Device For Clamping A Hose Line, Medical Treatment Device With A Device For Clamping A Hose Line, And Method For Monitoring A Device For Clamping A Hose Line

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for clamping a hose line, comprising a clamping body 19, an electromagnetic actuation unit 20 for the clamping body and a monitoring device 23 which monitors the position of the clamping body, the actuation unit 20 comprising a coil 21 for generating a magnetic field. The invention also relates to a medical treatment apparatus, in particular an apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment, comprising an apparatus 14 for clamping a hose line, and to a method for monitoring an apparatus for clamping a hose line. The monitoring device 23 has a measurement device 24 for measuring an electrical property of the coil 21 that is dependent on the position of the clamping body 19, and an evaluation device 25 for determining the position of the clamping body 19 on the basis of the electrical property of the coil. Given that only one electrical property of the coil 21 is monitored, an additional mechanical component is not required for monitoring. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inductance L of the coil 21 is an electrical property that is dependent on the position of the clamping body 19. A measurement device 25 is provided in order to measure the inductance L of the coil.

Claims

1. Apparatus for clamping a hose line which is inserted into the apparatus, comprising a clamping body which can be moved into a position in which it clamps the hose line and into a position in which it releases the hose line, an electromagnetic actuation unit for the clamping body, comprising a coil for generating a magnetic field which exerts a force on the clamping body such that said clamping body is movable, and a monitoring device which monitors the position of the clamping body, wherein the monitoring device comprises a measurement device for measuring an electrical property of the coil that is dependent on the position of the clamping body, and an evaluation device for determining the position of the clamping body on the basis of the electrical property of the coil.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clamping body is designed as an axially movable anchor, and the coil is a hollow coil which the clamping body penetrates.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clamping body is resiliently biased into a position in which it clamps the hose line.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrical property of the coil that is dependent on the position of the clamping body is the inductance L of the coil, and the measurement device is a measurement device for measuring the inductance L of the coil.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises an evaluation device which comprises a comparison device which is designed such that the electrical property of the coil is compared with at least one specified threshold value, the evaluation device being designed such that, when the electrical property exceeds or falls below the at least one threshold value, a conclusion is made regarding the position assumed by the clamping body.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the comparison device is designed such that, if the electrical property of the coil is below a first upper threshold value and/or above a first lower threshold value, it is concluded that a first position has been assumed in which the clamping body assumes a completely open position in which a hose line can be inserted into the apparatus for clamping the hose line.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the comparison device is designed such that, if the electrical property of the coil is below a second upper threshold value and/or above a second lower threshold value, it is concluded that a second position has been assumed in which the clamping body assumes a position in which a hose line inserted into the apparatus for clamping a hose line is clamped.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the comparison device is designed such that, if the electrical property of the coil is below a third upper threshold value and/or above a third lower threshold value, it is concluded that a third position has been assumed in which the clamping body assumes a completely closed position in which a hose line is not inserted into the apparatus for clamping a hose line.

9. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the measurement device comprises a voltage source for generating a test voltage which is applied to the coil such that a current flows through the coil, and a voltmeter which measures the change over time in the voltage which drops across the coil, the evaluation device being designed such that the profile over time of the voltage drop across the coil is evaluated.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the comparison device is designed such that the decrease in voltage in a specified time period t is compared with at least one threshold value.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises a display device which is designed such that the position assumed by the clamping body is displayed.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises an alarm device which is designed such that an alarm is emitted if the clamping body assumes a particular position.

13. Medical treatment apparatus comprising an apparatus according to claim 1 for clamping a hose line.

14. Method for monitoring an apparatus for clamping a hose line, which apparatus comprises a clamping body, which can be moved into a position in which it clamps the hose line and into a position in which it releases the hose line, and an electromagnetic actuation unit for the clamping body, which actuation unit comprises a coil for generating a magnetic field which exerts a force on the clamping body such that the clamping body moves, wherein an electrical property of the coil that is dependent on the position of the clamping body is measured and a conclusion is made regarding the position of the clamping body on the basis of the electrical property of the coil.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the electrical property of the coil that is dependent on the position of the clamping body is the inductance L of the coil.

16. Method according to claim 14, wherein the electrical property of the coil is compared with at least one specified threshold value, a conclusion being made regarding the position assumed by the clamping body, when the electrical property exceeds or falls below the at least one threshold value.

17. Method according to claim 14, wherein, if the electrical property of the coil is below a first upper threshold value and/or above a first lower threshold value, it is concluded that a first position has been assumed in which the clamping body assumes a completely open position in which a hose line can be inserted into the apparatus for clamping the hose line, and/or, if the electrical property of the coil is below a second upper threshold value and/or above a second lower threshold value, it is concluded that a second position has been assumed in which the clamping body assumes a position in which a hose line inserted into the apparatus for clamping the valve body is clamped, and/or, if the electrical property of the coil is below a third upper threshold value and/or above a third lower threshold value, it is concluded that a third position has been assumed in which the clamping body assumes a completely closed position in which a hose line is not inserted into the apparatus for clamping the valve body.

