Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for handling a catheter with an elongate valve body ( 12 ), a lever arm ( 26 ) which is, prestressed by means of a spring element and mounted pivotably on the valve body ( 12 ) so as to be pivotable from a first end position into a second end position ( 34 ) counter to the prestressing force of the spring element, a pressure piston ( 24 ) which is received in the valve body ( 12 ) and can be moved in the longitudinal direction by means of the lever arm ( 26 ) in order to open a sealing element in the valve body ( 12 ) when the lever arm ( 26 ) is moved in the direction of the second end position ( 34 ), and a catch mechanism ( 40 ) which has an arresting arrangement ( 42 ) and a catch tongue ( 50 ) interacting therewith in order to hold the lever arm ( 26 ) in at least one catching position. The catch mechanism ( 40 ) is designed in such a way that the arresting arrangement ( 42 ) and the catch tongue ( 50 ) come out of engagement when the second end position ( 34 ) of the lever arm ( 26 ) is reached, so that the spring element guides the lever arm ( 26 ) back into the first end position

Description:
CROSSREFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of copending international patent application PCT/EP2004/013701, filed on Dec. 2, 2004 and designating the U.S., which claims priority of German patent application DE 10 2004 001 461.2, filed on Jan. 8, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates to a device for handling a catheter with an elongate valve body, a lever arm which is prestressed by means of a spring element and mounted pivotably on the valve body so as to be pivotable from a first end position into a second end position counter to the prestressing force of the spring element, a pressure piston which is received in the valve body and can be moved in the longitudinal direction by means of the lever arm in order to open a sealing element in the valve body when the lever arm is moved in the direction of the second end position, and a catch mechanism which has an arresting arrangement and a catch tongue interacting therewith in order to hold the lever arm in at least one catching position.  
         [0004]     2. Related Prior Art  
         [0005]     Such a device is known from DE 195 26 075 C1, for example. In this device, for actuating a pressure piston introduced in a valve body by means of a lever arm, a flexible arresting piece with a catch nose is designed in one piece on a valve body, with which piece a catching end of the lever arm can be held in a catching position. The arresting piece extends essentially at right angles to the valve body. In the catching position, a clamping force is exerted on a catheter guided through the valve body and the pressure piston in order to secure the catheter against unintentional displacement in the axial direction.  
         [0006]     A further such device is known from WO 01/15768 A1, for example. In this device, the arresting piece has a number of catch noses for locking the lever arm in a number of catching positions and an actuating wing which is aligned in prolongation of the lever arm in the catching positions of the lever arm.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Although the abovementioned device can be operated very easily and ergonomically, a desire exists on the part of the user for the usability to be improved further.  
         [0008]     Against this background, the object of the present invention is to develop the device referred to in the introduction in such a way that easier operation is made possible.  
         [0009]     This object is achieved in the abovementioned device by virtue of the fact that the catch mechanism is designed in such a way that the arresting arrangement and the catch tongue come out of engagement when the second end position of the lever arm is reached, so that the spring element guides the lever arm back into the first end position.  
         [0010]     In other words, the catch mechanism is designed in such a way that the user simply has to press the lever arm into the second end position in order to arrive at the first end position again. When the lever arm reaches the second end position, the catch tongue is released from the arresting arrangement and as it were frees the catch mechanism, so that the lever arm can then move into the first end position. In this connection, the spring element ensures the return of the lever arm into the first end position.  
         [0011]     The reason operation is so simple for the user is that in the end he has to perform only one movement of the lever arm, namely pressing the lever arm in the direction of the second end position. It is consequently no longer necessary to release the catching position of the lever arm by, for example, pressing an actuating wing as is proposed in the publication WO 01/15768 A1 referred to above.  
         [0012]     In a preferred development of the invention, the arresting arrangement has a number of catch noses which are arranged along a concentric line around the fulcrum of the lever arm in order to define a number of catching positions of the lever arm between the two end positions.  
         [0013]     These measures have the advantage that the several catching positions further simplify usability as the user can better adjust the clamping force acting on the catheter.  
         [0014]     In a further preferred embodiment, the catch nose facing the valve body follows a guide surface extending at an angle in order, when the second end position of the lever arm is reached, to guide the catch tongue onto that side of the arresting arrangement facing away from the catch nose, so that the catch tongue cannot enter into engagement with the catch noses when the lever arm is returned into the first end position.  
         [0015]     In other words, a surface which extends upward at an angle (away from the valve body) toward the rear surface in relation to the catch noses is provided at that end of the arresting arrangement facing the valve body. The catch tongue on the lever arm is thus guided onto the rear side of the catch noses when the second end position is reached, so that the catch tongue cannot come into contact with the catch noses during the travel of the lever arm into the first end position.  
         [0016]     This measure results in a very simple design of the arresting arrangement and makes very safe operation possible.  
         [0017]     In a further preferred embodiment, the catch tongue and the catch noses extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the valve body.  
         [0018]     This measure is especially simple as far as construction is concerned.  
         [0019]     In a preferred development, the lever arm has an elongated hole, through which a lateral tube starting from the valve body extends.  
