CN111603349B

CN111603349B - Craniotomy auxiliary medical instrument for surgical operation

Info

Publication number: CN111603349B
Application number: CN202010490852.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 金桥
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-06-02
Filing date: 2020-06-02
Publication date: 2022-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 2040-06-02
Also published as: CN111603349A

Abstract

The invention provides an auxiliary medical instrument for craniotomy for surgical operation, which comprises a supporting seat and a fourth table top, wherein the top of the supporting seat is provided with a movable rotary table for craniotomy, the top of the movable rotary table is provided with a first hydraulic rod for lifting a craniotomy operating table, the telescopic end of the first hydraulic rod is fixedly connected with the middle parts of two reinforcing rods, the two ends of the two reinforcing rods are fixedly connected with the two sides of the inner wall of a supporting frame, and the top parts of the two reinforcing rods are fixedly provided with two fixed blocks. The stability of the craniotomy is improved, the craniotomy is convenient to smoothly carry out, and the success rate of the operation is improved.

Description

Craniotomy auxiliary medical instrument for surgical operation

Technical Field

The invention belongs to the technical field of medical instruments, and particularly relates to a craniotomy auxiliary medical instrument for surgical operation.

Background

Craniotomy is also called craniotomy, and is generally clinically performed under the conditions that the cranium of a patient is injured or the brain tumor of the patient is removed, the craniotomy generally cuts a U-shaped opening on the scalp of the patient, then makes holes on the cranium, takes out the corresponding cranium, performs medical operation, and then puts the cranium back to suture the wound.

The craniotomy auxiliary device is generally an existing craniotomy auxiliary device which is placed in an operating room for use, most of the craniotomy auxiliary devices are used for fixing a patient by a doctor, the correct angle of craniotomy is adjusted, one person craniotomy needs to shave, disinfect and scribe the head of a corpse first, then a craniotomy saw is started to perform the whole craniotomy, the craniotomy work is complex, the auxiliary work needs to be done in advance by the doctor during craniotomy, after the operation is completed, the sawed skull bone needs to be reset and fixed, and the skull is sutured, the whole craniotomy process is long, and the existing working mode has the defects that the preparation work for craniotomy is insufficient and has the following defects:

1. the patient needs to be fixed on the operation table board by manual assistance, the degree of automatic assistance is low, and a doctor operating the craniotome saw needs to lower the head to operate, so that the operation is very labor-consuming and time-consuming;

2. in the existing craniotomy auxiliary process, the legs, the waist and the head of a human body are not fixed, so that the efficiency of the craniotomy is influenced.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide craniotomy auxiliary medical equipment for surgical operations, which comprises a supporting seat and a fourth table top, wherein the top of the supporting seat is provided with a movable turntable for craniotomy, the top of the movable turntable is provided with a first hydraulic rod for lifting a craniotomy operating table, the telescopic end of the first hydraulic rod is fixedly connected with the middle parts of two reinforcing rods, the two ends of the two reinforcing rods are fixedly connected with the two sides of the inner wall of a supporting frame, the tops of the two reinforcing rods are fixedly provided with two fixed blocks, the tops of the two fixed blocks are provided with adjusting mechanisms, the two sides of the inner wall of one end of the two supporting frames are fixedly provided with first supporting plates, the middle parts of the top ends of the first supporting plates are fixedly connected with the bottom ends of second electric telescopic rods for adjusting the horizontal height of the head of a craniotomy patient through supporting mechanisms, one side of the fourth table top is fixedly provided with a fixing mechanism, the other end of each support frame is provided with an adjusting mechanism, one end of each support frame is fixedly provided with a connecting rod, one side of each connecting rod is provided with two first electric telescopic rods for telescopically adjusting the length of the craniotomy auxiliary table board, one end of each first electric telescopic rod is fixedly connected with one side of a fixed plate, two sides of the fixed plate are movably connected with two sides of an inclined plate through short plates, one side of the inclined plate is movably connected with one end of the first table board through a movable hinge, two sides of the bottom end of the first table board are fixedly connected with the tops of the support frames through second electric telescopic rods, the bottom end of each support seat is fixedly provided with a base, leg columns are fixedly arranged on two sides of the base, and pulleys are fixedly arranged at two ends of the two leg columns;

