EP3876818A1

EP3876818A1 - Endoscopic instrument

Info

Publication number: EP3876818A1
Application number: EP19809709.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rudolf Heimberger
Original assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
Current assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
Priority date: 2018-11-07
Filing date: 2019-11-07
Publication date: 2021-09-15
Also published as: US20220000350A1; US20210386441A1; CN112969400A; CN113164019A; EP3876819B1; WO2020094193A9; EP3876820A1; WO2020094190A1; WO2020094189A1; EP3876819A1; EP3876816A1; PL3876819T3; CN113164018A; EP3876817A1; CN112969401A; WO2020094191A1; CN112996425A; WO2020094192A1; US20220000499A1; CN112969400B

Abstract

The invention relates to an endoscopic instrument (1, 134) for inserting into a body of a patient, wherein the instrument (1, 134) has a tubular shaft (3, 47, 137) which is coupled or can be coupled to a handling device (5, 135) and which comprises a working channel (15), wherein a shaft tool can be guided through the working channel (15). The working channel (15) has a proximal working channel opening (153) for inserting a shaft tool and a fluid inlet (148) that is separate from the proximal working channel opening.

Description

description

[01] The disclosure relates to an endoscopic instrument for insertion into a patient's body, preferably as a single-use item for disposal after single use and preferably for minimally invasive diagnosis of kidney and ureters and for kidney or urinary stone removal.

The starting point of the invention are ureterorenoscopes as are known, for example, from EP 2 986 237 B1. A shaft of the ureterorenoscope is inserted into the body of a patient via the ureter to capture and remove a kidney or urinary stone with a distal grasping means such as a collecting basket or a dormia loop. Such ureterorenoscopes can, however, not only be used therapeutically, but also only diagnostically, since the treating person can use them to directly view and diagnose the kidney or ureter. Visibility is usually enhanced by irrigation fluid that escapes through an irrigation line through the shaft at the distal end of the shaft and continues to wash away obstructive tissue †.

[03] There is a constant endeavor to reduce the shaft diameter of such instruments in order to make the medical intervention as minimally invasive as possible, or to make better use of the available cross section in order to offer more or improved functionalities with the same cross section can. [04] The endoscopic instrument disclosed here can be made with a smaller diameter than known endoscopic instruments of this type or makes better use of the available cross-section in order to be able to offer more or improved functionalities with the same cross-section.

[05] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an en doscopic instrument for insertion into a body of a patient is provided, the instrument having a tubular shaft coupled or couplable with a handling device and having a working channel †, whereby a shaft mechanism is created by the working channel, for example, a grass catcher insert or a pliers instrument † can be carried out. The working channel has a proximal working channel opening for inserting a shank tool and a fluid inlet separate from the proximal working channel opening. As a result, the working channel can be used as a feed channel for rinsing liquid even when the shank tool is inserted.

[06] Optionally, the proximal working channel opening and the fluid inlet can be connected to the working channel via a T-connector in the handling device. The T-connector is preferably arranged distally from the proximal working channel opening and proximally from the fluid inlet.

[07] The handling device for receiving a shank tool can optionally have a first rotatable receiving part and a second rotating test connected to the first receiving part, second receiving part. The first receiving part can be firmly coupled to a jacket element of the shank tool, for example via a Luer connection, but can also be mounted so as to be displaceable in an inlet manner for precise axial positioning relative to the working channel. The second receiving part can be guided by a control wire guided by the jacket element of the shaft tool be coupled with a distal tool head, for example a collecting basket or pliers jaw files, and be mounted axially displaceable relative to the first receiving file. The first tool can be used to push the creative tool into different axial positions in the instrument. This makes it possible to insert the creative tool positioned at the distal apex through the sheep, so that it does not initially protrude beyond it †. The distal tip of the shaft can therefore be moved undisturbed to an operating area and a risk of injury from a sharp-edged tool head is avoided. After reaching the operation area, the shaft tool can be pushed out of the distal shadow end by moving the first receiving part in the distal direction. The wire, which is coupled to the tool head, for example the collecting basket or pliers jaw parts, can then optionally be pushed out of the jacket element of the shaft tool by moving the second receiving part. The shaft tool can be rotated by a rotationally fixed coupling of the shaft tool and the first receiving part and a rotationally fixed coupling between the second receiving part and the first receiving part. This construction also makes it very easy to position and operate the sheep † tool by a single user. A coordination with a second user is therefore not necessary.

[08] The first receiving part can optionally be displaced by a first displacement path in relation to the working channel inlet. The second receiving part can be moved relative to the first receiving part via a second displacement path. The length of the second displacement path can optio nal exceed or fall short of the length of the first displacement path. The first displacement path is only intended to bring the shaft tool into a position axially outside the distal shaft tip. This allows the tool head to be moved out of the distal tip without interference. The length of the first displacement path could only be a few millimeters. It is conceivable to move from approximately 5 mm. Depending on the design of the endoscopic instrument, the first displacement path can also be in a range from 2 mm to 10 mm. The second displacement path depends on the type and size of the tool head and can, for example, be up to 20 or 25 mm.

[09] The first receiving part and / or the second receiving part can optionally be held in a momentary axial and / or rotated position via latching means. The first receiving part and / or the second receiving part could, for example, have a lateral surface which is provided with circumferential grooves arranged parallel to one another, the grooves each having a rounded profile cross section. If these are guided through an appropriately dimensioned opening, they can snap in between two successive grooves. The locked position can, however, also be released again by appropriate force transversely to the grooves.

[10] The first receiving part and / or the second receiving part can also be equipped with a paragraph †, each of which has a knurling †. As a result, a user can grip the relevant receiving part well and perform a twist sensitively and with direct, haptic feedback.

[1 1] Optionally, at least two lines of fluid running through the shaft, to which the working channel also belongs, can be formed individually and directly surrounding the fluid channel. “Individually immediately surrounded” here means that the lines do not have a common sheathing have within the fluid channel, but are directly washed around by the fluid in the fluid channel †. The cables can each be individually jacketed and, for example, insulated, so “immediately” should not be misunderstood to mean that the cables should not have a jacket for themselves. The lines can be optical in nature be, for example as a light guide for coupling and / or coupling light at the distal end. In particular, the lines can have one or more laser light guides, for example in order to bombard a kidney or urinary stone with laser light † and thus vaporize them. Alternatively or additionally, one or more of the lines can transmit electrical signals and / or electrical power and can be connected to a distal LED and / or a distal image sensor. As an alternative or in addition, the lines can transmit mechanical control signals for angling and / or controlling the distal end of the creative line, for example as cable runs guided laterally in the shaft. All pipes are individually surrounded by the fluid channel. “Surrounded” here means that the pipes are at least largely flushed † in cross-section. They do not have to be completely flushed through 360 ° in cross-section, but can lie laterally on the shaft or on one or more of the other lines.

[12] On the one hand, a fluid line guided through the shaft can be saved in the endoscopic instrument disclosed herein. In addition, the entire cross-section of the inner volume of the shaft, which the lines do not occupy, is made usable as a fluid channel, so that the available cross-section is better utilized. This enables a shaft outer diameter of 3mm or less to be realized.

[13] The fluid channel can optionally serve as a supply and / or discharge channel. Depending on your needs, either irrigation fluid can be added to improve the † at the distal end of the shaft † or irrigation fluid with disruptive tissue suspension can be removed proximally †. Fluid can be returned proximally by active suction or passively without active suction, for example by overpressure in the patient's body. [14] Optionally, the fluid channel can have a distal fluid channel opening and a proximal fluid channel opening, wherein the proximal fluid channel opening is arranged laterally on the shaft and can be acted upon by fluid pressure or fluid vacuum. For this purpose, a pressure or mammal pump can be connected to the proximal fluid channel opening or simply connected to a fluid reservoir located in a flea above the instrument like a drip, so that a hydrostatic pressure is applied to the proximal fluid channel opening †. For example, saline can serve as the rinsing liquid. [15] Optionally, the instrument can have a sealing device which forms a proximal end of the fluid channel † and has bushings for the lines †. The sealing device can have, for example, an elastomer cellular foam block which is arranged in a proximal end region of the shaft and / or in a flange handling device connected or connectable to a proximal end region of the shaft. The cell foam block is preferably of closed cell design. The lines can be led through the seal device through bushings, the bushings each having an originally smaller diameter than the associated leadthrough, but are elastically widened † by the leadthrough. This can achieve a sealing effect, so that no fluid can flow axially through the bushings proximally outward from the sheep † or into the drainage device. The fluid should preferably not flow axially, but laterally through a proximal fluid channel opening provided for this purpose, which is arranged laterally on the sheep † and preferably distally from the sealing device.

