DE102014100130A1 - applicator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an application device for applying a liquid, in particular a medical fluid, comprising a rigid tube (12) having a first end (14) and a second end (16), said rigid tube (12) having a bent portion (18 ) between the first and second ends (14, 16), a channel (22) movable in the rigid tube (12) for feeding or discharging the liquid into or from the region of the second end (16), one with the channel (22) cooperating adjusting means (20) for moving the channel (22) in the rigid tube (12) connectable to the rigid tube (12), the channel (22) having a flexible portion (24) and one with the flexible one The application body (26) with the adjusting device (20) between a first end position in which the application body (26) between the bent portion (1 8) and the second end (16) within the rigid tube (12) is arranged, and a second end position is movable, in which the application body (26) beyond the second end (16) protrudes.

Description

The present invention relates to an application device for applying a liquid, in particular a medical fluid, comprising a rigid tube having a first end and a second end, the rigid tube having a bent portion between the first and second ends, a movable in the rigid tube A channel for supplying or discharging the liquid into or from the region of the second end, and an adjusting device cooperating with the channel for moving the channel in the rigid tube, which is connectable to the rigid tube.

Known generic application devices are used in many areas of medicine and increasingly also in the field of ENT to bring a medical substance to the treated area of the neck, nose or ear of a human or animal body or to remove a body fluid ( Aspiration), for example in inflammation. Some medical devices inserted into the human or animal body, especially catheters, have a rigid tube with a bent portion. In a straight rigid tube, only the area of the body that is immediately before its distal end can be treated. In a rigid pipe having a bent portion, the treatable area can be significantly widened by rotating the rigid pipe.

In some cases, however, it is necessary for the medicinal substance to not only enter a specific area of the ENT area, but to be injected into the local tissue or mucous membrane. A particular area of application to be emphasized in this context is the treatment of an extended tuba auditiva, also referred to as a gaping tube. In a healthy ear, the tuba auditiva is closed under the influence of the surrounding tissue and opens only briefly, causing a pressure difference between the outer ear and the nasopharynx. An extended tuba auditiva, however, is constantly open, which is very unpleasant for the patient. One method of treatment is to spray on the tube bulge (torus tubarius) with a suitable medicinal substance, for example with Teflon paste, hyaluronic acid or collagen.

Known application devices, with which the medicinal substance can be brought to the desired location, have a movable needle in the rigid tube, which is inserted at the desired location in the tissue or the mucous membrane, so that the medicinal substance can be applied. However, the known application devices have a straight tube with the above-mentioned disadvantages of the limited treatment area. The reason for this is that the needle must be rigid so that it can be injected into the tissue or the mucous membrane, whereby it can not be passed through the bent portion and moved because they misjudged there. In particular for spraying the tube bead, the application devices available hitherto are only of limited suitability for the reasons mentioned.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to further develop the application device of the type mentioned at the outset such that a medicinal substance can also be injected into a tissue or a mucosa of the human body if the rigid tube has a bent section.

The object is achieved with an application device according to claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the channel has a flexible section and a rigid application body in fluid communication with the flexible section, wherein the application body with the adjustment device is arranged between a first end position in which the application body is arranged between the bent section and the second end within the rigid tube. and a second end position is movable, in which the application body protrudes beyond the second end. The flexible portion of the channel may pass through the bent portion of the rigid tube and conform to the shape of the bent portion as the channel is displaced relative to the rigid tube with the adjustment device without jamming the channel in the bent portion , An essential core of the idea according to the invention is therefore to provide the channel with a flexible section so that it can also be moved through the bent section. At the same time, the channel has a rigid application body at the free end, so that the medicinal substance can also be injected into the tissue or the mucous membrane.

The rigid application body is disposed in the first end position between the bent portion and the second end of the rigid tube and completely surrounded by the rigid tube. The application body itself is approximately tubular, so that the liquid can be passed through it. In the first end position, the application device is introduced into the human or animal body such that the second end is located in the region of the part of the ENT area to be treated and can be reached by the application body. Since the application body in the first End position is completely in the rigid tube, he injured when introducing, for example, the endonasal introduction, no tissue or no mucous membrane, which should not be treated. Only when the second end is in the desired position in the human or animal body, the application body can be brought with the aid of the adjustment of the first end position in the second end position and introduced into the mucous membrane or the tissue. The medicinal substance can now be injected via the channel into the tissue or mucous membrane by pressurizing the medicinal substance, for example by a plunger which is forced into a cylinder of a syringe. Conversely, a body fluid can be removed from the tissue or the mucous membrane when a negative pressure is generated in the channel. This can be done by pulling the piston out of the cylinder.

