The present invention relates to components for breathing circuits and in particular to limbs for breathing circuits.
In assisted breathing, particularly in medical applications, gases are supplied and returned through conduits. Such conduits are ideally light and flexible to ensure the greatest level of comfort for the patient.
As taught in our prior patent application AU 43823/01 thin membrane walls are particularly used in breathable membrane applications where the passage of water vapour through the membrane but not the passage of liquid water is desired.
Thin walled conduits may include helical or annular reinforcing ribs which improve resistance to crushing and pinching, while still allowing the conduit to be flexible in order to maintain patient comfort. A disadvantage of these types of flexible conduits is their lack of stiffness. The extremely thin walls of these types of conduits provide very little resistance to tensile, compressive or torsional forces. While annular or helical ribs, whether inside, outside or between layers of the conduit wall, do provide some longitudinal stiffness, these conduits are still prone to large axial displacements both compressive and tensile. This can lead to substantial internal volume changes under fluctuating breathing pressures, potentially significant enough to disrupt automated ventilation. Our prior art patent application taught provision of external longitudinal reinforcing in the form of a set of axial polymer threads bonded to the radial support bead. However these have the disadvantage of being easily caught or snagged.
A further disadvantage of very thin walled conduits is a reduced durability of the very thin membrane making up the walls of the conduit. The very thin membrane may be more susceptible to piercing from sharp objects and/or plastic deformation from tensile forces.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a limb for a breathing circuit, which will at least go some way towards improving on the above or which will at least provide the public and the medical profession with a useful choice.
Throughout this specification the term very thin walled conduit means a conduit where under the intended prevailing conditions the conduit would be subject to excessive axial compression, e.g. a conduit formed according to a method as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,808 using a SYMPATEX film having a thickness less than 50 microns.
In one aspect the invention consists in a limb for a breathing circuit comprising:
a very thin walled conduit having a first end and a second end and a breathing gases pathway therebetween,
a first connector fixed to said first end of said conduit,
a second connector fixed to said second end of said conduit, and
an elongate reinforcing member lying freely within said very thin walled conduit along a non-tortuous path from one end of said conduit to the other end of said conduit, and connected with said first connector and said second connector.
Preferably said connectors have a first end suitable for making connection with auxiliary equipment and a second end for making connection with a breathing conduit, and
an annular shoulder between said first end and said second end,
said second end extending along an axis and having a substantially circular cross section, and
said second end having at least one protrusion on an outer surface for interlocking engagement with a helical rib of a breathing conduit.
In a further aspect the invention consists in a method for manufacturing a limb for a breathing circuit comprising:
providing a very thin walled breathing conduit having a first end and a second end,
locating an elongate reinforcing member having a first and a second end, lying freely within said conduit along a non-tortuous path from one end of said conduit to the other end of said conduit,
fixing a first end connector with a first end of said breathing conduit, and a first end of said elongate reinforcing member, and
fixing a second end connector with said second end of said conduit and said second end of said elongate reinforcing member.
In a further aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a limb for a breathing circuit comprising:
a very thin walled conduit having a first end and a second end,
a first connector fixed to said first end of said conduit,
a second connector fixed to a second end of said conduit, and
a braided sheath surrounding said conduit and being fixed at and around one end to said first connector and at and around its other end to said second connector.
In a further aspect the invention consists in a method for manufacturing a limb for a breathing circuit comprising:
providing a very thin walled breathing conduit having a first end and a second end,
locating a reinforcing mesh having a first and a second end, over the outside of said breathing conduit,
fixing a first end connector with a first end of said breathing conduit, and a first end of said reinforcing mesh, and
fixing a second end connector with said second end of said conduit and said second end of said reinforcing mesh.
To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.
The present invention relates to breathing conduits in general and in particular to methods of providing reinforcement for very thin walled conduits used to provide a closed pathway for delivering gases to a patient. Consequently the present invention finds application in breathing conduits fabricated from a variety of different materials and manufactured by a variety of different methods. The conduits may be single or multiple walled and may include breathable walls or portions of breathable wall.
