# US 11,110,261 B2 · Infusion tube system and method for manufacture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,110,261 B2 - Document ID: US11110261B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/282,825 - Filed: 2016-09-30 - Published: 2017-01-26 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-19 - Assignees: Unomedical A/S - Applicants: UnoMedical A/S - Inventors: Peter Fruerlund; Jacob Andersen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110261B2 ## CPC - A61M 39/10: Tube connectors or tube couplings - A61M 5/385: {using hydrophobic filters} - A61M 2039/205: {comprising air venting means} - A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production - Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor - 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)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An infusion tube system and a method for manufacture are provided, An infusion tube system including an infusion tube and a connector attached to the infusion tube at an end of the infusion tube is disclosed. The connector has a proximal end and includes a connector body extending from a distal end to a proximal end along a center axis and defining a cavity. The connector body includes an end wall with an inner surface, and at least one vent opening, and a sidewall extending from the end wall along the center axis with an inner and outer surface. The connector includes a membrane covering the at least one vent opening, the membrane being welded to the inner surface of the end wall along at least one welding seam including a first welding seam such that the membrane covers and seals the at least one vent opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector for connecting an infusion tube to an infusion device, the connector comprising: a connector body extending from a distal end to a proximal end of the connector body, wherein the connector body comprises an end wall comprising an inner surface and an outer surface; a first vent opening, wherein the first vent opening goes through the inner surface and the outer surface of the end wall; a membrane covering the first vent opening at the inner surface of the end wall; and a first protrusion located at the inner surface of the end wall, wherein the first protrusion extends from the inner surface of the end wall toward the distal end of the connector body, and wherein a curve that completely surrounds the first vent opening is defined by only the first protrusion; a cavity partially surrounded by the connector body, wherein the cavity is formed in part by a region of the end wall, the region comprising the first vent opening; and a fluid path traversing through the end wall, thereby allowing fluid communication between the infusion tube and the cavity, wherein the fluid path is arranged outside of the curve and defined by a needle that lies on a center axis of the connector, wherein the first vent opening is adjacent to the first protrusion, wherein the membrane is air-permeable, wherein the membrane is welded to the inner surface of the end wall along a first welding seam at the first protrusion, wherein the membrane extends outside of the curve to the needle, wherein the inner surface has an annular portion that encircles the fluid path and defines a radially-outermost periphery of the inner surface relative to the center axis of the connector, wherein the first protrusion is located radially inward of the annular portion relative to the center axis such that the first protrusion is located radially inward of, and does not define, the radially-outermost periphery of the inner surface, and wherein the annular portion of the inner surface is flat along the radially-outermost periphery of the inner surface all the way around the center axis of the connector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the membrane further comprises at least one hydrophobic material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the first vent opening is sealed by the first welding seam. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the first welding seam forms a closed curve surrounding at least the first vent opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a support structure extending from the end wall in a proximal direction, the support structure accommodating at least a part of the infusion tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion has a height of at least 0.5 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the first vent opening is the only vent opening formed in the connector body. ### Claim 8 An infusion tube system, the system comprising: an infusion tube; and a connector, wherein the connector is attached to the infusion tube at a proximal end of the connector, the connector comprising: a connector body extending from a distal end to a proximal end of the connector body, wherein the connector body comprises: an end wall, comprising an inner surface and an outer surface; a first vent opening, wherein the first vent opening goes through the inner surface and the outer surface of the end wall; a membrane covering the first vent opening at the inner surface of the end wall; and a first protrusion located at the inner surface of the end wall, wherein the first protrusion extends from the inner surface of the end wall toward the distal end of the connector body, wherein a curve that completely surrounds the first vent opening is defined by only the first protrusion, and wherein the curve extends only partway around a center axis of the connector; a cavity partially surrounded by the connector body, wherein the cavity is formed in part by a region of the end wall comprising the first vent opening; and a fluid path traversing through the end wall, thereby allowing fluid communication between the infusion tube and the cavity, wherein the fluid path is arranged outside of the curve, and wherein the fluid path is defined by a needle that lies on the center axis of the connector, wherein the membrane is welded to the inner surface of the end wall along a first welding seam at the first protrusion, wherein the membrane extends outside of the curve to the needle, wherein the inner surface has an annular portion that extends all the way around the center axis of the connector and defines a radially-outermost periphery of the inner surface relative to the center axis, wherein the first protrusion is located radially inward of the annular portion relative to the center axis such that the first protrusion is located radially inward of, and does not define, the radially-outermost periphery of the inner surface, and wherein the annular portion of the inner surface is flat along the radially-outermost periphery of the inner surface all the way around the center axis of the connector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The infusion tube system of claim 8, wherein the connector comprises a support structure extending from the end wall in a proximal direction, the support structure defining a cavity accommodating at least a part of the infusion tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The infusion tube system of claim 8, wherein the first vent opening is the only vent opening formed in the connector body. ### Claim 11 A connector for connecting an infusion tube to an infusion device, the connector comprising: a connector body extending from a distal end to a proximal end thereof around a center axis of the connector, wherein the connector body includes an end wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, a first vent opening that extends through the inner surface and the outer surface, a membrane that covers the first vent opening at the inner surface, and a first protrusion that extends away from the inner surface toward the distal end, wherein only the first protrusion defines a curve that completely surrounds the first vent opening, wherein the curve extends only partway around the center axis, and wherein the first vent opening is the only vent opening formed in the connector body; a cavity partially surrounded by the connector body and at least partially formed by a region of the end wall that includes the first vent opening; and a fluid path that extends through the end wall to allow fluid communication between the infusion tube and the cavity, wherein the fluid path is arranged outside of the curve along the center axis, and wherein the fluid path is defined by a needle that lies on the center axis, wherein the membrane is welded to the inner surface along a first welding seam at the first protrusion, wherein the membrane extends outside of the curve to the needle, wherein the inner surface has an annular portion that extends all the way around the center axis of the connector and defines a radially-outermost periphery of the inner surface relative to the center axis, wherein the first protrusion is located radially inward of the annular portion relative to the center axis such that the first protrusion is located radially inward of, and does not define, the radially-outermost periphery of the inner surface, and wherein the annular portion of the inner surface is flat along the radially-outermost periphery of the inner surface all the way around the center axis of the connector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The connector of claim 11, wherein the first protrusion defines a closed oval curve that completely surrounds the first vent opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The connector of claim 12, wherein the first welding seam extends all the way along the closed oval curve.