Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FLUID INLET ADAPTER
Cross-references to related applications
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent
application
13/931,496, entitled "FLUID INLET ADAPTER," filed June 28, 2013, attorney
docket number
080625-0427, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
Field
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to fluid inlet ports and, in
particular, a
configurable adapter that can accept a fluid from either of two sources having
different
connectors.
Description of the Related Art
[0003] Patients with respiratory injury, such as chronic respiratory failure,
may be provided with
a respirator to assist with their breathing or, in severe cases, take over the
breathing function
entirely. Respirators typically provide a flow of air, or other breathing
gases, at an elevated
pressure during an inhalation interval, followed by an exhalation interval
where the pressurized
air is diverted so that the air within the patient's lungs can be naturally
expelled.
[0004] Conventional respirators may be configured to accept one or more
breathing gases, for
example "pure oxygen" or "heliox 80/20" (a mixture of 80% helium with 20%
oxygen) from
external sources. It is important to configure the respirator according to the
gas provided, for
example connecting to a source of pure oxygen to be mixed with compressed air
to provide an
oxygen-enriched air to a patient as compared to connecting to a source of pure
heliox that is to be
provided undiluted to the patient. Conventional respirators may require manual
identification of
the gas being provided and carries a risk that a user may not correctly
identify the gas that is
actually being provided.
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SUMMARY
[0005] The disclosed fluid inlet adapter provides a fluid inlet that can be
configured to accept
only one of two possible fluids at a time and provide a machine-readable
indication as to which
fluid is currently being accepted.
[0006] In certain embodiments, an adapter for providing fluid from a fluid
source to a device is
disclosed. The adapter comprises a housing and an inlet extending through the
housing for
connecting the fluid source to the device. The inlet comprises a first end for
connecting to the
fluid source and a second end for connecting to the device. The adapter
further comprises a
latching component configured to secure the adapter to the device, and a
machine-readable
indicator for identifying the fluid source. The machine-readable indicator
extends away from the
first end of the inlet and beyond the second end of the inlet.
[0007] In certain embodiments, a ventilator is disclosed. The ventilator
comprises a ventilator
housing, a flow control device within the ventilator housing, and a first
removable adapter. The
first removable adapter comprises a first adapter housing, and a first inlet
extending through the
first adapter housing. The first inlet comprises a first adapter end for a
first external connection
and a first connector end for removably connecting to the flow control device.
The first
removable adapter further comprises a first latching component configured to
secure the first
adapter to the flow control device, and a first machine-readable indicator for
identifying the first
external connection. The first machine-readable indicator extends away from
the first adapter
end of the first inlet and beyond the first connector end of the first inlet.
[0008] In certain embodiments, an adapter for providing fluid to a device is
disclosed. The
adapter comprises a housing and an inlet extending through the housing for
connecting the fluid
source to the device. The inlet comprises a first end for connecting to the
fluid source and a
second end for connecting to the device. The adapter further comprises a
latching component
configured to secure the adapter to the device, and a tab comprising one or
more embedded
magnets positioned in a magnet configuration.
[0009] In certain embodiments, an adapter for selectively providing fluid to a
device from one of
multiple fluid sources is disclosed. The adapter includes a body, a first
inlet for connecting a
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first one of the multiple fluid sources to the device, and a second inlet for
connecting a second
one of the multiple fluid sources to the device. Each of the first and second
inlets are coupled to
the body. The adapter also includes a handle movably coupled to the body and
comprising an
access control element. The handle is configured to secure the body to a
device when the adapter
is in either of a first position or a second position that is rotated 180
relative to the first
configuration. The access control element obstructs access to the second inlet
when the adapter
is secured to the device in the first position and the access control element
obstructs access to the
first inlet when the adapter is secured to the device in the second position.
[0010] In certain embodiments, a ventilator is disclosed that has a housing
comprising a fluid
passage and an adapter that includes a body, a first inlet for connecting a
first one of the multiple
fluid sources to the device, and a second inlet for connecting a second one of
the multiple fluid
sources to the device. Each of the first and second inlets are coupled to the
body. The adapter
also includes a handle movably coupled to the body and comprising an access
control element.
