Low deadspace airway adapter

• US 7,059,322 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2003
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips RS North America LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Respironics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tencza, Richard S, Triunfo, John A Jr., Sandor, John L, Rich, David R
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MITAL B
• Application Number:
  US10/680,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20040069307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.26, 128/207.14, 128/200.24, 128/202.27
• US Class Current: 128/200.24
• 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: A61M 16/085 Gas sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2240/00 Specially adapted for neonatal use
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/108 the sleeve having the form of a bellows with only one corrugation
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/11 the sleeve having the form of a bellows with multiple corrugations
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/12 allowing substantial longitudinal adjustment or movement by use of screw-thread F16L15/02

Abstract

An airway adapter suitable for use with patients having low tidal volumes, e.g., neonates, which minimizes deadspace in the airway and promotes smooth flow of gases through the adapter. The adapter includes a first portion adapted to couple to a tubular adapter, such as an endotracheal tube adapter, and a second portion adapted to couple to a ventilation tube. A longitudinally compressible member is coupled to the first portion to minimize deadspace in the adapter. A portion of the compressible member resiliently contacts and seals against a tubular adapter upon assembly of the airway adapter therewith.

Claims

1. An airway adapter structure comprising:

(a) a substantially tubular first portion comprising;

(1) a wall having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a first bore defined therein, and

(2) a protrusion operatively coupled to the wall and having a second bore defined therethrough, wherein the protrusion is axially aligned with the first bore;

(b) a longitudinally compressible member coupled to the protrusion such that a first portion of the compressible member extends beyond an end of the protrusion, wherein the first portion of the compressible member includes a third bore defined therein in communication with the second bore; and

(c) a substantially tubular second portion coupled to the first end portion of the tubular first portion, wherein a fourth bore is defined in the second portion, and wherein the second bore, the third bore, and the fourth bore are in fluid communication so as to define at least a portion of a gas flow path through the airway adapter.

2. The airway adapter structure of claim 1, wherein the compressible member comprises a resilient sleeve having a first skirt portion disposed over the protrusion and coupled to the first portion.

3. The airway adapter structure of claim 2, wherein the first portion includes a substantially teardrop shaped segment.

4. The airway adapter structure of claim 3, wherein the compressible member further comprises:

a second skirt portion disposed on a longitudinally opposing side of the teardrop shaped segment from the first skirt portion, and

an end cap having a barrel received within the second skirt portion, and an end cap bore defined in the barrel and in fluid communication with the third bore.

5. The airway adapter of claim 4, wherein the end cap further includes a radially extending flange abutting an end of the second skirt portion.

6. The airway adapter structure of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the compressible member comprises at least one accordion-like pleat.

7. The airway adapter structure of claim 1, further comprising:

a sampling portion having a fifth bore providing a passage between the second bore and fourth bore; and

a sample tap structure including a sampling port opening to the fifth bore and extending to an exterior of the airway adapter structure.

8. The airway adapter structure of claim 1, further comprising a tubular adapter adapted to be assembled with the airway adapter, wherein the tubular adapter comprises a body member having a fifth bore and an axial passage defined therein, wherein the fifth bore extends from a first end portion and terminates at an end wall within the body member, wherein the axial passage opens into a portion of the end wall, and wherein the tubular adapter and the airway adapter are adapted to connect such that the end wall in contacts the compressible member so as to move the compressible member in a compressed state and providing a seal between an end portion of the compressible member and the end wall about a periphery of the axial passage.

9. The airway adapter structure of claim 8, wherein the body member of the tubular adapter surrounding the fifth bore thereof includes an outer wall having an exterior surface that is tapered from a lesser diameter to a greater diameter as a distance from the first end portion increases, wherein the first portion of the airway adapter includes an inner surface that is tapered from a greater diameter to a lesser diameter as a distance from the first end portion increases, and wherein the exterior surface of the tubular adapter and the inner surface of the airway adapter frictionally engage to connect the tubular adapter with the airway adapter.

10. An airway adapter structure comprising:

(a) a substantially tubular first portion comprising a wall having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a first bore defined therein;

(b) a longitudinally compressible member disposed within the first bore and having a first end portion operatively coupled to the tubular first portion and a second free end portion opposite the first end portion, wherein the compressible member includes a second bore defined therein from the first end portion to the second end portion; and

(c) a substantially tubular second portion coupled to the first end portion of the tubular first portion, wherein a third bore is defined in the second portion, and wherein the second bore and the third bore are in fluid communication so as to define at least a portion of a gas flow path through the airway adapter.

