WO2008060075A1

WO2008060075A1 - The combined curve-hole for endoscope

Info

Publication number: WO2008060075A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/005665
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ike-Joo Lee
Original assignee: Acts Vision Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2006-11-13
Filing date: 2007-11-12
Publication date: 2008-05-22
Also published as: KR100748640B1

Abstract

A medical endoscope includes an endoscope body, in which an insert section including, sequentially from the distal end thereof, a distal portion, a bending portion, a flexible tube and a connector, is coupled with or separated from an operation section having an operation lever by the connector. The bending portion includes an integral spiral bending piece spirally wound around an inner pipe along the longitudinal axis thereof. The bending piece starts from the distal end of the bending portion and terminates at an intermediate connecting portion of the insert section. The integral bending piece made of inexpensive plastic or rubber is provided in place of conventional metal bending pieces assembled in an articulated structure. The bending portion to be inserted into a body cavity can be easily separated from the medical endoscope and replaced with a new one when the bending portion is contaminated or malfunctions.

Description

[DESCRIPTION]

[invention Title] THE COMBINED CURVE-HOLE FOR ENDOSCOPE

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a medical endoscope, in which a bending portion having a spiral or tubular integral bending piece is internally provided. More particularly, the integral bending piece, which is made of inexpensive plastic or rubber, is provided inside the bending portion in place of a plurality of conventional metal bending pieces assembled in an articulated structure, so that the bending portion, which is inserted into a body cavity, can be easily separated from the medical endoscope and replaced with a new one when the bending portion is contaminated or malfunctions .

[Background Art]

A medical endoscope (hereinafter referred to as "endoscope") is a medical instrument that is used by being inserted into an internal organ or a body cavity in order to visualize the interior thereof without a surgical operation. Since the endoscope was initially devised by

Kussmaul in 1863, it has rendered great service to the development of medical science. Endoscopy, starting with a metal tube type endoscope in an early stage, has developed into various procedures through the introduction of advanced endoscopes, such as an electronic endoscope and a therapeutic endoscope, and thus is being widely used for various digestive diseases .

Endoscopy using an endoscope makes it possible to observe the state of an internal organ with the naked eyes and also perform histological diagnosis using a biopsy- instrument, which is connected to the distal end of the endoscope and can sample biological tissues, in order to judge whether or not an operation is possible. In the case where a surgical operation is difficult, endoscopy can also replace ventrotomy. Accordingly, endoscopy is regarded as the most important test method in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases.

A conventional flexible endoscope has an insert section that is capable of freely bending. The insert section includes, from the distal end, a distal portion having a photographing element, a bending portion capable of freely bending, and a flexible tube. An operation section having an operation lever is also provided, and is connected to the insert section.

FIG. 1 illustrates the bending portion of the insert section of the prior art. Referring to FIG. 1, the bending portion 120 is located at the distal end of the insert section, and includes a plurality of bending pieces 124 and bending adjustment wires 140. Each of the bending adjustment wires 140 (hereinafter referred to as "bending wires") is passed through the bending pieces 124 to adjust the bending thereof.

Each of the bending pieces 124 has four through-holes 126, in the top, bottom, right and left portions thereof, and has a pair of tabs 128 extending from one side thereof. The tabs 128 are arranged symmetrically on both sides of the center line of the bending piece 124. The tabs 128 bulge from one side of the bending piece 124, so that the corresponding surface forms a convexly curved shape.

The bending pieces 124 are threaded on an inner tube 122 of the bending portion so that the tabs 128 act as a support. When the bending pieces 124 are threaded on the inner tube of the bending portion, the bending pieces 124 are oriented with respect to each other in such a fashion that the tabs 128 of one bending piece 124 are angled by 90° with respect to the tabs 128 of the adjacent bending piece 124. The bending wires 140 are passed through the through- holes 126 in the bending pieces 124. In this fashion, the bending portion 120 of the insert section is constructed.

However, the bending pieces are generally made by the processing of a metal and are thus expensive. While a metal or resin forming process using Metal Injection Molding (MIM) can be adopted in order to overcome this problem, the bending pieces, which are used in a large number, remain burdened by a problem of cost.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problems with the prior art, and therefore the present invention provides a medical endoscope, in which an integral bending piece made of inexpensive plastic or rubber is provided inside a bending portion in place of a plurality of conventional metal bending pieces assembled to form an articulated structure, so that the bending portion to be inserted into a body cavity can be easily separated from the medical endoscope and replaced with a new one when the bending portion is contaminated or malfunctions.

[Technical Solution]

According to an aspect of the present invention for realizing the above object, there is provided an endoscope including an endoscope body, in which an insert section including, sequentially from the distal end thereof, a distal portion, a bending portion, a flexible tube and a connector, is coupled with or separated from an operation section having an operation lever by the connector. The bending portion includes an inner pipe and an integral spiral bending piece spirally wound on the inner pipe along the longitudinal axis thereof, and the bending piece starts from the distal end of the bending portion and terminates at an intermediate connecting portion of the insert section.

