CN110604534A

CN110604534A - Endoscope and working method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN110604534A
Application number: CN201910333472.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李洋; 蒋艳荣; 魏开云; 袁小文
Original assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio Medical Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio Medical Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-04-24
Filing date: 2019-04-24
Publication date: 2019-12-24

Abstract

The invention discloses an endoscope and a working method thereof, wherein the endoscope comprises a front end window, an inner tube, an outer tube, an optical fiber bundle, a light guide component and a heat transfer component; a space for the optical fiber bundle to pass through is formed between the inner tube and the outer tube, so that the optical fiber bundle passes through the space and reaches the front end of the endoscope; the optical guide component is used for transmitting light to the optical fiber bundle and comprises an optical energy output end, and the optical energy output end is arranged towards one end face of the optical fiber bundle; the heat transfer member includes a heat absorbing end located near the light guide member and adapted to absorb heat, and a heat output end located near the front view window and adapted to output the absorbed heat; the endoscope provided by the invention has the function of heating the front end view window. The device has the advantages of preventing fogging, along with simple overall structure, convenience in disinfection and use and avoidance of potential safety hazards in the operation process.

Description

Endoscope and working method thereof

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of medical equipment, in particular to an endoscope and a working method thereof.

Background

Currently, minimally invasive surgery is increasingly common, and when such surgery is performed, an endoscope is generally inserted into the cavity of a surgical object (such as the abdominal cavity, the uterine cavity, the pelvic cavity, and the like) through a natural orifice of a patient or a small artificial wound on the body of the patient. When the endoscope is just inserted into the cavity of the patient, because the temperature in the cavity of the patient is higher than that of the endoscope and the humidity in the cavity is higher than that of the external environment, a fog layer is formed on the outer surface of the optical window at the front end of the endoscope, and the fog layer is formed because hot air in the cavity of the patient is condensed when encountering the cold optical window at the front end of the endoscope. The appearance of the fog layer can greatly influence the definition of the operation visual field of a doctor, and further increases the risk of accidents in the operation.

Therefore, how to prevent the front viewing window from fogging and avoid the potential safety hazard in the operation process is a problem to be solved urgently by the people in the technical field.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of this, the invention provides an endoscope, which prevents the front end viewing window from fogging and avoids the potential safety hazard in the operation process. The invention also discloses a working method of the endoscope.

In order to achieve the purpose, the invention provides the following technical scheme:

an endoscope includes a front end window, an inner tube, an outer tube, a fiber bundle, a light guide member, and a heat transfer member;

a space for the optical fiber bundle to pass through is formed between the inner tube and the outer tube, so that the optical fiber bundle passes through the space and reaches the front end of the endoscope;

the optical guide component is used for transmitting light to the optical fiber bundle and comprises an optical energy output end, and the optical energy output end is arranged towards one end face of the optical fiber bundle;

the heat transfer member includes a heat absorbing end located near the light guide member and for absorbing heat, and a heat output end located near the front view window and for outputting the absorbed heat.

The invention also provides a working method of the endoscope, which is suitable for an imaging system, wherein the imaging system comprises the endoscope, an imaging host used for acquiring the image of the endoscope and converting the image into a digital signal, and a light source host used for providing an illumination light source for the endoscope; the method comprises the following steps:

connecting the endoscope with the imaging host;

connecting the endoscope with the light source host;

starting a light source of the light source host machine to enable the temperature of an area where a front end viewing window of the endoscope is located to rise;

inserting the endoscope into a cavity of a surgical subject.

It can be seen from the above technical solutions that, in the endoscope and the working method thereof provided by the embodiments of the present invention, by providing the light guide component, the light energy provided by the light source is transmitted to the optical fiber bundle of the endoscope through the light guide component, during the transmission, the light energy is converted into heat energy, and the heat energy is absorbed and transmitted to the vicinity of the front end view window of the endoscope through the heat transmission component, thereby playing a role of heating the front end view window to prevent fogging, and the scheme has a simple overall structure, is convenient for sterilization and use, and avoids potential safety hazards during the operation.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments are briefly introduced below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art to obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the rear portion of an endoscope provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a rear mounted fiber optic bundle of an endoscope in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the configuration of the front end of an endoscope provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a first structure of a light guide member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a second structure of a light guide member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a third structure of a light guide member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a fourth structure of a light guide member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a fifth configuration of a light guide member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a schematic view of a sixth structure of a light guide member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The invention discloses an endoscope, which is used for preventing a front end viewing window from fogging and avoiding potential safety hazards in the operation process. The invention also discloses a working method of the endoscope.

