GB2498979A

GB2498979A - A sputum suction assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2498979A
Application number: GB1201754.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jin Chung
Original assignee: Pacific Hospital Supply Co Ltd
Current assignee: Pacific Hospital Supply Co Ltd
Priority date: 2012-02-01
Filing date: 2012-02-01
Publication date: 2013-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-01
Also published as: GB201201754D0; GB2498979B

Abstract

The sputum suction assembly includes a hollow connector 10 and a suction tube 20. One end of the hollow connector 10 is provided with a first connecting portion 11 and the other end is provided with a second connecting portion 12 and a closable channel 13a. The first connecting portion 11 is in communication with the second connecting portion 12 and the closable channel 13a. One end of the suction tube 20 is connected to the second connecting portion 12. The suction tube 20 is bendable so that the other end of the suction tube 20 can be fixed in the closeable channel 13a after use, thereby preventing the sputum in the suction tube 20 from flinging to infect surrounding medical personnel. Interference fit structures can be provided in the closable channel such as different sized bores, conical channels, and a protruding ring (figs 7 & 8).

Description

SPUTUM SUCTION ASSEMBLY HAVING A SUCTION TUBE FOLDED THEREIN AND HOLLOW CONNECTOR THEREOF

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

5 The present invention relates to a sputum suction assembly, and in particular to a sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein and a hollow connector thereof.

Description of Prior Art

Human body will naturally secrete a lot of secretions to cover the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, thereby moistening and protecting the mucous membranes of the respiratory 10 tract. The secretions in the nasal cavity will adhere to dusts of the air inhaled in the nasal cavity to form nasal mucus. The secretions in the trachea may adhere to microorganisms, dusts, or other foreign masters entering the trachea to form sputum. Then, the cilia formed on the inner walls of the trachea continuously swing to push the sputum out of the trachea via this swinging action or a cough, thereby protecting the trachea. If bacteria invade the trachea to cause an 15 irritation, the amount of secretions in the trachea becomes larger, so that the sputum gets denser to slow down the swinging action of the cilia. As a result, the sputum cannot be exhausted out of the trachea via the swinging action of cilia or a cough and thus accumulated in the throat to make the breathing unsmooth. Even, the dense sputum flows into the lung to cause pneumonia. At this time, in order to exhaust the sputum out of the trachea, an external suction force is needed. 20 Therefore, a sputum suction device is developed to clean the sputum in the respiratory tract. The sputum suction device includes a sputum suction assembly, a negative pressure generator, a negative pressure tube and a suction tube. The suction tube and the sputum suction assembly are disposable.

One end of the conventional sputum suction assembly is provided with a first connecting

portion. The other end of the conventional suction tube is provided with a second connecting portion and a closable channel. The first connecting portion is in communication with the second connecting portion and the closable channel. The first connecting portion is connected to one end of the negative pressure tube. The other end of the negative pressure tube is 5 connected to the negative pressure generator. The second connecting portion is connected to one end of the suction tube. The other end of the suction tube is inserted into the respiratory tract of a human body. When a user uses his/her thumb to press the closable channel, the negative pressure generator provides a negative pressure into the negative pressure tube, so that the negative pressure tube transfers the negative pressure to the suction tube, thereby achieving 10 the sputum suction.

However, the conventional sputum suction device has problems as follows. One end of the suction tube adhered with the sputum is a free section. This free section often swings when it is disposed. As a result, the sputum adhered onto the suction tube may fling to stain the surrounding instruments or medical personnel. As a result, not only the instruments are stained 15 by the sputum, but also the medical personnel may be infected by the bacteria or viruses in the sputum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to provide a sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein and a hollow connector thereof. One end of the suction tube is fixed in a closable 20 channel, thereby preventing the free end of the suction tube having bacteria or viruses thereon from swinging to infect the medical personnel or surrounding people.

The present invention provides a sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein, including a hollow connector and a suction tube. One end of the hollow connector is provided with a first connecting portion, and the other end of the hollow connector is provided 25 with a second connecting portion and a closable channel. The first connecting portion is in

communication with the second connecting portion and the closable channel. One end of the suction tube is connected to the second connecting portion. The suction tube is bendable so that the other end of the suction tube can be disposed in the closeable channel and fixed therein.

