This invention relates to the field of medical devices and more particularly to a system for providing angular attachment of a source of gases to a patient mask.
When administering gases (e.g. oxygen, etc.) to a patient, often the patient is fitted with a facemask that covers the patient's nose and/or mouth. In many situations, such a facemask is worn by the patient for extended periods of time, often for the entire day. Depending upon the elevation of the patient, the angle of the tube that conveys the gases is often compensated by a connector that is fitted onto the facemask, in between the facemask and the tube that delivers the gases.
In some patient elevations, such as when sitting up, it is desired to have the gas tube extend directly outward from the patient, somewhat perpendicular to the general shape/plane of the facemask. In other patient elevations, it is desired to have the gas tube extend outward at an angle, often at a right angle to the above perpendicular direction, allowing the tube to be routed to the source of gases with less potential of bending and kinking.
In the past, to provide such variations in direction of the tube exiting the facemask, multiple fittings or connectors were made available. For example, for a sitting patient, a straight connector is removably attached (in some examples) to the facemask, extending outwardly in a generally perpendicular direction with respect to the overall shape of the facemask. Later, when the patient is reclined into the horizontal position for sleeping, the straight connector is removed and an elbow connector is removably attached (in some examples) to the facemask, extending outwardly in a generally parallel direction with respect to the overall shape of the facemask.
The opposite is performed when the patient is later moved from the horizontal position to a more vertical position. Having the gas tube in the wrong orientation creates discomfort for the patient and a fixed interface creates a burden on the clinician.
Further, in the past, many medical facilities purchased two facemasks, one with each orientation of the gas tube, requiring a change-out of the entire facemask to change orientation of the gas tube, as is often needed when transitioning from, say an ambulance to a hospital room, etc. This leads to unnecessary costs, environmental waste, and extra devices that need to be sterilized.
The above mentioned solutions have worked in the past, but require time and labor to remove one fitting from the facemask and then disconnect the gas tube, then install a different fitting onto the facemask and then reconnect the gas tube to the second fitting.
Changing of either the facemask or a fitting in the gas supply not only results in increased cost, work, and frustration, but additionally, during such changing, the therapy being provided to the patient is interrupted and allows contamination to enter the system.
What is needed is a device that will remain in the airway circuit, yet allow redirection of the gas tube with respect to the facemask.
In one embodiment, a swivel connector is disclosed including a patient member that has a first end for connecting to a patient facemask and has a second end. The first end of the patient member is in fluid communication with the second end of the patient member. A gas supply member has a first end for connecting to a supply of gases and has a second end that is rotatably coupled and fluidly coupled to the second end of the patient member, thereby the patient member is rotatable with respect to the gas supply member and gases flow between the patient member and the gas supply member. An axis of the first end of the patient member is at a non-zero angle with respect to an axis of the second end of the patient member. An axis of the first end of the gas supply member is at a non-zero angle with respect to an axis of the second end of the gas supply member. The axis of the second end of the patient member is in alignment with the axis of the second end of the gas supply member.
In another embodiment, a method of adjusting an angle of a connection between a supply of gases and a facemask is disclosed including connecting a first end of a patient member to a gas supply port of the facemask. The patient member having a second end and the first end of the patient member is in fluid communication with the second end of the patient member. A first end of the gas supply member is connected to the supply of gases. The gas supply member has a second end that is rotatably coupled and fluidly coupled to the second end of the patient member, thereby the patient member is rotatable with respect to the gas supply member and gases flow between the patient member and the gas supply member. The axis of the first end of the patient member is at a 45 degree angle with respect to the axis of the second end of the patient member and the axis of the first end of the gas supply member is at a 45 degree angle with respect to the axis of the second end of the gas supply member, thereby enabling the axis of the first end of the patient member to be adjusted to any angle between zero degrees and 90 degrees with respect to the axis of the first end of the gas supply member. The method continues with rotating the patient member with respect to the gas supply member, therefore adjusting the angle between the axis of the first end of the patient member and the axis of the first end of the gas supply member from zero degrees to 90 degrees.
