Endoscope snake bone that is easy to bend

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of medical devices, and specifically to an endoscope snake bone that is easy to bend, including an isolation layer and a number of annular structures. The isolation layer is a hollow tubular elastic member, and each of the annular structures is circumferentially and fixedly arranged on the outer wall of the isolation layer. The several annular structures are mutually non-contact and separated by a certain distance along the length direction of the isolation layer. Through the isolation layer and the number of annular structures fixed on the isolation layer, the present invention enables the annular structures to be separated from each other. When the snake bone is bent, adjacent annular structures will not interfere with each other, and at the same time, a sufficient bending angle can be ensured. At the same time, the isolation layer can ensure the isolation of the internal channel of the endoscope from the outside world, weaken the influence brought by bending extrusion, improve the utilization rate of the internal space of the snake bone, and with the adoption of an injection molding processing method, the process is simpler, the steps are simplified, and the processing cost is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of medical instruments, in particular to an endoscope snake bone which is easy to bend. Background Art

[0002] Endoscope is a detection instrument that integrates traditional optics, ergonomics, precision machinery, modern electronics, mathematics, software, etc. It has image sensors, optical lenses, light source lighting, water vapor control, etc. It can enter the kidney through the urethra or enter the body through other natural channels, which can achieve the removal of stones and diagnosis of lesions, etc. It can reduce the trauma of patients in minimally invasive surgery. The structure of the electronic endoscope consists of an operating handle, an insertion part, a bending part, a tip and other parts. The tip is equipped with an image sensor, a light guide system, and an instrument channel. The connecting wires of the image sensor, the instrument channel, etc. pass through the inner cavity of the bending part and finally reach the operating handle. Most of the existing snake bones use many processes such as laser cutting, rivet connection, groove pressing, heat treatment, etc. The processing technology is complicated, resulting in high cost, and the space inside the snake bone is relatively crowded, and the space utilization rate is not high.

[0003] For example, the Chinese invention patent with application number 202111326953.3, the patent name is an endoscope snake bone and an endoscope, including a plurality of bone joints connected in sequence, the ends of the bone joints are provided with a screw buckle, and the two adjacent bone joints are rotatably connected by the screw buckle. The ends of the bone joints are also provided with side grooves and / or side wings. Among the two adjacent bone joints, the side wing of one bone joint is matched in the side groove of the other bone joint. Among the two adjacent bone joints, the top wall of the side wing of one bone joint and the bottom wall of the side groove of the other bone joint are respectively located on both sides of the horizontal plane passing through the rotation center of the screw buckle. Although the endoscope snake bone of the invention has a small offset of the side wing when bending, which reduces the occupation of the internal space of the endoscope snake bone and ensures the reliability of the use of the endoscope snake bone, there is a connection between the teeth, and mutual interference is still prone to occur when bending, which may not only cause the inside of the snake bone to be squeezed, but also easily cause wear between the snake bone joints, resulting in a decrease in service life. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide an endoscope snake bone that is easy to bend. Through an isolation layer and a plurality of annular structures fixed on the isolation layer, the annular structures are separated from each other. When the snake bone is bent, adjacent annular structures will not interfere with each other, and a sufficient bending angle can be ensured. At the same time, the isolation layer can ensure that the internal channel of the endoscope is isolated from the outside world, play a waterproof and isolated protective role for the instrument channel, weaken the impact of bending and extrusion, and improve the utilization rate of the internal space of the snake bone. In combination with the injection molding processing method, the process is simpler, the steps are simplified, and the processing cost is reduced.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical scheme: an endoscope snake bone that is easy to bend, including an isolation layer and a plurality of annular structures, wherein the isolation layer is a hollow tubular elastic member, each of the annular structures is circumferentially fixed on the outer wall of the isolation layer, and the plurality of annular structures are not in contact with each other along the length direction of the isolation layer and are separated by a certain distance. By setting the annular structures arranged at intervals, when the endoscope needs to be bent, the annular structures will not interfere with each other, thereby increasing the bendable angle and making the snake bone more convenient to bend. At the same time, when the annular structures are bent, there will be no folding at the joints and squeezing the isolation layer to cause local depression, so that the space inside the isolation layer is not disturbed, improving the utilization rate of the space, and at the same time, it can increase the service life and prevent the isolation layer from being squeezed and fatigued or damaged.

[0006] Preferably, each of the annular structures includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion respectively arranged at two axial ends of the annular structure, and the first protrusion and the second protrusion are in the same position in the circumferential direction. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are provided to increase the covering area of ​​the isolation layer, and play a role in increasing the protection of the isolation layer by the annular structure. The first protrusion and the second protrusion can be any protruding structure such as a rectangle, a triangle, etc., and also play a limiting role. The first protrusion and the second protrusion between adjacent annular structures are pressed against each other, so that when it is necessary to control the bending of the snake bone, at the circumferential position where the first protrusion and the second protrusion are located, the distance between adjacent annular structures is the shortest, so that the bending length is limited, thereby controlling the bending of the snake bone in a specific direction without making the bending direction difficult to control. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are in the same position in the circumferential direction, which is convenient for processing and production.

