Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8182468?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-03-08 07:36:36
Document Index: 692384043

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 91', 'art 94', 'art 91', 'arts 832', 'arts 93', 'arts 92', 'arts 92', 'arts 833', 'art 101', 'art 101']

Patent US8182468 - Connector and infusion tube set - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA connector includes a male connector section having a male-side cavity, a female connector section having a female-side cavity to which another male connector section the same as the male connector section can be connected, a seal member formed from an elastic material for maintaining liquid tightness...http://www.google.com/patents/US8182468?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8182468 - Connector and infusion tube setAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS8182468 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 12/446,918Publication dateMay 22, 2012Filing dateNov 5, 2007Priority dateNov 6, 2006Also published asEP2085110A1, EP2085110A4, US20100030194, WO2008056631A1Publication number12446918, 446918, US 8182468 B2, US 8182468B2, US-B2-8182468, US8182468 B2, US8182468B2InventorsTakayuki Yokota, Yoshinori HishikawaOriginal AssigneeTerumo Kabushiki KaishaExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (7), Non-Patent Citations (2), Classifications (9), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetConnector and infusion tube setUS 8182468 B2Abstract A connector includes a male connector section having a male-side cavity, a female connector section having a female-side cavity to which another male connector section the same as the male connector section can be connected, a seal member formed from an elastic material for maintaining liquid tightness between the connector sections when the other male connector section and the female connector section are connected to each other, and lock mechanisms disposed respectively on the male connector section side and the female connector section side for maintaining the connected condition of the connector sections when the other male connector section and the female connector section are connected to each other. Each of the lock mechanisms has a male lock section formed to project in parallel to the direction of connection between the connector sections, and a female lock section, which is formed adjacent to the male lock section and parallel to the direction of connection, and to which another male lock section the same as the male lock section can be coupled.
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a connector and an infusion tube set having the same.
BACKGROUND ART In medical appliances requiring connection of passages for liquid(s) to be used for infusion, transfusion, nutrient dosing or the like, the liquid passages (circuits) must be connected and disconnected as required, when sustainedly or momentarily causing a flow of the liquid(s), such as a liquid medicine, blood, and liquid food. In such a situation, it is known to attach a connection means for connecting the liquid passages to an intermediate portion of the circuit. Typical examples of the connection means include the one described in Patent Document 1.
Patent Document 1: International Publication No. WO 2006/068211 DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector and an infusion tube set, in which unintended release of a connected condition can securely be prevented from occurring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the connector according to the present invention;
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The connector and the infusion tube set according to the present invention will be described in detail below, based on preferred embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings.
First Embodiment FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a first embodiment of the connector according to the present invention; FIG. 3 shows views (partial longitudinal sectional views) sequentially illustrating a connected condition of the connector shown in FIG. 1 (also in FIG. 2); FIG. 4 shows views (partial longitudinal sectional views) sequentially illustrating a disconnected condition of the connector shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 shows views (longitudinal sectional views) sequentially illustrating a connected condition of the connector shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a valve element (seal member) possessed by the connector shown in FIG. 1; FIGS. 7 and 8 are views sequentially illustrating a connected condition of the connector shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 9 is a plan view of an infusion tube set according to the present invention, which includes the connector shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the infusion tube set shown in FIG. 9, in a condition where each infusion tube has been connected. Incidentally, for facilitating descriptions thereof, the longitudinal direction of the connector will be referred to as an �x-axis direction,� and directions perpendicular to the x-axis direction will be referred to as a �y-axis direction� and �z-axis direction� respectively. Further, in the following descriptions, in FIGS. 6 to 10, the lower side will be referred to as a �distal� side and the upper side as a �proximal� side.
As shown in FIG. 3 (also in FIG. 4), the first female-side engaging part 91 is formed such that an inner peripheral portion (inside diameter) of the female lock section 9A on the opening part 94 side thereof gradually diminishes along the x-axis positive direction (the leftward direction in FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 3( c), when an end portion 911 of the first female-side engaging part 91 engages with the first male-side engaging parts 832 of the male lock section 8A of the connector 5A′, the connector 5A (the female lock section 9A) and the connector 5A′ (the male lock section 8A) are placed in a locked condition. Herein, the term �locked condition� implies a condition in which the connector 5A (the female lock section 9A) and the connector 5A′ (the male lock section 8A) are fully connected with each other, and more specifically, a condition in which the connection between the connector 5A and the connector 5A′ is not released, unless the operating parts 93 of the female lock section 9A of the connector 5A, to be described later, are operated.
