Negative pressure connection assembly and endoscope

Abstract

This invention discloses a negative pressure connection assembly and an endoscope, relating to the field of endoscope technology. The negative pressure connection assembly includes a first structural member, a second structural member, and a sealing ring. By providing a sealing ring between a first abutment surface within the first connecting end of the first structural member and a second abutment surface within the second connecting end of the second structural member, and setting the sealing ring so that its outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the second connecting end and its inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the first connecting end, and when the sealing ring is compressed axially from the first and second abutment surfaces, it deforms axially while at least a portion of it undergoes radial deformation. This seals the radial gap between the first connecting end and the sealing ring, as well as the radial gap between the second connecting end and the sealing ring. Only a larger force is required when compressing the sealing ring, thus facilitating the assembly of the first structural member, the second structural member, and the sealing element.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of endoscopy, and more particularly to a negative pressure connection assembly and an endoscope. Background Technology

[0002] In endoscopes, especially those used for suctioning, it is necessary to connect the suction bottle, external negative pressure, control switch, and tubing inserted into the patient's body for suctioning. In existing technologies, these components are typically glued together. However, this makes it difficult to remove and reuse the glued components, and reassembly is also challenging due to the remaining adhesive, further hindering reuse.

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, a method has emerged that uses interference fits instead of glue to assemble the components, enabling their reuse. This is exemplified by the technical solution mentioned in patent US20240423449A1. However, while this solution achieves component reuse, it introduces a problem: the interference fits between components require significant force to ensure connection stability. This is time-consuming and labor-intensive for the operator. Furthermore, insufficient force during assembly can lead to gaps between the suction nozzle and the Y-connector, potentially causing sputum to become trapped and blockages during suctioning. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention discloses a negative pressure connection component and an endoscope to at least partially improve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] To solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] On one hand, this application provides a negative pressure connection assembly, including: a first structural member, a second structural member, and a sealing ring. The first structural member has a first connecting end, and a first stop surface is formed inside the first connecting end. The second structural member has a second connecting end that mates with the first connecting end, and a second stop surface is formed on the outer surface of the first connecting end; the first connecting end is nested inside the second connecting end, and one of the first structural member and the second structural member is a negative pressure connection nozzle, and the other is a connector. The sealing ring is disposed inside the second connecting end, sleeved on the outer surface of the first connecting end, and located between the first stop surface and the second stop surface. The outer diameter of the sealing ring is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the second connecting end, and the inner diameter of the sealing ring is greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the second connecting end; the sealing ring is configured to undergo radial deformation in at least a portion of its area after being compressed in the axial direction from the first stop surface and the second stop surface, so as to seal the gap between the first connecting end and the sealing ring in the radial direction and to seal the gap between the second connecting end and the sealing ring in the radial direction.

[0007] On the other hand, embodiments of this application also provide an endoscope, including the negative pressure connection assembly as described above.

[0008] The technical solution adopted in this invention can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0009] The negative pressure connection assembly provided in this application embodiment uses a sealing ring between a first abutment surface in the first connecting end of the first structural member and a second abutment surface in the second connecting end of the second structural member. The sealing ring has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the second connecting end and an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first connecting end. When the sealing ring is compressed axially from the first and second abutment surfaces, it deforms axially and at least partially radially, sealing the radial gap between the first connecting end and the sealing ring, as well as the radial gap between the second connecting end and the sealing ring. When assembling the first structural member, the second structural member, and the seal, the negative pressure connection assembly provided in this application embodiment only requires applying a large force when compressing the sealing ring, thus facilitating the assembly of the first structural member, the second structural member, and the seal, solving the problem of time-consuming and labor-intensive assembly of negative pressure connection assemblies in the prior art. Applying the above-described negative pressure connection assembly to an endoscope can also solve the aforementioned problems. Attached Figure Description

[0010] 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.

[0011] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an endoscope according to one embodiment of this application is shown.

[0012] Figure 2 A partial structural schematic diagram of an endoscope according to one embodiment of this application is shown.

[0013] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of an endoscope according to one embodiment of this application is shown.

[0014] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a negative pressure connection component according to an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0015] Figure 5 An exploded view of a negative pressure connection assembly according to an embodiment of this application is shown, showing the first structural component, the second structural component, and the sealing ring before assembly.

[0016] Figure 6 An exploded view of the assembly of a first structural member, a second structural member, and a sealing ring in a negative pressure connection assembly according to an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0017] Figure 7 An exploded view of a negative pressure connection assembly according to an embodiment of this application is shown, showing the first structural component, the second structural component, and the sealing ring assembled.

