Medical tubing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018280652-A1
Application number	US-201816001768-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 6, 2018
Priority date	Jun 28, 2011
Publication date	Oct 4, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A medical tube has a tube wall, a first end and a second end. At least one heater wire is wrapped around the wall. Near or at one of the first end or the second end, there is at least one recess in an outer surface of the wall. The heater wire passes over the at least one tube recess such that the wire does not contact the wall in the area of the tube recess. Also disclosed are methods of making the tube and components used in making the tube.

First claim

1 . A medical tube comprising:
a tube wall and having a first end and a second end, at least one heater wire wrapped around said wall, near or at one of said first end or said second end, at least one recess in the outer surface of said wall, and wherein said heater wire passes over said at least one tube recess such that said wire does not contact the wall in the area of said tube recess.

2 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said wall is helically corrugated with alternating crests and troughs; and
said wall defining a least one helical track on an outer surface extending between said first and second ends, and said at least one heater wire is located in said at least one track.

3 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 2 , wherein at least one of said at least one tracks are associated with a crest of said corrugated wall.

4 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 2 , wherein at least one of said at least one tracks are associated with a trough of said corrugated wall.

5 . A medical tube as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said tube further includes
an end connector on at least one of said first end or said second end.

6 . A medical tube as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said tube recess includes an insulation displacement connector therein and said insulation displacement connector is engaged on at least one said heater wire.

7 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the end connector includes at least one connector recess aligned with said at least one tube recess.

8 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said insulation displacement connector is located at least partially in said connector recess.

9 . A medical tube as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said tube includes more than one helical track, and each said helical track includes at least one heater wire.

10 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said tube recess includes an insulation displacement connector therein and said insulation displacement connector is engaged on at least two said heater wires.

11 . A medical tube as claimed in any preceding claim further including an outer sheath.

12 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said sheath is supported on said crests.

13 . A medical tube as claimed in one of claims 2 to 12 , wherein at least one end of said tube further comprises a transition region in which said helical corrugation transitions to a semi-annular corrugation near the end of the tube.

14 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said transition and semi-annular corrugation region provides a track for each said heater wire.

15 . A medical tube as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 14 , wherein said tube includes at least one pinch feature in said track to capture and retain a respective heater wire in said track.

16 . A medical tube as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said tube includes at least one locating feature near an end, said locating feature extending radially away from said tube.

17 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said locating feature includes an undercut to at least partially capture said wire.

18 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 , wherein said locating feature is near a patient end.

19 . A medical tube as claimed in any one of claim 16 to claim 17 , wherein said feature is on said wall of said tube.

20 . A medical tube as claimed in any one of claim 16 to claim 17 , wherein said tube includes an end connector and said locating feature is on said end connector.

21 . A medical tube as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 20 , wherein said tube further includes a wire support member at an end of said tube, said wire support member comprising;
a ring shaped body having at least one wire support finger extending parallel with an axis of said ring body, and
said wire support finger is located in said recess such that said wire support finger is between an outer surface of said tube and said wire and supports said wire in said recess away from said tube.

22 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 21 when dependent on claim 6 , wherein said insulation displacement element is fitted over said wire support finger when engaging said wire.

23 . A medical tube as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 22 , wherein said wire support member includes a plurality of wire support fingers extending parallel with an axis of said ring body and spaced around the perimeter of said member.

24 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 23 , wherein said tube includes a plurality of said recesses and each of said plurality of wire support fingers is located in a respective recess.

25 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 24 , wherein there is a said insulation displacement element in each said recess and fitted over a respective said wire support finger.

26 . A medical tube comprising:
a tube wall and having a first end and a second end, at least two runs of heater wire wrapped around said wall in a multi helix arrangement, at least one insulation displacement bridging element located near said first end and extending over a portion of the circumference of said tube, said bridging element engaging two or more said runs to complete at least part of an electrical circuit.

27 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 26 , wherein said wall is at least double helically corrugated with alternating crests and troughs defining a least two helical tracks on the outer surface extending between said first and second ends, and
said at least two heater wire runs are located in a respective track.

28 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 26 or claim 27 , wherein said tube further comprises:
at least one insulation displacement terminal element located near said second end and extending over a portion of the circumference of said tube, said terminal element engaging only one of said runs and providing a terminal of said circuit.

29 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 28 , wherein said terminal is one of:
a. a spade terminal, b. a pin terminal, c. a socket terminal, d. a loop terminal.

30 . A medical tube as claimed in any of claims 26 to 29 , wherein said tube further comprises at least one further insulation displacement bridging element located near said second end and extending over a portion of the circumference of said tube, said bridging element engaging two or more said runs to complete at least part of an electrical circuit.

31 . A medical tube as claimed in any one or more of claims 26 to 30 , wherein said tube further comprises an end connector on at least one of said first end or said second end,
said end connector receiving and retaining one or more of said insulation displacement elements.

32 . A medical tube as claimed in claim 26 , when dependent on claim 28 , wherein said end connector includes a socket aperture adapted to receive said insulation displacement terminal elements.

33 . An insulation displacement element comprising:
a channel body having a base and two side portions, a pair of aligned slots from a first open end, said slots shaped to displace outer insulation from a wire or wires pushed into said slots.

34 . An insulation displacement element as claime

Assignees

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

• Sims David John

Classifications

• A61M2205/3368

  Temperature · CPC title

• F16L53/38

  using elongate electric heating elements, e.g. wires or ribbons · CPC title

• F04C2270/0421

  Controlled or regulated · CPC title

• A61M16/0841

  for sampling · CPC title

• A61M16/1095 Primary

  in the connecting tubes · CPC title