Multi-mode tubing product and method

• US 20030183294A1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steward Plastics Inc
• Original Assignee: Steward Plastics Inc
• Inventors: Carlson, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 6,932,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 138/129
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/585 the cross-section varying along their axis, e.g. tapered, with ribs, or threads, with socket-ends
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/1185 electrically conducting

Abstract

An elongate flexible plastic tubing includes a helical support bead, and defines a central passage opening on opposite ends of the tubing. The tubing may also include one or more lumens extending helically in the support bead from end to end of the tubing. Also, the tubing may include one or more electrical conductors also extending helically from end to end of the tubing. Additionally, one or plural fiber optic conductors may extend helically from end to end of the tubing. The lumen(s), electrical conductors, and fiber optic conductors, are available for utilization to, for example: conduct electricity, carry out electrical resistance heating of fluid flow in the central passage, carry electrical signals, carry fluid, transmit fluidic signals, or to convey light, and/or optical signals, along a length of the tubing.

Claims

1. A thin-walled, flexible and collapse-resistant plastic tubing having a substantially smooth bore and a helical outer support bead, said tubing comprising:

a flexible tubing wall providing a thin-walled elongate flexible tubular body;

a helical support bead upon and heat bonded to said tubing wall of said flexible tubular body; and

a fiber optic conductor helically extending along said elongate tubular body at said helical support bead.

2. The plastic tubing of claim 1 wherein said fiber optic conductor is embedded in said support bead and spaced from said tubing wall.

3. The plastic tubing of claim 1 wherein said fiber optic conductor is embedded partially into said tubing wall and partially into said support bead, to be proximate to both said tubing wall and said support bead.

4. The plastic tubing of claim 1 wherein said support bead defines a helical lumen extending within said support bead from one end of said tubing to another end thereof.

5. The plastic tubing of claim 4 wherein said fiber optic conductor is embedded into said support bead spaced both from said tubing wall and from said lumen.

6. The plastic tubing of claim 5 further including another fiber optic conductor, said another fiber optic conductor also being embedded into said support bead and being spaced from both said tubing wall and from said lumen.

7. The plastic tubing of claim 1 further including at least a pair of electrical conductors in parallel extending helically in said tubing adjacent to said tubing wall.

8. The plastic tubing of claim 7 wherein said at least a pair of electrical conductors are formed of a resistance heating material, whereby said electrical conductors provides a resistance heating conductor insulated from ambient by said support bead and having a comparatively high heat transfer coefficient to the central passage of said tubing via said tubing wall.

9. A thin-walled, flexible and collapse-resistant plastic tubing having a central passage with a substantially smooth bore and a helical outer support bead, said tubing comprising:

a flexible tubing wall formed of an elongate plastic ribbon wrapped helically on itself while hot and molten to partially overlap and sealingly interbond adjacent marginal side edge portions of the plastic ribbon to form a heat bonded lap joint in the tubing wall, and when cooled to provide a thin-walled elongate flexible tubular body;

a helical support bead upon and heat bonded to said tubing wall of said flexible tubular body atop of said lap joint; and

said plastic tubing including at least one additional helical element extending along said tubing at said support bead, said at least one additional helical element being selected from the group consisting of;

a metallic electrical conductor, a lumen defined within said support bead and extending in said support bead from one end to another end of said tubing, and a fiber optic conductor embedded in said tubing at said support bead.

10. The plastic tubing of claim 9 wherein said at least one additional helical element is selected to include a pair of metallic electrical conductors embedded in said tubing adjacent to said lap joint and beneath said helical support bead.

11. The plastic tubing of claim 9 wherein said at least one additional helical element is selected to include a lumen defined within said support bead.

12. The plastic tubing of claim 9 wherein said at least one additional helical element is selected to include a fiber optic conductor embedded in said tubing adjacent to said lap joint and beneath said helical support bead.

13. The plastic tubing of claim 9 wherein said at least one additional helical element is selected to include a fiber optic conductor embedded in said support bead and spaced from said tubing wall.

14. The plastic tubing of claim 9 wherein said at least one additional helical element is selected to include a group of plural fiber optic conductors each embedded in said support bead.

15. A method for communicating at least one of:

fluid, electricity, or light between ends of a helically wound, flexible and collapse resistant seamless plastic tubing comprising the steps of;

forming an elongate support bead of thermoplastic material;

helically wrapping said support bead around and along a tubular body of said plastic tubing and simultaneously heat-bonding said support bead with said tubular body to form a unitary body including said tubular body and said support bead; and

selecting an additional step from the group consisting of;

defining in said support bead a helical lumen extending helically in the support bead from one end to another end of a length of the tubing;

embedding in the tubing an electrical conductor extending helically from one end to another end of a length of the tubing beneath said support bead and adjacent to said tubular body; and

providing in said tubing at least one fiber optic conductor extending helically from one end to another end of a length of the tubing adjacent to said support bead.

16. The method of claim 15 further including the step of laying said electrical conductor helically around and along the tubular body adjacent to an outwardly disposed lap joint formed by one of a pair of opposite side edges of a ribbon which is helically wrapped on itself and partially overlapped and sealingly interbonded at marginal side edge portions to form said tubular body.

17. The method of claim 15 further including the steps of embedding a helically extending fiber optic conductor within said support bead.

18. The method of claim 15 further including the steps both defining a helical lumen within said support bead, and of embedding a helically extending fiber optic conductor within said support bead and spaced from said lumen.

19. The method of claim 16 still further including the step of forming said electrical conductor as a pair of parallel conductors spaced apart and insulated from one another.

20. The method of claim 17 also including the steps of embedding a grouped plurality of fiber optic conductors within said helical support bead.

21. A communication system comprising in combination:

a source of fluid flow and light;

a flexible collapse resistant plastic tubing defining a central passage and communicating with said source to communication fluid flow and light to or from said source;

said plastic tubing including a helical support bead extending helically along said tubing from end to end, and further including a fiber optic conductor helically extending along said tubing at said support bead and communicating with said source to transmit light to or from said source.

22. The communication system of claim 21 wherein said source includes a source of electrical energy, and said plastic tubing further includes at least one electrical conductor extending helically along said tubing at said support bead and connecting electrically with said source to conduct electric energy to or from said source.