Abstract
The present invention relates to a connector assembly for coupling a tube to a base of a catheter device, the connector assembly comprising a connector element having a channel and being configured to be coupled at a first end to the tube, a revolving lock having an opening for accommodating the connector element and being configured to engage with the connector element thereby enabling a free rotation around a rotation axis, a hub having a tubular channel and being configured to be attached to the base, wherein a second end of the connector element is configured to be at least partially inserted into the tubular channel of the hub, wherein the revolving lock is configured to be releasably locked with the hub, and wherein the rotation of the connector element is configured to be decoupled from the locking mechanism between the revolving lock and the hub.
Claims
1. A connector assembly for coupling a tube to a base of a catheter device, the connector assembly comprising: a connector element having a channel and being configured to be coupled at a first end to the tube, a revolving lock having an opening for accommodating the connector element and being configured to engage with the connector element thereby enabling a free rotation around a rotation axis, a hub having a tubular channel and being configured to be attached to the base, wherein a second end of the connector element is configured to be at least partially inserted into the tubular channel of the hub, wherein a locking mechanism is provided such that the revolving lock is configured to be releasably locked with the hub, and wherein the rotation of the connector element is configured to be decoupled from the locking mechanism between the revolving lock and the hub.
2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism between the revolving lock and the hub comprises at least one thread element on an outer surface of the hub and on an inner surface of the revolving lock.
3. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism between the revolving lock and the hub comprises at least one thread element on an inner surface of the hub and on an outer surface of the revolving lock.
4. The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a male thread portion on an outer surface of the hub in cooperation with a female thread portion on an inner surface of the revolving lock.
5. The connector assembly of claim 3 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a female thread portion on an inner surface of the hub in cooperation with a male thread portion on an outer surface of the revolving lock.
6. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one protrusion extending from a circumferential surface of the hub in cooperation with at least one recess arranged on a circumferential surface of the revolving lock.
7. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one protrusion extending from a circumferential surface of the revolving lock in cooperation with at least one recess arranged on a circumferential surface of the hub.
8. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the revolving lock comprises at least one wing element aligned in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis.
9. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the connector element comprises an elbow shape wherein the first end is arranged substantially perpendicular to the second end.
10. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the revolving lock comprises at least one grip element along a circumferential surface thereof.
11. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the hub comprises interlocking means configured to engage with a corresponding means on the base.
12. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the connector element and the revolving lock are preassembled as an integral component.
13. The connector assembly of claim 12 wherein the second end of the connector element comprises at least one groove configured to engage with one or more corresponding protrusions in the opening of the revolving lock to form a permanent assembly enabling the free rotation of the connector element with respect to the revolving lock.
14. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the second end of the connector element extends beyond the tubular channel of the hub.
15. Catheter assembly comprising a tube, a catheter device having a base and a connector assembly comprising: a connector element being configured to be coupled at a first end to the tube, a revolving lock having an opening for accommodating the connector element and being configured to engage with the connector element thereby enabling a free rotation around a rotation axis, a hub having a tubular channel and being configured to be attached to the base, and at least one locking mechanism for releasably securing the revolving lock to the hub by turning the revolving lock with respect to the hub, wherein the free rotation of the connector element is configured to be decoupled from the locking mechanism between the revolving lock and the hub.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the connector assembly according to the invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector assembly shown in FIG. 1 with all components assembled;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a section view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 viewed from a first direction;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a section view of the embodiment in a direction perpendicular to the direction shown in FIG. 3;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 viewed from below;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a section view of the connector element of the connector assembly according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5;
[0030] FIG. 7 is a section view of the hub of the catheter assembly according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5;
[0031] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a connector assembly according to a second embodiment viewed form above;
[0032] FIG. 9 is a perspective exploded view of the connector assembly according to the second embodiment of FIG. 8 viewed from below;
[0033] FIG. 10 is a side view of the connector assembly according to the second embodiment;
[0034] FIG. 11 is a section view of the connector assembly according to the second embodiment; and
[0035] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a connector assembly according to the first embodiment including a base.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0036] FIG. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of the connector assembly 1 according to the invention. In this embodiment, connector assembly 1 is substantially comprised of three components: connector element 3, revolving lock 5 and hub 7 which are arranged in series in a vertical direction as can be seen in FIG. 1. Connector element 3 comprises a first tubular portion 8 extending from an elbow junction 13 to a first end 9 in a horizontal direction and a second tubular portion 10 extending from the elbow junction 13 to a second end 11 in a vertical direction. In this first embodiment, first and second tubular portions 8, 10 are arranged substantially perpendicularly with respect to each other, extending from elbow junction 13. However, other angles between 0 degrees and approximately 150 degrees are possible. Connector element 3 includes a channel 6 (not visible in FIG. 1) extending from the first end 9 to the second end 11. First end 9 of connector element 3 is configured to be coupled to a tube, preferably a tube of an extension set in the field of enteral nutrition as will be explained further below. The type of coupling can occur in various ways, e. g. by a press fit of the tube within the inner surface of first end 9.
