HAND-HELD SHAFT-TYPE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

Abstract

A hand-held sliding shaft-type surgical instrument includes a shaft, in which a longitudinal groove is formed extending over the length of the shaft, and a slide, which is movably mounted in the longitudinal groove. Relative movement of the slide in the longitudinal groove is at least partly guided by at least one connecting piece that constricts the longitudinal groove in the width direction. The shaft has a cleaning recess in the region of the connecting piece in the longitudinal direction. The cleaning recess forms a radial through-opening that opens into the longitudinal groove from the groove base side.

Claims

1. A hand-held surgical instrument comprising a sliding shaft, the sliding shaft comprising: an elongated shaft, in which a longitudinal groove extending over a length of the shaft is formed; and a slide, which is mounted displaceably in the longitudinal groove, displacement of the slide in the longitudinal groove being guided in sections by at least one crosspiece of the elongated shaft that narrows the longitudinal groove in a width direction of the longitudinal groove the elongated shaft comprising, in a longitudinal direction in a region of the at least one crosspiece, a cleaning recess that forms a radial through hole that opens into the longitudinal groove from a side of a groove ground of the longitudinal groove.

2. The hand-held surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a gap for cleaning formed in the width direction of the longitudinal groove between the slide and the elongated shaft.

3. The hand-held surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the gap is formed on both sides of the slide in the width direction of the longitudinal groove.

4. The hand-held surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning recess and the longitudinal groove are fluidically connected to each other when the slide is arranged in the longitudinal groove, in a region in the longitudinal direction in which the slide rests on the groove ground of the longitudinal groove.

5. The hand-held surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein a longitudinal extension of the cleaning recess, does at least one of the following in a depth direction of the longitudinal groove: decreases from outside to inside; and increases in the width direction of the longitudinal groove from outside to inside or remains constant in the width direction of the longitudinal groove.

6. The hand-held surgical instrument according to claim 5, wherein the cleaning recess comprises a circular segment or elliptical segment in a longitudinal section perpendicular to the width direction of the longitudinal groove.

7. The hand-held surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein a longitudinal extension of the at least one crosspiece in the depth direction of the longitudinal groove increases from outside to inside.

8. The hand-held surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein a longitudinal extension of the at least one crosspiece in the width direction of the longitudinal groove increases from inside to outside.

9. The hand-held surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the radial through hole has a greater width extension than the slide and/or the longitudinal groove in the region of the at least one longitudinal crosspiece.

10. The hand-held surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising an instrument handle attached to a proximal end of the sliding shaft, the instrument handle allowing a relative displacement of the slide to be operable, and an effector attached to a distal end of the sliding shaft and being operable by the relative displacement of the slide.

11. The hand-held surgical instrument according to claim 5, wherein the elongated shaft has a concave area, and the longitudinal extension of the cleaning recess, along the concave area of the elongated shaft, decreases in the depth direction of the longitudinal groove from outside to inside and/or increases in the width direction of the longitudinal groove from outside to inside or remains constant.

12. The hand-held surgical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the at least one crosspiece has a concave lateral surface, and the longitudinal extension of the at least one crosspiece in the depth direction of the longitudinal groove increases from outside to inside along the concave lateral surface of the at least one crosspiece.

13. The hand-held surgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the at least one crosspiece has a concave lateral surface, and the longitudinal extension of the at least one crosspiece in the width direction of the longitudinal groove increases from inside to outside, along the concave lateral surface of the at least one crosspiece.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a sliding-shaft instrument with a sliding shaft;

[0026] FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of a detail of a shaft of the sliding shaft;

[0027] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the detail of FIG. 4 with a slide housed in the shaft; and

[0028] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the sliding-shaft instrument.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] A preferred configuration example of the present disclosure is described below based on the to accompanying figures.

[0030] FIGS. 1 to 6 show a preferred embodiment of a sliding shaft 1 or of a surgical sliding-shaft instrument 2, respectively. The sliding shaft 1 serves to couple an actuation of a tool head/tool portion 3 of the sliding-shaft instrument 2 arranged at a distal end of the sliding shaft 1 with an actuation of an instrument handle 4 of the sliding-shaft instrument 2 arranged at a proximal end of the sliding shaft 1.

[0031] The sliding shaft 1 has an elongated shaft 5 and a slide (/sliding plate) 6 displaceably arranged thereon. The actuation of the instrument handle 4, in particular a pivoting movement of the instrument handle 4, is coupled or couplable with a relative displacement of the slide 6 relative to the shaft 5. The relative displacement of the slide 6 in the longitudinal direction relative to the shaft is coupled or couplable with the actuation of the tool head 3, in particular a closing or opening movement of the tool head 3. In this way, the opening or respectively closing of the tool head 3 is achieved by the longitudinal movement of the slide 6 along the shaft 5.

