Manipulation Device

Abstract

A manipulation device (14) for a microinvasive medical instrument (10) comprises a first grip member (22) and a second grip member (40), that are movable relative to each other, an irrigation port (90) for receiving an irrigation liquid for cleaning the manipulation device (14) between two uses, and an irrigation channel (92, 94, 96, 98) that connects the irrigation port (90) to one or more outlets (93, 95, 33, 65). The irrigation channel (92, 94, 96, 98) is arranged in the first grip member (22).

Claims

1. A manipulation device for a medical instrument, comprising: a first grip member and a second grip member, that are movable relative to each other; an irrigation port for receiving an irrigation liquid for cleaning the manipulation device between two uses; and an irrigation channel that connects the irrigation port to one or more outlets, wherein the irrigation channel is arranged in the first grip member.

2. The manipulation device of claim 1, wherein the irrigation port is arranged at a side of the first grip member facing towards the second grip member.

3. The manipulation device of claim 2, wherein the irrigation port is arranged proximally with respect to a connection region of the grip members.

4. The manipulation device of claim 3, wherein the second grip member is movable relative to the first grip member in a plane, and wherein the irrigation channel runs substantially parallel to the plane.

5. The manipulation device of claim 4, further comprising: a locking spur that is connected or coupled in a mechanically rigid manner to the second grip member, such that a movement of the second grip member relative to the first grip member is associated with a movement of the locking spur relative to the first grip member; a locking device, that is connected mechanically to the first grip member and is movable relative to the first grip member between a release position, without interaction with the locking spur, and a locking position, in which the locking device can be connected to the locking spur with form-fit or force-fit engagement; and a release device, that is manually movable between a release position and a locking position, and that is coupled mechanically to the locking device in such a way that the locking device adopts its release position when the release device adopts its release position, and that the locking device adopts its locking position when the release device adopts its locking position.

6. The manipulation device of claim 5, wherein a first portion of the irrigation channel connects the irrigation port to the release device.

7. The manipulation device of claim 6, wherein the first portion of the irrigation channel connects the irrigation port to a recess that at least partially receives the release device in the release position of the latter.

8. The manipulation device of claim 6, wherein the release device, depending on its position, diverts irrigation liquid, flowing through the first portion of the irrigation channel, to a greater or lesser extent into a second portion of the irrigation channel, and a cross section of the second portion of the irrigation channel is partially delimited by the release device.

9. The manipulation device of claim 7, wherein the release device, depending on its position, diverts irrigation liquid, flowing through the first portion of the irrigation channel, to a greater or lesser extent into a second portion of the irrigation channel, and a cross section of the second portion of the irrigation channel is partially delimited by the release device.

10. The manipulation device of claim 8, wherein the second portion of the irrigation channel leads irrigation liquid to a connection component, that mechanically couples or connects the second arm of the release device to the locking device.

11. The manipulation device of claim 9, wherein the second portion of the irrigation channel leads irrigation liquid to a connection component, that mechanically couples or connects the second arm of the release device to the locking device.

12. The manipulation device of claim 11, wherein the irrigation port is moreover fluidically connected to a spatial region for receiving the locking spur.

13. The manipulation device according to claim 12, further comprising: a deactivation device, that is manually movable between a deactivation position and a working position, and that is coupled mechanically to the locking device in such a way that the locking device adopts its release position when the deactivation device adopts its deactivation position, and the locking device is manually movable between its locking position and its release position when the deactivation device adopts its working position; and a third portion of the irrigation channel, for delivering irrigation fluid to the deactivation device.

14. The manipulation device of claim 13, wherein the release device, depending on its position, diverts irrigation liquid, flowing through the first portion of the irrigation channel, to a greater or lesser extent into the third portion of the irrigation channel.

15. The manipulation device of claim 14, wherein the third portion (96) of the irrigation channel crosses the release device (50), and the cross section of the release device in the region of the third portion of the irrigation channel is narrower than the cross section of the release device in a region provided for direct manual actuation.

