JP2834804B2 - Flow controller and infusion or blood transfusion set using the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a flow controller which is attached to an infusion set or a blood transfusion set and used to adjust a flow rate of a drug solution or blood;
The present invention relates to a transfusion or blood transfusion set using the same.

[Conventional technology]

In an infusion set, a blood transfusion set, and other medical instruments, it is necessary to adjust the flow rate of a medical solution, blood, or the like flowing in the tube. It is well known that a flow regulator is mounted in the middle of these tubes.

Various types of flow controllers have been conventionally known, and a typical one is a roller clamp. The roller clamp is composed of a main body and a roller movably mounted on the main body.The tube is sandwiched between an outer peripheral surface of the roller and a bottom surface of the main body having a moderate inclination, and the tube is moved by moving the roller. The gap between the liquids is adjusted by changing the degree of sandwiching, and the flow rate is adjusted.

In addition to the method of adjusting the flow rate with a tube in between, various flow rate adjusters have been proposed, and the flow rate is adjusted by changing the cross-sectional area of the liquid path by combining two or more hard members. A device has been proposed in JP-A-50-15387, JP-A-57-203451, JP-A-61-169161 and JP-A-61-247470.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, according to this roller clamp, there is a problem that the shape of the pinched portion of the tube changes with time, whereby the opening area of the tube becomes smaller and the flow rate gradually decreases. For this reason, some improvements have been attempted, and improved products having a V-shaped groove on the bottom surface of the main body are widely used. When this clamp is used, the change of the flow rate with time at a constant temperature is remarkably reduced, but there is a problem that the change in the air temperature shows a large flow rate fluctuation as in the conventional case.

Also, as for flow controllers other than the roller clamps described above, the structure is complicated and the molding die needs to be divided, so that the production cost of the die increases and a large number of molding units are formed at one time. This is not practical because there are problems such as an increase in manufacturing cost due to the inability to do so and a high degree of molding accuracy required for parts.

Therefore, the present inventors have conducted various studies in order to solve the above problem, a cylindrical member A having a bottom surface, and a cylindrical member C having an upper surface and rotatably fitted to the member A,
Non-rotatably fitted inside member C and one surface
And a disk-shaped member B to be press-bonded, and a circumferential groove having a gradually changing cross-sectional area is formed on the inner bottom surface of the member A and directly or from a portion of the maximum cross-sectional area of the circumferential groove. A hole is formed in the outer bottom surface through an extended groove to form a liquid outlet, and the disc-shaped member B is provided with a through-hole penetrating the opposite surface at the position of the circumferential groove of the member A. C
A through hole communicating directly with the through hole of the member B or through a groove is provided on the upper surface of the member as a liquid inlet, and the flow rate can be adjusted by rotating the member A and the member C to each other. Invented a flow controller, and filed Japanese Patent Application No. Hei.
We applied for a patent as No. 0. Although this flow controller was excellent in that it was easy to manufacture and had little change in flow due to fluctuations in air temperature, a phenomenon was observed in which liquid often leaked from the sliding portion between the members A and B after sterilization. In addition, it was found that the slidability was also reduced by sterilization.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present inventors have further studied to solve the above-mentioned problem, and as a result, have achieved the object by slightly depressing the central part of one or both of the contact surfaces of the members A and B more than the peripheral part. I found what I could do. That is, the first invention of the present application provides a cylindrical member A having a bottom surface, a cylindrical member C having an upper surface and rotatably fitted to the member A, and a cylindrical member A fitted non-rotatably inside the member C. The surface of the member A has a disk-shaped member B that is pressed against the member A. A circumferential groove having a gradually changing cross-sectional area is formed on the inner bottom surface of the member A, and the maximum cross-sectional area of the circumferential groove is formed. A hole which penetrates the outer bottom surface directly or through a groove extended from the portion is used as a liquid outlet, and the disc-shaped member B has a through hole penetrating to the opposite surface at the position of the circumferential groove of the member A. A hole is provided, and a through hole communicating directly with the through hole of the member B or through a groove is provided on the upper surface of the member C to serve as a liquid inlet, and the member A and the member C are rotated with each other to control the flow rate. In the flow controller which is adjusted, one of the contact surfaces of the member A and the member B may be adjusted. Or be slightly recessed than the peripheral portion of the central portion of both a flow regulator, characterized in. The second invention of the present application is a transfusion or blood transfusion set incorporating such a flow controller, and the third invention is such that the transfusion or blood transfusion set is sterilized.

