Patent Publication Number: US-2011073342-A1

Title: Device for driving instruments and tools and the use thereof

Description:
The invention relates to a device for driving instrument and tools, and the use thereof. 
     Such devices are generally known. Accordingly, such devices serve, for example, in the medical field of gynecology, for driving cutting devices to be put into rotation for removing tissue from a uterus, a uterus overall, or for the treatment of myomas, etc. Such devices are further utilized in medicine in numerous, partially broad specialty fields, such as with surgical procedures in the abdomen, stomach, and for the removal of the gall bladder or the removal of the appendix. Such devices usually have a housing for accommodating a motor, a power supply device associated with the motor, and a conical drive element associated with the motor, partially projecting from the housing, and interacting with the instruments or tools, and a switching device disposed on the exterior side of the housing for switching the motor on or off. However, such devices have proven relatively disadvantageous in practice. Such devices all have a switching device comprising an actuating element, which is invariably embodied as a pushbutton switch that can be radially moved in and out of the housing, or as a sliding switch that can be displaced back and forth in longitudinal direction of the housing. Such an actuating element is consequently positioned at a certain location of the housing. In order to actuate the same the device must therefore in general be initially aligned opposite of the thumb or a finger of the user&#39;s hand in an exact manner. Subsequent to that only, the actuating element can then be radially pushed or displaced in longitudinal direction. Such necessary handling is extensive and prevents a prompt engagement, which is cumbersome particularly in case of surgeries in the medical field. 
     The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device for driving instruments and tools, by means of which the above disadvantages can be avoided, which is consequently constructed in a particularly simple, compact, and stable manner, and simultaneously enables simple and quick handling, and which provides an advantageous use of said device. 
     Said problem is solved in a surprisingly simple manner with regard to the device mechanism by means of the characteristics of claim  1 . 
     Accordingly, a simple, compact, and stable construction of the entire device can be achieved by means of configuring the device according to the invention for driving instruments and tools, comprising a housing for accommodating a motor, a power supply device associated with the motor, and a conical drive element associated with the motor, partially projecting from the housing and interacting with the instruments or tools, and a switching device disposed on the exterior side of the housing for switching the motor on and off, wherein the switching device comprises an actuating element extending at least partially, particularly completely, about the circumference of the housing and is configured in a relatively pivotable manner opposite of the housing. Furthermore, by configuring the device according to the invention with an actuating element of the switching device extending at least partially about the circumference of the housing and embodied in a relatively pivoting manner opposite of the housing an overall markedly simple and quick handling of the device overall is achieved. In this manner the device does not need to first be brought into position with the use thereof in order to align the actuating element opposite the thumb or a finger of the user&#39;s hand. Due to the fact that the actuating element extends at least partially about the circumference of the housing and can be relatively pivoted opposite of the housing, a separate, extensive positioning of the device is no longer required. At best merely a slight twisting of the device is to be carried out in one movement, which becomes less extensive the more the actuating element extends about the circumference of the housing. In this manner the handling of the device according to the invention is significantly simplified both for users that are right-handed as well as left-handed. 
     Further advantageous details of the device according to the invention are described in claims  2  to  29 . 
     The characteristics of claim  2  are of particular meaning, according to which the actuating element of the switching device is embodied in annularly or in disk shape. The actuating element of the switching device therefore extends about the entire circumference of the housing of the device according to the invention. The actuating element of the switching device is consequently accessible in an unimpeded manner independent of the device itself. Any positioning or aligning of the device in the hand of the user can be completely omitted. Handling is also significantly simplified for both a right-handed and a left-handed user. 
     In a particularly advantageous manner the actuating element of the switching device according to claim  3  is embodied as a ring that is supported particularly on a part of the housing. In this manner the actuating element obtains additional stability, which benefits the entire device according to the invention in the handling thereof. 
     According to measures of claim  3  the actuating element of the switching device extends beyond the exterior side of the housing, thus improving the ability to handle the device according to the invention by means of easily reaching the actuating element of the switching device without even having to look at it, e.g. by means of merely touching the same. 
     Furthermore, it is within the scope of the invention that the actuating element of the switching device according to claim  5  has profiling on the outer circumference thereof. Due to such profiling the handling of the device according to the invention can be further improved by means of increasing the grip of the actuating element. Any unintentional slipping off of the thumb or the respective finger of the user from the actuating element is therefore impossible. 
