TRANSPORTER WITH LOCKING DEVICE

Abstract

A transporter for a resectoscope for endoscopic surgery, wherein the transporter has a connection body and, for connection to a system component in the connection body, a latch system including an elongate latch element, which is arranged transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the transporter and has an engagement opening or an engagement groove, and a spring element, wherein one or more irrigation channels, arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latch element, are formed between latch element and connection body. The invention further relates to a resectoscope for use in endoscopic surgery, wherein it includes a transporter according to one of the preceding claims and preferably a system component latched in the transporter.

Claims

1. A transporter for a resectoscope for endoscopic surgery, wherein the transporter has a connection body and, for connection to a system component in the connection body, a latch system having an elongate latch element, which is arranged preferably transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the transporter and has an engagement opening or an engagement groove, and a spring element, wherein one or more irrigation channels, arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latch element, are formed between latch element and connection body.

2. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the irrigation channels are open at both ends of the latch element in order to allow irrigation liquid to flow in and out.

3. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein irrigation liquid is conveyable through the irrigation channels from a lateral face of the transporter to the contralateral face of the transporter.

4. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the latch element has one or more irrigation grooves arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latch element.

5. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the connection body has one or more irrigation grooves arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latch element and adjoining the latch element.

6. The transporter according to claim 4, wherein the irrigation channels formed by the irrigation grooves extend over the entire length of the latch element.

7. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the system component has an elongate shaft portion.

8. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the latch system is designed for connection to the proximal end region of the system component.

9. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end region of the system component is insertable into the engagement opening or engagement groove of the latch system.

10. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the system component is a work instrument, an electrode instrument with an elongate shaft portion and with, at its distal end, an electrode to which high-frequency current can be applied.

11. The transporter according to claim 10, wherein the transporter is designed to control the longitudinal displacement of the work instrument.

12. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the latch system comprises an elongate blocking element which is arranged, transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the latch element, in a blocking groove in the outer wall of the latch element.

13. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the spring element is a compression spring, preferably a helical compression spring.

14. A resectoscope for use in endoscopic surgery, wherein it comprises a transporter according to claim 1 and a system component latched in the transporter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0044] Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawings, in which:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a lateral, schematic sectional view of a resectoscope according to the invention, which has a transporter and an electrode instrument, the latter being longitudinally displaceable by means of the carriage of the transporter;

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a lateral, schematic sectional view of a transporter according to the invention, with an electrode instrument which is longitudinally displaceable by means of the carriage of the transporter;

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a part of a transporter from the prior art, said transporter having a latch system with a latch element, a spring element and a blocking element, the latch element having no irrigation channels;

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of the part from FIG. 3, rotated through 90°;

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the latch system of a transporter according to the invention, from the longitudinal direction of the transporter, in which the irrigation grooves of the blocking element can be seen, and

[0050] FIG. 6 shows a schematic sectional view of the latch system of an alternative transporter according to the invention, from the longitudinal direction of the transporter.

ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0051] Further advantages, characteristics and features of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings. However, the invention is not limited to these illustrative embodiments.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a lateral, schematic sectional view of a resectoscope 12 according to the invention, which has a transporter 10 and an electrode instrument 42, the latter being longitudinally displaceable by means of the carriage 62 of the transporter 10. The electrode instrument 42 is the system component 13 of the transporter 10 that is intended to be held releasably on the transporter 10 by means of a latch system 18.

[0053] The resectoscope 12 has a shaft 46 comprising a shaft tube system 48, which is indicated by hatching and which, in a manner not shown, consists of an outer tube and an inner tube. Extending inside the shaft tube system 48 is an optics guide tube 50 and, inside the optics guide tube 50, an optic 54. Extending between optics guide tube 50 and shaft tube system 48 is a work instrument 14, which is designed as an electrode instrument 42. In addition, an illumination means, for example in the form of an optical fibre bundle, extends in the inside of or outside the optics guide tube 50. In addition, further elements not shown here may extend in the resectoscope 12, for example a separate irrigation tube and the like. In its distal end region, the shaft tube system 48 comprises, in a manner not shown here, openings through which contaminated irrigation liquid can flow into the space between outer tube and inner tube and can drain off through the resectoscope shaft 46.

[0054] By means of a guide element 52, which has a cross section in the shape of part of a circle, the electrode instrument 42 is protected against displacements that deviate from the longitudinal direction of the shaft 46, for example transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction. The guide element 52 is supported on the optic 54. The electrode instrument 42 is mounted longitudinally displaceably on the optics guide tube 50 and has an elongate shaft 16.

[0055] The proximal end of the shaft 16 of the electrode instrument 42 is latched in the interior of the carriage 62 of the transporter 10 in a manner not shown in FIG. 1. The carriage 62 can thus be regarded as connection body 15 in the embodiment shown. By actuation of the grip parts 56, 58, the electrode instrument 42 can be moved in a constrained axial movement in the distal and proximal direction. It can be pushed beyond the distal end of the optics guide tube 50 and of the shaft tube system 48. The operator is thus also able to manipulate tissue that is located further away from the resectoscope tip. At its distal end, the electrode instrument 42 has an electrode 44, which is designed as a cutting loop and by means of which tissue can be removed by electrosurgical ablation. A high-frequency electrical voltage is applied to the electrode 44 in order to cut tissue.

[0056] The resectoscope 12 shown has a passive transporter 10 in which, by relative movement of the grip parts 56 and 58 arranged proximally from the resectoscope shaft 46, the carriage 62 is displaced in the distal direction towards the distal, first grip part 56 counter to a spring force applied by a spring bridge 60. In the displacement of the carriage 62 in the distal direction towards the grip part 56, the electrode instrument 42 is forced in the distal direction by the latching (not shown in FIG. 1) in the latch system 18. Upon relaxation of the grip parts 58, 56, the spring force generated by the spring bridge 60 forces the carriage 62 back to its rest position, wherein the electrode instrument 42 is pulled in the proximal direction. Upon the rearward displacement of the carriage 62, an electrosurgical intervention can be performed with the electrode instrument 42 without manual force from the operator, i.e. passively.

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a lateral, schematic sectional view of the transporter 10 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, with the electrode instrument 42 longitudinally displaceable by means of the carriage 62 of the transporter 10, and with the optics guide tube 50, but without the shaft tube system 48 of the resectoscope 12 and without the optic 54. It will be seen that the electrode instrument 42 is inserted with the proximal end region of its shaft portion 16 into the carriage 62 of the transporter 10 and is held thereby.

[0058] FIGS. 3 and 4 show schematic sectional views of a part of a transporter 10 from the prior art, which comprises a latch system 18 with a latch element 20, a spring element 24 and a blocking element 34. The transporter 10 from the prior art differs from the transporter 10 according to the invention shown in FIG. 5 mainly in that the latch element 20 of the transporter 10 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 has no irrigation channels. FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of the part from FIG. 3 rotated through 90°.

[0059] The proximal end region of the shaft portion 16 of a work instrument 14 is shown which, in FIG. 3, is located above an engagement opening 22 and has not yet been inserted into the latter and not yet latched in place therein. The end region has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the engagement opening 22. The engagement opening 22 is arranged in the shaft region of the latch element 20 and fully traverses the latter, i.e. is designed in the form of a channel that is open at both ends. By insertion of the shaft portion 16 into the half-funnel-shaped end region of the engagement opening 22, the latch element 20 is displaced along its longitudinal axis in the direction of the blocking element 34 or in the direction of the funnel start (to the left in FIG. 3).

[0060] As is described elsewhere herein, the engagement opening 22 and the end region of the shaft portion 16 of the work instrument 14 can have complementary latching lugs and latching grooves (not shown) and can thus form an additional latching connection. Moreover, by means of the spring element 24, a latching lug of the latch system is at all times pressed onto the bottom of the latching groove, i.e. a pressure is exerted on the shaft of the work instrument 14. In this way, the undercut within the latch system 18 is ensured. Seen from the direction of the longitudinal axis of the latch element 20, the spring element 24 is arranged at one end of the latch element 20. The spring element 24 is designed as an elastic shaped body and, in contrast to the latch element 20 and the blocking element 34, is arranged partially outside the transporter 10. The part of the spring element 24 protruding laterally from the side wall of the transporter can be used for manual actuation of the latch element 20, in particular for releasing a latching connection present between the work instrument 14 and the latch system 18. If a (manual) pressure is exerted on the spring element 24, the force is transmitted to the latch element 20, via an optional force transmission element 64, and the latch element 20 is displaced along its longitudinal axis in the interior of the transporter 10. In this way, the clamping and/or latching connection between engagement opening 22 and shaft portion 16 is released, such that the work instrument 14 can be easily removed from the resectoscope 12.

[0061] The transporter 10 moreover has a blocking element 34 which is arranged in part in a second engagement opening 22 and in part in a channel (not shown in detail) in the connection body 15. In this way, the latch element 20 is held in the transporter 10, and protected from falling out, even when there is no work instrument 14 arranged in the first engagement opening 22. The blocking element 34 is of elongate shape and is oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the latch element 20 and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the transporter 10 and of the shaft 46. The engagement opening 22 provided for the blocking element 34 is preferably designed as a channel substantially parallel to the engagement opening 22 provided for the work instrument 14. Moreover, in the longitudinal direction of the latch element 20, it is wider than the diameter of the blocking element 34, so as not to impede the desired displacement of the latch element 20 in its longitudinal direction. The additional width, i.e. the width beyond the diameter of the blocking element, preferably corresponds to the desired stroke of the latch element 20.

