Snake bone structure and endoscope

Abstract

The application discloses a snake bone structure and an endoscope, and relates to the technical field of medical devices. The snake bone structure comprises a limiting piece and a pipe body. The pipe body comprises a plurality of sequentially connected bone segments. An avoiding opening is formed between two adjacent bone segments. The first side and the second side of the bone segment in the first direction are provided with the limiting piece, and the limiting piece is located in the bone segment. The first direction is the radial direction of the bone segment. The surface of the bone segment forming the avoiding opening is an avoiding end surface. At least one end of the extension direction of the limiting piece protrudes from the avoiding end surface. In the case that the pipe body is bent, the two adjacent bone segments can be limited by the limiting pieces on the same side, and the avoiding gap is formed between the two adjacent bone segments. The snake bone structure is beneficial to solve the problem that the snake bone structure breaks the outer wrapping layer of the snake bone structure.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of medical devices, and in particular to a snake bone structure and an endoscope. BACKGROUND

[0002] An endoscope is a commonly used medical device, which is an inspection device capable of directly entering a natural duct of a human body to provide sufficient diagnostic information for a doctor to treat a disease. The endoscope includes an insertion portion, which can enter the human body through a body cavity or a surgical avoidance port.

[0003] In the related art, the insertion portion includes a main body portion, a front end assembly, and a snake bone. One end of the extension direction of the snake bone is connected to the distal end of the main body portion. The front end assembly is arranged at the second end of the extension direction of the snake bone. The snake bone includes a plurality of bone segments, and the plurality of bone segments are rotationally connected to each other to adjust the orientation of the front end assembly by relative rotation between two adjacent bone segments, thereby adapting to a curved body cavity or adjusting the visual field of the front end assembly.

[0004] However, in the related art, the outer wrapping layer between two adjacent bone segment members is easily damaged during bending of the snake bone structure, thereby affecting the normal use of the endoscope. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application discloses a snake bone structure and an endoscope to solve the problem of easy damage to the outer wrapping layer of the snake bone structure in the related art.

[0006] To solve the above problems, the technical scheme adopted by the present application is as follows:

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides a snake bone structure. The snake bone structure can be used in an endoscope. The snake bone structure includes a limiting member and a tube body. The tube body includes a plurality of bone segment members connected in sequence. An avoidance port is formed between two adjacent bone segment members. The first side and the second side of the bone segment member in the first direction are both provided with a limiting member, and the limiting member is located in the bone segment member. The first direction is the radial direction of the bone segment member. The face of the bone segment member forming the avoidance port is the avoidance end face. At least one end of the extension direction of the limiting member protrudes from the avoidance end face. In the case of bending of the tube body, the two adjacent bone segment members can be limited by the limiting members on the same side, and the two adjacent bone segment members have an avoidance gap.

[0008] The technical scheme adopted by the present application can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0009] In the snake bone structure provided by the application, the limiting member protrudes from the avoiding end face of the bone segment, and in the process of deflection of the two adjacent bone segments, the limiting member on the same side can stop and limit. In this way, the maximum deflection angle between the two adjacent bone segments can be limited. Therefore, in the process of preparing the snake bone structure, the height of the limiting member protruding from the avoiding end face can be set according to the need to set the maximum deflection angle of the two adjacent bone segments, thereby helping to improve the controllability of the bending angle of the snake bone structure. In addition, in the case where the two adjacent bone segments can be stopped and limited by the limiting member on the same side, the two adjacent bone segments have an avoiding gap, and the wrapping layer on the inside and outside of the bending part of the snake bone structure can be deformed into the avoiding gap, thereby helping to prevent the wrapping layer on the outside of the snake bone structure from being damaged.

[0010] According to some optional embodiments, the end of the extending direction of the limiting member has a limiting face. The limiting face is obliquely arranged. The limiting members on the same side of the two adjacent bone segments stop and limit through the limiting face.

[0011] According to some optional embodiments, the bone segment has a rotating part. The rotating part is located between the two limiting members. The two adjacent bone segments are rotationally connected through the rotating part, and the two adjacent bone segments can be deflected to the first side or the second side of the bone segment around the first axis. The limiting face is parallel to the first axis.

[0012] According to some optional embodiments, the first axis is coplanar with the limiting face.

