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Claims  |
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What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the
United States is:
1. For use in various combinations between a feeding tube set and a
catheter; an adaptor, a connector, and an adaptor hood;
said adaptor comprising a first generally tubular member having an upper
end adapted to be mounted on the distal end of a feeding tube and a lower
end adapted to be inserted into the upper end of either said connector or
into said adaptor hood, the outer surface of said adaptor being
characterized by a series of steps of progressively smaller diameters from
the upper to the lower end thereof and including at least one inverted,
slightly conical section, and a ring member projecting radially from said
upper end of said first tubular member in a longitudinal plane and adapted
to have a locking plug of said connector removably secured therein;
said connector comprising a second generally tubular member mounted on the
proximal end of a catheter and having an open end with any one of a
plurality of inner diameters and adapted to receive therein the stepped
lower end of said adaptor, a locking plug projecting radially from the
upper portion of said second tubular member on a flexible, resilient arm
with said plug being adapted either for plugging said open upper end of
said second tubular member when no adaptor is received therein or for
being lockingly engaged in said adaptor ring member when said adaptor is
received in said open upper end of said connector to prevent inadvertent
separation of said adaptor and said connector; and
said adaptor hood comprising a third generally tubular member having an
open upper end, an inner bore which tapers inwardly in a downward
direction, and a tip at its lower end with the outer surface thereof being
provided with a luer taper for interfitting engagement thereof in the open
upper end of a connector having a bore with a luer taper, which connector
is mounted on the proximal end of a catheter.
2. For use in combination between a feeding tube set and a catheter; an
adaptor and a connector;
said adaptor comprising a first generally tubular member having an upper
end adapted to be mounted on the distal end of a feeding tube and a lower
end adapted to be inserted into the upper end of said connector, the outer
surface of said adaptor being characterized by a series of steps of
progressively smaller diameters from the upper to the lower end thereof
and including at least one inverted, slightly conical section, and a ring
member projecting radially from said upper end of said first tubular
member in a longitudinal plane and adapted to have a locking plug of said
connector removable secured therein; and
said connector comprising a second generally tubular member mounted on the
proximal end of a catheter and having an open end with any one of a
plurality of inner diameters and adapted to receive therein the stepped
lower end of said adaptor, a locking plug projecting radially from the
upper portion of said tubular member of a flexible, resilient arm with
second said plug being adapted either for plugging said open upper end of
said second tubular member when no adaptor is received in said open upper
end of said connector or to prevent inadvertent separation of said adaptor
and said connector when said plug is secured within said ring member.
3. For use in combination between a feeding tube set and a catheter; an
adaptor and an adaptor hood;
said adaptor comprising a first generally tubular member having an upper
end adapted to be mounted on the distal end of a feeding tube and a lower
end adapted to be inserted into said adaptor hood, the outer surface of
said adaptor being characterized by a series of steps of progressively
smaller diameters from the upper to the lower end thereof and including at
least one inverted, slightly conical section, and a ring member projecting
radially from said upper end of said first tubular member in a
longitudinal plane; and
said adaptor hood comprising a second generally tubular member having an
open upper end, and inner bore which tapers inwardly in a downward
direction, and a tip at its lower end with the outer surface thereof being
provided with a luer taper, said second tubular member being adapted to be
fitted over said first tubular member from the lower end thereof for
either providing a protective cover for said adaptor during transport or
storage thereof or for providing interfitting engagement thereof in the
open upper end of a connector mounted on the proximal end of a catheter,
which open upper end is characterized by a bore having a luer taper.
