Electronic thoracoscope with an insertable and universally bendable portion

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of electronic thoracoscope with universal bending insertion part, including operating part and insertion part extending along length direction, the insertion part includes front end portion, active bending section, passive bending section and rigid pipe section from distal end to proximal end in order, the front end portion is equipped with optical imaging module and illumination light source;Active bending section is set in the proximal end of the front end portion, by multiple jointed snake bone unit, actively bends in response to operating part control;Passive bending section is connected to the proximal end of active bending section, the passive bending section has universal bending characteristic and the bending stiffness of the passive bending section is less than active bending section;Rigid pipe section is connected to the proximal end of passive bending section.The utility model expands the observation range of thoracoscope by passive bending section, reduces observation blind area, avoids the direct confrontation of active bending section and the rigid structure of guide sleeve inlet, prolongs the service life of equipment, reduces the loss risk of equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of thoracic endoscopy, specifically to an electronic thoracic endoscope with an insertable part that can be bent in all directions. Background Technology

[0002] Electronic thoracoscopes are widely used in the diagnosis of pleural effusion, pleural biopsy, and pleurodesis. Existing electronic thoracoscopes are mainly divided into two types: rigid thoracoscopes and flexible thoracoscopes.

[0003] Rigid thoracoscopes are rigid tubular structures. Although the structure is simple, adjusting the observation angle after inserting it into the lesion is relatively complicated, which is inconvenient for the operator. Moreover, the angle adjustment range is limited, and sometimes it is impossible to reach the lesion to obtain tissue specimens, which has certain limitations.

[0004] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 The existing flexible thoracoscope includes an operating section 1 and an insertion section 2. The proximal end of the operating section 1 is connected to a light guide section 4 via a connecting section assembly 3. The insertion section includes a rigid tube section 21, an actively bending section 22 (flexible snake bone), and a front end section 23. The front end section 23 is equipped with an optical imaging module and an illumination source, which expands the operator's observation range and provides certain convenience. However, due to the limitation of the bending angle of the snake bone 22, there is still a blind spot in the bending range of the snake bone in the existing thoracoscope. Therefore, the operator still needs to swing and adjust the rigid insertion section to observe lesions or biopsy areas on the pleural wall. In addition, when using the thoracoscope, an endoscope channel needs to be established in the patient's pleural cavity using a guide cannula 3. The guide cannula inlet 31 is made of rigid material for fixing the position. When the operator swings the insertion section, the connection between the snake bone and the rigid section is subjected to the resistance force of the rigid section at the guide cannula inlet, making the rivet 221 at the connection easy to break.

[0005] Existing technologies have several drawbacks, including blind spots in the flexible range of the thoracoscopic snake bone, the need for operators to adjust the rigid insertion part to observe lesions or biopsy areas, and rivet breakage at the connection between the snake bone and the rigid part due to the resistance force from the rigid part at the guide cannula inlet. Utility Model Content

[0006] This utility model provides an electronic thoracic endoscope with a omnidirectionally bendable insertion part, including an operating part and an insertion part extending along the length direction, wherein the insertion part comprises, from distal to proximal, the following:

[0007] The front end is located at the front end of the insertion part, and the front end is provided with an optical imaging module and an illumination source;

[0008] The active bending section, located at the proximal end of the aforementioned front end, is composed of multiple sections of snake-bone units hinged together, and actively bends in response to the control of the operating unit.

[0009] A passive bending segment is connected to the proximal end of the active bending segment. The passive bending segment has omnidirectional bending characteristics and its bending stiffness is less than that of the active bending segment.

[0010] Rigid pipe section, which connects to the proximal end of the passively bent section.

[0011] In some embodiments, the active bending segment is a snake-like structure that can be bent in multiple directions.

[0012] In some embodiments, the passively bent section includes a spiral-cut tube with spiral grooves on its wall.

[0013] In some embodiments, the passively bent section is fitted with a first woven mesh.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first woven net uses a high-density weaving method, with a weaving density of 80-120 strands per square centimeter.

[0015] In some embodiments, the weaving density of the first woven mesh is 90 strands per square centimeter.

[0016] In some embodiments, the active bending section is fitted with a second woven mesh.

[0017] In some embodiments, the second woven mesh has a weave density of 60 strands per square centimeter.

[0018] In some embodiments, the insertion portion further includes an elastic covering layer that continuously covers the active bending section and the passive bending section to limit axial torsional deformation during bending.

[0019] In some embodiments, the elastic covering layer is a curved rubber.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the electronic thoracic endoscope provided by this utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0021] 1. This utility model expands the observation range of the thoracoscope by using a passive bending section, reduces the blind spot, and eliminates the need for excessive swinging and adjustment of the rigid insertion part by the operator, thus simplifying the operation process and improving the convenience of operation.

