Abstract
Device (10) for spraying or applying of media by means of compressed air, in particular at insides or inner sides of medical products or vessels, with a two-substance nozzle (1) formed from at least two cannulas (2, 3) inserted one in the other with substantially constant diameter along their longitudinal extension, with a nozzle body (4) formed as a holding means for the two-substance nozzle (1), which has at least in each case an inlet for the medium (11) and for the compressed air (12), wherein at the nozzle body (4), clamping inserts (5, 6) respectively adapted in shape to receiving means (7, 8) are arranged for a sealingly holding and fixedly holding of an inner cannula (2) for media and of an outer cannula (3) for compressed air in the form of hollow needles, which are provided in the correspondingly shaped receiving means (7, 8) for attaching the cannulas (2, 3) inserted one in the other with the formation of a predefined gap (14) between inner cannula (2) and outer cannula (3).
Claims
1. A device for spraying or applying a medium using an auxiliary gas in the form of compressed air or inert gas under pressure, in particular at insides of medical products or vessels, the device comprising: a two-substance nozzle formed from at least two cannulas inserted one in the other, with substantially constant diameter along their longitudinal extension; a nozzle body formed as a holding means for the two-substance nozzle, which has at least in each case an inlet for the medium and for the auxiliary gas; and clamping inserts at the nozzle body, the clamping inserts adapted to receiving means are arranged for a sealingly holding and fixedly holding of an inner cannula and of an outer cannula, wherein the clamping inserts are provided for attaching the cannulas inserted one in the other with the formation of a predefined gap between inner cannula and outer cannula.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping inserts have a conically tapered shape and the nozzle body has correspondingly conically shaped receiving means.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cannulas inserted one in the other are relatively thin-walled hollow needles with a wall thickness of 20% to 30% of the inner diameter of the cannulas.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the gap or ring gap for compressed air or inert gas between the inner cannula and the outer cannula has a dimension of less than 10%, preferably 6%, of the diameter of the inner cannula.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the clamping inserts is fixedly held by means of a clamp cap, in particular threadingly clamp cap, at the nozzle body.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inner cannula and the outer cannula are arranged at the front-end discharge end aligned or flush with one another.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the relative position of front-end discharge ends of the inner cannula and the outer cannula is adjustable.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein a hollow space is provided in the nozzle body for supplying compressed air or inert gas into the two-substance nozzle.
9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cannulas are provided as hollow needles, wherein the hollow needles of the cannulas are thin-walled in the range of wall thicknesses between 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.
10. The device according to claim 1, wherein at the nozzle body in relation to the longitudinal direction of the cannulas a laterally arranged connection for compressed air is provided.
11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the clamp cap on the side of the cannulas is outside conically tapered.
12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping inserts are adapted for centering the cannulas of the two-substance nozzle in relation to a middle axis of the nozzle body.
13. The device according to claim 1, wherein a displacement unit is provided at least one of the inner cannula and the outer cannula, for displacement of the relative position between the cannulas.
14. The device according to claim 1, wherein by means of a holding cap with a displacement element which is displaceable in longitudinal direction of a middle axis, at least one of the clamping inserts is fixedly held at the nozzle body such that the relative position between the cannulas is changeable.
15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping inserts in the receiving means are centered and sealingly fixedly held by means of holding caps, which are held at the nozzle body by a resilient spring, a bayonet lock or a latching snap-lock.
16. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the cannulas is held fixedly connected at the clamping inserts by means of an end-side holding means, in particular by a flanging, crimping or bonding.
17. The device according to claim 1, wherein an air guide element or flow directing element for the compressed air or an inert gas under pressure is provided in the nozzle body.
18. The device according to claim 1, wherein a first receiving means or clamping insert has an opening or bore, the diameter of which corresponds at least section-wise to an outer diameter of the outer cannula, wherein a second receiving means or clamping insert has an opening or bore, the diameter of which is different from the diameter of the first receiving means and corresponds at least section-wise to an outer diameter of the inner cannula, and wherein the bores are arranged in particular concentrically in relation to a common middle axis.
