Patent ID: 12241570

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before some particular embodiments are disclosed in greater detail, it should be understood that the particular embodiments disclosed herein do not limit the scope of the concepts provided herein. It should also be understood that a particular embodiment disclosed herein can have features that can be readily separated from the particular embodiment and optionally combined with or substituted for features of any of a number of other embodiments disclosed herein.

Regarding terms used herein, it should also be understood the terms are for the purpose of describing some particular embodiments, and the terms do not limit the scope of the concepts provided herein. Ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third, etc.) are generally used to distinguish or identify different features or steps in a group of features or steps, and do not supply a serial or numerical limitation. For example, “first,” “second,” and “third” features or steps need not necessarily appear in that order, and the particular embodiments including such features or steps need not necessarily be limited to the three features or steps. Labels such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” and the like are used for convenience and are not intended to imply, for example, any particular fixed location, orientation, or direction. Instead, such labels are used to reflect, for example, relative location, orientation, or directions. Singular forms of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The words “including,” “has,” and “having,” as used herein, including the claims, shall have the same meaning as the word “comprising.” Furthermore, the terms “or” and “and/or” as used herein are to be interpreted as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. As an example, “A, B or C” or “A, B and/or C” mean “any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C.” An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, components, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

The phrases “connected to” and “coupled to” refer to any form of interaction between two or more entities, including mechanical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, fluid, signal, communicative (including wireless), and thermal interaction. Two components may be connected or coupled to each other even though they are not in direct contact with each other. For example, two components may be coupled to each other through an intermediate component.

Any methods disclosed herein include one or more steps or actions for performing the described method. The method steps and/or actions may be interchanged with one another. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions is required for proper operation of the embodiment, the order and/or use of specific steps and/or actions may be modified. Moreover, sub-routines or only a portion of a method described herein may be a separate method within the scope of this disclosure. Stated otherwise, some methods may include only a portion of the steps described in a more detailed method.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG.1illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a sealing member100coupled between representative fluid connectors, i.e., the first connector116and the second connect117, in a connected state. A fluid lumen113extends longitudinally through the connectors116,117. The sealing member100is configured to provide a fluid seal between the first and second connectors116,117. In some embodiments, the sealing member100may define a primary seal between the connectors. In other embodiments, the sealing member100may define a secondary seal (i.e., a backup seal) between the first and second connectors116,117.

In some embodiments, the first and second connectors116,117may be attached to components of a TTM system (not shown). For example, the first and second connectors116,117may define a fluid connection between a fluid delivery line and a thermal pad. In another example, the first and second connectors116,117may define a fluid connection between a fluid delivery line and a TTM module.

The sealing member100may generally define a tubular shape having an annular wall110. The annular wall110may extend circumferentially around and longitudinally along each of the connectors116,117. The sealing member100may be positioned with respect to the connectors116,117so that a junction point115of the connectors116,117is located between a first end101and a second end102of the sealing member100.

The sealing member100may be an elastic sleave/shroud configured to deflect or deform in response to externally applied forces. In some embodiments, the sealing member100may include one or more deflectable/deformable portions. The sealing member100or at least a portion thereof may be formed of a flexible/deformable material such as silicone, ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM), a natural rubber, or any other suitably flexible material. In some embodiments, the sealing member100may include supporting structural elements, such as a coil, longitudinal stiffening wires, circular rings, or any other structure elements consistent with the functionality of the sealing member100.

The sealing member100may be attached to the first connector116to inhibit or prevent longitudinal displacement of the sealing member100with respect to the first connector116. In some embodiments, rotation of the sealing member100with respect to the first connector116may also be inhibited. The attachment of the sealing member100to the first connector116may define a fluid seal132between sealing member100and the first connector116.

The sealing member100may be coupled with the first connector116via a contact force between the sealing member100and the first connector116. For example, a first engagement portion131of the sealing member100may be sized to fit within a recess133of the first connector116while defining an interference fit with the first connector116. In some embodiments, the sealing member100may include a separate device (e.g., a band clamp, not shown) to define the contact force. In other embodiments, the sealing member100may be bonded to the first connector116via an adhesive. The coupling of the first engagement portion131with the first connector116may define the fluid seal132between the sealing member100and the first connector116. By way of summary, the sealing member100may be permanently attached to the first connector116or selectively attached to and/or detached from the first connector116.

