HOLDING DEVICE FOR SURGICAL HANDPIECES

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a holding device for holding and storing at least one medical instrument, in particular a surgical handpiece, having a central supply line, at least one line section connected to one end of the central supply line, on which the at least one medical instrument is arranged, and a connection section formed at another end of the central supply line. Background of the invention

[0002] Holding devices are commonly used for the reprocessing and cleaning of surgical handpieces. These surgical handpieces include, for example, burrs or shaver handpieces, which have a longitudinal channel that cannot be cleaned manually with brushes. Bristles may loosen contaminants inside the handpieces but cannot completely remove them, leaving residues of contaminants behind.

[0003] The complete reprocessing and cleaning process for surgical handpieces is divided into manual pre-cleaning, mechanical cleaning and disinfection, a maintenance step, and a sterilization step. For manual pre-cleaning, the handpiece is placed on a holding device. A water gun is then attached to a connection on the holding device for water and compressed air guns, and the handpiece is rinsed with water. The connection for the rinsing hose (the water gun) must be covered with cellulose or a similar material to prevent any unwanted escaping of the cleaning fluid. For mechanical cleaning and disinfection, the handpieces are placed on a holding device placed in a known washer-disinfector and mechanically rinsed with a cleaning fluid and a disinfectant fluid.After mechanical cleaning and disinfection, the residual fluids are manually removed from the handpiece using the holding device and the compressed air gun. Once the handpiece has cooled to ambient temperature, the maintenance step with an oil spray is performed. Typically, this involves removing the handpieces, placing them individually on an oil spray adapter, and spraying them with the oil spray for a certain time, preferably a few seconds. For sterilization, the handpieces are stored on a mesh basket, as the filter material in the holding device is not designed for steam sterilization, which is typically used for sterilizing surgical handpieces. State of the art

[0004] With conventional holding devices, it may be possible to perform at least the cleaning and maintenance steps without the laborious manual reconnection of the handpieces. DE 10 2010 017 624 A1, for example, discloses a holding device for cleaning and storing surgical handpieces and a sieve basket with the holding device. The holding device has a cleaning fluid connection for introducing a cleaning fluid and a distributor between the fluid connection and at least two handpiece receptacles, onto each of which a handpiece can be plugged. A filter device for filtering the cleaning fluid is arranged between the cleaning fluid connection and the handpiece receptacles. However, this filter device is not intended for steam sterilization, so that the holding device can only be used for manual and mechanical cleaning and disinfection.

[0005] Another holding device with the option of performing the cleaning and maintenance steps without manual reconnection is disclosed, for example, in US 3,811,208 A. The pneumatic cleaning, disinfection, and lubricating device (oiling device) for a tubular dental handpiece comprises a compact and portable reservoir in which a cleaning, disinfection, or oiling solution is stored, depending on the application, and a compressed air source via which compressed air is supplied to the device so that the solution in the reservoir is successively and forcibly converted into an atomized state. The atomized liquid is then passed through the attached dental handpiece. However, such a device is not intended for sterilization and storage and serves only for cleaning and maintaining the handpieces. Furthermore, the handpieces can only be sprayed individually.

[0006] US 2005 / 236230 A1 also discloses an exemplary instrument connector and a cleaning unit connector with an oil reservoir. Brief description of the invention

[0007] Based on the current state of the art, the disadvantage is that throughout the entire reprocessing and cleaning cycle, the handpieces must be stored in various storage devices, specifically a mesh basket for sterilization and storage, a holding device for manual and mechanical cleaning and disinfection, and an oil spray adapter for maintenance and lubrication. The fact that the handpieces must be manually removed and repositioned between the various storage devices several times increases the risk of damage or contamination / soiling of the handpieces.

[0008] The object of the invention is therefore to avoid or at least mitigate the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a holding device for surgical handpieces is to be provided that enables the cleaning and disinfection, care, sterilization, and storage of the handpieces throughout the entire reprocessing cycle with only one holding device, without manually reconnecting the handpieces between the individual reprocessing steps, or with the smallest possible number of (manual) reprocessing steps.

[0009] This object is achieved by a generic device having the features of claim 1. In particular, the object is achieved in a generic device according to a first aspect of the invention in that the connection section of the holding device for medical instruments according to the invention is designed to be selectively coupled to a pre-cleaning unit, in particular a water / compressed air gun, and a cleaning unit, in particular a filter unit connected to a rinsing line, and the other end section of the central supply line, ie the end section close to the connection section of a central supply line fanning out into a number of branch lines holding medical instruments, is designed in the manner of a Venturi nozzle, at the location of which an oil connection branching off with a relatively small cross section is designed as a piercing spike that can be coupled to an oil reservoir.