19. A device for spraying or applying fluid media in the form of compressed air supply or by means of pressurized gas, in particular at insides of medical products or vessels, the device comprising: a two-substance nozzle formed from at least two cannulas inserted one in the other with substantially constant diameter along their longitudinal extension; a nozzle body formed as a holding means for the two-substance nozzle, which has in each case at least an inlet for the medium and for compressed air or an inert gas; and clamping inserts at the nozzle body, the clamping inserts respectively adapted in shape to receiving means are provided for a sealingly fixedly holding of an inner cannula for media and of an outer cannula for compressed air in the form of hollow needles, which are provided for attaching the cannulas inserted one in the other with the formation of a predefined gap between inner cannula and outer cannula in the correspondingly-shaped receiving means.
Description
[0028] Further features, aspects and advantage embodiments of the invention are described in more detail in the following by means of different embodiments of the invention with regard to the attached drawings and the Figures included therein, wherein
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention with a detailed view in a front view according to FIG. 1a;
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention for the spraying of media in a case of application at a medical vessel for illustrating the way of functioning of the two-substance nozzle with hollow needles inserted one in the other;
[0031] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the device according to the invention in the area of the nozzle body with clamping inserts for the inner cannula and the outer cannula and connections for compressed air supply and medium supply;
[0032] FIG. 4 shows a plurality of views of the sequence of the method for the applying of media with the embodiment according to the invention of a device with two-substance nozzle according to FIGS. 1 to 3 at an example of a medical vessel with the steps A) to E);
[0033] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention with displacement unit for the displacement of the relative position between inner cannula and outer cannula;
[0034] FIG. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a device according to the invention with a latching snap-lock for the fixedly holding of the holding caps for the clamping inserts of the cannulas;
[0035] FIG. 7 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a device according to the invention with a flow directing element for compressed air or pressurized gas; and
[0036] FIG. 8 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of a device according to the invention with a holding means provided as a flange at the outer cannula.
[0037] In FIG. 1 and the emphasized part thereof in enlarged detailed view in FIG. 1a, a first embodiment of a device 10 according to the invention for spraying or applying of fluid media on surfaces using compressed air with a two-substance nozzle 1 is shown in a cross-sectional view, wherein in FIG. 1a the front discharge end is represented enlarged in a plan view for illustrating the two-substance nozzle 1 formed from cannulas 2, 3 inserted one in the other with a ring gap 14. The device 10 in this embodiment comprises a central nozzle body 4, which together with the cannulas 2, 3 substantially forms the two-substance nozzle 1. The cannulas 2, 3 formed as thin-walled hollow needles, namely the inner cannula 2 and the outer cannula 3, are fixedly held at the nozzle body 4 in clamping inserts 5 provided for this purpose. The outer cannula 3 is inserted at the left end in FIG. 1 with the clamping insert 5 in a correspondingly formed receiving means 7 of the nozzle body 4, and sealingly and centered fixedly held there. For this, clamp caps 13 are respectively provided at the clamping inserts 5, 6 for the two hollow needles 2, 3, which are fixedly held at the nozzle body by threaded connection and thereby fixedly and sealingly hold the clamping inserts 5, 6 in the respective receiving means 7, 8.
