Abstract:
A universal oxygen connector for connecting an oxygen supply tubing or an oxygen supply hose between and an oxygen supply appliance and an oxygen mask or a nasal oxygen dispenser. Multiple and aligned and spaced hose or tubing connection bodies on a single universal oxygen connector accepts oxygen supply tubing or an oxygen supply hose for use as required.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is for a medical device and, more particularly, is for an oxygen connector that can be incorporated for use with an oxygen tubing or hose, each having a different diameter. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Prior art oxygen connectors are fashioned to connect at their proximal end to supply oxygen from an oxygen tank flow meter or to supply oxygen from a flow meter which is connected to a wall-mounted oxygen outlet, each method utilizing common sized threaded surfaces for connection. However, connection of a large oxygen supply hose or a small oxygen supply tubing at the connector distal end is not afforded such convenient commonality and as such various sized connectors must be utilized depending on the size of oxygen conveyance desired, be it a large oxygen supply hose or a small oxygen supply tubing. The practitioner first must determine whether a large oxygen supply hose or a small oxygen supply tubing must be used, and then must select and subsequently install and utilize the properly dimensioned oxygen connector. Often after surgery oxygen requirements are needed, thereby requiring an oxygen supply hose or tubing. Such determination of and installation of the properly dimensioned oxygen hose or tubing requires extra time, effort, inconvenience and cost. Clearly, what is required is an oxygen connector which accommodates either an oxygen hose or tubing and which reduces practitioner workload and overcomes the problems associated with prior art devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a universal oxygen connector which can be incorporated for use with either a small oxygen supply tubing or a large oxygen supply hose. The universal connector attaches at one end to an oxygen supply appliance, such as an oxygen tank flow meter, or to a wall-mounted flow meter. Oxygen supply tubing or an oxygen supply hose can be attached to the remaining end of the universal connector, and the tubing or hose can lead to and supply oxygen to a nasal oxygen dispenser or an oxygen mask, as required. The universal oxygen connector includes concentrically aligned, but longitudinally spaced, connection bodies of at least two different radii for connection, one at a time, to an oxygen supply hose or to an oxygen supply tubing. The smaller tubing connection body accepts and frictionally engages one end of an oxygen supply tubing which communicates through a centrally located lumen which is partially located within the tubing connection body and partially located within a large hose connection body. The lumen also communicates with a sealing gland located at the proximal end of a main body where the sealing gland mates with an oxygen supply appliance. 
     The larger hose connection body accepts and frictionally engages one end of an oxygen supply hose which also encompasses and surrounds the tubing connection body. The acceptance of the oxygen supply hose over and about the hose connection body provides for communication of the oxygen supply hose with the tubing connection body generally, and specifically with the lumen extending partially through the tubing connection body and extending partially within the large hose connection body, whereby communication through the plastic sealing gland to the oxygen supply appliance occurs. 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a universal oxygen connector having a cylindrically shaped main body the proximal end of which is threaded for connection to an oxygen supply appliance, a hose connection body of relatively large radius having an annular hose connection surface each being contiguous with and extending distally from the region of the main body, a tubing connection body having an annular tubing connection surface of relatively small radius, each being continuous with and extending distally from the region of the hose connection body, a barb located at the end of the tubing connection body, a plastic sealing gland centrally located at the proximal end of the main body, and, a lumen extending through the tubing connection body, the hose connection body and partially into the main body to communicate with the plastic sealing gland and with an oxygen supply appliance. 
     One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a universal oxygen connector. 
     Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a universal oxygen connector which includes a hose connection body. 
     Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a universal oxygen connector which includes a tubing connection body. 
     Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a universal oxygen connector which accepts at least two differently sized oxygen transfer means. 
     A further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a universal oxygen connector which reduces changeout of connectors for oxygen transfer means of different size. 
     Having thus described embodiments of the present invention, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a universal oxygen connector. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of the distal region of a universal oxygen connector, the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the proximal region of the universal oxygen connector; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded cross-section view of the universal oxygen connector along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an assembled cross-section view of the components of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the mode of operation of the universal oxygen connector with an oxygen supply tubing; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the mode of operation of the universal oxygen connector with an oxygen supply hose; 
     FIG. 7, an alternative embodiment, illustrates an isometric view of the distal region of a universal oxygen connector; and, 
     FIG. 8 illustrates an isometric view of the proximal region of the universal oxygen connector of FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of the distal region of a universal oxygen connector  10 , the present invention. The universal oxygen connector  10  is fashioned of a suitable metal substantially in a one-piece form with the exception of a plastic sealing gland shown later in detail. Visible components and features of the universal oxygen connector  10  include a cylindrical main body  12  having a textured gripping surface  14 , a hose connection body  16  having an annular hose connection surface  18 , each extending distally from the main body  12 , a tubing connection body  20  having an annular tubing connection surface  22 , each extending distally from the hose connection body  16 , a barb  24  at the distal end of the tubing connection body  20 , and a lumen  26  which in part extends through the tubing connection body  20  and in part extends through the hose connection body  16  to communicate with a plastic sealing gland  28  shown in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 . A chamfered surface  30  is included at the distal region of the hose connection body  16  to facilitate accommodation of an oxygen supply hose. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the proximal region of the universal oxygen connector  10 . Additional visible components and features of the universal oxygen connector  10  include a chamber  32  interior to the main body  12  having a threaded surface  34 , and a plastic sealing gland  28  residing in the chamber  32 . The plastic sealing gland  28  includes a lumen  36  which aligns to and communicates with lumen  26  previously described in connection with FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded cross-section view of the universal oxygen connector  10  along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . Illustrated in particular is the lumen  26  extending in part through the tubing connection body  20  and in part through the hose connection body  16  and partially into the main body  12 . The lumen  26  assumes a larger cross section at the main body  12  and aligns to and with the chamber  32 . Chamber  32  includes an interior annular mating surface  38  adjoining the lumen  26 . The plastic sealing gland  28  includes an annular mating surface  40  corresponding to the interior annular mating surface  38  adjoining the lumen  26 . The lumen  36  of the plastic sealing gland  28  is sealed to the lumen  26  by the mating of the annular mating surface  40  to the annular mating surface  38 . An annular mating surface  42  at the proximal end of the plastic sealing gland  28  is provided for mating to an appropriate oxygen supply appliance. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an assembled cross-section view of the components of FIG.  3 . Illustrated in particular is the lumen  26  in communication with lumen  36  of the plastic sealing gland  28 . As an alternative to the previously described construction, the universal oxygen connector  10  of the instant invention can be fashioned entirely of plastic and in one piece, thereby eliminating the need for separate machining and tooling for fabrication of a universal oxygen connector comprised of two separate parts. 