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

At present, common anti-fogging solutions for endoscopes mainly include methods of coating anti-fogging oil, coating, heating or near-infrared illumination and the like. The method for coating the antifogging oil or the film is to coat a hydrophilic film or a hydrophobic film on the surface of the transparent front-end viewing window to prevent water drops and fog from condensing on the surface, but the film layer has poor wear resistance and disinfectant resistance, and the coating is easy to peel off and separate after being used for a period of time, so that the problem of antifogging cannot be fundamentally solved. The heating method is divided into an external heating device or endoscope self-heating. In external heating device's the anti-fogging structure, generally need additionally to make a heating device, insert external heating device with the front end of endoscope head portion before the operation and preheat, the limitation of this kind of scheme is that the effect can not be lasting, has the problem of cleaning, disinfection and sterilization moreover, cross infection very easily. In the anti-fogging structure of the endoscope self-heating, at present, a common method is to introduce electric heating parts such as a resistance wire or a capacitor into the endoscope, but the electric heating parts can bring hidden troubles to the safety of the endoscope, and the selection of sterilization modes of electronic components is limited, so that the endoscope cannot bear long-term high-temperature high-pressure sterilization. The near-infrared illumination method can realize the anti-fog effect only by matching with a special light source, and the endoscope does not have the anti-fog effect when matched with a conventional light source.

Referring to fig. 1, 2 and 3, an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a front end window 33, an inner tube 30, an outer tube 29, an optical fiber bundle 1, a light guide member 21 and a heat transfer member, wherein a space for the optical fiber bundle 1 to pass through is formed between the inner tube 30 and the outer tube 29; the light guide part 21 is used for transmitting light to the optical fiber bundle 1 through the light energy output end 22, the light energy output end 22 of the light guide part 21 is arranged towards one end face of the optical fiber bundle 1 of the endoscope, light energy loss exists in the process of transmitting light by the light guide part 2, and the light guide part 2 can convert the lost light energy into heat energy; one end of the heat transfer member is a heat absorbing end located near the light guide member 21 for absorbing heat, and the other end of the heat transfer member is a heat output end located near the front end window 33 for transferring the absorbed heat toward the front end window 33, the heat output end being located near the front end window 33 and outputting the heat absorbed by the heat absorbing end. That is, the heat transfer member can absorb heat energy and transfer the heat energy to the distal end window 33 of the endoscope. The vicinity may be a region within a predetermined range centered on the position of the front end window 33 or the light guide member 21, or may be a region affected by heat emitted from the light guide member 21 or a region including the front end window 33 affected by heat output from the heat output terminal.

According to the endoscope provided by the invention, the light guide part 21 is arranged, so that light energy provided by the light source can transmit light to the optical fiber bundle 1 of the endoscope through the light guide part 21, in the transmission process, the lost light energy is converted into heat energy, the heat energy is absorbed and transmitted through the heat transmission part, the heat energy is transmitted to the front end window 33 of the endoscope, the function of heating the front end window 33 is achieved, and the function of heating the front end window 33 is achieved. The device has the advantages of preventing fogging, along with simple overall structure, convenience in disinfection and use and avoidance of potential safety hazards in the operation process.

Wherein the light source is turned on before the endoscope is inserted into the cavity of the surgical object so that the light emitted from the light source can transmit the light to the optical fiber bundle 1 of the endoscope via the light guide member 21, and the heat energy converted from the lost light energy is transmitted to the front end window 33 during the transmission, so that the temperature of the front end window 33 is raised to a suitable temperature to prevent fogging after the endoscope is inserted into the cavity. In addition, in the operation process, the light source always provides light energy when the endoscope enters and exits the human body, the heat converted from the lost light energy is always provided near the front end window 33, extra heating is not needed, and the condition that the front end window 33 of the endoscope is fogged in the operation process is effectively avoided. The optical fiber bundle 1 passes through a space formed between the inner tube 30 and the outer tube 29 and reaches the front end of the endoscope. Wherein, the front end of the endoscope is one end of the endoscope inserted into the cavity of the operation object. A front end viewing window 33 is also located at the front end of the endoscope. The illumination end of the optical fiber bundle 1 at the front end of the endoscope can be mutually independent from the front end view window 33, namely, a light-transmitting window corresponding to the illumination end of the optical fiber bundle 1 is arranged at the front end of the endoscope, the light-transmitting window and the front end view window 33 are both arranged at the front end of the endoscope and mutually independent, and light emitted by the illumination end of the optical fiber bundle 1 passes through the light-transmitting window to finish illumination; the illumination end of the optical fiber bundle 1 may correspond to the front end window 33, so that the light emitted through the illumination end of the optical fiber bundle 1 passes through the front end window 33 to complete the illumination.

