INSTRUMENT USED IN SURGERY AND FLUSHING THE INSTRUMENT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an instrument used in surgery and, in particular, to rinsing the interior of the instrument.

[0002] These instruments are used in many branches of surgery such as endoscopy, laparoscopy and neurosurgery.

[0003] Brain tumors have been surgically removed in recent years through endoscopy (neuroendoscopy). In such cases, brain surgery is performed by creating a very small opening in the skull. An instrument attached to an endoscope is inserted into this small opening, and the operation is performed. The instrument includes forceps and / or scissors at the distal end. Some types of tumors, such as pituitary tumors, can be removed by inserting an instrument attached to an endoscope through the nose.

[0004] During this surgery, the instrument is used to remove the tumor, and therefore, blood, tissue, and other contaminants penetrate the inner part of the instrument. Therefore, after the surgery, the inner part of the instrument is contaminated due to blood, tissue, and contaminants from the surgery.

[0005] This instrument is reusable and it is therefore essential to thoroughly rinse the inner part of the instrument along the entire length of the tube after surgery.

[0006] To properly flush the instrument tube, a flushing fluid is introduced into the instrument tube through the fluid port. However, due to the position of the fluid port and the length of the instrument, the distal end of the instrument tube is sometimes not properly flushed, and more effort is required to flush the distal part of the tube. In this case, most of the flushing fluid escapes through the proximal part of the instrument.

[0007] US 5 408 991 A describes an endoscope with one or more cleaning channels or lumens extending over at least part of the length of the endoscope.

[0008] The object of this invention is therefore to provide a solution to the problem of flushing the distal part of the instrument tube.

[0009] This task is solved by providing an instrument designed to perform an operation, which comprises: a distal end section, a proximal end section, a tube connecting the distal end section and the proximal end section, and a fluid connection comprising an inlet for the entry of rinsing fluid into the interior of the instrument and two outlets designed to guide the flow of rinsing fluid in the instrument, wherein a first outlet is designed to allow the rinsing fluid to flow towards the distal end of the instrument and a second outlet is designed to allow the rinsing fluid to flow towards the proximal end of the instrument tube, characterized in that the first outlet is larger than the second outlet, wherein a push rod is provided which runs from the proximal end section to the distal end section of the instrument, and rinsing fluid flows in the instrument tube around the push rod and surrounds the exterior of the push rod, wherein a spring is provided in the proximal part of the push rod,to operate the push rod during an operation and the flushing fluid also flows around this spring.

[0010] The larger outlet allows irrigation fluid to flow toward the distal end of the instrument tube, allowing more irrigation fluid to flow toward the distal end than toward the proximal end. Furthermore, the instrument is designed with a curved distal end of the instrument tube for ease of use during surgery.

[0011] Embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the drawings and will be explained in more detail in the following description. They show: Fig. 1Top view of the entire instrument, Fig. 2Top view of the fluid connection connected to the instrument, Fig. 3Sectional view of the instrument and the fluid connection, Fig. 4Isometric sectional view of the instrument and the fluid connection.

[0012] Fig. 1shows a top view of the entire instrument 10. The instrument comprises a proximal end section 12 and a distal end section 11. A tube 15 is attached between the proximal end section and the distal end section. Forceps or scissors are attached to the distal end 11 for performing the operation. The proximal end of the instrument 12 can be attached to a handle (not shown in the figure) for performing an operation.

[0013] The fluid port 20 is connected to the proximal part of the instrument near the proximal end section. Figure 3 shows the close-up view of the fluid connection, and the structure of the fluid connection is shown using Figures 3, 4 and 5.

[0014] Flushing fluid injected through the fluid port flows to the proximal and distal parts of the instrument. The figure clearly shows that the distal part 13 of the instrument, whose interior must be flushed, is longer than the proximal part 14 of the instrument, whose interior must be flushed. Therefore, it is difficult to flush the entire distal part 13 of the instrument.

[0015] Fig. 2shows a close-up view of the fluid port and the proximal side of the instrument from above. As shown in the figure, two outlets 21 and 22 are provided at the lower part of the fluid port. From these outlets, irrigation fluid flows in two opposite directions. The first outlet 21 is provided so that irrigation fluid flows toward the distal part of the instrument tube. The second outlet 22 is provided so that irrigation fluid flows into the proximal side of the instrument. As is clearly visible from the figure, the first outlet 21, which allows the irrigation fluid to flow toward the distal end of the instrument, is larger than the second outlet 22, which allows the irrigation fluid to flow toward the proximal end of the instrument.

