HERMAPHRODITIC COUPLING FOR ANATOMICAL THERMAL SYSTEM

Abstract: The coupling (15) which is especially useful in an anatomical thermal system between the pad means and control unit thereof, includes a pair of parallel lumens (23,24) with the coupling being divided into two units (15a,15b) having identical hermaphroditic, engageable ends (22) and with releasable latch means (43-50) connecting the two elements of the hermaphroditic coupling.

Description: This invention relates to a hermaphroditic coupling or connector useful in an anatomical thermal system and, more particularly, to the type of system employing two tubes for the conduction of the thermal fluid, i.e., for heating or cooling. There has been widespread use of thermal pads for placement on the body of a patient so as to either heat or cool the area contacted. The pad is connected by a supply and return tubing to a control mechanism which usually includes a pump or other prime mover. In the past, there have been instances of misconnection whereby the return line was connected to the supply side and vice versa resulting in the need for readjustment. This significant drawback is avoided by the teachings of the present invention. Connectors for supply and return tubing are known for example from US-A-2628850. The present invention makes use of a pair of connecting elements having hermaphroditic ends, i.e., both male and female which results in error-proof connection and operation. Additionally, the invention provides a novel squeezable latching means for releasably connecting together the two hermaphroditic elements. Other objects and advantages of the invention may be seen in the details of the ensuing specification. The invention is explained by way of example, in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment in the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a typical hospital installation featuring the use of the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the coupled hermaphroditic elements of the invention; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the hermaphroditic elements separated so as to more clearly delineate the structural features of the hermaphroditic ends of the two elements; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coupled elements; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the generally block-like body of each element; Figs. 6 and 7 are side elevational views of adaptors introduced into the body of Fig. 5 so as to provide the connections to tubing away from the hermaphroditic end thereof; Fig. 8 is a sectional view seen along the sight line 8-8 applied to Fig. 5; and Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the sight line 9-9 applied to Fig. 6. Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 10 designates generally pad means of the nature used in thermal treatment of patients by application to the body and which is usually equipped with interior conduit means shown schematically as at 11. Supply tubing or conduit means for the thermal fluid (hot/cold) is provided at 12 and the return line at 13. These lines are coupled to a control unit 14 by means of a hermaphroditic connector or coupling 15. More particularly, the coupling 15 includes elements 15a and 15b which, in the illustration given are identical. The important aspect is that the connected ends, i.e., the hermaphroditic ends, be identical because where the element 15b is mounted on or in the control unit 14, the end opposite to the hermaphroditic end may be varied somewhat. However, for ease of presentation and understanding, the invention will be described in connection with elements 15a and 15b that are identical. These can be seen in larger scale in Fig. 2 and in greater detail insofar as the hermaphroditic ends are concerned, in Fig. 3. Referring now to Fig. 3, each of the elements 15a and 15b consist of a block-like body 16. The body 16 has a top wall 17 and a bottom or lower wall 18 - see Fig. 8. In the illustration given, these walls are substantially planar and are flanked by sidewalls 19 and 20 - see also Fig. 4. Finally, each body 16 is defined by end walls 21,22, one end wall 21 remote from the hermaphroditic coupling and one end wall 22 carrying the hermaphroditic elements and referred to as hermaphroditic end wall; see particularly the element 15b at the right hand portion of Fig. 3. Each body 16 has a pair of longitudinally extending lumens therein, namely a first lumen 23 and a second lumen 24 at the left hand portion of Fig. 4. The first and second lumens 23,24 can be considered to be essentially longitudinally extending and further extend from one end wall 21 of the body 16 to the other end wall 22 so as to provide a through passage for the thermal fluid. Each lumen 23,24 in each element 15a,15b is equipped with a check valve as at 25 in the upper left hand portion of Fig.4. Check valves in the nature of poppets are conventional in thermal treatment systems and, therefore, a wide variety of specific designs are available for the person skilled in the art practising the instant invention. Reference is now made to Fig. 5 where the numeral 26 designates generally the basic component of the body 16. The showing in Fig. 5 is essentially that of the element 15a, i.e. with the hermaphroditic end wall 22 being to the right. The hermaphroditic end wall 22 is seen to be stepped as at 27 - compare Fig. 5 with the central portions of Fig. 3. This divides the end wall 22 into a first portion 28 which is positioned closer to the end wall 21 than the second portion 29 - for convenience compare the right hand portion of Fig. 3. Referring again to Fig. 5, the step 27 is seen to be positioned along the longitudinal midplane of the body 16 or 26 and thus lies between the axis of the first lumen 23 and the axis of the second lumen 24. Extending longitudinally away from the first portion 28 is a male projection 30 which is aligned with the first lumen 23. Extending inwardly, i.e. toward the end wall 21 from the end wall 22, is a recess 31 in the second portion 29. The interior contour of the recess 31 conforms to the external contour of the projection 30 and, in effect, is also a continuation of the second lumen 24. Referring again to Fig. 3, it will be seen at the extreme left hand portion thereof that there is a pair of coupling elements 32 and 33 which couple the first and second lumens 23,24 to the tubes 13,12, respectively. These are advantageously provided in the form of adapters 34,39 which are seen in Figs. 6 and 7. The adapter 34 shown in Fig. 6 is associated with the first lumen 23 and includes a first portion 35 which is relatively tapered so as to fit within the relatively tapered bore 36 of the body 26 - see Fig. 5. The body is also equipped with a second tapered bore 37 which receives a first tapered portion 38 of the adaptor 39 shown in Fig. 7 and associated with the second lumen 24. The tapered portion 38 is shorter than the tapered portion 35 due to the difference in length of the bores 36,37. Outboard of the tapered portions 35,38 the adaptors 34,39 are identical in providing second portions 40,41 for the ensleeving receipt of the tubes 13,12, respectively. It is advantageous to provide the tapered portions in the form of split fingers 42 as illustrated also in Fig. 9 so as to facilitate assembly. These are the portions of the adaptors 34,39 which contain the poppet check valves 25 - see Fig. 4. Another advantageous feature of the invention is the provision of squeezable latching means coupling the elements 15a,15b. These again are essentially male and female as can be appreciated from a consideration of Figs. 3 and 4. Referring first to Fig. 3, the numeral 43 designates an arm which extends longitudinally away from the first portion 28 of the hermaphroditic end wall 22 - and on the side of the projection 30 remote from the second lumen 24. It will be noted that the fee end 44 of the arm 43 is equipped with a barbed portion 45 which passes through a passage 46 - see Fig. 3 at the right hand end thereof - for snap engagement against an intermediate wall 47 (compare Figs. 4 and 5). It will be appreciated that an identical arrangement is provided on the element 15b as can be appreciated from the arm 48 in the upper right hand portion of Fig. 3. Provided in connection with the latching mechanism is a cam release feature which includes a a second arm 49 also extending longitudinally but not quite as far as the arm 42. At its fee end, the arm 49 - see the upper central portion of Fig. 5 is equipped with a camming surface 50 which bears against the barb 44 - see Fig. 4. Thus, squeezing of the arms 43 and 49 bring about a disengagement without the need for squeezing the element 15b which may been closed within the control unit 14. Advantageously, the bodies 16 are constructed of resilient plastic material which, because of the relatively thin section of the arms 43,49, can be flexed so as to perform the squeezing action just referred to. It is also advantageous to groove the exterior of the arms as at 51 and 52 - see Fig. 2. While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention has been set down for the purpose of illustration, many variations in the details herein given may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims: An element for a hermaphroditic type connector comprising a generally rectangular body (16,26) defined by the top and bottom walls (17,18), a pair of sidewalls (19,20) and a pair of end walls (21,22), a pair of longitudinally-extending lumens (23,24), extending through said body from one end wall to the other, one each adjacent a sidewall, one of said end walls being equipped with coupling means aligned with said lumens for coupling the same to tubing means, the other of said end walls being equipped with a step (27) between said lumens and defining first and second portions (28,29) in said other end wall, said first portion of said other end wall being closer to said one end wall than said second portion, a hollow integral projection (30) on said first portion and