Endoscope having a steering wire actuator
An endoscope ( 1 ) including: an insertion cord ( 3 ) including a bending section ( 20 ); a handle ( 2 ) comprising a steering wire actuator ( 60 ); and a first steering wire ( 27 ) and a second steering wire ( 28 ) both connected to the steering wire actuator ( 60 ) and running through the insertion cord ( 3 ) so that manipulation of the steering wire actuator ( 60 ) causes bending of the bending section ( 20 ); the steering wire actuator ( 60 ) including: a first fixing structure ( 62 ) including a first hook ( 30 ) for fixation of a first steering wire ( 27 ) closed loop, a second fixing structure including a second hook ( 31 ) for fixation of a second steering wire ( 28 ) closed loop.
1 . An endoscope comprising:
an insertion cord including a bending section;
a handle comprising a steering wire actuator;
a first steering wire and a second steering wire both connected to the steering wire actuator and running through the insertion cord so that manipulation of the steering wire actuator causes bending of the bending section;
wherein the steering wire actuator comprises:
a first wire drum curved surface configured to support the first steering wire when the steering wire actuator is moved to pull the first steering wire,
a first hook for fixation of a first steering wire loop, the first hook being spaced apart by an angular separation from the first wire drum curved surface,
a second wire drum curved surface configured to support the second steering wire when the steering wire actuator is moved to pull the second steering wire, and
a second hook for fixation of a second steering wire loop, the second hook being spaced apart by an angular separation from the first wire drum curved surface.
2 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the steering wire actuator comprises a roller, the roller comprising a first plate and a second plate, the first plate comprising a first surface lying on a first plane, the first hook, and a first arcuate groove including the first wire drum curved surface, the second plate comprising a second surface lying on a second plane, the second hook, and a second arcuate groove including the second wire drum curved surface, the second plane being offset from and substantially parallel or parallel with the first plane, wherein the first hook extends from the first surface in a first direction, and wherein the second hook extends from the second surface in the first direction.
3 . An endoscope comprising:
an insertion cord including a bending section;
a handle comprising a steering wire actuator;
a first steering wire and a second steering wire both connected to the steering wire actuator and running through the insertion cord so that manipulation of the steering wire actuator causes bending of the bending section,
wherein the steering wire actuator comprises:
a first hook for fixation of a first steering wire loop, and
a second hook for fixation of a second steering wire loop,
wherein the first hook and the second hook each comprises a base part and a holding part, the holding part including a base end opposite a free end, the base end being attached to the base part, wherein the free end of the holding part of the second hook comprises a barb extending toward the second surface, and wherein the free end of the holding part of the first hook comprises a barb extending toward the first surface.
4 . An endoscope comprising:
an insertion cord including a bending section;
a handle comprising a steering wire actuator;
a first steering wire and a second steering wire both connected to the steering wire actuator and running through the insertion cord so that manipulation of the steering wire actuator causes bending of the bending section,
wherein the steering wire actuator comprises:
a first hook for fixation of a first steering wire loop,
a second hook for fixation of a second steering wire loop,
a first plate comprising the first hook, a first wire drum curved surface, a first support pin and a first surface lying on a first plane,
a second plate comprising the second hook, a second wire drum curved surface, a second support pin and a second surface lying on a second plane,
wherein the first hook and the second hook each comprises a base part and a holding part, the holding part including a base end opposite a free end, the base end being attached to the base part, and
wherein the first support pin extends from the first surface intermediate the first hook and the first wire drum curved surface, and
wherein the second support pin extends from the second surface intermediate the second hook and the second wire drum curved surface.
5 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the steering wire actuator comprises a roller, wherein the first wire drum curved surface, the second wire drum curved surface, the first hook, and the second hook, are arranged on the roller inside the handle, the roller being configured to rotate in relation to a center axis.
6 . The endoscope of claim 5 , wherein the first wire drum curved surface, the second wire drum curved surface, the first hook, the second hook, and the roller are made in a single piece of polymer material.
7 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein guiding walls are arranged at the first wire drum curved surface and at the second wire drum curved surface, thereby forming a first groove in which the first steering wire is placed and a second groove in which the second steering wire is placed.
8 . An endoscope comprising:
an insertion cord including a bending section;
a handle comprising a steering wire actuator;
a first steering wire and a second steering wire both connected to the steering wire actuator and running through the insertion cord so that manipulation of the steering wire actuator causes bending of the bending section;
wherein the steering wire actuator comprises a roller, the roller including:
a first hook for fixation of a first steering wire loop,
a second hook for fixation of a second steering wire loop,
a first wire drum curved surface configured to support the first steering wire when the steering wire actuator is moved to pull the first steering wire, and
a second wire drum curved surface configured to support the second steering wire when the steering wire actuator is moved to pull the second steering wire,
a first plate having a first surface on which the first hook is arranged and a second plate having a second surface on which the second hook is arranged, the first and the second surfaces being arranged in two different, but substantially parallel or parallel, planes displaced by a distance d, where d is in a range of 2-7 mm.
9 . The endoscope of claim 8 , wherein the first hook comprises a base part and a holding part, the base part extending from the first surface and the holding part extending from the base part, and wherein the second hook comprises a base part and a holding part, the base part of the second hook extending from the second surface and the holding part extending from the base part of the second hook.