[0032] The slide 6 is arranged in a longitudinal groove 7 of the shaft 5. The longitudinal groove 7 is open towards an upper side of the shaft 5. The slide 6 preferably extends in the form of a plate. The slide 6 extends in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 5 and in the depth direction of the shaft 5. I.e. a thickness of the slide 6 extends in the width direction of the shaft 5. The slide 6 extends over substantially the entire longitudinal extension of the longitudinal groove 7 of the shaft 5.

[0033] The slide 6 is arranged so as to be longitudinally displaceable in the longitudinal groove 7. The longitudinal groove 7 is preferably arranged centrally in the shaft 5 in the width direction. The slide 6 is preferably arranged centrally in the longitudinal groove 7 in the width direction. The relative displacement of the slide 6 is guided in sections by at least one crosspiece 8 of the shaft 5, which narrows the longitudinal groove 7 in the width direction. The crosspiece 8 thus forms a guiding surface for the slide 6. In particular, the slide 6 rests against the guiding surface of the crosspiece 8. In particular, the relative displacement of the slide 6 is guided by at least one pair of crosspieces 8 arranged opposite in the width direction. The pair of crosspieces 8 arranged opposite each other in the width direction (hereinafter also referred to as pair of crosspieces) may preferably be arranged spaced apart from each other by the thickness of the slide 6, i.e. its extension in the width direction of the shaft 5. Thus, the slide 6 may rest on both its sides against one respective crosspiece 8 of a pair of crosspieces.

[0034] In other words, the longitudinal groove 7 has a basic width corresponding to a distance between two crosspieces 8 of a pair of crosspieces or a thickness of the slide 6, respectively. In addition, the longitudinal groove 7 has a greater width than the basic width in sections along the longitudinal direction, i.e. the longitudinal groove 7 widens in sections. In the widened sections of the longitudinal groove 7, the slide 6 is not guided by the shaft 5. Thus, a gap 9 is formed in the widened sections between the slide 6 and the shaft 5. The gap 9 can be regarded as a part of the longitudinal groove 7. The gap 9 preferably extends to a groove ground of the longitudinal groove 7. In particular, a gap 9 may be formed on both sides of the slide 6 in the width direction. The sliding shaft 1, in particular the slide 6, can be cleaned through the gap 9. The gap 9 is preferably elongated, i.e. extends in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 5. In particular, the gap 9 may be formed/milled as a milled cutout. In this way, for example in contrast to bores, a flatter surface can be created and, for example, the occurrence of burrs can be reduced.

[0035] This means that the longitudinal groove 7 widens along the longitudinal direction in sections in the width direction (by the gap 9) or narrows/becomes smaller in sections in the width direction (by the crosspiece 8). The gap 9 is thus narrowed or interrupted in sections in the longitudinal direction by the crosspiece 8.

[0036] Depending on the length of the sliding shaft 1 (and/or the thickness of the slide 6), the shaft 5 has multiple crosspieces 8 (or pairs of crosspieces) spaced apart in the longitudinal direction along the longitudinal groove 7. Preferably, the multiple crosspieces 8 (or pair of crosspieces) are spaced at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction. This prevents the slide 6 from kinking.

[0037] According to the present disclosure, the shaft 6 has a cleaning recess 10 which forms a through hole opening into the longitudinal groove 7. The cleaning recess 10 is arranged in the longitudinal direction in the region of the crosspiece 8. The cleaning recess 10 is open towards a lower side of the shaft 5. By forming a passage between the cleaning recess 10 and the longitudinal groove 7, a flow of cleaning fluid, for example from top to bottom or from bottom to top, through the shaft 5 and around the slide 6 is made possible. Due to the arrangement of the cleaning recess 10 in the region of the crosspiece 8, the stability of the shaft 5 is only insignificantly reduced. Preferably, the shaft 5 has several cleaning recesses 10, in particular one cleaning recess 10 per crosspiece 8 (or pair of crosspieces).

[0038] The cleaning recess 10 is preferably elongated, i.e. extends in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 5. In this way, as little material as possible is removed from the shaft 5 in its more unstable width direction for the cleaning recess 10. Preferably, the cleaning recess 10 may be formed/milled as a milled cutout. In this way, for example in contrast to bores, a more planar surface can be produced and, for example, the occurrence of burrs can be reduced. The cleaning recess 10 is preferably arranged centrally in the shaft 5 in the width direction.

[0039] The cleaning recess 10 and the longitudinal groove 7 may in particular be formed in such a way that they are fluidically connected to each other when the slide 6 is arranged in the longitudinal groove 7. This means, for example, that the cleaning recess 10 has a greater width extension (i.e. a greater extension in the width direction of the shaft 5) than the slide 6 or respectively than the longitudinal groove 7 in the region of the pair of crosspieces 8. This allows flow even when the slide 6 is mounted in the longitudinal groove 7.

