Conveying Device for Body Fluid

Abstract

A conveying device for body fluid includes a catheter tube having a distal end to be inserted into the body and a proximal end. In order to provide a conveying device which can no longer become clogged with coagulating substances, a hollow body which is arranged in a longitudinally moveable and/or rotatable manner in the catheter tube, extends from the distal end at least up to the proximal end, and forms a transport channel over its length extending in the extension direction of the catheter tube.

Claims

1. A conveying device for body fluid comprising a catheter tube having a distal end to be inserted into the body and a proximal end, wherein a hollow body which is arranged longitudinally moveable rotatable in the catheter tube, extends from the distal end at least up to the proximal end, and forms a transport channel over its length extending in the extension direction of the catheter tube.

2. The conveying device according to claim 1, the hollow body is provided over its length with at least one radially extending scraping segment.

3. The conveying device according to claim 1, the hollow body being formed by a helix.

4. The conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that the catheter tube at least one opening in the region of its distal end on its shell surface and the hollow body forming a scraping edge which interacts with the opening.

5. The conveying device according to claim 1, the catheter tube having an axial stop for the hollow body at its distal end.

6. The conveying device according to claim 1, the hollow body being insertable into a drive element and coupled to the drive element.

7. The conveying device according to claim 1, further comprising a coupling unit with a coupling housing having a catheter tube connection and a suction line connection which communicate with a flow channel surrounded by the coupling housing.

8. The conveying device according to claim 7, further comprising a drive element rotatably supported on the coupling housing for driving the hollow body.

9. The conveying device according to claim 7, the suction line connection, the catheter tube connection and/or the drive element having an internal diameter which is configured in a manner adapted for the passage of the hollow body.

10. The conveying device according to one of claims 7, the flow channel being at least partially formed by a sleeve which is rotatably supported in the coupling housing and can be detachably connected to the hollow body in a non-rotating manner.

11. The conveying device according to claim 10, the sleeve being detachably connectable to the coupling housing and detachably drivingly connectable to a sleeve drive element.

12. The conveying device according to claim 11, the sleeve drive element having a drive shaft which is exposed at the coupling housing.

13. The conveying device according to claim 1, further comprising a flushing line communicating with at least one of the catheter tube, the suction line, or with the flow channel.

14. The conveying device according to claim 6, further comprising a drive which can be drivingly coupled to the drive element, and a drive control associated with the drive, which is configured such that the hollow body can be rotated via the drive.

15. The conveying device according to claim 14, the drive control having a torque detection and in that the detected torque enters the control of the drive.

16. The conveying device according to claim 14, the drive control being in a structural unit with a suction control of a suction pump which is assigned to a collection container which can be connected to the suction line.

17. The conveying device according to claim 14, the drive control being connected data-wise to a pressure sensor measuring a suction pressure in the suction line.

18. A method for operating a fluid conveying device for body fluid comprising a catheter tube having a distal end and a proximal end and a hollow body which hollow body is arranged longitudinally moveable and/or rotatable in the catheter tube, which hollow body extends from the distal end at least up to the proximal end, and forms a transport channel over its length extending in the extension direction of the catheter tube in which method the hollow body is moved longitudinally and/or rotated within the catheter tube while the catheter tube is held in place and while a negative pressure is applied at the proximal end of the catheter tube to convey by means of a suction pressure liquid through the transport channel and into a collection container.

19. The conveying device according to claim 1, further comprising a flushing line communicating with the catheter tube and with the suction line and with the flow channel.

Description

[0035] Further details and advantages of the present invention can be derived from the following description of an embodiment in conjunction with the drawing. Therein:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a side view of essential components of the embodiment of a conveying device;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of a coupling unit of the present invention; and

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of functional components of the embodiment of the conveying device.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a catheter tube 2 with a distal end 4 and a proximal end 6, wherein the proximal end 6 is provided with a catheter tube connection 8. The distal end region of the catheter tube 2, identified by reference sign 10, has on its shell surface a plurality of circumferentially and axially spaced openings 12. A hollow body is identified by reference sign 14, which in the present case is formed as a helix, wherein the individual windings of the helix leave free between them an inner, axially extending cavity which forms a transport channel 16. The distal end of the hollow body 14 extends to the distal end 4 of the catheter tube 2.

[0040] The proximal end of the hollow body 14 may be accommodated in a drive sleeve 18 and connected thereto in a non-rotating manner, or may project beyond this drive sleeve, which is an example of a drive element within the meaning of the present invention.

[0041] Between the catheter tube 2 and a tubular suction line 20, a coupling housing 22 with magnetic fields alternating in circumferential direction is provided at its end which form a magnetic drive 24. The coupling housing 22 is hollow inside to accommodate the drive sleeve 18. The coupling housing 22 is non-rotatably connected to the suction line 20. The drive sleeve 18 is provided with magnets assigned to the outer circumference of alternating fields. Reference sign 26 identifies a suction line connection with a cylindrical sleeve for accommodating the magnetic drive 24.

[0042] In the assembled state, the drive sleeve 18 is surrounded by the coupling housing 22 and the magnetic drive 24 attached to it which, due to the circumferentially alternating magnetic fields, rotationally drives the drive sleeve 18 which carries the hollow body 14 along.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows an alternative to driving the hollow body 14, wherein the illustration of the catheter tube 2 and the suction line 20 was omitted. The same components are identified with the same reference signs as in the previous embodiment. However, the embodiment also illustrates in detail tube connections for the catheter tube 2 and the suction line 20 compared to the example in Fig.

