JP-2026075609-A - Bridges and surgical instruments

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a bridge that allows all working instruments and optics to be inserted into and removed from handheld surgical instruments in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. [Solution] A bridge (12) for a handheld surgical instrument (10) has a body (20) in which a channel-shaped bore (19) for an optical device and at least one working channel (26, 28) for receiving at least one working instrument are arranged. A plane (24) can be positioned to pass through the longitudinal axis (18) and divide the space around the bridge (12) into an upper half space (25) and a lower half space (26). At least one working channel (26, 28) extends from the body (20) toward the upper half space (25). [Selection Diagram] Figure 1

Inventors

• ハートマン，ヨブスト
• リュース，アンドレアス
• シュローダー，バスティアン
• メルケル，アレクサンダー

Assignees

• オリンパス・ヴィンター・ウント・イベ・ゲゼルシャフト・ミット・ベシュレンクテル・ハフツング

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20251016

Priority Date

20241022

Claims (10)

1. A bridge for a handheld surgical instrument, having a body with a channel-shaped bore for an optical device and at least one working channel for receiving at least one working instrument, The distal end of the bridge can be coupled to a shaft for the optical device and the at least one working tool, and the proximal end can be coupled to a telescope, the longitudinal axis of the bridge extends axially through the bore, and the bridge has a plane that passes through the longitudinal axis and defines an upper half-space and a lower half-space around the bridge, and the at least one working channel extends from the body toward the upper half-space.
2. The bridge according to claim 1, wherein at least one working channel extends from the main body into the upper half-space.
3. The bridge according to claim 1, wherein the at least one working channel is located within the lower half-space of the bridge on the main body and extends from the lower half-space to the upper half-space, or into the upper half-space.
4. The bridge according to claim 1, wherein the at least one working channel is located within the upper half-space of the bridge on the main body and extends within the upper half-space.
5. The bridge according to claim 1, wherein the at least one working channel is precisely positioned within the plane or at least partially intersects the plane and extends into the upper half-space.
6. The bridge according to claim 1, wherein the at least one working channel comprises a first working channel and a second working channel located on different sides of the bore.
7. The bridge according to claim 1, wherein at least one working channel has an acute angle with respect to the bore, and the angle opens in the proximal direction.
8. The bridge according to claim 1, wherein at least one working channel has a bend such that one end of the working channel extends in the direction of the upper half-space.
9. The bridge according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the working channels has a valve.
10. A handheld surgical instrument comprising the bridge described in claim 1.

Description

This invention relates to bridges and surgical instruments. In urological applications, handheld surgical instruments such as endoscopes, cystoscopes, and resectoscopes are known to be used. These instruments are guided through tubular shafts into openings within the patient's body and positioned as intended. Depending on the application or instrument, a wide variety of working tools, such as forceps, scissors, clamps, or, in the case of high-frequency surgery, electrical electrodes, are guided through the shafts. Furthermore, along with the aforementioned working tools, optical devices are guided through the shafts into the body to provide visual control of the procedure. On the outside of the body, i.e., at the proximal end of the shaft, there is usually an instrument bridge. Such a bridge is used to mount various working instruments and optics guided within the shaft. For this purpose, bores, valves, or other closing or connecting means are intended to be located within the body of the bridge. The body may also have connections for, for example, fluid outlets or supply sections. Further embodiments are known in which additional electrical or optical equipment can be connected to this body of the bridge. In known handheld surgical instruments, the connectors and working channels for receiving the instruments are located on the underside or lower half of the bridge, resulting in the openings of the connectors or working channels facing downward or outward from the bridge. In practice, handheld surgical instruments inserted into a patient's body are often oriented so that the openings of the connectors or working channels also face downward or towards the patient's body. This makes it difficult to insert the instrument into the working channel or connect any tubes, etc., to the connector. The surgeon performing the treatment must connect the instrument to the connector while, to a greater or lesser extent, unable to directly see the instrument. This means the surgeon must either reposition themselves or spend an unnecessarily long time connecting the instrument. The situation is highly confusing for the surgeon because, as soon as all the instruments or other tubes, etc., are connected to the bridge body, it is not possible to grasp at a glance which working channels or connectors are being used and which are not, or which channels and connectors are being used with which instruments. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2023/051869U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021/100609U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/033419U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021/196354U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2023/380695 This is a schematic diagram of handheld surgical instruments.This is a perspective view of the bridge.This is a side view of the bridge. Figure 1 shows a highly schematic representation of a handheld surgical instrument 10 (hereinafter referred to as "instrument 10"). This instrument 10 may be, for example, a cystoscope, resectoscope, or similar instrument for minimally invasive treatment of a patient. The instrument 10 described herein basically consists of a tubular shaft 11 and a bridge 12. To treat a patient, the instrument 10 is guided into an opening in the patient's body at the distal end 21 of the shaft 11. The bridge 12 is located outside the body. Various working instruments can be inserted into the body through the shaft 11 via the bridge 12. Furthermore, treatment can be observed or controlled via the bridge 12 and shaft 11 using appropriate optics. The shaft 11 can be coupled to the proximal end 13 and distal end 14 of the bridge 12. For example, a threadlock, clicklock, bayonet lock, or clamp ring can be used for this purpose. A telescope 22 with an optical device can be positioned at the proximal end 15 of the bridge 12. The bridge 12 basically consists of a body 20. In Figure 1, a working channel 16 is positioned on this body 20 in a highly schematic manner. This working channel 16 is tubular and may have a valve 17 at one free end. Within the bridge 12 are at least two channel-like passages, namely bores 19, extending at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 18 of the instrument 10 or shaft 11, and at least one channel (not shown) opening into the working channel 16. The bores 19 and the channel also extend substantially parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis 18. The working channel 16 is an extension of the channel. Various working instruments, such as wires, probes, clamps, catheters, stents, electrodes, and flexible instruments, can be inserted into the handheld surgical instrument 10 through this tubular working channel 16 when the valve 17 is open. Working instruments not shown are guided through the main body 20 or bridge 12 and through the shaft 11 to the distal end 21 of the shaft 11. Patient treatment is performed anterior to the distal end 21 of the shaft. The bore 19 is used to house an optical system (not shown). This