# US 9,433,424 B2 · Membrane switch assembly for a handpiece for carrying out medical interventions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,424 B2 - Document ID: US9433424B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/553,467 - Filed: 2014-11-25 - Published: 2015-06-04 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-27 - Assignees: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Raphael Spycher; Markus Simmen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433424B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/1622: {Drill handpieces (A61B17/1626, A61B17/1628 take precedence)} - A61B 17/32002: {with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments} - G05G 25/04: Sealing against entry of dust, weather or the like {(in selector apparatus for gearings, F16H59/0213)} - H01H 13/06: Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof casings - H01H 13/704: characterised by the layers, e.g. by their material or structure (H01H13/703 takes precedence) - H01H 13/7065: characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards - H01H 13/86: characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size - A61B 17/1617: {with mobile or detachable parts} - A61B 2017/00367: {Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like} - A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable} - A61B 2017/00473: {Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/1602: {Mills} - H01H 9/04: Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings - H01H 2009/066: {having switches mounted on a control handle, e.g. gear shift lever} - H01H 2215/034: Separate snap action - H01H 2221/002: integral with membrane - H01H 2223/002: sealed - H01H 2227/026: Separate dome contact - H01H 2300/014: Application surgical instrument - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract A membrane switch assembly for a handpiece for carrying out medical interventions includes a ring-like support surrounding a support interior, and a keypad element arranged on the support and intended to be actuated in order to carry out switching procedures. The keypad element is secured on the support so as to close the support interior in a fluid-tight manner. On an outer circumferential side of the ring-like support, a sealing arrangement surrounds the ring-like support. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A membrane switch assembly for a handpiece for carrying out medical interventions, comprising: a ring-like support surrounding a support interior, a keypad element arranged on the support and intended to be actuated in order to carry out switching procedures, wherein the keypad element is secured on the support so as to close the support interior in a fluid-tight manner, and, on an outer circumferential side of the ring-like support, a sealing arrangement surrounding the ring-like support. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The membrane switch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keypad element has a substantially plate-like shape and, to permit the fluid-tight securing on the support, has a securing flange engaging at least partially over a front face of the support and/or has a securing wall engaging in the support interior and bearing on an inner circumferential side of the support. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The membrane switch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keypad element is secured on the support by material bonding. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The membrane switch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing arrangement on the outer circumferential side of the support comprises, in at least one sealing element receiving groove, at least one O-ring sealing element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The membrane switch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support has a substantially round outer circumferential contour. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The membrane switch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a switch arrangement, with at least one switch element that can be acted on by the keypad element, is provided. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The membrane switch assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the switch arrangement comprises a switch plate arranged substantially in the support interior and carrying at least one switch element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The membrane switch assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein a positioning formation is provided on the keypad element and/or on the support, and, on the switch plate, a counter-positioning formation is provided that interacts with the positioning formation to predefine a predetermined positioning for the switch plate in the support interior. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The membrane switch assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein one formation of positioning formation and counter-positioning formation comprises at least one positioning projection, and the other formation of positioning formation and counter-positioning formation comprises at least one positioning recess receiving at least one positioning projection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The membrane switch assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the keypad element has an actuation region assigned to at least one switch element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The membrane switch assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one actuation region comprises a first actuation formation provided on an outer face of the keypad element oriented away from the support interior, and/or a second actuation formation provided on an inner face of the keypad element oriented toward the support interior. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The membrane switch assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein an actuation resistance element counteracting the actuation of the keypad element is provided and assigned to at least one switch element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The membrane switch assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one actuation resistance element is fixed in relation to the switch arrangement by a fixing layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A handpiece for carrying out medical interventions, comprising at least one membrane switch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a membrane switch seat provided in the handpiece is assigned to and receives the at least one membrane switch assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The handpiece as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sealing arrangement bears in a fluid-tight manner on an inner circumferential surface surrounding the membrane switch seat and/or at least one retaining step for the membrane switch assembly is provided on the membrane switch seat. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The membrane switch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keypad element has a substantially plate-like shape and, to permit the fluid-tight securing on the support, has a securing flange engaging at least partially over a front face of the support and has a securing wall engaging in the support interior and bearing on an inner circumferential side of the support. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The membrane switch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing arrangement is adapted to be secured to housing of the medical device in a fluid-tight manner when the assembly is inserted into the housing.