WO2018202556A1

WO2018202556A1 - Medical product

Info

Publication number: WO2018202556A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/060811
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claudius Dietzsch; Erich Pfenniger; Peter Vischer; Annina H. SCHNADT
Original assignee: Medela Holding Ag
Priority date: 2017-05-05
Filing date: 2018-04-26
Publication date: 2018-11-08
Also published as: DE102017207653A1; TW201843363A

Abstract

The invention relates to a medical product made of a material, the base material of which consists substantially of a textile material. In order to adapt the medical product to the respective requirements, at least one property of the product can be modified in a controlled manner, specifically under the effect of an external influence on at least one component of the base material. The modifiable property is at least one of the following properties: liquid permeability, gas permeability, light permeability, elasticity, strength, ductility, thermal conductivity, electric conductivity, hygroscopicity, dimensional stability, and the degree of directional dependence of the aforementioned properties.

Description

Medico-technical product

The present invention relates to a medical device made of a material whose base material consists essentially of a textile material.

For the purposes of the present invention, products for the care of babies and lactating mothers are regarded as medical technical product. Examples of such medical-technical products are pads in the form of baby carriers or seats with or without handle for transporting children, usually provided to strengthen the muscles and the skin or the connective tissue support means such as support stockings, support bands for the abdomen or Textiles for supporting the breast of a breastfeeding or expectant mother, wherein corresponding supports can also be formed by a bra, breast shields, also in the form of inserts for bras for supporting or protecting the breast of a breastfeeding mother and containers, for example for the storage of pumped Breast milk for chilling, storing, warming, pasteurising or sterilizing the milk being pumped and clothes for babies.

The transformation of the female body in the context of pregnancy as well as hormonal and other changes of the female body arouse the need for the best possible adaptation of products whose basic materials consist essentially of a textile material and in the state of the art generally for the supply or lining of Pregnant and nursing mothers are known. The same applies to materials with which babies are dressed or on which they are bedded. On the one hand there is the need for a functional adaptation to the respective needs of the baby. For example, in premature babies, the well-being of the baby should not be disturbed by unnecessary intervention in the immediate environment of the child, because too often and / or in the immediate vicinity of the baby is interfered with, as this disturbed the peace and microclimate around the baby can be. There is also a need to monitor physiological or pathological changes in the baby, preferably continuously. Sometimes malpositions in an early life cycle of the baby must be corrected and / or weakened parts of the body supported. In addition, certain organic functions should sometimes be encouraged or encouraged.

In view of these different requirements, the present invention proposes a medical device product having the features of claim 1. This medical technical product has a base material, which consists essentially of a textile Material exists. The textile material may be a woven, knitted, knitted, braided, nonwoven or felted fabric. At least one property of the medical-technical product may be controlled by the user in a controllable manner, namely by an external influence on at least one component of the basic material.

By this influence, a property of the base material is to be changed, such as liquid or gas permeability, which also includes the ability of the base material to store corresponding fluids or, for example, absorb by capillary action and to transport within the base material. Also, the light transmittance can be changed. Light in the sense of the present invention may be light in the visible range, UV light and / or infrared light. For example, by changing the translucency, the view of parts of the body covered by the medical product can optionally be allowed or prevented, depending also on the direction of the respective view of the product.

The elasticity of the base material can be changed. As elasticity in this case, for example, the extensibility of the base material is considered. This can be limp or tense due to the external influence. The corresponding elongation properties can also be represented as isotropic or anisotropic depending on the external influence. In other words, the external influence can change the property of the material in a directional manner. By altering the elasticity, the dimensional stability and / or the rigidity of the medical-technical product can be changed locally or over the entire surface. In this way, in particular the fact that physical developments of the baby or of the expectant or nursing mothers give rise to adaptations to the changing physical constitution can be taken into account. Thus, for example, the size or the supporting effect of a bra or a breast shield depending on the change in the body of the woman can be tracked, on the one hand to maintain the functionality of the medical device product, but also to take into account the comfort needs of the user. Similarly, for example, pads for beds, changing tables or strollers or transport trays can be adapted to achieve a specific needs adapted support or wrapping of the baby.

As a property, the thermal conductivity is further considered. For example, the thermal conductivity of baby clothes or the aforementioned requirements for babies can be adapted to the respective climatic conditions and / or the current heat requirement of the baby. be fit. As thermal conductivity while the thermal insulation is considered, which is effected by the base material.

As a property changeable in the medical product of the present invention, the electric conductivity is also considered. Electrically conductive fibers within the base material can in principle be used to generate measurement signals or to pass them on within the base material. An electrical conductivity can also be used to heat the base material in the manner of resistance heating. By changing the electrical conductivity, such processes can be adjusted.

