Nested telescopic endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes and control method thereof

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of medical devices, and particularly relates to a nested telescopic endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes and a control method thereof, which comprises a shell, a rotating lever, a telescopic bending system and a flexible catheter, the flexible catheter is composed of an outer tube and an inner tube, the outer tube and the inner tube are connected with a control knob through independent traction ropes respectively, so that independent bending adjustment of the outer tube and the inner tube is realized; the inner tube realizes axial telescoping through a push-pull rod, so that the endoscope has three degrees of freedom. An imaging system is integrated in the body, and comprises a light source, a heat dissipation module and a double-lens camera. The endoscope can adapt to the anatomical characteristics of the narrow and curved eustachian tube, realize accurate arrival at the eustachian tube pharyngeal and tympanic orifice, the observation field is clear and complete, mucosa damage is effectively avoided, and the endoscope has portability and can be adapted to various clinical scenes such as outpatient service, emergency and bedside examination.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to a nested retractable endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] The Eustachian tube is the passage connecting the middle ear cavity and the nasopharynx. Its lumen is narrow and tortuous, and its mucous membrane is fragile and sensitive. Eustachian tube lesions are a common cause of ear diseases such as otitis media, ear fullness, and hearing loss. Therefore, accurate observation of the internal structure and lesions of the Eustachian tube is crucial for clinical diagnosis.

[0003] Currently, endoscopes used clinically for eustachian tube examinations are mostly divided into two categories: electric and manual. Although electric endoscopes offer precise adjustment, they are large, expensive, and poorly portable, making them unsuitable for primary care clinics, bedside emergencies, and other similar scenarios. Manual eustachian tube endoscopes, on the other hand, are more widely used due to their smaller size, lower cost, and ease of operation. However, existing manual eustachian tube endoscopes have several technical defects: First, the manual adjustment structure is poorly designed, lacking precision and failing to adapt to the curvature of the eustachian tube, leading to probe deviation and inaccurate access to the pharyngeal and tympanic orifices, resulting in blind spots. Second, the handle lacks a specific design, causing slippage and fatigue during prolonged operation, making it difficult to control the manual force and potentially scratching the delicate eustachian tube mucosa with the probe tip. Third, the endoscope probe diameter has poor adaptability; too thick a probe can compress the lumen, while too thin a probe results in insufficient image clarity and lacks a limiting structure, making it prone to over-insertion and damage to the lumen. Fourth, the illumination and imaging are poorly coordinated; manual light adjustment is cumbersome, and excessive light can burn the mucosa, while insufficient light makes it impossible to clearly identify minute lesions. Fifth, the probe and adjustment rod are often fixedly connected, making sterilization inconvenient and increasing the risk of cross-infection. In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, this invention provides a manual eustachian tube endoscope that is precise in operation, highly adaptable, safe, and practical. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a nested telescopic endoscope with independent bending functions of inner and outer tubes and its control method, so as to solve the problems of insufficient adjustment accuracy of existing manual Eustachian tube endoscopes, difficulty in adapting to the bending direction of the Eustachian tube, easy occurrence of probe deviation and blind spots, easy damage to the mucosa during operation, and inconvenience of disinfection and maintenance.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a nested telescopic endoscope with independent bending functions of inner and outer tubes, comprising a shell, a rotating lever, a telescopic bending system, and a flexible conduit, wherein the flexible conduit comprises an outer tube and an inner tube nested inside the outer tube; the rotating lever is used to control the bending of the inner tube, the knob is used to control the bending of the outer tube, and the telescopic push-pull rod is used to control the axial extension and retraction of the inner tube, so that the endoscope has three degrees of freedom.

[0006] Preferably, the telescopic bending system includes an inner shell, which is slidably connected to the outer shell via a slide rail. Pushing or pulling the telescopic push-pull rod causes the inner shell to move relative to the outer shell along the slide rail, thereby achieving axial extension and retraction of the inner tube.

[0007] Preferably, it also includes a telescopic stop lever, which can be moved to stop the inner tube at any telescopic position. The inner tube is fixed to the inner shell by an inner fixing frame.

[0008] Preferably, rotating the knob tightens the outer tube traction rope in the direction of rotation, thereby achieving the up-and-down bending of the outer tube. The outer tube is fixed to the outer casing by the outer fixing frame, and the outer tube traction rope is fixed to the outer traction rope fixing device.

[0009] Preferably, the inner tube is bent upwards and downwards by moving the rotating lever up and down. The inner tube is fixed to the inner shell by the inner fixing frame, and the inner tube traction rope is fixed to the inner traction rope fixing device.

[0010] Preferably, it also includes a rotation damper, the tension of the outer tube traction rope and the inner tube traction rope is controlled by the rotation damper, so that the inner tube can be bent and fixed in any position.

