Rotatable and deflectable biopsy forceps

Abstract

An endoscopic or laparoscopic biopsy forceps instrument is provided which includes a flexible tubular member having proximal and distal ends, a biopsy jaw assembly at the distal end of the tubular member, an actuation assembly to operate the jaw assembly between open and closed positions, and a control assembly to deflect the biopsy jaw assembly relative to a lumen through which the instrument extends and to rotate the jaw assembly about the longitudinal axis of the instrument.

1 . A biopsy forceps instrument having a longitudinal axis, comprising: 
 a) an actuation handle having a stationary member and a movable member movable relative to said stationary member;    b) a rotation control assembly coupled to a distal portion of said actuation handle;    c) a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said tubular member being coupled to a distal portion of said rotation control handle;    d) a jaw assembly coupled to said distal end of said tubular member; and    e) an actuation wire having a proximal end and a distal end, and coupled between said movable member and said jaw assembly, 
 wherein said jaw assembly includes a proximal portion and a distal portion spring-biased relative to the proximal portion and thereby adapted to be deflected at a predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said biopsy forceps instrument and define a predetermined radial extension of said distal portion of said jaw assembly.  
   
     
     
         2 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said spring-bias has a force which is overcome when said jaw assembly is forced through or withdrawn from a lumen smaller than said radial extension of said distal portion of said jaw assembly.    
     
     
         3 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said jaw assembly is rotatably coupled to said tubular member.    
     
     
         4 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 f) at least one control wire coupled at a proximal end-to said rotation control assembly, 
 wherein said rotation control assembly includes a body and a knob rotatably and coaxially mounted in the body, said body coupled between said actuation handle and said tubular member, and  
 said at least one control wire extends from said knob through said tubular member and is coupled to said jaw assembly, wherein rotation of said knob relative to said body causes axial rotation of said jaw assembly relative to actuation handle.  
   
     
     
         5 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said knob includes a non-circular bore, and a portion of said actuation wire extending through said bore is provided with a key rotationally interfering with said bore but slidably axially movable within said bore.    
     
     
         6 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said actuation wire includes a proximal portion and a distal portion adapted to swivel relative to said proximal portion.    
     
     
         7 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 wherein said actuation wire is fixed relative to said knob.    
     
     
         8 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said jaw assembly includes a plurality of jaws made from a shape memory material, and a tubular sleeve extendable over at least a proximal portion of said jaws,    at least one of said jaws and said tubular sleeve being movable relative to the other such that when said tubular sleeve is positioned over said jaws at a first location, said jaws are forced into a closed position, and when said tubular member is at least partially withdrawn relative to said jaws, said jaws are permitted to attain an open position.    
     
     
         9 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 f) a second tubular member, wherein said actuation handle and said rotation control assembly are coupled to and spaced apart by said second tubular member.    
     
     
         10 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said actuation handle and said rotation control assembly are provided in a common handle assembly.    
     
     
         11 . A biopsy forceps instrument having a longitudinal axis, comprising: 
 a) an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;    b) a handle coupled to said proximal end of said shaft; and    c) a jaw assembly coupled to said distal end of said shaft, said jaw assembly including jaws which are radially spring-biased relative to said shaft and thereby adapted to be deflected at a predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said biopsy forceps instrument so as to define a predetermined radial extension of jaws of said jaw assembly relative to said shaft.    
     
     
         12 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said jaw assembly includes proximal and distal poritons which are spring-biased relative to each other, and said jaws are coupled to said distal portion.    
     
     
         13 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said spring-bias has a force which is overcome when said jaw assembly is forced through or withdrawn from a lumen smaller than said radial extension.    
     
     
         14 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said shaft is tubular.    
     
     
         15 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said jaw assembly is rotatably coupled to said shaft.    
     
     
         16 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a rotation control means coupled to said jaw assembly.    
     
     
         17 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said jaws are made from a shape memory material, and said jaw assembly includes a tubular sleeve extendable over at least a proximal portion of said jaws,    at least one of said jaws and said tubular sleeve being movable relative to the other such that when said tubular sleeve is positioned over said jaws at a first location, said jaws are forced into a closed position, and when said tubular member is at least partially withdrawn relative to said jaws, said jaws are permitted to attain an open position.    
     
     
         18 . A biopsy forceps instrument having a longitudinal axis, comprising: 
 a) a jaw assembly including jaws;    b) a rotation control assembly for rotating said jaws;    c) an actuation handle for moving said jaws between open and closed positions;    d) a first flexible tubular member, wherein said actuation handle and said rotation control assembly are coupled to and spaced apart by said first tubular member; and    e) a second flexible tubular member, wherein said rotation control assembly and said jaw assembly are coupled to and spaced apart by said second tubular member.    
     
     
         19 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 18 , wherein: 
 wherein said jaw assembly includes a proximal portion and a distal portion spring-biased relative to the proximal portion and thereby adapted to be deflected at a predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said biopsy forceps instrument and define a predetermined radial extension of said distal portion of said jaw assembly.    
     
     
         20 . A biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said spring-bias has a force which is overcome when said jaw assembly is forced through or withdrawn from a lumen smaller than said radial extension of said distal portion of said jaw assembly.    
     
     
         21 . A surgical biopsy forceps instrument having a longitudinal axis, comprising: 
 a) a biopsy forceps jaw assembly;    b) a plurality of control elements each having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal ends of said control elements being coupled to said jaw assembly; and    c) control means for rotating said plurality of control elements relative to said actuation means about the longitudinal axis and also for maneuvering said plurality of control elements in a direction other than rotation about the longitudinal axis.    
     
     
         22 . A surgical biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said control means includes a socket, and a ball rotatable within and relative to said socket and coupled to said proximal ends of said plurality of control elements.    
     
     
         23 . A surgical biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 d) an actuation wire including proximal and distal ends, said distal end coupled to said end effector; and    e) an actuation handle coupled to said proximal end of said actuation wire, 
 wherein operation of said actuation handle causes longitudinal movement of said actuation wire relative to said jaw assembly such that said end effector moves between open and closed positions.  
   
     
     
         24 . A surgical biopsy forceps instrument according to  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 f) a first flexible tubular member, wherein said actuation handle and said control means are coupled to and spaced apart by said first tubular member; and    g) a second flexible tubular member, wherein said control means and said jaw assembly are coupled to and spaced apart by said second tubular member.