Tube and medical examination equipment

Abstract

A tube (12) for proctological examination has a tubular body (20) extending along an observation axis (A) and has, in the axial direction, a patient-side end, an opposite operator-side end, and a circumferential surface (30). The body (20) is transparent for axial light transmission and has an output surface (34) for light, the output surface (34) having a roughness such that light transmitted within the body (20) diffusely exits the output surface (34). Furthermore, a medical examination device (10) is shown.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a tube for proctological examination and a medical examination device.

[0002] Proctoscopes are well-known instruments and typically feature a tube that is inserted into the patient. It is also known that proctoscopes have built-in light sources to illuminate the examination area without additional aids, thus simplifying the examination.

[0003] In this procedure, light generated by a light source is typically coupled into the tube and coupled out again at the patient-side end of the tube. This illuminates the examination area, but very unevenly.

[0004] Therefore, there are known to be attachment sleeves that are placed on the patient-side end of the tube and result in uniform illumination of the examination area.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a tube and a medical examination device in which uniform illumination of the examination area is achieved in a simple manner.

[0006] The problem is solved by a tube for proctological examination with a tubular body extending along an observation axis and having a patient-side end, an opposite operator-side end, and a circumferential surface in the axial direction. The body is transparent for axial light transmission and has a light-emitting surface, the roughness of which allows light guided within the body to diffusely exit the surface.

[0007] The rough design of the output surface allows the light guided within the body to exit diffusely and in a targeted manner, resulting in particularly uniform and homogeneous illumination of the examination area without the need for separate components such as a mounting sleeve.

[0008] Light is guided within the body primarily by total internal reflection. For example, the conditions for total internal reflection are no longer met at the output coupling surface due to the increased roughness, so the light exits the body there.

[0009] The axial direction and the circumferential direction are to be understood in particular in relation to the observation axis.

[0010] The tube is suitable for human and veterinary medical examinations.

[0011] The coupling surface is formed particularly at the patient-side end of the body.

[0012] In one embodiment, the output surface is cloudy and / or opaque, has a roughness with a mean roughness value Ra [µm] of at least 0.05, in particular of at least 0.2, and / or has microstructures for light refraction, thereby achieving a particularly homogeneous illumination of the examination area.

[0013] For example, the output surface is cloudy and / or opaque when an associated light source is switched off. In contrast, the surface of the body can be clear and / or transparent.

[0014] The output coupling surface can have a length of at least 5 mm, in particular at least 10 mm, in the axial direction, i.e. in projection onto the observation axis.

[0015] For example, the output surface forms a Fresnel lens.

[0016] In order to use the vast majority of the light coupled into the body to illuminate the area under investigation, the roughness of the coupling surface is greater than the roughness of the circumferential surface, an inner surface of the body and / or a coupling surface.

[0017] In one embodiment, the body has an inner diameter, the inner diameter of which is smaller in the axial direction on the operator side of the coupling surface than in the area of ​​the coupling surface and / or on the patient side of the coupling surface. This prevents the user from being blinded.

[0018] In one embodiment, the output surface is arranged at an angle to the observation axis, in particular at an angle of at least 1°. In this way, a particularly large amount of light is directed into the area under investigation.

[0019] The angle can be less than or equal to 90°.

[0020] To further improve the homogeneity of the illumination, the output coupling surface can be completely closed in the circumferential direction and / or rotationally symmetric about the observation axis, in particular rotationally symmetric about any angle.

[0021] To avoid losses, the coupling surface can be adjacent to the patient-side end and / or partially form the patient-side end.

[0022] In one embodiment, the body has a step on its inner wall at the patient-side end, with the coupling surface being arranged on the step.

[0023] For example, the patient-side end of the body lies in a plane that is perpendicular or at an angle to the observation axis, thus facilitating insertion.

[0024] To improve the handling of the tube, the body, in particular the circumferential surface and / or the inner wall, can be conical or cylindrical, especially circular cylindrical.

