Endoscope catheter suitable for confocal probe side-view imaging

Abstract

The endoscope catheter comprises a catheter body, a side-view imaging assembly and an end cap, a confocal channel and an operation channel are arranged in the catheter body, the end cap comprises a light emitting part and a connecting part, the light emitting part protrudes out of the connecting part so that the end cap can be in a step shape, and the side-view imaging assembly is arranged on the side-view imaging assembly. The end cap is arranged at the far end of the catheter body in a sleeving mode, and the side-view imaging assembly is located at the far end in the confocal channel. The confocal probe enters the human body through the confocal channel to carry out confocal imaging on target tissue, when side-view imaging is carried out, the far end of the confocal probe can be located at the light emitting part in the end cap, and meanwhile, the far end of the confocal probe is matched with the side-view imaging assembly at the far end in the confocal channel to carry out side-view imaging on the target tissue. The confocal probe located in the protruding light emitting part can collect emitted light on the side face and cannot be blocked by surrounding light, and therefore side-view imaging is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the field of optical imaging, and more specifically, relates to an endoscope catheter suitable for side-view imaging of a confocal probe. Background Technique

[0002] An endoscope is a medical electronic optical instrument that can be inserted into the body cavities and internal cavities of organs in the human body for direct observation, diagnosis, and treatment. Classified according to the viewing angle, it can be divided into a forward-view type, an oblique-view type, and a side-view type. Each of the above types of endoscopes has its own application scenarios and characteristics.

[0003] In recent years, confocal laser microscopy imaging technology has been increasingly widely used in clinical pathological biopsy. A confocal probe with a confocal microscope optical system can focus the laser on biological tissues in the body cavity. Among the emitted light from the irradiated biological tissues, only the emitted light on the focal plane of the objective optical system is extracted, and the biological tissues are observed at a higher magnification than the usual endoscope optical system.

[0004] Generally, the confocal probe is inserted into the endoscope catheter and enters the human body cavity along with the endoscope catheter. Its imaging range is limited to the observation area of the endoscope camera. Moreover, currently, both the endoscope and the confocal microendoscope can only achieve forward viewing along the direction of the endoscope channel and cannot obtain lateral images. However, in many scenarios, lateral images provide strong support for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in specific parts. Therefore, it is necessary to solve the problem of designing a confocal microendoscopy technology that can perform side viewing. Summary of the Utility Model

[0005] Aiming at the above defects or improvement requirements of the prior art, the utility model provides an endoscope catheter suitable for side-view imaging of a confocal probe, aiming to solve the problem that it is difficult to obtain lateral images when the existing endoscope catheter is combined with the confocal microscopy technology.

[0006] To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the utility model, an endoscope catheter suitable for side-view imaging of a confocal probe is provided, which includes a catheter body, a side-view imaging assembly, and an end cap. A confocal channel and an operation channel are provided in the catheter body. The end cap includes a light-emitting part and a connecting part. The light-emitting part protrudes from the connecting part so that the end cap is in a stepped shape. The end cap is sleeved on the distal end of the catheter body, and the side-view imaging assembly is located at the distal end in the confocal channel.

[0007] Through the above technical solution, the confocal probe enters the human body through the confocal channel to perform confocal imaging on the target tissue. When performing lateral imaging, the distal end of the confocal probe is located at the light-emitting part within the end cap. Meanwhile, in cooperation with the lateral imaging component at the distal end within the confocal channel, the confocal probe located within the protruding light-emitting part can collect the emitted light from the side and is not blocked by the surroundings, thereby achieving lateral imaging.

[0008] Further, the lateral imaging component includes a lens accommodating frame. A guiding groove is provided along the length direction of the confocal channel within the lens accommodating frame. A lateral viewing lens is movably arranged within the guiding groove. A lateral viewing window is provided on the side wall of the lens accommodating frame, and the lateral viewing window corresponds to the position of the light-emitting part.