[0018] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a sealing ring in a negative pressure connection assembly according to an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0019] In the figure: 1. Endoscope; 10. Negative pressure connection assembly; 110. First structural component; 111. First connecting end; 112. First stop surface; 120. Second structural component; 121. Second connecting end; 122. Second stop surface; 130. Sealing ring; 131. Inner recess; 132. Clearance structure; 140. Limiting structure; 141. First locking structure; 142. Second locking structure; 143. Clearance groove; 20. Outer shell. Detailed Implementation

[0020] 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.

[0021] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and not to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such use of data can be interchanged where appropriate so that embodiments of this application can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein, and the objects distinguished by "first," "second," etc., are generally of the same class and the number of objects is not limited; for example, a first object can be one or more. Furthermore, in the specification and claims, "and / or" indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0022] In the various embodiments of this application, "proximal end" and "far end" refer to the position of each component relative to the user in the usage environment. The end closer to the user is designated as the "proximal end", and the end farther from the user is designated as the "far end".

[0023] The inventive concept of this application is described here:

[0024] In endoscopes, especially those used for suctioning, it is necessary to connect the suction bottle, external negative pressure, control switch, and tubing inserted into the patient's body for suctioning. In existing technologies, these components are typically glued together. However, this makes it difficult to remove and reuse the glued components, and reassembly is also challenging due to the remaining adhesive, further hindering reuse.

[0025] To address the aforementioned issues, a method has emerged that uses interference fits instead of glue to assemble the components, enabling their reuse. This is exemplified by the technical solution mentioned in patent US20240423449A1. However, while this solution achieves component reuse, it introduces a problem: the interference fits between components require significant force to ensure connection stability. This is time-consuming and labor-intensive for the operator. Furthermore, insufficient force during assembly can lead to gaps between the suction nozzle and the Y-connector, potentially causing sputum to become trapped and blockages during suctioning.

[0026] The inventors discovered that the reason for the above problem is that, in order to ensure the tightness of the interference fit, multiple interference areas need to be set between the negative pressure suction nozzle and the Y-type connector. That is, multiple protruding parts need to be set on the inner surface of the negative pressure suction nozzle and the outer surface of the Y-type connector to ensure the tightness of the interference fit. This means that the operator needs to apply a lot of force when pushing the first interference area to make the interference fit, and a lot of force needs to be applied continuously until the last interference area is pushed to make the interference fit, in order to complete the assembly between the entire negative pressure suction nozzle and the Y-type connector.

[0027] Based on this, the inventors provide a negative pressure connection component and an endoscope. This negative pressure connection component will save more effort in the early stage of assembling the negative pressure suction nozzle and the Y-type connector, and only requires a certain amount of force to complete the assembly in the final stage of assembly.

[0028] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figures 1 to 8 The present application provides a detailed description of a negative pressure connection component 10 and an endoscope 1 through specific embodiments and application scenarios.

[0029] Please also refer to Figures 1-3 This application provides an endoscope 1, including a housing 20 and a negative pressure connection assembly 10, wherein the negative pressure connection assembly 10 is disposed within the housing 20. This application does not limit the specific form and structure of the housing 20; for details, please refer to relevant prior art.

[0030] Please see Figure 4 The negative pressure connection component 10 can have multiple interfaces, which can be used to connect to external negative pressure, to tubing inserted into the patient's body, and to contain lesions sucked out of the patient's body. The specific configuration can be set according to the actual situation, and each interface can be connected in a detachable manner.

[0031] In this embodiment, the negative pressure connection assembly 10 may include: a first structural component 110, a second structural component 120, and a sealing ring 130. It can be understood that the first structural component 110 and the second structural component 120 may correspond to the interfaces mentioned above, and negative pressure suction channels may be formed inside the first structural component 110 and the second structural component 120.

[0032] Please also refer to Figures 5-7 The first structural member 110 may have a first connecting end 111, and the negative pressure suction channel inside the first connecting end 111 may have a first stop surface 112. The second structural member 120 may have a second connecting end 121, wherein the second connecting end 121 may be configured to cooperate with the first connecting end 111, and the negative pressure suction channel inside the second connecting end 121 may have a second stop surface 122 that cooperates with the first connecting end 111.

