WO2009005275A2

WO2009005275A2 - Bending section for endoscope

Info

Publication number: WO2009005275A2
Application number: PCT/KR2008/003839
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sung Yong Lee
Original assignee: Caretek Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-07-03
Filing date: 2008-06-30
Publication date: 2009-01-08
Also published as: WO2009005275A3; KR100867656B1

Abstract

A bending device for an endoscope having a camera mounted on one end for photographing the inside of a human body, a machine, a pipe and the like is provided. For flexible bending with the smallest external diameter and the largest extended internal diameter and free selection of bending directions, the bending device includes a plurality of cylindrical axial pipes (10a) to (10d) having an internal hole (11) and a pair of connection pins (12) protruded from opposite upper outer surfaces; and a plurality of bending pipes (20a) to (20d) having insertion holes (21) into which the axial pipes (10a) to (10d) are inserted, and a pair of connection rings (22) formed on a lower end and extending downward to rotatably engage with the connection pins (12) of the axial pipes (10a) to (10d), wherein the respective axial pipes (10a) to (10d) are inserted into and coupled with the respective insertion holes (21) and the respective connection pins (12) are sequentially engaged with the respective connection rings (22), resulting in a bending connection (10, 20), and a camera (30) is coupled to one end of the bending connection (10, 20). Thus, sufficient promptness, convenience, and flexibility for inside photographing can be achieved.

Description

BENDING SECTION FOR ENDOSCOPE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a bending section for an endoscope that enables a camera device to be freely bent in desired directions in an endoscope for enabling a user to image and observe a narrow internal space of a human body or a machine. Background Art

[2] In a medical industry, an endoscope enables a user to observe the inside of a human body (e.g., stomach, bronchus, esophagus, large intestine, small intestine, etc.) using a small camera and check abnormality thereof without cutting the human body, for example, through surgery or autopsy. In recent years, the endoscope is widely used in a variety of industries, including the medical industry, to observe the inside of a precise machine without disassembling it or observe abnormality of the inside of pipes.

[3] A typical endoscope apparatus has a camera mounted at an end of a bending device, which includes an image data transfer wire for transferring an image photographed by the camera, a power supply wire for supplying power to the camera, and adjustment wires for adjusting bending of the bending device.

[4] To use the endoscope apparatus having such a structure, a user inserts the camera into a specific part of a human body or an observation destination of a machine, and pulls the adjustment wires to change or adjust a photographing direction or angle of the camera when the camera arrives at a proper location.

[5] However, in this endoscope, a bending mechanism for adjusting the photographing angle is costly because of its complex structure and precision requirement and is highly likely to malfunction. For example, the bending mechanism includes a plurality of pipes interconnected by connection members, such as pins, and bending gears.

[6] Since bending members are mounted inside the bending device and the power supply wire is installed outside the bending device, the wire may be damaged and the bending direction or angle of the bending device for changing the photographing angle of the camera is limited. As a result, the bending device has low durability and makes precise photographing difficult.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[7] The present invention provides a bending device for an endoscope that has promptness for rapid driving with various wires inserted into the bending device being included in a sufficiently extended internal hole in a stable state, has such a high flexibility that a bending direction or angle can be freely adjusted and controlled, and has a simple and inexpensive structure.

[8] Additional features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Technical Solution

[9] The present invention discloses a bending device for an endoscope, including: a plurality of cylindrical axial pipes 10a to 1Od having an internal hole 11 and a pair of connection pins 12 protruded from opposite upper outer surfaces; and a plurality of bending pipes 20a to 2Od having insertion holes 21 into which the axial pipes 10a to 1Od are inserted, and a pair of connection rings 22 formed on a lower end and extending downward to rotatably engage with the connection pins 12 of the axial pipes 10a to 1Od, wherein the respective axial pipes 10a to 1Od are inserted into and engaged with the respective insertion holes 21 and the respective connection pins 12 are sequentially engaged with the respective connection rings 22, resulting in a bending connection 10, 20, and a camera 30 is coupled to one end of the bending connection 10, 20.

[10] Here, when the respective axial pipes 10a to 1Od are coupled with the respective bending pipes 20a to 2Od, the respective connection pins 12 may be associated with the respective connection rings 22 in the same direction so that the camera is bent in two directions or the respective connection pins 12 may be associated with the respective connection rings 22 in a cross direction so that the camera is bent in four directions.

