Ultrasonic endoscope and tip portion thereof

Abstract

The embodiment of the present application provides an ultrasonic endoscope and a head end thereof. The head end of the ultrasonic endoscope comprises a head end seat, a lifting forceps and an ultrasonic probe. The head end seat is internally formed with a receiving cavity, and the receiving cavity has an instrument outlet. The lifting forceps is accommodated in the receiving cavity and is used for supporting a treatment instrument and controlling the direction of the treatment instrument extending out of the instrument outlet. The treatment instrument comprises a first instrument with a larger diameter. The receiving cavity comprises a first side wall. In a lateral projection plane parallel to the axial direction of the head end seat and parallel to a first direction, a detection area of the ultrasonic probe overlaps the first side wall. The lifting forceps is configured such that when the first instrument extends out of the instrument outlet and the distal end of the first instrument protrudes out of the first side wall while the lifting forceps is in a laid position, at least part of the first instrument is located in the overlapping area, and the first direction is perpendicular to the axial direction. Thus, the situation that the first instrument is miscontacted or scratches the tissue in the patient's body due to invisibility during the extension process is effectively avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of endoscopy technology, and more specifically, to an ultrasonic endoscope and its tip. Background Technology

[0002] Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a widely used medical device in clinical diagnosis and treatment. An EUS has an insertion section that can be inserted into the patient's body. Within the insertion section are instrument channels for instruments such as puncture needles, incision knives, self-expanding metal stents, balloon dilation catheters, biopsy forceps / foreign body forceps, plastic stents, double mushroom-head metal stents, hemostatic clips, etc. The distal end of the insertion section typically has a headstock and an ultrasound probe. The headstock has an illumination window and a camera window for acquiring optical images of the observed object. The headstock also forms an instrument outlet that communicates with the instrument channels, through which the instruments can extend. The ultrasound probe can acquire ultrasound images of the patient's lesion site, allowing physicians to perform minimally invasive surgical procedures such as puncture and resection of the lesion under the guidance of ultrasound images.

[0003] However, in clinical use, it has been found that after the instruments extend from their exit points, they typically need to extend a considerable distance to appear in optical or ultrasound images. This means that the instruments are completely invisible during the initial extension phase, making it difficult to determine their actual position and angle, and greatly increasing the risk of contact or scratching with the patient's tissues. In particular, in recent years, the demand for large-sized instruments or complex instruments with advanced tips (typically larger than 2.2 mm in diameter) has increased significantly. Their extension without the doctor's visual inspection poses a particularly serious risk of damaging the patient's tissues and causes significant safety hazards.

[0004] To address this, related technologies have proposed a solution where imaging modules such as camera windows and illumination windows are positioned at the base of the instrument exit. This allows the instrument to appear in the camera's field of view as soon as it extends from the exit, reducing blind spots. However, installing imaging modules such as camera windows and illumination windows at the base of the instrument exit increases the axial length of the headpiece. If an ultrasound probe is also located at the distal end of the headpiece, the axial length of the rigid headpiece becomes excessively long, significantly reducing the ease of manipulating the ultrasonic endoscope. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to at least partially solve the problems existing in the prior art, according to one aspect of the present invention, a tip of an endoscope is provided, the technical solution of which is as follows.

[0006] The tip of an ultrasonic endoscope includes a tip base, a lifting forceps, and an ultrasonic probe. A receiving cavity is formed within the tip base for communication with an instrument channel. The receiving cavity has an instrument outlet for the extension of a treatment instrument, including a first instrument with a diameter greater than or equal to 2.2 mm. The lifting forceps are housed within the receiving cavity and are rotatable about an axis between a folded position and an upright position. The lifting forceps support the treatment instrument and control the direction of extension of the treatment instrument from the instrument outlet. The ultrasonic probe is disposed at the distal end of the tip base. The receiving cavity includes a first sidewall. In a lateral projection plane parallel to the axial direction of the tip base and parallel to a first direction, the detection area of ​​the ultrasonic probe overlaps with the first sidewall, such that the detection area covers the receiving cavity. The lifting forceps are configured such that when the lifting forceps are in the folded position, the first instrument extends from the instrument outlet and the distal end of the first instrument protrudes from the first sidewall, at least a portion of the first instrument is located within the overlapping area, and the first direction is perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0007] The probe of the endoscope of the present invention has an overlapping area between its detection area and the receiving cavity. When the first instrument extends out of the instrument outlet on the receiving cavity and protrudes from the first side wall of the receiving cavity, it can enter the detection area of ​​the ultrasound probe. This allows the first instrument to be monitored before or at the beginning of its extension, effectively avoiding accidental contact or scratching of the patient's tissues due to lack of visibility during the extension process. This significantly improves the safety and reliability of endoscopic diagnostic and treatment procedures.