[Action]

In the flow regulator of the present invention, a liquid flow path is formed by pressing a disc-shaped member B into a circumferential groove provided in a cylindrical member A. Then, the position of the through hole of the member B on the circumferential groove becomes the minimum opening of the flow path and determines the flow rate. Therefore, the flow rate can be adjusted by changing the position. However, since the member B is fixed to the member C so as not to rotate, when the member C is rotated with respect to the member A, the member B also moves with respect to the member A. And the position of the through hole on the circumferential groove changes, so that the flow rate also changes.

It is not clear why one or both of the central portions of the contact surfaces of the members A and B are slightly depressed, thereby eliminating the leakage of the liquid after sterilization and improving the slidability. In the case of non-existent ones, the sealing failure occurs due to slight deformation of the member due to sterilization, causing liquid leakage and sliding failure, whereas in the case of the present invention, even if such member deformation occurs, structurally It is considered that this is because it is difficult to cause poor sealing.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a flow controller according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view thereof. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cylindrical member A, and FIG.
FIG.

The flow controller is composed of a cylindrical member A, a disk-shaped member B and a cylindrical member C, and the cylindrical member A has a bottom surface 19.
A circular groove 21 having a V-shaped cross section is formed on the bottom surface. The circumferential groove 21 has a gradual increase in width and depth from a starting point 25 to an ending point 24, as best seen in FIG. 3, and therefore a gradual increase in cross-sectional area. The circumferential groove 21 is extended from the end point 24 where the cross-sectional area becomes the maximum by a groove 23 toward the center of the bottom surface with the same cross-sectional area or a larger cross-sectional area.
Continues to 20.

Although the disc-shaped member B has a through hole 18, the through hole 18 is provided at a position coinciding with the circumferential groove 21 when assembled, and the liquid narrows from the through hole 18 to the circumferential groove 21. Flows from one to the thicker. Therefore, the groove 21 in which the through hole 18 is located
Is the smallest cross-sectional area in the entire liquid flow path, and its position determines the flow rate. That is, the flow rate increases as the through hole 18 is closer to the end point 24 of the circumferential groove 21, and decreases as the through hole 18 is closer to the start point 25. When 18 is located at a portion where the circumferential groove is not formed, the flow of the liquid is shut off. On the opposite surface of the member B, a groove 17 is provided from the through hole 18 toward the center, and a notch 16 is further provided.

In this embodiment, the lower surface of the disc-shaped member B is formed so that the central portion 27 is slightly depressed. It is necessary to limit the portion where the depression is formed to a region not in contact with the circumferential groove 21 provided in the member A, and it is preferable that the portion be as wide as possible within that range. The reason for limiting to the area that does not contact the circumferential groove is
This is because when the recessed portion comes into contact with the circumferential groove, the liquid leaks from that portion. In this embodiment, the depression is provided in the member B, but a similar region may be provided in the member A. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a depression can be provided in both the member A and the member B, and in this case, the effect is most remarkable. The depth of the depression is suitably 0.05 mm or more, and preferably 0.1 to 0.5 mm. By configuring in this way. The slidability is improved and the leakage of the liquid after sterilization is eliminated.

Next, the member C will be described. The member C has an upper surface 13, and a through hole 15 is provided at the center on the upper surface.
A projection 12 is provided at a position corresponding to the notch 16 of the member B. The protrusion 12 and the notch 16 are provided for fixing the members B and C so that they do not rotate with each other, and other fixing methods can be adopted.

The assembly of the three members A, B, and C formed as described above
This is performed by fitting the member B inside the member C and fitting the member C inside the member A. In the illustrated embodiment, the member A
A protruding ridge 22 is provided on the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion, and a peripheral groove 14 is provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the member C, and the two members are rotatably fixed by fitting them together. At this time, it is necessary to select the positional relationship between the ridge 22 and the circumferential groove 14 so that the member B is pressed against the bottom surface of the member A by the member C. Further, the material of the member B is preferably slightly softer and more elastic than hard material.
The hardness of the preferred material is expressed as durometer hardness specified in JIS K7215.
And particularly preferred is an A hardness of 40.
It is in the range of ~ 90. Specific examples of such materials include plasticized polyvinyl chloride resin, polyurethane, polyolefin-based elastomer, vinyl chloride-urethane copolymer, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, and silicone rubber.