16. The manipulation device of claim 15, wherein the third portion of the irrigation channel, in the region in which it crosses the release device, is forked and leads past two sides of the release device facing away from each other.

17. The manipulation device of claim 13, further comprising: a main body, that forms a grip member and has a cavity; a carrier structure, that is arranged in the cavity in the main body and is connected in a mechanically rigid manner to the main body, wherein shafts, that define pivot axes of at least either the locking device or the release device or the deactivation device, are secured or guided in the carrier structure, wherein, in the region of the third portion of the irrigation channel, the carrier structure does not cover the surfaces of the cavity in the main body.

18. The manipulation device of claim 16, further comprising: a main body, that forms a grip member and has a cavity; a carrier structure, that is arranged in the cavity in the main body and is connected in a mechanically rigid manner to the main body, wherein shafts, that define pivot axes of at least either the locking device or the release device or the deactivation device, are secured or guided in the carrier structure, wherein, in the region of the third portion of the irrigation channel, the carrier structure does not cover the surfaces of the cavity in the main body.

19. The manipulation device of claim 18, wherein the main body has, at a first side, a first opening, in which the locking device is arranged, and in which the locking spur can engage, said opening facing the cavity; the main body has, at a second side facing away from the first side, a second opening, through which the release device engages, said second opening facing the cavity, and a third opening, through which the deactivation device engages, said third opening facing the cavity; and a web, that separates the second opening and the third opening, partially delimits the cross section of the third portion of the irrigation channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0070] Embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0071] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a microinvasive medical instrument;

[0072] FIG. 2 shows a schematic enlarged view of a manipulation device of the instrument from FIG. 1;

[0073] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a section through the manipulation device from FIG. 2;

[0074] FIG. 4 shows a further schematic view of a section through the manipulation device from FIGS. 2 and 3;

[0075] FIG. 5 shows a further schematic view of a section through the manipulation device from FIGS. 2 to 4;

[0076] FIG. 6 shows a further schematic view of a section through the manipulation device from FIGS. 2 to 5;

[0077] FIG. 7 shows a further schematic view of a section through the manipulation device from FIGS. 2 to 6; and

[0078] FIG. 8 shows a further schematic view of a section through the manipulation device from FIGS. 2 to 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0079] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a microinvasive medical instrument 10 having a long and thin shaft 12 and a tool at the distal end of the shaft 12, which can be inserted partially or completely into a natural or artificial cavity in a body of a human or animal patient. At the proximal end of the shaft 12, a manipulation device 14 is provided by means of which the medical instrument, especially the tool at the distal end of the shaft 12, can be controlled manually. The manipulation device 14 can be connected to the shaft 12 in such a way that the shaft 12 and the manipulation device 14 cannot be separated in a non-destructive and reversible manner. Alternatively, the medical instrument 10 is designed, for example, such that the shaft 12 and the manipulation device 14 can be separated from each other without use of tools and without destruction, that is to say reversibly, and can be connected to each other again. For this purpose, for example, a bayonet connection and/or a latching connection can be provided.

[0080] FIG. 2 shows a schematic and, in relation to FIG. 1, enlarged view of the manipulation device 14. The manipulation device 14 comprises a main body 20, which in particular is originally produced in one piece, for example by a casting method, a cutting method, 3D printing or another additive method. The main body can be made of surgical stainless steel or another metal, ceramic, plastic or one or more other materials.

[0081] The main body 20 has a distal region 21, which can be connected to the shaft 12 (compare FIG. 1) or can transition into the latter. The main body 20 moreover forms a grip member 22 which, for example similarly to scissors, can have an eye for accommodating one or more fingers of medical personnel. The grip member 22 is angled in relation to the distal end region 21 of the main body, in particular by an angle of approximately 45 degrees to 90 degrees, in particular 60 degrees to 90 degrees.