[0025] In one embodiment, the body has a wall thickness between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, in particular between 3 mm and 4 mm; a length greater than or equal to 30 mm, in particular greater than or equal to 50 mm; a length less than or equal to 300 mm, in particular less than or equal to 100 mm; an outer diameter between 15 mm and 30 mm; and / or an inner diameter between 15 mm and 25 mm, in particular 20 mm, thereby providing a stable tube well suited for proctoscopic examinations.

[0026] The length is to be understood particularly in the axial direction, i.e., in the direction of the observation axis.

[0027] In one embodiment, the body has a coupling surface for light at the operator-side end, on an inner surface, on the circumferential surface, and / or on a projection extending from the circumferential surface, and / or the body has a centering sleeve at the operator-side end for attaching the tube to a handle. The coupling surface prevents scattering losses during light coupling.

[0028] The problem is further solved by a medical examination device, in particular a proctoscope, with a tube as previously described, a light source and a handle, wherein the light source is arranged such that light emitted by it is coupled into the body.

[0029] The features and advantages described for the tube apply equally to the examination device and vice versa.

[0030] In one embodiment, the handle is attached to the tube at the operator-side end and / or at an operator-side axial half of the tube, in particular wherein the handle and the tube are attached to each other in a way that allows removal without tools, or the handle and the tube are made in one piece.

[0031] In one embodiment, the light source comprises one or more LEDs, wherein the one or more LEDs are arranged in the handle, in the body, or on the coupling surface, and in particular are distributed uniformly in the circumferential direction. This arrangement further reduces coupling losses and / or further increases the homogeneity of the illumination.

[0032] For example, two, four, six or eight LEDs are provided.

[0033] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a medical examination device according to a first embodiment of the invention with a tube according to a first embodiment of the invention in a side view, Fig. 2 a cut through the tube according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a schematic enlargement of the patient-side end of the tube according to Fig. 1, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 further embodiments of a tube according to the invention in a representation as in Fig. 3, Fig. 6. Another embodiment of a medical examination device with a further embodiment of a tube according to the invention in a schematic sectional view, and Fig. 7 a sectional view through the tube according to Fig. 6 perpendicular to the observation axis.

[0034] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a medical examination device 10 in side view.

[0035] The medical examination device 10 in the illustrated embodiment is a proctoscope and has a tube 12, a handle 14 and a light source 16.

[0036] The tube 12 is attached to the handle 14. For example, the tube 12 can be attached to the handle 14 in a way that allows it to be removed without tools. In the illustrated embodiment, the tube 12 is simply pushed onto the handle 14.

[0037] The handle 14 incorporates the light source 16, which is designed to emit light in the direction of the tube 12. The light source 16 comprises, for example, LEDs and / or light guides.

[0038] Handle 14 can also house a power source ( Fig. 6) such as a battery or accumulator.

[0039] The medical examination device 10 and in particular the tube 12 have an observation axis A, along which optical examinations can be carried out on the patient by the operator of the medical examination device 10.

[0040] The medical examination device 10 and the tube 12 each have an operator-side end (in Fig. 1 right) and a patient-side end (in Fig. 1 left), wherein the patient-side end of the tube 12 is designed to be inserted into the patient.

[0041] In Fig. Figure 2 shows the tube 12 alone in a section along the observation axis A.

[0042] The tube 12 has a tubular body 20 and, in the illustrated embodiment, a centering sleeve 22 for attaching the tube 12 to the handle 14.

[0043] The body 20 and the centering sleeve 22, for example, are manufactured together in one piece; in particular, they are a single injection-molded part.

[0044] The tube 12 is attached to the handle 14 for use with its operator-side end, in particular with its operator-side half, with respect to the axial direction or observation axis A.

[0045] Body 20 is made of transparent material and is in particular predominantly see-through and / or transparent.

[0046] Furthermore, a protective section 24 can be formed on the body 20, which extends perpendicular to the observation axis A.