In another embodiment, a system for providing gases from a tube to a patient is disclosed including a facemask for interfacing with an airway of the patient with a patient member that has a first end connected to a port on the facemask and has a second end. The first end is in fluid communication with the second end enabling flow of gases through the patient member. A gas supply member has a first end for connecting to the tube (gas supply) and has a second end that is rotatably coupled and fluidly coupled to the second end of the patient member, thereby the patient member is rotatable with respect to the gas supply member and gases flow between the first end of the patient member and the first end of the gas supply member. An axis of the first end of the patient member is at a non-zero angle with respect to an axis of the second end of the patient member. Furthermore, an axis of the first end of the gas supply member is at a non-zero angle with respect to an axis of the second end of the gas supply member and the axis of the second end of the patient member is in alignment with the axis of the second end of the gas supply member. Therefore, through rotation of the gas supply member with respect to the patient member, the angle between the axis of the first end of the gas supply member is adjustable with respect to the axis of the first end of the patient member.
The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.
Throughout the following, a specific embodiment of a swivel connector 10 is shown that accomplishes all of the intended functions. Although the swivel connector 10 described and shown in the figures has been tested and is known to work very well, other embodiments providing the same or similar functionality are equally anticipated and there are no limitations to the disclosed invention inherited from the exemplary design presented.
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The individual components of the swivel connector 10 are shown in relationship to each other. The patient member 20 has, in this example, a snap interface 21 that snaps into the gas supply port 92 of the facemask 90 and the gas supply member 14 has a port 8 that connects to the gas supply tube end 2. The patient member 20 is rotatably held to the gas supply member 14 by a snap-on collar 12. A flapper valve assembly 16/18 is optionally provided to prevent asphyxiation of the patient in the event that the source of gas abates (e.g. CPAP failure).
Although not required, but preferred, detents 22 are formed around a surface of either the patient member 20 or the gas supply member 14 to hold the patient member 20 or the gas supply member 14 in a particular position of rotation with respect to each other after being positioned as desired, otherwise, the gas supply member 14 would rotate freely with respect to the patient member 20, dependent upon friction between the such.
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Note that, as will be shown, the axis of both the patient member 20 and the gas supply member 14 bend at approximately 45 degrees. By way of this bend, in one orientation of rotation, the bends counteract each other (e.g. subtract to zero degrees) and the axis of the patient member at the mask connection 21 is linear with the axis of the gas supply member 14 at the gas connection end 8. Similarly, by rotating the patient member 20 by 180 degrees with respect to the gas supply member 14, the bends work in tandem to form an elbow of approximately 90 degrees (e.g. add to 90 degrees). Although, in these examples, two 45 degree members 14/20 are shown, any angle is anticipated, including either equal or unequal angles. For example, two 30 degree angles result in an adjustment from zero degrees to 60 degrees, etc.
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The axis 45 at the first end of the patient member 20 (patient facemask connection) is offset from the axis 46 of both the second ends of the patient member 20 and gas supply member 14. This angle is denoted as λ and is preferably 45 degrees, though any angle from one degree to 89 degrees is anticipated. Likewise, the axis 47 at the first end of the gas supply member 14 (gas connection end 8) is offset from the axis 46 of both the second ends of the patient member 20 and gas supply member 14. This angle is denoted as θ and is preferably 45 degrees, though any angle from one degree to 89 degrees is anticipated. When λ and θ are both 45 degrees, through rotation of the patient member 20 with respect to the gas supply member 14, any angle of zero degrees (α) to 90 degrees (β) between axis 45 and 47 is possible. Note, although λ and θ are shown as the same 45 degree angles, there is no limitation of 45 degrees or that both λ and θ are the same angle. For example, in an alternate embodiment, λ is 40 degrees and θ is 30 degrees, etc.
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The swivel action of one member 14/20 with respect to the other member 20/14 from, for example, 90 degrees to straight does not require a change out of one component with another as was needed prior to the swivel connector 10. From a medical standpoint, comfort for the patient increases and usability for the clinician improves. From the comfort point of view the ability to swivel from one side to the other results in less pulling on the facemask 90 if the oxygen supply is only available from one side of the patient due to the, for example, a configuration of the ambulance or the size of the patient's hospital room. The clinician turns the swivel connector 10 into a straight configuration for breathing treatments (e.g., using a T-piece) to enable treatment without changing the mask, etc.
Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.
It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.