阅读说明：本技术 智能手持件 (Intelligent hand-held piece ) 是由 罗兰-阿洛伊斯·霍格尔 托马斯-欧文·卡勒 马丁·麦克希尔 于 2019-10-10 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于外科手术联接系统的通信设备,所述外科手术联接系统具有第一外科手术联接设备和第二外科手术联接设备,所述第一和第二外科手术联接设备分别具有：至少两个可彼此机械接合的电联接触点；还具有分离状态、断开状态,在所述断开状态中第一联接设备和第二联接设备的至少一个电联接触点脱离接合；或者接通状态,在所述接通断开中第一联接设备和第二联接设备的至少一个电联接触点处于导电接触；所述通信设备具有：至少一个优选地可手动抓握的应用部件,在所述应用部件中安装有用于驱动安置于该应用部件处的外科手术工具的电动马达；以及具有用于调节和/或控制电动马达的控制单元。将如下智能设备集成到应用部件中,所述智能设备构成用于：在断开状态和接通状态中都维持应用部件和控制单元之间的通信并且设有供电线缆,所述供电线缆在应用部件和控制单元之间最多具有三根导线。(The present invention relates to a communication device for a surgical coupling system having a first surgical coupling device and a second surgical coupling device, the first and second surgical coupling devices each having: at least two electrical coupling contacts that are mechanically engageable with each other; also has a disengaged state, a disconnected state in which at least one electrical coupling contact of the first and second coupling devices is disengaged; or a switched-on state in which at least one electrical coupling contact of the first and second coupling devices is in conductive contact; the communication apparatus has: at least one, preferably manually graspable, application member in which an electric motor for driving a surgical tool disposed at the application member is mounted; and a control unit for regulating and/or controlling the electric motor. Integrating into an application component a smart device configured to: communication between the application part and the control unit is maintained in both the off-state and the on-state and a power supply cable is provided which has a maximum of three conductors between the application part and the control unit.)

1. A communication device for a surgical coupling system, the surgical coupling system having: a first surgical coupling device (1) and a second surgical coupling device (2), the first surgical coupling device (1) and the second surgical coupling device (2) each having at least two electrical coupling contact points (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) which can form a mechanical engagement with each other; and has a detached state; a disconnected state in which at least one electrical connection contact point (4, 5) of the first coupling device (1) and the second coupling device (2) is disengaged; and an on state in which at least one electrical contact point (8, 9) of the first coupling device (1) and the second coupling device (2) is in electrically conductive contact; the communication apparatus has:

at least one application part (11), preferably manually graspable, in which application part (11) an electric motor (12) for driving a surgical tool disposed at the application part (11) is mounted; and

a control unit for regulating and/or controlling the electric motor (12);

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

is provided with:

a smart device (13) integrated into the application component (11), the smart device (13) being configured to maintain communication between the application component (11) and the control unit in the off-state and the on-state, and

a power supply cable having a maximum of three conductors (14, 15, 16) between the application component (11) and the control unit.

2. The communication device according to claim 2, characterized in that the smart device (13) is directly switched into the signal route between the second electrical connection contact (10) of the second coupling device (2) and the electric motor (12).

3. A communication device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the communication between the application means (11) and the control unit (13) is done wirelessly.

4. A communication device according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that an energy storage (17) is provided in the application component (11) or is arranged at the application component (11), the energy storage (17) being electrically connected with the smart device (13).

5. A communication device according to claim 4, characterized in that the smart device (13) has a discharge protection fuse.

6. The communication device according to any of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the smart device (13) has a plurality of inputs (18) for sensor signals.

7. The communication device according to any of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the smart device (13) is configured to: communicating with the control unit and/or with each other between a plurality of application components (11).

8. The communication device according to any of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the voltage supply takes place indirectly, in particular inductively.

9. The communication device according to claim 8, characterized in that the smart device (13) is positioned in the center of a coil in the signal path.

10. Communication device according to claim 8, characterized in that the smart device (13) is powered by means of wires (14, 15, 16) coming out of the voltage supply of the electric motor (12) or by a harvest in the scattered magnetic field of the electric motor (12).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a communication device, in particular for a surgical coupling system and/or a surgical coupling system, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background

As is known from DE 10225857 a 1: the control unit may be connected with a plurality of application components/handpieces via a surgical coupling system as described more precisely later. In surgery, different motor units with the same or different motors, in particular surgical motors, are used, depending on the purpose of use. Depending on the desired rotational speed, the respective motor type is selected and integrated into the application component. From now on, only one control unit is required for at least two application components/handpieces by means of the coupling system described in DE 10225857 a 1. Thus, it is possible in the field of surgery to increase the overview by reducing the number of control instruments and to reduce the probability of incorrect operation of the control unit.

An electrical switching device is known from DE 102011050192 a1, which is constructed on the basis of the above-mentioned prior art and describes the surgical coupling system in more detail. The surgical coupling system is formed by a first coupling device and a second coupling device, which are designed as (plug) connections in order to connect the application/handpiece to the control unit/control unit. The first coupling device is located at one end of the power supply cable, the other end of which is connected to the control unit and connects the control unit to the application member. The second coupling device is part of an application part in which the electric motor is integrated. The first and second coupling devices are each formed from at least two electrical coupling contacts which can be brought into mechanical engagement with one another.

The integrated electric motor has three electric motor windings which are interconnected with each other in a star circuit. Each motor winding is connected to the second connection device via a respective line. That is, regarding an example in which each of the coupling devices is configured with four electrical coupling contacts, respectively, two electrical coupling contacts of the second coupling device are connected with one wire, respectively. The other two electrical coupling contacts of the second coupling device are connected in parallel and to a third conductor. A resistor element is inserted between one of the two parallel electrical contacts, said resistor element forming a coding element for coding the type of handpiece. Via the signal path, the type of electric motor integrated into the application component can be determined by means of a resistance measurement via the resistance element, and the information is forwarded to the control unit via the signal path in order to drive the motor in a manner matched to the information.

Here, the coupling system defines three different positions/states. Thus, when the first and second coupling devices are completely separated from each other, they are in a separated position. That is, none of the electrical coupling contacts of the first coupling device are in contact with the electrical coupling contacts of the second coupling device and are not in mechanical engagement with each other. In the disconnected position, the at least one first electrical coupling contact point of the first coupling device is disengaged from the at least one first electrical coupling contact point of the second coupling device. That is to say, if the first and second coupling devices are each configured with four electrical coupling contacts and the two electrical coupling contacts of the first coupling device and the two electrical coupling contacts of the second coupling device engage with each other, the coupling system is in the open position. The coupling device is in the on position when all electrical coupling contacts of the first coupling device and all corresponding electrical coupling contacts of the second coupling device are in conductive contact with each other.

Thus, the coupling system can be used as a switchgear and has a dual function. On the one hand, it can establish a mechanical connection between the handpiece and, for example, the power supply leads. On the other hand, it can also be used as a switching device, for example in order to be able to supply the motor windings of the electric motor of the handpiece with power when required.

Furthermore, additional requirements may be made in that the type of handpiece can be automatically queried by the control and/or regulating device of the drive system. Of course, this communication can only be transmitted in the open "position described above, and the signal path must be routed to the control unit via the various strands/wires or motor windings and a plurality of interfaces, for example plug contacts. The reason for this is that: in the switched-on position, when two parallel electrical contact points are in contact, the signal path is short-circuited via the resistive element, so that no information can be exchanged between the application component and the control unit. Furthermore, the routing of the signal path is disadvantageous, since it leads to distortions, incorrect transmissions and time delays, thus resulting overall in tolerances, which can then be evaluated as an error signal at the control unit. In order to maintain such a communication path in the switched-on position and thus to enable information exchange between the application component and the control unit, this can be solved by increasing the number of supply conductors/strands for the electric motor.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention is therefore based on the object of: a communication device for a coupling system for surgical operations according to the above description is provided which enables a continuous, reliable and safe communication between an application component and a control unit without the use of further wires and which is achieved in a simple system.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a communication device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the following general idea: providing continuous or maintained/occurring communication/connection over a longer period of time for a surgical coupling system that connects at least one application component/handpiece and a control unit to each other. An electric motor for driving a surgical tool arranged/inserted at the application part is accommodated in the application part. For example, the application component can also be designed as an interface for connection to a robot.

According to the general idea on which there is a communication connection between the application components and the control unit, which communication connection is provided with an information exchange both in the off-state and in the on-state, in order to read all the information of all the individual application components used in the control unit from the data collected in the control unit. The information may be an evaluation of basic information, such as the number of uses in the operating room, the total running time, the running time per use and the running time for left/right turns, start/stop cycles, power consumption, etc. of the respective application component. Furthermore, the sensor signal evaluation performed in the control unit includes the frequency of the type of tool used, the humidity state, the temperature, the number of treatments, etc., up to statistics on all the application components used.

In order to maintain a communication connection between the application part and the control unit for transmitting various information and sensor signals of the application part, no further litz wires are provided in the supply/connection cable. The number of lines is determined here by the number of motor windings of the electric motor, preferably three motor windings.

The use of a communication device integrated into the application component provides a reliable and more secure information transmission which can be used in the off and on states as defined above according to the prior art. Thus, the communication connection/signal route may be maintained for a longer period of time, or may be maintained continuously.

In particular, a communication device for a surgical (electrical) coupling system has a smart device integrated into an application component, the smart device being configured to: communication between the application component and the control unit is maintained in the off-state and the on-state. The supply cable between the application part and the control unit has at most three conductors, corresponding to the number of motor windings of the electric motor. Smart devices are generally understood to be devices that are dedicated to automated behavior and machine learning. The "smart"/smart device of the present invention has various basic information about the application component, i.e., such as serial number, manufacturing date, maintenance data, etc. The intelligent device forwards the basic information to the control unit. The information is collected/stored and evaluated/processed in the control unit. The number of required electrical contact elements can be minimized by this design of the communication device, in particular to the number of existing motor windings of the electric motor. In the present invention, additional lines can be dispensed with, for example for operating the electric motor in a conventional drive system and, if necessary, for checking its type or configuration. For controlling and/or regulating the electric motor, it is also advantageous: the control unit is designed in particular to interact with the surgical handpiece/application component in such a way that it can automatically query and identify the type of application component.

Preferably, the smart device is directly connected to the signal path between the second electrical connection contact of the second connection device and the corresponding motor winding of the electric motor. Thus, the smart device may be continuously powered in the off position and communicate with the control unit.

It is also advantageous: the communication between the application unit and the control unit is performed wirelessly. In this way, in the switched-on position, despite the short-circuit of the signal path, communication is still possible according to the above description in the prior art. Such wireless transmission methods are data transmission methods which use free space as transmission medium and dispense with cables in the form of electrical or optical waveguides. Preferably using a transmission method such as bluetooth or WLAN. Alternatively, other transmission methods such as ZigBee, NFC, Wibree, etc. may be used according to the amount of data and the desired range.

Preferably, an energy store is provided in the application component or is arranged on the application component, said energy store being electrically connected to the smart device. In the off state, the additional energy store is charged via the supply line, and the smart device can communicate wirelessly with the control unit continuously or in the on state over a longer period of time. The completely cancelled application component or the application component in the disconnected state can also communicate with the control unit until the energy store is exhausted. At least one rechargeable battery can be used as an energy store, for example a lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery. Here, it is advantageous to use a small and lightweight energy store.

It is advantageous that: the intelligent device is provided with a discharge protection safety device. The damage can be different depending on the type of energy store due to the deep discharge of the energy store. It is therefore advantageous: the discharge protection safety device ensures that: the voltage does not drop below the discharge end voltage. The discharge protection fuse provided in the smart device therefore has the task of preventing the above-mentioned situations in the on state and the off state. Here, the discharge protection fuse ensures: when a fixed set voltage is reached, depending on the type of energy store, to which the energy store should be discharged, it is ensured that the energy store is electrically separated from the smart device.

The smart device preferably has a plurality of inputs for sensor signals. In this case, sensors are provided, in particular temperature sensors, sensors for determining whether a tool or which type of tool is present, humidity sensors, sensors for detecting readiness in the application part. These sensors therefore provide/transmit further information to the control unit by means of the sensor signals during the time period until the energy sensor is depleted or until a fixedly set voltage is reached, as described above.

According to another aspect of the invention, the smart device is configured to: communicating with the control unit and/or communicating with each other between a plurality of application components. In other words, this means: the smart devices can continuously communicate with the control unit and also communicate and exchange information between other application components. For example, the sequence defined during the use of the application components can be ensured during the operation by means of this communication between the application components themselves. Thus, error-prone sequences of surgery can be supported and procedure reliability can be improved. Such communication between application components may also be used to avoid errors, improve patient safety, and reduce the burden on the surgeon. In addition, it is advantageous: this communication takes place in real time.

Alternatively, the voltage supply of the smart device can take place indirectly, in particular inductively. Inductive coupling is an alternative to direct voltage supply, since smart devices are close to energy storage in application components. Inductive coupling is understood to be: two or more spatially adjacent circuits are magnetically influenced by each other by electromagnetic induction due to a change in magnetic flux. In this case, the current-carrying (first) conductor loop causes a magnetic flux density to be generated in its spatial surroundings. Inductive energy transfer has a high efficiency in close proximity. It is advantageous here that: the distance between the transmitter (here the energy store) and the receiver (here the smart device) is kept as small as possible. Alternatively, another possibility is to wirelessly charge the energy storage device by means of inductive coupling.

The intelligent device is advantageously located in the center of the coil, which is positioned in the signal path and is necessary for achieving the inductive coupling, in order to be able to guarantee an optimal inductive voltage supply.

According to another aspect of the invention, the smart device is powered by means of a lead from a voltage supply of the electric motor or a harvest in a scattered magnetic field of the electric motor. Harvesting may be understood as: energy is extracted from the environment. For example, temperature differences, movements (e.g., push switches, moving machine parts), light (e.g., ambient light) are considered as sources which facilitate the extraction of energy by means of corresponding energy converters with different power parameters.

Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a coupling system for illustrating a disengaged state according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a coupling system for illustrating a disconnected state according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a coupling system for illustrating a key-on state according to the present disclosure;

fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a part of an application unit according to a first embodiment;

fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a part of an application unit according to a second embodiment;

fig. 6 shows a schematic view of a part of an application unit according to a third embodiment; and

fig. 7 shows a schematic view of a part of a plurality of application components.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are described based on the drawings. In the individual figures, identical or functionally equivalent features are provided with the same reference symbols and are not described more than once as appropriate.

Fig. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram for explaining a coupling system according to a disconnected state. The first or male surgical coupling device 1 and the second or female surgical coupling device 2 are completely separated from each other, that is to say, they are disengaged. Each of the two coupling devices 1 and 2 has four electrical coupling contacts. The first coupling device 1 has electrical coupling contacts 3, 4, 5 and 6, and the second coupling device 2 has electrical coupling contacts 7, 8, 9 and 10.

The application part/handpiece 11 is shown as a schematic circuit diagram. The electric motor 12 and the smart device 13 are installed/integrated in the application part 11. Furthermore, the application part 11 can differ not only externally, but also internally. This means, for example: the electric motors 12 built into the application part 11 can be of different types and differ, for example, in their characteristic variables, such as minimum rotational speed, maximum current and maximum torque.

Furthermore, the application part 11 is equipped with the electrical coupling contacts 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the second coupling device 2. The electric motor 12 serves as a drive system for a surgical tool which can be arranged at the application part 2 and is detachably connected. A maximum of three conductors 14, 15 and 16 form the power supply cable. The motor windings 19, 20 and 21 of the electric motor 12 are supplied via the three conductors 14, 15 and 16.

The connecting contact 7 is electrically conductively connected to the motor winding 19. Motor windings 19 are star-interconnected with motor windings 20 and 21. Furthermore, the motor winding 20 is electrically conductively connected to the electrical connection contact 8. The motor winding 21 is connected in an electrically conductive manner, on the one hand, to the coupling contact 9 and, on the other hand, to a smart device 13, which is connected in series with the electrical coupling contact 10. The electrical coupling contact 9 is connected in parallel with the smart device 13 and the electrical coupling contact 10. The type or kind of application component 11 can be univocally authenticated via the smart device 13. This determination/authentication can be carried out automatically by a corresponding design or adaptation of the control unit.

Fig. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram for explaining the coupling system according to the disconnected state. In the disconnected state of the coupling system, the electrical coupling contacts 7 and 10 of the second coupling device are conductively connected with the electrical coupling contacts 3 and 6 of the first coupling device. Here, a circuit is closed in which the connection contact 7 is connected in series with the motor winding 19, the motor winding 20, the smart device 13 and the connection contact 10. In the disconnected state, the smart device 13 can be powered by applying a voltage to the conductors 14 and 16, and in this state information can be permanently exchanged between the smart device 13 and the control unit.

Fig. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram for explaining the coupling system according to the on state. In the switched-on state, all electrical coupling contacts 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the first coupling device 1 engage with the respective electrical coupling contacts 7, 8, 9 and 10. The motor windings 19, 20 and 21 of the electric motor 12 can be supplied in the switched-on state by means of the control unit in a manner adapted to the application component.

The control unit can operate the electric motor 12 in a desired manner, for example to put a surgical tool, to which the detachable application part 11 is connected, into rotation by means of the electric motor 12.

In the following, the above-described coupling system is the basis for the following alternative embodiments.

First embodiment

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a part of the application unit 11 according to the first embodiment. The smart device 13 integrated into the application component 11, which is connected directly in series into the signal path between the motor winding 21 and the electrical coupling contact 10, can communicate continuously in the off state according to fig. 2 and also in the on state according to fig. 3 and/or in the off state according to fig. 1 over a longer period of time.

Fig. 4 shows a smart device 13 of the application unit 11, which has the possibility of using wireless/cableless information transmission methods, i.e. for example bluetooth, WLAN, etc. The smart device 13 sends information to the control unit via this connection. The control unit collects the received information, processes and evaluates it and controls/regulates the electric motor 12 in a manner correspondingly adapted to this information.

Second embodiment

Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a part of an application unit 11 according to a second embodiment. The smart device 13 is connected to and/or arranged at the energy store 17. The energy storage 17 powers the smart device 13 so that wireless communication with the control unit is possible continuously or during longer periods of time in the on-state. A continuous communication connection between the completely removed application unit 11 and the control unit is possible until the energy store 17 is exhausted.

The energy store 17 can be charged in the off state in order to then supply the smart device 13 in the on state and/or in the disconnected position. According to the introductory part, this energy transfer can take place directly or indirectly.

When using the at least one energy store 17, the smart device 13 has a discharge protection fuse (not shown) which, in the switched-on state, prevents deep discharges and thus damage to the energy store 17.

Third embodiment

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a part of an application unit 11 according to a third embodiment. According to the second embodiment, the smart device 13 is connected to or mounted at the energy storage 17. The application member 11 is preferably equipped with a sensor. Furthermore, the smart device 13 has a plurality of signal inputs 18 for various additional sensor signals, which are transmitted by the smart device 13 to the control unit. The control unit processes and evaluates the received sensor signals in order to control/drive the electric motor 12 in a manner adapted to the signals accordingly.

Fig. 7 is a partial schematic circuit diagram of a plurality of application components. In fig. 7, application components 11a, 11b and 11c are shown, in which smart devices 13a, 13b and 13c are housed, respectively. Each smart device 13a, 13b and 13c is connected to or arranged at an energy store 17a, 17b and 17 c. The smart device 13a has a plurality of signal inputs 18a, the smart device 13b has a plurality of signal inputs 18b, and the smart device 13c has a plurality of signal inputs 18 c. The respective signal inputs 18a, 18b and 18c forward the signals of the respective sensors of the respective application components 11a, 11b and 11c to the respective smart device 13a, 13b or 13 c. It goes without saying that the number of application units 11 is not limited to three, and may be reduced or expanded as necessary.

It proposes: the smart devices 13a, 13b and 13c communicate with the control unit alternately and/or simultaneously in the off state continuously and during longer periods of time in the on state or in the off state, respectively, until the respective energy storage 17a, 17b and 17c is depleted. Furthermore, it is proposed that: the application units 11a, 11b and 11c may also communicate with each other in order to ensure a predetermined order, for example when using a plurality of handpieces in sequence. To ensure this, real-time communication is provided.

It goes without saying that the described embodiments and the figures, which are not true to scale, are purely of an exemplary nature and that modifications can easily be made by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present description and the protection scope defined by the appended claims. Also, the outer shape, size, etc. are not particularly limited as long as the effects and functions according to the present invention are provided and achieved thereby.