The present invention provides a hollow connector of a sputum suction assembly. One end of the hollow connector is provided with a first connecting portion, and the other end of the hollow connector is provided with a second connecting portion and a closable channel. The first connecting portion is in communication with the second connecting portion and the closable channel.

The present invention has advantageous features as follows. The diameter of each section of the closable channel is not larger than the outer diameter of the free section of the suction tube, so that the free section of the suction tube can be firmly positioned in the closable channel. The closable channel is configured as a stepped straight hole, so that the free end of the suction tube can be inserted into the closable channel easily to hold the sputum in the closable channel. With a protruding ring being provided in the closable channel, the used suction tube can be detached from the sputum suction assembly to dispose the sputum therein more easily and quickly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an assembled cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a sputum suction assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the sputum suction assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view (I) showing the operating state according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view (II) showing the operating state according to the first embodiment

of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view (III) showing the operating state according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the sputum suction assembly according to a second 5 embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the sputum suction assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The detailed description and technical contents of the present invention will become 10 apparent with the following detailed description accompanied with related drawings. It is noteworthy to point out that the drawings is provided for the illustration purpose only, but not intended for limiting the scope of the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is an assembled cross-sectional view showing the first embodiment of the present invention. The present invention provides a sputum suction 15 assembly having a suction tube folded therein and a hollow connector thereof. The sputum suction assembly includes a hollow connector 10 and a suction tube 20.

Please refer to FIGS. 2. and 3. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a sputum suction assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the sputum suction assembly according to the first embodiment of 20 the present invention. One end of the hollow connector 10 is provided with a first connecting portion 11, and the other end thereof is provided with a second connecting portion 12 and a closable channel 13 a. The first connecting portion 11 is in communication with the second connecting portion 12 and the closable channel 13a to form a Y-shaped structure. In the present embodiment, the closable channel 13a is a conical hole. The closable channel 13a has a first 25 bore 131a and a second bore 132a formed inside the first bore 131a. The inner diameter of the

first bore 131a is larger than the inner diameter of the second bore 132a. One end of the closable channel 13a adjacent to the first bore 131a is formed with a slope 133. An inner include angle 0 is formed between the slope 133 and a central line 111 of the first connecting portion 11. The inner included angle 0 is in a range of 40 to 80 degrees. In the present 5 embodiment, the inner included angle 0 is 45 degrees, but it is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIG. 1, one end of the suction tube 20 is a fixed section 21, and the other end is a free section 22. The fixed section 21 is connected to the second connecting portion 12. The outer diameter of the free section 22 is smaller than the inner diameter of the first bore 131a of the closable channel 13a. The outer diameter of the free section 22 is larger than the inner 10 diameter of the second bore 132 of the closable channel 13a. The suction tube 20 can be bent to make the free section 22 to penetrate into the closable channel 13a and being fixed therein.

Please refer to FIGS. 4 and 5, which are schematic views (I) and (II) showing the operating state of the first embodiment of the present invention respectively. In using the sputum suction assembly of the present invention, an end of the negative pressure tube 30 is connected to the first 15 connecting portion 11 of the hollow connector 10. The other end (not shown) of the negative pressure tube 30 is connected to a negative pressure generator 40 (not shown). The fixed section 21 of the suction tube 20 is connected to the second connecting portion 12 of the hollow connector 10. The free section 22 of the suction tube 20 penetrates into the respiratory tract of a human body. When a user uses his/her thumb to press the slope 133 of the closable channel 13a 20 so as to obstruct the air from flowing into the closable channel 13 a. When the user removes his/her thumb from the slope 133 of the closable channel 13a, air A is allowed to flow into the closable channel 13a. Thus, with the user's thumb 50 pressing the slope 133 of the closable channel 13a, the air can be obstructed from flowing into the closable channel 13a. Similarly, with the user's thumb 50 removing from the slope 133 of the closable channel 13a, the air is 25 allowed to flow into the closable channel 13a.

