Locking pneumoneedle

• US 5,374,252 A
• Filed: 02/01/1994
• Issued: 12/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Mittelstadt, William A., Banks, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, MARYBETH O
• Application Number:
  US08/190,235
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 604/158, 604/162, 604/164, 604/165, 604/166, 604/169, 604/170, 604/246, 604/249, 604/256, 604/272, 604/274, 128/751, 128/752, 128/753, 128/754, 606/184, 606/185
• US Class Current: 604/158
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3474 Insufflating needles, e.g. Veress needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3496 Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 13/003 Blowing gases other than for carrying powders, e.g. for inflating, dilating or rinsing

Abstract

A safety pneumoneedle through which the abdomen can be inflated with fluid such as insufflating gas is described. The pneumoneedle comprises a housing having front and rear ends, exterior surfaces adapted to be manually grasped, inner surfaces defining an elongate cavity having a fluid passageway portion. The pneumoneedle includes a non-removable cannula having a proximal end sealingly and fixedly attached to the housing, and a sharpened distal end adapted to pierce tissue. A protector assembly is present which has a closed blunt distal end, a first abutment end surface, and a camming surface. The protector assembly is movable relative to the cannula between a protecting position with the blunt distal end of the protector extending beyond the sharp distal end of the cannula to restrict engagement between tissue and the sharp distal end of the cannula, and a retracted position with portions of the sharp distal end of the cannula extending beyond the blunt distal end of the protector to afford puncture of tissue. The pneumoneedle also includes a latching and release mechanism for positively locking the protector in the protecting position after the cannula has pierced tissue and for releasing the protector after it has been locked in the protecting position.

Claims

1. A safety pneumoneedle through which the abdomen can be inflated with fluid such as insufflating gas, said pneumoneedle comprising:

an elongate housing having a longitudinal axis, front and rear ends, exterior surfaces generally cylindrical about said axis and adapted to be manually grasped in a dart-like fashion, inner surfaces defining an elongate cavity extending axially between said front and rear ends of said housing, said cavity including a fluid passageway portion adjacent said rear end, and an actuator portion adjacent said front end, said actuator portion having a larger diameter than said fluid passageway portion at a juncture of said fluid passageway and actuator portions and said inner surface defining a sealing surface around the fluid passageway portion at the juncture between said portions, said cavity opening through the exterior surfaces of said housing generally adjacent the front and rear ends of the housing,

said housing having a fluid conduit communicating with said fluid passageway portion of said elongate cavity, and having an axis disposed generally at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said housing, said fluid conduit opening through the exterior surface of said housing between the front and rear ends of said housing generally near the fluid passageway portion,

a tubular elongate cannula having an inner surface defining a through passageway, a proximal end sealingly and fixedly attached to the rear end of said housing with said through passageway communicating with said fluid passageway portion, a sharpened distal end adapted to pierce tissue, and a predetermined length between said proximal and distal ends;

a protector assembly comprising;

a tubular elongate protector having inner surfaces defining a passageway, an outer surface, a closed blunt distal end, and an opposite proximal end, said protector having a length exceeding the predetermined length of said cannula between said proximal and distal ends, said protector being mounted for longitudinal sliding movement within the passageway of said cannula and having axially spaced proximal and distal fluid apertures extending between said protector'"'"'s inner and outer surfaces and opening into said passageway adjacent said blunt distal and opposite proximal ends respectively,

a carrier fixedly attached to said proximal end of said protector and disposed within said actuator portion of said housing cavity, said carrier having a sealing flange with a sealing flange surface at the juncture between said protector and said carrier adapted for abutting said sealing surface of said housing and having latching members extending axially of said housing cavity toward said front end, said latching members having a first abutment end surface disposed generally at a right angle with respect to said axis, and including a camming surface disposed at an acute angle with respect to said axis adjacent and intersecting said first abutment end surface;

said protector assembly being axially slidable within said housing cavity relative to said cannula between a protecting position with the blunt distal end of the protector extending beyond the sharp distal end of the cannula to restrict engagement between tissue and said sharp distal end of the cannula, with said sealing flange in sealing engagement with said sealing surface of said housing, and with said distal fluid aperture of said protector disposed beyond and spaced from said distal end of said cannula and with said proximal fluid aperture of said protector disposed within said fluid passageway portion of said housing cavity, and a retracted position with portions of said sharp distal end of said cannula extending beyond said blunt distal end of said protector to afford puncture of tissue;

