Abstract:
A connector for use in line in a catheter tube has a first part with a hose barb connected to the tube and a second part with a cylindrical opening and a circumferentially extending fastening strap. A hole is provided in the fastening strap. A gap is provided at the end of the fastening strap. A second part of the connector has a hose barb connected to another section of the catheter tube. The second part has a cylindrical portion that fits into the cylindrical opening of the first part. The second part also has a projection that may be positioned to enter the gap as the two pieces are fit together and which fits into the hole on the fastening strap after twisting of the pieces to latch the pieces together. The two pieces disconnect readily when a tension force is exerted that may otherwise cause injury to the wearer of the catheter.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an in-line hose connector, and in particular to a releasable connector in a catheter tube.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Catheters, in particular, urinary catheters are commonly used in medical situations. A urinary catheter is a soft plastic or rubber tube that is inserted into the bladder to drain the urine. The tube enters the body at the urethra and extends into the bladder. The other end of the tube commonly leads to a collection device, generally a bag in which urine is collected.  
           [0005]    A type of catheter known as a Foley catheter or indwelling catheter has a small balloon at the end of the tube inside the bladder. The balloon remains un-inflated during insertion of the catheter and is inflated, such as by sterile water introduced through an inflation port tube, after insertion. The inflated balloon inside the bladder prevents withdrawal of the catheter tube. A typical balloon catheter holds about 5 to 10 ml of fluid. Removal of a Foley catheter is accomplished by draining the water from the balloon through the inflation port tube so that the balloon deflates and can be withdrawn through the urethra.  
           [0006]    The catheter tube extends out of the body at the urethral opening and runs to the collecting bag. Ambulatory patients and other individuals may be able to wear a leg bag, a small collecting bag strapped to the leg. In this case, the catheter tube extends a short distance to the leg bag and may be taped to the leg. The wearer of the leg bag may find it inconvenient to disconnect the leg bag and connect to a bedside bag for sleep. However, for use in a reclining position, the collecting bag must be positioned to the side of the bed or gurney to ensure that the collecting bag is below the wearer&#39;s bladder. A larger collecting bag is used and is hung from the bed or gurney. This, however, exposes the catheter tube to being caught on objects and pulled.  
           [0007]    Particularly in a hospital or emergency room setting, where there is often a flurry of activity, there is a high risk of the catheter tube being caught on an object being moved past the bed or gurney. Or even more serious is the chance that the catheter tube dangling from the side of the gurney catches on a door knob or other projection as the gurney is being moved about. Patients have occasionally been thrown to the floor from the gurney or even had the large diameter Foley balloon pulled through their urethra.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides a releasable connector for a tube, such as a catheter tube, which disconnects at the free will of the user or when excessive tension is exerted on the tube. In particular, the present tube connector has an in-line lumen of the same diameter as the tube, provides a fast and simple connect process and readily releases upon the application of tension force on the connector. In one embodiment, the present connector has a male portion having a tube connecting end that fits into one end of the tube in secure engagement and a second end having an end-most portion of a first diameter, and a second diameter portion of a larger diameter than the first diameter portion set back from the free end of the second end, and a small projection on the second diameter portion. The connector also has a female portion having a tube connection end that fits into an end of the tube in a secure engagement. The other end of the female portion has a receiving opening into which the first diameter end most portion of the male connector is received. The receiving end has a longitudinal gap and a circumferential fastening flap with a free end at the gap. The fastening flap has an opening or hole into which the projection on the male portion is received. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present in-line connector with a collecting bag according to the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the in-line connector;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the in-line connector in a disassembled state;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a partial cut-away perspective view of the connector in an assembled state;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a side cross section through the assembled connector;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the latching mechanism of the present connector; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 7, 8 and  9  are enlarged side views of embodiments of a latching projection according to different embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 shows a tube  10  for a urinary catheter. The tube  10  leads from a wearer&#39;s body at end  12  to a collecting bag  14 . The end  12  at the wearer&#39;s body has been inserted into the urethra of the individual, preferably sufficiently far so that the free end is within the bladder of the wearer. The free end of the tube  10  may be plain or may be provided with a balloon or other device to assist in retaining the catheter in place, as is known.  
         [0017]    Since the catheter tube  10  works primarily by gravity, it is important to keep the collecting bag below the bladder of the wearer. The wearer or patient is commonly reclining or seated, and may be unable to stand or walk, or at least restricted from rising and walking for the present. Thus, the need for the catheter to drain the bladder. The wearer is therefore on a bed, gurney, chair, wheelchair, or the like, and the collecting bag  14  is often supported on the bed, gurney, etc. For example, a frame member  16  of a bed or wheelchair is shown in FIG. 1. Hooked onto the frame member  16  is a support hook  18  that in turn is connected to a support tab  20  of the bag  14 . The bag  14  includes an inlet  22  having a hose connector to which an end  24  of the tube  10  is connected.  
