JP5423206B2 - Male connector and enteral nutrition administration set and enteral nutrition extension tube - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a male connector for connecting, for example, a tube used for medical use. Moreover, this invention relates to the enteral-nutrition administration set and enteral-nutrition extension tube provided with this male connector.

  Nutrients, liquid foods, drugs, etc. (generally referred to as “enteral nutrients” for patients who have difficulty in feeding food from the mouth to the stomach due to trauma of the esophagus or oral cavity, disease, or surgery. Enteral nutrition therapy is known as a method for administering a "liquid". In enteral nutrition therapy, a flexible tube (generally referred to as “enteral nutrition catheter”) is used to deliver a liquid to the patient's body. As a tube used for enteral nutrition therapy, the tube is inserted into the stomach or duodenum through the patient's nasal cavity, depending on the tube insertion route, and into the stomach through the gastric fistula formed on the patient's abdomen. A PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy) tube to be inserted, a PTEG (Percutaneus Trans Esophageal Gastro-tubing) tube to be inserted into the stomach through a hole formed in the base of a patient's neck, and the like are known. When performing enteral nutrition therapy, one end was connected to the other end (female connector) of a tube inserted into the patient's body, and to an outflow port such as a container filled with a liquid (such as a pouch). It is necessary to insert and connect a male connector at the downstream end of the tube (for example, enteral nutrition administration set).

  By the way, if the viscosity of the liquid used for enteral nutrition therapy is low, the liquid in the stomach may flow back into the esophagus and cause pneumonia, or the liquid may not be absorbed by the body and diarrhea may occur. There is a problem. In order to prevent this problem, a liquid material whose viscosity has been increased by semi-solidifying or adding a thrombotic agent or a thickener is often used.

  In order to send such a high-viscosity liquid into the patient's body, pressure may be applied to the liquid using a syringe or a device for compressing a container filled with the liquid. . At this time, there is a problem that the tube inserted into the patient's body and the male connector inserted into the patient are disconnected due to the pressure applied to the liquid material. The problem of separation between the tube and the male connector is not limited to the case where the liquid material is pumped, and for example, when an external force is applied unintentionally to the connection portion between the tube and the male connector. It sometimes occurred.

  Patent Literature 1 discloses a fastener for firmly connecting a flexible tube and a male connector. The fastener includes a substantially cylindrical outer member and an inner member, both of which have a substantially C-shaped cross section. The inner member is inserted into the outer member. The outer peripheral surface of the inner member is eccentric so that the radial thickness gradually increases in the circumferential direction, and the inner peripheral surface of the outer member is along this eccentric outer peripheral surface of the inner member. An inner member and an outer member are sheathed on the outer peripheral surface of the tube into which the male connector is inserted. When the outer member is rotated in the circumferential direction with respect to the inner member, the outer member is tightened so as to reduce the diameter of the inner member. As a result, since the tube is compressed in the radial direction by the male connector and the inner member, the tube and the male connector can be firmly connected.

  Patent Document 2 describes a male connector having, in order from the tip, a substantially cylindrical connecting portion, a substantially frustoconical protrusion having a small diameter on the tip side, and a substantially cylindrical base end portion.

JP 2007-190240 A JP 2007-222195 A

  In the fastener disclosed in Patent Document 1, the tube is sandwiched between the male connector and the inner member and compressed in the radial direction. Therefore, if the tube thickness or outer diameter is too large, the inner member cannot be mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the tube. Moreover, since two parts, an outer member and an inner member, are required separately from the male connector, there is a possibility that these parts may be lost, and there is a problem that it is expensive.

  Since the male connector disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a desired connection strength obtained by inserting the tube into the tube and expanding the diameter of the tube, there are no restrictions on the wall thickness or the outer diameter of the tube. Moreover, since parts other than the male connector are unnecessary, there is no possibility of the parts being lost and the parts can be manufactured at low cost.

  However, once the male connector of Patent Document 2 is inserted into the tube, it is difficult to separate the male connector and the tube.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems and can realize a strong connection with the tube regardless of the thickness and outer diameter of the tube without using a separate component from the male connector, and is necessary after the connection. An object of the present invention is to provide a male connector that can easily separate the male connector from the tube according to the above. Moreover, an object of this invention is to provide the enteral-nutrition administration set provided with such a male connector, and an enteral-nutrition extension tube.

The male connector according to the present invention is a substantially cylindrical male connector having an insertion portion inserted into a flexible tube at one end and a base end portion at the other end, on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion. , comprising at least one arm projecting outwardly, said at least one arm, Ri elastically deformable der to approach the central axis, when inserting the insertion portion into the tube, at least a portion of said arm Is inserted into the tube, and the arm extends the tube in the circumferential direction by its elastic recovery force .

  The enteral nutrition administration set of the present invention includes the above male connector of the present invention at one end.

  The enteral nutrition extension tube of the present invention includes the male connector of the present invention described above at one end.

