Active bending section and endoscope

Abstract

The application discloses an active bending section and an endoscope, and belongs to the technical field of medical devices. The structure of the active bending section comprises a pipe body, the pipe wall of the pipe body is provided with a spiral seam, in two adjacent spiral units divided by the spiral seam, one of the two spiral units is provided with a pivot protrusion, and the other of the two spiral units is provided with a plurality of pivot grooves with different depths. The pivot protrusion and the different pivot grooves are pivotally connected to form a pivot part, the width of the spiral seam between the two adjacent spiral units is changed, and thus the adjustment of the limit bending angle of the whole active bending section is realized by adjusting the width of the spiral seam.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical device technology, and more particularly to an active bending segment and an endoscope. Background Technology

[0002] An endoscope is a commonly used medical device that can directly enter the body's natural passages, providing doctors with ample diagnostic information for disease treatment. The active bending section of the endoscope can enter the body through cavities or surgical incisions, and adapts to its movement path to reach the lesion. It can also be actively bent under the control of a traction tether.

[0003] The required limit bending angle of the active bending segment varies depending on the type of endoscope. However, the limit bending angle of the active bending segment is currently determined during the design phase. This means that active bending segments with different limit bending angle requirements need to be manufactured separately, and there are no active bending segments on the market that can adapt to different limit bending angles.

[0004] Therefore, designing an active bending segment capable of adjusting the ultimate bending angle is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention discloses an active bending section and an endoscope to solve the technical problem that the limit bending angle of the active bending section in related technologies cannot be adjusted.

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] This invention provides an active bending segment, the structure of which includes:

[0008] The tube body has a spiral slit on its wall, which divides the tube body into multiple spiral units. Two adjacent spiral units are bent relative to each other by a pivot.

[0009] In two adjacent spiral units, one is provided with a pivoting protrusion and the other is provided with multiple pivoting grooves of different depths. The pivoting protrusion is configured to pivotally connect with any of the pivoting grooves to form a pivoting portion, so as to adjust the width of the spiral slot between the two adjacent spiral units.

[0010] Optionally, in order to better realize this application, the depth of the plurality of pivoting grooves decreases sequentially along the first helical direction, and when the pivoting protrusion moves along the first helical direction and adapts to different pivoting grooves, the width of the helical gap between two adjacent helical units gradually increases.

[0011] Alternatively, to better realize this application, the bottom of the pivot groove is an arc groove, and the end of the pivot protrusion is an arc protrusion, which can be inserted into the arc groove.

[0012] Alternatively, to better realize this application, the arc groove is a minor arc groove, and the diameter of the arc groove is adapted to the diameter of the arc protrusion.

[0013] Optionally, to better realize this application, the pivot groove is connected to the spiral seam wall by an arc transition.

[0014] Optionally, to better implement this application, the pivoting groove has a first end and a second end along the first helical direction, and the first end of the pivoting groove is provided with a limiting portion, which restricts the pivoting protrusion from moving in a direction opposite to the first helical direction.

[0015] Optionally, in order to better realize this application, the side of the limiting part facing the pivot groove is a first arc surface, and the first arc surface pivotally engages with the pivot part.

[0016] Optionally, to better realize this application, when the limiting part is located between two adjacent pivot grooves in the same spiral unit, the other side of the limiting part is a second arc surface, and the second arc surface is connected to the arc transition of the spiral groove wall.

[0017] Optionally, to better implement this application, the pivot portion is provided on both sides of the opposite sides of two adjacent spiral units.

[0018] The present invention also provides an endoscope, the endoscope having a structure including a handle and the aforementioned active bending section, the active bending section being connected to the handle.

[0019] The technical solution adopted in this invention can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0020] The active bending section provided by this invention features a pivot protrusion on one of two adjacent spiral units and multiple pivot grooves on the other. By designing the depth of each pivot groove to be different, the width of the spiral slit becomes the same after the pivot protrusion pivots with any pivot groove to form a pivot part. This achieves the function of adjusting the width of the spiral slit between two adjacent spiral units. Since the maximum bending angle of two adjacent spiral units around the pivot part is limited by the width of the spiral slit, adjusting the width of the spiral slit between two adjacent spiral units can adjust the maximum bending angle of any two adjacent spiral units. The tube body can be considered as being formed by connecting multiple divided spiral units sequentially, thus also realizing the adjustment of the overall limit bending angle of the active bending section. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the active bending segment in its initial state;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the active bending section in its adjusted state.

