CONNECTOR FOR CONNECTING A FIRST MEDICAL LINE TO A SECOND MEDICAL LINE

Abstract

A connector for connecting a first medical line to a second medical line is disclosed. This connector comprises an insertion shaft (12) having a flow channel that is intended to be brought into fluid communication with a lumen of a first medical line (3); a collar (10) that circumferentially extends around the insertion shaft (12), wherein the collar (10) comprises a first thread (100) on an inner side that faces the insertion shaft (12); and an elastic member (14) that is placed between the insertion shaft (12) and the collar (10), wherein the elastic member (14) comprises an abutment portion (141) abutting a surface of the insertion shaft (12) and being displaceable relative to the surface of the insertion shaft (12). The collar (10) is radially movable around the insertion shaft (12) and the elastic member (14) comprises a thread portion (142) having a second thread that engages the first thread (100) of the collar (10) such that a rotational movement of the collar (10) around the insertion shaft (12) results in a lateral displacement of the elastic member (14) along the surface of the insertion shaft (12). Furthermore, a method for operating such a connector is disclosed. Additionally, a connector assembly comprising such a connector is disclosed.

Claims

1. Connector for connecting a first medical line to a second medical line, comprising: an insertion shaft having a flow channel that is intended to be brought into fluid communication with a lumen of a first medical line, a collar that circumferentially extends around the insertion shaft, wherein the collar comprises a first thread on an inner side that faces the insertion shaft, and an elastic member that is placed between the insertion shaft and the collar, wherein the elastic member comprises an abutment portion abutting a surface of the insertion shaft and being displaceable relative to the surface of the insertion shaft, characterized in that the collar is radially movable around the insertion shaft and in that the elastic member comprises a thread portion having a second thread that engages the first thread of the collar such that a rotational movement of the collar around the insertion shaft results in a lateral displacement of the elastic member along the surface of the insertion shaft.

2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the insertion shaft and/or the collar comprises a recess or a protrusion that prevents the elastic member from rotating around the insertion shaft if the collar is rotated around the insertion shaft.

3. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the abutment portion at least partially has a ring-shaped cross section and extends circumferentially around the insertion shaft.

4. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the abutment portion is at least partially received in a guiding recess of the insertion shaft or the collar along which the abutment portion is displaceable.

5. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic member comprises a split septum portion covering a terminal portion of the insertion shaft and a mouth of the flow channel arranged in the terminal portion of the insertion shaft.

6. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the abutment portion comprises a first part having a first diameter and a second part having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is bigger than the second diameter.

7. Connector according to claim 6, characterized in that the first part is arranged closer to a terminal portion of the insertion shaft than the second part.

8. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic member is made of at least one plastic material.

9. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic member is made of at least two different plastic materials having different elasticities.

10. Connector according to claim 5, characterized in that the split septum is made of a first plastic material and in that the abutment portion and/or the thread portion are made of a second plastic material, wherein the first plastic material has a higher elasticity than the second plastic material.

11. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that it can be present in a non-activated state and in an activated state, wherein a terminal portion of the insertion shaft is surrounded and/or covered by the elastic member in the non-activated state but is exposed in the activated state.

12. Connector assembly comprising a first connector and a second connector, wherein the second connector is a connector having an insertion shaft receiving portion and a thread portion, characterized in that the first connector is a connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the insertion shaft receiving portion of the second connector receives an insertion shaft of the first connector and the thread portion of the second connector engages a first thread of a collar of the first connector, when the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other.

13. Connector assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that a connection between the first connector and the second connector is only possible after the first connector has been transferred from a non-activated state into an activated state, wherein a terminal portion of the insertion shaft is surrounded by an elastic member of the first connector in the non-activated state but is exposed and can be received by the insertion shaft receiving portion in the activated state.

14. Method for transferring a connector according claim 1 from a non-activated state into an activated state, or vice versa, comprising the following steps: rotating a collar, which circumferentially extends around an insertion shaft, in a first direction (R1) or in a second direction (R2) opposite to the first direction (R1) around the insertion shaft, wherein the insertion shaft comprises a flow channel that is intended to be brought into fluid communication with a lumen of a first medical line and wherein the collar comprises a first thread on an inner side that faces the insertion shaft, thereby laterally displacing an elastic member that is placed between the insertion shaft and the collar along a surface of the insertion shaft due to an engagement of a second thread of a thread portion of the elastic member with the first thread, wherein, if the collar is rotated in the first direction (R1), the lateral displacement results in a retraction of the elastic member from a terminal portion of the insertion shaft and in an exposure of the terminal portion of the insertion shaft, so as to obtain the connector in its activated state, wherein, if the collar is rotated in the second direction (R2), the lateral displacement results in a deployment of the elastic member towards a terminal portion of the insertion shaft and in an at least partial covering of the terminal portion of the insertion shaft, so as to obtain the connector in its non-activated state, a wherein a rotation of the collar in the first direction (R1) is only possible if the connector is not present in its activated state and a rotation of the collar in the second direction (R2) is only possible if the connector is not present in its non-activated state.

Description

[0036] Further details of aspects of the present invention will be explained with respect to embodiments and accompanying figures. In the Figures:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a feeding line placed on a patient;

[0038] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a connector;

[0039] FIG. 3 shows the embodiment of FIG. 2, with an elastic member arranged on the connector;

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the connector of FIG. 2;

[0041] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of yet another embodiment of a connector in its non-activated state; and

[0042] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the connector of FIG. 5 in its activated state.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a feeding line assembly comprising a first feeding line 3 as first medical line and a second feeding line 4 as second medical line placed on a patient P.

[0044] The first and second feeding lines 3, 4 for example serve for providing an enteral feeding to the patient P. For this purpose, the first feeding line 3 may, for example through an incision in the abdomen of the patient P, be inserted into the stomach of the patient P and may be used as a port for a long-term enteral feeding. The second feeding line 4 is connected to the first feeding line 3 via a connector assembly comprising a first connector 1 and a second connector 2. The second feeding line 4 may for example be connected to a container comprising an enteral feeding solution, which is delivered towards the patient P via the first and second feeding lines 3, 4 for example using a suitable pumping device.

[0045] Whereas the second feeding line 4 may be used for example only once in connection with the container comprising the enteral feeding solution and may be disposed after use, the first feeding line 3 placed on the patient P may remain on the patient P for a rather long term, for example a few days or even a few weeks, and may be used multiple times to carry out multiple feeding procedures. There hence is a necessity to keep the first feeding line 3 as well as the first connector 1 connected to the first feeding line 3 clean, such that a contamination of the first feeding line 3 and the first connector 1 connected to it is effectively prevented.

[0046] An embodiment of the first connector 1 is shown in FIG. 2. The first connector 1, in this embodiment, comprises a cylindrical collar 10 circumferentially extending about a cylindrical insertion shaft 12 in a coaxial manner and forming, together with the insertion shaft 12, a radial inner space 13 between the collar 10 and the insertion shaft 12. On the inner wall of the collar 10 a thread 100 is arranged allowing for a screw type connection with a second connector. The collar 10 can be freely rotated around the insertion shaft 12 but cannot be removed from the insertion shaft 12.

[0047] Only for a better illustration of the inner parts of the first connector 1, an elastic body which is located in the radial inner space 13 is not shown in FIG. 2. The insertion shaft 12 comprises a longitudinal tongue 121 extending on the outer surface of the insertion shaft 12 coaxially with a flow channel inside the insertion shaft 12. This tongue 121 serves as protrusion and prevents the elastic member from rotating about the insertion shaft 12.

[0048] The insertion shaft 12 can be inserted in an insertion direction into an insertion opening (serving as insertion shaft receiving portion) of a second connector. The insertion shaft 12 has a substantially cylindrical shape having a circular cross section. The insertion opening of a second connector has a corresponding, complementary shape and hence is suited to receive the insertion shaft 12. This is generally known and will not be explained in more detail.

[0049] The insertion shaft 12 comprises a flow channel opening 120 serving as flow channel mouth. The corresponding flow channel extends through the insertion shaft 12 and through a channel shaft 11 aligned with the insertion shaft 12, the channel shaft 11 being connected to the associated first feeding line 3.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows the same first connector 1 like FIG. 2, but additionally illustrates an elastic member 14 which is arranged in the inner radial space 13 between the collar 10 and the insertion shaft 12. FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal cross-section through the first connector 1.

[0051] The elastic member 14 comprises an abutment portion 141 having the shape of a hollow cylinder (it is ring-shaped in cross-section) surrounding the insertion shaft 12. A surface 140 of the elastic member is substantially flush with the tip 122 of the insertion shaft 12. This tip 122 is the terminal portion of the insertion shaft 12.

[0052] The elastic member 14 comprises a thread portion 142 that has a second thread. This second thread engages the thread 100 of the collar 10 so that the movement of the collar 10 around the insertion shaft 12 serves for a relative movement of the thread 100 and the thread of the thread portion 142. This in turn results in an axial movement of the elastic member 14 along a longitudinal extension direction L of the first connector 1.

