Adaptive bending tube, bending tube for endoscope, insertion part and endoscope

Abstract

The present invention discloses an adaptive bending tube, a bending tube for an endoscope, an insertion portion, and an endoscope, comprising a plurality of coaxially arranged bending rings, wherein two adjacent bending rings are connected by a clamping structure, and a preset gap is provided between the two adjacent bending rings in the clamped state; the clamping structure comprises: a protrusion provided on one of the two adjacent bending rings, a first hook provided at the free end of the protrusion; a groove provided on the other of the two adjacent bending rings, a second hook provided at the notch of the groove, and the second hook used to cooperate with the first hook to prevent the protrusion from being separated from the groove; the protrusion is embedded in the groove so as to be movable along the axial direction of the bending ring, and the protrusion is rotatable relative to the groove. By rationally designing the size of the preset gap between the two adjacent bending rings, the stroke of the protrusion's axial movement relative to the groove, and the angular range of the protrusion's rotation relative to the groove, the maximum bending angle of the adaptive bending tube can be controlled; and the adaptive bending tube has a long fatigue life and is not prone to failure during bending.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of medical device technology, and more particularly to an adaptive bending tube. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to an endoscope bending tube, an insertion portion, and an endoscope comprising the adaptive bending tube. Background Art

[0002] With the development of medical device technology, insertion tubes capable of entering human cavities, such as the insertion portion of an endoscope, have been widely used to facilitate observation of target locations within the human body and assist in minimally invasive or non-invasive treatments.

[0003] Due to the complex curvature of the channels in the human body cavity, especially for some continuously curved or sharply curved human cavities, in order to ensure the smooth entry of the insertion tube, the insertion tube is usually required to have an adaptive bending portion, and the adaptive bending portion can be adaptively bent freely under the restriction of the shape of the human cavity, so that the insertion tube can smoothly enter the human cavity.

[0004] An endoscope includes an insertion portion, which generally includes a front end, a bend, and a flexible portion. In the prior art, to ensure smooth insertion of the endoscope into a human body cavity, the rigidity of a section of the flexible portion near the bend is typically reduced, making the rigidity of the section near the bend lower than that of the rest of the flexible portion, thereby forming an adaptive bending section. This allows the section near the bend to bend adaptively to the constraints of the cavity, ensuring smooth insertion of the endoscope into the human body cavity.

[0005] However, the adaptive bending section is formed by reducing the rigidity of a section of the flexible portion close to the bending portion, making it difficult to control the maximum bending angle of the adaptive bending section. Moreover, the bending fatigue life of this adaptive bending section is low and it is easy to fail when bending.

[0006] In summary, how to provide an adaptive bending tube with a controllable maximum bending angle and not prone to failure during bending is an urgent problem to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of this, an object of the present invention is to provide an adaptive bending tube, the maximum bending angle of which is controllable and is not prone to failure during bending.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a bending tube for endoscope including the above-mentioned adaptive bending tube, which has both an active bending part and a passive bending part, and the maximum bending angle of the passive bending part is controllable and the bending is not prone to failure.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide an insertion portion including the above-mentioned curved tube for endoscope, which has good adaptability to human body cavities.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope comprising the above-mentioned insertion portion, which has better insertion performance.

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0012] An adaptive bending tube includes a plurality of coaxially arranged bending rings, wherein two adjacent bending rings are connected by a clamping structure, and a preset gap is formed between the two adjacent bending rings in the clamping state; the clamping structure includes:

[0013] A raised portion provided on one of the two adjacent curved rings, wherein a first hook is provided at a free end of the raised portion;

[0014] a groove provided in the other of the two adjacent curved rings, wherein a second hook is provided at the notch of the groove, and the second hook is used to cooperate with the first hook to prevent the protrusion from being separated from the groove;

[0015] The protrusion is embedded in the groove so as to be movable along the axial direction of the bending ring, and the protrusion is rotatable relative to the groove.

[0016] In some embodiments, any two adjacent bending rings are connected by at least two clamping structures, and all the clamping structures between any two adjacent bending rings are distributed in a spiral shape.

[0017] In some embodiments, the end surface of the bending ring is provided with at least two step surfaces staggered along its axial direction, and the two adjacent clamping structures along the circumference of the bending ring are respectively located on different step surfaces.

[0018] In some embodiments, the end surface of the bending ring is provided with at least two step surfaces staggered along its axial direction, and the clamping structure is provided between two of the step surfaces adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction.

[0019] In some embodiments, a recessed groove is provided at the connection between two circumferentially adjacent step surfaces, and the protrusion extends from the bottom of the recessed groove along the axial direction of the bending ring.

[0020] In some embodiments, the step surface is perpendicular to the axis of the bending ring.

[0021] In some embodiments, two adjacent clamping structures in the axial direction of the bending ring are staggered along the circumference of the bending ring.

[0022] In some embodiments, the protrusion and the first hook form a T-shaped structure, and the second hooks are respectively provided on two opposite sides of the notch.

[0023] In some embodiments, the protrusion and the first hook form an L-shaped structure, and the second hook is provided on one side of the notch.

[0024] In some embodiments, the hooking directions of any two adjacent first hooks along the spiral travel direction of the hooking structure are opposite.

[0025] In some embodiments, the protrusions have different orientations.