[0008] For example, when the clamp is in the collapsed position, the clamp is outside the detection area.

[0009] For example, the detection angle range corresponding to the detection area is greater than or equal to 150°.

[0010] Exemplarily, the instrument outlet includes a first outlet and a second outlet sequentially disposed along the direction from the base end of the headstock toward the distal end. The first outlet opens toward a first direction, and the second outlet opens toward a second direction, which is a composite direction of the first direction and the axial direction. In the lateral projection plane: the base edge of the detection area intersects the outermost edge of the first outlet in the first direction at a first intersection point, and the base edge intersects the outermost edge of the second outlet in the second direction at a second intersection point. The outermost edges of the first outlet in the first direction and the outermost edges of the second outlet in the second direction form the edges of a first sidewall. The lifting clamp is configured such that the first instrument extends out of the receiving cavity from the area between the first intersection point and the second intersection point when the lifting clamp is in the folded position.

[0011] For example, the second intersection point has a first distance from the edge of the head end seat closest to the first direction, and there is a preset ratio between the first distance and the maximum diameter of the head end seat. The preset ratio is greater than or equal to 0.1 and less than or equal to 0.25.

[0012] For example, the head end seat includes a base end arc surface, a first outlet is formed on the base end arc surface, and the receiving cavity also has a second side wall disposed opposite to the first side wall along a third direction. In the first direction, the height of the second side wall is less than the height of the first side wall, and the third direction is perpendicular to the axial direction and the first direction, respectively.

[0013] For example, the head end seat has an inclined wall surface, and a second outlet is formed on the inclined wall surface.

[0014] For example, the head end seat also includes an illumination window and a camera window, which are disposed on the inclined wall and located on the same side of the second exit along a third direction, which is perpendicular to the axial direction and the first direction, respectively.

[0015] For example, in the lateral projection plane, there is a first angle between the extension direction of the inclined wall and the base edge of the detection area, and the value of the first angle is greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 30 degrees.

[0016] For example, when the lifting clamp is in the inverted position, in the lateral projection plane, the distal end of the lifting clamp is located in the area enclosed by the base edge, the ultrasonic probe, and the inclined wall.

[0017] For example, the lifting clamp is configured such that when the lifting clamp is in the folded position, there is a second angle between the direction in which the treatment instrument extends from the instrument outlet and the central axis of the detection area, the second angle being greater than or equal to 10 degrees and less than or equal to 50 degrees.

[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, an ultrasonic endoscope is also provided, comprising the head end portion as described above.

[0019] The ultrasonic endoscope of the present invention includes a head end as described above. Since the head end has the beneficial effects described above, the ultrasonic endoscope including the head end as described above must also have the beneficial effects described above.

[0020] The above description is merely an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to better understand the technical means of the present invention and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention are described below. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the more detailed description of the embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are provided to further illustrate the embodiments of the invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the invention to explain the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings, the same reference numerals generally represent the same parts or steps.

[0022] Figure 1 A partial perspective view of an endoscope according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0023] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the detection area of ​​an ultrasonic probe according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0024] Figure 3 A partial schematic diagram of the detection area of ​​an ultrasonic probe according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0025] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the interface of the detection area of ​​an ultrasonic probe according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0026] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the head end is shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 A side view of the head end is shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing a treatment device extending from a device outlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0029] Figure 8 A schematic diagram illustrating the use of the tip of an endoscope according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0030] The components indicated by the reference numerals in the figures are:

[0031] 1. Headstock; 11. Reception cavity; 111. First sidewall; 112. Second sidewall; 12. Instrument outlet; 121. First outlet; 122. Second outlet; 13. Base arc surface; 14. Inclined wall surface; 15. Illumination window; 16. Camera window; 17. Water and air inlet; 2. Lifting clamp; 3. Ultrasonic probe; 31. Detection area; 32. Base edge; 4. First intersection point; 5. Second intersection point; 6. First instrument; 7. Bend; 8. Ultrasonic medium; L. First distance; A1. First direction; A2. Second direction; A3. Third direction; α. First included angle; β. Second included angle. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more apparent, exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. Based on the embodiments of the present invention described herein, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without inventive effort should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0033] In the following description, numerous details are provided to enable a thorough understanding of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following description merely illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention, and that the invention can be practiced without one or more of these details. Furthermore, to avoid obscuring the invention, some technical features well-known in the art have not been described in detail.

[0034] One embodiment of the present invention provides a tip of an endoscope that allows a first instrument 6 to enter the detection area 31 of an ultrasound probe 3 when it extends from the instrument outlet 12 and protrudes from the first sidewall 111 of the receiving cavity 11. The tip of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the tip of the ultrasonic endoscope includes a tip base 1, a lifting clamp 2, and an ultrasonic probe 3. The tip base 1 has a receiving cavity 11 for communication with the instrument channel. The receiving cavity 11 has an instrument outlet 12 for the extension of a treatment instrument, including a first instrument 6 with a diameter greater than or equal to 2.2 mm. The lifting clamp 2 is housed in the receiving cavity 11 and can rotate about an axis between a folded position and an upright position. The lifting clamp 2 supports the treatment instrument and controls the direction of extension of the treatment instrument from the instrument outlet 12. The ultrasonic probe 3 is located at the distal end of the tip base 1. The receiving cavity 11 includes a first sidewall 111. In a lateral projection plane parallel to the axial direction of the head end seat 1 and parallel to the first direction A1, the detection area 31 of the ultrasonic probe 3 overlaps with the first sidewall 111, so that the detection area 31 covers the receiving cavity 11. The lifting clamp 2 is configured such that when the lifting clamp 2 is in the folded position, the first instrument 6 extends from the instrument outlet 12 and the distal end of the first instrument 6 protrudes from the first sidewall 111, at least a portion of the first instrument 6 is located in the overlapping area, and the first direction A1 is perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0036] The aforementioned endoscope may further include an insertion section, with the curved section 7 and the tip of the endoscope sequentially connected to the distal end of the insertion section. The tip can be inserted into the patient's body through a natural orifice or open incision, such as through the patient's mouth into the stomach, propelled by the insertion section. During insertion or withdrawal, the curved section 7 can deflect the tip, allowing it to navigate precisely through narrow or complex cavities, significantly reducing damage to the cavity walls and improving the tip's maneuverability. Furthermore, when probing lesions within the patient's body, the physician can adjust the deflection angle of the tip by controlling the bending angle of the curved section 7, enabling the ultrasound probe 3 at the tip to scan in different directions.

[0037] An instrument channel can be formed along its axial direction within the aforementioned insertion section. This instrument channel can communicate with the receiving cavity 11, and an instrument outlet 12 can be formed on the headstock 1, configured as the open side of the receiving cavity 11. The treatment instrument can be inserted from the proximal end of the instrument channel, extending sequentially through the receiving cavity 11 and the instrument outlet 12 to reach the patient's lesion site. It should be noted that the aforementioned treatment instruments may include the first instrument 6 and other relatively small instruments (e.g., guidewires). The first instrument 6 may include, but is not limited to, instruments with a radial dimension greater than or equal to 2.2 mm, such as: a cutting knife, a self-expanding metal stent, a balloon dilation catheter, biopsy forceps / foreign body forceps, a plastic stent, a double mushroom-headed metal stent, or a hemostatic clip. The headstock 1 can be made of plastic. A headstock 1 made of plastic not only has good insulation properties, effectively blocking current flow to the patient in the event of leakage from components within the ultrasound endoscope, but also ensures the safety of using the ultrasound endoscope. Furthermore, it possesses good structural strength and operational stability, while its smooth surface makes it easy to clean and disinfect, effectively reducing the risk of contamination and facilitating the reuse of the head end seat 1, thus improving its economic efficiency and practicality.

[0038] The aforementioned lifting clamp 2 is rotatably disposed within the receiving cavity 11. The lifting clamp 2 can rotate about its axis between a folded position and an upright position. When the lifting clamp 2 is in the folded position, it can fit against the front sidewall of the receiving cavity 11, and the angle between the lifting clamp 2 and the head end seat 1 along their axes is small, facilitating the delivery of the treatment instrument. When the lifting clamp 2 is in the upright position, a force can be applied to the treatment instrument, thereby changing the extension direction and angle of the treatment instrument to meet the operational requirements under different working conditions.

[0039] The aforementioned ultrasonic probe 3 can be positioned at the distal end of the headstock 1. It is understood that the distal end can be defined as the end furthest from the operator along the length axis (i.e., axial direction) of the insertion portion. The ultrasonic probe 3 can be used to emit ultrasonic pulses towards the target and receive ultrasonic echo signals reflected from the target. The ultrasonic echo signals can be transmitted to a display terminal communicatively connected to the ultrasonic probe 3 to monitor the target's condition in real time.

[0040] like Figure 6 As shown, the central axis of the ultrasonic probe 3 (usually located within the detection plane of the ultrasonic probe 3) can be coaxially set with the central axis of the lifting clamp 2. This ensures that the deflection motion plane of the treatment device is consistent with the plane of the detection area 31 of the ultrasonic probe 3, ensuring that the treatment device is always within the detection area 31 during deflection and swing, thus avoiding the occurrence of a monitoring blind zone due to the large deviation between the two.

