WO2017080952A1

WO2017080952A1 - Handpiece for ipl device comprising a slotted electrical connector

Info

Publication number: WO2017080952A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/076832
Authority: WO
Inventors: Georges Safraoui
Original assignee: Eurofeedback
Priority date: 2015-11-13
Filing date: 2016-11-07
Publication date: 2017-05-18
Also published as: FR3043541A1; FR3043541B1

Abstract

A handpiece (1) comprises a base (2) provided with a slotted electrical connector (30) that cooperates with a corresponding flat connector (150) on a flash lamp cartridge.

Description

HANDPIECE FOR IPL DEVICE HAVING A CONNECTOR

ELECTRIC SLOT

The present invention relates to processing apparatus by emission of light flashes.

Such devices are also called IPL (intense pulsed light) treatment devices and typically include a handpiece that manipulates the operator during treatment, connected by a cord to a base station. The handpiece houses a cartridge containing a flash lamp which is cooled by a flow of fluid, in this case usually water. The base station comprises an electric generator and an electronic control circuit.

The existing cartridges comprise a fluid connector with quick connectors, having end pieces which are inserted in corresponding housings in a sliding movement during the introduction of the cartridge into the base. The effort to be exerted can be relatively important, and the operation difficult to carry out for a person not having the necessary force. In addition, these tips have O-rings that are introduced deep into the housing of the base. With heat, these joints can remain stuck in the housing and come off the end caps, creating difficulties then when setting up a new cartridge.

Cartridge handpieces are thus relatively bulky and there is a need to further improve the ergonomics of the cartridge change and the reliability of the fluidic connection vis-à-vis the problem of bonding the joints with temperature.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the cartridge change can be done easily, while ensuring the proper establishment of the electrical and fluidic connection, and the safety of the operator.

Indeed, the medical safety standards (IEC 60601-1) impose a sufficient safety distance from any potentially dangerous driver. This even in case of first defect, as stipulated in paragraph 8.1.b of the standard. This paragraph in fact prohibits the piston type connections whose terminals remain accessible after disassembly of the cartridge, because the protection opening the security chain may not work and in this case the operator who makes the change may be in danger, even if the mains cable is disconnected, because of the stored electric energy. An artificial finger test must be done to ensure compliance with EN60601-1.

Another problem with existing equipment is the de-watering of water. The cooling water dehumidifying cartridges are usually installed in the base station, and require regular replacement, either by the operator or by the maintenance personnel. The problem is that often, by forgetfulness or negligence, these cartridges are not changed, which causes a pollution of the hydraulic circuit by micro-organisms (algae, bacteria ...), harmful to the good functioning of the apparatus.

Finally, the flash lamp must, to light, receive an ignition pulse

(called trigger) very high voltage, typically of the order of 12 kV and a duration of 1 μβ.

In the known cartridges, this pulse is provided by an electrical wire connected to a metallic heat shield shielding between the light emitted by the lamp and the plastic housing parts of the cartridge. The presence of this wire involves the realization of tight connections, which complicate the manufacture of the cartridge.

The invention aims to answer all or some of the problems identified above.

Assembly of the optical block

The subject of the invention is, according to a first aspect, a handpiece for a luminous flash emission processing apparatus, comprising:

- a base,

- a flashlight cartridge with fluidic and electrical connectors,

an optical block to be fixed on the base, defining a receptacle for receiving the flashlight cartridge, the optical unit being arranged to apply, at the end of a pivoting movement, the fluidic connector of the cartridge against a corresponding connector provided on the base, so as to establish a circulation of cooling fluid between the cartridge and the base.

Thanks to the invention, according to this first aspect, a fluid connection without leakage is guaranteed, because the pivoting movement of the cover relative to the base allows to strongly press the fluidic connector of the cartridge against that of the base.

Pivoting allows compactness to be gained because the engagement lengths of the connectors can be shortened compared to conventional slide mounting. One can also improve the ergonomics and reduce the effort to exercise cartridge change.

It is possible to make it possible to benefit in this action from a leverage effect, which is particularly interesting when at least one of the connectors has seals that are crushed during assembly.