[0026] In some embodiments, the side of the protrusion facing the groove wall of the groove has a first arc-shaped surface; the side wall of the groove is connected to the bottom wall of the groove through a second arc-shaped surface.

[0027] In some embodiments, the protrusion and the groove cooperate to limit the circumference of the bending ring to prevent relative twisting of two adjacent bending rings.

[0028] In some embodiments, the adaptive bending tube is formed by cutting a single-piece tubular member.

[0029] A curved tube for an endoscope, comprising:

[0030] An active bending tube, the first end of which is used to be connected to a traction rope passing through the active bending tube, so as to bend the active bending tube by pulling the traction rope;

[0031] Any of the above-mentioned adaptive bending tubes, wherein the first end of the adaptive bending tube is connected to the second end of the active bending tube, and the second end of the adaptive bending tube is used to be connected to the flexible tube of the endoscope.

[0032] In some embodiments, the adaptive bending tube is connected to the active bending tube via a transition ring.

[0033] In some embodiments, an elastic tube is passed through the adaptive bending tube for allowing the traction rope to pass through. One end of the elastic tube is connected to the adapter ring, and the other end of the elastic tube is used to be connected to the end of the flexible tube away from the adaptive bending tube or the operating part of the endoscope.

[0034] An insertion portion includes a distal end portion, a flexible tube, and any one of the above-mentioned curved tubes for endoscopes.

[0035] An endoscope includes the insertion portion described above.

[0036] The adaptive bending tube provided by the present invention is formed by a plurality of coaxially arranged bending rings, and two adjacent bending rings are connected by a clamping structure, which includes a protrusion and a groove. Since the protrusion can move along the axial direction of the bending ring in the groove and the protrusion can rotate relative to the groove, when the bending ring of the adaptive bending tube is subjected to a force having a certain angle or perpendicular to its axis, if the preset gap between the two adjacent bending rings in the initial state is not zero, the clamping structure between the bending rings on the force-bearing side will be axially compressed, so that the free end of the protrusion on the force-bearing side and the bottom of the groove are close to each other; at the same time, the clamping structure between the bending rings on the non-force-bearing side completely opposite to the force-bearing side is axially stretched, that is, the free end of the protrusion on the non-force-bearing side and the bottom of the groove are separated from each other; in addition, a composite movement of axial movement along the bending ring and relative rotation will be generated between the protrusion and the groove in other directions, thereby causing the entire adaptive bending tube to bend. When the free end of the raised portion on the force-bearing side is in contact with the bottom of the groove, or when the first hook of the raised portion on the non-force-bearing side completely opposite to the force-bearing side is in contact with the second hook at the notch of the groove, or when the preset gap between two adjacent bending rings is reduced to zero, so that the corresponding end faces of the two adjacent bending rings are in contact, it indicates that the adaptive bending tube has reached the maximum bending angle, and the adaptive bending tube will not be able to continue bending.

[0037] When the bending ring of the adaptive bending tube is subjected to a force with a certain angle or perpendicular to its axis, if the preset gap between the two adjacent bending rings is zero in the initial state, that is, the two adjacent bending rings are in a state of close contact with each other, then the clamping structures between the bending rings on the force-bearing side remain close to each other, serving as a rotation fulcrum, so that the clamping structures between the bending rings on the non-force-bearing side completely opposite to the force-bearing side are subjected to axial stretching, so that the free end of the protrusion on the non-force-bearing side and the bottom of the groove are away from each other; a composite movement of axial movement and relative rotation along the bending ring will be generated between the protrusion and the groove in other directions, thereby causing the entire adaptive bending tube to bend, until the first hook of the protrusion on the non-force-bearing side completely opposite to the force-bearing side is in contact with the second hook at the notch of the groove, indicating that the adaptive bending tube has reached the maximum bending angle, and the adaptive bending tube will not be able to continue bending.

[0038] It can be seen from this that the maximum bending angle of the adaptive bending tube is related to the stroke of the axial movement of the protrusion relative to the groove, the angular range of the rotation of the protrusion relative to the groove, and the size of the preset gap between two adjacent bending rings. Therefore, by reasonably designing the size of the preset gap between two adjacent bending rings, the stroke of the axial movement of the protrusion relative to the groove, and the angular range of the rotation of the protrusion relative to the groove, the maximum bending angle of the adaptive bending tube can be controlled, so that the maximum bending angle of the adaptive bending tube is controllable; in addition, the bending of the adaptive bending tube is achieved by utilizing the preset gap between two adjacent bending rings, the axial movement of the protrusion relative to the groove, and the rotation of the protrusion relative to the groove. Compared with the prior art, the adaptive bending portion is formed by reducing the rigidity of a section of the flexible portion close to the bending portion, and the bending is avoided by utilizing the elastic deformation of the adaptive bending tube itself. Therefore, the bending fatigue life of the adaptive bending tube can be improved and bending failure can be prevented.

[0039] The bending tube for endoscope provided by the present invention includes an active bending tube and the above-mentioned adaptive bending tube, which has both an active bending part and a passive bending part. The maximum bending angle of the passive bending part is controllable and the bending is not prone to failure.

[0040] The insertion portion provided by the present invention includes the above-mentioned curved tube for endoscope, and has good adaptability to the human body cavity.

[0041] The endoscope provided by the present invention includes the above-mentioned insertion portion and has better insertion performance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without paying any creative work.