latching and release means for positively locking said protector in said protecting position after said cannula has pierced tissue and for releasing the protector after it has been locked in the protecting position, said latching and release means comprising;

a locking pawl spring having proximal and distal ends,

said locking pawl spring being disposed within said actuator portion of said housing, and said locking pawl spring being fixedly attached at its proximal end to said housing, said locking pawl spring being mounted for movement between a locking position with the distal end of the pawl spring engaged with the first abutment end surface of the latching members to prevent axial movement of the protector relative to said cannula and to lock the protector in the protecting position, and a release position with the distal end of the locking pawl spring spaced from the first abutment end of the latching members to afford relative axial-movement between the protector and the cannula to afford piercing of tissue by the sharp end of the cannula, said locking pawl spring being biased toward said locking position;

a reset button member having an exposed end adapted to be manually pressed, a lock release camming surface disposed at an acute angle with respect to said housing axis, and a lock release shoulder surface disposed generally at a right angle with respect to said housing axis and intersecting said lock release camming surface, said lock release shoulder surface being adapted to retain said locking pawl spring in the release position until said cannula pierces tissue,

portions of said reset button being axially slidable within said actuator portion of said cavity for movement between a latched position with the exposed end of the reset button spaced from the front end of the housing and a reset position with the exposed end of the reset button closer to the front end of the housing than in the latched position;

biasing means for biasing said protector toward said protecting position and for biasing said reset button toward said latched position;

wherein when said reset button is in said latched position and said protector assembly is in said protecting position, manual movement of said reset button toward said reset position will cause said lock release camming surface of said reset button to move said locking pawl spring from said locking position toward said release position and will then allow said locking pawl spring to engage said lock release shoulder surface to afford movement of the protector relative to the cannula, and

then when said protector is pressed against tissue, the resistance of the tissue will cause said protector assembly to move axially toward said retracted position to afford piercing tissue, and will cause said camming surfaces on said latching members to move said locking pawl spring away from engagement with said lock release shoulder surface to thereby afford movement of said locking pawl spring from said release position toward said locking position when said biasing means causes said protector assembly to move to said protecting position after resistance from the tissue is released upon movement of the cannula into the abdominal cavity.

2. A safety pneumoneedle according to claim 1 wherein said locking pawl spring comprises a monolithic wire member having a pair of base portions extending generally at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said housing cavity, a pair of neck portions extending at an angle relative to said base portions and an end portion extending between said neck portions.

3. A safety pneumoneedle according to claim 1 wherein said carrier comprises a carriage portion;

said sealing flange has a surface opposite said sealing surface,

said latching members comprise a pair of spaced guide members defining a groove therebetween; and

said reset button comprises a body portion having an inner end opposite said exposed end, a pair of slots for receiving said guide members, and a reinforcing rib adapted to be received in the groove between said guide members.

4. A safety pneumoneedle according to claim 3 wherein said body portion of said reset button has a notch surface generally adjacent said inner end and an opposite shoulder surface axially spaced from said notch surface and disposed closer to said inner end than said lock release shoulder surface;

said biasing means comprises a coil spring situated about said housing axis and having first and second ends with the first end fixed to said notch surface of said reset button and with said second end fixed to said surface of said sealing flange of said carrier opposite its sealing flange surface, and

wherein after said camming surface of said protector assembly moves said locking pawl spring from engagement with lock release shoulder surface, but before said locking pawl spring engages said first abutment end surface of said protector assembly, said distal end of said locking pawl spring engages said opposite shoulder surface of said reset button until said protector assembly moves to said protecting position.

5. A safety pneumoneedle according to claim 1 wherein movement of the reset button member to the latched position causes a collision between a portion said protector assembly and a portion of said inner surface of the housing thereby creating an audible sound for a user.

6. A safety pneumoneedle according to claim 1 wherein movement of the reset button member to the latched position causes a collision between a portion said protector assembly and a portion of said inner surface of the housing thereby creating a tactile feel for a user.

7. A safety pneumoneedle according to claim 1 wherein said sealing flange of said carrier includes an elastomeric sealing member.

8. A safety pneumoneedle according to claim 7 wherein said elastomeric material is a silicone.

9. A safety pneumoneedle according to claim 1 further including a stopcock valve in fluid communication with said fluid conduit.

10. A safety pneumoneedle according to claim 1 wherein said exterior surfaces of said housing include a structured surface for enhancing manual grasping of said housing.

11. A safety pneumoneedle according to claim 1 wherein the locking pawl spring and at least portions of the housing are a unitary, monolithic structure constructed from an injection molded polymer material.

12. A safety pneumoneedle through which the abdomen can be inflated with fluid such as insufflating gas, said pneumoneedle comprising:

an elongate housing having a longitudinal axis, front and rear ends, exterior surfaces adapted to be manually grasped in a dart-like fashion, inner surfaces defining an elongate cavity extending axially between said front and rear ends of said housing, said cavity including a fluid passageway portion adjacent said rear end, and an actuator portion adjacent said front end, said inner surfaces defining a sealing surface around a fluid passageway portion at the juncture between said fluid passageway and actuator portions, said housing having a fluid conduit communicating with said fluid passageway portion of said elongate cavity, and having an axis disposed generally at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said housing, said fluid conduit opening through the exterior surface of said housing between the front and rear ends of said housing generally near the fluid passageway portion,

an elongate cannula having an inner surface defining a through passageway, a proximal end sealingly and fixedly attached to the rear end of said housing with said through passageway communicating with said fluid passageway portion, a sharpened distal end adapted to pierce tissue;

a protector assembly comprising;

an elongate protector having inner surfaces defining a passageway, a closed blunt distal end, and an opposite proximal end, said protector being mounted for longitudinal sliding movement within the passageway of said cannula and having axially spaced proximal and distal fluid apertures,

a carrier fixedly attached to said proximal end of said protector and disposed within said actuator portion of said housing cavity, said carrier having a sealing flange with a sealing flange surface at the juncture between said protector and said carrier adapted for abutting said sealing surface of said housing and having latching members extending axially toward said front end, said latching members having a first abutment end surface disposed generally at a right angle with respect to said axis;

said protector assembly being axially slidable within said housing cavity relative to said cannula between a protecting position with the blunt distal end of the protector extending beyond the sharp distal end of the cannula to restrict engagement between tissue and said sharp distal end of the cannula, with said sealing flange in sealing engagement with said sealing surface of said housing, and with said distal fluid aperture of said protector disposed beyond and spaced from said distal end of said cannula and with said proximal fluid aperture of said protector disposed within said fluid passageway portion of said housing cavity, and a retracted position with portions of said sharp distal end of said cannula extending beyond said blunt distal end of said protector to afford puncture of tissue; and

latching and release means for positively locking said protector in said protecting position and for releasing the protector after it has been locked in the protecting position.

13. A pneumoneedle according to claim 12 wherein said latching members each include a camming surface disposed at an acute angle with respect to said axis adjacent and intersecting the first abutment end surface of the respective latching member,

said latching and release means comprise a locking pawl spring having proximal and distal ends, said locking pawl spring being disposed within said actuator portion of said housing and said locking pawl spring being fixedly attached at its proximal end to said housing;

said locking pawl spring being mounted for movement between a locking position with the distal end of the pawl spring engaged with the first abutment end surface of said latching members to prevent axial movement of the protector relative to said cannula and to lock the protector in the protecting position, and a release position with the distal end of the locking pawl spring spaced from the first abutment end surface of the latching members to afford relative axial movement between the protector and the cannula to afford piercing of tissue by the sharp end of the cannula, said locking pawl spring being biased toward said locking position;

a reset button member having an exposed end adapted to be manually pressed, a lock release camming surface disposed at an acute angle with respect to said housing axis, and a lock release shoulder surface disposed generally at a right angle with respect to said housing axis and intersecting said lock release camming surface, said lock release shoulder surface being adapted to retain said locking pawl spring in the release position until said cannula pierces tissue,