The handle is configured to secure the body to a device when the adapter is in
either of a first
position or a second position that is rotated 180 relative to the first
configuration. The access
control element obstructs access to the second inlet when the adapter is
secured to the device in
the first position and the access control element obstructs access to the
first inlet when the
adapter is secured to the device in the second position.
[0011] In certain embodiments, a method is disclosed that includes the step of
orienting an
adapter relative to a housing of a ventilator in either a first configuration
when it is desired to
configure the ventilator to accept a first gas mixture in a second
configuration that is rotated 180
relative to the first configuration when it is desired to configure the
ventilator to accept a second
gas mixture. The method also includes the step of engaging the adapter with a
docking location
of the ventilator such that a first inlet is in fluid communication with a
fluid passage of the
housing when the adapter is oriented in the first configuration and a second
inlet is in fluid
communication with the fluid passage of the housing when the adapter is
oriented in the second
configuration. The method also includes the step of activating a handle to
secure the adapter to
the housing, wherein the handle comprises an access control element that
obstructs access to the
second inlet when the adapter is secured to the housing in the first
configuration and obstructs
access to the first inlet when the adapter is secured to the housing in the
second configuration.
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The method also includes the step of sensing automatically with a sensor of
the ventilator the
location of a machine-detectable indicator that is disposed in a first
location relative to the
housing when the adapter is secured to the housing in the first configuration
and disposed in a
second location that is different from the first location when the adapter is
secured to the housing
in the second configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further
understanding and
are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate
disclosed embodiments
and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the
disclosed embodiments.
In the drawings:
[0013] FIGS. 1-2 are front and back perspective views of an exemplary fluid
inlet adapter
according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary fluid inlet
adapter and a device
according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional side view of the exemplary fluid inlet
adapter of FIG. 3A
mated with the docking location of the housing according to certain aspects of
the present
disclosure.
[0016] FIGS. 4A-4B depict the position of the handle in exemplary unlatched
and latched
positions according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.
[0017] FIGS. 5 and 6 depict an exemplary inlet adapter configured to accept
fluid from two
different sources according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.
[0018] FIGS. 7-10 depict example connector configurations according to certain
aspects of the
present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 1 1 depicts an adapter with one inlet according to certain aspects
of the present
disclosure.
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[0020] FIG. 12 depicts adapters with different machine-readable indicators and
a flow control
device according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 13 depicts an adapter coupled to a flow control device according
to certain aspects
of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 14 depicts frontal views of an adapter and a connector according
to certain aspects
of the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 15 depicts front views of an adapter and a flow control device
according to certain
aspects of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] It is advantageous to provide a fluid inlet that can be configured to
accept only one of two
possible fluids at a time and provide a machine-readable indication as to
which fluid is currently
being accepted.
[0025] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are
set forth to provide a
full understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to
one ordinarily
skilled in the art that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced
without some of
the specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques
have not been
shown in detail so as not to obscure the disclosure. In the referenced
drawings, like numbered
elements are the same or essentially similar.
[0026] While the discussion herein is directed to the provision of oxygen and
heliox to a
ventilator in healthcare environment, application of the methods and concepts
disclosed here in
not limited to this application or field. It will be apparent to those of
skill in the art that the inlet
adapter may be utilized in other fields and applications that use multiple
types of fluids as inputs,
for example chemical processing.
[0027] FIGS. 1-2 are front and back perspective views of an exemplary fluid
inlet adapter 100
according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. In FIG. 1, the fluid
inlet adapter 100, also
referred to herein as "the adapter 100," comprises a body 110 with two inlets
120, 130 that are
configured to respectively mate with connectors 20, 30 that are connected to
two different fluid
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sources. In certain embodiments, the two connectors 20 and 30 may comprise
different
configurations comprising attributes such as shape, the presence or absence of
thread, keys, etc.
