Endoscope with power receiving unit

Abstract

The present invention relates to an endoscope having a power receiving section, and more particularly to an endoscope having a power receiving section that receives power from an external device to bend a bending section. The present invention provides an endoscope having a power receiving section with a new structure that can efficiently transmit and receive power from an external device while maintaining control precision and stability.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to an endoscope having a power receiving section, and more particularly to an endoscope having a power receiving section that receives power from a light source device to bend a bending section. [Background technology]

[0002] The content discussed herein merely provides background information regarding embodiments of the present invention and may not constitute prior art.

[0003] An endoscope is generally a medical instrument used to view the inside of the body for medical purposes. Depending on the area being examined, it may be called a "bronchoscope," "gastroscope," "laparoscope," or "colonoscope." Unlike most other medical imaging devices, an endoscope is inserted directly into the body.

[0004] Supported by the development of optical fiber and the rapid advances in optical technology and electronics, endoscopes have evolved into the current electronic endoscopes, which have made a major contribution to the development of the field of gastroenterology. The development of electronic endoscopes has not only enabled direct observation of the inside of a subject and diagnostic use in histological examinations, but has also led to the rapid development of various therapeutic endoscopes, which have come to replace open surgery.

[0005] The structure of an endoscope generally includes an insertion tube having a bending portion and a flexible portion that is inserted into the body, an operating portion that is connected to one end of the insertion tube and controls the bending movement of the bending portion, a connector that is connected to a light source device or the like, and a universal cord that separates the operating portion from the connector.

[0006] In addition, in order to control the bending movement of the bending section, the endoscope is provided with a mechanical string between the bending section and the operating section, and the mechanical string is structured to be connected to a control knob provided on the operating section. In an endoscope with such a structure, when the operator manually operates the control knob, the mechanical string transmits power to cause the bending movement of the bending section.

[0007] However, during endoscopic examinations and treatments, critical situations that could be fatal to the patient can arise. With an endoscope of this type, the surgeon must manually operate the knob to control the bending of the bending section in a critical situation. This causes the surgeon to concentrate solely on operating the knob, making it difficult to resolve the critical situation and potentially leading to problems with the bending section not only being unable to bend accurately, but also causing problems.

[0008] Therefore, endoscopes have been developed that can automatically operate a bending section using a power source, rather than manually by the surgeon. However, endoscopes with this type of structure have problems in terms of control accuracy and stability, because there is no suitable power transmission structure that can receive power from outside the endoscope.

[0009] Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a connector with a new power transmission structure that can receive power from an external source and effectively transmit it to the bending section without losing the precision of the bending angle control of the bending section.

[0010] Furthermore, in order for an endoscope to receive power from an external device such as a light source device, the connector of the endoscope and the connector receiving portion of the external device must be physically connected. However, when the connector is inserted into the connector receiving portion, the connector is subjected to impact, and repeated disconnection and connection can cause malfunction. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an endoscope with a new connector structure that can ensure durability even when repeatedly attached and detached.

[0011] On the other hand, if an endoscope receives power from an external device, a malfunction in the external device transmitting power could cause abnormal power to be input. If this abnormal power is transmitted directly to the bending section, the bending section may move in a manner different from that expected by the operator. In some cases, this could even cause damage to the inside of the patient. Therefore, a safety device is needed that can prevent abnormal power from being input to the endoscope.

[0012] The above-mentioned background art is technical information that the inventor possessed in order to derive the embodiments of the present invention or that he acquired in the process of deriving the embodiments of the present invention, and is not necessarily publicly known art that was disclosed to the general public before the application for the embodiments of the present invention. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] Therefore, one aspect of the present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope having a power receiving section with a new structure that can efficiently transmit and receive power from the outside while maintaining control accuracy and stability.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope equipped with a safety device that prevents abnormal power from being transmitted to the bending portion when the abnormal power is transmitted to the endoscope from the outside. Another object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope having a shock absorbing structure that can withstand for a long period of time the shocks caused by repeated attachment and detachment of the endoscope.

[0015] The technical problems that the present invention aims to achieve are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention is an endoscope having a connector that is connected to an external device and receives power from the external device, The connector comprises: power transmission cables that transmit power to the curved section; a power receiving unit having a first slider that receives power from the external device and moves in a first direction, and a second slider that receives power from the external device and moves in a second direction similar to the first slider; and a power transmission section that receives power from the power receiving section and transmits it to the power transmission cable;

[0017] According to an embodiment, the connector may have a housing that houses the power receiving portion and the power transmitting portion, and a cover portion that closes one end of the housing.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the first slider may have a first coupling portion exposed to the outside of the cover portion and for receiving power from the external device. Similarly to the first slider, the second slider may have a second coupling portion exposed to the outside of the cover portion and for receiving power from the external device.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the first coupling portion may be shaped to correspond to a first power providing portion that provides power to the external device, and the second coupling portion may be shaped to correspond to a second power providing portion that provides power to the external device.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the first slider may include a first slider body and a first coupling portion, and the second slider may include a second slider body and a second coupling portion.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the first coupling portion may include a first protrusion protruding from the first slider body, and the second coupling portion may include a second protrusion protruding from the second slider body.

