Apparatus for Reducing Cross-Contamination

• US 20090270684A1
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sydney West Area Health Service, Techmin Pty., Limited
• Original Assignee: Sydney West Area Health Service Office of Commerci
• Inventors: Nielsen, Michael Gunther, Nielsen, Per Gorm Gunther
• Granted Patent: US 8,075,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/193
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00062 provided with means for preventing overuse
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction

Abstract

A re-use prevention mechanism (160) for an apparatus (110) having a reusable part (120) and a single-use disposable part (130) connectable to the reusable part (120) is disclosed. The re-use prevention mechanism (160) comprises a blocking portion (1603) disposed, in use, between the disposable part (130) and the reusable part (120). An actuating member (1605) is operable between the blocking portion (1603) and one of the disposable part (130) and the reusable part (120) for moving the blocking portion (1603) into a blocking position upon disconnection of the disposable part (130) from the reusable part (120). In the blocking position, the blocking portion (1603) engages an abutment surface (1206) on one of the disposable part (130) and the reusable part (120) if a user attempts to reconnect the disposable part (130) to the reusable part (120) and thereby prevents re-connection of the disposable part (130) to the reusable part (120).

Claims

1. A re-use prevention mechanism for an apparatus having a reusable part and a single-use disposable part connectable to the reusable part, the re-use prevention mechanism comprising:

a blocking portion disposed, in use, between the disposable part and the reusable part;

an actuating member operable between the blocking portion and one of the disposable part and the reusable part for moving the blocking portion into a blocking position upon disconnection of the disposable part from the reusable part;

wherein, in the blocking position, the blocking portion engages an abutment surface on one of the disposable part and the reusable part if a user attempts to reconnect the disposable part to the reusable part and thereby prevents re-connection of the disposable part to the reusable part.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the actuating member is operable between the blocking member and the disposable part.

3. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein when the disposable part is engaged with the reusable part, the blocking portion is adapted to engage a recess in the reusable part to rotationally lock the disposable part to the reusable part.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3, including first and second interengageable collars connectable with one of the disposable part and the reusable part, the collars being rotatably lockable to one another in first and second relative rotational positions, wherein the blocking member extends from one of the collars, and wherein in the first position if a user attempts to connect the disposable part to the reusable part, the blocking portion engages the recess, and wherein in the second position if a user attempts to connect the disposable part to the reusable part, the blocking portion engages the abutment surface.

5. A mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the collars are connected to the disposable part.

6. A mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the blocking portion extends from the first collar.

7. A mechanism according to claim 6, wherein a locking pin extends from the second collar for engagement with a corresponding locking aperture in the disposable part to prevent relative rotation of the first collar and the disposable part when the pin and aperture are engaged.

8. A mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the locking pin is adapted to fail if a torque above a predetermined level is applied between the disposable part and the reusable part.

9. A mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the actuating member takes the form of a resilient biasing finger extending longitudinally outwardly, away from the reusable part, from the second collar for engagement with an abutment portion on the disposable part to resiliently bias the second collar rotationally, about a longitudinal axis of the reusable part, with respect to the disposable part when the biasing finger is deformed against the abutment portion.

10. A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the resilient biasing finger is deformed against the abutment portion when the disposable part is rotated relative to the reusable part to disconnect the disposable part from the reusable part.

11. A mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the second collar includes a plurality of locking detents engageable with a corresponding plurality of notches in the first collar for locking the first and second collars against relative rotation about a longitudinal axis of the reusable part when the collars are in the second position.

12. A mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the collars permanently lock together when moved into the second position.

13. A mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the second collar includes a plurality of circumferential slots and the first collar includes a corresponding plurality of radially extending guide projections engageable with the slots, and wherein a first end of each said slot defines the first position and a second end of each said slot defines the second position.

14. A mechanism according to claim 13, including a longitudinally extending opening corresponding to each of said slots, the openings extending from one longitudinal end of the second collar and into said slots, and wherein the guide projections are each longitudinally slidably engageable with a corresponding one of said longitudinal openings to facilitate interengagement of the first and second collars.

15. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein said slots, said guide projections and said longitudinal openings are unevenly circumferentially spaced about said re-use prevention mechanism, such that said first and second collars can only be interengaged in a single predetermined relative rotational orientation.

16. A mechanism according to claim 4, wherein, with the collars in the first position, the disposable part is axially slidable onto a distal end of the reusable part, and wherein, when the disposable part is engaged with the distal end of the reusable part and the disposable part is rotated relative to the reusable part in a predetermined direction, the collars are moved into the second position and the disposable part is rotationally locked to the reusable part.

17. A mechanism according to claim 16, wherein, with the disposable part rotationally locked to the reusable part, if a user applies a torque above a predetermined level between the disposable part and the reusable part, a component of the mechanism fails, to allow the disposable part to rotate relative to the reusable part.

18. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the disposable part is a laryngoscope blade and the reusable part is a laryngoscope handle.

19. A medical device comprising:

a reusable part defining a longitudinal axis;

a disposable part for connection to the reusable part by engaging the disposable part with a longitudinal end of the reusable part and rotating the disposable part relative to the reusable part about the longitudinal axis.

20. A medical device according to claim 19, further comprising a re-use prevention mechanism having a reusable part and a single-use disposable part connectable to the reusable part, the re-use prevention mechanism comprising:

a blocking portion disposed, in use, between the disposable part and the reusable part;

an actuating member operable between the blocking portion and one of the disposable part and the reusable part for moving the blocking portion into a blocking position upon disconnection of the disposable part from the reusable part;

wherein, in the blocking position, the blocking portion engages an abutment surface on one of the disposable part and the reusable part if a user attempts to reconnect the disposable part to the reusable part and thereby prevents re-connection of the disposable part to the reusable part.

21. A medical device according to claim 19, wherein the reusable part takes the form of a handle and the disposable part is adapted for insertion into a patient.

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)