[0037] Second end 11 of connector element 3 comprises a tapered tube portion 15 adjacent to the second cylindrical portion 10 so that second end 11 is insertable into an opening of revolving lock 5 as will be explained below.
[0038] In FIG. 1 revolving lock 5 is arranged beneath connector element 3 in such a fashion that the second end 11 of connector element 3 is just above opening 17 on the top surface of revolving lock 5. The general shape of revolving lock 5 is plate-like with two wings 19 extending horizontally opposite to each other which are substantially configured as grip portions in order to improve the handling of the connector assembly 1. The top surface of revolving lock 5 is flat and its height is sufficient to be grasped at wings 19 with the fingers of a user. Opening 17 of revolving lock 5 is substantially circular to accommodate the second cylindrical portion 10 of connector element 3.
[0039] The respective cylindrical portion of connector element 3 and the opening 17 of revolving lock 5 comprise suitable engagement means which are configured to enable a free rotation of connector element 3 with respect to revolving lock 5. These engagement means can be a groove 14 above the second cylindrical portion 10 of connector element 3 and a matching protrusion within opening 17 of revolving lock 5. As will be further explained with respect to FIG. 5 below, connector element 3 and revolving lock 5 may be integrally assembled and delivered/sold as such integral component under the assumption that the free rotation of the connector element 3 within the opening 17 of revolving lock 5 is possible when those two parts are integrally assembled. This usually means that there is a press fit between the corresponding portions on connector element 3 and revolving lock 5 providing sufficient play in the horizontal direction but a positive fit in the vertical direction thus enabling the free rotation of the vertical portion of connector element 3 within opening 17.
[0040] Arranged below revolving lock 5 is hub 7 in FIG. 1. Hub 7 extends from upper end 21 to lower end 23 with a tubular channel 22 extending inside hub 7 from top to bottom. A cylindrical outer surface 25 extends from upper end 21 having two threaded portions 31 located opposite to each other. Adjacent to cylindrical outer surface 25 is a first horizontal flange 27 with a protrusion 32 extending vertically from the protruding horizontal surface of first horizontal flange 27. Protrusion 32 is configured to engage with recess 18 in the bottom surface of revolving lock 5 as will be explained in detail below. Below first horizontal flange 27 there is a second horizontal flange 29 on hub 7 having a plurality of radial recesses 30 extending in the horizontal direction and having an substantially semicircular shape in this embodiment. Lower end 23 is a substantially cylindrical portion extending below second horizontal flange 29.
[0041] FIG. 2 shows the three components from FIG. 1 assembled together to form connector assembly 1 according to the invention. As already mentioned above, connector element 3 is accommodated within the opening 17 of revolving lock 5 so as to enable free rotation of connecting element 3 with respect to revolving lock 5. Revolving lock 5 in turn is in the depicted embodiment firmly attached to hub 7 wherein a thread portion 20 on the inside surface of revolving lock 5 (not shown in FIG. 2) engages with thread portion 31 on the cylindrical outer surface 25 of hub 7. Furthermore, there is a second locking mechanism which facilitates the attachment of revolving lock 5 with respect to hub 7 and that is the engagement of recess 18 on the lower surface or lower edge of revolving lock 5 engaging with the protrusion 32 on the first horizontal flange 27 of hub 7. These two locking mechanisms ensure a firm connection between revolving lock 5 and hub 7 which can be fixed and released with respect to one another by turning both elements around the rotation axis of revolving lock 5.
