JP7315960B2 - Connector and container - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act From the 1st to the 9th, a questionnaire survey was conducted by showing the invented connector and container at the site. 1. Questionnaire survey ▲1 ▼ Release date July 23, 2019 ▲2 ▼ Release location Mito Minamigaoka Hospital (1057-1 Motoyoshida-cho, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture)2. Questionnaire survey ▲1 ▼ Release date July 30, 2019 ▲2 ▼ Release location Saitama Medical University General Medical Center (1981 Kamoda, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture)3. Questionnaire survey ▲1 ▼Date August 3, 2019 to August 4, 2021 ▲2▼Meeting name, venue The 41st Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Respiratory Medicine 5-3-51, Nakanoshima, Ward) 4. Questionnaire survey ▲1 ▼ Release date October 17, 2019 ▲2 ▼ Release location Ibaraki Prefectural Central Hospital (6528 Koibuchi, Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture)5. Questionnaire survey ▲1 ▼ Release date February 7, 2nd year of Reiwa ▲2 ▼ Release location Ibaraki Prefectural Central Hospital (6528 Koibuchi, Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture)6. Questionnaire survey ▲1 ▼ Release date February 14, 2nd year of Reiwa ▲2 ▼ Release location Mito Minamigaoka Hospital (1057-1 Motoyoshida-cho, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture)7. Questionnaire survey ▲1 ▼ Release date February 18, 2nd year of Reiwa ▲2 ▼ Release location Fukuyama Rehabilitation Hospital (2-15-41 Myojincho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture)8. Questionnaire survey ▲1 ▼ Release date February 19, 2nd year of Reiwa ▲2 ▼ Release location Medical Corporation Kosekikai Shiba Hospital (504 Takebayashi-cho, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture)9. Questionnaire survey ▲ 1 ▼ Release date February 27, 2nd year of Reiwa ▲ 2 ▼ Release location Doko Hospital (12-3, Hinodecho, Yamatotakada City, Nara Prefecture)

The present invention relates to a container for containing secretions and a connector to which the container is attached.

US Pat. No. 5,300,000 discloses a tracheal cannula mask that is placed around and secured to a cannula so as to wrap around the cannula. The upper surface of the tracheal cannula mask is covered with gauze secured by a rubber band. When phlegm expelled from the cannula by coughing or the like adheres to the gauze, the gauze of the tracheal cannula mask is replaced.

US Pat. No. 6,200,000 discloses a cover device comprising a body for covering the opening of a tracheal tube. A receiving plate having a ventilation hole is integrally formed inside the cover device. A storage portion for storing a humidity retention piece such as gauze is formed above the receiving plate. In addition, a cap having a ventilation hole is provided on the upper part of the main body so that it can be opened and closed. The top plate of the cap has a shape that can hold the humidity retention piece. The dried humidity retaining strip is then decapped and replaced with a new humidity retaining strip.

US Pat. No. 5,300,000 discloses a respiratory temperature and humidity exchanger that is connected to an artificial airway such as a tracheostomy tube. The respiratory temperature-humidity exchanger includes a housing to which a fixing member for fixing an on-off valve is fixed, and a storage container which is detachably fixed to the fixing member. Further, the storage container has a storage portion that is a film-like bag. When the patient coughs and exhales with secretions, the open/close valve opens to discharge the secretions out of the housing and into the storage container.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-421 Registered Utility Model No. 3050081 JP 2017-113162 A

The tracheal cannula mask described in Patent Document 1 or the cover device described in Patent Document 2 is used to cover the joint of an artificial airway such as a tracheostomy tube. Therefore, when secretions such as phlegm expelled from the user adhere to the gauze or the humidity retention piece, the respiratory channel may be blocked. Further, in the respiratory temperature-humidity exchanger described in Patent Document 3, the second opening of the first tube into which the joint of the artificial airway is inserted is located near the on-off valve and the opening of the storage container. are doing. Therefore, when the container is filled with secretions, or when secretions accumulate on the on-off valve, the secretions cover the second opening of the first tube, blocking the respiratory passageway. There is a possibility that

A connector according to an aspect of the present invention is a connector to which a storage container for storing secretions is attached, wherein a main body having a connection port formed thereon and an opening communicating with an internal opening of the connection port via an internal channel. an attachment mechanism to which the container is attached; and an air hole communicating with the internal flow path, at least a part of which opens at a position closer to the opening than the internal opening. and an air hole.

Further, a container according to an aspect of the present invention is a container that is used by being attached to a connector and stores a secretion, comprising: a mounting portion attached to the connector; and a container portion that contains the secretion. and a pair of ridgeline portions extending from the opening end of the housing portion, and the mounting portion is formed between the pair of ridgeline portions.

Accordingly, even when secretions flow backward from the storage container, it is possible to prevent the connection port from being clogged with the secretions.

It is a schematic perspective view of the connector seen from the front side. It is a schematic front view of a storage container. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the connector as seen from below; It is a schematic perspective view of the connector seen from the back side. FIG. 4 is a schematic rear view of the connector; It is a schematic perspective view of a connector unit. 4 is a schematic plan view of a connector unit; FIG. A is a schematic cross-sectional view along the AA section of FIG. 5, and B is a schematic cross-sectional view along the BB section of FIG. A is a schematic cross-sectional view along the AA section of FIG. 5, and B is a schematic cross-sectional view along the BB section of FIG. A is a schematic cross-sectional view along the AA section of FIG. 5, and B is a schematic cross-sectional view along the BB section of FIG. A is a schematic cross-sectional view along the AA section of FIG. 5, and B is a schematic cross-sectional view along the BB section of FIG.

Exemplary embodiments for carrying out the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of components described in the following embodiments can be arbitrarily set, and can be changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied or various conditions. Also, unless otherwise stated, the scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments specifically described below. In this specification, when the direction toward the container is defined as the downward direction, the opposite direction corresponds to the upward direction.

[First embodiment]
Figures 1 and 3-5 show a connector 10 for connection to an artificial airway such as a tracheostomy tube. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the connector 10 viewed from the front side. Moreover, FIG. 2 is a front view of the container 50, and shows the container 50 before attachment. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the connector 10 viewed from below. Further, FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the connector 10 viewed from the rear side to be connected to an artificial airway. 5 is a schematic rear view of the connector 10. FIG. An example in which a tracheostomy tube is used as an artificial airway will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 1, a connector 10 to which a container 50 (FIG. 2) containing secretions is attached has a housing 20, which is an example of a main body. As an example, the housing 20 can be formed by molding using a transparent resin. Alternatively, housing 20 may be formed by other methods such as 3D printing. Also, the housing 20 may be formed of a resin colored with a color such as white instead of the transparent resin.

The connector 10 also has a connection port 30 to be connected to a tracheostomy tube (not shown). The connection port 30 protrudes from the rear wall 24, which is the rear surface of the housing 20, and has a substantially cylindrical shape. When the connecting portion of the tracheostomy tube is inserted into the connection port 30 , the tracheostomy tube and the container 50 communicate with each other via the connector 10 . For this purpose, the storage container 50 is attached to an attachment mechanism portion 70 formed on the housing 20 . The attached container 50 is located below the housing 20 .

An opening 22 ( FIG. 3 ) communicating with the interior of the container 50 is formed in the lower portion of the housing 20 . The connector 10 has an upper wall 28 facing the opening 22 in the upper part of the housing 20 . Further, the connector 10 comprises a front wall 23 in which the suction port 40 is formed and a rear wall 24 in which the connection port 30 is formed. Connector 10 also has a pair of side walls 25 extending from rear wall 24 toward front wall 23 . That is, a pair of side walls 25 are erected between the front wall 23 and the rear wall 24 . The front wall 23 and the pair of side walls 25 are integrally formed so that the front wall 23 and the pair of side walls 25 form a curved surface.

The connector 10 has a suction port 40 into which a suction tube (not shown) is inserted. The suction port 40 faces the connection port 30 inside the connector 10 . The suction port 40 protrudes from the front wall 23 of the housing 20 and has a substantially cylindrical shape. Moreover, the connector 10 further includes a cap 60 that closes the suction port 40 . Cap 60 is configured to cover the distal end of suction port 40 and is removable from suction port 40 . Then, when the cap 60 is removed from the suction port 40, the suction tube can be inserted from the suction port 40 through the internal channel of the housing 20 into the inside of the tracheostomy tube. A nurse can aspirate and remove secretions or the like inside the connector 10 or inside the tracheostomy tube through a suction tube connected to a suction machine.

Cap 60 has an annular fixed portion 61 attached to suction port 40 , a hinge portion 62 connected to fixed portion 61 , and a lid portion 63 connected to hinge portion 62 . The lid portion 63 has an internal shape complementary to the external shape of the distal end of the suction port 40 so as to fit with the suction port 40 . The suction port 40 can be sealed by fitting the lid portion 63 . In addition, the lid portion 63 is connected to the fixed portion 61 via the hinge portion 62 when removed from the suction port 40 . Therefore, the removed lid portion 63 is prevented from falling off. As an example, the cap 60 can be formed using polyvinyl chloride.

A container 50 shown in FIG. 2 is attached to the connector 10 . Therefore, the container 50 has an attachment portion that is attached to the attachment mechanism portion 70 of the connector 10 . A mounting hole 52, which is an example of a mounting portion, is formed in an open end portion 51 of a container 50 shown in FIG. The mounting hole 52 is a hole penetrating from the front to the back of the container 50 . Two mounting holes 52 are formed on the front side and two on the rear side.

The container 50 also has a container 53 for containing secretions. In the example of FIG. 2, the container 50 has a substantially rectangular shape and is joined on three sides except for an open end 51 through which secretions pass. Thus, a bag-shaped housing portion 53 is formed. As an example, the width of the opening end portion 51 in the vertical direction is set to such a size that a bent portion, which will be described later, is formed when the container 50 is attached to the back hook 75 . A pair of ridgeline portions 54 extend from the open end portion 51 . The ridgeline portion 54 is formed by joining both surfaces of the housing portion 53 . The mounting hole 52 is formed between the pair of ridge line portions 54 .

A water absorbing member 55 is arranged inside the housing portion 53 . For convenience of explanation, in FIG. 2, the water absorbing member 55 housed inside the housing portion 53 is illustrated by a broken line. As an example, the absorbent member 55 contains an absorbent polymer. Alternatively, the absorbent member 55 may be medical gauze. As a result of the water absorbing member 55 absorbing and holding the water in the secretion, the discharge of the secretion to the outside through the open end 51 can be suppressed. In particular, it is possible to suppress the outflow of secretions when the user is lying down. Note that the water absorbing member 55 may be fixed to the container 50 by a method such as adhesion.

As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10 has an attachment mechanism 70 to which the container 50 is attached. The mounting mechanism portion 70 also has a front hook 71 that is an example of a hook portion projecting outward from the front wall 23 of the housing 20 . The front hook 71 has an enlarged diameter portion 72 including a tapering curved surface. When attaching the container 50 , the enlarged diameter portion 72 penetrates the attachment hole 52 of the container 50 . The base of the expanded diameter portion 72 abuts against the peripheral edge of the mounting hole 52 and functions as a retainer. Alternatively, the front hook 71 may protrude from the front wall 23 and have a generally L-shaped shape that bends upward.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the attachment mechanism section 70 further has an extension wall 74 . The extending wall 74 extends away from the opening 22 in a direction that intersects the vertical direction D extending from the upper wall 28 toward the opening 22 (for example, a horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction D in FIG. 3). ing. A rear hook 75 , which is an example of the hook portion, protrudes from the extension wall 74 . Further, the rear hook 75 protrudes from the extension wall 74 in the vertical direction D. As shown in FIG. Further, the rear hook 75 is bent toward the opening 22 in the horizontal direction. Alternatively, the rear hook 75 may project from the extending wall 74 and have an enlarged diameter portion that includes a tapered curved surface similar to the front hook 71 . Moreover, although the rear hook 75 is formed on the upper side of the extension wall 74 in the example of FIG. 3, the rear hook 75 may be formed on the lower side of the extension wall 74 instead.

There are two front hooks 71 and two back hooks 75, but one or three or more may be used. Moreover, the attachment mechanism portion 70 , that is, the front hook 71 and the rear hook 75 are formed at positions avoiding at least one of the pair of side walls 25 . In this embodiment, the front hook 71 and the rear hook 75 are formed at positions avoiding both the pair of side walls 25 . Alternatively, hook portions that protrude from the pair of side walls 25 may be further formed. However, the container 50 is not fixed to the side walls 25 by forming the attachment mechanism part 70 avoiding the pair of side walls 25 . Therefore, between the pair of side walls 25 and the open end 51 of the storage container 50, a gap G (FIG. 7) can be formed through which exhalation or inhalation flows.

As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 20 of the connector 10 is hollow, and the internal space 26 functions as an internal flow path through which the user's exhalation or inhalation flows. The opening 22 and the connection port 30 communicate with the internal channel. Furthermore, a pair of first walls 27A and a pair of second walls 27B are formed in the internal flow path as an example of inner walls protruding inward. Each of the first wall 27A and the second wall 27B is formed to extend toward the opening 22 in the vertical direction D. As shown in FIG. It should be noted that the inner wall need not extend to the edge of the housing 20 as long as it extends toward the opening 22 .

The pair of first walls 27A are formed so as to sandwich the internal opening 41 (FIG. 8A) of the suction port 40. As shown in FIG. It extends from a position facing the internal opening 41 of the suction port 40 toward the opening 22 . Also, the pair of second walls 27B are formed so as to sandwich the inner opening 31 (FIG. 8A) of the connection port 30 . The pair of second walls 27B extends from a position facing the internal opening 31 of the connection port 30 toward the opening 22 .

As shown in FIG. 4, between each of the pair of second walls 27B and each of the pair of side walls 25, an air hole 29 communicating with the internal flow path is formed. At least part of the air hole 29 is formed to open at a position closer to the opening 22 than the internal opening 31 of the connection port 30 . That is, the lower end of the air hole 29 is formed closer to the opening 22 than the connection port 30 is. As a result, even when the storage container 50 is filled with secretions, the secretions flowing backward from the storage container 50 flow out of the housing 20 through the lower ends of the air holes 29 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent secretions overflowing from the storage container 50 from reaching the internal opening 31 of the connection port 30 .

As shown in FIG. 5, the air hole 29 has a substantially rectangular opening shape when viewed from the rear side. Furthermore, the air hole 29 has an opening shape extending along the vertical direction D from the upper wall 28 toward the opening 22 . As a result, an air hole 29 is also opened in the upper wall 28 facing the opening 22 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the air hole 29 from being blocked by the attached container 50 . Alternatively, there may be one or more air holes 29 .

The height of the bent portion of the back hook 75 is set so that the bent portion is positioned closer to the opening 22 than the lower end of the air hole 29 . In other words, the height from the extension wall 74 to the bent portion of the rear hook 75 is lower than the height from the extension wall 74 to the lower end of the air hole 29 by the height H. The bent portion of the opening end 51 of the bent storage container 50 is pressed by the back hook 75 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the opening end portion 51 from covering the lower portion of the air hole 29 . That is, when the container 50 is attached, the back hook 75 is caught in the attachment hole 52, and a bent region R (FIG. 7) is formed by bending the portion from the attachment hole 52 to the tip. The bent portion extends from the attachment hole 52 along the extension wall 74 to suppress leakage of secretions. For convenience of explanation, the position of the bent portion is indicated by a dashed line P in FIG. Due to the thickness of the back hook 75, the position of the bent portion is lower than the top surface of the bent portion.

[Connector unit]
As shown in FIG. 6, the connector unit 100 includes a connector 10 and a storage container 50 that stores secretions. The container 50 is attached to the connector 10 and used. For example, the storage container 50 is made of nonwoven fabric that has been subjected to waterproof lamination. Further, three sides of the storage container 50 except for the open end 51 form joints. As an example, the joint is joined by a fusion process using heat or ultrasonic waves. Alternatively, the joints may be joined by a gluing process using an adhesive or by a stitching process.

