Method for supplementing a component of a medical instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12103206-B2
Application number	US-202217723141-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2022
Priority date	Apr 19, 2021
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

A method for supplementing a shaft tube and an assembly of a medical instrument with a plastic component comprises a step of providing a shaft tube with a distal end; a step of mechanically connecting an assembly to the distal end of the shaft tube by way of a connecting device; a step of inserting the shaft tube with the assembly into a casting mold and closing the casting mold, a predetermined region of the outer surface of the assembly contacting a mold surface of the casting mold; a step of supplying a liquid plastic into the casting mold, the liquid plastic wetting the distal end of the shaft tube and the outer surface of the assembly; and a step of solidifying the liquid plastic, the solidified plastic forming the plastic component and creating a further mechanical connection of the assembly to the end of the shaft tube.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A medical instrument, comprising:
a shaft tube having a main body having a proximal end and a distal end;
an assembly;
a connecting device disposed on a distal end of the shaft tube, wherein the connecting device includes a tongue-shaped extension disposed on the distal end of the shaft tube, the assembly is attached to the tongue-shaped extension; and
a plastic cladding which at least partly surrounds the assembly so as to expose an end surface of the assembly, the plastic cladding partially surrounding the connecting device and is integrally bonded to the outer surface of the assembly so as to mechanically and rigidly connect the assembly to the shaft tube, the plastic cladding disposed on the distal end of the shaft tube.

2. The medical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising:
a laterally arranged opening in the shaft tube, and
wherein the plastic of the plastic cladding at least partly fills the shaft tube and completely fills the laterally arranged opening.

3. The medical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising:
a laterally arranged opening in the shaft tube, and
wherein the plastic of the plastic cladding at least partly fills the shaft tube and completely fills the laterally arranged opening.

4. The medical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the assembly comprises at least one of
an image sensor;
a light-emitting diode or any other light source for producing illumination light;
a distal end region of an optical waveguide; or
an end region of a work channel or rinsing channel.

5. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the assembly comprises at least one of
an image sensor;
a light-emitting diode or any other light source for producing illumination light;
a distal end region of an optical waveguide; or
an end region of a work channel or rinsing channel.

6. The medical instrument of claim 4 , further comprising a heat pipe, where the connecting the connecting device being formed by the heat pipe or being mechanically and thermally directly connected to the heat pipe.

7. The medical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a heat pipe, where the connecting the connecting device being formed by the heat pipe or being mechanically and thermally directly connected to the heat pipe.

8. The medical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the medical instrument is an endoscope or laryngoscope with a rigid or partly or completely flexible shaft.

9. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the medical instrument is an endoscope or laryngoscope with a rigid or partly or completely flexible shaft.

10. The medical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the medical instrument is an endoscope or laryngoscope with a rigid or partly or completely flexible shaft.

Assignees

• Storz Karl Se & Co Kg

Inventors

• Hedemann Lars
• Heni Andreas
• Kupferschmid Markus

Classifications

• A61B1/0008

  characterised by distal tip features · CPC title

• A61B1/05

  characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion · CPC title

• A61B1/00179

  for off-axis viewing · CPC title

• A61M2207/00

  Methods of manufacture, assembly or production · CPC title

• B29C39/10 Primary

  incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. casting around inserts or for coating articles {(coating a surface by casting in general B05D1/30, B29C39/126 takes precedence)} · CPC title