As a further property, the hygroscopicity should also be variable in order, for example, also to take up or dispense liquid which may have been stored by capillary action. As a result, for example, a liquid carrier for a drug or another therapeutic substance can be incorporated into the medical device product and dispensed selectively by adjusting the hygroscopicity. The capillarity can be changed, for example, by nanoparticles, in particular nanoporous gold, which can absorb or release liquid like a sponge, depending on an applied electrical voltage. In particular, the following invention seeks to take advantage of an effect as described in http://www.spektrum.de/news/kapillarwirkung-auf-knopfdruck/1305460. Any change in the distance between individual yarns of the fabric, which can for example be electrically adjusted, can also influence the capillary action and thus the hygroscopicity. The textile material may further comprise hollow fibers which are capable of storing liquid by capillary action. By external mechanical or pneumatic pressure their volume and shape can be changed and thus their property to store liquid. For example, nanotubes can be incorporated into the textile material. In particular, the hygroscopicity is changed in order to influence the microclimate in the immediate vicinity of the medical device product. Hygroscopicity preferably also has an effect on the fluid permeability and / or the thermal conductivity.

Furthermore, as a property, the strength and / or ductility is changed. Strength is the ability to react to tension, pressure or torsion by stretching, which stretch can be elastic or plastic. This strength of a fiber within the tissue or certain areas of the tissue may be variable depending on the external influence. The same applies to ductility, which energy can be understood. Also, by combining different solid and / or ductile materials, the resulting property of the medical device product can be changed.

In this case, the aforementioned properties in a plane of the textile material or different levels, d. H. Lying experienced a different expression. Regularly it is possible with textile materials made of fibers to achieve a directionality of certain properties, for example, the mechanical properties by orientation of individual fibers or all fibers of the fabric. By changing the aforementioned properties, the degree of directionality can also be adjusted. Thus, the degree of anisotropy of a particular property, several or all of the aforementioned properties in the textile material can be controlled to be variable due to the external influence. By adjusting the anisotropy of the thermal conductivity, for example, a heat flow in a preferred direction can be achieved in a first state, whereas the external influence can increase the thermal conductivity in all directions so that heat is transmitted through the textile material over the surface and basically direction-independently can. It is understood that here only an example has been discussed and all of the aforementioned properties can be formed by the external influence stronger or weaker direction-dependent, whereby the degree of directional dependence of the respective property, possibly the combination of all properties is changeable. In this case, each property can have an identical or a different orientation within a specific layer of the textile material or in different layers in order to achieve the desired effect in the appropriate orientation.

As an external influence, which alters the corresponding property in the medical technical product according to the invention, mechanical pressure or mechanical force or pneumatic pressure is considered. As mechanical pressure, the direct application of a planar force to the product by a stamp or the like is considered. In the case of a pneumatic pressure, a pressurized medium exerts a mechanical influence on the product, so that a hydrostatic pressure regularly acts. The corresponding pressure or force may be negative, positive, and force, respectively. a tensile force or a compressive force.

Also, electrical voltage and waves in the form of microwaves, ultrasonic waves or light waves in the visible or invisible range, especially UV light or infrared Light, as an external influence to change the property. Finally, heat also comes into question for the change of the property. In this case, the present invention wants to achieve a specific effect by this external influence, which goes beyond the bare, anyway expected physical changes, for example, when exposed to heat (slight change in length).

The change in the characteristic of the medical-technical product should preferably be reversibly changeable, so that the medicinal-technical product can be selectively changed between two different properties and usually in response to the external influence.

For textile materials, the orientation of the fabric structure is preferably used to change the property by the external influence. In this case, the textile material can form intersecting fibers and intervening cavities, the cavities specifically effecting a change in the properties of the base material in terms of size, shape and position. Also, several separate layers of textile and / or non-textile material can be combined with each other to implement previously non-textile functions in the textile material. By the external influence, for example, the property of a single layer and / or their distance or interaction with another layer and thus the property of the base material can be changed. By weaving, knitting or embroidering, individual fibers or webs can be incorporated or incorporated into the textile material in order to produce a homogeneous or inhomogeneous textile fabric, with the inhomogeneous fabric specifically altering the local properties of the purely textile material.

In particular, in the case of textiles with longer fibers, it is possible by means of adequate laying of fibers whose properties or properties can or can be changed to intensify a specific effect. Thus, certain fibers may be laid in a meandering or spiraling manner in the tissue, wherein a region can be predetermined by a textile matrix in which the corresponding fiber can be located. Such a matrix is predetermined, for example, in the case of a woven textile material by the sequence of warp and weft threads. Here, for a fiber whose property is variable, for example, whose length is variable in the manner described above, there is only a limited possibility of a compensation movement within the textile material in all directions. Due to the predetermined path of movement of the corresponding thread or the fiber, a direction-dependent change can be achieved in a special way. If the corresponding thread is laid as continuously as possible in the tissue, for example over a considerable length of fiber or thread spiraling or meandering, then it is possible to achieve special reinforcements of the desired effect. For example, an outer first layer is conceivable in which the fiber contracts due to an external influence which is spaced apart by further layers and cooperates with another outer layer in which the thread has the opposite effect under the same external influence. If, for example, the first outer layer is stretched due to the external influence and the other outer layer is compressed due to the external influence, there is a change in the curvature and thus in the outer shape of the fabric. Individual fibers may be provided in a single plane of the tissue in a corresponding manner and / or enforcing different layers in this way.