         [0018]    In the prior art, the tube  10  is in one piece. However, according to the present invention the catheter tube  10  is in two pieces, an upper piece  10 A and a lower piece  10 B, such as by being cut or by providing two separate pieces of tubing, and a connector  26  is provided in-line with the tube  10 . The connector  26  is provided at a position along the length of the tube  10 , preferably at a point closer to the wearer&#39;s body than to the drain bag  14 . The connector is preferably worn near the inside of the thigh. The connector  26  has a first part  28  connected to an end  30  of the upper tube piece  10 A and a second part  32  connected to an end  34  of the lower tube piece  10 B. The first part  28  includes a main body portion  36  and a fastening strap  38 .  
         [0019]    Referring now to FIG. 2, the connector  26  has the first part  28  and the second part  32  connected together. The first part  28  has a hose fitting or hose barb  40  over which the end  30  of the upper tube  10 A is placed. The hose barb  40  may be smooth, rough, have a toothed surface or, as shown, have a stepped surface of increasing diameter. The stepped surface may have one step, two steps, three steps or more. The hose end  30  is pushed onto the hose barb  40  at least over the two illustrated steps, and may be pressed against the main body portion  36 .  
         [0020]    The main body portion  36  of the first part  28  is cylindrical and of a larger outside diameter than the hose  10 . The outer surface is preferably smooth to avoid irritating the wearer&#39;s skin, although ridges or other grip enhancing surface textures may be provided. The end of the main body portion  36  opposite the hose barb  40  has the fastening strap  38 , which has a cylindrical surface aligned with the surface of the main body portion  36  and is separated therefrom by a slot  42 . The slot  42  cuts the fastening strap  38  partially free of the main body portion  36 . The slot  42  extends about 180° around the cylindrical main body  36 . The part of the main body  36  opposite the fastening strap  38  extends to an end  44  of the main body portion  36 . The fastening strap  38  is of a width to extend from the slot  42  to the end  44 .  
         [0021]    The fastening strap  36  extends part way about the circumference of the cylindrical main body portion  36  and has a fixed end  46  and a free end  48 . The free end  48  is spaced by an acceptance gap  50  from the part of the main body  36  that lies as a continuation of the circumferential extent of the fastening strap  38 . The free end  48  has an opening or hole  52 .  
         [0022]    The second part  32  of the connector  26  has a hose connector or hose barb  54  over which the end  34  of the hose part  10 B is fit. The balance of the second part  32  fits into the first part  28  when in a fastened position. The lumen or opening  56  through the second part  32  is seen. The lumen  56  continues through the first part  28  without interruption. The lumen  56  is preferably the same diameter of the lumen of the tube  10  and is smooth and aligned with the lumen of the tube  10  so as to present little or no resistance to liquid flow.  
         [0023]    Turning now to FIG. 3, the connector  26  is disassembled. The first part  28  has the hose barb  40 , the main body part  36  and the fastening strap  38  separated from the main body part  36  by the slot  42 . The hole  52  is near the free end  48  of the fastening strap  38 . The hole  52  preferably passes all the way through the strap  38  to provide a visual clue to the user for connection of the device. However, the hole may be only a recess in the underside of the strap into which the projection fits. The acceptance gap  50  between the free end  48  of the fastening strap  38  and the end of the main body portion  36  is better seen in this view. The acceptance gap  50  is of a width sufficient to provided easy connection of the first part  28  and the second part  32  together, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter. In one embodiment, the slot  42  extends about 180° of the circumference of the cylindrical main body portion  36 , and the hole  52  is provided at about the 90° position. In other words, the hole  52  is set at a right angle to the ends of the slot  42 . If the strap  38  is to be made more flexible, it is foreseen to make the strap longer and place the hole  52  at about 120° from the fixed end of the strap. It is of course possible within the scope of this invention to make the slot longer or shorter and to move the hole position to different places.  
         [0024]    Inside the first part  28  beginning from its open end is a first diameter opening  58  and a second smaller diameter opening  60  defining an annular surface  62 . The first diameter opening  58  lies under the fastening strap  38 , and the second diameter opening  60  lies within the main body portion  36 . The openings  58  and  60  are both cylindrical and concentric.  
         [0025]    The second part  32  has the hose barb  54  at its end, followed by a larger diameter portion  64  and a smaller diameter portion  66 . Both portions  64  and  66  are cylindrical in shape. The smaller diameter portion  66  is sized to fit into the second smaller diameter opening  60  of the first part and the larger diameter portion  64  is sized to fit into the first larger diameter opening  58  of the first part. Preferably, these parts are sized for a close fit but one that is not too tight, since only a small amount of friction should exist to permit ready movement of the two connector parts  28  and  32  relative to one another.  