[0047] The body 20 extends parallel to the observation axis A, in particular the central axis of the body 20 is the observation axis A.

[0048] Body 20 thus has a cavity that extends along the observation axis. In the illustrated embodiment, the cavity is circular in cross-section. However, other geometries of the cavity are conceivable.

[0049] The cavity is open at both the patient-side end and the operator-side end, so that, for example, an instrument can be guided through the tube 12.

[0050] The cavity is bounded in the radial direction by an inner wall 26 of the body 20. An inner surface 28 is formed on the inner wall 26.

[0051] The body 20 also has a circumferential surface 30 on its outer circumference, which limits the body 20 to the outside.

[0052] The inner surface 28 and / or the circumferential surface 30 are smooth and therefore clear.

[0053] Body 20 has a wall thickness between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, in particular between 3 mm and 4 mm.

[0054] Its length in the direction of the observation axis A is greater than or equal to 30 mm, in particular greater than or equal to 50 mm and / or less than or equal to 300 mm, in particular less than or equal to 100 mm.

[0055] The outer diameter of the body 20 at the circumferential surface 30 is between 15 mm and 30 mm, and the inner diameter of the body 20 at the inner surface 28 is between 15 mm and 25 mm, in particular at 20 mm.

[0056] In the illustrated embodiment, the body 20 is conical, so that it tapers from the operator-side end towards the patient-side end.

[0057] This applies, for example, only to the outer diameter, which is smaller at the patient-side end than at the operator-side end. The inner diameter of the body 20, for example, is constant along the observation axis A.

[0058] It is also conceivable that the body 20 is cylindrical, in particular circular-cylindrical.

[0059] At the operator-side end, the body 20 has a coupling surface 32. This coupling surface 32 is particularly smooth and can be oriented perpendicular to the observation axis A.

[0060] In the illustrated embodiment, the coupling surface 32 rests against the handle 14 when the tube 12 is attached to the handle 14, and the light source 16 is designed on or in the handle 14 such that the light emitted by it is coupled into the body 20 through the coupling surface 32.

[0061] In Fig. Figure 3 is the patient-side end of body 20 shown schematically and enlarged.

[0062] The patient-side end of body 20 lies in a plane that is, for example, perpendicular to the observation axis A. It is also conceivable that this plane lies at an angle greater than 0° to the observation axis A.

[0063] At the patient-side end, the body 20, for example the inner wall 26, has a coupling surface 34 for light.

[0064] The output surface 34 is the lateral surface of a truncated cone that increases in size towards the patient. The output surface 34 is arranged at an angle α to the observation axis A. The angle α is greater than 0°, in particular, the angle α is at least 1°.

[0065] In the axial direction, i.e. in projection onto the observation axis A, the output coupling surface 34 has, for example, a length of at least 5 mm, in particular of at least 10 mm.

[0066] The coupling surface 34 is, for example, as in the illustrated embodiment, completely closed in the circumferential direction and rotationally symmetric about any angles around the observation axis A.

[0067] For example, the coupling surface 34 borders the patient-side end and extends from there towards the operator side. It is also conceivable that the coupling surface 34 forms at least part of the patient-side end.

[0068] The coupling surface 34 is open towards the patient, so that the inner diameter of the body 20 in the axial area of ​​the coupling surface 34 and / or on the patient side of the coupling surface 34 is larger than on the operator side of the coupling surface 34.

[0069] The inner diameter on the operator side of the coupling surface 34 is therefore smaller than in the axial area of ​​the coupling surface 34 or on the patient side of the coupling surface 34.

[0070] The output coupling surface 34 is not smooth, like the input coupling surface 32, the inner surface 28, and / or the circumferential surface 30, but rough. The roughness is chosen such that light guided within the body 20 emerges diffusely from the output coupling surface 34. The output coupling surface 34 is therefore not clear, but cloudy and / or opaque.