[0043] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of an adaptive bending tube provided by a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An enlarged view of the middle clamping structure;

[0045] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of an adaptive bending tube provided in another specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of an adaptive bending tube provided in yet another specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 5A schematic structural diagram of a curved tube for an endoscope provided in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 6 for Figure 5 sectional view of

[0049] Figure 7 A schematic structural diagram of a curved tube for an endoscope provided in another specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 8 for Figure 7 sectional view of

[0051] Figure 9 is the main view of the bending unit;

[0052] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the structure of an endoscope provided by a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 11 for Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the structure of the insertion portion inserted into a human body cavity;

[0054] Figure 12 for Figure 11 Left view of .

[0055] Figures 1 to 12 The reference numerals in the figures are as follows:

[0056] 11 is a bent ring, 111 is a preset gap, 112 is a step surface, 1121 is a recessed groove, 113 is a connecting surface, 114 is a fifth mating end surface, 115 is a sixth mating end surface, 12 is a snap-fit ​​structure, 121 is a raised portion, 1211 is a first hook, 1212 is a first curved surface, 1213 is a first mating surface, 1214 is a third mating surface, 122 is a groove, 1221 is a second hook, 1222 is a second curved surface, 1223 is a second mating surface, and 1224 is a fourth mating surface;

[0057] 1 is the adaptive bending tube, 2 is the active bending tube, 21 is the traction rope, 22 is the bending unit, 23 is the rivet, 24 is the axis of the rotating shaft, 25 is the guide ring, 3 is the flexible tube, 4 is the front end, 5 is the adapter ring, and 6 is the elastic tube;

[0058] 100 is an insertion portion, 200 is an operation portion, 300 is a connector, and 400 is a connecting pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 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 making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0060] The core of the present invention is to provide an adaptive bending tube, whose maximum bending angle is controllable and not prone to failure during bending. Another core of the present invention is to provide an endoscope-use bending tube comprising the above-mentioned adaptive bending tube, which has both an active bending portion and a passive bending portion, and the maximum bending angle of the passive bending portion is controllable and not prone to failure during bending. Yet another core of the present invention is to provide an insertion portion comprising the above-mentioned endoscope-use bending tube, which has better lumen adaptability. Yet another core of the present invention is to provide an endoscope comprising the above-mentioned insertion portion, which has better insertion performance.

[0061] Please refer to Figures 1-12 , which is an accompanying drawing of the specification of the present invention.

[0062] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides an adaptive bending tube, which includes a plurality of coaxially arranged bending rings 11, and two adjacent bending rings 11 are connected by a clamping structure 12, and a preset gap 111 is provided between the two adjacent bending rings 11 in the clamping state; wherein the clamping structure 12 includes a protrusion 121 and a groove 122 that are engaged with each other, the protrusion 121 is provided at one of the two adjacent bending rings 11, and the groove 122 is provided at the other of the two adjacent bending rings 11, the free end of the protrusion 121 is provided with a first hook 1211, and the notch of the groove 122 is provided with a second hook 1221, the first hook 1211 and the second hook 1221 cooperate to limit, which can prevent the protrusion 121 from being separated from the groove 122, so as to ensure the reliability of the connection between the two adjacent bending rings 11.

[0063] More importantly, if Figure 2As shown, the protrusion 121 is movably embedded in the groove 122 along the axial direction of the bending ring 11, and the protrusion 121 is rotatable relative to the groove 122. That is, after the protrusion 121 is embedded in the groove 122, the dimension of the first hook 1211 along the axial direction of the bending ring 11 is smaller than the distance between the second hook 1221 and the bottom of the groove 122 along the axial direction of the bending ring 11. This allows a certain gap between the first hook 1211 and the bottom of the groove 122 or the second hook 1221. This allows the first hook 1211 to have a certain amount of room to move in the axial direction of the bending ring 11 within the groove 122, thereby ensuring that adjacent bending rings 11 can move toward or away from each other axially. Furthermore, the protrusion 121 and the groove 122 are rotatable relative to each other, ensuring relative rotation between adjacent bending rings 11, thereby achieving adaptive bending of the bending tube.

[0064] It should be noted that, in the present invention, the specific size of the preset gap 111 between two adjacent bending rings 11 is not limited, and those skilled in the art can set it according to actual needs. For example, the preset gap 111 can be zero. At this time, after the two adjacent bending rings 11 are connected by the clamping structure 12, the parts of the two adjacent bending rings 11 except the clamping structure 12 are close to each other and fit together surface to surface; of course, the preset gap 111 can also be any value greater than zero, as long as the adaptive bending tube formed therefrom has bending performance and can ensure its structural strength.

[0065] Furthermore, the present invention does not limit the axial movement of the protrusion 121 relative to the groove 122. The axial movement of the protrusion 121 relative to the groove 122 may be the same as or different from the preset gap 111 between two adjacent bending rings 11. When the axial movement of the protrusion 121 relative to the groove 122 is the same as the preset gap 111 between two adjacent bending rings 11, when the free end of the protrusion 121 contacts the bottom of the groove 122, the preset gap 111 between the two adjacent bending rings 11 is zero. When the first hook 1211 of the protrusion 121 contacts the second hook 1221 at the notch of the groove 122, the preset gap 111 between the two adjacent bending rings 11 is maximized. When the preset gap 111 between two adjacent bending rings 11 is different from the axial movement of the protrusion 121 relative to the groove 122, the maximum bending angle is achieved as long as at least one of the corresponding feature mating surfaces abuts during movement.

