Fluid Connector for Fluid Delivery Apparatus

• US 20090224529A1
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renishaw PLC
• Original Assignee: Renishaw PLC
• Inventors: Gill, Steven Streatfield
• Granted Patent: US 7,984,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1077 Adapters, e.g. couplings adapting a connector to one or several other connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1083 having a plurality of female connectors, e.g. Luer connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1088 having a plurality of male connectors, e.g. Luer connectors
• 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 39/105 Multi-channel connectors or couplings, e.g. for connecting multi-lumen tubes multi-channel connectors in general F16L37/56
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 39/02 for hoses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A connector is described that comprises a male connector portion that is releaseably connectable to a complimentary female connector portion. The male fluid connector portion comprises a plurality of hollow needles that are each in fluid communication with a lumen of the associated tubing. The female connector portion comprises plurality of chambers or apertures that comprise a septum seal through which a hollow needle can be passed. Tubing having a plurality of lumens is coupled to the female connector portion and each lumen is in fluid communication with one of said chambers. The male and/or female connector portions also include an alignment guide that allows the hollow needles of the male part to be uniquely aligned with the corresponding septum seals of the female part. The use of the connector for medical purposes is described.

Claims

1. A male fluid connector portion for tubing having a plurality of lumens, the male fluid connector portion being releaseably connectable to a complimentary female fluid connector portion, the male fluid connector portion comprising;

a plurality of hollow needles, the hollow needles being arranged such that, when tubing having a plurality of lumens is coupled to the male fluid connector portion, each hollow needle is in fluid communication with one lumen of the tubing; and

an alignment guide that allows the hollow needles to be uniquely aligned with the corresponding septum seals of an associated complimentary female fluid connector portion.

2. A male fluid connector portion according to claim 1 wherein the alignment guide comprises one or more protruding alignment prongs.

3. A male fluid connector portion according to claim 1 wherein the alignment guide comprises one or more visible markings.

4. A male fluid connector portion according to claim 1 comprising a substantially cylindrical portion having a screw thread for engaging the complementary screw thread of a female connector.

5. A male fluid connector portion according to claim 4 wherein the substantially cylindrical portion is a rotatable cylindrical portion having a screw thread formed on its inner surface such that, when the screw thread of the cylindrical portion engages the complementary screw thread of a female connector, rotation of the rotatable cylindrical portion acts to bring the male and female connectors into engagement.

6. A male fluid connector portion according to claim 4 wherein the distal tip of each of said plurality of hollow needles is located within the volume enclosed by the cylindrical portion.

7. A male fluid connector portion according to claim 4 wherein the longitudinal axes of each of said plurality of hollow needles are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical portion.

8. A male fluid connector portion according to claim 4 comprising an alignment guide having one or more protruding alignment prongs, wherein the longitudinal axis of each protruding alignment prong is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical portion.

9. A male fluid connector portion according to claim 8 wherein one of said one or more alignment prongs is substantially co-axially aligned with said cylindrical portion.

10. A male fluid connector portion according to claim 8 wherein the distal end of each alignment prong protrudes beyond the volume enclosed by the cylindrical portion.

11. A male fluid connector portion according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of hollow needles and the alignment prongs are arranged in a first pattern.

12. A male fluid connector portion according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of hollow needles comprise at least one of silica, stainless steel, tungsten, tungsten carbide, Titanium, Titanium carbide, ceramic and plastic.

13. A male fluid connector portion according to claim 12 wherein each hollow needle comprises a hollow core in which a tube can be located.

14. A male fluid connector portion according to claim 1 comprising at least five hollow needles.

15. A male fluid connector portion according to claim 1 wherein each hollow needle has an aperture in the side and/or distal end thereof.

16. A male fluid connector portion according to claim 1, wherein the male fluid connector portion is attached to a length of tubing having a plurality of lumens, each lumen being in fluid communication with one of said hollow needles.

