WO2008144630A2

WO2008144630A2 - Torque-transmitting, locking and releasing instrument holders and methods for operating the instrument holders

Info

Publication number: WO2008144630A2
Application number: PCT/US2008/064084
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kevin Smith; Matthew Palmer; Derek Deville; Korey Kline; Carlos Rivera; Thomas Bales; Max Mendez; Michael Kirk
Original assignee: Syntheon LLC
Current assignee: Syntheon LLC
Priority date: 2007-05-18
Filing date: 2008-05-19
Publication date: 2008-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2009-11-18
Also published as: WO2008144630A3

Abstract

A first embodiment of a torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder, includes a hollow body having a proximal end for receiving an instrument, a distal end for protrusion of the instrument, and a handle to be gripped by an operator. A device is provided for locking the handle to and unlocking the handle from the instrument at least partly disposed within the hollow body. An optionally automatically releasing, second embodiment of the instrument holder includes a grip to be held by an operator for guiding an instrument, an actuator to be activated by the operator and a biasing device exerting a force. A clamp is moved by the actuator toward the instrument against the force of the biasing device and is moved by the biasing device away from the instrument optionally upon releasing the actuator. Methods for operating the instrument holders are also provided.

Description

TORQUE-TRANSMITTING, LOCKING AND RELEASING INSTRUMENT HOLDERS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING THE INSTRUMENT HOLDERS

Technical Field:

The invention relates to a torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder and to an optionally automatically releasing instrument holder. The invention also relates to methods for operating the instrument holders.

Background Art:

Prior art devices and methods of this type have been complicated, making it difficult to torque and push an endoscope. The prior art devices and methods have also required separate manipulations to engage and release the instrument and only engage it with a set, non-adjustable force.

Disclosure of the Invention:

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide torque-transmitting, locking and releasing instrument holders and methods for operating the instrument holders, which overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type, which permit simple yet reliable gripping of an instrument, in particular an endoscope or colonoscope, for circumferential and axial movement and which can optionally automatically release upon disengagement by the operator of the device, such as a surgeon, and allow infinite adjustment. With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder. The instrument holder comprises a hollow body having a proximal end for receiving an instrument, a distal end for protrusion of the instrument, and a handle to be gripped by an operator. A device is provided for locking the handle to and unlocking the handle from the instrument at least partly disposed within the hollow body.

With the first embodiment of the invention in view, there is also provided a method for operating a torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder. The method comprises providing a hollow body having a proximal end for receiving an instrument, a distal end for protrusion of the instrument, and a handle to be gripped by an operator. The instrument is placed at least partly within the hollow body and the handle is locked to and unlocked from the instrument. In accordance with another feature of the invention, the locking and unlocking device includes an actuator to be activated by the operator for locking the handle to and unlocking the handle from the instrument. The actuator may be a bobbin to be slid by an operator.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the locking and unlocking device includes a clamping plate disposed within the actuator. The clamping plate is moved radially inwardly against the instrument and radially outwardly away from the instrument by activating the actuator. The clamping plate may include a plurality of partial-plates, at least one spring biasing the partial-plates radially outwardly and detents integral with the partial-plates. The detents are disposed in recesses in the actuator in an unlocked condition and slide out of the recesses and push the partial-plates towards the instrument against a force of the at least one spring into a locked condition.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, there is provided a body tube disposed partially within the handle and having a coupling end disposed within the actuator. The coupling end has slots formed therein within which the detents slide between the locked and unlocked conditions.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, stops limit motion of the actuator into the locked and unlocked conditions.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, an optionally automatically releasing instrument holder, comprising a grip to be held by an operator for guiding an instrument, an actuator to be activated by the operator, and a biasing device exerting a force. A clamp is moved by the actuator toward the instrument against the force of the biasing device and is moved by the biasing device away from the instrument optionally upon releasing the actuator. The biasing device may be a spring, and the actuator may be a trigger being pivoted away from the grip by the spring and being pivoted toward the grip by the operator for engaging the instrument with the clamp. The spring is biased between a nose and the cam. Therefore, a simple, easily operated, reliable and automatically releasing instrument holder is provided. An important advantage of the instrument holder according to the invention is that the actuator and the biasing device allow infinite adjustment of contact between the clamp and the instrument by the operator.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the clamp includes a plurality of clamping shoes for surrounding the instrument. A cam is moved by the trigger for displacing the clamping shoes toward the instrument and is moved by the spring for displacing the clamping shoes away from the instrument. A cam ring is disposed within the cam. Cam lock springs are each being disposed between a respective two of the clamping shoes. The clamping shoes, for example three in number, provide equalized force distribution against the instrument from all radial directions for secure gripping without damage to the instrument. In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the cam has a cam surface on which ball bearings ride toward and away from the clamping shoes upon movement of the cam. A clamp body has holes formed therein in which the ball bearings move toward and away from the clamping shoes. The clamping shoes each have a protrusion being engaged by a respective one of the ball bearings. This feature provides infinite adjustment between clamped and released positions of the shoes, allowing the operator to chose and feel the force to be exerted.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, there is provided a grip tube extended through the grip, one dowel pin on which the trigger pivots on the grip, and another dowel pin disposed between the clamp body and the grip tube, perpendicular to the one dowel. Set screws are disposed between the clamp body and the grip tube. The dowel pins and the set screws allow balanced support for the moving and stationary parts of the instrument holder.

With the second embodiment of the invention in view, there is also provided a method for operating an optionally automatically releasing instrument holder. The method comprises guiding an instrument in a grip to be held by an operator, providing an actuator or trigger to be activated by the operator, exerting a force against activation of the actuator with a biasing device or spring, and providing a -A-

clamp or clamping shoes for engaging the instrument. The actuator is activated by the operator to move the clamp toward the instrument against the force of the biasing device. The clamp is moved away from the instrument with the biasing device optionally upon releasing the actuator. Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder and a method for operating the instrument holder, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic, side-elevational view of a torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder according to a first embodiment of the invention, approaching an unlocked condition;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of the instrument holder of the first embodiment in the unlocked condition;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the instrument holder of the first embodiment in the unlocked condition;

Fig. 4 is another perspective view of the instrument holder of the first embodiment in the unlocked condition;

Fig. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of the instrument holder of the first embodiment; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the instrument holder of the first embodiment in the locked condition;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 of the instrument holder of the first embodiment in the condition shown in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 6 and 7 of the instrument holder of the first embodiment in the condition shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the instrument holder of the first embodiment with a bobbin removed; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the instrument holder of the first embodiment with a rear bushing removed; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the instrument holder of the first embodiment with a coupler removed.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic, exploded perspective view of an instrument holder according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 13 is a side-elevational view of the instrument holder of the second embodiment with a trigger released in an unlocked condition;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the instrument holder of the second embodiment with the trigger released in the unlocked condition; Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the instrument holder of the second embodiment with the trigger depressed in the locked condition;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the instrument holder of the second embodiment with the trigger released in the unlocked condition and a cam removed; Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the instrument holder of the second embodiment with the trigger released in the unlocked condition and with a nose removed;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the instrument holder of the second embodiment with the trigger released in the unlocked condition and with a spring and a cam ring removed;

Fig. 19 is another perspective view similar to Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the instrument holder of the second embodiment with the trigger released in the unlocked condition and with a clamp body removed; Fig. 21 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the instrument holder of the second embodiment with the trigger released in the unlocked condition;

Fig. 22 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the instrument holder of the second embodiment with the trigger partly depressed in a partly locked condition; Fig. 23 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the instrument holder of the second embodiment with the trigger depressed in the locked condition;

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary, perspective longitudinal-sectional view of the instrument holder of the second embodiment with the trigger depressed in the locked condition; and

Fig. 25 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the instrument holder of the second embodiment with the trigger depressed in the locked condition.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention:

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to Fig. 1 thereof, there is seen a torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention, having a proximal end 2 and a distal end 3. The instrument holder 1 has a handle or grip 4 at the proximal end 2 and a rear bushing 5 at the distal end 3. It may also be seen from Fig. 1 that a bobbin 6 has been slid almost as far as possible toward the proximal end 2, into an unlocking position, which will be explained in greater detail below. When comparing Figs. 1 and 2, it may be seen that the bobbin 6 has been fully slid toward the proximal end 2 in Fig. 2. Figs. 3 and 4 similarly show perspective views of the instrument holder 1.

The instrument holder 1 is shown in greater detail in an exploded view in Fig. 5. Looking from the distal end 3 toward the proximal end 2, there is seen the rear bushing 5, a clamping plate 10 having clamping springs 11 , a bobbin ring 12, the bobbin 6 having a bobbin rib 7, a body tube 15 having a coupling end 16, a marker band 17 and the handle or grip 4. The clamping plate 10 includes three partial-plates or partial-shells 13 each having a detent 14.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are longitudinal-sectional views in which the bobbin 6 is disposed in different positions. In Fig. 6, the bobbin 6 is slid distally against a stop 18, in Fig. 7, the bobbin 6 is slid proximally toward a stop 19 and in Fig. 8, the bobbin 6 is slid close to the stop 19. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 also show that an inner peripheral surface 21 of the bobbin 6 has a recess 22.