[0071] The mean roughness Ra [µm] of the coupling surface 34 is, for example, greater than 0.05, in particular greater than 0.2.

[0072] The roughness of the coupling surface 34 is, for example, greater than the roughness of the circumferential surface 30, the roughness of the inner surface 28 and / or the roughness of the coupling surface 32.

[0073] The roughness can be random or disorderly, for example by subsequent roughening of the coupling surface after injection molding of the tube 12 or by corresponding rough surfaces in the injection mold.

[0074] During the operation of the medical examination device 10, light is coupled into the body 20 via the coupling surface 32 by the light source 16.

[0075] Body 20 is designed as a light guide, so that the light is guided parallel to the observation axis A to the patient-side end of body 20. The light guide is based, for example, on the principle of total internal reflection.

[0076] At the patient-side end, the light exits the body through the coupling surface 34, since the body 20 no longer acts as a light guide in the area of ​​the coupling surface 34.

[0077] This is favored by both the angle α and the roughness of the coupling surface 34.

[0078] The high roughness of the coupling surface 34 leads to an intended scattering of the light, thereby achieving uniform illumination of the area in front of the patient-side end of the tube 12. No further aids are necessary for this, making the tube 12 particularly simple and cost-effective. In particular, the tube 12 is a single piece.

[0079] In the Fig. Figures 4 to 6 show further embodiments of the tube 12 and the medical examination device 10, respectively, which essentially correspond to the first embodiment described above. Therefore, only the differences are discussed, and identical and functionally equivalent parts are designated with the same reference numerals. The features described for the various embodiments can also be combined within these further embodiments.

[0080] In Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the tube 12.

[0081] In this embodiment, the coupling surface 34 is formed at an angle of greater than 80°, in the example shown even at 90° to the observation axis.

[0082] The inner wall 26 thus has a step in the area of ​​the patient-side end, on which the coupling surface 34 is arranged.

[0083] In this embodiment, the decoupling surface 34 describes a circle and lies in a plane. In the illustrated embodiment, this plane is perpendicular to the observation axis A, but it can also be arranged at an angle greater than 0° to it. Backscatter towards the operator-side end can be reduced in this way.

[0084] For this purpose, the centering sleeve 22 can be inserted into a receptacle of the handle 14.

[0085] In Fig. Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of the tube 12, wherein Fig. 5 the same representation as Fig. 3 shows.

[0086] In this embodiment, the roughness of the output surface 34 is generated by microstructures 36. These microstructures 36 can be randomly or selectively formed to scatter the light and / or to determine certain properties of the illumination light.

[0087] The coupling surface 34 can therefore be designed or act similarly to a Fresnel lens or micro-Fresnel lens.

[0088] In Fig. Figure 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the medical examination device 10 in a schematic side view.

[0089] In contrast to the first embodiment, the tube 12 and the handle 14 are manufactured as a single piece and are therefore permanently attached to each other. In this case, the medical examination device 10 is, for example, a disposable item.

[0090] The coupling of light into body 20 can be carried out as described above or as in Fig. 6 shown.

[0091] In the fourth embodiment, the light source 16 has several LEDs 38, here four pieces, which are arranged on the coupling surface 32 and attached there.

[0092] In Fig. Figure 7 shows a section through the tube 12 opposite the observation axis A towards the operator-side end. It can be seen that the LEDs 38 are evenly distributed around the circumference of the body 20 to achieve uniform illumination.

[0093] It is also conceivable that fewer LEDs (38), for example two, or more LEDs (e.g. six or eight) are used.

[0094] It is also conceivable that the LEDs 38 are integrated into the body 20, for example, by being directly enclosed during the injection molding of the body 20.

[0095] It is also conceivable that the coupling surface 32 is not provided at the operator-side end, but rather on the circumferential surface, on the inner surface and / or on a projection 40 extending radially from the circumferential surface 30 (in Fig. 6 (shown as dashed lines).