[16] Optionally, the instrument can have a flange device which is fixedly connected to a proximal end of the shaft or can be detachably connected. The facility can preferably be ergonomically designed † so that it can be used by a treating person can be comfortably gripped and lies in your hand † to control the instrument manually. For this purpose, the handling device can be designed essentially Y-shaped with two rigid handle legs that converge distally towards the shaft †. The handling device can then either be gripped so that both grip legs are gripped like a pair of pliers or the thumb ball is guided between the grip legs. In the first stance, the index finger can be placed on a trigger similar to a firearm to pull a cable under the barrel. In the second position, the index finger can be placed over the shaft on an upper trigger to pull an upper cable and the middle finger can be placed under the shaft on a lower trigger for pulling a lower cable. The upper cable and the lower cable NEN can be designed as sections of a cable that is deflected by a guide roller †, which is rotatably mounted in the handling device about a transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Depending on the direction of rotation of the guide roller, the upper or lower cable pull is pulled proximally while the other cable pulls distally †. The upper trigger and the lower trigger can each be directly connected to one another via the guide roller or indirectly coupled, so that they move in opposite directions when actuated. The second position in particular is ergonomically particularly advantageous since the longitudinal axis of the shaft runs essentially coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the forearm, so that the instrument can be rotated comfortably about its longitudinal axis by supination and pronation of the forearm. In addition, actuation of the upper or lower trigger with the index or middle finger can simply cause the distal end of the creature to be bent in two opposite directions by means of the upper or cable pull. In the first position, the handling device can be gripped by 180 ° to pull the other trigger with the index finger, or the instrument can be rotated by 180 ° around its longitudinal axis in order to bend the distal end of the creature by means of the upper or Cable pull in two opposite directions. The lines can pass through one or both of the handle legs of the handling device can be guided and each have a proximal soap connection at a proximal end of the handle leg (s). Preferably, the working channel is guided through a handle leg of the handling device and other lines are set up through the other handle leg of the handling device.

[17] Optionally, the sheep can be flexible or semi-flexible in at least one section. In particular, a high torsional stiffness with a certain flexural flexibility is advantageous for precise control of the distal end of the creator. The flexural rigidity can be quantified by how deep the distal end of the creative head hangs down under the weight of the head alone when the instrument is in a horizontal position †. It has been found that it is particularly advantageous if the distal end of the sheep hangs down 20% to 60% of the length of the sheep when the instrument is in a horizontal position under the weight of the sheep alone †. In this area of flexural rigidity, the sheep are flexible enough to be able to penetrate the kidney and ureters as deeply as possible and at the same time are minimally invasive and bendable enough to be able to control the distal creator in a controlled manner. [18] Optionally, the instrument or at least the sheep can be used as a disposable article for disposal after a single use. This is a particularly advantageous embodiment, since there is no need to clean the instrument for further uses and the components and materials only have to be designed for a single use. The lines, which are individually directly surrounded by the fluid channel, can be very filigree and without taking into account the formation of corners, edges and / or tof spaces that are difficult to clean through the fluid channel. Due to the filigree design of the cables and the sheep itself, a sheep outer diameter of 2.7 mm or less can be realized. [19] Optionally, the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel can correspond to the cross-sectional area of an interior space formed by the sheep minus the sum of the cross-sectional area of all lines running through the interior of the sheep. This means that there is no unused cross-sectional area in the sheep † and thus the interior of the shaft is optimally used.

[20] Optionally, the sheep † can have a plurality of slits in a distal region. The slots can only extend in the circumferential direction over part of the shaft circumference. The flexibility of the shaft can thus be increased locally, ie the bending radius locally reduced, in order to achieve an angled distal shadow end by up to 140 °. Alternatively or additionally, the slots can be arranged axially to one another in such a way that they lie alternately on a first lateral side of the shaft and a diametrically opposite the first second lateral side of the shaft. Thus, the distal shadow end can be angled in two opposite directions and even perform two opposite curvatures in an S-shaped manner if the cables are actuated independently of one another. For the curvature towards a first side, the slots on the first side are pressed together and the slots on a second side opposite the first side are pulled apart. Correspondingly, the slots on the second side are pressed together for the curvature toward the second side and the slots on the first side are pulled apart. The cables then preferably run along the first or the second side in the sheep † and engage at the distal shadow end in order to pull the distal shadow end towards the corresponding side by pulling force.

[21] The slots can optionally serve on the one hand as a distal fluid channel opening for the fluid channel and on the other hand to locally increase the flexibility of the shaft for angling a distal shadow end. The irrigation fluid can then flow out proximally from the distal shadow end exit the shaft. Among other things, this has the advantage that at the distant shadow end there is more cross-section available for functions such as an image sensor and / or at least one lighting LED.

[22] Optionally, the working channel can be a first working channel, the instrument having a second working channel running through the shaft and also directly surrounded by the fluid channel †. Such a second working channel can be used differently †. If the instrument does not already have an optical line as a laser light guide guided through the fluid channel †, such a laser light guide can be inserted through the second working channel from an associated proximal working channel opening, for example at a proximal axial end of a handle leg of the handling device, and up to a distal working channel opening at the distal shadow end can be pushed through the second working channel. Laser light can be coupled in with the laser light guide, for example in order to poraize a kidney stone or flarn stone and to flush it out of the rinsing channel using rinsing liquid. When not in use, the laser light guide can be pulled out of the working channel in order to release it for possible other uses. A grass basket insert or a dormia loop insert can be pushed in parallel through the first working channel in order to capture a kidney or flarn stone at the distal shadow end. The proximal male working channel opening of the first working channel, for example at a proximal axial end of a handle leg of the Flandhabungseinrich device, can have a Luer lock connection in order to fix a jacket element of the collecting basket insert or a dormia loop insert against the instrument and by pushing one through the sheath of guiding wire, which forms the collecting basket or the dormia loop on the distal side †, to open the collecting basket or the dormia loop. The grass catcher or the Dormia sling closes when the wire is pulled and the sheath is locked in the Luer-Lock connector. [23] Optionally, the first working channel can serve as an inlet and / or outlet channel with a flow direction opposite to the fluid channel. This is particularly advantageous if, with longer treatment times and larger amounts of rinsing liquid, it has to be drained out of the body again without interrupting the treatment. A return of rinsing liquid on the outside of the sheep or through an additional inserted sheep † leads to an additional tissue expansion and is lagging behind with regard to a minimally invasive intervention. In addition, excess pressure can build up, which counteracts the flow of flushing medium. The first working channel can preferably be used as a supply line of rinsing liquid, which is discharged via the fluid channel as a discharge line. Alternatively, the flushing agent flow can run in reverse, so that the first working channel serves as a discharge channel and the fluid channel as a supply channel. The use of the first working channel as an inlet and / or outlet channel can facilitate continuous rinsing.

[24] Optionally, the first and / or the second working channel can run axially through a sealed proximal end of the fluid channel. Analogously to the other lines, the working channel can thus be guided through an associated axial passage in the sealing device, which is designed, for example, in the form of an elastomer cell foam block †.

[25] Optionally, the respective proximal working channel opening can be arranged proximally from the proximal end of the fluid channel †, preferably at a proximal axial end of a handle leg of the handling device. This means that the respective working channel is as versatile as possible and is as straight or white as possible † only relatively large bending radii.

[26] Optionally, the respective distal working channel opening can be arranged † distally from a distal fluid channel opening of the fluid channel. In order to a crushed kidney stone or urinary stone can be removed through the respective working channel, whereby clear drainage is provided by the lateral drain or the outlet of flushing liquid † through the fluid channel opening. [27] Optionally, the cross section of the respective distal working channel opening can be smaller than the cross section of the respective working channel. This reduces the risk of clogging of the corresponding working channel, since the smaller working channel opening acts like a filter for excess tissue and these cannot pass through the working channel opening. [28] The cross section of the respective working channel can optionally taper towards the distal working channel opening. An inner soapy step or edge in front of the smaller working channel opening is thus avoided, which could come into contact with a laser light lifter or creative tool pushed in through the respective working channel, such as a collecting basket leg or a Dorma loop insert.

[29] Optionally, a flow direction and / or flow rate through the fluid channel can be selected or set. This can be carried out, for example, by means of pressure firing and / or by opening and closing a valve, preferably at the proximal fluid channel opening.

[30] Optionally, a distal creator can be steered in a controllable, articulated manner. As described above, this can preferably be achieved by means of a flexural flexibility of the sheep locally increased by lateral slots in the sheep and at least one cable pull acting laterally in the distal shaft end. [31] When using a light guide and in particular laser light guide with an outside diameter of significantly less than 1 mm, for example 272 miti, a dedicated second working channel with a cross-section (eg 1.65 Fr. = 0.55 mm) can be provided , which is significantly smaller than the first cross section of the first working channel (eg 3.6 Fr. = 1, 2 mm), which is the passage of a grass catcher. This means that a laser light guide for smashing a kidney stone or flintstone and a collecting basket for catching fragments of the kidney stone or flamestone can be arranged in the shaft at the same time and operated in parallel. The inner diameter of the second working channel preferably exceeds the outer diameter of a light guide at least in an angled shaft region by at most 30%. This allows a light guide to be moved in the second working channel even when the distal tip of the endoscopic instrument is angled. A relatively sharp-edged end of the light guide experiences only a relatively small angle of attack from its surface due to the specified diameter ratio and does not injure it, even when the working channel is curved. The second working channel and the endoscopic instrument therefore do not leak and can be used for a further period. Flushing performance is further improved by replacing a conventional working channel with a significantly narrower working channel. The outer diameter of the light guide can be in a range from 0.4 mm to 0.7 mm, preferably in a range from 0.45 mm to 0.6 mm and particularly preferably from 0.45 to 0.5 mm. It is particularly useful to equip an endoscopic instrument with such a second working channel, in which a fluid channel is formed in the shaft, which directly surrounds at least two lines running through the shaft.

