Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20120184803A1/en
Timestamp: 2019-05-24 04:05:12
Document Index: 290056017

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 13', 'art 13', 'arts 20', 'art 3']

US20120184803A1 - Catheter device having a coupling device for a drive device - Google Patents
US20120184803A1
US20120184803A1 US13/261,151 US201013261151A US2012184803A1 US 20120184803 A1 US20120184803 A1 US 20120184803A1 US 201013261151 A US201013261151 A US 201013261151A US 2012184803 A1 US2012184803 A1 US 2012184803A1
US10172985B2 (en
The invention relates to a catheter device, having a hollow catheter (1) in the catheter cavity (29) of which a moveable shaft (2) is guided, having a proximal coupling device, for detachable coupling of a drive device (11), the coupling device having a coupling cavity (7) which is open towards the drive device and into which the shaft (2) or an extension (5) of the shaft protrudes with a connection element for mechanical coupling of a motor shaft (16), the coupling cavity having a germ barrier (9, 9′) for reducing the pathogenicity of pathogenic substances or microorganisms.
Instruments which can be actuated from outside the body via flexible shafts are often used in particular in minimally invasive medicine. These shafts are normally guided through catheters which are introduced into the body through small openings or naturally occurring body vessels under particularly sensitive surrounding conditions.
Thus, the object underlying the present invention is to produce a catheter device having a hollow catheter and a moveable shaft which, in a constructionally simple and economical manner, can be coupled reliably to a corresponding drive unit whilst maintaining the normal requirements for asepsis.
A hollow catheter which can be introduced into a body is therein provided with a catheter cavity in which a moveable shaft is guided, and also a proximal coupling device for detachable coupling of a drive device. The coupling device has a coupling cavity which is open towards the drive device and into which the shaft or an extension of the shaft with a connection element for mechanical coupling of a motor shaft protrudes. The coupling cavity has a germ barrier for reducing the pathogenicity of pathogenic substances or microorganisms.
More detail is given further on with respect to possible types and modes of operation of germ barriers.
It is important that the coupling cavity per se is open towards the motor side so that the motor shaft can be coupled in an easy and simple manner to the shaft to be actuated or a corresponding extension or connection part. The corresponding connection part can provide, in addition, a length compensation possibility, for example by form-fit adaptation to the motor shaft in the direction of rotation and axial displaceablity of the connection part relative to the motor shaft. The coupling cavity can be closed, during connection of a drive direction, advantageously by corresponding elements of the drive device, for example a sleeve which is placed in a form-fit and in a seal around a coupling sleeve forming the coupling cavity or is inserted into said sleeve. If the coupling sleeve is configured as a cylindrical sleeve, a corresponding cover advantageously provided with a seal can be configured on the sides of the drive device.
The coupling cavity can be sealed by a shaft seal relative to the catheter cavity. As a result, shielding relative to the catheter cavity, in addition to a germ barrier, is produced, which in fact per se normally does not fulfil the requirements for clinical asepsis but minimises substance exchange between the coupling cavity and the catheter cavity and hence reduces the requirements on the germ barrier or makes its effect more reliable.
A particular embodiment of the germ barrier provides that the latter is configured as a partial chamber of the coupling cavity which can be filled with a germicidal gel. This partial chamber is penetrated by the shaft so that no living germs can migrate in particular along the shaft. The use of a gel ensures, on the one hand, that the latter does not flow because of its thixotropic properties, i.e. remains stationary, and that, on the other hand, cavities which could possibly be produced are constantly closed. Instead of the gel, also a viscous liquid can possibly be used.
It can be provided that the partial chamber is delimited, on the drive side, by a seal or a bearing for the shaft. In addition to the corresponding support and guidance of the shaft, the gel or possibly liquefied partial quantities of the gel is hence retained in the partial chamber.
Advantageously, the partial chamber has a filling opening through which gel can be introduced when the drive device is coupled. This means that, for example in the coupling sleeve, a closable opening, e.g. with a connection pipe, is provided, through which the gel can be introduced before or after coupling of the drive and hence the germ barrier can be provided.
A further advantageous embodiment of the germ barrier provides that the latter is configured as an irradiation chamber which is penetrated by the shaft or an extension of the shaft and can be supplied with germicidal radiation. The corresponding irradiation chamber can be configured as a partial chamber of the coupling cavity or include this in its entirety. It can be provided that reflection elements for the radiation are provided in order to be able to reach all regions of the irradiation chamber with as few radiation sources as possible. The constitution of such reflection elements depends upon the wavelength of the radiation which is used.