         [0026]    The second part  32  has an annular surface  68  between the larger diameter portion  64  and the smaller diameter portion  66 .  
         [0027]    To provide a liquid tight seal between the two parts  28  and  32 , an o-ring  70  is provided in a channel  72  formed in the smaller diameter portion  66 . The o-ring  70  is of dimensions to contact the inside surface of the smaller diameter opening  60  of the first part  28  so that the o-ring  70  is in compression between the surface of the smaller diameter opening  60  and the channel  72 . A liquid tight seal is ensured.  
         [0028]    The larger diameter portion  64  of the second part  32  has on its outer surface a projection  74 . The projection  74  is of a size and is positioned on the larger diameter portion  64  at a position to fit into the hole  52  of the fastening strap  38 .  
         [0029]    With reference to FIG. 4, the two parts  28  and  32  are shown connected together. The projection  74  is within the hole  52  of the fastening strap  38 , thereby providing resistance to axial movement of the two parts  28  and  32  relative to one another. The projection  74  is released by the fastening strap  38  by the outward flexure of the fastening strap  38  upon the application of sufficient force to pull the pieces apart along the axial direction. For example, a pulling force on the tube  10  will cause the connector  26  to release.  
         [0030]    A further surface  76  is provided at the end of the smaller diameter portion  66  of the second part  32 . A surface  78  is inside the first portion  28 . The lumen  56  inside the second part  32  and a lumen  80  inside the first part  28  form a continuous passageway for the fluid flow, preferably with no change in diameter and no roughening or surface discontinuities to hinder the free flow of the fluid.  
         [0031]    The o-ring  70  in the channel  72  is seen pressing against the inside surface of the smaller diameter opening  60  of the first part  28 . The surface of the smaller diameter opening  60  is preferably smooth to limit wear of the o-ring  70  as the parts  28  and  32  are connected and disconnected and provide an uninterrupted sealing engagement.  
         [0032]    In FIG. 5, the lumen  56  and  80  through the connector  26  is continuous, smooth and uninterrupted. The end  30  of the tube  10 A is pressed onto the hose barb  40  and may be left with a gap between the end  30  of the tube  10 A and the main body portion  36  as shown, or may be pressed up against the main body portion  36  so that no or very little gap is present. It is preferred that the tube  10 A be pressed on with no gap to avoid catching on body hairs of the wearer.  
         [0033]    Similarly, the tube section  10 B is pressed onto the hose barb  54  either to leave a gap or to abut against the main body part  36  of the first part  28  and the larger diameter portion  64  of the second part  32 . Preferably, no gap is present to avoid catching body hairs. The external diameter of the main body portion  36  is not much greater than that of the tube  10 . It is optional to form the main body portion of the same outside diameter as the tube  10  provided sufficiently strong material is utilized for the connector  26 . It is also possible, although not preferable, to make the main body portion  36  of a significantly larger diameter than the tube  10 . This might aid in use of the device by a person who&#39;s fine motor skills are impaired.  
         [0034]    The slot  42  which separates the fastening strap  38  from the main body portion  36  is shown spaced from the first pair of seating surfaces  62  and  68  by a short axial distance. The slot  42  may be positioned at about the same axial location as the seating surfaces  62  and  68  in other embodiments. Likewise, the o-ring  70  is near the end seating surfaces  76  and  78 , but may be located farther away from the end seating surfaces  76  and  78 . It is also contemplated to provide the o-ring  70  at or near to the seating surfaces  62  and  68 , and maybe even abutting the seating surface  62  of the first part  28 . It is also contemplated to shorten the axial extend of the connector  26  over that shown in FIG. 5, such as by shortening the smaller diameter portion  66  of the second part  32  and correspondingly shortening the smaller diameter opening  60  in the first part  28 . Other changes in axial length may be made as well. It is further contemplated to lengthen the connector, such as by making various elements longer.  
         [0035]    Various other sealing devices may be used. For example, the o-ring may be replaced by a gasket or packing at the surfaces  62  and  68  or a seal with a deformable lip.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 6 illustrates the technique for fastening the two parts  28  and  32  to one another. The second part  32  is inserted into the opening in the first part  28 . The projection  74  is positioned so that it enters the first part  28  at the gap  50 . When the second part  32  is fully inserted into the first part  28 , the projection  74  is aligned with the hole  52 . In the FIG. 6, the projection is in the position A. Rotating or twisting the second part  32  relative to the first part  28  moves the projection  74  first against the free end  48  of the fastening strap  38 , then lifts the fastening strap  38  as the projection slides under the fastening strap  38 , as shown at position B. Once the parts are twisted relative to one another sufficiently, the projection  74  reaches the hole  52  and the fastening strap  38  snaps down into place against the larger diameter portion of the second part  32 . The projection  74  is held captive in the hole  52  so that the connector parts  28  and  32  are secured together.  
