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US 12,109,352 B2Granted
Ergonomic tubing attachment for medical apparatus
AssigneeIntegra LifeSciences Enterprises, LLLP
InventorsPrakash Manandhar, Daniel J. Cotter, Robert A. Ketelhohn, Peter L. Gould, Todd Metivier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ergonomic attachment system for connecting an irrigation tube or an aspiration tube to a surgical handpiece that reduces surgeon wrist fatigue due to tubing twist. The tube is connected to the handpiece through a swivel joint which allows the tube to rotate circumferentially with respect to the handpiece and self-adjust to a neutral position to relieve the twist.
Claims18
A tubing attachment system comprising:
- a tubing clip having a frame having an internal frame surface, an external frame surface, and a frame opening defining a longitudinal axis, the frame including at least one locking protrusion extending inward from the internal frame surface, and wherein the at least one locking protrusion defines the frame opening, and
- wherein the tubing clip includes one or more tube retaining arms extending outwardly from the frame;
- wherein the at least one locking protrusion includes a first contact surface facing inwardly that extends from a proximal end to a distal free end of the at least one locking protrusion, and wherein the first contact surface narrows the frame opening along the longitudinal axis in a direction from the proximal end to the distal free end;
- and
- wherein the at least one locking protrusion includes a second contact surface at the distal free end facing axially away from the frame in a direction along the longitudinal axis.
2 more elements
A medical apparatus comprising:
- a handpiece and a tube, wherein the tube is connected to the handpiece through a swivel joint which allows the tube to rotate circumferentially with respect to the handpiece without axial displacement of the tube;
- and
- wherein the swivel joint further comprises:
- a tubing attachment component having a longitudinal throughbore and a circumferential groove on an external frame surface, wherein a bottom wall of the circumferential groove increases in depth towards the longitudinal throughbore;
- and
- a tubing clip having a frame with a frame opening defining a longitudinal axis and at least one locking protrusion having a first contact surface facing inwardly that extends from a proximal end to a distal free end of the at least one locking protrusion, wherein the first contact surface of the at least one locking protrusion contours to and frictionally engages the bottom wall of the circumferential groove of the tubing attachment component, and wherein the at least one locking protrusion includes a second contact surface at the distal free end facing axially away from the frame in a direction along the longitudinal axis;
- wherein the frame is received in the circumferential groove of the tubing attachment component and rotates about the tubing attachment component;
- and
- wherein the at least one locking protrusion allows the tubing clip and tubing attachment component to be fixed at a desired relative position.
6 more elements
A tubing attachment system comprising:
- a tubing clip having a frame having an internal frame surface, an external frame surface, and a frame opening defining a longitudinal axis, the frame including at least one locking protrusion extending inward from the internal frame surface, and wherein the at least one locking protrusion defines the frame opening, and wherein the tubing clip includes one or more tube retaining arms extending outwardly from the frame;
- a tubing attachment component having a proximal end, a distal end, and an external surface, the tubing attachment component comprising a proximal end portion configured to attach to the tube, a distal end portion configured to attach to the handpiece, a throughbore extending from the distal end to the proximal end, a circumferential groove on the external surface between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, and a flange between the conical body and the fitting, wherein the flange forms a rail of the circumferential groove, and wherein the proximal end portion includes a conical body transitioning into a radially outwardly extending barb for securing the tube, and the distal end portion includes a fitting for engaging a corresponding fitting on the handpiece;
- and
- wherein the frame and the at least one locking protrusion are configured to fit in the circumferential groove and be rotatable in the circumferential groove about the tubing attachment component between one or more rotational positions.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.