Contact system and use of the contact system

Abstract

A contact system (20) for electrically contacting an electrical conductor element (14) embedded in an insulating sheath (10) of a cable harness (4a) is intended to enable electrical contacting of the cable harness (4a) in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner, while also meeting high reliability requirements. According to the invention, this is achieved by means of a connection module (22), in the outer housing (25) of which a portion of the cable harness (4a) can be fixed, and by means of a plurality of contact pins (36), which, viewed from the side relative to the longitudinal direction of the cable harness (4a), are guided transversely through the outer housing (25).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a contact system for electrically contacting an electric conductor element embedded in an insulating sheath of a cable harness and also to the use of such a contact system. Background Art

[0002] According to patent publications WO 2014 / 075755 A1, WO 2014 / 122187 A1, WO 2014 / 122188 A1 and WO2016 / 023998 A1 (the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference), treatment elements, in particular treatment elements for use with implant components, and methods for cleaning dental implant components are known. Such cleaning of implant components may be desirable or necessary to ensure that the inserted implant is maintained in the bone. In fact, biofilms containing bacteria can form on the solid surface of the implant (surrounded by tissue and tissue fluid), which bacteria can eventually lead to chronic and recurrent infections. This clinical phenomenon is known as peri-implantitis. In particular, in the field of dentistry, similar to periodontitis, a combination of neglect of oral hygiene, adhesion of biofilm to the usually slightly rough surfaces of dental implants and other factors is the cause of fully developed peri-implantitis, which is characterized by increased stress and destruction of hard and soft tissues. Areas of contraction of hard and / or soft tissue are often covered with biofilms.

[0003] The cleaning process described in the above application is based on the concept of killing and removing biofilms or pathogens that form contamination on the implant surface without damaging the implant surface. To this end, an electrolytic process is provided, in which ions (cations and / or anions) are transported through the biofilm under the action of electrostatic forces. These ions react chemically or electrochemically on the implant surface. Through these reactions, new material compounds are produced, and / or the ions themselves and / or a portion of these ions are converted into an atomic state. In addition, there is the possibility that the ions react with the surface material (for example, forming an oxide layer or removing material). On the one hand, the process kills the pathogens due to the chemical substances formed, but on the other hand, the process also leads to the formation of bubbles that mechanically remove the biofilm.

[0004] The bactericidal effect of this process is based on different effects. On the one hand, by applying a voltage, ions from the biofilm itself (also from the bacteria) are transported to the anode or cathode. This can lead to the killing of bacteria and viruses. In addition, when the ions pass through the biofilm, they can undergo biochemical reactions, which can also lead to the killing of bacteria and / or viruses. Another way of killing is that the newly formed material compounds on the implant surface have antibacterial and / or antiviral and / or antifungal effects. Of course, killing also occurs when the ions are converted to atomic form.

[0005] The treatment element described in the above-mentioned application is specifically designed to carry out this cleaning process directly on an inserted dental implant, preferably when the post member of the dental implant is located in the bone in the patient's mouth. To this end, the treatment element is designed to be connected directly to the inserted post member, and then a suitable treatment liquid is applied in the immediate vicinity of the inserted post member in the affected spatial area of ​​the adjacent bone and an electric current is applied, which treatment liquid, when exposed to the electric current, can serve as the basis for the desired electrolytic process. Therefore, the use of such a treatment element requires establishing both mechanical and electrical contact with the inserted post member. For this reason, in the design of the treatment element described in the said application, the prosthesis on the dental implant and, if necessary, its abutment tooth usually have to be temporarily removed in order to fix it to the post member. Summary of the Invention

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a contact system of the aforementioned type which enables electrical contacting of a cable harness for use with a processing system of the aforementioned type in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner, also meeting high reliability requirements.

[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved with a connection module, in whose outer housing a portion of a cable harness can be fixed, and with a plurality of contact pins which extend transversely through the outer housing, viewed from the side relative to the longitudinal direction of the cable harness.

[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims. Further and / or alternative advantageous embodiments of the invention as well as further embodiments which are to be regarded as independent inventions can also be derived from the description of the figures.

[0009] The present invention is based on the consideration that, in particular when used in a treatment system of the aforementioned type, the cable harness should be contactable in a particularly simple manner and, in particular, should be immediately usable by a user, even without further training. However, in order to meet the high demands placed on contact reliability, in particular in applications in the medical field, the contact system should be designed to be particularly fault-tolerant while being easy to operate. To achieve this, contacting of the conductor elements in the cable harness is provided by contact pins that are arranged in a "cross-cable guide" manner, with their longitudinal direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the cable harness and, therefore, to the longitudinal direction of the conductor elements guided therein. In this way, reliable contacting is achieved by forming a contact point between the contact pins on the one hand and the associated conductor element on the other hand, without requiring precise positioning of the cable harness or the contact pins, each contact pin being aligned as seen in its longitudinal direction.

