DE2344480A1 - DEVICE FOR INJECTING A RADIANT POWDER INTO A PATIENT'S AIRWAY - Google Patents

Description

PA'i £ NfANWÄLTE
EHpl.-Phys. JÜRGEN WEISSE · Dipl.-Chem. Dr. RUOOLF WOLGAST

D 5602 LANGENBERG BÖKENBUSCH 41 2344480

P.O. Box 86 · Telephone: (02127) 4019 ■ Telex: 8516895

Patent application

BARBER-GOLMAN COMPANY, 1300 Rock Street, Rockford, Illinois / USA

Device for blowing in a radio-opaque powder

into a patient's airways

The invention relates to a device for injecting a radiopaque Powder into the airways of a patient, for example for blowing tantalum powder, for the purpose of preparation of the airways for radiological examinations.

The use of powdered tantalum as a means of bronchography is explained in "Investigative Radiology", Vol. 3, No. 4, July-August 1968 (pages 229-238) and in "Radiology", Vol. 94, No. 3, March 1970 (pages 547-553) «These publications disclose also devices for blowing the powder into the airways. The latter publication suggests blowing tantalum in either by means of a catheter method or by means of an inhalation method, and that in each pail a cloud of tantalum dust is generated by blowing air from a supply of powdered tantalum which is formed in a container inside Chamber is included. With the catheter method, the

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Tantalum dust in the cloud through a catheter tube out of the chamber and blown into the patient's airways, while the inhalation method draws the dust into the airways when the patient inhales through a tube led out of the chamber. In most cases, the inhalation method is preferred to avoid the need for a catheter, however it is sometimes necessary to use a catheter when a specific one Area of the bronchi should be imaged, or in children or patients who are not completely healthy «

The invention is based on the object of a new and improved one To create a device which is particularly suitable for blowing in using the inhalation method and which is marked by its ability to create a cloud of dust in the chamber without pushing the dust out of the chamber, so that avoiding the escape of dust if the patient does not breathe.

The invention is more specifically based on the object of compressed air Generating the dust cloud in the chamber, while at the same time keeping the chamber itself free of overpressure to prevent leakage to prevent dust from leaving the chamber except when the patient is inhaling.

A device for blowing a radio-opaque powder into the airways of a patient with a container containing the powder, in which a powder cloud is formed by blowing in air and which is in communication with an outlet line is according to the invention characterized by a container defining a chamber for containing a supply of said powder, an injection circuit consisting of an inlet line with the one hand Chamber and on the other hand is in communication with the atmosphere, and from an outlet conduit extending from the chamber and on which the patient can suck in such a way that when the patient inhales,

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a stream of air is drawn into the chamber from the inlet conduit and flows through the chamber into the outlet conduit and into the airways of the patient enters, and a cloud-generating circuit containing a pressure pump with an inlet channel and an outlet channel, which is connected to the discharge side of the pump and with his Outlet end is directed to said supply of powder, so that when the pump is working, air hits the torrent and a Cloud of powder is generated inside the chamber, which is carried along by the air stream, while the inlet duct with the suction side is connected to the pump and is in communication with the chamber so that the chamber is maintained at substantially atmospheric pressure and thereby prevents powder from being forced into the outlet conduit solely as a result of the operation of the pump.

In the invention, a blow-in circuit is provided on the one hand and a cloud-generating, self-contained air circuit on the other, the two circles cooperate in such a way that an effective injection of tantalum or the like. possible using the inhalation method is"

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can be used to inject powder into the airways either by the inhalation method or by the catheter method.

In a further embodiment of the invention, this is achieved in that a second pressure pump is provided, the discharge side of which is connected to said inlet line, so that when the second pump is working, an air flow is directed into the injection circuit, without the patient needing to suck on the outlet line, that means for preventing the escape of air in the inlet line from the inlet line to the atmosphere and that a catheter tube is connected to the outlet line.

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An embodiment of the invention is provided below by reference explained in more detail on the accompanying drawings:

Pig. 1 is a schematic view of a new and improved one Blowing machine with the novel features of the present invention.

Figo 2 is a plan view of the tantalum container.

Fig. 3 is an essentially broken cross-section along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section of parts showing are shown in the lower part of Fig. 3 ,,

Fig. 5 is a reduced, broken away cross-section substantially along line 5-5 of FIG.

Fig. 6 is a broken cross-section showing a mouthpiece which the patient can use to to inhale the tantalum when using the inhalation method.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-section taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 6 "

Fig. 8 is a view of a catheter tube which

Can be used, if the catheter method is used.