  According to the present invention, the elastically deformable arm is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion. Therefore, for example, the insertion part of the male connector is inserted into the tube while the arm is elastically deformed so as to approach the central axis, and then the tube is expanded using the elastic recovery force of the arm and stretched in the circumferential direction. By making it, a tube can be stuck to a male connector. Alternatively, if an engagement shape that engages the tube is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the arm, the insertion portion of the male connector is inserted into the tube while elastically deforming the arm so as to approach the central axis, and the elastic recovery force of the arm The engagement shape of the arm can be engaged with the tube by using. In any of these cases, a strong connection between the tube and the male connector can be realized.

  On the other hand, when separating the tube and the male connector, if the arm is elastically deformed so as to approach the central axis, the adhesive force of the tube to the male connector is reduced, or the engagement shape of the arm and the tube Since the engagement can be released, it can be easily separated.

  The arm of the male connector acts only on the inner peripheral surface of the tube. Therefore, a high connection strength can always be obtained regardless of the thickness and thickness of the tube.

  Since the arm is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion of the male connector, a separate component from the male connector is unnecessary. Therefore, there is no possibility of losing parts. In addition, the male connector of the present invention is easy to manufacture and inexpensive.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a male connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 2A is a front view of the male connector seen along the arrow 2A in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a side view of the male connector seen along the arrow 2B in FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of the male connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention in which the arm is in a reduced diameter state. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the male connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention in which the arm is in a reduced diameter state is inserted into the upstream end of the PEG tube. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the engagement state between the engagement claw and the engagement claw is released after the male connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is inserted into the upstream end of the PEG tube. . FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the male connector according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a front view of the male connector viewed along the arrow 7 in FIG. FIG. 8 is a front view of the male connector according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention in which the arm is in a reduced diameter state. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the male connector according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention in which the arm is in a reduced diameter state is inserted into the upstream end of the PEG tube. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a finger is released from the arm operating lever after the male connector according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is inserted into the upstream end of the PEG tube. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a male connector according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a front view of the male connector viewed along the arrow 12 in FIG. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state immediately before the male connector according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is inserted into the upstream end of the PEG tube. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the male connector according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is inserted into the upstream end of the PEG tube.

  In the above male connector of the present invention, when the insertion portion is inserted into the tube, the arm preferably extends the tube in the circumferential direction by its elastic recovery force. Or it is preferable that the engagement shape which engages with the said tube is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the said arm. As a result, as described above, a strong connection between the tube and the male connector can be realized by a simple method.

  It is preferable that the at least one arm has an inclined surface on a side opposite to the central axis so that a distance from the central axis increases as it goes from the distal end of the insertion portion to the proximal end portion. Thereby, the workability of inserting the male connector into the tube is improved.

  It is preferable that a pair of the arms are provided at symmetrical positions with respect to the central axis. Thereby, higher connection strength can be obtained stably.

  The male connector of the present invention preferably further includes a locking mechanism that locks the at least one arm in a state where the at least one arm is elastically deformed so as to approach the central axis. Thereby, when inserting and extracting the male connector with respect to the tube, there is no need to keep pressing with a finger so that the arm does not recover elastically.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a male connector 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 2A is a front view of the male connector 100 as viewed along the arrow 2A in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a side view of the male connector 100 as viewed along the arrow 2B in FIG.

  The male connector 100 has a substantially hollow cylindrical shape as a whole in which a through hole 102 along the central axis 101 is formed. One end of the male connector 100 is, for example, an insertion portion 103 to be inserted into the upstream end (female connector) of the PEG tube, and the other end constitutes an enteral nutrition administration set connected to a container filled with a liquid material. A proximal end 104 connected to the downstream end of the tube. The liquid material flows in the through hole 102 from the base end portion 104 side toward the insertion portion 103 side. For convenience of the following description, in the direction of the central axis 101, the base end 104 side (upstream side) is referred to as “upper side” and the insertion portion 103 side (downstream side) is referred to as “lower side”.

  A part of the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 103 is formed with a bamboo shoot shape portion 105 in which a plurality of tapered surfaces (conical surfaces) having a large outer diameter on the base end portion 104 side are repeatedly arranged in the direction of the central axis 101. . However, the bamboo shoot shape part 105 is an example, Comprising: A well-known shape may be formed as an insertion part of a male connector other than this.

  Two arms (diameter-enlarged portions) projecting outward from the central axis 101 on the other part of the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 103, preferably at a position closer to the base end portion 104 than the bamboo shoot shape portion 105 130a and 130b are formed. The two arms 130 a and 130 b are arranged at symmetrical positions with respect to the central axis 101.

  The arms 130a and 130b have a cantilever support structure in which the connection portions 131a and 131b, which are lower boundary portions with the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 103, are fixed ends and the upper pressing portions 132a and 132b are free ends. have. The arms 130 a and 130 b can be elastically deformed so that the pressing portions 132 a and 132 b approach the central axis 101. The outer surfaces (surfaces opposite to the central axis 101) of the arms 130a and 130b include inclined surfaces 133a and 133b and pressing surfaces 134a and 134b. The inclined surfaces 133a and 133b are flat surfaces or curved surfaces that are inclined so that the distance from the central axis 101 increases in the direction parallel to the central axis 101 from the insertion portion 103 side to the base end portion 104 side. The pressing surfaces 134a and 134b are the surfaces of the pressing portions 132a and 132b opposite to the central axis 101, are continuous with the inclined surfaces 133a and 133b, and have the longest distance from the central axis 101 among the arms 130a and 130b. It is a far surface. The distance between the pressing surfaces 134 a and 134 b along the direction orthogonal to the central axis 101 is larger than the maximum outer diameter of the bamboo shoot shape portion 105. Engaging claws 135a and 135b are provided on the surface of the pressing portions 132a and 132b on the central axis 101 side.