         [0037]    In the view of FIG. 6, the second part  32  is twisted in a clockwise direction to move the projection  74  from the gap  50  to the hole  52 . To release the parts of the connector  26 , the second part  32  may be twisted further in the clockwise direction, again relative to the illustration of FIG. 6. This presses the projection  74  against the inside wall of the hole  52  and causes the fastening strap  38  to again lift, as shown. The projection  74  is released from the hole  52  and the second part  32  and first part  28  may be pulled apart in the axial direction. The fastening strap  38  of course snaps back down as soon as the projection  74  is out from under it.  
         [0038]    The connected parts  28  and  32  may be released from one another by simply pulling in an axial direction. This results in the fastening strap  38  being lifted to release the projection from the hole  52  and the projection passing under the fastening strap  38  in the axial direction. The release of the connector by pulling replicates the release of the connector when undue stress is placed on the catheter tube  10 . The release force in the pulling direction is of such magnitude that the connector does not release too easily, but does release possibly and preferably before tissue damage occurs for the wearer of the catheter.  
         [0039]    The reconnection of the two parts  28  and  32  to one another is easily accomplished by anyone. The shapes of the part suggest the connection technique, so that it is apparent to someone seeing this for the first time that the second part  32  may be inserted into the first part  28  with the projection  74  in the gap  50  and then engagement may be accomplished by twisting.  
         [0040]    It is noted that the projection  74  is high enough that it will generally not be possible to force it under the end  58  of the main body part that lies opposite the fastening strap  38 . It is also generally not possible to twist the two parts  28  and  32  relative to one another much beyond the point at which the projection  74  lifts the fastening strap  38  since the fixed end  46  of the fastening strap  38  flexes upwardly by only a very small amount. It is further interesting to note that once the projection  74  is in the hole  52 , twisting of the second part  32  in a counter-clockwise direction is difficult if not impossible, since the fastening strap  38  tends to pull down with greater force on the area surrounding the projection  74  during such twisting and hinders release of the connector by twisting in the opposite direction to the twist direction used to fasten the parts together.  
         [0041]    The free end  48  of the fastening strap  38  may be chamfered, for example at its inside edge adjacent to the greater diameter portion  64 , to ease lifting of the strap  38  and movement of the projection  74  thereunder. The interior of the hole  52  may also be chamfered, for example at the bottom edge, to ease lifting of the strap  38  for release of the connector.  
         [0042]    The shape of the projection  74  plays a roll in the ease of release and engagement of the present connector. For example, in FIG. 7, the projection  74  has a shape  74   a , which defines a short cylindrical portion  82  extending perpendicularly from the fastening strap  38  and atop the cylindrical portion  82  is a hemispherical portion  84 . The cylindrical portion of one embodiment has a length of {fraction (10/1,000)} inch. In another embodiment as shown in FIG.  8 , the projection  74   b  has only a hemispherical portion  86  on the fastening strap  38 . A further alternative is shown in FIG. 9. The projection  74   c  has a conical shape. Each of these shapes of the projection  74  aid the fastening strap  38  in lifting to permit the present connector to engage and then to lift the fastening strap  38  to disengage.  
         [0043]    The projection may have a different shape than those shown here. Likewise, the fastening strap may have a different configuration than that shown, and may include beveling or other shaping of the edges to change the engage and release characteristics of the present connector. The material of which the present connector is made, in particular, the hardness of the material, effects the engage and release characteristics of the connector, for example, by changing the flexibility of the fastening strap. The force required for engagement and disengagement may also be varied by varying the thickness of the fastening strap. In one embodiment, the connector is formed of a polymeric material, such as polycarbonate.  
         [0044]    All external surfaces of the present connector preferably have radiused and chamfered edges to avoid scratching and irritation to the wearer. Since the device is typically worn against the inside of the thigh, preventing irritation is important. Preferably, knurled surfaces and raised collars are avoided. Although the illustrated connector is cylindrical in overall shape, it is possible that the outside surface of the connector or some external elements thereof may be square, rectangular or some other shape in axial cross section, such as to facilitate gripping by individuals with reduced dexterity.  
         [0045]    The present connector works equally well regardless of which of the two parts is connected to the upstream end of the catheter tube.  
         [0046]    Although other modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventor to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of his contribution to the art.