Patent Description:
As a technology of connecting tubes formed from a resin to each other, there has been known a joining method in which ends of the tubes formed from a resin are fused and the fused ends are pressed for pressure-joining. The technology has been widely used in various industrial fields, and as an example thereof, an application to a medical technology such as a peritoneal dialysis method has been attempted.

The peritoneal dialysis method is a method in which a predetermined dialysis fluid is put into a body by using a tube (catheter) that is inserted into the abdominal cavity of a patient, and water or waste matters which are transferred to the dialysis fluid through the peritoneum are removed to the outside of the body. When putting the dialysis fluid into the body, a tube inserted into a patient is liquid-tightly joined to a tube of a bag in which the dialysis fluid is accommodated. In addition, even when discharging the dialysis fluid from the inside of the body, the tube inserted into the patient is liquid-tightly joined to a tube of a liquid discharge bag.

As described above, one tube that becomes a joining target is inserted into the abdominal cavity of the patient. Accordingly, during joining work, it is necessary to pay the closest attention to the work in order for each tube not to be contaminated. In consideration of such circumstances, for example, as described in document <CIT>, a tube joining device capable of automatically performing joining in an aseptic condition by fusing two tubes formed from a resin is developed. In the device, fused ends of the two tubes are replaced and joined, and thus there is no concern of bacterium contamination during joining, and it is possible to secure sterilization of the tube, the dialysis fluid in the bag, and the like. In addition, in the device, the two tubes are superimposed in an upper and lower direction (height direction) of the device and are set to a close contact state, and a plate-shaped metal wafer that is heated is moved to approach the tubes to perform fusing.

In a case of using the above-described tube joining device, a user such as a patient manually superimposes and sets respective tubes which become a joining target in the device. In addition, after setting the tubes in the tube joining device, the user such as the patient closes a cover member that is provided in the housing, and covers a fusing-joining position of the tubes from the outside. In the tube joining device, the cover member is closed regardless of a state of the tubes which are set, and when a predetermined operation switch is pushed, fusing-joining work is initiated.

The user such as the patient manually superimposes and sets respective tubes which become a joining target in the tube joining device. However, at this time, the tubes have flexibility, and thus the user may fail in handling of the tubes, and may superimpose the tubes in a distorted state or may superimpose the tubes in a three-folded state. When performing fusing-joining work by the device in a state in which the tube is set as described above, the tubes are joined, but a joining failure such as hole occurs at a joining portion.

For example, when the cover member is closed, it is considered that occurrence of the joining failure can be effectively prevented if it is possible to visually confirm a setting position of the tubes up to a time immediately before the cover member is closed. However, in the tube joining device, since a closing operation is performed such that the setting position of the tubes is covered with the cover member, it is difficult to recognize the setting position of the tubes when closing the cover member.

The invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and the object thereof is to provide a tube joining device that allows a user to easily and appropriately perform setting of tubes which become a joining target, and is capable of preventing occurrence of a joining failure caused by a setting error in advance.

The object of the invention is achieved by a tube joining device according to claim <NUM>. Advantageous embodiments are carried out according to the dependent claims.

According to the invention, there is provided a tube joining device that fuses an end of a first tube and an end of a second tube by a plate-shaped cutting member that is heated, and replaces the fused end of the first tube and the fused end of the second tube and joins the fused ends in an aseptic condition. The tube joining device includes: a first tube holding portion capable of holding any one tube between the first tube and the second tube, a second tube holding portion that is disposed adjacent to the first tube holding portion and is capable of holding the other tube between the first and second tube at a position parallel to the one tube, and a housing provided with a cover member that is closed to cover a fusing-joining site of the first tube and the second tube. The cover member is slidable in a direction in which the first tube and the second tube are disposed in parallel.

According to the tube joining device according to the invention, a user can dispose the tubes in parallel by setting the tubes individually in the first and second tube holding portions. In addition, the user can cause the tubes to be pressed against each other to come into close contact with each other by operating the cover member that is provided in the device, and thus it is possible to perform setting work of the tubes in a simple manner. As described above, when using the device, it is not necessary for the user to manually perform work of superimposing the tubes, and thus it is possible to prevent a work error such as setting of the tubes in a distorted state from occurring. In addition, since the cover member is slidable along a direction in which the first tube and the second tube are disposed in parallel, it is possible to visually confirm a setting position of the tubes up to a time immediately before the cover member is closed. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a joining failure caused by a tube setting error from occurring in advance.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, dimension ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation, and may be different from actual ratios.

A tube joining device <NUM> fuses ends of a plurality of tubes T1 and T2 (hereinafter, referred to as a first tube T1 and a second tube T2), and presses and joins the fused ends in an aseptic condition. In this embodiment, description will be given of the tube joining device with reference to an example that is applied to a medical device that is used in joining of a dialysis fluid tube (the first tube T1, corresponds to one tube) of a peritoneal dialysis fluid bag, and a patient peritoneal catheter side tube (the second tube T2, corresponds to the other tube) that is used when performing peritoneal dialysis (refer to <FIG>).

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the tube joining device <NUM> has a configuration in which an end of the first tube T1 and an end of the second tube T2 are fused by a heated wafer WF (correspondingtoaplate-shapedcuttingmember), andreplaces and joins the fused end of the first tube T1 and the fused end of the second tube T2.

Respective configurations of the tube joining device <NUM> will be described.

For example, a preferred use environment of the tube joining device <NUM> is an environmental temperature of <NUM> to <NUM> and a relative humidity of <NUM>% to <NUM>%. However, the use environment is not particularly limited as long as the ends of the tubes T1 and T2 can be pressure-welded.

As illustrated in <FIG>, for example, the tube joining device <NUM> can be configured to include a housing <NUM>, and a tube holding section <NUM> in which the tubes T1 and T2 are disposed in parallel and are held.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the housing <NUM> is constituted by a case including a front surface portion 2A, a top surface portion 2B, a rear surface portion 2C, and a bottom surface portion 2D. As illustrated in the drawings, the case has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is chamfered.

