Patent Description:
The information disclosed in this section is only provided for an understanding of background information of embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be taken as a description of the prior art.

An endoscope generally refers to a medical instrument for examining the interior of the body for medical purposes. Such an endoscope may be referred to as "bronchoscope," "gastric endoscope," "laparoscope," or "colonoscope" depending on the area to be examined therewith. Unlike most medical imaging devices, the endoscope is a medical device which is inserted directly into the body.

For example, <CIT> describes an endoscope system comprising an endoscope body and peripheral devices connected to the endoscope body to form a part of the endoscope system. A flexible variable mechanism for changing the flexibility of the flexible tube of the insertion portion, a drive source for the flexible variable mechanism is provided in the peripheral device, and the endoscope main body and the peripheral device are connected to each other. The connector part to be connected is characterized in that when the endoscope main body and peripheral devices are connected, a transmission drive mechanism for receiving the driving force from the drive source and operating the flexible variable mechanism is provided.

Further, in <CIT> an endoscope is described wherein on a guide coil, wherein an operational wire is inserted through, a dense winding part and a rough winding part are alternately and integrally formed. The rough winding part partly forms a path difference adjusting device. However, the subject matter of claimed claim <NUM> is not disclosed.

Due to the development of optical fibers and the rapid development of optical technology and electronics, endoscope technology has reached the stage of the current electronic endoscope and has made a great contribution to the development of the field of gastroenterology. With the development of the electronic endoscope, the electronic endoscope is used not only in the diagnostic field to directly look into and perform histological examinations of a subject's body, but may also replace invasive surgery due to the rapid development of various treatment endoscopes.

The configuration of the endoscope may generally include an insertion tube configured to be inserted into the patient's body with a bendable section and a flexible portion, a control body connected to one end of the insertion tube to control the bending motion of the bendable section, a connector coupled to a light source device, or the like, and a universal code spacing the control body and the connector apart from each other.

The endoscope has a structure in which a mechanical cord (or cable) is disposed between the bendable section and the control body to control the bending motion of the bendable section and the mechanical cord is connected to a control knob disposed on the control body. According to the structure of the endoscope, when the user, i.e., a doctor, manually operates the control knob, the mechanical cord transmits power to enable the bending motion of the bendable section.

While a doctor is performing an endoscope, an emergency situation fatal to the patient may occur. However, such an endoscope having the above-described structure requires a doctor to control the bending motion of the bendable section by manually operating the knob in the emergency situation, thereby causing the doctor to only focus on operating the knob. Thus, it may be difficult to overcome the emergency situation, and the bending motion of the bendable section may not be accurately performed.

Therefore, there was developed an endoscope in which the bending motion of a bendable section may be performed automatically using a power source rather than by a manual operation of a doctor. However, the endoscope with this structure may have control precision and stability problems due to the absence of an appropriate structure able to receive power from the outside of the endoscope.

In particular, in the endoscope having the above-described structure, for example, when power is required to be transmitted from the connector at one end of the endoscope to the bendable section at the other end of the endoscope, a power transmission system is longer, so power transmission may be delayed or power transmission may not be maintained uniformly, thereby causing problems with responsiveness.

The information disclosed in the Background section is technical information that the inventors possessed for, or acquired during, derivation of embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be taken as known technology disclosed to the public before the filing of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Accordingly, the present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-described problems occurring in the related art, and the present disclosure provides an endoscope able to restrain the movement of a power transmission system transmitting power provided by a power source to a bendable section, thereby uniformly maintaining the movement of the power transmission system and improving the response of the power transmission system.

The objectives of the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned descriptions, and other objectives not explicitly disclosed herein will be clearly understood by a person having ordinary knowledge in the art from the description provided hereinafter.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an endoscope includes: a bendable section configured to be inserted into a subject's body to collect image information; and a power transmission means configured to transmit power provided by the power source to the bendable section.

The power transmission means includes a power-transmitting mechanical cord and a friction control part configured to promote the movement of the mechanical cord.

In addition, according to the present invention as defined in claim <NUM>, an endoscope includes: a bendable section configured to be inserted into a subject's body to collect image information; and a power transmission means configured to transmit power provided by the power source to the bendable section.

The power transmission means includes a power-transmitting mechanical cord and a friction control part configured to restrain the movement of the mechanical cord.

The endoscope further includes a control body connected to the bendable section and configured to control a bending motion of the bendable section and a connector connected to the control body.

One side of the power transmission means is connected to the connector. The other side of the power transmission means extends through the control body and be connected to the bendable section.

The friction control part may be provided on the control body or the connector.

According to the present invention, the power transmission means includes a guide tube surrounding the mechanical cord to guide the same. The movement-restraining friction control part controls friction occurring during the movement of the mechanical cord by adjusting the diameter of the guide tube or a tension of the guide tube.

In some embodiments, the guide tube may include a spring structure, and the movement-restraining friction control part may adjust the diameter of the spring structure by pulling or pushing the spring structure.

In some embodiments, the guide tube may include a spring structure, and the movement-restraining friction control part may adjust the tension of the guide tube by pulling or pushing the spring structure.

According to the present invention, the friction control part includes an end holding part connected to one end of the guide tube from which the mechanical cord is drawn and a fixing means on which the end holding part is disposed.

