SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

Abstract

A surgical instrument, in particular an arthroscopy punch, with a jaw (22), includes a stationary jaw part (3) and a movable jaw part (10) which, by pivoting of a pivotable grip part (6), is displaceable relative to the stationary jaw part (3), between a closed position and an open position, in a slotted guide (26) along a curved guide path.

Claims

1. Surgical instrument, in particular an arthroscopy punch, with a jaw (22), comprising a stationary jaw part (3) and a movable jaw part (10) which, by pivoting of a pivotable grip part (6), is displaceable relative to the stationary jaw part (3), between a closed position and an open position, in a slotted guide (26) along a curved guide path, wherein the surgical instrument (1) is designed as a sliding shaft instrument, comprising a shaft (2) assigned to the stationary jaw part (3) and a sliding part (9) which is longitudinally displaceable in translation along the shaft (2), by pivoting of the grip part (4, 6) relative to the shaft (2), and which is adjustable between a working position, in which it is guided longitudinally displaceably on the shaft (2) in a guide (13) and is coupled in an articulated manner to the movable jaw part (10) for adjusting the jaw part (3, 10) between the closed position and the open position in a guided displacement movement of the sliding part (9), and a cleaning position, in which the sliding part (9) is uncoupled from the movable jaw part (10), freed from the guide (13) and pivotable about a rotation axis (18) relative to the shaft (2) and relative to the movable jaw part (3), and in that manually activatable locking means (21) are assigned to the sliding part (9), with which locking means (21) the sliding part (9) can be secured in its working position against inadvertent transfer to the cleaning position.

2. Surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein a distance, measured perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal extent of the shaft (2) and parallel to the rotation axis (18), of the sliding part (9) from the shaft (2) is the same in the closed position and the open position of the movable jaw part (10) and during the adjustment movement between these positions, or wherein the sliding part (9), in the closed position and the open position of the movable jaw part (10) and during the adjustment movement, bears on a shaft face directed toward the shaft part (9).

3. Surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein, with sliding part (9) and shaft (2) oriented parallel to each other, the sliding part (9) can be uncoupled from the movable jaw part (10), after the locking means (21) have been unlocked, by adjustment of the sliding part (9) away from the jaw (22) by means of the pivotable grip part (6) and/or can be coupled to the movable jaw part (10) in an articulated manner by adjustment of the sliding part (9) in the direction of the jaw (22) by means of the pivotable grip part (6).

4. Surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the slotted guide (26) is designed in such a way that the movable jaw part (10), during its displacement movement along a partial circle trajectory, is adjustable about an imaginary pivot axis (29).

5. Surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the slotted guide (26) comprises at least one curved slotted-guide groove (27), which defines the guide path and is provided in particular on the shaft and/or stationary jaw part and in which an in particular curved and movable engagement portion (28) on the jaw part is displaceable along the longitudinal extent of the slotted-guide groove in the movement of the movable jaw part (10) between the closed position and the open position.

6. Surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the sliding part (9) has two lateral pin extensions (30) pointing in mutually opposite directions and oriented perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft (2), which pin extensions (30) engage in each case in an associated open hinge recess (31) of the movable jaw part (10).

7. Surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the sliding part (9), in its working position along the longitudinal extent of the shaft (2), protrudes into a cutout (32) which is open toward the proximal end of the instrument and which is delimited by two wall portions (33, 34) spaced apart along a transverse direction extending perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal extent of the shaft (2).

8. Surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein in the open position, the movable jaw part (10), along with the stationary jaw part (3), spans an opening angle () of less than 90, which is limited by the locking means (21), and wherein after the locking means (21) have been unlocked, the movable jaw part (10) can be uncoupled from the sliding shaft by being adjusted to an unlocking position in which the movable jaw part (10) and the stationary jaw part (3) span an unlocking angle of greater than 90, which is greater than the opening angle.

9. Surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the guide (13) for the longitudinally displaceable guiding of the sliding part (9) on the shaft (2) has an undercut guide groove (14) in the shaft (2) with a guide groove opening (16) extending in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the shaft, and wherein, adjacent to the guide groove opening (16), an undercut space (17) is formed in which, in the working position, a guide groove engagement portion (15) of the sliding part (9) is guided longitudinally displaceably, and of which the width of the undercut space measured perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal extent of the shaft and perpendicularly with respect to the depth of the guide groove, in the direction of the guide groove depth extent, is smaller area spaced farther apart from the guide groove opening (16) than in an area located closer to the guide groove opening (16).

10. Surgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein a cross-sectional contour of the undercut space (17) and/or of the guide groove engagement portion (15) is trapezoidal.

11. Surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the movable jaw part (10) and the shaft (2) and also the stationary jaw part (3) are each made from a steel alloy, wherein the steel alloy of the shaft (2) and of the stationary jaw part (3) has a higher carbon fraction and/or an at least 5 HRC higher Rockwell hardness than the steel alloy of the movable jaw part (10).

12. Surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein, after the locking means (21) have been unlocked, the sliding part (9) is adjustable in translation farther away from the jaw (22) in such a way that the sliding part (9), before coming free from the guide (13) in order to be able to be pivoted relative to the shaft (2) and to the jaw (22), is adjustable in translation away from the jaw (22) to a certain extent while caught inside the guide (13) along a distance of at least 1 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 5 mm.

13. Surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the rotation axis (18), about which the sliding part (9) is pivotable in the cleaning position, is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the pivot axis (5) of the grip part (4, 5) and also perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal extent of the shaft.

14. Surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the sliding shaft is secured captively on the shaft (2) both in the working position and in the cleaning position, during the transfer from the working position to the cleaning position, and also during the pivoting movement.

15. Surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the steel alloy of the shaft (2) has an at least 0.2% higher carbon fraction than the steel alloy of the movable jaw part (10).

16. Surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the steel alloy of the shaft (2) and of the stationary jaw part (3) is a 40.34 steel alloy, and wherein the steel alloy of the movavble jaw part (10) is a 40.21 steel alloy.

17. Surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the distance is between 1 mm and 5 mm.

18. Surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the distance is between 2 mm and 3 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become clear from the following description of preferred illustrative embodiments and from the drawings, in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a partially sectioned side view of a surgical instrument designed as an arthroscopy punch in the form of a sliding shaft instrument, wherein the sliding part is located in a working position in which the sliding part is guided longitudinally displaceably with respect to the shaft,

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the surgical instrument according to FIG. 1,

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the surgical instrument with the sliding part located in the cleaning position, which sliding part is additionally pivoted relative to the shaft and to the jaw,

[0034] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged sectional view of the distal instrument end with the jaw opened,

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the movable jaw part on its own,

[0036] FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the movable jaw part according to FIG. 5,

[0037] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a guide groove for guiding the sliding part on the shaft.

[0038] In the figures, elements that are identical and elements that have an identical function are indicated by the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] In FIGS. 1 to 3, a preferred illustrative embodiment of a surgical instrument 1 according to the invention, designed as an arthroscopy punch, is shown in its entirety. The surgical instrument 1 comprises an elongate, stationary shaft 2 with a distal (front) working end, which is partially formed by a stationary jaw part 3 formed in one piece with the shaft 2. A rear grip part 4 (grip branch) is also formed in one piece with the shaft 2.

[0040] A distal (front) pivotable grip part 6 is arranged to be pivotable, relative to the stationary rear (proximal) grip part 4, about a pivot axis 5 extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal extent of the shaft 2.

[0041] The pivotable (front) grip part 6 has an upper end 7 which has the approximate shape of a spherical head and which engages in a laterally open cutout 8 of a sliding part 9 arranged on the shaft 2. In this way, the sliding part 9 can be driven longitudinally displaceably along the longitudinal extent of the shaft 2 by means of the front pivotable grip part 6, by pivoting of the latter about the pivot axis 5 relative to the shaft 2.

[0042] The sliding part 9 is releasably connected in an articulated manner to a pivotable jaw part 10, as long as the sliding part 9 is located in a working position, which will be explained below. The pivotable jaw part 10 and the stationary jaw part 3 cooperate in the manner of a punch, by displacement of the shaft 9, and together form the distal working end (jaw). For this purpose, the jaw parts 3, 10 have cutting surfaces/punching surfaces 11, 12 facing toward each other.

[0043] The sliding part 9 is shown in its working position in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the working position, the sliding part 12 is guided longitudinally displaceably on the shaft 2. As a guide 13 in the area of the distal end area of the shaft 2, a guide groove 14 is provided in which a lower guide groove engagement portion 15 in the area of the distal end area of the sliding part 9 engages. The guide 13 is configured such that the sliding part 9, in its working position, is caught in the guide 13, more precisely in the guide groove 14, over the entire longitudinal displacement path along the shaft, i.e. including in a distal end position and in a proximal end position, which positions define the pivoting angle or opening angle of the jaw parts 3, 10 relative to each other.

[0044] For a preferred embodiment of the guide groove 14 and of the guide 13, reference is made to FIG. 7.

[0045] A cross-sectional view of the shaft 2 can be seen here. The guide groove 14, open toward the top and designed as an undercut groove, is located in this shaft 2.

[0046] The guide groove 14 is not designed traditionally as a T-shaped groove, but instead an undercut space 17 arranged underneath a guide groove opening 16 has a trapezoidal cross-sectional contour. For this purpose, the undercut space 17 is wider in the direction of width B of the shaft 2 in an area, here an upper area, adjoining the guide groove opening 16 than it is in a more remote (lower) area, i.e. in the area of the bottom of the groove. The side walls of the groove are beveled, resulting in the trapezoidal shape. For this purpose, a comparatively large amount of material (steel alloy) is present in the area that adjoins the undercut space laterally, or in the direction of width B, such that, overall, substantial guiding forces can be taken up without risking damage to the shaft 2.

