage extending between the seal cavity and the collet bore; a retention mechanism retaining the sleeve in the primary bore; an amplifier piston located in the primary bore between the proximal face of the primary bore and the sleeve, wherein the amplifier piston comprises; a seal tip proximate a distal end of the amplifier piston, wherein the seal tip comprises a seal surface at the distal end of the amplifier piston, and wherein at least the seal surface of the seal tip is located in the seal cavity of the sleeve, a high pressure face at a proximal end of the amplifier piston, wherein the high pressure face faces the proximal surface of the primary bore, wherein the high pressure face comprises a larger surface area than the seal surface of the seal tip; a piston passage extending between the high pressure face and the seal surface of the amplifier piston, a piston seal located between the proximal end and the distal end of the amplifier piston, wherein fluid from the opening in the proximal face of the primary bore is restricted from flowing between an exterior surface of the amplifier piston and an interior surface of the primary bore to the distal end of the amplifier piston, a seal element located in the seal cavity of the sleeve between the seal surface of the amplifier piston and a terminal surface of the seal cavity, wherein the seal element comprises a seal element passage extending through the seal element from a proximal end of the seal element to a distal end of the seal element, wherein the seal element comprises a resiliently compressible elastomeric polymer, and further wherein delivery of high pressure fluid through the fluid coupling apparatus forces the piston distally such that the seal element is compressed between the seal surface and the terminal surface of the seal cavity; a collet comprising a proximal end located in the collet bore of the sleeve, wherein the collet further comprises; a plurality of collet fingers surrounding a collet passage, wherein each of the collet fingers comprises an inclined surface proximate the proximal end of the collet, wherein the inclined surfaces of the plurality of collet fingers are in contact with the collet compression surface of the sleeve such that movement of the collet in a proximal direction towards the proximal end of the housing forces the collet fingers towards a center of the collet passage; and a collet compression member engaged with the sleeve, wherein the collet compression member comprises an inner surface, an outer surface facing away from the inner surface, and a tubing passage formed through the collet compression member from the inner surface to the outer surface, wherein advancement of the collet compression member in the proximal direction towards the proximal end of the housing forces the inclined surfaces of the plurality of collet fingers against the collet compression surface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification