Autoclavable medical device and actuation means for an autoclavable medical device

Abstract

An autoclavable medical device is provided that includes a metal housing having an electrical conductor embedded in an inorganic fixing material. The conductor and fixing material define an electrical feedthrough that extends from an interior of the housing through at least a portion of the fixing material. The electrical feedthrough forms part of a sensor of an actuation means for the autoclavable medical device.

Claims

1. An autoclavable device, comprising: a metal housing having an interior and exterior; an electrical feedthrough extending from the interior towards the exterior of the metal housing, wherein the electrical feedthrough is a component of a sensor or activation device; an inorganic fixing material; and an electrical conductor fused into the inorganic fixing material, wherein the electrical conductor is embedded in and affixed in the metal housing by the inorganic fixing material to define the electrical feedthrough.

2. The autoclavable device of claim 1, wherein the inorganic fixing material is glass and/or glass ceramic.

3. The autoclavable device of claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor extends through a portion of the inorganic fixing material and is spaced apart from an outer surface of the inorganic fixing material.

4. The autoclavable device of claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor extends to an outer surface of the inorganic fixing material.

5. The autoclavable device of claim 1, wherein the electrical feedthrough extends to an outer surface of the metal housing.

6. The autoclavable device of claim 1, wherein the sensor or activation device is a proximity switch or a capacitive proximity switch.

7. The autoclavable device of claim 1, wherein the sensor or activation device is a capacitive sensor, and the electrical feedthrough is a capacitor of an electronic circuit of the capacitive sensor.

8. The autoclavable device of claim 1, wherein the sensor or activation device is a switch.

9. The autoclavable device of claim 8, wherein the switch comprises a contact member made of electrically conductive material, the contacting member being configured to close the switch when actuated.

10. The autoclavable device of claim 9, wherein the contact member is a dome arranged above the electric feedthrough.

11. The autoclavable device of claim 10, wherein the dome is a gas-tightly sealed dome or dome having an opening for entry of water vapor.

12. The autoclavable device of claim 1, further comprising: a light source arranged in the interior of the metal housing to emit light through the inorganic fixing material to the exterior of the metal housing.

13. The autoclavable device of claim 12, wherein the light source is an indicator sensor or activation device.

14. The autoclavable device of claim 1, further comprising a metal ring accommodated in an opening of the metal housing, wherein the inorganic fixing material is glass, and wherein the electrical feedthrough is disposed in the metal ring to define a compression glass feedthrough with the metal ring.

15. The autoclavable device of claim 14, wherein the metal ring has a coefficient of thermal expansion that differs from a coefficient of thermal expansion of the metal housing by less than 3 ppm/K at 20° C.

16. The autoclavable device of claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor is a pin.

17. The autoclavable device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of electrical feedthroughs.

18. The autoclavable device of claim 1, wherein the device configured and adapted for a use selected from a group consisting of a medical drill, a dental drill, a medical saw, a medical file, a medical lighting device, a diagnostic light, a surgical light, a dental curing device, a device for excitation and/or evaluation of fluorescence, an electrosurgical device, an electrical coagulation device, a laser scalpel, a smart watch, and a fitness tracker.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The subject-matter of the invention will be explained in more detail below by way of schematically illustrated exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings of FIGS. 1 to 14.

(2) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the housing of a medical device which is to be equipped with an actuation means according to the invention.

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3 show two different exemplary embodiments of an actuation means that can be used.

(4) FIGS. 4 to 7 are intended to explain in more detail the functioning of an individual electrical feedthrough which is used as an actuation means and forms a capacitive proximity sensor and, in different operating states.

(5) FIG. 8 shows an embodiment comprising a plurality of feedthroughs arranged next to one another, and the signal waveform resulting when swiping over these feedthroughs.

(6) FIG. 9 shows the signal waveform when swiping from different directions.

(7) FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of an actuation means comprising a plurality of electrical conductors in a single feedthrough.

(8) FIGS. 11 and 12 are intended to explain in more detail an alternative embodiment of an actuation means in which a circuit is closed by pressing a contact member.

(9) FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the front face and

(10) FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the rear face of an exemplary embodiment of a smart watch according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the housing 10 of an autoclavable medical device.

(12) Housing 10 is made of metal, in particular stainless steel such as an austenitic stainless steel, in particular the alloy 1.4404. The housing has an interior 13 where in particular electrical and/or electronic components (not shown) may be accommodated.

(13) Furthermore, the housing 10 has an opening 11 which is used to accommodate an actuation means for the autoclavable medical device. The opening 11 may in particular be in the form of a bore.

(14) The wall thickness of the housing is preferably from 0.3 to 5 mm, particularly preferably from 0.8 to 2 mm, at least in the vicinity of the opening.

(15) FIG. 2 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a feedthrough 100 which may be used as an actuation means.

(16) Feedthrough 100 consists of a fixing material 120 made of glass, in which a metal pin 130 is embedded, which defines an electrical conductor.

(17) Pin 130 preferably has a diameter from 0.2 to 3 mm. The fixing material 120 has a thickness of preferably 0.5 to 5 mm and/or a diameter between 0.7 and 5 mm.

(18) As provided in one embodiment of the invention, a lighting device (not shown) may be accommodated inside the housing, such that light passes through the fixing material 120 to the outside. For example an illuminated actuation means and/or a visual indication of an operating state of the medical device may be implemented in this way.

(19) Fixing material 120 and pin 130 form a cylindrical capacitor in the area of the feedthrough 100.

(20) The feedthrough 100 is surrounded by a metal ring 110 which is intended to be inserted into the opening (11 in FIG. 1) of the housing.

(21) This metal ring 110 can be joined to the housing in a gas-tight manner, for example by soldering or welding, so that a hermetically sealed housing is obtained. The metal ring 110 is therefore preferably made of the same material as the adjacent housing.

(22) In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the pin 130 extends as far as to the upper surface of the fixing material 120.

(23) In the embodiment of FIG. 3, by contrast, the end face of pin 130 is spaced apart from the upper surface 140 of the fixing material 120 by a distance D.

(24) Therefore, the pin 130 cannot be electrically connected from outside in this embodiment of the invention. Thus, the actuation means according to the embodiment of FIG. 3 cannot be a switch that triggers a switching operation by closing a circuit.

(25) Rather, the sensor comprising the electrical feedthrough according to FIG. 3 is in the form of a capacitive proximity sensor.

(26) Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, an embodiment of an actuation means in the form of a capacitive proximity switch will be explained in different operating states thereof.

(27) As can be seen in FIG. 4, the metal ring 110 has now been installed in the housing 10.

(28) The metal ring 110 is preferably welded or soldered to the wall of housing 10 in the contact area 12 in order to form a gas-tight joint. The use of metal ring 110 provides for simple installation, since the material of the metal ring 110 can be matched to the material of the housing 10.

(29) The embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 7 corresponds to the embodiment of FIG. 2 in which the pin 130 extends as far as to the upper surface of the fixing material 120.

(30) The pin 130 extends from the inner side 14 of the housing 10 through the fixing material. As described above, the electrical feedthrough 100 designed in this way defines a capacitor.

(31) Pin 130 is connected to an evaluation circuit 30 which comprises an oscillator circuit in which the feedthrough 100 serves as a capacitor of an electrical resonant circuit.

(32) FIG. 4 shows the actuation means in a non-actuated state. This may correspond to a switching state “OFF”.

(33) As shown in FIG. 5, an actuating member, in particular a finger 20, can be placed on the feedthrough 100.

(34) Due to the different dielectric constant of the finger 20 compared to air, the frequency of the oscillator circuit will change which in turn can be detected by the evaluation circuit 30, so that the switching signal is now “ON”, for example.

(35) As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, a further embodiment of the invention contemplates to provide the actuation means in the form of a proximity sensor, via which a plurality of operating states can be set, i.e. not only “ON” and “OFF”.

(36) As shown in FIG. 6, a signal is already generated when the finger 20 approaches the feedthrough 100, which may correspond to a medium operating state such as a medium voltage, power output, speed, etc., for example.

(37) As furthermore shown in FIG. 7, a maximum power output may then be set when the finger 20 touches the feedthrough 100.