guiding mechanism includes the box of placing with one side fixed connection on two fixed block tops, the both sides of placing the box are provided with first post, two the equal fixed mounting of one end of first post has electronic hinge, one side of electronic hinge is provided with the second post, the one end of second post and circular baffle's bottom fixed connection, the middle part of placing box one side is provided with the third post, the bottom fixed connection of activity hinge and circular baffle is passed through to the one end of third post, the circular baffle top is provided with the second mesa, the fluting has been seted up at the top of second mesa, the size phase-match of fluting size and circular baffle.

In order to facilitate the driving of the upper movable plate and the lower movable plate to cooperate with each other, as a preferred choice of the invention, one side of the fixed block is provided with a rotating handle, the middle part of the rotating handle is connected with the insides of the two limiting cylinders in an inserting way, the two ends of the rotating handle are fixedly connected with the inner wall of the supporting frame, one side of the two limiting cylinders is fixedly provided with a stretching plate, one ends of the two stretching plates are connected with the two groups of upper movable plates and the lower movable plate through pin shafts, the top of the upper movable plate is movably connected with the bottom end of the third table top through a movable hinge, and the bottom end of the lower movable plate is fixedly connected with the top of the second supporting plate through a movable hinge.

In order to facilitate adjustment of the four table tops, as a preferable aspect of the present invention, two second hydraulic rods are disposed at the top of the second support plate, four first fixing strips are fixedly mounted at two sides of the second hydraulic rods, one end of each of the four first fixing strips is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the second fixing strip through a third hydraulic rod, and the tops of the second fixing strips are all connected to the four third table tops.

In order to facilitate the adjustment of the supporting mechanism, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the supporting mechanism further comprises a second electric telescopic rod fixedly connected to the top end of the first supporting plate, the top end of the second electric telescopic rod is movably connected to the bottom end of the fourth table top through a movable pin, a first bending rod and a second bending rod are respectively installed on two sides of the top end of the first supporting plate, and the first bending rod and the second bending rod are movably connected through a movable pin.

In order to facilitate the fixation of the head of the patient, as a preferable aspect of the present invention, the fixing mechanism includes a fifth table top fixedly connected to one side of the fourth table top, an installation block is disposed on the top of the fifth table top, two third electric telescopic rods are fixedly installed on two sides of the top of the installation block, one end of each of the two third electric telescopic rods is slidably connected to a slide rail on one side of the semicircular fixing ring through a sliding block, and two sides of the fifth table top are fixedly connected to two sides of the fourth table top through the third electric telescopic rods.

In order to facilitate clamping of different parts of a mixed patient, as a preferable mode of the invention, two sides of the support frame are respectively provided with two first connecting rods, the top ends of the two first connecting rods are movably connected with one end of a cross rod through a rotating shaft, the other end of the cross rod is movably connected with a bearing at the top of a second connecting rod, the bottom end of the second connecting rod is in sliding connection with the support frame through a sliding groove between a sliding block and the support frame, two sides of the support frame are provided with support rods, the top ends of the support rods are fixedly provided with semicircular grooves, one side of each semicircular groove is fixedly provided with a fourth electric telescopic rod, and one end of each fourth electric telescopic rod is fixedly connected with an arc-shaped clamping block.

In order to facilitate control, as a preferable aspect of the present invention, the fourth electric telescopic rod, the first electric telescopic rod, the second electric telescopic rod, the third electric telescopic rod, the first hydraulic rod, the second hydraulic rod, and the third hydraulic rod are electrically connected to a PLC controller.

