CATHETER DEVICE, COMPRISING A VALVE FOR CONTROLLING A FLUID FLOW THROUGH A CATHETER

Abstract

The invention relates to a catheter device (100) comprising a catheter (68) for insertion into a living being and at least one lumen (69, 70, 74, 79) for guiding a fluid flow within a section of the catheter device, and comprising a valve for controlling a fluid flow, in particular through a catheter, having a valve control chamber (12, 12a), into which an inlet opening (1a) of an inlet channel (1) and an outlet opening (2a) of an outlet channel (2) open, and further having a closure element (5, 13, 17) which can be moved in the valve control chamber (12, 12a) in a controlled manner and which, in at least a first position (I), closes the outlet opening (2a), in at least a second position (II) closes the inlet opening (1a), and which, in at least a third position (III), keeps open a connecting channel between the inlet opening (1a) and the outlet opening (2a), a valve train (A, A′, B, B′, 3, 14, 18) being provided and optionally moving the closure element (5, 13, 17) to at least the first, second or third position, and the at least one lumen (68, 70, 74, 79) being fluidically connected to the inlet channel or the outlet channel.

Claims

1. A valve for controlling a fluid flow through a catheter, the valve comprising: a valve body having a feed opening, a discharge opening, and a connection channel separating the feed and discharge openings; a closure element disposed and movable within the valve body, the closure element configured to move between a first position in which the discharge opening is closed, a second position in which the feed opening is closed, and a third position in which the closure element is configured to hold open the connection channel; and a valve drive having a magnetic field productive device, wherein at least a part of the closure element is configured as a magnetic element and the magnetic field productive device is configured to move the closure element between the first position, the second position, and the third position.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve body is disposed within a first housing, and the valve drive disposed within a second housing.

3. The valve of claim 2, wherein the first and second housings are configured to be attached or detached from each other in a destructive-free manner.

4. The valve of claim 2, wherein the closure element comprises a movable membrane adapted to close off the valve body in a fluid-tight manner, and the movable membrane is deflectable in a manner such that the feed opening or the discharge opening is selectively closable by parts of the membrane.

5. The valve of claim 4, further comprising a drive lever disposed in the valve drive, the drive lever configured to deflect the movable membrane such that the closure body assumes one of the first position or the second position.

6. The valve of claim 5, wherein the drive lever is magnetically drivable.

7. The valve of claim 5, wherein the drive lever is pivotable about a shaft, which with spacer sleeves is mounted in the first housing.

8. The valve of claim 2, wherein the valve drive includes a first magnet and a second magnet that are arranged in a distance from one another within the second housing.

9. The valve of claim 1, further comprising a bearing washer mounted on the valve body.

10. The valve of claim 9, wherein the bearing washer comprises a plurality of openings to permit through-flow of the fluid to be controlled by the valve.

11. The valve of claim 9, wherein each end of the closure body is configured to close the feed opening or the discharge opening, with a deflection of the closure body and with a resilient deformation of the bearing washer.

12. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve body is configured to be detachable from the valve drive.

13. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to operatively coupled to the catheter and configured to control the fluid flow through the catheter.

14. The valve of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of holding springs to hold the closure body in the middle position.

15. The valve of claim 1, wherein the closure body comprises a magnetically active core and an encasing.

16. The valve of claim 15, wherein the encasing is comprised of at least one of a plastic or an elastic material.

17. The valve of claim 1, wherein the closure body comprises a first armature body and a second armature body, wherein the first and second armature bodies are configured to be driven by a magnetic field of the valve drive.

18. The valve of claim 17, wherein the closure body further comprises a separating device.

19. The valve of claim 18, wherein the separating device comprises a magnet, wherein the magnet is arranged axially between the first armature body and the second armature body.

20. The valve of claim 17, wherein the first armature body and the second armature body are encased with a common solid matter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] The invention is hereinafter represented and explained hereinafter, by way of embodiment examples in the figures of a drawing.

