# US 2014/0155866 A1 · Medical Connector With A Reversibly Deformable Lobe > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155866 A1 - Document ID: US20140155866A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/690,870 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Applicants: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Inventors: Nathan C. Griffith; Donald J. McMichael; John A. Rotella; Scott M. Teixeira - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155866A1 ## CPC - A61M 39/1011: {Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties (A61M39/16 takes precedence)} - A61J 15/0015: {Gastrostomy feeding-tubes (insertion tools or methods A61B17/34)} - A61J 15/0092: {Valves on feeding tubes (tube valves A61M39/22)} - A61M 39/10: Tube connectors or tube couplings - A61J 1/1481: {with connection retaining means, e.g. thread or snap-fit} - A61J 15/0069: {Tubes feeding directly to the intestines, e.g. to the jejunum} - 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)} - 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 ## Abstract A connector for coupling to a base of medical device equipped with a circular hub having a circumferential recess. The connector includes a cap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central region, and a circumferential region. The cap defines at least two slots extending from the circumferential region towards the central region, the slots defining the cap into at least one lobe. The at least one lobe has an outward projecting lift tab and an inward projecting catch. Positioning the connector on the circular hub and depressing the connector engage the catch with the circumferential recess of the circular hub so the connector can rotate completely about the circular hub. Lifting the one lift tab to reversibly displace the lobe and its respective catch radially to disengage from the circumferential recess decouples the connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector for coupling a medical fluid supply tube to the head of a catheter device having a circular hub with a circumferential recess defined in a side surface of the circular hub, the connector comprising: a cap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central region, and a circumferential region; the cap defining at least two slots, each slot extending from the circumferential region of the cap towards the central region, the slots defining at least one lobe, the at least one lobe including: an outwardly projecting lift tab, an inwardly projecting catch that is configured to releasably engage the circumferential recess, and at least a resilient region; wherein the connector is free to rotate completely about the circular hub, and wherein the connector decouples from the circular hub by lifting at least one lift tab to reversibly displace the lobe and its respective catch radially by deforming the resilient region, in order to disengage from the circumferential recess. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connection of claim 1, wherein the connector is coupled to the hub by positioning the connector on the hub and pressing the top surface of the cap to move the bottom surface of the cap towards the hub until the catches engage the circumferential recess. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one lobe has a port located above the catch to permit visual inspection of engagement between the catch and the circumferential recess defined in the side surface of the circular hub. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one lobe is reversibly deformed and spatially displaced when a force of between about 2 Newtons and about 14 Newtons is applied to its respective lift tab. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, further comprising motion limiters to limit the pitch of the connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein each catch has a top surface configured to releasably engage the circumferential recess defined in the side surface of the circular hub and a bottom surface that is beveled. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, further comprising a conduit defining a fluid pathway through the connector, the conduit configured to supply a liquid to a lumen defined by a catheter of the device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises two slots extending from the circumferential region of the cap towards the central region and the slots define two lobes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises three slots extending from the circumferential region of the cap towards the central region and the slots to define three lobes. ### Claim 10 An extension set connector for coupling to a base of an enteral feeding device equipped with a circular hub having a radius, a top surface, a side surface, and a circumferential recess defined in the side surface, the connector comprising: a cap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central region, and a circumferential region; the cap defining at least two slots, each slot extending from the circumferential region of the cap towards the central region, the slots defining at least one lobe, the at least one lobe including at least one resilient region and at its respective circumferential region: a lift tab projecting outward from the top surface, and a catch projecting inward from the bottom surface, the catch configured to releasably engage a circumferential recess defined in a side surface of the circular hub; and a conduit defining a fluid pathway through the connector, the conduit configured to supply a feeding solution to a lumen of the enteral feeding device, wherein the connector is coupled to the circular hub by catches that engage the circumferential recess defined in the side surface of the circular hub such that the connector is free to rotate completely about the circular hub, and wherein the connector decouples from the circular hub by lifting at least one lift tab to reversibly displace the lobe and its respective catch radially to disengage from the circumferential recess. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The connection of claim 10, wherein the connector is coupled to the hub by positioning the connector on the hub and pressing the connector onto the hub until the catches engage the circumferential recess. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The connector of claim 10, wherein the at least one lobe has a port located above the catch to permit visual inspection of engagement between the catch and the circumferential recess defined in the side surface of the circular hub. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The connector of claim 10, further comprising motion limiters to limit the pitch of the connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The connector of claim 10, wherein the conduit further comprises a nozzle that is configured to engage an orifice defined in the hub to supply a feeding solution to a lumen of an enteral feeding device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The connector of claim 10, wherein each catch has a top surface configured to releasably engage the circumferential recess defined in the side surface of the circular hub and a bottom surface and the bottom surface is beveled. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The connector of claim 10, wherein the cap comprises two slots extending from the circumferential region of the cap towards the central region and the slots define two lobes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The connector of claim 10, wherein the cap comprises three slots extending from the circumferential region of the cap towards the central region and the slots define three lobes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An enteral feeding assembly comprising: an enteral feeding device having a base, a catheter with at least one lumen positioned through the catheter and the base, at least one circular hub on the base, the circular hub having a radius, a top surface, a side surface and a circumferential recess defined in the side surface; and a feeding extension set with a connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector allows for fluid communication with the lumen of the enteral feeding device. ### Claim 19 A feeding extension set, comprising: a tube; and a connector in fluid communication with the tube, the connector configured for rotatably coupling to an enteral feeding device having a circular hub, the connector including a cap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central region, and a circumferential region; the cap defining at least two slots, each slot extending from the circumferential region of the cap towards the central region, the slots defining at least one lobe, the at least one lobe including a resilient region and at its respective circumferential region: an outward projecting lift tab, and an inward projecting catch, the catch configured to releasably engage a circumferential recess defined in a side surface of the circular hub, wherein the connector decouples from the circular hub by lifting at least one lift tab to reversibly displace the lobe and its respective catch radially via deformation of the resilient region to disengage from the circumferential recess.