Retaining means for retaining an external functional means on a treatment apparatus, external functional means, and treatment apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a retaining device for retaining at least one external functional apparatus comprising at least two tube ports on a treatment apparatus, wherein the retaining device comprises at least two stops which restrict a rotational movement of the external functional apparatus inside the retaining device. It further relates to an external functional apparatus as well as a treatment apparatus.

Claims

1. A system for retaining at least one blood treatment filter on a blood treatment apparatus comprising: the at least one blood treatment filter comprising at least two tube ports configured for coupling to tube conduits; and a retaining device comprising at least two stops that restrict a rotational movement of the at least one blood treatment filter inside the retaining device; wherein the retaining device further comprises: one cover device for preventing or restricting a shift of the blood treatment filter along a direction of main extension of the retaining device or along a vertical direction, wherein at least one tube port of the blood treatment filter rests on at least one stop of the retaining device during use, at least one lever, a base body, and a connection device connecting the at least one lever and the base body directly wherein the connection device is or comprises a spring, wherein said lever is configured to push the blood treatment filter against the base body via a lateral acting force of the spring; and wherein the blood treatment filter is retained on the blood treatment apparatus on only substantially three lateral sides, out of four total lateral sides of the blood treatment filter, by the retaining device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two tube ports of the blood treatment filter are arranged on the blood treatment filter at an angle with a vertical or at an angle with the direction of main extension during use.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the base body is a rotationally symmetrical base body, wherein a twist of the blood treatment filter in the retaining device about the axis of rotation of the base body thereof is restricted by the at least two stops.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the restricted twist of the blood treatment filter is for protecting the tube conduits adapted to be coupled to the blood treatment filter.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the lever acts on the blood treatment filter via the spring.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the retaining device further comprises: a wall having a lining in at least one portion thereof.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the retaining device further comprises: a mechanical coding for preventing incorrect insertion of the blood treatment filter.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the retaining device further comprises: a recess for the insertion of a handle of a plug-in coupling.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the blood treatment filter further comprises: at least one plug-in coupling.

10. The system according claim 1, wherein the at least two tube ports of the blood treatment filter are arranged on different levels.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the blood treatment filter is connected to an extracorporeal blood circuit.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two tube ports include at least two different types of tube ports for connecting the blood treatment filter to the tube conduits.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one plug-in coupling comprises at least one cam.

14. A blood treatment apparatus comprising: the system of claim 1.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the blood treatment apparatus is a dialysis apparatus.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the base body and the at least one lever are separate components that are connected to one another.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the spring is directly connected to the base body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the present invention will be explained by means of example with reference to the appended drawings. In the drawings, identical reference numerals designate same or identical elements, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a front view of a retaining means of the invention in accordance with a first embodiment.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of the retaining means of the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a top view of the retaining means of the invention.

(5) FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of a portion of a retaining means of the invention in accordance with a second embodiment.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a Hansen coupling.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a front view of the retaining means according to the invention with an external functional means in the form of a dialysis filter for adults.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a side view of the retaining means according to the invention with the external functional means of FIG. 6.

(9) FIG. 8 shows a front view of the retaining means according to the invention with an external functional means in the form of a dialysis filter for children.

(10) FIG. 9 shows a side view of the retaining means according to the invention with the external functional means of FIG. 8.

(11) FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of a retaining means according to the invention.

(12) FIG. 11 shows a perspective view (from the front and top) of a retaining means according to the invention.

(13) FIG. 12 shows a perspective view (from behind and top) of a retaining means according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(14) FIG. 1 schematically shows a front view of a retaining means 100 of the invention in accordance with a first embodiment. The retaining means 100 comprises a base body 1. The retaining means 100 is part of a treatment apparatus 200. The retaining means 100 comprises a flap or a lever 3.

(15) An external functional means 300, e.g., a dialysis filter, comprises a base body 5. The external functional means 300 comprises at least one first tube port 7 as well as a second tube port 9. The external functional means 300 is inserted in the retaining means 100 such as to abut against a cover means of the retaining means 100, e.g., a lid 11 at its upper side (as shown in the arrangement of FIG. 1). The lid 11 prevents shifting of the external functional means 300 along the direction of the main extension H of the retaining means 100 which is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1.

(16) The external functional means 300 is held in the retaining means 100 from the front side by means of the lever 3. The lever 3 is pushed against the base body 1 by a tensioning means, e.g., a spring 13. The external functional means 300 arranged in the retaining means 100 is therefore also pushed against the base body 1 from the front side and is thus retained in the retaining means 100.

(17) FIG. 2 shows a first lateral view of the retaining means 100 of the invention. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the lid 11 pushes the external functional means 300 or the base body 5 thereof against the base body 1 of the retaining means 100. In FIG. 2, the external functional means 300 is connected to a tube conduit 15.

