GB2169809A

GB2169809A - Combined insufflation-irrigation system for an endoscope

Info

Publication number: GB2169809A
Application number: GB08603685A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter P Siegmund
Original assignee: Warner Lambert Technologies Inc
Current assignee: Warner Lambert Technologies Inc
Priority date: 1983-01-20
Filing date: 1986-02-14
Publication date: 1986-07-23
Also published as: PT77938A; GB2133696B; GB8400064D0; PT77938B; CA1222669A; JPS59139235A; GB2133696A; DE3400316A1; GB8603685D0; GB2169809B; FR2539612A1

Abstract

A combined insufflation-irrigation system for an endoscope having a shaft terminating in a working end comprises a first conduit for directing gas into said shaft toward said working end, a first pump for pulsing gas into said conduit, a second conduit connected to said first conduit for directing fluid into said shaft toward said working end, a second pump for introducing fluid into said second conduit, and check valve means in both conduits operable automatically and selectively to ensure positive flow of air and fluid toward said working end.

Description

1 GB2169809A 1

SPECIFICATION

Combined insufflation-irrigation system for an endoscope Reference is made to our copending U.K. Patent Application No. 8400064, published under No. 2133696.

The present invention relates to diagnostic devices and in particular to endoscopes that are useful to make examinations, inspections and retrievals in remote internal locations in medical and veterinary situations.

A typical prior art scope is illustrated in a

Warner-Lambert Company publication entitled -AO Flexible Fiber Optic Small Diameter Veterinary Fiberscope Model VFS-2- dated 4/81.

This scope includes a pistol grip, a flexible shaft enclosing image and light transmitting fiber optic bundles, deflection means and a retrieval mechanism. The unit also includes a separate tubular element depending from the scope and terminating in a flexible pneumatic bulb operable manually to insufflate the region being observed.

The aforesaid Model VFS-2 scope has the disadvantage that its operation requires use of both hands, that is, one hand to grasp the pistol grip and the other hand to manipulate the separate pneumatic bulb.

Consequently, it is a primary feature of the present invention to incorporate the bulb into the pistol grip. In such an arrangement, an operator can hold the scope by grasping the pistol grip with capability of actuating the pneumatic bulb in one-hand fashion. In this arrangement the second hand is free to manipulate other nearby instrumentalities.

It is a further feature of the present inven- tion to provide a compact pistol grip-bulb package or assembly with a minimum number of appendages dangling from the scope.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of an endoscope structure which provides the operator with easy single-handed access to the pneumatic bulb without having to grope about with the second hand for its location.

A further feature of the invention is the pro- vision of a valve and conduit system facilitating introduction of fluid into the shaft of the scope where the pneumatic bulb is operable to pressurize the fluid.

A diagnostic endoscope embracing prin- ciples of the present invention and useful for making examinations and retrievals in remote internal locations in medical or veterinary situations may comprise a pistol grip having a cavity, a flexible pneumatic bulb partially re- ceived in said cavity and supported by said pistol grip, an operative portion of the bulb projecting outside the cavity making it possible for the user of the scope to manipulate the bulb while grasping the pistol grip in sin- gle-handed fashion.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from an examination of the following specifications when read in conjunction with the ap- pended drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is an illustration of a typical prior art scope where the pneumatic bulb is separate from the pistol grip;

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the improved scope; Figure 3 is a side view of Fig. 2 with certain portions broken away to show the disposition of valves and conduits; Figure 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 3 with portions broken away to show the valves and conduits for introducing irrigation fluid; Figure 5 is a schematic drawing showing valve positions during insufflation; Figure 6 is a schematic drawing showing valve positions during irrigation; and Figure 7 is a schematic drawing of a typical working end of an endoscope shaft.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral 11 designates a prior art endos- cope having a pistol grip 12 and a pneumatic tube 13 connected to the scope at 14 and terminating in a flexible pneumatic bulb 16.

In operation of the prior art scope 11, eyepiece 17 is held close to the viewer's eye by grasping the pistol grip in one hand. In operating this prior art scope, a viewer must grope about with his free hand to locate the dangling bulb 16.

