WO2019063244A1

WO2019063244A1 - Catheter valve for one-handed operation

Info

Publication number: WO2019063244A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/073590
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jürgen Reuter
Original assignee: Nanogate Medical Systems Gmbh
Priority date: 2017-09-29
Filing date: 2018-09-03
Publication date: 2019-04-04
Also published as: DE102017217485A1; EP3641871A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a catheter valve (1), comprising: a housing (2), having an inlet opening (4) and an outlet opening (6), which are fluidically connected to each other, and a closing element (8), which is movable parallel to a primary flow direction (7) and which is designed to interrupt and enable the fluidic connection, characterized in that at least one actuating element (10) is provided, which is designed to be manually actuated crosswise to the primary flow direction (7), wherein preferably at least one conversion element (12) is provided, which is designed to convert an actuating movement (14) of the at least one actuating element (10) into a displacement (16) of the closure element (8) parallel to the primary flow direction (7).

Description

Catheter valve for one-handed operation

The present invention relates to a catheter valve for controlling the opening and closing of the accesses of body cavities by means of a catheter projecting out of the human body, or the permanent opening thereof, in particular for controlling the urine discharge by means of a introduced in the bladder of a patient catheter. Catheter valves are used to open and close catheters, especially for urine discharge, which have been placed on a patient.

Such catheter valves are known in principle. EP 0 873 763 A2 discloses a catheter valve with a housing through which urine can be diverted. The housing can be connected at one end to a hose, for example, a urine drainage catheter. Liquid introduced above can escape from the housing at the opposite end. The valve has a located in the housing and displaceable from the outside in the flow direction plunger, which is designed for opening and closing of the valve, and which is covered with an elastic Federdichtele- ment. This seals the closed valve and closes it automatically. A disadvantage of this embodiment is that the spring-loaded element is compressed when opening and so can gradually lose tension, until an automatic closing is no longer possible and the valve is leaking. DE 10 2007 027 623 A1 shows a valve in which, to open the valve flow, a piston element is pulled away from an outlet opening by an actuating element in the form of a slide. The slider is not directly in contact with the piston element. Between the two there is a sealing membrane, which is intended to prevent urine from escaping through the guide of the slide out of the housing and, secondly, to transmit the actuating forces of the slide to the piston element. This embodiment has the disadvantage that the sealing membrane shuts through the contact with the slider over time, whereby the valve can leak and urine can escape. Furthermore, the described embodiments have in common that they are actuated by means of a slide, the actuation by a user, in particular by a patient, that is to be done by a sliding movement. This is particularly difficult for older patients whose motor skills are limited. A one-handed operation is therefore largely excluded in these valves, at best difficult.

Valves of this design have the advantage that the outlet can be designed such that the smallest possible free line distance between the outlet opening and closing point, ie the point at which the valve is sealed, remains. As a result, such valves are particularly advantageous in terms of hygiene, as after closing the valve only a small volume of liquid, especially consisting of urine, dribble.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a catheter valve which has the above-mentioned advantages and in addition solves the above-mentioned problems, in particular with regard to manual actuation. This object is achieved by means of the independent claim. Advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a catheter valve is provided, which has a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, which are in fluid communication with one another. The catheter valve preferably has a main flow direction which describes the major direction of a fluid passing through the catheter valve from entry to exit port. Preferably, the main flow direction coincides with an axis of the catheter valve, in particular of the housing. Furthermore, a closure element which can be displaced parallel to the main flow direction and which is designed to interrupt and release the fluidic connection is provided. Furthermore, at least one actuating element is provided, which is preferably formed, the opening and Closure of the catheter valve, in particular the actuation of the closure element to effect. In this case, the at least one actuating element is designed to be operated, in particular substantially transversely to the main flow direction, particularly preferably perpendicular to the main flow direction, in particular manually.

A manual actuation of the actuating element thus takes place by means of a pressure movement, more precisely a pressing of the actuating element towards the main flow direction, preferably towards the axis of the catheter valve.

This has, in contrast to catheter valves, which are actuated by means of sliding movement of an actuating element along the main flow direction, in particular the axis of the catheter valve, the advantage that here a one-handed operation is facilitated.

In a sliding movement parallel to the main flow direction, it is necessary to appropriately curve or extend the operating finger while the catheter valve rests in the hand of, for example, a patient. This required finger curvature, or extension of the finger, may cause difficulty in operation, especially in elderly patients whose motor skills are limited.

By contrast, a pressure actuation does not require excessive finger curvature or extension of the finger, so that clear advantages of the embodiment according to the invention over previous valves result.

Preferably, at least one conversion element is provided, which is designed to implement an actuation movement of the at least one actuating element into a displacement of the closure element parallel to the main flow direction. For this purpose, the at least one conversion element is in contact with the respective at least one actuating element, so that actuation movements of the actuating element can be transmitted to the conversion element. The conversion element is thus designed to convert the actuating movement, which is oriented transversely to the main flow direction and in particular perpendicular to the main flow direction, into a displacement movement parallel to the main flow direction. Such a transformation of the movement may preferably be seen in a pure directional transformation of the movement, and more preferably also in a translation of the movement.

