Snake bone assembly and endoscope

Abstract

The snake bone assembly comprises a main body and a guide piece arranged on the main body, the main body is arranged in an axially-extending barrel shape, the guide piece comprises two buckles distributed in the circumferential direction at intervals, each buckle is provided with a protruding block arranged on the inner circumferential side of the main body in a protruding mode, and a through hole used for allowing a traction wire to penetrate through is formed in each protruding block in a penetrating mode. In the projection view along the axial direction, the connecting line between the centers of the two through holes avoids the circle center of the main body. By means of the asymmetric offset layout of the buckle through holes, sufficient space is reserved for the working channel on the premise that the outer diameter of the main body is not increased, normal strand penetrating and instrument smoothness of the working channel are guaranteed, miniaturization of an endoscope insertion structure is maintained, and tissue damage and discomfort of a patient during use are reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical device technology, specifically to a snake bone assembly and an endoscope. Background Technology

[0002] The endoscope's snake-bone assembly achieves bending angles by pulling a steel wire rope. The steel wire rope is guided by guide buckles set on the inner circumference of the snake-bone. Common guide buckles are usually symmetrically distributed on both sides of the inner circumference of the snake-bone. The guide buckles on both sides divide the internal space of the snake-bone, forming a space for placing working channels, CMOS signal lines, LED light lines, or other internal cavity items.

[0003] It is understandable that the working channel of an endoscope typically needs to meet a preset size to achieve normal insertion. In existing technologies, to reduce the damage and discomfort caused to the human body when using an endoscope, it is necessary to ensure that the overall outer diameter of the endoscope's insertion structure is small enough. In the serpentine structure with symmetrically distributed guide clips, the working channel is often squeezed by the guide clips after insertion, resulting in a smaller inner diameter of the working channel and affecting the smooth flow of instruments. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a snake bone assembly and an endoscope, which aims to solve the problems of the symmetrical distribution of guide buckles in existing endoscope snake bone assemblies, which leads to the compression of the working channel, the reduction of the inner diameter, and the difficulty in miniaturizing the outer diameter of the endoscope insertion part.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a snake bone assembly, comprising: At least one main body, each of the main bodies being arranged in a cylindrical shape extending along the axial direction; and, A guide is provided on at least one of the main bodies. The guide includes two buckles spaced apart in the circumferential direction. Each buckle includes a protrusion protruding from the inner circumferential side of the main body. Each protrusion has a through hole for passing through a traction wire. In the axial projection view, the line connecting the centers of the two through holes avoids the center of the body.

[0006] Optionally, the main body has two sockets, each socket being connected to the inner circumference and the outer circumference of the main body respectively; Each of the buckles further includes a plug, and the plug and the protrusion are arranged sequentially from the outer periphery to the inner periphery. The plug passes through the corresponding insertion port so that each of the buckles is engaged with the main body. Each plug has a first end and a second end that are arranged opposite to each other in the circumferential direction. The first ends of the two plugs are arranged opposite to each other in the circumferential direction. On each of the buckles, the through hole is relatively close to the first end and away from the second end.

[0007] Optionally, the circumferential distance between the two first ends is less than the circumferential distance between the two second ends.

[0008] Optionally, the insert includes a wing and a connecting portion. The connecting portion is located in the socket and connects the wing and the protrusion. The wing abuts against the outer periphery of the main body, and the two ends of the wing in the circumferential direction extend beyond the two ends of the connecting portion in the circumferential direction.

[0009] Optionally, the body further includes a connecting structure disposed at an axial end of the body and used to connect the body to another body, wherein the wing is disposed circumferentially adjacent to the edge of the connecting structure on the end side near the first end.

[0010] Optionally, the connecting portion has a first limiting side and a second limiting side that are arranged opposite to each other in the circumferential direction, and the socket has a first inner wall and a second inner wall that are arranged opposite to each other in the circumferential direction, the first limiting side abutting against the first inner wall, and the second limiting side abutting against the second inner wall; The protrusion has an annular wall surrounding the outer periphery of the through hole, the first limiting side is tangent to the annular wall, and the second limiting side is spaced apart from the annular wall.

[0011] Optionally, the two ends of the wing extend out of the connecting portion by an equal dimension in the circumferential direction.

[0012] Optionally, each of the through holes is elongated, and the length direction of each of the through holes is perpendicular to the radial direction of the main body.

[0013] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides an endoscope, comprising: Snake bone segment, said snake bone segment including the snake bone assembly as described above; and, The working passage is located within the main body.

