INSTRUMENT CONNECTION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF

Abstract

An instrument connection device having a flexible hose-like body with a flexible wall in which the proximal end of a hose is inserted. The hose has a lumen that extends longitudinally through the hose. A wire is arranged inside the hose, for example, inside the lumen. The wire is guided through a punctured hole in the wall that the wire may create during a penetration of wall. The punctured hole may be straight and guides the obliquely. For example, the hole may be inclined to the radial axis and the longitudinal center axis.

Claims

1. An instrument connection device comprising: a gas junction comprising a hollow cylindrical body having a flexible wall having a punctured hole and configured to limit a through channel; a hose comprising at least one lumen and arranged to abut the wall inside the body, the at least one lumen having a first end extending in proximal direction into the hollow cylindrical body; and a wire arranged inside the hose, projecting proximally from the hose and extending through the punctured hole.

2. The instrument connection device according to claim 1, wherein the punctured hole is configured to be elastically widened by the wire.

3. The instrument connection device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible wall abuts in an elastically tensioned manner against the wire at the punctured hole.

4. The instrument connection device according to claim 1, wherein the wire extends through the punctured hole without a gasket.

5. The instrument connection device according to claim 1, wherein the punctured hole is one of oriented at a right angle relative to the wall or inclined relative to the wall.

6. The instrument connection device according to claim 1, wherein the punctured hole is arranged at an angle relative to a longitudinal direction the through channel that is less than 90°.

7. The instrument connection device according to claim 6, wherein the punctured hole is arranged at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction that is larger than 10°.

8. The instrument connection device according to claim 1, wherein the punctured hole is arranged at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction that is larger than 10°.

9. The instrument connection device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow cylindrical body has a flexibility that is greater than a flexibility of the hose.

10. The instrument connection device according to claim 1, wherein the hose is held inside the hollow cylindrical body in a friction-fit manner.

11. The instrument connection device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow cylindrical body comprises a silicone plastic.

12. The instrument connection device according to claim 1, wherein the hose comprises at least one of a polyamide, a polyester, a polycarbonate, TPA, Pebax, polypropylene and a polyethylene.

13. The instrument connection device according to claim 1, wherein the wire is fixed inside the hose.

14. The instrument connection device according to claim 1, wherein the wire comprises a steel wire.

15. The instrument connection device according to claim 1, wherein the wire comprises a springy bending-resistant material.

16. An instrument having an instrument connection device according to claim 1.

17. A method for manufacturing an instrument connection device according to claim 1, the method comprising: first providing the hose with the wire projecting from its proximal end and the hollow cylindrical body; thereafter elastically bending the hollow cylindrical body at a site such that at least one straight section of the hollow cylindrical body extends from the site; thereafter inserting the proximal end of the wire into the straight section such that the wire penetrates body at the bent site; and thereafter transferring the hollow cylindrical body back into a released elongate shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Further particulars relating to advantageous details of embodiments of the invention are derived from the claims, as well as the drawing with the following figures that forms part of the specification:

[0020] FIG. 1 an instrument having an instrument connection device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention in a perspective schematic illustration,

[0021] FIG. 2 the instrument connection device according to FIG. 1 in opened illustration sectioned in part,

[0022] FIG. 3 the gas junction of the instrument connection device according to FIG. 2 in opened, partly cut illustration,

[0023] FIG. 4 a part of the wall of the hollow cylindrical body of the gas junction having a punctured hole,

[0024] FIG. 5 the section of the wall according to FIG. 4 having a punctured hole into which a wire is inserted,

[0025] FIG. 6 the instrument connection device during creation of the punctured hole in a partly longitudinally cut schematic illustration,

[0026] FIG. 7 the instrument connection device according to FIG. 6 after creation of a wire passage for the wire,

[0027] FIG. 8 a modified embodiment of the instrument connection device similar to FIG. 2, however, having a gas filter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates an instrument 10 in form of a flexible probe, as it is suitable for endoscopic treatment of human or animal patients, for example. The instrument 10 illustrates the invention only by way of example. Embodiments of the invention can be also used with instruments in different configuration, e.g., with instruments for open surgical use or with laparoscopic instruments. It is, however, common to all such instruments that a hose 12 extends away in distal direction from an instrument connection device 11, the hose being a supply hose for instrument 10 itself, or, as illustrated in FIG. 1, being part of the instrument itself. In the example according to FIG. 1, hose 12 forms a proximal end of the instrument. In other instruments hose 12 is a supply hose that does not have to be necessarily considered as part of the instrument.

