MXPA98000785A - Adapter to install, in a catheter pipe, a device for the handling of flui - Google Patents

Abstract

An adapter for attaching a fluid handling device to a catheter tube of the present invention includes a body with a proximal end, a distal end and a through-line conduit defining a longitudinal axis. The proximal end of the adapter includes an attachment for attaching a fluid handling device and the distal end of the body includes a receptacle for accepting and forming a releasable, substantially fluid-tight connection to a preselected catheter tube that It has an external diameter. The adapter of the invention has a hook member arranged on the receptacle. The engaging member has a forward axial access port with an internal surface to allow placement of a proximal end of a catheter tube in the receptacle. The engaging member is positioned for rotational movement with respect to the body, between an insertion position in which the receptacle is accessible to the catheter, and a latched position for retaining the catheter in the adapter. The adapter to hold the catheter in the adapter. The adapter of the invention is constructed so as to indicate in visual and tactile form the position of the hooking member with respect to the body, thereby allowing the doctor to easily distinguish whether the adapter is in the insertion position. or in the hooked position

Description

ADAPTER FOR- INSTALLING, IN A CATHETER PIPE, A DEVICE FOR FLUID HANDLING FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention, in general, relates to the field of catheters and, more particularly, to adapters for installing a device for handling fluids in a catheter tube.

BACKGROUND Catheters are elongated hollow tubes that are used to transmit fluids in or out of a patient's body. The conventions that are followed for the devices that are mentioned in this description are that, the term "proximal" is the direction away from the patient and towards the practicing physician, and the term "distal" refers to the direction towards the patient far from the patient. medical practitioner There are different types of catheters currently in use in medical practice. Some catheters are strong and rigid enough to be inserted by themselves, urinary catheters are examples of this type of catheter. Another type of catheter is placed on the outer side of a sharp introducer needle and slides over the needle into the patient's body using the needle to make the penetration and provide a guide for catheter placement, many of the intravenous catheters are this type. This description refers to yet another type, a catheter that is introduced into the patient through the orifice of a sharp introducer needle. The catheters that are inserted through the needle are also divided into two types by the introducer needle. When a catheter that is inserted by means of the needle has a fixed connection for the attachment of a fluid handling device, the introducer needle can not be slid from the proximal end of the catheter. Catheters with fixed connections are used with a detachable insertion needle or the needle should be left in the catheter. An important application of catheters in medical practice is the use of long flexible catheters to introduce medications, often anesthetic or analgesic formulations, into a patient's spine. In this application, the catheter tube (usually caliber 19-21) flexible and long (50-75 cm) is inserted into the epidural space of the patient through the opening of an introducer needle. These procedures of anesthesia in the spine are widely used in hospital practice, with the generic name of "an epidural". As an example, the use of an epidural anesthetic is described in obstetric practice. The epidural anesthetic procedure is useful in many other types of procedures. In a common obstetric procedure, the epidirual catheter is usually placed at an early stage in the patient's labor, with the patient lying on its side, then the patient is placed on her back with her knees elevated for the rest of the period Of childbirth. Since the patient is on her back, the introducer needle should usually be removed. Most epidural catheters do not have fixed connections, thus allowing the introducer needle to be slid on the proximal side of the catheter and removed. Once the needle is removed, it is necessary to install an adapter over the catheter, so that a device for handling the fluid, such as a syringe, can be attached to the catheter. The adapter is then often secured with tape on the patient's body. For this application a Tuohy-Borst adapter was developed. The Tuohy-Borst adapter allows a fluid handling device with a male Luer fitting to be installed over a small diameter flexible catheter tube (usually 19-21 gauge: the nominal external diameters for these gauges 19 to 21 they are between about 1.10 mm [19 gauge] to about 0.8 mm [21 gauge]). The original Tuohy-Borst adapter is made of metal and is considered reusable. Other variants of the original Tuohy-Borst adapter are now available and are made of thermoplastics. Thermoplastic adaptersThey are usually provided in sterile form and are considered disposable and disposable. Tuohy-Borst type adapters all depend to some extent on the threaded collar that is screwed around the catheter to compress a resilient plug or plug contained in a portion of the body. The closure around the catheter is formed by compressing the tip of the resilient plug into a cavity around the catheter tube by screwing the collar down into the plug. In most of these adapters, it is easy for a physician to inadvertently over-tighten the threaded collar and occlude the lumen of the catheter. Alternatively, if the collar does not fit enough, the adapter may leak or even be separated