[0033] This application does not limit the specific structure of the first structural member 110 and the second structural member 120. For example, in one embodiment, one of the first structural member 110 and the second structural member 120 is a negative pressure connection nozzle and the other is a connector. For ease of explanation, the following description will take the first structural member 110 as a negative pressure connection nozzle and the second structural member 120 as a connector, and the first structural member 110 nested inside the second structural member 120 as an example.

[0034] Please also refer to Figures 5-8 The sealing ring 130 can be disposed inside the second connecting end 121 and sleeved on the outer surface of the first connecting end 111, and located between the first stop surface 112 and the second stop surface 122. That is to say, in this embodiment, the first connecting end 111, the sealing ring 130 and the second connecting end 121 can be arranged in a nested relationship.

[0035] In one specific embodiment, the outer diameter of the sealing ring 130 is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the second connecting end 121, and the inner diameter of the sealing ring 130 is greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the first connecting end 111. This allows the first connecting end 111, the sealing ring 130, and the second connecting end 121 to move in place with almost no resistance. This near-zero-resistance nesting assembly process allows the surgeon to easily push each component into place during assembly without expending excessive effort to overcome potential jamming. This reduces the difficulty of the surgeon's operation during assembly, making it easier for the surgeon to assemble the first connecting end 111, the sealing ring 130, and the second connecting end 121. Both time costs and operational difficulty are greatly optimized, effectively ensuring that the assembly work can be completed efficiently and smoothly, laying a good foundation for the smooth conduct of subsequent surgical operations.

[0036] In this embodiment, the sealing ring 130 can be configured to undergo radial deformation in at least a portion of its area after being compressed in the axial direction from the first stop surface 112 and the second stop surface 122, so as to seal the gap between the first connecting end 111 and the sealing ring 130 in the radial direction and to seal the gap between the second connecting end 121 and the sealing ring 130 in the radial direction, thereby achieving the sealing effect of the entire negative pressure connection assembly 10.

[0037] As mentioned above, during the installation of the entire negative pressure connection assembly 10, the surgeon can assemble it with almost no resistance in the first half (before squeezing the sealing ring 130). Only the second half (from squeezing the sealing ring 130 to the end of assembly) requires greater force to achieve a seal and complete the assembly. In this embodiment, since only one step requires the surgeon to use greater force, it serves as a prompt for the surgeon when assembling the negative pressure connection assembly 10. That is, when the surgeon senses increased resistance and the need for greater force, it means that the assembly is nearing completion. At this point, the surgeon only needs to use greater force to deform the sealing ring 130 and complete the seal, greatly improving the surgeon's tolerance for errors during the assembly process.

[0038] Understandably, in the traditional negative pressure connection assembly 10, because the assembly process requires a large amount of force to overcome the resistance between the first structural component 110 and the sealing ring 130 and the second structural component 120 and the sealing ring 130, the operator may not be able to assemble the negative pressure connection assembly 10 properly. This can lead to gaps between the first structural component 110 and the sealing ring 130. These gaps may not only cause blockage during the suction of the lesion, but may also cause the first structural component 110 and the second structural component 120 to detach.

[0039] Therefore, in one embodiment, the first stop surface 112 and the end face of the sealing ring 130 can be fitted together. For example, both the first stop surface 112 and the end face of the sealing ring 130 can be set as planes. This can help avoid or reduce the gap between the first stop surface 112 and the end face of the sealing ring 130, thereby making it easier for the surgeon to install the first structural member 110 and the sealing ring 130 in place, avoiding or reducing the possibility of blockage during the aspiration of the lesion.

[0040] It is understood that in other embodiments, the second stop surface 122 may also be fitted to the end face of the sealing ring 130. For details, please refer to the foregoing content, which will not be repeated here.

[0041] Please continue reading. Figure 8In one specific embodiment, the sealing ring 130 may have a concave portion 131, wherein the concave portion 131 may be configured to deform radially inward after being compressed in the axial direction. That is, in this embodiment, the sealing ring 130 can be compressed in the axial direction to make the concave portion 131 fit more tightly against the first connecting end 111, thereby achieving a seal between the sealing ring 130 and the first connecting end 111 in the radial direction.

[0042] Specifically, in this embodiment, the surface of the concave portion 131 near the second structural member 120 is recessed towards the first structural member 110, and the surface of the concave portion 131 near the first structural member 110 protrudes towards the first structural member 110. This makes it easier for the sealing ring 130 to deform in the axial direction after being compressed in the radial direction, and to convert the deformation in the axial direction into deformation in the radial direction.