[0024] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the central arc protrusion and arc groove;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the limit bending angle of the active bending segment in the prior art;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the limiting part;

[0027] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 Another structural diagram from a different perspective;

[0028] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an endoscope.

[0029] In the picture:

[0030] 100 - Tube body; 110 - Helical unit;

[0031] 200 - Spiral seam; 210 - First seam wall; 220 - Second seam wall;

[0032] 300 - Pivoting part; 310 - Pivoting protrusion; 311 - Arc protrusion; 320 - Pivoting groove; 321 - Arc groove; 322 - First end; 323 - Second end;

[0033] 400 - Limiting part; 410 - First arc surface; 420 - Second arc surface;

[0034] 500-handle. Detailed Implementation

[0035] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other implementation methods obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0036] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and not to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such use of data can be interchanged where appropriate so that embodiments of this application can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein, and the objects distinguished by "first," "second," etc., are generally of the same class and the number of objects is not limited; for example, a first object can be one or more. Furthermore, in the specification and claims, "and / or" indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0037] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figures 1 to 6 The active bending segment provided in this application will be described in detail through specific embodiments and application scenarios.

[0038] The active bending section structure provided in this embodiment includes a tube body 100 with an axial bore inside. This bore can accommodate components or parts such as wire harnesses, traction ropes, and instrument forceps that need to pass through the active bending section. A spiral slit 200 is provided on the wall of the tube body 100, penetrating the wall thickness of the tube body 100, so that the tube body 100 forms a spiral tube through the spiral slit 200. Twisting the tube body 100 changes the width of the spiral slit 200. The spiral slit 200 divides the tube body 100 into multiple spiral units 110. It should be understood that the spiral slit 200 does not cut the tube body 100 into independent spiral units 110. In this embodiment, the spiral units 110 are artificially divided based on the width of the spiral slit and the spiral angle, etc. The projection of one spiral unit 110 onto the radial plane of the tube body 100 forms a circle. The tube body 100 with the spiral slit 200 can be considered as being formed by multiple spiral units 110 connected sequentially. After the spiral slit 200 is provided on the tube body 100, the tube body 100 has opposing first slit walls 210 and second slit walls 220, and the spiral slit 200 is formed between the first slit walls 210 and the second slit walls 220.

[0039] It should be noted that the spiral slit 200 in this embodiment is formed by laser cutting the tube 100, and the tube 100 formed after laser cutting is the tube 100 in its initial state. When a twisting force is applied to the tube 100 along the first spiral direction, the width of the spiral slit 200 can be increased; when a twisting force is applied to the tube 100 along the second spiral direction opposite to the first spiral direction, the width of the spiral slit 200 can be decreased. When the twisting force applied to the tube 100 is removed, the tube 100 can return to its initial state.

