Pipe joints or couplings – Essential catch – With manipulator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-09
2001-10-09
Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
Essential catch
With manipulator
C285S332100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299220
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a coupling for leakproof connection of two shaft-like medical instruments along their shaft axis, with a coupling element, arranged on a first instrument and having a contact surface, against whose contact surface a contact surface of a coupling element of the second instrument can be applied along a coupling axis; and with an interlock system for releasable interlocking of the two coupling elements to one another, the contact surfaces resting against one another in leakproof fashion.
A coupling of this kind is known, for example, from the applicant's company brochure “STORZ, DIE WELT DER ENDOSKOPIE” [Storz, the world of endoscopy], Arthroscopy 4th edition, 1/90. This coupling is used to connect an arthroscope shaft to an optical system.
Especially in the now-widespread technique of minimally invasive surgery, numerous procedures take place during an examination or an operation in which two medical instruments must be connected to one another and also detached again.
With this operative technique, multiple hollow shafts are introduced into the body through trocars, and then medical instruments which also have shaft-like bodies are introduced through the interior of the hollow shaft into the body.
In many procedures, it is necessary to connect the two medical instruments to one another, for which purpose the coupling cited above is required. Since body fluids or body gases can emerge through a hollow shaft introduced into the human body, it is necessary, in the case of further instruments coupled to such a shaft, for that connection to be accomplished in leakproof fashion.
The company brochure cited above shows, for example on the page labeled “ART-LJ 3”, an arthroscope shaft into which an optical system shown on page “ART-LJ 2” is inserted and is intended to be connected to the arthroscope shaft.
A combination of this kind made up of the two medical instruments coupled to one another, namely arthroscope shaft and optical system, is described in the aforesaid company brochure on the introductory page of the chapter entitled “Christensen-type arthroscopic drainage system” or on the page labeled “ART-OP-INST 19” and following.
It is evident from this description of the operative technique for an arthroscopic cruciate ligament operation that frequent exchanges of the instruments connected to one another, namely arthroscope shaft and optical system, are necessary.
The coupling known from this brochure has an interlock system which is based on the bayonet principle.
One of the instruments, for example the arthroscope shaft, has a sleeve with a bayonet guide cut into its wall, into which one—or, in the case of a double bayonet guide, two—corresponding configured diametrically opposite lugs of a coupling element of the optical system must be introduced. By relative rotation of the two instruments being coupled to one another, mechanical interlocking is attained in terms of pulling along the coupling axis, which extends in the longitudinal axis of the shafts of the instruments. Because of the pitch of the bayonet thread, the instruments are moved slightly toward one another along the coupling axis, so that the corresponding contact surfaces are pressed in leakproof fashion against one another.
This coupling principle presents several disadvantages.
A first disadvantage consists in the fact that close attention is necessary when fitting the two instruments together, since the lugs of the one coupling element can be inserted into the bayonet guide of the other instrument only in a very specific rotational position.
A further disadvantage consists in the fact that during the connecting operation, the two shaft-like instruments are rotated relative to one another, for which purpose each of the two instruments must be grasped by a different hand. It should be noted that in most cases one of the two instruments has already been introduced into a human body, so that a rotation only of the other instrument to be coupled onto that instrument entails th e risk that the instrument already present in the body will also rotate, which can cause damage or injury to the patient.
Referring t o the assembly shown in the aforesaid company brochure on the page labeled “ART-OP-INST 19”, it is evident that a plurality of lines, in some cases meters long and leading to monitors or other equipment, project out laterally from the optical system coupled onto the arthroscope shaft. As previously mentioned, as a result of the design of a bayonet fastener, a very specific relative position between the two instruments is defined before and after the coupling procedure has been carried out. This position may, however, be unfavorable for the surgeon, for example, and restrict his or her freedom of movement. Unfavorably projecting components can exert a torque on the assembly which is undesired, and means that the assembly must be held by the operator in strained fashion in a specific rotational position.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to develop further a coupling of the kind cited initially so that the coupling procedure can be performed without close attention and in particular with only one hand, and moreover so that the risk of harm to the patient is considerably diminished by way of improved handling and functional reliability.
According to the present invention, the object is achieved in that the interlock system has a slider which is displaceable transversely to the coupling axis, is arranged in transversely displaceable fashion on one of the two coupling elements, and in a first slide position allows the two coupling elements to be applied against one another and in a second locking slide position mechanically interlocks the two coupling elements; and that a component having the contact surface of at least one coupling element is displaceable in the direction of the coupling axis.
The first combination of features relating to the embodiment of the slider creates the possibility that the second instrument to be coupled onto the one medical instrument can be applied with the slider in the first, non-interlocking slide position, and by displacement of the slider transversely to the longitudinal axis or coupling axis, the two coupling elements of the two instruments can be mechanically interlocked with one another. The two elements need simply to be fitted onto one another, which can easily be done, for example, by feeling with one hand. The same hand can then be used to move the transversely displaceable slider without needing, for that purpose, to rotate the fitted-together parts relative to one another. This procedure can thus be performed easily and without close attention, and moreover with only one hand.
Because of the fact that at least one component of one coupling element is displaceable in the direction of the coupling axis, the contact pressure between the contact surfaces necessary for creating a leakproof closure can be created by displacing the fitted-together instruments along the coupling axis. The displacement can be caused, for example, by the transversely displaceable slider.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the component having the contact surface of at least one coupling element is displaceable, against a force, in the direction of the coupling axis toward the coupling end of that coupling element. Because this element is displaceable against a force, this force creates the contact pressure between the contact surfaces necessary to create a leakproof closure.
Achievement of the sealing closure is thus, in contrast to the situation with a bayonet interlock, no longer dependent on how far the bayonet interlock is rotated; instead the sealing pressure can be preset by the manufacturer to have a very specific force, i.e. irrespective of the practices or experience of the user, which represents a considerable advantage in terms of the functional reliability of the instruments that are coupled together.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the transversely displaceable slider is acted upon by spring force in the direction o
Bacher Uwe
Dittrich Horst
Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
Luu Teri Pham
St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reems LLC
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