Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-18
2002-02-05
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation
C606S050000, C606S051000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06343961
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention concerns a connecting plug for a medical bipolar coagulation instrument, for example, for a bipolar coagulation pincette or for a bipolar electrode, with two blades separated at the ends by insulating material and joined by an insulating body, the blades exhibiting or forming electrical connectors, especially electrical connecting lugs, beyond the range over which they are joined together and the insulating body surrounding and running between the blades and exhibiting for this purpose longitudinally oriented openings for receiving or insertion of the blades.
DE-PS 2,006,126 discloses a coagulation pincette with a connecting plug of this type, the insulating body being formed as an injection-molded plastic part. The blades, due to the one-piece combination of this coagulation pincette with its connecting plug, need to be held by this insulating body spaced and insulated from each other. Thus, the insulating body simultaneously has a securing function in addition to its insulating function. It is therefore necessary to design this insulating body to be relatively bulky, which is a hindrance in handling especially because the end of the pincette is consequently relatively unwieldy and heavy, which is undesired, for example, in microsurgery. In spite of this bulky design, which is necessary for sufficient mechanical strength, one can not exclude the possibility that the blades will loosen with time due to movement and various thermal stresses occurring especially during sterilization so that the pincette becomes useless.
From DE-PS 30 12 849 a bipolar coagulation pincette with a connecting plug of the type mentioned above is known, in which the blades with the electrical connectors are inserted in two plastic shells and these are then held together by a sheath. Thus, the insulating body mainly has the function of a spacer and insulator while the outer sheath surrounds this insulating body in pressing and stabilizing fashion. The result is a stable joining of the blades which remains unchanged over a longer period of use. In addition, the outer dimensions can be reduced. Accordingly, this solution has become widespread even though it causes high production costs due to the manufacture of individual parts and their assembly. Beyond this, this arrangement is also subject to thermal stressing during sterilization so that different coefficients of expansion together with alternating bending loads during use as a result of opening and closing the pincette can lead to a gradual loosening.
From DE 34 09 061 C1 a bipolar coagulation instrument with a plug of the type mentioned above is known, which corresponds essentially to that provided by DE-PS 30 12 849, the insulating body being divided in two. A seam between the two parts of this insulating body—as in the coagulation pincette according to DE-PS 30 12 849—can not be avoided or can only be avoided through mutual gluing so that moisture can penetrate over the course of time.
The problem therefore exists of providing a connecting plug for a bipolar coagulation instrument of the type mentioned above, in which reliable securing of the blades in relation to the insulating body is made possible, a long service life of the joining of the blades is obtained, and production is economical. Nevertheless, seamless insulation of the two blades in the area of the insulating body should be simultaneously possible.
SUMMARY
In solving this problem, the above-mentioned connecting plug for a bipolar coagulation instrument or, in the case of a one-piece design of the instrument and the plug, the bipolar coagulation instrument is characterized by the fact that the insulating body and the blades each have holes which are superimposed in the installed position and by the fact that anchoring elements are provided which pass through these holes and penetrate in each case in the installed position at least some of the superimposed holes in the insulating body and the blades. Holes that open toward both sides are provided in the insulating body in which the anchoring elements that penetrate into the holes in the blades fit and are inserted in the installed position.
Thus, one can provide a preferably one-piece insulating body with passageways or openings for insertion of the blades—in the case of a bipolar coagulation pincette with onepiece connecting plug, the pincette blades—which is mechanically fixed in the installed position over against the inserted blades or pincette blades by anchoring elements oriented perpendicularly to the direction of pressing or insertion so that, compared to gluing or jamming, mechanically interlocking anchoring results, a continuous and seamless section of the insulating body, however, simultaneously extending between the blades so that no liquid or the like can penetrate in this area and can be brought to boiling or evaporation under the influence of high-frequency energy. Although the anchoring elements are to be inserted in each case from the side into the insulating body and are to be inserted into the holes of the blades, one obtains an arrangement which is relatively simple to manufacture and assemble, but which has the great advantage of a mechanically interlocking joining of the essential parts with each other, namely, the blades and the insulating body. Gluing, which can fail under the thermal stressing of sterilization, can be additionally present, to be sure, but is not necessary for the mutual immobilization against undesired shifts and loosenings.
The two holes in the insulating body can be formed as blind holes or borings and end at a distance from each other. Thus, no liquid can penetrate into the area between these holes; rather, the best possible insulating effect is attained at this point.
The holes can enter the insulating body on opposite sides, align with each other, and run perpendicular to the openings in the blades. This represents a simple arrangement of the holes in the insulating body, which additionally permits the best possible anchoring of the inserted blades.
The holes in the insulating body can open into the openings for the blades or cross these, and the anchoring elements can be located in the installed position with their inwardly lying face flush with the inside of the blades penetrated by them or project beyond the blades. In both alternative cases, the blades are engaged over their entire thickness by the anchoring elements. Since the blades are spaced from each other, the holes and accordingly the anchoring elements can cross the openings and thus also the blades, i.e., even protrude beyond these somewhat on the inside so that the anchoring elements in each case are supported to a certain extent bilaterally in relation to the blades held by them. The mechanical immobilization of the blades within the insulating body is all the more stable and secure in their longitudinal direction.
For the tightest possible arrangement and a strong union, it is appropriate if the anchoring elements have the same cross-section or external contour as the holes and fill these in the installed position over the entire length or depth of the holes and over the thickness of the blades. The anchoring elements then sit practically free of play in the holes so that a correspondingly strong union is produced. At the same time, they close the holes to the entrance of moisture.
The anchoring elements can consist of insulating material, especially of the same material as the insulating body. Thus, they can contact the blades on the inside in the area of their holes without the user needing to avoid contact with the two anchoring elements on the outside of the insulating body or the anchoring elements needing to be insulated on the outside. By using the same material for the anchoring elements and the insulating body, different coefficients of expansion are avoided.
The engageable holes in the blades for securing via the anchoring element can in each case be continuous, especially drilled through. To be sure, mechanical immobilization could also occur if the holes in the blades were not c
Select Medizin-Technik Hermann Sutter GmbH
Sircus Brian
Volpe and Koenig P.C.
Webb Brian S.
LandOfFree
Connecting plug for a medical bipolar coagulation instrument does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Connecting plug for a medical bipolar coagulation instrument, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Connecting plug for a medical bipolar coagulation instrument will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2957312