In the storage container 50 of FIG. 6, four attachment holes 52 are formed which can be attached to both the front hook 71 and the back hook 75 . However, the number of mounting holes 52 can be increased or decreased according to the number of front hooks 71 and back hooks 75 . Alternatively, the mounting portion of container 50 may be a clip secured to open end 51 . In this case, the attachment mechanism portion 70 of the connector 10 is configured to have a member that is clamped by the clip. Furthermore, the mounting portion of the storage container 50 may be a hook-and-loop fastener. In this case, the attachment mechanism part 70 is configured to have a hook-side member or a loop-side member of the hook-and-loop fastener. Furthermore, the attachment mechanism part 70 may have a clip, and the attachment part of the container 50 may be a member that is clamped by the clip.

The mounting hole 52 is formed between a pair of ridge line portions 54 . Therefore, the mounting hole 52 is not formed in the ridgeline portion 54, and a gap G is generated between the ridgeline portion 54 and the side surface of the connector 10 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the air A entering through the gap G also flows into the internal flow path of the connector 10 through the opening 22 as part of the intake air. Also, part of the exhaled air that flows out from the internal flow path of the connector 10 through the opening 22 is discharged to the outside through the gap G. Note that the outer shape of the container 50 is not limited to a rectangular shape as long as a pair of ridge line portions 54 sandwiching the mounting hole 52 is formed. For example, the outer shape of the storage container 50 viewed from the front may be circular, elliptical, polygonal, arc-shaped, or the like.

The rear hook 75 is spaced apart from the rear wall 24 by the provision of the extension wall 74 (FIG. 4). Therefore, the open end 51 of the bent storage container 50 can be positioned between the rear hook 75 and the rear wall 24 . Thereby, the bending region R shown in FIG. 7 is formed. Furthermore, the rear hook 75 is bent toward the opening 22 . Therefore, even if a restoring force acts on the bent storage container 50 to return it to its original shape, the open end 51 abuts the back hook 75 . Thereby, restoration to the original shape is regulated by the back hook 75, and the storage container 50 maintains the bent shape. As a result, the folded region R functions as a barb, and can suppress leakage of the secretions stored inside the storage container 50 to the outside.

[Expiration and inspiration flow]
The flow of expiration will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B. 8A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction D shown in FIG. 8B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross section along the vertical direction D shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the user's exhaled breath EA exiting the tracheostomy tube flows through the connecting port 30 into the internal flow path. A portion of the exhaled air EA that has flowed in is reflected by hitting the periphery of the internal opening 41 of the suction port 40 and flows out through the air holes 29 on both sides of the connection port 30 . Also, as shown in FIG. 8B, part of the exhaled air EA flows along surfaces sandwiched between the first walls 27A formed on both sides of the internal opening 41 of the suction port 40. As shown in FIG. After flowing into the container 50 through the opening 22 , the liquid flows out from the gap G ( FIG. 7 ) between the connector 10 and the container 50 . Note that the suction port 40 is closed by a cap 60 . Therefore, the cap 60 prevents the exhaled breath EA from flowing out through the suction port 40 .

In addition, as shown in FIG. 8B, the inner diameter of the connection port 30 widens outward from the internal opening 31 . As a result, the inner surface of the connection port 30 forms a slope. Therefore, the tracheostomy tube can be connected to the connector 10 by inserting the tapered connecting portion of the tracheostomy tube (not shown) into the connection port 30 .

Next, the flow of intake air will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B. 9A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction D shown in FIG. 9B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-section taken along the vertical direction D shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the intake air IA entering from the air hole 29 flows into the connection port 30 through the internal flow path. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9B, the intake air IA flowing from the gap G (FIG. 7) between the connector 10 and the container 50 flows into the connector 10 through the opening 22. As shown in FIG. Then, the intake air IA that has flowed in flows into the connection port 30 through the internal flow path. After that, the intake air IA flowing into the connection port 30 flows through the connection port 30 into the tracheostomy tube.

