Technical Field
This application relates to surgical instrumentation, and more particularly, to a reusable laparoscopic device that can be disassembled for cleaning. 2. Background of Related Art
In laparoscopic surgical procedures, surgery is performed through a small incision formed in a patient's body. The incision provides access for a cannula through which surgical instruments are extended for introduction into the patient's abdominal cavity. A wide variety of surgical instruments are utilized during a laparoscopic procedure including, for example, staplers, clip appliers, graspers, dissectors and retractors.
Traditionally, laparoscopic instruments have been manufactured as reusable devices which can be cleaned and sterilized following a procedure, or disposable devices which are discarded after a single surgical procedure. With disposable devices, cleaning is not required, since they are not reused or resterilized. Reusable instruments must, however, be cleaned and properly sterilized after each surgical procedure. Although techniques such as steam sterilization have been widely used, they are often inadequate to reach all of the blood and tissue residues that can enter a surgical instrument during a surgical procedure. Since laparoscopic instruments are often constructed with an elongated tubular body housing several small mechanical parts, blood and tissue which infiltrates a laparoscopic instrument's body can be particularly difficult to remove. Thus, laparoscopic reusable instruments are often difficult to clean.
Surgeons have recognized the benefits of reusable laparoscopic instruments that can be disassembled for cleaning following a surgical procedure and thereafter reassembled for subsequent utilization. Once disassembled, access to the interior portions of the instrument body and the internal mechanical elements housed therein becomes easier. As a result, traditional cleaning and sterilization methods become more reliable.
An example of a surgical instrument that can be disassembled for improved cleaning is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,358 to Bond et al. The Bond et al. patent describes a device having a threaded coupling for connecting the body of the instrument to the handle assembly, and a similar threaded arrangement for connecting the tool assembly to the distal end of the instrument body. Over time however, threaded connections such as these can become worn or damaged, thereby preventing reassembly of the instrument. Furthermore, the threaded connectors can be accidentally cross-threaded during reassembly, thereby inhibiting proper disassembly of the instrument after utilization. Other surgical instruments configured to be dissembled after utilization are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,147,357, 5,304,203 and 5,368,606.
It would be beneficial to provide a reusable laparoscopic surgical instrument that can be easily and reliably disassembled for cleaning and subsequently reassembled for utilization.