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Publication Number
US-11333282-B2
Publication Date
2022-05-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A connector for use with a dialyzer to connect a conduit from a dialyzer with a conduit from a dialysate source. The connector includes a sleeve (female component) and a collet (male component). The sleeve has a generally cylindrical shape with an opening at one end having a circular shape with at least one slot positioned along the periphery of the circular shape. The sleeve also includes at least one flexible finger having a barb at a free end. The collet is configured to be housed within an interior chamber of the sleeve and has first and second gaps to house the barbs and first and second deflectable flanges to lock into recesses in a conduit.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a connector to receive and join first and second conduits. A sleeve comprises an elongate tubular body with an interior chamber, a first opening at a first end, and a second opening at a second end, and the first opening has a substantially circular shape with at least one slot positioned along the periphery and at least one flexible finger having a barb at a free end, where the finger is attached to the first end at the first slot and extends into the interior chamber.
A collet is configured to be housed within the interior chamber of the sleeve. The collet includes first and second cylindrical bodies that form a shoulder, at least one ridge extending along a longitudinal axis on an outer surface of the first cylindrical body, and a collar disposed along the outer surface between the at least one ridge and the shoulder to form a first gap and a second gap.
First and second deflectable flanges are located near a second end of the second cylindrical body and include first and second circumferential ridge on interior sides of the flanges, respectively. The connector joins the conduits by passing an end of the first conduit through the opening of the first cylindrical body into a lumen of the first cylindrical body and passing an end of the second conduit through the second end of the second cylindrical body into a lumen of the second cylindrical body, producing a locked interconnection in a second position.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim set includes one independent claim. Across the independent structure, the claims define three main inventive features: a slotted sleeve with flexible barbed fingers cooperating with a ridged/collared collet to define first and second positions, and a second-position interlock where circumferential ridges on deflectable flanges seat into recesses on the second conduit.
Slotted sleeve with flexible barbed fingers
A sleeve comprising an elongate tubular body having an interior chamber, a first opening at a first end, a second opening at a second end, and at least one flexible finger having a barb at a free end, wherein the first opening comprises a substantially circular shape with at least one slot positioned along the periphery of the circular shape, and wherein the at least one flexible finger is attached to the first end at the first slot and extends into the interior chamber.
Ridged collar defining first and second gaps in a collet
A collet configured to be housed within the interior chamber of the sleeve, the collet comprising first and second cylindrical bodies each having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second cylindrical body joining the second end of the first cylindrical body to form a shoulder, at least one ridge extending along a longitudinal axis on an outer surface of the first cylindrical body, a collar disposed along the outer surface of the first cylindrical body between the at least one ridge and the shoulder, a first gap formed between the at least one ridge and the collar and a second gap formed between the collar and the shoulder.
Deflectable flanges with circumferential ridges and second-position recess interlock
First and second deflectable flanges located in a region near the second end of the second cylindrical body and having a first and a second circumferential ridge on an interior side of the first and second flanges, respectively, wherein in a second position the barb is housed within the second gap and the first and second circumferential ridges are housed with a first and second recess in an outer surface of the second conduit.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on a sleeve-collet locking connector that uses a slotted sleeve with flexible barbed fingers and a collet with ridges, a collar, and deflectable flanges to create first and second positions. In the second position, the barb is housed in the second gap and circumferential ridges on the deflectable flanges are housed with recesses on the second conduit, establishing the claimed locked interconnection.
Stated Advantages
Locked connection is achieved in which the barb is housed in the second gap and the circumferential ridges are housed with recesses on the second conduit in the second position.
Reduced external removability of the barb, including configurations where the barb cannot be removed via an external access point and configurations where the barb is not removable using a tool.
Documented Applications
A hemodialysis single-use locking connector between a dialysate hose and a dialyzer inlet/outlet is described, including integration with dialyzer inlets/outlets for arterial blood line and venous blood line contexts [procedural detail omitted for safety].
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