Locking mechanism, endoscope handle, and endoscope

Abstract

This invention provides a locking mechanism, an endoscope handle, and an endoscope, relating to the field of endoscopes, and solves the problem of complex structures in existing locking mechanisms for endoscopes. In this invention, the locking mechanism includes a control member, a traction wheel, and a braking member; the control member is movable relative to the traction wheel to switch between an unlocked position and a braking position; in the unlocked position, the control member is in contact with the traction wheel and disengaged from the braking member to drive the traction wheel to rotate; in the braking position, the control member is in contact with the traction wheel and engages with the braking member to brake. The endoscope includes an endoscope handle, and the endoscope handle includes the locking mechanism. Compared with existing technologies, this invention establishes a clutch relationship between the control member and the traction wheel by switching back and forth between the braking and locking positions, allowing the control member to simultaneously act as both a driving and braking component, resulting in a simpler structure while achieving the basic functions of adjusting and locking the lens.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of endoscopy, specifically to a locking mechanism, an endoscope handle, and an endoscope. Background Technology

[0002] During endoscopy, the surgeon needs to manually adjust the direction by manipulating control components (such as levers, dials, and knobs) on the endoscope handle to control the bending of the insertion section, ensuring the lens is aligned with the target area. When stable imaging of the target area is required, the surgeon needs to keep the control component pressed down continuously. However, maintaining constant pressure on the lens requires the surgeon to maintain sufficient attention on the control component, which is difficult to achieve.

[0003] Therefore, in order to improve the user experience, simplify operation, and allow the operator to stabilize the lens in a reliable way, some existing endoscopes have added locking structures to the control components. However, the existing locking structures are relatively complex, with many parts, which not only increases the processing cost and makes assembly inconvenient, but also makes operation difficult. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One of the objectives of this invention is to design a locking mechanism, an endoscope handle, and an endoscope to solve the problem of complex structures in locking mechanisms used for endoscopes.

[0005] This invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0006] The present invention provides a locking mechanism for an endoscope, comprising a control member, a traction wheel, and a braking member; the control member is generally movable relative to the traction wheel to switch between an unlocked position and a braking position; in the unlocked position, the control member is in contact with the traction wheel and disengaged from the braking member to drive the traction wheel to rotate; in the braking position, the control member is in contact with the traction wheel and engages with the braking member to brake.

[0007] With the above-described structure, the control member can move relative to the traction wheel to switch between a braked position and an unlocked position. In the unlocked position, the control member is disengaged from the brake and connected to the traction wheel. The traction wheel can be driven to rotate by operating the control member, controlling the movement of the traction rope connected to the traction wheel to adjust the lens angle. In the braked position, the control member is both in contact with the traction wheel and the brake, thus hindering the rotation of the traction wheel by operating the control member and preventing rotation of the traction wheel to stabilize the lens. Because this locking mechanism directly drives the traction wheel through the control member and also brakes the traction wheel through direct contact between the control member and the brake, the control member acts as both a driving and braking component. This allows the locking mechanism to achieve the basic functions of adjusting and locking the lens using only three components: the control member, the traction wheel, and the brake. Compared to the locking structure used in existing endoscopes, this locking mechanism is simpler in structure, saves layout space, and is easier to assemble. In addition, it is also simpler in operation, requiring only the control component to move back and forth between the braking and unlocking positions without changing the operating parts, making it convenient for one-handed operation.

[0008] To further improve the implementation of the present invention, the following configuration structure is adopted: the control member has a first tooth and the traction wheel has a second tooth. In the unlocked position, the first tooth and the second tooth mesh, so that the control member can drive the traction wheel to rotate through the meshing relationship.

[0009] When the above-mentioned structure is adopted, the control component and the traction wheel are driven by gear meshing, which not only simplifies the transmission structure but also ensures a stable and reliable transmission process.

[0010] To further improve the implementation of the present invention, the following configuration structure is adopted: the control member is configured as a gear, including a first wheel body with the first tooth and a rotating shaft movably inserted into the shaft hole of the first wheel body, wherein the first wheel body can rotate and move relative to the rotating shaft.

[0011] When the above-mentioned structure is adopted, the control component is in the form of a gear. The traction wheel can be driven to rotate by turning the first wheel body around the axis of rotation. Alternatively, the first wheel body can be turned along the axis of rotation to switch between the braking position and the unlocking position. This allows the operation of the control component to be achieved by turning the first wheel body in four directions, which is very convenient for one-handed operation.

[0012] To further improve the implementation of this invention, the following structure is specifically adopted: the locking mechanism further includes a rotating shaft, which is connected to the first wheel body. The first wheel body can rotate and move relative to the axis of the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is interference-fitted with the shaft hole of the first wheel body, so that the first wheel body can be positioned when it moves along the rotating shaft to the unlocked position or the braking position. And / or, the rotating shaft is provided with a plurality of shift protrusions arranged sequentially along its axial direction. In the case of the unlocked position and the case of the braking position, the first wheel body can engage with the shift protrusions to be positioned in the unlocked position or the braking position.

[0013] When the above-mentioned structure is adopted, the first wheel body is interference-fitted with the rotating shaft or is engaged by some point protrusions, which allows the first wheel body to be positioned at the target position during the movement of the rotating shaft axis. This allows the user to take their hands off the wheel body to perform other operations without having to constantly stabilize the position of the first wheel body to keep the lens stable.

[0014] To further improve the implementation of the present invention, the following configuration structure is adopted: the traction wheel includes a disc body and a driven wheel connected sequentially along the axial direction, the disc body has a traction rope connection part, and the second tooth is formed on the driven wheel.

[0015] To further improve the implementation of the present invention, the following structure is specifically adopted: the second tooth protrudes radially from the outer peripheral surface of the disc body, so that when the control member moves toward the unlock position, the first tooth meshing with the second tooth can move to the side of the disc body in the radial direction.

[0016] When the above-mentioned structure is adopted, the second tooth protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the disc body is located on the side of the disc body radially when the control member is in the unlocked position. This allows the control member to use the same area on the side of the disc body as the movement space of the control member, making the locking mechanism more compact and improving its space utilization.

[0017] To further improve the implementation of the present invention, the following configuration structure is adopted: the driven wheel is configured as a sector gear, the disc is configured as a sector disc and is at least partially offset from the driven wheel in the circumferential direction; the first tooth of the control member abuts against the second tooth of the traction wheel in the radial direction to straighten the traction wheel.

[0018] When adopting the above-mentioned structure, the driven wheel and wheel body, which are designed as sector gears, can be specifically designed according to the actual rotation angle and available space, eliminating unused parts to reduce volume and save space. The control component and the traction wheel are radially pressed together, allowing the control component to straighten the traction wheel. This eliminates or alleviates the overall misalignment problem during assembly caused by the mass bias to one side due to the sector gear design of the disc and driven wheel. It ensures smooth operation of the traction wheel while saving space, guaranteeing smooth lens operation.

[0019] To further improve the implementation of the present invention, the following structure is specifically adopted: the driven wheel is hollow, with an open end in the axial direction away from the disc body and a closed end near the disc body.

[0020] When the above-mentioned structure is adopted, the hollow driven wheel is open at the end away from the disc and closed at the end close to the disc. This makes the driven wheel have lower strength at the end away from the disc and greater deformation, which facilitates the switching of the control component from the braking position to the locking position by moving along the driven wheel. Moreover, after the control component switches to the locking position, it can achieve stable contact by using the end close to the disc with less deformation.

[0021] To further improve the implementation of the present invention, the following configuration structure is specifically adopted: in the unlocked position, the first tooth covers the second tooth along the axial direction of the traction wheel.

[0022] When the above-mentioned structure is adopted, in the unlocked position, the first tooth can cover the second tooth, so that the first tooth of the control member can connect with the entire section of the second tooth on the traction wheel, so that there is sufficient contact area between the two in the axial direction. This allows the entire section of the second tooth of the traction wheel to be abutted by the control member, which can make the force on each section of the driven wheel more balanced, reduce the deformation of the traction wheel when the control member abuts against it, improve the straightening effect of the control member on the traction wheel, and allow the control member to stably drive the traction wheel, ensuring the stability of the traction rope connected to the traction wheel.

[0023] To further improve the implementation of the present invention, the following configuration structure is adopted: when the unlocked position is engaged, the two ends of the first tooth extend out of the two ends of the second tooth by equal lengths.

[0024] When the above-mentioned structure is adopted, when the control component is in the braking position, that is, when the control component is connected to the traction wheel and the braking component at the same time, there is a large contact area between the traction wheel and the control component, which can well ensure the force balance of the traction wheel, allow the control component to stably drive the traction wheel, and ensure the stability of the traction rope operation.

[0025] To further improve the implementation of the present invention, the following configuration is specifically adopted: the braking member has a third tooth, and in the braking position, the first tooth engages with the third tooth to brake.

[0026] When the above-mentioned structure is adopted, the control component and the braking component cooperate through tooth meshing, and the rotation of the control component can be better restricted by the meshing relationship between the teeth.

[0027] To further improve the implementation of the present invention, the following structure is specifically adopted: the tooth tip of the first tooth is provided with a first guide surface and / or the tooth tip of the third tooth is provided with a second guide surface, which is used to guide the first tooth and the third tooth to complete the meshing along the axial direction through the slope guiding effect.

[0028] When the above-mentioned structure is adopted, the beveled end of the tooth can provide a certain beveled guiding effect to the tooth that meshes with it, which helps to mesh smoothly along the axial direction. Even when there is a certain misalignment angle between the first tooth and the third tooth, the first tooth and the third tooth can mesh smoothly along the axial direction.

[0029] To further improve the realization of the present invention, the following configuration structure is adopted: the braking element is configured as a sector gear.

[0030] When the above-mentioned structure is adopted, the brake component, which is set as a sector gear, can be designed specifically according to the actual part used, and the unused part can be removed to reduce the volume and save space layout.

[0031] To further improve the implementation of the present invention, the following configuration structure is specifically adopted: the braking member includes a second wheel body and a damping member for connecting to the housing of the endoscope handle, the third tooth is formed on the second wheel body, the second wheel body is rotatably connected to the damping member about its axis, and the damping member is used to provide a certain damping to brake the second wheel body.