[0038] The inner construction of the two-substance nozzle 1 of the device 10 is also shown again in an enlarged view of this embodiment in FIG. 3. A connection 12 for compressed air is provided at the nozzle body 4 laterally, that is, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the two-substance nozzle 1. At the inlet 12 for compressed air, a compressed-air-fitting in this embodiment is threadedly engaged in the nozzle body 4, which is periodically supplied in a controlled manner with compressed air by means of a pressurized air supply (not shown in detail). The front end of the compressed air inlet 12 leads into an inner hollow space 15 in the nozzle body 4, from which the compressed air flows on into the ring gap 14 between the inner cannula 2 and the outer cannula 3. At the rearward end of the two-substance nozzle 1 (on the right in FIG. 1), a threaded connection at an inlet 11 for media is shown. By means of this media connection 11, a fluid medium, for example a medical product like Heparin or the like, is introduced into the two-substance nozzle. The media supplied by means of a dosing pump (not shown) are supplied in this way to the two-substance nozzle 1 of the device 10 and, together with the compressed air, guided on out of the hollow space 15 in the inside area of the nozzle body 4 into the hollow needles 2, 3. The compressed air discharged at the front discharge end then mixes with the fluid media from the inner cannula 2, so that an exact and well-dosed application of the media is obtained on surfaces in, for example, a medical vessel 20.
[0039] This process is illustrated again in FIG. 2 in cooperation with an applying of media in a medical vessel 20 for elucidating the invention. The air and media emerging at the front discharge end of the inner cannula 2 and outer cannula 3 are redirected by 180 at the bottom of the vessel 20 and the finely vaporized droplets are evenly applied at the inside of the vessel. The discharged amount, which can be correspondingly adjusted by a dosing pump and control, is therefore distributed at the inner surfaces of the vessel 20, and the compressed air flows up and out again of the upper opening of the vessel 20. With a simultaneous moving of the device 10 with the two-substance nozzle 1 out of the inside area of the vessel 20 (cf. FIG. 4), therefore, an exact application of a predefined amount of spray at media at specific areas of inner surfaces of medical products is guaranteed in this way.
[0040] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention with two-substance nozzle 1 in a case of application for applying a fluid medical product on the inner surface of the vessel 20 in the case of application for illustrating the way of functioning and the advantages of the invention. As can clearly be seen in FIG. 2, the two-substance nozzle, moved deep into the inside of the narrow vessel 20, with the narrow inner cannula 2 and the narrow outer cannula 3 is suitable for obtaining an application and spraying of fluid media at the inner surfaces of the vessel 20 even in inner areas with narrow inner diameter. Due to the compressed air emerging through the ring gap 14 (cf. FIG. 1a) together with the media applied by means of a dosing pump from the flow passage of the inner cannula 2 a flow is caused downward and laterally upward along the inner walls of the vessel 20. Hereby, an advantageous effect according to the invention comes about: the relatively thin-walled inner cannula 2 and relatively thin-walled outer cannula 3, which have wall thicknesses in the range of, for example, 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, are thereby automatically in each case mutually centered by the flows of air and media. This allows an exact application and spraying of well-dosed amounts of an active ingredient or medium, which can be for example a medical product like Heparin, BCA (Blood Clotting Accelerant) or EDTA (Ethylene diamine tetra acetate).
[0041] For this, the device 10 according to this embodiment in FIG. 2 has a nozzle body 4 with a central hollow space 15 for the compressed air, which flows out into the ring gap 14 between inner cannula 2 and outer cannula 3. The dimension of the ring gap 14 can be easily varied by simple exchanging of the cannulas 2, 3 with other diameters. The outer cannula 3 is held in a clamping insert 5 in the nozzle 4 by means of a clamp cap 13, wherein a secure sealing, centering and fixing of the location of the inner cannula 2 in relation to the outer cannula 3 is thereby automatically obtained. By means of such a form-fitting and force-fitting fixedly connecting of the conic shape between receiving means 7 at the nozzle body 4 and clamping insert 5, for one thing a sufficient sealing and, for another, a fixedly holding of the cannulas 2, 3 with predetermined ring gap 14 is obtained. An emerging of compressed air or fluid media is thus securely prevented.
