Shock absorbing mechanism and medical instrument

• US 20100217072A1
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: KONDOH, Nobuko, HASHIMOTO, Tatsutoshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,777,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/101
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00071 Insertion part of the endoscope body A61B1/0055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00089 Hoods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00133 Drive units for endoscopic tools inserted through or with the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0034 adapted to be inserted through a working channel of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2906 Multiple forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/301 for introducing or steering flexible instruments inserted into the body, e.g. catheters or endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/742 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms

Abstract

A shock-absorbing mechanism includes a shaft having a linear member wound therearound, a base having a relative position fixed to a first end of the linear member and formed with a shock-absorbing space which spreads toward the radial outside from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft, and a passage formed in the base in communication with the shock-absorbing space and the outside of the base and causing a second end of the linear member to extend to the outside of the base.

Claims

1. A shock-absorbing mechanism comprising:

a shaft having a linear member wound therearound;

a base having a relative position fixed to a first end of the linear member and formed with a shock-absorbing space which spreads toward the radial outside from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft; and

a passage formed in the base in communication with the shock-absorbing space and the outside of the base and causing a second end of the linear member to extend to the outside of the base.

2. The shock-absorbing mechanism according to claim 1,

wherein the linear member is wound around the shaft two or more times.

3. The shock-absorbing mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising a partition wall member arranged in the shock-absorbing space and interposed between the linear members wound in the axial direction.

4. The shock-absorbing mechanism according to claim 1,

wherein the base has a wall portion which defines at least a portion of the outer edge of the shock-absorbing space.

5. The shock-absorbing mechanism according to claim 1,

wherein the base oscillates around an oscillating shaft parallel to the center axis of the shaft, thereby pulling the second end of the linear member.

6. A medical instrument comprising:

the shock-absorbing mechanism according to claim 5;

a tubular bending operating portion having the second end of the linear member fixed thereto, and performing a bending operation as the second end of the linear member is pulled in the axial direction of the linear member;

an inserting portion having a proximal end of the bending operating portion fixed to the distal end thereof, and having the linear member arranged therein; and

a manipulation portion having a handle portion which turns the base around the oscillating shaft, and fixed to the inserting portion.

7. The medical instrument according to claim 6,

wherein the bending operating portion has a plurality of bending pieces which are formed in a tubular shape and connected to each other, and each of the plurality of bending pieces has an insertion pipe through which the linear member is inserted.

8. The medical instrument according to claim 6,

wherein the inserting portion has an outer sheath, and an inner sheath arranged inside the outer sheath, and the linear member is arranged between the outer sheath and the inner sheath.

9. The medical instrument according to claim 8,

wherein an intermediate sheath made of a long member spirally wound around the center axis of the inserting portion is provided between the outer sheath and the inner sheath, and the linear member is arranged between the intermediate sheath and the inner sheath.

10. The medical instrument according to claim 8,

wherein an intermediate sheath made of a long member spirally wound around the center axis of the inserting portion is provided between the outer sheath and the inner sheath, and the linear member is arranged between the intermediate sheath and the outer sheath.