IV connector lock and stabilizer

An IV lock for preventing IV connectors from separating. The IV lock has two split-fork locks at each end for releasably securing a male IV fitting or connector to the IV lock and for releasably securing a catheter to the IV lock. The IV lock may also include a snap-fit clamp intermediate the two split-fork locks for securing an intermediate connector coupled between the male IV fitting and the catheter fitting from moving laterally and axially relative to its length. The male IV fitting and catheter are prevented from moving axially and transversely of their length when secured in the IV lock.

This invention relates to medical apparatus used in administering 
intravenous fluid to a patient, and more particularly to a bracket for 
securing a male intravenous fitting to a female intravenous catheter. 
As is well known by health care professionals and others associated with 
the health care field, intravenous (hereinafter "IV") fluid may typically 
be administered through a catheter inserted into a vein. The catheter is 
coupled to a male IV fitting that is connected by IV tubing to a supply of 
IV fluid. Not infrequently, the male IV fitting may become separated from 
the catheter, causing leakage of intravenous fluid. Separated IV lines may 
also cause hemorrhaging in the patient and may provide a site from which 
infectious germs and other contaminants may enter the patient's body. Air 
may also enter the patient's circulatory system when the connection 
between the male IV fitting and catheter is broken. If an embolism 
develops in the patient's circulatory system due to this introduction of 
air, cardiac damage, paralysis, coma or even death may result. 
The problem of decoupling also exists at the site of the connectors used in 
extension tubing sets. Such extension tubing sets are frequently 
positioned in "free-swinging" portions of the line. By "free-swinging" it 
is meant that the IV line is not secured to a fixed object. Free-swinging 
lines are desirable in that they permit the health care professionals to 
move the line out of the way for routine patient care. However, such lines 
are frequently positioned where they aren't expected to be located and 
they may be inadvertently pulled with a sufficient force to cause 
decoupling. 
In addition to the problems set forth above, a disconnected IV tube often 
creates additional work for health care personnel. For instance, it 
typically takes ten to fifteen minutes to change a leaky IV connection and 
five to ten minutes to replace IV fluid-soaked bed sheets. 
Several methods of, and apparatus for, securing a male IV fitting to an IV 
catheter have been developed. In one known method, after the catheter has 
been inserted in the patient's vein, the male IV fitting is inserted in 
the catheter so as to frictionally engage the latter and establish a 
fluid-tight seal between the male IV fitting and the catheter. Then the 
entire assembly is bonded by adhesive tape and is secured to the patient, 
also by adhesive tape. This procedure is relatively slow and does not 
couple the catheter to the male IV fitting as securely as may be desired. 
Alternatively, IV connection locks such as those marketed under the 
trademark Luer Lock or such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,224,937 
have been used to secure male IV fittings to catheters. Luer Lock-type IV 
connector locks have been known to torque the cannula in a manner causing 
skin breakdown. Also, Luer Lock-type connectors on occasion are softened 
by the patient's body temperature resulting in leakage at the junction 
between the male IV fitting and the catheter The IV connector lock of U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,224,937 is designed to lock only the catheter hub, and not the 
male IV connector, to the base of the lock. As such, the male IV fitting 
may tend to separate from the catheter resulting in leakage of IV fluid. 
Another disadvantage of certain known IV connector locks is that they are 
designed to receive the catheter and male IV fitting of only one specific 
type of IV system. Other known IV connector locks suffer from the 
disadvantage of being relatively expensive. 
The primary object of the present invention is to overcome the 
disadvantages and problems of known IV connector locks set forth above. 
Another primary object of the present invention is to provide an IV 
connector lock for coupling a male IV fitting to a catheter in a manner 
substantially eliminating the possibility of the fitting becoming 
inadvertently decoupled from the catheter. 
Other objects of the invention include providing an IV connector lock that 
(1) fits smoothly on an IV line in a manner avoiding the application of 
pressure which might restrict flow, (2) fits a variety of IV systems, (3) 
supports a needle head at the same angle at which it was inserted into a 
"Y" connector, (4) permits the male IV fitting to be connected to and 
disconnected from the catheter without causing discomfort to the patient 
and (5) locks both the male IV fitting and the catheter, when secured 
together, to the IV connector lock. 