The housing <NUM> includes a cover member <NUM> that is closed to cover fusing-joining sites C of the first tube T1 and the second tube T2, and a base <NUM> on which the cover member <NUM> is placed. As illustrated in <FIG>, in a state in which the cover member <NUM> is closed, the housing <NUM> accommodates respective constituent elements of the tube joining device <NUM> including the tube holding section <NUM> in a space surrounded by the cover member <NUM> and the base <NUM>. Although not particularly limited, for example, a hard plastic can be used as a material of the housing <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cover member <NUM> is configured to be slidable along a direction in which the first tube T1 and the second tube T2 are disposed in parallel. The cover member <NUM> includes a first pressing member <NUM> and a second pressing member <NUM> which can relatively approach each other or can be separated from each other in a sliding direction, and maintain the first tube T1 and the second tube T2 in a pressed state in accordance with the approaching movement. The cover member <NUM> can be opened or closed by causing the second pressing member <NUM> to perform approaching movement or separating movement with respect to the first pressing member <NUM>.

In the following description, a direction in which the cover member <NUM> slides is referred to as "sliding direction", and is indicated by arrows X1 andX2 in the drawings. In addition, directions which intersect the sliding directions X1 and X2 of the cover member <NUM> are indicated by arrows Y1 and Y2 in the drawings, and upper and lower directions of the tube joining device <NUM> are indicated by arrows Z1 and Z2 in the drawings. In this embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the directions Y1 and Y2, which intersect the sliding directions X1 and X2 of the cover member <NUM>, are substantially orthogonal to the sliding directions X1 and X2, and correspond to a disposition direction (extension direction) of the tubes T1 and T2.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the cover member <NUM> is closed, a gap <NUM> is formed between the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM> until the cover member <NUM> is closed. A user can visually confirm a setting position of the tubes T1 and T2 through the gap <NUM> until the cover member <NUM> is closed. According to this, the user can easily and appropriately perform setting of the tubes T1 and T2 which become a joining target, and it is possible to prevent occurrence of a joining failure caused by a setting error of the tubes in advance.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the tube holding section <NUM> includes the first tube holding portion <NUM> that can hold the first tube T1, and the second tube holding portion <NUM> that is disposed adjacent to the first tube holding portion <NUM> and can hold the second tube T2 at a position that is parallel to the first tube T1. The first tube holding portion <NUM> and the second tube holding portion <NUM> are disposed between the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>.

The tube holding section <NUM> includes a first accommodation member 40A and a second accommodation member 40B which respectively accommodate the tubes T1 and T2, a joining site holding portion <NUM> that holds a fusing-joining site C of each of the first tube T1 and the second tube T2, a operation panel unit <NUM> that is disposed between a fusing-joining site C1 of the first tube T1 and a fusing-joining site C2 on the second tube T2 side, a support member <NUM> that supports the first tube holding portion <NUM> and the second tube holding portion <NUM> (refer to <FIG>), and a clamp portion <NUM> that holds the tubes T1 and T2 so as not to cause positional deviation previous to execution of joining work.

The first accommodation member 40A includes a first holding groove <NUM> that holds the first tube T1, and a second holding groove <NUM> that holds the second tube T2. The first holding groove <NUM> and the second holding groove <NUM> have a substantially U-shaped cross-section.

The second accommodation member 40B is disposed with a predetermined gap with respect to the first accommodation member 40A in the directions Y1 and Y2 which intersect the sliding directions X1 and X2 of the cover member <NUM>.

The joining site holding portion <NUM> has a guide function of allowing work of setting the tubes T1 and T2 in the first accommodation member 40A and the second accommodation member 40B to be simply performed. The joining site holding portion <NUM> is disposed on a lower side of the first accommodation member 40A to be relatively movable with respect to the first accommodation member 40A in the disposition (extension) directions (Y1 and Y2 directions) of the tubes T1 and T2. The joining site holding portion <NUM> is configured to be relatively movable in synchronization with an opening and closing operation of the housing <NUM>, with respect to the first accommodation member 40A in the disposition direction (Y1 and Y2 directions) of the tubes T1 and T2. The joining site holding portion <NUM> includes a cut-away portion <NUM> through which the partition portion <NUM> can be inserted.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, in a state in which the housing <NUM> is opened, the partition portion <NUM> is inserted through the cut-away portion <NUM> of the joining site holding portion <NUM>, and is located on an upper side of the joining site holding portion <NUM>. In this state, the tubes T1 and T2 are disposed, and the tubes T1 and T2 are partitioned by the partition portion <NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a work error such as setting of the tubes T1 and T2 in a distorted state from occurring.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the support member <NUM> is placed on the base <NUM>, and supports the first accommodation member 40A from a lower side. As illustrated in <FIG>, a first jig <NUM> and a second jig <NUM> which extend in the sliding directions X1 and X2 of the cover member <NUM> are provided in the support member <NUM>. The first jig <NUM> is inserted into a hole 21A provided in the first pressing member <NUM> to realize approaching movement of the support member <NUM> with respect to the first pressing member <NUM>. The second jig <NUM> is inserted into a hole 21B provided in the first pressing member <NUM> to realize approaching movement of the support member <NUM> with respect to the first pressing member <NUM>.

In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, a sliding groove 45A that extends in the directions Y1 and Y2 which intersect the sliding directions X1 and X2 of the cover member <NUM> is provided in the support member <NUM>. The sliding groove 45A has a function of guiding a movement direction of a third support portion <NUM> of a first link mechanism <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the clamp portion <NUM> includes a first clamp portion <NUM> that is provided in the first pressing member <NUM>, and a second clamp portion <NUM> that is provided in the second pressing member <NUM>. The first clamp portion <NUM> and the second clamp portion <NUM> are disposed at positions which face each other.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the housing <NUM> further includes a first link mechanism <NUM> that causes the first tube holding portion <NUM> and the second tube holding portion <NUM> to approach or to be separated from the first pressing member <NUM> in synchronization with approach and separation of the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>.

