Lay flat tubing

• US 20060229586A1
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patented Medical Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Patented Medical Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Faries, Durward I. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,734,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2027/004 with at least a part of the circuit outside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/00 Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor extrusion blow-moulding B29C49/04
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/0017 combined with blow-moulding or thermoforming
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/0019 combined with shaping by flattening, folding or bending
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/0022 combined with cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/10 flexible, e.g. blown foils
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/12 Articles with an irregular circumference when viewed in cross-section, e.g. window profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/007 Medical tubes other than catheters catheters B29L2031/7542
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/139 Open-ended, self-supporting conduit, cylinder, or tube-type article

Abstract

Lay flat tubing is used as a fluid conductor for transferring fluid to and from the body of a patient. The lay flat tubing lies flat or collapsed when not in use, utilizing minimal space during transportation and storage, but which expands to form a passage when used to conduct fluid. A plurality of lumens may be formed in the lay flat tubing. At least one lumen transports infused fluid end-to-end from a source to an entry site on a patient, or in the alternative from an entry site on or in a patient. All lumens are isolated with respect to each other in order to prevent crossover of fluid from one lumen to the other.

Claims

1. A conduit comprising:

first and second conduit walls having parallel longitudinally extending, transversely spaced edges joined together in fluid-sealing relation, each conduit wall having interior and exterior surfaces;

wherein said interior surfaces, in the absence of applied pressure therebetween, are normally disposed substantially flush against one another, said conduit walls being responsive to pressure applied therebetween to expand away from one another and define a first lumen between said interior surfaces;

wherein said first lumen has longitudinally spaced first and second ends for conducting fluid into and out of said first lumen but is otherwise fluid sealed along its length.

2. The conduit of claim 1 further comprising a second lumen secured to and extending lengthwise along and parallel to said first lumen, said second lumen comprising:

third and fourth conduit walls having a parallel longitudinally extending transversely spaced edges joined together in fluid-sealing relation, each conduit wall having interior and exterior surfaces;

wherein said interior surfaces of said third and fourth walls are normally disposed substantially flush against one another, said third and fourth conduit walls being responsive to pressure applied therebetween to expand away from one another and define a second lumen between said interior surfaces of said third and fourth walls;

wherein said second lumen has longitudinally spaced open ends but is otherwise fluid sealed along its length.

3. The conduit of claim 2 further comprising at least one electrical conductor extending longitudinally through said second lumen.

4. The conduit of claim 3 wherein said first lumen is adapted to transfer medical liquid from a source of medical liquid to an infusion location on the body of a patient, said conduit further comprising:

a first fluid connector secured to said first end for connecting said first end to said source; and

a second fluid connector connected to said second end for connecting said second end to an infusion device.

5. The conduit of claim 2 wherein said first and second lumens are adapted to conduct first and second fluids, respectively, to/from a patient.

6. The conduit of claim 2 wherein said conduit is provided as part of a roll of lay flat tubing.

7. The conduit of claim 2 wherein said first lumen is adapted to transfer medical liquid from a source of medical liquid to an infusion location on the body of a patient, said conduit further comprising:

a first connector secured to said first end for connecting said first end to said source; and

a second connector connected to said second end for connecting said second end to an infusion device.

8. The conduit of claim 2 wherein said third and fourth walls are transverse extensions of said first and second walls, respectively.

9. The conduit of claim 8, wherein first and third walls are sections of a first sheet of plastic material, wherein said second and fourth walls are sections of a second sheet of plastic material;

and wherein said first and second sheets are sealed together along seams to define said first and second lumens.

10. The conduit of claim 8 wherein first and third walls are sections of a first half of a sheet of plastic material, wherein said second and fourth walls are sections of a second half of said sheet of plastic material;

and wherein said first and second sheet halves are sealed together along seams to define said first and second lumens.

11. A lay flat tubing comprising:

a first channel, wherein said first channel transports fluid; and

,

at least one supplementary channel in fluid isolation from and parallel to said first channel, wherein said lay flat tubing rests substantially flat.

12. The lay flat tubing according to claim 11, wherein at least one flat sheet forms said lay flat tubing.

13. The lay flat tubing according to claim 12, wherein a single flat sheet folds longitudinally to form an upper and a lower half, said upper and lower halves are bonded to form said first and at least one supplementary channels.

14. The lay flat tubing according to claim 13, wherein said sheet is bonded from a process selected from the group of heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, dielectric welding, and extrusion.

15. The lay flat tubing according to claim 12, wherein first and second flat sheets form said lay flat tubing, said first and second sheets are bonded to form said first and at least one supplementary channels.

16. The lay flat tubing according to claim 15, wherein said first and second flat sheets are bonded from a process selected from the group of heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, dielectric welding, and extrusion.

17. The lay flat tubing according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of longitudinal strips are bonded to a base flat sheet to form said first and at least one supplementary channels.

