Sterilizable pump unit

Abstract

The pump unit (10) has a particularly simple design, which includes just two housing parts (14, 15) and also four valve closure members (37) and pump pistons (25, 29). The valve closure members (37) are preferably identical to one another and are trapped in a pocket between both housing parts (14, 15). The housing parts (14, 15) are preferably permanently interconnected by an ultrasonic weld seam. The valve closure members are formed by disc-like or plate-like plastic parts, which are resilient per se and which may optionally have a central pin (42) as an assembly and orientation aid. As desired, the valve closure members bear against their respective valve seat (43) with or without bias and form valves which open and close particularly reliably, are responsive to the slowest flow velocities and can be easily sterilized.

Claims

1. A pump unit (10) for water jet surgery, comprising: a pump housing (13), which has a first housing part (14) and a second housing part (15), wherein a suction channel (16) and a pressure channel (17) are formed in the first housing part (14), wherein the pressure channel (17) is configured to connect to a water jet surgery instrument, at least two pump cylinders (22, 26), which are formed on the second housing part (15) and which are configured to receive pump pistons (25, 29) and from each of which two pump channels (23, 24; 27,28) depart, valve chamber recesses (31), which are formed in one of the housing parts (14, 15), valve chamber closures (32), which are associated with the valve chamber recesses (31) in order to shut off said valve chamber recesses so as to form respective valve chambers (30), into which the pressure channel (17) or the suction channel (16) leads, at least one valve closure member (37), which is permeable to sterilization gas, wherein the suction channel (16), the pressure channel (17) and the pump channels (23, 24, 27, 28) are in communication with select ones of the respective valve chambers (30); wherein the valve chamber closure (32) is formed together with an edge (39) of the valve closure member (37) and one or more recesses (47) defined in the valve closure member (37) in a manner defining an overflow structure (44) that defines a path for the sterilization gas to contact at least portions of opposing sides of the valve closure member (37) while the valve closure member (37) is in a closed position preventing liquid flow between the respective valve chamber (30) and a corresponding one of the pressure channel (17) or the suction channel (16); wherein the at least one valve closure member (37) includes a centrally located hub portion (40) and a spring zone (41) located between the centrally located hub portion (40) and the edge (39), wherein the spring zone (41) is of a reduced thickness relative to the centrally located hub portion (40) and the edge (39) for allowing resilient deformation of the valve closure member at the spring zone (41).

2. The pump unit according to claim 1, wherein the valve closure member (37) comprises a plate portion (38) and a central pin (42) and is arranged in one of the respective valve chambers (30) such that the central pin (42) extends into one of the suction channel (16), the pressure channel (17) and the pump channels (23, 24, 27, 28), wherein the plate portion (38) is configured to deform to open and close a fluid passage through one of the respective valve chambers (30).

3. The pump unit according to claim 1, wherein the valve chamber closures (32) are formed as extensions (42) protruding into the valve chamber recesses (31).

4. The pump unit according to claim 1, wherein the valve chamber closures (32) with the valve chamber recesses (31) define an annular gap (35).

5. The pump unit according to claim 1, wherein the housing parts (14, 15) are interconnected by an integrally bonded connection (36).

6. The pump unit according to claim 5, wherein the connection (36) is a friction weld seam.

7. The pump unit according to claim 5, wherein the connection (36) is arranged in a plane beyond which extensions (33) protrude.

8. The pump unit according to claim 1, wherein each valve chamber closure (32) defines one of the pump channels (23, 24, 27, 28).

9. The pump unit according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said valve chamber closures (32) are associated with each pump cylinder (22, 26), one of said valve chamber closures having one of the pump channels (23, 27) serving as an inlet channel and another of said valve chamber closures having another one of the pump channels (24, 29) serving as an outlet channel.

10. The pump unit according to claim 9, wherein a central pin (42) of the valve closure member (37) is arranged to protrude into the suction channel (16) or into the pump channel (23, 27) serving as the inlet channel.

11. The pump unit according to claim 9, wherein a valve seat (43) is formed at the pump channel (24, 28) that leads to the pressure channel (17).

12. The pump unit according to claim 11, wherein the valve closure member (37) is arranged to bear against the valve seat (43) without play.

13. The pump unit according to claim 1, wherein the suction channel (16) opens out at a valve seat (43), against which the valve closure member (37) bears without play.

14. The pump unit according to claim 1, wherein identical valve closure members of the at least one valve closure member (37) are arranged in the respective valve chambers (30).

15. The pump unit according to claim 1, wherein the valve closure member (37) has a convexly curved surface on one of the opposing sides thereof for engaging with a valve seat (43), and the spring zone (41) is formed at least in part by an annular groove formed on the other of the opposing sides of the valve closure member (37), the annular groove extending about the centrally located hub portion (40).

