Female enteral coupling

Abstract

A container for collecting, transporting, storing, delivering and dispensing fluid. The container has a hollow tube with an outer circumference diameter and is configured to receive a plunger. The container also has a circumferential seal assembly secured at one end of the hollow tube. The seal assembly outer diameter is substantially similar to the hollow tube outer diameter.

1 . A integral-venting enteral syringe comprising:
 a syringe body having an outside surface and defining a hollow internal cavity therein the syringe body including an open end and a substantially closed end opposite the open end, the substantially closed end being integrally formed with the remainder of the syringe body;   at least one vent extending from the hollow cavity to the outside surface of the syringe body,   a plunger operable to selectively travel within the hollow cavity; and   a port adjacent the substantially closed end.   
     
     
         2 . The integral-venting enteral syringe of  claim 1  wherein the vent is separate from the port and extends from generally adjacent the substantially closed end to outside the syringe body. 
     
     
         3 . The integral-venting enteral syringe of  claim 1  wherein the vent comprises two vents including a first vent separate from the port seal and extending from generally adjacent the substantially closed end to outside the syringe body and a second vent formed in the port. 
     
     
         4 . The integral-venting enteral syringe of  claim 4  wherein the port comprises a double-lumen seal such that a supply/discharge lumen and vent lumen can be extended into the double-lumen port seal. 
     
     
         5 . The integral-venting enteral syringe of  claim 1  wherein the vent is formed in or adjacent the port. 
     
     
         6 . The integral-venting enteral syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the syringe body and the plunger are each substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         7 . The integral-venting enteral syringe of  claim 6 , wherein syringe body had an asymmetrical portion extending outwardly to limit rolling movement of the syringe body. 
     
     
         8 . The integral-venting enteral syringe of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable cap for covering and uncovering the substantially closed end of the syringe body. 
     
     
         9 . The integral-venting enteral syringe of  claim 1 , further comprising an offset tip formed in the substantially closed end of the syringe body, the offset tip being positioned in a position offset from a center of the substantially closed end of the syringe body. 
     
     
         10 . The integral-venting enteral syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the integrally formed substantially closed end functions as a non-removable cap. 
     
     
         11 . A self-venting enteral syringe comprising:
 a syringe body having an outside surface and defining a hollow internal cavity therein and at least one vent extending from the hollow cavity to the outside surface of the syringe body, the syringe body including an open end and a substantially closed end opposite the open end, the substantially closed end being integrally formed with the remainder of the syringe body;   a plunger operable to selectively travel within the hollow cavity;   a port formed through the substantially closed end; and   a vent formed through the substantially closed end.   
     
     
         12 . The self-venting enteral syringe of  claim 11  wherein the vent is separate from the port and extends from generally adjacent the substantially closed end to outside the syringe body. 
     
     
         13 . The self-venting enteral syringe of  claim 11  wherein the vent is formed in or adjacent the port. 
     
     
         14 . The self-venting enteral syringe of  claim 11  wherein the vent comprises two vents, including a first vent separate from the port and extending from generally adjacent the substantially closed end to outside the syringe body and a second vent formed in the port. 
     
     
         15 . The self-venting enteral syringe of  claim 14  wherein the port seal comprises a double-lumen seal such that a supply/discharge lumen and vent lumen can be extended into the double-lumen port. 
     
     
         16 . The self-venting enteral syringe of  claim 11 , wherein the syringe body and the plunger are each substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         17 . The self-venting enteral syringe of  claim 16 , wherein syringe body had an asymmetrical portion extending outwardly to limit rolling movement of the syringe body. 
     
     
         18 . The self-venting enteral syringe of  claim 11 , further comprising a removable cap for covering and uncovering the substantially closed end of the syringe body. 
     
     
         19 . The self-venting enteral syringe of  claim 11 , further comprising an offset tip formed in the substantially closed end of the syringe body, the offset tip being positioned in a position offset from a center of the substantially closed end of the syringe body. 
     
     
         20 . The self-venting enteral syringe of  claim 11 , wherein the integrally formed substantially closed end functions as a non-removable cap. 
     
     
         21 . A luer-tip-restricting apparatus for use with liquid transfer equipment, comprising:
 a female port assembly comprising a hollow body with a top opening edge, a bottom opening edge and a tapered inner diameter, the tapered inner diameter is designed to prevent formation of an air-tight fit with a luer tip; and   at least one stop protruding from the tapered inner diameter, the at least one stop is positioned within the tapered inner diameter to prevent an air-tight fit with a luer tip inserted into the top opening edge of the female port assembly.   
     
     
         22 . The luer-tip-restricting apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one stop positioned within the tapered inner diameter to contact the luer-tip without producing an air-tight fit between the luer-tip and the tapered inner diameter. 
     
     
         23 . The luer-tip-restricting apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the female port assembly is generally barrel-shaped. 
     
     
         24 . The luer-tip-restricting apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the female port assembly comprises a top opening edge and a bottom opening edge, and varying heights between corresponding points of the top opening edge and the bottom opening edge. 
     
     
         25 . The luer-tip-restricting apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a particle-restricting barrier secured over the bottom opening edge of the female port assembly. 
     
