Connector for use with a medical catheter and medical catheter assembly including said connector

Abstract

Connector for use with a medical catheter assembly and medical catheter assembly including the connector. In one embodiment, the connector comprises a rear portion, an intermediate portion, and a front portion. The rear portion is frusto-conical in shape and tapers rearwardly in cross-sectional diameter from its front end. A centrally-disposed, smaller-diameter, longitudinal bore is provided in the rear portion, the bore being appropriately dimensioned to receive a guidewire therethrough. The intermediate portion is generally cylindrical and is shaped to include a centrally-disposed, larger-diameter longitudinal bore and a pair of longitudinally-extending slots providing access to the larger-diameter bore. The front portion is frusto-conical in shape and tapers forwardly in cross-sectional diameter from its rear end. In use, a silicone tube is inserted into the larger-diameter bore of the intermediate portion, and the rear and intermediate portions of the connector are inserted into a gastrostomy feeding tube. A silicone glue is then used to bond the silicone tube to the gastrostomy feeding tube. The front end of the connector is inserted into a dilator and is secured thereto by spin-welding.

1 . A medical catheter assembly comprising:
 (a) a medical catheter, said medical catheter being made of silicone rubber and having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal bore;   (b) an internal bolster, said internal bolster being disposed at said distal end of said medical catheter;   (c) a connector, said connector being an elongated member having a front portion, a rear portion, and a longitudinal bore, said rear portion having at least one slot providing side access to said longitudinal bore, said rear portion of said connector being disposed within said proximal end of said medical catheter;   (d) a length of tubing, said length of tubing being disposed within said longitudinal bore of said connector and being exposed through said at least one slot, said length of tubing being made of silicone rubber; and   (e) a silicone rubber glue, said silicone rubber glue being sandwiched between an exposed portion of said length of tubing and said medical catheter for bonding said length of tubing to said medical catheter.   
   
   
       2 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a dilator, said dilator having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal bore, said front portion of said connector being securely disposed within said distal end of said dilator. 
   
   
       3 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said medical catheter is a gastrostomy feeding tube. 
   
   
       4 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said medical catheter and said internal bolster form a unitary structure. 
   
   
       5 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said connector is secured to said dilator by spin-welding. 
   
   
       6 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 5  wherein each of said connector and said dilator is made of polyethylene. 
   
   
       7 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said rear portion of said connector is shaped to include a rearward section and a forward section, said rearward section being frusto-conical in shape and tapering rearwardly, said forward section being cylindrical in shape and having a pair of opposing slots providing access to said longitudinal bore, and wherein said front portion of said connector is frusto-conical in shape and tapers forwardly. 
   
   
       8 . A medical catheter assembly comprising:
 (a) a medical catheter, said medical catheter being made of silicone rubber and having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal bore;   (b) an internal bolster, said internal bolster being disposed at said distal end of said medical catheter; and   (c) a fitting assembly, said fitting assembly comprising
 (i) a fitting, said fitting including a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion being shaped to serve as a dilator, said rear portion being disposed within said proximal end of said medical catheter and being shaped to include a longitudinally-extending bore and at least one slot providing side access to said longitudinally-extending bore, 
 (ii) a length of tubing, said length of tubing being disposed within said longitudinally-extending bore of said fitting and being exposed through said at least one slot, said length of tubing being made of silicone rubber, 
 (iii) a silicone rubber glue, said silicone rubber glue being sandwiched between an exposed portion of said length of tubing and said medical catheter for bonding said length of tubing to said medical catheter, and 
 (iv) a wire loop, said wire loop being secured to said front portion of said fitting and extending forwardly therefrom. 
   
   
   
       9 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said medical catheter is a gastrostomy feeding tube. 
   
   
       10 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said medical catheter and said internal bolster form a unitary structure. 
   
   
       11 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said rear portion of said connector is cylindrical in shape and has a pair of opposing slots providing access to said longitudinally-extending bore. 
   
   
       12 . A medical catheter assembly comprising:
 (a) a medical catheter, said medical catheter being made of silicone rubber and having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal bore;   (b) an internal bolster, said internal bolster being disposed at said distal end of said medical catheter;   (c) a connector, said connector being an elongated member having a front portion, a rear portion, and a longitudinal bore, said rear portion having at least one transversely extending opening, said rear portion of said connector being disposed within said proximal end of said medical catheter; and   (e) a silicone rubber glue, said silicone rubber glue being deposited into said at least one transversely-extending opening in said rear portion of said connector and in contact with said medical catheter for bonding to said medical catheter.   
   
   
       13 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising a dilator, said dilator having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal bore, said front portion of said connector being securely disposed within said distal end of said dilator. 
   
   
       14 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said medical catheter is a gastrostomy feeding tube. 
   
   
       15 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said medical catheter and said internal bolster form a unitary structure. 
   
   
       16 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said connector is secured to said dilator by spin-welding. 
   
   
       17 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 16  wherein each of said connector and said dilator is made of polyethylene. 
   
   
       18 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said rear portion of said connector is generally cylindrical in shape and is provided with a first pair of parallel transverse openings and a second pair of parallel transverse openings, said first pair of parallel transverse openings being oriented perpendicularly relative to said second pair of parallel transverse openings, and wherein said front portion of said connector is frusto-conical in shape and tapers forwardly. 
   