[0022] According to the embodiment, the first slider and the second slider may be arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other.

[0023] According to the embodiment, the first slider is capable of linearly reciprocating in the first direction, and the second slider is capable of linearly reciprocating in a second direction.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the power receiving portion may have a first slide rail portion provided for the first slider to ride on and move in the first direction, and the power receiving portion may have a second slide rail portion provided for the second slider to ride on and move in the second direction.

[0025] According to an embodiment, the first slide rail portion may be provided with a first stopper that limits movement of the first slider, and the second slide rail portion may be provided with a second stopper that limits movement of the second slider.

[0026] According to an embodiment, the first stoppers may be provided at both ends of the first slide rail section, respectively, to limit the range of the up-down bending angle of the bending section. Also, the second stoppers may be provided at both ends of the second slide rail section, respectively, to limit the range of the left-right bending angle of the bending section.

[0027] According to an embodiment, the first slide rail portion and the second slide rail portion of the power receiving portion may be supported by a main frame of the power transmitting portion.

[0028] According to an embodiment, the first slide rail portion and the second slide rail portion may be characterized by including rear support bases that support the first slider and the second slider from the rear, respectively, so that the first slider and the second slider are not pushed rearward when a user inserts the connector into a connector receiving portion of the external device.

[0029] According to an embodiment, a rack gear may be formed on one side of each of the first slider and the second slider, and the power transmission unit may include a pinion gear that meshes with the rack gear, a sprocket that is connected to the pinion gear and rotates together with the pinion gear, a power transmission chain that meshes with the sprocket, and the power transmission cable that is connected to one side and the other side of the power transmission chain, respectively.

[0030] According to an embodiment, the pinion gear and the sprocket may be integrally formed to form a pinion-sprocket combination, and the pinion-sprocket combination may be rotatably mounted on the main frame. The power transmission cable may be mounted on the main frame. The power transmission cable and the pinion-sprocket combination are mounted on the main frame to ensure stable operation.

[0031] Another aspect of the present invention is an endoscope having a connector for coupling with an external device and receiving power from the external device, comprising: The connector includes a housing; a cover portion that faces a connector receiving portion of the external device when the connector is connected to the external device and closes one end of the housing; a cord protector having one side connected to a universal cord and the other side coupled to the other end of the housing for protecting a power transmission cable drawn out from the other end of the housing; and An endoscope can be provided that includes one or more of: a power receiving section that is protected by the housing and the cover section and receives power transmitted from the external device; and a power transmission section that transmits the power received by the power receiving section to the power transmission cable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0032] As described above, one embodiment of the present invention provides an endoscope having a power receiving section with a new structure that can efficiently transmit and receive power from the outside while maintaining control precision and stability.

[0033] In addition, the present invention has various other effects, such as excellent versatility, according to the embodiments, and these effects can be clearly confirmed from the description of the embodiments below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows an endoscope according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the endoscope of FIG. 1 with the cover, housing, and cord protection portion removed. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the power receiving portion according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the power receiving portion of FIG. 3 as viewed from another angle. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a power receiving part and a power transmitting part according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows the power transmission section from FIG. 5 with part of the power receiving section removed. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 illustrates a mainframe according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a power transmission unit according to one embodiment of the present invention and how a power transmission cable is connected. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate an embodiment of the present invention and, together with the above-described summary of the invention, are intended to facilitate understanding of the technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the matters illustrated in the drawings.

[0036] The advantages and features of the present invention, as well as methods for achieving them, will become more apparent from the detailed description of the embodiments accompanied by the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented below, and may be embodied in various different forms, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention. The embodiments presented below are provided to fully disclose the present invention and to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. In describing the present invention, if a detailed description of related publicly known technology is considered to obscure the gist of the present invention, such detailed description will be omitted.

[0037] The terms used in this application are merely used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expressions include the plural expressions unless otherwise clearly indicated in the context.

[0038] In this application, the terms "comprise" or "have" are intended to specify the presence of a stated feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof, but should not be understood to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. Terms such as "first," "second," etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

[0039] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding components will be given the same drawing numbers, and duplicate descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0040] In this specification, the external device may include a device that exists separately outside the endoscope. The connector of the endoscope according to the present invention may function to connect the endoscope to the external device. Here, the external device may include a power supply device. The power supply device may include, for example, a light source device, an image processing device, etc.