[0040] A preferred shape of the cleaning recess 10 is shown enlarged in FIG. 3. A longitudinal extension (i.e. an extension in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 5) of the cleaning recess 10 may decrease from the outside to the inside in the depth direction of the shaft 5. In particular, the cleaning recess 10 may have the shape of a circular segment or elliptical segment in a longitudinal section (perpendicular to the width direction of the shaft 5). For example, the longitudinal extension of the cleaning recess 10 can thus decrease along a concave area 11 of the shaft 5 from the outside (here below) to the inside (here above). The longitudinal extension (i.e. an extension in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 5) of the cleaning recess 10 may increase in the width direction of the shaft 5 from the outside to the inside. For example, the longitudinal extension of the cleaning recess 10 may increase along the concave area 11 of the shaft 5 in the width direction from the outside to the inside. In particular, the cleaning recess 10 may have the shape of a circular layer or an elliptical layer in the longitudinal section (perpendicular to the depth direction of the shaft 5). A width extension (i.e. an extension in the width direction of the shaft 5) of the cleaning recess 10 may preferably be constant in the depth direction of the shaft 5. That is, the cleaning recess 10 extends along a plane area 12 that is perpendicular to the width direction. Preferably, the cleaning recess 10 and the crosspiece 8 (or the pair of crosspieces) are substantially symmetrical to a common plane of symmetry perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and/or to a common plane of symmetry perpendicular to the width direction.

[0041] A preferred shape of the crosspiece 8 is shown enlarged in FIG. 4. A longitudinal extension (i.e. an extension in longitudinal direction of the shaft 5) of the crosspiece 8 may increase in the depth direction of the shaft from the outside to the inside. That is, the longitudinal extension of the crosspiece 8 may in particular increase from a groove opening to the groove ground of the longitudinal groove. In particular, the crosspiece 8 may have the shape of a circular segment or elliptical segment in a longitudinal section (perpendicular to the width direction of the shaft 5). For example, the longitudinal extension of the crosspiece 8 may thus increase along a concave lateral surface 13 of the crosspiece 8 from the outside (here above) to the bottom (here below). The longitudinal extension (i.e., an extension in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 5) of the crosspiece 8 may increase in the width direction of the shaft 5 from the inside to the outside. For example, the longitudinal extension of the crosspiece 8 may thus increase along the concave lateral surface 13 of the crosspiece 8 in the width direction from the inside to the outside. A width extension (i.e., an extension in the width direction of the shaft 5) of the crosspiece 8 may preferably be constant in the depth direction of the shaft 5. That is, the crosspiece 8 extends along a plane area 14 that is perpendicular to the width direction. The plane area 14 of the crosspiece 8 serves as a guiding surface for the slide 6.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows the section of FIG. 4, wherein the slide 6 is arranged in the longitudinal groove 7 of the shaft 5. It can be seen that the gap 9 is formed on both sides of the slide 6 in the width direction. The gap 9 has essentially the same width extension as the crosspiece 8. The slide 6 is in contact with the shaft 5 only in the area of the crosspiece 8.

[0043] FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section of the sliding shaft 1, perpendicular to a width direction of the shaft 5. It can be seen that the cleaning recesses 10 on the lower side of the shaft 5 extend into the shaft 5 in the depth direction so far that they open into the longitudinal groove 7. This forms the through hole in the region of the crosspieces 8. The gap 9 is interrupted by the crosspiece 8 so that the gap extends over the concave lateral surfaces 13 to the groove ground of the longitudinal groove 7. That is, an outlet of the gap 9 is circular arc-shaped in a longitudinal section. This results in a bridge-like shape of the crosspiece 8 in a longitudinal section, which is bounded by the two concave lateral surfaces 13 and the concave area 11. The concave area 11 has essentially the same curvature as the concave lateral surfaces 13.

[0044] For actuating the surgical sliding-shaft instrument 2, the instrument handle 4 is formed by two hand grips 15, 16 which are pivotable relative to each other. A first hand grip 15 may be firmly connected to the shaft 5. A second hand grip 16 may be operatively connected to the slide 6, for example via a hinge 17, in such a way that it displaces the slide 6 relative to the shaft 5 in the longitudinal direction when the second hand grip 16 is pivoted relative to the first hand grip 15. The tool head 3 is formed by two tool parts 18, 19 that are pivotable relative to each other. A first tool part 18 may be firmly connected to the shaft 5. A second tool part 19 may be operatively connected to the slide 6, for example via a hinge 20, in such a way that a relative displacement of the slide 6 relative to the shaft 5 pivots the second tool part 19 relative to the first tool part 18, in particular opening or closing the tool head 3.