IES930033A2 - "Improved Forceps" - Google Patents

Abstract

In a forceps device (1) for use with an endoscope, two jaws (2) are displaceable towards and away from one another for engagement and separation of a portion of tissue during a closing movement of the jaws. The jaws (2) are biased into an open configuration and are displaced into a closed disposition by relative displacement of a shank (3) from which the jaws extend and an outer sleeve (4), to effect a collet-type gripping action. The shank (3) and the jaws (2) are formed integrally, preferably from a plastics material, thereby to facilitate the provision of a disposable forceps structure for use in endoscopy.

Description

IMPROVED FORCEPS The present invention relates to improvements in forceps for use in endoscopes.

Endoscopy is a special medical examination of the interior of the body, usually through a natural body opening, by the insertion of a tube device. Recent advances in fibre optics and in ultraminiaturized photography have greatly improved endoscopic examination of the stomach and gastro-intestinal tract, the bowels, rectum, and other internal organs. The great advantage of these techniques is that surgery is not required, or in some cases, only a minor incision is required. In conjunction with endoscopic examination, biopsy may be employed to remove tiny samples of tissue or body fluids from internal organs via a tube device. Typically, an endoscope may comprise a bundle of fibre optic cables disposed around a central passageway through which other surgical devices including, for example, cable-operated biopsy forceps, may be passed.

Cable-operated biopsy forceps for use in an endoscope typically -2comprise a miniaturised tissue grip and lever mechanism at the operating end of the forceps, which is located at a forward or operating end of a sleeved-type activating cable structure, typically approximately 2 metres in length, which extends during use back through the endoscope to a handle portion gripped by the user in carrying out surgical procedures. Typically, the handle structure is provided with ring-shaped members engaged by the fingers to open and close the forceps.

Cable-operated biopsy forceps of this kind are expensive to purchase, typically costing in excess of IR £300.00. The present invention is therefore particularly directed to the provision of a disposable forceps, suitable for a single use or series of uses on an individual patient and subsequent discarding.

According to the invention, there is provided a forceps device for use with an endoscope, comprising at least two jaws displaceable towards and away from one another for engagement and separation of a portion of tissue during a closing movement of the the jaws, and means for effecting displacement of the jaws between an open disposition and a closed disposition, wherein the jaws and at least a jaw-carrying portion of the forceps device comprise a single integral structure.

Suitably, said jaws are biassed towards an open disposition, while said jaw-carrying portion preferably comprises a shank from which said jaws extend. Said means for effecting displacement of the jaws between an open disposition and a closed disposition may then comprise a sleeve within which said shank is received, means being provided for displacing said shank relative to said sleeve, so that said jaws are forced towards one another by withdrawal of the shank into the sleeve.

In one embodiment of the invention, said sleeve is defined by a ·β95'π η χ j - 3 tubular portion of an endoscope within which the forceps device is accommodated. Alternatively, and in a particularly favoured embodiment of the invention, said sleeve extends between said shank and an operating handle structure for effecting displacement of said jaws between said open disposition and said closed disposition.

Said shank displacing means suitably comprises an elongate member extending between said shank and an operating handle structure for effecting displacement of said jaws between said open disposition and said closed disposition. In a first embodiment of the invention, said elongate member is a rod, while in an alternative and preferred construction, the elongate member may be a hollow tubular member.

An especially favoured embodiment of the invention comprises two jaws, and it is further especially preferred that said jaws and said jaw-carrying portion are formed from a plastics material.

The integral structure of the jaw carrying portion and jaws provided by the invention facilitates embodiment of the invention in a disposable form. The further structure in which the jaws are biased towards an open disposition and are brought into a closed configuration by a relative sliding action of a jaw-carrying shank within a sleeve, closing being effected by the jaws being withdrawn into the sleeve, provides an especially effective and functional arrangement for securing the required forceps action. The sleeve may be defined by an end region of the endoscope itself, or alternatively, the sleeve may extend through a passage within the endoscope from the functional or forward end of the apparatus to an operating handle external of the patient in use of the endoscope.

The displacement of the shank may be effected by means of a flexible rod extending through this tube or sleeve or through the endoscope as the case may be, or, in an alternative variant, the shank operating member may itself be tubular, sliding within the outer tube or sleeve or the outer structure defined by the passage through the endoscope. A particularly favoured embodiment of the invention 005 3 - 4 which is especially suited to the provision of a disposable unit comprises just two jaws, operating in opposition to one another, although a multi-jaw structure, and in particular, a four-jaw structure, may also be envisaged. An economic disposable structure is facilitated by forming at least the jaws and the jaw-carrying portion from a plastics material. Preferably however, the entire structure, including sleeves and tubes, is also formed from plastics, as is the flexible rod where present. In this manner an economical disposable or throw-away construction may be achieved. Suitable forceps action is achieved as required by providing sharpened edges on the opposing edges of the plastics jaws.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in wh i ch: Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of the tissue-engaging end of a forceps device according to the invention along its longitudinal axis, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional enlargement of a handle construction suitable for the forceps device of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows in pictorial diagrammatical representation, a first embodiment of jaw structure for a forceps device according to the invention, Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 of a second embodiment of jaw construction for a forceps device according to the invention, and Figure 5 shows a four-jaw construction of a jaw arrangement for a forceps device according to the invention.