[0032] With the above-described structure, the second wheel of the braking component is connected to the damping component, allowing the second wheel, which meshes with the control component, to rotate at a certain angle under a certain torque, overcoming the damping provided by the damping component. Thus, when the teeth of the first and third gears have a certain misalignment angle and need to mesh, the control component can adjust the rotation angle to complete the meshing and then adjust back to the previous angle. Alternatively, the control component can drive the second wheel to rotate without adjusting the rotation angle, allowing the control component to smoothly mesh with the second wheel. This ensures that the control component does not rotate when meshing with the second wheel at any rotation angle, thus preventing the traction wheel from rotating and ensuring that the lens remains stable at the required angle.

[0033] The present invention also provides an endoscope handle, including a housing and the locking mechanism described above; the housing is provided with an operating window, the control element is installed in the housing, a portion of the control element extends from the operating window to the outside of the housing for human operation; the traction wheel is installed inside the housing; and the braking element is installed in the housing.

[0034] The present invention also provides an endoscope including the endoscope handle described above.

[0035] The present invention has the following advantages and beneficial effects:

[0036] In this invention, the control member is movable relative to the traction wheel to switch between a braking position and an unlocked position. In the unlocked position, the control member disengages from the brake member and connects to the traction wheel. Operating the control member drives the traction wheel to rotate, controlling the movement of the traction rope connected to the traction wheel to adjust the lens angle. In the braking position, the control member, while connected to the traction wheel, simultaneously contacts and brakes the brake member, thus hindering the process of driving the traction wheel to rotate by operating the control member, preventing the traction wheel from rotating and stabilizing the lens. Because this locking mechanism directly drives the traction wheel through the control member and also achieves contact braking of the traction wheel through the contact connection between the control member and the brake member, the control member acts not only as a driving component but also as a braking component. This allows the locking mechanism to achieve the basic functions of adjusting and locking the lens using only three components: the control member, the traction wheel, and the brake member. Compared to the locking mechanism used in existing endoscopes, this locking mechanism is simpler in structure, saves layout space, and is easier to assemble. In addition, it is also simpler in operation, requiring only the control component to move back and forth between the braking and unlocking positions without changing the operating parts, making it convenient for one-handed operation. Attached Figure Description

[0037] 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.

[0038] Figure 1 This is an assembly diagram of the endoscope handle of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An exploded view of the endoscope handle shown.

[0040] Figure 3 The mounting method of the locking mechanism in the housing is shown;

[0041] Figure 4 The mounting method of the braking component and the control component in the housing is shown;

[0042] Figure 5 The structure of the locking mechanism in the locked state is shown;

[0043] Figure 6 The structure with the locking mechanism in the unlocked state is shown;

[0044] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Enlarged view of part A in the middle;

[0045] Figure 8 The lower structure of the traction wheel is shown;

[0046] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the endoscope of the present invention.

[0047] The diagram is marked as follows:

[0048] 1. Control component; 11. First tooth; 111. First guide surface;

[0049] 2. Traction wheel; 21. Disc body; 211. Fixed shaft; 22. Driven wheel; 221. Second toothed section;

[0050] 3. Braking component; 31. Second wheel body; 311. Third tooth; 3111. Second guide surface; 32. Damping component;

[0051] 4. Housing; 41. First housing; 411. Hollow shaft; 42. Second housing; 43. Operating window;

[0052] 5. Towing rope;

[0053] 6. Connect the cables;

[0054] 7. Insertion section;

[0055] 8. Shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0056] 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.

[0057] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more; the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "front end," "rear end," "head," "tail," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this 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 this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0058] In the description of this invention, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0059] The inventors discovered that, in addition to their structural complexity, some locking mechanisms used in endoscope handles in related technologies also present challenges in operation. For example, after adjusting the lens angle using the angle adjustment component of the locking mechanism, locking the lens requires using other fingers of the operating hand or the other hand to operate the locking component, which is cumbersome. Alternatively, operating the locking component may cause the angle adjustment component to move, resulting in lens displacement.

[0060] On the one hand, this application provides a locking mechanism, which, as an important component of the endoscope handle, can control and stabilize the lens angle. This locking mechanism has the advantage of simplicity and is specifically configured as follows:

[0061] like Figures 2-8 As shown, the locking mechanism includes a control element 1, a traction wheel 2, and a brake element 3. It is used to be installed on the housing of the endoscope handle or on a component that is fixedly connected to the housing 4. It can also be installed on a base so that the control element 1, the traction wheel 2, and the brake element 3 have a defined installation position before being installed on the housing 4 of the endoscope handle.

[0062] The traction wheel 2 has a rotation axis and is configured to rotate about its axis. The traction wheel 2 is used to control the movement of the traction rope to control the front angle of the insertion part, thereby controlling the angle of the lens. Therefore, the traction wheel 2 also has a traction rope connection part.

[0063] The control element 1 is movable relative to the traction wheel 2 to switch between an unlocked position and a braked position. In the unlocked position, the control element 1 is in contact with the traction wheel 2, and simultaneously, the control element 1 is disengaged from the brake element 3. In this case, the control element 1 can be driven by a person's finger to drive the traction wheel 2 to rotate around its axis. In the braked position, the control element 1 is in contact with the traction wheel 2, and simultaneously, the control element 1 is in contact with the brake element 3. The brake element 3 brakes the control element 1. In this case, the control element 1 is not easily or cannot be driven by a person's finger to make the traction wheel 2 rotate around its axis.

[0064] To enable the control component 1 to drive the traction wheel 2, the control component 1 and the traction wheel 2 can be connected by a smooth friction fit, a tooth meshing fit, or other direct contact connection methods; the brake component 3 can be connected to the control component 1 by a smooth friction fit, a tooth meshing fit, or other direct contact connection methods, and the brake component 3 can brake the control component 1.

