Adjustable connector, improved fluid flow and reduced clotting risk

Abstract

Methods and systems for determining the concentration of one or more analytes from a sample such as blood or plasma are described. The systems described herein can be configured to withdraw a sample from a source of fluid, direct a first portion of the withdrawn sample to an analyte monitoring system and return a second portion of the sample. The analyte monitoring system can be connected to the fluid source via a connector that is configured to improve fluid flow and reduce blood clotting risk. These goals can be accomplished, for example, by employing coatings in or on a connector, positioning a resilient substance at or near the junction, by reducing dead space volume, by using resiliency to improve fit, by extending a portion of one connector to better mate with a portion of another connector, etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An accommodating connector configured to improve fluid flow and reduce blood clotting in a fluid flow between a multi-use medical device and a source of fluid during at least two fluid cycles, the accommodating connector comprising:
 a first inlet/outlet;   a second inlet/outlet configured to connect to a mating connector;   a fluid path between the first inlet/outlet and the second inlet/outlet which allows bidirectional fluid flow between the first inlet/outlet and the second inlet/outlet;   an adjustable tip on the second inlet/outlet configured to adjustably accommodate and firmly abut the mating connector such that the fluid path in the accommodating connector communicates immediately with a corresponding fluid path in the mating connector and dead space between the fluid path and the corresponding fluid path is reduced; and   a coating designed to improve fluid flow and reduce blood clotting which is applied to an inner portion of the fluid path and therefore positioned for contact with the fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The accommodating connector of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is applied to a surface that is located near an interface between the second inlet/outlet and the mating connector. 
     
     
         3 . The accommodating connector of  claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises a drug-eluting coating. 
     
     
         4 . The accommodating connector of  claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises a heparin coating. 
     
     
         5 . The accommodating connector of  claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises a lubricious coating. 
     
     
         6 . The accommodating connector of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is applied to all portions of the accommodating connector that may come into contact with fluid in the fluid path. 
     
     
         7 . The accommodating connector of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing mass that is positioned at or near an interface between the second inlet/outlet and the mating connector and that has a shape configured to correspond with a shape of the mating connector when it is mating with the accommodating connector in order to reduce dead space at the interface between the second inlet/outlet and the mating connector. 
     
     
         8 . The accommodating connector of  claim 7 , wherein the coating is also applied to at least a portion of the sealing mass. 
     
     
         9 . The accommodating connector of  claim 7 , wherein the sealing mass has a shape configured to correspond with a shape of the mating connector such that the sealing mass shape generally approximates the shape of an opening in the mating connector even when the accommodating connector is not mating with the mating connector. 
     
     
         10 . The accommodating connector of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the sealing mass has a generally frustoconical shape. 
     
     
         11 . The accommodating connector of  claim 7 , wherein the sealing mass is made from a resilient or compressible material. 
     
     
         12 . The accommodating connector of  claim 7 , wherein the sealing mass is made from silicone. 
     
     
         13 . An accommodating connector configured to improve fluid flow and reduce blood clotting in a fluid flow between a medical device and a source of fluid during repeated fluid withdrawal cycles, the accommodating connector comprising:
 a first inlet/outlet;   a second inlet/outlet configured to connect to a mating connector;   a fluid path between the first inlet/outlet and the second inlet/outlet;   an adjustable tip on the second inlet/outlet configured to adjustably accommodate and firmly abut a mating connector such that a passage from the accommodating connector communicates immediately with a corresponding fluid path in the mating connector and dead space between the fluid path and the corresponding fluid path is reduced; and   a coating designed to improve fluid flow and reduce blood clotting which is applied to at least a portion of the fluid path.   
     
     
         14 . The accommodating connector of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid path between the first inlet/outlet and the second inlet/outlet comprises a tube with inner walls and wherein the coating is applied to at least a portion of the inner walls. 
     
     
         15 . The accommodating connector of  claim 13 , wherein the coating is applied to a surface that is located near an interface between the second inlet/outlet and the mating connector and therefore positioned for potential contact with the fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The accommodating connector of  claim 13 , wherein the coating comprises a drug-eluting coating. 
     
     
         17 . The accommodating connector of  claim 13 , wherein the coating comprises a heparin coating. 
     
     
         18 . The accommodating connector of  claim 13 , wherein the coating comprises a lubricious coating. 
     
     
         19 . The accommodating connector of  claim 13 , wherein the coating is applied to all portions of the accommodating connector that may come into contact with fluid in the fluid path. 
     
     
         20 . An accommodating connector configured to improve fluid flow and reduce blood clotting in a fluid flow between a medical device and a source of fluid during repeated fluid withdrawal cycles, the accommodating connector comprising:
 a first inlet/outlet;   a second inlet/outlet configured to connect to a mating connector;   a fluid path between the first inlet/outlet and the second inlet/outlet;   an adjustable tip on the second inlet/outlet configured to adjustably accommodate and firmly abut a mating connector such that a passage from the accommodating connector communicates immediately with a corresponding fluid path in the mating connector and dead space between the fluid path and the corresponding fluid path is reduced; and   a sealing mass that is positioned at or near an interface between the second inlet/outlet and the mating connector and that has a shape configured to correspond with a shape of the mating connector when it is mating with the accommodating connector in order to reduce dead space at the interface between the second inlet/outlet and the mating connector.