Endoscopic instrument

Abstract

An endoscopic instrument (1, 134), for inserting into a body of a patient, includes a tubular shank (3, 47, 137) which is coupled or can be coupled to a handling device (5, 135) and is with a working channel (15). A shank tool can be led through the working channel (15). The working channel (15) includes a proximal working channel opening (153) for inserting the shank tool and a fluid inlet (148) which is separate from the proximal working channel opening.

1 . An endoscopic instrument for inserting into a body of a patient, wherein the instrument comprises:
 a tubular shank which is coupled or can be coupled to a handling device; and   a working channel, wherein a shank tool can be led through the working channel, and the working channel comprises a proximal working channel opening for inserting the shank tool, and a fluid inlet which is separate from the proximal working channel opening.   
     
     
         2 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the proximal working channel opening and the proximal fluid inlet are connected to the working channel via a T-connection piece in the handling device. 
     
     
         3 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least two leads which run through the shank, wherein a fluid channel, which individually directly surrounds the at least two leads which run through the shank, is formed in the shank. 
     
     
         4 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 3 , wherein the fluid channel is configured as a discharge channel of rinsing fluid which is fed to a distal shank end via the fluid inlet and the working channel. 
     
     
         5 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 3 , wherein the fluid channel comprises a distal fluid channel opening and a proximal fluid channel opening, wherein the proximal fluid channel opening is arranged laterally on the shank and is subjectable to fluid vacuum. 
     
     
         6 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of leads which run through the shank; and   a sealing means which forms a proximal end of the fluid channel and comprises feed-throughs for the leads.   
     
     
         7 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , further comprising a handling device, wherein the handling device is fixedly connected or is releasably connectable to a proximal end of the shank. 
     
     
         8 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the shank at least in a shank section is elastically jointlessly bendable by more than 270°. 
     
     
         9 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the instrument or at least the shank is configured as a disposable article for disposal after a single use. 
     
     
         10 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of leads which run through a shank interior, wherein a cross-sectional area of the fluid channel corresponds to a cross-sectional area of a shank interior which is formed by the shank, minus a sum of the cross-sectional areas of all leads which run through the shank interior. 
     
     
         11 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the shank in a distally bendable shank section comprises a plurality of slots. 
     
     
         12 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 11 , wherein the slots only extend over a part of the shank periphery in the circumferential direction. 
     
     
         13 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 11 , wherein the slots are arranged axially to one another such that the slots alternately lie on a first lateral side of the shank and a second lateral side of the shank which lies diametrically opposite the first. 
     
     
         14 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 11 , wherein the slots are configured as a distal fluid channel opening for the fluid channel and locally increase a flexibility of the shank for the bending of a distal shank end. 
     
     
         15 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the working channel is a first working channel, and further comprising a second working channel which runs through the shank and which is directly surrounded by the fluid channel. 
     
     
         16 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and/or second working channel is configured to selectively lead through a laser fibre optic, the capture basket or a Dormia loop. 
     
     
         17 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein the first working channel serves as a feed channel with a flow direction which runs opposite with respect to the fluid channel. 
     
     
         18 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and/or second working channel runs axially through a sealed proximal end of the fluid channel. 
     
     
         19 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and/or second working channel comprises a distal working channel opening and a proximal working channel opening. 
     
     
         20 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 19 , wherein the respective proximal working channel opening is arranged proximally of the proximal end of the fluid channel. 
     
     
         21 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 19 , wherein the respective distal working channel opening is arranged distally of a distal fluid channel opening of the fluid channel. 
     
     
         22 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 19 , further comprising a handling device, wherein the handling device is fixedly connected or releasably connectable to a proximal end of the shank, wherein the respective proximal working channel opening is formed by the handling device. 
     
     
         23 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 19 , wherein a cross section of the respective distal working channel opening is smaller than a cross section of the associated working channel. 
     
     
         24 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 23 , wherein the cross section of the respective working channel tapers towards the respective distal working channel opening. 
     
     
         25 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein a through-flow direction and/or a through-flow rate through the fluid channel is selectable or can be set. 
     
     
         26 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein a distal shank end is controllably jointlessly bendable in a controllable manner.