Patent Application
20130015654
The present invention generally relates to the field of fluid hose connectors or couplings, and more specifically to an air-tight push-in and pull-out connector system capable of mating single and multiple lumen hoses comprising at least one positive latch mechanism.
Conventional fluid hose connecters include tube couplings comprising a male body and a female body which provide for a positive locking capability when joining the male and female bodies together. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,378 to Ostrander et al describes “[a] quick connector releasibly connects first and second conduits fixedly mounted in first and second, interconnectable connector bodies. The first body has an axially extending tubular first end, a frusto-conical portion, a reduced diameter shaft and an enlarged second end. A pair of angularly inwardly extending latch arms project from the second body to releasibly engage a peripheral edge on the frusto-conical portion of the first body.”
European Patent No. EP-B 8400000051 assigned to Tokai Rubber Industries discloses “a hose connecting structure comprising a hose (10) in which at least the central portion (16) comprises a thermal flexibility resin which is molded by a blow molding method; a mating member (28) which is inserted into the edge opening of said hose, or into which the edge portion of said hose is inserted; a ring-shaped sealing material (14); a first engaging portion (22) which is disposed in the axial direction with a predetermined distance to said sealing material at an edge portion of one of said hose and said mating member; and a second engaging portion (36) which is directly or indirectly engaged with said first engaging portion at the other of the edge portion of said hose and said mating member, wherein said engaging portion of said hose is integrally formed with said hose by the blow molding method and located on the same side wall of said one of said hose and said mating member on which side wall said sealing material rests, wherein the portion of the other said hose and said mating member cooperating with said sealing material is free of a specific adaption.”
U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,777 assigned to Colder Products Company describes “[a] male insert member (12) having a part line free seal member (20) of one piece with the male insert member (12) and method for making the male insert (12) is disclosed. The male insert member (12) is configured for insertion into a female receptacle assembly (14) of a coupling assembly (10). The seal member (20) cooperates with an inner surface of a bore (30) to create a fluid tight seal therewith upon insertion into the bore (30).”
European Patent Application No. EP-A 1520000599 assigned to Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited discloses “[a] connector (1) for use with a conduit (3) to supply gases to a user (13) is disclosed. The connector (1) comprises a pair of connectors (22,23), adapted to fit together and swivel relative to one another. More particularly, the connector may comprise a female (36) and male (34) connector assemblies, adapted to be push fit together. The female connector (36) assembly preferably has an extended shoulder and a number of triangular guide slots (43,44), the slots being shaped so as to be wider at one end. The male connector assembly preferably comprises a male portion (37) and a sleeve (38) that when joined, cannot be easily separated by axial or torsional tension applied to either, but may rotate freely relative to each other. The sleeve (38) preferably has a number of guide ridges (41,42) running axially along its outside surface that slidably mate with the guide slots (43,44) on the female connector (36).”
U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,816 assigned to E. R. Squibb & Sons, Inc. describes “[a] tube coupling having a male body, a female body for receiving at least a portion of the male body and at least one peripheral member made from a relatively compressible plastic material molded into a groove within either the relatively rigid male or female body. The peripheral member is disposed to become compressed against a surface of the mating body to form a liquid seal. At least two peripheral members disposed in grooves in a tubular shaped end portion of the male body are made of a compressible plastic and serve as liquid sealing and locking means. The female body comprises a receiving end portion with a tapered interior adapted to receive the male tubular end portion. As the tubular end portion is inserted into the receiving end portion, one of the peripheral members engages the tapered interior surface and becomes compressed there against as the tubular end portion is further inserted. As the tubular end portion is fully inserted a second peripheral member seats itself in a groove in the interior surface of the receiving end portion acting to lock the male and female bodies together. The relatively compressible peripheral members are formed in grooves in the relatively rigid male or female body by insert molding or by simultaneous injection molding of two dissimilar plastics.”
