Connecting assembly for endoscope device and endoscope system

Abstract

The embodiments of the present specification provide a connection assembly and an endoscope system for an endoscopic device, wherein the endoscopic device includes a first part and a second part, and the connection assembly includes a locking portion provided on the first part, a locking coupling portion provided on the second part, and an unlocking operating member fixedly connected to the locking coupling portion; wherein the unlocking operating member is used to drive the locking coupling portion to move between a first position and a second position; when the locking coupling portion is in the first position, the locking coupling portion can be coupled with the locking portion to connect the first part and the second part to each other; when the locking coupling portion moves from the first position to the second position, the locking coupling portion can be separated from the locking portion to separate the first part and the second part from each other. The connection assembly provided by the embodiments of the present specification can connect the first part and the second part of the endoscopic device together, and the connection and separation processes are simple and quick.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of endoscopes, and in particular to a connection assembly for an endoscope device and an endoscope system. Background Art

[0002] Endoscopes have long been widely used in fields such as medicine and industry. For example, they can be used for interventional diagnosis and treatment of the human body, or to detect machine (e.g., engine) failures. Taking endoscopes used in the medical field as an example, during the diagnosis and treatment process, after the camera module of the endoscope is placed into the human body cavity, the doctor can observe the inside of the human body cavity through a display device that is connected to the endoscope device, thereby obtaining more accurate patient information.

[0003] Endoscopic devices can generally be divided into a control unit (e.g., including a power supply, main control circuit board, etc.) and an image acquisition unit (e.g., including an operating handle, an insert, a camera module, etc.). In most endoscopes, the control unit and image acquisition unit are either non-detachably connected or integrated, resulting in a complex structure and high replacement costs if damaged. When the control unit and image acquisition unit are detachably connected, considerations such as whether the connection is reliable and whether assembly and disassembly are convenient need to be made.

[0004] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a connection assembly that can be used to reliably connect the control portion and the image acquisition portion of an endoscope device and that is easy to assemble and disassemble. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One of the embodiments of the present specification provides a connecting assembly for an endoscopic device, wherein the endoscopic device includes a first part and a second part, and the connecting assembly includes a locking portion provided on the first part, a locking coupling portion provided on the second part, and an unlocking operating member fixedly connected to the locking coupling portion; wherein the unlocking operating member is used to drive the locking coupling portion to move between a first position and a second position; when the locking coupling portion is located at the first position, the locking coupling portion can be coupled with the locking portion so that the first part and the second part are connected to each other; when the locking coupling portion moves from the first position to the second position, the locking coupling portion can be separated from the locking portion so that the first part and the second part can be separated from each other.

[0006] One of the embodiments of the present specification provides an endoscope system, which includes the connecting component for the endoscope device in the aforementioned embodiment, the endoscope device, and a display device; wherein the connecting component is used to connect the first part and the second part of the endoscope device; the endoscope device is used to collect image signals; and the display device is used at least to receive the image signal from the endoscope device and display an image based on the image signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] This specification will be further described in the form of exemplary embodiments, which will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are not limiting, and in these embodiments, like numbers represent like structures, wherein:

[0008] Figure 1 is a general assembly diagram of an endoscopic device with a connection assembly according to some embodiments of the present specification;

[0009] Figure 2 is an exploded view of an endoscopic device with a connection assembly according to some embodiments of the present specification;

[0010] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the endoscope device shown in region A along the cutting direction BB;

[0011] Figure 4 is a partial structural diagram of a connection assembly when the safety operating member is located in a third position according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0012] Figure 5 is a partial structural diagram of a connection assembly when the safety operating member is located in a fourth position according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0013] Figure 6 It is a schematic structural diagram of an endoscope system according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0014] Reference numerals: 100 is an endoscope device; 110 is a first part; 111 is an operating handle; 112 is an inserting part; 113 is a camera module; 114 is a boss; 1141 is a contact point; 1142 is a positioning slot; 115 is a lever; 120 is a second part; 121 is a main control circuit board; 122 is a button; 123 is a power supply; 124 is a power management module; 125 is a housing; 126 is a mounting plate; 127 is a contact pin; 130 is a connection Components; 131 is a locking portion; 1311 is a card slot; 132 is a locking matching portion; 1321 is an annular card block; 133 is an unlocking operating member; 134 is an annular shell; 1341 is a slide groove; 135 is a spring; 136 is a supporting shell; 1361 is a protrusion; 1362 is a positioning card block; 137 is a safety operating member; 138 is an installation shell; 200 is a display device; 201 is a display; 202 is a charging jack; 1000 is an endoscope system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this specification, the following briefly describes the drawings required for describing the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely examples or embodiments of this specification. Those skilled in the art can apply this specification to other similar scenarios based on these drawings without inventive effort. Unless otherwise apparent from the context or otherwise noted, the same reference numerals in the figures represent the same structure or operation.

[0016] It should be understood that the terms "system," "device," "unit," and / or "module" used herein are a method for distinguishing different components, elements, parts, portions, or assemblies at different levels. However, if other terms can achieve the same purpose, the terms may be replaced by other expressions.

[0017] As used in this specification and claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the words "a," "an," "an," and / or "the" do not refer to the singular but also include the plural. Generally speaking, the terms "comprises" and "include" only indicate the inclusion of the steps and elements specifically identified, and these steps and elements do not constitute an exclusive list. A method or apparatus may also include other steps or elements.

[0018] Flowcharts are used throughout this specification to illustrate the operations performed by systems according to embodiments of this specification. It should be understood that preceding or following operations do not necessarily need to be performed in exact order. Instead, the steps may be processed in reverse order or simultaneously. Furthermore, other operations may be added to these processes, or one or more operations may be removed from these processes.

[0019] When using an endoscopic device, a display device (e.g., a computer or other display device) is typically required to communicate with the endoscopic device to display images captured by the endoscopic device, thereby providing more accurate information to the user of the endoscopic device. For example, a medical endoscope can provide doctors with more accurate patient information (e.g., lesion location, lesion severity, etc.), or an industrial endoscope can provide machine inspectors with more accurate information about the internal space of a machine (e.g., machine failure information (e.g., the location and shape of a crack on an engine fuel line, etc.)).

[0020] In some embodiments, the structure of the endoscopic device can be divided into a first part and a second part. Among them, the first part can be used for image acquisition. Specifically, the first part can include at least an operating handle, an insertion part, and a camera module arranged at the front end of the insertion part. By placing the insertion part into a patient's body cavity (for example, a human chest cavity, abdominal cavity, etc.) or a machine cavity (for example, an engine fuel line), the camera module can capture images in the patient's body cavity or the machine cavity to generate corresponding image signals.

[0021] The second part can be used to control the first part (e.g., the camera module) to capture images and / or supply power to the first part (e.g., the camera module). Specifically, the second part can include at least a main control circuit board and / or a power supply. The main control circuit board can be used to control the first part to capture images, and the power supply can supply power to the first part.

[0022] In addition, the second part can also be used to establish a communication connection between the endoscope device and the display device, for example, sending the image signal collected by the first part to the display device for image display. In some embodiments, the communication connection between the endoscope device and the display device can be a wired connection. For example, a data transmission interface (for example, a USB interface) can be provided on the second part and the display device, and the endoscope device and the display device can be connected by wire via the data transmission interface. In some embodiments, the communication connection between the endoscope device and the display device can be a wireless connection. For example, a wireless transmission module (for example, a Bluetooth transmission module) can be provided on the second part, and a wireless receiving module (for example, a Bluetooth receiving module) paired with the wireless transmission module can be provided on the display device, and the endoscope device and the display device can be wirelessly connected through the pairing connection between the wireless transmission module and the wireless receiving module.

[0023] In some embodiments, the first and second parts of the endoscope device may be non-detachably connected or integrally designed. For example, the second part may be integrated into an operating handle. Similarly, an image display module (e.g., a display screen) may be provided on the operating handle to replace the display device. This not only increases the size of the endoscope device, but also complicates the structure and internal circuit design. In addition, if the first or second part is damaged, the replacement cost will be high.

[0024] In some embodiments, the first and second parts of the endoscopic device may be detachably connected. When the first and second parts of the endoscopic device are detachably connected, considerations need to be given to whether the detachable connection between the first and second parts is reliable and whether assembly and disassembly operations are simple and quick.

[0025] The embodiment of the present specification provides a connection assembly for an endoscopic device, the connection assembly comprising a locking portion provided on a first portion of the endoscopic device, a locking coupling portion provided on a second portion, and an unlocking operating member fixedly connected to the locking coupling portion. The connection assembly in the embodiment of the present specification drives the locking coupling portion to move between a first position and a second position by means of the unlocking operating member, thereby achieving mutual engagement and separation of the locking coupling portion and the locking portion, thereby achieving a detachable connection between the first portion and the second portion of the endoscopic device. The mutual engagement of the locking coupling portion and the locking portion can achieve a reliable connection between the first portion and the second portion, and the difficulty of assembly (or connection) and / or disassembly between the first portion and the second portion can be reduced by operating the unlocking operating member (e.g., pressing the unlocking operating member). For example, assembly and / or disassembly between the first portion and the second portion can be quickly and effectively achieved by simply pressing the unlocking operating member.

[0026] It should be noted that the connection components in the embodiments of this specification can be applied to endoscopic devices in the medical, industrial and other fields, but are not limited to endoscopic devices. Any related devices, equipment, structures, etc. that have the connection components in the embodiments of this specification should be within the scope of protection of this specification.

[0027] The connection assembly for an endoscope device provided in the embodiments of this specification will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] Figure 1 is a general assembly diagram of an endoscopic device with connection components according to some embodiments of the present specification. Figure 2 is a partial exploded view of an endoscopic device having a connection assembly according to some embodiments of the present specification. Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The figure shows a cross-sectional view of the A region of the endoscope device taken along the BB cutting direction.

[0029] Combine Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the endoscope device 100 may include a first portion 110 and a second portion 120, and the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 are connected via a connecting assembly 130. Figure 2 As shown, the connection assembly 130 may include a locking portion 131 provided on the first portion 110, a locking coupling portion 132 provided on the second portion, and an unlocking operating member 133 fixedly connected to the locking coupling portion 132. The unlocking operating member 133 can drive the locking coupling portion 132 to move between a first position and a second position. When the locking coupling portion 132 is in the first position, the locking coupling portion 132 can be coupled with the locking portion 131, thereby connecting the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 to each other. When the locking coupling portion 132 moves from the first position to the second position, the locking coupling portion 132 can be separated from the locking portion 131, thereby separating the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 from each other. In some embodiments, as Figure 3 As shown, the unlocking operating member 133 can drive the locking coupling portion 132 to move left and right. The first position can be the maximum displacement of the locking coupling portion 132 moving toward the right, and the second position can be the maximum displacement of the locking coupling portion 132 moving toward the left.

[0030] In some embodiments, the first portion 110 can be used to capture image signals. Specifically, the first portion includes an operating handle 111, an insertion portion 112, and a camera module 113 disposed at the front end of the insertion portion 112 (or the distal end of the insertion portion 112). During use of the endoscopic device 100, by inserting the insertion portion 112 into a human body cavity (e.g., the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, etc.) or a machine cavity (e.g., an engine fuel line), the camera module 113 can capture images within the corresponding body cavity or cavity to capture image signals. By manipulating the operating handle (e.g., by turning the lever 115 on the operating handle 111), the bending angle or bending direction of the insertion portion 112 can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the position and viewing angle of the camera module 113 within the corresponding body cavity or cavity. This allows the camera module 113 to capture multi-angle, more comprehensive images within the corresponding body cavity or cavity, thereby helping doctors or relevant operators obtain more accurate patient information or fault information. In some embodiments, a boss 114 is provided on the operating handle 111 , and the locking portion 131 may be provided on a side wall of the boss 114 .

