Preparing and/or caring for a medical or dental instrument
AssigneeW&H Dentalwerk Bürmoos GmbH
InventorsFlorian Galluseder, Michael Reiter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for preparing and/or caring for a medical or dental instrument is defined in that the instrument jointly with a connection adapter is first connected to a first preparation and/or care device and subsequently to a second preparation and/or care device. Furthermore, a coupling device is described which is configured to connect a preparation and/or care device for a medical or dental instrument to a connection adapter. A plug-in coupling arrangement and a system are also disclosed.
Claims18
A method for preparing and/or caring for a medical or dental instrument, comprising:
- a) providing a connection adapter which is releasably connectable to a coupling end of the medical or dental instrument;
- b) connecting the medical or dental instrument via the connection adapter to a first preparation and/or care device for a medical or dental instrument;
- c) preparing and/or caring for the medical or dental instrument by the first preparation and/or care device;
- d) separating the connection adapter, jointly with the medical or dental instrument attached thereto, from the first preparation and/or care device;
- e) connecting the connection adapter, jointly with the medical or dental instrument attached thereto, to a second preparation and/or care device for a medical or dental instrument;
- f) preparing and/or caring for the medical or dental instrument by the second preparation and/or care device.
A connection adapter, comprising:
- a first end releasably connectable to a coupling end of a medical or dental instrument and a second end selectively connectable to at least a first preparation and/or care device for a medical or dental instrument and a second preparation and/or care device for a medical or dental instrument.
A plug-in coupling arrangement for connecting in a fluid transferring manner a preparation and/or care device for preparing and/or caring for a medical or dental instrument and a connection adapter connectible to the medical or dental instrument, the plug-in coupling arrangement comprising:
- a coupling extension, and a coupling receptacle for plug-in reception of the coupling extension, wherein the coupling receptacle comprises:
- a body, in which a coupling cavity is formed,
- at least one media line for conducting a preparation and/or care medium through the body, the media line terminating in an opening on a surface of the coupling cavity,
- a locking plate movably arranged on the body, which is selectively movable into a locking position and an unlocked position,
- a through-opening being arranged in the locking plate, the through-opening being fluidically connected to the opening of the media line for the passage of the preparation and/or care medium,
- a first pretensioning element for pretensioning the locking plate,
- a locking pin which is slidably received in a bore of the body, the locking pin extending through a locking opening in the locking plate and comprising a locking piece and an unlocking piece,
- the locking opening having a locking portion and an unlocking portion, and
- a second pretensioning element for pretensioning the locking pin such that a contact end of the locking pin projects beyond the locking plate, wherein
- the locking plate and the locking pin are configured to interact in such a way that, as a result of a force acting on the contact end of the locking pin, the contact end can be moved in a direction of the bore of the body counter to the pretensioning of the second pretensioning element, until the locking piece of the locking pin is received in the locking portion of the locking opening, so that the locking plate is movable into the locking position due to the pretensioning force of the first pretensioning element, and wherein
- the locking plate and the locking pin are configured to interact in such a way that the locking plate is moved into the unlocked position by a force acting on the locking plate against the pretensioning force of the first pretensioning element, so that, due to the pretensioning force of the second pretensioning element, the contact end of the locking pin can be moved away from the bore of the body, so that the unlocking piece of the locking pin is received in the unlocking section of the locking opening and the locking plate is fixed in the unlocked position.
A system for preparing and/or caring for a medical or dental instrument, comprising:
- at least one preparation and/or care device for a medical or dental instrument,
- a connection adapter which is releasably coupable to the at least one preparation and/or care device and to a medical or dental instrument to be prepared and/or cared for by the at least one preparation and/or care device to couple the at least one preparation and/or care device and the medical or dental instrument in a fluid-transferring manner,
- a coupling device configured as a plug-in connector and having a coupling piece provided on the preparation and/or care device and a coupling element provided on the connection adapter to releasably couple the preparation and/or care device and the connection adapter to each other, wherein one of the coupling piece and the coupling element comprises a coupling receptacle and wherein the coupling receptacle comprises:
- a body, in which a coupling cavity is formed,
- at least one media line for conducting a preparation and/or care medium through the body, the media line terminating in an opening on a surface of the coupling cavity,
- a locking plate movably arranged on the body, which is selectively movable into a locking position and an unlocked position,
- a through-opening being arranged in the locking plate, the through-opening being fluidically connected to the opening of the media line for the passage of the preparation and/or care medium,
- a first pretensioning element for pretensioning the locking plate,
- a locking pin which is slidably received in a bore of the body, the locking pin extending through a locking opening in the locking plate and comprising a locking piece and an unlocking piece,
- the locking opening having a locking portion and an unlocking portion, and
- a second pretensioning element for pretensioning the locking pin such that a contact end of the locking pin projects beyond the locking plate, wherein
- the locking plate and the locking pin are configured to interact in such a way that, as a result of a force acting on the contact end of the locking pin, the contact end can be moved in a direction of the bore of the body counter to the pretensioning of the second pretensioning element, until the locking piece of the locking pin is received in the locking portion of the locking opening, so that the locking plate is movable into the locking position due to the pretensioning force of the first pretensioning element, and wherein
- the locking plate and the locking pin are configured to interact in such a way that the locking plate is moved into the unlocked position by a force acting on the locking plate against the pretensioning force of the first pretensioning element, so that, due to the pretensioning force of the second pretensioning element, the contact end of the locking pin can be moved away from the bore of the body, so that the unlocking piece of the locking pin is received in the unlocking section of the locking opening and the locking plate is fixed in the unlocked position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.