Example connector configurations are shown in FIGS. 7-10. A handle 140 is
movably coupled
to the body 110 and comprising an access control element 142. In certain
embodiments, the
access control element 142 is a paddle extending from a shaft 141 that is, in
this example,
perpendicular to the body 110. The handle 140 is shown in FIG. 1 in a latched
position, wherein
the access control element 142 is positioned in front of inlet 130, thereby
preventing a user from
connecting a connector 30 to the inlet 130. In certain embodiments, the access
control element
142 is disposed in front of the inlet 130. In certain embodiments, the access
control element 142
is disposed proximate to the inlet 130, e.g. adjacent to the side of the inlet
130, so as to interfere
with the attachment of a connector 30 to the inlet 130 and substantially
prevents connection to
the inlet 130 when the adapter 100 is in the position shown in FIG. 1. The
inlet 120 is fully
accessible in this position of the adapter 100 and a user may connect a
connector 20 to the inlet
120. The body 110 may include one or more keying holes 111 that engage pins,
posts, or other
keying features (not shown in FIG. IA) of the connectors 20, 30.
[0028] FIG. 2 depicts the back of the adapter 100. A center plane 101 is
defined relative to the
body 110 and bisects the body 110. There is an alignment feature 112 extending
from the body
110 that is centered on the center plane 101. There are two ports 116 that are
identical in form
that are coupled to the body 110 and symmetrically disposed on opposite sides
of the center
plane 101. The adapter 100 has a first position, as shown in FIG. 2, and a
second position that is
rotated 180'from the first position with respect to the plane of symmetry.
Positions of the
adapter 100 are discussed in greater detail with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6. The
adapter 100 also
comprises first and second coupling ports 116 that are symmetrically located
on opposite sides of
the center plane 101 on a back side of the body 110. The first and second
coupling ports 116 are
in respective fluid communication with the first and second inlets 120, 130.
In certain
embodiments, the coupling ports 116 may be respectively aligned with the first
and second inlets
120, 130. In certain embodiments, the coupling ports 116 may be respectively
offset from the
first and second inlets 120, 130.
[0029] It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the handle 140 comprises a latching pin
144 that is disposed
within a securing feature, for example slot 114 formed in the alignment
feature 112. The latching
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pin 144, in this example, extends outward from the portion of the shaft 141
that extends beyond
the bottom of the body 110. The function of the pin latching 144 and the
method by which the
handle 140 secures the adapter 100 to a device, for example a ventilator (not
shown), is discussed
in greater detail with respect to FIGS. 4A-4B.
[0030] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional side view of the exemplary fluid inlet
adapter 100 and a
device 10 according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The device
10 has a housing 52
with, in this example, a docking station 50 having an alignment slot 66 that
is configured to
accept the alignment feature 112. In this example, there is a recess 62
adjacent to the alignment
slot 66 that is configured to accept an end of the handle 140. A latching slot
64 extends laterally
from the recess 62 and is configured to engage the pin 144 when the handle 140
is rotated such
that the pin extends from the alignment feature 112, as is discussed in
greater detail with respect
to FIGS. 4A-4B.
[0031] The housing 52 comprises a fluid passage 80 is configured to accept a
flow of a fluid. In
certain embodiments, the device 10 is a ventilator and the fluid passage 80
connects to a blower
(not shown) that pumps the fluid from fluid passage 80 to a patient as is
generally known to
those of skill in the art and not repeated herein. The fluid passage 80 is
positioned relative to the
alignment slot 66 such that one of the coupling ports 116 will be at least
partially disposed within
the fluid passage 80 when the adapter 100 is secured to the device 10 in
either a first or second
position. FIG. 3A depicts the example adapter 100 secured to the docking
station 50 in the first
position, wherein the coupling port 116 that is in fluid communication with
inlet 120 is also at
least partially disposed within and in fluid communication with the fluid
passage 80. In the
second position (not shown in FIG. 3A), the adapter 100 is upside down from
the position shown
in FIG. 3A such that the coupling port 116 that is in fluid communication with
inlet 130 is also at
least partially disposed within and in fluid communication with the fluid
passage 80. In certain
embodiments, the coupling ports 116 may have a sealing feature 118, for
example an 0-ring,
which is configured to detachably and sealingly mate with the fluid passage
80. The housing
also comprises a blind recess 54 that accepts the un-used coupling port 116.
