Abstract: A monolithic relay lens system for an endoscope is provided and includes a plurality of alternating individual polymeric lens elements bonded together with optical cement lenses of predetermined optical properties. In particular, multiple biconcave lenses of a first polymeric material are bonded to and alternated with multiple biconcave lenses of a second polymeric material by biconvex optical cement material lenses, in order to provide a monolithic and cylindrical achromatic optical structure. The polymeric lens elements of the system can be mass produced using injection molding. Low temperature polymeric material combinations, such as polystyrene and acrylic, are most easily injection molded and may, together with the optical cement, be used to manufacture disposable and very inexpensive relay lens systems. On the other hand, where a temperature resistant, autoclavable endoscope is preferred, high temperature polymeric lens combinations, such as polycarbonate and TPX can be used.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument includes a small diameter hollow tube, an axially displaceable wire extending through the tube, a manual actuator coupled to the proximal ends of the tube and wire for axially displacing the wire relative to the tube, a first end effector mechanically coupled to the distal end of the tube and having a proximal portion which is provided with a curved guiding channel which receives and guides a distal portion of the wire, and a second end effector mechanically coupled to the distal end of the displaceable wire and rotatably coupled to the first end effector. When arranged as a bipolar instrument, the tube and pull wire are conductive, the pull wire is covered with an electrically insulating sheath except at its very distal end, the first end effector is conductive and partially insulated and is electrically coupled to distal end of tube, and the second end effector is conductive and partially insulated and electrically coupled to the distal end of the pull wire.

Abstract: A surgical instrument having a protective distal insert is provided. The instrument generally comprises a tubular member containing a push rod which is axially movable within the tubular member by means of a proximal actuation handle. The tubular member is provided with a clevis at a distal end. End effectors provided with proximal tangs and cutting or gripping portions are coupled to the clevis and are further coupled to the push rod at the proximal tangs such that axial movement of the push rod is translated into rotational movement of the end effectors. Between the arms of the clevis a protective insert is provided. The protective insert is a relatively thin and elongate U-shaped member of Nylon, PTFE, or polyolefin, having a central portion provided with a central hole, and two arm portions.

Abstract: A surgical trocar assembly includes a disposable valve assembly, a cannula assembly, and a trocar with a handle. The cannula assembly includes a cannula base having a valve assembly coupling device at its proximal end, and a cannula extending from its distal end. The disposable valve assembly has a coupling device for removably coupling it with the cannula base. The valve assembly also includes a valve body with a fluid passage communicating with the hollow cannula when it is coupled to the cannula base. A slit or flapper valve and a universal washer are mounted within the valve body and allow the insertion of the trocar or other endoscopic instruments therethrough while providing a fluid sealing of the fluid passage. The valve assembly may be provided with a side port which optionally contains an automatic valve actuated by a luer coupling. Several different valve assembly-cannula base couplings are disclosed as well as several different types of trocars.

Abstract: The needle assembly of the present invention includes a hollow cannula having a sharp distal end, a hollow stylet having a blunt distal end with a radial opening and an interior deflection surface near the radial opening, and a mechanism for biasing the stylet in a first position where the blunt distal end of the stylet extends beyond the sharp distal end of the cannula. Preferably, the hollow cannula hub has a proximal end which is coupled, e.g., via insert molding, to a hollow cannula hub. Likewise, the stylet preferably includes a proximal end which is coupled, e.g., via insert molding, to a hollow stylet hub which is longitudinally movable within the hollow cannula hub. The mechanism for biasing typically comprises a spring inside the cannula hub which biases the stylet hub to the first position where the blunt distal end of the stylet extends beyond the sharp distal end of the cannula.

Abstract: An endoscopic bipolar multiple sample bioptome includes a relatively long conductive flexible member having a lumen with an axially displaceable conductive wire extending therethrough and covered with an electrically insulating sheath. The proximal ends of the flexible member and wire are coupled to a manual actuation device for axially displacing one of the flexible member and wire relative to the other and the manual actuation device is provided with bipolar electrical couplings for electrically coupling one pole of a current source to the flexible member and the other pole of the current source to the wire. The distal end of the flexible member is mechanically and electrically coupled to a partially conductive cylinder having a distal edge and the distal end of the wire is mechanically and electrically coupled to the jaw assembly. The jaw assembly includes a pair of opposed toothed jaw cups each of which is coupled by a narrow resilient arm to a base member.

