Endoscopic instrument with end effectors forming suction and/or irrigation ...

[54] ENDOSCOPIC INSTRUMENT WITH END EFFECTORS FORMING SUCTION AND/OR IRRIGATION LUMENS

[75] Inventor: Charles R. Slater, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Symbiosis Corporation, Miami, Fla.

[21] Appl. No.: 226,701

[22] Filed: Apr. 12,1994

[51] Int. Cl.« A61B 17/42

[52] U.S. CI 606/205; 606/207;

604/27

[58] Field of Search 606/205-211;

604/19, 27, 36, 93, 115-117

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

2,397,823 4/1946 Walter .

3,019,790 2/1962 Militana 606/205

3,980,086 9/1976 Kletschka 604/27

4,646,751 3/1987 Maslanka .

4,750,488 6/1988 Wuchinich et al 604/27

4,763,668 8/1988 Macek et al. .

4,880,015 11/1989 Nierman .

5,016,614 5/1991 MacAllister 604/93

5,123,902 6/1992 Miiller et al 604/27

5,131,379 7/1992 Sewell, Jr 606/205

5,141,519 8/1992 Smith et al 606/205

5,152,778 10/1992 Bales, Jr. et al 606/205

5,195,958 3/1993 Phillips 604/33

5,197,968 3/1993 Clement 604/93

5,209,747 5/1993 Knoepfler 606/16

5,217,460 6/1993 Knoepfler 606/205

5,224,931 7/1993 Kumar 604/51

5,286,255 2/1994 Weber 604/22

5,300,087 4/1994 Knoepfler 606/207

5,312,391 5/1994 Wilk 606/205

Primary Examiner—C. Fred Rosenbaum
Assistant Examiner—Perry E. Van Over
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—David P. Gordon

[57] ABSTRACT

An endoscopic instrument with suction/irrigation end effectors includes a tube, a push rod which extends through the tube, an actuator engaging the tube and the push rod, and end effectors coupled to the tube and push rod, where the end effectors include or define a bore which acts as a lumen for suction/irrigation. A fluid conduit in the tube communicates with the bore in the end effectors and is coupled to a suction or irrigation source. In one embodiment, a pair of end effectors are each coupled to a separate irrigation/suction conduit which is fed through the tube. The proximal ends of the conduits are coupled to one or separate fluid couplings at the proximal end of the instrument for connection with suction/irrigation sources. In another embodiment, a stationary end effector is provided with a fluid bore which is coupled to a fluid conduit integral with the tube. In both of these embodiments, the fluid bore(s) terminate^) in one or more openings on a surface of the end effector(s) so that suction/irrigation is provided on a surface of the end effector(s). In a third embodiment, the annulus between the push rod and the tube acts as a fluid conduit for suction/irrigation and each end effector is provided with a longitudinal surface groove which defines a lumen therebetween so that suction/irrigation may be performed when the end effectors are in the closed position.

18 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets