WO2004041095A1

WO2004041095A1 - Airway adapter

Info

Publication number: WO2004041095A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/018423
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Vidal
Original assignee: Perkinelmer, Inc.
Priority date: 2002-11-01
Filing date: 2003-06-11
Publication date: 2004-05-21
Also published as: AU2003239979A1

Abstract

An airway adapter (14) and apparatus including a gas analyzer housing (12) with first (16) and second (18) spaced end walls, a mortise (20) extending from the first end wall (16) to the second wall (18), and one of a detent and a depression on at least one of the end walls (22, 24, 25, 27). The airway adapter includes tubular end portions (30, 32), a tenon (34) therebetween received in the mortise (20) of the housing (12), and at least one ear (35) including the other of the detent and the depression (40, 41, 60, 62) for releasably locking the airway adapter (14) in the housing (12).

Description

AIRWAY ADAPTER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an airway adapter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Airway adapters, useful in connection with respiratory gas analyzers, are usually adapted to be fit into and retained in a gas analyzer housing. One end of the airway adapter is connected via a conduit to the patient often with an intermediate moisture trap. The airway adapter typically includes opposing windows aligned with an infrared transmitter and an opposing detector in or connected to the housing. See U.S. Patent Nos. 6,095,986 and 5,067,492 and the references cited therein all of which are incorporated herein by this reference.

Those skilled in the art have long desired a single use airway adapter designed to be inexpensive and easy to use. The airway adapters of the '986 and '492 patents are made of a deformable plastic material such that the windows of the adapter are squeezed to the correct distance when the adapter is press fit in the gas analyzer housing. Other designs include expensive optical components. See U.S. Patent Nos. 5,213,109 and 6,190,327 incorporated herein by this reference. Still other designs include moving parts, for example, ball and spring mechanisms used to releasably couple the airway adapter to the housing and which are complex in design, expensive, and difficult to clean. The same is true for adapter/housing retention designs including clips. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel but inexpensive airway adapter.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an airway adapter which is easy to use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an airway adapter which is reversible with respect to the gas analyzer housing.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an airway adapter which is simple to manufacture.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an airway adapter which has no optical mirrors and no moving parts.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an airway adapter which has no ball and spring mechanisms or clips which are difficult to clean.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an airway adapter apparatus including both a gas analyzer housing and an airway adapter.

This invention results from the realization that a much simpler, inexpensive, and reversible airway adapter apparatus is effected, in the preferred embodiment, by a gas analyzer housing with a mortise extending between first and second end walls both having a lengthy outwardly facing depression on each side of the mortise and a airway adapter with a tenon which fits in the mortise of the housing and has a pair of outwardly extending ears each with a lengthy inwardly facing detent which snap fits into a depression on the housing irrespective of the orientation of the airway adapter to releasably retain the airway adapter in the housing without ball and spring mechanisms or clips.

This invention features an airway adapter apparatus comprising a gas analyzer housing with first and second spaced end walls, a mortise extending from the first end wall to the second wall, and one of a detent and a depression on at least one of said end walls. The airway adapter includes tubular end portions, a tenon therebetween received in the mortise of the housing, and at least one ear including the other detent and the depression for releasably locking the airway adapter in the housing.

In the preferred embodiment, both the first and second spaced end walls of the housing include a long, narrow depression on each side of the mortise and there are two opposing ears, one on each side of the tenon, each ear including a long, narrow detent. Also, the tenon may include spaced opposing side walls and there is an ear extending outwardly from a proximal end of each side wall, a ledge extending outwardly from the top of each side wall, and an end wall with a detent extending outwardly from the distal end of each side wall. Additional end walls each extend outwardly from the proximal end of each side wall and each said end wall is spaced behind an ear.

Typically, and in the preferred embodiment, each tenon side wall has an orifice therein with a circumferential seat and a window is disposed in each seat covering the orifice. The window may be treated with an anti-fogging compound. The mortise may also include spaced side walls each including an orifice aligned with the orifices in the side walls of the tenon. The junction between the side walls of the mortise of the housing and the end walls of the housing are preferably chamfered. Typically, the airway adapter is made of a rigid plastic material such as polystyrene and the housing is made of metal such as aluminum.

