Surgical instrument for use with a viewing system

A surgical instrument for use with a viewing system, including:

• (a) an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
• (b) a handle mounted on the proximal end of the shaft and having a gripping portion adapted to be held by a user of the instrument, the handle being offset relative to the shaft;
• (c) a working element mounted on the distal end of the shaft for manipulating tissue during a surgical procedure;
• (d) an elongated flexible endoscope having a proximal end, a distal end and a first connector positioned between the proximal and distal ends of the endoscope to define a proximal portion and a distal portion of the endoscope, the endoscope having at least one image fiber bundle with a proximal end adapted to be operably coupled to the viewing system;
• and
• (e) a mounting tube extending along the shaft and onto the gripping portion of the handle, the mounting tube defining a bore for removably mounting the endoscope to the shaft and handle of the tube and including a second connector, the first and second connectors being attachable to removably secure the endoscope to the mounting tube.

A surgical instrument for use with a viewing system, including:

• (a) an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
• (b) a handle mounted on the proximal end of the shaft and adapted to be held by a user of the instrument;
• (c) a working element mounted on the distal end of the shaft for manipulating tissue during a surgical procedure;
• (d) a mounting tube secured to the shaft and handle and extending along substantially the entire length of the shaft and along substantially the entire length of the handle, the mounting tube having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a longitudinal bore extending between the proximal and distal ends of the mounting tube;
• (e) a flexible optical assembly, the optical assembly having a proximal end and a distal end and including at least one image fiber bundle having a proximal end adapted to be operably coupled to the viewing system, the optical assembly adapted to extend within the longitudinal bore and be removably mounted to the shaft by the mounting tube;
• (f) an irrigation tube for providing an irrigation fluid to the distal end of the mounting tube, the irrigation tube adapted to be in fluid flow communication with an irrigation fluid supply system;
• and
• (g) a connector assembly for removably securing the irrigation tube to the mounting tube for providing fluid flow communication between the longitudinal bore and the irrigation tube, and for removably securing the irrigation tube to the optical assembly so that the optical assembly extends along substantially the entire length of the shaft and along substantially the entire length of the handle.

A method of retro-fitting a surgical tool with a flexible endoscope having at least one image fiber bundle, a proximal end, a distal end, and a first connector between the proximal and distal ends of the endoscope to define a distal portion of the endoscope, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing the surgical tool to be retro-fit, the tool including a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a working element on the distal end of the shaft, and a handle on the proximal end of the shaft having a gripping portion and being offset relative to the shaft;
• (b) securing to the shaft and handle a mounting tube having a proximal end and a second connector positioned at the proximal end of the mounting tube, such that the mounting tube extends along substantially the entire length of the shaft and along the gripping portion;
• and
• (c) removably mounting the endoscope to the shaft by attaching together the first and second connectors such that the distal portion of the endoscope is received within the mounting tube and extends along substantially the entire length of the shaft and along the gripping portion and such that a distal end of the endoscope is positioned near the working element.

An endoscope for use with a surgical tool having a shaft that includes proximal and distal ends, a handle that includes a gripping portion offset from the shaft, a working element mounted on the distal end of the shaft, a mounting tube externally mounted to the shaft and gripping portion that includes a proximal end and defines a longitudinal bore of a predetermined length, and a first connector mounted on the proximal end of the mounting tube, the endoscope comprising:

• (a) a proximal end adapted to be operably coupled to a viewing system;
• (b) a distal end;
• (c) an image fiber bundle having a distal end with an objective lens mounted thereon;
• and
• (d) a second connector mounted on the endoscope proximally of the distal end of the endoscope to define proximal and distal portions, the distal portion being flexible, having a length substantially equal to the length of the longitudinal bore and adapted for sliding within the longitudinal bore of the mounting tube, the second connector adapted for attaching to the first connector to removably secure the endoscope to the mounting tube with the objective lens positioned for defining a field of view which includes at least part of the working element, wherein the proximal portion of the endoscope defines an irrigation channel terminating adjacent a distal end of the second connector.

A flexible endoscope for use with a surgical tool having a shaft that includes proximal and distal ends, a handle mounted on the proximal end of the shaft that includes a gripping portion offset relative to the shaft, a working element mounted on the distal end of the shaft, and a bent mounting tube externally mounted to the shaft and gripping portion that includes proximal and distal ends and defines a bore, the mounting tube engageable with an irrigation tube by a first connector mounted on the irrigation tube for providing an irrigation fluid to the distal end of the mounting tube, the endoscope comprising:

• (a) a proximal end adapted for coupling to a viewing system;
• (b) a distal end;
• (c) an image fiber bundle having a distal end with an objective lens mounted thereon;
• and
• (d) a second connector mounted on the endoscope proximally of the distal end of the endoscope to define proximal and distal portions, the distal portion being flexible and adapted for sliding within the bore of the mounting tube, the second connector adapted for attaching to the first connector to removably secure the endoscope to the mounting tube with the distal end of the endoscope being substantially co-terminus with the distal end of the mounting tube and with the objective lens positioned for defining a field of view which includes at least part of the working element, wherein the proximal portion of the endoscope defines an irrigation channel terminating adjacent a distal end of the second connector.

A surgical tool for use with an endoscope having a distal end and a flexible distal portion and a connector, the tool comprising:

• (a) an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
• (b) a handle mounted on the proximal end of the shaft and having a gripping portion offset with respect to the shaft;
• (c) a working element on the distal end of the shaft;
• (d) a mounting tube having a distal end proximate to the working element and a proximal end and a curve between the ends, the tube being secured along the length of the shaft and a substantial length of the gripping portion of the handle;
• and
• (e) a connector on the proximal end of the tube such that the distal portion of the endoscope can be received in the tube with the connector engaged with the endoscope connector and the distal end of the endoscope being positioned to view a surgical site during a surgical procedure.