A process for delivering a liquid in a continuous and controlled manner.

Abstract

A method for delivering a liquid in a continuous and controlled manner. The invention is a device and a method comprising a step of installing a bag on an inclined support, a step of measuring the positioning of said inclined support at a predetermined height according to a pressure setpoint and the heating of the liquid, a step of switching from an empty bag to a new one, and a step of positioning the inclined support in a replacement position to allow for changing the empty bag. This process is thus advantageous because it relieves healthcare personnel of the tasks of monitoring and regulating the flow rate and reduces the number of bag changes required during surgery, allowing the surgeon to have an optimal situation during the operation. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Field of invention

[0001] Title of the invention: Method for delivering a liquid in a continuous and controlled manner.

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for ensuring the control of a liquid in a care setting, whether in terms of temperature, flow rate and continuity. Background of the invention - prior art

[0003] During endoscopic surgery in urology, gynecology or arthroscopy, it is necessary to perform a flushing procedure to allow the practitioner to obtain optimal visibility. This operation is carried out using liquid bags suspended from a bracket. The management of the liquid bags is the responsibility of the operating room nurses so that the practitioner is not hindered by an interruption or an inadequate flow rate. The nursing staff must therefore regularly check the level of the bags to replace them to ensure continuous flushing. The liquid must also be delivered at a correct flow rate. This is particularly the case in laparoscopy operations where an uncontrolled pressure variation can damage organs. It is therefore necessary to provide staff with adequate equipment to facilitate their activity and ensure patient safety.The challenge of the liquid control method according to the present invention is therefore to limit the intervention of hospital staff as much as possible, these tasks being tedious and potentially a source of errors.

[0004] The method for controlling a liquid is part of a state of the art offering scattered solutions, but not making it possible to provide an adequate solution in the case of an operation requiring the continuous and controlled delivery of a liquid.

[0005] Document No. CN 209 529 818 describes a pressure sensor placed on the tubing downstream of the liquid bags to control the pressure of the flowing liquid, thus influencing the flow rate. However, this device does not include any means of switching the liquid bags. Thus, when a bag empties, the nursing staff must manually gradually close the first liquid bag while gradually opening the second so as not to affect the required flow rate. This technique is unsatisfactory because it is only very imprecise, so that a total stoppage of the rinsing may occur.

[0006] Document No. CN 110 859 749 describes another device comprising a sleeve for adjusting the pressure and maintaining the liquid pockets at a given temperature. However, this embodiment is not satisfactory because the sleeve does not allow the filling level of the liquid pocket to be determined. The pocket is in fact correctly heated and maintained under the desired flow rate, but does not indicate the remaining level of liquid in the bag, requiring the nursing staff to ensure recurring monitoring.

[0007] Document No. CN 209 332 864 describes another device comprising a plurality of liquid bags installed on a bracket and connected together by clusters, allowing for longer rinsing. In addition to having the previously mentioned defects, this solution is not satisfactory because it makes the input / output balance very difficult, i.e. the quantity of liquid introduced into the patient and the quantity which comes out. This balance is important because it allows lesions to be detected. Since the bags grouped together empty simultaneously, calculating the liquid consumed is much more difficult than when using bags successively.

[0008] Finally, the entire state of the art presents a problem when the objective is to control the flow of liquid by gravity. Indeed, since the pockets are vertical, the flow rate is modified as a pocket empties, since the water height changes. Thus, a pressure difference of approximately 40% can be observed.

[0009] The present device and method for delivering a liquid in a controlled manner aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by guaranteeing practitioners optimal control during the operation. To this end, the method aims to allow control of the liquid in terms of flow rate, temperature and continuity. Summary of the invention

[0010] An aim of the invention is to propose a method allowing the control of a liquid whether in terms of flow rate, temperature and continuity, the objective being to solve the problem of interruption or too low flow rate of the liquid hindering the proper progress of the operation.