As shown in Figure 1, a forceps device 1 for use with an endoscope has two jaws 2 which are displaceable towards and away from one $®3003J - 5 another in operation of the device. The jaws 2 are formed from a plastics material and form integral extensions of a shank portion 3 of the forceps unit which is received within a tubular sleeve 4.

The jaws 2 are separated from one another in this construction of the device by a longitudinal slit 5 extending along the longitudinal axis of the shank portion 3 to define a diametral plane including the longitudinal axis and are given a bias into a disposition in which the cutting tips or edges 6 of the jaws 2, which are suitably sharpened, are spaced apart from one another. Closing action of the jaws 2 is achieved by withdrawing the shank 3 within the outer sleeve 4, so that closing action is effected in a collet-type manner. As shown in Figure 1, the longitudinal slit 5 is terminated by an enlarged stress-relieving aperture 7 on each side of the generally tubular member defining the shank portion 3.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the forceps device 1 comprises a continuous sleeve 4 extending from the shank region 3 to an external or handle end of the device. Axial displacement of the shank 3 in the rearward and forward direction is effected by a longitudinal shaft 8 extending along the length of the sleeve 4 and within the sleeve between the jaws 2 and the handle structure.

Again as shown in Figure 1, the shaft 8, sleeved within sleeve 4 and sheathed by the sleeve, is itself a tubular member of the structure, i.e. it is hollow. The case of a tubular internal member 8 within sleeve 4 represents a particularly favoured construction of the invention, but the tubular shaft 8 may readily be substituted by a solid operating shaft as required or appropriate.

Operation of the forceps device 1 is extremely simple. It is inserted through an endoscope which has already been inserted into and positioned within a patient, the portion of tissue to be separated is identified, the axial shaft 8 within the sleeve 4 is pulled rearwardly relative to the sleeve, and the jaws 2 are accordingly closed about the portion of tissue in question, to separate it from the main body of tissue to which it is initially Μ·100 3 J - 6 attached and engage it for retention while the forceps device 1 is withdrawn from the endoscope. The specimen may then be released from the forceps device 1 by again opening the jaws 2. This device provided by the invention is suitably formed from plastics material and may thus provide an inexpensive and hygienic disposable forceps device as compared with the expensive metallic structures currently used. Variants may be provided on the structure described, in particular by substituting a solid internal operating shaft extending from the shank to the handle structure for the hollow shaft or tube 8 shown, which is sleeved within the outer tube or sleeve 4 of the device.

A further variant may also be provided in which the sleeve for the forceps device is defined by the leading end of a tube or passage of the endoscope itself, thus enabling the outer sleeve 4 to be dispensed with.

Figure 2 shows in sectional schematic view a preferred handle structure 11 for use with the invention, in which a hand-grip 12 is connected or affixed to the outer sleeve 4, while a sliding button-type feature 13 communicates with the internal tubular shaft 8 or solid rod as appropriate for longitudinal displacement thereof through a longitudinally extending slot 14 in the wall of tubular sleeve 4.

Figure 3 is a pictorial representation of the jaw structure shown in section in Figure 1. Figure 4 shows an alternative configuration of double jaw construction in which no stress-relieving aperture is present at the base of the longitudinal slit on each side of the structure. A four-jaw configuration is also encompassed within the scope of the invention, as depicted in Figure 5, in which a four-pronged grabber 22 is closed by means of an outer sleeve 24, which forces the prongs to close to trap the desired sample when rearward relative displacement between the grabber 22 and the sleeve 24 takes place to effect the collet-type action already described.

S93003J - 7 A variety of materials may be used in forming the cutting jaws of the invention, including as noted above, plastics. The desired resilient action is achieved in this case by an appropriate configuration of the structure and a suitable choice of plastics material. In a further variant, the jaws may be formed from a metallic material such as an appropriate grade of steel. The cutout at the hinge region of the jaws, as represented by the apertures 7 in Figures 1 and 3, enables smoother action in the case of all variants of embodiment of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. A forceps device for use with an endoscope, comprising at least two jaws displaceable towards and away from one another for engagement and separation of a portion of tissue during a closing movement of the the jaws, and means for effecting displacement of the jaws between an open disposition and a closed disposition, wherein the jaws and at least a jaw-carrying portion of the forceps device comprise a single integral structure.

2. A forceps device according to Claim 1, wherein said jaws are biassed towards an open disposition.

3. A forceps device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said jaw-carrying portion comprises a shank from which said jaws extend and said means for effecting displacement of the jaws between an open disposition and a closed disposition comprises a sleeve within which said shank is received, and means are provided for displacing said shank relative to said sleeve, so that said jaws are forced towards one another by withdrawal of the shank into the sleeve.

4. A forceps device according to any preceding claim, wherein said jaws and said jaw-carrying portion are formed from a plastics material.

5. A forceps device substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in any one or more of the accompanying drawings.