Front end assembly, insertion portion, and ultrasonic endoscope

Abstract

A front end assembly, an insertion portion, and an ultrasonic endoscope, relating to the technical field of medical instruments. The front end assembly is used in the ultrasonic endoscope. The front end assembly comprises a front end base and a camera module. The proximal end of the front end base is provided with an instrument channel. A wall surface of the proximal end of the instrument channel is of an inclined structure. The camera module is located above the inclined structure, a first gap is formed between the camera module and the inclined structure, and the height of the distal end of the first gap is less than the height of the proximal end of the first gap. In the front end assembly, on the premise of ensuring the mounting reliability of the camera module, the radial size of the front end base can be reduced, facilitating the insertion of the insertion portion into the channel.

Description

A front-end component, an insertion part, and an ultrasonic endoscope Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to a front end component, an insertion part, and an ultrasonic endoscope. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, the distal end of the ultrasonic endoscope insertion section is a front-end seat, which houses components such as a camera module. Considering the reliability of the camera module installation, sufficient space for adhesive injection is typically required between the camera module and the front-end seat to ensure adequate amount of injected adhesive and a predetermined connection effect. However, if the adhesive injection space between the camera module and the front-end seat is too large, the overall radial dimension of the insertion section's front-end assembly will be too large, hindering insertion into the cavity.

[0003] Therefore, providing an ultrasonic endoscope that can reduce the radial dimension of the front-end component is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0004] This utility model discloses a front end component, an insertion part, and an ultrasonic endoscope to solve the technical problem that the radial dimension of the front end component of the ultrasonic endoscope in the related art is too large.

[0005] To solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] The present invention relates to a front-end assembly for use in an ultrasonic endoscope. The front-end assembly includes a front-end base and a camera module. The proximal end of the front-end base is provided with an instrument channel, and the wall of the proximal end of the instrument channel is an inclined structure. The camera module is located above the inclined structure, and a first gap is formed between the camera module and the inclined structure. The height of the distal end of the first gap is less than the height of the proximal end of the first gap.

[0007] The insertion part of this utility model includes a front end component and a curved section. The front end component is located at the distal end of the curved section, and the front end component is the front end component described in any of the technical solutions of this utility model.

[0008] The ultrasonic endoscope of this utility model includes a handle, an insertion part, and a display device. The handle is connected to the insertion part and also to the display device. The insertion part is the insertion part described in any of the technical solutions of this utility model.

[0009] The technical solution adopted in this utility model can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0010] The front-end assembly of this utility model has an instrument channel at the proximal end of the front-end seat. The wall of the proximal end of the instrument channel is inclined. The camera module is located above the inclined structure, and a first gap is formed between the camera module and the inclined structure. The first gap can be formed as an adhesive injection space. Since the height of the distal end of the first gap is smaller than the height of the proximal end of the first gap, the proximal end of the adhesive injection space can hold more adhesive, thereby ensuring the reliability of the bonding between the camera module and the front-end seat. At the same time, since the adhesive injection space is formed by the inclined wall of the proximal end of the instrument channel, the inclined structure is adapted to the inclined shape of the instrument channel. This structure not only improves the space utilization of the overall layout of the front-end seat, but also helps to reduce the radial dimension of the front-end seat while ensuring the reliability of the camera module installation, which is conducive to the insertion of the insertion part into the cavity.

[0011] The front-end assembly of this utility model, by setting the wall surface of the proximal end of the instrument channel as an inclined structure, can reduce the radial dimension of the front-end seat while ensuring the reliability of the camera module installation, thus solving the technical problem of excessive radial dimension in the front-end assembly of ultrasonic endoscopes in related technologies. Attached Figure Description

[0012] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0013] Figure 1 is a first schematic diagram of the front-end component according to an embodiment of this application;

[0014] Figure 2 is a second schematic diagram of the front-end component according to an embodiment of this application;

[0015] Figure 3 is a first partial schematic diagram of the front-end component according to an embodiment of this application;

[0016] Figure 4 is a second partial schematic diagram of the front-end component according to an embodiment of this application;

[0017] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of part A in Figure 4;

[0018] Figure 6 is a partial schematic diagram of the front end of an embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 7 is a first schematic diagram of a front-end component according to another embodiment of this application;

[0020] Figure 8 is a second schematic diagram of the front-end component according to another embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 9 is a first partial schematic diagram of the front-end component according to another embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 10 is a second partial schematic diagram of the front-end component according to another embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 11 is an enlarged view of part B in Figure 10;

[0024] Figure 12 is a partial schematic diagram of the front end of another embodiment of this application.