[0010] Advantageously, the contact pins are also spaced apart from one another so that the cable strands stripped in sections fit straight between the contact pins, particularly preferably with a slight clamping effect. Thus, on the one hand, in addition to the actual electrical contact, the contact pins can also mechanically secure or at least support the section of the cable harness in the outer housing of the connection module, thus providing a dual function. On the other hand, a particularly close contact is established between the respective contact pin and the associated conductor element, further increasing the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0011] Very advantageously, the contacting system is used in a treatment system of the type described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013] Figure 1 Treatment systems for cleaning components contaminated by biofilm,

[0014] Figure 2 according to Figure 1 A perspective view of the connecting pipes of the processing system,

[0015] Figure 3 like Figure 2 The longitudinal section of the connecting pipe is shown,

[0016] Figure 4 According to Figure 2 Cross-sections of two variants of the connecting pipe,

[0017] Figure 5 according to Figure 1 A side view of the contact system of the handling system,

[0018] Figure 6 according to Figure 5 side view of a connection module of a contact system with a connected connection hose,

[0019] Figure 7 like Figure 6 The plan view of the connection module is shown,

[0020] Figure 8 according to Figure 6 A perspective view of the connection module,

[0021] Figure 9 According to Figure 6 Different views of a connection module with separated housing halves,

[0022] Figure 10 according to Figure 6 Longitudinal section of the connection module,

[0023] Figure 11 Figure 10The enlarged cross section,

[0024] Figure 12 Parts for making electrical contact,

[0025] Figure 13 according to Figure 1 Longitudinal section of the processing head of the processing system,

[0026] Figure 14 Attached with connecting pipe Figure 13 A longitudinal section of the treatment head is shown,

[0027] Figure 15 According to Figure 13 Two perspective views of the outer housing of the processing head,

[0028] Figure 16 according to Figure 13 A perspective view of the connecting pin of the processing head,

[0029] Figure 17 insulators,

[0030] Figure 18 Figure 16 Insert the connecting pin Figure 17 A stereogram of the insulator, and

[0031] Figure 19 like Figure 16 The connecting pin shown is inserted as Figure 17 A longitudinal section through the insulator is shown.

[0032] Throughout the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] A common problem with dental implant systems, particularly two-piece implant systems, and potentially other medical implants, is that inflammation or inflammatory lesions can develop due to the infiltration of bacteria or pathogens into the tissue area near the insertion site, particularly in the area of ​​the external thread inserted into the jaw. This inflammation, particularly caused by so-called peri-implantitis, can lead to severe damage to the tissue and bone in the area of ​​the insertion site, especially if the inflammation develops and solidifies over a long period of time. Without appropriate countermeasures, this damage may necessitate the entire implant system being removed from the bone and reassembled or replaced with another prosthesis after bone augmentation. Consequently, this extremely undesirable effect caused by peri-implantitis can completely render the implant system useless, potentially requiring surgical reconstruction measures such as scraping off the affected area in the jawbone and re-equipping the implant system. This removal can also result in bone loss or other loss of tissue material, which, in extreme cases, can make it impossible to use another implant for a new restoration. The need for a new restoration caused by peri-implantitis can also arise long after the initial insertion of the implant system, for example, years or even decades.

[0034] The germs or bacteria observed to be associated with peri-implantitis can, in principle, colonize the interior of the implant components, but generally prefer to adhere directly to the surface of the dental implant inserted into the jawbone in the area in contact with the surrounding tissue or bone material (i.e., in particular in the area of ​​the external thread). In this area, the surface of the dental implant can be provided with a roughening, etc., in order to particularly facilitate growth into the tissue or bone and support the healing of the dental implant after insertion. However, it is precisely in these areas of the roughened surface, which is actually considered to be particularly advantageous for the implant system, that the deposition of germs or bacteria increases, and this roughening makes the targeted removal of existing germs or bacteria more difficult.

[0035] Therefore, there is an urgent need for appropriate countermeasures that can effectively combat the source of inflammation and kill and / or remove invading pathogens when peri-implantitis is developing or has already occurred, while preserving the already inserted implant system so that healthy tissue or healthy bone can subsequently form again in the area around the external thread. To this end, in addition to targeted killing of the pathogens or bacteria in the affected area, it is also desirable to reliably remove their material residues and fragments from the affected spatial area so that the affected area can be filled with healthy tissue or bone material again and a close connection between the outer surface of the dental implant and the surrounding tissue or bone material can be re-established. In addition, biofilms formed by bacterial coatings, including organic residues of killed bacteria, should also be reliably removed.

[0036] For this purpose, ie for killing and / or mechanically separating germs or bacteria in the insertion area of ​​the dental implant and in particular also for the subsequent rinsing, removal and drainage of the sterilized tissue and material residues, there is provided a method such as Figure 1 The treatment system 1 shown is based on two basic concepts, both of which are considered to be independently inventive, in terms of its design and principle of execution: On the one hand, its primary design objective is to detach any residues or fragments of germs and / or bacteria still adhering to the surface of the dental implant, in particular in the area of ​​the external threads, from the outer surface of the dental implant by means of a suitably applied electric current or current impulse, so that these residues or fragments can subsequently be washed away. On the other hand, the treatment system is also designed to specifically kill germs or bacteria present in the insertion area of ​​the implant by the targeted application of a bactericidal cleaning agent or disinfectant compatible with human organisms.

[0037] Therefore, if Figure 1 The illustrated treatment system 1 is designed for cleaning components contaminated with biofilm, in particular implant components, using electrolytic cleaning concepts known, for example, from WO 2014 / 075755 A1, WO 2014 / 122187 A1, WO 2014 / 122188 A1, and WO 2016 / 023998 A1. The treatment system 1 is thus suitable for applying a specific, appropriately selected treatment fluid to the component to be treated, and then or thereby generating an electric current that flows through the component to be treated and the treatment fluid. To this end, the treatment system 1 comprises a treatment head 2 that can be mechanically connected to the component to be treated, for example, by being inserted, screwed, or pressed onto the component to be treated, and via which the treatment fluid can be applied to the component to be treated, and electrical contact can be made for setting the desired current. The treatment head 2 is connected on the media side to a container 6 for the treatment fluid via a connecting hose 4 and is electrically connected to a power supply unit 8, which acts as a current or voltage source for setting the desired current.

[0038] Furthermore, the processing system 1 is specifically designed for particularly simple and reliable operation. To particularly facilitate this goal, the connecting hose 4 is provided as an integrated component, serving both the medium-side connection of the processing head 2 to the storage container 6 and the electrical connection to the power supply unit 8. Consequently, when using the processing system 1, there is no need to handle and coordinate several different connecting hoses, connecting lines, etc.

[0039] Connecting hose 4 Figure 2 In the stereogram, Figure 3 4, each having a particularly preferred cross-sectional profile, each considered to have independent creativity (respectively Figure 4a and Figure 4b). In the sense of the above-described embodiment as an integrated component, the connecting hose 4 essentially consists of a sheath 10 made of a suitably selected hose material, which is particularly preferably PVC, TPU or silicone. The sheath 10 has a media channel 12 in its interior, through which the treatment fluid can flow from the container 6 to the treatment head 2. The sheath 10 also integrates a plurality of conductor elements 14, two electrical conductor elements in this embodiment example. With regard to the intended function of the connecting hose 4, the design criteria for the selection of the sheath material are particularly preferably based on: on the one hand, sufficient inertness with respect to the medium transported in the media channel 12 (i.e., the sheath material should be prevented from chemically reacting with the medium or reacting in any other way or being corroded by the medium), and on the other hand, sufficient insulating properties (i.e., the sheath 10 should form a suitable electrically insulating matrix for the conductor elements 14). In this embodiment example, the conductor elements 14 (e.g., copper and / or aluminum wires, cables or strands) are cast into the sheath 10 or inserted during the extrusion process; however, they can also be arranged on the outside of the sheath 10 with appropriate insulation. With regard to electrical properties, the connecting hose 4 can therefore be regarded as a cable harness 4 a in which a plurality of conductor elements 14 are guided in the sheath 10 .

[0040] In the end region, the sheath 10 of the connecting hose 4 has a corresponding bulge 16 for each conductor element 14, wherein the corresponding conductor element 14 is free of sheath material. In the region of the corresponding bulge 16, the corresponding conductor element 14 is therefore uninsulated and can therefore be electrically contacted, thereby making it possible to electrically connect the corresponding conductor element 14 to a suitable contact pin, as described below.

[0041] According to an embodiment considered to be independently inventive, the connecting pipe may have Figure 4a The cross-sectional profile shown in . The sheath 10 thereby forms two essentially parallel side surfaces 17, which a user can grip in the manner of a gripping surface. The side surfaces 17 are connected to each other in their first end region by a rounded profile 18, while the second end region of the connecting side surfaces 17 forms a corner or edge 19. This profile design makes assembly particularly easy and reliable, or the user can particularly easily and reliably detect and identify the position and orientation of the connecting hose 4 and the conductor element 14 integrated therein by touch alone, that is, by feel alone without having to look at the connecting hose. Especially in embodiments in which the correct individual allocation and handling of the conductor elements 14 are important, such as in order to maintain a predetermined electrical polarity of the conductor elements 14 during assembly or operation of the entire system, this or similar cross-sectional shapes improve the user-friendliness and reliability of the system quite significantly. In an alternative and also particularly preferred embodiment, the sheath 10 of the connecting hose 4' can also have a Figure 4bThe profile shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. In this case, the connecting hose 4 ′ or the sheath 10 forming its outer region is designed with an oval or, more generally, non-circular cross section. Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous to obtain information about the spatial orientation and, therefore, for example, the correct installation position, during installation, purely tactilely (i.e., simply by the feel of the grip).

[0042] The embodiment of the connecting hose 4, 4' and / or its use in a treatment system 1 of the type described is considered to be independently inventive; the connecting hose is generally a hose or cable harness 4a having a media channel 12 surrounded by a sheath 10, wherein a plurality of conductor elements 14 are arranged in or on the sheath 10. Figure 4a The cross-sectional profile shown is also considered to be independently inventive for hoses or wires in general, cables or cable harnesses, whereby in all these cases tactile detection of spatial orientation and, for example, correct polarity or orientation is enabled due to the cross-sectional profile.

[0043] In order to achieve the electrical connection of the conductor element 14 to the power supply unit 8, the latter is provided with a contact system 20. The design of the contact of the conductor element 14 is particularly concerned with the reliability required and mandatory for medical applications on the one hand and relatively simple operability on the other hand. Figure 5 The contact system 20 , shown enlarged in section in FIG. 8 , comprises a connection module 22 , which is provided for accommodating a partial section of the cable harness 4 a and can be plugged or inserted into a corresponding contact socket 24 attached to the power supply unit 8 .

[0044] The connection module 22 is also considered to be independently inventive with respect to the embodiments explained in more detail below. Figure 6 to Figure 1 1 is shown in more detail, namely in Figure 6 and Figure 7 In the state of being connected to the connecting hose 4, it is shown in the side view and the plan view. Figure 8 9 is shown in a perspective view, in an exploded view of the outer housing 25, and in Figure 10and FIG11 , shown in longitudinal section. As can be seen from these figures, in this embodiment example, the outer housing 25 of the connection module 22 is composed of two pluggable housing halves 26 and 28. The connecting hose 4 is introduced into the housing interior through the first housing half 26 and plugged into a hose nozzle or hose socket 30 arranged in the housing interior on the second housing half 28 via its media channel 12. The connecting hose 4 is thus fixed by its end section within the outer housing 25 of the connection module 22 formed by the housing halves 26 and 28. The hose nozzle 30, in turn, passes through the second housing half 28 and connects to a supply hose 32 on the outer side of the housing. This supply hose is in turn connected to the supply container 6 via a pump 34.

[0045] At its end region, immediately adjacent to the hose nozzle 30 and within the outer housing 25, the bulge 16 of the connecting hose 4 is provided. The cable harness 4a formed by the connecting hose 4 is thus stripped from the outside. In other words, the jacket 10 is removed or thinned in the outer region to the extent that the conductor elements 14 are exposed in this region, free of insulation, and thus capable of establishing electrical contact. To contact these exposed regions of the conductor elements 14, two suitable contact elements are provided, each having a suitable contact geometry, such as a radius, a cone, or an inclined surface. In this exemplary embodiment, these contact elements are designed as contact pins 36, which, when viewed from the side relative to the longitudinal direction of the cable harness 4a, extend transversely through the outer housing 25 of the connection module 22. In this exemplary embodiment, these contact pins 36 are fixedly mounted in the contact socket 24 and are suitably connected to a power supply element (such as a current or voltage source) provided therein in the power supply unit 8. The housing halves 26, 28 have corresponding through-holes 38 for the contact pins 36. In this way and using the described component, the media channel is split or separated from the current conductors in the cable harness.

[0046] When the connection module 22 provided with the end side area of ​​the connecting hose 4 is inserted into the contact socket 24, the contact pins 36 are thus introduced into the through-holes 38 and protrude through these through-holes transversely to the longitudinal direction of the cable harness 4a into the interior of the outer housing 25 formed by the housing halves 26, 28. There they can contact the cable harness 4a formed by the connecting hose 4. When inserted, the cable harness is pushed between the contact pins 36 in an orientation transverse to the contact pins 36 so that each stripped conductor element 14 arranged on the outside faces one of the contact pins 36. The contact pins 36 are spaced apart relative to one another and are also positioned within the housing so that the connecting hose 4 with its stripped end area fits straightly, preferably slightly clamped, between the contact pins 36 and thus forms a reliable electrical contact between the respective contact pin 36 and the associated conductor element 14. The contact principle is Figure 12, in which only the contact pins 36 (in this embodiment, they are firmly mounted in the contact sockets 24) and the connecting hose 4 located between them at the end are shown, while other components are omitted. It can be clearly seen how the contact pins 36 each engage in the associated bulge 16 in the sheath 10 of the connecting hose 4 and thus contact the corresponding conductor element 14.

[0047] In this inserted state of the end section of the connecting hose 4, the contact pin 36 exerts a specific, preferably elastic pressure on the conductor element 14 guided in the connecting hose 4, in particular in order to ensure a reliable and stable electrical contact in this area. However, due to the material choice of the hose material, this can lead to an unintentional compression of the hose in the contact area if the conductor element 14 yields to the pressure as a result of the contact and retreats inwards. This weakens the electrical contact on the one hand and leads on the other hand to an undesirable narrowing of the inner cross-section of the connecting hose 4, so that the flow of the medium is impaired. In order to overcome this, in an independently inventive design, the medium channel 12 of the connecting hose 4 is provided with an integrated reinforcement element in its end side area directly adjacent to the actual end area, preferably an inner tube 39 made of metal, ceramic or other suitable material, which accommodates the hose nozzle 30 in the assembled state, as shown in particular in FIG. 11 . Figure 11b The inner tube preferably has a relatively thin wall, in particular the end located in the medium channel 12 so that the inner tube adjoins the end face of the hose nozzle 30, wherein the end face of the inner tube points toward the end.

[0048] Preferably, the connecting hose 4 is inserted between the contact pins 36 with its longitudinal direction being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the contact pins 36, as also described in accordance with Figure 12 , shown in the embodiment example of FIG. The substantially cross-alignment of the longitudinal directions of the contact pins 36, on the one hand, and of the conductor elements 14 in the cable harness 4a, on the other hand, ensures that local displacements of the connecting hose 4 or the cable harness 4a in their longitudinal direction, as well as inaccuracies in the insertion depth of the connecting hose 4 in the longitudinal direction of the contact pins 36, do not jeopardize or impair the formation of a corresponding contact point between one of the conductor elements 14 and one of the contact pins 36. Consequently, this system of "crossed conductor elements" is particularly insensitive to inaccuracies during final assembly and is therefore particularly reliable in operation and simple to assemble.

[0049] Alternatively, the contact pins 36 can of course also be firmly connected to the connection module 22 , in which case a socket-shaped contact opening or receiving opening must be provided in the contact socket 24 accordingly and in a correspondingly suitable manner.

[0050] The embodiment of the contact system 20 in the manner described and / or its use in a processing system 1 of the type described is considered to be independently inventive, the system typically being a combination of a connection module 22 with a contact socket 24, wherein electrical contact with the conductor elements 14 guided in the region of the outer sheath of the hose or cable is achieved via contact pins 36 aligned transversely to them, preferably essentially perpendicularly to them.

[0051] According to the concepts described in WO 2014 / 075755 A1, WO 2014 / 122187 A1, WO 2014 / 122188 A1, and / or WO 2016 / 023998 A1, a treatment system 1 is designed to conduct an electric current, provided for cleaning the component to be treated, specifically through the surface to be treated by utilizing the conductivity of the provided treatment liquid. On the one hand, the treatment head 2 is designed so that the electric current can be supplied to the component to be treated and can be used as an electrode. On the other hand, the conductivity of the treatment liquid supplied via the treatment head 2 is utilized to form a counter electrode or counter electrode.

[0052] To this end, the processing head 2 has Figure 13 (enlarge) and Figure 14 The structure shown in the cross section. Figure 15a and 15b In the outer housing 40 shown in FIG, into which the free end of the connecting hose 4 is inserted, a connecting pin 42 is arranged on the one hand for forming a first electrode connection, preferably a cathode connection. Figure 16 The connecting pin 42, shown enlarged in FIG, is highly conductive and preferably made of metal, very particularly preferably of titanium. Very preferably, and with a view to particularly low manufacturing costs, the connecting pin 42 is made of stamped, bent, and / or rolled sheet metal, particularly preferably of titanium. In the installed state, the connecting pin 42 is connected at its "upper end" within the outer housing to one of the conductor elements 14 of the connecting hose 4, so that when the connecting hose 4 is connected to the power supply unit 8, the connecting pin can be directly electrically controlled and used to establish the electrode connection.

[0053] In a particularly preferred embodiment, which is also considered to be independently inventive, the connecting pin 42 is designed to particularly preferably engage with the end 44 of the corresponding conductor element 14 provided for establishing the electrical connection, in order to ensure a particularly reliable electrical contact. Figure 13 As can be easily seen in the sectional view in FIG, the end 44 of the conductor element is bent so that the end region can elastically rest against the upper end of the connecting pin 42. In addition, the connecting pin 42 has a V-shaped recess 46 in its upper end region, into which the end 44 can be inserted, preferably in a clamping manner.

[0054] At its free end 48 (located at the "lower part" in the mounted state), the connecting pin 42 is suitably designed to be placed on the component to be processed. Particularly preferably, the processing system 1 is generally intended for processing inserted medical implants. In this embodiment example, the processing system 1 is specifically designed for very particularly preferably processing or preparing inserted dental implants. Therefore, the connecting pin 42 in this embodiment example is suitably designed to be placed on an inserted dental implant. If the dental implant has an internal connection for an associated abutment or abutments, the free end 48 is preferably adapted to the dimensions of the internal connection so that it can be properly inserted into the implant to be processed. In order to ensure particularly reliable electrical contact of the connecting pin 42 with the component to be processed, the connecting pin 42 is also provided with a plurality of outwardly bent spring rods 50 at its free end. When the connecting pin is placed on a suitable dental implant, these spring rods form a close electrical contact with the implant.

[0055] The connecting pin 42 is primarily intended for establishing an electrical connection to a component to be treated, in particular a dental implant, so that the connecting pin can be used as an electrode for a cleaning process. Therefore, the connecting pin 42 can also be designed as a (preferably metal) solid body, since, in addition to, for example, biocompatibility, good electrical conductivity is considered to be the most important design criterion. However, a particularly preferred embodiment is shown in this embodiment example, in which the connecting pin 42 is designed as a tubular hollow body. This hollow body can be obtained, for example, by rolling a metal sheet that has been appropriately stamped in advance, which forms an internal channel 52, through which a treatment fluid can be introduced into the interior of the implant located below and used there for cleaning purposes, for example by flushing with a flushing solution. In addition, cleaning can also be carried out in this way in the internal area of ​​the implant.

