Handheld shaft type surgical instrument

Abstract

The present invention relates to a handheld sliding shaft type (2) surgical instrument, comprising a shaft (5) which is formed with a longitudinal groove (7) extending over the length of the shaft, and a slide (6) which is movably mounted in the longitudinal groove (7) and whose relative movement within the longitudinal groove (7) is at least partly guided by at least one shaft (5) connecting piece (8) which narrows the longitudinal groove (7) in the width direction of the groove, the shaft (5) having a longitudinal cleaning recess (10) in the region of the connecting piece (8), said cleaning recess forming a radial through opening opening from the groove base side into the longitudinal groove (7).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a medical device, particularly a handheld surgical device, having a slide shaft / slide shaft device for transmitting an actuating force or movement to a device effector.

Background Art

[0002] The present disclosure relates to any type of surgical device having a slide shaft. Such slide shaft devices may be, for example, biopsy forceps, scissors, bone punches, or similar hand-held devices. They are used, for example, for cutting, shearing, or clamping procedures in the human or animal body. In this case, the slide is moved along a guide of the shaft via a corresponding hand grip in order to actuate (jaw-like) effectors, in particular to open and close, at the distal end of the slide shaft. Thus, such a slide shaft device is characterized by having a longitudinally extending elongate shaft / slide shaft in which the slide is slidably disposed / inside longitudinally slidably along the longitudinal direction of the shaft. The slide and the shaft are usually disposed / formed on / in the shaft and are slidably connected to each other via a guide that guides the movement of the slide along the shaft, but prevents further relative movement of the slide with respect to the shaft. Such slide shaft surgical devices are known, for example, from European Patent No. 1363542.

[0003] In addition, German Patent Application Publication No. 102009008691 discloses a slide shaft device having a longitudinal groove in a shaft having a T-shaped cross-section in which corresponding protrusions on the lower side of the slide engage snugly.

[0004] To enable the reuse of slide shaft equipment, it is necessary to at least clean the slide shaft equipment and / or, more often, to sterilize it. However, due to the closely adhering guides of the slides on / in the shaft, it has not been possible or at least difficult until now to reprocess the slide shaft in a reproducible manner without first disassembling the equipment into its individual parts. However, the disassembly of slide shafts with narrow tolerances usually risks damaging the individual parts during assembly, meaning that the slide shaft equipment no longer meets the required tolerances after at least a certain number of disassembly cycles. For this reason, slide shaft equipment or its slide shafts are usually not disassembled for cleaning.

[0005] However, in order to create the free space necessary for cleaning / sterilizing in the assembled state within the slide shaft, known slide shafts have radially spaced holes along the entire length of the shaft connecting the space within the shaft that houses the slide to the surroundings in order to improve the flushing of the slide with a cleaning fluid or sterilizing medium. This, however, significantly reduces the stability of the shaft and is costly to manufacture due to a large number of burrs. Instead of having several radial holes, it is also known that by milling in the transverse direction, the longitudinal grooves that house the slides can be widened, resulting in longitudinally spaced narrow abutment / contact / slide points on / in the shaft, allowing the shaft to be cleaned with a brush to the depth of the bottom of the longitudinal grooves in the longitudinal section between the contact points. However, this still does not guarantee sufficient, reproducible, reprocessability of the slide shaft. Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to be able to reprocess in a renewable manner without disassembling the slide shaft in order to enable reuse, and at the same time, to meet the requirements regarding the functionality, manufacturability, high precision, and stability of the slide shaft or slide shaft device, and to provide a slide shaft and a slide shaft surgical device for a slide shaft surgical device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] This object is solved by a medical device, in particular a hand-held surgical device, having a slide shaft having the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0008] Accordingly, the core of the present disclosure is to form an axially spaced abutting / contacting / sliding point, known per se in the prior art, between the groove side wall of the shaft and the slide, which is substantially triangular in shape with a concave side edge when viewed in the longitudinal cross-section of the shaft, and further to form a radial opening in the shaft from the groove bottom side to the groove bottom within the region of the abutting / contacting / sliding point thus formed. This configuration enables each abutting / contacting / sliding point to extend over a greater distance than in the prior art, preferably beyond each respective radial opening on both axial sides of the shaft, thereby maintaining the shaft firmly despite the addition of the radial openings. Due to the recess, the abutting / contacting / sliding point tapers very quickly axially, which improves flushing with a cleaning fluid and / or a sterilization medium and also enables the cleaning fluid and / or the sterilization medium to penetrate into the gap between the groove bottom and the slide through the radial opening.