  Two locking claws 110a and 110b are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the male connector 100 at positions substantially opposite to the pressing portions 132a and 132b. When the arms 130a and 130b are elastically deformed so that the pressing portions 132a and 132b approach the center axis 101, the engaging claws 135a and 135b and the engaging claws 110a and 110b are engaged with each other as shown in FIG. Can be combined. A state in which the arms 130a and 130b are elastically deformed as shown in FIG. 3 is referred to as a “reduced diameter state”. The engaging claws 135a and 135b and the locking claws 110a and 110b constitute a locking mechanism for locking the arms 130a and 130b in a state of being elastically deformed to a reduced diameter state. On the other hand, the engagement state between the engagement claws 135a and 135b and the engagement claws 110a and 110b is released, and the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A in which no external force is applied to the arms 130a and 130b is referred to as “expanded diameter”. Called “state”.

  A pair of plate-shaped gripping plates 140 a and 140 b are erected on an outer peripheral surface which is a cylindrical surface of the base end portion 104 along a surface including the central axis 101. The gripping plates 140 a and 140 b are gripped when holding the male connector 100 or applying a torque for rotating the male connector 100 around the central axis 101 to the male connector 100. However, the grip plates 140a and 140b are not essential in the present invention, and the grip plates 140a and 140b are omitted, or the outer peripheral surface of the base end portion 104 is formed in various polygonal column surfaces instead of the grip plates 140a and 140b. A concavo-convex pattern or the like may be provided on the outer peripheral surface.

  The male connector 100 can be integrally manufactured by injection molding or the like using a hard resin material such as polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, ABS resin, polyvinyl chloride or the like.

  A method of connecting the male connector 100 and the upstream end (female connector) of the flexible hollow PEG tube 90 will be described below.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3, the arms 130a and 130b are reduced in diameter. That is, from the expanded diameter state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the arms 130a and 130b are sandwiched between the thumb and the index finger and elastically deformed so that the pressing portions 132a and 132b approach the central axis 101. As described above, when the engaging claws 135a and 135b are engaged with the locking claws 110a and 110b, the reduced diameter state is maintained even when the fingers are separated from the arms 130a and 130b.

  Next, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the insertion portion 103 of the male connector 100 is inserted into the upstream end of the PEG tube 90 while the arms 130 a and 130 b are in a reduced diameter state. At this time, the gripping plates 140a and 140b provided on the base end portion 104 of the male connector 100 can be picked with fingers and the male connector 100 can be screwed into the PEG tube 90 while applying a rotational force.

  Since the arms 130a and 130b are provided with inclined surfaces 133a and 133b on their outer sides, as the male connector 100 is inserted into the PEG tube 90, the upstream-side opening edge of the PEG tube 90 is located on the inclined surfaces 133a and 133b. Slightly expanded in the circumferential direction along the shape.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the male connector 100 is inserted deeply into the PEG tube 90 so that the pressing portions 132 a and 132 b of the arms 130 a and 130 b are almost covered with the PEG tube 90. Since the PEG tube 90 is flexible and has elasticity, the PEG tube 90 is appropriately expanded in the circumferential direction along the outer shape of the male connector 100 and is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the male connector 100.

  In FIG. 4, the downstream end (not shown) of the PEG tube 90 is inserted into the stomach through a gastric fistula formed in the patient's abdomen. Reference numeral 80 denotes a flexible hollow tube provided on the downstream side of an enteral nutrition administration set for conveying a liquid substance to be administered to a patient. The downstream end of the tube 80 is inserted into the through hole 102 of the male connector 100 from the base end 104 side, and is integrated with the male connector 100 by a method such as fusion. The upstream end (not shown) of the enteral nutrition administration set 80 is connected to a container filled with, for example, an enteral nutrient. There is no restriction | limiting in particular in the structure of an enteral-nutrition administration set, For example, any of the enteral-nutrition administration set prescribed | regulated by JIST3213 and other well-known enteral-nutrition administration sets may be sufficient. The enteral nutrition administration set may be provided with a pressurizing mechanism for pumping the liquid material flowing therethrough.

  Next, the engagement state between the engagement claws 135a and 135b and the engagement claws 110a and 110b is released by picking the outer peripheral surface of the PEG tube 90 with a finger and applying a twisting force. When the engaged state is released, as shown in FIG. 5, the arms 130a and 130b move the inner peripheral surface of the PEG tube 90 by the elastic recovery force to return to the expanded diameter state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A. Push outward. As a result, the PEG tube 90 is extended in the circumferential direction by the arms 130a and 130b. The amount of elongation in the circumferential direction of the PEG tube 90 is greater in the state of FIG. 5 than in the reduced diameter state of FIG. Corresponding to the increase in the circumferential extension of the PEG tube 90, the adhesion between the PEG tube 90 and the male connector 100 increases. As described above, the arms 130a and 130b are elastically recovered from the diameter-reduced state (FIGS. 3 and 5) to the diameter-enlarged state (FIGS. 1, 2, and 4) or a state close thereto, and the circumferential direction of the PEG tube 90 By increasing the amount of elongation, the PEG tube 90 and the male connector 100 can be more strongly connected.

