Video ureteroscope

Abstract

The ureteroscope tip (20) includes a tip portion (21) and an image acquisition device (22). The tip portion (21) has an imaging end face (2101) and a suction end face (2102) located forward of the imaging end face (2101). The tip portion (21) includes a suction hole (211) communicating with a suction passage (101) of the ureteroscope body (10) and a working hole (212) for passing an actuating member (12). The suction hole (211) extends in the axial direction from the suction passage (101) to the suction end face (2102). It extends forward to form a suction opening (2110), the working hole (212) extends diagonally forward to cause the operating member (12) protruding from the working hole (212) to protrude diagonally forward from the tip portion (21), the image acquisition device (22) includes a camera (221) attached to the imaging end face (2101) of the tip portion (21), and both the suction opening (2110) and the head (120) of the operating member (12) protruding from the working hole (212) are within the field of view of the camera (221).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of medical devices, and in particular to visual ureteroscopes. [Background technology]

[0002] Urinary stones are a common condition. Statistics show that the prevalence of urinary stones in adults is as high as 6.5%, with a 50% recurrence rate within 5 years, a trend that continues to rise year by year, posing a serious threat to people's health. With the recent development of minimally invasive treatment techniques, ureteroscopy has become an important treatment for this condition. Conventional ureteroscopes used in urinary stone removal surgery are primarily of two types: rigid and flexible. Rigid ureteroscopes are typically used only for the diagnosis of ureteral stones due to their rigid, non-bendable body. Flexible ureteroscopes, however, have become an increasingly important treatment for urinary stones. Taking ureteroscopes as an example, conventional flexible ureteroscopes may not be sufficient in terms of image acquisition, stone fragmentation, and removal of remaining stones. For example, although stones can be visualized at the curved part inside the renal pelvis, they cannot be aimed at using optical fibers, or after aiming, the image is blocked by the inner wall of the renal pelvis, making it impossible to observe the state of stone fragmentation. Alternatively, because there is only a small passage in the head of the flexible ureteroscope, the optical fibers can only fragment the stones and the remaining stones cannot be efficiently expelled from the body, resulting in reduced surgical efficiency.

[0003] To solve the above problems, clinicians have proposed using the principle of negative pressure suction to timely aspirate the broken stones out of the body. For example, as shown in Figure 1, Chinese utility model patent CN212574841U applies for a self-injection and drainage ureteroscope 1P, in which a camera 10P, an injection port 20P, an optical fiber passage port 30P, and an aspiration port 40P are all located on the front end of the ureteroscope, and the aspiration port 40P is located behind the camera 10P. The camera 10P captures working images of the end portion, observes the optical fiber, and breaks the stone. The stone is then washed away by a water jet and aspirated, completing an operating cycle that improves the stone removal efficiency.

[0004] However, during actual testing, due to factors such as the camera position, the direction of the optical fiber, the shape of the suction passage opening, and the arrangement of the injection passage, blind spots exist when crushing stones, making it difficult for the surgeon to provide accurate operational feedback. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the camera 10P is located in front of the suction passage opening 40P, which is outside the field of view of the camera 10P. Therefore, it is not possible to observe whether the crushed stone has entered the suction passage opening 40P or whether the suction passage opening 40P is blocked, which may pose a significant safety risk to the surgery.