[0009] However, the particularity of this embodiment also lies in its ease of manufacture. Thus, another core of the present disclosure is to create axially spaced abutment / contact / slide points by milling a groove in the shape of a circular segment from below the groove bottom to beyond the groove bottom with a shaft / circle cutter, resulting in a substantially rectangular opening at the groove bottom, and further, to form one side edge of the triangular abutment / contact / slide point in a concave shape. Preferably, the same cutter is used for milling into the shaft / shaft groove from above the groove bottom so that the aforementioned concave shape is also imparted to the two side edges of the abutment / contact / slide point facing away from the groove bottom.

[0010] More precisely, medical devices, particularly handheld surgical devices, have a slide shaft. The slide shaft has an elongated shaft and a slide that is displaceable (in the longitudinal direction) thereon, i.e., arranged along the longitudinal direction of the shaft. The slide shaft functions to couple the operation of the tool head / tool part / effector of the slide shaft device to the operation of the device handle of the slide shaft device. In particular, the slide shaft is connected or connectable to a tool head arranged at the distal end of the slide shaft such that the relative displacement of the slide with respect to the shaft can operate, particularly open and close, the tool head. Additionally, the slide shaft is connected or connectable to the device handle such that the slide can be displaced longitudinally with respect to the shaft by the operation of the device handle, particularly the rotation of a first handgrip with respect to a second handgrip. The slide is accommodated in a longitudinal groove of the shaft (displaceable in the longitudinal direction). The longitudinal groove opens towards the circumferential side of the shaft. The slide is preferably plate-shaped, for example, like a slide plate. The relative displacement of the slide with respect to the shaft is guided by at least one cross-piece (abutment / contact / slide point) of the shaft. The cross-piece narrows the longitudinal groove in the width direction within the section from both sides of the slide so as to guide the slide on both sides. Thus, in particular, the shaft may have at least one pair of cross-pieces arranged opposite to each other in the width direction of the groove for guiding the slide. Preferably, the cross-pieces arranged in a pair (paired cross-pieces) are spaced apart from each other by the thickness of the slide in the width direction of the groove. In this way, the slide can slide on both sides with respect to one cross-piece of each pair of cross-pieces. The slide is preferably arranged at the center in the width direction of the groove within the longitudinal groove.

[0011] According to the present disclosure, the shaft has longitudinally extending cleaning recesses (milled recesses) in the region of the cross-piece (or each of the pair of cross-pieces), and the cleaning recesses form through-holes (rectangular radial openings) opening into the longitudinal grooves. In particular, the cleaning recesses may open towards the circumferential side (hereinafter referred to as the lower side) of the shaft away from the radial groove openings. By forming a passage between the cleaning recesses and the longitudinal grooves, for example, fluid flow of the cleaning fluid from top to bottom or from bottom to top around the slide through the shaft becomes possible. The cleaning recesses are arranged longitudinally in the region of the cross-piece, i.e., longitudinally at the height of the cross-piece. By arranging additional cleaning recesses in the region of the cross-piece where there is more shaft material than in other regions of the longitudinal grooves, only a slight reduction in stability occurs, and a sufficiently high shaft stability is ensured. Preferably, the cleaning recesses are configured as / millable as milled recesses. In this way, for example, a flatter surface can be created compared to holes, and for example, the generation of burrs can be reduced. The cleaning recesses are preferably arranged in the center in the width direction within the shaft. The cleaning recesses are preferably elongated. Thereby, for the cleaning recesses, as little material as possible is removed from the shaft in the more unstable width direction of the shaft.

[0012] In other words, the shaft has longitudinal grooves in which the slide is displaceable longitudinally and which widen in the width direction along the longitudinal direction within the section (by means of a gap) or narrow / constrict partially in the width direction (by means of a cross-piece). Thus, the gap is partially narrowed or blocked longitudinally by the cross-piece. This means that the longitudinal grooves have a basic width corresponding to the distance between the two cross-pieces of the pair of cross-pieces or the thickness of the slide, respectively. In addition, the longitudinal grooves have a width greater than the basic width within the section along the longitudinal direction, i.e., the longitudinal grooves widen within the section. Within the widened section of the longitudinal groove, the slide is not guided through the shaft. Thus, a gap is formed between the slide and the shaft within the widened section. The gap can be regarded as part of the longitudinal groove.