[Advantageous Effects]

According to the present invention, as set forth above, the integral bending piece, which is made of inexpensive plastic or rubber, is provided inside the bending portion in place of a plurality of conventional metal bending pieces assembled in an articulated structure, so that the bending portion to be inserted into a body cavity can be easily separated from the medical endoscope and replaced with a new one when the bending portion is contaminated or malfunctions. Furthermore, the integral bending piece is made of inexpensive plastic or rubber instead of metal, which has been conventionally used, and thus can significantly reduce costs.

[Description of Drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates a bending portion of an insert section according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 illustrates an endoscope system according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the insert section according to the present invention in the axial direction, except for the distal portion thereof;

FIG. 4 illustrates an integral spiral bending piece according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates the bending portion in which the spiral bending piece of FIG. 4 is provided;

FIG. 6 illustrates an integral tubular bending piece according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a bending portion in which the tubular bending piece of FIG. 6 is provided.

[Mode for Invention] - - The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments thereof are shown. Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals and signs are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components .

FIG. 2 illustrates an endoscope system according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a medical endoscope includes an endoscope body 200 and a controller 300. The endoscope body 200 includes a insert section 210, which can freely bend and thus be inserted into a body cavity, an operation section

220, which make examiner perform various functions, and a universal code 230 extending from the operation section 220. The insert section 210 includes a distal portion 212, a bending portion 214 and a flexible tube 216. The distal portion 212 of the endoscope includes an illumination window

(not shown) , an observation window (not shown) , a suction port (not shown) , a water/air port (not shown) and the like. A photographing element, including a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) for observing the interior of the body cavity, is provided in the observation window of the distal portion 212. In the illumination window, an illumination lens for illuminating the interior of the body is provided. In the water/air port, a water/air nozzle for injecting air and water is provided. In the suction port, there is provided an intake channel, which is used to draw in liquid from inside the body or to insert a tool for sampling diseased tissues from the body cavity. The distal portion 212 is connected to the bending portion 214, which has the integral bending piece of the present invention. The bending portion 214 is vertically and horizontally bent or flexed by bending wires, one of the embodiment of a bending input element, extending from the bending-operation lever 222. Bending wires are provided in the operation section 220. The flexible tube 216 connected to the bending portion 214 is constructed of an elongated flexible member.

The operation section 220 includes means for manipulating respective functions of the endoscope, such as a bending-operation lever 222 for adjusting the bending of the insert section 210, and is also mounted with a plurality of connectors, which is connected to external devices, such as a light source, a suction pump, a video system, an outer water pipe and an outer air pipe.

The universal code 230 extends from the rear end side of the operation section 220. Specifically, the universal code 230 is detachably connected to the base of the operation section 220 via an endoscope body connector 232, which- is provided at the distal end of" the universal code 230. A scope connector 234 is provided at the proximal end of the universal code 230, and is equipped with an electrical connector, a light guide connector, a water/air port, an intake member and so on. The scope connector 234 is electrically connected to the endoscope controller 300.

The endoscope controller 300 is also provided with a plurality of components which are not shown, such as an electrical light source, a power unit for lighting lamps, an image signal processing unit, a light source control unit, a pump/electromagnetic valve control unit, a water/air pump, a secondary water bottle, a suction bottle, a secondary water- feeding pump, a suction pump, an electromagnetic valve for controlling water feeding, an electromagnetic valve for controlling air feeding, a power supply unit and so on. The insert section 210 is provided with a connector (not shown) at the proximal end thereof, which can be freely attached to and detached from the operation section 220. The connector has two female thread portions, respectively, in the upper and lower outer portions thereof. The insert section and the operation section are fixedly connected with each other when male thread portions of a push portion of the operation section are screwed into the female thread portions. Preferably, the insert section of the present invention is a disposable type, and is discarded after one use.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the insert section along the axial direction of the present invention, except for the distal portion thereof.

The insert section 210, except for the distal portion 212, has a short port 320 disposed inside a distal connecting portion 312, which connects the bending portion 214 to the distal portion 212, and a substantially cylindrical configuration with a short port 320 disposed inside a proximal connecting portion 316, which connects the flexible tube 216 to the operation section 220. Four (4) through-holes 340 are formed through the insert section 212 along the length thereof, except for the distal portion 212. Particularly, the four through-holes 340 are formed in the range from the distal end to the proximal end of the insert section 212, including the distal connecting portion 312, the bending portion 214, an intermediate connecting portion 314, the flexible tube 216 and the proximal connecting portion 316. Since these components are sequentially connected with each other, the through-holes 340 of one component communicate with corresponding through- holes 340 in the next component. That is, the insert section 210, except for the distal portion, has the four through-holes 340 and a center hole.

The four through-holes 340 are provided at top, bottom, right and left positions through the insert section 210, which is quartered with respect to an image projected to a display screen. Bending wires 330, functioning as drawing members, are inserted through respective through-holes 340. Each bending wire 330 is connected, at the distal end thereof, to the distal connecting portion 312, and is also fixed, at the proximal end thereof, to a latch 360, which has a ring in the proximal end thereof. A coil pipe 350 is provided to surround the bending wire 330, particularly, an intermediate portion of the bending wire 330 leading from the intermediate connecting portion 314 to the proximal end thereof. In the proximal end of the coil pipe 350, there is provided a pipe latch 352 having two outwardly extending flanges.