In some embodiments, the fixing means may include a position control part configured to adjust a position at which the end holding part is disposed in order to control movement restraint of the mechanical cord.

According to the present invention, the fixing means includes a fixed block and a fixing bracket fixing the end holding part to the fixed block, the fixed block includes a partition provided on one side thereof and supporting the end holding part and a plurality of fastening holes sequentially provided in the partition, and the fixing bracket is fixedly fitted to one of the plurality of fastening holes using a fastening means.

In some embodiments, the friction control part may include a restraint control part configured to control movement restraint of the mechanical cord.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure not forming part of the claimed invention, an endoscope may include one or more among: an insertion tube including a bendable section configured to be inserted into a subject's body and perform a bending motion;.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure not forming part of the claimed invention, an endoscope may include a power transmission means including a mechanical cord and a guide tube surrounding the mechanical cord to guide the same, wherein a portion of the guide tube of the power transmission means is torn to externally expose the mechanical cord, and the power transmission means includes a fixing means configured to fix separated both ends of the guide tube by pulling or pushing the same.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure as described above, provided is the endoscope able to restrain the movement of a power transmission system transmitting power provided by a power source to a bendable section, thereby uniformly maintaining the movement of the power transmission system and improving the response of the power transmission system.

In addition, the present disclosure has a variety of effects with excellent versatility depending on the embodiment, and such effects may be clearly understood from the following description of embodiments.

The following drawings accompanying the specification illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the foregoing disclosure, serve to provide further understanding of the present disclosure, and thus, the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the drawings.

Advantages and features of the present disclosure, as well as methods of realizing the same, will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific embodiments to be described hereinafter but should be understood as including a variety of modifications, equivalents, and alternatives within the scope of the present disclosure. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the description of the present disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to a person having ordinary skill in the art in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains. In the following description of the present disclosure, a detailed description of related known technology will be omitted when the description may render the subject matter of the present disclosure unclear.

The terminology used in this application is used to describe specific embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. Expressions in the singular include the plural unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In the present application, the terms "includes" or "has" and the like are intended to designate the presence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof. Terms such as first, second, and the like may be used to describe various components, but the components are not to be limited by such terms. Such terms are used only to distinguish one component from others.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein identical or corresponding components are given the same reference numerals and duplicate descriptions thereof are omitted.

<FIG> illustrates the shape of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> illustrates the shape of the connector of the endoscope according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

<FIG> illustrates the power receiving part and the power transmission part as the internal shape of the connector of <FIG> from which the cover is removed, and <FIG> illustrates the shape of a light source device to which the endoscope according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is coupled.

<FIG> illustrates a combined shape of the power providing part disposed on the light source device of <FIG> and the power receiving part disposed on the connector of <FIG>.

In some embodiments, an endoscope <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include one or more among an insertion tube <NUM>, a control body <NUM>, and a universal cord <NUM>, and a connector <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the control body <NUM> may be disposed between one end of the insertion tube <NUM> and one end of the universal cord <NUM>, and the connector <NUM> may be connected to the other end of the universal cord <NUM>.

The insertion tube <NUM> may be a portion that is inserted into the patient's body when a user, i.e., a doctor, performs an endoscopy on the patient using the endoscope <NUM>. The insertion tube <NUM> may include a tube tip, a bendable section <NUM>, and a flexible portion.

The tube tip may be a component configured to illuminate a target area, collect image information, perform a treatment, or the like. The tube tip may be disposed on the distal end of the insertion tube, and may include an illumination means for illuminating the interior of the subject's body, an imaging means for imaging the interior of the subject's body, a biopsy channel for collecting tissue from the interior of the subject's body, an air-water channel for spraying air, water, or the like for various purposes, and the like.

The bendable section <NUM> may perform a bending motion in response to the user's operation, and may be bent inside the body and travel along the interior of the curved tubular organ. The tube tip may be disposed on the distal end of the bendable section <NUM>, and the distal end of the bendable section <NUM> may bend in the bending motion to place the tube tip in a direction desired by the user.

The flexible portion may be located between the bendable section <NUM> and the control body <NUM>, and may be a portion that moves along with the bendable section <NUM> when the bendable section travels through the gastrointestinal tract inside the patient's body.

The control body <NUM> may be provided with a controller <NUM> to control the bending motion of the bendable section <NUM>, and may be provided with a flow control valve or a flow control switch able to control a flow of air or water or suction. The controller <NUM> may include, for example, a joystick.

The insertion tube <NUM> may be connected to one side of the control body <NUM>, and the universal cord <NUM> may be connected to the other side of the control body <NUM>. The connector <NUM> may be connected to the distal end of the universal cord <NUM>.

The connector <NUM> may serve to connect the endoscope <NUM> to an external device. Here, the external device may include, for example, a light source device <NUM>, an image processing device, and the like.

When the endoscope <NUM> is connected to the light source device <NUM> or the image processing device via the connector <NUM>, the endoscope <NUM> may receive light from the light source device <NUM> via the connector <NUM> and illuminate the interior of the patient's body, and the image information regarding the interior of the patient's body collected by the endoscope <NUM> may be transmitted to the image processing device via the connector <NUM>.

The universal cord <NUM> may connect the control body <NUM> and the connector <NUM>, and may serve to space the connector <NUM> and the control body <NUM> apart from each other so that a user can move easily when using the endoscope <NUM> by holding the control body <NUM>. In some embodiments, the universal cord <NUM> may be omitted and the connector <NUM> may be connected to the other side of the control body <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the endoscope <NUM> may include: a power receiving part <NUM> configured to move by receiving power from a power source; and a bendable section <NUM>, the bending motion of which is controlled by the movement of the power receiving part <NUM>. In some embodiments, the bendable section <NUM> may include an imaging means for being inserted into the subject's body to collect image information therefrom and an illumination means for illuminating the interior of the subject's body.

Here, the power source may refer to a power generating device and may include, for example, a motor. In some embodiments, the power source may be disposed in the endoscope <NUM>. In some embodiments, the power source may be disposed outside the endoscope <NUM>. The power source disposed outside the endoscope <NUM> may refer to the power source being disposed on a power providing device provided separately from the endoscope <NUM>. In some embodiments, the power providing device may include, for example, the light source device <NUM> or an image processing device. In this case, the endoscope <NUM> may be coupled to the light source device <NUM> or the image processing device to move by receiving power from the light source device <NUM> or the image processing device.

In some embodiments, when the endoscope <NUM> according to the present embodiment is connected to the light source device <NUM> having the power source therein, the endoscope <NUM> may illuminate the interior of the patient's body by receiving light from the light source device <NUM> and perform the bending motion inside the patient's body by receiving power from the light source device <NUM>.

In addition, when the endoscope <NUM> is connected to the image processing device including a power source therein, the endoscope <NUM> may transmit collected image information collected from inside the patient's body to the image processing device. The endoscope <NUM> may perform the bending motion inside the patient's body by receiving power from the image processing device.

The power receiving part <NUM> according to the present embodiment may refer to a power receiving component. The power receiving part <NUM> may include a mechanical power receiving component. In some embodiments, the power receiving part <NUM> may receive power from an external device present outside the endoscope <NUM> as an article separate from the endoscope <NUM>. In some embodiments, the power receiving part <NUM> may receive power directly from the light source device <NUM> including the power source therein.

The power receiving part <NUM> according to the present embodiment may be disposed on the connector <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM>. When the connector <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> is connected to the light source device <NUM> including the power source therein, the connector <NUM> may receive power from the power source of the light source device <NUM>.

In some embodiments, a power providing part <NUM> supplying power to the light source device <NUM> may be disposed. The power providing part <NUM> disposed on the light source device <NUM> may be formed to correspond to the shape of the power receiving part <NUM> disposed on the connector <NUM>. In some embodiments, the power providing part <NUM> may be provided with recesses <NUM>, and the power receiving part <NUM> may be provided with protrusions 111a. The protrusions 111a of the power receiving part <NUM> may have a structure protruding outward through slots <NUM> formed in a front cover <NUM> of the connector <NUM>.

When the connector <NUM> is coupled to a connector receptacle <NUM> of the light source device <NUM>, the power providing part <NUM> and the power receiving part <NUM> may be coupled to each other and be ready for transmitting power from the light source device <NUM> to the connector <NUM>.

There may be a variety of methods of transmitting power from the light source device <NUM> to the endoscope <NUM>. In some embodiments, the power providing part <NUM> may have a configuration like a slider coupled to a rail structure provided on the light source device <NUM> to move on the rail structure. The power receiving part <NUM> may also have a configuration like a slider coupled to a rail structure <NUM> provided on the connector <NUM> to move on the connector <NUM>, in the same manner as the power providing part <NUM>.

In this structure, when the power providing part <NUM> moves by receiving power from the power source, the power receiving part <NUM> engaged with the power providing part <NUM> may move along with the power providing part <NUM>, so that power may be provided by the light source device <NUM> to the connector <NUM>.

The endoscope <NUM> according to the present embodiment may sequentially include the connector <NUM>, the universal cord <NUM>, the control body <NUM>, and the insertion tube <NUM>. Here, mechanical cords <NUM> may be disposed to sequentially extend through the connector <NUM>, the universal cord <NUM>, the control body <NUM>, and the insertion tube <NUM>. One side of each of the mechanical cords <NUM> may be connected to the power receiving part <NUM>, and the other side of each of the mechanical cord <NUM> may be connected to the bendable section <NUM> forming one end of the insertion tube <NUM>.

The power receiving part <NUM> may be connected to the mechanical cords <NUM> through a power transmission part. The power transmission part may include a pinion-sprocket assembly <NUM> and a chain-slider assembly <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the pinion-sprocket assembly <NUM> may have a structure in which a pinion gear <NUM> and a sprocket <NUM> are integrally provided on a single rotating structure such that when the pinion gear <NUM> rotates, the sprocket <NUM> also rotates together. The chain-slider assembly <NUM> may have a structure in which a pair of sliders <NUM> are coupled to both ends of a chain <NUM>, respectively, such that when the chain <NUM> moves, the sliders <NUM> connected to both ends of the chain <NUM>, respectively, also move.

A rack gear may be provided on the rear surface of the power receiving part <NUM>. The pinion gear <NUM> of the pinion-sprocket assembly <NUM> may be meshed with the rack gear such that power may be transmitted. In addition, in the pinion-sprocket assembly <NUM>, the sprocket <NUM> may be meshed with the chain <NUM> of the chain-slider assembly <NUM> such that power may be transmitted. The mechanical cords <NUM> may be connected to the paired sliders <NUM> of the chain-slider assembly <NUM>, respectively. In this case, a first cord <NUM> and a second cord <NUM> described below may be connected to the paired sliders <NUM>, respectively. Due to this structure, the first cord <NUM> and the second cord <NUM> may be paired.

According to the above-described configuration of the power transmission part, when the power receiving part <NUM> slides, the mechanical cords <NUM> are pulled or pushed to transmit power to the bendable section <NUM>, and the bendable section <NUM> performs the bending motion by receiving power through the mechanical cords <NUM>. Consequently, the bending motion of the bendable section <NUM> may be controlled by the movement of the power receiving part <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the control body <NUM> may generate a control signal. The control signal generated by the control body <NUM> may control the rotational force of the power source. In some embodiments, the control signal generated by the control body <NUM> may control the travel distance d of the power receiving part <NUM>.

The control body <NUM> according to the present embodiment may be a component having dimensions and a shape by which the user may hold the control body <NUM> to insert the insertion tube <NUM> including the bendable section <NUM> into the interior of the subject's body or rotate the same, and may serve as a type of handle. The user may collect image information or perform a treatment inside the subject's body by adjusting the position of the bendable section <NUM> inside the subject's body while holding the control body <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the control body <NUM> may be provided with a controller <NUM>, for example, a control stick, generating a control signal. The control signal generated by the controller <NUM> may include a control command for controlling the rotational force of the power source.

When the power source is disposed on an external device, for example, the light source device <NUM>, the control signal may be transmitted from the endoscope <NUM> to an external device via a wired or wireless medium.

In some embodiments, when the control signal is transmitted via a wireless medium, in an embodiment for realizing wireless transmission, a communication module may be mounted on the control body <NUM>, and the rotational force of the power source may be controlled by transmitting the control signal to a power source controller by the communication module.

In some embodiments, when the control signal is transmitted via a wired medium, in an embodiment for realizing wired transmission, an electrical cable configuration may be connected to the control body <NUM>, the universal cord <NUM>, and the connector <NUM> in a control stick, and a control signal terminal may be disposed on one end of the connector <NUM>.

In addition, in this case, the connector receptacle <NUM> of the light source device <NUM> may also be provided with a control signal receiving terminal, and the control signal receiving terminal may have a structure electrically connected to the power source controller.

When the connector <NUM> is connected to the light source device <NUM>, the control signal terminal may be in contact with the control signal receiving terminal, and a control signal generated by the control stick may be transmitted to the power source controller through an electrical cable, the control signal terminal, and the control signal receiving terminal.

In some embodiments, a control signal generated by the controller <NUM> disposed on the control body <NUM> may control the travel distance d of the power providing part <NUM> of the light source device <NUM> or the power receiving part <NUM> of the connector <NUM>.

That is, the control signal generated by the control body <NUM> may control the travel distance d of the power receiving part <NUM> by a structure in which the control signal controls the rotational force of the power source of the light source device <NUM>, the power source generates power, and the generated power is sequentially transmitted through the power providing part <NUM> and the power receiving part <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the direction of the rotation of the power source may determine the direction of the movement of the power providing part <NUM> or the power receiving part <NUM>, and the speed of the rotation of the power source may determine the speed of the movement of the power providing part <NUM> or the power receiving part <NUM>. In addition, the direction of the movement of the power receiving part <NUM> may determine the direction of the bending of the bendable section <NUM>, and the speed of the movement of the power receiving part <NUM> may determine the speed of the bending of the bendable section <NUM>.

The user, i.e., a doctor, may generate the control signal by operating the control stick and transmit the generated control signal to the power source disposed on the light source device <NUM>. The power source that has received the control signal may generate rotational force in response to the control signal. The power providing part <NUM> and the power receiving part <NUM> may move in response to the generated rotational force. Consequently, the bending motion of the bendable section <NUM> may be controlled by the movement of the power receiving part <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the power receiving part <NUM> may include a type of slider. The power receiving part <NUM> may be coupled to the rail structure <NUM> provided on the connector <NUM> to move in a specific direction on the rail structure <NUM>. For example, the power receiving part <NUM> may reciprocally slide between a first end and a second end formed by the rail structure <NUM> provided on the connector <NUM>.

For example, the power receiving part <NUM> may move within a range of bending angles (i.e., a bending angle range) of the bendable section <NUM> while reciprocating between the first end and the second end. Here, the first end of the power receiving part <NUM> may correspond to a first angle of the bending angle range, and the second end of the power receiving part <NUM> may correspond to a second angle of the bending angle range. For example, when the power receiving part <NUM> moves from the first end to the second end, the bendable section <NUM> may be bent from the first angle to the second angle.

The bending angle range of the bendable section <NUM> may be previously determined to a set value. The bending angle range of the bendable section <NUM> may be set such that the bending is limited, for example, between the first angle and the second angle. Accordingly, the position of the bendable section <NUM> may be accurately controlled by a computer through electrification of the endoscope <NUM>, and the user, i.e., a doctor, may estimate the range of the bending of the bendable section <NUM>.

