Bending adjustment mechanism and endoscope

Abstract

The application discloses a bending adjusting mechanism and an endoscope, and relates to the technical field of medical equipment, in particular to a bending adjusting mechanism for adjusting the bending angle of an endoscope insertion part, which comprises a handle shell, a driving assembly and a locking assembly. The driving assembly comprises a rotating wheel and a traction wire. The rotating wheel is rotatably installed in the handle shell and is provided with a first clutch part. The locking assembly comprises a coaxially arranged elastic gear and a gear ring. The elastic gear is provided with elastic teeth arranged in the circumferential direction. The gear ring is relatively fixed to the handle shell and is provided with gear teeth arranged in the circumferential direction. The elastic teeth are meshed with the gear teeth to restrict the one-way rotation of the elastic gear and lock the elastic gear in the current rotating position when no external force is applied. The elastic gear is provided with a second clutch part. The first clutch part and the second clutch part are matched with each other. In the engaged state, the rotating wheel can be locked by the locking assembly. In the separated state, the rotating wheel can be freely rotated relative to the handle shell. The application realizes the adjustment and locking of the bending angle of the insertion part, does not need additional locking operation, is simple and convenient to operate, and improves the operation efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical device technology, specifically to a bending adjustment mechanism and an endoscope. Background Technology

[0002] Endoscopes, as minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic instruments, enter the body through natural cavities or tiny incisions, allowing doctors to directly observe lesions and perform corresponding treatments. In endoscopic surgeries, an endoscope cannula is typically inserted into the target cavity first, and then surgical instruments are advanced into the target area through the working channel within this cannula. To ensure the cannula's tip can smoothly navigate curved cavities and accurately reach the target area, a certain degree of flexibility in the cannula's tip is required clinically.

[0003] Currently, most endoscopic insertion tubes on the market lack angle adjustment capabilities or only offer simple bending adjustments. Some existing products employ a two-step operation: "adjust first, then lock." This requires the surgeon to first rotate the adjustment knob to bend the tube tip to the desired angle, and then fix the angle by moving the locking lever or pressing the locking button. This step-by-step operation not only increases the number of steps in the surgery and prolongs the procedure time, but its cumbersome nature is particularly pronounced in minimally invasive surgical scenarios requiring precise and rapid adjustments. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a bending adjustment mechanism and endoscope that is easy to operate, can be locked immediately after bending, and does not require additional locking operation.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a bending adjustment mechanism for adjusting the bending angle of the endoscope insertion part, the bending adjustment mechanism comprising: Handle casing; A drive assembly includes a rotating wheel and an operating element. The rotating wheel is rotatably mounted within the handle housing and is used to fix a traction wire such that, when the rotating wheel is rotated, the traction wire causes the insertion portion to bend and deform. The operating element is connected to the rotating wheel and is at least partially disposed on the outer side of the handle housing to drive the rotating wheel to rotate. The rotating wheel is provided with a first clutch portion. The locking assembly includes a coaxially arranged elastic gear and a gear ring. The elastic gear is rotatably mounted inside the handle housing and has a plurality of elastic teeth arranged circumferentially. The gear ring is relatively fixedly disposed on the handle housing and includes a plurality of teeth arranged circumferentially. The plurality of elastic teeth and the plurality of teeth mesh with each other to restrict the unidirectional rotation of the elastic gear relative to the handle housing by the gear ring, and lock the elastic gear at the current rotation position when no external force is applied. The elastic gear is provided with a second clutch portion. The first clutch and the second clutch cooperate to have an engaged state and a disengaged state. In the engaged state, the elastic gear and the rotating wheel are coaxially connected in a non-rotatable manner so that the rotating wheel can be locked by the locking assembly. In the disengaged state, the elastic gear is separated from the rotating wheel so that the rotating wheel can rotate freely relative to the handle housing.

[0006] Optionally, in the separated state, the rotating wheel can rotate freely under the deformation and elasticity of the insertion part itself, so that the traction belt drives the rotating wheel to rotate automatically until the insertion part returns to its initial shape.

[0007] Optionally, the bending adjustment mechanism further includes a damping buffer structure, which acts between the wheel and the handle housing to slow down the rotation speed of the wheel under the deformation and rebound force of the insertion part itself in the separated state.

[0008] Optionally, the gear ring is integrally formed on the inner side of the handle housing and is arranged around the outer periphery of the elastic gear.

[0009] Optionally, the elastic gear is movably mounted inside the handle housing and has a first position relatively close to the rotating wheel and a second position relatively far from the rotating wheel. When the elastic gear is in the first position, the first clutch portion and the second clutch portion remain engaged. When the elastic gear is in the second position, the first clutch portion and the second clutch portion remain disengaged. The locking assembly also includes an unlocking component, which is at least partially located on the outside of the handle housing and is linked to the elastic gear. When the unlocking component is operated, it drives the elastic gear to switch from a first position to a second position.

[0010] Optionally, the locking assembly further includes an elastic reset member that acts on the elastic gear to hold the elastic gear in a first position and provides a reset force to drive the elastic gear back from a second position to the first position.

