SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A BAG FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES

• US 20180147116A1
• Filed: 02/17/2016
• Published: 05/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kiefer GmbH
• Original Assignee: Kiefer GmbH
• Inventors: STEIN, Dr. -Ing Bernd
• Granted Patent: US 11,523,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1468 Containers characterised by specific material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/16 Holders for containers
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/04 having a linearly-movable cutting member B26D1/46, B26D1/547 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/16 Cutting rods or tubes transversely cutting tubes longitudinally B26D3/001
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/14 by tensioning the work
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/0081 before shaping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/53262 Enclosing spouts between the walls of bags, e.g. of medical bags
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7148 Blood bags, medical bags

Abstract

In order significantly to reduce the risk of contamination of a bag for medical purposes, in particular due to residual particles of tube material caused during cutting of a tube for access to the bag, the invention proposes a system (1) for producing a bag for medical purposes, comprising a tube transfer station (2) with a transfer means (3) for transferring a tube (11) coming into the tube transfer station (2) to a holder (10) and for the severing there of a tube section (17) transferred to the holder (10) from a remaining portion (18) of the incoming tube (11) in order subsequently to be able to make the severed tube section (17) connectable to two film layers for forming an access to the bag, wherein the tube transfer station (2) has a tube-tension-holding means (15) on the holder side and also a tube-pulling means (16), which means are designed to introduce tensile forces (19) between the severed tube section (17) and the remaining portion (18) of the incoming tube (11) while the severing takes place.

Claims

1. System for the manufacture of a bag for medical purposes, comprising a tube transfer station having a transfer means for transferring a tube coming into the tube transfer station to a holder and for the local severance of a transferred tube piece from a remaining tube of the incoming tube to the holder in order subsequently be able to make the severed tube piece connectable to two film layers for forming an access to the bag, wherein the tube transfer station has a tube holding means on the holder side and, on the other side, a tube pulling means, which are arranged to introduce tensile forces between the severed tube piece and the remaining tube of the incoming tube, while the severance is performed.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the holder has a mandrel, in particular a mandrel-shaped central electrode.

3. System according to claim 1, wherein the holder has an externally engaging tube clamp.

4. System according to claim 1, wherein the holder is fixed in the introduction direction of the incoming tube.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transfer means has a feed through channel for the incoming tube.

6. System according to claim 1, wherein the transfer means can be moved back and forth in the introduction direction.

7. System according to claim 6, wherein the transfer means is arranged to move the feed through channel close to the holder, then to transfer the incoming tube at least with the tube piece to be severed, and after the severance of the tube piece to remove the remaining tube of the incoming tube again from the holder through the feed through channel.

8. System according to claim 1, wherein the tube pulling means has a retraction drive.

9. System according to claim 8, wherein the tube pulling means has a clamp, which is driven opposite the tube holding means, preferably via a coupling with the transfer means.

10. System according to claim 1, wherein the tube pulling means, in cooperation with the tube holding means, is arranged to exert an elongation of 1% to 10% on the transition from the tube piece to be severed to the remaining tube between the tube pulling means and the tube holding means, in particular of 2% to 6%, especially of about 4%.

11. System according to claim 1, wherein the tube transfer station has a blade which is driven from a standby position through the incoming tube.

12. System according to claim 11, wherein the blade has a tilting drive.

13. System according to claim 1, wherein the tube transfer station has a blade which is driven from a standby position through the incoming tube, wherein the blade, after severance, is driven released from the remaining tube, and longitudinally in the tube direction or with a movement component longitudinally in the tube direction.

14. System according to claim 13, wherein the blade has a tilting drive.

15. System according to claim 12, wherein the tilting drive is arranged to tilt the blade away from the transfer means.

16. System according to claim 11, wherein the blade is driven moving in an oblique manner through the tube.

17. System according to claim 11, wherein the blade has a thickness of at most 1 mm, in particular of at most 0.8 mm, preferably of at most 0.5 mm, particularly preferably below 0.2 mm.

18. System according to claim 11, wherein the tube pulling means and the blade are arranged on the transfer means side, whereas the tube holding means is arranged on the holder side.

19. Method for the manufacture of a bag for medical purposes, in which a tube coming into a tube transfer station is transferred by means of a transfer means to a holder for local severance of tube piece from a remaining tube of the incoming tube to the holder so that the tube piece is subsequently connected to two film layers for forming an access to the bag, wherein the following steps are performed:

a. Feeding the incoming tube to the holder;

b. Tightly holding the incoming tube on the tube piece to be severed on the side of the holder by means of a tube holding means;

c. Longitudinally pulling the incoming tube between the tube holding means and a feed so that tensile forces act on a designated point for severing; and

d. Separating the tube piece from the remaining tube of the incoming tube.

20. Method according to claim 19, wherein the feeding of the tube is performed through a feed through channel.

21. Method according to claim 19, wherein the incoming tube is fed onto a mandrel, in particular to a central electrode.

22. Method according to claim 19, wherein the incoming tube is fixed on a tube piece to be severed with the holder against retraction, particularly is tightly clamped from the outside.

23. Method according to claim 19, wherein the holder and the transfer means are removed from one another, in particular the transfer means is retracted, and thereby the incoming tube is pulled into the length for severing at the designated point.

24. Method according to claim 23, wherein the severance is performed by means of a blade which is guided through the incoming tube while the tensile force is acting on the designated point for severance, so that the incoming tube follows at least the severed point of the tensile force, at least on one side, preferably on both sides, and a cleft results after the severing, which is wider than a thickness of the blade.

25. Method according to claim 24, wherein after severance, the blade is released from the tube and by means of a movement which has a component along a tensile force direction.

26. Method according to claim 24, wherein the blade is tilted for release.

27. Method according to claim 24, wherein the blade for severance is heated to a temperature of between 40°

C. and 70°

C., in particular between 40°

C. and 60°

C., in particular around 50°

C.

28. Method according to claim 19, wherein the longitudinal pulling of the tube is performed with a longitudinal elongation between 1% and 10%, preferably from 2% to 6%, particularly preferably approximately 4%.

29. Method according to claim 19, wherein the severance is performed with the aid of alcoholic lubricant.