[11] The respective axial pipes 10a to 1Od further comprise at least one direction determination groove 13 formed on a lower end thereof, and the bending pipes 20a to 2Od further comprise at least one direction determination protrusion 23 formed on a lower inner surface of the insertion hole 21 and corresponding to the direction determination grooves 13, such that a coupling direction of the respective axial pipes 10a to 1Od and the respective bending pipes 20a to 2Od is determined. Preferably, a plurality of direction determination grooves 13 and a plurality of direction determination protrusions 23 are formed in a 90° direction.

Advantageous Effects

[12] According to the present invention, the bending device for an endoscope has an internal hole having a sufficient size so that a photographing data transfer wire, a power supply wire and the like are disposed inside the bending device, and has a minimized external diameter for promptness and miniaturization such that the bending device can be rapidly driven in a stable state and used optimally with improved promptness in any environments.

[13] Furthermore, the bending device is flexible so that it can be freely bent in two or four directions by adjusting the adjustment wires disposed inside the bending device. This allows for easy observation irrespective of the location of a subject. In addition, the bending device is less likely to malfunction because of its simple structure.

Brief Description of the Drawings [14] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. [15] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a connection structure of a bending device for an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [16] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a continuous connection structure of the bending device for an endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention; [17] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connection structure of the bending device for an endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention; [18] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating bending directions and use of the bending device for an endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention; [19] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a continuous connection structure of a bending device for an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and [20] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating bending directions and use of the bending device for an endoscope according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for the Invention [21] The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure is thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. [22] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a connection structure of a bending device for an endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a continuous connection structure of the bending device for an endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [23] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the bending device according to the present invention includes a plurality of axial pipes 10a to 1Od and a plurality of bending pipes 20a to 2Od that are alternately coupled with each other so that the bending device has a predetermined length.

[24] In FIG. 1, a partial connection of the bending device is shown. That is, the first axial pipe 10a and the first bending pipe 20a in a non-coupled state and the second axial pipe 10b and the second bending pipe 20b in a coupled state are shown.

[25] The axial pipes 10a to 1Od are in a cylindrical shape having an internal hole 11. Each axial pipe has a pair of connection pins 12 formed at opposite locations and protruded from an upper outer surface, and at least one direction determination groove 13 formed at a lower end.

[26] The bending pipes 20a to 2Od have insertion holes 21 into which the axial pipes 10a to 1Od are inserted, direction determination protrusions 23 formed on lower inner surfaces of the insertion holes 21 and engaged with the direction determination grooves 13, and a pair of connection rings 22 formed at lower ends of the bending pipes 20a to 2Od and rotatably engaged with the connection pins 12, the connection rings 22 each having an lower opening and extending downward.

[27] This structure enables the axial pipes 10a to 1Od to be coupled into and fixed to the insertion holes 21 of the bending pipes 20a to 2Od. The same or cross direction of the connection pins 12 and the connection rings 22 depends on locations of the direction determination grooves 13 and the direction determination protrusions 23.

[28] When the axial pipes 10a to 1Od and the bending pipes 20a to 2Od are continuously coupled to each other by coupling the first axial pipe 10a to the first bending pipe 20a and the second axial pipe 10b to the second bending pipe 20b and then engaging the connection ring 22 of the first bending pipe 20a with the connection pin 12 of the second axial pipe 10b as shown in FIG. 2, the connection pins 12 of the axial pipes are engaged with the connection rings 22 of the bending pipes in the same direction. Since all the axial pipes 10a to 1Od and the bending pipes 20a to 2Od are connected in a certain direction, the bending device can be bent in only specific directions, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[29] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connection structure of the bending device for an endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating bending directions and use of the bending device for an endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of illustration, a continuous connection of the plurality of axial pipes 10a to 1Od and the plurality of bending pipes 20a to 2Od is referred to as a bending connection 10, 20.

[30] Referring to FIG. 3, the respective connection rings 22 of the bending connection 10,

20 are rotatably engaged with the respective connection pins 12. When the connection rings 22 and the connection pins 12 are engaged in the same direction as in the first embodiment, they are rotated in certain rotation directions. Accordingly, the camera 30 disposed on one end of the bending connection 10, 20 can be bent in two directions at an angle of 180°, as in FIG. 4.

