Appliance with a holding device

Abstract

To provide an appliance with a holding device capable of facilitating temporary storage of an appliance during appliance exchange.SOLUTION: An appliance 10 has an appliance main body 15 which is configured to, especially, be slender and has flexibility. The appliance can be completely or partially wound as at least one or a plurality of coils, therefore the appliance can be packed while saving a space and can be easily handled. For holding the appliance main body 15 at the position, a holding device 24 to be held, is provided, the holding device 24 is provided on the appliance main body 15 and preferably detachably held thereto. The holding device has a gripper which has a latch for holding and fixing the coil and which is supported in a rotatable state around the appliance main body 15. The gripper can be held by fingers of a hand of a user who holds the appliance 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an instrument for treating human and animal patients, particularly an instrument for endoscopic treatment.

Background Art

[0002] Basic probes for surgical treatment of patients for endoscopic use are known from the prior art. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a probe for argon plasma coagulation. The instrument comprises a long instrument body having at least one flexible section. The flexible section is suitable for insertion into the working channel of an endoscope.

[0003] During the use of the instrument on a patient, for example, in order to temporarily insert another instrument into the working channel of an endoscope, the instrument may have to be withdrawn from the working channel of the endoscope and temporarily placed, for example, in respective sterile bowls. While the instrument is being temporarily stored in a sterile bowl or another suitable location, the instrument must not come into contact with other objects, such as non-sterile objects or surfaces, in an uncontrolled manner. Due to the length of the instrument, which can exceed, for example, two meters, this cannot readily be guaranteed by default. For example, it may be convenient to pack the instrument in several coils. However, due to the typical inherent spring elasticity of the coil, the coil tends to bounce back in an extended form. Attaching the instrument packed by a clamp is known from Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3. The clamp can be configured as a type of helical spring according to Patent Document 4, which has a coil that expands spirally at one end. However, it is cumbersome to handle and there are hygienic risks. Patent Document 5 proposes arranging a sleeve having a helical groove longitudinally movably and rotatably on the proximal section of a flexible instrument. Patent Document 6 proposes arranging a clamp having a movable bracket pivotable back and forth between an open position and a closed position at the proximal end of the instrument. In contrast, Patent Document 7, Patent Document 8 and Patent Document 3 use a rigid clamp fixedly arranged on the instrument to hold the coil of the packed instrument. To hold an optical conductor, Patent Document 9 proposes a holder having an end with two mounting holes and a section adjacent to this end having a sheet metal strip bent to form a helix. The optical conductor can be inserted therein.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

Patent Document 6

Patent Document 7

Patent Document 8

Patent Document 9

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved concept for handling an instrument, particularly during its non-use.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] This object is solved by the instrument according to claim 1 and the holding device according to claim 15.

[0007] The instrument of the present invention is provided especially for endoscopic applications. For example, the instrument is a probe that can be inserted into the working channel of an endoscope and can be moved in different directions by the angled end of the endoscope. For this purpose, the instrument comprises an instrument body having at least one flexible section. The flexible section can have a length of more than 1 meter, for example, and can be wound as at least one, preferably a plurality of windings. The holding device arranged on the instrument body is part of the instrument and can hold and fix one or more windings. The instrument body can be formed by a hose having a cylindrical outer contour, i.e., one or more lumens with a circular cross-section. The instrument body can also have a non-circular, for example, elliptical cross-section, or can consist of two or more hoses arranged parallel to each other.

[0008] Since the holding device is arranged on the instrument body, the holding device can be operated with one hand, i.e., the hand holding the instrument body. Due to the claimed configuration of the holding device, the holding device has a short axial dimension and is thus easy to handle. On the other hand, the operator can pack the instrument body as one or more windings and can operate the holding device with one hand to arrange and fix this winding. With this concept, easy handling is achieved and the risk to the sterilization of the instrument is eliminated. The holding device arranged on the instrument body is aseptic like the instrument body itself. Having the holding device means being inseparably connected to the instrument body, so the holding device cannot be left behind. The risk of contamination is minimized.