[0013] Put another way, the shaft has longitudinal grooves opening at the upper side of the shaft and cleaning recesses opening at the lower side of the shaft (as defined above). Thereby, since the cleaning recesses extend far enough into the shaft, in particular into the longitudinal grooves, flow from the upper side to the lower side (or vice versa for each) and thus improved cleanability is possible.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the shaft may preferably have a plurality of longitudinally spaced cross-pieces (or each of the pairs of cross-pieces) depending on the length of the slide shaft (and / or the thickness of the slide) along the longitudinal groove. Preferably, the plurality of cross-pieces (or pairs of cross-pieces) are spaced at equal intervals longitudinally. This prevents the slide from twisting. Preferably, the shaft has a plurality of cleaning recesses, in particular one cleaning recess per cross-piece (or pair of cross-pieces).

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the slide shaft may have a cleaning gap formed in the width direction between the slide and the shaft, in particular by a longitudinal groove that is partially narrowed or blocked in the longitudinal direction by a cross-piece. The gap preferably extends to the groove bottom of the longitudinal groove. In particular, the gap may be formed on each side of the slide in the width direction. The slide shaft, in particular the slide, may be cleaned through the gap. The gap is preferably elongated, i.e., extending in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. In particular, the gap may be formed / milled as a milled recess. In this way, for example, a flatter surface can be generated compared to a hole, and for example, the formation of burrs can be reduced. According to a further development of the preferred embodiment, the cleaning gap may be formed on both sides of the slide in the width direction to further improve the cleaning of the slide.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the cleaning recess and the longitudinal groove are formed such that when the slide is disposed within the longitudinal groove, in particular within the longitudinal region where the slide is supported by the groove bottom of the longitudinal groove, the cleaning recess and the longitudinal groove are fluidly connected to each other. This means that the cleaning recess has a spread (i.e., a greater spread in the width direction of the shaft) that is wider than that of the longitudinal groove in the region of the slide or the pair of cross-pieces, respectively. In other words, the fluid connection is made through the groove bottom, i.e., the contact region of the slide. This enables flow even when the slide is attached to the longitudinal groove, in particular in the region of the cross-piece, and as a result, the slide shaft can be cleaned without the need for disassembly.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal extent (i.e., the extent in the longitudinal direction of the shaft) of the cleaning recess in the depth direction of the groove of the shaft may decrease from the outside to the inside. Preferably, the longitudinal extent may decrease along the concave region of the shaft. In this way, sufficient stability of the shaft can be ensured in an advantageous manner. According to a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal extent (i.e., the extent in the longitudinal direction of the shaft) of the cleaning recess in the width direction of the shaft may increase from the outside to the inside, or may be substantially constant. Preferably, the longitudinal extent may increase along the concave region of the shaft. According to a preferred embodiment, the width extent (i.e., the extent in the width direction of the shaft) of the cleaning recess may be constant in the depth direction of the shaft. That is, the cleaning recess extends along a planar region perpendicular to the width direction. Such a configuration of the cleaning recess has been shown to be particularly advantageous from the viewpoints of manufacturability, stability, and cleanability of the shaft.

[0018] For example, the cleaning recess may have a shape of a circular segment or an elliptical segment in a longitudinal cross-section perpendicular to the width direction, as already described above. In particular, the cleaning recess may have a symmetry plane common with the cross-piece, especially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. For example, the cleaning recess may have a shape of a circular layer or a rectangle in a longitudinal cross-section perpendicular to the depth direction. In this way, the cleaning recess can be implemented simply by pushing in a milling machine.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal spread of the cross-piece in the depth direction of the shaft may increase from the outside to the inside, particularly from the groove opening to the groove bottom of the longitudinal groove. Preferably, the longitudinal spread may increase along the concave transverse plane of the cross-piece. According to a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal spread of the cross-piece in the width direction of the shaft may increase from the inside to the outside or may be substantially constant. Preferably, the longitudinal spread may increase along the concave transverse plane of the cross-piece. Thus, the outer shape of the cross-piece can be easily generated by milling.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the through-hole formed by the cleaning recess may have a width spread that is larger than the slide and / or larger than the longitudinal groove within the region of the cross-piece. This allows for the flow of the cleaning fluid.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the through-hole formed by the cleaning recess may have a longitudinal spread that is larger than the shortest region of the cross-piece, particularly the cross-piece at the groove opening, and / or a longitudinal spread that is smaller than the longest region of the cross-piece, particularly the cross-piece at the groove bottom. Such a configuration has been shown to be suitable from the perspective of sufficient flow rate, although the stability is slightly reduced.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the slide shaft device may include the described slide shaft, a device handle connected to the slide shaft to effect relative displacement of the slide, and an effector / tool head / tool part operable by the relative displacement of the slide shaft. The device handle is attached to the proximal end of the slide shaft. The device handle enables the relative displacement of the slide, particularly manually. The tool head is attached to the distal end of the slide shaft. The relative displacement of the slide enables the operation of the tool head, particularly the opening and closing of the tool head.

