WO2018136211A1

WO2018136211A1 - Device for withdrawing a liquid in a container

Info

Publication number: WO2018136211A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/068543
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian AFFRE; Jean-Francois Biry; Eric PENDARIES
Original assignee: Ecolab USA Inc
Current assignee: Ecolab USA Inc
Priority date: 2016-12-30
Filing date: 2017-12-27
Publication date: 2018-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-30
Also published as: AU2017201837B1; NZ730232A; FR3061490A1; FR3061490B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for withdrawing a liquid contained in a container (B), such as a can, through a mouth (G) of the container, comprising: - a flexible pipe (10), - a cannula (11) intended to be submerged in the liquid from the mouth, - a connector-stopper (12), intended to be fastened removably to the mouth while closing it. According to the invention, it includes an electric pump (13) arranged in the immediate vicinity of said connector-stopper (12), as well as a protective casing (14) housing said electric pump (13), as well as partially housing said connector-stopper (12), which is captive in a lateral cavity emerging laterally from said casing (14), said casing having a first opening (16) for the liquid aspirated by the electric pump (13) within a wall of the lateral cavity (15), and a second opening (17) for the liquid discharged by the electric pump, traversed by the flexible pipe (10).

Description

DEVICE FOR WITHDRAWING A LIQUID IN A CONTAINER

The invention relates to a device for withdrawing a liquid contained in a container, such as a can, through a mouth of the container, comprising a flexible pipe, a cannula intended to be submerged in the liquid from the mouth, and a connector-stopper intended to be fastened removably to the mouth of the container while closing it. The invention also relates to a machine for treating medical devices equipped with such a withdrawal device. The field of the invention is that of medical device treatment machines, and more particularly that of endoscope washer-disinfectors (acronym "EWD").

Such a machine comprises: - a treatment tank having at least one opening configured so as to allow the loading/unloading of the endoscope in the tank,

- a system for treating a medical device having one or several treatment circuits, including one or several pumps, one or several solenoid valves, allowing the treatment of inner and outer surfaces of the medical device contained in the treatment tank by immersion and/or spraying, from at least one disinfecting solution taken from a container such as a can positioned outside the treatment tank,

- a programmable automaton system ensuring the control of the treatment system, in particular the pump and the solenoid valves of the system, configured to carry out a disinfection cycle of a medical device.

The disinfection performance of EWDs is subject to quality control in order to guarantee patients protection against risks of microbiological contamination. One of the prerequisites during these qualifying tests is to use cleaning/disinfecting products according to the EWD manufacturer's recommendations, and in particular compatible from a physicochemical perspective with the endoscope and the washer-disinfector. It is also important for the disinfecting/cleaning solution used to be compliant in terms of disinfecting performance with the EWD, and with the scheduled disinfection cycle that has been determined for a particular cleaning/disinfecting solution. The cleaning/disinfecting solution is traditionally contained in a container such as cans. The treatment circuit of a washer-disinfector thus comprises a withdrawal device typically called "cannula" that comprises a flexible pipe ending with a cannula system. This cannula system comprises the cannula and a connector-stopper. To connect the can to the treatment circuit of the washer-disinfector, one begins by removing the membrane seal closing the mouth of the can, then submerges the cannula from the mouth into the can and fastens, typically by screwing, the connector-stopper to the mouth of the can. According to the inventors' observations, in the EWDs known from the state of the art, the distance separating the cannula system and the electric pump aspirating the treatment solution from the can is significant, which involves lengthy pumping times to drive out the air present between the electric pump and the cannula, each time the electric pump is restarted. This first problem causes a decreased lifetime of some electric pumps, which wear out prematurely when they run empty.

In order to avoid the inappropriate use of cleaning/disinfecting solutions not compliant with the EWD, it is common practice for manufacturers to choose a specific cannula system, specific to the can of the treatment solution that is compliant, i.e., the treatment solution that was used for the certification of the EWD.

In other words, if the user decides to use a can of another treatment solution (i.e., noncompliant), the mouth of the can is not compatible with the cannula system, and in particular its connector-stopper. Providing a specific connection, i.e., nonstandard, between the cannula and the can provides protection against risks of use of a noncompliant treatment solution. According to the inventors' observations, it is not uncommon to see this protection easily bypassed. To that end, the user simply selects the hose near the cannula system, upstream from the electric pump of the EWD, and replaces it with a cannula system specific to the mouth of the can of the new treatment solution. Such practices may often be the source of disinfecting performance losses of the washer-disinfector when the latter has not been qualified with this new treatment solution, creating contamination risks for patients.

The flexible pipe connecting the can of treatment solution may also be pierced, in particular during incorrect handling, for example during can changing operations. This piercing then constitutes a loss of sealing of the pipe, which, when undetected, affects the disinfection cycle. During the implementation of a disinfection cycle, air may traverse the wall of the flexible tube and be mixed with the treatment solution, under the action of the pump, and before it enters the treatment tank; the flow rate of treatment solution arriving in the tank is below the nominal flow rate for which the EWD has been qualified.

A pumping device is also known from document WO 2008/043879 Al comprising:

- a casing,

- a pump, positioned inside the casing,

- a connector element comprising a first connecting thread (outer) and a second connecting thread (inner),

- a suction pipe. The first connecting thread and the second connecting thread make it possible to connect the pumping device to cans of different sizes with an inner thread (use of the connecting thread) or an outer thread (use of the connecting thread).