[0009] Further, the lateral imaging component further includes a displacement adjusting frame, a displacement spring group, and a reset spring group. The lens accommodating frame is arranged on the peripheral side of one end of the displacement adjusting frame. One end of the displacement spring group is connected to the displacement adjusting frame, and the other end is a free end. One end of the reset spring group is connected to the displacement adjusting frame, and the other end is connected to the lens accommodating frame.

[0010] Further, the lens accommodating frame is a hollow frame formed by connecting multiple side plates. Card slots are provided at the connection of each side plate with the adjacent side plate. The two card slots on each side plate are arranged opposite to each other to form the guiding groove, and the lateral viewing window is arranged on the side plate.

[0011] Further, the displacement adjusting frame is a hollow frame formed by multiple displacement adjusting plates. The lateral viewing lens is fixedly arranged on the displacement adjusting plate, so that the part of the displacement adjusting plate fixed with the lateral viewing lens is movably arranged within the guiding groove.

[0012] Further, a round chamfer is provided at one end of the light-emitting part away from the connecting part.

[0013] Further, an imaging module channel, a water channel, and a wire bending channel are further provided within the catheter body.

[0014] Further, a operating handle is connected to the proximal end of the catheter body.

[0015] Further, an operating port, a confocal port, and an external connection port are provided on the operating handle. The imaging module channel and the water channel are both communicated with the external connection port. The confocal channel is communicated with the confocal port, and the operating channel is communicated with the operating port.

[0016] Generally speaking, the present utility model has the following advantages:

[0017] (1) A end cap structure for side-view imaging is designed to be used in combination with an endoscope catheter and a confocal probe, enabling side-view imaging.

[0018] (2) A channel inside the endoscope catheter is designed, and a side-view imaging component can be installed in the confocal channel. When used in combination with the fiber optic probe of the confocal microendoscope, multiple side-view imaging can be performed during confocal imaging without frequently exchanging instruments, which can simplify the surgical process, facilitate operation, and have high instrument integration.

[0019] (3) The side-view imaging operation is based on the existing bending operation, which is simple and convenient.

[0020] (4) In the side-view imaging component, the displacement adjustment frame and the lens accommodation frame cooperate with each other. It can not only move the side-view lens for side-view imaging but also reduce the diameter of the entire side-view component, so that it can pass through the narrow endoscope channel; the displacement spring group and the reset spring group are arranged staggered, and one end of the displacement spring group is located between the two ends of the reset spring. They cooperate with each other and have a compact structure design, which can realize the movement and reset of the side-view lens in the narrow channel. Description of the Drawings

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the endoscope catheter of the present utility model;

[0022] Figure 2 is a schematic overall structure view of the end cap of the present utility model;

[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic overall structure view of the side-view imaging component of the present utility model;

[0024] Figure 4 is an exploded schematic view of the side-view imaging component of the present utility model;

[0025] Figure 5 is Figure 1 the schematic cross-sectional view of the A-A plane in

[0026] Figure 6 is a schematic overall structure view of the combination of the endoscope catheter and the operation handle of the present utility model.

[0027] In the figure, 1 is the catheter body; 11 is the confocal channel; 12 is the operation channel; 13 is the imaging module channel; 14 is the water channel; 15 is the wire bending channel; 2 is the end cap; 21 is the light-emitting part; 211 is the round chamfer; 22 is the connecting part; 3 is the side-view imaging component; 31 is the lens accommodating frame; 32 is the side plate; 33 is the guiding groove; 34 is the side-view window; 35 is the displacement adjusting frame; 36 is the displacement adjusting plate; 37 is the displacement spring group; 38 is the reset spring group; 4 is the side-view lens; 5 is the operation handle; 51 is the operation port; 52 is the confocal port; 53 is the external connection port. Detailed implementation mode

[0028] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present utility model and are not used to limit the present utility model. In addition, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of the present utility model described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0029] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the present utility model provides an endoscope catheter suitable for side-view imaging of a confocal probe, including a catheter body 1, a side-view imaging component 3 and an end cap 2. A confocal channel 11 and an operation channel 12 are arranged in the catheter body 1. The end cap 2 includes a light-emitting part 21 and a connecting part 22. The light-emitting part 21 protrudes from the connecting part 22, so that the end cap 2 is in a stepped shape. The end cap 2 is sleeved on the distal end of the catheter body 1, and the side-view imaging component 3 is located at the distal end in the confocal channel 11.

[0030] During use, the confocal probe enters the human body through the confocal channel 11 of the catheter body 1 to perform confocal imaging on the target tissue. When side-view imaging is performed, the distal end of the confocal probe is located in the light-emitting part 21 inside the end cap 2. At the same time, in cooperation with the side-view imaging component 3 at the distal end in the confocal channel 11, the confocal probe located in the protruding light-emitting part 21 can collect the emitted light from the side and will not be blocked by the surrounding, so as to realize side-view imaging.

[0031] Furthermore, as Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, the side-view imaging component 3 includes a lens accommodating frame 31. A guiding groove 33 is arranged in the lens accommodating frame 31 along the length direction of the confocal channel 11. A side-view lens 4 is movably arranged in the guiding groove 33. A side-view window 34 is arranged on the side wall of the lens accommodating frame 31, and the side-view window 34 corresponds to the position of the light-emitting part 21.

[0032] The side-view lens 4 moves in the guide groove 33 and can be aligned with the side-view window 34, and then aligned with the light-emitting portion 21. The light emitted by the target tissue can pass through the light-emitting portion 21, the side-view window 34, and the side-view lens 4 in sequence and enter the objective lens group at the end of the confocal probe, thereby completing the side-view imaging. When side-view imaging is not required, the side-view lens 4 can be operated to move in the guide groove 33 to stagger the side-view window 34, so that the side-view imaging assembly 3 can move straight along with the confocal probe.

[0033] Furthermore, the side-view imaging assembly 3 also includes a displacement adjustment frame 35, a displacement spring group 37, and a return spring group 38. The lens accommodating frame 31 is arranged on the side around one end of the displacement adjustment frame 35. One end of the displacement spring group 37 is connected to the displacement adjustment frame 35 and the other end is a free end. One end of the return spring group 38 is connected to the displacement adjustment frame 35 and the other end is connected to the lens accommodating frame 31.

[0034] When the target position is reached and side-view imaging is required, the proximal end of the confocal probe and the proximal end of the side-view imaging assembly 3 are fixed, specifically, the free end of the displacement spring group 37 is fixed, and the proximal end of the confocal probe is fixed. The operator pulls the steel wire to bend the distal end of the confocal probe, and the lens accommodating frame 31 changes position together with the distal end of the confocal probe, so that the relative positions of the two do not change, and the springs on the inner side of the bend in the displacement spring group 37 are compressed, and the springs on the outer side of the bend are stretched. Therefore, the spring deformation in the displacement spring group 37 drives the displacement adjustment frame 35 to move, so that the side-view lens 4 fixed on the displacement adjustment frame 35 moves in the guide groove 33. When the side-view lens 4 moves to the side-view window 34, at this time, the side-view lens 4 is close to the tissue, and the optical path formed by the distal end of the confocal probe and the side-view lens 4 can realize side-view imaging on the inner side of the bend, that is, side-view imaging on the inner side of the bend can be realized. When the side view imaging is completed, the operator operates the confocal probe to return from the bent state to the initial state. At this time, the springs in the displacement spring group 37 are reset, the displacement adjustment frame 35 returns to the initial position, and the lens receiving frame 31 is always subjected to the abutment force of the reset spring and thus maintains the initial distance from the displacement adjustment frame 35.

[0035] By matching the side-view imaging component 3 with the confocal microendoscope with side-view light emission, the side-view lens 4 and the side-view window 34 can be aligned by bending the distal end of the confocal probe, so as to perform side-view imaging. The bending operation of the confocal probe can be cancelled, and the side-view imaging component can be restored to the initial state. Bending the distal end of the confocal probe is one of the more mature operations in the current confocal microendoscope. It can be achieved by pulling the steel wire in the endoscope tube, which facilitates the confocal probe to move in various curved and narrow tubes. Therefore, the side-view imaging of the present invention is performed on the basis of the conventional operation of existing instruments, without the need for additional operation and driving, and clinical application personnel can operate more skillfully and conveniently.