The crushing of these joints may require a large force, and a lever effect with joints close to the axis of rotation allows a multiplication effect of the force applied by the operator.

According to this aspect, the invention also makes it possible to gain reliability with respect to a possible bonding of the seals, since in case of bonding the seals remain easily accessible.

The assembly of the assembly constituted by the optical unit and the cartridge can be done with a certain mechanical tolerance, because the alignment of the optical parts, which requires precision, takes place during the mounting of the cartridge on the optical unit, before fixing the assembly on the base of the handpiece.

The fluidic connector of the base may comprise two housings for receiving male tips of the fluidic connector of the cartridge.

The optical unit may comprise, on the opposite side to the hinge on the base, hooking lugs, and the base may include an unlocking button to release the lugs after snapping on the base.

The handpiece may have a generally round shape, when the optical block is closed.

Slotted electrical connector

The invention further relates, in another of its aspects, a handpiece having a base provided with a slot electrical connector for cooperating with a corresponding flat connector of a flash lamp cartridge.

It is particularly advantageous that the base comprises a slot electrical connector for receiving a corresponding flat connector of the cartridge. The slot prevents accidental contact of the operator with electrical contacts of the handpiece when the latter is open for replacement of the cartridge. Greater security is achieved by ensuring a safe distance when the handpiece is open. This aspect of the invention is independent of the pivoting of the optical unit on the base during its assembly.

However, rotational movement of the cartridge is possible by using pinch contacts for the base, which slide the conductive parts of the flat connector.

Preferably, the fluid connector is closer to the hinge axis on the base than the electrical connector. This allows for increased leverage, as explained above.

Ion Exchange Resin Cartridge

The invention further relates, in a third aspect, to a flash lamp cartridge which is characterized in that it comprises an ion exchange resin in contact with the coolant circulating in the lamp.

This resin guarantees the purity of the water used to cool the flash lamp and its replacement intervenes with that of the cartridge. Thus, the defects of resin replacement, sometimes encountered in the state of the art, are avoided. The optical cartridge being replaced regularly, the resin will be renewed at the same time and maintain its qualities to the cooling water. The change of the optical cartridge (consumable) being mandatory, the quality of the water will thus be maintained in a certain way at the right level. The hydraulic circuit will be protected continuously.

Capacitive coupling ignition

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a cartridge for a handpiece for a luminous flash emission processing apparatus comprising:

a flash lamp arranged in a sealed enclosure defined at least partially by an electrically insulating wall,

an electrical connection contact to an ignition pulse generator, and a conductive pad connected to said contact and coming in proximity to the lamp to induce, through said insulating wall, by capacitive coupling, the ionization of the gas contained in the lamp leading to the lighting of the lamp.

This avoids the leaktight penetrations of the prior art and greatly simplifies the manufacture of the cartridge. The invention further relates to a cartridge for a handpiece as defined above, comprising a fluidic connector and a flat electrical connector. The flat electrical connector is advantageously defined by a printed circuit.

The optical block according to one of the first, second, third or fourth aspects of the invention may comprise microswitch actuation reliefs present on the base. This allows automatic recognition of the optical block by the device.

The invention further relates to an assembly comprising a handpiece according to the invention and a cartridge according to the invention, received in the handpiece.

The subject of the invention is also an apparatus for processing by flash emission, comprising a handpiece according to the invention or an optical block and cartridge assembly according to the invention, and a base station to which the handpiece is connected. .

The subject of the invention is also a method for replacing a flash lamp cartridge of an assembly according to the invention, comprising the following steps:

- open the handpiece,

- remove the optical unit with the cartridge,

extracting the cartridge from the optical unit, in particular by using the new cartridge as a tool,

- put the new cartridge in the optical compartment,

- Close the handpiece by rotating the optical block assembly and cartridge, the pivoting movement causing the fluidic connector of the cartridge to be pressed against the fluid connector of the handpiece.

