Connectors for respiratory assistance systems

Abstract

Connectors for respiratory assistance systems are disclosed that are configured to at least decrease the proportion of condensate that drains into an inspiratory conduit. The connectors include a setup that causes the portion of a wye-piece connected to an expiratory conduit to be positioned below the portion of the wye-piece connected to the inspiratory conduit. The connector can alternatively, or additionally, include a wye-piece that includes a ball attached to the wye-piece adjacent the inspiratory conduit port such that when the ball is connected to a medical stand, the expiratory conduit port is positioned below the inspiratory conduit port. The connector can alternatively or additionally include a circuit hanger that includes a cradles for both conduits and a ball attached to the circuit hanger adjacent the inspiratory conduit cradle such that when the ball is connected to a medical stand, the expiratory conduit cradle is positioned below the inspiratory conduit cradle. The connector can alternatively or additionally include a coaxial wye-piece that includes an inspiratory branch, an expiratory branch, and a patient end. The tip of the inspiratory branch that is internal to the coaxial wye-piece may have a lip and a narrowed diameter, features which obstruct or reduce condensate from entering the inspiratory branch and the inspiratory conduit regardless of the coaxial wye-piece orientation or position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wye-piece connector for a respiratory assistance system comprising:
 an inspiratory conduit port,   an expiratory conduit port,   a patient interface port,   a body formed by a fluid passageway between the inspiratory conduit port and the patient interface port and a fluid passageway between the expiratory conduit port and the patient interface port, and   a ball for connecting the wye-piece to a medical stand,   wherein the ball is connected to the body adjacent the inspiratory conduit port such that when the ball is connected to a medical stand, the expiratory conduit port is positioned below the inspiratory conduit port.   
     
     
         2 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the ball is attached directly to the body. 
     
     
         3 . The connector of  claim 1 , comprising a stem, wherein the stem is attached to the body and the ball is attached to the stem. 
     
     
         4 . A circuit hanger connector configured to be used in a respiratory assistance system, the circuit hanger comprising:
 a body, the body comprising:
 an inspiratory conduit cradle, and 
 an expiratory conduit cradle; and 
   a ball for connecting the circuit hanger to a medical stand,   wherein the ball is attached to the body adjacent the inspiratory conduit cradle such that when the ball is connected to a medical stand, the expiratory conduit cradle is positioned below the inspiratory conduit cradle.   
     
     
         5 . The connector of  claim 4 , wherein the ball is attached directly to the body. 
     
     
         6 . The connector of  claim 4 , comprising a stem, wherein the stem is attached to the body and the ball is attached to the stem. 
     
     
         7 . A coaxial wye-piece connector configured to be used in a respiratory assistance system, the coaxial wye-piece connector comprising:
 an inspiratory branch including an inspiratory conduit port;   an expiratory branch including an expiratory conduit port;   a patient end including a patient interface port;   a body comprising the inspiratory branch, the expiratory branch, and the patient end, wherein the body is formed by a fluid passageway between the inspiratory conduit port and the patient interface port and a fluid passage between the expiratory conduit port and the patient interface port; and   wherein the inspiratory branch further comprises a tip that extends into the fluid passageway between the expiratory conduit port and the patient interface port of the body; and   wherein the tip of the inspiratory branch comprises a lip, the lip configured to obstruct or impede a condensate from entering into the inspiratory branch.   
     
     
         8 . The connector of  claim 7 , wherein the inspiratory conduit port is located on a conduit end of the inspiratory branch. 
     
     
         9 . The connector of  claim 8 , wherein the inspiratory branch is configured to allow an inspiratory gas to flow within the inspiratory branch from the conduit end of the inspiratory branch to the tip of the inspiratory branch such that the inspiratory gas flow impedes a condensate from entering into the inspiratory branch. 
     
     
         10 . The connector of  claims 8  and  9 , wherein the inspiratory branch further comprises an inner surface diameter that is different at the conduit end of the inspiratory branch than at the tip of the inspiratory branch. 
     
     
         11 . The connector of  claim 10 , wherein the inner surface diameter at the tip of the inspiratory branch is narrower than the inner surface diameter at the conduit end of the inspiratory branch. 
     
     
         12 . The connector of  claim 11 , wherein the inspiratory gas has a flow speed at the tip of the inspiratory branch that is greater than a flow speed at the conduit end of the inspiratory branch. 
     
     
         13 . The connector of  claims 8 - 12 , wherein the conduit end of the inspiratory branch is tapered on an inner surface and/or an outer surface such that the conduit end of the inspiratory branch may be connected to an inspiratory conduit, and wherein the inspiratory conduit is in fluid communication with the inspiratory conduit port when the inspiratory conduit is connected to the conduit end of the inspiratory branch. 
     
     
         14 . The connectors of  claims 7 - 13 , wherein the inspiratory branch further comprises an MDI port or a pressure port. 
     
     
         15 . The connector of  claims 7 - 14 , wherein the fluid passageway between the expiratory conduit port and the patient interface port comprises a change in diameter of the inner surface of the fluid passageway between the expiratory conduit port and the patient interface port. 
     
     
         16 . The connector of  claim 15 , wherein an inner surface diameter of the fluid passageway by the patient interface port is smaller than an inner surface diameter of the fluid passageway by the expiratory conduit port. 
     
     
         17 . The connector of  claims 7 - 16 , wherein the patient interface port is located on an end of the patient end. 
     
     
         18 . The connector of  claim 17 , wherein the end of the patient end has a dual taper that allows the end of the patient end to act as a female connector and/or a male connector. 
     
     
         19 . The connector of  claim 17 , wherein the end of the patient end has a solid wall between an inner surface and an outer surface of the patient end. 
     
     
         20 . The connector of  claim 17 , wherein the end of the patient end has a wall gap between an inner surface and outer surface of the patient end. 
     
     
         21 . The connector of  claims 7 - 20 , wherein the connector is opaque. 
     
     
         22 . The connector of  claims 7 - 20 , wherein the connector is transparent. 
     
     
         23 . The connector of  claims 7 - 22 , wherein the connector further comprises an inner coaxial inspiratory tube that extends from the inspiratory branch into the fluid passageway between the expiratory conduit port and the patient interface port. 
     
     
         24 . The connector of  claim 23 , wherein the patient end is configured to connect with a patient interface at a connection point. 
     
     
         25 . The connector of  claim 24 , wherein the inner coaxial inspiratory tube extends toward the patient end. 
     
     
         26 . The connector of  claim 24 , wherein the inner coaxial inspiratory tube extends from the inspiratory branch up to the patient interface port of the patient end. 
     
     
         27 . The connector of  claims 7 - 26 , wherein the connector is configured to direct flow from the inspiratory branch towards the patient end. 
     
     
         28 . The connector of  claims 7 - 26 , wherein the connector comprises an angle between the axis of the inspiratory branch and the axis of the expiratory branch. 
     
     
         29 . The connector of  claim 28 , wherein the angle between the axis of the inspiratory branch and the axis of the expiratory branch is between 10 and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         30 . The connector of  claim 28 , wherein the angle between the axis of the inspiratory branch and the axis of the expiratory branch allows the connector to direct flow from the inspiratory branch towards the patient end.