RU2812213C2 - Device with service interface and method for device maintenance - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: computer technology.

SUBSTANCE: device for supplying medical instruments with operating means has a socket insert located in the receiving pocket of the device and connected to the interface of the operating means of the device. Additionally, the data transfer interface is located in the receiving pocket, which is covered by a socket insert and is thus inaccessible from the outside. To gain access to the device software and/or device data, the socket insert can be removed and replaced with a service insert, which, on the one hand, covers the outlet of the operating equipment, but at the same time is in contact with the data connector. In this state, the service insert has the ability to communicate directly or through an external device of the service insert with the control device to enter or read data and/or programs, as well as to update programs and change data to change device parameters or the like.

EFFECT: preventing unauthorized access to the device interface.

14 cl, 8 dwg

Description

The invention relates to a device with a service interface and to a method for maintaining the device, primarily in terms of ensuring access control to the service interface.

To operate medical instruments, especially cryoinstruments, electrosurgical instruments and other instruments used primarily in operations on patients, both humans and animals, devices are used that are designed to supply the corresponding instrument with the necessary operating means.

Publication US 2015/0229083 A1 discloses a device for supplying tools with operating aids. For this purpose, corresponding sockets are provided on the front side of the device.

An operational means can mean a material or energy means. Operating media can be represented by liquids, gases, vacuum, electrical voltage, electric current, visible or invisible light. Operational means can transmit and transport energy and/or information. Examples of operating media are liquids or gases, such as, for example, water, NaCl solution, argon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, aerosols or the like. Operating fluids can be supplied to or removed from the tool (vacuum), for example to suck in flue gas. The operating means may be light, such as laser light, which is applied to the instrument to affect biological tissue. The light supplied to the instrument can also mean light for illuminating the surgical field. Also, the light received from the instrument can be conducted to the device. If the operating means is an electric current, this may include direct current, alternating current, high-frequency alternating current, which serves, for example, for coagulation, thermal combining, ablation, cutting or to create other effects. The apparatus may be configured to provide and/or accommodate one or more of these operational means. Both are covered by the term "supply".

In principle, such devices are known from the prior art, for example from the aforementioned publication US 2015/0229083 A1. Further, publication EP 2904982 A1 describes on this subject a device with a housing closed on all sides, which on its front part has receiving pockets for socket inserts. Each socket insert is located on the front side flush with the front side of the device and thus forms part of the front surface of the device from the user's point of view. The socket insert contains electrical connections (contact sockets) for attaching a surgical instrument. The socket insert is locked in the receiving pocket by means of a detachable locking means and is connected to the device by means of a push-in connection on its side facing away from the front side.

Such devices typically contain control devices or other electrical circuits that can be configured and/or are under program control and/or during operation can receive and store data and/or operate on the basis of stored data. For service and maintenance purposes, maintenance technicians need access to electrical circuits, that is, their settings and/or data and/or programs. For this purpose, a service interface is usually available, which must, however, be electrically separated from the power part of the device to prevent damage to personnel and materials even in the event of unauthorized handling.

Based on the above, the aim of the invention is to provide a device for supplying medical instruments, which has a service interface, whereby, however, damage to users must be avoided by simple means.

This goal is achieved by means of a device according to claim 1 of the claims and/or a method according to claim 14 of the claims.

Within the framework of the concept according to the invention, the device according to the invention is intended to supply medical instruments with operating means, namely one or more fluids and/or electric current, and has a service interface in the form of a plug-in data connector, which is placed in the receiving pocket of the socket insert in this way that the service interface in a ready-to-use and accessible device is closed by a socket insert and is thus inaccessible to the operator. For a maintenance technician who needs access to the data connector and thus control of the device, the socket insert can be removed from the receiving pocket. Typically the socket insert is locked in the receiving pocket by means of a locking means. The locking means can be designed in such a way that it can be released by means of an operating tool. For example, the locking means may include a release pin that can be moved in the axial direction of an opening accessible from the front side of the socket insert to thereby release the locking means.