In Figs. 9 and 10, the bobbin 6 has been omitted to show the coupling end 16 of the body tube 15 protruding from the handle or grip 4. It may also be seen that the detents 14 each protrude through a respective slot 20 in the coupling end 16.

In Fig. 11 , the coupling end 16 has also been omitted, so as to show the springs 11 mounted between the partial-plates 13 of the clamping plate 10. The operation of the instrument holder 1 will now be explained with the aid of the drawings. An instrument 23, such as a colonoscope or an endoscope, which is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 6, is initially slid into a hollow body formed by the rear bushing 5, the bobbin 6, the body tube 15 and the handle or grip 4. The instrument 23 is inserted into the hollow body with the instrument holder 1 in an unlocked condition shown in Fig. 8. In the unlocked condition, the bobbin 6 is located proximally against the stop 19 and the springs 11 bias the partial-plates 13 radially outwardly. The detents 14 therefore protrude through the slots 20 against the recess 22 of the inner peripheral surface 21 of the bobbin 6.

When it is desired to lock the instrument holder 1 against the instrument 23, an operator pushes the bobbin rib 7 of the bobbin 6 distally from the position shown in Fig. 8, past the position shown in Fig. 7 and toward the position shown in Fig. 6, so that the instrument holder 1 enters the locked condition but may not reach the stop 18. As the bobbin 6 moves distally, the detents 14 slide along from the recess 22 to the inner peripheral surface 21 of the bobbin 6. This in turn pushes the partial-plates 13 radially inwardly against the force of the springs 11 and against the instrument 23, as shown in Fig. 6. The instrument 23 can therefore be manipulated by gripping and moving the handle 4. The instrument 23 is then released by sliding the bobbin 6 proximally once again.

Referring now in detail to the figures of the drawings illustrating the second embodiment of the invention and first, particularly, to Fig. 12 thereof, there is seen an exploded perspective view of an automatically releasing instrument holder according to the invention. The instrument holder includes a grip tube 102 to be slid inside a grip 106 for manipulation by an operator. A manual actuator in the form of a trigger 109 is to be hinged on the grip 106 by a dowel pin 115 passing through holes 108 in the trigger 109, only one of which is shown, and corresponding non-illustrated holes in the grip 106. The trigger 109 also has arms 111 , 112 which pivot about the dowel pin 115. When assembled, an extension 103 of the grip tube 102 extends through the grip 106 and partly through a clamp body 120. Two set screws 118 are each engaged in a respective threaded opening 114 in the clamp body 120. Each set screw 118 engages a respective protrusion 107 on the extension 103, only one of which is shown. A clamp in the form of three clamping shoes 122, 123, 124 are held within the clamp body 120 and are biased against one another by cam lock springs 126 which extend into blind bores 117 formed in pairs in the clamping shoes. The clamping shoes 122, 123, 124 each have a protrusion 125 aligned with a respective hole 121 in the clamp body 120. Only one of the protrusions 125 and holes 121 are shown. Ball bearings 119 are each to be placed in a respective one of the holes 121 for contacting a respective one of the protrusions 125. Another dowel pin 116 passes through non-illustrated holes in the clamp body 120 and the extension 103, perpendicular to the dowel 115. A cam 128, a cam ring 130 and a biasing device in the form of a spring 132 surround the clamp body 120. A nose 134 is slipped over the spring 132 and the cam ring 130. Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate the assembled instrument holder in respective elevational and perspective views, with the trigger 109 released and the nose 134 in an unlocked position, that is fully retracted towards the cam 128. In the perspective view of Fig. 15, the trigger 109 has been fully depressed by the operator to pivot about the dowel pin 115, so that the arms 111 , 112 push the cam 128 toward the right in Fig. 15, that is distally. The perspective view of Fig. 25 shows a particularly clear illustration of the arms 111 , 112 engaging the cam 128. It may be seen that the arms 111 , 112 have engagement surfaces 111 ', 112', different parts of which engage the cam 128 during the stroke of the trigger 109 between the depressed and released positions. When the trigger 109 is released, the spring 132 pushes the cam 128 and the arms 111 , 112 toward the left in Fig. 15, that is proximally, so that the trigger 109 is once again extended as in Figs. 13 and 14 and the ends of the arms 111 , 112 are seated against stops 110 on the grip 106, only one of which is shown in Fig. 25.