28. A connector comprising a male fluid connector portion according to claim 1 and a female fluid connector portion for tubing having a plurality of lumens, the female fluid connector portion being releaseably connectable to the male fluid connector portion,

wherein the female fluid connector portion comprises:

a plurality of chambers, each chamber comprising a septum seal through which a hollow needle can be passed, wherein, when tubing having a plurality of lumens is coupled to the female connector portion, each lumen is in fluid communication with one of said chambers; and

an alignment guide that allows the septum seals to be uniquely aligned with the corresponding hollow needles of an associated complimentary male fluid connector portion.

30. A connector according to claim 28 for medical use.

31. A connector kit comprising at least one of a male fluid connector portion according to claim 1, a female fluid connector portion for tubing having a plurality of lumens, the female fluid connector portion being releaseably connectable to a complimentary male fluid connector portion, the female fluid connector portion comprising a plurality of chambers, each chamber comprising a septum seal through which a hollow needle can be passed, wherein, when tubing having a plurality of lumens is coupled to the female connector portion, each lumen is in fluid communication with one of said chambers, and an alignment guide that allows the septum seals to be uniquely aligned with the corresponding hollow needles of an associated complimentary male fluid connector portion, and a connector for tubing having a plurality of lumens, the connector comprising a male portion comprising a plurality of hollow needles and a female portion comprising a plurality of septum seals through which said plurality of hollow needles can be passed, wherein the connector comprises an alignment guide for uniquely aligning the hollow needles of the male portion with defined septum seals of the female fluid connector when the male fluid connector portion and the complementary female fluid connector portion are brought into engagement, the kit also comprising at least one of a length of tubing, a catheter, a fluid pump and an implantable housing for encasing said connector part.

17. A female fluid connector portion for tubing having a plurality of lumens, the female fluid connector portion being releaseably connectable to a complimentary male fluid connector portion, the female fluid connector portion comprising;

a plurality of chambers, each chamber comprising a septum seal through which a hollow needle can be passed, wherein, when tubing having a plurality of lumens is coupled to the female connector portion, each lumen is in fluid communication with one of said chambers; and

an alignment guide that allows the septum seals to be uniquely aligned with the corresponding hollow needles of an associated complimentary male fluid connector portion.

18. A female fluid connector portion according to claim 17 wherein the alignment guide comprises at least one elongate recess for receiving an alignment prong of an associated male fluid connector portion.

19. A female fluid connector portion according to claim 17 wherein the alignment guide comprises at least one visible marking.

20. A female fluid connector portion according to claim 17 comprising a second cylindrical portion having a screw thread for engaging the complementary screw thread of a male connector.

21. A female fluid connector portion according to claim 20 wherein the alignment guide comprises at least one elongate recess for receiving an alignment prong of an associated male fluid connector portion, wherein the longitudinal axis of said at least one elongate recess is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said second cylindrical portion.

22. A female fluid connector portion according to claim 21 wherein, when the rotatable screw thread of a complimentary male fluid connector portion engages and is rotated relative to the screw thread portion of the female connector, hollow needles of the associated male connector portion are translated only in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of said septum seals.

23. A female fluid connector portion according to claim 17 comprising an outer casing having an annular end portion comprising a plurality of apertures through which the septum seal of each chamber can be accessed.

24. A female fluid connector portion according to claim 23 wherein the septum seal of each chamber is provided by a common annular, resilient, member retained against the inner surface of annular end portion.

25. A female fluid connector portion according to claim 17 wherein the septum seal of each chamber comprises rubberised material.

26. A female fluid connector portion according to claim 17 wherein the septum seal is arranged to provide a fluidic seal that prevent egress of fluid through said septum seal when no needle is inserted therethrough.

27. A female fluid connector portion according to claim 17, wherein the female fluid connector portion is attached to a length of tubing having a plurality of lumens, each lumen being in fluid communication with one of said chambers.

29. A connector for tubing having a plurality of lumens, the connector comprising a male portion comprising a plurality of hollow needles and a female portion comprising a plurality of septum seals through which said plurality of hollow needles can be passed, wherein the connector comprises an alignment guide for uniquely aligning the hollow needles of the male portion with defined septum seals of the female fluid connector when the male fluid connector portion and the complementary female fluid connector portion are brought into engagement.