Endoscope with cooling device

Abstract

The invention relates to an endoscope (10) comprising a particularly elongated shaft (7), a headpiece (8) arranged at a proximal end and preferably designed as a handle, an electronic component generating heat loss, a light source, a light guide or a light guide coupling point (12), and a heat-conducting element (1) for thermally coupling the shaft (7) and the headpiece (8), wherein the headpiece (8) comprises a heat sink (2) with an active cooling element (3) thermally coupled thereto, which is designed to transfer heat from the headpiece (8) to a heat conductor (6) preferably detachable thereto.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device for endoscopes and an endoscope comprising such a cooling device.

[0002] In modern endoscopy, the provision of a light source for illumination when examining cavities that are generally difficult to access is essential. For this purpose, common endoscopes include a corresponding light source that can be activated as needed. The light source can be an internal light source, for example, located in a handle of the endoscope, or an external light source that can be coupled to the endoscope via a light guide. Due to the absorption of the illuminating light and the heat-generating components in the endoscope, such as LEDs and image sensors, temperatures on the endoscope shaft and / or endoscope handle can rise during use. These values ​​can sometimes be significantly higher than room temperature, which is perceived as uncomfortable for the user on the handle and can quickly exceed permissible values ​​on the endoscope shaft.

[0003] To address this problem, it is already known to couple heat sources arranged in the endoscope shaft to the endoscope handle via passive heat conductors and to enable cooling of the shaft or a lowering of the shaft temperature by means of conduction or heat conduction into the handle.

[0004] For example, EP 2 394 567 A1 discloses an endoscope with an elongated shaft, a head piece with a housing at a proximal end of the shaft, a light source arranged in the shaft in a distal region thereof, which generates waste heat, and a passive cooling system which has at least one heat pipe arranged in the shaft in the form of a heat pipe, which is thermally coupled to the at least one light source in order to dissipate the waste heat in the direction of the proximal head piece, wherein a heat sink body is arranged in the head piece, to which the at least one heat pipe is thermally coupled, and which absorbs the waste heat from the at least one heat pipe and releases it to the environment directly or via the housing of the head piece.

[0005] The disadvantage of this known arrangement is that, depending on the design of the handle and the components within it, heat dissipation into the grip is ineffective. Especially with electronics integrated into the handle, which also generate waste heat, the passive heat conductors provided can cause heat to be transferred from the handle to the shaft, further heating it.

[0006] Furthermore, the endoscope handle must meet not only ergonomic but also hygienic requirements, particularly with regard to a surface that is as smooth and easy to clean as possible. Therefore, the handle, particularly its size and surface texture, is not very suitable for efficient heat dissipation. Furthermore, the existing handle surface is reduced or heated to body temperature when used by the user's hand enclosing it. Cooling the shaft or handle by convection or heat transfer to the surrounding medium is also not very effective because the surrounding medium, air, is usually only at room temperature, meaning there is no usable or defined temperature gradient for effective heat dissipation.

[0007] Based on the known prior art, it is the object of the present invention to provide an endoscope with improved thermal management, preferably without adversely affecting the usage properties and / or the handle ergonomics of the endoscope.

[0008] This object is achieved by the endoscope having a cooling device according to the independent claims. The dependent claims describe advantageous developments of the present invention. All combinations of at least two of the features disclosed in the claims, the description, and / or the figures fall within the scope of the invention.

[0009] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to an endoscope comprising a particularly elongated shaft, a headpiece arranged at a proximal end and preferably designed as a handle, an electronic component or light source generating waste heat, and a heat-conducting element for thermally coupling the shaft and the headpiece, wherein the headpiece comprises a heat sink body with an active cooling element thermally coupled thereto, which is designed to dissipate heat from the headpiece to a heat line connected thereto, preferably detachably.

[0010] The endoscope according to the invention enables optimized cooling and thus improved handling of the endoscope for a user. By providing an active cooling element coupled to a heat sink body, heat can be effectively dissipated from the endoscope shaft and the endoscope headpiece or handle. Thus, the temperature of the handle and shaft can be kept within a comfortable and acceptable range for the user, even in the presence of high heat dissipation by integrated electronic components or light sources. This avoids an enlargement of the handle surface, which is disadvantageous from an ergonomic point of view, or a change in the endoscope shaft and / or handle surface, which is disadvantageous from a cleaning point of view.In addition to surface convection, heat is dissipated from the shaft and headpiece by means of the active cooling element into a heat pipe or waste heat pipe that can be thermally coupled to the active cooling element. The heat pipe connected to the cooling element preferably functions as an extended heat exchanger and / or heat sink. In particular, the heat pipe is preferably designed as a heat sink and / or heat exchanger to dissipate the heat to the surroundings, in particular to the ambient air, of the heat pipe.

