Luer connector assembly with clamping sleeve and method of use

Abstract

A luer connector assembly (100) including a luer connector body (102), a luer cap (110) and a protective flexible sleeve (120). The protective sleeve is assembled to the distal end (116) of the luer cap (110) to define a cap/sleeve subassembly (130), and the luer cap proximal end (112) is removably affixable to the distal end (106) of the luer connector (102). A prepared end (202) of a proximal catheter lumen (200) of a patient-implanted catheter assembly is inserted through the protective sleeve (120) and through and beyond the luer cap (110) to be affixed to the luer connector distal end (106). The luer cap/sleeve subassembly (130) is then slid proximally to be removably affixed to the luer connector distal end (106), whereafter the clamp (204) on the catheter lumen (200) is positionable onto and around the protective sleeve (120), to protect the catheter lumen (200) during clamping.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the present invention with the luer connector, a proximal cap, and a luer cap and protective sleeve exploded;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the protective sleeve secured onto the luer cap, and the luer cap/sleeve and luer connector positioned to be affixed to the proximal end of an extension tube (or catheter lumen), and showing a clamp on the extension tube in a clamping state;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 2, wherein the extension tube is affixed to the luer connector, showing the clamp still in a clamping state on the extension tube;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view illustrating the luer connector and luer cap/sleeve fully affixed to the proximal end of the extension tube, with the proximal cap on the luer connector proximal end and also showing the clamp slid onto the protective sleeve and in an unclamped state; and

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 showing a syringe in position connected onto the proximal end of the luer connector assembly, rather than a proximal cap.

Claims

1. A luer connector assembly for use in repairing a patient-placed catheter assembly at a proximal end thereof, comprising: a luer connector, a luer cap, and a length of flexible protective sleeve, andthe luer connector having a proximal end and a distal end, the luer cap having a proximal and a distal end, and the luer cap proximal end is removably affixable to the distal end of the luer connector, with the protective sleeve assembled to a distal end of the luer cap,wherein during assembly of the luer connector assembly to a proximal end of a catheter lumen of the catheter assembly, a proximal end length of a catheter lumen is inserted through the protective sleeve and the luer cap to protrude therebeyond to be affixed to the distal end of the luer connector, whereafter the luer cap is slid to engage the luer connector and is affixed to the luer connector over the connection of the proximal catheter end and luer connector distal end, whereafter a clamp disposed initially on the proximal catheter end is slidable onto and over the protective sleeve to protect the catheter lumen during subsequent clamping thereof.

2. The luer connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective sleeve is force fit over a distally extending flange of the luer cap.

3. The luer connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the luer cap is removably threadedly engageable with a portion of the distal end of the luer connector.

4. The luer connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the luer connector includes a distally extending flange insertable into the end opening of the proximal end of the catheter to be affixed thereto.

5. A method of assembling a luer connector assembly to a proximal end of a catheter lumen of a patient-placed catheter assembly, comprising the steps of: preparing a proximal end of a catheter lumen of a catheter assembly;selecting a luer connector assembly including a luer connector body, a luer cap removably affixable to the luer connector body distal end, and a flexible protective sleeve assembled to the luer cap distal end;positioning the luercap/protective sleeve onto the proximal end section of the catheter lumen such that the luer cap is proximate the end of the catheter lumen such that the proximal end of the catheter lumen protrudes beyond the luer cap,affixing the protruding proximal end of the catheter lumen to the distal end of the luer connector;affixing the luer cap to the distal end of the luer connector over the connection of the luer connector and catheter lumen; andsliding a clamp from the catheter lumen over and onto the protective sleeve.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the assembly of the protective sleeve to the luer cap included force fitting a sleeve end onto and over a distally extending flange of the luer cap distal end.

7. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the luer cap proximal end is threadably engageable with the distal end of the luer connector.

8. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the affixing of the catheter lumen proximal end to the luer connector includes the step of force fitting a distally extending flange of the distal end of the luer connector into and within the catheter lumen proximal end.