Connector assembly

Claim 2

An adaptive connector for engaging a tubular member, comprising: a pair of segments adapted for telescoping engagement with one another, said segments combining to develop a centrally disposed cavity, and at least one of said segments having an opening in an end thereof which communicates with said cavity and which is adapted to receive said tubular member therein; and a plug formed of a compressible material and located within said cavity, said plug having a channel extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving said tubular member from said opening; said cavity and said plug having cooperating surfaces for compressing said plug and for applying substantially uniform forces against said tubular member along the length of said member receiving channel to uniformly constrict said channel about said tubular member and thereby securely engage said tubular member within said adaptive connector when said telescoping segments are engaged with one another.

Claim 3

The connector of claim 1 wherein said segments are generally tubular in peripheral shape and are sized to slidingly engage each other.

Claim 4

The connector of claim 2 wherein said tubular segments are cylindrical.

Claim 5

The connector of claim 1 wherein another end of said segments includes connector means for connecting an external device to said adaptive connector.

Claim 6

The connector of claim 4 wherein said connector means and said opening are at opposite ends of said telescoping segments.

Claim 7

The connector of claim 4 wherein said connector means includes lug means for engaging said external device to said connector means.

Claim 8

The connector of claim 4 wherein a channel is formed in said telescoping segments which communicates between said connector means and said cavity.

Claim 9

The connector of claim 7 wherein the channel of said telescoping segments and said opening are in substantial alignment with one another.

Claim 10

The connector of claim 7 wherein the channel of said telescoping segments is adapted to receive said tubular member.

Claim 11

The connector of claim 9 wherein the channel of said telescoping segments includes stop means for limiting penetration of said tubular member into said channel.

Claim 12

The connector of claim 10 wherein said opening and the channel of said telescoping segments are sized to slidingly receive said tubular member.

Claim 13

The connector of claim 7 wherein the channel of said plug is in substantial alignment with the channel of said telescoping members.

Claim 14

The connector of claim 12 wherein said channels are axially aligned.

Claim 15

The connector of claim 7 wherein said opening is a channel.

Claim 16

The connector of claim 14 wherein said channels are in axial alignment.

Claim 17

The connector of claim 1 wherein said opening comprises guide portions which diverge from said opening to the associated end of said telescoping members.

Claim 18

The connector of claim 1 wherein said connector further comprises finger grip means extending from an outer surface of said telescoping segments.

Claim 19

The connector of claim 17 wherein an opposed pair of finger grips extend from said outer surface.

Claim 20

The connector of claim 18 wherein a plurality of finger grip pairs extend from said telescoping segments.

Claim 21

The connector of claim 19 wherein said finger grip pairs extend from each of said telescoping segments.

Claim 22

The connector of claim 1 wherein said telescoping segments comprise an inner and an outer segment, and wherein guide means extend from said outer segment and along said inner segment.

Claim 23

The connector of claim 21 wherein said guide means engage a slot formed in the outer surface of said inner segment.

Claim 24

The connector of claim 22 wherein said guide means are axially aligned and radially offset.

Claim 25

The connector of claim 1 wherein said plug receiving cavity is generally cylindrical at its center and terminates at tapered ends.

Claim 26

The connector of claim 24 wherein said cavity is symmetrical.

Claim 27

The connector of claim 1 wherein said plug receiving cavity and said plug are correspondingly configured.

Claim 28

The connector of claim 1 wherein said tubular member is a catheter.

Claim 29

The connector of claim 1 wherein said plug is formed of an elastomeric material.

Claim 30

The connector of claim 28 wherein said plug is radially symmetrical.

Claim 31

The connector of claim 29 wherein said plug is axially symmetrical.

Claim 32

The connector of claim 28 wherein terminal portions of said channel are chamfered.

Claim 33

The connector of claim 28 wherein said plug is essentially cylindrical at the center and tapered at the ends.

Claim 34

The connector claim of claim 32 wherein said plug is configured so that, upon compression of said plug, said constriction about said tubular member is substantially uniform substantially fully along the length of said channel.

Claim 35

The connector of claim 1 having means for developing a snap-fit engagement between said telescoping segments.

Claim 36

The connector of claim 1 wherein said telescoping segments are longitudinally compressed, without respective rotation, to compress said plug and constrict said channel without torsion.

Claim 37

The connector of claim 35 wherein said adaptive connector includes means for preventing respective rotation between said pair of telescoping segments.

Claim 38

The connector of claim 36 wherein said telescoping segments comprise an inner and an outer segment, and wherein guide means extend from said outer segment and along the surface of said inner segment, to engage a slot formed in the outer surface of said inner segment.

Claim 39

The connector of claim 34 wherein said snap-fit engagement developing means comprises a plurality of detents associated with the surface of one of said segments, and a ring projecting from the surface of the other of said segments for selective engagement within said detents.

Claim 40

The connector of claim 38 having at least two detents, wherein a first detent cooperates with said ring to develop a stand-by position, and wherein a second detent cooperates with said ring to develop an operative position.

Claim 41

The connector of claim 39 wherein said plug essentially completely fills said cavity, but is not compressed, in said stand-by position.

Claim 42

The connector of claim 40 wherein said plug is compressed in said operative position.

Claim 43

The connector of claim 41 wherein said detents are spaced, and wherein said spacing develops the degree of said compression.

Claim 44

The connector of claim 43 wherein said degree of compression is sufficient to engage said tubular member within said adaptive connector, and insufficient to occlude said tubular member.

Claim 45

An adaptive connector for engaging a tubular member having a hollow center which is not to be occluded, comprising: a pair of segments adapted for telescoping engagement with one another, wherein said segments combine to develop a centrally disposed, generally symmetrical cavity which is cylindrical at its center and which terminates at tapered ends, and wherein at least one of said segments has an opening in an end thereof which communicates with said cavity and which is adapted to receive said tubular member therein; a plug formed of a compressible material and located within said cavity, wherein said plug and said plug receiving cavity are correspondingly configured, and wherein said plug has a channel extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving said tubular member from said opening; and means for compressing said plug and for applying substantially uniform forces against said tubular member along the length of said member receiving channel to uniformly constrict said channel about said tubular member and securely engage said tubular member within said adaptive connector, comprising means for developing a snap-fit engagement between said telescoping segments so that when said telescoping segments are engaged, said plug is automatically placed in compression so that said plug is substantially uniformly constricted about said tubular member along the length of said member receiving channel, without occluding the hollow center of said tube.

Claim 46

An adaptive connector for engaging a tubular member having a hollow center which is not to be occluded, comprising: a pair of segments adapted for telescoping engagement with one another, wherein said segments combine to develop a centrally disposed, generally symmetrical cavity which is cylindrical at its center and which terminates at tapered ends, and wherein at least one of said segments has an opening in an end thereof which communicates with said cavity and which is adapted to receive said tubular member therein; a plug formed of a compressible material and located within said cavity, wherein said plug and said plug receiving cavity are correspondingly configured, and wherein said plug has a channel extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving said tubular member from said opening; and means for compressing said plug and for applying substantially uniform forces against said tubular member along the length of said member receiving channel to uniformly constrict said channel about said tubular member and securely engage said tubular member within said adaptive connector, comprising means for developing a snap-fit engagement between said telescoping segments so that when said telescoping segments are engaged, said plug is automatically placed in compression so that said plug is substantially uniformly constricted about said tubular member along the length of said member receiving channel, without occluding the hollow center of said tube.