AU2014101504A4 - AirY Insufflation Device - Google Patents

Abstract

- 1 Air-Y INSUFFLATION DEVICE (Provisional Patent Application Number 2014900034 - 7Jan2014) This invention relates to an insufflation device with a specific Y connector orientation incorporated into an air circuit for the safe and rapid oxygenation of patients. The device is primarily designed to reduce the risk of mortality or complications and consequences caused by a lack of oxygen in a patient's lungs usually due to a blockage in the patient's air way. The device is for use by medical professionals in hospitals, ambulances or wherever patients are cared for. The device is most commonly used in emergencies in hospitals and ambulances. Existing products on the market use the same principal of delivering oxygen though the controlling device, but differ in that they either do not use a Y connector component or the orientation of the Y connector is opposite to the said invention. The said Insufflation Device which includes the Y Connector are shown and described in the other attached documents. The essential elements of the present invention Air-Y INSUFFLATION DEVICE are a Y connector in a particular orientation (1), connecting a hose to the air supply bottle (2) and a hose supplying air to the patient (3). The third opening of the Y connector (4) is for the regulation of air flow typically enacted by the use of the medial officers thumb. rQt (D o D -0 0 -00 -00 3 -0 (DD 4/ ~ 0~ r r+ * -- D .. . .. . .. . .. . . .. . . . .. .. . .. .. . U) ix-n

Description

- 1 AirY Insufflation Device (Provisional Patent Application Number 2014900034 - 7Jan2014) SPECIFICATION DESCRIPTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION [001] This invention relates generally to a device for the rapid oxygenation of patients. It is primarily designed to reduce the risk of mortality or complications and consequences caused by a lack of oxygen in a patient's lungs usually due to a blockage in the patient's air way. The device is for use by medical professionals in hospitals, ambulances or wherever patients are cared for BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [002] There exist an increasing number of sharps injuries in the medical sector globally and there is great concern over the safety for the administering staff of injury and infection. The safe carrying to and from the patient and the safe disposal of sharps at the point of use will play a significant role in minimizing the risk and injuries. [003] The need for safe delivery of oxygen to patients and providing an easy passage for the exhaled air to escape drove this invention.. [004] This invention overcomes existing problems experienced by clinical staff and other users in a variety of work environments every time rapid oxygenation is required. The problems with the existing devices are that when the circuit is open to the atmosphere a lot of the oxygen entering from the supply source still moves down the second tube connected to the patients' airway which restricts the patients exhale. Current devises are also ergonomically difficult to hold and control.

-2 Therefore present invention is directed to overcoming these and other problems associated with convenience and safety in delivering oxygen to the patient and enabling the patient to exhale without undue restriction. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [005] This invention relates generally to a device for the rapid oxygenation of patients. It is primarily designed to reduce the risk of mortality or complications and consequences caused by a lack of oxygen in a patient's lungs usually due to a blockage in the patient's air way. The device is specifically designed to improve the flow of air to and from the patient through the inhale, neutral and exhale phases of the oxygenation cycle. [006] One object of the present invention is to overcomes the deficiencies in existing products. The invention eliminates the significant flow of air to the patient when the circuit is open to the atmosphere and allows the air escaping the patient to move through the circuit and into the atmosphere with little or no resistance from the oxygen supply traveling through the circuit in the opposite direction. [007] Another object of the present invention is to allow air to move from the patient and through the circuit out to the atmosphere via the path of least resistance. [008] Still another object of the present invention is to eliminates the airflow to the patient when the control port is in the open state patient or when the patient's breathing is in a neutral or exhale phase. [009] Yet another object of the present invention is to minimise or eliminate the flow of air from the source to the patient in the patient's neutral or exhale phase.

-3 In this way, the air in the patients lungs are not fighting a back pressure during exhaling, nor is any air being unduly directed to the lungs in the neutral phase [010] One more object of the present invention is for use in the medical and medical career sector of work including hospitals, doctor's surgeries, ambulances and other medical and professional places of work. [011] Yet another object of the invention is to design an insufflation device considering all objective in mind, still working withconvenience, keeping safety in mind, improved efficiency and still maintaining the insufflation device and Y connector orientation with aesthetic features. [012] Also the specific nature of the invention, other features, objects, uses and the advantages thereof will clearly appear from the description below accompanied by the drawings in different views which are not to scale. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [013] For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; [014] Fig 1. illustrates a perspective view of an Insufflation Device and view of Y connector orientation in the insufflation device in accordance with the present invention. [015] Fig 2. illustrates the shape and orientation of current connectors within the insufflation device.

