A continuous real-time adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe

Abstract

The application provides a continuous real-time adjustable focus endoscopic OCT probe, which comprises an imaging module, a moving module and a driving module; the driving module comprises a rotating motor, two parallel translation modules, a first connecting piece and a second connecting piece, the rotating motor is installed on one of the translation modules, the first connecting piece is connected with the rotating motor; the second connecting piece is connected with the other translation module; the moving module comprises a coaxial cylinder, a bearing, an optical fiber and an elastic component, the coaxial cylinder is formed by coaxially sleeving a plurality of pipe bodies with different diameters, the bearing is sleeved into the coaxial cylinder, the optical fiber is sleeved into the bearing, the moving module is connected with the first connecting piece through the elastic component; the bearing is connected with the second connecting piece through a third connecting piece; the imaging module is installed at the front end of the optical fiber; the rotating motor drives the first connecting piece to rotate and drives the optical fiber to rotate, one of the translation modules drives the second connecting piece to move, so that the distance between the optical fiber and the imaging module is adjusted to adjust the focal length.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the fields of optical imaging technology and endoscopy technology, and in particular to an endoscopic OCT probe with continuously adjustable focal length in real time. Background Technology

[0002] Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a high-resolution imaging technique widely used in medical diagnosis, particularly in the early detection and monitoring of gastrointestinal diseases. However, current OCT imaging probes typically have a fixed focal length, which limits their imaging accuracy and flexibility across different gastrointestinal tissue layers. This is especially true when detecting gastrointestinal tumors, inflammation, and other lesions, where fixed-focal-length OCT probes struggle to meet the imaging requirements of varying depths and structures.

[0003] Therefore, developing a simple endoscopic OCT imaging probe with real-time adjustable focal length to improve the detection accuracy and flexibility of gastrointestinal diseases has become an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a continuously adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe that can adjust the focal length in real time according to the detection needs of different gastrointestinal diseases, thereby improving imaging accuracy and diagnostic efficiency.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a continuously adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe, including an imaging module, a moving module, and a driving module;

[0006] The drive module includes a rotary motor, two parallel translation modules, a first connector, and a second connector. The first connector is connected to one of the translation modules, and the rotary motor is mounted to one of the translation modules via the first connector. The second connector is connected to the other translation module.

[0007] The moving module includes a coaxial cylinder, a bearing, an optical fiber, and an elastic component. The coaxial cylinder is formed by coaxially fitting multiple tubes of different diameters. The bearing is fitted into the coaxial cylinder, and the optical fiber is fitted into the bearing and connected to the rotary motor. The bearing is connected to the second connector via a third connector. The imaging module is mounted at the front end of the optical fiber.

[0008] The rotary motor drives the optical fiber to rotate, and one of the translation modules drives the second connector to move, thereby adjusting the distance between the optical fiber and the imaging module to adjust the focal length.

[0009] In some embodiments, the coaxial cylinder comprises a first tube, a second tube, and a third tube, the second tube is embedded in the first tube, the third tube is embedded in the second tube, the third tube is sleeved in the bearing, and the optical fiber is sleeved in the third tube.

[0010] In some embodiments, the length of the second tube is less than the first tube, so that the front and rear ends of the coaxial cylinder form a plug-in space.

[0011] In some embodiments, the optical fiber is surrounded by an insulating sleeve, the insulating sleeve is inserted into the plug-in space at the front end of the coaxial cylinder, and the third tube is sleeved between the insulating sleeve and the optical fiber.

[0012] In some embodiments, the driver drives the first and second connectors to move forward and backward along the translational track.

[0013] In some embodiments, the second connector extends forward to connect with the third connector.

[0014] In some embodiments, the rotary motor is mounted on the sliding plate of one of the translational tracks, and the sliding plate of the other translational track is connected with the second connector.

[0015] In some embodiments, the imaging module comprises a sheath, a lens, and a mirror, the lens is mounted inside the sheath, the sheath is provided with an opening at the front end of the lens, and the mirror is mounted at the opening.

[0016] In some embodiments, the mirror has an included angle with the optical path.

[0017] In some embodiments, the distance between the optical fiber and the imaging module can be adjusted within a range of 0-1.5mm.

[0018] In some embodiments, the movement module further comprises a spring, the rear end of the spring is inserted into the plug-in space at the front end of the coaxial cylinder and connected with the front end of the second tube.

[0019] The present application adjusts the distance between the optical fiber and the imaging module by mounting a driving module, a movement module, and an imaging module, connecting the translational module in the driving module with the bearing of the movement module, moving the movement module by the translational module to adjust the distance between the optical fiber and the imaging module, and adjusting the focal length; the translational module is adjusted simultaneously to realize the forward and backward movement of the probe, thereby positioning the imaging position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 The present application is a schematic diagram of a continuous real-time adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe.

