# US 9,517,057 B2 · Shaft of a laparoscopic instrument

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- Number: US 9,517,057 B2
- Document ID: US9517057B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/239,101
- Filed: 2012-07-26
- Published: 2014-08-21
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-15
- Assignees: Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH
- Applicants: Kazunori Taniguchi; Sebastian Kracht; Thomas Aue; Dennis Bernhardt; Harald Hanke; Simon Hirschfeld
- Inventors: Kazunori Taniguchi; Sebastian Kracht; Thomas Aue; Dennis Bernhardt; Harald Hanke; Simon Hirschfeld
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517057B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/29: Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
- A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod}
- A61B 2017/00238: {Type of minimally invasive operation (A61B2017/00805 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/0088: {ceramic}
- A61B 2017/2901: {Details of shaft}
- A61B 2090/037: {with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A shaft of a laparoscopic instrument, having a ceramic tube which extends over the main length of the shaft and has a sheath which encloses the ceramic tube in at least some regions, is situated to cover those regions of the ceramic tube that are at risk of breakage and is designed to prevent the splinters of ceramic from penetrating through the sheath. The ceramic tube forms a predetermined breaking point in the region of the sheath.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A shaft of a laparoscopic instrument, the shaft comprising:
a ceramic tube including a predetermined breaking point formed in the ceramic tube; and
a sheath enclosing: (i) the ceramic tube in at least one region of a plurality of regions of the ceramic tube that is at risk of breakage, and (ii) the predetermined breaking point formed in the ceramic tube, the sheath being spaced apart from the ceramic tube by a radial distance, wherein
upon breakage of the ceramic tube, the sheath is configured to prevent splinters of ceramic material caused by the breakage from penetrating through the sheath.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The shaft according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined breaking point is formed as a groove in the ceramic tube.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The shaft according to claim 1, wherein the ceramic tube is provided with an applied reinforcing tube, and the predetermined breaking point is formed as a gap in the reinforcing tube.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The shaft according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined breaking point is situated at an end region of the shaft that is connected to an end holder.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The shaft according to claim 1, wherein the sheath is formed as a metal tube.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The shaft according to claim 5, wherein the metal tube is connected to internal flanges at ends between which the ceramic tube is held.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The shaft according to claim 1, wherein the sheath is formed as a cloth.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The shaft according to claim 7, wherein the cloth is embedded in a plastic matrix.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The shaft according to claim 1, wherein the sheath is formed as a casting material or as an adhesive material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The shaft according to claim 9, wherein the casting material or the adhesive material is enclosed by an envelope.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The shaft according to claim 1, wherein the sheath extends over an entire length of the ceramic tube.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The shaft according to claim 1, wherein the ceramic tube is formed from an electrically conducting ceramic and is provided with an outer insulating coating.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The shaft according to claim 12, wherein the ceramic tube is formed from tungsten carbide.