[0013] According to some optional embodiments, the first side and the second side of the end of the axial direction of the bone segment are provided with avoiding grooves. The groove opening of the avoiding groove is located on the avoiding end face, and the avoiding groove penetrates the outer peripheral wall of the bone segment.

[0014] According to some optional embodiments, the avoiding groove penetrates the inner peripheral wall of the bone segment. The two ends of the limiting member in the second direction are connected with the groove wall of the avoiding groove. The second direction is the groove width direction of the avoiding groove, and the limiting member and the bone segment form a wire passing hole.

[0015] According to some optional embodiments, the limiting member is connected with the inner side wall of the bone segment. The limiting member has a wire passing hole, and the wire passing hole penetrates the limiting member along the axial direction of the bone segment.

[0016] According to some optional embodiments, in the two adjacent bone segments, the rotating part of one has a buckling groove, and the rotating part of the other has a buckling part, the buckling part is at least partially located in the buckling groove, and the buckling part and the buckling groove are rotationally buckled.

[0017] On the other hand, the application provides an endoscope. The endoscope has the same technical features as the snake bone structure provided by the application and can achieve the same technical effects, which will not be described here.

[0018] According to some optional embodiments, the endoscope further comprises two traction ropes. Both of the two traction ropes are arranged in the tube body, and one of the two traction ropes is arranged on the first side of the first direction of the tube body, and the other of the two traction ropes is arranged on the second side of the first direction of the tube body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or prior art description. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can also be obtained from these drawings without creative labor.

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a snake bone structure provided by some optional embodiments of the present application;

[0021] Figure 2 is a schematic view of a snake bone structure provided by some optional embodiments of the present application; Figure 1 is a partial enlarged view of A in FIG. 4;

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic view of the stop of the limiting member on the same side of two adjacent bone segments provided by some optional embodiments of the present application;

[0023] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a snake bone structure provided by some optional embodiments of the present application Figure 1 ;

[0024] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a snake bone structure provided by some optional embodiments of the present application Figure 2 ;

[0025] Figure 6 is a schematic view of a bending part of a snake bone structure provided by some optional embodiments of the present application;

[0026] Figure 7 is an axial view of a bone segment provided by some optional embodiments of the present application;

[0027] Figure 8 is a front view of a bone segment provided by some optional embodiments of the present application;

[0028] Figure 9 is a top view of a bone segment provided by some optional embodiments of the present application;

[0029] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of A-A shown in FIG. 6; Figure 9

[0030] Figure 11 ​is a schematic view of two adjacent bone segments being limited by the limiting member according to some optional embodiments of the present application;

[0031] Figure 12 is Figure 11 is an enlarged view of B in FIG. 8;

[0032] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of two adjacent bone segments after being assembled according to some optional embodiments of the present application.

[0033] Explanation of Reference Signs:

[0034] 100-limiting member; 110-limiting surface; 101-thread hole; 200-tube body; 210-bone segment; 211-avoidance end surface; 212-rotation part; 2121-buckling groove; 2122-buckling part; 213-avoidance groove; 201-avoidance opening; 202-avoidance gap; 300-pulling rope. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the technical solutions of the present application will be described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, but not all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work fall within the scope of the present application.

[0036] The terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of the present application are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be exchanged under appropriate circumstances, so that the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein, and the objects distinguished by "first", "second", etc. are generally of a kind and do not limit the number of objects, for example, the first object can be one or more. In addition, "and / or" in the specification and claims indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / ", generally indicates that the front and rear associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0037] In the embodiments of the present application, "proximal end" and "distal end" refer to the relative position of the endoscope and its accessories in the use environment relative to the user, wherein the end closer to the user is designated as "proximal end", and the end farther away from the user is designated as "distal end".

[0038] Two adjacent joint members of the snake bone structure are deflected and bent under the pulling of the traction rope, and then drive the insertion part of the endoscope to bend to adapt to different cavities. In the related art, the inner side of the bending part of the snake bone is limited by the edge part. Since the outer part of the snake bone structure is provided with a wrapping layer, the wrapping layer wrapped on the inner side surface of the bending part of the snake bone is extruded and deformed during the bending of the snake bone, and then the wrapping layer is easily invaginated into the avoiding port. Therefore, the external wrapping layer is easily damaged during the deflection and bending of the snake bone structure, which causes the snake bone structure to be exposed and affects the normal use of the endoscope.

