Endoscope and control assembly thereof

Abstract

The utility model relates to an endoscope and a control assembly thereof. The control assembly comprises a shell, a reel, a damping structure, a transmission wheel, a control wheel and a control part. The reel, the damping structure, the transmission wheel and the control wheel are located in the shell, and the control part is located outside the shell. The reel can rotate relative to the shell, and the damping structure is used for applying damping force to the reel to prevent the reel from rotating; the transmission wheel is coaxially connected with the reel, the end, extending into the shell, of the control part is coaxially connected with the control wheel, the control wheel is in meshing transmission with the transmission wheel, and the diameter of the control wheel is smaller than that of the transmission wheel. The operating wheel with the small diameter drives the transmission wheel with the large diameter to rotate, and the labor-saving effect can be achieved. In this way, when a doctor rotates the control part to overcome the damping force so as to adjust the angle of the tip assembly, the external force needing to be applied when the control part is rotated is reduced, and then the labor intensity of the doctor in an operation is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] An endoscope is a commonly used medical device that is inserted into the patient's body through a natural orifice or a surgical incision. Once the endoscope is inserted into the organ to be examined, the doctor can directly observe the pathological condition of the relevant area.

[0003] Endoscopes are currently classified into rigid and flexible endoscopes. Flexible endoscopes in the prior art typically include a tip assembly, a bending portion, an insertion portion, and a control assembly, which are connected in sequence. The control assembly includes a housing, a winding reel located within the housing, and a control unit mounted on the housing. A traction wire is wound around the winding reel, the distal end of which is connected to the bending portion. The control unit is coaxially connected to the winding reel. Rotating the control unit drives the winding reel to rotate, thereby causing the bending portion to bend, and thus the tip assembly to adjust its angle.

[0004] In some technical solutions, a damping structure is provided within the housing to apply a damping force to the winding wheel, enabling it to self-lock at any rotational position, thereby achieving stepless locking of the bending portion at any bending angle, that is, achieving locking of the tip assembly at any angle. However, the presence of the damping structure results in significant resistance when the surgeon rotates the operating portion, requiring the surgeon to apply a significant thrust, resulting in increased labor intensity during the surgery. Utility Model Content

[0005] Based on this, it is necessary to provide an endoscope and its operating assembly in response to the technical problem that in the existing endoscope, the doctor encounters great resistance when rotating the operating part to adjust the angle of the tip assembly, and the doctor needs to apply a large thrust, which causes the doctor to have a high labor intensity during the operation.

[0006] A manipulation assembly of an endoscope, comprising: a housing, a winding wheel, a damping structure, a transmission wheel, a manipulation wheel, and a manipulation portion;

[0007] The winding wheel, the damping structure, the transmission wheel and the control wheel are located inside the housing, and the control part is located outside the housing;

[0008] The winding wheel can rotate relative to the housing, and the damping structure is used to apply a damping force to the winding wheel to prevent the winding wheel from rotating;

[0009] The transmission wheel is coaxially connected to the winding wheel, the end of the operating part extending into the shell is coaxially connected to the operating wheel, the operating wheel is meshed with the transmission wheel for transmission, and the diameter of the operating wheel is smaller than the diameter of the transmission wheel.

[0010] In an embodiment, the manipulating wheel and the transmission wheel are gears.

[0011] In an embodiment, the transmission wheel and the winding wheel are integrated.

[0012] In an embodiment, the manipulating wheel and the transmission wheel are sprockets; the manipulating assembly further comprises a transmission chain, the manipulating wheel and the transmission wheel are engaged with the transmission chain respectively, and the transmission chain is looped outside the manipulating wheel and the transmission wheel and is tensioned.

[0013] In an embodiment, the damping structure comprises an elastic member and a friction structure, and the elastic force provided by the elastic member is used to make the winding wheel abut against the friction structure.

[0014] In an embodiment, one of the winding wheel and the friction structure has an inner taper surface, and the other has an outer taper surface; the outer taper surface is sleeved outside the inner taper surface, and the elastic force provided by the elastic member is used to make the inner taper surface abut against the outer taper surface.

