Visual indicator for a secure fluid connection

Abstract

A connector arrangement for attaching a gas conduit to a gas supply device and visually indicating the proper connection between the two components. The connector arrangement includes a connector attached to a gas conduit and a receptacle formed on a gas supply device. A visual indicator is associated with the receptacle such that when the connector is properly received within the receptacle, the visual indicator provides a visual indication to the user that the connection has been made. The visual indicator can include two distinct colors that provide a visual indication of whether a proper connection has been made. The visual indicator could alternatively include a light that is illuminated when the proper connection is made.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A connector arrangement for attaching a gas conduit to a gas supply device, comprising:
 a connector attached to the gas conduit;   a receptacle formed on the gas supply device and sized to receive the connector; and   a visual indicator associated with the receptacle, wherein the visual indicator provides a visual indication of when the connector is securely received in the receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The connector arrangement of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a locking arrangement formed on the connector; and 
 a receiving arrangement formed on the receptacle, wherein the receiving arrangement receives the locking arrangement to positively retain the connector within the receptacle. 
 
     
     
         3 . The connector arrangement of  claim 2  wherein the visual indicator changes state when the connector is positively retained. 
     
     
         4 . The connector arrangement of  claim 2  wherein the visual indicator is an indicator light that is illuminated when the connector is securely received in the receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The connector arrangement of  claim 4  wherein the connector includes a latch that engages the receptacle to positively retain the connector within the receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The connector arrangement of  claim 5  further comprising an activation switch formed in the receptacle and coupled to the indicator light, wherein the latch closes the activation switch to activate the illumination light when the latch engages the receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The connector arrangement of  claim 4  wherein the illumination light is an LED. 
     
     
         8 . The connector arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises an outer shroud. 
     
     
         9 . The connector arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the outer shroud surrounds a retaining ring and a visual indicator shroud. 
     
     
         10 . The connector arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the retaining ring and the visual indicating shroud interact along a serrated contact surface. 
     
     
         11 . The connector arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the serrated contact surface allows the retaining ring and the visual indicating shroud to rotate in only one direction. 
     
     
         12 . The connector arrangement of  claim 9 , further comprising a release handle adjacent the outer shroud and connected to the visual indicating shroud. 
     
     
         13 . The connector arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the connector comprises a plurality of spaced retaining tabs, and the visual indicator shroud comprises a plurality of spaced receiving slots, the plurality of spaced receiving slots configured to receive the plurality of spaced retaining tabs. 
     
     
         14 . The connector arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the outer shroud comprises a viewing window, wherein at least a portion of the visual indicator shroud is visible through the viewing window. 
     
     
         15 . A connector arrangement for connecting a gas conduit of a breathing circuit to an anesthesia machine, comprising:
 a connector attached to the gas conduit, the connector including a locking arrangement;   a receptacle formed on the anesthesia machine and having a receiving arrangement for positively receiving and retaining the locking arrangement of the connector; and   a visual indicator associated with the receptacle, wherein the visual indicator provides a visual indication of when the connector is securely received in the receptacle.   
     
     
         16 . The connector arrangement of  claim 15  wherein the visual indicator changes state when the connector is positively retained. 
     
     
         17 . The connector arrangement of  claim 16  wherein the visual indicator is an indicator light that is illuminated when the connector is securely received in the receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . The connector arrangement of  claim 16  further comprising a visual indicator shroud positioned within the receptacle, wherein a first portion of the indicator shroud is visible when the connector is not positively retained in the receptacle and a second portion of the indicator shroud is visible when the connector is positively retained in the receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . A method of indicating the proper connection of a gas conduit to an anesthesia machine, comprising the steps of:
 inserting a connector formed on the gas conduit into a receptacle formed on the anesthesia machine;   positively retaining the connector within the receptacle through engagement of a locking arrangement formed on the connector with a retaining arrangement formed on the receptacle; and   changing the condition of a visual indicator from a first condition to a second condition to visually indicate the positive retainment of the connector.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the connector is rotated relative to the receptacle to positively retain the locking arrangement within the receiving arrangement.