[0011] To this end, the invention relates to a method for heating and positioning at least one liquid bag at a determined height. The height, called the flow position, is determined according to a pressure setpoint. The at least one liquid bag is positioned on a dedicated inclined support. The at least one liquid bag is continuously weighed so that when a first bag is empty, a switch allows a second bag to be opened to ensure the continuity of the liquid. The inclined support of the empty bag is then brought to a replacement position, allowing the healthcare staff to install a new bag there. The support is then again brought to a flow position. This method is characterized in that it comprises: - A first step which implements: • An operation of installing a pocket on at least one support inclined to a replacement position • An operation consisting of determining, adjusting or confirming a set pressure. • An operation consisting of determining, adjusting or confirming a set temperature - A second stage which implements: • An operation consisting of heating the pocket to the set temperature • An operation consisting of positioning at least one inclined support at a flow position, a position determined by the set pressure. - A third stage which implements: • A constant measurement operation of the quantity of liquid remaining in the pocket, based on data collected by a sensor; • A constant measurement operation of the quantity of liquid collected leaving the patient's body; • An operation to transmit this information to the central unit. • In the event that the measurement of the liquid remaining in the bag reaches a predetermined threshold, the microcontroller issues an alert to indicate that the pocket is empty in order to trigger the fourth step. - A fourth stage which implements: • A progressive switching operation of the bags when the alert issued in the third step indicates that the bag is empty, according to a predetermined threshold, comprising a progressive closing of the first bag coupled with a simultaneous progressive opening of the second bag of liquid by means of a switching device. • An operation of bringing at least one inclined support of the bag in use from a flow position to a replacement position. • Transmitting information that the first bag is empty to the nursing staff so that they can replace it with a full bag.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transition from the replacement position to the flow position and from the flow position to the replacement position is carried out automatically by means of at least one motorized jib.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second step of the method comprises an operation of continuous measurement of the quantity of liquid entering the patient and a continuous measurement of the amount of fluid leaving the patient as well as an operational step consisting of alerting the nursing staff if the difference between the two measurements reaches a predetermined threshold. The alert is visual or audible.

[0014] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the set pressure can also be controlled by the surgeon by means of a control device, for example a pedal.

[0015] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first step of the method comprises determining the mode of implementation of the set pressure: either by an operation consisting of positioning an inclined support at a flow position, a position determined by the set pressure, or by an operation consisting of controlling a device for pressurizing the liquid, for example a pump. Each of the modes corresponds to a range of values ​​adapted to a type of operation, such as endoscopy or celioscopy.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one inclined support forms an angle between 0 and 90 degrees and is equipped with a position sensor and a weight sensor.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the continuous measurement of the liquid in the liquid bags in use according to the third step is carried out by a weight sensor.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the communication of information on the state of the liquid bags in use according to the fourth step is carried out by a visual or audible alert.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the information collected by the central unit during the operation of the method is displayed on a screen integrated into the central unit, in particular the consumption balance of the quantity of liquid during the entire operation. Description of figures

[0020] The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better appreciated thanks to the description which follows, supported by the figure located in the appendix which presents: - [Fig.l] is a schematic representation of a device implementing the method according to the invention in the first step of said method - [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of a device implementing the method according to the invention in the second and third stages of said method - [Fig. 3] is a schematic representation of a device implementing the method according to the invention in the fourth step of said method Detailed description

[0021] With reference to [Fig.l], a device (1) implementing the method according to The invention comprises a liquid management system (2), a resector (3) and a control pedal (4). The liquid management system (2) comprises two motorized arms (20), two inclined supports (21), a liquid bag (22), a central unit (23) comprising a screen (24) and control elements, a switching system (25), a pump (26) and a collection bag (27). The inclined supports (21) each comprise electrical resistors in order to heat the liquid bag (22) and a weight sensor. The collection bag (27) is suspended from a weight sensor (28). The liquid bag (22) is connected to the resector (3) by a network of tubing (29) allowing a flow of the liquid bag (22) into the patient's body by means of the resector (3), liquid which is then recovered in the collection bag (27).

[0022] [Fig.l] shows a device (1) implementing the method according to the invention in the first step of said method according to the invention. The two electric jibs (20) position the two inclined supports (21) at the lowest, called the replacement position, in order to facilitate the installation of a liquid bag (22). The operator uses the screen (24) integrated into the central unit (23) in order to determine the set temperature and pressure.

[0023] The central unit (23) includes an option for choosing the mode for achieving the set pressure. The first mode corresponds to the use of the motorized jibs (20) in order to position the inclined support (21) containing the bag in use (22) at a suitable height to obtain the set pressure. The second mode uses the pump (26) in order to obtain a higher pressure. Each of the modes corresponds to the needs of specific operations.

