COLLECTION DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a collection device for a tissue sampling device, such as, in particular, a shaver, according to the preamble of claim 1. The collection device serves to retain and collect tissue material removed from a patient by means of the shaver, such as, in particular, autologous cartilage tissue from a joint or bone material. The collected tissue material is intended to be mixed with a medium, such as, in particular, a hydrogel or blood serum, for the preparation and production of an applicator mass, in particular an autologous one.For this purpose, the collection device has a shaver-side flow connection that can be fluidly connected to a tissue discharge of the tissue removal device, a vacuum-side flow connection that can be fluidly connected to a vacuum device, and a connecting path that can be formed between the shaver-side flow connection and the vacuum-side flow connection. A fluid flow can be formed via this connecting path from the shaver-side flow connection to the vacuum-side flow connection, in which the removed tissue material is transported away from the tissue removal device. In addition, a collection container is provided, which can be arranged in the connecting path and serves to receive tissue material separated from the fluid flow.A bypass path separate from the collection tank can be created between the shaver-side flow connection and the vacuum-side flow connection. This allows the fluid flow between the two flow connections to be independent of the collection tank.

[0002] US 2021 / 0251647 A1 discloses a device for collecting tissue, which has a flow connection on the shaver side and a flow connection on the vacuum side. Between them, the collection device forms a connecting path in the form of a multi-part, sleeve-shaped collection container, in which a filter part with several filter elements of different permeability is accommodated. Two housing parts of the collection container can be separated from each other to access the tissue material retained by the filter part.

[0003] The disadvantage of the known collection device is that it has to be disassembled in a relatively complicated manner in order to remove the tissue material and the shaver in question cannot be operated during such a tissue removal.

[0004] CN107744404A describes a collection device for patellar tissue, which has a collection container located between a shaver and a vacuum device. A bypass line is also provided to empty or replace the container during use. To activate the bypass, a closing valve is provided at the inlet and outlet of the collection container, as well as in the bypass line. The valves can be controlled based on a measuring sensor located in another parallel measuring line.

[0005] US 2022 / 047283 A1 discloses a lithotripsy device for crushing stones with a handpiece on which a probe capable of being supplied with impact energy is mounted and through which a suction channel is guided to a housing with a catching device. In one embodiment, the catching device has a receptacle for a collecting container and a bypass line with two two-way valves routed around the receptacle. When the collecting container is inserted, the two-way valves are in a first position, in which they open a flow path through the collecting container. When the container is removed, however, the two-way valves are in a second position, in which they open a flow path through the bypass line. The two-way valves are preloaded to the second position and, when the collecting container is inserted, are switched to the first position via an actuator provided on the container.

[0006] The object of the invention is to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages in a generic collection device and to enable easier and faster removal of the retained tissue as well as more convenient operation of the associated tissue removal device.

[0007] This object is achieved by a collection device having the features of claim 1. The shaver-side flow connection and the vacuum-side flow connection are arranged on a connection housing on which the collection container is removably held. This makes it possible to separate the collection container from the connection housing and thus from the remaining tissue collection arrangement, which consists of the tissue removal device, the connection housing, the vacuum device and the flow connections between them, in order to remove the retained tissue material. This enables particularly simple and convenient removal and processing of the retained tissue material. It is also possible to operate the tissue removal device while retained tissue material is being removed from the collection container, since the tissue material removed by the shaver can still be transported away via a fluid flow.A switching device is provided, via which the shaver-side flow connection can be connected to the vacuum-side flow connection either via the connecting path or the bypass path. This allows the collection device to be switched between collection mode and pure suction mode, in which the tissue removed by the shaver can be transported away without being collected. This, in turn, makes it possible to empty the collection container while the shaver continues to operate in pure suction mode.

[0008] The switching device is preferably formed by a two-way valve in order to enable rapid switching between collection mode and suction mode without significant interruption.

[0009] It is also advantageous if the switching device can be switched via a rotary element, enabling particularly convenient operation, especially with one hand. As an alternative to the rotary element, the switching device can also have a sliding element or any other known handle suitable for switching a two-way valve.

[0010] It is particularly advantageous if the bypass path is formed within the connection housing so that the remaining tissue collection arrangement can also be operated in pure suction mode without the collection container.

