Abstract:
A connector for a respiratory assembly is provided. The connector includes a body that has a first end and a second end. The body has a passage disposed therethrough from the first end to the second end to allow for transport of fluids and objects through the body. The passage changes direction approximately 120° between the first end and the second end. The first end includes a coupling that is configured to rotatably engage a first member of the respiratory assembly. The second end includes a coupling that is configured to rotatably engage a second member of the respiratory assembly.

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]    Some respiratory circuits may include a humidifier. Humidifiers are important because breathing gasses supplied to a patient must be warm and humidified in order to provide quality inhalation therapy. Additionally, the use of humidifiers in a respiratory circuit is particularly important when patients are connected to a ventilator for lengthy amounts of time. Typically, a ventilator supplies air to a humidifier which then moisturizes and warms the air. This warm and humid air is then supplied via an endotracheal tube to the patient. The endotracheal tube is usually connected to a “Y” connector that is attached to a mask proximate to the patient&#39;s mouth. While one fork of the “Y” connector is supplied with breathing gas from the humidifier, the other fork of the “Y” connector typically provides an exhalation passageway for removing air from the patient.  
           [0003]    It is often the case that a patient who is connected to such a circuit for prolonged periods of time will experience discomfort when the patient moves and pulls on the various tubing. One solution to this problem is the use of flexible tubing, however in many applications the use of flexible tubing is either not possible or impractical. For instance, it could be possible that medical tubing that is flexible enough will crimp and prevent the flow of air through the tubing. As such, many respiratory circuits employ moderate to rigid plastic tubing in construction of the endotracheal tubes and other components in the respiratory circuit.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,922 assigned to Ballard Medical Products shows a medical connector with hermetic seals. These hermetic seals are useful in eliminating patient discomfort because they allow for the respiratory circuit to move and swivel in response to a patient&#39;s movements, hence reducing the force transmitted to a patient during such movement. U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,922 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.  
           [0005]    The present invention is an improvement upon connectors of the type that are used in a respiratory circuit.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0006]    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.  
           [0007]    The present invention provides for a connector for use on a respiratory assembly. The connector has a body that has a first end and a second end. The body has a passage disposed therethrough from the first end to the second end. The passage allows for the transport of fluids and objects through the body. In one embodiment, the passage changes direction approximately 120° between the first end and the second end. The first end includes a coupling that is configured to rotatably engage a first member of the respiratory assembly. Also, the second end includes a coupling that is configured to rotatably engage a second member of the respiratory assembly.  
           [0008]    The present invention also encompasses a connector for a respiratory assembly as discussed immediately above where the first member is a tracheal tube and the second member is a ventilating tube.  
           [0009]    Also included in the present invention is a connector for a respiratory assembly that has a first section that is substantially cylindrical in shape and has a first axis. The first section also has a first passage therethrough that allows for the transport of fluids and objects through the first section. The first section is rotatably engageable with a first member of the respiratory assembly. Also, a second section is included that is substantially cylindrical in shape. The second section is connected to the first section and has a second axis. The second section has a second passage therethrough, in communication with the first passage, that allows for the transport of fluids and objects through the second section. The second section is rotatably engageable with a second member of the respiratory assembly. Additionally, an angle of less than 180° and greater than 90° exists between the first axis and the second axis.  
           [0010]    Alternatively, the present invention includes an exemplary embodiment as immediately discussed where the angle is about 120°.  
           [0011]    Further included in the present invention is a connector for a respiratory assembly as previously discussed where the first member is a tracheal tube and the second member is a ventilating tube.  
