Plug connector for use in a magnetic resonance device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10310033-B2
Application number	US-201715706995-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2017
Priority date	Sep 23, 2016
Publication date	Jun 4, 2019
Grant date	Jun 4, 2019

Abstract

A plug connector is disclosed for use in a magnetic resonance device. The plug connector includes a first connecting part and a second connecting part, which are configured to be detachably connected to one another. The first connecting part includes a first contact surface and the second connecting part includes a first contact plate, a second contact plate, and a housing. The second contact plate is arranged to be moved relative to the housing. In a connected state, the first contact plate is arranged between the first contact surface and the second contact plate. The electrical plug connector includes a mechanical lifting apparatus, which is configured, when the first connecting part is being connected to the second connecting part, to move the second contact plate, e.g., relative to the housing, in the direction of the first contact plate.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A magnetic resonance device or a patient couch comprising:
a plug connector comprising:
a first connecting part having a first contact surface comprising at least one first electrical contact element;
a second connecting part having a first contact plate comprising at least one second electrical contact element, a second contact plate comprising at least one third contact element, and a housing, wherein the second contact plate is configured to move relative to the housing, wherein the second connecting part is configured to be connected detachably to the first connecting part, and wherein, in a connected state, the first contact plate is arranged between the first contact surface and the second contact plate, the at least one first electrical contact element touches the at least one second electrical contact element, and the at least one second electrical contact element touches the at least one third electrical contact element; and
a mechanical lifting apparatus configured to move the second contact plate in a direction of the first contact plate when the first connecting part is connected to the second connecting part.

2. The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 1 , wherein the second connecting part has an outer surface, which, in the connected state of the contact surface, faces towards the first connecting part,
wherein the outer surface of the first contact plate, the housing, or both the outer surface and the housing have a smooth surface, a coherent surface, or both smooth and coherent surfaces.

3. The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 1 , wherein, on connection of the first connecting part to the second connecting part, the first connecting part moves in a first connecting direction and the second contact plate moves in a second connecting direction,
wherein the first connecting direction and the second connecting direction enclose an angle of 90° to 180°.

4. The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical lifting apparatus is configured, when the first connecting part is being connected to the second connecting part, to transmit a mechanical force from the first connecting part to the second contact plate.

5. The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical lifting apparatus comprises a first lifting apparatus part and a second lifting apparatus part,
wherein the first connecting part comprises the first lifting apparatus part and the second connecting part comprises the second lifting apparatus part, and
wherein, when the first connecting part is being connected to the second connecting part, a first mechanical force is introduced into the second lifting apparatus part by the first lifting apparatus part so that a second mechanical force is introduced into the second contact plate by the second lifting apparatus part.

6. The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 5 , wherein the housing of the second connecting part has at least one recess, and
wherein the first lifting apparatus part comprises at least one projecting element configured to be arranged in the at least one recess of the housing.

7. The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 5 , wherein the second lifting apparatus part comprises at least one rocker, at least one lifting wedge, or the at least one rocker and the at least one lifting wedge.

8. The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 7 , wherein the at least one rocker has a first rocker surface and a second rocker surface, and
wherein the second rocker surface is rotated when a mechanical force is introduced into the first rocker surface.

9. The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 7 , wherein the at least one lifting wedge has a first wedge surface,
wherein the at least one lifting wedge is configured so that the first lifting apparatus part is moved in a direction when the first connecting part is being connected to the second connecting part, which encloses a first angle of inclination greater than 90° and less than 180° with a normal of the first wedge surface.

10. The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 9 , wherein the at least one lifting wedge has a second wedge surface of which a normal encloses a second angle of inclination greater than 0° and less than 90° in relation to a direction of displacement.

11. The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 1 , wherein the second connecting part comprises a spring unit,
wherein the spring unit exerts a repelling force between the second contact plate and the first contact plate.

12. The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 11 , wherein the spring unit comprises at least one compression spring.

13. The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the at least one first electrical contact element, the at least one second electrical contact element, or the at least one third electrical contact element has at least one spring contact.

14. The magnetic resonance device or the patient couch of claim 1 , wherein the second connecting part has an outer surface, which, in the connected state, faces towards the first contact surface of the first connecting part,
wherein the patient couch has a patient support surface, which at least partly encloses the outer surface, and
wherein the patient support surface adjoins the outer surface steplessly.

15. A local coil comprising:
a plug connector;
a first connecting part having a first contact surface comprising at least one first electrical contact element; and
a second connecting part having a first contact plate comprising at least a second electrical contact element, a second contact plate comprising at least a third electrical contact element, and a housing, wherein the second connecting part is located moveably relative to the housing,
wherein the first connecting part and the second connecting part are configured for being detachably connected to one another,
wherein in a connected state, the first contact plate is located between the first contact surface and the second contact plate, the at least one first electric contact element touches the at least one second electric contact element, and the at least one second electric contact element touches the at least one third electric contact element,
wherein the first connecting part and the second connecting part are configured for entering the plug connector, wherein the plug connector is an electric plug connector, and
wherein the plug connector comprises a mechanical lifting apparatus, which is configured, in the connected state, to move the second contact plate in a direction of the first contact plate.

Assignees

• Kundner Thomas
• Kraus Wolfgang
• Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Inventors

• Kundner Thomas
• Kraus Wolfgang

Classifications

• G01R33/288

  Provisions within MR facilities for enhancing safety during MR, e.g. reduction of the specific absorption rate [SAR], detection of ferromagnetic objects in the scanner room · CPC title

• G01R33/3415 Primary

  comprising arrays of sub-coils {, i.e. phased-array coils with flexible receiver channels} · CPC title

• H01R13/6315

  allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection (for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01R33/36 Primary

  Electrical details, e.g. matching or coupling of the coil to the receiver · CPC title

• H01R12/91

  allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating or self aligning (for coupling devices not specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R13/6315 takes precedence) · CPC title