Also electrically conductive webs can be incorporated into the actually textile and electrically non-conductive material to make contact with printed conductors. Likewise, sensors can be incorporated into the textile material and the electrically conductive tracks used to derive the signals generated by the sensors. Electrically conductive tracks can be used to incorporate light-emitting diodes or other light or heat sources within the base material. It is also possible to introduce light-conducting webs directly into the textile material in order to illuminate the same and / or to use the light guides for signal transmission to sensors which may be incorporated in the textile material. In particular, pressure sensors come into consideration for monitoring the supporting force, which can be incorporated into the textile material. In this case, thin-film sensors are preferred. A pressure sensor can also be formed by at least two conductor tracks incorporated in the textile material, the distance of which from each other leads to a change in the field strength. Just as well electrical conductor tracks can be used, whose resistance changes due to a compressive stress, whereby also a pressure sensor can be created. The pressure sensors are preferably incorporated over the entire surface in the textile material in order to obtain the highest possible resolution.

A concrete example of a medical device according to the present invention are breast pads for protection of the female breast during pregnancy and lactation. For example, breast pads in the form of breast shields are used to establish the connection between the breast and a breast pump for pumping out breast milk. The breast pad must be sufficiently flexible to seal the breast to be pumped, without being painful for the user or affecting the flow of milk. Another application example is nursing pads, wel It is important to be able to catch breast milk escaping between nursing phases without becoming visible under the user's clothing and disturbing the external appearance. Another field of application are nursing hats or nipple shaper, which support the breastfeeding process or bring the nipple into a form suitable for breastfeeding. Here it is particularly important to have a good fit of the breast pad. Finally, breast pads also find application as a bra cups, the fit and comfort of the bra depends decisively on the characteristics of the breast pad.

Such breast pads are usually made of hard or soft plastic (as in the case of breast caps for breast pumps) or textile material (such as in the case of brassieres). Depending on the application, breast pads have certain material properties. Of particular importance are air permeability, liquid permeability, light transmission, elasticity, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity and / or hygroscopicity. The adjustment of the material properties of the breast pad to the needs of the user is usually done by changing the shape, inserting new elements (such as a soft pad for a rigid breast pad), or choosing a material with certain unchangeable material properties (eg a plastic with a certain hardness ).

Breast pads in the form of breast caps for a breast pump for pumping breast milk are disclosed, for example, in EP 3 058 966 A1 and WO 2014/094186 A2. These breast shields are each designed so that they optimally adapt to the shape of the mother's breast or allow an optimal sealing and comfortable for the mother concerns to the chest.

The breast support according to the invention as a specific embodiment of the medical-technical product allows an adaptation of its material properties as a function of an external influence. As a result, the properties of the breast pad can be adapted dynamically to the respective usage situation. This leads to an improvement in the comfort for the user and the functionality of the breast pad.

The breast pad can be realized, for example, in the form of a breast cap for a breast pump for pumping off human breast milk, a nipple protection, a nipple former, a nursing pad, a nursing cap or the cup of a brassiere. As external influence in the sense of this invention, in particular a mechanical stress of the textile fabric can be used. For example, this involves twisting the fabric, pulling or compressing the fabric or applying a negative or positive pressure. For this purpose, the user can act directly on the breast shield by manually twisting, compressing or pulling the breast shield. A negative pressure can be generated for example by applying a breast pump or sucking an infant.

The textile material may comprise media-carrying channels or chambers formed, for example, from hoses and / or fluid-tight cushions incorporated into the textile material. The receiving chambers thus formed preferably have elastic, but fluid impermeable walls and can accordingly be expanded by applying an internal pressure to change the shape of the breast pad or the permeability to air, liquid or light or heat and / or moisture. For local influencing various chambers may be provided distributed in the textile material, such that by expanding the chambers at predetermined locations an influence is made by which changes at least one of the aforementioned properties of the breast pad. Thus, the shape of the breast pad can be modified. The corresponding chambers communicate with at least one connecting piece for applying an underpressure or overpressure. For locally influencing the properties of the breast pad, chambers provided at different locations can communicate with different connecting pieces for such a source for underpressure and / or overpressure. The chambers may also be filled with a filler, so that the chambers obtained during evacuation a high rigidity due to the compression of the filler in the chamber. This allows an initially rigid fabric to experience a high rigidity. The pressure changes in the chamber can be generated by a hand pump or a motor driven pump.

The cushions of the breast support which completely or completely surround these cushions are preferably designed so that they can easily follow the change in volume of the chamber (s) due to intrinsic elasticity. The corresponding expandable chambers may also be combined with tension tendons, the displacement of which results in a tensile force due to expansion of the chamber, which may, for example, result in a change in the shape of the breast pad in a region other than the chamber receiving area of the breast pad. In one embodiment, the textile fabric has a fabric structure in which the distance between adjacent fabric threads can be varied by an external influence. This happens, for example, by mechanical stress on the textile fabric, for example by twisting the fabric, pulling or compressing the fabric or applying a negative or positive pressure. The mechanical stress of the tissue can be done for example by an external force, even by a manual operation. The mechanical stress can be caused, for example, by current-carrying or electrically conductive filaments, which behave relative to a magnet incorporated in the breast shield or a plurality of magnets due to the field strength while the current is flowing. Individual regions and / or threads of the breast pad can also be energized with different electrical polarity in order to draw certain areas and / or fibers toward one another or to repel them from one another. By appropriate distribution of such areas within the breast pad said distortions or compressions or even an expansion of the tissue can be achieved.