Because the rigid tube has a bent portion, a relatively large portion of the ENT area to be treated can be treated, in particular the mouth, paranasal sinus, nose, pharynx, tuba auditiva, and torus tubarius. If the application body has been introduced into the tissue or the mucous membrane at a location and the medicinal substance has been applied, the application body will be displaced back into the first end position using the adjusting device. Subsequently, the application device is rotated by a certain amount, for example, shifted by 45 ° and the application body again in the second end position and applied more medicinal substance. In the event that the area to be treated is located in a tube, it can therefore be fully treated with eight applications.

Preferably, the flexible portion comprises a hose. The tube is on the one hand flexible enough to be able to go through the bent portion of the rigid tube and on the other hand rigid enough to transmit a sufficient amount of pressure forces on the application body to inject it into the tissue or the mucous can. In addition, the hose must also be able to transmit sufficiently large tensile forces without being too long in order to be able to remove the application body from the tissue or the mucous membrane again. A suitable material for the hose is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In this case, the hose may have a metal shell, for example in the form of a wire mesh, as is the case with armored hoses, or a spiral, as is known from shower hoses. On the one hand, the jacket provides the necessary flexibility so that the curved section can be traversed; on the other hand, it allows the transmission of compressive forces for moving the application body. Hoses are widely available, so that a hose with suitable properties can be obtained easily and inexpensively.

The rigid application body is partially enclosed by the flexible section. In this embodiment, the flexible section is partially pushed over the application body, so that the application body is fixed and a tight connection is produced, which is easy to provide from a manufacturing point of view. This exploits the fact that the flexible section can also extend radially somewhat so that a sealing frictional connection is generated which can safely transmit the necessary tensile forces. It has been found to be favorable when the application body is enclosed in about half of the flexible section.

It is preferred if the rigid tube in the bent portion is bent at an angle between 10 and 90 ° and in particular between 30 and 70 °. It has been found that most of the ENT areas to be treated, and especially tissues and structures in the ENT area, can be treated well with such bent rigid tubes. Although application devices are also conceivable which are bent beyond 90 °, the problem may arise that they catch on retraction from the human or animal body with their bent portion of the rigid tube and only in violation of the relevant tissue or the mucous membrane can be removed from the body.

In an advantageous embodiment of the application device according to the invention, the application body is designed as an injection needle. As mentioned above, the application body is designed approximately tubular. An injection needle differs essentially from this in that its free end does not have an end face extending approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Rather, the end face extends at a certain angle, for example, at 45 ° to the longitudinal axis. In this way, a tip is provided with which the application body can be introduced into the mucous membrane or the tissue with less effort. This makes the treatment easier for the attending physician and less painful for the patient.

It is preferred if the adjusting device has a base body and a shaft which cooperates with the channel and can be introduced into the base body, which shaft is movable relative to the base body. This embodiment of the adjustment is well known and has proven to be robust and reliable. In particular, the stem can be removed from the body, which simplifies the sterilization of the application device. In addition, such a design from a manufacturing point of view is relatively easy to implement.

In this case, the adjusting device preferably has a number of rings, of which at least one ring on the base body and at least one ring are attached to the shaft. It can be provided a so-called "three-ring", in which the attending physician can bring his fingers as follows: Two rings are mounted approximately at the same height opposite to the base body, in which the attending physician brings his index and middle finger. The third ring is attached to the shaft, in which he brings his thumb. As a result, the attending physician can both advance and retract the channel and, consequently, the application body relative to the rigid tube, without the need for a second hand, which facilitates and accelerates his work.

Advantageously, the shaft is in fluid communication with the channel. The shaft can thus serve as an extension of the channel, so that no branching must be provided for the channel, whereby the application device according to the invention can be made particularly compact and simple in construction. In this case, preferably, the shaft has a connection element for connecting a fluid-carrying unit. As a connection element can serve a thread, such as a Luer lock, to which directly a syringe or a liquid hose can be connected as a fluid-carrying unit. As a result, the rapid change of the connection elements is made possible, which increases the flexibility of the use of the application device.

