Endoscope and tip assembly thereof

Abstract

The utility model relates to an endoscope and a tip assembly thereof. The tip assembly comprises a shell and a lighting device, the shell is provided with a lighting device mounting groove, and the lighting device is mounted in the lighting device mounting groove; the far end of the shell is provided with a transparent protection wall, and the transparent protection wall is opposite to the light-emitting face of the far end of the lighting device. The lighting device is installed in the lighting device installation groove of the shell. The transparent protective wall is arranged at the far end of the shell and is opposite to the light-emitting surface at the far end of the lighting device, so that light emitted by the light-emitting surface at the far end of the lighting device can be emitted through the transparent protective wall. Moreover, the transparent protective wall can protect the light-emitting surface at the far end of the lighting device, dispensing protection at the far end of the lighting device is not needed, and the problems that the lighting brightness is reduced and the color temperature is influenced due to dispensing at the far end of the lighting device are avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of medical instruments, in particular to an endoscope and a front end component thereof. Background Art

[0002] The endoscope is a commonly used medical device. In clinical use, it enters the patient's body through a natural orifice or surgical incision. Using other surgical instruments and an image processor, the endoscope then performs surgical procedures externally. Compared to traditional surgical procedures, minimally invasive procedures using an endoscope result in smaller incisions and faster recovery.

[0003] The distal end of the endoscope features a tip assembly. This assembly includes a housing, a camera module, an illumination device, and a working channel. The housing is provided with axially extending slots for the camera module, the illumination device, and the working channel. The camera module, illumination device, and working channel are each mounted in their corresponding mounting slots.

[0004] In existing endoscopes (such as CN218074931U), the distal end assembly of the illuminator is typically bonded to the inner wall of the housing (i.e., the wall of the illuminator mounting slot) using glue (typically UV glue). To protect the distal light-emitting surface of the illuminator, glue is often applied there. After curing, the glue turns yellow and loses transparency, reducing illumination brightness and color temperature, which in turn affects the imaging quality of the endoscope. Utility Model Content

[0005] Based on this, it is necessary to provide an endoscope and its tip component for the tip component of the endoscope in the prior art, in which the side of the lighting device is generally bonded and fixed to the inner wall of the shell by glue. In order to protect the light-emitting surface of the distal end of the lighting device, glue is usually also applied at the distal end of the lighting device, resulting in reduced lighting brightness and affecting color temperature.

[0006] An endoscope tip assembly includes a housing and a lighting device, wherein the housing is provided with a lighting device mounting groove, and the lighting device is mounted in the lighting device mounting groove;

[0007] A transparent protective wall is provided at the distal end of the shell, and the transparent protective wall is opposite to the light-emitting surface of the distal end of the lighting device.

[0008] In one embodiment, the front-end component further includes a circuit board, and the proximal end of the lighting device is disposed on the circuit board; the circuit board is fixedly connected to the housing.

[0009] In one embodiment, the circuit board protrudes from the lighting device, and the protruding direction is perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing;

[0010] A limiting boss is provided on the inner wall of the housing. The limiting boss is located on a side of the circuit board close to the lighting device and abuts against a portion of the circuit board protruding from the lighting device.

[0011] In one embodiment, the lighting device is an LED lamp with full light emission direction; the side wall of the housing includes a portion for enclosing a mounting groove for the lighting device, and the portion is a transparent portion;

[0012] Wherein, the side wall of the shell further includes a non-transparent portion, and the non-transparent portion and the transparent portion are an integrally formed structure;

[0013] Alternatively, the side walls of the housing are entirely transparent.

[0014] In one embodiment, the shell and the transparent protective wall are an integrally formed structure.

[0015] In one embodiment, a surface of the transparent protective wall facing the light-emitting surface is inclined relative to the axial direction of the housing; and / or a surface of the transparent protective wall facing away from the light-emitting surface is inclined relative to the axial direction of the housing.

[0016] In one embodiment, the front-end component also includes a camera module and a working channel. The shell is provided with a camera module mounting slot and a working channel mounting slot. The camera module is installed in the camera module mounting slot, and the working channel is installed in the working channel mounting slot.

[0017] In one embodiment, the lighting devices are respectively provided on both sides of the camera module, and the transparent protective walls are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the lighting devices.

[0018] In one embodiment, an inner wall of the working channel mounting groove is provided with a step surface, and the step surface abuts against an end surface of the distal end of the working channel.

