US 12,135,104 B2
Methods, devices, and systems for coupling fluid lines
James M. Brugger, Newburyport, MA (US); and William J. Schnell, Libertyville, IL (US)
Assigned to NxStage Medical, Inc., Lawrence, MA (US)
Appl. No. 17/602,661
Filed by NxStage Medical, Inc., Lawrence, MA (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 7, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/027051
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 8, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/210219, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 15, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/831,332, filed on Apr. 9, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0178477 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. F16L 35/00 (2006.01); A61M 39/10 (2006.01); F16L 37/12 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 35/00 (2013.01) [A61M 39/10 (2013.01); F16L 37/12 (2013.01); A61M 2039/1044 (2013.01); F16L 2201/10 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making a field-configurable coupling device, the method comprising:
providing a database that associates a plurality of coupling device configurations with a plurality of different identified fluids to pass through connected ones of the plurality of coupling devices to fluidically connect to compatible coupling device configurations;
the database being accessible by users and permitting uploading of specifications for coupling devices in response to entry of data identifying a fluid to be supplied and consumed;
providing a kit including a plurality of interfering elements that are configured to not convey fluid and an unconfigured coupling device that includes at least one fluid opening configured to convey the fluid and a plurality of recesses at affixation points on the unconfigured coupling device, wherein the interfering elements are sized to be removably insertable into the recesses;
inserting one or more of the plurality of the interfering elements into respective ones of the recesses of each of a supply coupling device and a consumer coupling device, responsively to a specification provided by the database; and
after the inserting, adhesively securing each of the inserted one or more of the plurality of the interfering elements in its respective recess.