[0011] The active cooling element must be distinguished from a purely passive cooling element, such as a heat sink. The active cooling element is preferably a heat pump, which transfers or pumps the waste heat from the endoscope via a preferably controllable temperature gradient into the heat pipe or a supply cable with heat-conducting structures.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the cooling element comprises a first region to be cooled, thermally coupled to the heat sink body in the headpiece or handle, and a second region to be heated, thermally coupled to a heat coupling block. The heat sink body and / or the heat coupling block are preferably formed as a copper block.

[0013] The active cooling element or heat pump is preferably designed as a Peltier element, which creates a temperature difference between a first and a second area when current flows through it. The Peltier element is preferably controlled and / or regulated with power via a supply cable that is connected to the endoscope or can be selectively connected via a corresponding electronic connection. The Peltier element comprises semiconducting materials such as bismuth telluride and alloys such as bismuth selenide, which are arranged between two ceramic or metallic plates. The two plates serve as electrical contacts and can be connected to a voltage source to generate an electric field. When a current flows through the Peltier element, heat is transported from one side to the other, cooling one side and heating the other.The Peltier element preferably comprises many small semiconductor cells, which can be connected in series or parallel to increase the cooling capacity.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the endoscope comprises a control element integrated therein or connectable thereto, which is designed to control and / or regulate the cooling element. The control element can be arranged or provided, for example, in the headpiece or handle of the endoscope. Alternatively, the control element can be provided externally and connected to the active cooling element, for example, via a supply cable that can be selectively connected to the endoscope. The control element is further preferably designed to dynamically control the power of the cooling element. In this case, the control element can form a manual and / or automatic control system.

[0015] The heat sink body is preferably formed integrally in the head piece and thermally coupled to the heat-conducting element. This allows waste heat from the shaft to be transported to or dissipated by the heat sink body in the head piece. The heat sink body can be arranged centrally or close to the surface in the head piece. The heat-conducting element for thermally coupling the shaft and head piece preferably comprises at least one heat pipe in the form of a heat pipe, which extends from the shaft into the head piece and is designed to dissipate heat from the shaft into the proximally arranged head piece. The heat pipe further preferably extends from a distal region of the shaft into the proximally arranged head piece. This allows heat to be effectively transported to or dissipated by the entire shaft region, including, for example, a distally arranged lighting device or light source, to the heat sink body.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the heat conductor for dissipating heat from the endoscope headpiece is integrally formed or arranged in a supply cable of the endoscope. The term "supply cable of the endoscope" refers in particular to a flexible cable that can be selectively connected to the endoscope body and in particular to the headpiece, and is designed to supply power to the electronic components arranged in the endoscope, including, for example, a camera and / or a light source, as well as other functions such as an air and / or water supply.

[0017] The heat pipe for dissipating heat from the headpiece preferably comprises at least one heat-conducting channel integrated into the supply cable, in particular in the form of at least one metal strip, and / or a heat-conducting shield element for heat dissipation. The heat-conducting channel or the heat-conducting element are preferably arranged in addition to the lines provided in the supply cable for supplying power, water, and / or air to the endoscope.

[0018] The supply cable further advantageously comprises integrated heat exchange elements designed to transfer heat to the ambient air. The heat exchange elements are preferably thermally coupled or connected to the at least one integrated, heat-conducting channel or heat-conducting element. The heat exchange elements are preferably at least partially enclosed by a cable sheath section assigned to them. This section can be formed integrally with the cable sheath otherwise surrounding the supply cable or separately therefrom. The cable sheath section can have a sheath thickness that is reduced compared to the remaining cable sheath for optimized heat dissipation to the ambient air. The heat exchange elements can be designed as passive or alternatively as active heat exchange elements, preferably in the form of Peltier elements.The latter can be directly connected to a power supply integrated in the cable and provide a significantly increased temperature gradient to the ambient air for cooling purposes.

[0019] The endoscope preferably comprises a light source with a light output of more than 200 mW, preferably more than 300 mW. The light source is preferably arranged in a distal section or region of the shaft. The present invention allows the resulting waste heat from the light source to be effectively dissipated.

