Medical apparatus with external stiffening device

Abstract

The invention relates to a medical apparatus (1) comprising a housing (2) and at least one functional module (3) arranged in the housing (2). The medical apparatus (1) comprises a stiffening device (4) which is arranged outside the housing (2) and forms the mechanical frame of the medical apparatus (1). In this way, the load-bearing structure of the apparatus is relocated from the interior to the exterior of the housing.

Description

[0001] KLICKOW & WETZEL PARTNERSHIP COMPANY MBB PATENT ATTORNEYS EUROPEAN PATENT AND TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS JESSENSTRASSE 4 • 22767 HAMBURG • GERMANY

[0002] Applicant: WEINMANN Emergency Medical Technology www.klickow-wetzel.de GmbH + Co. KG Telephone: +49 (0)40 380 8715-0 Frohbösestr. 12 Fax: +49 (0)40 380 8715-25 22525 Hamburg mail@klickow-wetzel.de Germany

[0003] 10757-XP-PCT

[0004] January 12, 2026 | ckw.ckw

[0005] Medical device with external stiffening device

[0006] The invention relates to a medical device comprising a housing and at least one functional module arranged in the housing.

[0007] Conventional medical devices, such as ventilators, defibrillators, patient monitors or suction pumps, have various functional modules depending on the device, at least some of which are housed in the respective device casing.

[0008] Different applications have different requirements regarding the mechanical resilience of the respective medical device. For example, devices intended for stationary use are generally subjected to significantly lower stresses from forces acting upon them than those for mobile use or even use in air rescue or aviation.

[0009] Furthermore, medical devices must meet various other requirements, such as chemical resistance, leak-tightness, and flame retardancy. These can be summarized under the term shielding function.

[0010] In well-known medical devices, functional modules are typically interconnected via the housing. Besides providing external shielding, the housing also serves as the mechanical frame, i.e., the stiffening element, of the medical device. KLICKOW & WETZEL

[0011] To meet the required mechanical strength for the specific application, the housing is designed to be correspondingly robust. With regard to the shielding functions and / or the weight of the medical device, compromises often have to be made, particularly concerning the choice of materials.

[0012] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved medical device that solves at least some of the aforementioned problems.

[0013] This problem is solved according to the invention by a medical device according to claim 1.

[0014] The dependent patent claims describe advantageous aspects of the invention.

[0015] The features of a medical device disclosed below are, in all feasible combinations, part of the invention.

[0016] A medical device according to the invention comprises a housing and at least one functional module arranged in the housing. According to the invention, the medical device has a stiffening device arranged outside the housing, which constitutes the mechanical frame of the medical device.

[0017] In embodiments of the invention, this allows for weight savings in the overall device, since the external stiffening device replaces internal stiffening elements. Furthermore, the strength of the external stiffening device can be adapted to the specific application (e.g., stationary, mobile, aerospace), so that lighter devices are possible for less demanding applications.

[0018] Furthermore, this allows for a controlled flow of forces. The requirements regarding device strength are decoupled from the housing, thus enabling a less restrictive choice of materials for the housing.

[0019] Additionally, increased compatibility with mounting brackets, such as wall mounts, from various manufacturers is achieved, as these are attached not to the housing, but to the external stiffening device, which serves as a dedicated force transmission interface. KLICKOW & WETZEL

[0020] In advantageous embodiments of the invention, at least one functional module has an associated module chassis in the sense of an internal stiffening element.

[0021] In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, each functional module arranged in the housing has a module chassis.

[0022] The module chassis supports the individual components of the functional module and provides a mounting interface for attaching the functional module to the external stiffening device.

[0023] In the corresponding embodiments of the invention, at least one functional module is connected to the external stiffening device via the associated module chassis through the housing by means of at least one fastening element.

[0024] In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, each functional module arranged in the housing is connected to the external stiffening device through the housing via the associated module chassis by means of at least one fastening element.

[0025] Fastening elements within the meaning of the invention can, for example, be screws.

[0026] In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, the external stiffening device has at least one handle and / or a coupling device for attachment to a bracket.

[0027] This makes the corresponding medical device, for example, comfortable to carry in mobile use and / or attachable to a (wall) mount, for example in an ambulance.

[0028] Preferably, the housing has a grid of holes for passing the fastening elements from the external stiffening device to the at least one module chassis of a functional module.

[0029] In embodiments of the invention, the external stiffening device comprises at least one stiffening element. For example, a modular design of the external stiffening device consisting of several stiffening elements, which are fixedly or detachably connected to one another, is envisaged. KLICKOW & WETZEL

[0030] In embodiments of the invention, the external stiffening device rests against the housing on at least one side.

[0031] Preferably, the external stiffening device rests against the housing on at least two sides.