extending longitudinally away from said one end wall and aligned with a first of said lumens and providing a continuation of the same, and a longitudinally extending recess (31) in said second portion aligned with the second of said lumens and providing a continuation of the same, said recess having an interior conforming to the exterior of said projection whereby an identical second element is adapted to be connected to said body. An element according to Claim 1 in which each lumen is equipped with a check valve (25) openable by the connection of said second element to said body. An element according to Claim 1 or 2 in which at least one sidewall is quipped with releasable latch means (43-50) for engagement with said second elements. An element according to Claim 3 in which both said walls are equipped with said releasable latch means, the latch means on a first of said sidewalls including a resilient barbed arm (43-45) extending longitudinally away from said other end wall first portion and being located on the side of said projection remote from said second lumen, the latch means on the second of said sidewalls including a passage (46) extending longitudinally from said second portion toward said one end wall and sized to receive a barbed arm on said second element conforming to the shape of the arm on said body, said passage being located on the side of said second lumen remote from said first lumen and terminating a spaced distance from said one end wall to provide an intermediate transverse wall (47) for engagement with the barb on said second element arm. An element according to Claim 4 in which the latch means of the second of said side walls is equipped with cam means (49,50) cooperable with the barb on the arm of said second element to unlatch the same from engagement with said intermediate transverse wall. An element according to Claim 5 in which said cam means includes a second arm (49) of shorter length than the first mentioned arm. An element according to Claim 6 in which each arm is transversely grooved (51,52). An element according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 in which said coupling means include a pair of tapered bores (36,37) in said body aligned with said lumens and extending longitudinally from said one end partway toward said other end wall with the bore associated with said first lumen extending closer to said other end wall than the bore associated with said second lumen, said first lumen bore extending into said projection, and a hollow tubular adaptor (34,39) in each bore having a first longitudinally extending part (35,38) conforming to its associated bore and a second part (40,41) longitudinally extending beyond said one end wall to provide nipple means for coupling to said tubing means. An element according to Claim 8 in which said second longitudinally extending parts of said adaptor have the same length. An anatomical thermal system comprising pad means (10) adapted to be positioned on the body of a patient and equipped with internal conduit (11) for passage of thermal fluid, a temperature control mechanism (14) spaced from said pad means and adapted to deliver and receive said thermal fluid, a pair of tubing means (12,13) interconnecting said mechanism and pad means for separately delivering and returning said thermal fluid, and a coupling (15) interposed in said tubing means, said coupling including a pair of elements (15a,15b) having identical hermaphroditic ends in connected relation to each other whereby incorrect coupling is avoided. An element according to Claim 10 in which said coupling includes two elements each having a hermaphroditic end (22), one of said elements being mounted on said pair of tubing means and the other element being mounted in said mechanism. An element according to Claim 11 in which said elements each include a block-like body (16,26) having first and second longitudinally extending lumens (23,24) extending therethrough, each body having said hermaphroditic end, said end including a stepped end wall (27) with a first wall portion (28) being equipped with a longitudinally extending tubular projection (30) aligned with said first lumen, said end also including a second wall portion (29) equipped with a longitudinally extending recess (31) aligned with said second lumen and sized to receive the tubular projection of the other element. An element according to Claim 11 in which the element mounted on said tubing means is equipped with latch means (43-50) for releasably connecting said elements together. An element according to Claim 13 in which said latch means includes a pair of longitudinally extending arms (43,49) having free ends (44), one arm being equipped with barb means (45) at its free end and the other arm being equipped with cam means (50) at its free end operable to engage the barb means of the mechanism mounted element.

Inventors: SCHNEIDER, BARRY L
Applicants: HOLLISTER INCORPORATED
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A61M39
IPC codes: F16L37, A61F7