[0009] According to the present invention, the temporary storage of the instrument during instrument replacement is simplified. The instrument can be packed with less required space and fixed in a quick and easy way. Instruments with a length exceeding 2 meters can thus be safely handled while avoiding the wound windings springing open and falling, for example, to the ground.

[0010] The instrument body can consist of a supply section and a probe section. The probe section and the supply section can have different diameters, can be made of different materials, and / or can have different flexibilities. However, the instrument body can also be continuously formed by a hose of uniform thickness and / or of one and the same material. However, also in this case, the section of the instrument body that is to be inserted into the endoscope can be considered as the probe section. The section of the instrument body that remains outside the endoscope during treatment can be considered as the supply section. The holding device is preferably arranged on the supply section. The holding device can be held immovable in the axial direction, i.e., can be fixed against axial displacement. Alternatively, the holding device can also be arranged on the probe body in a limited form such that it is axially displaceable. For example, the axial movement range can be limited on both sides by stop elements. A stop element can be formed on one side by the handle of the instrument. Furthermore, the stop element can be formed by a rubber element, for example an O-ring, on one or both sides.

[0011] For example, the instrument can be an argon plasma probe that extends from the proximal end to the distal end and has a channel for supplying gas and an electrode arranged therein. However, the instrument can also be another instrument, for example an instrument for cryotherapy, a fiber optic instrument for laser therapy, etc. However, what is common to all of these instruments is that they are provided with an elongate instrument body that is at least partially flexible such that it can be packed to form one or more windings.

[0012] Preferably, the holding device comprises a gripper rotatably supported with respect to the instrument body. The gripper is preferably an integrally rigid plastic part without a movable section. Thereby, the rotation axis of the gripper is preferably the same as or parallel to the longitudinal direction of the instrument body. This enables specific simple ergonomic handling by the user. The hand holding the instrument body can simultaneously rotate the rigid gripper of the holding device. Thereby, the gripper can pick up and fix one or more windings of the packed instrument body, which in some cases is held by the user's other hand.

[0013] For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous if the gripper comprises a holding space for the probe section and the holding space is curved along the instrument body, in particular along its longitudinal axis. Thus, the gripper is formed in a hook shape when viewed parallel to the longitudinal direction of the probe body. Thereby, the holding space preferably extends along an arc-shaped path that curves along the rotation axis of the gripper and is longer than one-third of the outer circumference of the gripper, particularly preferably longer than half the circumference of the gripper. By doing so, a plurality of windings of the instrument body can be reliably gripped and held.

[0014] One or more structures for holding a section of the instrument body, in particular its distal end section, can be provided in the holding device. These structures can serve to fix the distal end of the instrument body so that the instrument body remains a compactly packed instrument body. Thereby, in particular, the distal end of the instrument body is protected from contamination and thus the patient is prevented from coming into contact with pathogenic bacteria or dirt.

[0015] The structure for at least temporarily holding and disposing the distal end of the instrument body can be one or more latch recesses disposed on the base of the holding device or on a rotatably supported gripper. Such a latch recess can be a C-shaped recess into which a probe hose can be clipped. The configuration of such a latch recess within the gripper has the particular advantage that further rotation of the gripper is prevented as soon as the distal end or another section of the instrument body is clipped into the latch recess, and the winding of the instrument is fixed within the gripper. The end of the instrument held in the latch recess blocks the path through which the winding exits the gripper.

[0016] Further details of advantageous embodiments and modifications of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims as well as the drawings and the description of each of the figures thereof.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] An instrument 10 configured as a flexible probe and provided for use with an endoscope 11 is shown in FIG. 1. The endoscope 11 includes a working channel that extends through the instrument 10. Further, the endoscope 11 includes an operating unit 13 at its proximal end 12, and this operating unit functions to control the distal end 14 of the endoscope, for example, to angularly orient it laterally.