4. For use in combination between a feeding tube set and a catheter; and
adaptor, an adaptor hood, and a connector;
said adaptor comprising a first generally tubular member having an upper
end adapted to be mounted on the distal end of a feeding tube and a lower
end adapted to be inserted into said adaptor hood, the outer surface of
said adaptor being characterized by a series of steps of progressively
smaller diameters from the upper to the lower end thereof and including at
least one inverted, slightly conical section;
said adaptor hood comprising a second generally tubular member having an
open upper end, an inner bore which tapers inwardly in a downward
direction, and a tip at its lower end with the outer surface thereof being
provided with a luer taper for providing interfitting engagement thereof
in the open upper end of a connector mounted on the proximal end of a
catheter, which open upper end is characterized by a bore having a luer
taper;
said second tubular member being adapted to be removably fitted over said
first tubular member, and releasable positive interlocking means are
provided between said adaptor and said connector.
5. For use between a feeding tube set and a catheter connector; an adaptor
comprising a generally tubular member having an upper end adapted to be
mounted on the distal end of a feeding tube and a lower end adapted to be
inserted into the upper end of said catheter connector, an outer surface
of said adaptor being characterized by a series of steps of progressively
smaller diameters from the upper to the lower end thereof, and a locking
ring member projecting radially from said upper end of said tubular member
for interlocking engagement by a locking plug on said catheter connector,
said locking ring member being integral with said tubular member and
oriented such that the axis of said ring member is substantially
perpendicular to the axis of the tubular member.
6. For use with an adaptor of a feeding tube set; an adaptor hood
comprising a generally tubular member having a open upper end, a through
bore which tapers inwardly in a downward direction from said upper end,
said upper end being provided with several longitudinally extending
internal ribs which aid the adaptor hood in gripping an outer surface of
said adaptor, and said adaptor hood having a tip at its lower end with the
outer surface thereof being provided with a luer taper, said tubular
member being adapted to fit over a tubular adaptor of a feeding tube set
from the lower end thereof for either providing a protective cover for
said adaptor during transport or storage of the feeding tube set or for
interfitting engagement thereof in the open upper end of a catheter
connector having a bore with a luer taper.
7. For use between a feeding tube and a catheter, a positive interlock
comprising a generally tubular connector mounted at the proximal end of a
catheter and having an adaptor-receiving entrance port provided at its
other end; a generally tubular adaptor having one end mounted on the
distal end of a feeding tube and its other end insertable into said
adaptor-receiving entrance port of said connector; a ring formation on
said adaptor; and a plug member secured to said connector by a flexible
arm and releasably engageable through said adaptor ring formation.
8. The interlock of claim 7 wherein said plug member is provided with a
compressible annular ring for locking engagement with said adaptor ring
formation.
9. The interlock of claim 7 wherein the outer surface of said adaptor is
provided with a series of stepped surfaces of progressively smaller
diameters from said one end thereof to said other end thereof, said outer
surface configuration enabling insertion of said other end of said adaptor
into adaptor-receiving ports of various sizes whereby said adaptor may be
universally used with catheter connectors of many different sizes.
10. The interlock of claim 9 wherein said outer surface configuration of
said adaptor has one or more inverted conical sections dispersed between
adjacent stepped surfaces.
11. For use between a feeding tube and a catheter, improved medical devices
comprising
a tubular adaptor mountable on the distal end of a feeding tube and having
progressively smaller diameter stepped surfaces on the outer surface
thereof from the feeding tube end thereof to the opposite end thereof
a tubular connector mountable on the proximal end of a catheter and having
at the opposite end thereof an adaptor-receiving port of any one of
several diameters, any one of which ports will insertably receive said
adaptor,
releasable positive interlock means engageable between said adaptor and
said connector when same are assembled together,
and a tubular hood having a tip with a luer taper and fittable over said
adaptor to serve either as a protective shroud or as a supplemental
adaptor for use with connectors wherein said adaptor-receiving port
thereof is provided with an internal luer taper.
12. The improved medical devices of claim 11 wherein said interlock means
comprises a ring formation provided on said adaptor and a plug formation
secured to said connector by a flexible arm, said plug formation being
releasably engageable in said adaptor ring formation.
13. The improved medical devices of claim 12 wherein the outer surface
configuration of said tubular adaptor includes an inverted conical
section.
