CA1181111A

CA1181111A - Rotatable connecting device for i.v. administration set

Info

Publication number: CA1181111A
Application number: CA000356133A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Andrew J. Muetterties; John L. Vcelka; Wayne R. Kelsey
Original assignee: Abbott Laboratories
Current assignee: Abbott Laboratories
Priority date: 1979-08-06
Filing date: 1980-07-14
Publication date: 1985-01-15
Also published as: DE3029663C2; IT1132329B; NL187787B; GB2056007B; BE884640A; GB2056007A; NL8004465A; FR2462912A1; JPS5623958A; US4296949A; JPH0232852U; IT8024014A0; DE3029663A1; FR2462912B1; ES258147Y; AU539764B2; MX147870A; ES258147U; NL187787C; AU6090880A

Abstract

ROTATABLE CONNECTING DEVICE FOR
I.V. ADMINISTRATION SET
Abstract of the Disclosure A rotatable connecting device which provides for quick and positive interfitment between a venipuncture unit and an intravenous administration set without rotation or twisting of the venipuncture unit or intravenous tubing.
A rotatable collar is provided on one of the members con stituting the connecting device and is captively held thereon while permitting longitudinal movement, Fric-tional engaging means are disposed on the body member re-taining the collar as well as the collar to provide an interference fitment. Internal threads are defined in the rotatable collar for engagement with a flange member dis-posed on the catheter hub. A luer lock fitment is afforded between the catheter member and the member carrying the rotatable collar.

Description

~ackground o~ the Invention This invention relates to a connecting device which can quickly and effectively interconnect an I.V.
admlnistration set with a venipuncture unit. More par-5 ticularly, this invention relates to a rotatable con-nector device for I.V. tubing which will permit a quick connection between an I.V. administration set and a catheter without twisting the catheter tubing or the I~V. tubing and at the same time afford a fluid-tight 10 connection.
A connection between an I.V. set and a veni-puncture device such as a catheter is usually accom-plished by the ~rictional engagement of a male fitment on the administration set and the female fitment on the 15 venipuncture device. While a reasonably secure and leak-free interfitment is accomplished, this type of connec-tion is susceptible to disconnection from manipulation or internal pressure. Rotata~le connecting collar mem-bers of the slidable and nonslidable type are known for 20 use in interconnecting components in I.V. administration sets~ A slidable device is currently being marketed by a company known as Vygon, which is located in France.
A nonslidable unit of this type used in conjunction with a stopcock is available from the Pharmaseal Company 25 in Glendale, ~alifornia. Rotatable interconnecting de-vices for tubular members are also described in U. S.
3,201,148; 3,616,866; 3,640,551; 3,977,708 and 4,014,568.
While these patents describe various types of tubular interconnecting members, problems arise if the rotatable 30 collar is not freely manipulative in that the luer fit-ment does not lock and the collar can become cross-threaded with the catheter. None of the prior devices offers a connecting unit specifically designed for use in conjunction with I.V. tubing and a v~nipuncture device 35 which is simplified in its constructi~n and will permit the fast and fluid-tight connection between the two units and without rotation oi the units or connected tubing.
Neither does the prior art afford a connection between an I.V. set and a catheter wherein alignment prior to interconnection is easily and quickly facilitated.
It is an advantage of -the present invention to provide a novel connecting device for interconnecting an I.V. set with a venipuncture unit wherein the inter-connection can be made with a minimum amount of manipulation. Other advantages are an interconnecting device for I.V. tubing and a catheter unit which obviates a twisting of the catheter tubing or the I.V. tubing during in~erconnection; a fluid-tight connection between the venipuncture device and the I~o tubing which offers the operator the option of use as a secondary security system so that the fitment will not becom~ disconnected during normal usage; a connecting device which is easily fabricated with a minimum number of parts and readily placed on an I.V. administration set; a connecting unit which can be fabricated from resinous plastic materials so as to be disposable and not appreciably add to the cost of an I.V. set.
According to the present invention there is provided a connecting device for an intravenous administration set adapted to interconnect with a projecting 1ange of a catheter unit having an internal luer tapering chamber. The device includes a mounting member defining a fluid passage means and a longitudinal axis and a length of tubing secured to the member with a collar member rotatable on the memberf the collar member having internal threads for engagement with the flange of the catheter unit. Captive means is operatively associated with -the member to permit free movement along the longitudinal axis while retaining the collar on the member yet permitting rotatabla engagement with the flange. A luer tapering extending member is provided for fluid-tight fitment with the internal luer tapering chamber of the catheter unit.
The captive means includes a tapering service defined by the member for interference with the collar member, the captive means being constructed and arranged to permit the collar member to be positioned a substantial distance away from the luer tapering extending member for complete exposure for sterilization purposes. The captive member further includes cooperating means defined by the mounting member and the collar member to provide an interlocking mechanism, the cooperating means being posi-tioned on the collar member opposi-te the internal threads and on the mounting member vpposite the -~apering surface. When the luer tapering extending member is placed in the luer tapering chamber, ~he collar member engages the flange and upon rotation of the collar the luer tap~ring extending member is forced into fluid-tight engagement and the collar member contacts the tapering surface. Upon a reverse rotation of the collar member and movement of ~he collar member away from the flange, the interlocking mechanism wi~ interengage so that rotation of the oollar will cause rotation of the mounting member without rotation of the catheter unit.
Brief Description of the Drawings ~ better understanding of the connecting device of this invention will be accomplished by reference to the drawings wherein:
FiGURE 1 is a perspective view of a parenteral solution administration device showing the connecting device of this invention operatively connecting the administration device with a catheter.
FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the connecting device shown in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 is a view in vertical section illustrating the member of the connecting device having the rotatable collar member.
FIGURE 4 is a view in partial vertical section showing the member with the rotatable collar engaging the hub of a catheter device. I
FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 except showing another embodiment.
FIGURE 6 is a view of one portion of the connecting device with the rotatable collar illustrated in FIGURE 5 and engaging the catheter unit such as described in FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 except showing still another embodiment.
FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 except of the connecting device shown in FIGURE 7.

