VIDEOSCOPE

Abstract

Videoscope with a grip and a tube with mini-camera where the grip comprises two articulated parts by means of a hinge, and a connection piece housed within them. Thus, the grip may be disposed in an open position and a closed position, creating an accessible inner cavity in the open position of the grip. The connection piece comprises: mechanical connection means with a proximal end of the mini-camera tube; electric power connection means, configured to transmit electric power to the mini-camera, and; electronic connection means with the mini-camera tube, configured for image data transmission. Preferably, the grip comprises a protector shield to avoid accidental pricking with needles inserted in the inlet of the working channel, and the tube with the mini-camera comprises a flexible piece in its distal part, manufactured in a single piece.

Claims

1-2. (canceled)

3. Videoscope comprising a grip (100) and a tube (200) equipped with a mini-camera at a distal end of the tube (200), where the tube comprises a working channel configured for the passage of a needle or biopsy means through the inside of said tube, where the grip comprises an inlet (109) of the working channel, said inlet (109) being configured for the introduction of the needle or the biopsy means, characterized in that the grip (100) comprises a protector shield (110) between said inlet (109) and a gripping area of the grip (100).

4-15. (Canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0071] The following figures have been included as part of the explanation of at least one embodiment of the invention.

[0072] FIG. 1: Shows an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the videoscope, wherein it is possible to observe the videoscope grip, the screen configured to be coupled in the grip, and the part of the single-use tube configured to be introduced in the grip.

[0073] FIG. 2: Shows a perspective view, wherein the grip is in its open position, and the two parts of the grip appear articulated around the hinge.

[0074] FIG. 3: Shows a side view of the grip of FIGS. 1 and 2, in its closed position.

[0075] FIG. 4: Shows a perspective view of embodiment of the flexible tip.

[0076] FIG. 5: Shows a front view of the flexible tip of FIG. 4.

[0077] FIG. 6: Shows a detail of the flexible tip of FIGS. 4 and 5, with sectional view of the three types of links.

[0078] FIG. 7: Shows a view of a flexible tip which allows the movement in two perpendicular planes (4 axes), i.e. upward/downward and left/right.

[0079] FIG. 8: Shows a view of the grip of a videoscope/fiberscope, with anti-pricking protector shield.

[0080] FIG. 9: Shows a schematic view of a pulley system for tensioning cables with double fastening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0081] The present invention relates, as mentioned above, to a videoscope or fiberscope.

[0082] One of the main characteristics of the videoscope/fiberscope object of the present invention is that it has a modular characteristic, which allows making the grip (100) or main body of the videoscope independent from the tube (200) with the mini-camera.

[0083] Thus, the videoscope comprises (see FIGS. 1 to 3) a grip (100) formed by two parts, a first part (101) and a second part (102), articulated by means of a hinge (103) present in a first end (104) of the grip (100), and with closing means (106) or clipped on a second end (105) of the grip (100).

[0084] When said grip (100) opens, by means of a relative rotation of the two parts (101, 102) in articulated form around the hinge (103), it accesses an inner cavity (107) of the grip.

[0085] Inside said cavity (107), there are mechanical connection means, electricity connection means and electronic connection means for the connection of the tube (200) with the mini-camera to said grip (100). These mechanical, electrical and electronic means are preferably made on a connection piece (111), configured to be inserted inside the cavity.

[0086] According to one possible embodiment, the electronic connection means are connected to a data outlet port, for the connection of a data cable and/or a removable data storage unit to the videoscope grip (100). According to another possible embodiment, the electronic connection means are connected to an internal data storage unit. Likewise, the electronic connection means may be connected to a screen (108) coupled to the grip (100)

[0087] According to one possible embodiment, the electricity connection means are connected to an internal battery situated in the videoscope grip (100). According to another possible embodiment, the electricity connection means are connected to a connection port of the videoscope grip (100) for the connection of a power cable configured to be connected to an external power source.

[0088] The mechanical connection means allows stabilizing the proximal end of the tube (200) in the cavity (107) of the videoscope grip (100).

[0089] According to a preferred embodiment, the videoscope comprises a working channel with an inlet (109) for the introduction of needles, where said inlet (109) is situated in the videoscope grip (100). In this case, preferably, the videoscope/fiberscope grip (100) comprises a protector shield (110) (see FIG. 8) between the inlet (109) for the introduction of needles and a gripping area of the grip (100). The gripping area is configured with surface dimensions and/or characteristics which make it suitable for the gripping thereof by the medical staff using the videoscope.