[0065] The control component 1 can move relative to the traction wheel 2 to switch between a braking position and an unlocked position. Therefore, the traction wheel 2 and the brake component 3 are arranged sequentially along the movement path of the control component 1. Since the control component 1 is connected to both the traction wheel 2 and the brake component 3 through direct contact, the control component 1 needs to have a certain length along its movement path. The traction wheel 2 and the brake component 3 can be arranged coaxially with intervals or circumferentially offset around the control component. As long as the control component 1 can contact and connect with the traction wheel 2 individually or simultaneously with both the traction wheel 2 and the brake component 3 during its movement along the movement path, the requirements are met.

[0066] In the unlocked position, the control element 1 disengages from the brake element 3 and connects to the traction wheel 2. Operating the control element 1 drives the traction wheel 2 to rotate, controlling the movement of the traction rope connected to the traction wheel 2 to adjust the lens angle. In the braked position, the control element 1, while connected to the traction wheel 2, simultaneously engages with the brake element 3 to brake, thus hindering the rotation of the traction wheel 2 and preventing it from rotating, thereby stabilizing the lens. Since this locking mechanism drives the traction wheel 2 through the control element 1 and also brakes the traction wheel 2 through the connection between the control element 1 and the brake element 3, the control element 1 acts as both a driving and braking component. This allows the locking mechanism to achieve the basic functions of adjusting and locking the lens using only three components: the control element 1, the traction wheel 2, and the brake element 3. Compared to the locking structure used in existing endoscopes, this locking mechanism is simpler in structure, saves layout space, and is easier to assemble. In addition, it is also simpler in operation, requiring only the control component to move back and forth between the braking and unlocking positions without changing the operating parts, making it convenient for one-handed operation.

[0067] According to some optional embodiments, such as Figures 2-7 As shown, the control element 1 has a first tooth 11, and the traction wheel 2 has a second tooth 221 arranged around the rotation axis of the traction wheel 2. The control element 1 is arranged on one side of the traction wheel 2 in the radial direction, and the first tooth 11 engages with the second tooth 221 of the traction wheel 2 to achieve contact connection. In the unlocked position, the first tooth 11 of the control element 1 engages with the second tooth 221 of the traction wheel 2 to form a transmission structure. The control element 1 is used to output torque to the traction wheel 2, so that the control element 1 can drive the traction wheel 2 to rotate through the meshing relationship. The control element 1 and the traction wheel 2 transmit power through tooth meshing, which not only simplifies the transmission structure but also ensures a stable and reliable transmission process. The brake element 3 is located on one side of the control element 1, so that when the control element 1 moves to the braking position, it can contact the brake element 3 for braking.

[0068] like Figures 2-6As shown, the control element 1 is preferably configured as a gear, including a first wheel body. A first tooth 11 extending around the axis of the first wheel body is formed on the wheel surface of the first wheel body. A through-hole is provided at the center of the first wheel body for mounting a rotating shaft 8. The control element 1 can move relative to the traction wheel 2 along the axis of the first wheel body, switching between an unlocked position and a braked position. It can also rotate around the axis of the first wheel body to drive the traction wheel 2 to rotate when in the unlocked position. Generally, the traction wheel 2 is located on one side of the control element 1 in the radial direction, and the brake element 3 is also located on one side of the control element 1 in the radial direction. The traction wheel 2 and the brake element 3 can be arranged opposite each other in the axial direction of the first wheel body of the control element 1 to save radial layout space. Alternatively, they can be arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the first wheel body of the control element 1 and simultaneously staggered circumferentially along the first wheel body. The degree of stagger between the traction wheel 2 and the brake element 3 can be specifically designed according to the spatial layout.

[0069] In some embodiments, the locking mechanism is further equipped with a rotating shaft 8, which is generally movably inserted into the shaft hole of the first wheel body, allowing the first wheel body to rotate relative to the axis of the rotating shaft 8 and to reciprocate axially relative to the rotating shaft 8. The rotating shaft 8 serves as an additional support component for connection to the housing 4 of the endoscope handle; it can be considered a connector used on the housing 4 to mount the first wheel body. The control element 1 is in the form of a gear, which can drive the traction wheel 2 to rotate by turning the first wheel body around the axis of the rotating shaft 8, and can also switch between the braking and unlocking positions by turning the first wheel body axially along the rotating shaft 8. This allows operation of the control element 1 to be achieved through turning actions in four directions, making it very convenient for one-handed operation. Preferably, as... Figure 2-7 As shown, the first wheel of the control component 1 is configured as a cylindrical gear, and the first tooth 11 is configured as a full tooth surface to provide a reliable contact method for human finger operation.

[0070] Of course, the first wheel in the control component 1 can also be connected to the housing 4 without the pivot 8. Instead, a short convex shaft is provided at each end of the first wheel, so that the first wheel can be rotatably installed in the convex shaft insertion hole reserved on the housing 4 of the endoscope handle. The convex shaft can also move axially relative to the housing so that the first wheel can move relative to the housing 4.

