Endoscope and method of magnifying thereof

Abstract

The present application provides a kind of endoscope with magnification function, endoscope includes control unit, optical magnification module and electronic magnification module, the optical magnification module and electronic magnification module are arranged in endoscope inside, the control unit controls optical magnification module and electronic magnification module respectively with endoscope imaging optical magnification and electronic magnification;The optical magnification module includes optical lens and the connecting piece connected with optical lens, the optical lens is arranged in the distal end of insertion part, the proximal end of connecting piece is connected with rotating member and its distal end is connected with optical lens, the rotation of rotating member drives connecting piece to move between first position and second position;The electronic magnification module includes slide and circuit board, the circuit board is used to process endoscope imaging, and one of the slide and circuit board is arranged in hand-held part, and the other is arranged on rotating member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of medical device technology, and specifically relates to an endoscope. Background Technology

[0002] Endoscopes are used to examine the human body. However, due to the limited field of view of endoscopic cameras, subtle lesions or early-stage lesions are difficult to observe and capture. To address this issue, endoscopes with zoom magnification capabilities have become a development trend. Endoscopes with different magnifications are now available, but the maximum magnification is limited to ensure the clarity of the observed image and the imaging effect. Even at maximum magnification, when observing a localized area, the image size is also limited by the monitor. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an endoscope with magnification function. The endoscope includes a handheld part, a scope body, and an insertion part from the proximal end to the distal end. The endoscope includes a control part, an optical magnification module, and an electronic magnification module. The optical magnification module and the electronic magnification module are disposed inside the endoscope. The control part controls the optical magnification module and the electronic magnification module to perform optical magnification and electronic magnification of the endoscope image, respectively. The control part includes a rotating member rotatably connected to the handheld part. The optical magnification module includes an optical lens and a connector connected to the optical lens. The optical lens is disposed at the distal end of the insertion part. The proximal end of the connector is connected to the rotating member, and its distal end is connected to the optical lens. Rotation of the rotating member causes the connector to move between a first position and a second position. The electronic magnification module includes a slider and a circuit board. The circuit board is used to process the endoscope image. One of the slider and the circuit board is disposed on the handheld part, and the other is disposed on the rotating member. The slider has a slider contact point, and the circuit board has a conductive track. Rotation of the rotating member causes the slider contact point to slide along the conductive track.

[0004] When the connector is in the first position, the lens is in the initial position and the slider contact is disconnected from the conductive track; when the connector moves from the first position to the second position, the lens moves from the proximal end to the distal end to the maximum displacement and the slider contact approaches the conductive track.

[0005] In some embodiments, the rotating member includes an operating part and a rotating part, the operating part and the rotating part being connected, the operating part being located outside the handheld part, and the rotating part being rotatably mounted inside the handheld part.

[0006] In some embodiments, the slider is fixed to the rotating part, the circuit board is disposed inside the handheld part, and the rotating part drives the slider to slide along the conductive track of the circuit board.

[0007] In some embodiments, the connector includes a connecting rod and a connecting cord connected to the connecting rod, a guide channel is defined within the lens body, the connecting cord is slidably engaged with the guide channel, the distal end of the connecting cord is connected to the lens, and the proximal end of the connecting rod is connected to a rotating part and its distal end is connected to the proximal end of the connecting cord.

[0008] In some embodiments, a limiting portion is formed inside the endoscope, which cooperates with the connector to limit the maximum displacement of the connector.

[0009] In some embodiments, the rotating part includes an upper turntable and a lower turntable fixedly connected, a connecting shaft is installed inside the handheld part, the upper turntable and the lower turntable are rotatably mounted on the connecting shaft, the connecting rope extends longitudinally coaxially with the mirror body, one end of the connecting rod is connected to the edge between the upper turntable and the lower turntable, and the other end is connected to the connecting rope.

[0010] In some embodiments, a positioning groove extending from the proximal end to the distal end is formed within the endoscope body. A limiting sleeve is fixed within the positioning groove to form the guide channel. A limiting top is formed at the proximal end of the positioning groove. A stop block that cooperates with the limiting top is connected to the proximal end of the connecting rope. The stop block is connected to the connecting rod.

[0011] In some embodiments, a conductive element is formed on the circuit board, and the conductive element extends in an arc shape and is concentrically disposed with the rotating portion.

[0012] Secondly, the present invention further provides the aforementioned optical amplification module and electronic amplification module.

[0013] Thirdly, the present invention provides an imaging magnification method for an endoscope as described above, the method comprising the following steps:

[0014] 1) Multiple resistance thresholds are used between the first and second ends of the conductive track, and these thresholds are set as image amplification signals of different magnifications. The slider moves along the conductive track from the first end to the second end from the slider contact, and the image magnification is gradually increased. This amplification process is pixel amplification.

[0015] 2) Control the rotating part to rotate counterclockwise, thereby driving the connecting part to move from the far end to the near end. At this time, the focusing seat of the optical lens is pulled by the connecting part to achieve zoom magnification. When the connecting part reaches the maximum displacement, the optical magnification reaches the maximum. At this time, the slider contact rotates to the position close to the conductive track and is about to enter the conductive track, that is, the optical magnification ends and enters electronic magnification.

[0016] 3) The rotating part continues to rotate counterclockwise, and the slider contact on it contacts the conductive track and moves along its arc-shaped trajectory. At this time, the circuit board extracts the resistance threshold where the contact is located, converts the electrical signal into a digital signal and transmits it to the endoscope's camera system to realize electronic magnification of the camera image.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] 1. The endoscope provided by this invention breaks through the limitations of existing image magnification, and combines an optical magnification module and an electronic magnification module, which is beneficial for the observation of local images.

[0019] 2. This invention achieves optical magnification by controlling the moving distance between the connector and the lens, and achieves electronic magnification by controlling the moving stroke of the slider contact. The entire magnification process is designed to connect the stroke of the connector with the slider contact, making the conversion between optical and electronic magnification natural and smooth, and convenient for operation and observation. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This invention provides a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an endoscope;

[0021] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a portion of the image;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the slider and conductive track provided by the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "near," "far," "axial," "counterclockwise," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships, are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0024] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0025] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2The endoscope, from proximal to distal, includes a handheld part 1, a scope body 2, and an insertion part (not shown in the figure). The insertion part is used to enter the human body through natural orifices or surgical incisions. An observation mirror is located at the front end of the insertion part, connected to a main circuit board to output images to a display. The curved section of the insertion part can be bent according to the control of the handheld part, thereby changing the observation direction of the observation mirror or the direction in which surgical instruments extend from the surgical instrument channel, also known as the working channel. Based on this prior art, the present invention provides an endoscope with magnification function. This endoscope further includes a control unit, an optical magnification module, and an electronic magnification module. The optical magnification module and the electronic magnification module are disposed inside the endoscope. The control unit controls the optical magnification module and the electronic magnification module to perform optical magnification and electronic magnification of the endoscope image, respectively. The control unit includes a rotating component 3 rotatably connected to the handheld part.

[0026] Thus, the endoscope provided in this embodiment overcomes the limitations of existing image magnification, and by combining an optical magnification module and an electronic magnification module, it facilitates the observation of local images.

[0027] The optical magnification module includes an optical lens (not shown) and a connector connected to the optical lens. The optical lens is located at the distal end of the insertion part. The proximal end of the connector 5 is connected to the rotating part 3, and its distal end is connected to the optical lens. The rotation of the rotating part 3 causes the connector 5 to move between a first position and a second position. At this time, the focusing seat of the front optical lens is pulled by the connector, thereby realizing zoom magnification.

[0028] Further, please refer to Figure 3 This embodiment provides an electronic magnification module including a slider 61 and a circuit board 62. The circuit board is used for processing endoscopic imaging. One of the slider 61 and the circuit board 62 is disposed on the handheld part 1, and the other is disposed on the rotating part 3. The slider has a slider contact 611, and the circuit board has a conductive track 621 with a first end and a second end. As the rotating part 3 rotates, the slider contact slides along the conductive track 621 from the first end to the second end. In this embodiment, multiple resistance thresholds are taken from the first end to the second end of the conductive track and set as image magnification signals of different magnification factors. As the slider contact slides along the conductive track from the first end to the second end, the image magnification gradually increases. This magnification process is pixel magnification.

[0029] To achieve effective integration of optical and electrical amplification, and to ensure that electrical amplification is disconnected during optical amplification and that optical amplification is equally ineffective during electrical amplification (otherwise, interference would occur between the two processes, hindering effective conversion), this embodiment addresses this issue. When the connector 5 is in the first position, the lens is in its initial position and the slider contact is disconnected from the conductive track. When the connector moves from the first position to the second position, the lens moves from the proximal end to the distal end to its maximum displacement (i.e., optical amplification to maximum magnification). At this point, the slider contact approaches the conductive track and is about to enter it, ending optical amplification and allowing the endoscope to enter the electronic amplification process. The entire amplification process, through the design of the connector's stroke and the slider contact's connection, ensures a smooth and natural transition between optical and electronic amplification, facilitating operation and observation.