[0062] FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the latch system 18 of a transporter 10 according to the invention, from the longitudinal direction of the transporter 10, in which the irrigation grooves 26 of the blocking element 34 can be seen. The transporter 10 according to the invention differs from the one shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 at least in terms of the irrigation grooves 26 shown here. Other features, such as the arrangement of the blocking element 34 in an engagement opening 22 or the use of an elastic shaped body as spring element 24, can also be applied in the transporter 10 of the present invention.

[0063] The irrigation grooves 26 of the latch element 20 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latch element 20, from one end of the latch element 20 to the other. This ensures that irrigation liquid can flow all the way through during cleaning. The irrigation grooves 26 have a U-shaped cross section.

[0064] At its end lying outside the connection body 15, the latch element 20 has a head portion which has a greater diameter than the shaft portion of the latch element 20 extending into the interior of the transporter 10. The side of the head portion directed towards the shaft portion serves as a bearing surface for a spring element 24, which is designed as a metallic helical compression spring. The spring element 24 lies with its other end on a shoulder of the connection body 15 and exerts an outward pressure.

[0065] However, the latch system 18 is held in the connection body 15 of the transporter 10 by the blocking element 34. The blocking element 34 is designed substantially like the blocking element 34 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. However, it does not engage in a complementary engagement opening but instead in a blocking groove 36, which is formed in the outer wall of the latch element 20 and of which the longitudinal axis is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the latch element 20. The blocking groove 36 is wider than the diameter of the blocking element 34, such that the desired displacement of the latch element 20 is not impeded.

[0066] FIG. 6 shows a schematic sectional view of the latch system 18 of an alternative transporter 10 according to the invention, from the longitudinal direction of the transporter 10. In a manner not shown, the latch element 20, like the one shown in FIG. 5, comprises irrigation grooves 26 which are each suitable for forming an irrigation channel 25 between the latch element 20 and the connection body 15.

[0067] In contrast to the transporter 10 according to FIG. 5, the spring element 24 of the transporter 10 shown in FIG. 6 is arranged on that side of the latch element 20 opposite an unlatching element 66. The channel (hollow) provided in the connection body 15 for the latch element 20 is not open at both sides of the connection body 15 and is instead closed at one end. The spring element 24 is arranged on the closed side of this channel and is supported at one side on the end of the channel and at the other side on the latch element 20. To support the spring element 24, the latch element 20 has, at this end, grooves which extend about the longitudinal axis of the latch element 20 in the longitudinal direction thereof.

[0068] The unlatching element 66 is an actuation element (button) with which the latching connection between the work element 14 and the latch system 18 can be released. For this purpose, the unlatching element 66 is arranged on that side of the latch element 20 opposite the spring element 24, i.e. on the side where the channel provided for the latch element 20 in the connection body 15 is open towards the outside.

[0069] In addition, the latch system 18 shown in FIG. 6 also differs from the one shown in FIG. 5 in that the proximal end region of the work element 14 is not arranged in an engagement opening 22 of the latch element 20 but in an engagement groove 23. The engagement groove 23 is arranged in the outer wall (lateral face) of the latch element 20. The longitudinal axis of the engagement groove 23 extends transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the latch element 20.

[0070] The blocking element 34 has a head region which is accessible from outside the connection body 15 and which has a wider diameter than the shaft portion of the blocking element 34 arranged inside the connection body 15 and the blocking groove 36.

[0071] Although the present invention has been described in detail on the basis of the illustrative embodiments, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to these illustrative embodiments but rather that modifications are possible, whereby individual features can be omitted or different types of combinations of features can be implemented, without departing from the scope of protection of the accompanying claims. The present disclosure covers all combinations of the individual features shown.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0072]

TABLE-US-00001 10 transporter 12 resectoscope 13 system component 14 work instrument 15 connection body 16 shaft portion 18 latch system 20 latch element 22 engagement opening 23 engagement groove 24 spring element 25 irrigation channel 26 irrigation groove 28 end of the latch element 30 lateral transporter face 32 contralateral transporter face 34 blocking element 36 blocking groove 38 outer wall 40 irrigation channel 42 electrode instrument 44 electrode 46 shaft 48 shaft tube system 50 optics guide tube 52 guide element 54 optics 56 grip part 58 grip part 60 spring bridge 62 carriage 64 force transmission element 66 unlatching element