US 2022/0178477 A1 · Methods, Devices, and Systems for Coupling Fluid Lines

Abstract

Fluid couplings prevent or discourage misconnection of fluid lines. In embodiments, a coupling device includes multiple male and female connectors that are joined to a common line. The coupling device is mated to a matching coupling device only when all the multiple male and female connectors are properly joined. If any of the connectors is not properly mated to a corresponding one, the coupling will leak, since the connectors on each side are joined to a furcating channel. In embodiments, the coupling devices are made unique by providing an arrangement of the connectors, number of connectors, shape of connectors or arrangement of interfering connector parts that ensure that any attempt to improperly couple two fluid lines will result in the incomplete mating and thereby cause leakage of the fluid, failure of the coupling to engage, or otherwise cause the attempt to connect to fail.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method of making a coupling devices, comprising:

providing a database that associates coupling device configurations each with different identified fluids to pass through connected coupling devices to fluidically connect to compatible coupling device configurations;
the database being accessible by users and permitting uploading of specifications for coupling devices in response to entry of data identifying a fluid to be supplied and consumed;
providing a kit of interfering elements and affixation points on the coupling devices;
and
affixing one or more interfering elements to each of a supply and a consumer coupling device responsively to a specification provided by the database.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods, Devices, and Systems for Coupling Fluid Lines

Life of this patent

Methods, Devices, and Systems for Coupling Fluid Lines

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23