FR3091740A1 - Medical fluid distribution socket with extractable tip guide - Google Patents

Abstract

A fluid distribution socket (1) comprising an elongated socket body (2) comprising a central passage (3) axially passing through the socket body (2), and a removable tip guide (4) comprising an axial housing (14) and a head valve (5) movable within said axial housing (14). The extractable bit guide (4) comprises an annular groove (6) formed in its outer peripheral wall (7) and an annular seal (8) arranged in said annular groove (6). The annular seal (8) is made of a deformable material and has a compression ratio of between 5 and 20%, said compression ratio (expressed in%) being defined by the ratio (EL / EC) between the thickness (EL) of the seal in the free state when the bit guide (4) is extracted from the socket body (2), and the thickness of the seal in the compressed state (EC) when the bit guide (4) is housed in the socket body (2). Abstract figure: Fig. 2

Description

Extractable Tip Guide Medical Fluid Dispensing Socket

The invention relates to an improved medical fluid distribution outlet, in particular gas or vacuum, which is intended to be used in a hospital building or the like for supplying gas or vacuum.

It is customary to use fluid distribution outlets to distribute fluids, in particular medical gases (i.e. a pure gas or a gas mixture) or vacuum (i.e. depression < 1 atm), within hospital buildings. They are found in particular in patient rooms, in operating or treatment rooms, or in other parts of the building.

Fluid distribution sockets are also commonly called "wall sockets" or "wall fittings" in particular, because they are generally mounted either directly on the walls, that is to say the walls or the like, of hospital buildings, or indirectly , for example by being integrated into a box or the like which is itself mounted on a wall.

These sockets make it possible to supply the medical gases conveyed by the gas pipeline networks running through the hospital buildings, to the devices and equipment used to treat and care for the patients within these buildings, in particular therapeutic gases, such as oxygen, nitrous oxide or air, or medical vacuum (ie negative pressure) making it possible to carry out aspirations in particular of biological liquids, for example blood or other biological liquids.

Thus, the document FR-A-2628820 proposes a fluid distribution socket, called an automatic locking connector, comprising a socket body of elongated shape comprising a central cavity or passage passing axially through the socket body so as to fluidically connect one end upstream, also called inlet end or distal end, to a downstream end, also called outlet end or proximal end comprising an orifice for supplying fluid, that is to say gas or vacuum. The fluid, such as a medical gas or vacuum (ie depression/suction), "flows" from one end to the other, when a connector of a device or medical equipment, in particular the connector of a fluid pipe , is mechanically and fluidically connected to the socket.

Usually, fluid passage control elements arranged, in a removable and extractable manner, in the central passage make it possible to control the release of the gas, in particular to prevent any delivery of the gas when no connector is connected thereto. They generally include a tip guide comprising a sliding head valve cooperating with a valve seat to ensure or, conversely, interrupt a fluid seal between valve and seat and thus prevent or, conversely, allow a passage of fluid (ie gas or vacuum).

These fluid passage control elements, in particular the tip guide, must be regularly checked, or even replaced, during maintenance operations.

Although this type of socket is generally satisfactory, it has however been observed in practice that a problem could arise during the maintenance of such a socket, in particular during the dismantling and extraction of the tip guide from the body. outlet, during maintenance operations on the outlet.

In fact, during the separation of the tip guide by an operator, in particular when unscrewing it, it regularly happens that it unhooks and falls on the ground, which can damage it and require its early replacement.

The present invention therefore aims to propose an improved fluid distribution socket, in particular medical gas or vacuum (ie suction/depression), making it possible to avoid the above-mentioned problem linked to the unhooking and the fall on the ground of the guide. -end piece, during a maintenance operation of the socket by an operator, such as a maintenance technician.

The solution of the invention relates to a fluid distribution outlet, namely gas or vacuum, comprising:

• an elongated socket body comprising a central passage passing axially through the socket body, and
• an extractable tip guide comprising an axial housing and a movable head valve within said axial housing,

characterized in that:

• the extractable tip guide comprises an annular groove arranged in its outer peripheral wall and an annular seal arranged in said annular groove, and
• the annular seal is made of a deformable material and has a compression rate of between 5 and 20%, said compression rate (expressed in %) being defined by the ratio (E _L /E _C ) between the thickness ( E _L ) of the joint in the free state when the tip guide is extracted from the socket body, and the thickness of the joint in the compressed state (E _C ) when the tip guide is housed in the socket body.

