Endoscope in particular a mediastinoscope

An endoscope, in particular a mediastinoscope, in which the handle and the optics guided therein form an inseparable unit and which includes a first and second spatula-like part which can be separated from one another in the longitudinal direction. An adjusting mechanism is provided which permits a separation, a fastenable displacement parallel to the axis and a fastenable pivoting of the two parts relative to one another. In particular by way of the pivotability an expansion of a body cavity to be visually examined or which is to undergo therapy by way of introduced auxiliary instruments is made possible according to requirements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to an endoscope, in particular a mediastinoscope with 
optics guided between two parts and with a handle which connects to the 
proximal end of the parts at an angle to the longitudinal axis and which 
can be releasably connected to a camera via a receiver and to a 
fiber-optic cable via a coupling. 
An endoscope of this type is known from DE 44 45 599 A1. Here the outer 
shank consists of a single tube whose diameter at the distal end is 
broadened forming a lip projecting beyond the distal end of the shank 
tube. 
The free lumen of the remaining operating channel which is available is 
determined by the diameter of the shank tube and thus cannot be changed 
with regard to space. Thus the operator in the operating channel only has 
a limited and unchangeable space available so that on application of 
several instruments, the handling thereof and the view through the 
remaining free space into the body cavity is under certain circumstances 
considerably limited. 
Indeed endoscopic operations in certain body cavities require, apart from a 
good handling ability of the auxiliary means, a large as possible free 
space which where necessary can also be adapted to the anatomical 
circumstances in order to be able to introduce various auxiliary 
instruments through the operating channel into the body cavity to be 
treated or to be examined. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore the object of the invention to provide an endoscope, in 
particular a mediastinoscope whose handling for the operator with reduced 
costs is further improved and which makes possible an operating channel 
which is changeable in its spacial extension, and at the same time an 
optimal visual control on applying several instruments. 
The above object is achieved with such a type of endoscope in that the 
handle and optics form an inseparable unit, that the optics are guided 
within the two parts along the inner surface of the one part, that the 
parts consist of a first and second spatula-like part separated from one 
another in the longitudinal direction and that there are provided 
adjusting means which permit a separation, a fastenable displacement 
parallel to the axis and a fastenable pivoting of the two parts to one 
another. 
By way of this design formation of the endoscope according to the 
invention, with the two spatula-like parts, by way of a parallel 
displacement and/or pivoting of these two parts to one another the space 
available for the operating channel can be changed considerably. A body 
cavity to be visually examined or to be treated by way of introduced 
auxiliary instruments can on account of these adjusting possibilities be 
broadened to the requirements and undergo therapy with a visual control. 
Since the two spatula-like parts are separable from one another, also 
various spatulas can be combined with one another. In a further formation 
of the endoscope according to the invention it is further possible also to 
the make the angle between the handle and the optics running parallel to 
the two spatulas adjustable. As such the operator is given the possibility 
of setting the viewing and retaining position favorable to him, by which 
means the visual control is made easier and premature tiring and likewise 
is noticeably reduced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The endoscope represented in FIG. 1 in a lateral complete view, which is in 
particular applicable as a mediastinoscope, consists of a handle 2 on 
whose distal end there is arranged a receiver 5 which serves the 
attachment of an ocular funnel, a camera or likewise (not shown) in order 
to be able to observe the image transmitted by way of the optics 3, 4 
integrated into the handle 2 directly or on a monitor. The optics 3, 4 
arranged in the handle 2 and the handle 2 together form an inseparable 
constructional unit. Onto the end of the handle 2, which is opposite the 
receiver 5 according to FIG. 1, there is fastened a first spatula-like 
part 6 by way of a fastening clip 15 formed with this part as one piece 
with a joint body 16 partly encompassing the handle 2 and connected to the 
handle in a pivotingly movable manner by way of a joint axis 17. 
The first spatula-like part 6 on account of the above mentioned adjusting 
means is inseparably but pivotably connected to the handle 2. Tile 
pivoting angle is set by an adjusting screw 19. As will be explained 
further below, also by way of rotatable handle parts 2a, 2b coaxially 
surrounding the handle 2, on whose upper end the joint body 16 is mounted 
pivotingly movable through the pivoting axis 17, the first spatula-like 
part 6 is adjustable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the optics and 
thus also parallel to the second spatula-like part 7. 
FIG. 1 shows the second spatula-like part 7 arranged parallel to the first 
part 6. The inner side of the part 6 comprises a receiver 22 through which 
the distal end of the optics 4 can be guided with slight play. FIG. 5 
shows that the second spatula-like part at its proximal end has a 
proximally open cutout 9 which is limited by parallel lateral surfaces 10. 
