Snake bone assembly and endoscope

Abstract

The application discloses a snake bone assembly and an endoscope. The snake bone assembly comprises a plurality of snake bone units, each of which has a bending center surface and an axial center surface. The snake bone units are sequentially connected by the proximal end of one snake bone unit and the distal end of another snake bone unit of two adjacent snake bone units, so that the snake bone assembly can bend in the bending center surface. The proximal end and the distal end of the snake bone unit are provided with stepped structures on the circumferences thereof and located on both sides of the axial center surface. In two adjacent snake bone units, the stepped structure of the proximal end of one snake bone unit corresponds to the stepped structure of the distal end of another snake bone unit, and a gap exists between the two corresponding stepped structures. The stepped structures arranged on the snake bone units can form a bending gap between two adjacent snake bone units, the bending gap can support a rubber tube at different positions, and the rubber tube can be prevented from being clamped into the bending gap between two adjacent snake bone units.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of medical device technology, specifically to a snake bone assembly and an endoscope. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of science and technology and medical technology, endoscopic minimally invasive or non-invasive medical examinations and treatments have become widely popular. An endoscope consists of a head, a bending section, an insertion section, and an operating section. The snake bone assembly is an important component of the bending section of the endoscope. It can be pulled axially by operating the operating section to make the adjacent snake bone segments rotate relative to each other, thereby realizing the active bending of the endoscope's bending section and allowing it to enter some complex cavities in the body.

[0003] Because there is relative rotation between adjacent serpentine segments in the serpentine assembly, a gap needs to be provided between them. The size of this gap is directly proportional to the bending angle of the serpentine assembly. Additionally, to ensure the electrical safety of the endoscope, a rubber tube is usually fitted over the outside of the serpentine assembly. In related technologies, when the serpentine assembly bends, the rubber tube can easily become trapped in the gap between adjacent serpentine segments. Repeated bending can lead to the rubber tube breaking, thus affecting the normal use of the endoscope. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application aims to provide a snake bone assembly and an endoscope, in which a curved gap is formed between two adjacent snake bone units to support a rubber tube at different positions, thereby preventing the rubber tube from being clamped.

[0005] According to a first aspect of this application, this application provides a snake bone assembly, including a plurality of snake bone units, each snake bone unit having a bending center plane and an axial center plane, the bending center plane and the axial center plane intersecting and perpendicular to each other, and both passing through the axis of the snake bone unit, the two ends of the snake bone unit along its axis direction being a proximal end and a distal end, respectively.

[0006] The plurality of snake-bone units are sequentially rotatably connected from the proximal end of one snake-bone unit to the distal end of another snake-bone unit in two adjacent snake-bone units, so that the snake-bone assembly bends within the bending center plane;

[0007] The proximal and distal ends of the snake bone unit are provided with stepped structures located on both sides of the axial center plane around its circumference. In two adjacent snake bone units, the stepped structures on both sides of the axial center plane at the proximal end of one snake bone unit correspond to the stepped structures on both sides of the axial center plane at the distal end of the other snake bone unit, and there is a gap between the two corresponding stepped structures.

[0008] In one embodiment, the stepped structure includes a recess, a protrusion, and a connecting portion, the connecting portion connecting the recess and the protrusion. The recess, the protrusion, and the connecting portion are formed as a stepped structure located circumferentially on both sides of the axial center plane of the serpentine unit along its axial centerline. In two adjacent serpentine units, the recess of the stepped structure at the proximal end of one serpentine unit corresponds to the protrusion of the stepped structure at the distal end of the other serpentine unit.

[0009] In one embodiment, the protrusions in the stepped structure at the same end of the snake-bone unit and located on both sides of its axial center plane are distributed on the same side or different sides of the curved center plane.

[0010] In one embodiment, in two adjacent snake-bone units, the connecting portions in the corresponding stepped structures may have the same or different shapes.

[0011] In one embodiment, in two adjacent snake bone units, there is a preset gap between the connecting portions of the two corresponding stepped structures.

