Endoscopic Instrument

• US 20140221751A1
• Filed: 02/07/2014
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Schwarz, Peter, Friedrich, Christina
• Granted Patent: US 9,924,855 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/146
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00133 Drive units for endoscopic tools inserted through or with the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0016 using motor drive units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0057 Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00318 Steering mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00323 Cables or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00327 with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

Endoscopic instrument with a control element, an instrument shaft, an adjustment element, a pull element, an actuator, an intermediate element which is operatively connected to the control element and to the adjustment element such that a force applied to the control element by the user can be transmitted to the adjustment element via the intermediate element in order to move the adjustment element, a detection device for detecting a torsion of the intermediate element, and an abutment device, which defines a free rotatory movement range of the control element relative to the adjustment element.

Claims

1. An endoscopic instrument with

a control section with a control element,

an instrument shaft with an actuatable portion, wherein the instrument shaft is connected to the control section,

an adjustment element,

a pull element, which is mechanically coupled to the adjustment element and to the portion of the instrument shaft, such that a movement of the adjustment element can cause an actuation of the portion by a transmission of force via the pull element,

an actuator, which is coupled to the adjustment element, such that an actuation of the actuator can cause the movement of the adjustment element by force transmission from the actuator to the adjustment element,

an intermediate element, which is operatively connected to the control element and to the adjustment element such that a force applied to the control element by a user can be transmitted to the adjustment element via the intermediate element in order to move the adjustment element,

a detection device for detecting a torsion of the intermediate element, and

an abutment device, which defines a free rotatory movement range of the control element relative to the adjustment element.

2. The endoscopic instrument of claim 1, wherein the detection device comprises a measurement element arranged on the intermediate element.

3. The endoscopic instrument of claim 1, wherein the detection device comprises a measurement element which is configured in such a way that an electrical resistance of the measurement element changes if the shape of the measurement element changes.

4. The endoscopic instrument of claim 1, wherein the detection device comprises a measurement element configured as a strain gauge.

5. The endoscopic instrument of claim 1, wherein the detection device comprises at least two measurement elements which are arranged in such a way that, in the detection device, a compensation is permitted for at least one interference chosen from the group consisting of flexion, longitudinal extension and temperature.

6. The endoscopic instrument of claim 1, wherein the intermediate element comprises at least a first area and a second area, wherein the first area is made from a different material than the second area.

7. The endoscopic instrument of claim 1, wherein the intermediate element is made from a different material than the control element.

8. The endoscopic instrument of claim 1, wherein the intermediate element is made from a different material than the adjustment element.

9. The endoscopic instrument of claim 1, wherein the abutment device is adjustable, in order to vary the movement range.

10. The endoscopic instrument of claim 1, wherein the adjustment element comprises a gear.

11. The endoscopic instrument of claim 1, wherein the adjustment element comprises a gear with a positive transmission ratio.

12. The endoscopic instrument of claim 1, wherein a first rotation axis of the adjustment element, a second rotation axis of the control element, and a longitudinal axis of the intermediate element coincide.

13. The endoscopic instrument of claim 1, wherein a first rotation axis of the adjustment element and a third rotation axis of the actuator coincide.

14. The endoscopic instrument of claim 1, wherein the adjustment element has an at least approximately circular support element, on which the abutment device is arranged at least approximately in a circumferential direction of the support element.

15. The endoscopic instrument of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to detect a measured value of the torsion of the intermediate element and to trigger the actuator based on the measured value.