[0029] The instrument connection device 11 serves for supply of the instrument 10 with a gaseous medium, such as argon, another inert gas, a reactive gas or also a liquid as well as with voltage and/or current. The instrument illustrated in FIG. 1 by way of example is an argon plasma probe that is supplied with argon and electrical alternating current for operation. The instrument connection device 11 is, however, also suitable for other instruments, to which electrical power is supplied via an electrical line and to which a gas (or a liquid) is supplied via a hose lumen. Embodiments of the invention are particularly suitable for such instruments in which the electrical line is located inside the hose 12.

[0030] The instrument connection device 11 comprises at least one pin-shaped or otherwise configured electrical contact 13 for current or voltage supply, for example, and as necessary one or more additional electrical contacts 14. The electrical contacts 13, 14 can be pin contacts that are held parallel to one another in a connector housing 15.

[0031] The instrument connection device 11 also comprises a gas connection connector 16, which can be configured, for example, by a flexible hose-like connector piece that is in proximity of the contact pins 13, 14, e.g., between them.

[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of the instrument connection device 11 with opened connector housing 15. The illustrated housing shell of connector housing 15 comprises the electrical contacts 13, 14 that are pin-shaped here, as well as the gas connection piece 16, all being immovably held in or on the connector housing 15. The gas connection piece 16 can be configured as flexible sleeve. The connector housing 15 in addition surrounds an interior 17 in which a gas junction 18 is arranged. This gas junction 18 serves to join the current supply and the gas supply of instrument 10. For this purpose the gas junction 18 comprises a hollow cylindrical hose-like body 19 having a flexible wall 20. The body 19 surrounds a through channel 21, the longitudinal center axis 22 of which extends preferably straight (stretched).

[0033] The wall 20 consists of a flexible, spring elastic plastic, preferably silicone plastic. The proximal end of the gas junction 18 is in fluid connection with the gas connection piece 16. For this purpose, a respective housing structure can be provided (e.g. a fluid connector 31 configured in the type of a plug fitting).

[0034] In the distal end 23 of body 20 the proximal end 24 of hose 12 is inserted. It surrounds at least one lumen 25, as particularly apparent from FIG. 3, that preferably extends from the proximal end 24 of hose 12 up to the distal end of hose 12 or also of the instrument 10. The hose 12 can also have multiple lumen extending parallel to one another over the length of the hose.

[0035] The proximal end 24 of hose 12 is inserted without play and thus abuts against the wall 20 of flexible body 19 tightly and without gap inside the through channel 21. Thereby a gas-tight connection between the through channel 21 and the lumen 25 is created.

[0036] Inside lumen 25 a wire 26 is arranged that projects out of the proximal end 24 of hose 12 and intersects the wall 20 at a punctured hole 27. Alternatively, the wire can be embedded in the plastic material of hose 12. If hose 12 has multiple lumen, the wire 26 can also be arranged in a manner extending through one of the lumen or through the material of the hose 12.

[0037] The wire 26 is preferably a bending-resistant wire, as for example a spring steel wire or a wire made of another springy bending-resistant material. The bending resistance of wire 26 is preferably so high that the wire 26, having a free cantilever length of 1 cm to 2 cm, can penetrate wall 20, if it is moved toward the latter. This is preferably also the case, if the face end of the wire 26 has not been specifically sharpened, but only comprises a shear or fractured surface. Thus, it is also clear that the expression of bending resistance depends on the penetration strength of wall 20 and thus on the material characteristic of wall 20, their thickness as well as the selected free cantilever length of wire 26. Spring steel wire having a diameter of 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm is, however, sufficiently bending resistant with usual flexible silicone materials and wall thicknesses up to multiple millimeters in case of cantilever length of up to 2 cm or more. The method according to embodiments of the invention can be carried out particularly easily by means of a wire that is so angle- and bending-resistant that it also allows a free cantilever length of at least 3, at least 4 or at least 5 cm.

[0038] The wire 26 can be uniformly configured over its entire length extending through the lumen 25 or can have joints inside or outside of gas junction 18 and thus can consist of different materials in sections. In addition, wire 26 can be surface-coated, e.g., can completely or partly comprise a silver coating or another metal coating, e.g., a copper coating. It is also possible to provide the wire (e.g., bare steel wire or metal-coated steel wire) in addition with a non-metallic coating that immovably adheres to its surface, particularly a thermo-plastic coating. The non-metallic coating can extend over the entire length of the wire or alternatively also only over a section of its length, e.g., over the part projecting out of hose 12.

[0039] The punctured hole 27 is preferably punctured by wire 26 itself and thus created without material removal. If the wire 26 would be removed from punctured hole 27, it would at least nearly or also completely close again under elastic release of wall 20, as shown in FIG. 4. However, if the wire 26 is present in the punctured hole 27, as shown in FIG. 5, the wall 20 abuts under pretension against the wire 26 and thus seals there. In doing so, the wall of punctured hole 27 forms with wire 26 a gas-tight wire passage.