portions of said reset button being axially slidable within said actuator portion of said cavity for movement between a latched position with the exposed end of the reset button spaced from the front end of the housing and a reset position with the exposed end of the reset button closer to the front end of the housing than in the latched position;

biasing means for biasing said protector toward said protecting position and for biasing said reset button toward said latched position; and

wherein when said reset button is in said latched position and said protector assembly is in said protecting position, manual movement of said reset button toward said reset position will cause said lock release camming surface of said reset button to move said locking pawl spring from said locking position toward said release position and will then allow said locking pawl spring to engage said lock release shoulder surface to afford movement of the protector relative to the cannula, and

then when said protector is pressed against tissue, the resistance of the tissue will cause said protector assembly to move axially toward said retracted position to afford the piercing of tissue by said sharpened end of said cannula, and will cause said camming surfaces on said latching members to move said locking pawl spring away from engagement with said lock release shoulder surface to thereby afford movement of said locking pawl spring from said release position toward said locking position when said biasing means causes said protector assembly to move to said protecting position after resistance from the tissue is released.

14. A pneumoneedle according to claim 13 wherein said carrier comprises a carriage portion;

said sealing flange has a surface opposite said sealing surface;

said latching members comprise a pair of spaced guide members defining a groove therebetween; and

said reset button comprises a body portion having an inner end opposite said exposed end, a pair of slots for receiving said guide members, and a reinforcing rib adapted to be received in the groove between said guide members.

15. A safety pneumoneedle according to claim 14 wherein said body portion of said reset button has a notch surface generally adjacent said inner end and an opposite shoulder surface axially spaced from said notch surface and disposed closer to said inner end than said lock release shoulder surface,

said biasing means comprises a coil spring situated about said housing axis and having first and second ends with the first end fixed to said notch surface of said reset button and with said second end fixed to said surface of said sealing flange of said carrier opposite its sealing flange surface, and

wherein after said camming surface of said protector assembly moves said locking pawl spring from engagement with said lock release shoulder surface, but before said locking pawl spring engages said first abutment end surface of said protector assembly, said distal end of said locking pawl spring engages said opposite shoulder surface of said reset button until said protector assembly moves to said protecting position.

16. A safety pneumoneedle according to claim 13 wherein the locking pawl spring and at least portions of the housing are a unitary, monolithic structure constructed from an injection molded polymer material.

17. A safety pneumoneedle through which the abdomen can be inflated with fluid such as insufflating gas, said pneumoneedle comprising:

a housing having a longitudinal axis, front and rear ends, exterior surfaces adapted to be manually grasped, inner surfaces defining an elongate cavity extending axially between said front and rear ends of said housing, said cavity including a fluid passageway portion adjacent said rear end, and an actuator portion adjacent said front end, said inner surfaces defining a sealing surface around the fluid passageway portion at a juncture of said fluid passageway and actuator portions, said housing having a fluid conduit communicating with said fluid passageway portion of said elongate cavity and having an axis disposed generally at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said housing;

a non-removable cannula having a proximal end sealingly and fixedly attached to said housing, inner surfaces defining a passageway, a sharpened distal end adapted to pierce tissue;

a protector assembly comprising;

an elongate protector having a closed blunt distal end, and an opposite proximal end, said protector being mounted for longitudinal sliding movement within the passageway of said cannula, and means for passage of fluid,

a carrier fixedly attached to said proximal end of said protector and disposed within said actuator portion of said housing cavity, said carrier having a sealing flange with a sealing flange surface at the juncture between said protector and said carrier adapted for abutting said sealing surface of said housing and having latching members extending axially toward said front end, said latching members having a first abutment end surface;

said protector assembly being axially slidable within said housing cavity relative to said cannula between a protecting position with the blunt distal end of the protector extending beyond the sharp distal end of the cannula to restrict engagement between tissue and said sharp distal end of the cannula, and with said sealing flange in sealing engagement with said sealing surface of said housing, and a retracted position with portions of said sharp distal end of said cannula extending beyond said blunt distal end of said protector to afford puncture of tissue;