The sealing member100engages the second connector117via a second engagement portion141. The second engagement portion141is sized to fit within a recess143defining an interference fit with the second connector117. The interference fit is defined to accommodate longitudinal displacement of the second connector117relative to sealing member100. In other words, a contact force144between the second engagement portion141and second connector117may be sufficiently minimal to allow the second connector117to be inserted into and extracted from the sealing member100manually be a clinician while also defining a seal142between the sealing member100and the second connector117.

The sealing member100defines an annular chamber105(e.g., annular space or gap) between the connectors116,117and the annular wall110. The chamber105is bounded on the ends by the engagement portions131,141. The chamber105may be in fluid communication with the lumen113via a leak path between the connectors116,117at the junction point115. As such, the fluid pressure114within the lumen113may define a chamber pressure106of the chamber105. In an instance of a negative pressure within the lumen113, the resulting negative chamber pressure106causes atmospheric pressure to exert a radially inward force130on the annular wall110. In such an instance, the radially inward force130causes an increase in the contact force144between the second engagement portion141and the second connector117. The seal142between the second engagement portion141and the second connector117may be enhanced by the increase in the contact force144resulting from the negative chamber pressure106.

In some embodiments, the radially inward force130applied to the annular wall110may also increase a contact force134between the first engagement portion131and the first connector10. Consequently, the negative pressure114with the lumen113may define a greater integrity of the seal132.

The sealing member100is configured to engage the second connector117according to a first engagement configuration and a second engagement configuration as defined by the pressure114within the lumen113. More specifically, the sealing member100may be disposed in a first engagement configuration when the pressure114is non-negative. The sealing member100may transition toward the second engagement configuration in response to a negative pressure114. In the first engagement configuration, the sealing member100may facilitate coupling and decoupling of the connectors116,117. As such, longitudinal and/or rotational displacement between the sealing member100and the second connector117is allowed in the first engagement configuration.

The second engagement configuration defines enhanced engagement properties over the first engagement configuration. The second engagement configuration defines a greater integrity of the seal142than the first engagement configuration. Similarly, the second engagement configuration may define a greater frictional force between the sealing member100and the second connector117resisting longitudinal and rotational displacement of the second connector117with respect to the sealing member100.

In use, the sealing member100may automatically transition between the first engagement configuration and the second engagement configuration. In some embodiments, the sealing member100may transition from the second engagement configuration to the first engagement configuration to facilitate connection and/or disconnection of the connectors116,117. Similarly, the sealing member100may transition from the first engagement configuration to the second engagement configuration to establish the seal142only when the first connector116is coupled with the second connector117. Additionally, the sealing member100may transition from the first engagement configuration to the second engagement configuration in response to a change the pressure116toward the negative and in some embodiments, the negative pressure may be defined by the TTM module.

A method of using the sealing member100may include the following steps or processes. The sealing member100is coupled with the first connector. The first connector116is coupled with the second connector117during which the second connector117is inserted within the sealing member117. A negative pressure is established within the lumen113. In the event of a leak between the connectors116,117, the negative causes the sealing member100to form a seal142between the sealing member100and the second connector117. In some embodiments, the vacuum also causes the sealing member100to form a seal132between the sealing member100and the first connector116. The negative is released from the lumen113and the second connector117is separated from the first connector116during which the second connector is withdrawn from the sealing member100.

FIG.2illustrates a connector system250in a connected state. The connector system250generally includes a first connector216, a complementary second connector217, and sealing member200. The sealing member200can, in certain respects, resemble components of the sealing member100described in connection withFIG.1. It will be appreciated that all the illustrated embodiments may have analogous features. Accordingly, like features are designated with like reference numerals, with the leading digits increment to “2.” For instance, the annular wall is designated as “110” inFIG.1, and an analogous annular wall is designated as “210” inFIG.2. Relevant disclosure set forth above regarding similarly identified features thus may not be repeated hereafter. Moreover, specific features of the sealing member100and related components shown inFIG.1may not be shown or identified by a reference numeral in the drawings or specifically discussed in the written description that follows. However, such features may clearly be the same, or substantially the same, as features depicted in other embodiments and/or described with respect to such embodiments. Accordingly, the relevant descriptions of such features apply equally to the features of the sealing member200. Any suitable combination of the features, and variations of the same, described with respect to the sealing member100and components illustrated inFIG.1can be employed with the sealing member200and components ofFIG.2, and vice versa. This pattern of disclosure applies equally to further embodiments depicted in subsequent figures and described hereafter.

