Abstract:
An instrument for cleaning a lens of a scope includes an elongated sheath and a cleaning portion. The elongated sheath defines a lumen dimensioned and configured to slidingly receive the scope therein. The cleaning portion is positioned in a distal portion of the lumen. The cleaning portion includes a membrane formed from an elastic material. The membrane includes one or more openings to facilitate translation of the scope through the membrane.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/567,896, filed on Dec. 7, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a cleaning apparatus configured to remove contaminants, e.g., debris and/or moisture, from the lens of a minimally invasive thoracic viewing instrument. 
         [0004]    2. Background of Related Art 
         [0005]    Minimally invasive surgery has become increasingly popular in recent years. Minimally invasive surgery eliminates the need to cut a large incision in a patient, thereby reducing discomfort, recovery time, and many of the deleterious side effects associated with traditional open surgery. Minimally invasive viewing instruments, e.g., laparoscopes and endoscopes, are optic instruments to facilitate the viewing of internal tissues and/or organs. 
         [0006]    Laparoscopic surgery involves the placement of a laparoscope in a small incision in the abdominal wall of a patient to view the surgical site. Endoscopic surgery involves the placement of an endoscope in a naturally occurring orifice, e.g., mouth, nose, anus, urethra, and vagina to view the surgical site. Other minimally invasive surgical procedures include video assisted thoracic surgery and cardiovascular surgery conducted through small incisions between the ribs. These procedures also utilize scopes to view the surgical site. 
         [0007]    A typical minimally invasive viewing instrument, e.g., a laparoscope or an endoscope, includes a housing, an elongated lens shaft extending from one end of the housing, and a lens that is provided in the distal end of the lens shaft. A camera viewfinder extends from the other end of the housing. A camera is connected to the housing and transmits images of the surgical field viewed through the lens to a monitor on which the images are displayed. During a surgical procedure, the distal end portion of the lens shaft is extended into the patient, while the proximal end portion of the lens shaft, the housing and the camera viewfinder remain outside the patient. In this manner, the laparoscope/endoscope is positioned and adjusted to view particular anatomical structures in the surgical field on the monitor. 
         [0008]    During insertion of an endoscope or a laparoscope into the body and during the surgical procedure, debris, e.g., organic matter and moisture, may be deposited on the lens of the endoscope. The buildup of debris and condensation on the lens impairs visualization of the surgical site, and often necessitates cleaning of the lens. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    The present disclosure is generally related to an instrument for cleaning the lens of a medical viewing instrument, such as an endoscope, during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. 
         [0010]    In one aspect, an instrument for cleaning the lens of a scope includes an elongated sheath having a lumen dimensioned and configured to slidingly receive a scope therein. A cleaning portion is positioned in the lumen of the sheath at the distal portion. The cleaning portion includes a membrane formed from an elastic material. One or more openings in the membrane facilitate distal translation of the scope through the sheath. 
         [0011]    As the scope is distally translated, the lens passes by and slidably engages the cleaning portion to facilitate removal of debris and/or moisture. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, the cleaning portion includes a cleaning member integrally formed with the sheath as a unitary structure. Integrally forming the cleaning member as a unitary structure may reduce manufacturing costs, enhance its durability, and inhibit leakage of fluids and/or gases through the tube of the surgical instrument. 
         [0013]    The membrane may include a plurality of flaps. In some embodiments, the flaps substantially obstruct the lumen at the distal portion of the sheath in a first position, and deflect outwardly to a second position in response to axial distal translation of the scope through the lumen. In some embodiments, the flaps may be biased toward a closed position. The cleaning member may include one or more slits formed therein that define the one or more flaps. The flaps can translate across and away from the lens of the scope in response to the distal axial translation of the scope through the lumen of the sheath. The flaps may approximate a surface of the lens of the scope, thereby facilitating cleaning of the lens as the scope is translated in an axial distal direction through the lumen of the tube. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the cleaning member may be formed from an elastic or flexible material that includes a small centrally disposed opening adapted for the reception of the lens therethrough. In a first position, the opening can be substantially closed. In such embodiments, as the scope distally translates through the tube, the scope can press against and expand the opening, and as the opening expands, the lens of the scope is pressed against the surface of the cleaning member facilitating the removal of debris and/or moisture from the lens of the scope. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment, the sheath may include one or more internal threads at the distal portion that matingly engage one or more external threads at a proximal end of the connecting portion of the cleaning portion. Alternatively, the sheath may include one or more external threads at the distal portion that matingly engage one or more internal threads at a proximal end of the connecting portion of the cleaning portion. The threads can facilitate releasable securement of the cleaning portion to the sheath. 
