Lavage assembly

Abstract

A lavage assembly (2) has an applicator housing (4), the applicator housing comprising a handle region (6) and an application opening (8), which is provided on an application side (A), for dispensing a rinsing liquid (SF), and the applicator housing enclosing a drive receiving area (10), which is accessible via a housing opening (12); a liquid line (36), by means of which the application opening (8) can be connected to a supply (V) of rinsing liquid (SF); and a drive unit (18), which can be inserted into the drive receiving area (10), for a pump (20) for conveying the rinsing liquid (SF) from the supply (V) to the application opening (8), the drive unit (18) having, for this purpose, a motor (24), a power supply device (26), and a rotor (30) which can be driven by the motor (24), and the pump (20) being in the form of a hose pump which is substantially formed by the rotor (30) and an elastically deformable hose portion (34). According to the invention, the applicator housing (4) has a rod-type housing portion (16) which extends in the shape of a rod along a housing longitudinal axis (AG) and forms the handle region (6), the handle region extending at least partly about the housing longitudinal axis (AG), and the housing opening (12) being provided on a rear side (R) of the applicator housing (4) facing away from the application side (A).

Description

[0001] Lavage arrangement

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a lavage arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 for rinsing and cleaning body parts or wounds by means of sprays or irrigation pulses during surgery, such as during the insertion of artificial joints or prostheses or during wound debridement. For this purpose, the lavage arrangement comprises an applicator housing that forms a handle area and an application opening for dispensing an irrigation fluid. The applicator housing also encloses a drive unit, which is accessible via a housing opening. Furthermore, the lavage arrangement comprises a fluid line by means of which the application opening can be connected to a reservoir of the irrigation fluid, and a drive unit that can be inserted into and removed from the drive unit. This drive unit is part of a pump that serves to deliver the irrigation fluid from the reservoir to the application opening.The drive unit comprises a motor, a power supply unit, and a rotor that can be rotated by the motor. The pump is designed as a peristaltic pump, essentially consisting of the rotor and an elastically deformable section of hose.

[0004] Such a lavage setup allows for the gentle and thorough rinsing of wounds or surgical areas, particularly through repeated irrigation pulses. This removes bone, tissue, or material residues and other contaminants that accumulate during surgery, thereby preventing infections and accelerating the healing process.

[0005] The drive unit, which can be inserted into and removed from the drive housing, allows it to be removed from the respective applicator housing after use and subsequently reused in a different applicator housing. This makes the drive unit reusable, particularly in similar applicator housings. US 2017 / 0119939 describes a lavage arrangement for spraying and aspirating liquid using a pistol-shaped handpiece containing a pump with an impeller. Dispensing occurs via a probe holder located at the application opening, to which a tubular spray device is attached.

[0006] A disadvantage of the known lavage arrangement is that, due to its shape and size, it can only be held and aligned in a predetermined or severely restricted manner. Furthermore, the known lavage arrangement, due to the relatively cumbersome installation of the drive unit, is not suitable for applications where the drive unit must be reused under sterile conditions. Additionally, if the drive unit is reused successively in multiple housings, manufacturing tolerances can lead to significant performance differences and even pump malfunctions.

[0007] EP 4035605 A1 describes a surgical cleaning device with a drive shaft housed in a rod-shaped casing, which is connected via a flexible connecting shaft to a separate drive motor. The drive shaft is connected at one front end to bristles of a brush tool and at one rear end to the impeller pump blades, which are rotatably mounted in the casing.

[0008] The object of the invention is to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages in a generic lavage arrangement and to enable more flexible handling. In particular, the lavage arrangement should also be available for applications that must be carried out under sterile conditions.