     
         26 . The luer-tip-restricting apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the particle-restricting barrier comprises a pair of resiliently-flexible flaps separated by a channel. 
     
     
         27 . The luer-tip-restricting apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the particle-restricting barrier comprises a vent to maintain free flow of liquid transfer through the female port assembly. 
     
     
         28 . The luer-tip-restricting apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the female port assembly comprises an insert secured within a receiver, the insert comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the receiver comprising an inner surface, and the at least one stop protruding from the insert inner surface. 
     
     
         29 . The luer-tip-restricting apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the receiver comprises an inner surface and a generally continuous groove extending around the inner surface, the insert comprises an outer surface with a generally continuous ridge extending around the outer surface, and the generally continuous ridge is designed to fit within the generally continuous groove. 
     
     
         30 . The luer-tip-restricting apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the receiver comprises at least one recession extending from the top opening and along a length of the inner circumference, the insert comprises at least one protrusion extending along a length of the outer surface, and the at least one protrusion is designed to fit within the at least one recession. 
     
     
         31 . The luer-tip-restricting apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the luer-tip-restricting apparatus comprises a pair of stops protruding from the tapered inner diameter, the stops separated by a distance no greater than about 3.925 mm. 
     
     
         32 . The luer-tip-restricting apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the female port assembly top opening edge comprises a minimum diameter of about 4.270 mm. 
     
     
         33 . A cap for use with a syringe bottle comprising a conical lid, a barrel-shaped port assembly and a generally continuous circumferential groove, the cap comprising:
 a top planar surface comprising an elliptical shape with a major axis and a minor axis, the major axis is longer than the minor axis;   a generally continuous collar extending from the edge of the top planar surface to a distal edge; the collar comprised of resiliently flexible material;   a pair of opposing grips protruding inwardly from the generally continuous collar and configured to be removably inserted within the syringe bottle circumferential groove; and   a plug extending from the top planar surface within the generally continuous collar dimensions, the plug designed to removably insert into the syringe bottle port assembly.   
     
     
         34 . The cap of  claim 33 , wherein the pair of opposing grips is separated along the minor axis. 
     
     
         35 . The cap of  claim 34 , wherein inward pressure along the major axis causes elongation of the minor axis. 
     
     
         36 . The cap of  claim 33 , wherein the plug is configured to form an air-tight fit with the syringe bottle port assembly. 
     
     
         37 . The cap of  claim 33 , wherein the plug comprises an open end, a central bore, and a closed end. 
     
     
         38 . The cap of  claim 33 , wherein the plug comprises a tapered outer surface. 
     
     
         39 . The cap of  claim 33 , wherein the plug is positioned offset from the center of the major axis and offset from the center of the minor axis. 
     
     
         40 . The cap of  claim 33 , further comprising a support extending from the top planar surface within the generally continuous collar dimensions, the support having a distal end configured to contact the syringe bottle conical lid when the pair of grips is inserted within the syringe bottle continuous circumferential groove. 
     
     
         41 . The cap of  claim 40 , wherein the support comprises a semi-circular wall with a disconnect, and the plug is positioned generally within the disconnect. 
     
     
         42 . The cap of  claim 40 , wherein the support and plug are aligned along the major axis. 
     
     
         43 . The cap of  claim 40 , wherein the support and plug are aligned along the minor axis. 
     
     
         44 . The cap of  claim 33 , wherein the generally continuous collar comprises a varying height between the top planar surface and the distal edge. 
     
     
         45 . The cap of  claim 33 , wherein the generally continuous collar distal edge comprises at least one concave section and at least one convex section. 
     
     
         46 . An adaptor for use with a syringe bottle comprising a conical lid, a barrel-shaped port assembly and a generally continuous circumferential groove, the adaptor comprising:
 a resiliently flexible elliptical collar comprising a major axis and a minor axis;   a funnel comprising a sloping surface and an elongated port with a distal end, the funnel extending within the dimensions of the major axis and the minor axis; and   a pair of opposing grips protruding inwardly from the elliptical collar and configured to be removably inserted within the syringe bottle circumferential groove.   
     
     
         47 . The adaptor of  claim 46 , wherein the pair of opposing grips is separated along the minor axis. 
     
     
         48 . The adaptor of  claim 47 , wherein inward pressure along the major axis causes elongation of the minor axis. 
     
     
         49 . The adaptor of  claim 46 , further comprising a support extending from the funnel sloping surface within the elliptical collar dimensions, the support having a distal end configured to contact the syringe bottle conical lid when the pair of grips is inserted within the syringe bottle continuous circumferential groove. 
     
     
         50 . The adaptor of  claim 49 , wherein the support comprises a semi-circular wall with a disconnect, and the elongated port is positioned generally within the disconnect. 
     
     
         51 . The adaptor of  claim 50 , wherein the support and elongated port are aligned along the major axis. 
     
     
         52 . The adaptor of  claim 50 , wherein the support and elongated port are aligned along the minor axis. 
     
     
         53 . The adaptor of  claim 46 , further comprising a circumferential mouth with an attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         54 . The adaptor of  claim 46 , wherein the elongated port is configured to ventedly insert into the syringe bottle port assembly. 
     
     
         55 . The adaptor of  claim 46 , wherein the elongated port is configured to form an air-tight fit with the syringe bottle port assembly.