Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Apparatus – For work having hollows or passages
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-03
2001-10-30
Coe, Philip R. (Department: 1746)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Apparatus
For work having hollows or passages
C422S300000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308721
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cartridge holder for a dialyser in which the hemodialysis solution is prepared by dissolving a salt contained in a cartridge or by diluting a liquid concentrate.
In dialysers, a hemodialysis solution is prepared and passed through a dialyser to extract contaminants from a patient's blood. Moreover, the dialyser is disinfected prior to a treatment. From EP 0 278 100 B1, it is known to produce the hemodialysis solution by dissolving a powder in water within the dialyser by flowing water through a cartridge containing the powder. Generally, the powder is sodium bicarbonate. Thus, a liquid concentrate is prepared that will later be diluted with water to obtain the concentration required for hemodialysis.
WO 97/02056 describes a cartridge holder for a dialyser wherein the cartridge is inserted between two jaws adapted for relative displacement along a linear guide. When inserting the cartridge between the jaws, thorns on the jaws penetrate into the cartridge and connections, also provided on the jaws, make the fluid communication with the interior of the cartridge. Thus, water may be supplied through the upper jaw, whereas the salt-water solution is drained from the lower jaw. For desalting, cleaning or disinfecting, it is required to flush the liquid leading parts of the cartridge holder. To do this, the connections of the jaws may be abutted directly against each other so that they form a conduit through which a flushing or disinfection liquid is passed. In doing so, the liquid conducting parts and also the seals are rinsed. To make the short circuit possible, both jaws are of a complicated structure with various sealing elements. The connections of both jaws are basically of the same connection type, i.e. they have a recess for a sealed insertion of a projection of the cartridge, as well as a thorn. As a consequence, the connections of the upper and the lower jaw do not fit together directly. Therefore, these connections have to be modified by embracing additional connection elements such that they may be abutted in a sealing manner. Thereby, the structure of the two connections become complicated.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge holder that allows for a connection or a short-circuiting of the two jaws without these jaws having to be modified.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present cartridge holder is provided with an intermediate jaw or adapter that may be inserted between the lower and the upper jaw to join the connections of these jaws. It is an essential advantage that the connections of the lower and the upper jaw may be alike since they are not plugged together directly. On the intermediate jaw, the corresponding counter-connection elements matching the respective connection on the lower and the upper jaw. Thus, those connections that are for the connection with the cartridge, may also be used for connection with the intermediate jaw so that no additional sealing elements are required that would be subjected to salt deposition or encrustation. The counter-connection elements of the intermediate jaw are easy to clean and to disinfect, since they are readily accessible when the intermediate jaw is inactive.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate jaw may be pivoted about an axis extending parallel to the displacement direction of the upper and the lower jaw. The intermediate jaw is displaced along the same bar along which also the upper or the lower jaw is displaced. Further, it may be pivoted about this bar. The intermediate jaw is an integral part of the vertical guiding on which the movable jaw slides. It may be pivoted about the axis of this guiding.
Preferably, the intermediate jaw is pivoted about a vertical axis, said pivoting being controlled by the vertical position of the upper jaw, the intermediate jaw then moving into the plane of the two outer jaws, when the upper jaw sinks beneath a minimum height. This minimum height is lower than the vertical position taken by the upper jaw with the cartridge inserted. When the upper jaw is below this minimum height, the intermediate jaw is automatically pivoted into the plane of the two outer jaws so that the outer jaws cannot contact each other, because the intermediate jaw moves in before. This control of the intermediate jaw may be effected by sequential control, link motion control or cam control.
It is generally possible to manually displace the movable jaw, usually the upper jaw, along the guide rail. By manually displacing the upper jaw, the force for pivoting the intermediate jaw is applied as well. According to another solution, the displaceable jaw is displaced automatically using a spindle or another power transmission device. Here, the upper jaw is moved under automatic control and/or by manually actuating a switch. The pivot movement of the intermediate jaw is preferably controlled by the movable jaw through a cam control.
The intermediate jaw is moved such that it is lowered onto the lower jaw after having been pivoted into the plane of the outer jaws. Thereby, it is possible to make the connection element of the intermediate jaw engage the connection of the lower jaw in mutual alignment. When they are moved apart subsequently, the intermediate jaw is first lifted linearly and is pivoted only after its connection element has been separated from the connection of the lower jaw.
It is possible to merely use the intermediate jaw as an adapter interconnecting the similar connections of the two outer jaws, when there is no cartridge between them. On the other hand, it is also possible to use the intermediate jaw for disinfecting the holder in the liquid conduit. Further, the intermediate jaw may include a tank containing the disinfectant in the form of a soluble powder or concentrate. During disinfection, the powder is dissolved in the existing liquid path using water and it is then introduced in a diluted form into the liquid paths of the dialyser for disinfection. The disinfectant may also be contained in the intermediate jaw as a liquid concentrate diluted with water in the liquid path. Thus, the intermediate jaw may have a tank containing the flushing or disinfecting agent as a soluble powder. In this case, water must merely be supplied to obtain a solution in the form of a concentrate, necessary for the treatment of the device. The size of the intermediate jaw may correspond to the size of the cartridges used to prepare the hemodialysis solution.
In a particularly suitable embodiment of the invention, the intermediate jaw comprises a cartridge support and is pivotable such that, in one position, the connection elements and, in the other position, the cartridge support are aligned with the connections of the lower and the upper jaw. Here, the cartridge support may be pivoted into an inactive position when being flushed and be provided with a new cartridge. After the end of the flushing, the cartridge support with the new cartridge is automatically swivelled into the service position. When the powder supply contained in a cartridge is used up, this cartridge may be pivoted out of alignment with the two jaws so that the water may be drained therefrom outside the service position. Further, it is possible to automatically eject the cartridge and supply new ones.
REFERENCES:
patent: 0278100 (1987-12-01), None
patent: WO/97/020506 (1996-07-01), None
Bock Gerhard
Mardorf Robert
Otto Reinhold
B. Braun Melsungen AG
Coe Philip R.
Diller Ramik & Wight
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