ENDOSCOPE WITH IMPROVED VIEWING WINDOW CLEANING NOZZLE

Abstract

An endoscope including an insertion tube for insertion into a patient's body cavity and a tip at the distal end of the insertion tube, the tip including a tip housing encapsulating an optical inspection device, 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, the fluid spray nozzle having at least one fluid splitting element arranged in the fluid channel for providing a converging fluid flow out of the nozzle onto the viewing window.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. An endoscope comprising: an insertion tube; and a tip at a distal end of the insertion tube, the tip including: an optical inspection device; a viewing window for or of the optical inspection device; a tip housing encapsulating the optical inspection device; and a fluid spray nozzle comprising: an outer wall providing a fluid channel surrounded by the outer wall for spraying a fluid onto the viewing window, the fluid channel having a flattened or slit-like cross-section having a height (H) and a width (W), the height being smaller than the width and defining a height direction, the width defining a lateral direction; and a fluid splitting element arranged in the fluid channel and having a first side and a second side opposite the first side in the lateral direction, the fluid splitting element splitting the fluid channel into a first lateral channel and a second lateral channel, the first lateral channel located on the first side of the fluid splitting element and the second lateral channel located on the second side of the fluid splitting element, the fluid splitting element being configured to provide a converging fluid flow out of the nozzle onto the viewing window.

12. The endoscope of claim 11, wherein the fluid spray nozzle is positioned in the tip housing longitudinally adjacent and proximally of the viewing window.

13. The endoscope of claim 12, further comprising an Albarran lever positioned in the tip housing laterally adjacent to the fluid spray nozzle.

14. The endoscope of claim 12, wherein the viewing window is inclined towards the fluid spray nozzle.

15. The endoscope of claim 15, wherein the viewing window is inclined towards the fluid spray nozzle at an angle of 4° to 10° relative to the height direction.

16. The endoscope of claim 11, wherein the cross-section of the fluid channel comprises an elongated oval shape.

17. The endoscope of claim 11, wherein the height of the cross-section is in the range between 0.1 mm to 1 mm and/or the width of the cross-section is in the range between 0.5 mm to 3 mm.

18. The endoscope of claim 17, wherein the height of the cross-section is in the range between 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm.

19. The endoscope of claim 17, wherein the width of the cross-section is in the range between 1 mm and 2.5 mm.

20. The endoscope of claim 19, wherein the width of the cross-section is in the range between 1.5 mm and 2 mm.

21. The endoscope of claim 11, wherein the fluid splitting element is arranged in a cross-sectional center of the fluid channel.

22. The endoscope of claim 21, wherein the fluid splitting element has a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction and having a height and a width, the width of the cross-section of the fluid splitting element being constant.

23. The endoscope of claim 22, wherein the fluid splitting element has a proximal end opposite a distal end in a longitudinal direction, the width of the cross-section varying in the longitudinal direction.

24. The endoscope of claim 23, wherein the width of the cross-section is greatest intermediate the proximal end and the distal end of the fluid splitting element.

25. The endoscope of claim 23, wherein the fluid splitting element has a prism like shape with a triangular base plane, a vertex of the base plane being arranged on the proximal end of the fluid splitting element and a rectangular surface extending vertically at the distal end of the fluid splitting element.

26. The endoscope of claim 25, wherein the prism like shape includes a first lateral surface connecting the vertex to the rectangular surface and a second lateral surface connecting the vertex to the rectangular surface, a sharp edge being formed at the juncture of the first surface and the rectangular surface and a sharp edge being formed at the juncture of the second surface and the rectangular surface.

27. The endoscope of claim 26, wherein the rectangular surface is located within the fluid channel surrounded by the outer wall or at an outflow end of the fluid channel surrounded by the outer wall.

28. The endoscope of claim 25, wherein the triangular base plane comprises an isosceles triangular base plane.

29. The endoscope of claim 25, wherein the fluid splitting element comprises a convex shaped side plane.

30. The endoscope of claim 11, wherein the fluid spray nozzle comprises an additional fluid channel/gas channel.

31. The endoscope of claim 30, wherein the additional fluid channel/gas channel is for a gas and is arranged laterally beside the fluid channel.