[0082] The manipulation device 14 moreover has a pivotable grip member 40, which is pivotable with respect to the main body 20 about a pivot axis which is defined by a hinge 42 and which is orthogonal to the drawing plane of FIG. 2. A locking spur 44 having a plurality or multiplicity of locking grooves 46 is connected rigidly to the pivotable grip member 40.

[0083] The manipulation device 14 moreover has a release lever 50. A first arm 52 of the release lever 50 is provided and designed for direct manual actuation. The first arm 52 of the release lever 50 is arranged at a side of the first grip member 22 facing away from the second grip member 40. The release lever 50 is arranged partially in a cavity 30 in the main body 20. A second arm 54 of the release lever 50 is connected rigidly to the first arm 52 of the latter and together with this is pivotable about a pivot axis that is orthogonal to the drawing plane of FIG. 2 and defined by a pivot hinge not visible in FIG. 2. The release lever 50 has a second arm 54, of which the end facing away from the first arm 52 is arranged at a side of the first grip member 22 facing towards the second grip member 40.

[0084] The release lever 50 is mechanically coupled to a locking device 60 by a connection component 59. One end of the connection component 59 is connected by a hinge to that end of the second arm 54 facing away from the first arm 52. The other end of the connection component 59 is connected to the locking device 60 by a further hinge. The connection component 59 is in particular substantially bar-shaped or rod-shaped.

[0085] The locking device 60 comprises a latching pawl 64 for engaging in any one of the locking grooves 46 of the locking spur 44. The locking device 60 is pivotable about a pivot axis which is defined by a hinge 68 and which is orthogonal to the drawing plane of FIG. 2. In the locking position of the locking device 60 as shown in FIG. 2, the latching pawl 64 of the locking device 60 engages in one of the locking grooves 46 of the locking spur 44 and thereby prevents, by form-fit engagement, an increase of the angle between the second grip member 40 and the first grip member 22. In a release position (not shown in FIG. 2) of the locking device, the latching pawl 64 does not engage in one of the locking grooves 46 of the locking spur 44, and the angle between the second grip member 40 and the first grip member 22 can be changed. As is described below, the locking device 60 can be moved to its release position (not shown in FIG. 2) by manual actuation of the first arm 52 of the release lever 50. Moreover, the latching pawl 64 of the locking device 60 and the locking grooves 46 of the locking spur 44 are designed such that a reduction of the angle between the second grip member 40 and the first grip member 22 is always possible, by means of the locking device 60 moving temporarily from its locking position in the direction of its release position.

[0086] The manipulation device 14 moreover has a deactivation lever 70, which is likewise partially arranged in the aforementioned cavity 30 in the main body 20 and is coupled mechanically there to the release lever 50. The deactivation lever 70 is pivotable about a pivot axis, which is defined by a hinge not visible in FIG. 2 and is orthogonal to the drawing plane of FIG. 2, between a deactivation position and a working position (or a plurality of working positions, in particular a range of working positions).

[0087] The deactivation lever 70 is coupled mechanically to the release lever 50 in such a way that the release lever 50 is held in its release position (not shown in FIG. 2) and, therefore, the locking device is directly also held in its release position (not shown in FIG. 2) when the deactivation lever adopts its deactivation position (not shown in FIG. 2). The deactivation lever 70 is coupled mechanically to the release lever 50 in such a way that the release lever 50 can be moved between its locking position (shown in FIG. 2) and its release position (not shown in FIG. 2), and therefore the locking device 60 can also be moved between its locking position (shown in FIG. 2) and its release position (not shown in FIG. 2), when the deactivation lever 70 adopts its working position or the position of the deactivation lever 70 lies within the range of working positions.

[0088] A carrier structure 80 is arranged in said cavity 30 (not visible in FIG. 2) in the main body 20 and protrudes out of the cavity in the region of the locking device 60. The locking device 60 is pivotable about a pivot axis which is defined by a hinge 68 between the locking device 60 and the carrier structure 80 and which is orthogonal to the drawing plane of FIG. 2.