[0039] To solve the above technical problems, the embodiments of the present application provide a snake bone structure and an endoscope. The snake bone structure includes a plurality of joint segments connected in sequence, and a spiral avoiding port is formed between two adjacent joint segments, so that the snake bone structure can be bent to the first side and / or the second side. The first side and the second side of the joint segment are provided with a limiting piece, and the limiting piece is located in the joint segment. The face of the joint segment forming the avoiding port is an avoiding end face. The end of the limiting piece protrudes from the avoiding end face. In the case that the snake bone structure is bent to the maximum angle on the first side, the limiting pieces located on the first sides of the two adjacent joint segments abut and limit, and an avoiding gap is formed between the first sides of the two adjacent joint segments. In the case that the snake bone structure is bent to the maximum angle on the second side, the limiting pieces located on the second sides of the two adjacent joint segments abut and limit, and an avoiding gap is formed between the second sides of the two adjacent joint segments. In this way, the limiting piece can limit the maximum angle of the bending of the snake bone structure, and can also ensure that the avoiding gap accommodating the external wrapping layer can be formed when the two joint segments are deflected to the maximum bending angle, so as to avoid the damage of the external wrapping layer.

[0040] The embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments and application scenarios. Figures 1 to 13 The embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments and application scenarios.

[0041] In a first aspect, the present application provides a snake bone structure. The snake bone structure can be used in an endoscope. Specifically, the snake bone structure can be used in the active bending section of the insertion part of the endoscope to realize the active bending of the insertion part by bending the snake bone structure to adapt to the cavity in the body, or to adjust the direction of the distal end of the insertion part to obtain different angle of view.

[0042] Referring to Figure 1 The snake bone structure provided by the present application includes a limiting piece 100 and a spiral tube body 200. The tube body 200 is a basic structural member to provide a mounting base for other components through the tube body 200.

[0043] As Figure 1As shown, the tube body 200 comprises a plurality of bone segments 210 connected in sequence. Exemplarily, the tube body 200 can be a riveted tube body structure connected in rotation. Exemplarily, two adjacent bone segments 210 are hinged by riveting. Of course, the tube body 200 can also be a tube body structure formed by cutting a metal tube integrally. Exemplarily, the tube body 200 can be a spiral structure. Alternatively, the tube body 200 is formed by connecting a plurality of bone segments 210 in rotation in sequence. Therefore, the present embodiment does not limit the specific structure of the tube body 200.

[0044] Referring to Figure 1 In the case of a spiral structure of the tube body 200, each bone segment 210 surrounds the axis of the tube body 200 once. In some alternative embodiments, in the case of a straight state of the tube body 200, the axis of the tube body 200 refers to the central axis of the tube body 200. Exemplarily, the axis of the tube body 200 can be the axis L1 shown in Figure 1

[0045] In some alternative embodiments, the plurality of bone segments 210 can be an integral structure. Specifically, the tube body 200 with the plurality of bone segments 210 can be formed by a cutting process during the preparation of the tube body 200.

[0046] Referring to Figure 1 The two adjacent bone segments 210 form a spiral-shaped avoidance gap 201 therebetween, so that the avoidance gap 201 can provide avoidance space for the deflection of the two adjacent bone segments 210, thereby enabling the tube body 200 to deflect and bend to one side or multiple sides.

[0047] Referring to Figure 11 and Figure 13 In some alternative embodiments, the plurality of bone segments 210 are connected in rotation by a rotating buckle. The avoidance gaps 201 are distributed in the extension direction of the tube body 200, so that the tube body 200 can deflect and bend to the side between the avoidance gaps 201.

[0048] According to some alternative embodiments, the first direction of the bone segment 210 has an opposite first side and a second side. The inner wall of the first side and the inner wall of the second side of the bone segment 210 are provided with the limiting member 100. Exemplarily, the first direction is the radial direction of the bone segment 210. According to some alternative embodiments, the first direction can be the direction shown by the y-axis in Figure 10

[0049] Referring to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some alternative embodiments, the face of the bone segment 210 forming the avoidance gap 201 is an avoidance end face 211. Exemplarily, the end face of the bone segment 210 in the second direction forms the avoidance gap 201. Exemplarily, the second direction can be the direction shown by the x-axis in Figure 10 .​​