A further object of the invention is to provide an IV lock for tubing 
connectors, secondary line connectors and piggyback connectors which 
prevents both transverse and axial movement. For secondary line connectors 
in which a needle is connected to a "Y" connector, a lateral lock collar 
is provided to keep the needle holder stable and thus prevent decoupling. 
An additional object is to provide a connector which fulfills the foregoing 
objectives and is designed to be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and 
assemble. The connector may be designed for one time use and thus 
discarded after the tubings are changed. 
Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part 
appear hereinafter. The invention accordingly comprises the product 
possessing the features, properties and relation of components described 
hereinafter, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated 
in the claims. 
The IV connector lock and stabilizer of the present invention comprises a 
bracket having a base, a first lock mounted to one end of the base for 
releasably gripping a conventional male IV fitting, a second lock mounted 
to the opposite end of the base for releasably gripping a conventional IV 
catheter fluidly coupled to said male IV fitting. In an alternate 
embodiment, a support lock is positioned near the center of the connector 
lock for stabilizing a needle inserted into a "Y" connector. 
These and various other advantages and features of novelty which 
characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the 
claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a fuller 
understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, 
reference should be had to the following detailed description and to the 
accompanying drawings in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment 
of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the present invention is an IV lock 20 for 
ensuring that the two portions of a extension tubing connects remains 
coupled. The extension tubing connector is composed of a female catheter 
22 and male fitting 24 which do not constitute part of the invention. 
Catheter 22 is a conventional catheter used to administer intravenous fluid 
to a patient. Catheter 22 is hollow and comprises a hub 26 situated 
between and connecting outgoing tubing 38 and cylinder 32. The receiving 
end 31 of the cylinder 32 has opening 30 for receiving the male fitting 
24. 
Although catheters of the type identified at 22 are produced by a variety 
of manufactures, such as Abbott Laboratories of Abbott Park, Ill., certain 
portions of the catheter are made by most of the various manufacturers to 
standard dimensions. 
Male IV fitting 24 is also a conventional fitting of the type manufactured 
by Abbott Laboratories and others. Fitting 24 is translucent and hollow. A 
hollow frusto-conically tapering front portion 50 is secured to the front 
end 51 of fitting 24. The outside diameter and taper of front portion 50 
are selected so that when inserted in aperture 30 at the rear end 31 of 
catheter 22, front portion 50 will form a fluid-tight, friction fit with 
the interior of cylinder 32. IV tube 46 is fluidly connected to fitting 24 
at its rear end 48. IV tube 46 usually has an outside diameter in the 
range of from 0.210" to 0.260" and is available from a variety of 
manufacturers, such as Abbott Laboratories. Rear portion 52 of fitting 24 
is formed so that the outside diameter of the former is radially spaced a 
selected distance from the outside diameter of IV tube 46. As with 
catheter 22, certain portions of IV fitting 24 are made to standard 
dimensions by most manufacturers. 
IV lock 20, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, comprises base 66 and two 
split-fork locks 68. IV lock 20 is preferably made from a material that is 
relatively rigid while also being slightly resilient, such as polystyrene. 
Known molding procedures, such as hot-air injection molding, may be 
satisfactorily employed in the fabrication of IV lock 20. 
Base 66 comprises substantially flat top surface 72 and an opposing 
substantially flat bottom surface 73. Base 66 has a thickness sufficient 
to ensure that the base remains substantially inflexible over its length. 
The length of base 66 corresponds to the distance between outgoing tubing 
38 and incoming tubing 46 when IV clamp 24 is fluidly coupled to catheter 
22, as described more fully below. 
A split-fork lock 68 is secured to base 66 at each end. Lock 68 comprises 
base portion 78, the latter having opposed, parallel, flat surface 80 and 
82 (FIG. 2) formed thereon. Surfaces 80 and 82 form an approximately 
90.degree. angle with respect to top surface 72. Surface 89, located 
beneath flat surface 82, extends at an oblique angle from the base 66 and 
serves to reinforce the connection of the split fork lock 68 to base 66. 
Aperture 84 and slot 86 are formed extending entirely through base portion 
78. Slot 86 is connected to aperture 84 so that the aperture opens 
upwardly toward top edge 88 of lock 68. The diameter of aperture 84 is 
substantially identical to the outside diameter of IV tube 46 and the 
width of slot 86 is slightly less than the outside diameter of IV tube 46. 