a locking pawl spring disposed within the actuator portion of said housing and fixedly attached at a proximal end to said housing and having a distal end, said locking pawl spring being mounted for movement between a locking position with the distal end of the pawl spring engaged with the first abutment end surface of the latching members to prevent axial movement of the protector relative to said cannula and to lock the protector in the protecting position, and a release position with the distal end of the locking pawl spring spaced from the first abutment end surface of the latching members to afford relative axial movement between the protector and the cannula to afford piercing of tissue by the sharp end of the cannula, said locking pawl spring being biased toward said locking position;

a reset button member having an exposed end adapted to be manually pressed, a lock release camming surface disposed at an acute angle with respect to said housing axis, and a lock release shoulder surface disposed generally at a right angle with respect to said housing axis and intersecting said lock release camming surface,

portions of said reset button being axially slidable within said actuator portion of said cavity for movement between a latched position with the exposed end of the reset button spaced from the front end of the housing and a reset position with the exposed end of the reset button closer to the front end of the housing than in the latched position; and

biasing means for biasing said protector toward said protecting position and for biasing said reset button toward said latched position.

18. A safety pneumoneedle through which the abdominal cavity can be inflated with fluid such as insufflating gas, said pneumoneedle comprising:

a housing having front and rear ends, exterior surfaces adapted to be manually grasped, inner surfaces defining an elongate cavity having a fluid passageway portion;

a non-removable cannula having a proximal end sealingly and fixedly attached to said housing, and a sharpened distal end adapted to pierce tissue;

a protector assembly having a closed blunt distal end,a first abutment end surface;

said protector assembly being movable relative to said cannula between a protecting position with the blunt distal end of the protector assembly extending beyond the sharp distal end of the cannula to restrict engagement between tissue and said sharp distal end of the cannula, and a retracted position with portions of said sharp distal end of said cannula extending beyond said blunt distal end of said protector assembly to afford puncture of tissue; and

latching and release means for positively locking said protector assembly in said protecting position and for releasing the protector assembly after it has been locked in the protecting position, said latching and release means comprising a locking pawl spring adapted to abut the first abutment end surface of the protector assembly.

19. A pneumoneedle according to claim 18 wherein said protector assembly includes a camming surface said latching and release means comprise the locking pawl spring fixedly attached at a proximal end to said housing and having a distal end, said locking pawl spring being mounted for movement between a locking position with the distal end of the pawl spring engaged with the first abutment end surface of the protector assembly to prevent movement of the protector assembly relative to said cannula and to lock the protector assembly in the protecting position, and a release position with the distal end of the locking pawl spring spaced from the first abutment end surface of the protector assembly to afford relative movement between the protector assembly and the cannula to afford piercing of tissue by the sharp end of the cannula, said locking pawl spring being biased toward said locking position;

a reset button member having an exposed end adapted to be manually pressed, a lock release camming surface, and a lock release shoulder surface,

portions of said reset button being slidable within said cavity for movement between a latched position with the exposed end of the reset button spaced from the front end of the housing and a reset position with the exposed end of the reset button closer to the front end of the housing than in the latched position;

biasing means for biasing said protector assembly toward said protecting position and for biasing said reset button toward said latched position; and

wherein when said reset button is in said latched position and said protector assembly is in said protecting position, manual movement of said reset button toward said reset position will cause said lock release camming surface of said reset button to move said locking pawl spring from said locking position toward said release position and will then allow said locking pawl spring to engage said lock release shoulder surface to afford movement of the protector assembly relative to the cannula, and

then when said blunt end of said protector assembly is pressed against tissue, the resistance of the tissue will cause said protector assembly to move toward said retracted position to afford the piercing of tissue by said sharpened end of said cannula, and will cause said camming surface on said protector assembly to move said locking pawl spring away from engagement with said lock release shoulder surface to thereby afford movement of said locking pawl spring from said release position toward said locking position when said biasing means causes said protector assembly to move to said protecting position after resistance from the tissue is released upon movement of the cannula into the abdominal cavity.

20. A pneumoneedle according to claim 18 wherein said cavity of said housing includes a fluid conduit disposed at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said housing.

21. A pneumoneedle according to claim 19 wherein said protector assembly comprises a carrier including a carriage portion, a sealing flange and a pair of latching members;

said sealing flange has a sealing surface;

said latching members comprise a pair of spaced guide members defining a groove therebetween; and

said reset button comprises a body portion having an inner end opposite said exposed end, a pair of slots for receiving said guide members, and a reinforcing rib adapted to be received in the groove between said guide members.

