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Publication Number
US-10550966-B2
Publication Date
2020-02-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
A tubing including an overmold is connected to a fitting by welding the overmold to the fitting. Methods for doing the same are also provided. Also provided are methods for forming an overmold on a tubing or on a tubing and fitting assembly.
Core Innovation
The disclosure provides a modular molding approach for medical fluid transfer assemblies in which tubing ends are overmolded and then welded to fitting ends to create integral fluid paths. An overmold is formed over an end portion of tubing, and an overmold section extending beyond the tubing end is welded to an end of the fitting to allow fluid flow through the tubing and fitting. The overmold section defines an inner surface for contacting fluid flow, enabling continuous fluid passage from tubing to fitting.
The disclosure emphasizes forming the overmold with mold alignment features so that correctly sized overmolds are produced. Interface geometries are described for smooth fluid transitions, including matched inner diameters and shoulders, relief regions for melt-back, and tapered diameter transitions to manage how material transitions at the overmold/tubing and overmold/fitting interfaces.
A recess and projection interface is also described between an overmold projection and a fitting recess to align and abut parts and manage welded material overflow. The assembly can be implemented as a tubing assembly where each tubing end has a corresponding overmold that is welded to a corresponding fitting end, enabling flow through the tubing, fitting, and an additional tubing.
The fitting can be coupled to or formed as part of other components such as an encapsulated filter, cartridge, sensing component, pressure gauge, or biocontainer, thereby integrating the welded overmolded fluid path into a broader fluid transfer assembly. The disclosure also notes polymer material sets for the overmold, fitting, and tubing, and the possibility of modular storage of overmolded tubing segments for later welding.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover methods and products for attaching tubing to fittings by forming an overmold over a tubing end and welding an overmold section or annular end surface to a fitting end to provide a fluid flow path. Across the independent claims, the main inventive features are organizing the fluid path through overmolded and welded sections, specifying axial recess and projection interfaces, and constraining welding and geometry to control penetration and fluid-contact continuity.
Overmolded tubing end welded to fitting end to form an inner fluid path
forming an overmold over an end of the tubing including a first section surrounding an end portion of the tubing and a second section extending beyond the end portion in a direction opposite the tubing; welding the second section of the overmold to an end of the fitting allowing for fluid flow through the tubing and fitting, wherein the second section defines an inner surface for contacting the fluid flow; and repeating forming and welding for another tubing end and another end of the fitting to allow flow through the tubing, fitting, and the another tubing.
Axially abutting distal-most overmold end surface to distal-most fitting end surface
forming an overmold over an end of the tubing with a first section surrounding an end portion and a second section extending beyond the end portion opposite the tubing; welding the second section of the overmold to an end of the fitting for fluid flow through the tubing and fitting, wherein the second section defines an inner surface for contacting the fluid flow, wherein the fitting end comprises a fitting distal-most end surface and wherein the second section comprises a distal-most second section end surface, wherein welding comprises axially abutting the distal-most second section end surface to the fitting distal-most end surface.
Projection into fitting recess prior to welding
forming an overmold over an end of the tubing with a first section surrounding an end portion and a second section extending beyond the end portion opposite the tubing; welding the second section of the overmold to an end of the fitting allowing for fluid flow through the tubing and fitting, wherein the second section defines an inner surface for contacting the fluid flow; wherein the fitting end comprises a recess; wherein the overmold comprises a projection extending transversely from an annular surface of the overmold; and wherein the method comprises inserting the projection into the recess prior to welding.
Tubing assembly with overmolds welded to fitting ends forming fluid flow path
a tubing assembly comprising a first tubing including a first overmold formed over an end of the first tubing, and a fitting comprising a first end, wherein the first overmold is welded to the first end allowing for a fluid flow through the tubing to the fitting, wherein the first overmold includes a first section surrounding an end portion of the tubing and a second section extending beyond the end portion opposite the tubing, and wherein the second section is welded to the first end of the fitting and defines an inner surface for contacting the fluid flow; and a second tubing including a second overmold formed over an end of the second tubing, wherein the fitting comprises a second end, and wherein the second overmold is welded to the second end allowing for a flow through the tubing, the fitting, and the second tubing.
Axial recess and axial projection abutting shallower recess portion
a first overmold formed over an end of the first tubing; a fitting including a first end; wherein the first overmold is welded to the first end allowing for a fluid flow through the tubing to the fitting; wherein the first overmold comprises a first section surrounding an end portion and a second section extending beyond the end portion opposite the tubing, and wherein the second section is welded to the first end of the fitting and defines an inner surface for contacting the fluid flow; wherein an axial recess is defined in the first end; wherein the first overmold comprises an axial projection received in the recess; wherein the projection extends transversely from an annular surface surrounding the projection; wherein the recess comprises a first shallower portion and second deeper portion radially outward from the first shallower portion; and wherein the projection abuts the first shallower portion.
Welding only the overmold annular end surface to fitting annular end surface while preventing tubing penetration
forming an overmold over an end of the tubing including a first section surrounding an end portion and a second section extending beyond the end portion opposite the tubing, the second section having an annular end surface; and welding only the second section annular end surface of the overmold to an annular end surface of the fitting allowing for fluid flow through the tubing and fitting, wherein the second section defines an inner surface for contacting the fluid flow, wherein a tubing does not penetrate said fitting.
Tubing assembly with only overmold annular end surface welded to fitting annular surface and non-penetrating tubing
a tubing assembly comprising a tubing including a first overmold formed over an end of the first tubing, the overmold having an annular end surface; and a fitting including a first end having an annular surface; wherein only the first overmold annular end surface is welded to the fitting first end annular surface allowing for a fluid flow through the tubing to the fitting; wherein the first overmold includes a first section surrounding an end portion of the tubing and a second section extending beyond the end portion opposite the tubing, and wherein the second section is welded to the first end annular surface of the fitting; wherein the second section defines an inner surface for contacting the fluid flow; wherein a tubing does not penetrate the fitting.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on attaching tubing to fitting ends using overmolds and welding to create an inner fluid-contact path. The claims further narrow the approach by using axially abutting distal-most end surfaces, inserting a transversely extending projection into a fitting recess prior to welding, optionally providing axial recess and projection abutment geometry, and in separate claim sets welding only annular end surfaces while requiring that the tubing does not penetrate the fitting.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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