Thus, the conversion element is preferably designed to translate an actuation movement, in particular an actuation stroke of the actuation element, into a different magnitude, that is, a larger or smaller displacement of the closure element.

Such a catheter valve now makes it possible to combine the advantages of a catheter valve with a displaceable closure element with the advantages of a pressure-actuated catheter valve. Thus, a catheter valve is made available which is designed to be hygienic and ergonomically advantageous.

Preferably, the at least one actuating element is formed integrally with a flexible portion of the housing.

Preferably, the housing can be sensed or felted from the outside as an actuating element, preferably via a corrugated surface or other identification features.

Preferably, this housing part, which contains the actuating element, made of a flexible material, in particular of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), formed, which can be easily deformed by manual action and which at Absence of manual action preferably reverts back to its original shape.

This has the advantage that the actuating element does not have to be sealed off from the rest of the housing, since there are no gaps, in particular guides, such as elongated holes, between the actuating element and the rest of the housing.

Advantageously, this can also be dispensed with additional guides, stops or fuses or reset elements.

Preferably, the flexible portion extends parallel to the main flow direction fully or over a partial circumference, preferably over a part of the housing. The advantage of a fully-fl exible flexible section of the housing is that the housing as a whole is more flexible and thus more comfortable to wear, especially under clothing or when lying down.

In one embodiment over a partial circumference of the housing, the remaining housing is preferably stiffer or harder on this partial circumference, as a result of which the housing as a whole becomes stiffer or harder, whereby a risk of damaging the inner mechanism of the catheter valve is minimized by excessive bending of the housing. Preferably, the closure element is designed to interrupt the fluidic connection between the inlet opening and the outlet opening by means of elastic prestressing.

For this purpose, the closure element is preferably acted upon by a spring element, in particular a spiral spring, which is preferably supported in the housing, with a force such that the closure element always moves into the closed position when no further forces act on the closure element. The spring element is preferably made of plastic with elastically pronounced properties, in particular of polyoxymethylene (POM), particularly preferably of metal, in particular made of steel with chromium or spring steel, or another suitable material which is not attacked by the urine located in the housing, especially in its properties are changed.

Preferably, the at least one conversion element is designed to elastically compress when actuated preferably in the direction of actuation and to expand at least parallel to the main flow direction.

Thus, it can advantageously be achieved that an implementation, in particular a deflection of an actuating movement is achieved by the expansion of the conversion element. The elastic configuration of the conversion element advantageously allows the conversion element to revert back to its original shape after elimination of the actuation force. This can be dispensed with possibly necessary return springs. Preferably, the at least one conversion element is designed such that it is in a caused by the operation expansion with one side, preferably with an expanding side, in the housing, and with another side, preferably with an expanding side directly or indirectly, ie over intervening elements, is supported on the closure element.

This ensures that the expansion movement or the resulting expansion force of the conversion element is completely transferred to the closure element. Preferably, a rear portion of the housing of the catheter valve, which in particular has the inlet opening, is adapted to be connected to a tube sealingly and / or positively and / or non-positively. Preferably, for the rear portion of the housing is conical, whereby a plugging of a tube is facilitated, and preferably on the cone-shaped outer surface elements, preferably teeth, particularly preferably circumferential tooth-shaped undercuts provided, which are adapted to a sliding down of the hose to prevent.

In this way, a hose, in particular a catheter, can advantageously be simply connected to the catheter valve, via which liquid, in particular urine, can be supplied.

Preferably, an outlet section is also preferably provided, comprising the outlet opening, of the housing, which is designed to come into contact with the closure element in the event of an interrupted fluidic connection, and / or a sealing, positive and / or non-positive connection by means of the outlet opening with a drainage tube train.

The outlet section is preferably formed from resilient, ie elastic or flexible material, whereby advantageously a soft tip of the catheter valve can be formed, which improves the wearing comfort of the catheter valve. Furthermore, this makes it possible to introduce a drain hose, in particular its, designed as a stepped cone made of hard plastic, tip in the outlet section, wherein the formation of the outlet section allows the step cone to fix it positively and / or non-positively. The closure member preferably contacts the inside of the exit portion, thereby realizing the interruption of the fluidic connection.

Preferably, the inside of the outlet section, with which the closure element comes into contact, and / or a sealing surface of the closure element, which comes into contact with the inside of the outlet section, are formed such that a sealing effect is formed on the entire contact surface, so that additional Sealing elements, such as O-rings, can be dispensed with. The discharge hose, in particular its step cone, can preferably be introduced into the outlet opening of the outlet section, wherein the outlet opening or the inside of the outlet section is designed such that it sealingly, positively and / or non-positively fixes the drain hose.

This can be achieved, for example, by an excess between the inner diameter of the outlet section and the outer diameter of the outlet hose, whereby a press fit is formed, and / or a toothed, in particular circumferential profile can be provided on drain hose and / or inside of the outlet section, which counteracts an unintentional removal of the drain hose.

The catheter valve can thus be connected to a drain hose, which allows the discharge of the fluid flowing through, in particular the urine, for example, in another container.

