Cleaning unit for cleaning housing that surrounds patient-accommodating area

Abstract

To provide a cleaning unit for cleaning a housing of a medical imaging device that surrounds a patient-accommodating area.SOLUTION: A cleaning unit (1) for cleaning a housing (3) of a medical imaging device that surrounds a patient-accommodating area comprises a support structure (5) and a cleaning component. The cleaning component of the cleaning unit introduced into the housing is arranged between the support structure and the housing. In a pressure medium-filled state, the cleaning component contacts the housing, preferably with contact pressure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to - a cleaning unit for cleaning an enclosure of a medical imaging device around a patient receiving area, the cleaning unit comprising a support structure and a cleaning component; a medical imaging device equipped with such a cleaning unit; - a method for cleaning such a medical imaging device; Regarding.

[0002] Medical imaging devices are used in radiology, for example MRI and CT machines, which become contaminated during use and / or contaminated with bacteria and / or viruses. This can happen, for example, when the examinee leaves bacteria or other contaminants inside the medical imaging device by coughing, sneezing, breathing heavily, or by physical contact with the medical imaging device. Such contaminants remain especially inside the medical imaging device, specifically the housing.

[0003] Manual cleaning is in this case carried out by means of a cleaning implement, optionally fixed to a pole, as disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,918,342.

[0004] The disadvantage here is that this type of cleaning is very cumbersome and time consuming and / or requires the cleaning personnel to be very close to or even partially inside the medical imaging device, where the effects of radiation, e.g. X-rays and magnetic fields emitted by the medical imaging device, can be unpleasant.

[0005] It is also known to provide an automatic cleaning unit in a medical imaging device, as disclosed for example in Chinese Utility Model No. 219251060 or German Patent Application Publication No. 102021210471, where the cleaning unit can perform wiping cleaning by running the cleaning unit from one end of the housing to the other end of the housing.

[0006] The disadvantage here is that such cleaning units, after their first run and wiping of the housing, at least partially recontaminate the housing during the return run to the starting position, since bacteria and / or viruses absorbed during the first run can be left behind on the housing again. Furthermore, when introducing such cleaning units into the housing of the medical imaging device, the positioning and geometric accuracy of the cleaning unit in the current prior art must be extremely precise or expensive mechanisms must be provided to compensate for errors. The associated deviations and / or inaccuracies have a detrimental effect on the cleaning capacity.

[0007] The object of the present invention is thus to at least partially overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide an improved cleaning unit compared to the prior art, which is outstanding in particular with regard to reliable cleaning of medical imaging devices. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a medical imaging device with such a cleaning unit and a method for cleaning such a medical imaging device.

[0008] This problem is solved by the features of claims 1, 2, 11 and 14.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, this problem is solved by a cleaning unit as described in claim 1, i.e. a cleaning unit for cleaning a housing of a medical imaging device around a patient reception area, comprising a support structure and a cleaning component, the cleaning component of the cleaning unit being introduced into the housing and being arranged between the support structure and the housing, the cleaning component being in contact with the housing, preferably in a pressed state, while being filled with a pressure medium.

[0010] "Cleaning" as used herein means sanitizing, disinfecting and / or sterilizing. Cleaning can take the form of, for example, wiping, scraping, scraping, scrubbing, scrubbing, washing, and the like.

[0011] The pressure medium filled state of the cleaning component allows contact of the cleaning component with the housing. In the unfilled state, the cleaning component is not in contact with the housing. Depending on the pressure of the pressure medium filling the cleaning component, the pressure of the contact can be controlled. A relatively low pressure of the pressure medium results in a weakly pressed contact, whereas a relatively high pressure of the pressure medium results in a strongly pressed contact.

[0012] This problem is solved according to a second aspect of the present invention by a cleaning unit as described in claim 2, i.e. by a cleaning unit for cleaning a housing around a patient receiving area of ​​a medical imaging device, which comprises a support structure and a cleaning component, which is arranged along a contour, preferably an outer contour, of the support structure, and which is deformable by filling with a pressure medium.

[0013] "Deformable" means in this specification that it is possible to change the shape of an object as a result of the action of a force and / or stress. The deformation of an object can be divided into a first part, where the volume and / or spatial extension of the object changes but the geometry of the object does not change, for example, when the radius of a sphere or a tubular body increases, and a second part, where the geometry of the object changes but the volume and / or spatial extension of the object does not change, for example, when a sphere is stretched along its axis to become an ellipsoid. When the cleaning component is deformed by being filled with a pressure medium, the deformation can occur in the first part and / or in the second part.

[0014] By "cleaning component deformable by filling with pressure medium" is meant in this specification that the cleaning component is deformable by at least partially, preferably completely, occupying the volume determined by the cleaning component with pressure medium.

[0015] The deformability of the cleaning component due to the filling with pressure medium leads to a change in the geometric shape, preferably the outer diameter, the spatial extent and / or the volume of the cleaning component, in such a way that contact between the cleaning unit arranged in the medical imaging device and the housing of the medical imaging device can be deliberately caused or avoided.