[0036] In addition, since the side-view imaging assembly 3 and the confocal probe of the present invention both need to enter the human body through a narrow endoscope channel, and the movable cavity space is very narrow, therefore, the lens accommodation frame 31 and the displacement adjustment frame 35 of the present invention are designed in a nested manner, and there is also a confocal channel 11 inside, which ensures the passage of the confocal probe while controlling the overall size to be small.

[0037] Specifically, the lens accommodation frame 31 is a hollow frame formed by connecting a plurality of side plates 32. A card slot is provided at the connection of each side plate 32 with the adjacent side plate 32. Two card slots on each side plate 32 are arranged oppositely to form a guide groove 33. The side-view window 34 is arranged on the side plate 32. The side-view window 34 is located at the distal end of each side plate 32 and can be in a "U" shape, a square shape or other shapes in specific embodiments.

[0038] In some embodiments, the number of side plates 32 is four, and the formed lens accommodation frame 31 is a square frame. Then, side-view lenses 4 can be arranged to slide inside the four sides of the lens accommodation frame 31, so as to realize side-view imaging of four sides. In other embodiments, the number of side plates 32 can be five, six, eight, etc., so as to realize side-view imaging of five sides, six sides, eight sides, etc.

[0039] The displacement adjustment frame 35 is a hollow frame formed by a plurality of displacement adjustment plates 36. The side-view lens 4 is fixedly arranged on the displacement adjustment plate 36, so that a part of the displacement adjustment plate 36 fixed with the side-view lens 4 is movably arranged in the guide groove 33.

[0040] When the number of side plates 32 is four, the number of displacement adjustment plates 36 is also four, and the numbers correspond to each other. The lens accommodation frame 31 is arranged on the periphery of the displacement adjustment frame 35, and the displacement adjustment plate 36 can move in the guide groove 33. That is, when the confocal probe and the side-view imaging assembly 3 bend towards a certain side, the lens accommodation frame 31 changes its position together with the distal end of the confocal probe, so that their relative positions do not change. The spring on the inner side of the bending of the displacement spring group 37 will be compressed, and the spring on the outer side of the bending will be stretched. The deformation of the spring drives the displacement adjustment frame 35 to generate displacement movement, so that the side-view lens 4 fixed on the displacement adjustment plate 36 moves in the guide groove 33, facilitating the accurate alignment of the side-view lens 4 with the side-view window 34.

[0041] More specifically, the side-view lens 4 is embedded at one end of the displacement adjustment plate 36 where the lens accommodation frame 31 is sleeved. The side-view lens 4 includes a lens end and a mounting end that are connected to each other. An installation groove matching the shape of the mounting end is provided at the end of the displacement adjustment plate 36. The side-view lens 4 is installed at the end of the displacement adjustment plate 36. When the displacement adjustment plate 36 moves in the guide groove 33, it can drive the side-view lens 4 to move in the lens accommodation frame 31, realizing the adjustment of the side-view lens 4. The lens end and the mounting end of the side-view lens 4 are integrally in an "I" shape. The concave portion between the lens end and the mounting end can make the side-view lens 4 more firmly embedded at the end of the displacement adjustment plate 36 and not easily fall off.

[0042] Furthermore, a contact portion is formed between adjacent card slots of the lens accommodation frame 31 at the adjacent side plates 32. One end of the spring in the displacement spring group 37 is arranged on the displacement adjustment plate 36, and the spring in the reset spring group 38 is arranged between adjacent displacement adjustment plates 36, so that one end of the spring in the reset spring group 38 abuts against the lens accommodation frame 31.