Preferably, the closure element and / or the spring element are designed so that upon insertion of a drain hose into the outlet opening the closure element comes into contact with the drain hose and that upon further introduction of the drain hose the closure element is further displaced against the main flow direction. As a result, the closure element is transferred to the open position, even if no actuation has taken place by the actuating element. Preferably, a fluidic connection between the inlet opening of the catheter valve and the drainage tube can now furthermore be produced by at least one passage of the closure element.

The closure element is designed so that the at least one passage does not prevent a sealing effect of the entire closure element without inserted drain hose. Preferably, therefore, sealing surface and passage of the closure element are formed separately from each other. This has the advantage that the catheter valve can be transferred into a permanently open position by the inserted drain hose, wherein no manual actuation force must be applied to the actuator and at the same time a flow from the inlet to the drain hose is possible.

This application is particularly advantageous for permanent emptying during the night, for example, to save the patient an active emptying of the bladder.

The closure element is preferably guided parallel to the main flow direction in relation to the housing, particularly preferably through the housing.

This ensures that the closure element performs a defined preferably translational displacement and does not tilt in the housing, whereby the functionality, in particular the tightness of the catheter valve could be restricted.

The guide and / or the leading housing portion are preferably formed of hard / rigid material to ensure good guidance. The at least one conversion element is preferably formed as a C- and / or H- and / or X- and / or O-shaped spring element, or in another form, which preferably forms in compression in one direction, an extension in another direction, and / or made of plastic and / or metal. Such formations of a spring element allow it to expand when compressed in one direction, in other directions, which are preferably transverse, particularly preferably perpendicular to the compression direction, whereby a deflection, in particular translation of the actuating movement or the actuating force is achieved and The spring element then preferably re-forms into its original shape.

The spring element is preferably made of plastic with elastically pronounced properties, in particular of polyoxymethylene (POM), particularly preferably Metal in particular made of steel with chromium part, which are not attacked by the urine located in the housing, in particular their properties are changed. Preferably, the conversion element and / or the actuating element and / or the closure element has a stop portion, which is designed to limit the actuation movement and / or the compression / expansion of the conversion element or the conversion by the conversion element and / or the displacement of the closure element ,

The abutment portions are preferably designed such that they encounter at maximum movement on an opposite stop, preferably the inside of the housing, whereby the corresponding movement is limited. The housing is preferably designed to limit movements of the abutment sections, in particular the actuating movement and / or the compression / expansion of the conversion element or the implementation by the conversion element and / or the displacement, against the stop sections preferably by hard or rigid training.

This can advantageously be limited to a large actuation and / or displacement movement, whereby moving, in particular to train / pressure and / or bending loaded elements of the catheter valve are spared. Preferably, the housing has portions which are soft / flexible and / or hard / rigid.

Thus, advantageously different properties of the housing can be formed, such as a rigid guide section and a flexible outlet section.

Preferably, the housing has no further opening except the inlet opening and the outlet opening. This has the advantage that no additional openings, for example, for the engagement of a particular separately formed from the housing actuator, which projects into the housing, are provided, which thus need not be sealed.

The housing thus preferably forms a closable conduit element which has only the inlet opening and the outlet opening and thus can be easily controlled both constructively, in particular with regard to sealing, and in the application.

Preferably, the individual sections of the catheter valve are connected to one another by adhesive bonding and / or by chemical bonding and / or positive and / or non-positive.

Glued and chemical compounds, such as preferably hard-soft compounds, have the advantage that they can be formed with proper design in sealing, whereby no additional sealing elements or other embodiments for sealing the housing are needed.

Preferably, a positive connection of two sections by means of another component, preferably a locking ring, which is applied over the outside of the housing formed. Advantageously, the locking ring may also have a smaller inner diameter than the outer diameter of the housing, whereby the two sections of the housing to be joined are pressed together.

Preferably, the housing cross-section is circular.

This has the advantage that a preparation of the catheter valve is simply possible due to the simple geometric configuration of the cross section. In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a more complex cross-section is provided, which is rounded and extends in two directions of extension perpendicular to the main flow direction, wherein the extension is formed farther in one extension direction than in the other.

This results in a flattened cross-section, which has the advantage that it lies in a certain position or alignment, preferably with a flattened side in the direction of the palm, in the hand of the patient, whereby preferably the actuating element can easily be found by the patient, for example, by positioning it on the flattened side of the housing. This ensures that the actuator either points away from the palm, or is oriented in the direction of the palm. In the former case, the patient can reach the actuator directly in the second case, he has to turn the catheter valve only in his hand or grope on the back.

Preferably, the closure element, in particular its sealing surface and / or the outlet section, in particular its inner surface, and / or a separate seal which is provided on the closure element and / or at the outlet section, is designed to seal the fluidic connection in a sealed manner.

Advantageously, the outlet section and / or the closure element, in particular its sealing surface, can thus be designed to be soft and thus sealing, whereby the use of a separate seal can be dispensed with. When using a separate seal can advantageously be dispensed with the soft, in particular sealing design of the outlet section and / or the closure element, in particular the sealing surface, and the seal are designed and designed specifically for this application. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described so far, but other embodiments are conceivable, which represent obvious embodiments of the invention and thus also fall within the scope of this application. It is conceivable, for example, another embodiment of a conversion element, which is not designed as a spring element, but merely converts an actuation movement by means of deflecting devices within the housing into a displacement of the closure element Ver. Such a conversion element is preferably designed to be flexible, so that it can be deflected easily by means of the deflection devices, but due to the lack of properties of a spring element no significant translation of the operating force on the actuator into an actuating force on the closure element.