[0011] Optionally, the elastic reset element is a compression spring, one end of which abuts against the handle housing, and the other end of which abuts against the side of the elastic gear away from the rotating wheel.

[0012] Optionally, the elastic gear includes a wheel body and a rotating shaft. The elastic teeth are spaced apart on the outer periphery of the wheel body. One end of the rotating shaft is fixed coaxially with the wheel body, and the other end passes through the rotating wheel and the handle housing in sequence. The unlocking element is a button fixed to the end of the rotating shaft away from the elastic gear. When the button is pressed, it drives the elastic gear to overcome the reset force provided by the elastic reset element and move to the second position. The first clutch part is a keyway provided on the rotating wheel, and the second clutch part is a spline provided on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft and the elastic gear are slidably arranged relative to the rotating wheel along the axial direction. When the elastic gear is in the first position, the spline is connected to the keyway. When the elastic gear is in the second position, the spline disengages from the keyway.

[0013] Optionally, a first guide structure is provided at one end of the spline near the rotating wheel, and a second guide structure is provided at the keyway near the entrance of the spline. The first guide structure and the second guide structure cooperate to guide the spline and the keyway to align and engage during the travel of the elastic gear from the second position back to the first position.

[0014] Optionally, the inner side of the handle housing is provided with a guide post extending axially, the compression spring is sleeved on the outer periphery of the guide post, and the rotating shaft is hollow and slidably sleeved on the outer periphery of the guide post.

[0015] Optionally, the operating component is a rotating handle disposed on the outside of the handle housing. The rotating handle is coaxially fixed with the rotating wheel. An axial limiting structure is provided between the rotating handle and / or the rotating wheel and the handle housing to limit the axial travel of the drive component relative to the handle housing.

[0016] Optionally, the rotating handle is axially disposed between the outer side of the handle housing and the button, the button is sleeved on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft to form a stepped surface facing the handle housing, the stepped surface abuts against the rotating handle during the active stroke of the elastic gear moving from the first position to the second position, so as to limit the active stroke of the elastic gear along the axial direction.

[0017] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides an endoscope, comprising: The bending adjustment mechanism described above; and, An insertion portion, the proximal end of which is fixed to the handle housing and extends distally away from the handle housing; and, A traction wire, one end of which is connected to the rotating wheel, and the other end of which is connected to the distal end of the insertion part.

[0018] In the embodiments provided by the present invention, the bending adjustment mechanism includes a driving component and a locking component. Through the coordinated operation of the driving component, the locking component, and the first and second clutches therein, the bending adjustment mechanism achieves unidirectional adjustment, automatic locking, and one-button release of the bending angle of the insertion part. Specifically, the rotating wheel of the driving component is connected to the insertion part via a traction wire; rotating the wheel causes the insertion part to bend. In the locking component, the elastic teeth of the elastic gear mesh with the teeth of the gear ring to form a unidirectional ratchet engagement structure, restricting the reverse rotation of the elastic gear. The first clutch on the rotating wheel engages with the second clutch on the elastic gear, linking the rotating wheel and the locking component in the engaged state, and unlocking the rotating wheel and the locking component in the disengaged state.

[0019] The embodiments provided by this invention solve the problem of cumbersome operation caused by the separation of bending adjustment and locking operations in the prior art. Specifically, when the operator rotates the wheel for bending adjustment, the unidirectional meshing of the elastic gear and the gear ring ensures that the wheel is automatically locked at the current position after each certain angle of rotation, achieving adjustment and locking simultaneously without the need for additional locking operations. This significantly simplifies the surgical procedure and reduces the operator's workload. When it is necessary to release the bend, simply switch the clutch mechanism to the disengaged state, and the elastic gear and the wheel will disengage, allowing the wheel to rotate freely and enabling rapid resetting of the insertion part. The entire bending adjustment mechanism is implemented using a purely mechanical structure, which is simple in construction, reliable in operation, and has good manufacturability and stability in use. Attached Figure Description

[0020] 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.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the bending adjustment mechanism provided by the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the bending adjustment mechanism from another perspective; Figure 3 for Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the bending adjustment mechanism, in which part of the handle housing is not shown; Figure 4 for Figure 1 Exploded view of the three-dimensional structure of the bending adjustment mechanism; Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of point A in the middle; Figure 6 for Figure 2 An exploded view of the three-dimensional structure of the drive component and part of the locking component; Figure 7 for Figure 6 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the central rotating wheel; Figure 8 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the bending adjustment mechanism, in which the elastic gear is in the first position; Figure 9 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the bending adjustment mechanism, in which the elastic gear is in the second position.