[0020] In a further aspect, the invention relates to a system comprising an endoscope as described above and a supply cable that can be selectively connected thereto, which is designed to dissipate heat from the headpiece of the endoscope and has at least one integrally formed heat conductor. The excess heat from the endoscope can preferably be dissipated in a controllable manner by means of the active cooling element arranged in the endoscope to the supply cable having the heat conductor. The supply cable or sections of the supply cable are preferably designed as extended heat exchangers and / or heat sinks for dissipating heat to the ambient air.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the system further comprises a control unit for controlling and / or regulating the cooling element of the endoscope. This control unit can be provided externally to the endoscope. The control unit is preferably connected to the cooling element of the endoscope via the supply cable. The control unit can have a user interface such as a switch or a dial for controlling and / or regulating the cooling element.

[0022] To avoid repetition, reference is made to the previously described endoscope according to the invention. The features disclosed for the device are intended to be disclosed and claimable for the method, and vice versa.

[0023] Details, advantageous effects and details of the present invention are explained below with reference to the purely schematic, merely exemplary drawings.

[0024] Showing: Fig. 1 a schematic sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the endoscope according to the invention, and Fig. 2 a side sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the supply cable section of the endoscope.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows the endoscope 10 according to the invention, comprising a shaft 7 with a headpiece 8 arranged at a proximal end of the shaft, which is designed as a handle. The endoscope further comprises an electronic component or light source that generates heat loss, in particular an LED light source 12 arranged distally on the shaft (shown only schematically). A heat-conducting element 1 is arranged in the shaft 7, which extends into the headpiece or handle 8 and thereby thermally couples the shaft 7 and the headpiece 8. The heat-conducting element 1 preferably extends into a distal end of the shaft and serves to dissipate heat from an LED light source provided in the distal end into the handle 8.

[0026] According to the invention, the endoscope 10 further comprises a heat sink body 2 arranged in the headpiece, with an active cooling element 3 thermally coupled thereto, which is designed to transfer heat from the headpiece 8 or handle to a heat line 5 preferably detachably connected thereto. The active cooling element is preferably formed by a heat pump and more advantageously by a Peltier element, which generates a temperature difference between a first and second region when current flows through it. In particular, the heat pump 3 comprises a first region 3a to be cooled, which is thermally coupled to the heat sink body 2, and a second heating region 3, which is thermally coupled to a heat coupling block 4. The heat sink body 2 and / or the heat coupling block 4 are preferably each formed as a copper block.

[0027] To control the heat pump 3, the endoscope 10 can have a control element 11a, for example, integrated into the handle, or an externally provided control unit 11b that can be selectively connected to the endoscope. The control element 11a or the control unit 11b preferably comprises a user interface for controlling and / or regulating the cooling element 3.

[0028] The heat pipe 5 designed to dissipate heat from the handle 8 is preferably arranged or formed integrally in a supply cable 6 of the endoscope, in which lines for supplying power, water, and / or air to the endoscope 10 can be provided. The supply cable 6 has a plug section 6a, which is designed to be selectively plugged into or connected to a provided receptacle 8a in the handle 8. The plug section 6a is designed such that the heat pipe 5 is thermally coupled to the heat coupling block 4 when plugged in.

