WO2016165806A1

WO2016165806A1 - Plug valve for controlling a fluid flow in a fluid line of a medical instrument

Info

Publication number: WO2016165806A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/000483
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Rühs
Original assignee: Olympus Winter & Ibe Gmbh
Priority date: 2015-04-16
Filing date: 2016-03-17
Publication date: 2016-10-20
Also published as: DE102015004763A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug valve (10) for controlling a fluid flow in a fluid line of a medical instrument, comprising a housing (12), through which a channel (14) passes, wherein, within the housing (12), the channel (14) breaks through a seat surface of a conical seat (16), which is formed in the housing (12), at two mouth points (22), a conical plug (18), which is rotatably supported in the conical seat (16) and has a passage (20), wherein the conical plug (18) can be rotated into an open position and a closed position in such a way that the passage (20) communicatively connects the two mouth points (22) of the channel (14) in the open position of the conical plug (18) and that the channel (14) is blocked by a wall of the conical plug (18) in the closed position of the conical plug (18), and a retaining element (32), which reaches through an opening (24) of the housing (12) in the narrowed bottom region of the conical seat (16) and is detachably connected to a spring unit (28) supported on the housing (12), wherein the spring unit (28) pulls the conical plug (18) at the retaining element (32) into the conical seat (16) under spring preload, wherein a screw connection is provided as a detachable connection between the retaining element (32) and the spring unit (28), and wherein a thread provided in a body part of the spring unit (28) for the screw connection is formed of a thread wire (36) wound in a thread shape.

Description

Chick valve for controlling a fluid flow in a fluid line of a medical instrument

description

The present invention relates to a plug valve according to the preamble of claim 1 and to an instrument having a plug valve according to claim 10. Generic plug valves are used on medical instruments to adjust or regulate the flow of flow media such as gas or liquids carried in channels of the instrument , Particular preference is given to using generic chick valves on medical endoscopes or resectoscopes.

The flow media are supplied to the medical instrument via inlet and / or outlet lines connected to the instrument and discharged therefrom. Generic chick valves may be provided as valve elements at intermediate points of the supply and / or drain lines away from the medical instrument and / or be connected stationarily as an inlet or outlet point to the instrument. By the targeted control of the rotational position of a rotatably mounted in the housing of the plug valve valve plug, the inflow and / or outflow rate of a guided through the plug valve medium can be set in the desired manner. Thus, the operator operating the instrument can supply the operation environment in the area of the instrument to the desired extent with liquid or remove fluid from the treatment area. For example, the treatment area in the working area of the instrument can be flushed in a targeted manner in order to allow the surgeon a better view through an optical instrument guided to the treatment area.

CONFIRMATION COPY In addition to the control of liquid flows, generic chick valves are also used for the passage and settings of gas streams. In laparoscopic endoscopes, for example, gas lines are required to deliver a gaseous medium to the treatment area.

For cleaning purposes and for the service or maintenance-related replacement of components generic chick valves are usually formed in several parts and disassembled. In this case, at least the valve plug and the valve plug receiving valve housing are provided as separate, completely separable and reusable components. In particular, it is provided that the valve plug is designed to be completely removable from the valve housing for replacement or for cleaning. Various holding mechanisms are known which ensure a secure mechanical hold of the plug in the valve housing in the operating position of the plug valve. A commonly used type of fuse is the screwing of the valve plug with a screwed on the outside of the housing screw. In this type of fastening metallic screw components are used to ensure sufficient strength and durability of the screw. The screw is typically formed as a metallic spring unit with a screw thread incorporated therein. An arranged on the spring unit spring element supports the spring unit externally resiliently against the housing and pulls the plug valve with spring force sealingly into the conical seat. In addition to the screwing of the conical socket with a spring unit arranged on the outside of the housing, various other fastening variants from the prior art are also known.

