HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR MEDICAL DEVICE
A) TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a handle assembly and more specifically to a handle assembly mounted on a portable medical device such as patient monitoring device like portable ECG device, blood pressure monitoring system etc.
B) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A handle is a part of, or attachment to, an object that can be moved or used by hand. The design of each type of handle involves substantial ergonomic issues. The three nearly universal requirements for a handle are as follows. The handle should have sufficient strength to support the object, or to otherwise transmit the force involved in the task served by the handle. The handle should have sufficient length to permit the hand or hands gripping it to reliably exert that force. The handle should have a sufficiendy small circumference to permit the hand or hands to surround it far enough to grip it as solidly as needed to exert that force. The other requirements of a specific handle may be listed as follows. A sheath or coating is provided on the handle to provide friction against the hand thereby reducing the gripping force needed to provide a reliable grip function to the person carrying a device. The handle should have sufficient circumference to distribute the

force comfortably and safely over the hand, especially when the handle is made up of two pieces.
[0003] A patient monitoring system is widely used in hospitals and in ambulances. While shifting the patients the user / staff nurses need to carry the patient monitors with the patients on the other side. So the handle of the patient monitor has a potential risk for failure, unless the handle is properly reinforced.
[0004] None of the currently available handles provided with the patient monitoring systems are not robust enough to withstand sudden shock or impact applied on the handle. Hence there is a need to provide a handle with suitable reinforcement and ruggedness to withstand any sudden impact.
[0005] The US patent no. 4147443 discloses a handle formed with a handle portion fabricated with stainless steel and provided with one annular channel arranged around the handle portion. An elastomeric material is moulded on the handle portion to completely cover the handle portion to provide a seal within the channel to prevent the entry of moisture.
[0006] The US patent application no. 20050222568 discloses an adjustable handle for a medical device. The handle has a frame, a transmission, a slide, a fast rack, a sheath and a cable assembly. The transmission is mounted to the frame. The slide is movably attached to the frame and coupled with the transmission. A sheath is secured to the first rack that is movably attached to the frame and coupled with the transmission.

[0007] The US patent no. 5993470 discloses a universal handle for medical instruments. The handle has two members provided movably or fixedly with respect to the housing for detachably mounting two medical instruments respectively. A biasing mechanism moves a first member towards a retracted or extended position near one end of the housing. A locking mechanism engages the first member to prevent the bias member from moving the first member. A releasing mechanism permits the movement of the bias member.
[0008] The US patent application no. 2004 0260274 discloses a handle for a medical device. The device has an inner handle member and two outer handle members. An elongate sheath is attached to the inner handle member and extends axially beyond a distal end of the inner handle. A stylet provided in a lumen of the sheath is attached to one of the two outer handle members. The outer handle member is moved relative to the inner handle member to control the positioning of the components in the handle.
[0009] Thus none of the currendy available handle units attached to a medical instrument is hard and rugged enough to withstand any undesirable impact or shock to avoid failure of giving away during the transportation of the medical instruments.
[0010] Hence there is a need to develop a handle unit with reinforcements and ruggedness to maintain the integrity of the medical instrument during transport.

C) OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Primary object of the present invention is to develop a rugged handle for medical instruments to maintain the integrity of the medical instrument during the transportation of the medical instrument and to avoid the failure of the handle during transport.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to develop a handle with locators for medical instruments to simplify the assembly process of the handle units.
[0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a handle unit formed by welding the components of the handle using the ultrasonic bonding technology to avoid the slackness of the handle.
[0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to assemble a handle unit without using the temporary fasteners.
D) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The abovementioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.

[0016] The present invention provides a handle unit for medical instruments such as patient monitoring devices like ECG device, Blood Pressure Monitoring devices and vital sign moniforing unit etc., and an assembly method for the handle unit.
[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a handle unit for a medical instrument has a handle portion provided with a bottom enclosure, a metal insert, an upper enclosure and a hand gripper. The two enclosures are made up of plastic material such as thermo plastic material. The insert made up of metallic material like mild steel, aluminium, etc., is provided between the bottom and the top enclosures using a locator. The metallic insert plate is positioned at the inner surface of the bottom enclosure. The metal plate insert is made to seat completely around the handle portion. A hand gripper made up of elastomeric plastic material such as silicon rubber is assembled on the lower handle portion to enable the user to hold the handle with out any slippage from the hand. The elastomeric hand gripper has tiny pips on the entire bottom holding surface of the handle. The components of the handle unit are bonded together using an ultrasonic welding process.
[0018] The metallic insert plate is embedded between the bottom and the top thermoplastic enclosures to increase the robustness and the ruggedness of the handle. The mild steel plate insert is provided with the equidistant holes along the surface so that the metallic insert plate is seated correctly on the thermoplastic enclosures.

