MEDICAL APPARATUS WITH GALVANIC ISOLATOR

Abstract

A medical apparatus having an application device which can be brought into contact with a patient to be treated, and a galvanic isolator which can be connected to the application device, the isolator having at least one application connector for connection to the application device and at least one supply connector for connection to a device. The isolator is configured to galvanically isolate the application connector from the supply connector. The isolator has at least one first radio unit connected to the application connector, and at least one second radio unit connected to the supply connector. The first antenna and second antenna are fixed on a carrier at a visible distance from each other. The at least one first radio unit and the at least one second radio unit are configured to transmit signals and/or data between the application connector and the supply connector.

Claims

1. A medical apparatus comprising: an application device which can be brought into contact with a patient to be treated, and a galvanic isolator which can be connected to the application device, the galvanic isolator comprising: at least one application connector for connection to the application device; and at least one supply connector for connection to a device, the galvanic isolator being configured to galvanically isolate the application connector from the supply connector; at least one first radio unit connected to the application connector, the first radio unit having a first unit antenna; at least one second radio unit connected to the supply connector and having a second unit antenna; a carrier, wherein: each first unit antenna and each second unit antenna is fixed on the carrier at a visible distance from each other; and the at least one first radio unit and the at least one second radio unit is configured to transmit signals and/or data between the application connector and the supply connector.

2. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the galvanic isolator further comprises another first radio unit to provide two first radio units and comprises another second radio units to provide two second radio units, the first radio units and second radio units facing each other in pairs, and one of the pairs being configured to transmit signals and/or data from the first radio unit to the second radio unit and the other of the pairs being configured to transmit signals and data from the second radio unit to the first radio unit.

3. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first radio unit and the at least one second radio unit are each embodied as a transmitting and receiving unit.

4. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a radio path present between the first unit antenna and the second unit antenna has an extent of from 0.5 to 60 cm.

5. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is embodied as a single circuit board on which the at least one first radio unit and the at least one second radio unit are mounted at a predetermined distance from each other.

6. The medical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the circuit board comprises a recess between the first radio unit and the second radio unit.

7. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises: a first circuit board; and a second circuit board, which first circuit board and second circuit board are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other, the at least one first radio unit being arranged on the first circuit board and the at least one second radio unit being arranged on the second circuit board.

8. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first unit antenna and the second unit antenna are printed on the carrier.

9. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first unit antenna and the second unit antenna each comprise a horn structure for establishing a directional radio connection.

10. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the galvanic isolator comprises: a first coupling unit connected to the application connector; and a second coupling unit connected to the supply connector, wherein the first coupling unit and the second coupling unit are configured to inductively and/or capacitively transmit electrical power from the supply connector to the application connector.

11. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a ratio v=d/L between a distance (d) between the at least one first radio unit and the at least one second radio unit and a wavelength (L) of the signals lies in a range of from 1.73 to 127.

12. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an area between the at least one first radio unit and the at least one second radio unit is at least partially filled with a material having a permittivity of from 1 to 23 F/m and has a conductivity of from 0 to 0.01 S/m.

13. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a radio path present between the first antenna and the second unit antenna has an extent of from 1 to 40 cm.

14. The medical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first unit antenna and the second unit antenna being are fixed facing each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] In the drawings:

[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic overview of the medical apparatus;

[0033] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a galvanic isolator;

[0034] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a galvanic isolator;

[0035] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a galvanic isolator;

[0036] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a galvanic isolator;

[0037] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a galvanic isolator; and

[0038] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of an application device.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a medical apparatus 2 for treating a patient 4. The medical apparatus 2 comprises an application device 6 which can be brought into contact with the patient 4. A galvanic isolator 8, which can be connected to the application device 6, is shown very schematically. The isolator 8 comprises an application connector 10 for connection to the application device 6 and a supply connector 12 for connection to a device 14. The isolator 8 is configured to galvanically isolate the application connector 10 from the supply connector 12. Here, the isolator 8 is embodied as part of the device 14. However, it is also conceivable that the isolator 8 is part of the application device 6.

[0040] The isolator 8 comprises a first radio unit 16 connected to the application connector 10 and a second radio unit 18 connected to the supply connector 12. The first radio unit 16 comprises a first antenna 17, while the second radio unit 18 comprises a second antenna 19. The isolator 8 is shown here only schematically, and therefore no exact antenna structure can be seen in this illustration. This is shown in more detail in the following figures.

[0041] The first antenna 17 and the second antenna 19 are spaced apart on a carrier 20 in a manner visible to the naked eye and are directed towards each other. As a result, the first radio unit 16 and the second radio unit 18 are configured to transmit signals and/or data between the application connector 10 and the supply connector 12. There is no direct electrical connection between the application connector 10 and the supply connector 12.