In contrast, a reference to Fig. 2 discloses an improved scope indicated generally at 18 having a pistol grip 19 formed with a recess 21 for receiving and supporting a pneumatic bulb 22.

A substantial portion 23 of the bulb extends beyond the pistol grip and extends beyond the cavity making it possible for the user of the scope to manipulate (compress or relax) the flexible bulb, as desired, using digits of the same hand with which one grasps the pistol grip.

While these elements do not figure prominently in the present invention, it is noted that the scope includes an eyepiece 24, a channel entry 26 for a retrieval instrument (not shown), and an operating button 27 for applying a vacuum to the region under examination through a separate conduit system. Fig. 7 shows the face of the working end 15 of the scope of Fig. 2 including, typically, 120 one or more channels for bundles 30-30 of light transmitting fiber optics, a channel for an image bundle 35, a combined insufflation-irrigation channel 40 and vacuum or biopsy channel 45. 125 Note that all valves disclosed are of the ball check variety held normally closed or open, as the case may be, by a spring such as a coil spring in well-known fashion. Obviously the selection of check valve structure is purely a matter of engineering choice which can be 2 GB2169809A 2 made freely without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the valve and conduit system operates as follows:

Assume that the bulb 22 is in the normal extended condition filled with air. In this con dition, cheek valve 28 is normally closed to the atmosphere.

Upon manual compression of the bulb 22, air pressure opens normally closed check valve 29 and air flows through conduit 20 introducing air under pressure into shaft 31 and exhausting at shaft face 15 through chan nel 40 (Figs. 2, 3 and 7). Note that check valve 32 is normally closed blocking passage of air through conduit 25 leading to a syringe socket 34 (Figs. 2 and 4).

Upon relaxation of the bulb 22, check valve 29 returns to its normally closed position and the natural tendency for the bulb to draw a 85 vacuum opens check valve 28 introducing a new volume of air into the bulb. Sequential compression and relaxation of the bulb will 1 pump- air to the shaft face 15, as desired.

In the event it is desired to introduce fluid into the shaft 31 for irrigation or purging the face 15, a conventional syringe 33, loaded with suitable fluid, is introduced into syringe socket 34. Upon pumping the syringe, fluid flows through conduit 25, normally closed check valve 32 is blown open and fluid backs into conduit 20 up to normally closed valve 29 and flow occurs through conduit 20 and discharges at the face 15 of the shaft 31 through channel 40. (See Figs. 4, 6 and 7).

If desired, the fluid introduced by the syringe 33 may be pressurized beyond that created by the syringe by merely actuating the pneumatic bulb 22 in the fashion previously described.

That is, with a charge of fluid introduced into the conduit 20, removal of the syringe permits check valve 32 to return to its normally closed position retaining the fluid in the system. Thereafter, compression of bulb 22 applies air pressure to conduit 20 and to the fluid within bringing about irrigation or purging at the face 15 of shaft 31 exhausting through channel 40.

Fluid is removed by applying a vacuum to conduit 55 (Fig. 3). The vacuum is derived from a remote vacuum pump (not shown) through conduit 46 and is applied by depressing vacuum operating button 27 drawing a va- cuum through conduit 55 and conduit 46; conduit 55 is sealed to the atmosphere by a cheek valve at 26 (not shown).

It is anticipated that a wide variety of embodiments of this invention may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims

1. A combined insufflation-iffigation system for an endoscope having a shaft terminating in a working end comprising:

a first conduit for directing gas into said shaft toward said working end, a first pump for pulsing gas into said conduit, a second conduit connected to said first conduit for directing fluid into said shaft toward said working end, a second pump for introducing fluid into said second conduit, and check valve means in both conduits operable automatically and selectively to ensure positive flow of air and fluid toward said working end.

2. A system according to Claim 1 which includes a third conduit communicating with a source of vacuum at one end and the work face of said shaft at the opposite end and an operating button for applying said vacuum.

3. A system according to Claim 1 in which the first pump is a resilient hollow bulb and the second pump is a syringe.

4. A combined insufflation-iffigation system for an endoscope according to Claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Printed in the United Kingdom for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Dd 8818935, 1986, 4235. Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A l AY, from which copies may be obtained.