[0056] As from Figure 13 As can also be seen in the illustration in , the connecting pin 42 is arranged in an insulating body 54 surrounding it, in particular inserted into the insulating body. Figure 17 The insulator 54 shown separately in FIG is preferably made of a suitably selected plastic, preferably by injection molding. Figure 18 The connecting pin 42 is shown inserted into the insulator 54 .

[0057] The insulator 54 is in turn surrounded by a cavity 56 within the outer housing 40 of the treatment head 2, as particularly seen from Figure 13As can be clearly seen in the illustration in FIG, this cavity 56 is connected to the medium channel 12 of the connecting hose 4 via a medium channel 58 integrated in the treatment head 2. Thus, the treatment fluid can be introduced from the medium channel 12 of the connecting hose 4 into the cavity 56 in the treatment head 2 via the medium channel 58. In the "lower" region of the treatment head 2, facing the free end and the component to be treated, the cavity 56 widens and forms an annular outflow surface 60 around the centrally guided connecting pin 42 and the insulator 54 surrounding the connecting pin, through which the supplied treatment fluid can flow out and toward the component to be treated.

[0058] To form a counterpole or counterelectrode for performing electrolytic treatment and cleaning concepts, as is generally known from WO 2014 / 075755 A1, WO 2014 / 122187 A1, WO 2014 / 122188 A1, and WO 2016 / 023998 A1, the conductivity of the treatment fluid supplied via treatment head 2 into chamber 56 and from there to the components to be treated is utilized, as already mentioned. To achieve this, an electrode 62 is arranged in chamber 56 and electrically connected to another conductor element 14 of connecting hose 4. Electrode 62 is essentially annular and is arranged in chamber 56 in such a way that the treatment fluid flowing through it flows around it and thoroughly wets it. Thus, when connecting hose 4 is connected to power supply unit 8, the treatment fluid in chamber 56, and therefore the treatment fluid in the area immediately adjacent to outflow surface 60, can be electrically controlled via power supply unit 8 and used to establish the electrode connection.

[0059] On the one hand, the electrode 62 is designed to form a particularly good electrical contact with the treatment liquid flowing around it. This is achieved by the shape of the electrode 62 or the shape is at least conducive to its realization, and the design is considered to have independent creativity: the annular shape has been able to achieve uniform and large-area contact of the liquid. However, in addition and preferably, the electrode 62 also has a surface profile, such as a corrugated or wavy shape. This structure increases the flow path of the liquid along the surface, thereby increasing the effective contact area, and if necessary, it can also generate turbulence or eddies in the liquid flow, which further promotes close contact with the surface. In addition, the appropriate and particularly preferred selection of materials further facilitates the particularly good electrical contact between the electrode 62 and the liquid.

[0060] Advantageously, the surface of the electrode 62 is made of a good conductor material, preferably a physiologically inert material well tolerated by the human body, in particular a metal, particularly preferably gold, platinum, magnesium or doped diamond. The electrode 62 can consist entirely of such a material in solid form, or alternatively, it can also consist of a coated carrier, the surface coating consisting of one of the aforementioned materials.

[0061] On the other hand, the electrode 62 is also designed in a manner that is particularly advantageous for relatively simple assembly of the treatment head 2. Preferred design criteria are that, in order to achieve simple assembly, the connecting pin 42 provided with the insulator 54 should be easily insertable over the lower end of the treatment head 2 into its outer housing 40, and that the inserted connecting pin 42 should find a relatively secure hold and a good fit in the outer housing 40 after its assembly. In order to be able to meet both criteria equally, the electrode 62 is advantageously designed such that it elastically permits a temporary widening of its clear inner cross section.

[0062] To this end, in a preferred embodiment, the electrode 62 can be in the form of a mesh ring or a clasp, or in the form of a slotted tubular piece. In this embodiment example, in a very particularly preferred embodiment, the electrode 62 is shown as a spring or a coiled wire. On the one hand, this design offers the advantage of having the desired elasticity in the event of temporary expansion, and on the other hand, due to this design, the surface is wavy or corrugated.

[0063] This design of the treatment head 2 ensures that the current used for treatment and cleaning purposes can flow through the surface areas of the component to be treated that harbor bacteria and from there largely directly (i.e., in particular without a "detour" via further body tissue, etc.) to the outflow surface 60 serving as the contact surface. In this embodiment example, the media channels 12, 58 (including the electrically conductive treatment fluid guided therein and the corresponding connecting elements) thus form a second electrically conductive element that forms the current path to the actual electrically conductive element 14 in the connecting hose 4.