[0021] Figure 2 is a sectional view of the imaging module;

[0022] Figure 3 is a sectional view of the rear end portion of the moving module;

[0023] Figure 4 is a sectional view of the front end portion of the moving module;

[0024] Figure 5 is a top view of the driving module.

[0025] Reference signs: 1, lens; 2, mirror; 3, sheath; 4, coaxial cylinder; 5, bearing; 6, optical fiber; 7, spring; 8, rotary motor; 9, translation track; 10, first connecting piece; 11, second connecting piece; 12, third connecting piece. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application; 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 labor fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0027] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "top / bottom end" and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present application. In addition, the terms "first", "second" are only for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0028] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "mounting", "provided with", "sleeved / connected", "connected" and the like should be broadly understood, for example, "connected" can be wall-mounted connection, can be detachable connection, or integral connection, can be mechanical connection, can be electrical connection, can be direct connection, can be indirect connection through an intermediate medium, can be internal communication of two elements, and those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application according to the specific circumstances.

[0029] Reference Figures 1-5 The embodiment provides a continuous real-time adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe, which comprises an imaging module, a moving module and a driving module.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2 , the imaging module comprises a sheath 3, a lens 1, and a mirror 2, the lens 1 is installed inside the sheath 3, the sheath 3 is provided with an opening at the front end of the lens 1, the mirror 2 is installed at the opening, and the mirror 2 and the optical path form an angle of 45°. The lens 1 is used to focus the light beam, and the mirror 2 is used to accurately guide the light to the target tissue. The main purpose of this module is to focus the emitted light beam on the gastrointestinal tissue, so as to obtain a high-resolution image.

[0031] As shown in Figure 3 and 4 , the moving module comprises a coaxial cylinder 4, a precision bearing 5, an optical fiber 6, and a spring 7, the coaxial cylinder 4 is formed by coaxially sleeving a plurality of pipes with different diameters, the precision bearing 5 is sleeved into the coaxial cylinder 4, and the optical fiber 6 is sleeved into the precision bearing 5.

[0032] Specifically, the coaxial cylinder 4 comprises a first pipe, a second pipe, and a third pipe, the second pipe is embedded in the first pipe, the third pipe is embedded in the second pipe, the third pipe is sleeved into the precision bearing 5, and the optical fiber 6 is sleeved into the third pipe. The length of the second pipe is less than that of the first pipe, so that the front and rear ends of the coaxial cylinder 4 form a plug-in space. The optical fiber 6 is provided with an insulating sleeve, the insulating sleeve is inserted into the plug-in space at the front end of the coaxial cylinder 4, and the third pipe is sleeved between the insulating sleeve and the optical fiber 6, so that the optical fiber 6 interface is fixed with the coaxial cylinder 4. The rear end of the spring 7 is inserted into the plug-in space at the front end of the coaxial cylinder 4 and connected with the front end of the second pipe.

[0033] As shown in Figure 5 , the driving module comprises a rotary motor 8, two parallelly arranged translation modules, a first connecting piece 10, and a second connecting piece 11; the translation module comprises a driver cylinder and a translation track 9, the first connecting piece is connected to one of the translation tracks, and the rotary motor is installed on one of the translation modules through the first connecting piece; the other translation track 9 is connected with the second connecting piece 11. The cylinder drives the first connecting piece 10 and the second connecting piece 11 to move forward and backward along the translation track 9.

[0034] The optical fiber 6 is connected with the rotary motor 8. The precision bearing 5 is connected with the forward extension of the second connecting piece 11 through a third connecting piece 12; and the imaging module is installed at the front end of the optical fiber 6.

[0035] The specific working mode of the continuous real-time adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe of the embodiment is as follows:

[0036] The rotating motor 8 drives the rotation of the optical fiber 6, and the probe composed of the optical fiber 6 and the imaging module rotates at high speed under the drive of the rotating motor 8 to scan and image. The second connecting member 11 is moved along the translation track 9 by the air cylinder to fine-tune the distance between the optical fiber 6 and the imaging module to adjust the focal length. In this embodiment, the distance between the optical fiber 6 and the lens 1 can be flexibly adjusted in the range of 0mm to 1.5mm, and the focal length changes in the range of 1.5mm to 8mm. By dynamically adjusting the focal length, the probe can quickly focus between different tissue depths and provide high-definition images of different pathological tissues. At the same time, by adjusting the two translation modules simultaneously, the forward and backward movement of the probe can be achieved by moving the first connecting member 10 and the second connecting member 11 simultaneously.

