Connector assembly and retention device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a connector assembly and a retainer, the connector assembly being used to connect an infusion pump and a retainer, the connector assembly including a pin connector and a housing arranged around the pin connector to hold the pin connector, the upper part of the housing including an annular stepped portion that limits downward movement of the pin connector, the upper end of the stepped portion extending radially inward to form a fixing portion that is pressed against the pin connector, thus firmly fixing the pin connector in the housing.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201922030727.5, entitled “CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY AND HOLDING DEVICE,” filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on November 20, 2019, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of medical devices, and more particularly to a connector assembly for connecting an infusion pump to a retainer, and a retainer including the connector assembly. [Background technology]

[0003] An infusion pump is a type of infusion system for nutrients or medicines commonly used in hospitals or other medical institutions, in which the pump tube and its accessories are connected via a nasogastric tube or gastrointestinal tube, and the infusion rate, dosage, total infusion amount, etc. are precisely controlled by a microcomputer. The infusion pump is generally supplied with power or signals using a holding device. The infusion pump and the holding device are usually electrically connected or signal connected via a pin connector assembly. The pin connector assembly includes a pin connector and a plastic housing surrounding the pin connector. The pin connector has an annular protruding ring, and the pin connector is fixed inside the plastic housing by an interference fit between the protruding ring and the inner wall of the plastic housing. However, in actual use, the pin connector is only held by the interference fit, and there is a risk of loosening between the pin connector and the plastic housing, which may result in poor contact in the connection between the infusion pump and the holding device.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a connector assembly that provides a reliable electrical or signal connection between an infusion pump and a holding device. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is an object of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to provide a connector assembly that enables a reliable electrical or signal connection between an infusion pump and a retention device.

[0006] Another object of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide a retention device that includes a connector assembly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a connector assembly is provided comprising: a pin connector having one end configured to be electrically or signal-connected to an infusion pump and another end provided with a radially extending flange; and a housing disposed around the pin connector to hold the pin connector, the one end of the housing having an annular step portion, the annular step portion cooperating with the flange of the pin connector to limit movement of the other end of the pin connector in one direction, the upper end of the step portion extending radially inwardly and provided with a fixing portion, the fixing portion being pressed against the pin connector to limit relative movement of the other end of the pin connector with respect to the housing.

[0008] Preferably, the pin connector comprises a connection pin located at one end of the pin connector and configured to be electrically or signal connected to the infusion pump, a top cover located at the other end of the pin connector and configured to be electrically or signal connected to the holding device, and a spring disposed between the connection pin and the top cover, providing a spring force and associated connection to the connection pin to connect the infusion pump and the holding device.

[0009] Preferably, the top cover comprises a top cover body and a flange extending radially outward from a top of the top cover body.

[0010] Preferably, the lower surface of the fixing portion is pressed against the upper surface of the flange, and the top cover is fixedly secured beneath the fixing portion of the housing.

[0011] Preferably, the top cover body is provided with an annular protruding ring in the radially outward direction, which fits against the inner peripheral surface of the housing to provide an interference fit to prevent the top cover from being pushed out by the spring.

[0012] Preferably, the number of pin connectors is two or five.

[0013] Preferably, each of the pin connectors is pressed by a plurality of fixing portions.

[0014] Preferably, the fastening portions are evenly distributed around the circumference of the pin connector to provide uniform pressure on the pin connector.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is also provided a retention device, the retention device being provided with a connector assembly as described above.

[0016] Preferably, a circuit board is disposed within the retaining device, and the circuit board is electrically or signal connected to the other end of the pin connector.