[0040] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in any two adjacent spiral units 110, one is provided with a pivoting protrusion 310, and the other is provided with multiple pivoting grooves 320. The pivoting protrusion 310 is provided on the first slot wall 210, and the multiple pivoting grooves 320 are provided on the corresponding second slot wall 220, and the multiple pivoting grooves 320 are arranged sequentially along the spiral direction. The depth of the bottom of each pivoting groove 320 is different. Here, the depth refers to the distance from the opening of the pivoting groove 320 to the bottom of the groove. When a torsional force is applied to the tube body 100, the pivoting protrusion 310 can move along the spiral slot 200 in the first spiral direction, thereby pivotally connecting and engaging with any of the pivoting grooves 320. After the pivoting protrusion 310 is inserted into the pivoting groove 320, the pivoting protrusion 310 and the pivoting groove 320 can form a pivoting part 300. Because of the different positions of the pivot grooves 320, the positions of the pivot portions 300 formed by the pivot protrusions 310 and different pivot grooves 320 will also change accordingly. Two adjacent spiral units 110 can rotate relative to each other through the pivot portions 300 under the action of external force, thereby causing the tube 100 to bend. It should be noted that the external force here can be the guiding force of the human intestine on the tube, or the tension of the traction rope set on the tube. When two adjacent spiral units 110 bend around the pivot portion 300 as the center of rotation, the distance between the first slit wall 210 and the second slit wall 220 of the two adjacent spiral units 110 will change synchronously. The wider the spiral slit 200, the greater the angle at which the two adjacent spiral units 110 can be bent; conversely, the narrower the spiral slit 200, the smaller the angle at which the two adjacent spiral units 110 can be bent. Figure 3 As shown, when the spiral seam 200 on the inner side of the tube body 100 in the bending direction is squeezed until it disappears, it indicates that the active bending section has bent to the limit bending angle.

[0041] When a torsional force is applied to the tube body 100, the width of the spiral slit 200 on the tube body 100 changes. When the pivoting protrusion 310 engages with any pivoting groove 320, the pivoting protrusion 310 and the engaging pivoting groove 320 act as a limit, preventing the tube body 100 from returning to its initial state and keeping the spiral slit 200 at its current width. This achieves the adjustment of the width of the spiral slit 200 on the tube body 100. By providing the aforementioned pivoting portion 300 and pivoting groove 320 at the same position in all adjacent spiral units 110 throughout the entire tube body 100, the width of the spiral slit 200 of the entire tube body 100 can be adjusted synchronously, thereby achieving complete angle adjustment of the active bending section. Furthermore, after the applied torsional force is removed, the pivoting groove 320 maintains contact with the pivoting protrusion 310 under the action of the tube body's rebound force.

[0042] It should be noted that in this embodiment, both the pivot groove 320 and the pivot protrusion 310 are formed by the path of the spiral slit 200. When using a laser, the pivot groove 320, the pivot protrusion 310, and the spiral slit 200 are all formed by laser cutting in one go, simplifying the processing steps of the active bending section. In addition, when the pivot protrusion 310 cooperates with different pivot grooves 320 to form the pivot part 300, the position of the pivot part 300 will also change accordingly. When the active bending section is applied to the endoscope, the traction rope can be fixed to the active bending section by creating a traction rope in the tube hole and fixing the traction rope at both ends of the tube body 100. Of course, the traction rope can also be fixed individually on each spiral unit 110. The fixing of the traction rope can be achieved by a detachable fastener or by punching a rope hole in the tube body 100. In this embodiment, there are no specific limitations on the fixing method and position of the traction rope.

[0043] During the one-time forming of the pivot groove 320 and the pivot portion 300, a pivot groove 320 that pivotally engages with the pivot protrusion 310 is also directly formed at the same time as the pivot protrusion 310 is cut. The position of this pivot groove 320 is set as the initial position, and the state in which the pivot protrusion 310 pivotally engages with the pivot groove 320 is called the initial state. Figure 1 The pivot groove 320 and pivot protrusion 310 are located at the initial position, and the spiral slit 200 at this time is a natural slit formed by cutting.

[0044] Furthermore, it should be noted that the structure of the aforementioned active bending section allows for adjustment of the ultimate bending angle of the tube 100. During production, the tube 100 can be selectively adjusted to the required ultimate bending angle according to different models or usage requirements of endoscopes. The main structure of the active bending section is formed by adding a skin layer (not shown in the attached diagram) to the outside of the tube 100. This allows a single component to be used in multiple different products, thereby improving the applicability and practicality of the tube 100.

