Surgery – Instruments
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-08
2003-04-01
Dvorak, Linda C. M. (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Instruments
C600S131000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06540737
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a medical instrument having a tubular shaft, comprising a movable grip element and a coupling portion through which the tubular shaft is connected or can be connected to the tubular shaft. The movable grip element is connected or can be connected to a force transmission element axially movable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular shaft. Motion of the at least one movable grip element translates into axial motion of the force transmission element.
A handle of this type is disclosed for example in the German company brochure of Karl Storz GmbH & CO., Tuttlingen, “KARL STORZ—ENDOSKOPE”, Vol. “Endoskopische Chirurgie”, 2nd Edition Jan. 1994, page DGC 5/1A.
Tubular shaft instruments are used in various types of operative procedures on the human and animal body, in particular for minimally invasive surgery. Such instruments can be formed as pinchers, for example preparation and grasping forceps, forceps for separating or cutting tissue as well as for stamping or punching and the like. The instruments are distinguished according to their various functions by the corresponding configuration of the tools at their distal end. Cutting tools, grasping tools or stamping or punching tools can be provided at the distal end of the tubular shaft, where the instrument comprises at least one movable tool, for example in the form of a jaw part. However, two movable tools can be provided at the distal end of such instruments.
Tubular shaft instruments comprise a handle at the proximal end of the shaft for actuating the at least one movable tool. The shaft of the instrument is normally connected to a coupling portion of the handle in non-releasable or releasable manner. In addition, the handle comprises at least one movable grip element for the purpose of actuating the at least one movable tool at the distal end. To actuate the at least one movable tool at the distal end of the tubular shaft, the at least one movable grip element of the handle is connected with the at least one movable tool via a force transmission element axially movable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the shaft, for example a push or pull rod. Consequently, movement of the movable grip element, for example a pivotal or axial movement, is translated into axial relative motion of the force transmission element with respect to the shaft and finally into motion of the movable tool.
A handle of the mentioned type is known in various configurations. Normally, the handle comprises a second grip element which is either fixed to be immovable or is also movable. Such a handle can also be formed in the manner of a scissors handle, where both grip elements extend to the side from the shaft of the instrument, as is the case in the company brochure mentioned above. In this type of handle the at least one movable grip element is pivotally connected with the other grip element about a pivot axis running transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. In the sense of the present invention, the handle however can also be formed as a type of pistol grip element, so that the handle can be held as a bar grip element in the fist of one hand.
Common to all of these known handles is that the handle in the condition of being connected to the shaft has a fixed angular position with respect to the shaft, i.e. the handle axis and the longitudinal axis of the shaft form a fixed angle to one another. A handle having a fixed angular disposition with respect to the shaft axis is however not always adapted with respect to its handling properties to the needs of the physician operating the instrument. Depending on the habits of different physicians, different grip element positions are desired for the same type of handle. To always have the optimal ergonomic handle available, it would therefore be necessary to provide a set of several handles for each type of handle, which would then allow each different angular position with respect to the shaft. Thus each physician could then select the most ergonomic handle for himself. In case the handle is not exchangeable, this would mean that a complete set of such instruments would need to be provided for each tubular shaft instrument with handles having differing angles.
In certain cases, it can also be desirable or necessary that the handle of the same instrument be able to undertake different positions during an operative procedure, to therefore allow the most comfortable or convenient positioning of the handle for the operative procedure being carried out. With the known handles, which would be present as a complete set, this would mean that the handle would have to be exchanged several times during the operation or if the handles are not removable, even the entire instrument would have to be exchanged, which would prolong the operation time.
The known handles therefore have drawbacks with respect to their ergonomic properties.
From DE 196 32 135 A, a medical instrument is known which comprises a tubular shaft. The shaft can be pushed with its guide member and its screw member via a sliding member and a rotatable tappet. The latter is moved by the pressure of an end-surface of an eccentric disc when it rotates about a point. An eccentric disc is rotatably mounted between an upper baring disc and a lower baring disc with a screw. The handle of this known instrument can be pivoted relative to the tubular shaft. However, the mechanism of the force transmission from the movable grip element to the shaft which is the force transmission element of this known instrument, is disadvantageous because of the enhanced friction between the outer surface of the eccentric disc and the tappet.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved handle of the mentioned type, such that the handle allows ergonomic work with the tubular shaft instrument, without having to exchange the handle or even the entire instrument, wherein the force transmission mechanism between the movable grip element and the force transmission element is also improved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is achieved by a handle for a medical instrument having a tubular shaft, comprising:
at least one movable grip element for being connected to a force transmission element axially movable in direction of a longitudinal axis of said tubular shaft to transfer motion of said at least one movable grip element into an axial motion of said force transmission element,
a coupling portion for connecting said tubular shaft with said handle,
said coupling portion being pivotal and lockable relative to a handle axis about a pivot axis running transversely to said longitudinal axis of said tubular shaft,
a control element formed as a double-arm lever, a first lever arm of which being connected to said at least one movable grip element, and a second lever arm of which being connected to said force transmission element, such that motion of said movable grip element causes a rotation of said control element, wherein said control element translates said rotation into an axial movement of said force transmission element.
Thus according to the invention, the coupling portion, which couples or can couple the handle to the tubular shaft, is configured to be pivotal and lockable, where it is achieved that the handle can be set at different angular positions with respect to the shaft. The adjusted angular position of the handle can be locked to rigidly interconnect the shaft with the handle, thereafter the tubular shaft instrument can then be employed in an operative procedure. With the pivotal configuration of the coupling portion, the physician can adjust the ergonomic angular position between the handle and the shaft, which is optimal for himself, without having to exchange the handle or the entire instrument. The handle according to the present invention is therefore substantially improved with respect to ergonomics.
When adjusting the handle axis with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the problem arises that the force transmission element must be so connect
Bacher Uwe
Cuschieri Alfred
Frank Timothy Graham
Dvorak Linda C. M.
Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
Ram Jocelyn
St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens LLC
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