[0031] In some embodiments, the insertion portion 112 is a tubular structure having a tubular space for accommodating optical cables and / or electrical cables (or referred to as light guides and / or image guides) for connecting the camera module 113 and the operating handle 111. In some embodiments, the front end of the insertion portion 112 may be a curved portion (not shown in the figure), and the operating handle 111 may be manipulated to adjust the bending angle and direction of the curved portion to achieve the purpose of adjusting the position, viewing angle, etc. of the camera module 113 in the corresponding body cavity or cavity. In some embodiments, the curved portion has a mesh structure or a snake-bone structure. In some embodiments, the camera module 113 may include an image sensor, wherein the image sensor may be one or more of a CCD sensor, a CMOS sensor, and a DPS sensor.

[0032] In some embodiments, the second part 120 can be used to control the first part 110 to collect image signals. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the second part 120 may include a main control circuit board (PCB) 121 , and a button 122 is provided on the main control circuit board 121 .

[0033] In some embodiments, by pressing button 122, main control circuit board 121 may generate a control signal, which may be transmitted to first portion 110. First portion 110 may then start or stop capturing image signals based on the control signal. A description of how control signals are transmitted to first portion 110 can be found elsewhere in this specification and will not be repeated here.

[0034] In some embodiments, the second portion 120 may also be used to supply power to the first portion 110, for example, to supply power to the camera module 113 in the first portion 110. Figure 2 As shown, the second portion 120 may include a power supply 123, which may be used to supply power to the first portion 110. In some embodiments, the power supply 123 may be a battery, and the battery may include a lithium-ion battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, a lead-acid battery, or the like. In some embodiments, when the power supply 123 is a battery, the main control circuit board 121 is further provided with a power management module 124 electrically connected to the power supply 123. The power management module 124 may be used to prevent overcharging and overdischarging of the power supply 123, extend the service life of the power supply 123, and monitor the status of the power supply 123. In some embodiments, the power supply 123 may also be a dry cell battery. In some embodiments, when the endoscopic device 100 needs to be charged, the second portion 120 may be removed from the endoscopic device 100 (i.e., the second portion 120 may be separated from the first portion 110), and then the second portion 120 may be charged separately.

[0035] In some embodiments, the button 122 may be pressed to control the power supply 123 to supply power to and / or stop supplying power to the first portion 110 , thereby controlling the first portion 110 to capture images.

[0036] In some embodiments, the second portion 120 can also be used to establish a communication connection between the endoscope device and the display device to send the image signal collected by the endoscope device to the display device for display. In some embodiments, a data transmission interface (e.g., a USB interface) (not shown in the figure) can be provided on the main control circuit board 121 to achieve a wired connection between the endoscope device 100 and the display device. In some embodiments, a wireless transmission module (e.g., a Bluetooth module) can also be provided on the main control circuit board 121. The Bluetooth module enables a wireless communication connection between the second portion 120 (i.e., the endoscope device 100) and the display device. In some embodiments, the second portion 120 and the display device can be connected via a network for wired or wireless communication.

[0037] In some embodiments, in order to ensure that the mutual engagement between the locking portion 131 and the locking engagement portion 132 can achieve a reliable connection between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120, see Figure 2 As shown, the locking portion 131 may include an annular block 1321, and the locking portion 131 may include a slot 1311 adapted to the annular block 1321, i.e., the annular block 1321 can enter the slot 1311 and engage with the slot 1311. In some embodiments, the annular block 1321 may be part or all of the locking portion 132, and the slot 1311 may be part or all of the locking portion 131. Therefore, in some cases, the locking portion 131 and the slot 1311, and the locking portion 132 and the annular block 1321, may be used interchangeably in this specification.

[0038] When the locking coupling portion 132 is driven by the unlocking operating member 133 to move to the first position, the annular block 1321 can engage with the slot 1311, thereby achieving mutual engagement between the locking portion 131 and the locking coupling portion 132, thereby achieving mutual connection between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120. The engagement design of the annular block 1321 and the slot 1311 can effectively limit the relative movement between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120, achieving the purpose of a reliable connection. In some embodiments, the annular block 1321 can be replaced by a block having a regular or irregular shape, such as a triangular block, a rectangular block, or a cylindrical block. Correspondingly, the slot 1311 can be adapted to a block having a regular or irregular shape, such as a triangular block, a rectangular block, or a cylindrical block.

[0039] In some embodiments, the unlocking operating member 133 fixedly connected to the locking coupling portion 132 can form an annular integral body with the annular block 1321. Figure 2 As shown, when the first part 110 and the second part 120 need to be connected to each other, the locking part 131 is located in the space of the annular whole (i.e. the space surrounded by the unlocking operating member 133 and the annular clamping block 1321), and the movement of the unlocking operating member 133 can drive the annular clamping block 1321 to move together, and the annular clamping block 1321 can move to the clamping groove 1311 (i.e. the first position) for clamping, thereby realizing the mutual connection between the first part 110 and the second part 120.

[0040] In some embodiments, the unlocking operating member 133 and the locking coupling portion 132 can be fixedly connected by means of snapping, welding, gluing, etc. In some embodiments, the unlocking operating member 133 and the locking coupling portion 132 can be integrally formed, for example, by casting, injection molding, 3D printing, etc.

[0041] Further, see Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the connecting assembly 130 may include an annular housing 134. The unlocking operating member 133 is located outside the annular housing 134, and the annular block 1321 is located inside the annular housing 134. The movement of the unlocking operating member 133 relative to the annular housing 134 can drive the annular block 1321 to move from the first position to the second position. Figure 3 As shown, when a pressing force is applied from right to left to the unlocking operating member 133, the unlocking operating member 133 can be moved from right to left along the radial direction of the annular housing 134, thereby driving the annular clamping block 1321 to move from the first position to the second position. By moving the annular clamping block 1321 from the first position to the second position, the annular clamping block 1321 can be separated from the clamping groove 1311, and the locking portion 131 and the locking mating portion 132 are no longer mated, thereby achieving the purpose of separating the first part 110 from the second part 120.

[0042] In some embodiments, when the first part 110 and the second part 120 are connected to each other, the annular block 1321 is moved from the first position to the second position. When the annular block 1321 is in the second position, it will not block the locking part 131 from entering the space of the annular whole formed by the unlocking operating member 133 and the annular block 1321, so that the locking part 131 can smoothly enter the space. Then, the annular block 1321 is driven by the unlocking operating member 133 to return to the first position from the second position and engage with the card slot 1311 to complete the mutual connection between the first part 110 and the second part 120.

[0043] Continue to see Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the connection assembly 130 may further include a spring 135. The spring 135 is located in the annular housing 134 and one end of the spring 135 is connected to the unlocking operating member 133. Under the action of the spring, the unlocking operating member 133 can drive the annular block 1321 from the second position back to the first position and engage with the slot 1311. In some embodiments, the connection assembly 130 may further include a support housing 136. The support housing 136 can provide support for the spring 135 so that the end of the spring 135 not connected to the unlocking operating member 133 can be abutted, so that the spring 135 can be compressed to generate elastic force. For example, at least a portion of the support housing 136 (for example, Figure 2 The protrusion 1361 shown in the figure can be located in the annular housing 134, and the protrusion 1361 can abut against the spring 135 so that the spring 135 can be compressed to generate elastic force to enable the unlocking operating member 133 to drive the annular block 1321 from the second position back to the first position.

[0044] The following will exemplarily describe the process of connecting and separating the first part 110 and the second part 120 of the endoscopic device 100 (ie, the process of assembling and disassembling the first part 110 and the second part) in conjunction with the specific structure of the connecting assembly 130.

[0045] When the first part 110 and the second part 120 need to be connected to each other, since the unlocking operation member 133 is connected to one end of the spring, the unlocking operation member 133 is not subjected to the radial direction of the annular housing 134 (for example, Figure 3 When the pressing force is applied (from right to left as shown), the unlocking operating member 133 does not move relative to the annular housing 134, and the spring 135 is not compressed and is in a natural state. At this time, the annular block 1321 is in the first position, and the annular block 1321 will restrict the locking portion on the first part 110 from entering the annular space formed by the annular block 1321 and the unlocking operating member. Therefore, when the operator connects the first part 110 and the second part 120, he first needs to press the unlocking operating member 133 (i.e., apply pressing force to the unlocking operating member 133) so that the unlocking operating member 133 can move relative to the annular housing 134 in its radial direction (for example, Figure 3When the lock 131 is unlocked, the spring 135 is in a compressed state, and the annular block 1321 is driven to move from the first position to the second position, so as to ensure that the locking portion 131 can enter the annular space formed by the unlocking operating member 133 and the annular block 1321. When the annular block 1321 corresponds to the position of the card slot 1311, the operator can release the unlocking operating member 133 (that is, stop applying pressure to the unlocking operating member 133). The spring 135 returns to the natural state from the compressed state under the action of its own elastic force, and drives the unlocking operating member 133 relative to the annular housing 134 along its radial direction (for example, Figure 3 The annular block 1321 moves from the second position back to the first position (as shown in the left to right direction) to engage with the slot 1311, thereby connecting the first part 110 and the second part 120 to each other.

[0046] When the first part 110 and the second part need to be separated from each other, the operator can press the unlocking operating member 133 again to drive the annular block 1321 to move from the first position to the second position, so that the annular block 1321 is no longer engaged with the slot 1311, and the first part 110 and the second part 120 can be separated from each other.

[0047] When the connecting assembly 130 in the embodiment of this specification is used to connect the first part 110 and the second part 120 of the endoscopic device 100, through the above operation, the operator can easily and quickly complete the connection and separation (or assembly and disassembly) between the first part 110 and the second part 120 by pressing the unlocking operating member 133.

[0048] In some embodiments, in order to prevent the operator from accidentally pressing the unlocking operating member 133 or the unlocking operating member 133 from being hit and subjected to a pressing force during use of the endoscope device 100, causing the locking coupling portion 132 to move away from the first position and disengage from the locking groove 1311, causing the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 to separate from each other, thereby affecting the use of the endoscope device 100, see Figure 2 As shown, the connection assembly 130 in the embodiment of this specification may further include a safety operating member 137, which can be used to limit the movement of the locking coupling portion 132 from the first position to the second position. When the movement of the locking coupling portion 132 is restricted, even if the operator accidentally presses the unlocking operating member 133 or the unlocking operating member 133 is subjected to a pressing force due to a collision, the unlocking operating member 133 will not move relative to the annular housing 134, and the locking coupling portion 132 will always remain in the first position.

[0049] Specifically, the safety operating member 137 can slide between a third position and a fourth position. When the safety operating member 137 is in the third position, the safety operating member 137 abuts against the locking portion 132, thereby restricting the locking portion 132 from moving from the first position to the second position. When the safety operating member is in the fourth position, the safety operating member 137 is offset from the locking portion 132, and the locking portion 132 is no longer restricted by the safety operating member 137 and can move from the first position to the second position.

[0050] Figure 4 It is a partial structural diagram of the connection assembly when the safety operating member is located in the third position according to some embodiments of this specification. Figure 5 It is a partial structural diagram of the connection assembly when the safety operating member is in the fourth position according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0051] Combine Figure 2 as well as Figure 4 、 Figure 5 As shown, when the connecting assembly 130 includes an annular housing 134, a sliding groove 1341 is provided on one side of the annular housing 134 relative to the unlocking operating member 133. The safety operating member 137 can slide in the sliding groove 1341 along the circumferential direction of the annular housing 134. The position of the safety operating member 137 in the sliding groove 1341 can include a third position and a fourth position. The third position can be the position when the safety operating member 137 abuts against the locking mating portion 132 (for example, Figure 4 The fourth position may be one or more positions where the safety operating member 137 is completely misaligned with the locking coupling portion 132 (eg, Figure 5 The position of the insurance operating member 137 shown in FIG. Figure 4 In the embodiment, the safety operating member 137 is located at the third position, abutting against the locking portion 132 to restrict the locking portion 132 from moving from the first position to the second position. Figure 5 In the embodiment, the safety operating member 13 is located at the fourth position, staggered from the locking coupling portion 132 , and the locking coupling portion 132 is no longer restricted by the safety operating member 13 and can move from the first position to the second position.