[0012] In one embodiment, the preset gap is greater than, equal to, or less than the diameter of the traction rope used to pull the snake bone assembly bent.

[0013] In one embodiment, in two adjacent snake-bone units, the connecting portions of the two corresponding stepped structures at least partially overlap in the direction of the axial central plane.

[0014] In one embodiment, the connecting portion includes at least one first connecting surface, at least one second connecting surface, and a transition surface. The transition surface is disposed between the first connecting surface and the second connecting surface. The first connecting surface is connected to the recessed portion, and the second connecting surface is connected to the protruding portion. In two adjacent snake-bone units, the number of first connecting surfaces and the number of second connecting surfaces in the connecting portion of the stepped structure at the proximal end of one snake-bone unit are the same as or different from the number of first connecting surfaces and the number of second connecting surfaces in the connecting portion of the stepped structure at the distal end of the other snake-bone unit.

[0015] In one embodiment, in two adjacent snake-bone units, the first connecting surface and the transition surface of one snake-bone unit and the first connecting surface and the transition surface of the other snake-bone unit form a clearance space, which is used to avoid the traction rope that pulls the snake-bone assembly to bend.

[0016] According to a second aspect of this application, this application provides an endoscope including the aforementioned snake bone assembly.

[0017] According to the snake bone assembly and endoscope of the above embodiments, when the snake bone assembly is bent, the stepped structure provided on each snake bone unit can make the gap between the stepped structure at the connection end of two adjacent snake bone units bend into a bent shape. The bent gap is irregularly shaped to support the rubber tube at different positions and prevent the rubber tube from being clamped into the bent gap between two adjacent snake bone units. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the snake bone component in the related technology;

[0019] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the snake bone assembly provided in this application Figure 1 ;

[0020] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the snake bone assembly provided in this application Figure 2 ;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the snake bone unit in the snake bone assembly provided in this application;

[0022] Figure 5 A perspective view showing the pre-set gap generated at the connection between adjacent snake-bone units provided in this application;

[0023] Figure 6 A side view showing the predetermined gap between the connecting parts of adjacent snake-bone units provided in this application;

[0024] Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing that the connecting parts of adjacent snake-bone units provided in this application at least partially overlap;

[0025] Figure 8 A schematic diagram illustrating the bending resistance of the snake-bone component provided in this application;

[0026] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the connecting portion in another embodiment of the snake-bone unit provided in this application. Figure 1 ;

[0027] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the connecting portion in another embodiment of the snake-bone unit provided in this application. Figure 2 ;

[0028] Figure 11 A schematic diagram showing that the snake-bone assembly provided in this application has traction mounting parts spaced apart in the snake-bone unit.

[0029] Figure label:

[0030] Snake bone assembly 100, snake bone unit 10, rotating protrusion 11, rotating groove 12, stepped structure 13, stepped surface 130, recessed part 131, protrusion 132, connecting part 133, first connecting surface 1331, second connecting surface 1332, transition surface 1333, traction mounting part 14. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The present application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Similar elements in different embodiments are referred to by related similar element reference numerals. In the following embodiments, many details are described to facilitate a better understanding of the present application. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that some features may be omitted in different situations, or may be replaced by other elements, materials, or methods. In some cases, certain operations related to the present application are not shown or described in the specification. This is to avoid obscuring the core parts of the present application with excessive description. For those skilled in the art, detailed description of these related operations is not necessary; they can fully understand the related operations based on the description in the specification and general technical knowledge in the art.

[0032] Furthermore, the features, operations, or characteristics described in the specification can be combined in any suitable manner to form various embodiments, and the operational steps involved in each embodiment can also be rearranged or adjusted in a manner that is obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the specification and drawings are only for clearly describing a particular embodiment and do not imply that they represent the necessary components and / or order.

[0033] The serial numbers assigned to components in this document, such as "first" and "second," are used only to distinguish the described objects and have no sequential or technical meaning. The terms "connection" and "linkage" used in this application, unless otherwise specified, include both direct and indirect connections (linkages).

[0034] When using an endoscope, the traction rope can be pulled axially by operating the operating part, so that the snake bone units in the snake bone assembly inside the bending part can rotate relative to each other, thereby realizing the active bending of the bending part so as to enter some complex cavities in the human body.

[0035] In related technologies, a rubber tube is also fitted over the outer side of the snake-bone component in the curved section to protect the insertion end of the endoscope, preventing friction with tissue and thus reducing surgical trauma. See also Figure 1 As shown, the snake bone assembly 1 in the related technology is usually composed of multiple snake bone units 2. Each snake bone unit 2 has two rotating protrusions 3 at one end along its axial direction and two rotating grooves 4 at the other end. The two rotating grooves 4 correspond one-to-one with the two rotating protrusions 3.

[0036] See Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 As shown in the three coordinate system, the X-axis direction is the axis of the snake bone assembly 1, the Y-axis direction is the width direction of the snake bone assembly 1, the Z-axis direction is the height direction of the snake bone assembly 1, the XY plane is the bending center plane of the snake bone assembly 1, and the two rotating grooves 4 and the two rotating protrusions 3 are symmetrically arranged about the bending center plane.

[0037] Multiple snake bone units 2 are connected end to end in sequence. One of two adjacent snake bone units 2 is rotatably mounted in the rotating groove 4 of another snake bone unit 2 through a rotating protrusion 3. The rotating protrusion 3 can rotate relative to the rotating groove 4, so that the two adjacent snake bone units 2 can be rotatably connected through the relative rotation of the rotating protrusion 3 and the rotating groove 4. In this way, the snake bone assembly 1 can be bent in the bending center plane.

[0038] In the aforementioned snake-bone assembly 1, two rotating protrusions 3 and two rotating grooves 4 divide the two ends of the snake-bone unit 2 circumferentially into two arc-shaped regions 5, such as... Figure 1 As shown in the coordinate system, the XZ plane is the axial center plane of the snake bone assembly 1. Two arc-shaped regions 5 located at the same end of the snake bone unit 2 are symmetrically arranged about the axial center plane. Thus, in two adjacent snake bone units 2, there is a gap G between the arc-shaped regions 5 of one snake bone unit 2 and the arc-shaped regions 5 of the other snake bone unit 2. This gap G ensures that the two adjacent snake bone units 2 can rotate under the action of the rotating protrusion 3 and the rotating groove 4, thereby causing the snake bone assembly 1 to bend. The width of the gap G is directly proportional to the bending angle of the snake bone assembly 1. The larger the gap G is, the larger the bending angle of the snake bone assembly 1 is, and conversely, the smaller the gap G is, the smaller the bending angle of the snake bone assembly 1 is.

[0039] When the snake bone assembly 1 bends, the side in the direction of bending is the inner side of the bend, and the side in the opposite direction of bending is the outer side of the bend. The gap G on the outer side of the bend becomes larger. Therefore, when the snake bone assembly 1 bends in the opposite direction, the gap G on this side may trap the rubber tube. If this happens repeatedly, the rubber tube is easily broken and damaged, affecting the normal use of the endoscope.

[0040] To solve this problem, the gap G is usually set to be small to avoid the rubber tube getting stuck when bending, but this method limits the bending angle of the snake bone assembly 1.

[0041] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a snake bone assembly and an endoscope that create a bending gap between adjacent snake bone units, thereby improving the support for the rubber tube during bending and preventing the rubber tube from being trapped in the gap between adjacent snake bone units.

[0042] See Figures 2-10 As shown, the snake bone assembly 100 provided in this application includes a plurality of snake bone units 10, each snake bone unit 10 being connected end to end in sequence to form the snake bone assembly 100.