[0007] Preferably, there are two first protrusions and two second protrusions, and both are evenly arranged along the circumferential direction. There are two first protrusions and two second protrusions, and they are symmetrically arranged on the annular structure. The first protrusions and the second protrusions on the adjacent annular structures are set at the same position in the circumferential direction. The first protrusion of one annular structure and the second protrusion of another annular structure are close to each other and are at the same circumferential position, so that the final maximum bending direction is only two. On the one hand, the gap between adjacent annular structures in the bendable direction can be larger, and the bendable angle can be further increased. On the other hand, the covering area can be increased in the non-bendable direction. When a channel needs to be set between the isolation layer and the annular structure, the protrusion can provide protection to isolate the channel from the outside world.

[0008] Preferably, the orthographic projection surface of the first protrusion and the orthographic projection surface of the second protrusion are both obtuse triangle structures. The projection surfaces of the first protrusion and the second protrusion are set to obtuse triangle structures, with the obtuse angle at the highest point of the protrusion, and the distance between the annular structures increases slowly in the circumferential direction away from the highest point of the first protrusion and the highest point of the second protrusion, so that in the process of bending the snake bone, there will be no situation where the highest points close to the annular structures have already contacted each other, while the lowest points have not yet contacted each other, which fully utilizes the gap between the annular structures and improves the utilization rate of space.

[0009] Preferably, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are gradually lowered from the highest point to both sides, and the lowest points of the first protrusion and the second protrusion are both at the position rotated 90 degrees circumferentially from the highest point. The lowest points of the first protrusion and the second protrusion are both at the farthest point along the circumferential direction from the highest point, so that the first protrusion and the second protrusion occupy 360 degrees of the end face of the annular structure, so that the utilization rate of the space is improved, and the snake bone reaches the maximum bending angle when and only when the lowest points of the first protrusion and the second protrusion of adjacent annular structures contact each other.

[0010] Preferably, the annular structure is made of plastic material, and the annular structure is injection-molded and fixed on the outer surface of the isolation layer. The annular structure is set to be a plastic material, which has better insulation performance than the stainless steel processed parts of existing products, and can provide better pressure resistance for the safety requirements of medical devices, while also reducing material costs and processing costs. The one-piece injection-molded annular structure does not require laser cutting, grooving, riveting and other processes like existing products, and the processing method is simple, which not only reduces the processing cost, but is also suitable for forming a structure in which each annular structure does not touch each other.

[0011] Preferably, the isolation layer is provided with a plurality of depressions, which are located on the outer surface of the isolation layer and are arranged along the length direction of the isolation layer. The depressions are provided to form a multi-cavity channel, and the depressions can be increased or decreased according to actual conditions, and the wire rope track, wire channel, light guide system channel, water injection, gas injection, etc. required for the endoscope can be separated or merged according to actual use conditions to prevent cross-entanglement, make the line clearer, and avoid confusion during installation or maintenance and replacement.

[0012] Preferably, the depression includes a wire rope channel and an electric wire channel, and the wire rope channel and the electric wire channel are staggered, the wire rope channel is located on one side of the isolation layer, and the electric wire channel is located on the other side of the isolation layer. The wire rope channel and the electric wire channel are staggered, and the waterproof effect of the isolation layer is utilized to inject water and insert instruments into the hollow space inside the isolation layer. The wire rope channel is used to control the bending of the endoscope, and the electric wire channel is separated from the isolation layer, which is convenient for insulation and wiring arrangement.

[0013] The annular structure is partially embedded in the recess. By clamping the annular structure with the recess, the annular structure is positioned in the circumferential direction and does not rotate around the axis, further ensuring the stability of the annular structure. At the same time, it can avoid the local bending problems caused by the rotation of the annular structure, ensuring that the bending is not affected, and improving the stability of the snake bone bending.