[0019] The instrument 10 can be any instrument suitable for the treatment of human or animal patients. In particular, the instrument can be a cryosurgical instrument, an electrosurgical instrument, or a plasma surgical instrument, and further, an instrument for treating with radio waves or light, for example, an optical fiber instrument for laser treatment of biological tissue. In the context of the present invention, it is important that the instrument 10 includes an instrument body 15 having a flexible section 16 that can be packed as one or more coils 17, 18, 19 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0020] For example, the instrument body 15 can be formed by a supply section 20 and a probe section 21. Both sections 20, 21 can consist of, for example, a hose having a single or multiple lumens. The material of the supply section 20 can be the same material as that of the probe section 21. However, different materials can also be used. Preferably, however, the supply section 20 and the probe section 21 are made of plastic. The supply section 20 and the probe section 21 can have a circular cross-section and can include equal or different diameters. Similarly, the supply section 20 and the probe section 21 can include equal or different flexibility. It is also possible to form the supply section 20 as a single continuous molded body.

[0021] At the proximal end of the instrument 10, connection means such as a plug 22 can be provided, through which current and / or an operating medium, light or other forms of energy can be supplied to the instrument 10. However, the distal end 23 functions to affect the living tissue above or inside the patient.

[0022] According to the present invention, the instrument 10 comprises a holding device 24 which serves to hold the windings 17, 18, 19 of the instrument 10 together, as shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, the holding device 24 can be arranged near the handle 25, which is optionally provided and thus shown by a dashed line in FIG. 1. The handle serves to manipulate the instrument 10, particularly during insertion into the endoscope 11 and / or during treatment of the patient. For example, the handle 25 can be arranged at a position of the instrument 10 where the supply section 20 is adjacent to the probe section 21.

[0023] The holding device 24, preferably arranged in the supply section 20, is shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. The holding device 24 can comprise a base 26, preferably made of plastic, arranged on the instrument 10, for example on the supply section 20. The base 26 can be arranged on the instrument 10, for example the supply section 20, as shown in FIG. 5. Thereby, the base 26 can be clamped or glued or fixed in another way against axial displacement on the supply section 20. As a mere example, an adhesive layer 27 is shown in FIG. 5 for this purpose. Alternatively, the base 26 can be held on the outer surface of the instrument 10 in a friction fit manner, for example by a rubber element, such as a rubber ring. It is also possible to arrange the base 26 displaceable axially with play on the instrument 10, particularly the supply section 20. However, the base 26 can also be omitted.

[0024] Preferably, the base 26 comprises a support section 28, the support section having a cylindrical outer side and being adjacent to a head 29 projecting radially outwards. At the other end of the support section 28, a latch collar 30 is provided which has a ring surface that axially restricts the support section 28. A longitudinal slit 31 which can extend into the support section 28 separates the latch collar 30, such that the halves thereof can flex radially inwards.

[0025] Regardless of whether or not the holding device 24 comprises the base 26, the gripper 32 is part of the holding device 24 rotatably held by the instrument 10. For example, the gripper can be held by the support section 28. Alternatively, the gripper 32 can also be directly rotatably held by the instrument 10. The gripper 32 is preferably a plastic part. The gripper comprises, for example, a tubular central part 33 from which a hook-shaped or spiral-shaped latch 34 extends away. The central part 33 can be configured like a sleeve with a closed wall. Alternatively, the central part 33 can include a longitudinal slit that is attached to the instrument 10 or the base 26 by a clamping movement.

[0026] Thereby, the latch 34 wraps around the central part 33 at a distance therefrom. In this way, the latch 34, together with the tubular central part 33, delimits a curved holding space 35, the width (i.e., the distance towards the central part 33) and depth of which are sufficient, for example, to hold the windings 17, 18, 19 of the probe section 21. The holding space 35 extends in an arc around the tubular central part 33 and thereby preferably extends more than about a half rotation, i.e., more than 180°, around the central axis 36.

