MEDICAL DEVICE AND ENDOSCOPIC METHOD

Abstract

A medical device includes an endoscope head which is designed to be detachably connected to endoscope tubes. The endoscope head has a longitudinal channel for receiving an endoscope tube. The longitudinal channel has a variable opening width for receiving endoscope tubes with different diameters. The endoscope head includes a clamping device in order to hold an endoscope tube inserted into the longitudinal channel in a clamped manner

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A medical device, comprising an endoscope head designed to be detachably connected to endoscope tubes of different diameters and including a longitudinal channel for receiving a respective one of the endoscope tubes, said longitudinal channel having an opening width which is variable to receive the endoscope tubes of different diameters, said endoscope head including a clamping device designed to hold the respective one of the endoscope tubes inserted into the longitudinal channel in a clamping manner, said clamping device including a base body, a clamping sleeve having a threaded portion in engagement with a threaded portion of the base body so as to be displaceable axially with respect to the base body, and a plurality of displaceable clamping bodies which are movably connected to the base body and dispersed over a circumference of the longitudinal channel such as to be able to be urged from radially outwards against the respective one of the endoscope tubes, when the clamping sleeve is rotated relative to the endoscope head and displaced in a longitudinal direction.

16. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the clamping bodies are in operative engagement with a run-on surface of the clamping sleeve.

17. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the clamping sleeve has an inner diameter which is variable in a contact region with the clamping bodies.

18. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the clamping sleeve includes a channel having a radially outwardly open end and a radially inwardly open end, said radially inwardly open end being in fluid communication with a channel which is arranged in at least one of the clamping bodies and open radially inwards in relation to the respective one of the endoscope tubes, when the clamping device is in a clamped state.

19. The medical device of claim 18, wherein the radially inwardly open end of the channel of the clamping sleeve is in fluid communication with channels arranged in the damping bodies, with the channels being arranged offset with respect to one another in an axial direction of the longitudinal channel in conformity with a pitch of the threaded portion of the base body.

20. The medical device of claim 18, wherein the damping sleeve includes a connection piece radially on an outside, with the channel of the clamping sleeve feeding into the connection piece.

21. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the damping bodies are firmly connected to the endoscope head.

22. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the endoscope head is coupleable to the respective one of the endoscope tubes in fixed rotative engagement, with the fixed rotative engagement designed to be force-fittingly and/or form-fittingly by bringing a male piece on the respective one of endoscope tubes and/or on the endoscope head into engagement with a female piece on the respective one of the endoscope tubes and/or on the endoscope head.

23. The medical device of claim 15, wherein a first one of the endoscope tubes represents a guide endoscope tube and at least a further one of the endoscope tubes has a working channel and is designed to receive coaxially the first one of the endoscope tubes or a still further one of the endoscopes tube fitting in diameter or to be received in the still further one of the endoscope tubes, said endoscope tubes being designed for successive introduction into a cavity subject to endoscopy and attachable to one another in such a way that the first one of the endoscope tubes is a guide for the further one of the endoscope tubes of greater diameter when being attached, said guide endoscope tube being retracted after coaxial introduction of the further one of the endoscope tubes which is coupled to the endoscope head.

24. An endoscopic method, comprising: inserting a first endoscope tube into a cavity subject to endoscopy; introducing a second endoscope tube of a diameter which deviates from a diameter of the first endoscope tube in coaxial relationship to the first endoscope tube into the cavity; removing the first endoscope tube; and connecting the second endoscope tube to an endoscope head of a medical device as set forth in claim 15.

25. The endoscopic method of claim 24, wherein the diameter of one of the first and second endoscope tubes is greater that the diameter of the other one of the first and second endoscope tubes, and further comprising pushing the endoscope tube of greater diameter over the endoscope tube of smaller diameter.