[0029] As in Fig. 2, the heat line 5 can comprise at least one heat-conducting channel integrated in the supply cable 6, in particular in the form of at least one metal strip for heat dissipation from the head piece 8. The heat line 5 is preferably arranged in addition to a supply line (6c) provided in the supply cable 6 for supplying power, water and / or air to the endoscope (6c). The supply cable 6 can have at least one, preferably a plurality of integrated heat exchange elements 9a in the cable. This or these can be designed in the form of essentially hollow-cylindrical metal sections which are thermally coupled to the heat line 5 and are designed to transfer heat to the ambient air. The heat exchange elements 9a are at least partially enclosed by a respective cable sheath section 9b. This can be provided as a separate cable sheath section 9b in oron the cable sheath 6b of the supply cable 6, which at least partially overlaps with the adjacent cable sheath 6b of the supply cable 6 (as in . Fig. 2), or alternatively, as a cable sheath section integrated into the cable sheath 6b, preferably with a reduced wall thickness (not shown). The heat exchange elements 9a can be designed as passive or active heat exchange elements. In a preferred embodiment, the heat exchange elements 9a comprise one or more Peltier elements as active heat exchange elements. These can be connected to the power supply integrated in the supply cable 6. Waste heat generated distally in the endoscope, in particular from a light source, is transferred from the heat conductor 1 to the heat sink body 2, which is cooled by the cooling area 3a of the heat pump 3. The heat is transferred by the heat pump to the heat coupling block 4, which transfers the heat to heat conductors 5 available in the supply cable 6, which in turn act as heat sinks, i.e., they dissipate the heat to the environment via the length or sections of the cable. The heat conductor 5 and the cable sheath sections 9a, 9b enable effective heat dissipation from the handle 8 of the endoscope 10, while the supply cable 6 is kept within a temperature range that is comfortable to touch. List of reference symbols 1 heat-conducting element 2 heat sink bodies 3 Active cooling element 3a cooling area heat pump 3b warming area heat pump 4 heat coupling block 5 heat conductor supply cable 6 supply cables 6a Plug section 6b Cable sheath 6c Supply line(s) 7 Endoscope shaft 8 Headpiece / Handle 8a Supply cable receptacle 9a Heat exchange elements 9b Cable sheath 11a Control element 11b Control unit 12 Light source QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 2 394 567 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Endoscope comprising a particularly elongated shaft (7), a head piece (8) arranged at a proximal end and preferably designed as a handle, an electronic component generating heat loss, light source, light guide or light guide coupling point (12), and a heat-conducting element (1) for the thermal coupling of shaft (7) and head piece (8), characterized by that the head piece (8) comprises a heat sink body (2) with an active cooling element (3) thermally coupled thereto, which is designed to transfer heat from the head piece (8) to a heat line (5) preferably detachably connected thereto. [2] Endoscope according to claim 1, characterized by that the heat pipe (5) is designed as a heat sink and / or heat exchanger in order to dissipate the heat to an environment. [3] Endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the cooling element (3) comprises a heat pump, in particular in the form of a Peltier element, which generates a temperature difference between a first and a second region when current flows through it. [4] Endoscope according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the endoscope comprises a control element integrated therein or connectable thereto which is designed to control and / or regulate the cooling element. [5] Endoscope according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the active cooling element (3) has a first region (3a) to be cooled, which is thermally coupled to the heat sink body (2), and a second heating region (3b) which is thermally coupled to a heat coupling block (4). [6] Endoscope according to claim 5, characterized by that the heat sink body (2) and / or the heat coupling block (4) are designed as a copper block. [7] Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the heat sink body (2) is formed integrally in the head piece (8) and is thermally coupled to the heat-conducting element (1). [8] Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the heat-conducting element (1) for thermally coupling the shaft (7) and the head piece (8) comprises at least one heat pipe in the form of a heat pipe, which extends from the shaft (7) into the head piece (8) and is designed to dissipate heat from the shaft (7) into the proximally arranged head piece (8). [9] Endoscope according to claim 8, characterized by that the heat pipe (1) extends from a distal region of the shaft (7) into the proximally arranged head piece (8). [10] Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the heat pipe (5) for dissipating the heat from the head piece (8) is integrally formed in a supply cable (6) of the endoscope. [11] Endoscope according to claim 10, characterized bythat the heat line (5) comprises at least one heat-conducting channel integrated in the supply cable (6), in particular in the form of at least one metal strip, and / or a heat-conducting shield element for heat dissipation from the head piece (8). [12] Endoscope according to claim 11, wherein the heat-conducting channel or the heat-conducting element is arranged in addition to lines provided in the supply cable (6) for supplying power, water and / or air to the endoscope (10). [13] Endoscope according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized by that the supply cable (6) has integrated heat exchange elements which are designed to transfer heat to the ambient air. [14] Endoscope according to claim 13, characterized by that the heat exchange elements are at least partially enclosed by a cable sheath section. [15] Endoscope according to claim 13 or 14, characterized bythat the heat exchange elements are designed as active heat exchange elements, preferably in the form of Peltier elements. [16] Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the endoscope has a light source with a light output of more than 200 mW, preferably more than 300 mW, which is preferably arranged in a distal region of the shaft (7). [17] System comprising an endoscope (10) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 16 and a supply cable (6) which can be selectively connected thereto and which is designed to dissipate heat from the head piece (8) of the endoscope (10) and has at least one integrally formed heat line (5). [18] System according to claim 17, further comprising a control unit for controlling and / or regulating the cooling element (3) of the endoscope (10).

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