ES1270729U - REMOVABLE CONNECTION ELEMENT TO INCREASE THE COLLECTION CAPACITY OF MEDICAL SYSTEMS FOR THE SUCTION OF ORGANIC FLUIDS (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Removable connection element (1) for collection containers of medical systems for the aspiration of organic fluids, comprising: - a flexible tube (2); - a first connector (3) formed at one end of said flexible tube (2) and having an "L" or square configuration with a first part (31) coaxial with said flexible tube (2); - a second connector (4) formed at the other end of said flexible tube (2) and coaxial with this end. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

REMOVABLE CONNECTION ELEMENT TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF

COLLECTION OF MEDICAL SYSTEMS FOR THE ASPIRATION OF FLUIDS

ORGANIC

Scope

In its most general aspect, the present disclosure relates to a removable connection element for increasing the collection capacity of medical systems for the aspiration of organic fluids.

In particular, this disclosure can potentially, but not exclusively, apply in the field of medical and hospital care and even more particularly in all medical suction applications that use disposable collection containers for use in hospitals and clinics.

State of the art

As is well known in this particular technical field, surgical aspirators are used during and after surgical procedures to extract organic fluids or lavage solutions, including: tissues, bone fragments, gases and body fluids.

These fluids are transported to special disposable collection containers for later disposal. The collection containers are generally constituted by a disposable collection bag for the aspirated fluids, a rigid container into which this bag is inserted and a lid to place it under pressure on the rigid container.

Generally, the cap includes inlets and outlets so as to respectively allow the fluid aspirated to the patient to pass into the bag.

While advantageous in several respects, the use of these collection containers is sometimes impractical for healthcare professionals who have to use them.

In fact, it is often also necessary to adopt more collection containers in the the course of a single intervention to store a larger quantity of fluids.

Furthermore, especially in the case of using several collection containers, there are often drawbacks due to their simultaneous use together with the suction system.

The solutions for the aforementioned drawbacks currently proposed by the known art still have limits in terms of adaptability to the contingent needs of all the operations necessary in the suction of fluids.

Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to obviate the aforementioned limitations and drawbacks present in the devices provided in the known art.

Another objective of the present invention is to devise a system that simultaneously allows the collection of a large quantity of aspirated fluids and a better practicality of use of the entire aspiration system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system that is versatile when used for different suction needs for different operations, including postoperative ones.

Also, another objective is to provide a system that limits the load of the replacement operations of the collection containers during the course of the use of the aspiration system.

Finally, the aim of the present invention is to devise a system that is simple to manufacture from the point of view of production to facilitate its assembly in series.

Summary

The idea on which the present disclosure is based is to provide a connecting and splicing element that has a particular configuration that allows to easily increase the capacity of a medical system to aspirate and collect organic fluids by rapidly cascading multiple containers of pickup.

Starting from this idea, the objective set is achieved by means of a connecting element removable for collection containers in medical organic fluid aspiration systems, comprising:

- a flexible tube;

- a first connector formed at one end of said flexible tube and having an "L" or square configuration with a first part coaxial with said flexible tube;

- a second connector formed at the other end of said flexible tube and coaxial with this end.

Advantageously, the connection element can be easily inserted or extracted to allow a convenient and quick reconfiguration of the suction system in which it is used, with the consequent regulation of the collection capacity of the suction system itself according to the needs of each specific operation. aspiration.

Preferably, the flexible tube is provided with an extendable external structure similar to an accordion.

Advantageously, said structure allows a considerable adaptability of the connection element to different configurations of the suction system on which it is applied.

Preferably, the first connector comprises a second part orthogonal to the aforementioned first part, the second part having a substantially cylindrical external configuration and a substantially conical internal configuration.

Advantageously, the present solution is optimal for coupling the connection element and guaranteeing that this connection is stable and hermetic.

Even more preferably, the second connector is provided with a substantially cylindrical external configuration and a substantially conical internal configuration.

Advantageously, this configuration also makes it possible in this case for the coupling of the connecting element to be optimal in terms of stability and tightness.

Preferably, the first connector and the second connector are made of a single part with flexible tube.

Advantageously, the present solution is optimal in terms of production of the connecting element.

According to another aspect of the invention, a collection equipment is provided for suction systems comprising at least a first collection container, at least one second collection container and at least one removable connection element made according to the aforementioned characteristics and provided to connect in series the first and the second collection container.

In other words, the connection element according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to make a cascade connection between the inlet and outlet openings placed in correspondence with the lids of the collection containers.

In fact, since each lid of each collection container has an inlet hole and an outlet hole, it is possible to connect more than two containers in cascade, considerably increasing the collection capacity of the suction system.

Therefore, advantageously, the present solution allows the collection of a greater quantity of fluids and limits the need to replace the collection containers during the use of the aspiration system.

