DE20100589U1 - Surgical instrument - Google Patents

Description

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

The invention relates to a surgical instrument with two pivotally connected branches, which have flat contact surfaces in the area of their pivot connection which abut one another when the branches are pivoted in their working area.

Two-part surgical instruments of this type, for example clamps, scissors, needle holders, etc., are usually constructed in such a way that the two branches have flat contact surfaces in the area of their pivoting connection, so that the two branches support each other well and a clean guidance of the two branches against each other is ensured.

This applies to instruments with a through-connection as well as to instruments with a screw connection or similar connections.

While the flat arrangement of the contact surfaces ensures that the two branches are well guided against each other, problems can arise in this area during cleaning and sterilization, as the space between the two closely spaced contact surfaces may not be optimally accessible for cleaning fluid.

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It is the object of the invention to design a generic instrument in such a way that even with optimal guidance of the two branches by contact surfaces that lie against one another, it is ensured that these can also be completely cleaned and sterilized in the area of the contact surfaces.

This object is achieved according to the invention in a surgical instrument of the type described at the outset in that means are provided which, in the event of a relative displacement of the two branches out of their working area, partially cancel the planar contact of the contact surfaces.

The two branches are therefore designed in such a way that the two branches can be moved relative to one another outside their working range, i.e. outside the usual swivel range of the two branches against each other that occurs during operation, in such a way that the contact surfaces in areas that previously rested on a contact surface on the opposite side are released so that the cleaning fluid in this area can reach the contact surfaces and clean and sterilize them accordingly.

For example, in a first preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the means comprise depressions in one or both contact surfaces. These depressions mean that the contact surfaces are still flat in the working area in the areas not provided with depressions.

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abut one another and guide one another, when the contact surfaces are moved relative to one another, either by completely opening the branches and thereby leaving the work area, or by a suitable movement transverse to the pivot axis, it can be achieved that between the opposing contact surfaces, the recesses create access into the space between the contact surfaces, through which cleaning fluid can enter this space and reach areas of a contact surface of the other branch opposite the recess, which are cleaned in this way. By adjusting the branches to different relative positions, the recesses can be placed opposite different areas of the contact surface of the other branch, so that the flat contact surfaces are also completely cleaned in this way.

For example, the recesses can have an arcuate cross-section, in particular they adjoin the contact surface without any steps.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the recesses have the form of grooves running in the contact surfaces; these can be arranged, for example, in the region of the pivot bearing in such a way that the pivot axis passes through the recess.

It is also possible that the depression or depressions correspond to an area of the contact surface through which the

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The pivot axis of the branches passes through them.

In another preferred embodiment, it is provided that the pivot connection of the two branches is detachable in such a way that the two branches can be displaced parallel to their contact surfaces until the penetration points of the pivot axis through the two branches are offset from one another.

In this design, the contact surfaces can either be completely flat or have depressions in the manner described above. By shifting the two branches parallel to the contact surfaces in this design, it is possible to position different areas of the contact surfaces in such a way that they protrude over the adjacent branch and can thus be reached by a cleaning fluid. Depending on the position of the two branches, these areas can be different, so that in this way the contact surfaces can be cleaned essentially completely.

In a first preferred embodiment, for example, it is provided that the pivot bearing comprises at least one bearing pin that can be removed from a bearing opening. After removing the bearing pin, the two branches can be moved against each other parallel to the contact surface, so that in this way it is possible to expose all areas of the contact surfaces.

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It is advantageous if two such bearing pins are provided, which are connected to each other via a connecting bracket in such a way that they penetrate from opposite sides into a continuous bearing opening of the two branches.

The connecting bracket can, for example, be designed to be spring-loaded, so that this structural unit consisting of two bearing pins and a connecting bracket can be removed from its storage position and brought back into the storage position by deforming the connecting bracket.

In another embodiment, this component can be designed as a disposable part, for example the connecting bracket can then be broken open.

In a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the two branches are pivotally connected to one another via a flattened bearing pin which engages in an elongated hole on one branch, the width of which lies between the maximum diameter of the bearing pin and its width in the flattened part and which has an enlarged bearing area with a diameter which is at least as large as the maximum diameter of the bearing pin.

