Drive structure for pull wire, operation handle, and endoscope

Abstract

Disclosed are a drive structure (100) for a pull wire, an operation handle (200), and an endoscope (1), which relate to the technical field of medical instruments. The drive structure (100) comprises a guide portion (110) and a traction wheel (120). A connection portion (121) can rotate at the same angle along with the traction wheel (120), the connection portion (121) rotates relative to the guide portion (110), and the pull wire located on both sides of the guide portion (110) is tightened or loosened. When the traction wheel (120) rotates by a same angle, the overall tightening or loosening distance of the pull wire is longer. When an insertion portion of the endoscope (1) rotates to the same position, the amplitude required for the medical staff to actuate a regulation member can be reduced. A small actuation amplitude is more suitable for long-term operation of the medical staff, thereby reducing the discomfort experienced by the medical staff when operating the operation handle, and improving the use effect and application prospects of the endoscope (1).

Description

A traction rope drive structure, an operating handle, and an endoscope Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to a traction rope drive structure, an operating handle, and an endoscope. Background Technology

[0002] Endoscopes are typically used to diagnose and treat lesions inside a patient's body. An endoscope consists of a control handle and an insertion section. During operation, by controlling the control handle, the active bending section at the front end of the insertion section can be pulled by a traction cable to achieve bending motion, thereby changing the orientation of the front end of the insertion section.

[0003] In related technologies, the operating handle contains a traction wheel. Medical staff use the adjustment control on the operating handle to drive the traction wheel, which in turn drives the insertion part through a traction rope to achieve bending motion. When diagnosing and treating lesions inside a patient's body, medical staff need to significantly manipulate the adjustment control to rotate the insertion part to the desired position. Repeated and continuous manipulation can lead to finger fatigue for medical staff, which is not conducive to prolonged and continuous medical treatment, affecting the effectiveness and application prospects of the endoscope. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the shortcomings of the above-mentioned related technologies, this application provides a drive structure for a traction rope, an operating handle, and an endoscope to solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] This application provides a drive structure for a traction rope, including a guide portion and a traction wheel. The guide portion is used to wind the traction rope, and the winding direction and winding direction of the traction rope in the guide portion are opposite. The traction wheel is rotatably disposed relative to the guide portion. The traction wheel has a connecting portion for connecting to the proximal end of the traction rope. When the traction wheel rotates, the connecting portion and the guide portion move away from or towards each other.

[0006] To achieve the above and other related objectives, this application provides an operating handle, including the aforementioned drive structure and adjustment control, the adjustment control being connected to the traction wheel.

[0007] To achieve the above and other related objectives, this application provides an endoscope including the operating handle as described above.

[0008] The technical solution adopted in this invention achieves the following beneficial effects: the connecting part is connected to the proximal end of the traction rope, and the guide part is wound around the traction rope. The connecting part can rotate with the traction wheel at the same angle. When the connecting part rotates relative to the guide part, the traction ropes on both sides of the guide part are tightened or loosened. When the traction wheel rotates to the same position, the overall tightening or loosening distance of the traction rope is longer. The insertion part of the endoscope rotates to the same position. Compared with the prior art, this setting can reduce the amplitude of the adjustment control for medical staff. The smaller amplitude of adjustment is more suitable for medical staff to operate for a long time, reducing the discomfort caused by medical staff operating the operating handle, and improving the use effect and application prospects of the endoscope. Furthermore, the fixed end of the traction rope is stable and does not rotate relative to the outer shell of the operating handle, allowing the traction rope to rotate more stably and not easily shake due to changes in external force or load. During this period, one end of the traction rope is connected to the rotatable connecting part. This configuration has higher flexibility and can adapt to more complex lifting and movement needs. Attached Figure Description

[0009] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention 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 the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the driving structure shown in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0011] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of another driving structure shown in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0012] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the driving structure from another perspective, illustrating an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0013] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 3;

[0014] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating another driving structure in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0015] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of another driving structure shown in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0016] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an endoscope shown in an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0017] In the diagram: 1. Endoscope; 100. Drive structure; 110. Guide section; 120. Traction wheel; 121. Connecting section; 122. Reversing section; 123. Rotary groove; 1231. First end; 1232. Second end; 124. Reversing end; 125. Reversing wheel; 126. Limiting section; 127. Groove; 128. Through hole; 131. First sub-guide section; 132. Second sub-guide section; 133. First sub-reversing section; 134. Second sub-reversing section; 200. Operating handle; 300. Adjustment control. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other implementation methods obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0019] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects, not to describe a specific order or sequence. The objects distinguished by "first," "second," etc., are usually of the same class, and the number of objects is not limited; for example, the 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.