[0014] Optionally, at least one of the main bodies includes a head end body disposed at the front end of the snake bone segment, the head end body having two radially penetrating two insertion ports, the head end body being provided with the guide member, each of the buckles further including a wing portion, the wing portion being connected to the protrusion and abutting against the outer periphery of the head end body, the snake bone assembly further including a snake bone skin covering the outer periphery of the snake bone segment, the front end of the snake bone skin being located behind the wing portion; The endoscope also includes: The head end piece is disposed in front of the snake bone segment and abuts against the front end of the head end body; A connecting ring has a front section and a rear section arranged sequentially along the axial direction. The front section is sleeved on the rear end of the head end member, and the rear section is sleeved on the front end of the head end body. The rear end of the connecting ring has two rearward-facing opening slots, and two wings are inserted into the two opening slots in a corresponding manner; and... A heat-shrink film is fitted onto the outer periphery of the connecting ring and the head end body, with the rear end of the heat-shrink film extending to the outer periphery of the snake bone skin.

[0015] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention also provides an endoscope, comprising: This invention provides a snake-bone assembly and an endoscope. The snake-bone assembly includes a main body and a guide member disposed on the main body. The main body is arranged in a cylindrical shape extending axially. The guide member includes two buckles spaced apart circumferentially. Each buckle has a protrusion protruding from the inner circumference of the main body. A through hole for passing a traction wire is provided on the protrusion. In a projection view along the axial direction, the line connecting the centers of the two through holes avoids the center of the main body.

[0016] In the embodiments provided by this invention, the line connecting the centers of the two through holes avoids the center of the main body. That is, the two latches adopt this asymmetrical offset layout within the main body, causing the two protrusions to deviate from the diameter of the main body. This allows for a more rational allocation of space within the existing inner diameter of the main body, providing a larger first area on one side of the two protrusions to accommodate the working channel. This reduces the compression of the working channel by traditional symmetrical latches, ensuring the internal dimensions of the working channel and improving the smooth passage of instruments. Simultaneously, it eliminates the need to increase the outer diameter of the main body, balancing the size requirements of the working channel with the miniaturization of the endoscope insertion structure, effectively reducing friction and damage to human tissue during endoscopic intervention. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the endoscope provided by the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the partial three-dimensional structure of a central endoscope; Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an embodiment of a snake bone component in the prior art; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Front view of the snake bone component; Figure 5 for Figure 4 Front view of the central buckle; Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an embodiment of the snake bone component provided by the present invention; Figure 7 for Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the snake bone component; Figure 8 for Figure 7 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the central buckle; Figure 9 for Figure 6 A front view of the first embodiment of the snake bone component; Figure 10 for Figure 9 Front view of the central buckle; Figure 11 for Figure 6 A front view of the second embodiment of the snake bone assembly; Figure 12 for Figure 11 Front view of the central buckle; Figure 13 for Figure 6 A front view of the third embodiment of the snake bone component; Figure 14 for Figure 13 Front view of the central buckle; Figure 15 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a medium-sized endoscope; Figure 16 for Figure 15 A partial three-dimensional structural breakdown diagram of the tip of a mid-endoscope; Figure 17 for Figure 15 Enlarged view of point A in the middle; Figure 18 This is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a prior art endoscope.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1000-Endoscope; 100-Snake bone assembly; 10-Main body; 11-Insert; 12-Snap-fit ​​groove; 20-Guide; 21-Snap-fit; 210-Through hole; 211-Protrusion; 2111-Annular wall; 212-Insertion block; 2121-First end; 2122-Second end; 213-Wing; 214-Connecting part; 2141-First limiting side; 2142-Second limiting side; 30-Snake bone outer skin; 40-First region; 50-Second region; 200-Head end piece; 300-Connecting ring; 301-Front section; 302-Rear section; 303-Opening groove; 400-Heat shrink film. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0021] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0022] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 This invention provides an endoscope 1000, comprising a snake-like segment and a working channel. Specifically, the snake-like segment is composed of multiple segments of snake bones connected sequentially in a front-to-back direction. Each segment of snake bone includes a main body 10 extending in a cylindrical shape along the axial direction. The main body 10 has a mounting cavity extending through it along the axial direction. This mounting cavity is used to accommodate the working channel, CMOS signal lines, LED light lines, or other internal cavity items. Figure 4 As shown, the first region 40 represents the space for threading the working channel, and the second region 50 represents the space for threading the CMOS signal lines. The main bodies 10 of adjacent snake bones are connected by connecting structures at their respective ends, such as mutually adaptable locking blocks and locking slots 12. The connected snake bones can deflect relative to each other radially, allowing the endoscope 1000 to bend flexibly as a whole. The endoscope 1000 also includes guide members 20 disposed on the snake bones. The overall bending of the endoscope 1000 is controlled by the cooperation of the guide members 20 and the traction wire. The guide members 20 can be disposed on the main body 10 of each snake bone, or a set can be disposed on every few snake bone main bodies 10 to adapt to different bending control precision requirements.