[0050] Referring to Figures 2 to 4 , at least one end of the extension direction of the limiting piece 100 protrudes from the avoiding end face 211. As Figure 3 shown, in the case of bending of the pipe body 200, two adjacent bone segments 210 can be limited by the limiting pieces 100 on the same side, and the avoiding gap 202 is provided between the two adjacent bone segments 210. Specifically, in the case of deflection of the snake bone structure to the first side to the maximum bending angle, the two adjacent limiting pieces 100 on the first side of the bone segment 210 are limited, and the avoiding gap 202 is provided between the first sides of the two adjacent bone segments 210. In the case of deflection of the snake bone structure to the second side to the maximum bending angle, the two adjacent limiting pieces 100 on the second side of the bone segment 210 are limited, and the avoiding gap 202 is provided between the second sides of the two adjacent bone segments 210.

[0051] The snake bone structure provided by the above embodiment can not only limit the maximum deflection angle between the two bone segments 210 to avoid excessive bending between the two adjacent bone segments 210, but also support each other between the limiting pieces 100 on the same side, so that the tension of the traction rope 300 acting on the bone segment 210 at the distal end of the snake bone structure can be transmitted in sequence through the limiting pieces 100 on the same side, thereby limiting the maximum deflection angle of any two adjacent bone segments 210 and improving the controllability of the deflection angle of different segments of the snake bone structure.

[0052] In addition, in the case of using the snake bone structure for an endoscope, a protective layer is further provided outside the snake bone structure. In some optional embodiments, the material of the protective layer covering the outside of the snake bone structure is a plastic material. The material of the protective layer covering the outside of the snake bone structure can be set according to the needs. The specific material of the protective layer is not limited in the present embodiment. The snake bone structure provided by the above embodiment can accommodate the protective layer inside the bending part through the avoiding gap 202, so as to avoid the influence of the protective layer on the bending angle of the bone structure, thereby improving the accuracy of the bending angle of the snake bone structure, and also avoiding the protective layer being broken by the two adjacent bone segments 210.

[0053] In some alternative embodiments, the tube body 200 is in a spiral shape. In the process of bending the serpentine structure, the end surface of one of the two adjacent bone segments 210 in the second direction slides along the end surface of the other bone segment 210 in the second direction to the inside of the bone segment 210. In the above embodiments, the end of the limiting member 100 protrudes from the avoiding end surface 211, thereby facilitating the limiting member 100 to abut against the inner wall of the bone segment 210 to avoid the partial insertion of the bone segment 210 into the adjacent bone segment 210. In addition, when the two adjacent bone segments 210 are deflected to the maximum bending angle, the limiting members 100 on the same side of the two adjacent bone segments 210 abut against each other. Therefore, the deflection angle between the two adjacent bone segments 210 can be prevented from being too large by the two limiting members 100 on the same side to avoid the end-to-end insertion of the two adjacent bone segments 210 due to the excessive twisting deformation between the two adjacent bone segments 210.

[0054] According to some alternative embodiments, referring to Figure 2 and Figure 5 , the end of the limiting member 100 in the extending direction has a limiting surface 110. The limiting surface 110 is inclinedly arranged. In some alternative embodiments, referring to Figure 3 and Figure 6 , the limiting members 100 on the same side of the two adjacent bone segments 210 abut against each other through the limiting surface 110. For example, when the two adjacent bone segments 210 are deflected to the maximum bending angle, the limiting surfaces 110 of the two adjacent limiting members 100 on the same side abut against each other.

[0055] In the above embodiments, the limiting members 100 on the same side of the two adjacent bone segments 210 abut against each other through the limiting surface 110, so that the two limiting members 100 on the same side abut against each other in a face-to-face manner, thereby facilitating the avoidance of the stress concentration of the supporting portion between the two limiting members 100 and improving the reliability of the abutment of the two limiting members 100. In addition, the two limiting members 100 abut against each other in a face-to-face manner, thereby facilitating the prevention of the relative sliding between the two limiting members 100, and the interaction force between the two limiting members 100 can be used to prevent the end-to-end insertion of the two adjacent bone segments 210.