[31] A reference numeral '40' indicates a tube. A power supply wire (not shown) for supplying power to the camera 30, an image data transfer wire (not shown) for transferring an image photographed by the camera 30, adjustment wires (not shown) for adjusting bending of the bending connection 10, 20, etc. may be included inside the tube 40 and the bending connection 10, 20.

[32] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a continuous connection structure of a bending device for an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating bending directions and use of the bending device for an endoscope according to the second embodiment of the present invention. According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the camera 30 can be bent in four directions.

[33] Referring to FIG. 5, when a first axial pipe 10a is coupled with a first bending pipe

20a, a connection pin 12 is cross-engaged with a connection ring 22, when a second axial pipe 10b is coupled with a second bending pipe 20b, a connection pin 12 is cross- engaged with a connection ring 22, and when a third axial pipe 10c is coupled with a third bending pipe 20c, a connection pin 12 is cross-engaged with a connection ring 22.

[34] The cross-engagement depends on locations of direction determination grooves 13 and direction determination protrusions 23. If each of the direction determination groove 13 and the direction determination protrusion 23 is formed at one location, a bending connection 10, 20 can be bent in only two directions, as in the first embodiment.

[35] Alternatively, a plurality of direction determination grooves 13 and a plurality of direction determination protrusions 23 may be formed. The plurality of direction determination grooves 13 and the plurality of direction determination protrusions 23 are preferably formed at intervals of 90° in order to obtain several bending directions.

[36] By coupling the respective axial pipes 10a to 1Od with the respective bending pipes

20a to 2Od in a cross direction and then engaging the respective connection pins 12 with the respective connection rings 22 in this manner, a connection axis 12a in a first direction and a connection axis 12b in a second direction cross each other.

[37] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, since the connection axis 12a in the first direction is always reciprocatively rotated in a predetermined direction, the bending connection 10, 20 can be bent in two directions at an angle of 180° by the connection axis 12a in the first direction, and in a second direction by the connection axis 12b in the second direction crossing the connection axis 12a in the first direction, such that the bending connection 10, 20 can be bent in four directions, such as a cross, which may be selected depending on needs.

[38] Thus, by decreasing the heights of the respective axial pipes 10a to 1Od and the respective bending pipes 20a to 2Od and increasing the length of the bending connection 10, 20, the bending connection 10, 20 can be bent at a larger angle and with a smaller bending radius. This results in a more flexible bending device.

[39] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

[1] A bending device for an endoscope, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical axial pipes 10a to 1Od having an internal hole 11 and a pair of connection pins 12 protruded from opposite upper outer surfaces; and a plurality of bending pipes 20a to 2Od having insertion holes 21 into which the axial pipes 10a to 1Od are inserted, and a pair of connection rings 22 formed on a lower end and extending downward to rotatably engage with the connection pins 12 of the axial pipes 10a to 1Od, wherein the respective axial pipes 10a to 1Od are inserted into and engaged with the respective insertion holes 21 and the respective connection pins 12 are sequentially engaged with the respective connection rings 22, resulting in a bending connection 10, 20, and a camera 30 is coupled to one end of the bending connection 10, 20.

[2] The device of claim 1, wherein the respective axial pipes 10a to 1Od further comprise at least one direction determination groove 13 formed on a lower end thereof, and the bending pipes 20a to 2Od further comprise at least one direction determination protrusion 23 formed on a lower inner surface of the insertion hole

21 and corresponding to the direction determination grooves 13, such that a coupling direction of the respective axial pipes 10a to 1Od and the respective bending pipes 20a to 2Od is determined.

[3] The device of claim 2, wherein a plurality of direction determination grooves 13 and a plurality of direction determination protrusions 23 are formed in a 90° direction.

[4] The device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the respective axial pipes

10a to 1Od are coupled with the respective bending pipes 20a to 2Od, the respective connection pins 12 are associated with the respective connection rings

22 in the same direction so that the camera is bent in two directions.

[5] The device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the respective axial pipes

10a to 1Od are coupled with the respective bending pipes 20a to 2Od, the respective connection pins 12 are associated with the respective connection rings 22 in a cross direction so that the camera is bent in four directions.