[0037] In clinical trials, the probe was used to detect multiple gastrointestinal cases. From superficial inflammation and ulcers to deep tumors, the probe of this embodiment adjusts the distance between the optical fiber 6 and the lens 1 from 0mm to 1.5mm through the adjustment of the drive module, and the focal length changes in the range of 1.5mm to 8mm. By dynamically adjusting the focal length, the probe can quickly focus between different tissue depths and provide high-definition images of different pathological tissues. In some cases, by adjusting to the appropriate focal length position, the early morphological features of gastrointestinal tumors are captured.

[0038] The coaxial cylinder 4 structure of this embodiment ingeniously integrates multiple stainless steel pipes, each pipe having a different diameter. Through the reasonable arrangement and combination of these stainless steel pipes, the stability and flexibility of the multi-layer structure are achieved. These stainless steel pipes are precisely machined to ensure their accuracy and smoothness in coaxial arrangement. This coaxial configuration not only provides strong carrying capacity, but also provides a stable and safe passage for other components of the system such as the optical fiber 6.

[0039] To further enhance the mechanical performance of the system, precision bearings 5 are specially designed and ingeniously installed in the structure of the coaxial cylinder 4. Their main function is to reduce friction, so that the optical fiber 6 can rotate and move smoothly and accurately in the system. The selection of high-precision precision bearings 5 and their layout in the system take into account different dynamic loads during the operation of the movement module, ensuring uninterrupted transmission and low loss of the optical fiber 6, and reducing vibration and noise.

[0040] The adjustable spring 7 provides the necessary elasticity and torque to maintain the response speed and stability of the system, which not only helps to absorb and release energy inside the system and reduce the influence of external vibration, but also ensures that the optical fiber 6 is always in a tight state under various operating conditions, making the response speed faster.

[0041] Through the cooperation of the above modules, the OCT probe of the embodiment can realize real-time focal length adjustment in endoscopic examination, greatly improves the imaging capability of the gastrointestinal diseases, provides clearer and more detailed images, and helps doctors to more accurately diagnose and treat patients. Meanwhile, the OCT probe of the embodiment has simple structure, low cost, and good adaptability and flexibility, and is convenient for clinical application.

[0042] The above merely describes a preferred specific embodiment of the present application, but the design concept of the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can make non-substantial modifications to the present application within the technical range disclosed by the present application, and such modifications shall also fall within the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A continuously adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe, characterized in that, Includes an imaging module, a motion module, and a drive module; The drive module includes a rotary motor, two parallel translation modules, a first connector, and a second connector. The first connector is connected to one of the translation modules, and the rotary motor is mounted to the one of the translation modules via the first connector. The second connector is connected to the other translation module. The moving module includes a coaxial cylinder, a bearing, an optical fiber, and an elastic component. The coaxial cylinder is formed by coaxially fitting multiple tubes of different diameters. The bearing is fitted into the coaxial cylinder, and the optical fiber is fitted into the bearing and connected to the rotary motor. The bearing is connected to the second connector via a third connector. The imaging module is mounted at the front end of the optical fiber. The rotary motor drives the optical fiber to rotate, and one of the translation modules drives the second connector to move, thereby adjusting the distance between the optical fiber and the imaging module to adjust the focal length.

2. The continuously adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe according to claim 1, characterized in that, The coaxial cylinder includes a first tube, a second tube, and a third tube. The second tube is embedded in the first tube, the third tube is embedded in the second tube, the third tube is fitted into the bearing, and the optical fiber is fitted into the third tube.

3. The continuously adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe according to claim 2, characterized in that, The length of the second tube is less than that of the first tube, so that the front and rear ends of the coaxial cylinder form an insertion space.

4. The continuously adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe according to claim 3, characterized in that, An insulating sleeve is fitted around the outer periphery of the optical fiber. The insulating sleeve is inserted into the insertion space at the front end of the coaxial cylinder. The third tube is fitted between the insulating sleeve and the optical fiber.

5. The continuously adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe according to claim 1, characterized in that, The translation module includes a driver and a translation track. The driver drives the first connector and the second connector to move back and forth along the translation track.

6. The continuously adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second connector extends forward to connect with the third connector.

7. The continuously adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe according to claim 1, characterized in that, The imaging module includes a protective sleeve, a lens, and a reflector. The lens is installed inside the protective sleeve, and the protective sleeve has an opening at the front end of the lens, with the reflector installed at the opening.

8. The continuously adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe according to claim 7, characterized in that, The reflector has an angle with the optical path.

9. The continuously adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe according to claim 1, characterized in that, The distance between the optical fiber and the imaging module can be adjusted within the range of 0-1.5mm.

10. The continuously adjustable focal length endoscopic OCT probe according to claim 3, characterized in that, The moving module also includes a spring, the rear end of which is inserted into the insertion space at the front end of the coaxial cylinder and connected to the front end of the second tube.

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