[0011] Preferably, the collection container forms a flow section of the connecting path between an inlet opening and an outlet opening, in which a collection receptacle defined by a sieve device is provided. This allows the connecting path to be established via the collection container during collection operation, and the fabric can be separated from the connecting path in a simple manner and over a relatively large filter area.

[0012] The screening device is preferably formed by a flat screening surface located upstream of the outlet opening in the direction of flow. The flat design of the screening surface facilitates the removal of fabric particles or filter cake adhering to the filter during collection.

[0013] Furthermore, the collection receptacle is advantageously visible through a transparent area of ​​the collection container, such as a window or a transparent wall of the collection container. This makes it easy to determine during the collection process whether a sufficient amount of the respective tissue material has been collected. Additionally, a fill level scale can be provided on the transparent area to facilitate estimation of the amount of collected material.

[0014] Furthermore, it is advantageous if a closing element is attached to the removable collection container, which closing element can be adjusted between a first open position, in which the access opening of the collection receptacle is exposed, and a closed position, in which the access opening is closed. This allows the collection container to be opened via the closing element on the one hand, in order to release the connection path for collection operation when attached to the connection housing. On the other hand, the collection container can be closed via the closing element in order to prevent unwanted escape of retained tissue material or its contamination by incoming contaminants when the collection container is separated from the connection housing.

[0015] It is advantageous if the closing element can be automatically moved into the first open position when the collecting container is attached to the connection housing in order to ensure that the connection path is released when the collecting container is attached or during collection operation.

[0016] In addition, it is advantageous if the closing element can be automatically moved into the closed position when removed from the collection container in order to prevent unwanted escape of the contained fabric material during separation and when the collection container is separated from the connection housing.

[0017] The closing element advantageously has an adjusting element, via which the closing element can be adjusted into the first open position when the collecting container is attached by interacting with the connection housing. For example, the adjusting element is formed by a contact cam that can be placed against the connection housing and thus displaced relative to the collecting housing. This allows the automatic displacement of the closing element into the first open position to be implemented using particularly simple means and at low manufacturing costs.

[0018] It is also advantageous if the closure element is pre-tensioned into the closed position. This allows the collection container to be securely closed both during removal from the connector housing and when completely separated from it, preventing accidental leakage and / or contamination of the collected tissue material.

[0019] Advantageously, the collection receptacle can also be emptied by means of a piston in a second open position of the closure element. This allows for particularly convenient and complete removal of the collected tissue material from the collection container.

[0020] It is advantageous if the collection container has a container opening that can be closed by the closing element, and if the piston is held on a side of the collection receptacle facing away from the closing element and can be displaced along the collection receptacle toward the container opening. In this way, the collection receptacle can be conveniently and completely emptied by means of the piston in the second open position of the closing element.

[0021] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the piston can be displaced along an inner surface of the sieve device, whereby retained tissue particles adhering to the sieve device can also be removed in a convenient manner in order to make the collected tissue material available as completely as possible for processing or later use.

[0022] It is pointed out that all features of the subject matter according to the invention described above are interchangeable or combinable with one another, unless an exchange or combination thereof is excluded for technical reasons.

[0023] The figures illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention. They show: Figure 1 shows a tissue collection arrangement with a collection device according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through the collection device according to Figure 1with a connection path established, Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section through the collecting device according to Figure 1 with a bypass path produced and Figure 4 an exploded view of a collecting container of the collecting device according to Figure 1 .

[0024] Fig. 1shows a tissue collection arrangement 1 with a collection device 2, a tissue removal device 4 and a vacuum device 20. The tissue removal device 4 is designed in the form of a shaver, by means of which tissue material G, such as in particular cartilage tissue or bone material, can be removed from a patient P. The removal takes place, for example, from a knee, a shoulder joint or another bone. The tissue material G obtained in this way serves for the later production of an applicator mass, in particular an autologous one, which can be used in the treatment of a lesion or in the buildup of tissue or bone on a defect of the patient P.

[0025] For collecting the tissue material G, the collection device 2 has a shaver-side flow connection 6, which is fluidly connected to a discharge connection 10 of a tissue discharge 12 of the tissue removal device 4 via a connecting line 8. Furthermore, the collection device 2 has a vacuum-side flow connection 16, which is connectable to the shaver-side flow connection 6 via a connecting path 14 and is fluidly connected to a vacuum device 20 via a connecting line 18.