[0023] Please see Figures 3 to 14The present invention also provides a snake bone assembly 100, which can be used as a single snake bone segment, that is, it includes only one main body 10. The snake bone assembly 100 can also be composed of multiple snake bone segments connected in series, that is, it can include multiple main bodies 10 interconnected by a connecting structure. The snake bone segment in this embodiment can include one or more of the snake bone assemblies 100. In this embodiment, the snake bone assembly 100 includes at least one main body 10 and a guide 20. Each main body 10 is arranged in a cylindrical shape extending axially, and the guide 20 is provided on at least one of the main bodies 10 in the snake bone assembly 100, and includes two buckles 21 spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The main body 10 and the guide 20 can be made of compatible medical-grade materials to ensure no biocompatibility risk. They can be integrally molded, glued or snap-fit ​​connected. Each buckle 21 includes a protrusion 211 protruding from the inner circumference of the main body 10, and each protrusion 211 has a through hole 210 for passing a traction wire. Two traction wires are threaded through corresponding through holes 210. By adjusting the length of each traction wire, the endoscope 1000 can be directionally and quantitatively bent. Specifically, the traction wires pull and deflect the snake bone, thereby achieving the overall bending of the multi-segment snake bone assembly 100. The protrusion 211 can protrude towards the central axis of the main body 10. Its protrusion height is determined by not affecting the arrangement of the internal cavity and being able to stably thread the traction wire. That is to say, the protrusion profile of the protrusion 211 on the inner periphery of the main body 10 is related to the size, shape, and layout of the through holes 210. It can be understood that the size of the first region 40 is limited by the two protrusions 211 on both sides, that is, by the layout, shape, and size of the two through holes 210.

[0024] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the center of the through hole 210 is the geometric center of the outer contour of the projection of the through hole 210 along the axial direction. Generally, the through hole 210 passes through the protrusion 211 along the axial direction. In optional embodiments, the through hole 210 may also be bent or inclined relative to the axial direction, as long as it passes through both sides of the protrusion 211 in the axial direction.

[0025] In existing technologies, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, in the axial projection view, the two protrusions 211 and the two through holes 210 are symmetrically arranged, meaning that the line connecting the centers of the two through holes 210 passes through the center of the main body 10. Taking a main body 10 with an outer diameter D of 2.1 mm and an inner diameter of 1.8 mm as an example, with this design, the outer diameter L of the first region 40 is approximately 1.2 mm, smaller than the outer diameter of the working channel (1.3 mm), while the outer diameter S of the second region 50 is 0.6 mm, larger than the outer diameter of a typical CMOS signal line (approximately 0.4 mm). This means that after the working channel is pierced, it will be deformed by the pressure of the protrusions 211 on both sides, thus reducing the inner diameter of the working channel and hindering the piercing of the instrument. At the same time, the second region 50 is too large, resulting in wasted space.

[0026] In this embodiment, as Figures 6 to 14 As shown, in the axial projection view, the line connecting the centers of the two through holes 210 avoids the center of the main body 10, forming an asymmetrical offset layout. The mounting cavity of the main body 10 is divided into a first region 40 and a second region 50 by this asymmetrical offset layout of the buckle 21. The larger first region 40 is adjacent to the two protrusions 211 and the inner peripheral side of the main body 10, and is used for threading the working channel. The second region 50 is adjacent to the edge of the first region 40 and the inner peripheral side of the main body 10, and is used for threading visual information transmission signal lines such as CMOS signal lines. This layout makes the size of the first region 40 larger than that of the prior art, and the size of the second region 50 smaller than that of the prior art, which better fits the actual layout characteristics of the endoscope 1000, which has a large working channel size requirement and a small signal line size requirement, ensuring that the space allocation within the main body 10 is precisely matched with the component size. The working channel passes through the first region 40 of each segment of the snake bone main body 10, and is subjected to less or no compression deformation, improving the unobstructed flow requirements when threading clinical instruments.