In the perspective view of Fig. 16, the cam 128 has been removed to more clearly show the clamp body 120. In the perspective view of Fig. 17, the nose 134 has also been removed, to show the cam ring 130 and the spring 132 surrounding the clamp body 120. The perspective views of Figs. 18 and 19 show portions of the clamping shoes 122, 124 and the cam lock springs 126 within the clamp body 120. In Fig. 20, the clamp body 120 has been removed to show all three clamping shoes 122, 123, 124 and several of the cam lock springs 126 and protrusions 125.

The longitudinal-sectional view of Fig. 21 shows the trigger 109 released and therefore in the unlocked condition. The dowel pin 115 interconnecting the trigger 109 and the grip 106 and the dowel pin 116 interconnecting the clamp body 120 and the extension 103, are seen as well. The cam ring 130 is seen as being disposed within the distal end of the clamp body 120. It may also be seen that the grip tube 102 and the extension 103 have beads 104 engaged in corresponding recesses 105 in the grip 106. Fig. 21 also illustrates an inner annular cam surface or ramp 129 of the cam 128. The above-mentioned three holes 121 formed in the clamp body 120 and three ball bearings 119 each being radially movable in a respective one of the holes 121 , may be seen in Fig. 21 as well. Finally, Fig. 21 shows the spring 132 disposed in a cavity 135 within the nose 134. It may be seen that the spring 132 is biased between the nose 134 and the cam 128, so as to bias the cam to the left or proximally in Fig. 21. The non- illustrated protrusions 125 on the clamping shoes 122, 123, 124 are each radially aligned with a respective one of the ball bearings 119.

In the longitudinal-sectional view of Fig. 22, the trigger 109 has been partly depressed, so that the arms 111 , 112 push the cam 128 distally, causing the cam surface 129 to engage the ball bearings 119 and push them radially inwardly in the holes 121 against the protrusions 125 on the clamping shoes 122, 123, 124. The clamping shoes 122, 123, 124 are in turn pushed radially inwardly against the force of the springs 126 and toward an instrument 140, such as an endoscope or a colonoscope. The instrument 140 protrudes from the proximal and distal ends of the instrument holder and passes through a hollow body formed by the grip tube 102, the clamp body 120, the clamping shoes 122, 123, 124 and the hollow nose 134.

Figs. 23 and 24 show the trigger fully depressed and therefore the clamping shoes 122, 123, 124 fully displaced radially inwardly against the instrument 140, due to the cam surface 129 being fully run up over the ball bearings 119. Upon release of the trigger 109, the spring 132 would once again push the cam 128 proximally and the ball bearings 119 would roll along the cam surface 129 and be pushed radially outwardly again by the springs 126 and the clamping shoes 122, 123, 124, while releasing the instrument 140.

Claims

1. A torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder, comprising: a hollow body having a proximal end for receiving an instrument, a distal end for protrusion of the instrument, and a handle to be gripped by an operator; and a device for locking said handle to and unlocking said handle from the instrument at least partly disposed within said hollow body.

2. The instrument holder according to claim 1 , wherein said locking and unlocking device includes an actuator to be activated by the operator for locking said handle to and unlocking said handle from the instrument.

3. The instrument holder according to claim 2, wherein said actuator is a bobbin to be slid by an operator.

4. The instrument holder according to claim 2, wherein said locking and unlocking device includes a clamping plate disposed within said actuator, said clamping plate being moved radially inwardly against the instrument and radially outwardly away from the instrument by activating said actuator.

5. The instrument holder according to claim 4, wherein said clamping plate includes a plurality of partial-plates, at least one spring biasing said partial-plates radially outwardly and detents integral with said partial-plates, said detents disposed in recesses in said actuator in an unlocked condition and sliding out of said recesses and pushing said partial-plates towards the instrument against a force of said at least one spring into a locked condition.

6. The instrument holder according to claim 5, which further comprises a body tube disposed partially within said handle and having a coupling end disposed within said actuator, said coupling end having slots formed therein within which said detents slide between said locked and unlocked conditions.

7. The instrument holder according to claim 5, which further comprises stops limiting motion of said actuator into said locked and unlocked conditions.