[0043] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the surface of the recess 131 near the second connecting end 121 may be provided with a relief structure 132, which can further promote the radial deformation of the recess 131 after being squeezed in the axial direction. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific form of the relief structure 132. For example, in some embodiments, the relief structure 132 may be a slit, and in other embodiments, the relief structure 132 may be a groove, etc. The specific form can be set according to the actual situation, and no limitation is made here.

[0044] It is understood that in other embodiments, the surface of the recess 131 near the first connecting end 111 may also be provided with a clearance structure 132, as can be found in the foregoing description, which will not be repeated here.

[0045] Meanwhile, in some embodiments, the structural stiffness of the recess 131 is smaller than that of other areas on the sealing ring 130, which also makes the recess 131 more prone to radial deformation after being compressed in the axial direction.

[0046] Please refer to it again. Figures 4-7 Furthermore, in some embodiments, the negative pressure connection assembly 10 may also include a limiting structure 140, which may be connected to at least one of the first structural member 110 and the second structural member 120, and when the first structural member 110 is inserted into the second structural member 120, the limiting structure 140 may be used to fix the first structural member 110 and the second structural member 120.

[0047] This application does not limit the specific form of the limit. For example, in some embodiments, the limit structure 140 can be a limit member that can be snapped between the first connecting end 111 and the second connecting end 121, and the limit member can be used to prevent the sealing ring 130 from recovering its deformation after being compressed.

[0048] In this embodiment, the limiting structure 140 may include a first locking structure 141 and a second locking structure 142. The first locking structure 141 may be disposed on the outer wall of the first connecting end 111, and the second locking structure 142 may be disposed inside the second connecting end 121. The second locking structure 142 may match the first locking structure 141. For example, in some embodiments, the first locking structure 141 may be a protrusion, and the second locking structure 142 may be a groove. In other embodiments, the first locking structure 141 may also be a groove, and the second locking structure 142 may also be a protrusion, etc., depending on the actual situation. For ease of explanation, the following description will use the example of the first locking structure 141 being a protrusion and the second locking structure 142 being a groove.

[0049] It is understandable that, since the first locking structure 141 needs to be embedded in the second locking structure 142 during the cooperation between the first locking structure 141 and the second locking structure 142, in a preferred embodiment, the first locking structure 141 can be made of an elastic material, which makes it easier for the first locking structure 141 to be embedded in the second locking structure 142.

[0050] It should be noted that the embodiments of this application do not specify the molding method of the first locking structure 141 and the first connecting end 111. For example, in this embodiment, the first locking structure 141 can be integrally molded with the outer wall of the first connecting end 111, which can improve the overall structural strength of the first locking structure 141 and the first structural member 110 and avoid or reduce the possibility of damage to the structure of the first locking member.

[0051] Similarly, in other embodiments, the second locking structure 142 may also be integrally formed with the inner wall of the second connecting end 121. For the specific reasons, please refer to the foregoing content, which will not be repeated here.

[0052] Please continue reading. Figure 6 and Figure 7Furthermore, in one embodiment, the limiting structure 140 may also include a relief groove 143, which may be located on one side of the first locking structure 141 and is used to provide the deformation space required for the first locking structure 141 to deform. This allows the first locking structure 141 to have a storage space when it deforms, thereby facilitating the embedding of the first locking structure 141 into the second locking structure 142.

[0053] It is understood that the embodiments of this application do not limit the specific positions of the first locking structure 141 and the second locking structure 142. In one feasible implementation, the end face of the first locking structure 141 in the axial direction can be flush with the first stop surface 112, which can make the structure of the entire first structural member 110 more compact. That is to say, the embodiments of this application do not limit the specific form and structure of the first stop surface 112 and the second stop surface 122. In this implementation, the first stop surface 112 can be formed on the surface of the first locking structure 141 that is close to the second locking structure 142.

[0054] In addition, in some embodiments, the second locking structure 142 can be disposed at the port of the second connection end 121. This allows the user to complete the engagement of the first locking structure and the second locking structure without having to apply force for a long time when pushing the first structural member 110 to bring the first stop surface 112 closer to the second stop surface 122. This makes it easier for the operator to assemble the negative pressure connection component 10.

[0055] It is understood that in this embodiment, the length of the sealing ring 130 can be greater than the distance between the ports of the first locking structure 141 and the first connecting end 111. This ensures that after the first locking structure 141 and the second locking structure 142 are engaged, the sealing ring 130 can be axially compressed and radially deformed. Furthermore, this ensures that the axial space between the first stop surface 112 and the second stop surface 122 is completely filled by the sealing ring 130. This avoids or reduces the problem of blockage caused by lesions such as sputum becoming stuck between the first structural member 110 and the second structural member 120 during negative pressure aspiration. It should be noted that the length of the sealing ring 130 mentioned above refers to its axial length.