The cutout 9 and the lateral surfaces 10 serve, as will be explained 
later, for attaching and fastening the second spatula-like part 7 to the 
endoscope parallel to the optics 4 whose distal end is guided through the 
receiver 22. Furthermore the view in FIG. 2 shows a fiber-optic cable 
connection 23 on the handle 2, a slot 13 and a fastening screw 14 which 
respectively serves for accommodating and fastening the inserted second 
spatula-like shaft part 7. 
FIG. 2 shows details of the endoscope shown completely in FIG. 1, from the 
distal end, whereby the fastening clip 15 releasably connecting the first 
spatula-like part 6 to the joint body 16 can be particularly clearly 
recognized. 
The second spatula-like part 7 is in FIG. 2 fixed in its assembled 
condition by way of the fastening screw 14 and runs parallel to the optics 
4. The joint body 16 is adjusted by way of the adjusting screw 19 such 
that the first spatula-like part 6 stands roughly parallel to the second 
spatula-like part 7. The rotatable handle parts 2a, 2b on the handle 2 are 
set such that the the first spatula like part 6 bears on the second 
spatula-like part 7 without any distance to this. 
FIG. 4 further shows the two receiving slots 8 which serve the 
accommodation of the second part 7. These slots 8 run parallel on the end 
face of the handle 2 over its whole length and are formed such that they 
tightly accommodate the lateral surfaces 10 limiting the cutout 9 of the 
second part. 
FIGS. 3 and 4 clearly show the receiving and fastening means for 
accommodating and fastening the removable second part 7. The latter is 
inserted into the receiving slots 8. The second part 7 comprises on its 
convex outer side a fastening bracket 11 with a conical bore 12, and as a 
fastening means on the handle 2 there serves a fastening screw 14 with a 
conical shoulder which, when the fastening bracket 11 is located in the 
receiving slot 13 attached to the handle 2, engages into the bore 12 and 
by way of this unmovably fixes the second part 7. 
This condition is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the first spatula-like 
part is adjusted bearing sealingly on the second spatula-like part by way 
of the handle parts 2a, 2b provided on the handle 2. 
In order to be able to adjust the handle parts 2a, 2b on the handle, there 
is located on the handle part 2a an outer thread and on the handle part 2b 
an inner thread, so that both handle parts can be adjusted along the 
cylinder longitudinal axis of the handle and thus the first part 6 
parallel to the second part 7. 
In FIG. 1 there can be recognized one of two joint pins 17 which form a 
pivoting axis on the joint body 16 and engage into the handle 2. 
Furthermore there is attached on the joint body 16 a ball latch 18 with 
which the two parts 6 and 7 proceeding from a position parallel to the 
axis, can be releasably fixed in several pivoting positions to one 
another. If it is necessary to widen the body opening to be examined to a 
certain degree, then this may be effected by pivoting out at least one of 
the two shank parts 6, 7. 
For fixing auxiliary instruments to be guided within the two parts 6, 7 or 
outside of these, the two parts 6, 7 at their concave inner side and/or 
their convex outer side as shown in FIG. 2 may comprise one or several 
guiding receivers 21 for accommodating auxiliary instruments. 
It must still be mentioned that the endoscope according to the invention, 
although this is not shown in the figures, may comprise means for 
adjusting the angle between the receiver 5 and the cylinder longitudinal 
axis of the handle 2. 
As a whole the invention permits an endoscope, in particular a 
mediastinoscope, to comprise the following advantageous features: 
The optics run parallel to the spatula axis along the removable second part 
7 and are rigidly attached to the handle so that the optics and handle 
form one unit. The second part 7 guiding the optics may be separated from 
the handle. 
Both spatula-like parts 6,7 may be spread and additionally also adjusted 
parallely. Indeed the pivoting of the two parts permits an expansion of a 
body cavity to be visually controlled or which is to undergo therapy by 
way of introduced auxiliary means according to the requirements of the 
operator. At the same time with this the handling is also simplified since 
the two distal ends of the first and second parts bearing on the body 
cavity walls are locally fixed. 
By way of the fact that a part, more specifically the second part 7 is 
separable from the endoscope, differing spatula-like parts may be combined 
with one another. For example the radius of curvature, the length and 
shape of the second part may be changed. The outer edges of the second 
part 7 may run conically, so that this tapers distally. At the distal end 
the second part 7 may also comprise an atraumatic rounded lip projecting 
beyond the distal end of the endoscope. The optics have a standard 
interface, by which means it is ensured that an attached camera may also 
be used in another way. 
It is also advantageous that at the proximal end of the handle 2 there is 
located only the ocular funnel or a part of the optics accommodating a 
camera. With this the operator is offered the possibility of examining the 
body cavity directly through the eyepiece or also of directly visually 
monitoring the endoscopic operation in the body cavity. 
By way of the optionally present adjustability of the angle between the 
receiver and the longitudinal axis of the handle 2 the operator is given 
thc possibility of setting the viewing and retaining position which is 
most favorable for him, by which means the viewing is simplified and 
additionally, appearances of tiredness and likewise are considerably 
reduced.