     For this purpose the profiling according to claim  6  is advantageously embodied on the outer circumference of the actuating element of the switching device as a knurling, gearwheel, or crown gear. As an alternative, the profiling may also be embodied in the form of at least two recessed grips or the like, wherein in this case however, preferably at least four recessed grips should be provided, e.g. one recessed grip each at a 90° spacing. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention the actuating element of the switching device according to claim  7  is embodied in a relatively pivoting manner opposite of the housing about the longitudinal axis of the housing or an axis parallel to the same. 
     Furthermore, the invention provides that the actuating element of the switching device according to claim  8  can be relatively pivoted from a first position, particularly an initial position, into a second position, particularly a contact position, and vice versa, opposite of the housing. 
     The characteristics of claims  9  to  12  serve to simplify construction of the device according to the invention and simultaneously improve the compactness and stability of the device according to the invention. 
     Accordingly, at least one stop element is associated with the actuating element of the switching device according to claim  9  for limiting the relative pivoting of the actuating element opposite of the housing. Such an embodiment is achieved in a simple manner in that the actuating element of the switching device can be pivoted back and forth between the two positions, more specifically between the initial position and the contact position. The pivoting movement of the actuating element of the switching device is therefore defined in an exact manner. 
     In this context the invention provides that the actuating element of the switching device according to the characteristics of claim  10  is equipped with at least one substantially curved elongated hole or recess in which a pin, bolt, or similar guide element is accommodated extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     Preferably, the actuating element of the switching device according to claim  11  is equipped with two substantially curved elongated holes or recesses in which a pin, bolt, or similar guide element is accommodated extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     The characteristics of claim  12 , in that the two curved elongated holes or recesses are disposed at an offset toward each other at the actuating element of the switching devices substantially by about 180°, additionally serve for an exact guiding and limiting of the actuating element during the pivoting thereof relative to the housing. 
     Of particular interest are the constructive measures of claim  13 . Accordingly, the switching device comprises a magnetic switch, particularly a Reed switch, for turning the motor on and off. In this manner a free movement of the switching device is ensured, as the individual components are not in any mechanical engagement with each other. Simultaneously, this reduces any mechanical abrasion and associated susceptibility of failure of the individual components among each other. Both increases the life of the switching device, which in turn has a very advantageous effect on the device according to the invention overall, especially if the device has an encapsulated housing. Finally, the magnetic switch has the particular advantage over liquid, steam, and/or gas, which are utilized for the sterilization of the device after successful use thereof, of being non-sensitive and absolutely leak-proof. 
     For this purpose the switching device according to claim  14  preferably comprises a contact wire for the electric connection of the motor to the power supply device and a magnet interacting with the contact wire. 
     According to claim  15  the contact wire of the switching device is substantially disposed in a groove extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and the magnet is disposed on the actuating element of the switching device at the interior circumference thereof in a manner facing the contact wire, and vice versa. 
     In order to further simplify the handling of the device according to the invention the switching device according to claim  16  comprises a resetting device which is associated with the actuating element and pressurizes the actuating element such that the actuating element can be returned automatically from the contact position into the initial position. 
     In this context it is particularly advantageous that the resetting device according to claim  17  has a magnetic arrangement, wherein a magnet is disposed on or in the actuating element of the switching device, and two magnets associated with the one magnet are disposed in the housing. 
     In an alternative embodiment the resetting device according to claim  17  may comprise a spring arrangement, wherein a spring is disposed between the actuating element of the switching device and the housing. 
     It is further within the scope of the invention that the switching device according to claim  19  comprises a relay that is associated with the motor. For this purpose the relay has two particularly important functions: the relay serves to build up and maintain a sufficient operating voltage for the motor or the contact wire of the switching device, and the relay is provided as a motor brake for the motor. In this regard a turning on or off of the motor occurs nearly in real time. A so-called dieseling of the motor is therefore excluded. 
     Furthermore, the constructive measures of claim  20  are of particularly significant meaning. Accordingly, the switching device comprises a device for displaying the current state of the power supply device associated with the motor. It is also conceivable to display the remaining, thus available charge of an accumulator or a battery available to the user, or also the current activity state during the charging of an accumulator by means of such a device. 