[0043] Specifically, such as Figure 2 As shown, where, as Figure 2 As shown in the coordinate system, the X-axis is the length direction of the snake bone assembly 100, the Y-axis is the width direction of the snake bone assembly 100, and the Z-axis is the height direction of the snake bone assembly 100. The positive direction of the X-axis is the proximal end of the snake bone assembly 100, which is used to connect with the insertion part of the endoscope and faces the operating part. The negative direction of the X-axis is the distal end of the snake bone assembly 100, which is used to connect with the head end of the endoscope. An illumination source and an image acquisition unit can be set at the head end. Under the action of the illumination source, the area to be inspected can be illuminated, and the image acquisition unit can acquire the image or video information of the area to be inspected.

[0044] Accordingly, for ease of description, the end of the snake bone unit 10 along the positive direction of the X-axis is defined as the proximal end, and the end of the snake bone unit 10 along the negative direction of the X-axis is defined as the distal end. Multiple snake bone units 10 are connected end-to-end in a sequential rotating manner, where the proximal end of one snake bone unit 10 is rotatably connected to the distal end of another snake bone unit 10. This allows the snake bone assembly 100 to bend, enabling it to pass through complex cavities and enter the area to be detected.

[0045] and Figure 2 The XY plane is the bending center plane of the snake bone assembly 100, in which the snake bone assembly 100 bends. The XZ plane is the axial center plane of the snake bone assembly 100. The dashed line OO is the axis of the snake bone assembly 100 when it is not bending, which coincides with the axis of each snake bone unit 10. The axial center plane and the bending center plane are perpendicular to each other, intersect each other, and both pass through the axis.

[0046] Two rotating protrusions 11 are provided circumferentially at the proximal end of the snake bone unit 10 along the axial centerline, and two rotating grooves 12 are provided circumferentially at the distal end of the snake bone unit 10 along the axial centerline. The two rotating protrusions 11 and the two rotating grooves 12 are symmetrically arranged about the bending center plane. When two adjacent snake bone units 10 are connected end to end, they are rotatably connected by rotating protrusions 11 at the proximal end of one snake bone unit 10 to rotating grooves 12 at the distal end of the other snake bone unit 10, so that the snake bone assembly 100 can be bent in the bending center plane.

[0047] The rotating protrusion 11 is a structure that protrudes outward from the proximal end of the snake bone unit 10 along the axis of the snake bone unit 10, and the rotating groove 12 is a structure that is recessed inward from the distal end of the snake bone unit 10 along the axis of the snake bone unit 10. The rotating protrusion 11 of the proximal end of one snake bone unit 10 is rotatably connected to the rotating groove 12 of the distal end of another snake bone unit 10, so as to rotatably connect the two adjacent snake bone units 10.

[0048] In this embodiment, two rotating protrusions 11 are provided at the proximal end of the snake-bone unit 10 along its axial direction, and two rotating grooves 12 are provided at the distal end. Alternatively, one rotating protrusion 11 and one rotating groove 12 can be provided at the proximal end of the snake-bone unit 10 along its axial direction, and one rotating groove 12 and one rotating protrusion 11 can be provided at the distal end. When rotating the rotating protrusion 11 at the proximal end of one snake-bone unit 10 and the rotating groove 12 at the distal end of another snake-bone unit 10, it is necessary to ensure that the positions of the rotating protrusion 11 at the proximal end of one snake-bone unit 10 and the rotating groove 12 at the distal end of another snake-bone unit 10 correspond to each other, thus achieving bending of the snake-bone assembly 100.

[0049] To ensure the snake bone assembly 100 can be bent, in this application, a gap exists between corresponding positions on both sides of the axial center plane of two adjacent snake bone units 10 during bending. This gap is as follows: Figure 1 The gaps shown in the related technologies are the same, providing bending space for the snake bone assembly 100 to bend.

[0050] In this case, the inner side of the snake bone assembly 100 when it is bent is the side where the gap space decreases after bending, while the outer side of the snake bone assembly 100 when it is bent is the side where the gap space increases after bending.