[0045] Furthermore, to facilitate the adjustment of the pivot groove 320, this embodiment sets pivot grooves 320 of different depths accordingly. Specifically, along the aforementioned first helical direction, the opening depth of multiple pivot grooves 320 decreases sequentially (or, in other words, the depth decreases sequentially). Since the protruding shape of the pivot protrusion 310 does not change, and as the depth of the pivot groove 320 decreases, the distance the pivot protrusion 310 moves to the bottom of the pivot groove 320 decreases, thereby increasing the width of the helical slit 200 after the pivot groove 320 and the pivot protrusion 310 are engaged. When the pivot protrusion 310 moves along the first helical direction and is adapted to different pivot grooves 320, the width of the helical slit 200 between two adjacent helical units 110 also gradually increases. On the one hand, when adjusting the limit bending angle of the active bending section, the angle and direction of the pipe body 100 twisting can be more clearly defined. On the other hand, it can also ensure that when the pivot protrusion 310 is engaged with any pivot groove 320, the front end of the pivot protrusion 310 can contact the groove surface of the pivot groove 320.

[0046] It should be noted that after the opening depth of the multiple pivot slots 320 is successively reduced along the first spiral direction, Figure 1 The depth of the pivot protrusion 310 and the pivot groove 320 that are in the initial position is the deepest among the multiple pivot grooves 320.

[0047] A specific mating structure of the pivot groove 320 and the pivot protrusion 310 is as follows: Figure 4 As shown, the bottom of the pivot groove 320 is an arc groove 321, and the end of the pivot protrusion 310 is an arc protrusion 311. The arc protrusion 311 can be inserted into the arc groove 321. The arc protrusion 311 and the arc groove 321 achieve surface contact and guidance during the rotation process, thereby realizing the pivot connection between the pivot groove 320 and the pivot protrusion 310.

[0048] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the entire pivot groove 320 is an arc-shaped groove 321, and the entire pivot protrusion 310 is an arc-shaped protrusion 311. In some optional embodiments, there is a certain distance between the opening of the pivot groove 320 and the arc-shaped groove 321, and there is a certain distance between the arc-shaped protrusion 311 on the pivot protrusion 310 and the root of the pivot protrusion 310. This arrangement allows the pivot groove 320 and the pivot protrusion 310 to have a deeper mating space, which to a certain extent reduces the phenomenon of disengagement after the pivot groove 320 and the pivot protrusion 310 are mated.

[0049] Furthermore, the arc groove 321 is a minor arc groove to reduce the distance between the arc protrusion 311 and the pivot groove 320, so that when it is necessary to adjust the limit bending angle of the active bending section, it is easier to move the pivot protrusion 310 from one pivot groove 320 to another pivot groove 320.

[0050] Building upon this, to further facilitate the movement of the pivot protrusion 310 from one pivot groove 320 to another, this embodiment also employs an arc transition connection at the junction of the pivot groove 320 and the groove wall of the spiral seam 200 to form a first transition portion. The arc diameter of the first transition portion can be selectively adjusted according to specific needs.

[0051] On the other hand, since the tube body 100 will generate a springback force to return to its initial state after being twisted, in order to reduce the possibility of the pivot protrusion 310 disengaging from the mating pivot groove 320 during the springback process, this embodiment also provides a limiting part 400 to limit the pivot protrusion 310 from moving in the opposite direction to the first helical direction (i.e., the second helical direction).

[0052] Specifically, the pivot groove 320 has a first end 322 and a second end 323, which are spaced apart from each other, defining the opening of the pivot groove 320. The first end 322 and the second end 323 are arranged sequentially along the first helical direction. A limiting part 400 is provided at the first end 322 of the pivot groove 320, protruding from the helical extension line of the helical slot 200 where the first end 322 of the pivot groove 320 is located. This ensures that the pivot protrusion 310 needs to pass over the limiting part 400 when moving in the second helical direction. By controlling the height of the limiting part 400, the rebound force of the tube body 100 is insufficient to support the pivot protrusion 310 passing over the limiting part 400, thus achieving the limiting effect on the pivot protrusion 310.

[0053] Each pivot groove 320 has a first end 322 provided with a limiting part 400 as described above, and each limiting part 400 corresponds to the pivot groove 320 where the limiting part 400 is located.