     For this purpose the invention provides that the switching device according to claim  21  comprises at least one light-impermeable housing section that is equipped with optical signaling elements, particularly with light-emitting diodes. 
     Purposefully, the at least one light-impermeable housing section according to claim  22  is embodied in a continuous, particularly annular manner. In an alternative or cumulative embodiment the at least one light-impermeable housing section may also be embodied in a discontinuous, particularly punctiform manner. 
     According to claim  23  the housing is embodied in an encapsulated manner in a particularly preferred embodiment, wherein the power supply device has at least one rechargeable accumulator. Due to such an encapsulated embodiment of the housing a high life expectancy of the device according to the invention can be obtained, since the device may be sterilized multiple times using liquid, steam, and/or gas without any adverse influence on the functionality thereof, and may thus be reused for subsequent uses and operations. The encapsulation of the housing safely counteracts any ingress of moisture into the interior of the device according to the invention. 
     In this context the invention provides that the at least one rechargeable accumulator according to claim  24  can be electrically connected to an external charging device via contacts disposed on an exterior side of the housing. 
     In an alternative embodiment in this regard the housing according to claim  25  may advantageously be closed in a sealed manner via a screw, bayonet or similar closure using a cover or cap-shaped closing element, wherein the power supply device has at least one battery. 
     In a further alternative embodiment the housing according to claim  26  is embodied in an encapsulated manner, wherein the power supply device has a line for the electric connection to an external power source. 
     In a particularly advantageous manner the housing and/or the switching device and/or the actuating element and/or the light-impermeable housing section according to claim  27  may be made from plastic, particularly (hard) polyvinyl chloride, polyoximethylene (POM), polyester, polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU), ABS, acrylic, polycarbonate, tetrafluoroethylene or impax, duro-plastic elastomers, with or without fiber glass reinforcement, or of a combination thereof. The device according to the invention is of particularly light weight construction and may be produced in a considerably cost-effective manner. 
     As an alternative it is also within the scope of the invention that the housing and/or the switching device and/or the actuating device according to claim  28  are made from metal, particularly (rust-resistant) steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, zinc, gunmetal alloys, or an alloy thereof. 
     The device can therefore be thermally and/or chemically sterilized overall and reused for multiple uses without any problems. 
     Furthermore, the characteristics of claim  29 , according to which the housing can be produced by means of milling, injection molding, or laser, serves for a versatile and an individual applicability that is especially adjusted to individual conditions, and a cost-effective production of the device according to the invention. 
     Said problem is finally also solved with regard to the use thereof by means of the characteristics of claim  30 . 
     Accordingly, a device may be utilized for driving instruments and tools for laparoscopic, thoracoscopic, or arthroscopic and minimally invasive surgical procedures. The device according to the invention is suitable for driving, for example, morcellators in order to cut out and remove tissue cylinders from tissue located within a body or joint cavity and/or in or on a wall region thereof, such as of an organic body that is at least partially accommodated in and/or surrounded by an organic hollow space of a human body, preferably of embryos, myomas, tumors, abscesses, and carcinomas. 
    
    
     
       Further characteristics, advantages, and details of the invention are obvious from the following description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, and from the drawings. They show: 
         FIG. 1  a perspective front view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention for driving instruments and tools, 
         FIG. 2  a perspective rear view of the embodiment of the device according to the invention for driving instruments and tools according to  FIG. 1 , 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  a top view and a bottom view of the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention according to  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 5  a side view of the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention according to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , 
         FIG. 6  a cross-sectional view across the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention in longitudinal direction of line VI-VI in  FIG. 5 , 
         FIG. 7  a cross-sectional view across the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention in longitudinal direction of line VII-VII in  FIG. 5 , 
         FIGS. 8A to 8E  a broken, schematic, perspective front view, top view, perspective rear view and bottom view, and a side view of the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention according to  FIGS. 1 to 7 , 
         FIGS. 9A to 9F  a perspective view and a side view of a different embodiment of a device embodied according to the invention and a top view, a further side view, and two cross-sectional views across the embodiment of the device in longitudinal direction of lines IXE-IXE and IXF-IXF in  FIG. 9D , 
         FIGS. 10 to 16  a perspective front view, a perspective rear view, a top view, a bottom view, and a side view of yet another embodiment of a device according to the invention for driving instruments and tools, and a cross-sectional view across the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention in longitudinal direction of line XV-XV in  FIG. 14 , and a cross-sectional view across the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention in longitudinal direction of line XVI-XVI in  FIG. 14 , according to  FIGS. 1 to 7 , and 
         FIGS. 17 to 21  cross-sectional views across the embodiment of the device embodied according to the invention according to  FIGS. 10 to 16  in longitudinal direction of lines XVII-XVII, XVIII-XVIII, and XIX-XIX in  FIG. 14  and in longitudinal direction of lines XX-XX and XXI-XXI in  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     The device  10  according to the invention is provided for driving instruments and tools. In the following description of some of the exemplary embodiments of the device  10  according to the invention corresponding, equal components are each denoted by identical reference numerals. 