         [0020]     This measure makes a very compact device with great stability possible, in particular also with regard to the lever arm, which can be stabilized additionally by the interaction of elongated hole and lateral tube.  
         [0021]     The valve body and/or the lever arm are preferably designed as injection-molded parts, the valve body and the arresting arrangement preferably being provided as one-piece components.  
         [0022]     Further advantages and developments of the invention emerge from the description and the accompanying drawing.  
         [0023]     It is clear that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be used not only in the combination indicated in each case but also in other combinations or individually without leaving the scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0024]     The invention is now explained by way of example with reference to a preferred embodiment and the drawing, in which:  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a diagrammatic side view of the device according to the invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows a diagrammatic illustration of the catch mechanism;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows a diagrammatic top view of the lever arm, and  
         [0028]      FIGS. 4A  to  4 I show different illustrations of the catch mechanism in different positions in order to describe its functioning. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     In  FIG. 1 , a device according to the invention is shown in a diagrammatic illustration from the side and designated by reference number  10 . The device  10  has an elongate valve body  12  which has an axial valve body guide-through (not illustrated). The valve body  12  thus constitutes a tubular element which is open at both its ends. A lateral tube  14  is attached in one piece to the valve body  12  in a central longitudinal region, the lateral tube  14  extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the valve body, for example at an angle of 45°. In this connection, the lateral tube  14  runs into the valve body guide-through.  
         [0030]     At a connection end  16 , which faces away from the body of a patient when the device  10  is used as intended, a rotary cuff  18  is provided, with which the valve body  12  can be closed in a sealed way in a manner known per se when a guide catheter has been introduced. In an end  20  opposite the connection end  16 , which faces the body of a patient when the device  10  is used as intended, a sealing arrangement  22  is provided, which consists of a pressure piston  24  and a sealing stopper provided in the valve body guide-through and located at the inner end of the pressure piston  24 . The sealing stopper, which cannot be seen in  FIG. 1 , is made from an elastic material and has a continuous opening in the longitudinal direction which can be closed under pressure load in the longitudinal direction. This pressure load is applied to the sealing stopper by means of the pressure piston  24 .  
         [0031]     The device  10  also has a lever arm  26  which is mounted pivotably about a spindle  28  on the connection end  20 .  
         [0032]     The lever arm  26  is prestressed into a first end position shown in  FIG. 1  by means of a torsion spring  30 . For this, the torsion spring  30  provided with helical turns has an end portion  32  which is fixed to the valve body  12  and an end portion which is fixed to a surface of the lever arm  26  which faces the valve body  12  but cannot be seen in the figure.  
         [0033]     The lever arm  26  can be rotated about the spindle  28  from the first end position, which is shown, in the direction of the arrow P into a second end position  34  counter to the force of the torsion spring  30 . Without corresponding loading of the lever arm  26 , it is guided back into the first end position, which is shown, again by means of the torsion spring  30 .  
         [0034]     A component not illustrated in  FIG. 1 , which interacts with the pressure piston  24  in such a way that, when the lever arm  26  is moved into the second end position  34 , the pressure piston  24  is displaced in the longitudinal direction in order to reduce the load on the sealing stopper and thus to open the guide-through in the sealing stopper, is provided on the lever arm  26 . In other words, the pressure piston  24  is pressed so strongly against the sealing stopper when the prestressed lever arm  26  is in the first end position that the guide-through is completely closed.  
         [0035]     The purpose of such a medical device is generally known and is therefore not to be described in greater detail. Briefly, the device  10  serves for clamping sealingly by means of the sealing stopper a catheter running through the valve body  12 ; the clamping force can be reduced, in order for it to be possible to move the catheter in the longitudinal direction, by actuating the lever arm  26 .  
         [0036]     As for the rest, reference is made to WO 01/15768 with regard to the functioning and the construction of the valve body  12 . The content of the disclosure of this publication is to this extent included in the present application by reference.  
         [0037]     In order for it to be possible to hold the lever arm  26  in different positions, a catch mechanism  40  is provided, which comprises an arresting arrangement  42  assigned to the valve body  12  and a catch tongue arrangement  44  assigned to the lever arm  26 .  
         [0038]     The arresting arrangement  42  is designed as a plate-shaped part which is provided on the lateral tube  14 . A number of catch noses  48 , three by way of example in the present embodiment, are provided in the edge region  46  facing away from the lateral tube  14 .  
         [0039]     For its part, the catch tongue arrangement  44  has a catch tongue  50  which can interact with the catch noses  48 . The catch noses  48  and the catch tongue  50  consequently lie on a concentric line K around the spindle  28 .  
         [0040]     The catch tongue arrangement  44  is provided on the lower side of the lever arm  26  facing the valve body, likewise in the form of a strip-shaped or plate-shaped element.  
         [0041]     The catch mechanism  40  is shown again, separately, in an enlarged diagrammatic illustration in  FIG. 2 . In this connection, the view is from the connection end  20 , so that the plate-shaped part of the arresting arrangement  42 , which is designated by reference number  52 , conceals a portion of the edge region. This is illustrated by the dotted line and the slightly lighter hatching of the edge region  46 .  