[0089] The cavity (not visible in FIG. 2) and the carrier structure 80 each have in particular two mutually opposite plane and parallel surface regions, wherein the outer surface regions of the carrier structure 80 bear on the corresponding inner surface regions of the cavity. Locating pins 28, which extend orthogonally with respect to the drawing plane of FIG. 2 and whose ends are visible in FIG. 2, fix the carrier structure 80 in the cavity.

[0090] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a section through the main body 20 of the manipulation device 14 from FIGS. 1 and 2. The main body 20 is shown sectioned along a section plane parallel to the drawing plane of FIG. 2. The pivotable second grip member 40 (compare FIG. 2) is not shown in FIG. 3. Details of its hinged connection to the main body 20 and of its mechanical coupling to a pull rod and/or to other devices of the medical instrument, are also not shown in FIG. 3. The aforementioned cavity 30 in the main body 20 is visible in FIG. 3. The carrier structure 80 is arranged in the cavity 30 and partially fills the cavity 30. The carrier structure 80, the release lever 50, the locking device 60 and the deactivation lever 70 are not shown in section in FIG. 3, but in a plan view.

[0091] The main body 20 has three openings to the cavity 30. A first opening 31 to the cavity 30 is arranged at the side of the first grip member 22 facing towards the second grip member 40 (compare FIG. 2). The second arm 54 of the release lever 50 and the carrier structure 80 protrude through the first opening out of the cavity 30. The locking device 60 is arranged largely or entirely outside the cavity 30. A part of the cavity 30 that is not filled by the carrier structure 80 forms a spatial region 24 provided for receiving the locking spur 44. An edge region of the cavity 30 is moreover provided and designed as an irrigation port 90 for receiving a tube 91 (indicated by broken lines in FIG. 3) or a corresponding nozzle for delivery of irrigation fluid. The irrigation port is in particular designed as a concave acute-angled truncated cone according to the Luer standard.

[0092] Moreover, at its side facing away from the second grip member 40 (compare FIG. 2), the main body 20 has a second opening 32 and a third opening 33 towards the cavity 30. The second opening 32 and the third opening 33 are separated by a web 36. The release lever 50, specifically its first arm provided for direct manual actuation, protrudes from the cavity 30 through the second opening 32. The second opening 32 is adjoined by a groove 25 into the main body 20, which groove is provided and designed to partially receive the directly manually actuatable first arm 52 of the release lever 50. A change of the cross section of the first arm 52 of the release lever 50 in the region of the second opening 32 is indicated by a line. The first arm 52 of the release lever 50 has a greater width outside the cavity 30 than inside, as measured in a direction orthogonal to the drawing plane of FIG. 3.

[0093] A hinge 58 between the release lever 50 and the carrier structure 80 defines a pivot axis which is orthogonal to the drawing plane of FIG. 3. For reasons that are described with reference to FIG. 4 for example, the hinge 58 is formed by two short shafts or pins which connect on the one hand the side of the release lever facing away from the observer, and on the other hand the side of the release lever facing the observer, to the carrier structure 80.

[0094] The deactivation lever 70 protrudes from the cavity 30 through the third opening 33. A hinge 78 between the deactivation lever 70 and the carrier structure 80 defines a pivot axis which is orthogonal to the drawing plane of FIG. 3. The pivot hinge 78 is formed by a shaft or axle, of which an end is visible in FIG. 3.

[0095] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a section through the manipulation device 14 from FIGS. 1 to 3. The position of the section plane of FIG. 4 corresponds to that of the section plane of the main body 20 in FIG. 3. In contrast to FIG. 3, however, in FIG. 4 the release lever 50, the locking device 60, the deactivation lever 70 and the carrier structure 80 are also shown in section along the same plane.