In one embodiment, the fabric comprises at least two layers of fabric that can be slid against each other, wherein the fabric layers are brought into a first position, in which the yarns of the individual fabric layers are brought into coincidence, so that the spaces between the yarns of the individual fabric layers are released with the result of increased permeability of the fabric, or wherein the fabric layers are brought into a second position in which the yarns of the individual fabric layers are staggered so that these interspaces are covered by the yarns of the respective adjacent fabric layer. Again, the various layers of fabric can be changed, for example, by magnetic forces, in particular by field strengths in electrification of electrically conductive layers or fibers, are brought into position relative to each other. By changing the position of at least two layers of fabric relative to each other, in particular the air permeability, liquid permeability, light transmission of the textile fabric can be varied. The tissue can also be transferred from a more flexible to a more rigid state in this way.

In one embodiment, fibers comprising a shape memory alloy or a shape memory polymer are incorporated into the fabric. In this way, the tissue can be transferred by mechanical stress, such as twisting, pulling or compressing the tissue, from a permeable to an impermeable, or from a flaccid to a rigid form. Suitable shape memory alloys are, for example, CuZn, CuZnAI and FeNiAI. Suitable shape memory polymers consist, for example Polyalkyl acrylate, polyamide and / or polypropylene. In this case, a shape-memory material with a two-way memory effect is preferably used, so that at least two different states can be set on the breast support via this effect.

Preferably, the various possibilities for influencing the properties of the breast pad are combined by an external influence. Thus, different influences can each change different properties of the breast pad. For example, fibers of a shape memory polymer or a corresponding alloy may be combined with temperature sensitive fibers to provide air, light, and / or liquid pervious, or impervious, conditions.

In one embodiment, fibers are incorporated into the fabric which expand upon heating. Expansion in this sense is understood to mean expansion only, which produces the desired effect of appreciable change in air permeability, fluid permeability, translucency, elasticity, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and / or hygroscopicity. The extent of non-specific materials resulting in length changes due to temperature changes are not sufficient for this. A change in length of at least 5%, preferably of at least 10% to 30% at a temperature difference of 10 ° K in a range of 10 ° to 50 ° C is required. Examples of such heat-sensitive fibers are. PAN (polyacrylic nitrile) or rubber (natural or synthetic rubber). In this way, the tissue can be converted by a temperature change in an air, light and / or liquid-impermeable state. Likewise, the expansion of the fibers can result in increased stiffness of the fabric.

The temperature change can be caused by contact with human skin or breast milk. Alternatively, the temperature change can also be caused electrically by heating wires incorporated into the fabric. As heating wires also provided with a suitable coating fibers can be used, which act as heating wires due to their coating and show a corresponding heating when energized. Thus, it is possible to control the expansion of the tissue fibers by an electrical pulse. These types of heating for the temperature change apply equally to any influence on the shape of shape memory alloy or shape memory polymer fibers.

In one embodiment, the textile fabric comprises a plurality of layers of material whose spacing can be varied. In this way, the thermal conductivity of the fabric can be controlled become. The distance of the material layers can be adjusted for example by induction to each other. For this purpose, electrically conductive fibers are incorporated into the textile fabric, in which a magnetic field can be induced, whereby the fibers repel each other or attract, resulting in a contraction or expansion of the material layers. The magnetic field can be induced by an alternating electric current. This embodiment offers the advantage of a basically non-contact transmission of the external influence on the textile material which forms the breast pad, which is particularly advantageous from an aesthetic point of view.

Because the breast pad should differ only slightly from known breast pads in terms of their design. It goes without saying that expensive devices for applying the external influence on the breast pad are not excluded, but do not represent an optimal solution with regard to the wearing and operating comfort.

In one embodiment, the fabric comprises fibers of an electrochromic material which changes its optical properties as a function of an electrical voltage. Preferably, an electrochromic material is used, which can change from a transparent to an opaque state. A fiber may be used in particular as a fiber, as described, for example, in EP 2 414 892 B1, the disclosure content of which is included in the disclosure of the present application. By the electrochromic fibers, the tissue can be converted from a transparent to an opaque state in response to an electrical signal.

The light transmission of the fabric can also be influenced by a lamellar fabric structure arranged on a transparent support structure. In this case, the lamellar-like fabric structure preferably consists of individual lamellar structural elements which can lie in a first position parallel to the support structure and thus form an opaque or rather heat-insulating or thermally conductive surface, and can be perpendicular to the support structure in a second position, so that light can pass through the tissue. The lamellar structure preferably consists of magnetic fibers in which a magnetic field generates a magnetic alternating current, so that the fibers either attract and lay parallel to the carrier layer or repel and are perpendicular to the carrier layer.