Description

[0035] The invention will be explained hereinafter with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in purely schematic drawings. It is shown in:

[0036] FIG. 1 a side view of an endoscope head;

[0037] FIG. 2 a further side view of the endoscope head of FIG. 1;

[0038] FIG. 3 a perspective view of the endoscope head of FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 4 a first end view onto the proximal end of the endoscope head of FIGS. 1 to 3;

[0040] FIG. 5 an end view upon the distal end of the endoscope head of FIGS. 1 to 4;

[0041] FIG. 6 a perspective view of a clamping sleeve;

[0042] FIG. 7 a side view of the clamping sleeve of FIG. 6;

[0043] FIG. 8 an end view of the clamping sleeve of FIGS. 6 and 7;

[0044] FIG. 9 a further embodiment of a clamping sleeve in a view upon its distal end;

[0045] FIG. 10 a view of the clamping sleeve of FIG. 9 from the side; and

[0046] FIG. 11 a perspective view of the clamping sleeve of FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows an endoscope head 1 as a component of a medical device. The same endoscope head 1 is also shown in various views in FIGS. 2 to 5.

[0048] The endoscope head 1 is designed to be connected to an endoscope tube 2. The endoscope tube 2 is shown only purely schematically and shortened in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows the proximal end of the endoscope tube 2. it is inserted in the direction of the arrow P1 into the distal end 20 of the endoscope head 1. For this purpose, a longitudinal channel 4 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is located within the endoscope head 1. The longitudinal channel 4 passes through the entire endoscope head 1. It serves as a working channel. The longitudinal channel 4 is indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1. In a manner not shown in greater detail, the longitudinal channel 4 can have graduations, e.g. in order to limit an attachment depth of an endoscope tube 2 to be received.

[0049] The endoscope head 1 includes a clamping device 5 having a functional portion that is marked in FIG. 1. The clamping device 5 includes several components. In particular, the clamping device 5 includes an arrangement of several displaceable clamping bodies 6. FIG. 5 shows an end view of the clamping bodies 6. They are arranged evenly dispersed over the circumference of the longitudinal channel 4. This exemplary embodiment involves 10 clamping bodies. In practice, there are at least three clamping bodies dispersed over the circumference, in particular evenly dispersed, in order to enable centering of an endoscope tube 2. The individual clamping bodies 6 are substantially wedge-shaped in cross section or circular segment-shaped due to the round, radially outer side and radially inner side. The individual clamping bodies 6 are configured identically. They are arranged at a distance to adjacent clamping bodies 6. Hence, a gap 7 is located between respective two clamping bodies 6. It has a constant width. This gap 7 can also be seen in the illustrations of FIGS. 1 to 3. It enables movement of the tongue-like clamping bodies 6 independently of one another and their displacement from outside to inside for clamping.

[0050] The individual clamping bodies 6 are connected to a base body 8. The base body 8 is cylindrical. In this exemplary embodiment, the base body 8 is a material-uniform component of the endoscope head 1. A threaded portion 9 is formed on the base body 8. The threaded portion 9 is provided for engagement with a threaded portion 10 on a clamping sleeve 11, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9. The clamping sleeve 11 accordingly has an internal thread, while the threaded portion 9 on the base body 8 is an external thread.

[0051] Rotating the clamping sleeve 10 relative to the endoscope head or threaded portion 9 on the base body 8 causes the clamping sleeve 11 to be displaced in longitudinal direction of the endoscope head 1 and as a result to strike the clamping bodies 6. The clamping bodies 6 are configured in such a way that they clear an opening width D1, as shown in FIG. 5. The clamping bodies 6 assume an initial position in the Figures. They are relaxed. When the clamping sleeve 11 is now displaced in longitudinal direction toward the distal end 20 of the endoscope head 1 through rotation on the threaded portion 9, the distal end 12 of the clamping sleeve 11 strikes the individual clamping bodies 6. The clamping bodies 6 have a wedge-shaped cross section in longitudinal direction. In the initial position, they enclose a cylindrical interior, corresponding to the circular cross section of the endoscope tube 2 to be received. Radially on the outside, the several clamping bodies 6 are of frustoconical configuration in the sense that each individual outer surface of the clamping bodies 6 describes a frustoconical outer segment. The outer diameter of the circle spanned by the clamping bodies 6 is greatest at the distal end of the endoscope head 1 and corresponds at the proximal end of the clamping bodies 6 to the outer diameter of the cylindrical base body 8. A radially inner edge of the distal end 12 of the clamping sleeve 11 serves as a run-on surface 13 (FIG. 7). This annular run-on surface 13 is the surface on which the individual clamping sleeves 6 are supported and via which the damping sleeves 6 can be actively displaced inwards or displaced outwards by springing back when the damping sleeve is rotated back. As a result, it is possible to adjust the variable opening width D1 in such a way that endoscope tubes 2 of different diameters D2 can be received in the longitudinal channel 4 and above all held by the clamping device 5.

