Pivotal handle assembly for a video operating laparoscope
First Claim
1. A pivotal handle assembly for an endoscope having a proximal end comprising:
- a handle support having an opening extending therethrough for enclosing a light carrier and electrical conductors, said handle support being operatively connected to the proximal end of an endoscope;
a handle having an opening extending therethrough for enclosing a light carrier and electrical conductors, said handle support being including a mounting end; and
means operatively coupled to said handle support and said mounting end for pivotally attaching said handle to said handle support and for passing therethrough said light carrier and electrical conductors wherein said light carrier and said electrical conductors are enclosed by said handle support, said handle and said pivoting means.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pivotable handle assembly for an endoscope such as an operative laparoscope having a proximal end is shown. The handle assembly includes a handle support operatively connected to the proximal end of a laparoscope. A handle including a mounting end is operatively connected by a member to the handle support. The mounting end is pivotally attached to the handle support enabling the handle to be pivoted relative to the operative laparoscope.
In the preferred embodiment, the operating laparoscope is a video operating laparoscope and includes an image transferring member for producing an optical image at the proximal end of the laparoscope. A video camera is operatively connected to the proximal end to receive the optical image.
A method for using the video operating laparoscope with a pivotable handle assembly in a surgical procedure is also shown.
58 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A pivotal handle assembly for an endoscope having a proximal end comprising:
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a handle support having an opening extending therethrough for enclosing a light carrier and electrical conductors, said handle support being operatively connected to the proximal end of an endoscope; a handle having an opening extending therethrough for enclosing a light carrier and electrical conductors, said handle support being including a mounting end; and means operatively coupled to said handle support and said mounting end for pivotally attaching said handle to said handle support and for passing therethrough said light carrier and electrical conductors wherein said light carrier and said electrical conductors are enclosed by said handle support, said handle and said pivoting means.
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2. A pivotal handle assembly for an endoscope having a proximal end comprising:
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a handle support operatively connected to the proximal end of an endoscope; a handle including a mounting end; and means operatively coupled to said handle support and said mounting end for pivotally attaching said handle to said handle support, said pivoting means includes a hub located on the handle support and a hub receiving opening located on the mounting end for cooperating with said hub to enable said handle to pivot about said hub. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A handle assembly for a laparoscope having a proximal end comprising:
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a handle support having an opening extending therethrough for enclosing a light carrier and electrical conductors, said handle support being operatively connected to the proximal end of a laparoscope; a handle having an opening extending therethrough for enclosing a light carrier and electrical conductors, said handle support being including a mounting end, and means operatively connected to said handle support and said mounting end for pivotally attaching said handle to said handle support to enable the handle to be pivoted relative to the laparoscope and for passing therethrough said light carrier and electrical conductors wherein said light carrier and electrical conductors are enclosed by said handle support, said handle and said pivoting means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A handle assembly for a laparoscope having a proximal end comprising:
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a handle support having an opening extending therethrough for enclosing a light carrier and electrical conductors, said handle support being operatively connected to the proximal end of a laparoscope; a handle having an opening extending therethrough for enclosing a light carrier and electrical conductors, said handle support being including a mounting end; and a first co-acting member and second co-acting connecting member, one of which is located on said handle support and the other of which is located on mounting end, for pivotally attaching said handle to said handle support to enable the handle to be pivoted relative to the laparoscope and for passing therethrough said light carrier and electrical conductors wherein said light carrier and electrical conductors are enclosed by said handle support, said handle and said first co-acting member and said second co-acting connecting member.
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9. A video operating laparoscope comprising:
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a laparoscope having a proximal end and an image transferring member for producing an optical image at said proximal end; a video camera operatively connected to said proximal end for receiving said optical image; and a handle assembly including a handle support operatively connected to the proximal end of a laparoscope; and a handle including a mounting end, and means operatively connected to said handle support and said mounting end for pivotally attaching said handle to said handle support to enable the handle to be pivoted relative to the laparoscope. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An operating laparoscope comprising:
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a laparoscope having an elongated central axis which extends from a proximal end to a distal end, said laparoscope having an image transferring member, a light guide member and at least one working channel, each of which extend from said proximal end to said distal end of the laparoscope; a video camera having a sensor operatively connected to the image transferring member at the proximal end of said laparoscope; a handle support rigidly operatively coupled to the proximal end of the laparoscope, said handle support having a support axis which extends in a spaced relation from and substantially parallel to the central axis of said laparoscope; a handle having a mounting end; and a connecting means located on said handle support for pivotally operatively coupling said mounting end of the handle to the handle support to enable said handle to be pivoted relative to the support axis and the central axis of said laparoscope. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A video operating laparoscope comprising:
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an elongated sheath having a proximal end, a distal end and a hollowed-out central area extending therethrough; an image transferring member located in said hollowed-out central area of the elongated sheath, said image transferring member extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the elongated sheath and being adapted to transmit to the proximal end of the elongated sheath an image from an operating area adjacent the distal end of the elongated sheath; a light guide member which is located in said hollowed-out central area of the elongated sheath, said light guide member extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the elongated sheath and being adapted to transmit light energy from the proximal end of the elongated sheath to the distal end of the elongated sheath to illuminate the operating area adjacent the distal end of the elongated sheath; an operating channel located in said hollowed-out central area of the elongated sheath, said operating channel extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the elongated sheath and being adapted to pass a working tool to an operative area adjacent the distal end of the elongated sheath; a housing member located at the proximal end of the elongated sheath, said housing member enclosing said image transferring member, said light guide member and said operating channel, said housing member further enclosing a video sensor operatively coupled to the image transferring member, an entry port which communicates with said operating channel member having a passageway which enables an electrical conductor to be operatively connected to said video sensor and the light conducting member to be operatively connected to a light guide member located at the proximal end of the elongated sheath; a handle support assembly having a handle support member operatively connected to the proximal end of the elongated sheath, said handle operative assembly including a handle pivotally operatively connected to said handle support member for enabling pivoting of said handle around said elongated sheath, said handle support member having a passageway for an electrical conductor which extends from said handle through said housing support member to said video sensor for passing video signals and a light guide which extends from said handle through said housing support member to said light conducting member for passing light energy to said light conducting member. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A system for performing a laparoscopic procedure comprising:
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a laparoscope comprising a rigid elongated sheath tube having an elongated axis, a distal section and a proximal section which terminates in a proximal end, said distal section having a means for defining a distal tip including fluid tight distal lens, said distal lens having an exterior surface located at said distal tip; a pivotal handle assembly for an endoscope having a proximal end comprising a handle support operatively connected to the proximal end of an endoscope; a handle including a mounting end; means operatively coupled to said handle support and said mounting end for pivotally attaching said handle to said handle support; means for defining within said laparoscope an image transferring means which extends from the distal tip to the proximal end of the rigid elongated sheath tube; means for defining within said laparoscope a fiber optic light guide means which extends from the distal tip to the proximal end of the rigid elongated sheath tube; means for defining within said laparoscope a video sensor; a video signal processing means operatively coupled to the video sensor for processing a video image of the laparoscopy procedure; and a light source operatively connected to the fiber optic light guide means at the proximal end of the laparoscope. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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Specification