ELECTRODE INSTRUMENT, SURGICAL HANDHELD DEVICE, AND THEIR PRODUCTION METHODS

Abstract

An electrode instrument, a surgical handheld device and a production method, by means of which the quality of the aforementioned instruments can be improved. This is achieved by virtue of an electrode instrument for a surgical handheld device having an electrical conductor which is electrically insulated by an insulation in the form of flexible tubing, wherein the conductor is pressed in an electrode carrier, wherein the electrode carrier has a cross section with six pressed sides at the pressed position.

Claims

1. An electrode instrument for a surgical handheld device comprising at least one tube-like electrode carrier, at the distal end of which an electrode is fastened, wherein an electrical conductor is guided within the electrode carrier from a proximal end of the electrode carrier to the electrode and the electrical conductor is electrically insulated from an electrode casing tube by insulation in the form of flexible tubing, wherein the electrical conductor is pressed at at least one position in the electrode carrier, wherein the electrode carrier has a cross section with six pressed sides at the pressed position.

2. The electrode instrument according to claim 1, wherein the six sides are of equal length and/or circular segments of the non-pressed electrode casing tube or rounded or sharp corners of the non-pressed electrode casing tube are located between the pressed sides such that the cross section is in the form of a hexagonal cross section.

3. The electrode instrument according to claim 1, wherein the electrode carrier or each electrode casing tube has one to five pressed positions along its entire length, wherein each electrode casing tube has the same number or a different number of pressed positions.

4. The electrode instrument according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of an external distance of opposite corners of an electrode casing tube to an external distance of the sides of the electrode casing tube is 1:0.8 to 1:0.95.

5. The electrode instrument according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of an internal distance of opposite corners of the electrode casing tube which has been pressed into a hexagonal cross section to an external distance of opposite corners of the pressed insulation is 1:0.9-1:1.

6. The electrode instrument according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of an internal diameter of the insulation to a diameter of the electrical conductor at a pressed position is 1:0.9-1:1.

7. The electrode instrument according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of an external diameter of an electrode casing tube to the external distance of the opposite corners of the electrode casing tube which has been pressed into a hexagonal cross section is 1:0.9-1:1.

8. The electrode instrument according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the insulation at a pressed position is 0.02 mm-0.7 mm.

9. The electrode instrument according to claim 1, wherein the external distance of the opposite corners of the electrode casing tube which has been pressed into a hexagonal cross section is 0.1 mm-3.0 mm.

10. The electrode instrument according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the electrical conductor at a pressed position is 0.05 mm-1.5 mm.

11. The electrode instrument according to claim 1, wherein an external distance of the opposite walls of the electrode casing tube at a pressed position is 0.08 mm-2.5 mm.

12. The electrode instrument according to claim 1, wherein a length of the pressed position is 2 mm to 20 mm.

13. The electrode instrument according to claim 1, wherein a distance between two pressed positions is 2 mm to 10 mm.

14. The electrode instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least one pressed position is at the distal end of the electrode carrier.

15. A surgical handheld device comprising an electrode instrument according to claim 1, wherein with at least one tube-like electrode carrier, at the distal end of which an electrode is fastened, wherein an electrical conductor is guided within the electrode carrier from a proximal end of the electrode carrier to the electrode and the electrical conductor is electrically insulated from at least one electrode casing tube by insulation in the form of flexible tubing, wherein the electrical conductor is pressed at at least one position in the electrode carrier wherein the electrode carrier has a cross section with six pressed sides at the pressed position.

16. A method for producing a surgical handheld device comprising an electrode instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least one tube-like electrode carrier, at the distal end of which an electrode is fastened, wherein an electrical conductor is guided within the electrode carrier from a proximal end of the electrode carrier to the electrode and the electrical conductor is electrically insulated from an electrode casing tube by insulation in the form of flexible tubing, wherein the electrical conductor is pressed at at least one position in the electrode carrier wherein the electrode carrier adopts a cross section with six pressed sides at the position.

17. The method for producing a surgical handheld device according to claim 16, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) providing the at least one electrode carrier; a1) pulling the insulation tube onto the conductor; a2) introducing the conductor with insulation tube into the casing tube; b) providing a pressing apparatus; c) bringing the pressing apparatus into contact with a position of the electrode carrier; and d) pressing the electrical conductor in the electrode carrier at the position with the aid of the pressing apparatus, wherein the electrode carrier adopts a cross section with six pressed sides.

Description

[0043] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below on the basis of the drawing, in which:

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a resectoscope,

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a distal end of an electrode instrument,

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a cross section of an electrode carrier at a non-pressed position or prior to pressing,

[0047] FIG. 4a shows a schematic illustration of a cross section of an electrode carrier at a pressed position, and

[0048] FIG. 4b shows a schematic illustration of a cross section of an electrode carrier as per FIG. 4a.

[0049] FIG. 1 illustrates a resectoscope 10 as an example of a surgical handheld device. The resectoscope 10 substantially consists of a working element 11, a handle unit 12, and a tube-like shaft 13. In the exemplary embodiment of a surgical handheld device or resectoscope 10 illustrated here, the tube-like shaft 13 is composed of an outer shaft 14, an inner tube 15, which houses an optical unit, and an electrode instrument 16. An eyepiece 17 is available for a user at the proximal end in order by way of the optical unit to observe the region to be treated medically in front of the distal end 21 of the handheld device.