Another aspect of the invention relates to the use of the application device according to one of the previously described embodiments for applying a medical fluid in the ENT area.

The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of a preferred with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it

1a) a top view of an embodiment of the application device according to the invention,

1b) an enlarged section, as in 1a) in each case in a first end position, and

1c) the in 1a) marked enlarged detail, in a second end position.

The following description refers equally to the 1a) and 1b) , The illustrated embodiment of an application device according to the invention 10 has a rigid tube 12 with a first end 14 (often referred to as the proximal end) and a second end 16 (distal end) and a bent portion disposed therebetween 18 on, making the rigid tube 12 is bent by an angle α. The first end 14 is from an adjusting device 20 , which will be described later in more detail, enclosed while the rigid tube 12 in the area of the second end 16 something expanded.

In the rigid tube 12 runs a movable channel 22 through which a fluid, in particular a medicinal substance, between the first and the second end 14 . 16 can be directed and with the adjustment 20 cooperates, with whose help the channel 22 in the rigid tube 12 can be moved. The channel 22 includes a flexible section 24 , in the example shown as a hose 28 is executed and the bent section 18 passes through, as well as a rigid body application 26 that with the flexible section 24 is in fluid communication. The application body 26 is between the bent section 18 and the area of the second end 16 arranged. In the illustrated embodiment, the application body 26 as an injection needle 30 running, with the hose 28 partly via the injection needle 30 is overstretched, allowing a frictional and sealing connection between the hose 28 and the injection needle 30 provided.

The adjusting device 20 includes a main body 32 into which the rigid pipe 12 in the area of the first end 14 is absorbed, so that a sealing connection is formed. In the main body 32 is a shaft 34 arranged partially over the main body 32 protrudes and relative to the main body 32 is movable back and forth. The shaft 34 interacts with the channel 22 together, leaving the channel 22 the movement of the shaft 34 follows. Furthermore, the shaft is 34 in fluid communication with the channel 22 , Further, at the free end of the shaft 34 a connection element 36 , in this case a luer lock, arranged to connect other fluid-carrying components such as a fluid hose or a syringe can. In the illustrated embodiment, two rings 38 opposite to the body 32 and another ring 38 on the shaft 34 attached.

The application device according to the invention 10 is used as follows: At the connection element 36 For example, an unillustrated fluid tube is connected, which in turn is connected to a syringe, not shown, in which the medical-to-be-applied Substance is located, leaving the channel 22 and in particular the application body 26 are in a first end position, as in the 1a) and 1b) shown. In the first end position is the application body 26 completely in the rigid tube 12 , The syringe plunger is pushed so far into the syringe barrel until the channel 22 completely filled with the medical fluid. Now the application device 10 grasped by the attending physician by placing his middle and index finger through each one of the main body 32 attached rings 38 and his thumb through the shaft 34 attached ring 38 pushes. Subsequently, the attending physician brings the application device 10 into the human or animal body until that the second end 16 reached the part to be treated in the ENT area. Now he pushes the shaft 34 with the thumb in the main body 32 into it, which also causes the channel 22 is moved in the same direction. The hose 28 transfers the movement of the shaft 34 on the than the hypodermic needle 30 executed application body 26 that is now over the second end 16 out of the rigid tube 12 moves and penetrates into the tissue to be treated. The application body 26 is now in a second end position, as in 1c) shown. Once this is achieved, the syringe plunger is forced into the syringe barrel and an overpressure is created so that the medicinal substance passes over the stem 34 , the hose 28 and the application body 26 penetrates into the tissue. When the desired amount has been injected, the stem becomes 34 back out of the main body with your thumb 32 pulled out, causing the application body 26 is moved back towards the first end position. Is the first end position reached and is the application body 26 completely in the rigid tube 12 , the application device can 10 either pulled out of the human or animal body and the treatment stopped. Alternatively, the application device 10 remain in the same place and be rotated by a certain amount. The injection process described above can now be performed again and as often as desired, so that the medicinal substance can be injected at any number of radially offset locations.

Of course, liquid can also be removed from the tissue. This is done largely in the same way as when injecting. The only difference is that the syringe plunger is not pushed into the syringe barrel, but pulled out of it, so that a negative pressure is created, through which the liquid is sucked out of the tissue.