[0056] According to some alternative embodiments, referring to Figure 5 , the limiting member 100 extends along the axis of the bone segment 210. In some alternative embodiments, along the axial direction of the bone segment 210, the limiting surface 110 is inclined to the middle of the extending direction of the limiting member 100, so that the interaction force generated by the two limiting members 100 can prevent the radial movement of one of the two adjacent bone segments 210 relative to the other bone segment 210.

[0057] According to some alternative embodiments, referring to Figure 1The bone segment 210 has a rotating part 212. The rotating part 212 is located between two stoppers 100. Two adjacent bone segments 210 are rotatably connected through the rotating part 212, and the two adjacent bone segments 210 can be deflected to the first side or the second side of the bone segment 210 around the first axis.

[0058] With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 4 According to some optional embodiments, the rotating part 212 protrudes from the clearance end face 211 of the bone segment 210, and the rotating part 212 has an arc surface which abuts against the clearance end face 211 of the adjacent bone segment 210. With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 4 The rotating part 212 of one of the two adjacent bone segments 210 protrudes from the clearance end face 211 of the bone segment 210, and the rotating part 212 abuts against the clearance end face 211 of the other bone segment 210. For example, the rotating part 212 is a protruding part arranged on the bone segment 210, and the rotating part 212 has an arc surface or a spherical surface, so that the rotating part 212 can form a rotating pair with the adjacent bone segment 210, thereby realizing the relative rotation between the two adjacent bone segments 210.

[0059] According to some optional embodiments, the stop surface 110 is parallel to the first axis. During the deflection and bending of the snake structure, the stopper 100 rotates in the first plane. In this way, the stop surface 110 is perpendicular to the first plane. Therefore, this embodiment is beneficial to prevent the two adjacent stoppers 100 on the same side from abutting against each other and sliding, thereby improving the reliability of the abutment and positioning of the two stoppers 100 on the same side.

[0060] In some optional embodiments, with reference to Figure 11 and Figure 13 The two adjacent bone segments 210 are hingedly connected, and the two adjacent bone segments 210 can rotate around the first axis. The first axis is coplanar with the stop surface 110. In this way, during the bending of the snake structure, the stop surfaces 110 of the two stoppers 100 on the same side abut against each other synchronously, and the interaction force between the two stop surfaces 110 is perpendicular to the stop surface 110, thereby preventing the relative sliding between the two adjacent stop surfaces 110 and improving the reliability of the abutment and positioning of the snake structure by the stoppers 100.

[0061] According to some optional embodiments, with reference to Figure 4 and Figure 5The two ends of the extension direction of the limiting member 100 protrude from the avoiding end face 211 of the bone segment 210, i.e. the two ends of the limiting member 100 penetrate through the two avoiding end faces 211 opposite to each other in the extension direction of the limiting member 100. In this way, in the process of deflection and bending of the snake bone structure, the pulling force on the distal end of the bone segment 210 of the snake bone structure can be transmitted to each bone segment 210 in turn by directly abutting against the limiting members 100 on the same side. Therefore, this embodiment is beneficial to reduce the stress on the axis direction of the bone segment 210, and further beneficial to prevent the collapse of the axis direction of the snake bone structure, and effectively avoid the end-to-end embedding of two adjacent bone segments 210.

[0062] In other optional embodiments, referring to Figure 10 The first direction of each bone segment 210 is provided with two limiting members 100. The two limiting members 100 are arranged in the axial direction of the bone segment 210 and the end of the two limiting members 100 opposite to each other protrudes from the avoiding end face 211 of the bone segment 210. For example, each bone segment 210 is provided with a first limiting member and a second limiting member. The first limiting member and the second limiting member are arranged in the axial direction of the bone segment 210. The end of the first limiting member away from the second limiting member protrudes from the first avoiding end face 211 in the axial direction of the bone segment 210. The end of the second limiting member away from the first limiting member protrudes from the second avoiding end face 211 in the axial direction of the bone segment 210.

[0063] In some optional embodiments, the limiting member 100 has a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are arranged in the extension direction of the limiting member 100 and are connected to the bone segment 210, respectively. In some optional embodiments, the side wall of the limiting member 100 abuts against the inner side wall of the bone segment 210. In optional embodiments, one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion is adjacent to the first side of the bone segment 210 in the axial direction, and the other is adjacent to the second side of the bone segment 210 in the axial direction. For example, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion can be welding points connecting the limiting member 100 and the bone segment 210.