[0051] Thereby are represented:

[0052] FIG. 1 a first embodiment of a valve with a magnetic valve drive, in a schematic cross section,

[0053] FIG. 2 the valve arrangement of FIG. 1, in a three-dimensional view,

[0054] FIG. 3 in a schematic section, a second embodiment of a valve according to the invention,

[0055] FIG. 4 a view of an elastic spring element,

[0056] FIG. 5 a three-dimensional view of the valve arrangement of FIG. 3,

[0057] FIG. 6 a valve which is connected to a separating device,

[0058] FIG. 7 a further valve connected to a separating device,

[0059] FIG. 8 a drive unit for a functional element which can be driven by way of a shaft rotating in a catheter,

[0060] FIG. 9 a modification of a drive unit according to FIG. 8,

[0061] FIG. 10

[0062] and FIG. 11 in each case, further designs of drive devices for shafts rotating in a catheter as well as

[0063] FIG. 12 a modification of a drive unit according to FIG. 9

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] FIG. 1 schematically shows a valve body 11 with a feed channel 1, a discharge channel 2 as well as a drive lever 3 which deflects a membrane 5. The membrane 5 closes the valve control space 12 which is located within the valve body 11, in a fluid-tight manner, and can be pressed by a spherical end 13, selectively against the feed opening 1a or the discharge opening 2a, in order to either close the feed channel 1 or the discharge channel 2.

[0065] The drive lever 3 is pivotable about a shaft 7, which with spacer sleeves 8 is mounted in the drive housing 6. The drive lever 3 is represented once in an unbroken manner in the third position III, in which it leaves open a connection channel between the feed opening 1a and the discharge opening 2a, as well in a dashed manner in a first position I, in which the spherical end 13 closes the discharge opening 2a by way of the membrane 5, and also dashed, in a second position II, in which the drive lever closes the feed opening 1a by way of the membrane 5.

[0066] The elastic spring element 10 is represented as a helical spring in the drive housing 6 in the lower part, and this helical spring connects the end of the drive lever 3 which is away from the membrane to the base of the housing 6 and thus holds the drive lever in the third position III.

[0067] Two electromagnets A, B are represented on both sides of the drive housing 6 and these, when they are subjected to a current, produce a magnetic field which acts upon the lower part 14 of the drive lever 3 and moves this into the first position I or into the second position II depending on the direction of the magnetic forces. The lower part 14 of the drive lever 3 is designed in a magnetically active manner for this purpose, either as a ferromagnetic, magnetisable or as a magnetised component.

[0068] FIG. 2 in a three-dimensional view shows a first housing 15 which comprises or accommodates the valve body with the valve control space as well as the membrane and at least parts of the drive lever 3 and in particular also the drive housing 6. The magnets A, B are arranged in a second housing 16 which is movable with respect to the first housing 15, in particular can also be separated from this. One can envisage both housings 15 16 being connected, for example the first housing 15 being able to be snapped or locked in a holder of the second housing 16. However, it has been found to be advantageous if the first housing 15 is separately removable, so that the parts of the valve device which are contained in the housing 15 can be exchanged separately and in particular can be treated as a disposable valve part.

[0069] A valve arrangement with a valve body 11a which encloses a valve control space 12a, in which a closure body 17 is movably mounted, is shown in FIG. 3. The closure body 17 comprises a magnetically active core 17a and an encasing 17b, in particular of a plastic, which encloses or encases the core 17a, and is connected to a bearing washer 18. The bearing washer is represented in a plan view in FIG. 4. It is mounted on the valve body 11a at its periphery and as a whole is elastic, so that it holds the closure body 17 in the represented middle position. The bearing washer 18 comprises several openings 25 which permit the through-flow of the fluid to be controlled by the valve.

[0070] The ends 19, 20 of the closure body 17 are shaped and designed such that they can close the feed opening 1a or the discharge opening 2a, with a corresponding deflection of the closure body 17 and with a resilient deformation of the bearing washer 18.

