Apparatus for applying and removing closing means from an end portion of a tubular element and the use thereof in peritoneal dialysis

• US 20070161946A1
• Filed: 02/23/2005
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glomeria Therapeutics SRL
• Original Assignee: Iperboreal Pharma SRL
• Inventors: Cerasoli, Paolo
• Granted Patent: US 7,806,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/285 Catheters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/18 Methods or apparatus for making the connection under sterile conditions, i.e. sterile docking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86863 Rotary valve unit

Abstract

A device is described for fitting and removing a closing means (27, 29) on an end portion (13) of a tubular element (3), comprising: a container (1) defining an internal chamber (18); a rotating platform (19) inside said chamber at the bottom (16) thereof; a receiving housing (26) that is able to receive and hold a first closing means (27) from said end portion of tubular element; and a releasing housing (28) that is able to contain and release a second closing means (29), in said end portion of tubular element; said receiving and releasing housings provided with an opening for passage of the closing means, being fixed on said rotating platform with said opening turned towards said perimeter walls (17) of the container. The device can be used as a connector for peritoneal dialysis and minimizes or eliminates the risks of contamination, also of pathogens, and the risks of peritonitis.

Claims

1. A device for fitting and removing a closing means on an end portion of a tubular element, comprising:

a) a container provided with a cover;

said container having a bottom and perimeter walls extending from said bottom to said cover, so as to define an external lateral surface of the container and the lateral surface of an internal chamber said container;

b) at least one connection extending from said external lateral surface of the container for coupling said internal chamber to a tubular element of specified diameter;

c) a rotating platform inside said chamber at the bottom thereof,

d) a pin integral with said rotating platform;

e) an actuator for rotation of said pin;

f) at least one closing means, having a pointed end intended to be received in said end portion of tubular element and a tail end opposite to the pointed end;

g) a receiving housing that is able to receive and hold a first closing means from said end portion of tubular element; and

a releasing housing that is able to contain and release a second closing means, in said end portion of tubular element;

said receiving and releasing housings, provided with an opening for passage of the closing means, being fixed on said rotating platform with said opening turned towards said perimeter walls.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said receiving housing comprises, internally, retaining means, and said closing means has undercut portions which are able to receive said retaining means when said closing means is received in said receiving housing.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said closing means is held spring-loaded radially inside said releasing housing.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the spring-loaded closing means is subjected to the action of an elastic component positioned inside said releasing housing capable of abutting against said tail end of the closing means to cause the closing means to travel a predetermined distance towards said connection.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the perimeter walls of the container constitute a stop for said closing means under the action of the elastic component.

6. The device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the perimeter walls of the container have at least one pair of fixed cam elements for said closing means projecting circumferentially from the perimeter walls on one side relative to said connection.

7. The device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said releasing housing comprises stopping means, and said closing means has a peripheral recess able to receive said stopping means when said closing means is contained in said releasing housing;

said stopping means being able to prevent the withdrawal of the closing means in the space of the predetermined travel of said elastic component.

8. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said connection is passable for coupling of said end portion of tubular element with the pointed end of the first and of the second closing means.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said connection is able to engage with a connector comprising a sleeve coupled to said connection.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said connector comprises a spring abutting between said sleeve and a charging handgrip to bring the end portion of tubular element closer to one of said receiving and releasing housings.

11. The device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said coupling is of the threaded type.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said coupling is of the luer lock type.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said receiving housing is a receptacle that is open on the side facing the perimeter walls and is liquid-tight against them.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said pointed end of the closing means comprises sealing means which interact with said end portion of tubular element.

15. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said pointed end of the closing means extends towards said tail end thereof with a body of diameter greater than the diameter of said tubular element.

16. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said actuator is constituted of a handle coupled to said pin passing through said cover.

17. The device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that said cover has, externally, reference marks for the handle for positioning the receiving and releasing housings.

18. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said container further includes two routes of communication with the exterior.

19. The device as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that said two routes of communication are connections for end portions of tubular elements.

20. The device as claimed in claim 1, provided with valved means for selectively establishing the passage of a fluid between said connection for coupling to said tubular element and one of said two routes of communication at a time.

21. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said receiving housing contains disinfecting means.

22. The device as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that said releasing housing contains disinfecting means.

23. The device as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that said disinfecting means are constituted of povidone gel.

24. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said connection is closed with a fracture membrane.

25. A tubular element having, at its distal end, means for coupling to a connection of the device described in claim 1.

26. A catheter for peritoneal dialysis comprising the tubular element of claim 25.

27. The catheter as claimed in claim 26, having visual means of indication of the number of cycles of peritoneal dialysis.

28. A set for peritoneal dialysis, comprising the device of claim 18 and the catheter.

29. A method of fitting and removing a closing means on an end portion of a tubular element, comprising:

a) coupling said end portion provided with a first closing means to the connection of the device described in claim 1;

b) passing said end portion through said connection until said first closing means engages with a receiving housing that is able to receive and hold said closing means;

c) retracting said end portion, releasing said closing means;

d) acting on the actuator so as to cause the rotating platform to rotate and move away said receiving housing and bring up a releasing housing that is able to contain and release a second closing means,

e) causing said end portion to engage with said second closing means contained in said releasing housing;

f) retracting said end portion provided with said closing means.

30. A method of using the device described in claim 1 as connector for peritoneal dialysis comprising:

a) coupling a peritoneal catheter provided at its distal end with a first closing means to the connection of said device;

b) coupling a second connection to a source of solution for peritoneal dialysis;

c) coupling a third connection to a drainage system;

d) passing said distal end through said connection until said first closing means engages with a receiving housing that is able to receive and hold said closing means;

e) retracting said distal end, releasing said closing means;

f) acting on the actuator so as to rotate the rotating platform and move away said receiving housing and allow the peritoneal dialysis solution to pass through said first connection to the catheter, thus carrying out the dialysis treatment;

g) acting on the actuator so as to rotate the rotating platform and allow the peritoneal dialysis solution to pass through said third connection to the drainage system;

h) acting on the actuator so as to rotate the rotating platform and bring up a releasing housing that is able to contain and release a second closing means for said distal end;

i) passing said distal end through said connection until it engages with said second closing means contained in said releasing housing;

j) retracting said distal end provided with said closing means.