Connectors for medical equipment

Abstract

An adapter includes a substantially rigid body having a distal portion, a proximal portion, a central opening formed at least in part by an inner wall of the body, and a longitudinal axis extending substantially centrally through the opening. The distal portion includes an annular ring having a top surface and a ridge disposed opposite the top surface, the ridge extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The distal. The adapter also includes a seal configured to form a substantially fluid-tight seal with a surface of a fitting removably attachable to the adapter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blood pressure cuff adapter, comprising:
 a substantially rigid body having a distal portion, a proximal portion, a substantially cylindrical inner wall forming a central opening of the body, the inner wall extending from the distal portion to the proximal portion, and a longitudinal axis extending substantially centrally through the opening, the distal portion including:
 an annular ring having a top surface and a groove, the groove extending at least partly around the longitudinal axis and being configured to accept a corresponding member of a fitting when the fitting is removably attached to the adapter, and 
 a ridge disposed opposite the top surface, the ridge extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and 
   a seal disposed adjacent to the inner wall, the seal configured to form a substantially fluid-tight seal with the fitting when the fitting is removably attached to the adapter.   
     
     
         2 . The blood pressure cuff adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface comprises a convex surface extending radially away from the longitudinal axis from a distal end of the top surface to a proximal end of the top surface, the groove being disposed between the distal end and the proximal end. 
     
     
         3 . The blood pressure cuff adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the member comprises one of a pin, a ring, and an arcuate ring segment extending substantially perpendicularly from an outer surface of the fitting. 
     
     
         4 . The blood pressure cuff adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the groove comprises at least one detent configured to contact the member as the fitting is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the adapter. 
     
     
         5 . The blood pressure cuff adapter of  claim 4 , wherein the groove comprises a base, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, the at least one detent being disposed on the base. 
     
     
         6 . The blood pressure cuff adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the groove comprises a base having a trough and a peak, the peak being disposed axially closer to the top surface of the ring than the trough. 
     
     
         7 . The blood pressure cuff adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the groove includes a wall prohibiting 360 degree rotation of the fitting about the longitudinal axis when the fitting is removably attached to the adapter. 
     
     
         8 . The blood pressure cuff adapter of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an RFID tag, a bar code, or a conductor disposed on a base of the grove. 
     
     
         9 . The blood pressure cuff adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the groove comprises a base extending radially from the inner wall, and a sidewall extending from the base to the top surface of the ring, the top surface comprising a curved surface extending from the sidewall of the groove. 
     
     
         10 . The blood pressure cuff adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the ring extends from the inner wall, and wherein the groove comprises a sidewall extending from the top surface to a base of the groove, the base extending radially from the sidewall to a radially outermost portion of the ring. 
     
     
         11 . The blood pressure cuff adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the member includes a first sidewall disposed at an acute included angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and the groove includes a second sidewall disposed at the acute included angle, wherein the first sidewall slidably engages the second sidewall when the fitting is removably attached to the adapter. 
     
     
         12 . The blood pressure cuff adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface forms a modified portion of the ring disposed radially outward of the groove, the modified portion comprising a substantially planar surface extending at an acute included angle relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein an additional member of the fitting is configured to slidably engage the modified portion of the ring when the fitting is removably attached to the adapter. 
     
     
         13 . The blood pressure cuff adapter of  claim 12 , wherein the modified portion of the ring includes an additional groove, and wherein the additional member of the fitting includes an additional member configured to engage the additional groove when the fitting is removably attached to the adapter. 
     
     
         14 . The blood pressure cuff adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the ring includes a modified portion disposed between the top surface and the ridge, the modified portion comprising a substantially planar surface extending at an acute included angle relative to an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein an additional member of the fitting is configured to slidably engage the modified portion of the ring when the fitting is removably attached to the adapter. 
     
     
         15 . The blood pressure cuff adapter of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the top surface comprises a substantially planar surface extending from a radially innermost end disposed proximate the inner wall to a radially outermost end,   the groove is disposed between the radially innermost end and the radially outermost end, and   the top surface extends at an acute included angle relative to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         16 . A blood pressure cuff adapter, comprising:
 a substantially rigid body having a distal portion, a proximal portion, a substantially cylindrical inner wall forming a central opening of the body, the inner wall extending from the distal portion to the proximal portion, and a longitudinal axis extending substantially centrally through the opening, the distal portion including:
 an annular ring having a top surface and a groove,
 the groove extending at least partly around the longitudinal axis and being configured to accept a corresponding member of a fitting when the fitting is removably attached to the adapter, and 
 the top surface forming a modified portion of the ring disposed radially outward of the groove, the modified portion comprising a substantially planar surface extending at an acute included angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and 
 
 a ridge disposed opposite the top surface, the ridge extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and 
   a seal disposed adjacent to the inner wall, the seal configured to form a substantially fluid-tight seal with the fitting when the fitting is removably attached to the adapter.   
     
     
         17 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 16 , the distal portion of the body further including:
 a substantially cylindrical sidewall extending from the ridge to a top surface of the proximal portion; and   a feature disposed proximate the groove, the feature comprising at least one of a layer of reflective paint, a layer of reflective ink, an RFID tag, or a barcode.   
     
     
         18 . The blood pressure cuff of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the groove includes a radially innermost sidewall radially spaced from a radially innermost end of the top surface;   the substantially planar surface of the modified portion includes a first end disposed at a location on the top surface radially spaced from the groove; and   the substantially planar surface includes a second end disposed proximate a radially outermost end of the top surface.   
     
     
         19 . A blood pressure cuff adapter, comprising:
 a substantially rigid body having a distal portion, a proximal portion, a substantially cylindrical inner wall forming a central opening of the body, the inner wall extending from the distal portion to the proximal portion, and a longitudinal axis extending substantially centrally through the opening, the distal portion including:
 an annular ring having a top surface, 
 a groove extending at least partly around the longitudinal axis and being configured to accept a corresponding member of a fitting when the fitting is removably attached to the adapter, 
 a ridge disposed opposite the top surface, the ridge extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and 
 a modified portion disposed between the top surface and the ridge, the modified portion comprising a substantially planar surface extending at an acute included angle relative to an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and 
   a seal disposed adjacent to the inner wall, the seal configured to form a substantially fluid-tight seal with the fitting when the fitting is removably attached to the adapter.   
     
     
         20 . The blood pressure cuff adapter of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the groove includes a radially innermost sidewall radially spaced from a radially innermost end of the top surface;   the substantially planar surface of the modified portion includes a first end disposed proximate a radially outermost end of the top surface; and   the substantially planar surface includes a second end disposed proximate a radially outermost end of the ridge.