[0052] As an example only, during the actual use of the endoscopic device 100, the safety operating member 137 can always be maintained in the third position, and the safety operating member 137 can always limit the locking coupling portion 132 to the first position, and the unlocking operating member 133 will not move relative to the annular shell 134, thereby avoiding the problem that the unlocking operating member 133 is accidentally pressed or bumped by the operator, causing the first part 110 and the second part 120 to separate and affecting the use of the endoscopic device 100.

[0053] When the first part 110 and the second part 120 of the endoscope device 100 need to be connected to each other or separated from each other, the safety operating member 137 can be slid to the fourth position, so that the safety operating member 137 and the locking matching part 132 are completely misaligned, and the locking matching part 132 is no longer restricted from moving from the first position to the second position, so that the locking part 131 can smoothly enter the space of the annular whole formed by the unlocking operating member 133 and the annular block 1321 to facilitate the mutual connection between the first part 110 and the second part 120, or the annular block 1321 can be completely disengaged from the card slot 1311, so that the first part 110 and the second part 120 are separated from each other.

[0054] Since the second part 120 needs to supply power to the first part 110, or the control signals generated by the second part 120 need to be sent to the first part 110 to control the first part 110 to capture images, and the image signals captured by the first part 110 also need to be sent to the second part 120, and then sent to the display device by the second part 120 for image display, it is necessary to establish an electrical connection between the first part 110 and the second part 120 to meet the requirements of power transmission and signal transmission.

[0055] In some embodiments, see Figure 2 As shown, the first part 110 (operating handle 111) is provided with a boss 114, and the upper end surface of the boss 114 is provided with a plurality of contact points 1141 for electrically connecting with the second part 120. Among them, the plurality of contact points 1141 are electrically connected to one or more components of the first part 110 (for example, the operating handle 111, the camera module 113). Figure 3 As shown, the second part 120 may include a plurality of contact pins 127, wherein the plurality of contact pins 127 are electrically connected to the main control circuit board 121 and / or the power supply 123. By contacting and matching the plurality of contact pins 127 with the plurality of contact points 1141, an electrical connection can be established between the first part 110 and the second part 120. In this way, the power supply 123 can supply power to the first part 110 through the plurality of contact pins 127 and the plurality of contact points 1141, and the control signals generated by the main control circuit board 121 can also be sent to the first part 110 (for example, the operating handle 111, the camera module 113) through the plurality of contact pins 127 and the plurality of contact points 1141. The image signals collected by the first part 110 can also be transmitted to the main control circuit board 121 (for example, the wireless transmission module) through the plurality of contact points 1141 and the plurality of contact pins 127, and then sent to the display device for image display.

[0056] In some embodiments, since the locking portion 131 is also arranged on the side wall of the boss 114, when the locking portion 131 is matched with the locking matching portion 132 to realize the mutual connection between the first part 110 and the second part 120, a plurality of contact points 1141 can be contacted and coupled with a plurality of contact spring pins 127 to establish an electrical connection between the first part 110 and the second part 120, that is, the mutual connection between the first part 110 and the second part 120 can realize the electrical connection between the first part 110 and the second part 120.

[0057] By providing a boss 114 on the first portion 110, and providing contact points and locking portions 131 on the upper end surface and sidewalls of the boss 114, respectively, the second portion 120 can correspondingly include contact pins and a locking mating portion 132. The mutual engagement of the locking portion 131 and the locking mating portion 132 enables interconnection between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120, while the engagement of the contact points with the contact pins enables electrical connection between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120. In some embodiments, an operator can achieve both interconnection and electrical connection between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 with a single operation. For example, when the operator engages the locking portion 131 and the locking mating portion 132 to achieve interconnection between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120, the contact points 1141 can contact and couple with the contact pins 127 to achieve electrical connection between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120. Specifically, the matching between the locking portion 131 and the locking matching portion 132 can realize the matching between the contact point and the contact spring pin, or the matching between the contact point and the contact spring pin can realize the matching between the locking portion 131 and the locking matching portion 132.

[0058] In some embodiments, the boss 114 may be provided with a plurality of pins that are electrically connected to one or more components in the first portion 110 (e.g., the operating handle 111, the camera module 113). Correspondingly, the second portion 120 may include a socket, which may be provided on or electrically connected to the main control circuit board 121. The socket may include a plurality of sockets, into which the pins are inserted to establish an electrical connection between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120.

[0059] By coupling a plurality of pins with a plurality of sockets, not only can an electrical connection be established between the first part 110 and the second part 120, but the locking portion 131 can also be positioned when the first part 110 and the second part 120 are connected to each other.

[0060] As an example only, when the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 are connected, in order to ensure that the annular clamping block 1321 can be clamped into the clamping groove 1311 when in the first position, the clamping groove 1311 should be maintained at a position corresponding to the annular clamping block 1321. The position where the clamping groove 1311 corresponds to the annular clamping block 1321 can be understood as the position where the clamping groove 1311 is located when the projection of the clamping groove 1311 on the annular clamping block 1321 can completely overlap with the annular clamping block 1321.