The individual housing sections as well as all components of the catheter valve are preferably made of resistant material such as. Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), particularly preferably made of metal, in particular steel with chromium, which can withstand the chemical and physical, especially mechanical and thermal stresses occurring so that functionality is not restricted over the full useful life of a catheter valve.

Hereinafter, the description of preferred embodiments of the invention by means of the accompanying drawings. In detail shows:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a catheter valve according to the invention in a

Side view.

FIG. 2 shows a further sectional view of the catheter valve from FIG. 1 in the top view. FIG.

Fig. 3 shows the front part of the catheter valve as shown in FIG

Fig. 1 in the opened by manual operation state.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a connection between a soft and a hard portion of the housing of the catheter valve. a sectional view AA of an embodiment according to the invention according to the drawn section line of Fig. 3rd

6 shows a sectional view A-A of a further embodiment according to the invention in accordance with the illustrated sectional profile from FIG. 3.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the front part of the catheter valve in the closed state. a detailed view of the front part of the catheter valve in the permanently opened by an attached drain hose state. a sectional view of another embodiment of a catheter valve according to the invention in a side view. a detailed view of the actuating element of the embodiment of FIG. 9 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a catheter valve according to the invention in a side view. a sectional view of another embodiment of a catheter valve according to the invention in a side view.

Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of a catheter valve 1 according to the invention in a side view and Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the same catheter valve rotated by 90 ° in plan view.

The catheter valve 1 consists of a housing 2, which consists of several sections. In the drawing, an outlet section 2a is shown on the left, which forms an outlet opening 6. To the right, this exit section 2a is followed by a front section 2b. Right of the front section is followed by a flexible 2c, which in turn is delimited to the right by a rear portion 2d. The rear section has an inlet opening 4 at its right end.

In the embodiment shown, the rear portion has a stiffening reasons an intermediate wall, which is provided with a passage opening 28.

The inlet opening 4 and the outlet opening 6 are in fluid communication with each other in connec tion. The connection is realized by the inner space 5, which is formed by the individual sections 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d.

The catheter valve 1 has a main flow direction 7, which represents the flow direction from the inlet opening 4 to the outlet opening 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the main flow direction 7 corresponds to a longitudinal axis of the catheter valve 1.

Furthermore, oriented in the main flow direction is a closure element 8, which is displaceable parallel to the main flow direction 7 by the displacement 6. This closure element 8 is designed in the form of a plug, which has a bevelled and circumferential sealing surface 8a in the drawing on the left.

This sealing surface 8a comes with the valve closed, as shown, with the inside of the outlet portion 2a in contact and thereby interrupts the fluidic connection between the inlet opening 4 and the outlet opening. 6

In the illustrated embodiment, the first portion 2a is formed of flexible material to form with its inner surface a sealing connection with the sealing surface 8a with the catheter valve 1 closed and to form an elastic tip of the catheter valve 1 in order to provide comfort for a patient, especially under clothing or lying down, increase. Furthermore, the outlet section 2 a is designed so flexible that it can come into contact with a hard tip of a drain hose 22 formed as a stepped cone, whereby a sealing non-positive and / or positive connection between the outlet section 2 a and the drain hose 22 is formed.

The closure element 8 is guided in the housing 2, in the shown embodiment in the front section 2b. The front portion 2 b is hard or stiff for this purpose to ensure the guidance of the closure element 8 parallel to the main flow direction 7. The guide of the closure element 8 parallel to the main flow direction 7 is shown in Fig. 2 by the adjacent inner surfaces of the front portion 2b on the side surface of the closure element 8.

At housing sites that do not contribute to the guidance of the closure element 8, channels 2 f are formed in the spaces between the inside of the housing and the closure element 8.

The front portion 2b is followed by a flexible portion 2c. In the illustration in FIG. 1 above, a corrugated actuating element 10 is formed on the flexible section 2c, which, for example, carries out an actuating movement 14 manually by means of a finger 5.

The actuator 0 is here formed integrally with the flexible portion 2c. In the interior 5, the actuating element 10 is in contact with a conversion element 12. This conversion element 12 is designed in the form of a spring element which has support sections 12a and operating sections 2b.

The conversion element 12 is mounted on the one hand on a guide 9 against the actuation direction 14 and guided parallel to the main flow direction 7, and is supported with the support portions 12 a on a projection 2 e within the housing 2. The actuating portions 12b are standing with the closure element 8 in contact. For this purpose, the closure element 8 on its, the sealing surface 8a parallel to the main flow direction 7 opposite surface, a rod 8c, which extends against the Hauptströmungsnchtung 7. On this rod 8c, a plate 8d is formed on the left surface of which the actuating portions 12b of the actuating element 12 abut.

The right surface of the plate 8d, however, is in contact with a spring 8, which is supported within the housing 2 on the intermediate wall with the passage opening 28 and the plate 8d and thus the sealing element 8 is acted upon by a spring force in the main flow direction 7.

