Safety indexed medical connectors
AssigneeQD Enterprises, LLC
InventorsScott Segal, Stephen B. Corn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A medical connector adapted for placement between a catheter and a medical infusion or injection source includes a pair of interlocking half medical connector portions, one side of which attaches to the infusion source and the other side of which is coupled to the catheter connected to the patient. The connection to the catheter and the infusion source can be via standard medical luer taper fittings, with or without specially designed locking mechanisms that prevent inadvertent disconnection. The medical connector itself is uniquely shaped and includes a raised surface feature and a recessed surface feature formed on the medical connector portions.
Claims13
A medical connector suitable for use in coupling a fluid delivering conduit to a fluid receiving conduit for administering fluid to a patient, said medical connector comprising:
- a first medical connector housing part having a first end sized to mate with a first medical fitting on the fluid receiving conduit and a second end having a selected first surface feature formed thereon,
- second medical connector housing part having a first end configured to mate with a second medical fitting on the fluid delivering conduit, and a second end having a selected second surface feature complementary in shape to the first surface feature of the first housing part, so that when assembled the first surface feature of the first housing part couples with the second surface feature of the second housing part to form a fluid connection therebetween, and
- a locking mechanism for locking together one of said medical connector housing parts and one of said medical fittings,
- wherein said first surface feature is sized and configured so as to only mate with the complementary shaped second surface feature to prevent another fluid delivering conduit associated with a differently configured surface feature from being connected to the fluid receiving conduit, thereby preventing the accidental administration of another fluid to the patient through the first and second housing parts.
A medical connector for coupling a fluid delivering conduit to a fluid receiving conduit for administering fluid to a patient, said medical connector comprising
- a first medical connector housing part having a first end sized to mate with the fluid receiving conduit and a second end having a selected first surface feature formed thereon,
- a second medical connector housing part having a first end configured to mate with the fluid delivering conduit, and a second end having a selected second surface feature complementary in shape to the first surface feature of the first housing part, so that when assembled the first surface feature of the first housing part couples with the second surface feature of the second housing part to form a fluid connection therebetween, and
- a set of valves in the first and second medical connector housing parts to prevent the flow of fluid through the connector unless the first housing part is properly mated with the second housing part,
- wherein said first surface feature is sized and configured so as to only mate with the complementary shaped second surface feature to prevent another fluid delivering conduit associated with a differently configured surface feature from being connected to the fluid receiving conduit, thereby preventing the accidental administration of another fluid to the patient through the first and second housing parts.
A method of administering fluid to a patient, comprising
- providing a fluid receiving conduit connected to the patient and having a first medical fitting coupled to the distal end of the fluid receiving conduit,
- attaching a first medical connector housing part to said first medical fitting, wherein said first medical connector housing part has a first end adapted to mate with the first medical fitting and a second end having a selected first surface feature formed thereon,
- providing a fluid delivering conduit associated with a fluid source and having a second medical fitting coupled to the distal end of the fluid delivering conduit,
- attaching a second medical connector housing part to said second medical fitting, wherein said second medical connector housing part has a first end adapted to mate with the second medical fitting, a second end having a selected second surface feature complementary in shape to the first surface feature of the first housing part and a set of valves to prevent the flow of fluid through the second medical connector housing part, and
- connecting said first medical connector housing part to said second medical connector housing part so that when assembled the first surface feature of the first housing part couples with the second surface feature of the second housing part to form a dedicated fluid path from the fluid source to the patient,
- wherein said first surface feature is sized and configured so as to only mate with the complementary shaped second surface feature to prevent another fluid delivering conduit associated with a differently configured surface feature from being connected to the fluid receiving conduit and wherein one of the first and second medical connector housing parts includes a set of valves to prevent fluid flow through the dedicated fluid path unless the first housing part is properly mated with the second housing part, thereby preventing the accidental administration of another fluid to the patient through the first and second housing parts and.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.