Input unit for a medical instrument, and medical system comprising an input unit

1 . An input unit for operating a medical instrument including: a hollow shaft extending along a longitudinal axis for receiving steering wires; a tool which is arranged at a distal end of the shaft and is formed along an axis of extent; and a control unit, which is arranged at a proximal end of the shaft, for manipulating the tool by means of the steering wires, the input unit comprising:

a first input means for continuously converting, in a pivotably and/or rotatable 360 degrees about a rotational axis, an ergonomically limited user input rotatable +−90 degrees comprising a natural user movement of a movable first operating means, into an adjustment movement of the tool in a first handling mode, in order to pivot the tool to a limited extent relative to the longitudinal axis and/or rotate the tool to a limited extent about the axis of extent by means of the control unit; and

a second input means for at least partially, non-absolutely converting at least one further user input into an endless rotational movement of the tool about the axis of extent of the tool in a second handling mode, wherein the first input means are formed by a tweezer element suspended cardanically via a carrier element and including two leg sections which are oriented and formed in such a way that they can be gripped between a thumb and an index finger of an operator in a working position in order to move the two leg sections toward each other from a rest position by means of an application of a force, in order to manipulate a jaw part of the tool, wherein the tweezer element includes a pistol grip section formed as a unitary part of the tweezer element and designed for placing a palm of the operator's hand in the working position, and wherein the second input means is designed as a second operating means either on the pistol grip section or on one or both of the two leg sections, wherein the second operating means is formed by a rotary element or a rocker element, which is received by and/or arranged on a lateral outer surface of the pistol grip section, and wherein the rotary element is rotatable about an axis of rotation which runs substantially parallel to an axis of longitudinal extent of the pistol grip section.

2 . The input unit as set forth in claim 1 , wherein one of the rotary element or the rocker element is received by and/or arranged on a lateral outer surface of the pistol grip section and protrudes in some regions such that the second operating means can be rotated or actuated, in the working position of the operator, by remaining fingers of the hand used to pivot the two leg sections, in order to serve the further user input.

3 . The input unit as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the rotary element is rotatable from a rest position along a positive angular range into a positive end stop and along a negative angular range into a negative end stop, in order to rotate the tool in the positive end stop in a first direction and in the negative end stop in a second direction counter to the first direction by the further user input.

4 . The input unit as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of the two leg sections includes an upper leg section and a lower leg section, and

wherein the upper leg sections and the corresponding lower leg sections can be pivoted together about a first pivot axis to manipulate the jaw part, and wherein the upper leg sections can be pivoted relative to the corresponding lower leg sections about a second pivot axis, in order to control the further user input to rotate the jaw part, wherein the second pivot axis is oriented orthogonally to the first pivot axis.

5 . The input unit as set forth in claim 4 , wherein at least one of the upper leg sections, includes an annular finger loop, which is arranged at the end of the upper leg section.

6 . The input unit as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the tweezer element includes an energy storage means, wherein the two leg sections are pivotable from the rest position counter to the force of the energy storage means.

7 . The input unit as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the rotary element or the rocker element is one of a rotary wheel, a gauge wheel or a rocker switch.

8 . An input unit for operating a medical instrument including: a hollow shaft extending along a longitudinal axis for receiving steering wires; a tool which is arranged at a distal end of the shaft and is formed along an axis of extent; and a control unit, which is arranged at a proximal end of the shaft, for manipulating the tool by means of the steering wires, the input unit comprising:

a first input means for continuously converting, in a pivotably and/or rotatable 360 degrees about a rotational axis, an ergonomically limited user input rotatable +−90 degrees comprising a natural user movement of a movable first operating means, into an adjustment movement of the tool in a first handling mode, in order to pivot the tool to a limited extent relative to the longitudinal axis and/or rotate the tool to a limited extent about the axis of extent by means of the control unit; and

a second input means for at least partially, non-absolutely converting at least one further user input into an endless rotational movement of the tool about the axis of extent of the tool in a second handling mode, wherein the first input means are formed by a tweezer element suspended cardanically via a carrier element and including two leg sections which are oriented and formed in such a way that they can be gripped between a thumb and an index finger of an operator in a working position in order to move the two leg sections toward each other from a rest position by means of an application of a force, in order to manipulate a jaw part of the tool, wherein the tweezer element includes a pistol grip section formed as a unitary part of the tweezer element and designed for placing a palm of the operator's hand in the working position, and wherein the second input means is designed as a second operating means either on the pistol grip section or on one or both of the two leg sections, wherein the second operating means is formed by at least one switch element for switching between the first handling mode and the second handling mode, wherein in the second handling mode the tweezer element is rotatable from the rest position into a left end stop and into a right end stop, wherein a permanent left rotation movement of the tool is able to be activated in the left end stop and a permanent right rotation movement of the tool is able to be activated in the right end stop.

9 . An input unit for operating a medical instrument including: a hollow shaft extending along a longitudinal axis for receiving steering wires; a tool which is arranged at a distal end of the shaft and is formed along an axis of extent; and a control unit, which is arranged at a proximal end of the shaft, for manipulating the tool by means of the steering wires, the input unit comprising:

a first input means for continuously converting, in a pivotably and/or rotatable 360 degrees about a rotational axis, an ergonomically limited user input rotatable +−90 degrees comprising a natural user movement of a movable first operating means, into an adjustment movement of the tool in a first handling mode, in order to pivot the tool to a limited extent relative to the longitudinal axis and/or rotate the tool to a limited extent about the axis of extent by means of the control unit; and

a second input means for at least partially, non-absolutely converting at least one further user input into an endless rotational movement of the tool about the axis of extent of the tool in a second handling mode, wherein the first input means are formed by a tweezer element suspended cardanically via a carrier element and including two leg sections which are oriented and formed in such a way that they can be gripped between a thumb and an index finger of an operator in a working position in order to move the two leg sections toward each other from a rest position by means of an application of a force, in order to manipulate a jaw part of the tool, wherein the tweezer element includes a pistol grip section formed as a unitary part of the tweezer element and designed for placing a palm of the operator's hand in the working position, and wherein the second input means is designed as a second operating means either on the pistol grip section or on one or both of the two leg sections, wherein the second operating means includes a first switch element and a second switch element, wherein the first switch element is designed such that, by permanent or brief actuation of the first switch element, a first switching state can be activated in order to activate a permanent left rotational movement of the tool, and wherein the second switch element is designed such that, by permanent or brief actuation of the second switch element, a second switching state can be activated in order to activate a permanent right rotation movement of the tool.

10 . The input unit as set forth in claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first switch element and the second switch element is/are arranged on a side surface of the pistol grip section, such that, in the working position of the operator, the first switch element and the second switch element can be actuated by remaining fingers of the corresponding hand provided for pivoting the two leg sections.