When causing the first tube holding portion <NUM> and the second tube holding portion <NUM> to approach or to be separated from the first pressing member <NUM>, the first link mechanism <NUM> maintains the position of the first tube holding portion <NUM> and the second tube holding portion <NUM> at substantially the center PC between the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the first link mechanism <NUM> will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first link mechanism <NUM> includes a first link member <NUM> of which one end <NUM> is connected to the base <NUM> through a first support portion <NUM>, and a second link member <NUM> of which one end <NUM> is fixed to the second pressing member <NUM> through a second support portion <NUM>.

The first support portion <NUM> supports the first link member <NUM> to rotate around a central axis CL1 (rotation axis).

A sliding groove <NUM> that extends in the sliding directions X1 and X2 along which the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM> approach or are separated from each other is provided in the base <NUM>. The sliding groove <NUM> has a function of guiding a movement direction of the second support portion <NUM> of the first link mechanism <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

The second support portion <NUM> slides along the sliding groove <NUM> provided in the base <NUM> to move along the sliding directions X1 and X2.

The other end <NUM> of the first link member <NUM> and the other end <NUM> of the second link member <NUM> are connected by the third support portion <NUM>.

The third support portion <NUM> is configured to move along the directions Y1 and Y2 which intersect the sliding directions X1 and X2 of the cover member <NUM> by sliding along the sliding groove 45A provided in the support member <NUM> of the tube holding section <NUM>. In addition, the first link member <NUM> and the second link member <NUM> are disposed on the same plane to be symmetry with respect to the center PC.

When moving the second pressing member <NUM> in the direction X1 of approaching the first pressing member <NUM> from a state in which the housing <NUM> is opened as illustrated in <FIG>, the second support portion <NUM> slides along the sliding groove <NUM> of the base <NUM> and moves in the X1 direction as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. At this time, the third support portion <NUM> slides along the sliding groove 45A of the support member <NUM> and moves in the Y1 direction while pressing and moving the tube holding section <NUM> in the X1 direction through the sliding groove 45A of the support member <NUM>. During the operation, the first link member <NUM> and the second link member <NUM> are disposed to be symmetry with respect to the center PC. According to this, a distance L1 between the first support portion <NUM> and the third support portion <NUM> along the sliding directions X1 and X2 of the cover member <NUM>, and a distance L2 between the second support portion <NUM> and the third support portion <NUM> along the sliding directions X1 and X2 of the cover member <NUM> become the same as each other (refer to <FIG>). Accordingly, when the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM> move, the first link mechanism <NUM> can maintain the position of the first tube holding portion <NUM> and the second tube holding portion <NUM> at substantially the center PC between the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>.

In addition, when moving the second pressing member <NUM> in the direction (X1 direction) of approaching the first pressing member <NUM> from the state in which the housing <NUM> is opened as illustrated in <FIG>, the second clamp portion <NUM> approaches the first clamp portion <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. In addition, when the second pressing member <NUM> is moved in the direction (X1 direction) of approaching the first pressing member <NUM> and the housing <NUM> is closed, as illustrated in <FIG>, the clamp portion <NUM> holds the tubes T1 and T2 and compresses the tubes T1 and T2 in a direction of approaching each other. When the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM> relatively move during the operation of closing the housing <NUM>, the first link mechanism <NUM> maintains the position of the first tube holding portion <NUM> and the second tube holding portion <NUM> at substantially the center PC between the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>, and thus it is possible to uniformly compress the first tube T1 and the second tube T2 from the sliding directions X1 and X2 of the cover member <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> further includes a second link mechanism <NUM> that retracts the joining site holding portion <NUM> from a space between the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM> in synchronization with approach and separation of the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>.

Hereinafter, a configuration of the second link mechanism <NUM> will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the second link mechanism <NUM> includes a first link member <NUM> of which one end <NUM> is connected to the first pressing member <NUM> to rotate around the central axis CL2, and a second link member <NUM> of which one end <NUM> is connected to the second pressing member <NUM> to rotate around a central axis CL3. The other end <NUM> of the first link member <NUM> and the other end <NUM> of the second link member <NUM> are connected to a protrusion 43A that is provided at substantially the center PC of the joining site holding portion <NUM> to rotate around a central axis CL4.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in a state in which the housing <NUM> is opened, the joining site holding portion <NUM> is disposed at the fusing-joining sites C of the tubes T1 and T2. According to this, when setting the tubes T1 and T2 in the tube holding section <NUM>, it is possible to support the tubes T1 and T2 by the joining site holding portion <NUM>, and thus it is possible to prevent the tubes T1 and T2 from being bent or distorted at the fusing-joining sites C.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the second pressing member <NUM> is moved in the direction (X1 direction) of approaching the first pressing member <NUM>, the first link member <NUM> rotates around the central axis CL2 in an arrow RL1 direction. Similarly, the second link member <NUM> rotates around the central axis CL3 in an arrow RL2 direction. When the first link member <NUM> and the second link member <NUM> rotate, the joining site holding portion <NUM> is drawn in the Y1 direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the housing <NUM> is closed, the second link mechanism <NUM> retracts the joining site holding portion <NUM> from the fusing-joining sites C (refer to <FIG>) between the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>. According to this, in the fusing work and joining work of the tubes T1 and T2, the joining site holding portion <NUM> does not interfere movement of the tubes T1 and T2 or the wafer WF, and thus it is possible to smoothly perform the fusing work and the joining work.

The housing <NUM> includes a third link mechanism <NUM> that retracts the partition portion <NUM> from a space between the first pressing member <NUM> and second pressing member <NUM> in synchronization with the approaching movement of the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>.

Hereinafter, a configuration of the third link mechanism <NUM> will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the third link mechanism <NUM> includes a first link member <NUM> that is connected to the second pressing member <NUM>, a second link member <NUM> that is connected to the partition portion <NUM>, and a third link member <NUM> that causes an operation of the first link member <NUM> to synchronize with an operation of the second link member <NUM>.

The first link member <NUM> slides in combination with the second pressing member <NUM> to approach or to be separated from the first pressing member <NUM>. The first link member <NUM> includes a first sliding groove <NUM> along which a protrusion <NUM> provided in the third link member <NUM> can slide.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the second link member <NUM> includes a second sliding groove <NUM> along which a support portion <NUM> fixed to the third link member <NUM> can slide.

When moving the second pressing member <NUM> in the direction (X1 direction) of approaching the first pressing member <NUM> from a state in which the housing <NUM> is opened as illustrated in <FIG>, the protrusion <NUM> of the third link member <NUM> slides along the first sliding groove <NUM> and moves in a downward direction Z2 as illustrated in <FIG>. According to this, the support portion <NUM> fixed to the third link member <NUM> also slides along the second sliding groove <NUM> while moving in the downward direction Z2. According to this, the second link member <NUM> is drawn by the support portion <NUM> in the downward direction Z2, and the partition portion <NUM> moves in the downward direction Z2 and is retracted from a space between the tubes T1 and T2. According to this, as illustrated in <FIG>, in the fusing work and the joining work of the tubes T1 and T2 which are performed after closing the housing <NUM>, the partition portion <NUM> is not disposed between the tubes T1 and T2, and thus it is possible to smoothly perform the fusing work and the joining work.

A speaker SP that emits sound, and a fan FN that discharges a gas inside the housing <NUM> are disposed on the bottom surface portion 2D of the housing <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). The fan FN also has a function as a cooling fan that cools down the wafer WF after terminating a joining operation. In the bottom surface portion 2D of the housing <NUM>, a voice opening that outputs a voice guidance, an alarm sound, and the like which are emitted from the speaker SP to the outside of the housing <NUM> may be provided, or an exhaust opening for compulsorily discharging heat generated inside the housing <NUM> or a gas that passes through the inside of the housing <NUM> to the outside of the housing <NUM> when the cooling fan FN is operated may be provided.

The housing <NUM> includes an operation panel unit <NUM> that includes switches, and a display unit <NUM>. The operation panel unit <NUM> is disposed on the front surface portion 2A (refer to <FIG>) of the housing <NUM> which is located in the direction Y1 that intersects the sliding directions X1 and X2 of the cover member <NUM>. The display unit <NUM> is disposed on the top surface portion 2B (refer to <FIG>) of the housing <NUM> which is located in the upward direction Z1.

Next, the operation panel unit <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the operation panel unit <NUM> includes a [power] switch button 7B, [power] lamp 7C, a [in-charging] lamp 7D, a [joining] button 7E, a [joining] lamp 7F, and a [wafer ejecting] lamp <NUM>.

The [power] lamp 7C, the [in-charging] lamp 7D, the [joining (welding)] lamp 7F, and the [wafer ejecting] lamp <NUM> are display lamps indicating various states in the operation panel unit <NUM>. For example, the respective lamps can be constituted by a green light-emitting diode (LED) lamp.

The [power] switch button 7B is a button that is pressed to supply power to the tube joining device <NUM>. The [power] lamp 7C is lightened when pressing the [power] switch button 7B.

The [joining] button 7E is a button that is pressed when a user initiates fusing-joining work of fusing ends of the two tubes T1 and T2 and replacing and pressure-joining the ends of the tubes T1 and T2. The [joining] lamp 7F is lightened when the [joining] button 7E is pressed. In addition, the [joining] lamp 7F may be configured to be flickered to give an alarm of a failure state to a user at the time of failure of the tube joining device <NUM>.

The [in-charging] lamp 7D is lightened in a case where charging with respect to a battery BA from a commercial AC power side is performed.

The [wafer ejecting] lamp <NUM> is lightened or flickered when joining between the two tubes T1 and T2 is terminated and it enters a state in which a user can eject from the housing <NUM> the wafer WF that has been used and discharge the wafer WF.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the display unit <NUM> includes a [cover close] lamp 8B, a [wafer cassette exchange] lamp 8C, a [defective wafer] lamp 8D, a [charging required] lamp 8E, an [inappropriate room temperature] lamp 8F, and a [device failure] lamp <NUM>.

The [device failure] lamp <NUM> is an alarm lamp that gives a notification of failure of the tube joining device <NUM>. For example, the [device failure] lamp <NUM> can be constituted by a red LED lamp. The other lamps are constituted as an alarm display lamp, and can be constituted by, for example, a yellow LED lamp.

Next, the tubes T1 and T2 which become a joining target will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates the two tubes T1 and T2 which are joined by the tube joining device <NUM>. As the tubes T1 and T2, for example, a vinyl chloride tube having flexibility can be selected. However, the material of the tubes T1 and T2 is not limited as long as the tubes T1 and T2 can be joined to each other through fusing and pressing. For example, materials of the tubes T1 and T2 may be different from each other.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a predetermined connector CT is attached to a tip end side of one end of the first tube T1. The other end side of the first tube T1 is connected to a dialysis fluid tube TBL of a dialysis fluid bag BL through a diverging tube <NUM>. In addition, the first tube T1 is connected to a fluid discharge tube THL of a fluid discharge bag HL through the diverging tube <NUM>.

The tube T2 includes an extension tube <NUM> and a protection tube <NUM>. The extension tube <NUM> is connected to a peritoneal catheter <NUM> through a connection tube <NUM>, a silicone tube <NUM>, and a catheter joint <NUM>. One end side of the peritoneal catheter <NUM> is inserted into an abdominal cavity of a patient M.