[0066] When the preset gap 111 between two adjacent bending rings 11 is not zero in the initial state, when the bending ring 11 of the adaptive bending tube is subjected to a force with a certain angle or perpendicular to its axis, the clamping structure 12 between the bending rings 11 on the force-bearing side will be subjected to axial compression, so that the free end of the protrusion 121 on the force-bearing side and the bottom of the groove 122 are close to each other; at the same time, the clamping structure 12 between the bending rings 11 on the non-force-bearing side that is completely opposite to the force-bearing side is subjected to axial tension, that is, the free end of the protrusion 121 on the non-force-bearing side and the bottom of the groove 122 are moved away from each other; in addition, a composite movement of axial movement and relative rotation along the bending ring 11 will be generated between the protrusion 121 and the groove 122 in other directions, thereby causing the entire adaptive bending tube to bend.

[0067] like Figure 2 As shown, when the first mating surface 1213 of the free end of the raised portion 121 on the force-bearing side is in contact with the second mating surface 1223 of the bottom of the groove 122, or when the third mating surface 1214 of the first hook 1211 of the raised portion 121 on the non-force-bearing side completely opposite to the force-bearing side is in contact with the fourth mating surface 1224 of the second hook 1221 at the notch of the groove 122, or when the preset gap 111 between two adjacent bending rings 11 is reduced to zero, so that the fifth mating end surface 114 and the sixth mating end surface 115 of the two adjacent bending rings 11 are in contact, it indicates that the adaptive bending tube has reached the maximum bending angle, and the adaptive bending tube will not be able to continue bending.

[0068] When the preset gap 111 between two adjacent bending rings 11 is zero in the initial state, when the bending ring 11 of the adaptive bending tube is subjected to a force with a certain angle or perpendicular to its axis, the clamping structures 12 between the bending rings 11 on the force-bearing side remain close to each other, serving as a rotation fulcrum, so that the clamping structures 12 between the bending rings 11 on the non-force-bearing side completely opposite to the force-bearing side are axially stretched, so that the free end of the protrusion 121 on the non-force-bearing side and the bottom of the groove 122 are separated from each other; a composite movement of axial movement and relative rotation along the bending ring 11 will be generated between the protrusion 121 and the groove 122 in other directions, thereby causing the entire adaptive bending tube to bend until the first hook 1211 of the protrusion 121 on the non-force-bearing side completely opposite to the force-bearing side is in contact with the second hook 1221 at the notch of the groove 122, indicating that the adaptive bending tube has reached the maximum bending angle, and the adaptive bending tube will not be able to continue bending.

[0069] It can be seen from this that the maximum bending angle of the adaptive bending tube is related to the axial movement stroke of the protrusion 121 relative to the groove 122, the angular range of the rotation of the protrusion 121 relative to the groove 122, and the size of the preset gap 111 between the two adjacent bending rings 11. Therefore, by reasonably designing the size of the preset gap 111 between the two adjacent bending rings 11, the axial movement stroke of the protrusion 121 relative to the groove 122, and the angular range of the rotation of the protrusion 121 relative to the groove 122, the maximum bending angle of the adaptive bending tube can be controlled, so that the maximum bending angle of the adaptive bending tube is controllable; in addition, the bending of the adaptive bending tube is achieved by utilizing the preset gap 111 between the two adjacent bending rings 11, the axial movement of the protrusion 121 relative to the groove 122, and the rotation of the protrusion 121 relative to the groove 122. Compared with the prior art, the adaptive bending portion is formed by reducing the rigidity of a section of the flexible portion close to the bending portion, and the bending is avoided by utilizing the elastic deformation of the adaptive bending tube itself, thereby improving the bending fatigue life of the adaptive bending tube and preventing bending failure.

[0070] Considering the reliability of the connection between two adjacent bending rings 11, as an optional solution, based on the above embodiment, any two adjacent bending rings 11 are connected by at least two clamping structures 12. In other words, two or more clamping structures 12 are distributed between the two adjacent bending rings 11 along the circumference of the bending ring 11. Through the combined action of multiple clamping structures 12, the two adjacent bending rings 11 are connected, ensuring the reliability of the connection between the bending rings 11.

[0071] Furthermore, in order to make the adaptive bending tube have better structural strength, based on the above embodiment, all the clamping structures 12 between two adjacent bending rings 11 are distributed in a spiral shape.

[0072] In addition, in order to ensure the consistency of the bending rigidity of the adaptive bending tube in all directions, in some embodiments, all the clip structures 12 between two adjacent bending rings 11 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the bending ring 11, that is, the angles between two adjacent clip structures 12 between two adjacent bending rings 11 are the same, which is conducive to ensuring the uniformity of the bending rigidity of the adaptive bending tube in all directions.

[0073] Furthermore, in order to realize that two adjacent clamping structures 12 in the circumferential direction of the bending ring 11 are staggered with each other along the axial direction of the bending ring 11, based on the above embodiment, as Figure 1As shown, the end surface of the bending ring 11 is provided with at least two step surfaces 112 staggered along its axial direction, and two adjacent clamping structures 12 along the circumference of the bending ring 11 are respectively located on different step surfaces 112. It is understandable that because the different step surfaces 112 are staggered along the axial direction of the bending ring 11, when the clamping structures 12 (such as the protrusion 121 or the groove 122) are provided on different step surfaces 112, the clamping structures 12 on the different step surfaces 112 can be staggered along the axial direction of the bending ring 11.

