Patent ID: 12213947

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

First Exemplary Construction of the Enteral Adapter Assembly

With reference now to the drawings,FIGS.1A-Gshow a first construction of an enteral adapter assembly for connecting an enteral fluid source (e.g., an enteral feed bag) to an enteral feed tube. The adapter assembly10includes an adapter20and a removable cap30. The cap30is shown as being tethered to the adapter. This is advantageous as it prevents the user misplacing the cap.

Turning toFIG.1B, there is shown a front view of the adapter20. The adapter has a proximal end22and a distal end24, and a fluid conduit26extending therebetween. A longitudinal axis “X” extends lengthwise along the fluid conduit between the proximal end and the distal end of the adapter.

The distal end24of the adapter has a first threaded connection portion for removably screwing the adapter onto or into an end of an enteral feed tube. As shown inFIGS.1D and1G, the first threaded connection portion of adapter10is a female ENFit connector28. This connector is configured to mate with a male ENFit connector32provided at the end of the enteral feed tube34. A tethered cap60is provided on the enteral feeding tube itself and is used to cap off the tube in the same was as cap30caps off the adapter.

As also shown inFIG.1G, the removable cap30includes a second threaded connection portion, here shown in the form of a male ENFit connector36, configured to mate with the female ENFit connector28at the distal end of the adapter. This enables the cap to be removably screwed onto the adapter, when the adapter has been disconnected from the enteral feed tube.

The proximal end22of the adapter has a first connection portion for attaching the adapter to a fluid outlet, shown in the form of a nozzle38provided on the enteral fluid source. As shown inFIGS.1C and1D, in adapter10the first connection portion includes a third threaded connection portion in the form of a female screw thread40provided on a wall defining the fluid conduit26. Screw thread40is configured to be screwed onto a corresponding male screw thread42provided on an external wall of the fluid outlet38.

Adapter10includes a pair of diametrically opposed locking members in the form of deflectable arms44a,44bextending from the proximal end of the adapter. Each arm has a so called “hook-like” or “latch-like” design. Each deflectable arm is configured to deflect during attachment of the adapter to the nozzle, to reversibly mate each deflectable arm with a respective corresponding feature on the nozzle.

Each deflectable arm44a,44bextends at an angle from the proximal end of the adapter to the longitudinal axis X. The angle is at least 10°. The angle may be at least 20°, at least 30°, at least 35°, at least 40°, at least 45°, at least 50° or at least 55°.

A hinged region45a,45bis provided at the junction between each arm and the proximal edge of the adapter, to enable deflection of each arm in a distal direction. The hinged region may be provided, for example, by a localised thinning of the material.

Each deflectable arm44a,44b, includes a most-proximally placed surface in the form of a ramped surface46a,46b.

Each deflectable arm44a,44balso includes a locking face48a,48bthat is positioned at the free end of each arm, and which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the adapter. Each locking face48a,48bextends in a distally direction from a junction with a respective ramped surface46a,46b.

Each deflectable arm44a,44bis configured to mate with a corresponding feature on the nozzle of the enteral fluid source in order to lock the adapter on the nozzle, and prevent inadvertent unscrewing. Examples of corresponding features are shown inFIGS.1E and1Fand may be in the form of parts of an anti-tamper mechanism. An example of an anti-tamper mechanism is an anti-tamper ring50, which includes a collar52from which spaced-apart protrusions54a,54bextend in a distal direction.

Each spaced-apart protrusion54a,54bincludes a contact point56a,56band a locking face58a,58b.

Each contact point56a,56bis the point at which contact is made between the ramped surface46a,46bof each deflectable arm44a,44b, and the corresponding feature54a,54bon the anti-tamper ring50as the adapter is screwed in a clockwise direction onto the nozzle.

With reference toFIG.1F, as the adapter is continued to be screwed onto the nozzle, each contact point56a,56bis caused to ride along the ramped surface towards the free end of each arm. The downward force applied by via the contact point56a,56bof each corresponding feature against the ramped surface46a,46bof each deflectable arm as the contact point rides along the ramped surface causes the gradual deflection of each arm in the distal direction.

With reference toFIG.1G, when each deflectable arm44a,44bhas been screwed past the respective contact point56a,56bon the spaced-apart protrusion54a,54b, the subsequent removal of the applied force enables the deflectable arm to spring back into its original (i.e., non-deflected) position.

In this position the locking face48a,48bprovided at the free end of each deflectable arm44a,44bis bought into contact with a respective locking face58a,58bprovided on each spaced-apart protrusion54a,54b.

