Connection device for sterilant or cleaning agent

p0001The invention relates to a disinfecting or cleaning agent connection device for devices that have a space for receiving or transporting liquids, with a connecting line for connecting the fluid space with a disinfectant or detergent container.

p0002For cleaning of medical devices, which have a fluid circuit for medical liquids, disinfectants and special detergents are passed through the fluid circuit. If a disinfectant container in such a medical device, for. Example, a dialysis machine connected, no disinfectant inadvertently allowed to run into the device. On the other hand, is allowed to flow from the medical device in the disinfectant tank and dilute the disinfectant in an uncontrolled manner during normal operation of the medical device no liquid.

p0003In known solutions, this correspondingly arranged check valves and controlled solenoid valves are used. In DE 43 21 008 C1 a buffer volume in the supply line is provided for monitoring the tightness, in which another pressure is set than in the rest of the supply line. The pressure of the buffer volume is monitored. If the pressure in the buffer volume, this is equivalent to a leakage of the buffer volume final valves.

p0004It is the object of the present invention to provide a disinfectant or cleaning agent connection device which can be realized for a simple and inexpensive and secondly ensures high operational reliability, especially for medical applications. This object is achieved with a disinfectant or cleaning agent connection device with the features of claim 1. The subclaims are directed to advantageous embodiments. The object is also achieved with a medical device with the features of claim 6, a RO plant (reverse (reverse) osmosis system) with the features of claim 5 or a dialysis machine with the features of claim. 4 Advantageous uses are the subject of the claim. 7

p0005In the following, the effects of the invention for medical devices or medical liquids are described in which the safe operation is particularly advantageous. However, the invention may also for non-medical devices used.

p0006The disinfecting or cleaning agent connection device according to the invention comprises a connecting line of the liquid space which is provided for receiving or for transporting medical fluids, with a disinfectant container, which has a region which forms an accommodating space. In the upper area of ​​the receiving space, a closure element is provided for connection of the receiving space to the fluid space. Furthermore, the disinfectant or cleaning agent connection device according to the invention comprises a duct which opens into the receiving space below. The channel has a siphon portion starting comprises of the mouth an upwardly facing portion, an upper portion and a downwardly facing portion, the downward part has an end which is lower than the bottom of the reservoir. Furthermore, the disinfectant or cleaning agent connection device according to the invention comprises a fluid sensor in the receiving space, which is arranged at a level which is lower than the upper part of the Siphonbereiches of the duct and higher than the channel mouth is located in the receiving space.

p0007If the following of disinfectants is talk, so should therefore generally be meant other detergent.

p0008In the receiving space may be, for. Example, a rigid container to act a pipe segment or a tube segment. The closure element may, for. Example, comprise a valve or a pump flußunterbrechende. In the following the case of a valve closure element is assumed to be for simplicity.

p0009During normal operation of the receiving space by means of the valve connected to the liquid space of the medical device. The lower end of the channel is inserted into a disinfectant or cleaning agent canister. During normal operation of the medical device, the valve is closed so that firstly no medical liquid can enter from the medical device in the disinfectant container and secondly no disinfectant can enter the medical device. In case of error the valve medical fluid leaking through the valve into the receiving space. This is slowly filled by these einleckende liquid until the liquid sensor detects the incoming liquid and z. B. indicates an alarm and possibly interrupting the treatment.

p0010Due to the siphon-like connection of the receiving space of the disinfectant reservoir is nevertheless effectively preventing medical fluid that enters into the receiving space, directly flows into the disinfectant container and diluted therein or changed the disinfectant in an uncontrolled manner.

p0011If during normal operation due to an error, the valve between the liquid chamber and disinfectant containers to be open and to be the pump that is provided intended to initiate the disinfectant in the medical device in operation, as occurs disinfectant from the disinfectant tank through the siphon channel in the receiving space an uncontrolled. The liquid sensor is wetted, whereby the erroneous state is detected.

p0012In the cleaning operation is pumped through the channel, the receiving space and the now open valve cleaning liquid in the medical device. After completion of the cleaning process, the disinfectant is discharged again. It runs here through the open valve into the receiving space and fills up to a level corresponding to the upper area of ​​the siphon-like drainage channel. Now the liquid is discharged through now communicating tubes in the disinfectant canister on this siphon. Since the siphon channel opens into the receiving space at the bottom, it is ensured that the entire receiving chamber is emptied in this way according to the principle of communicating tubes.

p0013The disinfecting and cleaning agent connection device according to the invention for medical devices therefore ensures maximum safety and ease of use. In normal operation of the medical device is reliably detected when a leakage of the isolation valve between the liquid chamber and disinfectant containers occurs. After cleaning of the medical device with disinfectant is ensured by the especially designed siphon discharge that the entire disinfectant is discharged from the receiving chamber and connecting to the disinfectant reservoir in the disinfectant container. The device thus ensures that neither the medical fluid can be damaged by a disinfectant, nor that the disinfectant is in the canister displaced or diluted in an uncontrolled manner with medical fluid.

p0014Nevertheless, the disinfectant container can always remain connected to the medical device.

p0015A uncontrolled influx of disinfectants in the medical device with a faulty circuit by a pump or the valve is detected by the uncontrolled flow of liquid to the liquid sensor.

p0016Tells the receiving space according to a bevo rzugten embodiment a larger cross section than the adjoining parts of the connecting line, so a particularly safe operation is possible.