In one embodiment, the breast pad is a breast cap for a breast pump, which has a funnel for resting on the human breast and a neck. having closure part, wherein the funnel widens towards the mother's breast to enclose at least one nipple. The funnel has a chest-near end, which forms a support edge for contacting the mother's breast. The breast shield has a passage or channel which extends from the thoracic end of the funnel to the distal end of the connecting part and which serves to apply a negative pressure to the mother's breast and to the flow-off of pumped breast milk. The connecting part can take the form of a tubular neck. Funnels, support edge and connection part may consist wholly or partly of the textile fabric according to the invention. Preferably funnel, support edge and connection part are integrally formed.

This funnel and / or a tubular connection part can have magnetic fibers running in the longitudinal direction of the tube or funnel, which are incorporated into the textile material, which repel or attract depending on an external magnetic field and thus lead to a narrowing or widening of the tube cross section. As a result, a pumping movement can be generated in the hose and / or the funnel with which breastmilk can be pumped out through the hose and / or removed.

In one embodiment, the textile fabric of the breast shield by twisting the breast cap change its elasticity, so that the breast shield passes from a flexible to a dimensionally stable state. In the flexible state, the breast cap can be easily placed on the breast by the shape of the breast shield can be optimally adapted to the contour of the breast. As a result, the breast shield can be placed on the breast as airtight as possible. If the breast shield is so placed on the chest, the dimensionally stable state can be activated to facilitate the connection of a hose. The aforementioned different possibilities for changing the textile material by an external influence can each be used to convert the textile material from a soft, rather deformable state to a more dimensionally stable state. This also makes it possible, initially in the soft state, the contours of the breast forming the breast pad to put on the chest and then secure the thus obtained, individual shape by the external influence and by stiffening the textile material.

In one embodiment, the textile fabric of the breast shield can also change its translucency by twisting the breast shield, so that the breast shield changes from a transparent to an opaque state. In the transparent state, placing the breast shield on the chest will be facilitated. After the breast shield on the Chest was placed, the breast shield can be switched to the opaque state.

Further advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments in conjunction with the drawings.

Figures 1a and b show a first embodiment of a breast cap 2 made of a textile material, which is changeable between the two states shown in Figures 1a and 1b respectively. The breast shield 2 has fibers of a memory alloy, for example Nitinol. Fibers of this memory alloy are incorporated into the designated with reference numeral 4 textile material and denoted by reference numeral 6. The fibers 6 of the memory alloy are incorporated into the textile fabric such that the change in shape of the fibers 6 brings the fibers of the textile material 4 closer together (sequence from FIG. 1a to FIG. 1b). As a result, the light transmittance of the breast shield 2 can be changed. The strain alloy can be activated by heat.

Instead of an alloy, the fiber 6 may also be formed from a shape memory polymer. This polymer can be activated by means of UV light. The shape change threads are characterized by the fact that their shape can be changed between two states by activation.

The spacing of the fibers of the textile material 4 may also be mechanical, by exerting a force or pressure on the textile fabric 4 which results in a reversible but plastic deformation of the material to bring the individual fibers of the fabric structure closer together and accordingly impermeable to the passage of light. Also, by heating individual fibers whose diameter can be increased so that the desired optical effect can be achieved. Likewise, the fibers may be magnetic and their position altered by current or an external magnetic field to achieve the desired effect. Likewise, the storage of water and thus the capillary action could be used to achieve opacity with considerable water absorption and to make the textile material 4 substantially transparent after expelling the water.

FIGS. 2a, 2b show an alternative exemplary embodiment for isotropically anisotropic changeable properties of a breast shield or breast shield 2. This breast shield 2 consists of a textile material into which fibers 6 made of a shape memory alloy or a shape memory polymer have been incorporated in the manner illustrated in the figures are. The fibers run helically starting from a contact ring 8 along a central longitudinal axis L, and end at a small diameter rim 10 of the breast shield. A shortening of the fibers 6 as part of their deformation work (sequence of Figure 2a on Figure 2b) leads due to this orientation of the fibers 6 within the breast shield 2 to a relative rotation of the textile material 4, which is indicated in Figure 2b with the arrow from to illustrate the change in shape of the breast shield 2 of Figure 2a on Figure 2b. In the context of this rotation results in a change in rigidity. The breast cap 2 according to FIG. 2a is considerably more flexible than the breast cap 2 according to FIG. 2b.

The effect of an isotropic anisotropic design of the breast shield 2 can also be achieved, for example, by multiple layers of textile materials, as illustrated by FIGS. 2c to e. In this case, FIG. 2c shows by way of example a first layer A of fibers extending at right angles to one another, which are bend-proof in one direction i and bend-soft in the other direction ii. A second layer B shown in FIG. 2d has elastic properties in one direction iii and elastic properties in the other direction iv. These two layers A, B are shown in FIG. 2e one above the other. The combination of the two layers A, B results in anisotropic or isotropic properties. The relative areal connection of the layers to one another changes the isotropy and thus the effect and the interactions which the individual layers A, B can effect for themselves. The change in the connection can be made mechanically by layering the fabric structure and its orientation, for example by welding individual layers or partial areas thereof. In addition to this fixed mechanical connection of the layers, the distance or the juxtaposition of the layers can also be influenced, for example, inductively and accordingly by electrical current supply. As a result, the isotropic / anisotropic mechanical properties of the textile material and thus the breast shield 2 are adjusted. In the embodiment of a breast cap 2 with connector 22 shown in FIG. 2f, textile material with relatively large extensibility in the circumferential direction of the breast cap 2 is located in an edge region thereof, whereas towards the center the textile material is also less flexible and less elastic in the circumferential direction, for example, to connect the connector 22 with the necessary rigidity and strength and to keep this.