[0005] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an image of the optical fiber 50P extending from the optical fiber passage opening 30P is observed. However, because the optical fiber 50P extending from the optical fiber passage opening 30P extends directly in front of the ureteroscope in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the camera 10P, the head of the optical fiber 50P can only reach directly in front of the ureteroscope. Thus, if a stone is located at a curved portion in the renal pelvis, when the camera 10P photographs the stone, the head of the optical fiber 50P is blocked by the renal pelvis and cannot be aimed at it. When the head of the optical fiber 50P aims at the stone, the field of view of the camera 10P is blocked by the renal pelvis and the state of the stone cannot be observed. In other words, the self-injecting and draining ureteroscope 1P has the problem that it can be seen but not crushed, or can be crushed but not seen, which may pose a significant safety risk to surgery. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] One object of the present invention is to provide a visual ureteroscope that allows the suction opening of the suction hole to be observed while observing the head of the optical fiber, thereby contributing to timely and accurate assessment of the surgical condition.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a visible ureteroscope. In one embodiment of the present invention, the suction opening and the head of the optical fiber of the visible ureteroscope can both be positioned within the field of view of an image capture device, so that while observing the stone fragmentation by the optical fiber, it is possible to observe in real time phenomena such as whether the fragmented stone has entered the suction opening of the suction hole or whether the suction opening of the suction hole is blocked.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a visible ureteroscope. In one embodiment of the present invention, the visible ureteroscope is freed from the limitation of the field of view angle of the image capture device by using a suction-before and imaging-after method, and ensures that both the suction opening and the head of the optical fiber are within the field of view of the image capture device without increasing the field of view angle of the image capture device.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a visible ureteroscope. In one embodiment of the present invention, the visible ureteroscope can guide an optical fiber through an oblique working hole to protrude obliquely forward, thereby allowing the head position of the optical fiber to be changed simply by rotating the ureteroscope, making it easier to observe the head of the optical fiber when crushing stones.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a visible ureteroscope. In one embodiment of the present invention, the central axis of the working hole in the visible ureteroscope is located in the meridional image plane of the camera, so that the image of the optical fiber coming out of the working hole overlaps with the visual central axis of the camera, and the image of the optical fiber is located at the bottom of the image captured by the camera, which is more compatible with human observation habits.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a visible ureteroscope, in one embodiment of the present invention, in which the optical fiber can be extended forward and protrude from the suction opening so as to simultaneously observe the status of the head of the optical fiber and the suction opening, ensuring smooth and efficient operation of the visible ureteroscope.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a visible ureteroscope. In one embodiment of the present invention, the suction end face and the optical fiber of the visible ureteroscope are located on the same side of the camera, and both the suction end face and the optical fiber extend diagonally forward, thereby realizing the effect of being able to fracture any visible object while observing the suction opening.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a visible ureteroscope. In one embodiment of the present invention, the meridional image plane of the camera in the visible ureteroscope passes through the suction opening of the suction hole, so that the visual central axis of the camera passes through the suction opening, making it easier to observe the state of the suction opening.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a visual ureteroscope. In one embodiment of the present invention, the visual ureteroscope has an obliquely designed suction opening that allows the operating state of the tip to be visualized, thereby helping the surgeon understand the surgical status.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a visible ureteroscope, and in one embodiment of the present invention, the visible ureteroscope has an increased size of the suction opening so that the suction opening covers as much of the entire front end surface of the tip as possible, thereby reducing the risk of the suction opening being blocked.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a visible ureteroscope, and in one embodiment of the present invention, the visible ureteroscope has an obliquely fronted suction opening that brings the suction opening within the field of view of the camera, contributing to observing the condition of the suction opening.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a visible ureteroscope, which does not require the use of a complex structure or design to achieve the above object. Therefore, the present invention not only provides a simple visible ureteroscope, but also successfully and effectively provides a solution to improve the practicality and reliability of the visible ureteroscope. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] To achieve at least one of the above advantages or other advantages and objectives, the present invention provides a visual ureteroscope, comprising a ureteroscope body and a ureteroscope tip, the ureteroscope body includes a ureteroscope tube and an actuation member attached to the ureteroscope tube, the ureteroscope body having an aspiration passage extending axially along the ureteroscope tube; the ureteroscope tip is disposed on the ureteroscope body, the ureteroscope tip including a tip portion and an image acquisition device; the tip portion is provided at the front end of the ureteroscope tube and has an imaging end surface and a suction end surface located forward of the imaging end surface, the tip portion includes a suction hole communicating with the suction passage and a working hole for passing the operating member, the suction hole extending forward in the axial direction from the suction passage to the suction end surface to form a suction opening, the working hole extending diagonally forward to allow the operating member coming out of the working hole to protrude diagonally forward from the tip portion, The image acquisition device includes a camera attached to the imaging end surface of the tip, and the suction opening of the suction hole and the head of the operating member protruding from the working hole are both within the field of view of the camera.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present application, the suction end face of the tip portion extends obliquely forward from the imaging end face of the tip portion.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present application, the suction end surface of the tip portion extends obliquely downward and forward from the imaging end surface.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present application, the suction end face of the tip portion includes a recessed end face extending in an arc inward from the imaging end face and a protrusion end face extending in an arc outward from the recessed end face, and the recessed end face of the suction end face is in contact with the imaging end face.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present application, the working opening of the working hole in the tip portion faces the suction opening of the suction hole in the tip portion.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present application, the central axis of the working hole of the tip portion intersects with the central axis of the suction hole.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the present application, the working hole in the tip portion extends obliquely from top to bottom.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the present application, the working hole extends obliquely inward and forward from the rear end surface of the tip portion to the inner wall surface of the suction hole, forming the working opening in the inner wall surface of the suction hole.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the present application, the central axis of the working hole of the tip portion is within the meridional image plane of the camera.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the present application, the central axis of the suction hole of the tip portion is within the meridional image plane of the camera.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the present application, the optical axis of the camera intersects with the central axis of the working hole.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the present application, the ureteroscope body further includes a working channel extending axially within the ureteroscope tube for inserting the operating member therethrough, and the working hole in the tip portion communicates with the working channel of the ureteroscope body.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the present application, the suction passageway and the working passageway of the ureteroscope body communicate with each other.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the present application, the ureteroscope body further includes an injection passage extending axially within the ureteroscope tube, and the tip portion further includes an injection hole communicating with the injection passage, the injection hole extending from the rear end surface of the tip portion to the outer peripheral side surface of the tip portion to form one or more injection openings in the outer peripheral side surface of the tip portion.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the present application, the injection passage of the ureteroscope body has a ring-shaped structure that surrounds the suction passage and the working passage.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the present application, the injection passage of the ureteroscope body has a profile structure and surrounds the suction passage.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the present application, the injection passageway and the working passageway of the ureteroscope body communicate with each other to form a complete annular passageway around the suction passageway.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the present application, the image capture device further includes at least one light source, the light source and the camera being mounted adjacent to the tip.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the present application, the actuating member is an optical fiber for emitting a laser to perform a lithotripsy operation.

[0037] Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings.

