GB1583305A - Endoscopes for examining body cavities and for performing coagulations - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ENDOSCOPES FOR EXAMINING BODY CAVITIES AND FOR PERFORMING COAGULATIONS (71) We, RICHARD WOLF GYBE, a German Body Corporate, of 22 Pforzheimer Strasse, D-7134 Knittlingen, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to endoscopes for examining body cavities by means of a telescope having means for illumination which passes through the barrel of the endoscope, and for performing coagulation by means of a laser which has connected to it a fibre which passes through the barrel of the endoscope alongside the telescope. Hereinafter such endoscopes will be referred to as "of the kind described".

It is an object of the invention to enable the beam of light from the laser to be easily and properly focussed under optical observation in endoscopes of the kind described.

Accordingly, the invention consists in an endoscope of the kind described, wherein the laser fibre is connected to a cable from the laser and extends through a guide tube mounted in the barrel via a tubular elbow which branches off from the barrel of the endoscope at an angle in. a proximal position and a sleeve on the proximal end of the elbow, and the laser cable is connectable by a ringnut to a housing which is axially displaceable on the sleeve and can be secured in place thereon. By moving the housing axially it is possible in this way, by an easy action, to shift the laser fibre in the guide tube, via the proximal elbow, in relation to a distal lens or combination of lenses, and thus to focus the beam of laser light easily and properly under optical observation.

Preferably, the guide tube for the laser fibre is provided with a lens or lens combination and a terminal glass plate at the distal end, and extends through a protective tube which is bent inwards at the distal end in front of the glass plate, leaving a cylindrical space surrounding the guide tube, the protective tube being connectable proximally to a line for shielding gas. Such a construction prevents or minimizes the occurrence of incorrect coagulation owing to smoke borne particles or the products of combustion settling on the glass plate since the latter is at all times kept clean and unobscured by the shielding gas which sweeps over it.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which show one embodiment thereof by way of example and in which: Fig. 1 is an axial section through the barrel of an endoscope with diagrammatic side-views of the telescope, the laser and the laser cable, and the guide for the laser fibre.

Fig. 2 shows the distal part of the guide for the laser fibre and the way in which the terminal glass plate is scavenged, to an enlarged scale.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the barrel 1 of an endoscope such as a cystoscope for example, is provided with a proximal, machined connecting part 2 which has a connection 3 opening into the barrel through which a protective gas introduced into a body cavity can be extracted. A tapered part 4 engages in a tapering bore in the machined part 2 and through it pass a telescope 5 having a light conductor, a connection Sa for the light conductor, and a protective tube 6.

The protective tube 6 extends proximally into an angled elbow 7 having a terminal cylindrical sleeve 8, the elbow 7 branching off at an angle of 90" or more and having the largest possible radius of curvature.

A housing 9, which is cylindrical for example, is axially displacable on the cylindrical sleeve 8 and can be locked in position by a locking screw 10 which engages in a longitudinal groove in the sleeve 8. A ring-nut 11 on the free end of a laser cable 12 can be connected to a threaded connection 9a on the housing 9, the laser cable running to working and pilot lasers 13 and 14. In the ring-nut 11, the cable 12 joins up with a connected laser fibre 15.

Through the protective tube 6 extends a guide tube 16, between which and the tube 6 is a cylindrical space 17. The protective tube 6 is provided proximally with a connection 18 for connecting it to a bottle of shielding gas (not shown) and distally part of it is curved or flanged over inwards at 19. At the distal end, the guide tube 16 terminates in a glass plate 20 to the rear of which is situated a lens or lens combination 21 for focussing the beam of laser light.

When the endoscope is being used, the laser fibre 15 is inserted through the sleeve 8, the lbow 7 and~the guide tube i6, and the ring- nut 11 on the laser cable 12 is then connected to the threaded projection 9a from the axially displacable housing 9. Then, to focus the beam of laser light accurately, the housing 9 is shifted axially on the sleeve 8, and with it the laser fibre 15, until the beam is focussed by withe lens or lens combination 21, while under observation by means of the telescope 5. The housing 9 is then securely connected to the sleeve 8 by means of the screw 10. During the coagulation which is then performed with the laser, a shielding gas is fed to the distal end of the protective tube 6, via the proximal connection 18 and the annular space 17, and at the distal end the gas is diverted by the flanged over portion 19 and the glass disc 20 is at all times kept clear, to avoid difficulties during coagulation.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An endoscope of the kind described, wherein the laser fibre is connected to a cable from the laser and extends through a guide tube mounted in the barrel via a tubular elbow which branches off from the barrel of the endoscope at an angle in a proximal position and a sleeve on the proximal end of the elbow, and the laser cable is connectable by a ring-nut to a housing which is axially displacable on the sleeve and can be secured in place thereon.

2. An endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide tube for Ithe laser fibre is provided with a lens or lens combination and a terminal glass plate at the distal end, and extends through a protective tube which is bent inwards at the distal end in front of the glass plate and leaves a cylindrical space surrounding the guide tube, the protective tube being connectable proximally to a line for shielding gas.

3. An endoscope as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the sleeve is provided with a groove parallel to its axis in which engages a locking screw associated with the housing, which latter is axially adjustable on the sleeve.

4. An endoscope of the kind described, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. and pilot lasers 13 and 14. In the ring-nut 11, the cable 12 joins up with a connected laser fibre 15. Through the protective tube 6 extends a guide tube 16, between which and the tube 6 is a cylindrical space 17. The protective tube 6 is provided proximally with a connection 18 for connecting it to a bottle of shielding gas (not shown) and distally part of it is curved or flanged over inwards at 19. At the distal end, the guide tube 16 terminates in a glass plate 20 to the rear of which is situated a lens or lens combination 21 for focussing the beam of laser light. When the endoscope is being used, the laser fibre 15 is inserted through the sleeve 8, the lbow 7 and~the guide tube i6, and the ring- nut 11 on the laser cable 12 is then connected to the threaded projection 9a from the axially displacable housing 9. Then, to focus the beam of laser light accurately, the housing 9 is shifted axially on the sleeve 8, and with it the laser fibre 15, until the beam is focussed by withe lens or lens combination 21, while under observation by means of the telescope 5. The housing 9 is then securely connected to the sleeve 8 by means of the screw 10. During the coagulation which is then performed with the laser, a shielding gas is fed to the distal end of the protective tube 6, via the proximal connection 18 and the annular space 17, and at the distal end the gas is diverted by the flanged over portion 19 and the glass disc 20 is at all times kept clear, to avoid difficulties during coagulation. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An endoscope of the kind described, wherein the laser fibre is connected to a cable from the laser and extends through a guide tube mounted in the barrel via a tubular elbow which branches off from the barrel of the endoscope at an angle in a proximal position and a sleeve on the proximal end of the elbow, and the laser cable is connectable by a ring-nut to a housing which is axially displacable on the sleeve and can be secured in place thereon.

2. An endoscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide tube for Ithe laser fibre is provided with a lens or lens combination and a terminal glass plate at the distal end, and extends through a protective tube which is bent inwards at the distal end in front of the glass plate and leaves a cylindrical space surrounding the guide tube, the protective tube being connectable proximally to a line for shielding gas.

3. An endoscope as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the sleeve is provided with a groove parallel to its axis in which engages a locking screw associated with the housing, which latter is axially adjustable on the sleeve.

4. An endoscope of the kind described, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.