[0090] Said protector shield (110) manages to totally decrease or avoid the danger that a nursing assistant pricks with the needle the person holding or gripping the grip (100) by the gripping area, during the insertion manoeuvre of the needle through the inlet (109) of the working channel.

[0091] Likewise, according to a preferred embodiment (see FIGS. 4 to 6), the videoscope comprises a flexible tip (300) configured to allow the movement of the mini-camera in a movement plane, according to two directions (upward and downward, or left and right) i.e. configured to allow mobility of the mini-camera in two axes.

[0092] According to another possible embodiment (see FIG. 7), the flexible tip (300) of the videoscope is configured to allow the movement of the mini-camera in two perpendicular planes of movement according to four directions (upward/downward and left/right), i.e. configured to allow mobility of the mini-camera in four axes.

[0093] The flexible tip (300) is preferably manufactured by means of plastic injection (typically medical plastic).

[0094] According to a preferred embodiment, the flexible tip (300) is composed of three types of units or links (301) or discs. For convenience in the description, said links (301) are differentiated below, between a first type (301a), a second type (301b) and a third type (301c) of link (301), respectively with the classification “DO”, “RE” and “MI”.

[0095] Each link (301) is joined to the one before and/or after by means of two columns (302) or ribs. These columns (302) have a thin geometry, with a narrowing (303) in an intermediate section between two adjacent links (301). This narrowing (303) of the plastic column (302) allows the bending/articulation, between every two links (301), of the flexible tip (300), without the need to have mechanical shafts and articulations between different pieces, as occurs in the articulated tips of conventional videoscopes.

[0096] The links (301) or discs have a geometry with curves or hollows.

[0097] On disposing the three types of links (301) “DO”, “RE”, “MI” suitably together with one another, independent channels (304), observables in the axial direction of the flexible tip (300), are created. These independent channels allow introducing by different routes the tensioning cables (305) or movement cables and the electric/electronic wiring for the transmission of power and image data.

[0098] According to a preferred embodiment of the flexible tip (300), there are at least three channels (304): a central channel, of greatest section, configured for the introduction of the electrical/electronic connections, and two side channels (left/right or top/bottom), configured for the introduction, in each one of them, of the corresponding tensioning cable (305) or movement cable.

[0099] According to the embodiment (see FIG. 7) of the flexible tip (300) for rotations in two planes, there are at least five channels (304): a central channel, of greatest section, configured for the introduction of the electrical/electronic connections, two side or peripheral channels one on the right and one the left, and two side or peripheral channels (one top and another bottom), configured for the introduction, in each one of them, of the corresponding tensioning cable (305) or movement cable for each one of the four possible rotations.

[0100] There are different possible groupings of the links (301) or discs.

[0101] According to a possible grouping, the links may be distributed in groups of three identical links (301), preceded and/or followed by groups of three different links (301), i.e.: “DO-DO-DO-RE-RE-RE-MI-MI-MI-DO-DO-DO . . . ”.

[0102] According to another possible embodiment (see FIG. 4), each link (301) is preceded and/or followed by another link (301) of different type, i.e.: “DO-RE-MI-DO-RE-MI-DO . . . ”.

[0103] According to another possible embodiment, the links (301) are grouped in groups of two identical links (301), preceded and/or followed by groups of two different links (301), i.e.: “DO-DO-RE-RE-MI-MI-DO-DO . . . ”.

[0104] Typically (see FIG. 6), two of the different types of links (301) or discs are in fact the same type of disc, although placed inverted.

[0105] Preferably, in conjunction with the previous characteristics, or independently from them, the videoscope has a joining system (see FIG. 9) between the tensioning cables (305) and the handle or actuator, which is composed of two fastenings (401, 402) and a pulley (403) situated on a support (404). The first fastening (401) is for the pretensioning of the tensioning cables (305) in the assembly of the videoscope in the production chain; this pretensioning does not serve to withstand the force exerted on the handle, but only for the correct initial tensioning of the tensioning cables (305); after the first fastening (305) the pulley (403) is positioned, which is used to withstand the actuation with force of the handle; finally, after the pulley (403), the second fastening (402) is positioned, which serves to fasten the distal end of the tensioning cable (305) after exiting the pulley (403), which it fastens so that the tensioning cable (305) which is wound round the pulley (403) does not come off. This double fastening system (401, 402) with pulley (403) allows achieving, with the first fastening (401), an optimum initial tensioning of the tensioning cables (305) in the device's production chain; later, with the pulley (403) which allows withstanding the greatest force exerted by the doctor on the handle during its use; and the second fastening (402) fastens the tensioning cables (305) so that the tensioning cable does not come off the pulley (403).