The anti-fogging structure provided by the embodiment of the invention can be matched with a conventional light source for use. The lost light energy in the process of transmitting the light energy to the optical fiber bundle 1 by using the conventional light source is converted into the heat energy, and the front end window 33 is heated.

One end of the heat transfer member is a heat absorbing end located near the light guide member 21 for absorbing heat. The heat absorbing end may be directly connected to the light guide member 21, or a distance may be provided between the heat absorbing end and the light guide member 21. The arrangement of the heat absorption end near the light guide member 21 is required to satisfy that the heat energy converted from the light energy after the loss of the light guide member 21 can be absorbed by the heat absorption end. The absorption mode of the heat absorption end can be heat transfer, heat convection or heat radiation.

Similarly, the other end of the heat transfer member is a heat output end located near the front window 33 for transferring the absorbed heat toward the front window 33. The output end may be directly connected to the front window 33, or a distance may exist between the output end and the front window 33. The arrangement of the outlet end adjacent the front window 33 is such that heat transferred through the heat transfer member can be transferred to the front window 33 after reaching the outlet end. The heat transfer from the output end to the front window 33 may be heat transfer, heat convection or heat radiation.

The above-mentioned method for transferring light with loss of light energy and conversion into heat energy may be as follows:

in some of these embodiments, the light energy entrance end 23 of the light guide member 21 has a larger area than the light energy output end 22 thereof. Light enters from the light energy entrance end 23 of the light guide member 21, exits from the light energy exit end 22, and is irradiated onto the bundle end face 24. In this process, when light passes through the light guide member 21, since the area of the light energy input end 23 of the light guide member 21 is larger than that of the light energy output end 22 thereof, light energy is largely lost inside the light guide member 21, resulting in heat generation of the light guide member 21. The heat transfer member can absorb heat generated by the light guide member 21 and transfer the heat to the distal end window 33 of the endoscope. The polished end face 24 is an end face of the optical fiber bundle 1 facing one end of the light guide member 21.

As shown in fig. 4, the light guide member 21 has a conical structure. The conical structure enables uniform loss of light energy, so that the temperature of the light guide member 21 as a whole is uniformly increased.

The light guide member 21 may also be provided as a stepped pillar structure.

As shown in fig. 5, the stepped pillar structure may be formed by connecting a plurality of cylinders in sequence, and the diameters of the plurality of cylinders decrease in sequence from the optical energy input end 23 to the optical energy output end 22. As shown in fig. 6, the stepped pillar structure may be a structure in which a plurality of cones are connected in sequence, wherein, of the two connected cones, the large end of one cone is connected with the small end of the other cone, and the large end area of one cone is smaller than the small end area of the other cone.

The light guide member 21 may be made of schottky F2 glass to emit proper heat during the process of ensuring the light energy transmission. Of course, other materials may be provided, and it is only necessary to ensure that the light guide member 21 generates heat, that is, the light guide member 21 generates heat by loss of light energy. The specific materials are not described one by one and are all within the scope of protection.

As shown in fig. 7, the light guide member 21 may also be provided in a pyramid structure such as a triangular pyramid, a rectangular pyramid, an octagonal pyramid, or the like.

In the embodiment in which the light guide member 21 has a stepped pillar structure, the light guide member 21 may have a stepped pillar structure in which a plurality of pyramids or prisms are connected in sequence.

As shown in fig. 8, the light guide member 21 has a stepped pillar structure in which a plurality of prisms are connected in sequence.

As shown in fig. 9, the light guide member 21 has a stepped columnar structure in which a plurality of pyramids are connected in sequence.