[0027] This embodiment employs a snake-bone assembly 100 with an asymmetrically offset layout of the guide 20. While maintaining the outer diameter of the main body 10, the size of the first region 40 can be expanded by adjusting the layout of the through-hole 210, correspondingly reducing the size of the second region 50, thus better matching the size requirements of components placed within the main body 10. This not only reduces friction and damage to tissues such as the urethra during intervention, lowering patient discomfort, but also reduces the compression of the working channel by the traditional symmetrical buckle 21, increasing the internal size of the working channel and improving the smoothness of instrument passage. Without increasing the outer diameter of the main body 10, it balances the size requirements of the working channel with the miniaturization of the endoscope 1000 insertion structure, effectively reducing friction and damage to human tissues during endoscope 1000 intervention. Furthermore, this technical solution does not require changing the connection method between the buckle 21 and the main body 10 or the threading logic of the traction wire. The bending guidance function and structural stability of the endoscope 1000 are not affected. The expansion of the first region 40 can be achieved simply by adjusting the relative position of the two through holes 210. No additional components are required. The processing technology is simple and the manufacturing cost is low, which has broad clinical application prospects.

[0028] There are several ways to achieve an asymmetrical offset layout for the two bumps 211. For example... Figure 9 and Figure 10As shown, in the first embodiment, without changing the shape and structure of the latches 21, simply deflecting the two latches 21 away from the first region 40 can cause the two protrusions 211 to deviate from the central symmetrical position of the main body 10. This increases the size of the first region 40 to fit the working channel, while reducing the size of the second region 50, which still meets the signal line arrangement requirements and matches the actual size requirements of the endoscope 1000 components. In a specific implementation, taking a main body 10 with an outer diameter D of 2.1 mm and an inner diameter of 1.8 mm as an example, the through holes 210 are centrally symmetrically distributed on the protrusions 211. By adjusting the offset angle of the latches 21 to 17.5°, the outer diameter L1 of the first region 40 can be increased from 1.2 mm in the prior art to 1.3 mm, perfectly matching the outer diameter of the working channel of 1.3 mm, achieving a zero-clearance fit. The outer diameter S1 of the second region 50 is correspondingly reduced to 0.5 mm, which is larger than the 0.4 mm outer diameter of the CMOS signal line, while still ensuring the normal arrangement of other internal cavity components.

[0029] This embodiment achieves the spatial allocation effect of expanding the first region 40 and adapting and reducing the second region 50 simply by offsetting the entire buckle 21, which just meets the cable routing requirements of the 1.3mm outer diameter working channel without affecting the signal line layout. However, the working channel fits tightly with each protrusion 211, and the friction is relatively severe after cable routing. Long-term use may pose a risk of slight deformation of the working channel.

[0030] In an alternative implementation, such as Figures 6 to 8 ,as well as Figures 11 to 14 As shown, the offset of the two protrusions 211 can also be achieved by offsetting the through hole 210, that is, by making the protrusions 211 asymmetrically arranged on the buckle 21. In this embodiment, as... Figure 7 As shown, the main body 10 has two insertion ports 11, which correspond one-to-one with two snap fasteners 21 in the circumferential direction. Each insertion port 11 connects to the inner and outer circumferential sides of the main body 10, respectively. The shape and size of the insertion port 11 are adapted to the insertion block 212 of the snap fastener 21, ensuring that the insertion block 212 can be smoothly inserted and tightly connected, preventing the snap fasteners 21 from loosening or shifting during the bending of the endoscope 1000. Each snap fastener 21 also includes an insertion block 212. The insertion block 212 and the protrusion 211 are arranged sequentially from the outer circumference to the inner circumference, that is, the insertion block 212 is located on the outer circumference of the main body 10, and the protrusion 211 is located on the inner circumference of the main body 10. The insertion block 212 passes through the corresponding insertion port 11, and each snap fastener 21 is fixed to the main body 10 by mechanical snap-fit. This snap-fit ​​structure is convenient to install and has a firm connection, and it is also convenient for subsequent maintenance and replacement of the snap fasteners 21.

[0031] Each insert 212 has a first end 2121 and a second end 2122 arranged opposite each other in the circumferential direction. The first ends 2121 of the two inserts 212 are arranged opposite each other in the circumferential direction, meaning that the two first ends 2121 and the two second ends 2122 also face each other in the circumferential direction. On each latch 21, the through hole 210 is relatively close to the first end 2121 and away from the second end 2122. That is, on each latch 21, the protrusion 211 is also relatively close to the first end 2121 and away from the second end 2122. Thus, the two protrusions 211 are offset towards each other in a direction away from the first region 40, which also increases the size of the first region 40 and decreases the size of the second region 50. With this arrangement, the offset layout of the guide member 20 can be achieved by simply replacing the latches 21, without changing the mold of the main body 10 pieces, thereby increasing the size of the first region 40, resulting in low R&D and production costs.