16. The pump unit according to claim 15, wherein the valve seat (43) has a diameter and the annular groove has a diameter that is at least as large as the diameter of the valve seat.

17. A pump unit (10) for water jet surgery, comprising: a pump housing (13), which has a first housing part (14) and a second housing part (15), wherein a suction channel (16) and a pressure channel (17) are formed in the first housing part (14), wherein the pressure channel (17) is configured to connect to a water jet surgery instrument, at least two pump cylinders (22, 26), which are formed on the second housing part (15) and which are configured to receive pump pistons (25, 29) and from each of which two pump channels (23, 24; 27,28) depart, valve chamber recesses (31), which are formed in one of the housing parts (14, 15), valve chamber closures (32), which are associated with the valve chamber recesses (31) in order to shut off said valve chamber recesses so as to form respective valve chambers (30), into which the pressure channel (17) or the suction channel (16) leads, at least one valve closure member (37) having a flexible disc or plate like shape and is configured to deform to open and close a fluid passage through one of the respective valve chambers (30), wherein the suction channel (16), the pressure channel (17) and the pump channels (23, 24, 27, 28) are in communication with select ones of the respective valve chambers (30); wherein at least one of the valve chamber closures (32) is formed together with an edge (39) of an associated valve closure member of the valve closure members (37) and one or more recesses (47) defined by the associated valve closure member in a manner defining an overflow structure (44) that defines a path for a sterilization gas to contact at least portions of opposing sides of the associated valve closure member (37) while the associated valve closure member (37) is in a closed position preventing liquid flow between the respective valve chamber (30) and a corresponding one of the pressure channel (17) or the suction channel (16); wherein the at least one valve closure member (37) includes a centrally located hub portion (40) and a spring zone (41) located between the centrally located hub portion (40) and the edge (39), wherein the spring zone (41) is of a reduced thickness relative to the centrally located hub portion (40) and the edge (39) for allowing resilient deformation of the valve closure member at the spring zone (41).

18. The pump unit according to claim 17, wherein the flexible disc or plate like shape of the at least one valve closure member (37) comprises a plate portion (38) and a central pin (42) and is arranged in one of the respective valve chambers (30) such that the central pin (42) extends into one of the suction channel (16), the pressure channel (17) and the pump channels (23, 24, 27, 28).

19. The pump unit according to claim 18, wherein the central pin (42) of the valve closure member (37) is arranged to protrude into the suction channel (16) or into the pump channel (23, 27) serving as the inlet channel.

20. The pump unit according to claim 17, wherein at least two of said valve chamber closures (32) are associated with each pump cylinder (22, 26), one of said valve chamber closures having one of the pump channels (23, 27) serving as an inlet channel and another of said valve chamber closures having another one of the pump channels (24, 29) serving as an outlet channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a pump unit according to the invention in a schematic vertical sectional illustration.

(2) FIG. 2 shows an inlet valve of the pump unit according to FIG. 1 in an enlarged vertical sectional illustration.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a valve closure member of the pump unit according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a modified embodiment of an inlet valve of the pump unit corresponding to FIG. 1 in a vertical sectional illustration.

(5) FIG. 5 shows the valve closure member of the inlet valve according to FIG. 4 in a perspective illustration, and

(6) FIG. 6 shows the second housing part of the pump unit according to FIG. 1 in a simplified perspective illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 illustrates a pump unit 10 that is intended for medical use. It can be used for example as a pump for NaCl solution for water jet surgery. It sucks in NaCl solution or another desired liquid at a connection 11 indicated in a dashed manner in FIG. 1 and conveys this via a connection 12, likewise merely indicated schematically, to a water jet surgery instrument.

(8) The pump unit 10 has a housing 13, which consists of a first housing part 14 and a second housing part 15. The housing 13 preferably consists merely of these two housing parts, which are fixedly interconnected, preferably non-detachably. The housing parts 14, 15 preferably consist of a plastic, preferably a plastic suitable for ultrasonic welding.

(9) A suction channel 16 connected to the connection and a pressure channel 17 connected to the connection 12 are formed in the first housing part 14. The suction channel 16 leads to suction valves 18, 19. The pressure channel 17 is connected to outlet valves 20, 21.

(10) The inlet valve 18 and the outlet valve 20 are associated with the first pump cylinder 22, which is connected to the inlet valve 18 via a pump channel 23 and to the outlet valve 20 via a pump channel 24. A pump piston 25 is arranged in the first pump cylinder 22 and can be connected via a coupling (not illustrated in greater detail) to a drive device in order to be moved in the pump cylinder 22 in a controlled manner pumping to and fro.

