Abstract:
The invention relates to a tubular medical instrument having a hollow shaft, a handle equipped with at least two gripping members and positioned on the proximal end of the shaft, and at least one push-pull rod that is mounted in the hollow shaft and has a tool consisting of at least two jaw members. For opening and closing at least one jaw member of the tool, said push-pull rod can be coupled with at last one rotatable gripping member of the handle, and the hollow shaft and handle can be releasably connected to one another by means of a coupling mechanism. To create a coupling mechanism that is simple to operate, it is proposed with the invention that the coupling mechanism should be configured as a combined clamping and snap-on device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority of German patent application No. 10 2006 038 517.9 filed on Aug. 17, 2006, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a tubular medical instrument having a hollow shaft, a handle equipped with at least two gripping members and positioned on the proximal end of the shaft, and at least one push-pull rod that is mounted in the hollow shaft and has a tool consisting of at least two jaw members. For opening and closing at least one jaw member of the tool, said push-pull rod can be coupled with at last one rotatable gripping member of the handle, and the hollow shaft and handle can be releasably connected to one another by means of a coupling mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Tubular medical instruments of this type are in use in endoscopic surgery, for instance in the configuration as needle holder. Because of more stringent hygienic standards, it is increasingly frequent that demands are made whereby tubular instruments that include hollow areas, for instance hollow shafts, should be configured so that they can be at least partly dismantled for thorough cleansing and sterilization, preferably sterilization by steam. 
     In DE 43 07 539 A1, a generic tubular medical instrument, configured as a forceps, is reported. This known tubular instrument can be broken down into three principal units for cleansing and sterilization: the push-pull rod, hollow shaft, and handle. The coupling mechanism for connecting the hollow shaft and handle is configured in this construction as a snap-on connection. Snap-on connections in themselves, as a rule, involve a certain free play when they are not manufactured with extremely minute tolerances, which in turn increase manufacturing costs and make handling difficult during assembly. 
     It is consequently the object of the invention to perfect a tubular medical instrument in such a way that the hollow shaft and handle can be dissolubly connected to one another by means of a coupling mechanism that, to the greatest extent possible, functions without free play. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This object is fulfilled through the invention in that the coupling mechanism is configured as a combined clamping and snap-on device. 
     As a result of the inventive combination of the clamping and snap-on connection, the advantages of both connective techniques are combined, that is, simplicity of installation and dismantling of a snap-on connection and free play of a clamping connection. 
     In configuring the clamping device, it is proposed with the invention that the proximal end of the hollow shaft should be conical in shape and that an insertion bore-hole should be configured in the handle, open on the distal end and running in the axial direction, for insertion of the proximal end of the hollow shaft, so that the insertion bore-hole comprises a tapering counter-cone that corresponds to itself. This configuration of the conical-shaped shaft end and counter-cone in the insertion bore-hole allows an automatic and nearly play-free coupling of the components that are to be connected together, a coupling that is simple and cost-effective to manufacture on the one hand, and can be easily and quickly assembled and dismantled on the other hand. 
     According to a practical embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the counter-cone is configured in a sleeve that is positioned in the insertion bore-hole so that it can be slid in the axial direction. The configuration of the counter-cone in a sleeve that is to be inserted in the insertion bore-hole simplifies the manufacturing of the counter-cone and also allows the adjustment to various cone angles of the shaft end. 
     It is further proposed with the invention that the sleeve should be positioned in the insertion bore-hole so that it can be axially slid counter to the force of a spring element, so that the sleeve is pre-tensed by the spring element into the installation position that releases the coupling between the hollow shaft and handle. Ability of the sleeve to slide axially simplifies the alignment of the shaft end in relation to the snap-on device, so that manufacturing tolerances can also be easily compensated for, because only the counter-cone of the sleeve is to be manufactured with exact tolerances in order to achieve the clamping effect of the reciprocal conical surfaces, but highly precise tolerances concerning longitudinal configuration of the hollow shaft are not required. 
     To configure the snap-on device, it is proposed with the invention that in the handle a snap-on element, which can be moved essentially perpendicularly to the insertion bore-hole, should be positioned in the handle, 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention it is proposed that the snap-on element should consist of a blocking member as well as a release button that is coupled with the blocking member, so that the snap-on element advantageously is pre-tensed by the spring element in the direction toward the snap-on position. The pre-tensing of the snap-on element in the direction toward the blocking position has the advantage that it automatically reaches the desired snap-on connection as soon as the elements that are to be coupled to one another happen to be in the correct position with respect to the snap-on element. 
     To ensure secure fixing of the hollow shaft by means of the snap-on connection, in the proximal end of the hollow shaft at least one recess is configured for snap-on insertion of the snap-on element. At least one recess for snap-on insertion of the snap-on element is advantageously configured both in the proximal end of the hollow shat and in the sleeve, in order to be able to fix the conical-shaped shaft end and the counter-cone by means of just one snap-on element. 
     Correctly seated insertion of the shaft end into the insertion bore-hole, in particular with respect to the alignment to the snap-on device, can be facilitated according to the invention in that at least one guide element is positioned in the handle, to serve to align the proximal end of the hollow shaft in the insertion bore-hole, so that the guide element preferably is configured as a rod or, for instance, as a headless screw that can be screwed into the handle. 
     According to a practical embodiment of the invention, on the proximal end of the hollow shaft at least one guide groove is configured for insertion of the guide element. Two guide grooves for inserting the guide element are preferably configured opposite to one another on the proximal end of the hollow shaft. The use of two guide grooves opposite one another for inserting the guide element has the advantage that even if only one guide element is to be inserted, the two components to be coupled to one another can be coupled in more than a single position of the components to one another, so that the installation is made easier. 
     Finally, it is proposed with the invention that the guide element should form a stop for the sleeve and thus should prevent the sleeve from being accidentally pulled out of the insertion bore-hole together with the hollow shaft after release of the snap-on connection. 
     Further characteristics and advantages of the invention can be seen with reference to the appended illustrations, in which an embodiment of an inventive tubular medical instrument is shown in merely schematic form. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic side view of an inventive tubular medical instrument. 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic side view of the instrument from  FIG. 1  in disassembled form. 
         FIG. 3   a  shows an enlarged detailed schematic sectional view of detail IIIa from  FIG. 1  in a side view during installation. 
         FIG. 3   b  presents a view according to  FIG. 3   a  but from overhead. 
         FIG. 4   a  presents a view according to  FIG. 3   a , but showing the snapped-together working position. 
         FIG. 4   b  presents a view according to  FIG. 4   a  but from overhead. 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic section along the line V-V according to  FIG. 3   a , but depicting only the snap-on element. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The tubular medical instrument shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , configured as a needle holder, consists essentially of a handle  2  equipped with two gripping members  1 , a hollow shaft  3 , and a push-pull rod  4  that can be inserted into the hollow shaft  3  and has on its distal end a tool  5  consisting of two jaw members  5   a  and  5   b.    
     The tubular medical instrument shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in the form of a needle holder consists essentially of a handle  2  equipped with two gripping members  1 , a hollow shaft  3 , and a push-pull rod  4  that can be inserted in the hollow shaft  3  and has on its distal end a tool  5  consisting of two jaw members  5   a  and  5   b.    
     The three components handle  2 , hollow shaft  3 , and push-pull rod  4 , which are particularly clearly depicted in  FIG. 2 , can be coupled with one another by coupling and snap-on mechanism in such a way that by actuation of the gripping members  1  of the handle  2  the jaw members  5   a  and  5   b  of the tool  5  can be moved between an open and a closed working position, so that the forces exerted by the user upon the gripping members  1  of the handle  2  are transmitted by the push-pull rod  4  to the jaw members  5   a ,  5   b  of the tool  5 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment the tool  5  comprises a rigid jaw member  5   a  and a jaw member  5   b  that can rotate with respect to the rigid jaw member  5   a . It is also possible, of course, to configure both jaw members of the tool  5  as rotatable jaw members  5   b.    
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in the illustrated embodiment both gripping members  1  of the handle  2  are configured as rotatable gripping members  1 , which are mounted on a housing  7  of the handle  2  so that they can rotate by means of contact points  6 . To convert the rotary motion of the gripping members into a purely axial movement of the push-pull rod  4 , as well as for power transmission of the pressure exerted by the user through the handle  2  onto the push-pull rod  4 , both gripping members are connected each by an articulated lever  8  with a coupling rod  9 , which in turn is coupled directly or indirectly with the push-pull rod  4  by means of a coupling mechanism, so that the coupling of the push-pull rod  4  with the coupling rod  9  and thereby with the handle  1  occurs in the coupling housing  10 . 
     The coupling of the push-pull rod  4  and thus also of the jaw members  5   a  and  5   b  of the tool  5  with the gripping members  1  of the handle  2  is designed in such a way that upon pressing together the gripping members  1 , the push-pull rod  4  is pulled by the articulated lever  8  and the coupling rod  9  in the axial direction to the proximal end of the instrument. This axial sliding of the push-pull rod  4  to the proximal end of the instrument causes the jaw members  5   a ,  5   b  of the tool  5  to move into the closed working position. In this compressed position, the gripping members  1  can be fixed with respect to one another by a stopping device  11 , so that the user is not required continuously to exert the pressure on the gripping members  1  of the handle  2 . This fixing can be released again by means of an unlocking button  1 , which severs the parts of the stopping device  11   
     Alternatively to the illustrated embodiment, it is also possible, of course, to design the tubular instrument in such a way that the moving of the jaw members  5   a ,  5   b  of the tool  5  into the closed working position is effected by sliding the push-pull rod  4  axially to the distal end of the instrument. 
     The gripping members  1  are advantageously pre-tensed into the open position by a spring element, which for instance can be positioned in the coupling housing  10 . As soon as the unlocking button  12  is actuated, this spring element pushes the push-pull rod  4  in the axial direction to the distal end of the instrument, so that the gripping members are pressed apart by means of the coupling rod  9  and the articulated lever  8 . This axial sliding of the push-pull rod  4  to the distal end of the instrument causes the jaw members  5   a ,  5   b  of the tool  5  to move into the open working position. 
     Alternatively to the illustrated embodiment of the handle  2  with two rotatable gripping members, it is also possible, of course, to configure just a single gripping member so that it can rotate, whereas the other gripping member is then, for instance, configured as a single piece rigid with the housing  7  of the handle  2 . In such a configuration it is possible to couple the push-pull rod  4  directly with the rotatable gripping member  1 . 
     It is further possible to provide overload protection in the coupling area of the push-pull rod  4  with the handle  2 , preventing too great an exertion of force onto the push-pull rod  4 . Such an overload protection can be configured as an overload spring positioned in the area of the coupling rod  9 . To connect the push-pull rod  4  with the handle  2 , on the proximal end of the push-pull rod  4  a coupling element  13  is positioned, by which the push-pull rod  4  can be releasably connected with the handle  2 . 
     On the distal side as well, the hollow shaft  3  comprises a coupling or snap-on mechanism in order to be able to couple together the hollow shaft  3  and the push-pull rod  4  that can be inserted into it. 
     The hollow shaft  3  serving for insertion of the push-pull rod  4  can be coupled with the handle  2  by means of a coupling mechanism, which is positioned in the housing  7  of the handle  2 . In the illustrated embodiment of the tubular medical instrument, the hollow shaft  3  also comprises a rinsing connection  14 , which serves on the one hand to introduce irrigation fluid during an operation and on the other hand upon which an irrigation house can be connected for cleaning the hollow shaft  3 . 
     The structure of the coupling mechanism for dissoluble connection of the hollow shaft  3  with the handle  2  can be seen in  FIGS. 3   a  through  5 . 
     This coupling mechanism is configured as a combined clamping and snap-on device, whose essential components are the conical-shaped tapering proximal end of the hollow shaft  3 , an insertion bore-hole  15  configured in the housing  7  of the handle  2  and running in the axial direction of the tubular instrument, and a sleeve  16  positioned in the insertion bore-hole  15  for configuring the clamping device and a snap-on element  17  that can be mounted perpendicular to the insertion bore-hole  15  for configuring the snap-on device. 
     To ensure an essentially form-fitted clamping connection between the proximal end of the hollow shaft  3  and the sleeve  16 , the inside of the sleeve  16  is configured as a counter-cone tapering in conformity with the cone-shaped end of the hollow shaft  3 . 
     As can further be seen from  FIGS. 3   a  through  4   a , the sleeve  16  is positioned so that it can slide axially against the force of a spring element  18  in such a way that the sleeve  16  is pre-tensed by means of the spring element  18  in the distal direction and thus in the direction of the installation position, in which the sleeve  16  is found in the uncoupled position. 
     The snap-on element  17  that forms the snap-on device consists in the illustrated embodiment, as can be seen in particular from  FIG. 5 , of a locking member  17   a , which comprises a through-bore hole  17   b  that is keyhole-shaped in cross-section for insertion of the sleeve  16  clamped with the proximal end of the hollow shaft  3 , as well as a release button  17   c  that is in active connection with the locking member  17   a.    
     As can further be seen from  FIGS. 3   a  and  4   a , the snap-on element  17  is positioned to slide perpendicularly to the insertion bore-hole  15  against the force of a spring element  19  in the housing  7  of the handle  2  in such a way that the locking member  17   a  is pre-tensed by the spring element  19  in the direction of the snap-on position, in which the locking member  17   a  grasps the proximal end of the hollow shaft  3  by snap-on locking with it. 
     The hollow shaft  3  is secured by means of the locking member  17   a  in the illustrated embodiment through two recesses  20  in each case, which are configured in the proximal end of the hollow shaft  3  as well as congruently in the sleeve  16  and in which the locking member  17   a  of the snap-on element  17  engages and locks. Reference to  FIG. 5  helps to clarify the snap-on connection of the hollow shaft  3  with the locking member  17   a  of the snap-on element  17  in such a way that the sleeve  16  clamped with the shaft end is mounted in the not yet snap-on connected position in the area of the upper round part of the through-bore hole  17   b  of the locking member  17   a . As soon as the recesses  20  configured in the sleeve  16  and in the shaft end enter into the through-bore hold  17   b , the locking member  17   a  is pressed upward by the spring element  19 , so that the sleeve  16  clamped with the shaft end now enters into the narrow lower area of the through-bore hole  17   b  of the locking member  17   a . In this snap-on connected working position shown in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , both the sleeve  6  and the hollow shaft  3  are secured in the handle  2  against axial sliding. 
     To facilitate properly positioned insertion of the shaft end into the insertion bore-hole  15 , in particular concerning the alignment of the snap-on device, a guide element  21  is also mounted in the housing  7  of the handle  2  which ensures that the proximal end of the hollow shaft  3  is adjustable in the insertion bore-hole  15 . In the illustrated embodiment the guide element  21  is configured as a headless screw that can be screwed into the housing  7  of the handle  2  and engages in a guide groove  22  configured at the proximal end of the hollow shaft  3 . Rather than using only one guide groove  22 , it is also possible to configure several guide grooves  22  on the proximal end of the hollow shaft  3 . 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 3   a  and  4   a , in the illustrated embodiment two mutually opposite guide grooves  22  are configured on the proximal end of the hollow shaft  3  for inserting the guide element  21 . The use of two guide grooves  22  opposite to one another for inserting the guide element  21  has the advantage that, even with only one guide element  21  to be inserted, the two components that are to be coupled together can be coupled to one another not just in a single position of the components, so that the installation is facilitated. 
     Alternatively to the illustrated embodiment it is also possible, of course, to configure the guide groove for insertion of the guide element  21  as a surrounding groove if the push-pull rod  4  of the medical instrument can rotate around its longitudinal axis. 
     The joining of the illustrated tubular instrument and, in particular, of the coupling mechanism to connect the hollow shaft  3  with the handle is described below with reference to  FIGS. 3   a  through  5 . 
     In the first step of the installation the push-pull rod  4  and the hollow shaft  3  are coupled with one another, so that, to avoid accidental release of the coupling between the push-pull rod  4  and the hollow shaft  3 , the illustrated embodiment comprises a limiting device  23  to restrict the mobility of the push-pull rod  4  inside the hollow shaft  3  in the area of the proximal end of the push-pull rod  4  mounted in the handle  2  and of the hollow shaft  3 . 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 3   b  and  4   b , the illustrated limiting device  23  consists of two contact surfaces configured on the push-pull rod  4  and positioned opposite to one another, which are configured as recesses in the push-pull rod  4 , and of a contact element  25  that is mounted in a recess in the hollow shaft  3  and, when the push-pull rod  4  and the hollow shaft  3  are installed, is contiguous, and essentially form-fitted, to a contact surface  24  of the push-pull rod  4 . 
     This limiting device  23 , which is effective only with the tubular instrument fully installed, allows an axial motion of the push-pull rod  4  only inside the limited portion of the pathway that is necessary in order to rotate the jaw members  5   a ,  5   b  of the tool  5  between the open working position illustrated in  FIG. 1  and the closed working position. It becomes impossible to release the coupling between the push-pull rod  4  and the hollow shaft  3  when they are installed, because of the limiting device  23 , because the contact element  25  of the limiting device  23 , when the hollow shaft  3  is coupled with the handle  2 , cannot move radially outward from the recess in the push-pull rod  4 . Because of the coupling of the axial displacement of the push-pull rod  4  with the angle of rotation of the gripping members  1  of the handle  2 , the limiting device  23 , which restricts the axial motion of the push-pull rod  4 , thus causes at the same time a limiting of the angle of rotation of the gripping members  1  when fully installed. 
     In the successive second installation step, the conical-shaped proximal end of the hollow shaft  3  is inserted into the insertion bore-hole  15  configured in the housing  7  of the handle  2 , until this end is received in the sleeve  16  positioned in the insertion bore-hole  15 , so that the hollow shaft  3  is positioned for purposes of rotating around its longitudinal axis by the guide element  21  in the form of a headless screw is positioned in the insertion bore-hole  15  and in the sleeve  16  for purposes of the snap-on device. Indeed, as soon as the guide element  2  engages in one of the guide grooves  22 , the shaft end is positioned correctly and the hollow shaft  3  can no longer be rotated around its longitudinal axis. 
     Now the conical-shaped shaft end is pressed further into the sleeve  16  until the shaft end locks with the counter-cone of the sleeve  16 . Through additional pressure by the hollow shaft  3  in the proximal direction, the sleeve  16  clamped with the shaft end is pressed further inward against the force of the spring element  18  in the proximal direction into the insertion bore-hole  15 , until the snap-on element  17  ends the axial sliding of the sleeve  6  by snap-on. 
     Parallel to this snap-on connection of the proximal end of the hollow shaft  3  with the handle  2 , or else subsequent to this snap-on connection, the push-pull rod  4  is coupled with the gripping members  1  of the handle  2  in order to be able to cause an axial sliding of the push-pull rod  4  by means of rotation of the gripping members  1 , which sliding in turn causes the displacement of the jaw members  5   a  and  5   b  of the tool  5 . 
     As soon as the sleeve  16  clamped with the shaft end has been shoved far enough into the insertion bore-hole  15  so that the recesses  20  configured in the sleeve  6  and in the hollow shaft  3  come to rest at the height of the snap-on element  7 , the spring element  9  presses the blocking member  17   a  of the snap-on element in these recesses and thus blocks any further axial sliding of the sleeve  16  and the hollow shaft  3 . Because of the combination of the clamping connection and the snap-on connection, this coupling mechanism ensures the greatest possible free play in the connection. 
     Disassembly follows then in precisely reverse order of the installation steps by releasing the clamping snap-on connection between the hollow shaft  3  and the handle  2 , releasing of the connection of the push-pull rod  4  with the gripping members of the handle  2 , to the point of uncoupling the hollow shaft  3  from the push-pull rod  4 . 
     To release the clamping snap-on between the hollow shaft  3  and the handle  2 , the snap-on connection is first released by pressing downward on the release button  17   c . By actuation of the release button  17   c , the blocking member  17   a  releases the recesses  20  of the sleeve  16  and of the hollow shaft  3  again. As soon as this snap-on connection ceases to exist, the sleeve  16  clamped with the shaft end is pressed by the spring element  18  in the distal direction out of the insertion bore-hole  15 . 
     Pushing the sleeve  6  out of the insertion bore-hold  15  by the spring element  18  simultaneously causes a displacement of the hollow shaft  3  together with the push-pull rod  4  mounted in the hollow shaft  3  in a distal direction. This motion in the distal direction in addition is supported by the coupling rod  9  coupled with the gripping members  1 , and said rod is pressed in the distal direction by the gripping members  1  pre-tensed in the open position by a spring element as soon as the clamping snap-on connection between the hollow shaft  3  and the handle  2  is released. 
     Following the axial sliding of the hollow shaft  3  together with the push-pull rod  4  mounted in the hollow shaft  3 , in the distal direction the limiting device  23  is deactivated and releases the coupling between the hollow shaft  3  and the push-pull rod  4  again, because the contact element  25  that is no longer mounted in the handle  2  can now emerge from the recess of the push-pull rod  4  as soon as an axial pushing force is exerted in the distal direction from the proximal end of the push-pull rod  4 . 
     This axial sliding of the sleeve  16  is limited by the guide element  21 , which forms a stop for the axial slidability of the sleeve in the distal direction. Now, by pulling in a distal direction, the hollow shaft  3  can be withdrawn from the clamp connection with the sleeve  16 .