U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,622 assigned to Yokohama Aeroquip Corporation discloses “[a] pipe joint for connecting two pipes to each other has a joint member to which one of the pipes is fixed and provided with a bore formed therein, a socket member fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the joint member and provided at its one end with a flange having an opening and also with an annular space defined by the flange, a retainer ring composed of a plurality of segments each having a tapered surface confronting the opening, the segments being arranged in the circumferential direction and held by an elastic band fitting on the outer peripheral surfaces thereof such that the retainer ring composed of the segments can expand and contract radially, and a male member constituted by the other of the pipes and having a bead portion protruding radially outwardly from the outer peripheral surface of the male member at a position near the end of the male member. The retainer ring has an inside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the bead so that, when the male member is inserted into the bore in the joint member through the opening, the bead portion produces a wedging action on the tapered surfaces of the segments of the retainer ring so as to radially expand the retainer ring overcoming the force of the elastic band thereby allowing the bead portion to clear the retainer ring. After the bead portion has passed the retainer ring, the retainer ring is contracted radially by the force of the elastic band so as to engage with the rear side of the bead portion.”
U.S. Pat. No. 3,603,621 assigned to Frederick L. Parsons discloses “[a] quick locking and releasing coupling for a pair of members to be coupled together including resilient coupling means projecting from each member to be coupled and snap-locking with the other member to be coupled and a raised cam engageable with the resilient coupling means when they are twisted or rotated relatively to each other to spread the resilient coupling means and release the member with which it was locked.”
The aforementioned prior art connector systems are either not ideal for an air-tight coupling in fail-safe medical applications and/or lack the simplicity of a push-in/pull-out type of coupling that is enhanced by a latch mechanism which does not need to be released by pressing or squeezing to allow the connectors to disengage. Accordingly, there is a need for a quick connect push-in/pull-out connector system that provides air-tight fluidic coupling ideal for medical applications such as non-invasive blood pressure measurement systems. There is also need for a coupling that is capable of mating single and multiple lumen hoses quickly.
The present invention is an adapter for coupling a blood pressure cuff to a blood pressure manifold, comprising a hose having a first end and a second end, wherein said hose comprises a first lumen and a second lumen wherein said first and second lumens define a first air pathway and a second air pathway respectively; a first end connector integrally formed with said first end wherein said first end connector comprises a first seal and a second seal and wherein each of said first and second seals have different areas; a second end connector integrally formed with said second end wherein said second end connector comprises a third seal and a fourth seal and wherein each of said third and fourth seals have different areas; and wherein a first end of said first lumen terminates proximate to said first seal, a second end of said first lumen terminates proximate to said third seal, a first end of said second lumen terminates proximate to said second seal, and a second end of said second lumen terminates proximate to said fourth seal.
Optionally, the second end connector is configured to couple to a coupler attached to said blood pressure manifold. The second end connector slidably engages said coupler. The first end connector is configured to the blood pressure cuff. The first end connector slidably engages said cuff. The adapter further comprises a plurality of protrusions positioned on an exterior of said hose. The protrusions are positioned between said first end connector and said second end connector. The first air pathway is configured to direct air from said blood pressure manifold to said blood pressure cuff. The second air pathway is configured to direct air pressure changes to pressure sensors in said blood pressure manifold. At least one of said first, second, third, or fourth seals is an O-ring.
In another embodiment, the present invention comprises an adapter, comprising: an elastomeric member having a first end and a second end, wherein said elastomeric member comprises a first lumen and a second lumen wherein said first and second lumens define a first air pathway and a second air pathway respectively; a first end connector attached to said first end wherein said first end connector comprises a first seal of a first diameter and a second seal of a second diameter and wherein each of said first and second diameters are different; a second end connector attached to said second end wherein said second end connector comprises a third seal of a third diameter and a fourth seal of a fourth diameter and wherein each of said third and fourth diameters are different; and wherein a first end of said first lumen terminates proximate to said first seal, a second end of said first lumen terminates proximate to said third seal, a first end of said second lumen terminates proximate to said second seal, and a second end of said second lumen terminates proximate to said fourth seal.
