CRADLE FOR A MEDICAL DEVICE

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a cradle for a medical device. The cradle has an inner cradle side and an opposing outer cradle side, wherein the outer cradle side is adapted for attachment to a patient's skin with at least part of the outer cradle side facing the patient's skin. The medical device has a medical device coupler, wherein the medical device coupler is adapted for coupling the medical device to the cradle such that part of the medical device is facing the inner cradle side. The cradle further includes a drain fluidly coupling the inner cradle side with the outer cradle side.

Claims

1. A cradle for a medical device, the cradle comprising: an inner cradle side and an opposing outer cradle side, the outer cradle side being adapted for attachment to a patient's skin with at least part of the outer cradle side facing the patient's skin; a medical device coupler adapted for coupling the medical device to the cradle such that part of the medical device faces the inner cradle side; and a drain fluidly coupling the inner cradle side with the outer cradle side.

2. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the drain comprises at least one through hole fluidly coupling the inner cradle side with the outer cradle side.

3. The cradle according to claim 2, further comprising: a cradle base; and a wall projecting away from the cradle base and having two opposing wall sides, one of the two opposing wall sides being at least partly formed by at least part of the outer cradle side and the other of the two opposing wall sides being at least partly formed by at least part of the inner cradle side, wherein the two opposing wall sides are fluidly coupled to each other by the drain.

4. The cradle according to claim 3, wherein the at least one through hole is located at a free end of the wall.

5. The cradle according to claim 3, wherein the at least one through hole forms an interruption of the wall.

6. The cradle according to claim 3, wherein the at least one through hole is located at the transition of the wall and the cradle base, thereby extending from the wall into the cradle base.

7. The cradle according to claim 3, wherein the wall forms a border strip that extends over at least half of the circumferential length of the cradle base.

8. The cradle according to claim 2, wherein the at least one through hole forms an elongated hole, a slot, a rectangular hole or a circular hole.

9. The cradle according to claim 2, wherein the cross-sectional area of the at least one through hole is more than 0.01 mm.sup.2 and less than 5 mm.sup.2.

10. The cradle according to claim 1, further comprising spacers projecting from the inner cradle side and configured for locating a medical device at a predefined distance from the inner cradle side.

11. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the drain comprises at least one groove located on the inner cradle side.

12. The cradle according to claim 1, wherein the outer cradle side is hydrophobic.

13. A medical system, comprising: a cradle according to claim 1; a medical device having a cradle coupler complementary to the medical device coupler, the medical device having a proximal medical device side, wherein in a configuration in which the medical device is coupled to the cradle the proximal medical device side faces the inner cradle side.

14. The medical system according to claim 13, wherein, in a configuration in which the medical device is coupled to the cradle, the proximal medical device side and the inner cradle side delimits a hollow space fluidly coupled with the drain.

15. A method of venting a space between a medical device and a cradle, the method comprising: providing a medical system according to claim 13; engaging the cradle coupler with the medical device coupler, such that the proximal medical device side faces the inner cradle side; and venting a space between the medical device and the cradle by allowing removal of water, humidity or air from the space via the drain, wherein the drain is fluidly coupled to the space between the medical device and the cradle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The above-mentioned aspects of exemplary embodiments will become more apparent and will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0042] FIG. 1a shows an exemplary embodiment of a cradle in top view from distal toward proximal;

[0043] FIG. 1b shows the cradle of FIG. 1a in a perspective top view;

[0044] FIG. 1c shows the cradle of FIG. 1a in perspective bottom view;

[0045] FIG. 2a shows a medical system in accordance with the present disclosure in a schematic side view; and

[0046] FIG. 2b shows a medical system in accordance with the present disclosure in a schematic top view.

DESCRIPTION

[0047] The embodiments described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of this disclosure.

[0048] FIG. 1a, FIG. 1b, and FIG. 1c show an exemplary embodiment of a cradle 1 in accordance with the present disclosure in different views. FIG. 1a shows a top view of the inner cradle side, while FIG. 1b shows a perspective top view of the inner cradle side and FIG. 1c a perspective view of the outer cradle side.

[0049] In the shown embodiment, the cradle 1 is generally formed integrally from a single piece of plastic material by way of injection molding. The cradle 1 incudes a cradle base 11 having an outer cradle side 11P and an inner cradle side 11D. The outer cradle side 11P (best seen in FIG. 1c) is coated with a skin-compatible adhesive coating via which the cradle 1 is attachable respectively coupleable to a patient's skin. In use, i.e., in a state in which a medical device is coupled to the cradle, the inner cradle side 11D (best visible in FIG. 1a, 1b) faces the medical device.

