Powered resectoscope

Claim 2

A hydraulic actuator for use with a cold-punch resectoscope having an elongated sheath which is formed for insertion in the transurethral tract comprising an elongated assembly secured to said sheath and having a reciprocating piston mounted therein, said piston having a hollow cylindrical rod extending from one end thereof and carrying a resecting knife at the free end of said rod disposed internally of said sheath, said elongated assembly including a pair of inlet ports communicating internally of said assembly on opposite ends of said piston to enable said piston to be reciprocated, and a manually controlled hydraulic operating circuit connected with said inlet ports for powered reciprocation of said piston and said resecting knife in said sheath, said hydraulic operating circuit being portable and wholly contained within a separate carrying case and having means for connection to said inlet ports of said assembly and to a separate pressurized fluid source.

Claim 3

The hydraulic actuator of claim 1 wherein said carrying case Is provided with a liner of insulating material completely surrounding said operating circuit when said carrying case is closed to muffle the noise of said circuit during operation of said resectoscope.

Claim 4

The hydraulic actuator of claim 2 wherein said carrying case is in the form of a brief case or the like having external connections mounted thereon to facilitate connection of said operating circuit between said resectoscope and said pressurized source of fluid.

Claim 5

The hydraulic actuator of claim 3 wherein said hydraulic operating circuit is comprised of a plurality of separate modular units secured together within said case.

Claim 6

The hydraulic actuator of claim 1 wherein said operating circuit includes a foot pedal operator connected to said source of pressurized fluid and said hydraulic circuit to permit said circuit and said resectoscope to be normally controlled by the foot of a user upon depression and release of said operator.

Claim 7

The hydraulic actuator of claim 1 including means connected between said elongated assembly and said piston for rotation of said piston and said knife during reciprocation thereof.

Claim 8

The hydraulic actuator of claim 6 wherein said rotation means comprises a spiral slot formed internally of said assembly, and means engaged with said cylindrical rod and coacting with said slot whereby said resecting blade is caused to rotate as said means moves within said slot during reciprocation of said rod in said sheath.

Claim 9

A hydraulic actuator for use with a cold-punch resectoscope having an elongated sheath which is formed for insertion in the transurethral tract comprising an elongated operating handle assembly capable of being connected to said sheath, a double ended piston mounted in said handle and capable of being reciprocated therein, a hollow cylindrical rod secured to one end of said piston, the other end of said rod disposed in said sheath and carrying a cutting blade at the free end thereof, a pair of inlet ports formed in said handle assembly to allow pressurized fluid to be fed to opposite sides of said piston alternately to cause reciprocation of said piston and said blade with respect to said sheath, a portable hydraulic operating means fluidly connectable to said parts and to a source of fluid pressure, and a foot pedal operator connected to said operating means and to said source of fluid pressure to permit normal control of the speed of reciprocation of said piston and said cutting blade by the degree of depression and retraction of said foot pedal.

Claim 10

A hydraulic actuator for use with a cold-punch resectoscope having an elongated sheath which is formed for insertion in the transurethral tract comprising an elongated operating handle assembly capable of being connected to said sheath, a double ended piston mounted in said handle and capable of being reciprocated therein, a hollow cylindrical rod secured to one end of said piston, the other end of said rod disposed in said sheath and carrying a cutting blade at the free end thereof, a pair of inlet ports formed in said handle assembly to allow pressurized fluid to be fed to opposite sides of said piston alternately to cause reciprocation of said piston and said blade with respect to said sheath, a portable hydraulic operating means fluidly connectable to said parts and to a source of fluid pressure, and a foot pedal operator connected to said operating means and to said source of fluid pressure to permit normal control of the speed of reciprocation of said piston and said cutting blade by the degree of depression and retraction of said foot pedal.

Claim 11

The hydraulic actuator of claim 8 including a spiral slot formed within said assembly, a sleeve mounted on said rod, and a pin fixed to said sleeve and coacting with said slot whereby, upon reciprocation of said piston and said rod within said assembly, said rod will be rotated as said pin moves within said slot.

Claim 12

The hydraulic actuator of claim 8 wherein said hydraulic operating means includes bypass means for locking the rod either fully retracted or fully extended, and manually separately operable throttle control valves to vary the back pressure on the piston for controlling the speed of retraction and/or extension of the rod and knife in the sheath.