CONNECTION MEANS AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING AT LEAST TWO FLUID-CONDUCTING MEDICAL-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS MEDICAL-TECHNICAL APPARATUS

• US 20100270792A1
• Filed: 04/23/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: LAUER, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,991,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/328
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/14 Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3622 with a cassette forming partially or totally the blood circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36226 Constructional details of cassettes, e.g. specific details on material or shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• 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 39/105 Multi-channel connectors or couplings, e.g. for connecting multi-lumen tubes multi-channel connectors in general F16L37/56
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/18 Methods or apparatus for making the connection under sterile conditions, i.e. sterile docking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connection for the fluid connection of at least one first fluid-conducting, medical-technical system to a second one. It further relates to a method for connecting at least two fluid-conducting, medical-technical systems, as well as an external medical-technical apparatus and a medical-technical apparatus.

Claims

1. A connection means for the fluid connection of at least one first fluid-conducting medical-technical system to one second fluid-conducting medical-technical system, comprising:

at least one first pipe section of the first system; and

at least one second pipe section of the second system,

wherein the first pipe section is adapted to be connected to the second pipe section.

2. The connection means according to claim 1,

wherein the first pipe section comprises:

at least one inner pipe;

at least one outer pipe; and

a space between the inner pipe and the outer pipe,

wherein the second pipe section is a connection pipe, and

wherein the space between the inner pipe and the outer pipe is adapted for receiving at least

a portion of the connection pipe.

3. The connection means according to claim 1, wherein the first pipe section is an inner pipe and the second pipe section is a connection pipe.

4. The connection means according to claim 1, wherein the first system and/or the second system is an external, medical-technical functional means.

5. The connection means according to claim 1, wherein the first system and/or the second system is a blood treatment apparatus or a medical analytic apparatus.

6. The connection means according to claim 2, further comprising:

a closure means for short-circuiting or connecting an inner lumen of the at least one inner pipe with the space between the at least one inner pipe and the at least one outer pipe in fluid communication.

7. The connection means according to claim 1, further comprising a widening for connecting the first pipe section to the second pipe section.

8. The connection means according to claim 7, wherein the first pipe section comprises an inner pipe and the second pipe section comprises a connection pipe, and the widening is present on the inner pipe or on the connection pipe.

9. The connection means according to claim 7, wherein the widening has a spherical and/or globular and/or curved and/or arc-shaped and/or convex outer surface.

10. The connection means according to claim 7, wherein the widening is configured to effect a fluidic seal between the first pipe section and the second pipe section when the connection means is in a ready-to-use, connected condition.

11. The connection means according to claim 7, wherein the widening has its largest cross-sectional diameter or its largest circumference in a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the direction of connection of the first pipe section to the second pipe section, in a region of the widening that is central in the direction of connection.

12. The connection means according to claim 7, wherein the widening has its largest cross-sectional diameter or its largest circumference in a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to a direction of extension of an inner lumen of the pipe section on which the widening is present, in a region of the widening that is central in the direction of connection.

13. The connection means according to claim 7, wherein the widening has a same diameter and/or circumference in at least three different sectional planes through a central point of the widening or in at least three different sectional planes containing a common straight line.

14. The connection means according to claim 7, wherein the diameter or the cross-sectional diameter of the widening is circular.

15. The connection means according to claim 7, wherein the widening is configured such that it may be moved, in the process of connecting the first pipe section to the second pipe section, along a displacement path in the pipe section into which it is being introduced, while maintaining the sealing condition brought about by it;

and/or

the widening is configured such that it may be tilted, in the process of connecting the first pipe section to the second pipe section or following completion of connecting, by an angle relative to the direction of flow, while maintaining the sealing condition brought about by it.

16. The connection means according to claim 7, further comprising an additional sealing means.

17. The connection means according to claim 16, wherein the additional sealing means is arranged adjacent to the widening during use of the connection means.

18. The connection means according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure limiting valve.

19. The connection means according to claim 1, further comprising a waste water branch.

20. The connection means according to claim 1, further comprising a pivotal mount for aligning the first pipe section and/or the second pipe section relative to each other.

21. The connection means according to claim 1, further comprising a pre-centering means for horizontal and/or lateral alignment of the first pipe section and/or of the second pipe section.

22. The connection means according to claim 21, wherein the pre-centering means comprises at least two springily deflectable tongues.

