EYEPIECE DEVICE FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

Abstract

An eyepiece device for a surgical instrument with an image guide channel part through which an image guide fibre bundle passes, the eyepiece device including: an optical filter disposed at a proximal end of the image guide fibre bundle; a sliding body having the optical filter element disposed therein; and a connector disposed at a proximal end of the image guide channel part; wherein the sliding body is disposed longitudinally displaceable within the connector.

Claims

1. An eyepiece device for a surgical instrument with an image guide channel part through which an image guide fibre bundle passes, the eyepiece device comprising: an optical filter disposed at a proximal end of the image guide fibre bundle; a sliding body having the optical filter element disposed therein; and a connector disposed at a proximal end of the image guide channel part; wherein the sliding body is disposed longitudinally displaceable within the connector.

2. The eyepiece device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding body comprises a distal section, which forms a fitting connection with a proximal section of the connector.

3. The eyepiece device according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesive for connecting the optical filter to the sliding body.

4. The eyepiece device according to claim 3, wherein the optical filter is bonded along at least a portion of a circumference of the optical filter to the sliding body by the adhesive.

5. The eyepiece device according to claim 3, wherein the adhesive is an inflexible adhesive.

6. The eyepiece device according to claim 1, wherein the connector include a thread for mating engagement with a thread on the proximal end of the image guide channel part.

7. The eyepiece device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the connector and the sliding body is formed of plastic.

8. The eyepiece device according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises an abutment for for limiting a movement of the sliding body in the axial direction.

9. The eyepiece device according to claim 8, wherein the sliding element comprises a widened side edge having a contact surface for engagement with the abutment of the connector.

10. A surgical instrument comprising: the image guide channel part; and the eyepiece device according to claim 1 disposed on the proximal end of the image guide channel part.

11. The eyepiece device according to claim 4, wherein the optical filter is bonded completely along the circumference of the optical filter to the sliding body by the adhesive.

12. The eyepiece device according to claim 5, wherein the inflexible adhesive is an epoxy adhesive.

13. The eyepiece device according to claim 6, wherein the thread on the connector is an internal thread.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] In the drawings, embodiments are shown schematically. In the following:

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic and simplified side view of a surgical instrument;

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic and simplified sectional view of an eyepiece device; and

[0034] FIG. 3A illustrates the representation of FIG. 2 in reduced form and a corresponding, simplified sectional view of the eyepiece device, which allows a view from the proximal direction in FIG. 3B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Further advantages, characteristics and features will become apparent in the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic and simplified side view of a surgical instrument 12, which is configured as a rigid endoscope. It is understood that the eyepiece device 10, not shown in FIG. 1, is equally suitable for flexible endoscopes. The surgical instrument 12 has a tubular shaft part 32 and a light guide input port 34. By the latter, a light guide for illuminating the site of intervention can be connected to the endoscope. A corresponding light guide bundle runs in a manner not shown here through the endoscope. In addition to this illumination device and optional working channels, the endoscope has an optical system for monitoring the site of intervention. The illustrated instrument is of a fibre relay endoscope type and accordingly has an image guide fibre bundle, not shown here, for image transmission between the site of intervention and the camera head 38. The optical system further comprises an eyepiece funnel 36 and a connector 40 to an image processor.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a schematic and simplified sectional view of an eyepiece device 10, which is suitable for use in the endoscope shown in FIG. 1. The eyepiece device 10 has an image guide channel part 14, a connecting element (connector) 20 and a sliding element (sliding body) 22.

[0038] The image guide channel part 14 is a substantially hollow cylinder. In the interior of the image guide channel part 14, a channel 42 is formed, through which the image guide fibre bundle 16 passes. The channel 42 extends into the distal end region of the surgical instrument 12, not illustrated here. The image guide fibre bundle 16 can be a fibre optic bundle. The image guide fibre bundle 16 may be protected within the channel 42 in a manner not shown by adjacent elements. For example, the image guide fibre bundle 16 may be enclosed by a channel or hose element.