[0064] In the above embodiments, the limiting member 100 and the bone segment 210 form two connecting portions arranged in the axial direction of the bone segment 210, which is beneficial to increase the strength of the bone segment 210 by the limiting member 100. Therefore, this embodiment is beneficial to reduce the distortion of the bone segment 210 in the case of deflection and bending of the snake bone structure, and further beneficial to prevent the end-to-end embedding of two adjacent bone segments 210 and improve the controllability of the bending angle of the snake bone structure.

[0065] In some optional embodiments, the connecting part between the limiting member 100 and the bone segment 210 penetrates the bone segment 210 along the axial direction of the bone segment 210, so as to improve the assembly reliability of the limiting member 100 and the bone segment 210.

[0066] According to some optional embodiments, the limiting member 100 and the bone segment 210 can be connected by but not limited to a welding process. Of course, in some optional embodiments, the limiting member 100 can also be an integral structure with the bone segment 210.

[0067] According to some optional examples, referring to Figure 7 and Figure 8 , the first side and the second side of the end part of the bone segment 210 along the axial direction are both provided with an avoiding groove 213. The slot of the avoiding groove 213 is located at the avoiding end face 211, and the avoiding groove 213 penetrates the outer peripheral wall of the bone segment 210. As shown in Figure 11 and Figure 12 , in the case that two adjacent bone segments 210 are deflected to the maximum bending angle, the avoiding groove 213 is beneficial to increase the space for accommodating the protective layer outside the snake bone structure inside the bending part, and is further beneficial to prevent the protective layer outside the snake bone structure from being broken by the two adjacent bone segments 210 in the process of bending the snake bone structure.

[0068] Referring to Figure 9 , Figure 10 and Figure 13 , the avoiding groove 213 penetrates the inner peripheral wall of the bone segment 210. For example, the avoiding groove 213 penetrates the outer peripheral wall of the bone segment 210 to the inner peripheral wall of the bone segment 210. Referring to Figure 9 , the two ends of the limiting member 100 in the second direction are connected with the groove walls of the avoiding groove 213, the second direction is the groove width direction of the avoiding groove 213, and the overline hole 101 is formed between the limiting member 100 and the bone segment 210. Wherein, the groove width direction of the avoiding groove 213 is the direction shown by the y-axis in Figure 10 .

[0069] In some optional examples, the limiting member 100 and the bone segment 210 are an integral structure. For example, in the process of preparing the bone segment 210, a cutting seam extending along the second direction can be first cut on the first side and / or the second side of the bone segment 210 along the axial direction. For example, the part located on one side of the cutting seam adjacent to the end part of the bone segment 210 along the axial direction is bent to the inside of the bone segment 210, so as to form the limiting member 100 located in the bone segment 210.

[0070] The snake bone structure provided by the above embodiments is beneficial to the integral forming of the limiting member 100 and the bone segment 210. For example, by concaving the sidewall of the avoiding groove 213, the avoiding groove 213 and the limiting member 100 can be formed at the same time. In addition, in the process of manufacturing the bone segment 210, the limiting member 100 can be formed by cutting, which is beneficial to reducing the processing difficulty of the snake bone structure.

[0071] In addition, the limiting member 100 and the bone segment 210 form a wire passing hole 101. The avoiding groove 213 penetrates the outer peripheral wall of the bone segment 210 to the inner peripheral wall of the bone segment 210. For example, in the case that the snake bone structure is used in an endoscope, the wire passing hole 101 can be used to pass a traction rope, so as to fix the traction rope to the first side or the second side of the bone segment 210 through the limiting member 100, which is beneficial to the traction rope to pull the snake bone structure to deflect and bend. The avoiding groove 213 penetrates the outer peripheral wall of the bone segment 210 to the inner peripheral wall of the bone segment 210. In this way, in the case that the snake bone structure bends, the traction rope can be at least partially located in the avoiding groove 213, which is beneficial to the smoothness of the traction rope to bend between two adjacent snake bone structures, and is beneficial to reducing the resistance to pulling the traction rope.

[0072] Referring to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , according to some optional embodiments, the limiting member 100 is connected to the inner sidewall of the bone segment 210. The limiting member 100 has a wire passing hole 101, which penetrates the limiting member 100 along the axis direction of the bone segment 210. In some optional embodiments, the limiting member 100 extends along the axis direction of the bone segment 210. The wire passing hole 101 penetrates the limiting member 100 along the extension direction of the limiting member 100.