[0011] Preferably, the outer tube has multiple channels inside, including an imaging catheter channel and another working channel for passing a balloon guidewire or surgical forceps.

[0012] Preferably, the device also includes an imaging system integrated within the body, comprising a working channel and a Eustachian tube endoscope lens. The imaging system also includes a light source, a heat dissipation module, and a camera. The camera is a dual-lens camera with fiber optic illumination and a maximum illuminance of 5000 lux.

[0013] Preferably, the outer diameter of the inner tube is 1.5 mm, the total bending length is 25 mm, the maximum bending angle is 60°, and the maximum tensile / push force is 10 N; the outer diameter of the outer tube is 4.5 mm, the inner diameter is 4.1 mm, the total bending length is 25 mm, the maximum bending angle is 45°, and the maximum tensile / push force is 40 N.

[0014] A control method for a nested retractable endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes includes the following steps: S1. External tube bending adjustment: Rotate the knob to tighten the external tube traction rope and bend the external tube in the target direction to match the bending direction of the Eustachian tube. S2. Inner tube telescopic adjustment: Push and pull the telescopic push-pull rod to move the inner shell relative to the outer shell along the slide rail, extend or retract the inner tube to the target position, and lock the current telescopic position by telescopic stop lever; S3. Inner tube bending adjustment: Move the rotating lever up and down to bend the inner tube upward or downward through the inner tube traction rope, and fix the inner tube at the target bending angle through the rotating damper. S4. Imaging Observation: Activate the imaging system integrated into the machine body to observe and diagnose the inside of the Eustachian tube through the Eustachian tube endoscope lens.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: 1. The nested telescopic endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes provided by the present invention can independently control the bending of the outer tube and the inner tube by means of a knob and a rotating lever, and achieve axial extension and retraction with the telescopic push-pull rod, so that the endoscope has three degrees of freedom and the bending angle on one side can reach 105°, which can accurately adapt to the anatomical characteristics of the narrow and curved Eustachian tube, and effectively avoid probe deviation and blind spots.

[0016] 2. This invention adopts a purely mechanical transmission structure, which achieves precise adjustment of bending angle and locking of arbitrary position through traction rope and rotary damper. It has high operation accuracy, does not require electric drive, is small in size, low in cost, and has good portability, and can be adapted to various clinical scenarios such as outpatient, emergency and bedside examination.

[0017] 3. The outer tube of the present invention is provided with multiple channels. In addition to the imaging catheter channel, another working channel can be used to pass balloon guidewires, surgical forceps and other surgical instruments, so as to realize multi-functional integrated operation of detection, diagnosis and surgery.

[0018] 4. The imaging system of the present invention is integrated into the body and includes a light source, a heat dissipation module and a dual-lens camera. It adopts fiber optic illumination with a maximum illuminance of 5000 lux, realizing coordinated adaptation between illumination and imaging to ensure a clear and complete field of view. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall internal structure of the mechanism of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall isometric structure of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the external traction rope fixing device of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the internal traction rope fixing device of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the endoscopic imaging system of the present invention.

[0020] In the diagram: 1. Rotary lever; 2. Telescopic bending system; 3. Outer shell; 4. Outer tube; 5. Inner tube; 6. Inner shell; 7. Telescopic push-pull rod; 8. Rotary damper; 9. Slide rail; 10. Telescopic stop lever; 11. Knob; 12. Internal fixing frame; 13. Circuit board interface; 14. External fixing frame; 15. Imaging system; 16. External traction rope fixing device; 17. Internal traction rope fixing device; 18. Working channel; 19. Eustachian tube endoscope lens. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] Please see Figures 1 to 6 The present invention provides a technical solution: a nested telescopic endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes, including a shell 3, and a telescopic bending system 2 is provided inside the shell 3. The telescopic bending system 2 includes a rotating lever 1, a telescopic push-pull rod 7, a rotating damper 8 and a slide rail 9.

[0023] Furthermore, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, pushing and pulling the telescopic push-pull rod 7 causes the inner shell 6 to move relative to the outer shell 3 on the slide rail 9, thereby realizing the extension and retraction of the inner tube 5. Moving the telescopic stop lever 10 can stop the inner tube 5 at any position within its range of motion. The inner tube 5 is fixed to the inner shell 6 by the inner fixing bracket 12.

[0024] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, rotating knob 11 tightens the outer tube traction rope in the rotational direction, causing the outer tube 4 to bend vertically. The outer tube 4 is fixed to the outer casing 3 by the outer fixing bracket 14, and the outer tube traction rope is fixed to the outer traction rope fixing device 16. Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, the flexible conduit's inner tube 5 can be bent upwards and downwards by moving the rotating lever 1 up and down. The inner tube 5 is fixed to the inner shell 6 by the inner fixing bracket 12, and the inner tube traction rope is fixed to the inner traction rope fixing device 17. The tension of the outer tube traction rope and the inner tube traction rope is controlled by the rotating damper 8. The function of the rotating damper 8 is to allow the inner tube 5 to be bent and fixed in any position.

