A wash-free laparoscopic lens assembly for laparoscopic surgery

Abstract

This invention discloses a wash-free laparoscopic lens assembly suitable for laparoscopic surgery, including a laparoscopic lens body and a lens cap disposed at the front end of the laparoscopic lens body; the front end of the lens cap has several sets of parallel grids; the grids have several sets of capillary drainage channels penetrating the grids along their length; the outermost width of the capillary drainage channel opening is smaller than the bottom width of the channel; the capillary drainage channel generates capillary pressure at the channel opening through capillary action, sufficient to overcome the surface tension and gravity of the droplets, causing small droplets falling on the grids to be drawn into the capillary drainage channel at the contact point and move inward or towards the confluence point along the capillary drainage channel, and the liquid in the capillary drainage channel is discharged through the drainage channel. By setting the outermost width of the capillary drainage channel opening to a "small outside, large inside" cross-sectional structure that is smaller than the bottom width of the channel, small droplets falling on the grids are automatically drawn into the capillary drainage channel by the capillary pressure and move inward or towards the confluence point along the channel, and are finally discharged through the drainage channel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of laparoscopic surgical instruments, and more specifically to a wash-free laparoscopic lens assembly suitable for laparoscopic surgery. Background Technology

[0002] Laparoscopic surgery (including conventional laparoscopy and robotic laparoscopy) is widely used in the surgical field due to its advantages of minimal invasiveness and rapid recovery. However, in actual surgical procedures, contamination of the laparoscopic field of view remains a significant issue limiting surgical efficiency and safety.

[0003] During laparoscopic tissue cutting, hemostasis, or electrocoagulation, high-temperature instruments such as monopolar / bipolar electrosurgical units and ultrasonic scalpels are commonly used to heat the tissue. This process generates a large number of high-temperature droplets, aerosols, and carbonized particles. These substances, affected by the instantaneous high-energy release, exhibit parabolic or atomized spray motion and can directly fall onto the laparoscopic lens or its tip surface, resulting in droplets, thin films, or carbonized deposits on the lens surface, leading to the following problems:

[0004] Droplets or thin films cause light scattering, reflection, and occlusion, significantly reducing image contrast and sharpness;

[0005] Droplets containing proteins, blood components, or oils tend to form sticky residues and produce a black carbonized layer under high temperatures or carbonization, which is difficult to remove.

[0006] Small-scale atomized droplets (with a diameter much less than 1 mm) can form a fog-like contamination near the lens, which is difficult to completely remove by simple wiping;

[0007] Contamination can leave the surgeon with "no field of vision" or "limited field of vision," necessitating the removal of the laparoscope from the body cavity for external cleaning or lens replacement, wasting operation time and increasing the risk of infection / complications.

[0008] Currently, in the clinical or patent field, the typical approach to lens contamination is to remove the lens from the body cavity and clean it with gauze or a special wiper, or to attach a removable cover to the lens for frequent replacement.

[0009] The drawbacks of this method are that it results in long interruptions and disrupts the surgical rhythm. Furthermore, frequent removal of the endoscope increases the risk of infection and is particularly inconvenient during robotic surgery (requiring a change in operating mode or additional personnel intervention).

[0010] Existing mechanical wipers incorporate a retractable wiping blade or brush at the front of the lens to remove adhering substances through mechanical movement. However, these methods have drawbacks: the wiping mechanism may affect the imaging field of view, create a risk of mechanical collision, and increase the complexity and cost of the instrument; in the presence of sticky proteins or carbon deposits, it is difficult to completely restore light transmittance after wiping; and the mechanical movement may also disturb the surgical area or cause abrasion.

[0011] In summary, although various existing technologies can alleviate the problem of lens contamination to some extent, there is still no mature solution that can continuously, conveniently, and efficiently clean the lens tip inside the body without removing the lens or interrupting the surgery. In particular, the adaptability of existing methods is clearly insufficient in the case of mixed splashes (including water, oil, protein, and carbonized particles) generated by high-temperature instruments such as electrosurgical units / ultrasound scalpels. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a wash-free laparoscopic lens assembly suitable for laparoscopic surgery that can continuously, conveniently and efficiently achieve self-cleaning of the lens tip inside the body without removing the scope or interrupting the surgery.

[0013] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical method adopted by the present invention is as follows: The present invention discloses a wash-free laparoscopic lens assembly suitable for laparoscopic surgery, including a laparoscopic lens body and a lens cap disposed at the front end of the laparoscopic lens body; the front end of the lens cap is provided with a plurality of parallel grids; the grids are provided with a plurality of capillary drainage grooves that penetrate the grids along the length direction of the grids; the outermost width of the opening of the capillary drainage groove is smaller than the bottom width of the groove.

[0014] The capillary channel generates capillary pressure at the opening through capillary action, which is sufficient to overcome the surface tension and gravity of the droplets. This causes small droplets falling on the grid to be drawn into the capillary channel at the contact point and move inward or toward the confluence point along the capillary channel. The liquid in the capillary channel is discharged through the drainage channel.

[0015] Furthermore, the outermost width of the groove is 50–500 μm, which can generate high capillary pressure at the inlet, overcome the surface tension and gravity of the droplets, and draw the liquid into the capillary channel and move it along the channel towards the confluence point.

[0016] Furthermore, the capillary drainage channel is fluidly connected to the external suction device via the drainage channel, so that small droplets falling on the grid are drawn into the capillary drainage channel by capillary action at the contact point and collected along the capillary drainage channel, and discharged through the drainage channel.

[0017] Furthermore, the grille is arranged laterally relative to the laparoscopic lens body.

[0018] Furthermore, the grille is made of a transparent rigid material.

[0019] Furthermore, the area of ​​the light-transmitting zone of the grille accounts for 20%–70%.

[0020] Furthermore, the capillary drainage grooves are evenly and equidistantly arranged from the inside to the outside along the width direction of the grid.

[0021] Furthermore, capillary drainage grooves are provided on both the upper and lower sides of the grille.

[0022] Furthermore, a spray channel is provided on one side of the capillary drainage channel so that in the event of local blockage, a small amount of fluid is injected briefly in conjunction with a suction device to flush the grating and the capillary drainage channel to restore the passage.

[0023] Furthermore, the surface of the grid is provided with an anti-reflective coating and a hydrophilic nano-coating to improve light transmittance, reduce glare, and enhance the wettability and drainage efficiency of the capillary grooves for water-based and oil-containing mixtures.

[0024] Beneficial effects:

[0025] 1. Compared to existing technologies, this invention utilizes a capillary drainage channel extending along the length of a grid on the front end of the lens cap. The outermost width of the channel opening is set to a "smaller outside, larger inside" cross-sectional structure, meaning the width of the outermost opening is smaller than the bottom width. This generates significant capillary pressure at the liquid-gas interface at the channel opening, overcoming the surface tension and gravity of the droplets. Small droplets falling on the grid are automatically drawn into the capillary drainage channel by this capillary pressure and move inward or towards the confluence point, ultimately being discharged through the drainage channel. This achieves continuous intraoperative cleaning of the lens tip, maintaining the lens's field of vision without requiring the laparoscopic lens to be removed from the body cavity for external wiping.

[0026] 2. This invention improves the interception efficiency of intraoperative splash droplets and enhances imaging quality through the synergistic effect of the structure and distribution characteristics of the grid: the grid is arranged laterally relative to the laparoscopic lens body with a light-transmitting area accounting for 20%–70% of the total area. This arrangement makes it easier for droplets moving along a parabolic trajectory to first impact the grid and be captured. At the same time, this invention reduces local direct reflection and glare while maintaining sufficient light transmission to maintain surgical field imaging through a reasonable aperture ratio. Furthermore, the uniform and equidistant arrangement of capillary drainage channels on the grid and the design of converging to one side into the drainage channel together improve the collection and outflow efficiency of droplets, significantly reducing the frequency of lens contamination.

[0027] 3. The grid is made of transparent rigid material and coated with an anti-reflective coating and a hydrophilic nano-coating. This makes the grid less likely to convert incident light energy into heat energy while intercepting droplets, reducing carbon buildup and thermal damage, and enhancing the wetting and capillary drainage efficiency of aqueous or oily mixtures. When local blockage occurs, short-term flushing and aspiration can be carried out by using the spray flushing channel set along one side of the capillary drainage channel in conjunction with the drainage channel and the external aspiration device. This facilitates the restoration of the passage and extends the service life of the device, thus taking into account imaging quality, continuous cleaning and clinical maintainability. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the lens cap in this invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the no-wash laparoscopic lens assembly in this invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the working state of the no-wash laparoscopic lens assembly in this invention;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the specific structure of the capillary drainage groove on the grid in this invention;

[0032] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the specific structure of the grid with double-sided capillary drainage grooves in this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0034] Example 1

[0035] This embodiment is used to illustrate the basic structure and working principle of the present invention, aiming to clearly reveal the core technical solution of the present invention and ensure its feasibility.

[0036] like Figure 1-3 As shown, a wash-free laparoscopic lens assembly suitable for laparoscopic surgery includes the following parts:

[0037] Laparoscopic lens body 1: This is a commonly used laparoscopic lens, which may include optical components and a housing.