[0040] Preferably the punctured hole 27 is arranged in an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis 22 of the through channel 21. The angle limited between the punctured hole 27 and the longitudinal axis 22 is thereby less than or equal to 90°, preferably less than 80°, further preferably less than 70° and best less than 60°. On the other hand, the angle is larger than 10°, preferably larger than 20°, better larger than 30° and preferably larger than 40°. With this dimensioning, a simple producibility and concurrently a good sealing tightness of the wire passage are achieved.

[0041] The wire 36 can be loosely placed inside lumen 25, such that no axially rigid connection exists between the wire 26 and the hose 12. The wire 26 can, however, also be axially immovably connected with the hose 12, e.g., by means of respectively arranged holders or by means of structures of the hose 12 inside lumen 25.

[0042] For further illustration of embodiments of the invention, FIGS. 6 and 7 show manufacturing steps of gas junction 18.

[0043] For manufacturing of gas junction 18, first the hollow cylindrical body 19 and the wire 26 are provided. The wire 26 can be provided as bare wire or in case it is connected with hose 12, also together with hose 12, whereby however the proximal end 28 of wire 26 projects from the proximal end 24 of hose 12 about a desired amount, e.g., of 1 cm to 2 cm or also of multiple centimeters.

[0044] The body 19 is now brought into the angled shape illustrated in FIG. 6, having a bending site 29 at which the hose-like body 19 is angled about 30° or more. An angle of more than 90° is preferred. At least one straight leg 30 extends from the bending location 29 that is provided for locating the proximal end 24 of hose 12 therein.

[0045] The wire 26 is now inserted into leg 30, such that its proximal end 28 hits this location of the wall 20, preferably at an approximately right angle. Further forwarding of wire 26 has the effect that wire 26 penetrates through wall 20 under creation of punctured hole 27. Concurrently or subsequently hose 12 is inserted with its proximal end 24 into leg 30.

[0046] After having carried out this procedure the gas junction 18 completed to this extent is removed from a holding device such that the bending site 29 can release and stretch again. The gas junction 18 then takes approximately the shape illustrated in FIG. 7. Depending on the spring constant of wire 26 and wall 20, the latter is again completely hollow cylindrically straight or as illustrated in FIG. 7, still slightly angled. However, the wire 26 is inserted in the punctured hole 27 in a fluid-tight manner.

[0047] In the next step gas junction 18 can now be installed connector housing 15. For this purpose, as obvious from FIG. 2, body 19 is pushed with its proximal end onto the fluid connector 31 that can be configured as housing structure and establishes the fluid connection to the gas connection piece 16. In addition, the proximal end 28 of wire 26 can be electrically and mechanically connected with a contact 13 or 14 (or with both), e.g. soldered, welded, crimped or otherwise connected. In addition, gas junction 18 is inserted into a clamping structure 32, at least where body 19 has included proximal end 24 of hose 12. The clamping structure 32 can consist of one or more wall sections 33, 34, 35, 36 that can be an inseparable part of the housing shell of connector housing 15 and respectively comprise a U-shaped cutout, the clearance of which is slightly less than the outer diameter of body 19. The latter is deformed radially inwardly by means of the wall sections 33 to 36, such that the proximal end 24 of hose 12 is clamped within clamping device 32 inside body 19. Concurrently the body 19 is secured inside housing 15 in a tensile-resistant manner. Preferably the clamping structure is elastically movable in axial direction. The web width of wall sections 33, 34, 35, 36 is less than ⅕, 1/7 or 1/10 of the outer diameter of the flexible body. In doing so, an improved fixation of gas junction inside the half shell results.

[0048] In FIG. 2 only a lower housing shell is illustrated. The removed upper housing shell can comprise such wall sections as clamping structure that extend between the wall sections 33 to 36 shown in FIG. 2 and thus complement the clamping of hose 12 inside gas junction 18.

[0049] FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the fluid connector 31 is part of a filter housing with a gas filter 38 provided therein. The gas filter 38 can be a fine-pored body that blocks the transfer of contaminations from the supplying apparatus into the instrument 10 as well as the retransfer of contaminations from the instrument 10 into the supplying apparatus. Apart therefrom, the description given with reference to FIGS. 1-7 above applies accordingly based on the same reference signs.

[0050] An instrument connection device 11 according to embodiments of the invention comprises a flexible hose-like body 19 having a flexible wall 20 in which the proximal end 24 of a hose 12 is inserted that is part of the instrument 10 or leads up to the latter. The hose 12 comprises a lumen 25 that extends longitudinally through the hose 12. In addition, a wire 26 is arranged inside hose 12, e.g. inside lumen 25. It is guided through a punctured hole 27 that the wire 26 produces itself during penetration of wall 20. The punctured hole 27 is preferably straight and guides obliquely, i.e. inclined to the radial as well as also to the longitudinal center axis, through the wall 20.