[0061] To this end, the operator inserts the locking portion 131 into the annular space formed by the unlocking operating member 133 and the annular block 1321. The operator then inserts the plurality of pins on the first portion 110 into the plurality of sockets. This establishes an electrical connection between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 while ensuring that the positions of the locking slot 1311 and the annular block 1321 correspond, allowing the annular block 1321 to engage with the locking slot 1311 when in its first position. When the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 are connected, the locking portion 131 is positioned by the plurality of pins and the plurality of sockets. The operator can position the locking portion 1311 so that the locking slot 1311 and the annular block 1321 correspond in position without having to repeatedly adjust the position or orientation of the locking slot 1311. This allows the annular block 1321 to be quickly engaged with the locking slot 1311, improving the efficiency of the connection between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120. In addition, the plug-and-socket coupling of a plurality of pins and a plurality of sockets can also increase the reliability of the connection between the first part 110 and the second part 120 to a certain extent.

[0062] In some embodiments, see Figure 2 As shown, a positioning block 1362 can be provided on the support shell 136, and a positioning slot adapted to the positioning block 1362 can be provided on the side wall of the boss 114 of the first part 110. When the positioning block 1362 is located in the positioning slot 1142, the locking portion 131 (i.e., the slot 1311) is located at a position corresponding to the locking matching portion 132 (i.e., the annular block 1321). In this way, when the annular block 1321 is located in the first position, it can be engaged with the slot 1311 to realize the mutual connection between the first part 110 and the second part 120.

[0063] As an example only, when the operator connects the first part 110 and the second part 120, the operator can press the unlocking operating member 133. When the operator places the locking part 131 (boss 114) in the space of the annular whole formed by the unlocking operating member 133 and the annular block 1321, the operator can first engage the positioning block 1362 with the positioning slot 1142. In this way, the position of the slot 1311 can correspond to the annular block 1321. When the operator releases the unlocking operating member 133, the annular block 1321 can move to the first position and engage with the slot 1311.

[0064] By providing a method of engaging the positioning block 1362 with the positioning slot 1142, the locking portion 131 can be positioned when connecting the first part 110 and the second part 120. This allows the operator to quickly locate the locking portion 131 (slot 1311) at a position corresponding to the annular block 1321, thereby improving the efficiency of connecting the first part 110 and the second part 120. In addition, the engagement of the positioning block 1362 with the positioning slot 1142 effectively limits the relative rotation between the first part 110 and the second part 120, thereby increasing the reliability of the connection between the first part 110 and the second part 120.

[0065] The connection assembly 130 in the embodiment of the present specification not only reliably connects the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 of the endoscope device 100, but also simplifies and swifts the connection and disconnection process. The operator can easily and quickly connect and disconnect the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 by pressing the unlocking operating member 133 provided on the annular housing 134. In particular, when the endoscope device 100 needs to be charged, the operator can easily disconnect the second portion 120 from the first portion 110 to charge the second portion 120, while simultaneously connecting another second portion 120 with a sufficient power source to the first portion 110, without interrupting the use of the endoscope device 100. In addition, the annular housing 134 of the connecting assembly 130 is provided with a safety operating member 137. The safety operating member 137 can limit the movement of the locking coupling portion 132 (annular block 1321) away from the first position during use of the endoscopic device, thereby preventing the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 from separating due to the locking coupling portion 132 leaving the first position, thereby affecting the use of the endoscopic device. In addition, by arranging the unlocking operating member 133 and the safety operating member 137 on the annular housing 134, the annular housing 134 does not occupy too much space, which can improve the space utilization of the annular housing 134, thereby making the structure of the connecting assembly 130 more compact and the connection between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 more tightly.

[0066] The embodiments of this specification also provide an endoscope system. Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an endoscope system according to some embodiments of this specification. Figure 6As shown, the endoscope system 1000 further includes an endoscope device 100, a connecting assembly 130 for the endoscope device 100, and a display device 200. The connecting assembly 130 can be used to connect the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 of the endoscope device 100. For a description of how the connecting assembly 130 connects the first portion 110 and the second portion 120, reference can be made to the above description of the connection and separation of the first portion 110 and the second portion 120.

[0067] In the endoscope system 1000 , the endoscope device 100 may be used to collect image signals, and the display device 200 may receive the image signals from the endoscope device 100 and display images based on the image signals.

[0068] Specifically, see Figure 1 As shown, the first portion 110 of the endoscope device 100 can be used to collect image signals. The first portion 110 may include at least an operating handle 111, an insertion portion 112, and a camera module 113 disposed at the front end of the insertion portion 112. For a description of the relevant structure of the first portion 110 and how the first portion 110 collects image signals, please refer to the relevant description above.

[0069] After the first part 110 captures the image signal, it can be sent to the display device 200 through the second part 120. For a description of how the image signal is sent from the first part 110 to the second part 120, reference can be made to the above description of the electrical connection between the first part 110 and the second part 120.

[0070] In some embodiments, see Figure 2 As shown, the second portion 120 may include at least a main control circuit board 121, a housing 125, and a mounting plate 126. The main control circuit board 121 may be located within the accommodation space formed by the housing 125 and the mounting plate 126. In this embodiment, the mounting plate 126 may be used to securely connect to the connecting assembly 130. Specifically, the connecting assembly 130 may further include a mounting housing 138, which is securely connected to or integrally formed with the annular housing 134 and the support housing 136. By securely connecting the mounting housing 138 to the mounting plate 126, multiple components of the connecting assembly 130, other than the locking portion 131, such as the locking mating portion 132 and the unlocking operating member 133, may be disposed on the second portion 120. In some embodiments, the mounting housing 138 may be securely connected to the mounting plate 126 by various means, such as bolting, gluing, or welding. Further details regarding the main control circuit board 121 have been provided above and will not be repeated here.