     MODE OF OPERATION 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the mode of operation of the universal oxygen connector  10  with an oxygen supply tubing  44 . Illustrated in particular is the frictional engagement of the oxygen supply tubing  44  with the annular tubing connection surface  22  and barb  24  of the tubing connection body  20  to provide communication of the lumen  46  of the oxygen supply tubing  44  with lumens  26  and  36  of the universal oxygen connector  10 . Oxygen from an oxygen supply appliance flows through lumen  36 , through lumen  26 , and thence through the lumen  46  of the oxygen supply tubing  44 , as indicated by arrow  48 , to be used by an oxygen mask or nasal oxygen dispenser. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the mode of operation of the universal oxygen connector  10  with an oxygen supply hose  50 . Illustrated in particular is the frictional engagement of the oxygen supply hose  50  with the annular hose connection surface  18  of the hose connection body  16  to provide communication of the lumen  52  of the oxygen supply hose  50  with lumens  26  and  36  of the universal oxygen connector  10 . Oxygen from an oxygen supply appliance flows through lumen  36 , through lumen  26 , and thence through the lumen  52  of the oxygen supply hose  50 , as indicated by arrow  53 , to be used by an oxygen mask. 
     FIG. 7, an alternative embodiment, illustrates an isometric view of the distal region of a universal oxygen connector  110  for use with an oxygen tank flow meter, an oxygen supply appliance. The universal oxygen connector  110  is fashioned of a suitable metal or alternatively of a suitable plastic, substantially in a one-piece form. Visible components and features of the universal oxygen connector  110  include a cylindrical and shortened main body  112  having a grooved, knurled or otherwise textured gripping surface  114 , a hose connection body  116  having an annular hose connection surface  118 , each extending distally from the main body  112 , a tubing connection body  120  having an annular tubing connection surface  122 , each extending distally from the hose connection body  116 , a barb  124  at the distal end of the tubing connection body  120 , and a lumen  126  which in part extends through the small tubing connection body  120 , in part extends through the hose connection body  116 , in part extends through the main body  112 , and in part extends through a contiguous threaded connection port  128  extending proximally from the main body  112  to communicate with an oxygen supply appliance. A chamfered surface  130  is included at the distal end of the hose connection body  116  to facilitate accommodation of an oxygen supply hose. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates an isometric view of the proximal region of the universal oxygen connector  110 . Additional visible components and features of the universal oxygen connector  110  include the threaded connection port  128  which threadingly engages a suitable oxygen tank flow meter port. The universal oxygen connector  110  accepts oxygen supply tubing and hoses as previously described for the universal oxygen connector  10 . Frictional engagement of the oxygen supply tubing  44  of FIG. 5 with the annular tubing connection surface  122  and barb  124  of the tubing connection body  120  is provided for communication. of the lumen  46  of the oxygen supply tubing  44  with lumen  126  of the universal oxygen connector  110 . Frictional engagement of the oxygen supply hose  50  of FIG. 6 with the annular hose connection surface  118  of the hose connection body  116  is provided for communication of the lumen  52  of the oxygen supply hose  50  with lumen  126  of the universal oxygen connector  110 . 
     Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope hereof. 
     UNIVERSAL OXYGEN CONNECTOR 
     PARTS LIST 
       10  universal oxygen connector 
       12  main body 
       14  gripping surface 
       16  hose connection body 
       18  annular hose connection surface 
       20  tubing connection body 
       22  annular tubing connection surface 
       24  barb 
       26  lumen 
       28  plastic sealing gland 
       30  chamfered surface 
       32  chamber 
       34  threaded surface 
       36  lumen 
       38  annular mating surface 
       40  annular mating surface 
       42  annular mating surface 
       44  oxygen supply tubing 
       46  lumen (of oxygen supply tube) 
       48  arrow 
       50  oxygen supply hose 
       52  lumen (of oxygen supply hose) 
       53  arrow 
       110  universal oxygen connector 
       112  main body 
       114  knurled, grooved, or otherwise textured gripping surface 
       116  hose connection body 
       118  annular hose connection surface 
       120  tubing connection body 
       122  annular tubing connection furface 
       124  barb 
       126  lumen 
       128  threaded connection port 
       130  chamfered surface