Abstract:
A connection assembly for use with a respiratory circuit assembly is provided. The connection assembly includes a first connection member that has an opening therethrough to allow for the transport of fluids and objects through the first connection member. The first connection member has a recess on an end thereof. A second connection member is present that is releaseably engageable with the first connection member. The second connection member has an opening therethrough to allow for the transport of fluids and objects through the second connection member. The second connection member has al disconnect member that is engageable within the recess. A snap fit member may be present on at least one of the first and second connection members. The snap fit member hinders unintentional disengagement of the first and second connection members. Relative movement between the first connection member and the disconnect member causes a separation of the first and second connection members.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    Endotracheal intubation is a common procedure in the field of respiratory medical care. Endotracheal intubation tubes are used in many situations for providing artificial airways for passage of respiratory gasses and medical procedure devices to patients. For instance, endotracheal tubes may be used to insert a catheter therethrough in order to clean lung secretions from a patient. Endotracheal tubes may be used in situations where patients have stopped independent breathing and are required to be supported on a ventilator. In addition, endotracheal tubing may be used for other procedures such as: oxygenation of the lungs; elimination or reduction of residual carbon dioxide from the lungs; visual inspection of portions of the respiratory system; sampling sputum and gasses; measuring parameters such as flow rates, pressure, and temperature of gasses within the respiratory system; and/or the administration of medication, gasses, and/or lavage.  
           [0002]    All of these procedures require various instruments to be used in conjunction with the respiratory circuit. In addition, other equipment may be incorporated into the circuit. For example, some respiratory circuits include a humidifier. Humidifiers are advantageous because breathing gasses supplied to a patient must be warm and humidified in order to provide quality inhalation therapy. A humidifier is typically connected in the breathing circuit between the ventilator and the patient. Air from the ventilator is warmed and moisturized by the humidifier and then is supplied to the patient. Due to the fact that various instruments and pieces of equipment must be connected and reconnected to the respiratory circuit, connectors are often employed in such circuits.  
           [0003]    Connectors are often permanently bonded to instruments and manifolds in respiratory circuits. This type of attachment is advantageous because a secure and fluid-tight fit is provided. However, permanently bonding an instrument or other piece of equipment in a respiratory circuit has inherent disadvantages. For instance, an instrument that is permanently bonded to a connector cannot be removed therefrom and must be replaced oftentimes increasing the cost of the medical treatment. Further, permanently bonding a diagnostic instrument to a connector may prevent the clinician from performing some other type of procedure on the patient during ventilation of the patient. Additionally, damage of an instrument or piece of equipment that is permanently bonded to a connector may necessitate the replacement of several components of the respiratory circuit.  
           [0004]    Connectors which are detachable have been used in order to overcome the problems associated with permanently bonded connectors in respiratory circuits. A detachable connector allows for various instruments and pieces of equipment to be interchanged in a respiratory breathing circuit. As such, the respiratory breathing circuit can be configured to provide for an increased number of procedures. Additionally, the ability to remove instruments from the breathing apparatus may allow for the instrument to be cleaned, hence reducing the costs associated with the procedure.  
           [0005]    However, problems with disconnect medical connectors do exist. Typically, such connectors are interference-fit connectors. For instance, a fitting on a catheter may be connected to a complimentary fitting on a manifold of a respiratory breathing circuit by forcing one fitting onto the other. The catheter is then held onto the manifold via an interference fit between the two fittings. Since the connection is not a permanent connection, air or other fluids may leak through this interference-fit connection. Additionally, if the fittings of interference-fit connectors are not adequately pressed against one another, forces could act on the connection to accidentally disconnect the connection. Obviously, such a result is unacceptable. Also, multiple fittings which are connected together via an interference fit may sometimes be difficult for a doctor or caregiver to disconnect when it is necessary to remove the surgical instrument. One example of an interference-fit connector is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,614.  
           [0006]    The present invention improves the general type of medical connectors currently employed, and further addresses the need in the medical field for an improved medical connector for use with a respiratory breathing circuit.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0007]    Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.  
           [0008]    The present invention provides for a connection assembly that is used with a respiratory circuit assembly. The connection assembly includes a cylindrical first connection member that has a bore therethrough. The first connection member is configured for engagement with a first respiratory circuit member and allows for transport of fluids and objects therethrough. The first connection member has a locking member that is located thereon for engagement with a second connection member to prevent disengagement between the first and second connection members. In one embodiment, this locking member includes a recess on one end of the first connection member. A portion of the recess defines at least one ramp on the first connection member.  
           [0009]    A second connection member is present that has a cylindrical body with a bore therethrough. The second connection member allows for the transport of fluids and objects therethrough, and is configured for engagement with a second respiratory circuit member. The second connection member has a disconnect member with a curved surface at least where the disconnect member is located in the recess during engagement between the locking member and the first connection member. Relative rotation between the first connection member and the second connection member causes the curved surface to move along the ramp. This effects disengagement of the locking member and the first connection member, and causes separation of the first and second connection members.  