That is, as shown in fig. 4 to 9, the light guide member 21 has various structures, and only by ensuring that the area of the light energy input end 23 of the light guide member 21 is larger than the area of the light energy output end 22, the light energy loss exists in the light transmission process, so that the lost light energy is converted into heat energy. Of course, the light guide member 21 includes, but is not limited to, several structures as shown in FIGS. 4 to 9.

In some of the embodiments, the light guide member 21 and the optical fiber bundle 1 are independent from each other, and it can also be understood that there is no direct connection or contact between the light guide member 21 and the optical fiber bundle 1. The light irradiates the end face 24 of the optical fiber bundle from the light energy output end 22, and enters the optical fiber bundle 1 from the end face 24 of the optical fiber bundle for transmission. Due to the transition of the interface where light is transmitted, the medium of light transmission changes, so that there is also a loss of light energy at the interface transition (the end face of the light energy output end 22 and the polished end face 24 of the optical fiber bundle 1), and the loss of light energy also generates a large amount of heat energy. The polished end face 24 is an end face of the optical fiber bundle 1 facing one end of the light guide member 21.

In some of these embodiments, there is at least a partial connection between the light guide member 21 and the fiber bundle 1, such as a peripheral connection between the light guide member 21 and the fiber bundle 1. However, the light guide member 21 has a gap with the optical fiber bundle 1, that is, the end face of the light energy output end of the light guide member 21 does not directly contact the polished end face 24 of the optical fiber bundle 1. The gap may be a gap between the light guide member 21 and the optical fiber bundle 1, which is generated by a machining or assembling process. That is, the light guide member 21 and the optical fiber bundle 1 may be independent from each other with a gap between the light guide member 21 and the optical fiber bundle 1. The light guide member 21 may be partially connected to the optical fiber bundle 1 (the outer periphery as described above), and a gap may be formed between the light guide member 21 and another part of the optical fiber bundle 1.

Wherein the value range of the clearance is 0.05 mm-0.35 mm. Through the arrangement, the effective transmission of the light energy is ensured, so that the light energy transmitted by the optical fiber bundle 1 can effectively illuminate the front end of the endoscope; further, the light energy lost through the gap is converted into heat energy, and this heat energy can effectively heat the front window 33.

In some of these embodiments, the area of the light energy output end 22 is greater than the area of the fiber abrasive end face 24 of the fiber optic bundle 1; the optical fiber polished end face 24 is an end face of the optical fiber bundle 1 facing one end of the light guide member 21. The optical fiber polished end surface 24 is an end surface of the optical guide member 21 facing one end of the optical fiber bundle 1 of the endoscope. With the above arrangement, since a part of the light passing through the polished end surface 24 of the optical fiber is transmitted to the optical fiber bundle 1 and the other part is not transmitted to the optical fiber bundle 1, the other part of the light is irradiated to other parts in the vicinity of the optical fiber bundle 1 in the endoscope, and the other parts are heated by the illumination, thereby being converted into heat energy.

The endoscope in the embodiment of the invention has various modes, and one or more modes can be selected and are also within the protection scope.

The endoscope in this embodiment further includes an optical fiber sleeve 26, the optical fiber bundle 1 is sleeved in the inner hole 25 of the optical fiber sleeve 26, and the optical fiber sleeve 26 receives the heat energy converted from the lost light energy through heat conduction, heat radiation and/or light irradiation. Wherein light energy is lost during the transfer process, thereby generating heat that is transferred to the fiber optic ferrule 26. The heat transfer component comprises a heat conducting wire 27, one end of the heat conducting wire 27 is connected with the optical fiber sleeve 26 in a heat conducting way, and the other end of the heat conducting wire 27 extends to the front end of the endoscope, for example, extends to the vicinity of a front end window. As shown in fig. 2, the bundle 1 is located in the inner bore 25. The optical fiber bundle 1 in fig. 2 is only for illustrative purposes, and the number and structure of the optical fibers in the optical fiber bundle 1 are not limited.