from the catheter tube. Most of the available adapters are generally cylindrical, can include an easily detachable latching mechanism and requires at least about half rotation of the collar portion with respect to the body portion to secure the adapter in the catheter. A widely used adapter, available from B. Braun, Bethem, PA, has a collar and a body portion. The Braun adapter is capable of almost 4 complete rotations of the collar with respect to the body portion from the initial engagement of the threads. In addition, if this B. Braun adapter collar is completely unscrewed from the body formation, it can be separated and allow the adapter to be disassembled. Another adapter that is widely used is the disposable successor for the reusable Tuohy-Borst from Becton Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ. The collar of this successor adapter sits completely on the body only after about two and a half rotations of the collar with respect to the body. Additionally, unlike the B. Braun adapter, the collar stays in the body when it is completely unscrewed so that it can not be easily detached. Another available adapter, as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,053,015 and 5,226,898, has an external ratchet and includes small wings on the body and collar to make it easier for doctors to handle and, when the wings are aligned, provide some indication that The adapter is secured in the tube. When the adapter described in the patents mentioned is secured in the patient's body, the small wings can cause discomfort in the patient and, in addition, the adapter can sometimes be difficult to handle for a doctor wearing gloves. Unlike the catheters described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,053,015 and 5,226,898, almost all available adapters do not provide the physician with sufficient indication of the degree of tightness of the collar with respect to the body and can not be easily seen if the collars are they are loose so that the catheter tube can be inserted or if the collar is partially screwed into the body, making it difficult to insert the catheter tube into the body. The time of an operating room is expensive and, in addition, many procedures are performed with time constraints that potentially have an impact on the patient's well-being. As a result, physicians and their support team make efforts to establish repeatable procedures with standardized equipment placements to facilitate the rapid implementation of procedures. If the doctor tries to place an adapter in a catheter tube and has difficulty because the adapter is partially threaded, it requires additional time. If a doctor inadvertently overstresses a collar of an adapter by occluding the lumen, he may believe that the catheter is occluded, remove it, and have to repeat the placement. The procedure of repeating not only subjects the patient to additional risk, but also significantly increases the time needed. If an adapter does not fit enough, it may become detached or leak during a prolonged procedure, resulting in inadequate medication to the patient. If a doctor who uses gloves has difficulty in handling an adapter and drops it, there may be a delay while another adapter is being provided and, in the case where the adapter is part of a procedure equipment, it may be It is necessary to open another complete equipment, with a significant increase in cost, just to obtain another adapter. If a catheter adapter was available that could be easily operated by a doctor wearing gloves, it would provide the doctor with positive indications of his condition, that is, easy to receive a catheter tube or fully adjusted; that could not be over-tightened; that only required a quarter of a turn of the collar with respect to the body to be completely adjusted; and that the doctor could easily assess whether the catheter was properly placed in the adapter before adjusting it, the technique of the catheter adapters would have advanced. This catheter adapter is described below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An adapter of the present invention for attaching a fluid handling device to a catheter tube includes a body with a proximal end, a distal end and a conduit through it defining a longitudinal axis. The proximal end of the adapter includes an attachment for attaching a fluid handling device and the distal end of the body includes a receptacle for accepting and forming a substantially fluid-tight connection, which can be easily released, to a catheter tube preselected that has an external diameter. The adapter of the invention has a hook member disposed on the receptacle. The latching member has an axial access entrance thereon, with an internal surface permitting placement of a proximal end of a catheter tube in the receptacle. The engaging member is arranged for rotational movement with respect to the body, between an insertion position in which the receptacle is accessible to the catheter, and the engaged position for retaining the catheter in the adapter. The adapter of the invention is constructed so that the position of the hooking member with respect to the body can be visually appreciated by touch, allowing the practitioner to easily distinguish whether the adapter is in the insertion position. and ready to receive the catheter and when the adapter is latched to retain the catheter. The catheters that are proposed for placement through the orifice of an introducer needle are widely used in treatments that require the transmission of fluids in the spinal column of patients. The introducer needle is usually removed after the catheter is placed and treatment is started. In general, when conventional needles are used for insertion and after the catheter is properly