Medical sliding shaft instrument

1 . A medical sliding shaft instrument comprising a tool element carrier, a tubular sliding shaft surrounding the tool element carrier and defining a sliding direction, and an actuating device for moving the sliding shaft relative to the tool element carrier in a distal direction, wherein at least one tool element is arranged or movably mounted on a distal end of the tool element carrier, wherein the at least one tool element is arranged or formed so as to cooperate with a distal end region of the sliding shaft in such a way that the at least one tool element is moved as a result of movement of the sliding shaft in the distal direction, wherein the sliding shaft instrument further comprises a locking device for blocking movement of the sliding shaft relative to the tool element carrier in at least one advancing position, wherein the sliding shaft in the at least one advancing position is displaced in the distal direction in relation to a basic position in which the sliding shaft is displaced to a maximum extent in a proximal direction relative to the tool element carrier, wherein the locking device defines a release position in which the sliding shaft is displaceable relative to the tool element carrier, and a locking position in which movement of the sliding shaft relative to the tool element carrier in at least one of the proximal and the distal direction is blocked, wherein the locking device comprises at least one first locking element and at least one second locking element, which in the locking position are in at least one of force-locking and positive-locking engagement and in the release position are out of engagement, wherein the at least one second locking element is arranged or formed on the sliding shaft and wherein the at least one first locking element is transferable from the release position into the locking position by movement toward the sliding shaft, and

wherein the at least one first locking element is connected to the tool element carrier by a resilient spring that biases the at least one first locking element from the locking position to the release position, in such a way that the at least one first locking element is movable by overcoming a resilient biasing force generated by the resilient spring to move the at least one first locking element from the release position into the locking position.

2 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one second locking element and the sliding shaft are formed in one piece.

3 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first locking element is at least one of:

a) movable in a direction transverse to the sliding direction from the release position into the locking position; and

b) arranged or formed on the sliding shaft instrument so as to be immovable or substantially immovable relative to the tool element carrier in the sliding direction.

4 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the actuating device comprises two actuating elements that are movable relative to one another.

5 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 4 , wherein the actuating device comprises a coupling part, wherein the two actuating elements are movably arranged on the coupling part, and wherein the tool element carrier is immovably held on the coupling part in a working position.

6 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the sliding shaft instrument comprises a biasing device for exerting a biasing force acting in the proximal direction on the sliding shaft.

7 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one second locking element comprises a stop face facing in the proximal direction.

8 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one second locking element has an undercut and wherein the undercut is delimited at least partially by the stop face.

9 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one first locking element comprises a latching nose, which in the locking position engages in a positive-locking or substantially positive-locking manner into the undercut on the at least one second locking element.

10 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 7 , wherein the stop face is inclined facing in a direction toward the sliding shaft.

11 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one second locking element is at least one of:

a) configured as a retaining projection pointing in a radial direction from the sliding shaft or configured as a retaining groove that is open facing away from the sliding shaft; and

b) arranged such that the at least one second locking element annularly surrounds the sliding shaft.

12 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first locking element comprises a locking projection pointing in a direction toward the sliding shaft, where the locking projection in the locking position is in engagement with the at least one second locking element.

13 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first locking element comprises a locking element portion extending transversely to the sliding direction.

14 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the sliding shaft instrument comprises a securing device for securing the locking device in the locking position.

15 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the sliding shaft instrument comprises a stop device for delimiting movement of the sliding shaft in the proximal direction and in the distal direction.

16 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the tool element carrier is coupled to the actuating device in a working position and is separated from the actuating device in a cleaning position.

17 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of:

a) the at least one first locking element is configured as a pawl that engages on the sliding shaft in the locking position;

b) the sliding direction runs rectilinearly or in a curved manner;

c) the at least one tool element and the tool element carrier are formed in one piece; and

d) the sliding shaft instrument is configured as a clip applier.

18 . A medical sliding shaft instrument comprising a tool element carrier, a tubular sliding shaft surrounding the tool element carrier and defining a sliding direction, and an actuating device for moving the sliding shaft relative to the tool element carrier in a distal direction, wherein at least one tool element is arranged or movably mounted on a distal end of the tool element carrier, wherein the at least one tool element is arranged or formed so as to cooperate with a distal end region of the sliding shaft in such a way that the at least one tool element is moved as a result of movement of the sliding shaft in the distal direction, wherein the sliding shaft instrument further comprises a locking device for blocking movement of the sliding shaft relative to the tool element carrier in at least one advancing position, wherein the sliding shaft in the at least one advancing position is displaced in the distal direction in relation to a basic position in which the sliding shaft is displaced to a maximum extent in a proximal direction relative to the tool element carrier, wherein the locking device defines a release position in which the sliding shaft is displaceable relative to the tool element carrier, and a locking position in which movement of the sliding shaft relative to the tool element carrier in at least one of the proximal and the distal direction is blocked, wherein the locking device comprises at least one first locking element and at least one second locking element, which in the locking position are in at least one of force-locking and positive-locking engagement and in the release position are out of engagement, wherein the at least one second locking element is arranged or formed on the sliding shaft and wherein the at least one first locking element is transferable from the release position into the locking position by movement toward the sliding shaft,

wherein the at least one second locking element comprises an annular stop face facing in the proximal direction, wherein the stop face extends radially relative to the sliding direction and also in the proximal direction, from an outer wall of the sliding shaft to a radially-outward end of the stop face, to define an undercut extending in the distal direction between the outer wall and the radially-outward end of the stop face, and wherein the annular stop face extends entirely around the sliding shaft.

19 . A medical sliding shaft instrument comprising a tool element carrier, a tubular sliding shaft surrounding the tool element carrier and defining a sliding direction, and an actuating device for moving the sliding shaft relative to the tool element carrier in a distal direction, wherein at least one tool element is arranged or movably mounted on a distal end of the tool element carrier, wherein the at least one tool element is arranged or formed so as to cooperate with a distal end region of the sliding shaft in such a way that the at least one tool element is moved as a result of movement of the sliding shaft in the distal direction, wherein the sliding shaft instrument further comprises a locking device for blocking movement of the sliding shaft relative to the tool element carrier in at least one advancing position, wherein the sliding shaft in the at least one advancing position is displaced in the distal direction in relation to a basic position in which the sliding shaft is displaced to a maximum extent in a proximal direction relative to the tool element carrier, wherein the locking device defines a release position in which the sliding shaft is displaceable relative to the tool element carrier, and a locking position in which movement of the sliding shaft relative to the tool element carrier in at least one of the proximal and the distal direction is blocked, wherein the locking device comprises at least one first locking element and at least one second locking element, which in the locking position are in at least one of force-locking and positive-locking engagement and in the release position are out of engagement, wherein the at least one second locking element is arranged or formed on the sliding shaft and wherein the at least one first locking element is transferable from the release position into the locking position by movement toward the sliding shaft, and

wherein the at least one second locking element comprises an annular stop face that extends radially relative to the sliding direction from an outer wall of the sliding shaft to a radially-outward end of the stop face, and wherein the annular stop face extends entirely around the sliding shaft.

20 . The medical sliding shaft instrument according to claim 19 , wherein the at least one second locking element is formed as an annular groove on the sliding shaft, wherein the annular groove is open in a radial direction with respect to the sliding direction.