[0038] Lens cap 2: Sleeve over the front end of the laparoscopic lens body 1. The front end of the lens cap 2 has several sets of parallel grids 21, which are arranged in parallel strips or grids along the front end of the lens cap. The grids 21 have several sets of capillary drainage grooves 3 that penetrate the grids along their length. The capillary drainage grooves 3 lead to the drainage channel 22 and ultimately to the drainage circuit outside the endoscope. The outermost width 31 of each capillary drainage groove 3 on the grid is smaller than the bottom width 32, forming a groove cross-sectional geometry of "small outside and large inside".

[0039] The lens cap 2 is coaxially assembled with the laparoscope lens body 1 through a detachable fixing structure, so that the grille 21 at the front end of the lens cap 2 is aligned with the optical axis of the lens and located in front of the lens field of view; the drainage channel 22 is connected to the external drainage pipe at the rear or side of the lens cap 2. The connector can be a conventional medical connector so that the collected fluid can be guided to an external collection or suction device during the operation.

[0040] Working principle explanation: When droplets 7 generated by high-temperature instruments during surgery splash onto the grid 21, the droplets initially contact the grid surface and are captured by the interface morphology at the capillary drainage channel 3. Due to the strong capillary pressure generated by the "smaller outside, larger inside" cross-sectional geometry of the capillary drainage channel 3 at its inlet, this capillary pressure helps overcome the surface tension and gravity of the droplets, causing them to wet along the channel wall and be drawn into the channel. Subsequently, the droplets move inward along the capillary drainage channel 3 or towards the confluence point and enter the drainage channel 22 to be discharged from the body. This continuously cleans the optical area at the front end of the lens cap 2 within the body, avoiding the need for intraoperative lens removal and wiping. The capillary-driven capture and drainage described above is the core working mechanism of this embodiment.

[0041] To quantitatively demonstrate the feasibility of "capillary drainage channel 3 capturing droplets through capillary action" in this invention, the Young-Laplace equation can be used to approximately estimate the capillary pressure at the inlet: Where req can be approximated as the outermost width of the slot, 31.

[0042] Taking water γ = 0.072 N / m and hydrophilic surface θ = 30° as an example, when the groove width 31 is taken as 150 μm, the calculated capillary pressure is about 831 Pa, which is greater than the dynamic pressure of common droplets at a velocity of 1.0 m / s, which is 500 Pa. Therefore, it is possible to achieve capillary capture of droplets drawn into the groove.

[0043] Similarly, when the groove opening is 50 μm, the capillary pressure can reach about 2494 Pa, which can resist higher-speed microdroplets;

[0044] When the groove opening is 400 μm, the capillary pressure is about 312 Pa, which can only cope with low-speed droplets.

[0045] Based on the above magnitude estimation, the present invention preferably has a slot width 31 in the range of 50–500 μm, and preferably an engineering compromise value of 100–200 μm to balance capture performance, processing feasibility and anti-clogging properties.

[0046] Preferably, for oily or low surface tension body fluids, the present invention suggests applying a hydrophilic nanocoating or using an amphoteric / special coating in the grid 21 and capillary drainage channel 3 to maintain good wettability.

[0047] like Figure 4 As shown, the capillary drainage groove 3 can be separately disposed on the upper end face of the grid 21. Preferably, as shown... Figure 5 As shown, the grid 21 may be provided with capillary drainage grooves 3 on both the upper and lower surfaces. Among them, the upper capillary drainage groove 301 and the lower capillary drainage groove 302 are centrally symmetrical. Along the width direction of the grid 21, the upper capillary drainage groove 301 and the lower capillary drainage groove 302 are alternately arranged, and a lower capillary drainage groove 302 is provided between two adjacent upper capillary drainage grooves 301.

[0048] Example 2

[0049] like Figure 4 As shown, preferably, the outermost width 31 of the groove is 50–500 μm.

[0050] When the groove 31 is increased to close to or exceed 500μm, the capillary pressure generated at the inlet decreases significantly, reducing the ability to capture medium and high speed droplets with v≥1m / s, and making it more effective only for low-speed large droplets.

[0051] More preferably, the outermost width 31 of the groove is 100–200 μm. When the outermost width 31 of the groove is 100–200 μm, the inlet capillary pressure generated under common hydrophilic surface conditions is ≈800–850 Pa, which is typically greater than the droplet dynamic pressure of ≈500 Pa at a speed of 1.0 m / s, enabling reliable capture of medium-velocity large droplets. Furthermore, compared to a groove width of 50 μm, it is easier to process and has better anti-clogging properties. Compared to 400–500 μm, it offers higher capture efficiency.

[0052] The width of the tank bottom 32 only needs to be large enough to reduce flow resistance and accommodate the captured liquid, and can range from 200 to 1000 μm. More preferably, the width of the tank bottom 32 can be between 300 and 600 μm. In the "small outside, large inside" structure formed by the tank bottom width 31 and the outermost width of the tank opening, the small opening 31 at the inlet provides the required capillary pressure, while the larger inner cavity 32 can reduce capillary flow resistance, improve volume and confluence efficiency, which is conducive to the rapid delivery of captured droplets to the drainage channel 22 and their suction and removal, while reducing the clogging rate.

