Endoscope and front end shell and front end assembly thereof

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the technical field of medical instruments, and particularly relates to an endoscope and a front end shell and a front end assembly thereof. The front end shell comprises a shell body, a light source installation position and an image sensor installation position are arranged in the shell body in a spaced mode, the inner wall of the shell body is connected with an installation structure, an installation space used for containing a lens assembly of the camera module is arranged in the installation structure, and the inner wall of the installation structure can be attached to the outer wall of the lens assembly. The inner wall of the installation structure is provided with an installation part, and the installation part is used for abutting against and installing the lens assembly and can limit the lens assembly in the direction extending from the far end of the installation structure to the near end of the installation structure. According to the invention, the installation of the lens assembly can be realized by adopting the installation structure, and a lens base in the related technology does not need to be adopted to install the lens assembly, so that the original lens base can be utilized to occupy the space of a circuit board of the camera module to arrange parts such as a light source, and the purpose of reducing the external size of the circuit board is achieved. The problem that the external size of the front end shell is too large is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of medical devices, and specifically relates to an endoscope and a front end shell and a front end component thereof. Background Art

[0002] When diagnosing and treating lesions in the patient's body, an endoscope is usually required. The endoscope includes an operating handle and an insertion part. During specific operation, by controlling the operating handle, the active bending section at the distal end of the insertion part can be pulled by a traction rope to achieve bending action, thereby changing the direction of the distal end of the insertion part.

[0003] Generally speaking, a camera module and a light source are provided in the front end shell at the far end of the insertion part, and the internal tissue or lesions of the human body can be observed through the camera module. In the related art, the camera module includes a lens assembly, a lens holder, a circuit board and an image sensor. The image sensor is provided on the circuit board, the lens assembly is provided on the lens holder, and the lens holder is supported on the circuit board to realize the installation of the lens assembly. In order to reduce the manufacturing cost of the endoscope, the related art also provides the light source on the circuit board so that the light source and the image sensor share a circuit board. Although the related art can reduce the manufacturing cost of the endoscope, it will cause the external size of the front end shell to be too large. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of the embodiments of the present application is to provide an endoscope and its front end shell and front end assembly, which can solve the problem of the current front end shell having excessively large external dimensions.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, this application is implemented as follows:

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a front end shell of an endoscope, comprising a shell, wherein the shell has a light source installation position and an image sensor installation position spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the shell,

[0007] The inner wall of the shell is connected to a mounting structure, which has an installation space for accommodating the lens assembly of the camera module, and the inner wall of the mounting structure can be fitted with the outer wall of the lens assembly. The inner wall of the mounting structure is provided with a mounting portion, which is used to abut against and install the lens assembly and can limit the lens assembly in the direction extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the mounting structure.

[0008] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a front end assembly of an endoscope, including a camera module, a light source and the above-mentioned front end shell, the camera module includes a lens assembly, a circuit board and an image sensor, the image sensor and the light source are both arranged on the circuit board, the circuit board is arranged in the shell, the light source is located in the light source installation position, and the image sensor is arranged in the image sensor installation position.

[0009] The lens assembly is arranged in the installation space, the outer wall of the lens assembly is fitted with the inner wall of the installation structure, the lens assembly is abutted against the installation portion, and the image sensor and the lens assembly are arranged opposite to each other.

[0010] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an endoscope, comprising the above-mentioned front end assembly.

[0011] In the embodiment of the present application, the mounting structure connected to the inner wall of the shell has an installation space, and the inner wall of the mounting structure is provided with a mounting portion, the mounting portion can be abutted against the lens assembly, and in the direction extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the mounting structure, the mounting portion can stop and limit the lens assembly, and in addition, the inner wall of the mounting structure can also be positioned and fit with the outer wall of the lens assembly, so as to achieve the installation of the lens assembly. It can be seen that the embodiment of the present application uses the mounting structure itself to achieve the installation of the lens assembly, and there is no need to use the lens seat in the related art to install the lens assembly, so that the space occupied by the original lens seat on the circuit board of the camera module can be used to arrange components such as light sources, so as to improve the space utilization rate on the circuit board, so as to achieve the purpose of reducing the external size of the circuit board, and then reduce the external size of the front end shell, solving the problem of the excessive external size of the front end shell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the front-end component disclosed in the embodiment of the present application;

[0013] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the front end assembly disclosed in the embodiment of the present application Figure 1 ;

[0014] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the front end assembly disclosed in the embodiment of the present application Figure 2 ;

[0015] Figure 4 For this application Figure 3 A magnified schematic diagram of center A.