[0010] This has the advantage that the holding device holds the medical instrument, in particular a surgical handpiece, throughout the entire reprocessing cycle, thus reducing the risk of contamination or soiling after cleaning and care. If a piercing spike that can be coupled to an oil unit, in particular a disposable oil storage container, is arranged, preferably at the end section of the central supply line closest to the connection section, the Venturi nozzle causes a negative pressure to develop in the end section when the flow passes through the Venturi nozzle, i.e. when the flow passes through the end section, as a result of which negative pressure is sucked out of the oil unit. This in turn has the advantage that even during oiling, which is part of the care, the medical instrument or the holding device does not have to be operated on manually, and the number of individual handling steps during the entire reprocessing process can be reduced.In addition, this design eliminates the need to manually blow out any residual rinsing fluid before maintaining or oiling the holding device and the at least one surgical handpiece.

[0011] Furthermore, a valve device is arranged in the at least one line section of the holding device between the connection section and the held medical instrument. This valve device is closed in a basic position in which the line section and the surgical handpiece are uncoupled and opens when the surgical handpiece is coupled to the line section. If, for example, the surgical handpiece is incorrectly coupled without knowledge, the risk of rinsing water supplied during cleaning escaping from the incorrectly coupled line section is reduced compared to the known prior art.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments are claimed in the subclaims and are explained in more detail below.

[0013] Preferably, the connection section can be designed as a Luer-Lock connection.

[0014] In a further preferred embodiment, the connecting section can be provided to be coupled to an oil unit, in particular an oil spray or an oil reservoir. The at least one surgical handpiece therefore does not need to be disconnected from the holding device for maintenance or lubrication, so that both the at least one surgical handpiece and functional parts of the holding device can be lubricated simultaneously in one step.

[0015] Furthermore, the invention relates to a treatment and cleaning system with a holding device according to the disclosure, a pre-cleaning unit which is designed to be connected to the connection section of the holding device, and an oil reservoir which is designed to be connected to the oil connection of the holding device. Short description of the characters

[0016] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a holding device for holding and storing surgical handpieces according to a first embodiment not according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a holding device for holding and storing surgical handpieces according to the invention. Description of the embodiments

[0017] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will be described based on the accompanying figures. Preferred embodiment

[0018] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a holding device 1 for holding and storing surgical handpieces 2 during a reprocessing process of the surgical handpieces 2. In the preferred embodiment, the holding device 1 comprises a central supply line 3, which is in fluid connection with a distribution section 4 at a first end section and has a connection section or a line coupling 5 at a second end section.

[0019] In the preferred embodiment, the central supply line 3 is divided at the distribution section 4 into preferably three line sections / branch line sections 6, at the end sections / ends facing away from the distribution section 4, the surgical handpieces 2 are each connected via a coupling device 7, as in Fig. 1 indicated by the movement arrows A, are arranged so as to be able to be coupled, so that in the coupled state the connection section 5 of the holding device 1 is in fluid connection with the surgical handpieces 2 via the central supply line 3, the distribution section 4 and the respective line section 6.

[0020] Furthermore, in the preferred exemplary embodiment, a valve device 8 is arranged on / in each of the (three) line sections 6, which valve device 8, in a closed state, separates the above-described fluid connection between the connection section 5 and the respective handpiece 2 and, in an open state, allows a fluid flow from the connection section 5 to the respective handpiece 2. The valve device 8 is configured such that the valve device 8 is in the open state when the surgical handpiece 2 is coupled to the respective coupling device 7, and is in the closed state when no handpiece 2 is coupled to the respective coupling device 7.

[0021] The connection section 5 is designed according to the present disclosure (quasi as a universal connection) to be connected to different units, e.g. a filter unit, a compressed air / water gun and an oil spray or an oil reservoir, as in Fig. 1 indicated by the movement arrow B. In the preferred embodiment, the connection section 5 is designed as a so-called Luer-Lock connection, which non-positively establishes the fluid connection between the coupled unit and the connection section 5. The respective coupled units as well as their function and interaction with the holding device 1 will become clear below in the description of an exemplary reprocessing process for the surgical handpieces 2. Description of an exemplary processing process

[0022] To prepare the surgical handpieces 2, they are first coupled (mechanically and fluidically) to the holding device 1 via the coupling devices 7. In the preferred embodiment, as described above, up to three handpieces 2 can be coupled and prepared simultaneously, although more branch lines can also be provided. Next, the water gun can optionally be connected to the connection section 5, so that an initial manual pre-cleaning of the holding device 1 and the surgical handpieces 2 can be performed by injecting water.