[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 10-Bending adjustment mechanism; 11-Handle housing; 12-Drive assembly; 121-Rotating wheel; 1211-First clutch part; 1212-Keyway; 1213-Annular groove; 122-Operating element; 1221-Rotating handle; 13-Locking assembly; 131-Elastic gear; 1311-Elastic tooth; 1312-Second clutch part; 132-Gear ring; 1321-Tooth; 133-Rotating shaft; 1331-Spline; 134-Unlocking element; 1341-Button; 1342-Step surface; 135-Elastic reset element; 1351-Compression spring; 136-Wheel body; 14-Guide post. Detailed Implementation

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] Please see Figures 1 to 9 The present invention provides a bending adjustment mechanism 10 and an endoscope including the same. The endoscope includes the bending adjustment mechanism 10, a traction wire and an insertion part. The bending adjustment mechanism 10 is used to adjust the bending angle of the insertion part of the endoscope.

[0026] Specifically, the bending adjustment mechanism 10 includes a handle housing 11, a drive assembly 12, and a locking assembly 13. The handle housing 11 serves as the supporting base of the bending adjustment mechanism 10, and has an internal cavity for installing the components of the drive assembly 12 and the locking assembly 13. The handle housing 11 can be formed by joining two or more housing parts together to facilitate the assembly of internal components. Its shape can be designed to be suitable for one-handed gripping by the operator, and it can have an ergonomic curved profile that is easy for the operator to hold.

[0027] The proximal end of the insertion part is fixed to the handle housing 11 and extends distally away from the handle housing 11. The insertion part is a slender tubular structure that enters the body through natural body cavities or small incisions. The interior of the insertion part has a working channel for the passage of surgical instruments and / or the delivery of fluids. The distal region of the insertion part is a curved section that can bend and deform under the pull of a traction wire. The proximal end of the insertion part is fixedly connected to the handle housing 11 via a connecting structure such as a connector, snap-fit, thread, or flange.

[0028] One end of the traction wire is connected to the rotating wheel 121, and the other end is connected to the distal end of the insertion part. The traction wire extends from the handle housing 11 to the distal region of the insertion part, and is arranged along its length within the insertion part, specifically passing through the traction wire channel within the wall of the insertion part. When the operator drives the rotating wheel 121 to rotate, the traction wire is tightened or released, causing the distal end of the insertion part to bend or straighten.

[0029] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the drive assembly 12 includes a rotating wheel 121 and an operating element 122. The rotating wheel 121 is rotatably mounted inside the handle housing 11. Specifically, the rotating wheel 121 can be disc-shaped or cylindrical, and its rotatability can be achieved through bearings, bushings, or directly through a support surface on the inner wall of the handle housing 11. The rotating wheel 121 is used to fix the traction wire. One end of the traction wire is fixed to the rotating wheel 121, and the other end is used to connect to the insertion part. The traction wire can be medical-grade stainless steel wire, nickel-titanium alloy wire, or other wires with sufficient tensile strength and flexibility. When the rotating wheel 121 is rotated, one end of the traction wire rotates with the rotating wheel 121, and the traction wire winds or unwinds on the rotating wheel 121, thereby causing the insertion part to bend and deform. Specifically, an annular groove 1213 can be provided on the outer periphery of the rotating wheel 121, and one end of the traction wire is fixed to the mounting structure provided in the annular groove 1213 and is fixed relative to the rotating wheel 121. Thus, the traction wire is tightened by winding around the annular groove 1213 as the rotating wheel 121 rotates in one direction, or it is released as the rotating wheel 121 rotates in the other direction. The other end of the traction wire is connected to the distal region of the insertion part. When the traction wire is tightened, the insertion part bends to one side. When the traction wire is released, the insertion part can reduce the bending angle under its own elastic restoring force.

[0030] The operating element 122 is connected to the rotary wheel 121, and the operating element 122 is at least partially disposed on the outer side of the handle housing 11 for the operator to hold or turn, thereby driving the rotary wheel 121 to rotate. The operating element 122 can be a knob, a dial, a handle, or other structure suitable for operation by the operator's fingers or palm. The operating element 122 and the rotary wheel 121 can be connected by means of key connection, interference fit, bonding, or integral molding, so as to transmit the rotational torque applied by the operator to the rotary wheel 121.

[0031] The rotating wheel 121 is provided with a first clutch part 1211, which is used to cooperate with the corresponding structural features on the locking assembly 13. The specific structure of the first clutch part 1211 can be designed as needed. For example, the first clutch part 1211 can be a convex key or groove extending along the axial direction of the rotating wheel 121, or it can be end face teeth arranged radially along the rotating wheel 121.

[0032] Please continue to refer to the following: Figure 3 and Figure 4 The locking assembly 13 includes a coaxially arranged elastic gear 131 and a gear ring 132. The elastic gear 131 is rotatably mounted inside the handle housing 11 and has multiple elastic teeth 1311 arranged circumferentially. Each elastic tooth 1311 has a certain elastic deformation capacity, enabling it to elastically deflect to one side of its circumferential direction when subjected to force and return to its original shape after the force is released. The elastic gear 131 should be made of a material with good elasticity and wear resistance, such as engineering plastics with elastic deformation properties or metal materials such as spring steel.

[0033] The toothed ring 132 is fixedly disposed on the handle housing 11 and includes a plurality of teeth 1321 arranged circumferentially. The method of fixing the toothed ring 132 to the handle housing 11 is not limited. For example, the toothed ring 132 can be fixed to the handle housing 11 as an independent part by means of snaps, screws, interference fits, etc., or the toothed ring 132 can be directly integrally formed onto the handle housing 11. Preferably, the toothed ring 132 is integrally formed on the inner side of the handle housing 11, that is, the toothed ring 132 and the handle housing 11 are the same part, and the teeth 1321 of the toothed ring 132 are directly formed on the inner wall of the handle housing 11. This integrally formed structure reduces the number of parts in the bending adjustment mechanism 10, making the overall handle structure more compact and simplifying the assembly process. It also avoids the loosening or displacement problems that may occur with the toothed ring 132 as an independent part during long-term use, improving the reliability of the locking assembly 13. The gear ring 132 is disposed around the outer periphery of the elastic gear 131, that is, multiple teeth 1321 are arranged circumferentially around the outer periphery of the elastic gear 131. The elastic teeth 1311 of the elastic gear 131 mesh with the teeth 1321 from the radial inward side to the outward side. This layout is compact and makes full use of the space inside the handle housing 11, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the bending adjustment mechanism 10.

[0034] The tooth profile of tooth 1321 should match the shape of elastic tooth 1311. Multiple elastic teeth 1311 and multiple teeth 1321 mesh with each other to restrict the unidirectional rotation of elastic gear 131 relative to handle housing 11 via gear ring 132. When elastic gear 131 rotates in the first rotation direction, elastic teeth 1311 undergo elastic deformation under the push of teeth 1321 and slide past the tooth tips of teeth 1321 one by one, allowing elastic gear 131 to rotate smoothly. However, when elastic gear 131 tends to rotate in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction, the back of the tooth of elastic tooth 1311 abuts against the back of the tooth of tooth 1321, and the two interlock, preventing elastic gear 131 from rotating in the opposite direction. When no external force is applied, elastic teeth 1311 engage at the root of two adjacent teeth 1321, locking elastic gear 131 in its current rotation position. Since the elastic gear 131 and the gear ring 132 have multiple meshing positions in the circumferential direction, the elastic gear 131 can be locked at any meshing position on its rotation path.

[0035] The elastic gear 131 is provided with a second clutch portion 1312, which cooperates with the first clutch portion 1211, and the two together constitute the clutch engagement structure of the bending adjustment mechanism 10. The first clutch portion 1211 and the second clutch portion 1312 cooperate to have an engaged state and a disengaged state. Figure 8 As shown, in the engaged state, the elastic gear 131 and the rotating wheel 121 are coaxially connected without relative rotation, meaning they form a fixed connection in the circumferential direction and can rotate synchronously. At this time, the rotational motion of the rotating wheel 121 is transmitted to the elastic gear 131. Because the elastic gear 131 is restricted by the unidirectional rotation of the gear ring 132, the rotating wheel 121 is also correspondingly locked by the locking assembly 13, allowing only unidirectional rotation, and can be locked at its current rotational position without external force. Figure 9 As shown, in the separated state, the elastic gear 131 is separated from the rotating wheel 121, that is, the circumferential fixed connection between the two is released, and the rotating wheel 121 is no longer constrained by the elastic gear 131 and can rotate freely relative to the handle housing 11.

[0036] In this embodiment, the operator drives the rotating wheel 121 to rotate in the first rotation direction via the operating component 122, causing the traction wire to be wound around and pull the insertion part to bend. During rotation, the elastic gear 131 rotates synchronously with the rotating wheel 121, and the elastic teeth 1311 slide past the teeth 1321 one by one. When the operator stops rotating, the elastic teeth 1311 engage with the root of the teeth between two teeth 1321, and the elastic gear 131 is locked by the locking component 13. The rotating wheel 121 is also locked at the current rotation position, and the bending angle of the insertion part is maintained. Thus, the bending adjustment mechanism 10 automatically locks at that angle every time the operator rotates one tooth position, realizing the function of "adjustment equals locking" without the need for additional locking operations.

[0037] When the bending needs to be released, the operator switches the engagement of the first clutch 1211 and the second clutch 1312 from the engaged state to the disengaged state. The circumferential connection between the elastic gear 131 and the rotating wheel 121 is released, and the rotating wheel 121 is no longer constrained by the locking assembly 13, allowing it to rotate freely. At this time, the insertion part can return to its initial shape through active operation or passive rebound, while the traction ribbon drives the rotating wheel 121 to rotate automatically in the opposite direction.

[0038] In this embodiment, the bending adjustment mechanism 10, through the coordinated operation of the drive assembly 12, the locking assembly 13, and the first clutch 1211 and the second clutch 1312, achieves unidirectional adjustment and automatic locking of the bending angle of the insertion part. The rotation and locking operations are combined into one, allowing the surgeon to automatically lock while adjusting the bending angle, significantly simplifying the surgical procedure. The entire bending adjustment mechanism 10 is implemented using a purely mechanical structure, resulting in a simple structure, reliable operation, and good manufacturability and stability in use.