From DE 101 26 540 A1, for example, a stopcock for flow media leading channels of medical endoscopes is known in which a conical chuck is pressed via a arranged in the housing of the stopcock spring element in a conical seat. For the exchange of the conical chuck, a predetermined breaking point located inside the housing is destroyed by deliberate over-rotation of a stop. After breaking the predetermined breaking point, an actuating element and arranged underneath the conical plug can be removed from the housing. From DE 93 07 601 U1 a chick valve for liquid or gas lines medical endoscopes is known, in which a conical chuck is held in the valve seat by means of a gripping element through an opening of the valve housing in the bottom region of the valve seat holding member. The holding element is designed as a threaded rod which is screwed to the outside of the housing with a screw.

In particular, when using screw to secure the valve plug in the valve housing, the provision of appropriate components or assemblies is sometimes associated with time-consuming and costly manufacturing processes.

Object of the present invention is to provide a plug valve of the type mentioned, which is easier and cheaper to produce. The object is achieved by a plug valve with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a chick valve for controlling a fluid flow in a fluid line of a medical instrument, comprising a housing interspersed by a channel, wherein the channel breaks through a seat surface of a conical seat incorporated in the housing at two mouth points, a conical chuck rotatably mounted in the conical seat a passage, wherein the conical plug is rotatable in an open and a closed position, such that the passage communicates in the open position of the conical plug communicating the two mouth points of the channel and that the channel is blocked in the closed position of the conical bar by a wall of the conical bar , and further comprising a holding member passing through an opening of the housing in the tapered bottom portion of the cone seat, which is detachably connected to a spring unit supported on the housing, and wherein the spring unit grips the chuck on the holding member t is spring biased into the conical seat, and wherein as a releasable connection between the holding element and spring unit, a screw connection is provided, and wherein a thread provided for the screw in a body part of the spring unit thread is formed from a thread-wound threaded wire. A threaded thread formed from a thread-wound thread has the particular advantage that the thread-carrying body part of the spring unit and the thread can be formed in two separate assemblies, which are assembled in a common manufacturing step. Without losing the benefits of strength or durability of metallic screw components, the multi-part design increases flexibility in the choice of materials used for the spring unit, retainer, or valve plug. Instead of producing the body of the spring unit as usual from a metal, the spring unit according to the invention may be formed from a plastic. In addition, alternative manufacturing methods such as an injection molding process can be used, which allow economically viable production of small or specifically form-adapted spring units in large numbers.

In a preferred variant, it is envisaged that the thread-wound threaded wire is prepared as a threaded insert, which in its preferably substantially cylindrical shape forms an internal thread for producing a screw connection with the retaining element attached to the conical socket. The threaded insert can be incorporated in an approximately hollow cylindrical receiving hole of the spring unit. The threaded wire is preferably made of a metal, in particular a stainless steel or of a metal alloy.

For a stable, resilient attachment of the threaded wire in the threaded body part of the spring unit, various possibilities are conceivable. For example, the thread-shaped preformed threaded wire can be screwed into a thread formed in a receiving hole of the spring unit. Since the retaining element is not screwed directly into the material of the spring unit, but in the thread formed by the threaded wire in the spring unit thread, at least the threaded body part of the spring unit may be made of a soft material such as plastic or a soft metal, wherein at the same time secure hold of the screw connection between the holding element and spring unit is made possible. Soft materials can be processed with significantly reduced tool wear, which supports the cost-effective production of the spring unit. In particular, the cutting of a thread in a body part of the spring unit for later insertion of the preformed thread wire is much easier and can be performed faster with reduced tool wear. It is preferably intended to form the thread formed by the wound thread in a blind hole of the spring unit. Alternatively, the thread can also be formed in a through hole of the spring unit.

