Endoscopic instrument system and method

For use with an endoscopic instrument of a type having a handle portion including means for gripping said instrument, means forming an elongate shaft extending from said gripping means and having an open end opposite said gripping means and means for actuating said instrument, a disposable end tool comprising:

• means forming a pair of jaws;
• and
• means for supporting said jaw means such that said jaw means move relative to each other, said supporting means being shaped for attachment to and detachment from an associated shaft end by hand without tools, and said support means including an inner end adapted to mount on said shaft end, and
• a stub shaft mounted within said support,
• such that said actuating means moves said jaw means through said stub shaft and said end tool is replaceably removable from said shaft end without damage to said shaft end.

For use with an endoscopic instrument of a type having a handle portion including means for gripping said instrument, means forming an elongate shaft extending from said gripping means and having a threaded open end opposite said gripping means, rod means for actuating said instrument, said rod means being mounted within said shaft for slidable movement by said gripping means and having a clevis end adjacent said shaft end, a disposable end tool comprising:

• a support having a threaded inner end shaped to be threaded into and threaded out of said shaft end by hand without tools;
• a stub shaft mounted within said support for reciprocal movement and having an enlarged end protruding from said inner end shaped to releasably engage an associated clevis end;
• first and second links pivotally attached to said stub shaft within said support;
• first and second jaws pivotally mounted on said support to effect a scissors movement, said first and second jaws being pivotally connected to said first and second links, respectively, whereby reciprocating movement of associated rod means reciprocates said stub shaft and effects said scissors movement of said jaws.

A method of providing an instrument system for endoscopic surgery comprising:

• selecting an endoscopic instrument of a type having a handle portion and a shaft adapted to receive a disposable end tool;
• selecting a disposable end tool having a predetermined tool configuration;
• and
• attaching said end tool to said shaft by hand without tools such that said end tool is actuatable by said handle portion.

A surgical instrument for laparoscopic procedures comprising:

• a distal portion, an intermediate portion, and a proximal portion;
• the distal portion comprising first and second pivotally connected arms connected at one end to a lever means, the first and second pivotally connected arms also having unattached ends with opposing faces;
• the intermediate portion comprising an actuating rod having a distal end and a proximal end and a rigid tube having a distal tip and a proximal tip, the actuating rod being slidably located inside the rigid tube;
• the proximal portion comprising first and second handle means;
• the distal end of the actuating rod being connected to the lever means;
• the first handle means immovably connected to the rigid tube;
• the second handle means pivotally coupled to the proximal end of the actuating rod;
• the first handle means pivotally connected to the second handle means;
• the first and second handle means operable to remotely cause the unattached ends of the first and second pivotally connected arms to move angularly toward and away from each other into closed and opened positions;
• and the surgical instrument further comprising
• a rigid tubing extension having a distal tip and a proximal tip, the proximal tip of said rigid tubing extension being removably engaged to the distal tip of the rigid tube;
• and
• an actuating rod extension for connecting the distal end of the actuating rod to the lever means, the actuating rod extension having a proximal tip and a distal tip;
• the distal end of the actuating rod being removably engaged with the proximal tip of the actuating rod extension.