Instrument with a bendable handle

Technical area

The invention relates to an instrument according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

Instruments which have a shaft part, at the distal end of which an engaging element is arranged, which is actuated by a proximally arranged actuating element, which is integrated into a handle, are generally known in the field of medical technology and, in particular, endoscopy. For example, reference is made to tubular instruments of Karl Storz GmbH & Co., Tuttlingen, Germany. In most of the known instruments, the handle is fixedly mounted on the instrument such that the axis of the handle encloses a predetermined, invariable angle with the longitudinal axis of the shank of the instrument. This angle is selected from the ergonomic point of view for a particular handling of the instrument.

An instrument with an angled handle is known from US Pat. No. 5,094,247, from which reference has been made in the formation of the preamble of patent claim 1. US Pat. No. 5,044,247 discloses an instrument with a shank portion at the distal end of which an engaging element is arranged which is actuated by a proximally arranged actuating element which is integrated into a handle which is connected to the shank part by means of a universal joint , So that it is movable in such a way that the angle enclosed by the axis of the handle and the axis of the shaft part can be varied.

An instrument is known from US Pat. No. 5,395,367, characterized in that the connecting element is designed in the form of an bellows or an accordion-like element. Similar to a drinking straw for children, this element can be adjusted at a variety of different angles. However, the setting can not be secured against unintended adjustment, for example, during the operation operation. Rather, the connecting element (the "bellows") as well as the drinking straw can be easily adjusted. The solutions known hitherto show that the idea of ​​creating a medical instrument in which the handle can be angled as desired is already very old. However, no such instruments have been introduced to the market. The reason for this is, according to the opinion, that all proposals have hitherto been overlooked, that a free adjustability of the angular position of the handle also at the same time also the possibility of unintentionally adjusting the handle during the operation. The possibility of ascertaining in any desired position is not mentioned in any of the works listed here merely as examples. In particular, however, no medical instruments with a universal joint are known where the fixation of the joint is described in a specific position.

In order to achieve the object according to the invention, an instrument is used in which the handle can be fixed in a certain angular position or in the case of rotation around the longitudinal axis even at a certain angle of rotation.

According to the invention, the handle is connected to the shaft part via a universal joint. The use of a cardan joint has the advantage that the cardan joint can also be easily adjusted under operating conditions and the associated stress, so that optimum adjustability of the position of the handle relative to the shaft is provided. In addition, a universal joint allows adjustment of the position of the handle in "all directions" with respect to the shaft of the instrument so that not only the angular position can be changed.

The position of the handle relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft part can thus be suitably adjusted, depending on the operating condition as determined by the respective operation-related handling, so that the operator can operate the instrument in an ergonomically favorable manner independently of the particular application.

In particular, it is thus possible to arrange the handle such that its axis encloses an angle between 0 ° and 90 ° with the longitudinal axis of the shaft part.

In a further development, the handle can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the shaft part due to the formation of the universal joint. Although the relative rotation between the handle and the shaft has already been realized with certain instruments, it has particular ergonomic advantages in connection with the setting of the angle between the handle and the shank as provided for by the invention.

The angle adjustment according to the invention enables ergonomic work in every operating situation. In certain situations, however, it may be disadvantageous if the relative position of the handle to the shank of the instrument can be changed "too easily" due to the use of a basically easily adjustable universal joint.

The ergonomic operability of the invention also contributes to a flexible force transmission element which transmits the actuating force from the actuating element to the shaft part. The force transmission element can be, in particular, a Bowden cable.

The basic idea according to the invention, the angle, which is enclosed between the axis of the shaft, ie the longitudinal axis of the instrument and the axis of the handle, can also be freely varied during an operation can in principle be applied to a wide variety of instruments. However, the use of this basic idea is particularly advantageous in the case of tubular instruments as well as in instruments used in endoscopy, that is, in instruments which can be inserted into the channel of an endoscopic insertion instrument, such as a trocar sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is described below by way of example, with reference to the drawing, without restricting the general idea of ​​the invention, to which, moreover, the disclosure of all details according to the invention, which are not explained in more detail, is expressly referred to. Show it:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>FIG</dt><dd>An exemplary embodiment of an inventive instrument in the non-actuated state,</dd><dt>FIG</dt><dd>The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in the actuated state, and FIG</dd><dt>FIG</dt><dd>The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is in a state in which the handle is angled by 90 °.</dd></dl>

Description of an exemplary embodiment

An exemplary embodiment of an inventive instrument is shown in the figures. The instrument has a shaft part 1, at the distal end of which an engagement element 2 is arranged. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the engaging element 2 is a pair of tongues without restricting the general idea of ​​the invention. The engaging element 2, that is, the forceps mouth, is actuated by a proximally arranged actuating element.

FIG. 1 shows the gripper mouth in the closed state, while FIG. 2 shows the gripper mouth in the open state.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the actuating element is a handle consisting of two handpieces 3 and 4. The handpiece 3 is fixed with respect to the handle as a unit and has a "finger ring" 31 which is typically penetrated by the thumb of the operator. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the movable handpiece 4 has a finger bracket 41 which allows the gripper mouth 2 to be opened and, on closing, a slipping of the finger abutting against it, ie, typically the index finger or the finger finger, is prevented.

The handgrip consisting of the handpieces 3 and 4 is connected to the shaft part 1 via a universally movable universal joint 5 in the illustrated embodiment.

By means of this cardan joint 5, the handle 3, 4 is arranged so as to be movable on the shaft part 1 such that the angle enclosed by the axis of the handle 3, 4 and the axis of the shaft part 1 can be varied. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the angle is 0 °, whereas in FIG. 3 the angle is 90 °.

Since the joint 5 is a universally movable universal joint, the handle 3, 4 can additionally be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the shaft part 1, so that the handle can be brought into any desired angular position without the shaft having to be rotated.

Thus, it is possible to adjust the shaft of the instrument in such a way that, in particular, it rotates the pincer in the desired position relative to the tissue, while at the same time bringing the handle into an ergonomically favorable position in which the operator, Force cutting.

In the joint 5, a flexible force transmission element 6 is provided which transfers the actuating force which is exerted by the handpieces 3 and 4 to the shaft part 1. This flexible force transmission element is preferably a Bowden cable which, in cooperation with the universally adjustable universal joint of the operating person, gives all freedom in adjusting the orientation of the handle with respect to its angular position relative to the longitudinal axis and its rotational position about the longitudinal axis.

The handle can be locked in a certain angular position or rotational position. This can be done, for example, by means of a locking screw which locks the joint 5. The screw is preferably designed in such a way that it can also be opened and re-tightened during an operation without tools.

The invention has been described above with reference to an exemplary embodiment. Of course, the most varied modifications can be made:

Instead of the tubular instrument shown in the figures, other instruments, such as, for example, HF instruments can also be used. However, it is particularly preferred if the respective instrument is designed such that it can be inserted into the channel of an endoscopic insertion instrument, such as a trocar sleeve.