Apparatus and method for providing gases to a user

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11110243-B2
Application number	US-201815896445-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2018
Priority date	Feb 19, 2013
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

A connector and tubing combination includes a tubing segment with an end piece, such as a tubing flange. The tubing flange can be secured within the connector by an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve of the connector. Both of the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve are located outside of the tubing flange and the tubing segment. In addition, the inner sleeve, outer sleeve and the tubing flange are mechanically connected.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A connector assembly comprising:
a tubing flange comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the tubing flange configured to connect to an end of a tube at the proximal end of the tubing flange, the tubing flange comprises a head portion at the distal end of the tubing flange and a tapering neck portion extending from the head portion to the proximal end, the tubing flange defining a gas passageway through the head portion and the tapering neck portion;
an inner sleeve comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion, the proximal portion of the inner sleeve comprises a plurality of slots, wherein each of the plurality of slots extends distally from a proximal end of the inner sleeve, the inner sleeve comprising a receptacle sized and configured to receive the head portion of the tubing flange, the receptacle comprising a shoulder configured to abut the distal end of the tubing flange, wherein when assembled, an inner wall of the receptacle provides an interference fit with an outer surface of the head portion;
an outer sleeve mechanically secured to the inner sleeve such that the outer sleeve and inner sleeve are locked together,
wherein the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve form a mechanically mating retention system configured to lock onto the tube.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubing flange is configured to be permanently and non-removably bonded to the end of the tube.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubing flange is configured to be integrally formed with the end of the tube.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubing flange is configured to be bonded to the end of the tube by solvent bonding.

5. The connector assembly of claim 4 , wherein the tubing flange is configured to have alike materials with the tube to facilitate solvent bonding.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the head portion is greater than an outer diameter of a proximal portion of the tapering neck portion.

7. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubing flange comprises a shoulder between the head portion and the tapering neck portion.

8. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion of the inner sleeve is tapered.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve comprises a protrusion positioned along an outer surface of the distal portion of the inner sleeve, and wherein the protrusion is shaped and configured to cooperate with a corresponding groove along an inner surface of the outer sleeve in order to secure the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve in a relative axial position.

10. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality slots tapers in a distal direction.

11. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve comprises an inner surface defining a passage, the passage comprising the receptacle.

12. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises the shoulder at a distal end of the receptacle, the shoulder being configured to reduce distal movement of the head portion of the tubing flange relative to the inner sleeve.

13. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the inner sleeve comprises a contoured recessed region, and wherein a proximal-most portion of the contoured recessed region is adjacent to the shoulder.

14. The connector assembly of claim 13 , wherein the contoured recessed region opens in a distal direction.

15. The connector assembly of claim 13 , wherein the inner sleeve comprises a pair of tabs positioned within the contoured recessed region, the pair of tabs being positioned closer to a proximal end of the contoured recessed region than a distal end of the contoured region, and wherein the inner sleeve comprises a recess positioned between the pair of tabs and the proximal end of the contoured recessed region.

16. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve comprises a plurality of prongs, each of the plurality of prongs extending distally and terminating at a free end, the plurality of slots of the inner sleeve configured to receive the plurality of prongs.

17. The connector assembly of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of prongs comprises a sloped inner surface.

18. The connector assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a gap positioned between a distal portion of each of the plurality of prongs and an inner surface of the outer sleeve, the gap being configured to allow a distal portion of each of the plurality of prongs to deflect outwardly away from the axial center of the outer sleeve.

19. The connector assembly of claim 16 , wherein the free ends of the plurality of prongs are disposed between the inner sleeve and the tubing flange.

20. The connector assembly of claim 16 , wherein the tubing flange further comprises a shoulder on a proximal side of the head portion, the free ends of the plurality of prongs configured to interface with the shoulder on the head portion to limit axial movement of the head portion in a proximal direction.

21. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubing flange, the inner sleeve, and the outer sleeve are arranged co-axially about a central axis of the tubing flange.

22. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the gas passageway within the head portion tapers in a first direction, and wherein a second portion of the gas passageway within the tapering neck portion tapers in a second direction opposite the first direction.

23. The connector assembly of claim 22 , wherein the first portion tapers in the proximal direction and the second portion tapers in the distal direction.

Assignees

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

• Laing Brent Ian
• Sims David John
• O'Connor Mark Thomas

Classifications

• F16L37/133

  using flexible hooks {(F16L37/1215 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A61M16/0816 Primary

  Joints or connectors · CPC title

• A61M39/12

  for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment · CPC title

• A61M2207/00

  Methods of manufacture, assembly or production · CPC title

• F16L23/006

  Attachments · CPC title