Flexible endoscope with peristaltic pump

Abstract

The present invention relates to a medical instrument, and in particular, to a flexible electronic endoscope with a built-in peristaltic pump. The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is that current flexible electronic endoscopes themselves do not have the function of pressurized perfusion, resulting in the problems of limited space and poor portability when externally connected to perfusion pumps and externally connected to negative pressure pipelines. The present invention provides a flexible electronic endoscope with a peristaltic pump built into a handle. A lavage pipe of the endoscope is provided with a small peristaltic pump, both ends of a pump tube of the peristaltic pump are connected to the lavage pipe, and the pump tube forms a part of the lavage pipe. In this way, the flexible electronic endoscope is allowed to have an independent pressurized perfusion function.

Description

A flexible endoscope with a peristaltic pump Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a medical device, specifically a flexible electronic endoscope with a built-in peristaltic pump. Background Technology

[0002] Flexible electronic endoscopes are medical devices used for observation and treatment, including flexible cystoscopes, flexible ureteroscopes, flexible bronchoscopes, and other endoscopes used for various organs. Flexible electronic endoscopes require irrigation water to ensure a clear field of view during use. Currently, common irrigation methods include gravity drip irrigation and pressurized irrigation pump irrigation. Gravity drip irrigation involves suspending saline solution at a high position and administering it via an infusion pump, but this method suffers from low speed and pressure. Insufficient irrigation speed often leads to unclear vision. Pressurized irrigation pump irrigation requires an external, specialized instrument to pressurize the water. Current irrigation pumps are relatively large, requiring desktop placement and cart movement, which limits the portability of the endoscope and restricts related procedures to specialized examination rooms and operating rooms, making them unsuitable for use in outpatient clinics, emergency rooms, ambulances, or bedside. Current flexible electronic endoscopes do not have suction capabilities. Procedures requiring drainage or blood clot removal necessitate external negative pressure tubing, which limits their application. Currently, both irrigation and suction rely on additional equipment; there are no flexible electronic endoscopes with built-in peristaltic pumps. Technical issues

[0003] The technical problem this invention aims to solve is that current flexible electronic endoscopes lack pressurized irrigation and active aspiration capabilities, leading to problems such as unclear observation, difficulty in drainage, and inability to aspirate. Furthermore, the use of external irrigation pumps and negative pressure tubing restricts their usability and reduces portability. This invention proposes a flexible electronic endoscope with a built-in peristaltic pump in the handle. This allows the flexible electronic endoscope to have independent pressurized irrigation and active aspiration functions, increasing its applicability, usability, and portability. This invention is a novel medical device. Technical solutions

[0004] This invention relates to a flexible electronic endoscope, comprising a handle and a body. The handle has a push rod connected to an internal transmission structure. The front section of the body is flexible; the push rod can bend the front section of the body via the transmission structure. The lens end of the body contains a camera assembly and a light-emitting assembly. The endoscope contains an irrigation channel, with the irrigation interface on the handle and the lens end at both ends. The invention is characterized by a small peristaltic pump on the irrigation channel. The peristaltic pump includes a driver, a pump head, and a pump tube. Both ends of the pump tube are connected to the irrigation channel, forming part of the irrigation channel. The irrigation channel between the irrigation interface and the peristaltic pump is the pre-pump irrigation channel, and the irrigation channel between the peristaltic pump and the lens end is the post-pump irrigation channel. The peristaltic pump can rotate forward, backward, or bidirectionally, thus enabling the irrigation channel containing the peristaltic pump to either inject water inward or suction outward; that is, the peristaltic pump can be used as both a pressure pump and a suction pump. When the endoscope has multiple peristaltic pumps, each pump can have independent speed and direction. The handle has a peristaltic pump control button, which controls functions including, but not limited to, the pump's on / off state, speed, pressure, and direction. The endoscope can have one or more irrigation channels, each with its own independent peristaltic pump. The irrigation channels may have a spare interface connected to the irrigation channel after the pump, allowing for external flushing when the peristaltic pump is not in operation. The endoscope may contain instrument tubing, with one end connected to the instrument port on the handle and the other to the lens end. Instrument tubing can be independent or share a channel with the irrigation channels. Peristaltic pump installation methods include, but are not limited to, the pump being fully sealed within the handle, the handle housing having a movable cover at the pump location, the pump portion being exposed outside the handle, or the pump being installed as a replaceable module on the handle. The peristaltic pump can be powered by a built-in battery in the handle, an external power supply via wires, or a combination of a built-in battery and an external power supply. The endoscope contains a chip and can have a built-in wireless communication module or an external data cable for wireless or wired connection to external devices. The peristaltic pump and irrigation channels can also be used for gas infusion. Beneficial effects