[0016] Description of reference numerals:

[0017] 100, shell; 110, mounting structure; 111, mounting space; 112, mounting portion; 113, sealing shading member; 120, shell body; 130, elastic sleeve; 210, lens assembly; 211, lens barrel; 212, lens assembly; 220, circuit board; 230, image sensor; 240, first filter; 250, second filter; 310, light source; 320, light guide column. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0019] The terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of the present application are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchangeable under appropriate circumstances, so that the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described here, and the objects distinguished by "first", "second", etc. are generally of one type, and the number of objects is not limited. For example, the first object can be one or more. In addition, "and / or" in the specification and claims represents at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / " generally indicates that the objects associated with each other are in an "or" relationship.

[0020] The endoscope and its front end shell and front end assembly provided in the embodiment of the present application are described in detail below through specific embodiments and their application scenarios in combination with the accompanying drawings.

[0021] In each embodiment of the present application, "proximal end" and "distal end" refer to the position of the endoscope and its components relative to the user in the use environment, wherein the end closer to the user is designated as the "proximal end" and the end farther from the user is designated as the "distal end".

[0022] The inventors found that in the related art, the image sensor and the light source are arranged side by side on the circuit board, and the lens holder is supported on the circuit board and separated from the image sensor and the light source. This will cause more components to be arranged on the circuit board, thereby increasing the external dimensions of the circuit board. Since the circuit board is arranged in the front end shell, the external dimensions of the front end shell will be too large.

[0023] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, an embodiment of the present application discloses a front end shell of an endoscope, including a shell 100, wherein the shell 100 has a light source mounting position and an image sensor mounting position spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the shell 100, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the shell 100, the light source mounting position and the image sensor mounting position are spaced apart, the light source mounting position is used to accommodate a light source 310, and the image sensor mounting position is used to accommodate an image sensor 230.

[0024] The inner wall of the shell 100 is connected to the mounting structure 110, and the mounting structure 110 has a mounting space 111 for accommodating the lens assembly 210 of the camera module, and the inner wall of the mounting structure 110 can be fitted with the outer wall of the lens assembly 210. The inner wall of the mounting structure 110 is provided with a mounting portion 112, and the mounting portion 112 is used to abut against and install the lens assembly 210, and can limit the lens assembly 210 in the direction extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the mounting structure 110. In the embodiment of the present application, the mounting structure 110 connected to the inner wall of the housing 100 has an installation space 111, and the inner wall of the mounting structure 110 is provided with a mounting portion 112, the mounting portion 112 can be abutted against the lens assembly 210 for mounting, and in the direction extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the mounting structure 110, the mounting portion 112 can stop and limit the lens assembly 210, and the inner wall of the mounting structure 110 can also be positioned and fit with the outer wall of the lens assembly 210, so as to achieve the installation of the lens assembly 210. It can be seen that the embodiment of the present application can achieve the installation of the lens assembly 210 by using the mounting structure 110 itself, without using the lens seat in the related art to install the lens assembly 210, so that the space occupied by the original lens seat on the circuit board 220 of the camera module can be used to arrange the light source 310 and other components, so as to improve the space utilization rate on the circuit board 220, so as to achieve the purpose of reducing the external size of the circuit board 220, and then reduce the external size of the front end shell, and solve the problem of the excessive external size of the front end shell.

[0025] It should be noted that the lens assembly 210 of the present application includes a lens barrel 211 and a lens assembly 212. The lens assembly 212 is disposed in the lens barrel 211. The above-mentioned mounting portion 112 can stop and limit the lens barrel 211, and the inner wall of the mounting structure 110 can be positioned and fit with the outer wall of the lens barrel 211.

[0026] In an optional embodiment, the installation space 111 and the light source installation position are staggered in the axial direction of the housing 100, and the installation space 111 includes an image sensor installation position, which is located on the side of the installation portion 112 close to the proximal end of the installation space 111, and the image sensor installation position is separated from the light source installation position by the installation structure 110. Figure 3 Taking the perspective shown as an example, the installation space 111 includes an image sensor installation position, which is located below the installation portion 112 , and the portion of the installation space 111 outside the image sensor installation position can be used to accommodate the lens assembly 210 .