[0071] For this purpose, the encasing 17b of the closure body 17 can consist of an elastic material, in particular of an elastomer for example. The magnetic core 17a of the closure body 17, by way of the magnet devices A′, B′ can be subjected to a force which pulls the closure body 17 either in the direction of the feed opening 1a or in the direction of the discharge opening 2a, in order to bring the valve into the first or the second closure position.

[0072] The valve body 11a in FIG. 5 in a three-dimensional view is represented as a housing which encloses the valve control space 12a as well as the feed channel 1 and the discharge channel 2, as well as the housing 16a comprising the magnet devices A′ and B′. The housing 11a is separable from the housing part 16a if a part of the valve device is to be designed as a disposable valve, so that the magnet devices can be used several times or continue to be used, whereas the part of the valve which comprises the valve control space 12 can be exchanged.

[0073] FIG. 3 shows the valve according to the invention in combination with a fluid control device which is likewise according to the invention and which comprises a catheter 21, a rotating shaft 22 passing through the catheter 21, as well as a rinsing device which is not represented in detail, wherein the valve with the valve body 11a, the valve control space 12a and the mechanical parts of the valve drive forms a part of the rinsing device. Further parts of the rinsing device for example can be a rinsing agent pump and rinsing agent reservoir, which are not represented in detail. The feed channel or discharge channel 1, 2 can be connected to the catheter 21, in order to permit rinsing agent to be led into or out of the catheter by way of suitable actuation of the valve. The twisted structure of the shaft 22 is also to be recognised in FIG. 3, and this can lead to a different suction and pressure effect depending on the speed of the shaft rotation and the wearing of the shaft.

[0074] FIG. 6 shows a magnetic valve with a transport channel, through which fluid flows between a feed opening 1′ and a discharge opening 2′. A closure body 50 can be driven within the transport channel 88 between a first closure position and a second closure position, wherein a first closure surface 51 closes a valve opening 51a in a first closure position, whereas a closure surface 52 closes a valve opening 52a in the second closure position.

[0075] Two armature bodies 53, 54 which can be driven by the magnetic field of two valve drive coils 55, 56 are integrated into the closure body 50. The magnet 86 of the separating device is arranged axially between the armatures bodies 53, 54 in a manner flush with these. The armature bodies with the magnet body 86 is provided with a common solid matter encasing 87. The particles which cling to the solid mater encasing 87 are indicated at 15 by way of example.

[0076] Holding springs 57, 58 in the absence of an excitation of the valve drive coils hold the closure body in a middle position, in which the valve is open. Two plain bearings 59, 60 are provided at the ends of the valve housing, for guiding the closure body 50.

[0077] FIG. 7 shows a valve with a feed opening 1″, a discharge opening 2″ and a closure body 50′. The closure body 50′ can be driven within the transport channel 88′ between a first closure position and a second closure position, wherein a first closure surface 51′ closes a valve opening 51a′ in the first closure position, whereas a closure surface 52′ closes a valve opening 52a′ in the second closure position. The closure body 50′ is mounted in the housing of the valve by way of an elastic, permeable disc 61 and is held in an opened middle position. The disc 61 carries separating magnets 86′, 86″ which are connected in the closure body 50′ to valve drive armatures 62, 63 and together with these are enveloped by a protective layer.

[0078] The valve drive armatures 62, 63 are can be driven in the field of the coils 64, 65. Particles can accumulate in the transport channel on the separating magnets on the protective layer and can be retained there.

[0079] The catheter device 100 mentioned in the claims is now represented in the FIGS. 8-12 in several alternatives.

[0080] FIG. 8 shows a catheter device 100, comprising a drive unit with a drive armature 66 drivable in rotation and driving a rotating shaft 67 in a catheter 68. Lumens, designed radially to the outside as a feed channel 69 and radially to the inside as a return channel 70 are arranged concentrically to one another within the catheter 68 and to the outer envelope of the catheter. The feed channel 69 and the return channel 70 are separated from one another by a hose-like separating wall 71.