[0032] Preferably, the offset buckle 21 is offset along with the through hole 210. For example... Figure 11 and Figure 12 As shown, based on the first embodiment, the through hole 210 on the protrusion 211 is further offset, causing the two latches 21 to deflect towards each other in a direction relative to the first region 40. Simultaneously, in each latch 21, the protrusion 211 also moves closer to the first end 2121 of the insert 212 and away from the second end 2122. Specifically, the circumferential distance between the first ends 2121 of the two inserts 212 is smaller than the circumferential distance between the two second ends 2122. That is, compared to the symmetrical layout in the prior art, both inserts 212 are deflected away from the first region 40. This spacing design makes the protrusions 211 of the two latches 21 more concentrated on one side of the two first ends 2121, further expanding the space of the first region 40, while making the space on the second end 2122 side more suitable for the arrangement of other internal components such as CMOS signal lines. This spacing design, in conjunction with the offset layout of the through hole 210, maximizes the use of internal space, taking into account the unobstructed working channel, the arrangement requirements of other internal cavities, and the miniaturization of the insertion part, while not affecting the snap-fit ​​stability of the buckle 21 and the deflection function of the snake bone, thus improving the practicality and adaptability of the snake bone assembly 100.

[0033] In specific implementation, under the constraints of the outer diameter of the main body 10 (2.1 mm) and the inner diameter (1.8 mm), a dual-bias design is achieved by using the overall bias of the buckle 21 and the partial bias of the through holes 210, thereby increasing the offset angle of the two through holes 210 to 25.12°. At this point, the outer diameter L2 of the first region 40 can be further increased to 1.33 mm, which is larger than the 1.3 mm outer diameter of the working channel, forming a 0.03 mm gap. The corresponding outer diameter S2 of the second region 50 is 0.47 mm, still larger than the 0.4 mm outer diameter of the CMOS signal line, without affecting the arrangement of other internal components. In this embodiment, the dual-bias design further optimizes the internal space allocation of the main body 10. The increased size of the first region 40 reduces friction between the working channel and the protrusion 211, lowering the risk of deformation of the working channel and ensuring smoother instrument passage. The second region 50 can still stably accommodate the signal line, without affecting the arrangement of other functional components due to the expansion of the first region 40. The dual-bias design does not change the connection strength between the protrusion 211 and the main body 10, nor does it affect the stability of the traction wire insertion. The deflection function of a single segment of the serpentine bone and the series bending performance of multiple segments of the serpentine bone are not affected. While not increasing the outer diameter of the main body 10, it also takes into account the size requirements of the working channel and the miniaturization of the endoscope 1000 insertion structure, effectively reducing friction and damage to human tissues during endoscope 1000 intervention.

[0034] In an optional third embodiment, such as Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, the through hole 210 is elongated. That is, based on the above embodiments, the through hole 210 is further designed as an elongated structure, and the length direction of the through hole 210 is perpendicular to the radial direction of the main body 10, preferably extending circumferentially. In specific applications, the length dimension of the through hole 210 can be designed to be 0.78 mm, while the width dimension remains 0.26 mm, ensuring stable threading of the traction wire while providing greater movement space for the traction wire.

[0035] In this embodiment, the elongated through-hole 210 provides ample movement allowance for the traction wire, reducing jamming and excessive friction between the traction wire and the edge of the through-hole 210 during snake bone deflection, thus improving the smoothness of single-segment snake bone deflection and the overall flexibility of multi-segment snake bone bending. While further optimizing the traction effect, it also reduces the protrusion size of the bump 211, increases the outer diameter L3 of the first region 40, and ensures that the outer diameter S3 of the second region 50 still meets the beam transmission requirements of the CMOS signal line. This satisfies both the arrangement requirements of the working channel and signal line, while maintaining the compactness of the outer diameter of the endoscope 1000.

[0036] When implemented in conjunction with the first and second embodiments, the elongated design of the through hole 210 can further enhance the dual biasing effect of the overall bias of the buckle 21 and the partial bias of the through hole 210, making the protrusion 211 more concentrated on the side away from the first region 40, thereby further expanding the space of the first region 40 and making the space allocation of the second region 50 more suitable for the arrangement of signal lines.

