Apparatus, system, and method of fluid delivery connection

Abstract

A fluid delivery connection includes a cuff to engage a port. A finger extends away from the cuff, and the finger is configured to interact with the port. A locking sleeve is movably disposed at least partially about the cuff and the finger. The locking sleeve is selectively movable between an unlocked configuration wherein the finger is movable and a locked configuration wherein the finger is secured to the port. A method of connection to a gas port includes moving a locking sleeve of a connector into an unlocked configuration. A finger of the connector is translated along the gas port and the locking sleeve is moved into a locked configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid delivery connection comprising:
 a cuff configured to engage a port and create a fluid connection between the port and the fluid delivery circuit;   a finger extending away from the cuff, the finger configured to interact with the port, the finger comprising a latch movably secured to the cuff; and   a locking sleeve movably disposed at least partially about the cuff and the finger, the latch being movably secured to the locking sleeve,   wherein the locking sleeve is selectively movable between (i) an unlocked configuration, wherein the finger is movable, and (ii) a locked configuration, wherein the finger is secured to the port.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid delivery connection of  claim 1 , wherein the latch and locking sleeve are complementarily keyed such that movement of the locking sleeve from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration draws the latch towards the cuff, which secures the finger to the port. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid delivery connection of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a plurality of threads disposed on an interior surface of the locking sleeve; and   a pawl disposed on the latch;   wherein the pawl of the latch engages the plurality of threads of the locking sleeve as the locking sleeve is moved from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration to draw the latch towards the cuff.   
     
     
         4 . The fluid delivery connection of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a locking groove disposed on an exterior surface of the latch and the locking groove is configured to engage the plurality of threads to secure the locking sleeve in the locked configuration;   wherein the pawl is resiliently flexible such that the pawl can slide past one or more of the plurality of threads as the locking sleeved is moved from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration.   
     
     
         5 . The fluid delivery connection of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a cam follower disposed on the latch, the cam follower projecting radially outwards from the latch; and   a cut out is defined in the locking sleeve such that the cam follower engages the cut out to draw the latch towards the cuff as the locking sleeve is moved from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration.   
     
     
         6 . The fluid delivery connection of  claim 2 , further comprising a cutout in the locking sleeve, wherein the finger of the latch selectively fits within the cutout when the locking sleeve is in the unlocked configuration, the cutout in the locking sleeve permitting movement of the finger radially away from a central axis of the latch and wherein the finger of the latch is out of alignment with the cutout when the locking sleeve is in the locked configuration, the absence of alignment of the cutout and the finger retains the finger in engagement with the port. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid delivery connection of  claim 1 , wherein the finger is integral with the cuff and the locking sleeve is coaxially disposed about the cuff, the locking sleeve at least partially rotates about the cuff and the finger to secure the finger to the port. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid delivery connection of  claim 7 , further comprising a wedge disposed along an interior surface of the locking sleeve, wherein rotation of the locking sleeve applies pressure to the finger to secure the finger to the port. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid delivery connection of  claim 1 , wherein the finger is integral with the cuff and the locking sleeve is coaxially disposed about the cuff, the locking sleeve at least partially translates along the cuff and the finger to secure the finger to the port. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid delivery connection of  claim 9 , further comprising a spring disposed between the cuff and the locking sleeve such that the spring biases the locking sleeve in the locked configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid delivery connection of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid delivery connection is configured to provide medical gas, the port is a medical gas port, and the fluid delivery circuit is a breathing circuit configured to provide medical gas to a patient. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid delivery connection of  claim 11 , further comprising a visual indicator that selectively changes relative to the unlocked or locked configuration of the locking sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . A gas delivery system comprising:
 a gas port with an annular cut out;   a breathing circuit configured to be connected to a patient to deliver medical gas to the patient;   a cuff with a first end that removably engages the breathing circuit and a second end that removably engages the gas port, wherein the cuff creates a fluid connection between the gas port and the breathing circuit;   a finger that selectively engages the gas port, the finger comprising a tab that selectively engages the annular cut out of the gas port; and   a locking sleeve disposed about at least a portion of the cuff, the locking sleeve being selectively movable between (i) an unlocked configuration, wherein the finger is movable, and (ii) a locked configuration, wherein the finger is secured to the gas port and the tab is secured to the annular cut out of the gas port,   wherein the finger comprises a latch coaxially disposed between the cuff and the locking sleeve.   
     
     
         14 . The gas delivery system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a plurality of threads disposed on an interior surface of the locking sleeve; and   a pawl disposed on the latch;   wherein the pawl of the latch engages the plurality of threads of the locking sleeve as the locking sleeve is moved from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration to draw the latch towards the cuff.   
     
     
         15 . The gas delivery system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a cam follower disposed on the latch, the cam follower projecting radially outwards from the latch; and   a cut out is defined in the locking sleeve such that the cam follower engages the cut out to draw the latch towards the cuff as the locking sleeve is moved from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration.   
     
     
         16 . A method of connecting to a fluid port, the method comprising:
 moving a locking sleeve of a connector into an unlocked configuration;   deflecting a finger of the connector radially outwards from an exterior of the fluid port;   translating the finger coaxially along the exterior of the fluid port;   establishing a fluid connection between the fluid port and a cuff of the connector;   moving the locking sleeve into a locked configuration;   engaging the finger with a locking sleeve of the connector; and   preventing radially outward deflection of the finger away from the fluid port.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the gas port further comprises an annular cut-out, further comprising engaging the annular cut-out with a tab of the finger. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 translating the finger and the tab in the direction of the connector such as to remove any slack between the tab and a toe of the gas port defined by the annular cut-out.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein removing the slack includes engaging both the annular cut-out and the toe with the tab. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the fluid port is a medical gas port of a mechanical ventilator, and the connector is configured to provide a fluid connection to a breathing circuit to provide medical gas from the mechanical ventilator to a patient.