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FIGURE 9 is a view in partial vertical section of the connecting device shown in FIGURE 8 but with the collar member re~racted and engaging the flanges of the collar retainer~
FIGURE 10 is an enlarged view in vertical sec-tion taken along line 10-10 of FIGURE 8.
FIGU~ 11 is an enlarged view ln vertical sec-tion taken along line 11-11 of FIGURE 9.
FIGURE 12 is an enlarged detailed view of a furtller embodiment of a rotatable collar and catheter hub for use in the connecting device of this invention.

Description of One Embodiment , Proceeding to a detailed description of one of the embodiments of the present invention, the connecting device 10 is shown in FIGURE 1 in connection with a paren-teral solution container 11 having connected thereto a combined piercing pin and drip chamber 12. A length of tubing 14 extends from drip chamber 12 to which is at-tached a flow control clamp 15. Tubing 14 is secured to the connecting device 10 to which is interconnected cath-eter ~4 having catheter tubing 16.
Referring specifically to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that connecting device 10 includes a rotatable col-lar 20 extending over a body member 17 of a catheter adapter~ Shoulder members in the form of flanges 22 and 23 project outwardly from one end of body member 17 and an external luer fitment 3U from the other end~ Ro~atable collar 20 includes two slots 27 and 28 surrounded by arcu-ate walls 18 and 19, for accommodating flanges 22 and 23 in a captive manner. External luer fitment 30 is con~
structed to rit into catheter hub 32 which has an internal luer fitment 31 (See FIGURE 4). Catheter hub 32 has two extending flanges 25 and 26 interconnected by an annular portion 29. Referring specifically to FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be noted that body member 17 has a tapering wall 33 for interference fitment with inwardly tapering wall por-tion 40 of rotatable member 20. Also, rotatable member 20 -5~
has internal threads 35 for threaded engagement with flanges 25 and 26 when the external luer fitment 30 of body member 17 is seated in internal luer fitment 31 of catheter hub 32. A fluid passage 36 extends through body member 17 and co~municates with tubing 14 seated in cham-ber 38~ A ~luid passage 37 also is provided throughout catheter 24~
Connecting device 50 shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 is similar to that of device 10 in that it has a rotat-able collar 52 positioned over body member 51. A taper-ing wall 65 is provided on body member 51 for an inter-ference fitment with inwardly tapering portion 72 of rotatable member or collar 52. ~langes 55 and 56 extend from retaining member 74 which is originally intercon-nected to rotatable collar 52 by means of frangible por-tion 73. Internal threads 67 are disposed in rotatable collar 52 and an external luer fitment 61 extends from body member 51 with a fluid passage 69 interconnecting tubing 14. A catheter hub 64 is engaged by rotatable collar 52 when the internal threads 67 engage flanges 58 and 59. The external luer fitment 61 of body 51 will seat in internal luer fitment 62 of catheter hub 64 which has a fluid passage 68 in communication with catheter tubiny 16.
FIGURES 8 - 11 illustrate another embodiment of the invention wherein connecting device 80, as is true of devices 10 and 50, includes a body member 81 with rotatable collar 82 positioned thereon having knurl-ing lU8~ Body member 81 has an end portion 84 to which is affixed, such as by ultrasonic sealing, a retaining collar 86 after rotatable collar 82 is placed thereon.
Slots 88 and 89 are provided in collar 86 separated by shoulder or flange portions 87 and 90 which will receive flanges 91 and 92, o~ rotatable collar 82, and rotatable collar 82 will be captively held on ~ody member 81 by con-tact of arcuate walls such as 111 and 112 disposed between flanyes 91 and 92 contacting shoulder portions 90 and 87 of retainer 86. An external luer fitment 93 extends from body member 81 ior sealing engagement with catheter 94 and -6- ~
the internal luer fitmen~ 106 of catheter hub 96. Flanges 9~ and 99 interconnected by annulus 100 extend from cath-eter hub 96 at one end and catheter tubing ~7 from the opposing end. As best seen in FIGURE 8, a fluid passage 101 extends through body member 81 and is in fluid com-munication with I.V. tubing 14. Collar 82 has an inwardly tapering portion 102 for frictional engagement with taper~
ing wall 103 of body member 81. Internal threads 105 are disposed in collar 82 ~or engagement with flanges 98 and 99 of catheter 94.
Referring to FIG~RE 10~ it will be noted that body member ~1 has a bevel indicator 110 in the form of a projection extending into fluid passage 101. The purpose o~ the bevel indicator 110 is to indicate the position or bevel of a needle or stylet as it is placed in the vein during venipuncture. So that the bevel indicator is visible, body member 81 will be composed of a transparent material.
FIGURE 12 illustrates another manner for as-suring that the rotatable collar such as 115 will remain in contact with wall 116 of male catheter adapter 118.
For this purpose frictional engaging means in the form of a ridye 117 is disposed on wall 116 of catheter adapter 118 and internal knurlings 119 are provided in collar 115 for interengagement. Ridge 117 and knurlings 119 can be utilized in place of tapering walls 33, 65 and inwardly tapering portions 40, 72.