Advantageous features of the invention are listed below, which can be taken singly or in combination, and apply to each of the four aspects of the invention:

the base comprises a slot electrical connector for receiving a corresponding flat connector of the cartridge;

the fluidic connector is closer to an axis of articulation of the optical block on the base than the slit electrical connector;

the fluidic connector of the base comprises two housings for receiving male tips of the fluidic connector of the cartridge; - The optical unit comprises, on the opposite side to the joint, the latching lugs, and the base comprises an unlocking button to release the lugs after snapping on the base;

the cartridge comprises a first attachment means and the base a second hooking means cooperating with the first to allow the assembly constituted by the optical unit and the cartridge to be rotated relative to the base;

the first and second attachment means comprise hooks;

- The fluidic connector of the cartridge has seals arranged to be crushed by the introduction of the cartridge on the base;

the cartridge is fixed by snapping onto the optical unit;

the slotted connector comprises flexible blade contacts coming to rest on the flat connector of the cartridge;

the flexible blades belong to lyre-shaped contacts;

- The contacts carrying the flexible blades are supported by two printed circuit boards defining between them a space where can engage the flat connector of the cartridge;

the base comprises a micro-switch actuated by the flat connector of the cartridge at the end of its insertion into the base;

- The flat connector is constituted by a double-sided printed circuit, contacts being defined by opposite conductive tracks interconnected by metallized holes;

- The flat connector is constituted by a printed circuit provided with a cutout defining a flexible portion capable of bending perpendicularly to its plane, snapped into a corresponding support of the cartridge;

- The flat connector is defined by a printed circuit carrying an electronic memory informing on the history of operation of the cartridge;

the cartridge comprises an outer shell and a support fixed in the outer shell, the ion exchange resin being received in a housing of the support;

the housing is delimited by a rib providing a passage for the water at one end of the housing and an outlet at the other end;

the ion exchange resin is contained in a sachet; - An orifice communicates with a tip of a fluidic connector opening into the bottom of the support and the cartridge;

the housing is arranged relative to the orifice so that only a fraction of the water circulates along the resin, preferably less than 50% of the flow rate, better still between 10 and 30%;

the cartridge comprises a fluidic connector comprising two hydraulic connection nozzles, only one of them being equipped with a non-return valve, closed in the absence of water circulation in the cartridge;

the resin is situated between a bottom wall and a shield forming a heat shield;

- The ignition contact for the lamp is defined by two opposite conductive tracks connected by at least one metallized hole;

the conductive pad is superimposed on the wall of a shield forming a metal screen, along which the lamp extends;

the printed circuit carries power contacts and contacts connected to an electronic memory;

- The printed circuit comprises a cutout defining a flexible portion capable of bending perpendicularly to its plane, snapped into a carrier of the cartridge.

The invention further relates to the cartridge considered in isolation, and the handpiece comprising such a cartridge, and a treatment device comprising the handpiece.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, of an example of non-limiting implementation thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

- Figures 1 to 5 show, in perspective, the handpiece from different angles of view,

FIGS. 6 and 7 are two perspective views of the handpiece after removal of a half-shell from the base,

FIG. 8 represents in isolation the optical unit with the cartridge mounted inside, FIG. 9 represents the optical block, hood removed, with the cartridge in place,

FIGS. 10 and 11 represent, in isolation, the cartridge, from two different angles of view,

FIG. 12 represents the cartridge after removal of a part of the housing thereof,

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate, from different angles of view, the arrangement of the flash lamp and of various other constituent elements arranged inside the cartridge,

FIG. 15 represents in isolation the support of the cartridge,

FIG. 16 represents, in isolation, the printed circuit of the cartridge,

FIG. 17 represents in perspective a contact in the general shape of a lyre,

FIG. 18 illustrates the presence of a sachet containing an ion exchange resin inside the cartridge,

FIG. 19 represents, in isolation, the base, before the optical unit 3 is put in place,

FIG. 20 represents in isolation the base with the removal of a half-shell from the housing of the base, and

- Figure 21 is a partial cross section of the cartridge. The handpiece 1 shown in the figures comprises a base 2 and an optical unit 3 housing a flash lamp cartridge 70, also called cassette.

The base 2 has an opening 4 defining a handle 6.

A button 5 is provided on the handle 6 to allow the user holding it to trigger the emission of light flashes by pressing with the index finger.

The handpiece 1 is connected to a base station, not shown, by a bead also not shown, leaving the base 2 by a guide 7. The cord accommodates the pipes for supplying and returning coolant, in a 'kind of water, and electric cables.

