Partible forceps instrument for endoscopy

A flexible biopsy instrument system comprising:

• a sampling segment including:
• a cable sheath, a forceps having a scissor mechanism, said forceps attached to a proximal end of said cable sheath, and an operating cable within said sheath and said connector attached at a distal end to said scissor mechanism of said forceps;
• an operating segment including:
• a manual operating assembly including scissor mechanism actuating means, means for demountably connecting said manual operating assembly to said connector, and means for demountably connecting said operating cable to said scissor mechanism actuating means;
• and
• a cleaning fixture including:
• a hollow tube having an inlet at one end to receive fluid under pressure and having connecting means at another end for demountably connecting said fixture to said connector in place of said manual operating assembly.

A sampling segment for endoscopic use comprising:

• a cable sheath forceps-attaching means including a resilient member attached to the distal end of said cable sheath;
• a forceps having a scissor mechanism and receiving means demountably engaged by said forceps attaching means, said receiving means including a recess for receiving said resilient member, said forceps demountably attached to a distal end of said cable sheath;
• a connector attached to a proximal end of said cable sheath;
• an operating cable within said sheath and said connector attached at a distal end to said scissor mechanism;
• said connector having coupling means on a proximal end whereby said sampling segment is coupleable with a manual operating assembly having a scissor mechanism actuating means attachable to the proximal end of the operating cable for use in endoscopic procedures or whereby said sampling segment is coupleable with a cleaning fixture for introducing cleaning fluid under pressure into the interior of said sampling segment.

A flexible biopsy instrument comprising:

• a cable sheath having a collar at a distal end, said collar including a resilient finger having a locking tooth;
• a forceps having a scissor mechanism, said forceps demountably attached to the distal end of said sheath, said forceps including a forceps pincer supporting body slidably receivable in said collar, said body having a mounting portion for receiving said resilient finger, said mounting portion including a recess for receiving said locking tooth and further including a flat abutment surface for abutting engagement with said finger;
• a connector attached to a proximal end of said cable sheath;
• a manual operating assembly including scissor mechanism actuating means demountably attached to said connector;
• and
• an operating cable within said sheath and said connector attached to a distal end to said scissor mechanism of said forceps and demountably attached at a proximal end to said scissor mechanism actuating means.

A flexible biopsy instrument comprising:

• a cable sheath having a proximal and a distal end;
• a cable operator attached to the proximal end of the sheath;
• a forceps unit having as connected parts, a body, forceps-pincers pivotably connected to the body and a cable connected to the forceps-pincers;
• means on the forceps unit and the distal end of the cable sheath cooperable to demountably attach the forceps unit to the sheath;
• and
• means on the cable operator for releasably securing the forceps unit whereby the forceps unit can be removed from the sheath and cable operator without disassembly of the unit parts.