Optionally, the second end connector is configured to slidably engage with a coupler attached to a blood pressure manifold. The first end connector is configured to slidably engage with a blood pressure cuff. The adapter further comprises a plurality of protrusions positioned on an exterior of said elastomeric member. The protrusions are positioned between said first end connector and said second end connector. The first air pathway is configured to direct air from a blood pressure manifold to a blood pressure cuff. The second air pathway is configured to direct air pressure changes to pressure sensors in a blood pressure manifold. The first seal has the same diameter of said third seal. The second seal has the same diameter of the fourth seal. At least one of said first, second, third, or fourth seal comprises an O-ring.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an air-tight push-in/pull-out type of coupling that does not need to be released by pressing or squeezing to allow the connectors to disengage and provide a positive lock with feedback to the user that the connection has been made. Accordingly a non-invasive blood pressure determination system comprises a monitor or hub coupled to a patient cuff using the connector system of the present invention.
In one embodiment of the present invention the connector system comprises an adapter with a dual lumen hose slidingly engageable with a hub-end coupler on one side and a patient cuff-end coupler on the other. The hose can be an adult or a neonatal hose. In one embodiment, the neonate adapter includes an integrated single lumen tube terminating in a neonate cuff on its second end connector in place of the dual seals. The dual lumen hose allows for one airway to be used to inflate the cuff and the other airway to be used as a sensor air path to enable more accurate measurement of pressure in the cuff.
According to an aspect of the present invention a plurality of elastomeric compression members at ends of a male adapter/connector allow for air-tight engagement when the respective ends are mated with the female cuff and/or hub-end coupler. In one embodiment the compression members comprise O-rings. In another embodiment the compression members comprise wipers.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a positive latching mechanism in addition to the push-in/pull-out coupling. Accordingly, an annular ridge on the male adapter/connector comprises sloping leading and trailing edges. The female cuff-end coupler has an entrance comprising a sloping internal wall or edge. As the male adapter is inserted into the female cuff-end, the leading edge of ridge is pushed over the sloped wall at the female cuff-end entrance. Subsequently, the ridge enters a groove at the female cuff-end such that the groove shoulder prevents an accidental disengagement of the coupling.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated, as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention is directed toward an air-tight push-in and pull-out connector system capable of mating single and multiple lumen hoses comprising at least one positive latch mechanism.
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed toward an adapter for coupling a blood pressure cuff to a blood pressure manifold, comprising a hose having a first end and a second end, wherein said hose comprises a first lumen and a second lumen wherein said first and second lumens define a first air pathway and a second air pathway respectively; a first end connector integrally formed with said first end wherein said first end connector comprises a first seal and a second seal and wherein each of said first and second seals have different areas; a second end connector integrally formed with said second end wherein said second end connector comprises a third seal and a fourth seal and wherein each of said third and fourth seals have different areas; and wherein a first end of said first lumen terminates proximate to said first seal, a second end of said first lumen terminates proximate to said third seal, a first end of said second lumen terminates proximate to said second seal, and a second end of said second lumen terminates proximate to said fourth seal.
In one embodiment, the seals are comprised of compressible O-rings. In another embodiment, the seals are comprised of compressible wipers.
Optionally, a neonate adapter includes an integrated single lumen tube terminating in a neonate cuff on its second end connector in place of the dual seals.
The present invention is directed towards multiple embodiments. The following disclosure is provided in order to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention. Language used in this specification should not be interpreted as a general disavowal of any one specific embodiment or used to limit the claims beyond the meaning of the terms used therein. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, the terminology and phraseology used is for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments and should not be considered limiting. Thus, the present invention is to be accorded the widest scope encompassing numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents consistent with the principles and features disclosed. For purpose of clarity, details relating to technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
Referring to
A source of pressure, such as pneumatic pump 111, is used to create air pressure in hose lumen 106 and inflate cuff 110. Redundant bleed valves 101 and 112 are connected to hose lumen 106 leading to cuff 110 at one end and to tube 113 leading to intake/exhaust port 103 at the other. When bleed valves 101 and 112 are activated they are in the ‘closed’ position. When valves 101, 112 are in an ‘open’ position, air flows through them and out of the port 103. When system 100 is pressurized for taking a measurement, the valves 101, 112 are in the ‘closed’ position except when they are briefly opened to lower the pressure in the cuff 110.