[0039] In its proximal end region, the image guide channel part 14 has a fastening element 48, which in this case is configured as a circumferential groove. A section of the proximal end face of the image guide channel part 14 serves as an abutment surface, which limits the movement of the sliding element 22 in the distal direction.

[0040] At its proximal end face 50, the image guide fibre bundle 16 is connected to the filter element (optical filter) 18 by means of an optical adhesive (such as an epoxy resin adhesive). The filter element 18 is an anti-moire filter consisting of four glass layers, three of which are effective in reducing moire effects. The filter element 18 is provided on its outer circumference with an adhesive layer 30, by means of which it is connected to the cylindrical inner surface of the sliding element 22. The adhesive layer 30 can comprise a cured epoxy resin adhesive. The adhesive is an inflexible adhesive.

[0041] The sliding element 22 has in its proximal end region a widened side edge 46 (holding shoulder) which comprises a contact surface pointing distally. The contact surface 52, together with the abutment 44 of the connecting element 20, limits the distal movement of the sliding element 22.

[0042] The connecting element 20 serves to connect the image guide channel part 14 and the sliding element 22. The connection between the connecting element 20 and the image guide channel part 14 is fixed, so that the parts do not move relative to one another in the mounted state. For this purpose, the connecting element 20 has one or a plurality of (helical) protuberances extending in the interior of the connecting element 20, by means of which a screw connection between the connecting element 20 and the image guide channel part 14 can be produced. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to use a bung connection. To facilitate assembly, the connecting element 20 may be made of a plastic having a flexibility, for example, to push the connecting element 20 from the proximal direction for producing a bung connection to the image guide channel part 14. In contrast, the connection between the connecting element 20 and the sliding element 22 is configured such that a radial displacement of the sliding element 22 within the connecting element 20 is prevented, while an axial movement of the sliding element 22 in the interior of the connecting element 20 is made possible.

[0043] For this purpose, the connecting element 20 has an at least partially hollow cylindrical configuration, wherein the sliding element 22 is longitudinally displaceable in the interior of the connecting element 20. The longitudinal displacement of the sliding element 22 is limited by the connection between the image guide fibre bundle 16 and the sliding element 22. Since the image guide fibre bundle 16 can be fixed distally, the maximum axial movement distance of the sliding element 22 is limited to the extent of thermal expansion of the fibre bundle 16 in relation to the thermal expansion of the remaining components used. Between the proximal end of the image guide channel part 14 and the distal end of the optical filter element 18, the adhesive layer 30 and the sliding element 22, a gap 54 is formed. The size of the gap 54 changes with the longitudinal displacement of the sliding element 22. The gap 54 may, for example, be an air gap.

[0044] The sliding element 22 is disposed (radially) in a fitting connection in the connecting element 20. This ensures that the sliding element 22 is longitudinally but not radially displaceable. The outer circumference of the sliding element 22 adjoins the inner surface of the connecting element 20 during a longitudinal displacement.

[0045] FIG. 3A shows the sectional view of FIG. 2 in reduced form and beyond a corresponding rotated sectional view of the eyepiece device 10, which allows a view from the proximal direction in FIG. 3B. It can be seen that in the illustrated embodiment, the optical filter element 18, as well as the other elements, have a round or cylindrical cross-sectional shape.

[0046] While there has been shown and described what is considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact forms described and illustrated, but should be constructed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0047] 10 eyepiece device

[0048] 12 surgical instrument

[0049] 14 image guide channel part

[0050] 16 image guide fibre bundle

[0051] 18 optical filter element

[0052] 20 connecting element

[0053] 22 sliding element

[0054] 24 distal section of sliding element

[0055] 26 proximal section of connecting element

[0056] 28 abutment

[0057] 30 adhesive layer

[0058] 32 shaft part

[0059] 34 light guide input port

[0060] 36 eyepiece funnel

[0061] 38 camera head

[0062] 40 connector

[0063] 42 channel

[0064] 44 abutment

[0065] 46 widened side edge

[0066] 48 fastening element

[0067] 50 end face

[0068] 52 contact surface

[0069] 54 gap