[0038] These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0039] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a partial structure of a self-injecting and draining ureteroscope in the prior art; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the application of the self-injecting and draining ureteroscope. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the application of the self-injecting and draining ureteroscope. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the state of a visible ureteroscope according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing the visible ureteroscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the application of the visible ureteroscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7]FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the visible ureteroscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a top view showing the visible ureteroscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the ureteroscope body of the visible ureteroscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10A to 10C are schematic diagrams showing the lithotripsy operation of the visible ureteroscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first example of the ureteroscope body of the visible ureteroscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a view showing a second example of the ureteroscope body of the visible ureteroscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a view showing a third example of the ureteroscope body of the visible ureteroscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a view showing a fourth example of the ureteroscope body of the visible ureteroscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] The following description is intended to disclose the present invention and enable those skilled in the art to realize the present invention. The preferred embodiments described below are merely illustrative, and other obvious variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The basic principles of the present invention defined in the following description may be applied to other embodiments, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and other technical configurations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0041] In disclosing the present invention, the orientations or positional relationships indicated by the terms "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," etc. are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings and are intended to facilitate and simplify the explanation of the present invention, but do not necessarily indicate or suggest that the subject devices or elements have a specific orientation, a specific structure, or an operation, and therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the above terms cannot be construed as limitations on the present invention.

[0042] In the present invention, the term "one" in the claims and the specification should be understood as "one or more", that is, in one embodiment, the number of one element may be one, and in another embodiment, the number of the element may be more than one. In the present disclosure, unless it is explicitly stated that the number of the element is only one, the term "one" should not be understood as unique or singular, and the term "one" should not be understood as a limitation on the number.

[0043] In the description of the present invention, terms such as "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood to indicate or imply any relative importance. Furthermore, in the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified or limited, the terms "coupled" and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, and may refer to, for example, a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection, a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, a direct connection, or an indirect connection via a medium. Those skilled in the art will be able to understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention depending on the specific circumstances.

[0044] In the description herein, references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples" mean that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, general references to the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Furthermore, if not mutually inconsistent, those skilled in the art may combine different embodiments or examples described herein and features of different embodiments or examples.

[0045] Summary of the application As explained in the background art, in the conventional self-injection and drainage ureteroscope, there are blind spots when crushing stones during actual examination due to factors such as the camera position, the direction of the optical fiber, the shape of the suction channel opening, and the arrangement of the injection channel, making it difficult for the doctor to provide accurate operational feedback. For example, since the camera is located in front of the suction passage opening, the suction passage opening is located outside the field of view of the camera, and therefore it is not possible to observe whether a fractured stone has entered the suction passage opening or whether the suction passage opening is blocked. Furthermore, since the optical fiber protruding from the fiber passage opening extends directly in front of the ureteroscope along a direction parallel to the optical axis of the camera, the head of the optical fiber can only reach directly in front of the ureteroscope. Thus, if a stone is located at a curved part in the renal pelvis, when the camera photographs the stone, the head of the optical fiber is blocked by the renal pelvis and cannot be aimed. When the head of the optical fiber is aimed at the stone, the field of view of the camera is blocked by the renal pelvis and the state of the stone cannot be observed. In other words, the self-injecting and draining ureteroscope has the problem that it can be seen but not crushed, or can be crushed but not seen, which may pose a significant safety risk to surgery.

[0046] Specifically, the technical idea of ​​the present application is to creatively design the tip of the ureteroscope after fully considering the characteristics of lithotripsy surgery and the actual usage scenarios of the ureteroscope. In this way, when performing minimally invasive treatment surgery, not only can the working status of the suction opening be observed in real time, but if it is visible, it can also be crushed, which helps doctors to judge the surgical status in a timely and accurate manner and improves the efficiency of stone crushing.

[0047] Based on this, the present application provides a visible ureteroscope including a ureteroscope body and a ureteroscope tip disposed on the ureteroscope body, the ureteroscope body including a ureteroscope tube and an actuation member attached to the ureteroscope tube, and having an aspiration passage extending axially along the ureteroscope tube, the ureteroscope tip including a tip portion and an image acquisition device, the tip portion being provided at a front end of the ureteroscope tube and having an imaging end face and an aspiration end face located forward of the imaging end face, the tip portion being configured to actuate the aspiration passage and a work hole for passing the actuating member, the suction hole extending axially forward from the suction passage to the suction end face to form a suction opening, the work hole extending diagonally forward to cause the actuating member coming out of the work hole to protrude diagonally forward from the tip, the image acquisition device including a camera attached to the imaging end face of the tip, and the suction opening of the suction hole and the head of the actuating member coming out of the work hole both being within the field of view of the camera.

[0048] Illustrative Examples 4 to 10 in the drawings, one embodiment of the present invention provides a visible ureteroscope 1 applicable to the treatment of diseases such as urinary stones. For ease of explanation, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that in this application, the direction in which the visible ureteroscope 1 enters the body is defined as the front, and the direction in which it is positioned outside the body is defined as the rear.

[0049] Specifically, as shown in Figures 4 to 6, the visible ureteroscope 1 may include a ureteroscope body 10 and a ureteroscope tip 20. The ureteroscope body 10 includes a ureteroscope tube 11 and an actuating member 12 attached to the ureteroscope tube 11, and has a suction passage 101 extending axially along the ureteroscope tube 11 and used to drain fluids and stones. The ureteroscope tip 20 is configured to be disposed in the ureteroscope body 10 and may include a tip portion 21 and an image acquisition device 22. The tip portion 21 is provided at the front end of the ureteroscope tube 11 and has an imaging end surface 2101 and a suction end surface 2102 located forward of the imaging end surface 2101. The tip portion 21 includes a suction hole 211 communicating with the suction passage 101 and a working hole 212 for passing the operating member 12. The suction hole 211 extends axially forward from the suction passage 101 to the suction end surface 2102 to form a suction opening 2110. The working hole 212 extends diagonally forward, causing the operating member 12 coming out of the working hole 212 to protrude diagonally forward from the tip portion 21. The image acquisition device 22 includes a camera 221 attached to the imaging end surface 2101 of the tip portion 21, and both the suction opening 2110 of the suction hole 211 and the head 120 of the operating member 12 coming out of the working hole 212 are within the field of view of the camera 221.

