May072015May 7, 2015May 7, 20150Commentby L.

A custom swivel/gimbal for luers

Posted in Hardware

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This from Matt Palmatier:

Drug self-administration labs need swivels and there are plenty of medical devices (rotating luer fittings) that perform this function for pretty cheap. However, suppliers-that-shall-remain-nameless charge quite a bit for simple luer fittings that turn. For example, a disposable turning luer costs about $4. A drug self-administration swivel costs about $35. That’s a significant markup. Here’s how I rigged a custom swivel/gimbal setup for my own lab.

The drug delivery arm I use is a standard arm with U-shaped clip end to hold 1″ diameter gimbal ring.

parts

New swivel part: EW-30600-50 from Cole Parmer. Other suppliers may be cheaper (Quosina).
New gimbal ring: Nylon Spacer – 1″ OD, 1/2-5/8″ ID, 1/2-3/8″ Length. I bought mine, in stock from Home Depot (1? OD x 1/2″ ID x 3/8″ L). I used a 5/8″ drill bit to widen the ID. In a vice clamp this took about 2 seconds.

Use a hand drill or drill press with a 1/16″ bit to drill holes for screws. Use the screws that came with your original equipment or the following:

  • Under the clips – #0-80 socket cap screw, 3/16″ long, use a nut to adjust the length of the screw protruding out of the ring to fit your delivery arm.
  • To hold the body of the swivel – #0-80 standard machine screw and nut, 1/4″ long. Use the nut to adjust the length of the screw so it cannot pierce the body of the rotating luer.

    • IMPORTANT: Use a drill bit longer than 1″ and drill holes all the way through and as straight as possible. The socket cap screws have to be parallel to fit into the clips on the drug delivery arm. If you are using a hand-drill be very careful to drill these holes straight across from one another.

    Insert the screws and ensure that the ends do not penetrate to the inner opening of the spacer. Once the holes are drilled and the screws are installed you should be able to push the body of rotating luer fitting through the spacer. Tighten the standard body screws to the body of the rotating luer fitting. The body is not part of either male end but a solid plastic piece in the middle.

    Install the spacer (now a gimbal ring) in your delivery arm, ensuring that the rotating end of the luer fitting is facing down. You just saved a boat-load of money. I assume this would work for anyone using these swivels for dialysis work as well.

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    Thanks, Matt!