8. A method for operating a torque-transmitting, locking instrument holder, the method comprising the following steps: providing a hollow body having a proximal end for receiving an instrument, a distal end for protrusion of the instrument, and a handle to be gripped by an operator; placing the instrument at least partly within the hollow body; and locking the handle to and unlocking the handle from the instrument.

9. The method according to claim 8, which further comprises carrying out the locking and unlocking step with a device having an actuator to be activated by the operator.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the actuator is a bobbin to be slid by an operator.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the locking and unlocking device includes a clamping plate disposed within the actuator, and the locking and unlocking step includes moving the clamping plate radially inwardly against the instrument and radially outwardly away from the instrument by activating the actuator.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the clamping plate includes a plurality of partial-plates, at least one spring biasing the partial-plates radially outwardly and detents integral with the partial-plates, and the locking and unlocking step includes placing the detents in recesses in the actuator in an unlocked condition and sliding the detents out of the recesses to push the partial- plates towards the instrument against a force of the at least one spring into a locked condition.

13. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises providing a body tube disposed partially within the handle and having a coupling end disposed within the actuator, and sliding the detents in slots formed in the coupling end, when moving the actuator between the locked and unlocked conditions.

14. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises limiting motion of the actuator into the locked and unlocked conditions with stops.

15. An instrument holder, comprising: a grip to be held by an operator for guiding an instrument; an actuator to be activated by the operator; a biasing device exerting a force; and a clamp to be moved by said actuator toward the instrument against the force of said biasing device and to be moved by said biasing device away from the instrument.

16. The instrument holder according to claim 15, wherein said biasing device is a spring, and said actuator is a trigger being pivoted away from said grip by said spring and being pivoted toward said grip by the operator for engaging the instrument with said clamp.

17. The instrument holder according to claim 16, wherein said clamp includes a plurality of clamping shoes for surrounding the instrument.

18. The instrument holder according to claim 17, which further comprises a cam being moved by said trigger for displacing said clamping shoes toward the instrument and being moved by said spring for displacing said clamping shoes away from the instrument.

19. The instrument holder according to claim 18, which further comprises ball bearings, said cam having a cam surface on which said ball bearings ride toward and away from said clamping shoes upon movement of said cam.

20. The instrument holder according to claim 19, which further comprises a clamp body having holes formed therein in which said ball bearings move toward and away from said clamping shoes.

21. The instrument holder according to claim 18, which further comprises a nose, said spring being biased between said nose and said cam.

22. The instrument holder according to claim 18, which further comprises a cam ring disposed within said cam.

23. The instrument holder according to claim 20, which further comprises a grip tube extended through said grip, one dowel pin on which said trigger pivots on said grip, and another dowel pin disposed between said clamp body and said grip tube, perpendicular to said one dowel.

24. The instrument holder according to claim 17, which further comprises cam lock springs each being disposed between a respective two of said clamping shoes.

25. The instrument holder according to claim 20, wherein said clamping shoes each have a protrusion being engaged by a respective one of said ball bearings.

26. The instrument holder according to claim 23, which further comprises set screws disposed between said clamp body and said grip tube.

27. The instrument holder according to claim 15, wherein said actuator and said biasing device allow infinite adjustment of contact between said clamp and the instrument by the operator.

28. A method for operating an instrument holder, the method comprising the following steps: guiding an instrument in a grip to be held by an operator; providing an actuator to be activated by the operator; exerting a force against activation of the actuator with a biasing device; providing a clamp for engaging the instrument; activating the actuator to move the clamp toward the instrument against the force of the biasing device; and moving the clamp away from the instrument with the biasing device.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the biasing device is a spring, and the actuator is a trigger being pivoted away from the grip by the spring and being pivoted toward the grip by the operator for engaging the instrument with the clamp.

30. The method according to claim 28, which further comprises providing the clamp with a plurality of clamping shoes for surrounding the instrument, moving a cam with the trigger for displacing the clamping shoes toward the instrument, and moving the cam with the spring for displacing the clamping shoes away from the instrument.

31. The method according to claim 30, which further comprises biasing the clamping shoes away from each other with cam lock springs.

32. The method according to claim 30, which further comprises biasing the spring between a nose and the cam.

33. The method according to claim 28, which further comprises infinitely adjusting contact between the clamp and the instrument with the actuator and the biasing device.

34. The instrument holder according to claim 15, wherein said clamp is moved by said biasing device away from the instrument automatically upon releasing said actuator.

35. The method according to claim 28, which further comprises moving the clamp away from the instrument with the biasing device automatically upon releasing the actuator.