[0050] The imaging end surface 2101 of the tip portion 21 of the present application, together with the suction end surface 2102, forms the front end surface of the tip portion 21, and the rear end surface of the tip portion 21 is connected to the ureteroscope tube 11. As described above, the suction hole 211 extends from the rear end surface of the tip portion 21 to the front end surface of the tip portion 21, so that the suction hole 211 communicates with the suction passage 101 and at the same time extends forward to the suction end surface 2102 to form the suction opening 2110. Thus, liquid or crushed stones in a human organ first enter the suction hole 211 from the suction opening 2110 and then are discharged outside the body via the suction passage 101.

[0051] In addition, the camera 221 and the suction opening 2110 of the suction hole 211 in the ureteroscope tip 20 are located on the imaging end surface 2101 and the suction end surface 2102 of the tip portion 21, respectively, and the suction end surface 2102 is located in front of the imaging end surface 2101. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the suction opening 2110 of the suction hole 211 is located in front of the image acquisition device 22, thereby achieving the technical effect of suction being in front and imaging being in back. Part or all of the suction opening 2110 of the suction hole 211 is within the field of view of the camera 221. This makes it easy to ensure that the operating status of the suction opening 2110, for example, whether crushed stones have entered the suction opening 2110 or whether the suction opening 2110 is blocked, can be observed in real time. At the same time, since the working hole 212 extends diagonally forward, the operating member 12 coming out of the working hole 212 can be extended diagonally forward to within the field of view of the camera 221, so that the camera 221 can simultaneously photograph the suction opening 2110 and the head of the operating member 12, which helps the doctor to judge the operating status in a timely and accurate manner.

[0052] 5 and 7, the actuating member 12 may be, but is not limited to, an optical fiber 121, so that a laser is emitted through the optical fiber 121 to perform a lithotripsy operation. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the type of the actuating member 12 may vary depending on the application scenario of the surgical ureteroscope 1, and an operator can select the type according to their needs.

[0053] Furthermore, when medical examinations or surgeries are performed using the surgical ureteroscope 1, the ureteroscope tip 20 is inserted into the human body, i.e., the ureteroscope tip 20 is in a dark environment. Therefore, as shown in Figures 5 and 8, the image capture device 22 usually needs to further include at least one light source 222 to capture images. The light source 222 emits light to illuminate the object to be photographed, such as the renal pelvic cavity or the suction opening 2110, and the camera 221 receives the light reflected by the object to capture an image of the object. In this way, the captured image data is transmitted outside the body and displayed on a display, making it easier for doctors and other personnel to observe the internal conditions of the body.

[0054] For example, as shown in Figures 5 and 8, the camera 221 and the light source 222 are both attached to the imaging end surface 2101 of the tip portion 21, and the light source 222 is located near the camera 221, that is, the camera 221 and the light source 222 are attached adjacent to the tip portion 21, which helps to ensure that the light beam emitted from the light source 222 is reflected by the object to be photographed and then received by the camera 221 to obtain image information.

[0055] In detail, the light source 222 may be, but is not limited to, an LED or a cold light source, and the number of the light sources 222 may be one or more. The light sources 222 may be located on one or both sides of the camera 221, and may be specifically arranged according to needs and space, which will not be described in this application. The camera 221 may be, but is not limited to, a camera module consisting of a lens group and a CMOS image sensor, and it should be understood that other types of camera modules may be used as long as they can acquire image information.

[0056] 5 and 7, the suction end surface 2102 of the tip portion 21 extends obliquely forward from the imaging end surface 2101 of the tip portion 21, which makes it easier to ensure that the image capture device 22 attached to the imaging end surface 2101 is located rearward, the suction opening 2110 formed in the suction end surface 2102 is located forward, the suction opening 2110 is an oblique cut, and part or all of the suction opening 2110 is within the field of view of the image capture device 22. It should be understood that in the above example of the present application, the suction end surface 2102 of the tip portion 21 is an oblique cut surface. Of course, in other examples of the present application, the suction end surface 2102 of the tip portion 21 may be a planar cut surface, in which case the imaging end surface 2101 of the tip portion 21 may be located within a notch in the suction end surface 2102 or within the suction hole 211, so that the image acquisition device 22 can still acquire an image of the suction opening 2110.

[0057] 5 and 7 , the suction end surface 2102 of the tip portion 21 extends obliquely downward and forward from the imaging end surface 2101 so that the imaging end surface 2101 is located above the suction end surface 2102, thereby achieving an arrangement effect in which the camera is located at the top and the suction opening is located at the bottom. In this way, the image of the suction opening 2110 is located at the bottom of the screen captured by the camera 221, which conforms to people's observation habits and helps doctors operate the visual ureteroscope 1 based on image feedback. It should be understood that the terms up, down, left, and right described herein are defined based on the camera 221 being upright, i.e., the terms up, down, left, and right described herein correspond to the up, down, left, and right directions, respectively, when the camera 221 is upright.