[0022] 2. This utility model avoids direct confrontation between the active bending section and the rigid structure of the guide sleeve inlet by using a passive bending section, thereby avoiding the problem of excessive stress and damage at the connection between the snake bone and the rigid pipe section, extending the service life of the equipment and reducing the risk of equipment loss.

[0023] 3. This utility model has a woven mesh fitted around the outer ring of the spiral cutting tube. The woven mesh is dense and has strong reset elasticity, which helps to maintain the reset elasticity life of the spiral cutting tube and ensures long-term stable use of the equipment.

[0024] 4. The universal bending design of the spiral cutting tube ensures that the insertion part is not subjected to the resistance force of the rigid part at the entrance of the guide sleeve when passing through the guide sleeve, avoiding the risk of rivet breakage at the connection and improving the safety and reliability of the equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a thoracic endoscope in the prior art;

[0026] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of part A;

[0027] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the thoracic endoscope provided by this utility model;

[0028] Figure 4 A structural disassembly diagram of the thoracic endoscope provided by this utility model;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the working state of the thoracic endoscope (with inserted guide sleeve) provided by this utility model.

[0030] Attached image captions:

[0031] 1-Operating part, 2-Insertion part, 3-Guide sleeve, 31-Guide sleeve inlet, 21-Rigid tube section, 20-Passive bending section, 22-Active bending section, 23-Front end, 201-First braided mesh, 222-Second braided mesh, 25-Hose connector, 4-Connecting part assembly, 5-Light guide part assembly, 6-Elastic covering layer. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The present invention or its technical solution will be further described in detail below through specific embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "near," "far," "front," "rear," "upper," and "lower," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing the utility model and simplifying the description. They do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the utility model. In this application, the proximal end should be interpreted as the part closer to the operator (doctor), and the distal end should be understood as the part farther from the operator (doctor). In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified and limited, the terms "installation" and "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to mechanical or electrical connections, or internal connections between two components; they can be direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms according to the specific circumstances.

[0033] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figures 3-5 The specific embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. This embodiment provides an electronic thoracic endoscope with an insertable portion that can be bent in all directions, including an operating part 1, an insertable portion 2 extending along its length, a connecting part assembly 4, and a light guide assembly 5. The insertable portion 2, from its distal end (the end that enters the human body) to its proximal end (the end near the operating part), sequentially includes a front end portion 23, an active bending section 22, a passive bending section 20, and a rigid tube section 21. The operating part 1 drives the active bending section 22 of the insertable portion 2 to achieve universal bending through a transmission mechanism. The light guide assembly 5 transmits a cold light source to the front end portion 23 via the connecting part assembly. The passive bending section 20 has universal bending characteristics, and the bending stiffness of the passive bending section 20 is less than that of the active bending section 22. Thus, please refer to... Figure 5 After the insertion section 2 is inserted into the guide sleeve 3, the passive bending section 20, through its omnidirectional bending characteristic, avoids direct confrontation between the active bending section 22 and the rigid structure of the guide sleeve inlet, thus preventing damage due to excessive force at the connection between the snake bone and the rigid tube section 21. This extends the service life of the equipment and reduces the risk of equipment loss. The operator can manipulate the insertion section 2 in any direction without causing fatal damage to the insertion tube. Furthermore, the passive bending section 20 can adaptively bend according to the complex structure of the thoracic cavity during insertion, reaching areas difficult for the active bending section. It can also flexibly adjust the imaging angle, working in conjunction with the active bending section to observe from multiple perspectives, reducing blind spots and significantly expanding the observation range. The operator does not need to make excessive adjustments to the rigid insertion section, simplifying the operation process and improving operational convenience.

[0034] The front end 23 is located at the distal end of the insertion part 2 and integrates an optical imaging module and an illumination source. The optical imaging module is connected to the display and processing system of the operation part 1 via wires and is used to acquire intrathoracic images in real time; the illumination source provides a stable lighting environment to ensure clear imaging. The optical imaging module includes, but is not limited to, a CMOS / CCD sensor, and the illumination source includes, but is not limited to, an LED array.

[0035] The active bending section 22 is connected to the proximal end of the front end 23 and is composed of multiple snake-bone units hinged together. The snake-bone units are made of stainless steel or nickel-titanium alloy, and adjacent units are hinged together by rivets or pins to form a multi-directionally bendable snake-bone structure. The operating part 1 can control the bending angle of the snake-bone units by pulling a steel wire to achieve the active bending function. Optionally, to enhance the flexibility and tensile strength of the snake-bone structure, a second woven mesh 222 is fitted onto the outer surface of the active bending section 22. The mesh density is 60 strands per square centimeter and it is woven from stainless steel wire or polymer fiber. The lower density weaving design ensures the flexibility and controllability of the snake-bone structure during active bending.