[0041] The aforementioned receiving cavity 11 can be formed by one or more sidewalls. For example, the receiving cavity 11 may include a first sidewall 111. Figure 3 As shown, in a lateral projection plane parallel to the axial direction of the headstock 1 and parallel to the first direction A1, the detection area 31 of the ultrasonic probe 3 overlaps with the first sidewall 111. Furthermore, the lifting clamp 2 is configured such that when the lifting clamp 2 is in the folded position, the first instrument 6 extends from the instrument outlet 12 and its distal end protrudes from the first sidewall 111, at least a portion of the first instrument 6 lies within the overlapping area. Thus, as... Figure 4 As shown, after the first instrument 6 extends out from the first side wall 111 of the receiving cavity 11, the first instrument 6 can fall into the detection area 31 of the ultrasonic probe 3, thereby realizing real-time monitoring of the first instrument 6.

[0042] It is understood that the edge of the first sidewall 111 can be the outermost edge of the receiving cavity 11. When the distal end of the first instrument 6 does not protrude from the first sidewall 111, the first sidewall 111 can separate the distal end of the first instrument 6 from the tissues inside the patient's body, and at this time it can be considered that the first instrument 6 is unlikely to damage the tissues inside the patient's body. When the distal end of the first instrument 6 protrudes relative to the first sidewall 111, the first instrument 6 may be exposed outside the receiving cavity 11, and it is easier to damage the tissues inside the patient's body. However, in this application, when the distal end of the first instrument 6 protrudes relative to the first sidewall 111, it is already within the detection range of the ultrasound probe 3. Therefore, the protrusion direction and angle of the first instrument 6 can be monitored and adjusted in time through ultrasound images, thereby avoiding the situation where the first instrument 6 causes damage to the tissues inside the patient's body. The aforementioned first sidewall 111 can be any wall surface of the receiving cavity 11, for example, it can be the wall surface of the receiving cavity 11 that extends the longest in the opening direction of the instrument outlet 12. Among them, the longest extension length can be understood as the edge of this wall being closer to the opening direction than the edges of other walls in the same opening direction.

[0043] It is also understandable that, since the detection area 31 of the ultrasonic probe 3 has already covered the receiving cavity 11, in some cases, the distal end of the first instrument 6 may fall into the detection area 31 of the ultrasonic probe 3 before it extends out of the first sidewall 111 of the receiving cavity 11.

[0044] The following is a detailed explanation of the process by which the first instrument 6 extends from the instrument outlet 12 under ultrasonic monitoring:

[0045] like Figure 8 As shown, in the actual use of the endoscope tip of this application, before the first instrument 6 extends, ultrasonic medium 8 can be sprayed onto the patient's lesion site through the instrument channel. This allows the ultrasonic medium 8 to fill the gap around the ultrasonic probe 3 and the tip base 1 and cover the lesion site, thereby excluding air from the lesion site and around the tip base 1. Then, the forceps 2 can be placed in a tilted position. Guided by the surface of the forceps 2, the first instrument 6 slightly deflects relative to its axis. When its distal end extends to near the edge of the first sidewall 111, it can fall into the overlapping area of ​​the first sidewall 111 and the detection area 31 of the ultrasonic probe 3, thus entering the detection area 31. Therefore, at least part of the structure of the first instrument 6 (such as...) can be observed from the ultrasound image. Figure 4(As shown). The lifting clamp 2 can also be rotated to raise the instrument by a certain angle, for example, switching from a folded position to an upright position, thereby changing the extension angle of the first instrument 6 (wherein, the larger the lifting angle of the lifting clamp 2, the larger the deflection angle of the first instrument 6 relative to the axis), so that the first instrument 6 can meet different usage requirements. Furthermore, during this process, the first instrument 6 can always remain within the detection area 31 of the ultrasonic probe 3, thus ensuring continuous monitoring of the first instrument 6.

[0046] The proximal end of the aforementioned instrument channel can also be connected to a negative pressure suction source via a suction tube. On the one hand, this allows for the removal of contaminants such as blood, mucus, and tissue debris generated during the diagnostic and treatment process, keeping the lesion site clean and clear. On the other hand, after the ultrasound probe 3 has been used, the ultrasound medium 8 at the patient's lesion site can be aspirated, preventing the ultrasound medium 8 from remaining at the lesion site and ensuring the safety and cleanliness of the diagnostic and treatment process.

[0047] The probe tip of the endoscope of the present invention has a detection area 31 of the ultrasound probe 3 that overlaps with the receiving cavity 11 in space. When the first instrument 6 extends out of the instrument outlet 12 on the receiving cavity 11, it can enter the detection area 31 of the ultrasound probe 3. This allows the first instrument 6 to be monitored before or at the beginning of its extension, effectively avoiding the situation where the first instrument 6 is not visible during the extension process and may accidentally touch or scratch the patient's internal tissues. This significantly improves the safety and reliability of endoscopic diagnosis and treatment.