  In order to release the connection state between the PEG tube 90 and the male connector 100, an operation reverse to the above may be performed. That is, in FIG. 5, the arms 130a and 130b are sandwiched between fingers via the PEG tube 90 and elastically deformed, and the engaging claws 135a and 135b and the engaging claws 110a and 110b are engaged to reduce the diameter. . Next, the male connector 100 is pulled out from the PEG tube 90. Thereafter, the engagement state between the engagement claws 135a and 135b and the engagement claws 110a and 110b may be released to return the arms 130a and 130b to the expanded diameter state.

  As described above, the male connector 100 according to the first embodiment uses the elastic recovery force to return the arms 130a and 130b to the expanded diameter state after inserting the insertion portion 103 into the PEG tube 90. The amount of elongation in the circumferential direction of the tube 90 is increased. Thereby, since the adhesive strength between the inner peripheral surface of the PEG tube 90 and the male connector 100 increases, the PEG tube 90 and the male connector 100 can be firmly connected. Therefore, even when a liquid substance is pumped to the patient through the PEG tube 90, or when an external force is unintentionally applied to the connecting portion between the male connector 100 and the PEG tube 90, the male member 100 is connected to the male connector 100 from the PEG tube 90. It is possible to prevent the connector 100 from being disconnected.

  In the process of inserting the male connector 100 into the PEG tube 90, the amount of extension of the PEG tube 90 by the arms 130a and 130b can be kept small by maintaining the arms 130a and 130b in a reduced diameter state. The arms 130a and 130b are provided with inclined surfaces 133a and 133b below the pressing surfaces 134a and 134b. Accordingly, the insertion workability of the male connector 100 into the PEG tube 90 is good.

  On the other hand, when the PEG tube 90 and the male connector 100 are separated, the arms 130a and 130b may be reduced in diameter again. Thereby, since the amount of elongation in the circumferential direction of the PEG tube 90 is reduced, the separation between the PEG tube 90 and the male connector 100 is facilitated.

  Since the PEG tube 90 is merely reversibly extended in the circumferential direction by the arms 130a and 130b, the PEG tube 90 and the male connector 100 can be reconnected any number of times. Moreover, even if reconnection is repeated, the connection strength between the PEG tube 90 and the male connector 100 does not change.

  The arms 130a and 130b push the inner peripheral surface of the PEG tube 90 away from the central axis 101, whereby high connection strength can be obtained. That is, the male connector 100 does not act on the outer peripheral surface of the PEG tube 90 at all. Therefore, regardless of the outer diameter or thickness of the PEG tube 90, a high connection strength can always be obtained.

  Moreover, since components other than the male connector 100 are unnecessary, there is no possibility of losing components. If the male connector 100 is integrally formed, an assembling process becomes unnecessary, and it can be manufactured at low cost.

  In the connection method of the male connector 100 and the PEG tube 90 described above, the male connector 100 is inserted into the PEG tube 90 with the arms 130a and 130b in the reduced diameter state (FIG. 3), but the arms 130a and 130b are expanded in diameter. The male connector 100 may be inserted into the PEG tube 90 up to the state shown in FIG. 5 while keeping the state (FIGS. 1 and 2A). The force required to insert the male connector 100 into the PEG tube 90 is greater when the arms 130a and 130b are in the expanded diameter state than when the arms 130a and 130b are in the reduced diameter state, but the arms 130a and 130b are inclined. It can be inserted because the surfaces 133a and 133b are provided and the arms 130a and 130b are elastically deformed as appropriate. In this method, after the male connector 100 is inserted into the PEG tube 90, the operation of releasing the engagement state between the engagement claws 135a and 135b and the engagement claws 110a and 110b becomes unnecessary. To release the connection state between the PEG tube 90 and the male connector 100, the male connector 100 may be pulled out of the PEG tube 90 after the arms 130a and 130b are reduced in diameter, as in the above-described method.

  The configuration of the PEG tube 90 is not particularly limited. What is necessary is just to be able to connect the male connector 100 of this Embodiment by the method mentioned above. The PEG tube 90 is preferably made of a flexible material such as silicone or urethane.

(Embodiment 2)
In the following drawings describing the male connector 200 of the second embodiment of the present invention, the same components as those shown in the diagram described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and The description about is omitted. Hereinafter, the male connector 200 of the second embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the male connector 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a front view of the male connector 200 as viewed along the arrow 7 in FIG.

  Two arms (diameter-enlarged portions) 230a and 230b that protrude outwardly away from the central axis 101 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 103, preferably at a position closer to the base end portion 104 than the bamboo shoot shape portion 105. Has been. The two arms 230 a and 230 b are arranged at symmetrical positions with respect to the central axis 101.