positioned, the introducer needle is removed from the patient, slid back towards the proximal end of the catheter and separated. Although some detachable needles are in use, conventional introducer needles, in general, are preferred by medical practitioners. When conventional needles are used, the catheter can not have a fixed proximal connection attached, because the needle must pass over the proximal end of the catheter. Multiple adapters have been developed to connect fluid handling devices to catheters. The catheter adapter of the present invention provides clinicians with an easily attached adapter that is correctly positioned over the catheter and secured to retain the adapter in the catheter much more easily than previously described adapters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view, exploded, in diagram, of the adapter of the present invention with the hook member in the insertion position; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention of Figure 1, with the hook member in the insertion position and a partially positioned catheter tube; Figure 3 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 2 with the catheter tube fully positioned. Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the invention of Figure 1 with the catheter tube fully in place and the adapter engaged; Figure 5 is an end, distal view of the invention of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a top plan view of the invention of Figure 1, similar to Figure 3, with the catheter tube fully positioned and the hook member in the disengaged position relative to the body. Figure 7 is a perspective, diagrammatic view of the invention of Figure 1, similar to Figure 4, with the catheter tube completely positioned; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of Figure 1, taken along line 8-8; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken of Figure 3, along line 9-9; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken from Figure 4, along the line 10-10; Figure 11 is a view of the distal portion of the adapter of Figure 8; Figure 12 is a view of the distal portion of the adapter of Figure 9; and Figure 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the resilient member of the adapter of the invention, as shown in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION: Although this invention is accomplished in various different ways by means of the embodiments, the embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and herein described in detail, with the understanding that the present description should be considered as an example of the principles of the present invention and it is not proposed to limit the scope of the invention to the illustrated embodiments. The scope of the invention is measured by the appended claims and their equivalents. Referring to Figures 1-13, an adapter 10 of the present invention for attaching a fluid handling device to a catheter 12, includes a body 14 with a proximal end 16, a distal end 18 and a conduit 20 through of this one defining a longitudinal axis A and an external surface 21. The proximal end 16 includes an accessory 22, preferably a female Luer fitting 24, for attaching a device for fluid handling. The distal end 18 of the body 14 includes a receptacle 26 with an inner surface 27 for accepting and forming a substantially fluid-tight connection, which can be easily released, to the preselected catheter tube 12 with an external diameter "a". The adapter 10 has a latching member 30 disposed in the receptacle 26. The latching member 30 has an axial access port 32 therein, with an internal surface 34 for receiving a proximal end 36 of a catheter tube 12 for positioning in the receptacle 26, the engaging member 30 is arranged for rotational movement with respect to the body 14 between an insertion position, as best seen in Figures 1, 2 and 6, wherein the receptacle 26 is accessible to the catheter 12, and a hooked position, as best seen in Figures 4 and 7, to retain the catheter 12 in the receptacle 26. As shown in Figure 1, the hook member 30 and the body 14 preferably each formed in the form of an elongated tube with substantially identical elliptical cross sections, each shape having a long axis "x, x '", and a short axis "y, y", respectively, and arranged so that, when the coupling member 30 is in the position engaged with respect to the body 14, as in Figure 4, the long axes x, x 'and the short axes y, y' are substantially aligned and when the engaging member-30 is in the insertion position , as seen in Figure 1, the short and body axis 14 is substantially aligned with the long axis x 'of the latch member 30 with the long axis x of the body, being substantially aligned with the short axis and' of the member of engagement 30, thereby providing a visual and tactile indication of the position of the engaging member 3-0 with respect to the body 14 and facilitating the practitioner's rotational movement of the engagement member 30 with respect to the body 14. Many other forms that they have asymmetric transverse cuts, in addition to the preferred elliptical shape for the adapter 10, they can be provided and considered within the scope of the invention. An additional benefit of the preferred elongated elliptical shape for the adapter of the invention is that the preferred shape is less likely to cause discomfort in the patient than the currently available adapters being depressed in the patient's body, while providing an elongated surface area for the doctor to apply the tape to secure the adapter to the patient. The adapter 10 of the invention is handled much more easily by a physician who uses gloves than most of the adapters currently available, due to the preferred elongated elliptical shape.

