ENDOSCOPE WIPER BLADE CLEANER

Abstract

A minimally invasive surgical instrument including a viewing instrument and a wiper mechanism configured and adapted to clean a lens of the viewing instrument. The wiper mechanism includes a wiper that is configured and adapted to contact and translate across a surface of the lens. An actuator moves the wiper across the lens to clean the lens.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A surgical instrument comprising: a viewing instrument including a lens; and a wiper mechanism attachable to the viewing instrument, the wiper mechanism including: a sheath configured to receive the lens therethrough; and first and second members operatively coupled to the sheath, wherein the first member is rotatable about an axis of the second member when the lens extends distally through the sheath such that the first member wipes the lens.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the wiper mechanism further includes a connector connecting the first and second members.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 3, wherein the connector is arcuate.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 3, wherein the first member is formed of at least one of a polymer, a fabric, or a rubber.

6. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the first member is transitionable between a first position in which the first and second members are diametrically spaced apart relative to a surface of the lens, and a second position in which the first member is translated across the surface of the lens.

7. The surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the first and second members are parallel to each other in the first position.

8. The surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the first member is biased toward the first position.

9. The surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the first member has a cylindrical profile.

10. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the wiper mechanism includes a collar mounted at a distal end of the sheath, the collar supporting the first and second members.

11. A surgical instrument comprising: a wiper mechanism operatively associated with a viewing instrument having a lens, the wiper mechanism including: first and second members, the first member pivotable with respect to the second member as the first member moves diametrically across the lens of the viewing instrument, the first and second members transitionable from a first position in which the first and second members are spaced apart relative to a surface of the lens, and a second position in which the first member is displaced across the surface of the lens.

12. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the first and second members are diametrically spaced apart with respect to the surface of the lens when the first and second members are in the first position.

13. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, further comprising a sheath having an interior dimension to receive a portion of the viewing instrument, the second member coupled to the sheath.

14. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the first and second members are biased toward the first position.

15. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the first and second members are parallel to each other in the first position.

16. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the wiper mechanism further includes a connector connecting the first and second members.

17. The surgical instrument according to claim 16, wherein the connector extends diametrically over the surface of the lens when the first and second members are in the first position.

18. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the first member has a cylindrical profile.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] By way of description only, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical viewing instrument and wiper mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the distal end portion of the surgical viewing instrument of FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the distal end portion of a surgical viewing instrument having an alternate embodiment of the wiper mechanism mounted thereto;

[0022] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the distal end portion of a surgical viewing instrument having another alternate embodiment of the wiper mechanism mounted thereto; and

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates the wiper of FIG. 4 being moved across the scope lens.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] An endoscope typically includes an endoscope housing or body which can be rigid or flexible, depending on its surgical application. A camera viewfinder, e.g. an eyepiece, is located at a proximal (imaging) end of the scope housing. A lens is provided at the distal end of the scope body.

[0025] In typical use of the endoscope, the viewfinder is adapted to sight images of a surgical field in the patient, e.g. an abdominal cavity, thoracic cavity, etc., as the position of the scope is adjusted to view a particular anatomical structure or structures in the surgical field. The camera is adapted to receive images of the surgical field sighted through the lens and transmit the images to an external monitor that is connected to the camera and on which the images of the surgical field are displayed. That is, a visual display device is operatively connected to the eyepiece to convert the optical signal into a video signal to produce a video image on the monitor (or for storage on select media). Accordingly, the monitor enables a surgical team to view the anatomical structure or structures in the surgical field inside the patient as the surgical procedure is carried out using minimally invasive or endoscopic surgical instruments. Throughout the surgical procedure, condensation, smoke particles, and biological tissue or matter has a tendency to contact and build up on the lens of the scope. This tends to obscure the images of the surgical field as they are displayed on the monitor.

[0026] The instrument of the present disclosure enables cleaning of the scope lens during the surgical procedure to maintain a clear image without having to remove the scope from the patient's body.

[0027] Particular embodiments of the present disclosure will be described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the figures and in the description that follows, in which like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements, the term “proximal” will refer to the end of the instrument that is closer to the operator during use, while the term “distal” will refer to the end that is further from the operator during use.

[0028] The present disclosure is directed to wiper mechanisms which can be attachable to a conventional viewing instrument, e.g. a laparoscope or endoscope, The wiper mechanism includes one or more roller or wiper members movable across the lens of the scope to clean the lens. In some embodiments, the roller member(s) are moved by a remotely positioned actuator. In other embodiments, the roller member(s) are moved across the lens by advancement of the scope lens into contact with the roller member(s). An injection port such as a spray head can also be provided to inject, e.g. spray, fluid onto the lens. That is, the wiper can be part of an elongated sheath containing a fluid conduit which delivers fluid to the scope lens. In an alternate embodiment, partial retraction of the scope can facilitate part of the cleaning cycle to actuate part of the cleaning element.

[0029] A conventional endoscope is illustrated in FIG. 1 by way of example and designated by reference numeral 10. The scope 10 has a handle 12 and an elongated tubular shaft 14 extending distally from the handle 12 and terminating in a lens 19. The tubular shaft can be rigid, semi-rigid or flexible. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a wiper mechanism 100 including a sheath 110 is positioned over the scope lens 19 and a portion of the shaft 14. The sheath 110 can be rigid, semi-rigid or flexible to accommodate a flexible elongated shaft of an endoscope. The sheath has an interior dimension for receipt of the scope. In alternate embodiments, the wiper mechanism is attached to a collar mounted over a distal tip of the scope.

