SECURING DEVICE AND ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A RETAINING ELEMENT AND A SECURING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a securing device (1) designed for securing a medical, cosmetic, decorative or other type of item to the skin of a living being, wherein the securing device (1) has at least one main puncturing element (2) with a puncturing tip (3), wherein the main puncturing element (2) is designed for penetrating into the skin of the living being, and the securing device (1) has at least one securing section (6, 16) coupled to the main puncturing element (2) and for securing the item to be secured on the securing device (1), wherein the the securing device (1) is designed for securing the main puncturing element (2) in the skin by means of a rotational movement of the securing device (1), whose axis of rotation runs orthogonal to the surface of the skin.

Claims

1. A securing device designed for securing a medical, cosmetic, decorative or other article to skin of a living being, comprising: at least one skin piercing element is designed to penetrate the skin of the living being, wherein the at least one skin piercing element comprises a piercing tip; and a securing device comprising at least one securing portion coupled to the at least one skin piercing element, wherein the securing device is designed for securing the medical, cosmetic, decorative or other article to be the securing device, wherein the securing device is designed for securing the skin piercing element in the skin of the living being by a rotational movement of the securing device, wherein an axis of rotation of the securing device runs orthogonally to a surface of the skin of the living being.

2. The securing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securing device comprises a manual actuating element at which the securing device is grippable manually and a rotational movement for securing the securing device on the skin of the living being is exertable on the securing device.

3. The securing device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the at least one securing portion is arranged on the manual actuating element.

4. The securing device as claimed claim 1 wherein the securing device comprises a skin contact surface which comes into contact with the surface of the skin of the living being when the securing device is secured on the skin of the living being.

5. The securing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one skin piercing element protrudes directly from the skin contact surface.

6. The securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one skin piercing element is configured as a spiral spring.

7. The securing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the spiral spring comprises spiral spring turns which are spaced apart from one another in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the at least one skin piercing element.

8. The securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the securing device comprises at least one stop by which a maximum angle of rotation of the securing device about the axis of rotation is limited.

9. The securing device as claimed in claim 6 wherein a main piercing element of the spiral spring has a pitch of less than 3 mm/360°.

10. An assembly, comprising: a retaining element; and at least one securing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining element has at least one cutout through which the at least one securing device is passable at least together with the at least one skin piercing element, wherein the retaining element is securable on the skin of the living being by the at least one securing device by the at least one skin piercing element that has been guided through the at least one cutout being secured in the skin of the living being by a rotational movement of the at least one securing device, wherein the axis of rotation of the at least one securing device runs orthogonally to the surface of the skin of the living being.

11. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one securing device has a coupling portion arranged in a longitudinal direction between the at least one securing portion and the at least one skin piercing element.

12. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the coupling portion is guidable into the cutout and is mounted rotatably in the cutout.

13. The assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the coupling portion directly adjoins the at least one skin piercing element in the longitudinal direction.

14. The assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the at least one securing portion or a further securing portion of the at least one securing device protrudes over the coupling portion in the circumferential direction.

15. The assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the coupling portion has, on an outer circumference, at least one connecting element via which the at least one securing device is fastenable to the retaining element and is mountable rotatably on the retaining element.

16. The assembly as claimed in claim 15 wherein the retaining element has a fastening element which is complementary to the at least one connecting element and which is bringable into engagement with the at least one connecting element of the securing device in order to fasten the securing device to the retaining element and to mount the securing device rotatably on the retaining element.

17. The securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the securing device has at least one electrical insulating element which prevents an electrical current flow between the securing device and an article secured on the at least one securing portion and the skin of the living being.

Description

[0076] The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments and with use of drawings, in which:

[0077] FIG. 1 shows an assembly comprising a retaining element and a securing device in a lateral sectional view,

[0078] FIG. 2 shows the assembly according to FIG. 1 in a top view,

[0079] FIGS. 3-5 show further embodiments of an assembly comprising a retaining element and a securing device, in each case in lateral sectional views,

[0080] FIG. 6 shows the assembly according to FIG. 5 in a top view,

[0081] FIG. 7 shows a securing device in side view, and

[0082] FIG. 8 shows an assembly comprising retaining elements and securing devices in a lateral sectional view.