FIGS. 3a, 3b show changes in properties between a relatively soft, rather informal design of a breast shield 2 (FIG. 3a) and a stiffened, dimensionally stable breast shield 2 with an intrinsic shape. This state change can also be effected by suitably incorporating a memory alloy as a fiber into the textile material. The Ef In particular, it can be achieved by a material 4 in which the corresponding fiber is incorporated or knitted into the fabric (TFP-tailored fiber placement). The incorporated fibers 6 of the memory alloy are relaxed in the embodiment of Figure 3a, whereas Figure 3b illustrates the embodiment of shortened fibers of the memory alloy or the memory polymer. The memory fibers 6 serve as tensile tendon and also stiffen the otherwise non-specific textile base material 4, which is not detailed in the figures.

The change from a more informal design to an embodiment with a more specific shape may also be effected by different layers of textile materials forming individual structures within the medical device, which individual structures may be interconnected or separated. This effect can be triggered, for example, electrically or chemically. When triggered electrically, the layers are inductively connected. Structures 1 to 4 shown schematically in FIG. 3c are magnetically activated in order to assume the position shown in FIG. 3d relative to one another. The process is reversible. Also, the separation can be made inductively, for example by switching off the magnetic force causing potential. The shift from FIG. 3c to FIG. 3d can also be initiated chemically, for example by activating a chemical process by means of a light source, which ensures that the individual structures A to D reorient themselves relative to one another. The displacement can be transmitted to the material 4 via tension chords 26 in order to tension or deform it; see. Fig. 3e.

Figures 4a, b and c illustrate an embodiment of a breast shield 2, the optical property is variable. In FIG. 4 a, the breast shield 2 is transparent, whereas in FIG. 4 b, the passage of visible light through the breast shield is blocked.

For this purpose, the breast shield 2 has two electrical conductive rings, namely an outer ring 12 and an inner ring 14, which are provided at different axial ends of the breast cap 2 and can be supplied with different polarity. Whereas, according to FIG. 1, the light transmission has been changed by bringing the fabric structure closer, lamellae 16 are applied to the surface of the breast shield 2 in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 4 a to c and incorporated into the textile material 4 and connected thereto. However, only fastening-side ends 18 of the slats are connected to the textile material 4. By energizing, for example, a magnetic field can be generated, in which the magnetic lamellae 16 orient themselves, in order to reproduce the one shown in FIG. 4c below To take position in which the lamellae 16 over the entire surface of the preferably weak magnetic textile material 4 and thus keep the breast shield 2 opaque.

By applying a voltage between outer ring 12 and inner ring 14, a phenomenon which is used in glass panes today, for example by using fibers of a vitreous material, can also be used. A suitable material is described, for example, in http://www.ameriGansGientist.org/issuesfe The textile

Material may contain fibers formed from this material, thereby creating a semitransparent textile material.

In the orientation shown in Figure 4c above the central longitudinal axis L, the lamellae 16 are basically at right angles from the central longitudinal axis L and are aligned parallel to each other. They therefore allow a view basically at right angles to the central longitudinal axis L ,, so that, for example, the user of the breast shield 2 can place them under visual control on the chest. The orientation of the slats 16, however, prevents the transparency in a line of sight parallel to the longitudinal axis L.

The change from transparent to opaque shown in FIG. 4 a on FIG. 4 b can be brought about by other reorientations of particles or fibers introduced into the textile material 4, which reorient themselves in an electric field. Usually, these components are magnetically charged.

If individual fibers are electrically switched from transparent to less or not transparent, the effect described above for switching the breast shield 2 from transparent to opaque results.

FIGS. 5a, 5b show an example of an adaptation of the thermal conductivity by a plurality of layers which have electrically conductive fibers. In Figure 5a, the energization is such that repel each other by the field strength, the corresponding layers A, B, whereby between the layers A, B, an air space is created, which contributes to the isolation and this thermal insulation significantly affected. In Figure 5b, the energization is selected so that the two layers A, B attract, so that no heat-insulating air cushion between the two layers A, B present and the thermal conductivity of the textile material is relatively high. The above-described effect for changing the thermal conductivity of the textile material can essentially also be used to change the external shape from slack to taut. Again, by energizing the distance from different layers, which may also be mechanically coupled to each other, if necessary, be changed. If the layers kept at a distance and thus braced against each other via their connecting webs, there is a significantly stiffer design than when the layers are slack. Again, the distance of the individual layers can be adjusted magnetically or electrically. As well, the change in position can be done by an external force or an external pressure and thus mechanically. The individual layers may, for example, be connected to one another via fabric threads, which may draw them against one another in otherwise elastically pretensioned layers.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment with which the textile material 4 of a breast shield 2 can be changed from electrically conductive to electrically non-conductive. For this purpose, the breast cap 2 has - as the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 4a, 4b - electrically conductive rings 12, 14 which are energized with different polarity and extend at right angles to a semiconductor structure 23 when viewed radially. This semiconductor structure 23 includes, for example, nano-carbon tubes. By turning on and off the current between the two rings 12, 14, the property of these nano-carbon tubes can be changed, for example, their electrical conductivity. Thus, the breast shield 2 can be made more or less electrically conductive or non-conductive. In FIG. 6, only one radially extending semiconductor structure 23 is shown. It goes without saying that a plurality of such structures 23 can be provided distributed on the circumference. Electrically conductive fibers can be silver-sheathed fibers or copper strands or melt-spun filaments of russet-filled PA.