[0015] In an embodiment, the manipulating assembly further comprises a fixing support, the fixing support is fixedly connected with the shell, and the elastic member is located on a side of the winding wheel away from the friction structure.

[0016] In an embodiment, the manipulating wheel and the manipulating part are connected through a threaded connecting member.

[0017] In an embodiment, the manipulating assembly further comprises a fixing support, the fixing support is fixedly connected with the shell, and an end of the manipulating wheel away from the manipulating part is rotationally connected with the fixing support.

[0018] An endoscope comprises the manipulating assembly of any of the above embodiments.

[0019] When a doctor uses the manipulating assembly of the above endoscope to adjust the angle of the tip assembly, the doctor can apply an external force to rotate the manipulating part, drive the manipulating wheel coaxially connected with the manipulating part to rotate synchronously, and drive the transmission wheel engaged with the manipulating wheel to rotate, so as to overcome the damping force applied to the winding wheel by the damping structure and make the winding wheel rotate synchronously with the transmission wheel. When the winding wheel rotates, the traction line wound thereon can drive the bending part of the endoscope to rotate, so as to adjust the angle of the tip assembly. When the tip assembly is adjusted to a desired angle, the doctor can release the manipulating part and remove the external force, at which time the damping force applied to the winding wheel by the damping structure can prevent the winding wheel from rotating, so that the winding wheel is self-locked, thereby locking the tip assembly at the desired angle. In this way, the winding wheel can be self-locked at any rotating position, and the tip assembly can be locked at any angle.

[0020] Compared to the prior art, the control assembly of the present invention comprises a control wheel and a transmission wheel. The smaller-diameter control wheel drives the larger-diameter transmission wheel, which reduces effort. This allows the surgeon to reduce the external force required to rotate the control unit to overcome the damping force and adjust the angle of the distal assembly, thereby reducing the surgeon's workload during surgery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 is an exploded view of the structure of a control assembly according to one embodiment;

[0022] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a manipulation assembly according to an embodiment.

[0023] Explanation of the accompanying drawings: 110, housing; 111, positioning column; 120, winding wheel; 121, mounting hole; 130, transmission wheel; 140, operating wheel; 150, operating part; 151, threaded connection; 161, elastic part; 162, friction structure; 170, fixing bracket; 171, positioning sleeve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2One embodiment of the present application provides a manipulation assembly of an endoscope, which comprises: a housing 110, a winding wheel 120, a damping structure, a transmission wheel 130, a control wheel 140, and a manipulation portion 150. The winding wheel 120, the damping structure, the transmission wheel 130, and the control wheel 140 are located inside the housing 110, and the manipulation portion 150 is located outside the housing 110 and is rotatably connected to the housing 110. One end of the manipulation portion 150 extends into the housing 110 and is connected to the control wheel 140. The winding wheel 120 can rotate relative to the housing 110, and the damping structure is used to apply a damping force to the winding wheel 120 to prevent the winding wheel 120 from rotating. The transmission wheel 130 is coaxially connected to the winding wheel 120, and the manipulation portion 150 is coaxially connected to the control wheel 140. The control wheel 140 is meshed with the transmission wheel 130 for transmission, and the diameter of the control wheel 140 is smaller than the diameter of the transmission wheel 130. When an external force is applied to rotate the operating portion 150 , the meshing transmission between the operating wheel 140 and the transmission wheel 130 can overcome the damping force of the damping structure, so that the winding wheel 120 rotates.

[0031] When using the control assembly of the endoscope to adjust the angle of the tip assembly, a physician applies an external force to rotate the control portion 150, driving the control wheel 140, which is coaxially connected to the control portion 150, to rotate synchronously. The control wheel 140 then drives the transmission wheel 130, which is meshed with it, to rotate. This overcomes the damping force applied to the winding wheel 120 by the damping structure, allowing the winding wheel 120 and the transmission wheel 130 to rotate synchronously. As the winding wheel 120 rotates, the traction wire (not shown) wound around it drives the bending portion (not shown) of the endoscope to rotate, thereby adjusting the angle of the tip assembly. When the tip assembly is adjusted to the desired angle, the physician releases the control portion 150 and removes the external force. At this point, the damping force applied to the winding wheel 120 by the damping structure prevents the winding wheel 120 from rotating, causing it to self-lock, thereby locking the tip assembly at the desired angle. This allows the winding wheel to self-lock at any rotational position, enabling the tip assembly to be locked at any angle.