p0017A disinfectant according to the invention or cleaning agent connection device with still higher security level preferably additionally to a ventilation valve in the upper part of the receiving space. In normal operation of the medical device, wherein the valve between disinfectant containers and liquid space should be closed for the medical fluid, this vent valve of the receiving space is open. If due to an error, the check valve between the liquid chamber and disinfectant container can be opened and to be the pump, which is provided for the introduction of disinfectant into the medical device is in operation, so is with the help of this open vent valve prevents disinfectants is pumped in the medical device. Instead, only air is sucked through the open vent valve and the receiving space in the medical device. During the cleaning operation, the ventilation valve is closed, so that a suction of the liquid disinfectant from the container is possible in the medical device.

p0018As a liquid sensor different sensors can be used. For example, a conductivity sensor can be used, which monitors the conductivity of its surrounding medium and thus emits a signal when wetted with liquid. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, an optical liquid sensor is used, which makes it possible to monitor also in liquid or very low without any conductivity. The Optical Sensor function can be a periodic function test easily and automatically check.

p0019Particularly advantageously, the disinfectant or cleaning agent connection device according to the invention can be used in medical equipment, where medical fluids must be transported on highly sensitive manner in fluid circuits, such. As dialysis devices or RO plants. Under the RO system is understood to mean plant a reversal (reverse) osmosis.

p0020An embodiment of the disinfecting or cleaning agent connection device according to the invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic figure in detail.

p00211 schematically denotes a medical apparatus comprising a fluid circulation system, z. B. a dialysis machine. The dialysis machine is connected via a connection line 5, which has a pump 7th A shut-off valve 9 connects the dialysis machine 1 having a receiving space 11. Alternatively, the check valve 9 may be omitted and 7 may be configured as flußunterbrechende pump the pump. The receiving space 11 preferably has a larger cross-section than the conduit 5 directly adjacent to the bottom of the accommodating space 11 opens a channel through the channel opening 13 into the holding space 11 a, the, and a siphon-like configuration with an upwardly pointing portion 15, an upper part 16 has a downward-facing portion 17th The downward portion 17 extends in a disinfectant canister 3. The end 18 of the downward-facing portion 17 is located at the bottom of the canister 3 and is lower than the bottom of the reservoir 11. In the lower area of ​​the receiving space, but above the channel mouth 13 is provided an optical liquid sensor 19th In the figure, for the sake of clarity not dargstellt are feed lines to the liquid sensor 19 to ensure the power supply. 20 schematically indicated on a signal line by which the signal of the liquid sensor 19 to an evaluation device or a warning device can be given.

p0022On top of the receiving chamber 11 is a vent valve 21 is provided. Finally, the disinfectant container 3 has a venting valve 23.

p0023The embodiment of the invention is used as follows. During normal use of the dialyzer 1, the pump 7 is switched off and the valve 9 is closed. The vent valve 21 is open. The dialysis device operates in a conventional manner for cleaning a patient's blood. Disinfectant that is not during the intended use of the dialysis device 1 in use, is located in the disinfectant container 3. The receiving space 11 is empty.

p0024Should there be a malfunction or leak of the valve 9, so licking the medical fluid from the dialysis device 1 through the valve 9 into the receiving space 11. Due to the siphon embodiment of the discharge duct 15, 16, 17 is filled first, the receiving space 11 with the medical fluid. Once the liquid level has reached the liquid sensor 19, it outputs over signal line 20 a signal to a not shown in the figure alarm device, for. Example, an acoustic or optical signal transmitter. It can also be provided that the signal is used for the automatic interruption of medical treatment. Through the siphon-establishment of the connection 13, 15, 16, 17 of the receiving chamber 11 with the disinfectant container 3 it is ensured that the medical liquid, which leaks through the valve 9 into the receiving space 11, can not pass into the disinfectant tank 3rd The disinfectant contained therein is thus not affected by the medical fluid.

p0025If during normal use of the dialysis device 1 in the embodiment described herein, the vent valve 21, however, closed and should it inadvertently due to a malfunction or user operating error during dialysis come to an opening of the valve 9 and / or of turning on the pump 7, then disinfectant uncontrollably enter through the channel 15, 16, 17 in the receiving space 11th The liquid sensor 19 to strikes and a corresponding alarm signal is proposed via the signal line 20th Because the receiving space 11 and the mouth of the channel 13 in the lower region of the receiving space is ensured that no disinfection liquid enters the dialyzer first Furthermore, the vent valve 21 is opened so that the construction of which the suction of disinfectant in the dialysis device 1 by the possibly defective switched pump 7 is largely excluded during the intended use of the dialysis machine. 1 Instead, only air passes through the vent valve 21 and the receiving space 11 in the dialysis device. 1

p0026After dialysis treatment, the dialysis device 1 must be cleaned. For this purpose the valve 9 is opened and the pump switched on 7th The ventilation valve 21 is closed. Disinfectants is pumped from the disinfectant container 3 through the channel 15, 16, 17 and through the receiving space 11 in the dialysis submission 1 and used there for cleaning. After completion of the cleaning, the pump 7 is switched off and the valve 9 is closed. The receiving frame 11 and the siphon drain 13, 15, 16, 17 are filled with disinfectant. By opening the vent valve 21, the disinfectant from the receiving space 11 and the siphon effluent flows into the disinfection container. Since this and disposed the end 18 of the siphon drain below the receiving space, the channel 15, 16, 17 and the receiving chamber 11 is completely emptied according to the principle of communicating tubes through the trap drainage 15, 16, 17th

p0027The device is inexpensive and realiseren by simple electronics. The unwanted sucking toxic liquid is excluded. Both the leakage flow of the disinfectant canister to the medical device as well as the leakage flow from the medical device in the disinfectant canister back is reliably detected. The inventive device allows the detection lowest leakage flows, eg., Less than 1 ml per day.