[0058] 5 and 7, the suction end surface 2102 of the tip portion 21 preferably includes a recessed end surface 21021 that extends inward from the imaging end surface 2101 in an arc shape, thereby preventing the recessed end surface 21021 from blocking the field of view of the imaging end surface 2101 and helping to ensure that the suction opening 2110 located on the suction end surface 2102 is within the field of view of the camera 221. At the same time, the size of the suction opening 2110 of the tip portion 21 can be rapidly expanded at the recessed end surface 21021 until it becomes the same as the maximum inner diameter of the suction passage 101, helping to prevent large stones from blocking the suction opening 2110.

[0059] More preferably, the suction end surface 2102 of the tip portion 21 further includes a protrusion end surface 21022 extending outward in an arc from the recess end surface 21021, so that the tip portion 21 has a blunt structure, which prevents the tip portion 21 from forming a sharp head and contributes to preventing the tip portion 21 from damaging human organs.

[0060] Most preferably, the protrusion end surface 21022 of the suction end surface 2102 abuts the recessed end surface 21021 of the suction end surface 2102, and the recessed end surface 21021 of the suction end surface 2102 abuts the imaging end surface 2101, so that the recessed end surface 21021 of the suction end surface 2102 extends smoothly from the imaging end surface 2101 to the protrusion end surface 21022, ensuring that the tip portion 21 has a smooth end surface and further preventing the tip portion 21 from damaging human organs.

[0061] The viewing angle of the camera 221 may be, but is not limited to, 120°. According to the above-described arrangement of the present application, the visible ureteroscope 1 of the present application can visualize the ureteroscope tip 20 without increasing the viewing angle of the camera 221, which contributes to observing whether the suction opening 2110 of the tip portion 21 is blocked or whether a stone has entered the suction opening 2110. Of course, in other examples of the present application, the viewing angle of the camera 221 may be other angles.

[0062] According to the above embodiment of the present application, as shown in Figures 5 to 7, the working opening 2120 of the working hole 212 of the tip portion 21 may be directed toward the suction opening 2110 of the suction hole 211 of the tip portion 21, thereby allowing the optical fiber 121 coming out of the working hole 212 to protrude from the suction opening 2110 of the tip portion 21, ensuring that the protruding portion of the optical fiber 121 is within the field of view of the camera 221, making it easier to observe the position and state of the protruding portion of the optical fiber 121.

[0063] Furthermore, since the working hole 212 of the tip portion 21 extends diagonally forward and the working opening 2120 of the working hole 212 corresponds to the suction opening 2110 of the suction hole 211 of the tip portion 21, the optical fiber 121 coming out of the working hole 212 can extend diagonally forward from the suction opening 2110 of the tip portion 21. In this way, when the optical fiber 121 is operated to extend from the suction opening 2110 of the suction hole 211, the laser emitted from the optical fiber 121 can be used to break up stones in the human organs, thereby performing a stone breaking operation; when the optical fiber 121 is operated to retract into the suction opening 2110 of the suction hole 211, the laser emitted from the optical fiber 121 is emitted inside the suction hole 211; at this time, if the inside of the suction hole 211 is blocked by a stone, the emitted holmium laser can be used to break up the blocked stone, thereby achieving the effect of opening up the suction hole 211.

[0064] Preferably, the central axis 2121 of the working hole 212 of the tip portion 21 and the central axis 2111 of the suction hole 211 intersect so that the suction opening 2110 and the operating member 12 extending from the suction hole 211 are simultaneously photographed by the camera 221.

[0065] More preferably, the working hole 212 of the tip 21 extends obliquely from top to bottom so that the optical fiber 121 coming out of the working hole 212 extends downward from the upper side of the suction hole 211 through the suction opening 2110. In this way, in the screen captured by the camera 221, the image of the optical fiber 121 is also located at the bottom of the screen, which is in line with people's observation habits.

[0066] 7, the working hole 212 of the tip portion 21 can extend forward and obliquely inward from the rear end surface of the tip portion 21 to the inner wall surface of the suction hole 211, forming the working opening 2120 on the inner wall surface of the suction hole 211. In other words, the working hole 212 is an inclined hole with respect to the suction hole 211, whereby the optical fiber 121 coming out of the working hole 212 protrudes from the inner wall of the suction hole 211, and obstruction by the optical fiber 121 can be avoided when crushed stone or fluid enters the suction passage 101 through the suction hole 211 and is discharged.

[0067] Preferably, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the central axis 2121 of the working hole 212 of the tip portion 21 is located within the meridional image plane 2211 of the camera 221, that is, the optical fiber 121 extending from the suction opening 2110 extends within the meridional image plane 2211 of the camera 221, and the image of the optical fiber 121 basically extends along the visual central axis 2210 of the camera 221, thus achieving the effect of being able to crush tissue if it is visible, for example, at a curved point in the renal pelvic lumen without being obstructed by tissue.

[0068] More preferably, the central axis 2111 of the suction hole 211 of the tip 21 is also located within the meridional image plane 2211 of the camera 221, so that the image of the suction opening 2110 of the suction hole 211 is symmetrical about the visual central axis 2210 of the camera 221, making it easier to observe the working state of the suction opening 2110 to the maximum.

[0069] In addition, the optical axis 2212 of the camera 221 of the present application may be parallel to the central axis 2111 of the suction hole 211, or may not be parallel to the central axis 2111 of the suction hole 211, as long as it is ensured that part or all of the suction opening 2110 of the suction hole 211 is within the field of view of the camera 221.