[0074] It should be noted that the two adjacent clip structures 12 along the circumference of the bending ring 11 can be respectively arranged on two adjacent step surfaces 112, or can be arranged on two non-adjacent step surfaces 112, that is, there can be more than one step surface 112 without a clip structure 12 (such as a protrusion 121 or a groove 122) between the two adjacent clip structures 12 along the circumference of the bending ring 11.

[0075] In addition, this embodiment does not limit the connection method between two adjacent step surfaces 112. In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, two adjacent step surfaces 112 are connected by a connecting surface 113 parallel to the axis of the bending ring 11. It is understood that in order to prevent the connection between two adjacent step surfaces 112 from affecting the bending of the adaptive bending tube, the corresponding connecting surfaces 113 of two adjacent bending rings 11 are arranged opposite each other, and a certain gap is left between the two corresponding connecting surfaces 113.

[0076] Alternatively, in order to realize that two adjacent clamping structures 12 in the circumferential direction of the bending ring 11 are staggered with each other along the axial direction of the bending ring 11, based on the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown, the end face of the bending ring 11 is provided with at least two step surfaces 112 staggered along its axial direction, and the snap-fit ​​structure 12 is provided between two circumferentially adjacent step surfaces 112, that is, the two adjacent step surfaces 112 are transitioned through the snap-fit ​​structure 12 (such as the protrusion 121 or the groove 122).

[0077] Furthermore, in order to minimize the axial width of each bending ring 11 and facilitate the arrangement of more engaging structures in the adaptive bending tube without increasing the axial length of the adaptive bending tube, thereby making the adaptive bending tube more flexible as a whole, in some embodiments, a recessed groove 1121 is provided at the junction of two circumferentially adjacent step surfaces 112, and a protrusion 121 extends from the bottom of the recessed groove 1121 along the axial direction of the bending ring 11. In other words, the protrusion 121 protrudes from the recessed groove 1121, so that at least a portion of the axial dimension of the protrusion 121 along the bending ring 11 coincides with a portion of the axial dimension of the bending ring 11 itself, thereby reducing the maximum width of the bending ring 11 as a whole. This is equivalent to compressing the axial distance of the engaging structures 12 between different bending rings 11 along the bending ring 11, thereby reducing the rigidity of the adaptive bending tube and improving its bending flexibility.

[0078] It should be noted that, in the above embodiments, the specific arrangement of the step surface 112 is not limited. For example, the step surface 112 can be an inclined surface with a certain inclination angle relative to the axis of the bending ring 11. Considering the convenience of processing, as an optional solution, Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, based on the above embodiment, the step surface 112 is perpendicular to the axis of the bending ring 11. In other embodiments, the step surface 112 may also be inclined at a certain angle to the axis of the bending ring 11.

[0079] It is understandable that in order to minimize the rigidity of the adaptive bending tube, the axial distance between the two axially adjacent clip structures 12 of the bending ring 11 needs to be minimized. However, if the axial distance between the two axially adjacent clip structures 12 of the bending ring 11 is too small, the structural strength of the adaptive bending tube will be affected. Therefore, in order to ensure the structural strength of the adaptive bending tube, based on the above embodiment, the two axially adjacent clip structures 12 of the bending ring 11 are staggered along the circumference of the bending ring 11. In other words, the two axially adjacent clip structures 12 of the bending ring 11 are not completely aligned, but are staggered along the circumference of the bending ring 11. This is conducive to reducing the axial dimension of the bending ring 11 while ensuring the strength of the bending ring 11, thereby reducing the rigidity of the adaptive bending tube and improving its bending flexibility.

[0080] In addition, in order to ensure that the protrusion 121 can rotate relative to the groove 122, based on the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. Figure 2As shown, the protrusion 121 has a first curved surface 1212 on the side facing the groove wall of the groove 122; the side wall of the groove 122 is connected to the bottom wall of the groove 122 by a second curved surface 1222. In other words, in this embodiment, the first curved surface 1212 and the second curved surface 1222 cooperate to form a rotational pair, allowing the protrusion 121 to rotate relative to the groove 122.

[0081] In addition, in the above embodiments, the specific shapes of the first hook 1211 and the second hook 1221 are not limited, as long as the first hook 1211 and the second hook 1221 can cooperate to limit the position and prevent the protrusion 121 from escaping from the groove 122.

[0082] For example, it could be a scheme like Figure 1-3 As shown, the protrusion 121 and the first hook 1211 form a T-shaped structure, and second hooks 1221 are respectively provided on opposite sides of the notch of the groove 122. In this embodiment, since the two ends of the first hook 1211 are respectively hooked with the two second hooks 1221 provided on opposite sides of the notch of the groove 122, the adaptive bending tube can achieve good torsional resistance due to the hooking structure on both sides, regardless of whether it is subjected to a force in the left-hand direction or a force in the right-hand direction. In other words, the torsional strength of the adaptive bending tube in the circumferential direction can be guaranteed in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