[0025] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 and Figure 6As shown, the endoscopic imaging system 15 is located on the far left of the overall structure, including the working channel 18 and the Eustachian tube endoscope lens 19. The complete imaging system 15 is installed in a minimized manner within the mechanism, achieving the integration of imaging and structure. A TA10 model camera with a dual-lens configuration is selected, and fiber optic illumination is used, with a maximum illuminance of 5000 lux.

[0026] Furthermore, the outer diameter of the working channel is 1.7mm; the outer diameter of the lens channel is 2.0mm. The outer diameter of the inner tube 5 is 1.5mm, the total bending length is 25mm (extended portion), the bending radius at maximum angle is approximately 23mm, the total bending angle is 60°, and the maximum tensile / push force is 10N. The outer tube 4 has an outer diameter of 4.5mm, an inner diameter of 4.1mm, a total bending length of 25mm, a bending radius at maximum angle is approximately 32mm, the total bending angle is 45°, and the maximum tensile / push force is 40N. The entire unit possesses three degrees of freedom, with a bending angle of up to 105° on one side. The outer tube 4 provides one degree of freedom in the bending direction, and the inner tube 5 provides one degree of freedom in axial extension and one degree of freedom in the bending direction.

[0027] Example 1: This embodiment is used for routine examination of the Eustachian tube. The operator holds the outer casing 3 and first rotates knob 11, tightening the outer tube traction rope to bend the outer tube 4 in the direction of the Eustachian tube's curvature, adapting to the curve of the Eustachian tube from the nasopharynx to the tympanic cavity. Then, the operator pushes and pulls the telescopic lever 7, moving the inner casing 6 along the slide rail 9 relative to the outer casing 3, slowly inserting the inner tube 5 into the Eustachian tube lumen. Once the target position is reached, the telescopic stop lever 10 is activated to lock the telescopic position. Moving the rotating lever 1 up and down causes the end of the inner tube 5 to bend upwards or downwards via the inner tube traction rope. The inner tube 5 is fixed at the target curvature angle by the rotating damper 8, allowing the Eustachian tube endoscope lens 19 to be precisely aligned with the pharyngeal orifice or tympanic opening of the Eustachian tube. The imaging system 15 is activated, the light source illuminates the observation area via fiber optic cable, and the dual-lens camera captures images. The operator observes the internal condition of the Eustachian tube through an external display device, completing the examination and diagnosis.

[0028] Example 2: This embodiment is used as an auxiliary procedure for balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube. After completing the imaging observation and determining the lesion location in Embodiment 1, a balloon guidewire is inserted through another working channel inside the outer tube 4, allowing the balloon guidewire to reach the target lesion location along the multiple channels of the outer tube 4. The operator independently adjusts the bending angle of the outer tube 4 and the inner tube 5 by rotating the knob 11 and the rotating lever 1, respectively, to precisely guide the balloon guidewire to the stenotic or obstructed site. The axial extension and retraction of the inner tube 5 is controlled by the telescopic push-pull lever 7, and the telescopic stop lever 10 can lock the inner tube 5 in any position, ensuring the stability of the balloon guidewire during dilation. After the procedure, the inner tube 5 is retracted, the outer tube 4 returns to a straight position, and the entire tube is withdrawn from the Eustachian tube.

[0029] Example 3: This embodiment is used for eustachian tube effusion aspiration. An aspiration guidewire is inserted through the working channel inside the outer tube 4. Using the real-time observation function of the imaging system 15, the guidewire is guided to precisely reach the effusion accumulation area. The inner tube 5 is controlled by the telescopic push-pull rod 7 for extension and retraction. After the telescopic stop lever 10 locks in position, the end of the inner tube 5 can bend in both upward and downward directions under the control of the rotating lever 1, with a maximum bending angle of 60° and a bending radius of approximately 23mm, flexibly adapting to the bending shape of different sections of the eustachian tube. The outer tube 4 has a maximum bending angle of 45° and a bending radius of approximately 32mm, providing a wide range of bending guidance for the overall mechanism. The coordinated operation of these three degrees of freedom allows the endoscope to accurately reach deep into the eustachian tube to complete the effusion aspiration operation.

