DE202013006445U1 - Ventilation tube unit and kit with breathing tube unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A breathing tube unit (1) comprising a tube piece (2) having an end piece (3) attached end to end, said end piece (3) having a coupling portion (6) and a connecting portion (7), said connecting portion (7) comprising an end portion of said tube piece (2) tightly and preferably inseparably encloses, wherein the coupling portion (6) for fluid-communicating coupling of the breathing tube unit (1) to another unit of a ventilation system is formed, characterized in that the connecting portion (7) of the end piece (3) further with the Hose piece (2) and the coupling portion (6) of the end piece (3) communicating tubular piece (14) tightly and preferably inseparably encloses, wherein the tube piece (14) has a branch (15) extending through a wall of the connecting portion (7) of the Endpiece (3) extends therethrough.

Description

The present invention relates to a breathing tube unit and a kit with such a ventilation tube unit.

A respiratory hose system or respiratory system for supplying a person with breathing gas has inter alia ventilation hose units, which essentially comprise a flexible hose piece with a molded-on end piece (s), so-called sleeves, wherein the end pieces are for coupling with other units or components of the Systems are trained or adapted. Thus, a plurality of breathing tube units can be coupled to each other by means of coupling pieces, T-pieces, Y-pieces or the like.

When using a breathing circuit with heating temperature sensors are needed, which take over the control of the heater. From the prior art two ways are known to incorporate a temperature sensor in a breathing tube system.

In a first conventional solution, an additional component, such as a tee, that allows the connection of the sensor is provided. In other words, the sensor can be plugged into the additional component. The additional component may for example be enclosed with the hose system. When disassembling and assembling for maintenance and cleaning of the hose and any accessory components, it may happen that the additional component is forgotten. This leads to a false signal from the sensor and can lead to harm to the supplied person.

In a second conventional solution, the sensor is molded directly with the production of the hose. The sensor then has an electrical connection to the hose sleeves or the like. This solution also has the disadvantage that a directly injected sensor is not universally usable due to possibly non-compatible connections. Thus, the choice of the hose is determined by the overall system, because connections of the cable or the sensor may differ from system to system.

An object of the present invention is to provide a breathing tube unit, wherein the disadvantages of the prior art are at least partially avoided. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to facilitate the assembly of a respiratory system with breathing tube units and / or to make it less error prone. It is a further object of the present invention to extend the capabilities of a breathing tube assembly and to improve compatibility with existing ventilation systems.

The above object is achieved at least in some aspects by a ventilation tube unit according to the invention with the features of claim 1 and a kit according to the invention with the features of claim 10. Here are features and details that are described in connection with the breathing tube unit according to the invention, also in connection with the kit according to the invention and in each case reversed and alternately, so that with respect to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention always reciprocal reference is or may be. Other objects are achieved by the subclaims.

One aspect of the present invention is a breathing tube assembly comprising a length of tubing having an end portion attached thereto, the end portion having a coupling portion and a connection portion, the connection portion sealingly and preferably undetachably surrounding an end portion of the length of tubing, the coupling portion for fluidly communicating coupling of the breathing tubing is formed on a further unit of a ventilation system. According to the invention, it is proposed that the connecting portion of the end piece further sealingly and preferably non-detachably surrounds a pipe piece communicating with the hose piece and the coupling portion of the end piece, the pipe piece having a branch extending through a wall of the connecting portion of the end piece.

For the purposes of the invention, a ventilator tube unit is understood to mean a unit or assembly of a respiratory system which is suitable for ventilation purposes and has at least one tube piece suitable for respiratory purposes with associated end pieces such as tube sleeves or the like for coupling to other units or elements of the respiratory system. The breathing tube unit may include internals such as heating wires or coils or the like. For the purposes of the invention, a hose piece is understood to mean a gas line designed for ventilation purposes for inspiratory and / or expiratory gas. Under an end piece is an end-side hose connection, rigid or at least partially elastic, but dimensionally stable than the hose piece, for connecting extensions, T-pieces, Y-pieces, devices, etc. understood. In this case, the connecting portion makes a connection with the hose piece and is the coupling portion, for example, for insertion into a gas connection of a device, connecting to a Coupling section of another breathing tube unit, a tee, Y-piece, angle connector or the like adapted. The coupling sections of units of a ventilation system are standardized with each other, or there are adapters available for customization. According to the invention, a piece of pipe is provided separately, which, as enclosed by the connecting portion, tight and preferably insoluble in the composite of tail and hose piece is integrated. Thus, the end piece (more specifically, its coupling portion), the tube piece and the tube piece form a flow path for a lumen of the ventilation system. (A lumen in ventilation technology is understood to mean a gas volume flow (inspiratory or expiratory).)