[0051] See Figures 2-4 As shown, the proximal and distal ends of the snake bone unit 10 are provided with stepped structures 13 located on both sides of the axial center plane around its circumference. In two adjacent snake bone units 10, the stepped structures 13 located on both sides of the axial center plane at the proximal end of one snake bone unit 10 correspond to the stepped structures 13 located on both sides of the axial center plane at the distal end of the other snake bone unit 10, and there is a gap between the two corresponding stepped structures 13.

[0052] Along the axial direction of the snake bone unit 10, the end face of the stepped structure 13 is a stepped surface 130, so that the gap between the two stepped structures 13 corresponding to each other in the two adjacent snake bone units 10 is formed into a curved gap.

[0053] In a specific embodiment, the snake bone unit 10 has two stepped structures 13 at its proximal and distal ends along its axial centerline in the circumferential direction. The two stepped structures 13 are located on both sides of the axial center plane. The step structure 13 can create a gap between two adjacent snake bone units 10 and the corresponding two stepped structures 13, thereby providing bending space for the snake bone assembly 100 to bend. Since the end face of the stepped structure 13 along the axial centerline of the snake bone unit 10 is a stepped surface 130, the gap can be formed as a bending gap.

[0054] The stepped surface 130 of the end face of the stepped structure 13 can be shaped as a wave, an S-shape, a right-angled arc, or other irregular shapes, such as a combination of wave and right-angle shapes. The key is to ensure that the end face of the stepped structure 13 is formed as a stepped surface 130. The shape of the stepped surface 130 allows the space between two adjacent snake-bone units 10 to form a curved gap. Of course, when the snake-bone assembly 100 of the stepped structure 13 with a stepped end face bends, there is no interference between adjacent snake-bone units 10.

[0055] In the aforementioned related technology, the gaps between adjacent snake bone units 2 are of a regular shape, such as elliptical or rectangular, which can provide a large area of ​​gap for the rubber tube sleeved on the outside of the snake bone assembly 1. Furthermore, the minimum width of the gap is sufficient to cause the rubber tube sleeved on the outside of the snake bone assembly 1 to collapse into it. Thus, when the snake bone assembly 1 is bent in the opposite direction, the gap on the bent outer side is prone to trapping the rubber tube. After repeated bending, the rubber tube may be damaged.

[0056] Compared to the gap shape generated between adjacent snake-bone units 2 in related technologies, in this application, because the end face of the stepped structure 13 is a stepped surface 130, the shape of the stepped surface 130 allows a portion of the stepped structure 13 of one snake-bone unit 10 to extend towards the other snake-bone unit 10 within the space between two adjacent snake-bone units 10. Compared to the gaps in related technologies, this application effectively divides the gap into a series of relatively small, continuous gaps, providing better support for the rubber tube on the outside of the snake-bone assembly 100. Of course, these relatively small gaps are not equidistant along the axial center plane, allowing the gaps to form an irregular, curved shape, i.e., a curved gap. Furthermore, compared to the gaps in related technologies, the minimum width of this curved gap is relatively narrow, resulting in a long, narrow, and irregularly curved shape. When the snake bone assembly 100 bends, the gap on the outer side of the bend increases, causing the stepped structure 13 to extend outward and form support for the rubber tube. Due to its irregular and twisted shape, the support for the rubber tube is not in a straight line, and thus different positions of the rubber tube are supported. This arrangement can prevent the rubber tube from being clamped when bending in the opposite direction.

[0057] See Figures 2-11 As shown, the stepped structure 13 includes a recessed portion 131, a protruding portion 132, and a connecting portion 133. The connecting portion 133 connects the recessed portion 131 and the protruding portion 132. The protruding portion 132 is a structure that protrudes outward at the end of the snake bone unit 10 in the axial direction, while the recessed portion 131 is a structure that is recessed inward at the end of the snake bone unit 10 in the axial direction. Thus, the recessed portion 131, the protruding portion 132, and the connecting portion 133 can be formed as a stepped structure 13 circumferentially located on both sides of the axial center plane of the end of the snake bone unit 10 along its axial centerline. The stepped structure 13 has an uneven surface, that is, it is formed as a stepped surface 130 located at the end of the snake bone unit 10 in the axial centerline direction.

