IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,653,561
Granted Patent B2
US 12,653,561 · App. 17/291,778 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Endoscopic instrument for inserting into a body of a patient

Inventor: Rudolf Heimberger (Oberderdingen, DE)
Assignee: RICHARD WOLF GMBH
A61B17/221A61B1/00066A61B1/00078A61B1/00103A61B1/00114A61B1/00117A61B1/00119A61B1/0052A61B1/0055A61B1/015A61B1/018A61B1/07A61B17/00234A61B2017/0023A61B2017/00238A61B2017/00296A61B2017/0046A61B2017/22078A61B2017/2212
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,653,561
App. No.
17/291,778
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An endoscopic instrument ( 1, 134 ) for inserting into a body of a patient includes a tubular shank ( 3, 47, 137 ) and at least two electrical, mechanical and/or optical leads ( 11, 13, 15, 19, 57, 59, 65, 67, 123, 181 ) which run through the shank ( 3, 47, 137 ). A fluid channel ( 7, 53 ) is formed in the shank ( 3, 47, 137 ). The instrument includes a sealing device ( 89 ) which forms a proximal end of the fluid channel and comprises feed-throughs ( 93, 97, 99, 101, 103 ) for the leads ( 11, 13, 15, 19, 57, 59, 65, 67, 123, 181 ).

Claims (44)

1 . An endoscopic instrument for inserting into a body of a patient, wherein the instrument comprises

a tubular shank;

at least two electrical, mechanical and/or optical leads which run through the shank,

wherein a fluid channel is formed in the shank, the at least two electrical, mechanical and/or optical leads comprising at least two pull wires in a form of flat wires for bending a distal end of the shank; and

a sealing means which forms a proximal end of the fluid channel and comprises feed-throughs for the leads, wherein the sealing means comprises at least two slots as the feed-throughs which pass through a peripheral surface of the sealing means and each slot partly extends through the sealing means, wherein the sealing means has a disc-shaped, round shape, wherein the sealing means is coupled to the shank in a rotationally fixed manner,

wherein the rotationally fixed coupling is realized by positive-fit means which in the sealing means and in a seal receiver are formed in a manner corresponding to one another.

2 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing means comprises an elastomer cell foam block arranged at a proximal end region of the shank and/or in a handling device which is connected or connectable to a proximal end region of the shank.

3 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the cell foam block comprises a closed-celled configuration.

4 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the leads are led through the sealing means through the feed-throughs, wherein the feed-throughs each have an initially smaller diameter than the associated led-through lead, and are elastically widened by way of the led-through lead.

5 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the positive-fit means is realized in the form of a peripheral-side tongue and groove arrangement.

6 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing means comprises four slots as the feed-throughs, said slots being arranged distanced to one another in the sealing means.

7 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the slots are based on radial lines which are displaced in parallel and which are offset to one another by at least 90° on a surface which is covered by the sealing means.

8 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing means is manufactured from a material which comprises polyethylene or a cellular rubber.

9 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a control housing and a shank connection part rotatably arranged in the control housing and is fixedly or releasably connectable to the shank.

10 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 9 , wherein the shank connection part comprises a connection pipe stub which extends radially outwards from a shank connection axis.

11 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid channel individually directly surrounds the at least two leads which run through the shank.

12 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid channel serves as a feed channel and/or discharge channel.

13 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid channel comprises a distal fluid channel opening and a proximal fluid channel opening, wherein the proximal fluid channel opening is arranged laterally on the shank and can be subjected to fluid pressure or a fluid vacuum.

14 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises a handling device, wherein the handling device is fixedly connected or is releasably connectable to a proximal end of the shank.

15 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the shank at least in a bendable shank section is jointlessly bendable by up to 300°.

16 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the instrument or at least the shank is configured as a disposable article for disposal after a single use.

17 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the fluid channel corresponds to a cross-sectional area of a shank interior which is formed by the shank, minus a sum of the cross-sectional areas of all leads which run through the shank interior.

18 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the shank in a distal bendable shank section comprises a plurality of slots.

19 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 18 , wherein the slots only extend over a part of the shank periphery in the circumferential direction.

20 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 18 , wherein the slots are arranged axially to one another such that the slots alternately lie on a first lateral side of the shank and a second lateral side of the shank which lies diametrically opposite the first.

21 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 18 , wherein the slots form a distal fluid channel opening for the fluid channel and locally increased flexibility of the shank for the bending of a distal shank end.

22 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises a working channel which runs through the shank and which is directly surrounded by the fluid channel.

23 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 22 , wherein the working channel forms a lead through for leading through a laser fiber optic, a capture basket or a Dormia loop.

24 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 22 , wherein the working channel forms a feed and/or discharge channel with a flow direction which runs opposite with respect to the fluid channel.

25 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 22 , wherein the working channel runs axially through the sealing means.

26 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 22 , wherein the working channel comprises a distal working channel opening and a proximal working channel opening.

27 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 26 , wherein the proximal working channel opening is arranged proximally of the proximal end of the fluid channel.

28 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 26 , wherein the distal working channel opening is arranged distally of a distal fluid channel opening of the fluid channel.

29 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 26 , further comprising a handling device, wherein the handling device is fixedly connected or releasably connectable to a proximal end of the shank, wherein the proximal working channel opening is formed by the handling device.

30 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 26 , wherein the cross section of the distal working channel opening is smaller than the cross section of the working channel.

31 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 30 , wherein the cross section of the working channel tapers towards the distal working channel opening.

32 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein a through-flow direction and/or a through-flow rate through the fluid channel is selectable or can be set.

33 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein a distal shank end is jointlessly controllably bendable.

34 . An endoscopic instrument for inserting into a body of a patient, wherein the instrument comprises:

a tubular shank;

at least two electrical, mechanical, and/or optical leads which run through the shank,

wherein a fluid channel is formed in the shank, and wherein the at least two electrical, mechanical, and/or optical leads comprise at least two flat pull wires configured to bend a distal end of the shank; and

a sealing means which forms a proximal end of the fluid channel and comprises feed-throughs for the leads, wherein the sealing means comprises at least two slots passing through a peripheral surface of the sealing means and forming the feed-throughs, each of the two slots partly extending through the sealing means, the sealing means comprising a round disc coupled to the shank with a rotationally fixed coupling comprising a positive-fit formed formed between corresponding surfaces of the round disc and a seal receiver in a manner corresponding to one another.

35 . An endoscopic instrument according to claim 34 , wherein the sealing means comprises elastic material configured to seal leads of varying dimensions and wherein the feed-throughs provide a sealing effect by adapting to cross-sectional shapes of the leads and channels to allow for operation under varying mechanical and fluidic conditions.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2021
From: HEIMBERGER, RUDOLF
To: RICHARD WOLF GMBH
Reel/Frame 056914/0387 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2018 218 954.4 · Nov 7, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210386441A1 · Dec 16, 2021
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