11. The airway adapter of claim 10, wherein the compressible member includes a flange disposed at the first end portion, and wherein the flange and first bore at the first end portion of the tubular first portion are configured and arranged such that the flange frictionally engages a wall of the first bore to maintain the compressible member in place within the first bore.

12. The airway adapter of claim 10, wherein further comprising a friction fitting element disposed between the first end portion of the compressible member and a wall of the first bore so as to maintain the compressible member in place within the first bore.

13. The airway adapter structure of claim 10, wherein the compressible member comprises a resilient sleeve having a first skirt portion provided at the first end portion thereof.

14. The airway adapter structure of claim 13, wherein the first end portion includes a substantially teardrop shaped segment.

15. The airway adapter structure of claim 14, wherein the compressible member further comprises:

a second skirt portion disposed on a longitudinally opposing side of the teardrop shaped segment from the first skirt portion, and

an end cap having a barrel received within the second skirt portion, and an end cap bore defined in the barrel and in fluid communication with the second bore.

16. The airway adapter of claim 15, wherein the end cap further includes a radially extending flange abutting an end of the second skirt portion.

17. The airway adapter structure of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the compressible member comprises at least one accordion-like pleat.

18. The airway adapter structure of claim 10, further comprising:

a sampling portion having a fourth bore providing a passage between the second bore and the third bore; and

a sample tap structure including a sampling port opening to the fourth bore and extending to an exterior of the airway adapter structure.

19. The airway adapter structure of claim 10, further comprising a tubular adapter adapted to be assembled with the airway adapter, wherein the tubular adapter comprises a body member having a fourth bore and an axial passage defined therein, wherein the fourth bore extends from a first end portion and terminates at an end wall within the body member, wherein the axial passage opens into a portion of the end wall, and wherein the tubular adapter and the airway adapter are adapted to connect such that the end wall in contacts the compressible member so as to move the compressible member in a compressed state and providing a seal between an end portion of the compressible member and the end wall about a periphery of the axial passage.

20. The airway adapter structure of claim 19, wherein the body member of the tubular adapter surrounding the fourth bore thereof includes an outer wall having an exterior surface that is tapered from a lesser diameter to a greater diameter as a distance from the first end portion increases, wherein the first portion of the airway adapter includes an inner surface that is tapered from a greater diameter to a lesser diameter as a distance from the first end portion increases, and wherein the exterior surface of the tubular adapter and the inner surface of the airway adapter frictionally engage to connect the tubular adapter with the airway adapter.

21. An airway adapter structure comprising:

(a) a substantially tubular first portion comprising;

(1) a wall having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a first bore defined therein, and

(2) a protrusion operatively coupled to the wall and having a second bore defined therethrough, wherein the protrusion is axially aligned with the first bore;

(b) a longitudinally compressible member coupled to the protrusion such that a first portion of the compressible member extends beyond an end of the protrusion, wherein the first portion of the compressible member includes a third bore defined therein in communication with the second bore, and wherein the compressible member further comprises;

(1) a resilient sleeve having a first skirt portion disposed over the protrusion and coupled to the first portion,

(2) at least one accordion-like pleat disposed in the first portion of the compressible member, or

(3) both (i) and (ii); and

(c) a substantially tubular second portion coupled to the first end portion of the tubular first portion.

22. An airway adapter structure comprising:

(a) a substantially tubular first portion comprising a wall having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a first bore defined therein;

(b) a longitudinally compressible member disposed within the first bore and having a first end portion operatively coupled to the tubular first portion and a second free end portion opposite the first end portion, wherein the compressible member includes a second bore defined therein from the first end portion to the second end portion and a flange disposed at the first end portion, and wherein the flange and first bore at the first end portion of the tubular first portion are configured and arranged such that the flange frictionally engages a wall of the first bore to maintain the compressible member in place within the first bore, and

(c) a substantially tubular second portion coupled to the first end portion of the tubular first portion.

23. An airway adapter structure comprising:

(a) a substantially tubular first portion comprising a wall having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a first bore defined therein;

(b) a longitudinally compressible member disposed within the first bore and having a first end portion operatively coupled to the tubular first portion and a second free end portion opposite the first end portion, wherein the compressible member includes a second bore defined therein from the first end portion to the second end portion and a resilient sleeve having a first skirt portion provided at the first end portion thereof; and

(c) a substantially tubular second portion coupled to the first end portion of the tubular first portion.