[0058] In two adjacent snake-bone units 10 that are rotatably connected, the recess 131 in the stepped structure 13 at the proximal end of one snake-bone unit 10 corresponds to the protrusion 132 in the stepped structure 13 at the distal end of the other snake-bone unit 10. In this arrangement, in the snake-bone assembly 100 that is bent, the recess 131 provides clearance space for the protrusion 132.

[0059] In some embodiments, the shape of the stepped structure 13 at the distal end of the snake-bone unit 10 is actually the same as the shape of the stepped structure 13 at the proximal end of the adjacent snake-bone unit 10. Taking the proximal and distal ends of the same snake-bone unit 10 as examples, the two protrusions 132 in the stepped structure 13 at the proximal end of the snake-bone unit 10, located on both sides of its axial central plane, are distributed on the same side or different sides of the bending central plane. For example, the protrusion 132 on one side of the axial central plane is located above the bending central plane, and the protrusion 132 on the other side of the axial central plane is located below the bending central plane; or, the protrusions 132 on both sides of the axial central plane are located above or below the bending central plane. Correspondingly, at the distal end, the two protrusions 132 in the stepped structure 13 located on both sides of the axial central plane can be located above or below the bending central plane, respectively, or both can be located above or below the bending central plane.

[0060] In this embodiment, the recessed portion 131 and the protruding portion 132 in the same stepped structure 13 are located on both sides of the bending center surface. This arrangement allows the recessed portion 131 and the protruding portion 132 to be closer to the two rotating protrusions 11 or the two rotating grooves 12 at the same end, so as to avoid the protruding portion 132 protruding outward by more length when the snake bone assembly 100 bends, thus affecting the bending of the rubber tube.

[0061] Of course, in other embodiments, some of the recessed portion 131 or some of the protruding portion 132 may pass through the bending center surface. This arrangement can also make the portion of the recessed portion 132 that does not pass through the bending center surface closer to the two rotating protrusions 11 or two rotating grooves 12 at the same end. Alternatively, the portion of the protruding portion 132 that does not pass through the bending center surface may be closer to the two rotating protrusions 11 or two rotating grooves 12 at the same end. This can prevent the protruding portion 132 from protruding outward by more length when the snake bone assembly 100 bends, thus affecting the bending of the rubber tube.

[0062] In some embodiments of this application, the shapes of the two connecting portions 133 in the corresponding stepped structures 13 of two adjacent snake bone units 10 may be the same or different. For example, the connecting portion 133 in the proximal stepped structure 13 of one snake bone unit 10 may be arc-shaped, while the connecting portion 133 in the distal stepped structure 13 of the other adjacent snake bone unit 10 may be arc-shaped or right-angled, etc.

[0063] like Figures 5-6 As shown, in two adjacent snake bone units 10, a preset gap T is generated between the two connecting parts 133 in the two corresponding stepped structures 13. The setting of the preset gap T can prevent mutual interference between the connecting parts 133 of the two adjacent snake bone units 10 when the snake bone assembly 100 is bent.

[0064] The snake bone assembly 100 provided in this application serves as the bending part of an endoscope. Under the action of the traction rope, the snake bone unit can be pulled by the traction rope through the operation of the operation part, causing the snake bone assembly 100 to bend. To facilitate the installation of the traction rope, the snake bone unit 10 provided in this embodiment is a tubular structure. The periphery of the snake bone unit 10 is provided with a traction mounting part 14 that bends toward the axis of the snake bone unit 10. The traction mounting part 14 is used to connect the traction rope that pulls the snake bone assembly 100 to bend.

