APPARATUS COMPRISING A MULTI-LUMEN TUBE

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus comprising at least one multi-lumen tube, wherein the tube has a first group of lumens and a second group of lumens wherein the lumens of the second group are arranged around the lumen(s) of the first group, and wherein the lumen(s) of the first group serve the transportation of at least one first fluid, and wherein the lumens of the second group are filled with at least one functional fluid, wherein the apparatus furthermore comprises at least one actuator which is in communication with at least one of the second lumens and is configured such that at least one property of the functional fluid can be changed by means of the actuator.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising at least one multi-lumen tube, wherein the tube has a first group of lumens and a second group of lumens wherein the lumen(s) of the second group are arranged around the lumen(s) of the first group, and wherein the lumen(s) of the first group serve the transportation of at least one fluid, and wherein the lumen(s) of the second group is/are filled with at least one functional fluid, and wherein the apparatus furthermore comprises at least one actuator which is in communication with at least one of the second lumens and is configured such that at least one property of the functional fluid can be changed by means of the actuator.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the actuator is configured such that the pressure and/or the volume flow and/or the temperature of the functional fluid can be varied by means of the actuator.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that at least one sensor is provided which is configured such that it determines at least one property of the functional fluid and/or of the transported fluid and/or of at least one lumen of the second group of lumens, with provision preferably being made that the actuator is in communication with the sensor and is configured such that the property change of the functional fluid is changed in dependence on the property measured by means of the sensor.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the actuator is configured such that it changes the temperature of the functional fluid in dependence on the temperature of the transported fluid.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the actuator is configured such that it changes the pressure of the functional fluid in dependence on the flow resistance of one or more lumens of the second group.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the functional fluid is a gas or a liquid.

7. Use of an apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in a blood treatment device, in particular in a dialyzer.

8. A blood treatment device, in particular a dialyzer, having at least one extracorporeal circuit, characterized in that the blood treatment device is configured with at least one apparatus in accordance with claim 1; and in that the extracorporeal circuit is formed at least sectionally by the multi-lumen tube.

9. A method of operating an apparatus in accordance with claim 1, with the method comprising the step of changing at least one property of the functional fluid.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the method comprises the step of increasing the pressure in at least one lumen of the second group when a kinking of the tube has been determined.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that the kinking of the tube is detected in that the functional fluid is conducted through at least one lumen of the second group and the pressure drop of the functional fluid is measured on the throughflow, with provision preferably being made that at least two lumens of the second group are connected to one another, with the functional fluid flowing through a lumen in a first direction and subsequently through a further lumen in a second direction opposite to the first direction and with the pressure drop of the functional fluid being measured on the throughflow of both lumens.

12. A method in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that the pressure of the functional fluid in the lumen(s) of the second group is increased for so long until the measured pressure drop falls below a specific limit value.

13. A method in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the method comprises the step of transferring information and/or energy by at least one property change of the functional fluid and preferably by a pressure change or by pressure pulses of the functional fluid.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, characterized in that at least one valve is provided which is arranged such that it is actuated by the property change of the functional fluid.

15. A method in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the method comprises the step of measuring the temperature of the fluid flowing through the lumen(s) of the first group and a property change of the functional fluid in dependence thereon.

Description

[0034] Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment described in the following.

[0035] The embodiment relates to a dialyzer having an extracorporeal blood circuit which comprises one or more tubes which comprise(s) a multi-lumen tube in total or section-wise.

[0036] The tube has a single inner lumen which is flowed through by blood as well as a plurality of lumens which are arranged around it and surround the inner lumen. Six lumens of the second group can be provided overall, for example, which surround the central lumen.

[0037] The dialyzer furthermore has at least one actuator by means of which the pressure in the outer lumens can be changed. At least one pressure sensor is furthermore provided which detects the pressure of the functional fluid.

[0038] Provision is made in this respect that at least two of the outwardly disposed lumens are connected to or communicate with one another such that the functional fluid flows, starting from the dialyzer, through one of the second lumens, then undergoes a reversal of direction, and subsequently flows through another one of the second lumens back to the dialyzer. The pressure sensor detects the pressure loss over this flow path or at least the pressure at the end of the second lumen through which the functional fluid flows back to the dialyzer,

[0039] If it is detected that the pressure loss is too large, a conclusion is drawn on the kinking of the multi-lumen tube.

[0040] The dialyzer thereupon activates the actuator which increases the pressure in the outwardly disposed lumens, whereby the multi-lumen tube experiences a greater stability and the kink pint is effectively removed.

[0041] The functional fluid, which can be air or water, for example, can also take over other tasks such as the transfer of information between the patient and the dialyzer or the transfer of energy, for example for actuating a valve, etc.