Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A fitting for releasably and sealingly connecting a conduit to a medical instrument. The fitting comprises a body having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the ends. The body has a recess extending on the axis, a bottom adjacent its proximal end and is open at its distal end. The bottom of the body includes first and second passages for flow of first and second fluids. The fitting further includes a quick-connect device mounted in the recess and having a gripping mechanism. The conduit is receivable in the gripping mechanism for movement of the conduit in proximal and distal directions with respect to the body. The gripping mechanism permits one end of the conduit to be pushed through an opening of the quick-connect device to a position in which a tubular connector provides a sealing connection between a central passageway in the conduit and the first passage in the bottom of the body. The gripping mechanism is operable to apply a progressively increasing gripping force to the conduit as the conduit moves away from the bottom until the conduit reaches a position in which the gripping force prevents substantial further movement of the conduit away from the bottom. The fitting further includes a manually operable device for moving the gripping mechanism in a proximal direction relative to the body to cause the gripping mechanism to move radially outward to release the conduit so it can be removed from the body.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim