Patent Application
20230165453
The present disclosure refers to an endoscope, in particular a single use endoscope, comprising an insertion tube/insertion hose for insertion into a patient's body cavity and a tip at the distal end of the insertion tube/insertion hose, wherein the tip comprises a tip housing encapsulating an optical inspection device for inspecting the patient's body cavity, a viewing window for or of the optical inspection device and a fluid spray nozzle having an outer wall providing a fluid channel surrounded by the outer wall for spraying a fluid onto the viewing window.
Endoscopes and similar specialized instruments as bronchoscopes, arthroscopes, colonoscopes, laparoscopes and in particular duodenoscopes are well known from the state of the art and are used for visual examination and diagnosis as well as to assist in surgery. A conventional endoscope generally consists of a connector unit for connecting the endoscope with a supply unit for fluids, gas, light and energy, a control handle connected to the connector unit by a connecting hose/tube and an elongated insertion tube/insertion hose, which on its proximal end (as seen from the operator) is connected to the control handle and on its distal end carries a tip (endoscope tip, duodenoscope tip). In particular in the case of duodenoscopes the tip is an articulating tip, i.e. a tip that can be actively moved and bent into different directions by a respective actuation mechanism and contains several components including illuminating means such as light-emitting diodes or fiber optic light guides connected to a proximal source of light, optical inspection devices as for example image capturing means in form of a miniature video camera, and an elevator for a working instrument like e.g. a forceps elevator.
At this point, the expressions “distal” and “proximal” are defined for the following whole disclosure as follows:
Distal: In the direction away from a user (toward the patient)
Proximal: In the direction toward the user (away from the patient)
It is very important that a viewing window in the distal tip casing/tip body, through which the miniature video camera takes images, is clean during use of an endoscope, to provide images from the inside of the body cavity of sufficient and satisfying quality. In particular, dirt, body fluids and organic material adhering or covering the viewing window at least deteriorate the quality of the image, at worst no image can be viewed/taken.
To avoid or at least reduce problems caused by dirt, body fluids and organic material covering the viewing window it is known in the state of the art to provide the endoscope tip/head with a cleaning nozzle for spraying a cleaning fluid e.g. in form of water onto the viewing window to remove any adhering matter. Such a cleaning nozzle with a straight fluid outlet provided by e.g. a bent metal tube is known for example from U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,915 B2, which discloses a jet nozzle connected to a distal end of an axial wash fluid passage in an endoscopic insertion instrument for spurting a wash fluid toward and on an observation window of an optical image pickup system fitted in a tip end section of said endoscopic insertion instrument, said jet nozzle comprising a wash fluid inlet passage provided in an axial bore formed axially through said tip end section in a direction of an optical axis of said optical image pickup system and opened in a circular end face of said tip end section; and a nozzle tip portion having a jet spout passage portion and a curved turn passage portion, wherein said jet spout passage portion is extending along a distal end face of said tip end section and provided with a flat flow rectifying passage; and said curved turn passage portion is connecting said wash fluid inlet passage and said jet spout passage portion to turn a flow passage of said wash fluid from said axial wash fluid passage to said jet spout passage portion and is bent such that a center line of said flow rectifying passage is brought into alignment with a center of said observation window.
One drawback of such cleaning nozzles is that the fluid flow exiting the cleaning nozzle widens/expands after leaving the nozzle, such that the result of cleaning is less satisfying. To provide better cleaning results, a use of guiding elements provided on side walls of a cleaning nozzle is known. Such guiding elements provide a split pathway for fluid giving a certain direction to the flow. However, after leaving the nozzle and the area of guiding elements, the flow of fluid regularly widens/diverges/deconcentrates which results in an unfavorable degradation of cleaning effect.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,657 B1 discloses a medical endoscope having an insertion section including a distal viewing head which is connected to an operating section through a flexible section and includes an illumination system located behind an illumination window, a viewing lens system located behind a viewing window, fluid feed means for feeding at least cleaning fluid to the viewing window, and suction feed means for feeding suction to the viewing head, said medical endoscope comprising a generally cylindrical viewing head casing for housing said illumination system, said viewing lens system and said fluid feed means therein, a generally annular-shaped viewing head cap detachably fitted to said generally cylindrical viewing head casing, said viewing head cap being formed so as to have a generally cylindrical wall extending a predetermined height from a distal end of said viewing head casing in a lengthwise direction of said insertion section, a fluid feeding nozzle having a fluid injection port through which said cleaning fluid can be fed, said fluid feeding nozzle being formed integrally with said generally annular-shaped viewing head cap and configured to form a fluid path which is brought into communication with said fluid feed means when said generally annular-shaped viewing head cap is fitted to said generally cylindrical viewing head casing and is turned to direct said cleaning fluid through said fluid feed means toward said viewing window, and a drain path opening to a space formed between said cylindrical wall of said generally annular-shaped viewing head cap and said distal end of said viewing head at a distal end and being in communication with said suction feed means at a proximal end so that liquid that stays in said space is sucked through said drain path into said suction feed means. Additionally, there is provided an air blowing port, for blowing air onto the viewing window after washing it with rinsing water by the fluid feeding nozzle. The fluid feeding nozzle as well as the air feeding nozzle are arranged angularly to each other and are both concentrated on the viewing window.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,591,406 B2 discloses an endoscope comprising an observation port that is provided at a distal end of said endoscope and collects light reflected from an object, a fluid supply pipe that transmits gas and/or liquid to a distal end thereof, a cap that blocks the distal end of said fluid supply pipe and is configured so that a partially enclosed semispherical space is created between the distal end of said fluid supply pipe and an inner surface of said cap, a fluid ejection channel that has an outlet facing said observation port, and extends from an edge of an opening at the distal end of said fluid supply pipe to the outlet and occupies the semispherical space inside said cap, and a direction adjustment protrusion that extends over the outlet in a lengthwise direction of said fluid ejection channel, wherein when the outlet faces said observation port, a plane of projection projecting toward said observation port is parallel to the outlet and a lengthwise direction of the plane of projection is parallel to a circumferential direction of the outlet, said direction adjustment protrusion is configured at a center of said outlet in the circumferential direction, and a downward projected length of said direction adjustment protrusion continuously increases in the lengthwise direction of said fluid ejection channel toward the outlet, such that said direction adjustment protrusion extends toward a center of the fluid ejection channel. The projection results in a widening/splitting of the fluid flow coming out of the nozzle, such that a wide cleaning area can be provided by a small fluid nozzle.
Against this background, the object of the present disclosure is to reduce the mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, and in particular to provide an endoscope with a viewing window, which is better, easily and efficiently to clean.
This object is achieved by an endoscope according to claim 1, i.e. an endoscope, in particular single use endoscope/duodenoscope comprising an (flexible) insertion tube/endoscope shaft for insertion into a patient's body cavity and a tip/endoscope head at the distal end/end portion of the insertion tube, which tip/endoscope head is optionally connected with the (flexible) insertion tube via a so-called deflecting being actively/manually bendable by an actuation mechanism provided at/in a control handle connected with a proximal end of the insertion tube, wherein the tip comprises a tip housing/casing/body encapsulating an optical inspection device (video/photo camera and optionally lens system) for inspecting the patient's body cavity, a viewing window connected to/integrated with the tip housing for or of the optical inspection device and a fluid/liquid spray nozzle provided by or mounted at the tip housing which fluid spray nozzle has an outer wall (nozzle casing) providing/forming at least a fluid/liquid channel surrounded by the outer wall for feeding and spraying a (cleaning/rinsing) fluid/liquid onto the viewing window, the fluid/liquid channel having a flattened or slit-like cross section, in particular an elongated oval cross section, so that a height of the cross section in a height direction is smaller than a width of the cross section in a lateral direction, wherein the fluid/liquid spray nozzle, especially the fluid/liquid channel comprises at least one fluid/liquid splitting element arranged in the fluid/liquid spray nozzle, especially the fluid/liquid channel, the fluid/liquid splitting element splitting the fluid channel into a first lateral channel on a first side in the lateral direction of the fluid/liquid splitting element and into a second lateral channel on a second side in the lateral direction of the fluid/liquid splitting element, said splitting element is designed/shaped to provide a converging fluid/liquid flow (flow constriction) out of the nozzle (downstream the nozzle) onto the viewing window. Preferably exactly one fluid/liquid splitting element is provided splitting the fluid/liquid channel into exactly two channels, namely the first lateral channel and the second lateral channel.
The endoscope according to the disclosure in particular is very well suited for a use in the gastrointestinal area, i.e. as a duodenoscope. As the fluid/liquid flow coming out of the fluid/liquid spray nozzle converges when/after leaving the nozzle based on the effect of the splitting element, a very efficient cleaning can be provided, as essentially the entire fluid/liquid can be accurately targeted onto the viewing window to be cleaned. Therefore, a very good cleaning effect can be achieved with a relatively small amount of fluid/liquid. With other words, one can say that the disclosure provides an (single-use) endoscope/duodenoscope with a fluid/liquid spray nozzle having a split fluid/liquid channel/split fluid/liquid path way for concentrating/converging/tapering the spray outlet, or more concrete the fluid/liquid outlet to the viewing window.
The optical inspection device of the endoscope in particular may comprise an imaging system/imaging device like a camera, for example an imaging chip or a CCD camera, in particular for taking pictures and/or film sequences. Further, the optical inspection device may comprise a focusing/lens system for focusing an image on the camera. Such focusing system may be in form of a lens, a lens system, a lens stack, etc. In particular it may be an adjustable focusing system. The viewing window may be a protective light transparent (glass) plate, preferably a plane-parallel plate or a focusing lens, which each may form part of the focusing system. In particular, the tip housing may encapsulate the optical inspection device in a fluid tight manner. The lens system may be in the form of a lens barrel which partly penetrates the tip housing provided with a respective through hole. It may in particular be an adjustable lens system for varying the position of focus. The optical axis of the lens system may be oriented in an angle of 4° to 10° to the vertical of a longitudinal axis of the tip housing, most preferred of 6° to the vertical of the longitudinal axis, such that the viewing direction of the tip is a little bit to the backside/to the proximal direction.
The tip according to the disclosure provides a kind of a camera tip for an endoscope as well as for a duodenoscope. The tip housing in particular may be made of a plastic/resin material. Such a material could be any transparent material, however, it is preferred to use a transparent plastic material. Plastic material has a number of advantages for a single use tip, as e.g. low cost, adequate mechanical characteristics as elasticity, low brittleness, a high suitability for manufacturing methods as injection molding and light weight. Light emitted from the light emitting device can easily penetrate through the transparent material of the tip housing and may be sent to the outside, e.g. into a body cavity, from at least a part of the outer surface of the housing. The tip housing in particular may be made by injection molding of a transparent plastic material. It may therefore be made with a nearly unlimited geometry and required dimensions. Additionally, injection molding is well suited for making a high number of parts with low costs. According to the invention the housing may be monolithically made from the transparent material and provide a one-part-tip. This is advantageous as no sealing is required between distinct parts. However, the housing may be designed as a multi-part housing.
In the description of the present disclosure and its preferred embodiments/examples reference is made to the following terms of direction/location:
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are claimed in the dependent claims and are explained in more detail below.
According to one (independent) embodiment, the fluid/liquid spray nozzle has a flattened or slit-like cross section, in particular flattened in the height direction. The fluid/liquid spray nozzle in particular may have an elongated oval cross section, in particular elongated in the width direction. The height of the cross section in height direction (essentially perpendicular, or more concrete 90°-α, as described below) to the optical axis of the optical inspection device) in particular may be in a range between 0.1 mm to 1 mm, preferably between 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm, more preferred of 0.3 mm. Such a height advantageously provides a flat fluid/liquid stream the direction of which in height axis is clearly defined. Additionally or alternatively, a width of the cross section in the width direction (essentially parallel (0°-α) to the plane of the viewing window) may be in the range between 0.5 mm to 3 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 2.5 mm, more preferred of 1.5 mm to 2 mm. Such a width provides sufficient space/width for providing the fluid/liquid splitting element in the fluid/liquid spray nozzle, especially in the fluid/liquid flow channel and for converging the fluid/liquid stream extending the fluid/liquid spray nozzle, especially the fluid/liquid channel. The terms height and width refer to dimensions of the fluid/liquid spray nozzle (and also the fluid/liquid channel of the nozzle)essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope tip, i.e. to dimensions in the height direction and the width direction, respectively. The longitudinal axis of the tip/the tip housing extends in the direction from proximal to distal (from a proximal end of the housing to a distal end of the housing).
