GB2100991A - Improvements relating to carriers for ventilator tubing or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A carrier for ventilating tubing (such as is used with neo-natal infants) has a pair of upstanding walls 1, 2 formed at their upper ends with notches 5 which grip the three tubes 6, 7, 8 of the ventilator tubing. A connector piece 11 leading from the ventilator tubing is then held in an essentially fixed position as the tubes 6, 7, 8 are held against longitudinal and vertical movement by virtue of the fact that they are partially squeezed into contact with the walls of the notches 5. A base plate 4 is provided for a child's head to rest upon and hold the carrier in a stable condition. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to carriers for ventilator tub ing or the like This invention is concerned with means for sup porting tubing which may form part of a ventilator system or similar equipment. It is often desirable to be able to support such tubing in a fixed position on some form of mounting so that the tubing will ter minate at a particular point and will not tend to move away from that point.

The requirement for positive location of such tub ing is particularly important in the field of ventilator tubing for neo-natal infants, for example premature babies or infants born with breathing difficulties or requiring an enhanced oxygen supply if they are suf fering from blood circulatory problems. In such cases it is usual for air or other gas to be supplied direct to the lungs ofthe infantthrough an intra tracheal tube which is inserted through the nose of the infant. It is important that this tube should be held in a correct position so that it will not create undue pressure on the nose, for example (which could cause temporary or semi-permanent disfigura tion) and to ensure that the tube does not become dislodged accidentally.

According to the present invention there is pro vided a carrier for ventilator tubing orthe like com prising an upstanding structure provided, at posi tions above the base thereof, with a pair of longitud inally spaced gripping devices for each tube of a series of tubes providing the tubing, the gripping devices enabling the tubes to be held against non deliberate movement so that the ends of the tubes will be situated in a raised position beyond the sup port structure.

When the tubing is attached to the gripping devices of such a carrier these gripping devices will hold each tube positively and will also support the weight of the tubing and effectively remove any pivoting moment which might tend to lift the end of the tubing away from its desired position.

It would be possible to provide gripping devices, for example in the form of open mouthed spring clips carried by the upstanding structure. It is prefer red, however, that the upstanding structure should provide a pair of walls whose upper free ends are formed with notches defining the gripping devices for receipt of the tubes. Such a construction is easier to produce and avoids projecting members which might be snagged by the tubing or other objects moving past the carrier. It is preferred that the notches should be slightly narrower at the entry ends than at the closed ends thereof, so that they tend not to pull out accidentally and, when fully inserted, will not be unduly compressed.A degree of gripping is however required to ensure that the tubes do not slide longitudinally within the breathing devices although they may be deliberately moved through the gripping device for initial adjustment.

When connecting an infant to ventilator tubing of the kind described it may be preferred for the infant to lie on its side ratherthan on its back. For this purpose the carrier may be provided with sets of gripping devices enabling the tubes to be held across the top or along the side of the upstanding structure. When such an arrangement is provided it is preferred that the top and side walls of the upstanding structure should basically form a semicircle. As an alternative the gripping devices could be positioned on one or more parts which are movable with respect to the rest of the upstanding structure, enabling the gripping devices to be positioned across the top or along one side of the upstanding structure as desired.

In the preferred embodiment a base plate will extend from the base of the upstanding structure below the position which is to be taken up by the ends of the tubes. The head of an infant, for example, could then be placed in the base plate which helps to steady the whole structure.

Any corners on the carrier should ideally be rounded or bevelled and, where the carrier is to be used for holding life support tubing, it is clearly of advantage that the material on the carrier should be capable of being rendered germ-free, for example, by constructing it from material which can be placed in an autoclave.

The invention may be performed in various ways and preferred embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carrier constructed in accordance with this invention on which is mounted the tubing for a ventilator system; Figure 2 is a partial view of two plates forming part of the carrier of the invention; Figure 3 is an end view illustrating a modified form of carrier in accordance with the invention; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention.

The carrier shown in Figure 1 basically comprises two upstanding walls 1, 2 interconnected by a base 3 and having a base plate 4 extending from the U-shaped member so formed. The upper ends of each of the walls 1 and 2 are each provided with three notches 5 which will grip three tubes 6, 7 and 8 of the ventilator tubing. Tube 6 is an inlet tube for air or other life support gas, tube 8 is an expiration tube for spent gas and tube 7 is used to monitor the air pressure in the other two tubes. A portion of the tube 6 is enlarged to incorporate a thermo-couple at 9 from which leads a cable 10 which enables the temperature of the gas flowing through the tube 6 to be monitored. The various tubes are interconnected to a connector piece 11 to which will be attached the end of a flexible naso-tracheal tube.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the notches 5 vary in size and shape depending upon the diameter of the tubes to be included and in particular the notch 5A is somewhat enlarged to hold the unit 9 incorporating the thermo-couple. Generally, however, the notches have a somewhat restricted mouth and are slightly enlarged at their closed lower ends so that the tubes can be pressed dow:- into the .,notches and - d sec urely there so .hat they do not tend to lift out there is resistance to movement of the tubes hori zontally within the notches.The carrier shown in Figure 1 therefore provides a secure mounting for the tubes which supports the weight of the tubes and thus ensures that the connecting member 11 is not generally subject to movement.

In the modified form of carrier shown in Figure 3 the walls 1 and 2 are of generally semicircular shape and provided with three independent sets of notches. The upper set of notches will be used in the manner illustrated in Figure 1, whilst the set of notches at the sides will enable the tubing to be located at a position where the connecting member 11 is to one side of the carrier and thus can readily be connected to a naso-tracheal tube inserted into an infant lying on its side.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 4 the walls 1 and 2 are interconnected by a top wall 12 which car ries two sets of clips 13 thus providing pairs of clips which will each receive one of the tubes 6, 7 and 8.

With all embodiments, in use, the head of an infant will rest on the base plate 14 which helps to steady the carrier in relation to the infant. In each case the corners of the carrier will be rounded and the end 14 of the base plate is bevelled (as shown particularly in Figure 4). The carrier is ideally constructed from a clear plastics material which can be sterilised in an autoclave.

Claims (1)

1. A carrierforventilatortubing orthe like having a base and an upstanding structure provided, at pos itions above the base, with a pair of longitudinally spaced gripping devices for each tube of a series of tubes providing the tubing, the gripping devices enabling the tubes to be held against non-deliberate movement so that the ends of the tubes will be situ ated in a raised position beyond the support struc ture.

2. A carrier according to claim 1, wherein the upstanding structure provides a pair of walls whose upper free ends are formed with notches defining the gripping devices for receipt of the tubes.

3. A carrier according to claim 2, wherein the notches are slightly narrower at the entry ends than at the closed ends thereof.

4. A carrier according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the walls are joined by a base portion to form a U-shaped structure.

5. A carrier according to claim 1, wherein the gripping devices are open mouthed spring clips car ried by the upstanding structure.

6. A carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein sets of gripping devices are provided enabl ing the tubes to be held across the top or along the side ofthe upstanding structure.

7. A carrier according to claim 6, wherein the top and side walls of the upstanding structure together are generally in the form of a semicircle.

8. A carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the gripping devices are positioned on one or more parts which are movable with respect to the rest of the upstanding structure, enabling the gripping devices:=i ue positioned across the top or along one 2 e (~; the upstanding structure as desired.

3 ,' carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the base extends in -'he form of a base plate from the upstanding structure in the area below the positions which are to be taken up by the ends of the tubes.

10. A carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein corners on the carrier are rounded or bevelled.

11. A carrier for ventilator tubing and the like, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.