In the enlarged bearing area, the bearing pin can thus be mounted so that it can rotate, while in the less wide part of the slot it can only be accommodated in a very specific direction, namely with

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the flats parallel to the longitudinal direction of the slot, and then a displacement of the two branches along the slot is possible. This displacement allows different areas of the contact surfaces of the two branches to be released and reached by the cleaning fluid.

It is advantageous if the flattening of the bearing pin is oriented in such a way that the bearing pin can only enter the rest of the slot from the enlarged bearing area when the two branches are pivoted out of the working area, particularly when the two branches run perpendicular to each other. This ensures that the pivot bearing is only released outside the working area, and only outside the working area is it possible to release the contact surfaces for cleaning purposes, while in the working area the bearing pin can be pivoted in the enlarged bearing area and cannot be moved along the slot.

In a further preferred embodiment, the swivel connection is formed by a snap-in and releasable locking mechanism. For example, the swivel bearing can comprise spherical projections on one branch that penetrate into a bearing opening on the other branch. By means of a strong lateral displacement, these projections can be pulled out of the bearing opening, so that a displacement of the two

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Sectors relative to each other parallel to their investment areas is possible.

In this embodiment, too, a guideway for the projections can be provided at the bearing opening, in which the projections are guided against each other when the two branches are moved. This makes it possible, similar to a pivot bearing with a flattened bearing pin, to connect the two branches in the working area so that they can pivot around a specific axis, but to move them relative to each other parallel to their contact surface when pivoting out of the working area so that parts of the contact surface are exposed for cleaning fluid.

In a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the pivot bearing has cooperating guide surfaces arranged concentrically to the pivot axis, which guide the two branches in the working area so that they can pivot relative to one another and release the pivot connection outside the working area so that the two branches can be displaced relative to one another.

In particular, these guide surfaces can be formed by steps on the branches.

In these embodiments, no bearing pin or the like is provided, but the pivoting bearing is only provided by the concentric guides.

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guidance surfaces, which, however, are only effective over a part of the swivel angle of the two branches, namely in the working area, while outside of this swivel range they no longer produce any relative guidance of the two branches, so that they can be moved against each other; in this case too, this enables access for the cleaning fluid to otherwise covered areas of the contact surface.

All described embodiments can be used for instruments with push-through connections as well as for instruments with screw connections or similar connections.

The following description of preferred embodiments of the invention serves to explain in more detail in conjunction with the drawing. They show:

Figure 1: a clamp-like surgical instrument with two pivoting branches, which have a fixed axis of rotation in the working area, but can be moved relative to each other outside the working area parallel to the adjacent contact surfaces,

Figure 2: a view of the end region of the instrument of Figure 1 with the branches arranged transversely to each other and with a transverse displacement of the branches to each other;

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Figure 3: a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4: a view of the end portion of another surgical instrument in which the branches are connected by two bearing pins;

Figure 5: a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6: a view similar to Figure 4 of a further preferred embodiment of an instrument with a snap-in pivot bearing;

Figure 7: a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Figure 6;

Figure 8: a view similar to Figure 4 of a further preferred embodiment of an instrument with two branches supported by guide surfaces arranged concentrically to the pivot axis;

Figure 9: a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in Figure 8;

Figure 10: a view similar to Figure 4 in another preferred embodiment of a

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Instrument with two pivoting branches connected to each other;

Figure 11: a side view of the instrument of Figure 10 in the direction of arrow A in Figure 10 with recesses in the contact surface of a branch in the area of the pivot axis;

Figure 12: a view similar to Figure 11 of a modified embodiment of an instrument with recesses in an area of the contact surface of a branch adjacent to the pivot axis;

Figure 13: a view similar to Figure 4 of a further preferred embodiment of an instrument with two branches pivotably connected to one another by a screw connection and

Figure 14: a sectional view taken along line 14-14 in Figure 13.

The invention is described below using a clamp, but can be applied in the same way to all instruments in which two branches are pivotally connected to one another, for example needle holders, forceps, scissors, clamps, etc.