         [0016]    It is contemplated that in each of the presently disclosed embodiments, the cleaning member may be impregnated with a cleaning material. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the membrane is composed of a plurality of materials having different properties. In some embodiments, an inner layer is softer than an outer layer. 
         [0018]    These and other features of the present disclosure will be more fully described with reference to the appended figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    By way of description only, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an instrument in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure with the scope in a retracted position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a distal portion of the instrument of  FIG. 1  shown in a first condition corresponding to the position of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the distal portion of the instrument of Fig. I shown in a second condition with the scope lens advanced through the cleaner; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a distal portion of an instrument in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure shown in a first condition; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective of the distal portion of the instrument of  FIG. 3A  shown in a second condition with the scope lens advanced through the cleaner; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a distal portion of an instrument in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure shown in a first condition; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4B  is a side view in partial cross-section of the distal portion of the instrument of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4C  is an exploded perspective view of the distal portion of the instrument of  FIG. 4A ;  FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a distal portion of an instrument in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure shown in a first condition; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 5B  is an exploded perspective view of the distal portion of the instrument of  FIG. 5A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    Particular embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the figures and in the description that follow, in which like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements, the term “proximal” will refer to the end of the instrument that is closer to the operator during use, while the term “distal” will refer to the end that is farther from the operator during use. 
         [0030]    An endoscope typically includes an endoscope housing or body which can be rigid or flexible, depending on its surgical application. A camera viewfinder, e.g. an eyepiece, is located at a proximal (imaging) end of the scope housing. A lens is provided at the distal end of the scope body. 
         [0031]    In typical use of the endoscope, the viewfinder is adapted to sight images of a surgical field in the patient, e.g. an abdominal cavity, thoracic cavity, etc., as the position of the scope is adjusted to view a particular anatomical structure or structures in the surgical field. The camera is adapted to receive images of the surgical field sighted through the lens and transmit the images to an external monitor that is connected to the camera and on which the images of the surgical field are displayed. That is, a visual display device is operatively connected to the eyepiece to convert the optical signal into a video signal to produce a video image on the monitor (or for storage on select media). Accordingly, the monitor enables a surgical team to view the anatomical structure or structures in the surgical field inside the patient as the surgical procedure is carried out using minimally invasive or endoscopic surgical instruments. Throughout the surgical procedure, biological tissue or matter has a tendency to contact and build up on the lens of the scope. This tends to obscure the images of the surgical field as they are displayed on the monitor. 
         [0032]    The present disclosure includes wiping flaps to clean the lens of the scope during the surgical procedure to maintain a clear image without having to remove the scope from the patient&#39;s body. 
         [0033]    A first embodiment of a minimally invasive surgical instrument  100  that is configured and adapted to clean, i.e., remove debris and/or moisture, from a viewing portion  265 , e.g., a lens, of a viewing instrument  250  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-2B . The surgical instrument  100  includes a tube or sheath  110  having a lumen  112  that is configured and adapted to receive a scope  250  therethrough. In particular, the scope  250  is axially translatable through a distal portion  130  of the sheath  110 . A cleaning portion  139  is positioned in the distal portion  130  of the sheath  110 . Translation of the scope  250  through the distal portion  130  of the sheath  110  results in interaction between the viewing portion  265  of the scope  250  and the cleaning portion  139 . This interaction facilitates removal of debris and/or moisture, or other substances that may obstruct the viewing portion  265 . The operation of the cleaning portion  139  may be performed with the surgical instrument  100  in situ, i.e., within a patient&#39;s body cavity, during a surgical procedure so that the scope  250  does not need to be removed from the patient, thereby resulting in cleaning of the viewing portion  265  with minimal disruption to the surgical procedure. 
         [0034]    The scope can be inserted into an already placed sheath or alternatively positioned within the sheath and together inserted into the body. The sheath can accommodate various types of scopes, including but not limited to laparoscopes, thoracic scopes, etc. For example, during video assisted thoracoscopic surgery, a thoracic port is inserted through the ribs to provide access to the thoracic cavity for access to the lung or other tissue. A separate access is provided through the ribs to insert a scope to visualize the thoracic cavity during the surgical procedure. The sheath of the present disclosure can be utilized with the thoracic scope to maintain a clean lens to provide consistent visibility and imaging during the surgical procedure. The sheath can also be utilized with a flexible scope if composed of a sufficiently flexible material. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the cleaning portion  139  includes a cleaning member  133 . The cleaning member  133  may be a membrane, formed from a thin, pliable material that obstructs passage of an object therethrough in a first position, and facilitates passage of an object therethrough in a second position. To facilitate passage of an object through the cleaning member  133 , the cleaning member  133  includes one or more slits  132   a - d  that define one or more flaps  139   a - d.  As shown in  FIG. 2A , with the scope  250  retracted within sheath  110 , the flaps  139   a - d  substantially obstruct the path of the scope  250  through the distal portion  130  of the sheath  110 . The cleaning member  133  may also include a small opening  137  centrally disposed with the cleaning member  133  and between the one or more flaps  139   a - d.  The opening  137  provides a stress concentration and facilitates axial translation of the scope  250  between the one or more flaps  139   a - d  of the cleaning member  133 . The flaps are biased toward an approximated position. 
         [0036]    The cleaning portion  139  may be formed from a flexible or compliant material that is configured and adapted to approximate the contour of the viewing portion  265  of the scope  250 . The cleaning portion  139  includes a cleaning member  133  that is biased toward the first condition shown in  FIG. 2A . As described above, the cleaning member  133  may be formed from an elastic membrane, i.e., a thin layer of material, that substantially obstructs the path of the scope  250  distally through the sheath  110  in a first condition and parts, in a second condition, to accommodate continued distal translation of the lens  250 . 
         [0037]    In the first condition, flaps  139   a - d  are positioned against one another and substantially obstruct the path of the scope  250  through the distal portion  130  of the sheath  110 . The cleaning portion  139  substantially approximates the contours of the viewing portion  265  as the scope  250  is distally translated through the cleaning portion  139 . 
         [0038]    The cleaning portion  139  may be frictionally fit within the sheath  110 . In particular, the cleaning portion  139  may have a diameter larger than that defined by sheath  110  such that placement of the cleaning portion  139  within the sheath  110  frictionally secures the cleaning portion  139  within the sheath  110  due to the frictional engagement of the sheath inner wall. 
         [0039]    As the scope  250  is distally and axially translated through the tube  110 , the viewing portion  265  and the flaps  139   a - d  interact to remove debris from the surface of the viewing portion  265  as the viewing portion  265  is passed through and engaged by the flaps  139   a - 139   d.  The viewing instrument  250  is distally translated through the sheath  110  until the flaps  139   a - d  are parted and do not obstruct the viewing portion  265 . With the scope  250  fully extended through the distal portion  130  of the sheath  110 , the inward bias of the flaps  139   a - d  against the exterior of the scope  250  ( FIG. 2B ) may facilitate stabilization of the scope  250 . Moreover, the cleaning member  133  may include a cleaning solution and/or material. For example, the cleaning solution and/or material may be impregnated into the cleaning member  133 . 
         [0040]    In one embodiment, the cleaning member  133  may include multiple layers of material. Each layer of material may have different properties. For example, the outer layer of material may be stiffer than the inner layer of material. By having a softer inner layer of material that contacts the viewing portion  265  of the scope  250 , damage, e.g., scratching, of the viewing portion  265  may be inhibited. In addition, a stiffer outer layer of material may facilitate protection of the viewing portion  265  when scope  250  is retracted within the sheath  110 . The stiffer material can also add some rigidity to the flaps to bias them to a closed position. 
