Cannula

Abstract

The present application relates to a cannula, comprising a cannula body with a cannula tube and a body part attached to the proximal end of the cannula tube, a control clip having a mounting body with at least one control element, said control clip being attachable laterally on the body part to form a first configuration. In addition, the present applications relates to a cannula body, a contact clip and a control clip of a cannula.

Claims

1. A cannula, comprising: a cannula body having a cannula tube with a proximal end and a distal end; a body part attached to the proximal end of the cannula tube; a control clip having a mounting body with a control element, wherein the control clip is attachable laterally to the body part to form a first configuration; a contact clip with a mounting part having an electrical contact, wherein the contact clip is attachable to a side of the body part to form a second configuration wherein the control clip is located over the contact clip; and wherein the electrical contact in the second configuration establishes an electrical connection between a stimulation cable and the cannula tube.

2. The cannula according to claim 1, wherein the mounting part of the contact clip has a pair of resilient latching arms that embrace the body part for establishing a latching connection in the second configuration.

3. The cannula according to claim 1, wherein the electrical contact engages a recess of the body part and electrically contacts the cannula tube in the second configuration.

4. The cannula according to claim 3, wherein the electrical contact has a spring tab which rests on the cannula tube in the recess of the body part.

5. The cannula according to claim 1, wherein the electrical contact has an insulation displacement contact that is pressed onto the cannula tube.

6. The cannula according to claim 1, wherein the contact clip has a connector that can establish an electrically detachable connection to the stimulation cable.

7. The cannula according to claim 6, wherein the electrical contact has a spring tab for forming a clamping contact with the connector.

8. The cannula according to claim 1, wherein the control element is an electrical control element and connected with a control line.

9. The cannula according claim 1, wherein the control clip comprises at least two control elements.

10. The cannula according to claim 1, wherein the mounting body of the control clip comprises at least two latching arms embracing the body part and/or the mounting part of the contact clip.

11. The cannula according to claim 1, wherein a proximal connection for introducing a liquid is attached coaxially on the body part to the cannula tube.

12. The cannula according to claim 11, wherein the proximal connection is formed with an injection hose inserted in the body part.

13. The cannula according to claim 1, wherein the mounting body surrounds the control element, and wherein the control element is operable from a side facing away from the body part.

14. The cannula according claim 13, wherein the mounting body is deformable on the side facing away from the body part for operating the control element and/or the mounting body on the side facing away from the body part for operating the control element is made of a second electrically insulating plastic which is deformable.

15. The cannula according to claim 14, wherein upon operating the control element a haptic feedback is generated.

16. The cannula according to claim 15, wherein the control element comprises a plurality of control elements, wherein each control element of the plurality of control elements is an electrically capacitive switch or an electrically inductive switch.

17. The cannula according to claim 1, wherein the body part and/or the mounting part of the contact clip and/or the mounting body of the control clip are made of an electrically insulating plastic.

18. A device, comprising: a cannula; a body part located on the cannula; a contact clip that is detachably mountable to the body part to form a first configuration, wherein the contact clip comprises an electrical contact that establishes an electrical connection between a stimulation cable and the cannula; and a control clip that is detachably mountable to the body part over the contact clip to form a second configuration, wherein the control clip comprises a deformable body that is electrically insulated and at least two control elements.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the at least two control elements comprise a first control element that is depressable to control aspiration and a second control element that is depressable to control electrical stimulation impulses.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an exemplary and inventive embodiment will be explained in detail.

(2) FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the cannula, having a cannula tube with a body part attached at the proximal end of the cannula tube, a contact clip and a control clip,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the cannula according to FIG. 1, wherein the contact clip is attached to the body part,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the cannula according to FIG. 1 or 2, wherein said control clip is attached to the body part to form a first configuration,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a sectional view along a longitudinal axis through the cannula according to FIG. 3,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the cannula tube with the body part attached to the proximal end,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the contact clip, and

(8) FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of the control clip.

(9) FIGS. 1 to 7 show an exemplary embodiment of a cannula.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Cannula 1 comprises a cannula body with a cannula tube 11 extending coaxially along a longitudinal axis. Cannula tube 11 may be made of an electrically insulating material and may further have an electrically conductive wire. Alternatively, cannula tube 11 can be made of a metallic material and be coated on its outer circumference with an electrically insulating plastic.

(11) Cannula tube 11 has a distal end and a proximal end, wherein a cannula tip (not shown) is formed at the distal end, which is adapted to be inserted in a patient's body for treatment purposes. At the proximal end of cannula tube 11, a body part 10 is arranged, which is preferably injection molded from an electrically insulating plastic material on cannula tube 11. The body part 10 has substantially the usual shape of a rectangular cuboid whose proximal and distal ends are widened in a flanged manner to allow a secure gripping and guiding of the cannula by medical personnel. An insertion recess 15 is formed between the flange at the distal end and the flange at the proximal end.

