MXPA06012046A - Connector for enteral fluid delivery set - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector for use in connecting a container of liquid nutrients to an enteral feeding tube to supply the liquid nutrients to a patient includes an integrally formed spike projecting into a cavity defined by an interior surface of a body of tbe connector. An air passage in communication witb tbe cavity extends through tbe spike to outside tbe connector, A filter is secured to the end of the passage outside the connectost +IBg-the body of the connector is free of structure that both defines any portion of the liquid passage and is fonned for penetrating the puncturable seal of the container.

Description

CONNECTOR FOR ENTRY FLUID DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a connector for an enteric fluid dispensing apparatus, and more particularly, to a connector having an air weighing that extends through an integrally formed tip. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In an enteric fluid dispensing apparatus for a patient, there is a need to provide a connector that makes a quick connection from a fluid delivery apparatus to a pre-filled, sealed container with sheet containing enteric nutritional fluid. . In these systems, the connector is preferably in the form of a lid, which replaces the shipping lid in the pre-filled container. Either the cap or the enteric fluid dispensing apparatus includes a tip member for piercing the leaf seal in the container. The layer has a liquid passage for fluidly from the container and a feeding tube of the dispensing apparatus and an air passage for introducing air into the container as fluid flows from the container. A filter is placed in the air passage to inhibit microbes from entering the container. In a type of a conventional connector, the passage REF: 175650 of the liquid is formed through the tip member. This arrangement simplifies the configuration procedure; however, sometimes the portions of the perforated seal may become lodged in the passage of. Liquid when the tip pierces the seal or the seal can fold up into the passage and inhibit the flow of liquid. In another type of conventional connector, the air passage does not extend into the connector interior, and during use, the air passage inlet is adjacent to the seal. Some prior tip arrangements do not provide a sufficiently large opening through the sheet seal, and the seal may become lodged in the air passage, possibly causing the feed container to implode. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of the present invention, a connector for use in connecting a container of liquid nutrients to an enteric feeding tube for supplying liquid nutrients to a patient comprises in general a body having an interior surface defining a cavity for receiving an outlet from the container, and an exterior surface. A passage is defined for liquids in the body. The passage for liquids has a first end in fluid with the cavity and a second end for connection to the enteric feeding tube for fluidly the container and the enteric feeding tube when the connector is received in the container. A point is formed integrally with the body. The tip has a free end protruding into the cavity to pierce a pierceable seal that covers the outlet of the container as the outlet of the container is being received in the cavity. An air passage extends through the tip to the exterior surface of the body to introduce air from the outside of the connector to the container when the connector is attached to the container. The body is free of structure that both defines any portion of the passageway for liquids as it is formed to penetrate the pierceable seal of the container. Other objects and characteristics will become partly evident and partly pointed out later in the present. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connector for connecting an enteric container of liquid nutrients to an enteral feeding tube constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; Figure 2 is a vertical section of the connector; Figure 3 is a vertical section of the connector introduced under pressure into a small outlet vessel and attached to an enteric feeding tube; Figure 4 is a vertical section of the connector threaded on a large outlet vessel and attached to an enteric feeding tube; Figure 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view, with separation of portions of the large outlet vessel, the connector and the enteric feeding tube; Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the connector; Figure 7 is a front elevation of the connector with a portion of a separate connector body to reveal a tip of the connector; Figure 8 is a side elevation of the connector with a portion of the body of the connector detached to reveal the tip; and Figure 9 is a side elevation of the connector with a separate air filter in parts of the connector and a mounting for the partially separated filter to illustrate the internal construction. Corresponding reference characters include parts corresponding to the entire length of the figures. Detailed description of the invention. Referring now to the figures, and in particular to Figures 1-2, a connector for connecting a liquid nutrient container to an enteric feeding tube is generally indicated at 10. The connector includes a body, indicated generally at 12, having an inner surface 14 (Figure 2) defg a cavity 16 for receiving an outlet from the container, as will be explained in more detail below (Figures 3-5). The body 12 has a cylindrical lower portion 18 and a smaller cylindrical upper portion 20 projecting upwardly from an upper surface 22 of the lower portion. With reference to Figures 3-5, the cavity 16 is configured to receive the different types of containers. As shown in Figure 3, the cavity 16 in the upper portion 20 is made in a size and shape for reception by press fitting a relatively small outlet 24 of a container 26. The inner surface 14 in