Apparatus and method for connecting a passageway and openings with a connector

Claim 2

A connector comprising: a body with a first end and a second end and a first part on the first end and a second part on the second end, the body having a passageway aligned along an axis of the body and passing through the first part from the first end into the body, the body having a plurality of openings in the second part each of the openings generally parallel to the axis of the body and extending through the second part from the second end to the passageway, the passageway extending from the first end to at least the second part of the body to permit communication through the body from the first end to the second end, the body at the first part being shaped and located for cooperative interengagement with a catheter adapter to permit communication of the passageway with the catheter adapter and a catheter connected thereto; and a probe tube with a lumen therethrough, the probe tube passing through at least one of the openings and extending into a portion of the passageway providing the lumen between the first end to the second end.

Claim 3

The connector of claim 1 wherein a recess is included as part of the second end for extending into the second part, the recess having a bottom from which the openings pass through the second part to the passageway.

Claim 4

The connector of claim 1 wherein the body includes a male luer taper located on the first part of the body about the passageway and tapering outwardly of the axis from the first end to an enlarged diameter for providing a place to connect an adapter.

Claim 5

The connector of claim 3 wherein the body includes an annular groove about the body immediately adjacent to the enlarged diameter of male luer taper.

Claim 6

The connector of claim 4 wherein a luer nut having an internally threaded collar with an apertured flanged end shaped to seat within the annular groove with the collar extending over the male luer taper, the fit between the groove and collar permitting rotary but not axial movement of the luer nut relative to the connector so as to provide a threaded locking luer.

Claim 7

The connector of claim 5 wherein the probe tube lumen contains therein an electrical circuit connecting a catheter transducer attached to the first end to a circuit for receiving input signals from the catheter transducer, the electrical circuitry passing through the probe tube lumen and the passageway.

Claim 8

The connector of claim 6 wherein the transducer is a pressure probe.

Claim 9

The connector of claim 1 wherein the plurality of openings carry at least an electrical circuit and a tube in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to one another and to the axis.

Claim 10

The connector of claim 8 wherein the tube extends from the passageway through the second part and beyond the second end.

Claim 11

The connector of claim 1 wherein the first and second ends are substantially parallel to one another.

Claim 12

The connector of claim 10 made of a polymeric substance.

Claim 13

The connector of claim 11 wherein a polymeric substance is molded to make the body.

Claim 14

The connector of claim 2 wherein a coupling in the form of a tubular inlet extends from the bottom of the recess within the body second part providing connection with at least one of the openings.

Claim 15

The connector of claim 13 wherein the coupling and the openings are substantially parallel to one another and the axis of the body.

Claim 16

A connector comprising: a body with a first end and a second end and a first part on the first end and a second part on the second end, the body having a passageway aligned along an axis of the body and passing through the first part from the first end into the body, the body at the first part being shaped and located for cooperative interengagement with a catheter adapter to permit communication of the passageway with the catheter adapter and a catheter connected thereto, the body having a plurality of openings in second part each of the openings extending from the second end to at least the passageway in the body to permit communication through the body from the first end to the second end; and the body having the first and second ends substantially parallel to one another.

Claim 17

A connector comprising: a body with a first end and a second end and a first part on the first end and a second part on the second end, the body having a passageway aligned along an axis of the body and passing through the first part from the first end into the body, the body at the first part being shaped and located for cooperative interengagement with a catheter adapter to permit communication of the passageway with the catheter adapter and a catheter connected thereto, the body having a plurality of openings in second part each of the openings extending from the second end to at least the passageway in the body to permit communication through the body from the first end to the second end; and the body having the first and second ends substantially parallel to one another.

Claim 18

A connector for an adapter comprising: a body with a first end and a second end substantially parallel to one another and a first part on the first end and a second part on the second end, the body having a passageway aligned along an axis of the body and passing through the first part from the first end into the body to the second part, the body at the first part being shaped and located for cooperative interengagement with a catheter adapter to permit communication of the passageway with the catheter adapter and a catheter connected thereto, the body having a plurality of openings in the second part each of the openings extending from the second end to at least the passageway in the body to permit communication through the body from the first end to the second end, the openings being in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to one another; a probe tube with a lumen therethrough, the probe tube passing through at least one of the openings and the passageway, the probe tube being generally parallel to the axis of the body and extending from the first end to the second end; a recess as part of the second end and in communication with the second part, the recess having a bottom from which the openings pass through the second part to the passageway; a male luer taper located on the first part of the body about the passageway and tapering outwardly of the axis from the first end to an enlarged diameter for providing a place to connect an adapter; an annular groove about the body immediately adjacent to the enlarged diameter of the male luer taper; a luer nut having an internally threaded collar with a flanged portion shaped to fit into the annular groove permitting rotary but not axial movement of the luer nut relative to the body so the collar extends from the second part toward the first end and over the male luer taper providing a threaded locking luer; a probe tube in one of the openings extending from the passageway through the second part and beyond the second end wherein the openings, the tube and the axis being in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to one another, and an electrical circuit and atmospheric reference vent in the probe tube passing through the body for the connector for the adapter.