Two of the bending wires 330, inserted through the top and bottom portions or the right and left portions of the insert section 210, form a pair, and are connected to both ends of one belt 370. That is, the two bending wires 330 of one pair, which have the same length and are inserted through the top and bottom portions or the right and left portions of the insert section 210, are connected to each other by the single belt 370.

The belt 370 is perforated in both end portions, so that a hole (not shown) is formed in the center of a respective end portion, and also has a gear groove (not shown) in one side thereof. Accordingly, the bending wires 330 are fixed to the belt 370 by passing fixing members, such as screws, through the holes in the belt 370 and the latches 360 of the bending wires 330. The gear groove in the belt 370 is formed in the side of the belt 370 that is to become the inner circumference, and engages with the thread portions of the operation section.

The bending portion 214 is made of a synthetic resin or an elastic material, which is softer than the flexible tube 216. The flexible tube 216 has a predetermined rigidity in order to transmit a reduction or a reduced force, which is necessary for insertion into the body cavity, to the distal portion.

FIG. 4 illustrates the integral spiral bending piece according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 illustrates the bending portion in which the spiral bending piece of FIG. 4 is provided.

Referring to FIG. 4, the integral spiral bending piece 410 is spirally wound on the inner pipe 430 of the bending portion 214 along the longitudinal axis thereof. The integral spiral bending piece 410 starts from the distal end of the bending portion 214, and terminates at the intermediate connecting portion 314. A plurality of through-holes 420 is formed in the thickness of the integral spiral bending piece 410, from the distal end to the proximal end thereof, in such a fashion that corresponding through-holes 420 are linearly aligned. The integral spiral bending piece 410 is made of plastic, which is cheaper than metal, which is conventionally used, in order to reduce manufacturing costs . Since the integral spiral bending piece 410 is made up of a single spiral body, it can be easily replaced and also smoothly bend.

As shown in FIG. 5, the integral spiral bending piece 410 is disposed to wind the inner pipe 430, and each of the bending wires 330 is inserted through corresponding through- holes 420. The bending wire 330 is fixed, at the distal end thereof, to the through-hole in the distal end of the bending piece 410, and is connected, at the proximal end thereof, to the belt via the latch.

FIG. 6 illustrates an integral tubular bending piece according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 7 illustrates a bending portion in which the tubular bending piece of FIG. 6 is provided.

Referring to FIG. 6, the integral tubular bending piece 610 is a tubular bending member, which is fitted around an inner pipe 630 and can shrink and relax when the degree of bending of the bending portion is adjusted. In order to facilitate expansion and contraction, the tubular bending piece can be made of corrugated plastic or rubber. This can improve the flexibility of the bending portion and also prevent the bending portion from being deformed or distorted even if the bending is repeatedly conducted.

A plurality of through-holes 620 is formed in the integral tubular bending piece 610, from the distal end to the proximal end thereof, in such a fashion that corresponding through-holes 620 are linearly aligned.

As shown in FIG. 7, the integral tubular bending piece 610 is disposed to wind the inner pipe 630, and each of the bending wires 330 is inserted through corresponding through- holes 420. The bending wire 330 is fixed, at the distal end thereof, to the through-hole in the distal end of the being piece, and is connected, at the proximal end thereof, to the belt via the latch.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, such as an endoscope, and the accompanying drawings, it is to be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is apparent that the scope of the present invention will not be limited by the foregoing embodiments, but shall be defined by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

[CLAIMS]

[Claim l]

An endoscope comprising an endoscope body, in which an insert section including, sequentially from a distal end thereof, a distal portion, a bending portion, a flexible tube and a connector, is coupled with or separated from an operation section having an operation lever by the connector, wherein the bending portion comprises an inner pipe and an integral spiral bending piece spirally wound on the inner pipe along a longitudinal axis thereof, the bending piece starting from a distal end of the bending portion and terminating at an intermediate connecting portion of the insert section.

[Claim 2]

The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the integral spiral bending piece is made of plastic or metal.

[Claim 3] The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the integral spiral bending piece has through-holes, which are formed in top, bottom, right and left portions with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof in such a fashion that corresponding ones of the through-holes are linearly aligned.

[Claim 4]

An endoscope comprising an endoscope body, in which an insert section including, sequentially from a distal end thereof, a distal portion, a bending portion, a flexible tube and a connector, is coupled with or separated from an operation section having an operation lever by the connector, wherein the bending portion comprises an inner pipe and an integral tubular bending piece fitted around the inner pipe, the bending piece capable of shrinking and relaxing according to the degree of bending of the bending portion.

[Claim 5]

The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the tubular bending piece is made of plastic or rubber.

[Claim β]

The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the tubular bending piece has through-holes, which are formed in top, bottom, right and left portions with respect to a longitudinal axis thereof in such a fashion that corresponding ones of the through-holes are linearly aligned.