FOLDABLE ORGANIZER FOR BLOOD TUBING ELEMENTS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an organizer according to claim 1.

[0002] Devices for extracorporeal blood treatment are known in practice. For patient treatment, a blood tubing system is connected to corresponding ports of the treatment device. For easier handling, the blood tubing system is arranged on an organizer in such a way that the corresponding elements of the tubing system are already correctly positioned for connecting the tubing system to the device. An organizer, as known, for example, from WO 2004 / 032782 A1, has a flexible, flat base body on which holding or fastening devices are provided for receiving individual components or elements of the tubing system. The organizer thus provides the flexible tubing system elements with both support and a favorable position relative to the device.

[0003] To accommodate elements of the tubing system, the organizer must be of a certain size. Its dimensions can be reduced by rolling or folding the organizer for easier handling during transport or storage. However, this places undesirable stress on elements of the tubing system and can lead to kinking or deformation of blood tubing elements. The latter can lead to plastic deformation and thus have disadvantages.

[0004] Furthermore, a rolled-up or folded organizer of the state-of-the-art is difficult to handle, as it lacks clear, solid boundary structures and a lack of dimensional stability, making it difficult to grasp by hand or stack to save space during transport or storage. Furthermore, with a rolled-up or folded organizer, the relative positions of the individual tube elements can become lost.

[0005] A self-contained organizer for an extracorporeal blood circuit is known from WO 00 / 47266 A1.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a further organizer.

[0007] The object of the invention is achieved by the combination of features of claim 1.

[0008] According to the invention, an organizer is proposed which has at least a first, a second and a third section. The first section is connected to the second section so as to be movable relative to the second section. The second section is connected to the third section so as to be movable relative to the third section. The second section - just like the first and / or the third section - can be designed in several parts, as can be seen, for example, in the attached drawing. The second section can be designed such that it ensures a defined distance between the areas of the first section and the third section connected to it. Spacers for maintaining the distance between the first and third sections can advantageously be dispensed with. The second section can also fulfill their function.

[0009] According to the invention, relative mobility is understood to mean pivoting, folding, bending, rotating, or the like of two sections of the organizer relative to each other. However, unrestricted mobility is not required. According to the invention, the mobility of two interconnected sections can certainly be limited due to the material stiffness, hose system elements located between the sections, and the like.

[0010] According to the invention, a connection between, for example, the first section and the second section is understood to be any connection by means of which a falling apart of the respectively connected sections is prevented or contributed to preventing this. By means of the connection, a transmission of force between the connected sections is possible. The connection can be temporary, but it can also last the lifetime of the organizer. A connection within the meaning of the present invention also exists when connected sections are made of continuous material, in particular in one piece. The connection can be flexible. It can allow or ensure a clearly defined, angular transition between adjacent sections. The connection can allow a variable distance, for example between the first section and the second section.

[0011] Furthermore, due to the outer width of the second section, the organizer takes on a shape when folded, which makes it easy to adapt to a transport package. This would not be the case if the first and third sections, between which the components of the blood tubing system are located when the organizer is folded, were to lie directly on top of each other with the tubing system inside. Such a flexible package would have excessive freedom of movement within a package, especially a rigid one. The flexible tubing system alone does not have a reproducible thickness, making it difficult to adapt a package.

[0012] This characteristic of the organizer's defined shape, or rather the defined spacing at least in the area of the second section, is also advantageous when handling the organizer by the user. The user can remove a rigid, folded system from the packaging and grasp it easily, which would be difficult due to the lack of the clearly defined second section. The "soft" packaged tube system would then be difficult to grasp.

[0013] Advantageous further developments of the subject matter according to the invention are the subject matter of the subclaims.

[0014] Thus, in a preferred embodiment, an organizer is proposed that has a desired angle range or a preferred bending line or folding line or folding line between the first section and the second section. Such a desired angle range or the like corresponds to the area that, similar to a joint, enables the defined relative movement between the first section and the second section.

[0015] Because the desired angle region, due to its special design, is suitable for a joint effect between the first and second sections, the first section and in particular the second section can retain their shape unchanged when the organizer is folded or collapsed. A relative movement between the first section and the second section thus advantageously allows the organizer to be folded or collapsed without the first and / or second section also having to be bent, folded or folded. The desired angle region can be designed in one part or in multiple parts. It can be designed to allow bending up to a specified angle, e.g. 90°, between the adjacent sections.

[0016] Such a desired angle range can also be provided between the second section and the third section of the organizer according to the invention of this embodiment.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment, the organizer according to the invention has a desired angle region with a material thickness or strength which is less than a material thickness or strength of the first section and / or the second section.

[0018] In this embodiment, the movement of the first section relative to the second section is made possible or at least facilitated by a simple and cost-effective reduction in the material thickness in the region of the desired angle range.

[0019] In a further preferred embodiment of the organizer according to the invention, the first and / or third section is connected to the second section by at least one film hinge. The film hinge can have one or more, in particular two, hinge grooves. These can be spaced apart from one another. The film hinge thus allows for a defined bending of two sections of the organizer connected by the film hinge in a particularly reliable manner.