Claim 19

A connector for an adapter comprising: a body with a first end and a second end substantially parallel to one another and a first part on the first end and a second part on the second end, the body having a passageway aligned along an axis of the body and passing through the first part from the first end into the body to the second part, the body at the first part being shaped and located for cooperative interengagement with a catheter adapter to permit communication of the passageway with the catheter adapter and a catheter connected thereto, the body having a plurality of openings in the second part each of the openings extending from the second end to at least the passageway in the body to permit communication through the body from the first end to the second end, the openings being in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to one another; a probe tube with a lumen therethrough, the probe tube passing through at least one of the openings and the passageway, the probe tube being generally parallel to the axis of the body and extending from the first end to the second end; a recess as part of the second end and in communication with the second part, the recess having a bottom from which the openings pass through the second part to the passageway; a male luer taper located on the first part of the body about the passageway and tapering outwardly of the axis from the first end to an enlarged diameter for providing a place to connect an adapter; an annular groove about the body immediately adjacent to the enlarged diameter of the male luer taper; a luer nut having an internally threaded collar with a flanged portion shaped to fit into the annular groove permitting rotary but not axial movement of the luer nut relative to the body so the collar extends from the second part toward the first end and over the male luer taper providing a threaded locking luer; a probe tube in one of the openings extending from the passageway through the second part and beyond the second end wherein the openings, the tube and the axis being in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to one another, and an electrical circuit and atmospheric reference vent in the probe tube passing through the body for the connector for the adapter.

Claim 22

The method of claim 17 including the additional step of: locating a male luer taper on the first part of the body about the passageway; tapering the male luer outwardly of the axis from the first end to an enlarged diameter, and providing an annular groove immediately adjacent to the enlarged diameter of male luer taper to connect an adapter.

Claim 23

The method of claim 18 with the added step of providing a luer nut with a flanged aperture end to cooperate in a bearing-like relation with the annular groove.

Claim 24

The method of claim 19 with the added step of placing the luer nut with a collar having internal threads extending over the male luer taper and an apertured flanged portion shaped to seat within the annular groove permitting rotary but not axial movement of the luer nut relative to the taper so as to provide a threaded locking luer.

Claim 25

A connector comprising: a body with a first end and a second end and a first part on the first end and a second part on the second end, the body having a passageway aligned along an axis of the body and passing through the first part from the first end into the body, the body having a plurality of openings in the second part each of the openings generally parallel to the axis of the body and extending through the second part from the second end to the passageway, the passageway extending from the first end to at least the second part of the body to permit communication through the body from the first end to the second end, the body at the first part being shaped and located for cooperative interengagement with an adapter and wherein a recess is included as part of the second end for extending into the second part, the recess having a bottom from which the openings pass through the second part to the passageway; and a probe tube with a lumen therethrough, the probe tube passing through at least one of the openings and extending into a portion of the passageway providing the lumen between the first end to the second end.

Claim 26

A connector comprising: a body with a first end and a second end and a first part on the first end and a second part on the second end, the body having a passageway aligned along an axis of the body and passing through the first part from the first end into the body, the body having a plurality of openings in the second part each of the openings generally parallel to the axis of the body and extending through the second part from the second end to the passageway, the passageway extending from the first end to at least the second part of the body to permit communication through the body from the first end to the second end, the body at the first part being shaped and located for cooperative interengagement with an adapter and wherein a recess is included as part of the second end for extending into the second part, the recess having a bottom from which the openings pass through the second part to the passageway; and a probe tube with a lumen therethrough, the probe tube passing through at least one of the openings and extending into a portion of the passageway providing the lumen between the first end to the second end.

Claim 27

The connector of claim 21 wherein the body includes a male luer taper located on the first part of the body about the passageway and tapering outwardly of the axis from the first end to an enlarged diameter for providing a place to connect an adapter.

Claim 28

The connector of claim 22 wherein the body includes an annular groove about the body immediately adjacent to the enlarged diameter of male luer taper.

Claim 29

The connector of claim 23 wherein a luer nut having an internally threaded collar with an apertured flanged end shaped to seat within the annular groove with the collar extending over the male luer taper, the fit between the groove and collar permitting rotary but not axial movement of the luer nut relative to the connector so as to provide a threaded locking luer.

Claim 30

The connector of claim 24 wherein the probe tube lumen contains therein an electrical circuit connecting a catheter transducer attached to the first end to a circuit for receiving input signals from the catheter transducer, the electrical circuitry passing through the probe tube lumen and the passageway.

Claim 31

The connector of claim 25 wherein the transducer is a pressure probe.

Claim 32

The connector of claim 21 wherein the plurality of openings carry at least an electrical circuit and a tube in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to one another and to the axis.

Claim 33

The connector of claim 27 wherein the tube extends from the passageway through the second part and beyond the second end.

Claim 34

The connector of claim 28 wherein the first and second ends are substantially parallel to one another.

Claim 35

The connector of claim 29 made of a polymeric substance.

Claim 36

The connector of claim 30 wherein a polymeric substance is molded to make the body.

Claim 37

The connector of claim 21 wherein a coupling in the form of a tubular inlet extends from the bottom of the recess within the body second part providing connection with at least one of the openings.

Claim 38

The connector of claim 32 wherein the coupling and the openings are substantially parallel to one another and the axis of the body.