An airway adapter in accordance with this invention features tubular end portions, a tenon therebetween, and at least one ear including one of a detent and a depression for releasably locking the airway adapter in a housing. More typically, there are two opposing ears, one on each side of the tenon, each ear including a detent longer then it is wide. The tenon typically also includes spaced opposing side walls and an ear extending outwardly from a proximal end of each side wall. In the preferred embodiment, a ledge extends outwardly from the top of each side wall and there is an end wall extending outwardly from the distal end of each side wall, each said end wall also including the other of the detent and the depression.

Usually, there are also end walls each extending outwardly from the proximal end of each side wall, each said end wall spaced behind an ear. The tenon side walls each have an orifice therein surrounded by a circumferential seat and a window is disposed in each seat covering the orifice.

An airway adapter apparatus in accordance with this invention features a housing including a mortise, and an airway adapter including a tenon received in the mortise of the housing, the tenon including spaced opposing side walls, and an ear extending outwardly from a proximal end of each side wall for releasably locking the tenon of the airway adapter and the mortise of the housing. Preferably, the housing includes a proximal end wall with one of an outwardly facing detent and a depression on both sides of the mortise, the ears including the other of an inwardly facing detent and depression. The housing may further include a distal end wall with one of an outwardly facing detent and a depression on both sides of the mortise and the airway adapter then further includes an end wall extending outwardly from the distal end of each side wall, each end wall including the other of an inwardly facing detent and the depression. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a complete airway adapter apparatus in accordance with the subject invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the airway adapter disposed in the housing;

Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the airway adapter shown in Figs. 1 and

2;

Fig. 4 is a schematic end view of the airway adapter shown in Figs. 1-3;

Fig. 5 is a schematic end view of the housing shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of the other end of the housing shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of the housing shown in Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 8 is another schematic side view of the housing shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is another schematic view showing the airway adapter of this invention disposed in the housing in an orientation opposite the orientation shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the airway adapter of this invention;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along lines 11-11 of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the airway adapter of this invention taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the airway adapter of this invention taken along line 13-13 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the airway adapter housing of this invention;

Fig. 15 is an end view of the housing shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is bottom plan view of the housing shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is an end view of the housing shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken along line 18-18 of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 19 is a plan view showing the end of the housing opposite the end shown in Fig. 17.

DISCLOSURE OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed below, this invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.

Airway adapter apparatus 10, Fig. 1 includes, in the preferred embodiment, gas analyzer housing 12 and airway adapter 14. Housing 12 includes first 16 and second 18 end walls and mortise 20 extending from first end wall 16 to second end wall 18. One but preferably both end walls 16 and 18 include lengthy, narrow, outwardly facing depressions 22 and 24 on each side of mortise 20 as shown for end wall 16. Depressions 25 and 27 in end wall 18 are shown in Fig. 6.

Airway adapter 14 includes tubular end portions 30, 32 and tenon 34 therebetween received in mortise 20 of housing 12 as shown in Fig. 2. In the preferred embodiment, airway adapter 14 also includes ears 35 and 37 both including lengthy, narrow, inwardly facing detents such as detent 41 on ear 35, Fig. 1 and detent 40 on ear 37 shown in Fig. 3 for releasably locking and retaining airway adapter 14 in housing 12 in a precise manner and orientation.

In other embodiments, however, the detents maybe on the walls of the housing and the depressions located in the ears of the airway adapter but it is preferred that the depressions be located in the walls of the housing to prevent wear.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the tenon of the airway adapter includes spaced opposing side walls 50, 52 (wall 50 is also shown in Fig. 1) and ears 35 and 37, Figs. 1 and 3 extend outwardly from the proximal end of each tenon side wall. A ledge 54, 56 as best shown in Fig. 4 extends outwardly from the top of each tenon side wall (ledge 56 is also shown in Fig. 1).