After removing the socket insert from the receiving pocket, a service interface becomes available, which is designed, for example, as a data connector (male or socket). If the service interface is, for example, a standardized plug connector, such as a USB plug connector or the like, a corresponding cable can now be connected to it and thus a connection can be made to an external device, for example a laptop computer. When the socket insert is placed in the receiving pocket, the data connector is covered by it and is not connected to the socket insert, but is free. To ensure this, the socket insert or any other service interface can be designed in such a way that it does not have connections connected to the data connector.

On the boundary wall of the receiving pocket, which is distant from the front side, that is, on its reverse side, the output of the operating means and the service interface are located, for example in the form of a plug-in connector for data transmission. The operating means output and the data connector are preferably placed at such a lateral distance from each other that a reliable electrical insulation between the operating means output and the data connector is possible. The data connector and the operating equipment output are thus spatially separated from each other. The spatial separation and covering by means of the socket insert make it possible to eliminate voltage decoupling measures for the plug-in data connector. This helps to reduce construction costs and space requirements that would otherwise have to be provided for a reliable, high-voltage-resistant separating section on the data line extending from the data plug connector.

Typically associated with the device is a service insert that can be maintained and transported by a service technician. The service insert has an external contour which makes it possible to insert the service insert into the receiving pocket. The service insert has a housing, which on its end surface has a mating part suitable for the service interface, for example a data connector (female or male), which is correlated with the device data connector. In this case, the data transfer plug connector is placed in such a place on the end surface that when inserted into the receiving pocket, it is able to engage with the data transfer plug connector of the device and form an appropriate electrical connection.

The service plug usually does not have a connection for the service outlet of the device, so that the service insert cannot be connected to the service outlet of the device, also when the service insert is inserted into a receptacle.

The service insert can be designed in a purely passive form in that it has a plug socket, for example a USB connector, on a portion of its housing that protrudes from the receiving pocket during operation, or simply on its front side. Other plug sockets, such as, for example, double-pole or multi-pole plug sockets, mains contact sockets or the like, can be provided in an additional or alternative manner. One or more such plug sockets form a communication interface to which another data processing device, i.e. a computer, laptop, notebook, tablet, smartphone or the like, can be connected.

Alternatively, an interface may be provided for communication with another computer, as well as a network interface or a wireless connection. For this purpose, the service insert may comprise a radio module, for example a Bluetooth module or a WLAN module, which is configured for communication with corresponding corresponding stations, for example in the form of a computer, laptop, notebook, tablet, smartphone or the like.

It is additionally or alternatively possible that the service insert contains its own storage means and/or its own data processing means, which can be maintained or activated via manual controls or via the communication interface of another electronic device, such as, for example, a mobile terminal (mobile phone, tablet, laptop, laptop and so on). Storage media can be designed to exchange data or programs with the control device of the device directly or through a computer located in the service insert.

The device maintenance method proposed in the invention includes:

- removing the socket insert, which is not in contact with the data connector, from the receiving pocket (21),

- inserting the service insert in contact with the data connector into the receiving pocket,

- activation of service insert,

- removing the service insert in contact with the data connector from the receiving pocket,

- inserting the socket insert, which is not in contact with the data connector, into the receiving pocket.

Inserting the service insert into the receiving pocket involves connecting the data connectors of the device and the service insert. Activating the service insert involves enabling data exchange between the service insert and the control device of the device or data exchange via the service insert between a data processing device (computer, laptop, notebook, tablet, smartphone) connected to the service insert and the control device of the device. It is possible that the data exchange only involves the transfer of data from the service insert to the control device of the device. It is also possible that the data exchange only involves the transfer of data from the control unit of the device to the service insert. Moreover, it is also possible that the data exchange includes data transmission in both of the above-mentioned directions.