[0027] In this embodiment, the image sensor mounting position is separated from the light source mounting position by the mounting structure 110, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the shell 100, the light source mounting position is arranged relative to a portion of the mounting structure 110, and the light source mounting position is separated from the image sensor mounting position in the mounting structure 110, so that the light emitted by the light source 310 arranged at the light source mounting position will be blocked by the mounting structure 110, and cannot be emitted into the image sensor mounting position, thereby preventing the light emitted by the light source 310 from interfering with the imaging of the image sensor 230; and, the image sensor mounting position and the light source mounting position are separated by the mounting structure 110, so that there is no need to set up other additional blocking structures to separate the two, thereby achieving the purpose of simplifying the structure of the front end shell. Of course, the installation space 111 may not include the image sensor installation position. The image sensor installation position is not located in the installation structure 110, but may be located below the installation structure 110. In this case, an additional blocking structure may be provided in the front end shell to separate the image sensor installation position and the light source installation position, or the image sensor installation position and the light source installation position may be connected in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the shell 100. This application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0028] When the front end shell of the present application is specifically applied, the image sensor 230 can be set at the image sensor mounting position in the mounting structure 110, and the proximal end face of the mounting structure 110 can be fitted with the circuit board 220 that provides a mounting base for the image sensor 230. At this time, the image sensor mounting position is blocked by the circuit board 220, thereby preventing the light emitted by the light source 310 from passing through the bottom of the image sensor mounting position and entering the image sensor mounting position.

[0029] In order to prevent the light emitted by the light source 310 from entering the image sensor installation position through the gap between the mounting structure 110 and the circuit board 220, in an optional embodiment, the proximal end surface of the mounting structure 110 is protrudingly provided with a sealing light shielding member 113, which extends along the circumference of the mounting structure 110. The side of the sealing light shielding member 113 away from the mounting structure 110 is used to seal with the circuit board 220 of the camera module, and the image sensor installation position includes a space formed in the sealing light shielding member 113. In this embodiment, the proximal end surface of the mounting structure 110 is provided with a sealing light shielding member 113. In specific use, the sealing light shielding member 113 can be fitted with the circuit board 220 to seal the gap between the proximal end surface of the mounting structure 110 and the circuit board 220. In other words, the sealing light shielding member 113 can block the light emitted by the light source 310 to prevent the light emitted by the light source 310 from entering the image sensor installation position through the gap between the mounting structure 110 and the circuit board 220 and interfering with the imaging of the image sensor 230.

[0030] In an optional embodiment, the shape of the mounting portion 112 is annular, which can improve the stability of the mounting portion 112 in limiting the lens assembly 210. Of course, the mounting portion 112 can also be arc-shaped, and the number of mounting portions 112 can be set to multiple.

[0031] And / or, in an optional embodiment, the shape of the mounting structure 110 and the sealing light shielding member 113 are both annular. With such a configuration, in a specific application, the mounting structure 110 and the sealing light shielding member 113 both surround the image sensor 230 in a full circle, thereby achieving the purpose of the mounting structure 110 and the sealing light shielding member 113 being able to shield light without dead angles, and further preventing the light emitted by the light source 310 from entering the image sensor mounting position. Of course, the shape of the mounting structure 110 and the sealing light shielding member 113 can also be an arc or other shapes, and this application is not limited to this.

[0032] In an optional embodiment, the mounting portion 112 is a mounting protrusion, which is protruded from the inner wall of the mounting structure 110. In this embodiment, the mounting portion 112 is a mounting protrusion, which is protruded from the inner wall of the mounting structure 110, so that the cross-sectional area of ​​the mounting structure 110 can be increased, thereby increasing the structural strength of the mounting structure 110. Of course, the mounting portion 112 can also be a mounting groove, in which case an insertion groove extending along the axial direction can be provided on the mounting structure 110, the distal end of the insertion groove extends to the distal end surface of the mounting structure 110, and the proximal end of the insertion groove extends to the mounting groove. In this case, an abutment protrusion can be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lens assembly 210. During installation, the abutment protrusion can enter the mounting groove through the insertion groove, and the inner wall of the mounting groove can stop and limit the abutment protrusion, thereby realizing the installation of the lens assembly 210.