The base of aperture 84 is spaced a distance x (FIG. 2) from the bottom 
surface of base portion 66. 
Fingers 90 and 92 (FIG. 3) are coupled to base portion 78 at top edge 88 on 
opposite sides of slot 86 and extend toward the opposite end of base 66. 
Fingers 90 and 92 have flat underside surfaces 94 (FIG. 1) and 96 which 
form an acute angle with surfaces 80 and 82, respectively, that ranges 
between 81 and 87 degrees, with 84 degrees being the preferred angle. The 
vertical distance between the center of aperture 84 and the underside 
surfaces 94 and 96 where they join surface 82 is substantially identical 
to the radial spacing between the center of IV tube 46 and the outer 
surface of rear portion 52. Slot 98 extends between fingers 90 and 92 and 
is coupled to slot 86 and has the same width as slot 86. 
In an alternate preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-6, the IV lock 20 has 
an additional part, namely, snap-fit clamp 70. This embodiment is directed 
to securing a "Y" connector 130 used in extension tubing. The "Y" 
connector 130 and needle holder 141 are standard parts and do not 
constitute part of the invention. 
The needle holder 141 has a shoulder 142, a body 146 and a front end 143. 
The needle 144 is molded into the front end 143. The shoulder 142 is 
located at the needle holder's rear end 145. The rear end 145 has an 
aperture for receiving a male fitting 24. This is the same male fitting as 
shown in FIG. 1. 
The "Y" connector 130 has a rubber port seal 131 at the incoming end 132 of 
the "Y" connector. The port seal covers and seals the incoming end 132. 
The outgoing end 133 of the "Y" connector 130 has an outgoing tubing 38 
which serves the same function in the catheter 22 (FIG. 1). Arm 134 
extends from the main portion 135 of connector 130 and forms the arm of 
the "Y". The arm end 136 has an opening (not shown) for receiving a second 
incoming tube 137. Parts 134, 136 and 137 correspond respectively to parts 
52, 48 and 46 of the male fitting 24 shown in FIGS. 1 or 2. 
Snap-fit clamp 70 comprises cylinder 110 secured via portion 112 to base 
66. The inside diameter of cylinder 110 is substantially identical to the 
outside diameter of needle holder 141. The axial length of cylinder 110 is 
either equal to or less than the length of the needle holder's body 146. 
An opening 114 is formed in the top portion of ring 110. Opening 114 spans 
an approximately 90 degrees segment of the circumference of ring 110. The 
bottommost portion of the interior of cylinder 110 is spaced a distance y 
(FIG. 5) from the bottom surface of base 66. As described more fully 
below, distance y is approximately equal to distance x (FIG. 2). 
A pair of vertically extending walls 116 and 118 define the ends of 
cylinder 110. Walls 116 and 118 are spaced from cylinder 110 along the 
length of base 66 a distance slightly smaller than the axial spacing 
between shoulder 142 and rear end 145 of needle holder 141. 
The present invention is used in the following manner for securing a 
catheter inserted in a patient to an IV fitting adapted for attachment to 
a source of intravenous fluid. The catheter 22, which is connected to the 
venipuncture site, is connected to the fitting 24. This is accomplished by 
inserting front portion 50 of male fitting 24 at the rear end 31 of 
catheter 22 until a fluid-tight seal is achieved between front portion 50 
and the interior of cylinder 32. When coupled together in this manner, 
intravenous fluid flows from the source thereof through IV tube 46, 
fitting 24, cylinder 32 and outgoing tubing 38 and into the patient. Next, 
IV tube 46 is forced through slots 86 and 98 until the IV tube is received 
in aperture 84. The split fork bends inward and downward from the force 
and is designed to be of a material that is both lightweight and flexible. 
Since the outside diameter of tube 46 is slightly greater than the width 
of slots 86 and 98, the IV tube flattens slightly as it is forced through 
the slots. Coupled fitting 24, needle holder 141 and "Y" connector 130 are 
then moved axially until rear end 48 engages surface 82. In this position 
the outer surface of rear portion 52 engages the underside surfaces 94 and 
96 of fingers 90 and 92, respectively, due to the vertical placement of 
aperture 84 on portion 78. 
