Integrated flexible ureteroscope with expandable tail end

Abstract

The invention provides an integrated tail-end-expandable bent ureteroscope, and relates to the technical field of urology department treatment equipment.The integrated tail-end-expandable bent ureteroscope comprises a catheter assembly, a ureteroscope assembly is arranged at one end of the catheter assembly, a connecting assembly and a handle assembly are arranged between the catheter assembly and the ureteroscope assembly, and a holding spherical shell and an adjusting assembly are arranged at the end of the ureteroscope assembly; the catheter assembly and the endoscopic camera are arranged in the middle cavity of the catheter assembly and the middle cavity of the endoscope assembly, the balloon sleeve is arranged at the end of the catheter assembly, and the operation time is shorter than that of an original technology, so that a doctor can complete more operations within the same time, the working efficiency of the doctor can be improved, the waiting time of a patient can be shortened, and the patient experience is improved. In addition, due to the fact that the operation time is shortened, the time of the patients in the anesthesia state is shortened, risks related to anesthesia are reduced, the operation time can be effectively shortened, the ureterostenosis problem can be treated at the same time, the operation difficulty of the ureterostenosis operation is reduced, and the hospitalization frequency and pain of the patients are reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of urological treatment equipment technology, specifically an integrated ureteroscope with an expandable and flexible end. Background Technology

[0002] Ureteroscopy is a common urological surgery primarily used to treat ureteral stones, ureteral strictures, and other conditions. This procedure involves inserting a ureteroscope into the ureter to perform the surgical operation. However, due to the complex structure of the ureter, traditional ureteroscopes present certain challenges, such as long operation times and high complexity. Furthermore, the narrowing and tortuosity of the ureter can cause damage during the procedure, increasing the risk of postoperative complications. Therefore, both doctors and patients have a strong demand for new ureteroscopes that can improve surgical efficiency and reduce risks. Over the past few decades, medical technology has advanced rapidly, especially in the field of minimally invasive surgery. Technological advancements have brought significant benefits to patients. Minimally invasive surgery, with its minimal trauma and rapid recovery, is increasingly favored by doctors and patients. However, traditional minimally invasive surgical equipment has limitations, such as long operation times and high complexity, requiring high levels of skill from surgeons and increasing patient discomfort. Therefore, an integrated, expandable, and flexible ureteroscope is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Technical problems to be solved

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides an integrated, expandable, and flexible ureteroscope, which solves the problems of long operation time, high operational complexity, and increased patient suffering.

[0005] Technical solution

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solution: an integrated end-expandable and flexible ureteroscope, including a catheter assembly, a ureteroscope assembly at one end of the catheter assembly, a connecting assembly and a handle assembly between the catheter assembly and the ureteroscope assembly, a holding shell and an adjustment assembly at the end of the ureteroscope assembly, a catheter assembly and an endoscopic camera built into the lumen of the catheter assembly and the ureteroscope assembly, and a balloon cannula at the end of the catheter assembly.

[0007] Preferably, the catheter assembly includes an entry tip for ureteral insertion, and the edge of the entry tip is rounded. One end of the entry tip is provided with an entry tube, and a positioning collar is sleeved on the side of the entry tube near the entry tip.

[0008] Preferably, the connecting assembly includes an auxiliary gripping rib connected to the conduit assembly and an airflow inlet and outlet communicating with the inner cavity of the conduit assembly. The connecting assembly also includes a hand-held end plate fixed to the end face of the auxiliary gripping rib.

[0009] Preferably, the handle assembly includes a grip handle and a connecting spring clip that are interconnected with the connecting assembly, and the two ends of the grip handle are interconnected with the ends of the connecting assembly via the connecting spring clip.

[0010] Preferably, the endoscope assembly includes an endoscope connector that is connected to the handle assembly. One side of the endoscope connector is provided with a telescopic sleeve and a movable sleeve that are connected to the holding ball shell, and the telescopic sleeve and the movable sleeve are rotatably sealed. The side of the telescopic sleeve is provided with a liquid injection port and a pressure regulating port.

