STERILE COVER FOR A MEDICAL IMAGING DEVICE AND STERILE MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a sterile cover (30) for a medical imaging device (10), comprising: a frame member (40) configured to cover an imaging front side (10a) of the medical imaging device (10), wherein a side intended to face the imaging front side (10a) of the medical device (10) is a facing side (41) of the frame member (40), and at least one transparent cover portion (50) within the frame member (40) arranged to allow at least imaging by the medical imaging device (10) when the frame member (40) is attached to the medical imaging device (10), wherein the frame member (40) comprises at least two attachment portions (42) configured to provide a positive-fit connection with corresponding attachment portions (11) of the medical imaging device (10).

Claims

1. Sterile cover for a medical imaging device, comprising: a frame member configured to cover an imaging front side of the medical imaging device, wherein a side intended to face the imaging front side of the medical device is a facing side of the frame member, and at least one transparent cover portion within the frame member arranged to allow at least imaging by the medical imaging device when the frame member is attached to the medical imaging device, wherein the frame member comprises at least two attachment portions configured to provide a positive-fit connection with corresponding attachment portions of the medical imaging device.

2. The sterile cover according to claim 1, wherein the at least two attachment portions are provided on two opposing positions on the facing side of the frame member.

3. The sterile cover according to claim 1, wherein the at least two attachment portions are configured as resilient snap-fit members, preferably protruding from a periphery of the frame member in a direction extending from the facing side of the frame member.

4. The sterile cover according to claim 3, wherein snap-fit members are configured to provide a gap between respective snaps of the snap-fit members and the imaging front side of the medical imaging device in parallel to the facing side of the frame member, preferably less than 4 mm, when the medical imaging device extends outwardly with a positive convergence angle from the imaging front side.

5. The sterile cover according to claim 3, wherein the frame member further comprises at least one guiding member protruding from the facing side of the frame member intended to be received by a recess on the imaging front side of the medical imaging device.

6. The sterile cover according to claim 5, wherein a ratio of a protruding length of the at least one guiding member and a protruding length for engagement of the snap-fit members protruding from the facing side of the frame member to the respective ends of snaps opposite to the facing side is less than 1, preferably between 0.41 and 0.74.

7. The sterile cover according to claim 5, wherein a ratio of a cross section perpendicular to the protruding length of the at least one guiding member and a corresponding cross-section of the recess on the imaging front side of the medical imaging device is less than 1, preferably between 0.15 and 0.9.

8. The sterile cover according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two attachment portions of the frame member is configured to open or close an electric circuit of the medical imaging devices, preferably to function as a limit switch or to establish an electrical contact.

9. The sterile cover according to claim 1, wherein the transparent cover portion has a thickness in an imaging direction of 0.4 to 0.6 mm and/or a refraction index of about 1.49.

10. Sterile medical imaging system, comprising: a medical imaging device and a sterile cover according to claim 1, wherein an outer portion of the medical imaging device extends outwardly with a positive convergence angle from the imaging front side of the medical imaging device, and wherein the outer portion of the medical imaging device extending outwardly from the imaging front side of the medical imaging device comprises at least two attachment portions, preferably recessed in said outer portion, corresponding to the attachment portions of the sterile cover.

11. The sterile medical imaging system according to claim 10, wherein the positive convergence angle is equal to or less than 15°.

12. The sterile medical imaging system according to claim 10, wherein the surface of transparent cover portion facing at least one imaging component forms an angle of about 84° to 87° with the optical axis of the at least one imaging component, wherein the distance between the surface of the transparent cover and the surface of the imaging component facing the transparent cover is preferably equal to or less than 25 mm.

13. The sterile medical imaging system according to claim 10, wherein the at least two attachment portions of the sterile cover and the at least two attachment portions of the medical imaging device, respectively, and/or the guiding member of the sterile cover are configured to provide only one attachment orientation.

14. The sterile medical imaging system according to claim 10, wherein the medical imaging device comprises an electric circuit closable by at least one of the at least two attachment portions of the sterile cover and/or the at least one guiding member of the sterile cover.

15. The sterile medical imaging system according to claim 10, wherein the medical imaging device is a microscope.

16. The sterile cover according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the at least two attachment portions of the frame member and the at least one guiding member, or the at least one guiding member are/is configured to open or close an electric circuit of the medical imaging device, preferably to function as a limit switch or to establish an electrical contact.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section of a sterile cover and medical imaging device according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0046] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section of the sterile cover and medical imaging system according to FIG. 1 when the sterile cover is attached to the medical imaging device;

[0047] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the sterile cover and the region of the medical imaging device facing the sterile cover according to FIGS. 1 and 2; and

[0048] FIG. 4 is an exemplary view of a design of a guiding member and recess.

[0049] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section of a medical imaging device 10 and a sterile cover 30 of a sterile medical imaging system 1. The medical imaging device 10 comprises an imaging front side 10a facing the sterile cover 30 in an attachment orientation, in which the sterile cover 30 can be attached to or detached from the medical imaging device 10 by a bidirectional movement as indicated by the double arrow. An outer portion 10b of the medical imaging device 10 extends outwardly from the imaging front side 10a of the medical imaging device 10. The convergence angle α (FIG. 3) of the outer portion 10b is similar to the convergence angle of the imaging components 20a, 20b of an imaging unit 20. Here, each imaging component 20a, 20b is configured as an ocular, which provide an angle in-between thereof to be aligned on a common field of interest. Due to the similar convergence angle, the contour of the medical imaging device 10 may be designed compact. In the shown embodiment, the outer portion 10b also comprises two attachment portions 11 formed by notches to receive corresponding attachment portions of the sterile cover 30, as addressed later. Additionally, the imaging front side 10a provides two recesses 12 to allow the sterile cover 30 to be guided by moving corresponding guiding members 43 within the recesses 12. It should be noted that the number of attachment portions 11 and/or recesses 12 is not limited to the number as shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1. However, at least two of respective attachment portions 11 and/or recesses 12 provide at least some stability in terms of reducing the likelihood of the sterile cover to tilt without an excessive number of connection components. However, an increased number of attachment portions 11 and/or recesses 12 may provide more options to attach and/or guide different types of sterile covers 30 to a medical imaging device 10.

[0050] The sterile cover 30 comprises a frame member 40 and a transparent cover portion 50. The transparent cover portion 50 is affixed to the frame 40 and configured to allow the imaging unit 20 of the medical imaging device 10 to image a field of interest through the transparent cover portion 50 while being disposed in front of the medical imaging device 10 by the attachment of the frame member 40 to the medical imaging device 10. The frame member 40 provides a facing side 41 which is intended to face the imaging front side 10a of the medical imaging device 10 in an attachment orientation. The transparent cover portion 50 may be disposed in the frame member 40 with its surface opposite to the facing side 41 being flush with the frame surface also opposite to the facing side 41 to be disinfected or sterilized without interfering contours. Alternatively, such surface of the transparent cover portion 50 may be recessed within the frame member 40 to enhance the protection of the transparent cover portion 50.

[0051] The frame member 40 also comprises two attachment portions 42 intended to engage with the attachment portions 11 of the medical imaging device 10 to attach the sterile cover 30 to the medical imaging device 10. According to the illustrated embodiment, the attachment portions 42 are configured as snap-fit members protruding from the facing side 41 of the frame member 40 at opposite ends of the frame member 40. Here, the snap-fit members protrude perpendicular to the facing side 41. However, the attachment portions 42, irrespective of their specific design, may also protrude at an angle deviating from 90°, for example, according to design constraints. The attachment portions 42 configured as snap-members provide a snap at each respective end opposite to the facing side 41.

[0052] Further, the frame member 40 comprises to guiding members 43, which also protrude from the facing side 41. As per the guiding function, the guiding members 43 protrude substantially perpendicular to the facing side 41. However, slight deviations may be possible according to specific design options.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows the sterile cover 30 attached to the medical imaging device 1 in the same cross-section as per FIG. 1. The sterile cover 30 is attached by a relative movement to reduce the distance between the facing side 41 and the imaging front side 10a. Accordingly, the attachment portions 42 as resilient snap-fit members with snaps 42a are elastically deformed over at least some extension of the outer portion 10b before arriving at the corresponding attachment portions 11. When the snaps 42a arrive at attachment portions 11 formed as notches in this exemplary embodiment, the snaps 42a are forced into the notches due the elastic restoring forces of the resilient attachment portions 42.

[0054] The imaging components 20a, 20b of the imaging unit 20 or their optical axis, respectively, are each inclined by 5° with respect to a vertical axis in FIG. 2. In other words, the imaging components 20a, 20b provide a convergence angle of 10° between each other. Accordingly, the optical axis of each imaging component 20a, 20b forms an angle of 85° with the transparent cover portion 50. Such angle is preferably between 84° and 87°. To reduce a focus shift in such configuration to an acceptable minimum, the transparent cover portion has a thickness in direction of the optical axis of the respective imaging component 20a, 20b of 0.5 mm+/−0.1 mm, i.e. between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm. Further, the refraction index is about 1.49 with PMMA selected as material for the transparent cover portion 50. To reduce the amount of scattered light entering the imaging components 20a, 20b, the transparent cover portion 50 is distanced less than 25 mm from each imaging component 20a, 20b. The size of the transparent cover portion 30 in this embodiment is limited to the size required for imaging. The amount of scattered light entering the imaging components may therefore be optimized by the combination of the distance and sized of the transparent cover portion 50.

[0055] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the sterile cover 30 and the region of the medical imaging device 10 facing the sterile cover 30 according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The guiding members 43 provide a protruding length L1. However, the guiding members 43 may also provide different hides. For example, if one guiding member 43 provides a greater length L1+ΔL and the medical imaging device 10 comprises a corresponding recess, the sterile cover 30 may only be able to be attached, if each guiding member 43 enters its corresponding recess 12. Assuming that the corresponding recesses 12 have a depth of L1 and L1+ΔL, respectively, the length of the protruding length L2 for engagement should be at least L1 minus the difference in length ΔL, i.e. L2 min=L1−ΔL. Thus, the sterile cover 30 may only be attached in one attachment orientation. In other words, the attachment portions 42 cannot engage with the attachment portions 11 when the sterile cover is, for example, turned around a vertical axis in FIG. 3 by 180°.