(12) A connection 18 is arranged at the proximal end of body part 10. The connection 18 connects cannula tube 11 with injection hose 19—as can be seen in detail in FIG. 5. For this purpose, injection hose 19 is pushed over the proximal end, which protrudes from body part 10, and is attached or mounted fixedly and sealingly to body part 10.

(13) Injection hose 19 is used for supplying and/or discharging a liquid, in particular a local anesthetic, which can be passed through cannula tube 11 to the cannula tip at the distal end and which can exit at the distal end of cannula 1. The injection hose may have a connection to its free end (not shown), e.g., a Luer lock connector or NRFit connector, to which a syringe or the like can be connected for supplying the liquid. Alternatively, the connector can also be formed directly on body part 10 or at connection 18 if no injection hose 19 is desired.

(14) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, body part 10 has a recess 14 in the region of insertion recess 15 between the distal flange and the proximal flange, which is open on the upper face, as shown in the drawing, of body part 10, and the depth of which extends at least to cannula tube 11. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, recess 14 is open diametrically continuous through the body part 10.

(15) Cannula tube 11 may be formed of plain metal in the region within recess 14, whereby metallic cannula tube 11 in this section has no insulating peripheral coating.

(16) In addition, two cams projecting from cannula tube 11 are formed in the insertion recess 15, which are formed on the one hand spaced apart from the distal flange and recess 14, and on the other hand spaced apart from the proximal flange.

(17) At the proximal end of body part 10 a notch 16 is incorporated in the proximal flange and which extends from insertion recess 15 to the proximal end continuously through the proximal flange and parallel to cannula tube 11.

(18) In addition, cannula 1 comprises a contact clip 20 and a control clip 30, which is shown for example in FIG. 1 in a perspective view and in FIG. 6 in a sectional view.

(19) Contact clip 20 comprises a mounting part 21 which is formed substantially in the form of a rectangular cuboid and in which a recess is formed or incorporated, which extends over the entire longitudinal extension from a proximal end to a distal end and forms two diametrically opposed latching arms 22. Accordingly, contact clip 20 is U-shaped in cross-section. Between the two pairwise arranged latching arms 22, an electrical contact 25 is arranged in recess of mounting part 21. Electrical contact 25 protrudes in the direction of the distal end of contact clip 20 into the recess between the two latching arms 22, wherein the free distal end of the electrical contact which projects into the recess, is formed as a spring tab 26 and can be deflected resiliently parallel to the two latching arms 22.

(20) Furthermore, it can be seen in particular in FIG. 5 that the end of the electrical contact 25 facing the proximal end may also be formed as a spring tab 26 and projects in a freestanding manner in a region, which is designed as a connector 27. The free end of a mating connector 28 can be inserted into connector 27 to establish an electrical connection between a stimulation cable 29 and electrical contact 25. Mating connector 28 is held in connector 27, the spring tab 26 bearing against a mating electrical contact of mating connector 28 and contributes to the holding of mating connector 28 in connector 27 without the risk of being lost. The shape of connector 27 corresponds to the shape of the mating connector, wherein preferably the side of connector 27 facing body part 10 is open and is partially closed by electrical contact 25. Alternatively, stimulation cable 29 can also be attached directly to electrical contact 25.

(21) At the respective free ends of latching arms 22 of mounting part 21 latching lugs 23 which are directed towards each other are formed on latching arms 22 which protrude into the recess.

(22) In order to improve the handling of cannula 1, a control clip 30 can be plugged or clipped onto body part 10, thus forming a first configuration I. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, however, it is provided that control clip 30 embraces contact clip 20 and body part 10 to form the first configuration I, contact clip 20 not being absolutely necessary for the realization of the first configuration I. In this case, control clip 30 is attached directly to body part 10.

(23) Control clip 30 comprises a mounting body 31 and at least one control element 35, 36. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment control clip 30 comprises two electrical control elements 35, 36, however, the control elements may also be formed mechanically, for example as valves for controlling aspiration and application.

(24) The first control element 35 and the second control element 36 can be operated independently of one another by the medical personnel, wherein the first control element 35 can be used for aspiration and the second control element 36 can be used for regulating or controlling the liquid to be injected. In addition, the first control element 35 and/or the second control element 36 can be used to control the electrical stimulation impulses.

(25) In addition, control clip 30 may comprise a control line 39 which can be either detachably attached to control clip 30 by a plug connection, or is fixedly connected to control clip 30 and establishes an electrical connection to a unit, not shown, which effects, for example, aspiration or injection or generates the electrical stimulation impulses, which are passed through stimulation cable 29 to cannula tube 11 by means of electrical contact 25.