(11) A second pump cylinder 26 is also arranged in the second housing part 15 and is connected via pump channels 27, 28 to the inlet valve 19 and the outlet valve 21. A pump piston 29 is arranged in the pump cylinder 26 and can be connected via a coupling device (not illustrated in greater detail) to the drive device. The drive device ensures that the pump pistons 25, 29 are moved in opposite directions, such that the liquid to be conveyed is sucked in uniformly via the suction channel 16 and is delivered uniformly via the pressure channel 17. The drive device is preferably formed here such that it can move the pump pistons 25, 29 in opposite directions at variable speeds and/or variable strokes in order to adjust the delivery volume and the delivery pressure of the conveyed liquid within wide limits as desired.

(12) The liquid inflow and outflow into and out from the two pump cylinders 22, 26 controls the inlet valves 18, 19 and the outlet valves 20, 21, which are check valves. For a further explanation of the nature of these valves, reference is made representatively for the other valves 19, 20, 21 to the inlet valve 18 below with reference to FIG. 2.

(13) The inlet valve 18 includes a valve chamber 30, which is connected to the suction channel 16 and the pump channel 23. The suction channel 16 and the pump channel 23 are preferably arranged on opposite sides of the valve channel 30.

(14) In order to form the valve chamber 30, one of the housing parts, here for example the first housing part 14, has a valve chamber recess 31, which is associated with a valve chamber closure 32 provided on the respective other housing part, here the second housing part 15. The valve chamber closure 32 is formed in the present exemplary embodiment by a pin-like extension 33, which protrudes starting from an upper end face 34 of the second housing part 15 into the valve chamber recess 31. The pump channel 23 extends through the extension 33 and leads into the end face thereof.

(15) As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 6, the extension 33 can be formed cylindrically or also (very slightly) conically. Its approximately cylindrical outer peripheral surface can bear against the inner wall of the valve chamber recess 31 or, together therewith, can define an annular gap 35, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The two housing parts 14, 15 are tightly interconnected, such that the valve chamber 30 communicates with the suction chamber 16 and the pump channel 23, but is otherwise tight. It is possible to produce the seal by means of a press fit of the extension 33 in the valve chamber recess 31. The seal can also be caused by a separate seal element, for example a ring seal. The seal, however, is preferably produced by an integrally bonded connection, in particular a friction weld seam 36, in particular in the form of an ultrasonic weld seam, which surrounds each extension 33 annularly at the entire periphery thereof. To this end, the extension 33 can be stepped in the gap 35 thereof different from zero, and the valve chamber recess 31 may also have an annular shoulder. If the housing parts 14, 15 are joined together and exposed to ultrasound, the annular gap 35 ensures sufficient transverse movability in order to form the ultrasonic or friction weld seam 36 between the step and the annular shoulder. This weld seam is preferably arranged at a distance from the valve chamber 30 in all embodiments.

(16) A valve closure member 37 is arranged in the valve chamber 30. This is illustrated separately in FIG. 3. The valve closure member 37 preferably consists completely of plastic, more preferably of a single plastic material, which is flexible and permeable to sterilisation gases. By way of example, the valve closure member 37 may consist of EPM, EPDM, FPM or the like. It preferably has a plate portion 38, which preferably has a slightly convexly curved sealing face and is provided at its periphery with an axially protruding annular edge 39. Between the edge 39 and a central hub portion 40, the plate portion 38 preferably has an annular spring zone 41, which can be formed by an annular groove surrounding the hub 40 remote from the convexly curved side. The spring zone 41 enables a slight resilience of the comparatively more rigid edge 39 with respect to the hub portion 40, which is likewise rigid, in the axial direction. The resilient deformation takes place predominantly in the spring zone 41. The spring zone also acts as a permeation zone, in which the wall thickness at most is a few tenths of a millimeter. Sterilisation gases can penetrate the spring zone 41 in sufficient quantity in order to cause sterilisation.

(17) A central pin 42 extends away from the hub portion 40, preferably concentrically in the axial direction, wherein the central pin 42 protrudes into one of the channels departing from the valve chamber 30, for example into the pump channel 23, without blocking said pump channel. The central pin 42 can be used as an orientation and assembly aid.

(18) The convex end face of the valve closure member 37 is associated with a valve seat 43, which for example is formed by an annular bead and surrounds the suction channel 16. The valve seat 43 can be formed by a round rib, as illustrated in the example according to FIG. 2. This, together with the resilience of the plastic of the valve closure member 37, causes an extensive sealing contact between the valve closure member 37 and valve seat 43. The diameter of the valve seat 43 is preferably at most as large as the diameter of the spring zone 41. In addition, both are preferably arranged concentrically with one another.

(19) An overflow structure 44 is associated with the valve closure member 37. This structure is arranged in the valve chamber 30, preferably on the side opposite the valve seat 43. The overflow structure 44, as indicated in FIG. 2, can be formed by radial grooves 45, of which one or more extend radially outwardly starting from the pump channel 23. The diameter of the edge 39 is smaller then the diameter of the valve chamber 30. Liquid can thus flow axially over the plate portion 38.