When the measurement is finished, valves 101, 112 are opened and the remaining air in the cuff 110 exits the system through port 103. As cuff 110 is deflated using bleed valves 101, 112 via intake/exhaust port 103, the arterial occlusion is gradually relieved. Pressure transducers 102, 104 are coupled by hose lumens 106, 107 respectively to the cuff 110 for sensing the pressure therein. In one embodiment, airway 130 vents a volume of air captured between the manifold and the PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) that contains transducers 102, 104. This prevents gage pressure vents on the back of transducers 102, 104 from being subjected to pressure variations caused by handling (such as by squeezing) during measurement.
Pressure levels in the hose lumens 106, 107 caused by changes in the pressure of cuff 110 are converted into electrical signals by transducers 102, 104 and communicated to a microprocessor (not shown) for processing. System 100 comprises a microprocessor that is programmed to control the functioning of the system 100 as would be known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. Filters 120, 121 are included in hose lumens 106, 107, respectively, to filter any artifact or noise. In one embodiment, filter 122, included in lumen 113 prevents contaminating elements, such as dust, from entering the system via intake/exhaust port 103 when the pump 111 is actuated. Similarly, filters 120 and 121 prevent contaminants from reaching the transducers 102, 104 and the valves 101, 112. A speaker 123 is optionally included in the hub 105 to provide auditory alarms or blood pressure signals to a caregiver. A hydrophobic vent 124 prevents moisture from affecting the functional elements of the hub 105.
During operation, a pressure signal is created in one lumen, such as lumen 106, greater than the pressure in the other lumen, such as lumen 107, thereby causing at least one of the pressure transducers 102, 104 to measure the change in pressure. This information is then sent to the microprocessor for analysis. The microprocessor uses the results to control (example: regulate, stop, restart, delay) operation of the system 100.
The adapter 215 comprises a first end connector 218, a second end connector 219 and dual lumen hose 245 that laterally defines internal pathway 239. The dual lumen hose 245 in one embodiment is a soft elastomeric extrusion comprising the pathway 239 and extending from the hub-end coupler 205 to the cuff coupler 210. The dual lumen hose 245 is physically divided internally into a first airway 216 used to direct air into and inflate the cuff and a second airway 217 used as a sensor air path. This enables more accurate measurement of pressure in the cuff. Dedicating a single airway for sensor readings enables the system to take measurements during inflation and reduces the number of artifacts introduced into the system.
Handle sections 222, 224 of the first end and second end connectors 218, 219 respectively, are used to handle/manipulate the hose 215 and, in one embodiment, comprise injection molded plastic bodies. In one embodiment, connectors 218, 219 are identical plastic molded parts. The first end connector 218 comprises a plurality of grooves. In one embodiment, the first end connector 218 comprises at least two grooves 235, 236. Similarly, the second end connector 219 comprises a plurality of grooves. In one embodiment, the second end connector 219 comprises at least two grooves 229, 231. In one embodiment, each of the grooves 229, 231, 235, 236 respectively comprises an O-ring 225, 226, 227, 228. Each of these O-rings enables air-tight engagement when the respective first and second end connectors 218, 219 are mated with the cuff coupler 210 and hub-end coupler 205.
In one embodiment, adapter 215 is less than one 1 meter long, while in alternate embodiments it is longer, e.g. less than 2 meters long, less than 3 meters long, less than 4 meters long, between 1 to 2 meters long, between 2 to 3 meters long, between 3 to 4 meters long, or longer than 4 meters. An elastomeric part 220 helps to seal the hub-end coupler 205 to the hub (not shown). In one embodiment, part 220 is rectangular with protrusions to facilitate assembly while in another embodiment part 220 is circular.
In one embodiment, the cuff-end coupler 210 has a piece of tubing 211 with a single air path to allow for simpler construction that is also similar and compatible with cuffs generally available commercially.
The outer diameter of the portion 408 is uniform throughout its lateral length. A short sloped step 420 connects the portion 408 to the receiving end portion 406. The outer diameter of receiving end portion 406 is also uniform for most of its lateral length except for a depression or groove 421 that partitions the receiving end portion 406 into forward and backward portions 422, 423 respectively. In one embodiment latch 409 is on the interior circumference of the forward portion 422 of the receiving end portion 406.