[0025] In the diagram: 110, front end seat; 111, instrument channel; 1111, inclined structure; 1112, first plane; 1113, outlet; 112, first contact surface; 113, first positioning part; 114, second positioning part; 1141, third contact surface; 120, camera module; 121, camera; 122, light source; 130, first gap; 140, second gap; 150, support part; 160, circuit board; 170, third gap; 180, transducer; 200, curved section; 210, second contact surface. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of this utility model will be described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this utility model, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other implementation methods obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0027] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and not to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such use of data can be interchanged where appropriate so that embodiments of this application can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein, and the objects distinguished by "first," "second," etc., are generally of the same class and the number of objects is not limited; for example, a first object can be one or more. Furthermore, in the specification and claims, "and / or" indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0028] In the various embodiments of this application, "near end" and "far end" refer to the distance of each component from the user in the usage environment. The end closer to the user is designated as the "near end", and the end farther from the user is designated as the "far end".

[0029] In related technologies, the proximal end of the front end of the ultrasonic endoscope is usually a horizontal structure, and the camera module is located above the proximal end of the front end. In order to ensure the reliability of the camera module installation, sufficient glue injection space is usually reserved between the camera module and the front end, which results in the overall radial dimension of the insertion part front end assembly being too large, which is not conducive to the insertion of the insertion part into the cavity.

[0030] To address this, this application provides a front-end assembly with an inclined wall at the proximal end of the instrument channel. This increases the gap between the camera module and the proximal wall of the instrument channel while ensuring that the overall radial dimension of the front-end assembly remains unchanged. This, in turn, increases the amount of adhesive injected and improves the reliability of the camera module installation.

[0031] The front-end component, insertion part, and ultrasonic endoscope provided in this application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 12, through specific embodiments and application scenarios.

[0032] The front-end component of this embodiment is used for an ultrasonic endoscope, specifically for the distal end of the ultrasonic endoscope insertion portion. The working principle of the ultrasonic endoscope is prior art and will not be described further here.

[0033] The front-end assembly of this embodiment includes a front-end base 110 and a camera module 120, as shown in Figures 1 and 7. The front-end base 110 serves as the mounting base for the camera module 120, etc. An instrument channel 111 is provided at the proximal end of the front-end base 110, which allows instruments to pass through, as shown in Figures 1 and 7. The camera module 120 includes a camera 121 and a light source 122, as shown in Figures 1-5 and Figures 7-11.

[0034] Preferably, the proximal wall of the instrument channel 111 is an inclined structure 1111, as shown in Figures 3-5 and 9-11. An inclined structure 1111 means that the upper surface of the proximal wall of the instrument channel 111 is inclined. For example, the inclined structure 1111 slopes downwards from the distal end to the proximal end. The camera module 120 is located above the inclined structure 1111, forming a first gap 130 between the camera module 120 and the inclined structure 1111. The distal end height of the first gap 130 is less than the proximal end height of the first gap 130, as shown in Figures 3-5 and 9-11. The height of the first gap 130 refers to its height in the vertical direction, or its height in the radial direction of the front end seat 110.

[0035] For example, the inclined structure 1111 of the proximal wall of the instrument channel 111 can be formed by thinning the proximal wall of the instrument channel 111.

[0036] The front-end assembly of the ultrasound endoscope, the front-end base 110, is used to mount the camera module 120 and form the instrument channel 111. The distal end of the front-end base 110 is also used to mount structures such as the transducer 180, which is used to transmit and receive ultrasound waves, as shown in Figures 4, 7, and 8. The outlet 1113 of the instrument channel 111 is usually located on the upper surface of the front-end base 110, thus making the instrument channel 111 located near the proximal end of the front-end base 110 inclined, as shown in Figures 3, 4, 9, and 11.