[0083] The reference signs used in the drawings have the following assignment: [0084] 1 Securing device [0085] 2 Skin piercing element [0086] 3 Piercing tip [0087] 4 Coupling portion [0088] 5 Skin contact surface [0089] 6 Securing portion [0090] 7 Actuating element [0091] 8 Axis of rotation [0092] 9 Skin [0093] 10 Retaining element [0094] 11 Connecting element [0095] 12 Friction-increasing structure [0096] 13 Connecting element [0097] 14 Travel limiting element [0098] 15 Stop [0099] 16 Securing portion [0100] 17 Securing bridge [0101] 18 Bridge region

[0102] The assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a retaining element 10 and a securing device 1. The retaining element 10 is fastened to the skin 9 of a living being by means of the securing device 1.

[0103] The securing device has a skin piercing element 2 which has a piercing tip 3 at the free end. The skin piercing element 2 may be configured, as illustrated, in the form of a spiral spring. The skin piercing element 2 is connected to a coupling portion 4 of the securing device 1. The skin piercing element 2 is coupled here to the coupling portion 4 so as to be nonrotatable about an axis of rotation 8. The coupling portion 4 is adjoined on the side facing away from the skin piercing element 2 by a securing portion 6 of the securing device 1. The securing portion 6 protrudes over the coupling portion 4 in the circumferential direction, in a similar manner to a screw head in a commercially available screw. One or more manual actuating elements 7 of the securing device 1 are fastened to the securing portion 6.

[0104] The securing device 1 can be screwed by means of the skin piercing element 2 into the skin 9 by rotation about the axis of rotation 8 or, in the illustration of FIG. 1, is already screwed in there. The skin piercing element 2 is located with its region protruding from the coupling portion 4 completely inside the skin 9. The securing device 1 rests here on the skin with a skin contact surface 5. The skin contact surface 5 can be arranged, for example, on that side of the coupling portion 4 which faces the skin 9.

[0105] The skin piercing element 2 can have a length L, for example in the range of 1 to 10 mm, or in the range of 1.5 to 4 mm, in the direction of longitudinal extent along the axis of rotation 8. For example, a length L of approx. 2 mm is advantageous. The diameter D of the skin piercing element 2 can be selected to be smaller or greater, depending on the intended use, and depending on in which type of living being (human, animal) the securing device can be used. For example, the diameter D can be up to 25 mm. For uses in humans, for example, a diameter D in the range of 2 to 10 mm, or 3 to 8 mm, is advantageous.

[0106] The material diameter of the skin piercing element in the form of a spiral spring, i.e. the diameter of the wire or other material used for this purpose, can be, for example, in the range of 1 to 2 mm.

[0107] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the securing device 1 in a similar arrangement as in FIG. 1. The securing device 1 has a different shaping of the securing portion 6 and of the actuating element 7, which are combined to form a common portion. The portions 6, 7 can be configured, for example, similarly to a cylindrical, hemispherical or circumferentially polygonal body. There can be a friction-increasing structure 12, for example a roughened surface, longitudinal grooves, a knurling or the like, on the outer circumference of this body, which forms the securing portion 6 and the actuating element 7.

[0108] In addition, the securing element 1 according to FIG. 3 has a connecting element 11 which is arranged on the outer circumference of the coupling portion 4. In this way, the securing device 1 is fastened captively to the retaining element 10. The connecting element 11 can be configured, for example, as an elastomer coating, external thread, protruding collar or the like. If the connecting element 11 is configured as an external thread, it is advantageous if the holding element 10 has an internal thread matched thereto on the inner circumference of the cutout. If the connecting element 11 is configured as a protruding collar, it is advantageous if the retaining element 10 has an internal groove matched thereto on the inner circumference of the cutout.

[0109] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the securing device 1 that differs from the embodiment of FIG. 3 in that a different connecting element 13 is provided. In this case, the connecting element 13 is arranged at that end of the coupling portion 4 which faces the skin 9, specifically as an end-side collar protruding circumferentially over the coupling portion 4. This embodiment has the advantage that the retaining element 10 does not have to be specially adapted for securing the connecting element 13. Instead, the securing device 1 can simply be pushed through the cutout of the retaining element 10, with the connecting element 13 yielding somewhat here because of a flexible configuration and rebounding again after the coupling portion 4 is pushed through the cutout. This can be realized, for example, by the coupling portion 4 together with the connecting element 13 being configured as a plastic component, e.g. made from a plastic with sufficient flexibility in order to enable the connecting element 13 to be passed through the cutout. For example, the coupling portion 4 can be produced as a plastic injection molded component, wherein the skin piercing element 2 can be immediately injected there in the injecting procedure and can therefore be anchored therein. The remaining regions of the securing device 1, in particular the securing portion 6 and the actuating element 7, can likewise be produced integrally with the coupling portion 4 in a plastic injection molding process.