The control signal may allow the bending motion of the bendable section <NUM> to precisely conform to the predetermined bending angle range by controlling the travel distance d of the power providing part <NUM> disposed on the light source device <NUM> or the power receiving part <NUM> disposed on the connector <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the power receiving part <NUM> may include a first slider and a second slider, and the control signal may include a first control signal for controlling the travel distance d of the first slider and a second control signal for controlling the travel distance d of the second slider.

The power receiving part <NUM> may include a pair of components. That is, the power receiving part <NUM> may include a first slider and a second slider. The power providing part <NUM> may include a pair of components like the power receiving part <NUM>. In the control signal, he first control signal may control the travel distance d of the first slider, and the second control signal may control the travel distance d of the second slider.

In some embodiments, the mechanical cords <NUM> transmitting power to the bendable section <NUM> may include the first cord <NUM>, the second cord <NUM>, a third cord, and a fourth cord.

In some embodiments, the first cord <NUM>, the second cord <NUM>, the third cord, and the fourth cord may be controlled by four sliders that move independently of each other.

In addition, in other embodiments, the first cord <NUM> and the second cord <NUM> may form a first set of cords, and the third cord and the fourth cord may form a second set of cords.

The first cord <NUM> and the second cord <NUM> may form the first set of cords, and the third cord and the fourth cord may form the second set of cords.

In the first set of cords, the first cord <NUM> and the second cord <NUM> have a paired structure in which when the first cord <NUM> is pulled, the second cord <NUM> is pushed and when the second cord <NUM> is pulled, the first cord <NUM> is pushed. In the second set of cords, the first cord <NUM> and the second cord <NUM> have a paired structure in which when first cord <NUM> is pulled, the second cord <NUM> is pushed and when the second cord <NUM> is pulled, the first cord <NUM> is pushed.

Here, the first set of cords may be connected to the first slider to transmit power in response to the linear movement of the first slider, and the second set of cords may be connected to the second slider to transmit power in response to the linear movement of the second slider. According to the configuration in which the power receiving part <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes the first slider and the second slider, two sets of cords in which every two mechanical cords <NUM> are paired may be respectively controlled in an effective manner.

In some embodiments, the power receiving part <NUM> may be a pair of power receiving parts. One of the pair of power receiving parts may control the upward and downward bending of the bendable section <NUM>, and the other of the pair of power receiving parts may control the left and right bending of the bendable section <NUM>. The pair of power receiving parts <NUM> may include a first slider and a second slider. The first slider may control the upward and downward bending motion of the bendable section <NUM>, and the second slider may control the left and right bending motion of the bendable section <NUM>.

According to this structure, the first slider and the second slider may move linearly and independently of each other. Due to the combination of the linear movements of the first slider and the second slider, the upward and downward bending and the left and right bending of the bendable section <NUM> may be combined, thereby realizing the bending motion in upward-downward and left-right directions.

<FIG> illustrates a schematic shape of a friction control part provided on a power transmission means according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

<FIG> illustrates the shape of the control body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> illustrates the control body of <FIG> from which the cover case is omitted.

<FIG> illustrates the shape of the power transmission means and the friction control part in the control body of <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrates the cross-sectional shape of the friction control part illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates the shape of the guide tube disposed within the universal cord in the power transmission means according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

<FIG> illustrates the shape of the spring structure and the end holding part according to an embodiment of the guide tube surrounding the mechanical cord in the power transmission means according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there may be provided an endoscope <NUM> including: the bendable section <NUM> configured to be inserted into the subject's body to collect image information; and a power transmission means <NUM> for transmitting power received from the power source to the bendable section <NUM>, wherein the power transmission means <NUM> includes the power-transmitting mechanical cords <NUM> and a friction control part <NUM> restraining the movement of the mechanical cords <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the power transmission means <NUM> may perform the function of transmitting power received in the connector <NUM> to the bendable section <NUM>. The power transmission means <NUM> may include the mechanical cords <NUM> and guide tubes <NUM> surrounding and protecting the mechanical cords <NUM>. In this structure, the mechanical cords <NUM> may transmit power while axially moving within the guide tubes <NUM>.

The power transmission means <NUM> according to the present embodiment may extend in the longitudinal direction of the endoscope <NUM>, and may have a structure connecting the connector <NUM> provided on one end of the endoscope <NUM> and the bendable section <NUM> provided on the other end of the endoscope <NUM>. Due to this structure, the power transmission means <NUM> may transmit power stored in the connector <NUM> to the bendable section <NUM>, thereby allowing the bendable section <NUM> to perform the bending motion.

In some embodiments, the power transmission means <NUM> may include a plurality of power transmission means. The power transmission means <NUM> may be, for example, four power transmission means. That is, the four mechanical cords <NUM> including the first cord <NUM>, the second cord <NUM>, the third cord, and the fourth cord and the guide tubes <NUM> may be included. As described above, in this structure, the first cord <NUM> and the second cord <NUM> may be paired to move together, and the third cord and the fourth cord may also be paired to move together.

In the present embodiment, the friction control part <NUM> may be provided on a portion of the power transmission means <NUM>, and may perform the function of restraining the axial movement of the mechanical cords <NUM> in the power transmission means <NUM>. When the power transmission means <NUM> includes a plurality of power transmission means, the friction control part <NUM> may be disposed on each of the plurality of power transmission means. When the power transmission means <NUM> are four, two friction control parts may be disposed on the top surface of a fixed block <NUM> described below and the other two friction control parts may be disposed on the bottom surface of the fixed block <NUM>.

