Biopsy forceps having a detachable proximal handle and distal jaws

In an endoscopic biopsy forceps having a jaw coupled to a distal end of a flexible conduit and a pull wire coupled to the jaw and extending through the conduit for opening and closing the jaw and a handle coupled to a proximal end of the conduit, the handle having actuating means coupled to a proximal end of the pull wire for moving the pull wire through the conduit to open and close the jaw, the improvement

• means for rapidly coupling and uncoupling the pull wire and conduit to the handle, said means for rapidly coupling and uncoupling comprising,
• a) first mating means for mating with a coupling means attached to the proximal end of the conduit;
• b) second mating means for mating with a coupling means attached to the proximal end of the pull wire;
• c) first coupling means for releasingly coupling with said first mating means, said first coupling means attached to a distal end of the handle;
• and
• d) second coupling means for releasingly coupling with said second mating means, said second coupling means located on the handle, wherein,
• one of said first mating means and said first coupling means is spring biased, and one of said second mating means and said second coupling means is spring biased, such that insertion of the proximal end of the flexible conduit and the proximal end of the pull wire into the handle automatically couples said first mating means to said first coupling means and said second mating means is automatically coupled to said second coupling means upon one of said insertion and movement of the actuating means.

An apparatus for insertion into a handle of an endoscopic instrument, the handle having an actuating means for actuating said apparatus, the actuating means having a first coupling means for coupling to a mating means and a second coupling means for coupling to a mating means wherein the second coupling means is spring biased, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a flexible conduit having a proximal and a distal end, said proximal end of said conduit being provided with a first mating means for releasably mating with the first coupling means;
• b) a pair of jaws mounted at the distal end of said flexible conduit;
• c) at least one pull wire having a proximal and a distal end, the distal end of said pull wire being coupled to said pair of jaws, said pull wire extending through said conduit and said proximal end of said pull wire extending beyond said proximal end of said conduit, movement of said pull wire through said conduit effecting opening and closing of said jaws, said proximal end of said pull wire being provided with a second mating means for releasably mating with the second coupling means, wherein
• said first mating means is spring biased, such that insertion of said proximal end of said flexible conduit and said proximal end of said pull wire into the handle automatically couples said first mating means to the first coupling means such that the handle and said apparatus together form an endoscopic instrument which is ready for use.

An apparatus for insertion into a handle of an endoscopic instrument, the handle having an actuating means for actuating said apparatus, the actuating means having a first coupling means for coupling to a mating means and a second coupling means for coupling to a mating means wherein the first and second coupling means are spring biased, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a flexible conduit having a proximal and a distal end, said proximal end of said conduit being provided with a first mating means for releasably mating with the first coupling means;
• b) a pair of jaws mounted at the distal end of said flexible conduit;
• c) at least one pull wire having a proximal and a distal end, the distal end of said pull wire being coupled to said pair of jaws, said pull wire extending through said conduit and said proximal end of said pull wire extending beyond said proximal end of said conduit, movement of said pull wire through said conduit effecting opening and closing of said jaws, said proximal end of said pull wire being provided with a second mating means for releasably mating with the second coupling means, such that
• insertion of said proximal end of said flexible conduit and said proximal end of said pull wire into the handle automatically couples said first mating means to the first coupling means such that the handle and said apparatus together form an endoscopic instrument which is ready for use.