Abstract: A bipolar push rod assembly for use in conjunction with an endoscopic bipolar cautery scissors instrument. The push rod assembly has two conductive push rods which are substantially covered and insulated from each other by a double lumen flexible sheath. The proximal ends of the push rods are stabilized by an overmolded plastic collar and the distal ends of the push rods are stabilized by a ceramic insulator. The plastic collar is provided with a snap retainer for coupling it to a plastic plug retainer having a pair of spaced apart passages. A pair of female plug adapters are press fit onto the proximal ends of the push rods and are maintained in place by the plug retainer with each adaptor residing in a respective one of the passages. The distal ends of the push rods are swaged approximately 90.degree. in opposite directions. A ceramic insulator is disclosed as a one-piece unit into which the distal ends of the push rods are inserted.

Abstract: An arthroscopic surgical instrument includes a surgical punch end effector assembly, a hollow tube defining a fluid passageway, a push rod extending through the hollow tube, an actuating lever coupled to a proximal end of the push rod, and a fluid coupler extending into the hollow tube and coupling to a vacuum source which applies suction through the fluid passageway. The end effector assembly has movable punch and stationary die end effectors. The stationary die end effector includes separate upper die and lower cup portions which are coupled to the distal end of the hollow tube, and which are fixed together during an assembly procedure. The upper die portion has a groove into which a tongue of the movable end effector is fitted prior to fixing the separate portions of the stationary end effector.

Abstract: A force-limiting control member for an endoscopic instrument is a flexible wire having a proximal and a distal end, wherein a portion of the wire is bent into a sinusoidal or coiled shape to form a spring portion of the control member. An endoscopic instrument incorporating the force-limiting control member includes a flexible coil having a proximal and a distal end, a pair of forceps jaws mounted for rotation on a clevis which is coupled to the distal end of the coil, and a proximal handle coupled to the proximal end of the coil. The proximal handle has a spring biased lever coupled to it in a manner which limits the throw of the lever to a preselected distance. The force-limiting control member extends through the coil and is coupled at its distal end to the forceps jaws and at its proximal end to the actuating member.

Abstract: A Veress needle and cannula assembly includes a stainless steel cannula assembly with a cannula having an outer diameter of approximately 4 mm and a Veress needle assembly having a Veress needle with an outer diameter of approximately 3 mm. The cannula assembly includes a proximal valve assembly and the Veress needle is insertable through the valve assembly. Where the cannula and Veress needle are not closely fitted, a molded transition collar on the Veress needle seals the annular space between the interior of the cannula and the exterior of the Veress needle and is provided with sharp distal edges for aiding insertion of the cannula assembly into the body of a patient. The cannula valve assembly preferably includes a female luer lock connector. The Veress needle preferably includes a handle with a rotatable male luer lock coupler which engages the female luer lock connector on the cannula valve assembly when the Veress needle is inserted into the cannula assembly.

Abstract: A biological forceps device for the taking of tissue samples from a body, comprising a flexible main coil attached at its distal end to a pair of homologous cast jaws. The jaws have radially arranged teeth on their distalmost end. The jaws are opened and closed by attachment to a pair of pull wires which extend through the main coil, into a handle at its proximal end. The handle has a spool which slides about a central shaft attached to the main coil. The spool is attached to the pull wires, so that movement of the spool with respect to the central shaft, effectuates a force on the proximal ends of the levered jaws, to open and close them, appropriately.

Abstract: A jaw assembly of an endoscopic biotome is formed by cutting a hemispherical end of a spring metal cylinder with electrical discharge or laser machining equipment to provide opposed jaw cups. Metal is cut from the middle portion of the cylinder to form two tapered arms which terminate at a cylindrical portion of the open end of the cylinder. At least one of the two tapered arms is bent away from the other to form the jaw assembly.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for an endoscopic instrument includes first and second end effectors, a screw, and optionally a washer. The end effectors have arms which are biased away from each other. The screw has a threaded portion dimensioned to engage the distal end of the endoscopic instrument and a head portion with a pair of arm receiving grooves. In a presently preferred embodiment, the washer extends over the arms of the end effectors which pass through grooves in the head of the screw. In this manner, the arms of the end effectors are captured between the screw and the washer. The grooves are preferably provided with upstanding pins which engage mounting holes in the arms of the end effectors.

Abstract: A colposcopic surgical punch instrument includes a hollow tube and a push rod extending through the hollow tube. A handle is coupled to the proximal end of the tube and an actuation lever is pivotally coupled to the handle and the proximal end of the push rod for effecting axial movement of the push rod relative to the tube. A stationary jaw in the form of a die having an open top and bottom is coupled to the distal end of the tube and a movable jaw in the form of a punch is pivotally coupled to the stationary jaw by a tongue and groove arrangement. In one embodiment, the stationary jaw is provided with a pair of ramped projections on its sides and a tab projection on its distal end. A removable plastic sleeve fits over the stationary jaw. The plastic sleeve has an open proximal end and an open top. A pair of holes in the sides of the sleeve engage the ramped projections on the sides of the stationary jaw and a hole in the distal end of the sleeve engages the distal tab on the stationary jaw.