[0039] Furthermore, in the disengaged state, the rotating wheel 121 can rotate freely under the deformation and elasticity of the insertion part itself. The insertion part is typically made at least partially of an elastic material; for example, the outer skin of the insertion part stores elastic potential energy after bending and deformation, and has a tendency to return to its initial shape. When the engagement of the first clutch 1211 and the second clutch 1312 switches to the disengaged state, the circumferential connection between the elastic gear 131 and the rotating wheel 121 is released, and the locking effect of the locking assembly 13 on the rotating wheel 121 is thus lost. At this time, the deformation and elasticity of the insertion part is transmitted to the rotating wheel 121 through the traction wire, driving the rotating wheel 121 to rotate automatically in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction during bending. The traction wire is released on the rotating wheel 121 until the insertion part returns to its initial shape. It should be noted that the initial shape refers to the natural shape of the insertion part when it is not subjected to external force, which is usually a straight state or has a predetermined initial curvature.

[0040] In this embodiment, when it is necessary to release the bending angle of the insertion part, the operator only needs to switch the engagement of the first clutch part 1211 and the second clutch part 1312 to the disengaged state, and the insertion part will automatically return to its initial shape under its own elastic force. There is no need for the operator to manually rotate the operating part 122 in the opposite direction, which realizes the convenient operation effect of "one-click release" and further improves the efficiency of surgical operation.

[0041] Based on the previous embodiment, the bending adjustment mechanism 10 further includes a damping buffer structure. The damping buffer structure acts between the rotating wheel 121 and the handle housing 11 to reduce the rotational speed of the rotating wheel 121 under the deformation and rebound force of the insertion part itself in the separated state. The damping buffer structure can be in the form of a friction damping structure, a hydraulic damping structure, etc. In one embodiment, the damping buffer structure includes damping grease or damping oil disposed between the rotating wheel 121 and the handle housing 11, providing damping force through the shear resistance of the viscous fluid. In another embodiment, the damping buffer structure includes an elastic friction plate, one end of which is fixed to the handle housing 11, and the other end elastically presses against the surface of the rotating wheel 121, providing damping through friction. In yet another embodiment, the damping buffer structure is a rotary damper, whose rotor is coaxially connected to the rotating wheel 121, and whose stator is fixed to the handle housing 11, providing a smooth damping torque through an internal damping medium.

[0042] In this embodiment, when the first clutch and the second clutch switch to the disengaged state, the damping buffer structure applies a damping force to the rotating wheel 121, slowing down the rotation speed of the rotating wheel 121 under the action of the rebound force of the insertion part, so that the insertion part returns to its initial shape at a stable and controlled speed, avoiding impact damage to human tissue due to excessive rebound, improving the safety of surgical operation and user experience, especially when operating in narrow cavities inside the body, it can effectively avoid accidental damage to surrounding tissues caused by rapid rebound.

[0043] Based on the above embodiments, the elastic gear 131 is movably mounted inside the handle housing 11 and has a first position and a second position. The first position is where the elastic gear 131 is relatively close to the rotating wheel 121. In this position, the first clutch portion 1211 and the second clutch portion 1312 remain engaged, and the elastic gear 131 and the rotating wheel 121 can rotate synchronously. The second position is where the elastic gear 131 is relatively far away from the rotating wheel 121. In this position, the first clutch portion 1211 and the second clutch portion 1312 remain disengaged, and the elastic gear 131 is decoupled from the rotating wheel 121.

[0044] Preferably, the movement direction of the elastic gear 131 can be along its own axial direction. During the stroke of the elastic gear 131 from the first position to the second position, the second clutch portion 1312 gradually moves away from the first clutch portion 1211 until the two are completely disengaged. It should be noted that when the elastic gear 131 is in the first position and the second position, the elastic teeth 1311 of the elastic gear 131 remain engaged with the teeth 1321 of the gear ring 132. Alternatively, in the second position, the elastic teeth 1311 can disengage from the teeth 1321, as long as the circumferential connection between the elastic gear 131 and the rotating wheel 121 is released.

[0045] The locking assembly 13 also includes an unlocking element 134, which is at least partially located on the outside of the handle housing 11 for easy operation by the operator. The unlocking element 134 is fixedly or kinetically connected to the resilient gear 131, such that when the unlocking element 134 is operated, it drives the resilient gear 131 to switch from a first position to a second position. Operations on the unlocking element 134 can include pressing, flicking, or rotating. For example, the unlocking element 134 can be a button; when the operator presses the button, it pushes the resilient gear 131 axially to the second position. Alternatively, the unlocking element 134 can be a lever; when the operator flicks the lever, it drives the resilient gear 131 to move via a lever mechanism.

[0046] This embodiment incorporates a movable structure of the elastic gear 131 and an unlocking member 134. The unlocking member 134 is located on the outside of the handle housing 11, facilitating one-handed operation by the operator. This allows for easy switching of the engagement between the first clutch part 1211 and the second clutch part 1312 from the engaged state to the disengaged state, thereby restoring the bending angle of the insertion part.

