Heated respiratory hose connection

Abstract

Unwinding a portion of a support helix that comprises a heating wire from a wall of a hose at an end of the hose; sleeving a length of heatshrink tubing at least partly onto the unwound portion of the support helix; heating the heatshrink tubing to shrink onto at least part of the unwound portion of the support helix; and at an end of the unwound portion, directly connecting the heating wire to an electrical contact of an electrical connector.

1 . A hose assembly comprising:
 a first hose comprising a first support helix to structurally support a wall of the first hose that defines an interior of the first hose, and that incorporates at least a first heating wire to heat the interior of the first hose;   a first hose fitting coupled to a first end of the first hose, wherein the first end of the first hose is received within a portion of an interior of the first hose fitting to put the interior of the first hose in communication with the interior of the first hose fitting; and   a first electrical pigtail emanating at a first end of the first electrical pigtail from the first hose fitting and into an environment external to the hose assembly, and comprising a first electrical connector at a second end of the first electrical pigtail to connect to a first source of electric power external to the hose assembly, wherein:
 a portion of the first support helix is unwound from the first hose at the first end of the first hose, and extends beyond the first end of the first hose and further into the interior of the first hose fitting; 
 the unwound portion of the first support helix extends from within the interior of the first hose fitting to form the first electrical pigtail; and 
 the first heating wire is directly connected to a first electrical contact of the first electrical connector at the second end of the first electrical pigtail to convey electric current from the first electrical connector to enable the first heating wire to receive electric power from the first electrical connector to heat the interior of the first hose. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hose assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second hose fitting coupled to a second end of the first hose, wherein:
 the second end of the first hose is received within a portion of an interior of the second hose fitting to put the interior of the first hose in communication with the interior of the second hose fitting;   the first support helix incorporates a second heating wire to cooperate with the first heating wire to heat the interior of the first hose;   the second heating wire is directly connected to a second electrical contact of the first electrical connector at the second end of the first electrical pigtail;   the first heating wire and the second heating wire are electrically coupled at the second end of the first hose and within the interior of the second hose fitting to form an electrical loop that extends from the first electrical contact of the first electrical connector, through the first heating wire to the second end of the first hose, through the second heating wire from the second end of the first hose, and to the second electrical contact of the first electrical connector; and   the electrical loop is operable with a flow of electric current therethrough to heat the interior of the first hose.   
     
     
         3 . The hose assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second hose comprising a second support helix to structurally support a wall of the second hose that defines an interior of the second hose, and that incorporates at least a third heating wire to heat a the interior of the second hose;   a third hose fitting coupled to a first end of the second hose, wherein the first end of the second hose is received within a portion of an interior of the third hose fitting to put the interior of the second hose in communication with the interior of the third hose fitting; and   a second electrical pigtail emanating at a first end of the second electrical pigtail from the third hose fitting and into the environment external to the hose assembly, and comprising a second electrical connector at a second end of the second electrical pigtail to connect to a second source of electric power external to the hose assembly, wherein:
 a portion of the second support helix is unwound from the second hose at the first end of the second hose, and extends beyond the first end of the second hose and further into the interior of the third hose fitting; 
 the unwound portion of the second support helix extends from within the interior of the third hose fitting to form the second electrical pigtail; and 
 the third heating wire is directly connected to a first electrical contact of the second electrical connector at the second end of the second electrical pigtail to convey electric current from the second electrical connector to enable the third heating wire to receive electric power from the second electrical connector to heat the interior of the second hose. 
   
     
     
         4 . The hose assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the second end of the first hose and the second end of the second hose are coupled to a Y-fitting co-located with a patient;   the first hose fitting and the third hose fitting are coupled to a medical device;   a first respiratory gas passes emanates from the medical device at the first hose fitting, and passes through the first hose to the patient at the Y-fitting; and   a second respiratory gas emanates from the patient at the Y-fitting, and passes through the second hose to the medical device at the third hose fitting.   
     
     
         5 . The hose assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical pigtail emanates from the first hose fitting a alongside and parallel with the first hose from an opening of the first hose fitting where the first end of the first hose is received by the first hose fitting. 
     
     
         6 . The hose assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical pigtail emanates from the first hose fitting in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction from which the first hose emanates from the first hose fitting. 
     
     
         7 . The hose assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical pigtail comprises a sheath sleeved at least partially over the unwound portion of the first support helix. 
     