     The—particularly portable—device  10  according to the invention is suitable for driving instruments and tools in general. For this purpose the same may be instruments and tools usually utilized in the handicraft industry, with material processing, etc. in a multi-functional manner. Furthermore, the device  10  according to the invention is suitable for driving medical instruments and tools in particular, such as for driving cutting devices for surgery to be placed in rotation, particularly for removing organic tissue, preferably myomas, tumors, abscesses, carcinomas, etc., or an inorganic body, such as gall and bladder stones or similar agglomerations, which are accommodated and/or surrounded by a body or joint cavity, such as an organic hollow space of a human or animal body, and/or are at least partially accommodated and/or surrounded in or at a wall section thereof. 
     A preferred embodiment of such a device  10  according to the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 8E . 
     The device  10  has a housing  12  and a switching device  16  disposed on the exterior side  14  of the housing  12 . 
     As can be seen, particularly from  FIGS. 1 to 8E , the housing  12  is embodied substantially in the form of a cylinder. Without providing a particular illustration, the housing  12  may, alternatively or cumulatively, have an anatomical shape that is adjusted to the hand of a user. 
     According to  FIGS. 8A to 8E  the housing  12  accommodates a motor  18 , a power supply device  20  which is associated with the motor  18 , and a conical drive element  22 . The conical drive element  22  is also associated with the motor  18 , partially projects from the housing  12 , more specifically from the upper front side  24  of the exterior  14  of the housing  12 , and interacts with the instruments or tools (not illustrated) to be driven. 
     The switching device  16  serves for turning the motor  18  on and off. For this purpose the switching device  16  comprises an actuating element  26 . 
     The actuating element  26  extends at least partially, and particularly completely, about the circumference of the cylindrically embodied housing  12 , and is configured in a relative pivoting manner opposite of the housing  12  according to double arrow  28 . 
     In the embodiment of the device  10  according to the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 to 8E  the actuating element  26  of the switching device  16  is embodied in a ring or disk shape. Preferably, the actuating element  26  of the switching element  16  is configured as a ring according to  FIG. 6 , which is supported on a part  12 ′ of the housing  12  in an advantageous manner. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the part  12 ′ of the housing  12  is also embodied in a cylindrical shape. 
     In the embodiment of the device  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 8E  the actuating element  26  projects at the exterior circumference  30  thereof beyond the exterior side  14  of the housing  12 . In this regard the actuating element  26  has a larger outside diameter than the housing  12  itself. In this manner the actuating element  26  may be gripped simply and quickly, without exerting any great effort, and operated for the further handling of the device  10 . 
     Furthermore, the actuating element  26  of the switching device  16  is equipped with a profiling  32  on the exterior circumference  30  thereof. The profiling  32  on the exterior circumference  30  is configured as knurling, gearwheel, crown gear, or the like. 
     The actuating element  26  of the switching device  16  is embodied in a manner pivoting relative about the longitudinal axis  34  of the housing opposite of the housing  12 , or about an axis positioned parallel thereto, in an advantageous manner. 
     Furthermore, the actuating element  26  of the switching device  16  may be pivoted relative opposite of the housing  12  from a first position, particularly an initial position, illustrated schematically in  FIG. 6  into a second position, particularly a contact position (not illustrated), and vice versa. 