(20) The pump unit 10 described in this regard functions as follows:

(21) During operation, the pump pistons 25, 29 are moved alternately to and fro. The pump piston 25 or 29 moving in the direction of a volume enlargement of the pump cylinder 22 or 26 then sucks in sodium chloride solution via the suction channel 16. The valve closure member 37 is moved away here from the valve seat 43 with slight deformation of the spring zone 41 and also optionally further parts, in order to unblock the passage.

(22) In modified embodiments, the valve chamber 30 and the valve closure member 37 can also be matched to one another such that the valve closure member 37 has slight axial play. In this case too, the suction movement of the respective pump piston 25 or 29 leads to the opening of the inlet valve 18 or 19 in question.

(23) If, by contrast, one of the piston pumps 25, 20 runs in the direction of volume reduction of the pump cylinder 22, 26, the liquid pressure and flow causes a closure of the respective inlet valve 18, 19 and an opening of the respective outlet valve 20, 21, which is formed in accordance with the inlet valves 18, 19. The structural difference lies merely in that the valve seat 43 is not arranged on the first housing part 14, but on the second housing part 15, in order to surround the pump channel 24 or 28. Accordingly, the overflow structure 44 is associated with the housing part 14 and is arranged at the base of the valve chamber recess 31.

(24) The pump unit 10 described in this regard is produced as follows:

(25) The housing parts 14, 15 are first provided and the valve closure members 34 are then fitted onto the housing part 15 illustrated in FIG. 6. The valve closure members 37 are each placed here onto the corresponding extensions 33 in the orientation predefined by FIG. 1. The first housing part 14 is then fitted via its valve chamber recesses 31 onto the extensions 33. The first housing part contacts the annular shoulders 46 formed on the extensions 33 before the underside of said housing part has reached the upper end face 34. Annular ultrasonic weld seams or friction weld seams 36 (FIG. 1) are now formed on the shoulders 46 by means of ultrasound effect.

(26) Following assembly, the pump unit 10 is sterilised with or without pump pistons 25, 29. To this end, the principle of gas sterilisation is preferably applied, in which the housing parts 14, 15 preferably consisting of plastic are exposed to no temperature load or are exposed to an insignificant temperature load. When flushing the pump unit 10 with sterilisation gas, this gas is fed into the suction channel 16 and/or the pressure channel 17 for example via the connections 11, 12. Here, the gas can easily open the inlet valves 18, 19 and/or the outlet valves 20, 21 and/or can pass through the thin plastic membrane by diffusion, in particular in the region of the hub portion 41. A reliable sterilisation of the pump unit 10 is thus possible.

(27) Numerous modifications are possible on the described pump unit 10. By way of example, the overflow structure 44, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, can be formed by recesses 47, which are formed in the edge 39 of the valve closure member 37. By contrast, in this embodiment a planar closed bearing surface 48 can be associated with the edge 39 and forms the end face of the extension 33 or of the valve chamber closure 32. It is also noted that the channel 16 in the vicinity of the valve seat 43, as illustrated, can be formed by a number of individual channels or also by a single channel of larger cross section. Further modifications are possible.

(28) The pump unit 10 according to the invention has a particularly simple structure, which includes merely two housing parts 14, 15 and also four valve closure members 37 and pump pistons 25, 29. The valve closure members 37 are preferably identical to one another and are trapped in a pocket between both housing parts 14, 15. The housing parts 14, 15 are preferably permanently interconnected by means of an ultrasonic weld seam. The valve closure members are formed by disc-like or plate-like plastic parts resilient per se, which may optionally have a central pin 42 as an assembly and orientation aid. As desired, the valve closure members can bear with or without bias against their respective valve seat 43 and can form valves which open and close particularly reliably, are responsive to the slowest flow velocities and can be easily sterilised.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(29) 10 pump unit 11 connection to the NaCl store 12 connection to the instrument for water jet surgery 13 housing 14 first housing part 15 second housing part 16 suction channel 17 pressure channel 18 suction valve 19 suction valve 20 outlet valve 21 outlet valve 22 first pump cylinder 23, 24 pump channels of the first pump cylinder 22 25 pump piston 26 second pump cylinder 27, 28 pump channels 29 pump piston 30 valve chamber 31 valve chamber recess 32 valve chamber closure 33 extension 34 upper end face of the second housing part 15 35 annular gap 36 friction weld seam 37 valve closure member 38 plate portion 39 edge 40 hub portion 41 spring zone 42 central pin 43 valve seat 44 overflow structure 45 radial grooves 46 annular shoulder 47 recess 48 bearing surface