As a corollary of material cost and/or breathability of the material it is preferred that the conduit wall be manufactured to have a very thin wall, so much so that the conduit wall membrane may be insufficiently sturdy to be self supporting. Spiral or helical or annular reinforcing members may be provided on the tubular membrane to provide support against crushing and pinching. The helical, spiral or annular supporting members may for example be formed from polymer plastic materials, such as the material used in the wall of the conduit or having the same base polymer. It has been found that breathing conduits such as those described above are extremely light, flexible and provide good crush resistance, however the conduits may also have reduced resistance to axial deformation. Due to the very thin polymer film forming the walls of the conduit, the resulting breathing circuit limb may have reduced axial stiffness and may be prone to expansion, and contraction along the axis of the conduit, due to axial or torsional forces. In use, axial forces arising from patient breathing may produce expansion and/or contraction along the length of the limb. In one aspect the present invention provides a breathing circuit limb with improved axial stiffness. In a further aspect the present invention provides a breathing circuit limb with improved torsional stiffness.
Very thin walled breathing conduits such as those described above can be fabricated by a number of different methods. The following describes several very thin walled conduits and associated methods of manufacturing very thin walled conduits to which the present invention may be applied.
Referring to
Referring to
An example of forming apparatus suitable for manufacturing the double walled breathing tube product according to the embodiment described in
The resulting product is a double walled reinforced breathing conduit with a space between the inner and outer walls. The breathing conduit of
The first stage of the former shown in
Referring to
An example of forming apparatus suitable for manufacturing the breathing tube according to an embodiment of the present invention described in
Tube being formed on the former is rotated and advanced in the direction of arrow 17 by the movement of the rotating rods. The advance speed of the former is selected relative to the rotational speed so that the pitch of the helical laying of the strip or tape on to the former 15 is a little less than the width of the strip so that adjacent turns narrowly overlap. A first extruder 18 extrudes a tape 19 of very thin film polymer materials. The tape 19 deposits on the former 15 in a helical fashion by action of the former. The pitch of the helical disposition of tape 19 is slightly less than the width of tape 19. The helical deposition of tape 19 forms the wall 20 of the conduit. A second extruder 21 extrudes a bead 22 of polymer material. The molten bead 22 deposits between the overlapping portions of adjacent winds of tape 19 and is sufficiently heated to weld to the strips of tape 19. Applying the molten bead between the overlapping layers of tape may improve the weld quality as both layers of tape that are to be welded are in physical contact with the molten bead. The quality of the surface finish for the inner surface of a breathing conduit is important, as a rough inner surface may hinder gases flow and contribute to more condensation to building up in the conduit. The above described construction technique is especially suited to conduits fabricated from very thin film. The thin film is able to conform to the shape of the raised rib of the applied molten bead 22 during fabrication. By lapping very closely onto the bead and wrapping around the bead, the very thin film maintains a smooth inner surface on the finished conduit product as shown in
In addition to the bonding of the film to the molten bead between adjacent over lapping layers, other active fusing techniques may be applied. Active methods may include hot air welding, hot rollers or radio frequency welding.
It will be appreciated that the above described breathing conduits and methods of manufacture are provided as examples of the type of very thin walled conduits to which the present invention may be applied. The examples have been chosen to illustrate the many possible variations and are not meant to be in any way limiting. Many further variations will present themselves to those skilled in the art. While some embodiments of the present invention have been described as preferred and convey particular advantages over other embodiments many other combinations may prove commercially useful.
Such variations may include:
The present invention may be broadly described as relating to methods of reinforcing breathing circuit limbs so as to provide increased axial or torsional stiffness, or both. While the present invention is particularly suited to conduits having very thin walls, it will be readily appreciated that application may also be found in more traditional conduits if further reinforcement is desirable. The first preferred embodiment of the present invention describes the provision of an axial spine and end connector whose primary function is to improve the axial stiffness of a breathing circuit limb. The second preferred embodiment of the present invention describes an external reinforcing sheath or mesh and an end connector for use with such reinforcing in a breathing circuit limb. The reinforcing mesh is bonded to the limb at only the ends of the limb where the conduit wall inserts into the end connector. It will be appreciated from the following description that the end connectors described are suitable for use with either one, or both, of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. While each embodiment of the present invention is discussed in turn, it is in no sense meant to be limiting as the preferred embodiments may be employed separately or together.
