U.S. patent application number 11/481665 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-11 for device for protecting a display facility.
This patent application is currently assigned to Siemens Aktiengesellschaft. Invention is credited to Martin Hoheisel.
Application Number | 20070009698 11/481665 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37563389 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070009698 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hoheisel; Martin |
January 11, 2007 |
Device for protecting a display facility
Abstract
The invention relates to a device for protecting a display
facility, comprising a protective element for covering an image
surface of the display facility. As the protective element is
designed to be transparent and the retaining means are provided for
the exchangeable arrangement of the protective element in front of
the image surface, a protective device is provided, which allows
the image surface to be examined and is easy to operate.
Inventors: |
Hoheisel; Martin; (Erlangen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SIEMENS CORPORATION;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
170 WOOD AVENUE SOUTH
ISELIN
NJ
08830
US
|
Assignee: |
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
|
Family ID: |
37563389 |
Appl. No.: |
11/481665 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/40.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 428/14 20150115;
A61B 90/40 20160201; B29C 63/0056 20130101; A61B 46/10
20160201 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/040.1 |
International
Class: |
B32B 33/00 20060101
B32B033/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 8, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 032 028.7 |
Claims
1-12. (canceled)
13. A device for protecting a display facility used in a medical
procedure, comprising: an image surface of the display facility; a
transparent protective element for covering the image surface; and
a retaining device for removably exchanging the protective element
with a further protective element, the retaining device arranged in
front of the image surface.
14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the protective
element is a film.
15. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein an anti-reflection
coating is applied to the film to prevent a disturbing reflection
of a light source on the protective element.
16. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the protective
element is sterilized.
17. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the protective
element comprises a self-cleaning surface.
18. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein an anti-adhesive
coating is applied on a side of the protective element facing away
from the image surface for providing the self-cleaning surface.
19. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the protective
element comprises a development-inhibiting effect for a germ.
20. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein an optical
characteristic of the protective element is conditioned.
21. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the retaining device
comprises a dispenser.
22. The device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the dispenser is a
roller which rolls a film reel with the film used as the protective
element.
23. The device as claimed in claim 22, wherein a fixing device
cooperatively operating with the dispenser to stretch the
protective element is provided.
24. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein a device for
separating a used protective element is provided.
25. The device as claimed in claim 24, wherein a roll-up facility
for collecting the used protective element is provided.
26. The device as claimed in claim 25, wherein a facility for
cleaning the used protective element is provided.
27. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the retaining device
is an adhesive layer which is removable from the image surface.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of German application No.
10 2005 032 028.7 filed Jul. 8, 2005, which is incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a device for protecting a display
facility, comprising a protective element for covering an image
surface of the display facility.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In operating theatres, electronic display facilities are
frequently available in the form of individual monitors or monitor
lights, in order to obtain information about status changes in
patients during a medical intervention. In this process, the screen
surface of the display facility can be contaminated by an
intervention carried out in the medical working environment, in
which bodily fluids, such as blood or infusion solutions, can spray
for instance. Attention must be paid to ensure a sterile
environment particularly with medical interventions, in other
words, a regular cleaning of the screen surface using disinfectants
is essential. Nowadays it is known for this cleaning to be provided
by manually disinfecting the display facility, in which liquid
disinfectant is sprayed on and the image surface is wiped clean.
Such a cleaning step is critical, particularly with flat screens,
which are used increasingly nowadays. The direct contact involved
with wiping the screen surface with the known cleaning agent can
easily lead to the sensitive screen surface becoming damaged. This
results in a deterioration in the image quality and thus a
reduction in the quality of the status information about the
patient. A gentle screen surface removal of screen contaminations
is also of interest for artistic, technical and other activities
subjected to contamination in conjunction with display
facilities.
[0004] The utility model DE 299 04 738 U1 discloses a device for
covering an object comprising a cover element completely covering
the object. The cover element is arranged on a mounting frame in a
moveable manner, such that this can be brought into a position
covering or releasing the object. The aim of this device is to
conceal and essentially improve in the simplest possible manner the
optical appearance image of an object, which is neither seen nor
used.