[0064] In order to avoid or at least reduce excessive leakage during drainage of treatment liquid, a sponge is provided around the mouth area of ​​the treatment head in the region of the drainage surface 60 and thus at the "free" end of the treatment head.

[0065] In this embodiment example, an internal passage 52 for applying a treatment fluid to the connecting pin 42 is also provided. In order to solve the problem of an electrical short circuit between the two electrodes (on the one hand formed by the connecting pin 42, and on the other hand formed by the electrode 62 around which the treatment fluid flows), in an embodiment that is considered to have independent creativity, an insulator 54 placed in the cavity 56 is provided with a circumferential thread 64 on its outer region, as clearly seen from the enlarged representation in Figure 17. When the insulator 54 is inserted into the cavity 56, the thread 64 is closed flush with the surrounding inner wall of the cavity 56 as much as possible. Therefore, the thread 64 forms an extended flow path for the treatment fluid, because the treatment fluid guided by the thread 64 must flow spirally around the insulator 54. Due to this artificial extension of the flow path, the electrical path length in the treatment fluid in the cavity 56 is correspondingly extended, which correspondingly increases its resistance. In this way, the short circuit or leakage current "upward" (i.e., towards the inflow area entering the connecting pin 42) can be kept as low as possible, because the leakage current will not be used for the expected cleaning effect.

[0066] exist Figure 18 and Figure 19 In the perspective view ( Figure 18 ) and longitudinal section ( Figure 19 ) is shown in ).

[0067] The above-described designs and individual components, in particular a connecting hose 4 of the described type, a connecting pin 42, an insulator 54 with a circumferential thread 64, an electrode 62 having the above-described design criteria, the design of the treatment head 2 (in each case individually or in combination with one another) and their use (in each case individually or in combination with one another) in a treatment system 1 of the aforementioned design are expressly regarded as independently inventive.

[0068] According to aspects known from WO 2014 / 075755 A1, WO 2014 / 122187 A1, WO 2014 / 122188 A1 and WO 2016 / 023998A1, the treatment fluid for use in the treatment system 1 is suitably selected and constituted. In particular, the selection and composition of the basic components of the treatment fluid are made according to the expected mode of action (i.e., applying an electric current in the spatial region of the surface that needs to be treated), and in particular, it is ensured that there is a sufficiently high electrical conductivity in the treatment fluid for this purpose. This is ensured in particular by a sufficiently high selected ion density in the treatment fluid. For this reason, a metal salt is provided as the basic component of the treatment fluid, preferably in the form of an aqueous solution. Particularly preferably, a solution containing the metal salt sodium formate is used. The metal salt provides ions for current transport, and in addition, the reaction product formed after the corresponding electrode reaction can also have a suitable biochemical effect. When performing a cleaning process on an inserted implant, the specific selection of this sufficiently high electrical conductivity is intended to ensure that the current flows through the treatment fluid, and therefore through the components and parts to be treated, and not through the patient's body tissue, thereby minimizing any risk to the patient from undesirable current flow through soft tissue, bone, blood, and / or other body materials. The conductivity of the treatment fluid should preferably be a multiple of the conductivity of blood, bone, soft tissue, fatty tissue, or other body materials.

[0069] Therefore, the following conductivity values ​​are particularly taken into account in the selection and composition of the basic components for the treatment fluid (the conductivity σ is usually given in the unit mS / cm):

[0070] Skin: 0.03-0.1mS / cm

[0071] Bone: 0.06-0.2 mS / cm

[0072] Adipose tissue: 0.20-1.0 mS / cm

[0073] Muscle tissue: 0.80-2.5mS / cm

[0074] Blood: Approximately 6.7 mS / cm

[0075] Other body fluids: approximately 15mS / cm

[0076] To keep the potential hazard to the patient at an appropriately low level and to confine the current flow to the desired area, the conductivity should be at least twice, preferably five times, and particularly preferably ten times, the conductivity of other body fluids. Therefore, the conductivity of the treatment fluid should have a value of at least 30 mS / cm, preferably at least 75 mS / cm, and particularly preferably at least 150 mS / cm. Compared to blood, this means that the conductivity of the treatment fluid is preferably at least approximately five times, preferably at least approximately ten times, and particularly preferably at least approximately twenty times greater than that of blood. Measurements have shown that when using a treatment fluid selected in this manner, the voltage experienced by body tissue, blood, body fluids, etc. is less than 6 V, preferably less than 3 V, and particularly preferably less than 1.5 V. This means that damage to the patient due to blood conductivity can be avoided. Thus, since the voltage remains low, harm to the patient can be reliably ruled out. To maintain this conductivity, the ion concentration in the treatment fluid and its basic components is selected to be sufficiently high; bases, acids, salts, and / or other ion-forming substances or combinations of substances can be used for this purpose.

[0077] The selection and composition of the essential components of the treatment fluid are particularly sensitive to the cleaning or biofilm-removing effect of the electrolytic treatment of contaminated implant surfaces, which is based on a combination of several factors that should be exploited as complementary as possible. On the one hand, during the flow of current through the electrolyte, preferably in the region of the electrodes, gases or bubbles can form, which have a lifting (mechanical) effect on the biofilm. These gas formations occur directly on the implant surface serving as an electrode, and therefore between this surface and the biofilm. The resulting bubbles influence the separation process through their growth rate and maximum size.