The surgical instrument 1 shown in the drawing has two branches 2, each with a

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clamping surface 3 and at the opposite end are provided with a finger opening 4. Between the clamping surfaces 3 and the finger openings 4, the two branches are pivotally connected to one another in the area of a so-called box closure 5. In this area, one branch has a slot 6 running transversely through it, which is delimited by an upper web 7 and a lower web 8, and the other branch reaches through this slot 6 with a bearing section 9 of reduced thickness. Arranged in this bearing section 9 is an elongated hole 10 running through it, which has a bearing opening 11 in the middle, the diameter of which is larger than the width of the rest of the elongated hole 10. The bearing opening 10 has a circular cross-section, and this circular cross-section corresponds to the diameter of a bearing pin 12 which runs through the slot 6 from the upper web 7 to the lower web 8 and projects through the elongated hole. The bearing pin 12 has a circular cross-section and is flattened on opposite sides so that the width of the bearing pin 12 in the flattened area corresponds to the width of the elongated hole outside the bearing opening 11. This allows the bearing pin 12 to be moved in the elongated hole 10 in its longitudinal direction if the elongated hole 10 is oriented parallel to the direction of the flattenings on the bearing pin 12. If, however, the bearing pin 12 passes through the bearing opening, it forms a pivot bearing for the two branches, which thus supports them relative to one another so that they can pivot about the axis of rotation formed by the bearing pin, whereby this pivot connection is only

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can be released when the two branches are pivoted relative to each other into an angular position in which the bearing pin 12 in the outer areas
of the elongated hole 10 (Figure 2).

The upper web 7 has on its side facing the slot 6
side has a flat contact surface 13, as well as
the lower web 8 has on its side facing the slot 6
side has a flat contact surface 14, these contact surfaces 13 and 14 lie flat on the flat
Top side 15 or the equally flat bottom side
16 of the bearing section 9 and thus guide the branch inserted through the slot 6 in the
Slot so that when opening and closing the instrument
1 by pivoting the two branches 2, these can be rotated in a defined manner about the pivot axis defined by the bearing pin 12.

Although the contact surfaces 13 and 14 lie flat on the upper side 15 and the lower side 16, respectively, these surface areas can be reached by a cleaning fluid when the two branches 2 are in the special angular position in which the
Bearing pin 12 can enter the outer areas of the slot 10, then it is possible to move the branch supporting the slot 10 relative to the other branch in the direction of the slot 10
and thereby to expose parts of the upper side 15 and the lower side 16, which are otherwise covered by contact surfaces 14 respectively. In addition, essential parts of the contact surfaces 14 can be passed through the slot 10.

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surfaces 13 and 14 can be reached by the cleaning fluid, and this also applies when different angular positions are assumed, i.e. when the bearing pin 12 penetrates the bearing opening 11.

In this way, with this design of an instrument, it is possible to reach essentially all parts of the contact surfaces, the top and the bottom, with cleaning fluid by pivoting and shifting the two branches against each other, which would otherwise lie close together during normal operation and thus would not be easily accessible for the cleaning fluid.

In the embodiment of Figure 4, a similar structure of an instrument is chosen, corresponding parts therefore have the same reference numerals. However, an elongated hole and a bearing pin passing through the slot 6 are missing. Instead, a bearing opening 17 with a circular cross-section is arranged in the bearing section 9, and there are also openings 18 and 19 in the upper web 7 and the lower web 8, which are aligned with the bearing opening 17. Two coaxial shaft stubs 21 and 22, each pointing towards each other, are arranged on a U-shaped bracket 20, one shaft stub projects through the upper opening 18 into the bearing opening 17, the other shaft stub also projects through the lower opening into the bearing opening 17, so that a perfect pivoting bearing of the two branches 2 is achieved. The two shaft stubs 21 and 22 can be

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Position, for example by elastically bending the bracket 20 or by destroying the bracket 20, which can be designed as a disposable plastic article, for example. This makes it possible to release the pivot bearing of the two branches 2 so that the two branches 2 can be moved relative to one another, i.e. the bearing section 9 can then be moved in the slot 6 in different directions so that all areas of the contact surfaces 13 and 14 and also the top 15 and the bottom 16 are freely accessible for a cleaning fluid. After cleaning is complete, the bracket is reinserted with the two shaft stubs 21 and 22 so that perfect bearing is then achieved.

In the embodiment of Figure 6, a similar structure is again chosen, and here too, corresponding parts are designated with the same reference numerals.