[0032] This allows mechanical loads in various directions to be transferred to the external stiffening device, thus increasing the stability of the medical device.

[0033] In embodiments of the invention, the external stiffening device rests against the housing on two to five sides.

[0034] A medical device according to the invention is, for example, designed as a ventilator, a defibrillator, a patient monitor or a suction pump.

[0035] In embodiments of the invention, it is not limited to medical devices, but generally includes devices with a housing and at least one functional module arranged in the housing.

[0036] By using materials such as metal or high-strength plastics for the stiffening device and / or the module chassis, the housing material has lower mechanical stiffness requirements. This makes it possible, for example, to select a plastic as the housing material whose strengths lie in its compatibility with chemical substances (e.g., cleaning and disinfecting agents) and its impact strength with regard to direct impacts on the medical device.

[0037] Examples of plastics that can now be used as housing material in embodiments of the invention are PC+PBT (polymer blend of polycarbonate and polybutylene terephthalate), PC+ABS (blend of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), PC (polycarbonate), PPE+PS-I (blend of polyphenylene ether and impact-resistant polystyrene) and / or PPSII (polyphenylsulfone).

[0038] The figures below illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention. They are shown by: KLICKOW & WETZEL

[0039] Figure 1: A perspective view of a medical device according to the invention with an external stiffening device,

[0040] Figure 2: The representation from Figure 1 without the housing of the medical device,

[0041] Figure 3: Two functional modules of a medical device according to the invention and

[0042] Figure 4: the functional modules shown in Figure 3 from the opposite side.

[0043] Figure 1 shows a perspective view (A) of a medical device (1) according to the invention. The medical device (1) has a housing (2) that encloses the functional modules (3) which are not visible in this illustration.

[0044] In the embodiment shown, the housing (2) essentially consists of six interconnected wall elements forming a top, a bottom, a front, a back and a left and a right side wall.

[0045] However, the invention is applicable to any other housing shape. Preferably, the shape of the external stiffening device (4) is adapted to the shape of the housing (2).

[0046] The external stiffening device (4) is arranged on the outside of the housing (2) and is connected to the internal functional modules (3) via fastening elements (6) designed as screws.

[0047] The external stiffening device (4) has a handle (7) and a coupling device (8) for attaching the medical device (1) to a bracket.

[0048] Figure 2 shows the medical device (1) according to Figure 1 without the housing (2). This reveals the functional modules (3), each of which has a module chassis (5). The functional modules (3) are connected to the external stiffening device (4) via the respective module chassis (5) using the fastening elements (6). KLICKOW & WETZEL

[0049] Figures 3 and 4 show the functional modules (3) with their respective module chassis (5). The respective components (9) are attached to the module chassis (5), for example by screws.

[0050] The module chassis (5) each provide mounting interfaces (10) via which they can be connected to the external stiffening device (4). Here, the mounting interfaces (10) are realized by angled surfaces of the module chassis (5) in which openings with internal threads are arranged. Thus, the mounting interfaces (10) are designed for screwing the module chassis (5) and the external stiffening device (4) together.

[0051] In principle, other connection technologies, for example using connectors, are also conceivable, provided that these ensure a sufficiently robust and secure attachment of the functional modules to the external stiffening device.

Claims

KLICKOW & WETZEL PARTNERSHIP COMPANY MBB PATENT ATTORNEYS EUROPEAN PATENT AND TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS JESSENSTRASSE 4 • 22767 HAMBURG • GERMANY Applicant: WEINMANN Emergency Medical Technology www.klickow-wetzel.de GmbH + Co. KG Telephone: +49 (0)40 380 8715-0 Frohbösestr. 12 Fax: +49 (0)40 380 8715-25 22525 Hamburg mail@klickow-wetzel.de Germany 10757-XP-PCT January 12, 2026 | ckw.ckw Patent claims 1. Medical device (1) comprising a housing (2) and at least one functional module (3) arranged in the housing (2), characterized in that the medical device (1) has a stiffening device (4) arranged outside the housing (2) which realizes the mechanical frame of the medical device (1).

2. Medical device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one functional module (3) has an associated module chassis (5) in the sense of an internal stiffening element.

3. Medical device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one functional module (3) is connected to the external stiffening device (4) via the associated module chassis (5) through the housing (2) by means of at least one fastening element (6).

4. Medical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external stiffening device (4) has at least one handle (7) and / or a coupling device for attaching to a holder. KLICKOW & WETZEL 5. Medical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) has a grid of holes for the passage of the fastening elements (6).

6. Medical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stiffening device (4) has at least one stiffening element.

7. Medical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stiffening device (4) abuts the housing (2) on at least two sides.

8. Medical device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the stiffening device (4) abuts the housing (2) on two to five sides.

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