When the user's thumb removes from the slope 133 of the closable channel 13a, the closable channel 13a is in an unobstructed state. The negative pressure in the negative pressure tube 30 sucks the air A via the closable channel 13 a. At this time, the negative pressure 30 does not provide any negative pressure to the suction tube 20. When the user's thumb presses the slope 5 133 of the closable channel 13a, the negative pressure of the negative pressure tube 30 is obstructed, so that the air A cannot be drawn into the closable channel 13 a. As a result, the negative pressure of the negative pressure tube 30 is switched to flow into the suction tube 20, so that the free section 22 of the suction tube 20 can suck the sputum S. In thus way, the sputum S in the respiratory tract of a human body can be sucked.

10 Please refer to FIG. 6, which is a schematic view (III) showing the operating state of the first embodiment of the present invention. After the sputum S in the respiratory tract of the human body is sucked out completely, since the inner diameter of the second bore of the closable channel 13a is smaller than the outer diameter of the free section 22 of the suction tube 20, the outer peripheral surface of the free section 22 and the inner wall surface of the closable channel 15 13a form a pressing point, so that the free section 22 of the suction tube 20 can be firmly connected into the closable channel 13 a.

Please refer to FIG. 7, which is a cross-sectional view showing the sputum suction assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment lies in that: the closable channel 13b comprises a 20 first straight hole 131b and a second straight hole 132b formed inside the first straight hole 131b. The inner diameter of the first straight hole 131b is larger than the inner diameter of the second straight hole 132b. The outer diameter of the free section 22 of the suction tube 20 is smaller than the inner diameter of the first straight hole 131b, but larger than the inner diameter of the second straight hole 132b. By this arrangement, the free section 22 is able to penetrate into the 25 closable channel 13 easily.

Please refer to FIG. 8, which is a cross-sectional view showing the sputum suction assembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the third embodiment and the previous embodiments lies in that: the closable channel 13c is a circular straight hole 131c. The interior of the circular straight hole 131c is formed with a protruding 5 ring 132c. The outer diameter of the free section 22 is smaller than the inner diameter of the circular straight hole 131c, but larger than the inner diameter of the protruding ring 132c. With the protruding ring 132c in the closable channel 13, the used suction tube can be detached from the sputum suction assembly to dispose the sputum therein more easily and simply.

With the above constitution, the used suction tube 20 can be prevented from swinging 10 randomly to fling the sputum S of the free section 22 to the outside to thereby stain the surrounding instruments or medical personnel. Thus, the surrounding instruments and the medical personnel can be prevented from being infected by the bacteria or virus contained in the sputum S.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the foregoing preferred 15 embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof.

Various equivalent variations and modifications can still occur to those skilled in this art in view of the teachings of the present invention. Thus, all such variations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

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7

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS

1. A sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein, including:

a hollow connector (10), one end of the hollow connector (10) being provided with a first connecting portion (11), the other end of the hollow connector (10) being provided with a second 5 connecting portion (12) and a closable channel (13a), the first connecting portion (11) being communication with the second connecting portion (12) and the closable channel (13a); and a suction tube (20), one end of the suction tube (20) being connected to the second connecting portion (12), the suction tube (20) being foldable to make the other end thereof to penetrate the closable channel (13a) and being fixed therein.

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2. The sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein according to claim 1,

wherein the closable channel (13a) is a conical hole, and the closable channel (13a) has a first bore (131a) and a second bore (132a) formed inside the first bore (131a) with a smaller size than the first bore (131a).

3. The sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein according to claim 2,

15 wherein one end of the suction tube (20) penetrating the closable channel (13a) is a free section

(22), and the outer diameter of the free section (22) is smaller than the inner diameter of the first bore (131a) but larger than the inner diameter of the second bore (132a).

4. The sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein according to claim 1, wherein the closable channel (13b) comprises a first straight hole (131b) and a second straight

20 hole (132b) formed inside the first straight hole (131b), and the inner diameter of the first straight hole (131b) is larger than the inner diameter of the second straight hole (132b).

5. The sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein according to claim 4, wherein the inner included angle (0) is 45 degrees.

12

5. The sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein according to claim 4, wherein one end of the suction tube (20) penetrating the closable channel (13b) is a free section (22), and the outer diameter of the free section (22) is smaller than the inner diameter of the first

25 straight hole (131b) but larger than the inner diameter of the second straight hole (132b).

