Enteral feeding device connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11612732-B2
Application number	US-201616084753-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2016
Priority date	Mar 18, 2016
Publication date	Mar 28, 2023
Grant date	Mar 28, 2023

Abstract

An enteral feeding adapter suitable for use with a plurality of infusion sets includes an outer body component made of a flexible material and containing a feeding port for receipt of a distal connector of an infusion set. A rigid body insert is seated within an internal recess of the outer body component and defines a proximal section of the feeding port. The insert includes a first continuous radial seal barb that engages the flexible material of the outer body component, and a plurality of separate and circumferentially spaced radial second seal barbs distal to the first seal barb that engage the flexible material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An enteral feeding adapter for use in delivering substances into a patient, the enteral feeding adapter suitable for use with a plurality of infusion sets having distal screw-on type connectors, the enteral feeding adapter comprising:
an outer body component made of a flexible material containing a feeding port configured for receiving a distal connector of an infusion set, the feeding port defining an internal recess, wherein the feeding port further comprises an internal tube extending distally within the outer body component from a distal end of a rigid body insert;
the rigid body insert seated within the internal recess of the feeding port of the outer body component and defining a proximal section of the feeding port;
the rigid body insert further comprising a fitting section, wherein the fitting section extends proximally beyond a proximal end of the outer body component;
the rigid body insert further comprising a first continuous radial seal barb that engages the flexible material of the outer body component;
the rigid body insert further comprising a plurality of separate and circumferentially spaced radial second seal barbs distal to the first seal barb that engage the flexible material, wherein gaps are present between adjacent second seal barbs of the plurality of second seal barbs; and
the internal recess of the feeding port of the outer body component having a reduced geometry that is sized to create an interference fit with the first seal barb and the second seal barbs upon insertion of the rigid body insert into the outer body component to create a sealed interface between the outer body component and the rigid body insert, wherein the first seal barb is located adjacent a proximal end of the rigid body insert, further wherein the internal recess of the feeding port of the outer body component comprises spaces and projections to accommodate the second seal barbs, wherein the spaces and the projections extend to a position at which the internal tube is received in the outer body component, wherein the second seal barbs are located adjacent the distal end of the rigid body insert, wherein the second seal barbs are in contact with the spaces and the projections when the rigid body insert is fully seated into the outer body component, and wherein the projections are separated from each other in a circumferential dimension by the spaces.

2. The enteral feeding adapter as in claim 1 , wherein the internal recess of the feeding port of the outer body component has a first geometry that conforms to a shape of the rigid body insert with reduced radial dimensions, wherein the first geometry radially expands upon insertion of the rigid body insert into the internal recess.

3. The enteral feeding adapter as in claim 1 , wherein the second seal barbs have a same radial and circumferential dimension.

4. The enteral feeding adapter as in claim 1 , wherein the gaps are defined such that the second seal barbs are not equally spaced around a circumference of the rigid body insert.

5. The enteral feeding adapter as in claim 1 , wherein the second seal barbs have a proximal end spaced from the first seal barb and a distal end that extends to the distal end of the rigid body insert.

6. The enteral feeding adapter as in claim 5 , wherein the second seal barbs taper in a radial dimension from the proximal end to the distal end thereof.

7. The enteral feeding adapter as in claim 1 , wherein the internal tube is a molded structure of the outer body component.

8. The enteral feeding adapter as in claim 1 , wherein the internal tube is a tube formed separately from the outer body component, with the outer body component molded around the separately formed tube.

9. The enteral feeding adapter as in claim 1 , wherein the fitting section further comprises a fitting for connection to the infusion set.

10. The enteral feeding adapter as in claim 9 , wherein the fitting comprises a Luer screw-on fitting.

11. The enteral feeding adapter as in claim 1 , further comprising an injection port configured in the outer body component for injection of a medication through the enteral feeding adapter.

12. The enteral feeding adapter as in claim 1 , further comprising a second one of the feeding port configured in the outer body component for receipt of a second infusion set.

13. The enteral feeding adapter as in claim 1 , wherein the second seal barbs have varying circumferential dimensions.

14. The enteral feeding adapter as in claim 1 , wherein the first seal barb has a proximal end and a distal end spaced from the fitting section of the rigid body insert.

15. The enteral feeding adapter as in claim 14 , wherein the first seal barb tapers in a radial dimension from the proximal end to the distal end thereof.

16. The enteral feeding adapter as in claim 1 , wherein the gaps are not all of equal size in one or both of a radial dimension or the circumferential dimension.

Assignees

• Avent Inc

Inventors

• Griffith Nathan
• Mcmichael Donald

Classifications

• A61J15/0026 Primary

  Parts, details or accessories for feeding-tubes (external tubes from medical containers to a connector outside of the body A61M39/08) · CPC title

• A61M39/12 Primary

  for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment · CPC title

• A61M2039/1033

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

• A61M2039/1088

  having a plurality of male connectors, e.g. Luer connectors · CPC title

• A61M2039/1083

  having a plurality of female connectors, e.g. Luer connectors · CPC title