The coupling sleeve which surrounds the coupling cavity at least partially is advantageously connected in a hermetically sealed fashion with the hollow catheter, and in particular is in one piece with it. The connection can be produced by the known integral connection methods, such as glueing and welding.
In order to increase the safety of the patient and the functional capacity of the shaft further, it can be provided advantageously in addition that, in addition to the mentioned germ barrier, an additional germ barrier is provided on the distal side of the shaft seal and of the coupling cavity, said germ barrier being able to be configured for example in the shape of a shaft rinsing device. In order to assist their flexibility, the normally used shafts are generally combined and twisted from thinner strands so that a spindle-like surface structure is produced, which leads, at rapid rotation, to conveyance of the fluid situated in the catheter along the shaft. This effect is in general not necessarily desired but is scarcely avoidable. Correspondingly, further new fluid must flow from the drive-side end of the catheter. This can be delivered by a corresponding shaft rinsing device which however requires special elements in order to convey the fluid into the catheter chamber free of germs and bubbles. In order to form optimised flow conditions within a shaft rinsing device, a so-called counterflow sleeve for example can be provided there, which sleeve rotates with the shaft and has drive elements for the fluid, for example in the form of blades, which act counter to the conveying direction acting on the fluid by means of the shaft surface structure.
In the following, the invention is shown with reference to an embodiment in a drawing and subsequently described. There are shown
On the left side, FIG. 1 shows the hollow catheter 1 with the flexible shaft 2 which is guided in the catheter cavity and is connected to a first connection part 3 to rotate therewith. The first connection part 3 is situated in the region of a shaft rinsing device 4 which is dealt with in more detail further on in connection with FIG. 3. On the other side of the first connection part 3, an extension 5 of the shaft 2 is connected and is guided through a shaft seal 6 in a sealed manner from the shaft rinsing device 4 to a coupling cavity 7.
A filling opening 12 through which the partial chamber 9 can be filled with a germicidal gel or a viscous germicidal liquid is provided. The shaft extension 5 extends up to a second connection part 13 and is connected fixedly thereto.
The second connection part 13 has a polygonal opening on the inside, for example a hexagonal opening, into which a corresponding hexagon 14 of a motor shaft can be introduced to rotate therewith and axially displaceable for length compensation. The coupling chamber 7 is surrounded in total by a coupling sleeve 15 which can be introduced into a corresponding cover sleeve 16 of the drive housing 17 and can be sealed thereon by means of an elastomer seal 18. The cover sleeve 16 has locking noses 19 which engage behind corresponding shoulder parts 20 of locking arms 21 of the coupling sleeve 15 and produce a detachable connection between the drive 11 and the catheter.
In FIG. 2 elements which remain the same or perform the same functions as in FIG. 1 are provided with the same reference numbers. In FIG. 2, in contrast to FIG. 1, an irradiation chamber 9′ is provided as partial chamber of the coupling cavity 7 which extends from the shaft seal 6 up to the drive-side opening 22 of the coupling cavity. Said irradiation chamber is characterised inter alia by a radiation window 23 which consists of for example Plexiglas or another material which is permeable for the corresponding radiation, in particular ultraviolet radiation. The radiation window 23 is fitted into the coupling sleeve 15 in a hermetically sealed manner.
The two represented embodiments of a germ barrier can also be combined with each other such that, in addition to the irradiation chamber 9′, a germicidal gel is inserted between the bearings 8, 10 as described according to FIG. 1.
Basically, also alternatively or additionally to the above-described types of germ barriers, a radiation source for germicidal radiation, advantageously a UV radiation source, can be provided at any position along the shaft or the hollow catheter, even on the distal side of the last bearing seal. The irradiation device can be constructed like the represented germ barrier on the coupling cavity, however it can also be configured as a cover sleeve with a radiation source directed inwardly towards the catheter. It can be provided for example at the level of the shaft rinsing device, as represented in FIG. 2 and provided with the reference number 30. The radiation sources themselves are designated there with 31, 32. The sleeve can be at least partially silvered on the inside in order to reflect and diffuse the radiation. The energy supply of the radiation source(s) can be produced by electrical lines extending parallel to the catheter. This configuration of a germ barrier demands a partially radiation-permeable design of the hollow catheter. It can be applied basically both to catheters which have a drive shaft and without drive shaft, for example also in the case of hoses conducting a fluid and introduced into a body.
The shaft rinsing device 4 has the first connection part 3 to which the shaft 2 is connected to rotate therewith. A rinsing chamber 28 which is connected to the catheter cavity 29 is provided. An aseptic or germicidal rinsing liquid can be introduced into the rinsing chamber 28 via a filling opening 30 by means of a pump 31 which is connected to a reservoir 32. The liquid is discharged again partially through an outlet opening 33 which also serves for ventilation.
Within the rinsing chamber 28, a slight excess pressure which prevents or at least reduces penetration of air through the ventilation opening 33 is produced by the counterflow sleeve in the axial region which is designated with 40. At the same time, the pressure is lowered slightly in the axial chamber designated with 41 and in the entire catheter chamber 39, thus preventing the flow of rinsing medium in the direction of the shaft towards the distal end. This is desirable for reducing the substance throughput along the shaft.
18. A catheter device having a hollow catheter in a catheter cavity of which a moveable shaft is guided, having a proximal coupling device for coupling of a drive device, the coupling device having a coupling cavity which is open towards the drive device and into which the shaft or an extension of the shaft protrudes, the coupling device having means for reducing the pathogenicity of pathogenic substances or microorganisms.
19. The catheter device according to claim 18, wherein the coupling cavity is sealed by a shaft seal relative to the catheter cavity.
20. The catheter device according to claim 19, wherein the means for reducing the pathogenicity of pathogenic substances or microorganisms in the form of a germ barrier are configured as a partial chamber which can be filled with a germicidal gel.
21. The catheter device according to claim 20, wherein the partial chamber is delimited, on the drive side, by a seal or a bearing for the shaft.
22. The catheter device according to claim 21, wherein the partial chamber has a filling opening through which a gel can be introduced when the drive device is coupled.
23. The catheter device according to claim 22, wherein the shieldable partial chamber is delimited, on the drive side and on the catheter cavity side, by a seal or a bearing.
24. The catheter device according to claim 18, wherein the means for reducing the pathogenicity of pathogenic substances or microorganisms in the form of a germ barrier are configured as an irradiation chamber which is penetrated by the shaft or an extension of the shaft and can be supplied with a germicidal radiation.
25. The catheter device according to claim 24, wherein the irradiation chamber has a radiation window which hermetically seals the irradiation chamber.
26. The catheter device according to claim 25, wherein a radiation source can be inserted in front of the radiation window.
27. The catheter device according to claim 18, wherein a coupling sleeve which surrounds the coupling cavity at least partially is non-detachably connected in a hermetically sealed one-piece manner to the hollow catheter.
28. The catheter device according to claim 26 having a drive device, wherein a shaft connected to a drive housing opens at the irradiation window, when the drive device is coupled, and receives a UV diode.
29. The catheter device according to claim 27 having a drive device, wherein a cover sleeve which is connected or glued in one piece to a drive housing is provided and can be pushed onto the coupling sleeve from outside.
30. The catheter device having a drive according to claim 29, wherein an elastomer seal between the coupling sleeve and the cover sleeve is provided.
31. The catheter device according to claim 30, wherein the shaft for the radiation source is provided in the cover sleeve.
32. The catheter device according to claim 31, wherein a locking connection device for producing a detachable connection between the coupling sleeve and a drive housing is provided.
33. The catheter device according to claim 19, wherein an additional germ barrier is provided on the distal side of the shaft seal.
34. A catheter device having a hollow catheter and also having means for active reduction in the pathogenicity of pathogenic substances or microorganisms in the proximal region of the hollow catheter.
35. The catheter device of claim 18, wherein the coupling cavity has means for reducing the pathogenicity of pathogenic substances or microorganisms.
36. The catheter device of claim 24, wherein the germicidal radiation is light.
37. The catheter device of claim 36, wherein the germicidal radiation is UV radiation.
38. The catheter device of claim 37, wherein the germicidal radiation is UV radiation with a wavelength between 255 nm and 265 nm.
39. The catheter device of claim 36, wherein the germicidal radiation is x-rays.
40. The catheter device of claim 26, wherein the radiation source is one or more UV diode(s).
41. The catheter device of claim 33, wherein the additional germ barrier is a shaft rinsing device.
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