[0041] The light source device described in this specification is merely one embodiment of an external device, and according to an embodiment, the light source device is not limited to a light source device and may be replaced by a separate device located outside the endoscope. According to an embodiment, the light source device may be replaced by a power supply device.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows an endoscope according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the endoscope of FIG. 1 with a cover portion 120, a housing 110, and a cord protection portion 130 removed. An endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include one or more of an insertion section, an operation section, a universal cord 140, and a connector 100.

[0043] According to an embodiment, an operating section may be provided between one end of the insertion section and one end of the universal cord 140, and the other end of the universal cord 140 may be connected to the connector 100.

[0044] The insertion section is a part that is inserted into the patient's body when the operator, i.e., the user, performs an endoscopic examination or treatment on the patient. The insertion section may include a tip section, a bending section, and a flexible section.

[0045] The tip section may be configured to illuminate a target site and collect image information. The tip section may be provided at the tip of the insertion section and may include a lighting means for illuminating the inside of the subject, an imaging means for imaging the inside of the subject, a biopsy channel for sampling tissue from the subject, and an air / water supply channel for injecting air or water for various purposes.

[0046] The bending portion can be bent by operation by the user and can move along the inside of a curved tubular organ inside the body. A tip portion may be provided at the tip of the bending portion, and the tip portion can be positioned in a direction desired by the user by bending the tip portion by the bending operation.

[0047] The flexible section may be a section that is located between the bending section and the operating section and moves together with the bending section when the bending section moves along a tubular organ inside the patient's body.

[0048] The operation section may be provided with a control means capable of controlling the bending operation of the bending section, and may be provided with a flow path control valve capable of controlling the supply of air, water, or suction.

[0049] The insertion portion may be connected to one side of the operation portion, and the universal cord 140 may be connected to the other side. The connector 100 may be connected to the tip of the universal cord 140.

[0050] The universal cord 140 connects the operation unit and the connector 100 and serves to separate the connector 100 from the operation unit so that the user can easily move the operation unit when gripping it to use the endoscope. According to an embodiment, the universal cord 140 may be omitted, and the connector 100 may be connected to the other side of the operation unit.

[0051] In this specification, a light source device may be configured to include a light source that generates light. In this specification, the light source included in the light source device may include a light source such as an LED according to an embodiment, but any configuration within the scope of the technical concept that can generate light may be included in the light source referred to in this specification.

[0052] The endoscope according to this embodiment can receive light from a light source device and transmit it to the illumination means. The illumination means of the endoscope according to this embodiment receives light from the light source device and illuminates the inside of the subject, allowing the operator (user) to inspect the inside of the subject.

[0053] In this specification, the light source device may be configured to include a power source that generates power. The power generated by the light source device according to this embodiment may be provided to the endoscope according to this embodiment.

[0054] According to an embodiment, the power source may be a motor, but any configuration within the scope of the technical concept that can generate power may be included in the power source referred to in this specification.

[0055] The endoscope according to this embodiment can receive power from the light source device and transmit it to the bending portion. The bending portion of the endoscope according to this embodiment receives power from the light source device and performs a bending operation, so that the distal end is directed toward a desired location within the subject by the operator.

[0056] According to the embodiment, the light source device may be formed with a connector receiving portion. The connector receiving portion may refer to a portion to which the connector 100 of the endoscope according to the present embodiment is mechanically and electrically coupled. This is similar to the process by which, for example, an electrical plug is mechanically and electrically coupled to an electrical outlet.

[0057] An endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a connector 100 that is coupled to a light source device and receives power from the light source device. The connector 100 according to this embodiment may be coupled to a connector receiving portion of the light source device to establish a mechanical and electrical connection.

[0058] The connector 100 for an endoscope according to this embodiment may be configured to include one or more of a housing 110, a cover portion 120, a cord protection portion 130, a power receiving portion 200, and a power transmission portion 300.

[0059] In the connector 100 according to this embodiment, the housing 110 can form the outer shape of the connector 100 and can protect the internal device from the outside. The cover 120 can close one end of the housing 110 and can be disposed in a position facing the connector receiving portion of the light source device when the connector 100 is connected to the light source device. The cord protector 130 can protect various wires drawn from the other end of the housing 110 and can be connected to a universal cord 140.

[0060] The cover portion 120 of the connector 100 according to this embodiment may have a structure in which one or more of the control signal terminal 170, the video signal terminal 180, the air supply tube coupling portion 150, and the light guide coupling portion 160 are exposed to the outside.

[0061] The connector receiving portion of the light source device according to this embodiment may include one or more of a control signal receiving portion connected to the control signal terminal 170, a video signal receiving portion connected to the video signal terminal 180, an air supply nozzle connected to the air supply tube connecting portion 150 for injecting air, and a light providing terminal connected to the light guide connecting portion 160.

[0062] The control signal terminal 170 can transmit power control commands to the light source device, the video signal terminal 180 can transmit video information to the light source device, the air supply tube connector 150 can provide air from the light source device, and the light guide connector 160 can provide light from the light source device.