A first preferred embodiment of a breathing limb according the present invention will be described in detail with reference to
The limb includes an elongate reinforcing member or spine 24 lying freely within conduit 25. Conduit 25 for example, is such as those described above. The second end of conduit end connector 23 has a recess 26 adapted to receive an elongate reinforcing spine or rod 24. The spine 24, runs the length of the conduit from the connector 23 at one end of the tube, down the inside of the conduit, and is secured in another end connector 49 at the other end of the conduit. Preferably the spine is substantially the same length as the conduit and follows a non-tortuous path between the connectors. Because the spine (between the connectors) is preferably slightly longer than the conduit, it will not follow a linear path, but rather will bend into a shallow wavy and/or spiral form. It will also be appreciated that a spine slightly shorter than the conduit will also result in a degree of axial reinforcement. When assembled as described the combination of end connector and spine will provide the breathing conduit with additional axial stiffness, by potentially taking some of the axial forces and will therefore go some way to overcoming the above described disadvantages that arise from the use of breathing conduits having extremely thin film walls. In this embodiment it is preferable to choose the reinforcing spine (material, gauge and number) to be sufficiently stiff to resist buckling under the transiently reduced internal pressures that could be expected during patient breathing and sufficiently stiff to provide improved axial stiffness to the conduit. Preferably the elongate reinforcing member is manufactured from high density polyethylene having a Young's modulus (E), of approximately 0.88 GPa. Preferably the elongate reinforcing member has a cross sectional are between 3 mm2 and 12.5 mm2. Preferably the elongate reinforcing member has a minimum bending stiffness (EI=Young's Modulus*Second Moment of Area) for its cross section between 693 N.mm2 and 11,096 N.mm2.
Although embodiments containing only one elongate reinforcing spine are shown, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the end connectors described could easily be modified to accommodate multiple reinforcing spines. In such multi-spine embodiments, care needs to be taken to ensure that the gases flow is not disrupted too detrimentally. A further important consideration when choosing the material, gauge and number of reinforcing members is to ensure that the breathing circuit limb remains laterally flexible and thus maintain patient comfort.
The reinforcing spine is preferably made from a suitable approved plastic material, such as high density polyethylene, or the same material as the end connectors if welding of the spine and end connectors is selected for manufacture. In the preferred embodiment the reinforcing spine has a circular cross section to minimise any potential stress raisers. The spine may be made from a variety of materials, and may have a variety of cross sections being either solid or hollow without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Preferably in hollow spine embodiments the spine is blind terminated at each end by the end connectors. If the spine is hollow and has a narrow bore, the size of the bore will be insufficient for general gases flow or gases delivery. The cross sectional area of the spine (measured from the outer perimeter of the cross section of the spine) is preferably less than 10% of the cross sectional area of the bore of the conduit so that gases flow is not significantly disrupted. While the spine diameter is not large enough to facilitate significant gases flow (to a patient for example) it may be used for other purposes such as pressure measurement, or pressure feedback. The spine may also include a heater element such as a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater or a resistance heating element.
It is envisaged that there are several possible variants which may be employed to secure the reinforcing spine and/or reinforcing mesh into each of the end connectors of the breathing circuit limb. The general requirements for the end connectors are as follows. The end connectors must provide a means for securely fastening the spine and/or reinforcing mesh so as to prevent pull out during use. Preferably the end connectors are constructed such that assembly of the components during manufacture can be achieved easily. A further consideration is that the end connector when fastened to a breathing conduit to form the finished product should be neat, tidy and preferably appealing to the eye of an end user. The following describes two alternative preferred embodiments of the present invention which attempt to satisfy the abovementioned design objectives. It will be appreciated that the portion of the end connector described which connects to equipment such as a ventilator or mask may be male, female or an androgynous type connector without departing from the present invention. Further, each end of a conduit may have the same or a different type of connector according to what type of connection is required. If a heater wire is included in the breathing circuit limb (whether associated with the reinforcing spine or not) the end connector at least one end will preferably be adapted to make an electrical connection together with the gases pathway connection.
Referring to
In one preferred embodiment, illustrated in
The assembly is secured via a tubular retaining or securing collar sleeve 31. The retaining sleeve 31 and end connector 23 may be provided with a positive initial location via a snap fit interaction between a snap fit portion 32 of the end connector 23 and the lip of retaining sleeve 31. Referring to
An alternative preferred embodiment of an end connector will be described with reference to
Due to the axial compliance of very thin walled conduits, the length of spine will contribute to the determination of the length of the limb. In the preferred embodiment the spine length is chosen such that when fitted inside the conduit and secured to the respective end connectors, the conduit is elongated such that the conduit length is close to its maximum length (preferably within the elastic limit of the conduit walls). In such a condition the wrinkling of the conduit wall is reduced, improving the performance of the breathing circuit limb without putting undue stress on the conduit wall due to axial tension generated by the spine. The axial stiffness of the conduit is improved while limb flexibility is not significantly impaired. For this condition, the spine is preferably between 100.5% and 105% of the length of the conduit.
A second preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to
The reinforcing sheath 27 is preferably a braided mesh surrounding the breathing circuit limb and is bonded to the limb only at the ends where the breathing conduit is inserted into the end connectors. All styles of breathing circuit limb end connector described above are suitable for receiving and securing a reinforcing mesh according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In each case the reinforcing sheath is located outside the breathing conduit wall and is secured at and around the end connector at the same time as the conduit wall is secured.
As previously described in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention two preferred methods of securing the breathing circuit limb components are disclosed. The first method employs a securing collar positioned over the breathing conduit and the conduit receiving portion of the end connector, forming an annular space which is then filled with a suitable adhesive such as EVA glue. The alternative securing method described in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention may be adapted to secure the braided reinforcing sheath into the end connector. In this overmoulded alternative the assembled components are inserted into an injection mould cavity so that a collar may be overmoulded to perform the functions of securing and sealing the components of the breathing circuit limb. In this method the retaining sleeve is substituted for the overmoulded resin.
The braided reinforcing mesh may be applied to a breathing conduit as an online process where the braid is formed at the same time as the conduit is formed, or alternatively a prebraided tube may be applied to a breathing conduit in a separate process. The braided mesh may be fabricated from a variety of materials but is preferably polyethylene terephthalate monofilaments.
In use the braided sheath contributes significantly to the tensile and torsional stiffness of the breathing circuit limb. While there is no bonding between the reinforcing mesh and the breathing circuit limb along the length of the conduit, it has been found that the braided reinforcing mesh significantly improves torsional rigidity of the breathing circuit limb. In this embodiment it is preferable to choose the material, number, weave pitch and gauge of the braided filaments to improve the conduits stiffness. When the limb is loaded in tension, the stretching of the reinforcing mesh causes the mesh tube to constrict radially. This radial constriction is resisted by the helical reinforcing bead of the breathing conduit resulting in a strain limiting effect for the breathing circuit limb. This effect significantly improves the breathing circuit limb strength and stiffness against axial tensile forces. The outer mesh sheath also provides an additional advantage by reducing direct contact between the user/environment and the outer surface of the breathing conduit tube, therefore reducing the risk of puncture and damage. This feature significantly improves the durability of the breathing circuit limb, and is especially suitable for conduits with very thin walls, such as those which may be found in breathable walled limbs.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
521274 | Sep 2002 | NZ | national |
This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/360,215, filed Nov. 23, 2016, and entitled “LIMB FOR BREATHING CIRCUIT,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/477,608, filed Sep. 4, 2014, and entitled “LIMB FOR BREATHING CIRCUIT,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/275,710, filed Nov. 21, 2008, and entitled “LIMB FOR BREATHING CIRCUIT,” which is a continuation of United Stated Patent application Ser. No. 10/653,821, filed Sep. 3, 2003, and entitled “LIMB FOR BREATHING CIRCUIT” which claims the benefit of New Zealand Patent Application No. 521274, filed Sep. 9, 2002. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In addition, any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 C.F.R. § 1.57.
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