23. A safety pneumoneedle according to claim 19 wherein the locking pawl spring and at least portions of the housing are a unitary, monolithic structure constructed from an injection molded polymer material.

22. A safety pneumoneedle according to claim wherein said body portion of said reset button has a notch surface generally adjacent said inner end and an opposite shoulder surface spaced from said notch surface and disposed closer to said inner end than said lock release shoulder surface,

said biasing means comprises a coil spring having first and second ends with the first end fixed to said notch surface of said reset button and with said second end fixed to said sealing flange,

wherein after said camming surface of said protector assembly moves said locking pawl spring from engagement with said lock release shoulder surface, but before said locking pawl spring engages said first abutment end surface of said protector assembly, said distal end of said locking pawl spring engages said opposite shoulder surface of said reset button until said protector assembly moves to said protecting position.

24. A safety pneumoneedle through which the abdomen can be inflated with fluid such as insufflating gas, said pneumoneedle comprising:

a housing having front and rear ends, exterior surfaces adapted to be manually grasped, inner surfaces defining an elongate cavity having a fluid passageway portion,

a non-removable cannula having a proximal end sealingly and fixedly attached to said housing, and a sharpened distal end adapted to pierce tissue;

a protector assembly having a closed blunt distal end, a first abutment end surface;

said protector assembly being movable relative to said cannula between a protecting position with the blunt distal end of the protector assembly extending beyond the sharp distal end of the cannula to restrict engagement between tissue and said sharp distal end of the cannula, and a retracted position with portions of said sharp distal end of said cannula extending beyond said blunt distal end of said protector assembly to afford puncture of tissue;

a pawl spring for engaging said first abutment end surface to positively lock said protector assembly in said protecting position; and

a reset button member for releasing the protector assembly after it has been locked in the protecting position.

25. A safety pneumoneedle through which the abdomen can be inflated with fluid such as insufflating gas, said pneumoneedle comprising:

a housing having front and rear ends, exterior surfaces adapted to be manually grasped,

a non-removable cannula having a proximal end sealingly and fixedly attached to said housing, and a sharpened distal end adapted to pierce tissue;

a protector assembly having a closed blunt distal end,

said protector assembly being movable relative to said cannula between a protecting position with the blunt distal end of the protector assembly extending beyond the sharp distal end of the cannula to restrict engagement between tissue and said sharp distal end of the cannula, and a retracted position with portions of said sharp distal end of said cannula extending beyond said blunt distal end of said protector assembly to afford puncture of tissue; and

latching means including a locking pawl spring for positively locking said protector assembly in said protecting position.

26. A pneumoneedle according to claim 25 wherein said pneumoneedle includes release means for releasing the protector assembly after it has been locked in the protecting position.

27. A pneumoneedle through which the abdomen can be inflated with fluid such as insufflating gas, said pneumoneedle comprising:

a housing having exterior surfaces adapted to be manually grasped, and inner surfaces defining an elongate cavity having a fluid passageway portion,

a cannula having a sharpened distal end for piercing tissue;

a protector having a blunt distal end,

a passage in fluid communication with said fluid passageway portion for affording passage of insufflating gas through the pneumoneedle,

the cannula and protector being mounted for relative movement between a protecting position with the blunt distal end of the protector extending beyond the sharp distal end of the cannula to restrict engagement between tissue and the sharp distal end of the cannula, and a retracted position with portions of the sharp distal end of the cannula extending beyond the blunt distal end of the protector to afford puncture of tissue; and

a positive locking latch having a locking pawl spring for locking the cannula and protector in the protecting position.

28. A pneumoneedle according to claim 27 further including a release for releasing the latch when the cannula and protector are locked in the protecting position to afford relative movement between the cannula and the protector.

29. A pneumoneedle according to claim 27 wherein the locking pawl spring that locks the cannula and protector in the protecting position after the cannula has pierced tissue.

30. A pneumoneedle according to claim 28 wherein the release comprises a button member that is movable relative to the housing.