[0011] Preferably, the adjustment assembly includes a grip handle interconnected with the grip shell, and a threaded adjustment handle is threadedly connected to the end of the grip handle. One end of the threaded adjustment handle is provided with a grip handle, and an anti-slip handle is sleeved on the end of the threaded adjustment handle.

[0012] Preferably, the endoscope assembly includes a catheter body embedded in the cavity of the catheter assembly, the endoscope assembly, and the adjustment assembly. The catheter body is provided with guide ribs in all four circumferential directions. One end of the catheter body is provided with an adjustment ball. The ends of the adjustment ball and the catheter body are provided with connecting wires and force transmission ropes. The guide ribs and the inner wall of the catheter assembly are connected to each other, and the adjustment ball is embedded in the holding ball shell.

[0013] Preferably, the endoscope assembly extends through the adjustment assembly, endoscope assembly, handle assembly, connection assembly, and catheter assembly.

[0014] Preferably, the endoscope assembly and the handle assembly are threadedly connected to each other.

[0015] Preferably, the endoscope assembly has a two-segment structure, the end of the catheter assembly is a flexible tube, the catheter body of the endoscope assembly is a thin cable, and the connecting wire of the catheter body is located at the inner end of the balloon cannula, that is, on the side away from the end of the catheter body.

[0016] Beneficial effects

[0017] This invention provides an integrated, expandable, and flexible ureteroscope. It offers the following advantages:

[0018] The operation time of this invention is shorter than that of the original technology, which means that doctors can complete more surgeries in the same amount of time. This not only improves the efficiency of doctors' work, but also shortens the waiting time for patients, allowing more patients to receive timely treatment. In addition, due to the shortened operation time, the time patients spend under anesthesia can also be reduced, thus reducing anesthesia-related risks.

[0019] The present invention has a short operation time, and the patient's pain during the operation can be relieved to a certain extent. In addition, since the alternative technology is less invasive to the patient during the operation, the patient's recovery period after the operation will be shorter and the pain will be reduced, which is very important for improving the patient's quality of life.

[0020] This invention allows for more precise operation during surgery, enabling better handling of complex conditions and thus improving the success rate of surgery. This is especially important for complex or high-risk surgeries, as they require doctors to have superb skills and meticulous operation.

[0021] The present invention has a short operation time, which can save medical resources, such as the time spent in the operating room and the amount of anesthetic drugs used. This is very important for regions or hospitals with scarce medical resources, because they can provide services to more patients with fewer resources.

[0022] The surgical results of this invention are good, recovery is fast, and it can improve patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of hospital service quality. High patient satisfaction can improve the hospital's reputation, attract more patients to seek treatment, and thus improve the hospital's economic benefits. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the main body of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a front view of the main body of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the main structure of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 This is an overall top view of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the catheter assembly of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 6 This is a lateral structural diagram of the catheter assembly of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 7 This is a structural diagram of the handle assembly of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 8 This is a structural diagram of the endoscope assembly of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 9 For the present invention Figure 3 Enlarged view of the local structure at point A;

[0032] Figure 10 This is a flowchart of the process of the present invention.

[0033] The components include: 1. Catheter assembly; 101. Inlet rigid tube; 102. Positioning collar; 103. Inlet end; 2. Connecting assembly; 201. Handheld end plate; 202. Airflow inlet / outlet; 203. Auxiliary grip ribs; 3. Handle assembly; 301. Grip handle; 302. Connecting spring clip; 4. Endoscope assembly; 401. Endoscope connector; 402. Telescopic sleeve; 403. Moving sleeve; 404. Liquid injection port; 405. Air pressure regulating port; 5. Grip ball shell; 6. Adjustment assembly; 601. Grip handle; 602. Anti-slip handle; 603. Threaded adjustment handle; 7. Endoscope assembly; 701. Catheter body; 702. Guide ribs; 703. Connecting thread; 704. Force transmission rope; 705. Adjusting ball; 8. Balloon cannula; 9. Endoscopic camera. Detailed Implementation

[0034] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Specific Implementation Example 1:

[0036] As shown in the figure, the integrated, expandable, and flexible ureteroscope includes a catheter assembly 1. The catheter assembly 1 includes an entry tip 103 for ureteral insertion, with rounded edges. One end of the entry tip 103 has an entry rigid tube 101. A positioning collar 102 is fitted onto the side of the entry rigid tube 101 near the entry tip 103. One end of the catheter assembly 1 has a ureteroscope assembly 4. The ureteroscope assembly 4 includes a ureteroscope connector 401 connected to a handle assembly 3. One side of the ureteroscope connector 401 has a telescopic sleeve 402 and a movable sleeve 403 connected to a holding bulb 5, with a rotational dynamic seal between the telescopic sleeve 402 and the movable sleeve 403. The side of the endoscope assembly 4 is provided with a liquid injection port 404 and a pressure regulating port 405. A connecting assembly 2 and a handle assembly 3 are provided between the catheter assembly 1 and the endoscope assembly 4. The connecting assembly 2 includes an auxiliary gripping rib 203 connected to the catheter assembly 1 and an airflow inlet / outlet 202 communicating with the inner cavity of the catheter assembly 1. The connecting assembly 2 also includes a handheld end plate 201 fixed to the end face of the auxiliary gripping rib 203. The handle assembly 3 includes a gripping handle 301 connected to the connecting assembly 2 and a connecting spring clip 302. The two ends of the gripping handle 301 are connected to the ends of the connecting assembly 2 via the connecting spring clip 302. The endoscope assembly 4 and the handle assembly 3 are threaded together. The end of component 4 is provided with a gripping ball shell 5 and an adjustment component 6. The adjustment component 6 includes a gripping handle 601 connected to the gripping ball shell 5. A threaded adjustment handle 603 is threadedly connected to the end of the gripping handle 601. An anti-slip handle 602 is sleeved on the end of the threaded adjustment handle 603. One end of the threaded adjustment handle 603 is provided with the gripping handle 601. The cavity of the catheter assembly 1 and the endoscope assembly 4 houses the endoscope assembly 7 and the endoscope camera 9. The endoscope assembly 7 includes a catheter body 701 embedded in the cavity of the catheter assembly 1, the endoscope assembly 4, and the adjustment component 6. Guide ribs 702 are provided in all four circumferential directions of the catheter body 701. An adjustment ball 705 is provided at one end of the catheter body 701. The ends of the adjusting ball 705 and the catheter body 701 are provided with connecting wires 703 and force transmission ropes 704, and the guide ribs 702 and the inner wall of the catheter assembly 1 are connected to each other. The adjusting ball 705 is embedded in the holding ball shell 5. The endoscope assembly 7 has a two-section structure, and the end of the endoscope assembly 7 is a flexible tube. The catheter body 701 of the endoscope assembly 7 is a thin cable, and the connecting wire 703 of the catheter body 701 is connected at the inner end of the balloon cannula 8, that is, the side away from the end of the catheter body 701. The endoscope assembly 7 passes through the adjusting assembly 6, the endoscope assembly 4, the handle assembly 3, the connecting assembly 2 and the catheter assembly 1. The end of the endoscope assembly 7 is provided with a balloon cannula 8.