[0023] In summary, the present disclosure relates to a slide shaft surgical instrument having a slide shaft. The slide shaft has a slide guide and a slide plate guided therein. Due to the close guidance of the slide plate, the reproducible reprocessing of the reusable instrument is substantially impossible. By using a milled cutout, a free space can be generated in the slide guide to enable cleaning of the instrument. Previous solutions with continuous holes provided along the entire length of the slide plate in the slide guide have the drawback of reduced stability of the slide shaft, have not yet shown effectiveness, and are inconvenient and difficult to remove burrs from the holes. Other solutions with recesses provided on the upper side of the slide shaft enable improvement of the cleaning operation of the slide plate because a brush can be used to clean to its depth. According to the present disclosure, to improve effectiveness, a combination of an upwardly milled cutout and a downwardly milled cutout is provided. The lower milled cutout allows for flow between the top and bottom, while the cutouts on the slide shaft milled from above and below and the remaining cross pieces guarantee the function of the instrument and avoid torsion of the slide plate (adjustable, for example, by the number of cross pieces).

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] (Description of Preferred Configuration Examples) Preferred configuration examples of the present disclosure are described below based on the accompanying drawings.

[0026] Figures 1 to 6 show respective preferred embodiments of the slide shaft 1 or the slide shaft surgical instrument 2. The slide shaft 1 functions to couple the operation of the tool head / tool part 3 of the slide shaft instrument 2 disposed at the distal end of the slide shaft 1 with the operation of the instrument handle 4 of the slide shaft instrument 2 disposed at the proximal end of the slide shaft 1.

[0027] The slide shaft 1 has an elongated shaft 5 and a slide ( / slide plate) 6 displaceably disposed thereon. The operation of the instrument handle 4, particularly the rotational movement of the instrument handle 4, is connected or connectable to the relative displacement of the slide 6 with respect to the shaft 5. The relative longitudinal displacement of the slide 6 with respect to the shaft 5 is connected or connectable to the operation of the tool head 3, particularly the opening and closing movement of the tool head 3. Thus, each of the opening and closing of the tool head 3 is achieved by the longitudinal movement of the slide 6 along the shaft 5.

[0028] The slide 6 is disposed in a longitudinal groove 7 of the shaft 5. The longitudinal groove 7 opens upward on the shaft 5. The slide 6 preferably extends in the form of a plate. The slide 6 extends in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 5 and in the depth direction of the shaft 5. That is, the thickness of the slide 6 extends in the width direction of the shaft 5. The slide 6 extends substantially over the entire longitudinal extent of the longitudinal groove 7 of the shaft 5.

[0029] Slide 6 is arranged to be longitudinally displaceable within the longitudinal groove 7. The longitudinal groove 7 is preferably arranged at the center in the width direction on the shaft 5. Slide 6 is preferably arranged at the center in the width direction within the longitudinal groove 7. The relative displacement of slide 6 is partially guided by at least one cross-piece 8 of the shaft 5 that narrows the longitudinal groove 7 in the width direction. Thus, the cross-piece 8 forms a guiding surface for slide 6. Specifically, slide 6 is supported by the guiding surface of cross-piece 8. Specifically, the relative displacement of slide 6 is guided by at least one pair of cross-pieces 8 arranged opposite to each other in the width direction. A pair of cross-pieces 8 (hereinafter also referred to as a pair of cross-pieces) arranged opposite to each other in the width direction can preferably be spaced apart from each other by the thickness of slide 6, i.e., by the spread of slide 6 in the width direction of the shaft 5. Thus, slide 6 can be supported by each of the cross-pieces 8 of the pair of cross-pieces on both of its sides.