(18) The external functional means 300 further comprises two stops 23 and 24 against which the first tube port 7 and the second tube port 9 abut if the external functional means 300 arranged in the retaining means 100 is rotated further about its longitudinal axis than it is intended to. A tube conduit 15, e.g., a dialysate conduit, is connected to the external functional means 300. It is connected to the external functional means 300 by means of the first tube port 7.

(19) FIG. 3 shows a top view of the retaining means 100 of the invention. The retaining means 100 comprises a stop 23 against which a first Hansen coupling 19 abuts. The retaining means 100 comprises a lining, e.g., an elastic material 25, on a wall 27 of the base body 1. The elastic material 25 may on the one hand advantageously promote an anti-slip retention of the external functional means 300 in the retaining means 100; on the other hand it may serve as a cushioning for the protection of the external functional means 300.

(20) As can be seen in FIG. 3, the external functional means 300 is retained on the treatment apparatus (not shown in FIG. 3) on substantially three sides via the base body 1 by the retaining means 100 in accordance with the invention. By simply pulling the external functional means 300, it is easily possible to remove the latter from the retaining means 100.

(21) FIG. 4 shows a detail or portion of a retaining means 100 of the invention in accordance with a second embodiment. The retaining means 100 has a recess 29. The recess 29, presently shown as a -circle recess, represents a part of a cross-coupling safeguard. It is arranged about the first tube port 7. The recess 29 acts as a mechanical coding and makes sure that the external functional means 300 is correctly connected for the condition of its use. If, for example, a connection of the external functional means 300 by means of plug-in couplings is provided, the recess 29 may be configured such that it may receive only a quite particular type and/or configuration of a plug-in coupling to thus admit coupling of the external functional means 300.

(22) FIG. 5 shows an example of such a plug-in coupling having the shape of a Hansen coupling. FIG. 5 exemplarily shows the configuration of the first Hansen coupling 19. The Hansen coupling 19 comprises two protrusions or cams 31 on its upper side (see top view of the right-hand representation in FIG. 5). The cams 31 are provided for admitting the first Hansen coupling 19 only to be arranged in a particular position of the retaining means, e.g. in accordance with the representation in FIG. 2, on top at the external functional means 300. In this way, an incorrect connection or coupling of tube conduits to the external functional means may advantageously be avoided. At the same time, the cams 31 can serve as stops to prevent any arbitrary twist of the external functional means 300 about its longitudinal axis.

(23) In certain embodiments, the retaining means according to the invention is advantageously suited to receive differently designed external functional means, e.g., dialyzerswithout having to be modified itself in its construction. However, in other embodiments, the retaining means according to the invention can also be adapted to the type and/or the configuration/the construction of the external functional means intended to be received or retained, respectively.

(24) FIGS. 6 and 7 and FIGS. 8 and 9 in which the retaining means 100 is shown in a front section top right of the treatment apparatus 200 in a view on the front side of the treatment apparatus 200 demonstrate how one and the same retaining means according to the invention which is substantially identical in both the FIGS. 6, 7 and the FIGS. 8, 9 (the retaining means may optionally include differently designed details that are, however, insignificant for the relevant aspects of fixation) is able to receive two differently designed external functional meanseach at a different point of time. As individual components as well as the way of how the external functional means is fixed to the retaining means according to the invention substantially or completely correspond to the embodiments described with respect to the foregoing figures, it is referred to the above-mentioned embodiments in order to avoid repetitions.

(25) FIG. 6 shows a front view of the retaining means according to the invention with an external functional means 300 in the form of a dialysis filter for adults, e.g., a dialyzer of the FX 120 type of the company Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH, Germany. FIG. 7 shows a side view of the retaining means according to the invention with the external functional means of FIG. 6.

(26) FIG. 8 shows a front view of the retaining means according to the invention with an external functional means in the form of a dialysis filter for children, e.g., a pediatric dialyzer of the FX type of the company Fresenius. FIG. 9 shows one respective side view. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the external functional means 300 comprises a Hansen coupling 19 at a second tube connection (hidden in FIGS. 8 and 9).

(27) As compared to the external functional means 300 of FIGS. 6 and 7, the external functional means 300 in FIGS. 8 and 9 is clearly slighter. Due to the retaining means according to the invention which is advantageously suited for receiving differently designed external functional means, it is possible to retain both the thicker dialysis filter for adults and the thinner dialysis filter for children in a force closure or frictional connection and slipping-safe manner.

(28) FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of a retaining means according to the invention which exemplifies a way of assembling the retaining means. A retaining means assembled according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 10 is shown in a perspective view from the front and top in FIG. 11 and in a perspective view from behind and top in FIG. 12.