   
       19 . A medical catheter assembly comprising:
 (a) a medical catheter, said medical catheter being made of silicone rubber and having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal bore;   (b) an internal bolster, said internal bolster being disposed at said distal end of said medical catheter; and   (c) a fitting assembly, said fitting assembly comprising
 (i) a fitting, said fitting including a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion being shaped to serve as a dilator, said rear portion being disposed within said proximal end of said medical catheter and being shaped to include at least one transversely-extending opening, 
 (ii) a silicone rubber glue, said silicone rubber glue being deposited into said at least one transversely-extending opening in said rear portion of said fitting and in contact with said medical catheter for bonding to said medical catheter, and 
 (iii) a wire loop, said wire loop being secured to said front portion of said fitting and extending forwardly therefrom. 
   
   
   
       20 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said medical catheter is a gastrostomy feeding tube. 
   
   
       21 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 20  wherein said medical catheter and said internal bolster form a unitary structure. 
   
   
       22 . The medical catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said rear portion of said fitting is generally cylindrical in shape and is provided with a first pair of parallel transverse openings and a second pair of parallel transverse openings, said first pair of parallel transverse openings being oriented perpendicularly relative to said second pair of parallel transverse openings. 
   
   
       23 . A connector adapted for use in connecting a first length of tubing to a second length of tubing, said second length of tubing being made of a silicone rubber, said connector being a unitary structure having a longitudinal bore and comprising a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion being adapted for insertion into said first length of tubing, said rear portion being adapted for insertion into said second length of tubing, said front portion being frusto-conical and tapering forwardly in cross-sectional diameter, said rear portion having a first transversely-extending opening and a second transversely-extending opening, said first and second transversely-extending openings being adapted to receive a quantity of a silicone glue, said second transversely-extending opening extending orthogonally relative to said first transversely-extending opening. 
   
   
       24 . The connector as claimed in  claim 23  wherein each of said first and second transversely-extending openings extends transversely entirely through said rear portion. 
   
   
       25 . The connector as claimed in  claim 24  wherein said rear portion further comprises a third transversely-extending opening and a fourth transversely-extending opening, said third transversely-extending opening extending in a direction parallel to said first transversely-extending opening, said fourth transversely-extending opening extending in a direction parallel to said second transversely-extending opening, each of said third and fourth transversely-extending openings extending transversely entirely through said rear portion and being adapted to receive a quantity of a silicone glue, said second transversely-extending opening being positioned between said first and third transversely-extending openings, said third transversely-extending opening being positioned between said second and fourth transversely-extending openings. 
   
   
       26 . A fitting assembly adapted for connection to a length of tubing, said length of tubing being made of a silicone rubber, said fitting assembly comprising (i) a fitting, said fitting being a unitary structure comprising a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion being conical and tapering forwardly in cross-sectional diameter, said rear portion being adapted for insertion into said length of tubing and having a first transversely-extending opening and a second transversely-extending opening, said first and second transversely-extending openings being adapted to receive a quantity of a silicone glue, said second transversely-extending opening extending orthogonally relative to said first transversely-extending opening; and (ii) a wire loop, said wire loop being secured to said front portion of said fitting and extending forwardly therefrom. 
   
   
       27 . The fitting assembly as claimed in  claim 26  wherein each of said first and second transversely-extending openings extends transversely entirely through said rear portion. 
   
   
       28 . The fitting assembly as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said rear portion further comprises a third transversely-extending opening and a fourth transversely-extending opening, said third transversely-extending opening extending in a direction parallel to said first transversely-extending opening, said fourth transversely-extending opening extending in a direction parallel to said second transversely-extending opening, each of said third and fourth transversely-extending openings extending transversely entirely through said rear portion and being adapted to receive a quantity of a silicone glue, said second transversely-extending opening being positioned between said first and third transversely-extending openings, said third transversely-extending opening being positioned between said second and fourth transversely-extending openings. 
   
   
       29 . A connector adapted for use in connecting a first length of tubing to a second length of tubing, said second length of tubing being made of a silicone rubber, said connector being a unitary structure comprising a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion being adapted for insertion into said first length of tubing, said rear portion being adapted for insertion into said second length of tubing, said front portion being frusto-conical and tapering forwardly in cross-sectional diameter, said front portion having a first longitudinal bore, said rear portion having a forward section and a rearward section, said forward section being generally cylindrical and having a second longitudinal bore and a pair of slots providing side access to said second longitudinal bore, said second longitudinal bore being coaxial with and equal in diameter to said first longitudinal bore, said rearward section having a third longitudinal bore, said third longitudinal bore being coaxial with and smaller in diameter than said first longitudinal bore. 
   
   
       30 . A fitting assembly adapted for connection to a length of tubing, the length of tubing being made of a silicone rubber, said fitting assembly comprising (i) a fitting, said fitting being a unitary structure comprising a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion being conical in shape and tapering forwardly in cross-sectional diameter, said rear portion being adapted for insertion into the length of tubing, said rear portion having a forward section and a rearward section, said forward section being generally cylindrical and having a longitudinal bore and a pair of slots providing side access to said longitudinal bore; and (ii) a wire loop, said wire loop being secured to said front portion of said fitting and extending forwardly therefrom.