[0030] Working principle: The operator holds the outer casing 3 and first rotates knob 11 according to the curvature of the Eustachian tube. The outer tube traction rope tightens in the rotation direction, causing the outer tube 4 to bend in the target direction, adapting the overall mechanism to the curvature of the Eustachian tube. Then, the operator pushes and pulls the telescopic lever 7, causing the inner casing 6 to move relative to the outer casing 3 along the slide rail 9, causing the inner tube 5 to extend or retract axially. Once the target position is reached, the operator moves the telescopic stop lever 10 to lock the inner tube 5 in its current position. Moving the rotary lever 1 up and down causes the inner tube traction rope to pull the end of the inner tube 5 upwards or downwards. The rotary damper 8 controls the tension of the inner tube traction rope, allowing the inner tube 5 to bend and fix at any target angle. The bending of the inner tube 5 and the outer tube 4 is adjusted separately by their respective independent control mechanisms, without interference, achieving independent bending functions for the inner and outer tubes. The imaging system 15 is integrated into the main body, including a TA10 dual-lens camera, a fiber optic light source, and a heat dissipation module, with a maximum illumination of 5000 lux. During operation, the light source illuminates the inside of the Eustachian tube through the fiber optic cable, and the camera captures images and transmits them to an external display device for real-time observation and diagnosis by the operator. The outer tube 4 has multiple channels inside. In addition to the imaging catheter channel, another working channel can carry balloon guidewires, surgical forceps, or fluid aspiration guidewires, assisting the user in performing various operations such as detection, diagnosis, and surgery.

[0031] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A nested, retractable endoscope with independent bending functions for both inner and outer tubes, characterized in that, Includes a housing (3), a rotating lever (1), a telescopic bending system (2), and a flexible conduit. The flexible conduit includes an outer tube (4) and an inner tube (5), wherein the inner tube (5) is nested inside the outer tube (4); The rotary lever (1) is used to control the bending of the inner tube (5), the knob (11) is used to control the bending of the outer tube (4), and the telescopic push-pull rod (7) is used to control the axial extension and retraction of the inner tube (5).

2. The nested telescopic endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The telescopic bending system (2) includes an inner shell (6), which is slidably connected to the outer shell (3) via a slide rail (9), and the telescopic push-pull rod (7) causes the inner shell (6) to move relative to the outer shell (3) along the slide rail (9).

3. The nested telescopic endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes a telescopic stop lever (10), which can stop the inner tube (5) at any telescopic position by moving the telescopic stop lever (10). The inner tube (5) is fixed to the inner shell (6) by the inner fixing frame (12).

4. The nested telescopic endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: Rotate the knob (11) to tighten the outer tube traction rope in the direction of rotation. The outer tube (4) is fixed on the outer shell (3) by the outer fixing bracket (14). The outer tube traction rope is fixed on the outer traction rope fixing device (16).

5. The nested telescopic endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner tube (5) is bent upward and downward by moving the rotating lever (1) up and down. The inner tube (5) is fixed on the inner shell (6) by the inner fixing frame (12), and the inner tube traction rope is fixed on the inner traction rope fixing device (17).

6. The nested telescopic endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a rotary damper (8), which controls the tension of the outer tube traction rope and the inner tube traction rope, and the inner tube (5) can be bent and fixed in any position.

7. The nested telescopic endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer tube (4) has multiple channels inside. In addition to the imaging catheter channel, another working channel is used for passing balloon guidewires or surgical forceps.

8. The nested telescopic endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes an imaging system (15), which is integrated into the body and includes a working channel (18) and a eustachian tube endoscope lens (19). The imaging system (15) also includes a light source, a heat dissipation module and a camera. The camera is a dual-lens camera with fiber optic illumination and a maximum illuminance of 5000 lux.

9. The nested telescopic endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer diameter of the inner tube (5) is 1.5 mm, the total bending length is 25 mm, the maximum bending angle is 60°, and the maximum tensile / pushing force is 10 N. The outer diameter of the outer tube (4) is 4.5 mm, the inner diameter is 4.1 mm, the total bending length is 25 mm, the maximum bending angle is 45°, and the maximum tensile / pushing force is 40 N.

10. A control method for a nested retractable endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes, based on the nested retractable endoscope with independent bending function of inner and outer tubes as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Adjustment of the outer tube bending: Rotate the knob (11) to tighten the outer tube (4) by tightening the outer tube traction rope to bend the outer tube (4) in the target direction to match the bending direction of the Eustachian tube. S2, Inner tube extension and retraction adjustment: Push and pull the extension push rod (7) to make the inner shell (6) move relative to the outer shell (3) along the slide rail (9), extend or retract the inner tube (5) to the target position, and lock the current extension and retraction position by the extension stop lever (10); S3, Inner tube bending adjustment: Move the rotating lever (1) up and down to bend the inner tube (5) upward or downward through the inner tube traction rope, and fix the inner tube (5) at the target bending angle through the rotating damper (8). S4. Imaging observation: Activate the imaging system (15) integrated into the body and observe and diagnose the inside of the Eustachian tube through the Eustachian tube endoscope lens (19).

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