EP-4740896-A1 - MEDICAL CATHETER CLEANING WIRE CLAMPING APPARATUS AND MEDICAL CATHETER CLEANING APPARATUS

EP4740896A1EP 4740896 A1EP4740896 A1EP 4740896A1EP-4740896-A1

Abstract

The present invention discloses a medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus, comprising - a clamping device adapted to clamp the cleaning wire; - a cleaning wire detection device adapted to detect that the cleaning wire is introduced into the clamping device; - a translational drive configured to drive the clamping device in the horizontal direction; - a rotational drive configured to rotate the clamping device around its rotational axis; - a securing device configured to engage with the securing device; and - a controller configured to - instruct the translational drive to move the clamping device towards the securing device until the clamping device engages with the securing device; and to - instruct the rotational drive to rotate the clamping device around its longitudinal direction until the cleaning wire is clamped, after the cleaning wire detection device detected insertion of the cleaning wire. The invention also discloses a medical catheter cleaning apparatus, comprising - a housing having an insertion opening for inserting a cleaning wire; and - the medical catheter cleaning apparatus positioned in the housing.

Inventors

Elsässer, David
WIEHL, MICHAEL
Wenzel, Erich Michael

Assignees

CaDo Medial Solutions GmbH

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20241110

Claims (15)

A medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus, comprising - a clamping device adapted to clamp the cleaning wire; - a cleaning wire detection device adapted to detect that the cleaning wire is introduced into the clamping device; - a translational drive configured to drive the clamping device in the horizontal direction; - a rotational drive configured to rotate the clamping device around its rotational axis; - a securing device configured to engage with the securing device; and - a controller configured to - instruct the translational drive to move the clamping device towards the securing device until the clamping device engages with the securing device; and to - instruct the rotational drive to rotate the clamping device around its longitudinal direction until the cleaning wire is clamped, after the cleaning wire detection device detected insertion of the cleaning wire.
The medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein - the clamping device is a chuck comprising a plurality of jaws and a clamping nut positioned around the plurality of jaws.
The medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the securing device is adapted to inhibit rotation of the clamping nut if the clamping nut engages with the securing device.
The medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus according to claim 3, wherein - the clamping nut comprises a recess adapted to engage in a protrusion of the securing device; and/or - the clamping nut comprises a protrusion adapted to engage in a recess of the securing device.
The medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the securing device comprises - a securing device opening through which the cleaning wire passes when it is introduced into the clamping device.
The medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cleaning wire detection device comprises - a cleaning wire stop configured to stop the cleaning wire inserted in the clamping device; - an elastic element mechanically coupled with the cleaning wire stop; - a detector having a first state and a second state, wherein, if the cleaning wire is pressed against the cleaning wire stop, the cleaning wire stop is pressed against the elastic element and the detector switches from its first state to its second state, - wherein the second state indicates the insertion of the cleaning wire.
The medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the detector is an electric switch.
The medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the detector is a light barrier.
A medical catheter cleaning apparatus, comprising - a housing having an insertion opening for inserting a cleaning wire; and - the medical catheter cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 positioned in the housing.
The medical catheter cleaning apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured - to instruct the translational drive to move the cleaning wire longitudinal direction to clean the catheter, if the cleaning wire is clamped by the clamping device; and/or - instruct the rotational drive to rotate the clamps around their longitudinal axis.
The medical catheter cleaning apparatus according to claims 8 or 9, wherein the controller is configured to: - determine an identification of the cleaning wire; - determine based on the identification, whether the cleaning wire has already been used; - if it is determined that the cleaning wire has already been used, the operation is interrupted until an identification of a new cleaning wire is determined; - if it is determined that the cleaning wire has not been used, to wait until the cleaning wire detection device detects insertion of the cleaning wire; and - marking the cleaning wire as used in a data base, if cleaning of the catheter has been finished.
The medical catheter cleaning apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a configuration sensor; wherein the controller is configured to - to instruct the configuration sensor to read a configuration identifier from a configuration identifier media, if the configuration sensor senses the presence of the configuration identifier media; - to request an operator to enter the catheter type that shall be cleaned; - to store the catheter type that shall be cleaned as a set catheter type in a non-volatile memory of the medical catheter cleaning apparatus.
The medical catheter cleaning apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the configuration sensor is at least one of: - an NFC sensor; - a RFID sensor; wherein the configuration identifier media is at least one of: - a RFID card; - a communication device comprising an NFC transmitter.
The medical catheter cleaning apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the controller is configured to: - request the operator to enter the actual catheter type; - if the actual catheter type corresponds to the set catheter type, the identification of the cleaning wire determined; and - if the actual catheter type corresponds not to the set catheter type or if the cleaning wire is marked as used in the data base, the identification of another cleaning wire is determined.
The medical catheter cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the controller is configured to - request the configuration sensor to sense the configuration identifier media; - if the configuration identifier media is sensed by the configuration sensor, to instruct the configuration sensor to read the configuration identifier from the configuration identifier media; - if the configuration identifier media is sensed by the configuration sensor, to verify, whether the set catheter type is stored in the non-volatile memory; - if the set catheter type is stored in the non-volatile memory, the operator is requested to enter the actual catheter type; and - if the set catheter type is not stored in the non-volatile memory, request the configuration sensor to sense the configuration identifier media.