[0019] The temporary fasteners like screw or click fit mechanisms are avoided to prevent the generation of process failures during an assembly process. The handle is fastened using ultrasonic bonding (welding) technique that forms a permanent bond.
[0020] A hand gripping mechanism is built into the handle unit to improve the safety aspect of the equipment and the user. The thermoplastic material is embedded with a metallic strip to enhance the sturdiness of the handle to carry higher load. Several tiny pips are provided along the bottom surface of the hand gripper to simplify the assembly process.
[0021] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an assembling method for a handle unit is provided.
[0022] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
E) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a handle unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a handle unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] Although specific features of the present invention are shown in some drawings and not in others. This is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the present invention.
F) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] In the following detailed description, a reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments which may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and it is to be understood that the logical, mechanical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0028] The present invention provides a handle unit for a medical instrument such as patient monitoring system or vital sign monitoring system and an assembly method for handle unit.
[0029] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a handle unit is provided with a handle portion. The handle portion has a bottom enclosure or base, a metallic insert, a hand gripper and an upper enclosure or cover. The bottom and the top enclosures are made up of hard plastic material like thermo plastic material, FRAUS etc. A metallic insert plate is embedded between the bottom and the top enclosures using a locator to improve the sturdiness of the handle. The metallic insert plate is made up of metallic materials like mild steel, aluminium, stainless steel etc. The metallic insert plate has a number of holes formed at equal distances on the surface of the insert plate so that the metallic insert plate is seated exacdy and completely around the handle portion. The metallic insert plate is positioned at the inner surface of the bottom enclosure. The locators have protrusions so that the protrusions are received inside the holes of the metallic plate insert to seat the metallic insert plates completely around the bottom enclosure. A gripper unit made up of thermo plastic material like silicon rubber is assembled on the lower handle portion to enable the to enable the user to hold the handle with out any slippage from the hand. The hand gripper portion has number of tiny pips formed on the entire bottom holding surface of the handle. The upper enclosure or the cover is then bonded to the bottom enclosure using an ultrasonic welding process to form an integrated handle unit.

[0030] The metallic insert plate is embedded between the bottom and the top thermoplastic enclosures to increase the robustness and the ruggedness of the handle and to prevent the failure of the handle unit. The mild steel plate insert is provided with the equidistant holes along the surface so that the metallic insert plate is seated correctly on the thermoplastic enclosures. The thermoplastic material is embedded with a metallic strip to enhance the sturdiness of the handle to carry higher load.
[0031] A hand gripping mechanism is built into the handle unit to improve the safety aspect of the equipment and the user. Pluralities of pips are provided along the bottom surface of the hand gripper to simplify the assembly process.
[0032] The temporary fasteners like screw or click fit mechanisms are avoided to prevent the generation of process failures during the assembly process. The handle is fastened using the ultrasonic bonding (welding) technique to provide permanent bond.
[0033] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an assembling method for a handle unit is provided. A metallic insert is embedded on a lower thermoplastic enclosure using a locator. The lower enclosure may be made up of any hard, sturdy plastic material. The metallic insert is made up of metal plates such as r.rild steel plate, stainless steel plate, aluminium plate etc. The locators are the protrusions formed on the bottom enclosure. The metallic insert has holes formed at equal distances on the surface. The protrusions of the locators are received into the holes of the metallic insert to position the metallic insert plate so that the metallic insert

plate is seated completely around the bottom enclosure. Then a hand gripper made up of elastomeric material like silicon rubber is provided at the lower side of the handle unit. An upper enclosure or a cover is positioned over the bottom enclosure to bond the upper and lower enclosures using an ultrasonic welding process.
[0034] The handle may be formed in any shape like U-shape, C- shape or any other similar shapes. The metallic insert plate may be formed in any shape so that the shape of the metallic insert corresponds to the shape of the handle unit. In one embodiment of the present invention, the handle and the metallic insert are formed in inverted U-shape.
[0035] FIG. 1 indicates a perspective view of a handle unit from one side according to one embodiment of the present invention. The handle unit has a bottom thermo plastic enclosure bonded to an upper thermo plastic enclosure using an ultrasonic welding technique and without using the temporary fasteners like screw or click fit mechanisms. The ultrasonic welding process is used to bond the components of the handle unit to prevent the generation of process failures during the assembly process. A hand gripper made up of elastomeric material like silicon rubber is provided at the lower side of the handle portion to enable a user to hold the handle without any slippage. The hand gripper portion has anti slip features like pips. Pluralities of pips are formed on the entire bottom holding surface of the handle. A metallic insert plate is embedded between the bottom enclosure and the top enclosure.

[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a handle unit for medical instrument, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The handle unit has a bottom enclosure 1 made up of thermo plastic material. The bottom enclosure 1 may be made up of any sturdy, hard and rugged plastic material. A hand gripper 2 made up of elastomeric material like silicon rubber is provided at the bottom side of the handle portion to enable a user to hold a medical instrument without slippage. The hand gripper 2 has plurality of tiny pips formed on the entire bottom holding surface of the handle. A metallic insert plate 3 is embedded between the bottom enclosure 1 and the top enclosure 4. The metallic insert plate 3 is positioned at the inner surface of the bottom thermoplastic enclosure 1 using a locator. The insert is made up of any metal like mild steel, aluminium etc. The insert plate 3 has holes formed at equal distances on the surface. The locator has projections that are received into the holes of the insert plate 3 to completely position the metallic insert 3 in the bottom enclosure 1 and to seat the metallic insert 3 around the handle portion. The metallic plate 3 acts as a stiffener plate to enhance the sturdiness of the handle to carry higher loads. An upper thermo .plastic enclosure 4 or cover is positioned on the bottom thermo plastic enclosure 1 and bonded to the bottom thermo plastic enclosure 1 using an ultrasonic welding process.
G) ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0037] The metallic insert plate is embedded in the thermoplastic enclosures to improve the robust and ruggedness of the handle unit to prevent the failure of the handle during the transport of the medical instrument. The

