Locking mechanism and operating handle

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of endoscopes, and discloses a locking mechanism and an operating handle. The locking mechanism comprises a braking piece, a friction piece and a driving assembly. According to the locking mechanism provided by the invention, the friction piece is pushed by the brake piece to keep abutting against the driving disc, and the locking state of the driving disc can be maintained by virtue of friction force, so that the lens angle is fixed. And an operator does not need to apply force continuously in the whole locking process, so that hand fatigue can be avoided. Besides, a friction braking locking mode is adopted, the locking effect depends on the abutting force and the friction force between the friction piece and the side face of the driving disc, a fluted disc meshing structure is not involved, and tiny deviation of the lens after locking can be avoided. Meanwhile, the driving disc can be locked at any rotating position through abutting of the friction piece, as long as the driving assembly maintains the driving force, the friction piece can generate enough friction force at any side face position of the driving disc to limit rotation of the driving disc without depending on the discrete meshing position of the teeth, and therefore accurate locking of the lens at any angle can be achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of endoscopy technology, and more particularly to a locking mechanism and an operating handle. Background Technology

[0002] In the medical field, endoscopes are core equipment for precise observation and minimally invasive procedures of internal cavities and organs, and are widely used in various clinical scenarios. To achieve endoscope lens angle adjustment to cover different observation fields, endoscopes need to be equipped with an operating handle, which is a key component for controlling the lens rotation.

[0003] Current lens angle adjustment primarily relies on a steel cable for transmission. The drive disc of the operating handle is fixed to one end of the steel cable, while the other end is connected to the front-end lens steering mechanism. When the operator adjusts the drive disc, the steel cable is wound or released, which in turn drives the lens steering mechanism to rotate and adjust the angle. Traditional locking mechanisms are mostly gear-operated structures. After adjustment to the target angle, the gear engagement restricts the movement of the transmission link, thus fixing the lens angle.

[0004] In scenarios requiring close observation, without the locking mechanism, the operator needs to continuously apply force to maintain the lens angle, which can easily lead to hand fatigue. When the traditional gear locking mechanism is used, the gear pitch error and assembly gap not only cause a slight displacement of the lens after locking, but also only lock at discrete angle positions, making it impossible to achieve precise locking at any angle.

[0005] In summary, existing locking mechanisms cannot simultaneously meet the needs of accurately locking the lens at any angle and avoiding operator fatigue from continuous exertion. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a locking mechanism and operating handle to avoid hand fatigue and achieve precise locking of the lens at any angle.

[0007] To achieve this objective, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0008] A locking mechanism is provided for locking a drive disc that drives the winding and unwinding of a wire rope. The drive disc is rotatably mounted on the handle body of an endoscope. The locking mechanism includes a braking component, a friction component, and a drive assembly, wherein:

[0009] The friction element is disposed on the handle body along a preset path to abut or disengage from the drive disc;

[0010] The braking element is movably mounted on the handle body and located on the side of the friction element away from the drive disc. The braking element is disposed opposite to the friction element so that the braking element can move toward or away from the friction element.

[0011] The drive assembly is disposed on the handle body and is connected to the brake member in a transmission manner. The drive assembly is configured to drive the brake member to move toward the friction member, so as to push the friction member to move along the preset path and abut against the side of the drive disc.

[0012] The drive assembly is also configured to maintain a driving force on the brake, so that the brake continuously pushes the friction member to maintain contact with the side of the drive disk, thereby locking the drive disk in any rotational position through friction braking between the friction member and the drive disk.

[0013] Preferably, the direction of movement of the braking component is intersected with the direction of movement of the friction component along a preset path, and the braking component and the friction component are in frictional contact.

[0014] When the braking component moves, it applies a thrust to the friction component to push the friction component to move along a preset path, and when the driving component maintains the driving force, the friction force can keep the braking component and the friction component in contact.

[0015] Preferably, the drive assembly includes a rotating shaft rotatably mounted on the handle body, and a braking element mounted on the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft and the braking element rotate synchronously to drive the braking element toward the friction element.

[0016] Preferably, the drive assembly further includes a guide channel disposed on the handle body, the guide channel extending along the preset path, the friction member slidingly engaging with the guide channel, and the opposite sides of the friction member facing the brake member and the drive disc respectively, with at least one end of the friction member extending out of the guide channel to contact the brake member and the drive disc.

[0017] Preferably, the friction element is made of an elastic material.

[0018] Preferably, the friction element has an arc-shaped surface on the side facing the drive disk, and the curvature of the arc-shaped surface is adapted to the curvature of the side wall of the drive disk.

[0019] Preferably, the braking element is arranged in an arc shape on the side facing the friction element, so as to adapt and contact the side of the friction element away from the drive disc.