(38) It goes without saying that this adjustment can be effected in a continuously variable manner or in steps.

(39) FIG. 8 shows how a plurality of feedthroughs 100 are arranged next to one another in a housing 10.

(40) In this exemplary embodiment, each of the feedthroughs 100 is arranged in a separate opening in the housing 10 using a respective metal ring 110.

(41) As shown below the feedthroughs 100, direction-related information can be detected when swiping the finger 20 over the feedthroughs in areas A to C, in this exemplary embodiment from left to right, on the basis of temporally offset changes in capacity. This allows to implement switching steps or almost continuous controlling.

(42) FIG. 9 shows the change in capacity when swiping over the feedthroughs either from the right or from the left. Depending on the direction, the signal waveform is different, so that, for example, an output power may be increased or decreased depending on the direction in which the finger swipes over the areas A to C of an actuation means.

(43) FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which a plurality of pins 130 are arranged in a single feedthrough 100 using the fixing material 120.

(44) The fixing material is again disposed in a ring 110, as in the previously illustrated exemplary embodiment.

(45) In this embodiment of the invention, it is in particular possible to arrange a large number of electrical conductors in a single feedthrough, in particular more than five, for detecting in particular the position and/or direction of the finger 20 when swiping over it.

(46) FIGS. 11 and 12 schematically illustrate an alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(47) In this embodiment, the actuation means is in the form of a switch, which generates a switching signal by closing a circuit.

(48) In this exemplary embodiment, a contact member is applied to the metal ring 110, which is implemented as a switching membrane in the form of a dome 200 in this exemplary embodiment.

(49) By pressing the dome 200, an electrical circuit is closed and a switching signal is generated, as shown in FIG. 12.

(50) In this embodiment of the invention, the dome 200 is in the form of a metallic membrane that is connected to the metal ring 110 by welding or soldering. This prevents the ingress of water vapor during autoclaving.

(51) The invention permits to provide, in a simple manner, an autoclavable device, in particular an autoclavable medical device which comprises a hermetically sealed housing with electrical or electronic components and withstands a large number of autoclave cycles.

(52) The invention can also be used for smart watches and fitness trackers.

(53) FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a smart watch 300 which is also a fitness tracker.

(54) Smart watch 300 is wearable on the wrist by the user, using the bracelet 310.

(55) Via display 320, the user can derive bodily functions such as heart rate.

(56) In addition to the display 320, the upper housing half 340 includes actuation means 330 which allow to control the functions of the smart watch. Separate actuation means 330 have the advantage that they are easier to control than a touch display, for example when jogging.

(57) The upper housing half 340 is made of metal, in particular stainless steel.

(58) The actuation means 330 are preferably in the form of a capacitive proximity switch according to the embodiment of FIG. 3. So the electrical feedthrough terminates at a distance from the surface of the actuation means, so that the actuation means 330 appear in the form of glass surfaces preferably flush with the upper housing half 340.

(59) The electrical feedthrough is located below the glass surface of the actuation means 330 and is preferably not visible.

(60) FIG. 14 is a view of the rear face of the smart watch 300.

(61) The lower housing half 350 is also made of metal. Feedthroughs 100 each one comprising a pin 130 fused into a fixing material 120 are disposed in the lower half of the housing.

(62) Pins 130 contact the skin of the user and serve as skin electrodes, e.g. for heart rate measurement. Pins 130 preferably protrude from the housing to ensure good contact with the skin.

(63) The combination of metal and glass provides for good sealing of the smart watch and at the same time allows for easy sterilization and cleaning due to the smooth inorganic surfaces.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(64) 10 Housing

(65) 11 Opening

(66) 12 Contact area

(67) 13 Interior

(68) 14 Inner side

(69) 20 Finger

(70) 30 Evaluation circuit

(71) 100 Feedthrough

(72) 110 Metal ring

(73) 120 Fixing material

(74) 130 Pin

(75) 140 Upper surface

(76) 200 Contact member

(77) 300 Smart watch

(78) 310 Bracelet

(79) 320 Display

(80) 330 Actuation means

(81) 340 Upper housing half

(82) 350 Lower housing half