[0042] FIG. 3 shows a section view of the connector assembly 1 according to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a direction where the revolving lock 5 has its maximum extension in the horizontal direction, i. e. in the drawing plane. As the majority of components have already been described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, the focus is on those components which have not yet been described in detail. What can be seen in FIG. 3 is the rotation axis which indicates the axis around which the connector element 3 is configured to rotate with respect to the revolving lock 5 and the hub 7. Further, it is noted that the channel 6 within the connector element 3 is of a slightly conical shape which means that it opens up towards the second end 11 of connector element 3. Channel 6 may be otherwise shaped for optimizing fluid flow. On the outside surface of connector element 3 the cylindrical portion 10 and the tapered tube portion 15 each comprise complementarily shaped inner surfaces on hub 7 which are configured such that there is a small gap between the connector element and the hub facilitating the free rotation of this end of connector element 3 within the tubular channel 22 of hub 7.
[0043] FIG. 3 also facilitates an enhanced view of the connection between connection element 3 and revolving lock 5. Opening 17 in revolving lock 5 is configured to match with groove 14 in connector element 3 where protrusion 12 forms a type of stop which limits the vertical movement of revolving lock 5 with respect to connector element 3. This engagement or press fit is configured so that connector element 3 can still freely rotate with respect to revolving lock 5 or vice versa, i. e. revolving lock 5 is able to freely rotate around the vertical section of connector element 3 around the rotation axis 4 whereas the vertical movement of revolving lock 5 with respect to connector element 3 is prevented by this engagement mechanism.
[0044] The two wing elements 19 on either side of revolving lock 5 include a void 16 which is open from underneath revolving lock 5 in order to save material and thus weight of the component. The central part of revolving lock beneath opening 17 extends further in the horizontal direction and comprises an inner thread portion 20 which is configured to engage with the thread portion 31 on the outside surfaces of hub 7. In FIG. 3 it can be seen how the two thread portions 20, 31 engage with each other to hold revolving lock 5 tight with respect to hub 7 thereby also keeping connector element 3 in a fixed vertical position within tubular channel 22 of hub 7.
[0045] FIG. 4 shows connector assembly 1 in the embodiment of FIG. 3 but with a section view in a different viewing angle of about 90 degrees with respect to the view of FIG. 3 so that wings 19 of revolving lock 5 are no longer visible and so that first end 9 of connector element 3 extends to the right hand side in FIG. 4. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 channel 6 of connector element 3 is shown wider at the horizontal portion towards first end 9 than in the central area of elbow junction 13 and than in the vertical portion of connector element 3. Its internal width or diameter increases towards first end 9 to accommodate a matching end of a tube of an extension set.
[0046] It is further noted that in FIG. 4 the second locking mechanism between revolving lock 5 and hub 7 can be seen: The edges of first horizontal flange 27 appear thicker in FIG. 4 than in FIG. 3 which is due to the protrusions 32 which in the section view of FIG. 4 add to the overall thickness of the first horizontal flange 27 in the section plane. Thus, the space between the horizontal flange 27 and the underside of revolving lock 5 as shown in FIG. 3 is no longer present in FIG. 4 where it can be seen that the outer surface of revolving lock 5 overlaps with the first horizontal flange of hub 7 due to protrusion 32. This second locking mechanism provides the user of the connector assembly with haptic feedback so as to indicate that revolving lock 5 is now completely and correctly engaged with hub 7, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0047] FIG. 5 shows a perspective exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 wherein the connector element 3 and the revolving lock 5 are preassembled as one integral component with the hub 7 being shown underneath. It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the inner thread portion 20 is arranged all around the inner surface of the underside opening of the revolving lock 5 ready to be engaged with the male thread portion 31 located on the outside surface of hub 7. Further, the two recesses 18 as part of the second locking mechanism between revolving lock 5 and hub 7 are visible as well as the corresponding protrusion 32.
[0048] FIG. 6 shows connector element 3 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. Also here, groove 1 is shown configured to engage with the edge of opening 17 of revolving lock 5. Adjacent to groove 14 is a protrusion functioning as a stop to keep connecting element 3 in place in vertical direction with respect to revolving lock 5. It is again emphasized that there is sufficient play in the horizontal direction between connecting element 3 and revolving lock 5 to enable a free rotation of both components with respect to each other in the horizontal direction.
[0049] FIG. 7 shows a section view of hub 7 in the position as in FIG. 3. In this section view male thread portions 31 protrude out of the cylindrical outer surface 25.
[0050] FIGS. 8 to 11 show a second embodiment of the connector assembly according to the invention wherein FIGS. 8 and 9 show perspective exploded views of the same embodiment and wherein FIGS. 10 and 11 show a side view and a section view, respectively, of the second embodiment of the connector assembly according to the invention. Since most of the components of the second embodiment are identical with the ones described with respect to the first embodiment, a description of those components is omitted. The focus of the description of the second embodiment lies in the differences with respect to the first embodiment.
