Surgical instrument with increased reliability

Abstract

A surgical instrument having a long shaft comprises, in the shaft, a sealing element produced by primary shaping at the installation location. The sealing element is produced such that any actuating mechanisms are installed and held in place in the shaft and then a curable plastic material is injected into the shaft such that the material encloses the actuating element along a length that is greater than the inside diameter and smaller than its length.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical instrument comprising:
 a longitudinal shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;   at least one tool arranged on the distal end;   a grip arranged on the proximal end;   at least one actuating device arranged on the grip;   at least one transmission mechanism extending through the shaft and being movable in said shaft to transmit a movement of the actuating device to the tool; and   a sealing element arranged in the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises at least one linearly movable or pivotably movable part connected with the at least one transmission mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one transmission mechanism is a wire. 
     
     
         4 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one transmission mechanism is electrically conductive. 
     
     
         5 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is formed in the shaft by primary shaping. 
     
     
         6 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises two or more movable parts that are connected to two or more transmission mechanisms, said transmission mechanisms extending through the shaft and through the sealing element, and the two or more transmission mechanisms can be moved relative to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one transmission mechanism extends through the sealing element. 
     
     
         8 . The instrument of  claim 7 , wherein at least a section of the at least one transmission mechanism that extends through the sealing element is straight. 
     
     
         9 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element closes the entire cross-section of the shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is a tube with the at least one transmission mechanism extending through an interior of said tube. 
     
     
         11 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element comprises a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         12 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element has a length in a longitudinal shaft direction, said length exceeding a diameter of the sealing element by a multiple and/or being equal to or smaller than a length of the shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is arranged on the distal end of the shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is held in the shaft such that it is not movable relative to the shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is held in the shaft in a force-closed, frictionally engaged, material-bonded and/or form-fitting manner. 
     
     
         16 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the instrument is an endoscopic instrument. 
     
     
         17 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one transmission mechanism is a rod of metal or plastic material. 
     
     
         18 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is arranged on the proximal end of the shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is arranged between the distal and proximal ends of the shaft.