Methods, devices, and systems for coupling fluid lines
AssigneeNxStage Medical, Inc.
InventorsJames M. Brugger, Dennis M. Treu, David S. Utterberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosed subject matter includes embodiments of fluid couplings that prevent or discourage misconnection of fluid lines. In embodiments, a coupling device may be configured according to lookup table that defines compatible configurations of connectors. The configurations may be based on the presence and absence of interference members at standardized locations on the respective connectors. The interference members may include posts that mechanically interfere with other posts, but can be inserted into holes when two connectors have a compatible configuration.
Claims9
A method of making a coupling device for establishing a fluid connection between two fluid lines, the method comprising:
- providing a kit having at least a first connector with a first set of one or more configurable interference elements and a second connector, wherein the first connector and the second connector are not configured to connect to each other until the first set of one or more configurable interference elements are configured;
- and
- configuring the first set of one or more configurable interference elements in a first configuration that permits the first connector to connect with the second connector, wherein
- the one or more configurable interference elements are configured to form multiple interfering element configurations, and
- each configuration of the multiple interfering element configurations permits an interference-free connection to at least one second connector and prevents, by mechanical interference, connection to at least a third connector.
A method of making a coupling device for establishing a fluid connection between two fluid lines, the method comprising:
- extracting an arrangement of interfering elements from a lookup table that identifies one or more compatible arrangements of the interfering elements on a first connector for every possible arrangement of the interfering elements on a second connector;
- providing a kit having at least the first connector with one or more configurable interference elements and a second connector with one or more configurable interference elements;
- and
- configuring the one or more configurable interference elements on the first connector and the second connector according to the arrangement extracted from the lookup table, the arrangement permitting interference-free connection between the first connector and the second connector and preventing, by mechanical interference, connection between the first connector and at least a third connector.
A method of making a coupling device, comprising:
- providing a kit having a coupling device platform with at least one fluid line connector and at least one configurable interference element that may be modified to form at least two different coupling device arrangements;
- and
- prior to connecting the at least one fluid line connector, modifying the configurable interference element to form one of the at least two different coupling device arrangements, wherein
- a first of said two different coupling device arrangements is adapted for connection to a first configuration of external coupling devices,
- a second of said two different coupling device arrangements is adapted for connection to a second configuration of external coupling devices, and
- the second of said two different coupling device arrangements is adapted to prevent, by interference caused by engagement of said at least one configurable interference element, connection to the first configuration of external coupling devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.