[0050] A circumferential wall 12 projects from the cradle base 11 in a distal direction. The wall 12 comprises two opposing wall sides, wherein one of the two wall sides is at least partly formed by at least part of the outer cradle side 11P. The other of the two opposing walls sides is at least partly formed by at least part of the inner cradle side 11D. The circumferential wall 12 extends substantially along the whole cradle periphery 16. The area that is surrounded by the circumferential wall 12 is referred to as interior I and the outside area is referred to as exterior E, as indicated in FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b. The interior I defines the area where a medical device is arranged in a situation of use, such that the circumferential wall 12 circumferences the housing of the medical device at least in its proximal area.

[0051] A plurality of through holes 13 is arranged in the circumferential wall 12 such that the two opposing wall sides, which are at least partly formed by the at least part of the outer cradle side 11P and the at least part of the inner cradle side 11D, respectively, are fluidically coupled to each other by the draining structure or “drain,” which includes the through holes 13 that are formed as slits, which interrupt the wall 12 in a circumferential direction of the cradle 1. The through holes 13 extend from a free end of the wall 12 into the cradle base 11. Accordingly, the through holes 13 are not only located at the free end of the wall 12, but are also located at the transition of the wall 12 and the cradle base 11 (best visible in FIG. 1c). In this example, the draining openings 13 are distributed substantially equally along the circumferential wall 12. Other arrangements, however, may be used as well.

[0052] A medical device coupling structure (also referred to as a “medical device coupler”) 14a, 14b is formed integrally with the circumferential wall 12. The medical device coupling structure 14a, 14b includes elements at opposing sides of the cradle 1. When coupling the cradle 1 with a medical device, each of the elements of the medical device coupling structure 14a, 14b engages a corresponding counter-element of the cradle coupling structure (also referred to herein as a “cradler coupler”) 24a 24b that is provided at the medical device (as shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b). Element 14b is designed as a flap. By moving the flap 14b in the proximal direction, the engagement between the medical device coupling structure 14a, 14b, and the cradle device coupling structure 24a, 24b of the medical device can be released.

[0053] A functional interface 15 is provided in form of a tubular element that extends from the inner cradle side 11D towards the outer cradle side 11P, where it opens in a functional interface aperture 151 (best seen in FIG. 1a, FIG. 1c). The functional interface 15 is designed for receiving a skin piercing element, such as an infusion cannula and/or a transcutaneous sensor element.

[0054] The outer cradle side 11D further comprises a hydrophobic coating (not individually referenced). However, the inner side of the peripheral wall 12 may also comprise a hydrophobic coating. Other regions of the cradle 1 or its whole surface may optionally also be coated. In a variant, no coating is provided but the cradle 1 as a whole is formed from a hydrophobic material.

[0055] In the following, reference is additionally made to FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b. FIG. 2a shows a medical system, i.e., a kit of a cradle 1 and a medical device 2 in accordance with the present disclosure in a schematic side view, traverse to a proximal direction and distal direction, respectively. FIG. 2b shows a medical system 2 in a schematic top view of the inner cradle side 11D. The cradle 1 of the medical systems according to FIGS. 2a and 2b is similar to the cradle as shown in FIG. 1a to FIG. 1c.

[0056] The medical device 2 and the cradle 1 are releasably coupled via engagement of a medical device engagement structure 14a, 14b of the cradle 1 with complementary counterparts forming a cradle coupling structure 24a, 24b of the medical device 2.

[0057] In FIG. 2a, between the proximal side of the medical device 2 and the cradle base 11 respectively the inner cradle side (not individually referenced in FIG. 2a) there is a gap G. The gap G forms a hollow space, which is in fluidic communication with the exterior E via the draining structure. The through holes 13 forms a passage through which humidity, water and/or gas can flow from the inner cradle side 11D to the outer cradle side 11D. Accordingly, in use, i.e., in a state in which the medical device 2 is coupled to the cradle 1, the draining structure allows venting of the hollow space G without decoupling the medical device 2 and the cradle 1.

[0058] Similar in FIG. 2b, a gap G is present between the medical device 1 and the cradle 1. More precisely, the gap G is located between the medical device 1 and the inner cradle side 11D, which at least partly forms one wall side of the circumferential wall 12. Again, the through holes 13 fluidically couple the inner cradle side 11D with the outer cradle side 11P thereby allowing efficient ventilation of the space G.

[0059] It is noted that in both FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b the width of the gap G is significantly exaggerated for the sake of clarity.

[0060] While exemplary embodiments have been disclosed hereinabove, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0061] 1 cradle [0062] 11 cradle base [0063] 11D inner cradle side [0064] 11P outer cradle side [0065] 12 circumferential wall [0066] 13 through holes of the draining structure [0067] 14a, 14b medical device coupling structure [0068] 15 functional interface [0069] 151 functional interface aperture [0070] 16 cradle periphery [0071] 2 medical device [0072] 24a, 24b cradle coupling structure [0073] D distal direction [0074] E exterior [0075] I interior [0076] G gap [0077] P proximal direction