[0073] In some optional embodiments, the limiting member 100 is a metal pipe. For example, the limiting member 100 can be fixedly connected to the bone segment 210 by welding.

[0074] For example, the endoscope includes a traction rope 300. According to some optional embodiments, in the case that the snake bone structure is used in an endoscope, the wire passing hole 101 is used to pass the traction rope 300. Referring to Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the traction rope 300 penetrates the limiting member 100 along the wire passing hole 101, so as to pull the snake bone structure to deflect and bend to the first side or the second side through the traction rope 300.

[0075] In the above embodiments, the wire passing hole 101 is arranged on the limiting member 100, and thus the two limiting members 100 on the same side of the snake structure share one traction rope 300. In this way, the traction rope 300 can guide the two adjacent limiting members 100 to stop and limit during the bending of the snake structure, and can also provide resistance to the deflection of the two adjacent bone segments 210. In addition, the force of the traction rope 300 acting on the snake structure can form a pressing force between the two limiting members 100, thereby improving the reliability of the two limiting members 100 in stopping and limiting, and thus preventing the two adjacent bone segments 210 from being nested end to end.

[0076] With reference to Figure 10 and Figure 13 According to some optional embodiments, among the two adjacent bone segments 210, the rotating part 212 of one has a buckling groove 2121, and the rotating part 212 of the other has a buckling part 2122, the buckling part 2122 is at least partially located in the buckling groove 2121, and the buckling part 2122 is rotationally buckled with the buckling groove 2121.

[0077] In the above embodiments, the two adjacent bone segments 210 are rotationally buckled by the buckling part 2122 and the buckling groove 2121, and are stopped and limited by the two limiting members 100 on the same side. In this way, the limiting structure for limiting the maximum deflection angle can be avoided at the rotating part 212. Therefore, this embodiment is beneficial to prevent the pulling force of the traction rope acting on the bone segment 210 from separating the buckling part 2122 from the buckling groove 2121 during the deflection of the snake structure, and to improve the reliability of the connection of the bone segments 210 in the snake structure.

[0078] On the other hand, the present application provides an endoscope. The endoscope comprises the snake structure provided by the above embodiments and has the same technical effects, which will not be repeated here.

[0079] In some optional embodiments, the endoscope further comprises an insertion part and an operation part. The operation part is a basic structural member, which can provide the operator with a grip and operation control. The proximal end of the insertion part is connected to the operation part. In some optional embodiments, the snake structure is arranged at the distal end of the insertion part, so that the distal end of the insertion part can be bent and turned through the snake structure to adapt to different cavities and obtain pictures with different angles of view.

[0080] With reference to Figure 5 In some optional embodiments, the endoscope further comprises two traction ropes 300. The two traction ropes 300 are both arranged in the pipe body 200, and one traction rope 300 is arranged on the first side of the pipe body 200 in the first direction, and the other traction rope 300 is arranged on the second side of the pipe body 200 in the first direction.

[0081] In some optional embodiments, the traction ropes 300 are connected to the bone segments 210 at the distal end of the snake structure and pass through the bone segments 210 sequentially from the distal end to the proximal end of the snake structure. In some optional embodiments, the limiters 100 have wire passing holes 101. The traction ropes 300 pass through the wire passing holes 101 of the limiters 100 on the same side sequentially. In this way, the limiters 100 can also be used to fix the traction ropes 300 on the first side or the second side of the snake structure, thereby helping to ensure that the force arm of the traction ropes 300 pulling the bone segments 210 to deflect is maximized, thereby helping to reduce the resistance of the traction ropes 300 pulling the snake structure to deflect and bend, and reducing the difficulty of deflecting and bending the snake structure.

[0082] For example, when the snake structure needs to deflect and bend to the first side, the traction ropes 300 on the first side can be pulled and the migration ropes on the second side can be released, so that the bone segments 210 in the snake structure deflect and bend to the first side until the limiters 100 on the first side stop limiting. When the snake structure needs to deflect and bend to the second side, the traction ropes 300 on the second side can be pulled and the migration ropes on the first side can be released, so that the bone segments 210 in the snake structure deflect and bend to the second side until the limiters 100 on the second side stop limiting. Therefore, the above-mentioned embodiments can realize the bending of the snake structure to the first side or the second side by two traction ropes 300.