[0071] In some embodiments, see Figure 6As shown, the display device 200 may include an image processing module (not shown) and a display 201. The image processing module may process the image signal from the second portion 120 and generate a corresponding image for display via the display 201, so that an operator (e.g., a doctor or machine maintenance personnel) can observe the image inside the patient's body cavity or the machine cavity through the display device, thereby helping the operator to make a more accurate judgment on the patient's condition or machine failure. In some embodiments, the display 201 in the display device 200 may be a touch screen display, and the operator may input operation instructions via the touch screen display, wherein the operation instructions may include but are not limited to adjusting the field of view brightness of the camera module 113, adjusting the bending angle or direction of the insertion portion 112, capturing and saving images, etc. The operation instructions may be sent to the second portion 120, and the main control circuit board 121 may generate a control signal based on the operation instruction and send it to the first portion 110 to perform the corresponding operation. For a description of how the control signal is sent from the second portion 120 to the first portion 110, reference may be made to the description of the electrical connection between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 above.

[0072] In some embodiments, in order to transmit image signals from the endoscopic device 100 to the display device 200 or to transmit operation instructions input by the user on the touch screen display to the endoscopic device 100, a communication connection can be established between the display device 200 and the endoscopic device 100, that is, a communication connection can be established between the display device 200 and the second part 120. In some embodiments, the communication connection between the display device 200 and the second part 120 can be a wired connection or a wireless connection.

[0073] In some scenarios (e.g., a confined working environment or a large number of people), when a wired connection is used between the display device 200 and the second part 120, the flexibility and length of the wire (e.g., cable) connecting the display device 200 and the second part may limit the ease of operation of the endoscope during use. Therefore, preferably, the communication connection between the display device 200 and the second part 120 is a wireless connection.

[0074] As an example, a wireless transmission module can be provided on the main control circuit board 121, and image signals can be transmitted to the display device via the wireless transmission module. Taking Bluetooth connection as an example, the wireless transmission module on the main control circuit board is a Bluetooth transmission module, and the display device 200 includes a Bluetooth receiving module that can be paired with the Bluetooth transmission module. Through the pairing connection between the Bluetooth transmission module and the Bluetooth receiving module, a wireless connection between the display device 200 and the endoscopic device 100 can be established.

[0075] In some embodiments, the second portion 120 may also be used to supply power to the first portion 110. Figure 2As shown, the housing 125 and the mounting plate 126 further accommodate a power supply 123. In some embodiments, the main control circuit board 121 further includes a power management module 124 electrically connected to the power supply. For more information on the power supply 123, the power management module 124, and how the power supply 123 supplies power to the first portion, please refer to the relevant description above.

[0076] In some embodiments, when the display device 200 is connected to the endoscopic device 100 via a wired connection, the power supply 123 may also be used to supply power to the display device 200 .

[0077] In some embodiments, when a charging interface (e.g., a USB interface) can be provided on the second portion 120 , the charging interface can be wiredly connected to a corresponding power output (supply) device via a charging cable (e.g., a USB cable) to charge the power supply 123 .

[0078] By connecting the first part 110 and the second part 120 using the connecting component 130, and setting the power supply 123 in the second part 120, when the power supply 123 is insufficient, the second part 120 can be easily disassembled to charge the power supply 123, and the first part 110 can be connected to the second part of another power supply with sufficient power, thereby solving the battery life problem of the endoscope device 100 without delaying the use of the endoscope device 100.

[0079] In some embodiments, to facilitate charging of the power supply 123, a charging socket 202 may be provided on the display device 200, and the power supply 123 may be charged directly on the display device 200 through the charging socket. For example, the second portion 120 may be provided with a charging plug electrically connected to the power supply 123, which may be inserted into the charging socket 202 to charge the power supply 123. For another example, the second portion 120 may be provided with a charging interface that can be connected to the charging socket 202 via a wire, thereby charging the power supply 123.

[0080] The beneficial effects that may be brought about by the embodiments of this specification include but are not limited to: (1) the connection component in the embodiments of this specification can reliably connect the first part and the second part of the endoscope device, and the connection component includes an unlocking operating member. The connection and separation between the first part and the second part can be achieved mainly by the operator pressing the unlocking operating member, which is simple to operate and saves time and effort; (2) the connection component includes a safety operating member, which can effectively prevent the first part and the second part from being separated due to the operator's misoperation or collision of the unlocking operating member during use of the endoscope device, further improving the reliability of the connection between the first part and the second part during use of the endoscope device; (3) by arranging a power supply in the second part, the power supply can be replaced by replacing the second part when the power of the endoscope device is insufficient. Since the second part is easy to disassemble from the first part, the power supply replacement process is also simple and fast, which can effectively solve the endurance problem of the endoscope device; (4) by arranging a wireless transmission module in the second part, the endoscope device and the display device are wirelessly connected, which can increase the operational convenience of the endoscope device and enable it to be applied to more complex working environments.

[0081] While the basic concepts have been described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the detailed disclosure is merely illustrative and does not limit this specification. Although not explicitly stated herein, various modifications, improvements, and revisions to this specification may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modifications, improvements, and revisions are suggested in this specification and remain within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of this specification.

[0082] This specification also uses specific terms to describe the embodiments of this specification. For example, "one embodiment," "an embodiment," and / or "some embodiments" refer to a feature, structure, or characteristic associated with at least one embodiment of this specification. Therefore, it should be emphasized and noted that references to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or "an alternative embodiment" two or more times in different locations in this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, certain features, structures, or characteristics of one or more embodiments of this specification may be appropriately combined.

[0083] In addition, unless expressly stated in the claims, the order of the processing elements and sequences, the use of alphanumeric characters, or the use of other names described in this specification are not intended to limit the order of the processes and methods of this specification. Although the above disclosure discusses some of the invention embodiments currently considered useful through various examples, it should be understood that such details are for illustrative purposes only, and the appended claims are not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the claims are intended to cover all modifications and equivalent combinations that are consistent with the spirit and scope of the embodiments of this specification. For example, although the system components described above can be implemented by hardware devices, they can also be implemented only by software solutions, such as installing the described system on an existing server or mobile device.

