Abstract
A device for the surgical cleaning of infected implants, the device containing a brush head containing a bristle region having a plurality of bristles; a supply element configured to transport a cleaning liquid to the brush head; a discharge element configured to remove liquid from the brush head; and a connecting element configured to releasably connect the supply element and the discharge element to an external lavage device.
Claims
1. A device for the surgical cleaning of infected implants, containing: a brush head containing a bristle region having a plurality of bristles; a supply element configured to transport a cleaning liquid to the brush head; a discharge element configured to remove liquid from the brush head; and, a connecting element configured to releasably connect the supply element and the discharge element to an external lavage device.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to achieve a ratio of the delivery rate of the discharge element to the delivery rate of the supply element of at least 1.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the brush head is configured to exert an oscillating force on the bristles.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a drive element for generating the oscillating force, wherein the drive element is preferably configured for driving by means of the flow of the cleaning liquid through the supply element.
5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a valve, which is arranged between the connecting element and the brush head and is configured to control the flow of a cleaning liquid through the supply element.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the brush head comprises bristles of different lengths in order to facilitate the cleaning of undercuts, wherein the bristles are preferably arranged arcuately in the bristle region.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the supply element comprises an outlet opening arranged within the bristle region.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the discharge element comprises a suction opening arranged at the proximal end of the bristle region.
9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to conduct cleaning liquid from the supply element through the bristles and to release said cleaning liquid at the tip of the bristles.
10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device does not comprise a pump.
11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the supply element, and preferably also the discharge element, are guided through the connecting element.
12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a handle element which is arranged between the connecting element and the brush head, wherein the handle element is configured for a user to manually guide the device.
13. The device according to claim 12, further comprising a stem element which connects the handle element to the brush head.
14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the stem element comprises a length of 5 to 10 cm and/or comprises a diameter of at most 10 mm.
15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the supply element comprises a flexible tube and/or comprises a length of at least 80 cm.
Description
FIGURES
[0059] FIG. 1 shows by way of example an embodiment of a device 100 according to the invention. The device comprises a brush head 101. The brush head 101 comprises a stem element 112 with a bristle region 102. A plurality of bristles 103 is arranged in tufts in the bristle region 102. The stem element 112 comprises a suction opening 109 adjacent to the bristle region 102. The suction opening 109 can serve to receive and remove cleaning liquid which, by being used with the device according to the invention, detached infected tissue or biofilms. The brush head 101 is releasably connected to a handle element 111. The handle element 111 further comprises a valve for controlling a supply element 104. The supply element 104 is guided within the handle element 111 and the brush head 101. The supply element 104 serves to supply a cleaning liquid into the brush head 101. Furthermore, the device comprises a discharge element 105 which can serve to discharge the cleaning liquid received by the suction opening 109. The supply element 104 and the discharge element 105 are each guided to a connecting element 106 which is provided for connection to an external lavage device. For this purpose, the connecting element 106 comprises a latching element 125 which can be connected to a lavage device.
[0060] FIG. 2 shows the connecting of a device 100 according to the invention to an external lavage device 200. In this process, the connecting element 106 of the device 100 is connected to a lavage device 200 in a form-closed connection, the supply element 104 and the discharge element 105 being connected in a liquid-tight manner to corresponding connections of the lavage device 200.
[0061] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the brush head of a device according to the invention. The supply element 104 is configured to guide cleaning liquid to the bristle region 102. In the example shown here, the bristle region 102 comprises hollow bristles 103 which are connected to the supply element 104 in a liquid-conducting manner. Cleaning liquid can thus be guided through the hollow bristles 103 to an outlet opening 108 at the tip 110 of the bristles, where the cleaning liquid can be released out of the outlet opening 108. The cleaning liquid released out of the outlet openings is shown symbolically here in the form of drops. In this example, the bristles 103 are of different lengths. The bristles 103 have a greater length at the distal end of the brush head (shown on the left in FIG. 3) than at the proximal end of the brush head (shown on the right in FIG. 3), so that an overall arcuate arrangement results with respect to the tips of the bristles. Such a geometry can be advantageous for removing biofilms and bacterially loaded tissue in the zone of body regions that are difficult to access, in particular in the region of undercuts. An example of this are DAIR procedures on infected knee joint endoprostheses, wherein cleaning is also required in particular in the gap between the femoral component and the tibial component of the joint.
[0062] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the portion of a brush head 101 shown in FIG. 3. A plurality of bristles 103 is arranged within the bristle region 102, the bristles each comprising a cavity which can guide a cleaning liquid from the supply element 104 to an outlet opening 108 at the tip of the bristles.
[0063] FIG. 5a shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a device 100 according to the invention which is equipped with a valve 107. The valve is set up to control the flow of a cleaning liquid through the supply element 104. FIG. 5a shows the valve 107 in an open configuration, which allows a free flow of a cleaning liquid from an external lavage device 200 through the supply element 104 to the brush head 101. The cleaning liquid can thus be released in the region of the brush head 101.
[0064] FIG. 5b shows the device shown in FIG. 5a with a valve 107 in a closed configuration. The cleaning liquid, which is pumped out of the lavage device 200 into the device 100, can be conducted via the supply element 104 only up to the closed valve 107 and cannot reach into the region of the brush head 101. Therefore, when the valve 107 is closed, the cleaning liquid is not released at the brush head 101.