[32] The material of the first and / or second working channel for the light guide optionally has polyimide or polyamide. The first and / or second working channel should be made of the hardest possible material and, in the bent state, should only have its cross section if possible change little. This significantly reduces the risk of the creative tool or the light guide penetrating the inner surface of the working channel †. The material for the respective working channel can be polyimide or polyamide (also known as nylon) with the corresponding hardness. [33] The wall of the first and / or second working channel can optionally have reinforcements. These can in particular run in the circumferential direction and prevent the cross section of the separate working channel from buckling.

[34] Further optionally, the material of the first and / or second working channel can also have a metallic material. This may include Nitinol, which is a nickel-titanium alloy with super elastic properties at room temperature. With the above-mentioned small diameters, this material can have the required and necessary elasticity / flexibility / bending possibility. [35] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, when using an endoscopic instrument with a shaft with an articulated, distal tip, an arrangement of first slots can be provided, which optionally alternate on a first lateral side of the shaft and a diametrically opposite one first opposite second lateral side of the shaft. As a result, an articulated bend in a main bend plane can be achieved without having to create individual segments which are connected by a joint and which partially extend into the inner lumen of the shaft. To further improve mobility †, several second slots can optionally be attached proximally to the area with the first slots, which are offset by 90 ° to the first slots. The second slots can preferably extend circumferentially only over part of the shaft. More preferably, the second slots are arranged axially to one another in such a way that they alternate on a third lateral side of the shaft and a diametrically opposite the third lying fourth lateral soap of the sheep. This creates a second bend plane that is transverse to the main bend plane †. [36] Depending on the number of second slots, the movability † can be set in the second angle. It is particularly advisable to select the number of second slots in such a way that the distal end of the shaft can be moved in the second plane of angulation by an angular range of at least +/- 15 ° and preferably † of +/- 20 °. In particular, the accessibility of kidney stones in the lower calyx groups of the kidneys can be improved.

[37] The movement of the distal end of the shaft in the second angled plane can be achieved by separate mechanical lines, in particular pulling wires. These are coupled to the shaft directly distally in front of the area that is filled with second slots. To move the pull wires, a handling device mentioned above can be used.

[38] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, when using an endoscopic instrument that has a shaft that can be coupled to a handling device with an articulated, distal tip that can be articulated, and in which a fluid channel is formed, that can have at least two lines running through the shaft each directly surround †, a sealing device or a sealant may be provided to seal the lines from the handling device. The sealant consequently forms a proximal end of the fluid channel. The sealant test is preferably † coupled to the shaft. The twisting of the shaft consequently leads to a twisting of the lines and of the sealing means, so that the relative positions of the lines through the sealing means to the sealing means remain unchanged stay. The sealant is therefore not loaded by transverse forces, which could deform the material of the sealant elastically so that a sealing effect is canceled at least in some areas. The non-rotatable coupling can be realized by means of form-fit means, which are designed to correspond to each other in the sealant and in a seal holder.

[39] The sealing compound optionally has a disk-shaped, round shape. The sealant can be easily pressed into a seal holder. [40] Optionally, the form-fitting means can be implemented in the form of a tongue and groove arrangement on the circumference. The groove can protrude into a circumferential surface of the sealant or be formed in the seal receptacle. The spring could be designed as a radial projection in the seal receptacle or in the sealant. The form-locking means are preferably arranged only in a single, circumferential position, so that even with an asymmetrically designed sealing means, correct placement of the sealing means is achieved.

[41] Optionally, the sealant can have at least two slots as bushings which penetrate a peripheral surface of the sealant and each extend partially through the sealant. The slots may be provided to pass mechanical lines, such as pull wires, through the sealant. The puller wires extend from the tandem to the distal end of the shaft and can be used to bend the distal tip. If the pull wires are designed as flat wires †, they can also be reliably guided through the sealing compound.

[42] Optionally, the sealant can have four slots as bushings, which are arranged at a distance from one another in the sealant. The sealant can consequently also be used to seal a fluid channel in a shaft of an endoscopic instrument, in which the tip can be bent without joints in a main bending plane and can also be moved in a second bending plane. The endoscopic instrument can consequently have four mechanical lines in the form of tensile wires or the like, which are passed through the four slots and extend through the shaft. The size and direction of the slots depends on the type and arrangement of the pull wires. [43] Further optionally, the slots can be based on parallel-shifted radiallines, which are offset by at least 90 ° to one another on a surface covered by the sealant †. The slots can protrude beyond a center line running perpendicular to the respective slot and intersecting a center point of the sealant. If four pull wires are used, four slots are required, which are then offset, for example, by 90 ° to each other †. If there were only two pull wires, two slots could be sufficient, which are then offset by 180 °, for example.

[44] Optionally, the sealant can be made from a material † that has polyethylene or cellular rubber †. Cellular rubber can be based on a fluoropolymer, for example.

[45] Optionally, the endoscopic instrument, which has the sealant shown above †, can have a shaft connection part rotatably in a control housing, which can be firmly connected to the shaft. The shaft connection part can optionally have a connection piece which extends radially outward from a shaft connection axis †. A sealing ring can optionally be arranged between a seal receptacle for receiving the sealant and the shaft connection part in order to achieve a seal. [46] Further optionally, the shaft connection part has guide devices for guiding pull wires. By guiding the pulling wires, they can immediately follow any twisting of the cable connection file. Restricting the pull wires and the associated slots in the sealant can be prevented, so that the sealing effect is not impaired. The seal receptacle can further be supplemented in the distal direction with a cover that is averted from the sheeting connector file, the lid also being rotatably coupled to the sheeting connector file. The cover can also have guide devices with which pull wires can be guided. The guide devices in the cover and in the cable connection file are preferably aligned †, so that the sealant only experiences axial forces on the puller wires.

[47] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the endoscopic instrument tandem device that is equipped with a sheep † can have a housing that has two legs at one proximal end that are arranged obliquely to one another and enclose a contact surface, wherein at least one line from one of the legs from the land management facility leads to the outside. The flange device can consequently be designed like a Y or a V at a proximal end. A user is able to grasp the fland handling device in such a way that a thumb ball of a fland rests on the contact surface † and two other fingers of the fland, for example index finger and middle finger, can be guided to pull-offs or operating levers that are arranged distally †. The housing is designed in such a way † that the ball of the thumb can lie on the contact surface in such a way that the land use device forms a direct extension of the user's forearm †. Twisting the forearm causes the Flandhabungseinrich device to be turned directly and exclusively, so that the sheep † attached to it is also twisted. [48] Distal words following the two legs can optionally be followed by at least one control disk, which is preferably wired radially soapy with tension and at least two deductions or control levers are coupled to move the at least one fire disk. The fire disc is preferably rotatable about an axis of rotation in the housing of the handling device in an angular range, preferably in two directions, where the axis of rotation preferably extends substantially perpendicular to a plane spanned by the legs.

[49] The at least one fire disc can optionally be fixed in its current position via a locking device. The locking device could be implemented, for example, in the form of a knurled screw, with which a user can lock a once set position of the at least one fire disc. An articulated bend caused by the pulling wires can consequently remain in its state without having to be laboriously maintained by permanent manual action.

[50] Although the aspects of the present disclosure described above are preferably used † in any combination in the embodiments of an endoscopic instrument disclosed herein, they can, however, also be used advantageously independently of one another without the other aspects.

[51] The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Show it:

1 is a perspective view of an example of an embodiment of an endoscopic instrument disclosed herein; 2a, b are perspective views of a distal end portion of an exemplary embodiment of an en doscopic instrument disclosed herein;

3a-c exploded view of parts of an exemplary

Embodiment of an endoscopic instrument disclosed herein;

4a, b are schematic cross-sectional views of a distal end section of a working channel of an exemplary embodiment of an endoscopic instrument disclosed herein; 5 is a cross-sectional view of a proximal connector portion of an exemplary embodiment of an endoscopic instrument disclosed herein;

6a-c are side views of a land use facility with detailed views of the distal end of an exemplary embodiment of an endoscopic instrument disclosed herein;

7a-f show various views on the shaft and in particular the distal shaft end of an exemplary embodiment of an endoscopic instrument disclosed herein; 8a-e show further views on the shaft and in particular a curvable shaft section of an exemplary embodiment of an endoscopic instrument disclosed herein; 9a-d show different views of an exemplary embodiment of an endoscopic instrument disclosed here; and

I Oa-c further views of the embodiment of FIG.

9a-d. [52] Fig. 1 shows † an example of an endoscopic instrument 1, which has a tubular shaft 3 for insertion into a body cavity †. The sheep 3 is connected at a proximal end 4 to a flange device 5 and † form a fluid channel 7 in its inner lumen. At a distal curvable sheep section † 9, the shaft 3 is at least partially flexible, so that it can be bent if necessary by the action of the tandem device 5.