[0078] A second reason for the electrolytic process of cleaning implants or removing biofilms is the decomposition, disruption and dissolution of the actual adhesion of the biofilm to the implant surface (ie the adhesion or anchoring mechanisms) by the substances or substance compounds produced by the electrolysis.

[0079] A third reason for the cleaning or separating effect of the electrolysis process is based on a material removal effect of the implant material, whereby components or particles of the actual implant are dissolved in its surface region.

[0080] A fourth reason for the cleaning or separating effect of the electrolytic process is the oxide layer formed on the metal implant, which allows this effect. Here, due to the applied voltage, metal atoms of the metal substrate penetrate any existing oxide layer and react with electrolyte substances (mostly oxygen => metal oxide formation). If the metal does not form an oxide layer or a mechanically stable oxide layer, non-oxide compounds (primarily salts) may also form, which then enter the solution.

[0081] According to these effects, the basic components provided for forming the treatment fluid are appropriately selected and combined with each other. In addition, as a basic design goal, it should be considered that no toxic effects or other effects that endanger the patient or make the patient feel unpleasant should occur, so that the treatment fluid is also suitable for use on the inserted dental implant (i.e. in the patient's mouth). In this embodiment example, at least one salt on the one hand and an acid (preferably diluted with water) on the other hand are provided as basic components, the selection and composition of the salt and acid being particularly based on the criteria. Phosphoric acid, citric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, carbonic acid or a combination thereof are particularly preferred as the acid. Alternatively or in addition, an iodide, chloride, nitrate, carbonate or bicarbonate of sodium, calcium, aluminum, magnesium, tin or potassium and / or ammonium chlorite, ammonium nitrate or ammonium iodide or a combination thereof is particularly preferably provided as the salt. Sodium formate is the sodium salt of formic acid, and its structural formula is Na(HCOO).

[0082] The treatment system 1 and (in particular) its power supply unit 8 and / or the control system assigned thereto are designed for coordinated process control, in the sense that the supply of treatment fluid on the one hand and the application of current on the other hand are coordinated. To this end, provision can be made, for example, to control a pump 34 for the treatment fluid, which is assigned to the connecting hose 4 or the container 6, via the power supply unit 8 in coordination with the current supplied to the conductor element 14. This can be automatic or, if desired, manually controlled via a switch. The manually operated switch can, in particular, be arranged directly in the treatment head 2, so that the operator can access the system controls while treating the patient.

[0083] Reference Signs List

[0084] 1 Processing system

[0085] 2 Processing head

[0086] 4, 4' connecting hose

[0087] 4a Cable harness

[0088] 6 Storage Containers

[0089] 8 Power supply unit

[0090] 10 coating

[0091] 12 media channels

[0092] 14 Conductor elements

[0093] 16 protrusion

[0094] 17 side surface

[0095] 18 Outline

[0096] 19 Edge

[0097] 20 Contact System

[0098] 22 Connection Module

[0099] 24 contact socket

[0100] 25 housing

[0101] 26, 28 shell halves

[0102] 30 Hose Nozzle

[0103] 32 Supply hose

[0104] 34 pumps

[0105] 36 contact pins

[0106] 38 through holes

[0107] 39 inner tube

[0108] 40 shell

[0109] 42 Connecting pin

[0110] 44 end

[0111] 46 recess

[0112] 48 end

[0113] 50 Spring Rod

[0114] 52 inner catheter

[0115] 54 Insulator

[0116] 56 chambers

[0117] 58 media channels

[0118] 60 Outflow area

[0119] 62 electrodes

[0120] 64 thread

Claims

1. A contact system (20) for electrically contacting an electrical conductor element (14) embedded in an insulating sheath (10) of a cable harness (4a), the contact system comprising a connection module (22) and a plurality of contact pins (36), a hose connector (30) being arranged in an outer housing (25) of the connection module, a portion of a connection hose (4) comprising the cable harness (4a) and a medium channel (12) for handling a fluid, the portion of the connection hose (4) being insertable into the connection module and thus fixed in the outer housing (25), the plurality of contact pins being guided transversely through the outer housing (25) and positioned in the outer housing (25) in such a manner that the contact pins make electrical contact with the conductor element (14) in the region of the corresponding bulge (16) of the connection hose (4), in the sub-portion of the cable harness (4a) fixed in the outer housing (25).

2. The contact system (20) according to claim 1, the contact pins (36) of the contact system being positioned at a distance relative to one another so that the cable harness (4a) stripped in subsections fits straight between the contact pins (36).

3. The contact system (20) according to claim 1, wherein the contact pins (36) of the contact system are positioned at a certain distance relative to each other so that the cable harness (4a) stripped in the subsection is assembled straightly between the contact pins (36) in a slightly clamped manner.

Images