As the power transmission means <NUM> is longer, increases in the length of the mechanical cords <NUM> may delay power transmission or cause backlash, thereby making it difficult to uniformly transmit power. In particular, in a structure in which the connector <NUM> is supplied with power from an external source and the power that the connector <NUM> has received is transmitted to the bendable section <NUM> through the universal cord <NUM>, the control body <NUM>, and the insertion tube <NUM>, the power transmission means <NUM> extends from the connector <NUM> to the bendable section <NUM> to increase the lengths of the mechanical cords <NUM>, thereby deteriorating the above-described responsiveness. In order to overcome these problems, the present disclosure may restrain the axial movement of the mechanical cords <NUM> so that power transmission through the mechanical cords <NUM> may be uniformly output. That is, in the present disclosure, the friction control part <NUM> may provide resistance to the axial movement of the mechanical cords <NUM>, thereby preventing rattling during movement.

In the power transmission means <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the friction control part <NUM> may be disposed in any section of the longitudinal section of the power transmission means <NUM>. In some embodiments, the friction control part <NUM> may be provided in the control body <NUM> or the connector <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, section p indicates the section of the bendable section <NUM>, section q indicates the section of the insertion tube <NUM>, section r indicates the section of the control body <NUM>, section s indicates the section of the universal cord <NUM>, and section t indicates the section of the connector <NUM>. When the power transmission means <NUM> is formed to extend over the entire section of the endoscope <NUM> from the connector <NUM> to the bendable section <NUM>, the responsiveness of the bending motion may be reduced. Thus, the role of the friction control part <NUM> is important.

The control body <NUM> or the connector <NUM> is a component in which parts performing a variety of functions are disposed. In the control body <NUM> or the connector <NUM>, a space capable of accommodating the friction control part <NUM> may be formed. Thus, it may be more effective that the friction control part <NUM> according to the present embodiment is provided in the control body <NUM> or the connector <NUM> rather than in the insertion tube <NUM> or the universal tube.

In some embodiments, the control body <NUM> may include a body cover <NUM> and a body frame <NUM> disposed within the body cover <NUM>. A portion of the body frame <NUM> may form a fixing means <NUM> described below. The fixing means <NUM> is a component of the friction control part <NUM>. The power transmission means <NUM> may be disposed and extend on the body frame <NUM>.

In addition, since the friction control part <NUM> may include the fixing means <NUM> described below, the friction control part <NUM> may reduce the flexibility of the insertion tube <NUM> or the universal cord <NUM> when disposed on the insertion tube <NUM> or the universal cord <NUM>. Thus, it may be effective that the friction control part <NUM> is disposed on the control body <NUM> or the connector <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the friction control part <NUM> of the endoscope <NUM> according to the present embodiment may include a restraint control part provided to control the movement restraint of the mechanical cords <NUM>.

In addition to the friction control part <NUM> restraining the axial movement of the mechanical cords <NUM> using the restraint control part according to the present disclosure, the degree of restraint for restraining the axial movement of the mechanical cords <NUM> may be variously adjusted.

When fabricating the endoscope <NUM> according to the present embodiment, a fabricator may set optimal responsiveness by performing a responsiveness test on the bending motion of the bendable section <NUM> by the restraint control part according to the present embodiment.

In some embodiments, in the power transmission means <NUM> including the mechanical cords <NUM> and the guide tubes <NUM>, the friction control part <NUM> may restrain the movement of the mechanical cords <NUM> by adjusting the diameters of the guide tubes <NUM>. The guide tubes <NUM> have a structure extending along with the mechanical cords <NUM> in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical cords <NUM> and entirely surrounding the mechanical cords <NUM>. Thus, the movement of the mechanical cords <NUM> within the guide tubes <NUM> may be restrained by adjusting the diameters of the guide tubes <NUM>. The method of adjusting the diameters of the guide tubes <NUM> may provide uniform and continuous pressing over the entire length of the mechanical cords <NUM> and thus is effective in improving responsiveness.

In some embodiments, the guide tubes <NUM> may include a spring structure. In addition, the friction control part <NUM> according to the present embodiment may adjust the diameter of the spring structure by pulling or pushing the spring structure of the guide tubes <NUM>.

The spring structure is structured such that the diameter thereof decreases when pulled in the longitudinal direction. Thus, the spring structure is effective for realizing the friction control part <NUM> according to the present embodiment. According to the present embodiment, the fabricator of the endoscope <NUM> may adjust the diameters of the guide tubes <NUM> by pulling or pushing the guide tubes <NUM> having the spring structure.

For example, when the diameter of the guide tube <NUM> is greater than the diameter of the mechanical cord <NUM> and thus the interior of the guide tube <NUM> is loose, the restraint of the movement of the mechanical cord <NUM> decreases. When the diameter of the guide tube <NUM> is similar to the diameter of the mechanical cord <NUM>, the interior of the guide tube <NUM> is tightly fitted to the mechanical cord <NUM>, and the restraint of the movement of the mechanical cord <NUM> increases. In this manner, the movement of the mechanical cords <NUM> may be restrained.

