WO2014037110A1

WO2014037110A1 - Pipeline connector

Info

Publication number: WO2014037110A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/002665
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mars HO KWOK KEUNG; Liu JIANDONG
Original assignee: Beijing Austar Pharmmed Consumable Ltd.; Renolit Nederland B.V.
Priority date: 2012-09-05
Filing date: 2013-09-04
Publication date: 2014-03-13
Also published as: CN202802298U; BR112015003512A2; CO7310518A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a pipeline connector, comprising a connecting end and a break-off part formed integrally by the connecting end reducing gradually, wherein a stop part is formed convexly on the circumference of the connecting end, and the break-off part comprises a neck part and a flow channel part; channels are formed in the connecting end and extend to the neck part, and the tip of the flow channel part is in a non-sharp shape.

Description

Pipeline Connector

[0001] The present invention relates to a pipeline connector for medical use, in particular to a pipeline connector with a break-off valve for peritoneal dialysis system.

[0002] At present, dialysis is a main therapeutic method for uremia, and is usually categorized into peritoneal dialysis and blood dialysis, wherein, peritoneal dialysis is lower in cost and easier to use, and will not result severe disturbances to the daily actions of the patient. Therefore, peritoneal dialysis is widely applied and accepted by doctors and patients; in addition, the safety of peritoneal dialysis system has been improved continuously, and the materials and connecting parts of the pipelines for peritoneal dialysis have been improved; especially, the connector is designed in a way that it will not hinder the flow of the liquor when the liquor flows from the liquor bag via the connector into the external pipeline.

[0003] An existing peritoneal dialysis system is shown in Figure 1 , and the structure of an existing pipeline connector 16 for connecting a liquor bag to a pipeline is shown in Figure 2, wherein the pipeline connector is connected to the liquor bag at its round end and connected to a socket pipe at its tip end, and the socket pipe is connected to an external pipeline. However, during transportation and use, the tip end of the pipeline connector may pierce through the pipeline, resulting in contamination of the liquor; in addition, the two ends of the pipeline connector are designed too long, causing inconvenience in storage.

[0004] The present invention provides a pipeline connector, which can solve the problem of unsmooth liquor flow, prevent the external pipeline from being pierced through due to inappropriate design of the connector, and overcome the drawbacks of inconvenience in use and large space occupation in storage and transportation. The solution is as follows: [0005] A pipeline connector, comprising a connecting end and a break-off part formed integrally by the connecting end reducing gradually, wherein a stop part is formed convexly on the circumference of the connecting end, the break-off part comprises a neck part and a flow channel part, channels are formed in the connecting end and extend to the neck part; and the tip end of the flow channel part is in a non-sharp shape.

[0006] The flow channel part preferably accounts for 1/5 ~ 1/3 length of the break-off part.

[0007] Moreover, the stop part is preferably in a circular shape.

[0008] Moreover, preferably fins are formed between the two ends of the flow channel part, and flow channels are formed concavely between the fins. Moreover, the fins preferably comprise several fins, especially three to five, most prefrred four, evenly distributed around the center line of the flow channel part.

[0009] Moreover, the outer diameter of the flow channel part is preferably smaller than the diameter of the stop part and larger than the outer diameter of the neck part.

[00010] Moreover, the neck part is preferably formed into a tapered outer shape, with the minimum diameter positioned at the point of connection to the flow channel part.

[00011 ] Moreover, the circumferential walls of the stop part at both ends are preferably in a tapered form. Preferably, they have 1-6° taper along the center line of the pipeline connector.

[00012] Moreover, the connecting part preferably has minimum wall thickness at the point of connection to the neck part. [00013] The pipeline connector is small in size and compact in structure, and is easy to install; the two ends of the connector can connect the pipeline firmly; the space occupied in transportation and storage is small; the pipeline connector has high safety performance and will not result in damage to the external pipeline and connected socket pipe; in addition, the pipeline connector can be formed integrally at lower cost.

[00014] The invention will be illustrated further with reference to the attached figures, without restricting the scope to the specific embodiments described. The invention further includes all combinations of described and especially of preferred featurest that do not exclude each other. A characterization as "approximately", "around" and similar expression in relation to a numerical value means that up to 10 % higher and lower values are included, preferably up to 5 % higher and lower values, and in any case at least up to 1 % higher and lower values, the exact value being the most preferred value or limit.

[00015] In the figures:

Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a peritoneal dialysis system

according to the prior art;

Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a pipeline connector according to the prior art;

Figure 3a is a schematic structural diagram of the outer contour of the pipeline connector according to the invention;

Figure 3b is a schematic cutaway diagram of the pipeline connector according to the invention;

Figure 3c is a bottom side view of the pipeline connector according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of the pipeline connector in use according to the invention. [00016] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an existing peritoneal dialysis system according to the prior art. As shown in Figure 1 , the peritoneal dialysis system comprises a liquor bag 11 , a waste liquor bag 12, an outlet pipe of 13 the liquor bag 11 , a pipeline connector 16, a socket pipe 17, a medical adapter 15, and an inlet pipe 14 of the waste liquor bag 12.

[00017] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a pipeline connector 16 according to the prior art. As shown in Figure 2, the pipeline connector 16 comprises a connecting end 1 and a break-off part 2. The break-off part 2 comprises a neck part 21 and a flow channel part 22. Fins 23 are arranged between the two ends of the flow channel part 22.

[00018] Figures 3a and 3b show a schematic structural diagram of the outer contour and a cutaway view of an embodiment of the pipeline connector according to the invention. As shown in Figures 3a and 3b, the pipeline connector comprises a connecting end 1 and a break-off part 4 formed integrally by the connecting end 1 reducing gradually. A stop part 2 is formed convexly on the circumference of the connecting end 1. As shown in the figures, the stop part 2 is in a circular shape, and separates the connecting end 1 into two parts, wherein the part of the connecting end 1 connected to the break-off part 4 is the connecting terminal 3. The circumferential walls of the stop part 2 are in a tapered form at both ends and have 1-6° taper along the center line of the pipeline connector.

[00019] The break-off part 4 comprises a neck part 41 and a flow channel part 42. The flow channel part 42 accounts for 1/4 length of the break-off part 4. The tip end of the flow channel part 42 is in a non-sharp shape. Channels are formed in the connecting end 1 and extend to the neck part 41.

[00020] The tip of flow channel part 42 is cone shaped with a radius larger than the height, so that no sharp tip is present. Preferably the angle between the generatrix and the axis is from 60 to 70 °. The outermost end of the tip is

preferably rounded.

[00021] Fins 43 are arranged between the two ends of the flow channel part 42, and flow channels 44 are arrange concavely between the fins 43, wherein the channels extend in the neck part 41 but do not extend to the flow channel part 42. The fins 43 comprise four fins evenly distributed around the center line of the flow channel part 42.

[00022] As can be seen from the bottom side view in figure 3c the outer diameter of the flow channel part 42 is smaller than the outer diameter of the stop part 2. Since it is bigger than the outer diameter of the neck part 41 , this is not seen in figure 3c. The neck part 41 is formed into a tapered shape, with the minimum diameter positioned at the point of connection to the flow channel part 42.

[00023] Moreover, the connecting part 1 has its minimum wall thickness at the point of connection to the neck part 41 , i.e., the connection point between the connecting terminal 3 and the neck part is a breaking point. Before peritoneal dialysis, the break-off part 4 can be broken at the breaking point, so that the liquor can flow smoothly from the liquor bag.

[00024] Figure 4 shows the pipeline connector according to the invention in use, i.e. inside the socket pipe 17. As illustrated, the pipeline connector 16 fits into the outllet pipe 13 of the liquor bag with its connecting end 1 up tp the stop part 2. The connecting terminal 3 and the break-off part 4 are inserted into the socket pipe 17 carrying the external pipeline leading to the medical adapter 15. After breaking the break-off part 4 from the connecting end 1 , the liquid can flow freely through the connecting end 1 and past the break-off part 4 through the flow channels 44 formed by the fins 43 and the inner wall of the socket pipe 17. The diameter of the flow channel part 42 ensures that the break-off part 4 remains inside the socket pipe 17 and cannot enter the external pipeline inserted therein. The form of the tip prevents any damage to the external pipeline. Therefore, the pipeline connector is safe to use.

[00025] The pipeline connector has compact size and high safety performance, ensures smooth flow of liquor, will not cause damage to the external pipeline or connected socket pipe.

Claims

1. A pipeline connector, comprising a connecting end and a break-off part formed integrally by the connecting end reducing gradually, wherein a stop part is formed convexly on the circumference of the connecting end, and the break-off part comprises a neck part and a flow channel part; channels are formed in the connecting end and extend to the neck part, and the tip of the flow channel part is in a non-sharp shape.

2. The pipeline connector according to claim 1 , wherein the stop part is in a

circular shape.

3. The pipeline connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein fins are arranged between the two ends of the flow channel part, and flow channels are formed concavely between the fins.

4. The pipeline connector according to claim 3, wherein the fins comprise four fins evenly distributed around the center line of the flow channel part.

5. The pipeline connector according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outer diameter of the flow channel part is smaller than the diameter of the stop part and larger than the outer diameter of the neck part.

6. The pipeline connector according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein the neck part is formed into a tapered shape, with the minimum diameter positioned at the point of connection to the flow channel part.

7. The pipeline connector according to anyone of claims 1 to 6, wherein the

circumferential walls of the stop part at both ends are in tapered form and have 1 to 6° taper along the center line of the pipeline connector. The pipeline connector according to anyone of claims 1 to 7, wherein, the connecting part has minimum wall thickness at the point of connection to the neck part.

The pipeline connector according to anyone of claims 1 to 7, wherein the flow channel part accounts for 1/5 to 1/3 length of the break-off part.