23. The connection means according to claim 1, further comprising a touch-prevention panel for preventing an interior from being contaminated and/or the at least one second pipe section from being touched.

24. The connection means according to claim 23, further comprising an external, medical-technical functional means, wherein the touch-prevention panel is retained in the external, medical-technical functional means by a latching arrangement.

25. The connection means according to claim 23, wherein the touch-prevention panel comprises a plurality of bendable segments.

26. The connection means according to claim 1, further comprising a means that is mechanically altered and/or moved in the process of connecting such that the completed connection continues to be apparent on the means following disconnection.

27. The connection means according to claim 2, further comprising a bellows arrangement.

28. The connection means according to claim 27, wherein the bellows arrangement is part of the outer pipe.

29. The connection means according to claim 28, wherein the outer pipe further comprises at least one spring member for tightening the bellows arrangement.

30. The connection means according to claim 6, further comprising a means for moving the closure means, said means for moving the closure means being configured as a removable rinsing cap for exposing an opening of the inner pipe in order to establish the fluid connection.

31. The connection means according to claim 30, wherein the rinsing cap is adapted to be moved automatically for exposing with the aid of the means for moving the closure means.

32. The connection means according to claim 2, wherein inner pipe and the outer pipe are configured for axial displacement relative to each other.

33. The connection means according to claim 32, further comprising a means for axial displacement of the inner pipe and/or of the outer pipe relative to each other.

34. The connection means according to claim 33, wherein the means for axial displacement comprises a means for automatic axial displacement.

35. The connection means according to claim 1, further comprising hydrophilic surfaces in the range of flow of the fluid connection to be obtained.

36. A method for connecting at least two fluid-conducting medical-technical systems, comprising:

providing at least one connection means according to claim 1

connecting at least two fluid-conducting medical-technical systems with the at least one connection means.

37. The method according to claim 36, further comprising the step of:

expanding an inner lumen of the second pipe section by means of a widening of the first pipe section for obtaining a fluid-tight connection.

38. The method according to claim 36, further comprising the step of:

performing an automatic routine for determining possibly existing leakages of the fluid connection obtained with the aid of the connection means and/or the operation of a pressure limiting valve of the connection means.

39. The method according to claim 36, further comprising the step of:

injecting a sterile gas into portions or segments of the connection means for drying surfaces prior to establishing the fluid connection.

40. The method according to claim 39, further comprising the step of:

automatically pivoting a rinsing cap for exposing an inner pipe of the first pipe section prior to establishing the fluid connection.

41. An external, medical-technical functional means comprising:

a connection means according to claim 1.

42. The external medical-technical functional means according to claim 41, wherein the external medical-technical functional means is a blood cassette for extracorporeal blood treatment.

43. A medical-technical apparatus comprising:

at least one connection means according to claim 1;

at least one external functional means; and

a control means configured for connecting at least two fluid-conducting medical-technical systems.

44. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the apparatus is a blood treatment apparatus.

45. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the apparatus is an apparatus for hemodialysis or for peritoneal dialysis.

51. The closure sleeve according to claim 49, said closure sleeve being integrated in or connected to a connection means according to claim 1.

52. The connecting means according to claim 7, wherein the first pipe section comprises an inner pipe and the second pipe section comprises a connection pipe, and the widening is for connecting the inner pipe to the connection pipe by jamming and/or expanding the inner pipe.

53. The connection means according to claim 7, wherein the widening has a spherical and/or globular and/or curved and/or arc-shaped and/or convex outer surface in a region of the maximum cross-section or diameter, in a direction of flow.

46. A drip-protection means for use with a fluid-conducting pipe section, wherein the drip-protection means comprises:

at least two nested pipe portions with a space between the at least two nested pipe portions, such that drops present in the at least two nested pipe portions may be received in the space due to a capillary effect.

47. The drip-protection means according to claim 46 wherein the at least two nested pipe portions are concentric.

48. The drip-protection means according to claim 46, wherein the space is configured as a ring gap.

49. A closure sleeve comprising at least one integrated drip-protection means according to claim 46.

50. The closure sleeve according to claim 49, wherein the drip-protection means is adapted to be taken from an open flow passage position, in which the closure sleeve can be passed through by a fluid, into a closed position in which the closure sleeve can not be passed through by a fluid.