[0019] An endoscope comprises a tip assembly as described in any one of the above embodiments.

[0020] In the aforementioned endoscope and its distal end assembly, the lighting device is mounted in a lighting device mounting slot in the housing. By providing a transparent protective wall at the distal end of the housing, the transparent protective wall faces the distal light-emitting surface of the lighting device, allowing light emitted from the distal light-emitting surface of the lighting device to escape through the transparent protective wall. Furthermore, the transparent protective wall protects the distal light-emitting surface of the lighting device, eliminating the need for adhesive bonding at the distal end of the lighting device and avoiding the issues of reduced brightness and color temperature caused by adhesive bonding at the distal end of the lighting device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the structure of the distal end component of an endoscope according to an embodiment.

[0022] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a distal end assembly of an endoscope according to one embodiment.

[0023] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the housing of the front end assembly is shown.

[0024] Description of reference numerals:

[0025] 100, housing; 110, transparent protective wall; 111, side of the transparent protective wall facing the light-emitting surface; 120, limiting boss;

[0026] 200, lighting device; 210, lighting device mounting slot;

[0027] 300, camera module; 310, camera module mounting slot;

[0028] 400, working channel; 410, working channel mounting groove; 411, step surface;

[0029] 500. Circuit board. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The following description sets forth many specific details to facilitate a full understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be implemented in many other ways than those described herein, and those skilled in the art may make similar modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0031] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like to indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation to the present invention.

[0032] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature specified as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of this utility model, "plurality" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0033] In this utility model, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "connect," "fixed," etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection, electrical connection; direct connection, or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two components, or interaction between two components, unless otherwise specified. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this utility model based on specific circumstances.

[0034] In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, when a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediary. Furthermore, when a first feature is "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. When a first feature is "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0035] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be an intermediate element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only implementation methods.

[0036] In the embodiments of the present application, the terms "distal end" and "proximal end" are used, where the distal end refers to the end of the components of the front end assembly that first enters the human body's orifice when the doctor operates the endoscope, and the proximal end refers to the end of the components of the front end assembly that enters the human body's orifice later.

[0037] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3One embodiment of the present application provides a distal end assembly of an endoscope, comprising a housing 100 and an illuminating device 200. The housing 100 defines an illuminating device mounting slot 210, into which the illuminating device 200 is mounted. A transparent protective wall 110 is provided at the distal end of the housing 100, and the transparent protective wall 110 faces the luminous surface of the distal end of the illuminating device 200. The transparent protective wall 110 and the luminous surface of the distal end of the illuminating device 200 may be disposed in contact with each other or spaced apart.

[0038] In the distal end assembly of the endoscope described above, the lighting device 200 is mounted in the lighting device mounting slot 210 of the housing 100. By providing a transparent protective wall 110 at the distal end of the housing 100, the transparent protective wall 110 faces the light-emitting surface of the distal end of the lighting device 200, allowing light emitted from the distal light-emitting surface of the lighting device 200 to escape through the transparent protective wall 110. Furthermore, the transparent protective wall 110 protects the distal light-emitting surface of the lighting device 200, eliminating the need for adhesive bonding at the distal end of the lighting device 200 and avoiding the issues of reduced brightness and color temperature caused by adhesive bonding at the distal end of the lighting device 200.

[0039] In the prior art, glue is applied at the far end of the lighting device for protection, but the glue has insufficient protection against static electricity, which may easily lead to functional failure of the lighting device.

[0040] However, the present embodiment utilizes a transparent protective wall 110 to protect the distal light-emitting surface of the lighting device 200, thus avoiding the problem of insufficient static electricity protection provided by glue. The transparent protective wall 110 can be made of a plastic material such as PC (polycarbonate) and can be formed using methods such as injection molding. Injection-molded transparent protective walls 110 offer stronger static electricity protection than glue.

[0041] Furthermore, the transparent protective wall 110 made of plastic material formed by injection molding or other methods can adjust the thickness of the transparent protective wall 110 during processing to adjust its refractive index, thereby adjusting the refraction direction of the light emitted by the light-emitting surface at the far end of the lighting device 200 by the transparent protective wall 110.

[0042] In one embodiment, the housing 100 and the transparent protective wall 110 are an integrally formed structure, and specifically can be integrally formed by injection molding.

