Interface for a surgical imaging system

Abstract

The invention relates to an interface (4) for an operating image acquisition system (1), comprising a proximal part (5) mounted on a support arm (2) and a distal part (6) mounted on an image acquisition unit (3), wherein the proximal part (5) and the distal part (6) can be connected to each other along a coupling axis (7) for fixing the image acquisition unit (3) to the support arm (2) by means of a coupling mechanism (8). In order to create an interface (4) for an operating image acquisition system (1) which, in a compact design, ensures a secure mechanical connection and an easy-to-use electrical connection, it is proposed according to the invention that the coupling mechanism (8) is designed as a simultaneously mechanical and electrical coupling mechanism (8), wherein the mechanical coupling is effected via a threaded connection (9) with additional anti-rotation device (10) and the electrical coupling is effected via electrical contacts (11, 12) that come into operative contact with each other.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an interface for a surgical image recording system, having a proximal part mounted on a support arm and having a distal part mounted on an image recording unit, wherein the proximal part and the distal part can be connected to one another along a coupling axis by means of a coupling mechanism in order to fix the image recording unit on the support arm.

[0002] Interfaces according to the invention are used to connect the image acquisition unit and holding arm components of a medical surgical image acquisition system. In addition to the purely mechanical attachment of the image acquisition unit to the holding arm, electrical contact is also required to release and reattach the joints of the holding arm for aligning the image acquisition unit.

[0003] In the surgical image recording systems known from practice, the electrical connection from the image recording unit to the holding arm is released via a separate cable in such a way that the brakes of the electromagnetically braked or the robotic holding arm are released via a separate foot switch or button.

[0004] Based on this, the invention is based on the object of creating an interface for a surgical image recording system which ensures a secure mechanical connection and an easy-to-use electrical connection with a compact design.

[0005] The solution to this problem is characterized according to the invention in that the coupling mechanism is designed as a simultaneous mechanical and electrical coupling mechanism, wherein the mechanical coupling is effected via a threaded connection with additional anti-twist protection and the electrical coupling is effected via electrical contacts that come into operative connection with one another.

[0006] By combining the mechanical connection and the electrical connection into a single, two-part component, the interface can be designed to be particularly compact. Integrating an anti-twist device into the mechanical connection ensures correct contact and protects against accidental release of the coupling mechanism.

[0007] In a practical embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the proximal part and the distal part engage with each other in a form-fitting manner, at least in sections, to form the anti-twist device.

[0008] To form the positive-locking anti-rotation device, the invention proposes that a projection protruding forward in the direction of the coupling axis and having a non-circular circumference be formed on the proximal part or the distal part, and a recess with a non-circular circumference be formed on the corresponding distal part or proximal part to accommodate the non-circular projection. The design of the two components with non-circular circumference, which interlock when contacting the interface, represents a connection type that is easy to manufacture and also simple and safe to handle, while simultaneously ensuring the precise positioning of the two components to be contacted.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, to form the threaded connection, a ring provided with an external thread and freely rotatable about the coupling axis is mounted on the proximal part or the distal part, via which the external thread can be screwed into an internal thread of the corresponding distal part or proximal part. The freely rotatable ring, designed in the manner of a union nut, enables a simple and quick connection of the proximal part to the distal part of the interface.

[0010] In order to be able to grip the rotatable ring provided with the external thread safely and firmly, the invention further proposes that grip recesses are formed on the ring.

[0011] Furthermore, the invention proposes that spring pins are arranged on the underside of the ring facing the corresponding proximal or distal part, radially pointing toward the proximal or distal part, which engage with spring-loaded locking elements in corresponding receptacles on the proximal or distal part. These spring-loaded locking pins act as a safeguard against accidental loosening of the threaded connection, for example, due to vibration, and also provide haptic feedback for the operator when tightening or loosening the threaded connection.

[0012] To create the electrical contact between the image capture unit and the support arm, the invention proposes that the electrical contacts be designed as spring contact pins and as corresponding contact surfaces that operatively connect with the spring contact pins. Spring contact pins create the desired electrical contact not by simply inserting or touching the contacts on either side, but by exerting a certain contact pressure so that a spring-loaded contact pin is pressed in to establish electrical contact. In conjunction with the threaded connection, this ensures that electrical contact is only made when the threaded connection is sufficiently tightened to press the spring contact pins in far enough to establish electrical contact.

[0013] The pitch of the threaded connection is advantageously designed so that the mechanical anti-twist device and the electrical contacts engage relative to each other after 3.5 turns of the proximal part and the distal part.

[0014] Finally, the invention proposes that the electrical contacts include sensors for identifying the components connected to each other via the electrical contacts. For example, the holding arm can detect which load has been attached to the distal end to enable appropriate automatic weight compensation.

