GB2455343A - A gripper for the shaft of an endoscope - Google Patents

A gripper for the shaft of an endoscope Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2455343A
GB2455343A GB0723927A GB0723927A GB2455343A GB 2455343 A GB2455343 A GB 2455343A GB 0723927 A GB0723927 A GB 0723927A GB 0723927 A GB0723927 A GB 0723927A GB 2455343 A GB2455343 A GB 2455343A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
shaft
endoscope
engaging portion
gripping
colonoscope
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0723927A
Other versions
GB0723927D0 (en
Inventor
Richard Pollock
John M Elam
Cameron Treeby
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
St Georges Healthcare NHS Trust
Original Assignee
St Georges Healthcare NHS Trust
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by St Georges Healthcare NHS Trust filed Critical St Georges Healthcare NHS Trust
Priority to GB0723927A priority Critical patent/GB2455343A/en
Publication of GB0723927D0 publication Critical patent/GB0723927D0/en
Publication of GB2455343A publication Critical patent/GB2455343A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/00064—Constructional details of the endoscope body
    • A61B1/00066—Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/00064—Constructional details of the endoscope body
    • A61B1/00105—Constructional details of the endoscope body characterised by modular construction
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/005—Flexible endoscopes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/005—Flexible endoscopes
    • A61B1/0051—Flexible endoscopes with controlled bending of insertion part
    • A61B1/0052—Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
    • A61B1/005—Flexible endoscopes
    • A61B1/01—Guiding arrangements therefore

Abstract

A device for gripping and rotating the shaft of an endoscope comprising a shaft-engaging portion 102 to grip the shaft of an endoscope and a grip member 101 at each end extending away from the endoscope shaft wherein in use urging of the grip members 101 towards each other increases the pressure exerted on the shaft and the grip members 101 together form a lever arranged to apply torque to the endoscope shaft. Preferred embodiments have a shaft-engaging portion 102 greater than 3 or 5 cm wide, protuberances for engaging an endoscope shaft, formation of the device through a plastic moulding and use of a resilient material to maintain the device on the endoscope shaft.