[0030] In other words, the longitudinal groove 7 has a basic width corresponding to the distance between the two cross-pieces 8 of the pair of cross-pieces or to the thickness of slide 6 respectively. In addition, the longitudinal groove 7 has a width that is partially larger than the basic width along the longitudinal direction, i.e., the longitudinal groove 7 spreads in the section. In the widened section of the longitudinal groove 7, slide 6 is not guided by the shaft 5. Thus, a gap 9 is formed within the widened section between slide 6 and the shaft 5. Gap 9 can be regarded as a part of the longitudinal groove 7. Gap 9 preferably extends to the groove bottom of the longitudinal groove 7. In particular, gap 9 can be formed on both sides of slide 6 in the width direction. The slide shaft 1, particularly slide 6, can be cleaned through gap 9. Gap 9 preferably extends in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 5, i.e., is preferably formed as a milling cutout / milled. In this way, for example, a flatter surface can be generated compared to a hole, and for example, the generation of burrs can be reduced.

[0031] This means that the longitudinal groove 7 spreads in the width direction along the longitudinal direction within the section (by the gap 9), or is partially narrowed in the width direction (by the cross-piece 8) / becomes smaller. Thus, the gap 9 is partially narrowed or blocked in the longitudinal direction by the cross-piece 8.

[0032] Depending on the length of the slide shaft 1 (and / or the thickness of the slide 6), the shaft 5 has a plurality of cross-pieces 8 (or pairs of cross-pieces) spaced apart longitudinally along the longitudinal groove 7. Preferably, the plurality of cross-pieces 8 (or pairs of cross-pieces) are spaced equidistantly in the longitudinal direction. This prevents the slide 6 from twisting.

[0033] According to the present disclosure, the shaft 5 has a cleaning recess 10 forming a through-hole opening into the longitudinal groove 7. The cleaning recess 10 is arranged longitudinally within the region of the cross-piece 8. The cleaning recess 10 opens towards the lower side of the shaft 5. By forming a passage between the cleaning recess 10 and the longitudinal groove 7, for example, fluid flow of the cleaning fluid from the top to the bottom or from the bottom to the top around the slide 6 through the shaft 5 becomes possible. The stability of the shaft 5 is only slightly reduced by the arrangement of the cleaning recess 10 within the region of the cross-piece 8. Preferably, the shaft 5 has several cleaning recesses 10, specifically, one cleaning recess 10 for each cross-piece 8 (or pair of cross-pieces).

[0034] The cleaning recess 10 is preferably elongated, i.e., extends in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 5. Thus, for the cleaning recess 10, as little material as possible is removed from the shaft 5 in the more unstable width direction of the shaft 5. Preferably, the cleaning recess 10 is formed as a milled cutout / can be milled. Thus, for example, a flatter surface can be made compared to a hole, for example, the generation of burrs can be reduced. The cleaning recess 10 is preferably arranged at the center in the width direction of the shaft 5.

[0035] The cleaning recess 10 and the longitudinal groove 7 can be formed such that, particularly when the slide 6 is disposed within the longitudinal groove 7, the cleaning recess 10 and the longitudinal groove 7 are fluidly coupled to each other. This means, for example, that the cleaning recess 10 has a spread of width (i.e., a spread in the width direction of the shaft 5) that is larger than that of the longitudinal groove 7 in the region of the slide 6 or the pair of cross-pieces 8, respectively. This enables flow even when the slide 6 is attached to the longitudinal groove 7.

[0036] In FIG. 3, an enlarged view of the preferred shape of the cleaning recess 10 is shown. The longitudinal spread of the cleaning recess 10 (i.e., the longitudinal spread of the shaft 5) may decrease from the outside to the inside in the depth direction of the shaft 5. In particular, the cleaning recess 10 may have a shape of a circular segment or an elliptical segment in a longitudinal cross-section (perpendicular to the width direction of the shaft 5). Thus, for example, the longitudinal spread of the cleaning recess 10 may decrease along the concave region 11 of the shaft 5 from the outside (here, the bottom) to the inside (here, the top). The longitudinal spread of the cleaning recess 10 (i.e., the longitudinal spread of the shaft 5) may increase from the outside to the inside in the width direction of the shaft 5. For example, the longitudinal spread of the cleaning recess 10 may increase along the concave region 11 of the shaft 5 from the outside to the inside in the width direction. In particular, the cleaning recess 10 may have a shape of a circular layer or an elliptical layer in a longitudinal cross-section (perpendicular to the depth direction of the shaft 5). The width spread of the cleaning recess 10 (i.e., the width spread of the shaft 5) may preferably be constant in the depth direction of the shaft 5. That is, the cleaning recess 10 extends along a planar region 12 that is perpendicular to the width direction. Preferably, the cleaning recess 10 and the cross-piece 8 (or the pair of cross-pieces) are substantially symmetric with respect to a common plane of symmetry perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and / or a common plane of symmetry perpendicular to the width direction.

[0037] In FIG. 4, the preferred shape of the cross-piece 8 is shown enlarged. The longitudinal extent of the cross-piece 8 (i.e., the longitudinal extent of the shaft 5) may increase from the outside to the inside in the depth direction of the shaft. That is, specifically, the longitudinal extent of the cross-piece 8 may increase from the groove opening of the longitudinal groove towards the groove bottom. Specifically, the cross-piece 8 may have a shape of a circular segment or an elliptical segment in the longitudinal cross-section (perpendicular to the width direction of the shaft 5). Thus, for example, the longitudinal extent of the cross-piece 8 may increase along the concave short-side surface 13 of the cross-piece 8 from the outside (here, the top) to the bottom (here, the bottom). The longitudinal extent of the cross-piece 8 (i.e., the longitudinal extent of the shaft 5) may increase from the inside to the outside in the width direction of the shaft 5. Thus, for example, the longitudinal extent of the cross-piece 8 may increase along the concave short-side surface 13 of the cross-piece 8 from the inside to the outside in the width direction. The width extent of the cross-piece 8 (i.e., the width extent of the shaft 5) may preferably be constant in the depth direction of the shaft 5. That is, the cross-piece 8 extends along a planar region 14 that is perpendicular to the width direction. The planar region 14 of the cross-piece 8 functions as a guide surface for the slide 6.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows the section of FIG. 4, and the slide 6 is arranged in the longitudinal groove 7 of the shaft 5. It can be seen that gaps 9 are formed on both sides of the slide 6 in the width direction. The gaps 9 have a width extent substantially the same as that of the cross-piece 8. The slide 6 is in contact with the shaft 5 only in the region of the cross-piece 8.

[0039] Figure 6 shows a longitudinal cross-section of the slide shaft 1 perpendicular to the width direction of the shaft 5. It can be seen that the cleaning recess 10 on the lower side of the shaft 5 extends in the depth direction into the shaft 5 until it opens into the longitudinal groove 7. This forms a through-hole in the region of the cross-piece 8. The gap 9 is blocked by the cross-piece 8, and as a result, the gap extends to the groove bottom of the longitudinal groove 7 across the concave transverse plane 13. That is, the outlet of the gap 9 is arcuate in the longitudinal cross-section. As a result, a bridge-like shape of the cross-piece 8 is formed in the longitudinal cross-section, bounded by the two concave transverse planes 13 and the concave region 11. The concave region 11 has substantially the same curvature as the concave transverse plane 13.