         [0042]     The catch tongue  50  of the catch tongue arrangement  44  is designed as a triangular component, for example, which projects in relation to the basic body  54  of the catch tongue arrangement  44 . With respect to the drawing plane in  FIG. 2 , the catch tongue  50  thus lies in front of the basic body  54 . The catch tongue  50  has a catching surface  56  and a surface  58  extending at an angle thereto. The catching surface  56  extends approximately on a radial line in relation to the spindle  28 .  
         [0043]     The arresting arrangement  42  has the said three catch noses  48 , which are designed as triangular recesses in the edge region  46 . The triangular recesses each have a catching surface  60 , these surfaces being approximately parallel to the catching surface  56 .  
         [0044]     The catch tongue  50  and the catch noses  48  are dimensioned in such a way that the catching surface  56  can in each case interact with the catching surface  60  of the three catch noses  48  over as full an area as possible. In order to facilitate release of the catch connection, each catch nose  48  has a surface  62  extending downward to the left at an angle in relation to the catching surface  60 . This surface  62  interacts with the surface  58  extending at an angle of the catch tongue  50  in such a way that the catch tongue arrangement  44  is moved out of the catch nose  48  when a downward movement takes place.  
         [0045]     In order to ensure that the catch tongue  50  passes into the upper catch nose  48  when the lever arm  26  is moved out of the first end position, the edge region has an upper edge surface  64  falling to the left at an angle (related to the illustration shown in  FIG. 2 ). This edge surface  64  prevents the catch nose  50  passing onto the rear side  66 , facing away from the catch noses  48 , of the edge region  46  when the lever arm  26  is moved out of the first end position.  
         [0046]     An edge surface  68  which (related to the illustration in  FIG. 2 ) falls to the left at an angle is likewise provided at the lower end of the edge region  46 . The purpose of this edge surface  68  is to guide the catch nose arrangement  44  onto the rear side  66  after the lowest catch nose  48  has been passed and the actuating force has been released. In this connection, the catching surface  56  of the catch tongue  50  slides along the edge surface  68 .  
         [0047]     With the aid of this catch mechanism, it is consequently possible to lock the lever arm  26  in three predetermined catching positions and to bring it back into the original, first end position by pressing the lever arm  26  into the lower, second end position  34  and then releasing it. In this connection, the spring force acting on the lever arm  26  causes the catch tongue  50  to slide along the lower edge surface  68  and to be guided onto the rear side  66  of the arresting arrangement  42 . As there are no catch noses here, the lever arm  26  can pivot back into the first end position unhindered.  
         [0048]      FIG. 3  shows the lever arm  26  in an enlarged diagrammatic illustration. In this connection, it can be seen that the lever arm  26  has an elongated hole  70 , through which the lateral tube  14  extends. Moreover, the lever arm  26  has a recessed grip  72 , which ends at the edge  74  illustrated.  
         [0049]      FIG. 3  also shows that the lateral tube  14  has two laterally provided webs  76  which lie in a radial plane (related to the lateral tube  14 ). The dimension in the radial direction (in relation to the lateral tube  14 ) is selected in such a way that the webs  76  end shortly before the respective edge of the elongated hole  70 . These webs  76  are intended to prevent the lever arm  26  being capable of moving at right angles to the longitudinal axis. This is because such a movement at right angles (parallel to the spindle  28 ) could result in the catch tongue  50  coming out of a catch nose  48  as catch nose  48  and catch tongue  50  extend in this direction (at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the valve body). The webs  76  consequently serve for guiding the lever arm  26  in a plane of rotation. As emerges from  FIG. 1 , the webs  76  extend longitudinally in relation to the lateral tube  14  in the direction of the valve body  12 .  
         [0050]     The functioning of the catch mechanism  40  is explained again, in detail, in  FIGS. 4A  to  4 I. For simplification, however, the reference numbers used in  FIG. 2  have not been shown again. In this connection, the sequence of the positions illustrated in  FIGS. 4A  to  4 I corresponds to a movement of the lever arm  26  from the first, upper end position into the second, lower end position  34  and back into the first end position again.  FIG. 4B  shows the catch tongue arrangement  44  in a first catching position,  FIG. 4D  in a second catching position and  FIG. 4E  in a third catching position. If the lever arm  26  is pressed further in the direction of the valve body  12  counter to the spring force  30 , the catch tongue  50  passes onto the edge surface  68 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4F , and slides along this onto the rear side  66  of the arresting arrangement  42  when the lever arm  26  is released. On this rear side  66 , the catch tongue  50  then slides upward back into the first end position, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4G  to  4 I.  
         [0051]     As the lever arm  26  and thus the catch tongue  50  cannot be moved in the direction of the spindle.  28 , which is prevented by the webs  76 , the lever arm  26  can be brought back into the first end position from any of the catching positions only by movement into the second end position  34 . It is consequently not possible to move back directly into the first end position from a catching position.  
         [0052]     As the user of the device  10  accordingly has to perform only one movement of the lever arm  26  for catching and releasing the lever arm, operation is especially easy.