The previously described influencing of the properties of the textile material can also be used for the connector 22. This connector 22 serves to collect leaking milk in a breast cap 2 and to lead down through the channel formed in the connector 22 into a container. Thus, the connector 22 should be formed liquid-tight when collecting milk. In the rest of the time, however, a good ventilation in particular the nipple is required, so that the connector should be permeable to air in the remaining time. This property change from liquid-tight to air-permeable can be effected by an orientation of the structure of the textile material 4. Triggered by an external influence, the orientation of the fabric layers relative to one another or to individual fibers within the fabric may change. This will also the opacity influenced, which should be given when checking the fit of the breast shield, but is undesirable after the preparation. Thus, the breast shield 2 and / or the connector 22 can be switched from transparent to opaque. One or more sensors on the breast shield 2 and the connector 22 may be provided to measure a milk shoot, which switches the connector 22 from permeable to liquid-tight.

The breastshield 2 can have an inlay or consist of itself completely or partially, which in the same way is permeable to air or impermeable to liquids. The embodiment with varying thermal conductivity described above can also be used in the breast cap 2 or on a deposit to adjust different cooling conditions. The capillarity of the breast shield 2 can vary over the spatial extent of the breast shield 2. Certain areas of the breast shield and / or the insert should be liquid-absorbent. This applies primarily to the more radially inner region of the breast shield 2 or an insert. The outer parts should be liquid repellent

FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment for a medical product in the form of a support insert 24 for the breast. Similar to a breast shield, this support insert 24 is of essentially rotationally symmetrical design and adapted for imaging the female breast. The support insert 24 should be as limp as possible when wearing, while the pumping of milk from the breast of the nursing mother, the support insert 24 should be stretched to avoid edema in the chest. For this purpose, the textile material 4 of the support insert 24 can be changed from isotropic to anisotropic, for which the support insert 24 has a plurality of substantially radially extending tension tendons 26, which can be mechanically tensioned. Again, 4 incorporated sensors can deliver useful measurement results in the textile material. Eingestrickte physical sensors can make local movements of the textile material 4 recognizable and measure their mobility or movement amplitude.

FIG. 8 shows a further exemplary embodiment in the form of a support sock 28 with a tension fiber 30 extending over the entire length of the support sock 28 in the form of a helix. For reasons of a clear representation, only a single such tension fiber 30 has been drawn. It goes without saying that a plurality of tensile fibers 30 can pull through the support sock 28 in the manner shown. In Figure 8a, the Zufaser 30 is not tensioned. In Figure 8b, the tension fiber 30 is stretched, resulting in a radial compression of the textile material 4 of the support stocking 28 and thus an increased support effect. Figures 9a, 9b show the embodiment of a tube 32, which can be used as a self-inflating hose, for example, for the withdrawal of breast milk from the female breast. The designated by reference numeral 32 hose has a textile material 4, in which electrically conductive fibers 34 are incorporated. The can be loaded with different or the same polarity, whereby two marked with reference numerals 32.1, 32.2 tube halves are drawn or repelled each other. By cyclically applying the two tube halves 32.1, 32.2 together and possibly elastic spring back through the restoring properties of the tubing results in a pumping action. A change in shape of the tube 32 may be effected by electrical charge or magnetically and also by memory alloys or polymers.

FIG. 10 shows an exemplary embodiment of a brush holder 36, the cups of which can adapt to the changing breast volume of a pregnant or breastfeeding person. In pregnant women, the breast volume changes within months. If breastfeeding, it can change significantly within a few hours, which requires a dynamic adaptation of the cup size. In the same way, it is important to adequately support the changing breast volume in the regression of the milk tissue.

For this purpose, the embodiment shown in Figure 10 in the textile material 4 incorporated artificial muscles 38 which are connected to different bestrombare edges 40, 42 of the basket. The artificial muscles 38 are usually formed by nanoparticles, especially carbon tubes, as described in http://www.zescescience.com/research/technologv/fanguine- muscles-nanotech. Due to the effects described there, the different breast volume can be taken into account at any time by energizing the edges 40, 42. The setting can be made for example via an application on the smartphone.