[0037] The catheter assembly 1 is the main body of the ureteroscope, including an entry tip 103 and an entry rigid tube 101. The edge of the entry tip 103 is rounded to reduce damage to the ureter. The entry rigid tube 101 is located at one end of the entry tip 103, and a positioning collar 102 is located near the entry tip 103 for positioning. The endoscope assembly 4 is the visual part of the ureteroscope, including an endoscope connector 401, a telescopic sleeve 402, and a movable sleeve 403. The endoscope connector 401 is connected to the handle assembly 3, and the telescopic sleeve 402 and the movable sleeve 403 are connected to the holding bulb 5. The movable sleeve 403 rotates and seals. The telescopic sleeve 402 has a liquid injection port 404 and a pressure regulating port 405 on its side. The connecting assembly 2 and the handle assembly 3 are the operating parts of the ureteroscope, including an auxiliary grip rib 203, an air inlet / outlet 202, a hand-held end plate 201, a grip handle 301, and a connecting spring clip 302. The two ends of the grip handle 301 are connected to the ends of the connecting assembly 2 through the connecting spring clip 302. The grip ball shell 5 and the adjustment assembly 6 are the adjustment parts of the ureteroscope, including a grip handle 601 and a threaded adjustment handle 603. The end of 01 is threadedly connected to a threaded adjustment handle 603. One end of the threaded adjustment handle 603 is provided with a grip handle 601. The endoscope assembly 7 and the endoscope camera 9 are the internal parts of the ureteroscope, including a catheter body 701, four guide ribs 702, a connecting wire 703, a force transmission rope 704, and an adjusting ball 705. One end of the catheter body 701 is provided with the adjusting ball 705. The ends of the adjusting ball 705 and the catheter body 701 are provided with the connecting wire 703 and the force transmission rope 704. The adjusting ball 705 is embedded in the grip ball shell 5. The balloon cannula 8 is the distal part of the ureteroscope, located at the end of the endoscope assembly 7. In the workflow, the movement and rotation of the catheter assembly 1 and endoscope assembly 4 are controlled by operating the handle assembly 3 and adjusting the assembly 6 to observe and treat the ureter. Simultaneously, the pressure and fluid flow inside the ureteroscope are adjusted through the liquid injection port 404 and the air pressure regulating port 405 to adapt to different working environments. The endoscope camera 9 provides intuitive visual feedback, facilitating precise operation by the doctor. This technical solution design makes the ureteroscope easy to operate, highly accurate, and minimally invasive to the patient. During surgery, the doctor first operates the device through the handle assembly 3, allowing the catheter assembly 1 to enter the patient's ureter. Then, through the liquid injection port 404 of the endoscope assembly 4, the internal fluid and air pressure are adjusted, allowing the endoscope assembly 7 to bend and expand controllably within the body. Simultaneously, the endoscope camera 9 transmits images back in real time to help the doctor observe the progress of the surgery. When finer operations are required, the doctor uses the adjusting assembly 6 to fine-tune the position and orientation of the device. Specific Implementation Example 2:

[0039] Further disclosed technical solutions for integrated, expandable, and flexible ureteroscopes:

[0040] Endoscope assembly 7: The catheter will be manufactured using a new type of high-elasticity alloy material. This material has extremely high elasticity and durability, maintaining its shape and function under extreme bending and twisting conditions. The design of the inlet tip 103 will remain unchanged, but a soft protective film will be added to its edge to reduce potential damage to the ureter. A miniature sensor will be installed at one end of the rigid catheter 101 to monitor the catheter's position and status in real time, facilitating precise manipulation by the physician. Endoscope assembly 4 will introduce a new high-resolution endoscope camera 9, equipped with advanced image processing algorithms to provide clearer and more realistic images. In addition, a miniature LED light will be added to endoscope assembly 4, featuring adjustable brightness and color temperature to provide optimal illumination in any environment. Handle assembly 3 and connecting assembly 2: A new ergonomic design will be introduced in both assemblies, taking into account the physician's comfort during prolonged operations. For improved comfort and convenience, the handle assembly 3 is made of a new type of anti-slip material, providing a better grip. The connecting assembly 2 will add a new knob for precise control of the catheter's rotation and movement. The adjustment assembly 6 will introduce a new electric drive system consisting of a miniature motor and a precision gear system, providing more precise and smoother control. Furthermore, a new air pressure regulation system will be added to the adjustment assembly 6, consisting of a miniature air pump and a precision pressure sensor, to adjust and monitor the internal air pressure of the device in real time. The balloon cannula 8 will incorporate a new self-expanding material that automatically expands upon contact with body temperature, reducing the need for manual expansion. Additionally, a leak-proof membrane will be added inside the balloon cannula 8 to prevent leakage of liquid or gas. These are the alternative technical solutions, and it is believed that these new technical features will improve the operability and accuracy of the ureteroscope. Specific Implementation Example 3:

[0042] Further disclosed technical details:

[0043]

[0044]

[0045] The above comparative cases clearly show that the overall successful treatment cases are not significantly different in essence, because current ureteral treatment is a low-risk surgical procedure with relatively low surgical difficulty. However, the average operation time in this application is significantly lower than the average time using the original surgical procedure. This is because this application combines the endoscopic and ureteral components, which reduces the time spent changing surgical equipment, significantly reduces operation time, improves surgical efficiency, reduces the amount of anesthesia, and minimizes physical harm to the patient. Furthermore, the significantly shortened operation time increases the speed of medical procedures and further reduces the risk of medical procedures.

