Side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses a side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, comprising a connector, a fiber optic reflector and a torque transmission spring tube; a needle is fixed at one end of the connector, and a steel tube is installed at the other end; the fiber optic reflector is fixed at the needle tip of the needle; the torque transmission spring tube is sleeved outside the optical fiber, and is inserted into the steel tube and fixedly connected to the connector; the optical fiber is inserted into the connector and the needle, and the head end of the optical fiber is close to the fiber optic reflector. The above-mentioned endoscope probe uses a needle to install the fiber optic reflector, and uses a connector to connect the needle and the steel tube. The optical fiber is arranged in the needle. Compared with the metal protective shell in the prior art that simultaneously assembles the fiber optic reflective end and the optical device, the outer size of the needle is smaller, which is conducive to minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery, ensuring that the surgical incision is small, reducing the pain of the patient, and ensuring that the patient recovers quickly after surgery. The present invention also provides a method for making the above-mentioned side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of mechanical industry, and more specifically, to a side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, and also to a manufacturing method of a side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe. Background Art

[0002] See also Figure 1 The existing side OCT eye endoscope probe 10 includes a flexible protective cable 1, a metal protective shell 2, a single-mode optical fiber 3, an optical device 4 and an optical fiber reflection end 5. One side of the flexible protective cable 1 is fixedly connected to one end of the endoscopic armored optical fiber 20, and the flexible protective cable 1 and the metal protective shell 2 are welded; a single-mode optical fiber 3 is arranged inside the flexible protective cable 1, and one end of the single-mode optical fiber 3 is fixedly connected to the optical device 4 located inside the metal protective shell 2, and the optical fiber reflection end 5 is fixedly installed on the other side of the inner cavity of the metal protective shell 2.

[0003] However, in the above-mentioned side OCT ocular endoscope probe 10, the optical fiber reflection end 5 and the larger optical device 4 are both arranged in the metal protective shell 2, and the outer size of the metal protective shell 2 is uniform, resulting in a large outer size of the entire probe, which is not conducive to minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery.

[0004] In summary, how to provide a smaller side OCT imaging endoscopic probe for minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery is an urgent problem to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the invention

[0005] In view of this, the present invention provides a side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, which uses a needle to install a fiber reflector, uses a connector to connect the needle and the steel pipe, and the optical fiber is arranged in the needle. Compared with the metal protective shell that simultaneously assembles the optical fiber reflector end and the optical device in the prior art, the outer size of the needle is smaller, which is conducive to minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the above-mentioned side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, which is convenient for the endoscope probe product to perform minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0007] A side OCT imaging micro fiber optic endoscope probe, comprising:

[0008] A connector, wherein a needle is fixed at one end of the connector and a steel pipe is installed at the other end;

[0009] A fiber optic reflector, wherein the fiber optic reflector is fixed at the tip of the needle;

[0010] A torque transmission spring tube is sleeved outside the optical fiber and passed through the steel tube to be fixedly connected with the connector; the optical fiber is inserted into the connector and the needle, and the head end of the optical fiber is close to the optical fiber reflector.

[0011] Preferably, in the above-mentioned side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, the diameter of the fiber optic reflector is 125 μm.

[0012] Preferably, in the above-mentioned side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, the optical fiber is a fused optical fiber.

[0013] Preferably, in the above-mentioned side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, an FC / APC connector is provided at the tail of the optical fiber, and the FC / APC connector is connected to the optical fiber rotary connector.

[0014] Preferably, in the above-mentioned side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, the steel tube sleeve is provided with a bearing, and the steel tube is embedded in the handle.

[0015] A method for manufacturing a side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, used for the side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe described in any one of the above technical solutions, comprising:

[0016] 1) preparing the optical fiber;

[0017] 2) fixing the optical fiber reflector at the tip of the needle, inserting the head end of the optical fiber into the needle to a position close to the optical fiber reflector, and fixing the optical fiber in the needle;

[0018] 3) fixing the needle to one end of the connector;

[0019] 4) Sleeve the torque transmission spring tube outside the optical fiber, and fix the torque transmission spring tube to the connector;

[0020] 5) Fix the steel tube to the other end of the connector, and sleeve the steel tube over the torque transmission spring tube and the optical fiber.

[0021] Preferably, in the above production method, the step 1) comprises:

[0022] 11) Determine the length of both the coreless fiber and the Green fiber;

[0023] 12) Use a cutting knife to accurately cut the length of the coreless optical fiber and Green optical fiber, and then use a single-mode fusion splicer to fusion splice them;

[0024] 13) The HI1060 optical fiber is cut to length according to requirements and fusion-spliced ​​with the Green optical fiber.

[0025] Preferably, in the above manufacturing method, when performing step 4), the torsion transmission spring is sleeved outside the HI1060 optical fiber.

[0026] Preferably, the above-mentioned production method further comprises:

[0027] 6) A bearing is installed outside the steel pipe, and then the steel pipe is embedded in the handle for fixing.