[0020] 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".

[0021] Endoscopes are typically used to diagnose and treat lesions inside a patient's body. An endoscope consists of a handle and an insertion section. During operation, by controlling the handle, the insertion section at its tip can be pulled via a traction cable to achieve a bending motion, thereby changing the orientation of the insertion section.

[0022] In related technologies, the operating handle contains a traction wheel. Medical staff use the adjustment control on the operating handle to drive the traction wheel, which in turn drives the insertion section via a traction rope to achieve bending motion. When medical staff hold the endoscope, it is difficult to make large-scale adjustments to the adjustment control, which greatly limits the already limited bending range of the insertion section, thus affecting the endoscope's effectiveness and application prospects.

[0023] This embodiment provides a drive structure 100 for a traction rope. Please refer to Figure 1. The drive structure 100 may include a guide portion 110 and a traction wheel 120, which is rotatably disposed relative to the guide portion 110.

[0024] Please refer to Figure 1. The guide portion 110 can be formed in the housing of the operating handle or other structures, and the connecting portion can be a columnar structure or a sheet-like structure. This embodiment does not limit the specific position and shape of the guide portion 110. The guide portion 110 is used to wind the traction rope, and the winding direction and winding-out direction of the traction rope in the guide portion 110 are opposite. The traction rope can rotate around at least a portion of the guide portion 110, that is, the traction rope can rotate around the guide portion 110 at a certain angle. Here, the winding direction is the extension direction of the traction rope when it winds into the guide portion 110, and the winding-out direction is the extension direction of the traction rope when it winds out of the guide portion 110. It is understood that the winding direction and the winding-out direction are not parallel and opposite to each other, and there can be a certain angle between them. This setting allows the guide portion 110 to change the extension direction of the traction rope. The winding direction and the winding-out direction can be adjusted according to actual needs to adapt to different usage requirements and operating environments.

[0025] Please refer to Figure 1. The traction wheel 120 can be generally wheel-shaped or similar, and this embodiment is not limited to this. The traction wheel 120 has a pivot, which can be mounted on the housing of the operating handle, and the pivot can be rotated relative to the housing to allow the traction wheel 120 to rotate relative to the guide portion 110. The traction wheel 120 has a connecting portion 121, which is used to connect to the proximal end of the traction rope, and the connecting portion 121 can rotate together with the traction wheel 120.

[0026] Please refer to Figure 1. As the traction wheel 120 rotates, the connecting part 121 and the guide part 110 move away from or closer to each other. For example, the guide part 110 can be located on one side of the traction wheel 120, and the connecting part 121 can be located on the other side of the traction wheel 120. During the rotation of the traction wheel 120, the guide part 110 and the connecting part 121 move away from or closer to each other. During this period, the connecting part 121 can rotate with the traction wheel 120 at the same angle, and the traction ropes on both sides of the guide part 110 are tightened or loosened, increasing the overall tightening or loosening distance of the traction ropes. The insertion part of the endoscope rotates to the same position. Compared with the prior art, this setting can reduce the amplitude of the adjustment control that medical staff need to move. The smaller amplitude of movement is more suitable for medical staff to operate for a long time, reducing the discomfort caused by operating the control handle, and improving the effectiveness and application prospects of the endoscope.

[0027] Furthermore, one end of the traction rope is connected to the rotatable connecting part 121, which provides greater flexibility and can adapt to more complex lifting and movement needs.

[0028] In one embodiment, referring further to Figure 1, the angle between the extension direction and the outward direction of the distal end of the traction rope is less than 90 degrees. In other words, the distal end of the traction rope extends approximately along its outward direction, making the extension direction of the traction rope smoother and allowing it to maintain higher efficiency and stability when transmitting force. Furthermore, this arrangement also reduces the number of other components and the contact area between the traction rope and other components, reducing additional friction and energy loss caused by abrupt changes in direction. This arrangement allows the traction rope to more effectively convert external force into bending moment on the active bending section, thereby achieving a more precise and controllable bending effect.

[0029] Furthermore, the connecting portion 121 has a connecting hole, the shape and size of which are typically determined based on the diameter and shape of the proximal end of the traction rope. The connecting hole is used to pass through and connect the traction rope, which can be interference-fitted with the connecting hole to ensure stable transmission between them. The connecting hole may or may not extend through the connecting portion 121; no specific limitation is made here.

[0030] In other cases, the hole wall forming the connection hole and the traction rope can be glued together, fastened together, etc., and this embodiment is not limited to these.

