Endoscopic suction instrument having variable suction strength capabilities

摘要

An endoscopic suctioning instrument with variable suction is disclosed. The instrument has a hollow cannula having a proximal end and a distal end, and sliding sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis, with the sliding sleeve being coaxial to and closely surrounding and slidingly engaging the hollow cannula. The sliding sleeve has a plurality of lateral holes at its distal end with the lateral holes being spaced along the longitudinal axis. A valve is provided for selectively coupling a suction source to the proximal end of the cannula, and a sleeve actuation mechanism is provided for sliding the sliding sleeve from a first position where the distal end of the sliding sleeve extends beyond the distal end of the cannula such that a first number of the lateral holes are unblocked by said cannula, to a second position where the distal end of the sliding sleeve extends beyond said distal end of the cannula such that fewer lateral holes are unblocked by said cannula, to a third position where the cannula blocks all of said lateral holes of the sliding sleeve. Various embodiments are described with different mechanisms for causing the sleeve to slide, including mechanisms linking the valve to the sleeve.