[0040] To operate the slide shaft surgical instrument 2, the instrument handle 4 is formed by two hand grips 15, 16 that are rotatable relative to each other. The first hand grip 15 may be fixedly connected to the shaft 5. The second hand grip 16 may be operably connected to the slide 6, for example via a hinge 17, such that when the second hand grip 16 is rotated relative to the first hand grip 15, the second hand grip 16 displaces the slide 6 longitudinally with respect to the shaft 5. The tool head 3 is formed by two tool parts 18, 19 that are rotatable relative to each other. The first tool part 18 may be fixedly connected to the shaft 5. The second tool part 19 may be operably connected to the slide 6, for example via a hinge 20, such that a relative displacement of the slide 6 with respect to the shaft 5 rotates the second tool part 19 relative to the first tool part 18, in particular to open and close the tool head 3. The following items are elements described in the claims at the time of international filing. (Item 1) A slide shaft type handheld surgical instrument (2), A shaft (5) in which a longitudinal groove (7) extending along the length of the shaft is formed, and A preferably plate-shaped slide (6) displaceably attached within the longitudinal groove (7), wherein the relative displacement within the longitudinal groove (7) is partially guided by at least one cross-piece (8) of the shaft (5) that narrows the longitudinal groove (7) in the width direction of the groove, in particular by at least one pair of cross-pieces (8) arranged opposite to each other in the width direction of the groove. The shaft (5) has, in the region of the cross-piece (8), a preferably elongated cleaning recess (10) that forms a radial through-hole opening into the longitudinal groove (7) from the side of the groove bottom, the handheld surgical instrument. (Item 2) The handheld surgical instrument according to item 1, comprising a cleaning gap (9) formed in the width direction of the groove between the slide (6) and the shaft (5) by the longitudinal groove (7) that is partially narrowed or blocked by the cross-piece (8) in the longitudinal direction. (Item 3) The handheld instrument according to item 2, wherein the cleaning gap (9) is formed on both sides of the slide (6) in the width direction of the groove. (Item 4) The handheld surgical instrument according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the cleaning recess (10) and the longitudinal groove (7) are formed such that when the slide (6) is supported on the groove bottom of the longitudinal groove in the longitudinal direction within the longitudinal groove (7), the cleaning recess (10) and the longitudinal groove (7) are fluidly connected to each other. (Item 5) The longitudinal extent of the cleaning recess (10) preferably decreases from the outside to the inside in the depth direction of the groove of the shaft (5) along the concave region (11) of the shaft, and / or increases or remains constant from the outside to the inside in the width direction of the groove of the shaft (5), the handheld surgical instrument according to any one of items 1 to 4. (Item 6) The handheld surgical instrument according to item 5, wherein the cleaning recess (10) has a shape of a circular segment or an elliptical segment in a longitudinal cross-section perpendicular to the width direction of the groove. (Item 7) The longitudinal extent of the cross-piece (8) preferably increases from the outside to the inside in the depth direction of the groove of the shaft (5), particularly from the groove opening to the groove bottom of the longitudinal groove (7), along the concave short-side surface (13) of the cross-piece, of the handheld surgical instrument according to any one of items 1 to 6. (Item 8) The longitudinal extent of the cross-piece (8) preferably increases from the inside to the outside in the width direction of the groove of the shaft (5), along the concave short-side surface (13) of the cross-piece (8), of the handheld surgical instrument according to item 7. (Item 9) The through hole formed by the cleaning recess (10) has a width extent larger than that of the slide (6) and / or larger than that of the longitudinal groove (7) in the region of the cross-piece (8), of the handheld surgical instrument according to any one of items 1 to 8. (Item 10) The instrument handle (4) is attached to the proximal end of the slide shaft (1) and enables the relative displacement of the slide (6). The effector (3) is attached to the distal end of the slide shaft (1) and is operable by the relative displacement of the slide (6), of the handheld surgical instrument according to any one of items 1 to 9.

Claims

1. A slide-shaft type handheld surgical instrument, a shaft having a longitudinal groove formed therein extending the length of the shaft; a slide displaceably mounted within said longitudinal groove, the relative displacement of which within said longitudinal groove is guided in part by at least one crosspiece of said shaft narrowing said longitudinal groove in the width direction of said groove; the shaft comprises, in the longitudinal direction in the region of the crosspiece, a cleaning recess which forms a radial through-hole opening from the groove bottom side into the longitudinal groove, A handheld surgical instrument, wherein the longitudinal extent of the crosspiece increases from the outside to the inside in the depth direction of the groove in the shaft.

2. 2. The handheld surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the handheld surgical instrument comprises a cleaning gap formed between the slide and the shaft in the width direction of the groove, the gap being partially narrowed or blocked in the longitudinal direction by the crosspiece.

3. The handheld surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein cleaning gaps are formed on either side of the slide across the width of the groove.

4. 2. The handheld surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the cleaning recess and the longitudinal groove are configured such that when the slide is positioned within the longitudinal groove in the vertical region where the slide rests against the groove bottom of the longitudinal groove, the cleaning recess and the longitudinal groove are fluidly connected to each other.

5. 2. The handheld surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal extent of the cleaning recess decreases from the outside to the inside in the depth direction of the groove of the shaft and / or increases or remains constant from the outside to the inside in the width direction of the groove of the shaft.

6. The handheld surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the cleaning recess has the shape of a circular or elliptical segment in a longitudinal cross section perpendicular to the width of the groove.

7. The handheld surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal extent of the crosspiece increases from the inside to the outside of the width of the groove of the shaft.

8. The through hole formed by the cleaning recess has a spread of width greater than that of the slide and / or greater than the longitudinal groove within the region of the cross piece, the handheld surgical instrument according to claim 1.

9. The instrument handle is attached to the proximal end of the slide shaft and enables relative displacement of the slide. The effector is attached to the distal end of the slide shaft and is operable by the relative displacement of the slide, the handheld surgical instrument according to claim 1.

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