[0063] The connector 100 according to this embodiment can have one or more of the control signal line connected to the control signal terminal 170, the video signal line connected to the video signal terminal 180, the light guide cable connected to the light guide coupling part 160, and the air supply tube connected to the air supply tube coupling part 150 pass through it, and the cord protection part 130 of the connector 100 according to this embodiment can function to protect one or more of the control signal line, the video signal line, the light guide cable, and the air supply tube drawn out from the housing 110.

[0064] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the power receiving unit 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 shows the configuration of the power receiving unit 200 of Fig. 3 viewed from a different angle.

[0065] The connector 100 according to this embodiment may include the above-described power receiving unit 200 and power transmitting unit 300. The power receiving unit 200 may function to receive power transmitted from the light source device, and the power transmitting unit 300 may function to transmit the power received by the power receiving unit 200 to the power transmission cable 400.

[0066] According to the embodiment, the power receiving unit 200 may include a first slider 230 that receives power from the light source device and moves linearly in a first direction. The power receiving unit 200 may also include a second slider 280 that receives power from the light source device and moves linearly in a second direction.

[0067] According to an embodiment, the first slider 230 is provided in the connector 100 and can move back and forth linearly along a first direction, and the second slider 280 is also provided in the connector 100 and can move back and forth linearly along a second direction. According to an embodiment, the first direction and the second direction may be parallel to each other. According to an embodiment, the first slider 230 and the second slider 280 in the connector 100 may be arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart.

[0068] In the endoscope according to the present invention, the structure for receiving power from the light source device through the first slider 230 and the second slider 280 of the connector 100 has a simple structure, which ensures durability without failure even when power is repeatedly received over a long period of time, and has the advantage of improving control stability and control accuracy.

[0069] According to the embodiment, the first slider 230 may have a first coupling portion 231 exposed to the outside of the cover portion 120 and for receiving power from the light source device. Also, the second slider 280 may have a second coupling portion 281 exposed to the outside of the cover portion 120 and for receiving power from the light source device.

[0070] The first coupling portion 231 interacts with a first power providing portion of the connector receiving portion of the light source device and can move the first slider 230 by receiving the power provided by the first power providing portion, and the second coupling portion 281 interacts with a second power providing portion of the connector receiving portion of the light source device and can move the second slider 280 by receiving the power provided by the second power providing portion.

[0071] According to an embodiment, the first coupling portion 231 may correspond in shape to a first power supply portion that provides power to the light source device, and the second coupling portion 281 may correspond in shape to a second power supply portion that provides power to the light source device.

[0072] The first coupling part 231 and the first power supply part can be expressed in various ways within the scope of the technical concept that they correspond to each other in terms of shape, and the second coupling part 281 and the second power supply part can be expressed in various ways within the scope of the technical concept that they correspond to each other in terms of shape.

[0073] According to an embodiment, the first slider 230 may be configured to include a first slider body 232 and a first coupling portion 231, and the second slider 280 may be configured to include a second slider body 282 and a second coupling portion 281. According to an embodiment, the first coupling portion 231 may include a first protrusion protruding from the first slider body 232, and the second coupling portion 281 may be configured to include a second protrusion protruding from the second slider body 282. According to an embodiment, the number of first protrusions may be multiple, and the number of second protrusions may also be multiple.

[0074] The power receiving unit 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention may have a first slide rail unit 220 on which a first slider 230 rides to allow linear movement in a first direction. The power receiving unit 200 may also have a second slide rail unit 270 on which a second slider 280 rides to allow linear movement in a second direction. According to the embodiment, the first slide rail unit 220 and the second slide rail unit 270 may be arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other.

[0075] According to an embodiment, the power receiving portion 200 may be located on the inner surface of the cover portion 120 of the connector 100 and may be configured to include a first slide rail portion 220 and a second slide rail portion 270.

[0076] According to an embodiment, the first slide rail portion 220 may be provided with a first stopper 240 that limits the movement of the first slider 230, and the second slide rail portion 270 may be provided with a second stopper 290 that limits the movement of the second slider 280.

[0077] According to the embodiment, the first stoppers 240 are provided at both ends of the first slide rail portion 220, respectively, and can limit the range of the up and down bending angle of the bending portion. Also, the second stoppers 290 are provided at both ends of the second slide rail portion 270, respectively, and can limit the range of the left and right bending angle of the bending portion.

[0078] That is, a pair of first stoppers 240 that limit the movement of the first slider 230 may be located at both ends of the first slide rail section 220, and the pair of first stoppers 240 can limit the range of bending angle that the bending section can move up and down.

[0079] Furthermore, according to an embodiment, a pair of second stoppers 290 that limit the movement of the second slider 280 may be located at both ends of the second slide rail portion 270, and the pair of second stoppers 290 can limit the range of the bending angle that the bending portion can move left and right.