In some of these embodiments, the light energy entrance end 23 of the light guide member 21 has a larger area than the light energy output end 22 thereof. Light enters from the light energy entrance end 23 of the light guide member 21, exits from the light energy exit end 22, and is irradiated onto the bundle end face 24. In the process, when light passes through the light guide part 21, since the area of the light energy inlet end 23 of the light guide part 21 is larger than that of the light energy outlet end 22, light energy can generate large loss in the light guide part 21, so that the light guide part 21 generates heat, the heat of the light guide part 21 is transferred to the optical fiber sleeve 26 in a heat conduction mode, and then is transferred to the front end of the endoscope through the heat conducting wire 27, so that the front end window 33 can be heated.

In some of the embodiments, the light guide member 21 and the optical fiber bundle 1 are independent from each other, and it can also be understood that there is no direct connection or contact between the light guide member 21 and the optical fiber bundle 1. The light irradiates the end face 24 of the optical fiber bundle from the light energy output end 22, and enters the optical fiber bundle 1 from the end face 24 of the optical fiber bundle for transmission. Due to the conversion of the interface of the light transmission, the light transmission medium changes, so that there will be light energy loss at the interface conversion (the end face of the light energy output end 22 and the optical fiber grinding end face 24 of the optical fiber bundle 1), and the lost light energy will also generate a large amount of heat energy, and this part of heat energy is transferred to the optical fiber sleeve 26 by means of heat conduction and/or heat radiation, etc., and then transferred to the front end of the endoscope by the heat conducting wire 27, so as to heat the front end window 33.

In some of these embodiments, there is at least a partial connection between the light guide member 21 and the fiber bundle 1, such as a circumferential connection between the light guide member 21 and the fiber bundle 1. However, there is a gap between the light guide member 21 and the optical fiber bundle 1, that is, the end face of the light energy output end of the light guide member 21 is not in direct contact with the polished end face 24 of the optical fiber bundle 1; the light energy lost through the gap is converted into heat energy, and the heat energy is transferred to the optical fiber sleeve 26 by means of heat conduction and/or heat radiation and the like, and then is transferred to the front end of the endoscope by the heat conducting wire 27 so as to heat the front end window 33.

In some of these embodiments, the area of the light energy output end 22 is greater than the area of the fiber abrasive end face 24 of the fiber optic bundle 1; the optical fiber polished end face 24 is an end face of the optical fiber bundle 1 facing one end of the light guide member 21. The optical fiber polished end surface 24 is an end surface of the optical guide member 21 facing one end of the optical fiber bundle 1 of the endoscope. Through the arrangement, a part of light passing through the optical fiber grinding end face 24 is transmitted to the optical fiber bundle 1, and the other part of light can irradiate on the optical fiber sleeve 26, so that the optical fiber sleeve 26 is heated in a heat radiation mode through illumination, and then the light is converted into heat energy and is transmitted to the front end of the endoscope through the heat conducting wire 27, and the front end window 33 is heated.

Of course, other components may be provided to convert the lost light energy into its own heat energy, and then the optical fiber sleeve 26 receives the heat energy converted from the lost light energy by means of thermal convection, and the heat energy on the optical fiber sleeve 26 is transferred to the front end of the endoscope through the heat conducting wire 27, so as to heat the front end window 33.

That is, the optical fiber cover 26 is provided to receive the heat energy converted from the lost light energy and to form a heat source, and the heat conducting wire 27 is connected to the heat source to supply heat to the front end window 33. The optical fiber sheath 26 is a member that is sleeved outside the optical fiber bundle 1 so as to constrain the optical fibers in the optical fiber bundle 1 together.

The optical fiber jacket 26 may not be provided, or the optical fiber jacket 26 may not be used as a heat source. It is only necessary to dispose one end of the heat transfer member (the heat conductive wire 27) near a position where the light guide member 21 and the optical fiber bundle 1 are close to or in contact with each other, that is, to absorb heat and transfer it toward the front end window 33.

In order to ensure the heat transfer stability and effective heating of the front window 33, the heat transfer member further includes a lens holder 31 for mounting the front window 33, and the other end of the heat conductive wire 27 is thermally connected to the lens holder 31.

The number of the heat-conducting wires 27 is plural and is uniformly arranged in the optical fiber jacket 26. Through the arrangement, heat can be uniformly conducted. In the present embodiment, the number of the heat conductive wires 27 is 4. The number of the heat conductive wires 27 is not particularly limited. By increasing or decreasing the number or cross-sectional area of the thermal wires 27, the temperature of the front window 33 can be precisely controlled in a thermal equilibrium state, so that the temperature of the front window 33 can be maintained within a constant temperature range, which is higher than the ambient temperature around the body cavity of the patient.