[0047] Furthermore, the locking assembly 13 also includes an elastic reset member 135, which acts on the elastic gear 131 to hold the elastic gear 131 in a first position and provides a reset force to drive the elastic gear 131 back from a second position to the first position. The elastic reset member 135 may be a coil spring, a disc spring, a leaf spring, an elastic rubber component, or other components capable of storing and releasing elastic potential energy.

[0048] In its natural state, the elastic force of the elastic reset member 135 holds the elastic gear 131 in the first position. At this time, the first clutch part 1211 and the second clutch part 1312 are engaged, and the bending adjustment mechanism 10 is in a normal working state capable of unidirectional adjustment and automatic locking. When the operator operates the unlocking member 134 to overcome the reset force of the elastic reset member 135 and move the elastic gear 131 to the second position, the first clutch part 1211 and the second clutch part 1312 switch to the disengaged state. When the operator stops operating the unlocking member 134, the elastic potential energy stored in the elastic reset member 135 is released, driving the elastic gear 131 to automatically return from the second position to the first position. The first clutch part 1211 and the second clutch part 1312 re-engage, and the bending adjustment mechanism 10 resumes its unidirectional adjustment and automatic locking functions.

[0049] In this embodiment, by setting an elastic reset member 135, the unlocking member 134 can be automatically reset after being operated. After releasing the unlocking member 134, the elastic gear 131 automatically returns to the first position and restores the engagement state. No additional reset operation is required from the operator, thus realizing the automatic reset of the unlocking operation and making the operation process simpler and smoother.

[0050] Preferably, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 The elastic reset element 135 shown is a compression spring 1351, one end of which abuts against the handle housing 11, and the other end abuts against the side of the elastic gear 131 away from the rotating wheel 121. When the elastic gear 131 moves from the first position to the second position, the elastic gear 131 compresses the compression spring 1351, and the compression spring 1351 stores elastic potential energy. When the unlocking element 134 is released, the elastic potential energy stored in the compression spring 1351 is released, pushing the elastic gear 131 back from the second position to the first position. Since the compression spring 1351 abuts against the side of the elastic gear 131 away from the rotating wheel 121, the force it applies to the elastic gear 131 is towards the rotating wheel 121, which is consistent with the reset direction of the elastic gear 131.

[0051] Furthermore, such as Figure 6 As shown, the elastic gear 131 includes a gear body 136 and a rotating shaft 133. Elastic teeth 1311 are spaced apart on the outer periphery of the gear body 136. The gear body 136 can be a disc-shaped or annular structure. The elastic teeth 1311 extend radially outward from the outer periphery of the gear body 136. The gear body 136 and the elastic teeth 1311 can be integrally formed from the same material. One end of the rotating shaft 133 is coaxially fixed to the gear body 136, and the other end passes through the rotating wheel 121 and the handle housing 11 in sequence. It serves as the mounting and transmission shaft for the elastic gear 131, transmitting the rotational motion of the elastic gear 131 to the rotating wheel 121, and also as a guide shaft for the axial movement of the elastic gear 131. The coaxial fixing of the rotating shaft 133 and the gear body 136 can be achieved through integral forming, interference fit, key connection, welding, etc. Preferably, they are integrally formed.

[0052] The unlocking element 134 is a button 1341 fixed to the end of the rotating shaft 133 away from the elastic gear 131. The button 1341 is located on the outside of the handle housing 11 for easy pressing by the operator's finger. When the button 1341 is pressed, the pressing force is transmitted to the elastic gear 131 through the rotating shaft 133, driving the elastic gear 131 to overcome the restoring force provided by the elastic reset element 135 and move to the second position. The first clutch part 1211 is a keyway 1212 provided on the rotating wheel 121, and the second clutch part 1312 is a spline 1331 provided on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 133. The rotating shaft 133 and the elastic gear 131 are slidably arranged relative to the rotating wheel 121 along the axial direction. Figure 8 As shown, when the elastic gear 131 is in the first position, the spline 1331 is keyed to the keyway 1212, and each tooth of the spline 1331 is embedded in each groove of the keyway 1212, achieving a non-rotatable circumferential connection between the shaft 133 and the wheel 121. When the elastic gear 131 is in the second position, as... Figure 9 As shown, spline 1331 disengages from keyway 1212, the circumferential connection between shaft 133 and wheel 121 is released, and wheel 121 is no longer subject to the rotational constraints of shaft 133 and elastic gear 131.

[0053] Preferably, a first guide structure is provided at the end of spline 1331 near the rotating wheel 121, and a second guide structure is provided at the entrance of keyway 1212 near spline 1331. The first guide structure and the second guide structure cooperate to guide spline 1331 and keyway 1212 to align and engage during the travel of elastic gear 131 from the second position back to the first position. Specifically, the first guide structure can be a guide ramp or guide tip provided at the end of spline 1331, for example, the ends of each tooth of spline 1331 are machined into a conical or wedge shape. The second guide structure can be a guide ramp or flared structure provided at the entrance of keyway 1212, for example, the entrance of keyway 1212 is machined into a flared shape. When the elastic gear 131 moves from the second position to the first position under the reset force of the elastic reset member 135, the end of the spline 1331 first contacts the entrance area of ​​the keyway 1212. The guide slope of the first guide structure and the guide slope of the second guide structure cooperate to generate a circumferential component force, driving the rotating shaft 133 and the elastic gear 131 to rotate slightly relative to the rotating wheel 121, so that each tooth of the spline 1331 automatically aligns with each groove of the keyway 1212, thereby smoothly engaging. By setting the first guide structure and the second guide structure, even if there is a circumferential misalignment between the elastic gear 131 and the rotating wheel 121 during the reset process, it can automatically align and smoothly engage under the guidance of the guide structure, avoiding engagement failure caused by misalignment of the teeth, and improving the reliability and smoothness of operation of the bending adjustment mechanism 10.