[0048] In some embodiments, when the lifting clamp 2 is in the collapsed position, the lifting clamp 2 is located outside the detection area 31.

[0049] In the above embodiments, when the lifting clamp 2 is in the collapsed position, the lifting clamp 2 can be located outside the detection area 31. In this way, the lifting clamp 2 can effectively avoid obstructing or interfering with the ultrasonic detection field of view, and avoid the occurrence of abnormal ultrasonic imaging due to structural obstruction or signal interference, which may lead to misjudgment by the operator. This effectively improves the safety and reliability during use.

[0050] In some embodiments, the detection angle range corresponding to the detection area 31 is greater than or equal to 150°.

[0051] The detection area 31 formed by the aforementioned ultrasonic probe 3 can be fan-shaped, and the detection angle range corresponding to the fan-shaped detection area 31 can be greater than or equal to 150°. For example, 150°, 160°, 170°, 180°, etc.

[0052] In the above embodiments, the detection angle range corresponding to the detection area 31 can be greater than or equal to 150°, thus achieving a wider monitoring coverage and ensuring that when the first instrument 6 extends out of the instrument outlet 12 (relatively protruding from the first sidewall 111), it can enter the monitoring range and be reliably monitored, thereby effectively improving the reliability of the ultrasonic probe 3 monitoring.

[0053] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the instrument outlet 12 includes a first outlet 121 and a second outlet 122 arranged sequentially along the direction from the base end of the headstock 1 towards the distal end. The first outlet 121 opens towards a first direction A1, and the second outlet 122 opens towards a second direction A2. The first direction A1 is perpendicular to the axial direction of the headstock, and the second direction A2 is a composite direction of the first direction A1 and the axial direction. In a lateral projection plane parallel to the axial direction and parallel to the first direction A1: the base edge 32 of the detection area 31 intersects the outermost edge of the first outlet 121 in the first direction A1 at a first intersection point 4, and the base edge 32 intersects the outermost edge of the second outlet 122 in the second direction A2 at a second intersection point 5; the outermost edges of the first outlet 121 in the first direction A1 and the outermost edges of the second outlet 122 in the second direction A2 form the edge of the first sidewall 111; the lifting clamp 2 is configured such that the first instrument 6 extends out of the receiving cavity 11 from the area between the first intersection point 4 and the second intersection point 5 when the lifting clamp 2 is in the folded position.

[0054] The aforementioned base end can be represented as the end closest to the operator along the length axis (i.e., axial direction) of the head end seat 1. Conversely, the aforementioned distal end can be represented as the end furthest from the operator along the length axis (i.e., axial direction) of the head end seat 1. The aforementioned base end edge 32 can specifically be represented as a segment of the contour line of the detection area 31, closer to the base end side of the ultrasonic probe 3.

[0055] like Figure 1 As shown, the first outlet 121 and the second outlet 122 can be connected and arranged in a manner that allows the second outlet 122 to be arranged in a direction that is a combination of the first direction A1 and the axial direction. It can be understood that the second direction A2 can be a composite inclined direction formed by the coupling and superposition of the first direction A1 and the axial direction.

[0056] Figure 2The diagram shows a lateral projection plane parallel to the axial direction and parallel to the first direction A1. Specifically, the outermost edge of the first outlet 121 in the first direction A1 can be the edge of the first sidewall 111 of the receiving cavity 11 in the first direction A1. Similarly, the outermost edge of the second outlet 122 in the second direction A2 can be the edge of the first sidewall 111 of the receiving cavity 11 in the second direction A2. The first intersection point 4 and the second intersection point 5 can be formed at different positions on the edge of the first sidewall 111. Figure 2 As shown, the second intersection point 5 can be closer to the ultrasound probe 3 than the first intersection point 4. The first intersection point 4 and the second intersection point 5 can define the effective extension area of ​​the first instrument 6. That is, when the extension position of the first instrument 6 is further away from the ultrasound probe 3 in the axial direction relative to the first intersection point 4, or closer to the ultrasound probe 3 relative to the second intersection point 5, the first instrument 6 cannot immediately enter the detection area 31 of the ultrasound probe 3.

[0057] In the above embodiment, when the first instrument 6 extends from the instrument outlet 12 with the forceps 2 in the folded position, the first instrument 6, guided by the forceps 2, can at least partially be located between the first intersection 4 and the second intersection 5. This ensures that when the first instrument 6 extends from the instrument outlet 12 and protrudes from the first sidewall 111, it can enter the detection area 31 of the ultrasonic probe 3. This achieves monitoring as soon as the first instrument 6 extends, ensuring the real-time and reliable monitoring of the position of the first instrument 6. It avoids the occurrence of monitoring blind spots or imaging loss due to the first instrument 6 being located outside the detection area 31 when it extends, thereby improving the safety and reliability of endoscope use.

[0058] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the second intersection point 5 and the edge of the head end seat 1 closest to the first direction A1 have a first distance L. The first distance L and the maximum diameter of the head end seat 1 have a preset ratio. The preset ratio is greater than or equal to 0.1 and less than or equal to 0.25.

[0059] The preset ratio can be greater than or equal to 0.1 and less than or equal to 0.25. For example, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, etc.

[0060] In the above embodiments, the preset ratio can have the aforementioned range. On the one hand, this avoids the preset ratio being too small, causing the second intersection point 5 to be too close to the edge of the headstock 1, resulting in a small spatial overlap between the detection area 31 and the receiving cavity 11, thus requiring higher directional guidance accuracy from the lifting clamp 2. On the other hand, this avoids the preset ratio being too large, causing the second intersection point 5 to be too close to the ultrasonic probe 3, resulting in a large spatial overlap between the detection area 31 and the receiving cavity 11, with the detection area 31 pointing too far towards the instrument outlet 12, thus wasting the detection area 31.

[0061] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the head end seat 1 includes a base end arc surface 13, and a first outlet 121 is formed on the base end arc surface 13. The receiving cavity 11 also has a second side wall 112 disposed opposite to the first side wall 111 along a third direction A3. In the first direction A1, the height of the second side wall 112 is less than the height of the first side wall 111. The third direction A3 is perpendicular to the axial direction and the first direction A1, respectively.

[0062] The height of the first sidewall 111 can be understood as the extension length of the first sidewall 111 in the first direction A1. Similarly, the height of the second sidewall 112 can be understood as the extension length of the first sidewall 111 in the first direction A1. Figure 2 As shown, in the first direction A1, the edge of the first sidewall 111 can be closer to the edge of the headstock 1 than the edge of the second sidewall 112. Furthermore, the aforementioned first intersection point 4 can be formed on the edge of the first sidewall 111.

[0063] In the above embodiments, by setting the first sidewall 111 and the second sidewall 112 at unequal heights, the central axis of the receiving cavity 11 is offset from the central axis of the head end seat 1. This eliminates the need for additional mounting structures, allowing sufficient mounting area to be reserved on one side of the receiving cavity 11 for arranging components such as the lighting window 15 and the camera window 16. This effectively optimizes the structural layout of the components on the head end seat 1 and significantly improves the compactness of the head end. In embodiments not shown, the first sidewall 111 and the second sidewall 112 can also be set at equal heights to provide all-around protection for the first instrument 6 before it extends from the instrument outlet 12.

[0064] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the head end seat 1 has an inclined wall 14, and the second outlet 122 is formed on the inclined wall 14.

[0065] Specifically, the inclined direction of the inclined wall 14 can be towards the detection area 31 of the ultrasonic probe 3. The second outlet 122 can be formed on the inclined wall 14, and when the first instrument 6 extends out from the second outlet 122 of the instrument outlet 12, it can enter the detection area 31 of the ultrasonic probe 3.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the second outlet 122 can be located on the inclined wall 14, so that when the first instrument 6 extends out from the second outlet 122 of the instrument outlet 12, it can achieve a greater range of rotation, effectively expanding the rotation area of ​​the first instrument 6 and ensuring that the first instrument 6 has sufficient rotation range and flexibility.

[0067] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, the head end seat 1 also includes an illumination window 15 and a camera window 16. The illumination window 15 and the camera window 16 are disposed on the inclined wall 14 and are located on the same side of the second outlet 122 along the third direction A3. The third direction A3 is perpendicular to the axial direction and the first direction A1, respectively.

[0068] like Figure 6 As shown, the aforementioned lighting window 15 and camera window 16 can be mounted on the inclined wall 14 and close to the side of the first side wall 111. It is understood that, in the third direction A3, the distance between the first side wall 111 and the edge of the headstock 1 closest to the first side wall 111 is greater than the distance between the second side wall 112 and the edge of the headstock 1 closest to the second side wall 112. This provides sufficient installation space for the lighting window 15 and camera window 16, effectively ensuring the rational layout of the components on the headstock 1.

[0069] The aforementioned illumination window 15 can be used to direct the light emitted from the internal light source of the endoscope to the lesion site, so as to provide sufficient and appropriate brightness when using the first instrument 6 for diagnosis and treatment, thereby ensuring a clear field of vision during the diagnosis and treatment.

[0070] The aforementioned camera window 16 can be used to acquire image information of the treatment instrument extending from the instrument outlet 12 in real time and transmit it to an external display terminal, providing doctors with a clear and intuitive field of view, facilitating accurate determination of the specific position of the first instrument 6. Specifically, a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) chip can be disposed within the aforementioned camera window 16. The CMOS chip can convert the optical signals acquired by the camera window 16 into electrical signals and transmit them to an external display terminal.