[0054] Preferably, the side of the limiting portion 400 facing the corresponding pivot groove 320 is a first arc surface 410. When the entire pivot groove 320 is an arc groove 321, the center of the circle containing the first arc surface 410 is located at the center of the circle containing the arc groove 321, and the diameter of the first arc surface 410 is the same as the diameter of the arc groove 321. This allows the first arc surface 410 and the arc groove 321 to together form a larger arc groove 321A, enabling the first arc surface 410 and the pivot portion 300 to achieve a pivotal engagement. Simultaneously, the larger arc groove 321A formed by the connection of the first arc surface 410 and the arc groove 321 has an opening direction more biased towards the first spiral direction compared to the arc groove 321 in the pivot groove 320, further reducing the possibility of the pivot protrusion 310 disengaging from the pivot groove 320.

[0055] Furthermore, among the multiple limiting portions 400, when the limiting portion 400 is a limiting portion 400 located between two adjacent pivot grooves 320 in the same spiral unit 110, the other side of the limiting portion 400 is a second arc surface 420, and the second arc surface 420 is connected to the arc transition of the groove wall of the spiral groove 200.

[0056] Based on the above-mentioned active bending section, it should also be noted that in this embodiment, pivot portions 300 are provided on both sides of two adjacent spiral units 110, and the line connecting the two opposite pivot portions 300 defines the rotation direction of the two adjacent spiral units 110.

[0057] like Figure 7 As shown in the illustration, this application also proposes an endoscope. The endoscope includes a handle 500 and the aforementioned active bending section. The active bending section is connected to the handle 500, and its bending amplitude and direction are controlled by a control mechanism on the handle 500. The endoscope in this application can be a bronchoscope, pyeloscope, esophagoscope, gastroscope, colonoscope, otoscope, rhinoscope, oral endoscope, laryngoscope, colposcope, laparoscope, arthroscope, etc. This application does not specifically limit the type of endoscope.

[0058] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element. Furthermore, it should be noted that the scope of the methods and apparatuses in the embodiments of this application is not limited to performing functions in the order shown or discussed, but may also include performing functions substantially simultaneously or in the reverse order, depending on the functions involved. For example, the described methods may be performed in a different order than described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Additionally, features described with reference to certain examples may be combined in other examples.

[0059] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An active bend section, characterized by include: The tube body has a spiral slit on its wall, which divides the tube body into multiple spiral units. Two adjacent spiral units are bent relative to each other by a pivot. In two adjacent spiral units, one is provided with a pivoting protrusion and the other is provided with multiple pivoting grooves of different depths. The pivoting protrusion is configured to pivotally connect with any of the pivoting grooves to form a pivoting portion, so as to adjust the width of the spiral slot between the two adjacent spiral units.

2. The active bend section of claim 1, wherein, Along the first helical direction, the depth of the plurality of pivoting grooves decreases sequentially. When the pivoting protrusion moves along the first helical direction and adapts to different pivoting grooves, the width of the helical slot between two adjacent helical units gradually increases.

3. The active bend section of claim 1, wherein, The bottom of the pivot groove is an arc groove, and the end of the pivot protrusion is an arc protrusion, which can be inserted into the arc groove.

4. The active bend section of claim 3, wherein, The arc groove is a minor arc groove, and the diameter of the arc groove is adapted to the diameter of the arc protrusion.

5. The active bend section of claim 1, wherein, The pivot groove is connected to the spiral seam wall by a circular arc transition.

6. The active bend section of claim 2, wherein, The pivot groove has a first end and a second end along the first helical direction. The first end of the pivot groove is provided with a limiting part, which restricts the pivot protrusion from moving in a direction opposite to the first helical direction.

7. The active bend section of claim 6, wherein, The side of the limiting part facing the pivot groove is a first arc surface, and the first arc surface pivotally engages with the pivot part.

8. The active bending section according to claim 7, characterized in that, When the limiting part is located between two adjacent pivot slots in the same spiral unit, the other side of the limiting part is a second arc surface, which is connected to the spiral seam wall arc transition.

9. The active bending segment according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The pivot portion is provided on both sides of each of the two adjacent spiral units.

10. An endoscope, characterized in that, It includes a handle and an active bending section as described in any one of claims 1-9, the active bending section being connected to the handle.

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