The sealing member200is sealably attached to a first connector216. The second connector217includes an inner annular wall271defining the lumen of the second connect217. The second connector217further includes an outer annular wall272spaced radially away from the inner annular wall271. A bottom wall273extends between the inner wall271and the outer wall272to define an annular cavity275(i.e., a receiving moat). The cavity275includes an inner sealing surface276and an outer sealing surface277.

As shown inFIG.2, when the connectors216,217are coupled together, an extending portion211(i.e., an elastomeric sleeve) of the sealing member210is inserted within the cavity275. When inserted, an expanded portion212of the sealing member210is disposed adjacent the outer sealing surface277. The expanded portion212is sized to sealably contact the outer sealing surface277. In other words, in the free state (i.e., absent any external forces), an outside diameter defined by the expanded portion212is greater than an inside diameter defined by the outer sealing surface277. Consequently, upon coupling of the connectors216,217, the expanded portion212is compressed (i.e., forced radially inward) by the outer sealing surface277defining a seal252between the expanded portion212and the outer sealing surface277or more generally, between the sealing member200and the second connector217.

In similar fashion to the sealing member100described above, the sealing member200may transition between a first engagement configuration and second engagement configuration in accordance with a change of fluid pressure214within the lumen213. In the first engagement configuration, consistent with a positive/zero fluid pressure214, the seal252is established between the sealing member200and the second connector217. In the second engagement configuration, consistent with a negative fluid pressure214, the seal242is established or enhanced between the sealing member200and the second connector217.

In use, the seal252prevents leakage of water from the junction point215when a positive/zero pressure214is present within the lumen213. More specifically, a positive/zero pressure214translates to the positive/zero chamber pressure206within the chamber205allowing the expanded portion212to define a contact force231against the outer sealing surface277. The radially outward force231causes the expanded portion212to form the seal252with the outer sealing surface277.

Similarly, air leakage into the lumen213is prevented by the seal242when a negative fluid pressure214is present within the lumen213. More specifically, the negative fluid pressure214translates to a negative chamber pressure206causing the atmospheric pressure to exert a radially inward force230on the annular wall210. The radially inward force causes the engagement portion241to form the seal242with the inner sealing surface276.

A method of using the sealing member200may include forming the seal252between the sealing member200and the second connector217upon coupling of the second connector217with the first connector216.

FIG.3Aillustrates a sealing member300in use with a first connector316and second connector317. The sealing member300may generally define a tubular shape defining a sealing member lumen303. The sealing member300includes an annular wall310and a septum wall311extending across the sealing member lumen303. The annular wall310may extend circumferentially around and longitudinally along each of the connectors316,317. The sealing member300may be positioned with respect to the connectors316,317so that the ends316A,317A of the connector316,317are disposed adjacent the septum wall311.

The sealing member300engages the second connector317via a second engagement portion341. The second engagement portion341is sized to define a sliding fit between the sealing member300and the second connector317. In other words, a contact force344between the second engagement portion341and second connector317may be sufficiently minimal to allow the second connector317to be inserted into and extracted from the sealing member300.

The sealing member300defines an annular chamber307(e.g., annular space or gap) between the first connector316and the annular wall310. The chamber307is bounded on the ends by the septum wall311and the first engagement portion331. The chamber307may be in fluid communication with the lumen313A via a leak path between the first connector316and the septum wall311. As such, the fluid pressure314A within the lumen313A may define a chamber pressure308of the chamber307. In an instance of a negative fluid pressure314A within the lumen313A, the resulting negative chamber pressure308causes atmospheric pressure to exert a radially inward force330A on the annular wall310. In such an instance, the radially inward force330A causes an increase in the contact force334between the first engagement portion331and the first connector316. A seal332between the first engagement portion331and the first connector316may be defined by the contact force334resulting from the negative chamber pressure308.