6. The sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein according to claim 1, wherein the closable channel (13c) is a circular straight hole (131c), and the interior of the circular straight hole (131c) is formed with a protruding ring (132c).

7. The sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein according to claim 6, 5 wherein one end of the suction tube (20) penetrating the closable channel (13c) is a free section

(22), and the outer diameter of the free section (22) is smaller than the inner diameter of the circular straight hole (131c) but larger than the inner diameter of the protruding ring (132c).

8. The sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting portion (11), the second connecting portion (12) and the closable

10 channel (13a) form a Y-shaped structure.

9. The sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein according to claim 2, wherein an end of the closable channel (13a) adjacent to the first bore (131a) is formed with a slope (133), the first connecting portion (11) has a central line (111), and an inner included angle (0) is formed between the slope (133) and the central line (111).

15 10. The sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein according to claim 9,

wherein the inner included angle (0) is in a range of 40 to 80 degrees.

11. The sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein according to claim 10, wherein the inner included angle (0) is 45 degrees.

12. A hollow connector (10) of a sputum suction assembly, one end of the hollow connector 20 (10) being provided with a first connecting portion (11), the other end of the hollow connector

(10) being provided with a second connecting portion (12) and a closable channel (13a), the first connecting portion (11) being in communication with the second connecting portion (12) and the closable channel (13a), the closable channel (13a) has an unequal diameter.

13. The hollow connector of a sputum suction assembly according to claim 12, wherein the 25 closable channel (13a) is a conical hole, and the closable channel (13a) has a first bore (131a) and

a second bore (132a) formed inside the first bore (131a) with a smaller size than the first bore (131a).

14. The hollow connector of a sputum suction assembly according to claim 12, wherein the closable channel (13a) has a first straight hole (131b) and a second straight hole (132b) formed inside the first straight hole (131b), and the inner diameter of the first straight hole (131b) is larger than that of the first straight hole (132b).

15. The hollow connector of a sputum suction assembly according to claim 12, wherein the closable channel (13 a) is a circular straight hole (131a), and the interior of the circular straight hole (131c) is formed with a protruding ring (132c).

16. The hollow connector of a sputum suction assembly according to claim 13, wherein an end of the closable channel (13a) adjacent to the first bore (131a) is formed with a slope (133), the first connecting portion (11) has a central line (111), and an inner included angle (0) is formed between the slope (133) and the central line (111).

17. The hollow connector of a sputum suction assembly according to claim 16, wherein the inner included angle (0) is in a range of 40 to 80 degrees.

18. The hollow connector of a sputum suction assembly according to claim 17, wherein the inner included angle (0) is 45 degrees.

10

Amendments to the Claims have been filed as follows

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS

1. A sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein, including:

a hollow connector (10), one end of the hollow connector (10) being provided with a first connecting portion (11), the other end of the hollow connector (10) being provided with a second 5 connecting portion (12) and a closable channel (13a), the first connecting portion (11) being in communication with the second connecting portion (12) and the closable channel (13a); and a suction tube (20), one end of the suction tube (20) being connected to the second connecting portion (12), the other end being a free section (22) for penetrating into the respiratory tract of a human body, the suction tube (20) being foldable to make the free section (22) penetrate 10 into the closable channel (13a) and being fixed therein;

wherein the closable channel (13b) comprises a circular first straight hole (131b) and a

CO

—_ circular second straight hole (132b) formed inside the first straight hole (131b), the inner

1 diameter of the first straight hole (131b) being larger than the inner diameter of the second o

straight hole (132b); and

C I 15 wherein the outer diameter of the free section (22) is smaller than the inner diameter of the first straight hole (131b) but larger than the inner diameter of the second straight hole (132b).

2. The sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting portion (11), the second connecting portion (12) and the closable channel (13a) form a Y-shaped structure.

20 3. The sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein according to claim 1,

wherein an end of the closable channel (13a) adjacent to the first straight hole (131b) is formed with a slope (133), the first connecting portion (11) has a central line (111), and an inner included angle (0) is formed between the slope (133) and the central line (111).

4. The sputum suction assembly having a suction tube folded therein according to claim 3, 25 wherein the inner included angle (0) is in a range of 40 to 80 degrees.

11