[0042] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention with two-substance nozzle 1 in the area of the nozzle body 4. There, the inner construction is more exactly recognizable, with two cannulas inserted one in the other 2, 3 of the nozzle body 1, which are fixedly held by means of respective clamping inserts 5, 6 at the nozzle body 4. The clamping inserts 5, 6 are preferably realized from a plastic material, so that they allow a force-fitting holding of the cannulas 2, 3 (hollow needles) and a secure sealing at the, for example, metallic nozzle body 4. The ring gap 14 hereby forms automatically between the hollow space supplied with compressed air and the front discharge end of the two-substance nozzle 1. The inlet 12 for compressed air is provided with a threaded connection-fitting, at which a compressed air hose (not shown) supplied with compressed air is connected. At the rearward end of the two-substance nozzle 1 (on the right in FIG. 3), there is a threaded fitting for the connection of a media supply in the form of a hose or the like at the inlet 11 for media, which is connected to a controllable dosing pump and control (not shown in FIG. 3). The clamping insert 5 in the first receiving means 7 has a bore or opening x1 with a first diameter d1, which corresponds at least section-wise to an outer diameter of the outer cannula 3. The other clamping insert 6 in the second receiving means 8 has an opening or bore x2 having a diameter different therefrom, the diameter d2 of which corresponds at least section-wise to the outer diameter of the inner cannula 2. Both bores x1, x2 are concentric to a common middle axis X.
[0043] By means of the method and movement of the two-substance nozzle 1 out of the inner area of the vessel 20, the supply of the media together with the supply of compressed air is controlled such that the flows are produced corresponding to the flow arrows of FIG. 2. Because of the narrow constructional shape of the cannulas 2, 3, there is enough space for the outflowing compressed air, so that no damaging high flow speeds are produced. The discharged media are hereby mixed with the compressed air at the discharge end and vaporized and applied with defined small droplets in the order of magnitude of 0.5 mm. A very exact dosing of the discharged media to be applied in the vessel 20 can thereby be obtained. In this way, the exactly adjustable spraying area in axial and radial direction is given, with very even distribution. The amounts of the sprayed-out media are for example in a variable range of 5 to 60 l. The clamping insert 5 for the outer cannula 3 in the form of a thin-walled hollow needle and also the clamping insert 6 for the inner cannula 2 for the media, are securely fixedly held in the receiving means 7, 8 and thereby exactly fixedly held at a centralized position and location with sealing effect in the nozzle body 4. With the preferably threaded clamp caps 13, the clamping inserts 5, 6 are threadedly fixedly connected at the nozzle body, wherein thereby an effective sealing is obtained. Nevertheless, the components can be quickly disassembled again, for example for purposes of cleaning or exchanging with cannulas 2, 3 having another diameter or length.
[0044] In FIG. 4, different sequential steps A, B, C, D and E of a case of application of an embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention are shown, with two-substance nozzle 1 for the spraying of media at an inner area of medical vessels 20 in the manner of small tubes provided with a bottom. The discharge end of the two-substance nozzle 1 of the device 10 is moved into the inner space of the vessel 20 (Step A). After the moving-in and the adjusting of the starting point for the spraying of the media in the inner area of the vessel 20 (Step B), the two-substance nozzle 1 of the device 10 is gradually moved back out of the inner space of the vessel 20 simultaneously with an activating of the dosing pump for the media and of the compressed air supply for the compressed air connection 11 (cf. Step C).
[0045] In this way, due to the relatively narrow ring gap 14 of the two cannulas 2, 3, the compressed air is sprayed out and distributed with the media out of the inner area of the inner cannula 2 and applied exactly dosed onto the inner area of the vessel 20 and corresponding to the displacement movement of the device 10 (cf. steps C and D) sprayed in exactly predefined amounts according to requirement. Thereby, the spraying amount and the dimension of the fluids vaporized in droplets are very exactly adjustable and allow an optimized application of active ingredients of medical products 20 in relation to the prior art. Shortly before or after the moving-out of the device from the inner area of the vessel 20 (Step E), the dosing pump for the media is switched off and the compressed air supply is ended.
