Patent ID: 6605036
Filing Date: 2003-08-12
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A surgical instrument assembly for use in endoscopic surgery, the assembly comprising:(a) a surgical instrument having a proximal control device for manually operating the instrument coupled to a distal operative device, the operative device and the control device being spaced mutually apart by a shaft, and a handle being provided in general proximity to the control device whereby a surgeon can hold the instrument; (b) optical means for viewing a distal end of the instrument in an operating zone within a patient; and (c) support means for retaining the instrument and optical viewing means in use so as to present the distal end of the instrument for viewing in the operating zone within the patient and to present the control device externally of the patient for manipulation by the surgeon; characterized in that: the handle is ergonomically configured as a generally elongate handle provided with opposed surface depressions arranged along the length of the handle, to accommodate at least a thumb tip and middle finger tip of the surgeon whereby the surgeon can grip fast the handle substantially directly between thumb and middle finger; the handle extends no more than about 5 cm beyond said surface depressions and the instrument is adapted to permit the surgeon to use the handle to rotate the instrument about the long axis of the shaft of the instrument while simultaneously rotating his/her hand around the handle in unrestricted movement with the palm of the hand passing around the end of the handle while maintaining the grip between thumb and middle finger, and the proximal control device is provided in general proximity to the handle, such that the surgeon can operate the surgical instrument using his/her index finger or fourth finger without releasing the grip between thumb and middle finger.