[0043] Furthermore, a spring accommodation opening is provided on the displacement adjustment plate 36. A part of the end of the spring in the displacement spring group 37 connected to the displacement adjustment frame 35 is accommodated in the spring accommodation opening, so that the end of the displacement spring group 37 connected to the displacement adjustment frame 35 is located between the two ends of the reset spring group 38. By providing the spring accommodation opening, the part of the displacement spring group 37 located on the displacement adjustment plate 36 can be accommodated therein. On the one hand, it enables the reset spring group 38 to better recover the deformation generated by the displacement spring group 37, and on the other hand, it can reduce the size of the entire side-view imaging assembly 3.

[0044] Specifically, the springs in the displacement spring group 37 and the reset spring group 38 are arranged alternately. The number of springs in the displacement spring group 37 needs to be the same as the number of displacement adjustment plates 36. Therefore, one spring can be distributed on each side-view surface. When the spring on this side-view surface is compressed, the side-view lens 4 on this side-view surface can slide. The number of springs in the reset spring group 38 is at least 2, and it does not need to be the same as the number of side plates 32. It only needs to be symmetrically distributed around the lens accommodation frame 31, so that the contact force received by the entire lens accommodation frame 31 is symmetric. Preferably, the number of springs in the reset spring group 38 is the same as the number of springs in the displacement spring group 37.

[0045] The connection between the displacement spring group 37 and the confocal probe can be achieved by setting a block on the periphery of the optical fiber bundle of the confocal probe. A support rod is fixed between the displacement adjustment frame 35 and the block, and the spring in the displacement spring group 37 is sleeved on the support rod. The confocal probe passes through the block and can slide in the block. During use, first place the side-view imaging assembly 3 in the endoscope catheter, and then insert the confocal probe.

[0046] In some embodiments, the number of side plates 32 is four, the number of displacement adjustment plates 36 is four, and the number of reset spring groups 38 and displacement spring groups 37 is both 4. The 4 reset springs are distributed at the connection between two adjacent displacement adjustment plates 36, and thus correspondingly abut against the abutting portions at the connection between two adjacent side plates 32. Also, since the displacement spring group 37 and the reset spring group 38 are arranged in an interleaved manner, therefore, the 4 displacement springs are distributed in the middle of the 4 displacement adjustment plates 36.

[0047] Furthermore, the connecting portion at one end of the spring receiving opening, which connects to one end of the spring in the displacement spring group 37, protrudes to form a limiting block. The spring in the displacement spring group 37 is arranged between two adjacent springs in the reset spring group 38, and one end thereof is fixed to the limiting block. The limiting block can limit the moving distance of the displacement adjustment plate 36 within the lens accommodating frame 31, thereby limiting the moving distance of the side-view lens 4. In addition, by arranging a limiting block at the connection between the displacement spring group 37 and the displacement adjustment plate 36, first, the overall structure is compact; second, when side-view imaging is performed, it can be avoided that the bending angle of the displacement adjustment frame 35 on the imaging side is too large, resulting in excessive extrusion between the displacement adjustment frame 35 and the lens accommodating frame 31, thereby damaging the side-view lens 4; third, when side-view imaging is performed, it can be avoided that the movement of the displacement adjustment frame 35 exceeds the elastic limit of the displacement spring group 37 and the reset spring group 38 and cannot be reset.

[0048] Specifically, the distance from the end of the side plate 32 facing the reset spring group 38 to the limiting block is 0.5 mm - 2.5 mm. The setting of the distance within this range can meet the imaging requirements of different parts. Some detection parts need to be bent more, so the distance is larger, and some detection parts need to be bent less, so the distance is smaller.

[0049] Furthermore, as Figure 2 shown, a round chamfer 211 is provided at one end of the light-emitting portion 21 away from the connecting portion 22. The light-emitting portion 21 is relatively close to the tissue in the human body. By providing the round chamfer 211, the outer shape of the end cap 2 can be made smooth, avoiding damage to the tissue mucosa.