[0071] According to some optional embodiments, the control element 1 can be stably positioned in the braking and locking positions. Specifically, the rotating shaft 8 is fitted with the shaft hole of the first wheel body using an interference fit, or the rotating shaft 8 is provided with multiple shift protrusions arranged sequentially along its axial direction. In the unlocked and braking positions, the first wheel body can engage with the shift protrusions to be positioned in the unlocked or braking position. The interference fit between the first wheel body and the rotating shaft 8, or the engagement with the shift protrusions at some points, allows the first wheel body to be positioned at the target location during its axial movement along the rotating shaft 8, allowing for hands-free operation of other tasks without constantly using the hands to stabilize the position of the first wheel body to maintain lens stability.

[0072] According to some optional embodiments, the control member 1 can also be configured as a rack with a first tooth 11. The rack can be straight or arc-shaped. The rack can reciprocate along its axial direction to drive the traction wheel 2 to rotate, and can also reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction to switch between the unlocked position and the braked position. Compared with the gear-type control member 1, the rack-type control member 1 will occupy more movement space.

[0073] According to some optional embodiments, such as Figures 2-3 , Figures 5-6 As shown, the traction wheel 2 includes a disc body 21 and a driven wheel 22. The disc body 21 and the driven wheel 22 are arranged vertically along the axial direction of the traction wheel 2 and are fixedly connected as a single unit. The disc body 21 has a traction rope connection part and a fixed shaft 211. The fixed shaft 211 is used to install onto the housing of the endoscope handle. A second tooth 221 is formed on the driven wheel 22. The traction wheel 2 meshes with the first tooth 11 on the first wheel body of the control member 1 through the second tooth 221 of the driven wheel 22. The control member 1 and the traction wheel 2 are driven by gear meshing, which not only simplifies the transmission structure but also ensures a stable and reliable transmission process.

[0074] According to some optional embodiments, such as Figures 2-3 , Figures 5-6 , Figure 8 As shown, the second tooth 221 on the driven wheel 22 protrudes radially from the outer circumferential surface of the disc body 21. Specifically, the radius of the tooth groove surface of the second tooth 221 on the driven wheel 22 is equal to or greater than the radius of the disc body 21, such that when the first tooth 11 of the first wheel body of the control member 1 meshes with the second tooth 221, the tooth tip surface is located outside the disc body 21. This allows the first tooth 11 meshing with the second tooth 221 to move to the radial side of the disc body 21 when the control member 1 moves towards the unlocked position. When the control member 1 is in the unlocked position, the first tooth 11 meshing with the second tooth 221 protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the disc body 21 is located to the radial side of the disc body 21, allowing the control member 1 to utilize the same area on the side of the disc body 21 as its moving space. This makes the locking mechanism more compact and improves its space utilization.

[0075] According to some optional embodiments, the driven wheel 22 is configured as a sector gear and / or the disc body 21 is configured as a sector disc. Preferably, as Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 8 As shown, the driven wheel 22 is configured as a sector gear, and the disc 21 is configured as a sector disc, with at least a portion of the sector disc 21 and the driven wheel 22 circumferentially misaligned. The control member 1 radially abuts against the traction wheel 2, specifically by radially abutting the first tooth 11 and the second tooth 221, thereby straightening the traction wheel 2 and ensuring that the fixed shaft 211 of the disc 21 of the traction wheel 2 is as close as possible to the endoscope handle housing. The driven wheel 22 and the wheel body configured as sector gears can be designed specifically according to the actual rotation angle and available portion, eliminating unused parts to reduce volume and save space in the housing 4. The radial abutment between the control member 1 and the traction wheel 2 allows the control member 1 to straighten the traction wheel 2, eliminating or mitigating the overall misalignment problem during assembly caused by the mass bias to one side due to the sector gear design of the disc 21 and the driven wheel 22. This ensures smooth operation of the traction wheel 2 while saving space, guaranteeing smooth lens operation.

[0076] According to some optional embodiments, such as Figure 8 As shown, the driven wheel 22 of the traction wheel 2 is a hollow component, with a closed top and an open bottom. This means that the end of the driven wheel 22 closest to the disc 21 along the axial direction is closed, while the end furthest from the disc 21 is open. This makes the strength of the closed end of the driven wheel 22 higher than that of the open end, resulting in slightly weaker deformation resistance at the bottom of the driven wheel 22. The hollow driven wheel 22, with an open end furthest from the disc 21 and a closed end near the disc 21, has lower strength at the end furthest from the disc 21 and greater deformation. This allows the control member 1 to move along the driven wheel 22 to switch from the braking position to the locking position when the control member 1 is radially pressed against the driven wheel 22. Furthermore, after the control member 1 is switched to the locking position, stable contact can be achieved using the end closer to the disc 21 with less deformation.

[0077] According to some optional embodiments, such as Figure 6As shown, when the control member 1 is in the unlocked position, along the axial direction of the traction wheel 2, the first tooth 11 of the first wheel body of the control member 1 covers the second tooth 221 on the driven wheel 22 of the traction wheel 2. Thus, when the control member 1 is in the unlocked position, the first tooth 11 can cover the second tooth 221, allowing the first tooth 11 of the control member 1 to connect with the entire length of the second tooth 221 on the traction wheel 2. This provides sufficient axial contact area between the two, ensuring that the entire length of the second tooth 221 of the traction wheel 2 is abutted by the control member 1. This makes the force on each section of the driven wheel 22 more balanced, reduces the deformation of the traction wheel 2 when the control member 1 abuts against it, improves the straightening effect of the control member 1 on the traction wheel 2, and allows the control member 1 to stably drive the traction wheel 2, ensuring the stability of the traction rope connected to the traction wheel 2.