[53] In a partial section †† AA through the shaft 3 it can be seen that in the fluid channel 7, for example, a first optical and / or electrical line 11 for lighting at the distal end 17 of the shaft, a second optical and / or electrical line 13 for the image acquisition at the distal shaft end 17, a first working channel 15 and a second working channel 19. At the distal end of the first line 1 1, an LED can be arranged as a light source, the line 1 1 serving as the electrical power supply line for the LED †. Alternatively or additionally, a fiber optic coupling can be arranged as a light source at the distal end of the first line 11, the line 11 serving as an optical light guide †. Analogously, a lens with an image sensor for image recording can be arranged at the distal end of the second line 13, the line 11 serving as an electrical power supply line for the image sensor and for signal transmission †. Alternatively or additionally, a light guide coupling can be arranged at the distal end of the second line 13, the line 13 serving as an optical light guide †. [54] The first working channel 15 preferably has a cross section at least twice as large as the second working channel 19. The first working channel 15 can optionally serve as an insertion channel for a shaft tool, for example a collecting basket, scissors or pliers. As an alternative or in addition, even when the creative tool is inserted, the first working channel 15 can serve as a supply or discharge line for washing liquid. The second working channel 19 can preferably serve as an insertion channel for a laser light generator in order to be able to smash kidney or urinary stones with laser light. The inside diameter of the second, smaller working channel 19 should exceed the outside diameter of the laser light guide by at most 30%, at least in the bendable section 9, in order to ensure a safe implementation of the laser light guide.

[55] All lines 1 1, 13, 15, and 19 are individually surrounded directly by the fluid channel 7. The peculiarity of this arrangement lies in the fact that the four exemplary lines 1 1, 13, 15 and 19 are arranged individually in the fluid channel 7 and, if a fluid flows there, are consequently flushed directly through the fluid. The entire free residual cross-sectional area of the fluid channel 7 can consequently be used for a fluid †. The cross-sectional area of the fluid channel 7 consequently corresponds to the cross-sectional area of a shaft interior formed by the sheep † 3 minus the sum of the cross-sectional areas of all lines 1 1, 13, 15 and 19 running through the shaft interior and all other lines that are being considered. A separate fluid channel, which always requires an independent casing within the shaft 3, is not necessary, because the first working channel 15 can be used as a supply or discharge line of washing liquid even when the shaft tool is inserted. The sheep † 3 can therefore be given a particularly small outer diameter. The possible problem of a difficult cleanability † or sterilizability † can be solved with this setup by disposing the entire endoscopic instrument 1 preferably as a consumable designed † after a single use, meaning that it does not need to be sterilized after use.

Of course, other, fewer or more lines are also conceivable that can run in the fluid channel 7 in this way. For example, lines for transmitting electrical signals and / or electrical power are conceivable. In this way, electrical power can be provided, for example, distally to ordered light-emitting diodes, or image signals can be transmitted by a distal image sensor. Lines 1 1, 13, 15 and 19 and all alternative or additional lines can each have their own sheathing. This can be particularly important in the case of electrical lines in order to insulate them. In addition, mechanical lines in the form of control cables can be guided in the sheep, to bend the curvable shaft section 9 without a joint or to control its shape in some other way. The mechanical lines can be cables or pull wires guided on lateral inner surfaces in sheep † 3.

[57] The distal curvable shaft section 9 as the distal region is provided with a plurality of slots 33, which give the curvable shaft section 9 its mobility. The distal bendable shaft section 9 is consequently flexible or at least partially flexible, that is to say semi-flexible. Instead of using individual, articulatedly connected to each other, the shaft section 9 can be made flexible by targeted slitting by at least one axis of curvature. For this purpose, the slots are preferably † cut into the circumference of the sheep † 3 †, extend over the entire material thickness of the shaft casing and extend over more than half of the circumference, for example by up to 270 °. Two slat-like parts of the shaft 3 which follow one another along the direction of extension of the shaft 3 and between which there is a slot 33 in a circumferential surface 35 of the shaft 3 are consequently connected to one another by a web which in this case overlaps extends, for example, at least 90 ° in the circumferential direction. Due to the one-piece design, the webs remaining between the individual lamellenar term parts always strive to assume an original, unloaded position, in which the shaft 3 preferably extends in a straight line. If the bor occasionally metallic shaft 3 is consequently angled by the action of a tensile force by means of a pull cable, the distal bendable shaft section 9 can be angled without a joint by up to 300 °. After releasing the tensile force by the resilient webs, the shaft 3 strives to return to its straight shape. In order to achieve uniform flexibility, the slots 33 are arranged axially to one another in such a way that they lie alternately on a first lateral side of the shaft 3 and a diametrically opposite the first second lateral side of the shaft 3.

[58] The slots 33 can be made into the shaft 3 by a machining device, which preferably uses a laser †.

As a result, rapid, inexpensive processing can take place, which does not conflict with designing the instrument 1 as a consumable †. Appropriate beam guidance from the laser can produce very delicate structures. The clear width of the slots 33 can be dimensioned so small that tissue does not penetrate into the slots 33 and an undisturbed displacement of the shaft 3 into the operating area can take place. The slots 33 can be rounded in their profile. Optionally, the shaft 3 can be coated with a sliding coating. The slotted, bendable shaft section 9 is preferably surrounded by a protective tube 199 (see FIG. 7f). The protective tube can, for example, be fabric reinforced † and / or shrunk on. The protective tube can have, for example, biocompatible plastic.

[59] The fluid channel 7 in the inner lumen of the shaft 3 can serve as an inlet and / or outlet channel for a rinsing liquid which can flow through the free cross section is promoted. It is conceivable that rinsing fluid for improving the † at the distal end 17 is distally supplied from the slits 33, which then act as distal fluid channel openings, or that rinsing fluid with disruptive tissue suspension is removed proximally. With the exclusive use of the fluid channel 7 without the first working channel 15 as a supply and / or discharge channel, it is conceivable to either only supply or only remove rinsing liquid from time to time. The flushing liquid can be supplied, for example, actively by an external pump or passively by hydraulic pressure from a drip connected higher. The removal can be carried out by generating an overpressure in the operating area through the flushing, through which the flushing liquid can then emerge along the outside of the shaft 3 along the proximal side. Before preferably, however, the first working channel 15 serves as a feed channel and the fluid channel 7 as a discharge channel, or vice versa. As a result, an undesired fluid flow on the outside of the shaft 3 can be largely reduced or avoided entirely.

It may therefore be useful for continuous flushing to use the first working channel 15, which extends distally through the fluid channel 7 and has a first distal working channel opening 18 †, as a supply and / or discharge channel. The cross section of the first distal working channel opening 18 can be smaller than the cross section of the first working channel 15, so that the clogging of the first working channel 15 is prevented by tissue which enters via the distal working channel opening 18. As an alternative or in addition to this, the cross section of the first working channel 15 can taper towards the distal working channel opening 18. The first working channel 19 can be continuously carried by an external pump or a pump arranged in the flange treatment device 5 or by a drip connected higher Irrigation fluid is supplied, which is directed distally and exits directly at the distal shaft end 17. The first working channel 15 is consequently a Feed channel. Due to the inflating excess pressure, the flushing liquid passed through the slots 33 and / or lateral flushing openings 203 (see FIGS. 7b, c) into the fluid channel 7 and flows back proximally from there. This is indicated in FIG. 1 by the flow lines 21, which lead from a purely axial, disfalwarf outflow from the distal shaft end 17 to a lateral inflow through the slots 33 and / or lateral flushing openings. The flow direction in the first working channel 15 is consequently opposite to that of the fluid channel 7. Of course, this can also take place in the reverse constellation, in that flushing liquid emerges from the slots 33 and / or the lateral flushing openings in the distal curvable shaft section 9 and at the distal shaft end 17 is returned via the first working channel 15. If the slots 33 are surrounded by a protective hose 199 and / or a sliding coating, the fluid can only be routed via lateral flushing openings 203.

[61] The land-use facility 5 is only shown as an example in FIG. 1. Further land management facilities are shown in FIGS. 6a-c ff. All variants of land-use facilities can be combined with the advantageous embodiments of the shaft 3 described here. Other Flandha treatment devices are also conceivable, which differ in shape from the variants shown here.

In the Flandhabungseinrichtung 5 in Fig. 1, a housing 23 is shown ge, for example, has a handle opening 25 for performing a thumb and is designed such that the thumb ball of a Fland then on a support surface 27 directed towards the shaft 3 lying †. Immediately within reach of the other fingers of the flange, there are two operating levers or deductions 29, 31 arranged on opposite lateral sides of the housing 23. If the ball of the thumb is on the support surface 27, the lower trigger 29 can be used be operated with a middle finger †, while an index finger lies on the upper trigger 31 †. By pulling the deductions 29 and 31 towards the handle opening 25, the cable pulls 1 1 and 13 coupled therewith are pulled. In order to avoid tension within the shaft 3 and to carry out a harmonious movement of the distal curvable shaft section 9, the two cable pulls could each be used as a portion of a single cable be trained which extends over a guide roller between the two deductions 29, 31. If the lower trigger 29 is moved †, for example, the first cable 1 1 could be pulled, the upper trigger 31 being moved in the opposite direction and the second cable 13 relaxing †. For this purpose, both deductions 29, 31 could be connected to one another via the guide role (not shown) or indirectly coupled, so that they automatically move in opposite directions when actuated. The first, larger working channel 15 can be on one to the upper

Trigger 31 facing side 37 of handling device 5 so that there is a first proximal working channel opening 39 for optionally introducing a rinsing liquid, for example NaCl solution, or a shaft tool †. Other lines, for example the second, smaller working channel 19 for a laser light guide, can open out on a side 41 facing the lower trigger 29 in a corresponding second proximal second proximal working channel opening second proximal working channel opening 43a or 43b. The fluid channel 7 has a proximal fluid channel opening 45 in the form of a connecting piece running transversely to the shaft 3, from which the flushing liquid flowing back then finally emerges.

[64] A shaft 47 of an endoscopic instrument is shown in a partial view † in FIGS. 2a and 2b. The view focuses on a flexible distal curvable shaft section †† 49 with a distal end 51 of the shaft 3, at which a first distal working channel opening 52 arranged †. The cross section of this first distal working channel opening 52 can be smaller than that of the first working channel 15, not shown here. Alternatively or additionally, the cross section of the first working channel 15 can narrow towards the first distal working channel opening 52. The shaft 47 has proximally a rigid tubular section, not visible here, which can be connected to a handling device 5. This can correspond to the handling device 5 from FIG. 1 or be designed as a handling device shown in FIGS. 6a-c. A fluid channel 53 formed in the shaft 47 can be seen from the distal view. The distal bendable shaft section †† 49 is designed in such a way that it can be angled in the simplest possible way without requiring dedicated joints which protrude into the fluid channel 53 or lead to an enlarged outer diameter of the shaft 47. The distal bendable shaft section †† 49 is the distal one

Area provided with a plurality of parallel and mutually spaced apart first slots 55 which locally completely penetrate the material of the shaft 47. The first slots 55 extend, by way of example, over an angle of 270 ° in the circumferential direction and thereby run a main direction of extension of the shaft 47, which extends from a proximal end to the distal end 51. For example, successive or adjacent slots 55 are offset from one another by 180 ° in the circumferential direction †. The first slots 55 are accordingly arranged axially relative to one another in such a way that they lie alternately on a first lateral side of the shaft 47 and a diametrically opposite the first second lateral side of the shaft 47. As a result, the distal bendable shaft section †† 49 is given a very flexible shape. Individual, lamella-like parts of the shaft 47 which are separated from one another by the slots 55 can change their alignment with one another by expanding or compressing the slots 55. This gives the curvable shaft section †† 49 one articulated bend of up to 300 °. This movement of the curved shaft section 49 can be influenced by mechanical pulling wires 57 and 59 which run in the fluid channel 53. This can be done by pulling and relieving lateral sections of the curvable shaft section 49.

[66] The entire shaft 47 can be designed in one piece † due to this advantageous embodiment, which has a particularly positive effect on the achievable, minimal outer diameter of the shaft 47 †. As in the illustration in FIG. 1, two lamella-like parts which follow one another along the direction of extension of the shaft 47 and between which there is a slot 55 are consequently connected to one another by a web which in this case extends over 270 ° in the circumferential direction stretches. Because of the one-piece design, the webs remaining between the individual parts endeavor to assume an original, unloaded position, in which the shaft 47 preferably extends in a straight line. If the shaft 47 is consequently angled by the action of a tensile force through one of the mechanical lines 57 or 59, the shaft 47, after loosening the tensile force through the resilient webs, strives to return to a straight shape. The bendable shaft section 49 therefore acts like a spring. A protective tube surrounding the bendable shaft section 49 can support it in the spring action, which urges it into the originally straight shape.

With this arrangement of the first slots 55, an angling can be carried out on a single plane, which is spanned by the circumferential center points of the slots 55. In the special application in the area of the destruction of kidney stones, the distal bendable shaft section 49 can be angled without a handlebar by up to about 300 ° due to the accessibility of the stones in the lower cup groups of the kidney. [68] It is advantageous to be able to bend the curvable shaft section 49 in two opposite directions, for example by up to 20 ° or 25 °, in order to enlarge the spatial area in which the stone in question is used, in particular with a laser or another object can be edited †. This is achieved by subdividing the distal curvable shaft section 49 into a first region 61 and a second region 63, in which differently aligned slots 55 are arranged †. In the first region 61, which extends as far as the distal end 51, the first slots 55 are in each case offset by 180 ° to one another. As described above, a main bending plane is thereby realized. In the second area 63, which extends proximally from the first area 63, second slots 64 are provided which are offset in the circumferential direction by 90 ° to the first slots 55 in the first area. The second area 63 extends over a significantly shorter distance than the first area 61, the distances from the slots 55 and 64 in both areas 61 and 63 preferably being † identical. The second slots 64 are arranged axially to one another † in such a way that they alternately lie diametrically opposite one another on the sides of the shaft 47. Consequently, the second region 63 designed in this way allows restricted mobility † in a plane which is perpendicular to the main bending plane. The mobility † can be limited by the number of second slots 64, for example, to an angular range of approximately +/- 20 °. A movement can be implemented by two further mechanical lines 65 and 67, which are coupled to the shaft 47 directly distal in front of the second region 63 and could also be designed as pull wires. The combination of these two bends enables a laser fiber, for example, to scan a recognized object exactly in a relatively large working area. [69] In Fig. 2a, a slight offset in the plane of the drawing to the left is achieved by way of example, as indicated by the angle β †. Here will consequently the first region 61 and thus the main angular plane is pivoted to one side by approximately 20 °. In Fig. 2b, however, a pivoting in the other direction is shown, as indicated by the angle -ß. Through the second region 63 with the slots 55 arranged therein and the additional mechanical lines 65 and 67, the dis tal end 51 of the shaft 47 can be moved much better. Through the one-piece design, it can also be achieved at the same time that the shaft 47 has sufficient strength to move the distal end 51 directly by rotating the shaft 47. FIGS. 3a to 3c show a detail of an endoscopic device which has a fluid channel †, which, as in the previous figures, can be designed as a fluid channel 7 or a fluid channel 53. In the figures, however, only a small part of the device is shown, so that a shaft and a fluid channel are not visible. A part of a control housing 69 is shown, into which a shaft connection part 71 can be integrated, with which a shaft can be coupled. This shaft is not shown here and can be designed according to the principles of FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b. However, it can also be a good idea to couple a conventional shaft to the shaft connection part 71 as long as it has a fluid channel mentioned above †.

[71] A proximal fluid channel opening in the form of a connection piece 73 is arranged on the shaft connection part 71 and extends outwards on an outer circumference transversely to a shaft connection axis 75. Flushing liquid, which comes from the fluid channel 7, 53, can escape via the connecting piece 73. The shaft connection part 71 is designed for integration into a cavity 77 of the control housing 69. A lateral opening 79 adjoins the cavity 77, through which the connecting piece 73 extends to the outside. A radial projection 81 is formed on a side of the shaft connecting part 71 that is arranged opposite the connecting piece 73, for example Correspondingly shaped rasp openings 83 and 85 of a radial cone 87 of the cavity 77 can rub into. The rasp openings 83 and 85 are, for example, offset from one another by 90 ° around the shaft connection axis 75 †. The sheep connection file 71 can consequently rub into two rotational positions, for example 90 ° apart. The lateral opening 79 may be correspondingly shaped.

[72] The sheep (not shown) is rotatably coupled to the sheep connector file 71, so that the sheep connector is also rotated by rotating the sheep connector file 71. This can influence the direction of the angling of the distal curvature section 9, 49 †. Since when using a fluid channel 7, 53 defined only by a Schaffmanfel, several lines have to be led through the fire housing 69 to the outside without connecting the inner lumen of the fluid channel 7, 53 to the inner lumen of the fire housing 69, a sealing compound is in the form of a sealing device 89 provided. This is shaped like a disk and can be used in a seal receptacle 91, which in turn is firmly connected to the sheeting connection file 71.

[73] For the passage of mechanical lines, for example tensile wires, the seal device 89 has four passages in the form of slots 93. Exactly four slots 93 are shown in this example, so that a sheep according to FIGS. 2a and 2b can also be coupled with this device 89. If another sheep is used, a different number of slots 93 can of course also be realized. The slots 93 shown are based, for example, on parallel-shifted radial lines which are offset by 90 ° to one another on a circular area covered by the sealing device 89. The slots 93 pass through a circumferential surface 95 of the sealing device 89 and project, for example, beyond a center line which runs perpendicular to the respective slot 93 and intersects a center point of the sealing device. Are the pull wires as flat wires executed †, these can each pass through a slot 93 between the shaft and the control housing 69 and are gently enclosed by the material of the sealing device 89.

[74] In order to minimize friction of the tensile wires as much as possible, the sealing device 89 is preferably made of a closed cell

Foam molded part †. The dimensions of the sealing device 89 are preferably slightly larger than the dimensions of the seal receptacle 91 when not in use, so that the sealing device 89 has to be somewhat compressed when inserted and then always pushes into a relaxed, expanded position. Here, all the elements carried out are sealed.

