# US 10,441,206 B2 · Apparatuses and methods for inline collection of a fluid specimen

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- Number: US 10,441,206 B2
- Document ID: US10441206B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/488,523
- Filed: 2014-09-17
- Published: 2015-03-26
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2013-09-25
- Assignees: KCI Licensing, Inc.
- Applicants: KCI Licensing, Inc.
- Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441206B2

## CPC

- A61B 10/0045: {Devices for taking samples of body liquids}
- A61B 5/150992: {Blood sampling from a fluid line external to a patient, such as a catheter line, combined with an infusion line; Blood sampling from indwelling needle sets, e.g. sealable ports, luer couplings or valves}
- A61B 10/0096: {Casings for storing test samples (A61B10/0038, A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/10; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30)}
- A61M 39/10: Tube connectors or tube couplings
- A61M 39/223: {Multiway valves}
- F16L 55/07: Arrangement or mounting of devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating or draining (apparatus for draining F16T)
- A61B 2010/008: {Interstitial fluid}
- A61M 1/60: {Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source (containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69)}
- A61M 1/98: {Containers specifically adapted for negative pressure wound therapy}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A collection fitting, system, and method for sampling fluid from a tissue site is described. The collection fitting includes a switch fitting having a first passage and a second passage. The collection fitting also includes a bypass switch coupled to the switch fitting. The bypass switch is operable to fluidly couple the first passage and the second passage through the bypass switch. The bypass switch is also operable to fluidly couple the first passage and the second passage through a specimen container.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A collection fitting for sampling fluid from a tissue site, the collection fitting comprising:
a switch fitting having a first end, a second end, a cavity formed into the first end of the switch fitting, a first passage extending through the switch fitting from the cavity to the second end, and a second passage extending through the switch fitting from the cavity to the second end; and
a bypass switch coupled to the second end of the switch fitting and operable in a bypass position to fluidly couple the first passage and the second passage through the bypass switch, and in response to movement of the bypass switch, operable in a sampling position to fluidly couple the first passage and the second passage through a specimen containers;
a cap coupled to the first end of the switch fitting, wherein a portion of the cap is disposed within the cavity, the cap having a first bore and a second bore, the first bore and the second bore extending through the cap, and the first passage fluidly coupled to the first bore of the cap and the second passage fluidly coupled to the second bore of the cap; and
a gap formed between an end of the cap and an inner wall of the cavity, the gap comprising a sensing bypass configured to fluidly communicate pressure between the first bore and the second bore in the bypass position and in the sampling position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The collection fitting of claim 1, wherein the switch fitting comprises:
a cylindrical body having the first passage and the second passage extending through the cylindrical body from the first end to the second end;
a first nipple coupled to the first passage and configured to be inserted into a first lumen; and
a second nipple coupled to the second passage and configured to be inserted into a second lumen.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The collection fitting of claim 1, further comprising a device housing coupled to the switch fitting and configured to receive the specimen container and secure the specimen container adjacent to the bypass switch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The collection fitting of claim 1, further comprising:
a first nipple disposed in the first passage and extending from the switch fitting into the first bore of the cap; and
a second nipple disposed in the second passage and extending from the switch fitting into the second bore of the cap.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The collection fitting of claim 4, wherein the first nipple and the second nipple are each configured to be inserted into a lumen of a respective tube.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The collection fitting of claim 1, further comprising:
a first nipple disposed in the first passage and extending from the switch fitting into the first bore; and
a second nipple disposed in the second passage and extending from the switch fitting into the second bore.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The collection fitting of claim 1, wherein the bypass switch comprises:
a first switch passage configured to be fluidly coupled to the first passage of the switch fitting;
a second switch passage configured to be fluidly coupled to the second passage of the switch fitting; and
a bypass passage configured to be fluidly coupled to the first passage and the second passage of the switch fitting;
wherein the first switch passage, the second switch passage, and the bypass passage are fluidly isolated from each other in the bypass switch.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The collection fitting of claim 7, the bypass switch further comprising:
a switch retainer having a flange coupled to an end of the switch retainer, the flange having a shoulder; and
a bypass flange coupled to a peripheral portion of the bypass switch proximate to an end of the bypass switch and having a shoulder configured to rest on and slide past the shoulder of the flange of the switch retainer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The collection fitting of claim 7, wherein the bypass switch further comprises:
a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end;
wherein the bypass passage is recessed into the first end of the bypass switch proximate to a center of the bypass switch,
wherein the first switch passage extends through the bypass switch from the first end to the second end, and
wherein the second switch passage extends through the bypass switch from the first end to the second end.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The collection fitting of claim 7, wherein:
the first switch passage has a substantially conical portion proximate to a first end of the bypass switch and a substantially cylindrical portion proximate to a second end of the bypass switch; and
the second switch passage has a substantially conical portion proximate to the first end of the bypass switch and a substantially cylindrical portion proximate to the second end of the bypass switch.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The collection fitting of claim 1, further comprising a device housing having a tubular body, a first end configured to be coupled to the switch fitting so that the switch fitting and the bypass switch are disposed within the device housing, and a second end having an annular detent on an inner surface, the annular detent configured to engage a mating detent of the specimen container to secure the specimen container to the device housing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The collection fitting of claim 1, wherein the bypass switch is configured to rotate relative to the switch fitting.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The collection fitting of claim 8, wherein the bypass passage is fluidly coupled to the first passage and second passage in the bypass position and is rotatable to the sampling position wherein the bypass passage is not fluidly coupled to the first passage and second passage.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The collection fitting of claim 1, wherein the first passage axially extends through the switch fitting from the cavity to the second end, and the second passage axially extends through the switch fitting from the cavity to the second end.