[0009] This problem is solved by a lavage arrangement with the features of claim 1. The applicator housing has a rod-shaped housing section extending along a longitudinal housing axis, forming a handle area. The handle area extends at least partially around the longitudinal housing axis, which forms the main axis of the substantially cylindrical rod housing section. Furthermore, the housing opening is located on a rear side of the rod-shaped applicator housing facing away from the application opening. This results in a particularly compact form for the lavage arrangement, which can be held in the hand in various ways and with virtually unlimited orientation.Furthermore, the rod-shaped design of the housing section along the longitudinal axis of the housing allows for an elongated drive receptacle into which a correspondingly elongated drive unit can be inserted, essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. This facilitates particularly easy insertion of the drive unit. With the application side of the applicator housing facing vertically downwards, the drive unit can be easily inserted from above, along a downward direction, through the application opening, which is now located at the top. In this way, even under sterile conditions, a reused drive unit can be inserted into a sterile applicator housing with exceptional ease, effectively preventing contact between the drive unit and a sterile surface of the applicator housing.This makes the lavage arrangement particularly suitable for reusing the drive unit, even in applications requiring sterile conditions. In contrast to the reusable drive unit, the applicator housings can be manufactured relatively inexpensively and, especially in sterile applications, can be treated as disposable items that are discarded after use. Alternatively, the applicator housing can be subjected to a special cleaning process after use without a drive unit to restore its sterility. In any case, this significantly reduces or even eliminates the cleaning effort required for the drive unit, despite its reuse.

[0010] Advantageously, a control device for activating the drive unit by a user's hand is located in the handle area of ​​the rod housing section. This allows the user to comfortably hold and control the applicator housing within the rod housing section.

[0011] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the applicator housing is formed entirely by a rod-shaped housing, which is essentially cylindrical overall. Such an applicator housing, resembling a rod screwdriver, can be held very flexibly in the hand in various ways and simultaneously has relatively low manufacturing costs.

[0012] Advantageously, when a drive unit is used, the motor shaft is oriented essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, with the motor shaft exhibiting an inclination of no more than 5° relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing. This allows for a particularly compact and flexible applicator housing that can be securely held in the hand, even at the level of the motor or drive unit.

[0013] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the applicator housing forms an insertion funnel at one end facing the rear of the drive receptacle, tapering towards the rod housing. This insertion funnel ensures self-centering of the drive unit relative to the drive receptacle when it is inserted, enabling particularly easy and trouble-free insertion of the drive unit into the receptacle.

[0014] Advantageously, the hose section is held against an inner wall of the insertion funnel, and the rotor rests against the hose section when the drive unit is inserted. This ensures that, during the guided insertion of the drive unit, the rotor is also positioned correctly against the flexible hose section. This guarantees low-wear contact with the flexible hose section by the rotor and thus a sufficiently long service life for the peristaltic pump. The peristaltic pump design allows for the repeated generation of spray pulses, which are particularly suitable for wound cleaning.

[0015] It is advantageous if the drive unit has a drive housing that can be inserted into the drive receptacle and at least two rotor displacement elements that project radially beyond an outer surface of the drive housing and can be unwound along the hose section during operation. This allows for particularly easy assembly of the peristaltic pump into a ready-to-use position, even under sterile conditions, with the rotor simultaneously acting as an end stop. It is advantageous if the displacement elements have a frustoconical rolling surface that can be unwound along the deformable hose section. In particular, the active contact zones of the rolling surfaces are oriented essentially parallel to the inner wall of the insertion funnel when unwound along the hose section.This ensures a particularly uniform pressure distribution across the deformable hose section, which in turn allows for a relatively high pressure of the rinsing fluid when exiting the application opening and low wear on the hose section.

[0016] It is particularly advantageous if the displacement elements are rotatably mounted on axle elements that are inclined inwards towards a front end of the drive unit. This allows the active truncated cone surface spanned by the rotor to form a particularly large angle of attack with the longitudinal axis of the housing.

