JPH03202070A - Cap of flexible tube - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To process the hollow part of the flexible tube in an installed state and to prevent it from falling off by forming small the outside diameter of the installing part extending from the closed part side of a cap body to the opening part side, and forming a fall-off stopping part in the installing part of the opening part side of the cap body. CONSTITUTION:When a cap 1 is installed in a medical treatment-flexible tube 12, the diameter of the tip part of the tube 12 enlarges in accordance with a tapered part 10. In that case, a projecting wire for connecting a projecting portion 3 of the inside surface side wall and a projecting portion 7 of the installing part 5 is formed, therefore, the tip opening part of the tube 12 is not closed up by a bottom part of a cap body 2. Also, the tube 12 adheres closely to a flat part 11 by a face contact, and pressed to the outside by an elastic projecting piece 9, therefore, it can be prevented that the cap 1 falls off. In the case of executing a sterilization processing, ethylene oxide gas flows into a hollow part of the tube 12 through recessed grooves 4, 8 which function as communicating parts from an opening part of the cap body 2, therefore, in a state that the cap 1 is installed, the flexible tube 12 can be sterilized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a cap for a flexible tube, particularly a cap for a flexible tube suitably used for a medical flexible tube to be sterilized.

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventionally, caps of various structures have been proposed to be attached to various devices such as medical instruments in order to maintain a sterile state. For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-55735 discloses, as a cap for a medical device, a cap body having one end closed, and a cap having a tapered surface etc. on the inner wall of the cap body that closely fits into a plugged portion. Disclosed. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 57-170261 discloses that at the opening of the tube,
A connector is disclosed in which one end of a hollow connector is attached, the other end of the connector is expanded in diameter in a tapered shape, and the expanded diameter portion is sealed with a convex portion formed in a cap.

Furthermore, JP-A No. 61-22866 discloses a nozzle cap for a dialysis module that includes a cap body with one end closed, a groove formed in the inner side wall of the cap body, and a groove formed in the center of the bottom of the cap body. A cap is disclosed that includes a cylindrical protrusion that is lower than the depth of the cap body and that fits tightly into the dialysate nozzle. Insert this cap halfway into the dialysate nozzle, sterilize the dialysis module through the groove, and then push the cap even deeper to tightly fit the protrusion into the tip opening of the dialysate nozzle. This seals the sterilized dialysis module.

On the other hand, in surgeries and the like, medical flexible tubes are used to connect to various devices such as catheters, artificial hearts, artificial heart-lung machines, and filters to form blood circuits. This medical flexible tube, like the dialysis module and the like, must be sterilizable and must be maintained in a sterile state until a blood circuit is constructed.

However, when applying the caps disclosed in the above-mentioned prior arts to medical flexible tubes, it is difficult to reliably sterilize the flexible tubes with the caps attached. That is, the caps disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-55735 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-170261 are intended for sealing the plugged part, etc., so they are heated with sterile gas while the cap is attached. Difficult to sterilize. Also, JP-A-131-228
If the cap disclosed in Publication No. 66 is mistakenly attached to the deep part of a medical flexible tube before sterilization, the flexible tube will be sealed with the protrusion of the cap.
Medical flexible tubes cannot be sterilized.

Therefore, in order to enable sterilization with the cap attached and to maintain the sterile state, a cap communicating with the hollow portion of the tube is usually attached to the opening of the flexible medical tube. After sterilization, the cap and tube should be left in place until the blood circuit is constructed.
It is sealed inside a bag made of synthetic resin film.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional cap, and FIG. 7 is a side view of the cap shown in FIG. This cap (41)
consists of a cap body (42) made of blown synthetic resin with one end closed and the closed part tapered; and this cap body (42).
A plurality of protrusions (43a) formed on the inner side wall of 42>
(43b) (43c)

A plurality of grooves (44a), (44b), and (44c) are formed in the inner side wall of the cap body (42) by the plurality of protrusions (43a), (43b), and (43c).

The cap (41) with the above structure is attached to a medical flexible tube (
45) and is sterilized with a sterilizing gas such as ethylene oxide, the sterilizing gas is passed through the hollow flexible tube (45) through the plurality of grooves (44a) (44b) (44c). The flexible tube (45) can be sterilized because the medical flexible tube (45) is made of thermoplastic resin such as soft polyvinyl chloride. This is usually carried out at a temperature at which the flexible tube (45) is easily deformed, for example, about 50°C. Therefore, by sterilization, the attachment part of the flexible tube (45) is removed from the cap (41).
), that is, it deforms into a tapered shape. If the open end of the flexible tube (45) is deformed into a tapered shape, it is difficult to attach the flexible tube (45) to a connection part of an artificial heart or the like.

On the other hand, caps as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 have also been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 10155/1983). FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing another conventional cap, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. This cap (51) is made of hard synthetic resin, and includes a cap body (52) with one end closed, and a plurality of protrusions (53) formed on the inner side wall of the cap body (52) in the direction of the opening. > and a medical flexible tube (
It has an inner cylindrical attachment part (54>) into which the attachment part (57) is attached, and a plurality of protrusions (55>) formed on the attachment part (54).Then, the flexible tube ( In order to prevent the opening end of the ridge (57) from becoming tapered, the ridge (55)
) is formed in a tapered shape whose diameter gradually decreases from the closed side to the opening side of the cap body (52>).

However, when the cap (51) of this structure is applied to a medical flexible tube, contrary to the examples shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the flexible tube (57) is
The inner diameter of the opening end of the cap (51) is expanded.
The holding force is small, and the cap (51) attached to the flexible tube (57) tends to fall off during storage or transportation. If the cap (51) falls off inside the bag, when opening the bag,
The flexible tube (57) is easily contaminated.

Such problems are not limited to when sterilizing flexible tubes; for example, when a cap is attached and the inner surface of the flexible tube is dried in an unheated or heated state while avoiding the inflow of dust. It also occurs in cases.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a flexible tube that can process the hollow part of a flexible tube while it is attached, that can prevent it from falling off the flexible tube, and that can be easily attached to the connecting parts of various devices. The purpose is to provide a cap for the tube.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] The present invention provides a cap body with one end closed, in which a mounting portion to which a flexible tube is mounted extends in the direction of the opening.
The cap is provided with a communication part that communicates between the opening of the cap body and the hollow part of the tube, respectively, formed on the inner side wall of the cap body and the attachment part, and the outer diameter of the attachment part is the same as the closed part of the cap body. To provide a cap for a flexible tube which is formed smaller from the side toward the opening side and has a slip-off prevention part formed in the mounting part on the opening side.

In a cap with this structure, the inner side wall of the cap body,
The mounting part to which the flexible tube is attached has a communication part that communicates the opening of the cap body with the hollow part of the tube, so the hollow part of the flexible tube can be connected to the mounting part when the cap is attached. can be processed quickly.

Further, since the outer diameter of the mounting portion is formed to become smaller from the closed portion side to the opening side of the cap main body, the inner diameter of the distal opening portion of the tube attached to the cap increases.

Since the stopper part is formed in the mounting part on the opening side of the cap body, it is possible to prevent the cap from falling off from the tube. Furthermore, when the cap is removed and attached, the opening at the tip of the tube has an enlarged diameter, so it can be easily connected to the connection parts of various devices.

[Example] The present invention will be described in more detail below based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a cap as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a side view of the cap shown in FIG. 1. In this example, the cap (1) is made of synthetic resin such as polypropylene, and includes a cap body (2) with one end closed, and an attachment part (5) extending from the closed part of the cap body (S2) toward the opening. ).A hollow medical flexible tube (12) made of soft polyvinyl chloride or the like is attached to the attachment part (5). A plurality of protrusions (3) are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction and extend halfway in the direction of the opening.The grooves (4) formed between the plurality of protrusions (3) are , which functions as a communication portion and forms a flow path through which a sterilizing gas such as ethylene oxide flows into the cap body (2).

Further, the mounting portion (S) includes an inner cylinder portion (6) extending concentrically from the closed portion in the cap body (2) toward the opening.
and a plurality of protrusions (
7), a plurality of protrusions (7) among these protrusions (7), and a plurality of elastic protrusions (
9). The plurality of protrusions (7) of the inner cylinder part (6) are connected to the protrusions (3) of the cap body (2) via the protrusions on the closing part side of the cap body (2). , extends in the direction of the opening of the cap body ('2J).

Therefore, the grooves (8) between the plurality of protrusions (7), like the grooves (4), function as communication portions and provide a flow path for the sterilization gas to flow into the hollow portion of the tube (12). Configure.

Further, in this example, four elastic protrusions (9) are provided extending at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

Note that the tip of the protruding piece (9) is positioned inward from the opening of the cap body (2) to prevent contamination even if the cap (1) is placed with the opening side facing downward. do. Further, in order to prevent transfer, the outer peripheral surface of the cap body (2) is chamfered into a polygonal shape.