[0080] According to an embodiment, the manufacturer may set the range of the bending angle through the first stopper 240 and the second stopper 290. According to an embodiment, the range of the up-down bending angle of the bending portion may be set by a first distance between the pair of first stoppers 240, and the range of the left-right bending angle of the bending portion may be set by a second distance between the pair of second stoppers 290.

[0081] The bending portion must be able to bend within a set range because it must protect the patient from movement within a tubular organ in the patient's body, and the bending angle must be predictable by the operator who uses it.

[0082] In particular, when the bending portion is bent by being supplied with power by a motor, which is a power source, excessive power may be supplied to the connector 100 due to a problem in the power supply unit that supplies power to the motor, a malfunction of the motor, a sudden overcurrent flowing in the motor, or other abnormal operation of the motor for unknown reasons. However, even in such an abnormal situation where excessive power is supplied, the bending angle of the bending portion moving inside the patient's body must move within a set range.

[0083] The configuration of the first stopper 240 and the second stopper 290 of the present invention functions as a safety device that can ensure the safety of the patient by limiting the power receiving range of the power receiving unit 200 so that it operates only within the set bending angle range even if abnormal operation occurs in the motor.

[0084] According to an embodiment, the first slide rail portion 220 and the second slide rail portion 270 constituting the power receiving portion 200 may include a rear support base 252 that supports the first slider 230 and the second slider 280 from the rear, respectively, so that the first slider 230 and the second slider 280 are not pushed rearward when a user inserts the connector 100 into the connector receiving portion of the light source device.

[0085] The first slider 230 and the first slide rail unit 220 may have a rail structure 250 on which the first slider 230 can ride and move inside the first slide rail unit 220. A protrusion for receiving power from the light source device may be formed on the front surface of the first slider 230, and a rack gear 251 for transmitting power to the power transmission unit 300 may be formed on the rear surface of the first slider 230.

[0086] First stoppers 240 may be formed on both ends of the first slide rail portion 220 to prevent the first slider 230 from moving any further when it moves in the first direction, and a rear support base 252 may be located on the rear surface of the first slide rail portion 220 to withstand impact when the first protrusion of the first slider 230 is coupled with a first power supply portion formed in the connector receiving portion of the light source device.

[0087] According to an embodiment, the first stopper 240 and the rear support base 252 may be integrally formed. According to an embodiment, the first stopper 240 and the rear support base 252 may be an L-shaped bracket.

[0088] The rail structure 250 formed by the first slider 230 and the first slide rail portion 220 may be designed to have a predetermined gap. As a result, even if the first slider 230 is pushed backward due to the gap of the rail structure 250 when a user couples the connector 100 to the connector receiving portion of the light source device, the first slider 230 comes into contact with the rear support base 252 at a predetermined position, preventing the first slider 230 from moving backward. In other words, the first slider 230 is supported by the rear support base 252 and cannot be pushed backward any further.

[0089] When a user connects the connector 100 of the endoscope to the connector receptacle of the light source device, the connector 100 and the connector receptacle come into contact, causing a physical collision between the two components. Concerned about poor electrical contact between the connector 100 and the connector receptacle, users habitually push the connector 100 strongly into the connector receptacle. As a reaction, the connector receptacle also pushes the connector 100 strongly.

[0090] Therefore, when the connector 100 is mated, the first slider 230 is strongly pushed backward. Because the first slider 230 is connected to the first slide rail portion 220 by the rail structure 250, it can withstand a certain degree of impact, but the rail structure 250 alone cannot withstand fatigue caused by repeated mating and detachment.

[0091] Fatigue caused by repeated connection and disconnection of the connector 100 eventually causes deformation in the rail structure 250 of the first slider 230 and the first slide rail portion 220, resulting in failure.

[0092] In the present invention, the first slide rail section 220 has a rear support base 252 configuration that suppresses rearward movement of the first slider 230, so that even if the user strongly pushes the connector 100 into the connector receiving section to insert it, the rear support base 252 suppresses rearward movement of the first slider 230, thereby protecting the rail structure 250 of the first slider 230 and the first slide rail section 220 and improving the durability of the endoscope.

[0093] Although the above description refers only to the first slider 230 and the first slide rail portion 220, the functions and effects of the rear support base 252 and stopper described above can be similarly applied to the second slider 280 and the second slide rail portion 270. A power transmission unit 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention will now be described. FIG. 5 shows a power receiving portion and a power transmitting portion according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows the power transmitting portion from FIG. 5 with a part of the power receiving portion removed.

[0094] FIG. 7 shows a main frame according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a power transmission unit according to an embodiment of the present invention and how a power transmission cable is connected.

[0095] When the power receiving unit 200 receives power from the light source device, the power transmitting unit 300 can receive the power from the power receiving unit 200 and transmit it to the power transmission cable 400 .