[75] The sealing device 89 also has further recesses 97, 99, 101 and 103, which can have different dimensions in accordance with the lines 11, 13, 15 and 19. The sealing device 89 has a largest recess 97, which belongs to the first working channel 15 †, which can extend along the extension axis 75 through the control housing 69 to the first proximal working channel opening 39. Adjacent to the largest recess 97, three further bushings 99, 101 and 103 are arranged in the form of recesses, which are used to feed lines 11, 13 and the smaller second working channel 19 †. The bushing 103, which has the smallest dimensions by way of example †, is suitable for carrying out the smaller second working channel 19 with a dimension of significantly below 1 mm, for example 0.55 mm or less. The two other bushings 99 and 101 belong to the electrical lines 11, 13 which are connected to the distal LED or to the image sensor. The dimensions of the recesses 97, 99, 101 and 103 are each somewhat smaller than the cross section of the associated line 1 1, 13, 15 and 19 formed to have a sealing effect † on the outside of the line 1 1, 13, 15 and 19 achieve. The sealing device 89 is preferably designed as an elastic cell foam block made of ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), so that the recesses 97, 99, 101 and 103 expand accordingly when the lines 11, 13, 15 and 19 are passed through and each enclose them in a sealing manner. [76] The sealing device 89 has a radial recess 105 which is formed corresponding to a radial projection 107 in a sleeve-like section 109 of the seal receptacle 91. This always fixes the rotary position of the sealing device 89, so that when the shaft connection part 71 is rotated, the sealing device 89 follows the rotation †.

It makes sense to assign 1 1 1 guide means for guiding the pull wires in the seal receptacle 91 and a cover to be fastened to it, so that the slots 93 of the sealing device 89 always align with the pull wires when the shaft connecting part 71 is turned. The sealing device 89 is therefore loaded only by an axial force † of the pull wires †. In order to continue to achieve an ideal guidance of the pull wires, the cover 1 1 1 is twisted † on the seal holder 91 †. For this purpose, on the sleeve-like section 109 can have a ra dial outer spring 1 13, which is aligned with a radially inner recess 1 15 of the cover 1 1 1 †.

[78] As shown in Fig. 3b †, an additional sealing ring 1 17 can be seen before, which seals the seal receptacle 91 on the shaft connection part 71 †. For this purpose, the seal receptacle 91 has a sealing surface on a recess 11, which is arranged opposite the sleeve-like section 109, and which can be brought into abutment with the sealing ring 117 and an annular surface 121 of the shaft connecting part 71. The flushing liquid, which flows proximally into the shaft connection part 71 via the flushing channel †, cannot pass the sealing device 89 proximally and flows † radially downward via the connecting piece 73. [79] Another aspect of the endoscopic instrument is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. In Figure 4a, a light guide 123 is shown, which is in particular a laser light guide in the form of a single fiber and has an exemplary diameter of 0.45 mm †. This diameter can preferably include a protective layer of the light guide 123, the light-conducting core diameter being, for example, only 0.272 mm. Of course, the light guide 123 can also have an even smaller or a slightly larger diameter. The light guide 123 has a light exit end 125 which, for optimal radiation properties, is as sharp as possible and perpendicular to the axis of extension of the light guide 123. However, it is difficult to push such a light guide 123 through a working channel 127, which has a diameter of about 1.2 mm or more †. The sharp-edged light exit end 125 could tilt when pushed through the working channel 127 with its inner wall 129 and prevent the pushing through, or the light guide 123 could even kink. Furthermore, the wall 129 could also be destroyed during tilting if the light exit end 125 drilled into the inner wall 129. To prevent this, as shown in Fig. 4b, an alternative working channel 131 is provided as a second, smaller working channel 19 for the light guide 123 †, which has an inner diameter of just a little more than that in at least one bendable section Diameter of the light guide 123 (here 0.45 mm) and † example is 0.55 mm. At its light exit end 125, the light guide 123 experiences only a very small angle of attack to an inner wall 133 of the working channel 133, so that tilting is reliably prevented.

[81] The diameters mentioned in the bendable section are only to be understood as examples. The inside diameter of the working channel 131 should be at least in the direction of the light guide 123 bendable portion have an inner diameter that does not exceed the outer diameter of the light guide 123 too much. The difference between the two diameters should not be too great in the angled section, since otherwise there is a risk of jamming and / or damage to the working channel 131 †. It has been found that a difference in diameter in the bendable section of at most 30% can prevent damage to the working channel 131. The inner diameter of the working channel 131 should therefore at least in the bendable section exceed the outer diameter of the light guide 123 by at most 30%, which is the case with the above-mentioned example diameters.

FIGS. 5 to 6c show a further aspect of implementation on an endoscopic instrument 134. 6a to 6c show a land handling device 135 to which a proximal end 138 of a shaft 137 is connected. This has a distal end 139, which is shown somewhat enlarged on the left in the plane of the drawing and has, for example, a first distal working channel opening 140 †. A proximal fluid channel opening 142 and an electrical connection cable 146 are arranged on a lower side in the plane of the drawing, wherein a flushing liquid or the like can escape from the proximal fluid channel opening 142. Here, a separate fluid inlet 148 is arranged on the upper side, through which the first working channel 15 can be flushed with flushing liquid. Of course, the shaft 137 can also have a distal, curvable shaft section ††, which is provided with slots as shown in the previous figures. In general, it is advantageous to design the shaft 3 so that it can be bent without a joint toward the distal end 139.

[83] A first leg 141 and a second leg 143 are provided in a Y arrangement at a proximal end of the land-handling device 135, between which a contact surface 145 for placement a thumb ball of a hand is provided. On the second leg 143, a second proximal working channel opening 144 is seen as an example. The alignment of the two legs 141 and 143 to one another and the dimensioning of the contact surface 145 are selected such that when the handling device 135 is gripped the thumb ball rests against the contact surface 145 in such a way that the handling device 135 forms a direct extension of a forearm of the user †. The user can therefore very conveniently rotate the handling device 135 exclusively by means of supination and pronation of the forearm about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 137, without having to perform a more complex arm movement. This is not the case, in particular, with conventional pistol-like handling devices.

[84] On the distal side, on two opposite sides of the handling device 135, there are an upper trigger 147 and a lower trigger 149, which can be actuated by two fingers of the hand by pulling proximally and are each connected to a traction wire running distally. As in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, the upper trigger 147 and the lower trigger 149 could also be coupled to one another, so that both deductions 147 and 149 execute opposite movements. It is conceivable that a guide roller is present between the pull-offs 147 and 149, around the pull wires mentioned in each case being designed as a section of a common pull wire which is guided around the guide roller. However, a control disk would also be conceivable, which is coupled to both fume cupboards 147 and 149 and a separate pull wire in each case. To lock a current position of the guide roller or the individual pull wires, a locking device 151 could be provided. In the illustrated case, the Arretierein device 151 is designed as a knurled screw, which rag †, for example, and is clamped by tightening to the outer surface of the handling device 135. [85] As an example, according to a further aspect of this disclosure, † is located on the first leg 141 as part of a Luer lock connection, a working channel inlet 153, on which a first closure thread 155 is arranged proximally. A shaft tool in the form of a collecting basket insert is inserted and connected into the instrument 1 through the working channel inlet 153. The grass catcher insert has a connection element 157, which is connected via a second closure thread 159, which is shaped to correspond to the first closure thread 155. A first rotatable receiving part 161 is mounted on the connecting element 157 of the collecting basket insert, which is connected to a hose 1 63 as a jacket element of the collecting basket insert. The jacket element 163 of the grass catcher insert extends through the first working channel 15 through the shaft 3. The first receiving part 161 has a first sliding section 165 which is provided with a raster 167 on the circumference. This allows snapping in different positions in an opening contour 169 of the connecting element 157. By pushing the first receiving part 161 in the distal direction along the first displacement section 165, the hose 1 63 in the first working channel 15 can consequently be displaced distally. At an opposite end of the connecting element 157 of the first sliding section 165, a first shoulder 1 71 is arranged in the form of a circumferential collar which has a knurling 173 on the circumferential side †. Flierdurch the first receiving part 161 can be gripped and rotated who. The peripheral grid 167 is therefore preferably carried out in the form of mutually parallel grooves which have a rounded profile cross-section. A manual shift in the distal or proximal direction can lead to loosening and reaching a click.

[86] A second receiving part 177 is arranged in an inner lumen 175 of the first receiving part 1 61. This has a second displacement area 79, with which the relative position of the second Recording part 177 to the first receiving part 1 61 is adjustable. At the same time, the second receiving part 177 is connected to the first receiving part 161 via a non-rotatable, displaceable connection. The second receiving part 177 therefore follows the movement of the first receiving part 1 61 directly. The second receiving part 177 is connected to a pull wire 181 which extends through the jacket element of the collecting basket insert, which is designed as a hose 163. The second receiving part 177 also has a second shoulder 183 in the form of a circumferential collar at an end of the second displacement section 179 facing away from the first receiving part 1 61, which is also provided with a knurling 185. A user can therefore grip and twist the receiving parts 161 and 177 well. Due to the firm connection between the components, the hose 1 63 and the pull wire 181 are also rotated. The second receiving part 1 77 likewise has a raster 187 which can rust with an opening contour 189 of the first receiving part 1 61. The position of the second receiving part 177 can consequently always be set in a fixed manner with respect to the first receiving part 161.