           [0010]    The present invention also includes a connection assembly as immediately discussed where the disconnect member is a cylindrical irrigation port.  
           [0011]    Further, the present invention includes a connection assembly as previously discussed where the locking member includes a locking ring that substantially surrounds the circumference of the first connection member. The locking ring is located proximate to the recess of the first connection member. The second connection member has a groove for engaging the locking ring and acting with the locking ring to prevent disengagement between the second connection member and the first connection member.  
           [0012]    The present invention also includes a connection assembly as immediately discussed where the disconnect member has at least part of the surface being curved where the disconnect member engages along the ramped surface.  
           [0013]    Further included in the present invention is a connection assembly as previously discussed where the disconnect member is a substantially cylindrical irrigation port.  
           [0014]    Further included in the present invention is an exemplary embodiment as previously discussed where the locking member is at least one barb located on one of the first and second connection members.  
           [0015]    In one embodiment of the connection assembly, a snap fit member is present on at least one of the first and second connection members. The snap fit member hinders unintentional disengagement of the first and second connection members. Relative movement between the first connection member and the disconnect member motivates a separation of the first and second connection members.  
           [0016]    Further included in the present invention is an exemplary embodiment as previously mentioned where the snap fit member is at least one barb located on the second connection member.  
           [0017]    Additionally, the present invention includes an embodiment as previously discussed where the snap fit member is a locking ring that substantially surrounds the first connection member. The second connection member has a groove for receiving the locking ring to hinder disengagement of the first and second connection members. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    An embodiment of the present invention is described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a first connection member in accordance with the present invention. The drawing shows two ports located on a rotatable manifold.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a connection assembly in accordance with the present invention. The drawing shows a first connection member engaged with a second connection member by use of a locking member.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of the second connection member in accordance with the present invention. The drawing shows a barb located on one end of the second connection member.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the first connection member in accordance with the present invention. The drawing shows the rotatable manifold having two ports with locking members on both of the ports.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is an elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a first connection member in accordance with the present invention. The drawing shows a recess defining a ramp on one end of the first connection member and proximate to the locking member.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a first connection member in accordance with the present invention. The drawing shows a rotatable manifold having two ports with locking members and recesses on both of the ports. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations.  
         [0026]    An exemplary embodiment of a connection assembly  10  is shown in FIG. 2. The connection assembly  10  includes a first connection member  12  that is engaged with a second connection member  14 . The connection assembly  10  is designed to include both a positive locking engagement between the first and second connection members  12  and  14  along with a way of disengaging the locking arrangement by rotating the first and second connection members;  12  and  14  relative to one another. Such an arrangement is advantageous because the connection assembly  10  will only be disengaged when desired by a user, and not disengaged by accident. Additionally, relative rotation between the first and second connection members  12  and  14  provides for a way of disengaging the connection assembly  10  without requiring a user to exert substantial force.  
         [0027]    The first connection member  12  is shown in FIG. 2 as being a rotatable manifold  34 . The rotatable manifold  34  may be incorporated into a respiratory circuit in order to permit access to the respiratory circuit through various ports. The rotatable manifold  34  shown in FIG. 2 has two ports  36  and  38  located thereon. In other exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the rotatable manifold  34  may be supplied as the first connection member  12  with a varying number of ports located thereon. Additionally, other exemplary embodiments of the present invention include a first connection member  12  that has only one port located thereon. A rotatable manifold  34  is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,271 which is assigned to the assignee of the current application and is incorporated herein for all purposes in its entirety. The rotatable manifold  34  allows for the access of the respiratory circuit by a medical caregiver through different ports which may be sized and configured to accept various medical instruments and fluids. Other exemplary embodiments exist where the connection assembly  10  is not incorporated with a rotatable manifold  34 , but incorporated with other components of the respiratory circuit.  