[0037] In one embodiment, such as Figures 6 to 8 As shown, the insert 212 includes a wing 213 and a connecting portion 214. The connecting portion 214 is located in the socket 11, and its shape and size are perfectly adapted to the socket 11, ensuring that the connecting portion 214 can be stably fixed in the socket 11. The wing 213 and the protrusion 211 are respectively connected to the two radial sides of the connecting portion 214. The wing 213 abuts against the outer periphery of the main body 10, and its circumferential dimension is larger than that of the connecting portion 214, usually arranged in an arc-shaped plate. In this way, the radial movement of the latch 21 can be restricted, preventing the latch 21 from detaching from the main body 10 during use. It can also increase the contact area between the latch 21 and the main body 10, improving the connection stability.

[0038] The two ends of the wing 213 extend beyond the two ends of the connecting portion 214 in the circumferential direction. Preferably, the two ends of the wing 213 extend beyond the connecting portion 214 by the same amount, that is, the wing 213 is symmetrically distributed about the circumferential center line of the connecting portion 214. This symmetrical design makes the force on the wing 213 more uniform, avoiding deformation or damage to the wing 213 due to uneven force during the bending of the snake bone assembly 100. The amount of the wing 213 extending beyond the connecting portion 214 at both ends can be selected as needed, only to achieve the limiting and fitting function between the buckle 21 and the main body 10. The thickness of the wing 213 is minimized while ensuring structural strength, avoiding increasing the outer diameter and weight of the insertion part. In this embodiment, the symmetrical design of the wing 213 extending beyond the connecting portion 214 by the same amount ensures that the wing 213 is subjected to uniform force, avoiding deformation or damage caused by excessive force on one side, and improving the structural stability and service life of the buckle 21.

[0039] Optionally, as shown in the figure, the main body 10 also includes a connecting structure, which is located at the axial end of the main body 10. Specifically, it can adopt a combination of a snap-fit ​​block and a snap-fit ​​groove 12, wherein the snap-fit ​​block is located at the front end of the main body 10, and the snap-fit ​​groove 12 is located at the rear end of the main body 10. Adjacent snake bones are connected and matched with each other through the connecting structure between the main body of the preceding snake bone and the main body of the following snake bone, realizing a radially deflectable series connection to form a longer snake bone chain, which can adapt to the needs of different lengths of endoscope 1000 insertion parts. The wing 213 is located on the circumferential side near the first end 2121 adjacent to the edge of the connecting structure, that is, one end of the wing 213 is in contact with the edge of the connecting structure. This layout can ensure that each snap-fit ​​21 is deflected to the farthest position on the main body 10 in the direction away from the first region 40, thereby providing a sufficiently large space for the first region 40. While ensuring the size of the working channel and the smooth transmission of instruments, the outer diameter of the insertion structure of the endoscope 1000 is minimized.

[0040] Further, please refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 The connecting portion 214 has a first limiting side 2141 and a second limiting side 2142 arranged opposite each other in the circumferential direction. The insertion port 11 has a first inner wall and a second inner wall arranged opposite each other in the circumferential direction. The first limiting side 2141 abuts against the first inner wall, and the second limiting side 2142 abuts against the second inner wall. Through the abutting cooperation between the limiting side and the inner wall, the main body 10 forms a circumferential limiting for each buckle 21, restricting the circumferential rotation of the connecting portion 214 within the insertion port 11. The protrusion 211 has an annular wall 2111 surrounding the outer periphery of the through hole 210. The thickness of the annular wall 2111 can be 0.1 mm to ensure the structural strength of the protrusion 211 and prevent damage to the edge of the through hole 210 when the traction wire is pulled. The first limiting side 2141 is tangent to the annular wall 2111, and the second limiting side 2142 is spaced apart from the annular wall 2111. Preferably, the two are connected by an arc surface that bends towards the outer periphery of the main body 10. This design makes the force on the connecting part 214 more even, and ensures that the protrusion 211 is as close as possible to the first end 2121 relative to the connecting part 214 in the buckle 21, thereby further optimizing the spatial distribution ratio of the first region 40 and the second region 50.