thermoplastic material is embedded with a metallic strip to enhance the sturdiness of the handle to carry higher load. The uses of temporary fasteners like screw or click fit mechanisms are avoided to prevent the generation of process failures during an assembly process. The handle is fastened with a permanent solution by using an ultrasonic bonding (welding) technique to provide a permanent bond. The thermoplastic component is assembled with an ultrasonic welding and it thus forms a single member or component. The hand griping mechanism is built into the handle unit to improve the safety of the medical instrument and the user. The hand grip is provided with pluralities of pips on the entire bottom holding surface of the handle to guide an assembler and to simplify the handle unit assembly process. The locators are provided in the bottom enclosure to completely position and seat the metallic insert around the entire handle portion and to simplify the assembly process of the handle.
[0038] Thus the various embodiments of the present invention provide a handle unit and its assembly method to prevent the integrity of the handle unit and to avoid the generation of failure of the handle unit during the transport of the medical instruments. The present invention may be employed not only to carry medical instruments or medical devices but also to carry any portable electrical appliances or to carry any appliances having light weight.
[0039] It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the present invention described herein and all the statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.

CLAIMS
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A handle unit comprising:
a bottom enclosure;
a locator provided on said bottom enclosure;
an insert plate is positioned on said bottom enclosure;
a hand gripper arranged at said bottom enclosure; and
an upper enclosure bonded to said bottom enclosure to form an integrated handle portion.
2. The handle unit according to claim 1, wherein said insert plate is embedded between the said bottom enclosure and the said top enclosure.
3. The handle unit according to claim 1, wherein said insert plate is positioned at the inner surface of the said bottom enclosure using the said locator.

4. The handle unit according to claim 1? wherein said insert plate has
holes formed at the surface.
5. The handle unit according to claim 1, wherein said holes are formed at equal distances on the surface of the said insert plate to seat the said locator around the entire handle portion.
6. The handle unit according to cla;m 1, wherein said insert plate is made up of metallic material.
7. The handle unit according to claim 1, wherein said insert plate is made up of mild steel.
8. The handle unit according to claim 1, wherein said insert plate is made up of aluminum.
9. The handle unit according to claim 1, wherein said bottom enclosure is made up of thermo plastic material.
10. The handle unit according to claim 1? wherein said top enclosure is
made up of thermo plastic material.

11. The handle unit according to claim 1, wherein said locator has protrusions.
12. The handle unit according to claim 1, wherein said protrusions of the said locator are received into the said holes of the said insert plate to position the said insert plate around the said handle portion.
13. The handle unit according to claim 1, wherein said hand gripper has plurality of tiny pips formed on the entire bottom holding surface tgo provide an anti slippage characteristics.
14. The handle unit according to claim 1, wherein said hand gripper is made up of elastomeric material.
15. The handle unit according to claLn 1, wherein said hand gripper is made up of silicon rubber.
16. The handle unit according to claim 1, wherein said top enclosure is bonded to the said bottom enclosure using an ultrasonic bonding technique.

17. An assembling method for handle unit having bottom enclosure,
top enclosure, locator and gripper unit, the method comprising:
Arranging said locator in said bottom enclosure;
Installing said gripper unit in said bottom enclosure;
Embedding an insert plate into said bottom enclosure using said locator; and
Fixing said top enclosure with said bottom enclosure to form an integrated handle portion.
18. The assembling method according to claim 17, wherein said insert
plate is seated at the inner surface of the said bottom enclosure.
19. The assembling method according to claim 17, wherein said insert plate has plurality of holes formed at the surface at equal distances.
20. The assembling method according to claim 17, wherein said insert plate is made up of metals.
21. The assembling method according to claim 17, wherein said insert plate is made up of mild steel.

22. The assembling method according to claim 17, wherein said insert plate is made up of aluminum.
23. The assembling method according to claim 17, wherein said locator has protrusions.
24. The assembling method according to claim 17, wherein said protrusions of the said locator are inserted into the said holes provided in the said insert plate to position the said insert plate around the entire handle portion.
25. The assembling method according to claim 17, wherein said top enclosure is bonded to the said bottom enclosure using an ultrasonic welding technique.

26. The assembling method according to claim 17, wherein said bottom enclosure is made up of thermo plastic material.
27. The assembling method according to claim 17, wherein said top enclosure is made up of thermo plastic material.

28. The assembling method according to claim 17, wherein said hand
gripper unit is made up of elastomeric material.
29. The assembling method according to claim 17, wherein said hand gripper is made up of silicon rubber.
30. The assembling method according to claim 17, wherein said hand gripper is provided with plurality of tiny pips on the bottom holding surface to provide an anti slippage characteristics.