Herein, the control of friction occurring during the movement of the mechanical cords <NUM> may include both a method of controlling friction occurring during the movement of the mechanical cords <NUM> by adjusting the tension of the guide tubes <NUM> and a method of controlling friction occurring during the movement of the mechanical cords <NUM> by adjusting the diameters of the guide tubes <NUM>.

In <FIG>, both FIG. <NUM> (a) and (b) illustrate the guide tubes <NUM> located within the universal cord <NUM>. <NUM> (a) illustrates the shape of a wavy guide tube <NUM> located within the universal cord <NUM>, and FIG. <NUM> (b) illustrates the shape of the guide tube <NUM> tautly disposed by pulling end holding parts disposed on both ends of the guide tube <NUM> in the axial direction C from the position of FIG.

Referring to <FIG>, in FIG. <NUM> (a), the length M between a pair of end holding parts <NUM> is shorter than the length F of the universal cord <NUM>. In contrast, in FIG. <NUM> (b), the length M between the pair of end holding parts <NUM> is longer than the length F of the universal cord <NUM>. That is, the end holding parts are drawn out from both ends of the universal cord <NUM> so that the left end holding part is taken out to a portion of the connector <NUM> and the right end holding part is taken out to a portion of the control body <NUM>. In some embodiments, the end holding parts may be fixedly disposed at the positions of the connector <NUM> and the control body <NUM>, respectively.

When fabricating the endoscope according to the present embodiment, the fabricator locates the power transmission means within the universal cord <NUM>. Here, the diameter of the universal cord <NUM> is significantly greater than the diameter of the power transmission means. Thus, the power transmission means is placed in a wavy shape within the universal cord <NUM> (see FIG. <NUM> (a)). When the power transmission means is disposed in such a wavy shape, the mechanical cord <NUM> within the guide tube <NUM> is subjected to strong friction when moving in the longitudinal direction C within the guide tube <NUM>. Thus, the mechanical cord <NUM> may not move smoothly.

Such friction makes it difficult to accurately transmit power to the bendable section and, as a result, reduces accuracy in the position control of the bendable section.

In the friction control part according to the present embodiment, the end holding parts disposed on both ends of the guide tube <NUM> are respectively pulled and fixed, so the power transmission means is pulled and disposed flat within the universal cord <NUM>. Thus, friction occurring when the mechanical cord <NUM> moves within the guide tube <NUM> may be minimized, thereby allowing the mechanical cord <NUM> to move smoothly.

<NUM> (b), the end holding part is pulled so that the outer circumferential surface of the guide tube <NUM> is relatively in parallel to the inner circumferential surface of the universal cord <NUM>. Moreover, FIG. <NUM> (b) illustrates the shape of the end holding part pulled more than in FIG. When the end holding part continues to be pulled, beyond the point where the guide tube <NUM> is parallel to the universal cord <NUM>, the diameter of the guide tube <NUM> begins to change. As the end holding part is pulled further, the length of the guide tubs <NUM> increases, while the diameter of the guide tube <NUM> decreases. These features will be described later.

Referring to <FIG>, FIG. <NUM> (a) illustrates the shape of the end holding part <NUM> pulled by L1, and FIG. <NUM> (b) illustrates the shape of the end holding part <NUM> pulled by L1. When the end holding part <NUM> is pulled by L1, the diameter of the guide tube <NUM> is D1. In contrast, when the end holding part <NUM> is pulled by L2 longer than L1, the diameter of the guide tube <NUM> is reduced to D2. Thus, the space between the guide tube <NUM> and the mechanical cord <NUM> is reduced, so it is difficult for the mechanical cord <NUM> to move in the axial direction C.

In some embodiments, the friction control part <NUM> may include the end holding parts <NUM> connected to respective ends of the guide tubes <NUM> from which the mechanical cords <NUM> are drawn and the fixing means <NUM> on which the end holding parts <NUM> are disposed.

The friction control part <NUM> according to the present embodiment may include a structure in which the mechanical cords <NUM> extend through the guide tubes <NUM> and are drawn out from the distal ends of the guide tubes <NUM>, respectively. In this structure, the end holding parts <NUM> may be provided on the distal ends of the guide tubes <NUM>, and the end holding parts <NUM> may be fixedly disposed on the fixing means <NUM>.

The end holding parts <NUM> may have any configuration within the scope of technical concept including a structure by which the end holding parts <NUM> may be fixed to the fixing means <NUM> in a state in which the guide tubes <NUM> are pulled and tensioned. In some embodiments, the end holding parts <NUM> may have the shape of a dumbbell, i.e., a cylinder having a reduced-thickness central portion.

The fixing means <NUM> according to the present embodiment may perform the function of fixing the end holding parts <NUM>. In some embodiments, the fixing means <NUM> may be disposed on the body frame <NUM> disposed within the control body <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the fixing means <NUM> may include a position control part capable of adjusting positions at which the end holding parts <NUM> are disposed in order to control the movement restraint of the mechanical cords <NUM>.

The position control part may be a component having substantially the same function as the above-described restraint control part.

In some embodiments, the fixing means <NUM> may include the fixed block <NUM> and fixing brackets <NUM>. Here, the fixed block <NUM> may be provided on the body frame <NUM> disposed within the above-described control body <NUM>. In some embodiments, the fixed block <NUM> may be a portion of the body frame <NUM>.

