Mechanical friction enhancement for threaded connection incorporating opposing barb

• US 9,895,290 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2014
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Co Ltd (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Co Ltd (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Cederschild, Alexander, Gilbert, Angela, Carney, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Nathan R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snyder, Melissa A
• Application Number:
  US14/278,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20140339813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1033 Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors, bayonet-connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1044 Verifying the connection, e.g. audible feedback, tactile feedback, visual feedback, using external light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49948 Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut]

Abstract

A medical connector includes a body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a sidewall extending between the distal end and the proximal end. The medical connector further includes a helical thread extending radially outward from a surface of the sidewall and at least one protrusion extending radially outward from a surface of the sidewall. The at least one protrusion has a first side and a second side. A radial height of the at least one protrusion from the surface of the sidewall tapers circumferentially from the first side of the at least one protrusion to the second side of the at least one protrusion.

Claims

1. A medical connector comprising:

a body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a sidewall extending between the distal end and the proximal end;

a helical thread extending radially outward from a surface of the sidewall; and

at least one protrusion extending radially outward from the surface of the sidewall, the at least one protrusion having a proximal end and a distal end, the at least one protrusion extending axially along the sidewall between the helical thread,

wherein a radial height of the at least one protrusion from the surface of the sidewall tapers axially from the proximal end of the at least one protrusion to the distal end of the at least one protrusion.

2. The medical connector according to claim 1, wherein a circumferential width of the at least one protrusion increases along a distance from the distal end of the body of the connector to the proximal end of the body of the connector.

3. The medical connector according to claim 1, wherein the helical thread is superimposed over the at least one protrusion, and wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a vertical rib.

4. The medical connector according to claim 3, wherein the vertical rib has a circumferential width that tapers axially from the proximal end of the vertical rib where the vertical rib has the widest circumferential width to the distal end of the vertical rib where the vertical rib has the narrowest circumferential width.

5. The medical connector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion further comprises a first side and a second side, wherein the at least one protrusion from the surface of the sidewall tapers circumferentially from the first side of the at least one protrusion to the second side of the at least one protrusion, and wherein the second side of the at least one protrusion is substantially flush with the sidewall.

6. The medical connector according to claim 1, wherein a maximum radial height of the at least one protrusion from the surface of the sidewall of the body of the connector is less than a radial height of the helical thread of the connector from the sidewall.

7. The medical connector according to claim 1, wherein a radial height of the at least one protrusion from the surface of the sidewall of the body of the connector increases as a distance from the distal end of the connector increases.

8. The medical connector according to claim 1, further comprising a stop extending radially outward from the surface of the sidewall at the proximal end of the body of the connector.

9. The medical connector according to claim 8, wherein a radial height of the stop from the sidewall tapers circumferentially from a first end to a second end of the stop such that the first end of the stop has a radial height from the surface of the sidewall that is larger than a radial height of the second end from the surface of the sidewall.

10. The medical connector according to claim 9, wherein the second end of the stop is adjacent a proximal-most end of the helical thread.

11. The medical connector according to claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a vertical rib, and

wherein the helical thread comprises first and second helical ribs, the vertical rib extending through the first and second helical ribs.

12. The medical connector according to claim 11, wherein the vertical rib is divided into a plurality of sections by the first and second helical ribs of the helical thread.

13. A medical connector comprising:

a body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a sidewall extending between the distal end and the proximal end;

a helical thread extending radially outward from a surface of the sidewall; and

at least one protrusion extending radially outward from the surface of the sidewall, the at least one protrusion having a proximal end and a distal end, the at least one protrusion extending axially along the sidewall between the helical thread,

wherein a circumferential width of the at least one protrusion is larger at the proximal end of the at least one protrusion than the circumferential width of the at least one protrusion at the distal end of the at least one protrusion, and

wherein a radial height of the at least one protrusion from the surface of the sidewall tapers axially from the proximal end to the distal end.

14. The medical connector according to claim 13, wherein the circumferential width of the at least one protrusion increases as a distance from the distal end of the body of the connector to the at least one protrusion increases.

15. The medical connector according to claim 13, wherein the helical thread is superimposed over the at least one protrusion, and wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a vertical rib.

16. The medical connector according to claim 13, wherein a maximum radial height of the at least one protrusion from the surface of the sidewall of the body of the connector is less than a radial height of the helical thread of the connector from the sidewall.

17. The medical connector according to claim 13, wherein a radial height of the at least one protrusion from the surface of the sidewall of the body of the connector increases as a distance from the distal end of the body of the connector increases.

18. A method of connecting two fluid containers comprising:

providing a connector having a helical thread extending radially outward from a surface of the connector, and a mating connector comprising a helical thread extending radially outward from a surface of the mating connector, the connector including at least one protrusion extending radially outward from the surface of the connector, the at least one protrusion tapering axially from a proximal end of the at least one protrusion to a distal end of the at least one protrusion;

engaging the helical thread of the mating connector with the helical thread of the connector;

advancing the mating connector onto the connector by rotating the mating connector; and

engaging the at least one protrusion with the mating connector such that the friction between the connector and the mating connector is increased when the at least one protrusion of the connector contacts the helical thread of the mating connector as the mating connector is advanced onto the connector, the at least one protrusion is sized and positioned such that the increase in friction provided by contact with each successive portion of the at least one protrusion is greater than the increase in friction provided by a previously contacted portion of the at least one protrusion.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein a first portion of the at least one protrusion that first contacts the helical thread of the mating connector has a narrower circumferential width than a second portion of the at least one protrusion that is subsequently contacted by the helical thread of the mating connector as the mating connector is advanced on the connector.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein a first portion of the at least one protrusion that first contacts the helical thread of the mating connector has a maximum radial height from a surface of the connector that is smaller than a maximum radial height from a surface of the connector of a second portion of the at least one protrusion that is subsequently contacted by the helical thread of the mating connector as the mating connector is advanced onto the connector.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

engaging a stop with the mating connector to stop advancement of the mating connector onto the connector.