         [0028]    Shown engaged with the first connection member  12  in FIG. 2 is the second connection member  14 . The connection between the first and second connection members  12  and  14  is effected by a groove  32  and locking member  16 . The locking member  16  is located on one end of port  38  of the first connection member  12 . The locking member  16  is simply a projection that extends substantially around the circumference of the port  38 . Groove  32  is located substantially around the circumference of a section of the second connection member  14 . The groove  32  and the locking member  16  are sized in such a way that engagement between the two causes a “snap-fit” connection. This connection prevents the first and second connection members  12  and  14  from separating from one another during normal use of the respiratory circuit. Therefore, the connection assembly  10  will not become disengaged during normal use, and will only become disengaged when desired by a medical caregiver.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a first connection member  12  being a rotatable manifold  34  with two ports  36  and  38  located thereon. A first opening of the connection member  22  and a second opening of the first connection member  23  are located through ports  36  and  38 . These openings  22  and  23  allow for the transport of fluids and medical devices into and out of the respiratory circuit. It is to be understood that in the present application, the word “port” is defined to be a member that has an opening therethrough. Both the opening and the member can be of any shape. The member is configured to allow for the passage of fluids and/or medical devices to and from the respiratory circuit.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a second connection member in accordance with the present invention. Here, a barb  40  is located on one end of the second connection member  14 . The barb  40  is designed to engage a barb locking surface  42  of the first connection member  12  as shown in FIG. 4. In this exemplary embodiment, insertion of the second connection member  14  into the opening of the first connection member  22  causes the barb  40  to be compressed. Once the barb  40  clears the length of the first opening of the first connection member  22 , the barb  40  snaps into place onto the barb locking surface  42 . This in effect causes a positive locking connection between the first and second connection members  12  and  14 . This arrangement can be thought of as a “snap-fit” connection. The use of a barb  40  to effect the locking of the connection assembly  10  may be substituted for or used in addition to the use of a locking member  16  in combination with a groove  32  to effect the locking of the connection assembly  10 . As such, exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include exemplary embodiments that include only a barb  40 , a locking member  16 , or both locking member  16  and barb  40 . Additionally, other exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include members that form a positive locking arrangement between the first and second connection members  12  and  14  that are known in the art.  
         [0031]    In order to disengage the first connection member  12  from the second connection member  14 , a disconnect member  26  is provided. The exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 show a disconnect member  26  that is a irrigation port  30  having a cylindrical surface  28 . In other exemplary embodiments of the present invention, only a semi-cylindrical surface  28  is present. Additionally, other exemplary embodiments of the present invention include a disconnect member  26  that has only a partially curved surface. Also, the disconnect member  26  does not have to be an irrigation port  30 , but may simply be a lug or other member. An advantage of using the irrigation port  30  as the disconnect member  26  is that the irrigation port  30  may be used for another function such as the introduction of lavage into the respiratory circuit.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of the first connection member  12  in accordance with the present invention. More particularly, FIG. 5 shows a recess  18  being located on one end of a port  38  of the rotatable manifold  34 . Recess  18  is curved in order to receive the cylindrical surface  28  of the second connection member  14  of FIG. 3. Additionally, recess  18  in FIG. 5 defines a ramp  20 . In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, ramp  20  extends to the end of the port  38 . The locking member  16  is a locking ring that substantially surrounds port  38 , but does not completely surround port  38 . The locking member  16  is interrupted in the vicinity of the recess  18 . During engagement between the first and second connection members  12  and  14 , the disconnect member  26  is inserted into the recess  18 , and seats against the port  38 . Recess  18  is sized and shaped in order to accept the cylindrical surface  38  of the irrigation port  30 . Groove  32  is fit around the locking member  16  and the combination of the two securely holds; the first and second connection members  12  and  14  against one another.  
         [0033]    To disengage the connection assembly  10 , a user will rotate the first and second connection members  12  and  14  with respect to one another such that the disconnect member  26  is pushed against the ramp  20 . The cylindrical surface  28  of the irrigation port  30  is then urged against ramp  20  and moves against ramp  20 . This movement results in a force that has a component in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5. This force then causes the locking member  16  to be disengaged from the groove  32  and allows the first connection member  12  to be removed from the second connection member  14 .  
         [0034]    As such, the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5 has a first connection member  12  that is disengaged from the second connection member  14  upon clockwise rotation of the second connection member  14  with respect to the first connection member  12 . However, other exemplary embodiments of the present invention exist where the ramp  20  is positioned opposite to the position shown in FIG. 5 such that the first connection member  12  is disengaged via counterclockwise rotation of the second connection member  14 . In addition, other exemplary embodiments exist where the recess  18  defines two ramps  20  on the port  38  of the rotatable manifold  34 . Here, a user can disengage the first and second connection members  12  and  14  by rotating them relative to one another in either direction.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 6 shows another exemplary embodiment of the present invention where a first connection member  12  has two ports  36  and  38  both having a locking member  16  and a recess  18  defined on one end. As such, the connection assembly  10  may be included in all of the ports of the rotatable manifold  34  and not only on a single port of the rotatable manifold  34 .  
         [0036]    Additionally, the fit between the first and second connection members  12  and  14  may be tight enough in other exemplary embodiments of the present invention such that a seal is formed between the first and second connection members  12  and  14 . A taper may be provided on one of the connection members  12  and  14  to effect this seal in other exemplary embodiments.  
         [0037]    It should be understood that the invention includes various modifications that can be made to the exemplary embodiments of the medical connector for a respiratory circuit as described herein as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.