[0054] In one embodiment, please continue to refer to Figure 8 and Figure 9 The inner side of the handle housing 11 is provided with a guide post 14 extending axially. The guide post 14 can be a cylindrical structure, integrally formed with the handle housing 11 or fixedly connected. The compression spring 1351 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the guide post 14 to ensure that the compression spring 1351 deforms stably along the axial direction during compression and release, without lateral bending or displacement. The rotating shaft 133 is hollow and slidably sleeved on the outer periphery of the guide post 14. At this time, the guide post 14 also serves as the axial sliding guide rail of the rotating shaft 133, slidingly engaging with the hollow inner hole of the rotating shaft 133. In this way, the compression spring 1351, the guide post 14, and the rotating shaft 133 form a coaxial nested layout, resulting in a compact structure. The guide post 14 provides guidance for both the compression spring 1351 and the rotating shaft 133, making the internal structure of the bending adjustment mechanism 10 more compact, reducing the number of parts, and improving the stability and accuracy of axial movement. The compression spring 1351 is supported by the guide post 14, which avoids skewing and fatigue failure during repeated compression and release, thus extending its service life.

[0055] Preferably, the operating component 122 is a rotating handle 1221 disposed on the outer side of the handle housing 11. The rotating handle 1221 can be annular, disc-shaped, or have a spoked structure, and its outer surface can be provided with anti-slip textures or operating grooves to facilitate the operator's grip and rotation. The rotating handle 1221 is coaxially fixed to the rotating wheel 121. The fixing method can be a combination of key connection and bonding, or an interference fit, threaded connection, etc. By rotating the rotating handle 1221, the operator can easily drive the rotating wheel 121 to rotate synchronously. An axial limiting structure is provided between the rotating handle 1221 and / or the rotating wheel 121 and the handle housing 11 to limit the axial travel of the drive component 12 relative to the handle housing 11. The axial limiting structure can be an annular flange or retaining ring disposed on the inner wall of the handle housing 11, which engages with the corresponding annular groove 1213 of the rotating wheel 121 or the rotating handle 1221. Alternatively, a stop surface can be provided on the outer end face of the handle housing 11, which abuts against the inner end face of the rotating handle 1221, restricting its outward axial movement. Through the axial limiting structure, the axial position of the drive component 12 within the handle housing 11 is determined, ensuring a stable and reliable transmission relationship between the operating element 122 and the rotating wheel 121.

[0056] In this embodiment, the rotating handle 1221 provides an ergonomic operating method, allowing the operator to easily and effortlessly drive the rotating wheel 121 to rotate. The axial limiting structure ensures that the drive assembly 12 will not experience axial movement during operation, thus ensuring the operating accuracy and reliability of the bending adjustment mechanism 10.

[0057] Preferably, please continue reading. Figure 8 and Figure 9The rotary handle 1221 is axially positioned between the outer side of the handle housing 11 and the button 1341. That is, from the handle housing 11 outwards, the rotary handle 1221 and the button 1341 are arranged sequentially, with the button 1341 located on the outermost side. This arrangement allows the operator to conveniently press the button 1341 with the thumb of one hand or the fingers of the other hand while holding the rotary handle 1221.

[0058] Button 1341 is fitted onto the outer periphery of rotating shaft 133, forming a stepped surface 1342 facing the handle housing 11. The stepped surface 1342 is an annular end face formed on the inner end face of button 1341 due to its fit with rotating shaft 133. This stepped surface 1342 abuts against rotating handle 1221 during the movement of elastic gear 131 from the first position to the second position, thus limiting the axial movement of elastic gear 131. Specifically, when the operator presses button 1341, rotating shaft 133, along with elastic gear 131, moves axially, and the stepped surface 1342 of button 1341 moves towards handle housing 11. When the stepped surface 1342 abuts against the outer end face of rotating handle 1221, button 1341 cannot move further inward, and the axial movement of elastic gear 131 is limited within a preset range, ensuring that elastic gear 131 moves precisely to the second position without over-moving. This limiting structure also protects the elastic gear 131 and gear ring 132, preventing damage to the parts due to excessive pressing. In this embodiment, the axial layout of the rotating handle 1221 and button 1341 is compact and reasonable, allowing the operator to easily and quickly switch between adjusting and releasing the bending angle.