The optical block 3 comprises an optical guide 13 having an end face 55, also called exit face, through which light leaving the handpiece is emitted. A cover 53 protects the optical guide 13 and the cartridge 70. The guide 13 passes through the wall of the cover 53 through an opening 14, so that the exit face 55 is located at the front of the handpiece and can be pressed on the skin.

The optical unit 3 has been shown in isolation in FIG. 9 with the cover 53 removed. It can be seen that the optical block 3 comprises a body 54 which has ribs 57 for holding the guide 13. An exit seal 58 interposes between the guide 13 and the opening 14 of the optical block 3.

The cartridge 70 is shown in isolation in FIG. 10. It can be seen that it has an exit window 100, which is positioned in the optical block 3 so that it comes opposite the entry face of the guide 13. and preferably on contact.

The cartridge 70 comprises, as can be seen in FIG. 11 in particular, a fluidic connector 200 with two tips 15 and 16, parallel to each other, and a flat electrical connector 150, constituted in the example described by a circuit board.

In the example considered, the connector 200 comprises O-rings 17 each received in an annular groove 201 around the corresponding endpiece 15 or 16.

The base 2 comprises, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, a fluidic connector 210 comprising two housings 18 and 19 hollowed out in a wall 76 and in which the end pieces 15 and 16 engage respectively. Each housing 18 or 19 defines a seat 20 against which applies the seal 17 corresponding when the optical block 3 is in the closed position, after being folded with the cartridge 70 on the base 2.

The seals 17 are thus crushed between the cartridge 70 and the base 2 and a good seal can be obtained. The crushing of the seals 17 is facilitated by a lever effect obtained by hooking the cartridge 70 on the base 2, as shown in Figures 6 and 7 in particular.

More particularly, the base 2 may comprise, as illustrated in FIG. 19, a groove 72 defined between a hook 73 and the wall 76, and the cartridge 70 a complementary hook 80 designed to cooperate with the hook 73 to guide the pivoting of the cartridge 70. to the base 2. The hook 80 has a cylindrical concavity about an axis R, which coincides with the axis of the head 82, also cylindrical, of the hook 73, so that the movement of the assembly consisting of the optical unit 3 and the cartridge 70 when it is folded against the base 2 is substantially a rotational movement around the axis R. The hook 73 can be reinforced, on the opposite side to the groove 72, by ribs 86. Similarly, the hook 80 of the cartridge 70 can be reinforced by ribs 87.

It is preferable, as illustrated, for the fluidic connector 200 of the cartridge 70 to be positioned close to the hinge axis R. The axes of the end pieces 15 and 16 are thus positioned in the example under consideration at a distance from the R axis which is less than the half length L / 2 of the cartridge, L designating the overall length of the cartridge 70, measured along its longitudinal axis.

The circuit board 150 constituting the flat connector of the cartridge carries conductive tracks that define electrical contacts. More particularly, in the example under consideration, the contacts are each formed on the two opposite faces of the printed circuit by means of metallized holes 300 which connect the superimposed tracks. Several metallized holes 300 may be associated with both faces of the same contact.

The card 150 carries two power contacts 301, 302, which can support several hundred amperes, for example around 300A, two memory contacts 303, 304 connected to an electronic chip 600 and a trigger contact 305 connected to a track extended 610.

The base 2 comprises a slotted electrical connector 30, in which the flat connector 150 of the cartridge engages when the optical unit 3 is in the closed position.

Flexible conductive blades 31 protrude inside the slotted connector 30 to be applied to the electrical contacts present on both sides of the printed circuit 150.

These blades 31 belong to lyre-shaped contacts 60, one of which is shown separately in FIG. 17.

Each contact 60 comprises at least one pair of flexible blades 31 intended to clamp the opposite tracks of the same contact of the printed circuit 15. In the example in question, four pairs of blades 31 are used by contact 60 to cooperate with the tracks of the contacts. 301 and 302 power contacts. The blades 31 of the same pair are connected by a wide band 62, the latter being doubly folded so as to position the blades 31 of the same pair in front of each other with a spacing smaller than the thickness of the circuit board 150. The blades 31 located on the same side of the receiving space of the printed circuit 150 are interconnected at their end 63 opposite to the wide band 62, and the outermost blades 31 are extended by returns 64 towards the interior, helping maintain contact 60.

