Apparatus and method for providing gases to a user

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9925350-B2
Application number	US-201414768555-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2014
Priority date	Feb 19, 2013
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

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 tubing and connector combination comprising:
a tubing segment;
a tubing flange connected to a distal end of the tubing segment; and
a connector assembled with the tubing flange and configured to couple to a complementary connector, the connector comprising:
an inner sleeve; and
an outer sleeve comprising a plurality of prongs, at least a portion of one or more of the prongs being adapted to elastically deflect radially outward;
the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve being mechanically secured together and being positioned outside of a flow path through the tubing segment and the tubing flange, a first portion of the inner sleeve being disposed and captured radially between an enlarged portion of the tubing flange and a first portion of the outer sleeve, and the enlarged portion of the tubing flange being disposed and captured axially between a second portion of the inner sleeve and a second portion of the outer sleeve.

2. The tubing and connector combination of claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve comprises an inner passage that tapers in the proximal direction and the inner sleeve comprises a proximal portion with distally-extending slots that allow compression of the proximal portion of the inner sleeve.

3. The tubing and connector combination of claim 1 , wherein the tubing flange comprises a radial outer peripheral surface and a radial inner surface of the inner sleeve forms a seal around the radial outer peripheral surface of the tubing flange.

4. The tubing and connector combination of claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve comprises a distal portion having a structure configured to mate with a complementary structure.

5. The tubing and connector combination of claim 4 , wherein the distal portion is formed along an internal surface.

6. The tubing and connector combination of claim 5 , wherein the inner sleeve comprises an inner shoulder, the inner shoulder and a portion of the tubing segment and tubing flange abutting following connection and the structure configured to mate with the complementary structure is positioned entirely distal of the shoulder.

7. The tubing and connector combination of claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the structure configured to mate with the complementary structure is positioned directly adjacent to the shoulder.

8. The tubing and connector combination of claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve comprises a plurality of prongs, the prongs extending in a distal direction and defining a tapering opening with a larger proximal crossing dimension and a smaller crossing dimension distally of the larger proximal crossing dimension.

9. The tubing and connector combination of claim 8 , wherein a portion of the prongs intersected by the smaller crossing dimension and an inner surface of the outer sleeve are separated by a gap.

10. The tubing and connector combination of claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve comprises a plurality of prongs that are configured to deform to allow insertion of the tubing segment and tubing flange in a first direction but abut against a portion of the tubing segment and tubing flange to reduce the likelihood of withdrawal of the tubing segment and tubing flange in a second direction.

11. The tubing and connector combination of claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve comprises a plurality of prongs that are symmetrically positioned about an inner surface of the outer sleeve.

12. The tubing and connector combination of claim 1 , wherein the tubing segment and the tubing flange are an integral component.

13. The tubing and connector combination of claim 8 , wherein the enlarged portion of the tubing flange is disposed distal to distal ends of the plurality of prongs.

14. The tubing and connector combination of claim 13 , wherein the enlarged portion of the tubing flange is disposed at a distal end of the tubing flange, the tubing flange further comprises a tapering neck portion extending proximally from the enlarged portion, a shoulder is formed between the enlarged portion and the tapering neck portion, and the shoulder interacts with the distal ends of the prongs.

15. The tubing and connector combination of claim 1 , wherein a distalmost edge of the tubing flange abuts an inner shoulder of the inner sleeve.

16. The tubing and connector combination of claim 1 , wherein the tubing segment and the tubing flange are made of the same material.

17. The tubing and connector combination of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the inner sleeve is configured to couple to the complementary connector.

18. The tubing and connector combination of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the inner sleeve extends distally beyond a distal end of the outer sleeve.

19. The tubing and connector combination of claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the inner sleeve is coplanar with a proximal end of the outer sleeve.

20. The tubing and connector combination of claim 19 , wherein the inner sleeve extends from the proximal end to an open distal end and the outer sleeve extends from the proximal end to an open distal end.

21. The tubing and connector combination of claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve comprises a proximal portion and the proximal portion tapers such that an outer diameter of the proximal portion reduces in a distal direction.

22. The tubing and connector combination of claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve comprises a proximal portion, the proximal portion comprising one or more slots extending distally from a proximal-most end of the inner sleeve.

Assignees

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A61M2207/00

  Methods of manufacture, assembly or production · CPC title

• A61M16/0816 Primary

  Joints or connectors · CPC title

• F16L37/133

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

• F16L23/006

  Attachments · CPC title

• A61M39/12

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