Endoscopic instrument
AssigneeRichard Wolf GmbH
InventorsRudolf Heimberger, Helmut Heckele, Uwe Schaumann, Ralf Burkhardt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An endoscopic instrument is disclosed which comprises a shank with a bendable region. The bendability is achieved by almost complete circumferential transverse recesses which form segments bendable to each other. To increase the robustness of the shank, the segments, at their free ends, are provided with guides which engage a neighbouring recess and are adapted to the contour of the shank. Furthermore in the lateral regions of the shank there are incorporated positive locking elements, which prevent the overloading of the shank on over-extension.
Claims14
A bendable endoscopic instrument comprising:
- a shank (1) having a bendable region (3) with transverse recesses (15) dividing said bendable region into segments (16), said transverse recesses extending over a circumferential angle of more than 270.degree. and less than 360.degree., and comprising a tension means (4) longitudinally running across the recesses (15) for controlling bending from a proximal end;
- the shank (1), at least at said bendable region (3), comprising a cross-section which is flattened at one side, and the shank (1) providing a link function at the flattened region (12);
- tension means (4) being arranged in guides (21) on a side region (13) of the shank lying opposite the flattened region (12), said guides being adapted to the inner contour of the shank (1) in the side region (13), each guide spanning a neighboring transverse recess (15) and being firmly attached to a segment (16) at one side of the spanned recess (15).
A bendable endoscopic instrument comprising a shank (1) having a bendable region (3) with transverse recesses (15) dividing said bendable region into segments (16), said transverse recesses extending over a circumferential angle of more than 270.degree. and less than 360.degree., and comprising a tension means (4) longitudinally running across the recesses (15) for controlling the bending from a proximal end;
- and
- positive locking elements (18, 19) limiting a pivoting angle of adjacent segments arranged in the shank (1) between adjacent segments (16).
A bendable endoscopic instrument comprising a shank (1) having a proximal end and a distal end, the shank (1) having a bendable region (3) at the distal end thereof and a handle part (2) at the proximal end, a tensioning tube (9) extending from the handle part (2) to a position near the bendable region (3), said tensioning tube being longitudinally displaceable to the shank (1) and fixable in its position to the shank (1) .
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.