14. The improved medical devices of claim 11 wherein the outer surface
configuration of said tubular adaptor includes an inverted conical
section. |
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Description |
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TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to medical devices which are used between a
feeding tube set which is connected to a supply or source of a liquid
medical nutritional product and the proximal end of a feeding catheter
(either nasogastric or gastrostomic) which has been suitably positioned in
a patient's gastro/intestinal tract.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When a patient is in need of enteral feeding, a feeding catheter is placed
into the patient either percutaneously or via a nosogastric tube. The
feeding catheter is then connected to a source of nutrition which usually
comprises a container holding the liquid nutritional product and tubing
(feeding tube set). Different size adaptors are normally provided at the
distal end of the feeding tube set for interfitting frictional engagement
with the feeding catheter. Further, for many obvious reasons, such
frictionally engaged connections may inadvertently become disengaged or
separated which, of course, could be detrimental to varying degrees, to
the patient's well-being.
After fabrication and until such time that they are connected to a
patient's feeding catheter, such adaptors provided on the distal end of a
feeding tube set, are often provided with a protective hood or shroud of
an appropriate size having a closed forward end and whose only purpose is
to protect the adaptor until use of same.
Adaptors currently in the market place, while compatible with most
nasogastric, gastrostomic and I.V. feeding tube connectors currently found
in the marketplace, are not compatible with the relatively small "needle
jejunostomy" catheters. The needle jajunostomy catheter is characterized
by relatively small connectors having luer-tapered bores which are not
adapted to receive the leading ends of most adaptors. To date, the only
solution has been to provide a special custom-designed adaptor, a rather
expensive solution to this problem.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In general the present invention relates to an improved medical device
comprising an adaptor for use between a feeding tube and a catheter, the
improved medical device comprising
a tubular adaptor mountable on the distal end of a feeding tube and having
progressively smaller diameter stepped surfaces on the outer surface
thereof from the feeding tube end thereof to the opposite end thereof and
with said outer surface configuration optionally including an inverted
conical section,
a tubular connector mountable on the proximal end of a catheter and having
at the opposite end thereof an adaptor-receiving port of any one of
several diameters, any one of which ports will insertably receive said
adaptor,
releasable positive interlock means engageable between said adaptor and
said connector when same are assembled together,
and a tubular hood having a tip with a luer taper and fittable over said
adaptor to serve either as a protective shroud or as a supplemental
adaptor for use with connectors wherein said adaptor-receiving port
thereof is provided with an internal luer taper.
There is disclosed a device which comprises an adaptor, a connector and an
adaptor hood for use in various combinations between a feeding tube set
and a feeding catheter;
said adaptor comprising a first generally tubular member having an upper
end adapted to be mounted on the distal end of a feeding tube and a lower
end adapted to be inserted into the upper end of either said connector or
into said adaptor hood, the outer surface of said adaptor being
characterized by a series of steps of progressively smaller diameters from
the upper to the lower end thereof and including at least one inverted,
slightly conical section, and a ring member projecting radially from said
upper end of said tubular member in a longitudinal plane and adapted to
have a locking plug of said connector removably secured therein;
said connector comprising a second generally tubular member mounted on the
proximal end of a catheter and having an open end with any one of a
plurality of inner diameters and adapted to receive therein the stepped
lower end of said adaptor, a locking plug projecting radially from the
upper portion of said tubular member on a flexible, resilient arm with
said plug being adapted either for plugging said open upper end of said
tubular member when no adaptor is received therein or for being lockingly
engaged in said adaptor ring member when said adaptor is received in said
open upper end of said connector to prevent inadvertent separation of said
adaptor and said connector; and
said adaptor hood comprising a third generally tubular member having an
open upper end, an inner bore which tapers inwardly in a downward
direction, and a tip at its lower end with the outer surface thereof being
provided with a luer taper for interfitting engagement thereof in the open
upper end of a connector having a bore with a luer taper, which connector
is mounted on the proximal end of a catheter.
There is also disclosed a device which comprises an adaptor and a connector
for use in combination between a feeding tube set and a catheter;
said adaptor comprising a first generally tubular member having an upper
end adapted to be mounted on the distal end of a feeding tube and a lower
end adapted to be inserted into the upper end of said connector, the outer
surface of said adaptor being characterized by a series of steps of
progressively smaller diameters from the upper to the lower end thereof
and including at least one inverted, slightly conical section, and a ring
member projecting radially from said upper end of said tubular member in a
longitudinal plane and adapted to have a locking plug of said connector
removably secured therein; and
said connector comprising a second generally tubular member mounted on the
proximal end of a catheter and having an open end with any one of a
plurality of inner diameters and adapted to receive therein the stepped
lower end of said adaptor, a locking plug projecting radially from the
upper portion of said tubular member on a flexible, resilient arm with
said plug being adapted either for plugging said open upper end of said
tubular member when no adaptor is received in said open upper end of said
connector to prevent inadvertent separation of said adaptor and said
connector.
There is further disclosed an adaptor and adaptor hood for use in
combination between a feeding tube set and a catheter;
said adaptor comprising a first generally tubular member having an upper
end adapted to be mounted on the distal end of a feeding tube and a lower
end adapted to be inserted into said adaptor hood, the outer surface of
said adaptor being characterized by a series of steps of progressively
smaller diameters from the upper to the lower end thereof and including at
least one inverted, slightly conical section, and a ring member projecting
radially from said upper end of said tubular member in a longitudinal
plane; and
said adaptor hood comprising a second generally tubular member having an
open upper end, and inner bore which tapers inwardly in a downward
direction, and a tip at its lower end with the outer surface thereof being
provided with a luer taper, said second tubular member being adapted to be
fitted over said first tubular member from the lower end thereof for
either providing a protective cover for said adaptor during transport or
storage thereof or for providing interfitting engagement thereof in the
open upper end of a connector mounted on the proximal end of a catheter,
which open upper end is characterized by a bore having a luer taper.
There is disclosed for use between a feeding tube set and a catheter
connector; an adaptor comprising a generally tubular member having an
upper end adapted to be mounted on the distal end of a feeding tube and a
lower end adapted to be inserted into the upper end of said catheter
connector, and a locking ring member projecting radially from said upper
end of said tubular member in a longitudinal plane for interlocking
engagement by a locking plug on said catheter connecter.
There is also disclosed for use between an adaptor of a feeding tube set
and a catheter, a connector comprising a generally tubular member mounted
on the proximal end of a catheter and having an open end adapted to
receive said feeding tube adaptor therein; a locking plug projecting
radially from the upper portion of said tubular member on a flexible,
resilient arm for interlocking engagement with said feeding tube adaptor
to prevent inadvertent separation of said connector from said adaptor.
There is further disclosed for use with an adaptor of a feeding tube set;
an adaptor hood comprising a generally tubular member having an open upper
end, a through bore which tapers inwardly in a downward direction from
said open upper end, and a tip at its lower end with the outer surface
thereof being provided with a luer taper, said tubular member being
adapted to be fitted over a tubular adaptor of a feeding tube set from the
lower end thereof for either providing a protective cover for said adaptor
during transport or storage of the feeding tube set or for interfitting
engagement thereof in the open upper end of a catheter connector having a
bore with a luer taper.
There is also disclosed for use between a feeding tube and a catheter, a
positive interlock comprising a generally tubular connector mounted at the
proximal end of a catheter and having an adaptor-receiving entrance port
provided at its other end; a generally tubular adaptor having one end
mounted on the distal end of a feeding tube and its other end insertable
into said adaptor-receiving entrance port of said connector; a ring
formation on said adaptor; and a plug member secured to said connector by
a flexible arm and releasably engageable through said adaptor ring
formation.