[0083] Alternatively, it could be something like this: Figure 4 As shown, the protrusion 121 and the first hook 1211 form an L-shaped structure, and the second hook 1221 is provided on one side of the notch of the groove 122. It can be seen that the latter solution is simpler in structure and easier to process than the former solution. In particular, in this solution, the hooking directions of any two adjacent first hooks 1211 along the spiral stroke direction of the clamping structure 12 are opposite, and they are positive and negative hooks to each other. For example, Figure 4 As shown, if the axis direction of the adaptive bending tube is taken as the positive direction, then, of any two adjacent first hooks 1211 in the spiral direction, one faces leftward to engage with its corresponding second hook 1221, and the other faces rightward to engage with its corresponding second hook 1221. In this way, the adaptive bending tube can have good anti-torsion performance regardless of whether it is subjected to a force in the left-hand direction or a force in the right-hand direction. Of course, in other embodiments, when the anti-torsion performance in a certain direction is not required to be high, for ease of processing, the hooking direction of any two adjacent first hooks 1211 in the spiral direction of the clamping structure 12 can also be the same.

[0084] Among them, it can be understood that since there is a hook structure on each side of the T-shaped structure, under the premise of the same pipe diameter and the same hook size, the number of its hook structures is equivalent to twice the number of hook structures of the L-shaped structure. Therefore, under the condition of the same hook size, the hook structure of the T-shaped structure can be laid out more than the L-shaped structure. Furthermore, when the T-shaped structure is adopted in the adaptive bending tube, a higher structural strength can be obtained.

[0085] It should be noted that in the above-described embodiments, the specific method for connecting the snap-fit ​​structures 12 between adjacent bending rings 11 is not limited, as long as the snap-fit ​​state of the snap-fit ​​structures 12 between adjacent bending rings 11 can be maintained. As an optional solution, based on the above-described embodiments, the adaptive bending tube is formed by cutting a single-piece tubular member. In other words, the bending rings 11 and the snap-fit ​​structures 12 are formed by cutting, forming a single piece with a predetermined gap 111. This results in a simple structure and low processing cost.

[0086] Furthermore, in each of the aforementioned embodiments, to ensure that the adaptive bending tube has excellent anti-twist performance, the protrusions 121 and the grooves 122 cooperate and limit each other in the circumferential direction of the bending ring 11, thereby preventing two adjacent bending rings 11 from twisting relative to each other. In other words, along the circumference of the bending ring 11, the protrusions 121 and the grooves 122 are of equal size or have a very small gap therebetween. As long as the protrusions 121 and the grooves 122 can rotate relative to each other, the cooperation and limitation of the protrusions 121 and the grooves 122 along the circumference of the bending ring 11 prevents relative rotation between the bending rings 11 about their axes, thereby providing the adaptive bending tube with excellent torsional rigidity.

[0087] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the orientations of the protrusions 121 may be the same or different; correspondingly, the orientations of the grooves 122 may be the same or different. Specifically, to facilitate processing, the orientations of the protrusions 311 may be the same, that is, each bending ring 11 may have a protrusion 121 at one end and a groove 122 at the other end.

[0088] like Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, in addition to the above-mentioned adaptive bending tube, the present invention also provides an endoscope bending tube including the adaptive bending tube disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiment. The endoscope bending tube also includes an active bending tube 2. The first end of the active bending tube 2 is used to connect to a traction rope 21 passing through the active bending tube 2 so as to bend the active bending tube 2 by pulling the traction rope 21. The second end of the active bending tube 2 is connected to the first end of the adaptive bending tube, and the second end of the adaptive bending tube is used to connect to the flexible tube 3 of the endoscope. The flexible tube 3 is mainly used to connect the insertion portion of the endoscope to the operating portion located outside the human body cavity.

[0089] In other words, the endoscope bending tube provided in this embodiment has both an active bending portion (i.e., the active bending tube 2) and a passive bending portion (i.e., the adaptive bending tube). When the endoscope bending tube is applied to an endoscope, the end of the traction rope 21 away from the active bending tube 2 is connected to the angle control knob of the operating portion 200 of the endoscope. By operating the angle control knob, the traction rope 21 is pulled, thereby causing the traction rope 21 to bend the active bending tube 2, allowing the active bending tube 2 to pass smoothly through a human cavity. At the same time, under the constraints of the curvature of the human cavity, a force is applied to the adaptive bending tube, causing it to bend freely along the shape of the human cavity. As described above, the maximum bending angle of the adaptive bending tube is controllable. Therefore, the maximum bending angle of the adaptive bending tube can be reasonably designed according to the shape of the human cavity, so that the maximum bending angle of the adaptive bending tube can meet the shape requirements of the human cavity. In addition, the adaptive bending tube has a long bending fatigue life, which can prevent bending failure. Therefore, the endoscope bending tube can be applied not only to disposable endoscopes but also to reusable endoscopes.

[0090] It should be noted that this embodiment does not limit the specific structure of the active bending tube 2 and its bending principle. As an optional solution, Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, on the basis of the above embodiments, the active bending portion includes a plurality of coaxially arranged bending units 22, with a certain interval between two adjacent bending units 22, and the adjacent bending units 22 are rotatably connected by a rotating shaft (such as a rivet 23), so that the two adjacent bending units 22 can rotate relative to each other around the rotating shaft axis 24. In some embodiments, two adjacent bending units 22 are connected by two rotating shafts (such as rivets 23) symmetrically arranged about the axis of the bending unit 22, and the rotating shafts (such as rivets 23) connected to the bending units 22 on both sides of a bending unit 22 are staggered at a certain angle along the circumference of the bending unit 22. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the rotating shafts (such as rivets 23) connected to the bending units 22 on both sides of a bending unit 22 are arranged vertically (such as rivets 23). Figure 9 As shown), by operating the traction rope 21, the active bending tube 2 can be rotated back and forth around two mutually perpendicular rotating shaft axes 24. For example, when the rotating shafts (such as rivets 23) connecting one bending unit 22 to the bending units 22 on both sides are respectively in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, the active bending tube 2 can be rotated in four directions of up, down, left and right. Through the compound movement, the active bending tube 2 can be bent in any direction of 360°.