[0028] Preferably, in the above production method, the step 6) further comprises:

[0029] 7) Making an FC / APC connector at the tail of the optical fiber, and then connecting the FC / APC connector to the optical fiber rotary connector.

[0030] The present invention provides a side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, comprising a connector, a fiber optic reflector and a torque transmission spring tube; a needle is fixed at one end of the connector, and a steel pipe is installed at the other end; the fiber optic reflector is fixed at the needle tip of the needle; the torque transmission spring tube is sleeved outside the optical fiber, and is passed through the steel pipe and fixedly connected to the connector; the optical fiber is inserted into the connector and the needle, and the head end of the optical fiber is close to the fiber optic reflector.

[0031] The side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe provided by the present invention uses a needle to install a fiber optic reflector, uses a connector to connect the needle and a steel pipe, and the optical fiber is arranged in the needle. Compared with the metal protective shell in the prior art that simultaneously assembles the fiber optic reflective end and the optical device, the outer size of the needle is smaller, which is conducive to minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery, ensures a small surgical incision, reduces the patient's pain, and ensures a quick recovery of the patient after surgery.

[0032] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the above-mentioned side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscopic probe, which facilitates the use of the endoscopic probe product for minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0034] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a side OCT eye endoscope probe in the prior art;

[0035] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] in, Figure 2 middle:

[0037] Fiber optic reflector 101; optical fiber 102; needle 103; connector 104; steel tube 105; torque transmission spring tube 106. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The embodiment of the present invention discloses a side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, which uses a needle to install a fiber reflector, uses a connector to connect the needle and the steel pipe, and the optical fiber is arranged in the needle. Compared with the metal protective shell that simultaneously assembles the fiber reflector end and the optical device in the prior art, the outer size of the needle is smaller, which is conducive to minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery. The embodiment of the present invention also discloses a method for making the above-mentioned side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, which is convenient for the endoscope probe product to perform minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery.

[0039] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0040] See also Figure 2 An embodiment of the present invention provides a side OCT imaging micro fiber optic endoscope probe, comprising a connector 104, a fiber optic reflector 101 and a torque transmission spring tube 106; a needle 103 is fixed at one end of the connector 104, and a steel tube 105 is installed at the other end; the fiber optic reflector 101 is fixed at the tip of the needle 103; the torque transmission spring tube 106 is sleeved on the outside of the optical fiber 102, and is passed through the steel tube 105 and fixedly connected to the connector 104; the optical fiber 102 is inserted into the connector 104 and the needle 103, and the head end of the optical fiber 102 is close to the fiber optic reflector 101.

[0041] The side OCT imaging micro fiber optic endoscope probe provided in this embodiment uses a needle 103 to install a fiber optic reflector 101, uses a connector 104 to connect the needle 103 and a steel pipe 105, and the optical fiber 102 is arranged in the needle 103. Compared with the metal protective shell in the prior art that simultaneously assembles the fiber optic reflective end and the optical device, the outer size of the needle 103 is smaller, which is conducive to minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery, ensures a small surgical incision, reduces the patient's pain, and ensures a quick recovery of the patient after surgery.

[0042] In the above-mentioned side OCT imaging micro fiber endoscope probe, the outer diameter of the fiber reflector 101 is 125 μm, and the angles are 15° and 30°, so that the outgoing light path is 30° and 60° to the horizontal direction. The reflective surface angle of the fiber reflector 101 can be polished to 75°.

[0043] Needle 103 adopts a 30G medical needle with an outer diameter of 0.31mm and an inner diameter of 0.16mm, so that the outer diameter of the fiber optic endoscope probe is reduced to less than or equal to 0.31mm without a protective cover. Even when the needle 103 is added with a protective cover, the size is reduced to less than or equal to 0.64mm. Compared with existing endoscope probes, the size is greatly reduced.

[0044] The 125 μm fiber reflector 101 can be made of metal, such as gold wire, aluminum wire, steel wire, etc., which is not limited in this embodiment. The fiber reflector 101 and the needle 103 can be fixed by laser welding or soldering, or by UV glue, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0045] In the above-mentioned side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, the optical fiber 102 is a fused optical fiber, specifically, a coreless optical fiber, a Green optical fiber, and a HI1060 optical fiber fused in sequence to form the optical fiber 102. The tail of the optical fiber 102 (i.e., the end of the HI1060 optical fiber away from the Green optical fiber) is provided with an FC / APC connector, and the FC / APC connector is connected to the optical fiber rotary connector.

[0046] The outer diameter of the steel tube 105 is 2 mm; a bearing is provided on the outer sleeve of the steel tube 105, and the steel tube 105 is embedded in the handle. The torque transmission ratio of the torque transmission spring tube 106 is 1:1.

[0047] The side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe provided in this embodiment adopts a torque transmission spring tube 106, which can perform 1:1 torque transmission, so that the probe length can be freely controlled within a range of 3 meters.

