US2531827A - Rotatable valve and switch support for endoscopic instruments - Google Patents

Description

INVENTORS Y 5. QUEENS 5U WA A 7 7'0 QA/EY ROTATABLE VALVE AND SWITCH SUPPORT FOR Nov. 28, 1950' Patented Nov. 28, 1-950- 2,531,827 ROTATABLE VALVE AND SWIT'CHS'UPP ORT FOR ENDGSCOPIOINSTRUIWENTS Harry S. Rubens, =Manhasset, and Ignaz \Suwa, Jackson Heights, N. Y., assignors to National Electric Instrument Go., .'Inc., 'Elmhurst, N.'Y;.,

a corporation of New York:

Applicationhugust 7, 1948-, Serial-No. 43,097

Claims.

substantially closed by means of :an obturator I so that the edges of the fenestrumsdo not cause injury during passage into or out of the body 'cav-ity,

After the tube has been inserted, the obturator is withdrawn and replaced by a telescopic-optical system through which the body cavity is observed under illuminationproduced by an incandesce t lamp provided inside the tip of the outer cystoscope tube and which is adapted to illuminate through the fenestrum-while being treated, etc. Clear vision of the bodycavity, e. g. the bladder, is generally accomplished by dilating such cavity under fluid pressure maintained and controlled by a valve arrangement at the rear of the cystoscopelouter tube. Such valve arrangement usually has the valve mechanism and conduits secured in a fixed position at the .rear of the cystoscope enter tubeso that when the tube is rotated during body cavit examinations, e'tc., the entire valve assembly and attached tubing, e. g. rubber tubing utilized for flushing and for providing 'fiuid for the distension of the body cavity, also rotate with the tube and inhibit the ease of manipulating the cystoscope, said ease of manipulation being very desirable in that the greater the ease of manipulation, the less the discomfort to the patient. Furthermore, cystoscopes as known are provided with either an electrical terminal fixed to the outer tube and having the same disadvantage as the fixed valve assembly, or they are provided with a rotary contact having distinct advantages over the fixed terminal, which, however, does not provide the desired ease of manipulation due to a substantially large frictional contact area. 7 g

It is one object of this invention to provide a eystoseope or the like instrument with a combination comprising a valve assembly and an elec-v and: cooperating switch system. Other objects andadvantagesof theiinvention will become ap- ,parent from the description hereinafter :i'ollowting the accompanying drawings forming. part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an elevational view 01245118 cystoscope structureof the-invention-showingthe combined electrical contact and2 cooperating switch system and valve assembly,

Figure 2 illustrates a rightangle-view of Figure 1. with the lever armsin angular displ ement, -and v Figure 3- illustrates an enlarged longitudinal- :sectional view, partly in elevation, of Figure 1.

(According to the {present invention, we provide an improved cystoscope structure comprising -a combination of a valve assembly anda rotatable electrical contact with a cooperating switch system, said valve-assembly and switch system mounted on a single freely rotatable member thereby providing .a :cystoscope' which may be manipulated with great ease prticularly in view of the fact that the cystosoope outer sheath or tube may be rotated independently of encumbrances which interfere with the manipulation of the .eystoscope in the examination, .etc., of .body cavities. The treely rotatable member more particularly described hereinafter allows such cystoscope attachments, e. vg. tubing and wire leads, which otherwise would (interfere with examinetions, to assume .a constant position and maintain such vposition regardless of the rotation of the .cystoscope tube while in position -tor examination.

In Figure 1, we have shown the cystoscope structure of the invention comprisinga freely rotatable member 1 having mounted thereon a valve assembly 42 and an electrical switch system 3 so positioned that the contact pin 4 may cooperate and maintain contact with the contact ring 5 duringirotation of the tube 6 by means of a handle 1. .Since the member I is freely rotatable, it is :apparent that the elements mounted thereon and any attachments to such elements will assume a constant position or (simultaneous movement T- gardless of the rotation of the tube 6.

In Figure 2, taken at right angles to 1, we have more particularly shown the nature of the valve assembly, in this case a pluralit of valves is indicated, comprising a valve lever B and a conduit or nipple 9 to which tubin may be attached hr u h fl id under pre sur may pass are; the irrigation and distension of the body cavity. Each valve cooperates with an orifice or ripening the eystoscone tube or sheath. The

' rotatable member l.

panel) in the slot 3|.

lever arms Ill and II relate to the locking device provided for the cystoscope or the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a longitudinal-sectional view of the structure of our invention and particularly shows the various embodiments in detail. The rotatable member I rotates freely about the tube support or tube body l2 between the complementary beveled abutment [3, which is provided with a circular groove l4 for sealing lubricant, and a complementary beveled sealing nut I5, which is similarly provided with a circular groove IS. The sealing nut I5 is properly adjusted with respect to the rotatable member I by a screw action on the threaded body I2 andretained in proper aspect for free movement of rotatable member I by means of the set screws [1 and I8. Having positioned and secured the rotatable member I, a contact ring 5 is positioned coaxial with the tube 6 between two insulating rings I9 and and secured by means of the flange body cavity, openings or orifices 22 and 23 are formed through the tube body l2 and separated from each other by the collar 24 so that each orifice cooperates with one of the valves identified by the valve assembly 2 of Figure 2 and one of the annular grooves provided between the rotatable member l and the tube body 12 of Figure 3. However, the collar 24 may be eliminated and both valves'may be fed through a single common orifice.