In the embodiment shown in the figure, the liquid introduced from the liquid inlet 11 of the member C passes through the through hole 15, the groove 17 and the through hole 18 of the member B, the circumferential groove 21, the groove 23 and the through hole 20 of the member A. From the liquid outlet 26. The flow rate is adjusted by rotating the members A and C mutually. That is, since the member C and the member B rotate integrally, by rotating the member C, the positional relationship between the through hole 18 of the member B and the circumferential groove 21 of the member A changes, and the opening of the circumferential groove is changed. Since the cross-sectional area changes, the flow rate can be adjusted. If the members A and C are provided with scales, the flow rate can be set to a certain level.

Since the groove 17 and the groove 23 in the above embodiment are formed for setting the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet at the center of the apparatus, the liquid inlet 11 and the through hole 15 are provided at the position of the through hole 18. If the liquid outlet 26 and the through hole 20 are provided at the position of the circumferential groove end point 24, it can be omitted. Further, the fitting method between the member A and the member C may be a method other than the above-described embodiment.

The infusion set and the blood transfusion set are composed of a bottle needle, a drip tube, a venous needle, and a tube connecting these, and the like. The position where the flow rate controller of the present invention is incorporated is appropriately at the top or bottom of the drip tube. . The flow controller and the drip tube can be integrated or provided in the middle of the circuit.

The infusion set or the blood transfusion set incorporating the flow rate controller of the present invention is used beforehand, and the sterilization method may be any of ethylene oxide sterilization, radiation sterilization, and steam sterilization. However, when using steam sterilization, it is necessary to select and use a heat-resistant material.

Hereinafter, the results of testing an infusion set using the flow rate controller of the present invention will be described.

The flow controllers shown in FIG. 1 to FIG.
Was manufactured using ABS resin and soft polyvinyl chloride for member B (Example 1). At this time, the depth of the depression provided at the center of the member B was 0.2 mm. Also,
In the flow regulator shown in FIG. 5, the same material was used to manufacture the member B and the member A, each having a depth of 0.2 mm (Example 2). These flow controllers were incorporated into an infusion set, and ethylene oxide sterilized and non-sterilized ones were examined for liquid leakage, slidability, and flow rate fluctuations while flowing water at a drop of 100 cm. Further, for comparison, a flow controller was assembled using a member having no depression at the center of the member B, and a similar test was performed. That is, Comparative Example 1 was provided with no depression in both members A and B, and Example 3 was provided with a depression in member A but not provided in member B. Table 1 shows the test results.
Shown in All the results are a summary of the results of repeated tests on 20 samples each.

As is evident from the results in Table 1, if one or both of the contact surfaces of the member A and the member B are provided with depressions, even if sterilization is performed, leakage of the liquid hardly occurs and slidability is improved. Recognize. It can also be seen that the best results can be obtained when both the members A and B are provided with depressions.

〔The invention's effect〕

The flow regulator according to the present invention has a smaller flow rate fluctuation and is easier to manufacture than the conventional one. Then, even if sterilization is performed, the liquid does not leak and the slidability is good, so that the practicability is high.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a flow controller according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded view, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cylindrical member A constituting the flow controller, and FIG. It is a bottom view of the disk-shaped member B. FIG. 5 is a front sectional view showing another embodiment of the flow controller of the present invention. 11 ... liquid inlet, 13 ... top surface 15 ... through hole, 17 ... groove 18 ... through hole, 19 ... bottom surface 20 ... through hole, 21 ... circumferential groove 23 ... groove, 26 ... Liquid outlet 27 ... hollow

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An instrument for adjusting the flow rate of an infusion or transfusion set, comprising: a cylindrical member A having a bottom surface; and a cylindrical member C having an upper surface and rotatably fitted to the member A.
And a disk-shaped member B which is non-rotatably fitted inside the member C and one surface of which is pressed against the member A.
On the inner bottom surface, a circumferential groove having a gradually changing cross-sectional area is formed, and a hole is formed in the outer bottom surface through a groove that is directly or extended from a portion having the maximum cross-sectional area of the circumferential groove. As a liquid outlet, a disc-shaped member B is provided with a through hole penetrating in the opposite surface at the position of the circumferential groove of the member A, and further on the upper surface of the member C, directly or through a groove in the through hole of the member B. A flow inlet provided with a through hole communicating with the member A and the member C to adjust the flow rate by rotating the member A and the member C to each other, and one or both of the contact surfaces of the member A and the member B. A flow controller characterized in that the central part of is slightly depressed from the peripheral part. 2. A transfusion or blood transfusion set incorporating the flow regulator according to claim 1. 3. The infusion or blood transfusion set according to claim 2, wherein the infusion or blood transfusion set is sterilized.