The mounting portion (5) has a tapered portion (10) formed on the closed side of the cap body (2) with a larger angle than the opening side of the cap body (2),
A flat part (11) that functions as a retaining part is formed in the mounting part (5) on the opening side of the cap body (2). That is, the outer diameter of the mounting part (5) is smaller from the closed part side of the cap body (sword) toward the opening side.More specifically, the outer diameter of the protrusion (7) of the mounting part (5) A tapered portion (10) with a larger diameter on the closed side of the cap body (2) is formed on the outer surface, and a flat portion (11) is formed on the outer surface of the elastic protrusion (9). There is.

In addition, even if the inner diameter D2 of the medical flexible tube (12) changes, in order to prevent the cap (1) from falling off from the flexible tube (12), the plurality of elastic protrusions (9) are flattened. The diameter DI of the virtual circle connecting part (II) is the flexible tube (
12) is set slightly larger than the inner diameter D2. Even if the diameter D1 of the virtual circle connecting the flat portions (11) is larger than the inner diameter D2 of the flexible tube (12), the elastic protrusion (
9), the flexible tube (12) can be easily attached to the attachment part (5). Moreover, Di > D
From the relational expression 2, a restoring force based on the elastic protrusion (9), that is, a pressing force corresponding to Δ(Di −D2) acts from the inside to the outside of the flexible tube (12). Therefore, the flat part (11) of the elastic protrusion (9) is connected to the flexible tube (
12) to prevent the cap (1) from falling off.

Note that the angle of the tapered part (10) is the same as that of the tube (12).
The length can be selected within a range that does not impair mountability to connection parts of various devices, for example, within a range of about 3 to 20'.

In addition, in order to easily install the flexible tube (12) while guiding it to the mounting part (5), the end of the protrusion (3) on the opening side and the tip of the protrusion (9) are Each is chamfered.

When the cap (1) having such a structure is attached to the flexible medical tube (12), the diameter of the tip of the tube (12) increases in accordance with the tapered portion (lO). that time,
A protrusion that connects the protrusion (3) on the inner side wall and the protrusion (7) on the attachment part (5) is formed on the inner surface of the cap body (2) on the side of the closed part, so that the tube (12) The tip opening of the cap body (2) is not blocked by the bottom of the cap body (2).

In addition, the tube (12) is in close surface contact with the flat part (11) and is pressed outward by the elastic protrusion (9), so that
It is possible to prevent the cap (1) from falling off. When the cap (1) is attached and the tube (12) is sterilized with ethylene oxide gas, the ethylene oxide gas flows from the opening of the cap body (2) to the concave groove (4) that functions as a communication section ( Since it flows into the hollow part of the tube (12>) through 8), the flexible tube (12>) can be sterilized with the cap (1) attached.In addition, sterilization with ethylene oxide is usually performed at a temperature of 40 to 60 It can be carried out under temperature conditions of about ℃.

After the above sterilization process, the tube (12) is usually sealed in a bag or the like with the cap (1) attached.

In addition, when connecting the sterilized flexible tube (12) to the connection part of an artificial heart, etc., the tube (12) with a large diameter opening can be easily connected to the connection part of the artificial heart. Can be connected.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a cap according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 4. It should be noted that the same elements as those in the above embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals. The mounting portion (25) of the cap (21) in this example is formed with a tapered portion (30) whose outer diameter gradually decreases from the closed portion side to the opening side of the cap body (2). At the same time, the attachment part (25
), there is a protrusion (31) on the opening side of the cap body (2).
) is formed. More specifically, similar to the embodiment described above, the mounting portion (25) includes an inner cylinder portion (26), a plurality of protrusions (
27) and a plurality of elastic protrusions (29).

Then, the outer surface of the protrusion (27) and the elastic protrusion (29)
) is formed with a tapered part (30) whose diameter gradually decreases from the closed part side to the opening part side of the cap body (2), and the tip part of the plurality of protrusions (29). A convex portion (31) is formed on the outer surface to function as a retaining portion. Further, the diameter D3 of the virtual circle connecting the tops of the plurality of convex portions (31) is slightly larger than the inner diameter D2 of the medical flexible tube (12) (Da > D
2) Formed.

The cap (21) of this structure is attached to the flexible tube (12).
When the cap (21) is attached to the flexible tube (12>), the plurality of convex portions (31>) can prevent the cap (21) from falling off the flexible tube (12>.
The medical flexible tube (12) can be sterilized with the medical flexible tube (12) attached, and the flexible tube (21) whose tip opening has been enlarged in diameter due to the sterilization process can be easily connected to connection parts of various devices.