[0020] Preferably, the drive assembly further includes a handle disposed on the rotating shaft, the handle being used by an operator to grip and drive the rotating shaft to rotate.

[0021] Preferably, the handle is provided with an identification part, which is used to indicate the rotation direction in which the handle drives the rotating shaft to rotate in order to release the drive disk from locking.

[0022] An operating handle includes a handle body, a drive disc, and the aforementioned locking mechanism, wherein:

[0023] The drive disc is rotatably mounted on the handle body, and the drive disc is used to wind up or release the wire rope.

[0024] The locking mechanism is used to lock the drive disc to fix the winding or unwinding state of the wire rope.

[0025] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0026] The locking mechanism provided by this invention uses a braking component to push a friction component to maintain contact with the drive disc. The driving disc is locked by friction, thus fixing the lens angle. Furthermore, the entire locking process does not require continuous force from the operator, thereby avoiding hand fatigue.

[0027] Furthermore, the friction braking locking method relies on the contact force and friction between the friction element and the side of the drive disk, without involving the gear meshing structure. Therefore, it eliminates the precision impact caused by tooth pitch errors and assembly clearances, preventing slight lens misalignment after locking. Simultaneously, the drive disk can be locked at any rotational position through the contact of the friction element. As long as the drive assembly maintains driving force, the friction element can generate sufficient friction at any side of the drive disk to restrict its rotation, without relying on the discrete meshing positions of the teeth. Therefore, precise locking of the lens at any angle is possible. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the locking mechanism provided by the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the locking mechanism provided by the present invention, which removes the handle body.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the handle body, friction component, and braking component provided by the present invention.

[0031] In the picture:

[0032] 100. Drive disk; 200. Handle body;

[0033] 1. Friction component; 11. Curved surface;

[0034] 2. Braking components;

[0035] 3. Drive assembly; 31. Shaft; 32. Guide channel; 33. Handle; 331. Marking section. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and not intended to limit it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings show only the parts relevant to the invention, not the entire structure.

[0037] In the description of the invention, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0038] In this invention, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0039] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper," "lower," "right," etc., refer to the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for ease of description and simplification of operation, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used only for distinction in description and have no special meaning.

[0040] Please see Figures 1 to 3This embodiment provides a locking mechanism for locking a drive disc 100 that drives the winding and unwinding of a wire rope. The drive disc 100 is rotatably mounted on the handle body 200 of an endoscope. The locking mechanism includes a brake element 2, a friction element 1, and a drive assembly 3. The friction element 1 is disposed on the handle body 200 along a preset path to abut or disengage from the drive disc 100. The brake element 2 is movably disposed on the handle body 200 and located on the side of the friction element 1 away from the drive disc 100. The brake element 2 is disposed opposite to the friction element 1 so that the brake element 2 can move toward or away from the friction element 1. The drive assembly 3 is disposed on the handle body 200 and is drively connected to the brake element 2. The drive assembly 3 is configured to drive the brake element 2 toward the friction element 1, thereby pushing the friction element 1 to move along a preset path and abut against the side of the drive disc 100. The drive assembly 3 is also configured to maintain the driving force on the brake 2, so that the brake 2 continuously pushes the friction member 1 to maintain contact with the side of the drive disc 100, and locks the drive disc 100 in any rotational position through friction braking between the friction member 1 and the drive disc 100.

[0041] When locked, the drive assembly 3 drives the brake 2 to move toward the friction member 1, pushing the friction member 1 to move toward the drive disk 100 and abut against its side; the drive assembly 3 continuously maintains the driving force on the brake 2, so that the friction member 1 always abuts against the side of the drive disk 100, and restricts the rotation of the drive disk 100 by friction braking between the two, and finally locks the drive disk 100 to fix the lens angle.

[0042] With this configuration, the braking element 2 pushes the friction element 1 to maintain contact with the drive disc 100, and the driving disc 100 is kept in a locked state by friction, thereby fixing the lens angle. Moreover, the entire locking process does not require the operator to apply continuous force, thus avoiding hand fatigue.

[0043] Furthermore, the friction braking locking method relies on the contact force and friction between the friction element 1 and the side of the drive disk 100, without involving the gear meshing structure. Therefore, there is no impact on precision due to tooth pitch error and assembly clearance, preventing slight lens displacement after locking. Simultaneously, the drive disk 100 can be locked at any rotational position through the contact of the friction element 1. As long as the drive assembly 3 maintains the driving force, the friction element 1 can generate sufficient friction at any side position of the drive disk 100 to restrict its rotation, without relying on the discrete meshing positions of the teeth. Therefore, precise locking of the lens at any angle can be achieved.

