ENDOSCOPE

• US 20070083081A1
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH (Richard & Annemarie Wolf- Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH (Richard & Annemarie Wolf- Stiftung)
• Inventors: DIENER, Jorg, SCHLAGENHAUF, Frank
• Application Number:
  US11/539,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20070083081A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00179 for off-axis viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 of the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports

Abstract

An endoscope is provided with a processing tool (24) arranged at its distal end. The processing tool can be moved by a mobile hollow shaft (12) extending in the longitudinal direction (X) of the endoscope. An endoscope optic (14) is arranged inside the mobile hollow shaft (12).

Claims

1. An endoscope comprising a mobile hollow shaft (12) extending in a longitudinal direction (X) of the endoscope, a processing tool (24) arranged on a distal end of the endoscope and being mobile via the mobile hollow shaft (12), and an endoscope optic (14) arranged inside the mobile hollow shaft (12).

2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the hollow shaft (12) is mobile in the longitudinal direction (X) and/or rotates around the longitudinal axis (X).

3. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the hollow shaft (12) has a circular cross-section.

4. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein bearing elements (18, 20) are arranged between an inner wall of the hollow shaft (12) and an outer wall of the endoscope optic (14).

5. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a drive (10) is provided at a proximal end of the endoscope for moving the hollow shaft (12).

6. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the hollow shaft (12) has a flexible form.

7. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope optic (14) has a flexible form.

8. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a coupling is provided at a distal end of the hollow shaft (12) for receiving the processing tool (24).

9. The endoscope according to claim 8, further comprising a transmission (46) at the distal end of the hollow shaft (12) for moving the processing tool (24).

10. The endoscope according to claim 9, wherein the transmission (46) comprises an angle drive.

11. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein at least one probe channel (36) is formed on the hollow shaft (12) extending in the longitudinal direction (X) of the endoscope.

12. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the processing tool (24) is formed directly at a distal end of the hollow shaft (12).

13. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the processing tool (24) is formed as at least one of a saw, a cutter, and a grinding tool.

14. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the hollow shaft (12) is removable from the endoscope.

15. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope optic (14) is formed as a lens system, a fiber optic, or a camera system.

16. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein at least one recess (30) is formed on a distal end wall of the hollow shaft (12) located in a view field (28) of the endoscope optic (14) or can be moved into the view field (28) of the endoscope optic (14).

17. The endoscope according to claim 16, wherein the at least one recess (30) is formed in a circumferential wall of the hollow shaft (12) and the view field (28) of the endoscope optic (14) is at least partially aligned in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis (X) of the endoscope.

18. The endoscope according to claim 16, wherein an image is captured by the endoscope optic (14) via a camera, and the image capturing is synchronized with movements of the hollow shaft (12).

19. The endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising at least one rinse channel (16;

68;

70) formed between an outer wall of the endoscope optic (14) and an inner wall of the hollow shaft (12).

20. The endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising a light sheath (50) for illuminating an area surrounding the distal end of the endoscope.

21. The endoscope according to claim 20, wherein the light sheath (50) is arranged outside the hollow shaft (12).

22. The endoscope according to claim 20, wherein the light sheath (50) comprises a light guide.

23. The endoscope according to claim 20, wherein at least one lighting means is arranged in the light sheath (50).

24. The endoscope according to claim 20, wherein the light sheath (50) is movable together with the hollow shaft (12).

25. The endoscope according to claim 20, wherein the light sheath (50) is movable relative to the hollow shaft (12).

26. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the hollow shaft (12) is surrounded circumferentially by a protective sheath (42).