Surgical instrument

• US 20040260335A1
• Filed: 04/01/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asensus Surgical Europe SARL (Asensus Surgical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tuebingen Scientific Medical GmbH
• Inventors: Braun, Marcus
• Granted Patent: US 7,674,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2902 characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2903 transferring rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/293 with means preventing relative rotation between the shaft and the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/294 Connection of actuating rod to jaw, e.g. releasable

Abstract

A surgical instrument comprising an instrument handle linked to a proximal end portion of a tube shaft to the distal end portion of which an instrument head is linked so as to be inclinable, in which instrument head, in turn, an effector including at least one pivotable engaging element is rotatably supported. The instrument handle comprises a number of manipulators and/or operating mechanisms designed for operating the instrument head and/or the effector. One of the manipulators consists of an operating element in the form of a rotary knob with respect to its function, the operating element being rotatably supported on the instrument handle.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising an instrument handle linked to a proximal end portion of a tube shaft, the tube shaft having a distal end portion linked to an instrument head, so as to allow the instrument head to bend relative to the tube shaft, the instrument head further comprising a rotatably supported effector having at least one pivotable engaging element, the instrument handle having a plurality of manipulators and/or operating mechanisms for operating the instrument head and/or the effector, wherein a first manipulator further comprises an operating element having the shape of a rotary knob and being rotatably supported on the instrument handle.

2. A surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the instrument handle is pivotably linked to the tube shaft at the proximal end portion and forms an operating mechanism for bending the instrument head with respect to the tube shaft.

3. A surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the instrument handle is pivotally supported at the tube shaft via a pivot shaft, and wherein the instrument handle is aligned so as to be laterally offset with respect to the tube shaft and is, thus, constructively pivotable past a parallel position with respect to the tube shaft.

4. A surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first manipulator in the shape of a rotary knob is rotatably arranged at a distal end portion of a handle member of the instrument handle and is preferably inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the instrument handle.

5. A surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the inclination of the rotary knob relative to the instrument handle is at an angle of approximately 20°

to 25°

.

6. A surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the first manipulator in the shape of a rotary knob is rotatably arranged at a distal end portion of a handle member of the instrument handle and is preferably inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the instrument handle.

7. A surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first manipulator forms the distal tip of the instrument handle.

8. A surgical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the first manipulator is adapted to be operated by the fingers of a human hand.

9. A surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first manipulator is operatively connected, via a gear train, to the effector.

10. A surgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein rotation of the first manipulator rotates the gear train which rotates the effector relative to the instrument head.

11. A surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein a lever-shaped manipulator is arranged at a longitudinal side of the instrument handle and is pivotable relative to the instrument handle and operatively connected, via a gear train, to the effector.

12. A surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the lever-shaped manipulator is adapted to operate the effector.

13. A surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the instrument handle has an ergonomically shaped handle member on which the manipulators and/or operating mechanisms of the instrument handle are supported.