The present invention, in general, relates to improvements in specialized
medical devices, specifically improvements in the adaptors, connectors and
hoods, which overcomes the problems discussed herein. One improvement is
to provide an adaptor design of one size which can be used with connectors
of various sizes. The outer adaptor surface has a new and novel
arrangement of step portions of progressively increasing diameters (from
the tip thereof) in combination with a conical portion. As a result of
this single improvement, a major economical advantage results from the
need to fabricate only a single size adaptor and protective hood therefor.
Another improvement is the provision of a new and novel adaptor hood having
a forward end or tip which is open to permit a fluid flow there through
and which is provided with an external luer taper adapted for interfitting
engagement in the luer-tapered bore of the previously noted "needle
jejunostomy" catheters. If a feeding tube set provided with the unique
adaptor and the unique protective adaptor hood of the subject invention is
to be used in conjunction with one of the aforesaid "needle jejunostomy"
catheters, the hood which is frictionally press-fitted over the adaptor is
retained thereon and the luer-tapered tip of the hood is frictionally
received in the luer-tapered bore of the catheter connector to provide a
perfectly adequate feeding arrangement.
Still another improvement is the arrangement of interlocking means between
the new and novel adaptor of the present invention and the catheter
connector which prevents inadvertent separation of same during feeding of
a patient. A preferred form of interlocking means is the provision of a
ring on the adaptor which is adapted to lockingly receive there through
the plug provided on the end of a flexible arm secured to or integral with
many connectors and normally intended for use in plugging the main port of
the connector when an adaptor of a feeding tube set is not engaged
therein.
Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is to provide improvements
in medical devices used in the fluid-feeding of patients through plastic
tubing, specifically adaptors, connectors and adaptor hoods.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a universal adaptor
of new and novel external configuration for use with catheter connectors
of various sizes.
A further aspect of the present invention resides in the adaptor hood which
may be used not only as a protective shroud for the adaptor disclosed
herein, but also as an auxiliary adaptor for use with extremely small
catheter connectors having luer-tapered bores.
An additional aspect of the present invention provides interlocking means
between the feeding tube connector and the adaptor disclosed herein which
will prevent or reduce the inadvertent separation thereof during a
patient-feeding procedure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of portions of a feeding tube set with
the fluid nutrient supply shown partially in broken lines. FIG. 1 shows an
adaptor and an adaptor hood embodying the invention prior to the hood
being fitted over the adaptor, no pumping means being shown in this view.
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the assembled adaptor and adaptor hood
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the adaptor of FIG. 1 prior to
insertion of same into a feeding catheter Y-connector.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the adaptor taken generally along line 4--4 of
FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the Y-connector taken generally along line
5--5 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the adaptor of FIGS. 1 and 3 assembled
in a relatively large catheter Y-connector and showing the interlocking
means engaged and the smaller Y-arm plug inserted in the side port.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial top plan view of the engaged adaptor
connector interlocking means taken generally along line 7--7 of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the adaptor
of FIGS. 1 and 3 assembled in a relatively small catheter Y-connector and
also showing the interlocking means engaged and the smaller Y-arm plug.
FIG. 9 is a top plan or larger end view of the adaptor hood taken generally
along line 9--9 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the assembled adaptor and adaptor hood with
the portion above the longitudinal axis thereof being shown in elevation
and the portion below the longitudinal axis thereof being shown in
vertical section.