[0050] Furthermore, as Figure 5As shown, an imaging module channel 13, a water channel 14, and a bending wire channel 15 are further provided in the catheter body 1. The imaging module channel 13 is for the passage of a video module, an LED lamp, a signal wire, etc., and can perform illumination and white light imaging for guiding observation during the advancing process. The water channel 14 is for injecting liquids such as water to meet the application requirements such as flushing. The bending wire channel 15 is for inserting a wire. By tightening the wire on one side, the distal end of the catheter body 1 can be bent towards that side. During the lateral imaging process, when the distal end of the confocal probe needs to be bent, the catheter body 1 can be bent by tightening the wire in the bending wire channel 15, driving the confocal probe to bend. Specifically, there can be four bending wire channels 15, symmetrically distributed at the edge of the inner body of the catheter. By tightening the wire on one side, bending towards that side can be achieved.

[0051] Furthermore, as Figure 6 shown, the proximal end of the catheter body 1 is connected to an operating handle 5. The operating handle 5 is provided with an operating port 51, a confocal port 52, and an external connection port 53. The imaging module channel 13 and the water channel 14 are both communicated with the external connection port 53, the confocal channel 11 is communicated with the confocal port 52, and the operating channel 12 is communicated with the operating port 51. After the catheter body 1 is connected to the operating handle 5, each channel in the catheter body 1 can be communicated with each port on the operating handle 5. When the catheter body 1 enters the human body cavity, through each port on the operating handle 5, a water pipe, an imaging module, a confocal probe, etc. can be sent to the distal end of the catheter body 1 to realize clinical operations such as confocal imaging and surgery.

[0052] Those skilled in the art can easily understand that the above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An endoscope catheter applicable to side-view imaging of a confocal probe, characterized in that, It includes a catheter body, a side-view imaging assembly and an end cap. A confocal channel and an operation channel are provided in the catheter body. The end cap includes a light-emitting portion and a connecting portion. The light-emitting portion protrudes from the connecting portion so that the end cap is in a stepped shape. The end cap is sleeved on the distal end of the catheter body, and the side-view imaging assembly is located at the distal end inside the confocal channel.

2. The endoscopic catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side-view imaging assembly includes a lens accommodating frame. A guiding groove is provided in the lens accommodating frame along the length direction of the confocal channel. A side-view lens is movably arranged in the guiding groove. A side-view window is provided on the side wall of the lens accommodating frame, and the side-view window corresponds to the position of the light-emitting portion.

3. The endoscope catheter according to claim 2, characterized in that, The side-view imaging assembly further includes a displacement adjusting frame, a displacement spring group and a reset spring group. The lens accommodating frame is arranged on the peripheral side of one end of the displacement adjusting frame. One end of the displacement spring group is connected to the displacement adjusting frame and the other end is a free end. One end of the reset spring group is connected to the displacement adjusting frame and the other end is connected to the lens accommodating frame.

4. The endoscopic catheter according to claim 3, wherein, The lens accommodating frame is a hollow frame surrounded by a plurality of side plates. Card slots are provided at the joints of each side plate and the adjacent side plates. The two card slots on each side plate are arranged oppositely to form the guiding groove, and the side-view window is arranged on the side plate.

5. The endoscope catheter according to claim 4, wherein The displacement adjusting frame is a hollow frame surrounded by a plurality of displacement adjusting plates. The side-view lens is fixedly arranged on the displacement adjusting plate so that the part of the displacement adjusting plate fixed with the side-view lens is movably arranged in the guiding groove.

6. The endoscopic catheter according to claim 1, wherein A round chamfer is provided at one end of the light-emitting portion away from the connecting portion.

7. The endoscope catheter according to claim 2, wherein An imaging module channel, a water channel and a bending wire channel are further provided in the catheter body.

8. The endoscopic catheter according to claim 7, wherein, The proximal end of the catheter body is connected with an operation handle.

9. The endoscopic catheter according to claim 8, wherein, An operation port, a confocal port and an external connection port are provided on the operation handle. The imaging module channel and the water channel are both communicated with the external connection port. The confocal channel is communicated with the confocal port, and the operation channel is communicated with the operation port.

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