[0044] To further optimize the driving force transmission efficiency and coordination stability of the brake component 2 to the friction component 1, the movement direction of the brake component 2 intersects with the movement direction of the friction component 1 along a preset path, and the brake component 2 and the friction component 1 are in frictional contact. When the brake component 2 moves, it applies a thrust to the friction component 1 to push the friction component 1 to move along the preset path, and when the drive component 3 maintains the driving force, the frictional force can keep the brake component 2 and the friction component 1 in abutment.

[0045] It is understandable that during the process of the drive component 3 maintaining the driving force, the frictional contact allows the brake component 2 and the friction component 1 to always remain in contact, without interruption of power or slippage, so that the driving force is continuously transmitted to the friction component 1, ensuring that the friction component 1 always stably abuts against the drive disc 100, reliably maintaining the frictional braking effect, thereby achieving precise locking at any angle without requiring continuous force from the operator and further reducing the slight displacement of the lens after locking.

[0046] In this embodiment, the drive assembly 3 includes a rotating shaft 31 rotatably mounted on the handle body 200, and a brake 2 mounted on the rotating shaft 31. The rotating shaft 31 and the brake 2 rotate synchronously to drive the brake 2 toward the friction element 1. When the operator or the drive source drives the rotating shaft 31 to rotate, the power can be directly and without loss transmitted to the brake 2, ensuring that the brake 2 can move toward the friction element 1 accurately and stably. This avoids insufficient pressure or positional deviation of the friction element 1 against the drive disc 100 due to unstable power transmission, thereby reliably maintaining the friction braking effect.

[0047] In addition, the rotation angle of the rotating shaft 31 can correspond to the movement amplitude of the brake 2 toward the friction 1. By controlling the rotation amount of the rotating shaft 31, the operator can accurately adjust the magnitude of the thrust of the brake 2 on the friction 1, which conforms to ergonomic operating habits and is more labor-saving and easier to control than linear pushing and other methods. The contact force between the friction 1 and the drive disc 100 can be flexibly adjusted according to actual needs.

[0048] Furthermore, the drive assembly 3 also includes a guide channel 32 disposed on the handle body 200. The guide channel 32 extends along a preset path. The friction member 1 slides and engages with the guide channel 32. The two opposite sides of the friction member 1 face the brake member 2 and the drive disc 100, respectively. At least one end of the friction member 1 extends out of the guide channel 32 to contact the brake member 2 and the drive disc 100.

[0049] When the friction element 1 slides and engages with the guide channel 32, the guide channel 32 will constrain the movement of the friction element 1, restricting it to move only along a preset path, thus preventing the friction element 1 from shifting laterally or tilting during the force process. This ensures that the friction element 1 always moves toward the drive disk 100 in the correct posture and stably abuts against the preset position on the side of the drive disk 100, providing a basis for reliable friction braking.

[0050] Specifically, the friction element 1 is made of an elastic material. When the elastic friction element 1 comes into contact with the drive disk 100, it will adapt to the driving force and deform accordingly, tightly fitting the uneven parts on the side of the drive disk 100, completely eliminating contact gaps. This allows for more complete contact and more uniform pressure between the friction element 1 and the drive disk 100, thereby reducing minor lens misalignment after locking and improving locking accuracy. It should be noted that the friction element 1 can be made of any existing material that meets the requirements of elasticity and wear resistance, such as silicone rubber, fluororubber, polyurethane, etc.

[0051] To further improve braking reliability, the friction element 1 has an arc-shaped surface 11 on the side facing the drive disc 100, and the curvature of the arc-shaped surface 11 is adapted to the curvature of the side wall of the drive disc 100. The arc-shaped surface 11 and the curvature of the side wall of the drive disc 100 are adapted to form a large area of ​​surface contact. The increase in contact area makes the friction between the two more stable and sufficient, so as to ensure that the drive disc 100 is reliably locked.

[0052] In this embodiment, the brake element 2 is arranged in an arc shape on the side facing the friction element 1, which is used to adapt and contact the side of the friction element 1 away from the drive disk 100. When the brake element 2 rotates and pushes the friction element 1, the arc-shaped side will first contact the friction element 1 at the arc corner. The arc-shaped contour of the arc corner can guide the friction element 1, automatically guiding the force direction of the friction element 1 to the preset path, avoiding the friction element 1 from shifting in a non-preset direction or getting stuck in the guide channel 32 due to the initial contact position deviation between the brake element 2 and the friction element 1, ensuring that the friction element 1 can start moving accurately and smoothly.

[0053] To enhance ease of operation, the drive assembly 3 also includes a handle 33 mounted on the rotating shaft 31. The handle 33 is used by the operator to grip and drive the rotating shaft 31 to rotate. It is understood that the operator can drive the rotating shaft 31 to rotate by directly gripping the handle 33, without the need for additional tools or complicated operating steps, and can quickly learn to control the movement of the brake 2.