[0052] Following the base body 8 or following the clamping device 5, the endoscope head 1 includes a radially slantingly extending connection piece 14 for a ventilator towards its proximal end 16. The connection piece 14 is longitudinally channelized and feeds into the longitudinal channel 4. The connection piece 14 is illustrated symbolically.

[0053] Furthermore, the endoscope head 1 includes a second connection 15 for jet ventilation. This connection 15, when viewed in longitudinal direction, lies flush behind the connection piece 14 for ventilation. The connection 15 feeds into a channel which runs at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope head 1 and thus to the longitudinal channel 4. The connection 15 therefore also feeds at the end side parallel to the longitudinal channel 4 in the proximal end 16. The connection 15 itself is situated in a radial depression 17, which is introduced from the outside. This radially and axially open depression 17 at the proximal end 16 is arranged upstream of the actual connection 15 or the channel for jet ventilation. A groove 18 extending transversely to the longitudinal axis is located in this depression. A locking body (not shown) can be inserted into this groove 18. The locking body represents a barrier which would have to be actively removed in order to carry out jet ventilation. This is intended to prevent ventilation via the connection piece 14 during bronchoscopy and at the same time jet ventilation via the connection 15. The locking body, not shown in more detail, can be accommodated in a pocket 19, as can be seen in FIG. 2, when not in use. The pocket 19 is located on the side facing away from the connection piece 14 or the connection 15 for the jet ventilation, i.e, diametrically to the connection piece 14.

[0054] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the substantially cylindrical structure of the endoscope head 1, once with the viewing direction onto its proximal end 16 and once with the viewing direction on its distal end 20. FIG. 4 also shows a channel 21 for jet ventilation within the connection 15. The channel 21 for jet ventilation feeds into the ventilation channel 22 in the connection piece 14, as shown in FIG. 1. The channel 21 feeds quasi into the transition zone to the longitudinal channel 4 of the endoscope head 1.

[0055] The clamping body 11, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, includes a connection piece 23. The connection piece 23 is located adjacent to the distal end 12 and protrudes radially. Extending within the connection piece 23 is a channel 24. The channel 24 extends radially from the inside to the outside. Depending on the position of the clamping body 11 on the threaded portion 9 of the base body 8, the connection piece 23 and thus also the channel 24 arranged therein are located in different positions. The connection piece 23 serves for fluid passage, in particular for gas measurement in conjunction with an endoscope tube 2, which is accommodated in the endoscope head 1. For this purpose, a measuring opening 40 is located in the endoscope tube 2. This measuring opening 40 is so positioned during insertion of the endoscope tube 2 that the measuring opening 25 is connected in a fluid-conducting manner to a channel 25 which is located in one of the clamping bodies 6. The channel 25 in the damping body 6 must in turn be connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the channel 24 in the connection piece 23 of the clamping sleeve 11. For this purpose, the clamping sleeve 11 is rotated such that the radially inner open end 26 of the channel 24 is brought into overlap with the channel 25 in the clamping body 6. A measuring device can then be connected to the radially outer open end 28 of the channel 24 in the connection piece 23, for example to measure the air pressure.

[0056] Due to the fact that, in the case of different diameters of the endoscope tubes 2, the clamping sleeve 11 is also arranged in different positions, provision must be made for corresponding channels 25, 28 in the clamping bodies 6. FIG. 3 shows arrangement of several channels 25, 28 in different axial length portions of the clamping bodies 6. This ensures that channel 24 in the clamping sleeve 11 can be brought into fluid-conducting connection with a channel 25, 28 in the clamping bodies 6.

[0057] In order to ensure that the endoscope tube 2 is arranged in the correct position with respect to the measuring opening, a form-fitting means is arranged at the proximal end of the endoscope tube 2 for positioning. It can be designed as a male piece or a female piece. In this case, it is a female piece 29 in the form of a depression in the proximal end of the endoscope tube, as shown by way of example in FIG. 1. This female piece 29, which corresponds inside the endoscope head 1 to a male piece, not shown in more detail, can further ensure a fixed rotative engagement in order to hold the endoscope tube 2 not only in a force-fitting manner through clamping in the endoscope head 1, but also in a form-fitting manner. The attachment depth is defined in the endoscope head 1 and thus the exact position of the measuring opening 40 relative to the channel 25 in the clamping body 6. In addition, a torque can be exerted on the endoscope tube 2 via the endoscope head 1.