The invention is embodied in an apparatus for blowing powdered tantalum or the like to be radio-opaque Powder into a patient's airways in preparation

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taking a bronehogram. The tantalum powder or the tantalum dust varies in size from 0 to 5 microns or larger, is non-toxic and is used to line the airways and to create a contrast in a suitable way.

In the device shown, a supply 10 of tantalum powder is housed in the lower end of a chamber 11 which is within a Upright vessel or container 13 is formed, which has a downwardly tapering frustoconical body 14, a has a small cylindrical lower part 15 and a large cylindrical upper part 16 which is covered by a cover plate 17. Compressed air is then directed at the supply to create a dense cloud of tantalum dust in the chamber "After creation." the cloud is caused to be blown into the airways by the patient being blown through an outlet conduit 20 extending from the chamber sucks and in this way the dust from the cloud is sucked out of the chimney and into the patient's lungs when the Patient inhales.

According to the basic idea of the present invention, the dust cloud generated in the chamber 11 by applying compressed air against the supply is blown by tantalum powder. The dust cloud is generated at the same time without causing overpressure in the chamber, so that the powder is prevented from exiting the outlet conduit 20 when the patient is not inhaling. Accordingly, a density Dust clouds are constantly being created in the chamber while the patient is being prepared for the injection, and yet the dust will flow do not leave the chamber until the patient actually sucks in through the outlet line.

According to the invention, a / ei are air circuits in a preferred device provided, namely a cloud-generating% ice 21 and an injection or Inhalation circuit 23 (Pig. 1), so that the generation of the tantalum cloud is made possible in the chamber 11 without excess pressure and the

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Patient suck in a stream of tantalum-laden air from the chamber can. The inhalation circuit 23 includes the outlet line 20 which extends down into the chamber 11 through the cover plate 17 in 3 extends and further includes an inlet conduit 24, the downstream end of which also communicates with the chamber through the top plate. The upstream end of the Inlet line 24 can be brought into communication with the atmosphere, and thus when the patient is at outlet line 20 sucks, a stream of air is drawn into the chamber from the outlet conduit, and this flows through the chamber and into the outlet conduit and from there into the patient's lungs.

The cloud-generating circuit 21 contains a driven pressure pump 30, for example a diaphragm pump, the discharge side of which is connected to an outlet channel 31 (FIGS. 1 and 3) which extends downward into the chamber 11 and ends in a nozzle 33 of cylindrical basic shape which is arranged immediately above the supply 10 of powder. Preferably, the nozzle is provided with a centrally located and vertically extending hole 34 (Fig. 4) and a series of angularly offset holes 35 which slope downwardly and outwardly. Thus, when the pump 30 is in operation, the air exiting the nozzle is split into a series of separate jets which strike the powder supply and create turbulence which creates the dust cloud. Because of the arrangement of the holes 34 and 35, the powder is uniformly blown away from the top of the supply to avoid the formation of craters in the supply and thus to enable a relatively small supply to be used. A pressure regulator 37 (FIG. 1) is preferably arranged in the outlet channel 31 in order to be able to regulate the turbulence generated above the powder supply as required. In order to allow easy refilling of the powder supply and cleaning of the container 13, the latter is detachably connected to the cover plate 17 by means of a bayonet connection 39?

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will. It is also possible to use a funnel to fill the container or the like. to be charged through the outlet line 20.

According to a further feature of the invention, the cloud generating Circle 21 (Fig. 1) an inlet channel 40, one end of which is connected to the suction side of the pump 30 and the other end with the chamber 11 via a T-fitting 41 in the inlet line 24 communicates. Accordingly, the cloud-generating circuit consists of the pump 30, the outlet line 31, the chamber 11 and the inlet line 40, thus forming a closed loop that extends through the chamber. As a result, the Chamber stands not under any substantial overpressure when the pump is operating to form the dust cloud. Instead, the Air flow exiting through the outlet duct 31 via the inlet duct 40 withdrawn from the chamber and returned to the pump. The chamber thus remains at substantially atmospheric pressure in spite of the air currents exiting the nozzle 33 and accordingly, the tantalum dust is retained and not blown out through the outlet conduit when the patient is not inhaling. if As the patient inhales, some of the dust particles in the cloud are released from the air flow entering the chamber 11 through the inlet duct 24 sucked in, carried away and sucked into the patient's airways through the outlet line «

