CONNECTOR FOR COUPLING A TRACHEAL TUBE TO AN AUXILIARY DEVICE

• US 20110023875A1
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ledwith, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,499,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/01 specially adapted for anaesthetising A61M16/104, A61M16/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0434 Cuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0443 Special cuff-wall materials A61M16/0481, A61M16/0422 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 33/223 the sealing surfaces being pressed together by means of a member, e.g. a swivel nut, screwed on or into one of the joint parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

Various embodiments of a connector assembly are provided to removably couple a proximal end of a tracheal tube to components associated with a ventilator or an anesthesiology machine The disclosed embodiments include a compression fitting, which creates an airtight seal between walls of the tracheal tube and components of the compression fitting, thus allowing air to flow to and from a patient.

Claims

1. An intubation system comprising:

a tracheal tube configured to be placed in the trachea of a patient; and

a connector assembly configured to be attached to the tracheal tube and to an auxiliary device comprising;

a threaded body comprising a first end configured to receive an interface element of the auxiliary device and a second end comprising threads, the second end being configured to fit over a proximal end of the tracheal tube; and

a locking nut comprising threads and a central opening configured to receive the tracheal tube therethrough, the locking nut being configured to be threaded onto the threaded body to lock the threaded body onto the proximal end of the tracheal tube.

2. The intubation system of claim 1, wherein the locking nut is configured to compressively retain a wall of the tracheal tube between the locking nut and the second end of the threaded body.

3. The intubation system of claim 1, comprising at least one sealing element disposed in the threaded body and configured to contact and seal against the tracheal tube.

4. The intubation system of claim 3, wherein the at least one sealing element is configured to create an airtight seal between the connector assembly and the tracheal tube.

5. The intubation system of claim 1, wherein the threaded body comprises at least one slit configured to permit radial contraction of the threaded body on the tracheal tube as the locking nut is threaded onto the threaded body.

6. The intubation system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device comprises a ventilator or an anesthesiology machine.

7. The intubation system of claim 1, wherein the threaded body and the locking nut are made of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC).

8. The intubation system of claim 3, wherein the at least one sealing element is made of Nitrile or Viton.

9. A connector for a tracheal tube comprising:

a threaded body comprising a first end configured to receive an interface element of an auxiliary device and a second end comprising threads, the second end being configured to fit over a proximal end of a tracheal tube; and

a locking nut comprising threads and a central opening configured to receive the tracheal tube therethrough, the locking nut being configured to be threaded onto the threaded body to lock the threaded body onto the proximal end of the tracheal tube.

10. The connector of claim 9, comprising at least one sealing element disposed in the threaded body and configured to contact and seal against the tracheal tube.

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein the at least one sealing element is configured to create an airtight seal between the connector and the tracheal tube.

12. The connector of claim 9, wherein the threaded body comprises at least one slit configured to permit radial contraction of the threaded body on the tracheal tube as the locking nut is threaded onto the threaded body.

13. The connector of claim 9, wherein the first end of the threaded body is configured to receive the interface element of a ventilator.

14. The connector of claim 9, wherein the second end of the threaded body is configured to substantially surround a tracheal tube.

15. The connector of claim 9, wherein the second end tapers from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter.

16. A method of coupling a tracheal tube to an interface element of an auxiliary device comprising:

cutting a tracheal tube to a desired length;

placing the tracheal tube through an axial opening of a threaded locking nut;

lodging a proximal end of the tracheal tube in an aperture in a second end of a radially compressible threaded body; and

threading the locking nut on the second end of the threaded body such that an airtight seal is formed between walls of the tracheal tube and the threaded body.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the threaded body comprises one or more slits configured to permit radial compression of the threaded body as the locking nut is advanced onto the threaded body.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising inflating a cuff of the tracheal tube to secure the tracheal tube in a body cavity.

19. The method of claim 16, comprising forming the airtight seal via one or more sealing elements disposed within the threaded body.

20. The method of claim 16, connecting a first end of the threaded body to an auxiliary device.