[0091] It is understandable that, in order to facilitate the control of the rotation of the active bending tube 2 in various directions, in some embodiments, the number of the traction ropes 21 is the same as the number of the rotating shafts (such as rivets 23) at different angles in the circumference of the bending unit 22. Figure 9 As shown, when one bending unit 22 is connected to four rotating shafts (such as rivets 23), the four rotating shafts (such as rivets 23) are symmetrically arranged in pairs about the axis of the bending unit 22, and the rotating shafts (such as rivets 23) of different pairs are arranged vertically, and the four rotating shafts (such as rivets 23) of different bending units 22 are aligned one by one and are located on four straight lines. Then, the number of traction ropes 21 is four, and the four traction ropes 21 are all passed through the active bending tube 2, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown, a guide ring 25 is provided at the position corresponding to each rotating shaft (such as rivet 23) on the bending unit 22, and the traction rope 21 passes through the guide ring 25. When the operator pulls the corresponding traction rope 21 through the angle control knob of the operating part 200, the traction force of the traction rope 21 is transmitted to the bending unit 22 through the guide ring 25, thereby causing the bending unit 22 to rotate around the axis of the corresponding rotating shaft (such as rivet 23), so that the active bending tube 2 is bent in a certain direction (such as up or down or left or right, etc.).

[0092] In addition, in the above embodiment, the specific connection method between the adaptive bending tube and the active bending tube 2 is not limited, as long as the connection between the two can be achieved. Considering the convenience of connecting the two, as an optional solution, based on the above embodiment, the adaptive bending tube is connected to the active bending tube 2 through the adapter ring 5. Figure 6 and 8 As shown, in some embodiments, the adapter ring 5 includes a first sleeve portion for sleeved with the active bending tube 2 and a second sleeve portion for sleeved with the adaptive bending tube. The active bending tube 2 and the first sleeve portion, as well as the adaptive bending tube and the second sleeve portion, are respectively connected by fasteners or fixed by riveting or other means such as welding.

[0093] It can be understood that the traction rope 21 passes through the flexible tube 3 of the endoscope, passes through the adaptive bending tube and the active bending tube 2 in sequence to the first end of the active bending tube 2, and is connected to the first end of the active bending tube 2. Therefore, when the traction rope 21 is pulled to control the bending of the active bending tube 2, the rigidity of the traction rope 21 will increase, which will affect the performance of the adaptive bending tube and the flexible tube 3. In order to reduce the influence of the rigidity of the traction rope 21 on the adaptive bending tube and the flexible tube 3, in some embodiments, such as Figure 6 and 8As shown, an elastic tube 6 is provided inside the adaptive bending tube and the flexible tube 3. The elastic tube 6 is used for passing the traction rope 21. Considering the convenience of fixing the elastic tube 6, in some embodiments, one end of the elastic tube 6 is connected to the adapter ring 5, and the other end of the elastic tube 6 is connected to the end of the flexible tube 3 away from the adaptive bending tube or the operating part of the endoscope, so as to ensure the performance of the adaptive bending tube and the flexible tube 3 when the active bending tube 2 is bent.

[0094] It should be noted that there are multiple elastic tubes 6, which is the same number as the traction ropes 21, and the two are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. That is, each elastic tube 6 is threaded with a traction rope 21. For example, when there are four traction ropes 21, there are also four elastic tubes 6. The outer periphery of each traction rope 21 is covered with an elastic tube 6. In this case, the four traction ropes 21 control four bending directions, thereby achieving traction with multiple degrees of freedom.

[0095] In addition to the above-mentioned adaptive bending tube and the bending tube for endoscope, the present invention also provides an insertion portion including the bending tube for endoscope disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiment, and an endoscope including the insertion portion. The structures of other parts of the endoscope can be referred to the prior art.

[0096] like Figure 10 As shown, the endoscope includes an insertion portion 100, an operating portion 200, a connector 300, and a connecting pipe 400. The insertion portion 100 is used to insert into the human body for examination and includes a front end portion 4, an endoscope bending tube, and a flexible tube 3. The front end portion 4 is connected to the first end of the active bending tube 2 of the endoscope bending tube, and the flexible tube 3 is connected to the second end of the adaptive bending tube of the endoscope bending tube. The front end portion 4 is equipped with a camera unit, an instrument channel, and a water and gas channel for visually observing target areas of the human body and facilitating the use of instruments for auxiliary treatment. The end of the flexible tube 3 away from the adaptive bending tube is connected to the operating portion 200. The operating portion 200 is equipped with a knob for controlling the angle of the active bending tube 2 of the insertion portion 100 and various other function buttons, allowing the operator to perform corresponding functions as needed. The operating part 200 is connected to the connector 300 through the connecting pipe 400. The connector 300 is used to connect to the processor and external devices such as the light source of the endoscope. The connector 300 realizes the transmission and connection of signals, lighting light or other functions through the connecting pipe 400, the operating part 200 and the insertion part 100.

