Handpiece for cleaning wounds

Abstract

A handpiece for cleansing wounds with a fluid jet includes a main body, which has a front end with an emergence opening for the emergence of the fluid jet, wherein a porous body is present on the front end, which porous body surrounds the emergence opening and protrudes beyond the latter in the direction of the fluid jet outlet and forms a space through which the fluid jet can pass unimpeded. The handpiece according to the invention combines the advantages of cleansing by a fluid jet with the advantages of mechanical cleansing and, at the same time, provides effective protection against aerosols.

Claims

1. A handpiece unit for cleansing wounds with a fluid jet, said handpiece unit comprising a fluid line being connected to a handpiece with a main body, the main body having a front end and a rear end, the fluid line being connected to the rear end of the main body, the fluid line ensuring a supply of pressurized fluid to the main body, the front end of the main body having a front face with an emergence opening for the emergence of a fluid jet of the pressurized fluid supplied by the fluid line, the handpiece provided with a nozzle arranged in the front end, the nozzle forming the emergence opening, a position of the nozzle being defined by a front abutment, the nozzle having a nozzle channel arranged centrally in the nozzle, wherein the design of the nozzle channel defines an emergence geometry of the fluid jet, the fluid jet emerging from the emergence opening being a microfluidic jet with a diameter of 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm, an adapter which is releasable connectable to the front end of the handpiece, the adapter surrounding and receiving the front end of the main body and surrounding the emergence opening, a porous body which is connected to the adapter, the porous body protruding beyond the emergence opening in a direction of a flow of the fluid jet emerging from the emergence opening, wherein the porous body defines a longitudinal central axis and wherein the direction of the fluid jet flowing out of the emergence opening extends inclined relative to the longitudinal central axis, the porous body having a through-opening, the through-opening forming a space through which the fluid jet flowing out of the emergence opening can pass unimpeded, wherein the porous body has a contact area for contact with a wound to be cleaned, which contact area extends perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal central axis and which contact area extends at an angle other than 90 degrees with respect to the direction of the flow of the fluid jet emerging from the emergence opening, wherein the fluid jet flowing out of the emergence opening enters the through-opening of the porous body, wherein the fluid jet reaches an end of the through-opening, the end being surrounded by the contact area, wherein the fluid jet reaching the end of the through-opening reaches the longitudinal central axis, and wherein the adapter is transparent, permitting view of the wound to be cleaned.

2. The handpiece unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the porous body is made of a sponge, fleece or knit like material.

3. The handpiece unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the porous body has a hollow cylindrical, hollow conical or hollow polyhedral shape.

4. The handpiece unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the porous body has, in the contact area, an outwardly directed, circumferential front collar.

5. The handpiece unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handpiece is stiff.

6. The handpiece unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the porous body has pores and wherein suction channels are present in the porous body and wherein the suction channels have a diameter many times larger than an average pore size of the pores.

7. The handpiece unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the suction channels extend in the direction of the longitudinal central axis and are rectilinear.

8. The handpiece unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein radially extending suction channels are present, which open into the space formed by the porous body.

9. The porous body and adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the porous body has radially and/or axially extending suction channels whose diameter is many times larger than the average pore size of its pores.

10. The handpiece unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the porous body has an air-tight and liquid-tight outer skin which completely surrounds and covers an outer circumference of the porous body, the air-tight and liquid-tight outer skin being present during cleansing of the wounds.

11. The handpiece unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the porous body has a lower face which is covered by the air-tight and liquid-tight outer skin.

12. The handpiece unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the porous body has a lower face which is configured in an open-pored manner and which is free of the air-tight and liquid-tight outer skin.

