Patent Application
20080028734
Objects, features and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawings, in which like reference numerals correspond to similar, though not necessarily identical components. Reference numerals having a previously described function may not necessarily be described in connection with other drawings in which they appear.
Embodiments of the filter assembly disclosed herein may advantageously engage two tubes having different diameters or connections. In other embodiments of the filter assembly, one tube may be engaged with one portion of the filter assembly, while another portion of the filter assembly may be quickly and easily engaged with a manifold via o-rings, gaskets, or face seals. It is believed that this type of engagement substantially simplifies the interface between the filter assembly and the manifold, thereby substantially simplifying the process for replacing the filter.
The filter assembly disclosed herein also may advantageously be utilized with devices for delivering gases to patients, which devices would not require (though optionally may have, if desired) access door(s) and/or attaching hardware for replacing the filter assembly. As such, the filter assembly may be suitable for use in stationary and/or portable oxygen concentrators and other gaseous delivery devices.
As used herein, the term “tube” includes source tubes, cannulas, pipes, other like tubular objects, or combinations thereof for delivery of a gaseous medium/media.
It is to be understood that the terms “engage/engaged/engagement/engageable” and/or the like are broadly defined herein to encompass a variety of divergent connected arrangements and assembly techniques. These arrangements and techniques include, but are not limited to (1) the direct communication between one component and another component with no intervening components therebetween; and (2) the communication of one component and another component with one or more components therebetween, provided that the one component being “engaged with” the other component is somehow in operative communication with the other component (notwithstanding the presence of one or more additional components therebetween). Additionally, two components may be permanently, semi-permanently, or releasably engaged with one another.
Referring now to
The filter media 14 may be of any suitable form and/or adapted for any suitable use. As such, the filter media 14 may be embodied in any suitable shape and/or may be formed from any suitable material. As non-limitative examples, the filter media 14 may be formed from a HEPA material, may be suitable for bacterial filtration (e.g., is formed from a bacterial filtration material, as discussed in, for example, document number BS EN 13544-3 (“Respiratory Therapy Equipment—Part 3: Air Entrainment Devices”, from British Standards Institution, published on Jul. 15, 2001), and/or may be a loose fiber filtration material. The filter media 14 may also be stamped into a non-pleated disk, a pleated disk, or combinations thereof. As a non-limitative example, the filter media 14 may be suitable for use with an oxygen delivery system.
The filter assembly 10 is also shown as having a front 12 and a back 20. It is to be understood that the terms “front” and “back” are not intended to be limited to, nor necessarily meant to convey a spatial orientation, but rather are used for illustrative purposes to differentiate two opposed ends in any spatial orientation (top, bottom, side, angularly offset, and/or the like). However, it is to be understood that in fabrication situations, “front” and “back” may signify a specific spatial orientation.
It is to be understood that the filter housing 18 may be formed of any suitable material. Non-limitative examples of such materials include polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polycarbonates, polyesters, styrene butadiene copolymers, acetal resins (a non-limitative example of which includes DELRIN, which is commercially available from Dupont, located in Wilmington, Del.), or the like, or combinations thereof.
In an embodiment, the filter housing 18 has a first nipple 22 and a second nipple 24. At least one of the first nipple 22 or the second nipple 24 is adapted to engage with the tube 16 (as shown in phantom in
In another embodiment, the first nipple 22 and/or the second nipple 24 have/has a first tube-engaging outer diameter 26 and a second tube-engaging outer diameter 28. As such, it is to be understood that nipple(s) 22, 24 may have a plurality of segments whereby adjacent segments have diameters of different magnitudes. As non-limitative examples, the first outer diameter 26 or the second outer diameter 28 may be adapted for engagement with a tube 16 having an ⅛ inch inner diameter, with a tube 16 having an inner diameter substantially larger than an ⅛ inch, or with a tube 16 having an inner diameter substantially smaller than an ⅛ inch. In an embodiment, the first outer diameter 26 is adapted for engagement with an ⅛ inch inner diameter tube 16′, and the second outer diameter 28 is adapted for engagement with a tube 16 having an inner diameter substantially larger than an ⅛ inch or substantially smaller than an ⅛ inch (i.e., an inner diameter different from that of tube 16′). It is to be understood that the outermost outer diameter, which is illustrated in
In an embodiment, a nipple 22, 24 having first and second outer diameters 26, 28 may engage one or more tubes 16 having one or more standard (or any desired) inner diameter sizes. In a non-limitative example, the connections to be fitted correspond with standards referenced in document number BS EN 13544-2 (“Respiratory Therapy Equipment—Part 2: Tubing and Connectors,” from British Standards Institution, published on Oct. 31, 2002). As such, the first and second outer diameters 26, 28 may provide for engagement between the filter assembly 10 and one or more off-the-shelf (or specialty) tubes 16.