Compared with the prior art, the invention has the beneficial effects that:

1) through the cooperation of the arranged semicircular fixing rings and the third electric telescopic rods, the head of a patient before the operation can be conveniently fixed, the head of the patient can be prevented from sliding in the operation process, the two semicircular fixing rings can be rapidly slid through the third electric telescopic rods at the two ends of the fixing block, so that the head of the patient with the cranium can be clamped, the stability of the craniotomy can be improved, the craniotomy can be conveniently and smoothly carried out, and the success rate of the operation can be improved;

2) through the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod that set up, be convenient for to the cross bar on the first connecting rod of adjustment support frame both sides mutually support to the second connecting rod, and can carry out the operation of the type of difference, support shank, waist and chest of patient and press from both sides tightly, press from both sides tightly the waist through flexible semicircular groove of fourth electric telescopic handle, improve the supplementary efficiency of operation.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention and not to limit the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a second schematic structural diagram of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a third schematic view of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an adjusting mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural view of a support mechanism according to the present invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of the fixing mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an adjusting mechanism according to the present invention.

In the figure: 1. a supporting seat; 101. moving the turntable; 102. a first hydraulic lever; 103. a base; 104. a leg post; 105. a pulley; 2. a reinforcing bar; 21. a fixed block; 211. turning a handle; 212. a limiting cylinder; 213. stretching the plate; 214. an upper movable plate; 215. a movable plate is lowered; 3. a support frame; 301. a first link; 302. a cross bar; 303. a second link; 304. a chute; 305. a support bar; 306. a semicircular groove; 307. a fourth electric telescopic rod; 31. a first support plate; 32. a connecting rod; 321. a first electric telescopic rod; 322. a fixing plate; 323. a sloping plate; 4. an adjustment mechanism; 41. placing the box; 42. a first stem; 43. a second stem; 44. a circular baffle; 45. a third stem; 46. grooving; 5. a support mechanism; 51. a second electric telescopic rod; 52. a fourth table top; 53. a first bending bar; 54. a second bending bar; 6. a fixing mechanism; 61. a fifth table top; 62. mounting blocks; 63. a third electric telescopic rod; 64. a semicircular fixing ring; 7. an adjustment mechanism; 8. a first table top; 9. a second hydraulic rod; 91. a first fixing strip; 92. a third hydraulic lever; 93. a second fixing strip; 94. and a third mesa.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Example 1

Referring to fig. 1-8, the present invention provides the following technical solutions: a craniotomy auxiliary medical instrument for a surgical operation comprises a supporting seat 1 and a fourth table top 52, wherein a movable rotary table 101 for craniotomy is arranged at the top of the supporting seat 1, a first hydraulic rod 102 for lifting a craniotomy operating table is arranged at the top of the movable rotary table 101, the telescopic end of the first hydraulic rod 102 is fixedly connected with the middle parts of two reinforcing rods 2, the two ends of the two reinforcing rods 2 are fixedly connected with the two sides of the inner wall of a supporting frame 3, two fixing blocks 21 are fixedly arranged at the top parts of the two reinforcing rods 2, an adjusting mechanism 4 is arranged at the top parts of the two fixing blocks 21, a first supporting plate 31 is fixedly arranged at the two sides of the inner wall of one end of the two supporting frames 3, the middle part of the top end of the first supporting plate 31 is fixedly connected with the bottom end of a second electric telescopic rod 51 for adjusting the horizontal height of the head of a craniotomy patient through a supporting mechanism 5, a fixing mechanism 6 is fixedly arranged at one side of the fourth table top 52, the other end of the supporting frame 3 is provided with an adjusting mechanism 7, one end of each of the two supporting frames 3 is fixedly provided with a connecting rod 32, one side of each connecting rod 32 is provided with two first electric telescopic rods 321 for telescopically adjusting the length of the craniotomy auxiliary table top, one end of each of the two first electric telescopic rods 321 is fixedly connected with one side of the fixing plate 322, two sides of the fixing plate 322 are movably connected with two sides of the inclined plate 323 through short plates, one side of the inclined plate 323 is movably connected with one end of the first table top 8 through a movable hinge, two sides of the bottom end of the first table top 8 are fixedly connected with the top of the supporting frame 3 through the second electric telescopic rods 51, the bottom end of the supporting seat 1 is fixedly provided with a base 103, two sides of the base 103 are fixedly provided with leg columns 104, and two ends of the two leg columns 104 are fixedly provided with pulleys 105;