[0016] According to both aspects of the invention, a reliable cleaning of the housing is performed, in that the cleaning component is brought into the filled state, the housing is contacted by the filled cleaning component, and the cleaning component cleans the housing during the movement of the cleaning unit, for example by wiping. As soon as the movement of the cleaning unit along the housing in the first direction is terminated, the filled cleaning component is brought into the unfilled state and the cleaning unit with the unfilled cleaning component is moved again to the starting position without contact. This avoids recontamination, since no new contact of the cleaning component with the housing occurs.

[0017] An "unfilled cleaning component" or "unfilled cleaning component" is a cleaning component that is not filled with pressure medium, and an unfilled cleaning component of a cleaning unit introduced into a housing does not come into contact with the housing.

[0018] In the unfilled state, the cleaning component is under the action of the atmospheric pressure forces and / or stresses surrounding the cleaning component and optionally under the action of media other than the pressure medium present within the cleaning component, but in no case under the action of the pressure of the housing.

[0019] A "partially filled cleaning component" or a "cleaning component in a partially filled state" is a cleaning component that is at least partially filled with pressure medium, and a partially filled cleaning component of a cleaning unit introduced into a housing does not contact the housing.

[0020] A "filled cleaning component" or "filled cleaning component" is a cleaning component that is filled with pressure medium, and the filled cleaning component of a cleaning unit introduced into a housing contacts the housing.

[0021] In the filled state, the cleaning component is under the action of the forces and / or stresses of the pressure medium, the action of the forces and / or stresses of the atmospheric pressure surrounding the cleaning component, the action of the forces and / or stresses of the housing in contact with the cleaning component and optionally a reaction force of the cleaning component, preferably elastic, due to deformation.

[0022] As a filled cleaning component in contact with the housing transitions through a partially filled cleaning component to an unfilled cleaning component, pressure medium is removed from the cleaning component, thereby reducing the spatial extension of the cleaning component and terminating contact with the housing.

[0023] When an unfilled cleaning component, which is not in contact with the housing, transitions through a partially filled cleaning component to a filled cleaning component, pressure medium is introduced into the cleaning component, thereby increasing the spatial extension of the cleaning component and achieving contact with the housing.

[0024] Only when the pressure medium has been sufficiently introduced into the cleaning component of the cleaning unit, i.e. when the cleaning component is sufficiently filled with pressure medium, does the transition from the partially filled cleaning component to the filled cleaning component take place, so that the housing can be contacted by the cleaning unit introduced into the housing. If the already filled cleaning component is then further filled with pressure medium, the housing comes into contact under pressure, the pressure being determined by the degree of filling of the filled cleaning component.

[0025] The cleaning component can be filled several times in succession and its spatial extent can be increased with each new filling in accordance with the above description, this also applies to cleaning components from which a portion of the pressure medium is removed several times in succession.

[0026] Another advantage is that the filler cleaning component can close all gaps between the cleaning unit and the housing, thereby allowing gap-free cleaning, e.g., wiping.

[0027] Further advantages include: A uniform pressing force of the filling cleaning component against the housing can be achieved.

[0028] Manufacturing tolerances of the housing and, for example, the carriage of the movable patient table and / or the positioning of the patient table guide relative to and / or within the housing can be compensated for.

[0029] - It is possible to compensate for different dimensions, preferably inner diameters, of various types of housings for various types of medical imaging devices.

[0030] - Simple preparation of the gap between the cleaning component and the housing during movement of the cleaning component after cleaning of the housing.

[0031] Preparation or maintenance operations, such as, for example, replacement of the cleaning unit or individual parts of the cleaning unit, can always be carried out from the same side of the medical imaging device.

[0032] For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that in the description of the present invention, the used numerals such as 1, 2, 3 and similar expressions essentially describe only the minimum number of features of the cleaning unit according to the present invention, the medical imaging device according to the present invention equipped with such a cleaning unit and / or the method according to the present invention for cleaning such a medical imaging device. Individual features or components may of course also be present in a higher number. For example, the cleaning unit according to the present invention may have several cleaning components, several support structures, etc. In this sense, for example, numerals are to be understood as meaning at least one, etc.

[0033] Further advantageous embodiments of the arrangement are defined in the dependent claims.

[0034] According to one preferred embodiment of the cleaning unit, it is envisaged that the outer contour of the support structure and / or preferably the outer contour of the filling cleaning component is preferably curved, particularly preferably circular, corresponding to the inner contour of the housing.

[0035] In one preferred embodiment variant, it may be envisaged that the outer contour of the non-filled cleaning component corresponds to the inner contour of the housing, with a gap being provided between them.

[0036] In other words, one contour corresponds to the other contour and one contour follows the other contour.

[0037] By means of corresponding, preferably curved, particularly preferably circular, contours of the support structure and / or cleaning component and the housing, a gap-free contact can be achieved even more reliably, since the filler cleaning component has to compensate for less of the shape differences.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment variant, it may be envisaged that the support structure is form-stable and / or the cleaning component is elastically deformable.