[0096] The carrier structure 80 comprises two side parts or side-part regions 81, which are arranged parallel to the section plane of FIG. 4, and of which only one is visible in FIG. 4, specifically the one lying behind the section plane. Those surface regions of the side parts or side-part regions facing away from each other bear flat on the inner surface of the cavity. The carrier structure 80 moreover comprises two pillars 82 with irregular cross sections, which connect the side parts or side-part regions 81 to one another in a mechanically rigid manner. The locating pins 28, which fix the carrier structure 80 in the cavity 30, are arranged inside the pillars 82.

[0097] The second arm 54 of the release lever 50 is partially forked or is formed with a deep longitudinal groove parallel to the section plane of FIG. 4. An end of the connection component 59 and a part of a C-shaped spring 75 are arranged in this longitudinal groove. Since the pivot axis of the release lever 50, as defined by the pivot hinge 58, passes through this longitudinal groove, the pivot hinge 58 is formed by two short shafts on both sides of this longitudinal groove, that is to say respectively in front of and behind the section plane of FIG. 4.

[0098] The locking device 60 has a groove 65 which extends parallel to the section plane of FIG. 4 and which serves to receive the locking spur 44. The pivot hinge 68 is arranged in the region of this groove 65; the pivot axis defined by the pivot hinge 68 passes orthogonally through the groove 65. Therefore, as is mentioned above, the hinge 68 is formed by two short shafts or pins which, on both sides of this groove 65, that is to say respectively in front of and behind the section plane of FIG. 4, connect the locking device 60 to the carrier structure 80.

[0099] The locking device 60 moreover has a groove 62 parallel to the section plane of FIG. 4, in which groove 62 an end of the connection component 59 is arranged.

[0100] The ends of a spring 69 are arranged in a pocket in one of the pillars 82 of the carrier structure 80 or in a pocket in the locking device 60. The spring 69 is indicated in FIG. 4 only by its contours and is in fact designed in particular as a compressed helical spring.

[0101] FIG. 4 shows the deactivation lever 70 in a working position, the release lever 50 in its locking position, and the locking device 60 in its locking position.

[0102] An end 74 of the deactivation lever 70 facing away from the manually actuatable region 72 of the deactivation lever 70 is coupled to the release lever 50 by the C-shaped spring 75.

[0103] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a further section through the manipulation device 14 from FIGS. 1 to 4. The nature of the view, in particular the position of the section plane, corresponds to that of FIG. 4.

[0104] As in the situation or configuration shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the deactivation lever 70 is also located in a working position in the situation or configuration shown in FIG. 5. The C-shaped spring 75 between the deactivation lever 70 and the release lever 50 does not enforce any particular position of the release lever. However, the situation or configuration shown in FIG. 5 differs from the configuration shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 in that the release lever 50 is moved towards the first grip member 22 by direct manual actuation, specifically by its first arm 52 being pressed, and adopts its release position in the groove 25 (compares FIGS. 3 and 4). On account of the mechanical coupling by means of the connection component 59, in this release position of the release lever 50 the locking device 60 also adopts its release position, in which the latching pawl 64 does not lock the locking spur 44.

[0105] In the release position of the locking device 60 as shown in FIG. 5, the spring 69 is compressed, counter to its restoring force, between the locking device 60 and the carrier structure 80. Therefore, the elastic restoring force of the spring 69 moves the locking device 60 and thus also the release lever 50 from their release positions shown in FIG. 5 back to their locking positions shown in FIG. 4, when the release lever 50 is not pressed manually, counter to the restoring force of the spring 69, to the release position shown in FIG. 5.