in this embodiment, guiding mechanism 4 includes the box 41 of placing with one side fixed connection on two fixed blocks 21 tops, the both sides of placing box 41 are provided with first post 42, the equal fixed mounting in one end of two first posts 42 has electronic hinge, one side of electronic hinge is provided with second post 43, the one end of second post 43 and circular baffle 44's bottom fixed connection, the middle part of placing box 41 one side is provided with third post 45, the bottom fixed connection of activity hinge and circular baffle 44 is passed through to the one end of third post 45, circular baffle 44 top is provided with the second mesa, fluting 46 has been seted up at the top of second mesa, the size of fluting 46 and circular baffle 44's size phase-match.

Before a craniotomy is performed on a patient, related auxiliary work before the operation needs to be done, the box 41 is placed on the adjusting mechanism 4, the first rods 42 on two inner sides are matched with the electric hinge to rotate, the second rods 43 are driven to regulate and control the top of the circular baffle 44, the third rods 45 and the movable hinge are arranged mutually, the circular baffle 44 is convenient to push the two rods 42, the circular baffle 44 in the telescopic process is convenient to guide through the arrangement of the third rods 45, and the craniotomy assistance is performed on the patient through the mutual matching of the slots 46 and the circular baffle 44 on the second table board.

In this embodiment, one side of the fixed block 21 is provided with a rotating handle 211, the middle of the rotating handle 211 is inserted into and connected with the inside of the two limiting cylinders 212, the two ends of the rotating handle 211 are fixedly connected with the inner wall of the supporting frame 3, one side of the two limiting cylinders 212 is fixedly provided with a stretching plate 213, one ends of the two stretching plates 213 are connected with the two groups of upper movable plates 214 and the lower movable plates 215 through pin shafts, the top of the upper movable plates 214 is movably connected with the bottom end of the third table-board 94 through a movable hinge, and the bottom end of the lower movable plates 215 is fixedly connected with the top of the second supporting plate through a movable hinge.

When the craniotome is used in daily craniotomy assistance, the craniotome needs to be adjusted preliminarily, the upper movable plate 214 and the lower movable plate 215 at one end of the stretching plate 213 are driven to be lifted by rotating the rotating handle 211 at the bottom end of the supporting frame 3, and then the third table top 94 is driven to support and adjust the chest of a craniotome patient, so that the craniotome effect is improved.

In this embodiment, two second hydraulic rods 9 are disposed at the top of the second support plate, four first fixing strips 91 are fixedly mounted on two sides of the second hydraulic rods 9, one ends of the four first fixing strips 91 are fixedly connected to the bottom ends of the second fixing strips 93 through third hydraulic rods 92, and the tops of the second fixing strips 93 are all connected to four third table boards 94.

During the specific use, the flexible first fixed strip 91 that drives through the second hydraulic stem 9 in the second backup pad supports the second hydraulic stem 9 of one end, supports four third mesa 94 fixedly through the flexible of second hydraulic stem 9, is convenient for adjust third mesa 94.

In this embodiment, the supporting mechanism 5 further includes a second electric telescopic rod 51 fixedly connected to the top end of the first supporting plate 31, the top end of the second electric telescopic rod 51 is movably connected to the bottom end of the fourth table 52 through a movable pin, a first bending rod 53 and a second bending rod 54 are respectively installed on two sides of the top end of the first supporting plate 31, and the first bending rod 53 is movably connected to the second bending rod 54 through a movable pin.

During specific use, the second electric telescopic rod 51 which is arranged upwards through the first supporting plate 31 on the supporting mechanism 5 can be used for quickly adjusting the fourth table-board 52, and the fourth table-board 52 can be quickly supported through the mutual matching of the first bending rod 53 and the second bending rod 54, so that the skull opening patient can be extended.

