Medical gas delivery method and apparatus
Inventors
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Assignees
TRI-TECH MEDICAL Inc • Tri Tech Medical Inc
Member
TRI Medical, Inc.TRI Medical, Inc. develops and supplies educational simulation models and training services to enhance the diagnostic and manual skills of healthcare professional students and new graduates. The company focuses on providing real-time, psychomotor feedback tools for medical education programs and healthcare organizations, aiming to improve confidence, self-efficacy, and diagnostic accuracy prior to clinical practice.
TRI Medical, Inc. develops and supplies educational simulation models and training services to enhance the diagnostic and manual skills of healthcare professional students and new graduates. The company focuses on providing real-time, psychomotor feedback tools for medical education programs and healthcare organizations, aiming to improve confidence, self-efficacy, and diagnostic accuracy prior to clinical practice.
Publication Number
US-7819118-B2
Publication Date
2010-10-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method is provided for connecting a secondary source of a medical gas to a control panel of a medical gas supply. The control panel is connected in the system fluidly between primary supply sources holding types of medical gas and gas outlets for the delivery of the respective types of medical gas to devices in a medical facility. For each gas type, the control panel houses a respective shut off valve. The shut-off valve may be closed to isolate the upstream source from the downstream components. A fitting is installed in place of an existing pressure gauge in the control panel. The fitting provides ports for at least one gas specific DISS coupler and further components such as a pressure gauge and transducers. The fitting has a configuration such that when installed, the fitting does not interfere with closing the cover to the control panel.
Core Innovation
The patent describes a method and apparatus to retrofit or build medical-gas control panels by replacing an existing pressure-gauge port with a compact multi‑port fitting whose threaded projection mates to the pipeline gauge port and whose radial ports accept a gas‑specific DISS threaded coupler, pressure gauge and/or transducer. A body including an internal cavity through which medical gases are capable of flowing.
The fitting is sized so mounted components do not protrude through the panel cover and the fitting places the gas specific DISS threaded coupler and the pressure gauge in positions which do not extend through an opening of an enclosure of the control panel. A threaded projection extending from the body adapted to connect to a threaded opening of a medical gas pipeline in the control panel, wherein the threaded projection includes an opening therein to the cavity in the body.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are present. The summary extracts eight inventive features across the independent method (clm-00001) and apparatus (clm-00006) claims.
Removing a pressure gauge from the pipeline threaded opening
Removing the pressure gauge from the threaded opening of the first pipeline.
Mounting a multi‑port fitting to the pipeline threaded opening
Mounting a fitting having a body and a threaded projection threaded into the threaded opening of the first pipeline, wherein the body includes at least two ports.
First port adapted to receive a gas‑specific DISS threaded coupler
A first one of the ports is adapted to receive a gas specific DISS threaded coupler mounted thereto, which extends from the at least one fitting in a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the projection of the at least one fitting.
Second port adapted to receive a pressure gauge
A second one of the ports is adapted to receive a pressure gauge which extends from the at least one fitting in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the projection of the at least one fitting.
Fitting and components sized to remain within enclosure opening
The at least one fitting has a size such that when the at least one fitting is mounted to the threaded opening of the medical gas pipeline, the at least one fitting places the gas specific DISS threaded coupler and the pressure gauge in positions which do not extend the DISS threaded coupler and the pressure gauge through an opening of an enclosure of the control panel.
Fitting body with internal cavity for medical gases
A body including an internal cavity through which medical gases are capable of flowing.
Threaded projection adapted to connect to pipeline with opening to cavity
A threaded projection extending from the body adapted to connect to a threaded opening of a medical gas pipeline in the control panel, wherein the threaded projection includes an opening therein to the cavity in the body.
At least two ports opening to the cavity
At least two ports in the body, wherein each of the ports includes an opening therein to the cavity in the body.
The independent method claim focuses on replacing a mounted pressure gauge with a multi‑port fitting that provides a gas‑specific DISS coupler and a perpendicular pressure gauge while remaining within the control panel enclosure. The independent apparatus claim focuses on a fitting body with an internal cavity, a threaded projection to mate with a pipeline opening, and at least two perpendicular ports sized so a gas‑specific DISS threaded coupler and a pressure gauge do not extend through the enclosure opening.
Stated Advantages
Safer inlet access
Gas-specific inlet access
Easier transducer mounting/testing
Quick emergency deployment
Selective zone supply
Retrofit compatibility with existing panels
Documented Applications
Retrofitting or building medical-gas control panels by replacing an existing pressure-gauge port with a compact multi‑port fitting.
Connecting a secondary gas source (pressure vessel + valve + regulator + mating DISS coupler) to the downstream side of an isolated shut‑off valve to supply a zone without backfeeding upstream equipment.
Attaching monitoring transducers to the DISS ports for gas monitoring.
Attaching purge gas sources to the DISS ports.
Mounting manifolded secondary outlets/medical‑gas rails (multiple outlet ports for masks) for emergency scaling to serve multiple patients.
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