         [0041]    The use and operation of the surgical instrument  100  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B . During use of the surgical instrument  100 , the viewing portion  265  of the scope  250  extending beyond the distal end of sheath  112 , may become obstructed by debris and/or moisture. The viewing portion  265  may be cleaned in situ, i.e., during the surgical procedure, without removing the surgical instrument  100  from the surgical site. In particular, the scope  250  is retracted to be positioned proximal to the cleaning member  133  to a position shown in  FIG. 2A . Then, the scope  250  is distally translated through the cleaning member  133 . The distal translation of the scope  250  through the cleaning member  133  forces the viewing portion  265  against the flaps  139   a - d,  thereby resulting in cleaning of the viewing portion  265  and parting of the flaps  139   a - d.  In this second condition, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the flaps  139   a - d  are parted and do not obstruct the viewing portion  265  of the scope  250 . During the surgical procedure, these steps may be repeated as needed to clean the viewing portion  265 . 
         [0042]    In another embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a surgical instrument includes a sheath  151  with a cleaning portion  149 . The surgical instrument  150  is substantially similar to the surgical instrument  100  except in the following respects, as will now be described hereinbelow. In particular, the surgical instrument  150  includes a sheath  151  and a cleaner portion that includes a cleaner member in the form of an elastic membrane  140 . The elastic membrane  140  includes a centrally disposed opening  145 . The elastic membrane  140  can be frictionally retained within distal portion  153  of sheath  151 . In the first condition ( FIG. 3A ), the opening  145  is substantially closed. As the scope  250  is distally translated through the lumen of sheath  151 , the viewing portion  265  of the scope  250  is pressed against the elastic membrane  140 , thereby cleaning the viewing portion  265 . Continued distal translation of the scope  250  within sheath  151  expands the dimension of the opening  145  until the scope  250  is passed through the opening  145  and the membrane  140  is positioned around the scope  250  ( FIG. 3B ). Translation of the scope  250  through the sheath  151  and the transitioning of the surgical instrument between the first and second conditions ( FIGS. 3A-B ), effects the cleaning of the viewing portion  265  of scope  250 . Similar to the cleaning member  133 , the membrane  140  may also include a cleaning solution and/or material, e.g., the membrane  140  may be impregnated with a cleaning solution and/or material. 
         [0043]    In the foregoing embodiments, the cleaning member can be frictionally retained within the sheath. Alternatively, the sheath and the cleaning member may be matingly engaged to one another. In particular, a surgical instrument  200  that is substantially similar to surgical instrument  100 , except in the following respects, will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 4A-4C . The surgical instrument  200  includes a sheath  210  having a threading  212  along an interior surface  214  at the distal portion  216  of the sheath  210 . A cleaning portion  230  having a cleaning member  239  is provided that is substantially similar to the cleaning portion  139  of  FIG. 2A . The cleaning portion  230  includes a complementary exterior threading  232  at a proximal portion thereof. The threading  232  and the threading  212  are configured and adapted to matingly engage one another in a secure manner that may be releasable. In this manner, the cleaning portion  230  can be attached to the sheath  210 . The cleaning member  239  includes flaps  214   a - 214   d  which define opening  217 . Flaps  214   a - 214   d  and opening  217  are substantially identical to the flaps  132   a - 132   d  and opening  137  of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , respectively. 
         [0044]    In an alternative embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , a surgical instrument  280  includes threading  282  along an exterior  284  of the sheath  281  at a distal portion  286  thereof. A cleaning portion  290  having a cleaning member is substantially similar to the cleaning portion  139  of  FIG. 2A  except in the following respect. The cleaning portion  290  includes a threading (not shown) along an interior proximal surface. The threading is configured and adapted to matingly engage threading  282 , and can be releasable. In this manner, the cleaner portion  290  can be attached to sheath  281 . Cleaning portion  290  has an opening  297  and flaps  294   a,    294   b,    294   c  and  294   d  substantially identical to opening  137  and flaps  132   a - 132   d  of  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, respectively, to clean the scope  250 . 
         [0045]    Fluid conduit(s) can be provided in the foregoing sheaths to apply a cleaning fluid. 
         [0046]    The flaps can be symmetrically or asymmetrically arranged. Additionally, an integral hinge, spring or other mechanism can be attached to the flaps to hold the flaps against the lens during re-insertion of the scope. 
         [0047]    While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings and/or discussed herein, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.