[0097] Since the insertion portion and the endoscope include the above-mentioned bending tube for endoscope, and the bending tube for endoscope includes the adaptive bending tube disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiment, the maximum bending angle of the adaptive bending tube is controllable and its bending is not prone to failure. Therefore, the insertion portion has better cavity adaptability, and thus the endoscope has better insertion performance.

[0098] like Figure 11 and 12 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the insertion portion 100 of an endoscope being inserted into a human body cavity.

[0099] It should also be noted that, in this specification, relational terms such as first and second, etc. are merely used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations.

[0100] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referenced to each other.

[0101] The above is a detailed introduction to the adaptive bending tube, the bending tube for endoscope, and the endoscope provided by the present invention. Specific examples are used herein to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method of the present invention and its core idea. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, without departing from the principles of the present invention, the present invention can also be improved and modified in several ways, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An adaptive bending tube, characterized in that: The invention comprises a plurality of coaxially arranged bending rings (11), wherein two adjacent bending rings (11) are connected via a clamping structure (12), and a preset gap (111) is provided between the two adjacent bending rings (11) in the clamping state; the clamping structure (12) comprises: A raised portion (121) is provided on one of the two adjacent bending rings (11), wherein a first hook (1211) is provided at a free end of the raised portion (121); A groove (122) is provided in the other of the two adjacent bending rings (11), a second hook (1221) is provided at the notch of the groove (122), and the second hook (1221) is used to cooperate with the first hook (1211) to prevent the protrusion (121) from being separated from the groove (122); The protrusion (121) is embedded in the groove (122) so as to be movable along the axial direction of the bending ring (11), and the protrusion (121) is rotatable relative to the groove (122); The end surface of the bending ring (11) is provided with at least two step surfaces (112) staggered along its axial direction, wherein: The two adjacent clamping structures (12) along the circumference of the bending ring (11) are respectively located on different step surfaces (112); or, the clamping structure (12) is arranged between two adjacent step surfaces (112) along the circumference, so that the two adjacent clamping structures (12) along the circumference of the bending ring (11) are staggered with each other in the axial direction of the bending ring (11), so that all the clamping structures (12) between two adjacent bending rings (11) are distributed in a spiral shape.

2. The adaptive bending tube according to claim 1, characterized in that When the clamping structure (12) is arranged between two circumferentially adjacent step surfaces (112), a recessed groove (1121) is provided at the connection between the two circumferentially adjacent step surfaces (112), and the protrusion (121) extends from the bottom of the recessed groove (1121) along the axial direction of the bending ring (11).

3. The adaptive bending tube according to claim 1, characterized in that The step surface (112) is perpendicular to the axis of the bending ring (11).

4. The adaptive bending tube according to claim 1, characterized in that The two adjacent clamping structures (12) in the axial direction of the bending ring (11) are staggered along the circumference of the bending ring (11).

5. The adaptive bending tube according to claim 1, characterized in that The protrusion (121) and the first hook (1211) form a T-shaped structure, and the second hook (1221) is respectively provided on two opposite sides of the notch.

6. The adaptive bending tube according to claim 1, characterized in that The protrusion (121) and the first hook (1211) form an L-shaped structure, and the second hook (1221) is provided on one side of the notch.

7. The adaptive bending tube according to claim 6, characterized in that: The hooking directions of any two adjacent first hooks (1211) along the spiral stroke direction of the hooking structure (12) are opposite.

8. The adaptive bending tube according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The directions of the protrusions (121) are different.

9. The adaptive bending tube according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The side of the protrusion (121) facing the groove wall of the groove (122) has a first arcuate surface (1212); the side wall of the groove (122) and the bottom wall of the groove (122) are connected via a second arcuate surface (1222).

10. The adaptive bending tube according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The protrusion (121) and the groove (122) cooperate to limit the circumference of the bending ring (11) to prevent relative twisting of two adjacent bending rings (11).

11. The adaptive bending tube according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The adaptive bending tube is formed by cutting a one-piece tubular member.

12. A curved tube for an endoscope, characterized in that: include: An active bending tube (2), a first end of which is used to be connected to a traction rope (21) passing through the tube, so as to drive the active bending tube (2) to bend by pulling the traction rope (21); The adaptive bending tube (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first end of the adaptive bending tube (1) is connected to the second end of the active bending tube (2), and the second end of the adaptive bending tube (1) is used to be connected to the flexible tube (3) of the endoscope.

13. The bendable tube for endoscope according to claim 12, wherein: The adaptive bending tube (1) is connected to the active bending tube (2) via an adapter ring (5).

14. The bendable tube for endoscope according to claim 13, wherein: An elastic tube (6) is provided inside the adaptive bending tube (1) for allowing the traction rope (21) to pass through. One end of the elastic tube (6) is connected to the adapter ring (5), and the other end of the elastic tube (6) is connected to an end of the flexible tube (3) away from the adaptive bending tube (1) or the operating part of the endoscope.

15. An insertion portion, characterized in that: The invention comprises a front end portion (4), a flexible tube (3) and a curved tube for an endoscope as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14.

16. An endoscope, characterized in that: It comprises the insert (100) according to claim 15.

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