[0043] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the front-end assembly further includes a circuit board 500. The proximal end of the lighting device 200 is disposed on the circuit board 500, so that the lighting device 200 is electrically connected to the circuit board 500. The lighting device 200 can then be controlled to emit light through the circuit board 500. The circuit board 500 is fixedly connected to the housing 100.

[0044] In this embodiment, the circuit board 500 is fixedly connected to the housing 100, and the proximal end of the lighting device 200 is arranged on the circuit board 500, so that the lighting device 200 and the housing 100 can be relatively fixed, without the need to glue the lighting device 200, thereby avoiding the influence of glue curing on the lighting brightness and color temperature of the lighting device 200.

[0045] Please refer to Figure 1 In one embodiment, the circuit board 500 protrudes from the lighting device 200, and the protruding direction is perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing 100. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The inner wall of the housing 100 is provided with a limiting boss 120 , which is located on a side of the circuit board 500 close to the lighting device 200 , and the limiting boss 120 abuts against a portion of the circuit board 500 protruding from the lighting device 200 .

[0046] When assembling the components of the front-end assembly, the circuit board 500 is inserted into the housing 100 from the proximal end thereof until the portion of the circuit board 500 protruding from the lighting device 200 abuts against the limiting boss 120, indicating that the circuit board 500 is properly installed, thereby facilitating accurate positioning of the circuit board 500 within the housing 100. The circuit board 500 is then fixed to the housing 100.

[0047] In one embodiment, the circuit board 500 and the housing 100 may be bonded together by glue.

[0048] In other embodiments, the circuit board 500 and the housing 100 may also be fixedly connected by bolt connection or other methods, which is not limited thereto.

[0049] Please refer to Figure 2 In one embodiment, a surface 111 of the transparent protective wall 110 facing the light-emitting surface is inclined relative to the axial direction of the shell 100. By tilting the surface 111 of the transparent protective wall 110 facing the light-emitting surface, its refractive index can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the refraction direction of the light emitted by the light-emitting surface at the far end of the lighting device 200 by the transparent protective wall 110.

[0050] In one embodiment, the side of the transparent protective wall 110 facing away from the light-emitting surface is tilted relative to the axial direction of the housing 100. By tilting the side of the transparent protective wall 110 facing away from the light-emitting surface, its refractive index can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the direction in which the transparent protective wall 110 refracts light emitted from the light-emitting surface at the distal end of the lighting device 200.

[0051] refer to Figures 1 to 3In one embodiment, the front-end component also includes a camera module 300 and a working channel 400. The shell 100 is provided with a camera module mounting slot 310 and a working channel mounting slot 410. The camera module 300 is installed in the camera module mounting slot 310, and the working channel 400 is installed in the working channel mounting slot 410.

[0052] In one embodiment, the lighting device 200 is an omnidirectional LED lamp, capable of emitting light in all directions. The sidewalls of the housing 100 include a portion that encloses the lighting device mounting slot 210 (i.e., the slot walls of the lighting device mounting slot 210). This portion is transparent, meaning that the slot walls of the lighting device mounting slot 210 are transparent. This allows light emitted from the sides of the lighting device 200 to pass through the slot walls of the lighting device mounting slot 210 and exit laterally.

[0053] Because the lighting device 200 can be mounted on the circuit board 500 and secured to the housing 100, there's no need to glue the lighting device 200 to the housing 100. Consequently, glue can be dispensed between the side surfaces of the lighting device 200 and the walls of the lighting device mounting slot 210. In this embodiment, since glue is not dispensed between the side surfaces of the lighting device 200 and the walls of the lighting device mounting slot 210, light emitted from the side surfaces of the lighting device 200 can exit the housing 100 simply by passing through the walls of the lighting device mounting slot 210. Furthermore, the walls of the lighting device mounting slot 210 are transparent, facilitating the proper emission of light from the side surfaces of the lighting device 200 and preventing the impact of glue curing on the brightness and color temperature of the light emitted from the side surfaces of the lighting device 200.

[0054] In the prior art, glue is poured between the lighting device and the inner wall of the housing. However, this glue has insufficient static protection capabilities, which can easily cause the lighting device to malfunction. However, in the embodiment of the present application, glue is not poured between the side of the lighting device 200 and the wall of the lighting device mounting groove 210, thereby securing the lighting device 200 relative to the housing 100, thus avoiding the problem of insufficient static protection capabilities of glue.