As shown in FIG. 5, the second female-side engaging parts 92 are each provided so as to project from an intermediate location on the inner peripheral portion of the female lock section 9A. As shown in FIG. 5( b), when the second female-side engaging parts 92 engage with the second male-side engaging parts 833 of the male lock section 8A of the connector 5A′, the connector 5A and the connector 5A′ are placed in a half-locked condition. Herein, the term �half-locked condition� implies a condition in which the connector 5A and the connector 5A′ are not fully connected with each other, and more specifically, a condition in which the connector 5A and the connector 5A′ can be easily moved away from each other.
Second Embodiment FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the connector according to the present invention.
The deficit portions 102 respectively constitute female lock sections (function as female lock sections). In addition, those portions of the wall part 101 that are located between adjacent ones of the deficit portions 102, namely, four projected portions of the wall part 101 excluding the deficit portions 102 (hereinafter referred to as �projected portions 103�) constitute male lock sections (function as male lock sections).
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The connector according to the present invention includes a male connector section having a male-side cavity, a female connector section having a female-side cavity to which an other male connector section the same as the male connector section can be connected, a seal member formed from an elastic material for maintaining liquid tightness between the connector sections when the other male connector section and the female connector section are connected to each other, and lock mechanisms disposed respectively on the male connector section side and the female connector section side for maintaining the connected condition of the connector sections when the other male connector section and the female connector section are connected to each other. Each of the lock mechanisms has a male lock section formed to project in parallel with the direction of connection between the connector sections, and a female lock section disposed adjacent to the male lock section and which is parallel to the direction of connection, and to which another male lock section the same as the male lock section can be coupled. Therefore, in the connected condition in which the connectors are connected with each other, the female lock section and the male lock section on the side of the connector section on one side, and the female lock section and the male lock section on the side of the connector section on the other side, are connected together respectively. In other words, in the connector as a whole, the connected condition is composed of connections at two different locations. As a result, the connected condition is made rigid, and unintentional release of the connected condition can securely be prevented from occurring. Further, even if one of the connections at the two locations is released, the other connection is maintained. This ensures that unintentional release of the connected condition can reliably be prevented from occurring. Accordingly, the connector of the present invention has industrial applicability.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4588402 *May 1, 1985May 13, 1986Terumo Kabushiki KaishaConnector for medical tubing and medical solution bag device using the connectorUS4826477 *Sep 10, 1987May 2, 1989Abiomed Cardiovascular, Inc.Connector for blood handling systemsUS6077259Sep 30, 1998Jun 20, 2000Becton, Dickinson And CompanyContamination resistant connectorUS20080103484Dec 22, 2005May 1, 2008Terumo Kabushiki KaishaConnector, Tube Assembly, Infusion Tube Set, And Container For Medical UseJP2000107300A Title not availableJP2004049319A Title not availableWO2006068211A1Dec 22, 2005Jun 29, 2006Yoshinori HishikawaConnector, tube assembly, infusion tube set, and container for medical use* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1International Search Report (PCT/ISA/210) Jan. 28, 2008.2Written Opinion (PCT/ISA/237) Jan. 28, 2008.Classifications U.S. Classification604/535International ClassificationA61M25/16Cooperative ClassificationA61M2039/1033, A61M39/045, A61M39/1011, A61M2039/1027, A61M2039/1083, A61M39/26European ClassificationA61M39/10BLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionApr 23, 2009ASAssignmentOwner name: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA,JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:YOKOTA, TAKAYUKI;HISHIKAWA, YOSHINORI;US-ASSIGNMENT DATABASE UPDATED:20100204;REEL/FRAME:22588/918Effective date: 20090403Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:YOKOTA, TAKAYUKI;HISHIKAWA, YOSHINORI;REEL/FRAME:022588/0918Owner name: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPANRotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google