[0059] 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 bending adjustment mechanism for adjusting the bending angle of an endoscope insertion portion, characterized in that, The bending adjustment mechanism includes: Handle casing; A drive assembly includes a rotating wheel and an operating element. The rotating wheel is rotatably mounted within the handle housing and is used to fix a traction wire such that, when the rotating wheel is rotated, the traction wire causes the insertion portion to bend and deform. The operating element is connected to the rotating wheel and is at least partially disposed on the outer side of the handle housing to drive the rotating wheel to rotate. The rotating wheel is provided with a first clutch portion. The locking assembly includes a coaxially arranged elastic gear and a gear ring. The elastic gear is rotatably mounted inside the handle housing and has a plurality of elastic teeth arranged circumferentially. The gear ring is relatively fixedly disposed on the handle housing and includes a plurality of teeth arranged circumferentially. The plurality of elastic teeth and the plurality of teeth mesh with each other to restrict the unidirectional rotation of the elastic gear relative to the handle housing by the gear ring, and lock the elastic gear at the current rotation position when no external force is applied. The elastic gear is provided with a second clutch portion. The first clutch and the second clutch cooperate to have an engaged state and a disengaged state. In the engaged state, the elastic gear and the rotating wheel are coaxially connected in a non-rotatable manner so that the rotating wheel can be locked by the locking assembly. In the disengaged state, the elastic gear is separated from the rotating wheel so that the rotating wheel can rotate freely relative to the handle housing.

2. The bending adjustment mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In the separated state, the rotating wheel can rotate freely under the deformation and elasticity of the insertion part itself, so that the traction belt drives the rotating wheel to rotate automatically until the insertion part returns to its initial shape.

3. The bending adjustment mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The bending adjustment mechanism also includes a damping buffer structure, which acts between the rotating wheel and the handle housing to slow down the rotation speed of the rotating wheel under the deformation and rebound force of the insertion part itself in the separated state.

4. The bending adjustment mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The gear ring is integrally formed on the inner side of the handle housing and is arranged around the outer periphery of the elastic gear.

5. The bending adjustment mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The elastic gear is movably mounted inside the handle housing and has a first position relatively close to the rotating wheel and a second position relatively far from the rotating wheel. When the elastic gear is in the first position, the first clutch and the second clutch remain engaged. When the elastic gear is in the second position, the first clutch and the second clutch remain disengaged. The locking assembly also includes an unlocking component, which is at least partially located on the outside of the handle housing and is linked to the elastic gear. When the unlocking component is operated, it drives the elastic gear to switch from a first position to a second position.

6. The bending adjustment mechanism as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The locking assembly further includes an elastic reset member that acts on the elastic gear to keep the elastic gear in a first position and provides a reset force to drive the elastic gear from a second position back to the first position.

7. The bending adjustment mechanism as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The elastic reset element is a compression spring, one end of which abuts against the handle housing, and the other end of which abuts against the side of the elastic gear away from the rotating wheel.

8. The bending adjustment mechanism as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The elastic gear includes a wheel body and a rotating shaft. The elastic teeth are spaced apart on the outer periphery of the wheel body. One end of the rotating shaft is fixed coaxially with the wheel body, and the other end passes through the rotating wheel and the handle housing in sequence. The unlocking element is a button fixed to the end of the rotating shaft away from the elastic gear. When the button is pressed, it drives the elastic gear to overcome the reset force provided by the elastic reset element and move to the second position. The first clutch part is a keyway provided on the rotating wheel, and the second clutch part is a spline provided on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft and the elastic gear are slidably arranged relative to the rotating wheel along the axial direction. When the elastic gear is in the first position, the spline is connected to the keyway. When the elastic gear is in the second position, the spline disengages from the keyway.

9. The bending adjustment mechanism as described in claim 8, characterized in that, A first guide structure is provided at one end of the spline near the rotating wheel, and a second guide structure is provided at the keyway near the entrance of the spline. The first guide structure and the second guide structure cooperate to guide the spline and the keyway to align and engage during the travel of the elastic gear from the second position back to the first position.

10. The bending adjustment mechanism as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The inner side of the handle housing is provided with a guide post extending axially, the compression spring is sleeved on the outer periphery of the guide post, and the rotating shaft is hollow and slidably sleeved on the outer periphery of the guide post.

11. The bending adjustment mechanism as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The operating component is a rotating handle disposed on the outside of the handle housing. The rotating handle is fixed coaxially with the rotating wheel. An axial limiting structure is provided between the rotating handle and / or the rotating wheel and the handle housing to limit the axial travel of the drive component relative to the handle housing.

12. The bending adjustment mechanism as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The rotating handle is axially positioned between the outer side of the handle housing and the button. The button is sleeved on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft to form a stepped surface facing the handle housing. The stepped surface abuts against the rotating handle during the active stroke of the elastic gear moving from the first position to the second position to limit the active stroke of the elastic gear along the axial direction.

13. An endoscope, characterized in that, include: The bending adjustment mechanism as described in any one of claims 1 to 12; An insertion portion, the proximal end of which is fixed to the handle housing and extends distally away from the handle housing; as well as, A traction wire, one end of which is connected to the rotating wheel, and the other end of which is connected to the distal end of the insertion part.

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