[0048] The side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscopic probe provided in the embodiment of the present invention is used to form an OCT imaging system. The OCT imaging system also includes key components such as a laser, an optical fiber system, an acquisition card, a single-chip microcomputer controller, an optical fiber rotary connector, and a motor. After startup, it can achieve 360° side scanning imaging.

[0049] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a method for manufacturing a side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, which is used for the side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe provided in the above embodiment, comprising:

[0050] 1) preparing optical fiber 102;

[0051] 2) Fix the fiber reflector 101 at the tip of the needle 103, insert the head end of the optical fiber 102 (i.e., the free end of the coreless optical fiber) into the needle 103 to a position close to the fiber reflector 101, and fix the optical fiber 102 in the needle;

[0052] 3) Fixing the needle 103 to one end of the connector 104;

[0053] 4) Sleeve the torque transmission spring tube 106 outside the optical fiber 102, and fix the torque transmission spring tube 106 to the connector 104;

[0054] 5) Fix the steel tube 105 to the other end of the connector 104 , and sleeve the steel tube 105 over the torque transmission spring tube 106 and the optical fiber 102 .

[0055] Specifically, in the method for manufacturing the above-mentioned side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, step 1) comprises:

[0056] 11) Determine the length of both the coreless fiber and the Green fiber;

[0057] Specifically, when performing this step, the lengths of the coreless fiber and the Green fiber are determined by simulation calculation to be 0.345 mm for the coreless fiber and 0.605 mm for the Green fiber;

[0058] 12) Using a cutting knife (specifically a precision controlled cutting knife) to accurately cut the length of the coreless optical fiber and the Green optical fiber, and then using a single-mode fusion splicer to perform fusion splicing;

[0059] 13) Cut the length of HI1060 optical fiber as required and fusion-splice it with Green optical fiber.

[0060] When performing step 2), use UV glue to fix the fiber optic reflector 101 with a diameter of 125 μm at the tip of the 30G needle, insert the fused optical fiber 102 from the other end of the 30G needle to a position close to the fiber optic reflector 101, and use glue to fix the optical fiber 102 and the needle 103.

[0061] When performing step 4), the torque transmission spring is placed outside the HI1060 optical fiber.

[0062] After step 5), the method further includes: 6) fitting a bearing on the steel tube 105, and then inserting the steel tube 105 into the handle for fixing. After step 6), the method further includes: 7) making an FC / APC connector at the tail of the optical fiber 102 (i.e., the tail of the HI1060 optical fiber), and then connecting the FC / APC connector to the optical fiber rotary connector.

[0063] The manufacturing method provided in this embodiment is used to prepare the side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe provided in the above embodiment, so as to facilitate the endoscopic probe product to perform minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery. Of course, the manufacturing method provided in this embodiment also has other methods related to the side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe provided in the above embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0064] In this specification, each embodiment is described in a progressive manner, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the embodiments can be referred to each other. For the method disclosed in the embodiment, since it corresponds to the device disclosed in the embodiment, the description is relatively simple, and the relevant parts can be referred to the method part.

[0065] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables one skilled in the art to implement or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention will not be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but rather to the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, which is used for a side OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe, the endoscope probe comprising: A connector, one end of which is fixed with a needle, and the other end of which is installed with a steel pipe; a fiber optic reflector, which is fixed at the tip of the needle; A torque transmission spring tube, which is sleeved outside the optical fiber and inserted into the steel tube to be fixedly connected to the connector; The optical fiber is inserted into the connector and the needle, and the head end of the optical fiber is close to the optical fiber reflector. The manufacturing method includes: 1) preparing the optical fiber; 2) fixing the optical fiber reflector at the tip of the needle, inserting the head end of the optical fiber into the needle to a position close to the optical fiber reflector, and fixing the optical fiber in the needle; 3) fixing the needle to one end of the connector; 4) Sleeve the torque transmission spring tube outside the optical fiber, and fix the torque transmission spring tube to the connector; 5) Fix the steel tube to the other end of the connector, and sleeve the steel tube over the torque transmission spring tube and the optical fiber.

2. The method for manufacturing the lateral OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe according to claim 1, wherein: The step 1) comprises: 11) Determine the length of coreless fiber and Green fiber; 12) Use a cutting knife to accurately cut the length of the coreless optical fiber and Green optical fiber, and then use a single-mode fusion splicer to fusion splice them; 13) The HI1060 optical fiber is cut to length as required and fused with the Green optical fiber.

3. The method for manufacturing the lateral OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe according to claim 2, wherein: When performing step 4), the torque transmission spring is placed outside the HI1060 optical fiber.

4. The method for manufacturing the lateral OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe according to claim 1, wherein: Also includes: 6) A bearing is installed outside the steel pipe, and then the steel pipe is embedded in the handle for fixing.

5. The method for manufacturing the lateral OCT imaging micro-fiber endoscope probe according to claim 4, wherein: The step 6) further comprises: 7) Making an FC / APC connector at the tail of the optical fiber, and then connecting the FC / APC connector to the optical fiber rotary connector.

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