[0055] The transparent portion of the sidewall of the housing 100 can be made of a plastic material such as PC (polycarbonate) and can be formed using methods such as injection molding. Injection-molded transparent portions offer stronger static protection than glue. Furthermore, the thickness of the plastic transparent portion formed by injection molding can be adjusted during processing to adjust its refractive index, thereby adjusting the direction in which the transparent portion refracts light emitted from the side of the lighting device 200.

[0056] In one embodiment, the sidewall of the housing 100 further includes a non-transparent portion, which is integrally formed with the transparent portion. The non-transparent portion can be any sidewall of the housing 100 other than the wall of the lighting device mounting slot 210, such as the wall of the working channel mounting slot 410 or the wall of the camera module mounting slot 310. The non-transparent portion and the transparent portion can be integrally formed using two-color injection molding.

[0057] In one embodiment, the sidewalls of the housing 100 are all transparent. The entire housing can be made of a single transparent material, such as PC (polycarbonate), so that it can be formed into an integrated structure by injection molding.

[0058] Please refer to Figure 1 In one embodiment, lighting devices 200 are provided on both sides of the camera module 300, and the transparent protective wall 110 is provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the lighting devices 200. The lighting device mounting grooves 210 correspond to the lighting devices 200, so that a lighting device mounting groove 210 is provided on both sides of the camera module mounting groove 310.

[0059] Please refer to Figure 3 In one embodiment, the inner wall of the working channel mounting groove 410 is provided with a step surface 411 , and the step surface 411 abuts against the end surface of the distal end of the working channel 400 .

[0060] When assembling the various components of the front-end assembly, the working channel 400 is inserted into the housing 100 from the proximal end thereof until the working channel 400 abuts against the stepped surface 411, indicating that the working channel 400 is installed in place, thereby facilitating accurate positioning of the working channel 400 within the housing 100. The working channel 400 is then fixed to the housing 100.

[0061] In one embodiment, the working channel 400 and the housing 100 may be bonded together by glue.

[0062] An embodiment of the present application further provides an endoscope, comprising a tip assembly as described in any one of the above embodiments.

[0063] The technical features of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-mentioned embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0064] The above-described embodiments merely represent several implementations of the present invention. While the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that a person skilled in the art would be able to make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these modifications and improvements fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present utility model patent shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tip assembly of an endoscope, characterized in that: The lighting device comprises a housing and a lighting device, wherein the housing is provided with a lighting device mounting groove, and the lighting device is mounted in the lighting device mounting groove; A transparent protective wall is provided at the distal end of the shell, and the transparent protective wall is opposite to the light-emitting surface of the distal end of the lighting device.

2. The tip assembly according to claim 1, wherein: It also includes a circuit board, and the proximal end of the lighting device is arranged on the circuit board; the circuit board is fixedly connected to the housing.

3. The tip assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The circuit board protrudes from the lighting device, and the protruding direction is perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing; A limiting boss is provided on the inner wall of the housing. The limiting boss is located on a side of the circuit board close to the lighting device and abuts against a portion of the circuit board protruding from the lighting device.

4. The tip assembly according to claim 3, wherein: The lighting device is an LED lamp with full light emission direction; the side wall of the housing includes a portion for enclosing a mounting groove for the lighting device, which portion is a transparent portion; Wherein, the side wall of the shell further includes a non-transparent portion, and the non-transparent portion and the transparent portion are an integrally formed structure; Alternatively, the side walls of the housing are entirely transparent.

5. The tip assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The shell and the transparent protective wall are an integrally formed structure.

6. The tip assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The side of the transparent protective wall facing the light-emitting surface is inclined relative to the axial direction of the housing; and / or the side of the transparent protective wall facing away from the light-emitting surface is inclined relative to the axial direction of the housing.

7. The tip assembly according to claim 1, wherein: It also includes a camera module and a working channel. The shell is provided with a camera module mounting slot and a working channel mounting slot. The camera module is installed in the camera module mounting slot, and the working channel is installed in the working channel mounting slot.

8. The tip assembly according to claim 7, wherein: The lighting devices are respectively provided on both sides of the camera module, and the transparent protective walls are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the lighting devices.

9. The tip assembly according to claim 7, wherein: The inner wall of the working channel installation groove is provided with a step surface, and the step surface abuts against the end surface of the distal end of the working channel.

10. An endoscope, characterized in that: Comprising the front-end component according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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