(26) Control clip 30 has approximately the usual shape of a rectangular cuboid in which a recess extending from a proximal end to a distal end is incorporated or molded, whereby control clip 30 is U-shaped in cross-section. Through the recess, two diametrically aligned latching arms 32 are formed, at the free ends of which a plurality of latching lugs 33 are molded or joint, which, directed towards each other, project into the recess.

(27) In mounting body 31, control elements 35, 36 are recessed, which means that control elements 35, 36 are hermetically surrounded by mounting body 31, which ensures that no liquids or contaminants can come into contact with control elements 35, 36.

(28) In FIGS. 1, 4, 6, control elements 35, 36 are arranged on the side of mounting body 31 facing away from cannula tube 11, and thus can be operated during the procedure with cannula 1 by the medical personnel with a first hand in one and the same hand-hold position while the same medical personnel holds the ultrasound probe with the second hand and observes and checks the position of the cannula during treatment, for example, anesthesia. Due to the easy handling of cannula 1, the medical personnel can devote full attention to this task.

(29) In order to enable a simple and powerless operation of the control elements 35, 36, mounting body 31 is thin-walled in a region on the side facing away from cannula tube 11, whereby a mechanical operation by the medical personnel is transferred to control elements 35, 36 by a deformation of mounting body 31. In particular, it is preferred if the deformable region is made of a softer plastic, in particular silicone, whereby the mechanical resistance during operation is reduced and the handling is improved. It is particularly preferred to produce mounting body 31 in a two-component injection molding process.

(30) In order for the medical personnel to devote full attention to the positioning of cannula tube 11 at the site of use, for example a nerve of the patient, when using cannula 1, an advantageous development provides that control elements 35, 36 upon operation generate a haptic, acoustic or visual feedback, wherein advantageously the haptic and acoustic feedback can be generated by a snap dome in the respective control element 35, 36.

(31) If cannula 1 is to be used for the electrical stimulation, contact clip 20 can be attached to or clipped on body part 10, and contact clip 20 and the cannula body with body part 10 and cannula tube 11 together form the second configuration II. Contact clip 20 is attached in a plug-in direction perpendicular to cannula tube 11 on the body part.

(32) The second configuration II is shown in perspective in FIG. 2 and it can be seen that in the second configuration I, contact clip 20 is inserted laterally in the plug-in direction in insertion recess 15 and the two latching arms 22 embrace body part 10 between the distal flange and the proximal flange, wherein latching lugs 23 engage body part 10 or an edge 17 on the side of body part 10 facing away from contact clip 20 partially from behind to form a positive snap or clip connection.

(33) In the second configuration II, spring tab 26 of electrical contact 25 protrudes into recess 14 of body part 10 between the distal flange and the proximal flange and presses against cannula tube 11 with its spring tab 26 which is formed at the free end, whereby an electrical connection between electrical contact 25 and cannula tube 11 is accomplished.

(34) Furthermore, the two cams arranged in insertion recess 15 press against electrical contact 25. Thereby, an additional clamping force on the second spring tab 26 at the proximal end of the contact clip 20 can be achieved, whereby the mating connector 28 is braced with connector 27 and detaching the electrical connection between stimulation cable 29 and electrical contact 25 is prevented. The proximal end of contact clip 20 is completely immersed in notch 16 at body part 10. In addition, two retaining bars 13 are formed in notch 16, which protrude from body part 10 into notch 16 and partially engage a bar at mating connector 28 and fix the mating connector in notch 16.

(35) To transfer cannula 1 in first configuration I, control clip 30 is placed in the plug-in directions in the illustrated exemplary embodiment via second configuration I, or body part 10 and contact clip 20, wherein the two latching arms 32 embrace contact clip 20 diametrically and latching lugs 33 arranged on the free end of latching arms 32 are form-fitted with contact clip 20 by partially embracing contact clip 20 and the free end of latching arms 22 of contact clip 20, respectively. The position of control clip 30 between the distal flange and the proximal flange of body part 10 is fixed by the interaction of a depression 24 at the distal end of contact clip 20 and a protrusion 34 at the distal end of control clip 30 as well as at the distal flange on body part 10, which in the assembled state interlock in the first configuration I.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(36) 1 cannula

(37) 10 body part

(38) 11 cannula tube

(39) 13 retaining bar

(40) 14 recess

(41) 15 Insertion recess

(42) 16 notch

(43) 17 edge

(44) 18 connection

(45) 19 injection hose

(46) 20 contact clip

(47) 21 mounting part

(48) 22 latching arm

(49) 23 latching lug

(50) 24 depression

(51) 25 contact

(52) 26 spring tab

(53) 27 connector

(54) 28 mating connector

(55) 29 stimulation cables

(56) 30 control clip

(57) 31 mounting body

(58) 32 latching arm

(59) 33 latching lug

(60) 34 protrusion

(61) 35 control element

(62) 36 control element

(63) 39 control line