Method of making a rotating adapter for catheters

A method of making a high pressure rotating adapter for medical applications comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming a hollow tubular stem extending from a first member, said stem having a cylindrical flange disposed at one end thereof which includes two inner shoulders which define an annular depression within the hollow tubular stem, said flange having a first flange end and a second flange end, said first flange end defining an external shoulder;
• (b) forming a plastic connector having a first and a second section on a common axis, said first section having a female Luer fitting at one end thereof, said second section having an adapter portion for nesting in the annular depression of said flange and having a cylindrical outer collar, said outer collar having a first end terminating in a capture ring, and a second end having a wall for abutting said second flange end;
• (c) disposing an O-ring on said adapter portion;
• (d) inserting said stem into said connector until said second flange end abuts said collar wall such that said O-ring seals said stem and said connector;
• and
• (e) deforming said capture ring radially over said first flange end while rotating said first and second members with respect to each other to rotatably capture said stem.

A method for making a two-piece plastic adapter for rotatably connecting a first member to a second member, comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming a cylindrical flange having a first flange end and a second flange end on the first member, the first flange end defining a shoulder;
• (b) forming a cylindrical cavity in the second member defined by an inner surface of complementary shape to the flange, the cylindrical cavity having a first inner surface end including a capture ring extending therefrom and a second inner surface end for abutting the second flange end;
• (c) inserting the cylindrical flange into the complementary shaped cavity until the second flange end abuts the second inner surface end;
• and
• (d) deforming the capture ring while rotating the first and second members with respect to each other to engage the shoulder so that the first and second members are rotatably connected.

A method of making a high pressure rotating adapter for medical applications comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming a tubular stem extending from a first member, said stem having a flange disposed at one end thereof which includes two inner shoulders which define an annular depression within the hollow stem, said flange having a first flange end and a second flange end, said first flange end defining an external shoulder;
• (b) forming a plastic connector having a first and a second section on a common axis, said first section having a female Luer fitting at one end thereof, said second section having an adapter portion for nesting in the annular depression of said flange and having a cylindrical outer collar, said outer collar having a first end terminating in a capture ring and a second end with a wall for abutting said second flange end;
• (c) disposing an O-ring on said adapter portion;
• (d) inserting said stem into said connector until said second flange end abuts said collar wall;
• (e) engaging said connector with a rotatable sleeve, with said ring extending out of said sleeve;
• (f) rotating said sleeve to rotate said connector while said stem remains stationary;
• (g) heating said ring;
• (h) contacting a forming wheel to said ring to press said ring in a radial direction over said first flange end to rotatably capture said stem.