According to a first alternative, the thread elements making up the connector element are arranged in one piece with the casing of the pumping device. According to a second alternative, the thread elements may be provided on a connector element separate from the casing of the pumping device, such that the attachment of the pumping device to the barrel can be done by rotating said connector element, without driving the casing. Such a device has the major drawback of not allowing both simple and quick assembly, while rotating only the connector element without driving the casing, while preventing easy access to the conduit connecting the connector element to the pump.

The aim of the present invention is to offset the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a removal device that prohibits excessively easy replacement of the connector-stopper of the cannula system, and with the aim of limiting the risks of use of a treatment solution that is not compliant with the EWD.

Another aim of the present invention is to propose, at least according to one embodiment, a withdrawal device that makes it possible to increase the lifetime of the electric pump of the washer-disinfector. Another aim of the present invention, at least according to one embodiment, is to propose a withdrawal device that makes it possible to prevent the risks of piercing of the flexible pipe.

Other aims and advantages will appear in the following description, which is provided solely for information and non-limitingly.

The invention therefore relates to a device for withdrawing a liquid contained in a container, such as a can, through a mouth of the container, comprising:

- a flexible pipe,

- a cannula intended to be submerged in the liquid from the mouth,

- an electric pump,

- a protective casing that houses said electric pump, as well as partially housing said connector-stopper, which is captive in a lateral cavity emerging laterally from said casing, - a connector-stopper, intended to be fastened removably to the mouth while closing it, separate from said protective casing, said electric pump being arranged in the immediate vicinity of said connector-stopper,

said casing having a first opening for the liquid aspirated by the electric pump, and a second opening for the liquid discharged by the electric pump, traversed by the flexible pipe,

said device being configured to withdraw the liquid contained in the container that is aspirated, under the action of the electric pump and flows successively within the cannula, then through an opening of said connector-stopper, through the first opening of the casing, within the electric pump, then is discharged by the electric pump into the flexible pipe through the second opening of the casing.

According to the invention, the casing comprises a lateral cavity emerging laterally from said casing, said lateral cavity being configured to partially house said connector- stopper, said first opening being within a wall of the lateral cavity, and said device includes maintaining means configured to keep said connector-stopper captive in said lateral cavity of said casing.

According to optional features of the invention, considered alone or in combination:

- the connector-stopper has a tapping, intended to cooperate with a screw thread of the mouth, the connector-stopper being kept captive in the lateral cavity of the casing via said maintaining means, the tapped part of the connector-stopper rotating freely relative to the casing to allow the screwing or unscrewing of the connector-stopper on the thread of the mouth;

- the connector-stopper comprises a connector part, stationary relative to the casing, having a connector portion arranged in the upper part of said connector part, in order to receive an end of a flexible pipe conveying the liquid withdrawn by the cannula toward the electric pump, and the tapped part of the connector-stopper is pivotably articulated relative to the connector part to allow the screwing or unscrewing of the connector- stopper on the thread of the mouth, - the connector part includes at least one protuberance, protruding radially from a side wall of said connector part, said at least one protuberance being configured so as to prevent the rotation of said connector part relative to the lateral cavity, by abutting against a wall arranged in said lateral cavity,

- the part of the connector-stopper penetrating the lateral cavity of the casing has a protrusion arranged along a perimeter of said connector-stopper, in one or several parts on the periphery of the connector-stopper, said protrusion extending radially outward, and said maintaining means comprise, aside from said protrusion, a blocking groove arranged on the lateral cavity, inwardly receiving the peripheral protrusion, the peripheral protrusion and the blocking slot cooperating with one another so as to keep the connector-stopper captive in the casing; in which the protective casing is made up of two half-shells, which are assembled to form a shell whose inner volume forms the casing for the electric pump and in which the lateral cavity receiving the connector- stopper is formed half in one of the two protective half-shells and the other half in the other protective half-shell,

- said protrusion is arranged on a fastening part in the form of a ring fastened to said connector part, or said protrusion is formed by a plurality of studs protruding radially from a peripheral wall of the connector part,

- the part of the connector-stopper penetrating the lateral cavity of the casing includes an insertion portion arranged in the upper part of said connector-stopper, tubular, intended to conduct the withdrawn liquid and protruding toward the outside of the connector-stopper, and said maintaining means comprise, aside from the insertion portion, a connector part secured to the casing forming an automatic connector with said insertion portion, said connector part comprising two insertion portions, each arranged at one of the two ends of the connector part, the first insertion portion being configured so as to receive and hold a flexible pipe conveying the liquid withdrawn via the cannula toward the electric pump, and the second insertion portion being configured so as to receive and hold said insertion portion of the connector-stopper, the second insertion portion of the connector part and the insertion portion of the connector-stopper being configured so as to allow the insertion of the insertion portion of the connector-stopper in the second insertion portion of the connector part, and to automatically prohibit the removal of the insertion portion of the connector-stopper in the second insertion portion of the connector part, when said second insertion portion is completely housed in said lateral cavity, and in which the second insertion portion comprises two parts with a stationary part and a moving part, which is positioned in the stationary part, translatable relative to said stationary part, along the axis of the stationary part, the moving part and the stationary part being configured so as to allow the portion of the connector-stopper to move in the insertion portion of the connector part when the moving part is situated in a first position relative to the stationary part, along the axis of the stationary part, and to prevent the movement of the portion of the connector-stopper in the insertion portion of the connector part when the moving part is in a second position, separate from the first position, relative to the stationary part, along the axis of the stationary part, and an elastic means stressing the moving part from the first position toward the second position is provided, and the connector part being configured such that the introduction of the insertion portion drives the moving part toward the first position against the return force of the elastic means,

and the connector part is positioned completely inside the lateral cavity, such that the moving part is not accessible from outside the casing once the connector-stopper is received in the lateral cavity,

- the protective casing is made up of two half-shells, which are assembled to form a shell whose inner volume forms the housing for the electric pump; - the two protective half-shells are assembled by irreversible fastening clips, comprising mutually engaging clip parts distributed on the two protective half-shells;

- the two protective half-shells are assembled against one another by gluing; - an electronic clock circuit is inside the casing, supplied with direct voltage comprised between 5 V and 24 V and generating a determined control signal. According to one embodiment, the device is provided without said electric pump inside the casing, said device being configured to withdraw the liquid contained in the container that is aspirated, under the action of an electric pump of a treatment machine, and flows successively within the cannula, then through an opening of said connector- stopper, through the first opening of the casing, then in the flexible pipe through the second opening of the casing before being conveyed to said pump outside the casing.

According to one embodiment, the electrical wires for supplying electricity to the electric pump and/or, if applicable, the electrical wires for powering the electronic clock circuit, or even the electrical wire carrying the control signal at the output of the electronic clock circuit, run along the flexible pipe, and are embedded as an insert in the wall thickness of said flexible pipe. In particular, the electrical wires powering the electric pump and powering the electronic clock circuit, as well as the electrical wire carrying the control signal at the output of the electronic clock circuit, are distributed regularly over the circumference of the flexible pipe.

According to one embodiment, the cannula of the device is secured to the container, while the connector-stopper, the casing, the electric pump and the flexible pipe form a secured assembly, removable from the cannula (when the connector-stopper is removed from the mouth of the container).

The invention also relates to a machine for treating a medical device, such as a medical endoscope, including:

- a treatment tank intended to receive a medical device,

- at least one withdrawal device according to the invention, configured to withdraw a treatment solution contained in a can,

- one or several treatment circuits for disinfecting inner and outer surfaces of said medical device from said treatment solution withdrawn by said at least device,

- an automaton commanding at least said electric pump of said withdrawal device (or altematively, a pump outside the casing when the device does not have one), and one or several solenoid valves of said treatment circuit, configured to carry out a disinfection cycle. According to one embodiment, said device comprises said electronic clock circuit, inside the casing, generating a determined control signal and in which said automaton comprises a circuit for real-time monitoring of said signal generated by the output of said electronic clock circuit, said monitoring circuit being configured to interrupt the disinfecting cycle if the signal at the output of the electronic clock circuit does not match the determined control signal. The determined control signal for example being a periodic signal with frequency f₀, the circuit for real-time monitoring interrupts the disinfecting cycle when the output signal does not have a frequency comprised between fo-delta f and fo+delta f.

The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description accompanied by the appended figures, in which:

- Figure 1 is a view of a withdrawal device according to the invention, the cannula of which is submerged in the volume of the can, the connector-stopper screwed to the mouth of the can, shown in side view, the protective casing inwardly housing an electric pump, as well as an electronic clock signal able to generate a determined control signal,

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device as illustrated in figure 1 ,

- Figure 3 is a partial detailed sectional view of box III-III of figure 2, illustrating the cooperation between a peripheral protrusion of the connector-stopper, and a blocking groove in a cavity of the casing ensuring that the connector-stopper is kept captive in the casing, the tapped part of the connector-stopper nevertheless rotating freely relative to the casing so as to allow the screwing/unscrewing of the connector-stopper on the mouth of the container,

- Figure 4 is a side view of a withdrawal device according to another embodiment of the invention, illustrating the distance "tf ' separating the upper end of the cannula from the electric pump integrated into the casing,

- Figure 5 is a view of the section of the flexible pipe whose wall comprises, within it, two electrical wires for supplying electricity to the electric pump, two wires for supplying electricity to the electronic clock circuit configured to generate a determined control signal, as well as a wire connected to the outlet of the electronic clock circuit carrying the determined control signal, - Figure 6 is a graph (y-axis voltage/x-axis time) illustrating a control signal chosen as square periodic voltage signal,

- Figure 7 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention, according to a second embodiment, a half-shell of the casing having been removed,

- Figure 8 is a sectional view of the device of figure 7,

- Figure 9 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention, according to a third embodiment, a half-shell of the casing having been removed,

- Figure 10 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention, according to a fourth embodiment, a half-shell of the casing having been removed,

- Figure 11 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention, according to a fifth embodiment, a half-shell of the casing having been removed,

- Figure 12 is a sectional view of the device of figure 1 1,

- Figure 13 is a detail view of the insertion portion of the stopper-connector received in the insertion portion of the connector part of figure 12.

The invention therefore relates to a device 1 for withdrawing a liquid contained in a container B, such as a can, through a mouth G of the container.

Such a container comprises a flexible pipe 10, a cannula 11 intended to be submerged in the liquid from the mouth, and a connector-stopper 12, intended to be fastened removably to the mouth while closing it.

The connector-stopper 12 may be of the screwing type having a tapping intended to cooperate by screwing with an outer screw thread of the mouth G. The cannula 11 may be secured to the connector-stopper 12, requiring it to be removed from the mouth during the removal of the connector.

Alternatively, the cannula 11 may be permanently fastened in the container B, in particular at its upper part to the mouth, and only be connected to the connector-stopper and the flexible conduit when the connector-stopper is fastened (in particular screwed) to the mouth G of the container B. According to one embodiment, the withdrawal device includes an electric pump 13 arranged in the immediate vicinity of said connector-stopper 12, as well as a protective casing 14 housing said electric pump 13. Also of note, the casing only partially houses said connector-stopper 12, which is captive in a lateral cavity emerging laterally from said casing 14. Part of the connector-stopper 12 protrudes from the casing 14, allowing it to be manipulated, and in particular to be screwed/unscrewed.

According to this embodiment, said casing having a first opening 16 for the liquid aspirated by the electric pump 13 within a wall of the lateral cavity 15, and a second opening 17 (in particular located opposite the first opening on the casing) for the liquid discharged by the electric pump 13, traversed by the flexible pipe 10.

Such a device 1 is then configured to withdraw the liquid contained in the container B that is aspirated, under the action of the electric pump 13, and flows successively within the cannula 11, then through an opening of said connector-stopper 12, through the first opening of the casing 16, within the electric pump 13, then is discharged by the electric pump 13 into the flexible pipe 10 through the second opening 17 of the casing.

Such an embodiment is advantageous in that the electric pump 13 aspirating the liquid is positioned in the immediate vicinity of the connector-stopper, and compared with the cannula systems known from the state of the art.

As illustrated for information in figure 4, the distance "tf ' separating the electric pump from the base of the connector-stopper can be less than 15 cm, for example comprised between 3 cm and 10 cm. The time needed for the electric pump to drive out the air and aspirate the liquid contained in the container is minimized, each time the electric pump 13 is restarted.

Such an embodiment is also advantageous in that the connector-stopper 12 is held captive by the casing: the conduit connecting the connector-stopper 12 to the pump is completely protected by the protective casing 14, then making it impossible to section it without damaging the device, unlike the state of the art cited in the introduction. According to one embodiment, in addition or as an alternative to said electric pump 13, the device may have an electronic clock circuit 30 (for example a timer) inside the casing, supplied with direct voltage in particular comprised between 5 V and 24 V and generating, in voltage, a determined control signal Sc.

This determined control signal may for example be a square periodic signal. This control signal advantageously makes it possible to carry out a real-time monitoring method preferably implemented by the automaton of the treatment machine.

The determined control signal for example being a periodic signal with frequency f₀, the real-time monitoring may consist of interrupting the disinfecting cycle when the detected output signal does not have a frequency comprised between f₀-delta f and fo+delta f.

When the electronic clock circuit 30 is added to the electric pump 13, it constitutes additional protection prohibiting the easy replacement of the cannula and the connector.

Such an electronic clock circuit 30 may nevertheless be provided as an alternative to the electric pump. In such a case, said device is configured to withdraw the liquid contained in the container B that is aspirated, under the action of an electric pump (remote) of a treatment machine, and flows successively within the cannula 1 1, then through an opening of said connector-stopper 12, through the first opening of the casing 16, then in the flexible pipe 10 through the second opening 17 of the casing before being conveyed to said electric pump (outside the casing).

According to one embodiment, the connector-stopper 12 may have a tapping, intended to cooperate with a screw thread of the mouth G, the connector-stopper 12 being captive in the lateral cavity 15 of the casing 14. Advantageously, the tapped part of the connector-stopper 12 rotates freely relative to the casing 14 to allow the screwing or unscrewing of the connector-stopper 12 on the thread of the mouth G. In other words, the connector-stopper 12 can be pivoted around its axis to allow the screwing or unscrewing of the connector-stopper 12 on the mouth G, and advantageously without needing to pivot the casing 14, or the flexible pipe 10 connected to the casing, in particular to the electric pump 13.

For example, the part of the connector-stopper 12 penetrating the lateral cavity 15 of the casing 14 has a protrusion 20 arranged along a perimeter of said connector-stopper 12, in one or several parts on the periphery of the connector-stopper 12, said protrusion 20 extending radially outward.

The lateral cavity 15 of the casing 14 has a complementary blocking groove 21, inwardly receiving the peripheral protrusion 20: the peripheral protrusion 20 and the blocking groove 21 cooperate with one another so as to keep the connector-stopper captive in the casing. The peripheral protrusion 20 may consist of a peripheral rib penetrating the blocking groove 21 and in particular so as to allow only a single degree of freedom to the connector-stopper 12 relative to the casing, i.e., the rotation of the connector-stopper around its screwing/unscrewing axis.

The protective casing 14 may be made up of two half-shells 141 , 142, which are assembled to form a shell whose inner volume forms the housing for the electric pump 13 and/or the housing for the electronic clock circuit 30.

The lateral cavity 15 receiving the connector-stopper can be formed half in one of the two protective shells 141, 142 and the other half in the other protective shell. This allows the placement of the penetrating part of the connector-stopper between the two shells, while causing the peripheral protrusion 20 to penetrate the blocking groove 21, before the assembly of the two shells. Once the two shells 141, 142 are assembled, it is no longer possible to remove the peripheral protrusion from the blocking groove 21, the connector-stopper 12 being firmly kept captive in the casing 14.

The two protective shells are preferably assembled irreversibly: for example, the two protective shells 141 , 142 can be assembled by irreversible fastening clips, comprising mutually engaging clip parts distributed on the two protective shells. The two protective shells can also be assembled against one another by gluing.

The casing 14 is preferably opaque: one of the half-shells is illustrated transparently in the figures, solely for a clear view of the members inside the casing.

The electrical wires 131, 132 for supplying electricity to the electric pump and/or, if applicable, the electrical wires 31, 32 for powering said electronic clock circuit 30, or even the electrical wire 33 carrying the control signal at the output of the electronic clock circuit, run along the flexible pipe 10, and are preferably embedded in the wall thickness of the wall of said flexible pipe 10. Such a flexible pipe 10 comprising electrical wires 131, 132 and 31 to 33 as an insert in the wall of the pipe can be obtained during the extrusion of the flexible pipe, i.e., by coextrusion. Preferably, the electrical wires powering the electric pump and powering the electronic clock circuit, as well as the electrical wire carrying the control signal at the output of the electronic clock circuit, are distributed regularly over the circumference of the flexible pipe. One thus increases the likelihood that piercing the flexible pipe will also cause the cutting of one of the electrical wires, which causes the disinfecting cycle to stop. Indeed, sectioning one of the electrical wires either causes the direct stopping of the electric pump by sectioning a power supply wire 131 or 132 of the pump, or indirectly causes it by sectioning the wires 31 to 33, causing the determined control signal Sc not to be received by the automaton, and consequently the interruption of the disinfecting cycle by the automaton. Such an arrangement advantageously makes it possible to place the treatment machine in failure mode if the flexible pipe is cleanly cut.

According to one advantageous embodiment, the cannula 11 of the device is secured to the container and fastened permanently to the container in particular at its mouth G, while the connector-stopper 12, the casing 14, the electric pump 13 and the flexible pipe 10 form a secured assembly, removable from the cannula 1 1 when the connector- stopper 12 is removed from the mouth of the container B. One thus avoids the risks of spilling of the liquid contained in the cannula, and relative to a device whereof the cannula secured to the connector-stopper must be removed jointly with the latter, and may release liquid when it is removed.

- a treatment tank intended to receive a medical device,

- at least one withdrawal device 1 according to the invention, configured to withdraw a treatment solution contained in a can,

- one or several treatment circuits for disinfecting inner and outer surfaces of said medical device from said treatment solution, connected to the flexible pipe 10 of said at least one withdrawal device,

- an automaton commanding at least said electric pump 13 of said withdrawal device 1 (or a pump outside the casing when the device does not have one), and one or several solenoid valves of said treatment circuit, configured to carry out a disinfection cycle.

According to one embodiment of the treatment machine, said device comprises said electronic clock circuit 30, inside the casing 14, generating a determined control signal Sc.

Advantageously, said automaton comprises a circuit for real-time monitoring of said signal generated by the output of said electronic clock circuit 30, said monitoring circuit being configured to interrupt the disinfecting cycle if the signal at the output of the electronic clock circuit 30 does not match the determined control signal Sc.

For example, and as illustrated in figure 6, the determined control signal is a periodic (voltage) signal with frequency f₀, in particular a square periodic signal. The circuit for real-time monitoring interrupts the disinfecting cycle when the output signal does not have a frequency comprised between f₀-delta f and fo+delta f, and in particular a square periodic signal. Delta f here represents a small variation in the frequency relative to f_o, for example less than or equal to 2% of the value f_o. According to one embodiment illustrated in figures 7 to 9, said protrusion 20 can be provided on a fastening part 22, stationary relative to the casing 14, and separate from the tapped part of the connector-stopper 12. The tapped part of the connector-stopper 12 is articulated pivoting on the axis of the connector to allow screwing or unscrewing.

As shown in the example embodiments of figures 7 and 8, such a fastening part 22 can be a globally cylindrical part, in the form of a ring forming a continuous protrusion. This fastening part 22 has an axis A22 combined with the axis of the connector-stopper 12 and, once captive in the lateral cavity of the casing 14, can be fastened on an upper portion of a connector part 23 of the connector-stopper 12.

The connector part 23 of the connector-stopper can be provided between the tapped part of the connector-stopper 12 and said fastening part 22, rotatable relative to the connector-stopper 12. Such a connector part 23 can be a body of revolution, with an axis combined with the axis A22 of said fastening part 22, once the assembly is assembled. Such a connector part 23 may advantageously include at least one protuberance EX23 protruding radially from a side wall P23 of said connector part 23. The at least one protuberance EX23 is advantageously configured so as to prevent the rotation of said connector part 23 relative to the lateral cavity 15, by abutting against a wall arranged in said lateral cavity 15, for example below said blocking groove 21. Thus, only the tapped part of the connector-stopper 12 is rotatable relative to the lateral cavity 15, once the connector-stopper 12 is kept captive in said lateral cavity 15 via maintaining means M.

A connector portion R23 is arranged in the upper part of said connector part 23, protruding in the direction of the axis A22, in order to receive an end of a flexible pipe conveying the liquid withdrawn by the cannula 1 1 toward the electric pump 13. According to another alternative embodiment illustrated in figure 9, said protrusion 20 can be discontinuous and be made up of at least one fastening stud P23, arranged radially on the connector part 23, and preferably several fastening studs P23 protruding radially from a peripheral wall of the connector part 23, and distributed regularly on said peripheral wall.

For the embodiments of figures 7 to 9, the lateral cavity 15 receiving the connector- stopper is formed half in one of the two protective shells 141, 142 and the other half in the other protective shell. This allows the placement of the penetrating part of the connector-stopper between the two shells, while causing the peripheral protrusion 20 (the ring of the fastening part 22 of figures 7 and 8, or the studs P23 of the connector part 23 of figure 9) in the blocking groove 21 , before the assembly of the two shells. Once the two shells 141 , 142 are assembled, it is no longer possible to remove the peripheral protrusion 20 from the blocking groove 21 , the connector-stopper 12 being firmly kept captive in the casing 14. These embodiments are therefore functionally equivalent to that of figures 2 and 3. The embodiment of figures 10 to 13, however, illustrates maintaining means M that advantageously make it possible to assemble the casing 14 and the connector-stopper 12, the connector-stopper 12 being placed in the lateral cavity 15, by inserting the connector-stopper 12 into the lateral cavity 15. According to this embodiment, the lateral cavity 15 does not need to be made up half in one half-shell 141 , 142 and the other half in another half-shell 141, 142.

