Instrument for endoscopic applications or the like

Abstract

An instrument for endoscopic applications, including a tubular member having a handling end portion having a flexible portion and actuating devices located at the other end portion, and longitudinal elements for transferring the movement of the actuating devices to the handling end portion resulting in a change of orientation thereof, whereby the handling end portion includes at least two independent flexible portions, whereby the actuating end portion has a corresponding number of actuating devices, and whereby each actuating device is connected by its own set of longitudinal elements to a part of the handling end portion for effecting a change of orientation of one of the flexible portions.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An instrument for, at least, endoscopic applications comprising a tube like member having a handling end portion having at least two flexible portions and a number of actuating means located at an actuating end portion, and longitudinal elements for transferring the movement of the actuating means to the handling end portion resulting in a change of orientation thereof, the number of actuating means corresponding to the number of flexible portions, and each actuating means being connected by means of its own set of longitudinal elements to a part of the handling end portion for effecting a change of orientation of one of the flexible portions, wherein at least one actuating means is rotatably arranged by means of either a ball shaped member or a ball bearing. 
     
     
         13 . The instrument as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said at least one ball shaped member is rotatably arranged within a spherical flange. 
     
     
         14 . The instrument as claimed in  claim 13 , the instrument having a first actuating member with a first ball shaped member provided with a first annular flange having a set of openings arranged along a circular line, a first set of longitudinal elements being connected to said set of openings. 
     
     
         15 . The instrument as claimed in  claim 14 , the instrument having a second actuating member having a second ball shaped member provided with a second annular flange having a first set of openings arranged along a first circular line and second set of openings being arranged along a second circular line, said first set of longitudinal elements being guided through said first set of openings in said second annular flange towards said set of openings in said first annular flange, a second set of longitudinal elements being connected to said second set of openings. 
     
     
         16 . The instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein said first circular line has a first diameter and said second circular line has a second diameter, said first diameter being equal to said second diameter. 
     
     
         17 . The instrument according to  claim 14 , wherein said first set of longitudinal elements are connected to said first annular flange at a first distance to a longitudinal axis of the instrument, which distance is greater than a second distance between said first set of longitudinal elements and said longitudinal axis at the handling end portion. 
     
     
         18 . The instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one spherical flange includes a first spherical flange, the second actuating member is a hollow tube like element including said second ball shaped member, a tube and said first spherical flange, said first ball shaped member fitting into said first spherical flange. 
     
     
         19 . The instrument according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one spherical flange includes a second spherical flange, the instrument including a cylindrical element having an end portion provided with said second spherical flange, said second ball shaped member fitting into the second spherical flange, the cylindrical element also having a rigid portion including a number of slits arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis of the instrument and spaced regularly around a circumference of the rigid portion, said first and second longitudinal elements being guided through said slits. 
     
     
         20 . The instrument according to  claim 12 , wherein the instrument includes a disc mounted movable on a cylindrical element by means of said ball bearing, said disc being provided with a number of openings along an outer circumference, said longitudinal elements being connected to said disc through said openings. 
     
     
         21 . The instrument according to  claim 20 , wherein an orientation of said disc is controlled by actuators. 
     
     
         22 . The instrument according to  claim 12 , wherein the instrument is composed of a number of cylindrical elements located in layers and in that each set of longitudinal elements is located within one of these layers. 
     
     
         23 . The instrument according to  claim 22 , wherein each set of longitudinal elements is located in a separate layer. 
     
     
         24 . The instrument according to  claim 22 , wherein a number of sets of longitudinal elements are located in the same layer in which the elements are located parallel to the longitudinal axis of the instrument. 
     
     
         25 . The instrument according to  claim 22 , wherein the instrument is composed of a number of cylindrical elements located in layers, comprising an outer protective cylindrical element and an inner protective cylindrical element. 
     
     
         26 . The instrument according to  claim 22 , wherein the instrument has at least two intermediate cylindrical elements containing different sets of longitudinal elements and in that between each pair of adjacent intermediate elements there is provided a separation layer. 
     
     
         27 . The instrument according to  claim 12 , wherein each set of longitudinal elements are laser cut longitudinal elements in a cylindrical tube.