  Unlike the arms 130a and 130b of the first embodiment, the arms 230a and 230b of the second embodiment further include rod-like operation levers 238a and 238b on the free end side. The operation levers 238a and 238b extend substantially parallel to the central axis 101 from the upper ends of the pressing portions 132a and 132b toward the upper side. The operation levers 238 a and 238 b are opposed to the base end portion 104.

  On the other hand, the male connector 200 according to the second embodiment does not include the engaging claws 135a and 135b and the locking claws 110a and 110b provided in the male connector 100 according to the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, the arms 230a and 230b can be elastically deformed as shown in FIG. 8 by holding the operation levers 238a and 238b with fingers so as to approach each other. A state in which the arms 230a and 230b are elastically deformed as shown in FIG. 8 is referred to as a “reduced diameter state”. On the other hand, the state shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. In the second embodiment, it is necessary to keep gripping the operation levers 238a and 238b in order to maintain the reduced diameter state.

  Furthermore, the male connector 200 according to the second embodiment does not include the grip plates 140a and 140b that the male connector 100 according to the first embodiment includes.

  As with the male connector 100 of the first embodiment, the male connector 200 can be integrally manufactured by injection molding or the like using a hard resin material such as polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, ABS resin, polyvinyl chloride, or the like. it can.

  A method of connecting the male connector 200 and the upstream end (female connector) of the flexible hollow PEG tube 90 will be described below.

  Unlike the male connector 100 of the first embodiment, the male connector 200 of the second embodiment is provided with a locking mechanism for locking the arms 230a and 230b in a state of being elastically deformed in a reduced diameter state. Absent. Accordingly, the operation levers 238a and 238b are sandwiched between the thumb and the index finger, and the arms 130a and 130b are elastically deformed into a reduced diameter state as shown in FIG. In this state, the insertion portion 103 of the male connector 200 is inserted into the upstream end of the PEG tube 90 as shown in FIG. At this time, the male lever 200 can be screwed into the PEG tube 90 while picking the operation levers 238a and 238b with a finger and applying a rotational force.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the male connector 200 is inserted deeply into the PEG tube 90 so that the pressing portions 132 a and 132 b of the arms 130 a and 130 b are almost covered with the PEG tube 90. Since the PEG tube 90 is flexible and has elasticity, the PEG tube 90 is appropriately expanded in the circumferential direction along the outer shape of the male connector 200 and is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the male connector 200.

  Next, the finger is released from the operation levers 238a and 238b. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 10, the arms 230a and 230b push the inner peripheral surface of the PEG tube 90 outward by an elastic recovery force that attempts to return to the expanded diameter state shown in FIGS. As a result, as in the case of the first embodiment, the PEG tube 90 is extended in the circumferential direction by the arms 230a and 230b. Thereby, since the contact | adhesion power of the PEG tube 90 and the male connector 200 increases, the PEG tube 90 and the male connector 200 can be connected more strongly.

  In order to release the connection state between the PEG tube 90 and the male connector 200, an operation reverse to the above may be performed. That is, in FIG. 10, the operating levers 238 a and 238 b not covered with the PEG tube 90 are picked with fingers to reduce the arms 230 a and 230 b and the male connector 200 is pulled out from the PEG tube 90. Thereafter, when the fingers are released from the operation levers 238a and 238b, the arms 230a and 230b return to the expanded diameter state.

  The male connector 200 according to the second embodiment has the same effects as the male connector 100 according to the first embodiment.

  Further, the male connector 200 according to the second embodiment is not provided with a locking mechanism including the engaging claws 135a and 135b and the locking claws 110a and 110b provided in the male connector 100 according to the first embodiment. . Accordingly, the diameter is reduced only when the operation levers 238a and 238b are gripped by the finger, and the diameter is returned to the expanded state when the finger is released. Therefore, the structure of the male connector 200 can be simplified, and the insertion / extraction operation with respect to the tube can be simplified.

  In addition, the arms 230a and 230b can be elastically deformed into a reduced diameter state by gripping the operation levers 238a and 238b far from the connecting portions 131a and 131b. Therefore, the arm can be reduced in diameter with a smaller operating force than the male connector 100 of the first embodiment.

(Embodiment 3)
In the following diagrams illustrating the male connector 300 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the same components as those illustrated in the diagrams described in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals. The description about them is omitted. Hereinafter, the male connector 300 of the third embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first and second embodiments.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a male connector 300 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a front view of the male connector 300 viewed along the arrow 12 in FIG.

  A tapered surface (conical surface) 305 having a large outer diameter on the base end 104 side is formed at the lower end of the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 103 and in the vicinity thereof. However, the taper surface 305 is an example, and other known shapes (for example, a bamboo shoot shape portion 105) may be formed as other male connector insertion portions.

  Two arms 330 a and 330 b projecting outward from the central axis 101 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 103, preferably at a position closer to the base end portion 104 than the tapered surface 305. The two arms 330 a and 330 b are arranged at symmetrical positions with respect to the central axis 101.

