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

The invention relates to an interface for an operation image recording system, having a proximal part mounted on a holding 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 to the holding arm.Interfaces according to the invention serve for connecting the components image recording unit and holding arm of a medical surgical image recording system. In addition to the purely mechanical fixing of the image recording unit on the holding arm, electrical contacting is also required in order to be able to release the joints of the holding arm for the alignment of the image recording unit and fix them again.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.The patent DE 102020 100 677 B3 discloses an operation image recording system having operating elements for controlling a holding arm connected to the operation image recording system.The laid-open specification DE 10 2017 111 302 A1 teaches a medical mechatronic interface device for coupling a surgical assistance system to a holding structure. This comprises mechanical coupling means, an electronic interface and a centering device.On the basis of this, the object of the invention is to create an interface for an operation-image recording system which, with a compact construction, ensures a secure mechanical connection and an electrical connection which is easy to operate.This object is achieved according to the invention in that the coupling mechanism is designed as a simultaneously mechanical and electrical coupling mechanism, wherein the mechanical coupling is effected via a threaded connection with additional anti-rotation device and the electrical coupling is effected via electrical contacts which enter into operative connection with one another.By virtue of the inventive combination of the mechanical connection and the electrical connection into a component consisting of two parts, it is possible to make the interface particularly compact. The integration of a rotation prevention means into the mechanical connection ensures a positionally correct contacting and protection against an accidental release of the coupling mechanism.With a practical embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that, for forming the anti-rotation device, the proximal part and the distal part engage in one another positively locking manner at least in sections.To form the positive-locking anti-rotation device, it is proposed according to the invention that a circumferentially non-round projection protruding forward in the direction of the coupling axis is formed on the proximal part or on the distal part and a circumferentially non-round depression for receiving the non-round projection is formed on the corresponding distal part or proximal part. The design of the two components that are non-round in circumference and engage in one another when the interface is contacted represents a type of connection that is simple to produce and also simple and reliable to handle, which simultaneously ensures the positionally accurate assignment of the two components to be contacted with one another.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that, for forming the threaded connection, a ring provided with an external thread and freely rotatable about the coupling axis is mounted on the proximal part or on the distal part, via which ring the external thread can be screwed into an internal thread of the corresponding distal part or proximal part. The freely rotatable ring, which is designed in the manner of a union nut, enables a simple and rapid connection of the proximal part to the distal part of the interface.In order to be able to securely and firmly grip the rotatable ring provided with the external thread, the invention further proposes that recessed grips be formed on the ring.Furthermore, the invention proposes that spring pins which point radially toward the proximal part or distal part are arranged on the underside of the ring which faces the associated proximal part or distal part, said spring pins engaging with spring-loaded latching elements in corresponding receptacles on the proximal part or distal part. These spring-loaded latching pins act on the one hand as a safeguard against an accidental release of the threaded connection, for example as a result of vibrations, and on the other hand offer haptic feedback to the operator when the threaded connection is tightened or released.To form the electrical contact of the image recording unit with the holding arm, the invention proposes that the electrical contacts be formed as spring contact pins and as corresponding contact surfaces which enter into operative connection with the spring contact pins. Spring pin contacts produce the desired electrical contacting not by merely inserting or touching the two-sided contacts, but by applying a certain contact pressure, so that a spring-loaded contact pin is pressed in in order to produce the electrical contact. In conjunction with the threaded connection, it is thus ensured that the electrical contact is made only when the threaded connection is sufficiently tightened so as to press the spring contact pins sufficiently far for the electrical contact to take place.The pitch of the threaded connection is advantageously designed such that the mechanical anti-rotation device and the electrical contacts engage relative to one another after 3.5 revolutions of the proximal part and the distal part.Finally, the invention proposes that the electrical contacts have sensors for identifying the components connected to one another via the electrical contacts. Thus, the holding arm can, for example, identify which load has been suspended on the distal side in order to enable a corresponding automatic weight compensation.Further features and advantages of the invention are evident on the basis of the associated drawings, in which an exemplary embodiment of an interface according to the invention for an operation-image recording system is shown only by way of example, without restricting the invention to this exemplary embodiment. It is understood that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the following shows: FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an operation image pickup system; FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the detail II according to FIG. 1, illustrating the proximal part and the distal part of the interface in the uncoupled state, and FIG. 3 is a view according to FIG. 2, but showing the proximal part and the distal part of the interface in a perspective view.FIG. 1 shows an operation-image recording system 1 which substantially comprises a holding arm 2 and an image recording unit 3 mounted on the holding arm 2, the image recording unit 3 being coupled to the holding arm 2 via an interface 4.The interface 4 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 enlarged and detached from the surgical image recording system 1 comprises 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 to one another along a coupling axis 7 via a coupling mechanism 8.As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, the coupling mechanism 8 is designed as a simultaneously mechanical and electrical coupling mechanism 8, wherein the mechanical coupling takes place via a threaded connection 9 with additional anti-rotation device 10 and the electrical coupling takes place via electrical contacts 11 and 12 which come into operative connection with one another.In the embodiment of the interface 4 shown, 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 which is mounted on the proximal part 5 and is freely rotatable about the coupling axis 7. For better gripping and turning of the ring 15, which is designed in the manner of a union nut, gripping depressions 16 are formed on the outer periphery of the ring 15.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.In order on the one hand to provide the operator of the surgical image recording system 1 with haptic feedback during the rotation of the ring 15 when the threaded connection 9 is tightened or loosened and on the other hand to prevent an 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, which spring pins point radially towards the proximal part 5 and engage with spring-loaded latching elements in corresponding receptacles on the proximal part 5. The spring pins 17 generate clearly perceptible latching steps when the ring 15 is rotated.In addition to the threaded connection 9, the mechanical part of the coupling mechanism 8 has the anti-rotation device 10, which on the one hand prevents the proximal part 5 and the distal part 6 from rotating relative to one another and on the other hand ensures accurate positioning of the proximal part 5 and the distal part 6 relative to one another when the coupling mechanism 8 is joined together.In the embodiment shown, the anti-rotation device 10 is designed as a positive anti-rotation device 10 in such a way that a circumferentially non-round protrusion 18 protruding forward in the direction of the coupling axis 7 is formed on the proximal part 5, and a circumferentially non-round depression 19 for receiving the non-round protrusion 18 is formed on the corresponding distal part 6.When the threaded connection 9 is tightened, the projection 18 of the proximal part 5 of the interface 4 engages in a positive-locking manner in the depression 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.With regard to the design of the anti-rotation device 10, it is of course also possible to interchange the arrangement of the projection 18 and the depression 19, that is to say to arrange the projection 18 on the distal part 6 of the interface 4 and the depression 19 on the proximal part 5 of the interface 4, without changing the mode of operation of the anti-rotation device 10 as a result.The pitch of the threaded connection 9, i.e. of the external thread 13 and of the internal thread 14, is designed such that the mechanical anti-rotation device 10 and the electrical contacts 11 and 12 come into operative connection with one another after 3.5 revolutions of the proximal part 5 of the interface 4 and of the distal part 6 of the interface 4 relative to one another.FIG. 3 also shows the structure of the electrical contacting of the coupling mechanism by means of the electrical contacts 11 and 12. In the embodiment shown, the electrical contacts 11 of the proximal part 5 of the interface 4 are spring contact pins 20 and the electrical contacts 12 of the distal part 6 of the interface 4 are contact surfaces 21 which engage with the spring contact pins 20.Spring pin contacts 20 generate the desired electrical contacting not by merely inserting or touching the two-sided contacts, but only by exerting a certain contact pressure, whereby a spring-loaded contact pin is pressed in in order to produce the electrical contact. In conjunction with the threaded connection 9, it is thus ensured that the electrical contact is made only when the threaded connection 9 is tightened sufficiently to press the spring contact pins 20 by means of the contact surfaces 21 as abutments far enough for the electrical contacting to take place.With regard to the configuration 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, that is to say 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 changing the mode of operation of the electrical contacting as a result.The electrical contacts 11 and 12 also have sensors or chips for identifying the components connected to one another via the electrical contacts 11 and 12. Thus, the holding arm 2 can, for example, identify which load has been suspended on the distal side in order to enable a corresponding automatic weight compensation.The electrical contacting produced by means of the electrical contacts 11 and 12 serves to release and again lock the joints of the holding arm 2, for which purpose the distal part 6 of the interface 4 can be connected via a cable 22 to corresponding operating elements on the image recording unit 3. The power supply of the image recording unit 3 and the transmission of the image data take place independently of the interface 4 via separate cable connections, not shown.An interface 4 for an operation-image recording system 1, constructed as described above and illustrated in the figure, is distinguished in that, with a compact construction, a secure mechanical connection and an electrical connection that is simple to operate are ensured.The drawings, specification and claims contain numerous features in combination. It is understood that the features mentioned above can be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The invention relates to an interface 4 for an operation image recording system 1, having a proximal part 5 mounted on a holding arm 2 and having 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 in order to fix the image recording unit 3 to the holding arm 2 by means of a coupling mechanism 8. In order to create an interface 4 for an operation-image recording system 1, which ensures a secure mechanical connection and an electrical connection that is easy to operate, 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 enter into operative connection with one another.List of reference characters1 Surgical image recording system 2 Holding arm 3 Image recording unit 4 Interface 5 Proximal part (interface) 6 Distal part (interface) 7 Coupling axis 8 Coupling mechanism 9 Threaded connection 10 Anti-rotation device 11 Electrical contact (proximal part) 12 Electrical contact (distal part) 13 External thread 14 Internal thread 15 Ring 16 Recessed grip 17 Spring pin 18 Projection 19 Depression 20 Spring contact pin 21 Contact surface 22 Cable