According to the embodiment considered, the fluid distribution socket of the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics:

• the annular seal has a compression rate between 8 and 15%.
• the degree of filling of the annular groove is between 60 and 90%, preferably between 66.7% and 85, said degree of filling (expressed in %) being defined as the ratio (V _J /V _G ) between the volume of the joint (V _J ), when said annular seal is inserted into the annular groove, and the volume of the groove (V _G ).
• the annular seal is made of a deformable material chosen from nitriles and elastomers, in particular ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM).
• the elongated grip body extends along a longitudinal axis (AA).
• the tip guide is made of a rigid material chosen from copper alloys, in particular nickel-plated brass, and zinc, aluminum and magnesium alloys, in particular zamak.
• the head valve is axially movable (i.e. along axis AA) within the axial housing, preferably movable in translation, in particular sliding.
• the extractable nozzle guide comprises, arranged in the axial housing, a head valve, a valve seat and an elastic element, the head valve being normally pushed against the valve seat by the elastic element.
• the head valve, the valve seat and the elastic element form all or part of the gas passage control elements.
• the elastic element comprises a spring or the like, for example a metal spring of cylindrical or frustoconical shape.
• the elastic element forms a sleeve around at least a part of the head valve.
• a second seal, such as an O-ring, is arranged around the head valve.
• the second seal cooperates with the valve seat to ensure a fluid seal between the head valve and the valve seat, when the head valve is completely pushed against the valve seat by the elastic element.
• the second seal is made of elastomer, silicone or other.

• the bit guide and the socket body are arranged coaxially.
• the bit guide is screwed into the socket body.
• the head valve comprises a blind internal housing comprising an axial orifice and one or more lateral orifices.
• said axial orifice and lateral orifices are in fluid communication with the blind internal housing.
• the head valve preferably comprises at least 3 side orifices, advantageously at least 4 side orifices.
• the side orifices are arranged in a ring around the head valve
• the tip guide forms a sleeve around the head valve.
• the bit guide is formed by at least two subunits attached to each other.
• the tip guide comprises an axial housing ending in a proximal orifice.
• the axial port of the valve head and the proximal port of the tip guide are arranged coaxially.
• the head valve has (at least in part) a generally tubular shape.
• the head valve comprises a tubular front portion within which the blind internal housing is arranged.
• the side ports are drilled through the side wall of the tubular front portion.
• the central passage of the plug body fluidly connects a distal end to a proximal end.
• the bit guide is removable, i.e. it can be removed or removed from the socket.
• the elastic element is arranged around at least a part of the distal part (or rear part) of the head valve.
• the elastic element comes to rest, in particular by one of its ends, on a shoulder arranged around the head valve and integral with the latter, in particular an annular shaped shoulder.
• the tip guide comprises a bottom, preferably a blind bottom, against which the elastic element presses, in particular via the other of its ends.
• the central passage crosses axially (i.e. axis AA) the socket body.
• the bit guide is arranged axially (i.e. axis AA) in the central passage of the socket body.
• a safety system, arranged in the central passage, comprises a ball-valve or the like and a ball chamber in which the ball-valve is housed, and a ball-valve seat cooperating with said ball-valve to control the passage of fluid.
• the bit guide is made up of several sub-units assembled together.
• the bit guide comprises two sub-units assembled together, for example by screwing.
• the tip-guide comprises an expansion cooperating with the ball-valve of the safety system.
• the socket body comprises connection means making it possible to mechanically connect a fluid pipe thereto, in particular a fluid pipe forming part of a network of fluid pipes (ie gas or vacuum) arranged within a hospital building such that said plug body is in fluid communication with said fluid conduit.
• the plug body includes connecting means including a fitting, tubing or the like in fluid communication with the central passage of the plug body.

The invention will now be better understood thanks to the following detailed description, given by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the appended figures, including:

represents an embodiment of a gas distribution outlet according to the invention;

shows a side view of the bit guide of the sockets shown in [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 3]; and

represents an embodiment of a vacuum distribution socket according to the invention.

represents an embodiment of a gas distribution socket 1 according to the invention comprising a socket body 2 of elongated shape, along the longitudinal axis AA, which is traversed axially by a central passage 3 forming an internal housing within from which are arranged, in an extractable manner, elements for controlling the passage of gas. Such architecture is classic.

The gas passage control elements comprise a tip guide 4 comprising an axial housing 14, a head valve 5 movable along the axis AA, ie sliding in translation, within said axial housing 14 and a proximal orifice 13 for passage fluid, ie gas or vacuum. In the case of taking 1 of , the gas is distributed, that is to say leaves the outlet 1, through the proximal orifice 13. This proximal orifice 13 is of circular section.

These gas passage control elements are best visible on which details (sectional view) the tip guide 4 fitted to the fluid dispensing socket 1 of [Fig. 1]. It can be seen there that an elastic element 9 is also provided, such as a cylindrical spring or the like, arranged in the axial housing 14.

Preferably, the elastic element 9 is arranged around the rear portion 5b of the head valve 5 and bears, on the one hand, on the blind bottom 14a of the axial housing 14 and, on the other hand, on a shoulder ring 5c secured to the head valve 5, for example formed in the outer peripheral wall of the head valve 5.

The elastic element 9 makes it possible to normally push the head valve 5 against a valve seat 10 arranged in the tip guide 4, for example within the internal wall delimiting the axial housing 14 of the tip guide 4, so as to control the passage of fluid in the socket body 2. Advantageously, an O-ring 17 or any other similar sealing means is arranged around the head valve 5, which cooperates with the valve seat 10 to ensure fluid sealing between the head valve 5 and the valve seat 10 when they are in contact with each other, that is to say when the head valve 5 is pushed against the valve seat 10 by the element elastic 9, for example a cylindrical spring arranged around the movable head valve 5 and acting on the shoulder 5c.

The head valve 5 comprises, for its part, a blind internal housing 15 comprising an axial orifice 13 in fluid communication with the blind internal housing 15. It can be seen on that the axial orifice 13 of the head valve 5 and the proximal orifice 18 of the tip-guide 4 are arranged coaxial, that is to say along the axis AA of the socket 1. The axial orifice 13 of the valve head 5 is of circular section.

In addition, the head valve 5 also comprises one or more side orifices 16, namely here 4 side orifices 16, arranged in a ring around the latter, which are also in fluid communication with the blind internal housing 15 so that the fluid (ie gas or vacuum) can enter or leave said blind internal housing 15 of the head valve 5, via these side orifices 16.

Advantageously, the fluid distribution socket 1 also comprises a safety system 20-22 arranged in the central passage 3 comprising a ball-valve 20 or the like (ie hemisphere or sphere) and a ball chamber 21 in which is housed the ball valve 20, and a ball valve seat 22 cooperating with said ball valve 20 to control the passage of fluid. Preferably, the valve seat 22 is arranged in the internal wall of the ball chamber 21. This safety system 20-22 makes it possible to prevent the gas from escaping from the socket 1 (cf. ) or vacuum suction (ie depression) takes place, i.e. air cannot enter the vacuum network connected to socket 1 and cause the pressure to rise there (< 1 atm) which prevails there (cf. [Fig. 3]), when the gas passage control elements, typically the tip guide 4, are dismantled and extracted from the socket body 2, in particular during an operation of inspection, maintenance or replacement. The ball-valve 20 acts as a safety valve which, under the effect of fluid pressure or depression (ie vacuum) exerted on the ball-valve 20, presses on and closes the valve seat 22, when the gas passage control elements, typically the tip-guide 4, are extracted from the socket body 2, so as to interrupt any fluid connection. In fact, the ball-valve 20 cooperates with the valve seat 22 so as to control the opening and/or the closing of an orifice or connecting channel 23 fluidically connecting the ball chamber 21 to the proximal part of the valve body. socket 2 where the gas passage control elements are housed, typically the tip guide 4.

