Endoscopy device having a push-button brake and stabilization mechanism
Systems and methods are disclosed for an endoscope for use in a surgical procedure, e.g., a pediatric trans-nasal endoscopy procedure. The endoscope may include a handle for gripping by a user, and a shaft extending from the handle. The shaft may have a working channel extending longitudinally therethrough and a distal region configured to be inserted into a patient. The endoscope may also include a steering wire extending longitudinally through the shaft from the distal region of the shaft to the steering control mechanism of the handle. The steering control mechanism may have an actuation mechanism attached to the steering wire. The endoscope may include a steering tension braking feature that enables selective engagement and disengagement by the user to brake the steering tension force on the steering wire. The endoscope may also have a steering wire slack reduction member configured to reduce unintended slack from forming along the steering wires during use. The endoscope may also have a steering wire resting tension adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a resting tension on the steering wire prior to the user tensioning the steering wire during a surgical operation.
1 . An endoscope for use in a surgical procedure, comprising:
a handle for gripping by a user, the handle having a steering control mechanism;
a shaft extending from the handle, the shaft having a distal region configured to be inserted into a patient;
a steering wire extending longitudinally through the shaft from the distal region of the shaft to the steering control mechanism of the handle,
the steering control mechanism including a roller knob located outside of the handle and a roller wheel located within the handle and attached to the steering wire, the roller knob and roller wheel rotatable about an axis through the handle and actuatable by a user during the surgical procedure to generate a steering tension force on the steering wire so as to steer the distal region of the shaft; and
the steering control mechanism including a steering wire brake that projects beyond the roller knob in a direction of the axis and that, upon the user pushing or pulling the steering wire brake relative to the roller knob in the direction of the axis, frictionally engages the roller wheel within the handle so as to brake the steering tension force on the steering wire,
wherein the steering wire brake is selectively lockable and unlockable via a brake lock that includes a flexible annular lip that engages a complementary annular lip on the handle.
2 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the steering wire brake prevents the shaft from moving after a desired steered position has been achieved.
3 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the steering wire brake includes an o-ring selectively pressable into the roller wheel within the handle, the steering wire attached to and actuatable by the roller wheel.
4 . The endoscope of claim 3 , wherein the o-ring resides within an o-ring retention member that is movable radially inwardly and outwardly relative to the handle.
5 . The endoscope of claim 4 , wherein the steering wire brake includes a user-actuatable button having a radially-inwardly extending finger that engages the o-ring retention member.
6 . The endoscope of claim 5 , wherein the o-ring retention member is biased radially outwardly by a spring such that, in a resting position when the button is not pressed, the spring maintains the o-ring spaced apart from the roller wheel such that the steering wire is not braked.
7 . The endoscope of claim 6 , wherein, in an actuated position with the button pressed, a force of the spring maintains is overcome such that the o-ring presses against the roller wheels such that the steering wire is braked.