[0033] In an optional embodiment, the housing 100 includes a housing body 120 and an elastic sleeve 130, the housing body 120 is made of a metal material, the housing body 120 is a cylindrical member, the distal end of the housing body 120 is a closed end, the proximal end of the housing body 120 is an open end, the elastic sleeve 130 covers the distal end of the housing body 120, the housing body 120 includes a mounting structure 110, and the mounting structure 110 is connected to the inner end surface of the distal end of the housing body 120. In this embodiment, the housing body 120 is made of a metal material, and the housing body 120 includes the mounting structure 110, so the mounting structure 110 is also made of a metal material, so that the mounting structure 110 has a greater rigidity, thereby improving the support stability of the mounting structure 110 to the lens assembly 210, and the mounting space 111 in the mounting structure 110 made of a metal material can be formed by machining, and the mounting space 111 formed by machining has a higher precision, thereby improving the mounting precision of the lens assembly 210. In addition, the elastic sleeve 130 is coated on the outer portion of the distal end of the shell body 120. The elastic sleeve 130 is relatively soft, which can reduce the risk of the front shell contacting the human tissue and causing damage to the human tissue. Of course, the shell 100 can also be a plastic part or a pure metal part, and this application is not limited to this.

[0034] The embodiment of the present application also discloses a front end component of an endoscope, including a camera module, a light source 310 and the front end shell described in any of the above embodiments, the camera module includes a lens assembly 210, a circuit board 220 and an image sensor 230, the image sensor 230 and the light source 310 are both arranged on the circuit board 220, the circuit board 220 is arranged in the housing 100, the light source 310 is located in the light source mounting position, the image sensor 230 is arranged in the image sensor mounting position, the lens assembly 210 is arranged in the mounting space 111, the outer wall of the lens assembly 210 is in contact with the inner wall of the mounting structure 110, and the lens assembly 210 is in contact with the mounting portion 112, and the image sensor 230 and the lens assembly 210 are arranged relative to each other. The embodiment of the present application uses the mounting structure 110 itself to realize the installation of the lens assembly 210, without the need to use the lens mount in the related art to install the lens assembly 210, so that the space occupied by the original lens mount on the circuit board 220 of the camera module can be used to arrange components such as the light source 310, thereby improving the space utilization on the circuit board 220, so as to achieve the purpose of reducing the external dimensions of the circuit board 220, and further reduce the external dimensions of the front end shell, solving the problem of the external dimensions of the front end shell being too large.

[0035] Optionally, the front-end assembly further includes a light guide column 320 and a second filter 250 , wherein the light guide column 320 is located above the light source 310 , and the second filter 250 is disposed above the lens assembly 210 .

[0036] In an optional embodiment, the image sensor is installed outside the illumination range of the light source 310. In this embodiment, the image sensor is installed outside the illumination range of the light source 310, that is, the light emitted by the light source 310 will not directly illuminate the image sensor 230, so that the light emitted by the light source 310 can be prevented from interfering with the imaging of the image sensor 230. Of course, the image sensor 230 can also be located within the illumination range of the light source 310, and this application is not limited to this.

[0037] Since the image sensor 230 will generate a large amount of heat when working for a long time or continuously exposed, if the generated heat is not dissipated in time, it may cause the image sensor 230 to overheat, thereby causing the performance of the image sensor 230 to deteriorate. Therefore, in an optional embodiment, the mounting portion 112 is a mounting protrusion, and the mounting protrusion is arranged to protrude from the inner wall of the mounting structure 110. The lens assembly 210 is abutted against the distal end face of the mounting protrusion. The camera module also includes a first filter 240, which is bonded to the proximal end face of the mounting protrusion, and the first filter 240 and the image sensor 230 are separated in the axial direction of the shell 100, that is, there is a spacing between the first filter 240 and the image sensor 230. In this embodiment, the first filter 240 can filter stray light to improve imaging quality. If the first filter 240 is directly attached to the image sensor 230, it will hinder the heat dissipation of the image sensor 230. Therefore, the present application adheres the first filter 240 to the proximal end face of the mounting protrusion and separates the first filter 240 from the image sensor 230, thereby creating a distance between the first filter 240 and the image sensor 230, and the heat generated by the image sensor 230 can be dissipated by utilizing the distance.