Description

ENDOSCOPE GRIPPING TOOL
Flexible fibre optic endoscopes are used to visualise spaces which are generally inaccessible for visualisation by other methods. These spaces can include but are not limited to physiological features such as the colon or stomach and mechanical assemblies such as aircraft fuel tanks or electrical conduits in buildings.
Most flexible endoscopes consist of a reinforced articulated tube containing the camera and illumination system, a handle unit and connector for connection to a power source and viewing screen.
Most flexible endoscopes have a means for deflecting the distal tip of the endoscope using two thumb wheels attached to the handle unit. One thumb wheel controls one plane of deflection (up and down) the other wheel controls deflection in a plane perpendicular to this (left and right).
By way of example, flexible endoscopes can be used to visualise the inner lining of the colon for the diagnosis of bowel cancer or the detection and removal of colorectal polyps.
These specialised endoscopes. known as colonoscopes are required to navigate around the colon from the anus (start of the colon) to the cecum (end of the colon), a distance of approximately 1.5 metres. This journey requires the successful traversing of several tight bends in the colon (See fig 1).
When the colonoscope is progressed around thcsc bends there may come a point where the pushing force of the operator is not being transmitted along the longitudinal axis of the colonoscope and the colonoscope can bow out forming a loop (see fig 2). This can cause discomfort to the patient and can prevent progress of the scope through the colon as any force applied will only tend to increase the bowing effect.
In order to aid tracking around the colon bends, the up and down control wheel of the flexible endoscope can be used, however, during colonoscopy, the left and right control wheel is not generally used and neither wheel can be used to counter the bowing effect.
The bowing effect is remedied by torquing or twisting the shaft of the colonoscope whilst, counter-intuitively, pulling back on the colonoscope shaft. This method will undo the loop and allow progression through the colon.
The shaft of the colonoscope is coated with a low coefficient of friction material such as Teflon� and during the procedure is also coated with a lubricating jelly to reduced friction forces to a minimum to aid colonoscope progression and patient comfort.
It is iniportant that the colonoscope operator holds the scope in such a manner as to provide as much haptic feedback as possible in order to feel what manoeuvre is required to progress the scope. The scope is not generally inserted under diagnostic imaging such as X-ray. The only sources of information regarding the attitude of the scope are the tactile feedback from the user and the camera at the very distal tip of the scope which is forward facing only and cannot visualise the rest of the scope.
Hence the operator will hold the scope between finger and thumb (see fig 3) and not generally in a fist grip which would provide less tactile feedback.
Due to the amount of force required to torque the shaft, its lubricous nature and the way it is generally held, the user can experience significant pain and discomfort in their hands and wrist. It is known that colonoscopists can perform many of these procedures daily whilst screening for bowel cancer which can lead to repetitive strain injury.
In a first aspect, the invention described here is an aid which allows torquing and manoeuvring of the colonoscope shaft to progress the colonoscope through the colon. By means of increasing the radial distance from which the fingers can exert the required torque, as Torque = Turning Force x Radial Distance, the forces involved are greatly reduced. This in turn reduces the stress on the users hand and wrist and can allow the operator to perform more colonoscopies before becoming fatigued and can reduce the numbers of failure to progress.
In a second aspect the invention is an aid for torquing an endoscope shaft by means of increasing the levering distance of the fingers and thumb and by having protrusions on the gripping surface of the device which displace lubricant and body fluid to allow sufficient gripping contact with the scope shaft in order to overcome torquing and longitudinal translation forces required for progression into a tortuous cavity, such as the colon.
Description of Drawings
Fig I shows the colon with a colonoscope (heavy black line) inserted from the Anus A, to the cecum C. Fig 2 shows the colonoscope with a ioop at the start of the sigmoid colon, any further pushing by the operator will result in the loop extending, discomfort for the patient and failure to progress.
Fig 3 shows a schematic representation of the hand grasping a colonoscope shaft, arrow indicates orientation of torque rotation, distance d indicates the distance from the axis of the shaft available for torquing using just the hand.
Fig 4 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention, dotted line A-A indicates the longitudinal axis position of the endoscope shaft, distance D indicates the increased distance from the axis of the shaft available for torquing.
Fig 5 shows a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention.
Fig 6 shows an end view of an embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Fig 4 shows the endoscope gripper (I) with constituent elements, compression arms (101) and flexible gripping C-tube (102).
The flexible gripping C-tube (102) has a longitudinal opening arranged so that the endoscope shaft (not shown) can locate between compression elements and along axis A-A. The compression elements have finger depressions (103) and a thumb depression (104) on each side of the gripper (I). for ergonomic fit and intuitive grasping.
Figs 5 and 6 show the arrangement of gripping nodes (105) o the flexible gripping C-tube (102) on its inside surface, projecting radially towards the central axis of the flexible gripping C-tube. ENDOSCOPE GRIPPING TOOL