[0081] A rinsing fluid is pumped from a reservoir 73 through a lumen 74 which is designed as a cannula, and a valve 75, by way of a volume-controlled peristaltic pump 72. Two magnets 76 and 77 serve for the drive of the valve and are activated by way of a pressure switch 78 with the aim of maintaining a constant pressure in the feed channel 69. The fluid for this is led through the valve 75 and through the housing of the drive armature 66, through the lumen 79 designed as a transport channel and through the separating device 80 where particles are actively filtered out of the fluid. The separating device 80 can be constructed as the separating device shown in FIG. 6. From there, the fluid flows into the catheter 68 radially outwards through the feed channel 69 and radially inwards through the return channel 70, as well as from there to a peristaltic pump 81 which sucks the fluid and leads into the reservoir 82. The peristaltic pump 81 however can also serve for back-rinsing and for this purpose can be operated in a manner such that it delivers the fluid to the return channel 70 and from there via the feed channel 69, through the separating device back to the valve 75 into the reservoir 73, in order for example to remove the captured particles from the separating device.

[0082] FIG. 9 shows a construction similar to that of FIG. 8, wherein additionally to the valve 75, a second valve 75′ is arranged between the return channel 70 and the return pump 80, in front of the drive armature 66 and behind the peristaltic pump 72. Whist FIG. 8 is applied with rinsing systems, in which no undesired vacuum is produced in the return due to installation components, it is possible to apply FIG. 9 also with rinsing systems, in which an undesired vacuum arises in the return (e.g. due to the winding direction of the flexible shaft). This vacuum is recognised by the sensor which then, by way of closing the valve 75′ to the bottom, ensures that no medium gets out of the container 82 via the pump 81 into the rinsing circuit. The separating device is thus arranged between two valves and also between to fluid delivery devices, of which at least one, in particular both, can be switched over with respect to the delivery direction of the fluid, in order to reverse the flow direction. With regard to the construction according to FIG. 10, in comparison to the construction in FIG. 8, it is only a peristaltic pump 72 which has been replaced by a reservoir 83 which permits a gravity flushing, by way of the fluid flowing through the valve 75 and further to the catheter 68 due to gravity. The rotating shaft 84 within the catheter 68, due to its stranded/twisted construction based on twisted strands has a helical (coiled) outer structure, which on rotation gives this itself a pumping effect in the direction away from the drive armature 66. Another variant with a volume-controlled peristaltic pump 72 and with a reservoir 73 is represented on the right side of FIG. 10, to the right of the dashed line 85, for the feed of fluid to the catheter 68. The peristaltic pump there delivers the fluid to the inside of the catheter which for example is introduced into the body of a patient and there ends at a heart pump 85 with a rotor 85a. The heart pump for example can be radially compressed which is to say as a whole can be particularly prone to particles which get therein. The fluid then flows back from there. A separating device 80 can be provided in each case upstream of the catheter 68 in the flow direction, between this and the delivery device 73, 83, in particular in any case upstream of the heart pump 85.

[0083] FIG. 11 shows a constellation similar to that of FIG. 9, wherein a gravity delivery 83 is envisaged instead of the peristaltic pump 72, wherein on normal operation, fluid leads from there via the valve into the catheter 68 and there firstly radially outwards through the feed channel 69, radially inwards into the return channel 70, as well as from there to a peristaltic pump 81 which sucks the fluid and leads it into the reservoir 82. The fluid between the return channel 70 and the peristaltic pump 81 firstly passes the separating device 80 which is arranged between the return channel and the housing of the drive armature 66. The fluid thereafter flows past the drive armature 66 to the peristaltic pump 81. The mounting of the drive armature can be relatively insensitive, so that the through-flow direction of the fluid there is of minor significance. What is important is that the housing of the drive armature is supplied with fluid, to ensure a good lubrication. The selected arrangement moreover ensures that magnetic wear particles of the rotating shaft 84 in this case cannot damage the bearings of the drive armature.