[0041] Based on the above embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 , Figures 15 to 17The endoscope 1000 also includes a headpiece 200, a connecting ring 300, and a heat-shrink film 400 at its front end. The snake bone assembly 100 also includes a snake bone skin 30 covering the outer periphery of the snake bone segment. The snake bone skin 30 can be made of medical-grade polyurethane or silicone and is used to protect the internal structure of the main body 10 and the connecting parts 214 of each snake bone segment, reducing friction between the snake bone assembly 100 and human tissue, while also enhancing the sealing of the snake bone assembly 100 to prevent body fluids from entering and causing corrosion or short circuits. It should be noted that in this embodiment, "front" refers to the direction in which the endoscope 1000 is relatively close to the human body during use, while "rear" refers to the direction in which the endoscope 1000 is relatively far away from the human body.

[0042] At least one main body 10 includes a head end body disposed at the front end of the snake bone segment. The structure of the head end body is substantially the same as that of the main body 10 in the above embodiments. It has two insertion ports 11 extending radially through it. A guide member 20 is disposed on the head end body. The guide member 20 includes two buckles 21. Each buckle 21 includes a protrusion 211 and a wing 213. The wing 213 is connected to the protrusion 211 and abuts against the outer periphery of the head end body.

[0043] The snake-bone outer skin 30 is located behind the wing 213. The endoscope 1000 also includes a head end piece 200, a connecting ring 300, and a heat-shrink film 400. The head end piece 200 is located in front of the snake-bone segment and abuts against the front end of the head end body. The head end piece 200 is made of medical-grade materials and generally integrates a camera and lighting device for observing the internal condition of the human body.

[0044] like Figure 16 As shown, the connecting ring 300 has a front section 301 and a rear section 302 arranged sequentially along the axial direction. The material is medical-grade stainless steel. The front section 301 is sleeved on the rear end of the head end piece 200, and the rear section 302 is sleeved on the front end of the head end body. The connection ring is fixed to the head end piece 200 and the snake bone segment through an interference fit, thus connecting the head end piece 200 and the snake bone segment.

[0045] In existing technologies, such as Figure 18 As shown, the connecting ring 300 is arranged in a complete circle, and the snake-bone outer skin 30 extends to cover the outer periphery of the buckle 21. The rear end of the connecting ring 300 extends to mate with the front end of the snake-bone outer skin 30. Then, a heat-shrink film 400 is covered at the connection between the snake-bone outer skin 30 and the connecting ring 300. The heat-shrink film 400 can be made of polyolefin material. This structure not only results in a stepped surface with a large drop at the buckle 21, but also causes the outer diameter of the endoscope 1000 insertion structure to be the outer diameter of the guide 20 + the thickness of the snake-bone outer skin 30 + the thickness of the heat-shrink film 400. The outer diameter of the endoscope 1000 is too large, resulting in greater friction when inserted into the human body, causing discomfort to the human body.

[0046] In this embodiment, please refer to Figure 16Two rearward-facing slots 303 are provided on the rear end 302. The shape and size of the slots 303 are adapted to the wings 213, and the two wings 213 are inserted into the two slots 303 one-to-one. In this way, the two buckles 21 can be partially embedded in the connecting ring 300, so that they can be arranged more forward on the main body and closer to the head end piece 200 in the axial direction. The snake bone skin 30 only extends to the rear end side of the wings 213, which can cover the connection structure between the head end body and the rear body 10, that is, it is located on the side of the wings 213 that is axially away from the head end piece 200, without having to extend to the outer periphery of the buckles 21, thus avoiding radial overlap with the buckles 21. This design achieves two key benefits. First, the circumferential positioning of the snake bone assembly 100 and the connecting ring 300 is ensured through the insertion and engagement of the opening groove 303 of the connecting ring 300 and the wing 213, guaranteeing a fixed relative position between the snake bone assembly 100 and the head end piece 200 and improving the assembly consistency of the endoscope 1000. Second, with the heat-shrinkable film 400 fitted around the outer periphery of the connecting ring 300 and the snake bone assembly 100, the outer diameter of the endoscope 1000 insertion structure is only the outer diameter of the guide piece 20 plus the thickness of the heat-shrinkable film 400, significantly reducing the outer diameter of the endoscope 1000 insertion structure compared to existing technologies. Furthermore, in the area covered by the heat-shrinkable film 400, the engagement between the snake bone outer skin 30 and the wing 213 reduces the height difference at the buckle 21, smoothing out the step at that location. Covering with the heat-shrinkable film 400 makes the outer surface of the endoscope 1000 insertion structure smoother, reducing frictional resistance during intervention, significantly lowering patient discomfort, and improving the treatment experience.