A branch is in the context of the invention, a pipe section which angled, in particular, but not necessarily, right-angled, fluid-communicating branched off from the pipe section and in particular is formed integrally with the pipe section. Since the branch penetrates the wall of the connecting portion of the end piece, it provides another access (side access) to the flow path (to the lumen), without the need for further connecting pieces. Through the access thus created, a simplification of the work during installation and interconnection of the ventilation system can be achieved. There are fewer components to connect so there are fewer joints and consequently fewer potential leaks. The further access allows the inclusion of sensors or other components without separate tees, so forgetting after pre-assembly is not possible even with later disassembly and assembly. In this case, a direct integration of the sensors or the other components is avoided in the breathing tube unit, therefore flexibility is given with regard to the connections. In other words, the breathing tube unit can be used regardless of the type of connection of a sensor used. Depending on the design of the branch, the end piece of the processing hose unit can also be configured as an integrated Y-piece.

The preparation of the breathing tube unit according to the invention is carried out in particular by preparing the tube piece and the tube piece with the branch, arranging the same in a mold (socket tool), encapsulating the end portion of the tube piece and the tube piece omitting the branch, curing the casting material to form the tail, demolding, if necessary reworking (eg grinding) the connections.

In a preferred embodiment of the breathing tube unit, an end portion of the tube piece, preferably up to the branch, is received in an end portion of the tube piece. In other words, the pipe piece is pushed into the end portion of the hose piece, wherein preferably the end portion of the hose piece abuts the front end of the branch. D. h., The hose piece and the branch together form a stop for the insertion depth of the pipe section in the manufacture of the breathing tube unit. By inserting the pipe section in the hose piece to the stop (branch) a relative position of these parts is fixed. This also facilitates handling during production.

In a preferred embodiment of the breathing tube unit, a closure element designed to close the branch is provided. As a result, the branch or the access created thereby can be closed when not in use. If the closure element is provided with a strap for attachment to the breathing tube unit, it may also be difficult to lose or forget the closure element. In this case, a ribbon is understood to be a string-like or band-like, in any case flexible, element which makes it possible to attach it to the breathing tube unit.

In a preferred embodiment of the breathing tube unit, the band is arranged inseparably in the region of the tube piece, wherein the band preferably extends through a wall of the connecting portion, wherein a plate-like or widened end of the band is particularly preferably enclosed by the connecting portion. In other words, the band can be cast in the production together with the pipe section and the hose piece. Loss or forgetting of the closure element is thus practically no longer possible.

In a further preferred embodiment of the breathing tube unit, the end piece has a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and / or the tube piece comprises polypropylene (PP). TPE have a certain elasticity without vulcanization, which facilitates the close coupling with other components and makes the use of further sealants dispensable. PP is a harder material that is suitable for the formation of pipes.

In a further preferred embodiment of the breathing tube unit, the tube piece has a thin sheath and a circumferential helix, wherein preferably the sheath comprises polyethylene (PE) and / or the helix comprises ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). The material combination allows the formation of a flexible elastic jacket made of PP, wherein the helix forms a reinforcement, which ensures required strength requirements for the hose piece.

The specified materials are preferably used as the respective main component. By sorted material choice, d. h., If the individual components each consist of at least substantially 100% of the specified materials, a pure-sort disposal or recycling is possible.

In a preferred embodiment of the breathing tube unit, the branch is designed to receive or connect another component.

In an alternative preferred development of the breathing tube unit, the branch is designed to receive an adapter part, wherein the adapter part is designed to receive or to connect another component.

In both preferred developments of the breathing tube unit, the further component can be selected from the group comprising a temperature sensor, an oxygen sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, a gas metering, a gas suction, a medicament metering, in particular with a misting unit or a metered-dose inhaler unit, a valve having as Notluftöffnung or as a pressure relief valve or the like and another ventilation hose unit.

