Catheter connector system

• US 20060015086A1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Barron, William R., Breiter, Catherine C., Rasmussen, Kelly, Hinckley, Scott D., Teng, Abraham C., Pierce, David W., Anderson, Jeffrey K., Peterson, Jack R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,377,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/533
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1083 having a plurality of female connectors, e.g. Luer connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A catheter connector system that allows trimming of the proximal end of a catheter (single or multiple lumen) prior to the placement of a connector hub. In one variation, the catheter connector system comprises a catheter, a connector sheath including a soft collet, and a connector hub including a cannula for engaging the catheter and a connector hub interface for receiving the connector sheath.

Claims

1. A catheter connector system, comprising:

a catheter;

a connector sheath comprising a soft collet including a lumen sized for slidable positioning over at least a proximal end of the catheter; and

a connector hub comprising a cannula sized for insertion into a lumen of the catheter and a distal interface with a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the soft collet, a proximal portion of the cavity being sized to compress the soft collet.

2. The catheter connector system according to claim 1, wherein the connector sheath further comprises a hard over-sheath positioned over a mid-portion of the soft collet such that the soft collet extends both proximally and distally with respect thereto.

3. The catheter connector system according to claim 2, wherein a wall forming the cavity is tapered such that the cross-section of the cavity is larger at a distal end than at a proximal end thereof.

4. The catheter connector system according to claim 2, wherein the catheter comprises a D-shaped lumen and the cannula includes a non-circular cross-section configured for engaging a wall of the D-shaped lumen.

5. The catheter connector system according to claim 2, wherein the cannula comprises a metallic material.

6. The catheter connector system according to claim 5, wherein the connector hub further comprises a distally extending locking element for securing the connector sheath to the connector hub.

7. The catheter connector system according to claim 1, wherein the catheter comprises a dual lumen catheter and the connector hub comprises a bifurcation including two cannulas.

8. The catheter connector system according to claim 7, wherein a proximal portion of the cannulas are angled away from each other.

9. The catheter connector system according to claim 8, further comprising two extension legs connected to a proximal end of the cannulas.

10. The catheter connector system according to claim 7, wherein the bifurcation comprises a hard core molded over the two cannulas, and a soft overmold positioned over the hard core.

11. The catheter connector system according to claim 10, wherein the cannulas comprise a metallic material.

12. The catheter connector system according to claim 11, wherein the connector sheath further comprises a hard over-sheath positioned over a mid-portion of the soft collet such that the soft collet extends both proximally and distally with respect thereto.

13. The catheter connector system according to claim 12 wherein the catheter comprises two D-shaped lumens, each of the cannulas including a non-circular cross-section configured for establishing a seal with the D-shaped lumens.

14. The catheter connector system according to claim 13, wherein the cannulas comprise a metallic material.

15. The catheter connector system according to claim 7, wherein the connector sheath further comprises a hard over-sheath positioned over a mid-portion of the soft collet such that the soft collet extends both proximally and distally with respect thereto.

16. A catheter connector, comprising:

a unitary piece comprising a collet, a collet-sheath, and a strain relief; and

a connector hub comprising a cannula for insertion into a proximal end of a catheter and a cavity for receiving the collet.

17. The catheter connector according to claim 16, wherein a distal portion of the connector hub further comprises a cut-out portion, permitting visual observation of the cannula during insertion into the catheter.

18. The catheter connector according to claim 16, wherein the catheter comprises a multi-lumen catheter and the connector hub comprises a plurality of cannulas corresponding to the number of lumens in the multi-lumen catheter, each of the cannulas comprising a distal end, a mid-section, a proximal portion, and a proximal end, wherein the proximal portions of the cannulas are angled away from each other.

19. The catheter connector according to claim 18, wherein each of the cannulas includes a lumen with an expanding proximal portion that provides a smooth transition between a plurality of extension legs connected to the proximal ends of the cannulas and the lumens within the catheter.

20. The catheter connector according to claim 16, wherein the cannula includes a metal tubing.

21. The catheter connector of claim 18, wherein the connector hub further comprises an overmold positioned over at least the mid-sections of the cannulas, a plurality of extension legs connected to the proximal ends of the cannulas, and a plurality of luer connectors attached to the extension legs.

22. A method of establishing a bifurcating connection to a catheter comprising:

inserting a distal portion of a dual lumen catheter into a patient'"'"'s body;

cutting off a proximal section of the dual lumen catheter to form a proximal connection end on the dual lumen catheter;

inserting two distally extending cannulas on a bifurcation into the proximal connection end of the dual lumen catheter; and

advancing a connector sheath proximally over a shaft of the dual lumen catheter, which results in a distal portion of the bifurcation compressing a proximal portion of the connector sheath towards the catheter to secure the catheter to the two distally extending cannulas.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of engaging a locking mechanism on the bifurcation with the connector sheath, and securing the connector sheath onto the bifurcation.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the step of engaging a locking mechanism further comprises inducing an audible sound to notify a user of successful attachment.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the audible sound is at least about 60 dB.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein after completion of the engaging a locking mechanism step, a resulting connection between the connector sheath and the bifurcation has a minimum pull of force of about 3.37 lbs.

27. A catheter connector system comprising:

a catheter;

a connector sheath; and

a connector hub comprising means for compressing at least a portion of the connector sheath and means for establishing fluid communication between the catheter and the connector hub.

28. The catheter connector system according to claim 27, wherein the connector sheath comprises a soft collet.

29. The catheter connector system according to claim 28, wherein the connector hub further comprises means for securing the connector sheath onto the connector hub.

30. The catheter connector system according to claim 27, further comprising:

means for generating an audible notification to an user upon establishment of a connection between the connector sheath and the connector hub.