[0017] The features and advantages of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure will be more readily understood by reading the following description and by considering the drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an infusion pump and a holding device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure are connected to each other. [Diagram 2] 2 is a partially enlarged view showing a connection portion between the infusion pump and the holding device in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a top view showing a connector assembly according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4]FIG. 1 is a front view showing a connector assembly according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view of the connector assembly taken along line AA in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 6 is a partial enlarged view showing the connector assembly in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a connector assembly of a comparative example. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a top view showing a connector assembly according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an infusion pump and a holding device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure are connected. The infusion pump 10 and the holding device 20 are detachably connected electrically or signal-wise via a connector assembly 100. The holding device 20 may be fixed to a patient's bedside or an infusion stand by a threaded handle 30, thereby mechanically supporting the infusion pump 10 while supplying power to the infusion pump 10 and communicating with the infusion pump 10. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing a connection portion between the infusion pump 10 and the holding device 20 in FIG. 1. The infusion pump 10 is provided with a connection port 11. A circuit board 21 is disposed in the holding device 20. A connector assembly 100 is disposed in the holding device 20. The connector assembly 100 includes a five-pin connector 200 and a housing 300 surrounding the pin connectors. One end of the connector 200 (the left end shown in FIG. 2) is electrically or signal-wise connected to the connection port 11 in the infusion pump 10. The other end of the pin connector 200 (the end on the right side in FIG. 2) is electrically or signal-connected to the circuit board 21 in the holding device 20 .

[0021] 3 and 4 are respectively a top view and a front view of a connector assembly 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The pin connector assembly 100 is composed of five pin connectors 200 spaced apart from each other and a housing 300 that surrounds the five pin connectors 200 and holds the pin connectors 200. Preferably, the housing 300 is made of plastic. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the connector assembly 100 taken along line AA in FIG. 4. The pin connector 200 includes a connection pin 201 configured to be electrically or signal-connected to the connection port 11 of the infusion pump 10, an upper cover 202 arranged at an end opposite to the connection pin 201 and configured to be electrically or signal-connected to the circuit board 21 of the holding device 20, and a spring 203 arranged between the connection pin 201 and the upper cover 202 and connecting the connection pin 201 and the upper cover 202 by applying a spring force between them to ensure a reliable electrical or signal connection to the infusion pump 10. Preferably, the upper cover 202 is made of metal. The housing 300 is disposed around the connection pins 201 , the upper cover 202 , and the springs 203 and holds the connection pins 201 , the upper cover 202 , and the springs 203 .

[0022] FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing the connector assembly 100 in FIG. 5. The upper cover 202 includes an upper cover body 2021, a flange 2022 extending radially outward from the upper end of the upper cover body 2021, and a rod portion 2023 disposed above the flange 2022. An annular step portion 301 is provided at the upper portion of the housing 300. The lower surface of the flange 2022 is pressed against the inner horizontal surface 3011 of the step portion 301 to restrict the downward movement of the upper cover 202. The upper end portion of the step portion 301 extends radially inward with at least one fixing portion 302, and the lower surface of the fixing portion 302 is pressed against the upper surface of the flange 2022 to reliably fix the upper cover 202 to the inside of the housing 300. Preferably, the area of ​​the upper surface of the fixing portion 302 is smaller than the area of ​​the upper surface of the remaining portion of the stepped portion 301, so that the portion of the stepped portion 301 of the housing 300 other than the fixing portion 302 can still be used to support and position the circuit board 21 (not shown) of the holding device 20. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 4, each of the pin connectors 200 is pressed by a plurality of fixing portions 302. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 4, the fixing portions 302 are evenly distributed along the outer periphery of the pin connector 200 to apply uniform pressure to the pin connector 200.

[0023] The fixing portion 302 of the connector assembly 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is realized by a process in which multiple small area portions at the upper end of the step portion 301 at the upper part of the housing 300 are simultaneously melted by a heating tool such as a hot melt machine, and the melted portions form the fixing portion 302 extending radially inward, which is then pressed against the flange 2022 of the upper cover 202 to securely fix the upper cover 202 to the inside of the housing 300.

[0024] 6, the upper cover body 2021 is provided with a continuous annular protruding ring 2024 in the radially outward direction. The protruding ring 2024 fits into a corresponding groove in the inner peripheral surface of the housing 300, and prevents the upper cover 202 from being pushed out by the spring 203 due to an interference fit.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a pin connector assembly 100 of a comparative example. In this comparative example, the connector assembly is provided with an annular protruding ring 2024 only in the radially outward direction of the upper cover body 2021 of the upper cover 202. This protruding ring 2024 fits into a groove on the inner peripheral surface of the housing 300, and prevents the upper cover 202 from being pushed out by the spring 203 due to the interference fit. However, in actual use, the upper cover 202 is held only by the above-mentioned interference fit, and there is a risk of loosening between the upper cover 202 and the plastic housing 300. When the upper cover 202 and the housing 300 are loosened, the spring 203 becomes relaxed, the force pushing out the connection pin 201 is weakened, and the connection pin 201 is easily removed from the connection port 11 of the pump 10, which may cause poor contact between the infusion pump 10 and the holding device 20.

[0026] Compared with the comparative pin connector assembly 100 of FIG. 7 , in the present disclosure, the upper cover 202 is firmly held to the housing 300 through a dual design having a fixed portion 302 and a protruding ring 2024, so that the spring 203 at the bottom of the upper cover 202 is in a compressed state, and sufficient spring force is applied to the connection pin 201 to push out the connection pin 201 at the bottom of the spring 203, so that the connection pin 201 is firmly connected to the connection port 11 of the pump 10, thereby firmly connecting the infusion pump 10 to the holding device 20.

[0027] 8 is a top view showing a connector assembly 100 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The connector assembly 100 is composed of two pin connectors 200 and a housing 300 that surrounds and holds the two pin connectors 200. The remaining structure of the connector assembly 200 in this embodiment is the same as the corresponding structure in the first embodiment. The connector assembly 100 can include a number of pin connectors 200 other than two or five depending on actual design needs.

[0028] Although various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments specifically described and illustrated herein, and that those skilled in the art may devise other variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. All such variations and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, all elements described herein may be replaced by alternative elements that are technically equivalent.

Claims

1. A connector assembly for electrically or signally connecting an infusion pump and a holding device, the connector assembly comprising: a pin connector having one end adapted to be electrically or signal connected to the infusion pump and another end provided with a radially extending flange; a housing disposed around the pin connector to hold the pin connector, the housing having an annular stepped portion at one end thereof, the annular stepped portion cooperating with the flange of the pin connector to restrict the other end of the pin connector from moving in one direction; Equipped with an upper end of the step portion extending in a radially inward direction and having a fixing portion, the fixing portion being pressed against the pin connector to limit relative movement of the other end of the pin connector with respect to the housing; The connector assembly, wherein the housing is made of plastic.

2. The pin connector comprises: a connection pin located at the one end of the pin connector and configured to be electrically or signal-connected to the infusion pump; a top cover located at the other end of the pin connector and configured to be electrically or signal connected to the holding device; a spring disposed between the contact pin and the top cover, the spring providing a spring force and associated connection to the contact pin; 2. The connector assembly of claim 1, comprising:

3. The connector assembly of claim 2 , wherein the top cover comprises a top cover body and the flange extends radially outward from a top of the top cover body.

4. The connector assembly of claim 3 , wherein a lower surface of the fastening portion is pressed against an upper surface of the flange.

5. 4. The connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein the upper cover body is provided with an annular protruding ring in a radially outward direction, the protruding ring fitting into a groove in an inner peripheral surface of the housing.

6. The connector assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the number of said pin connectors is two or five.

7. 6. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the pin connectors is pressed by a plurality of the fixing portions.

8. The connector assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fixing portions are evenly distributed along the outer periphery of the pin connector.

9. A retaining device, the retaining device being provided with a connector assembly according to claims 1 to 8.

10. 10. The retaining device according to claim 9, wherein a circuit board is disposed on the retaining device, the circuit board being electrically or signal-connected to the other end of the pin connector.

Images