[0024] The pedal (4) allows the surgeon to temporarily control the set pressure in order to be able to adapt instantly to a change in situation during the operation.

[0025] With reference to [Fig. 2], the device (1) implementing the method according to the invention is presented in the second and third steps of said method. The second step consists of heating the liquid bags (22) to the set temperature and, by means of the motorized brackets (20), positioning the inclined supports (21) at a position called the flow position, a position determined by the set pressure. Once this step has been completed, the third step consists of constantly measuring the quantity of liquid remaining in the bag (22) currently in use by means of the weight sensor integrated into the inclined support (21) as well as the quantity of liquid leaving the patient's body and collected in the collection bag (27). The measurement of the quantity of liquid collected is also carried out by a weight sensor (28). All of this information is transmitted to the microcontroller of the central unit (23).

[0026] With reference to [Fig.3], the device (1) implementing the method according to the invention is presented in the fourth of said method. This step is triggered in the event that the measurement of the quantity of liquid remaining in the bag (22) in use reaches a predetermined threshold, the microcontroller issues an alert to indicate that the bag (22) is almost empty and triggers a switching step. This step consists of gradually controlling the flow rate of the bag (22) in use and of the reserve bag in order to reduce the flow rate of the first and increase that of the second. The switching thus makes it possible to maintain the flow rate in accordance with the set value without interruption of rinsing when a bag is exhausted. This switching step is carried out by means of the device (25)

[0027] The inclined support (21) comprising the empty bag is then brought to the replacement position and an alert is issued so that the nursing staff can replace the empty bag with a new bag (22). The device implementing the method then returns to the first step of said method concerning the inclined support (21) containing the new bag (22).

Claims

1. Claims Method for delivering a liquid in a continuous and controlled manner, characterized in that it comprises: - A first step which implements: • An operation of installing a pocket (22) on at least one inclined support (21) at a replacement position • An operation consisting of determining, adjusting or confirming a set pressure. • An operation consisting of determining, adjusting or confirming a set temperature - A second stage which implements: • An operation consisting of heating the pocket (22) to the set temperature • An operation consisting of positioning at least one support (21) inclined at a flow position, position determined by the set pressure. - A third stage which implements: • A constant measurement operation of the quantity of liquid remaining in the pocket (22), from data collected by a sensor; • A constant measurement operation of the quantity of liquid collected leaving the patient's body; • An operation of transmitting this information to the central unit (23). • In the event that the measurement of the liquid remaining in the bag (22) reaches a predetermined threshold, the central unit (23) issues an alert to indicate that the bag is empty in order to trigger the fourth step. - A fourth stage which implements: • A progressive switching operation of the bags when the alert issued in the third step indicates that the bag is empty, according to a predetermined threshold, comprising a progressive closing of the first bag coupled with a simultaneous progressive opening of the second bag of liquid by means of a switching device (25). • An operation consisting of bringing the at least one inclined support (21) of the liquid bag in use (22) from a flow position to a replacement position. • The transmission of the information that the first bag is empty to the nursing staff so that the latter replaces it with a full bag (22).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first step of the method according to the invention comprises determining the mode of realization of the set pressure according to one of the following methods: - Positioning at least one inclined support (21) at a flow position, position determined by the set pressure. - Controlling a liquid pressurization device (26).

3. Method according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that all the data generated during the operation are stored.

4. Method according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one inclined support (21) makes it possible to position a pocket (22) at an angle of between 0 and 90 degrees relative to the ground.

5. Method according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one inclined support (21) is equipped with a position sensor and installed on a motorized jib (20).

6. Method according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the continuous measurement of the liquid in the liquid bags (22) in use according to the third step is carried out by a weight sensor of said liquid bags (22).

7. Method according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a visual or audible alert is emitted if the difference between the quantity of liquid entering the patient and the quantity of liquid leaving the patient exceeds a predetermined threshold.

8. Method according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the information collected by the central unit (23) during the operation of the method is displayed on a screen (24) integrated into the central unit (23), in particular the consumption balance of the quantity of liquid during

9. the entire operation. Method according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the communication of the information on the state of the liquid bags in use (22) according to the fourth step is carried out by a visual or audible alert.

10. Method according to claim 1 to 9, characterized in that the set pressure is modified by means of a control device (4).

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