[0054] Furthermore, the handle 33 is provided with an indicator 331, which indicates the rotation direction in which the handle 33 drives the rotating shaft 31 to release the lock of the drive disk 100. Without the indicator 331, the operator needs to try rotating the handle 33 to determine the unlocking direction, which consumes extra time, especially in medical scenarios where the lens angle needs to be adjusted quickly, potentially delaying the operation. The indicator 331 directly indicates the unlocking direction, allowing the operator to rotate the handle 33 directly in the indicated direction without needing to determine the direction, significantly shortening the preparation time for the unlocking operation and meeting the needs of rapid response in medical scenarios.

[0055] It should be noted that the marking section 331 can indicate the direction of rotation by text, symbols, or a combination of both. For example, arrow symbols such as "→", "↺", and "↻" can be printed on the surface of the handle 33, or the text markings such as "unlock" can be marked next to the arrows.

[0056] This embodiment also provides an operating handle, including a handle body 200, a drive disc 100, and the aforementioned locking mechanism. The drive disc 100 is rotatably mounted on the handle body 200 and is used to wind or unwind the wire rope. The locking mechanism is used to lock the drive disc 100 to fix the winding or unwinding state of the wire rope.

[0057] Understandably, the operating handle, by integrating the aforementioned locking mechanism, can achieve precise locking of the lens at any angle without the operator having to apply continuous force. It is also convenient to operate, suitable for medical scenarios, can reduce hand fatigue, ensure diagnostic accuracy, and improve diagnostic efficiency.

[0058] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to make various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively describe all embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for locking a drive disc (100) for driving the winding and unwinding of a wire rope, the drive disc (100) being rotatably mounted on the handle body (200) of an endoscope, characterized in that, The locking mechanism includes a braking component (2), a friction component (1), and a driving assembly (3), wherein: The friction element (1) is disposed on the handle body (200) along a preset path to abut against or disengage from the drive disc (100). The braking element (2) is movably disposed on the handle body (200) and located on the side of the friction element (1) away from the drive disc (100). The braking element (2) is disposed opposite to the friction element (1) so that the braking element (2) can move toward or away from the friction element (1). The drive assembly (3) is disposed on the handle body (200) and is connected to the brake (2) in a transmission manner. The drive assembly (3) is configured to drive the brake (2) to move toward the friction member (1) so as to push the friction member (1) to move along the preset path and abut against the side of the drive disc (100). The drive assembly (3) is also configured to maintain the driving force on the brake (2), so that the brake (2) continuously pushes the friction member (1) to maintain contact with the side of the drive disk (100), and locks the drive disk (100) in any rotation position by friction braking between the friction member (1) and the drive disk (100).

2. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The direction of movement of the braking component (2) is intersected with the direction of movement of the friction component (1) along a preset path, and the braking component (2) and the friction component (1) are in frictional contact. When the brake (2) moves, it applies a thrust to the friction (1) to push the friction (1) to move along a preset path, and when the drive assembly (3) maintains the driving force, the friction force can keep the brake (2) and the friction (1) in contact.

3. A locking mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drive assembly (3) includes a rotating shaft (31) rotatably mounted on the handle body (200), and a brake (2) mounted on the rotating shaft (31). The rotating shaft (31) and the brake (2) rotate synchronously to drive the brake (2) toward the friction member (1).

4. A locking mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, The drive assembly (3) further includes a guide channel (32) disposed on the handle body (200). The guide channel (32) extends along the preset path. The friction member (1) slides and engages with the guide channel (32). The opposite sides of the friction member (1) face the brake member (2) and the drive disc (100) respectively. At least one end of the friction member (1) extends out of the guide channel (32) to contact the brake member (2) and the drive disc (100).

5. A locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The friction element (1) is made of an elastic material.

6. A locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The friction element (1) has an arc-shaped surface (11) on the side facing the drive disk (100), and the curvature of the arc-shaped surface (11) is adapted to the curvature of the side wall of the drive disk (100).

7. A locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The braking component (2) is arranged in an arc shape on the side facing the friction component (1) for adapting and contacting the side of the friction component (1) away from the drive disc (100).

8. A locking mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, The drive assembly (3) also includes a handle (33) disposed on the rotating shaft (31), the handle (33) being used by an operator to hold and drive the rotating shaft (31) to rotate.

9. A locking mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that, The handle (33) is provided with an identification part (331), which is used to identify the rotation direction in which the handle (33) drives the rotating shaft (31) to rotate to release the lock of the drive disk (100).

10. An operating handle, characterized in that, It includes a handle body (200), a drive disc (100), and a locking mechanism as described in any one of claims 1-9, wherein: The drive disc (100) is rotatably mounted on the handle body (200), and the drive disc (100) is used to wind up or release the wire rope; The locking mechanism is used to lock the drive disc (100) to fix the winding or unwinding state of the wire rope.

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