[0096] According to an embodiment, the power transmission unit 300 may be configured to include a main frame 310, and the first slide rail unit 220 and the second slide rail unit 270 of the power receiving unit 200 may each be supported by the main frame 310 of the power transmission unit 300.

[0097] Specifically, the power transmission unit 300 according to this embodiment may include one or more of a main frame 310, a rotor 350, a power transmission chain 361, and a power transmission cable 400. Here, the rotor 350 may be configured such that a pinion gear 351 and a sprocket 352 are coupled together.

[0098] According to an embodiment, a rack gear 251 may be formed on one side of each of the first slider 230 and the second slider 280, where the rack gear 251 may be meshed with a pinion gear 351, and the sprocket 352 may be meshed with a power transmission chain 361.

[0099] The power transmission unit 300 and the power receiving unit 200 may be separate components, or according to an embodiment, the power transmission unit 300 and the power receiving unit 200 may be integrally formed.

[0100] The process of transmitting power from the power receiver 200 to the power transmitter 300 according to this embodiment will now be described. The power provided by the light source device is received by the first coupling part 231 or the second coupling part 281 of the power receiver 200. Then, the first slider 230 or the second slider 280 receives the power and moves linearly. The first slider 230 and the second slider 280 transmit a rotational force to the pinion gear 351 through the rack gear 251 formed on one side thereof. Then, the pinion gear 351 transmits the rotational force to the sprocket 352. The sprocket 352 transmits the power to the power transmission chain 361, and the power transmission chain 361 transmits the power to the power transmission cable 400.

[0101] Here, two power transmission cables 400 are provided at both ends of the power transmission chain 361, and when one of the two power transmission cables 400 is pulled, the other is pushed. Therefore, the pair of power transmission cables 400 are paired and pulled or pushed, thereby causing the bending operation of the bending portion.

[0102] An endoscope according to another aspect of the present invention will now be described. The endoscope according to this embodiment has the same substantial technical concept as the endoscope described above, with only differences in expression. An endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention may have a connector 100 that couples with a light source device and receives power from the light source device.

[0103] The connector 100 for an endoscope according to this embodiment includes a power receiving unit 200 having a slider that moves when power is transmitted from a light source device and a slide rail portion on which the slider moves; a main frame 310 that supports the power receiving unit 200; a power transmission cable 400 that is provided on one side of the main frame 310 and transmits power to a bending portion;

[0104] The power transmission cable 400 may include one or more of: a rotating body 350 that is rotatably coupled to the main frame 310 and receives rotational force through movement of the slider; and a chain slider combination 360 that interacts with the rotating body 350 to transmit power to the power transmission cable 400.

[0105] According to an embodiment, the main frame 310 may have a vertical frame 320 and a horizontal frame 330, and the vertical frame 320 may support the power receiving unit 200, and the horizontal frame 330 may be provided with a rotating body 350 and a chain slider coupling body 360.

[0106] According to an embodiment, the power receiving portion 200 may have a first power receiving portion 210 and a second power receiving portion 260, and the vertical frame 320 may support the first power receiving portion 210 and the second power receiving portion 260 at a certain distance apart. According to an embodiment, the horizontal frame 330 may include a pair of first and second horizontal frames 330 arranged in parallel.

[0107] A light guide cable that transmits light provided from the light source device to the distal end may be arranged to pass through a through-hole formed in bridge portion 322 between first power receiving portion 210 and second power receiving portion 260 and central space 335 formed between first horizontal frame 330 and second horizontal frame 330. By forming a predetermined space inside main frame 310 in this manner, the present invention has the advantage of allowing various lines such as a light guide cable and an air supply tube to pass through, thereby realizing efficient component arrangement in the internal space of connector 100 and enabling connector 100 to be manufactured compactly.

[0108] According to an embodiment, the vertical frame 320 may have a first connection portion 321 to which the first power receiving portion 210 is connected, a second connection portion 321 to which the second power receiving portion 260 is connected, and a bridge portion 322 connecting the first connection portion 321 and the second connection portion 321. According to an embodiment, the power receiving portion 200 and the vertical frame 320 may be integrally formed, or the first power receiving portion 210, the second power receiving portion 260, and the bridge portion 322 may be formed in an H shape.

[0109] When the connector 100 faces the connector receiving portion of the light source device, the vertical frame 320 may be disposed at an angle such that the vertical frame 320 faces the connector receiving portion in the same manner as the connector 100.

[0110] In this embodiment, the slider has a configuration substantially similar to that of the first slider 230 and the second slider 280 in the previously described embodiment. Furthermore, the slide rail portion has a configuration substantially similar to that of the previously described first slide rail portion 220 and the second slide rail portion 270. Furthermore, the first power receiving portion 210 may include the first slider 230 and the first slide rail portion 220, and the second power receiving portion 260 may include the second slider 280 and the second slide rail portion 270. According to the embodiment, the rotating body 350 may refer to a configuration in which a pinion gear 351 and a sprocket 352 are coupled together.