[0038] The present application also discloses an endoscope, including the front end assembly described in any of the above embodiments. The endoscope referred to in the present application can be a bronchoscope, a pyeloscope, an esophagoscope, a gastroscope, a colonoscope, an otoscope, a rhinoscope, a mouth mirror, a laryngoscope, a colposcope, a laparoscope, an arthroscope, etc. The present application does not specifically limit the type of the endoscope.

[0039] The above embodiments of the present application focus on the differences between the various embodiments. As long as the different optimization features between the various embodiments are not contradictory, they can be combined to form a better embodiment. Considering the simplicity of the text, they will not be repeated here. The embodiments of the present application are described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present application is not limited to the above-mentioned specific implementation methods. The above-mentioned specific implementation methods are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Under the enlightenment of the present application, ordinary technicians in this field can also make many forms without departing from the scope of protection of the purpose of the present application and the claims, all of which are within the protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A front end shell of an endoscope, characterized in that: The invention comprises a housing (100), wherein the housing (100) has a light source installation position and an image sensor installation position arranged at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing (100), The inner wall of the housing (100) is connected to a mounting structure (110), and the mounting structure (110) has a mounting space (111) for accommodating a lens assembly (210) of a camera module, and the inner wall of the mounting structure (110) can be fitted with the outer wall of the lens assembly (210), and the inner wall of the mounting structure (110) is provided with a mounting portion (112), and the mounting portion (112) is used to abut against and mount the lens assembly (210), and can limit the lens assembly (210) in a direction extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the mounting structure (110).

2. The front end housing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The installation space (111) and the light source installation position are staggered in the axial direction of the housing (100); the installation space (111) includes the image sensor installation position, the image sensor installation position is located on a side of the installation portion (112) close to the proximal end of the installation space (111); the image sensor installation position is separated from the light source installation position by the installation structure (110).

3. The front end housing according to claim 2, characterized in that: A sealing shading member (113) is protrudingly provided on the proximal end surface of the mounting structure (110), and the sealing shading member (113) extends along the circumference of the mounting structure (110). The side of the sealing shading member (113) away from the mounting structure (110) is used for sealing cooperation with the circuit board (220) of the camera module, and the image sensor mounting position includes a space formed in the sealing shading member (113).

4. The front end housing according to claim 3, characterized in that: The mounting portion (112) is annular in shape; and / or the mounting structure (110) and the sealing light shielding member (113) are both annular in shape.

5. The front end housing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting portion (112) is a mounting protrusion, and the mounting protrusion is arranged to protrude from the inner wall of the mounting structure (110).

6. The front end housing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shell (100) comprises a shell body (120) and an elastic sleeve (130), wherein the shell body (120) is made of a metal material, the shell body (120) is a cylindrical member, the distal end of the shell body (120) is a closed end, the proximal end of the shell body (120) is an open end, the elastic sleeve (130) covers the distal end of the shell body (120), the shell body (120) comprises the mounting structure (110), and the mounting structure (110) is connected to the inner end surface of the distal end of the shell body (120).

7. A front end assembly of an endoscope, characterized in that: The invention comprises a camera module, a light source (310) and a front end shell according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the camera module comprises a lens assembly (210), a circuit board (220) and an image sensor (230), the image sensor (230) and the light source (310) are both arranged on the circuit board (220), the circuit board (220) is arranged in the housing (100), the light source (310) is located in the light source installation position, and the image sensor (230) is arranged in the image sensor installation position. The lens assembly (210) is arranged in the installation space (111), the outer wall of the lens assembly (210) is in contact with the inner wall of the installation structure (110), and the lens assembly (210) is in contact with the installation portion (112), and the image sensor (230) and the lens assembly (210) are arranged relative to each other.

8. The front end assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that: The image sensor (230) is located outside the illumination range of the light source (310).

9. The front end assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that: The mounting portion (112) is a mounting protrusion, the mounting protrusion is arranged to protrude from the inner wall of the mounting structure (110), and the lens assembly (210) abuts against the distal end surface of the mounting protrusion. The camera module also includes a first filter (240), the first filter (240) is bonded to the proximal end surface of the mounting protrusion, and the first filter (240) and the image sensor (230) are spaced apart in the axial direction of the housing (100).

10. An endoscope, characterized in that: Comprising a front end assembly as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9.

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