Abstract:
An ergonomic holding assist device for endoscopes comprises an attachment mechanism to removably secure the hand assist device to an endoscope. An ergonomic component comfortably fills a space made between a naturally extended palm and the grip portion of the endoscope. A center plate sandwiched between the attachment mechanism and the ergonomic component provides an approximate ½-inch clearance to a top of the device so that the ergonomic component reaches a thenar crease of the palm more comfortably. The flexor tendon of the thumb is comfortably supported by the ergonomic component so that endoscope-work-related injuries are avoided.

Description:
RELATED INVENTIONS 
     The present invention is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 60/970,970 and it claims priority to that provisional&#39;s Sep. 9, 2007 filing date. The present specification furthermore incorporates all the subject matter of the &#39;970 application as if the latter is entirely rewritten herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an ergonomic holding assist device for endoscopes and, more specifically, to a hand assist device that provides a means for a gastroenterologist to comfortably extend a palm outwards to manipulate an endoscope. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Gastroenterologists and other surgical specialists perform endoscopies by utilizing an endoscope which requires they wrap their entire palm around a grip portion of the device. A very construction of the endoscope requires these specialists rotate the endoscope&#39;s pinwheels for prolonged periods, which is known to cause injuries from overuse. The very nature of the working position of the endoscope causes specialists, at minimum, to experience hand and wrist discomfort. It may furthermore cause some specialists either to experience symptoms similar to those of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (“CTS”) or to be diagnosed with tendonitis. 
     Tendonitis is a medical condition that can lead to a crippling pain in the thumb, the forearm, the shoulder, the elbow, the neck and the back. These chronic pains also cause many specialists to experience psychological distress. Most specialists suffer from these pains while performing endoscopies; the pains cause them to interrupt procedures to stretch and to relax. The slightest discomfort in a health specialist can compromise a procedure and cause a misdiagnosis in a patient. To relieve the risks of injuries, it is anticipated that the palm should be extended away from the grip section of the endoscope such that it can maintain a natural position. It is further anticipated that a risk of injuries can be avoided if the flexor tendon of the thumb is supported by a feature on an endoscope. The present invention is a removably attachable endoscope ergonomic hand assist device that comprises features that achieve these objectives. 
     The means known in the art to reduce the risk of endoscopy-related injuries are limited to the following suggestions: maintaining proper posture; stretching, resistance training; repositioning monitors; and, taking breaks between procedures. For the more serious injuries, conservative therapies remain the mainstay of treatment until a surgery is required. There is no known endoscope that alleviates the risk of these pains and there are no known devices that work with the flexible endoscopes that cause this pain. For these reasons, there exists a long felt need to reduce the risks of endoscope-related injuries by means of repositioning a specialist&#39;s grip on the endoscope to a more comfortable one. The present invention comprises such a means, wherein an ergonomic assist device is removably attached to the grip section of the control handle on a conventional endoscope. The assist device supports the flexor tendon of the thumb while also relieving the palm from maintaining a tight, wrapped grip. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a means to alleviate the risks of work related injuries caused by endoscopies. 
     It is an object of the present invention to achieve the foregoing by teaching an ergonomic hand assist device that removably attaches to conventional endoscopes. 
     It is an object that the hand assist device support the flexor tendon of the thumb so that a specialist&#39;s grip is repositioned to a more comfortable one. 
     It is a further object that the present hand assist device relieve a surgeon from the tight, wrapped grip currently necessary for properly manipulating an endoscope. 
     It is an object that the grip is replaced with one that is a more natural and comfortable one, wherein a palm remains extended. 
     It is envisioned that the foregoing is accomplished by means of a hand assist device comprising the following features: (1) an attachment mechanism to removably secure the hand assist device to an endoscope; and, (2) an ergonomic component to comfortably fill a space made between a naturally extended palm and the grip portion of the endoscope. 
     It is further envisioned that a center plate sandwiched between the two provide an approximate ½-inch clearance to a top of the device so that the ergonomic component thus reaches a thenar crease of the palm more comfortably. 
     It is a final object of the present invention to provide all of the advantages that the foregoing objects entail. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and the features of the present invention are better understood with reference to the following and the more detailed description and the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an endoscope known in the PRIOR ART, wherein a construction and a manner of utilizing the endoscope is shown; 
         FIG. 2  is a first side elevational view of an endoscope ergonomic hand assist device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a second side elevational view of the hand assist device shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial exploded view of the hand assist device shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top side view of the hand assist device, wherein a top side of an ergonomic component comprised on the device is shown; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the hand assist device; 
         FIG. 7  is an attachment mechanism comprised on the hand assist device; 
         FIG. 8  is a front side view of the hand assist device shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an underside view of the hand assist device shown in  FIG. 2 ; and, 
         FIG. 10  is the hand assist device of  FIG. 2  shown in working use. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures. 
     In order to describe a complete relationship of the invention to the prior art, it is essential that some description be given to a construction and to a manner of utilizing a conventional endoscope  100 . An endoscope is shown in  FIG. 1  to essentially comprise a universal cord  120 , a light delivery system  140 , a lens, a rigid or a flexible tube  260  and a channel  160  for other medical devices. A gastroenterologist performs an endoscopy by grasping a control section  180 , wherein a thumb is placed over the universal cord  120  to manipulate angulation control knobs  200   a ,  200   b . An index finger is wrapped around the control section  180  to access a suction  220   a  and an air/water cylinder  220   b . A middle, a ring and a pinky finger are wrapped around a grip section  240  of the control section  180  to further support the gastroenterologist&#39;s handle of the endoscope  100 . The gastroenterologist&#39;s palm similarly wraps around this grip section  240  to manipulate the endoscope  100 . The universal cord  120  can wrap over and be supported by a wrist. 
     1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
     It is anticipated that a gastroenterologist can work more comfortably, but without compromising the efficacy of an endoscopy, if his or her palm is capable of extending away from the grip section on the flexible endoscope to a more natural position. The present invention teaches a means to achieve this objective, wherein an ergonomic assist device is removably attached to the grip section of the control handle on a conventional endoscope. A preferred embodiment of the present endoscope ergonomic hand assist device (hereinafter referred to as “hand assist device”)  10  is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  to comprise an attachment mechanism  20 , an ergonomic component  30  and a center plate  12 . These components are shown with greater clarity in the partially exploded view of the device shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The hand assist device  10  comprises a rectangular plate  12  which serves as a reference for an assembly of all the other components on the device. These components can be manufactured separately before they are assembled. The plate  12  comprises a top side  14  portion and an underside  16  portion. A plurality of depressions  18  are formed on the underside  16  to mate with the attachment mechanism  20 . The underside  16  portion comprises three rounded depressions  18  that resemble cylindrical tubes; however, the numbers of, the shapes of and the depths of the depressions are not limited to those shown in the present drawing. The depressions  18  may rather comprise any number, shape or depth of tubes so long as they securely mate with corresponding studs  22  on the attachment mechanism  20 . The topside  14  of the plate  12  comprises a plurality of studs  22  that are formed to mate with an ergonomic component  30 . Similar to the limitations disclosed for the depressions  18 , the studs  22  are not limited to any number shape or size. 
     A topside view of an ergonomic component  30  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The ergonomic component  30  to the hand assist device  10  is permanently affixed to the center plate  12 . The ergonomic component  30  is designed to comfortably fill a gap, i.e., consume a space, made between the palm and the grip portion of the endoscope. The ergonomic component  30  lifts across the entire length of the center plate  12  at an approximate 12° angle off of a vertical centerline. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the topside  32  of the ergonomic component  30  inclines to crest at a smooth, rounded apex  34  near the opposing end of the plate  12 . 
     An underside  36  of the ergonomic component  30  comprises a same plurality of depressions  18  that mate with the plurality of studs  22  on the top side  14  of the center plate  12 . In an alternate embodiment, however, the ergonomic component  30  can be directly and permanently affixed to the attachment mechanism  20  without a use of a center plate  12 . Studs  22  on the upper side of the attachment mechanism  20  mate with the depressions  18  on the underside  36  of the ergonomic component  30 . It is preferred that the center plate  12  provides an additional benefit of a ½-inch clearance to the top of the hand assist device  10 . The ergonomic component  30  thus reaches the thenar crease of the palm more comfortably. 
     The attachment mechanism  20 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , is provided as a means to removably secure the hand assist device  10  to an endoscope. The attachment mechanism  30  essentially comprises two approximately parallel arms  38  that extend outwards from an underside of the hand assist device  10 . The two arms  38  form a channel  40  having a width and a dimension that approximates that of the grip section on the control portion of the endoscope. In this manner, the arms wrap around at least a great portion of the sidewall of the grip section so that the hand device securely affixes thereon. 
     The arms  38  extend from an underside in a manner that is not directly perpendicular to the plane of the center plate  12 . Rather, each arm softly, concavely curves inward at their opposing distal ends  42 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , such that they meet to form one connected body. It is anticipated that they curve to form a channel  40  that matches the curvature of the grip section on the endoscope. 
     It is further envisioned that the attachment mechanism  20  is used to removably snap the hand assist device  10  onto the endoscope, wherein it is held securely in place by means of an interference fit; however, the channel  40  is a pocket that can contain an adhesive tape that additionally secures the device  10  to the endoscope. 
     It is essential that the present hand assist device  10  be manufactured from materials that are compatible with standard sterilization and disinfection processes. 
     2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
     To operate the present endoscope ergonomic hand assist device  10 , the channel on the device is snapped onto the grip portion of the endoscope. 
       FIG. 10  more clearly shows the ergonomic component  30  when the hand assist device  10  is in a working position. The entire palm  50  remains in one plane to the thenar crease  52 . At the thenar crease  52 , the thumb  54  reaches towards angulation control knobs  220  to manipulate the endoscope  100 . The reach causes the entire thumb finger  54  to extend at an angle that approximates that of the ergonomic component  30 . A side of the hand assist device (not shown) travels along the planar portion of the palm  50  while the ergonomic component  30  travels along the part of the palm that angles from the thenar crease  52 . Essentially, the flexor tendon of the thumb  54  rests on and is comfortably supported by the ergonomic component  30  from the radial side of the hand. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for the purposes of illustration and description. They are neither intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed and, obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.