Medical hub having transparent observation section
AssigneeVolcano Corporation
InventorNeil Cawley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A medical hub for connecting a tubular member to a fluid source has a first structure for connecting to the fluid source, a second structure for connecting to the tubular member, and a transparent portion formed between the first and second structures. The transparent portion in one embodiment has a generally spherical shape that allows visual monitoring of a fluid flowing through the hub from a wide viewing angle. The transparent portion can be formed of clear plastic or other suitable optical material that magnifies an image of the fluid flowing through the hub. Other embodiments are described in which the transparent portion has a cylindrical shape, a square shape, a multifaceted shape, and a combination of such shapes. The tubular member can be a catheter or other intravenous tubing.
Claims15
A hub for connecting a tubular member to a nongaseous fluid source, comprising:
- a first structure for connecting to the nongaseous fluid source;
- a second structure for connecting to the tubular member;
- and
- a transparent portion formed between said first and second structures that allows visual inspection and monitoring for the presence of bubbles and impurities in a nongaseous fluid flowing through a tubular lumen of the hub;
- wherein said first and second structures and said transparent portion are molded together as an integral molded unit, and said transparent portion has a generally spherical shape that completely surrounds said tubular lumen of the hub and magnifies an image of the nongaseous fluid flowing through the hub.
In combination, a medical hub and a tubular member connected to said medical hub, said medical hub, comprising:
- a connecting structure for connecting said hub to a nongaseous fluid source;
- and
- a transparent portion formed in said hub that allows visual inspection and monitoring for the presence of bubbles and impurities in a nongaseous fluid flowing through a tubular lumen of said hub;
- wherein said connecting structure and said transparent portion are molded together as an integral molded unit, and said transparent portion has a generally spherical shape that completely surrounds said cylindrical lumen of the hub and magnifies an image of the nongaseous fluid flowing through the hub.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.