Medical break-away connectors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10569073-B2
Application number	US-201615228796-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2016
Priority date	Aug 7, 2015
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

Break-away connectors are disclosed. The break-away connectors may be configured to be coupled in at least two configurations, for example, a high force configuration and a low force configuration. The break-away connectors may also be incrementally adjustable between the high force configuration and the low force configuration. The break-away connectors may be coupled to a first medical device and a second medical device. Methods of using and/or coupling the break-away connectors are also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A break-away connector, comprising:
a first body member having a coupling end portion and a break-away end portion; and
a second body member having a coupling end portion and a break-away end portion,
wherein the break-away end portion of the first body member is configured to engage the break-away end portion of the second body member upon coupling of the first body member to the second body member, wherein the first body member is coupleable to the second body member in one of at least a first configuration and a second configuration such that fluid communication is provided between the first body member and the second body member when coupled in the first configuration and when coupled in the second configuration, wherein a greater force is required to uncouple the first body member from the second body member when the break-away connector is in the first configuration in comparison to when the break-away connector is in the second configuration, and wherein, when coupled in the first or second configuration, the first body member is configured to uncouple from the second body member in response to an uncoupling force,
wherein the break-away end portion of the first body member comprises a first resilient arm and a second resilient arm, each resilient arm having one or more ridge portions and wherein a height of the ridge portion of the first resilient arm is greater than a height of the ridge portion of the second resilient arm,
wherein the break-away end portion of the second body member comprises a first ridge portion and a second ridge portion, wherein a height of the first ridge portion is greater than a height of the second ridge portion, and
wherein one or more ridge portions of the first body member are configured to engage one or more ridge portions of the second body member upon the coupling of the first body member to the second body member.

2. The break-away connector of claim 1 , further comprising:
a valve disposed within at least one of a lumen of the first body member or a lumen of the second body member.

3. The break-away connector of claim 2 , wherein the valve is configured to open when the first body member is coupled to the second body member.

4. The break-away connector of claim 2 , further comprising a valve engagement member disposed within at least one of the lumen of the first body member and the lumen of the second body member, wherein the valve engagement member is configured to open the valve when the first body member is coupled to the second body member.

5. The break-away connector of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first valve disposed within a lumen of the first body member; and
a second valve disposed within a lumen of the second body member.

6. The break-away connector of claim 1 , wherein the first body member comprises a slot; and
wherein the second body member comprises a rib,
wherein a portion of the rib is configured to be disposed within a portion of the slot when the first body member is coupled to the second body member, such that rotation of the first body member in relation to the second body member around a longitudinal axis of the break-away connector is limited.

7. The break-away connector of claim 1 , wherein the first body member comprises a slot is disposed between the first and second resilient arms; and
wherein the second body member comprises a rib, wherein a portion of the rib is configured to be disposed within a portion of the slot when the first body member is coupled to the second body member, such that rotation of the first body member in relation to the second body member around a longitudinal axis of the break-away connector is limited.

8. The break-away connector of claim 1 , further comprising a collar member disposed around the first body member, the collar longitudinally displaceable with respect to the first body member, and wherein a portion of the collar member is configured to limit radial movement of the one or more resilient arms radially outward relative to a longitudinal axis of the breakaway connector.

9. The break-away connector of claim 8 , wherein displacement of the collar member between the first position and the second position is configured to incrementally decrease a level of coupling strength between the first body member and the second body member.

10. The break-away connector of claim 1 , wherein the first body member is configured to couple a first medical device via a coupling mechanism selected from at least one of a female connector, a male connector, a compression fitting, and a snap fitting; and
wherein the second body member is configured to couple a second medical device via a coupling mechanism selected from at least one of a female connector, a male connector, a compression fitting, and a snap fitting.

11. The break-away connector of claim 10 , wherein the coupling mechanism of the first body member is different from the coupling mechanism of the second body member.

12. A break-away connector, comprising:
a first body member configured to be coupled to a second body member such that fluid communication is provided between the first body member and the second body member,
wherein the first body member is coupleable to the second body member in at least a first configuration and a second configuration such that fluid communication is provided between the first body member and the second body member when coupled in the first configuration and when coupled in the second configuration, and
wherein a greater force is required to uncouple the first body member from the second body member when the break-away connector is in the first configuration in comparison to when the break-away connector is in the second configuration, wherein when coupled in the first or second configuration, the first body member is configured to uncouple from the second body member in response to an uncoupling force,
wherein the break-away end portion of the first body member comprises a first resilient arm having a high-profile ridge portion and a second resilient arm having a low profile ridge portion,
wherein the break-away end portion of the second body member comprises a first ridge portion having a high-profile ridge portion and a second ridge portion having a low profile ridge portion,
wherein when the first body member is coupled to the second body member in the first configuration the high-profile ridge portion of the first resilient arm is engaged with the high-profile portion of the first ridge portion, and
wherein when the first body member is coupled to the second body member in the second configuration the high-profile ridge portion of the first resilient arm is engaged with the low-profile ridge portion of the second ridge portion.

13. The break-away connector of claim 12 , wherein the first body member is further configured such that fluid communication through the first body member is substantially limited when the first body member is uncoupled from the second body member, and
wherein the second body member is further configured such that fluid communication through the second body member is permitted when the first body member is uncoupled from the second body member.

14. The break-away connector of claim 12 , wherein the second body member is further configured such that fluid communication through the second body member is substantially limited when the second body member is uncoupled from the first body member, and
wherein the first body member is further configured such that fluid communication through the first body member is permitted when the first body member is uncoupled from the second body membe

Assignees

• Merit Medical Systems Inc

Inventors

• Hallisey Denise
• Mottola Jim
• Stevens Brian

Classifications

• A61M2039/1061

  Break-apart tubing connectors or couplings · CPC title

• A61M2039/1033

  Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors, bayonet-connectors · CPC title

• A61M39/26 Primary

  Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof {(check valves A61M39/24)} · CPC title

• A61M39/1011

  Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties (A61M39/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61M39/10 Primary

  Tube connectors; Tube couplings {(A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014)} · CPC title