Flexible fibre optic endoscopes are used to visualise spaces which are generally inaccessible for visualisation by other methods. These spaces can include but are not limited to physiological features such as the colon or stomach and mechanical assemblies such as aircraft fuel tanks or electrical conduits in buildings.
Most flexible endoscopes consist of a reinforced articulated tube containing the camera and illumination system, a handle unit and connector for connection to a power source and viewing screen.
Most flexible endoscopes have a means for deflecting the distal tip of the endoscope using two thumb wheels attached to the handle unit. One thumb wheel controls one plane of deflection (up and down) the other wheel controls deflection in a plane perpendicular to this (left and right).
By way of example, flexible endoscopes can be used to visualise the inner lining of the colon for the diagnosis of bowel cancer or the detection and removal of colorectal polyps.
These specialised endoscopes. known as colonoscopes are required to navigate around the colon from the anus (start of the colon) to the cecum (end of the colon), a distance of approximately 1.5 metres. This journey requires the successful traversing of several tight bends in the colon (See fig 1).
When the colonoscope is progressed around thcsc bends there may come a point where the pushing force of the operator is not being transmitted along the longitudinal axis of the colonoscope and the colonoscope can bow out forming a loop (see fig 2). This can cause discomfort to the patient and can prevent progress of the scope through the colon as any force applied will only tend to increase the bowing effect.
In order to aid tracking around the colon bends, the up and down control wheel of the flexible endoscope can be used, however, during colonoscopy, the left and right control wheel is not generally used and neither wheel can be used to counter the bowing effect.
The bowing effect is remedied by torquing or twisting the shaft of the colonoscope whilst, counter-intuitively, pulling back on the colonoscope shaft. This method will undo the loop and allow progression through the colon.
The shaft of the colonoscope is coated with a low coefficient of friction material such as Teflon� and during the procedure is also coated with a lubricating jelly to reduced friction forces to a minimum to aid colonoscope progression and patient comfort.
It is iniportant that the colonoscope operator holds the scope in such a manner as to provide as much haptic feedback as possible in order to feel what manoeuvre is required to progress the scope. The scope is not generally inserted under diagnostic imaging such as X-ray. The only sources of information regarding the attitude of the scope are the tactile feedback from the user and the camera at the very distal tip of the scope which is forward facing only and cannot visualise the rest of the scope.
Hence the operator will hold the scope between finger and thumb (see fig 3) and not generally in a fist grip which would provide less tactile feedback.
Due to the amount of force required to torque the shaft, its lubricous nature and the way it is generally held, the user can experience significant pain and discomfort in their hands and wrist. It is known that colonoscopists can perform many of these procedures daily whilst screening for bowel cancer which can lead to repetitive strain injury.
In a first aspect, the invention described here is an aid which allows torquing and manoeuvring of the colonoscope shaft to progress the colonoscope through the colon. By means of increasing the radial distance from which the fingers can exert the required torque, as Torque = Turning Force x Radial Distance, the forces involved are greatly reduced. This in turn reduces the stress on the users hand and wrist and can allow the operator to perform more colonoscopies before becoming fatigued and can reduce the numbers of failure to progress.
In a second aspect the invention is an aid for torquing an endoscope shaft by means of increasing the levering distance of the fingers and thumb and by having protrusions on the gripping surface of the device which displace lubricant and body fluid to allow sufficient gripping contact with the scope shaft in order to overcome torquing and longitudinal translation forces required for progression into a tortuous cavity, such as the colon.
Description of Drawings
Fig I shows the colon with a colonoscope (heavy black line) inserted from the Anus A, to the cecum C. Fig 2 shows the colonoscope with a ioop at the start of the sigmoid colon, any further pushing by the operator will result in the loop extending, discomfort for the patient and failure to progress.
Fig 3 shows a schematic representation of the hand grasping a colonoscope shaft, arrow indicates orientation of torque rotation, distance d indicates the distance from the axis of the shaft available for torquing using just the hand.
Fig 4 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention, dotted line A-A indicates the longitudinal axis position of the endoscope shaft, distance D indicates the increased distance from the axis of the shaft available for torquing.
Fig 5 shows a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention.
Fig 6 shows an end view of an embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Fig 4 shows the endoscope gripper (I) with constituent elements, compression arms (101) and flexible gripping C-tube (102).
The flexible gripping C-tube (102) has a longitudinal opening arranged so that the endoscope shaft (not shown) can locate between compression elements and along axis A-A. The compression elements have finger depressions (103) and a thumb depression (104) on each side of the gripper (I). for ergonomic fit and intuitive grasping.
Figs 5 and 6 show the arrangement of gripping nodes (105) o the flexible gripping C-tube (102) on its inside surface, projecting radially towards the central axis of the flexible gripping C-tube.