[0111] One or more of the control signal terminal 170, the light guide coupling portion 160, the air supply tube coupling portion 150, the video signal terminal 180, the first power receiving portion 210, and the second power receiving portion 260 may be exposed on the outer surface of the cover portion 120 of the connector 100 according to this embodiment.

[0112] A vertical frame 320 may be disposed inside the cover portion 120, facing the cover portion 120, and the control signal terminal 170 and the video signal terminal 180 may both be disposed in a first space 323 or a second space 324, which are formed on three sides by the first power receiving portion 210, the second power receiving portion 260, and the bridge portion 322. Also, according to an embodiment, the control signal terminal 170 may be disposed in the first space 323, and the video signal terminal 180 may be disposed in the second space 324. Also, according to an embodiment, the control signal terminal 170 may be disposed in the second space 324, and the video signal terminal 180 may be disposed in the first space 323. That is, the control signal terminal 170 or the video signal terminal 180 may be arranged together in one place, or may be arranged separately.

[0113] Referring to FIG. 1, in the H-shape formed by the connection body of the power receiving part 200 and the vertical frame 320, the control signal terminal 170 and the video signal terminal 180 may be located together in a first space 323 formed on the upper part of the bridge part 322, and the light guide coupling part 160 and the air supply tube coupling part 150 may be located in a through-hole formed in the bridge part 322, so that the wires may be arranged in this structure.

[0114] A horizontal frame 330 may be formed extending from the rear surface of the vertical frame 320. The horizontal frame 330 may be configured as a pair of a first horizontal frame 330 and a second horizontal frame 330, and a ring-shaped ring portion 334 may be formed at the rear end of the first horizontal frame 330 and the second horizontal frame 330.

[0115] One or more of the control signal line connected to the control signal terminal 170, the video signal line connected to the video signal terminal 180, the light guide cable, the air supply tube, and the power transmission cable 400 may pass through the ring portion 334 described above and be pulled out to the outside of the connector 100, or may be formed to extend to the universal cord 140 and the operating portion.

[0116] According to an embodiment, the chain slider combination 360 may include a power transmission chain 361, an upper slider 362, and a lower slider 363. The chain slider combination 360 may have a structure in which the upper slider 362 and the lower slider 363 are respectively coupled to both ends of the power transmission chain 361.

[0117] According to an embodiment, the horizontal frame 330 may be formed with a horizontal slide rail portion 332, and the upper slider 362 and the lower slider 363 can ride on this horizontal slide rail portion 332 to perform stable linear reciprocating motion.

[0118] The upper slider 362 and the lower slider 363 may each be connected to a power transmission cable 400, and the rotation of the sprocket 352 causes the power transmission chain 361 meshed with the sprocket 352 to move, and the upper slider 362 and the lower slider 363 connected to both ends of the power transmission chain 361 move linearly in opposite directions by the power transmission chain 361, thereby pushing or pulling the power transmission cable 400.

[0119] A power transmission cable 400 is connected to each of the upper slider 362 and the lower slider 363, so that when one of the paired power transmission cables 400 is pulled, the other is pushed, thereby transmitting power to the bending portion.

[0120] According to an embodiment, a shaft fixing part 340 may be formed behind the slide rail part, and one side of the rotating body 350 is mounted on the shaft fixing part 340, and the other side is mounted on the horizontal frame 330 so as to rotate.

[0121] According to an embodiment, the sprocket 352 of the rotor 350 may be disposed on the horizontal frame 330 side, and the pinion gear 351 may be disposed outside the sprocket 352. In this case, the main frame 310, i.e., the horizontal frame 330, may have a protruding guide portion 331 formed thereon to protect the sprocket 352 and the power transmission chain 361, thereby protecting the rotor 350 and the chain slider combination body 360.

[0122] In this embodiment, the power transmission cable 400 can transmit power transmitted from the power transmission portion of the connector to the curved portion. The power transmission cable 400 according to this embodiment may include a mechanical string 410, a string protection tube 430, and a holder 420.

[0123] The power transmission cable 400 has a structure in which the mechanical string 410 is inserted into the string protection tube 430 and can slide within the string protection tube 430. The power transmission cable 400 may be provided in two pairs. That is, according to an embodiment, at least four power transmission cables 400 may be provided. One of the paired mechanical strings 410 is coupled to the upper slider, and the other is coupled to the lower slider and moves. The string protection tube 430 can protect the mechanical string. Numerous wires are arranged in a complex manner inside the connector, universal cord, control unit, insertion tube, etc. Therefore, if the universal cord or insertion tube becomes tangled, the internal wires may also become tangled, potentially causing damage to the endoscope. The mechanical string 410 allows the power transmission cable 400 of this embodiment to move within the string protection tube 430 due to the configuration of the string protection tube 430, thereby fundamentally preventing string tangles.