The exchanged data can also be represented by user programs, or exclusively by them. The exchanged data can be represented by operating data or operating parameters of the device or measured values collected by the device, which are stored on the device's storage device or on a storage device provided in the service insert. Additionally or alternatively, the data, via the above-mentioned data interface, can be transmitted to an external device, such as, for example, a computer device available to a service technician, such as, for example, a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, laptop or the like.

Details of an exemplary embodiment of the invention are set forth in the drawings, dependent claims or in the description accompanying the drawings. Shown on:

Fig. 1 - a device according to the invention in a fragmentary simplified perspective view from the point of view on its front side,

Fig. 2 the device according to Fig. 1 in perspective view with the socket insert removed,

Fig. 3 - socket insert in perspective view for the device according to Figs. 1 and 2,

Fig. 4 - service insert for the device according to Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 5 - socket insert according to Fig. 3 in rear view, Fig. 6 service insert according to Fig. 4 in rear view, Fig. 7 - device according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in a schematic block diagram, FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention in a schematic block diagram.

1 illustrates an instrument 10 that serves to power one or more instruments not shown. The illustrated device 10 serves, for example, to supply the corresponding medical instrument with operating media, such as, for example, fluids, in other words, for example, gases, aerosols and/or liquids. The term "supply" also includes receiving media from the instrument, in other words providing a vacuum or suction action for suction purposes. Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus may be configured to supply one or more medical instruments with electrical current. Additionally or alternatively, the device 10 may be configured to supply the medical instrument with light or also to receive light that has been received or produced by the instrument. This should also be understood under the term “provision of operating facilities”.

To provide at least one operational means, the device 10 may be provided with one or more connection possibilities for medical instruments. In the example device illustrated in FIG. 1, two connection possibilities are presented, which are provided by socket inserts 11, 12. These socket inserts 11, 12 are located on the front side 13 of the device 10. The socket inserts 11, 12 are preferably designed in such a way that that they contain the connections necessary for the functioning of the instrument. For example, the socket insert 11 has a plug socket 14 for fluid and/or other plug sockets 15, 16 for electrical current. The plug sockets 15, 16 can supply operating current, control current, for example to control the device 10 from the side of the connected instrument, or electrical currents for therapeutic use, measured currents, and the like. The device may (but does not have to) contain additional connections, for example one or more connections for a neutral electrode.

The socket insert 12 is illustrated by way of example as a purely electrical contact socket, which has a plurality of plug sockets 17, 18, 19 for electrical current for therapeutic use of the instrument to be connected. In addition, one or more pins 20 may be provided on the socket insert 12, which may serve to recognize the type of plug connector being inserted, and which may be movable along an axis or stationary relative to an axis. In addition, one or more connections can be provided which belong to control lines and through which control elements provided on the tool can be connected to the control device of the device.

The socket inserts 11, 12 are just examples. A socket insert may also be provided that exclusively includes one or more fluid contact sockets. A socket insert may be provided which has solely one or more light connections configured to supply or store light to the tool. In addition, a socket insert may be provided which exclusively has one or more connections to provide a suction (vacuum) function. A socket insert may be provided which has at least one connection for therapeutic electric current, signal current or other energy and/or information carriers. It is also possible to provide a socket insert which has two or more of the various connections mentioned above.

Each socket insert 11, 12 is placed in a receiving pocket. As an example of this, FIG. 2 illustrates a receiving pocket 21. The receiving pocket 21 has on its rear wall 22 an operating media outlet 23 and a data interface, for example in the form of a data connector 24. The operating means output 23 and the data connector 24 are placed at such a lateral distance A from each other that provides electrical insulation between the operating means output 23 and the data connector 24 and thus the necessary air gap and creepage current distance.

The operating media output 23 is presented as an electrical plug connector with multiple contacts, however, the operating media output should not be understood as being limited to such plug connectors. The operating means output 23 may be formed by any connecting means that is suitable for reliably transferring the corresponding operating means from the device 10 to the socket insert 12 (or 11). This is equally valid for the data connector 24. It is also presented in Fig. 2 in the form of a multi-polar plug socket. The term data connector 24 can, however, also refer to any other suitable connector for data transmission.