[0036] The passive bending section 20 is connected to the proximal end of the active bending section 22 and adopts a spiral-cut tube structure. This spiral-cut tube is integrally formed from nickel-titanium alloy or medical-grade stainless steel through laser cutting. The tube wall of the spiral-cut tube has spiral grooves, and omnidirectional passive bending is achieved through the deformation of these spiral grooves. The spiral grooves can be unidirectional spiral grooves, bidirectional alternating spiral grooves, or combinations of multiple spiral grooves with different directions of rotation. Furthermore, the bending stiffness of the passive bending section 20 is less than that of the active bending section 22. When the rigid tube section 21 is subjected to lateral force, the deformation of the passive bending section 20 is significantly greater than that of the active bending section 22, thereby avoiding stress concentration at the connection between the snake-like structure and the rigid tube. To enhance the restoring elasticity, a first braided mesh 201 (i.e., a high-density braided tube) is fitted onto the outer surface of the spiral-cut tube, with a braiding density of 80-120 strands per square centimeter, preferably 90 strands. The high-density braided structure provides strong restoring force through cross-woven metal wires or highly elastic fibers, ensuring that the passive bending section 20 quickly returns to its original shape after being bent under stress, thus extending its service life.

[0037] In some embodiments, a rigid tubing segment 21, made of medical-grade stainless steel or rigid polymer, is connected to the proximal end of the passively bent segment 20 to provide rigid support for the insertion part 2. The proximal end of the rigid tubing segment 21 is connected to the operating part 1 via a flexible hose connector 25, and internally contains wires, an illumination optical fiber, and a tension wire.

[0038] To prevent the passively bent section 20 from torsional deformation during bending, in some embodiments of this invention, the connecting components of the insertion part 2, such as the active bending section 22, the junction of the spiral cutting tube and the rigid tube section 21, are wrapped and fixed by an elastic covering layer 6. When the operator rotates the operating part 1, the elastic covering layer 6 suppresses the axial torsion of the spiral cutting tube through frictional resistance. For example, the elastic covering layer 6 can be a corner rubber made of silicone or thermoplastic polyurethane material, tightly covering the active bending section 22, the spiral cutting tube, and the junction of the spiral cutting tube and the rigid tube section 21, restricting circumferential torsion, maintaining its shape stability, and preserving axial bending freedom.

[0039] The working process of the electronic thoracic endoscope provided by this utility model is as follows: The operator controls the active bending section 22 to bend in the target direction through the operating part 1, thereby adjusting the observation angle of the front end 23. When the rigid tube section 21 is subjected to lateral force due to contact with the guide tube inlet or intrathoracic tissue, the passive bending section 20 deforms preferentially to absorb external stress and prevent excessive bending moment at the connection between the active bending section 22 and the rigid tube section 21. The omnidirectional bending characteristics of the passive bending section 20 expand the adjustable range of the front end 23, reduce the blind spot, and at the same time, the high-density braided tube ensures rapid recovery after deformation, maintaining structural stability.

[0040] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "some embodiments," "some implementations," and "examples" indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

Claims

1. An electronic thoracic endoscope with a omnidirectionally bendable insertion part, comprising an operating part (1) and an insertion part (2) extending along its length, characterized in that, The insertion part (2) includes, from distal to proximal, the following components in sequence: The front end (23) is provided at the front end of the insertion part (2), and the front end (23) is provided with an optical imaging module and an illumination source; An active bending section (22) is provided at the proximal end of the aforementioned front end (23), which actively bends in response to the control of the operating part (1); A passive bending segment (20) is connected to the proximal end of an active bending segment (22). The passive bending segment (20) has omnidirectional bending characteristics and the bending stiffness of the passive bending segment (20) is less than that of the active bending segment (22). The rigid pipe section (21) is connected to the proximal end of the passively bent section (20).

2. The electronic thoracic endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that, The active bending segment (22) is a snake-bone structure that can be bent in multiple directions.

3. The electronic thoracic endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that, The passive bending section (20) includes a spiral cut tube, the wall of which is provided with a spiral groove.

4. The electronic thoracic endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that, The passive bending section (20) is fitted with a first woven mesh (201).

5. The electronic thoracic endoscope according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first woven net (201) adopts a high woven density, with a woven density of 80-120 strands per square centimeter.

6. The electronic thoracic endoscope according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first woven mesh (201) has a weaving density of 90 strands per square centimeter.

7. The electronic thoracic endoscope according to claim 4, characterized in that, The active bending section (22) is fitted with a second woven mesh (222).

8. The electronic thoracic endoscope according to claim 7, characterized in that, The second woven mesh (222) has a weaving density of 60 strands per square centimeter.

9. The electronic thoracic endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insertion part (2) further includes an elastic covering layer (6), which continuously covers the active bending section (22) and the passive bending section (20).

10. The electronic thoracic endoscope according to claim 9, characterized in that, The elastic covering layer (6) is a curved rubber.

Images