Device for monitoring hose connectors and body fluid leakage
Inventors
BYHMER, Patrik • Olausson, Susanne
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10933185-B2
Publication Date
2021-03-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A device for monitoring fluid leakage. A flexible plastic sheet (11) is provided with a tear-off strip (12), which divides the sheet in a first sheet portion (21) and a second sheet portion (20) and forms a folding line. An adhesive (22) is arranged at the first portion (21). The sheet is folded along the folding line and the first portion is attached to the second portion via the adhesive to form a pocket along the folding line for enclosing a connector and hose assembly to be monitored. An optical sensor having an absorbent pad and an optical fiber is enclosed in said pocket when formed. The exterior end of the optical fiber is connected to an optical detector device for monitoring if the interior end of the optical fiber comes into contact with a fluid, indicating a leakage of the connector.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention relates to a medical device for monitoring fluid leakage in a circuit enclosing fluid intended for communication with a patient. The circuit comprises hoses and a connector, and the medical device includes a first sheet of a flexible material and a second sheet of a flexible material. The first and second sheets are brought together so that an adhesive layer arranged on at least one of the sheets forms a closed pocket.
The closed pocket has a first end and a second end constructed for receiving the hoses, and an enlargement area there between constructed for receiving the connector. A detector device is arranged for detecting leakage of the patient-intended fluid into the closed pocket. A tear-off strip is provided so that the tear-off strip is ripped off to effectively open the closed pocket, thereby allowing the connector and hoses to be removed from the closed pocket.
In further embodiments, a removable protection sheet covers the adhesive layer before use, and the tear-off strip is defined by first and second lines arranged in parallel with a mutual distance across one of the sheets. The pocket is configured so that the adhesive sticks to the hose and connector to a small extent. Additional refinements define the detector device as an optical sensor arranged on the first or second sheet in a position to be included in the closed pocket when formed, including optical sensor features with an absorbent pad and an optical fiber.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00009, and clm-00021, each defining a medical leakage-monitoring device with multiple inventive features: a flexible-sheet closed pocket with an adhesive arrangement, a detector device for detecting leakage into the pocket, and a tear-off strip that opens the pocket for removal of the hoses and connector. The independent claims further distinguish features such as a removable protection sheet, optical sensor implementation, and reinforced tear-off strip arrangement without adhesive.
Closed pocket formed by two flexible sheets with an adhesive layer
A medical device comprising a first sheet of a flexible material and a second sheet of a flexible material, wherein an adhesive layer arranged at at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet forms a closed pocket when the first sheet and the second sheet are brought together.
Connector-enlargement pocket portion with hose-receiving ends
The closed pocket having a first end and a second end constructed for receiving the hoses and an enlargement area there between constructed for receiving the connector.
Leakage detector device arranged to detect leakage into the closed pocket
A detector device arranged for detecting leakage of the fluid intended for communication with the patient into the closed pocket.
Tear-off strip defined by parallel weakening lines spanning the pocket ends
A tear-off strip defined by a pair of weakening lines arranged in parallel with a mutual distance therebetween and extending across the first or second sheet and extending from the first end to the second end of the pocket, wherein when the device should be removed the tear-off strip is ripped off to effectively open the closed pocket.
Removable protection sheet covering the adhesive layer before use
A removable protection sheet covering said adhesive layer.
Adhesive sticks to the hose and connector to a small extent
The device is configured such that the adhesive sticks to the hose and connector to a small extent.
Optical sensor detector arranged within the closed pocket
The detector device being an optical sensor arranged at said first or second sheet in a position to be included in said closed pocket when formed.
Tear-off strip connects the first and second sheets
A tear-off strip defined by first and second lines arranged in parallel with a mutual distance across said first or second sheet, whereby the lines extend from said first end to said second end of said closed pocket and whereby the tear-off strip is constructed by the first sheet or second sheet so that the tear-off strip connects the first sheet and the second sheet.
Reinforced tear-off strip arranged at a portion without adhesive
Wherein the tear-off strip is reinforced and is arranged at a portion of the first sheet or second sheet, which does not comprise an adhesive.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on enclosing a hoses-and-connector circuit in a closed pocket formed from two flexible sheets bonded by an adhesive arrangement, using a detector device arranged to detect leakage into the pocket, and enabling removal by ripping off a tear-off strip that effectively opens the pocket. Additional independent-claim distinctions include a removable protection sheet, an optical sensor as the detector device, and a reinforced tear-off strip connected to the sheets and arranged at a portion without adhesive.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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