The outlet line 20, the inlet line 24 and the outlet channel 31 are arranged in such a way that a long flow path for the inhaled air flow through, creates the tantalum cloud will. In the preferred arrangement, the outlet channel 31 extends down through the center of the cover plate 17 (see Pig. 2 and 3), while the outlet conduit 20 and the inlet conduit 24 are arranged on opposite sides of the outlet channel. The inlet pipe 24 ends at the cover plate 17, but the outlet line 20 extends a good distance down into the container 13, as is shown in Pig. Air coming out of the centrally located

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Outlet channel 31 is ejected, tends to be a turbulent To create dust vortices in the chamber 11, and because of the angular and vertical offset between the outlet duct 20 and the inlet conduit 24 seeks the inhaled air stream to flow along a relatively long path when the Air flow moved through the chamber (see Fig. 3 -arrows). As a result of the long flow path, more tantalum dust is inhaled in the air flow entrained.

The preferred device has various advantageous features, which supports a correct inhalation of the patient and the correct introduction of the tantalum. For example, there is a throttle valve 45 (Fig. 1) in the upstream end portion of the inlet conduit 24, this can be adjustable to regulate the volume of air that the patient is allowed to inhale. In the In the inlet line downstream of the throttle valve, a desiccator is arranged, which contains a suitable desiccant such as calcium sulphate Removal of moisture from the inhaled air, so as to prevent moisture build-up in the chamber and thus to reduce caking of the tantalum and bacterial contamination of the hammer. A suitable desiccator is that of Sargent Welch under No. S 28 730. Downstream of the desiccator is a flow meter 47 with a flow peak indicator 49 «With the flow meter there is a resettable total volume indicator 50, which enables the radiologist to determine the total amount of tantalum-laden air, which has been inhaled by the patient at any given point in time is.

Advantageously, the inlet line 24 is just downstream of the T-fitting 41 and just above the cover plate 17 of the chamber 11 a biological filter 53 (Fig. 1 and 2) is arranged. When the patient inhales, the filter catches any foreign particles that are larger than one micron, so that the via line 24

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inhaled air is purified before this air enters the airways of the Patient reached. In addition, the filter collects all of the tantalum dust that would otherwise flow up into the inlet line 40 and up from the water the cloud-producing pump 30 would be sucked in. When the patient inhales, seeks the one sucked down through the filter Air to clean the filter by transporting the accumulated tantalum back into the chamber. A filter for this Suitable for this purpose is sold by Ohio Medical Product under Part No. 225-2605-700.

Because of the height of the chamber 11 and because of the arrangement of the outlet nozzle 33 near the bottom of the chamber, the dust cloud is in the essentially in the lower 2/3 of the chamber in one of the filters 53 remote area and formed downstream of the open end of the inlet conduit 24. Accordingly, less tantalum will enter the filter sucked in than would otherwise be the case if the cloud formation would be concentrated near the top of the chamber.

Means 55 are provided for removing from the inner surfaces of the container 13 to shake off the tantalum that accumulates on the surfaces when the dust cloud is released. In the described embodiment These means include an externally excited hammer 56 (Fig. 5), which repeatedly against the cover plate 17 of the container 13 suggests to shake the latter and knock off the tantalum that collects on the container surfaces.

More specifically, hammer 56 (FIG. 5) includes a cap screw that is shown in the free end of an arm 57 is screwed in, the other end of which is pivotably mounted in a stand 60 so that it can be pivoted up and down at 59 which protrudes from a mounting plate 61 upwards. The latter is attached to the cover plate 17 and carries it. A Electric motor 63 (FIGS. 2 and 5) is also supported on the mounting plate. Its shaft 64 rotates a wheel 65 at one speed of about 150 rpm. Seated on the wheel opposite the shaft 64 is offset

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a pin 66 which engages under a tab 67 which is attached to the arm 57 and protrudes from one side thereof and which is adjustable along the arm. When the wheel is out of the Pig. 5 shown - ^ age is rotated clockwise, pivots the pin 66 the arm 57 upwards, so that the hammer 56 from the Cover plate 17 is lifted off. If then the tenon the lobe releases, the arm pivots under the influence of a series of weights 69 mounted on a pin protruding upward from the arm sit, down * When the arm swings down, the hammer strikes an anvil 71 on the cover plate 17 and thus displaces vibrates the container 13 to shake the tantalum loose from the container walls. As the hammer hits the top plate of the container hits, the connection between the tantalum and the side walls of the container is broken by shear stress, and thus the tantalum is removed more effectively than it would be! if the hammer hit the side of the container. Since the filter 73 is arranged just above the container, shakes the vibration caused by the hammer on the filter, so that the tantalum collected therein falls back next to the container. If that Tantalum falls off, the conical walls of the G-round body 14-des are used Container as a funnel to get the dust back to the tantalum supply 10, which is stored in the cylindrical bottom part 15 of the container.