A further (independent) embodiment is characterized in that the at least one fluid/liquid splitting element is arranged essentially in the crossectional center of/in the fluid/liquid channel itself, in particular essentially in the crossectional center with regard to the width of the fluid/liquid channel. This advantageously results in the fluid/liquid flow exiting the nozzle/the flow channel being converged in a direction parallel to the plane of the viewing window. Preferably, the cross section of the at least one fluid/liquid splitting element is constant in height direction. This allows to converge the fluid/liquid stream exiting the fluid/liquid channel (and therefore the fluid/liquid spray nozzle) in the width direction, but to keep the stream unchanged in the height direction, and to, therefore, focus the stream very exactly onto the viewing window.
The fluid/liquid splitting element may extend over an entire height of the fluid/liquid channel in the section of the fluid/liquid channel where the fluid/liquid splitting element is arranged. In particular, the fluid/liquid splitting element may be connected to/ may connect two opposed portions of the outer wall forming the fluid/liquid channel.
According to a further (independent) embodiment, the at least one fluid/liquid splitting element on its outflow side/proximal side comprises a sharp edge, which preferably is located within the fluid path/the fluid/liquid channel surrounded by the outer wall or right at the outflow end of the fluid path/the fluid/liquid channel surrounded by the outer wall. A fluid splitting element with a downstream-side sharp edge allows a very effective converging of the fluid/liquid stream, as the pressure in the fluid flow significantly drops at the sharp edge, thereby forging the fluid towards the middle of the fluid stream.
A further (independent) embodiment is characterized in that the at least one fluid/liquid splitting element has a prism/wedge like shape with a triangular base plane (when seen form above), in particular two triangular base planes, one at its top and one at its bottom (when viewed in height direction/when seen from above or below). The base plane preferably is arranged essentially parallel to the direction of fluid/liquid flow, i.e. parallel to the longitudinal direction and/or the width direction. Further, a vertex of the base plane preferably is arranged on the inflow side/proximal side (upstream side) and a rectangular plane opposite said vertex being arranged on the outflow side/distal side (downstream side). The fluid/liquid splitting element in one embodiment may have a prism/wedge like shape with two isosceles triangular base planes. In particular, the triangular base planes may have convex shaped side planes. Preferably, the distal end/distal plane of the fluid/liquid splitting element is arranged on a level with the distal end of the fluid/liquid channel. Alternatively, the distal end/distal plane of the fluid/liquid splitting element is arranged in flow direction proximal (upstream) the distal end of the fluid/liquid spray nozzle and preferably proximal (upstream) the distal end of the fluid/liquid channel. Preferably, the cross section of the fluid/liquid splitting element is constant in height direction.
One preferred (independent) embodiment is characterized in that the viewing window/the protective plate is/are inclined towards the fluid/liquid spray nozzle. The inclination of the outer surface of the viewing window/protective plate relative to the longitudinal axis of the tip, i.e. relative to a plane comprising the longitudinal direction as well as the width direction, in particular may be at an angle α of 4° to 10°, preferably of 6°. Such an inclination of the surface to be cleaned allows a very effective interaction with the fluid stream used for cleaning.
Further, as another (independent) embodiment, the fluid/liquid spray nozzle may comprise an (additional) gas/air channel, in particular for an inert gas or air. This additional gas channel may be arranged laterally beside (parallel to) the fluid/liquid channel (in a fluid-separate manner) within the spray nozzle (element). Preferably, the gas channel is arranged parallel to the fluid channel.
The fluid/liquid spray nozzle in particular may comprise a first inlet on its proximal side for rinsing fluid and a second inlet on its proximal side for the additional gas. The fluid/liquid channel and the additional gas channel being provided inside the fluid/liquid spray nozzle and being connected to the first and second inlets, respectively, each have a distal outlet for fluid and gas, respectively, which may be arranged preferably immediately adjacent (parallel/besides) to each other. The inlets and outlets of the nozzle are fluidically connected to concerning fluid conduits/fluid lines provided in the bending element and the insertion tube/hose.