[0017] It is particularly advantageous if the respective inclination angle of the axle elements relative to the motor axis is matched to the slope angle of the respective frustoconical rolling surface in such a way that the sum of both angles essentially corresponds to an angle of attack of the inner wall relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing. In this way, during operation of the peristaltic pump, the rolling surfaces in the contact areas with the deformable hose section are essentially aligned parallel to the inner wall of the insertion funnel, ensuring uniform and gentle compression of the hose section. Optionally, a minimal angle between the contact areas and the inner wall of the insertion funnel can be provided to repeatedly press the hose section into a desired position.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the rotor can be pre-tensioned against the deformable hose section by means of a spring device. This allows for the compensation of certain manufacturing tolerances that can occur when producing several identical application housings used with the same reused drive unit. This ensures a consistent delivery rate of the peristaltic pump and the lavage assembly as a whole, despite these manufacturing tolerances.

[0019] It is advantageous if the spring assembly is supported by a cover that also serves to close the housing opening. This allows for optimized preload of the rotor against the deformable hose section to be achieved simultaneously with the closing of the housing opening after the drive unit has been inserted. The spring assembly can be held either by the rotor or by the cover.

[0020] Advantageously, the control device is arranged at a control opening in the rod housing section and includes actuating means for mechanically actuating or contacting the inserted drive unit, with sealing means for sealing the control opening being held on an inner side of the rod housing section. This ensures direct and reliable control of the drive unit via mechanical contact. Simultaneously, the sealing means ensure that no contamination from the reused drive unit can reach the surface of the applicator housing or that moisture cannot penetrate the drive receptacle.

[0021] Alternatively or additionally, the control unit has signaling means for contactless signal transmission, such as inductive or capacitive signal transmission, to the signaling device of the drive unit. Such mechanically contactless actuation of the drive unit allows the rod housing section to be designed as a closed unit, thereby ensuring a reliable seal for the drive housing.

[0022] Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous for the rod housing to have an integrated fluid channel between the application opening and the deformable hose section. This allows for a particularly stable and space-saving design of the fluid line section leading into the application opening. In this way, the rinsing fluid can be easily conveyed to the application opening even under the relatively high pressure generated by the peristaltic pump.

[0023] Advantageously, the rod housing features not only an integrated fluid channel but also an integrated suction channel, to which a vacuum can be applied for drawing fluid from the application opening. This allows parts of both the fluid line and the suction channel to be designed to be particularly robust and space-saving within the application housing.

[0024] It should be noted that all the features of the object according to the invention described above are interchangeable or combinable with each other, provided that such an exchange or combination is not excluded for technical reasons.

[0025] The figures illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention. They show:

[0026] Figure 1 shows a perspective exploded view of a lavage arrangement according to the invention.

[0027] Figure 2 shows a cutaway view of the back of an applicator housing of the lavage arrangement according to Figure 1 with the lid removed.

[0028] Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of the applicator housing according to Figure 2 with the drive unit inserted in the ready-to-use position of a peristaltic pump,

[0029] Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of a control device of the applicator housing according to Figure 3 and

[0030] Figures 5A to 5I show several possible hand positions on the rod-shaped applicator housing of the lavage arrangement according to Figure 1. Figure 1 shows a lavage arrangement 2 for rinsing and cleaning body parts or wounds by means of spray or irrigation pulses, such as during joint surgery. For this purpose, the lavage arrangement 2 has an applicator housing 4 with a surface O, which forms a handle area 6 that can be grasped by a user's hand B and an application opening 8 on one application side A for dispensing an irrigation fluid SF. In addition, the applicator housing 4 encloses a drive unit 10, which is accessible via a housing opening 12 located on a rear side R of the applicator housing 4 and can be closed by a cover 14.

[0031] As can be seen from Figure 1, the applicator housing 4 has a rod housing section 16, which is rod-shaped along a longitudinal housing axis AG and forms the handle area 6. This allows the handle area 6 to extend around the longitudinal housing axis AG and to be held by the user B in different ways and in different positions, orientations and rotations, of which only one example is shown.

[0032] The drive receptacle 10, enclosed by the applicator housing 4, also extends along the longitudinal axis AG of the housing. As shown, the drive receptacle 10 serves to accommodate a reusable drive unit 18 of a pump 20, which is used to pump the rinsing fluid SF.