     
         8 . The hose assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the sheath comprises a length of heatshrink tubing;   heat is applied to the heatshrink tubing to cause the heatshrink tubing to shrink around and into close contact over at least a portion of the unwound portion of the first support helix; and   heat is also applied to the first support helix to alter its cross-section to accommodate the shrinkage of the heatshrink tubing into close contact over at least a portion of the unwound portion of the first support helix.   
     
     
         9 . A hose comprising:
 a wall defining an interior of the hose; and   a support helix formed together with the wall of the hose to structurally support the wall, and that incorporates a first heating wire and a second heating wire to cooperate to heat the interior of the hose, wherein:
 the support helix surrounds the interior of the hose in a helical path; 
 a portion of the support helix at a first end of the hose is unwound from the wall and the helical path; 
 a sheath surrounds at least a part of the unwound portion of the support helix; 
 the sheath comprises a length of heatshrink tubing that is sleeved at least partially onto the unwound portion of the support helix, and is heated to shrink onto at least part of the unwound portion of the support helix; 
 at an end of the unwound portion, the first heating wire is directly connected to a first electrical contact of an electrical connector, and the second heating wire is directly connected to a second electrical contact of the electrical connector; 
 at a second end of the hose opposite the first end of the hose, the first heating wire is electrically connected to the second heating wire to form an electrical loop that extends from the first electrical contact of the electrical connector, through the first heating wire to the second end of the hose, through the second heating wire from the second end of the hose, and to the second electrical contact of the electrical connector; and 
 the electrical loop is operable with a flow of electric current therethrough to heat the interior of the hose. 
   
     
     
         10 . The hose of  claim 9 , wherein:
 a first hose fitting is coupled to the first end of the hose;   the first end of the hose with received within a portion of an interior of the first hose fitting to put the interior of the hose in communication with the interior of the first hose fitting;   the unwound portion of the support helix extends beyond the first end of the hose and further into the interior of the first hose fitting; and   the unwound portion of the support helix extends from within the interior of the first hose fitting to form an electrical pigtail.   
     
     
         11 . The hose of  claim 10 , wherein:
 a second hose fitting is coupled to the second end of the hose;   the second end of the hose is received within a portion of an interior of the second hose fitting to put the interior of the first hose in communication with the interior of the second hose fitting; and   the electrical connection of the first heating wire to the second heating wire at the second end of the hose is positioned within the interior of the second hose fitting.   
     
     
         12 . The hose of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the support helix is formed from flexible plastics material; and   the unwound portion of the support helix is heated to cause molecules of the flexible plastics material to adopt a straighter path than the helical path as a resting state to straighten the unwound portion from the helical path.   
     
     
         13 . The hose of  claim 9 , wherein the unwound portion of the support helix is heated to alter its shape to conform to an interior shape of the sheath. 
     
     
         14 . The hose of  claim 9 , wherein portions of the wall of the hose are trimmed away from the unwound portion of the support helix. 
     
     
         15 . The hose of  claim 9 , wherein:
 a first hose fitting is coupled to the first end of the hose;   the first hose fitting comprises three connections;   the first end of the hose with received within a portion of an interior of the first hose fitting at a first connection of the three connections to put the interior of the hose in communication with the interior of the first hose fitting;   the unwound portion of the support helix extends beyond the first end of the hose and further into the interior of the first hose fitting toward a second connection of the three connections;   the unwound portion of the support helix extends into a plug that carries the electrical connector and that occupies the second connection; and   a portion of the plug that extends into the interior of the first hose fitting from the second connection has a concave shape to provide a smooth surface that cooperates with at least one surface of the interior of the first hose fitting to provide a smooth path for the flow of a gas between the hose at the first connection and a third connection of the three connections.   
     