The electrical switch system 3 comprises a housing 25 which is removable with respect to the circular groove with detent 21 is caused to en- 'gage a detent pin 28 which holds the housing in proper position for the contact pin 4 to contact the contact ring 5, said detent pin 28 being provided with a spring tension by means of the detent spring 29 and being retained within certain movable limits by the action of the retainer The contact pin 4 is insulated from the housing 25 by means of the slidable contact insulator 32 which is diametrically slotted at its extremity to allow the contact pin 4 to contact the contact ring 5 as illustrated. From the illustration, it is apparent that the contact pin 4 is recessed in said diametrical slot so that the pin can contact only the rim or edge of the contact ring. However, when the housing 25 is rotated, for example, 90, the contact insulator 32 rotates similarly causing the raised portions of the insulator to contact the contact ring 5 and disengage the contact pin 4 from the edge or the contact ring 5 and in this manner causes an opening of the electrical circuit or places the switch in the off position. The proper slidable motion for the contact insulator 32 is provided by a spring (not shown) insidethe guide assembly'33 through which is an insulated lead from the contact pin to the electrical cord which terminates at the source of current supply, said guide assembly is insulated from the housing 25 by means of the insulator ring 34. The complete circuit is'established with the provision of a ground illustrated at 35 inside the electrical switch-housing 25. To provide the cystoscope lamp with current supply, it is only necessary to b Upon insertion of the housing 25 into the short tubular structure or barrel portion 26 of the rotatable member I, a

rotate the housing 25 approximately 90 so that the contact pin 4 again contacts the contact ring 5 under the spring tension of the spring inside the guide assembly 33. This spring tension, although suflicient to maintain contact between the contactpin and the contact ring, is, nevertheless, not sufiicient to cause the detent pin 28 to disengage from the detent 21 so that the housing 25 still remains securely in position regardless of the thrust of the switch spring inside the guide assembly 33.

The slotted arrangement of the contact insulator is particularly advantageous in that should the switch system be temporarily removed from the barrel portion 26 of the rotatable member I, and'set aside, there would be no great danger of a short circuit resulting from contact of the contact pin with a metallic instrument, etc., since the contact pin is almost entirely protected by the raised portions at the contact insulator extremity.

Of particular importance is the fact that in the combination of the contact pin and contact ring, according to the invention, only a minimum contact surface is provided which does not greatly interfere with the freely rotatable member I, since there is no great frictional drawback.

It is, therefore, apparent that we have provided an improved cystoscope structure directed primarily for the eflicient and easy manipulation of a cystoscope by the novel combination herein described.

However, the invention is not limited to the specific illustrations and description herein set forth as rel-ating'to the cystoscope, but may be construed to include, generally, improvements for endoscopic instruments falling within the true scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. In an endoscopic instrument, the combination comprising an endoscopic tube and support therefor, an electrical contact ring positioned on said support coaxial with said endoscopic tube and insulated therefrom, a rotatable member mounted on and rotatable about said support, said rotatable member having mounted thereon an electrical switch system and a valve assembly cooperative with an orifice formed through the wall of said endoscopic tube, said electrical switch system comprising a rotatable housing detachable from said rotatable member, said housing containing an axially moveable contact insulator having-a diametrically slotted end and recessed therein a contact pin, said contact pin being cooperativewith said contact ring to provide an electrical switch operable upon rotation of said rotatable housing. I

2. In an endoscopic instrumentaccording to claim 1, a recessed contact pin engageable with only an edge of said contact ring, said housing and contact insulator being angularlydisposed toward said edge.

3. In an; endoscopic instrument-according to claim 1, said electrical switch system including wiring therefor and said valve assembly including tubing therefor being supported by a single rotatable member. for simultaneous movement in relation to said endoscopic tube.

4. In anv endoscopic instrument, the combination comprising an endoscopic tube and support therefor, an electrical contact ringpositio-ned on said support coaxial withsaid endoscopic tube and insulated therefrom, a rotatable member mounted on said support between beveled supporting means complementary with said rotatasaid rotatable housing, said beveled supporting means and said edge of said contact ring providing a minimum friction surface, said rotatable member being freely rotatable.

5. In an endoscopic instrument according to claim 4, said rotatable member having a short tubular structure secured thereto, said detachable housing being insertable into said short tubular structure of said rotatable member, said tubular structure being angularly disposed in the direction of said contact ring, said housing having an annular groove engageable with a spring activated means for maintaining said housing secured to said rotatable member during rotation of said housing.

HARRY S. RUBENS. IGNAZ SUWA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,643,732 Wolf Sept. 27, 1927 1,741,740 Sederholm et al. Dec. 31, 1929 2,279,714 Meyerhof Apr. 14, 1942 2,470,013 Bhajekar May 10, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 589,846 Germany Dec. 15, 1933

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