HK1210073B - Disposable cartridge for holding compressed medical gas - Google Patents

Description

Disposable cartridge for storing medical compressed gas

Technical Field

The present invention relates to disposable aluminum cartridges (cartridges) for containing medical compressed gases such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrous oxide, and the like.

Background

Large pressurized tanks typically contain compressed gas for use in medical treatments and procedures. These tanks are often heavy, bulky and very inconvenient to transport. They also present a dangerous explosion risk. Filling such tanks is also often time consuming and laborious. In addition, pressurized full-size cans also tend to harbor mold, debris, and rust within the can. This can seriously compromise the quality and integrity of the contained gas. In medical applications where the gas should have a high purity, contaminants are highly undesirable.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a compact disposable cartridge for conveniently containing various types of medical gases in a compressed state, thereby enabling the gases to be easily and conveniently used for various medical applications.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cartridge for medical compressed gas which is compact, lightweight and easy to transport, use and replace during medical procedures.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cartridge for medical compressed gas which is safe to use and which thereby greatly reduces the risk of explosion.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cartridge for medical compressed gas which does not require cumbersome and time consuming refilling.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cartridge for medical compressed gas which eliminates or at least greatly reduces the formation of mold and the build-up of rust and debris therein, thereby maintaining the gas in a sterile and extremely pure condition for medical use.

The invention features a disposable cartridge for containing a compressed medical gas. The medical gas may include carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrous oxide, or any other gas that must be stored under pressurized conditions for medical use. The cartridge includes an elongated generally cylindrical body that narrows toward and connects to a reduced diameter generally cylindrical end portion. The end portion includes an opening connected to the interior cavity of the cylindrical body. The opening is sealed by a pierceable head end. The head end is selectively pierced to open the cartridge such that compressed gas contained within the cylindrical body lumen can be transmitted through the opening for use in a medical procedure or application.

In a preferred embodiment, the cartridge body and reduced end portion comprise triple-washed aluminum canisters for holding medical grade gas under pressure. The aluminum cylinder weighs between 12 and 50 grams, preferably about 25 grams.

The reduced diameter portion of the cartridge may be surrounded by threads for engaging the cartridge to a device requiring a compressed medical gas of the type contained in the cartridge. Although it can vary between 1/4"(6.35 mm) and 1" (25.4 mm), the preferred thread size is 3/8"(9.525 mm).

Detailed Description

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the following description of preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a side view of a preferred disposable cartridge for containing a compressed medical gas according to the present invention.

A disposable aluminum cartridge 10 for containing a medical compressed gas is shown in fig. 1. It should be understood that cartridge 10 is suitable for holding a variety of medical gases including, but not limited to, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrous oxide. Cartridge 10 is capable of holding nearly any type of medical gas under pressure for use in different types of medical procedures. The type of gas and the type of medical application involved are not limiting to the invention.

Cartridge 10 includes a generally cylindrical can-shaped body 12 having an elongated shape with a circular base 14. The canister body encloses an inner chamber 13 for holding a compressed medical gas. The body includes a tapered neck 16 connected to and terminating in a reduced diameter cylindrical end portion 18. The body 12, the tapered portion 16 and the reduced diameter portion 18 thereby define a canister 20 preferably made of aluminum. The end is preferably surrounded by a thread 21 which allows the canister 20 to be screwed into a threaded opening of a medical device adapted to engage the canister. Although it can vary between 1/4"(6.35 mm) and 1" (25.4 mm), the preferred thread size is 3/8"(9.525 mm).

In radiological applications, the canister 20 may be used to retain carbon dioxide within the cavity 13, and the threaded reduced diameter end portion 18 may be of the type known under the trade markThe product engagement of the portable medical gas delivery system of (a), as disclosed in pending applications 13/068,680 and 12/652,845, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Although particularly convenient and effective for use with this system, the cartridge may be used in a variety of other medical applications, as well as for the containment of various other types of medical compressed gases.

The reduced diameter portion 21 includes an opening 22 in communication with the inner chamber 13. The reduced diameter portion 21 of canister 20 terminates with a pierceable tip 23 that seals opening 22 after the pressurized medical gas has been introduced into the interior of canister 12. The head end 23 may comprise a relatively thin and flexible foil that is securely sealed over the opening 22 in the end 18. Head end 23 is readily punctured in a conventional manner to open canister 12 so that the compressed gas within the canister may be used for delivery through opening 22 to a desired medical application or use.

The tank 12 is composed and constructed to provide significant advantages. In particular, the canister is of relatively compact size and configuration and is particularly lightweight, particularly when compared to standard full-size reservoirs typically used for containing compressed medical gas. In particular, the preferred weight of the canister 12 is 25 grams, although it may vary between 12 and 50 grams. The tank employs a triple-wash aluminum structure that maintains the sterility and purity of the gases contained in the tank. In particular, the triple-washed tank resists the formation of mold and rust and the accumulation of other types of debris within the interior chamber 13 of the tank. The integrity of the canister is thus maintained so that the contained gas is suitable for medical use where high levels of purity and sterility are essential.

The compact and relatively small size of the cartridge makes the cartridge easy and convenient to transport and operate. Facilitating replacement and disposal of the cartridge. Avoiding bulky, heavy and cumbersome tanks.

The compact cartridge is disposable and therefore does not require refilling and cleaning during use. This reduces the time and complexity required for shipping and refilling conventional canisters. Helping to maintain the sterility and purity of the medical compressed gas contained within the cartridge. Thus, the lightweight disposable aluminum cartridge disclosed herein provides a number of significant advantages over the large volume and cumbersome reservoirs used in the prior art.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present device provides a disposable aluminum cartridge for containing medical compressed gases such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrous oxide and the like. While this detailed description has given a particularly preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, many modifications and variations of the structure of the invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, falling within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that this description is only illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not in limitation thereof.

Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention.

Claims (4)

1. A disposable cartridge for containing a medical gas, the cartridge comprising:

an elongate generally cylindrical body having an internal cavity for receiving a sterile compressed medical gas in the cartridge, the body tapering inwardly adjacent one end thereof and being connected to a reduced diameter generally cylindrical nose portion, the nose portion including an opening communicably connected to the internal cavity of the cartridge body,

the opening is sealed by a pierceable tip that is selectively pierced to open the cartridge such that medical sterile compressed gas contained within the interior cavity of the cartridge can be transmitted through the tip for use in a medical procedure, wherein the cartridge body and the front end define a canister made of aluminum for holding medical sterile compressed gas under pressure within the interior cavity of the body;

the canister with medical gas sealed therein has a weight of at least twelve grams and no greater than fifty grams.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 in which the front end of the cartridge is surrounded by a thread for engaging the cartridge to a medical device requiring a sterile compressed gas for medical use of the type contained in the cartridge.

3. The cartridge of claim 2 in which said thread is at least 1/4 "and no more than 1".

4. A supply of pressurized medical gas comprising:

a cartridge comprising an elongate generally cylindrical body having an internal cavity formed therein, said body having an inwardly tapering portion connecting said body to a generally cylindrical reduced diameter nose portion, said nose portion including an opening formed therein, said opening communicating with said internal cavity of said body, wherein said cartridge body and said nose portion define a canister made of aluminum for holding a sterile compressed medical gas under pressure within said internal cavity of said body; and

a medical sterile compressed gas contained within the internal cavity, the cartridge including a pierceable tip for sealing the medical gas under pressure within the cavity, the tip being selectively pierced to open the cartridge so that the medical sterile compressed gas contained within the internal cavity of the cartridge body can be transmitted through the tip for use in a medical procedure, the canister having a weight of at least twelve grams and not more than fifty grams within which medical sterile compressed gas is sealed.