The docking
location 50 may have a recess 56 configured to accept the body 110 such that
the front of the
body 110 is flush with the surface of the housing 52. In certain embodiments,
the docking
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location 50 may also have a recess 70 position under a keying hole 111. The
recess 70 may
provide clearance for a keying feature of a mating connector or may provide a
retention function.
[0032] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional side view of the exemplary adapter 100 of
FIG. 3A mated
with the docking location 50 of the housing 52 according to certain aspects of
the present
disclosure. It can be seen that the lower coupling port 116 is partially
disposed within the fluid
passage 80 and the upper coupling port 116 is partially disposed within the
blind recess 54.
[0033] FIGS. 4A-4B depict the position of the handle 140 in exemplary
unlatched and latched
positions according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 4A
depicts the position of
the handle 140 while in an "unlatched" position suitable for insertion of the
alignment feature
112 into the alignment slot 66 of the docking station 50. The pin 144 is
positioned completely
within the slot 114 so as not to interfere with the alignment slot 66. Once
the adapter 100 is fully
seated in the docking station 50, the handle 140 can be turned to the position
shown in FIG. 4B.
[0034] FIG. 4B depicts a "latched" position with handle 140 rotated so as to
engage pin 144 in
latching slot 64. In this position of handle 140, the access control element
142 is disposed in
front of the inlet 130 thereby obstructing access to the inlet 130 so as to
discourage connection of
a connector 30 to the inlet 130 while the adapter 100 is secured to the device
10 in this position.
[0035] FIGS. 5 and 6 depict an exemplary inlet adapter 100 configured to
accept fluid from two
different sources 20, 30 according to certain aspects of the present
disclosure. FIG. 5 depicts the
adapter 100 configured to enable inlet 120 to allow a connector 20 (not shown
in FIG. 5) while
blocking connection to the inlet 130. It can be seen that the machine-
detectable indicator 150 is
positioned in a first position, e.g. on the near side of alignment feature
112.
[0036] FIG. 6 depicts the adapter 100 reversed in orientation and configured
to allow inlet 130 to
accept a connector 30 (not shown in FIG. 6) while blocking connection to the
inlet 120. It can be
seen that when the adapter 100 is disposed in this position, which is the
reverse of the position of
FIG. 5, that the machine-detectable indicator 150 is positioned in a second
position, e.g. on the
far side of alignment feature 112, that is also the reverse of FIG. 5.
[0037] With respect to the positions of the machine-detectable indicators 150
in FIGS. 5 and 6,
the device 50 may have a first sensor (not shown in FIG. 5) positioned so as
to detect the
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presence of the sensor in the position of FIG. 5 and a second sensor
positioned so as to detect the
presence of the sensor in the position of FIG. 6. The use of two sensors may
provide a positive
indication of the position of the adapter 100 and, therefore, a positive
indication of which gas is
being provided.
[0038] FIGS. 7-10 depict example connector configurations according to certain
aspects of the
present disclosure. The adapter 100 may comprise inlets that are configured to
accept one of
these types of connectors. FIG. 7 depicts an "Ohmeda style" gas connection 200
wherein the
gas-specific configuration of the connector is accomplished by one or more
notches 220 on the
outlet face 210 and a pin 230 on the adaptor. The notches 220 and pins 230 may
vary in position
and/or size based on the gas required.
[0039] FIG. 8 depicts a "Chemetron style" gas connection 300 wherein the gas-
specific
configuration of the connector is accomplished by the position and shape of
the latching hole 320
on the outlet face and alignment tabs 330 that mate with recesses 340. The
latching hole 320 will
vary in position and shape based on the gas required.
[0040] FIG. 9 depicts a "Diameter Index Safety System (DISS) style" gas
connection 400
wherein the gas-specific configuration of the connector is accomplished by gas-
specific threads
disposed on a barrel 410. The thread diameter and adaptor nipple size may vary
based on the gas
required.
[0041] FIG. 10 depicts a "Schrader style" gas connection 500 wherein the gas-
specific
configuration of the connector is accomplished by geometric indexing, i.e.
each gas has a unique
shape and size of the barrel 510.