           [0012]    Also included in the present invention is a connector for a respiratory assembly that has a body with both a first end and a second end. The body has a passageway for the transport of fluids and objects therethrough. The body has a bend between the first end and the second end that is between about 100° and 150°. A first female bell housing is connected to the first end and has a first annular rib. Also, a second female bell housing is connected to the second end and has a second annular rib. A first sleeve is disposed within the first female bell housing. The first sleeve has a first annular sealing member that is configured to engage the first annular rib. This engagement creates a hermetic seal between the passageway and the outside of the respiratory assembly. Further, a second sleeve is disposed within the second female bell housing. The second sleeve has a second annular sealing member that is configured to engage the second annular rib. This engagement causes a hermetic seal between the passageway and the outside of the respiratory assembly. The first sleeve is adapted to engage a first member of the respiratory assembly, and permits rotational motion between the body and the first member of respiratory assembly. Also, the second sleeve is adapted to engage a second member of the respiratory assembly, and permit rotational motion between the body and the second member of the respiratory assembly. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    An embodiment of the present invention is described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a medical connector in accordance with the present invention. The drawing shows the medical connector having a bell housing on either end.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the exemplary embodiment of a medical connector shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the exemplary embodiment of a medical connector shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a second end female bell housing shown in FIG. 1. The drawing shows a second annular rib disposed within the second end female bell housing.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a first end female bell housing shown in FIG. 1. The drawing shows a first annular rib being disposed within the first end female bell housing.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is an exploded cross-sectional assembly view of an exemplary embodiment of a medical connector in accordance with the present invention. The drawing shows a first and second sleeve along with a first and second retainer that are to be inserted into the bell housings of the connector.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional detailed view of the second end female bell housing of FIG. 6. The drawing shows a second annular sealing member engaging a second annular rib to form a hermetic seal. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]    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.  
         [0022]    Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a connector  10  in accordance with the present invention. The connector  10  is shown including a first section  50  and a second section  52 . A first end  12  and a second end  14  are present which form the body of the connector  10 . A passage  16  is present from the first end  12  to the second end  14  and allows for the transport of medical devices and fluids through the connector  10 .  
         [0023]    Couplings  62  are included on both the first end  12  and the second end  14 . The couplings  62  are provided in order to allow for the connection of the connector  10  to tubes and devices of a respiratory circuit (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1, the couplings  62  are designed as a first end female bell housing  18  and a second end female bell housing  20 . The two bell housings  18  and  20  are sized differently in order to engage different sized tubes of the respiratory circuit. Once connected, medical devices and fluids may be transported through the passage  16  from one of the tubes to the other. The passage  16  is made of a first passage  58  that goes through the first end  12  and a second passage  60  which goes through the second end  14 . The two passages  58  and  60  intersect one another within the connector  10 .  
         [0024]    The first passage  58  has a first axis therethrough, and the second passage  60  has a second axis  56  therethrough. An angle greater than 90° and less than about 180° is formed between the first axis  54  and the second axis  56 . This angle may be in the range of about 100° to about 150°. In one desirable embodiment, the angle is about 120°. This results in a connector  10  that has a bend of about 120° through its length. However, it is to be understood that other exemplary embodiments of the present invention exist where the angle between the first axis  54  and the second axis  56  is other than 120°.  
         [0025]    Although the angle may be greater or less than 120°, an angle of 120° allows for a higher degree of patient comfort when the connector  10  is incorporated into a respiratory circuit. Additionally, an angle of about 120° allows for a greater ease of use for the medical caregiver when the connector  10  is incorporated into a respiratory circuit. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector  10  may be attached to the ventilator circuit of a patient&#39;s endotracheal tube. In another exemplary embodiment, the connector  10  is attached to a tracheal tube and a humidifier tube of a respiratory circuit (not shown). Additionally, the connector  10  can be connected to other components of the respiratory circuit, and the present invention is not limited to an exemplary embodiment where the connector  10  is attached to a specific tube, instrument, or device.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 2 and 3 show a front and side view respectively of an exemplary embodiment of a connector  10  in accordance with the present invention. The angle between the first end  12  and the second end  14  is about 120°. The connector  10  may be in one exemplary embodiment made of plastic and may be formed by injection molding. Additionally, in an another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connector  10 , being a 120° elbow, may be incorporated into a patient end humidifier breathing circuit that is configured for use with a patient.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the second end female bell housing  20  of FIG. 1. Here, the second end  14  is shown as having a second annular rib  34  being disposed about the circumference of the second passage  60 . However, it is to be understood that in other exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the second annular rib  34  may be placed in different locations. FIG. 5 shows a first annular rib  30  being disposed about the first passage  58  through the first end  12 . The first annular rib  30  is similar to the second annular rib  34  shown in FIG. 4, and operates in the same manner. The operation of the annular ribs  30  and  34  will be discussed below.  