The intermediate wall with the passage opening 28 can also take over exclusively the task of supporting the spring 18 when the housing 2 is designed sufficiently rigid at this point.

In a further embodiment, not shown, of the invention, instead of the intermediate wall, only one projection is provided in the housing in order to ensure the support of the spring 18. This ensures that fluid can flow out at this point in the main flow direction 7 without great flow resistance.

The rod 8c extends counter to the main flow direction 7 beyond the plate 8d out and thus serves the spring 18 for fixing or detenting, so that they can not slip transversely to the main flow direction 7 of the plate 8d. The flexible section 2c is followed in FIG. 1 to the right by a rear section 2d. This is formed of hard or rigid material, wherein the outer surface tapers to the right and ends in an inlet opening 4.

By the tapering of the outer surface of the rear portion 2 d, it is possible to attach a hose 20, in particular a catheter hose, to the rear portion 2 d and to fluidly connect it to the inlet opening 4. The outer surface of the rear portion 2 d has circumferential, tooth-shaped undercuts 26, which are oriented so that they make it difficult for the hose 20 to slip, since they wedge into the inner circumferential surface of the hose 20.

In the illustration shown, connection points 3a, 3b, 3c are marked, in which the respective sections 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d of the housing 2 are connected to one another. These connection points 3a, 3b, 3c are in the form of hard-soft chemical compounds in which the molecules of the two sections are connected to one another. The connection points 3a, 3b, 3c are designed, for example, in the form of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) combined with a hard thermoplastic.

Fig. 3 shows the front part of the catheter valve 1 according to the illustration of Fig. 1 in the opened by manual operation state.

In this illustration, the actuator 10 was pressed down by the finger 5.

Due to the contact with the actuating element 10, the conversion element 12 has been compressed transversely to the main flow direction 7 in the illustration shown, since it is supported on the guide 9 against the actuating element 10, whereas the conversion element 12 has been expanded parallel to the main flow direction 7.

Due to the fact that the support sections 12a of the conversion element 12 are supported on the housing-fixed projection 2e, the expansion of the conversion element 12 can only take place counter to the main flow direction 7. That is, only the operating portions 12b shift against the main flow direction. 7 Since the actuation section 12b is in contact with the plate 8d of the closure element 8, a force now acts on the plate 8d from the conversion element 12.

The conversion element 12 is therefore capable of converting an actuation force or an actuation movement 14 of a finger 15 or of an actuation element 10, which is oriented transversely, in particular perpendicularly to the main flow direction 7, into a force or displacement which is parallel, is oriented in particular opposite to the main flow direction 7. The conversion element 12 thus acts as a translation, which changes not only an actuating force in height, but also in their orientation.

Influence on this translation of the displacement or on this translation of the force, for example, the spring constant, ie the rigidity of the conversion element 12 and its geometric configuration.

The conversion element 12 is designed so that the resulting force on the plate 8d is so high that it overcomes the biasing force of the spring 18 and possible pressure forces acting on the closure element 8 by impending liquids, in particular urine, within the interior space 5, whereby the closure element 8, which is connected to the plate 8d via the rod 8c, is displaced counter to the main flow direction 7 into the inner space 5.

As a result, the sealing surface 8a separates from the inside of the outlet section 2a, whereby the fluidic connection between the inlet opening 4 and the outlet opening 6 is released.

Liquid, in particular urine, can now flow from the inlet opening 4 through the interior 5 to the outlet opening 6, for example in accordance with the partial flow directions 7 a. By the operation of the actuator 10, the portion 2c of the housing 2 is deformed. This results mainly bending and tensile loads in the joints 3b, 3c, in which there are transitions to harder or stiffer executed sections.

The housing 2, in particular the flexible portion 2c and the connection points 3b, 3c, are designed so that set as low bending and tensile / compressive loads when actuated. This is achieved in that the flexible portion 2c extends as far as possible parallel to the main flow direction 7 and that the conversion element 12 is formed so that the smallest possible actuation movement for a release of the fluidic connection is sufficient.

This results in the lowest possible deformation radii when actuated, as a result of which the bending and tension / pressure loads in the connection points 3b, 3c are kept low, which reduces the risk of wear or failure of the connection points 3b, 3c and thus the risk of leakage ,

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a connection point 3 a, 3 b, 3 c between a soft and a hard section of the housing 2 of the catheter valve 1

By way of example, the upper region of the connection point 3b between the front section 2b and the flexible section 2c from FIG. 1 is shown here. On the presentation of other elements that are not designed to connect the two sections was omitted for reasons of clarity.

The flexible portion 2c is made of soft material, the front portion 2b of hard material. Both sections 2b, 2c are designed to overlap each other, in this embodiment the front section 2b is provided at its overlapping part with circumferential lugs 30 which engage in corresponding recesses of the overlapping part of the flexible portion 2c. Both sections 2b, 2c are designed so that they are oriented towards the interior 5 towards each other flush, so that there is a housing wall without projections in the interior 5 through this connection.

Furthermore, both sections 2b, 2c have a circumferential recess in which a locking ring 24 is inserted. This also has protruding and, for example, circumferential elements, here a nose 32 and a tip 34, which engage in corresponding recesses of the two sections 2b, 2c. The locking ring 24 can thus not be moved parallel to the main flow direction 7, since it is fitted in a form-fitting manner.