  Each of the arms 330a and 330b has a cantilever support structure supported by the insertion portion 103 with the lower connection portions 331a and 331b serving as fixed ends. The connecting portions 331a and 331b protrude outward from the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 103 below the connecting portions 331a and 331b. On the outer surfaces of the arms 330a and 330b (surfaces opposite to the central axis 101), inclined surfaces 333a and 333b extend above the connection portions 331a and 331b. The inclined surfaces 333a and 333b are similar to the inclined surfaces 133a and 133b of the first and second embodiments, as they move from the central axis 101 in the direction parallel to the central axis 101 from the insertion portion 103 side to the proximal end portion 104 side. It is a plane or a curved surface that is inclined so that the distance increases. On the outer surfaces of the arms 330a and 330b, concave grooves 336a and 336b are formed above the inclined surfaces 333a and 333b. The concave grooves 336a and 336b extend along a plane orthogonal to the central axis 101, and connect both end edges in the width direction of the arms 330a and 330b.

  Similarly to the arms 230a and 230b of the second embodiment, the arms 330a and 330b of the third embodiment further include operation levers 338a and 338b on their free ends. The operation levers 338a and 338b extend substantially parallel to the central axis 101 from the concave grooves 336a and 336b upward. The operation levers 338 a and 338 b face the base end portion 104.

  Similar to the male connector 200 of the second embodiment, the male connector 300 of the third embodiment is provided with the engaging claws 135a and 135b, the locking claws 110a and 110b, and the grips included in the male connector 100 of the first embodiment. The plates 140a and 140b are not provided.

  In the third embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, the arms 330a and 330b can be elastically deformed by gripping the operation levers 338a and 338b with fingers so as to approach each other. A state in which the arms 330a and 330b are elastically deformed so as to approach each other is referred to as a “reduced diameter state”. In contrast, a state in which the gripping force with respect to the operation levers 338a and 338b is released is referred to as an “expanded state”. As in the second embodiment, it is necessary to keep gripping the operating levers 338a and 338b in order to maintain the reduced diameter state.

  Similar to the male connectors 100 and 200 of the first and second embodiments, the male connector 300 is integrally formed by injection molding or the like using a hard resin material such as polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, ABS resin, polyvinyl chloride, or the like. Can be manufactured.

  A method of connecting the male connector 300 and the upstream end (female connector) of the PEG tube will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state immediately before the male connector 300 is inserted into the upstream end of the PEG tube 390. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the male connector 300 is inserted into the upstream end of the PEG tube 390.

  The PEG tube 390 in which the male connector 300 according to the third embodiment is preferably used includes a large-diameter portion 391 having a cylindrical shape at the upstream end thereof. The inner diameter of the large-diameter portion 391 is larger than the inner diameter of the inserted portion 395 below the large-diameter portion 391, and the large-diameter portion 391 and the inserted portion 395 are connected via a donut-shaped bottom plate 393. An annular convex portion 392 that is continuous in the circumferential direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 391. The annular convex portion 392 is made of a relatively hard material that does not substantially deform, such as polypropylene or polycarbonate. On the other hand, the PEG tube 390 including the large-diameter portion 391, the bottom plate 393, and the inserted portion 395 other than the annular convex portion 392 is made of a relatively flexible material such as silicone or urethane. The PEG tube 390 made of such a different material can be manufactured by, for example, two-color molding (double mold). Reference numeral 399 indicates a valve communicating with a balloon (not shown) provided at the downstream end of the PEG tube 390, but since it is not related to the present invention, the internal structure is not shown in FIG. Yes.

  The male connector 300 and the upstream end (female connector) of the PEG tube 390 are connected by inserting the insertion portion 103 of the male connector 300 from the upstream end of the PEG tube 390 as shown in FIG. When the male connector 300 is inserted into the PEG tube 390, the annular convex portion 392 protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 391 comes into contact with the inclined surfaces 333a and 333b of the arms 330a and 330b of the male connector 300. When the male connector 300 is further inserted into the PEG tube 390, the annular convex portion 392 slides on the inclined surfaces 333a and 333b while elastically deforming the arms 330a and 330b in a direction approaching the central axis 101. Then, when the concave grooves 336a and 336b of the arms 330a and 330b reach the annular convex portion 392, the arms 330a and 330b are elastically recovered, and the annular convex portion 392 is fitted into the concave grooves 336a and 336b as shown in FIG. Thus, the connection between the male connector 300 and the PEG tube 390 is achieved. In this state, the connection portions 331 a and 331 b protruding outward from the male connector 300 come into contact with the bottom plate 393. The inserted portion 395 of the PEG tube 390 is expanded in the circumferential direction along the outer shape of the insertion portion 103 of the male connector 300 including the tapered surface 305 at the tip, and is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 103.

  As can be understood from the above description, the arms 330 a and 330 b of the male connector 300 are appropriately elastically deformed by the annular convex portion 392 of the PEG tube 390. Therefore, when the male connector 300 is inserted into the PEG tube 390, unlike the second embodiment, it is not necessary to elastically deform the arms 330a and 330b in a reduced diameter state by sandwiching the operation levers 338a and 338b with fingers. However, it goes without saying that the male connector 300 may be inserted into the PEG tube 390 while the arms 330a and 330b are elastically deformed in a reduced diameter state.