[0042] An exemplary arrangement of circuit boards 22 is provided at the supply connector 12, the circuit boards being connected to a voltage source 24 and supplying the supply connector 12 with a corresponding voltage or electrical power. The patient 4, however, is not in direct contact with the voltage source 24 due to the galvanic isolator 8.

[0043] The first radio unit 16 and the second radio unit 18 are each embodied as a circuit board, these being connected to each other by means of mechanical fixings 21. The circuit boards and the fixings 21 thus form the carrier 20.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the galvanic isolator 8 in a somewhat more detailed representation. A first circuit board 26 with a first radio unit 16 arranged thereon is shown here. The first antenna 17 is oriented here to the right in the drawing plane and points there towards the second antenna 19 of the second radio unit 18, which in turn is arranged on a second circuit board 28. A further first radio unit 16a is arranged on the first circuit board 26 and has a further first antenna 17a. A second antenna 19a is directed towards this antenna and is assigned to a further second radio unit 18a. Through this arrangement, a bidirectional radio connection between the supply connector 12 and the application connector 10 can be realized even when using two unidirectional first radio units 16 and 16a as well as two unidirectional second radio units 18 and 18a.

[0045] In addition thereto, a coupling device 30 is provided which comprises a first coupling unit 32 and a second coupling unit 34. Both are embodied as coils which are aligned with each other and are configured to transmit electrical power wirelessly from the supply connector 12 to the application connector 10.

[0046] Between the two circuit boards 26 and 28, an isolation gap 36 or radio path 36 is provided, which is visible to the naked eye and has an extent of at least 0.5 cm. The radio units 16, 16a, 18 and 18a as well as the coupling units 32 and 34 transmit signals and/or data and an electrical power wirelessly via this isolation gap 36, so that there is galvanic isolation. The mechanical fixings 21 are non-conductive. They can be made for example from a printed circuit board material, plastic, or another non-conductive material and only allow a favorable fixing of the components to each other.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a modification in the form of a galvanic isolator 38 in which only a single first radio unit 16 and a single second radio unit 18 are provided. These can operate bidirectionally by way of example and consequently permit bidirectional communication in a simpler arrangement. Only by way of example, a switch 40 is provided which is connected to the voltage source 24 and to the supply connector 12.

[0048] FIG. 4 schematically shows a galvanic isolator 42 in which a first radio unit 16 and a second radio unit 18 can communicate bidirectionally and are arranged on a single circuit board 44. This has a cut-out 46, which is visually perceptible, above the isolation gap 36.

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a galvanic isolator 48, which is based on the isolator 42 from FIG. 4. Here, horn structures 50 are provided and are arranged one on the first radio unit 16 and one on the second radio unit 18. Both horn structures 50 serve to orient the radio waves that emanate from the radio units 16 and 18. In this way, higher data rates can be realized with a simultaneous reduction of the radio power.

[0050] Alternatively, a galvanic isolator 52 according to FIG. 6 could also comprise printed antennas 54 or 56 arranged at the edge of the gap 36 and aligned with each other.

[0051] FIG. 7 shows an application device 58 in the form of an endoscope. Here, a distal electronic device 60, for example, an imager with an optical unit 61 arranged thereon, is arranged in a distal end and is coupled to a proximally arranged supply connector 12 via a galvanic isolator 62. A proximal electronic device 63 is provided directly at the supply connector 12 and is directly connectable to a voltage connector or a processing unit via a cable 64. The application device 58 may have a long length, up to about 60 cm. In this exemplary embodiment, the isolation gap 36 may extend over a substantial portion of this length and consequently may be up to about 60 cm. The application device 58 may comprise a housing 66 which is at least partially made of a metal material. A line 68 for supplying power to the distal electronic unit 60 may be connected to a coupling device 30 which is integrated in the proximal electronic unit 63 or an external processing unit.

[0052] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS: 2 medical apparatus 4 patient 6 application device 8 isolator 10 application connector 12 supply connector 14 device 16, 16a first radio unit 17, 17a first antenna 18, 18a second radio unit 19, 19a second antenna 20 carrier 21 mechanical fixing 22 circuit board 24 voltage source 26 first circuit board 28 second circuit board 30 coupling device 32 first coupling unit 34 second coupling unit 36 isolation gap 38 galvanic isolator 40 switch 42 galvanic isolator 44 single circuit board 46 cut-out 48 galvanic isolator 50 horn structure 52 galvanic isolator 54 printed first antenna 56 printed second antenna 58 application device 60 electronic device 61 optical unit 62 galvanic isolator 63 proximal electronic device 64 cable 66 housing 68 line