[0016] Due to the different sizes of the two outlets, more irrigation fluid flows to the distal end of the instrument tube than to the proximal end of the instrument. This creates higher pressure at the distal part of the instrument. This pressure buildup in the distal part of the instrument supports the flow of irrigation fluid to the distal end of the instrument tube. This causes the entire length of the interior of the instrument tube to be flushed.

[0017] Fig. 3shows the two-dimensional sectional view of the instrument and in particular of the fluid connector. The fluid connector is connected to the instrument on the proximal side near the proximal end. To flush the instrument tube after an operation, flushing fluid is introduced from the inlet of the fluid connector 25. Since two outlets 21, 22 are provided at the output of the fluid connector, a portion of the flushing fluid flows through the first outlet 21 to the distal end of the instrument and a portion of the flushing fluid flows through the second outlet 22 to the proximal end of the instrument. This flushing fluid then flows through the instrument tube 40 and flushes the interior of the tube. Blood, tissue, and contaminants that have accumulated in the instrument tube during an operation are flushed away by this flushing fluid.

[0018] A push rod 30 is provided, which runs from the proximal end section to the distal end section of the instrument. Irrigation fluid flows around the push rod in the instrument tube and surrounds the exterior of the push rod 30. A spring 32 is provided in the proximal part of the push rod to actuate the push rod during surgery. The irrigation fluid also surrounds this spring.

[0019] Figure 4 shows an isometric sectional view of the instrument and fluid connection. The isometric view better illustrates the design of the fluid connection, push rod, and instrument tube. As per Figures 1 - 4As already described, the instrument 10 comprises a fluid port 20 connected to the proximal side of the instrument, and the fluid port is divided into two outlets such that when flushing fluid is introduced into the inlet 25 of the fluid port, the first outlet 21 allows the flushing fluid to flow toward the distal end, and the second outlet 22 allows the flushing fluid to flow toward the proximal side, flushing the interior of the instrument tube 40 and the exterior of the push rod 30, 31, 32.

[0020] Although the current embodiment of the present invention describes a fluid port having two outlets allowing the rinsing fluid to flow at the proximal and distal parts of the instrument, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that more than two outlets may be provided at the fluid port to irrigate another part of the instrument as needed. List of reference numbers

[0021] 10 Instrument 11 Distal end of the instrument 12 Proximal end of the instrument 13 Distal part of the instrument 14 Proximal part of the instrument 15 Instrument tube 20 Fluid connector 21 Outlet of the fluid connector, thanks to which water can flow at the distal part of the instrument 22 Outlet of the fluid connector, thanks to which water can flow at the proximal part of the instrument 25 Fluid inlet into the fluid connector 30 Push rod 31 Push rod on the distal side of the instrument 32 Spring provided on the proximal part of the instrument 40 Interior of the instrument tube

Claims

1. An instrument configured to perform an operation, comprising: a distal end section (11), a proximal end section (12), a tube (15) connecting the distal end section (12) and the proximal end section (11) and a fluid port (20), which comprises an inlet (25) for the entry of flushing fluid into the interior of the instrument and at least two outlets (21, 22) configured to guide the flow of flushing fluid in the instrument, wherein the first outlet (21) is configured to allow the flushing fluid to flow towards the distal end section of the instrument and the second outlet (22) is configured to allow the flushing fluid to flow towards the proximal end of the instrument tube (15), characterised in that the first outlet (21) is larger than the second outlet (22), wherein a push rod (30) is provided which runs from the proximal end section to the distal end section of the instrument and flushing fluid flows in the instrument tube around the push rod and flushes around the exterior of the push rod (30), wherein a spring (32) is provided in the proximal part of the push rod to actuate the push rod during an operation and the flushing fluid also flushes around this spring (32).

2. The instrument for use in surgery according to claim 1, comprising a fluid port connected to the instrument, characterised in that the fluid port is connected to the proximal side (14) of the instrument in the vicinity of the proximal end section (12) of the instrument.