Operation :
A better understanding of the advantages of the connecting device of this invention will be had by a description of its operation. Connecting device 10 will operate in substantially the same manner as connecting devices 50 and 80. It will be appreciated that in most instances body portion 17 and rotatable collar 20 will be interconnected to tubing 14 and supplied independently of catheter 16 and hub 32. At the time of use, cathetPr tub-ing 16 will have already been inserted into an appropriate vein by the usual methods. ~lhen it i5 desired to admini-s.er the contents o~ solution container 11, all that is required is to orientate external luer fitment 30 with catheter hub 32 as indicated in FIGURE 2. Collar 20 will be in a position as indicated in FIG~RE 2 to expose a surface area such as 21 to be gripped by the ~ingers of one hand while the remaining fingers will grip rotatable member 20. Catheter hub 32 will be gripped with the other hand. A~ter the appropriate interconnection between external luer fitment 30 and internal luer fitment 31 of hub 32, rotatable member 2Q will be rotated whereby inter-nal threads 35 will engage flanges 25 and 2~. Rotation will be continued until inwardly tapering wall 40 of rotatable member 20 engages tapering wall 33 of body member 17 to thereby ~irmly retain the external and internal luer ~it-ments 30 and 31 respectively, in a fluid-tight engagement such th~t they will not become disengaged without a turn-ing of the collar 20. Through the frictional engagement of inwardly tapering portion 40 and tapering wall 33 only