In a state in which a joining site C1 of the first tube T1 and a joining site C2 of the second tube T2 are brought into close contact with each other, the tube joining device <NUM> fuses the joining sites C1 and C2 by using a heated wafer WF (refer to <FIG>). In addition, after the fusing, a fused end of the first tube T1 and a fused end of the second tube T2 are replaced, and the ends are pressed and joined (refer to <FIG>).

In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, before carrying out the joining work by the tube joining device <NUM>, the tubes T1 and T2 are held by the first tube holding portion <NUM> and the second tube holding portion <NUM> which are provided in the housing <NUM> so as not to cause positional deviation. In a state in which the clamp portion <NUM> holds the tubes T1 and T2, when performing work of closing the housing <NUM> (work of causing the second pressing member <NUM> to approach the first pressing member <NUM>), the tubes T1 and T2 are set in a state of pressing each other (refer to <FIG>). After performing the setting, the tubes T1 and T2 are fused by using the heated wafer WF.

Next, a function of a control unit <NUM> of the tube joining device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> illustrates an electric block of the tube joining device <NUM>.

The tube joining device <NUM> includes a control unit <NUM> that collectively controls operations of respective units of the device. The control unit <NUM> includes a CPU such as a microcomputer, a ROM that stores a control program of the entirety of the device which is executed by the CPU or various pieces of data, and a RAM that temporarily stores measurement data or various pieces of data as a work area.

The control unit <NUM> is supplied with power from the battery BA on the DC input substrate <NUM> side. The DC input substrate <NUM> includes a jack <NUM> and a switching switch <NUM>. When being connected to a connection pin 86P of a charger <NUM>, the jack <NUM> receives a predetermined DC power that is AC/DC converted from a commercial AC power supply. Furthermore, the charger <NUM> and the jack <NUM> are also illustrated in <FIG>.

The switching switch <NUM> connects the jack <NUM> and the battery BA. DC power from the charger <NUM> can be used in charging of the battery BA. In addition, the DC power charged in the battery BA is supplied to the control unit <NUM>.

A temperature sensor <NUM> such as a thermistor is electrically connected to the control unit <NUM>. The temperature sensor <NUM> detects an environment temperature (outside air temperature) around the housing <NUM>, and supplies outside air temperature information TF to the control unit <NUM>. When heating the tubes T1 and T2, the control unit <NUM> refers to the outside air temperature information TF, and for example, in a case where the outside air temperature is lower than a temperature that is determined in advance, the control unit <NUM> executes processing of lengthening a heating time of the two tubes T1 and T2. In addition, for example, the control unit <NUM> performs operation control so that a patient is notified of the environment temperature with the speaker SP.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the [power switch] button 7B, the [joining] button 7E, and the lamps 7C, 7D, 7F, and <NUM> of the operation panel unit <NUM> which are illustrated in <FIG> are electrically connected to the control unit <NUM>.

The speaker SP is electrically connected to the control unit <NUM> through a voice synthesis unit <NUM>. The speaker SP emits, for example, a voice guidance that is determined in advance in accordance with a command of the control unit <NUM>.

A voice adjusting volume <NUM> and a voice/message switching switch <NUM> are electrically connected to the control unit <NUM>. In a case where the voice/message switching switch <NUM> is "turned on", a voice guidance can be emitted from the speaker SP, and in a case where the voice/message switching switch <NUM> is "turned off", it is possible to sound a buzzer (not illustrated).

As illustrated in <FIG>, the [cover close] button 8B, the [wafer cassette exchange] lamp 8C, the [defective wafer] lamp 8D, the [charging required] lamp 8E, the [inappropriate room temperature] lamp 8F, and the [device failure] lamp <NUM> of the display unit <NUM> are configured to be lightened or flickered in accordance with a command of the control unit <NUM>.

A hall sensor <NUM> of the clamp portion <NUM> is electrically connected to the control unit <NUM>, and is configured to transmit a detection result to the control unit <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, when the tubes T1 and T2 are inserted into the clamp portion <NUM>, a tube detection pin <NUM> is pressed to a downward side of the device against a force of the spring <NUM> due to the first tube T1 and the second tube T2. Due to the pressing, the tube detection pin <NUM> descends, and thus a magnetic force of a magnet <NUM> is detected by the hall sensor <NUM>. In addition, the hall sensor <NUM> transmits a signal for giving a notification that "the two tubes T1 and T2 are correctly inserted" to the control unit <NUM>. In a case where the first tube T1 and the second tube T2 are not reliably held, or only one of the tubes is held, the hall sensor <NUM> cannot detect the magnetic force of the magnet <NUM>. At this time, the hall sensor <NUM> transmits a signal for giving a notification that "the two tubes T1 and T2 are not correctly inserted" to the control unit <NUM>. Furthermore, a position of installing the tube detection pin <NUM> is not limited to the position illustrated in <FIG> as long as it is possible to detect whether or not the tubes T1 and T2 are set in the clamp portion <NUM> at the position.

The clamp portion <NUM> includes a microswitch <NUM>. The microswitch <NUM> is a sensor that detects a closed state of the housing <NUM>. When the second pressing member <NUM> is caused to slide and approach the first pressing member <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, the microswitch <NUM> detects that the clamp plate <NUM> closes the clamp portion <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. Furthermore, as the microswitch <NUM>, for example, it is possible to use a known sensor such as a mechanic type sensor that detects closing by contact with an arbitrary position of the housing <NUM> when closing the clamp portion <NUM>, and an electric type sensor that detects closing on the basis of a position of the clamp portion <NUM>.

The wafer cassette storage unit <NUM> includes a wafer presence/absence sensor <NUM> and a wafer residual amount detection sensor <NUM>. The wafer presence/absence sensor <NUM> is a sensor that detects whether or not the wafer WF remains in the wafer cassette WC. The wafer residual amount detection sensor <NUM> is a sensor that detects how many sheets of wafers WF remain inthewafercassetteWC, thatis, the number of sheets of remaining wafer WF. As the wafer presence/absence sensor <NUM> and the wafer residual amount detection sensor <NUM>, for example, a known photosensor or the like can be used.

The wafer delivery unit <NUM> is a unit that linearly moves the wafer WF in the wafer cassette WC to a predetermined stand-by position (refer to <FIG>). The wafer delivery unit <NUM> includes a motor <NUM>, a motor drive <NUM>, a forward edge sensor <NUM>, an intermediate sensor <NUM>, and a backward edge sensor <NUM>. When receiving a command from the control unit <NUM>, the motor drive <NUM> drives the motor <NUM>, and linearly moves the wafer in the wafer cassette WC to the stand-by position sheet by sheet.

The control unit <NUM> is electrically connected to a wafer heating heater <NUM>, a motor drive <NUM>, a cam motor sensor <NUM>, a clamp motor sensor <NUM>, a microswitch <NUM>, a wafer current detection unit <NUM>, a wafer voltage detection unit <NUM>, and the fan FN. When the motor drive <NUM> receives a command from the control unit <NUM>, the motor drive <NUM> drives the cam motor <NUM> or the clamp motor <NUM> to fuse and join the tubes T1 and T2.

The cam motor <NUM> performs an operation of vertically moving the wafer WF, and an operation of pressing the two tubes T1 and T2 against each other. The operation of vertically moving the wafer WF by the cam motor <NUM> is an operation of ascending the wafer WF from the stand-by position to a fusing position PSm on an upward side of the stand-by position, and descending the wafer WF from the fusing position PSm to the stand-by position in a contrast manner (refer to <FIG>). In addition, the cam motor <NUM> performs an operation of pressing the tubes T1 and T2 against each other after fusing the two tubes T1 and T2. The pressing operation is an operation of causing the wafer WF to enter a stand-by state by descending the wafer WF from the fusing position PSm to the stand-by position, and of performing joining by pressing an end of the first tube T1 on one side to an end of the second tube T2 on the other side, and pressing an end of the second tube T2 on the one side to an end of the first tube T1 on the other side and performing joining.

The clamp motor <NUM> performs rotation of the movable clamp unit <NUM> by <NUM>° and returning rotation after the rotation by <NUM>° (refer to <FIG>). An operation of the movable clamp unit <NUM> will be described later.

The cam motor sensor <NUM> is constituted by, for example, a photosensor that detects a cam position and the original point. The clamp motor sensor <NUM> is constituted by, for example, a photosensor that detects the original point during rotation of the movable clamp unit <NUM>.

The wafer heating heater <NUM> is provided to heat a wafer in accordance with a command from the control unit <NUM>. When supplying power, the wafer current detection unit <NUM> detects a wafer current value that is supplied to the wafer. In addition, the wafer voltage detection unit <NUM> detects a wafer voltage value that is supplied to the wafer.

Next, the wafer cassette storage unit <NUM> and the wafer cassette WC will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a lower surface side of the wafer cassette WC, and <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an upper surface side of the wafer cassette WC.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the wafer cassette WC is constituted by a container for accommodating a plurality of sheets of the wafers WF. The wafer cassette WC is preferably formed from a transparent plastic to visually confirm an inner side of the wafer WF.

The wafer cassette WC includes a top surface portion <NUM>, a bottom surface portion <NUM>, a front surface portion <NUM>, lateral surface portions <NUM> and <NUM>, and a bottom surface portion <NUM>.

The wafer WF is disposed sheet by sheet on an inner side of the front surface portion <NUM>. In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, when pressing a pushing member <NUM> with respect to the wafer WF in a Y3 direction, one sheet of wafer WF is pushed out from the inside of the wafer cassette WC to a predetermined stand-by position along the Y3 direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, two springs <NUM> and a spring accommodation member <NUM> are accommodated at the inside of the wafer cassette WC. One end of each of the two springs is supported to an inner surface of the bottom surface portion <NUM> of the wafer cassette WC. On the other hand, the other end of each of the two springs is supported to the spring accommodation member <NUM>. The spring accommodation member <NUM> includes a positional deviation preventing portion <NUM> in order for each of the springs <NUM> not to deviate.

The two springs <NUM> press a plurality of sheets of the wafers WF against an inner surface of the front surface portion <NUM> through the spring accommodation member <NUM>. In a state in which the wafers WF are held by the two springs <NUM>, when the pushing member <NUM> is pressed against the wafer WF located on the front surface portion <NUM> side in the Y3 direction, only one sheet of the wafer WF located on the outermost side is output from the inside of the wafer cassette WC along the Y3 direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the wafer WF that can be used as a cutting member is constituted by a copper metal plate (a thickness: approximately <NUM>, a width: approximately <NUM>, and a height: approximately <NUM>) that can be heated by the wafer heating heater <NUM> (refer to <FIG> and <FIG>) and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. Furthermore, the wafer WF has two contact points <NUM> which are connected to the wafer heating heater <NUM> when being heated.

A user sets the tubes T1 and T2 in the tube holding section <NUM> in using the tube joining device <NUM>. In addition, after closing the housing <NUM>, the user presses the [joining] button 7E illustrated in <FIG> to initiate the fusing-joining work by the tube joining device <NUM>. The tube joining device <NUM> performs the fusing-joining work in a state in which a part of the tubes T1 and T2 is covered with the housing <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when closing the housing <NUM>, the second clamp portion <NUM> that is disposed in the second pressing member <NUM> approaches the first clamp portion <NUM> that is disposed in the first pressing member <NUM> to be integrated with each other, thereby forming the movable clamp unit <NUM> that replaces ends of the tubes T1 and T2 which are fused by the wafer WF. On the other hand, the second clamp portion <NUM> that is provided in the clamp portion <NUM> approaches the first clamp portion <NUM> to be integrated with each other, thereby forming a fixed clamp unit <NUM> that fixedly holds the tubes T1 and T2 which are fused by the wafer WF.

As is simply illustrated in a broken line portion in <FIG>, for example, a predetermined gear <NUM> can be formed at the periphery of the tube holding portion <NUM>. In addition, the gear <NUM> can be configured to engage with a gear <NUM> of the clamp motor <NUM> that drives an operation of replacing positions of ends of the tubes T1 and T2 after fusing the tubes T1 and T2.

For example, when the clamp motor <NUM> operates by a command of the control unit <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) and rotates the gear <NUM>, the first clamp portion <NUM> and the second clamp portion <NUM> positively rotate by <NUM>° in an integrated state. During the rotation, the fused end of the first tube T1 on the other side and the fused end of the second tube T2 on the other side rotate and positions thereof are replaced. According to this, positions of the fused end of the first tube T1 on the other side and the fused end of the second tube T2 on the other side are laterally reversed by <NUM>°. As a result, the end of the first tube T1 on one side and the end of the second tube T2 on the other side can be joined to each other, and the end of the first tube T1 on the other side and the end of the second tube T2 on the one side can be joined to each other.

During rotation of the end of the first tube T1 on the other side and the end of the second tube T2 on the other side by the movable clamp unit <NUM>, the fixed clamp unit <NUM> that is constituted by the clamp portion <NUM> holds the end of the first tube T1 on the one side and the end of the second tube T2 on the one side in a position-fixed manner, and prevents the ends from erroneously rotating.

Next, a procedure when using the tube joining device <NUM> and an operation example of respective portions of the device will be described. In addition, the tubes T1 and T2 are omitted in the drawings.

First, a user sets the housing <NUM> in an opened state as illustrated in <FIG>.

Next, the user sets the tubes T1 and T2 in the tube holding section <NUM>.

Next, the user performs an operation of closing the housing <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> to cause the second pressing member <NUM> to approach the first pressing member <NUM> in the approaching direction X1. In synchronization with the approaching movement of the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the joining site holding portion <NUM> moves in the Y1 direction to be retracted from a space between the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>. Similarly, in synchronization with the approaching movement of the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>, the partition portion <NUM> is retracted from a space between the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>.

Next, the user further causes the second pressing member <NUM> to approach the first pressing member <NUM> in the approaching direction X1. According to this, a tube pressing operation by the clamp portion <NUM> is initiated. In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, when the user closes the housing <NUM>, the first clamp portion <NUM> and the second clamp portion <NUM> are integrated with each other. The fusing-joining sites C of the tubes T1 and T2 can be visually confirmed through the gap <NUM> formed between the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>. According to this, it is possible to visually confirm that the tubes T1 and T2 are correctly set in the tube holding section <NUM>. In addition, the outer periphery of the fusing-joining sites C of the tubes T1 and T2 is covered with the cover member <NUM>, and thus it is possible to perform the fusing and the subsequent joining work in an aseptic condition.

Next, fusing of the tubes T1 and T2 is performed by the heated wafer WF. As illustrated in <FIG>, the wafer WF is guided to the fusing-joining sites C of the tubes T1 and T2 from a stand-by position, and passes between the first accommodation member 40A and the clamp portion <NUM> and fuses the tubes T1 and T2. The wafer WF is returned to the stand-by position after fusing the tubes T1 and T2.

After the fusing work is performed as illustrated in <FIG>, in the tube joining device <NUM>, the movable clamp unit <NUM> is rotated to rotate the end of the first tube T1 on the other side and the end of the second tube T2 on the other side, thereby replacing positions of the both ends. Then, as illustrated in <FIG>, the replaced ends of the tubes T1 and T2 are pressed against each other, and are pressure-joined.

After the joining is completed, the housing <NUM> is opened as illustrated in <FIG> to expose the inside of the housing <NUM> to the outside. According to this, the user can detach the tubes T1 and T2 from the device. When the joining is completed, the tubes T1 and T2 enter a joined state as illustrated in <FIG>. The user detaches the tubes T1 and T2 from the clamp portion <NUM>, and performs work of separating the tubes T1 and T2. When the separation work is performed, as illustrated in <FIG>, it is possible to obtain a tube in which the end of the first tube T1 on the one side is joined to the end of the second tube T2 on the other side, and a tube in which the end of the first tube T1 on the other side is joined to the end of the second tube T2 on the one side.

After using the tube joining device <NUM>, the housing <NUM> is set to a closed state. When using the tube joining device <NUM> again, if the tube joining device <NUM> is powered on, the movable clamp unit <NUM> automatically rotates to perform a reset operation of returning the position of the tube holding section <NUM>, the clamp portion <NUM>, and the tube holding portion <NUM> to the original position. According to this, the tube holding section <NUM> is disposed at an initiation position (initial position) of the fusing-joining work as illustrated in <FIG>. Accordingly, it is possible to perform the fusing-joining work by operating the tube joining device <NUM> in the same procedure as the above-described procedure.

As described above, the tube joining device <NUM> according to this embodiment is a tube joining device that fuses an end of the first tube T1 and an end of the second tube T2 by the wafer WF (plate-shaped cutting member) that is heated, and replaces a fused end of the first tube T1 and a fused end of the second tube T2 and joins the fused ends in an aseptic condition and sterile condition. The tube joining device <NUM> includes the first tube holding portion <NUM> that can hold the first tube T1, the second tube holding portion <NUM> that is disposed adjacent to the first tube holding portion <NUM> and can hold the second tube T2 at a position that is parallel to the first tube T1, and the housing <NUM> that is provided with the cover member <NUM> that is closed to cover the fusing-joining sites C of the first tube T1 and the second tube T2. The cover member <NUM> is slidable in a direction in which the first tube T1 and the second tube T2 are disposed in parallel.

