GB2128881A

GB2128881A - Endoscopic instruments for sample-taking and cauterisation

Info

Publication number: GB2128881A
Application number: GB08324746A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ludwig Bonnet; Roland Tauber
Original assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
Current assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
Priority date: 1982-10-28
Filing date: 1983-09-15
Publication date: 1984-05-10
Also published as: GB8324746D0; FR2535196B1; FR2535196A1; GB2128881B

Abstract

An endoscope through whose outer shaft extends a passage for traversal by an optical system and a shaft 5 by a sample-excision pair of forceps whose actuating rod 7 of the jaws 11 extend through the shaft 5 and is connectible to one terminal of an HF current source. The rod 7 is also surrounded by an insulating tube 8 which terminates in a rigid cylindrical electrically insulating extension 10 of the shaft 5 and the distal end projects out of the outer shaft of the endoscope. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Endoscopic instruments The present invention relates to endoscopes through whose outer shaft extends a shaft or passage fortraversal by an optical system and a shaftfor traversal by sample-excision forceps.

Endoscopes of the aforesaid nature are known for removal of tissue samples from bodily cavities. If bleeding occurred upon taking samples, in particular upon taking samples from the bladder, this could not stop independently because of the liquid present in the bladder. For this reason until now the excision forceps had to be withdrawn from the endoscope and replaced by a coagulator probe, which was clearly very onerous and time-consuming and particularly since the spot in question, intended to be staunched, had to be sought again afterthe exchange, requiring considerable time. Whilst doing so, it was sufficient to insulate the forceps shaft by means of a sh runk-on tube installed thereon, since the forceps shaft was in direct contact with the outershaft or the patient only via a proximal rubber seal.

It is an object of the invention to insulate a coagulator-excision pair of forceps generally known in medicine, within an endoscope, against electric shock through the shaft serving the purpose of receiving the optical system or optional ancillary instruments.

Accordinglythe invention consists in an endoscope, through whose outer shaft extends a shaft or passage for traversal byan optical system and a shaftfor traversal by a sample-excision pair of forceps, wherein the actuating rod of the forceps jaws extending through the shaft of the sample-excision forceps and connectibleto one terminal of an HFcurrentsource is surrounded by an insulating tube which terminates in a rigid, cylindrical, electrically insulating extension of the forceps shaft which acts as a bearing to receive the forceps jaws and the distal end of which projects out of the outer shaft of the endoscope.

Due to this solution, the forceps jaws become usable as a coagulator probe for stopping bleeding actions, and a total insulation is thereby obtained between the parts of the sample-excision forceps which are earthed and carry the HFcurrent, so that unintentional and dangerous passages of current are prevented, since neither the optical system nor ancillary instruments or flushing shafts can come into contact with live parts in view of the insulating extension of the forceps shaft and of the insulating tube shrunk on to the actuating rod oftheforceps jaws.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show one embodimentthereof by way of example and in which:~ Figure 1 shows a side view of the endoscope without an outer shaft and without an inserted optical system or ancillary instrument, Figure 2 shows the distal end, encircled and indicated by II in Figure 1, of the forceps shaft with the forceps jaws in enlarged side view, Figure 3 shows an axial cross-sectionthroughthe part of the instrument according to Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the endoscope according to the invention is provided proximally with an insulating element 1 and an HF connector 2 as well as a coupling 3foran optical system orforancillary instruments (Figure 1). The outer shaft of the endoscope, which is not illustrated, isto be connected to thecone4in known manner.

Through the endoscope extends a shaft for receiving sample-excision forceps comprising a rod 7 which may be operated proximally by means ofa handle 6,to which the HFconnector2 is proximally joined in known manner and which is surrounded by an insulating tu be 8 throug hout its length. A shaft 9 through which an optical system or ancillary instruments may be led interchangeably, extends beside the shaft5through the outer shaft.

The forceps shaft 5 terminates distally before the distal end of the outer shaft and is provided with a cylindrical extension 10 of a solid insulating plastics material or other insulating material, in whose distal end acting as a bearer the forceps jaws 1 1 are immobilised in an inner or outer Step. By selection of the material and its shaping, this extension 10 is a mechanically stable extension of the shaft 5. The cylindrical extension 10 projects out ofthe distal end of the outershaft of the endoscope, which latter terminates distally approximately at halfthe length of the extension 10. The proximal end of extension 10 is secured to the distal end of the forceps shaft 5 via a step as shown.

The optical system which is to be inserted or the ancillary instruments which are to be inserted, are protected in the case of a coagulation to be performed against passages of current by the embodiment described, without additional measures being required, meaning that optional available ancillary instruments may be combined with the coagulatorsample - excision forceps 7,11 without current passages occurring thereon.

Claims

1. An endoscope, through whose outershaft extends a shaft or passage for traversal by an optical system and a shaftfortraversal bya sample-excision pair offorceps, wherein the actuating rod of the forceps jaws extending through the shaft of the sample-excision forceps and connectibleto one terminal of an HF current source is surrounded by an insulating tube which terminates in a rigid, cylindrical, electrically insulating extension oftheforceps shaft which acts as a bearing to receive the forceps jaws and the distal end of which projects out ofthe outer shaft of the endoscope.

2. An endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylindrical extension has its proximal end secured to the distal end oftheforcepsshaftvia a step.

3. An endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the forceps jaws are immobilised in an inner or outer step at the distal end of the rigid extension.

4. An endoscope as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the distal end ofthe outer shaft of the endoscopeterminates at approximately half the length ofthe cylindrical extension.

5. An endoscope substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.