[0124] In the power transmission cable 400, the holder 420 may be connected to the tip of the string protection tube 430 and engaged with a pin fixing portion 333 formed on a protruding portion of the horizontal frame. The pin fixing portion 333 is formed with a plurality of pins, and a manufacturer can attach the holder 420 to the pin fixing portion 333 and connect the string protection tube 430 and the mechanical string 410 drawn out from the holder 420 to the upper slider and the lower slider to transmit power. The string protection tube 430 has a structure that reduces its diameter when stretched. Therefore, by fixing the holder 420 at a desired position on the pin fixing portion 333, a manufacturer can set the length of the string protection tube 430 and provide a predetermined friction force to the mechanical string 410.

[0125] The use of the term "said" and similar indicating terms in the present specification (particularly the claims) can be applied to both the singular and the plural. Furthermore, when a range is described in the present invention, it includes inventions to which individual values ​​belonging to the range are applied (unless otherwise specified), and is the same as if each individual value constituting the range were described in the detailed description of the invention.

[0126] Unless explicitly stated or stated to the contrary, steps constituting a method according to the present invention may be performed in any suitable order. The present invention is not necessarily limited to the order of steps described above. The use of all examples or exemplary terms (such as, for example, etc.) in the present invention is merely for the purpose of explaining the present invention in detail, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by these examples or exemplary terms unless otherwise limited by the claims. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications, combinations, and variations can be made within the scope of the claims or their equivalents, depending on design conditions and factors.

[0127] Therefore, the concept of the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments, and not only the scope of the appended claims, but also all scopes equivalent to or modified equivalently from the scope of the claims, can be said to fall within the scope of the concept of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0128] 100: Connector 110: Housing 120: Cover part 130: Code protection unit 140: Universal Code 150: Air supply tube connection part 160: Light guide joint 170: Control signal terminal 180:Video signal terminal 200: Power receiving unit 210: First power receiving unit 220: First slide rail section 230: First slider 231: First joint 232: First slider body 240: First stopper 250: Rail structure 251: Rack gear 252: Rear support stand 260: Second power receiving unit 270: Second slide rail section 280: Second slider 281: Second joint 282: Second slider body 290: Second stopper 300: Power transmission section 310: Mainframe 320: Vertical frame 321: Connection site 322: Bridge section 323: First Space 324: Second Space 330: Horizontal frame 331: Guide section 332: Horizontal slide rail section 333: Pin fixing part 334: Ring section 335: Central space 340: Axis fixing part 350: Rotating body 351: Pinion gear 352: Sprocket 360: Chain slider assembly 361: Power transmission chain 362: Upper slider 363: Lower slider 400: Power transmission cable 410: Mechanical string 420: Holder 430: String protection tube

Claims

1. An endoscope having a connector for coupling with an external device and receiving power from the external device, The connector comprises: a power transmission cable for transmitting power to the curved section; a power receiving unit having a first slider that receives power from the external device and moves in a first direction, and a second slider that receives power from the external device and moves in a second direction similar to the first slider; and a power transmission unit that receives power from the power receiving unit and transmits it to the power transmission cable; The first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to a direction in which the power transmission cable extends. An endoscope characterized by:

2. the connector has a housing that houses the power receiving portion and the power transmitting portion, and a cover that closes one end of the housing, The first slider is exposed to the outside of the cover portion and has a first coupling portion for receiving power from the external device, and the second slider, like the first slider, is exposed to the outside of the cover portion and has a second coupling portion for receiving power from the external device. The endoscope according to claim 1 .

3. The first coupling portion corresponds in shape to a first power providing portion that provides power to the external device, and the second coupling portion corresponds in shape to a second power providing portion that provides power to the external device. The endoscope according to claim 2 .

4. The first coupling portion includes a first protrusion protruding from a first slider body, and the second coupling portion includes a second protrusion protruding from a second slider body. The endoscope according to claim 2 .

5. The first slider and the second slider are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other. The endoscope according to claim 1 .

6. The power receiving portion has a first slide rail portion provided for the first slider to ride on and move in the first direction, and a second slide rail portion provided for the second slider to ride on and move in the second direction. The endoscope according to claim 1 .

7. The first slide rail portion and the second slide rail portion of the power receiving portion are supported by a main frame of the power transmitting portion. The endoscope according to claim 6.

8. The first slide rail portion and the second slide rail portion include rear support bases that support the first slider and the second slider from the rear, respectively, so that the first slider and the second slider are not pushed rearward when a user inserts the connector into a connector receiving portion of the external device. The endoscope according to claim 6.

9. A rack gear is formed on one side of each of the first slider and the second slider, The power transmission unit is a pinion gear that meshes with the rack gear; a sprocket connected to the pinion gear and rotating therewith; a power transmission chain that meshes with the sprocket; the power transmission cables connected to one side and the other side of the power transmission chain, respectively. The endoscope according to claim 1 .

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