In this way, the user's exhaled air exiting the tracheostomy tube flows through the connecting port 30 into the internal flow path. Then, part of the expired air flows out from the gap G between the container 50 and the connector 10 . Also, part of the expired air flows out through the air hole 29 . On the other hand, some of the inspired air flows through the air holes 29 into the internal flow path and through the connecting port 30 into the tracheostomy tube. Also, part of the intake air flows through the gap G between the container 50 and the connector 10, through the opening 22, into the internal flow path, and through the connection port 30 into the tracheostomy tube. .

[Flow of secretions]
10A and 10B, the flow of secretions LS expelled at a relatively low speed will be described. 10A is a schematic cross section taken along the horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction D shown in FIG. 10B is a schematic cross-sectional view along the vertical direction D shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10A, secretions LS flowing out of the user's tracheostomy tube flow over the inner surface of connection port 30 . For example, during normal breathing, the secretions LS are expelled into the connection port 30 at a relatively low rate. The secretion LS then drips from the internal opening 31 of the connection port 30, as shown in FIG. 10B. After that, the secretion LS that has passed through the inner opening 31 of the connecting port 30 flows over the surface sandwiched between the second walls 27B formed on both sides of the connecting port 30, and passes through the opening 22 to the receiving container 50. flow into.

11A and 11B, the flow of the expelled secretion HS at a relatively high speed will be described. 11A is a schematic sectional view taken along the horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction D shown in FIG. 11B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross section along the vertical direction D shown in FIG.

When the user coughs or the like, secretions HS are expelled to the connection port 30 at a relatively high speed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11A, exhaled secretions HS pass through the inner opening 31 of the connection port 30 and collide with the surfaces sandwiched between the first walls 27A to adhere thereto. Alternatively, the secretion HS that has collided with the peripheral portion of the inner opening 41 of the suction port 40 is bounced off and adheres to the surface sandwiched between the second walls 27B. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 11B , the secretion HS adhering to the surface between the first walls 27A flows over the surface between the first walls 27A and passes through the opening 22 to the container 50. flow into. Also, the secretions HS adhering to the surfaces sandwiched between the second walls 27B flow over the surfaces sandwiched between the second walls 27B and flow into the container 50 through the opening 22 .

Thus, the secretions LS flowing out of the user's tracheostomy tube are separated from the line connecting the connection port 30 and the suction port 40 and flow through the opening 22 into the container 50 . Then, the secretion LS flows over the surfaces sandwiched between the second walls 27B formed on both sides of the connection port 30 and into the container 50 . On the other hand, the secretions HS exhaled when the user coughs or the like pass through the inner opening 31 of the connection port 30, collide with the surfaces sandwiched between the first walls 27A, and adhere. After that, the adhering secretions HS flow over the surfaces sandwiched between the first walls 27A and flow into the storage container 50 . Alternatively, the secretion HS that has collided with the peripheral portion of the inner opening of the suction port 40 is bounced back to collide with and adhere to the surface sandwiched between the second walls 27B. After that, the adhering secretions HS flow over the surfaces sandwiched between the second walls 27B and into the container 50 .

Note that the tracheostomy tube is connected to the connector 10 via the connection port 30 . As a result, there is no gap between the tracheostomy tube and the connector 10 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent secretions from leaking through the gap between the tracheostomy tube and the connector 10 .

According to the connector 10 according to the embodiment and the modification described above, it is possible to prevent the secretion from reaching the connection port 30 even when the secretion flows backward from the container 50 . This can prevent the connection port 30 from being blocked by secretions. That is, the backflowing secretion flows out through the air holes 29 formed in the connector 10 . As a result, even if the exchange of the storage container 50 is delayed and the storage container 50 is filled with secretions, the secretions flowing back from the opening 22 will flow out of the connector 10 through the air holes 29. and flow out. Furthermore, even if secretions accumulate inside the container 50, the inflow of air through the air hole 29 and the gap G is maintained. This maintains a respiratory flow path leading from the connection port 30 to the air hole 29 via the internal flow path. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the breathing of the user from being obstructed.

Also, by forming the suction port 40, it is not necessary to remove the connector 10 from the tracheostomy tube when aspirating secretions adhering to the inside of the tracheostomy tube. That is, a suction tube can be inserted through the suction port 40 and introduced through the connector 10 into the interior of the tracheostomy tube. Therefore, the user's secretions such as sputum can be easily removed by suction. Furthermore, by closing the suction port 40 with the cap 60, secretions can be prevented from leaking out through the suction port 40. FIG. Therefore, when the user coughs, it is possible to prevent the secretions from scattering outside. In addition, since the user can breathe through the air hole 29 and the gap G, the user's breath can be released to the outside even when the user coughs.

Moreover, according to the storage container 50 according to the embodiment and the modified form, the secretions discharged through the tracheostomy tube can be collected inside the storage container 50 attached to the connector 10 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tracheostomy tube user's clothing, bedding, and surroundings from being soiled with secretions. Further, the storage container 50 can be easily replaced with the storage container 50 simply by removing the mounting hole 52 of the storage container 50 from the mounting mechanism portion 70 . Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden on the nurse when the user changes clothes. Furthermore, since the storage container 50 storing the secretion can be discarded together with the secretion, the surroundings of the user can be kept clean and the risk of infection caused by the secretion can be reduced. Moreover, by providing the water absorbing member 55, the water absorbing member 55 absorbs the water of secretions. As a result, the fluidity of the secretion is reduced, so that the outflow of the secretion can be prevented, contamination of the user's clothes and the like can be suppressed, and discomfort to the user can be reduced.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to each embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Inventions modified within the scope of the present invention and inventions equivalent to the present invention are also included in the present invention. Further, each embodiment and each modification can be appropriately combined within a range not contrary to the present invention.

For example, the connector 10 may be connected to a humidification unit. In this case, the connector 10 may be formed with a humidification port that connects to the connection portion of the humidification unit. Alternatively, air holes 29 or suction ports 40 or the like may be utilized as humidification ports. Furthermore, inside the connector 10 , the humidifying element may be arranged at a position that does not block the internal opening 31 of the connection port 30 and the internal opening 41 of the suction port 40 . As an example, the humidifying element may be arranged in the space on the side opposite to the suction port 40 with respect to the first wall 27A and the space on the side opposite to the connection port 30 with respect to the second wall 27B. As the exhaled air passes through the humidifying element, the humidifying element captures heat and moisture from the exhaled air. On the other hand, when the intake air passes through the humidifying element, the heat and moisture captured by the humidifying element are released to the intake air, and the intake air is heated and humidified. By way of example, the humidifying element can consist of a porous sponge, a non-woven fabric, or a piece of corrugated paper.

10: connector, 20: housing (main body), 22: opening, 25: side wall, 26: internal space (internal flow path), 27A: first wall (inner wall), 27B: second wall (inner wall), 28: upper wall, 29: air hole, 30: connection port, 31: internal opening, 40: suction port, 50: container, 51: opening end, 52: mounting hole (mounting portion), 53: housing portion, 54: Ridge portion, 55: Water absorbing member, 60: Cap, 70: Mounting mechanism portion, 74: Extension wall, 75: Back hook (hook portion)

Claims (6)

A connector to which a container for containing secretions is attached,
a body in which a connection port is formed;
an opening that communicates with the internal opening of the connection port via an internal channel;
an attachment mechanism to which the storage container is attached;
and an air hole communicating with the internal flow path, at least a part of which opens at a position closer to the opening than the internal opening. further comprising an upper wall facing the opening;
2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said air hole has an opening shape extending along the vertical direction from said upper wall toward said opening. a suction port into which the suction tube is inserted;
3. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising a cap that closes said suction port. 4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inner channel has an inwardly projecting inner wall formed to extend toward the opening. The mounting mechanism includes an extension wall extending in a direction away from the opening in a direction intersecting a vertical direction toward the opening from an upper wall facing the opening, and an extension wall projecting from the extension wall. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a hook portion that bends toward the opening side. the body having a pair of sidewalls,
6. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said attachment mechanism portion is formed at a position avoiding at least one of said pair of side walls.

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