Proximal-end securement of a minimally invasive working channel
The present invention is directed at minimally invasive systems in which the proximal end portion of the working channel has either zero or a limited range of movement in the lateral direction. A first embodiment has a slidable collar attached to a pair of flanges, wherein movement of the collar is bounded by an annular frame. A second embodiment has a substantially spherical element attached to the tube. A third embodiment has a plurality of caps. A fourth embodiment is adapted for a larger working channel.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a) an arm having a proximal end portion connected to a stationary object and a distal end portion;
b) a medial-lateral bar connected to the distal end portion of the arm and having a first arcuate rail;
c) a cranial-caudal bar cantilevered from the medial-lateral bar and having:
i) a first arcuate rail in slidable engagement with the first arcuate rail of the medial-lateral bar in a first direction, wherein the first arcuate rail of the cranial-caudal bar and the first arcuate rail of the medial-lateral bar have matching arcuate shapes;
ii) a second arcuate rail extending substantially perpendicularly from the first arcuate rail of the cranial-caudal bar;
iii) a third arcuate rail extending from the first arcuate rail of the cranial-caudal bar in a direction substantially parallel to the second arcuate rail of the cranial-caudal bar; and
iv) a fourth rail that connects the second arcuate rail and the third arcuate rail of the cranial-caudal bar to form a window;
d) a surgical instrument construct comprising:
i) an endoscope having an outer surface and a proximal end portion and a distal end, wherein the endoscope extends through the window disposed between the second arcuate rail and the third arcuate rail of the cranial-caudal bar; and
ii) a slider attached to the outer surface of the endoscope and having a first arcuate rail and a second arcuate rail substantially parallel to the first arcuate rail, wherein the first arcuate rail of the slider is in slidable engagement with the second arcuate rail of the cranial-caudal bar and the second arcuate rail of the slider is in slidable engagement with the third arcuate rail of the cranial-caudal bar, wherein the first arcuate rail of the slider and the second arcuate rail of the cranial-caudal bar have matching arcuate shapes;
wherein the first arcuate rail of the cranial-caudal bar is configured to slide to a position along the first arcuate rail of the medial-lateral bar to configure a medial-lateral tilt angle of the proximal end portion of the endoscope in a first plane while maintaining a location of the distal end of the endoscope; and
wherein the first arcuate rail of the slider is configured to slide to a position along the second arcuate rail of the cranial-caudal bar in a second direction to configure a cranial-caudal tilt angle of the proximal end portion of the endoscope in a second plane while maintaining the location of the distal end of the endoscope.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cranial-caudal bar has a release button for releasable attachment to the medial-lateral bar.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slider has a release mechanism for releasable attachment to the cranial-caudal bar.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the medial-lateral bar has a first window therein for slidable reception of the cranial-caudal bar.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first rail of the medial-lateral bar and the first rail of the cranial-caudal bar have mating teeth thereon.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second rail of the cranial-caudal bar and the first rail of the slider have mating teeth thereon.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slider is attached to the outer surface of the endoscope at the proximal end portion of the endoscope.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the endoscope at the proximal end portion of the endoscope has a thread thereon, the slider has a window having a matching thread thereon, and the slider is threadably engaged with the proximal end portion of the endoscope.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first rail of the cranial-caudal bar is in slidable engagement with the first rail of the medial-lateral bar by virtue of a bolt-slot connection.