13. A method for cleansing wounds with a handpiece unit, the handpiece unit cleansing wounds with a fluid jet, the handpiece unit comprising a handpiece with a main body, the main body having a front end, and a rear end, a fluid line being connected to the rear end of the main body, the fluid line ensuring a supply of pressurized fluid to the main body, the front end of the main body having a front face with an emergence opening for the emergence of the fluid jet of the pressurized fluid supplied by the fluid line, the handpiece provided with a nozzle arranged in the front end, the nozzle forming the emergence opening, a position of the nozzle being defined by a front abutment, the nozzle having a nozzle channel arranged centrally in the nozzle, wherein the design of the nozzle channel defines an emergence geometry of the fluid jet, the fluid jet emerging from the emergence opening being a microfluidic jet with a diameter of 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm, an adapter which is releasable connectable to the front end of the handpiece, the adapter surrounding and receiving the front end of the main body and surrounding the emergence opening, a porous body which is connected to the adapter, the porous body protruding beyond the emergence opening in a direction of a flow of the fluid jet emerging from the emergence opening, wherein the porous body defines a longitudinal central axis and wherein the direction of the fluid jet flowing out of the emergence opening extends inclined relative to the longitudinal central axis, the porous body having a through-opening, the through-opening forming a space through which the fluid jet flowing out of the emergence opening can pass unimpeded, wherein the porous body has a contact area for contact with a wound to be cleaned, which contact area extends perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal central axis and which contact area extends at an angle other than 90 degrees with respect to the direction of the flow of the fluid jet emerging from the emergence opening, wherein the adapter is transparent, permitting view of the wound to be cleaned, and wherein the method comprises the steps of simultaneously cleansing the wound by the fluid jet emerging from the handpiece and treating the wound by the porous body arranged on the handpiece.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which serve only for illustrative purposes and are not to be interpreted as limiting the invention. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a handpiece according to the invention, with fluid jet;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a central sectional view of the front end of the handpiece with a porous body according to FIG. 1, with fluid jet;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a handpiece according to the invention, with fluid jet;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a central sectional view of the front end of the handpiece with a porous body according to FIG. 3, with fluid jet;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of a handpiece according to the invention, with fluid jet;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a central sectional view of the front end of the handpiece with a porous body according to FIG. 5, with fluid jet;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a handpiece according to the invention, with fluid jet;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a central sectional view of the front end of the handpiece with a porous body according to FIG. 7, with fluid jet;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a central sectional view of the front end of a handpiece with a porous body according to a further embodiment;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a central sectional view of the front end of a handpiece with a porous body according to a further embodiment;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a central sectional view of a further embodiment according to the invention with suction;

(13) FIG. 12 shows an enlarged view of a detail X according to FIG. 11;

(14) FIG. 13 shows a central sectional view of a further embodiment according to the invention with suction;

(15) FIG. 14 shows a central sectional view of a further embodiment according to the invention with suction;

(16) FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the embodiment according to FIG. 14 from below;

(17) FIG. 16 shows a central sectional view of a further embodiment according to the invention with suction;

(18) FIG. 17 shows a section through the embodiment according to FIG. 16 along A-A;

(19) FIG. 18 shows a central sectional view of the embodiment according to FIG. 14;

(20) FIG. 19 shows a section through the embodiment according to FIG. 18 along A-A;

(21) FIG. 20 shows a central sectional view of a further embodiment according to the invention, and

(22) FIG. 21 shows a perspective view of the embodiment according to FIG. 20 from below.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(23) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a handpiece 1 according to the invention with fluid jet 8, while FIG. 2 shows a central sectional view of the front end 3 thereof. The handpiece 1 has a substantially cylindrical main body 2 for holding in one hand, with a front end 3 and a rear end 4. The front end 3 is preferably transparent. The front end 3 has an emergence opening 35 for the emergence of the fluid jet 8. The emergence opening 35 is arranged centrally in a first front face 34 of the handpiece 1. The handpiece 1 is designed in such a way that the fluid jet 8 flows out of the emergence opening 35 substantially collinearly with respect to the central axis 23 of the main body 2.

(24) A porous body 5 provided for gentle mechanical wound cleansing, and acting as a protective sleeve, is arranged at the front end 3. The porous body 5 has substantially the shape of a hollow cylinder with a first through-opening 57, which forms a space. With its rear area 52, it surrounds the emergence opening 35 and protrudes beyond the latter in the direction of the fluid outlet. The first front face 34 has a recess 39 with a first axial limit surface 31 and a first radial limit surface 32 for receiving the porous body 5. The porous body 5 bears with an inner surface 55 on the first radial limit 32 of the front end 3 and bears with a rear face 56 on the first axial limit 31 of the front end 3. An outer surface 58 of the porous body 5 is designed flush with a first radial outer surface 33 of the front end 3.