         [0028]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides for a connector  10  that has a first end  12  and a second end  14  that are both provided with couplings  62  that have a swivel fitting in order to allow for the connector  10  to swivel with respect to the tubes that are connected to the connector  10 . Provision of a swivel fitting on the ends  12  and  14  of connector  10  are advantageous in that they minimize patient discomfort, increase the efficiency of the respiratory circuit, and help to prevent the blockage of the flow passageways through the respiratory circuit. However, the incorporation of swivel fittings necessitates the design of the fittings such that they are airtight and prevent leakage of fluids to and from the respiratory circuit and atmosphere. Such a design that provides for airtight swivel fittings is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,922 which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is incorporated herein in its entirety for all purposes.  
         [0029]    An exemplary embodiment of a connector  10  is shown in FIG. 6. Here, the first end  12  is provided with a first end female bell housing  18  that has a stepped annular ring  36 . Additionally, the second end  14  is provided with a second end female bell housing  20  that has a stepped annular ring  38 . The first end female bell housing  18  is designed in order to receive a first sleeve  22 . The second end female bell housing  20  is designed to receive a second sleeve  24 . A first retainer  40  may be slid over the first sleeve  22  and fitted within the stepped annular ring  36  of the first end female bell housing  18 . Also, a second retainer  42  may be placed over the second sleeve  24  and fitted within the second end female bell housing  20  within the stepped annular ring  38 . In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, respiratory tubes may be attached to the first and second sleeves  22  and  24  in order to be rotatably attached to and in communication with one another through the connector  10 . Additionally, another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a connector  10  where respiratory tubes are connected to the retainers  40  and  42  in order to be in communication and movable with respect to one another. The first and second retainers  40  and  42  therefore function as a bushing with flanges on the first and second sleeves  22  and  24  and rotatably engage the first and second stepped annular rings  36  and  38 .  
         [0030]    The first sleeve  22  is provided with a first annular sealing member  26  on one end thereof, and the second sleeve  24  is provided with a second annular sealing member  28  on one end thereof. FIG. 7 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the second end female bell housing  20  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The second end female bell housing  20  is shown as having the second annular rib  34  being formed thereon. Also, the second sleeve  24  is shown having the second annular sealing member  28  being a pair of projections with an intermittent slot. The second annular sealing member  28  is forced onto the second annular rib  34  in order to effect a pair of hermetic seals  32  within the second end female bell housing  20 . Although shown as having two hermetic seals  32 , it is to be understood that other exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include a connection that has only one hermetic seal  32  or several hermetic seals  32 . The hermetic seal  32  prevents the passage of fluids between the inside of the respiratory circuit and the outside of the respiratory circuit. In effect, fluids are prevented from leaving the passage  16  and escaping to the atmosphere by way of the hermetic seals  32 . The sealing arrangement also prevents contamination of the respiratory circuit.  
         [0031]    Although shown as having first and second end female bell housings  18  and  20 , it is to be understood that other exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include a connector  10  that has male housings with which to connect to tubes of the respiratory circuit. Additionally, other exemplary embodiments of the present invention exist where the couplings  62  are not swivel fittings, but are rigid connections between the connector  10  and the tubes and devices of the respiratory circuit. Here, the ends  12  and  14  are designed to rotate relative to the respiratory circuit by other means commonly known in the art. The connector  10  may be formed with couplings  62  such that the connector  10  is readily removable to and from the tubes and devices of the respiratory circuit. In addition, other exemplary embodiments of the present invention exist where the connector  10  is permanently bonded to the tubes and devices of the respiratory circuit. The connector  10  may be clear or opaque, and may be injection molded out of materials such as polycarbonate, acrylic, k-resin, ABS, or other suitable materials.  
         [0032]    It should be understood that the invention includes various modifications that can be made to the exemplary embodiments of the medical connector described herein as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.