[0053] Thereby, the elastic member 14 is retracted into an interior of the collar 10 (towards the channel shaft 11), if the collar 10 is rotated in a first direction R1. The maximum movement of the elastic member 14 is limited by a bottom portion 130 of the inner space 13. If the collar 10 is rotated in a second direction R2 opposite to the first direction R1, the elastic member 14 is deployed from the interior of the collar 10 towards the tip 122 of the insertion shaft 12 (away from the channel shaft 11). The maximum movement of the elastic member 14 is limited by a shoulder 123 of the insertion shaft 12. Thus, the insertion shaft 12 does not have an overall uniform outer appearance, but rather comprises a first part 124 having a bigger diameter than a second part 125. The first part 124 is located more distally to the channel shaft 11 than the second part 125 (and thus closer to the tip 122 of the insertion shaft 12). Likewise, the elastic member 14 comprises a first part 146 and a second part 147, wherein a diameter of the first part 146 is bigger than a diameter of the second part 147.

[0054] In other embodiments, the shoulder 123 or a comparable element could be rather implemented on the collar instead of on the insertion shaft. Furthermore, the diameters of the individual parts of the insertion shaft depend on the chosen design. If a recess is implemented instead of a protrusion or if the protrusion or recess is provided on the collar instead of on the insertion shaft, different diameter ratios between the individual parts may be chosen.

[0055] An axial movement of the elastic member 14 causes the abutment portion 141 to slide along the cylindrical circumferential surface 121 of the insertion shaft 12. If the abutment portion 141 thereby slides towards the tip 122, it swipes away any residuals on the insertion shaft 12 and hence cleans the insertion shaft 12 and the radial inner space 13 from dirt.

[0056] Because the surface 140, in the non-activated state of the connector 1 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, is substantially flush with the tip 122 of the insertion shaft 12, dirt and residuals may easily be removed from the elastic member 14 as well as from the insertion shaft 12. In addition, a suitable disinfection for example by using a disinfection solution may be achieved.

[0057] In the non-activated state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the surface 140 of the elastic member 14 abuts on protrusions 101 protruding radially inwards from the body 10, such that the elastic member assumes a defined axial position with respect to the insertion shaft 12. Since the axial movement of the elastic member 14 is already limited by the shoulder 123 of the insertion shaft 12, such protrusions 101 and not necessary in all embodiments.

[0058] The first connector 1 may for example be fabricated from a comparatively hard plastic material, for example by injection molding.

[0059] The elastic member 14 may for example be fabricated from an elastic plastic material, for example an elastomer or an elastic foam material. Silicone is particularly appropriate for producing the elastic member 14 or parts thereof.

[0060] FIGS. 5 and 6 show yet another embodiment of the connector 1 being substantially identical in shape and function as it has been described above. In this respect, reference is made to the explanations given above with respect to FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 5 shows the first connector 1 in its non-activated state, and FIG. 6 shows the first connector 1 in its activated state.

[0061] In contrast to the afore-described embodiments, in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 the first connector 1 has an elastic member 14 having a cover-like appearance. To be more precisely, the elastic member 14 comprises a split septum 144 covering the tip 122 of the insertion shaft 12 and the flow channel opening 120 of the first connector 1. The elastic member 14 hence, in a collar-like fashion, provides for a covering of the insertion shaft 12 and the channel opening 120 formed in the insertion shaft 12, such that the insertion shaft 12 with its channel opening 120 is sealed towards the outside. Herein, the surface 140 of the split septum 144 facing towards the outside is easily cleanable by swabbing using a suitable swabbing cloth. In addition, an easy disinfection by applying a suitable disinfection solution is possible.

[0062] The split septum 144 comprises a slit 145 at which the septum 144 may be split. The split septum 144 hence, upon rotating the collar 10 about the insertion shaft 12, may be deformed such that the insertion shaft breaks through the split septum 144. The spilt septum 144 is then moved along the insertion shaft 12 into the radial inner space 13 formed in between the insertion shaft 12 and the collar 10 of the first connector 1, as this is shown in FIG. 6 illustrating the first connector 1 in its activated state. The split septum 144 hence is pressed into the inner space 13, the edges of the slit 145 closely and resiliently abutting the circumferential outer surface 121 of the insertion shaft 12, thus providing for a swiping away of any residuals on the insertion shaft 12 and hence a cleaning of the insertion shaft 12 from contaminations.

[0063] When the collar 10 is rotated in the opposite direction, the split septum 144 is reset to its original, non-deformed state of FIG. 5 by moving the elastic member 14 back towards the tip 122 of the insertion shaft 12. This movement of the elastic member 14 causes also the split septum 144 to be moved along the circumferential outer surface 121 of the insertion shaft 12 towards the original state of FIG. 5. By this movement again a cleaning of the surface 121 of the insertion shaft 12 is provided, and residuals are removed from the insertion shaft 12.

[0064] Once the split septum 144 has reached its original state according to FIG. 5, the insertion shaft 12 and the channel opening 120 formed therein are resealed, hence effectively preventing a contamination.

[0065] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but may be implemented in an entirely different fashion.

[0066] For example, a connector of the kind described herein may not only be used for enteral feeding, but may be used for connecting any medical lines to each other for transferring medical solutions, such as medication, nutritional solutions, saline solutions or any other solutions.