[0065] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a brush head 101 of a device according to the invention. In this example, all bristles have substantially the same length. A suction opening 109 is arranged adjacent to the bristle region 102. The suction opening allows used cleaning liquid, and contaminants that are to be removed, to be received and discharged via the discharge element 105. The flow direction of the liquid to be transported is indicated by arrows.
[0066] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a device 100 according to the invention. The flow direction of the liquid to be transported is indicated by arrows. Said liquid passes through the discharge element 105 from the suction opening 109 toward the connecting element 106, where said liquid can be received by an external lavage device.
[0067] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention with a removable brush head 101. The brush head 101 can be detachably connected to the handle element 111 of the device by being fitted onto a grommet 114. The supply element 104 and the discharge element 105 are guided through the grommet 114, and protrude, at the end thereof, beyond the grommet in order to allow a form-closed connection to the brush head 101.
[0068] FIG. 9 shows an isometric cross-sectional view of a handle element 111. In this example, the handle element is formed from two half shells which are connected to one another via latching elements 115. The supply element 104 and the discharge element 105 are guided through the interior of the handle element 111 and through a grommet 114 at the housing opening of the handle element.
[0069] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention which is equipped with a drive element 120. The drive element 120 is configured to generate an oscillating force which can be transmitted to the brush head 101 and in particular the bristles 103 in order to increase the cleaning performance of the device. The drive element 120 and a valve 107 are arranged on the handle element 111. The device can be connected to an external lavage device by means of a connecting element 106, with the supply element 104 and the discharge element 105 being connected to the lavage device in a liquid-conducting manner.
[0070] FIG. 11 shows a plan view of a cross section through a drive element 120. In this example, the drive element is a passive drive element which does not require its own power supply, but can instead be driven by the cleaning liquid flowing through. For this purpose, the drive element 120 is connected to the supply element 104 in a liquid-conducting manner, so that the cleaning liquid is conducted through an inflow opening 121 into the drive element 120, flows through a channel within the drive element, thereby moving a ball 123 on a circular path, and passes through an outflow opening 122 into the supply element 104 again. The flow direction of the cleaning liquid is indicated by arrows. This functional principle is used in a similar manner in pneumatic ball vibration motors.
[0071] FIG. 12 shows a side view of a cross section through a drive element 120. A cleaning liquid flows through the supply element 104 from an external source into the inflow opening 121 of the drive element 120, and flows via the outflow opening 122 further toward the brush head of the device. The two half shells of the handle element 111 are held together by latching elements 115.
[0072] FIG. 13a shows a cross-sectional view of a brush head 101 which has an angled outflow channel 124. In relation to the orientation of the bristles, the outflow channel 124 is arranged at an angle of more than 15?, in this example approximately 45?. Bursts of spray of the cleaning liquid can thereby be released into the region next to the brush head in order to improve the cleaning performance of the brush. The cleaning liquid can be released at the outer end of the outflow channel 124 via an outflow opening 122.
[0073] FIG. 13b shows a plan view of the brush head shown in FIG. 13a. The outflow openings are arranged along a side edge of the brush head in the bristle region 102.
[0074] FIG. 14a shows a cross-sectional view of a brush head 101 which has an arranged outflow channel 124 connecting the supply element 104 in a liquid-conducting manner to bristles 103, which comprise a liquid-conducting cavity, so that a cleaning liquid can be released to an outflow opening 122 at the tip 110 of the bristles 103.
[0075] FIG. 14b shows a plan view of the brush head shown in FIG. 14a. The variants shown in FIG. 13 and in FIG. 14 can be used alternatively or in combination in the device according to the invention.
APPLICATION EXAMPLE 1
[0076] During a surgical procedure, the device can, for example, be used as follows for debridement, wherein the following steps a) to l) are carried out in the order indicated: [0077] a) connecting a lavage device to a cleaning liquid reservoir, [0078] b) connecting the adapter of the device to the lavage device, [0079] c) starting up the motor of the lavage device, [0080] d) pumping the cleaning liquid by means of the lavage device through the supply element to the brush head of the device, [0081] e) opening the valve in the handle element, [0082] f) as a result, introducing the irrigation liquid along the stem element into the brush head, [0083] g) manually brushing the surface to be cleaned, while at the same time the cleaning liquid leaves the brush head or the hollow bristles in the form of spray jets, [0084] h) rinsing the detached contaminants away from the surface to be cleaned, by means of the cleaning liquid, [0085] i) suctioning the used cleaning liquid from step h) through the suction element and through the connecting element into the lavage device, [0086] j) switching off the pumping function of the lavage device, [0087] k) separating the connecting element from the lavage device, and [0088] l) disposing of the device.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0089] 100 Device [0090] 101 Brush head [0091] 102 Bristle region [0092] 103 Bristle [0093] 104 Supply element [0094] 105 Discharge element [0095] 106 Connecting element [0096] 107 Valve [0097] 108 Outlet opening [0098] 109 Suction opening [0099] 110 Tip of the bristle [0100] 111 Handle element [0101] 112 Stem element [0102] 114 Grommet [0103] 115 Latching element (on the handle element) [0104] 120 Drive element [0105] 121 Inflow opening [0106] 122 Outflow opening [0107] 123 Ball [0108] 124 Outflow channel [0109] 125 Latching element (on the connecting element) [0110] 200 Lavage device