[0033] The drive unit 18 has a drive housing 22 adapted to the drive mount 10, in which a motor 24, a power supply unit 26, and a motor shaft 28 driven by the motor 24 are accommodated. The power supply unit 26 can be, in particular, a battery pack or, alternatively, a mains connection unit. A rotor 30 is also mounted at a rear end of the drive housing 22, which can be driven around a motor axis AM by means of the motor shaft 28. At least two displacement elements 32 are held on the rotor 30, which project radially beyond an outer surface F of the drive housing 22 with respect to the motor axis AM. The drive unit 18 with the rotor 30, together with an elastically deformable hose section 34 held adjacent to the housing opening 12, forms the pump 20, which is designed as a peristaltic pump.The elastically deformable hose section 34 forms a section of a fluid line 36 that connects the application opening 8 to a reservoir V of the rinsing fluid SF. The reservoir V can be formed, for example, as shown, by a reservoir container or by a connection to a piping system.

[0034] To enable easy and trouble-free insertion of the drive unit 18 into the drive receptacle 10, the applicator housing 4 has an insertion funnel 38 on the rear side R which tapers from the housing opening 12 towards the application side A.

[0035] As can be seen particularly in Figure 2, the elastically deformable hose section 34 is arranged on an inner wall 40 of the insertion funnel 38. Furthermore, the displacement elements 32 of the rotor 30 each form a frustoconical rolling surface 44 and are rotatably mounted by axle elements 46, which are inclined inwards towards a front end EV of the drive unit 18. The respective inclination angle WN of the axle elements 46 relative to the motor axis AM is matched to a pitch angle WS of the respective frustoconical rolling surface 44 such that the sum of both angles WN and WS corresponds to an angle of attack WA of the inner wall 40 relative to the longitudinal axis AG of the housing. In this way, during operation of the peristaltic pump 30, the rolling surfaces 44 in the contact areas with the deformable hose section 34 are always aligned parallel to the inner wall 40 of the insertion funnel 38.If necessary, a slight angle can be provided between the contact area of ​​the rolling surfaces 44 and the inner wall 40, by which the hose section 34 is repeatedly pressed into a desired position.

[0036] When the drive unit 18 is inserted into the drive receptacle 10 along an insertion direction RE, upon reaching an end position as shown in Figure 3, the rolling surfaces 44, with the elastically deformable hose section 34 interposed, come into contact with the at least substantially parallel inner wall 40 of the insertion funnel 38. The housing opening 12 can be closed by means of the cover 14, and the inserted drive unit 18 can be secured in the operational position of the pump 20. A spring device 52 is provided between a rear end EH of the drive unit 18 and the cover 14, by means of which the rotor 30 is pre-tensioned against the elastically deformable hose section 34 and the drive unit 18 as a whole in the direction of the application side A. For this purpose, the spring device 52 can be held on the drive unit 18, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.Alternatively or additionally, the spring device 52 can also be implemented on the cover 14 or formed by the cover itself, for example when using a sufficiently elastic material for it.

[0037] In any case, the spring device 52 serves to adjust the preload with which the displacement elements 32 press against the elastically deformable hose section 34. This ensures that the pumping capacity of the pump 20 during operation is essentially independent of any manufacturing tolerances of the respective applicator housing 4, which is used together with the reusable drive unit 18.

[0038] In this final position according to Figure 3, the motor axis AM of the drive unit 18 is essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis AG of the housing, being inclined at no more than 5° to it. In this way, the applicator housing 4 can be made particularly compact, at least in the handle area 6, which makes it particularly comfortable and allows the user B to hold it in a variety of ways, as can be seen from the different hand positions shown by way of example in Figures 1 and 3.

[0039] Furthermore, a motor section 48 is arranged in the operational position of the pump 20 at the level of, or next to, a control device 54, which is held on the applicator housing 4 and can be actuated externally by a switch S. The control device 54 is provided for controlling, activating, and deactivating the pump 20, and optionally for setting its delivery rate. As can be seen particularly from the enlarged view of the control device 54 in Figure 4, it can have actuating means 62, which serve to mechanically actuate the control button 64 of the drive unit 18. For this purpose, the applicator housing 4 has a control opening 56 at the level of the inserted motor section 48.To seal the applicator housing 4, sealing materials 60 are arranged on an inner surface 58 of the drive receptacle 10, which both prevent germs from the reused drive unit 18 from reaching the surface O of the applicator housing 4 and simultaneously prevent moisture from penetrating the drive receptacle 10.