[0027] As is particularly apparent from FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, one or more latch recesses 37, 38, 39 can be configured on the base 26. Preferably, the latch recesses 37-39 are formed in the head 29 of the base 26 in the form of straight grooves, for example, within a central region that is slightly narrower than the diameter of the probe section 21. Accordingly, the distal end 23 or a part of the probe section 21 adjacent in the proximal direction can be snap-fastened within the latch recesses 37-39 and thus temporarily attached. However, as is apparent from FIG. 4, it is also possible to form a latch recess 40 at the free end of the latch 34. The distal end 23 of the probe section 21 or its adjacent part can be inserted into this latch recess 40. It is also possible to form a plurality of such latch recesses 40, 41, 42 at the free end of the latch 34 of the gripper 32. Similarly, additional latch recesses 43 can be arranged on the side surface of the latch 34. Such latch recesses 40-42 are also apparent from FIG. 8.

[0028] The instrument 10 described so far can be aseptically packed and provided and delivered by the instrument manufacturer in a packed form as shown, for example, in FIG. 2. The windings 17, 18, 19 can, on the one hand, connect the instrument 10 to the supply device and, on the other hand, be released by rotation of the gripper 32 so that they can be inserted into the working channel of the endoscope 11.

[0029] If it is necessary to remove the instrument 10 from the working channel of the endoscope 11 during the operation and place it aside midway, especially in the case where the probe section 21 is wound as several windings 17, 18, 19, as shown in FIG. 2, the instrument can be easily repacked again. This can be easily done with both hands, and the gripper 32 can be rotated with one hand to hold and fix the windings 17, 18, 19. If necessary, the distal end 23 can be further fixed to one of the latch recesses 37 to 43. If the latch recesses 40, 41, 42, or the latch recess 43 are also used, the return of the gripper 32 can be blocked thereby. This is an additional security against the deployment of the windings 17, 18, 19. The instrument 10 thus securely packed can be stored midway, for example, in a sterile bowl, without the risk of uncontrolled movement and contamination.

[0030] It is further clear from FIG. 9 that the instrument 10 comprises two lines 20a, 20b in its supply section 20. The base 26 is configured to arrange both lines 20a, 20b. However, it is not necessarily required to surround them along the entire circumference, and in this case, a thinner configuration can be achieved. A similar configuration is clear from FIG. 10. Also, a base 26 that can be adhered to the two lines 20a, 20b or clip-connected to these lines is provided for the arrangement of both lines 20a, 20b, as in the embodiment according to FIG. 9. Regarding the embodiment of the gripper 32, all other explanations provided for the other embodiments apply accordingly.

[0031] An embodiment of the holding device 24 is apparent from FIG. 11, in which the gripper 32 is held directly in the supply section 20 or in another section of the instrument 10 without placing a base. The gripper is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the supply section 20, i.e., it is held with some radial play on the supply section 20. Further, the gripper 32 is axially movable on the supply section 20. To limit the movement path, respective stop elements (not shown) can be provided. The stop elements can be, for example, an O-ring attached to the supply section 20, a structure formed by a clip element, or a structure necessarily provided in an instrument such as a handle. The tubular central portion 33 can be configured as a closed hollow cylinder like a sleeve, as shown in FIG. 11. Alternatively, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 11, it is also possible to form a slit 44 in the central section 32 with a rounded side as required. This has the advantage that the gripper 32 can be clipped to each support structure, i.e., the base or the supply section 20 of the instrument 10 or to another section. By doing so, the gripper 32 is also suitable for subsequent attachment to an instrument 10 that previously did not have the holding device 24. The slit 44 can be used in all the embodiments described above.