The male adapter 410 comprises a hose 414, a handle, 430, and a generally cylindrical, tubular plug end portion 413 that transitions into another generally cylindrical, tubular portion 412. The diameter of the plug end portion 412 is smaller than that of the portion 413. The diameters and lengths of the portions 412 and 413 correspond to the female cuff-end portions 408 and 406 respectively such that the male adapter 410 is adapted to be slidingly inserted into the interior of the female cuff-end coupler 405. In one embodiment, the cylindrical portions 412, 413 include compressible O-rings 417, 418 that act to form an air-tight seal once the two ends of the connector system are engaged. In one embodiment, the O-ring 418 on cylindrical portion 413 is larger in diameter than the O-ring 417 on cylindrical portion 412. In one embodiment, the cylindrical portions 412, 413 include raised shoulder regions on either side of each O-ring 417, 418. These shoulders protect the O-rings from over compression and leak when there is a side pull on hose 414. In one embodiment, the shoulders besides O-rings 417, 418 are about 6 mm and 8 mm in diameter respectively. Strain relief and handle portion 430 has protrusions on to which the hose 414 is forced. In one embodiment, hose 414 comprises two lumens/airways—a first one that breaks the surface 450 of the portion between the O-rings 417, 418 and a second one leading to the very end 419. Persons of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the hose 414 may be single tube/lumen or multiple lumens (such as dual, triple, quadruple and so on) in alternate embodiments.
Also included on the connector end of the adapter 410 is an annular ridge 216 which is generally semi-circular in cross-section and acts as a stop when its leading face, after crossing latch 409, abuts an internal edge (shown in FIG.'s 6A and 6B) of the coupler 405 as the adapter 410 is slidingly engaged within the coupler 405.
Referring now to
Referring again to
During connecting, as the adapter 610 is inserted into the cuff-end coupler 605, the peripheral member 617 comes in contact with the interior wall of portion 608 while the peripheral member 618 comes in contact with the interior wall of portion 606. The peripheral members 617 and 618 are gradually compressed against the walls as the adapter 610 is fully inserted. Compression related deformation of the peripheral members 617 and 618 against the walls results in an air-tight seal. In one embodiment, the seal is capable of withstanding pressures of up to 6 psi (350 mm Hg) without breaching. The adapter 610 is pushed until the annular ridge 616 has passed the latch 609 and is abutting the internal edge 624. At this point, the sloped step 620 of the cuff-end coupler 605 is also abutting a corresponding parallel sloped edge on the adapter 610. Thus, the annular ridge 616, internal edge 624 and the sloped step 620 act as a stop to further sliding advancement of the adapter 610 into the cuff-end coupler 605. This frees the user from estimating when to stop pushing the adapter 610 into the cuff-end coupler 605. Also, the latch 609 acts as a positive engagement indicator of a completed coupling operation and prevents accidental disengagement of the coupling since the annular ridge 616, that has crossed the latch 609 during pushing, acts as an obstruction against the latch 609 during an outward pull force. As described above, the bodies 605, 610 are quickly and easily connected in one pushing action causing them to be telescopically engaged. To successfully disconnect the two bodies 605, 610 sufficient pulling force must be applied to enable the ridge 616 to again cross over the latch 609—this time in an outward direction. Since the peripheral members 617, 618 (in the form of O-rings) of
Persons of ordinary skill in the art should note that to disengage the bodies 605, 610 only sufficient pulling force is required. No squeezing or pressing action is required on the outer diameter of the portion 606 of the cuff-end coupler 605 or the latch 609.
It should be appreciated that the two O-rings 617, 618 separate the two lumens/airways of the hose 614. In one embodiment, the two O-rings 617, 618 are of different diameters, otherwise the opening in the coupler 605 would chafe and cut the lead O-ring 617 as it was inserted. It should further be appreciated that the present invention covers embodiments in which, at one end, a dual lumen/airway hose of adapter is mated to a single lumen/airway cuff-end coupler and, separately, in which two lumens/airways in the electronics enclosure or hub (such as hub 105 of
In another embodiment the sealing peripheral members 617 and 618 of
It should be appreciated that the present invention has been described in accordance with multiple different embodiments. Other features, functions, or structures which are equivalent to the ones disclosed herein or obvious alternatives to a person of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be part of, and encompassed by, the present invention.
