IP Library Granted Patent US 12,582,298
Granted Patent B2
US 12,582,298 · App. 19/223,051 · Granted Mar 24, 2026

Control element for endoscope, self-locking device, handle, and endoscope

Inventor: Zhenhua Zhou (Xiangtan, CN)
Assignee: HUNAN VATHIN MEDICAL INSTRUMENT CO., LTD.
A61B1/0052
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,582,298
App. No.
19/223,051
Granted
Mar 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control element for an endoscope includes a mounting base and an elastic member. The mounting base is provided with an avoidance area; the avoidance area is a hole or groove penetrating through the mounting base; the elastic member is disposed corresponding to the avoidance area; one end of the elastic member is connected to the mounting base, and the other end of the elastic member is a free end; a projection of the elastic member on a plane where the mounting base is located covers a part of the avoidance area; and the elastic member is provided with a first protrusion. The control element improves the control element corresponding to a leaf spring by redesigning the deformable portion of the elastic member. The control element increases the upper limit for the deformation amount of the elastic member while reducing resistance corresponding to unit deformation amount of the elastic member.

Claims (12)

1 . A control element for an endoscope, comprising a mounting base and an elastic member, wherein the mounting base is provided with an avoidance area; the avoidance area is a hole or groove penetrating through the mounting base; the elastic member is disposed corresponding to the avoidance area; a first end of the elastic member is connected to the mounting base, and a second end of the elastic member is a free end; a projection of the elastic member on a plane where the mounting base is located covers a part of the avoidance area; the elastic member is provided with a first protrusion; the elastic member comprises a first section, a second section and a third section; the second section serves as the free end; a first end of the second section is connected to the mounting base via the first section, and a second end of the second section is connected to the mounting base via the third section; and the elastic member has a U-shaped structure, wherein the first protrusion comprises a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface; the second inclined surface has a greater slope than the first inclined surface; and the second inclined surface is located between the first inclined surface and the first section.

2 . The control element according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting base is provided with a mounting hole; and/or the elastic member is integrated with the mounting base.

3 . The control element according to claim 1 , wherein the second section further comprises a first flat portion connected to the first inclined surface and a second flat portion connected to the second inclined surface; and the first flat portion is connected to the first section.

4 . The control element according to claim 1 , wherein the first section is provided with a second protrusion; and/or the third section is provided with a third protrusion.

5 . A self-locking device for an endoscope, comprising a driving gear, a driven gear, a flap, and the control element according to claim 1 , wherein the driven gear is located between the driving gear and the flap; the driving gear and the driven gear are coaxially arranged; the flap is slidably connected to the driven gear; a sliding stroke between the flap and the driven gear comprises a first positional state and a second positional state; in the first positional state, the driving gear is separated from the driven gear; in the second positional state, the driving gear is engaged with the driven gear; the control element is disposed on a side wall of the driven gear adjacent to the flap; the flap is provided with a limiting member; and the limiting member is configured to cooperate with the elastic member to achieve locking of the first positional state and/or the second positional state.

6 . A handle for an endoscope, comprising a housing, a lever, and the self-locking device according to claim 5 , wherein the driving gear and the driven gear are disposed inside the housing; the lever is connected to the flap; and at least a portion of the lever is disposed outside the housing.

7 . An endoscope, comprising the self-locking device according to claim 5 .

8 . The self-locking device according to claim 5 , wherein in the control element, the mounting base is provided with a mounting hole; and/or the elastic member is integrated with the mounting base.

9 . The self-locking device according to claim 5 , wherein in the control element, the first protrusion comprises a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface; the second inclined surface has a greater slope than the first inclined surface; and the second inclined surface is located between the first inclined surface and the first section.

10 . The self-locking device according to claim 9 , wherein in the control element, the second section further comprises a first flat portion connected to the first inclined surface and a second flat portion connected to the second inclined surface; and the first flat portion is connected to the first section.

11 . The self-locking device according to claim 5 , wherein in the control element, the first section is provided with a second protrusion; and/or the third section is provided with a third protrusion.

12 . An endoscope, comprising the handle according to claim 6 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2025
From: ZHOU, ZHENHUA
To: HUNAN VATHIN MEDICAL INSTRUMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 071475/0546 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202211516724.2 · Nov 30, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part PCTCN2023128099 · Oct 31, 2023
Related Publication 20250288191A1 · Sep 18, 2025
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