Medical device connector fitting

Abstract

A releasable medical device connector comprises a connector fitting with a spin nut which connects to an adaptor. The connector fitting has at least one radially extending member with a variable radius cross section. The spin nut is disposed upon the connector fitting proximal of the radially extending member and is both axially slidable and rotatable upon the elongated body of the connector fitting. A screw thread within a proximal portion of the spin nut is used to secure the tapering portion of the connector fitting to an external thread disposed upon the adaptor. To release the connector, the spin nut is unscrewed from the adaptor and slid so that a distal receptacle of the spin nut engages the radially extending member of the connector fitting. With the spin nut and connector fitting engaged, the medical line can be released from the adaptor by twisting and pulling upon the spin nut. The radially extending member of the connector fitting may also be used to secure the medical line to a retainer comprising one or more slots.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of releasably securing a medical line to an adaptor comprising:
 providing a connector fitting having at least one radial member and a tapering proximal portion;   providing a spin nut having a distal receptacle and disposed upon the connector fitting and having two positions, a first position and a second position;   inserting the proximal portion of the connector fitting into the adaptor;   moving the spin nut to the first position;   securing the proximal portion of the connector fitting to the adaptor by twisting the spin nut;   unlocking the connector fitting from the adaptor by twisting the spin nut;   moving the spin nut to the second position; and   twisting and distally pulling the spin nut to release the medical line from the adaptor.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein moving the spin nut to the second position further comprises moving the distal receptacle of the spin nut onto the radial member of the connector fitting. 
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein twisting and pulling the spin nut causes the connector fitting to be twisted and distally pulled relative to the adaptor. 
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing an anchoring system having a retainer with a channel and at least one slot sized to receive a portion of the radial member of the connector fitting; and 
 inserting the connector fitting into the channel of the retainer such that the slot of the retainer engages the radial member of the connector fitting to inhibit lateral and longitudinal motion of the connector fitting relative to the retainer. 
 
     
     
         5 . A method of releasably securing a medical line to an adaptor comprising:
 providing a fitting comprising an elongated body and at least one radial member disposed upon the elongated body, and a slidable element disposed upon the elongated body, the radial member having a radius which varies about at least a portion of the elongated body, and the slidable element being movable between a first position and a second position and having a receptacle which receives at least a portion of the radial member;   inserting the fitting into the adaptor;   moving the slidable element to the first position;   securing the fitting to the adaptor by twisting the slidable element;   unlocking the fitting from the adaptor by twisting the slidable element;   moving the slidable element to the second position; and   twisting and distally pulling the slidable element to release the medical line from the adaptor.   
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 5 , wherein moving the slidable element to the second position further comprises moving the receptacle onto the at least one radial member. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 5 , wherein twisting and pulling the slidable element causes the fitting to be twisted and distally pulled relative to the adaptor. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 5  further comprising transferring distally directed force from the slidable element to the fitting. 
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 8  further comprising transferring rotational torque from the slidable element to the fitting. 
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 5  further comprising:
 providing a retainer with a channel and at least one slot sized to receive a portion of the at least one radial member of the fitting; and 
 inserting the fitting into the channel of the retainer. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 10  further comprising engaging the slot of the retainer with the at least one radial member. 
     
     
         12 . A method of releasably securing a medical line to an adaptor comprising:
 providing a connector fitting having a radial member and a proximal portion, the radial member being spaced from the proximal portion;   providing a spin nut having a proximal receptacle and a distal receptacle, the spin nut being disposed upon the connector fitting and being movable along the connector fitting;   locating at least a portion of the adaptor in the proximal receptacle of the spin nut;   securing the connector fitting to the adaptor by twisting the spin nut;   unlocking the connector fitting from the adaptor by twisting the spin nut;   sliding the spin nut until the radial member is disposed in the distal receptacle of the spin nut; and   twisting and pulling the spin nut to release the medical line from the adaptor.   
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 12  further comprising inserting the proximal portion of the connector fitting into the adaptor. 
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 12 , wherein sliding the spin nut until the radial member is disposed in the distal receptacle further comprises engaging a perimeter surface of the radial member with an internal surface of the distal receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 14  further comprising transferring rotational torque from the spin nut to the connector fitting. 
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 14  wherein a cross-section through the radial member and the perimeter surface has the shape of a hexagon. 
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein the radial member has a radius which varies about at least a portion of the connector fitting. 
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 12 , wherein sliding the spin nut until the radial member is disposed in the distal receptacle further comprises contacting a proximal facing surface of the radial member with a distal facing surface of the distal receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 18  further comprising transferring distally directed force from the spin nut to the connector fitting. 
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 12  further comprising:
 providing an anchoring system having a retainer with a channel and at least one slot sized to receive a portion of the radial member of the connector fitting; and 
 inserting the connector fitting into the channel of the retainer such that the slot of the retainer engages the radial member of the connector fitting.