[0053] Preferably, the area of ​​the light-transmitting zone of the grille 21 accounts for 20%–70%. More preferably, it accounts for 40%–60%.

[0054] When the aperture ratio is less than 40%, the overall light transmittance will be reduced, affecting imaging and camera automatic exposure; when the aperture ratio is greater than 60%, it will reduce the interception area, reduce capture efficiency and increase the risk of glare.

[0055] Example 3

[0056] This embodiment focuses on practical clinical maintainability and anti-clogging design, providing a solution for double-sided capillary drainage channels, spray channels, and replaceable grating modules.

[0057] Preferably, capillary drainage grooves 3 are machined on both the upper and lower surfaces of the grid 21. Each side of the groove group extends in its respective direction and eventually merges into its respective drainage channel 22. The drainage from both sides merges inside the lens cap 2 or at the rear end and is discharged together. The double-sided groove design increases the probability of droplet capture and enhances adaptability to droplets with different incident angles.

[0058] Preferably, a miniature spray channel is designed on one side of the capillary drainage groove 3 or at the drainage channel 22. This channel is connected to an external syringe or a flushing fluid source and can inject a small amount of flushing fluid, such as 1-3 mL of physiological saline, for a short time in case of local blockage. This is combined with a suction device for pulsed aspiration to flush and remove the blockage. More preferably, the spray channel can be a slit or a micro-hole, positioned in a location that does not directly obstruct the main imaging area to avoid affecting imaging under normal conditions.

[0059] Preferably, the grating 21 is designed as a replaceable front-end module, using a snap-fit ​​or micro-threaded sealing connection, facilitating replacement or replacement of disposable grating components during or after surgery. A sealing ring is provided between the module and the lens cap 2 body to maintain the airtightness of the drainage channel and prevent accidental leakage. This modular design facilitates the rapid restoration of lens function in cases of severe blockage or repeated use.

[0060] Preferably, a replaceable filter can be installed at the connection end between the drainage channel 22 and the external body to trap larger solid particles, protect the external drainage system, and facilitate maintenance. The filter material and pore size are determined based on the particle distribution of the surgical environment.

[0061] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A no-rinse laparoscope lens assembly suitable for use in laparoscopic surgery, characterized by: The utility model relates to a kind of laparoscope lens body (1) and the lens cap (2) of being arranged in the front end of laparoscope lens body (1) lens;The lens cap (2) front end is equipped with several groups of parallel distribution's grid (21);Several groups of capillary drainage groove (3) are provided on the grid (21), and the capillary drainage groove (3) is penetrated along the length direction of the grid (21);The outermost width (31) of the slot of the capillary drainage groove (3) is less than the width (32) of groove bottom; The capillary drainage groove (3) generates enough capillary pressure to overcome the surface tension and gravity of liquid drop at slot by capillary action, so that small liquid drop on the grid (21) is sucked into the capillary drainage groove (3) and moves to the inside or convergence place along the capillary drainage groove (3) at contact, and liquid in the capillary drainage groove (3) is discharged through drainage channel (22); The light transmission area ratio of the grid (21) is 20%-70%; The outermost width (31) of the slot is 50-500 μm, which can generate higher capillary pressure at inlet, can overcome the surface tension and gravity of liquid drop, and suck liquid into the capillary drainage groove (3) and move to convergence place along the groove; The grid (21) is arranged transversely relative to the lens of laparoscope lens body (1); The surface of the grid (21) is provided with anti-reflection coating and hydrophilic nano coating.

2. A no-rinse laparoscope lens assembly suitable for use in laparoscopic surgery according to claim 1, wherein, The capillary drainage groove (3) is in fluid communication with extracorporeal aspirator through drainage channel (22), so that small liquid drop on the grid (21) is sucked into the capillary drainage groove (3) and collected along the capillary drainage groove (3) at contact by capillary action, and discharged through the drainage channel (22).

3. The no-rinse laparoscope lens assembly suitable for use in a laparoscopic surgery of claim 1, wherein, The grid (21) is made of transparent hard material.

4. The no-rinse laparoscope lens assembly suitable for use in a laparoscopic surgery of claim 1, wherein, The capillary drainage grooves (3) are arranged uniformly and equidistantly along the width direction of the grid (21) from inside to outside.

5. A no-rinse laparoscope lens assembly suitable for use in laparoscopic surgery according to claim 4, wherein, The capillary drainage grooves (3) are provided on both upper and lower surfaces of the grid (21).

6. A no-rinse laparoscope lens assembly suitable for use in laparoscopic surgery according to claim 4, wherein, Spray washing channel is provided on one side of the capillary drainage groove (3).

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