[0044] In the second embodiment according to FIG. 2, the coupling housing 22 is formed by a plastic body to which the catheter connection 8 and suction line connection 26 are detachably connected. In this embodiment, the catheter tube 2 and the suction line 20 can be simply plugged onto the catheter connection 8 or the suction line connection 26 with their open ends without additional connecting elements. The coupling housing 22 rotatably supports the drive sleeve 18 and a sleeve 30, which is non-rotatably connected to the drive sleeve 18, as well as a drive element in the form of a sleeve drive element 32. The sleeve drive element 32 has a toothing which meshes with a toothing on the sleeve 30. The sleeve drive element 32 has a drive shaft 34 which protrudes beyond the coupling housing 22 for drivingly coupling with a drive not shown, for example in the form of an electric motor.

[0045] The catheter connection 8 and the suction line connection 26 are screwed to the coupling housing 22 with the interposition of seals 36. Reference sign 38 indicates a grub screw which penetrates the drive sleeve 18 and abuts against the sleeve 30 in order to connect it non-rotatably to the hollow body 14.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a flow channel 40, which is provided between the catheter connection 8 and the suction line connection 26 and is in any case partially formed by the drive sleeve 18. In the embodiment shown, the flow channel 40 is defined within the drive sleeve 18 over a certain partial length by a pretension sleeve 42, which is connected to the drive sleeve 18 in a non-rotating manner. Between the inner circumferential surface of the drive sleeve 18 and the outer circumferential surface of the pretension sleeve 42, a pretension means, for example in the form of a spring element or a compressible gas, may be provided which radially pretensions the pretension sleeve 42 such that the inner diameter formed by the pretension sleeve 42 is smaller than the outer diameter of the hollow body 14. When the hollow body 14 is passed through the pretension sleeve 42, a radial expansion of the hollow body 14 occurs, wherein a non-rotating connection between the drive sleeve 18 and the hollow body 14 inevitably results. The alternative described above represents a simple possibility of connecting the hollow body 14 to the drive sleeve 18 in a non-rotating manner by passing the hollow body 14 through the drive sleeve 18.

[0047] The non-rotating connection between the drive sleeve 18 and the sleeve 30 can also be achieved by grooves and tongues extending in the longitudinal direction of the flow channel 40 and arranged between them when the drive sleeve 18 is pushed axially into the sleeve 30. A grub screw 38 can therefore also be dispensed with.

[0048] The axial determination of the drive sleeve 18 is done by the two connections 8, 26 which accommodate the drive sleeve 18 in a fluid-tight manner in the coupling housing 22.

[0049] In the embodiment shown, the drive shaft 34 projects beyond the coupling housing 22 on opposite sides so that a connection with different couplings is possible.

[0050] FIG. 3 schematically shows further components of an embodiment. Identical components are identified with the same reference signs as in the previous examples.

[0051] FIG. 3 illustrates the status after the treatment of a patient with the catheter tube 2, in which the hollow body 14 is provided. The hollow body 14 extends distally to an axial stop identified by reference sign 44 which radially narrows the inlet opening at the distal end of the catheter tube 2, while still allowing entry into the catheter tube 2. The hollow body 14 apparently extends beyond the schematically indicated coupling unit 28 which in addition to the drive sleeve 18 accommodates a pressure sensor 46, which records the internal pressure in the catheter tube 2 or the flow channel 40 or a suction line 20. In any case, the signal of the pressure sensor 46 is indicative of the suction pressure within the catheter tube 2. This pressure sensor 46 can communicate data-wise with a control device 50 which controls both the drive of the coupling unit 28 and a suction pump, which is usually provided in a structural unit with the control device 50 and generates a negative pressure in the suction line 20, through which the liquid sucked off via the catheter tube 2 reaches a collection container 52.

[0052] The control device 50 controls the function of the suction pump as well as the control of a drive which drives the hollow body 14.

[0053] A flushing line is identified with reference sign 54 with which the suction line 20 can be flushed depending on the signals of the control device 50. In an alternative configuration, the flushing line 54 can also be positioned so that the fluid-carrying region of the coupling unit 28 or the catheter tube 2 can be at least partially flushed.

[0054] Reference sign 56 indicates a flexible drive shaft which connects a drive not shown to the drive shaft 34 inside a medical suction device 58 which accommodates the control device 50 and usually holds the collection container 52 in a detachable manner.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

[0055] 2 catheter tube [0056] 4 distal end [0057] 6 proximal end [0058] 8 catheter tube connection [0059] 10 distal end region [0060] 12 openings [0061] 14 hollow body [0062] 16 transport channel [0063] 18 drive element-drive sleeve [0064] 20 suction line [0065] 22 coupling housing [0066] 24 magnetic drives [0067] 26 suction line connection [0068] 28 coupling unit [0069] 30 sleeve [0070] 32 drive element-sleeve drive element [0071] 34 drive shaft [0072] 36 seals [0073] 38 grub screw [0074] 40 flow channel [0075] 42 pretension sleeve [0076] 44 stop [0077] 46 pressure sensor [0078] 50 control device [0079] 52 collection container [0080] 54 flushing line [0081] 56 drive shaft [0082] 58 suction device