MEDICAL OR SURGICAL EQUIPMENT

Abstract

In a medical or surgical equipment for receiving signals or for outputting signals from or to organic signal transmitters or receivers (4), such as in particular nerves, wherein on or in at least one carrier strip (1) at least one signal transmitter (2) for signals from or signals to the organic signal transmitter or receiver (4) is provided, which can be brought into contact with the organic signal transmitter or receiver (4), the carrier strip (1) is intended to change its shape when there is a change in a medium surrounding it or in a medium present in it or by a medium that can be introduced into it, in such a way that it adapts to the organic signal transmitter or receiver (4).

(FIG. 2)

Claims

1. Medical or surgical equipment for receiving signals or for outputting signals from or to organic signal transmitters or receivers (4), such as in particular nerves, wherein on or in at least one carrier strip (1, 1.1, 1.2) at least one signal carrier (2) for signals from or signals to the organic signal transmitter or receiver (4) is provided, which can be brought into contact with the organic signal transmitter or receiver (4), characterized in that the carrier strip (1, 1.1, 1.2) changes its shape when there is a change in a medium surrounding it or in a medium present in it or by a medium which can be introduced into it, in such a way that it adapts to the organic signal transmitter or receiver (4).

2. Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier strip (1, 1.1, 1.2) winds around the organic signal transmitter or receiver (4) in the form of a spiral or helix.

3. Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier strip (1.1) is assigned with a hydraulic or pneumatic device which effects the change in shape of the carrier strip (1.1).

4. Equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that in the carrier strip (1.1) a reservoir (5) for a hydraulic or pneumatic medium as well as at least one conduit (6.1, 6.2) connected to this reservoir (5) is integrated.

5. Equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that the conduit (6.1, 6.2) runs away from the reservoir (5) and at least along the signal transmitter (2).

6. Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier strip (1,1.2) consists of a material which undergoes a change in shape when the temperature changes.

7. Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier strip (1.2) consists of a material or contains a substance which undergoes a change in shape or leads to a change in shape of the carrier strip (1.2) when an electrical pulse is applied or transmitted.

8. Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier strip (1, 1.1, 1.2) is L-shaped.

9. Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that a heating element (7) is integrated in the carrier strip (1, 1.1, 1.2).

10. Method for performing a medical or surgical operation, in which signals from or to an organic signal transmitter or signal receiver (4) are received or output by medical or surgical equipment, wherein at least one signal carrier (2) for signals from or signals to the organic signal transmitter or signal receiver (4) is provided on or in at least one carrier strip (1, 1.1, 1.2) of this equipment and this is brought into contact with the organic signal transmitter or signal receiver (4), characterized in that the shape of the carrier strip (1, 1.1, 1.2) for application to the organic signal transmitter or signal receiver (4) is adapted to the shape of the organic signal transmitter or signal receiver (4), characterized in that the shape of the carrier strip (1, 1.1, 1.2) is changed for application to the organic signal transmitter or receiver (4).

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the shape of the carrier strip (1.1) is changed by a hydraulic or pneumatic device associated with the carrier strip (1.1).

12. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that a temperature of the carrier strip (1) is changed before its use in the surgery during the use, which leads to a change in shape of the carrier strip (1), in particular to the application of the carrier strip (1) to the signal transmitter or receiver (4).

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the carrier strip (1) is cooled prior to its use in the surgery.

14. Method for performing a medical or surgical operation, in which signals from or to an organic signal transmitter or signal receiver (4) are received or output by medical or surgical equipment, wherein at least one signal transmitter for signals (2) from or signals to the organic signal transmitter or signal receiver (4) is provided on or in at least one carrier strip (1.2) of this equipment and this is brought into contact with the organic signal transmitter or signal receiver (4), characterized in that, when the carrier strip (1.2) is applied to the organic signal transmitter or receiver (4), an electrical pulse causes a change in shape, in particular to an application of the carrier strip (1.2) to the organic signal transmitter or receiver (4).

15. Equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that the carrier strip (1.1) is assigned with a hydraulic or pneumatic device which effects the change in shape of the carrier strip (1.1).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0018] Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of preferred embodiment and from the drawing; these show in

[0019] FIG. 1 a top view of a medical or surgical equipment according to the invention outside the position of use;

[0020] FIG. 2 a perspective view of the medical or surgical equipment according to the invention in the position of use;

[0021] FIG. 3 a perspective view of a further embodiment of the medical or surgical equipment according to the invention outside the position of use;

[0022] FIG. 4 a perspective view of the medical or surgical equipment according to FIG. 3 along line IV-IV;

[0023] FIG. 5 a perspective view of a further embodiment of the medical or surgical equipment according to the invention outside the position of use.

[0024] According to FIG. 1, a medical or surgical equipment according to the invention has a carrier strip 1 which is covered with a signal transmitter 2. As a rule, the signal transmitter 2 is an electrode.

[0025] A conductor 3 to any electrical device is connected to the signal transmitter 2, with which a pulse of the signal transmitter can be received or a pulse can be output to the signal transmitter 2.

[0026] The functioning of the present invention is as follows:

[0027] An essential feature of the present invention is the design of the carrier strip 1, which, as shown in FIG. 2, should be able to change its shape in such a way that it can be wrapped around a nerve 4, for example, as an example of an organic signal transmitter or receiver. The preferred L-shape (or also sickle, banana or boomerang shape) of the carrier strip 1 also enables a helix-like wrapping around the signal transmitter or receiver 4, whereby the contact possibility is further increased.

[0028] In a first embodiment of the invention, the carrier strip 1 has the shape outlined in FIG. 1 and is kept refrigerated. However, it is made of a material that changes shape when the temperature changes. For example, the inner surface of the carrier strip 1 may be coated with a material that contracts when the temperature is increased, causing the carrier strip 1 to twist.

[0029] Thus, if the carrier strip 1 is applied to, for example, a nerve 4 during a surgery, a change in shape occurs as a result of the heating of the carrier strip 1 by the warmer tissue surrounding it and, in particular, a twisting of the carrier strip so that it wraps around the nerve 4.

[0030] However, the carrier strip 1 is made of such a flexible material that the change in shape can be overcome by pulling lightly on the conductor 3 and the carrier strip can be pulled off the nerve 4.

[0031] In a further preferred embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, a hydraulic or pneumatic device is integrated in a carrier strip 1.1. This consists of a reservoir 5 and at least one, preferably two, conduits 6.1 and 6.2 for a hydraulic or pneumatic medium. This runs along the carrier strip 1.1 and the signal transmitter 2. When pressure is applied to the reservoir 5, a hydraulic or pneumatic medium flows into the conduit 6.1, 6.2 and causes the carrier strip 1.1 to align straight and flat. When the pressure on the reservoir 5 is released, the hydraulic or pneumatic medium flows back into the reservoir 5 and the carrier strip 1.1 returns to its original helically wound shape. This can be assisted, for example, by the carrier strip 1.1 being made of a material with a memory effect.

[0032] If the equipment according to the invention is thus required during a surgery, for example on a nerve 4, the surgeon can press on the reservoir 5, for example with tweezers, causing the hydraulic or pneumatic medium to flow into the conduit 6.1, 6.2 and straighten the carrier strip 1.1. Now the surgeon can place the carrier strip 1.1 against the nerve 4, release the pressure on the reservoir 5 and the carrier strip 1 wraps around the nerve 4.

[0033] When removing the equipment from the nerve 4, it is usually sufficient for the carrier strip 1.1 to be flexible enough to unroll from the nerve 4 when the conductor 3 is pulled. If this is not sufficient, the surgeon can again apply pressure to the reservoir 5 so that the carrier strip 1.1 straightens.

[0034] In a further embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 5, it is intended to integrate a resistance wire 7 in the carrier strip 1.2, via which heat can be supplied to the carrier strip 1.2 in a controlled manner. The control line required for this is also integrated in the conductor 3. This would allow the embodiment according to FIG. 1 to be better controlled, which is done by controlling the heat. However, the resistance wire 7 could also cause interference with the signal transmission. However, since very effective shielding of conductors is known today, this embodiment example is also to be covered by the invention.

TABLE-US-00001 Reference symbol list 1 Trägerstreifen carrier strip 2 Elektroden signal transmitter 3 Leiter conductor 4 Nerv nerve 5 Reservoir reservoir 6 Leitung conduit 7 Widerstandsdraht/ resistance wire/ Wärmeelement heating element