The present invention is related generally to medical equipment, and more particularly to a medical instrument handle and to a medical instrument having a handle.
Endoscopes (including colonoscopes) are known which have an insertion tube which is insertable within a patient. The insertion tube has an articulatable distal end portion controlled by wires running from the distal end portion to control knobs on the handle of the endoscope. A wide angle video camera in the distal end of the insertion tube permits medical observation. Medical devices, such as a medical snare, are part of an endoscopic system and are insertable into the working channel(s) of the insertion tube of the endoscope and are translatable to extend from the distal end portion for medical treatment. Other medical devices are known which use a manually-pulled pull wire, surrounded by a flexible sheath connected to a handle, to articulate an end effector about a pivot pin.
Still, scientists and engineers continue to seek improved medical instrument handles and improved medical instruments having a handle.
A first expression of a first embodiment of the invention is for a medical instrument handle including a stem, a joystick assembly, and a medical-instrument-member first articulation cable. The stem has a proximal stem portion and a distal stem portion. The joystick assembly includes platform, a proximal joystick portion and a distal joystick portion, wherein the distal joystick portion is articulatably connected to the proximal stem portion. The first articulation cable includes a proximal cable portion which is connected to the platform and which is substantially transversely constrained by the stem. Articulation of the joystick assembly with respect to the stem changes a distance between the platform and the stem as measured along the first articulation cable.
A second expression of a first embodiment of the invention is for a medical instrument including a flexible tube, a medical end effector, a medical-end-effector activation wire, a fitting, a lengthwise-translatable first cable, and a handle. The tube has a distal tube portion insertable within a patient. The medical end effector is connected to the distal tube portion. The activation wire is positioned within the tube. The fitting is spaced apart from, and positioned proximal to, the medical end effector, wherein the fitting is attached to the tube. The first cable is positioned outside the tube, is substantially transversely constrained by the fitting, and has a distal cable portion attached to the medical end effector. Lengthwise translation of the first cable articulates the medical end effector with respect to the fitting. The handle includes a stem and a joystick assembly. The stem has a proximal stem portion and a distal stem portion. The joystick assembly includes a platform, a proximal joystick portion and a distal joystick portion, wherein the distal joystick portion is articulatably connected to the proximal stem portion. The first cable includes a proximal cable portion which is connected to the platform and which is substantially transversely constrained by the stem. Articulation of the joystick assembly with respect to the stem changes a distance between the platform and the stem as measured along the first cable.
A first expression of a second embodiment of the invention is for a medical instrument including a flexible tube, a coupling, a medical end effector, an activation wire, a fitting, a lengthwise-translatable first cable, and a handle. The tube defines a passageway and has a distal tube portion insertable within a patient. The coupling is connected to the distal tube portion and has a lumen in communication with the passageway. The medical end effector is positionable in the lumen of the coupling. The activation wire is positionable in the passageway and is connected to the medical end effector. The fitting is spaced apart from, and positioned proximal to, the coupling, wherein the fitting is attached to the tube. The first cable is positioned outside the tube, is substantially transversely constrained by the fitting, and has a distal cable portion attached to the coupling. Lengthwise translation of the first cable articulates the coupling with respect to the fitting. The handle includes a stem and a joystick assembly. The stem has a proximal stem portion and a distal stem portion. The joystick assembly includes a platform, a proximal joystick portion and a distal joystick portion, wherein the distal joystick portion is articulatably connected to the proximal stem portion. The first cable includes a proximal cable portion which is connected to the platform and which is substantially transversely constrained by the stem. Articulation of the joystick assembly with respect to the stem changes a distance between the platform and the stem as measured along the first cable.
Several benefits and advantages are obtained from one or more of the expressions of the embodiments of the invention. In a first example, the joystick assembly of the medical instrument handle, with multiple cables, offers intuitive operation of the handle to provide articulation of a medical instrument member (such as, without limitation, a medical end effector or a coupling having a lumen in which a medical end effector is positionable) which is not limited to a single plane.
Before explaining the present invention in detail, it should be noted that the invention is not limited in its application or use to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and description. The illustrative embodiments of the invention may be implemented or incorporated in other embodiments, variations and modifications, and may be practiced or carried out in various ways. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated, the terms and expressions employed herein have been chosen for the purpose of describing the illustrative embodiments of the present invention for the convenience of the reader and are not for the purpose of limiting the invention.
It is understood that any one or more of the following-described embodiments, examples, etc. can be combined with any one or more of the other following-described embodiments, examples, etc.
Referring now to the Figures, wherein like numerals represent like elements throughout,
In one enablement of the first expression of the embodiment of
In a one extension of the first expression of the embodiment of
In a first implementation of the first expression of the embodiment of
In one illustration of the first expression of the embodiment of
In one configuration of the first expression of the embodiment of
A second expression of the embodiment of
It is noted that an example of a tubular assembly 100 extending from the stem 12 to the fitting 118 is shown in
In one enablement of the second expression of the embodiment of
In a first extension of the second expression of the embodiment of
In one implementation of the second expression of the first embodiment of
In a first construction of the second expression of the first embodiment of
Examples, without limitation, of medical end effectors 114 of the second expression of the embodiment of
Referring again to the Figures,
It is noted that an example of a tubular assembly 200 extending from the stem 12 to the fitting 218 is shown in
In one enablement of the first expression of the embodiment of
In a first extension of the first expression of the embodiment of
In one implementation of the first expression of the second embodiment of
Examples, without limitation, of medical end effectors 214 of the first expression of the embodiment of
In a third embodiment, not shown, the medical instrument handle 10 is operatively connected to a medical cannula having a first medical cannula tube, a second medical cannula tube, and a resiliently bendable coil spring. The first medical cannula tube has a distal end portion insertable within a patient. The second medical cannula tube is entirely insertable within the patient and is spaced apart from the first medical cannula tube. The coil spring connects the first medical cannula tube to the second medical cannula tube. The medical-instrument-member first articulation cable 18 is located in the first medical cannula tube, has a distal end portion extending from the first medical cannula tube and attached to the second medical cannula tube, and is movable to articulate the second medical cannula tube with respect to the first medical cannula tube. In one example, the first medical cannula tube is an endoscope end cap which is attachable to the distal end of a flexible insertion tube of an endoscope, wherein the second medical cannula tube can be articulated with respect to the first medical cannula tube (and hence with respect to the insertion tube of the endoscope) allowing independent alignment of a wide angle video camera of the endoscope and a medical instrument carried in the second medical cannula tube. In a second example, the first medical cannula tube has a cannula-tube-to-endoscope-rail coupling feature allowing the first medical cannula tube to be coupled to, and slid along, an exterior rail of a flexible insertion tube of an endoscope which also allows independent alignment of a wide angle video camera of the endoscope and a medical instrument carried in the second medical cannula tube. Other examples are left to those skilled in the art.
Several benefits and advantages are obtained from one or more of the expressions of the embodiments of the invention. In a first example, the joystick assembly of the medical instrument handle, with multiple cables, offers intuitive operation of the handle to provide articulation of a medical instrument member (such as, without limitation, a medical end effector or a coupling having a lumen in which a medical end effector is positionable) which is not limited to a single plane.
While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of several expressions of embodiments, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or limit the spirit and scope of the appended claims to such detail. Numerous other variations, changes, and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It will be understood that the foregoing description is provided by way of example, and that other modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended Claims.
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