Note that the cap is not limited to polypropylene, but can be made of a material that is harder than the flexible tube and less likely to deform under processing conditions such as heating, such as synthetic resin, metal, or ceramic. Further, the outer circumferential surface of the cap body does not need to be chamfered into a polygonal shape. The flexible tube is not limited to soft polyvinyl chloride, and may be made of synthetic resin such as flexible thermoplastic resin.

In addition, in order to treat the hollow part of the tube while it is attached,
It is only necessary that a communication part that communicates the opening of the cap body with the hollow part of the tube is formed in the inner side wall of the cap body and the mounting part, respectively.

For example, the protrusions formed on the inner side wall of the cap main body and the attachment part are not limited to the linear shape as in the above embodiments, but may be curved or spiral. Furthermore, instead of the protrusions in the embodiments described above, a plurality of protrusions may be formed regularly or irregularly on the inner side wall and/or the attachment part of the cap body. In this case, the communication portion is constituted by a flow path space between the plurality of convex portions.

Note that as long as a communicating portion can be secured, there is no need to form a protrusion on the inner surface of the cap body on the closed portion side.

The structure of the mounting portion is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the mounting portion may be composed of only an inner cylindrical portion or a plurality of protrusions extending from the closing portion of the cap body toward the opening. When the mounting part is cylindrical, its cross-sectional shape is not limited to a cylindrical shape, but may be a polygonal shape such as a triangle, square, pentagon, or hexagon (the cylindrical mounting part may be solid or Good too.

Further, when the mounting portion is composed of a plurality of protrusions, the plurality of protrusions may be arranged in correspondence with the shape of the cylindrical mounting portion.

Furthermore, the flexible tube after the cap is attached and detached,
In order to easily connect to the connection parts of various devices, the outer diameter of the attachment part may be made smaller from the closed part side to the opening side of the cap body, and the attachment part is not limited to a tapered shape. , it may be formed in a rounded shape that becomes smaller in diameter toward the opening side of the cap body.

The retaining part for preventing the cap from falling off is not limited to the distal end of the mounting part, but may be formed on the opening side of the cap body. The retaining part is not limited to the flat part or the convex part of the above embodiment, for example, if the mounting part is cylindrical,
It may also be a convex portion or a protrusion formed in the circumferential direction.

In order to ensure that the cap can be attached even if the inner diameter of the flexible tube changes and to prevent the cap from falling off, the retaining portion is preferably formed of at least two elastic protrusions. Further, the outer diameter of the retaining portion can be set within a range that can prevent the cap from falling off, as long as it is compatible with the inner diameter of the tube. In other words, the outer diameter of the retaining part is D
a. If the inner diameter of the flexible tube is Db, then Da≧Db
It is sufficient to satisfy the relational expression.

The cap of the present invention can also be applied to ordinary flexible tubes that do not require heat treatment, but can be sterilized by at least the action of heat, such as heat sterilization with ethylene oxide, high-pressure steam sterilization, etc. It can be suitably applied to medical flexible tubes.

Examples of devices to which flexible tubes are connected include medical machines and instruments, such as heart-lung machines, blood filters, blood reservoirs, soccer connectors, hemoconcentrators, blood pumps, reservoirs, and other filters. be done.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the flexible tube cap of the present invention, the hollow part of the tube can be treated while attached to the flexible tube, and it can also be prevented from falling off from the flexible tube. and can be easily attached to the connection parts of various devices.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a cap that is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the cap shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a cap according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional cap. 7 is a side view of the cap shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway perspective view of another conventional cap, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 8.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A mounting part to which a flexible tube is mounted is provided in the cap body with one end closed, and extends in the direction of the opening, and the inner side wall of the cap body and the mounting part The cap is formed with a communication part that communicates between the opening of the cap body and the hollow part of the tube, and the outer diameter of the attached part becomes smaller from the closed part side of the cap body toward the opening part. A cap for a flexible tube, characterized in that a retaining portion is formed in the mounting portion on the opening side. 2. The flexible tube cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap main body has a tapered part formed in the mounting part on the side of the closure and a flat part formed in the mounting part on the opening side. 3. The flexible tube cap according to claim 1, wherein the retaining portion is a convex portion. 4. The flexible tube cap according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion has an elastic protrusion protruding toward the opening of the cap body, and a retaining portion is formed on the protrusion.