[0071] Of course, when the head travels through the cavities in the patient's body, the camera window 16 and the illumination window 15 can also work together to collect images of the cavity in real time, providing real-time visual navigation and path guidance for the head's travel, ensuring that the head can reach the lesion site smoothly and accurately.

[0072] The aforementioned lighting window 15 and camera window 16 can be positioned on the base side of the headstock 1, away from the instrument channel. This arrangement makes full use of the axial space of the headstock 1 itself, eliminating the need to increase the overall length of the headstock 1 for assembling the lighting window 15 and camera window 16. This ensures the compact structure of the headstock 1 and avoids excessive axial dimensions of the headstock 1, which could affect the flexibility and operability of the head end.

[0073] In the above embodiments, the lighting window 15 and the camera window 16 can be set on the inclined wall 14, so that the light emission direction of the lighting window 15 and the image acquisition direction of the camera window 16 can be similar to the extension direction of the first instrument 6, thereby accurately aligning the operating area and lesion of the first instrument 6, providing directional and sufficient lighting and a clear field of vision for the diagnosis and treatment operation, and effectively improving the accuracy and reliability of the diagnosis and treatment operation.

[0074] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, the head end base 1 may also include a water vapor inlet 17, which can be disposed on the inclined wall surface 14 and located beside the camera window 16. The water vapor inlet 17 can be used to spray cleaning medium onto the camera window 16 to promptly remove contaminants such as blood, mucus, and tissue debris adhering to the surface of the camera window 16, ensuring that the surface of the camera window 16 is clean and the image is clear, avoiding misjudgments caused by blurred or obstructed vision.

[0075] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, in the lateral projection plane, the extension direction of the inclined wall 14 and the base edge 32 of the detection area 31 have a first included angle α, the value of the first included angle α is greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 30 degrees.

[0076] The value of the first included angle α can be greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 30 degrees (°). For example, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 30°, etc., preferably 18°.

[0077] In the above embodiment, by limiting the maximum value of the first included angle α, the overlap between the detection area 31 of the ultrasound probe 3 and the instrument outlet 12 can be avoided, thus preventing the effective detection area of ​​the detection area 31 from being over-occupied. This allows for effective monitoring of the first instrument 6 extending from the instrument outlet 12, as well as effective monitoring of the lesion site in front of the head end seat 1.

[0078] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, when the lifting clamp 2 is in the inverted position, in the lateral projection plane, the distal end of the lifting clamp 2 is located in the area enclosed by the base edge 32, the ultrasonic probe 3, and the inclined wall 14.

[0079] In the above embodiment, when the lifting clamp 2 is in the folded position to change the extension angle of the first instrument 6, it can prevent the distal end of the lifting clamp 2 from entering the ultrasonic detection area 31 and interfering with the ultrasonic detection field of view, and it can also make the lifting clamp 2 have a longer length, thereby providing more stable support for the first instrument 6.

[0080] In some embodiments, such as Figure 7 As shown, the lifting clamp 2 is configured such that when the lifting clamp 2 is in the folded position, the direction in which the treatment instrument extends from the instrument outlet 12 has a second included angle β with the central axis of the detection area 31. The value of the second included angle β is greater than or equal to 10 degrees and less than or equal to 50 degrees.

[0081] The value of the second included angle β can be greater than or equal to 10 degrees and less than or equal to 50 degrees (°). For example, 10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, 50°, etc., preferably 30°.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the second included angle β with the above-mentioned range of values ​​can ensure that the forceps 2 is in a folded or upright position, and the treatment instrument can be close to the central axis of the detection area 31 after it extends from the instrument outlet 12. In this way, when the operator observes the treatment instrument through the display end, the ultrasound image of the treatment instrument can be presented in the central area of ​​the display end, which greatly facilitates the operator's observation and operation, and thus facilitates the diagnosis and treatment operation.

[0083] According to another aspect of the invention, an ultrasonic endoscope is also provided, comprising the head end portion as described above.

[0084] The ultrasonic endoscope of the present invention includes a head end as described above. Since the head end has the beneficial effects described above, the ultrasonic endoscope including the head end as described above must also have the beneficial effects described above.

[0085] To fully understand the embodiments of the present invention, detailed structures will be presented in the following description. Obviously, the implementation of the embodiments of the present invention is not limited to the specific details familiar to those skilled in the art. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below; however, in addition to these detailed descriptions, the present invention may have other embodiments.

[0086] Although exemplary embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the above exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as claimed in the appended claims.

[0087] For ease of description, the term "connection" may be used herein to describe the relationship between one or more elements or features shown in the figure and other elements or features. It should be understood that "connection" may include direct connections or indirect connections via other elements or features, and this document is intended to encompass all such cases.