Description

The present invention relates to a medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus and a medical catheter cleaning apparatus, particularly for cleaning urine catheters. Field of the Invention Catheters for draining the bladder of a human are known since ancient times. Catheters are used, if a patient cannot drain his bladder. Catheters can be inserted transurethral or suprapubic. A frequent problem in use of catheters is that the lumen of the catheter may get obstructed, such as by salt. Generally, such obstructions occur in the proximal portion of the catheter close to the inlet opening of the catheter. If a permanent catheter gets obstructed, the patient will feel strong pain requiring acute intervention. In the prior art the catheter may be flushed back, e.g. by a syringe. In many cases the obstruction cannot be eliminated by flushing. Consequently, the catheter has to be changed under emergency conditions by a physician. If the catheter is not changed as early as possible under emergency conditions, additional complications may develop by the patient, such as sepsis, kidney failure, inflammation of the urethra or the like. Currently no catheter cleaning apparatus for the cleaning of an catheter connected to a patient is commercially available. Prior art WO 87/02255 discloses an ultrasonic self-cleaning catheter system. US 5,030,213 discloses a catheter router assembly for cleaning salt blockages in a previously inserted catheter. A length of flexible, stainless steel cable is provided and a silver solder tip is applied at the proximal end of the cable. The silver solder tip is then machined to form a suitable cutting edge for cutting or drilling through the body salts which clog the catheter. US 2005/0267421 A1 discloses a catheter cleaner comprising a head, a rod and a handle. The head defines a tip and cutting edges. The tip may have a curved configuration which may be operative to assist the insertion of the cleaner into an indwelling catheter. US 6,183,450 B1 discloses a catheter cleaning device for cleaning a catheter of obstructions. The catheter cleaning device comprises an elongate hollow housing, a guide member encircling the housing and including a bar extending across a diameter thereof and through first and second slots of the elongate hollow housing. A guide wire extends from the bar. Summary of the invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus that can be operated safely by an operator that has passed only minimal training. The object of the present invention is solved by a medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus according to claim 1. The present disclosure discloses a medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus comprising a clamping device adapted to clamp the cleaning wire and a cleaning wire detection device adapted to detect that the cleaning wire is introduced into the clamping device. The medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus further comprises a rotational drive configured to rotate the clamping device around its longitudinal axis. The medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus further comprises a securing device configured to engage with the securing device. The medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus further comprises a controller configured to instruct the translational drive to move the clamping device towards the securing device until the clamping device engages with securing device. The controller is further configured to instruct the rotational drive to rotate the clamping device around its longitudinal direction until the cleaning wire is clamped, after the cleaning wire detection device detected insertion of the cleaning wire. It is an advantage of the present invention that the cleaning wire is automatically clamped, when the operator inserts the distal end of the cleaning wire into the opening of the medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus and into the clamping device. This ensures that the cleaning wire can be safely clamped by the medical catheter cleaning wire clamping apparatus after minimal training of the operator. The clamping device of the catheter clamping apparatus may comprise a chuck having a plurality of jaws and a clamping nut positioned around the jaws. If the clamping nut is rotated with the respect to the jaws or verse vice, the jaws can grip an object or release an object, since the distance of the jaws to each other is reduced by rotating the clamping nut in one direction and the distance between the jaws is increased by rotating the clamping nut in the opposite direction. The securing device may be adapted to inhibit rotation of the clamping nut if the clamping nut engages with the securing device. In one embodiment the clamping nut may comprise a recess adapted to engage in a protrusion of the securing device. In another embodiment the clamping nut may comprise a protrusion adapted to engage in a recess of the securing device. Th