Sensors and other functional components are often standardized in their design, but may have different connections (eg electrical connections). If the branch is designed to accommodate such standardized sensors, sensors of different types of connection can be picked up without further measures, and confusion can be avoided. If adapters are provided, the adapter and the branch may also have a proprietary mated form. The adapter can also be made available for a variety of different types of components.

The present invention is directed in a second aspect also to a kit comprising a breathing tube unit as described above in connection with the alternative preferred embodiment, and one or more adapter parts which are designed for receiving or for connection in or on the branch which are designed for receiving or for connecting further components of different types.

Thus, a distribution unit can be provided, which allows a universal adaptation to different components and within each component type to different connection standards.

By using a ventilation tube unit according to the invention, the kit according to the invention brings with it the same advantages as have been described with respect to the breathing tube unit itself.

Further features, objects and effects of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

1 a spatial view of a processing hose unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and

2 a representation of an end piece and an end portion of a piece of tubing of the breathing tube unit.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same components in several figures are each provided with the same reference numerals. Components and features, purposes, and effects described in reference to an exemplary embodiment are, unless expressly or implicitly excluded, to be deemed to be applicable in any other embodiment and are also to be deemed disclosed in relation to the other embodiment, even if they: not explicitly shown and / or described there. It is also to be understood that the drawings are to be understood as schematic and that no restrictions with regard to specific dimensions or size relationships should be taken from them, unless this is expressly so described.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS 1 and 2 described. It shows 1 a breathing tube unit 1 with a piece of hose 2 and a tail 3 in a spatial representation, and 2 shows a longitudinal section in the region of the tail 3 and one the tail 3 associated end portion of the hose piece 2 , In the presentation of 1 is the hose piece 2 shown only to a part of its length. The end of the hose piece, not shown 2 can be a tail 3 as shown at the illustrated end or another end such as a conventional sleeve or free ends.

As shown in 1 indicates the breathing tube unit 1 the hose piece 2 and the tail 3 attached to it. The hose Connector 2 points as in 2 even more clearly recognizable, a comparatively thin coat 4 up, that of a helix 5 is turned around. Without limitation of generality is the coat 4 of the hose piece 2 made of polyethylene (PE), and is the helix 5 made from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The helix 5 can also from the material of the jacket 4 be poured. By the construction with coat 4 and helix 5 The requirements for flexibility, pressure stability, mechanical robustness and weight savings are met in a conventional manner.

As in 1 further shown, the tail 3 a coupling section 6 , a connecting section 7 , a page access 8th and a closure element 9 on. The coupling section 6 is formed in the form of a conventional sleeve for breathing systems for connection to other units of a ventilation system such as a Y-piece, a tee, an extension tube unit or a ventilator. As in 2 recognizable, the coupling section has 6 a generally tubular cross-section. The connecting section 7 forms a thickening and provides a tight and permanent connection with the hose piece 2 off by the connecting section 7 an end portion of the hose piece 2 encloses or sheathed. Without limitation of generality is the tail 3 made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Although by the choice of materials a certain elasticity of the tail 3 what is the use of separate sealant in the coupling section 6 is dispensable, too, by comparison with the coat 4 of the hose piece 2 considerable wall thickness the dimensional stability of the tail 3 essentially ensured.

The page access 8th of the tail 3 has a generally tubular opening and allows in the region of the connecting portion 7 a fluid-communicating access to a lumen of the breathing tube unit. The training of page access 8th will be later on the basis of the sectional view in 2 will be described in more detail. By one with the connecting section 7 of the tail 3 connected closure element 9 is the page access 8th closable. For this purpose, the closure element 9 a ribbon 10 on, which has a generally cord-shaped cross-section. The ribbon 10 is at one end with the connecting section 7 of the tail 3 is firmly connected and widens at the other end to a tab 11 , which on one of their surfaces a stopper 12 wearing. The closure element 9 is made without restriction of generality in one piece from silicone.

As in the sectional view of 2 clearly recognizable, is through the connecting section 7 of the tail 3 a piece of pipe 14 enclosed. The pipe piece 14 has a (pipe) branch 15 on, extending through the wall of the connecting section 7 extends through. The pipe piece 14 is arranged so that one end of the pipe section 14 until the beginning of the branch 15 in the hose piece 2 so that the branch 15 a stop for the hose piece 2 forms. When used as intended form the coupling section 6 , the piece of pipe 14 and the hose piece 2 a continuous flow path for a lumen of a processing system, and forms the branch 15 the page access 8th to this lumen or flow path.

In the present embodiment, an inner surface 16 of the branch 15 for receiving a temperature sensor (not shown in detail) is formed. Temperature sensors generally have a standardized outer contour, but may have different electrical connections depending on the ventilation system used. Thus, through the breathing tube unit 1 This embodiment, any commercial temperature sensor can be used.

Although not shown in detail in the figure, the hose piece may have an integrated heating system for heating a gas flowing in the hose piece (in particular inspiration gas). The heating system may be an electrical heating wire or a heating coil through which a heat medium flows, without limiting the generality. In contrast to this, the heating of the gas can also be effected by external means, such as a heating sleeve, which can be attached around the hose piece or already in advance in a gas treatment. In interaction with one in the side branch 8th recorded temperature sensor and a suitable control unit can thus be ensured a suitable temperature of the gas.

Although not shown in detail in the figure, is a hose-side end of the ribbon 10 the closure element 9 also from the connecting section 7 of the tail 3 enclosed. To further extract safety, the hose-side end of the ribbon 10 have a tab-shaped or plate-shaped cross-sectional enlargement.

An exemplary procedure for the production of the breathing tube unit will now be described 1 described.

First, in a first step, the piece of hose 2 as composite component of a jacket 3 made of PE and a helix 4 EVA, the pipe section 14 with the branch 15 from PP and that closure element 9 made of silicone. Next is the pipe piece 14 frontally by an insertion length L ( 2 ) in an end portion of the hose piece 2 pushed. The insertion length L is so dimensioned that the branch 15 of the pipe section 14 abuts against the front end of the hose piece. Thereafter, in a further step, the piece of tubing 2 with the inserted pipe section 14 inserted into a mold (socket tool), the free end of the ribbon 10 the closure element 9 inserted and closed the mold. Then, in a next step, the parts located in the mold with the molten material of the tail 3 encapsulated so that the end portion of the hose piece and the pipe piece are enclosed with the omission of the branch of the casting material. After hardening of the casting material to the tail 3 In a subsequent step, the mold is opened and emptied. In a final step, if necessary, reworking (for example, grinding) of the connections of the coupling section takes place 6 and the page access 8th and a quality control.

It is understood that the production is not limited to this process. Rather, the tail can 3 For example, shrunk or prepared as half shells and then enclosing the pipe section 14 , the end portion of the hose piece 2 and the free end of the ribbon 10 welded or in a technique of wrapping the pipe section 14 , the end portion of the hose piece 2 and the free end of the ribbon 10 and a separately prepared sleeve piece (as a coupling section 6 ) with a winding (as a connecting section 7 ) getting produced.

The invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, variants, alternatives and modifications and illustrated in the figures. These descriptions and illustrations are purely schematic and do not limit the scope of the claims, but are merely illustrative of them. It is understood that the invention can be embodied and modified in many ways without departing from the scope of the claims.

For example, the present invention has been described with reference to a page access with a receptacle for a temperature sensor. Alternatively, the side access may include a receptacle for another type of sensor, such as pressure sensors, flow sensors or others, or a port for drug delivery, gas metering, a vent valve, or the like. Alternatively, the side access can accommodate an adapter, for receiving or for connecting a particular type of sensors or devices is formed. Accordingly, various adapters may be provided, which are adapted on the one hand uniformly to the opening of the side access and on the other hand for receiving or connecting each of a certain type of sensors or devices. In this way, the breathing tube unit with a single universal tail by means of a plurality of each separately adapted adapter for receiving or connecting a variety of types of sensors or devices can be set up with any other connections.

Furthermore, the present invention has been described with reference to a tail with a single page access. However, it is also possible to use multi-branch pipe pieces or multiple pipe pieces each having one or more branches to provide a plurality of side accesses. Thus, for example, recordings for temperature sensors, pressure sensors, flow sensors or connections for drug feeds, gas dosing or vent valves or the like can be provided on a single end piece in an integrated manner.

