# US 10,946,173 B2 · Hand-operated functional hose instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,946,173 B2 - Document ID: US10946173B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/084,161 - Filed: 2017-02-23 - Published: 2019-06-13 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-11 - Assignees: EPflex Feinwerktechnik GmbH - Applicants: EPflex Feinwerktechnik GmbH - Inventors: Bernhard Uihlein - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10946173B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/0136: {Handles therefor} - A61B 17/221: Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets {for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions (surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056)} - A61B 17/2909: {Handles} - A61B 17/22031: {Gripping instruments, e.g. forceps, for removing or smashing calculi (A61B17/221 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/00323: {Cables or rods} - A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable} - A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/292: {connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess} - A61M 25/0147: {with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A hand-operated functional hose instrument has a hose-like functional part and a wire-like functional part which extends in the hose-like functional part. An operating unit, which is designed for releasable coupling to an operator control handle body, is arranged at a proximal end section of the functional parts and includes two operating parts, which are axially relatively movable and have a hose fixing arrangement or a wire fixing arrangement. The first operating part is axially fixed to the operator control handle body, and the second operating part has a finger-operated operator control slide element. The first operating part has a finger-operated operator control rotary element and/or a distal cone section with an axial recess into which the second operating part can be at least partially inserted, and/or the wire fixing arrangement has two wire fixing parts which can be rotated in relation to one another about a longitudinal axis from a wire release position to a wire clamping position and each have an eccentric axial wire passage opening. The two passage openings are arranged axially one behind the other and are in alignment in the wire release position and are out of alignment in the wire clamping position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hand-operated functional hose instrument, comprising: a hose-like functional part and a wire-like functional part which extends in said hose-like functional part, wherein the two functional parts are axially relatively movable relative to each other in order to perform a function at a distal end, and an operating unit which is designed for releasable coupling to an operator control handle body, is arranged on a proximal end section of the functional parts and comprises a first operating part and a second operating part which are coupled to one another in an axially relatively movable manner relative to each other, wherein one of the two operating parts has a hose fixing arrangement by way of which the hose-like functional part is fixed to it, and the other of the two operating parts has a wire fixing arrangement by way of which the wire-like functional part is fixed to it, the first operating part has an axial fixing element for axially fixing the first operating part to the operator control handle body, the second operating part has a finger-operated operator control slide element, and the wire fixing arrangement comprises two wire fixing parts capable of being rotated in relation to one another about a longitudinal axis from a wire release position to a wire clamping position and each have an eccentric axial wire passage opening, wherein the two passage openings are arranged axially one behind the other and are in alignment in the wire release position and are out of alignment in the wire clamping position, wherein the eccentric axial wire passage openings are formed by circumferentially closed openings. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The functional hose instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second operating part has a fixing body, which is coupled to the first operating part in a rotationally fixed and axially movable manner, for fixing the associated functional part, wherein the operator control slide element is coupled to the fixing body in a rotationally movable and axially fixed manner. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The functional hose instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the two operating parts has a guide sleeve and the other operating part has a guide element which is guided in said guide sleeve in a rotationally fixed and axially movable manner. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The functional hose instrument as claimed in claim 3, wherein the two operating parts have end stops for limiting the axial relative movement of the guide sleeve and the guide element on both sides. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The functional hose instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two wire fixing parts are formed by a tubular end section of one of the two operating parts and a fixing connection piece which can be plug-connected to said tubular end section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The functional hose instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first operating part has the hose fixing arrangement and the second operating part has the wire fixing arrangement, or the first operating part has the wire fixing arrangement and the second operating part has the hose fixing arrangement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The functional hose instrument as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an operator control handle including a handle body which is designed for releasably receiving the operating unit and has a coupling element for axially fixed coupling of the first operating part. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The functional hose instrument as claimed in claim 7, wherein the coupling element of the handle body is designed for rotationally movable coupling of the first operating part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The functional hose instrument as claimed in claim 7, wherein the handle body has an axial guide for the operator control slide element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The functional hose instrument as claimed in claim 7, wherein the handle body is of multipartite design, wherein it comprises a handle base part and a handle coupling part which can be releasably connected to said handle base part, and wherein the handle coupling part is designed for releasably receiving the operating unit and has the coupling element for coupling the first operating part. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The functional hose instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the two wire passage openings is an opening which is closed at the circumference. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The functional hose instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein it is an endoscopic functional hose instrument. ### Claim 13 A hand-operated functional hose instrument, comprising: a hose-like functional part and a wire-like functional part which extends in said hose-like functional part, wherein the two functional parts are axially relatively movable relative to each other in order to perform a function at a distal end, and an operating unit which is designed for releasable coupling to an operator control handle body, is arranged on a proximal end section of the functional parts and comprises a first operating part and a second operating part which are coupled to one another in an axially relatively movable manner relative to each other, wherein one of the two operating parts has a hose fixing arrangement by way of which the hose-like functional part is fixed to it, and the other of the two operating parts has a wire fixing arrangement by way of which the wire-like functional part is fixed to it, the first operating part has an axial fixing element for axially fixing the first operating part to the operator control handle body, the second operating part has a finger-operated operator control slide element, the first operating part has a finger-operated operator control rotary element, the operator control rotary element is arranged distally in front of the operator control slide element; and the wire fixing arrangement comprises two wire fixing parts capable of being rotated in relation to one another about a longitudinal axis from a wire release position to a wire clamping position and each have an eccentric axial wire passage opening, wherein the two passage openings are arranged axially one behind the other and are in alignment in the wire release position and are out of alignment in the wire clamping position, wherein the eccentric axial wire passage openings are formed by circumferentially closed openings. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The functional hose instrument as claimed in claim 13, further comprising an operator control handle including a handle body which is designed for releasably receiving the operating unit and has a coupling element for axially fixed coupling of the first operating part. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The functional hose instrument as claimed in claim 14, wherein the operator control rotary element is arranged at a distal or proximal end side of the handle body. ### Claim 16 A hand-operated functional hose instrument, comprising: a hose-like functional part and a wire-like functional part which extends in said hose-like functional part, wherein the two functional parts are axially relatively movable relative to each other in order to perform a function at a distal end, and an operating unit which is designed for releasable coupling to an operator control handle body, is arranged on a proximal end section of the functional parts and comprises a first operating part and a second operating part which are coupled to one another in an axially relatively movable manner relative to each other, wherein one of the two operating parts has a hose fixing arrangement by way of which the hose-like functional part is fixed to it, and the other of the two operating parts has a wire fixing arrangement by way of which the wire-like functional part is fixed to it, the first operating part has an axial fixing element for axially fixing the first operating part to the operator control handle body, the second operating part has a finger-operated operator control slide element, the first operating part has a distal cone section with an axial recess into which the second operating part can be at least partially inserted; and the wire fixing arrangement comprises two wire fixing parts capable of being rotated in relation to one another about a longitudinal axis from a wire release position to a wire clamping position and each have an eccentric axial wire passage opening, wherein the two passage openings are arranged axially one behind the other and are in alignment in the wire release position and are out of alignment in the wire clamping position, wherein the eccentric axial wire passage openings are formed by circumferentially closed openings. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hand-operated functional hose instrument as claimed in claim 16, wherein the hand-operated functional hose instrument is an endoscopic functional hose instrument.