[0078] Preferably, when the control member 1 is in the unlocked position, the two ends of the first tooth 11 extend out of the two ends of the second tooth 221 by equal lengths. This results in a more balanced force on the control member 1, smoother operation of the first wheel, and when the control member 1 is in the braking position (i.e., when the control member 1 is simultaneously connected to the traction wheel 2 and the brake member 3), it allows for a larger contact area between the traction wheel 2 and the control member 1, effectively ensuring the force balance on the traction wheel 2 and enabling the control member 1 to stably drive the traction wheel 2, thus guaranteeing the stability of the traction rope's operation.

[0079] According to some optional embodiments, such as Figures 2-7 As shown, the brake element 3 is located below the traction wheel 2. The brake element 3 has a third tooth 311. When the control element 1 is in the braking position, the first tooth 11 on the first wheel body of the control element 1 meshes with the third tooth 311 to brake. The control element 1 and the brake element 3 cooperate through tooth meshing, which can better restrict the rotation of the control element 1. Preferably, the brake element 3 is located at one end of the control element 1 in the axial direction, and the control element 1 and the traction wheel 2 are rotatably arranged relative to the brake element 3. The control element 1 and the brake element 3 form a tooth meshing clutch structure through the engagement of the first tooth 11 and the third tooth 311. When the control element 1 moves axially toward the brake element 3, the first tooth 11 can move axially with the control element 1 and move to the locking position. At the locking position, the first tooth 11 is simultaneously connected with the second tooth 221 and the third tooth 311. The control member 1 is connected to the third tooth 311 of the brake member 3 via the first tooth 11. The brake member 3 can prevent the control member 1 from rotating around its axis, and the control member 1 is in a brake-locked state. The first tooth 11 can also move axially with the control member 1 and move to the unlocked position. In the unlocked position, the first tooth 11 is only connected to the second tooth 221, and the first tooth 11 of the control member 1 is disengaged from the third tooth 311 of the brake member 3, and the control member 1 is in an unlocked state.

[0080] According to some optional embodiments, such as Figures 2-7 As shown, the braking element 3 includes a second wheel body 31, and a third tooth 311 is formed on the second wheel body 31. The second wheel body 31 is used to connect to the housing of the endoscope handle, for example, the second wheel body 31 is fixedly connected to the housing of the endoscope handle, thereby preventing the rotation of the second wheel body 31 and thus preventing the rotation of the control element 1. The third tooth 311 of the second wheel body 31 can mesh with the first tooth 11 of the control element 1 when in the locked position. The control element 1 and the braking element 3 cooperate through gear meshing, and the meshing relationship between the teeth can be used to better restrict the rotation of the control element 1, so that the control element 1 is braked by the braking element 3. Preferably, the second wheel body 31 of the braking element 3 is coaxially arranged with the traction wheel 2 to save radial layout space. Of course, if the radial layout space issue is not considered, the braking element 3 and the traction wheel 2 can also be arranged sequentially in the circumferential direction of the first wheel body of the control element 1, for example, the braking element 3 and the traction wheel 2 can be arranged opposite each other on both sides of the radial direction of the first wheel body of the control element 1.

[0081] According to some optional embodiments, such as Figure 7 As shown, the smooth meshing between the control element 1 and the brake element 3 is ensured by chamfering at the tooth ends. The tooth ends of the first tooth portion 11 are provided with a first guide surface 111 and / or the tooth ends of the third tooth portion 311 are provided with a second guide surface 3111. Specifically, there are three configuration forms: 1. The tooth ends of the control element 1 are chamfered. Specifically, the tooth end of the first tooth portion 11 on the first wheel body of the control element 1, near the brake element 3, must be chamfered to form the first guide surface 111, while the third tooth portion 311 on the second wheel body of the brake element 3 is not chamfered; 2. The tooth ends of the second wheel body 31 of the brake element 3 are chamfered. Specifically, the tooth end of the third tooth portion 311 on the second wheel body 31, near the control element 1, must be chamfered to form the second guide surface 3111, while the first tooth portion 11 on the first wheel body of the control element 1 is not chamfered; 3. As shown... Figure 7 As shown, the first tooth 11 of the control member 1 has a chamfered tip, and the third tooth 311 of the second wheel body 3 of the brake member 3 also has a chamfered tip. Specifically, the chamfered tip of the first tooth 11 of the control member 1 near the brake member 3 forms a first guide surface 111, and the chamfered tip of the third tooth 311 of the second wheel body 31 near the control member 1 forms a second guide surface 3111. The chamfered tips of the teeth of the control member 1 and the brake member 3 can guide the first tooth 11 and the third tooth 311 to mesh axially through the slope guidance effect. The sloped tip of the tooth can provide a certain slope guidance effect for the meshing tooth, helping to mesh smoothly axially. Even when there is a certain misalignment angle between the teeth of the first tooth 11 and the third tooth 311, the first tooth 11 and the third tooth 311 can mesh smoothly axially.