Furthermore, a blind hole 32 is arranged on the lens base 31, and an opening of the blind hole 32 faces away from the front end window 33; the other end of the heat conduction wire 27 penetrates into the blind hole 32. With the above arrangement, the fixing stability of the heat conductive wires 27 is ensured.

It will be appreciated that the lens holder 31 is provided with an exit for the illumination beam, while the blind hole 32 is provided as a heat transfer hole. In the embodiment where the number of the thermal wires 27 is plural, the plural thermal wires 27 are also uniformly distributed on the mirror base 31.

The number and the specific distribution of the heat conducting wires 27 can also be adjusted according to the specific heat distribution.

After the heat conduction wire 27 is inserted into the blind hole 32, a radial gap (a gap between the heat conduction wire 27 and the blind hole 32) is filled with heat conduction silica gel, so that the heat conduction effect is ensured on the basis of ensuring the fixing stability. Other thermally conductive materials may also be filled and will not be described in detail herein.

The heat conducting wires 27 can also be soldered into the blind holes 32.

The heat conducting wire 27 and the mirror base 31 can be bonded or riveted by glue.

The lens base 31 may be connected to the front window 33 by welding, or may be connected to the front window by other methods, only by ensuring the thermal conductive connection between the two. The heat in the lens holder 31 will be slowly transferred to the front window 33, and finally the temperature of the front window 33 will be raised. Until the temperature of the front window 33 is higher than the ambient temperature, condensation of the mist layer is prevented.

The material of the front window 33 may be sapphire, quartz glass, or resin lens, but may also be other materials. The lens holder 31 may be made of stainless steel, copper, aluminum alloy, or ceramic, but may be made of other materials. The lens base 31 and the front window 33 may be connected by soldering, gluing or riveting, or by snap connection.

In order to simplify the structure and avoid the heat conducting wire 27 occupying too much space, the heat conducting wire 27 is located between the inner tube 30 of the endoscope and the outer tube 29 of the endoscope. So as to ensure the conduction of the heat conduction wires 27 and avoid the heat conduction wires 27 from occupying too much space.

Also, the thermal conductive wires 27 can be mixed with the optical fiber bundle 1. After the anti-fogging structure is arranged in the endoscope, the heat-conducting wires 27 are mixed with the optical fiber bundle 1, so that the heat-conducting wires 27 are prevented from occupying too much space, and the structure of the endoscope is effectively simplified.

Further, the optical fiber sheath 26 is provided with a heat conduction hole 28; one end of the heat conduction wire 27 is fixed in the heat conduction hole 28. With the above arrangement, the fixing stability of the heat conductive wires 27 is ensured.

After the heat conduction wire 27 is inserted into the heat conduction hole 28, a radial gap (a gap between the heat conduction wire 27 and the heat conduction hole 28) is filled with heat conduction silica gel, so that the heat conduction effect is ensured on the basis of ensuring the fixing stability. Other thermally conductive materials may also be filled and will not be described in detail herein.

The heat conduction wire 27 may be welded in the heat conduction hole 28.

The thermal conductive wire 27 and the optical fiber sheath 26 may be bonded or riveted by glue.

The lens base 31 may be connected to the front window 33 by welding, or may be connected to the front window by other methods, only by ensuring the thermal conductive connection between the two.

In order to ensure the heat conduction effect, the heat conduction wire 27 comprises a hollow metal tube and liquid metal or phase change material encapsulated in the hollow metal tube. Wherein, the metal hollow pipe can be a copper pipe. Or can be arranged as solid aluminum wires, copper wires, silver wires, gold wires, Fe-Ni alloy wires, hollow copper tubes containing liquid water or high polymer materials with good heat conductivity and the like.

The embodiment of the invention also provides a working method of the endoscope, which is suitable for an imaging system, wherein the imaging system comprises the endoscope, an imaging host used for acquiring the image of the endoscope and converting the image into a digital signal, and a light source host used for providing an illumination light source for the endoscope; the method comprises the following steps:

connecting the endoscope with an imaging host;

connecting the endoscope with a light source host;

starting a light source of the light source host machine to enable the temperature of the area where the front end window 33 of the endoscope is located to rise;

an endoscope is inserted into a cavity of a surgical subject.

Wherein the steps of the above-described method of operation are not limited in order. The subject to be operated is not limited to a human being, and may be an animal (e.g., a cat, a dog, a horse, etc.).

Preferably, before inserting the endoscope into the cavity of the operation object for medical operation, the temperature of the region where the front end window 33 of the endoscope is located is waited to rise to a preset temperature. The preset temperature can be set to be close to or equal to the temperature inside the cavity of the surgical object, and the preset temperature can also be higher than the temperature inside the cavity. Through the arrangement, the temperature of the region where the front end window 33 is located rises to the preset temperature, and the front end window is inserted into the cavity, so that the use comfort is ensured, and the anti-fogging effect is further improved.

Of course, the temperature of the region where the distal end window 33 of the endoscope is located may not be raised to the preset temperature. After the endoscope is inserted into the cavity of the operation object, the heat transfer component still absorbs heat energy and transfers the heat energy to the front end window 33 of the endoscope, so that the temperature of the area where the front end window 33 is located is continuously increased in the cavity.

Since the above-mentioned anti-fogging structure has the above-mentioned technical effects, the endoscope having the above-mentioned anti-fogging structure also has the same technical effects, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

The endoscope provided by the embodiment of the invention can be a rigid tube endoscope, which comprises but is not limited to a laparoscope, a hysteroscope, an otorhinolaryngoscope, an arthroscope and a diskoscope.

The embodiments in the present description are described in a progressive manner, each embodiment focuses on differences from other embodiments, and the same and similar parts among the embodiments are referred to each other.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An endoscope comprising a front end window, an inner tube, an outer tube, a fiber bundle, a light guide member, and a heat transfer member;

2. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the light guide element further comprises a light energy entry end having an area larger than an area of the light energy output end.

3. The endoscope of claim 2, wherein the light guide member is a conical structure;

or, the light guide member is a stepped pillar structure;

or, the light guide member is a pyramid structure.

4. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein said light guide member is independent of said fiber optic bundle.

5. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the light guide member has a gap with the fiber bundle; the value range of the clearance is 0.05 mm-0.35 mm.

6. The endoscope of claim 1 wherein the area of the light energy output end is greater than the area of the abrasive end face of the optical fibers of the fiber optic bundle;

the optical fiber grinding end face is the end face of the optical fiber bundle facing the optical energy output end.

7. The endoscope of claim 1, further comprising a fiber optic ferrule disposed within the internal bore of the fiber optic ferrule, the fiber optic ferrule receiving thermal energy via thermal conduction, thermal radiation, and/or thermal convection.

8. The endoscope of claim 7, wherein said heat transfer member comprises a thermally conductive wire having one end in thermally conductive communication with said fiber optic ferrule and another end extending adjacent said front window.

9. The endoscope as defined in claim 8, further comprising a lens holder for mounting said front end window, the other end of said thermal wire being connected to said lens holder.

10. The endoscope of claim 8, wherein the number of thermal wires is plural and uniformly arranged on the optical fiber sleeve.

11. The endoscope as defined in claim 9, wherein the lens base is provided with a blind hole, and an opening of the blind hole faces away from the front end window; the other end of the heat conducting wire is fixed in the blind hole.

12. The endoscope of claim 8, wherein said thermally conductive wire is positioned between said inner tube and said outer tube;

and/or the heat conducting wires are mixed with the optical fiber bundle.

13. The endoscope of claim 8, wherein the optical fiber sleeve is provided with a heat conducting hole;

one end of the heat conducting wire is fixed in the heat conducting hole.

14. The endoscope of claim 8, wherein said thermally conductive wire comprises a hollow metal tube and a liquid metal or phase change material encapsulated in said hollow metal tube.

15. A method of operating an endoscope, the method being adapted for use in an imaging system comprising an endoscope according to any of claims 1-14, an imaging host for acquiring images from the endoscope and converting the images into digital signals, and a light source host for providing an illumination source to the endoscope; the method comprises the following steps:

connecting the endoscope with the imaging host;

connecting the endoscope with the light source host;

inserting the endoscope into a cavity of a surgical subject.

16. The method of operating an endoscope as defined in claim 15 wherein, prior to inserting the endoscope into a cavity of a subject, the temperature of the region of the endoscope in which the front window is located is waited to rise to a predetermined temperature.