[0084] FIG. 12 shows a construction similar to FIG. 9, wherein a further separating device 80′ ensures that the function of the sealing surfaces of the valve 75′ is not compromised by clinging particles.

[0085] The present application amongst other things relates to the following aspects.

[0086] 1. A valve for the control of a fluid flow, in particular through a catheter, with a valve control space (12, 12a), in which a feed channel (1) runs out with a feed opening (1a), and discharge channel (2) runs out with a discharge opening (2a), and with a closure element (5, 13, 17) which is movable in a controlled manner in the valve control space (12, 12a) and which in at least one first position (I) closes the discharge opening (2a), in at least one second position (II) closes the feed opening (1a) and in at least one third position (III) holds open a connection channel between the feed opening (1a) and the discharge opening (2a), wherein a valve drive (A, B, A′, B′, 3, 14, 18) is provided, which selectively moves the closure element (5, 13, 17) at least into the first, second or third position.

[0087] 2. A valve according to aspect 1,

characterised in that
the third position (III) of the closure element (5, 13 17) lies between the first and the second position.

[0088] 3. A valve according to aspect 1 or 2,

characterised in that
the valve control space (12, 12a) can be separated from a valve drive of the closure element (5, 13 17).

[0089] 4. A valve according to aspect 1 and one of the following,

characterised in that
the valve control space (12, 12a) with the exception of the feed opening (1a) and the discharge opening (2a) is closed off on all sides in a fluid-tight manner.

[0090] 5. A valve according to aspect 1 or one of the following,

characterised in that
the closure element (5, 13, 17) comprises a movable membrane (5) which closes off the valve control space (12) in a fluid-tight manner and is deflectable in a manner such that selectively the feed opening (1a) or the discharge opening (2a) can be closed by parts of the membrane (5).

[0091] 6. A valve according to aspect 5,

characterised in that
a drive lever (3, 14) of the valve drive (3, 14, 18, A, B, B, B′) deflects the membrane (5) at least in the first and second position.

[0092] 7. A valve according to aspect 1 or one of the following,

characterised in that
the closure element (5, 13, 17) can be driven by a magnetically acting valve drive (A, A′, B, B′).

[0093] 8. A valve according to aspect 7,

characterised in that
the closure element (5, 13, 17) which is arranged in the valve control space (12, 12a) is magnetically active and interacts with a magnetic field of the valve drive (A, A′, B, B′).

[0094] 9. A valve according to aspect 6 and 7,

characterised in that
the drive lever (3, 14) can be magnetically driven.

[0095] 10. A valve according to aspect 7,

characterised in that
the valve control space (12, 12a) as well as the parts (3, 14, 18) of the valve drive which are mechanically connected to the closure element (5, 13, 17), with the exception of the feed and discharge opening (1a, 2a) are closed off in a fluid-tight manner and can be separated from a magnetic field production device (A, A′, B, B′) of the valve drive.

[0096] 11. A valve according to aspect 1 or one of the following,

characterised in that
the closure element is moved by an elastic spring element (10, 18), preferably into the third position (III).

[0097] 12. A valve according to aspect 1 or one of the flowing, characterised in that a magnet (13″, 13′″, 13″″) is provided as part of a separating device, directly on the valve control space (12, 12a) in particular in the inside of the closure element (5, 15, 17).

[0098] 13. A valve according to aspect 12, characterised in that the magnet/magnets (13″, 13′, 13″″) are provided separately from and in particular distanced to drive armatures (53, 54, 62, 63) of the one valve drive.

[0099] 14. A catheter, comprising a valve according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the valve control space can be separated from a valve drive of the closure element.

[0100] 15. A protective device for a valve (75, 75′) which is in connection with a flowing fluid, characterised in that a separating device (80) for holding back particles located in the fluid and with at least one magnet element (86, 86′, 86″) is provided along the flow channel (79, 88) for the fluid, in particular a catheter, in a manner distanced to the valve and in particular separated from this.