Similarly, the sealing member300defines an annular chamber305(e.g., annular space or gap) between the second connector317and the annular wall310. The chamber305is bounded on the ends by the septum wall311and the second engagement portion341. The chamber305may be in fluid communication with the lumen313B via a leak path between the second connector317and the septum wall311. As such, the fluid pressure314B within the lumen313B may define a chamber pressure306of the chamber305. In an instance of a negative fluid pressure314B within the lumen313B, the resulting negative chamber pressure306causes atmospheric pressure to exert a radially inward force330B on the annular wall310. In such an instance, the radially inward force330B causes an increase in the contact force344between the second engagement portion341and the second connector317. A seal342between the second engagement portion341and the second connector317may be defined by the contact force344resulting from the negative chamber pressure306.

The sealing member300may be attached to the first connector316to inhibit or prevent longitudinal displacement of the sealing member300with respect to the first connector316. In some embodiments, rotation of the sealing member300with respect to the first connector316may also be inhibited. The attachment of the sealing member300to the first connector316may define a fluid seal between sealing member300and the first connector316. In other embodiments, the sealing member300may include a separate device (e.g., a band clamp, not shown) to define the contact force. In other embodiments, the sealing member300may be bonded to the first connector316via an adhesive. The sealing member300may be permanently attached to the first connector316or selectively attached to and/or detached from the first connector316.

The sealing member300is configured to engage the second connector317according to a first engagement configuration and a second engagement configuration as defined by a pressure within the lumen313B. More specifically, the sealing member300may be disposed in a first engagement configuration when the pressure314B is non-negative. The sealing member300may transition toward the second engagement configuration in response to a pressure314B that is negative. In the first engagement configuration, the sealing member300may facilitate coupling and decoupling of the connectors316,317. As such, longitudinal and/or rotational displacement between the sealing member300and the second connector317is allowed in the first engagement configuration.

The second engagement configuration may define enhanced engagement properties over the first engagement configuration. In some embodiments, the second engagement configuration may define a greater integrity of the seal342than the first engagement configuration. Similarly, the second engagement configuration may define a greater frictional force between the sealing member300and the second connector317resisting longitudinal and rotational displacement of the second connector317with respect to the sealing member300.

In some embodiments, the septum wall311defines a face seal335with the end316A of the first connector316. The septum wall311may also define a face seal345with the end317A of the second connector317. As such the septum wall311may define a fluid seal between the connectors316,317.

FIG.3Bis an end view of the sealing member300. The septum wall311includes one or more slits351extending through the septum wall311. The slits351along with the corresponding elastomeric flaps352define a pressure actuated star valve350. The slits351and flaps352are configured to define a septum seal in the absence of a pressure difference across the septum311. More specifically, when the pressure difference across the septum311is below a defined limit, the star valve350is in a closed state preventing fluid flow through the sealing member300. Conversely, when the pressure difference across the septum311exceeds the defined limit, the flaps352deflect to transition the star valve350to an open state allowing fluid flow through the sealing member300.

In use, deliberate fluid flow (e.g., flow caused by a pump) through the connectors316,317produces a pressure difference across the septum311causing the star valve350to open. When the fluid flow is stopped, the pressure difference is eliminated allowing the star valve350to close. In further use, the sealing member300may be attached to the first connector316so that when deliberate fluid flow is stopped and the connectors316,317are separated, the sealing member300remains coupled with the first connector316preventing inadvertent fluid flow out of the first connector316.

Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can use the preceding description to utilize the invention to its fullest extent. The claims and embodiments disclosed herein are to be construed as merely illustrative and exemplary, and not a limitation of the scope of the present disclosure in any way. It will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, with the aid of the present disclosure, that changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the disclosure herein. In other words, various modifications and improvements of the embodiments specifically disclosed in the description above are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the order of the steps or actions of the methods disclosed herein may be changed by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions is required for proper operation of the embodiment, the order or use of specific steps or actions may be modified. The scope of the invention is therefore defined by the following claims and their equivalents.