[0005] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: By utilizing the space within the handle of a flexible electronic endoscope to house a miniature peristaltic pump, the endoscope itself possesses a pressurized irrigation function. Reversing the peristaltic pump also provides a suction function, replacing the functions of an external irrigation pump and an external negative pressure suction device. This results in better examination outcomes, lower location requirements, and greater portability. It also aligns more closely with the development trend of wireless instruments. Currently, there is no identical design to this invention, making it a groundbreaking innovation with practical applications. Attached Figure Description

[0006] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0007] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0008] The labels in the diagram are as follows: 1. Handle, 2. Lens body, 3. Push rod, 4. Transmission structure, 5. Irrigation tubing, 5.1. Pre-pump irrigation tubing, 5.2. Post-pump irrigation tubing, 6. Irrigation interface, 7. Lens end, 8. Peristaltic pump, 9. Pump tubing, 10. Instrument tubing, 11. Instrument port, 12. Built-in battery, 13. Chip, 14. Wireless communication module, 15. Control key, 16. Spare interface. The best embodiment of the present invention

[0009] Example 1: As shown in Figure 1, a flexible electronic endoscope includes a handle 1 and a body 2. The handle 1 has a push rod 3 connected to an internal transmission structure 4. The front section of the body 2 is flexible; manipulating the push rod 3 allows the front section of the body 2 to bend. The head end of the body 2 has a camera component and a light-emitting component. The endoscope contains an irrigation channel 5, with irrigation interfaces 6 on the handle and a lens end 7 at both ends. The handle 1 has a built-in small peristaltic pump 8, which includes a driver, a pump head, and a pump tube 9. The pump tube 9 of the peristaltic pump 8 is connected to the irrigation channel 5, forming part of the irrigation channel 5. Rotation of the peristaltic pump 8 drives the flow of liquid within the irrigation channel 5. During rinsing, external rinsing fluid enters the irrigation channel 5 inside the endoscope through the irrigation interface 6 on the handle 1, flows sequentially through the pre-pump irrigation channel 5.1, the pump tube 9 of the peristaltic pump 8, and the post-pump irrigation channel 5.2, and finally exits from the lens end 7. The peristaltic pump 8 can rotate in either the forward or reverse direction, thus enabling the irrigation tube 5 containing the peristaltic pump 8 to either inject water inward or suction outward. In other words, the peristaltic pump 8 can be used as both a pressure pump and a suction pump. The handle 1 has a control button 15 for the peristaltic pump 8, controlling its on / off state, speed, pressure, and direction. A spare interface 16 is also connected to the irrigation tube 5.2 after the pump. The endoscope contains an instrument tube 10, which shares a portion of the irrigation tube 5 with the instrument tube 10. One end of the instrument tube 10 is an instrument insertion port 11, and the other end is the lens end 7. The peristaltic pump 8 is fully sealed and housed within the handle 1, powered by a built-in battery 12. The endoscope has a built-in chip 13 and a wireless communication module 14, allowing it to connect wirelessly to external devices and transmit camera video information to an external display. Embodiments of the present invention