In another embodiment, and as shown in
It is to be understood that the nipples 22, 24 may have the varying diameters 26, 28. It is to be further understood that the respective diameters 26, 28 for each nipple 22, 24 may be substantially the same or different (e.g., diameter 26 for nipple 24 may be substantially the same as diameter 26 for nipple 22, etc.; or diameter 28 for nipple 24 may be different from diameter 28 for nipple 22, etc.). In an alternate embodiment, nipples 22, 24 may each have a substantially consistent diameter (e.g. a single diameter 26 or 28), as long as the single diameter 26 or 28 of each of the two nipples 22, 24 is different (e.g., nipple 22 may have a single diameter 26, and nipple 24 may have a single diameter 28, where diameter 26 is different from diameter 28, etc.).
Referring now to
In an embodiment, the filter housing engaging member 30 or the manifold engaging member 34 is a tab and the other of the manifold engaging member 34 or the filter housing engaging member 30 is a cavity. It is to be understood that the cavity is configured to releasably engage with the tab. Thus, in an embodiment, a plurality of filter housing engaging members 30 enmesh with a plurality of manifold engaging members 34, and rotating the filter housing 18 anywhere from about 1° to about 180° releasably engages the filter assembly 10 with the manifold 38. It is to be understood that the filter housing engaging member(s) 30 and the manifold engaging member(s) 34 may be of any suitable shape that provides for engagement therebetween.
The first nipple 22 and/or the second nipple 24 may be adapted to sealingly engage with the manifold 38. As depicted in
It is to be understood that, in this embodiment, if one of the first nipple 22 or the second nipple 24 engages with a tube 16, then the other of the second nipple 24 or the first nipple 22 sealingly engages with the manifold 38. As such, the filter assembly 10 may be adapted to simultaneously operatively engage a tube 16 and a manifold 38.
An embodiment of a method of releasably mounting the filter assembly 10 includes aligning the engaging member 30 of the filter housing 18 with the engaging member 34 of the manifold 38, and then contacting the aligned members. The filter housing 18 is then rotated at an angle ranging from about 1° to about 180° relative to the manifold 38.
In another embodiment, the engaging member 30 and the manifold engaging member 34 are releasably engaged via a rotation of the filter housing 18 ranging from about 30° to about 60° with respect to the manifold 38.
In yet another embodiment, the engaging members 30, 34 are releasably engaged via a filter housing 18 rotation of about 45° with respect to the manifold 38. As such, it is to be understood that, in this embodiment, the rotation of the filter housing 18 may be referred to as a “quarter turn” and/or the releasable engagement between the filter assembly 10 and the manifold 38 may be referred to as a “quarter turn interlock.”
As the filter assembly 10 is adapted for use with a tube 16, the method also includes engaging the tube 16 with whichever of the first and second nipples 22, 24 is not engaged with the manifold 38. Alternately, the filter assembly 10 may be adapted for use with two tubes 16, 16′. As such, the method includes engaging one tube 16, 16′ with one of the nipples 22, 24, and engaging the other tube 16′, 16 with the other of the nipples 24, 22 (as shown in
The filter assembly 10 may also include a spring 46 (shown in
While several embodiments have been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be modified. Therefore, the foregoing description is to be considered exemplary rather than limiting.