[0051] In FIG. 8 it can be seen that the general configuration of the connector element 3 is a longitudinal and no longer a bent configuration. It must be noted, that the connector element can comprise other bend configurations, as described above, not only the version of a 90° angle between the sections extending to the first and the second end, respectively.
[0052] Revolving lock 5 of the second embodiment comprises a substantially circular configuration with grip elements 24 arranged on the slanted peripheral outer surface. The configuration of opening 17 is substantially identical to its configuration in this first embodiment. The connection between the connecting element 3 and revolving lock 5 is substantially the same as in the first embodiment: Protrusion 12 and groove 14 of connector element 3 engage with the edge of opening 17 of revolving lock 5 so as to enable a free rotational movement around rotation axis 4 in the horizontal direction but prevent a vertical movement of connector element 3 with respect to revolving lock 5.
[0053] The locking mechanism between revolving lock 5 and hub 7 is, however, different from the locking mechanism between those components in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the outer surface of the lower portion of revolving lock 5 comprises two male thread portions 20a which are configured to engage with the female thread portion 31a arranged on the entire inner surface of hub 7. It can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 that the tubular channel 22 of hub 7 is rather short.
[0054] Some of the features of the first embodiment have been omitted in the second embodiment such as the second locking mechanism between the revolving lock 5 and the hub 7 and the radial recesses on second horizontal flange of hub 7. It is noted that these additional features could also be implemented in the second embodiment.
[0055] With respect to the views depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11 it can be seen that the configuration of the second embodiment of the connector assembly 1 according to the invention is very compact and easy to handle. The longitudinal configuration of connector element 3, however, is not mandatory and could be replaced by an elbow configuration such as in the first embodiment or by a configuration with a very slight bend. It has already been mentioned that the tubular channel 22 of hub 7 of the second embodiment is relatively short which means that, as can be seen in FIG. 11, second end 11 of connector element 3 protrudes beyond the lower surface of hub 7 so that it is the second end 11 of connector element 3 which is directly connected with a base of a catheter device.
[0056] It should be noted that for both embodiments the number or length of the thread elements 20, 20a, 31, 31a can vary. An even number of thread elements which are located opposite of each other with respect to the rotating axis is preferred but other positions of more thread elements are possible. As in any threaded portions those thread elements may overlap in the vertical direction.
[0057] FIG. 12 shows a perspective exploded view of a connector assembly according to the first embodiment and a base of a gastrostomy device. The three components connector element 3, revolving lock 5 and hub 7 have already been described above with regard to FIGS. 1 to 7. The fourth component shown in FIG. 12 is base 34 having a circular aperture 33. Semi-circular protrusions 35 are formed inside aperture 33 which are configured to engage with recesses 30 on the lower second flange 29 of hub 7. The material of base 34 is usually an elastomeric material such as silicone rubber or the like whereas the hub 7 is made of a harder thermoplastic material. This means that by pressing hub 7 into the circular aperture 33 of base 34 the softer silicone rubber material will yield so that a matching fit is achieved wherein, for example, recesses 30 engage with corresponding protrusions 35 or the flanges 27, 29 engage with respective grooves on the side surface of circular aperture 33. It is essential that hub 7 is in tight engagement with the silicone rubber base 34.
[0058] Base 34 may comprise a valve-like membrane with slits which ensures a seal when the connector assembly is not connected with base 34 and which is penetrated by the lower end of connector element 3 or hub 7 when the connector assembly is fully attached to the base. Such anti-reflux valve or membrane may be built-in into the hub 7. The tapered tube portion 15 of the connector 3 serves for easy engagement with that anti-reflux valve and inner lumen surface of the base 34 or the hub 7.
[0059] Silicon rubber is a well-known material for medical applications. It is relatively cheap and easy to manufacture, comprises resilient characteristics among other characteristics which are beneficial in the medical field such as low toxicity, thermal stability, does not support microbiological growth etc. It should be noted that other suitable materials may be used for the base such as silicon-based deformable materials, thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE) or the like. Advantageously, the material of the components of the connector assembly is formed of relatively hard thermoplastic polymer material such as polypropylene (PP), polyvinylchloride (PVC) and polyethylene (PE). Other types of material are also possible. The technology for producing the components can be injection molding or other molding techniques but also 3D printing.
[0060] With the subject matter of the present invention a connector assembly has been provided which comprises a simple design, is easy to manufacture and ensures an enhanced performance and usability.