[0046] In the second embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention shown in FIG. 5 in a cross-sectional view, basically a similar construction is provided as in the first embodiment described above. Additionally, a displacement unit 16 is provided at the right-hand end in FIG. 5 for displacing the inner cannula 2 in relation to the outer cannula 3. For this, the clamping insert 6 of the inner cannula 2, which correspondingly-shaped is inserted into the conically expanded receiving means 8 at the nozzle body 4, is not clampingly held by means of a clamp cap 13, but rather by means of a kind of holding cap 17, which allows a relative displacement of the inserted displacement element 9 of the displacement unit 16, as illustrated by the arrow R in FIG. 5. The inlet 11 for the medium is realized in the inside of the displacement element 9 of the displacement unit 16. The inner cannula 2 is fixedly held at a U-shaped insert which is threadedly inserted in the holding cap 17, and together with this insert it can be correspondingly displaced by means of a servo-motor, a linear actuator or the like in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis X of the device 10 as required. Thus, the relative position between the inner cannula 2 and the outer cannula 3 can be changed according to requirement and for different purposes, for example also for the fine adjusting of the spray cone. For example, in this way also different spraying profiles can be realized at the discharge end (left-hand side in FIG. 5) of the cannulas 2, 3, in that the ring gap 14 is not adjusted by cannulas 2, 3 closing aligned, but by cannulas 2, 3 slightly displaced in relation to one another. Also, for example, cleaning functions of the device 10 can be realized in this way: in the case of crusting of the front discharge end at the ring gap 14 the cannulas 2, 3 can be displaced relative to one another by means of the displacement unit 16, so that the crusted elements break off or detach themselves. Also other functions, like for example a specific dosing of medium without supply of compressed air, can be realized in this way, by displacing the inner cannular 2 forwards in relation to the outer cannula 3 and stopping the supply of compressed air by means of the inlet 12 at least for a short time. With such an embodiment, not only can different spraying profiles and further functions be realized with the device 10 without complex additional constructions, as they are described, but also, better possibilities for adaptation to the respective dimensions, shapes and givens of the medical vessels to be processed are possible in this way.
[0047] FIG. 6 in turn shows a partial cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a device according to the invention with an alternative form of the fixedly holding of the holding caps 18 at the nozzle body 4. In this embodiment, instead of a threaded connection for fixedly holding the clamp caps 13, which is partly shown in the previous embodiments, the holding cap 18 is realized with a latching snap-lock 19, which is obtained by means of correspondingly shaped recesses and protrusions and a determined resilience in the material of the holding cap 18. By simple mounting and clipping-on of the holding cap 18 in this way the clamping insert 5 for the outer cannula 3 is fixedly held in the corresponding conical receiving means 7. With the latching snap-lock 19, a kind of pre-tension and clamping power is produced, which guarantees a secure sealing and fixedly holding of the outer cannula 3 at the nozzle body 4. An analog, corresponding kind of fixedly holding of the inner cannula can likewise be provided at the opposite, other end (not shown in FIG. 6) of the nozzle body 4. Instead of the latching snap-locks 19 represented here, other shapes of holders or holding means can also be provided for the fixedly holding of the holding caps 17, 18 or clamp caps 13. For example, instead of the threaded connections like in the first embodiment bayonet connections or spring elements can also be used, in order to guarantee the necessary clamping power and holding effect of the caps 13, 17, 18 at the nozzle body for fixedly holding the clamping inserts 5, 6. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, furthermore, as explained further below, a flanging 3.1 is provided at the rearward (inner) end of the outer cannula 3, which guarantees a fixedly holding and sliding-out of the outer cannula 3 out of the clamping insert 5. A flow directing body 21 is additionally shown in this embodiment of FIG. 6, which is mounted for aligning and harmonizing the flow speed of the compressed air for the guiding into the ring gap 14 in the hollow space 15, as is explained further below.
