NZ228195A

NZ228195A - Removable handle for operating theatre overhead lamp manipulation

Info

Publication number: NZ228195A
Application number: NZ228195A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Charles Spina
Original assignee: Mdt Corp
Priority date: 1988-03-04
Filing date: 1989-03-02
Publication date: 1990-11-27
Also published as: EP0402412A1; JPH03503132A; AU624378B2; WO1989007900A1; AU3440089A; EP0402412A4

Description

22 8 1 95 ' ■ jv Priority Date(s): ...

Co.i.p.uie Specification Filed: a™ .A^S/ <3*-.;. 5r.2-AW\S>/ao; .SsSS.fcw ;Publication Date: P.O. Journsl. Mo: ;' 27 NOV'1990 ;NEW ZEALAND ;PATENTS ACT, 1953 ;o ;No.: Date: ;1 / We, ;COMPLETE SPECIFICATION ;"HANDLE FOR SURGERY LAMP" ;i ;C ;HDT CORPORATION, a corporation of.the state of Delaware, USA, of 1777 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, New York 14692, USA ;hereby declare the invention for which I / we pray that a patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- ;- 1 - ;(followed by page la) ;* 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 31 32 D —|a - 1 22 8 195 / HANDLE FOR SURGERY LAMP This invention relates to a novel form of handle or grip for use in manipulating the overhead lamp in an operating room.

During surgery it is necessary to provide overhead illumination. Such is provided by a lamp which is so mounted above the operating table that it can be manipulated to heights aijd positions desired. For such purpose it is common to provide a handle or grip by means of which the surgeon or others on the team can move the lamp to the desired position, the lamp being mounted so as to be moveable to any needed position, to permit vertical and lateral adjustment and to retain the lamp in any desired position until it is moved, by the handle, to another position.

In some instances the handle is a re-usable metal part of the lamp but such requires sterilization of the handle before each operation is commenced.

A disposable plastic handle is also in use which has a threaded upper portion which can be screwed into a socket on the lamp structure, or into an adaptor which is secured to the lamp structure. Below the threaded portion is a handle which is gripped by hand. As an added A-48011/EBG ~) 3 ; 22819 1 precaution the handle is formed with a disk just beneath 2 the threaded upper end which serves as a guard to prevent 3 the gloved hand of the person manipulating the lamp from /—4 coming into contact with non-sterile parts of the lamp structure. The handle per se extends downward from the 6 disk. 7 8 This structure is more advantageous than a metal 9 re-usable handle because it can be packaged in sterile condition, removed from the sterile package at the time of 11 use and then discarded. 12 13 Nevertheless this form of detachable/attachable 14 handle has the disadvantage that it is bulky and inconvenient to package, to ship and to store. 16 17 It is an object of the present invention to r 18 provide an attachable, detachable handle for manipulating 19 overhead lamps used in surgery which obviates the disadvan- tages of handles as described above. 21 22 The above and other objects will be apparent from """n 23 the ensuing description and appended claims. 24 One embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by 26 way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which . 27 -s 28 Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the handle 29 element of the invention. 31 Figure 2 is a top view as seen along the line 2-2 32 of Figure 1. 33 34 Figure 3 is a top view of a detachable, attachable disft for use with the handle of Figure 1. 36 Patent^ffiI ! Figure 4 is a view of the disk as seen along the -48011/EBG ■3 ) -3- 22810 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 36 NEW ZEAlAfW PATENT OFFICE -8 OCT 1990 received line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the complete handle including the handle portion of Figure 1 and the disk of Figure 3 shown mounted on the handle portion.

Figures 6 and 7 are, respectively, a top plan view and an end view of two handles shown with detached disks illustrating the packaging advantages of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and initially to Figure 1, the handle (without the protective disk) is indicated generally at 10. It is preferably molded in one piece from a suitable plastic material.

It has a tubular body or grip 11 having preferably a textured exterior 12, a flat hexagonal base 13, a hexagonal lip 14 and a threaded upper end 15 which can be screwed into a socket (not shown) which is either a part of the lamp (also not shown) or into an adapter (not shown) attached to a lamp fixture. The body 11 is formed about midway between base 13 and lip 14 with an annular groove 16, or alternatively with a pair of indentations.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, a disc 17 is provided made, for example, of the same plastic material as the handle 10 and having a central opening 18. Surrounding the opening 18 and projecting above and below the body o£ the disc is an inner rim 19. An outer rim 20 projects above and below the disc. Notches 21 are provided at opposite ends of a diameter o£ the disc.