[0030] In this embodiment, the rotating component 3 includes an operating part 33 and a rotating part, which are connected. The operating part 33 is located outside the handheld part 1, and the rotating part is rotatably mounted inside the handheld part. Thus, the rotation of the rotating part is achieved by operating the external operating part. Specifically, the rotating part includes an upper turntable 31 and a lower turntable 32 that are fixedly connected. A connecting shaft 7 is installed inside the handheld part 1, and the upper turntable 31 and the lower turntable 32 are rotatably mounted on the connecting shaft 7.

[0031] To ensure that the lens travels along the longitudinal direction from the proximal end to the distal end, in some preferred embodiments, the connector includes a connecting rod 51 and a connecting rope 52 connected to the connecting rod. A guide channel 500 is defined within the lens body. The connecting rope 52 slides within the guide channel 500. The distal end of the connecting rope 52 is connected to the lens. The proximal end of the connecting rod 51 is connected to the rotating part, and its distal end is connected to the proximal end of the connecting rope 52. The design of the guide channel restricts the connector to slide only in the longitudinal direction, ensuring stable lens travel.

[0032] Furthermore, in order to ensure that the lens stops traveling when it reaches its maximum displacement, i.e., the maximum optical magnification, so that electronic magnification can begin, a limiting part 81 is formed in the lens body provided in this embodiment. The limiting part 81 cooperates with the connector to limit the maximum displacement of the connector.

[0033] In this embodiment, a positioning groove 8 extending from the proximal end to the distal end is formed within the lens body. A limiting sleeve 500 is fixed within the positioning groove 8 to form the guide channel. A limiting top 81 is formed at the proximal end of the positioning groove. A stop block 521 that cooperates with the limiting top is connected to the proximal end of the connecting rope 52. The stop block 521 is connected to the connecting rod 51. Thus, when the rotating member 3 rotates counterclockwise, the connecting rod moves towards the proximal end. When the stop block 521 at the proximal end of the connecting rope 52 reaches the limiting top, the stop block and the limiting top engage, preventing the connecting rope from moving further. That is, the connecting rope drives the lens to its maximum displacement, achieving maximum optical magnification. At this time, if the rotating member continues to rotate counterclockwise, the slider contact slides along the conductive track, initiating the electrical amplification process.

[0034] Optionally, the connecting rope 52 extends longitudinally coaxially with the mirror body, one end of the connecting rod 51 is connected to the edge between the upper and lower turntables, and the other end is connected to the connecting rope, with the connecting rod having an inclined design.

[0035] In this embodiment, the slider 61 is fixed on the lower turntable 32, and the circuit board 62 is disposed inside the handheld part 1. The rotation of the rotating part causes the slider to slide along the conductive track of the circuit board. Specifically, a conductive element 521 is formed on the circuit board 52 to form the aforementioned conductive track. The conductive element 521 extends in an arc shape and is concentrically disposed with the rotating part 3.

[0036] Specifically, the observation lens at the front end of the insertion part is connected to the main circuit board. The circuit board 52 is connected to the main circuit board to obtain an image for electrical amplification. The conductive track 521 is arc-shaped. Both the slider contact and the conductive track are made of conductive materials, such as carbon or metal. The lower plate drives the slider to move, so that the slider contact contacts the conductive track. The arc shape of the conductive track is the movement trajectory of the slider contact.

[0037] This embodiment provides an imaging magnification method based on the aforementioned endoscope, the method comprising the following steps:

[0038] 1) Multiple resistance thresholds are sampled along the conductive track from the first end to the second end, and these thresholds are set as image amplification signals of different magnification factors. As the slider moves along the conductive track from the first end to the second end from the sliding contact point, the image magnification gradually increases. This amplification process is pixel amplification. For example, resistance thresholds at three points—the front, middle, and rear sections of the conductive track—are sampled beforehand and set as image amplification signals of different magnification factors. The image is amplified from front to back. Electronic amplification is pixel amplification.

[0039] 2) Control the rotating part to rotate counterclockwise, thereby driving the connecting part to move from the far end to the near end. At this time, the focusing seat of the optical lens is pulled by the connecting part to achieve zoom magnification. When the connecting part reaches the maximum displacement, the optical magnification reaches the maximum. At this time, the slider contact rotates to the position close to the conductive track and is about to enter the conductive track, that is, the optical magnification ends and enters electronic magnification.

[0040] 3) The rotating part continues to rotate counterclockwise, and the slider contact on it contacts the conductive track and moves along its arc-shaped trajectory. At this time, the circuit board extracts the resistance threshold where the contact is located, converts the electrical signal into a digital signal and transmits it to the endoscope's camera system to realize electronic magnification of the camera image.

