Dialyzer coupling device

A dialyzer reprocessing assembly comprising:

• a dialyzer reprocessor including a blood line tube for being coupled to a dialyzer to be reprocessed, a free end of said blood line tube having a female quick connect/disconnect coupling structure mounted thereto;
• a dialyzer having a blood port comprising a luer taper connector structure;
• and
• a one piece coupling device interconnecting said blood line tube to said blood port, said coupling device including:
• a main body having a longitudinal axis,
• a bore for fluid flow defined through said main body, along said longitudinal axis;
• a first connector structure defined at a first longitudinal end of said main body, said first connector structure comprising a luer taper connector structure engaging said luer taper connector of said blood port;
• a second connector structure defined at a second longitudinal end of said main body, said second connector structure comprising a male coupling structure that is axial, quick connected with said female coupling structure, said male coupling including a locking groove axially offset from a free end thereof for selectively receiving a radial locking component of the female coupling structure so as to axially lock said male coupling in the complimentary female coupling structure, and
• first and second grip wings extending radially outwardly from said main body each said grip wing being defined generally in a respective plane disposed at an angle of about 90° with respect to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said bore, each said grip wing extending along at least a portion of a length of said main body so as to define engagement surfaces for manually gripping and rotating said main body,
• wherein said grip wings each comprise a radially and longitudinally extending spine portion and a plurality of radial and part circumferential rib portions disposed generally transverse to said spine portion on first and second sides of said spine portion, said rib portions together defining first and second engagement surfaces, respectively, on said first and second sides of said spine portion for manually gripping and rotating said main body.

A method of coupling a dialyzer having a blood port comprising a luer taper connector to a dialyzer reprocessor having a blood line tube terminating at a female connector comprising:

• providing a one-piece coupling device having:
• a main body,
• a bore for fluid flow being defined through said main body;
• a first connector structure defined at a first end of said main body, said first connector structure comprising a luer taper connector structure complementary to said luer taper connector of said dialyzer,
• a second connector structure defined at a second end of said main body, said second connector structure comprising a male connector structure for axial, quick connect to said female connector, said male connector structure including a locking groove axially offset from a free end thereof for selectively receiving a radial locking component of the female connector so as to axially lock said male coupling structure in the female connector, and
• first and second grip wings extending radially outwardly from said main body each said grip wing being defined generally in a respective plane disposed at an angle of about 90° with respect to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said bore, each said grip wing extending along at least a portion of a length of said main body so as to define engagement surfaces for manually gripping and rotating said main body, wherein said grip wings each comprise a radially and longitudinally extending spine portion and a plurality of radial and part circumferential rib portions disposed generally transverse to said spine portion on first and second sides of said spine portion, said rib portions together defining first and second engagement surfaces, respectively, on said first and second sides of said spine portion;
• coupling said first connector structure to said luer taper connector of said dialyzer by rotating the coupling device relative to said dialyzer;
• and
• coupling said second connector structure to said blood line tube of said reprocessor by axially inserting said male connector structure into said female connector of said reprocessor.