In-line gas adaptor for endoscopic apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10966593-B2
Application number	US-201313873598-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2013
Priority date	Aug 31, 2009
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

The present invention provides an adaptor that is suitable for attachment to an endoscopic device for delivery of a secondary gas. The adaptor generally comprises an adaptor body with first and second fluid transport components and can include a gas inlet on one of the fluid transport components suitable for attachment to a secondary gas source. A sealing member can be included to prevent leakage of any fluid (e.g., liquid or gas) that is transported through channels extending through the fluid transport components. The adaptor may be used in endoscopy methods and is particularly useful for adding a secondary gas source in an endoscopy procedure.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. An adaptor connecting a source of primary gas to an endoscopic device, the adaptor comprising an adaptor body having: a first fluid transport component in a non-fluid connection with a second fluid transport component, the first and second fluid transport components each having walls with tubular exterior surfaces and interior surfaces defining respective first and second channels extending therethrough, each fluid transport component having a flared open end, a tapered open end, and a central body between the flared open end and the tapered open end; wherein the tubular exterior surfaces of the first and second fluid transport components are attached to each other at an end of the flared open ends and contiguous along an entire length of the second fluid transport flared open end, and the tubular exterior surfaces are separated at the tapered open end and at least a portion of the central body, wherein the channel in the first fluid transport component is a linear liquid channel, and the channel in the second fluid transport component is a linear gas channel in fluid connection with the source of primary gas; and a tubular inlet port extending outward from the tubular exterior surface of the central body of the second fluid transport component such that the walls of the adapter form one linear channel and one branched channel, wherein the tubular inlet portion includes a central gas passage in direct fluid connection with the gas channel formed in the second fluid transport component, wherein a secondary gas is provided through the central gas passage to the gas channel in lieu of or in addition to the primary gas, wherein the tubular inlet port and the central gas passage thereof are substantially perpendicular to a respective one of the first or second channels, wherein a first engagement portion is defined by the flared open ends of both the first and second fluid transport components, a second engagement portion is defined by the tapered open ends of both the first and second fluid transport components, the first engagement portion is engageable with a configuration and a size that are the same as the second engagement portion.

2. The adaptor of claim 1 , further comprising a sealing member located at the interior surface of one or both of the flared open ends of the first and second fluid transport components.

3. The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the tubular inlet port is substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface of the respective one of the first or second fluid transport components.

4. The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the adaptor body is a single, monolithic structure.

5. The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the internal diameter of the gas channel at the tapered open end of the channel is greater than the internal diameter of the liquid channel at the tapered open end of the channel.

6. The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the external diameter of the flared open end of the first fluid transport component is greater than the external diameter of the flared open end of the second fluid transport component.

7. The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the flared open ends of the first and second fluid transport components are shaped to engage fluid transport elements extending from a portion of the endoscopic device.

8. The adaptor of claim 7 , wherein the flared open ends are shaped to facilitate a press-fit, sealed engagement with the fluid transport elements on the endoscopic device without secondary engaging means.

9. The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the first and second fluid transport components are substantially parallel and are in a side-by-side connection.

10. The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the external diameter of the central body is greater than the external diameter of each of the tapered open ends of the first and second fluid transport components, and wherein the external diameter of the central body is less than the external diameter of each of the flared open ends of the first and second fluid transport components.

11. The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the external diameter of each of the flared open ends of the first and second fluid transport components is greater than the external diameter of each of the tapered open ends of the first and second fluid transport components.

12. The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the tapered open end of the first or second transport components comprises a metallic material, and wherein the remaining portion of the adaptor body comprises a polymeric material.

13. The adaptor of claim 1 , further comprising a shroud extending radially outwardly from the exterior surfaces of the first and second fluid transport components, the shroud further extending axially with respect to the first and second fluid transport components so as to at least partially surround the tapered open end of the first and/or second fluid transport component.

14. The adapter of claim 13 , wherein the shroud comprises a wall extending circumferentially about the first and second fluid transport components so as to define an opening for at least partially receiving the tapered open end of the first and/or second fluid transport component.

15. The adaptor of claim 13 , wherein the shroud extends axially such that the tapered open end of the second fluid transport component is completely surrounded by the shroud, and wherein the tapered open end of the first fluid transport component is not completely surrounded by the shroud; and wherein the shroud is formed of a different material than the adapter body.

16. An adaptor connecting a source of primary gas to an endoscopic device, the adaptor comprising an adaptor body having: a first fluid transport component in a non-fluid connection with a second fluid transport component, the first and second fluid transport components each having walls with exterior surfaces and interior surfaces defining respective first and second channels extending therethrough, each fluid transport component having a flared open end, a tapered open end, and a central body between the flared open end and the tapered open end; wherein the exterior surfaces of the first and second fluid transport components are attached to each other at an end of the flared open ends and contiguous along an entire length of the second fluid transport flared open end, and the exterior surfaces are separated at the tapered open end and at least a portion of the central body, wherein the channel in the first fluid transport component is a liquid channel, and the channel in the second fluid transport component is a gas channel in fluid connection with the source of primary gas; and a tubular inlet port extending outward from the exterior surface of the first or second fluid transport component such that the walls of the adapter form one linear channel and one branched channel, wherein the tubular inlet portion includes a central gas passage in fluid connection with the channel formed in the second fluid transport component, wherein a secondary gas is provided through the gas passage to the gas channel in lieu of or in addition to the primary gas, and wherein a first engagement portion is defined by the flared open ends of both the first and the second fluid transport components, a second engagement portion is defined by the tapered open ends of both the first and second fluid transport components, the first engagement portion is engageable with a configuration and a size that are the same as the second engagement portion; and a shroud extending radially outwardly from the exterior surfaces of the first and second fluid transport components, the shroud further extending axially with respe

Assignees

• United States Endoscopy Group Inc

Inventors

• Cushner Jeffrey B
• Locke Kenneth W
• Stebbins Christopher R
• Wolcott Kenneth E

Classifications

• A61M39/10 Primary

  Tube connectors; Tube couplings {(A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014)} · CPC title

• A61M2039/1083

  having a plurality of female connectors, e.g. Luer connectors · CPC title

• A61M39/105

  Multi-channel connectors or couplings, e.g. for connecting multi-lumen tubes (multi-channel connectors in general F16L37/56) · CPC title

• A61M2039/1088

  having a plurality of male connectors, e.g. Luer connectors · CPC title

• A61B1/00068

  Valve switch arrangements · CPC title