[0037] As shown in Figures 3 and 9, the inclined structure 1111 formed in this embodiment corresponds to the instrument channel 111 and is perfectly adapted to the inclined shape of the instrument channel 111, which can improve the space utilization rate of the overall layout of the front end seat 110.

[0038] In this embodiment, the first gap 130 of the front-end assembly can be formed as a glue injection space. Since the distal height of the first gap 130 is smaller than the proximal height, the proximal end of the glue injection space can accommodate more glue, thereby ensuring the reliability of the bonding between the camera module 120 and the front-end seat 110. Simultaneously, since the glue injection space is formed by the inclined wall of the proximal end of the instrument channel 111, the radial dimension of the front-end seat 110 can be reduced while ensuring the reliable installation of the camera module 120, facilitating the insertion of the insertion part into the cavity. In other words, the front-end assembly of this embodiment solves the technical problem of excessively large radial dimensions in related ultrasonic endoscope front-end assemblies.

[0039] According to an optional embodiment, the tilt angle of the tilting structure 1111 satisfies: 15° ≤ α ≤ 30°, where α is the angle between the tilting structure 1111 and the first plane 1112, and the first plane 1112 is an extension of the plane containing the outlet 1113 of the instrument channel 111. α is specifically the smaller of the angles between the tilting structure 1111 and the first plane 1112. Exemplarily, the first plane 1112 is a horizontal plane. Exemplarily, the tilt angle of the tilting structure 1111 is 15°, 20°, 25°, and 30°.

[0040] In this preferred embodiment, the front-end component of the inclined structure 1111 is limited to the following angle: 15°≤α≤30°. This avoids the problem that if the inclination angle of the inclined structure 1111 is too small, the first gap 130 (i.e., the glue injection space) can hold less glue, which would compromise the installation reliability of the camera module 120. On the other hand, it also avoids the problem that if the inclination angle of the inclined structure 1111 is too large, the proximal wall of the instrument channel 111 would be too thin, affecting the strength of the front-end seat 110.

[0041] According to an optional embodiment, the camera module 120 is arranged along the axial direction of the front end base 110, as shown in Figures 1-4 and 7-10. The camera module 120 is arranged along the axial direction of the front end base 110, meaning that the central axis of the camera module 120 is parallel to the central axis of the front end base 110. This arrangement allows the camera module 120 to acquire a larger image area, thus enabling accurate location of the affected area. Furthermore, this arrangement also facilitates the formation of a larger injection space between the camera module 120 and the front end base 110, ensuring reliable installation of the camera module 120.

[0042] In the related technology of ultrasonic endoscope, the transducer 180 is a convex curved structure. The transducer 180 is located at the far end of the front end seat 110, so that the far end face of the front end seat 110 forms a convex curved structure. In order to avoid the front end seat 110 from obstructing the shooting range of the camera module 120, the camera module 120 is usually tilted on the front end seat 110. This setting results in a limited shooting range of the camera module 120.

[0043] As shown in Figures 1 and 7, the proximal end of the front-end seat 110 in this embodiment is a horizontal structure, and the distal end is a conical structure. The height of the conical structure gradually decreases from the proximal end to the distal end. This structure of the front-end seat 110 allows the camera module 120 to be set along the axial direction of the front-end seat 110, and the front-end seat 110 will not obstruct the shooting range of the camera module 120.

[0044] Preferably, the distal end face of the camera module 120 is located near the proximal end of the outlet 1113 of the instrument channel 111, as shown in Figures 1 and 7. As shown in Figures 1 and 7, the camera module 120 is located in front of the outlet 1113 of the instrument channel 111, which allows the shooting range of the camera module 120 to cover the outlet 1113 of the instrument channel 111, thereby obtaining a wider field of view.