10 . The endoscope of claim 9 , wherein each of the first plate and the second plate comprise a hole at positions where the holding parts of the first and the second hooks project onto the first and the second surfaces, respectively.
11 . The endoscope of claim 10 , wherein each of the holes covers a larger area than a projected area of the corresponding holding part.
12 . The endoscope of claim 9 , wherein each base part comprises a receiving surface for supporting the first steering wire closed loop and the second steering wire closed loop, respectively, the receiving surface comprising a curvature having a radius of at least 1 mm.
13 . The endoscope of claim 8 , wherein a supporting pin is arranged on the first plate extending from the first surface between the first hook and the first wire drum curved surface, and a second supporting pin is arranged on the second plate extending from the second surface between the second hook and the second wire drum curved surface, the supporting and the second supporting pin being configured to limit displacement of the first steering wire and the second steering wire, respectively, in a radial direction away from a center axis of the roller.
14 . The endoscope of claim 8 , wherein the holding part of the hook comprises a barb portion for preventing unintentional removal of the steering wire loop from the hook.
15 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second steering wire loops looping around the first hook and the second hook, respectively, is the only fixation of the first and the second steering wires to the steering wire actuator.
16 . A method for assembling the endoscope of claim 1 , the method comprising:
securing wire pipes in a wire pipe fastener connected to a first handle part of the handle,
adjusting the bending section to a non-bent position,
forming a loop of a free end of the first steering wire, arranging the loop to the first hook, adjusting a tension on the first steering wire, and then attaching the free end of the first steering wire to the first steering wire thereby forming the first steering wire loop,
forming a loop of a free end of the second steering wire, arranging the loop to the second hook, adjusting a tension on the second steering wire, and then attaching the free end of the second steering wire to the second steering wire thereby forming the second steering wire loop.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein adjusting the tension on the first steering wire and adjusting the tension on the second steering wire comprises tensioning the first steering wire to a first predetermined tension and tensioning the second steering wire to a second predetermined tension, said tensioning performed before attaching the free end of the second steering wire to the second steering wire and before attaching the free end of the first steering wire to the first steering wire and after arranging the loops to the first hook and second hook, respectively.
18 . A system comprising the endoscope of claim 1 , a monitor, and a control unit.
19 . A method for assembling an endoscope, the method comprising:
providing a handle part,
securing an insertion cord to the handle part, the insertion cord including a bending section,
providing a first and a second steering wire partly inserted into wire pipes,
arranging a steering wire actuator inside the handle part such that rotational movement of the steering wire actuator is enabled, the steering wire actuator comprising:
a first wire drum curved surface configured to support the first steering wire when the steering wire actuator is moved to pull the first steering wire,
a first hook for fixation of a first steering wire loop, the first hook being spaced apart by an angular separation from the first wire drum curved surface,
a second wire drum curved surface configured to support the second steering wire when the steering wire actuator is moved to pull the second steering wire, and
a second hook for fixation of a second steering wire loop, the second hook being spaced apart by an angular separation from the first wire drum curved surface,
running the first and the second steering wires through the insertion cord so that manipulation of the steering wire actuator causes bending of the bending section,
securing the wire pipes in a wire pipe fastener connected to the first handle part,
adjusting the roller to a neutral position,
adjusting the bending section to a non-bent position,
forming a loop of a free end of the first steering wire, arranging the loop to the first hook, adjusting a tension on the first steering wire, and then attaching the free end of the first steering wire to the first steering wire, and
forming a loop of a free end of the second steering wire, arranging the loop to the second hook, adjusting a tension on the second steering wire, and then attaching the free end of the second steering wire to the second steering wire.
20 . An endoscope comprising:
an insertion cord including a bending section;
a handle comprising a steering wire actuator;
a first steering wire and a second steering wire both connected to the steering wire actuator and running through the insertion cord so that manipulation of the steering wire actuator causes bending of the bending section;
wherein the steering wire actuator comprises:
a first wire drum curved surface,
a second wire drum curved surface,
a first hook for fixation of a first steering wire loop, the first hook comprising a base part and a holding part, the holding part including a base end opposite a free end, the base end being attached to the base part, and the free end being oriented away from the first wire drum curved surface with the base end between the free end and the first wire drum curved surface, and
a second hook for fixation of a second steering wire loop, the second hook comprising a base part and a holding part, the holding part including a base end opposite a free end, the base end being attached to the base part, and the free end being oriented away from the second wire drum curved surface with the base end between the free end and the second wire drum curved surface.
21 . The endoscope of claim 20 , wherein the first hook is radially spaced apart from the first wire drum curved surface, and wherein the second hook is radially spaced apart from the second wire drum curved surface.
22 . The endoscope of claim 21 , wherein the steering wire actuator comprises a first support pin between the first hook and the first wire drum curved surface.
23 . The endoscope of claim 20 , wherein the free end of the holding part of the first hook comprises a barb.
24 . The endoscope of claim 20 , wherein the steering wire actuator is configured to rotate about a center axis, and wherein the first hook and the second hook extend in a common direction perpendicular to the center axis.