In this embodiment, the fixing mechanism 6 includes a fifth table 61 fixedly connected to one side of the fourth table 52, the top of the fifth table 61 is provided with an installation block 62, two third electric telescopic rods 63 are fixedly installed on two sides of the top of the installation block 62, one ends of the two third electric telescopic rods 63 are slidably connected to a slide way on one side of a semicircular fixing ring 64 through a sliding block, and two sides of the fifth table 61 are fixedly connected to two sides of the fourth table 52 through the third electric telescopic rods 63.

During specific use, before an operation, the head of a patient needs to be fixed, so that the sliding is prevented in the operation process, the two semicircular fixing rings 64 are rapidly slid through the third electric telescopic rods 63 at the two ends of the fixing block 21, the head of the patient with the skull split is clamped, the stability of the skull split operation is improved, and the success rate of the operation is improved.

In this embodiment, the both sides of support frame 3 are provided with two first connecting rods 301 respectively, the one end swing joint of pivot and horizontal pole 302 is passed through on the top of two first connecting rods 301, the other end and the bearing swing joint at second connecting rod 303 top of horizontal pole 302, spout 304 sliding connection between slider and the support frame 3 is passed through to the bottom of second connecting rod 303, the both sides of support frame 3 are provided with bracing piece 305, the top fixed mounting of bracing piece 305 has semicircular groove 306, one side fixed mounting of semicircular groove 306 has fourth electric telescopic handle 307, the one end fixedly connected with arc fixture block of fourth electric telescopic handle 307, the top fixed mounting of second connecting rod 303 has.

During specific use, before an operation, the legs, the waist and the chest of a patient are clamped, the cross rods 302 on the first connecting rods 301 at the two sides of the support frame 3 are adjusted to be matched with the second connecting rods 303, different types of operations can be performed, the legs, the waist and the chest of the patient are supported and clamped, the waist is clamped by the semi-circular grooves 306 through the expansion and contraction of the fourth electric telescopic rod 307, and the operation assisting efficiency is improved.

In this embodiment, the fourth electric telescopic rod 307, the first electric telescopic rod 321, the second electric telescopic rod 51, the third electric telescopic rod 63, the first hydraulic rod 102, the second hydraulic rod 9, and the third hydraulic rod 92 are electrically connected to the PLC controller.

When the medical instrument is used specifically, the PLC is used for controlling equipment on the craniotomy auxiliary medical instrument.

Finally, it should be noted that: although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the embodiments and/or equivalents thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. The craniotomy auxiliary medical instrument for the surgical operation comprises a supporting seat (1) and a fourth table top (52), and is characterized in that a movable rotary table (101) for the craniotomy is arranged at the top of the supporting seat (1), a first hydraulic rod (102) for lifting a craniotomy operating table is arranged at the top of the movable rotary table (101), the telescopic end of the first hydraulic rod (102) is fixedly connected with the middle parts of two reinforcing rods (2), the two ends of the two reinforcing rods (2) are fixedly connected with the two sides of the inner wall of a supporting frame (3), the two fixing blocks (21) are fixedly arranged at the top of the two reinforcing rods (2), an adjusting mechanism (4) is arranged at the top of the two fixing blocks (21), a first supporting plate (31) is fixedly arranged on the two sides of the inner wall of one end of the supporting frame (3), and the middle part of the top end of the first supporting plate (31) is used for adjusting the horizontal height of the head of a craniotomy patient through a supporting mechanism (5) The bottom end of the second electric telescopic rod (51) is fixedly connected, one side of the fourth table top (52) is fixedly provided with a fixing mechanism (6), the other end of the support frame (3) is provided with an adjusting mechanism (7), one ends of the two support frames (3) are fixedly provided with a connecting rod (32), one side of the connecting rod (32) is provided with two first electric telescopic rods (321) for adjusting the length of the craniotomy auxiliary table top in a telescopic way, one ends of the two first electric telescopic rods (321) are fixedly connected with one side of the fixing plate (322), two sides of the fixing plate (322) are movably connected with two sides of an inclined plate (323) through a short plate, one side of the inclined plate (323) is movably connected with one end of the first table top (8) through a movable hinge, two sides of the bottom end of the first table top (8) are fixedly connected with the top of the support frame (3) through the second electric telescopic rod (51), a base (103) is fixedly installed at the bottom end of the supporting seat (1), leg columns (104) are fixedly installed on two sides of the base (103), pulleys (105) are fixedly installed at two ends of the two leg columns (104), and a PLC (programmable logic controller) is arranged on one side of the supporting seat (1);