According to the tube joining device <NUM> configured as described above, a user can dispose the tubes T1 and T2 in parallel by setting the tubes T1 and T2 individually in the first and second tube holding portions <NUM> and <NUM>. In addition, the user can cause the tubes T1 and T2 to be pressed against each other to come into close contact with each other by operating the cover member <NUM> that is provided in the tube joining device <NUM>, and thus it is possible to perform setting work of the tubes in a simple manner. As described above, when using the tube joining device <NUM>, it is not necessary for the user to manually perform work of superimposing the tubes T1 and T2, and thus it is possible to prevent a work error such as setting of the tubes in a distorted state from occurring. In addition, since the cover member <NUM> is slidable along a direction in which the first tube T1 and the second tube T2 are disposed in parallel, it is possible to visually confirm a setting position of the tubes T1 and T2 up to a time immediately before the cover member <NUM> is closed. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a joining failure caused by a tube setting error from occurring in advance.

In addition, the cover member <NUM> includes the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM> which are capable of relatively approaching each other or being relatively separated from each other along the sliding directions X1 and X2, and maintain the first tube T1 and the second tube T2 in a pressed state in accordance with the approaching movement. The first tube holding portion <NUM> and the second tube holding portion <NUM> are disposed between the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>. The housing <NUM> includes the first link mechanism <NUM> that causes the first tube holding portion <NUM> and the second tube holding portion <NUM> to approach the first pressing member <NUM> or to be separated therefrom in synchronization with the approach or separation of the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>. It is possible to provide a tube joining device which can bring the tubes T1 and T2 into close contact with each other through a simple operation of causing the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM> to approach each other and of which convenience is further improved. In addition, the movement of the first and second tube holding portions <NUM> and <NUM> synchronizes with the movement of the first and second pressing members <NUM> and <NUM> due to the first link mechanism <NUM>, and thus it is possible to perform work of pressing the first tube T1 and the second tube T2 to come into close contact with each other while holding the tubes T1 and T2 by the first and second tube holding portions <NUM> and <NUM>.

In addition, when the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM> relatively move, the first link mechanism <NUM> maintains the position of the first tube holding portion <NUM> and the second tube holding portion <NUM> at substantially the center PC between the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>, and thus it is possible to uniformly compress the first tube T1 and the second tube T2 from the sliding directions X1 and X2 of the cover member <NUM>.

In addition, the first tube holding portion <NUM> and the second tube holding portion <NUM> include the joining site holding portion <NUM> that holds the fusing-joining site C of each of the first tube T1 and the second tube T2. The housing <NUM> includes the second link mechanism <NUM> that retracts the joining site holding portion <NUM> from a space between the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM> in synchronization with the approach or separation of the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>. According to this, it is possible to reliably maintain a state in which fusing-joining sites C of the tubes T1 and T2 are disposed in parallel until the first tube T1 and the second tube T2 are pressed to come into close contact with each other.

In addition, the first tube holding portion <NUM> and the second tube holding portion <NUM> include the partition portion <NUM> that is disposed between the fusing-joining site C1 of the first tube T1 and the fusing-joining site C2 of the second tube T2 side. The housing <NUM> includes the third link mechanism <NUM> that retracts the partition portion <NUM> from a space between the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM> in synchronization with the approach or separation of the first pressing member <NUM> and the second pressing member <NUM>. According to this, the tubes T1 and the T2 are partitioned by the partition portion <NUM>, and thus it is possible to more reliably prevent occurrence of a work error such as setting in a state in which the fusing-joining sites C of the tubes T1 and T2 are distorted. In addition, since it is possible to retract the partition portion <NUM> from the space between the fusing-joining sites C of the tubes T1 and T2 by the third link mechanism <NUM> before the fusing work and the joining work of the tubes T1 and T2, it is possible to smoothly perform the fusing work and the joining work.

In addition, the housing <NUM> includes the operation panel unit <NUM> including switches, and the operation panel unit <NUM> is disposed on the front surface portion 2A of the housing <NUM> which is located in the directions Y1 and Y2 which intersect the sliding directions X1 and X2 of the cover member <NUM>. According to this, when a user sets the tubes T1 and T2, the operation panel unit <NUM> is located in front of the user, and thus an operation becomes easy. As a result, it is possible to provide the tube joining device <NUM> of which convenience is further improved.

Hereinbefore, description has been given of the tube joining device according to the invention with reference to the embodiment, but the invention is not limited to the configuration described in the embodiment, and can be appropriately modified on the basis of the appended claims.

For example, the configuration of the housing or the respective portions of the tube joining device can be modified in correspondence with a use and a purpose of the device, design circumstances and the like, and thus there is no limitation to the configuration illustrated in the drawing. For example, the pressing portions may be configured to cause at least one tube to approach the other tube to be pressed against each other, and are not limited to the configuration in which both the tubes are caused to approach each other as described in this embodiment.

In addition, the tubes which become a joining target may be tubes of which positions of ends after being fused are replaced with each other and are subjected to pressure-joining, and there is no limitation to the tubes used in the peritoneal dialysis.

Claim 1:
A tube joining device (<NUM>) that fuses an end of a first tube (T1) and an end of a second tube (T2) by a plate-shaped cutting member (WF) that is heated, and replaces a fused end of the first tube (T1) and a fused end of the second tube (T2) and joins the fused ends in an aseptic condition, the tube joining device (<NUM>) comprising:
a first tube holding portion (<NUM>) that is capable of holding any one tube between the first tube (T1) and the second tube (T2);
a second tube holding portion (<NUM>) that is disposed in adjacent to the first tube holding portion (<NUM>), and is capable of holding the other tube between the first tube (T1) and the second tube (T2) at a position that is parallel to the one tube; and
a housing (<NUM>) that is provided with a cover member (<NUM>) that is closed to cover fusing-joining sites of the first tube (T1) and the second tube (T2),
characterized in that
the cover member (<NUM>) is slidable along a direction which is orthogonal to a disposition direction (Y1, Y2) of the first and second tubes (T1, T2), in which the first tube (T1) and the second tube (T2) are disposed in parallel.