In particular, in the attachment of the threaded insert by screwing in a thread of a receiving hole of the spring unit can be provided to secure the threaded wire form fit, force and / or cohesively in the receiving hole. For example, it may be provided to glue the threaded wire in the receiving hole. Alternatively and / or additionally, it can be provided that the thread wire at least partially, preferably on its radially outer surfaces surface structures that allow anchoring or clamping a secure fit on the inner wall of the receiving hole or on the surfaces of a machined into the receiving hole thread ,

As an alternative to screwing into a thread of a receiving hole is also conceivable that the threaded insert is inserted into the receiving hole, without first preparing a complementary thread in the receiving hole. It is thought that the threaded wire is sufficiently secured against axial or circumferential slipping in the receiving hole for producing a secure screw connection between the holding element and the spring unit. As mentioned, this can be ensured, for example, by gluing, jamming or by rubbing on the material of the spring unit surface structures of the thread wire. The spring unit can be completely or at least partially made of an injection-moldable material, in particular a plastic. When using an injection molding process can be completely dispensed with a subsequent thread cutting even if appropriate threads are required for a later screwing the threaded wire. Instead of a subsequent thread cutting required for a later screwing the threaded thread threads can be formed already in the injection molding process in the threaded body part. This saves an additional manufacturing step and allows a further cost reduction. Alternatively to the subsequent insertion or screwing the wound thread wire can be provided that the wound thread wire in the manufacture of the spring unit or the body part having the threaded encapsulated with injection molding material and thus is firmly connected to the body part of the spring unit. This can ensure a particularly stable hold of the threaded insert or the threaded wire on the spring unit and a reliable screw connection between the holding element and spring unit can be made possible.

As already briefly mentioned, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the body part of the spring unit having the thread is made of a plastic. In particular, it can be provided that the entire spring unit is made of a plastic.

In an arrangement of the thread in a made of a plastic body part of the spring unit show a thread made of a wound wire various advantages over a conventional manner - for example by threading - thread produced in a metal spring unit. Made of metal spring units have a high weight and the production is time consuming and expensive. Plastic spring units on the one hand can be produced in large quantities in a short time and on the other hand, despite a significantly reduced weight, allow a secure, stable hold of a screw connection between the holding element and the spring unit.

In a further preferred embodiment, it is envisaged that at least the body part of the spring unit having the thread is produced by injection molding. By providing a spring unit produced by injection molding or the body part of the spring unit having the thread, the spring unit can be produced particularly inexpensively, quickly and inexpensively, in particular in large quantities. As a result, a cheaper chick valve can be provided.

As mentioned above, in a variant of the plug valve according to the invention is thought that the thread wire is at least partially formed as a threaded insert, wherein the threaded insert in the injection molding of the body part at least partially provided with that for the preparation of the body part Injection molding material is encapsulated. If the thread-wound threaded wire is already incorporated in the injection molding in a body part of the spring unit, an additional process step of the subsequent insertion of the threaded insert can be saved. Thus, the spring unit or the chick valve is even cheaper to produce. For incorporation of the thread wire by molding with injection molding material projections and / or recesses or surface structures may be provided on the threaded wire, which are detected by the injection molding material and support the secure hold on the spring unit. Preformed wire thread inserts allow the production of heavy-duty compounds in materials of low strength and are therefore particularly suitable to form durable threads in a spring unit made at least partially plastic. In addition to the formation of an internal thread, the formation of an external thread by a thread-wound threaded wire is also conceivable.

In a preferred embodiment of the chick valve according to the invention is further thought that the spring unit comprises a coil spring with which the conical chuck is spring-biased pulled into the conical seat. The spring element designed here as, for example, a helical spring serves to provide a spring force for spring-loaded retention of the conical tongue in the conical seat. As an alternative to a helical spring, the spring element may be formed as a resilient sheet metal or as a plate spring or the like. However, particularly preferred is the formation of the spring element as a helical spring. Coil springs are characterized by longevity and a well-defined force-travel ratio. The coil spring may be cylindrical or conical.

When using a coil spring as a spring element, a special development of the chick valve according to the invention has been found to be particularly advantageous. In this specific embodiment, it is contemplated that the coil spring is integrally formed with the thread wire, such that the thread wire seamlessly merges from a threaded portion into a spring portion formed by the coil spring. Due to the integral design of the spring portion with the threaded portion of a single continuous thread wire two functions of the spring unit can be realized with a single component at the same time. This leads to further significant cost savings in manufacturing and reduced component complexity of the plug valve.

To produce the screw connection between the holding element and the spring unit, the threaded area of the spring unit is designed to be complementary to the thread of the holding element provided for the screw connection. Preferably, the threads provided for the screw connection are designed as normalized thread types.

In particular, in the configuration of the threaded wire as a one-piece manufactured component with a threaded portion and a spring portion may be provided that the inner diameter of the threaded portion is smaller than the inner diameter of the spring portion. This configuration makes it possible for the holding element to protrude, in particular coaxially, into the free inner region of the spring region designed as a helical spring and to be screwed to the narrower threaded region of the threaded wire which adjoins the spring region. With this embodiment, particularly space-saving spring units can be provided with small component dimensions.

In order to reduce the number of components or to reduce the assembly complexity of the plug valve may further be provided that the holding element is formed integrally with the conical chuck. In an alternative embodiment it can be provided that the holding element is designed as a separate component, which is releasably connected on the one hand with the spring unit and on the other hand with the conical chuck. For a manual actuation of the conical chuck is thought that an actuating element rotatably connected to the conical chuck with which the conical chuck is actuated in the open and in the closed position. In a simple variant, the actuating element may be a lever connected to the conical chuck via a shaft, which transmits a rotary movement to the conical chuck via a manual actuation. In addition to a version as a lever, other variants are conceivable. For example, the actuator may be formed as a rotary wheel or the like. Preferably, the actuator is disposed opposite the tapered bottom portion of the cone throat opposite the conical chuck. According to the invention is also a gynecological or urological instrument with a chick valve according to one of the previously described kind. Advantages and design variants of the instrument according to the invention also result from the explanations of the conceivable variants of the chick valve. Instruments for gynecological or urological treatment are often equipped with channels in which a liquid and / or a gas is passed to rinse a treatment site. An instrument with a connected chick valve of the type according to the invention has the advantages already explained for the chick valve. In particular, it can be provided that the gynecological or the urological instrument is a resectoscope.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a plug valve in a conceivable variant.

The chick valve 10 shown in Fig. 1 has a housing 12 which is penetrated by a channel 14. The channel 14 breaks through a conical seat 16 in which a conical chuck 18 is rotatably received. At its end opposite the tapered end region of the conical chuck 18, an actuating element 26 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the conical chuck 18. By means of the actuating element 26, the conical jaw 18 is rotatably actuated in the conical seat 16 in the open and closed position. The conical plug 18 is penetrated by a passage 20 which, in the illustrated open position, connects two outlet points 22 in the sealing surface of the conical seat 16. In the closed position, the mouth points 22 are not connected to each other, so that the passage of the channel 14 is blocked by the conical plug 18. Via connection points 34, the channel 14 can be connected to fluid lines and / or a medical instrument (not shown).

In the tapered bottom region of the conical seat 16, the housing 12 is perforated with an opening 24 to the outside. About a projecting through the opening 24 at least partially rod-shaped support member 32 which is coupled on the one hand with the conical plug 18 and on the other hand with a spring unit 28 supported on the housing 12, the conical plug 18 is sealingly pulled into the conical seat 16 and rotatable there held. For this purpose, an external thread is provided at the free end of the holding element 32, that can be screwed with a threaded portion 38, designed as an internal thread, of the spring unit 28. In the present case, the spring unit 28 is supported with a spring element designed as a helical spring 30 in the region of the opening edge of the opening 24 on the outside of the housing 12, such that the holding element 32 is acted upon by a tensile force acting in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the conical jaw 18. The spring force provided by the helical spring 30 pulls the conical plug 18 into the conical seat 16. It goes without saying that instead of a helical spring 30, other types of spring elements can be used which can develop a sufficient tensile force on the holding element 36.

As shown, the spring unit 28 may comprise a body formed as a spring cup, in which the helical spring 30 is arranged at least partially bordered by a cylindrically shaped outer wall.