[0082] According to some optional embodiments, such as Figures 2-6 As shown, the braking component 3 includes a second wheel body 31 and a damping component 32 for connection with the housing of the endoscope handle. A third tooth 311 is formed on the second wheel body 31. The damping component 32 can be a rubber component or other component that can provide friction. The second wheel body 31 is movably connected to the damping component 32, which provides a certain damping to brake the second wheel body 31, thereby hindering the rotation of the second wheel body 31 and thus hindering the rotation of the control component 1. The second wheel body 31 can rotate relative to the damping component 32 about its axis after overcoming the damping of the damping component 32. The damping component 32 can be in the form of a plate or the like.

[0083] Preferred, such as Figure 2 As shown, the damping element 32 is configured as a bushing, and the second wheel 31 is sleeved onto the damping element 32 through a through hole at its center. The damping element 32 is then fitted onto a hollow shaft on the housing 4 for installation. The second wheel 31 of the braking element 3 is connected to the damping element 32, allowing the second wheel 31, which is engaged with the control element 1, to rotate at a certain angle under a certain torque, overcoming the damping provided by the damping element. In this way, when the teeth of the first tooth 11 and the teeth of the third tooth 311 need to mesh with each other due to a certain misalignment angle, the control member 1 can adjust the rotation angle to complete the meshing and then adjust back to the previous angle. Alternatively, the control member 1 can also drive the second wheel body 31 of the brake member 3 to rotate by using the first guide surface 111 provided at the tooth end of the first tooth 11 and / or the second guide surface 3111 provided at the tooth end of the third tooth 311 without adjusting the rotation angle, so that the control member 1 can mesh smoothly with the second wheel body 31. This ensures that the control member 1 does not rotate when meshing with the second wheel body 31 at any rotation angle, so as to ensure that the traction wheel 2 does not rotate, thereby ensuring that the lens can always be stable at the required angle.

[0084] In use, when it is necessary to stabilize the traction wheel 2, the first tooth 11 of the first wheel body of the control member 1 is pushed downward by touching it with a finger, driving the control member 1 to move towards the brake member 3 along the axial direction of the first wheel body. Then, a portion of the first tooth 11 slides out from the second tooth 221 of the driven wheel 22 of the traction wheel 2 from one side of the axial direction and slides into the third tooth 311 of the second wheel body 31 of the brake member 3, engaging with the third tooth 311, thus achieving contact braking between the control member 1 and the brake member 3. When it is necessary to drive the traction wheel 2 to rotate, the first tooth 11 of the first wheel body of the control member 1 is pushed upward by touching it with a finger, driving the control member 1 away from the brake member 3 along the axial direction of the first wheel body. A portion of the first tooth 11 slides out from the third tooth 311 of the second wheel body 31 of the brake member 3 from one side of the axial direction and finally disengages from the third tooth 311. Afterwards, the traction wheel 2 can be driven to rotate by touching the first tooth 11 of the first wheel body of the control member 1 with a finger and rubbing it around the axis of the first wheel body.

[0085] According to some optional embodiments, the brake element 3 is configured as a sector gear. The brake element 3 configured as a sector gear can be designed specifically for the parts that are actually used, removing unused parts to reduce volume and save space. Of course, the brake element 3 can also be a protrusion structure or a structural component of other shapes, as long as it can be connected to the first tooth 11 of the control element 1 through the third tooth 311.

[0086] On the other hand, this application provides an endoscope handle, such as Figures 1-9 As shown, it is specifically configured with the following structure:

[0087] like Figure 1-4 As shown, the endoscope handle includes a housing 4 and a locking mechanism as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0088] The housing 4 provides a cavity for mounting the locking mechanism, including a first housing 41 and a second housing 42 assembled together. The traction wheel 2 is positioned and rotatably mounted within the housing 4, and the brake 3 is positioned and mounted within the housing 4. An operating window 43 communicating with the cavity is provided on the housing 4. When the control element 1 is in the form of a gear, it is positioned and rotatably mounted on the housing 4; when it is in the form of a rack, it is disposed within a sliding cavity provided by the housing 4, allowing the rack to slide axially or perpendicularly. In this embodiment, the control element 1 is in the form of a gear, wherein the operating window 43 exposes the control element 1, allowing a finger to contact the first tooth 11 of the control element 1.

[0089] According to some optional embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the first wheel of the control component 1 is located in the operation window 43, and a part of the first tooth 11 extends out of the housing 4 from the operation window 43, while the other part is located inside the housing 4.

[0090] According to some optional embodiments, the braking component 3 of the locking mechanism is directly fixed to the first housing 41 by means of adhesive bonding, welding, screwing, etc. A rotating shaft 8 is movably inserted into the first wheel of the control component 1. The two ends of the rotating shaft 8 are respectively inserted into the insertion holes provided in the first housing 41 and the second housing 42 and fixed, so that the first wheel of the control component 1 can move along the axis of the rotating shaft 8 in the operating window 43, and can also rotate around the axis of the rotating shaft 8 in the operating window 43. The disc body 21 of the traction wheel 2 is integrally formed with the driven wheel 22. A traction rope 5 is connected to the traction rope connection part provided on opposite sides of the disc body 21. A fixed shaft 211 is integrally formed on the disc body 21. The two ends of the fixed shaft 211 are respectively inserted into the insertion holes provided in the first housing 41 and the positioning pins provided in the second housing 42, so that the traction wheel 2 can be positioned on the housing 4 and can rotate around the axis of the traction wheel 2.