In the receiving pocket 21, it is possible to accommodate, if necessary, guides 25, 26 for the socket insert 12 and/or locking projections 27 belonging to the locking device, or other locking means for locking the socket insert 11 or 12, for example, the variety presented in EP 2904982 A1. Corresponding unlocking pins 28, 29 for unlocking the corresponding latch may be provided in the socket inserts 11, 12, and may be accessible from the front.

Fig. 3 separately illustrates the socket insert 12 in a fragmentary perspective view. On its reverse side 31, which is spaced from the front side 30, there is a connection connector 32 for operating equipment, which is designed, for example, in the form of a plug connector suitable for the outlet 23 of the operating equipment. The service connector 32 may have a plurality of electrical contact elements that form an electrical conductor with the service outlet contact elements 23 when the socket insert 12 is fully pushed into the receiving pocket 21 and locked there. The electrical contact elements can be connected to the contact elements in the plug sockets 17, 18, 19 and/or to the pins 20. For the transmission of other operating media, such as, for example, fluid and/or light and/or vacuum, the socket insert on its reverse side 31 and on its front side 35 has corresponding connectors.

Fig. 5 illustrates the reverse side 31 of the socket insert 12 and the service connection connector 32 with its contact elements K in a top view. As shown, the service connection connector 32 is spatially and functionally related to the service outlet 23. On the contrary, the surface 33 opposite the data connector 24, which is surrounded by dotted lines in FIG. 5 for illustration, is free.

During operation, the socket insert 12 provides in the plug sockets 17, 18, 19, and also, if necessary, on the pins 20, the operating currents and/or signal currents necessary for connecting the tool. However, the socket insert 12 covers the data connector 24 so that it remains inaccessible to the user of the device 10 and the user of the tool. Thus, the instrument 10 does not allow an unauthorized and unauthorized operator any opportunity to intentionally or unintentionally access the data connector 24 and thus the internal adjustment resources of the instrument 10.

For the maintenance technician, the service insert 34 is available as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6. It has an outer contour that is related to the inner contour of the receiving pocket 21 or is at least designed in such a way that it is possible to insert a service insert 34 into the receiving pocket 21. In this case, the service insert 34 can have such a length that it closes its front plate 35 flush with the front side 13 of the device 10. However, alternatively, the service insert 34 can also be made longer so that that after its insertion into the receiving pocket 12 it protrudes from it. The service insert 34 may, if necessary, be provided with locking means for locking it in the receiving pocket 21. Alternatively, such locking means may also be absent.

The service insert 34 has on its reverse side 36 facing away from the front plate 35 a data transmission plug connector 37 (or another device that can be connected to the data interface of the device 10), the shape and position of which corresponds to the data transmission plug connector 24 of the receiving pocket 21. Plug connector The data transmission 37 can be configured as a multi-pole electrical plug connector which has a plurality of contact elements that come into contact with the contact elements of the data transmission plug connector 24 when the service insert 34 is inserted into the receiving pocket 21. In this case, located opposite the operating means outlet 23 part 38 of the reverse side 36 is shown in Fig. 6 surrounded by a dotted line. This surface, that is, this part 38 of the reverse side 36, is free, that is, there are no elements placed there that can come into electrical contact with the contact elements of the outlet 23 of the operating means.

In the simplest case, the service insert 24 can be designed as a passive element in that its front plate 35 is provided with a plug socket 39 for connecting an electrical data processing device. Contact elements of the plug socket 39 can be connected to corresponding contact elements of the data transmission plug connector 37 . The plug socket 39 may be an arbitrary plug socket, such as a USB socket, a network socket, or the like.

The use and maintenance of the device 10 occurs as described below.

