Medical connector with a reversibly deformable lobe
First Claim
1. A connector for coupling a medical fluid supply tube to the head of a catheter device having a circular hub with a circumferential recess defined in a side surface of the circular hub, the connector comprising:
- a cap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central region, and a circumferential region radially inward of a circumferential edge;
the cap defining at least two slots, each slot defined completely through the cap and extending through the circumferential edge of the cap towards the central region, the slots defining at least one lobe with a radially extending space in the cap along each side of the lobe and through the circumferential edge, the at least one lobe including;
a lift tab extending radjally outward beyond the circumferential edge of the cap,an inwardly projecting catch that is configured to releasably engage the circumferential recess, andat least a resilient region;
wherein the connector is free to rotate completely about the circular hub, and wherein the connector decouples from the circular hub by actuating the lift tab to reversibly displace the lobe and its respective catch radially by deforming the resilient region, in order to disengage the catch from the circumferential recess without displacing the circumferential edges of the cap adjacent to the lobe.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A connector for coupling to a base of medical device equipped with a circular hub having a circumferential recess. The connector includes a cap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central region, and a circumferential region. The cap defines at least two slots extending from the circumferential region towards the central region, the slots defining the cap into at least one lobe. The at least one lobe has an outward projecting lift tab and an inward projecting catch. Positioning the connector on the circular hub and depressing the connector engage the catch with the circumferential recess of the circular hub so the connector can rotate completely about the circular hub. Lifting the one lift tab to reversibly displace the lobe and its respective catch radially to disengage from the circumferential recess decouples the connector.
17 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A connector for coupling a medical fluid supply tube to the head of a catheter device having a circular hub with a circumferential recess defined in a side surface of the circular hub, the connector comprising:
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a cap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central region, and a circumferential region radially inward of a circumferential edge; the cap defining at least two slots, each slot defined completely through the cap and extending through the circumferential edge of the cap towards the central region, the slots defining at least one lobe with a radially extending space in the cap along each side of the lobe and through the circumferential edge, the at least one lobe including; a lift tab extending radjally outward beyond the circumferential edge of the cap, an inwardly projecting catch that is configured to releasably engage the circumferential recess, and at least a resilient region; wherein the connector is free to rotate completely about the circular hub, and wherein the connector decouples from the circular hub by actuating the lift tab to reversibly displace the lobe and its respective catch radially by deforming the resilient region, in order to disengage the catch from the circumferential recess without displacing the circumferential edges of the cap adjacent to the lobe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A connector for coupling a medical fluid supply tube to the head of a catheter device having a circular hub with a circumferential recess defined in a side surface of the circular hub, the connector comprising:
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a cap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central region, and a circumferential region; the cap defining at least two slots, each slot extending from the circumferential region of the cap towards the central region, the slots defining at least one lobe, the at least one lobe including; an outwardly projecting lift tab, an inwardly projecting catch that is configured to releasably engage the circumferential recess, and at least a resilient region; wherein the connector is free to rotate completely about the circular hub, and wherein the connector decouples from the circular hub by lifting at least one lift tab to reversibly displace the lobe and its respective catch radially by deforming the resilient region, in order to disengage from the circumferential recess; and wherein the at least one lobe has a port located above the catch to permit visual inspection of engagement between the catch and the circumferential recess defined in the side surface of the circular hub.
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Specification