[0014] The advantages of the present invention are as follows: the annular structures are separated from each other by an isolation layer and a plurality of annular structures fixed on the isolation layer. When the snake bone is bent, adjacent annular structures will not interfere with each other, and a sufficient bending angle can be ensured. At the same time, the isolation layer can ensure that the channel inside the endoscope is isolated from the outside world, and plays a waterproof and isolating protective role on the instrument channel, weakening the impact of bending and extrusion, so that the utilization rate of the internal space of the snake bone is improved; the isolation layer is an elastic member, and a plurality of depressions are provided on the isolation layer, and the depressions can be adjusted. The size and number of the depressions are adjusted according to actual usage to form a multi-cavity channel. Different channels can be used for wire rope tracks, electric wire channels, light guide system channels, and water injection, gas injection and other purposes. At this time, the isolation layer separates different channels to avoid entanglement, so that the lines are clearer and do not interfere with each other, which is convenient to use; the injection molding processing method is adopted to make the process simpler, simplify the steps, and reduce the processing cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 An axonometric view of the bendable endoscopic snake of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 It is a cross-sectional view of the endoscope snake bone that is easy to bend according to the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 The figure is a schematic diagram of the bending action of the easily bendable endoscope snake of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The present invention will be further described below based on the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0019] Depend on Figure 1 and Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, an endoscope snake bone that is easy to bend includes an isolation layer 1 and 20 annular structures 2. The isolation layer 1 is a hollow tubular elastic member. Each annular structure 2 is fixed on the outer wall of the isolation layer 1 in a circumferential direction. The annular structures 2 do not contact each other along the length direction of the isolation layer 1 and are separated by a distance. By setting the annular structures 2 at intervals, when the endoscope needs to be bent, the annular structures 2 will not interfere with each other, increasing the bendable angle and making the snake bone more convenient to bend. At the same time, when the annular structures 2 are bent, there will be no folding at the joint and squeezing the isolation layer 1 to form a local depression 4, so that the space inside the isolation layer 1 is not disturbed, improving the utilization rate of the space, and at the same time, it can increase the service life and prevent the isolation layer 1 from being squeezed and fatigued or damaged.

[0020] Depend on Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, each annular structure 2 includes a first protrusion 3.1 and a second protrusion 3.2 respectively arranged at the two axial ends of the annular structure 2, and the first protrusion 3.1 and the second protrusion 3.2 are at the same position in the circumferential direction. The first protrusion 3.1 and the second protrusion 3.2 are provided to increase the covering area of ​​the isolation layer 1, and play a role in increasing the protection of the isolation layer 1 by the annular structure 2. The first protrusion 3.1 and the second protrusion 3.2 can be any protruding structure such as a rectangle, a triangle, etc., and also play a limiting role. The first protrusion 3.1 and the second protrusion 3.2 between adjacent annular structures 2 are against each other, so that when it is necessary to control the bending of the snake bone, at the circumferential position where the first protrusion 3.1 and the second protrusion 3.2 are located, the distance between the adjacent annular structures 2 is the shortest, so that the bending length is limited, thereby controlling the bending of the snake bone in a specific direction without making the bending direction difficult to control. The first protrusion 3.1 and the second protrusion 3.2 are at the same position in the circumferential direction, which is convenient for processing and production.

[0021] Depend on Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, there are two first protrusions 3.1 and second protrusions 3.2 and both are evenly arranged along the circumference. Both the first protrusions 3.1 and second protrusions 3.2 gradually decrease from the highest point to both sides, and the lowest points of the first protrusions 3.1 and second protrusions 3.2 are both at the position of 90 degrees circumferentially rotated from the highest point. Both the first protrusions 3.1 and second protrusions 3.2 are symmetrically arranged on the annular structure 2, and the first protrusions 3.1 and second protrusions 3.2 on adjacent annular structures 2 are set at the same position in the circumferential direction. The first protrusion 3.1 of one annular structure 2 and the second protrusion 3.2 of another annular structure 2 are close to each other and are at the same circumferential position, so that the final maximum bending direction is only two. On the one hand, the gap between adjacent annular structures 2 in the bendable direction can be larger, and the bendable angle can be further increased. On the other hand, the covering area can be increased in the non-bendable direction. When a channel needs to be set between the isolation layer 1 and the annular structure 2, the protrusions can provide protection to isolate the channel from the outside. The lowest points of the first protrusion 3.1 and the second protrusion 3.2 are both farthest from the highest point in the circumferential direction, so that the first protrusion 3.1 and the second protrusion 3.2 occupy 360 degrees of the end surface of the annular structure 2, so that the space utilization is improved. When and only when the lowest points of the first protrusion 3.1 and the second protrusion 3.2 of adjacent annular structures 2 contact each other, the snake bone reaches the maximum bending angle.

[0022] Depend on Figure 3 As shown, the orthographic projection surface of the first protrusion 3.1 and the orthographic projection surface of the second protrusion 3.2 are both obtuse triangle structures. The projection surface of the first protrusion 3.1 and the second protrusion 3.2 is set to an obtuse triangle structure, and the obtuse angle is at the highest point of the protrusion. In the circumferential direction away from the highest point of the first protrusion 3.1 and the highest point of the second protrusion 3.2, the distance between the annular structures 2 increases slowly, so that in the process of bending the snake bone, there will be no situation where the highest point near the annular structure 2 has already contacted each other, while the lowest point has not yet contacted each other, which fully utilizes the gap between the annular structures 2 and improves the utilization rate of space.

[0023] Depend on Figure 1As shown, two recesses 4 are provided on the isolation layer 1, and the recesses 4 are located on the outer surface of the isolation layer 1 and are arranged along the length direction of the isolation layer 1, and part of the annular structure 2 is stuck into the recesses 4. The recesses 4 are provided, and the recesses 4 are used to form a multi-cavity channel. The recesses 4 can be increased or decreased according to actual conditions, and the wire rope track, wire channel 6, light guide system channel, water injection, gas injection, etc. required for the endoscope can be separated or merged according to actual use conditions to prevent cross winding, make the line clearer, and avoid confusion during installation or maintenance and replacement. At the same time, the recesses provide circumferential limit for the annular structure, so that the annular structure is positioned in the circumferential direction, and will not rotate around the axis, further ensuring the stability of the annular structure, and at the same time avoiding the local bending caused by the rotation of the annular structure. It can ensure that the bending is not affected, and improve the stability of the snake bone bending.

[0024] Depend on Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the two recesses 4 are respectively a wire rope channel 5 and a wire channel 6, which are staggered, the wire rope channel 5 is located on one side of the isolation layer 1, and the wire channel 6 is located on the other side of the isolation layer 1. The wire rope channel 5 and the wire channel 6 are staggered, and the waterproof effect of the isolation layer 1 is utilized to inject water and insert instruments into the hollow space inside the isolation layer 1. The wire rope channel 5 is used to control the bending of the endoscope, and the wire channel 6 is isolated from the isolation layer 1, which is convenient for insulation and wiring arrangement. Figure 2 The wire rope channel 5 and the electric wire channel 6 occupy a smaller area, leaving a larger space inside the isolation layer. The internal space of the isolation layer is used to pass instruments. For example, in electronic ureteroscope stone removal surgery used in urology, during the operation, while instruments (holmium laser fiber, stone basket, etc.) need to be inserted into the instrument channel, physiological saline is continuously injected. At this time, the speed of injecting physiological saline directly affects key surgical factors such as clarity of body cavity fluid, image quality, temperature rise of laser lithotripsy, etc. Improving space utilization can increase the water injection speed, ensure the smooth completion of the operation, and improve the success rate of the operation and the prognosis of the operation.

[0025] After determining the number and size of the required recesses 4 and processing the isolation layer 1, the annular structure 2 is fixed on the isolation layer 1 by injection molding, and part of the annular structure 2 is embedded in the recess 4 during the injection molding. The one-piece injection-molded annular structure 2 does not require laser cutting, grooving, riveting and other processes like existing products. The processing method is simple, which not only reduces the processing cost, but also is suitable for forming a structure in which each annular structure 2 does not contact each other. The annular structure 2 is set to be a plastic material, which has better insulation performance than the stainless steel processed parts of the existing products. It can provide better pressure resistance for the safety requirements of medical devices, and also reduces the material cost and processing cost.

Claims

1. An endoscope snake bone that is easy to bend. Features: It includes an isolation layer and a plurality of annular structures. The isolation layer is a hollow tubular elastic member. Each of the annular structures is circumferentially fixed on the outer wall of the isolation layer. The plurality of annular structures do not contact each other along the length direction of the isolation layer and are separated by a certain distance. The annular structure is made of plastic material and is injection-molded and fixed on the outer surface of the isolation layer.

2. The endoscope snake bone that is easy to bend according to claim 1, Features: Each of the annular structures comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion respectively arranged at two axial ends of the annular structure, and the first protrusion and the second protrusion are at the same position in the circumferential direction.

3. The endoscope snake bone that is easy to bend according to claim 2, Features: There are two first protrusions and two second protrusions, and both are evenly arranged along the circumferential direction.

4. The endoscope snake bone that is easy to bend according to claim 2 or 3, Features: The orthographic projection surface of the first protrusion and the orthographic projection surface of the second protrusion are both obtuse triangle structures.

5. The endoscope snake bone that is easy to bend according to claim 3, Features: The first protrusion and the second protrusion both gradually decrease from the highest point to both sides, and the lowest points of the first protrusion and the second protrusion are both located at positions rotated 90 degrees in the circumferential direction from the highest point.

6. The endoscope snake bone that is easy to bend according to claim 1, Features: The isolation layer is provided with a plurality of depressions, which are located on the outer surface of the isolation layer and are arranged along the length direction of the isolation layer.

7. The endoscope snake bone that is easy to bend according to claim 6, Features: The recess comprises a steel wire passage and an electric wire passage, the steel wire passage and the electric wire passage are staggered, the steel wire passage is located on one side of the isolation layer, and the electric wire passage is located on the other side of the isolation layer.

8. The endoscope snake bone that is easy to bend according to claim 6 or 7, Features: The annular structure is partially embedded in the recess.

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