In some healthcare settings, as many as 40 device connectors are used with a single patient. Despite the best efforts of well-trained, highly qualified healthcare professionals, medical-tubing misconnections often occur due to the widespread use of standard luer connectors.

To respond to this need, St. Paul, Minn.-based Colder Products Company, recently unveiled a line of connectors it claims will give medical personnel a safer choice for small-bore connections in air-driven devices and other medical applications.

The line is called SnapQuik, and company officials note that the connectors are a “cost-effective” and are a “significantly more reliable alternative” to luer fittings. The connectors do not mate with luer fittings, which the company says helps users avoid misconnections that can lead to unintentional patient injury or death.

“The compact and intuitive SnapQuik product line is designed to help reduce potentially deadly medical-tubing misconnections,” said Jim Brown, medical business unit manager for Colder Products Company. “These innovative connectors are also designed with a streamlined exterior and a unique internal-latching mechanism. This easy-to-clean design reduces the risk of dirt build-up and minimizes the potential for patient infection.”

The company’s new line of connectors can be used with products such as as air-inflated cuffs, surgical devices and monitoring equipment. They are designed for 3/32-inch and 1/8-inch tubing sizes.

According to Brown, the connectors produce an audible “click” to assure reliable connections are made and feature breakaway latch mechanisms for quicker and easier disconnections.

Colder Products Company provides quick-disconnect couplings, fittings and connectors to the life-sciences, industrial and chemical handling markets.