Tubular foil cover for medical use

The invention relates to a film tube coverage for medical devices.

Many medical devices, such as endoscopes or arthroscopy cameras these medical devices with control and evaluation via elongated tubes and / or cables are connected that must be provided with sterile covers.

For this purpose it is already known to use film tube covers that are pushed together before use by means of a so-called plug-fold to a very short length telescopically or folded, wherein at one end of the film tube, a retaining ring is fixed at the same time for receiving the in its length shortened tubular film before use is used.

Since the retaining rings such tubular film covers have a relatively small width (for example, about 2 cm), it may in the application, that is, when the retainer ring on the elongate tubing and / or cable is pulled to cover them with the film tube cover, happen that medical staff the sterile outside of the protective film with the fingers touched, whereby the sterility is no longer guaranteed.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a tubular film cover of the type mentioned, can be largely ruled out in their application that the medical staff touching the sterile outside of the tubular film cover accidentally with your fingers.

This object is solved by the features indicated in claim 1.

Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

The invention is explained with reference to the drawings in more detail.

In the drawings:<ul><li>Figures 1 to 4 the application of a prior art tubular film cover,</li><li>Figures 5 to 8, the application of an embodiment of the tubular film cover according to the invention.</li></ul>

Figures 1 to 4 show a typical example of a prior art tubular film cover.

To apply, generally designated 1 film tube cover, the sterile part 4 of a medical device is a piece performed widely by a retaining ring 2 and, if necessary, an opening at the end of the film tube. 3 Here, the free end of the film tube 3 is turned inside out to the right side of FIG 3, wherein the plug-folded film tube 3 can deploy partially. Subsequently, the non-sterile part 5 of the medical device with the sterile part of the medical device 4 is connected, wherein the free end of the film tube before gets clamped between these two parts. After the parts 4 and 5 were connected, the medical personnel pulls the retainer ring 2 via the elongated cable 7 so as to cover the elongated cable 7 with the film tube 3 and thus to ensure sterility. As shown in Figure 4, it can easily happen that the medical staff the sterile outside of the tubular film 3 with fingertips touching, whereby the film tube 3 can be sterile.

Figure 5 to 8 show the application of a preferred embodiment of the tubular film cover according to the invention. 1

The retaining ring 2 has on the sterile part of the medical device 4 side facing a coaxial to the tubular film 3 disposed grip protection 6th The application of the tubular film cover according to the invention substantially corresponds to the application of the known tubular film cover. As clearly shown in particular in Figure 8, is prevented by the handle protection 6, however, that the medical personnel in contact with the sterile film tube 3 accidentally with his fingertips.

The handle protection 6 may for example be formed integrally with the retaining ring 2 and with a portion of the retaining ring. 2 This embodiment is particularly useful when the handle guard 6 is formed by a relatively stiff material.

Of course, it is also conceivable to handle protection 6 separately constructed of a suitable material, and then attach it in any suitable manner to the retaining ring. 2

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the protection handle 6 is formed by the end portion of the tubular film 3, which is fastened on the retaining ring 2nd In this case it is sufficient to turn over the for attachment to the retaining ring 2 provided end portion of the tubular film 3 before the film tube 3 is fixed in an appropriate manner on the retaining ring. 2 Because the handle guard is formed in this embodiment by the flexible tubular film 3, it is possible to flatten the grip protection 6 for transporting and storage or pursue him into the retaining ring. 2 The required storage or transport space is then not greater than in known film tube covers.