2~ intentional rotation of the rotatable member will cause disengagement of the rotatable member 20 and additional ~orce would be required to dislodge the previously de-scribed luer fitment. It will be appreciated that collar 20 is captively held on body member 17 by means of flanges 2~ and 23 at one end engaging the ends of slots 27 and >8 and the engagement at the opposing end of inwardly taper-ing portion 40 and tapering wall 33.
An important feature of this invention is in permitting the longitudinal movement of the collar over a substantial portion of body member 17 such as designated by double headed arrow 34 to ~hereby allow alignment of external luer fitment 30 with internal luer fitment 31 prior to engagement of internal threads 35. This is partially provided by straight walled body section 39.
~ith the proper interfitment, the collar is then brought forward so that the threads 35 will engage flanges 25 and 26 and rotation continued until the contact of inwardly tapering portion 40 and tapering wall 33. All of the ~8--foregoing, it will be noted, will be effected without the undesired rotation of eit.her catheter hub 32 and its associated tublng 16 or any rotation of I.V. tubing 1~.
The operation of connecting unit 50 is sub-stantially the same as that previously described for unit 10 except that in its original fabrication, the inwardly tapering portion 72 of rotatable collar 52 will be inter-connected to retaining member 74 by means of a frangible portion 73. During fabrication, collar 52 will be frac-tured from retaining mem~er 74 and will break away frommember 74 to become freely movable therefrom with the re-taining member 74 remaining and ultrasonically attached to body member 51. In all other respects, the interen-gagement of internal threads 67 with flanges 58 and 59 of catheter hub 64 will be the same as described ~or connect-ing device 10 as well as the travel of collar 52 over body 51 and the frictional engagement of inwardly tapering por-tion 72 and tapering wall 65.
~nit 80 will operate in basically the same manner as previously described for unit 10 in the engage-ment between body memb~r 81 and catheter 94. One major difference between unit 80 and units 10 and 50 is in the initial fabrication. In unit ~0, collar 82 will first be placed over body member 81 and, as indicated in FIGUXE 7, collar retainer 86 will be ultrasonically sealed to end portion 84 of body member 81. It will be further observed that the placement of flanges 91 and 92 on collar 82 as well as slots 88 and 8g on re-tainer 86 are the opposite of the corresponding members in unit 10. In any event, they serve the same purpose of providing a wrench effect to free the frictional en gagement between the exte-nal and internal luer fitments such as 93 and 106, respectivel~, when the flanges 91 and 92 are positioned to engage the slots 88 and 89 of retainer 86 and a rotation imparted to collar 82 while catheter 94 is held stationary. The same torque effect is accomplished in unit 50 between flanges 55 and 56 and collar 52 except in this instance the flanges extend _9_ parallel with the longitudinal axis of bo~y member 51 and will be accornmodated by apertures (not shown) at the end o~ inwardly tapering portion 72 of collar 52.
The preferred materials for composing body mem-bers 17 , 51 and 81 as well as their associated collars ?~, 52l and 82 are rigid polyvinyl chloride. ~owever, other plastic materials such as polycarbonate, ABS or styrene could be utillzed. In the instance of connecting device 50, it will be appreciated that ~rangible portion 73 will 1~ be initially ultrasonically sealed to body member 51 with weakened portions provided so as to afford a breaking away of collar 52 from frangible portion 73.
~he connecting device of this invention has been described for use with a catheter adapter. It will be appreciated that the same advantage can be obtained when it is employed in conjunction with a stopcock unit to be used with an I.V. administration set. Further, the connecting device has application with a wide variety of administration devices such as arterial infusion lines, central vein lines, pressure infusion applications, pedi-atric administration sets as well as special sets where the patient is ambulatory.
It will thus be seen that through the present invention there is now provided a connecting device for an I.V. administration set and catheter tubing wherein a connection as well as disconnection can be made in a fast and efficient manner and without rotation of the catheter or the I.V. tubing. The connecting device of this inven-tion can be readily molded and fabricated at little cost so as to not appreciably add to the cost of the I.V. ad-ministration set yet will be disposable. Interfitment of the interconnecting device is facilitated by affording longitudinal mov~ment of the collar over the connecting device body member so as to afford proper alignment with the flanges on the catheter hub prior to engagement of the internal screw threads in the collar member.
rhe foregoing invention can now be practiced by those skilled in the art. Such skilled persons will know that the invention is not necessarily restricted to the particular embodiments presented herein. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the terms of the following claims as given meaning by the preceding de-scription.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A connecting device for an intravenous administration set adapted to interconnect with a projecting flange of a catheter unit having an internal luer tapering chamber comprising:
a mounting member defining a fluid passage means and a longitudinal axis;
a length of tubing secured to said member;
a collar member rotatably on said member, said collar member having internal threads for engagement with said flange of said catheter unit;
captive means operatively associated with said member to permit free movement-along the longitudinal axis thereof while retaining said collar on said member yet permitting rotatable engagement with said flange;
a luer tapering extending member for fluid-tight fitment into said internal luer tapering chamber of said catheter unit; and said captive means including a tapering surface defined by said member for interference with said collar member, said captive means constructed and arranged to permit said collar member to be positioned a substantial distance away from said luer tapering extending member for complete exposure for sterilization purposes, said captive means further including cooperating means defined by said mounting member and said collar member to provide an interlocking mechanism, said cooperating means positioned on said collar member opposite said internal threads and on said mounting member opposite said tapering surface;
so that when said luer tapering extending member is placed in said luer tapering chamber, said collar member will engage said flange and upon rotation of said collar said luer tapering extending member will be forced into fluid-tight engagement and said collar member will contact said tapering surface, and upon a reverse rotation of said collar member and movement of said collar member away from said flange, said interlocking mechanism will interengage whereby rotation of said collar will cause rotation of said mounting member without rotation of said catheter unit.

2. The connecting device as defined in claim 1 wherein said interlocking mechanism includes a shoulder member carried by said mounting member.

3. The connecting device as defined in claim 2 wherein said shoulder member is defined by two opposing flanges and said collar member includes two slot portions constructed and arranged to receive said flanges.

4. The connecting device as defined in claim 3 wherein said flanges are formed as a frangible portion of said mounting member.

5. The connecting device as defined in claim 1 wherein said interlocking mechanism provides a wrench effect between said captive means and said collar member.

6. The connecting device as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting member further includes a bevel indicator means.

7. The connecting device as defined in claim 1 wherein said frictional engaging means is defined by knurlings and a ridge operatively associated with said collar and mounting members.

8. A connecting device for an intravenous administration set comprising:
a first member defining a fluid passage means and having a longitudinal axis;
a second member defining a fluid passage means and having a longitudinal axis;
tapering interfitment means constructed and arranged with respect to each said member for fluid-tight engagement;
a length of tubing secured to at least one member opposite said tapering interfitment means;
a flange extending from one of said first or second members adjacent said tapering interfitment means;
a collar member alternately and rotatably mounted on one of said first or second members opposite said flange, said collar member having internal threads for engagement with said flange; and captive means operatively associated with one of said members and said collar member to permit free movement along the longitudinal axis of said member while retaining said collar on said member yet permitting rotatable engagement with said flange, said captive means including a tapering surface defined by said member mounting said collar for interference therewith, said captive means constructed and arranged to permit said collar member to be positioned a substantial distance away from said tapering interfitment means carried by said member mounting said collar member for complete exposure for sterilization purposes, said captive means further including cooperating means defined by said member mounting said collar member and said collar member to provide an interlocking mechanism, said cooperating means positioned on said collar member opposite said internal threads and on said mounting member opposite said tapering surface;
so that when said tapering interfitment means is interengaged, said collar member will engage said flange and upon rotation of said collar the interfitment means will be forced into fluid-tight engagements and said collar member will engage said tapering surface without rotation of said first or second members, and upon a reverse rotation of said collar member and movement of said collar member away from said flange, said interlocking mechanism will interengage whereby rotation of said collar will cause rotation of said member mounting said collar without rotation of said member with said flange.

9. The connecting device as defined in claim 8 wherein said tapering interfitment means is defined by an internal and external luer fitment with said internal luer fitment and said flange is positioned on said first member and said collar and said external luer fitment positioned on said second member.

10. The connecting device as defined is claim 9 wherein said interlocking mechanism includes shoulder members carried by said second member and spaced from said tapering surface of said mounting member.

11. The connecting device as defined in claim 9 wherein said flange is defined by two flanges and extends from said first member positioned immediately adjacent an entrance to said internal luer fitment and interconnectad by an annular portion.

12. The connecting device as defined in claim 10 wherein said second member includes an internal chamber for seating engagement with said tubing.

13. The connecting device as defined in claim 10 wherein said shoulder members are defined by two oppositely positioned and extending flange members and said collar is defined by two opposing slots constructed and arranged to receive said flange members.

14. The connecting device as defined in claim 13 wherein said flange members extend outwardly from said second member.

15. The connecting device as defined in claim 13 wherein said opposing slots extend parallel with the longitudinal axis of said second member and said flange members are connected to said second member by a frangible section.

16. The connecting device as defined in claim 10 wherein said shoulder members are defined by two oppositely positioned and extending flange members separated by two opposing slots and said collar is defined by two extending flanges constructed and arranged to be received in said slots.

17. The connecting device as defined in claim 10 wherein said collar includes an inwardly tapering portion for contact with said tapering surface defined by said mounting member.

18. The connecting device as defined in claim 8 wherein said internal threads of said collar member are continuous.

19. The connecting device as defined in claim 17 wherein said member mounting said collar includes a straight walled body section continuous with said tapering surface.

20. The connecting device as defined in claim 1 wherein said length of tubing is connected to said first member and defines a catheter tubing and said length of tubing is connected to said second member and is intravenous plastic tubing.