Care or cleaning device for medical instruments and methods
First Claim
1. A process for determining whether a coupling device of a care or cleaning device for medical instruments is occupied by an instrument and/or by which type of instrument it is occupied, the process comprising:
- conveying compressed air through a coupling device via a compressed air line allocated to the coupling device;
providing a sensor element activated by air pressure applied in the compressed air line, wherein in response to sensing air pressure, the sensor element sends an input signal to a control device of the care or cleaning device; and
detecting the occupancy of the coupling device and/or the type of instrument connected to the coupling device with the control device by analyzing the received input signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A care or cleaning device for a medical instrument and a process for determining whether an instrument is connected to one or more coupling devices of the care or cleaning device. Compressed air supplied to each coupling device through a compressed air line causes a backpressure and an increase in the air pressure applied in the compressed air line. If no instrument is connected to a coupling device, then the compressed air can escape through the comparatively large opening in the coupling device and without any great resistance, so there is no increase in the air pressure in the compressed air line. When an instrument is connected, a sensor element senses the air pressure applied in the compressed air line and sends an input signal to a control device. By analyzing the received input signal, the control device detects whether or not the coupling device is occupied by an instrument. In the same way, this process can also be used to differentiate different types of instruments.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A process for determining whether a coupling device of a care or cleaning device for medical instruments is occupied by an instrument and/or by which type of instrument it is occupied, the process comprising:
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conveying compressed air through a coupling device via a compressed air line allocated to the coupling device;
providing a sensor element activated by air pressure applied in the compressed air line, wherein in response to sensing air pressure, the sensor element sends an input signal to a control device of the care or cleaning device; and
detecting the occupancy of the coupling device and/or the type of instrument connected to the coupling device with the control device by analyzing the received input signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A care or cleaning device for medical instruments comprising:
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one or more coupling devices for connecting one or more instruments, connections to a compressed air source, a care or cleaning agent unit and a control device, whereby each coupling device is assigned a compressed air line connecting the coupling device to the compressed air source and a sensor element, whereby each sensor element is connected to the control device, and delivers an input signal to the control device when activated, so that by analyzing the input signal, the control device detects the occupancy of at least one coupling device and/or the type of instrument connected to the at least one coupling device, wherein the sensor element is activated by the air pressure applied in the compressed air line. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification