Method and apparatus for mounting a sheath onto the distal end of a surgical shaft instrument

• US 20120079701A1
• Filed: 07/28/2011
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Blocher, Martin, Merz, Robin
• Granted Patent: US 9,974,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/450
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/10 specially adapted for instruments, e.g. microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/17 closed at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4987 Elastic joining of parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53657 to apply or remove a resilient article [e.g., tube, sleeve, etc.]

Abstract

A method for mounting a sheath onto the distal end of a surgical shaft instrument, in particular the tool tip of a dilation instrument. The method makes handling easy and allows the sheath to be fastened on the instrument in a rapid manner sparing of material, characterized by these steps: a) fastening the sheath on an apparatus for mounting a sheath onto the distal end of a surgical shaft instrument; b) radially widening at least the proximal end of the sheath and inserting the distal end of the surgical shaft instrument into the widened sheath c) transferring the sheath from the apparatus to the distal end of the surgical shaft instrument; and d) removing the distal end of the surgical shaft instrument from the apparatus. The invention also relates to an apparatus to perform this method.

Claims

1. A method for mounting a sheath on a distal end of a surgical shaft instrument, in particular the tool tip of a dilation instrument, characterized by these method steps:

a) fasten the sheath on an apparatus for mounting a sheath onto the distal end of a surgical shaft instrument,

b) radially widen at least a proximal end of the sheath and insert the distal end of the surgical shaft instrument into the widened sheath,

c) transfer the sheath from the apparatus for mounting a sheath onto the distal end of a surgical shaft instrument to the distal end of the surgical shaft instrument and

d) remove the distal end of the surgical shaft instrument provided with the sheath from the apparatus for mounting a sheath onto the distal end of a surgical shaft instrument.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the radial widening of the proximal end of the sheath is performed in step b) of the method by the distal end of the surgical shaft instrument.

3. An apparatus for mounting a sheath onto the distal end of a surgical shaft instrument, in particular according to the method in claim 1, characterized by

a base body comprising at least two spreading elements, such that the sheath can be fastened on the spreading elements and

an insertion opening for receiving the distal end of the surgical shaft instrument is configured between the spreading elements.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the spreading elements are mounted on a base body.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least two spreading elements are mounted on the base body so that they can be displaced radially to the insertion opening.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the base body is of box-shaped configuration so that the insertion opening is configured in an end plate of the base body and the spreading elements extend from the insertion opening into the inside of the base body.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the spreading elements can be pivoted radially against the force of at least one spring element.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one spreading element is of springed configuration.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the spring elasticity of the at least one spring-configured spreading element is configured as lesser than the spring force of the at least one spring element.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein in the end plate of the base body, laterally close to the insertion opening, at least one removal opening connected with the insertion opening is configured for removal of the instrument tip provided with the sheath.

11. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the base body and/or the spreading elements are configured as injection moldings.

12. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the spreading elements are mounted on one another so that they can pivot with respect to one another.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the spreading elements are detachably mounted on one another.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized by two spreading elements configured as half-shells with U-shaped cross-section.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein mounting pins and mounting recesses are configured on the spreading elements for mounting that allows pivoting with respect to one another.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a mounting pin and a mounting recess are configured on each spreading element.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the mounting pins and mounting recesses are configured in such a way that the spreading elements can be detached from one another only in a position where they are pivoted with respect to one another.

18. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a holding bulge or a holding recess for fastening the sheath is configured on the distal end of the spreading elements.

19. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein on the proximal end of the sheath a surrounding bulge is configured by which the sheath can be fastened onto the spreading elements and to the distal end of the surgical shaft instrument.

20. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one removal opening connected with the insertion opening is configured in the end plate of the base body laterally close to the insertion opening and serves for removing the instrument tip provided with the sheath.

21. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sheath consisting of an elastic material, in particular plastic is open only on the proximal end and is configured in particular as an injection molding.

22. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the base body and/or the spreading elements are configured as injection moldings.