Claims

Interface (4) for an operation-image recording system (1), having a proximal part (5) mounted on a holding arm (2) and having 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) in order to fix the image recording unit (3) to the holding arm (2), characterized in 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) which enter into active connection with one another.Interface (4) according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in order to form the anti-rotation device (10), the proximal part (5) and the distal part (6) engage one inside the other in a positively locking manner at least in sections.Interface (4) according to Claim 2, characterized in that, in order to form the positively locking anti-rotation means (10), a circumferentially non-round projection (18) protruding forwards in the direction of the coupling axis (7) is formed on the proximal part (5) or on the distal part (6), and a circumferentially non-round depression (19) for receiving the non-round projection (18) is formed on the corresponding distal part (6) or proximal part (5).Interface (4) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in order to form the threaded connection (9), a ring (15) which is provided with an external thread (13) and which is 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).Interface (4) according to Claim 4, characterized in that recessed grips (16) are formed on the ring (15).Interface (4) according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that spring pins (17) which point radially towards the proximal part (5) or distal part (6) are arranged on the underside of the ring (15) which faces the associated proximal part (5) or distal part (6), said spring pins engaging with spring-loaded latching elements in corresponding receptacles on the proximal part (5) or distal part (6).Interface (4) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the electrical contacts (11, 12) are designed as spring contact pins (20) and as corresponding contact surfaces (21) which enter into operative connection with the spring contact pins (20).Interface (4) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pitch of the threaded connection (9) is designed such that the mechanical anti-rotation 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).Interface (4) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in 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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