[0020] In a further preferred embodiment, the second section of the organizer can have a stiffer structure than the first section or the third section. The stiffer structure can be achieved by selecting a stronger material for the second section, by using a thicker material in the region of the second section in a direction perpendicular to a main extension plane of the second section, or by providing additional stiffening elements.

[0021] The stiffer structure of the second section advantageously serves to maintain the distance between the first section and the third section during use—at least in the area of their connection to the second section. The degree of stiffness of the second section can be determined by design measures such that the second section fulfills its spacer function during normal use of the organizer, in particular without itself buckling. Furthermore, the stiffness of the second section ensures that blood tubing elements running in this area are protected against kinking.

[0022] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the second section has at least one holding element for, in particular, reversibly receiving blood tube parts. The first and third sections can also have holding elements of this or other types. Such holding elements include, for example, tube holders, holders for venous clamps, etc.

[0023] A further technical advantage of the invention is that hose parts attached to the first section can be permanently connected to hose parts of the third section without kinking by being supported or guided in the second section by an additional retaining element. If the latter were not the case, as in the prior art, connections extending across the first and third sections would be prone to kinking, with the associated disadvantages.

[0024] In a further preferred embodiment, the organizer according to the invention comprises a one-piece base body comprising the first section, the second section, and the third section. This allows for particularly simple and cost-effective production of the organizer according to the invention.

[0025] In a further preferred embodiment, the organizer comprises or is made of at least one polystyrene. The organizer can be manufactured by thermoforming.

[0026] In a further preferred embodiment, the desired angle region has a material thickness which is less than a material thickness of the first section and / or the second section and / or the third section.

[0027] In a further preferred embodiment, the second section is designed in several parts.

[0028] In a further preferred embodiment, the organizer has a base body produced in one piece, which has the first section, the second section and the third section.

[0029] The present invention is explained below by way of example with reference to the attached figure. In the figure: Fig. 1 shows a foldable organizer according to the present invention in a folded state; and Fig. 2 displays the organizer Fig. 1 in the open state.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a foldable organizer 1 with a first section 3, a second section 5, and a third section 7. The first section 3 and the third section 7 are spaced apart from each other by the supporting effect of the second section 5 at their ends located toward the left edge of the image and are simultaneously connected to each other. The connection between the first section 3 and the second section 5 is established by means of several predetermined angle regions 9. The second section 5 is also connected to the third section 7 by means of predetermined angle regions 9.

[0031] Fig. 1 It can be seen that each of the three sections 3, 5 and 7 has several holding elements 11 for fastening Fig. 1 blood tube system elements not shown. The holding elements 11 of the second section 5 already stiffen the second section 5 due to their connection with the second section 5. Furthermore, the holding elements 11 of the second section 5 - in Fig. 1 not shown - blood tube system elements of a further stiffening of the second section 5.

[0032] Fig. 2 shows the Organizer 1 from Fig. 1 in a spread-out or unfolded state. It can be seen that the first section 3, the second section 5, and the third section 7 are made in one piece from a base body 13.

[0033] The desired angle regions 9 each have a film hinge with, for example, two hinge grooves 15 each. They can be designed such that they do not allow the sections to bend relative to each other beyond a predetermined angle, which can advantageously contribute to increased strength of the organizer.

Claims

1. An organizer (1) comprising at least a first, a second and a third section, wherein the first section (3) is connected to the second section (5), movably relative to the second section (5), wherein the second section (5) is connected to the third section (7), movably relative to the third section (7), and wherein the organizer (1) is designed such that tube parts, when attached to the first section (3), can be permanently connected without kinking to tube parts of the third section (7), by being supported or guided in the second section (5) by an additional holding element (11).

2. The organizer (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one target angle area (9) is designed between the first section (3) and the second section (5) and / or between the second section (5) and the third section (7).

3. The organizer (1) according to claim 2, wherein the target angle area (9) enables a hinge action between the first (3) and the second section (5).

4. The organizer (1) according to claim 3, with a further target angle area (9), which enables a hinge action between the second (5) and the third section (7).

5. The organizer (1) according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the target angle area (9) and / or the further target angle area (9) are designed in several parts.

6. The organizer (1) according to any one of claim 2 to 5, which allows an angle deviation up to a defined angle between the adjacent sections (3, 5, 7).

7. The organizer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the third section (7) is connected to the first section (3) only via the second section (5).

8. The organizer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second section (5) comprises a stiffer structure than the first section (3) and / or the third section (7).

9. The organizer (1) according to claim 8, wherein the stiffer structure is designed by providing additional stiffening elements.

10. The organizer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first section (3) and the third section (7) each comprise at least one holding element (11) for reversibly receiving blood tubing system elements.

11. The organizer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second section (5) is designed such that it ensures a defined distance to each other between the areas of the first section (3) and those of the third section (7) that are connected to it.

12. The organizer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second section (5) comprises at least one holding element (11) for reversibly receiving blood tubing system elements.

13. The organizer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein tube parts which are attached to the first section (3) are connected to tube parts of the third section (7) by means of an additional holding element (11) of the second section (5).

14. The organizer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding element (11) is designed as a tube holder.

15. The organizer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, which is equipped with blood tubing system elements.

16. The organizer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the blood tubing system elements are arranged between the first section (3) and the third section (7) in the collapsed state of the organizer (1).