The base 2 may comprise three contacts 60 with a single pair of blades 31, for the trigger signal and the communication with the electronic memory 600 of the cartridge 70.

Each of the contacts 60 is made by cutting and folding a conductive metal sheet, preferably gold.

Inside the base 2, the contacts 60 are supported, as can be seen in FIG. 6, by two printed circuits 320 placed facing each other, with cutouts 88 in which the blades 31 are engaged, in order to extend into the space between the two printed circuits 320 to clamp the circuit board 150. Each contact 60 is positioned astride the cards 320 and fixed thereto by welding. The circuits 320 are held at their opposite ends by columns 322 provided with parallel grooves in which the printed circuits 320 engage. The returns 64 of the contacts 60 are soldered to the cards 320.

Elbow connectors 330 visible in FIG. 6 connect the fluidic connector

210 of the base 2 to the corresponding pipes of the aforementioned cord.

When the optical unit 3 is in the open position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, any risk of contact of the operator with the flexible blades 31 is prevented by the narrowness of the slot of the slot connector 30, which guarantees the safety of the operator in the event of a presence of high voltage on them.

The optical block 3 can be held in the closed position by snapping two tabs 43 into corresponding housings 44 of the base, shown in FIG.

6 particular. An unlocking button 45 makes it possible, when pressed, to release the tabs

43 and open the handpiece 1.

The base 2 comprises an optical block recognition system 3 comprising micro-switches 340 and 341, visible in FIG. 20. The microswitches 340 can be actuated by one or more corresponding reliefs of the optical block 3, which are not visible, or these reliefs may vary from one optical block to another so as not to act on the same microswitches 340. The base 2 can thus recognize according to the reliefs employed several types of optical blocks 3 different. These may differ for example by the type of optical guide 13 used, for example of greater or lesser end section to focus more or less light.

The micro-switch 341 can be used to automatically detect the closure of the optical block 3.

The base 2 comprises a microswitch 350 positioned between the two printed circuits 320, visible in Figure 7, which is supported on the printed circuit board 150 of the cartridge 70 at the end of its assembly. This automatically checks the presence of the cartridge 70 on the base 2 before allowing the operation of the device.

The base 2 may comprise, as illustrated, an electronic control circuit 110 and a transformer 630 for generating the high voltage required for the lamp to be ignited. This transformer 630 can be received in a specific housing of the base 2, so as to gain even more compactness.

The cartridge 70 is formed by the assembly of an outer shell 125 and a support 126, shown in isolation in FIG. 15, fixed inside the shell 125.

The cartridge defines an enclosure 800 within which the lamp extends, cooled by water.

The shell 125 is made with the attachment tabs 43 and the hook 80. The support 126 is made with the tips of the fluidic connector 200 of the cartridge 70. It carries an optical filter 140, visible in Figure 12, constituting the window 1 of the cartridge 70, and a flash lamp 150. O-rings 152 are mounted on the ends of the lamp 150. The metal electrodes of the lamp are cooled by water, which comes into contact with them.

A reflector 160 is disposed behind the lamp 150, as illustrated in FIG. 14. The reflector 160 is placed in a metal screen part 167, inside the enclosure 800.

The support 126 carries tabs 640 for its attachment in the outer shell 125. The latter has reliefs 520, visible in Figure 10, on which tabs 510 of the optical block 3 snap, to retain the cartridge on this- this. The bottom of the support 126 defines with a rib 700 a housing 400 to receive a bag 410 of ion exchange resin, apparent in Figure 18, to deionize the water as it flows in the cartridge 70 .

The tip 15 opens next to the housing 400 through an opening 420.

Thus, a portion of the water is directed directly to the rooms to be cooled while a fraction of the water flows through a passage 701 formed between the rib and the opposite wall, along the bag 410, to an outlet 425 on the opposite side to the passage 701. Thus, only a fraction of the water is sent to the resin, preferably a fraction between 10 and 30% of the flow.

