GB2060400A

GB2060400A - Epidural end connector

Info

Publication number: GB2060400A
Application number: GB8033644A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: STEER DEV Ltd PETER
Current assignee: STEER DEV Ltd PETER
Priority date: 1979-10-18
Filing date: 1980-10-17
Publication date: 1981-05-07
Also published as: GB2060400B

Abstract

A connector for a cannula or other fine bore tube has a central stretchable body 1 with a passage which is open at one end, 3, to receive a cannula and which is connected at the other end to a union 4 adapted to receive a syringe or other device. An intermediate rigid sleeve 7 surrounds the central gripper body 1. An outer rigid sleeve 10 is a sliding fit on the intermediate sleeve and can move between an extended position and a retracted position. The outer sleeve 10 is connected to the central stretchable gripper body 1 in such a way that it will stretch the gripper body when the outer sleeve has been moved to its extended position. This stretching will constrict the passage in the gripper body. Toggle arms 13 are provided for moving the outer sleeve to its extended position. Teeth 8 retain the outer sleeve 10 in its retracted position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Epidural end connector This invention relates to a connector which enables a connection to be made between a cannula or other fine bore tube to a device such as a syringe or a luermount. For example, it is often necessary to connect a cannula to a patient during many surgical operations and it is an object of the invention to provide a connector which makes such connection more easy than has been possible hitherto.

According to the invention, a connector for a cannula or other fine bore tube comprises a central stretchable gripper body having a passage which is open at one end to receive a cannula or other tu be and is adapted at the other end to receive a syringe or other device, an intermediate rigid sleeve surrounding the central gripper body, an outer rigid sleeve which is slidably mounted on the intermediate sleeve for movement between an extended position and a retracted position, the said outer rigid sleeve being connected to the central stretchable gripper body in such a way that it will stretch the gripper body when the outer sleeve has been moved to its extended position thereby to constrict the passage in the gripper body, means for moving the outer sleeve to its extended position, and means for retaining the outer sleeve in its retracted position.

Preferably, the means for extending the outer rigid sleeve is a pair of toggle arms.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of part of a connector device in its open position; Figure 2 is a sectional view of part of the same device in its closed or extended position; and Figures 3 to 6 inclusive are sectional views illustrating individual components of the connector.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a device for connecting a cannula to a patient comprises a central gripper body 1 of a stretchable elastomeric material. This body 1 has an axial passage 2, one end 3 of which is flared to serve as a lead-in portion for a cannula. The other end of the passage 2 communicates with a union 4 adapted to receive a syringe or a leur lock or other device. The end of the gripper body remote from the lead-in end 3 is flared to provide a funnel portion 5. If desired, the central gripper body 1 has three portions 6 of reduced diameter, these portions serving to increase the stretchability of the body. However, these portions 6 are not essential with some materials.

The gripper body 1 is surrounded by an intermediate sleeve 7. This sleeve is a rigid moulding of mater ial such as a suitable grade of nylon and it has exter nal lugs or teeth 8 for a purpose to be described. One end of the sleeve 7 is enlarged to provide a cylindri cal portion 9 which receives the funnel portion 5 of the inner gripper body. An outer sleeve 10 fits on the intermediate sleeve 7 and is slidable on the intermediate sleeve. This outer body has internal slits or recesses in which the teeth 8 of the intermediate sleeve are engaged when the device is in an open or retracted position as shown in Figure 1. The outer sleeve 10 has two rings 11 and 12 between which extend a pair of toggle arms 13.One of these rings abuts against an enlarged or flanged portion 14 forming an abutment at the inlet end of the gripper body 1 and the other ring 12 abuts against an abutment flange 15 on the cylindrical body portion 9 of the intermediate sleeve 7. Thus, when the toggle arms 13 are closed together to a position shown in Figure 2, the rings are presed against their respective abutments 14, 15 and are, of course, moved apart. This will have the effect of stretching the cen tral gripper body thereby to constrict the diameter of the passage 2. This in turn causes the cannula contained in the passage 2 to be firmly gripped in a leak-proof manner. When the outer sleeve 10 has been moved to its extended position (as illustrated in Figure 2), the lugs 8 are disengaged from the internal slits or recesses in the sleeve 10 and when the body has been fully extended, one end of the sleeve 10 will abut against the teeth 8 (as shown in Figure 2) so that the sleeve 10 cannot return to its retracted position. The connector is a disposable product so that it is not necessary to provide means to enable the sleeve 10 to be released to return to its original position.

Claims

1. A connectorfor a cannula or similar article con prising a stretchable gripper body having a passage which is open at each one end to receive articles to be connected, means for stretching the gripper body thereby to constrict the passage and grip the article thereon and means for retaining the gripper body in its stretched condition.

2. A connector for a cannula or other fine bore tube comprising a central stretchable gripper body having a passage which is open at one end to recieve a cannula or other tube and is adapted at the other end to receive a syringe or other device, an intermediate rigid sleeve surrounding the central gripper body, an outer rigid sleeve which is slidably mounted on the intermediate sleeve for movement between an extended position and a retracted position, the said outer rigid sleeve being connected to the central stretchable gripper body in such a way that it will stretch the gripper body when the outer sleeve has been moved to its extended position, thereby to construct the passage in the gripper body, means for moving the outer sleeve to its extended position, and means for retaining the outer sleeve in its retracted position.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the gripper body is tubular and of stretchable elastomeric material, the rigid intermediate sleeve surrounds the central gripper body and has external lugs or teeth, the outer rigid sleeve is a sliding fit on the intermediate sleeve and has slits in which the lugs or teeth of the intermediate sleeve are engaged when the sleeve is in an open or retracted position and an abutment with which the lugs or teeth can engage when the outer sleeve is in an extended position and wherein means are provided for moving the outer sleeve to the extended position thereby to stretch the central gripper body whereupon the lugs or teeth will be disengaged from the slits and will engage the abutment to prevent the outer sleeve from returning to its retracted position.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the outer sleeve has at each end a ring between which a pair of toggle arms extends, one of the rings abutting against an abutment on the central gripper body and the other of which rings can abut against an abutment on the intermediate sleeve so that when the toggle arms are closed togetherthe rings are pressed against the abutments to move them apart thereby to stretch the gripper body.

5. A connector as claimed in either one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the gripper body has a plurality of portions of reduced diameter to increase its stretchability.

6. A connector for a cannula or other fine bore tube substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.