[0039] The elastic deformability of the cleaning component allows a higher pressure and thus a larger spatial extent of the pressure medium to be achieved, which allows the cleaning component to fit even better and more flexibly into the housing and / or to be pressed more tightly.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment variant, the support structure and / or the cleaning component comprises or consists of at least one non-metallic material, which preferably may be envisaged to comprise or consist of at least one of the following materials, namely: natural materials, particularly preferably graphite, polymeric materials, particularly preferably elastomers, thermoplastics, thermosets, copolymers, inorganic materials, particularly preferably ceramics or glasses, Composite materials, particularly preferably reinforced fibre composites or layered composites.

[0041] By avoiding metallic materials in the cleaning components, adverse effects on the magnetic field of the medical imaging device, such as damage to the equipment, risk of injury, more effort for installation and maintenance, etc., can be avoided or at least reduced.

[0042] According to a preferred embodiment of the cleaning unit, the spatial extent, preferably the outer diameter, of the cleaning unit is: in the non-filled cleaning component, the spatial extent, preferably the outer diameter, of the cleaning unit in the filled cleaning component is smaller than that; and / or - in non-filled cleaning components, the spatial extent of the housing is preferably smaller than the inner diameter, and / or - in the case of a filling cleaning component, the spatial extent of the housing is preferably at least as large as or larger than the inner diameter It is assumed that.

[0043] According to a preferred embodiment of the cleaning unit, it is envisaged that the pressure medium is a gas or liquid, preferably compressed air.

[0044] The use of gas or liquid as a pressure medium can provide various advantages in itself: for example, gas is compressible and can therefore better compensate for very high pressures, whereas liquids are almost incompressible and therefore transmit pressure with almost no pressure loss.

[0045] According to a preferred embodiment of the cleaning unit, a deformation device is provided, which has a deformation drive, a pressure medium and a connecting line for connecting the cleaning component and the deformation drive, preferably detachably or non-detachably, and it is envisaged that the pressure medium can be introduced into the cleaning component and / or removed from the cleaning component by means of the deformation drive, and that the cleaning component can be deformed by filling with pressure medium and / or removing pressure medium.

[0046] "Removably connected," "removably connected," and "removably connectable" may mean that at least two originally separate components can be connected to one another and that the removably connected connection can then be non-destructively released, causing the at least two components to become originally separate again and thus reconnectable. Thus, "removably connected," "removably connected," and "removably connectable" may also be expressed as "non-destructively removable connection," "non-destructively removably connected," and "non-destructively removably connectable."

[0047] "Non-removably connected," "non-removably connected," and "non-removably connectable" may mean that at least two otherwise separate components can be connected to one another and that the non-removable connection cannot then be broken without compromising the integrity of at least one of the at least two components and / or preventing or precluding reconnection of the at least two components. Thus, "non-removably connected," "non-removably connected," and "non-removably connectable" may also be expressed as "non-destructively non-removably connected," "non-destructively non-removably connected," and "non-destructively non-removably connectable."

[0048] In one preferred embodiment variant, it can be envisaged that the deformation device comprises a compressor, preferably an air compressor, which draws in a pressure medium, preferably ambient air, and supplies it under pressure through a connecting line to the cleaning component to fill it.

[0049] A control and regulating device may be provided, which can control and / or regulate the amount of pressure medium inside the filling cleaning component and / or the pressure to be achieved.

[0050] At least one sensor, preferably a pressure sensor, may be provided to monitor the condition of the filled and / or unfilled cleaning components.

[0051] The control and regulation device may be connected to the sensor.

[0052] According to a preferred embodiment of the cleaning unit, it is envisaged that the cleaning component comprises a cleaning substrate and a cleaning layer, preferably the cleaning layer being arranged along the outer contour of the cleaning substrate.

[0053] In one preferred embodiment variant, it can be envisaged that the cleaning substrate may be a tubular body.

[0054] In one preferred embodiment variant, it can be envisaged that the cleaning substrate may be a flat material web, preferably a membrane, at least one end, preferably at least two ends, of the flat material web, preferably a membrane, may be connected to a support structure, preferably along the outer contour of the support structure.

[0055] In one preferred embodiment variant, it can be envisaged that the cleaning substrate may be an extruded profile and / or an extruded double profile.

[0056] In one preferred embodiment variant, it can be envisaged that the cleaning layer comprises a foam and / or a textile structure and / or a nonwoven material.

[0057] In one preferred embodiment variant, it can be envisaged that the cleaning layer comprises a sponge and / or a nonwoven fabric.

[0058] In one preferred embodiment variant, it can be envisaged that the cleaning layer comprises or consists of a wiping lip.

[0059] In one preferred embodiment variant, it can be envisaged that the cleaning layer is either moistened or not moistened.

[0060] According to one preferred embodiment of the cleaning unit, a positioning device is provided, and it is envisaged that the cleaning layer can be positioned, preferably tensioned, on the cleaning substrate, preferably along the outer contour of the cleaning substrate, by means of the positioning device.

[0061] In one preferred embodiment variant, it may be envisaged that the positioning device has a positioning drive device and a connection device for preferably removable or non-removable connection with the cleaning layer, the cleaning layer connected to the connection device being movable by the positioning drive device into an operating position on the cleaning substrate and preferably unrollable from a roller.

[0062] By means of the positioning device the positioning, preferably the tensioning, of the cleaning layer can be at least partially automated, whereby reduced and / or more reliable maintenance of the cleaning unit can be achieved.

[0063] In the operating position of the cleaning layer, the cleaning layer is arranged on the cleaning component such that the cleaning unit is ready for operation and can be used for cleaning the housing. Preferably, it may be envisaged that the cleaning layer partially or completely covers the cleaning substrate in the operating position.

[0064] The positioning device allows the removal of the cleaning layer from the cleaning unit, or in other words the de-plazieren of the cleaning layer of the cleaning unit, which in a preferred embodiment variant allows the removal of a first, preferably used, cleaning layer and / or the positioning of a second, preferably unused, cleaning layer.

[0065] According to one preferred embodiment of the cleaning unit, a supply device is provided for bringing a cleaning agent onto or into the cleaning layer, and it is envisaged that the cleaning agent can be supplied by means of the supply device before, during and / or after the placement of the cleaning layer on the cleaning substrate.

[0066] By "cleaning agent" it is to be understood that it is a commonly known agent for removing dirt, for example soap, disinfectants such as alcohol, and / or sterilants.

[0067] The supply device can at least partially automate the supply and / or dosing of the cleaning agent onto and / or into the cleaning layer, thereby reducing the maintenance effort of the cleaning unit and / or achieving a more reliable maintenance. This also allows for greater cleaning flexibility and greater ease of use. For example, by selecting a corresponding supply device, the time point at which the nonwoven fabric is moistened can be defined within the cleaning procedure. Additionally or alternatively, the nonwoven fabric can be moistened multiple times.

[0068] According to a preferred embodiment of the cleaning unit, the cleaning unit is movable inside the medical imaging device using a traveling device, which is preferably envisaged to be a movable patient examination table of the medical imaging device or a traveling device separate from the medical imaging device.

[0069] The advantage obtained when the movable patient examination table is configured as a running device is that the patient examination table is an existing running device of the medical imaging device and, by coupling to the cleaning unit, enables further functions, in particular cleaning of the housing.

[0070] In a preferred embodiment variant, it may be assumed that the cleaning unit is connectable or connected, preferably removably or non-removably, to the running device. By means of a coupling device for connecting the cleaning unit and the running device, preferably removably or non-removably, the cleaning unit can be moved into and / or inside and / or out of the housing by means of the running device. After or during removal of the cleaning unit from the running device, the cleaning unit can be parked inside the housing or by or near the opening of the patient receiving area.

[0071] In one preferred embodiment variant, it may be envisaged that at least one further cleaning component is provided, preferably at least one further cleaning component being arranged adjacent to the cleaning component, particularly preferably directly.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment variant, it may be envisaged that the at least one further cleaning component is arranged along the contour, preferably the outer contour, of the support structure or along the contour, preferably the outer contour, of at least one further support structure.

[0073] If further cleaning components are arranged on the same support structure as the cleaning component, the width of the support structure may be adapted accordingly for the two or more cleaning components.

[0074] One separate cleaning component, or in other words at least two cleaning components in just one cleaning unit, offers the advantage that the cleaning action is improved.

[0075] For example, in the case of heavy soiling, it may be envisaged to use two cleaning components simultaneously. On the other hand, it may also be envisaged that the housing can be cleaned in a first direction by a first cleaning component and in a second direction, in particular in the direction opposite to the first direction and back to the starting position, by a second cleaning component. This allows the housing to be cleaned twice in direct succession without the cleaning layer having to be replaced after the first cleaning or without one of the cleaning layers re-contaminating the housing.

[0076] The present invention further seeks to protect a medical imaging device comprising a scanner unit, a patient receiving area at least partially surrounded by the scanner unit, a housing around the patient receiving area, and at least one cleaning unit according to the present invention, the cleaning unit being movable within the housing.

[0077] According to a preferred embodiment of the medical imaging device, the non-filled cleaning component is substantially, preferably completely, surrounded without contact by the housing; The filling cleaning component is in contact with the housing, preferably without gaps, particularly preferably in a crimped contact manner. It is assumed that.

[0078] According to a preferred embodiment of the medical imaging device, it is envisaged that the cleaning unit is connected or connectable, preferably non-removably or detachably, to a running device of the medical imaging device, preferably to a movable patient examination table.

[0079] In a preferred embodiment variant of the medical imaging device, it may be envisaged that the cleaning unit is movable in at least one direction, preferably two directions, by means of the running device, in and / or out of and / or within the housing.

[0080] By means of such a running device, at least one movement of the cleaning unit can be automated. In a particularly preferred embodiment variant, it can be assumed that the cleaning unit is moved at least partially, preferably fully, automatically from a parking position into the housing, where cleaning of the housing is performed, and then the cleaning unit is moved back to the parking position. This reduces the effort required for cleaning the housing.

[0081] Control and adjustment devices may be provided for moving the cleaning unit.