32. The endoscope of claim 11, wherein the fluid spray nozzle and the tip housing are monolithically formed in one-piece.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0042] 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:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a perspective partial view of an example of an endoscope insertion hose with a distal tip according to the disclosure,

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a plan view on the tip of the endoscope of FIG. 1,

[0045] FIG. 3 shows plan view on the tip of the endoscope of FIG. 1 having a transparent tip housing,

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a fluid nozzle of an endoscope of the disclosure,

[0047] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a fluid nozzle of an endoscope of the disclosure,

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the fluid nozzle taken from proximal to distal,

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a part of the tip of an endoscope of the disclosure,

[0050] FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of a sectional top view of the fluid channel taken along the longitudinal axis from distal to proximal,

[0051] FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of a sectional top view of the fluid channel taken along the longitudinal axis from distal to proximal in another embodiment and

[0052] FIG. 10 shows an endoscope/duodenoscope according to the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0053] To begin with, FIG. 10 shows the endoscope 1 of the present disclosure in its substantially complete structure.

[0054] 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 FIG. 1), which is intended to be inserted into a patient's body cavity and which is located at the distal end of an endoscope shaft 5 which shaft 5 is mounted at its proximal end to the handle 130 and into which the supply line is extended. Furthermore, the endoscope shaft 5 comprises at least one so-called working channel 134 extending along the endoscope shaft 5 and having an opening in the tip 2 such that a surgical instrument can be shifted through the working channel 134 to extend beyond the tip 2 into a distal and/or radial direction.

[0055] 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). FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a distal end area of the endoscope 1/duodenoscope 1 according to one example of the disclosure. The endoscope 1 is, as already stated above, a single use endoscope 1, for example a single use duodenoscope 1, intended to be discarded after use and comprises the tip 2 arranged at a distal end 3 of a bending part (deflecting) 4 of the endoscope shaft/insertion tube 5 (insertion hose 5) indicated in FIG. 1 by dashed lines. The proximal end of the bending part 4 is connected to/arranged on the distal end of the insertion tube 5. The entity composed of the tip 2, the bending part 4 and the insertion tube 5 is intended for insertion into a patient's body cavity. By manually bending the bending part 4 in a well-known manner in the lateral direction and/or the height direction the orientation in space of the tip 2 can be changed.

[0056] 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 FIGS. 1 and 2 is made from injection molding of an opaque plastic/resin material. The tip housing 6 of the example shown in FIG. 3 is made from injection molding of a transparent plastic/resin material. Laterally adjacent the viewing window 8 there is preferably an albarran lever 12, which is well known as such and not further described herein.

[0057] The fluid/liquid spray nozzle 9, examples of which are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is inserted into a cavity of the tip housing 6. The fluid/liquid spray nozzle 9 comprises a nozzle housing 13, which is inserted into the tip housing 6 from distal to proximal and held therein by engagement with the tip housing 6. A longitudinal axis of the fluid/liquid nozzle 9 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 21 of the tip 6/endoscope 1. Inside the nozzle housing 13 the fluid/liquid spray nozzle 9 comprises the fluid/liquid channel 11 surrounded by the outer wall 10 and an additional gas channel 14 surrounded by a further outer wall 15 (which is also part of the nozzle housing 13). The gas channel 14 is arranged laterally adjacent the fluid/liquid channel 11. The fluid/liquid channel 11 comprises a proximal inlet opening 16 and a distal outlet opening 17. The gas channel 14 comprises a proximal gas inlet opening 18 and a distal gas outlet opening 19. Both channels 11, 14 essentially extend in the longitudinal direction and are formed monolithically.

[0058] As shown in particular in FIG. 6, the outlet opening 17 of the fluid/liquid channel 11 is designed in form of a slit. The outlet opening 17 has a flattened or slit-like cross section, here an oval cross section, elongated in the lateral direction (W). The height of the cross section/outlet opening 17 according to the invention is in the range between 0.1 mm to 1 mm, in the example shown 0.3 mm. The width of the cross section/outlet opening 17 in the lateral direction according to the invention is in the range between 0.5 mm to 3 mm, here 1.5 mm. This geometry of the outlet opening 17 provides a stream of fluid with a flat shape, i.e. a certain width and a much smaller height.

[0059] As especially shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the viewing window 8 is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis 21 extending from distal to proximal of the tip 6. The viewing window 8 is further closed by/comprises a protective glass plate 20, here in form of a plane-parallel plate 20. Alternatively, the viewing window 8 is closed by/comprises a focusing lens, which each may form part of a focusing system (not shown in the figures) forming part of the optical inspection device 7. In particular, the viewing window 8 is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis 21 of the fluid spray nozzle 9/of the tip 6 towards the proximal direction by an angle α of 4° to 10°, preferably of 6°, while the fluid/liquid channel 11 and the gas channel 14 both are essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis 21. This means that the optical axis is inclined at the angle a towards the height direction (H).