18. Method according to claim 14, wherein a test voltage is applied to the coil such that a current flows through the coil and the change over time in the voltage which drops across the coil is measured, the profile over time of the voltage drop across the coil being evaluated.

19. Medical treatment apparatus that is for extracorporeal blood treatment, comprising an apparatus according to claim 1 for clamping a hose line that is the venous hose line of the extracorporeal blood circuit.

Description

[0033] An embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings,

[0034] in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic view of an apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment according to the invention that has an apparatus for clamping a hose line according to the invention,

[0036] FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic view of the apparatus for clamping a hose line according to the invention,

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a circuit for determining the inductance of the coil of the actuation unit for the clamping body of the apparatus for clamping a hose line,

[0038] FIGS. 4A and 4B show the profile over time of the test voltage and the voltage drop across the coil for various inductance values,

[0039] FIGS. 5A and 5B show the profile over time of the test voltage and the voltage drop across the coil in a time period during which the test voltage has dropped to a specified threshold value,

[0040] FIG. 6 shows the apparatus for clamping a hose line in a first operating state and the associated profile over time of the voltage drop measured across the coil,

[0041] FIG. 7 shows the apparatus for clamping a hose line in a second operating state and the associated profile over time of the voltage drop, and

[0042] FIG. 8 shows the apparatus for clamping a hose line in a third operating state and the associated profile over time of the voltage drop measured across the coil.

[0043] In the present embodiment, the medical treatment apparatus is an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus, in particular a haemodialysis apparatus, which has an extracorporeal blood circuit I comprising a dialyser 1 which is divided into a blood chamber 3 and a dialysate chamber 4 by a semi-permeable membrane 2. An arterial blood line 5, in which a blood pump 7 is arranged, leads from a patient to an inlet of the blood chamber 3, whilst a venous blood line 6 leads from an outlet of the blood chamber to the patient. The arterial and venous blood lines 5, 6 are flexible hose lines of a hose set intended for single use (disposable).

[0044] The fresh dialysate is provided in a dialysate source 10. A dialysate supply line 8 leads from the dialysate source 10 to an inlet of the dialysate chamber 4 of the dialyser 1, whilst a dialysate discharge line 9 leads from an outlet of the dialysate chamber 4 to a drain 12. A dialysate pump 30 is arranged in the dialysate discharge line 9.

[0045] The individual components of the blood treatment apparatus are controlled by means of a central control and arithmetic unit 13.

[0046] An apparatus 14 (shown only schematically in FIG. 1) for clamping the venous hose line 6 is provided in order to interrupt the blood flow to the patient. When the blood treatment apparatus is being set up, the venous hose line 6 is inserted into the apparatus 14 for clamping the hose line. The apparatus 14 for clamping the hose line is described in more detail below.

[0047] FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic view of the apparatus 14 for clamping the hose line. The apparatus comprises a housing body 15 which may be a component of the housing 15A of the blood treatment apparatus. The housing body 15 comprises a receiving portion 16 for the hose line 6, comprising a bearing surface 17 on which the hose line inserted into the apparatus rests. The hose line 6 is between an abutment surface 18 of the housing body 15 and a clamping body 19 which is guided in the housing body 15 so as to be axially movable. The clamping body 19 is actuated by an electromagnetic actuation unit 20 which is designed as a linear magnet (solenoid) which comprises a cylindrical hollow coil 21. The clamping body 19 is designed as an anchor which penetrates the cylindrical hollow coil 21 of the linear magnet and is resiliently biased towards the abutment surface 18 by a compression spring 22. When a current flows through the hollow coil 21, a magnetic field is generated which pulls the clamping body 19 back into the hollow coil 21 counter to the spring force. The electromagnetic actuation unit 20 is controlled by the central control and arithmetic unit 13.

[0048] Moreover, the apparatus 14 for clamping the hose line has a monitoring device 23 which comprises a measurement device 24 and an evaluation device 25. Measurement device 24 and evaluation device 25 are only shown schematically in FIG. 2. In the present embodiment, the measurement device 24 is designed as a measurement device for measuring the inductance of the coil.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a circuit illustrating the function of the measurement device 24. The coil 21 is represented in the circuit by an equivalent circuit diagram. The coil 21 has an ohmic resistor R.sub.L and an inductance L that is dependent on the penetration depth d of the clamping body 19 in the coil.

[0050] The monitoring device 23, in particular the evaluation device 25 thereof, can have, for example, a general processor, a digital signal processor (DSP) for continuously processing digital signals, a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an integrated circuit consisting of logic elements (FPGA) or other integrated circuits (IC) or hardware components, in order to perform the individual method steps for controlling the monitoring device. A data processing program (software) can run on the hardware components in order to carry out the method steps.

[0051] The monitoring device 23 may form an independent assembly, the measurement device 24 and evaluation device 25 being independent of the rest of the components of the blood treatment apparatus. The monitoring device 23 or parts of the monitoring device can however also be component parts of the components of the blood treatment apparatus. For example, the evaluation device 25 may be a component of the central control and arithmetic unit 13 of the blood treatment apparatus.