[87] As shown in FIGS. 6a to 6c, this configuration enables a particularly advantageous construction of a collecting basket 191 to be realized, which is arranged in the jacket element 163 of the collecting basket insert and is protected by it. The collecting basket 191 is so elastic that it is completely retractable into the jacket element 163 and can be pushed out of it by distal movement, whereby it expands to its full size †. By deliberately moving the collecting basket 191, a kidney stone or the like can be gripped, the gripping being carried out by pulling the pull wire 181 proximally and the collecting basket thereby being compressed again. 6a shows the first receiving part 161 and the second receiving part 1 77 rusted in the ximal position. This means that an operating handle 193 is pulled out of the tandem device 135 as far as possible. [88] As can be seen in the enlarged representation of the distal tip 139 of the shaft 137, the jacket element 1 63 of the collecting basket insert does not protrude beyond the distal shaft tip 139. By moving the first receiving part 161 over the complete first displacement path 165 in the distal direction, so that the first shoulder 171 lies flush on the connection device 157, the tube 163 protrudes, for example, by about 5 mm from the distal shaft tip 139. By pushing the second receiving part 1 77 in the distal direction, the collecting basket 191 can be pushed out of the hose 163 so that it unfolds †. 5 mm could be suitable as a displacement path for the hose 1 63. It is conceivable that a considerably longer length is available for unfolding the collecting basket 191, for example 20 mm.

[89] The particular advantage of this arrangement with the sheath element 163 of the grass catcher insert that can be moved distally and the non-rotatable connection is that the grass catcher 191 can also be rotated very easily radially in all unfolded states by acting on the handle 193. At the same time, the actuation of the handle 193 also allows the catch basket 191 to be pushed forward and unfolded through the flange, which is not currently engaging the flange handling device 135. If an object is gripped by the wire basket 191 †, the object can be held firmly by pulling back the second receiving part 177. Due to grid 187 † the object remains trapped without having to be actively held on. The grass catcher can therefore be operated very easily by a single user † and a second user, with whom intensive communication is required during the operation, is not required.

Through the second, smaller working channel 19, a laser light guide 123 can be guided to the distal shaft tip 17 parallel to the grass catcher insert in the first working channel 15, for example to be able to smash a kidney stone by means of laser light. The second, smaller one Working channel 19 ends on the proximal side at the second proximal working channel opening 144 on the second leg 1 43 of the handling device 135.

In FIGS. 7a-f the sheep 3, in particular the bendable sheep section 9, 49 of the sheep 3 and the distal creative end 1 7, 51,

139 shown in more detail. A distal end sleeve 1 95 is not shown in FIGS. 7a-c, which is shown in more detail in FIGS. 7d-f. The distal creative end 1 7, 51, 139 has a connection sleeve 1 97, by means of which the end sleeve 195 is fastened in a form-fitting manner to the sheep † 3 (see FIG. 7f). The end sleeve 195 has a recess 1 99 and the connection sleeve 1 97 has a bulge 201 corresponding to the recess 199, whereby a non-rotatable positive connection between the end sleeve 1 95 and the connection sleeve 197 is achieved.

[92] The connecting sleeve 1 97 overlaps † in an overlap section with the distal end of the slit curvable shaft section 9, 49. In the overlap section there are lateral flushing openings 203, here in the form of eight circumferentially distributed radial through holes. Since the slots 33, 55, 64 of the curvable shaft section 9, 49 are here surrounded by a protective tube 205 (see FIG. 7f, not shown in FIGS. 7a-e), the flushing openings 203 serve as a distal flushing outlet or flushing inlet of the fluid channel 7 , 53. The thickness of the connecting sleeve 1 97 corresponds approximately to the thickness of the protective tube 205, so that the radial outer surfaces of the protective tube 205, connecting sleeve 1 97 and end sleeve 1 95 are flush with one another and are flush with one another (see FIG. 7f). 7b also shows the pull wires 57, 59, 65, 67, which extend diametrically opposite (here: top 57, 65 and bottom 59, 67) on the inner surface of the shaft through the sheep † 3, around the curvable To be able to bend shaft section 9, 49 in an articulated manner up or down. The slots 33, 55, 64 are wedge-shaped †, so that the clear width of the slots 33, 55, 64 in the middle, where the pull wires 57, 59, 65, 67 run, is largest and tapers towards the ends in the circumferential direction †. The ends of the slots 33, 55, 64 have round recesses in order to reduce the stresses when the shaft material is bent and to reduce material cracks or the risk of plastic deformation of the shaft material. The jointless bending of the shaft section 9, 49 is to take place by elastic deformation of the slotted shaft material, which has a restoring effect in the straight shaft shape. 7d is the arrangement of a light source in the form of an LED 207, a lens 209 with an image sensor behind it, the first distal working channel opening 18, 52, 140 of the first working channel 15 and a second distal working channel opening 21 1 of the second Working channel 19 in the distal end sleeve 195 shown in a front view. Attention is drawn to the extremely small proportions. The outer diameter of the distal end sleeve 195 can be 3 mm or less. The LED 207 can be 0.55 mm wide and the image sensor 209 can be less than 1 mm wide. The first distal working channel opening 18, 52, 140 can have an inner diameter of 1.2 mm or less and the second distal working channel opening 21 1 can have an inner diameter of 0.55 mm or less. At the second distal working channel opening 21 1, the distal-side light coupling of a laser light guide 123 pushed through the second working channel 19 can be placed. From the first distal working channel opening 18, 52, 140, the tool head of a shaft tool that can be pushed through the first working channel 15, for example a collecting basket insert or a pair of pliers or scissors instruments †, can be guided. The first working channel 15 can also be used as a supply or discharge line for rinsing liquid, which is discharged or fed via the lateral rinsing openings 203 and the fluid channel 7, 53 accordingly. A supply of clear rinsing liquid via the first working channel 15 and a discharge via the lateral one are preferred Flushing openings 203 and the fluid channel 7, 53, in order to have a clear disinfective need.

It is shown in FIG. 7e that the distal end sleeve 195 is beveled at the front so that in particular the first distal working channel opening 18, 52, 140 runs at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 3. The second distal working channel opening 21 1 is preferably also beveled (not visible in FIG. 7e). The corresponding distal openings in the end sleeve 195 for the LED 207 and the lens 209 can also be beveled in order to improve the respective illumination or the viewing angle. The one or more bevels of the distal shaft tip 17, 51, 139 have the further advantage that the distal shaft tip 17, 51, 139 can be guided more easily through a flarn or kidney conductor or a trocar or catheter.

[96] FIGS. 8a-e show the one-piece metallic tubular main body of the shaft 3, 47, which has the flushing openings 203, the slots 33,

55, 64 and the proximal fluid channel opening 45, 73, 142. The bendable shaft section 9, 49 with the slots 33, 55, 64 preferably has at least two subsections Y, Z, the axial distances between the slots 33, 55, 64 in the subsections X, Z being different. The distances between the slits 33, 55, 64 in a first subsection Y are preferably smaller than in a second subsection Z, the first subsection Y being arranged distally from the second subsection Z. As a result, a greater curvature can be achieved in the first subsection Y than in the second subsection Z. In addition, the first subsection Y is less rigid than the subsection Z, so that the curvable shaft section 9, 49 bends away from the distal tip 17, 51 , 139 from Einroll †. This results in a particularly good mobility of the distal tip 17, 51, 139 and a particularly large angular range of up to 300 ° in a small space. As shown in Fig. 8c, d, the clear width of the Slits 33, 55, 64 in the first subsection Y may be larger than in the second subsection Z. This can also support the curvature of the shaft sections †† 9, 49, which improves in the distal direction. The clear width and / or the slot spacings can vary gradually within and / or between the subsections Y, Z, so that the subsections Y, Z can run into one another. The subsections Y, Z, may be arranged adjacent to one another or separately from one another.

[97] FIGS. 9a, b show a further design of the Y-shaped handling device 5, 135. The instrument shown in FIG. 9b can be produced as a pre-assembled and sterilized disposable product † inexpensively steep †. It is once again clear † how pulling the pulls 147, 149 can distal the distal shaft tip 1 7, 51, 139 by up to 300 ° up or down. Fig. 9c shows the distal shaft tip 1 7, 51, 139 in a perspective view with beveled Ar working channel openings 18, 52, 140, 144. Fig. 9d shows † how a shaft tool in an exemplary form of a forceps instrument 213 is pushed through the first working channel 15 and can be positioned axially if the stem section †† 9, 49 is curved. 10a, b show the interior of the Y-shaped tandem device 5, 135 in more detail in longitudinal section. Fig. 10b shows an enlarged section X. Fig. 10c shows an enlarged representation of the sealing device 89 in the form of a cellular foam block, which sits in the seal receptacle 91 † and the fluid channel 7, 53 sealing proximally †. The sealing device 89 has recesses 97, 99, 101 and 103 for carrying out the lines 1 1, 13, 15 and 19, which accordingly have the lines 1 1, 13, 15 and 19 different dimensions. The sealing device 89 has a largest recess 97, which belongs to the first working channel 15 †, which extends along the extension axis 75 through the control housing 69 to the proximal Working channel opening 39 may extend. Adjacent to the largest recess 97, three further bushings 99, 101 and 103 are arranged in the form of recesses, which are used to carry out the conduits 1 1, 13 and the smaller second working channel 19. The bushing 103, which exemplarily has the smallest dimensions †, is suitable, for example, for the bushing of the smaller second working channel 19 with a dimension of clearly below 1 mm, for example 0.55 mm or less. The other two bushings 99 and 101 belong to the electrical lines 1 1, 13, which are connected to the distal-side LED 207 and to the image sensor 209. The dimensions of the recesses 97, 99, 101 and 103 are each slightly smaller than the cross section of the associated line 11, 13, 15 and 19 formed † in order to achieve a sealing effect on the outside of line 11, 13, 15 and 19 . The sealing device 89 is preferably designed as an elastic cellular foam block made of ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) †, so that the recesses 97, 99, 101 and 103 expand accordingly when carrying out the lines 1 1, 13, 15 and 19 and these enclose each sealingly. The two mutually offset slots 93 are used for the tight implementation of the two cables 57, 59. The radial recess 105 is used to prevent rotation of the sealing device 89th

10a also shows how the first working channel 15 can be supplied with rinsing liquid via the upper-side fluid inlet 148, so that the first working channel 15 can serve as a supply channel for rinsing liquid. For this purpose, a T-connector 215 is arranged in the first working channel 15 within the tandem device 5, 135 and is connected to the upper-side fluid inlet 148 via a flushing line 217. A suspended drip or a pump can thus be connected to the fluid inlet 148, so that flushing liquid runs through the flushing line 217 into the first working channel 15. [100] It should be noted that the features of the exemplary embodiments described above can be combined with one another as desired.

[101] Reference numeral:

1 endoscopic instrument

3 shaft

4 proximal end of the shaft

5 handling device

7 fluid channel

9 curvable shaft section

1 1 first optical or electrical line

13 second optical or electrical line

15 first working channel

17 distal end / distal tip of the shaft

18 first distal working channel opening

19 second working channel

21 flow lines / backflow fluid

23 housing

25 handle opening

27 contact surface

29 lower trigger / operating lever

31 upper trigger / operating lever

33 slot

35 peripheral surface

37 upper side of the handling device

39 proximal end

41 lower side of the handling device

43a, 43b second proximal working channel opening

45 proximal fluid channel opening

47 shaft

49 curvable shaft section distal end of the shaft

first distal working channel opening

Fluid channel

first slot

mechanical cable (puller wire)

first area

second area

second slot

mechanical cable (puller wire)

Timing case

Shaft connector

proximal fluid channel opening / connecting sockets

Shaft connection axis

Flea space

lateral opening

radial projection

Rasp opening

Radial contour

Sealing device

Seal holder

Slot / feedthrough

Circumferential surface

execution

radial depression

radial projection

sleeve-like section cover

13 radially outer spring

15 radially inner recess 17 sealing ring

19 deepening

21 annular surface

23 light guides

25 Lichfausfriffsend

27 conventional working channel

29 inner wall

31 working channel

33 inner wall

34 endoscopic instrument

35 Land use facility

37 shaft

38 proximal end of the shaft

39 distal end of the shaft

40 first distal working channel opening 41 first leg

42 proximal fluid channel opening

43 second leg

44 proximal second working channel opening 45 contact surface

46 electrical connection cable

47 Upper trigger / operating lever 48 Fluid inlet

49 lower trigger / operating lever 51 locking device

53 Working channel inlet

55 first locking thread

57 connection element

59 second locking thread 161 first recording part

163 Sheath element of the shaft tool

165 first shifting section

167 grid

169 opening contour

171 first paragraph / collar

173 knurling

175 inner lumens

177 second recording part

179 second shift range

181 pull wire

183 second paragraph / collar

185 knurling

187 grid

189 opening contour

191 catch basket

193 Empowerment handle

195 end sleeve

197 connection sleeve

199 recess

201 bulge

203 flushing openings

205 Schufz hose

207 LED

209 lens

21 1 second distal working channel opening

213 forceps

215 T connection piece

217 fluid line ß angle (lateral offset)

Claims

Expectations

1 . Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) for insertion into a patient's body, the instrument (1, 134) having a tubular shaft (3, 47, 137) which is coupled or can be coupled to a handling device (5, 135) and has a working channel (15) exhibit †, a shaft tool can be passed through the working channel (15),

characterized in that the working channel (15) has a proximal working channel opening (153) for inserting a shank tool and a separate one from the proximal working channel opening

Fluid inlet (148) has †.

2. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to claim 1, wherein the proximal working channel opening (153) and the proximal fluid inlet via a T-connector (215) in the handling device (5, 135) are connected to the working channel (15).

3. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the sheep † (3, 47, 137) at least two through the sheep † (3, 47, 137) extending lines (1 1, 13, 15, 19, 57, 59, 65, 67, 123, 181) each form a directly surrounding fluid channel (7, 53) †.

4. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to claim 3, wherein the fluid channel (7, 53) serves as a discharge channel of rinsing liquid, which has a distal shadow end (17, 51, 139) via the fluid inlet (148) and the working channel (15) is feedable.

5. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the

Fluid channel (7, 53) a distal fluid channel opening (33, 55, 64, 140, 203) and a proximal fluid channel opening (45, 73, 142) has †, wherein the proximal fluid channel opening (45, 73, 142) is arranged laterally on the shaft (3, 47, 137) and can be acted upon by fluid pressure.

6. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the instrument (1, 134) has a sealing ring (89) †, which forms a proximal end of the fluid channel (7, 53) † and bushings (93, 97 , 99, 101, 103) for the lines (1 1, 13, 15, 19, 57, 59, 65, 67, 123, 181) have †.

7. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the instrument (1, 134) one

Landing facility (5, 135) has †, the

Flandhabungsrichrichung (5, 135) with a proximal end (4, 138) of the sheep (3, 47, 137) is firmly connected or releasably connectable.

8. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheep (3, 47, 137) at least in one

Schaffabschniff (9, 49) is elastically bendable by more than 270 °.

9. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the instrument (1, 134) or at least the shaft (3, 47, 137) is designed as a consumable for disposal after a single use †.

10. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel (7, 53) of the cross-sectional area of a shaft interior formed by the shaft (3, 47, 137) minus the sum of the cross-sectional areas of all lines running through the shaft interior (1 1, 13, 15,

57, 59, 65, 67, 123, 181).

1 1. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaft (3, 47, 137) in a distal curvature Schaffabschni †† (9, 49) has a plurality of slots (33, 55, 64) †.

12. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to claim 1 1, wherein the

Slots (33, 55, 64) only extend over part of the circumference of the shaft in the circumferential direction.

13. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to claim 1 1 or 12, wherein the slots (33, 55, 64) are arranged axially to one another in such a way that they alternately on a first lateral side of the shaft (3, 47,

137) and a diametrically opposite the first opposite second lateral side of the shaft (3, 47, 137).

14. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to one of claims 1 1 to 13, wherein the slots (33, 55, 64) on the one hand as a distal fluid channel opening for the fluid channel (7, 53) and on the other hand for locally increasing the flexibility of the shaft (3, 47, 137) serve to bend a distal shadow end (17, 51, 139).

15. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the working channel (15) is a first working channel (15), the instrument (1, 134) extending through the shaft (3, 47, 137) and second working channel (19, 131) immediately surrounded by the fluid channel (7, 53) †.

16. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to claim 15, wherein the first and / or second working channel (15, 19, 131) optionally serves to carry out a laser light guide (123), the collecting basket (191) or a dormia loop.

17. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the first working channel (15) serves as a supply channel (19) with a flow direction opposite to the fluid channel (7, 53).

18. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the first and / or second working channel (15, 19, 131) extends axially through a sealed proximal end of the fluid channel (7, 53)

19. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the first and / or second working channel (15, 19, 131) has a distal working channel opening (18, 52, 140, 21 1) and a proximal one

Working channel opening (39, 144, 153) has †.

20. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to claim 19, wherein the respective proximal working channel opening (39, 144, 153) is arranged proximally from the proximal end of the fluid channel (7, 53) †. 21. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the respective distal working channel opening (18, 52, 140,

21 1) distal to a distal fluid channel opening (33, 55, 64, 203) of the fluid channel (7, 53) †.

22. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the instrument (1, 134) is a Flandhandungseinrichtung (5,

135) has †, the flange device (5, 135) being firmly connected or detachably connectable to a proximal end of the shaft (3, 47, 137) †, the respective proximal working channel opening (39, 144, 153) being separated from the flange device ( 5, 135) is formed.

23. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the cross section of the respective distal working channel opening (18, 52, 140, 21 1) is smaller than the cross section of the associated working channel (15, 19, 131).

24. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to claim 223, wherein the

Cross-section of the respective working channel (15, 19, 131) tapers towards the respective distal working channel opening (18, 52, 140, 21 1).

25. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a flow direction and / or flow rate through the fluid channel (7, 53) can be selected or set.

26. Endoscopic instrument (1, 134) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a distal creative end (17, 51, 139) is controllably angled without joints.