[0088] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, parts, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0089] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in sequences other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0090] The present invention has been described through the above embodiments. However, it should be understood that the above embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention to the scope of the described embodiments. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and many more variations and modifications can be made based on the teachings of the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A tip of an ultrasonic endoscope, characterized in that, include: Headstock (1), lifting clamp (2), and ultrasonic probe (3). The head end (1) has a receiving cavity (11) for communicating with the instrument channel, the receiving cavity (11) has an instrument outlet (12) for the treatment instrument to extend out, the treatment instrument includes a first instrument (6) with a diameter greater than or equal to 2.2 mm. The lifting clamp (2) is housed in the receiving cavity (11) and can rotate about an axis between a folded position and an upright position. The lifting clamp (2) is used to support the treatment device and control the direction in which the treatment device extends from the device outlet (12). The ultrasonic probe (3) is located at the distal end of the headstock (1); in, The receiving cavity (11) includes a first sidewall (111). In a lateral projection plane parallel to the axial direction of the headstock (1) and parallel to the first direction (A1), the detection area (31) of the ultrasonic probe (3) overlaps with the first sidewall (111) so that the detection area (31) covers the receiving cavity (11). The lifting clamp (2) is configured such that when the lifting clamp (2) is in the inverted position, the first instrument (6) extends from the instrument outlet (12) and the distal end of the first instrument (6) protrudes from the first sidewall (111), at least a portion of the first instrument (6) is located within the overlapping area. The first direction (A1) is perpendicular to the axial direction.

2. The head end portion according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the lifting clamp (2) is in the collapsed position, the lifting clamp (2) is outside the detection area (31).

3. The head end portion according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detection angle range corresponding to the detection area (31) is greater than or equal to 150°.

4. The head end portion according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The instrument outlet (12) includes a first outlet (121) and a second outlet (122) arranged sequentially along the direction from the base end of the headstock (1) to the distal end. The first outlet (121) opens toward the first direction (A1), and the second outlet (122) opens toward the second direction (A2). The second direction (A2) is a composite direction of the first direction (A1) and the axial direction. In the lateral projection plane: The base edge (32) of the detection area (31) intersects the outermost edge of the first outlet (121) in the first direction (A1) at a first intersection point (4), and the base edge (32) intersects the outermost edge of the second outlet (122) in the second direction (A2) at a second intersection point (5); the outermost edge of the first outlet (121) in the first direction (A1) and the outermost edge of the second outlet (122) in the second direction (A2) constitute the edge of the first sidewall (111); The lifting clamp (2) is configured such that the first instrument (6) extends from the receiving cavity (11) from the area between the first intersection (4) and the second intersection (5) when the lifting clamp (2) is in the collapsed position.

5. The head end portion according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second intersection point (5) has a first distance (L) with the edge of the head end seat (1) closest to the first direction (A1), and the first distance (L) has a preset ratio with the maximum diameter of the head end seat (1), the preset ratio being greater than or equal to 0.1 and less than or equal to 0.

25.

6. The head end portion according to claim 4, characterized in that, The head end seat (1) includes a base end arc surface (13), the first outlet (121) is formed on the base end arc surface (13), and the receiving cavity (11) also has a second side wall (112) disposed opposite to the first side wall (111) along a third direction (A3). In the first direction (A1), the height of the second side wall (112) is less than the height of the first side wall (111), and the third direction (A3) is perpendicular to the axial direction and the first direction (A1) respectively.

7. The head end portion according to claim 4, characterized in that, The head end seat (1) has an inclined wall (14), and the second outlet (122) is formed on the inclined wall (14).

8. The head end portion according to claim 7, characterized in that, The head end seat (1) also includes a lighting window (15) and a camera window (16), which are disposed on the inclined wall (14) and located on the same side of the second outlet (122) along a third direction (A3), which is perpendicular to the axial direction and the first direction (A1), respectively.

9. The head end portion according to claim 7, characterized in that, In the lateral projection plane, the extension direction of the inclined wall (14) and the base edge (32) of the detection area (31) have a first included angle (α), the first included angle (α) being greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 30 degrees.

10. The head end portion according to claim 9, characterized in that, When the lifting clamp (2) is in the collapsed position, in the lateral projection plane, the distal end of the lifting clamp (2) is located in the area enclosed by the base edge (32), the ultrasonic probe (3) and the inclined wall (14).

11. The head end portion according to claim 10, characterized in that, The lifting clamp (2) is configured such that when the lifting clamp (2) is in the collapsed position, the direction in which the treatment instrument extends from the instrument outlet (12) has a second included angle (β) with the central axis of the detection area (31), the second included angle (β) being greater than or equal to 10 degrees and less than or equal to 50 degrees.

12. An ultrasonic endoscope, characterized in that, Includes the head end as described in any one of claims 1 to 11.

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