[0082] The invention furthermore relates to a method for cleaning a medical imaging device according to the invention with a cleaning unit according to the invention, comprising the following method steps: - a method step of preparing a cleaning unit with a filled cleaning component; - method steps for cleaning a housing of a medical imaging device with a filled cleaning component; Protection is sought for a process which

[0083] According to a preferred embodiment of the method for cleaning, the method comprises the following method steps: - moving the cleaning unit into the housing; - cleaning the housing along a first direction and / or a second direction with a filling cleaning component; - a method step of preparing a cleaning unit with a non-filled cleaning component; - moving the non-filled cleaning component in a contactless manner inside the housing, preferably in a first direction and / or a second direction; - moving the cleaning unit out of the housing; It is envisaged that the method comprises at least one method step of:

[0084] In one preferred embodiment variant of the method for cleaning, the method comprises the following method steps: - a method step of preparing a cleaning unit with a filled cleaning component and a separate non-filled cleaning component; - cleaning the housing along a first direction with a filling cleaning component; - moving a separate non-filled cleaning component in a contactless manner in a first direction inside the housing; - a method step of preparing a cleaning unit with a non-filled cleaning component and a separate filled cleaning component; - moving the non-filled cleaning component in a contactless manner in a second direction inside the housing; - cleaning the housing along a second direction with another filled cleaning component; It may be envisaged that the method comprises at least one, preferably all, of the method steps:

[0085] This preferred embodiment of the method allows, as already described above, for at least two cleaning components to be used within one cleaning cycle, and for at least two cleaning components to be used simultaneously or in succession without the need to replace the cleaning layer or without the risk of re-contamination.

[0086] In one preferred embodiment variant of the method for cleaning, the method comprises the following method steps: - method steps of preparing a cleaning unit with a filling cleaning component; - a method step of shrinking the filling cleaning component, preferably along the outer contour of the cleaning component, and / or a method step of preparing a filling cleaning component with at least two contact surfaces, the course of shrinking being inclined to the first direction, particularly preferably perpendicular, and at least one of the at least two contact surfaces being in contact with the housing of the filling cleaning component, preferably in a crimped manner, - cleaning the housing along a first direction with at least one contact surface of the at least two contact surfaces of the contracted filled cleaning component; - a method step of preparing a cleaning component with an unfilled cleaning component; - moving the non-filled cleaning component in a contactless manner in a second direction inside the housing; It may be envisaged that the method comprises at least one, preferably all, of the method steps:

[0087] This preferred embodiment of the method allows at least two cleaning steps to be performed upon movement of the cleaning unit inside the housing in a first direction without re-contamination occurring.

[0088] For example, due to the contraction of the individual cleaning components, in particular the membrane as cleaning substrate connected to the support structure and the nonwoven fabric as cleaning layer arranged on the membrane, the cleaning components can form two ridges. These two ridges can run along the outer contour of the cleaning component, and their course can be oriented inclined, preferably perpendicular, to the direction of movement of the cleaning unit inside the housing. In this way, the first ridge performs cleaning in the first direction, while the second ridge immediately thereafter performs supplementary cleaning in the first direction. When the cleaning unit has finished its movement in the first direction and thus the cleaning, the cleaning component can be brought into an unfilled state, whereby both ridges of the cleaning component can run back in the second direction without any longer contacting the housing.

[0089] It may be envisioned that in a contracted, filled cleaning component with at least two contact surfaces, at least one contact surface contacts the housing and at least one contact surface does not contact the housing.

[0090] In this way, upon movement of the cleaning unit in a first direction, the housing can be cleaned by the at least one first contact surface, whereas the at least one second contact surface does not contact the housing. It may then be envisaged that the filling and / or contraction of the cleaning component is operated in such a way that upon movement of the cleaning unit in a second direction, the housing is cleaned by the at least one second contact surface, whereas the at least one first contact surface does not contact the housing anymore.

[0091] In a preferred embodiment variant, it may be envisaged that cleaning of the housing of the medical imaging device is additionally carried out using a radiation device, preferably using UV radiation.

[0092] The combination of cleaning the housing of the medical imaging device with a fill cleaning component and an irradiating device can allow for even more reliable cleaning.

[0093] Further details and advantages of preferred embodiments of the invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which: FIG. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0094] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a medical imaging device; [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the inside of a housing of the medical imaging device shown in FIG. 1, which is provided with a cleaning unit according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment variant of the cleaning unit shown in FIG. 2; [Figure 4] 3 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment variant of the cleaning unit shown in FIG. 2; FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cleaning unit shown in FIG. 3 in an unfilled state. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the cleaning unit shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cleaning unit shown in FIG. 3 in a filled state. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the cleaning unit shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of the cleaning unit shown in FIG. 3 in a filled and unfilled state. [Figure 10] 4 is a front view of the housing and the cleaning unit shown in FIG. 3 disposed within the housing in an unfilled state. [Figure 11] 4 is a front view of the housing and the cleaning unit shown in FIG. 3 disposed within the housing in a partially filled state. [Figure 12]4 is a front view of the housing and the cleaning unit shown in FIG. 3 in a filled state disposed within the housing.

[0095] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a medical imaging device 4 .

[0096] The medical imaging device 4 of FIG. 1 is a medical imaging device 4 comprising a scanner unit 20, a patient receiving area 2 at least partially surrounded by the scanner unit 20, and a housing 3 surrounding the patient receiving area 2.

[0097] Such a medical imaging device 4 may comprise at least a cleaning unit 1 according to the invention, which may be movable within a housing 3 .