  In order to release the connection state between the PEG tube 390 and the male connector 300, the operating levers 338a and 338b are grasped with fingers to reduce the diameter of the arms 330a and 330b, and the relationship between the annular convex portion 392 and the concave grooves 336a and 336b. Release the combined state. In this state, the male connector 300 may be pulled out from the PEG tube 390. Thereafter, when the fingers are released from the operation levers 338a and 338b, the arms 330a and 330b return to the expanded diameter state.

  As described above, in the male connector 300 according to the third embodiment, the annular portion of the PEG tube 390 is inserted into the concave grooves 336a and 336b of the male connector 300 in a state where the insertion portion 103 is inserted into the inserted portion 395 of the PEG tube 390. The convex part 392 is inserted and both are engaged. Thereby, the PEG tube 390 and the male connector 300 can be firmly connected. Accordingly, even when a liquid material is pumped to the patient through the PEG tube 390, or when an external force is unintentionally applied to the connecting portion between the male connector 300 and the PEG tube 390, the male member is not removed from the PEG tube 390. It is possible to prevent the connector 300 from being disconnected.

  In the process of inserting the male connector 300 into the PEG tube 390, the operator may concentrate on screwing the male connector 300 into the PEG tube 390. Since the inclined surfaces 333a and 333b are provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the arms 330a and 330b of the male connector 300, the arms 330a and 330b are gradually moved by the annular convex portion 392 of the PEG tube 390 as the insertion of the male connector 300 proceeds. Is elastically deformed. Then, it is possible to easily confirm that the connection is completed by a “click” sound when the annular convex portion 392 is fitted into the concave grooves 336a and 336b and a shape change when the arms 330a and 330b are elastically recovered. . Further, since the annular convex portion 392 of the PEG tube 390 is continuous in the circumferential direction, there is no need to consider the rotational position around the central axis 101 of the male connector 300 with respect to the PEG tube 390. Accordingly, the workability of inserting the male connector 300 into the PEG tube 390 is good.

  On the other hand, when separating the PEG tube 390 and the male connector 300, the operation levers 338a and 338b may be picked with fingers to reduce the diameter of the arms 330a and 330b. As a result, the engagement between the annular convex portion 392 and the concave grooves 336a and 336b is released, so that the PEG tube 390 and the male connector 300 can be easily separated.

  The annular convex portion 392 of the PEG tube 390 is made of a material that does not substantially deform, and the inserted portion 395 is only reversibly stretched in the circumferential direction by the insertion portion 103. Therefore, the PEG tube 390 and the male connector 300 are connected to each other. You can reconnect as many times as you like. Moreover, even if reconnection is repeated, the connection strength between the PEG tube 390 and the male connector 300 does not change.

  A high connection strength can be obtained by the engagement of the annular convex portion 392 and the concave grooves 336a and 336b. That is, the male connector 300 does not act on the outer peripheral surface of the PEG tube 390 at all. Therefore, a high connection strength can always be obtained regardless of the outer diameter and thickness of the PEG tube 390.

  Moreover, since components other than the male connector 300 are unnecessary, there is no possibility of losing components. If the male connector 300 is integrally formed, an assembling process becomes unnecessary, and it can be manufactured at low cost.

  In the male connector of the third embodiment, an engagement shape that engages with the PEG tube 390 may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the arm, and a specific configuration of the engagement shape is provided in the above-described concave grooves 336a and 336b. It is not limited. For example, not a concave groove but a simple stepped step may be used. Alternatively, a plurality of grooves may be formed in the direction of the central axis 101. In this case, the male connector 300 is selected by selecting a groove that engages with the annular protrusion 392 from the plurality of grooves. The insertion depth of the PEG tube 390 can be changed as appropriate. Alternatively, an annular groove that is continuous in the circumferential direction may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the PEG tube 390. In this case, a convex portion that engages with the annular groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the arms 330a and 330b. May be.

  The connection portions 331a and 331b of the male connector 300 protrude outward from the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 103. However, like the connection portions 131a and 131b in the first and second embodiments, the connection portions 331a and 331b May be provided. In this case, when the male connector 300 is inserted into the PEG tube, the connecting portion is not caught by the opening edge of the upstream end of the PEG tube, so that the insertion workability is improved.

  The PEG tube to which the male connector 300 of the third embodiment can be connected is not limited to the PEG tube 390 described above.

  For example, the annular convex portion 392 may be made of the same flexible material as other portions of the PEG tube 390. Also in this case, high connection strength can be obtained by the annular convex portion 392 engaging with the concave grooves 336a and 336b. Further, similarly to the first and second embodiments, the large-diameter portion 391 including the annular convex portion 392 can be extended in the circumferential direction by utilizing an elastic recovery force that the arms 330a and 330b return to the expanded diameter state. Higher connection strength can be obtained. The annular convex portion 392 made of a flexible material may be inferior in the function of elastically deforming the arms 330a and 330b as described above. In such a case, if the male connector 300 is inserted into the PEG tube 390 while the operating levers 338a and 338b are sandwiched between fingers and the arms 330a and 330b are elastically deformed in a reduced diameter state, the insertion workability is improved.

  Further, the bottom plate 393 is not provided, and the inner diameter of the PEG tube 390 may change gently between the large-diameter portion 391 and the inserted portion 395.

