Endoscope control assembly with removable control knob/brake assembly

• US 5,329,887 A
• Filed: 04/03/1992
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vision-Sciences Incorporated (2941881 Canada, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vision-Sciences Incorporated (2941881 Canada, Inc.)
• Inventors: Herrington, Robert J., Ailinger, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jalbert, Karen A.
• Application Number:
  US07/862,810
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 128/4, 128/6, 128/7, 128/8, 128/11, 138/120, 403/358, 403/359, 403/326, 403/328, 116/DIG. 31, 292/348, 292/352, 292/353, 292/179
• US Class Current: 600/148
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/604 Radially sliding catch

Abstract

A removable control knob/brake assembly for an endoscope having a handle and an insertion tube. The assembly is intended to be used with endoscopes which use protective bags or sheaths to isolate the insertion tube and the remainder of the handle from the internal environment of a patient. The control knob/brake assembly is not otherwise protected so, after being used, it must be removed for cleaning. A simple push button release mechanism is provided to easily remove the assembly from the handle. Retaining screws and a retaining clip are provided to prevent the control knob/brake assembly from coming apart when the assembly is removed from the handle. To attach the assembly to the handle, it merely is pushed on the handle.

Claims

1. An endoscope insertion tube control assembly for an endoscope having a handle and an elongated inserting tube extending from the handle to a distal end comprising:

an elongated support shaft projecting from the handle;

a removable first controlling means for controlling up/down movement of the distal end of the insertion tube;

removable second controlling means for controlling left/right movement of the distal end of the insertion tube;

removable braking means for braking up/down and left/right movement of the insertion tube, the braking means being coupled to the controlling means such that the braking means and the controlling means are removable as a unit, the braking means including;

a first braking mechanism, coupled to the first controlling means, for releasably restricting up/down movement of the insertion tube; and

a first brake actuating means coupled to the first braking mechanism, for causing the first braking mechanism to restrict up/down movement of the insertion tube;

a second braking mechanism, coupled to the second controlling means, for releasably restricting left/right movement of the insertion tube; and

a second brake actuating means coupled to the second braking mechanism, for causing the second braking mechanism to restrict left/right movement of the insertion tube; and

fastening means for releasably securing the unit that includes the braking means and the controlling means to the support shaft.

2. The endoscope insertion tube control assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated support has a distal end furthest from the handle and a transverse groove located near the distal end;

and

the fastening means comprises a spring loaded release slide having an aperture, the release slide being adapted to receive the end of the elongated support within the aperture and to releasably engage the transverse groove to secure the control means to the handle.

3. The endoscope insertion tube control assembly of claim 2 wherein the distal end of the support shaft forms a tapered head such that the tapered head causes the release slide to move to allow the head to be received by the slide release aperture and thereby allowing the release slide to releasably engage the transverse groove.

4. The endoscope insertion tube control assembly of claim 3 wherein the distal end of the support shaft forms a conical tapered head adjacent the transverse groove, the tapered head being positioned to extend into the release slide aperture, move the release slide, and force the release slide to compress a spring loading the release slide, thereby allowing the tapered head to extend through the release slide aperture to allow the release slide to releasably engage the transverse groove.

5. The endoscope insertion tube control assembly of claim 1 wherein the up/down and left/right braking means include means for adjusting, while the unit is secured to the control shaft, the braking force applied in braking the up/down and left/right movement of the insertion tube.

6. An endoscope insertion tube control assembly for an endoscope having a handle and an elongated insertion tube extending from the handle to a distal end, comprising:

an elongated support shaft projecting from the handle; and

a removable control knob/brake assembly including;

a first control shaft adapted to control movement of the distal end of the insertion tube in a first plane;

a second control shaft adapted to control movement of the distal end of the insertion tube in a second plane, the second control shaft being concentrically positioned within the first control shaft and concentrically positioned around the support shaft;

a first pad of frictional braking material coupled to the first control shaft so that the first braking pad and first control shaft rotate together;

a first brake plate adjacent the first frictional pad;

a first brake actuating means for moving the first brake plate into frictional contact with the first braking pad in order to restrain rotation of the first brake pad and first control shaft;

a first control means coupled to the first control shaft for causing rotation of the first control shaft;

a second control means coupled to the second control shaft for causing rotation of the second control shaft;

a second brake plate coupled to the second control shaft so that the second brake plate and second control shaft rotate together;

a second pad of frictional braking material positioned adjacent the second brake plate;

a second brake actuating means for moving the second braking pad into frictional contact with the second brake plate in order to restrain rotation of the second brake plate and second control shaft; and

fastening means for releasably securing the control knob/brake assembly to the elongated support shaft.

7. The endoscope insertion tube control assembly of claim 6 wherein the elongated support has a distal end furthest from the handle and a transverse groove located near the distal end;

and

the fastening means comprises a spring loaded release slide having an aperture, the release slide being adapted to receive the end of the elongated support within the aperture and to releasably engage the transverse groove to secure the control knob/brake assembly to the shaft support.

8. The endoscope insertion tube control assembly of claim 7 wherein the distal end of the support shaft forms a tapered head such that the tapered head causes the release slide to move to allow the head to be received by the slide release aperture and thereby allowing the release slide to releasably engage the transverse groove.

