EP0402412A1

EP0402412A1 - Handle for surgery lamp

Info

Publication number: EP0402412A1
Application number: EP89903920A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Charles Spina
Original assignee: MDT Corp
Current assignee: MDT Corp
Priority date: 1988-03-04
Filing date: 1989-03-02
Publication date: 1990-12-19
Also published as: AU624378B2; EP0402412A4; JPH03503132A; AU3440089A; WO1989007900A1; NZ228195A

Abstract

Une poignée (10) de manipulation d'une lampe au dessus d'une table d'opération comprend une partie de saisie (11), une partie de connexion (15) au dessus de la partie de saisie. La poignée comprend également des moyens de support faisant saillie radialement vers l'extérieur (14) entre la partie de saisie et la partie de connexion, et un disque protecteur montable et démontable (17) adapté sur la partie de connexion et supporté par les moyens de support. Un ensemble de deux de ces poignées reposant côte à côte, avec un disque placé en dessous et un disque placé au dessus de la paire de poignées est fixée.A handle (10) for handling a lamp above an operating table includes a gripping portion (11), a connecting portion (15) above the gripping portion. The handle also comprises support means projecting radially outward (14) between the gripping part and the connection part, and a mountable and dismountable protective disc (17) adapted on the connection part and supported by the means of support. A set of two of these handles resting side by side, with a disc placed below and a disc placed above the pair of handles is attached.

Description

HANDLE FOR SURGERY LAMP

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field; This invention relates to a novel form of handle or grip for use in manipulating the overhead lamp in an operating room.

State of the Art: 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 and 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 precaution the handle is formed with a disc just beneath the threaded upper end which serves as a guard to prevent the gloved hand of the person manipulating the lamp from coming into contact with non-sterile parts of the lamp structure. The handle per se extends downward from the disc.

This structure is more advantageous than a metal re-usable handle because it can be packaged in sterile condition, removed from the sterile package at the time of use and then discarded. Nevertheless this form of detachable/attachable handle has the disadvantage that it is bulky and inconvenient to package, to ship and to store.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an attachable, detachable handle for manipulating overhead lamps used in surgery which obviates the disadvantages of handles as described above.

The above and other objects will be apparent from the ensuing description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the handle element of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view as seen along the line 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a detachable, attachable disc for use with the handle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view of the disc as seen along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a view in elevation of the complete handle including the handle portion of FIG. 1 and the disc of FIG. 3 shown mounted on the handle portion;

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

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, the handle (without the protective disc) 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 interior 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 FIGS. 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 of 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 of the disc.

Referring now to FIG. 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 from the position shown in FIG. 5. Referring now to FIGS. 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 16 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 FIG. 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:

Handle 10

Height from base 13 to lip 14 - 3.9" (9.9 cm) Overall height - 4.9" (12.44 cm) Diameter of body 11 - 1.25" (3.17 cm) Diameter (between opposite sides) of base

13 and lip 14 - 1.6" (4.06 cm)

Disc 17

Diameter - 4.5" (11.43 cm)

Thickness - 0.08" (0.20 cm)

It will therefore be appreciated that a novel and useful device has been provided which minimizes packaging problems and serves the intended purpose.

Claims

Claims I CLAIM:

1. A handle construction suitable for use in manipulating a lamp above an operating table, said handle construction comprising: an elongated handle having an upper end and a lower end, said handle having a length and diameter suitable to be manually grasped and moved; attachment means mounted at said upper end of said handle for attaching said handle to an overhead lamp overlying an operating table; an outwardly projecting support member mounted on said handle below said attachment means; and a disc detachably mounted on said handle, said disc having a center opening fitted over and encircling said upper end of said handle, said disc being supported by said support member, a diameter of said disc being dimensioned to prevent inadvertent movement of the hand of a user from contacting non-sterile equipment positioned above said disc, said disc being readily separable from said handle.

2. The handle construction of Claim 1 wherein said support member is configured in the form of a polygonal lip surrounding said handle.

3. The handle construction of Claim 1 wherein said handle is formed, below said disc, with one or more inwardly extending recesses capable of receiving and retaining a tie member.

4. A package comprising: a pair of handles, each said handle comprising: an elongated handle"having an upper end and a lower end, said handle having a length and diameter suitable to be manually grasped and moved; attachment means mounted at said upper end of said handle for attaching said handle to an overhead lamp overlying an operating table; an outwardly projecting support member mounted on said handle below said attachment means; and a pair of discs, each said disc comprising: a disc detachably mounted on said handle, said disc having a center opening fitted over and encircling said upper end of said handle, said disc being supported by said support member, a diameter of said disc being dimensioned to prevent inadvertent movement of the hand of a user from contacting non-sterile equipment positioned above said disc, said disc being readily separable from said handle; and tie means for holding said handles and said discs together; wherein said handles are arranged parallel and adjacent to one another, and said discs are positioned contiguous said handles.

5. The package of Claim 4 wherein said discs are arranged in overlying relation to said handles.

6. The package of Claim 4 wherein said discs are arranged in underlying relation to said handles.

7. The package of Claim 5 wherein said handles are formed with recesses between said lower ends, and said attachment member, and said tie means surrounds said handles, being held in place by said recesses; said discs being formed with recesses on opposite sides, one disc being positioned on one face of a pair of said handles and another disc being positioned on an opposite face; and said tie means further surrounding said discs, being held in place by said recesses of said discs.

8. The package of Claim 6 wherein said handles are formed with recesses between said lower ends, and said attachment member, and said tie means surrounds said handles, being held in place by said recesses; said discs being formed with recesses on opposite sides, one disc being positioned on one face of a pair of said handles and another disc being positioned on an opposite face; and said tie means further surrounding said discs, being held in place by said recesses of said discs.