[0056] Irrespective of different lengths of the guiding members 43 and depths of the recesses 12, the protruding length L2 for engagement of the attachment portions 42 in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is greater than the protruding length of the guiding members 43. Accordingly, a ratio between l1 and L2 is less than 1, preferably between 0.41 and 0.74. Furthermore, the ratio of the cross-section A1 of the guiding member 43 perpendicular to its protruding length L1 to be received by the corresponding recess 12 to the cross-section A2 of said recess 11 perpendicular to its depth is also less than 1, preferable in general between 0.15 and 0.9. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3 the medical imaging device 10 comprises an electric circuit 13 that is closed when the sterile cover 30 is attached to the medical imaging device 10 due to engagement of the attachment portions 42, 11. In such embodiment, the ratio of A1 to A2 should be rather in a range of 0.9 than in a range of 0.15 to ensure closing of the electric circuit 13. On the other hand, a lower ratio may be less sensitive to manufacturing tolerance that may result in frictional forces or otherwise impede the insertion of the guiding members 43 in the recesses 12. To allow a low ration A1 to A2 in combination with the electric circuit 13, the electric circuit may form a contact area at the bottom of the recesses 12. The contacts can be closed by the end surfaces of the guiding members 43. Thus, such configuration is less sensitive to lateral tolerances but to tolerance in corresponding lengths. To reduce tolerance in length, the end surfaces of the guiding members and/or the bottom of the recesses 11 may comprise resilient surface portions to compensate potential tolerances. The combination of the guiding members 43 and recesses 12 in view of closing or opening an electric circuit may also be configured as e mechanical switch, e.g. a button or actuator disposed in a corresponding recess 12 that is movable in the insertion direction of the guiding member 43 to close or open an electric circuit. Even though the embodiment of FIG. 3 illustrates an example of an electric circuit 13 to be closed by the two guiding members 43, the electric circuit 13 may also be configured to be closed by at least one of the guiding members 43. The same applies vice versa in the event of an electric circuit to be opened.

[0057] Further, the attachment portions 42 are configured to provide a gap a between respective snaps 42a of the snap-fit members as attachment portions 42 and the imaging front side 10a of the medical imaging device 10 in parallel to the facing side 41 of the frame member 40, here less than 4 mm, when the medical imaging device 10 extends outwardly with a positive convergence angle α from the imaging front side 10a. The convergence angle α in the exemplary embodiment is 5°. Due to the gap a, the resilient attachment members 42 are not elastically deformed when initially moved over the imaging front side 10a but during the course of the movement to approach the corresponding attachment portions 11 of the medical imaging device 10. Thus, the elastic deformation may be reduced to a minimum to ensure an elastic deformation required for the snaps 42a to be moved in a locking position into the notches as attachment portions 11 due to the elastic restoring forces. However, the gap a should still be restricted to reduces the protruding length L2 for engagement under consideration of the convergence angle α, here 5°.

[0058] FIG. 4 is an exemplary view of a design of a guiding member 43 and a corresponding recess 12. The end surface of the guiding member 43 facing the bottom surface of the recess 12 is tapered and forms a concave surface with an inclination angle β with respect to a plane perpendicular with the longitudinal axis z. Preferably, the inclination angle β is between 20° and 45°, which may also provide a centering functionality. Alternatively to the concave surface the end surface of the guiding member may be conical. However, a concave shape with respect to a radius near the longitudinal axis z may provide manufacturing advantages. The bottom surface of the recess 12 provides a corresponding surface shape in term of a positive-negative configuration. Due to such design, said combination is particularly advantageous, if the guiding member 43 is intended to actuate the bottom surface of the recess 12 as an actuator to close or open, for example, the electric circuit 13. Specifically, the actuator is also actuated by the guiding member 43 even if such actuation takes place under bending or skewed actuation.

[0059] It is to be noted that the given examples are specific embodiments and not intended to restrict the scope of protection given in the claims. In particular, single features of one embodiment may be combined with another embodiment as long as such combination is not reasonably excluded. As an example, the electric circuit to be opened or closed may be provided, alternatively or in addition, by the sterile cover.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0060] 1 sterile medical imaging system [0061] 10 medical imaging device [0062] 10a imaging front side [0063] 10b outer portion [0064] 11 attachment portion (medical imaging device 10) [0065] 12 recess [0066] 13 electric circuit [0067] 20 imaging unit [0068] 20a imaging component [0069] 20b imaging component [0070] 30 sterile cover [0071] 40 frame member [0072] 41 facing side [0073] 42 attachment portion (sterile cover 30) [0074] 42a snap [0075] 43 guiding member [0076] 50 transparent cover portion [0077] a gap [0078] A1 cross-section (guiding member 43) [0079] A2 cross-section (recess 12) [0080] L1 length (guiding member 43) [0081] L2 length for engagement (attachment portion 42) [0082] z longitudinal axis [0083] α convergence angle [0084] β inclination angle