[0023] Subsequently, a rinsing line of a cleaning and disinfection device, via which a rinsing fluid is supplied to the holding device 1, is coupled to the connection section 5 for mechanical cleaning and disinfection. A connecting end section of the rinsing line has the filter unit described above, which prevents contaminant particles from entering the holding device 1 with the rinsing fluid during mechanical cleaning of the holding device 1 and the surgical handpieces 2. After rinsing the holding device 1 and the handpieces 2 with the rinsing fluid, a disinfectant fluid is supplied via the rinsing line.

[0024] Any residual fluid remaining in the holding device 1 and the surgical handpieces 2 must be blown out before lubrication. For this purpose, the holding device 1 is decoupled from the cleaning and disinfection device, and the compressed air gun is connected to the connection section 5 so that air blown in with the compressed air gun can remove the residual fluid.

[0025] After the surgical handpieces 2 have cooled to ambient temperature, oil contained in a container is atomized and supplied to the holding device 1 and the handpieces 2 for maintenance or lubrication. Similar to the filter unit used for manual pre-cleaning, the compressed air gun is coupled to the connection section 5. A distal end of the line connected to the compressed air gun is now connected to an oil reservoir, so that when the compressed air gun is operated, oil is sucked from the reservoir, forcibly atomized, and the resulting air-oil mixture is supplied to the holding device 1 and the surgical handpieces 2.

[0026] In the preferred embodiment, the oil is stored in an oil reservoir, and the air-oil mixture is injected into the holding device 1 using the compressed air gun. Alternatively, an oil spray can also be used for maintenance or lubrication. An injection section of the oil spray is coupled directly to the connection section 5 of the holding device 1, so that the air-oil mixture formed when the oil is injected is supplied to the holding device 1.

[0027] Following care or lubrication, the surgical handpieces 2 are sterilized in a conventional sterilizer. In the preferred embodiment, the holding device 1 is designed such that it can be placed in a sieve basket during sterilization and stored in the sieve basket after sterilization, which improves handling. Modification of the preferred embodiment

[0028] In the embodiment according to the invention, the connection section 5 is designed to be coupled to a filter unit, a compressed air / water gun and an oil spray or an oil reservoir. As shown in Fig. 2 As shown, in a modification of the preferred embodiment, a nozzle section 9 is formed on the end section of the central supply line 3 facing the connection section. This nozzle section 9 is designed in the form of a Venturi nozzle so that a cross-section increasingly decreases in the direction of the fluid flow. At a point with a relatively small cross-section, a piercing spike 10 is additionally formed, branching off onto which a disposable oil storage container can be placed for lubrication and which pierces a flexible seal of the disposable oil storage container and establishes a fluid connection between the container and the nozzle section 9 of the central supply line 3.

[0029] For lubrication, the compressed air gun can now be connected to the connection section 5, so that when the compressed air gun is operated, a negative pressure is created in the nozzle section 9. This draws the oil into the nozzle section 9, where it is then forcibly atomized, forming an air-oil mixture that serves to lubricate the holding device 1 and the surgical handpieces 2. Lubrication continues until the disposable oil reservoir is empty.

[0030] If the holding device 1 according to the modification of the preferred embodiment has the nozzle section 9, any liquid remaining in the holding device 1 and the handpieces 2 does not need to be manually blown out with the compressed air gun after the above-described mechanical cleaning and disinfection. Blowing out occurs integrally with the lubrication of the holding device 1 and the handpieces 2.

Claims

1. A holding device (1) for holding and storing at least one medical instrument, in particular a surgical handpiece (2), during a processing and cleaning process, the holding device comprising: a central feedline (3); at least one line portion (6) connected to an end portion of the central feedline (3), at a free end of which a coupling device (7) is arranged for coupling to the at least one medical instrument; and a connector portion (5) formed or arranged at another end portion of the central feedline (3), the connector portion being couplable to a pre-cleaning unit, in particular a water gun or a compressed-air gun, and a cleaning unit, especially a filter unit connected to a flushing line, characterized in that the other end portion of the central feedline (3) is configured in the manner of a Venturi nozzle, at the point of which with a comparatively small cross-section an oil connector is formed in a branching manner as a puncture spike (10) that can be coupled to an oil reservoir (11), in particular a disposable oil reservoir, wherein in the at least one line portion (6) a valve device (8) is arranged, which is closed in a basic position, in which the line portion (6) and the medical instrument are uncoupled, and which opens when the medical instrument is coupled to the line portion (6).

2. The holding device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connector portion (5) is configured as a Luer lock connection.

3. The holding device (1) according to any of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the connector portion (5) is couplable to an oil unit, in particular to an oil spray or an oil reservoir.

4. A processing and cleaning system, comprising a holding device (1) according to any of preceding claims 1 to 3, a pre-cleaning unit configured to be connected to the connector portion (5) of the holding device (1), and an oil reservoir (11) configured to be connected to the oil connection of the holding device (1).