The ledges rest on the top surfaces 57, 59, Fig. 1 of housing 12. Airway adapter 14 also preferably includes end walls 36, Fig. 1 and 38, Fig. 3 each extending outwardly from the distal end of each tenon side wall 50, 52, respectively. End walls 36 and 38 also preferably include inwardly facing detents 60 and 62, respectively, which are received in depressions 22 and 24 of housing end wall 16. Additional end walls 64 and 66, Figs. 1 and 3 each extend outwardly from the proximal end of each tenon side wall and are spaced behind ears 35 and 37, respectively as shown. Each tenon side wall 50, 52 includes an orifice: orifice 70 as shown for side wall 52, Fig. 3 and orifice 72 as shown for side wall 50, Fig. 1. A circumferential seat as shown at 76 in Fig. 3 for orifice 70 receives plastic window 71 preferably treated with an anti-fog compound as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,095,986. In other examples, the whole of the airway adapter may be treated with an anti-fog treatment after the windows are secured to the respective orifice seats. The seats ensure the windows do not actually touch any portion of the housing to prevent the scratching of the windows.

Orifices 70 and 72 and the windows covering them are aligned with orifices 80, 82, Figs. 1, 5, 6, and 7 in spaced side walls 84 and 86 of mortise 20 of housing 12. Typically, a source of infrared radiation is coupled to housing 12 and transmits infrared radiation through orifice 80, through the window covering orifice 70 of adapter 14, through the window covering orifice 72, and to a detector coupled to orifice 82 in housing 12. This arrangement can be reversed, however. As shown in Fig. 4, air from the patient flows through the space between tenon side walls 50 and 52 which is enclosed by the sidewalls and top cylindrical wall 51 and bottom cylindrical wall 53.

Airway adapter 14 is preferably symmetrical about axis 4-4, Fig. 4 and made of a rigid plastic material such as polystyrene. Housing 12 is typically made of metal such as aluminum. The windows are preferably made of polystyrene. As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the junction between the side walls 84, 86 of mortise 20 and end walls 16 and 18 of housing 12 are chamfered as shown at 90 in Fig. 5 and 92 in Fig. 6.

As shown in Fig. 9, airway adapter 14 can be oriented in housing 12 oppositely from the orientation shown in Figs. 1-2. Thus, in Figs. 1-2, the detents on the ears are pressed fit into the depressions in wall 18 while in Fig. 9 the detents on the ears are pressed fit into the depressions in wall 16.

Airway adapter 14, Figs. 10-13, in one example, is 2.375 inches long. The tubular end portion 30 outside diameter tapers from .679 to .718 inches, while the inside diameter tapers from .609 to .571 inches. The tubular end portion 32 outside diameter tapers from .599 to .618 inches, while the inside diameter tapers from .529 to .508 inches.

Housing 12, Figs. 14-19 is typically about 1.1 inches long and .6 inches wide and mortise 20 is typically about .191 inches wide and .348 inches deep. Dimension W, Fig. 17, is preferably .681 ± .002 inches.

Thus, airway adapter 14, Fig. 1 is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, reversible, and can be made at a low cost. There are no optical mirrors or moving parts and no ball and spring or clip mechanisms which are difficult to clean. In the preferred embodiment, both end walls 16 and 18 of housing 12 have lengthy outwardly facing depressions as shown for depressions 22 and 24 on wall 16 on each side of mortise 20 and airway adapter 14 includes tenon 34 which fits in mortise 20 of housing 12. Airway adapter 14 has a pair of outwardly extending ears 35 and 37 each with a lengthy inwardly facing detent 41 as shown for ear 35 which snap fits into the depressions in the housing end walls irrespective of the orientation of airway adapter 14. Note that airway adapter 14 is intended to be disposable but that is not a necessary limitation of this invention. Also, the specific construction of the ears shown in the figures is not a limitation of this invention. Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words "including", "comprising", "having", and "with" as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodiments disclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the only possible embodiments.

Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims:

What is claimed is:

Claims

1. An airway adapter apparatus comprising: a housing including: first and second spaced end walls, a mortise extending from the first end wall to the second wall, and one of a detent and a depression on at least one of said end walls; and an airway adapter including: tubular end portions, a tenon therebetween received in the mortise of the housing, and at least one ear including the other of the detent and the depression for releasably locking the airway adapter in the housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which both the first and second spaced end walls of the housing include a depression on each side of the mortise.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which all the depressions are longer than they are wide.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which there are two opposing ears, one on each side of the tenon, each ear including a detent longer then it is wide.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the tenon includes spaced opposing side walls.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which there is an ear extending outwardly from a proximal end of each side wall.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a ledge extending outwardly from the top of each side wall.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 in which there is an end wall extending outwardly from the distal end of each side wall.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which each said end wall also includes the other of the detent and the depression.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 in which there are end walls each extending outwardly from the proximal end of each side wall, each said end wall spaced behind an ear.

11. The apparatus of claim 5 in which each side wall has an orifice therein.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which each orifice includes a circumferential seat.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further including a window in each seat covering the orifice.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 in which the window is treated with an anti-fogging compound.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the mortise includes spaced side walls each including an orifice aligned with the orifices in the side walls of the tenon.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the junction between the side walls of the mortise of the housing and the end walls of the housing are chamfered.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the airway adapter is made of a rigid plastic material.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 in which said rigid plastic material is polystyrene.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the housing is made of metal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 in which said metal is aluminum.

21. An airway adapter comprising: tubular end portions; a tenon therebetween; and at least one ear including one of a detent and a depression for releasably locking the airway adapter in a housing.

22. The adapter of claim 21 in which there are two opposing ears, one on each side of the tenon, each ear including a detent longer then it is wide.

23. The adapter of claim 21 in which the tenon includes spaced opposing side walls.

24. The adapter of claim 21 in which there is an ear extending outwardly from a proximal end of each side wall.

25. The adapter of claim 21 further including a ledge extending outwardly from the top of each side wall.

26. The adapter of claim 21 in which there is an end wall extending outwardly from the distal end of each side wall.

27. The adapter of claim 21 in which each said end wall also includes the other of the detent and the depression.

28. The adapter of claim 24 in which there are end walls each extending outwardly from the proximal end of each side wall, each said end wall spaced behind an ear.

29. The adapter of claim 23 in which each side wall has an orifice therein.

30. The adapter of claim 29 in which each orifice includes a circumferential seat.

31. The adapter of claim 30 further including a window in each seat covering the orifice.

32. The adapter of claim 31 in which the window is treated with an anti-fogging compound.

33. The adapter of claim 21 in which the airway adapter is made of a rigid plastic material.

34. The adapter of claim 33 in which said rigid plastic material is polystyrene.

35. An airway adapter apparatus comprising: a housing including a mortise; and an airway adapter including: a tenon received in the mortise of the housing, the tenon including spaced opposing side walls, and an ear extending outwardly from a proximal end of each side wall for releasably locking the tenon of the airway adapter and the mortise of the housing.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 in which the housing includes a proximal end wall with one of an outwardly facing detent and a depression on both sides of the mortise, the ears including the other of an inwardly facing detent and depression.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 in which the housing further includes a distal end wall with one of an outwardly facing detent and a depression on both sides of the mortise.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 in which the airway adapter further includes an end wall extending outwardly from the distal end of each side wall, each end wall including the other of an inwardly facing detent and the depression.

39. The apparatus of claim 35 further including a ledge extending outwardly from the top of each side wall.

40. The apparatus of claim 35 in which there are end walls each extending outwardly from the proximal end of each side wall, each said end wall spaced behind an ear.

41. The apparatus of claim 35 in which each side wall has an orifice therein.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 in which each orifice includes a circumferential seat.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 further including a window in each seat covering the orifice.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 in which the window is treated with an anti-fogging compound.

45. The apparatus of claim 41 in which the mortise includes spaced side walls each including an orifice aligned with the orifices in the side walls of the tenon.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 in which the junction between the side walls of the mortise of the housing and the end walls of the housing are

chamfered.