[0060] 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 FIG. 6. The fluid splitting element 22 extends over an entire height of the fluid channel 11 so that the fluid splitting element 22 is connected to two opposed portions of the outer wall 10 forming the fluid channel 11.

[0061] As in particular shown in the top sectional view of FIG. 9 taken in width direction and showing a cross section in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction, the fluid splitting element 22 comprises a proximal pointed or tip-like end/edge 23, which in the direction of flow is an upstream end/edge 23, and a distal flat end/surface 24, which in the direction of flow is a downstream end/surface 24. Between the proximal end/edge 23 and the distal end/surface 24 the fluid splitting element 22 comprises lateral surfaces 25a, 25b providing a guiding effect on fluid flowing through the fluid channel 11 and past the fluid/liquid splitting element 22. FIG. 8 shows a different fluid/liquid splitting element 22 having an essentially oval or lens-like form with its proximal end 23 and its distal end 24 each being formed as a rounded tip/edge. The lateral surfaces 25 a, 25b as well as the distal ends/edges 24 are arcuate. The form of the cross section of the fluid/liquid splitting elements 22 of FIGS. 8 and 9 is constant in height direction.

[0062] The fluid/liquid splitting element 22 provides a narrowing/restriction of the flow cross section. FIG. 9 shows an advantageous form of the fluid/liquid splitting element 22, which on its outflow side 24 comprises sharp edges 26 formed by the surface 24 and the concerning lateral surfaces 25a, 25b. The sharp edges 26 are both located right at the outflow end of the fluid/liquid path 11 surrounded by the outer wall 10. The fluid/liquid splitting element 22 shown in FIG. 9 therefore has a prism like shape with a triangular base plane 32 shown as a triangle in FIG. 9, in particular with an isosceles triangular base plane. The base plane 32 is arranged essentially parallel to the direction of fluid flow, i.e. parallel to the longitudinal direction. The vertex 23 of the base plane 32 is arranged on the inflow side and the distal surface 24 in form of a rectangular plane is arranged opposite said proximal vertex 23 on the outflow side. Such a geometry is very efficient for providing the desired converging effect on the outflowing fluid and provides a nozzle 9 of very short length.

[0063] FIGS. 8 and 9 each show the fluid flow in the fluid/liquid channel 11 by arrows 27 as well as the fluid flow outside the fluid channel 11 by arrows 28. The converging flow outside the fluid channel 11 is focused onto the viewing window 8 and is clearly shown.

[0064] As especially shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 on the outflow side/downstream of the fluid channel 11 and the gas channel 14 there is provided a mixing chamber 29, which partly is delimited by the outer wall 10. At the top of the mixing chamber 29, there is preferably formed a recess 30. When installed in the tip housing 6, a protrusion 31 provided at the tip housing 6 engages with the recess 30 and thus also forms part of the wall of the mixing chamber 29. By the engagement of the recess 30 and the protrusion 31 the nozzle 9 easily can be aligned with regard to the viewing window 8.

[0065] 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.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0066] 1 endoscope [0067] 2 tip, endoscope tip [0068] 3 proximal end [0069] 4 bending part [0070] 5 insertion tube, insertion hose [0071] 6 tip housing [0072] 7 optical inspection device [0073] 8 viewing window [0074] 9 fluid spray nozzle [0075] 10 outer wall [0076] 11 fluid channel [0077] 12 albarran lever [0078] 13 nozzle housing [0079] 14 gas channel [0080] 15 outer wall [0081] 16 distal inlet opening [0082] 17 proximal outlet opening [0083] 18 distal gas inlet opening [0084] 19 proximal gas outlet opening [0085] 20 protective glass plate, plane-parallel plate [0086] 21 longitudinal axis [0087] 22 fluid splitting element [0088] 23 distal pointed end/edge, distal tip-like end/edge [0089] 24 proximal flat end, proximal surface [0090] 25a,b lateral surface [0091] 26 sharp edge [0092] 27 arrows indicating fluid flow [0093] 28 arrows indicating fluid flow [0094] 29 mixing chamber [0095] 30 recess [0096] 31 protrusion [0097] 32 base plane [0098] 120 connecting unit [0099] 130 control handle [0100] 131 manipulators [0101] 134 working channel [0102] 140 supply line