[0015] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings, in which an embodiment of an interface according to the invention for a surgical image acquisition system is shown only by way of example, without limiting the invention to this embodiment. It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the respective combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The drawings show: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a surgical image recording system according to the invention; Fig. 2 an enlarged view of detail II according to Fig. 1, showing the proximal part and the distal part of the interface in the decoupled state and Fig. 3 a view according to Fig. 2, but showing the proximal part and the distal part of the interface in perspective view.

[0016] The illustration Fig. 1 shows a surgical image recording system 1, which essentially consists of a holding arm 2 and an image recording unit 3 mounted on the holding arm 2, wherein the coupling of the image recording unit 3 to the holding arm 2 takes place via an interface 4.

[0017] The figures Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 enlarged and detached from the surgical image recording system 1, the interface 4 consists of a proximal part 5 mounted on the holding arm 2 and a distal part 6 mounted on the image recording unit 3, which can be coupled together along a coupling axis 7 via a coupling mechanism 8.

[0018] As is particularly evident from Fig. 3, the coupling mechanism 8 is designed as a simultaneous mechanical and electrical coupling mechanism 8, wherein the mechanical coupling is effected via a threaded connection 9 with additional anti-twist device 10 and the electrical coupling is effected via electrical contacts 11 and 12 which are in operative connection with one another.

[0019] In the illustrated embodiment of the interface 4, the threaded connection 9 consists of an external thread 13 formed on the proximal part 5, which can be screwed into an internal thread 14 formed on the distal part 6. In order to be able to screw the external thread 13 of the proximal part 5 into the internal thread 14 of the distal part 6, the external thread 13 is formed on a ring 15 that is freely rotatable about the coupling axis 7 and mounted on the proximal part 5. For better gripping and turning of the ring 15, which is designed like a union nut, grip recesses 16 are formed on the outer circumference of the ring 15.

[0020] As an alternative to the illustrated arrangement of the external thread 13 on the proximal part 5 of the interface 4 and the internal thread 14 on the distal part 6 of the interface 4, it is of course also possible to form the external thread 13 on the distal part 6 of the interface 4 and the internal thread 14 on the proximal part 5 of the interface 4 without thereby changing the functioning of the coupling mechanism 8.

[0021] In order to provide the operator of the surgical imaging system 1 with haptic feedback when turning the ring 15 when tightening or loosening the threaded connection 9, and to prevent accidental loosening of the threaded connection 9, for example due to vibrations, spring pins 17 are arranged on the underside of the ring 15 facing the associated proximal part 5, pointing radially toward the proximal part 5. These spring pins engage with spring-loaded locking elements in corresponding receptacles on the proximal part 5. The spring pins 17 generate clearly noticeable locking steps when the ring 15 is rotated.

[0022] In addition to the threaded connection 9, the mechanical part of the coupling mechanism 8 has the anti-twist device 10, which on the one hand prevents the proximal part 5 and the distal part 6 from twisting relative to each other and on the other hand ensures precise positioning of the proximal part 5 and the distal part 6 relative to each other when the coupling mechanism 8 is assembled.

[0023] In the illustrated embodiment, the anti-twist device 10 is designed as a positive-locking anti-twist device 10 such that a projection 18 projecting forward in the direction of the coupling axis 7 and having a non-circular circumference is formed on the proximal part 5 and a recess 19 having a non-circular circumference is formed on the corresponding distal part 6 for receiving the non-circular projection 18.

[0024] When tightening the threaded connection 9, the projection 18 of the proximal part 5 of the interface 4 engages positively in the recess 19 of the distal part 6 of the interface 4 and thus fixes the two parts 5 and 6 against rotation about the coupling axis 7.

[0025] With regard to the design of the anti-twist device 10, it is of course also possible to interchange the arrangement of the projection 18 and the recess 19, i.e. to arrange the projection 18 on the distal part 6 of the interface 4 and the recess 19 on the proximal part 5 of the interface 4, without thereby changing the functioning of the anti-twist device 10.

[0026] The pitch of the threaded connection 9, i.e. the external thread 13 and the internal thread 14, is designed such that the mechanical anti-twist device 10 and the electrical contacts 11 and 12 come into operative connection with each other after 3.5 revolutions of the proximal part 5 of the interface 4 and the distal part 6 of the interface 4 relative to each other.

[0027] The illustration Fig. Figure 3 also shows the structure of the electrical contacting of the coupling mechanism by means of the electrical contacts 11 and 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical contacts 11 of the proximal part 5 of the interface 4 are designed as spring contact pins 20, and the electrical contacts 12 of the distal part 6 of the interface 4 are designed as contact surfaces 21 that operatively connect with the spring contact pins 20.

[0028] Spring pin contacts 20 do not create the desired electrical contact by simply inserting or touching the contacts on both sides, but rather by exerting a certain contact pressure, which pushes a spring-loaded contact pin in to establish electrical contact. In conjunction with the threaded connection 9, this ensures that electrical contact only occurs when the threaded connection 9 is sufficiently tightened to push the spring contact pins 20 in far enough, using the contact surfaces 21 as abutments, to establish electrical contact.