[0045] According to an optional embodiment, the bottom surface of the camera module 120 abuts against the plane where the outlet 1113 of the instrument channel 111 is located. Preferably, the distal end of the bottom surface of the camera module 120 abuts against the plane where the outlet 1113 of the instrument channel 111 is located. On the one hand, the plane where the outlet 1113 of the instrument channel 111 is located can provide support for the camera module 120, preventing the camera module 120 from shifting under pressure during the glue injection process, thereby affecting the connection between the camera module 120 and the circuit board 160; the constraint of the surface contact between the camera module 120 and the plane where the outlet 1113 of the instrument channel 111 is located also helps to ensure that the camera module 120 is properly aligned, that is, the camera module 120 can be positioned along the axial direction of the front end seat 110.

[0046] According to another optional embodiment, the bottom surface of the camera module 120 is located above the plane containing the outlet 1113 of the instrument channel 111, forming a second gap 140 between the camera module 120 and the plane containing the outlet 1113 of the instrument channel 111, as shown in Figures 2 and 8. Because the bottom surface of the camera module 120 is located above the plane containing the outlet 1113 of the instrument channel 111, the area within the instrument channel 111 covered by the viewing angle of the camera module 120 can be closer to the proximal side of the front-end component, thereby providing a greater view of the interior of the instrument channel 111.

[0047] According to an optional embodiment, the front-end assembly further includes a support portion 150 and a circuit board 160, as shown in Figures 3-6 and 9-12. The support portion 150 is located near the front-end base 110 and is used to mount the circuit board 160. A camera module 120 is mounted on the circuit board 160. Preferably, a third gap 170 is formed between the support portion 150 and the circuit board 160, as shown in Figures 5 and 11. The third gap 170 may also be formed as a glue injection space, thereby ensuring the reliability of the connection between the circuit board 160 and the support portion 150.

[0048] Preferably, the support portion 150 and the front end base 110 are an integral structure. However, they are not limited to this; the support portion 150 and the front end base 110 can be separate structures, and can be fixedly connected by snap-fit, welding, or bonding. More preferably, the support portion 150 has an arc-shaped structure corresponding to the proximal end of the front end base 110, and the circuit board 160 also has an arc-shaped structure, thereby improving the space utilization of the front-end components from the overall structural layout perspective.

[0049] According to an optional embodiment, the proximal end of the front-end seat 110 is provided with a first abutment surface 112, and the distal end face of the bent section 200 of the insertion portion is formed as a second abutment surface 210. The first abutment surface 112 and the second abutment surface 210 are used to axially limit the circuit board 160, as shown in Figures 4-6 and Figures 10-12. In the preferred embodiment, the front-end assembly axially limits the circuit board 160 by using the first abutment surface 112 and the second abutment surface 210, which can ensure the installation accuracy of the circuit board 160 in the axial direction. At the same time, using the proximal end of the front-end seat 110 to form the first abutment surface 112 and the distal end face of the bent section 200 to form the second abutment surface 210 also helps to simplify the structure of the front-end assembly.

[0050] Preferably, the surface of the support portion 150 is lower than the surface of the proximal end of the front end seat 110, and the proximal end face of the front end seat 110 is formed as a first abutment surface 112, as shown in FIG6. The first abutment surface 112 formed in this form does not require additional positioning structure, which helps to simplify the structure of the front end assembly.

[0051] Preferably, the front end seat 110 is provided with a first positioning part 113, and the proximal end face of the first positioning part 113 is formed as a first abutting surface 112, as shown in FIG12. The first abutting surface 112 formed in this form can have a larger contact area between the first abutting surface 112 and the circuit board 160, which is beneficial to enhance the limiting effect of the first abutting surface 112 on the circuit board 160.

[0052] According to an optional embodiment, the front end 110 is further provided with a second positioning part 114, the side of which is formed as a third abutment surface 1141. The third abutment surface 1141 is used to radially limit the circuit board 160, as shown in FIG12. By limiting the circuit board 160 radially through the third abutment surface 1141, and further limiting the circuit board 160 axially through the first abutment surface 112 and the second abutment surface 210, and by supporting the circuit board 160 through the support part 150, the circuit board 160 can be limited from multiple directions, thereby further enhancing the installation accuracy of the circuit board 160. At the same time, since the camera module 120 is mounted on the circuit board 160, the circuit board 160 has high installation accuracy, which can also improve the installation accuracy of the camera module 120, thereby improving the shooting effect of the camera module 120.