[0056] The negative pressure connection assembly 10 provided in this application embodiment provides a sealing ring 130 between a first stop surface 112 in the first connecting end 111 of the first structural member 110 and a second stop surface 122 in the second connecting end 121 of the second structural member 120. The sealing ring 130 is configured such that its outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the second connecting end 121, and its inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the first connecting end 111. Furthermore, when the sealing ring 130 is subjected to axial compression from the first stop surface 112 and the second stop surface 122, it deforms in the axial direction while at least... Radial deformation occurs in certain areas to seal the radial gaps between the first connecting end 111 and the sealing ring 130, as well as the radial gaps between the second connecting end 121 and the sealing ring 130. The negative pressure connection assembly 10 provided in this embodiment only requires applying a large force when compressing the sealing ring 130 during the assembly of the first structural component 110, the second structural component 120, and the seal, thus facilitating the assembly of the first structural component 110, the second structural component 120, and the seal, solving the problem of time-consuming and labor-intensive assembly of the negative pressure connection assembly 10 in the prior art. Applying the above-mentioned negative pressure connection assembly 10 to the endoscope 1 also solves the above problems.

[0057] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element.

[0058] Furthermore, it should be noted that the scope of the methods and apparatus in the embodiments of this application is not limited to performing functions in the order shown or discussed, but may also include performing functions substantially simultaneously or in the reverse order, depending on the functions involved. For example, the described methods may be performed in a different order than described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. In addition, features described with reference to certain examples may be combined in other examples.

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

Claims

1. A negative pressure connection assembly, used in an endoscope, characterized in that, The negative pressure connection assembly includes: a first structural member having a first connecting end, the interior of which forms a first stop surface; a second structural member having a second connecting end that mates with the first connecting end, the outer surface of which forms a second stop surface; the first connecting end is nested within the second connecting end, one of the first structural member and the second structural member being a negative pressure connection nozzle, and the other being a connector; and a sealing ring disposed within the second connecting end, fitted onto the outer surface of the first connecting end, and located between the first stop surface and the second stop surface, the outer diameter of the sealing ring being less than or equal to the inner diameter of the second connecting end, and the inner diameter of the sealing ring being greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the first connecting end; the sealing ring is configured to undergo radial deformation in at least a portion of its area after being compressed in the axial direction from the first stop surface and the second stop surface, so as to seal the gap between the first connecting end and the sealing ring in the radial direction and to seal the gap between the second connecting end and the sealing ring in the radial direction. The negative pressure connection assembly further includes a limiting structure, which is connected to the first structural member and / or the second structural member, and is used to fix the first structural member and the second structural member when the first structural member is inserted into the second structural member.

2. The negative pressure connection assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealing ring has a concave portion, which is configured to deform radially inward after being compressed in the axial direction.

3. The negative pressure connection assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The surface of the recessed portion near the second structural member is recessed towards the first structural member, and the surface of the recessed portion near the first structural member is protruding towards the first structural member.

4. The negative pressure connection assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The surface of the recessed portion near the second connecting end is provided with a clearance structure; And / or, the structural stiffness of the recessed portion is smaller than that of other areas on the sealing ring.

5. The negative pressure connection assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting structure includes: A first locking structure is disposed on the outer wall of the first connecting end; and A second locking structure is provided on the inner wall of the second connecting end, which matches the first locking structure. Wherein, the first locking structure is integrally formed with the outer wall of the first connecting end, and / or, the second locking structure is integrally formed with the inner wall of the second connecting end.

6. The negative pressure connection assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, One of the first locking structure and the second locking structure is a protrusion, and the other is a groove that matches the protrusion. The limiting structure also includes a relief groove, which is located on one side of the protrusion and is used to provide the deformation space required when the protrusion deforms during the insertion of the first connecting end and the second connecting end.

7. The negative pressure connection assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first locking structure is a protrusion, and the end face of the first locking structure in the axial direction is flush with the first stop surface.

8. The negative pressure connection assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first locking structure and the second structure, in which one is configured as a protrusion, are made of an elastic material; And / or, the length of the sealing ring is greater than the distance between the first locking structure and the port of the first connecting end.

9. An endoscope, characterized in that, Includes the negative pressure connection component as described in any one of claims 1-8.

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