     
         16 . A method of making hose assembly comprising:
 unwinding a portion of a support helix from a wall of a hose at a first end of the hose, wherein:
 the support helix is formed together with the wall of the hose to structurally support the wall 
 the support helix surrounds the interior of the hose in a helical path; and 
 the support helix incorporates a first heating wire and a second heating wire to cooperate to heat an interior of the hose; 
   sleeving a length of heatshrink tubing onto at least part of the unwound portion of the support helix;   heating the heatshrink tubing to shrink onto at least part of the unwound portion of the support helix;   at an end of the unwound portion, directly connecting the first heating wire to a first electrical contact of an electrical connector, and directly connecting the second heating wire to a second electrical contact of the electrical connector;   at a second end of the hose opposite the first end of the hose, electrically connecting the first heating wire to the second heating wire to form an electrical loop that extends from the first electrical contact of the electrical connector, through the first heating wire to the second end of the hose, through the second heating wire from the second end of the hose, and to the second electrical contact of the electrical connector, wherein the electrical loop is operable with a flow of electric current therethrough to heat the interior of the hose.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 coupling a first hose fitting to the first end of the hose, wherein:
 the first end of the hose is received within a portion of an interior of the first hose fitting to put the interior of the hose in communication with the interior of the first hose fitting; and 
 the unwound portion of the support helix extends beyond the first end of the hose and further into the interior of the first hose fitting; and 
   extending the unwound portion of the support helix from within the interior of the first hose fitting, and through an opening defined by a portion of the first hose fitting into an environment external to the first hose fitting to form an electrical pigtail.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising:
 coupling a second hose fitting to the second end of the hose, wherein:
 the second end of the hose is received within a portion of an interior of the second hose fitting to put the interior of the first hose in communication with the interior of the second hose fitting; and 
 the electrical connection of the first heating wire to the second heating wire at the second end of the hose is positioned within the interior of the second hose fitting. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the support helix is formed from flexible plastics material; and   the method comprises heating the unwound portion of the support helix to cause molecules of the flexible plastics material to adopt a straighter path than the helical path as a resting state to straighten the unwound portion from the helical path.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising heating the unwound portion of the support helix to alter its shape to conform to an interior shape of the sheath. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising trimming portions of the wall of the hose away from the unwound portion of the support helix. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 coupling a first hose fitting to the first end of the hose, wherein:
 the first hose fitting comprises three connections; 
 the first end of the hose with received within a portion of an interior of the first hose fitting at a first connection of the three connections to put the interior of the hose in communication with the interior of the first hose fitting; 
 the unwound portion of the support helix extends beyond the first end of the hose and further into the interior of the first hose fitting toward a second connection of the three connections; 
   forming a plug around the electrical connector; and   inserting the plug into the second connection, wherein a portion of the plug that extends into the interior of the first hose fitting from the second connection has a concave shape to provide a smooth surface that cooperates with at least one surface of the interior of the first hose fitting to provide a smooth path for the flow of a gas between the hose at the first connection and a third connection of the three connections.   
     
     
         23 . A hose assembly comprising:
 a first hose comprising a first support helix to structurally support a wall of the first hose that defines an interior of the first hose, and that incorporates at least a first heating wire to heat the interior of the first hose;   a first hose fitting coupled to a first end of the first hose, wherein:
 the first hose fitting comprises three connections; and 
 the first end of the first hose is received within a portion of an interior of the first hose fitting at a first connection of the three connection to put the interior of the first hose in communication with the interior of the first hose fitting; and 
   a plug that carries a first electrical connector and occupies a second connection of the three connections, wherein:
 a portion of the first support helix is unwound from the first hose at the first end of the first hose, and extends beyond the first end of the first hose and further into the interior of the first hose fitting; 
 the unwound portion of the support helix extends beyond the first end of the hose and further into the interior of the first hose fitting toward the second connection; 
 the first heating wire is directly connected to a first electrical contact of the first electrical connector to convey electric current from the first electrical connector to enable the first heating wire to receive electric power from the first electrical connector to heat the interior of the first hose; and 
 a portion of the plug that extends into the interior of the first hose fitting from the second connection has a concave shape to provide a smooth surface that cooperates with at least one surface of the interior of the first hose fitting to provide a smooth path for the flow of a gas between the hose at the first connection and a third connection of the three connections. 
   
     
     
         24 . The hose assembly of  claim 23 , further comprising a second hose fitting coupled to a second end of the first hose, wherein:
 the second end of the first hose is received within a portion of an interior of the second hose fitting to put the interior of the first hose in communication with the interior of the second hose fitting;   the first support helix incorporates a second heating wire to cooperate with the first heating wire to heat the interior of the first hose;   the second heating wire is directly connected to a second electrical contact of the first electrical connector;   the first heating wire and the second heating wire are electrically coupled at the second end of the first hose and within the interior of the second hose fitting to form an electrical loop that extends from the first electrical contact of the first electrical connector, through the first heating wire to the second end of the first hose, through the second heating wire from the second end of the first hose, and to the second electrical contact of the first electrical connector; and   the electrical loop is operable with a flow of electric current therethrough to heat the interior of the first hose.