[0065] When the snake-bone assembly 100 bends, the two stepped structures 13 located on the inner side of the bend move towards the axis of the snake-bone assembly 100, which interferes with the traction rope. Figure 2 As shown, along the X-axis, the traction mounting part 14 has a symmetrical center plane passing through the X-axis. In two adjacent snake bone units 10, the two connecting parts 133 in the two corresponding stepped structures 13 also have symmetrical center planes passing through the X-axis. Since the symmetrical center plane of the traction mounting part 14 basically coincides with the symmetrical center plane of the two connecting parts 133 in the two adjacent snake bone units 10, the preset gap T between the two connecting parts 133 can be set to be greater than the diameter of the traction rope.

[0066] Of course, when the bending angle of the snake bone assembly 100 is very small and does not interfere with the traction rope, the preset gap T is less than or equal to the diameter of the traction rope.

[0067] like Figure 10 As shown, in two adjacent snake bone units 10, a traction mounting part 14 can be provided on only one of the snake bone units 10, and a traction rope can be installed, and the snake bone assembly 100 can be bent under the action of the traction rope.

[0068] During use, the snake-bone assembly 100 may be bent along the axial center plane. In this application, if... Figure 7 As shown, the two connecting parts 133 of the two corresponding stepped structures 13 in two adjacent snake bone units 10 are at least partially overlapped in the direction of the axial center plane, wherein... Figure 7 The length L in the equation is the length of the overlap. For example... Figure 8 As shown in the figure, the downward-curving arrows on both sides represent the forces acting on the snake bone assembly 100 along the axial center plane. Since the two connecting parts 133 at the connection ends of two adjacent snake bone units 10 at least partially overlap in the direction of the axial center plane, they can resist the forces acting along the axial center plane under the action of the two connecting parts 133, thus preventing the snake bone assembly 100 from bending and failing.

[0069] In one embodiment of this application, see Figure 9 As shown, the connecting portion 133 includes at least one first connecting surface 1331, at least one second connecting surface 1332, and a transition surface 1333. The transition surface 1333 is disposed between the first connecting surface 1331 and the second connecting surface 1332. The first connecting surface 1331 is connected to the recessed portion 131, and the second connecting surface 1332 is connected to the protruding portion 132.

[0070] See Figure 9 As shown, in two adjacent snake-bone units 10, the number of first connecting surfaces 1331 and second connecting surfaces 1332 in the connecting portion 133 of the stepped structure 13 at the proximal end of one snake-bone unit 10 may be the same as or different from the number of first connecting surfaces 1331 and second connecting surfaces 1332 in the connecting portion 133 of the stepped structure 13 at the distal end of the other snake-bone unit 10. For example, two first connecting surfaces 1331 and two second connecting surfaces 1332 may be provided in the connecting portion 133 of the stepped structure 13 at the proximal end of one snake-bone unit 10. The two first connecting surfaces 1331 and two second connecting surfaces 1332 are arranged alternately, and a transition surface 1333 is provided between two adjacent first connecting surfaces 1331 and second connecting surfaces 1332. In contrast, one first connecting surface 1331 and one second connecting surface 1332 are provided in the connecting portion 133 of the stepped structure 13 at the distal end of the other snake-bone unit 10.

[0071] In some embodiments, in two adjacent snake-bone units 10, the first connecting surface 1331 and the transition surface 1333 of one snake-bone unit 10 and the first connecting surface 1331 and the transition surface 133 of the other snake-bone unit 10 form a clearance space. This clearance space is used to avoid the bending traction rope of the traction snake-bone assembly 100. The gap between the first connecting surface 1331 of one snake-bone unit 10 and the first connecting surface 1331 of the other snake-bone unit 10 is the preset gap T.

[0072] In another embodiment of this application, such as Figure 10 As shown, the shape of the proximal connecting portion 133 of the left snake bone unit 10 is different from the shape of the distal connecting portion 133 of the right snake bone unit 10. Specifically, in two adjacent snake bone units 10, the connecting portion 133 of one snake bone unit 10 facing the other snake bone unit 10 can be configured to include a first connecting surface 1331, a second connecting surface 1332, and a transition surface 1333, while the connecting portion 133 of the other snake bone unit 10 facing one of the snake bone units 10 is as follows. Figure 5 The structural form shown can also be formed as follows: Figure 9 The diagram shows the clearance space for avoiding the traction rope.