[0098] Such a medical imaging device 4 may include an operation device 23 and an output device 24 .

[0099] Such a medical imaging device 4 may comprise a travel device 18. The travel device 18 may comprise a movable patient examination table 19, a travel drive 25 and a control and adjustment unit .

[0100] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the cleaning unit 1 according to the present invention is inserted into the housing 3 of the medical imaging device 4 shown in FIG.

[0101] Figure 2 shows a cleaning unit 1 for cleaning a housing 3 around a patient receiving area 2 of a medical imaging device 4, together with a support structure 5 and a cleaning component 6, characterized in that the cleaning component 6 of the cleaning unit 1 introduced into the housing 3 is arranged between the support structure 5 and the housing 3 and is in contact, preferably pressed, with the housing 3 while filled with a pressure medium.

[0102] The cleaning component 6 has been omitted from FIG. 2 for clarity.

[0103] The support structure 5 of the cleaning unit 1 may comprise a base portion 27 and a ring portion 29. However, it is also conceivable that the support structure does not comprise the base portion 27.

[0104] The cleaning unit may preferably have at least one coupling device 30 for connecting with the carriage 18 either removably or non-removably.

[0105] At least one coupling device 30 may be provided on the support structure, preferably on the base portion 27 and / or the ring portion 29 .

[0106] The medical imaging device 4 may have two illumination edges 28 .

[0107] The housing 3 can have an inner contour 9. In the case of a hollow cylindrical housing 3 as shown in Figure 2, the inside of the housing 3 corresponds to the circumference of a cylinder. The inner contour 9 of the housing can thereby be circular or arc-shaped.

[0108] The cleaning unit 1 is movable inside the housing 3 in at least one direction, preferably in a first direction 21 and / or a second direction 22 .

[0109] FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment variant of the cleaning unit 1 shown in FIG. 2 in a schematic perspective view.

[0110] The cleaning unit 1 may comprise a support structure 5 and a cleaning component 6 .

[0111] The support structure 5 may have a base portion 27 and a ring portion 29, which may have a coupling device 30 for connecting, preferably detachably or non-detachably, with the running gear 18.

[0112] The ring portion 29 of the support structure 5 shown in Figures 3 and 4 has an outer contour 7 that describes an approximately complete circle, in particular an arc with an angle of 180°. It may be envisaged that the support structure 5 has an outer contour 7 that describes a complete circle or an incomplete circle, in particular an arc.

[0113] The cleaning component 6 may have a cleaning substrate 15 and a cleaning layer 16, and the cleaning substrate 15 may be arranged between the support structure 5, in particular the ring portion 29 and / or the outer contour 7 of the support structure 5, and the cleaning layer 16.

[0114] The cleaning layer 16 may be designed to be flexible so that the cleaning layer 16 conforms to the shape of the cleaning substrate 15. In Figures 3 and 4, the shape of the outer contour of the cleaning substrate 15 substantially corresponds to the shape of the outer contour of the cleaning layer 16 disposed on the cleaning substrate 15.

[0115] In Figures 3 and 4, the shape of the outer contour 7 of the support structure 5 substantially corresponds to the shape of the outer contour 8 of the cleaning component 6, specifically, in Figures 3 and 4, it substantially corresponds to the shape of the outer contour of the cleaning layer 16 arranged on the cleaning component 6.

[0116] 3 and 4, the shape of the outer contour 8 of the cleaning component 6 is substantially circular, in particular arcuate.

[0117] FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment variant of the cleaning unit 1 shown in FIG.

[0118] The above comments regarding FIG. 3 apply equally to FIG.

[0119] Figures 3 and 4 are the cleaning component 6 shown in FIG. 4 extends beyond the arc of the ring portion 29 to the base portion 27; It differs from FIG. 4 in that the coupling device 30 is arranged on the base part 27 instead of on the ring part 29 .

[0120] In FIG. 4, the cleaning layer 16 continues further along as the cleaning substrate 15 .

[0121] In this way, the inside of the housing 3 and also at least one side of the lighting edge 28, in particular also the surface of the lighting edge 28, can be cleaned.

[0122] The location of the coupling device 30 may be provided on the base part 27 and / or on the ring part 29. A different location of the coupling device may be advantageous if the running device 18 for moving the cleaning unit 1 is a patient table of the medical imaging device or if the running device is a separate device from the medical imaging device.

[0123] 5 to 12, the cleaning layer 16 and the connecting device 30 are no longer shown in detail for clarity of the drawings, however, the cleaning layer 16 and the connecting device 30 may be provided.

[0124] For the remaining embodiments shown in Figures 5 to 12, the cleaning component 6 already described in Figure 3 is used, and the cleaning component 6 described in Figure 4 can additionally and / or instead be used.

[0125] It should be noted here that the cleaning unit 1 may have at least two similar types of cleaning components 6 or at least two different types, for example the cleaning component 6 shown in FIG. 3 and the cleaning component 6 shown in FIG. 4.

[0126] FIG. 5 shows the cleaning unit 1 shown in FIG. 3 in a front view in an unfilled state.