Conversely, when the tip guide 4 is mounted in the socket body 2, it presses on the valve ball 20 to separate it from the valve seat 22 and thus allow fluid communication through the orifice or connecting channel 23. This can be done via an axial rod 24, forming an expansion or the like, protruding from the rear outer surface of the tip guide 4 and integral therewith, which is oriented so as to cross axially the orifice or connection channel 23 to come to press on the ball-valve 20 and thus take it off from the valve seat 22.

It should be noted that the ball-valve 20 can have different shapes, in particular a sphere shape as on , with a half-sphere as in [FIG. 3] or another suitable shape, for example oval, ovoid or other.

Furthermore, according to the chosen embodiment, the tip guide 4 can be formed of several sub-units fixed to each other, for example by screwing, interlocking, welding or other. Thus, in the embodiment detailed in , it can be seen that it here comprises two sub-units 11, 12 assembled together.

More specifically, the first subunit 11 forms the front or proximal portion of the tip guide 4 which carries the proximal orifice 18 of the tip guide 4 of the socket 1, while the second subunit 12 forms the rear portion or distal of the tip guide 4, that is to say the portion arranged like a sleeve around the head valve 5 and the elastic element 9. This second sub-unit 12 comprises the bottom 14a of the tip guide 8 on which presses the elastic element 9. It also carries the axial rod 24 which cooperates with the ball-valve 20 of the safety system.

In the context of the present invention, the inventors have demonstrated, via production tests, that in order to solve the aforementioned problem that is encountered during maintenance operations of sockets, in particular the risk of the tip guide falling extractable 4 on the ground during its dismantling, it was necessary to arrange an annular groove 6 in the peripheral wall of the tip guide 4, that is to say a groove or the like making the peripheral turn of the extractable tip guide 4 , and to arrange therein a deformable annular seal 8, such as an O-ring or the like, having a precise compression ratio.

More specifically, according to the present invention, the annular seal 8 is made of a deformable material, for example a nitrile or an elastomer, which has a compression ratio of between 5 and 20%, preferably of the order of 8 at 15%. The compression rate (expressed in %) corresponding to the ratio (E _L /E _C ) between the thickness (E _L ) of the seal in the free state, that is to say in the uncompressed state, when the bit guide 4 is extracted from the socket body 2, and the thickness of the seal 8 in the compressed state (E _C ) when the bit guide 4 is housed in the socket body 2.

Advantageously, when the annular seal 8 is housed in the annular groove 6, the filling rate of the annular groove 6 is between 60 and 90%, preferably between 66.7% and 85. The filling rate (expressed in %) corresponds to the ratio (V _J /V _G ) between the volume of the gasket (V _J ), when it is inserted into the annular groove 6, and the volume of the groove (V _G ).

Such an annular seal 8 then has two main functions, namely, on the one hand, to ensure a fluid seal of the coupling of the socket body 2 and the tip guide 4 which is essential to guarantee that there is no leakage from the socket 1 when no device is connected to it and, on the other hand, to allow retention of the tip guide 4, during its dismantling, thus preventing it from falling on the ground and being damaged.

In particular, correctly choosing the compression rate of the annular seal 8 is extremely important because if it is too low, it would prevent the tip guide 4 from being easily inserted into its housing in the socket body 2, when it is assembly, and, conversely, would not fulfill its function of retaining the tip guide 4, during its dismantling. The dimensions of the seal 8, of the groove 6 of the tip guide 4 and of the central passage 3 of the grip body 2 are therefore chosen to ensure or respect such a compression ratio.

The annular seal 8 has an annular shape, that is to say it is substantially circular and crossed by a central orifice having an internal diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the bottom of the groove 6. It consists of a flexible and deformable material chosen from nitriles and elastomers, in particular ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM).

Furthermore, the tip guide 4 can be made of metal or metal alloy, in particular, of copper alloy, such as brass, preferably nickel-plated, or of zinc, aluminum and magnesium alloy, in particular zamak .

Thus, good results have been obtained for grips 1 comprising:

• a tip guide 4 made of nickel-plated brass carrying an annular seal 8 made of a nitrile, and
• a bit guide 4 in zamak carrying an annular seal 8 in an EPDM.

represents an embodiment of a vacuum distribution socket, that is to say a depression according to the invention, the overall architecture of which is very similar to that of the socket [Fig. 1]. Therefore, the same references have been used to designate identical or similar elements and/or fulfilling the same function; these will therefore not be detailed below. In particular, the tip guide 4 of the socket 1 of [Fig. 3] is identical to that of socket 1 of [Fig. 1], i.e. it corresponds to that of [Fig. 2], including the annular seal 8 which has exactly the same characteristics in both cases.