During normal operation, the socket insert 12 is provided for attachment of a tool and is ready for use. If the instrument 10 is intended to operate other tools, this makes it possible for the maintenance technician to replace the socket insert 12 by replacing the socket insert 12 with another suitable socket insert.

If, on the other hand, the maintenance technician needs to update the software of the device 10, change to different settings of the device 10, read operating data or measured values from the device 10, or read or enter other data, he needs access to the service interface of the device 10. This interface is formed by means of a data connector 24. For this purpose, the maintenance technician first removes the socket insert 12 from the device and thereby gains access to the data connector 24. If this connector (other than the one shown in FIG. 2) is in the form of a network socket or a USB socket, the technician has the ability to connect his laptop, notebook or other data processing device directly to this socket. However, the device 10 is preferably provided with a data plug connector 24 that does not conform to the network socket or USB socket standards and thus makes it even more difficult for unauthorized access to the device software. However, the service technician has at his disposal a service insert 34, which he can now insert into the receiving pocket 12. After performing this action, the technician has the option of attaching a cable to the front plate 35 or to the plug socket 39 to establish a connection between his data processing device (portable computer, laptop, etc.) and the control device 40 of the device 10 (see Fig. 7).

Once the maintenance is completed, the maintenance technician removes the service insert 34 from the receiving pocket 21 and inserts the socket insert 12 (or if replacement is required, another socket insert) into the receiving pocket 21.

While FIG. 7 schematically illustrates an apparatus 10 with an electrical power section 41 that supplies an operating means output 23 with, for example, high frequency alternating voltage, which is suitable for coagulation, ablation, or cutting biological tissue, FIG. 8 shows an apparatus 10, a control device 40 of which additionally controls for this purpose a flow channel 42. This channel passes from a gas source 43, which can be configured as an external gas source, or also, as shown, within the device 10, through at least one valve 44, to the operating outlet 23 funds. The operating means output 23 in this case includes a plug connector for fluids, as well as plug connectors for electrical voltage or current from the power section 41.

Such a configuration may serve to power the socket insert 11, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Again, the socket insert 11 can be removed and, for maintenance purposes, replaced with a service insert 34, which in this case allows the maintenance technician access to the control device 40.

Instead of a socket insert 11 that transmits both fluids and current, a socket insert 11 can also be provided that allows the transmission of only fluids and/or other energy- or information-carrying media, such as, for example, light. The flow channel 42 can also be configured as a suction channel.

In all the embodiments described above, instead of a passive service insert 34 as shown in FIG. 4, a service insert can be provided which itself contains a storage medium and/or at least one information processing element, such as for example a microcontroller. Such a service insert 34 can be configured, for example, to enter data or programs into the control device 40 after inserting the service insert 34 into the receiving pocket 21. In this case, the front plate 35 can be configured, for example, without connectivity and connectivity to another computer . Additionally or alternatively, such a service insert 34 may also be configured to read data from the control device 40 and store it therein.

Such service insert 34 may also be provided with the plug socket illustrated in FIG. 4 for connecting an external device, such as a laptop computer or the like, to control, initiate or otherwise influence the transfer of data from service insert 34 to control device 40 or from the control device 40 to the service insert 34.

The service insert 34 can also contain a radio module, for example a Bluetooth module or a WLAN module, for establishing a connection with an external data processing device, such as a mobile phone, tablet, laptop or laptop computer, thus making communication between the control device 40 possible. and the corresponding mobile terminal. In this case, the service insert 34, in addition to the radio module, may contain storage means and/or data processing means.

The device 10 according to the invention has a socket insert 11, which is located in the receiving pocket 21 of the device 10. In this case, the socket insert 11 is connected to the interface 34 of the operating means of the device. Additionally, the receiving pocket 21 houses a data transmission interface 24, which is covered by the socket insert 11 and is thus inaccessible from the outside.

