GB2519530A

GB2519530A - A tube connection device

Info

Publication number: GB2519530A
Application number: GB1318693.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter James Le Cuirot
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-10-22
Filing date: 2013-10-22
Publication date: 2015-04-29
Also published as: GB201318693D0

Abstract

A tube connection device 1 comprises attachment means for incoming and outgoing tubes 11, 12, and connecting sections 2, 3 which separate under a predetermined force and may be reconnected following separation, a lumen 13 is formed through the device which allows passage of fluid and gas from one tube to another, and a watertight and airtight seal 5, 6 exists when the device is connected. The reconnectable connecting sections may utilise a magnet 4, a mechanical snap-fit (8, see figure 2) or a friction fit (10, see figure 4). A connecting section may have a frangible connection (9, see figure 3), which is not reconnectable once broken.

Description

A tube counection device This invention relates to a device that can he used to connect two tubes, and which separates under a predetermined tensile forcc.

For medical purposes, tubes (otherwise known as drains) are inserted/connected to human beings often for prolonged penods of time, These tubes are snhjected to numerous forces relating to activity.

Conventional drains often rely on only minimal fixation to the patient, for example a simple stitch or adhesive tape. When subject to a large enough force the whole drain will he dislodged from the patient's body. Depending 011 the locationinathre of the drain, such a force may resnlt in pain, actual bodily hann, or loss of the drain's function, Replacement of such drains often requires ftjrther invasive procedure or operation, which comes with significant associated health risks. To overcome these problems, the present invention proposes: A tube connection device comprising a first attachment means for an incoming rube, a second attachment means for an outgoing rube, a connection device having a first section carrying the first attachment means and a second section carrying the second attachment meatms, the first section and the second section being etmgaged to separate under a predetermined force, a ltnnen through the connection device which allows passage of liquid antI/or gas between the incoming tnbe and the ontgoing tube, and a watertight and/or airtight seal when the first and second sections arc engaged.

The force-limiting element is preferably provided by magnets although the force limiting element may also he provided by other means, snch as a frangible eleinetit, friction between two snrfaces or a mechanical interlocking connection, The predetermined force under which the two halves of the device separate can he varied by using different strength magnets depending on the desired force that the connection is required to carry prior to separation, The device allows passage of water and/or gas through itself from incoming tnhes to outgoing tubes and is airtight and watertight until separation occurs.

The device can he used to connect tubes of varying sizes. The incoming tube can he of a different size to the outgoing tube, The desired force necessary to separate the first and second sections of the connection device is between IN and lOON.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a tube connection device with a force limiting mechanism connecting two tubes.

Figure 2 shows a tube connection device with an alternative force limiting mechanism connecting two tubes.

Figure 3 shows a tube connection device with another force limiting mechanism connecting two tubes.

Figure 4 shows a tube connection device with a further force limiting mechanism connecting two tubes, Figure 5 shows two examples of a tube connection device in situ, In figure 1, a tube connection device I includes a first section 2 for connection of an incoming tube II and a second section 3 for connection of an outgoing tube 12. The first and second sections of the device are connected to one another using magnets 4 whose strength is pre-determined so that a lmown and desired force is required to separate tIme first and second sections from each other. The resulting interface between the first and second sections includes a lunmen 13 and a watertight sealS, for instance a compressible circtmmferential element 6 under compression generated by the attraction of the niagnets. Inconung and outgoing tubes of varying size can he connected to the tirst and second sections of the tube connection device for instance by using graded adaptors 7.

ia tube connection device is inserted somewhere along fle length of a medical tube/drain and a force greater than that required to separate the first atid second sections of the tube connection device is applied to the outgoing tube 12, the result will he separation of the tube connection device rather than pain, actual bodily harm, or loss of tuhc function. The first and second sections of the tube connection device can be reconnected following separation, resulting in a watertight and airtight seal between the first section and the second section of the device.

In figure 2, a tube connection device 1 includes a first section 2 for connection of an incoming tube 11 and a second section 3 for connection of an outgoing tnbe 12. The first and second sections of the device are connected to one another using a mechanical connection 8 between the first and the second sections, formed by engagement of a peg in groove arrangement, whose strength is pre-deternuned so that a known and desired force is required to separate the first and second sections from cacti other. The resulting interface between the first and second sections includes a lumen 13 and a watertight seal 5, for instance a conmpressihle circumferential elentent 6 under compression generated by the engagement of the peg into the groove. Incoming and outgoing tubes of varying size can be connected to the first section and the second section of the tube connection device for instance by using graded adaptors 7.

If a tube connection device is inserted somewhere along the length of a medical tube/drain and a force greater than that required to separate the first and second sections of the tube connection device is applied to the outgoing tube 12, the result will he separation of the first and second sections rather than pain, actual bodily hann, or loss of tube function, The first and second sections of the tube connection device can be reconnected following separation resulting in a watertight and airtight seal between the first section and the second section of the device.

In figure 3, a tube connection device 1 includes a first section 2 for connection of an incoming nmbe 11 and a second section 3 for connection of an outgoing tube 12. TIme first and second sections of tIme device are connected to one another using a circumferential frangible element 9 forming the connection between the first and the second section, whose strength is predetennined so that a known and desired force is required to break the frangible element, separating the first section from the second section, The interface between the lirst and second sections includes a liunen 13 and is watertight due to the circumferential frangible element, Incoming and outgoing tubes of varying size can be connected to the first section and the second section of the tube connection device for instance hy using graded adaptors If a tube connection device is inserted somewhere along the length of a medical tuhcdrain and a force greater than that required to separate the first and second sections of the tube connection device is applied to the outgoing tube 12, tIme result will he separation of the first and second sections rather than pain, acnmal bodily harm, or loss of tube fUnction, The first and second sections of the tube connection device cannot he reconnected following separation in this variation ol'the tube connection device, In figure 4, a tube connection device I inclndes a first section 2 for connection of an incoming tube 11 and a second section 3 for connection of an outgoing tube 12. The first and second sections of the device are connected to one another by means of a frictional interface 10-the second section 3 lifting within the coticave wall of the first section 2 and the frictioti between the first section and the second section along tIns interface resulting in connection of the first section and the second section -whose strength is pre-deterinined so that a known and desired force is required to separate the first and second sections from each other. The resulting interface between the first and second sections includes a lumen 13 and a watertight seal 5, for instance a compressible circumferential elenment 6 under compression generated by the engagement of the frictional interface between the first section and the second section, Incoming and outgoing tubes of varying size can he connected to the first section and the second section of the tube connection device for instance by using graded adaptors 7.

If a tube connection device is inserted somewhere along the length of a medical tube/drain and a force greater than that required to separate the first and second sections of the tube connection device is applied to the outgoing tube 12, the result will he separation of the lirst and second sections rather than pain, acumal bodily harm, or loss of tube function,The first and second sections of the tube connection device can he reconnected following separation resulting in a watertight and airtight seal between the first section and the second section of the device.

Figure 5 shows two examples of a nmhe connection device in situ, In the first example the tube connection device is connected to a urinary catheter, In the second example the tube connection device is connected to a chest drain. These are only two examples of how a tube connection device maybe used.

Claims

Clainis 1.) A tube connection device comprising a first attachment means for an incoming tube, a second attachment means for an ouLgoing tube, a connection device having a first section carrying the firsL aftachment means and a second section carrying the second attachment means, the first section and the second section being engaged to separate under a predetennined force, a lumen through the connection device which allows passage of liquid and/or gas between the incoming tube and the outgoing uthe, and a watertight andior airtight seal when the first and second sections are engaged.
2.) A tube connection device according to claim I wherein the first and second sections can he reconnected followit1g separation.
3.) A tube connection device according to claim 1, in which the connection is formed using magnets of a predetermined strength, which connect the first and second sections of the device together and separate under the predetermined force,
4.) A tube cotmection device according to claim 1, in which the cot1nectiot1 is formed by a frangible element arranged to break under the predetermined force to permit the first and second sections to separate.5,) A tube cotmection device according to claim 1, in which the connection is formed by a frictional interface of a predetermined strength, which connects the first and second sections of the device and separates under the predetermined force.6.) A tube cotmection device according to claim 1, in which the connection is fonnedhy an interlocking interface of a predetermined strength, which connects the first and second sections of the device and separates under the predetermined lbrce, 7,) A tube connection device according to any of the preceding claims in which the incoming and outgoing tubes can he of varying sizes,