     In order to limit the relative pivoting of the actuating element  26  opposite of the housing  12  at least one stop element  36  is associated with the actuating element  26  according to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In the embodiment of the device  10  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  the stop element comprises at least one substantially curved longitudinal hole  38 , or a respectively formed recess, in which a pin  40 , bolt, or similar guide or connecting link element is accommodated. The pin  40 , bolt or similar guide element extends parallel to the longitudinal axis  34  of the housing  12 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment of the device  10  according to  FIGS. 6 and 7  the at least one stop element  36  is configured in the form of two substantially curved longitudinal holes  38  or recesses, in which one pin  40 , bolt or similar guide element is accommodated and guided, which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis  34  of the housing  12 . The pin  40 , bolt or similar guide element is inserted and accommodated in a bore  42  at each end in an accurately fitting manner. 
     The length of the substantially curved longitudinal hole  38  or similar recess determines the location of the first position or initial position, and of the second position or contact position of the actuating element  26 . 
     Preferably, the two curved longitudinal holes  38  or recesses are disposed on the actuating element  26  substantially at an offset of 180° to each other, e.g. across the circumference of the actuating element  26  embodied as a ring in a uniformly disposed manner. In this manner an exact guiding and simultaneous limiting of the pivoting movement of the actuating element  26  can be achieved. 
     Furthermore, the switching device  16  comprises a magnetic switch  33 , which is preferably configured as a Reed switch in order to turn the motor  18  on and/or off, and vice versa. 
     In particular, the switching device comprises a contact wire  46  for the electric connection of the motor  18  by means of the power supply device  20  and a magnet  48  interacting with the contact wire  46 . The contact wire  46  of the switching device  16  is disposed in a groove  49  extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing  12 . The magnet  48  on the other hand, is disposed on the actuating element  26  of the switching device  16 , more specifically on the interior circumference  50 , and facing the contact wire  46 . Without illustrating the same in detail, a kinematic reverse of the same is also conceivable, although such a construction would involve an increased construction effort. 
     In the embodiment of the device  10  according to the invention the switching device  16 , as illustrated particularly in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , further has a resetting device  52  that is associated with the actuating element  26 . The resetting device  52  pressurizes the actuating element  26  such that the actuating element  26  can be automatically returned from the contact position (not illustrated) into the initial position according to  FIG. 6 . In this manner it is ensured that the actuating element  26  returns to the initial position automatically without any active handling, thus promptly turning the motor off, whereby the device  10  according to the invention is put out of operation overall. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment of the device  10  the resetting device  52  has a magnetic arrangement  54 . The magnetic arrangement  54  comprises a magnet  56  of a certain polarity, which is disposed on or in the actuating element  26 . The magnetic arrangement  54  is further equipped with two magnets  58 ,  60 , which face the magnet  56  and are disposed in the housing  12 . For this purpose the magnet  58  has a polarity corresponding to the polarity of the magnet  56 . The magnet  60 , however, has a polarity that is opposite the polarity of each of the magnets  56 ,  58 . In this manner the actuating element  26  makes an attempt to permanently return to the first position, e.g. the initial position, from the second position against the retaining force of the user. 
     Without illustrating the same in detail, the resetting device  52  may, of course, also be formed by means of a spring arrangement, wherein a spring (not shown) is disposed between the actuating element  26  of the switching device  16  and the housing  12 . Due to the spring generating a spring force that is acting opposite of the retaining force of the user, the actuating element  26  also makes an attempt to return into the initial position. 
     The switching device  16  is further equipped with a device  62  for displaying the current state of the power supply device  20 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  5 , which is associated with the motor  18 . In the exemplary embodiment according to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  5  the device  62  comprises a housing section  64 , which is light-permeable, and is equipped with optical signaling elements  66 , particularly light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the interior (compare to particularly  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B,  8 D, and  8 E). The light-permeable housing section  64  is embodied in an annular manner, e.g. as a ring, in the embodiment of the device  10  according to  FIGS. 1 to 8E . 