The receptacle 26, in general, is coaxial with the conduit 20 and with an open distal end 38 and has a closed bottom portion 40 defining a catheter seat 42 for fluidly connecting a lumen 44 of the catheter 12 to the proximal accessory 24. The receptacle 26 has a depth "d" and an internal diameter "e". The catheter seat 42 includes an axial recess 42 therein that has an axial opening 50 in the closed bottom portion 40 of the receptacle 26. The recess 48 is sized to receive the proximal end 36 of the catheter. The receptacle 26 generally includes a cylindrical resilient member 56 that is positioned substantially coaxial with the receptacle. The resilient member 56 has a proximal end 58, a distal end 60 and has an axial hole 61 therethrough. The resilient member 56 has an outer diameter "f" with a size to fit within the receptacle 26, and a length "g" substantially equal to the depth "d" of the receptacle 26. The axial hole 61 of the resilient member 56 has a diameter internal "h" that is larger than the outer diameter "a" of the preselected catheter 12. Although the outer surface of the body and the attachment member of the adapter may have a textured surface to facilitate handling by a physician wearing gloves , preferably, as in Figures 3, 4, 6 and 7, at least one part of the body 14 has a substantially transparent visual area 52 so that when the proximal end 36 of the catheter is properly positioned in the recess 48 of the catheter seat 42 with lumen 44 of the catheter substantially aligned with the opening 50, the proximal end 36 of the catheter is visible to the physician through the area 52. In addition, the area of the transparent 52 preferably has a shape 53, such as a cylindrical slow or any other shape to provide an amplified image of the recess 48, thereby improving the visualization of the proper placement of the catheter for the practicing physician. As seen in Figure 8, the outer surface 21 of the body 14 includes at least one, preferably two recesses, eccentric surfaces 62 and the engagement member 30 includes at least one, preferably two rollers or cam followers, projections 64 arranged to engage the eccentric surfaces 62. Referring to FIG. 8, the engaging member 30 also has a compression member 66 arranged to engage the resilient member 56. Preferably, the receptacle 26 further includes a sheave 54 disposed on the side proximal to the compression member 66 with the resilient member 56 next to the sheave 54. When the engaging member 30 is rotated from the insertion position, as shown in Figure 9, to the engaged position, as shown in FIG. shown in Figure 10, with the preselected catheter 12 positioned on the catheter seat 42, the hook member 30 is advanced to the proximal point of a distal distance "m" to the body 14 to a distance "n" distal to the body 14. Preferably, when the engaging member 30 is in the engaged position, as illustrated in Figure 10, the engaging member 30 is substantially in contact with the body 14, that is, the distance "n" is substantially 0. The movement of the latch member 30 from the distal distance "m" to the distance "n" results in the compression member 66 applying a compression force against the sheave 54 for compressing the resilient member 56 against the closed bottom part 40 and the inner surface 27 of the receptacle 26 and, thereby, reducing the internal diameter "h" of the axial hole 61. When the internal diameter h of the resilient member is reduced to less than the outer diameter "a" of the preselected catheter, a tightening fit retains the catheter 12 in the adapter 10. The sheave 54 provides a surface 55 for the distal end 60 of the resilient member to be A compressed against and allows rotation of the latch member 30 with respect to the resilient member during compression to substantially reduce any tendency of the resilient member to twist and occlude the lumen of the catheter. In addition, a profile 68 of the eccentric surfaces 62 is selected so that the rotational movement of the latching member 30 with respect to the body 14 is less than half a turn and, preferably, only about a quarter turn. The preferred limitation of a quarter turn to complete the movement between the engaged and disengaged position over-tightens, with concomitant occlusion of the catheter lumen, substantially less than current adapters with threaded fittings or ratchet fittings requiring an undetermined amount rotation of the collar with respect to the body to achieve catheter retention. further, with the adapter of the invention, it is readily apparent to the physician if the adapter is engaged or disengaged. Most current adapters do not provide a clue if they are tight enough or not, and if the adapter is not tight enough, the catheter may leak or separate from the adapter. The eccentric surfaces 62 further, preferably, include at least one protrusion 70 which is of the size and is positioned to retain so that the cam rollers 64 can be released, when the engaging member 30 moves towards the engaged position, retaining the adapter 10 in the catheter 12 until the doctor wishes its release. Preferably, the protuberances 70 have the size and shape to produce a "snap" of quick disconnection when the latch member 30 moves between the disengaged and the latched position to provide the physician with a positive tactile and sound indication that the movement from one position to another is complete. Preferably, the axial access port 32 provides that a force to insert the preselected catheter tube 12 into the adapter 10 is less than a force to withdraw the catheter tube 12 from the adapter, before the engagement member 30 moves. with respect to the body 14, substantially reducing by this means the inadvertent separation of the catheter tube from the adapter prior to engagement. Preferably, this differential separation force of the catheter is provided having at least one inward projection 72 on the inner surface 34 of the axial access port 32. The projection 72 is preferably arranged to facilitate proximal movement of the catheter tube 12 and to provide resistance to distal movement of the catheter tube 12. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the inner surface 34 of the access port 32 preferably has two inward projections. Referring to Figure 13, the resilient member 56 is preferably provided with flexible fins 73 that partially obstruct the axial hole 62 at the proximal end 58. The flexible fins 73 result from the gate that is used to fill a cavity to form the cap. resilient member 56 when an injection molding process is selected for the formation. The flexible fins 73 deviate as the catheter is inserted and contribute to the retention of the catheter 12 in the adapter prior to engagement. In this description, the flexible fins 73 are illustrated at the point proximal to the adapter. The retention function of the fins 73 is also seen when the orientation of the resilient member results in the placement of the fins at the distal point, thereby substantially eliminating the need to orient the resilient member in the proximal or distal direction. during the assembly of the adapter 10. In general, epidural catheters are sized between a caliber of about 19 to a caliber close to 21 (external diameter between about 1.1 mm to about 0.8 mm) and the adapter of the invention, preferably, has the size to accept these dimensions. Other dimensions of catheter tubes may be required for other applications ranging from near 16 gauge to about 30 gauge (external diameter between about 1.65 mm to about 0.3 mm) and adapter 10 may have the size to accept these dimensions or to accept other dimensions for any other specific application. As shown in Figures 1-4, the adapter 10 is preferably supplied with a cover 74 over the Luer fitting 24. Preferably the cover 74 is formed with substantially the same shape as the cross section that is selected for the adapter. facilitate manipulation by the medical practitioner. The body 14, the cover 74 and the hook member 30 can be formed of thermoplastics such as polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyester, polyethylene acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene (ABS) and the like, but preferably at least the body 14 it is formed of a substantially transparent material, such as polycarbonate and the like, to ensure that the proximal end of the catheter is easily visible through the viewing area 52. The resilient member 56 may be formed of thermoformed or thermoset elastomeric materials, including, but not limited to natural rubber, ethylene-propylene dimer rubber (EPDM), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), silastic rubber and the like, having a Shore A durometer preferably between about 30 and 80. Preferably, the Resilient member 56 is formed of a latex without natural rubber. The sheave 54 can be formed of a metallic material, stainless steel or the like, or other material with a low friction coefficient sliding with the body or the resilient member. The polycarbonate is preferred as the material for forming the sheave 54. All the materials selected to form the adapter 10 must be resistant and compatible with body fluids and medications. Further, when selecting the material for the body 14 and the engaging member 30, the coefficient of sliding friction between the body materials and the engaging member should be considered so that the engaging member 30 is easily rotatable between the hooked position and the unhooked position. In addition, since, preferably, the adapter of the invention is generally provided pre-sterilized to the practicing physician, such as a separate article in a package or as a component in a process kit, the materials selected for the adapter 10 must be compatible with the particular sterilization conditions that are selected. The adapter of the invention provides the physician with an easy-to-use adapter that fits easily on a catheter tube. Proper placement of the tube in the catheter seat is readily apparent to the physician through the viewing area and, because of the projections at the access entrance and the fins on the resilient member, the catheter tube is very unlikely to separate from the adapter of the invention before being hooked. In addition, the invention provides the physician with positive indications that the adapter is ready to receive the catheter, when the catheter is properly positioned in the adapter and when the adapter is fully engaged to retain the catheter. The preferred elongated elliptical shape of the adapter of the invention is handled more easily by the physician who uses gloves than most cylindrical adapters currently available.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS an adapter for attaching a fluid handling device to a catheter tube comprising: a body with a proximal end, a distal end and a conduit therethrough defining a longitudinal axis, the proximal end comprises an attachment for joining a device for fluid management, the distal end of the body consists of a receptacle for accepting and forming a releasable connection, = substantially hermetic, to a preselected catheter tube with an external diameter; a latching member disposed on the receptacle, the latching member with an axial access entry thereon, with an internal surface for adjustment of a proximal end of a catheter tube in the receptacle, the latching member being disposed for the movement rotatable with respect to the body, between an insertion position, wherein the receptacle is accessible to the catheter and a hooked position for retaining the catheter in the receptacle; Y. wherein the engaging member and the engaging body include indicating means for indicating the position of the fastener with respect to the body. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is generally axial with the duct, distally open with a closed bottom portion defining a catheter seat for connecting a lumen of the catheter to the proximal fitting, the receptacle having a depth, an internal diameter and an external surface. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the catheter seat comprises an axial recess with an axial opening through the closed bottom of the receptacle, the recess sized to receive the proximal end of the catheter, the body comprises a viewing area substantially transparent so that, when the proximal end of the catheter is placed in the recess of the catheter seat and the lumen of the catheter is substantially aligned with the opening, the proximal end of the catheter is visible. The adapter of claim 3, wherein the substantially transparent viewing area of the body is formed in a shape to provide an enlarged image of the recess, thereby improving the physician's ability to properly position the catheter. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the receptacle further comprises a sheave and a generally cylindrical resilient member proximate the sheave, the resilient member includes a proximal end, a distal end and has an axial hole therethrough, the resilient member having an outer diameter dimensioned to fit within the receptacle and a length substantially equal to the depth of the receptacle, the axial hole of the resilient member has an internal diameter larger than the outer diameter of the preselected catheter tube. The adapter of claim 5, wherein the receptacle further comprises an outer surface having at least one eccentric surface, the engaging member includes at least one cam roller arranged to engage the eccentric surface and a compression member arranged to engage the sheave, so that when the engaging member is rotated from the insertion position to the engaged position with the preselected catheter positioned on the catheter seat, the engaging member is advanced to the proximal position of the catheter. so that a compressive force is applied to the resilient member between the sheave and the catheter seat, whereby the internal diameter of the axial hole is reduced to less than the outer diameter of the preselected catheter to retain the catheter in the adapter, and where a profile of the eccentric surface is selected so that the rotational movement of the bra with resp ecto to the body, be less than about half a turn. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the eccentric surface further includes a protrusion dimensioned and positioned to retain, so that it can be released, the cam roller when the fastener moves to the disengaged position. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the axial access port further includes the means for providing a force for inserting the preselected catheter tube into the adapter is less than a force for removing the catheter tube from the adapter before the holder is move relative to the body whereby the inadvertent separation of the adapter from the catheter tube is substantially reduced prior to being engaged. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the indicating means for indicating the position of the fastener with respect to the body comprises the body and the fastener each formed in substantially similar asymmetrical shapes so that, when the fastener is rotated to the engaged position with respect to the body, the shapes are substantially aligned and when the fastener is in the insertion position, the shapes are not substantially aligned thereby providing a visual and tactile indication of the position of the fastener with respect to the body. The adapter of claim 9, wherein the asymmetric shape comprises an elongated tube having substantially identical elliptical cross sections, each shape having a long axis and a short axis and arranged so that, when the holder is in the engaged position the the long axis and the short axis are substantially aligned, and when the holder is in the insertion position, the short axis of the body is substantially aligned with the long axis of the holder, thereby providing visual and tactile indication of the position of the fastener with respect to the body and leverage to facilitate the rotary movement of the fastener with respect to the body. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An adapter for attaching a fluid handling device to a catheter tube of the present invention includes a body with a proximal end, a distal end and a conduit therethrough defining a longitudinal axis. The proximal end of the adapter includes an attachment for attaching a fluid handling device and the distal end of the body includes a receptacle for accepting and forming a releasable, substantially fluid-tight connection to a preselected catheter tube that It has an external diameter. The adapter of the invention has a hook member disposed on the receptacle. The engaging member has an axial access port thereon with an internal surface to allow placement of a proximal end of a catheter tube in the receptacle. The engaging member is positioned for rotational movement with respect to the body, between an insertion position in which the receptacle is accessible to the catheter, and a latched position for retaining the catheter in the adapter. The adapter of the invention is constructed so as to indicate in visual and tactile form the position of the hooking member with respect to the body, thereby allowing the doctor to easily distinguish whether the adapter is in the insertion position. or in the hooked position.