Preferably, in the collection equipment, the at least one first collection container provides at least one first lid having at least one outlet port, the second connector of the connecting element being configured to engage this outlet port. More preferably, the second connector is snap-fit and snap-fit to the outlet port.

Advantageously, the present solution makes it possible to carry out a transfer step of the fluids collected in the first collection container when it reaches, for example, a filling condition. The characteristics of the connection element and the quick pressure coupling allow a correct flow of fluids.

More preferably, the at least one second collection container provides at least one second lid having at least one inlet port, in which the first The connector of the connecting element is configured to mate with this inlet port. Even more preferably, the first connector is coupled or snapped into the inlet port.

Advantageously, the present solution allows a cascade coupling of the collection containers for the distribution of the collected fluids. Also in this case, the characteristics of the connection element and the pressure coupling allow a correct passage of the fluids.

There is nothing to prevent the provision of several cascading collection containers connected by the connection element according to the invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will be deduced from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, described by way of example and not limiting with reference to the attached figures.

Brief description of the figures

The attached figures show a possible embodiment of the connection element object of this disclosure, in detail:

- figure 1 shows an embodiment of the connection element according to the present invention;

figure 2 shows a longitudinal section of the connection element of figure 1;

Figures 3A and 3B show an exemplary embodiment of a collection equipment for aspiration systems according to the present invention.

For a better understanding and clarity of the figures, the elements represented in them may not be on a scale representative of reality. Furthermore, like elements in the figures will be identified by like reference numerals.

Detailed description

With reference to the attached figures, in particular to figure 1, with 1 an element is indicated connection according to the present invention.

The connection element 1 is provided, in particular, with a main body made up of a flexible tube 2, a first connector 3 and a second connector 4.

The first connector 3 and the second connector 4 are integrated into the flexible tube 2 and are respectively located in correspondence with a first end 2A and a second end 2B of the flexible tube 2.

The first connector 3 and the second connector 4 are preferably made in one piece with the flexible tube 2, but there is nothing to prevent a post-production gearing system from being provided.

The flexible tube 2 of the embodiment shown provides an extensible accordion-shaped external structure that allows greater adaptability of the connection element 1.

As is more visible in figure 2, it is also provided with a substantially cylindrical internal configuration. Consequently, the flexible tube 2 has, in this embodiment, a circular cross section with a constant diameter along the entire length of the flexible tube 2.

The present solution is optimal from the productive and functional point of view.

However, there is nothing to prevent the provision of different variants that provide for variations in the diameter of the cross section along the extension of the hose 2 with an internal configuration of the hose 2, for example conical.

Furthermore, there is nothing to prevent a different cross section of the hose 2 from being provided, for example polygonal in shape.

The above-mentioned variants are included in the scope of protection defined in the appended claims.

The first connector 3 has an "L" or square or pipette configuration, and comprises a first part 31 coaxial with the flexible tube 2 and a second part 32 orthogonal to the part one 31.

The second part 32 has a substantially cylindrical external configuration and a substantially conical internal configuration.

In a different way, the second connector 4 is coaxial with the flexible tube 2.

The second connector 4 is also provided with a substantially cylindrical external configuration and a substantially conical internal configuration with a first part 41 that elongates the internal configuration of the flexible tube 2, and a second part 42 that widens to an outlet 43.

Clearly, there is nothing to prevent providing a second connector 4 with a configuration analogous to that of the first connector 3, for example, for specific production or functional requirements. However, the configuration adopted in the present description is the most convenient to couple in cascade and with fast gear the outlet of a collection container with the inlet of another collection container and thus expand the collection capacity of the suction and collection system. of which the containers are part.

Furthermore, both the second part 32 of the first connector 3 and the first part 41 of the second connector 4 are provided with a plurality of deformable fins 34, 44 and a plurality of corresponding notches 35, 45 in correspondence with one of their internal surfaces. This solution guarantees, during use, a more rigid connection.

The internal configurations of the first connector 3 and the second connector 4 are suitable for producing a mating of the first connector 3 and the second snap connector 4.

However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art how both the internal and external configuration of the first connector 3 and the second connector 4 can be modified to adapt and configure in relation to the components on which the connection element is applied according to the present. invention, these variants being included in the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

For example, the minimum cross-sectional diameters of the first connector 3 and of the second connector 4 are included in the 8.0 9.2 mm range for normal aspiration procedures, while they should be included in the 14.0 15.5 mm range if the procedures foresee the aspiration of fluids containing bone fragments .

Figures 3A and 3B show an example of collection equipment for suction systems in which the connection element 1 mentioned above is used.

The collection equipment 5 comprises at least one first collection container 51, at least one second collection container 52, and at least one removable connection element 1 according to the previous description.

The first collection container 51 is provided with at least one first cover 61 and at least one outlet hole 71 in correspondence with this first cover 61.