On a bra, the above-described changes in properties can be used, for example, to form an on demand opaque bra. In the breastfeeding woman, it is sometimes advantageous to form at least certain parts of the basket liquid-tight, but nevertheless permeable to air. Also, isotropic-anisotropic properties can be used, for example, to support the breast within the cup in a direction-dependent manner, whereas a cuff 44 of the brassiere 36 has stress-strain properties adapted to the prevailing stress states there, which differ from those of the cup. So the basket can be anisotropic with a considerable amount Elongation in the first direction i and a lower extensibility in the second direction ii, which is perpendicular to the first direction, whereas the elasticity of the cuff 44 in the two directions i, ii is basically identical.

Also, the thermal conductivity of the textile material 4 may be adjustable in order to cool certain areas with good thermal conductivity or to achieve a heat retention with poor thermal conductivity. Again, sensors may be incorporated into the textile material 4, for example, to detect a change in size of the breast and to adapt the shape, rigidity or elasticity of the textile fabric locally or in whole.

The textile material 4 of the brassiere 36 may optionally be liquid-absorbent or liquid-repellent adjustable. Incidentally, the textile material 4 is formed to have an antibacterial effect. In the textile material 4 further penetrations for air and breast milk can be incorporated, which can be changed or set by an external influence. It may also be advantageous to be able to change the material from flaccid to taut in order, for example, to support certain regions of the breast in relation to the negative pressure acting upon pumping when pumping the breast.

11 shows an embodiment of a container 46 for storing breast milk with a closable container opening 48 and a container chamber 50 which is surrounded by a textile material 4, which is connected to a container opening 48 forming the collar or forms this collar. The textile material 4 is liquid-tight, but permeable to air. So can be dispensed with a valve for loading or venting of the container 46. Also, the textile material 4 is preferably changeable between a transparent and an opaque state, for example, to visually check its fill level when filling or emptying the container 46, while protecting the container contents from environmental influences during prolonged storage of the possibly filled container 46.

The textile material may be formed electrically conductive to heat the container 46, for example, for pasteurization. The textile material 4 may also be formed isotropically-anisotropic or elastically extensible. Due to the expansion values can be concluded on the volume. For this purpose, the textile material 4 can have at least one strain gauge or other sensor which is suitable for displaying an expansion of the textile material 4 in order to process its signal in a logic for calculating the container volume. The physical material 4 may also include physical actuators. works, through which the container contents can be irradiated with UV light and thus made longer lasting.

Finally, FIG. 12 shows an exemplary embodiment of a textile support 52 for babies, which may be formed partly of elastic and partly of non-elastic material 4. Actuators can be incorporated into the textile material 4, with which the textile material 4 can be stimulated or set from a limp to a tensioned state in order to calm the baby lying on the support 52. Certain areas may be adjustable from liquid-permeable to liquid-impermeable or have an adjustable capillarity to receive liquid and to be able to deliver it, for example, for drying the support 52 in a targeted manner.

reference numeral

breastshield

Textile material

Fiber memory alloy

conditioning wreath

10 edge

12 outer ring

14 inner ring

16 lamellae

18 mounting end

20 free end

22 connector

23 semiconductor structure

24 support insert

26 tension tendon

28 support stocking

30 tensile fiber

32 hose

32.1; 32.2 Hose half

34 Electrically conductive fiber

36 brassiere

38 Artificial Muscle

40 edge

42 edge

44 cuffs

46 containers

48 container opening

50 container chamber

52 edition

A first location

B Second location

i First direction

ii Second direction

iii One direction

iv Other direction

L central longitudinal axis

Claims

claims

1. A medical technical product made of a material whose base material consists essentially of a textile material, wherein at least one property of the product is selectively controllably changed by the action of an external influence on at least one component of the base material, wherein the variable property is at least one of the following properties Liquid permeability, gas permeability, light transmission, elasticity, strength, ductility, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, hygroscopicity, dimensional stability, as well as the degree of directionality of the aforementioned properties, the external influence being at least one of the following: mechanical pressure or a mechanical force, pneumatic pressure, electrical voltage, microwaves, ultrasound, light, heat.

2. Medical product according to claim 1, characterized in that the change in the property of the product is reversible.

The medical device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the textile material is adapted to react to the external influence in order to change the property of the product.

4. Medical technical product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the textile material has a fabric structure whose orientation can be changed by the external influence.

5. Medical technical product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the textile material is formed by intersecting fibers and intervening cavities.

6. Medical technical product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the textile material is a woven, knitted, knitted, braided, nonwoven or felt.

7. Medical technical product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that particles or fibers are incorporated into the textile material, which cause the change in the property of the product.

8. Medical technical product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the textile material consists of several different layers.

9. Medical technical product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one individual fiber whose at least one property is selectively changed by the action of the external influence, in one layer spirally and / or meandering and / or different layers spiraling and / or meandering is provided enforcing.

10. Medical technical product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the product is pliable.

11. Medical technical product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the product is a breast shield for pumping human breast milk and / or an insert of such a breast shield.

12. Medical technical product according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the product is a liquid container.

The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the product is one of the following products: a housing of a vacuum pump; a bra for breastfeeding or pregnant mothers; a hose; a support stocking; a baby clothes; a diaper; an edition for a mother's breast; a pad for a baby; a nipple for a baby bottle; a pacifier; a soothing towel for a baby.