The fixing brackets <NUM> may have the function of fixing the end holding parts <NUM> of the guide tubes <NUM> to the fixed block <NUM>. In some embodiments, the fixed block <NUM> may be provided with a guide wall <NUM> configured to guide and support the end holding parts <NUM> on both sides, and a plurality of fastening holes <NUM> may be sequentially formed at predetermined distances in the top surface of the guide wall <NUM>. The end holding parts <NUM> may be fixed by fixedly disposing each of the fixing brackets <NUM> to a corresponding one among the plurality of fastening holes <NUM> using a fastening means <NUM> such as a bolt or a nut.

Here, in some embodiments, the position control part may have a plurality of fastening holes <NUM> formed in the guide wall <NUM> of the fixed block <NUM>. The fabricator may adjust the diameter of the guide tubes <NUM> by fitting each of the end holding parts <NUM> to a corresponding one among the plurality of fastening holes <NUM>, followed by fixing with the fixing brackets <NUM>, and then stretching the guide tubes <NUM> by predetermined values.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, in some embodiments, the power transmission means <NUM> may include the mechanical cords <NUM> and the guide tubes <NUM> configured to surround and guide the mechanical cords <NUM>. In the power transmission means <NUM>, portions of guide tubes <NUM> may be torn to form a structure <NUM> by which the mechanical cords <NUM> are exposed externally.

In this manner, the endoscope <NUM> may include the fixing means <NUM> able to fix the separated both ends of each of the guide tubes <NUM> by pulling or pushing the same in the structure <NUM> in which the portions of the guide tubes <NUM> are torn and separated such that the mechanical cords <NUM> are exposed externally.

The above-described end holding parts <NUM> may be disposed on the separated ends of the guide tubes <NUM>, and the end holding parts <NUM> may adjust the diameters of the guide tubes <NUM> by pulling the guide tubes <NUM>, thereby restraining the movement of the mechanical cords <NUM>.

The components according to the present embodiment may be the same as the components according to the foregoing embodiments. Thus, a detailed description of the components according to the present embodiment will be omitted.

Another aspect of the present disclosure may provide an endoscope <NUM> including one or more among: an insertion tube <NUM> including a bendable section <NUM> configured to be inserted into a subject's body to perform a bending motion;.

Herein, in some embodiments, the friction providing part providing friction to the power transmission means <NUM> may indicate that in the case in which the power transmission means <NUM> includes a power cable through which power is transmitted and guide tubes <NUM> having a structure surrounding the power cable, when the power cable moves within the guide tubes <NUM>, friction is provided. In the present embodiment, the friction providing part may perform substantially the same function as the friction control part <NUM> according to the foregoing embodiment. In addition, in the present embodiment, other components may be substantially the same function as the components according to the foregoing embodiment. Accordingly, a detailed description of the other components will be omitted.

In the specification of the present disclosure, the use of the term "the or said" and similar denoting terms may correspond to both singular and plural forms. Furthermore, recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to refer to respective separate values falling within the respective ranges and, unless otherwise indicated herein, the respective separate values are incorporated herein as if individually recited herein.

The operations of any method described herein may be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by the context. However, the operations shall not be limited to the described sequence. The use of any examples or exemplary languages (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illustrate the present disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure unless otherwise defined by the Claims. In addition, a person having ordinary knowledge in the art will appreciate that various modifications, combinations, and changes are possible according to design conditions and factors within the scope of the Claims or equivalents thereof.

Claim 1:
An endoscope comprising:
a bendable section (<NUM>) configured to be inserted into a subject's body to collect image information; and
a power transmission means (<NUM>) configured to transmit power provided by a power source to the bendable section (<NUM>) for performing a bending motion,
a control body (<NUM>) connected to the bendable section (<NUM>) and configured to control the bending motion of the bendable section (<NUM>) and a connector (<NUM>) connected to the control body (<NUM>), wherein one side of the power transmission means (<NUM>) is connected to the connector (<NUM>), and the other side of the power transmission means (<NUM>) extends through the control body (<NUM>) and is connected to the bendable section (<NUM>),
wherein the power transmission means (<NUM>) comprises a power-transmitting mechanical cord (<NUM>) and a friction control part (<NUM>) configured to promote or restrain a movement of the mechanical cord (<NUM>),
wherein the power transmission means (<NUM>) comprises a guide tube (<NUM>) surrounding the mechanical cord (<NUM>) to guide the same,
wherein the friction control part (<NUM>) comprises an end holding part (<NUM>) connected to one end of the guide tube (<NUM>) from which the mechanical cord (<NUM>) is drawn and a fixing means (<NUM>) on which the end holding part (<NUM>) is disposed,
characterised in that
the friction control part (<NUM>) is configured to control friction occurring during the movement of the mechanical cord (<NUM>) by adjusting the diameter of the guide tube (<NUM>) or a tension of the guide tube (<NUM>), and in that
the fixing means (<NUM>) comprises a fixed block (<NUM>) and a fixing bracket (<NUM>) fixing the end holding part (<NUM>) to the fixed block (<NUM>), the fixed block (<NUM>) comprises a partition provided on one side thereof and supporting the end holding part (<NUM>) and a plurality of fastening holes sequentially provided in the partition, and the fixing bracket (<NUM>) is fixedly fitted to one of the plurality of fastening holes (<NUM>) using a fastening means (<NUM>).