According to this embodiment, the part of the connector-stopper 12 penetrating the lateral cavity 15 of the casing 14 includes an insertion portion RR12 arranged in the upper part of said connector-stopper 12, and protruding toward the outside of the connector-stopper 12, and said maintaining means M comprise, aside from this insertion portion RR12, a connector part 18, secured to the casing 14, comprising two insertion portions RR18, RR19, each arranged at one of the two ends of the connector part 18.

The insertion portion RR12 secured to the connector-stopper 12 and the connector part 18 form the two components of a quick connector that ensures the automatic locking of the two components of the quick connector during the insertion of the connector-stopper 12 into the lateral cavity 15 of the casing 14. The first insertion portion RR19 is advantageously configured so as to receive and hold a flexible pipe 19, conveying the liquid toward the electric pump 13, and the second insertion portion RR18 is configured so as to receive said insertion portion RR12 and keep it captive in the connector-stopper 12.

The second insertion portion RR18 of the connector part 18 and the insertion portion RR12 of the connector part 12 are configured so as to allow the insertion of the insertion portion RR12 of the connector-stopper 12 in the second insertion portion RR18 of the connector part 18, and to automatically prohibit the removal of the insertion portion RR12 from the connector-stopper 12 in the second insertion portion RR18 of the connector part 18, when said second insertion portion RR18 is fully housed in said lateral cavity 15. As shown in the example embodiments of figures 10 to 12, such a connector part 18 can advantageously be a bent part comprising two cylindrical portions, each receiving either the insertion portion RR18 or the insertion portion RRI O.

Advantageously, said insertion portion RR18 is a part of revolution with axis ARR18.

As shown in the example embodiment of figure 12, the insertion portion RR18 is advantageously arranged in two parts: a stationary part FRR18, made up of an inner wall of the connector part 18, and a moving part BRR18, positioned in the stationary part FRR18, made up of a globally cylindrical part with axis ARR18 of the stationary part FRR18, translatable relative to said stationary part FRR18, along the axis ARR18 of the stationary part RR18.

Advantageously, the insertion portion RR12 of the stopper-connector 12 is received partly in the stationary part FRR18 of the insertion portion RR18 and partly in the moving part BRR18 of said insertion portion, said moving part BRR18 and the stationary part FRR18 being configured so as to allow the movement of the portion RR12 of the stopper-connector 12 in the insertion portion RR18 of the connector part 18 when the moving part BRRl 8 is located in a first position relative to the stationary part FRRl 8, along the axis ARR18, and to prevent the movement of the portion RR12 of the connector-stopper 12 in the insertion portion RR18 of the connector part 18 when the moving part BRRl 8 is located in a second position, separate from the first position, relative to the stationary part FRRl 8, along the axis ARR18 of the stationary part FRRl 8.

To that end, and as shown in more detail in the example embodiment of figure 13, said stationary part FRRl 8 of said insertion portion RR18 may include a first portion FRR18CY, cylindrical with axis ARR18, and a second portion FRR18CO, conical with axis ARR18.

Said moving part BRRl 8 may include a plurality of elastic tabs BRR18P, distributed regularly on the periphery of the moving part BRRl 8, and provided to extend in the direction of the axis ARR18, when the moving part BRRl 8 is positioned in the stationary part FRRl 8. Each elastic tab BRR18P may also include an immobilizing stud BRRl 81, arranged at one end of said moving part BRRl 8. The immobilizing studs BRRl 81 are advantageously dimensioned so as to exert bearing on the insertion portion RR12 of the connector-stopper 12, in its radial direction, in order to prevent the insertion portion RR12 of the connector-stopper 12 from moving with respect to the moving part BRRl 8 of the insertion portion RR18 of the connector part 18, when positioned in the second portion FRR18CO, and not to exert any bearing on the insertion portion RR12 of the connector-stopper 12, when said immobilizing studs BRRl 81 are positioned in the first portion FRR18CY.

An elastic means RR18R can also be provided in said insertion portion RR18 of the connector part 18, configured and positioned so as to stress the movement of the moving part BRRl 8 relative to the stationary part FRRl 8 toward the second position of the moving part. Such an elastic means RR18R can for example be made up of an O- ring positioned at the end of the first portion FRR18CY of the moving part BRRl 8, opposite the second portion FR18CO, said O-ring also ensuring the sealing between the stationary part FRR18 and the moving part BRR18 of the insertion portion RR18 of the connector part 18.

As shown in the example embodiments of figures 10 to 12, the connector part 18 is positioned completely inside the lateral cavity 15, such that the moving part BRR18 is not accessible from outside the casing 14 once the connector-stopper 12 is received in the lateral cavity 15.

Thus, once the insertion portion RR12 of the connector-stopper 12 has been positioned, then immobilized automatically in translation in the insertion portion RR18 of the connector part 18, owing to the movement of the moving part BRR18 with respect to the stationary part FRR18, it is impossible for a user to move said moving part BRR18 again relative to the stationary part FRR18 so as to allow the withdrawal of the insertion portion RR12 of the connector-stopper 12 from the insertion portion RR18 of the connector part RR18. The connector-stopper 12 is therefore held captive by said lateral cavity.

