Transducer protection device, particularly for hemodialysis processes

• US 6,536,278 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2000
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gvs S.P.A.
• Original Assignee: Gvs S.P.A.
• Inventors: Scagliarini, Massimo
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garber, Charles D.
• Application Number:
  US09/566,077
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 737/06, 734/31, 600/488
• US Class Current: 73/431
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3639 Blood pressure control, pressure transducers specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3641 Pressure isolators
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7518 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/112 Single lapped joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/114 Single butt joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/30223 said melt initiators being rib-like
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5412 said substantially flat extra element being flexible, e.g. a membrane B29C66/5416 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics

Abstract

A transducer protection device, particularly for hemodialysis processes, which comprises a first element and a second element made of plastics which are coupled coaxially with respect to a common axis and respectively comprise a first tubular connector and a second tubular connector which are blended with respective flanges which are coaxial to the common axis; the flanges are coupled to each other along their peripheral region by ultrasonic thermal bonding; the device has a recess formed frontally on a first one of the flanges, the recess being coaxial to the common axis and being suitable for accommodating, in a fixed arrangement, a semipermeable membrane by imbibition of melted plastics along a circular border region by the thermal bonding provided on a circular ridge which is shaped complementarily to the border region and protrudes frontally from the second flange so as to achieve bonding between the first and second flanges and the membrane.

Claims

1. A transducer protection device, particularly for hemodialysis processes, comprising:

a first element;

a second element said first and second elements being made of plastics and being coupled coaxially with respect to a common axis thereof;

a first tubular connector;

a second tubular connector;

said first and second tubular connectors being each blended with a respective flange coaxial to said common axis so as to form said first and second elements, and said flanges being coupled to each other along a peripheral region thereof by ultrasonic thermal bonding;

a recess formed frontally, coaxial to said common axis, on a first one of said flanges;

a semipermeable membrane accommodated in said recess, in a fixed arrangement, by imbibition of melted plastics along a circular border region of said membrane upon thermal bonding; and

a circular ridge which is shaped complementarily to said border region and protrudes frontally from a second one of said flanges, the thermal bonding being performed on said ridge so as to achieve intimate bonding between said first and second flanges and said membrane, further comprising an annular cavity located frontally and peripherally to said second flange, and which is coaxial to said common axis and edges having a pointed longitudinal cross-section for enclosing said annular cavity.

2. The device of claim 1, comprising an annular seat provided as a concentric extension of said recess;

and a lip for peripherally enclosing said annular seat.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said seat is formed so as to complementarily receive said second flange.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said second flange is frontally and centrally provided with a cylindrical cavity which is coaxial to said common axis and is enclosed by said ridge.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising, at a bottom part of said cylindrical cavity, a plurality of circular channels which are coaxial to said common axis, and a plurality of radial channels which are spaced from each other substantially by a quarter turn.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said channels facilitate diffusion of blood in said cylindrical cavity and uniform distribution of blood pressure on said membrane.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said ridge is provided with an edge having a triangular cross-section.

8. The device of claim 4, further comprising, at a bottom part of said recess, a plurality of circular channels which are coaxial to said common axis, and a plurality of radial channels which are spaced from each other, substantially by a quarter turn.

9. A transducer protection device, particularly for hemodialysis processes, comprising:

a first element;

a second element said first and second elements being made of plastics and being coupled coaxially with respect to a common axis thereof;

a first tubular connector;

a second tubular connector;

said first and second tubular connectors being each blended with a respective flange coaxial to said common axis so as to form said first and second elements, and said flanges being coupled to each other along a peripheral region thereof by ultrasonic thermal bonding;

a recess formed frontally, coaxial to said common axis, on a first one of said flanges;

a semipermeable membrane accommodated in said recess, in a fixed arrangement, by imbibition of melted plastics along a circular border region of said membrane upon thermal bonding; and

a circular ridge which is shaped complementarily to said border region and protrudes frontally from a second one of said flanges, the thermal bonding being performed on said ridge so as to achieve intimate bonding between said first and second flanges and said membrane, further comprising an annular cavity located frontally and peripherally to said second range, and which is coaxial to said common axis and edges having a pointed longitudinal cross-section for enclosing said annular cavity, said edges being designed to intimately bond with said first flange by ultrasonic thermal bonding in order to seal said first and second flanges thus coupled.