A ball valve 180, biased by a spring 181, visible in Figure 12, equips the other end 15 connected to the water inlet. This valve opens under the pressure of water during the operation of the device.

Closing the valve 180, 181 in the absence of water circulation makes it possible to limit the flow of water out of the cartridge 70 when it is replaced.

Fixing the printed circuit 150 on the support 126 is made by snapping a tooth 193 forming a projection in a blank 200 of the printed circuit 150, on a corresponding relief of the support 126, not apparent.

The cutout 200 is extended forming a bend 202 so as to give some flexibility to the portion 203 of the printed circuit 150 carrying the tooth 193, in bending in a direction perpendicular to its plane, to allow the aforementioned snap-fastening.

The extended track 610 constitutes a conductive pad which is superimposed on the metal shield 167 and allows, by capacitive coupling, to transmit through an insulating wall 810 partially defining the enclosure 800 in which the lamp is placed, the high voltage pulse at the lamp to ionize the gas contained inside and cause it to ignite.

The replacement of the cartridge 70 is carried out as follows.

It begins by removing the cartridge 70 in place with the optical unit 3 by pressing the unlocking button 45, which releases the tabs 43 and allows the assembly to rotate to disengage the hooks 73 and 80.

Then, the cartridge 70 is detached from the optical block 3 with the help of the new cartridge as a tool to manually deform, locally, the wall side of the shell 125, on which the tabs 510 of the optical unit 3 are hung, to release them.

The new cartridge 70 is put in place in the optical unit 3 until the tabs 510 snap onto the corresponding reliefs 520.

The insertion of the cartridge 70 into the optical unit 3 makes it possible to position the exit window 100 precisely in front of the input face of the guide 13.

Then, the hook 73 is engaged in the hook 80 and the assembly constituted by the optical block 3 and the cartridge 70 fixed inside is pivoted until the tabs 43 are hooked up.

During this operation, the seals 17 are crushed, which ensures the tightness of the hydraulic connection. The printed circuit 150 engages between the blades 31 of the contacts 60. The engagement movement, which is not a pure translation, as well as the double-sided tracks of the printed circuit 150, guarantee excellent reliability of the electrical connection, despite the intensity of the current flowing through the power contacts.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the example just described.

Claims

Handpiece (1) having a base (2) provided with a slot electrical connector (30) for cooperating with a corresponding flat connector (150) of a flash lamp cartridge.

2. Handpiece according to claim 1, the slot connector (70) having flexible blade contacts (31) being applied to the flat connector (150) of the cartridge.

3. Handpiece according to the preceding claim, the flexible blades (31) belonging to contacts (60) in the form of a lyre.

4. Handpiece according to claim 3, the contacts (60) carrying the flexible blades (31) being supported by two printed circuit boards (320) defining between them a space where can engage the flat connector (150) of the cartridge.

5. Handpiece according to any one of the preceding claims, the base (2) having a microswitch (350) actuated by the flat connector (150) of the cartridge at the end of its insertion into the base.

6. Handpiece according to any one of the preceding claims, the flat connector (150) being constituted by a double-sided printed circuit, contacts (301; 305) being defined by opposite conductive tracks interconnected by metallized holes (300).

7. Handpiece according to any one of the preceding claims, the flat connector (150) being constituted by a printed circuit provided with a cutout (200) defining a flexible portion (203) capable of bending perpendicular to its plane, snapped into a corresponding support (126) of the cartridge.

8. Handpiece according to any one of the preceding claims, the flat connector (150) being defined by a printed circuit carrying an electronic memory informing on the history of operation of the cartridge.

Flash lamp cartridge for a light flash emission processing apparatus, comprising:

a flash lamp (500),

- a flat connector (150) connected to the flash lamp.

10. Cartridge according to the preceding claim, the flat connector (150) being defined by a printed circuit.

11. The cartridge of claim 10, the contacts (301, ... 305) of the flat connector (150) being defined by opposite conductive tracks interconnected by metallized holes (300).

12. Cartridge according to claim 10 or 11, the printed circuit being provided with a cutout (200) defining a flexible portion (203) capable of bending perpendicularly to its plane.