Dosing control coupling for enteral fluid transfer and enteral couplings and syringes

Abstract

An enteral dosing control coupling comprising a cylindrical collar defining a hollow internal chamber and a lumen extension tip projecting axially into the internal chamber, the lumen extension tip defining an internal lumen extending therethrough. In example forms, the lumen extension tip is integrally formed with the cylindrical collar. In other example forms, the lumen extension tip is a separate piece and is removably engageable within the cylindrical collar. In some example forms, the present invention relates to syringes, connectors, couplings, etc. having ISO 80369-3 formatted couplings. In other example forms, the present invention relates to connectors, couplings, etc. for adapting coupling formats other than the ISO 80369-3 coupling format to the ISO 80369-3 coupling format.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An enteral coupler comprising a coupling member comprising an elongate body extending a length along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end and defining a lumen extending therethrough, the first end comprising a female formatted coupling and the second end comprising a female formatted coupling, wherein at least one of the female formatted couplings comprises a female ISO 80369-3 formatted coupling. 
     
     
         2 . The enteral coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the female formatted coupling of the first and second ends each comprise a female ISO 80369-3 formatted coupling. 
     
     
         3 . The enteral coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler is configured for coupling a first male ISO 80369-3 formatted coupling with a second male ISO 80369-3 formatted coupling. 
     
     
         4 . The enteral coupler of  claim 3 , wherein a first enteral syringe comprises the first male ISO 80369-3 formatted coupling and a second enteral syringe comprises the second male ISO 80369-3 coupling, and wherein the coupler provides for sealingly connecting the first male ISO 80369-3 formatted coupling of the first syringe to the second ISO 80369-3 formatted coupling of the second syringe. 
     
     
         5 . The enteral coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the female formatted coupling of the first end comprises a female ISO 80369-3 formatted coupling and wherein the female formatted coupling of the second end comprises a coupling format other than the female ISO 80369-3 format. 
     
     
         6 . The enteral coupler of  claim 5 , further comprising a syringe comprising a coupling format other than the female ISO 80369-3 coupling format, and wherein the syringe is configured for sealingly coupling to the second end of the coupler such that the enteral coupler adapts the syringe of a coupling format other than the female ISO 80369-3 coupling format to the female ISO 80369-3 coupling format. 
     
     
         7 . The enteral coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the coupler is between about 14 millimeters to about 30 millimeters. 
     
     
         8 . The enteral coupler of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the collar portions of the female formatted coupling comprises an engagement feature formed on an exterior surface thereof and selected from the group consisting of a protrusion, a lug and a helical thread. 
     
     
         9 . The enteral coupler of  claim 1 , further comprising a lumen extension tip projecting axially into an internal chamber of a collar of at least one of the female formatted couplings. 
     
     
         10 . The enteral coupler of  claim 9 , further comprising a lumen extension tip projecting axially into respective internal chambers of collars of the female formatted couplings of the first and second ends. 
     
     
         11 . The enteral coupler of  claim 9 , wherein the lumen extension tip is a separate piece and configured for coupling engagement with the enteral coupler. 
     
     
         12 . The enteral coupler of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one gripping feature selected from one or more panels, an outer barrel, a disc-shaped protrusion or a tab. 
     
     
         13 . An enteral connector for coupling engagement with a syringe comprising a male ISO 80369-3 formatted coupling, the connector comprising a female ISO 80369-3 formatted coupling comprising a cylindrical outer collar defining a hollow internal chamber and a lumen extending entirely through the outer cylindrical collar. 
     
     
         14 . The enteral connector of  claim 13 , further comprising a lumen extension tip projecting axially into an internal chamber of the outer cylindrical collar. 
     
     
         15 . The enteral connector of  claim 13 , wherein the enteral connector comprises an enteral coupling selected from a group consisting of a fluid transfer lid, a tip cap, and an oral administration coupler. 
     
     
         16 . The enteral connector of  claim 13 , wherein the outer cylindrical collar further comprises an engagement feature formed on an exterior surface thereof and selected from the group consisting of a protrusion, a lug, and a helical thread. 
     
     
         17 . The enteral connector of  claim 14 , wherein the lumen extension tip is sized, shaped and positioned within the outer cylindrical collar of the female ISO 80369-3 formatted coupling for compatible fitting engagement within an internal conduit of the male ISO 80369-3 formatted coupling.