[0052] The measurement device 24 comprises a voltage source 26 for generating a test voltage U.sub.Test=U.sub.0 and a voltmeter 27 for measuring the voltage U across the coil. The test voltage U.sub.Test is applied to a series circuit consisting of a series resistor R.sub.S and the coil 21. As a result, a current flows through the coil 21, and therefore a magnetic field is generated. The level of the test voltage U.sub.Test is such that the clamping body 19 is not moved during the test. The voltage U is measured across the coil 21 using the voltmeter 27, which voltage is evaluated by the evaluation device 25.

[0053] FIGS. 4A and 4B show the test voltage U.sub.Test=U.sub.0 as a function of time t and the voltage U across the coil 21, respectively. The voltage drops from a value U.sub.1 to a value U.sub.2. An exponential decrease in the voltage U is shown, the time constant being dependent on the inductance L of the coil. The higher the inductance L, the lower the amount by which the voltage U drops from the value U.sub.1 in a specified time period. FIGS. 5A and 5B show the profile over time of the voltage U for the test voltage U.sub.Test=U.sub.0. The time period t during which the voltage has dropped to the threshold value U.sub.S is dependent on the inductance L of the coil 21. The longer the time period t, the higher the inductance L.

[0054] The evaluation device 25 comprises a comparison device 26 which compares the measured voltage U with a plurality of threshold values which, in the present embodiment, define three threshold value ranges. The threshold values are read out from a memory 27 of the evaluation device 25.

[0055] The comparison device 26 is configured such that it can be concluded that a first operating state has been adopted, in which the clamping body 19 assumes a completely open position (FIG. 6). In this position, the hose line 6 can be inserted into the apparatus 14 for clamping said hose line. This requires the clamping body 19 to be manually pushed back into the spring 22 counter to the spring force. In this position, the penetration depth is d=d.sub.1. At penetration depth d.sub.1, the inductance is L=L.sub.1. There is a time period, t.sub.1, during which the voltage has dropped to the threshold value U.sub.S, and this is a measure for the inductance L. The evaluation device 25 checks whether t.sub.1 is within a first threshold value range defined by a first upper threshold value and a first lower threshold value. If t.sub.1 is within the first threshold value range, it is concluded that the first operating state has been adopted.

[0056] The comparison device 26 is also configured such that it can be concluded that a second operating state has been adopted, in which the clamping body 19 assumes a position in which a hose line 6 inserted into the apparatus 14 for clamping a hose line is clamped (FIG. 7). In this position, the penetration depth is d=d.sub.2 (d.sub.2<d.sub.1). At penetration depth d.sub.2, the inductance is L=L.sub.2. There is a time period, t.sub.2, during which the voltage has dropped to the threshold value U.sub.S, and this is a measure for the inductance L. The evaluation device 25 checks whether t.sub.2 is within a second threshold value range defined by a second upper threshold value and a second lower threshold value. If t.sub.2 is within the second threshold value range, it is concluded that the second operating state has been adopted.

[0057] The comparison device 26 is also configured such that it can be concluded that a third operating state has been adopted in which the clamping body 19 assumes a completely closed position in which a hose line 6 is not inserted into the apparatus 14 for clamping a hose line (FIG. 8). In this position, the penetration depth is d=d.sub.3 (d.sub.3<d.sub.2). At penetration depth d.sub.3, the inductance is L=L.sub.3. There is a time period, t.sub.3, during which the voltage has dropped to the threshold value U.sub.S, and this is a measure for the inductance L. The evaluation device 25 checks whether t.sub.3 is within a third threshold value range defined by a third upper threshold value and a third lower threshold value. If t.sub.2 is within the third threshold value range, it is concluded that the third operating state has been adopted.

[0058] In the present embodiment, threshold value ranges are defined, it being checked whether the time period t is within or outside the threshold value range. In order to detect the different operating states, it is however also possible to compare the time period t with just one upper threshold value and one lower threshold value. If the time period t is above the upper threshold value, it is concluded that the first operating state (FIG. 6) has been adopted, whereas it is concluded that the third operating state (FIG. 8) has been adopted if the time period t is below the lower threshold value. If the time period t is between the upper and lower threshold values, it is concluded that the second operating state (FIG. 7) has been adopted.

[0059] On the basis of the detected operating state, the evaluation device 25 generates a signal assigned to the relevant operating state. The signals from the evaluation device 25 are received by a display device 28, by means of which the relevant operating state is displayed, for example on a screen by means of a corresponding symbol. Furthermore, the signals can be received by an alarm device 29 which emits an acoustic and/or visual and/or tactile alarm when a particular operating state has been adopted. For example, an alarm may be emitted if the hose line 6 is not inserted into the apparatus at the start of the blood treatment, i.e. if the first or third operating state is detected. The signals can also be received by the central control and arithmetic unit 13 of the blood treatment apparatus, which unit generates control signals according to the operating state. For example, the control and arithmetic unit 13 can be configured such that a control signal is generated for intervention in the machine control if the control and arithmetic unit receives the signal for the second operating state (FIG. 7). For example, the control and arithmetic unit 13 can only enable the blood treatment once the signal for the second operating state (FIG. 7) has been received, i.e. it cannot enable the blood treatment if the signal for the first or third operating state (FIGS. 6 and 8) is received.