[0127] In Fig. 5 the cleaning component 6 has no or only little pressure medium. What is important is that the outer contour 8 of the cleaning component 6 has a spatial extension 10 which is smaller than the spatial extension 10 of the cleaning component 6 in the filled state and / or smaller than the spatial extension 11 of the housing 3. What is important is therefore that the outer contour 8 of the cleaning component 6 in the unfilled state does not come into contact with the housing.

[0128] A deformation device 12 may be provided, which comprises a deformation drive 13 and a connecting line 14. The connecting line 14 serves to connect the deformation drive 13 to the cleaning unit 1, in particular to the cleaning component 6. The cleaning unit 1 may have a connection 31 for the connecting line 14. This connection may be closable and can be opened and / or closed manually or automatically.

[0129] The deformation driver 13 can for example be an air compressor, which conveys air from the surroundings through a connecting line 14, thereby filling the cleaning component 6 with compressed air.

[0130] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning unit 1 shown in FIG. 3 in an unfilled state, taken along the cutting line AA.

[0131] In FIG. 6 it can be clearly seen that the cleaning component 6 traps little or no pressure medium.

[0132] FIG. 7 shows a front view of the cleaning unit shown in FIG. 3 in a filled state.

[0133] In Figure 7 it can be clearly seen that the spatial extension 10 of the cleaning component 6 is greater than the spatial extension 10 of the cleaning component 6 shown in Figure 5. This filled state of the cleaning component 6 can be achieved by filling the cleaning component 6 with a pressure medium in a deformation device 12.

[0134] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning unit shown in FIG. 3 in a filled state, taken along the line AA.

[0135] It can be clearly seen in FIG. 8 that the cleaning component 6 encloses more pressure medium than in FIG.

[0136] FIG. 9 shows different cross-sections of the cleaning unit 1 according to FIG. 3 along the section line AA with different filling degrees of pressure medium.

[0137] Different filling levels of the cleaning component 6 are shown from left to right in FIG. 9, with the filling level increasing from left to right.

[0138] 9 shows the cleaning component 6 in an unfilled state, and the second view, showing the cleaning component 6 with only a small amount of pressure medium trapped by the cleaning component 6, shows the cleaning component 6 in a partially filled state. In both views, showing the cleaning component in an unfilled or partially filled state, the cleaning component 6 is not in contact with the housing 3.

[0139] In the third view shown in FIG. 9, a first filling state of the cleaning component 6 is shown, in which the filling cleaning component 6 is in contact with the housing 3 .

[0140] The fourth view shown in Fig. 9 shows a second filling state of the cleaning component 6, in which more pressure medium is trapped by the cleaning component 6 than in the third view, so that the contact area between the cleaning component 6 and the housing 3 in the fourth view is larger than in the third view of Fig. 9.

[0141] As shown in FIG. 9, a higher filling level (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) increases the pressing force of the cleaning component 6 against the housing 3, resulting in a better sealing action and thus more reliable cleaning.

[0142] The fifth view in FIG. 9 shows that the spatial extent 10 of the filling cleaning component 6 in the absence of the resistance of the housing 3 is greater than the spatial extent 11 of the housing 3 .

[0143] FIG. 10 shows in a front view the housing 3 and the cleaning unit 1 shown in FIG. 3 arranged within the housing 3 in an unfilled state.

[0144] In FIG. 10 it can be seen that the cleaning component 6 is present in an unfilled state, whereby no contact with the housing 3 is achieved.

[0145] FIG. 11 shows in front view the housing 3 and the cleaning unit 1 shown in FIG. 3 arranged within the housing 3 in a partially filled state immediately prior to the filled state.

[0146] In FIG. 11, the cleaning component 6 is already filled with a small amount of pressure medium compared to FIG. 10, however the cleaning component 6 is still in a partially filled state and therefore not in contact with the housing 3.

[0147] It should be noted here that in FIG. 11, the housing 3 is indeed not in contact with the cleaning component 6, but instead the lighting edge 28 is in contact with the cleaning component 6.

[0148] FIG. 12 shows in a front view the housing 3 and the cleaning unit shown in FIG. 3 in a filled state arranged within the housing 3.

[0149] In Figure 12, the cleaning component 6 has trapped a sufficient amount of pressure medium in comparison to Figures 10 and 11 and is therefore in a filled state. In the illustrated filled state of the cleaning component 6, the housing 3 is contacted by the filled cleaning component 6.

[0150] As shown in FIG. 12, preferably, the fill cleaning component 6 may be envisaged to achieve a gap-free or in other words a gap-free contact with the housing 3 .

