DE202022103318U1 - Medical device with piezo actuator for sound generation - Google Patents

Abstract

Medical device with at least one physical device component, preferably with a specific device-relevant function and with a sound generator, preferably in the form of a piezo actuator (4), which is intended for oscillating in a sound frequency or a sound frequency bandwidth and for emitting sound signals and is adapted, characterized in that the sound generator is mechanically attached to the device component and acoustically coupled to the device component.

Description

The present disclosure relates to a medical device such as an automatic infusion pump or a dialysis machine.

Background to the Revelation

Such medical devices/machines are usually located next to the affected patient during operation and are usually set up and started by medical staff, but are then not monitored or supervised during the entire medical process. Therefore, these devices are able to emit sound signals to inform or warn or even alert the medical staff about certain operating conditions.

State of the art

The pamphlets US 2012/0109099 A1 and WO 2011/136862 A1 each disclose a fluid pump that can be implanted in the body of a patient and that can also output a piezoelectrically generated audible alarm in addition to a vibration alarm.

The pamphlet WO 2021/087249 A1 also discloses a medical device that can be glued to the patient's skin and is thus operated in the ambient air. Sound signals, such as alarms, are generated using a piezo actuator.

Summary of Revelation

The object of the present disclosure is to optimize a medical device with a piezo actuator for sound generation in terms of sound technology.

This problem is solved by a medical device with the features of claim 1 . Further advantageous configurations are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The basic idea of the present invention is essentially based on the appropriate adoption of those acoustic measures, for example in the field of loudspeaker construction, according to which sound generators (loudspeaker membranes, piezo vibrating elements, etc.) are mounted on/in a housing chassis, which are dimensioned in such a way that they Depending on the expected sound frequency spectra serve as resonators and / or resonance chambers, whereby the sound level (sound volume) that can be generated is amplified. In principle, this can be achieved by additionally installing a corresponding resonance body or by selecting that section or that component from the number of existing device components that is suitable in terms of its dimensioning as a resonance body/resonance chamber and that in the case of an attachment of the sound generator is little or not impaired in its actual function.

The claimed medical device therefore has a sound generator, preferably in the form of a piezo actuator, which is provided and adapted to oscillate in a (previously known) sound frequency or sound frequency range and to emit at least one sound signal. With this, medical staff or the patient can be informed or warned or even alarmed. According to the disclosure, the sound generator/piezo actuator is mechanically attached to a physical device component of the medical device and acoustically coupled to the component in such a way that (the component is dimensioned such that) the component acts as a sound body or resonance body, whereby the sound signal of the sound generator / Piezo actuator is amplified. This applies in particular if the component is in contact with the ambient air of the medical device. This ensures that the medical staff is informed, warned or alarmed even over a greater distance and/or the sound generator/piezo actuator can be dimensioned much smaller than the prior art (e.g. conventional loudspeaker technology) in terms of device technology. It is preferred here if the device component is not an additional component that is installed exclusively for the purpose of a resonance body, but is an already existing component that was previously entrusted with a different device function, which happens to be a suitable resonance body and therefore consists of a A number of already existing components were identified as such a suitable resonance body.

In a preferred embodiment of the medical device, the component consequently has a resonant frequency which (approximately) corresponds to or at least comes close to the sound frequency of the sound generator/piezo actuator.

If the sound generator/piezo actuator is flat and e.g. has a maximum thickness of 1 mm, preferably a maximum of 0.5 mm, then it can be attached to a flat section of the affected component and thus integrated into an existing construction of a medical device or be retrofitted in an existing medical device.

The sound generator/piezo actuator is preferably attached to the component or its flat surface section glued. In particular when integrating into an existing construction of a medical device or when retrofitting as mentioned above, the gluing is preferably carried out with double-sided adhesive tape.

In specific exemplary embodiments, the component is a module or a display.

The component serving as a sound body or resonance body is preferably a housing or a housing shell, which is already provided and adapted to separate internal components from the ambient air. Compared to housings of medical devices from the prior art, in which dynamic loudspeakers emit their sound signal essentially in one direction, there is the advantage that the structure-borne noise can be emitted from the housing or from the housing shell in all directions. In other words, the correspondingly selected housing wall/wall section on which the piezo actuator is mounted serves as a kind of membrane for the development of sound waves.