[0083] The endoscope of the embodiments of the present application can be a bronchoscope, a renal pelvis scope, an esophagoscope, a gastroscope, a colonoscope, an otoscope, a nasoscope, an oral cavity scope, a laryngoscope, a vaginal scope, a laparoscope, an arthroscope, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit the type of endoscope.

[0084] It should be noted that in this document, the terms "comprising", "including", or any other variant thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, so that processes, methods, articles, or devices that include a series of elements not only include those elements, but also include other elements not explicitly listed, or include elements inherent to such processes, methods, articles, or devices. Without more limitations, the element defined by the phrase "including a" does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or device that includes the element. In addition, it should be pointed out that the scope of the methods and devices in the embodiments of the present application is not limited to performing functions in the order shown or discussed, but can also include performing functions in a substantially simultaneous manner or in reverse order, for example, the described method can be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps can also be added, omitted, or combined. In addition, the features described with reference to certain examples can be combined in other examples.

[0085] The above merely illustrates the specific embodiments of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto, any person skilled in the art can easily think of the changes or replacements within the technical range disclosed by the present application, which should be covered in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A serpentine bone structure, characterized in that, The snake bone structure is used for an endoscope, and comprises a limiting piece (100) and a tube body (200), wherein the tube body (200) comprises a plurality of sequentially connected bone segments (210), and an avoiding opening (201) is formed between two adjacent bone segments (210). The first side and the second side of the bone segment (210) in the first direction are provided with the limiting piece (100), the limiting piece (100) is located in the bone segment (210), and the first direction is the radial direction of the bone segment (210); the face of the bone segment (210) forming the avoiding opening (201) is an avoiding end face (211), and at least one end of the extending direction of the limiting piece (100) protrudes from the avoiding end face (211). In the case that the tube body (200) is bent, two adjacent bone segments (210) can be limited by the limiting pieces (100) on the same side, and the avoiding gap (202) is formed between the two adjacent bone segments (210).

2. The serpentine bone structure of claim 1, wherein, The end of the extending direction of the limiting piece (100) is provided with a limiting face (110), the limiting face (110) is obliquely arranged, and the limiting pieces (100) on the same side of two adjacent bone segments (210) are limited by the limiting face (110).

3. The serpentine bone structure of claim 2, wherein, The bone segment (210) has a rotating part (212) located between two limiting pieces (100), two adjacent bone segments (210) are rotationally connected through the rotating part (212), and the two adjacent bone segments (210) can be deflected around a first axis to the first side or the second side of the bone segment (210). The limiting face (110) is parallel to the first axis.

4. The serpentine bone structure of claim 3, wherein, The first axis is coplanar with the limiting face (110).

5. The serpentine bone structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first side and the second side of the end of the axial direction of the bone segment (210) are provided with avoiding grooves (213), the groove opening of the avoiding groove (213) is located on the avoiding end face (211), and the avoiding groove (213) penetrates the outer peripheral wall of the bone segment (210).

6. The serpentine bone structure of claim 5, wherein, The avoiding groove (213) penetrates the inner peripheral wall of the bone segment (210); the two ends of the limiting piece (100) in the second direction are connected with the groove wall of the avoiding groove (213), the second direction is the groove width direction of the avoiding groove (213), and the limiting piece (100) and the bone segment (210) form a wire passing hole (101).

7. The serpentine bone structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The limiting piece (100) is connected with the inner side wall of the bone segment (210), the limiting piece (100) has a wire passing hole (101), and the wire passing hole (101) penetrates the limiting piece (100) along the axial direction of the bone segment (210).

8. The serpentine bone structure of claim 3 or 4, wherein, The rotating part (212) of one of the two adjacent bone segments (210) has a buckling groove (2121), and the rotating part (212) of the other has a buckling part (2122) which is at least partially located in the buckling groove (2121) and buckles with the buckling groove (2121).

9. An endoscope characterized by comprising: The snake bone structure comprises the snake bone structure according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The endoscope of claim 9, wherein, The two traction ropes (300) are arranged in the pipe body (200), and one of the two traction ropes (300) is arranged on the first side of the first direction of the pipe body (200), and the other is arranged on the second side of the first direction of the pipe body (200).

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