Fluid system connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11141577-B2
Application number	US-201916583791-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2019
Priority date	Sep 25, 2018
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

A universal fluid system connector creates an airtight seal between a variety of smoke evacuation system receptacles and various hoses. The universal connector includes a body, a seal having a plurality of radially extending flexible fins, and a swivel. A plurality of fins on the seal are disposed along the length of the body with the outer edges of the fins forming a frustoconical shape. The fins also include one or more flexion zones of various stiffness and one or more flexible fin extensions. The fins deform against the inner wall of a receptacle and form an airtight friction fit between the universal connector and the receptacle, regardless of the taper angle, size, threads, or other features of the receptacle. The swivel facilitates rotational movement between the universal fluid system connector and an associated hose.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A universal fluid system connector assembly, comprising:
a body having a length extending between a distal end thereof and a proximal end thereof;
a seal disposed about at least a portion of the body between the proximal and distal ends of the body, the seal having an inner surface disposed adjacent to the body and a plurality of flexible fins disposed along the length of the body, each fin having a diameter and extending radially out away from the inner surface and the body;
a stem connected to or integrally formed with the body, at least a portion of the stem extending proximally from the proximal end of the body and a proximal end of the seal; and
a swivel connectable to the stem, at least a portion of the seal not being covered by the swivel when the swivel is connected to the stem, the swivel being configured to connect to a vacuum hose and enable relative rotation between the body and the hose, the swivel comprising a first mating portion and a second mating portion, the second mating portion comprising a male portion configured to be inserted at least partially within an end of a vacuum hose.

2. The universal fluid system connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal further comprises an outer frustoconical shell disposed at least partially around the plurality of fins.

3. The universal fluid system connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first mating portion comprises a female portion sized and configured to receive therein at least a portion of the stem of the body.

4. The universal fluid system connector assembly of claim 3 , wherein the stem comprises an annular groove disposed in an outer surface thereof and the female portion of the swivel comprises a rim on an interior surface thereof, the annular groove and the rim being configured to rotationally connect the swivel to the body.

5. The universal fluid system connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flexible fins extend circumferentially at least partially about the body.

6. The universal fluid system connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the male portion comprises a hose retaining lip disposed on an outer surface thereof.

7. The universal fluid system connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the male portion comprises an outer dimension that decreases in the proximal direction.

8. The universal fluid system connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the swivel comprises a fluid passageway extending therethrough.

9. The universal fluid system connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins comprises three fins and wherein a difference between the diameters of the most distal fin and the second most distal fin is less than a difference between the diameters of the most proximal fin and the second most proximal fin.

10. The universal fluid system connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein each fin comprises a taper.

11. The universal fluid system connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein each fin comprises a first flexion zone and second flexion zone, the first flexion zone comprising a first outer ring portion of the fin including an outer edge of the fin and the second flexion zone comprising an inner ring portion of the fin disposed radially inward from the first flexion zone.

12. A fluid system connector assembly, comprising:
a body comprising:
a length extending between a distal end thereof and a proximal end thereof;
a fluid passageway extending through the length of the body;
a proximally extending stem; and
a plurality of ribs disposed along at least a portion of the length of the body, each rib extending at least partially around the body and extending radially outward from the body; and

a seal disposed about at least a portion of the body, the seal comprising:
a plurality of flexible fins disposed along the length of the body, outer edges of the plurality of fins forming a frustoconical shape tapering downward toward the distal end; and
a plurality of recessed portions extending radially outwardly from an interior surface of the seal, each recessed portion disposed at least partially around a circumference of the interior surface of the seal, wherein the plurality of ribs corresponds in position with the plurality of recessed portions so that the ribs mate with the recessed portions to retain the seal about the body; and

a swivel connectable to the stem, the swivel being configured to facilitate relative rotational movement between the body and a vacuum hose connected to the swivel.

13. The fluid system connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the seal comprises a flexible polymeric elastomer having a Durometer Hardness, Shore A, of between about 35-80 points, about 45-65 points, or about 50-60 points.

14. The fluid system connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the body further comprises one or more tabs extending proximally therefrom, the tabs being configured to aid in a manipulation of the fluid system connector.

15. The fluid system connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the swivel comprises a female portion configured to receive at least a portion of the stem therein, such that the swivel and the body can rotate relative to one another.

16. The fluid connector system of claim 12 , wherein the swivel comprises a male portion configured to be inserted into an open end of a vacuum hose.

17. A fluid system connector assembly, comprising:
a body having a length extending between a distal end thereof and a proximal end thereof, the body comprising a proximally extending stem; and
a seal disposed about at least a portion of the body, the seal comprising:
a plurality of flexible fins disposed along the length of the body so that outer edges of the fins form a frustoconical shape along the length of the body that tapers down towards the distal end, wherein each fin is curved so that the plurality of fins spirals radially around at least a portion of the body; and
an outer frustoconical shell disposed at least partially around the plurality of fins and connected to the outer edges of the fins; and

a swivel connectable to the stem, the swivel being configured to facilitate relative rotational movement between the body and a vacuum hose connected to the swivel.

18. The fluid system connector assembly of claim 17 , further comprising the vacuum hose connectable to the swivel.

19. The fluid system connector assembly of claim 18 , wherein the swivel comprises:
a male portion configured to be inserted into an open end of the vacuum hose; and
a female portion configured to receive therein at least a portion of the stem.

20. The fluid system connector assembly of claim 19 , wherein one or more of:
the male portion comprises a hose retaining lip configured to secure the hose on the male portion; or
the stem and the female portion comprise a complimentary annular groove and rim configured to rotationally connect the body and the swivel.

Assignees

• Megadyne Med Prod Inc

Inventors

• Greep Darcy W
• Frampton Chad S

Classifications

• A61M39/1011 Primary

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

• A61B2218/008

  for smoke evacuation · CPC title

• A61B2017/00477

  Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B18/00

  Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body (eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00) · CPC title

• A61M2039/1027

  Quick-acting type connectors · CPC title