[0040] Alternatively or additionally to the mechanical contacting shown, the control device 54 can have inductive or capacitive signaling means which, when the switch S is actuated, serve to generate and transmit control signals to signaling devices of the drive unit 18 without contact. In this way, the rod housing section 16 of the applicator housing 4 can be completely closed except for the application opening 8, i.e., in particular, without a control opening 56.

[0041] As can also be seen in Figure 3, an integrated fluid channel 66 is incorporated into the rod housing section 16, which connects the application opening 8 and the elastically deformable hose section 34. This allows the fluid channel 66 to also function as a section of the fluid line 36, as can be seen in Figure 1.

[0042] As can also be seen from Figure 1, in addition to the integrated fluid channel 66, a suction channel 68 can also be integrated into the rod housing section 16, by means of which a vacuum can be applied to the application opening 8. During operation of the lavage arrangement 2, the vacuum allows previously dispensed lavage fluid SF, together with particles generated during the cleaning and rinsing of wounds, to be aspirated and fed via a suction line 70 to a collection device SV.

[0043] After using the lavage arrangement 2, the cover 14 can be removed from the applicator housing 4 and the drive unit 18 can be removed from the drive receptacle 10. The applicator housing 4 and at least parts of the liquid line 36 that have been or could have been contaminated during use can then be disposed of.

[0044] The drive unit 18, on the other hand, can be inserted into another applicator housing 4, with a particularly sterile surface O, in order to be reused together with it. Before such reuse, a rechargeable energy storage device of the power supply unit 26 can be recharged in particular to ensure a sufficient operating time of the lavage arrangement 2 for a new application.

[0045] The design of the applicator housing 4 allows the reused drive unit 18 to be easily held and inserted with just one hand along the insertion direction RE, which is parallel to the longitudinal axis AG of the housing, even with the cover 14 removed. This is particularly useful when the insertion direction RE is vertically downwards (see Figure 2). This prevents contact between the non-sterile, reused drive unit 18 and a sterile surface O of the new applicator housing 4.

[0046] Once the drive unit 18 is inserted into the drive receptacle 10, the applicator housing 4 can then be closed by attaching the cover 14. In doing so, the rotor 30 is pre-tensioned against the elastically deformable hose section 34 in a predetermined manner. This allows manufacturing tolerances that may occur during the production of multiple application housings 4 to be compensated for.

[0047] Furthermore, when the drive unit 18 is inserted into the drive receptacle 10, the bearing means 72 of the control device 54 can be displaced, thereby pre-tensioning the sealing means 60 against the inner surface 58 of the drive receptacle 10. In this way, regardless of any manufacturing tolerances of the respective application housing 4, a suitable distance between the actuating means 62 and the sensing means 64, or between the signaling means and the signaling counter-means, can be ensured, guaranteeing a stable control function of the control device 54. By actuating the switch S of the control device 54, the motor 24 can then be activated in the ready-to-use position shown in Figure 3, which sets the rotor 30 of the peristaltic pump 20 in rotation.Through the interaction of the displacement elements 32 with the elastically deformable hose section 34, the rinsing fluid SF is conveyed via the integrated fluid channel 66 to the application opening 8, where it is dispensed to generate rinsing or spray pulses. Simultaneously, a negative pressure can be created at the application side A via the suction line 70 to aspirate the rinsing fluid SF along with any tissue fragments or fluids collected during wound cleansing.

[0048] Figures 5A to 51 show several exemplary holding positions in which the user B can hold the applicator housing 4, designed as a rod housing, in the grip area 6 in order to be able to apply a rinsing or spraying action to the body parts to be treated from many different directions.

[0049] It should be noted that all the elements and features described above of the various embodiments of the object according to the invention are interchangeable or combinable with each other, provided that such an exchange or combination is not excluded for technical reasons.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Lavage arrangement (2) with an applicator housing (4) having a handle area (6) and an application opening (8) arranged on an application side (A) for dispensing a rinsing fluid (SF) and enclosing a drive receptacle (10) accessible via a housing opening (12), with a fluid line (36) by means of which the application opening (8) can be connected to a reservoir (V) of the rinsing fluid (SF), and with a drive unit (18) of a pump (20) that can be inserted into the drive receptacle (10) for conveying the rinsing fluid (SF) from the reservoir (V) to the application opening (8), wherein the drive unit (18) for this purpose has a motor (24), a power supply unit (26) and a rotor (30) driven by the motor (24) and the pump (20) is designed as a peristaltic pump, which is essentially formed by the rotor (30) and an elastically deformable hose section (34), characterized in thatthat the applicator housing (4) has a rod-shaped housing section (16) extending along a longitudinal housing axis (AG) which forms the handle area (6) and which extends at least partially around the longitudinal housing axis (AG), and the housing opening (12) is arranged on a rear side (R) of the applicator housing (4) facing away from the application side (A).

2. Lavage arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that a control device (54) for activating the drive unit (18) by a holding hand of a user (B) is arranged in the handle area (6).

3. Lavage arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the applicator housing (4) is formed as a whole by a rod housing.

4. Lavage arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, when the drive unit (18) is inserted, a motor shaft (28) of the motor (24) is directed essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis (AG) of the housing.

5. Lavage arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the applicator housing (4) forms an insertion funnel (38) at one end of the drive receptacle (10) facing the rear (R) which tapers towards the application side (A).

6. Lavage arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the deformable hose section (34) is held on an inner wall (40) of the insertion funnel (38) and the rotor (30) rests against the hose section (34) when the drive unit (18) is inserted.

7. Lavage arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the drive unit (18) has a drive housing (22) which can be inserted into the drive receptacle (10) and at least two displacement elements (32) of the rotor 30 which project radially beyond an outer surface (F) of the drive housing (22) and which can be unrolled on the hose section (34) during operation.

8. Lavage arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the displacement elements (32) can be rolled off the deformable hose section (34) with a frustoconical rolling surface (44).

9. Lavage arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the displacement elements (32) are rotatably mounted via axle elements (46) which are inclined inwards towards a front end (EV) of the drive unit (18).

10. Lavage arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that a respective inclination angle (WN) of the axle elements (46) relative to the motor axle (AM) is such that a slope angle (WS) of the respective frustoconical The rolling surface (44) is adjusted so that the sum of both angles (WN) and (WS) essentially corresponds to an angle of attack (WA) of the inner wall (40) relative to the longitudinal axis (AG) of the housing. In this way, the rolling surfaces 44 are always aligned parallel to the inner wall 40 of the insertion funnel 38 in the contact areas with the deformable hose section 34 during operation of the peristaltic pump 30.

11. Lavage arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the rotor (30) can be pre-tensioned against the deformable hose section (34) by means of a spring device (52).

12. Lavage arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the spring device (52) is supported on a cover (14) by means of which the housing opening (12) can be closed.

13. Lavage arrangement according to one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that the control device (54) is arranged on a control opening (56) of the rod housing section and has actuating means (62) for mechanically actuating the inserted drive unit (18), wherein sealing means (60) for sealing the control opening (56) are held on an inner side (58) of the rod housing section (16).

14. Lavage arrangement according to one of claims 2 to 13, characterized in that the control device (54) has signal means for contactless signal transmission to signal counterpart means of the drive unit (18).

15. Lavage arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the rod housing section (16) between the application opening (8) and the deformable hose section (34) has an integrated fluid channel (66).

16. Lavage arrangement according to claim 15, characterized in that the rod housing section (16) has, in addition to the integrated fluid channel (66), a has an integrated suction channel (68) to which a negative pressure can be applied for the extraction of a fluid at the application side (A).

Images