[0084] Similarly, it should be noted that, in order to simplify the presentation of this specification and thus facilitate understanding of one or more embodiments of the invention, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments of this specification sometimes combine multiple features into a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof. However, this disclosure method does not imply that the subject matter of this specification requires more features than those recited in the claims. In fact, an embodiment may have fewer features than all of the features of a single disclosed embodiment.

[0085] In some embodiments, numbers are used to describe the quantity of components and attributes. It should be understood that such numbers used in the description of the embodiments are modified by the modifiers "about", "approximately" or "substantially" in some examples. Unless otherwise stated, "about", "approximately" or "substantially" indicate that the numbers are allowed to vary by ±20%. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters used in the description and claims are approximate values, which may change according to the required characteristics of individual embodiments. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should take into account the specified significant digits and adopt the general method of retaining digits. Although the numerical domains and parameters used to confirm the breadth of their range in some embodiments of this specification are approximate values, in specific embodiments, the settings of such numerical values ​​are as accurate as possible within the feasible range.

[0086] Each patent, patent application, patent application publication, and other materials, such as articles, books, specifications, publications, and documents, cited in this specification is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This includes application history documents that are inconsistent with or conflict with the content of this specification, as well as documents (currently or subsequently attached to this specification) that limit the broadest scope of the claims of this specification. It should be noted that if the descriptions, definitions, and / or terminology used in the accompanying materials are inconsistent or conflicting with the content of this specification, the descriptions, definitions, and / or terminology used in this specification will control.

[0087] Finally, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification are intended only to illustrate the principles of the embodiments of this specification. Other variations may also fall within the scope of this specification. Therefore, by way of example and not limitation, alternative configurations of the embodiments of this specification may be considered consistent with the teachings of this specification. Accordingly, the embodiments of this specification are not limited to the embodiments explicitly described and illustrated in this specification.

Claims

1. A connection assembly for an endoscopic device, characterized in that: The endoscope device comprises a first portion and a second portion, the connecting assembly comprises a locking portion provided on the first portion, a locking coupling portion provided on the second portion, and an unlocking operating member fixedly connected to the locking coupling portion, the locking coupling portion comprising an annular clamping block, the locking portion comprising a clamping groove adapted to the annular clamping block, and the unlocking operating member and the annular clamping block enclosing an annular integral space; in The unlocking operating member is used to drive the locking coupling portion to move between the first position and the second position, and the movement of the unlocking operating member drives the annular clamping block to move together; When the locking coupling portion is located at the first position, the locking coupling portion can be coupled with the locking portion, and the annular clamping block moves to the clamping groove for clamping, so that the first part and the second part are connected to each other; When the locking coupling portion moves from the first position to the second position, the locking coupling portion can be separated from the locking portion, so that the first part and the second part can be separated from each other; When the connecting assembly includes an annular housing, a sliding groove is provided on a side of the annular housing opposite to the unlocking operating member, and the connecting assembly further includes a safety operating member capable of sliding in the sliding groove, and the position of the safety operating member in the sliding groove includes a third position and a fourth position; When the safety operating member is located at the third position, the safety operating member abuts against the locking portion to restrict the locking portion from moving from the first position to the second position; When the safety operating member is located in the fourth position, the safety operating member is staggered with the locking coupling portion, the restriction of the locking coupling portion moving from the first position to the second position is released, the locking portion can enter the space of the annular whole, or the annular block can completely disengage from the slot, so that the first part and the second part are connected or separated with each other.

2. The connection assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that The annular clamping block and the unlocking operating member form an annular integral body.

3. The connection assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that The unlocking operating member is located outside the annular housing, and the annular clamping block is located inside the annular housing. Movement of the unlocking operating member relative to the annular housing can drive the annular clamping block to move from the first position to the second position.

4. The connection assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A boss is provided on the first part, and a plurality of contact points are provided on the upper end surface of the boss for electrically connecting with the second part; wherein the locking portion is provided on the side wall of the boss.

5. The connection assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The connecting assembly includes a spring, which is located in the annular housing, and one end of the spring is fixedly connected to the unlocking operating member. The unlocking operating member can drive the annular block from the second position back to the first position under the action of the spring.

6. The connection assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that The connecting assembly further includes a support housing, at least a portion of which is located within the annular housing and abuts against the spring.

7. The connection assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that The support shell is further provided with a positioning block, the first part is provided with a boss, and the side wall of the boss is provided with a positioning slot adapted to the positioning block; When the locking portion and the locking matching portion are connected to each other, the positioning block is located in the positioning slot.

8. An endoscope system, characterized in that: The endoscope system includes a connecting component for an endoscope device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, the endoscope device, and a display device; wherein the connecting component is used to connect the first part and the second part of the endoscope device; the endoscope device is used to collect image signals; and the display device is at least used to receive the image signal from the endoscope device and display an image based on the image signal.

9. The endoscope system according to claim 8, wherein: The first part of the endoscope device at least includes an operating handle, an insertion portion, and a camera module disposed at the front end of the insertion portion, wherein the first part is provided with a boss, and the boss is disposed on the operating handle; The second part of the endoscope device includes at least a shell, a mounting plate and a main control circuit board, wherein the main control circuit board is located in a housing space formed by the shell and the mounting plate, and the mounting plate is used to fix the connection component.

10. The endoscope system according to claim 9, wherein: A wireless transmission module is provided on the main control circuit board. The wireless transmission module can be wirelessly connected to the display device and send the image signal to the display device.

11. The endoscope system according to claim 9, wherein: The accommodating space also accommodates a power supply, which is electrically connected to a plurality of contact spring pins. The power supply supplies power to the operating handle and / or the camera module through the plurality of contact spring pins and a plurality of contact points.

12. The endoscope system according to claim 11, wherein: The main control circuit board is provided with a power management module electrically connected to the power supply.

13. The endoscope system according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that: The display device includes an image processing module and a display. The image processing module can process the image signal and display an image based on the processed image signal through the display.

14. The endoscope system according to claim 13, wherein: The display device is provided with a charging socket, and the power supply can be charged through the charging socket.

Images