[0053] The insertion section of this embodiment includes a front end component and a curved section 200. The front end component is located at the distal end of the curved section 200, as shown in Figures 1 and 7. The front end component is the front end component of any technical solution in this embodiment. The curved section 200 includes an active curved section and a passive curved section. Figures 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, and 10 only show schematic diagrams of a partial length of the curved section 200. The structure of the curved section 200 can be the same as the corresponding structure in existing ultrasonic endoscopes, and will not be described in detail here.

[0054] The insertion part of this embodiment has a front end component of any of the technical solutions in this embodiment, so that the insertion part of this embodiment can reduce the radial dimension of the front end seat 110 while ensuring the reliability of the installation of the camera module 120, which is conducive to the insertion part being inserted into the cavity.

[0055] The ultrasonic endoscope of this embodiment includes a handle, an insertion part, and a display device. The handle is connected to the insertion part and also to the display device. The insertion part is the insertion part of any of the technical solutions in this embodiment. The structure of the handle and the display device can be the same as the corresponding structure in existing ultrasonic endoscopes, and will not be described in detail here.

[0056] The ultrasonic endoscope of this embodiment has an insertion part according to any of the technical solutions in this embodiment, which can reduce the difficulty of inserting the ultrasonic endoscope into the cavity.

[0057] The above description is only a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A front-end assembly for an ultrasonic endoscope, characterized by comprising: The front end assembly comprises a front end seat (110) and a camera module (120), wherein the proximal end of the front end seat (110) is provided with an instrument channel (111), the wall surface of the proximal end of the instrument channel (111) is an inclined structure (1111), the camera module (120) is located above the inclined structure (1111), and a first gap (130) is formed between the camera module (120) and the inclined structure (1111), and the distal end height of the first gap (130) is less than the proximal end height of the first gap (130).

2. The front end assembly of claim 1, wherein, The inclination angle of the inclined structure (1111) satisfies 15°≤α≤30°, wherein, α is the included angle between the inclined structure (1111) and a first plane (1112), and the first plane (1112) is the extension plane of the plane where the outlet (1113) of the instrument channel (111) is located.

3. The front end assembly of claim 1, wherein, The camera module (120) is arranged in the axial direction of the front end seat (110), and the distal end surface of the camera module (120) is located proximally to the outlet (1113) of the instrument channel (111).

4. The front end assembly of claim 3, wherein, The bottom surface of the camera module (120) abuts against the plane where the outlet (1113) of the instrument channel (111) is located; or The bottom surface of the camera module (120) is located above the plane where the outlet (1113) of the instrument channel (111) is located, and a second gap (140) is formed between the camera module (120) and the plane where the outlet (1113) of the instrument channel (111) is located.

5. The front end assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, Further comprising a support part (150) and a circuit board (160), the camera module (120) is mounted on the circuit board (160), wherein the support part (150) is located proximally to the front end seat (110), the support part (150) is used for mounting the circuit board (160), and a third gap (170) is formed between the support part (150) and the circuit board (160).

6. The front end assembly of claim 5, wherein, The proximal end of the front end seat (110) is provided with a first abutting surface (112), the distal end surface of the curved section (200) of the insertion part is formed as a second abutting surface (210), and the first abutting surface (112) and the second abutting surface (210) are used for axially limiting the circuit board (160).

7. The front end assembly of claim 6, wherein, The surface of the support part (150) is lower than the surface of the proximal end of the front end seat (110), and the proximal end surface of the front end seat (110) is formed as the first abutting surface (112); or The first positioning part (113) is arranged on the front end seat (110), and the proximal end surface of the first positioning part (113) is formed as the first abutting surface (112).

8. The front end assembly of claim 6, wherein, The front end seat (110) is further provided with a second positioning part (114), the side surface of the second positioning part (114) is formed as a third abutting surface (1141), and the third abutting surface (1141) is used for radially limiting the circuit board (160).

9. An insertion portion characterized by, The front end assembly is provided at a distal end of the curved section (200), and the front end assembly is the front end assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. An ultrasonic endoscope characterized by comprising: The handle is connected with the insertion part, the handle is further connected with the display device, and the insertion part is the insertion part according to claim 9.

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