[0026] As soon as a negative pressure is applied to the connecting line 18 by means of the negative pressure device 20, a fluid flow F is generated from the tissue removal device 4 via the collection device 2 to the negative pressure device 20. Via the tissue discharge 12, the tissue material G removed by a tool 22 can be transported in the fluid flow F to the discharge connection 10, via which it is further guided to the collection device 2.

[0027] As is particularly evident from Figure 2As can be seen, the collecting device 2 has a collecting container 24 which is held on a connection housing 26. The collecting container 24 forms a flow section 32 between an inlet opening 28 and an outlet opening 30, which runs through a collecting receptacle 34. The collecting receptacle 34 is partially delimited by a sieve device 36 which, in the flow direction of the fluid flow F, has at least one flat sieve surface 38 in front of the outlet opening 30.

[0028] As from Figure 2 As can also be seen, the connecting path 14 runs from the shaver-side flow connection 6 via the flow section 32 to the vacuum-side flow connection 16. In this way, the tissue material G carried in the fluid flow can be separated by means of the sieve device 36 and collected in the collecting receptacle 34.

[0029] Between the shaver-side flow connection 6 and the collecting container 24, a two-way valve is also provided, which functions as a switching device 40 and can be switched between a connecting position and a bypass position. The switching device 40 has an actuator 42 for this purpose, which, as shown, can be designed as a rotary element. Alternatively, the actuator 42 can also be designed as a sliding element or in any other known form suitable for switching a two-way valve (not shown).

[0030] In any case, in the Figure 2 In the connection position of the two-way valve 40 shown, the shaver-side flow connection 6 is connected via the connection path 14 to the vacuum-side flow connection 16, so that the tissue collection arrangement 1 with the collection device 2, the tissue removal device 4 and the vacuum device 20 can be used in a collection operation.

[0031] By turning the actuator 42, the two-way valve 40 can be moved to the bypass position according to Figure 3In this, the shaver-side flow connection 6 is now connected to the vacuum-side flow connection 16 via a bypass path 44. The bypass path 44 is integrated into the connection housing 26 separately from the collection container 24. This allows the collection device 2 to be used together with the tissue removal device 4 and the vacuum device 20 in a pure suction operation, which takes place independently of the collection container 24. The collection container 24 can therefore also be removed from the connection housing 26 during operation of the tissue removal device 4, as shown, in order, for example, to remove the tissue material G previously collected therein. In order to be able to maintain the suction power via the bypass path 44, a closure element (not shown) can be provided at the outlet opening 30 on the side of the connection housing 26.

[0032] At the collecting container 24 according to Figure 4an at least partially transparent region 46 is provided through which the collection receptacle 34 can be viewed. The transparent region 46 can, as shown, be formed by a completely or partially transparent design of the collection container 24 itself. Alternatively, the transparent region 46 can also be formed by a window that is let into the otherwise non-transparent collection container 24 (not shown). In this way, it can be checked whether a sufficient amount of the removed tissue material G has been collected. To better estimate the amount of tissue material G retained in the collection receptacle 34, a measuring scale can be provided on the transparent region or in the area visible from this (not shown).

[0033] As from Figure 4As can also be seen, the access opening 28 of the collecting receptacle 34 is integrated, for example, into a closing element 48, which is adjustable at a container opening 50 of the collecting container 24 between a first and second open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the access opening 28 is located at the level of a closed outer surface 52 of the collecting container 24, so that the collecting receptacle 34 is closed by the remaining closing element 48, as shown in Figure 3 shown.

[0034] In the first open position, however, the access opening 28 is located at the level of the collecting receptacle 34, so that the connecting path 14 can be formed via this, as in Figure 2 shown.

[0035] The closing element 48 is designed such that it is automatically moved into the first open position when the collecting container 24 is attached to the connection housing 26. For this purpose, the closing element 48 has an actuating element 54, which, as shown, is formed, for example, by an edge of the closing element 48 or by an additionally formed contact cam (not shown), and which comes into contact with the connection housing 26 when the collecting container 24 is attached, thereby moving the closing element 48 from the closed position to the open position.