     It would be conceivable, for example, that white signaling elements  66  are activated as long as the power supply device  20  has a charge state between 50% and 100%. The annular housing section  64  therefore glows in white. If the charge state of the power supply device  20  achieves a charge state of between 30% and 50%, blue signaling elements  66  are activated, for example, whereby the housing section  64  then glows in blue. If, however, the charge state of the power supply device  20  is less than 30%, red signaling elements  66  are automatically activated, which will now illuminate the housing section  64  in red. The user will therefore be notified of the current charge state of the power supply device  20  in a timely manner. 
     Furthermore, in the embodiment of the device  10  according to  FIGS. 1 to 8E , the housing  12  is embodied in an encapsulated manner. For this purpose the power supply device  20  has at least one rechargeable accumulator  68 . The accumulator  68  can be electrically connected to an external charger (not illustrated) via approximately punctiform contacts  70 ,  72 . The contacts  70 ,  72  are disposed on the exterior side  14  of the housing  12 , more specifically on the bottom front side  74 . In order to achieve a recharging of the power supply device  20  in the external charger, additional constructive measures may optionally be required, such as centering devices or the like, in order to be able to achieve a respective automatic contacting between the device  10  and the external charger. 
     As the schematic illustrations of  FIGS. 8A to 8E  show, the device  10  according to the invention further comprises a relay  76 , which is associated with the motor  18  in the region of the bottom front side  74  of the housing  12 . The relay  76  is disposed between a control board  78  and the magnetic switch  44 , which in turn is electrically connected to the control board  78 . The relay  76  serves for the construction and the maintaining of a sufficient operating voltage of the motor  18  as soon as the magnetic switch  44  is activated due to a pivoting of the actuating element  26 . The relay  76  also serves as a brake for the motor  18  in a particularly advantageous manner. In this regard a dieseling of the motor  18  after the return of the actuating element  26  into the initial position thereof, and thus after deactivating the magnetic switch  44 , is safely excluded. The result is a very exact handling possibility of the device  10  according to the invention by means of the user. 
     An insulating layer  80  is provided between the power supply device  20  and the control board  78 , which serves for the mechanical and thermal separation of the power supply device  20  and the control board  78 . 
     As is obvious particularly from  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B, and  8 E, the motor  18  is equipped with a shield plate  82  or the like at the exterior circumference thereof in order to achieve an electromagnetic shield between the motor  18  and the magnetic switch  44 . 
     Furthermore, a gear  84  that is interconnected between the motor  18  and the conical drive element  22  is in turn associated with the motor  18  in a directly adjacent manner. The gear  84  that may be provided purely optionally ensures precisely predefined rotational speeds and/or force or torque transmissions, which are initiated onto the conical element  22  by the motor  18 , and are in turn to be transferred onto the instruments or tools by the same. The drive element  22  may be equipped, for example, with a profile having a rectangular, elliptical, trapezoid, parallelogram, or semicircular cross-section. 
     The device  10  and the instruments or tools can be detachably connected to each other in reciprocal engagement via bores  85  or recesses or projections (not illustrated) that are radially disposed on the housing  12 , and projections or bores or recesses on stationary components of the instruments or tools (not illustrated) that are embodied corresponding to the same, which are provided as a coupling. 
     The conical drive element  22  itself is supported on a ball bearing  86  and is carried by the same. The ball bearing  86  is held at a distance by a seal  90  via a spacer ring  88 . The seal  90  closes an annular gap  92  on the upper front side  24  of the housing  12 , and ensures a complete encapsulation or enclosement of the housing  12  overall in this regard. 
     A further embodiment of a device  10  according to the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 9A to 9F . The embodiment according to  FIGS. 9A to 9F  corresponds substantially with the embodiment of the device  10  according to  FIGS. 1 to 8E  with regard to the function thereof. 
     However, the dimensions and shape of the device  10  according to  FIGS. 9A to 9F  differ with regard to the construction thereof. 
     For example, the dimensions of the embodiment of the device  10  according to  FIGS. 9A to 9F  are selected proportionally significantly larger. This primarily results from the fact that the device  10  according to  FIGS. 9A to 9F  is equipped with a power supply device  20  that comprises a total of three rechargeable accumulators  68  (not illustrated). In this regard the housing  12  mandatorily must be embodied at a larger size. 
     Furthermore, the device  10  of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9A to 9F  additionally has a base element  94  in the region of the bottom front side  74  of the housing  12 . For this purpose the base element  94  serves for an automatic setup or erection of the device  10  during the use thereof. Furthermore, the base element  94  counteracts a possible self-actuated movement of the device  10  in case of a lateral lengthwise storage. 