9. The endoscope insertion tube control assembly of claim 6, further comprising a clip positioned concentrically around the second control shaft so as to prevent detachment of the second brake plate from the second control shaft.

10. The endoscope insertion tube control assembly of claim 6 wherein the second control shaft includes a retaining ridge formed on its exterior, the insertion tube control assembly further comprising a plurality of shaft set screws extending transversely through the first control shaft, the set screws extending far enough into a space between the control shafts engage the retaining ridge and thereby stabilize axial movement between the control shafts when the control knob assembly is removed from the handle.

11. An endoscope insertion tube control assembly for an endoscope having a handle and an elongated insertion tube extending from the handle to a distal end, comprising:

an elongated support shaft projecting from the handle; and

a removable control knob/brake assembly comprising;

a first control shaft adapted to control movement of the distal end of the insertion tube in a first plane;

a second control shaft adapted to control movement of the distal end of the insertion tube in a second plane, the second control shaft being concentrically positioned within the first control shaft and concentrically positioned around the support shaft;

a first pad of frictional braking material coupled to the first control shaft so that the first braking pad and first control shaft rotate together;

a first brake plate adjacent the first frictional pad;

a brake actuating lever secured to a first threaded coupling member;

a first brake activating member, secured to the first brake plate, having threads mated to the first threaded coupling member such that rotation of the brake actuating lever causes the first brake activating member to move the first brake plate toward the first braking pad, thereby forcing the first brake plate against the braking pad in order to restrain rotation of the braking pad and the first control shaft;

a first control knob coupled to the first control shaft by a first control coupling member such that rotation of the control knob causes rotation of the first control shaft;

a second control knob coupled to the second control shaft such that rotation of the control knob causes rotation of the second control shaft;

a second brake plate coupled to the second control shaft so that the second brake plate and second control shaft rotate together;

a second pad of frictional braking material positioned adjacent the second brake plate;

a brake actuating knob secured to a second threaded coupling member;

a second brake actuating member, to which the second braking pad is secured, having threads mated to the first threaded coupling member such that rotation of the brake actuating knob causes the second brake actuating member to move the second braking pad toward the second brake plate, thereby forcing the second braking pad against the second brake plate in order to restrain rotation of the second braking plate and the second control shaft;

a washer positioned between the first control coupling member and the first threaded coupling member; and

a plurality of set screws extending from the first control coupling member such that when the control knob/brake assembly is removed from the support shaft the plurality of set screws engage the washer and prevent excessive axial movement of the first threaded coupling member relative to the first control member.

12. The endoscope insertion tube control assembly of claim 11, further comprising fastening means for releasably securing the control knob/brake assembly to the elongated support shaft.

13. The endoscope insertion tube control assembly of claim 12 wherein the elongated support has a distal end furthest from the handle and a transverse groove located near the distal end;

and

the fastening means comprises a spring loaded release slide having an aperture, the release slide being adapted to receive the end of the elongated support within the aperture and to releasably engage the transverse groove to secure the control knob assembly to the handle.

14. The endoscope insertion tube control assembly of claim 13 wherein the distal end of the support shaft forms a tapered head such that the tapered head causes the release slide to move to allow the head to be received by the slide release aperture and thereby allowing the release slide to releasably engage the transverse groove.

15. The endoscope insertion tube control assembly of claim 11, further comprising a clip positioned concentrically around the second control shaft so as to prevent detachment of the second brake plate from the second control shaft.

16. The endoscope insertion tube control assembly of claim 11 wherein the second control shaft includes a retaining ridge formed on its exterior, the insertion tube control assembly further comprising a plurality of shaft set screws extending transversely through the first control shaft, the set screws extending far enough into a space between the control shafts engage the retaining ridge a thereby stabilize axial movement between the control shafts when the control knob assembly is removed from the handle.

17. A method of attaching a control assembly is a unit to an endoscope having an insertion tube and a handle having a support shaft the control assembly including:

a spring-loaded engagement member;

a removable first controlling means for controlling up/down movement of the insertion tube;

removable second controlling means for controlling left/right movement of the insertion tube;

removable braking means for braking up/down and left/right movement of the insertion tube, the braking means being coupled to the controlling means such that the braking means and the controlling means are removable as a unit, the braking means including;

a first braking mechanism, coupled to the first controlling means, for releasably restricting up/down movement of the insertion tube; and

a first brake actuating means coupled to the first braking mechanism, for causing the first braking mechanism to restrict up/down movement of the insertion tube;

a second braking mechanism, coupled to the second controlling means, for releasably restricting left/right movement of the insertion tube; and

a second brake actuating means coupled to the second braking mechanism, for causing the second braking mechanism to restrict left/right movement of the insertion tube;

the method comprising pushing the control assembly is a unit onto the support shaft of the endoscope handle, the pushing step causing the support shaft to force the engagement member to compress a spring that is loading the engagement member, and springing the engagement member of the control assembly into engagement with the support shaft.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising detaching the control assembly as a unit from the endoscope handle by depressing a button coupled to the engagement member to disengage the engagement member from the shaft support and pulling the control assembly as a unit away from the endoscope handle.