[0029] With regard to the design of the electrical contacts 11 and 12, it is of course also possible to interchange the arrangement of the spring contact pins 20 and the contact surfaces 21, i.e. to arrange the spring contact pins 20 on the distal part 6 of the interface 4 and the contact surfaces 21 on the proximal part 5 of the interface 4, without thereby changing the functioning of the electrical contact.

[0030] The electrical contacts 11 and 12 also have sensors or chips for identifying the components connected to each other via the electrical contacts 11 and 12. For example, the holding arm 2 can detect which load has been attached to the distal side to enable appropriate automatic weight compensation.

[0031] The electrical contact created by the electrical contacts 11 and 12 serves to release and re-lock the joints of the holding arm 2. For this purpose, the distal part 6 of the interface 4 can be connected to corresponding control elements on the image acquisition unit 3 via a cable 22. The power supply of the image acquisition unit 3 and the transmission of the image data occur independently of the interface 4 via separate cable connections (not shown).

[0032] An interface 4 for a surgical image acquisition system 1 constructed as described above and shown in the figure is characterized by the fact that a secure mechanical connection and an easy-to-use electrical connection are ensured with a compact design.

[0033] The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. It is understood that the aforementioned features can be used not only in the respective combination specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The invention relates to an interface 4 for a surgical image recording system 1, with a proximal part 5 mounted on a holding arm 2 and with a distal part 6 mounted on an image recording unit 3, wherein the proximal part 5 and the distal part 6 can be connected to one another along a coupling axis 7 by means of a coupling mechanism 8 to secure the image recording unit 3 to the holding arm 2.In order to create an interface 4 for a surgical image recording system 1 which ensures a secure mechanical connection and an easy-to-use electrical connection with a compact design, it is proposed according to the invention that the coupling mechanism 8 is designed as a simultaneous mechanical and electrical coupling mechanism 8, wherein the mechanical coupling is effected via a threaded connection 9 with additional anti-twist device 10 and the electrical coupling is effected via electrical contacts 11, 12 which come into operative connection with one another. List of reference symbols 1 surgical image acquisition system 2 holding arms 3 Image acquisition unit 4 Interface 5 proximal part (interface) 6 distal part (interface) 7 Coupling axis 8 Coupling mechanism 9 Threaded connection 10 Anti-twist device 11 electrical contact (proximal part) 12 electrical contact (distal part) 13 external threads 14 internal threads 15 rings 16 recessed grip 17 spring pin 18 lead 19 Deepening 20 spring contact pins 21 Contact surface 22 cables

Claims

[1] Interface (4) for a surgical image recording system (1), with a proximal part (5) mounted on a support arm (2) and with a distal part (6) mounted on an image recording unit (3), wherein the proximal part (5) and the distal part (6) can be connected to one another along a coupling axis (7) by means of a coupling mechanism (8) for fixing the image recording unit (3) on the support arm (2), characterized by that the coupling mechanism (8) is designed as a simultaneous mechanical and electrical coupling mechanism (8), wherein the mechanical coupling is effected via a threaded connection (9) with additional anti-twist device (10) and the electrical coupling is effected via electrical contacts (11, 12) which come into operative connection with one another. [2] Interface (4) according to claim 1, characterized by that to form the anti-twist device (10) the proximal part (5) and the distal part (6) engage with each other in a form-fitting manner at least in sections. [3] Interface (4) according to claim 2, characterized by in that, in order to form the positive-locking anti-twist device (10), a projection (18) which projects forward in the direction of the coupling axis (7) and is non-circular in circumference is formed on the proximal part (5) or on the distal part (6), and a recess (19) which is non-circular in circumference is formed on the corresponding distal part (6) or proximal part (5) for receiving the non-circular projection (18). [4] Interface (4) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by in that, in order to form the threaded connection (9), a ring (15) provided with an external thread (13) and freely rotatable about the coupling axis (7) is mounted on the proximal part (5) or on the distal part (6), via which ring the external thread (13) can be screwed into an internal thread (14) of the corresponding distal part (6) or proximal part (5). [5] Interface (4) according to claim 4, characterized bythat recessed grips (16) are formed on the ring (15). [6] Interface (4) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that on the underside of the ring (15) facing the associated proximal part (5) or distal part (6), spring pins (17) are arranged which point radially towards the proximal part (5) or distal part (6) and which engage with spring-loaded locking elements in corresponding receptacles on the proximal part (5) or distal part (6). [7] Interface (4) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the electrical contacts (11, 12) are designed as spring contact pins (20) and as corresponding contact surfaces (21) which come into operative connection with the spring contact pins (20). [8] Interface (4) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized bythat the pitch of the threaded connection (9) is designed such that the mechanical anti-twist device (10) and the electrical contacts (11, 12) engage relative to one another after 3.5 revolutions of the proximal part (5) and the distal part (6). [9] Interface (4) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the electrical contacts (11 and 12) have sensors for identifying the components connected to one another via the electrical contacts (11 and 12).

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