CONNECTOR COMPRISING BACKFLOW VALVE FOR A TUBE SET

• US 20120095391A1
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medivators, Inc. (Steris PLC)
• Original Assignee: Minntech Corporation
• Inventors: Bendele, Travis Henry, Adams, Christopher Steven, Grudo, Dina, Byrne, Don, Smith, Leon Russ
• Granted Patent: US 9,392,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00119 Tubes or pipes in or with an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00128 mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00137 End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/241 the container being pressurised
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2427 and a secondary stream of atomising fluid being brought together in the container or putting the carried liquid under pressure in the container

Abstract

A connector is provided that is configured to pass a liquid from a bottle and a gas between a tube set assembly and a medical instrument, the tube set assembly comprising a first tube for gas flow and a second tube for liquid flow, the first and second tube contacting the connector, and a valve disposed within a flow path of the second tube and configured to prevent flow of the liquid back from the medical instrument to the bottle. The connector can be connected to a combined tube set for a disposable water bottle. The combined tube set provides a first tube set for rinsing that also includes air and water tubes.

Claims

1. A connector configured to pass a liquid from a bottle and a gas between a tube set assembly and a medical instrument, the tube set assembly comprising a first tube for gas flow and a second tube for liquid flow, the first and second tube contacting the connector, and a valve disposed within a flow path of the second tube and configured to prevent flow of the liquid back from the medical instrument to the bottle.

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the first tube for gas flow and the second tube for liquid flow run into the connector and the valve is disposed in the liquid tube and within the connector.

3. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the valve is a flap valve.

4. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the valve is a duckbill valve.

5. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises water and the gas comprises air and the medical instrument comprises an endoscope.

6. A connector according to claim 1, wherein (i) at least a portion of the second tube for liquid flow is disposed within the first tube;

or (ii) the first tube is separate from the second tube.

7. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a filter disposed in the gas flow path.

8. A connector according to claim 1, wherein (i) the first tube comprises a valve to prevent flow of the gas from the medical instrument to the bottle;

or (ii) the second tube for the flow of liquid comprises a filter disposed in the liquid flow path.

21. A method of making the connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is overmolded and connected to at least one tube of the tube assembly.

27. A connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) the tube set assembly comprises a third tube, and a fourth tube, and the tube set assembly contacts a cap that is removable from at least the first, second, third, or fourth tube, (ii) the tube set assembly comprises a third tube, and a fourth tube, and the tube assembly contacts a cap that is permanently connected to at least the first, second, third, or fourth tube, (iii) the connector is permanently connected to at least one tube;

or (iv) the connector is removably connected to at least one tube.

28. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is utilized to connect the first tube, second tube, and/or an optional third tube directly to the endoscope.

9. A connector configured to pass water from a bottle and air between a tube set assembly and an endoscope, the tube set assembly comprising a first tube for air flow and a second tube for water flow and a third tube for irrigation fluid flow, the first and second tube contacting the connector, and a valve disposed within a water flow path of the second tube and configured to prevent flow of the water back from the endoscope to the bottle, and the third tube optionally having a flexible section.

10. A connector according to claim 9, wherein (i) at least a portion of the second tube for water flow is disposed within the first tube;

(ii) the first tube is separate from the second tube;

or (iii) the third tube is separate from the first and/or second tube.

11. A connector according to claim 9, wherein the connector comprises a filter disposed in the air flow path of the first tube.

12. A connector according to claim 9, wherein the valve is a flap valve.

13. A connector according to claim 9, wherein the valve is a duckbill valve.

14. A connector according to claim 9, wherein the tube assembly further comprises a bottle cap connected to the first tube, the second tube, and third tube, and the bottle cap provides threads that allow the bottle cap to be attached to a variety of different water bottles;

and a liner in the bottle cap, wherein the liner forms an air-tight seal between the bottle cap and a water bottle.

15. A connector according to claim 9, wherein (i) the tube assembly further comprises a fourth tube to provide gas to the endoscope and the fourth tube is separate from the first, second, and/or the third tube;

or (ii) the fourth tube is attached to the first, second, and/or the third tube.

16. A connector according to claim 9, wherein the connector is utilized to connect the first tube, second tube, and/or third tube directly to the endoscope.

17. A connector according to claim 14, wherein the geometry of the liner causes the liner to form an air tight seal on any of several bottles by using a varying inner diameter to compress the liner against the bottles'"'"' different outer diameters and different rim heights.

18. A connector according to claim 15, wherein the gas of the fourth tube comprises carbon dioxide.

19. A connector according to claim 15, wherein at least one of (i) the first, second, third, and/or fourth tube comprises at least one air filter, pincher clip, back flow valve, and/or adapter;

or (ii) the cap comprises a vent and/or back flow valve.

20. A connector according to claim 15, wherein at least one of (i) the cap is removable from at least the first, second, third, or fourth tube, (ii) the cap is permanently connected to at least the first, second, third, or fourth tube, (iii) the connector is permanently connected to at least one tube;

or (iv) the connector is removably connected to at least one tube.

22. An adapter that passes water and gas between a tube set with separate gas, and rinsing water tubes and an endoscope, the adapter comprising a valve disposed within at least one flow path of the gas, and rinsing water tubes.

23. An adapter according to claim 22, wherein the adapter is configured to receive a tube set assembly, the tube set assembly comprising a first tube for gas flow and a second tube for liquid flow, the first and second tube contacting the adapter.

24. An adapter according to claim 22, wherein the adapter can connect to a variety of different endoscopes.

25. An adapter according to claim 22, wherein the adapter further comprises a connector to attach the tube assembly to the endoscope or the adapter comprises at least one air filter or vent.

26. An adapter according to claim 22, wherein the valve is a flap valve or a duckbill valve.

29. An adapter configured to pass a liquid from a bottle and a gas between a tube set assembly and a medical instrument, the tube set assembly comprising a first tube for gas flow and a second tube for liquid flow, the first and second tube contacting the adapter, and a valve disposed within a flow path of the second tube and configured to prevent flow of the liquid back from the medical instrument to the bottle.