[0041] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0042] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An endoscope with magnification function, the endoscope comprising a handheld part, a scope body, and an insertion part from proximal to distal end, characterized in that, The endoscope includes a control unit, an optical magnification module, and an electronic magnification module. The optical magnification module and the electronic magnification module are disposed inside the endoscope. The control unit controls the optical magnification module and the electronic magnification module to perform optical magnification and electronic magnification of the endoscope image, respectively. The control unit includes a rotating component rotatably connected to the handheld part. The optical magnification module includes an optical lens and a connector connected to the optical lens. The optical lens is disposed at the distal end of the insertion part. The proximal end of the connector is connected to the rotating part, and its distal end is connected to the optical lens. The rotation of the rotating part causes the connector to move between a first position and a second position. The electronic amplification module includes a slider and a circuit board, one of which is disposed on the handheld part and the other on the rotating part. The circuit board is used to process endoscopic imaging. The slider has slider contacts, and the circuit board has conductive tracks. The rotation of the rotating part causes the slider contacts to slide along the conductive tracks. When the connector is in the first position, the lens is in the initial position and the slider contact is disconnected from the conductive track; the rotating member rotates counterclockwise, thereby driving the connector to move from the far end to the near end. When the connector moves from the first position to the second position, the lens moves from the near end to the far end to the maximum displacement and the slider contact approaches the conductive track. The rotating member continues to rotate counterclockwise, and the slider contact on it contacts the conductive track and moves along its arc-shaped motion trajectory to perform electronic amplification.

2. The endoscope as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating component includes an operating part and a rotating part, the operating part and the rotating part are connected, the operating part is located on the outside of the handheld part, and the rotating part is rotatably mounted on the inside of the handheld part.

3. The endoscope as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The slider is fixed to the rotating part, and the circuit board is disposed inside the handheld part. The rotating part drives the slider to slide along the conductive track of the circuit board.

4. The endoscope as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The connector includes a connecting rod and a connecting rope connected to the connecting rod. A guide channel is defined inside the lens body. The connecting rope is slidably engaged with the guide channel. The distal end of the connecting rope is connected to the lens. The proximal end of the connecting rod is connected to the rotating part, and its distal end is connected to the proximal end of the connecting rope.

5. The endoscope as described in claim 2, characterized in that, A limiting part is formed inside the mirror body, and the limiting part cooperates with the connector to limit the maximum displacement of the connector.

6. The endoscope as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The rotating part includes an upper turntable and a lower turntable that are fixedly connected. A connecting shaft is installed inside the handheld part. The upper turntable and the lower turntable are rotatably mounted on the connecting shaft. The connecting rope extends longitudinally coaxially with the mirror body. One end of the connecting rod is connected to the edge between the upper turntable and the lower turntable, and the other end is connected to the connecting rope.

7. The endoscope as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The lens body forms a positioning groove (8) extending from the proximal end to the distal end. A limiting sleeve is fixed in the positioning groove (8) to form the guide channel (500). A limiting top (81) is formed at the proximal end of the positioning groove. A stop block (521) that cooperates with the stopping of the limiting top (81) is connected to the proximal end of the connecting rope (52). The stop block (521) is connected to the connecting rod (51). When the rotating part (3) rotates and drives the connecting rod (51) to move towards the proximal end, the stop block (521) moves towards the proximal end until it abuts against the limiting top (81). At this time, the connecting rope (52) drives the lens to move to the maximum displacement.

8. The endoscope as described in claim 7, characterized in that, A conductive element is formed on the circuit board, and the conductive element extends in an arc shape and is concentrically arranged with the rotating part.

9. An optical amplification module and an electronic amplification module, characterized in that, The optical amplification module uses the optical amplification module and electronic amplification module as described in any one of claims 1-8.

10. An imaging magnification method for an endoscope as described in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: 1) Take multiple resistance thresholds between the first and second ends of the conductive track and set them as image amplification signals of different multiples. The slider moves along the conductive track from the first end to the second end from the slider contact, and the image is gradually magnified. This amplification process is pixel amplification. 2) Control the rotating part to rotate counterclockwise, thereby driving the connecting part to move from the far end to the near end. At this time, the focusing seat of the optical lens is pulled by the connecting part to achieve zoom magnification. When the connecting part reaches the maximum displacement, the optical magnification reaches the maximum. At this time, the slider contact rotates to the position close to the conductive track and is about to enter the conductive track, that is, the optical magnification ends and enters electronic magnification. 3) The rotating part continues to rotate counterclockwise, and the slider contact on it contacts the conductive track and moves along its arc-shaped trajectory. At this time, the circuit board extracts the resistance threshold where the contact is located, converts the electrical signal into a digital signal and transmits it to the endoscope's camera system to realize electronic magnification of the camera image.

Images