[0070] In addition, to ensure that the operating member 12 coming out of the working hole 212 is within the field of view of the camera 221, the angle formed between the central axis 2121 of the working hole 212 of the present application and the optical axis 2212 of the camera 221 may be smaller than half the field of view of the camera 221.

[0071] Preferably, the optical axis 2212 of the camera 221 is biased toward the central axis 2111 of the suction hole 211, which helps reduce the need for a camera with a large viewing angle in the visible ureteroscope 1; that is, by selecting a camera with a small viewing angle, the effect of simultaneously observing the suction opening 2110 and the operating member 12 can be achieved.

[0072] More preferably, as shown in FIG. 7, the optical axis 2212 of the camera 221 intersects with the central axis 2121 of the working hole 212, so that the optical fiber 121 coming out of the working hole 212 can extend to the visual center of the camera 221. In this way, by controlling the visible ureteroscope 1 to position the stone in the visual center area of ​​the camera 221, the optical fiber 121 can target and crush the stone, improving the stone crushing efficiency and contributing to reducing the risk of accidentally damaging tissues in the renal pelvis.

[0073] 7, the ureteroscope body 10 may further include a working channel 102 extending axially within the ureteroscope tube 11 for inserting the operating member 12 therethrough, and the working hole 212 of the tip portion 21 communicates with the working channel 102, thereby allowing the operating member 12 inserted through the working channel 102 to extend obliquely forward from the tip portion 21 so as to be within the field of view of the camera 221. It should be understood that the operating member 12 inserted through the working channel 102 and the working hole 212 is movable, and thus, by pushing and pulling the operating member 12, the length of the operating member 12 extending from the working hole 212 can be increased or decreased, making it easier to fragment stones at different positions within the renal pelvis. For example, the optical fiber 121 may be movably attached to the working passage 102 so that the optical fiber 121 can be extended or retracted from the working hole 212 by pushing or pulling the optical fiber 121 .

[0074] In other words, the optical fiber 121 may be movably attached to the working channel 102 so that the optical fiber 121 can be extended or retracted from the suction opening 2110 of the suction hole 211 by pushing or pulling the optical fiber 121. In this way, when the optical fiber 121 is operated to extend from the suction opening 2110 of the suction hole 211, a laser emitted from the optical fiber 121 can be used to break up stones in a human organ, and when the optical fiber 121 is operated to retract into the suction opening 2110 of the suction hole 211, the laser emitted from the optical fiber 121 is emitted into the suction hole 211. At this time, if the suction hole 211 is blocked by a stone, the emitted holmium laser can be used to break up the blocked stone, thereby achieving the effect of opening the suction hole 211.

[0075] 7 and 11, in the first example of the present application, the suction passage 101 and the working passage 102 in the ureteroscope body 10 may be independent of each other, that is, the suction passage 101 and the working passage 102 extend between the front end and the rear end of the ureteroscope body 10, respectively. It should be understood that because the suction passage 101 and the working passage 102 are independent of each other, the actuating member 12 (e.g., the optical fiber 121) attached within the working passage 102 does not enter the suction passage 101, thereby preventing the actuating member 12 from interfering with the movement of fluid or stone within the suction passage 101 and preventing the suction passage 101 from being blocked.

[0076] In the second example of the present application, as shown in FIG. 12, the suction passage 101 and the working passage 102 in the ureteroscope body 10 may be connected to each other; that is, the suction passage 101 and the working passage 102 may be the same passage; however, since the working hole 212 extends obliquely from the outside to the inside from the side wall of the suction hole 211 of the tip portion 21, the optical fiber 121 coming out of the working hole 212 extends in close contact with the inner wall of the suction passage 101; that is, the optical fiber 121 first extends in close contact with the inner wall of the suction passage 101, and then passes through the working hole 212 and protrudes obliquely from the suction opening 2110 of the suction hole 211. In this case, the optical fiber 121 can still avoid interfering with the movement of fluid or crushed stones within the suction passage 101 to some extent, and can prevent the suction passage 101 from being blocked. When the suction passage 101 and the working passage 102 of the ureteroscope main body 10 are the same passage, the structure of the ureteroscope main body 10 is simplified to the greatest extent possible, which contributes to reducing the difficulty and cost of manufacturing the ureteroscope main body 10. At the same time, it should be understood that when the suction passage 101 of the ureteroscope main body 10 is blocked by a stone, the optical fiber 121 can be pulled so that the end of the optical fiber 121 is positioned at the stone-blocked location in the suction passage 101, and the laser emitted from the optical fiber 121 can be used to break up the blocked stone, thereby opening up the suction passage 101.

[0077] According to the above embodiment of the present application, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the ureteroscope body 10 of the visible ureteroscope 1 may further include an injection passage 103 for transporting an injection liquid (e.g., water), and the tip portion 21 of the ureteroscope tip 20 further includes an injection hole 213 communicating with the injection passage 103, so that the injection liquid transported through the injection passage 103 is discharged from the tip portion 21 and injected into a human organ. In this way, when the visible ureteroscope 1 is operated, after the visible ureteroscope 1 is inserted into the kidney, the injection fluid such as water first flows through the injection passage 103 to the injection hole 213 of the tip 21, and then enters the kidney through the injection hole 213 to perform the injection operation, and the operating member 12 such as the optical fiber 121 extends from the working passage 102 to the working hole 212 and protrudes from the suction opening 2110 of the suction hole 211 to perform the stone crushing operation, and at the same time, excess injection fluid and crushed stones flow from the suction hole 211 to the suction passage 101 and are discharged outside the body.

[0078] Preferably, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the injection hole 213 of the tip portion 21 extends from the rear end surface of the tip portion 21 to the outer peripheral side surface 2103 of the tip portion 21, forming one or more injection openings 2130 on the outer peripheral side surface 2103 of the tip portion 21, so that the injection liquid flows through the injection openings 2130 of the injection hole 213 and out from the outer peripheral side surface 2103 of the tip portion 21, forming a controllable and regular fluid circulation in front of the tip portion 21, which completely entrains the crushed stones and moves them to the suction openings 2110, contributing to efficient suction.

[0079] Based on the law of conservation of momentum in fluid mechanics and the principle of negative pressure suction, the kinetic energy of the injectate flowing at high speed is used to entrain and move heavy, fragmented stones (stones) deposited at the bottom of the renal pelvis, and when the injectate is blocked by the surface of the renal pelvis lumen, it changes direction and moves upward along the inner wall of the renal pelvis. When it reaches the front of the suction opening 2110, the low pressure around the suction opening 2110 forces the injectate to flow into the suction opening 2110, thereby entraining the fragmented stones and forcing them into the suction opening 2110 until they are expelled from the body. During this process, continuous liquid injection and suction can cause the injectate to form a continuous, approximately semicircular circular motion path (vortex flow) between the injectate opening 2130 and the suction opening 2110. The diameter or motion path of the semicircle can be controlled by adjusting the flow rate and the magnitude of the suction force, thereby providing targeted and controllable suction to the fragmented stones, greatly improving the stone removal efficiency.

[0080] Furthermore, since the area of ​​the outer peripheral side surface 2103 of the tip portion 21 is large, the number and size of the injection openings 2130 of the injection hole 213 do not need to be limited by the small area of ​​the end surface of the tip portion 21, which greatly increases the effective area of ​​the injection openings 2130 of the injection hole 213, contributing to the formation of a large injection flow rate at a low injection pressure, and the formation of a large suction flow rate in the suction hole 211 at the same negative pressure, thereby achieving an optimal injection and suction ratio and improving the stone removal efficiency.

[0081] Illustratively, in the first and second examples of the present application, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the injection passage 103 of the ureteroscope body 10 has a ring-shaped structure so as to surround the suction passage 101 and the working passage 102.

[0082] In the above example of the present application, the injection passage 103 in the ureteroscope body 10, the suction passage 101, and the working passage 102 are independent of each other, but in other examples of the present application, the injection passage 103 may be connected to the working passage 102.

[0083] Illustratively, in the third example of the present application, as shown in FIG. 13 , the working passage 102 and the injection passage 103 in the ureteroscope body 10 may be connected to each other, i.e., the working passage 102 and the injection passage 103 in the ureteroscope body 10 are connected to each other to form a complete annular passage around the suction passage 101, which simplifies the structure of the ureteroscope body 10 and contributes to reducing the manufacturing cost of the surgical ureteroscope 1.

[0084] Naturally, in the fourth example of the present application, as shown in FIG. 14 , the injection passage 103 in the ureteroscope body 10 may have an irregular structure, in which the working passage 102 and the injection passage 103 are independent of each other, and the injection passage 103 and the working passage 102 are positioned around the suction passage 101 so as to cover the suction passage 101, thereby increasing the effective diameter of the injection passage 103 without increasing the outer diameter of the ureteroscope tube 11 of the ureteroscope body 10, and contributing to an increase in the injection flow rate. It should be understood that in this example of the present application, the suction passage 101 of the ureteroscope body 10 may have a circular or elliptical cross section, and the injection passage 103 of the ureteroscope body 10 may have a notched annular cross section to partially cover the periphery of the suction passage 101, with a notch formed around the periphery of the suction passage 101 to position the working passage 102 so that the injection passage 103 and the working passage 102 together surround the suction passage 101.

[0085] In the above-described embodiment of the present application, as shown in FIG. 4 , the ureteroscope body 10 of the visible ureteroscope 1 may further include an operating section 13 provided at the rear end of the ureteroscope tube 11, and the ureteroscope tube 11 may include an insertion section 111 extending forward from the operating section 13 and a bendable section 112 extending forward from the insertion section 111, and the ureteroscope tip 20 is provided at the bendable section 112 of the ureteroscope tube 11, and the bendable section 112 of the ureteroscope tube 11 can be bent or straightened by operating the operating section 13, thereby moving the ureteroscope tip 20 closer to a target position, for example, the position of a stone in the renal pelvis.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 4 , the operating unit 13 of the ureteroscope body 10 may include a suction port 1301 communicating with the suction passage 101, a working port 1302 communicating with the working passage 102, and an injection port 1303 communicating with the injection passage 103. The suction port 1301 of the operating unit 13 is connected to a suction device and configured to suck water and crushed stones using the suction device, move them within the suction passage 101, and discharge them. The working port 1302 is configured to allow the actuating member 12 to be inserted through the working port 1302 and the actuating member 12 to be inserted into the working passage 102. The injection port 1303 is connected to an injection device and configured to inject an injection solution into the injection passage 103 using the injection device.

[0087] In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, the operating unit 13 of the ureteroscope body 10 may further include an information interface 1304 communicatively connected to the image acquisition device 22, and the information interface 1304 is configured to be connected to a terminal device such as a display and communicatively connect the image acquisition device 22 and the terminal device, i.e., the terminal device can process or display information acquired by the image acquisition device 22.