[0005] The known covering is unsuitable particularly for
applications in medical engineering, in monitor lights in operating
theatres for instance. The image surface cannot be read when the
cover element is in a covering position. Conversely, the image
surface is not protected when the cover element is in the position
releasing the display facility.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The object underlying the invention is thus to provide a
protective device of the type mentioned at the start, which allows
the image surface to be observed and is easy to operate.
[0007] This object is achieved with the protective device of the
type mentioned at the start, in that the protective element is
designed to be transparent, and that the retaining means are
provided in front of the image surface for the exchangeable
arrangement of the protective element. The transparent protective
element ensures the usability of an image surface covered
therewith. An exchangeable arrangement of the protective element in
front of the image surface protects this against direct
contamination. If the contamination of the protective element
results in the legibility of the image information being impaired,
the protective element can be renewed by means of exchange, since
it is fixed in an exchangeable manner. The protective element can
touch the surface, or can assume a fixable distance in front of it.
The protective element is advantageously designed to be
two-dimensional, approximately to the size of the image surface,
and can be designed for instance as a plastic or glass plate.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective
element is designed as a film. A film exhibits the characteristic
here in that the spatial expansion in one direction of the room
dimensions is considerably smaller than the spatial expansion in
the other two directions. A film is thus thin, can be rolled,
folded, placed, drawn, stretched and such like and thus represents
a simple and favorable realization of the protective element.
[0009] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the
protective element is designed to be sterilizable. The material of
the protective element, for instance a plastic film, is thus able
to endure a sterilization process, in other words for instance
temperature budget operating in a sterilizing fashion or a chemical
clean. The protective element can be provided here germ-free and
can be used in particular for medical purposes, in operating
theatres for instance.
[0010] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the
protective element comprises a self-cleaning surface and/or a
development-inhibiting effect for germs. The condition of the
surface is designed such that a dirt and fluid accumulation is
reduced. This can be achieved for instance by an anti-adhesive
coating on the side of the protective element facing away from the
image surface. The surface itself features a minimal roughness so
as to also hamper the accumulation of germs and their growth in
addition to dirt and fluid. An inhibited germ development can also
be assisted by a suitable coating, an applied germ killing solution
for instance.
[0011] In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one optical
characteristic of the protective element is conditioned. To ensure
good legibility of the image information, the dielectric function
for the provided application can be optimized by selecting the
material and the processing steps of the protective element, in
other words, refraction index and absorption as well as the
associated transmission and reflection of light through the
protective element. The dielectric function can be adjusted
locally. In addition, a coating, for instance an anti-reflection
coating, can be applied to the film, in order to prevent disturbing
reflections of light sources on the protective element, which
impair the legibility of the image information.
[0012] In a further preferred embodiment variant of the invention,
the retaining means comprise a dispenser for the protective
element. An unused, clean protective element can be hereby passed
out of the dispenser in front of the image surface. The unused
protective element is folded, placed or stored in another manner in
the dispenser. This allows the used protective element and/or
protective element segment to be exchanged quickly in the case of
the interfering contamination and thus enables an improved work
flow. In addition, a rapid change in the protective element segment
is also possible during a medical intervention.
[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the
dispenser is designed as a reel, onto which the protective element
designed as a film strip is rolled. The protective element can be
rolled from the reel by means of traction and can be positioned in
front of the image surface. The refill of the dispenser consists
for instance in replacing an empty film strip reel with a film
strip reel equipped with an unused protective element 3. The
protective element segment and the protective element roll can be
changed and exchanged rapidly in each instance, even during a
medical intervention for example.
[0014] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the
retaining means comprise a fixing device for the protective
element, which work together with the dispenser to stretch the
protective element. A fixing device, such as a clamp for a film for
instance, can provide a level and smooth surface by means of
stretching the protective element, which always ensures identically
remaining image characteristics when the monitor is used with the
existing protective element. The fixing device eliminates a change
in the surface angle and thus the reflection characteristics by
preventing the protective element from moving. A fold-free stretch
state of the protective element also assists with an efficient
dripping of fluids.
[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment variant of the
invention, provision is made for a device for separating a used
segment of the protective element designed as a film strip. Such a
device can be designed for instance as a tear-off edge or a guided
separation cutter. The separation device allows the used protective
element to be separated from the unused part of the protective
element band in a rapid and simple manner, thereby rendering a
hygienic and rapid exchange of the protective element segment
possible. The work flow can thus be improved and a good legibility
of the image surface is ensured.
[0016] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the
retaining means comprise a roll-up facility for the used protective
element. This represents a further possibility in addition to a
separation device. The used protective element is collected here on
the roll-up device and can be used again, after removing the
contamination or renewed conditioning, sterilization for instance,
or if necessary completely decontaminated. Since the protective
element is not actually used up, when the protective element is
reused, this is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective
solution.
[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention,
provision is made for a facility for cleaning the used protective
element. The cleaning can be carried out here between the display
facility and the roll-up facility. It is thus possible to provide a
clean and optionally conditioned protective element already at the
time of the roll-up. If there is no longer a protective element in
the dispenser, the rolled-up protective element in the roll-up
facility can once again be fed to the dispenser and reused.
Alternatively, the protective element can be designed as an endless
reel, and the cleaning is carried out between carrying off the
contaminated protective element of the image surface and supplying
the unused protective element on the image surface. The protective
element quantity requirement can be further reduced by an endless
reel.
[0018] In a further preferred embodiment variant of the invention,
the retaining means are designed as an adhesive layer which can be
removed from the image surface. Retaining means are thus not
necessary in terms of the device facility, which reduces the space
required by the protective device. The adhesive layer on the
protective element can be designed as a self-adhesive film, and be
present in a structured form so as to adhere for instance not to
the image surface itself, but instead to the housing of the display
facility. A free definition of adhesive points, adhesive lines and
adhesive surfaces on the protective element is possible by using
glue on a protective element without an adhesive layer which can be
removed from the image surface. With a suitable selection of the
protective element or by a charging facility, the retaining means
can be designed in the form of electrostatic forces. This is
advantageous in that neither the adhesive layer, nor further
mechanical components have to be provided in order to arrange the
protective element in an exchangeable fashion. For an improved
exchangeability of protective elements with an adhesive layer or
electrostatic retaining means, provision can be made for a tab to
withdraw the protective element from the image surface or the frame
of the display facility. The used protective element can thus be
quickly removed and can be replaced by applying a new protective
element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Further advantages of the protective device according to the
invention result from an exemplary embodiment which is described in
more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which;
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a protective
device according to the invention for a display facility of a
medical working environment,
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of extracts of a
section of FIG. 1,
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of an alternative
embodiment of the protective device from FIG. 1 with an adhesive
layer covering the whole area,
[0023] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a variant of the
exemplary embodiment from FIG. 3 with a structured adhesive
layer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a protective device according to the invention
for a display device 1, such as monitors for displaying heart
rates, blood pressure, ECG, EEC or visual body part displays, at a
medical working environment. The display facility 1 features one or
a number of screens, which are delimited by an image surface 2 of
the working environment. To protect the image surface 2, a
protective element 3 is available, which is arranged in the
exemplary embodiment at a minimal distance in front of the image
surface 2. The protective element 3 is designed as a transparent
film and is prepared for use in a medical working environment by
means of sterilization. As a result of the vicinity of the image
surface 2 to an operating table 11, contamination of the image
surface 2 by bodily fluids or secretions cannot be ruled out. The
protective element 3 thus also comprises a fluid-rejecting surface,