(25) In this illustrative embodiment, there is preferably a cohesively bonded connection between the front end 3 and the porous body 5. However, a force-fit and/or form-fit connection is also possible.

(26) On a face lying opposite the rear area 52, the porous body 5 has a contact area 51. The latter has a contact surface 59 which is parallel to the first front face 34 of the front end 3 and which adjoins the inner surface 55 and the outer surface 58. The transitions between the contact surface 59 and the inner surface 55 and outer surface 58 are preferably rounded.

(27) The front end 3 comprises a centrally arranged fluid channel 20 and, flush with the latter, a nozzle 6, which is in turn flush with the emergence opening 35. The substantially cylindrical nozzle 6 is received in a known manner in the front end 3 of the handpiece 1, and its position in the jet direction is defined by a front abutment 36. The nozzle 6 has a nozzle channel 60 arranged centrally therein. The design of this channel defines the emergence geometry of the fluid jet 8.

(28) FIG. 1 further shows that the rear end 4 has a fluid line 9, wherein the fluid line 9 ensures the supply of fluid to the handpiece 1. The following embodiments of the handpiece 1 according to the invention likewise have a fluid line 9 at the rear end 4. However, it is not shown.

(29) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the handpiece 1 according to the invention with a fluid jet 8, while FIG. 4 shows a central sectional view of the front end 3 thereof. The first and second embodiments are largely identical. In contrast to the first embodiment, the porous body 5 of the second embodiment has a beveled contact area 51 and preferably has sharp-edged transitions between the contact surface 59 and the inner surface 55 and outer surface 58. The bevel is shown by the fact that the contact surface 59 extends at an angle other than 90° with respect to the jet direction. The angle depicted corresponds to approximately 45°.

(30) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of a handpiece 1 according to the invention with a fluid jet 8, while FIG. 6 shows a central sectional view of the front end 3 thereof. The first, second and third embodiments are largely identical. In contrast to the first two embodiments, the porous body 5 of the third embodiment has an outwardly directed front collar 53 in the contact area 51. The transition between the front collar 53 and the inner surface 55 and outer surface 58 is rounded. The wall thickness of the porous body 5 is constant along its cylindrical length and does not change in the area of the front collar 53. The rounding of the transition from the contact surface 59 to the inner surface 55 creates a funnel-shaped area in the first through-opening 57 in the contact area 51.

(31) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a handpiece 1 according to the invention with a fluid jet 8, while FIG. 8 shows a central sectional view of the front end 3 thereof. The porous body 5 has largely the same design as that of the first embodiment. However, the front end 3 of the fourth embodiment is different than that of the first embodiment. However, the front end 3 is preferably likewise transparent. The first radial outer surface 33 of the front end 3 is dimensioned such that it can be inserted into the first through-opening 57. The diameter of the first radial outer surface 33 is preferably slightly larger than the internal diameter of the first through-opening 57. The inner surface 55 is movable and arranged clamped on the first radial outer surface 33 of the front end 3. The distance between the emergence opening 35 and the contact surface 59 is adjustable by a relative movement between the front end 3 and the porous body 5.

(32) FIG. 9 shows a central sectional view of the front end of a handpiece with porous body according to a further embodiment. FIG. 9 basically shows an alternative releasable connection between the front end 3 and the porous body 5, as would be able to be used in the handpiece 1 of a first, a second or a third embodiment. Advantageously, the front end 3 of this embodiment is likewise transparent. In the rear area 52, the porous body 5 has an inwardly directed, circumferential rear collar 54, which engages in a corresponding recess 39 in the front end 3 and forms a releasable connection 37 with the latter. A collar 54 is shown that has a cross section in the shape of a semicircle. The inner surface 55 of the porous body 5 is in releasable contact with the first radial limit 32 of the front end 3, and the rear face 56 of the porous body 5 is in releasable contact with the first axial limit 31 of the front end 3. By pulling on the porous body 5 in the jet direction, said porous body 5 can be removed from the front end.

(33) FIG. 10 shows a further alternative to the releasable connection of the front end 3 to the porous body 5. The porous body 5 is connectable releasably to the front end 3 by means of an adapter 7. The adapter 7 and the front end 3 are preferably transparent. The front end 3 has a connecting pin 38, which is arranged centrally and surrounds the emergence opening 35. The adapter has a central second through-opening 75, which is oriented coaxially with the porous body 5. The connecting pin 38 and the second through-opening 75 together form a releasable connection 37, here shown in the form of a screw connection. A second front face 74 of the adapter 7 has a cutout with a second axial limit surface 71 and a second radial limit surface 72 for receiving the porous body 5. The porous body 5 bears via the inner surface 55 on the second radial limit 72 of the adapter 7 and bears via the rear face 56 on the second axial limit 71 of the adapter 7. The outer surface 58 of the porous body 5 is flush with a second radial outer surface 73 of the adapter 7.

(34) An embodiment with a tight outer skin 58′ and with a suction system is provided in FIG. 11. The tight outer skin 58′ can be seen clearly in FIG. 12. It is preferably a layer which is applied to the porous body and which completely surrounds the outer circumference of the porous body 5 and provides an airtight and liquid-tight seal from the outside. It preferably covers the jacket area but leaves the lower face 59 of the porous body 5 free, the lower face therefore being configured in an open-pored manner. In alternative embodiments, this lower face is also covered.

(35) The main body 2 has at least one suction channel dividing up in the front end 3 of the handpiece 1 into suction channels 21 and leading to the upper face of the porous body. Several suction channels 21 may already be present in the main body 2 and, for example, do not divide up any further. An annular distributor channel 22 is preferably present on said face, said distributor channel 22 being open toward the porous body 5, or open in sections, and ensuring that the underpressure applied via the suction channel is distributed uniformly across the front circumference of the porous body 5. In this embodiment, the suction takes place via the pores of the porous body 5.

(36) In the embodiment according to FIG. 13, the porous body 5 has several suction channels 50 preferably distributed uniformly about its circumference. These suction channels 50 extend parallel to the jacket surface and/or parallel to the jet direction of the fluid jet 8. The suction channels 50 preferably extend rectilinearly and have a larger diameter than the average pore size of the porous body 5. Their diameter is preferably many times the average pore size. These vertical suction channels 50 preferably extend as far as the lower face 59 of the porous body and are therefore open at the bottom. However, they can also terminate farther up or can be closed by the tight outer skin.

(37) Depending on the embodiment, the distributor channel 22 is open exclusively toward these suction channels 50 or it also opens toward other locations of the face of the porous body. This embodiment with the suction channels 50 has the advantage that the suction still functions even when the porous body 5 is strongly saturated, since blocking of the pores is prevented.

(38) In the embodiment according to FIGS. 14 and 15, radially extending suction channels 500 are present in addition to the axially extending suction channels 50. These radially extending suction channels 500 connect the axial suction channels 50 to the hollow interior 57 of the porous body 5, i.e. the space through which the fluid jet passes unimpeded. The radial suction channels 500 are preferably distributed along the entire length of the axial suction channels 50. The annular distributor channel 22 leading to the axial suction channels 50 can be seen clearly in FIGS. 18 and 19.

(39) FIGS. 16 and 17 show a further embodiment. The suction channels 21 leading from the direction of the main body 2 extend through the front end 3 and open directly into the porous body 5. The front end 3 is relatively large and preferably has a conical shape widening toward the free end. The porous body 5 secured thereon has a cylindrical shape here and is relatively short in the jet direction.

(40) In the embodiment according to FIGS. 20 and 21, the emergence opening 35 and the fluid channel 20 are oriented obliquely with respect to the longitudinal central axis A, such that the emerging fluid jet extends at an angle to the longitudinal central axis A. The angle is preferably approximately 45°. The hollow interior of the porous body 5 is preferably so dimensioned that the fluid jet does not strike an inner wall of the body. A suction system may be present. In other embodiments, no suction system is present. Moreover, the porous body can, as shown, have one or more axial and/or radial suction channels. In other embodiments, it has no suction channels. Otherwise, the features described for the other embodiments can also be used in an angled arrangement of the fluid jet. In particular, the porous bodies described above with their shapes and suction channels can also be used in this embodiment. In this example, only a single suction channel 21 is present in the handpiece 2 and opens into the annular distributor channel 22. However, it is also possible here for several suction channels 21 to be arranged in the handpiece 2.

(41) The handpiece according to the invention combines the advantages of cleansing by a fluid jet with the advantages of mechanical cleansing and, at the same time, provides effective protection against aerosols.