[0047] Preferably, please refer to the following: Figure 2 The front section 301 of the connecting ring 300 also has a notch, which is inserted into the boss at the rear end of the head end piece 200, so that the head end piece 200 and the connecting ring 300 form a circumferential limit, further improving the assembly consistency of the endoscope 1000.

[0048] Obviously, the embodiments described above are merely some, not all, embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make other variations or modifications without creative effort, and all such variations or modifications should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A snake bone assembly (100), characterized in that, include: At least one body (10), each of the bodies (10) being arranged in a cylindrical shape extending axially; and, A guide (20) is provided on at least one of the main bodies (10). The guide (20) includes two buckles (21) spaced apart in the circumferential direction. Each buckle (21) includes a protrusion (211) protruding from the inner circumferential side of the main body (10). Each protrusion (211) is provided with a through hole (210) for passing through a traction wire. In the axial projection view, the line connecting the centers of the two through holes (210) avoids the center of the body (10).

2. The snake bone assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The main body (10) has two sockets (11), and each socket (11) is connected to the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side of the main body (10); Each of the buckles (21) further includes a plug (212), the plug (212) and the protrusion (211) are arranged sequentially from the outer periphery to the inner periphery, the plug (212) passes through the corresponding insertion port (11) so that each of the buckles (21) is engaged with the body (10), each of the plugs (212) has a first end (2121) and a second end (2122) arranged opposite to each other in the circumferential direction, the first ends (2121) of the two plugs (212) are arranged opposite to each other in the circumferential direction, on each of the buckles (21), the through hole (210) is relatively close to the first end (2121) and away from the second end (2122).

3. The snake bone assembly (100) as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The circumferential spacing between the two first ends (2121) is less than the circumferential spacing between the two second ends (2122).

4. The snake bone assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The insert (212) includes a wing (213) and a connecting part (214). The connecting part (214) is located in the socket (11) and connects the wing (213) and the protrusion (211). The wing (213) is attached to the outer periphery of the main body (10), and the two ends of the wing (213) in the circumferential direction extend beyond the two ends of the connecting part (214) in the circumferential direction.

5. The snake bone assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that, The main body (10) further includes a connecting structure disposed at the axial end of the main body (10) and connecting the main body (10) to another main body (10). The wing (213) is disposed on the circumferential side near the first end (2121) adjacent to the edge of the connecting structure.

6. The snake bone assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that, The connecting part (214) has a first limiting side (2141) and a second limiting side (2142) arranged opposite to each other in the circumferential direction. The socket (11) has a first inner wall and a second inner wall arranged opposite to each other in the circumferential direction. The first limiting side (2141) abuts against the first inner wall, and the second limiting side (2142) abuts against the second inner wall. The protrusion (211) has an annular wall (2111) surrounding the outer periphery of the through hole (210), the first limiting side (2141) is tangent to the annular wall (2111), and the second limiting side (2142) is spaced apart from the annular wall (2111).

7. The snake bone assembly (100) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that, The wing (213) extends out of the connecting portion (214) by an equal amount at both ends in the circumferential direction.

8. The snake bone assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that, Each of the through holes (210) is elongated, and the length direction of each of the through holes (210) is perpendicular to the radial direction of the main body (10).

9. An endoscope (1000), characterized in that, include: Snake bone segment, said snake bone segment comprising the snake bone assembly (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8; and, The working passage is installed in the main body (10).

10. The endoscope (1000) as described in claim 9, characterized in that, At least one of the main bodies (10) includes a head end body disposed at the front end of the snake bone segment, the head end body having two radially penetrating holes (11), the head end body being provided with the guide (20), each of the buckles (21) further including a wing (213), the wing (213) being connected to the protrusion (211) and abutting against the outer periphery of the head end body, the snake bone assembly (100) further including a snake bone skin (30) covering the outer periphery of the snake bone segment, the front end of the snake bone skin (30) being located behind the wing (213); The endoscope (1000) also includes: The head end piece (200) is disposed in front of the snake bone segment and abuts against the front end of the head end body; The connecting ring (300) has a front section (301) and a rear section (302) arranged sequentially along the axial direction. The front section (301) is sleeved on the rear end of the head end member (200), and the rear section (302) is sleeved on the front end of the head end body. The rear section (302) has two rearward-facing opening slots (303), and two wings (213) are inserted into the two opening slots (303) in a corresponding manner. A heat-shrinkable film (400) is fitted onto the outer periphery of the connecting ring (300) and the head end body, with the rear end of the heat-shrinkable film (400) extending to the outer periphery of the snake bone skin (30).

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