[0110] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a further embodiment of a securing device 1. In this case, the actuating element 7 is configured as a web which is continuous in the transverse direction and which has a cutout 16. The cutout 16 can be used as a further securing portion of the securing device 1, for example by a tube being firmly clamped there.

[0111] As FIGS. 5 and 6 show, the securing device 1 can additionally have a stop 15. The stop 15 can interact with at least one travel limiting element 14 which is formed on the retaining element 10. By interaction of the stop 15 with the travel limiting element 14, the maximum angle of rotation of the securing device 1 is limited. If the stop 15 comes to rest against the travel limiting element 14, the securing device 1 can no longer be rotated further in the respective direction of rotation.

[0112] A plurality of travel limiting elements 14, e.g. at least two travel limiting elements, can also be provided. They can be differently shaped and operable (e.g. can be pushed down). They can in particular also have the function of securing the position of the skin piercing element 2 in the securing state (“locking function”).

[0113] However, the travel limiting element 14 can also be configured here in the form in which it is connected to the retaining element 10 via a spiral spring. The spiral spring can be attached here recessed in a cylindrical cutout/a hole in the retaining element 10. It is thereby possible to actively push the travel limiting element 14 in the direction of the retaining element 10 and therefore to temporarily actively stop the action of the travel limiting element 14 in order nevertheless to be able to actively rotate the stop 15 via the travel limiting element 14. The travel limiting element 14 itself can be configured, for example, in the form of a ram or a ramp, but other forms are also conceivable.

[0114] The arrangement can have a depth scale at which the penetration depth of the skin piercing element 2 into the skin 9 can be read in accordance with the respective angle of rotation of the securing device 1 about the axis of rotation 8 in relation to the retaining element 10. The depth scale can be arranged, for example, on the surface of the retaining element 10 facing away from the skin 9. The depth scale can be configured here in multicolored form, for example even in the colors of a traffic light.

[0115] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a securing device 1 which is not configured for interaction with a retaining element 10, as described previously. The securing device 1 has merely the skin piercing element 2, a coupling portion 4 and a manual actuating element 7. The manual actuating element 7 can also be formed here with the coupling portion 4 as one component, similarly to the securing portion with the actuating element 7 in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0116] The coupling element 4 or, if the latter is configured as a component with the actuating portion 7, said common component, in turn has the skin contact surface 5 on the side facing the skin 9. In this case, the cutout 16 to which, for example, a tube or another article can be fastened, is provided on the actuating element 7 as securing portion.

[0117] Said securing portion 16, which is illustrated as a cutout in the examples of FIGS. 5 to 7, may also be configured differently, for example as a pivotable or foldable element which can be pivoted or folded onto the actuating element 7 in order to secure the article that is to be secured on the securing device 1. This also includes the possibility that a type of cover can be pivoted via the securing portion 16 in order, for example, to even more securely secure a catheter tube in this fixing portion 16 if it is already in said securing portion 16.

[0118] FIG. 8 shows an assembly in which a securing bridge 17 is secured by two securing devices 1, which can be configured according to the previously explained type, to the skin 9. The securing bridge 17 has, for example, two retaining elements 10 of the previously described type. The retaining elements 10 are connected to one another via a bridge region 18, which can be, for example, curved or angled. The securing bridge 17 is therefore configured similarly to a hose clip. An article that is to be secured and that can be secured to the skin via the securing bridge 17 can be arranged below the bridge region 18. However, the bridge region 18 can also be deformable in all directions. As soon as the article that is to be secured is arranged under the bridge region 18, the latter can be pushed in the direction of the article that is to be secured. The bridge region 18 can therefore be in contact in a securing manner with the article to be secured or can at least partially surround said article with contact. The entire bridge region 18 or that side of the bridge region 18 which faces the article that is to be secured can additionally have here special material properties, such as a roughened surface, an increased frictional resistance or sticky properties for better securing of the article that is to be secured, or can be provided with a coating which has said properties.