[0042] It can be seen that the disclosed embodiments of the inlet adapter
provide a reliable
means of configuring a device, such as a ventilator, to accept only one of a
possible variety of
gases. While the disclosed embodiment of the adapter has two inlets and
accepts gas through
one inlet while blocking the other inlet, other embodiments of the adapter may
have three or
more inlets and may be configured to accept gas through more than one of the
three or more
inlets. In addition, the machine-detectable indicator that is disclosed as a
magnet herein may be
any machine-readable element, for example a barcode or 2D matrix positioned to
be read by a
camera or scanner when the adapter is configured in a certain position.
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[0043] FIGS. 11-15 show implementations of adapters having one inlet. FIG. 11
shows an
adapter 1100. The adapter 1100 has a housing 1105, an inlet 1101 extending
through the
housing 1105, a machine-detectable or machine-readable indicator 1120, and a
latching
component 1110. The inlet 1101 has a first end 1102 for connecting to a
particular fluid source,
and a connector 1103 for connecting to a flow control device 1200 (see in FIG.
12), which may
be a flow cassette or other valve system. The latching component 1110, which
may be a
threaded nut that can be screwed by hand, is configured to interface with a
threaded connector
1210 of the flow control device 1200. The latching component 1110 includes a
groove 1112.
The machine-readable indicator 1120 may be a tab which includes magnet
positions 1122A,
1122B, 1122C, and 1122D, which may hold one or more magnets in a magnet
configuration 125.
In some embodiments, one or more magnet positions1122A, 1122B, 1122C, and
1122D may not
hold any magnet. Although the magnet positions 1122A-D may be in a linear
arrangement, in
other implementations, other arrangements may be used.
[0044] FIG. 12 shows another adapter 1300. The adapter 1101 has a magnet
configuration 1126,
which may have magnets in magnet positions 1122B and 1122C. The magnets may be
embedded within the machine-readable indicator 1120. Also seen in FIG. 12, an
adapter 1400
has a magnet configuration 1127, which may have magnets in magnet positions
1122B and
1122D.
[0045] The magnet configurations may be detected by a sensor 1220 of the flow
control device
1200. The sensor 1220 may include magnet sensors 1222A, 1222B, 1222C, and
1222D, which
may correspond to the magnet positions 1122A-D. FIG. 13 shows the adapter 1100
connected to
the flow control device 1200, which may be secured by tightening the latching
component 1110.
The sensor 1220 aligns with the machine-readable indicator 1120. The sensor
1220 is
configured to detect the magnet configurations of adapters. The magnet
configurations
correspond to specific fluid sources. For example, the magnet configuration
1126 may
correspond to heliox, and the magnet configuration 1127 may correspond to
oxygen. The inlet
1101 may be configured for connection to the corresponding fluid source. By
detecting the
magnet configuration, the flow control device 1200 can identify the fluid
passing through the
flow control device 1200.
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[0046] FIG. 14 shows the adapter 1100 without the latching component 1110. The
housing 1105
includes a first protrusion 1106, and a second protrusion 1107. The housing
1105 also includes a
first pin I 1 16, and a second pin 1118, The first and second pins 1116 and
1118 are configured to
interface with the groove 1112 of the latching component 1110, allowing the
latching component
1110 to rotate freely without being separated from the housing 1105. The
threaded connector
1210 includes a first notch 1212 and a second notch 1214.
[0047] FIG. 15 further shows the adapter 1100 and the flow control device
1200. A first width
1108 of the first protrusion 1106 corresponds to a first width 1213 of the
first notch 1212. A
second width 1109 of the second protrusion 1107 corresponds to a second width
1215 of the
second notch 1214. The first protrusion 1106 is configured to fit into the
first notch 1212, and
the second protrusion 1107 is configured to fit into the second notch 1214.
Because the first and
second widths are different, the adapter 1100 can only fit into the threaded
connector 1210 in one
orientation, to mitigate incorrect insertions. In addition, a distance 1104
between the inlet 1101
and the machine-readable indicator 1120 corresponds to a distance 1221 between
the threaded
connector 1210 and the sensor 1220 such that the sensor 1220 can detect the
machine-readable
indicator 1120. The machine-readable indicator 1120 may be properly aligned
with the sensor
1220 when the latching component 1110 is fully tightened. When the machine-
readable
indicator 1120 is not properly detected by the sensor 1220, or the magnet
configuration is
unknown (e.g., a magnet is missing or in the wrong magnet position), an alarm
condition may
occur. In addition, when the adapter 1100 is not properly or fully connected,
pressurized gas
may leak, causing an audible notification to the operator.
[0048] For example, the connector 1103 may be configured to have a length such
that the
connector 1103 provides fluid communication with the flow control device 1200
at an
intermediate portion along the threaded connector 1210's path when being
connected. The
length of the connector 1103 extends such that there may be fluid
communication even when the
latching component 1110 is not fully engaged. Upon removal of the adapter
1100, for instance
by disengaging the latching component 1110, an audible hissing sound may
inform the operator
that the supply must be turned off and/or that the adapter 1100 should be
fully removed from the
source to limit complications associated with improper removal procedures.
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[0049] The use of multiple adapters 1100 allow a single flow control device
1200 to connect to
various fluid sources, rather than having a flow control device for each
possible fluid source.
Reducing the number of flow control devices may reduce the size of the
ventilator. The multiple
adapters may be tethered to the ventilator in order to prevent misplacement of
the adapters.
[0050] The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in
the art to practice the
various aspects described herein. While the foregoing has described what are
considered to be
the best mode and/or other examples, it is understood that various
modifications to these aspects
will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic
principles defined herein may
be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited
to the aspects shown
herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language
claims, wherein
reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only
one" unless
specifically so stated, but rather "one or more." Unless specifically stated
otherwise, the terms
"a set" and "some" refer to one or more. Pronouns in the masculine (e.g., his)
include the
feminine and neuter gender (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. To the extent
that the terms
"include," "have," or the like are used in the description or the claims, such
terms are intended to
be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprise" as "comprise" is
interpreted when
employed as a transitional word in a claim. Headings and subheadings, if any,
are used for
convenience only and do not limit the invention.
[0051] It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the
processes disclosed is
an illustration of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is
understood that the
specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged. Some
of the steps may
be performed simultaneously. The accompanying method claims present elements
of the various
steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order
or hierarchy
presented.
[0052] Terms such as "top," "bottom," "front," "rear" and the like as used in
this disclosure
should be understood as referring to an arbitrary frame of reference, rather
than to the ordinary
gravitational frame of reference. Thus, a top surface, a bottom surface, a
front surface, and a rear
surface may extend upwardly, downwardly, diagonally, or horizontally in a
gravitational frame
of reference.
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[0053] A phrase such as an "aspect" does not imply that such aspect is
essential to the subject
technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the subject
technology. A
disclosure relating to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or
more configurations. A
phrase such as an aspect may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. A
phrase such as an
"embodiment" does not imply that such embodiment is essential to the subject
technology or that
such embodiment applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A
disclosure relating to
an embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. A
phrase such an
embodiment may refer to one or more embodiments and vice versa.
[0054] The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example or
illustration."
Any aspect or design described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be
construed as
preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs.
[0055] Nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public
regardless of whether
such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be
construed under the
provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly
recited using the
phrase "means for" or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited
using the phrase
"step for."
[0056] All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the
various aspects described
throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those
of ordinary skill in
the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be
encompassed by the
claims.
[0057] This specification describes example aspects of the subject technology,
which may
include at least the following concepts:
[0058] Concept 1. An adapter for providing fluid from a fluid source to a
device, the adapter
comprising: a housing; an inlet extending through the housing for connecting
the fluid source to
the device, the inlet comprising a first end for connecting to the fluid
source and a second end for
connecting to the device; a latching component configured to secure the
adapter to the device;
and a machine-readable indicator for identifying the fluid source, the machine-
readable indicator
extending away from the first end of the inlet and beyond the second end of
the inlet.
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[0059] Concept 2. The adapter of Concept 1, wherein the machine-readable
indicator
comprises a tab comprising a magnet, and wherein a position of the magnet on
the tab indicates
the fluid source.