the adjusting mechanism (4) comprises a placing box (41) fixedly connected with one side of the top ends of two fixing blocks (21), first rods (42) are arranged on two sides of the placing box (41), an electric hinge is fixedly mounted at one end of each of the two first rods (42), a second rod (43) is arranged on one side of the electric hinge, one end of the second rod (43) is fixedly connected with the bottom end of the circular baffle (44), a third rod (45) is arranged in the middle of one side of the placing box (41), one end of the third rod (45) is fixedly connected with the bottom end of the circular baffle (44) through a movable hinge, a second table top is arranged at the top of the circular baffle (44), a slot (46) is formed in the top of the second table top, and the size of the slot (46) is matched with the size of the circular baffle (44);

one side of the fixed block (21) is provided with a rotating handle (211), the middle part of the rotating handle (211) is connected with the insides of the two limiting cylinders (212) in an inserting manner, the two ends of the rotating handle (211) are fixedly connected with the inner wall of the support frame (3), one side of each of the two limiting cylinders (212) is fixedly provided with a stretching plate (213), one ends of the two stretching plates (213) are connected with the two groups of upper movable plates (214) and the lower movable plate (215) through hinge pins, the top of each upper movable plate (214) is movably connected with the bottom end of the third table top (94) through a movable hinge, and the bottom end of each lower movable plate (215) is fixedly connected with the top of the second support plate through a movable hinge;

two second hydraulic rods (9) are arranged at the top of the second supporting plate, four first fixing strips (91) are fixedly mounted on two sides of each second hydraulic rod (9), one ends of the four first fixing strips (91) are fixedly connected with the bottom ends of the second fixing strips (93) through third hydraulic rods (92), and the tops of the second fixing strips (93) are all connected with four third table tops (94);

the supporting mechanism (5) further comprises a second electric telescopic rod (51) fixedly connected with the top end of the first supporting plate (31), the top end of the second electric telescopic rod (51) is movably connected with the bottom end of the fourth table top (52) through a movable pin, a first bending rod (53) and a second bending rod (54) are respectively installed on two sides of the top end of the first supporting plate (31), and the first bending rod (53) is movably connected with the second bending rod (54) through a movable pin;

fixed establishment (6) include with one side fixed connection's of fourth mesa (52) fifth mesa (61), the top of fifth mesa (61) is provided with installation piece (62), the both sides fixed mounting at installation piece (62) top has two third electric telescopic handle (63), two the slide sliding connection of slider and semi-circular retainer plate (64) one side is passed through to the one end of third electric telescopic handle (63), the both sides fixed connection of third electric telescopic handle (63) and fourth mesa (52) is passed through to the both sides of fifth mesa (61).

2. A surgical craniotomy aid medical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the utility model discloses a support frame, including support frame (3), the both sides of support frame (3) are provided with two first connecting rods (301) respectively, two the top of first connecting rod (301) is through the one end swing joint of pivot and horizontal pole (302), the other end and the bearing swing joint at second connecting rod (303) top of horizontal pole (302), spout (304) sliding connection between slider and support frame (3) is passed through to the bottom of second connecting rod (303), the both sides of support frame (3) are provided with bracing piece (305), the top fixed mounting of bracing piece (305) has semicircular groove (306), one side fixed mounting of semicircular groove (306) has fourth electric telescopic handle (307), the one end fixedly connected with arc fixture block of fourth electric telescopic handle (307).

3. A surgical craniotomy aid medical device as claimed in claim 2 wherein: the fourth electric telescopic rod (307), the first electric telescopic rod (321), the second electric telescopic rod (51), the third electric telescopic rod (63), the first hydraulic rod (102), the second hydraulic rod (9) and the third hydraulic rod (92) are electrically connected with the PLC.