Abstract: A jaw assembly for an endoscopic bioptome includes a pair of opposed end effectors having resilient arms formed from a super-elastic metal. The distal ends of the resilient arms terminate in end effector jaw cups which are also preferably formed from super-elastic metal, while the proximal portions of the resilient arms include angled portions which urge the jaw cups away from each other. The jaw cups are brought together into a biting action by a cylinder having a sharp distal edge which moves relative to over the arms of the end effectors. As the resilient arms are formed from a superelastic metal, they exhibit very high resiliency and durability even after numerous uses. Several embodiments of jaws and different ways of coupling the jaws to the distal end of the bioptome are disclosed.

Abstract: An endoscopic multiple sample bioptome includes a hollow outer member and an axially displaceable inner member extending therethrough. The proximal ends of the outer and inner members are coupled to an actuator for axially displacing one relative to the other. The distal end of the outer member is coupled to one of a cylinder having a sharp distal edge and a jaw assembly, while the distal end of the inner member is coupled to the other. The jaw assembly includes a pair of opposed, preferably toothed jaw cups each of which is coupled by a resilient arm to a base member. The arms are bent to lie in planes which intersect the axis of the base member and to locate the jaws apart from each other. The base member is mounted inside the cylinder and axial movement of the jaw assembly and cylinder relative to each other draws the arms into the cylinder and brings the jaw cups together in a biting action.

Abstract: A bipolar roller electrode has a non-conductive base upon which two electrical conductors are placed with a gap between the conductors. The electrode is provided with a blind hole at each end thereof for rotatably mounting it between a pair of arms. Each of the two conductors preferably extends into or forms a part of a respective blind hole. An electrocautery probe according to the invention includes a pair of electrically conductive arms between which the electrode is mounted with each of the arms entering one of the blind holes in the electrode. The arms are mechanically joined but electrically isolated and their proximal ends are individually coupled to a pair of electrode leads. A non-conductive or insulated mounting sleeve is preferably provided intermediate of the arms and the leads for slideably coupling the probe to a resectoscope. The distal end of each arm of the probe enters a respective blind hole in the roller electrode and makes electrical contact with a respective one of the two conductors.

Abstract: A snap-fit collar for coupling the end of a flexible coil to a part of an endoscopic instrument is a substantially cylindrical member having a first end portion with a stop flange, a resilient tapered locking flange spaced apart from the stop flange defining a waist or groove between the stop flange and the locking flange, and second end portion having a pair of cantilevered substantially semi-cylindrical legs. The first end portion is preferably frustroconical and flares diametrically outward to form the stop flange which has a first diameter. The waist or groove has a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter. The tapered locking flange is also preferably frustroconical and tapers diametrically inward from a third diameter which is larger than the second diameter. Each of the legs is inclined diametrically outward and includes a plurality of coil engaging ribs on its inner surface.

Abstract: A surgical trocar has three integral single beveled blades having cutting edges which, when viewed head on, resemble a Y configuration. The distal end of each blade is formed with a leading cutting edge and a single trailing edge which define a single beveled face. The blades are arranged so that their leading edges converge to form a sharp point at the distal end of the trocar with the leading cutting edges extending proximally and radially from the point. The trocar is preferably extruded with three fins which are shifted relative to the longitudinal axis of the extrusion such that at most a first side of each fin lies along a ray from the longitudinal axis of the extrusion. Alternatively, both sides are shifted to one side of the longitudinal axis. The distal end of each fin is then ground to form a single bevel with at least a portion of the cutting edge of the beveled fin lying in a plane which includes the longitudinal axis of the extrusion and being angled proximally.

Abstract: The methods and devices of the invention include an encoder, an endoscopic robotic instrument, and an encoder/robotic instrument interface. A preferred embodiment of the encoder has a chest/shoulder plate provided with telescoping tubes and joints. Each joint is provided with a direct drive potentiometer to monitor movement and provide a corresponding signal. The chest plate is preferably adaptable to a large range of human chest sizes and the telescopic segments are strapped to the arms of the practitioner at the elbows. A pistol grip is provided at the wrist end of the telescopic segments. According to the presently preferred embodiment, the encoder encodes flexion and rotation at the shoulder, elbow and wrist of each arm in addition to gripping at each hand. The encoding device is coupled to a circuit which operates a servo system. The servo system includes a series of servo motors. A series of pulleys corresponding to the number of servo motors are arranged in a housing.