The frequency with which the hammer 56 vibrates the container 13 can be changed by placing one or more pins on the wheel at an angle to the pin 66. The position to which the hammer pivots on its upward thrust can be adjusted by changing the position of the tab 67 along the arm 57 'while the distance through which the hammer falls on any given upward thrust can be varied by inserting the hammer into the arm into or screwed out of the same and then the hammer in its set - "age with a lock nut 72 (FIG _e 5) is secured" by the addition or loss

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The force with which the hammer strikes the anvil 71 can be adjusted by means of weights 69.

As shown in Fig. 1, a shut-off valve 75 is arranged in the outlet line 20 so that the outlet line 20 is shut off can be used to prevent moisture ingress into the cloud chamber 11 when the device is not in operation. An adapter fitting 76 is attached to the end of the outlet line 20, to which the tube 77 is connected as a mouthpiece 79 which can be used by the patient to inhale to facilitate the tantalum-laden air flow.

The mouthpiece 79 (Fig. 6) is of novel construction and contains ei.ien hollow central body 80 with three angularly offset branches 81, 82 and 83 Inhalation tube 84 'which is shaped so that it curves over and around the tongue without pushing the tongue down, in such a way that that the powder is expelled directly into the throat area and the precipitation of tantalum on the tongue is kept low · The inhalation tube can be made of an easily washable and sterilizable Material or can be designed as a disposable part.

As shown in FIG. 6, a fitting 85 is in branch 82 inserted and connected at one end to the tube 77 which extends from the adapter 56. An inlet valve 86 is on the opposite one Located at the end of the fitting and contains an openwork rubber washer 87 that is inserted between the fitting and an inside of the branch 82 formed shoulder is inserted. A flap 89 (Fig. 7) is, as shown at 90, on one edge of the opening 91 hinged in the disc, and the flap closes normally the internal passage through the fitting 85. When the patient inhales through the tube 84, the valve 89 is under one Angle sucked open in such a way that the most direct possible

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Flow line between the tube 77 and the tube 84 is maintained and turbulence is avoided. When the patient exhales, the flap is pressed against the fitting 85 and prevents the exhaled air from entering the chamber 11 _o

A valve 93 (Fig. 6) similar to the Y-valve 86 is between the Branch 83 and a fitting 94 pushed into it arranged in such a way that it closes when the patient inhales and opens, when the patient exhales. The fitting 94 is in communication with the atmosphere and is provided with a disposable filter 95, which is held on the fitting by a removable cap 96. The filter is used to remove all of the tantalum from the exhaled Hold back air.

As an alternative to using the mouthpiece 79 and inhaling of tantalum, injection can be effected by a catheter method will. In such a case, a catheter tube 100 (FIG. 8) is connected to the adapter 76 instead of the mouthpiece tube 77. This Catheter tube is insertable into the patient's pulmonary system. In addition, the tantalum-laden flow becomes positive through the outlet line 20 instead of being sucked into the patient through this line. A diaphragm pump 101 is used for this purpose (Fig. 1) with the inlet line 24 via a line 103 and T-fitting 104 connected. The latter is arranged in the inlet line 24 between the throttle valve 45 and the desiccator 46. When the pump 101 is in operation, air is forced through the inlet conduit 24 into the chamber 11 and then flows out of the outlet conduit and through the catheter 100 so that tantalum is blown into the patient. In the line 103 is an adjustable flow control valve 105 (Fig. 1) switched on to regulate the flow rate into the chamber while at the outermost upstream At the end of the inlet line 24 a check valve 106 is arranged, which prevents the air pumped into it from escaping the outlet pipe is pushed out. When using the

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Catheter method, the air supplied to the patient is preheated, so that the air is warm when it enters the patient's airways. An electrically operated heater 107 is provided for this purpose (Fig. 1) in the inlet line 24 upstream of the T-fitting 41. This can be set in such a way that it heats the air to a specified temperature «Another possibility is available in that the heater is placed around the top 17 of the container 13. A temperature sensor 110 (Fig. 1) is in the Outlet line 20 is arranged and, if the temperature of the air flow flowing through there is a predetermined safe value exceeds, the sensor uses suitable (not shown) Switching means a shutdown of the pumps 30 and 31 and the heater 107 as well as the activation of acoustic or visual Warning signals (not shown) If necessary, the heater can also be used with the inhalation method.