[0151] It should be noted here that in Fig. 12 not only the housing 3 but also the illuminating edge 28 is contacted by the cleaning component 6. However, in this embodiment variant, not the entire surface of the illuminating edge 28 is contacted. When using the embodiment variant shown in Fig. 4, in which the cleaning component 6 reaches up to the appendage of the base part 27, there is the advantage that not only the housing 3 but also the entire surface of the illuminating edge 28 can be cleaned. With the embodiment variant shown in Fig. 4, the cleaning component 6 also covers the gap between the illuminating edge 28 and the base part 27 (visible in Figs. 10 to 12). [Explanation of symbols]

[0152] 1 Cleaning unit 2 Patient reception area 3. Chassis 4 Medical imaging equipment 5 Support structure 6 Cleaning Components 7 Contour, preferably the outer contour of the support structure 8 Outer contour of cleaning components 9. Inner contour of the housing 10 Spatial extension of cleaning unit 11 Spatial extension of the housing 12 Transformation Device 13 Transformation Drive Device 14 Connection Lines 15 Cleaning substrate 16 Cleaning Layer 17 Outer contour of cleaning substrate 18 Running gear 19 Patient examination table 20 Scanner unit 21 First Direction 22 The Second Direction 23 Operating device 24 Output Devices 25 Travel drive unit 26 Running gear control and adjustment unit 27 Base 28 Lighting Edge 29 Ring section 30 Coupling device 31 Connection

Claims

1. A cleaning unit (1) for cleaning a housing (3) around a patient receiving area (2) of a medical imaging device (4), comprising a support structure (5) and a cleaning component (6), the cleaning component (6) of the cleaning unit (1) introduced into the housing (3) being arranged between the support structure (5) and the housing (3), characterized in that the cleaning component (6) is in contact with the housing (3), preferably in a pressure-bonded state, while being filled with a pressure medium.

2. 1. A cleaning unit (1) for cleaning a housing (3) around a patient receiving area (2) of a medical imaging device (4), comprising a support structure (5) and a cleaning component (6), said cleaning component (6) being arranged along a contour (7), preferably an outer contour (7), of said support structure (5), characterized in that said cleaning component (6) is deformable by filling with a pressure medium.

3. 3. The cleaning unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer contour (7) of the support structure (5) and / or the outer contour (8) of the preferably filling cleaning component (6) is preferably curved, particularly preferably circular, corresponding to the inner contour (9) of the housing (3).

4. The spatial extension (10) of said cleaning unit (1), preferably with an outer diameter: in a non-filled cleaning component (6), the spatial extension (10) of the cleaning unit (1) in a filled cleaning component (6), preferably smaller than the outer diameter; and / or in a non-filled cleaning component (6), the spatial extent (11) of said housing (3) is preferably smaller than the inner diameter, and / or in the filling cleaning component (6), the spatial extent (11) of said housing (3) is preferably at least as large as or larger than the inner diameter, A cleaning unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

5. The cleaning unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure medium is a gas or a liquid, preferably compressed air.

6. 6. The cleaning unit (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a deformation device (12) having a deformation drive (13), a pressure medium and a connection line (14) for connecting the cleaning component (6) to the deformation drive (13), preferably detachably or non-detachably, the pressure medium being capable of being introduced into the cleaning component (6) and / or removed from the cleaning component (6) by means of the deformation drive (13), the cleaning component (6) being deformable by filling with the pressure medium and / or by removing the pressure medium.

7. 7. The cleaning unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cleaning component (6) comprises a cleaning body (15) and a cleaning layer (16), preferably the cleaning layer (16) being arranged along an outer contour (17) of the cleaning body (15).

8. 8. The cleaning unit (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning device, the cleaning layer (16) being positionable, preferably tensionable, on the cleaning substrate (15) by means of the positioning device, preferably along an outer contour (17) of the cleaning substrate (15).

9. 9. The cleaning unit (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a supply device for providing a cleaning agent onto or into the cleaning layer (16), the cleaning agent being supplyable by means of the supply device before, during and / or after the cleaning layer (16) is placed on the cleaning substrate (15).

10. The cleaning unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cleaning unit (1) is movable inside the medical imaging device (4) using a traveling device (18), preferably the traveling device (18) being a movable patient examination table (19) of the medical imaging device (4) or a traveling device (18) separate from the medical imaging device (4).

11. A medical imaging device (4) comprising a scanner unit (20), a patient receiving area (2) at least partially surrounded by the scanner unit (20), a housing (3) around the patient receiving area (2), and at least one cleaning unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cleaning unit (1) is movable inside the housing (3).

12. the non-filled cleaning component (6) is substantially, preferably completely, surrounded without contact by said housing (3); the filling cleaning component (6) is in contact with said housing (3), preferably without gaps, particularly preferably in a crimped state; A medical imaging device (4) according to claim 11.

13. 13. The medical imaging device (4) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the cleaning unit (1) is connected or connectable, preferably non-removably or removably, to a running device (18) of the medical imaging device (4), preferably to a movable patient examination table (19).

14. A method for cleaning a medical imaging device (4) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, comprising a cleaning unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the method comprising the following method steps: - the method steps of preparing a cleaning unit (1) with a filled cleaning component (6), - a method step of cleaning the housing (3) of the medical imaging device (4) with said filled cleaning component (6); The method comprises:

15. The method comprises the following steps: - a method step of moving said cleaning unit (1) into said housing (3), - cleaning said housing (3) along a first direction (21) and / or a second direction (22) with said filled cleaning component (6), - the method step of preparing said cleaning unit (1) with a non-filled cleaning component (6), - a method step of moving said non-filled cleaning component (6) inside said housing (3) preferably in a first direction (21) and / or in a second direction (22) in a contactless manner, - a method step of moving said cleaning unit (1) out of said housing (3), 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising at least one method step of:

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