[0096] The invention has been described above with reference to an exemplary tube in which the circumferential surface of the body is closed and the coupling surface is formed at the patient-side end.

[0097] The invention also includes tubes that are designed differently. For example, the body can have an examination window on one outer circumference, i.e., it is not completely closed.

[0098] For example, the window extends completely through the body in the axial direction, so that the body is not closed in cross-section.

[0099] It is conceivable that the cavity in the body is closed at the patient-side end. In this case, the observation axis A corresponds to the axis of the tube.

[0100] In the case of tubes with windows, the body may have a coupling surface located in the area of ​​the window, for example in the axial area of ​​the window and / or in an area extending from the window towards the operator-side end.

[0101] The coupling surface can be formed on the inner wall.

[0102] In this way, examination areas to the side of the tube can also be easily illuminated.

Claims

[1] Tube for proctological examination with a tubular body (20) extending along an observation axis (A) and having a patient-side end, an opposite operator-side end and a circumferential surface (30) in the axial direction, wherein the body (20) is transparent for axial light guidance and has an output surface (34) for light, wherein the output surface (34) has such roughness that light guided in the body (20) diffusely exits the output surface (34). [2] Tube according to claim 1, characterized by , that the coupling surface (34) is opaque, has a roughness with a mean roughness Ra of at least 0.05, in particular at least 0.2 and / or has microstructures (36) for light refraction. [3] Tube according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the roughness of the coupling surface (34) is greater than the roughness of the circumferential surface (30), an inner surface (28) of the body (20) and / or a coupling surface (32). [4] Tube according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the body (20) has an inner diameter, wherein the inner diameter in the axial direction is smaller on the operator side of the coupling surface (34) than in the area and / or patient side of the coupling surface (34). [5] Tube according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the output coupling surface (34) is arranged at an angle (α) to the observation axis (A), in particular at an angle (α) of at least 1°. [6] Tube according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the output coupling surface (34) is completely closed in the circumferential direction and / or rotationally symmetric about the observation axis (A), in particular rotationally symmetric about any angles. [7] Tube according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the coupling surface (34) adjoins the patient-side end and / or partially forms the patient-side end. [8] Tube according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the body (20) has a step on its inner wall (26) at the patient-side end, wherein the coupling surface (34) is arranged on the step. [9] Tube according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the patient-side end of the body (20) lies in a plane that is perpendicular or at an angle to the observation axis. [10] Tube according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the body (20), in particular the circumferential surface (30) and / or the inner wall (26), is conical or cylindrical, in particular circular cylindrical. [11] Tube according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the body (20) has a wall thickness between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, in particular between 3 mm and 4 mm; a length greater than or equal to 30 mm, in particular greater than or equal to 50 mm; a length less than or equal to 300 mm, in particular less than or equal to 100 mm; an outer diameter between 15 mm and 30 mm; and / or an inner diameter between 15 mm and 25 mm, in particular between 20 mm. [12] Tube according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the body (20) has a coupling surface (32) for light at the operator-side end, on an inner surface (28), on the circumferential surface (30) and / or a projection (40) extending from the circumferential surface (30), and / or that the body (20) has a centering sleeve (22) at the operator-side end for attaching the tube (12) to a handle (14) of a medical examination device (10). [13] Medical examination device, in particular proctoscope, comprising a tube (12) according to one of the preceding claims, a light source (16) and a handle (14), wherein the light source (16) is arranged such that light emitted by it is coupled into the body (20). [14] Medical examination device according to claim 13, characterized by , that the handle (14) is attached to the tube (12) at the operator-side end and / or at an operator-side half of the tube (12), in particular wherein the handle (14) and the tube (12) are attached to each other in a way that allows removal without tools or the handle (14) and the tube (12) are formed in one piece. [15] Medical examination device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized by, that the light source (16) has one or more LEDs (38), wherein the one or more LEDs (38) are arranged in the handle (14), in the body (20) and / or on the coupling surface (32), in particular evenly distributed in the circumferential direction.

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