so as to reduce the ultimately remaining contamination on the
protective element 3 by draining the fluid, in the case of fluid
squirting onto the protective element surface. In addition, an
anti-reflecting layer is applied to the side of the protective
element 3 facing away from the image surface 2, so as to reduce
disturbing reflections of the operating theatre lighting (not
shown) in the region of the image surface 2 of the display facility
1. The protective element 3 is mounted in a dispenser 4 as a film
reel roll. The dispenser 4 can be fixed here to the display
facility 1, on a suitable frame 12 or another suitable fixing
option such as a wall. By means of traction, the protective element
3 can be passed out of the dispenser 4 in front of the image
surface 2. This can be carried out manually or with the aid of an
electrical drive for instance. A fixing facility 5 for the
protective element 3 can be positioned for instance on the side of
the display facility 1 facing the dispensing facility 4. The
options mentioned for the dispenser 4 can be transferred for
securing the fixing facility 5. The protective element 3 is
stretched in front of the image surface 2 by means of the fixing
facility 5, in order to ensure constant examination conditions for
the used protective element segment. If the contamination on the
protective element 3 results in the legibility of the screen
content being impaired, the contaminated protective element 3 can
be removed by means of traction. The used protective element 3 is
removed by means of traction and the unused protective element 3 is
fed out of the dispenser 4 at the same time. The used protective
element 3 can be removed from the unused protective element 3 by
means of a separation device 6, for instance, in which the used
protective element 3 is passed over a tear-off edge or a cutting
facility. If the used protective element 3 is mechanically
undamaged, this must not necessarily be removed by a separation
device 6. Instead it can by gathered by a roll-up facility 7, so as
to reuse it subsequently after removing the contamination and
renewing the conditioning. The roll-up facility 7 for the used
protective element 3 can also function here as a fixing device 5.
In the presence of a roll-up facility 7, the use of a cleaning
facility 8 advantageously proves itself, which can be arranged for
instance between fixing device 5 and roll-up facility 7. The
cleaning facility 8 enables a cleaned and optionally conditioned
protective element 3 to be rolled up in the roll-up facility 7. The
protective element 3 wound up in the roll-up facility 7 can be
directly fed to the dispenser 4 if necessary.
[0025] In FIG. 2, the arrangement of the display facility 1, frame
12, fixing device 5, separation device 6, cleaning facility 8 and
roll-up facility 7 is shown as an enlarged cross-section. The said
means as well as the dispenser 4 can be fixed to the frame 12. The
use of a roll-up facility 7 allows the fixing device 5 and the
separation device 6 to be removed for instance, since the roll-up
facility 7 can assume the function of the fixing device 5, and a
separation of the protective element is only necessary in
exceptional cases, namely when the protective element 3 is
mechanically damaged. For this purpose, a separation device 6 can
be an integral part of the roll-up facility 7.
[0026] Possible variants of the protective device with a minimal
space requirement are shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The image surface
2 of the display facility 1 is protected by a protective element 3
which comprises an adhesive layer 9 which can be removed from the
image surface 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the protective
element 3 can be designed as a film. The adhesive layer 9 can be
present on the protective element 3 over the whole surface or also
in a structured fashion.
[0027] In FIG. 3, the size of the protective element 3 is adjusted
to the size of the image surface 2 and can be directly applied to
the image surface 2. The adhesive layer 9 adheres the protective
element 3 to the image surface 2 and protects this against
contamination. If the contamination of the protective element 3
results in a reduction in the legibility of the image contents, the
protective element 3 can be easily detached from the image surface
with the aid of a tab 10 and can be replaced by a new protective
element 3.
[0028] Alternatively, in FIG. 4 the protective element 3 is
dimensioned larger than the image surface 2, approximately to the
size of the frame of the display facility 1, and is structured with
an adhesive layer 9, and in fact such that the adhesive points of
the protective element 3 correspond to the screen frame dimensions
of the display facility 1. The protective element 3 is accommodated
in front of the image surface 2 and thus fixed so that it
completely adheres to the screen frame for instance. The protective
element 3 can only cover a partial front of the display facility 1
or the entire front of the display facility 1. If an interfering
contamination of the protective element 3 occurs by blood spraying
for instance, the protective element 3 can be removed from screen
frames of the display facility 1 with the aid of a tab 10, and can
be replaced by a new protective element 3.
* * * * *