18. The lay flat tubing according to claim 17, wherein said plurality of longitudinal strips and said base flat sheet are bonded from a process selected from the group of heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, dielectric welding, and extrusion.

19. The lay flat tubing according to claim 11, wherein said lay flat tubing has a bursting strength of 100 psi.

20. The lay flat tubing according to claim 11, wherein said at least one supplementary channel transports fluid.

21. The lay flat tubing according to claim 11, wherein said at least one supplementary channel accommodates wiring.

22. The lay flat tubing according to claim 21, wherein said wiring is formed with said supplementary channel.

23. The lay flat tubing according to claim 21, wherein said wiring is inserted into said supplementary channel after bonding said sheets.

24. The lay flat tubing according to claim 11, wherein said first channel has a larger cross section than at least one supplementary channel.

25. A method for constructing a conduit, the method comprising the steps of:

providing first and second conduit walls having parallel longitudinally extending, transversely spaced edges; and

,

joining respective said transversely spaced edges of said first and second conduit walls together in fluid-sealing relation to form a first lumen, each conduit wall having interior and exterior surfaces;

wherein said interior surfaces, in the absence of applied pressure therebetween, are normally disposed substantially flush against one another;

wherein said first lumen has longitudinally spaced first and second ends for conducting fluid into and out of said first lumen but is otherwise fluid sealed along its length.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of applying pressure to one of said first and second ends, wherein said conduit walls being responsive to pressure applied therebetween to expand away from one another and define a first lumen between said interior surfaces.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of securing a second lumen lengthwise along and parallel to said first lumen, wherein forming said second lumen comprises the step of joining third and fourth conduit walls having parallel longitudinally extending transversely spaced edges together in fluid-sealing relation, each conduit wall having interior and exterior surfaces;

wherein said interior surfaces of said third and fourth walls are normally disposed substantially flush against one another, said third and fourth conduit walls being responsive to pressure applied therebetween to expand away from one another and define a second lumen between said interior surfaces of said third and fourth walls;

wherein said second lumen has longitudinally spaced open ends but is otherwise fluid sealed along its length.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of extending at least one electrical conductor longitudinally through said second lumen.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising the steps of transferring medical liquid from a source of medical liquid to an infusion location on the body of a patient via said first lumen, said conduit further comprising the steps of:

securing a first fluid connector to said first end;

connecting said first end to said source;

connecting a second fluid connector to said second end; and

connecting said second end to an infusion device.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of adapting said first and second lumens to conduct first and second fluids, respectively, to/from a patient.

31. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of providing said conduit as part of a roll of lay flat tubing.

32. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of adapting said first lumen to transfer medical liquid from a source of medical liquid to an infusion location on the body of a patient, said method further comprising the steps of:

connecting a first connector secured to said first end said first end to said source; and

connecting a second connector to said second end for connecting said second end to an infusion device.

33. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of defining said third and fourth walls as transverse extensions of said first and second walls, respectively.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising the steps of:

providing a first sheet of plastic material wherein said first and third walls are sections of said first sheet of plastic material;

providing a second sheet of plastic material wherein said second and fourth walls are sections of said second sheet of plastic material; and

sealing said first and second sheets together along seams to define said first and second lumens.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising the steps of:

providing a first half of a sheet of plastic material, wherein said first and third walls are sections of said first half of said sheet of plastic material;

providing a second half of said sheet of plastic material, wherein said second and fourth walls are sections of a second half of said sheet of plastic material; and

sealing said first and second sheet halves sealed together along seams to define said first and second lumens.

36. A method of constructing lay flat tubing comprising the steps of:

providing a first channel, wherein said first channel transports fluid; and

,

providing at least one supplementary channel in fluid isolation from and parallel to said first channel, wherein said lay flat tubing rests substantially flat.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of forming said lay flat tubing from at least one flat sheet.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising the steps of:

folding a single flat sheet longitudinally to form an upper and a lower half; and

bonding said upper and lower halves to form said first and at least one supplementary channels.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising the step of bonding said sheet from a process selected from the group of heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, dielectric welding, and extrusion.

40. The method of claim 38 further comprising the steps of:

forming said lay flat tubing from first and second flat sheets; and

bonding said first and second sheets to form said first and at least one supplementary channels.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising the step of bonding said first and second flat sheets from a process selected from the group of heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, dielectric welding, and extrusion.

42. The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of bonding a plurality of longitudinal strips to a base flat sheet to form said first and at least one supplementary channels.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of bonding said plurality of longitudinal strips and said base flat sheet from a process selected from the group of heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, dielectric welding, and extrusion.

44. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of providing said lay flat tubing with a bursting strength of 100 psi.

45. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of transporting fluid through said at least one supplementary channel.

46. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of accommodating said at least one supplementary channel with wiring.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of forming said wiring with said supplementary channel.

48. The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of inserting said wiring into said supplementary channel after bonding said sheets.

49. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of providing said first channel with a larger cross section than at least one supplementary channel.