The locking ring 24 runs in the illustration shown over the entire circumference of the housing 2, whereby it connects the front portion 2 b and the flexible portion 2 c together.

The locking ring 24, for example made of hard plastic or metal, can furthermore be designed such that it is pressed into the connection shown so that it develops a holding force towards the main flow direction 7 and the overlapping areas of the sections 2b, 2c are pressed together.

A sealing of the interior 5 to the outside through the connection shown can be achieved by special coordination of the materials of the sections 2b, 2c, so that, for example, the softer section 2c sealingly engages the lugs 30 of the harder section 2b.

Furthermore, in this connection, for example, a seal in the form of one or more O-rings may be provided. Basically, this connection is formed so that an overlapping part of a soft portion, here that of the flexible portion 2c, by two hard-formed portions, in this case the overlapping part of the front portion 2b and the locking ring 24, edged and clamped, for example. The Figs. 5, 6 show cross-sectional views AA of an embodiment according to the invention corresponding to the drawn section of FIG. 3. The front section 2b of the housing 2 and the closure element 8 are shown. This is guided in the embodiment in Fig. 5 in the front portion 2b in the drawing left and right. Above and below the closure element 8 extend in the front portion 2b, the channels 2f, which are also arranged in Fig. 1 above and below the closure member 8.

In Fig. 6, an alternative embodiment is shown, in which the closure element 8 is guided in the front portion 2b in its entirety. Right and left of the guide, the channels 2f are arranged. These run together again behind the closure element 8 to guide the liquid flowing through, in particular the urine, to the outlet section 2a.

Fig. 7 shows a detailed view of the front part of the catheter valve 1 in the closed state. The outlet section 2a is shown, which forms the outlet opening 6 on the left in the drawing.

With its sealing surface 8a, the closure element 8 fully contacts the inner surface of the outlet section 2a, as a result of which the interior 5 of the housing 2 is completely separated from the outlet opening 6. The catheter valve 1 is closed.

Furthermore, a passage 8b is provided on the closure element 8. Sealing surface 8a, passage 8b and the inner surface of the outlet portion 2a are formed so that the passage 8b is fluidly separated from the inner space 5 when the catheter valve 1 is closed. On the other hand, FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of the front part of the catheter valve 1 in, by a plugged-on, in particular through the outlet opening 6 inserted drain hose 22 and its, designed as a stepped cone, hard tip permanently open state.

In the outlet opening 6 of the outlet portion 2a, a drain hose 22 is inserted, wherein the outlet portion 2a is adapted to the drain hose 22 adapted to form a sealing and / or non-positive and / or positive connection. The step cone of the drain hose 22 thus ensures that the urine is discharged only through an inner channel of the drain hose 22 and that no urine can flow out of the catheter valve 1 through the outlet opening 6.

The discharge hose 22 abuts with its right in the drawing end to the left end of the closure member 8 and pushes it against the spring 18, which z. As shown in Fig. 1, against the main flow direction 7 back.

The opening of the drain hose 22 and the passage 8b are matched to one another so that a fluidic connection of the inner space 5, in particular of the channel 2f, is formed. On the other hand, the fluidic connection of the inner space 5 or the channel 2f to the outlet opening 6 is blocked by the discharge hose 22. Liquid, in particular urine, can thus flow from the inlet opening 4, for example, via the partial flow directions 7a into the outlet hose 22.

The outlet section 2a is designed to fix the inserted drain hose 22 against the force of the spring 18, so that the closure element 8 remains permanently displaced into the interior 5.

Thus, it is possible to permanently open the catheter valve 1, e.g. a urine collection container for permanent emptying of the bladder, for example for the night, via the drain hose 22 fluidly connected to a hose 20.

A permanent opening of the catheter valve 1 is thus possible without further devices for locking the closure element 8. In Figs. 9, 10 a further embodiment of a catheter valve 1 according to the invention is shown in a side view. The arrangement of the individual components is substantially comparable to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3. Therefore, the reference numerals have largely been omitted, which features the same, corresponding to Figs. 1 to 3, mark.

The embodiment shown differs from that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 in that the flexible portion 2 c, which contains the actuating element 10, does not extend around the full housing circumference.

It can clearly be seen in FIG. 10 that the flexible section 2c extends over only half the height of the housing 2, ie half the circumference of the housing 2, over a certain distance parallel to the main flow direction 7.

The front portion 2b and the rear portion 2d abut each other in the drawing below the flexible portion 2c, thereby closing the housing 2.

The further function of this embodiment corresponds to the function of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3.

By this embodiment, further connection points 3d, 3e arise.

The connection point 3d is formed substantially corresponding to the connection points 3b, 3c.

The joint 3e corresponds, for example, to a hard-hard chemical bond, or may also be glued or formed in a positive and / or non-positive manner.