Referring now to Figure 5, the complete assembly, indicated as 10A, has the disc 17 mounted on the lip 14, the hole 18 being such that the disc fits snugly over the threaded portion 15, the fit being such that the disc is stable but not difficult to place it in and to remove it trom the position shown in Figure 5. -48011/EBG 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 36 37 22 8 1 95 Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, a pair of the handles 10 and discs 17 are packaged as shown. The handles 10 are laid alongside one another but slightly offset so that the bases 13 and lips 14 nest as shown. One of the discs 17 is laid on top and the other disc 17 lies beneath the handles 10, as shown. Before the discs are added, a rubber band 26 is stretched around the handles 10 and secured in- the grooves 26 thus locking the two handles together. ~ After the discs have been added, another rubber band 27 is passed around the package and is secured in place by the notches 21 in the discs.

By this means two complete handles 10 and their discs 17 are neatly and conveniently packaged together. The discs add little to the volume and the assembly can, after sterilization, be enclosed in a sterile plastic bag (not shown) . Upon opening the bag one or both handles 10 and discs 17 may be removed, using sterile gloves, assembled as shown in Figure 5 and screwed into a socket on the lamp, meanwhile observing sterility procedures.

The hexagon shape at the base 13 and lip 14 are preferred because, when lying flat, the handles 10 do not roll.

Dimensions of the handle 10 will be such that it can be grasped conveniently by hand and manipulated. The disc 17 will have a diameter such that it will effectively prevent the manipulating hand or fingers from touching non-sterile hardware above. Typical dimensions are: A-48011/EBG 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 36 37 22 8 1 9 5 Handle 10 Height from base 13 to lip 14 - 3.9" Overall height - 4.9" Diameter of body 11 - 1.25" Diameter (between opposite sides) of base 13 and lip 14 - 1.6" Disc 10 Diameter - 4.5" Thickness - 0.08" It will therefore be appreciated that a novel and useful device has been provided which minimizes packaging problems and serves the intended purpose.

A-48011/EBG 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 y 228195

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A handle construction suitable for use in manipulating a lamp above ah operating table, said construction comprising (a) an elongated handle having an upper end and a lower end and having a length and diameter suiting it to be grasped and moved by hand, (b) means at the upper end of said handle for attachment to an overhead lamp overlying an operating table, (c) said handle having below said means (b) an outwardly projecting support member, (d) a disc having a center opening adapted to fit over and encircle the upper end of said handle (c) whereby the disc is supported by the support member (c) , the diameter of the disc being such that it will prevent inadvertent movement of the hand of a manipulater from contacting non-sterile equipment above the disc, said disc being readily separable from the handle (a) .

2. The handle construction of Claim 1 wherein the support ^member (c) is in .the form of a polygonal lip sur- «* i..;rounding the handle (a) .;t.;*

3. The handle construction of Claim ^ wherein the handle (a) is formed, below the disc, with one or more recesses extending inwardly capable of receiving and retaining a tie member. 228.195 -7-

4. A storilizoblo multi-part handle for attachment to a handle ^ receiving fitting on a medical surgery room light fixture, said handle comprising: a handle body having a body grip portion and a head portion to engage said fitting; a disc separate from said handle and having a central aperture within „ a surrounding annular web; and connecting means associated with said handle body head portion and said disc aperture for mounting said disc to said handle body preparatory to mounting said handle to said light fixture.

5. A handle construction suitable for use in manipulating a lamp above an operating table, said construction comprising: an elongated handle member having an upper end and a lower end, said handle member having a length and diameter suitable to be manually grasped and moved; attachment means mounted at said upper end of said handle member for attaching said handle member to an overhead lamp overlying an operating table; and a disc detachably mounted on said handle member, said disc having a center opening fitted over and encircling said upper end of said handle O member.

6. The handle construction of claim 5 including an outwardly projecting support member mounted on said handle member below said attachment means.

7. The handle construction of claim 6 wherein said support member is configured in the form of a polygonal lip surrounding said handle member.

8. A handle construction suitable for use in manipulating a lamp above an operating table, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. NEW ZEALAND # PATENT OFFICE J| -8 OCT1990 I MX31" Cx>^?oe. By authorised Agents., • A. J. PARK & SON.