[0031] In another embodiment, referring to Figure 2, the traction wheel 120 may further include a reversing section 122, with the reversing section 122 and the connecting section 121 spaced apart. The guide section 110 is slidably disposed relative to the reversing section 122. The reversing section 122 is used to wind the traction rope wound from the guide section 110, ensuring that the angle between the extension direction and the outward direction of the distal end of the traction rope is greater than or equal to 90 degrees. The reversing section 122 ensures that the winding direction and the outward direction of the traction rope are opposite. The reversing section 122 not only smoothly receives the traction rope wound from the guide section 110, achieving a reasonable distribution of the proximal and distal ends of the traction rope on both sides of the traction wheel 120, but also allows the distal end of the traction rope to extend to a wider angle, thereby improving the implementation effect of the drive structure 100 and facilitating cable routing by the operating handle 200. This arrangement not only ensures the continuity and stability of the traction rope during winding but also effectively avoids tension imbalance caused by uneven distribution of the traction rope.

[0032] In one embodiment, referring to FIG2, the reversing portion 122 surrounds the connecting portion 121 to form a swirl groove 123. The swirl groove 123 can be an arc-shaped groove, etc., and this embodiment is not limited thereto. The swirl groove 123 extends around the axis of rotation of the traction wheel 120. The swirl groove 123 has a first end 1231 and a second end 1232 that are far apart from each other. The connecting portion 121 is located between the first end 1231 and the second end 1232. The guide portion 110 is slidably fitted within the swirl groove 123 and slides toward the first end 1231 or the second end 1232. In the initial state, the guide portion 110 is located between the first end 1231 and the second end 1232. As the traction wheel 120 rotates, the guide portion 110 will move toward the first end 1231 or the second end 1232 of the swirl groove 123 according to the direction of the medical staff's movement.

[0033] Furthermore, referring to Figure 2, as the guide portion 110 rotates toward the second end 1232 of the swivel groove 123, the distance between the guide portion 110 and the connecting portion 121 increases, thus gradually tightening the traction rope. Conversely, as the guide portion 110 rotates toward the first end 1231 of the swivel groove 123, the distance between the guide portion 110 and the connecting portion 121 decreases, thus gradually loosening the traction rope. This configuration adjusts the tension and relaxation of the traction rope, and the swivel groove 123 also limits the rotational engagement between the traction wheel 120 and the guide portion 110, ensuring the relative range of motion between them and improving the driving effect of the drive mechanism on the traction rope.

[0034] Furthermore, the guide portion 110 is rotatably arranged along the swivel groove 123, which makes the movement path between the guide portion 110 and the connecting portion 121 clearer, avoids instability in their rotation, and improves the relative rotation effect of the guide portion 110.

[0035] Understandably, during the rotation of the traction wheel 120, the guide portion 110 and the connecting portion 121 move closer to or further away from each other. Simultaneously, the reversing portion 122 around which the traction rope is wound also moves closer to or further away from the guide portion 110. The reversing portion 122 can tighten or loosen the traction rope, further increasing the extension range of the traction rope. A larger extension range of the traction rope also improves the operational effectiveness of the operating handle, meaning that driving the insertion portion to rotate to the same angle requires a further reduction in the amplitude of the operating handle's movement compared to existing technologies, thus expanding the scope of endoscope use.

[0036] In one embodiment, the connecting portion 121 is disposed on the groove wall forming the swirl groove 123. During the rotation of the traction wheel 120, the guide portion 110 abuts against the groove wall where the connecting portion 121 is located and slides along the groove wall toward the first end 1231 or the second end 1232. This arrangement ensures that the connecting portion 121 always abuts against the groove wall during the sliding process, and the connecting portion 121 does not have radial displacement relative to the traction wheel 120, but only circumferential displacement along the traction wheel 120.

[0037] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 3, the outer diameter of the guide portion 110 is less than or equal to the width of the swirl groove 123. This arrangement ensures that the guide portion 110 can rotate smoothly within the swirl groove 123, reducing friction between the guide portion 110 and the groove wall, and extending the service life of the drive structure 100. The guide portion 110 and / or the groove wall forming the swirl groove 123 have grooves 127 for accommodating the traction rope. The grooves 127 ensure the stability of the traction rope during rotation and greatly reduce friction between the traction rope and the guide portion 110 and / or the groove wall. This arrangement not only extends the service life of the traction rope but also makes the rotation of the guide portion 110 within the swirl groove 123 smoother.

[0038] In one embodiment, referring to FIG4, the reversing section 122 has a reversing end 124 located at the first end 1231, and a reversing wheel 125 is provided on the reversing end 124. Further, the reversing wheel 125 is rotatably disposed on the reversing end 124 and is used to wind the traction rope wound from the guide section 110. When the traction rope is wound on the reversing wheel 125, it can move smoothly as the reversing wheel 125 rotates, effectively reducing the sliding friction between the two. This design not only protects the traction rope from damage due to friction but also improves the transmission efficiency of the traction rope.