11 shows a sectional view of a further embodiment of a catheter valve 1 according to the invention in a side view. For reasons of clarity, reference numbers for features which correspond to those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 correspond largely omitted. In this embodiment, there is provided a conversion member 12 whose elastic portion is formed in a C-shape, terminating in a support portion 2a and forming an operation portion 12b by bulging the C-shape to the right. The housing 2, in particular the front portion 2b and the rear portion 2d abut each other. Therefore, in this embodiment, the flexible portion 2c, similar to the embodiment in Fig. 10, is not formed entirely on the housing 2, but only in the upper area in the illustration. At the interface of both sections 2b, 2d, the projection 2e is formed in the inner space 5, which is in contact with the support section 12a.

The actuating portion 12b in turn is in contact with the plate 8d, which is connected via the rod 8c with the closure element 8.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the actuating element 10 is formed integrally with the conversion element 12, wherein the actuating element 10 is inserted flush and sealing in the flexible portion 2c. In addition, the actuating element 10 has a stop portion 10a, which is formed in this embodiment as a vertical rod in the drawing and is formed integrally with the actuating element 0.

The stopper portion 10a is designed such that it does not abut against the opposite housing wall, in this case the housing wall of the front portion 2b, when the catheter valve 1 is closed. If the actuator 10 is pressed by a finger 15 in an actuating movement 14 down, the C-shaped portion of the conversion element 12 is compressed. Because the support portion 12a is in contact with the projection 2e, it can not be displaced from the compression. Instead, the C-shaped section bulges, whereby the operating portion 12 b in the drawing to the right, that is opposite to the main flow direction 7, is moved. Since the plate 8d is in contact with the actuation section 12b, it experiences a force action to the right, that is to say opposite to the main flow direction 7. As a result, the biasing force of the spring 18 is counteracted by a force and the plate 8d engages with the rod 8c and thus with the closure element 8 is connected, moves to the right, that is opposite to the main flow direction 7. As a result, a displacement 6 of the closure element 8 is achieved and the catheter valve 1 is in the open state.

Now executes the finger 15, the actuating movement 14 from further, so this presses more on the actuator 10, then at some point abuts the stopper portion 10a against the inside of the front portion 2b.

Since the front portion 2 b is made hard, the actuating element 10 thereby experiences a suddenly increased, or abruptly increased counterforce, which causes a patient to depress the actuator 10 not further or to press.

As a result, a limitation of the actuating movement 14 is realized, whereby an overload of the conversion element 12 and / or the actuating element 10 and / or the closure element 8 is avoided by excessive pressure.

In a further embodiment, the displacement 16 of the closure element 8 could also be limited, for example, by a stop, if so is formed so that it counteracts, for example, as a projection of the housing 2 in the interior 5 of the displacement 16. Such a projection could, for example, engage the rod 8c or the plate 8d or the closure element 8 itself.

In a further embodiment, for example, the compression / expansion of the conversion element 12 could be limited by a stop, so that a compression / expansion of the conversion element 12 can not be performed further than up to a maximum allowable movement.

Furthermore, a conversion element 12 as shown in Fig. 11 is conceivable having a plurality of support portions 12a, and / or operating portions 12b, and / or stopper portions. FIG. 12 shows a sectional view of a further embodiment of a catheter valve 1 according to the invention in a side view.

For reasons of clarity, reference numbers for features which correspond to those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 correspond largely omitted.

In this embodiment, the flexible portion 2c is again fully formed around the housing 2. However, there are now at opposite points, in the illustration above and below, two actuators 10, both of which can be pressed simultaneously and / or individually by a finger 15.

Both actuators 10 are each in contact with a conversion element 12, whereby a force can be transmitted by the actuating element 10 to the corresponding conversion element 12. Both conversion elements 12 are supported in the embodiment shown transversely to the main flow direction 7 from each other, whereby no guidance along the main flow direction 7 is necessary. Both conversion elements 12 have support sections 12 a, which are supported against a projection 2 e in the housing 2 counter to the main flow direction 7. Both conversion elements 12 have operating portions 12 b, which are supported on the plate 8 d of the closure element 8.

Upon actuation of one of the actuating elements 10, for example in actuating movement 14, a conversion element 12 is pressed against the other conversion element 12.

The non-actuated conversion element 12 in turn is supported on the housing wall of the inner space 5, more precisely on the inside of the flexible portion 2c. As a result, both conversion elements 12 are compressed transversely to the main flow direction 7 and stretched parallel to the main flow direction 7, wherein the support portions 12a are supported on the projection 2e in the housing 2 and thus can not move parallel to the main flow direction 7. Therefore, the operating portions 12b are displaced against the main flow direction 7, thereby applying an operating force to the disk 8d.

This creates a counterforce on the spring 18, which causes its spring force is overcome. As a result, the plate 8d is displaced by the conversion elements 12, in particular their operating portions 12b, counter to the main flow direction 7, whereby the closure element 8, which is connected via the rod 8c with the plate 8d, is moved. As a result, the catheter valve 1 is in the open state.