[0032] Each of the above described is in relation to the instrument 10, and the holding device 24, which will later be claimed, can also be provided independently of the instrument 10 and be commercially available. In such a case, the holding device 24 must later be attached to the instrument 10.

[0033] The instrument 10 of the present invention comprises an instrument body 15 that is elongated and particularly configured to be flexible. This can be fully or partially wound as at least one or a plurality of winding wires 17, 18, 19, and in this way can be packed in a space-saving and easy-to-handle manner. To keep the instrument body 15 in this position, a holding device 24 is provided, which is arranged on the instrument body 15 and is preferably non-removably held thereon. The holding device comprises a gripper 32 rotatably supported around the instrument body, which has a latch 34 capable of holding and fixing the winding wires 17, 18, 19. The gripper 32 can be handled by the fingers of the hand with which the user holds the instrument 10.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0034] 10 Instrument 11 Endoscope 12 Proximal end of the endoscope 13 Operating unit 14 Distal end of the endoscope 15 Instrument body of instrument 10 16 Flexible section of instrument 10 17 - 19 Winding wires 20 Supply section 20a, 20b Wires 21 Probe section 22 Connecting means of instrument 10 23 Distal end of instrument 10 24 Holding device 25 Handle 26 Base 27 Adhesive 28 Support section 29 Head 30 Latch collar 31 Longitudinal slit 32 Gripper 33 Central part 34 Latch 35 Holding space 36 Central axis 37 - 43 Latch recesses 44 Slit

Claims

1. An instrument (10) for the medical treatment of a human or animal patient, having an instrument body (15) with at least one flexible section (16) that can be wound as at least one winding (17), said instrument body (15) consisting of a supply section (20) and a probe section (21), said probe section (21) being flexible and capable of being wound as at least one winding (17, 18, 19), having a holding device (24) rotatably supported on said instrument body (15) and comprising a gripper (32) for holding said at least one winding (17), said gripper (32) having a tubular central part (33) from which a latch (34) extends at a radial distance from said central part (33) around at least a part of the outer periphery of said central part (33), said gripper (32) being an integral rigid plastic part, arranged on a base (26), rotatably supported, and comprising a holding space (35) for said probe section (21), said holding space (35) being curved along said instrument body (15) and being longer than one-third of a rotation of said gripper (32) in the rotational direction of said gripper (32), characterized instrument.

2. The instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that said gripper (32) comprises at least one latch recess (40) for holding a section (23) of said instrument body (15).

3. The instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that said base (26) comprises at least one latch recess (37) for holding a section (23) of said instrument body (15).

4. The instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said holding device (24) is immovably fixed to said instrument body (15).

5. The instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holding device (24) is non-detachably held by the instrument body (15).

6. The instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the holding device (24) comprises a base (26) configured to be attached to an instrument having a non-circular cross-section.

7. The instrument according to claim 6, wherein the base (26) surrounds the supply section (20) or the probe section (21) around its entire circumference or only around a part of its outer circumference.

8. The instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the holding device (24) is axially movably arranged on the supply section (20) or the probe section (21).

9. A holding device (24) for an instrument (10) for the medical treatment of a human or animal patient, the instrument comprising an instrument body (15) having at least one flexible section (16) that can be wound as at least one winding (17), the instrument body (15) consisting of a supply section (20) and a probe section (21), the probe section (21) being flexible and capable of being wound as at least one winding (17, 18, 19), The holding device (24) comprises a gripper (32) for holding the at least one winding (17), the gripper (32) being rotatably arranged on the instrument body (15), The gripper (32) comprises a tubular central part (33), from which a latch (34) extends at a radial distance from the central part (33) around at least a part of the outer circumference of the central part (33), The gripper (32) is an integral rigid plastic part, arranged on the base (26), rotatably supported, and comprises a holding space (35) for the probe section (21), The holding space (35) is curved along the instrument body (15) and is a holding device that is longer than one-third of a rotation of the gripper (32) in the rotational direction of the gripper (32).

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