Pipe joints or couplings – Flexible joint – rigid members – Bellows
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-22
2002-06-04
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Pipe joints or couplings
Flexible joint, rigid members
Bellows
C285S423000, C138S121000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06398266
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to connectors for various tubular medical devices, and, more specifically, to a popoid type connector that is capable of being bent relative to a longitudinal axis thereof and is configured to maintain the bent position.
2. Background of the Invention
Popoids are typically formed into plastic tubing to allow bending of the plastic tubing without causing the plastic tubing to kink. A popoid is generally comprised of a plurality of saw tooth sections that are circumferentially formed into the wall of the tubing. When collapsed, each saw tooth section abuts against and fits slightly within the adjacent saw tooth section effectively shortening the length of tubing from which the popoid is formed. In an expanded position, the popoid is capable of bending in any direction (i.e., 360 degrees) relative to the longitudinal axis of the tubing in which the popoid is formed and will generally hold its bent position when released.
Popoid devices are used in many applications both inside and outside the medical industry. For example, plastic drinking straws have been available for many years that include a popoid section proximate the drinking end thereof to allow the straw to bend along the popoid section and thus maintain its bent shape when released. In the medical industry, popoid devices have been developed for use where typically more rigid tubing devices require bending or flexing without causing the tubing to become kinked. For example, endotracheal tubes are typically formed from a sufficiently rigid plastic material to maintain an open airway through the trachea of a patient. The proximal end of such an endotracheal tube is often connected to other sections of tubing outside the patients body. In order to place less stress on the endotracheal tube as it exits the patient and thus increase patient comfort, connectors have been developed that utilize a popoid section to join the endotracheal tube with another external section of tubing. These popoid connectors allow an abrupt bend to be made in the tubing connected to the endotracheal tube proximate the end of the endotracheal tube exiting the patent that places the least amount of force on the proximal end of the endotracheal tube. Such popoid connectors are also advantageous for use in conjunction with other medical devices such as those used for intubation applications as well as in various breathing circuits for aspiration and/or ventilation.
Tubular popoid connectors are typically formed from extruded sections of plastic tubing. Often, shortly after extrusion, the sections of plastic tubing are placed within a mold. Because the sections of plastic tubing are placed within the mold shortly after extrusion, the sections of tubing are still in a pliable state and have thus not yet complete solidified. As such, the sections of tubing are amenable to being molded. The molds include recesses formed therein that are configured to define the popoid connector Such molds are generally formed from two matching half molds, each of which define a plurality of semicircular recesses as well as the other desired features of the popoid connector. When mated, the two matching half molds form the complete desired shape of the popoid connector.
As each section of tubing is placed within the mold, the tubing is forced into the recesses of the mold to cause the tubing to form to the inside of the mold. Such force is usually applied by using suction on the external surfaces of the tubing to draw the tubing into the recesses of the mold, or by pressurizing the inside of the section of tubing to cause the tubing to expand into the internal recesses of the mold. Because the section of tubing is often comprised of a relatively thin walled, plastic material, the section of tubing rapidly cools to rigidly maintain the shape of the mold upon its release from the mold.
FIGS. 1 and 2
illustrate a popoid connector, generally indicated at
10
, known in the art. The popoid connector
10
is comprised of a generally elongate tubular member having a distal end
12
and a proximal end
14
. A first connection end
16
is provided at the distal end
12
and includes various features
18
,
20
,
22
and
24
for connecting to another device, such as an endotracheal tube (not shown). Likewise, the proximal end
14
has a similarly configured second connection end
26
that includes features
28
,
30
,
32
, and
34
for attachment to another medical device.
Interposed between the first and second connecting ends
16
and
26
, respectively, is a popoid section, generally indicated at
38
. The popoid section
38
is comprised of a plurality of corrugations
40
-
47
that have a configuration which allows the popoid section
38
to bend and retain its bent orientation when released. Each corrugation
40
-
47
is comprised of a pair of oppositely facing frustoconical sections, such as the frustoconical sections
48
and
50
of corrugation
41
. While the largest and smallest diameters of the frustoconical sections
48
and
50
are the same, the longitudinal length of each frustoconical section
48
and
50
is different. In this example, the frustoconical portions
48
nearest the distal end
12
of each corrugation
40
-
47
have a greater longitudinal length than the longitudinal length of the frustoconical sections
50
nearer the proximal end
14
. When the distal end
12
is forced toward the proximal end
14
along the longitudinal axis of the connector
10
, the frustoconical portions
48
substantially maintain their shape, while the frustoconical portions
50
become inverted to fit within the associated frustoconical portions
48
. Thus, the popoid section
38
will collapse upon itself to shorten the length of the connector
10
. A similar condition occurs when the popoid section
38
is bent in a direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the connector
10
. As the popoid section
38
is bent, the sides of the frustoconical portions
48
and
50
on the side of the popoid section that are in the direction of the bend will fold upon themselves to shorten the length of the popoid along that side. Conversely, the frustoconical portions
48
and
50
that are on the opposite side to the direction of the bend maintain their pre-bent arrangement such that the length of the popoid section
38
along this side of the popoid section
38
maintains its length.
In order for the popoid to function properly, the frustoconical sections
50
must be able to flex relative to the frustoconical sections
48
to be able to invert when the popoid section
38
is bent or collapsed and maintain their position when released. Thus, the frustoconical sections
48
are configured with an angle between their outer surface and the longitudinal axis of the connector
10
that is less than the angle between the longitudinal axis and the outer surface of the frustoconical sections
50
. As such, the frustoconical sections
48
are more difficult to collapse than the frustoconical sections
50
.
One problem with such prior art popoids, however, has been their generally flexible nature even when placed in a bent position. Because each portion of the popoid is formed from the same length and strength of plastic tubing, even the frustoconical portions that are less likely to flex when the popoid is bent, as previously discussed, are somewhat easy to flex themselves and thus do not create as rigid a structure as may otherwise be desirable. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a popoid connector that is substantially more rigid than popoid connectors known in the art. It would also be advantageous to provide such a popoid connector without increasing the wall thickness of the tubing from which the popoid connector is formed. It would be a further advantage to provide a popoid connector that is substantially more rigid than popoid connectors known in the art that can be manufactured in a manner that is simple and relatively inexpensive compared to manufacturing techniques utilized for manufacturing popoid conne
Ballard Medical Products
Browne Lynne H.
Dority & Manning, P.A
Malcolm Tomlyne A
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