[0032] Compared to the prior art, the manipulation assembly of the present embodiment includes a manipulation wheel 140 and a transmission wheel 130. The smaller-diameter manipulation wheel 140 drives the larger-diameter transmission wheel 130, thereby reducing effort. This allows the surgeon to reduce the external force required to rotate the manipulation unit 150 to overcome the damping force and adjust the angle of the distal assembly, thereby reducing the surgeon's workload during surgery.

[0033] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the control wheel 140 and the transmission wheel 130 are both gears.

[0034] Specifically, in this embodiment, the steering wheel 140 directly meshes with the transmission wheel 130. The teeth of the steering wheel 140 and the transmission wheel 130 have the same module, enabling meshing between the two wheels. The number of teeth on the steering wheel 140 is smaller than that on the transmission wheel 130, resulting in a smaller diameter for the steering wheel 140. This simplifies the meshing transmission structure between the steering wheel 140 and the transmission wheel 130.

[0035] In other embodiments, an idler wheel may be provided between the control wheel 140 and the transmission wheel 130 , and the two wheels are respectively engaged with the idler wheels, so that the control wheel and the transmission wheel 130 are indirectly engaged.

[0036] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the transmission wheel 130 and the winding wheel 120 are an integrated structure.

[0037] In other embodiments, the transmission wheel 130 and the winding wheel 120 may also be two separately formed wheels connected by a key connection or other means, as long as the two can rotate coaxially.

[0038] In another embodiment, the steering wheel and the transmission wheel are both sprockets. The steering assembly further includes a transmission chain, with the steering wheel and the transmission wheel respectively meshing with the transmission chain. The transmission chain is wrapped around the steering wheel and the transmission wheel and is tensioned. The steering wheel drives the transmission chain to rotate, and the transmission chain drives the transmission wheel to rotate, which can also indirectly cause the steering wheel to mesh with the transmission wheel.

[0039] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the transmission wheel 130 is located on one axial side of the winding wheel 120 so that the two do not interfere with each other during operation.

[0040] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the damping structure includes an elastic member 161 and a friction structure 162. The elastic force provided by the elastic member 161 is used to make the winding wheel 120 abut against the friction structure 162, so that there is a friction damping force between the winding wheel 120 and the friction structure 162, and the friction damping force can prevent the winding wheel 120 from rotating.

[0041] In other embodiments, the friction structure may not be provided. The elastic member is provided between the winding wheel and the housing, with two ends of the elastic member respectively contacting the housing and the winding wheel, and preventing the winding wheel from rotating through elastic damping force.

[0042] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2In one embodiment, one of the reel 120 and the friction structure 162 has an inner conical surface and the other has an outer conical surface. The inner conical surface is sleeved outside the outer conical surface, and the elastic force provided by the elastic member 161 is used to make the inner conical surface abut against the outer conical surface.

[0043] Specifically, in this embodiment, the friction structure 162 is a conical structure protruding from the inner wall of the housing 110. The conical structure has an outer conical surface, and the winding wheel 120 has an inner conical surface. The elastic force provided by the elastic member 161 causes the winding wheel 120 to be mounted on the conical structure, thereby ensuring that the inner and outer conical surfaces are reliably abutted, thereby generating a reliable frictional damping force between the inner and outer conical surfaces.

[0044] In other embodiments, the winding wheel may have an outer conical surface, the friction structure may have an inner conical surface, the inner conical surface of the friction structure may be sleeved on the outer conical surface of the winding wheel, and the elastic force of the elastic member may cause the inner conical surface of the friction structure to abut against the outer conical surface of the winding wheel.