FIG. 11 is a side elevational view, with the lower portion being shown in
section, of the adaptor hood mounted on the adaptor of FIGS. 1 and 3 and
with the luer-tapered tip of the hood received in a luer-tapered bore of a
relatively small catheter connector.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, the feeding tube set 20 partially shown in
FIG. 1 includes a plastic feeding tube 22 having its proximal end 24
connected to a supply jar 26 of fluid nutrient and its distal end 28
secured in the entrance end of a new and novel adaptor 30 embodying a
portion of the present invention. As the supply Jar or container 26 is not
illustrated in a gravity-feed mode, the feeding tube set 20 would also
include a known-type pumping means (not shown). The present invention as
it relates to the hood is shown in FIG. 1 prior to its being fitted over
the adaptor 30 to serve as a protective shroud during storage and
transport of the feeding tube set 20 and in FIG. 2 after fitting of same
over the adaptor 30. In FIG. 3, the adaptor 30 is shown prior to insertion
of same into a new and novel connector 34 which also embodies a portion of
the present invention. These three new and novel medical devices 30, 32
and 34 interact and interconnect as shown in the drawings and will be
further described hereinafter to illustrate the several improvements and
economic savings in the delivery of liquid nutrients to patients.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 10, the adaptor 30 is characterized
by a generally tubular body portion 36 molded of a suitable plastic and
having a larger diameter entrance or upper end 38 as viewed in FIG. 3, and
a smaller diameter exit or lower end 40. An axial bore 42 extends through
the body portion 36. An annular coaxial slot 44 is provided in the larger
diameter end 38, as shown in the sectional portion of FIG. 10, whereby the
adaptor 30 may be fixedly mounted either on the distal end of a larger
diameter feeding tube 22 with the end of the tube 22 being received in the
annular slot 44 or on the distal end of a smaller diameter feeding tube 22
with the end of the tube 22 being fixedly received in the adjacent end of
the bore 42 (see FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 8 and 11). The exit end 40 of the adaptor
30 is adapted to be removably inserted into a main entrance port 46 of any
one of several connectors 34 of various sizes, as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 6 and 8, the entrance ports 46 of such connectors 34 also varying in
size. So that custom-sized adaptors need not be provided for each size
connector 34, the new and novel adaptor 30 of the present invention is
provided with an outer surface which is characterized by a series of step
surfaces 48, 50, 52 and 54 of progressively smaller diameters from the
entrance end 38 of the adaptor 30 to the exit end 40 thereof with an
inverted, slightly conical section 56 being disposed between the step
surfaces 50 and 52.
The practical application and advantages of this universal adaptor
configuration are illustrated by a comparison of FIGS. 6 and 8. In FIG. 6,
the adaptor 30 is shown inserted into a larger size connector 34 with the
second largest stop surface 50 being snuggly received in the main entrance
port 46 of the connector 34. In FIG. 8, with a much smaller connector 34a,
the conical section 56 of the same adaptor 30 is snuggly received in the
main entrance port 46a of the connector 34a.
As will be discussed more fully hereinafter, the adaptor 30 is provided at
the outer edge of its entrance end 38 with an integral longitudinally
disposed and radially extending locking ring 58.
The Y-connector 34, as best shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, is characterized by
a generally tubular body member 60 molded of a suitable plastic with a
larger diameter entrance or upper (as viewed in the aforesaid FIGS.) end
62 in which the main entrance port 46 is provided and a smaller diameter
exit or lower end 64 which is secured on the proximal end of a catheter 66
(FIGS. 3 and 6). A secondary port for the administration of a medicament
during a feeding operation is provided in a secondary smaller tubular arm
68 which intersects the main bore through the tubular body member at an
angle. Both the upper end 62 and the secondary arm 68 are provided with
radially extending flexible arms 70 and 72, respectively, with enlarged
end formations 74 and 76, respectively, provided thereon. The end
formation 74 is provided with a plug formation 78 of a size to be snuggly
received within the main entrance port 46 when no adaptor 30 is inserted
therein. A smaller plug formation 80 is provided on the end formation 76
of a size to be snuggly received within the port in the secondary arm 68
when no medicament is being introduced therein. Each plug formation 78 and
80 is provided with a compressible annular ring 82 and 84, respectively,
for latching engagement in annular grooves (not shown) provided in the
main entrance port 46 and the port of the secondary arm 68. As is shown in
FIG. 8, the smaller connector 34a is likewise characterized by a flexible
arm 70a, a plug formation 78a, and the like.
