# US 11,433,001 B2 · System, apparatus and method employed with enteral systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,433,001 B2 - Document ID: US11433001B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/456,502 - Filed: 2019-06-28 - Published: 2019-10-24 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-19 - Assignees: Kpr U.S., LLC - Applicants: Kpr U.S., LLC - Inventors: Wayne Schuessler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11433001B2 ## CPC - A61J 15/0096: {Provisions for venting} - A61J 15/00: Feeding-tubes for therapeutic purposes - A61J 15/0092: {Valves on feeding tubes (tube valves A61M39/22)} - A61M 5/1418: {Clips, separators or the like for supporting tubes or leads} - A61M 39/10: Tube connectors or tube couplings - A61M 39/12: for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment - A61M 39/20: Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes - F16L 15/04: with additional sealings - F16L 15/08: with supplementary elements (F16L15/04 takes precedence) - F16L 21/08: with additional locking means (F16L21/06 takes precedence; couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/00) - A61M 39/1033: {Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors or bayonet-connectors} - A61M 2039/1027: {Quick-acting type connectors} - A61M 2039/1077: {Adapters, e.g. couplings adapting a connector to one or several other connectors} - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - 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 connector system is configured to fluidly connect a nasogastric tube assembly including a lumen and a tube to a medical device. The system includes a connector including: a fitting configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the medical device; a neck coupled to the fitting, the neck configured to attach to the nasogastric tube assembly; and a body coupled to the neck, the body configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the nasogastric tube assembly when at least partially inserted within the lumen; and a first tether including a first fastening region defining a first opening configured to receive the neck, a second fastening region defining a second opening configured to couple to the nasogastric tube assembly, and a link coupling the first fastening region to the second fastening region, the link configured to maintain a fixed distance separating the first fastening region from the second fastening region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector system configured to fluidly connect a nasogastric tube assembly including a main tube and a tube extension to a medical device, the system comprising: a connector including: a fitting configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the medical device; a neck coupled to the fitting, the neck configured to attach to the nasogastric tube assembly; and a body coupled to the neck, the body configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the nasogastric tube assembly when at least partially inserted within the main tube; a first tether including a first fastening region defining a first opening receiving the neck, and a second fastening region configured to couple to the nasogastric tube assembly; a cap configured to seal the fitting; and a second tether including a first fastening region received around the neck of the connector, and a second fastening region attached to the cap to couple the cap to the neck of the connector, wherein the first fastening region of the first tether is defined by a continuous first semi-circular segment extending along an arc through an angle of greater than 180° in all operating positions, wherein the second fastening region of the first tether is defined by a continuous second semi-circular segment extending along an arc through an angle of greater than 180° in all operating positions, and wherein the first tether is configured to form an enclosed shape comprising the first fastening region of the first tether, the second fastening region of the first tether, and a linear section therebetween. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector system of claim 1, wherein the second tether is more flexible than the first tether. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connector system of claim 1, wherein the cap includes a knob and a plug coupled to the knob, the plug including at least one thread sized and configured to complete a fluid-tight threaded attachment of the cap to the fitting. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The connector system of claim 3, wherein the knob includes an annular surface having raised regions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The connector system of claim 1, wherein the neck has a first length and the body has a second length, the first length being less than the second length. ### Claim 6 A kit comprising: a connector including: a fitting including a longitudinal axis, an annular collar having an inside surface and an outside surface, the fitting including a threaded region located on the inside surface and configured to complete a fluid-tight connection with a medical device; a fastening region coupled to the fitting, the fastening region including a neck; and a body coupled to the fastening region, the body configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with a nasogastric tube assembly when at least partially inserted within the nasogastric tube assembly; and a rigid tether secured around the neck of the fastening region of the connector, wherein the rigid tether comprises a first fastening region and a second fastening region spaced from the first fastening region by a linear section having a first length, the neck being received in the first fastening region, wherein the first fastening region is defined by a continuous first semi-circular segment extending along an arc through an angle of greater than 180° in all operating positions and the second fastening region is defined by a continuous second semi-circular segment extending along an arc through an angle of greater than 180° in all operating positions, and wherein the rigid tether is configured to form an enclosed shape comprising the first fastening region, the second fastening region, and the linear section; the kit including the connector and the rigid tether being located in a single sealed product package. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The kit of claim 6, further comprising a nasogastric tube assembly comprising medical tubing including a main lumen and a vent lumen, and a tube extension attached to the medical tubing and fluidly coupled to the vent lumen, the nasogastric tube assembly being located in the single sealed product package. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The kit of claim 7, wherein the tube extension of the nasogastric tube assembly is received in the second fastening region securing the tube extension to the connector in the single sealed product package. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The kit of claim 8, wherein the body is received in the main lumen of the medical tubing securing the connector to the medical tubing in the single sealed product package. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The kit of claim 6, further comprising a cap including a knob and a plug coupled to the knob, the plug including at least one thread sized and configured to complete a fluid-tight threaded attachment of the cap to the fitting. ### Claim 11 A method of assembling an adapter kit, the method comprising: providing an adapter configured to complete a fluid-tight connection between a medical device and medical tubing including a main tube and a tube extension, the adapter including a fitting with a collar having a first outside diameter, a body, and a neck connecting the fitting to the body, the neck sized and configured with a second outside diameter smaller than the first outside diameter, the body configured to provide a fluid tight connection to the medical tubing when at least partially inserted therein, and the fitting including a threaded region located on an inside surface thereof and configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the medical device; attaching a rigid tether around the neck of the adapter, wherein the rigid tether comprises a first fastening region and a second fastening region spaced from the first fastening region by a linear section having a first length, the neck being received in the first fastening region, wherein the first fastening region is defined by a continuous first semi-circular segment extending along an arc through an angle of greater than 180° in all operating positions and the second fastening region is defined by a continuous second semi-circular segment extending along an arc through an angle of greater than 180° in all operating positions, and wherein the rigid tether is configured to form an enclosed shape comprising the first fastening region, the second fastening region, and the linear section; and packaging the adapter and rigid tether in a single sealed product package. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving the tube extension of the medical tubing in the second fastening region prior to packaging the adapter and rigid tether in the single sealed product package. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising inserting the body of the adapter in the main tube of the medical tubing prior to packaging the adapter and rigid tether in the single sealed product package. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a cap including a plug, a knob, and a neck region connecting the plug to the knob, the plug configured to form a fluid tight connection with the fitting via a threaded connection connectable to the threaded region of the fitting. ### Claim 15 A connector system configured to fluidly connect a nasogastric tube assembly including a main tube and a tube extension to a medical device, the system comprising: a connector including: a fitting configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the medical device; a neck coupled to the fitting, the neck configured to attach to the nasogastric tube assembly; and a body coupled to the neck, the body configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the nasogastric tube assembly when at least partially inserted within the lumen; and a rigid tether configured to secure to the nasogastric tube assembly, the rigid tether comprising a first fastening region defined by a continuous first semi-circular segment extending along an arc through an angle of greater than 180° in all operating positions, a link extending from an end of the first fastening region and defined by a first linear segment and a second linear segment, a second fastening region defined by a continuous second semi-circular segment extending along an arc through an angle of greater than 180° in all operating positions and extending from an end of the link, wherein the rigid tether is configured to form an enclosed shape comprising the first fastening region, the second fastening region, the first linear segment, and the second linear segment.