The inventive combination of the angle of each deflectable arm relative to the longitudinal axis of the adapter and the locking face provided on each deflectable arm irreversibly locks the adapter onto the nozzle and prevents unscrewing in the anti-clockwise direction. This prevents the users inadvertently unscrewing the nozzle, and consequent failure of the fluid-tight connection, as the removable cap is unscrewed from the distal end of the adapter to enable a fluid connection to be made between the adapter and an enteral feed tube.

Second Exemplary Construction of the Enteral Adapter Assembly

With reference toFIGS.2A-E, a second construction of an enteral adapter assembly for connecting an enteral fluid source (e.g., an enteral feed bag) to an enteral feed tube is shown which is a variant of the first construction. The adapter assembly110includes an adapter120and a removable cap130. The cap is shown as being tethered to the adapter. This is advantageous as it prevents the user misplacing the cap.

The adapter120is similar in construction to the adapter20, differing only in the design of the locking members. The locking members are defined by a pair of diametrically opposed deflectable arms144a,144bpositioned at the proximal end of the adapter122. Each arm has a so-called “Shark fin” design.

A pair of generally rectangular cut-outs or flex windows160a,160bare formed in the wall of the adapter body. The pair of cut-outs are positioned on diametrically opposed sides of the adapter body. A proximal edge162a,162bof each cut-out defines a distal edge164a,164bof a respective deflectable arm144a,144b. Hence, each arm144a,144bextends generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis “X” of the adapter and does not have a free end.

Each deflectable arm has a first hinged region145a,145b, and a second hinged region147a,147bprovided at opposing ends of the arm. The hinged region may be provided, for example, by a localised thinning of the material. The provision of the hinged regions enables the distal edge164a,164bof the respective deflectable arm144a,144bto be flexed or “bowed” in a distal direction into the cut-out160a,160b.

Each deflectable arm144a,144b, includes a most-proximally placed surface in the form of a ramped surface146a,146b.

Each deflectable arm144a,144balso includes a locking face148a,148bwhich is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the adapter. Each locking face148a,148bextends in a distally direction from a junction with a respective ramped surface146a,146b.

As shown inFIG.2E, the irreversible locking mechanism between each deflectable arm114a,144band the corresponding feature154a,154bon the anti-tamper ring150is the same as described above in relation to adapter10.

Third Exemplary Construction of the Enteral Adapter Assembly

Turning now toFIGS.3A-3Ethere is shown a third construction of an enteral adapter assembly for connecting an enteral fluid source (e.g., an enteral feed bag) to an enteral feed tube is shown which is a variant of the first construction. The adapter assembly210includes an adapter220and a removable cap230. The cap is shown as being tethered to the adapter. This is advantageous as it prevents the user misplacing the cap.

The adapter220is similar in construction to the adapter20and adapter120, differing only in the design of the locking members.

In this construction, the locking members are defined by a pair of diametrically opposed deflectable arms244a,244bthat are aligned substantially parallel with longitudinal axis of the adapter. The pair of arms define a juxtaposable jaw. This third construction is a so-called “jaw-like” design.

Each deflectable arm has a hinged region245. The hinged region may be provided, for example, by a localised thinning of the material. The provision of the hinged regions enables a distal portion of each deflectable arm to be flexed outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis X.

The proximal region of each deflectable arm244a,244bincludes a ramped surface246a,246bthat extends at an angle from the proximal end of the adapter in a distally direction and angled away from the longitudinal axis “X”.

Each deflectable arm244a,244balso includes a locking face248a,248bwhich is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis “X” of the adapter. Each locking face248a,248bextends from and a perpendicular to a respective ramped surface246a,246b.

As shown inFIGS.3D and3E, in use the adapter is inserted up the nozzle of the enteral feed bag. The ramped surfaces246a,246bhelp to guide each respective deflectable arm into the nozzle.

Due to the inner diameter of the nozzle being narrower than the outer diameter of the adapter, the pair of deflectable arms244a,244bwill be deflected towards each other and be constrained during insertion. When the proximal end of the adapter has exited the nozzle, and the constraining force is removed, each deflectable arm244a,244bwill deflect back to its original configuration. The locking face248a,248bof each deflectable arm will be brought into a locking abutment with a corresponding feature i.e., the proximal rim250of the nozzle, to thereby irreversibly lock the adapter to the nozzle.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the construction described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular constructions disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims.