Catheter adapter with strain relief

Claim 1

A unitary adapter for placing the proximal end of a catheter which has been inserted in a patient's body in liquid communication with a source of a liquid to be administered to said patient by means of said catheter, said adapter comprising: a catheter connector housing having distal and proximal ends, said distal end having an opening through which said proximal end of said catheter may be inserted, said catheter connector housing having an internal bore to which said opening communicates; an elongated elastomeric and compressible plug seated within said bore adjacent said distal end of said catheter connector in a relatively uncompressed condition, said plug having a channel extending therethrough aligned with said opening in said distal end of said catheter housing, whereby said catheter inserted within said opening can extend within said channel, the inner dimensions of said channel when uncompressed and of said opening being slightly greater than the outer dimensions of said catheter to permit insertion of said catheter therewithin; a connector housing for said liquid source means having proximal and distal ends and a passageway for said liquid extending longitudinally between said ends thereof, said proximal end having means for releasably engaging said liquid source means, said distal end of said source connector housing having an opening communicating with said passageway; retaining means inseparably retaining said housings together with said proximal end of said catheter connector housing in juxtaposition with said distal end of said source connector housing; means for reversibly moving said connectors longitudinally with respect to one another from an open, spaced position permitting insertion and withdrawal of said catheter from said catheter connector to a closed abutting position wherein said passageway in said source connector housing, said bore in said catheter connector, said channel in said plug and said catheter when contained therein are in liquid communication to define a closed channel for administering said liquid from said source means to said patient through said catheter; and compression means for compressing said plug when said connector housings are in said closed position, whereby to reduce the gap of said channel and thereby cause said plug to frictionally engage said catheter inserted therein and to retain said catheter in said adapter; said opening at said distal end of said catheter connector being of sufficient diameter to permit extrusion therethrough of the distal tip of said plug when compressive force is applied by said compression means when said connector housings are in the closed position, thereby providing a strain relief for said catheter, whereby to prevent kinking.