Claims (6)

  1. Claims 1. A device for gripping and rotating the shaft of an endoscope. the device comprising: a shaft-engaging portion configured to surround and frictionally engage the shaft of an endoscope, in use, and having at each of its ends a grip member which extends away from the shaft-engaging portion in a direction transverse, in use, to the axis of rotation of the endoscope shaft, whereby, in use, urging of the grip members towards each other increases the pressure exerted by the shaft-engaging portion on the endoscope shaft and the grip members together form a lever arranged to apply a torque to the endoscope shaft via the shaft-engaging portion.
  2. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of the shaft engaging portion and/or the grip members in the direction of the axis of rotation of the endoscope shaft is greater than 3 cm, preferably greater than 5 cm.
  3. 3. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the internal surface of the shaft-engaging portion is provided with a plurality of protuberances for engaging the surface of the shaft.
  4. 4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is formed as a plastics moulding, preferably a single plastics moulding.
  5. 5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the shaft engaging portion is formed of resilient material and the resilience of the shaft engaging portion retains the device on the endoscope shaft, in use, in the absence of pressure exerted by the user.
  6. 6. A device for gripping and rotating the shaft of an endoscope substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Figures.
    6. A device for gripping and rotating the shaft of an endoscope substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Figures.
    Claims 1. A device for gripping and rotating the shaft of an endoscope. the device comprising: a shaft-engaging portion configured to surround and frictionally engage the shaft of an endoscope, in use, and having at each of its ends a grip member which extends away from the shaft-engaging portion in a direction transverse, in use, to the axis of rotation of the endoscope shaft, whereby, in use, urging of the grip members towards each other increases the pressure exerted by the shaft-engaging portion on the endoscope shaft and the grip members together form a lever arranged to apply a torque to the endoscope shaft via the shaft-engaging portion.
    2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of the shaft engaging portion and/or the grip members in the direction of the axis of rotation of the endoscope shaft is greater than 3 cm, preferably greater than 5 cm.
    3. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the internal surface of the shaft-engaging portion is provided with a plurality of protuberances for engaging the surface of the shaft.
    4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is formed as a plastics moulding, preferably a single plastics moulding.
    5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the shaft engaging portion is formed of resilient material and the resilience of the shaft engaging portion retains the device on the endoscope shaft, in use, in the absence of pressure exerted by the user.
GB0723927A 2007-12-07 2007-12-07 A gripper for the shaft of an endoscope Withdrawn GB2455343A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0723927A GB2455343A (en) 2007-12-07 2007-12-07 A gripper for the shaft of an endoscope

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0723927A GB2455343A (en) 2007-12-07 2007-12-07 A gripper for the shaft of an endoscope

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0723927D0 GB0723927D0 (en) 2008-01-23
GB2455343A true GB2455343A (en) 2009-06-10

Family

ID=39016315

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0723927A Withdrawn GB2455343A (en) 2007-12-07 2007-12-07 A gripper for the shaft of an endoscope

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2455343A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2520332A (en) * 2013-11-18 2015-05-20 Meditech Endoscopy Ltd Gripping Device
US20170007100A1 (en) * 2014-03-27 2017-01-12 Fujifilm Corporation Endoscopic surgical device, endoscope, and endoscope operating tool
US10492665B2 (en) 2014-09-30 2019-12-03 Fujifilm Corporation Surgical apparatus for endoscope

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2520332A (en) * 2013-11-18 2015-05-20 Meditech Endoscopy Ltd Gripping Device
US10182705B2 (en) 2013-11-18 2019-01-22 Meditech Endoscopy Ltd Gripping device
US20170007100A1 (en) * 2014-03-27 2017-01-12 Fujifilm Corporation Endoscopic surgical device, endoscope, and endoscope operating tool
JPWO2015147157A1 (en) * 2014-03-27 2017-04-13 富士フイルム株式会社 Endoscopic surgical apparatus, endoscope, and endoscope operation tool
EP3123966A4 (en) * 2014-03-27 2017-06-21 Fujifilm Corporation Surgical operation device for endoscope, endoscope, and endoscope operational tool
US10492665B2 (en) 2014-09-30 2019-12-03 Fujifilm Corporation Surgical apparatus for endoscope

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0723927D0 (en) 2008-01-23

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)