[0047] To make the surgical instrument easier to clean, a rotation axis 18 is provided for the sliding part 9. However, a pivoting movement about this rotation axis 18 is not possible in the working position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which position the sliding part 2 is caught in the guide 13. As will be seen from the figures, the rotation axis 18, embodied for example by a head screw 19 or alternatively a head rivet, passes through an elongate hole 20 in the sliding part 9, such that the sliding part 9 is longitudinally displaceable relative to the rotation axis 18. The head screw 18 is fixed in position relative to the shaft 2.

[0048] The sliding part 9 is assigned locking means 21, which secure the sliding part 9 in the working position shown in FIG. 1, in which position it is adjustable exclusively in translation relative to the shaft 2, specifically by pivoting of the movable grip part 6 in order to open and close the jaw 22, which is formed by the jaw parts 3, 10. For this purpose, the locking means 21 limit the maximum pivoting angle of the movable grip part. By actuation or unlocking of the locking means 21, the maximum pivoting angle is increased, as a result of which the sliding part 9 comes free from the guide 13 or is adjustable to a cleaning position (cf. FIG. 3) in which it is pivotable about the rotation axis 18 which is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the pivot axis 5 and perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal extent of the shaft 2.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows the surgical instrument in its cleaning position with the sliding part 9 pivoted. It will be seen that an upper face 23 of the shaft, otherwise covered by the sliding part 9, can be optimally cleaned in this pivoted state. The same applies to a lower face (not visible in FIG. 3) of the sliding part directed toward the upper face 23 of the shaft.

[0050] In order to permit a pivoting movement of the sliding part 9, the latter, as will be explained below, has to be uncoupled from the movable jaw part 10 without using tools. At the same time, the cutout 8 interacting with the pivotable grip part is designed open toward the sides, as can be seen from FIG. 3, so as to be able to be pivoted laterally away from the active area of the pivotable grip part 6. As will be seen from FIG. 4, a laterally open window 25 is also provided in the shaft 2 in the proximal direction from the guide groove, through which window 25 the trapezoidally contoured guide groove engagement portion of the sliding part 9 can be pivoted laterally outward.

[0051] The releasable coupling between sliding part 9 and movable (pivotable) jaw part 10 and the bearing of the jaw part 10 on the shaft 2 are explained in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 5.

[0052] It is also essential that the movable jaw part 10 is guided on the shaft 2 via a slotted guide 26. The slotted guide 26 comprises two slotted-guide grooves 27 which are curved in the shape of part of a circle in the shaft, along the width of the shaft 2, and within which, by adjustment of the sliding part 9, the movable jaw part 10 is displaceable by means of an engagement portion formed in one piece with the movable jaw part 10. The engagement portion can thus be displaced inside the partially circular guide groove 27 and is thereby pivotable relative to the stationary jaw part 3 about an imaginary pivot axis 29. Specifically, two curved engagement portions 28 having a shape congruent to the slotted-guide groove 27 and protruding in mutually opposite width directions are provided on the movable jaw part 10 and engage in the open slotted-guide groove 27 of the shaft 2, or the slotted-guide groove 27 directed respectively to the associated engagement portion 28 of the shaft 2, thus ensuring that force is taken up across a large surface area. In a pivoting movement of the movable jaw part, the engagement portion thereof migrates along the slotted-guide groove and, in this movement, also includes a translatory movement component (vector).

[0053] In the working position, as has been mentioned, the sliding part 9 is coupled or operatively connected to the movable jaw part 10, specifically via two pin extensions 30 which protrude laterally, or in the direction of width of the instrument, and which are each assigned a hinge recess 31 for formation of pivot hinges. For this purpose, the pivotable jaw part 10 has a distally open cutout 32 into which the distal end area of the sliding part 9 engages in the working position of the latter, in such a way that the pin extensions 30 is received in a hinge recess 31 in each case. The hinge recesses 31 are received in parallel wall portions 33, 34 of the movable jaw part 10, which wall portions 33, 34 laterally delimit the cutout 32.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows a maximum opening angle of the jaw 22 with the sliding part 9 located in the working position. That is to say, a further translatory adjustment movement of the sliding part 9 for further opening of the jaw 22 is prevented by the locking means. After the locking means have been unlocked, the sliding part 9 can be moved farther to the right in the drawing plane, i.e. in the proximal direction, as a result of which an unlocking angle of the jaw parts 3, 10 relative to each other is obtained that is greater than the maximum opening angle 24 (a) in the working position. In this way, the pin extensions 30 can then be automatically moved out of the respectively assigned hinge recess 31 in the proximal direction, as a result of which the sliding part comes free.

[0055] According to a preferred embodiment realized here, the sliding part 9 is not pivotable directly after the locking means have been unlocked, but instead it here has to be displaced farther in the proximal direction, on the one hand in order to come free from the hinge recesses 31 and, which is important, also to come free from the guide groove 14, which is achieved when the merely by way of example trapezoidal guide groove engagement portion of the sliding part 2 is laterally flush with the window 25 in the shaft 2.