-4 [016] Fig 3. Illustrated the airflow of current connectors within the insufflation device and the problems being solved by the present invention. [017] Fig 4. Illustrates the airflow within the insufflation device in accordance with the present invention. [018] Fig 5. illustrates the insufflation device y connector with the internal fin in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [019] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding or similar elements throughout the several views, an exemplary insufflation device according to the present invention as depicted in figures 1-5 in particular can be referred. The drawings disclose a preferred embodiment of the present invention. While the configuration is preferred, it is envisioned that slightly different alternate configurations of the present invention may be adopted without deviating from the invention as portrayed. The preferred embodiment is discussed in the embodiment part of this document. [020] It should be understood that the described embodiment is intended for illustrative purposes only in that those skilled in the art can appreciate that the concepts and teachings of the present invention can take a wide variety of forms. In any event, the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims as set forth below.

-5 EMBODIMENT [021] This invention relates to an insufflation device and the Y connector incorporated into an air circuit for the rapid oxygenation of patients. It is primarily designed to reduce the risk of mortality or complications and consequences caused by a lack of oxygen in a patient's lungs usually due to a blockage in the patient's air way. The device is for use by medical professionals in hospitals, ambulances or wherever patients are cared for. [022] The device is most commonly used in emergencies in hospitals and ambulances. Existing products on the market use the same principal of delivering oxygen though the controlling device, but differ in that they either do not use a Y connector component or the orientation of the Y connector is opposite to my said invention as shown in Fig 1. [023] The problems with the existing devices are that when the circuit is open to the atmosphere a lot of the oxygen entering from the supply source still moves down the second tube connected to the patients' airway. In the case where existing products use a Y connector or similar, Fig 2 shows their connector orientation. Fig 5 shows the air flow lines in this configuration. [024] In another existing device the connector is a straight plastic tube like connector with holes on the opposite sides around its circumference as shown in Fig 2. When the holes are covered/blocked by the practitioners fingers the air coming from the air supply can only flow to the patient and when the holes are open the air from both the patient and the air supply is meant to flow out these holes to the atmosphere. [025] In both of these existing manual devices, the air coming from the air supply follows along the path of least resistance and this is toward the patients lungs -6 when it is best for the air to be escaping to atmosphere and allowing the lungs to exhale with ease. Instead there is a constant flow of air to the lungs and this places significant pressure on the lungs in both the neutral and exhale phases. This pressure created by the air supply stream moving toward the lungs has to be overcome before the air in the lungs is able to move out of the circuit and into atmosphere. This is further explained in Fig 3. [026] My invention overcomes the deficiencies in existing products. My invention eliminates the significant flow of air to the patient when the circuit is open to the atmosphere as shown in Fig 4; it also allows the air escaping the patient to move through the circuit and into the atmosphere with little or no resistance from the oxygen supply traveling through the circuit in the opposite direction as shown in Fig 4. [027] Other insufflation devices utilise manual, mechanical and electronic air delivery control devices. The manual devices are controlled by the practitioner's finger or thumb and they vary in design. My device has some distinguishing features including the orientation of the Y connector as well as the inclusion of a fin inside the Y connector's airway passage. The orientation in my device allows for the supply air to move through the circuit and out to the atmosphere via the path of least resistance. This eliminates the airflow to the patient when the control port is in the open state. [028] My device is specifically designed to improve the flow of air to and from the patient (inhale, neutral and exhale). It is also designed to minimise or eliminate the flow of air from the source to the patient in the patient's neutral or exhale phase. In this way, the air in the patients lungs are not fighting a back pressure during exhaling, nor is any air being unduly directed to the lungs in the neutral phase ie in the lungs neither inhaling or exhaling.