     A further constructive difference between the embodiment of the device  10  according to  FIGS. 9A to 9F  as opposed to the embodiment according to  FIGS. 1 to 8E , or  8 A to  8 F is the embodiment of the light-permeable housing section  64 ′. The housing section  64 ′ is in fact embodied discontinuously, particularly in a punctiform manner. A total of three light-permeable, punctiform embodied housing sections  64 ′ are provided in the base element  94 , to which one signaling element  66  of different color is associated with. The color scheme for displaying the current charge state of the power supply device  20  may be selected equal to that of the previous embodiments. It is, however, also conceivable to prefer a different color scheme, such as that of a traffic light. In this manner, the colors green could indicate a charge state of the power supply device of between 50% and 100%, yellow between 30% and 50%, and red less than 30% to up to no charge present. 
     Finally,  FIGS. 10 to 21  illustrate yet a further embodiment of a device  10  according to the invention. The embodiment according to  FIGS. 10 to 21  corresponds substantially to the embodiments of the device  10  according to  FIGS. 1 to 8E  or  9 A to  9 F with regard to the function thereof. 
     Furthermore, the embodiment of the device according to the invention according to  FIGS. 10 to 21  substantially equals that according to  FIGS. 1 to 8E  with few exceptions with regard to the construction thereof. 
     Accordingly, the actuating element  26  of the switching device  16  is equipped with a different profiling  32  on the exterior circumference  30  thereof. The profiling  32  on the exterior circumference  30  is embodied in the form of at least two recessed grips  96  or the like, which are disposed on the exterior circumference  30  of the actuating element  26  at the same distance to each other. In such an embodiment, however, more than two recessed grips  96  are of advantage. As shown, particularly in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a total of 8 such recessed grips  96  are purposefully provided in the illustrated embodiment of the device  10  according to  FIGS. 12 to 21 . 
     Furthermore, a recharging of the at least one accumulator  68  may be carried out automatically in the embodiment of the device  10  according to  FIGS. 10 to 21  as soon as the device  10  is plugged into a respective recess of the external charger. In this manner the contact  70 , which is embodied, for example, as a positive terminal, is disposed in the center at the bottom front side  74  of the housing  12 . Instead of a punctiform contact  72 , however, a substantially circular contact  72 ′ is provided, which in turn is embodied as a negative terminal. Due to the arrangement and embodiment of the contacts  70 ,  72 ′ a certain positioning or insertion of the device  10  into the recess of the external charger is not required. 
     Finally, the arrangement of the relay  76  is different in the region of the bottom front side  74  of the housing from the embodiment of the device  10  according to  FIGS. 1 to 8E . In the embodiment of the device  10  according to  FIGS. 10 to 21  the relay  76  is disposed opposite of the motor  18  in a directly adjacent manner, thus obtaining a simplified construction overall. 
     The housing  12  and/or the switching device  16  and/or the actuating element  26  and/or the light-permeable housing section  64 ,  64 ′ are preferably made from plastic, particularly (hard) polyvinyl chloride, polyoximethylene (POM), polyester, polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU), ABS, acrylic, polycarbonate, tetrafluoroethylene or impax, duro-plastic elastomers, with or without fiber glass reinforcement, or of a combination thereof. 
     As an alternative, or cumulatively, the housing  12  and/or the switching device  16  and/or the actuating device  26  may also be made from metal, particularly (rust-resistant) steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, zinc, gunmetal alloys, or an alloy thereof. 
     Finally, the housing  12  may be produced by means of milling, injection molding, or laser. 
     The invention is not limited to the previous embodiments. Rather, instead of an encapsulated housing  12  and a power supply device  20  having at least one rechargeable accumulator  64 , it is also possible to embody a housing having a screw, bayonet, or similar closure comprising a cover or cap-shaped closure element in a sealed and closeable manner, wherein in this case the power supply device  20  has at least one battery. In this manner a versatile and reusable device  10  may also be obtained. As an alternative it is also conceivable to embody the housing  12  in an encapsulated manner, wherein the power supply device  20 , however, has a line to an electric connection comprising an external power source (also not illustrated).