Granted Patent B2

US 12,728,252 · App. 18/538,561 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Inventors: David Ku (Decatur, GA); Susan Shea (McKees Rocks, PA); Kevin Maher (Decatur, GA); Shriprasad Deshpande (Bethesda, MD)

Assignee: MD Innovate, LLC

A61M39/10F16L31/00F16L41/021

Abstract

Claims (44)

1 . A connector for connecting flexible tubing segments, the connector comprising:

a connector body having a first end defining a first opening and a second end defining a second opening disposed opposite one another along a linear longitudinal axis of the connector body, the connector body defining:

a first bore extending from the first end toward the second end and configured for receiving an end portion of a first flexible tubing segment therein, the first bore having a circular cross-sectional shape and a first diameter;

a second bore extending from the second end toward the first end and configured for receiving an end portion of a second flexible tubing segment therein, the second bore having a circular cross-sectional shape and a second diameter;

a lumen extending from the first bore to the second bore, the lumen having a circular cross-sectional shape and a third diameter that is less than each of the first diameter and the second diameter, wherein the first bore, the second bore, and the lumen are coaxial with the linear longitudinal axis; and

a luer body configured for removably coupling with a mating luer adapter, wherein the luer body is coupled to the connector body and extends perpendicular to the linear longitudinal axis, the luer body defining a second lumen in fluid communication with the lumen of the connector body,

wherein the connector body has a hexagonal cross-sectional shape defined by one or more external surfaces, the connector body further comprising a plurality of ribs each extending outwardly from the one or more external surfaces, and

wherein the connector body is sized such that when the first flexible tubing segment is inserted into the first bore via the first opening and the second flexible tubing segment is inserted into the second bore via the second opening, a smooth flow path from the first flexible tubing segment, through the lumen, and to the second flexible tubing segment is formed, the flow path minimizing zones of stagnation, recirculation, and low shear rate of a fluid flowing therein.

2 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the first bore has a first length in the direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the second bore has a second length in the direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the first length is equal to the second length, and

wherein the lumen has a third length in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and wherein the third length is less than each of the first length and the second length.

3 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the first diameter is constant along an entire length of the first bore in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and wherein the second diameter is constant along an entire length of the second bore in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and wherein the third diameter is constant along an entire length of the lumen in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

4 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter.

5 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the connector body and the luer body are integrally formed with one another.

6 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ribs extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the plurality of ribs forms a ring extending around the longitudinal axis.

7 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the connector provides a shear rate of less than 50 s-1 for the fluid flowing therein for a flow rate between 300 mL/min and 5000 mL/min.

8 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the connector is a single inlet, single outlet connector such that no more than two flexible tubing segments may couple to the connector.

9 . An assembly comprising:

a connector comprising a connector body having a first end defining a first opening and a second end defining a second opening disposed opposite one another along a linear longitudinal axis of the connector body, the connector body defining:

a first bore extending from the first end toward the second end, the first bore having a circular cross-sectional shape and a first diameter;

a second bore extending from the second end toward the first end, the second bore having a circular cross-sectional shape and a second diameter;

a lumen extending from the first bore to the second bore, the lumen having a circular cross-sectional shape and a third diameter that is less than each of the first diameter and the second diameter, wherein the first bore, the second bore, and the lumen are coaxial with the linear longitudinal axis; and

a luer body configured for removably coupling with a mating luer adapter, wherein the luer body is coupled to the connector body and extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the luer body defining a second lumen in fluid communication with the lumen of the connector body,

wherein the connector body has a hexagonal cross-sectional shape defined by one or more external surfaces, the connector body further comprising a plurality of ribs each extending outwardly from the one or more external surfaces;

a first flexible tubing segment comprising a first end portion received within the first opening of the first bore, the first flexible tubing segment having a first outer diameter and a first inner diameter, the first inner diameter being equal to a diameter of the lumen adjacent the first bore; and

a second flexible tubing segment comprising a second end portion received within the second opening of the second bore, the second flexible tubing segment having a second outer diameter and a second inner diameter, the second inner diameter being equal to a diameter of the lumen adjacent the second bore,

wherein a smooth flow path from the first flexible tubing segment, through the lumen, and to the second flexible tubing segment is formed, the flow path minimizing zones of stagnation, recirculation, and low shear rate of a fluid flowing therein.

10 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the connector provides a shear rate of less than 50 s-1 for the fluid flowing therein for a flow rate between 300 mL/min and 5000 mL/min.

11 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the connector is a single inlet, single outlet connector such that no more than two flexible tubing segments may couple to the connector.

12 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of ribs forms a ring extending around the longitudinal axis.

13 . A connector for connecting flexible tubing segments, the connector comprising:

a connector body having a first end defining a first opening and a second end defining a second opening disposed opposite one another along a linear longitudinal axis of the connector body, the connector body defining:

a first bore extending from the first end toward the second end and configured for receiving an end portion of a first flexible tubing segment therein, the first bore having a circular cross-sectional shape and a first diameter;

a second bore extending from the second end toward the first end and configured for receiving an end portion of a second flexible tubing segment therein, the second bore having a circular cross-sectional shape and a second diameter; and

a lumen extending from the first bore to the second bore, the lumen having a circular cross-sectional shape and a third diameter that is less than each of the first diameter and the second diameter, wherein the first bore, the second bore, and the lumen are coaxial with the linear longitudinal axis, wherein the lumen varies in diameter symmetrically about the longitudinal axis along at least a portion of a length of the lumen in the direction of the longitudinal axis,

wherein the connector is a single inlet, single outlet connector having no more than two openings such that no more than two flexible tubing segments may couple to the connector, and

wherein the connector body is sized such that when the first flexible tubing segment is inserted into the first bore via the first opening and the second flexible tubing segment is inserted into the second bore via the second opening, a smooth flow path from the first flexible tubing segment, through the lumen, and to the second flexible tubing segment is formed, the flow path minimizing zones of stagnation, recirculation, and low shear rate of a fluid flowing therein,

wherein the connector body has a hexagonal cross-sectional shape defined by one or more external surfaces, the connector body further comprising a plurality of ribs each extending outwardly from the one or more external surfaces, and wherein each of the plurality of ribs forms a ring extending around the longitudinal axis.

14 . The connector of claim 13 , wherein the lumen comprises:

a first portion extending from the first bore and having a constant diameter; and

a second portion extending from the first portion to the second bore and having a varying diameter in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

15 . The connector of claim 14 , wherein the diameter of the second portion varies in a linear manner in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

16 . The connector of claim 14 , wherein the diameter of the second portion varies in a non-linear manner in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

17 . The connector of claim 13 , wherein the lumen varies in diameter along an entire length of the lumen in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

18 . The connector of claim 13 , wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (30)