Furthermore, the present invention has been described in terms of a right-angled branching page access. Deviating from this, the side access can branch off at any angle, it can also be bent and, for example, run parallel to the coupling section at the end. Thus, an integrated Y-piece with good ergonomic design can be realized.

Furthermore, the invention has been described with reference to a breathing tube unit with only one lumen. However, the invention is also applied to two-lumen breathing tube units, wherein advantageously the pipe section 14 with the branch 15 to a Koaxialweiche for the separation of an outer lumen (such as for the transport of the inspiratory gas) and an inner lumen (accordingly, for example, for the transport of the expiratory gas) is developed.

The ribbon 10 may have a flat cross-section instead of a circular one.

It is understood that details of all embodiments, variants, alternatives and modifications can be interchanged with each other, as far as this is not apparent or expressly excluded.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Breathing tube unit

2

hose Connector

3

tail

4

coat

5

helix

6

coupling section

7

connecting portion

8th

access

9

closure element

10

Bändel

11

flap

12

Plug

13

Riffel

14

pipe section

15

junction

16

palm

L

insertion length

Claims (10)

Ventilation tube unit ( 1 ), comprising a hose piece ( 2 ) with an end piece attached thereto ( 3 ), whereby the tail ( 3 ) a coupling section ( 6 ) and a connecting section ( 7 ), wherein the connecting portion ( 7 ) an end portion of the hose piece ( 2 ) tightly and preferably inseparably encloses, wherein the coupling section ( 6 ) for the fluid-communicating coupling of the breathing tube unit ( 1 ) is formed on a further unit of a ventilation system, characterized in that the connecting portion ( 7 ) of the tail ( 3 ) further with the hose piece ( 2 ) and the coupling section ( 6 ) of the tail ( 3 ) communicating pipe section ( 14 ) tightly and preferably inseparably encloses, wherein the pipe section ( 14 ) a branch ( 15 ), which extends through a wall of the connecting portion ( 7 ) of the tail ( 3 ) extends therethrough. Ventilation tube unit ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that an end portion of the pipe section ( 14 ), preferably up to the branch ( 15 ), in an end portion of the hose piece ( 2 ) is recorded. Ventilation tube unit ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one for closing the branch ( 15 ) formed closure element ( 9 ) is provided, wherein the closure element ( 9 ) preferably with a ribbon ( 10 ) for attachment to the breathing tube unit ( 1 ) is provided. Ventilation tube unit ( 1 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the ribbon ( 10 ) inseparable in the region of the pipe section ( 14 ), wherein the ribbon ( 10 ) preferably through a wall of the connecting portion ( 7 extends), wherein particularly preferably a tab-like or plate-like or the like widened end of the strip ( 10 ) from the connecting section ( 7 ) is enclosed. Ventilation tube unit ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end piece ( 3 ) has a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and / or the pipe section ( 14 ) Polypropylene (PP), in each case preferably as a main component, in particular at least substantially pure sort. Ventilation tube unit ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hose piece ( 2 ) a thin coat ( 4 ) and a rotating helix ( 5 ), wherein preferably the jacket ( 4 ) Polyethylene (PE) and / or the helix ( 5 ) Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), in each case preferably as a main component, in particular at least substantially pure in type. Ventilation tube unit ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the branch ( 15 ) is designed for receiving or for connecting a further component. Ventilation tube unit ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the branch ( 15 ) is designed for receiving an adapter part, wherein the adapter part is designed for receiving or for connecting a further component. Ventilation tube unit ( 1 ) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the further component is selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, an oxygen sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, a gas metering, a gas suction, a drug dosage, in particular with a nebulization unit or a Dosierinhalatoreinheit, a valve as Notluftöffnung or as a pressure relief valve or the like and another ventilation hose unit ( 1 ) having. Kit comprising a breathing tube unit ( 1 ) according to claim 8 or 9, as far as referred back to claim 8, and one or more adapter parts, which are for receiving or for connection in or on the branch ( 15 ) are formed and which are designed for receiving or for connecting other components of different types.

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