the upper portion 20 is elastically deformable to allow a rigid press fit member (eg, a protruding edge extending around the outlet 24) to snap into the upper portion. As shown in Figure 4, the cavity 16 in the lower portion 18 is made to a size and is shaped to threadably receive a relatively larger outlet 28 from a container 30. The inner surface 14 in the lower portion 18 of connector 10 includes threads 32 projecting internally for attachment to external threads 33 that extend around outlet 28 of container 30. Depth D (Figure 2) of cavity 16 in portion lower 18 is between approximately 1.40 centimeters (0.55 inches) and 1.80 centimeters (0.71 inches). This depth D allows the connector 10 to be attached to the containers 30 having necks of different sizes and accommodates a safer connection with the different containers. Additionally, the internal threads 32 of the lower portion 18 have a thickness i of between about 0.12 centimeters (0.047 inches) and about 0.11 centimeters (0.043 inches) in height. The ridges 34 (Figure 1) placed around the outer surface of the body 12 in the lower portion 18 provide a user with adequate restraint when threaded to the connector 10 in the container 30. The connector 10 can be configured to be attached to an outlet from a container in other ways without departing from the scope of this invention. In addition, the connector 10 can be configured to be attached to only one type of container, such as a threaded container or pressure adjusting container, or the connector can be configured to join more than two types of container. With reference to Figures 2-4, a passage 38 for liquids extends through the upper portion 20 of the body 12 and is fluid with the cavity 16. An opening 40 of the passage 38 for liquids is substantially flush with a section 42 of the upper surface of the inner surface 14 of the body 12 (ie, the passage for liquids does not extend into the cavity 16), although it is contemplated that the passage for liquids can be extended in the cavity. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper surface section 42 is substantially planar. The liquid passage 38 also extends through a conduit 44 projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the body 12 of the upper portion 20. The conduit 44 has threads 46 that protrude externally to join an internally threaded adapter 52 and an enteric feeding tube 54 (Figures 3-5). The external threads 46 of the conduit 44 have a thickness T2 of between about 0.11 centimeters (0.043 inches) and about 0.06 centimeters (0.002 inches). Other ways to connect the enteric feed tube 54 to the connector 10, which include the use of an interference adapter, is within the scope of this invention. As shown in Figures 3-5, when assembled, the connector 10 is secured to the outlet 24, 28 of the respective container 26, 30 either by threading (as shown in Figures 4 and 5) or by adjusting the connector in the container (Figure 3). The threaded adapter 52 is threaded into the conduit 44 of the connector 10. In this way, when assembled, the connector 10 connects for fluid from the enteric feeding tube 54 to the attached container 26, 30. With reference to Figures 2-7, a generally elongated tip, indicated generally at 58, integrally formed with the body 12 protrudes from the section 42 of upper surface of the body in the cavity 16. The tip 58 is separated at a distance Si (Figure 2) from a central axis AB of the body 12 and a distance S2 (Figure 2) from a longitudinal axis Ao of the opening 40 of the passage 38 liquid. Tip 58 is configured to pierce a pierceable seal 60 (eg, a leaf seal (Figures 3-5) covering outlet 24, 28 of container 26, 30 to allow liquid nutrients to exit the container. better in Figure 6, the tip 58 has a pair of opposed narrow sides 63A, 63B and a pair of opposed wide sides 63C, 63D extending between its length Ls (Figure 7) With reference to Figures 6 and 7, a bottom surface 62 of the tip 58 (ie, at the free end of the tip) is generally planar As shown in Figure 7, the bottom surface 62 is bevelled from the narrow side 63A (in general, a narrow first side) to the opposite narrow side 63B (in general, a narrow second side), such that the bottom surface is in a plane that crosses the central axis AB of the body 12 at an angle. This beveled configuration of the bottom surface 62 forms a sharp point 64 to pierce seal 60 of the container threaded member 30. As shown in Figure 8, the bottom surface 62 is also bevelled from the wide side 63C (generally, a wide first side) to the opposite wide side 63D (generally, a wide second side), such that the background surface is on a plane that crosses the central axis of the body AB at an angle T2. With reference to Figure 7, the narrow side 63B is bevelled from the wide side 63D to the opposite wide side 63C, defining a knife edge 66 along the length Ls from tip to tip 64. After the seal 60 perforated by the tip 64, the knife edge 66 cuts the seal 60 as the connector 10 is rotated (eg screwed) at the outlet 24, 28 of the container 26, 30. The tip 58 makes a relatively large opening 70 (ie, greater than the width of the tip 58), generally circular, through the seal 70, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. With reference to Figures 6-8, the wide side 63D of the tip 58 is generally arched and joins the beveled narrow side 63B at the fold edge 68. The narrow side 63B tapers towards the bottom surface 62 such that the fold edge 68 goes down or angled towards the tip 64. As the connector 10 is rotated in the container 26, 30, the knife edge 66 cuts the seal 60 and form a blade edge margin 69 (Figures 3 and 4) defining the opening 70. With reference to Figures 3 and 4, as the connector 10 continues to rotate, the crease edge 68 of the tip 58 folds or doubles the blade edge margin 68 of the seal 60 away from the opening 70 in the seal 60 and away from the opening 40 of the passage 38 for liquids so that the blade edge margin will not obstruct the openings.

With reference to Figures 2-4, a passage 72 of air extends from the cavity 16 through the tip 58 and the upper portion 20 of the body 12. A vacuum within the container 26, 30, created when the liquid leaves the container, extracts the air in the container through the air passage 72, thereby allowing the liquid to flow continuously and freely from the container through the fluid passage 38 of the connector 10. The air passage 72 opens on the bottom surface 62 of the tip 58 to communicate with the cavity 16, although the passage may be opened at other locations along the length Ls of the tip. With reference to Figures 2-4 and 9, the air passage 72 is connected for fluids to a filter assembly, generally indicated at 74, projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the body 12 in the upper portion 20. The filter assembly 74 includes a large cylindrical opening 76 (Figure 2) having a longitudinal axis Ac which extends generally transverse to the central axis AB of the body 12. A tubular conduit 78 positioned within the large opening 76 extends in general coaxially in it. As shown in Figure 2, the duct 78 has a first end 80 open in fluid with the air passage 72 and a second open end 82 terminating inside the large opening 76. The large opening 76 and the surface Outside of the duct 78 define an annular cavity 84 (Figure 2) that makes an interference fit with a tubular end 86 of a filter 88 (Figure 9) such that the filter is in fluid with the duct and the air passage 72 when fits in the cavity. As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, when the air filter 88 is received in the filter assembly 74, a filter filter means 90 extends out of the assembly. The complete connector 10, excluding the air filter 88, can be formed as an integral homogeneous unit, such as in molding (for example, injection molding) or in forming, including drilling, the stock material. Alternatively, the connector 10 can be constructed of one or more separate components held together in a suitable manner. Suitable materials for making the connector 10 include polypropylene (e.g., polypropylene 535), polyethylene, and other suitable polymers. Other material may be used, and a different material may be used for the separate components of the connector 10. When introducing the elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments thereof, the articles "a", "an", " "and" this "is intended to mean that there is one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that they may be additional elements other than the items listed.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the various objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results are achieved. Since several changes can be made in the previous constructions, products and methods, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is proposed that all the matter contained in the previous description and shown in the appended figures should be interpreted as illustrative and not in the sense limiting It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the present invention is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. Connector for use in connection of a container of liquid nutrients to an enteric feeding tube for supplying liquid nutrients to a patient, the connector is characterized in that it comprises: a body having a lower surface defining a cavity for receiving an exit from the container, and an outer surface; a passage for liquids defined in the body having a first end in fluid with the cavity and a second end for connection to the enteric feeding tube for fluidly the container and the enteric feeding tube when the connector is received in the container; a tip formed integrally with the body and having a free end protruding into the cavity to pierce a pierceable seal that covers the outlet of the container as the outlet of the container is received in the cavity; a passage of air extending through the tip to the outer surface of the body to introduce air from the outside of the connector into the container when the connector is attached to the container; and the body that is free of structure that defines any portion of the passage for liquids and is formed to penetrate the pierceable seal of the container.
2. 2. Connector in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that no portion of the passage for liquids extends into the cavity.
3. 3. Connector in accordance with the claim 2, characterized in that the inner surface of the body includes an upper surface section, the passage for liquids having an opening generally flush with the upper surface section.
4. 4. Connector in accordance with the claim 3, characterized in that the tip protrudes from the inner surface of the body.
5. 5. Connector in accordance with the claim 4, characterized in that the tip is separated from the opening of the passage for liquids on the inner surface.
6. 6. Connector according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper surface section is substantially planar.
7. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises an air filter and a filter assembly placed on the outer surface of the body in fluid with the air passage to connect the filter from the air to the body.
8. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the body has a lower cylindrical portion and a cylindrical upper portion projecting from the lower portion, the inner surface in the lower portion having threads protruding internally so as to join together threaded to a container with a threaded outlet, of larger diameter, the inner surface in the upper portion which is adapted for snapping to a container with a smaller diameter outlet.
9. Connector according to claim 8, characterized in that the passage for liquids is partially defined by a tubular conduit projecting outwards from the outer surface of the upper portion of the body having threads on its outer surface for the threaded connection to the enteric feeding tube.
10. 10. Connector in accordance with the claim I, characterized in that the tip has a generally flat bottom surface and the air passage opens in the flat bottom surface in the cavity.
11. 11. Connector according to claim 10, characterized in that the tip has a blade edge extending along its length.
12. 12. Connector in accordance with the claim II, characterized in that the bottom surface of the tip it is generally in a plane crossing a central axis of the body at an angle to thereby form a point at a lower end of the blade edge.
13. 13. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the body has a central axis, the tip separating from the central axis. 1 .
14. Connector according to claim 13, characterized in that the passage of liquids has an opening at its first end having a longitudinal axis separated from the central axis of the body.
15. 15. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the tip has a first and a second wide opposite sides, and a first and a second narrow, opposite sides, the second narrow side that is beveled from the second wide side to the first wide side, so that a cutting edge is formed where the second narrow side meets the first broad side, the second narrow side tapers towards the free end of the tip such that a crease edge is formed where the second side narrow is on the second broad side.
16. 16. Connector according to claim 15, characterized in that the first wide side is generally arcuate.