[0039] Preferably, the distance between the guide portion 110 and the second end 1232 is less than or equal to the distance between the guide portion 110 and the first end 1231. In other words, the tension distance of the traction rope is less than the relaxation distance of the traction rope, and the second end 1232 can play a certain limiting role, which can prevent the traction rope from being over-tensioned. The reversing end 124 for reversing the traction rope is located at the first end 1231. When there are two guide portions 110, one guide portion 110 can limit the relative rotation range between the other guide portion 110 and the traction wheel 120, preventing it from rotating excessively.

[0040] To protect the insertion part and prevent excessive bending, in this embodiment, referring to FIG2, the drive structure 100 is further provided with a limiting part 126. The limiting part 126 is located in the movement path of the traction wheel 120 and is used to limit the rotation angle of the traction wheel 120. For example, the limiting part 126 can be provided in the movement path of the reversing part 122. When the traction wheel 120 rotates to a certain position relative to the guide part 110, the limiting part 126 abuts against the reversing part 122, thereby limiting the rotation angle of the traction wheel 120. This arrangement can prevent the traction wheel 120 from rotating excessively and ensure that the insertion part can work normally.

[0041] To allow the insertion section to bend in at least two directions, the endoscope is driven by at least two traction ropes: one traction rope pulls one side of the insertion section, and the other traction rope pulls the other side. In this embodiment, referring to Figure 5, the guide section 110 may include a first sub-guide section 131 and a second sub-guide section 132, which may have identical structures. The first sub-guide section 131 and the second sub-guide section 132 are rotatably disposed relative to the connecting section, which is used to connect to the proximal ends of the first and second traction ropes. The first sub-guide section 131 is used to wrap around the first traction rope, and the second sub-guide section 132 is used to wrap around the second traction rope.

[0042] The first sub-guide section 131 and the second sub-guide section 132 form a dual-guide structure, which are rotatably configured relative to the connecting section. When the first traction rope is pulled, it winds around the first sub-guide section 131, transmitting the tension to one side of the insertion section and causing it to bend. Similarly, when the second traction rope is pulled, it winds around the second sub-guide section 132, transmitting the tension to the other side of the insertion section and achieving bending in the other direction. This configuration not only improves the flexibility and accuracy of the endoscope insertion section but also ensures the stability and reliability of the traction rope during the winding process. It allows the endoscope to better adapt to various complex examination and treatment environments, providing medical personnel with a more convenient and efficient tool.

[0043] The first and second traction ropes can each be multiple, thereby strengthening the overall strength of the traction ropes and preventing them from breaking after prolonged use.

[0044] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, when the traction wheel 120 rotates in the first direction, the first sub-guide portion 131 and the connecting portion 121 move closer together, while the second sub-guide portion 132 moves away from the connecting portion 121. When the traction wheel 120 rotates in the second direction, the first sub-guide portion 131 and the connecting portion 121 move away from each other, while the second sub-guide portion 132 and the connecting portion 121 move closer together. The first and second directions are opposite. Furthermore, a through hole 128 is formed between the first sub-guide portion 131 and the second sub-guide portion 132. This arrangement allows for the driving of two traction ropes by a single traction wheel 120, enabling the insertion portion to bend in at least two directions.

[0045] Understandably, the first sub-guide portion 131 and the second sub-guide portion 132 are rotatably disposed relative to the traction wheel 120, and / or, both the first sub-guide portion 131 and the second sub-guide portion 132 have receiving grooves. The aforementioned related arrangements of the guide portion 110 can all be disposed in the first sub-guide portion 131 and the second sub-guide portion 132 to improve the driving effect of the traction wheel 120.

[0046] In one embodiment, referring to FIG6, the reversing section 122 may also have a first sub-reversing section 133 and a second sub-reversing section 134. The first sub-reversing section 133 is provided corresponding to the first sub-guide section 131, and is used to wind a first traction rope wound from the first sub-guide section 131, with the proximal and distal ends of the first traction rope located on opposite sides of the first sub-guide section 131. The second sub-reversing section 134 is provided corresponding to the second sub-guide section 132, and is used to wind a second traction rope wound from the second sub-guide section 132, with the proximal and distal ends of the second traction rope located on opposite sides of the second sub-guide section 132.