Said insertion portion RR12 of the connector-stopper 12 can advantageously be arranged on the connecting part 23 secured to the connector-stopper 12, the tapped part of the connector-stopper 12 being mounted rotatably relative to said intermediate part 23 to allow the screwing/unscrewing. Such a connector part 23 may advantageously include at least one protuberance EX23 protruding radially from a side wall P23 of said connector part 23. The at least one protuberance EX23 is advantageously configured so as to prevent the rotation of said connector part 23 relative to the lateral cavity 15, by abutting against a wall arranged in said lateral cavity 15. Thus, only the tapped part of the connector-stopper 12 is rotatable relative to the lateral cavity 15, once the connector-stopper 12 is kept captive in said lateral cavity 15 via maintaining means M.

Naturally, other embodiments could have been considered by One Skilled in the Art without going beyond the scope of the invention defined by the claims below. NOMENCLATURE

1. Withdrawal device,

10. Flexible pipe,

11. Cannula,

12. Connector-stopper.

13. Electric pump,

131, 132. Electrical wires powering the electric pump,

14. Casing,

141, 142. Two half-shells (casing),

15. Lateral cavity of the casing (for connector-stopper),

16. Casing first opening,

17. Casing second opening,

18. C onnector part,

ARR18. Axis.

RR18. Insertion portion,

FRR18. Stationary part,

FRR18CY. First portion,

FRR18CO. Second portion,

BRR18. Moving part,

BRR18I.

BRR18E. Elastic means,

RR18R. Spring,

19. Flexible pipe.

M. Means for keeping captive

20, 21. Peripheral protruding pair of the connector-stopper and blocking grooves of the casing cooperating with one another to keep the connector-stopper captive with the casing.

22. Fastening part, A22. Axis,

P23. Stud,

23. Intermediate part,

EX23. Protuberance,

30. Electronic clock circuit,

31 , 32. Electrical wires powering the electronic clock circuit,

33. Electrical wires carrying the output of the electronic clock circuit.

B. Container,

G. Mouth.

Sc. Determined control signal.

Claims

1. A device (1) for withdrawing a liquid contained in a container (B), such as a can, through a mouth (G) of the container, comprising:

- a flexible pipe (10),

- a cannula (1 1) intended to be submerged in the liquid from the mouth,

- an electric pump (13),

- a protective casing (14) housing said electric pump (13),

- a connector-stopper (12), intended to be fastened removably to the mouth while closing it, separate from said protective casing (14), said electric pump being arranged in the immediate vicinity of said connector-stopper (12), said casing having a first opening (16) for the liquid aspirated by the electric pump (13), and a second opening (17) for the liquid discharged by the electric pump, traversed by the flexible pipe,

said device (1) being configured to withdraw the liquid contained in the container (B) that is aspirated, under the action of the electric pump (13), and flows successively within the cannula (11), then through an opening of said connector-stopper (12), through the first opening of the casing (16), within the electric pump (13), then is discharged by the electric pump (13) into the flexible pipe (10) through the second opening of the casing (17),

characterized in that the casing (14) comprises a lateral cavity (15) emerging laterally from said casing (14), said lateral cavity being configured to partially house said connector-stopper (12), said first opening (16) being within a wall of the lateral cavity (15), and in that said device includes maintaining means (M) configured to keep said connector-stopper (12) captive in said lateral cavity (15) of said casing (14).

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the connector-stopper (12) has a tapping, intended to cooperate with a screw thread of the mouth (G), the connector-stopper being kept captive in the lateral cavity (15) of the casing (14) via said maintaining means (M), the tapped part of the connector-stopper (12) rotating freely relative to the casing (14) to allow the screwing or unscrewing of the connector-stopper (12) on the thread of the mouth (G).

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the connector-stopper (12) comprises a connector part (23), stationary relative to the casing (14), having a connector portion

(RR23) arranged in the upper part of said connector part (23), in order to receive an end of a flexible pipe (19) conveying the liquid withdrawn by the cannula (11) toward the electric pump (13), and wherein the tapped part of the connector-stopper (12) is pivotably articulated relative to the connector part (23) to allow the screwing or unscrewing of the connector-stopper (12) on the thread of the mouth (G).

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the connector part (23) includes at least one protuberance (EX23), protruding radially from a side wall (P23) of said connector part (23), said at least one protuberance (EX23) being configured so as to prevent the rotation of said connector part (23) relative to the lateral cavity (15), by abutting against a wall arranged in said lateral cavity (15).

5. The device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the part of the connector- stopper (12) penetrating the lateral cavity (15) of the casing (14) has a protrusion (20) arranged along a perimeter of said connector-stopper (12), in one or several parts on the periphery of the connector-stopper (12), said protrusion (20) extending radially outward, and said maintaining means (M) comprise, aside from said protrusion (20), a blocking groove (21) arranged on the lateral cavity, inwardly receiving the peripheral protrusion (20), the peripheral protrusion (20) and the blocking groove (21) cooperating with one another so as to keep the connector-stopper captive in the casing, and in which the protective casing (14) is made up of two half-shells (141, 142), which are assembled to form a shell whose inner volume forms the casing for the electric pump (13) and in which the lateral cavity (15) receiving the connector-stopper (12) is formed half in one of the two protective half-shells (141 , 142) and the other half in the other protective half-shell.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said protrusion (20) is arranged on a fastening part (22) in the form of a ring fastened to said connector part (23), or said protrusion (20) is formed by a plurality of studs (P22) protruding radially from a peripheral wall of the connector part (23).

7. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the part of the connector-stopper (12) penetrating the lateral cavity (15) of the casing (14) includes an insertion portion (RR12) arranged in the upper part of said connector-stopper (12), tubular, intended to conduct the withdrawn liquid and protruding toward the outside of the connector- stopper (12), and said maintaining means (M) comprise, aside from the insertion portion (R112), a connector part (18) secured to the casing (14) forming an automatic connector with said insertion portion (R112), said connector part (18) comprising two insertion portions (RR18, RR19), each arranged at one of the two ends of the connector part (18), the first insertion portion (RR19) being configured so as to receive and hold a flexible pipe (19) conveying the liquid withdrawn via the cannula (11) toward the electric pump (13), and the second insertion portion (RR18) being configured so as to receive and hold said insertion portion (RR12) of the connector-stopper (12), the second insertion portion (RR18) of the connector part (18) and the insertion portion (RR12) of the connector-stopper (12) being configured so as to allow the insertion of the insertion portion (RR12) of the connector-stopper (12) in the second insertion portion (RR18) of the connector part (18), and to automatically prohibit the removal of the insertion portion (RR12) of the connector-stopper (12) in the second insertion portion (RR18) of the connector part (18), when said second insertion portion (RR18) is completely housed in said lateral cavity (15), and wherein the second insertion portion (RR18) comprises two parts with a stationary part (FRRl 8) and a moving part (BRRl 8), which is positioned in the stationary part (FRRl 8), translatable relative to said stationary part (FRRl 8), along the axis (ARR18) of the stationary part (FRRl 8), the moving part (BRRl 8) and the stationary part (FRRl 8) being configured so as to allow the portion (RR12) of the connector-stopper (12) to move in the insertion portion (RR18) of the connector part (18) when the moving part (BRRl 8) is situated in a first position relative to the stationary part (FRRl 8), along the axis (ARR18) of the stationary part (FRRl 8), and to prevent the movement of the portion (RR12) of the connector-stopper (12) in the insertion portion (RR18) of the connector part (18) when the moving part (BRR18) is in a second position, separate from the first position, relative to the stationary part (FRR18), along the axis (ARR18) of the stationary part (FRR18),

and wherein an elastic means (RR18R) stressing the moving part (BRR18) from the first position toward the second position is provided, and the connector part (18) being configured such that the introduction of the insertion portion (RR12) drives the moving part (BRR18) toward the first position against the return force of the elastic means (RR18),

and wherein the connector part (18) is positioned completely inside the lateral cavity (15), such that the moving part (BRR18) is not accessible from outside the casing (14) once the connector-stopper (12) is received in the lateral cavity (15).

8. The device according to one of claims 1 , 2 or 7, wherein the protective casing (14) is made up of two half-shells (141, 142), which are assembled to form a shell whose inner volume forms the housing for the electric pump (13).

9. The device according to one of claims 5, 6 or 8, wherein the two protective half- shells (141 , 142) are assembled by irreversible fastening clips, comprising mutually engaging clip parts distributed on the two protective half-shells.

10. The device according to one of claims 5, 6 or 8, wherein the two protective half- shells (141 , 142) are assembled to one another by gluing. 11. The device according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein an electronic clock circuit (30) is inside the casing, supplied with direct voltage comprised between 5 V and 24 V and generating a determined control signal (Sc).

12. The device according to claim 1 1, provided without said electric pump (13) inside the casing, said device being configured to withdraw the liquid contained in the container (B) that is aspirated, under the action of an electric pump of a treatment machine, and flows successively within the cannula (11), then through an opening of said connector-stopper (12), through the first opening of the casing (16), then in the flexible pipe (10) through the second opening of the casing (17) before being conveyed to said pump outside the casing. 13. The device according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the electrical wires (131 , 132) for supplying electricity to the electric pump and/or, if applicable, the electrical wires (31, 32) for powering the electronic clock circuit, or even the electrical wire (33) carrying the control signal at the output of the electronic clock circuit (30), run along the flexible pipe (10), and are embedded as an insert in the wall thickness of said flexible pipe (10).

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the electrical wires powering the electric pump and powering the electronic clock circuit, as well as the electrical wire carrying the control signal at the output of the electronic clock circuit, are distributed regularly over the circumference of the flexible pipe (10).

15. The device according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the cannula (11) of the device is secured to the container, while the connector-stopper (12), the casing (14), the electric pump (13) and the flexible pipe (10) form a secured assembly, removable from the cannula (1 1) when the connector-stopper (12) is removed from the mouth (G) of the container (B).

16. A machine for treating a medical device, such as a medical endoscope, including:

- a treatment tank intended to receive a medical device,

- at least one withdrawal device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, configured to withdraw a treatment solution contained in a can,

- one or several treatment circuits for disinfecting inner and outer surfaces of said medical device from said treatment solution,

- an automaton commanding at least said electric pump (13) of said withdrawal device and one or several solenoid valves of said treatment circuit, configured to carry out a disinfecting cycle.

17. The treatment machine according to claim 16, wherein said device is according to claim 11 or 12 comprising said electronic clock circuit (30), inside the casing, generating a determined control signal (Sc),

and wherein said automaton comprises a circuit for real-time monitoring of said signal generated by the output of said electronic clock circuit 30, said monitoring circuit being configured to interrupt the disinfecting cycle if the signal at the output of the electronic clock circuit (30) does not match the determined control signal (Sc).

18. The treatment machine according to claim 17, wherein the determined control signal being a periodic signal with frequency f₀, the circuit for real-time monitoring interrupts the disinfecting cycle when the output signal does not have a frequency comprised between f₀-delta f and fo+delta f.