Advantageously, the distal outlets of the fluid channel and the additional gas channel open into a mixing chamber/ rea/depression at/in the distal end portion of the fluid/liquid spray nozzle, which mixing chamber is distally open in the direction to the viewing window to be cleaned. The mixing chamber may be formed by the fluid/liquid spray nozzle, in particular the nozzle housing and/or the outer walls of the fluid/liquid channel and/or the gas channel, or by a part of the nozzle and a part of the tip housing. The additional gas channel allows a supply of gas, for example of CO2 and water. Such gas can be mixed with the fluid/liquid supplied by the fluid channel, in particular in the mixing chamber, which mixing lowers the viscosity of the fluid/liquid and hence increases the flow. Additionally, such mixing also provides a (more) turbulent flow resulting in an improved capability of cleaning the viewing window.
The fluid/liquid spray nozzle in particular may be made (exclusively) from plastic/resin, in particular by injection molding. The fluid spray nozzle can be made of a transparent material, e.g. a transparent plastic/resin material. Preferably, the fluid spray nozzle may be connected to the housing by a transparent adhesive or a transparent glue or by a transparent grout. By using a transparent nozzle material and a transparent grout, respectively, formation of shadows and drop shadows can easily and effectively be avoided, which results in high image quality. Also, the fluid spray nozzle and the tip housing may be monolithically formed, in particular from a plastic material or a transparent plastic material.
In summary, it can be said that the disclosure in particular may provide the following features and/or advantages:
Further features and advantages of the present disclosure result from the following exemplary and non-limiting description of the figures. These are only schematic in nature and only serve to understand the disclosure:
To begin with,
Accordingly, the endoscope 1 is preferably a single use endoscope (duodenoscope) and comprises a connector unit 120 for connecting the endoscope 1 with a (separate) supply unit, which may also be referred to as a base unit, for at least one operating resource (for example, electric power, water, etc.). The endoscope 1 further comprises a supply line 140 located proximal (in the direction toward the user) to/at the connector unit. The supply line 140 is for supplying said at least one operating resource from the connector unit 120 to an endoscope handle 130 which is designed to be held by a user and—in accordance with the manual actuations of several manipulators 131 at the handle 130 by the user—from the handle 130 to a distal (direction away from the user/direction toward the patient) endoscope tip/head 2 (shown in
In the following, the direction of height (H), width (W) and length/longitudinal axis (L) are partly indicated in the figures (see longitudinal axis 21).
The tip 2 comprises a tip housing 6 encapsulating an optical inspection device 7 for inspecting the patient's body cavity. The tip 2 further comprises a viewing window 8, which forms a functional part of the optical inspection device 7, and a fluid/liquid spray nozzle 9 having an outer wall 10 providing a fluid/liquid channel 11 surrounded by the outer wall 10 for spraying a fluid/liquid onto the viewing window 8. The tip housing 6 of the example shown in
The fluid/liquid spray nozzle 9, examples of which are shown in
As shown in particular in
As especially shown in
At the distal outlet opening 17 of the fluid channel 11 there is arranged a fluid/liquid splitting element 22. Preferably, the fluid/liquid splitting element 22 is located at the distal end of the fluid channel 11. The aim of the fluid/liquid splitting element 22 is to provide a converging fluid/liquid flow out of the nozzle 9 onto the viewing window 8, i.e. forming the flat shaped stream of fluid into a converging flat stream of fluid. The fluid stream converges in width direction (W). The fluid splitting element 22 is arranged essentially in the crossectional center with regard to the width of in the fluid channel 11. It provides a barrier/resistance having a hydraulic impact on the fluid flowing through the fluid channel 11. The fluid splitting element 22 splits the fluid channel 11 into a first lateral channel and a second lateral channel, as can be in particular seen in
As in particular shown in the top sectional view of
The fluid/liquid splitting element 22 provides a narrowing/restriction of the flow cross section.
As especially shown in
As stated above, the fluid/liquid splitting element 22 does preferably not (or only partly) extend into the mixing chamber 29 into which the fluid/liquid channel 11 and the gas channel 14 opens, respectively. Accordingly, a mixing effect of the liquid and the gas is achieved which mixture is substantially concentrated/focused to the viewing window by the converging effect of the splitting element 22 inside the opening of the fluid/liquid channel 11.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2020 111 888.0 | Apr 2020 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/061344 | 4/29/2021 | WO |