[0058] FIGS. 9 to 11 show an alternative clamping sleeve 30. This design of the damping sleeve 30 can also be used with an endoscope head 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. The clamping sleeve 30 again has a connection piece 31 with a channel 32 analogously to the connection piece 23 with the channel 24 of the damping sleeve 11 according to FIG. 8. The essential difference according to the clamping sleeve explained first (FIGS. 6 to 8) is that this clamping sleeve 30 does not have a constant inner diameter, but that the diameter D3 is variable. Due to the fact that the clamping sleeve 30 is not displaced in longitudinal direction, the channel 32 remains in the connection piece 23 at the same spot. Care must merely be taken to ensure that the clamping sleeve 30 of this type is placed in the correct length portion. For this purpose, corresponding positioning aids may be provided on the clamping bodies 6.

[0059] The clamping bodies 6 are compressed when the diameter D3 of the clamping ring is reduced and are correspondingly liberated when the diameter D3 is increased. The damping sleeve 30 has a locking device 33 which makes it possible to adjust the clamping sleeve 30 to predefined, different diameters. For this purpose, radially outwardly directed latching lugs 35 are located on an inner end portion 34 of the clamping sleeve 33. This example involves three identical latching lugs 35. These latching lugs 35 are provided to engage in latching recesses 36 of an outer end portion 37 of the clamping sleeve 30. Two latching lugs 35 are in engagement with two latching recesses 36. This results in three differently adjustable diameter regions in the geometry selected here. When it is sufficient for only one latching lug 35 to be in engagement with a latching recess 36, there are even four adjustable diameters which can be selected by adjusting the latching positions.

[0060] The adjustment of the diameters towards smaller diameter regions is simplified by beveling the latching lugs 35 and also the latching exceptions 36 on one side, corresponding to a sawtooth design. The steeper flanks of the latching lugs 35, which in particular extend radially to the longitudinal axis of the clamping sleeve 30, prevent inadvertent opening.

[0061] A first handling portion 38 is located at the radially outer end portion 37 and simplifies gripping of the outer end portion 37 of the clamping sleeve 30 in order to release the clamping sleeve 30. Another radially outwardly projecting handling portion 39 is located at a distance from the first handling portion 38 and serves for handling during the clamping of the clamping sleeve 30.

[0062] Further details of the clamping sleeve 30 can be seen with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0063] 1—endoscope head

[0064] 2—endoscope tube

[0065] 3—proximal end of 2

[0066] 4—longitudinal channel of 1

[0067] 5—clamping device

[0068] 6—damping body

[0069] 7—channel between 6

[0070] 8—base body

[0071] 9—threaded portion at 8

[0072] 10—threaded portion at 11

[0073] 11—clamping sleeve

[0074] 12—distal end of 11

[0075] 13—run-on surface at 11

[0076] 14—connection piece

[0077] 15—connection for jet ventilation

[0078] 16—proximal end of 1

[0079] 17—depression in 1

[0080] 18—groove in 17

[0081] 19—pocket in 1

[0082] 20—distal end of 1

[0083] 21—channel for jet ventilation

[0084] 22—channel for ventilation

[0085] 23—connection piece

[0086] 24—channel in 23

[0087] 25—channel in 6

[0088] 26—inner end of 24

[0089] 27—outer end of 24

[0090] 28—channel in 6

[0091] 29—female piece in 2

[0092] 30—clamping sleeve

[0093] 31—connection piece

[0094] 32—channel in 31

[0095] 33—locking means

[0096] 34—inner end portion of 30

[0097] 35—latching lug at 34

[0098] 36—latching recess at 37

[0099] 37—outer end portion of 30

[0100] 38—first handling means at 30

[0101] 39—second handling means

[0102] 40—measuring opening in 2

[0103] D1—opening width of 4

[0104] D2—diameter of 2

[0105] D3—diameter of 30

[0106] P1—arrow