The second connector 4 of the connecting element 1 is configured to snap-fit the outlet port 71.

The second collection container 52 is provided with at least one second cover 62 and at least one inlet hole 82 in correspondence with this second cover 62.

The first connector 3 of the connection element 1 is configured to snap-fit the inlet port 82.

Specifically, figure 3A shows a first phase of the connection of the connection element 1 between the first collection container 51 and the second collection container 52 of the collection equipment 5.

In this first phase, the aforementioned pressure coupling is made between the second connector 4 and the outlet port 71 located in correspondence with the first cover 61 of the first collection container 51.

Therefore, in figure 3B a second phase of the connection of the connection element 1 between the first collection container 51 and the second collection container 52 is shown.

In this second phase, the flexible tube 2 flexes and, where appropriate, extends thanks to its Accordion structure to allow the coupling of the first connector 3 to the inlet port 82 located in correspondence with the second lid 62 of the second collection container 52.

Clearly there is nothing to prevent arranging, for example, the first connector 3 in correspondence with the first cover 61 and the second connector 4 in correspondence with the second cover 62.

At this point, the first container 51 and the second container 52 are connected in cascade thus allowing the collection of a greater quantity of fluids in the collection equipment 5.

Advantageously, in this way, the need to manually replace, for example, the first collection container 51 with the second collection container 52 when the first is in a filled condition is avoided.

Furthermore, advantageously, the first cover 61 and the second cover 62 of each collection container 51, 52 generally have the same characteristics and, therefore, each one is provided with an outlet orifice 71, 72 and an orifice input 81, 82.

Therefore, in the presence of at least one nth collection container comprising an additional lid, which also has these components, it is possible to connect several collection containers in cascade.

In this way, advantageously, it is possible to further increase, and theoretically in a non-limited manner, the collecting capacity of the collecting equipment 5 so that it can be optimal for the needs of a plurality of suction operations.

For example, since the collection containers have typical collection capacities in the range of 0.5 3.0 l, with the cascade connection of two containers it is possible to obtain a higher collection capacity range between 0.5 6 , 0 l, connecting three containers between 0.5 9.0 l, and so on.

The person skilled in the art will therefore understand that the collection equipment 5 shown in Figures 3A and 3B represents an embodiment by way of example and not limiting with respect to the number of collection containers and connection systems 1 that can comprise said collection equipment 5, according to the present invention.

Advantageously, each connection element 1 can be easily inserted or extracted to allow a convenient and quick reconfiguration of the connections between various containers of the collection equipment 5, with the consequent adjustment of the collection capacity of the suction system according to the needs of each concrete suction operation.

Furthermore, each connection element 1 is particularly intuitive to use, since it does not require particular instructions for the operators assigned to it.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations may be made for the purposes of the present disclosure, all being contemplated within the scope defined by the appended claims.

For example, there is nothing to prevent varying the length of the flexible tube 2 or the diameter of its cross section so that the connecting element 1 is more effective in specific applications.

The examples related to the connection element 1 present in the present description must therefore be considered as indicative and not limiting.

Claims (10)

1. Removable connection element (1) for collection containers of medical systems for the aspiration of organic fluids, comprising: - a flexible tube (2); - a first connector (3) formed at one end of said flexible tube (2) and having an "L" or square configuration with a first part (31) coaxial with said flexible tube (2); - a second connector (4) formed at the other end of said flexible tube (2) and coaxial with this end. Connection element according to claim 1, in which said flexible tube (2) is provided with an extendable external structure in the form of an accordion. Connection element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, in which said first connector (3) comprises a second part (32) orthogonal to said first part (31), said second part (32) having an external configuration substantially cylindrical and a substantially conical internal configuration. Connecting element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said second connector (4) is provided with a substantially cylindrical external configuration and a substantially conical internal configuration. Connection element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said first connector (3) and said second connector (4) are made in one piece with said flexible tube (2). 6. Collection equipment (5) for medical systems for the aspiration of organic fluids, comprising: - at least one first collection container (51); - at least one second collection container (52); - at least one removable connection element (1) configured according to any one of claims 1 to 5 to cascade the first and second collection containers. Collection equipment (5) according to claim 6, wherein said at least one first collection container (51) is provided with at least one first cover (61) and with at least one outlet hole (71) in correspondence with said first cap (61), and wherein said second connector (4) of said connecting element (1) is configured to engage by quick engagement to said outlet port (71). A collection set (5) according to claim 7, wherein said second connector (4) is snap-fitted to said outlet port (71). Collection equipment (5) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said at least one second collection container (52) is provided with at least one same lid (62) with an inlet hole (82 ) and wherein said first connector (3) of said connecting element (1) is configured for quick engagement to said inlet port (82). A collection set (5) according to claim 9, wherein said first connector (3) snaps into said inlet port (82).