[0073] This application also provides an endoscope including the snake bone assembly 100 in the above embodiments. For the specific structure and features of the snake bone assembly 100, please refer to the above embodiments; further details will not be repeated here.

[0074] In summary, the snake bone assembly and endoscope provided in this application allow the stepped surface of the stepped structure end face of the connecting end of two adjacent snake bone units to form a bending gap between the inner and outer sides of the bend when the snake bone assembly is bent. This bending gap has an irregular shape to support the rubber tube at different positions, thus preventing the rubber tube from being trapped in the bending gap between two adjacent snake bone units.

[0075] The above-described specific examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this invention. Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains can make various simple deductions, modifications, or substitutions based on the concept of this invention.

Claims

1. A snake bone assembly, characterized in that, It includes multiple snake-bone units, each having a bending center plane and an axial center plane. The bending center plane and the axial center plane intersect each other, are perpendicular to each other, and both pass through the axis of the snake-bone unit. The two ends of the snake-bone unit along its axis are the proximal end and the distal end, respectively. The plurality of snake-bone units are sequentially rotatably connected from the proximal end of one snake-bone unit to the distal end of another snake-bone unit in two adjacent snake-bone units, so that the snake-bone assembly bends within the bending center plane; The proximal and distal ends of the snake bone unit are provided with stepped structures located on both sides of the axial center plane around its circumference. In two adjacent snake bone units, the stepped structures on both sides of the axial center plane at the proximal end of one snake bone unit correspond to the stepped structures on both sides of the axial center plane at the distal end of the other snake bone unit, and there is a gap between the two corresponding stepped structures.

2. The snake bone assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The stepped structure includes a recess, a protrusion, and a connecting portion. The connecting portion connects the recess and the protrusion. The recess, the protrusion, and the connecting portion form a stepped structure circumferentially located at the end of the snake-bone unit along its axial centerline and on both sides of its axial center plane. In two adjacent snake-bone units, the recess of the stepped structure at the proximal end of one snake-bone unit corresponds to the protrusion of the stepped structure at the distal end of the other snake-bone unit.

3. The snake bone assembly as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The protrusions in the stepped structure at the same end of the snake-bone unit and located on both sides of its axial center plane are distributed on the same side or different sides of the bending center plane.

4. The snake bone assembly as described in claim 2, characterized in that, In two adjacent snake-bone units, the shapes of the connecting parts in the corresponding stepped structures are the same or different.

5. The snake bone assembly as described in claim 2, characterized in that, In two adjacent snake bone units, there is a preset gap between the connecting parts of the two corresponding stepped structures.

6. The snake bone assembly as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that, The preset gap is greater than, equal to, or less than the diameter of the traction rope used to pull the snake bone assembly bent.

7. The snake bone assembly as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that, In two adjacent snake-bone units, the connecting portions of the two corresponding stepped structures at least partially overlap in the direction of the axial center plane.

8. The snake bone assembly as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, The connecting portion includes at least one first connecting surface, at least one second connecting surface, and a transition surface. The transition surface is disposed between the first connecting surface and the second connecting surface. The first connecting surface is connected to the recessed portion, and the second connecting surface is connected to the protruding portion. In two adjacent snake-bone units, the number of the first connecting surfaces and the number of the second connecting surfaces in the connecting portion of the stepped structure at the proximal end of one snake-bone unit are the same as or different from the number of the first connecting surfaces and the number of the second connecting surfaces in the connecting portion of the stepped structure at the distal end of the other snake-bone unit.

9. The snake bone assembly as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that, In two adjacent snake-bone units, the first connecting surface and the transition surface of one snake-bone unit and the first connecting surface and the transition surface of the other snake-bone unit form a clearance space, which is used to avoid the traction rope that pulls the snake-bone assembly to bend.

10. An endoscope, characterized in that, Includes the snake bone assembly as described in any one of claims 1-9.

Images