A difference between these grips 1 of and [Fig. 3] lies however in the fact that, in socket 1 of [Fig. 3], the suction of the vacuum (ie depression), ie the circulation of the air sucked in by the socket, takes place in the opposite direction to that of the circulation of gas within [Fig. 1], that is to say that in the case of socket 1 of [Fig. 3], the gas (eg air) is sucked up by the low pressure prevailing in the socket, that is to say enters the socket 1, through the proximal orifice 13, which makes it possible to obtain a suction effect, that is to say suction, upstream of the socket 1, that is to say in the medical device (not shown) fluidically connected to the socket 1. There is also provided in the socket 1 of [ Fig. 3], an elastic means 26, such as a spring or the like, arranged in the ball chamber 21 and acting on the ball-valve 20 to normally push it towards the seat 22 of the ball valve.

In general, the fluid distribution sockets 1 according to the invention can be mounted either directly on the wall 100, that is to say a wall or the like, of a hospital building, or be integrated into a box or the like which is itself mounted on a wall 100, as illustrated in and [FIG. 3].

These outlets 1 make it possible to supply the vacuum or the medical gases conveyed by the network of fluid pipes running through the hospital building, to the apparatus and equipment used to treat and care for the patients within these buildings. They can be connected to the network of fluid pipes via a pipe 25, such as a connector or the like, in fluid communication, via its lumen 26, with, on the one hand, said network and, on the other hand, with the central passage internal 3 of socket 1.

These sockets 1 are designed to make it possible to supply either therapeutic gases, such as oxygen, nitrous oxide, air or any other gas or gaseous mixture, or medical vacuum (ie depression) used to operate aspirations in particular biological fluids, for example blood or other biological fluids.

Claims (10)

Fluid distribution socket (1) comprising:
-an elongated socket body (2) comprising a central passage (3) passing axially through the socket body (2), and
-an extractable tip guide (4) comprising an axial housing (14) and a head valve (5) movable within said axial housing (14),
characterized in that:
-the extractable tip guide (4) comprises an annular groove (6) arranged in its outer peripheral wall (7) and an annular seal (8) arranged in said annular groove (6), and
- the annular seal (8) is made of a deformable material and has a compression rate of between 5 and 20%, said compression rate (expressed in %) being defined by the ratio (E _L /E _C ) between the thickness (E _L ) of the seal in the free state when the tip guide (4) is extracted from the socket body (2), and the thickness of the seal in the compressed state (E _C ) when the guide - tip (4) is housed in the socket body (2). Socket according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the annular seal (8) has a compression rate of between 8 and 15%. Socket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the degree of filling of the annular groove (6) is between 60 and 90%, preferably between 66.7% and 85, the said degree of filling (expressed in %) being defines as the ratio (V _J /V _G ) between the volume of the seal (V _J ), when said annular seal (8) is inserted into the annular groove (6), and the volume of the groove (V _G ). Socket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the annular seal (8) is made of a deformable material chosen from nitriles and elastomers, in particular ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM). Socket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tip guide (4) is made of a rigid material chosen from copper alloys, in particular nickel-plated brass, and zinc, aluminum and magnesium alloys. , in particular zamak. Socket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the extractable tip-guide (4) comprises, arranged in the axial housing (14), a valve head (5), a valve seat (10) and an element elastic (9), the head valve (5) being normally pushed against the valve seat (10) by the elastic element (9). Socket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bit guide (4) and the socket body (2) are arranged coaxially. Socket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head valve (5) comprises a blind internal housing (15) comprising an axial orifice (13) and one or more lateral orifices (16), said axial orifice (13 ) and lateral orifices (16) being in fluid communication with the blind internal housing (15), preferably at least 3 lateral orifices (16). Socket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tip-guide (4) forms a sleeve around the head valve (5). Socket according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bit guide (4) is formed by at least two sub-units (11, 12) fixed to each other.