Centrally in the pen unit formed as a spring unit 28, a threaded wire 36 is incorporated into the material of the spring unit 28. In the present case, an internal thread is formed by the threaded wire 36, wherein the thread is provided in a coaxially provided on the bottom portion of the spring unit 28 blind hole. As indicated in the drawing, the threaded wire 36 is formed profiled to form a screw thread. Above the threaded portion 38 designed as an internal thread, that is to say on the side of the thread facing the valve housing 12, the spring portion 40 formed by the helical spring 30 is provided. The holding member 32 extends in the present case coaxially through the free interior of the helical spring 30 formed here into the spring region 40 subsequent threaded portion 38. The inner diameter of the coil spring 30 in this embodiment is greater than the inner diameter of the threaded portion 38. At its the conical chick 18th remote from the free end, the holding element 32 is equipped with an external thread. The external thread of the retaining element 32 is designed to be complementary to the threaded region 38 of the spring unit 28 designed as an internal thread. The threaded portion 38 is presently incorporated in a blind hole formed as a spring cup spring unit 28. Alternatively it can be provided to form the threaded portion 38 in a through hole of the spring unit 28. As explained, the spring portion 40 and the threaded portion 38 may be formed of a single continuous wire. The threaded wire 36 may be for this purpose following the threaded portion 38 with expanded diameter and axially resilient formed. To produce the spring effect, the free distances between the threads of the coil spring 30 are greater than the free distances of the threads in the threaded portion 38th

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 chicks valve

12 housing

14 channel

16 conical seat

18 conus chicks

20 passage of the cone

22 estuary

24 housing opening

26 actuator for rotating the

cone chick

28 spring unit

30 coil spring

32 retaining element

34 connection point

36 thread wire

38 thread area

40 spring range

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Claims

claims

A chick valve (10) for controlling fluid flow in a fluid line of a medical instrument, comprising a housing (12) penetrated by a channel (14), the channel (14) being located within the housing (12) at two ports (22) Seat surface of a conical seat (16) incorporated in the housing (12) breaks through, a conical plug (18) rotatably mounted in the conical seat (16) with a passage (20), wherein the conical plug (18) is rotatable in an open and a closed position in that, in the open position of the cone (18), the passage (20) communicatively connects the two mouths (22) of the channel (14) and that, in the closed position of the cone (18), the channel (14) is separated from a wall of the channel Konus chuck (18) is blocked, and further comprising a through an opening (24) of the housing (12) in the tapered bottom portion of the conical seat (16) by cross-holding member (32) releasably with a on the housing (12) Fed unit (28) is connected, wherein the spring unit (28) pulls the conical chuck (18) on the holding element (32) spring-biased in the conical seat (16), characterized in that as releasable connection between the holding element (32) and spring unit (28 ) A screw connection is provided, and wherein a thread provided for the screw connection in a body part of the spring unit (28) is formed from a thread-shaped wound thread wire (36).

2. plug valve (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the threaded body part of the spring unit (28) is made of a plastic.

3. plug valve according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the thread having body part of the spring unit (28) is made by injection molding.

4. plug valve according to claim 3, characterized in that the threaded wire (36) is at least partially formed as a threaded insert, wherein the threaded insert in the injection molding of the body part at least partially encapsulated with the intended for the preparation of the body part injection molding material.

5. plug valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring unit (28) comprises a coil spring (30) with which the conical plug (18) is spring-biased in the conical seat (16) is pulled.

6. A plug valve according to claim 5, characterized in that the coil spring (30) is integrally formed with the threaded wire (36), such that the threaded wire (36) of a threaded portion (38) formed in a seamless manner by the coil spring (30) Spring area (40) passes.

7. plug valve according to claim 6, characterized in that the inner diameter of the threaded portion (38) is smaller than the inner diameter of the spring portion (40).

8. plug valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding element (32) is formed integrally with the conical chuck (18).

9. plug valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an actuating element (26) rotatably connected to the conical plug (18), with which the conical plug (18) is actuated in the open and in the closed position.

10. gynecological or urological instrument with a chick valve according to one of the preceding claims.

Instrument according to claim 10, characterized in that the instrument is a resectoscope.

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