[0047] To achieve the above and other related objectives, please refer to Figure 7. This application provides an operating handle 200. The operating handle 200 can adjust the control 300 and the drive structure 100 of the traction rope mentioned in any of the aforementioned solutions. Thus, the operating handle 200 possesses the beneficial effects of any of the aforementioned solutions, which will not be elaborated further here. Specifically, the control 300 is connected to the traction wheel 120. The control 300 can be an adjustment control or a motor, etc. Medical personnel can operate the control 300 to drive the traction wheel 120 to rotate, so that the connecting part 121 and the guide part 110 move away from or closer to each other.

[0048] To achieve the above and other related objectives, this application provides an endoscope 1. Please refer to Figure 7. The endoscope 1 includes the aforementioned operating handle 200, thus enabling the endoscope 1 to possess the beneficial effects of any of the aforementioned solutions, which will not be elaborated further here. The endoscope 1 in the embodiments of this application can be a nephroscope, bronchoscope, esophagoscope, gastroscope, colonoscope, otoscope, rhinoscope, oral endoscope, laryngoscope, colposcope, laparoscope, arthroscope, etc.

[0049] The technical solution adopted in this invention achieves the following beneficial effects: the connecting part 121 is connected to the proximal end of the traction rope, and the guide part 110 winds around the traction rope. The connecting part 121 can rotate at the same angle with the traction wheel 120. When the connecting part 121 rotates relative to the guide part 110, the traction ropes on both sides of the guide part 110 are tightened or loosened. When the traction wheel 120 rotates to the same position, the overall tightening or loosening distance of the traction rope is longer. The insertion part of the endoscope rotates to the same position. Compared with the prior art, this setting can reduce the amplitude of the adjustment control for medical staff. The smaller amplitude of adjustment is more suitable for medical staff to operate for a long time, reducing the discomfort caused by medical staff operating the operating handle 200, and improving the use effect and application prospects of the endoscope. In addition, the fixed end of the traction rope is stable and does not rotate relative to the outer shell of the operating handle 200, so the traction rope can rotate more stably and is not easy to shake due to changes in external force or load. During this period, one end of the traction rope is connected to the rotatable connecting part 121. This configuration has higher flexibility and can adapt to more complex lifting and movement needs.

[0050] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A driving structure for a traction rope, characterized in that, include: A guide section, wherein the guide section is used to wind the traction rope and to make the winding direction of the traction rope in the guide section opposite to the winding direction of the traction rope; as well as A traction wheel, rotatably disposed relative to the guide portion, the traction wheel having a connecting portion for connecting to the proximal end of the traction rope; When the traction wheel rotates, the connecting part and the guide part move away from or towards each other.

2. The driving structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The angle between the extension direction of the distal end of the traction rope and the outward direction is less than 90 degrees; And / or, the connecting part has a connecting hole for passing through and connecting the traction rope.

3. The driving structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The traction wheel also includes a reversing part, the reversing part and the connecting part are spaced apart, the guide part is slidably disposed relative to the reversing part, the reversing part is used to wrap the traction rope that is wrapped out by the guide part, and the angle between the extension direction of the distal end of the traction rope and the winding direction is greater than or equal to 90 degrees.

4. The driving structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The reversing part surrounds the connecting part to form a swirl groove, the swirl groove extends around the shaft of the traction wheel, the swirl groove has a first end and a second end that are far apart from each other, the connecting part is located between the first end and the second end, and the guide part is slidably engaged in the swirl groove and slides toward the first end or the second end.

5. The driving structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The connecting part is disposed on the groove wall forming the vortex. During the rotation of the traction wheel, the guide part abuts against the groove wall where the connecting part is located and slides along the groove wall toward the first end or the second end. And / or, the outer diameter of the guide portion is less than or equal to the width of the swirl groove, and the guide portion and / or the groove wall forming the swirl groove are provided with a groove for accommodating the traction rope.

6. The driving structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The reversing part has a reversing end, which is located at the first end. The reversing end is provided with a reversing wheel, which is used to wind the traction rope that is wound out from the guide part. And / or, the distance between the connecting portion and the second end is less than or equal to the distance between the connecting portion and the first end.

7. The driving structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive structure is further provided with a limiting part, which is located in the movement path of the traction wheel and is used to limit the rotation angle of the traction wheel.

8. The driving structure according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The guide portion includes a first sub-guide portion and a second sub-guide portion. The connecting portion is used to connect to the proximal ends of the first traction rope and the second traction rope. The first sub-guide portion is used to wrap around the first traction rope, and the second sub-guide portion is used to wrap around the second traction rope.

9. An operating handle, characterized in that, It includes the drive structure and adjustment control as described in any one of claims 1-8, wherein the adjustment control is connected to the traction wheel.

10. An endoscope, characterized in that, Includes the operating handle as described in claim 9.

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