[0050] The electrode instrument 16 extends along the inner tube 15 from the distal end 21 of the resectoscope 10 to the working element 11 at the proximal end. A portion of the electrode instrument 16 has an electrode casing tube 18, 42. The electrode instrument 16 illustrated in FIG. 2 only represents one possible exemplary embodiment. Express reference is made to the fact that the invention described here is not intended to be restricted to the form illustrated here. Rather, it is conceivable that the described invention is also usable in conjunction with differently shaped electrode instruments.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows the distal end 21 of the electrode instrument 16. The latter comprises the electrode 53. Electrical energy is able to be applied to this electrode 53, or cutting electrode, by means of an RF generator (not illustrated) and serves to manipulate tissue. Plasma forms around the electrode 53 as a result of applying an RF voltage to the electrode 53. The tissue of a patient can be manipulated or cut by an axial forward and backward movement of the electrode instrument 16.

[0052] In addition to the mechanical connection, an electrode carrier 51, which comprises two electrode casing tubes 18, 42 and an electrical conductor 20, also serves to electrically contact the electrode 53. Provision can be made for both the electrode carrier 51 or the electrode casing tube 18, 42 and the electrical conductor 20 to serve as electrical lines or contacts within the electrode carrier 51. Here, the conductor 20 is guided through the electrode casing tubes 18, 42 in its longitudinal direction.

[0053] According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the electrode 53, by way of its ends, is mechanically fastened or able to be mechanically fastened to two electrode carriers 51 or to two electrode casing tubes 18, 42. Together with the electrode carriers 51, the electrode 53 represents the essential constituent parts of the electrode instrument 16. Pressings have been applied to the positions 52, as a result of which the electrode carriers 51 have a hexagonal cross section 40 according to the invention at these positions 52. In addition to the parallel guidance, illustrated here, of the electrode carriers 51 or the electrode casing tubes 18, 42, it is also conceivable for the electrode carrier 51 to have a fork-like design and converge in the direction of the proximal end to form a shaft. In this case, the electrode 53 is illustrated as a cutting loop. Additionally, other electrode forms are also conceivable.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a cross section 30 of the electrode carrier 51 at a position where the electrode carrier 51 has not been pressed or at a non-pressed position or in a state before pressings are applied. At a non-pressed position or in the state before the pressing, the electrode carrier 51, the electrode casing tubes 18, 42, insulation 31 in the form of flexible tubing and the electrical conductor 20 have a circular cross section. The conductor 20 has a diameter 32.

[0055] FIGS. 4a and 4b likewise illustrate a cross section 40 of the electrode carrier 51, but now at a position at which the electrode carrier 51 was pressed according to the invention. As a result of the pressing according to the invention, the electrode carrier 51 has been provided with the hexagonal cross section 40, likewise according to the invention, at this position. Consequently, the electrode casing tubes 18, 42 are provided with six sides 54 as a result of the pressing. These sides 54 can have the same or different lengths and/or can be aligned in pair-wise parallel fashion. Two of the sides 54 in each case form a corner 55, which sides can be a circular segment of the electrode casing tube 18, 42 or can be formed in rounded or angular fashion. After pressing, the electrode casing tubes 18, 42 and the outside of the insulation 41 in the form of flexible tubing have the hexagonal cross section 40 in this case. The electrical conductor 20 and the inner side of the insulation 41 in the form of flexible tubing maintain their circular cross section.

[0056] FIG. 4b defines a number of dimensions of the electrode carrier 51 which has been pressed into the hexagonal cross section 40, the dimensions being of importance to the advantageous properties of the electrode carrier. The external distance 43 of the opposite corners 55 of the electrode casing tube 18, 42 that has been pressed into a hexagonal cross section 40 is measured between the outer sides 54 of the opposite corners 55. The internal distance 44 of the opposite corners 55 of the electrode casing tube 18, 42 that has been pressed into the hexagonal cross section 40, by contrast, is measured between the inner sides of the opposite corners 55. The external distance 45 of the opposite walls of the electrode casing tube 18, 42 at a pressed position is determined between the outer sides of the opposite walls. The shortest distance between a side 54 and the inner circular cross section of the insulation 41 is measured as the minimum thickness 46 of the insulation 41 at a pressed position. Specification of the internal diameter 48 of the insulation 41 at a pressed position relates to this inner circular cross section. The external distance 47 of the opposite corners of the insulation 41 that has been pressed to form a hexagonal cross section is ascertained between these opposite corners.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0057] 10 Resectoscope [0058] 11 Working element [0059] 12 Handle unit [0060] 13 Shaft [0061] 14 Outer shaft [0062] 15 Inner tube [0063] 16 Electrode instrument [0064] 17 Eyepiece [0065] 18 Electrode casing tube [0066] 20 Electrical conductor [0067] 21 Distal end [0068] 30 Cross section [0069] 31 Insulation [0070] 32 Diameter [0071] 40 Hexagonal cross section [0072] 41 Insulation [0073] 42 Electrode casing tube [0074] 43 External distance [0075] 44 Internal distance [0076] 45 External distance [0077] 46 Thickness of the insulation [0078] 47 External distance [0079] 48 Internal diameter of insulation [0080] 51 Electrode carrier [0081] 52 Pressed position [0082] 53 Electrode [0083] 54 Side [0084] 55 Corner