  A shape other than the above-described annular convex portion 392 may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the PEG tube as long as it can engage with the engagement shape formed on the outer peripheral surface of the arm of the male connector.

  The above first to third embodiments are merely examples, and various modifications are possible.

  For example, in the first, second, and third embodiments, the male connectors 100, 200, and 300 include the two arms 130a and 130b; 230a and 230b; 330a and 330b, but the number of arms is limited to two. 1 or 3 or more may be sufficient. However, if the number of arms is only one, the male connector is disposed asymmetrically with respect to the central axis 101, and thus it may be difficult to stably obtain high connection strength. Further, when the number of arms is three or more, there is a possibility that the switching operation between the reduced diameter state and the expanded diameter state of the arm becomes complicated. Therefore, the number of arms is preferably two.

  In the case where a plurality of arms are provided, the arrangement of the arms with respect to the central axis 101 is not particularly limited. Thus, in Embodiments 1 and 2, when the male connector is inserted into the PEG tube 90, the PEG tube 90 can be extended symmetrically with respect to the central axis 101, and the amount of elongation in the circumferential direction of the tube is increased. Since it increases, it becomes easy to obtain higher connection strength stably. Moreover, in Embodiment 3, since the engagement location of a male connector and a PEG tube can be arrange | positioned at equal angle intervals with respect to the center axis | shaft 101, it becomes easy to obtain higher connection strength stably.

  The male connector 200 shown in the second embodiment may be provided with a locking mechanism including the engaging claws 135a and 135b and the locking claws 110a and 110b provided in the male connector 100 of the first embodiment. In this case, with the insertion portion 103 inserted into the PEG tube 90, the operation levers 238a and 238b exposed to the outside of the PEG tube 90 are released from the engagement of the engaging claws 135a and 135b and the locking claws 110a and 110b. Can be used. The male connector 300 shown in the third embodiment can also be provided with the above-described locking mechanism provided in the male connector 100 of the first embodiment.

  In said Embodiment 1-3, although the example which provides the male connector of this invention in the downstream end of the tube which comprises an enteral-nutrition administration set was shown, this invention is not limited to this. For example, at the downstream end of a flexible hollow tube that constitutes an enteral feeding extension tube used in connection with an enteral feeding set and an enteral feeding catheter to extend the line It can also be provided. There is no restriction | limiting in particular in the structure of an enteral-nutrition extension tube, For example, any of the enteral-nutrition extension tube prescribed | regulated by JIST3264 and other well-known enteral-nutrition extension tubes may be sufficient. As for the connection between the male connector and the enteral nutrition extension tube, the downstream end of the tube constituting the enteral nutrition extension tube is connected to the through hole of the male connector 100, 200, 300 as in the first to third embodiments. It can be performed by inserting it into the base 102 from the base end 104 side and integrating it with the male connectors 100, 200, 300 by a method such as fusion. Furthermore, the male connector of the present invention can be attached to one end of a hollow tube other than the enteral nutrition administration set or enteral nutrition extension tube.

  In the above first to third embodiments, the case where the male connector of the present invention is connected to a PEG tube has been described as an example. However, the male connector of the present invention is an enteral enter such as a nasal tube or PTEG tube other than a PEG tube. It can be applied to various tubes (enteral feeding catheters) used for nutrition therapy, medical tubes used other than enteral nutrition therapy, and tubes used for purposes other than medical use.

  The field of application of the present invention is not particularly limited, and can be widely used in various fields such as medicine, food, and chemistry where a hollow tube needs to be connected.

100, 200, 300 Male connector 101 Center shaft 102 Through-hole 103 Insertion part 104 Base end part 105 Bamboo shoot shape part 110a, 110b Locking claw (locking mechanism)
130a, 130b, 230a, 230b, 330a, 330b Arms 131a, 131b, 331a, 331b Connection portions 132a, 132b Press portions 133a, 133b, 333a, 333b Inclined surfaces 134a, 134b Press surfaces 135a, 135b Engaging claws (locking mechanism) )
140a, 140b Holding plates 238a, 238b, 338a, 338b Operation lever 305 Tapered surfaces 336a, 336b Groove (engagement shape)

Claims (7)

A substantially cylindrical male connector having an insertion part inserted into a tube having flexibility at one end and having the other end as a base end part,
On the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion, provided with at least one arm protruding outward,
Wherein said at least one arm, Ri elastically deformable der to approach the central axis,
When the insertion part is inserted into the tube, at least a part of the arm is inserted into the tube, and the arm extends the tube in the circumferential direction by its elastic recovery force . An outer peripheral surface of the arms, male connector according to claim 1, engaging shape to be engaged with the tube is formed. Wherein said at least one arm, on the opposite side of the central axis, according to claim 1 or 2 from the distal end of the insertion portion includes an inclined surface as the distance increases from the central axis toward the proximal end Male connector. It said arm, male connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3 provided in pairs in symmetrical positions with respect to the central axis. The male connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising a locking mechanism that locks the at least one arm in a state in which the at least one arm is elastically deformed so as to approach the central axis. Enteral nutrition administration set having at one end a male connector according to any one of claims 1-5. Claim 1-5 enteral nutrition extension tube with one end of the male connector according to any one of.

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