The needle holder 141 is then forced into the snap-clamp 70. The needle 
holder body 146 is then urged through opening 114 into cylinder 110. IV 
lock 20 is made from a slightly resilient material so that the walls of 
cylinder 110 adjacent opening 114 will spread apart slightly as needle 
holder 141 is forced through the opening. When needle holder 141 is 
received in cylinder 110, the inner surface of cylinder 110 engages the 
outer surface of needle holder 141 so as to releasably secure the latter 
in cylinder 110. When needle holder 141 is secured in this manner, needle 
holder 146 is received in the space between cylinder 110 and walls 116 and 
118. 
The outgoing end 133 of the "Y" connector 130 is then positioned in a 
manner very similar to the rear end 48 of the IV fitting 24. The outgoing 
tube 38 is forced through slots 86 and 98 until the IV tube is received in 
aperture 84. Once again, since the outside diameter of outgoing tube 38 is 
slightly greater than the width of slots 86 and 98, the outgoing IV tube 
flattens slightly as it is forced through the slots. The coupled fitting 
24, needle holder 141 and "Y" connector 130 are then aligned axially until 
the outgoing end 133 is positioned near or against surface 82. 
As noted above, the base of aperture 84 on each end of the IV lock 20 is 
spaced distance x from the bottom of base 66 and the base of the interior 
of cylinder 110 is spaced distance y from the bottom of base 66. Distance 
x is approximately equal to distance y with the result that the "Y" 
connector 130, fitting 24 and needle holder 141 are supported at the same 
angle. The needle 144 is thus positioned so that it runs parallel to the 
main portion 135 of the "Y" connector. Thus, substantially the entire 
length of the underneath surfaces 94 and 96 of fingers 90 and 92 of locks 
68 engage, respectively, (1) the outer surface of rear portion 52 of 
fitting 24 and (2) the outer surface of catheter 22 or portion 135 of "Y" 
connector 130. Also, surfaces 82 of locks 68 engage, respectively, (1) 
rear end 48 of fitting 24 and (2) the rear end of catheter 22 or rear end 
133 of Y connector 130. By this engagement, fitting 24, and catheter 22 or 
Y connector 13 are positively restrained (i.e., physically blocked as 
opposed to frictionally restrained) from moving transversely of their 
length. 
"Y" connector 130 is similarly prevented from moving transversely of its 
length when secured in aperture 84 and the connector fits tightly in the 
IV lock 20. The snap-fit clamp 70 prevents the needle holder 141 from 
moving transversely of its length and also prevents the "Y" connector from 
moving laterally when the IV line is inadvertently tugged. The snap-fit 
clamp 70 prevents the needle holder 141 from swinging fully in the base 
causing the needle 144 to break away and allow free flow in the IV feeding 
system. Under normal conditions, the walls of cylinder 110 adjacent 
opening 114 prevent needle holder 141 from moving relative to IV lock 20, 
the needle holder 141 may be pulled through opening 114 with sufficient 
force to deform the walls of cylinder 110 adjacent the opening. Typically, 
the force required to remove "Y" connector 141 from IV lock 20 or cause 
enough lateral movement to cause the needle to break is greater than the 
force a patient or health care professional might accidentally exert on 
the connector. 
Catheter 22 or "Y" connector 141 and fitting 24 are also prevented from 
moving axially relative to one another when secured in IV lock 20. As 
noted above, with conventional IV fittings, when catheter 22 is coupled to 
fitting 24, as in embodiment 1, or the "Y" connector 130, needle holder 
141 and fitting 24 are connected, as in embodiment 2, the distance between 
ends 26 or 133 and 48 is standardized. The length of base 66 is selected 
so that the distance between base portion 78 and cylinder 110 corresponds 
to this standardized distance. Consequently, when connector is secured in 
IV lock 20, rear end 48 engages surface 82, end 26 or 133 engages the 
opposite surface 82 and in embodiment 2 the needle holder is engaged in 
cylinder 110. In this position the coupled catheter 22 and fitting 24 are 
positively restrained (i.e., physically blocked as opposed to frictionally 
restrained) from moving axially apart from one another. 
It is to be understood, however, since changes may be made in the above 
apparatus, especially in matters of shape and size, without departing from 
the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter 
contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings 
shall be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The 
present invention is incidated by the broad general meaning of the terms 
in which the appended claims are expressed.