BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.
In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:
FIG. 1 shows a top schematic view of the region of the channel separation of a catheter having a quick-attachment device according to one embodiment of the invention, configured in clamp-like manner;
FIG. 2 shows, schematically, the region of the channel separation of a catheter having a quick-attachment device similar to that in FIG. 1, configured as a double clamp;
FIGS. 3
a-d illustrate the use of the quick-attachment device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a variant of the connection of a quick-attachment device configured similar to FIG. 1 with the channel separation of a catheter;
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a variant of the integration of a quick-attachment device configured similar to FIG. 1 into the channel separation of a catheter;
FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a quick-attachment device according to the invention, which can be connected with conventional channel separations having suture eyes; and
FIG. 7 shows, schematically, the region of the channel separation of a catheter according to the state of the art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in FIG. 7, which shows the state of the art, eyes 2 are often provided at the channel separation 1 of an intravascular catheter, for pulling through the suture with which the catheter is sutured to the patient. Distal catheter body 3 as well as proximal catheter connections 4 are shown only in part.
Channel separation 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 (indicated with thinner lines, to show a better overview), having distal catheter body 3 and proximal catheter connectors 4, essentially corresponds to the state of the art, but is equipped with a quick-attachment device according to the invention. Eyes are not provided in the embodiment shown; according to one of the variants shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the quick-attachment device can be connected with the channel separation 1. However, quick-attachment devices according to the invention can also be designed in such a manner, as described below using FIG. 6, that they are connected, in stable manner, with conventional channel separations having suture eyes.
The quick-attachment device shown in FIG. 1 has two plates with pressure surfaces 5 that lie on the outside, the spring 6 structured in the form of a bending rod, as well as two sterile stainless steel hooks 7. In place of stainless steel hooks 7, hooks of a different material or material combination can also be provided. Spring 6 and stainless steel hooks 7 together form a clamp. In this connection, spring 6 can be a tongue of spring steel that is separately inserted into the two plates, for example. However, spring 6 and stainless steel hooks 7 can also be bent out of a single piece of material, together.
In the case of the quick-attachment device shown in FIG. 2, two clamps as structured in FIG. 1 are provided, which are operated together (with one hand), by way of the pressure surfaces 5.
FIGS. 3
a-d illustrate the method of functioning of the quick-attachment device from FIG. 1. The plane of representation is rotated by 90 degrees, as indicated in FIG. 1 by the dot-dash line A-A′, whereby the arrows indicate the viewing direction. The quick-attachment device from FIG. 2 functions in the same manner.
When pressure surfaces 5 are pressed towards one another, the spring 6 bends, and the sterile stainless steel hooks 7 are deflected out of their original position, as is evident in FIG. 3b. With the stainless steel hooks 7 deflected out, the quick-attachment device is placed against the skin of the patient (indicated with a thin, curved line), as shown in FIG. 3c. After the pressure surfaces 5 are let go, the spring 6 attempts to go back into its starting position. Via the re-set force of spring 6, stainless steel hooks 7 hook into the skin of the patient, as indicated in FIG. 3d, with their ends, which are sharpened for this purpose.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show two examples of a connection between the clamp of a quick-attachment device structured as in FIG. 1 and channel separation 1 of the catheter to be fixed in place. The projection of distal catheter body 3 is only indicated. As is usual according to the state of the art, it is practical to structure the housing of the catheter separation as an injection-molded part. Of course, other production methods are also possible.
For purposes comprehensibility, the quick-attachment device is shown with broken lines in FIGS. 4 and 5.
In FIG. 4, channel separation 1 possesses a circumferential groove 8. Even though this is shown in U shape, it can just as well be structured with a wedge shape or with a rounded cross-section. The quick-attachment clamp is pushed over channel separation 1 from the front during assembly. The re-set force of spring 6 then holds it in groove 8, in which hooks 7 also partly come to rest, so that channel separation 1 and the quick-attachment clamp are securely connected with one another, so that channel separation 1 and quick-attachment clamp remain against one another in medical use, during handling of the catheter, and do not fall apart.
With the variant shown in FIG. 5, which is not structured quite as flat, spring 6 and hooks 7 are guided by the injection-molded housing of channel separation 1. For this purpose, the injection-molded housing has lateral slits 9, and the quick-attachment clamp is already set into the housing during its production.
A hybrid version of the variants shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in which stainless steel hooks 7 run through the injection-molded housing of channel separation 1, and spring 6 comes to lie in a groove 8 or also simply on the flat top of the channel separation, is also possible. Such a solution allows a relatively flat structure of the channel separation 1.
FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a quick-attachment device according to the invention, in a view analogous to FIG. 3a, but the channel separation has not been shown in this figure. Instead of a bending rod, spring 6 is structured as a helical spring. The quick-attachment device possesses its own flat housing 10, which is not identical with the housing of the channel separation of the catheter to be fixed in place. Two mandrels 11, which preferably consist of a rubber-elastic material, are disposed on housing 10. Mandrels 11 can be anchored in bores in housing 10, for example (not shown). A conventional channel separation 1, structured as in FIG. 7, is connected with the quick-attachment device by mandrels 11, in that mandrels 11 are inserted through its eyes 2. In place of mandrels 11, simple wire pins, for example, could also be provided, which are bent after having been passed through eyes 2. Here again, there is a secure connection, so that channel separation 1 and quick-attachment clamp remain on one another during handling of the catheter, in medical use, and do not fall apart.
Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20070260220