[0045] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the operating assembly further includes a fixed bracket 170 , which is fixedly connected to the housing 110 , and the elastic member 161 is located on a side of the winding wheel 120 away from the friction structure 162 .

[0046] Specifically in this embodiment, the elastic member 161 is located between the winding wheel 120 and the fixed bracket 170, and the two ends of the elastic member 161 are respectively in contact with the winding wheel 120 and the fixed bracket 170, so that the elastic force applied by the elastic member 161 to the winding wheel 120 is directed toward the friction structure 162, thereby causing the winding wheel 120 to abut against the friction structure 162.

[0047] For further information, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 One end of the winding wheel 120 away from the friction structure 162 is rotatably connected to the fixed bracket 170.

[0048] For further information, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 A mounting hole 121 is provided on a side of the winding wheel 120 away from the friction structure 162 , and the elastic member 161 is located in the mounting hole 121 .

[0049] In other embodiments, the elastic member may also be disposed between the winding wheel and the housing, and the friction structure may be disposed on the fixed bracket. The winding wheel may also be rotatably connected to the housing.

[0050] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the operating assembly further includes a fixed bracket 170 , which is fixedly connected to the housing 110 , and an end of the operating wheel 140 away from the operating portion 150 is rotatably connected to the fixed bracket 170 .

[0051] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the control wheel 140 and the control portion 150 are fixedly connected via a threaded connection 151. Specifically, the threaded connection 151 can be a self-tapping screw.

[0052] In other embodiments, the control wheel and the control portion may be connected by other means such as a key connection, as long as the two can rotate coaxially.

[0053] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, a positioning sleeve 171 is provided on the fixing bracket 170, and a positioning column 111 is provided on the housing 110. The positioning column 111 is inserted into the positioning sleeve 171, thereby facilitating the positioning of the fixing bracket 170 and the housing 110 during assembly.

[0054] An embodiment of the present application further provides an endoscope, which includes the manipulation component of any one of the above embodiments.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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. An endoscope control assembly, characterized in that: The control assembly includes: a housing, a winding wheel, a damping structure, a transmission wheel, a control wheel and a control part; The winding wheel, the damping structure, the transmission wheel and the control wheel are located inside the housing, and the control part is located outside the housing; The winding wheel can rotate relative to the housing, and the damping structure is used to apply a damping force to the winding wheel to prevent the winding wheel from rotating; The transmission wheel is coaxially connected to the winding wheel, one end of the operating part extending into the shell is coaxially connected to the operating wheel, the operating wheel is meshed with the transmission wheel for transmission, and the diameter of the operating wheel is smaller than the diameter of the transmission wheel.

2. The operating assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that The control wheel and the transmission wheel are both gears.

3. The operating assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that The transmission wheel and the winding wheel are an integrated structure.

4. The operating assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that The control wheel and the transmission wheel are both sprockets; the control assembly also includes a transmission chain, the control wheel and the transmission wheel are respectively engaged with the transmission chain, and the transmission chain is wrapped around the control wheel and the transmission wheel and is tensioned.

5. The operating assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that The damping structure includes an elastic member and a friction structure. The elastic force provided by the elastic member is used to make the winding wheel abut against the friction structure.

6. The operating assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that The winding wheel and the friction structure, one of which has an inner conical surface, and the other has an outer conical surface; the outer conical surface is sleeved outside the inner conical surface, and the elastic force provided by the elastic member is used to make the inner conical surface abut against the outer conical surface.

7. The operating assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that It also includes a fixed bracket, which is fixedly connected to the shell. The elastic member is located on the side of the winding wheel away from the friction structure, and both ends of the elastic member are respectively in contact with the fixed bracket and the winding wheel.

8. The manipulation assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The control wheel is connected to the control part through a threaded connection.

9. The manipulation assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that It also includes a fixing bracket, which is fixedly connected to the shell, and one end of the control wheel away from the control part is rotatably connected to the fixing bracket.

10. An endoscope, characterized in that: The device comprises the operating assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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