As previously noted herein, one problem with most adaptor/connector
assemblies is the possibility of separation during feeding of the patient.
With the new and novel adaptor 30 and the Y-connector 34 disclosed herein,
this problem has been minimized by providing a positive interlock between
the adaptor 30 and its associated connectors 34 and 34a. As illustrated in
FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the plug formations 78 and 78a of the Y-connectors 34
and 34a of FIGS. 6 and 8, respectively, are removably engageable in the
locking ring 58 of the adaptor 30. As best illustrated in FIG. 7, the
compressible annular rings 82 and 82a on the plug formations 78 and 78a
are easily forced through the locking ring 58 so that they are engageable
with the surfaces opposite the surfaces engaged by the enlarged end
formations 74 and 74a of the connectors 34 and 34a, respectively, whereby
to provide a positive interlocking relationship between the adaptors 30
and their assembled connectors 34 and 34a.
Although, as in FIG. 6, there need not be any tension in the flexible arm
70 when the plug formation 78 thereon is interlocked with the adaptor
locking ring 58, it is sometimes preferable, as in FIG. 8, that the
flexible arm 70a be under slight tension when its plug formation 78a is so
interlocked in the adaptor locking ring 58 to minimize any loosening of
the assembly of the adaptor 30 in the Y-connector 34a.
Referring again to the new and novel adaptor hood 32 of the present
invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 9, 10 and 11, the hood 32 is
characterized by a generally tubular body member 86 molded of a suitable
plastic and which is open at both its upper end 88 and its lower end 90
(as viewed in FIGS. 1, 2, and 11). Externally, the hood 32 is larger at
its upper end 88 and is then tapered inwardly with a fluted or ribbed
mid-body portion 92 which terminates in a reduced-diameter lower end
section 90 having a relatively small end tip 94 which is provided with a
luer-taper for a reason to be discussed hereinafter. As shown in the
sectional portion of FIG. 10, a bore 96 extending from the larger end 88
of the tubular body member 86 is tapered inwardly toward the smaller end
90 in conformation with the outer configuration thereof.
The new and novel adaptor hood 32 may be used for either of two purposes.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 10, the hood 32 may be fitted over the new
and novel adaptor 30 to serve as a protective shroud during storage and
transport of the feeding tube set 20. As shown in FIG. 10, the larger end
portion 88 grippingly fits over the largest diameter step surface 48 of
the adaptor 30 and the smaller end portion 90, inwardedly of the tip 94,
grippingly engages the smallest diameter step surface 54 of the adaptor
30. To improve the gripping engagement of the larger end portion 88 with
the step surface 48, the bore 96 at the larger end thereof may be provided
with a series of internal longitudinally extending ribs 98. For instance,
four such ribs 98 are shown in FIG. 9.
The hood 32 may also be used with the adaptor 30 when the feeding tube set
20 is to be used with a "needle jejunostomy" catheter 99 having an
unusually small connector 100 mounted on its proximal end, which connector
100, as illustrated in FIG. 11, has a luer-tapered bore 102 provided in
its entrance end which is not designed to receive the non-luer-tapered
step surface 54 of the adaptor 30. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the unique
adaptor/hood combination 32, 34 is well adapted for use with catheters
having such small connectors 100 provided thereon. The connector 100 is
provided with a cap 104 on a flexible arm 106 for closing off the entrance
end 102 thereof prior to and after a nutrient feeding operation. By
lengthening the arm 106, the cap 104 could be interlocked in the locking
ring 58.
Industrial Applicability
The various combinations of the improved medical devices disclosed herein
improve the administration of fluid nutrients to patients including the
added reliability of interlocked adaptors and Y-connectors. The use of a
single universal adaptor with connectors of various sizes also contributes
to further economies in the health care industry.
While there has been shown and described preferred embodiments of the
invention, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes
and modifications may be made without departing from the invention, and it
is intended by the appended claims to cover all such changes and
modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
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