[0060] Concept 3. The adapter of Concept 2, wherein the tab extends
parallel to the inlet.
[0061] Concept 4. The adapter of Concept 2, wherein the magnet is embedded
in the tab.
[0062] Concept 5. The adapter of Concept 1, wherein the latching component
comprises a
threaded nut.
[0063] Concept 6. The adapter of Concept 5, wherein the housing comprises
at least one pin
for holding the threaded nut.
[0064] Concept 7. The adapter of Concept 5, wherein the threaded nut
comprises a groove,
and wherein the at least one pin is configured to interface with the groove.
[0065] Concept 8. The adapter of Concept 1, wherein the housing comprises a
first protrusion
having a first width and a second protrusion having a second width, the first
width is different
from the second width, the first protrusion is configured to fit in a
corresponding first notch of
the device, and the second protrusion is configured to fit in a corresponding
second notch of the
device such that the adapter connects to the device in a single orientation.
[0066] Concept 9. A ventilator comprising: a ventilator housing; a flow
control device within
the ventilator housing; and a first removable adapter comprising: a first
adapter housing; a first
inlet extending through the first adapter housing , the first inlet comprising
a first adapter end for
a first external connection and a first connector end configured to removably
connect to the flow
control device; a first latching component configured to secure the first
adapter to the flow
control device; and a first machine-readable indicator for identifying the
first external
connection, the first machine-readable indicator extending away from the first
adapter end of the
first inlet and beyond the first connector end of the first inlet.
[0067] Concept 10. The ventilator of Concept 9, wherein the first removable
adapter is
tethered to the ventilator housing.
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[0068] Concept 11. The ventilator of Concept 9, wherein the machine-readable
indicator
comprises a first tab comprising a first magnet, and wherein a position of the
first magnet on the
first tab identifies the first external connection.
[0069] Concept 12. The ventilator of Concept 11, wherein the flow control
device comprises a
sensor configured to detect a position of a magnet.
[0070] Concept 13. The ventilator of Concept 9, wherein the first latching
component
comprises a first threaded nut.
[0071] Concept 14. The ventilator of Concept 13, wherein the flow control
device comprises a
threaded connector configured to interface with the first threaded nut.
[0072] Concept 15. The ventilator of Concept 13, wherein the first adapter
housing comprises
at least one pin for holding the first threaded nut.
[0073] Concept 16. The ventilator of Concept 13, wherein the threaded nut
comprises a
groove, and wherein the at least one pin is configured to interface with the
groove.
[0074] Concept 17. The ventilator of Concept 14, wherein the first adapter
housing comprises
a first protrusion having a first width and a second protrusion having a
second width, the
threaded connector comprises a first notch having the first width and a second
notch having the
second width, and the first width is different from the second width such that
the first protrusion
fits into the first notch and the second protrusion fits into the second notch
in a single orientation
of the adapter.
[0075] Concept 18. The ventilator of Concept 9, further comprising a second
removable
adapter comprising: a second adapter housing; a second inlet extending through
the second
adapter housing , the second inlet comprising a second adapter end for a
second external
connection and a second connector end configured to removably connect to the
flow control
device; a second latching component configured to secure the second adapter to
the flow control
device; and a second machine-readable indicator for identifying the second
external connection,
the second machine-readable indicator extending away from the second adapter
end of the
second inlet and beyond the second connector end of the second inlet.
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[0076] Concept 19. The ventilator of Concept 18, wherein the first machine-
readable indicator
comprises a first tab comprising one or more magnets in a first magnet
configuration and the
second machine-readable indicator comprises a second tab comprising one or
more magnets in a
second magnet configuration, different than the first magnet configuration.
[0077] Concept 20. An adapter for providing fluid to a device, the adapter
comprising: a
housing; an inlet extending through the housing for connecting the fluid
source to the device, the
inlet comprising a first end for connecting to the fluid source and a second
end for connecting to
the device; a latching component configured to secure the adapter to the
device; and a tab
comprising one or more embedded magnets positioned in a magnet configuration.
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