[0046] The following are current comparative cases:

[0047]

[0048]

[0049] It is evident that, under conditions of equal disease difficulty, the operation time for surgeries using traditional equipment is significantly longer than that for surgeries using the technical solution described in this application.

[0050] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, 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. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising a reference structure" does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element.

[0051] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An integrated ureteroscope with an expandable and flexible end, characterized in that: The device includes a catheter assembly (1), one end of which is provided with a endoscope assembly (4). A connecting assembly (2) and a handle assembly (3) are provided between the catheter assembly (1) and the endoscope assembly (4). The end of the endoscope assembly (4) is provided with a holding shell (5) and an adjustment assembly (6). The catheter assembly (1) and the endoscope assembly (4) are equipped with a catheter assembly (7) and an endoscope camera (9). The end of the endoscope assembly (7) is provided with a balloon cannula (8).

2. The integrated distal expandable and flexible ureteroscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: The catheter assembly (1) includes an entry end (103) for ureteral insertion, and the edge of the entry end (103) is rounded. One end of the entry end (103) is provided with an entry tube (101), and a positioning collar (102) is sleeved on the side of the entry tube (101) near the entry end (103).

3. The integrated distal expandable and flexible ureteroscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting component (2) includes an auxiliary gripping rib (203) that is connected to the conduit assembly (1) and an airflow inlet and outlet (202) that are connected to the inner cavity of the conduit assembly (1). The connecting component (2) also includes a hand-held end plate (201) that is fixed to the end face of the auxiliary gripping rib (203).

4. The integrated distal expandable and flexible ureteroscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: The handle assembly (3) includes a grip handle (301) and a connecting spring clip (302) that are connected to the connecting assembly (2), and the two ends of the grip handle (301) are connected to each other through the connecting spring clip (302) and the end of the connecting assembly (2).

5. The integrated distal expandable and flexible ureteroscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: The endoscope assembly (4) includes an endoscope connector (401) connected to the handle assembly (3). One side of the endoscope connector (401) is provided with a telescopic sleeve (402) and a movable sleeve (403) connected to the holding ball shell (5), and the telescopic sleeve (402) and the movable sleeve (403) are rotatably sealed. The side of the telescopic sleeve (402) is provided with a liquid injection hole (404) and a pressure regulating port (405).

6. The integrated distal expandable and flexible ureteroscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adjustment assembly (6) includes a grip handle (601) connected to the grip shell (5). The end of the grip handle (601) is threadedly connected to a threaded adjustment handle (603). One end of the threaded adjustment handle (603) is provided with the grip handle (601), and the end of the threaded adjustment handle (603) is fitted with an anti-slip handle (602).

7. The integrated distal expandable and flexible ureteroscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: The endoscope assembly (7) includes a catheter body (701) embedded in the cavity of the catheter assembly (1), the endoscope assembly (4) and the adjustment assembly (6). The catheter body (701) is provided with guide ribs (702) in four circumferential directions. One end of the catheter body (701) is provided with an adjustment ball (705). The ends of the adjustment ball (705) and the catheter body (701) are provided with connecting wires (703) and force transmission ropes (704). The guide ribs (702) and the inner wall of the catheter assembly (1) are connected to each other. The adjustment ball (705) is embedded in the holding ball shell (5).

8. The integrated distal expandable and flexible ureteroscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: The endoscope assembly (7) passes through the adjustment assembly (6), the endoscope assembly (4), the handle assembly (3), the connection assembly (2), and the catheter assembly (1).

9. The integrated distal expandable and flexible ureteroscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: The endoscope assembly (4) and the handle assembly (3) are threaded together.

10. The integrated distal expandable and flexible ureteroscope according to claim 7, characterized in that: The endoscope assembly (7) has a two-segment structure, and the end of the endoscope assembly (7) is a flexible tube. The catheter body (701) of the endoscope assembly (7) is a thin cable, and the connecting wire (703) of the catheter body (701) is located at the inner end of the balloon cannula (8), that is, the side away from the end of the catheter body (701).

Images