[0106] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a further section through the manipulation device 14 from FIGS. 2 to 5. The nature of the view, in particular the section plane, corresponds to that of FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0107] FIG. 6 shows the deactivation lever 70 in a deactivation position, in which the C-shaped spring 75 holds the release lever 50 in its release position and thus indirectly holds the locking device 60 in the release position of the latter. For this purpose, the C-shaped spring 75 is dimensioned between the deactivation lever 70 and the release lever 50 such that the torque exerted by it on the release lever 50 is greater than the inverse torque exerted on the release lever 50 by the spring 69 by way of the connection component 59. The C-shaped spring 75 moreover holds the deactivation lever 70 in its deactivation position shown in FIG. 6.

[0108] FIG. 7 shows a further view of a section through the manipulation device 14 from FIGS. 2 to 6. The nature of the view corresponds largely to that of FIGS. 4 to 6, although the release lever 50 and the deactivation lever 70 are not shown in section.

[0109] FIG. 7 shows the configuration already shown in FIG. 4, in which the deactivation lever 70 adopts a working position and the release lever 50 and the locking device 60 each adopt their respective locking positions. Several portions 92, 94, 96, 98 of a branched irrigation channel for irrigating and cleaning the manipulation device 14 by means of an irrigation fluid are indicated in FIG. 7. The portions 92, 94, 96, 98 of the irrigation channel are indicated by arrows, which indicate the direction of flow of the irrigation fluid.

[0110] A first portion 92 of the irrigation channel, starting from the irrigation port 90, leads substantially straight past the carrier structure 80 to an outlet 93, at which the irrigation fluid can emerge from the manipulation device 14 partially through the groove 25 and between the first grip member 22 and the first arm 52 of the release lever 50.

[0111] However, some of the irrigation fluid inside the manipulation device 14 continues through a second portion 94 of the irrigation channel between the second arm 54 of the release lever 50 and a pillar 82 of the carrier structure 80 to the connection component 59 and to a region of the locking device 60 facing away from the latching pawl 64, in order to emerge there from the manipulation device 14. The region between the edges of the side part or side-part region 81, the second arm 54 of the release lever, the locking device 60 and the connection component 59 thus forms the outlet 95 of the second portion 94 of the irrigation channel.

[0112] A further amount of the irrigation fluid flows along a third portion 96 past the release lever 50 on both sides (that is to say in front of and behind with respect to FIG. 7) to the deactivation lever 70. The third portion 96 of the irrigation channel is partially delimited by the web 36 and the opposite edges of the side parts or side-part regions 81 of the carrier structure 80. The third portion 96 of the irrigation channel leads to the third opening 33 of the cavity 30, which opening 33 functions mainly as an outlet for the irrigation fluid.

[0113] A fourth portion 98 of the irrigation channel branches off from the first portion 92 and leads through the spatial region provided for receiving the locking spur 44 (compare FIG. 2), and through the groove 65 in the locking device 60 for receiving the locking spur 44, to the latching pawl 64 and there leaves the manipulation device. The groove 65 for receiving the locking spur 44 in the locking device 60 is here at the same time the outlet of the fourth portion 98 of the irrigation channel.

[0114] FIG. 8 shows a further schematic view of a section through the manipulation device from FIGS. 2 to 7. The nature of the view corresponds to that of FIG. 7.

[0115] The configuration shown in FIG. 8 corresponds to the configuration shown in FIG. 5, in which the deactivation lever 70 adopts a working position and the release lever 50 and the locking device 60 adopt their release positions. In its release position shown in FIG. 8, the release lever 50 at least substantially closes the direct outlet 93 of the first portion 92 of the irrigation channel, such that considerably more irrigation liquid reaches the second portion 94, the third portion 96 and the fourth portion 98 of the irrigation channel. This is indicated by modified widths of the arrows representing the portions 94 and 96.

[0116] Although the invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The combinations of features described herein should not be interpreted to be limiting, and the features herein may be used in any working combination or sub-combination according to the invention. This de-scription should therefore be interpreted as providing written support, under U.S. patent law and any relevant foreign patent laws, for any working combination or some sub-combination of the features herein. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, com-positions of matter, means, methods, or steps.