Connector and Alerting Device

摘要

The present invention connects to tubing through which gas flows to a patient. An alert notifies monitoring personnel that oxygen flow to the patient has been interrupted, because the tubing has been disconnected. The invention comprises an adapter that is connected to a gas or oxygen source and a nipple over which the tubing fits and through which oxygen flows to the patient. When the tubing becomes disconnected from the nipple, the oxygen flow actuates an alert. In one embodiment, the invention includes a spring and swing arm that, when the tubing becomes disconnected from the nipple, align the nipple with a swing arm so that the gas flows through the nipple and the swing arm to actuate the alert.

主权项

1. A connector for signaling that a tube with gas flowing through it has become disconnected from the connector, comprising:
a fixed arm including a nipple connectable to the tube, an adapter for connecting the fixed arm to a source of gas, a latch, and an interior path in the fixed arm through which the gas can flow; a swing arm including a base, a flow path through which the gas can flow, and a spring connected to the base and engageable with the latch for urging the swing arm toward the fixed arm, wherein the flow path of the swing arm is aligned with the flow path of the fixed arm when the tube with flowing gas becomes disconnected from the nipple and when the spring is engaged with the latch; a hinge connecting the fixed arm and the swing arm; and an alert disposed in the flow path of the swing arm.