[0088] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the embodiments of the present invention described above and illustrated in the drawings are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. The objectives of the present invention are fully and effectively achieved. The function and structural principles of the present invention have been shown and explained in the examples, and any variations or modifications can be made to the embodiments of the present invention without departing from said principles.

Claims

1. a ureteroscope body and a ureteroscope tip; the ureteroscope body includes a ureteroscope tube and an actuation member attached to the ureteroscope tube; the ureteroscope body has a suction passage extending axially along the ureteroscope tube; the ureteroscope tip is disposed on the ureteroscope body, the ureteroscope tip including a tip portion and an image acquisition device; the tip portion is provided at the front end of the ureteroscope tube and has an imaging end surface and a suction end surface located forward of the imaging end surface, the tip portion includes a suction hole communicating with the suction passage and a working hole for passing the operating member, the suction hole extending forward in the axial direction from the suction passage to the suction end surface to form a suction opening, the working hole extending diagonally forward to allow the operating member coming out of the working hole to protrude diagonally forward from the tip portion, the image acquisition device includes a camera attached to the imaging end surface of the tip portion, and the suction opening of the suction hole and the head of the actuating member protruding from the working hole are both within a field of view of the camera; A visual ureteroscope, characterized in that the suction end surface of the tip portion extends obliquely forward from the imaging end surface of the tip portion.

2. The visual ureteroscope of claim 1 , wherein the suction end face of the tip portion extends obliquely downward and forward from the imaging end face.

3. 3. The visible ureteroscope according to claim 2, wherein the suction end face of the tip portion includes a recessed end face extending inward in an arc from the imaging end face and a protrusion end face extending outward in an arc from the recessed end face, and the recessed end face of the suction end face is in contact with the imaging end face.

4. The visible ureteroscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the working opening of the working hole in the tip portion communicates with the suction opening of the suction hole in the tip portion.

5. The visible ureteroscope according to claim 4 , wherein the central axis of the working hole in the tip portion intersects with the central axis of the suction hole.

6. The visible ureteroscope according to claim 5 , wherein the working hole in the tip portion extends obliquely from top to bottom.

7. The visible ureteroscope according to claim 4 , wherein the working hole extends obliquely inward and forward from the rear end surface of the tip portion to the inner wall surface of the suction hole, forming the working opening in the inner wall surface of the suction hole.

8. a central axis of the working hole of the tip portion is within the meridional image plane of the camera; Item 8. A visible ureteroscope according to item 7.

9. The visible ureteroscope according to claim 8, wherein the central axis of the suction hole in the tip portion is within the meridional image plane of the camera.

10. The visual ureteroscope of claim 9 , wherein the optical axis of the camera intersects with the central axis of the working hole.

11. The visible ureteroscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ureteroscope body further includes a working passage extending axially within the ureteroscope tube for inserting the operating member therethrough, and the working hole in the tip portion communicates with the working passage of the ureteroscope body.

12. The visible ureteroscope of claim 11 , wherein the suction passageway and the working passageway of the ureteroscope body communicate with each other.

13. The visible ureteroscope of claim 11, wherein the ureteroscope body further includes an injection passage extending axially within the ureteroscope tube, and the tip portion further includes an injection hole communicating with the injection passage, the injection hole extending from the rear end surface of the tip portion to the outer peripheral side surface of the tip portion to form one or more injection openings in the outer peripheral side surface of the tip portion.

14. The visible ureteroscope of claim 13 , wherein the injection passage of the ureteroscope body has a ring-shaped structure surrounding the suction passage and the working passage.

15. The visible ureteroscope of claim 13 , wherein the injection passage of the ureteroscope body surrounds the aspiration passage.

16. 16. The visual ureteroscope of claim 15, wherein the injection passageway and the working passageway of the ureteroscope body communicate with each other to form a complete annular passageway around the aspiration passageway.

17. The visible ureteroscope of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image acquisition device further includes at least one light source, the light source and the camera being mounted adjacent to the tip.

18. 4. The visible ureteroscope according to claim 1, wherein the actuating member is an optical fiber for emitting a laser to perform a lithotripsy operation.

19. A ureteroscope including a ureteroscope body and a ureteroscope tip, The ureteroscope body includes a ureteroscope tube and an actuation member attached to the ureteroscope tube, the ureteroscope body having an aspiration passage extending axially along the ureteroscope tube, the ureteroscope tip is disposed on the ureteroscope body, the ureteroscope tip including a tip portion and an image acquisition device; the tip portion is provided at the front end of the ureteroscope tube and has an imaging end surface and a suction end surface located forward of the imaging end surface, the tip portion includes a suction hole communicating with the suction passage and a working hole for passing the operating member, the suction hole extending forward in the axial direction from the suction passage to the suction end surface to form a suction opening, the working hole extending diagonally forward to allow the operating member coming out of the working hole to protrude diagonally forward from the tip portion, the image acquisition device includes a camera attached to the imaging end surface of the tip portion, and the suction opening of the suction hole and the head of the actuating member protruding from the working hole are both within a field of view of the camera; the ureteroscope body further includes a working passage extending in the ureteroscope tube in the axial direction and for inserting the operating member therethrough, the working hole in the tip portion communicating with the working passage of the ureteroscope body; A visible ureteroscope, wherein the suction passage and the working passage of the ureteroscope body are in communication with each other.

Images