To gain access to the device software and/or device data, the socket insert 11 can be removed and replaced with a service insert 34, which, on the one hand, covers the outlet 23 of the operating equipment, but is also in contact with the data transfer plug connector 24. In this state, the service insert 34 has the ability to directly or through an external device (laptop, laptop, tablet, etc.) communicate with the service insert 34 with the control device 40 of the device for entering or reading data and/or programs, as well as for updating programs and changing data to change device parameters or the like. The service interface system, closed by the socket insert 11, 12, provides an effective means of controlling access to the service interface. Due to this, unauthorized access to the interface and damage to people and materials, which otherwise could arise due to insufficient breakdown strength of the voltage isolation between the service interface and, above all, the power part of the control device of the device, are difficult or prevented.

List of reference designations:

10 device

11 socket insert

12 slot insert

13 front side

14 plug socket for fluid or for bipolar coaxial plug connector depending on the embodiment

15-19 plug sockets for electric current

20 pins

21 storage pockets

22 reverse side

23 operating equipment output

24 pin data connector

and deletion

25, 26 guides

27 locking protrusion - locking device 27a

28, 29 unlocking pins

30 front side

31 reverse sides

32 operating equipment connector

k contact elements

33 free surface

34 service insert

35 front plate

36 reverse side

37 pin data connector

38 area/surface

39 plug socket

40 control device

41 power units

42 flow channel

43 gas source

44 valve

Claims (22)

1. A device (10) for supplying medical instruments with operational means, namely one or more fluids and/or electric current, having: - a housing in which an electrical circuit (40) is located, which has at least one output (23) of operating means or is controllably connected to it and which has at least one plug connector (24) for data transmission, - a receiving pocket (21), in which the output (23) of operating equipment and the plug connector (24) for data transmission are located, - a socket insert (11, 12), which covers the plug connector (24) for data transmission and is located in the receiving pocket (21) and which, on the device side, has a connecting connector (32) for operating means, which is detachably connected to the output (23) for operating means means, and also has an externally accessible tool connection (14-19), which is connected to the connecting connector (32) of the operating means, and the socket insert (11, 12) is not connected to the data transmission plug connector (24) and does not have connections connected with plug connector (24) for data transmission. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the socket insert (11, 12) does not have any connections designed to be connected to the plug connector (24) for data transmission. 3. The device according to one of the previous paragraphs, characterized in that the plug connector (24) for data transmission and the output (23) of the operating means are located in the receiving pocket (21) at a distance from each other. 4. A device according to one of the previous paragraphs, characterized in that a fixing device (27a) is associated with the socket insert (11, 12) for fixing the socket insert (11, 12) in the receiving pocket (21). 5. The device according to one of the previous paragraphs, characterized in that the socket insert (11, 12) has a contour associated with the receiving pocket (21). 6. The device according to one of the previous paragraphs with a service insert (34) having a housing that has on the end surface (36) a data transmission plug connector (37), correlated with the data transmission plug connector (24) of the device (10). 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the service insert (34) has a contour associated with the receiving pocket (21). 8. The device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the service insert (34) does not have connecting means for the outlet (23) of operating means. 9. Device according to one of paragraphs. 6-8, characterized in that the service insert (34) has a data carrier (34a), which is connected to a data transmission plug connector (37). 10. Device according to one of paragraphs. 6-9, characterized in that the service insert (34) has an interface (39) for communication with a computer. 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the interface (39) is a USB interface. 12. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the interface (39) is a network interface. 13. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the interface is a wireless connection. 14. Method of maintenance of the device according to one of paragraphs. 6-13, including: - removing the socket insert (11, 12), which is not in contact with the data transmission plug connector (24), from the receiving pocket (21), - inserting the service insert (34), which is in contact with the data connector (24), into the receiving pocket (21), - activation of the service insert (34), - removing the service insert (34), which is in contact with the data transmission plug connector (24), from the receiving pocket (21), - inserting the socket insert (11, 12), which is not in contact with the data transmission plug connector (24), into the receiving pocket (21).

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