[0036] In addition, the closing element 48 can be automatically displaced into the closed position upon removal from the collection container. For this purpose, a spring device (not shown) can be provided between the closing element 48 and the remaining collection container 24, for example, which preloads the closing element 48 into the closed position.

[0037] As from Figure 4As can also be seen, the screening device 36 has, for example, three flat screening surfaces 38, along whose respective inner surface 56 a scraper 58 is displaceable, which is held on a piston 60. The piston 60 is in turn displaceably held at an end of the collecting receptacle 34 facing away from the access opening 28 or the closing element 48, as can be seen from the Figure 2 and 3can be removed. As a result, the piston 60 can be displaced along the collecting receptacle 34 in the direction of the container opening 50. In this way, in the second open position of the closing element 48, in which it essentially completely exposes the container opening 50, the collected tissue material G can be completely dispensed from the collecting receptacle 34. The scraper 58 carried on the piston 60 also loosens tissue particles adhering to the sieve surfaces 38 and likewise dispenses them via the container opening 50 in order to ensure essentially complete emptying of the collecting receptacle 34.

[0038] It is pointed out that all elements and features of the various embodiments of the subject matter according to the invention described above are interchangeable or combinable with one another, unless an exchange or combination thereof is excluded for technical reasons.

Claims

1. Collecting device (2) for a tissue biopsy device (4) with a shaver-side flow connection (6), which can be fluidly connected to a tissue discharge (12) of the tissue biopsy device (4), with a vacuum-side flow connection (16), which can be fluidly connected to a vacuum device (20), a connection path (14), which can be formed between the shaver-side flow connection (6) and the vacuum-side flow connection (16) and through which a fluid flow (F) can be formed from the shaver-side flow connection (6) to the vacuum-side flow connection (16), and a collection container (24), which can be mounted in the connection path (14) to receive tissue material (G) from the fluid flow (F), wherein a bypass path (44) separated from the collection container (24) can be formed between the shaver-side flow connection (6) and the vacuum-side flow connection (16), characterized in that the shaver-side flow connection (6) and the vacuum-side flow connection (16) are provided on a connection housing (26), on which the collection container (24) is detachably held, and a switching apparatus (40), which can be switched using a handle, is provided, by means of which the shaver-side flow connection (6) can be optionally connected via the connection path (14) or the bypass path (44) to the vacuum-side flow connection (16).

2. Collecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching apparatus (40) is formed by a two-way valve.

3. Collecting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the handle is formed by a rotary member (42).

4. Collecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the bypass path (44) is formed within the connection housing (26).

5. Collecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the collection container (24) forms a flow section (32) of the connection path (14) between an inlet opening (28) and an outlet opening (30), in which a collection receptacle (34) bounded by a screening apparatus (36) is provided.

6. Collecting device according to claim 5, characterized in that the screening apparatus (36) is formed by a planar screen surface (38) mounted upstream of the outlet opening (30).

7. Collecting device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the collection receptacle (34) is visible via a transparent region (46) of the collection container (24).

8. Collecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a closing element (48) is held on the detachable collection container (24), which closing element (48) is adjustable between a first open position, in which the inlet opening (28) of the collection receptacle (34) is unlocked, and a closed position, in which the inlet opening (28) is locked.

9. Collecting device according to claim 8, characterized in that the closing element (48) can be automatically moved into the first open position on mounting the collection container (24) on the connection housing (26).

10. Collecting device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the closing element (48) can be automatically moved into the closed position on removal from the collection container (24).

11. Collecting device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the closing element (48) has an actuating element (54), by means of which the closing element (48) can be moved into the first open position on mounting the collection container (24) through interaction with the connection housing (26).

12. Collecting device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the closing element (48) is prestressed in the closed position.

13. Collecting device according to any one of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that the collection receptacle (34) can be emptied by means of a plunger (60).

14. Collecting device according to claim 13, characterized in that the collection container (24) has a container opening (50) that can be closed by the closing element (48), which is unlocked in a second open position of the closing element (48), and the plunger (60) is held on a side of the collection receptacle (34) facing away from the closing element (48) and can be displaced along the collection receptacle (34) in the direction of the container opening (50).

15. Collecting device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the plunger (60) can be displaced along an inner surface (56) of the screening apparatus (36).