[0030] Turning first to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, wiper mechanism 100 includes a wiper in the form of a substantially cylindrical roller member 102 having first and second opposed ends 104, 106. The roller member 102 has a longitudinal axis (slightly curved) which is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the scope 10. The wiper mechanism 100 is connected to sheath 110 mounted on the distal portion of the scope 10. The sheath 110 includes a collar or ring 112 having a slot 114 formed therein on each side. The sheath can be configured of different lengths to cover different lengths of the scope 10.

[0031] Arms 107, 109 support roller member 102 on opposing ends thereof, and bend inwardly to extend through radially positioned slots 114 of collar 112. The arms 107, 109 can be in the form of a rod, tube, wire, etc. and can be integrally formed so they extend as one unit within the interior of roller member 102. Alternatively, a separate connecting member can extend through or be positioned within the interior of roller member 102 to join the two arms 107, 109. The arms 107, 109 are connected to an actuating member such as a rod or wire (not shown) that extends within the sheath 110 and exits from the proximal end 116 of sheath 110 and alongside (not shown) the outer surface of the scope 10. The rod or wire can be clipped to the side of the scope 10 (not shown). The rod or wire is operatively connected to a lever 18 or other control member (actuator) for movement of the rod or wire to actuate the roller 102.

[0032] The roller member 102 is preferably spring biased to a first position removed from the central viewing area of the lens 19. In use, the actuating rod or wire is pulled proximally by actuation of the control (actuating) member, thereby moving the arms 107, 109 within the slots 114 to rotate the roller member 102 across the scope lens 19 to clean the lens. The roller member in this and the other embodiments described herein can be composed of a material to wipe the lens or alternatively, the roller member of this and other embodiments can be composed of metal or other material and covered with a material to wipe the scope lens.

[0033] In the alternate embodiment of FIG. 3, the roller member 202 of wiper mechanism 200 is similar to roller member 102 of FIG. 2, and has arms 207, 209 similar to arms 107, 109. The wiper mechanism 200 differs from wiper mechanism 100 in that instead of an actuating member extending through the sheath, support members 220, 223 are attached to arms 207, 209, and are in a Y-configuration, clipped at disk 219 to the outer surface of the sheath 210, and preferably clipped to the scope as well. Arms 207, 209 extend through radially extending slots 214 in collar or ring 212 to connect the roller member 202 to the collar 212. Proximal retraction of the actuating member 226, which can be in the form of a wire, rod or drawstring, for example, pulls support members 220, 223 proximally to rotate the roller member 202 across the lens 19. As with the embodiment of FIG. 2, the roller 202 is preferably spring biased to be removed from the viewing area of the scope lens 19 and pulling of the wire 226 overcomes the bias to rotate the roller member across the lens, with the arms 207, 209 traveling within slots 214.

[0034] In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-3, a manual lever, e.g. lever 18 of FIG. 1, can be attached to the actuating member (actuator) to manually move the actuating member between proximal and distal positions to move the wiper mechanism from a position adjacent the lens (away from the viewing area) before cleaning to a position across the lens for cleaning. The manual lever can be fixed to the body of the scope near the handle for accessibility and the lever can be spring biased to a position maintaining the wiper away from the central viewing area of the lens.

[0035] As an alternative to an actuator, e.g. a lever, actuable at a proximal end of the scope to move the roller member(s), the roller member(s) can be moved across the scope lens by movement of the scope itself. This is shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0036] In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, two wipers in the form of substantially cylindrical roller members 310, 311 are provided. Roller members 310, 311 are connected by at least one connector and in the illustrated embodiment are connected by three spaced apart connectors 314. Connectors 314 are arcuate and extend across the lens 19 of the scope. Movement of the roller members 310, 311 across the lens can be appreciated by comparing FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIG. 5, the roller member 310 is rotated across the viewing lens 19 as the scope and lens are extended distally through the sheath and contact the roller 310, thereby causing it to rotate across the lens 19. As the viewing instrument is retracted, the wiper 300 translates back to the initial position. This can be achieved for example by the wiper mechanism being biased to the initial position by a spring or other mechanism. The rollers 310, 311 are attached to collar 312 via arm 317 extending from roller 311 into slot 315 of collar 312. A second arm can optionally extend from roller 310 into a second slot in the collar.

[0037] The wiper mechanisms described herein may be permanently or removably coupled to the distal end of a sheath such as sheath 110 which is mounted over the scope. A ring or collar, such as collar 112, may be coupled to the distal end of the sheath, for example, by frictional, adhesive, or magnetic means. The collar can include guide slots for the arms, which are operatively connected to the roller. Actuation of the roller to translate across the lens 19 can be achieved using known mechanical or electro-mechanical means. In addition, the actuation may occur automatically, intermittently, and/or in response to certain conditions.

[0038] To facilitate unobstructed viewing through the lens 19, the rollers can be moved in either direction beyond the radius of the lens 19.

[0039] The rollers disclosed herein facilitate the cleaning and/or drying of the lens. The rollers may be formed from materials including, but not limited to, a polymer, a fabric, a rubber, or a sponge-like material. Alternatively, the rollers can be covered with such material. The rollers may be semi-rigid and may flex to conform to the shape of the lens 19 to facilitate maximum contact between the lens 19 and the rollers. Moreover, the rollers may be substantially cylindrically shaped to facilitate rolling.

[0040] While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings and/or discussed herein, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.