SIMULATION MODEL FOR SIMULATING A TUBE LINE FOR A BLOOD LEAKAGE DETECTOR, AND METHOD FOR TESTING A BLOOD LEAKAGE DETECTOR

Abstract

The present invention relates to a simulation model for simulating a tube line comprising at least one hollow cylindrical section that is configured to be arranged in a tube receiver of a blood leak detector of a blood treatment machine, wherein a respective receiver for a respective light source is provided at the axial ends of the hollow cylindrical section, by means of which light source light can be introduced into the hollow cylindrical section; and at least one light guidance element that is arranged in the hollow cylindrical section and that is configured to deflect light introduced into the hollow cylindrical section such that the light moves outwardly out of the hollow cylindrical section through at least one opening in a radial outer side of the hollow cylindrical section. The invention further relates to a method of checking the function of a blood leak detector by means of a simulation model in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. A simulation model for simulating a tube line comprising at least one hollow cylindrical section that is configured to be arranged in a tube receiver of a blood leak detector, preferably of a blood leak detector of a blood treatment machine, wherein a respective receiver for a respective light source is provided at the axial ends of the hollow cylindrical section, by means of which light source light can be introduced into the hollow cylindrical section; and at least one light guidance element that is arranged in the hollow cylindrical section and that is configured to deflect light introduced into the hollow cylindrical section such that the light moves outwardly out of the hollow cylindrical section through at least one opening in a radial outer side of the hollow cylindrical section.

2. A simulation model in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the light guidance element is a mirror that is arranged such that it deflects the introduced light by approximately 90°.

3. A simulation model in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that two openings are provided in the radial outer side of the hollow cylindrical section that are preferably disposed opposite one another and between which the at least one light guidance element is preferably arranged.

4. A simulation model in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a respective light source that preferably introduces red and/or green light into the hollow cylindrical section is arranged in the receivers at the axial ends of the hollow cylindrical section.

5. A simulation model in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the light source is an LED that is firmly anchored in the receiver, preferably by a press fit and/or by an adhesive bond.

6. A simulation model in accordance with claim 1, additionally comprising a handle section that is provided to facilitate a gripping of the simulation model by a user and that preferably extends in arc-like form or hoop-like form from a first axial end section of the hollow cylindrical section to a second axial end section of the hollow cylindrical section.

7. A simulation model in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the simulation model is produced from a material, preferably from metal and/or plastic, that is opaque for light introduced into the hollow cylindrical section and for environmental light.

8. A blood treatment machine having a simulation model in accordance with claim 1 and a blood leak detector that has at least one light detector, characterized in that the at least one opening in the radial outer side of the hollow cylindrical section of the simulation model and the at least one light detector of the blood leak detector are arranged such that light deflected by the light guidance element and introduced into the hollow cylindrical section is conducted through the at least one opening to the at least one light detector.

9. A blood treatment machine in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the simulation model is releasably or non-releasably connected to the blood treatment machine.

10. A method of checking the function of a blood leak detector of a blood treatment machine comprising the step: arranging a simulation model in accordance with claim 1 at the blood leak detector, preferably arranging the hollow cylindrical section of the simulation model in a tube receiver of the blood leak detector.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising the step: introducing light having a predetermined red portion and/or green portion into the hollow cylindrical section of the simulation model by means of the at least one light source, with the red portion and/or green portion of the light introduced by the light source being set such that it corresponds to the red portion and/or green portion of light that is reflected when, while either no fluid or a specific fluid flows in a tube arranged in the tube receiver, light of a predetermined wavelength is transmitted in or through the tube and/or the fluid.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that the red portion and/or the green portion of the light introduced by the light source is set such that it corresponds to the red portion and/or the green portion of light that is reflected when, while saline solution or plasma or dialysis fluid or plasma having a specific blood portion flows in the tube arranged in the tube receiver and light of a specific wavelength is transmitted in or through the tube and/or the fluid.

Description

[0040] Further details and advantages of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing.

[0041] There are shown:

[0042] FIG. 1: a schematic view illustrating the function of a blood leak detector;

[0043] FIG. 2: a sectional view of a blood leak detector;

[0044] FIG. 3: a schematic view illustrating the function of a simulation model in accordance with the invention;

[0045] FIG. 4: a plan view of the front side of a simulation model in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0046] FIG. 5: a plan view of the rear side of a simulation model in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0047] FIG. 6: the simulation model of FIGS. 4 and 5 in the state arranged at a blood leak detector; and

[0048] FIG. 7: the simulation model of FIGS. 4 and 5 in the state arranged at a blood leak detector, with the blood leak detector being closed.

[0049] The same reference numerals in the Figures designate the same or functionally the same components.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, a blood leak detector 1 has a tube receiver 2 in which a tube or a tube line can be arranged.

[0051] The blood leak detector 1 additionally has an LED 3 and two phototransistors 4 and 5. The light irradiated by the LED 3 is reproduced by arrows in FIG. 1.

[0052] Light is transmitted from the LED 3 through the tube receiver 2 and through a tube optionally arranged therein to the phototransistor 4. The phototransistor 4 detects a corresponding measurement value. In addition, light is transmitted directly to the phototransistor 3 by the LED 3. The phototransistor 3 detects a corresponding reference value.

[0053] As can be recognized from the sectional view of a blood leak detector in FIG. 2, the blood leak detector 1 furthermore has a door or flap 6 that can be closed after the placing of a tube into the tube receiver 2 so that the tube is firmly held in the tube receiver 2.

[0054] FIG. 3 schematically shows a simulation model 10 that is arranged in a blood leak detector 1 and that has two LEDs 7 and 8 and a mirror 9. The hollow cylindrical section, not shown here, of the simulation model is arranged in the tube receiver 2.

[0055] Light (shown by the arrows) introduced into the hollow cylindrical section of the simulation model by the LEDs 7 and 8 is deflected substantially at a right angle by the mirror 9 and is directed to the phototransistors 4 and 5 of the blood leak detector.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the front side of a simulation model 10. The simulation model has a hollow cylindrical section 11 at whose axial ends respective receivers 12 are arranged to receive the LEDs 7 and 8. Two mutually oppositely disposed openings 13, 14 are formed in the radial outer side of the hollow cylindrical section and light can move outwardly from the hollow cylindrical section 11 through them.

[0057] The simulation model 10 further has a hoop-shaped handle section 15 that extends from one receiver 12 to the other receiver 12.

[0058] The mirror 16 can be recognized in FIG. 5 that is arranged between the opening 13 and the opening 14 such that light is substantially deflected by 90° and is conducted through the openings 13 and 14 respectively.

[0059] In the embodiment shown, the simulation model 10 is produced in one piece by an additive 3D printing process from a black material.

[0060] FIG. 6 shows the simulation model 10 that is arranged at the blood leak detector 1. The door 6 of the blood leak detector 1 is open so that the hollow cylindrical section 11 arranged in the tube receiver 2 can be recognized.

[0061] In the representation in FIG. 7, the door 6 of the blood leak detector 1 is closed so that the hollow cylindrical section 11 arranged in the tube receiver 2 is firmly held in the blood leak detector.