Endoscopic instrument

Abstract

An endoscopic instrument ( 1, 134 ), for inserting into a body of a patient, has through a tubular the shaft ( 3, 47, 137 ) and at least two electrical, mechanical and/or optical line ( 11, 13, 15, 57, 59, 65, 67, 123, 181 ) extending through the shaft ( 3, 47, 137 ): a fluid channel ( 7, 53 ) which directly surrounds the at least two line ( 11 ,13, 15, 57, 59, 65, 67, 123, 181 ) which run through the shaft ( 3, 47, 137 ) is formed in the shaft ( 3, 47, 137 ).

In the claims: 
     
         1 . An endoscopic instrument for inserting into a body of a patient, wherein the instrument comprises
 a tubular shank, and   at least two electrical, mechanical and/or optical 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.   
     
     
         2 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid channel serves as a feed channel and/or discharge channel. 
     
     
         3 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , 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 can be subjected to fluid pressure or a fluid vacuum. 
     
     
         4 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises a sealing means which forms a proximal end of the fluid channel and comprises feed-throughs for the leads. 
     
     
         5 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises a handling device, wherein the handling device is fixedly connected or is releasably connectable to a proximal end of the shank. 
     
     
         6 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the shank at least in a shank section is elastically bendable by more than 270° and is jointless. 
     
     
         7 . 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. 
     
     
         8 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         9 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the shank in a distal shank section comprises a plurality of slots. 
     
     
         10 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 9 , wherein the slots only extend over a part of the shank periphery in the circumferential direction. 
     
     
         11 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 9  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. 
     
     
         12 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 9 , wherein the slots form a distal fluid channel opening for the fluid channel and locally increase flexibility of the shank for a jointless bending of a distal shank end. 
     
     
         13 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one working channel which runs through the shank and which is directly surrounded by the fluid channel. 
     
     
         14 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein the working channel forms a lead through for leading through a laser fiber optic, a capture basket or a Dormia loop. 
     
     
         15 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein the working channel serves as a feed and/or discharge channel with a flow direction which runs opposite with respect to the fluid channel. 
     
     
         16 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein the working channel runs axially through a sealed proximal end of the fluid channel. 
     
     
         17 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein the working channel comprises a distal working channel opening and a proximal working channel opening. 
     
     
         18 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 17 , wherein the proximal working channel opening is arranged proximally of the proximal end of the fluid channel. 
     
     
         19 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 17 , wherein the distal working channel opening is arranged distally of a distal fluid channel opening of the fluid channel. 
     
     
         20 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 17 , further comprising a handling device, wherein the handling device is fixedly connected or releasably connectable to a proximal end of the shank, wherein the proximal working channel opening is formed by the handling device. 
     
     
         21 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 17 , wherein a cross section of the distal working channel opening is smaller than a cross section of the working channel. 
     
     
         22 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 21 , wherein the cross section of the working channel tapers towards the distal working channel opening. 
     
     
         23 . 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. 
     
     
         24 . An endoscopic instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein a distal shank end is jointlessly bendable in a controllable manner.