[0010] Example 2: As shown in Figure 2, a flexible electronic endoscope includes a handle 1 and a scope body 2. A push rod 3 connects the handle 1 to an internal transmission structure 4. The front section of the scope body 2 is flexible; manipulating the push rod 3 allows the front section of the scope body 2 to bend. The head end of the scope body 2 has a camera component and a light-emitting component. The endoscope contains two irrigation channels 5, with irrigation interfaces 6 on the handle and a lens end 7 at both ends. Each irrigation channel 5 has a peristaltic pump 8, which includes a driver, a pump head, and a pump tube 9. The pump tube 9 of the peristaltic pump 8 is connected to the irrigation channel 5, forming part of the irrigation channel 5. Rotation of the peristaltic pump 8 drives the flow of liquid within the irrigation channel 5. The peristaltic pump 8 on the upper irrigation pipe 5 in the diagram rotates clockwise and acts as a pressure pump. During rinsing, the external rinsing fluid flows sequentially through the corresponding irrigation port 6 of the upper irrigation pipe, the pre-pump irrigation pipe 5.1, the peristaltic pump 8, and the post-pump irrigation pipe 5.2, finally exiting from the lens end 7. A spare port 16 is also connected to the post-pump irrigation pipe 5. The instrument pipe 10 shares a portion of the pipe with the upper irrigation pipe 5. One end of the instrument pipe 10 is the instrument insertion port 11, and the other end is the lens end 7. The peristaltic pump 8 on the lower irrigation pipe 5 in the diagram rotates counterclockwise and acts as a suction pump. During suction, the liquid is drawn into the lower irrigation pipe 5 through the lens end 7, passes through the suction pump peristaltic pump 8, and finally exits from the corresponding irrigation port 6. The handle 1 has a control button 15 for the peristaltic pump 8, controlling the on / off state and speed of the two peristaltic pumps 8. The outer casing of the peristaltic pump 8 on the handle 1 has a movable cover; opening the cover exposes the pump tube 9. The peristaltic pump 8 can be powered by the built-in battery 12 in the handle or by an external power source. The endoscope contains a chip 13 and a wireless communication module 14, which can be connected to external devices wirelessly or via wired connection. Industrial applicability

[0011] This invention can be manufactured and used using existing production technologies, and can have a positive effect on improving medical standards.

[0012] Type the free content description paragraph for the sequence list here.

Claims

1. A flexible electronic endoscope, comprising a handle and an endoscope body, wherein a push rod is externally connected to a transmission structure inside the handle, the front section of the endoscope body is a flexible structure, and the push rod can bend the front section of the endoscope body through the transmission structure; the head end of the endoscope body, i.e., the lens end, contains a camera component and a light-emitting component; the endoscope contains an irrigation channel, the two ends of which are the irrigation interface on the handle and the lens end, characterized in that: The irrigation pipeline has a small peristaltic pump, which includes a driver, a pump head, and a pump tube. The two ends of the pump tube of the peristaltic pump are connected to the irrigation pipeline, and the pump tube constitutes part of the irrigation pipeline.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pump tube of the peristaltic pump forms part of the irrigation pipeline. The irrigation pipeline between the irrigation interface and the peristaltic pump is the pre-pump irrigation pipeline, and the irrigation pipeline between the peristaltic pump and the lens end is the post-pump irrigation pipeline.

3. The endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: Peristaltic pumps can rotate in the forward, reverse, or bidirectional direction, thus enabling the irrigation pipeline containing the peristaltic pump to either inject water inward or draw water outward. In other words, peristaltic pumps can be used as both pressure pumps and suction pumps.

4. The endoscope according to claim 4, characterized in that: When an endoscope has multiple peristaltic pumps, each peristaltic pump can have independent speed and direction.

5. The endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: The handle has a peristaltic pump control button, which controls functions including but not limited to the peristaltic pump's on / off state, speed, pressure, and direction.

6. The endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: An endoscope can have one or more irrigation channels, and each irrigation channel can have an independent peristaltic pump.

7. The endoscope according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flushing pipeline can have a spare interface, which is connected to the flushing pipeline after the pump and can be used for external flushing when the peristaltic pump is not working.

8. The endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: The endoscope may contain an instrument tube, with one end being the instrument port of the handle and the other end being the lens end. The instrument tube can be an independent tube or can share a tube with the irrigation tube.

9. The endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: The installation methods of the peristaltic pump include, but are not limited to, the peristaltic pump being fully sealed inside the handle, the handle housing having a movable cover where the peristaltic pump is located, the peristaltic pump being partially exposed outside the handle, and the peristaltic pump being installed on the handle as a replaceable module.

10. The endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: The peristaltic pump can be powered by a battery built into the handle, an external power supply via wires, or a combination of a built-in battery and an external power supply.

11. The endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: The endoscope handle contains a chip that can connect to external devices wirelessly or via a wireless communication module or an external data cable.

12. The endoscope according to claim 1, characterized in that: Peristaltic pumps and flushing pipes can also be used for gas injection.

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