-7 Currently we do not believe that there are any devices with the orientation of the Y connector where the airflow control port is pointing towards the patient (see Fig 1). There are some existing devices in which the Y connector points in the direction of the air flow. It points to the gas supply side of the circuit as shown in Fig 5. [029] My device consists of two lengths of tubing with appropriate end connectors joined by a Y connector as shown in Fig 1. Two ends of the Y connector connect to the two tubes. One tube end is connected to the patient and the other tube end is connected to the gas supply - such as oxygen. The third which we will call "control port" is used to control the airflow that passes from the gas source to the patient and from the patients' lungs to the ambient atmosphere. The way the control port is used is typically by the operator's thumb closing the port and in so doing the air coming in from the gas source moves through the circuit to the patient. In the open position the air from the supply source escapes through it and any air in the lungs can escape without being obstructed by the supply gas. [030] My orientation of the Y connector and fin allows for easy air delivery to the patient and more importantly allows the air in the patient's lungs to escape unobstructed by the air supply moving through the circuit in the opposite direction. In the open position the orientation allows for the air to take the path of least resistance. The fin contained within the Y connector airway adds additional guidance at the junction to the airflow coming in from both sides and helps stream them to the ambient atmosphere via the control port. This has the effect of allowing both the supply gas and the exhale gas to escape into the ambient temperature without one interrupting the others passage out. This assists the patient to exhale without having to first overcome any backpressure as is the case with the current manually operated inventions.

-8 [031] In an alternative configuration, the Y connector could be used without the fin. This configuration is still significantly better that the Y connector being connected in the reverse orientation or the straight connector with holes on the sides as shown in Fig 2. In this reverse Y connection and the straight connector, the line of least resistance for the supply air is towards the patient thus creating additional pressure which the patient must overcome in order to exhale. In some circumstances this may restrict the escape of air from the lungs. In my invention the line of least resistance is to the control port and the ambient atmosphere. [032] As a further improvement to the devices' operation and functionality the control port in my invention is fluted as shown in Fig 5 to further improve air flow out of the insufflation device and into the atmosphere. In an alternative configuration, the control port does not need to be fluted to provide the majority of benefits of my invention and can for example be straight. [033] The transparent plastic Y connector provides the operator visibility throughout the device including the Y connector, thus ensuring an unobstructed air circuit. [034] The invention, its features and advantages are better understood with reference to the illustrations of embodiments of the invention. [034] Figure 1 view of the invention is shown with parts forming the insufflation device circuit. In this configuration, the Y connector control port points toward the patient and away from the gas supply source. [036] Figure 2 show the circuit with the Y connector in the reverse orientation and Fig 3 illustrates the problem of back pressure in existing devices.

-9 [037] The invention may be made of any suitable moulded plastic such as polycarbonate however other plastic materials may be used in the construction of the invention. In an alternative configuration the product may be made from a variety of materials in whole, part or composite. [038] My Y connector is made in a translucent green colour though the invention may be made in any suitable coloured plastic while maintaining an appropriate level of transparency in order that a clear air circuit can be assured.

Claims (7)

1. An Insufflation Device for the safe and rapid oxygenation of patients at point of use comprising: a Y connector in a particular orientation, connecting a hose to the air supply bottle on one branch and a hose supplying air to the patient of another of the Y branches. The third branch of the Y connector is for the regulation of air flow typically enacted by the use of the medical officer's thumb

2. An Insufflation Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the orientation of the Y connector improves the flow of air to and from the patient through the inhale, neutral and exhale phases of the oxygenation cycle.

3. An Insufflation Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the orientation and the fluted control branch of the Y connector improves the flow of air to and from the patient through the inhale, neutral and exhale phases of the oxygenation cycle.

4. An Insufflation Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the orientation and the fin internal to the Y connector improves the flow of air to and from the patient through the inhale, neutral and exhale phases of the oxygenation cycle.

5. An Insufflation Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the orientation and fluted control branch of the Y connector improves the handling and control of air by the device operator. -2

6. An Insufflation Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the orientation and fluted control branch and the ergonomic design improves and comfort of using the device without undue stress on the users arm, hand and fingers

7. An Insufflation Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gripping means provided in the Y connector is such that a human hand can easily grip the said Y connector in an intuitive handling grip.