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Claims (1)

234U8Q Claims 1.) Device for blowing in a radio-opaque powder into the airways of a patient, with a container containing the powder, in which a powder cloud is created by blowing in air is formed and which is in communication with an outlet line, characterized by a container (13), the one Chamber (11) for receiving a supply (10) of said powder forms an injection circuit (23) consisting of an inlet line (24), which is on the one hand with the chamber (11) and on the other hand with the atmosphere in connection, and from an outlet line (20) which extends from the chamber (11) and on which the patient can suck, such that when the Patient inhales, a stream of air is sucked from the inlet line (24) into the chamber (11) and through the chamber (11) flows into the outlet conduit (20) and enters the patient's airways; and including a cloud generating circle (21) a pressure pump (30) with an inlet channel (40) and an outlet channel (31) which is connected to the discharge side of the pump (30) and with its exit end (33) on said supply (10) of powder is directed, so that when the pump (30) is working, air hits the supply and a cloud of Powder generated within the chamber (11), which is carried along by the air stream, while the inlet channel (40) with the Suction side of the pump (30) is connected and with the chamber (11) is in communication, so that the chamber (11) is substantially is kept at atmospheric pressure and thereby prevents powder from being deposited solely as a result of the operation of the pump (50) is pressed into the outlet line (20). - 15 iO98 1 5/0277 2344A8Q Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a second Pressure pump (101) is provided, the discharge side with the said inlet line (24) is connected, so that when the second pump (1Q1) is working, an air flow into the injection circuit (23) is conducted without the patient needing to suck on the outlet line (20) that means (106) in the inlet line (24) to prevent air from escaping from the inlet line (24) into the atmosphere and that a catheter tube (100) is connected to the outlet line. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that means (46) are provided for removal in the inlet line (24) of moisture from the air stream before it enters into the chamber (11). 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that in the injection circuit (23) heating means (107) are provided for preheating the air flow before it enters the outlet line are. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that the container (13) forms an upright body (14) of frustoconical basic shape and the Powder supply (10) provided in the lower end (15) of the chamber (11) is that in the inlet line (24) at the level of the upper end of the container (13) a biological filter (53) is arranged is that the exit end of the outlet channel (31) is in the vicinity the lower end of the chamber (11) and just above the powder supply (10) is arranged. - 16 4098 15/0277 "" 234AA8Q 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the inlet channel (40) of said pump (30) is in communication with and with the chamber (11) via the inlet pipe (24) Inlet line (24) is connected at a point upstream of the filter (53) so that the out of the chamber (11) into the inlet channel (40) air flowing through the filter (53) is cleaned. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the over the Inlet line (24) air flowing into chamber (11) passes through the filter (53) helps to clean by returning powder particles adhering to them to the chamber (11). 8. Device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that that the filter (53) and the container (13) by Yibrationsmittel (55) can be made to vibrate, so that powder of the Filter (53) and the inner surface of the container (13) is shaken loose. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the outlet end of said outlet duct (31) is below the downstream end of the inlet conduit (24) and the inlet end the outlet conduit (20), and that the downstream end of the inlet conduit (24) and the inlet end the outlet line (20) are offset from one another in the vertical and circumferential directions. 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that that the downstream end of the inlet line (24) is arranged in the region of the upper end of the chamber (11), that the Exit end of the outlet channel (31) in the area of the lower 409815/0277 - 17 - 23AAA8Q End of the chamber (11) and immediately above the powder supply (10) is arranged and that the inlet end of the Auslaßleitun ^ (20) and the outlet end of the outlet channel (31) are angularly offset from the downstream end of the inlet line (24) are ο 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the inlet line (24), the outlet line (20) and the outlet channel (31) all protrude into the container through its lid (17) and that the inlet and outlet lines are angularly offset from one another and on opposite sides of the outlet channel (31) are arranged. 12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that that at the outlet end of the outlet channel (31) a nozzle (33) is arranged which has a central outlet hole (34), which extends in a substantially vertical direction, and a series of exit holes (35) which are angularly offset arranged around the centrally located exit hole (34) and downward from the centrally located exit hole (34) and are inclined on the outside. 13. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the container (13) can be caused to vibrate by vibration means (55) so that powder is shaken loose from the inner surface of the container (13). - 18 4098 1 5/0277 £ 344480 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the vibrating means a movable hammer (56) and a mechanism (63, 65, 66, 67) for repeatedly striking the hammer (56) against the lid (17) of the container (13) 40981 5/0277 Blank page