Surgical instrument with rotatable shaft

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a) an elongated flexible tubular sheath having proximal and distal ends;
• b) a flexible shaft having proximal and distal ends extending through and axially and rotationally movable relative to said sheath, with a snare loop being provided at said distal end of said flexible shaft;
• and
• c) a handle assembly which is adapted to move said shaft and said sheath axially and rotationally relative to each other;
• wherein:
• said flexible shaft is constructed so that when said proximal end of said flexible shaft is rotated a first degree relative to said proximal end of said sheath, said snare loop at said distal end of said flexible shaft is rotated approximately said first degree relative to said distal end of said sheath.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a) an elongated flexible tubular sheath having proximal and distal ends;
• b) a flexible shaft having proximal and distal ends extending through and axially and rotationally movable relative to said sheath, with a snare loop being provided at said distal end of said flexible shaft;
• and
• c) a handle assembly which is adapted to move said shaft and said sheath axially and rotationally relative to each other;
• wherein:
• said flexible shaft is constructed of a resilient material having the torqueability of a multifilament twisted and drawn or twisted and swaged or twisted and rolled cable.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a) an enlongated flexible tubular sheath having proximal and distal ends;
• b) a flexible shaft having proximal and distal ends extending through and axially and rotationally movable relative to said sheath, with a snare loop being provided at said distal end of said flexible shaft;
• and
• c) a handle assembly which is adapted to move said shaft and said sheath axially and rotationally relative to each other;
• wherein:
• said handle assembly includes a first member and a second member axially relative to said first member, said second member being coupled to said sheath, and said second member being coupled to said flexible shaft;
• and further comprising:
• d) a second shaft relatively stiffer than said flexible shaft, said second shaft having a proximal end coupled to said second member and a distal end coupled to said flexible shaft;
• wherein:
• said second shaft is provided with a pinion, and second member of said handle assembly is provided with a rack which engages said pinion, said second member being movable relative to said second shaft,
• wherein when said second member is moved relative to said second shaft, said rack causes rotation of said pinion and said flexible shaft.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a) an elongated flexible tubular sheath having proximal and distal ends;
• b) a flexible shaft having proximal and distal ends extending through and axially and rotationally movable relative to said sheath, with a snare loop being provided at said distal end of said flexible shaft;
• and
• c) a handle assembly which is adapted to move said shaft and said sheath axially and rotationally relative to each other;
• wherein:
• said handle assembly includes a first member and a second member axially relative to said first member, said first member being coupled to said sheath, and said second member coupled to said flexible shaft;
• and futher comprising:
• d) a second shaft relatively stiffer than said flexible shaft, said second shaft having a proximal end coupled to said second member and a distal and coupled to said flexible shaft;
• wherein:
• said second shaft is provided with a roller, and second member of said handle assembly is provided with a surface which frictionally engages said roller, said second member being movable relative to said second shaft,
• wherein when said second member is moved relative to said second shaft, movement of said surface relative to said roller causes rotation of said roller and said flexible shaft.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a) an elongated flexible tubular sheath having proximal and distal ends;
• b) a flexible shaft having proximal and distal ends extending through and axially movable relative to said sheath, a surgical assembly being provided at said distal end of said shaft;
• and
• c) a handle assembly for controllably moving said shaft and said sheath axially and rotationally relative to each other,
• wherein said flexible shaft is constructed so that when said proximal end of said flexible shaft is rotated a first degree relative to said proximal end of said sheath, said surgical assembly at said distal end of said flexible shaft is rotated approximately said first degree relative to said distal end of said sheath.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a) an enlongated tubular sheath having proximal and distal ends;
• b) a shaft made of resilient material having the torqueability of a multifilament twisted and drawn or twisted and swaged or twisted and rolled cable having proximal and distal ends extending through and axially movable relative to said sheath, a surgical assembly being provided at said distal end of said shaft;
• and
• c) a handle assembly coupled to said shaft and said sheath and which is adapted to move said shaft and said sheath axially relative to each other.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a) an elongated tubular member having proximal and distal ends;
• b) an elongated control member extending through and axially and rotationally movable relative to said tubular member, a surgical assembly being provided at said distal end of said control member and a pinion being provided at or adjacent said proximal end;
• and
• c) a handle assembly including a first member and a second member axially movable relative to said first member, said second member being provided with a rack which engages said pinion of said control member and said second member being movable relative to said control member,
• said first member being coupled to said tubular member and said second member being coupled to said proximal end of said control member,
• wherein when said second member is moved relative to said control member, said rack causes rotation of said pinion and said control member.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a) an elongated tubular member having proximal and distal ends;
• b) an elongated control member extending through and axially and rotationally movable relative to said tubular member, a surgical assembly being provided at said distal end of said control member and a roller being provided at or adjacent said proximal end of said control member;
• and
• c) a handle assembly including a first member and a second member axially movable relative to said first member, said second member being provided with a surface which frictionally engages said roller of said control member and said second member being movable relative to said control member,
• said first member being coupled to said tubular member and said second member being coupled to said proximal end of said control member,
• wherein when said second member is moved relative to said control member, said surface moves relative to said roller and causes rotation of said roller and said control member.