The length of the rigid pipe 12 between the first end 14 and the bent portion 18 is dimensioned so that the part of the ENT area to be treated can be easily reached. The same applies to the angle α around which the rigid tube 12 in the bent section 18 is bent. Depending on the anatomical nature of the part to be treated, a stronger or weaker bend may be advantageous. The length of the rigid pipe 12 between the bent section 18 and the second end 16 must be at least as long that the application body 26 completely in the rigid tube 12 can be fed without going over the second end 16 to face. As the application body 26 He is rigid, he can not go over the curved section 18 out into the rigid tube 12 be involved. A length of the application body 26 from 13 to 15 mm has proved favorable, so the distance between the second end 16 and the bent portion 18 must be at least so dimensioned that the application body 12 completely in the rigid tube 12 can be fed without bending in the bent section 18 to be jammed. The flexible section 24 that makes the channel 22 in the bent section 18 not jammed, must be such that on the one hand flexible enough not to bend in the section 18 on the other hand, but hard enough to sufficiently large pressure forces on the application body 26 transferred so that it can be injected into the tissue. Furthermore, the hose needs 28 can transmit sufficiently large tensile forces, so that the injection needle 30 can be pulled out of the tissue again.

In the example shown, the channel exists 22 from the hose 28 and the injection needle 30 , But it is also possible to additionally provide a rigid channel section, which between the bent portion 18 and the first end 14 is arranged. The only condition is that the flexible section 24 long enough that neither the application body 26 nor the rigid channel section when moving between the first and the second end position in the bent portion 18 jam.

As already stated, the hose is as 28 executed flexible section 24 of the feed channel 22 over the application body 26 pulled, so that a frictional and sealing connection is formed. It has proved to be favorable that the application body 26 in about half of the hose 28 is coated, that is approximately between 6 and 8 mm, when the application body 26 between 13 and 15 mm long. In addition to the sealing connection ensures that sufficiently large tensile forces can be transmitted to the injection needle 30 to be removed from the tissue. The injection needle 30 preferably has a diameter of G20 or G21 (gauge values).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

 applicator

12

 rigid tube

14

 first end

16

 second end

18

 curved section

20

 adjustment

22

 channel

24

 flexible section

26

 application body

28

 tube

30

 injection needle

32

 body

34

 shaft

36

 connecting element

38

 ring

α

 angle

Claims (9)

Application device for applying a liquid, in particular a medical fluid, comprising - a rigid tube ( 12 ) with a first end ( 14 ) and a second end ( 16 ), wherein the rigid tube ( 12 ) a bent portion ( 18 ) between the first and second ends ( 14 . 16 ), - one in the rigid tube ( 12 ) movable channel ( 22 ) for feeding or discharging the liquid into or from the region of the second end ( 16 ), - one with the channel ( 22 ) cooperating adjusting device ( 20 ) to move the channel ( 22 ) in the rigid tube ( 12 ) with the rigid tube ( 12 ), characterized in that the channel ( 22 ) a flexible section ( 24 ) and one with the flexible section ( 24 ) in fluid communication rigid application body ( 26 ), wherein the application body ( 26 ) with the adjusting device ( 20 ) between a first end position, in which the application body ( 26 ) between the bent portion ( 18 ) and the second end ( 16 ) within the rigid tube ( 12 ) is arranged, and a second end position is movable, in which the application body ( 26 ) over the second end ( 16 ) stands out. Application device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible section ( 24 ) a hose ( 28 ). Application device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the rigid application body ( 26 ) partly from the flexible section ( 24 ) is enclosed. Application device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rigid tube ( 12 ) in the bent section ( 18 ) is bent by an angle (α) between 10 and 90 ° and in particular between 30 and 70 °. Application device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application body ( 26 ) as an injection needle ( 30 ) is executed. Application device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjusting device ( 20 ) a basic body ( 32 ) and one with the channel ( 22 ) and into the main body ( 32 ) insertable shaft ( 34 ), which relative to the base body ( 32 ) is movable. Application device according to claim 6, characterized in that the adjusting device ( 20 ) a number of rings ( 38 ), of which at least one ring ( 38 ) on the base body ( 32 ) and at least one ring ( 38 ) on the shaft ( 34 ) are attached. Application device according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the shaft ( 34 ) in fluid communication with the channel ( 22 ) stands. Application device according to claim 8, characterized in that the shaft ( 34 ) a connection element ( 36 ) for connecting a fluid-carrying unit.

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