High-flow enteral feeding syringe assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017156988-A1
Application number	US-201615367687-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 2, 2016
Priority date	Dec 4, 2015
Publication date	Jun 8, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An enteral feeding connector facilitates an increased flow rate into and through the connector to accommodate feeding fluids requiring higher flow rates for delivery. The connector includes a male connector portion including an inlet, a fluid passage in fluid communication with the inlet, and at least one connector projection at the inlet. The connector projection defines a cross-sectional area of the inlet configured to facilitate delivering feeding fluid requiring higher flow rates through the connector.

First claim

1 . An enteral feeding syringe assembly comprising:
a syringe including a barrel and a connector portion having a syringe fluid passage in fluid communication with the barrel and extending through the connector portion to an port of the syringe, the syringe fluid passage including a main portion defining a centerline of the syringe fluid passage and a constricted portion, the constricted portion including a first axially facing blocking surface of the connector portion defining at least a portion of a boundary of the constricted portion of the syringe fluid passage, a second axially facing surface located on a diametrically opposite side of the centerline from the first axially facing surface and defining at least a portion of the boundary of the constricted portion, and a third axially facing surface angularly offset about the centerline from the first axially facing surface and defining at least a portion of the boundary of the constricted portion, the third axially facing surface being spaced from the centerline a distance greater than at least one of the first and second axially facing surfaces; and a connector configured for attachment to the syringe to connect the syringe in fluid communication with a fluid containment device, the connector comprising a male connector portion receivable in the fluid passage of the syringe connector portion, the male connector having a connector fluid passage extending through the connector, the connector fluid passage including a main portion defining a centerline of the connector fluid passage and a constricted portion, the constricted portion including a first axially facing blocking surface of the connector portion defining at least a portion of a boundary of the constricted portion of the connector fluid passage, a second axially facing surface located on a diametrically opposite side of the centerline from the first axially facing surface and defining at least a portion of the boundary of the constricted portion, and a third axially facing surface angularly offset about the centerline from the first axially facing surface and defining at least a portion of the boundary of the constricted portion, the third axially facing surface being spaced from the centerline a distance greater than at least one of the first and second axially facing surfaces.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the connector portion of the syringe further comprises a connector projection of the connector portion extending toward the centerline of the syringe fluid passage, the first axial surface being defined on the connector projection.

3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the connector projection of the syringe extends laterally across the syringe fluid passage of the connector portion of the syringe.

4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the connector projection of the syringe comprises a first connector projection of the syringe, the syringe further comprising a second connector projection disposed on an opposite side of the centerline, the second connector projection extending laterally across the syringe fluid passage of the connector portion of the syringe, the second axially facing surface being defined on the second connector projection.

5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first and second axially facing surfaces is about 2.90 mm (0.11 in.) or less.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the male connector portion of the connector comprises a connector projection extending toward the centerline of the connector fluid passage, the first axial surface of the male connector portion being defined in the connector projection.

7 . The assembly of claim 6 wherein the connector projection of the male connector portion of the connector extends laterally across the fluid passage of the connector, the connector projection of the male connector portion is configured to extend into the syringe fluid passage of the connector portion of the syringe and make a sealing connection with the connector portion of the syringe when the connector is attached to the syringe.

8 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the connector projection of the connector comprises a first connector projection of the connector, the connector comprising a second connector projection disposed on an opposite side of the fluid passage of the connector, the second connector projection of the connector extending laterally across the fluid passage of the connector, the second axially facing surface being defined on the second connector projection.

9 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein a distance between the first and second axially facing surfaces of the male connector portion of the connector is about 2.90 mm (0.11 in.) or less.

10 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the connector projection of the connector extends laterally across the fluid passage of the connector from one side of the fluid passage to the diametrically opposite side of the fluid passage.

11 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector projection of the connector includes a first portion extending away from the male connector portion at an angle toward a central longitudinal axis of the male connector portion, and a second portion extending from the first portion generally perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the male connector portion.

12 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the male connector portion includes at least one cutout in the male connector portion, the cutout providing an augmented area portion enhancing fluid flow in the passage of the male connector portion.

13 . An enteral feeding syringe facilitating an increased flow rate out of the syringe to accommodate feeding fluids requiring higher flow rates for delivery, the syringe comprising:
a body having an interior chamber and an outlet; a female connector portion attached to the body, the female connector portion including a syringe fluid passage in fluid communication with the interior chamber and a pair of connector projections at the outlet, the connector projections extending laterally across the outlet into the syringe fluid passage of the female connector portion, the connector projections defining a cross-sectional area of the outlet configured to facilitate delivering feeding fluid requiring higher flow rates through the syringe.

14 . The syringe of claim 13 , wherein the connector projections define an outlet diameter in conformity with ISO standards 80369-3 and 80369-20 to prevent misconnection of the syringe with an unauthorized connector.

15 . The syringe of claim 13 , wherein the outlet diameter is not larger than about 2.90 mm (0.11 in.).

16 . The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the outlet has a cross-sectional area of about 18.35 mm 2 (0.03 in. 2 ) enhancing fluid flow out of the outlet to facilitate delivering feeding fluid requiring higher flow rates through the syringe.

17 . An enteral feeding connector facilitating an increased flow rate into and through the connector to accommodate feeding fluids requiring higher flow rates for delivery, the connector comprising:
a male connector portion including an inlet, a fluid passage in fluid communication with the inlet, and at least one connector projection at the inlet, the connector projection defining a cross-sectional area of the inlet configured to facilitate delivering feeding fluid requiring higher flow rates through the connector; and a tube connector portion attached to the male connector portion.

18 . The connector of claim 17 , wherein the at least one connector projection defines an inlet diameter in conformity with ISO standar

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Swisher David Rork

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

• A61M2206/20

  having means for promoting or enhancing the flow, actively or passively · CPC title

• A61M2039/1088

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

• A61J15/0015 Primary

  Gastrostomy feeding-tubes (insertion tools or methods A61B17/34) · CPC title

• A61M2039/1033

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