Here too, there is no elongated hole or bearing pin as in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3. Instead, the bearing section 9 has a bearing thickening 23 in the form of spherical bearing projections 24, 25 on opposite sides of the bearing section 9, and these engage in pan-shaped bearing recesses 26 and 27 in the upper contact surface 13 and the lower contact surface 14, respectively, so that a pivoting bearing of the two branches is achieved. The bearing projections 24 and 25 are only very low, and the same applies to

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the depth of the bearing recesses 26 and 27, so that the bearing projections 24 and 25 can be pulled out of the bearing recesses 26 and 27 by a strong displacement of the two branches 2 against each other, the two webs 7 and 8 can expand slightly elastically. Conversely, the bearing connection is restored when the bearing projections 24 and 25 are pushed into the bearing recesses 26 and 27 respectively and snap into them. The pivot bearing can also be released in this way, so that the two branches can be displaced against each other, and this enables cleaning of the contact surfaces 13 and 14 as well as the top 15 and the bottom 16, even in the areas that would otherwise be covered by each other.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment which again largely corresponds to that of Figures 1 to 3, and here too corresponding parts have the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the slot and bearing pin are again missing, the contact surfaces 13 and 14 lie flat against the top 15 and the bottom 16 over their entire extent, the two branches 2 are pivotally connected to one another in that both branches have bearing surfaces 28, 29 which concentrically surround the axis of rotation and are formed by steps which adjoin the box end 5 in the longitudinal direction of the branches and which only extend over a relatively small circumferential area of the pivoting movement, so that they only lie against one another when the branches run essentially parallel to one another or slightly against one another.

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are pivoted. As soon as the branches are pivoted into the open position, i.e., for example, when they are positioned transversely to one another, the contact between the interacting bearing surfaces 28 and 29 ends and the two branches 2 can then be moved freely relative to one another, so that even then the contact surfaces 13 and 14 as well as the top side 15 and the bottom side 16 can be cleaned in practically all areas.

In the embodiment of an instrument shown in Figures 10 and 11, a similar structure is chosen, and corresponding parts therefore bear the same reference numerals.

In this case, the two branches 2 are pivotably mounted to one another in any desired manner, for example by means of a bearing pin 30 which passes through the slot 6 and penetrates a bearing opening 31 in the bearing section 9. This pivot connection can be a permanent pivot connection.

In the area of the bearing opening 31, recesses 32 and 33 are incorporated into the top side 15 and the bottom side 16 surrounding the bearing opening 31, for example in the form of a flat groove with an arcuate cross-section, running transversely to the longitudinal extension of the branch, which continuously adjoins the top side 15 or the bottom side 16 and forms a small gap between the top side 15 and the contact surface 13 or between the bottom side 16 and the contact surface 14 in the area of the bearing opening 31.

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forms into which cleaning fluid can enter. The two branches 2 are guided relative to one another by the flat areas of the top side 15 and the bottom side 16 relative to the contact surfaces 13 and 14, respectively. In this way, it is possible to reach essentially all parts of these surfaces with cleaning fluid, partly via the recesses 32 and 33, partly when the branches 2 are fully opened by the contact surfaces 13 and 14 being pivoted laterally over the top side and the bottom side 16 at large pivot angles.

A similar structure is chosen for the modified structure of Figure 12, corresponding parts again bear the same reference numerals.

Here, recesses 34 and 35 or 36 and 37 in the form of flat transverse grooves with an arcuate cross-section are machined into the top side 15 and into the bottom side on both sides of the bearing opening 31, and these recesses also form gaps that can be reached by the cleaning fluid.

Although a permanent pivot connection is provided in the embodiments of Figures 10 to 12, the features described with reference to these embodiments can also be used in the instruments shown in Figures 1 to 9, i.e. it is easily possible to use different recesses to create intermediate rinsing spaces

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to be combined with detachable swivel connections, which allow a relative displacement of the branches against each other.

In the embodiment of Figures 13 and 14, an instrument 1 is not designed as a push-through instrument, but the two branches 2 lie directly against each other with contact surfaces 38 and 39, the pivoting connection is made by a bearing screw 40 that passes through one branch and is screwed into the other branch. In this embodiment, both contact surfaces 38 and 39 have recesses 41 and 42 facing each other in the area of the bearing screw 40 in the form of transverse, flat grooves with an arcuate cross-section, and this also creates gaps that allow the rinsing liquid to enter.

Of course, it would also be possible to provide only one of the two contact surfaces 38 or 39 with a corresponding recess.

Claims (20)

1. Surgical instrument with two pivotally connected branches which have flat contact surfaces in the region of their pivot connection which, when the branches are pivoted in their working area, lie against one another, characterized in that means are provided which, when the two branches ( 2 ) are relatively displaced out of their working area, partially cancel the flat contact of the contact surfaces ( 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ; 38 , 39 ). 2. Surgical instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that the means comprise recesses ( 32 , 33 ; 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ; 41 , 42 ) in one or both contact surfaces ( 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ; 38 , 39 ). 3. Surgical instrument according to claim 2, characterized in that the recesses have an arcuate cross-section. 4. Surgical instrument according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the recesses adjoin the contact surface without steps. 5. Surgical instrument according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the recesses have the form of grooves running in the contact surfaces. 6. Surgical instrument according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that a recess ( 32 , 33 ; 41 , 42 ) is arranged in the region of the pivot bearing ( 30 , 31 ; 40 ) such that the pivot axis passes through the recess. 7. Surgical instrument according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the depression or depressions ( 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ) are adjacent to a region of the contact surface ( 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ) through which the pivot axis ( 30 , 31 ) of the branches ( 2 ) passes. 8. Surgical instrument according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot connection ( 10 , 11 ; 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ; 23 , 26 , 27 ; 28 , 29 ) of the two branches ( 2 ) is detachable in such a way that the two branches ( 2 ) can be displaced parallel to their contact surfaces ( 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ) until the penetration points of the pivot axis through the two branches ( 2 ) are offset from one another. 9. Surgical instrument according to claim 8, characterized in that the pivot bearing comprises at least one bearing pin ( 21 , 22 ) which can be removed from a bearing opening ( 17 ). 10. Surgical instrument according to claim 9, characterized in that two such bearing pins ( 21 , 22 ) are provided, which are connected to one another via a connecting bracket in such a way that they penetrate from opposite sides into a continuous bearing opening ( 17 , 18 , 19 ) of the two branches ( 2 ). 11. Surgical instrument according to claim 10, characterized in that the connecting bracket ( 20 ) is designed to be resilient. 12. Surgical instrument according to claim 8, characterized in that the two branches ( 2 ) are pivotally connected to one another via a flattened bearing pin ( 12 ) which engages in an elongated hole ( 10 ) on one branch ( 2 ), the width of which lies between the maximum diameter of the bearing pin and its width in the flattened part and which has an enlarged bearing area ( 11 ) with a diameter which is at least as large as the maximum diameter of the bearing pin ( 12 ). 13. Surgical instrument according to claim 12, characterized in that the flattening of the bearing pin ( 12 ) is oriented such that entry of the bearing pin ( 12 ) from the enlarged bearing area ( 11 ) into the remaining part of the elongated hole ( 10 ) is only possible when the two branches are pivoted out of the working area. 14. Surgical instrument according to claim 12, characterized in that the flattening of the bearing pin ( 12 ) is oriented such that entry of the bearing pin ( 12 ) from the enlarged bearing area ( 11 ) into the remaining area of the elongated hole ( 10 ) is only possible if the two branches ( 2 ) run transversely to each other. 15. Surgical instrument according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the enlarged bearing area ( 11 ) is located in the middle of the elongated hole ( 10 ). 16. Surgical instrument according to claim 8, characterized in that the pivot connection is formed by an elastically snap-in and releasable locking mechanism ( 23 , 26 , 27 ). 17. Surgical instrument according to claim 16, characterized in that the pivot bearing comprises spherical projections ( 24 , 25 ) on one branch which penetrate into a bearing opening ( 26 , 27 ) on the other branch. 18. Surgical instrument according to claim 17, characterized in that the bearing opening ( 26 , 27 ) is followed by a guide track for the projections ( 24 , 25 ), in which the projections are guided against each other when the two branches are displaced. 19. Surgical instrument according to claim 8, characterized in that the pivot bearing has cooperating guide surfaces ( 28 , 29 ) arranged concentrically to the pivot axis, which guide the two branches ( 2 ) relative to each other in the working area and release the pivot connection outside the working area, so that the two branches ( 2 ) can be displaced relative to each other. 20. Surgical instrument according to claim 19, characterized in that the guide surfaces ( 28 , 29 ) are formed by steps on the branches ( 2 ).