For this purpose, the sound generator/piezo actuator can be fastened, for example, to an inner wall of the housing or the housing shell. With the above-mentioned flat design of the piezo actuator (e.g. a maximum thickness of 1 mm, preferably a maximum of 0.5 mm), the above-mentioned advantages with regard to integration and retrofitting result.

The inner wall can also have a resonant frequency that corresponds to or comes close to the sound frequency of the sound generator/piezo actuator.

In contrast to medical devices from the prior art, in which housings provided with dynamic loudspeakers (must) have corresponding slits or openings, in a particularly preferred embodiment the housing or the housing shell is closed or can be closed tightly.

If the closed or tightly closable housing or housing shell is splash-proof or splash-proof or even waterproof or waterproof, it can be easily washed and disinfected. The medical device thus has significant advantages in terms of hygiene.

Particularly preferred applications of the invention are automatic infusion pumps or dialysis machines.

character list

• The only figure shows part of an exemplary embodiment of a medical device according to the invention.

Description of a preferred embodiment

A preferably medical device of any type is shown symbolically, such as an infusion pump, syringe pump, dialysis machine, various patient monitoring devices, etc. with a housing shell 1 with a view of its inside. Together with a second (not shown) housing shell, it forms, for example, a closed housing of the medical device (automatic infusion pump).

On a flat inner wall 2 of the housing shell 1, which forms the upper side of the housing in the assembled state and when the infusion pump is used as intended (but can also be any other side of the device), a sound generator in the form of a piezo actuator 4 is preferably provided glued on with double-sided adhesive tape 6. However, another suitable adhesive or attachment variant can also be provided.

The housing shell 1 is (purely coincidental or intentional) designed and possibly selected accordingly such that its resonant frequency corresponds to the sound frequency or the sound of the piezo actuator 4 or at least comes close.

The housing shell 1 is preferably made of plastic by injection molding. In the present case, the housing shell 1 has no loudspeaker slots, as are known from the prior art, in order to position a dynamic loudspeaker behind them. Rather, the housing shell 1 can be watertight and/or dustproof and is assembled with the other housing shell via a peripheral seal to form an (at least to a limited extent) watertight and/or dustproof housing (for example IP34).

The piezo actuator 4 has a maximum thickness of 0.5 mm, for example, and can therefore—apart from the omission of the loudspeaker slots—be integrated into the existing automatic infusion pump without any further changes to the existing design.

During operation of the infusion pump, the piezoelectric actuator 4 can generate a notification tone and/or a warning tone and/or an alarm tone, which can be heard in all directions over the entire housing shell 1 shown (as a resonant/oscillating body). space is given off and can be well perceived in the entire environment, regardless of the positioning of the housing.

Finally, it should also be pointed out at this point that instead of the housing shell 1, which is preferably mounted sound-insulated from other device components, other existing device components could also be suitable as resonance bodies, which may be installed inside the device housing. In this case, however, the device housing could have perforations that allow the sound waves generated on the inside to penetrate outwards. This is not necessary if the existing device components are connected to the device housing and transmit the vibrations to the device housing. The frequencies can also be controlled at such a level that the device components vibrate and the sound can be audibly emitted without additional perforations.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• US 2012/0109099 A1 [0003]
• WO 2011/136862 A1 [0003]
• WO 2021/087249 A1 [0004]

Claims (9)

Medical device with at least one physical device component, preferably with a specific device-relevant function and with a sound generator, preferably in the form of a piezo actuator (4), which is intended for oscillating in a sound frequency or a sound frequency bandwidth and for emitting sound signals and is adapted, characterized in that the sound generator is mechanically attached to the device component and acoustically coupled to the device component. medical device claim 1 , wherein the device component has a resonant frequency which corresponds to or comes close to the sound frequency of the sound generator (4). Medical device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sound generator (4) is of two-dimensional design Medical device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sound generator (4) is glued to the device component. Medical technology device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device component is a housing or a housing shell (1) which is provided and adapted to separate internal device components from the environment. medical device claim 5 , wherein the sound generator (4) is attached to an inner wall (2) of the housing or the housing shell (1). medical device claim 5 or 6 , wherein the housing or the housing shell (1) is closed or can be closed tightly. Medical device according to one of Claims 5 until 7 , wherein the housing or the housing shell (1) is splash-proof or splash-proof or waterproof or waterproof. Medical technology device according to one of the preceding claims, which is an automatic infusion pump or a dialysis machine.

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