[0091] According to some optional embodiments, a hollow shaft 411 with a protrusion is provided inside the first housing 41. A damping member 32, which is configured as a bushing, is fitted with an interference fit on the outer circumference of the hollow shaft 411. A second wheel 31 is fitted with an interference fit on the outer circumference of the damping member 32, so that the second wheel 31 can rotate under a certain torque to overcome the damping of the damping member 32. A rotating shaft 8 is movably inserted through the main body of the control member 1. The two ends of the rotating shaft 8 are respectively inserted into the insertion holes provided in the first housing 41 and the second housing 42 and fixed, so that the main body of the control member 1 can move axially in the operation window 43, and can also rotate around the axis in the operation window 43. The disc body 21 of the traction wheel 2 is integrally formed with the driven wheel 22. A traction rope 5 is connected to the traction rope connection part on each of the opposite sides of the disc body 21. A fixed shaft 211 is integrally formed on the disc body 21. One end of the fixed shaft 211 is inserted into the inner hole of the hollow shaft 411 and rests against the bottom of the hole. The other end of the fixed shaft 211 is provided with a countersunk hole. A protrusion is provided on the second housing 42. The protrusion extends into the countersunk hole of the fixed shaft 211, so that the fixed shaft 211 is positioned and rotatably installed between the first housing 41 and the second housing 42.

[0092] On the other hand, this application provides an endoscope, such as Figures 1-9 As shown, it is specifically configured with the following structure:

[0093] like Figure 9 As shown, the endoscope includes the endoscope handle of any of the above embodiments, and the endoscope handle is connected to a connecting cable 6 and an insertion part 7.

[0094] 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. A lock mechanism for an endoscope, characterized by: It includes a control element (1), a traction wheel (2) and a brake element (3), wherein the control element (1) has a first tooth (11), the traction wheel (2) has a second tooth (221), and the brake element (3) has a third tooth (311). The control element (1) as a whole can be driven by a person through finger contact to move axially relative to the traction wheel (2) to switch between an unlocked position and a braked position; wherein, when the control element (1) moves axially toward the brake element (3), the first tooth (11) can move axially with the control element (1) to the braked position. In the unlocked position, the first tooth (11) of the control member (1) engages with the second tooth (221) of the traction wheel (2) and disengages from the third tooth (311) of the brake member (3), so that the control member (1) can be driven by a person to drive the traction wheel (2) to rotate by touching it with their finger. In the braking position, the first tooth (11) of the control member (1) engages with the second tooth (221) of the traction wheel (2) and engages with the third tooth (311) of the brake member (3), which can prevent the control member (1) from rotating.

2. A locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: The control element (1) is configured as a gear, including a first wheel body having the first tooth (11) formed thereon.

3. A locking mechanism according to claim 2, wherein: The locking mechanism further includes a rotating shaft (8) connected to the first wheel body, the first wheel body being able to rotate and move relative to the axis of the rotating shaft (8); the rotating shaft (8) is interference-fitted with the shaft hole of the first wheel body, so that the first wheel body can be positioned when it moves along the rotating shaft (8) to the unlock position or the braking position, and / or, the rotating shaft (8) is provided with a plurality of shift protrusions arranged sequentially along its axial direction, in the case of the unlock position and in the case of the braking position, the first wheel body can engage with the shift protrusions to be positioned in the unlock position or the braking position.

4. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein: The traction wheel (2) includes a disc (21) and a driven wheel (22) connected sequentially along the axial direction. The disc (21) has a traction rope connection portion, and the second tooth (221) is formed on the driven wheel (22).

5. A locking mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that: The second tooth (221) protrudes radially from the outer peripheral surface of the disc body (21) so that when the control member (1) moves toward the unlock position, the first tooth (11) meshing with the second tooth (221) can move to the side of the disc body (21) in the radial direction. And / or, the driven wheel (22) is configured as a sector gear, the disc body (21) is configured as a sector disc and is at least partially offset from the driven wheel (22) in the circumferential direction; the first tooth (11) of the control member (1) abuts against the second tooth (221) of the traction wheel (2) in the radial direction to straighten the traction wheel (2); And / or, the driven wheel (22) is hollow, with one end axially away from the disc (21) open and the other end close to the disc (21); And / or, in the unlocked position, along the axial direction of the traction wheel (2), the first tooth (11) covers the second tooth (221).

6. A locking mechanism according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: The first tooth (11) has a first guide surface (111) at its tooth tip and / or the third tooth (311) has a second guide surface (3111) at its tooth tip, which are used to guide the first tooth (11) and the third tooth (311) to mesh axially through the slope guiding effect.

7. A locking mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that: The braking element (3) includes a second wheel body (31) and a damping element (32) for connection to the housing of the endoscope handle. The third tooth (311) is formed on the second wheel body (31), and the second wheel body (31) is rotatably connected to the damping element (32) about its axis. The damping element (32) is used to provide a certain damping to brake the second wheel body (31).

8. An endoscope handle, characterized in that: Includes a housing (4) and a locking mechanism as described in any one of claims 1-7; The housing (4) is provided with an operation window (43), and the control component (1) is installed on the housing (4). A part of the control component (1) extends out of the housing (4) from the operation window (43) for human operation. The traction wheel (2) is installed inside the housing (4); The braking component (3) is mounted on the housing (4).

9. An endoscope, characterized in that: Includes the endoscope handle as described in claim 8.

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