Coupling For A Medical Instrument

• US 20090297260A1
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Bogenschuetz, Juergen, Doll, Frank, Hahn, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 9,511,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/325
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/00 Tubes, tube connectors, tube couplings, valves, access sites or the like, specially adapted for medical use for respiratory devices, e.g. tracheal tubes A61M16/00; artificial heart valves A61F2/24
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/23 by means of balls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/599 Spring biased manipulator

Abstract

A coupling for a medical instrument for connecting two lines, with a first coupling part, and with a second coupling part which can be inserted into the first coupling part in the longitudinal direction of the coupling parts. The coupling comprises first locking elements arranged on the first coupling part and second locking elements arranged on the second coupling part, the first locking elements being movable between a locking position, in which they engage with the second locking elements, and an unlocking position, in which they disengage from the second locking elements. The coupling further comprises retaining elements which are arranged on the first coupling part and which are movable between a retention position, in which they keep the first and second locking elements in engagement with each other, and a release position, in which the first and second locking elements can be disengaged. It is proposed that the first coupling part comprises a slide which is movable in the longitudinal direction thereof and which, upon insertion of the second coupling part into the first coupling part, is moved from an advanced position to a recessed position, that the slide is biased into the advanced position, and that sealing elements are arranged on an end of the second coupling part directed towards the first coupling part which in a state in which the first coupling part is connected to the second coupling part, seal off an interior of the coupling with respect to a fluid.

Claims

1. A coupling for a medical instrument for connecting two lines, comprising

a first coupling part,

a second coupling part which can be inserted into said first coupling part in the longitudinal direction of said coupling parts,

first locking elements arranged on said first coupling part,

second locking elements arranged on said second coupling part, said first locking elements being movable between a locking position, in which they engage with said second locking elements, and an unlocking position, in which they disengage from said second locking elements,

retaining elements which are arranged on said first coupling part and which are movable between a retention position, in which they keep said first and second locking elements in engagement with each other, and a release position, in which said first and second locking elements can be disengaged,

wherein said first coupling part comprises a slide which is movable in the longitudinal direction thereof and which, upon insertion of said second coupling part into said first coupling part, is moved from an advanced position to a recessed position,

wherein said slide is biased into said advanced position, and

wherein sealing elements are arranged on an end of said second coupling part directed towards said first coupling part which in a state in which said first coupling part is connected to said second coupling part, seal off an interior of said coupling with respect to a fluid.

2. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said slide, in said advanced position, keeps said first locking elements in said unlocking position, and wherein these keep said retaining elements in said release position.

3. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said slide, in said recessed position, frees said first locking elements, such that these can come into engagement with said second locking elements, after which said retaining elements are movable from said release position to said retention position.

4. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said bias of said slide is sufficient to eject said second coupling part from said first coupling part when said retaining elements are moved from said retention position to said release position.

5. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said retaining elements, during a movement from said release position to said retention position, move said first locking elements from said unlocking position to said locking position.

6. The coupling of claim 5, wherein said first locking elements comprise at least one shaped body, preferably at least one ball, which is arranged in a wall of said first coupling part, and wherein said retaining elements comprise a sleeve which surrounds said wall of said first coupling part and which comprises a first section having a larger internal diameter and a second section having a smaller internal diameter, with a run-on slope being present between said first and second sections.

7. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said retaining elements are movable from said retention position to said release position by a movement that takes place in the longitudinal direction.

8. The coupling of claim 6, wherein said retaining elements are movable from said retention position to said release position by a movement that takes place in the longitudinal direction.

9. The coupling of claim 8, wherein said first and second sections of said sleeve are arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction, and wherein said run-on slope extends in the longitudinal direction.

10. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said retaining elements are movable from said retention position to said release position by a movement that takes place in the circumferential direction.

11. The coupling of claim 6, wherein said retaining elements are movable from said retention position to said release position by a movement that takes place in the circumferential direction.

12. The coupling of claim 11, wherein said first and second sections of said sleeve are arranged one after the other in the circumferential direction, and wherein said run-on slope extends in the circumferential direction.

13. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said slide is designed in the form of a sleeve which is arranged inside said first coupling part and which is guided on an inner face of said first coupling part, with an abutment being provided for said sleeve in said advanced position.

14. The coupling of claim 1, wherein a front end of said slide is provided with a run-on slope.

15. The coupling of claim 1, wherein said sealing elements comprise an O-ring which is arranged in an annular groove in an end of said second coupling part directed towards said first coupling part and which, in a state when said first coupling part is connected to said second coupling part, bears against an inner face of a bore in said first coupling part.

16. A method for producing a first coupling part of a coupling for a medical instrument for connecting two lines, said method comprising the following steps:

providing a second part of a body of said first coupling part, which second part is tubular and comprises at least one first projection on an inner circumferential surface and, at an end directed towards said second coupling part, comprises at least one second projection on an outer circumferential surface,

inserting an inner sleeve into said second part, wherein elastic elements are provided between a first section of said sleeve and said first projection of said second part, which elastic elements subject said sleeve to a force counter to a direction of insertion,

arranging a safety device on said inner sleeve, wherein said safety device is mounted on said sleeve at a position downstream of said first projection of said second part in a direction of insertion, in order to prevent said sleeve falling out of said second part,

providing locking elements in said second part,

pushing an outer sleeve onto said second part, wherein said outer sleeve comprises a first section having a smaller internal diameter and a second section having a larger internal diameter,

connecting a first part of said body to said second part, wherein said first part limits the movement of said outer sleeve in a direction counter to the direction in which it is pushed on, and wherein elastic elements are provided in the area of said second section between said outer sleeve and said first part, which elastic elements subject said outer sleeve to a force acting in the direction in which it is pushed on.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said elastic elements comprise at least one compression spring.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said locking elements comprise at least one ball which is displaceable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said first coupling part.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said first projection is an annular bead.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said second projection is an annular flange.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein said safety device is a nut which is screwed onto said inner sleeve.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein said safety device and said inner sleeve are formed in one piece.