[0048] A fourth embodiment of a device 10 according to the invention for spraying fluid media is shown in FIG. 7 in a partial cross-sectional view. In this fourth embodiment, in the inside of the hollow space 15 of the nozzle body 4 between the inlet 12 for compressed air or pressurized gas and the inlet into the ring gap 14 at the rearward end of the outer cannula 3, a flow directing body 21 is inserted. The flow directing body 21 in this embodiment has a kind of double sleeve shape with constant cross-section. The inflowing compressed air from the inlet 12 is in this way evenly distributed and guided directed toward the ring gap, so that the most even possible compressed air production is guaranteed at the inlet of the ring gap 14 and thus all the way to the front discharge end of the cannulas 2, 3. The compressed air flows through the flow directing body 21 with the cross-section narrowed in relation to the hollow space 15, and in this way is evenly distributed and guided around the ring gap 14 exactly to the inlet between inner cannula 2 and outer cannula 3. This further improves the flow behavior and the compressed air effect in the device 10 according to the invention. Also, in this way the self-centering effect is even further improved by the narrow shape of the ring gap 14 and the relatively thin-walled inner cannulas 2 and outer cannulas 3. The cannulas 2, 3 center themselves in use due to the introduced compressed air in relation to one another and in relation to an inner space of a medical vessel 20 to be treated (cf. FIG. 2 and FIG. 4). In this example of FIG. 7, here too the outer cannula 3 is fixedly held by means of a flanging 3.1 at the rearward end behind the clamping insert 5 in the inside of the nozzle body 4. The fixedly holding of the outer cannula 3 can also have another form, for example a clamp fitting or a bonding in the bore of the clamping insert 5. The different aspects of the represented embodiments of the invention can thus as illustrated also be combined with one another so that corresponding to the requirements and the specific intended functionalities in each case, the device 10 can be variably adapted thereto.
[0049] In FIG. 8 in turn a fifth embodiment of a device 10 according to the invention for spraying or applying fluid media is shown. In this embodiment, the outer cannula 3 is fixedly held in the inside of the nozzle body, namely at the rearward end of the clamping insert 5, by means of a flanging 3.1 as a holding means. A displacement of the outer cannula 3 is securely prevented, even with high pressures on the side of the compressed air from the inlet 12. The fixedly holding of the outer cannula 3 or alternatively of the inner cannula 2 can also be realized by other means as holding means: a crimping or a bonding inside of the respective clamping inserts 5,6 is likewise thinkable. In the embodiment of the device 10 by means of which a displacement possibility of at least one of the cannulas 2, 3 is obtained, the fixedly holding of the cannulas 2, 3 is selected such that a relative displacement of the position is made possible specifically with a threaded or sliding mechanism by means of a servo-motor or the like. Thereby, the sealing off is possible in an element, also in a separate element, to the clamping inserts 5, 6, in which then the fixedly holding for producing the displacement possibility takes place.
[0050] The shown different aspects of the invention can also be combined with one another, as is partly already shown by means of the variants of the shown embodiments in connection with the drawings. In particular, the kind and the form of the fixedly holding of the inner cannula 2 and the outer cannula 3 can vary. For this, holding caps 17, 18 and also clamp caps 13 can be used. Also, the basic construction of the nozzle body 4 can be formed either symmetric, as partly shown in the Figures of the embodiments. Also an asymmetric shape of nozzle bodies 4 and of the device 10 altogether is thinkable, for example when a protruding holding flange is required on one side for the mounting at adjacent components. Also, in alternative embodiments of the invention the shape of the clamping inserts 5, 6 can be provided other than with the linear conical shape in the way of a truncated cone, as long as the outer cannula 3 and the inner cannula 2 are fixedly held and mounted in the inside of the nozzle body 4 for producing a defined and securely fixedly held ring gap 14.
[0051] As a pressure means for the manufacturing of the vaporization, partly, compressed air is described. Other types of pressurized gases or auxiliary gases can also be used in the scope of the invention. For example, in determined cases of application an inert gas can be used in order to cause an as small as possible reaction with the environment by the pressurized gas. Thus, for example CO.sub.2 can be used in order to obtain an O.sub.2-reactively-poor environment in the spraying environment of the device 10, which is important in determined medical cases of application.