The embodiment shown can also be actuated simultaneously via both actuating elements 0, for example by pressing one and the same hand from above with a thumb and from below with an index finger. Furthermore, the embodiment shown here facilitates the operation, since two actuators 10 are present and thus the probability is higher that a patient finds at least one actuator 10 relatively quickly.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. Rather, further embodiments are conceivable that can be formed by combining individual features of the embodiments shown here.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 catheter valve

2 housings

2a outlet section

2b front section

2c flexible section

2d rear section

2e lead

2f channel

3a junction (exit section - front section)

3b junction (front section - flexible section)

3c junction (flexible section - - rear section)

3d junction (flexible section - - front / rear section)

3e junction (front section - rear section)

4 entrance opening

5 interior

6 outlet opening

7 main flow direction

7a partial flow course

8 closure element

8a sealing surface

8b passage

8c staff

8d plate

9 leadership

10 actuator

10a stop section

12 conversion element

12a support section

12b operating section

14 actuating movement 15 fingers

16 shift

18 spring element (spring)

20 tube (catheter tube)

22 drain hose

24 locking ring

26 tooth (circumferential tooth-shaped undercut)

28 passage opening

30 nose

32 nose

34 tip

Claims

claims

1 . Catheter valve (1) comprising:

- A housing (2), with an inlet opening (4) and an outlet opening (6), which are fluidically connected to each other, and

a closure element (8) which is displaceable parallel to a main flow direction (7) and which is designed to interrupt and release the fluidic connection,

characterized in that

- At least one actuating element (0) is provided, which is adapted to be operated transversely to the main flow direction (7) manually.

2. Catheter valve (1) according to claim 1, wherein

at least one conversion element (2) is provided which is adapted to implement an actuating movement (14) of the at least one actuating element (10) in a displacement (16) of the closure element (8) parallel to the main flow direction (7).

3. Catheter valve (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

the at least one actuating element (10) integral with a flexible

Section (2c) of the housing (2) is formed.

4. Catheter valve (1) according to claim 3, wherein

the flexible portion (2c) extends over part of an extension of the housing (2) parallel to the main flow direction (7) over the entire circumference of the housing (2) and / or a partial circumference of the housing (2).

5. Catheter valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein

the closure element (8) is designed to interrupt the fluidic connection by means of elastic prestressing.

6. Catheter valve (1) according to claim 5, wherein for elastic prestressing, a spring element (18) supported in the housing (2) is provided.

7. Catheter valve (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein

the at least one conversion element (12) is designed to elastically compress upon actuation of the at least one actuating element (10) in the actuating direction (14) and to expand at least parallel to the main flow direction (7). 8. Catheter valve (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein

the at least one conversion element (2) is supported parallel to the main flow direction (7) with one side in the housing (2) and with another side on the closure element (8). 9. Catheter valve (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein

a rear portion (2d) of the housing (2) is adapted to be connected to a hose (20) sealingly and / or positively and / or non-positively.

10. Catheter valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein

an exit portion (2a) of the housing (2) is provided, which is designed to

with the closure element (8) in an interrupted fluidic connection in contact, and / or

with a discharge hose (22) by means of the outlet opening (6) form a sealing, positive and / or non-positive connection. A catheter valve (1) according to claim 10, wherein

the closure element (8) and / or the spring element (8) are designed such that the closure element (8) is displaced in the direction of the displacement (16) by the outlet tube (22), and in that

the closure element (8) establishes a fluidic connection between the inlet opening (4) and the outlet tube (22) by means of at least one passage (8b).

12. Catheter valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure element (8) is guided parallel to the main flow direction (7) relative to the housing (2) and / or through the housing (2). 13. Catheter valve (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein

the at least one conversion element (12) is designed as a C- and / or H- and / or X- and / or O-shaped spring element and / or in another form, which preferably when compressed in one direction, an extension in another Direction, and / or

made of plastic and / or metal is formed.

14. Catheter valve (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein

the at least one conversion element (12) has a stop section, and / or

the actuating element (0) has an abutment portion (10a), and / or the closure element (8) has an abutment portion which is designed to control the actuation movement (14) and / or the conversion by the conversion element (12) and / or the displacement (16) limit. 15. Catheter valve (1) according to claim 14, wherein

the abutment portion (10a) of the actuating element (10) or the abutment portion of the closure element (8) or the conversion element (12) with maximum actuation movement and / or maximum compression / expansion of the conversion element (12) and / or maximum displacement (16) with the housing (2) contact, and

the housing (2) is designed to limit the actuating movement (14) and / or the displacement (16) and / or the compression / expansion of the conversion element (12).

16. Catheter valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein

the housing (2) has soft / flexible and / or hard / rigid sections (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), and / or has no further opening except the inlet opening (4) and the outlet opening (6).

17. Catheter valve (1) according to claim 16, wherein

the sections (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) by gluing and / or by a chemical

Connection and / or positively and / or non-positively connected to each other.

18. Catheter valve (1) according to claim 16 or 17, wherein

two adjoining sections (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) are connected to one another by means of a locking ring (24). 9. Catheter valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein

the housing (2) in the main flow direction (7) has a circular cross-section, and / or

a rounded, in two directions of extension perpendicular to the main flow direction (7) extending cross section, wherein

this cross-section extends further in one of the extension directions than in the other.

20. Catheter valve (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 19, wherein

the outlet section (2a) and / or the closure element (8) and / or a separate seal, which is provided at the outlet section (2a) and / or at the closure element (8), are designed to sealingly interrupt the fluidic connection.