Endoscope handle with frame
An endoscope handle for an endoscope for visually inspecting inaccessible places, such as human body cavities, the endoscope handle including: a frame ( 70 ) having a first wall portion ( 101 ) formed as an integral portion of the frame, the frame being formed as a single component; a liquid-tight chamber ( 100 ) accommodating a circuit ( 25 ), preferably a printed circuit board, of the endoscope handle, wherein the liquid-tight chamber is at least partly defined by the first wall portion of the frame; and a first shell part ( 60 ) and a second shell part ( 60 ′) together enclosing a cavity ( 63 ), the shell parts accommodating and securing the frame within the cavity, the shell parts forming an exterior surface ( 68 ) shaped to form an ergonomic grip for an operator, wherein the shell parts and the frame each are formed as separate components.
1 . An endoscope comprising:
an image sensor;
one or more cables;
a circuit;
a steering actuator including trunnions, the steering actuator being rotatable about a pivot axis extending through the trunnions;
wire tubes comprising a first wire tube and a second wire tube;
steering wires configured to steer a distal end of the endoscope, the steering wires comprising a first steering wire extending from the steering actuator to and through the first wire tube and a second steering wire extending from the steering actuator to and through the second wire tube;
a bending section;
an insertion tube between the bending section and a handle, the wire tubes and the steering wires extending through the insertion tube; and
the handle attached to the insertion tube and including:
a frame comprising a single component including, as integral portions of the frame, a proximal end and a distal end, bearings at the proximal end, and a first wall portion between the proximal end and the distal end, the bearings receiving the trunnions and rotatably supporting the steering actuator;
a second wall portion formed separately from the frame;
a liquid-tight chamber accommodating the circuit, the liquid-tight chamber being at least partly defined by the first wall portion of the frame and the second wall portion, the liquid-tight chamber comprising a liquid-tight port, the one or more cables being connected to the circuit and extending through the liquid-tight port, the first wall portion comprising a proximal wall and a distal wall opposite the proximal wall, and the wire tubes extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the frame and proximally of the distal wall; and
a first shell part and a second shell part together enclosing a cavity and accommodating the frame within the cavity,
wherein the first shell part and the second shell part and the frame each are formed as separate components.
2 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the second wall portion comprises a lid of the liquid-tight chamber.
3 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein an interface between the first wall portion and the second wall portion is liquid-sealed by a first substance.
4 . The endoscope of claim 3 , wherein the interface is a clearance interface.
5 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cables include:
an imaging cable to transfer signals and/or power between the circuit and the image sensor, and/or
a monitor cable adapted to transfer signals and/or power between the circuit and a monitor.
6 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the liquid-tight port comprises one or more openings in at least one of the first wall portion and the second wall portion, an entrance compartment leading to the one or more openings, wherein the one or more cables extend through the entrance compartment and through the one or more openings to the circuit, and wherein the entrance compartment comprises a second substance providing a seal around the one or more cables so as to liquid-seal the one more openings of the liquid-tight port.
7 . The endoscope of claim 6 , wherein the entrance compartment is integrally formed with the frame.
8 . The endoscope of claim 1 , the endoscope further comprising:
a distal tip part housing the image sensor;
wherein the bending section includes segments connected via hinges, the bending section being attached to and between the distal tip part and the insertion tube,
wherein the one or more cables include an image cable connecting the image sensor and the circuit; and
wherein the steering wires are attached to a body of the steering actuator.
9 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises a main wall, a first channel accommodating the first wire tube and a second channel accommodating the second wire tube, wherein the main wall forms a base of the liquid-tight chamber, the base being surrounded by the first wall portion and facing the second wall portion, and wherein the first channel and the second channel are formed integrally with the frame.
10 . The endoscope of claim 9 , wherein the first channel comprises a third substance fixing the first wire tube to the first channel, and wherein the second channel comprises the third substance fixing the second wire tube to the second channel.
11 . The endoscope of claim 10 , wherein the third substance comprises a cured adhesive.
12 . The endoscope of claim 10 , wherein the first channel and the second channel extend longitudinally on the opposite sides of the frame.
13 . The endoscope of claim 9 , wherein the first channel and the second channel extend longitudinally on opposite sides of the liquid-tight chamber.
14 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the first wall portion comprises longitudinal walls connecting the proximal wall and the distal wall, and channels formed adjacent the longitudinal walls, wherein the wire tubes are adhesively bonded in the channels.
15 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the first trunnion extends from a first side and the second trunnion extends from a second side of a body of the steering actuator, wherein the first wall portion further comprises longitudinal walls connecting the proximal wall and the distal wall, and wherein a rotation plane of the body of the steering actuator passes between the first side and the second side and traverses the first wall portion.
16 . The endoscope of claim 15 , wherein the frame forms a base of the liquid-tight chamber, the base being surrounded by the first wall portion and facing the second wall portion, wherein the base is on a first side of the rotation plane, and wherein the second wall portion is on a second side of the rotation plane.
17 . The endoscope of claim 15 , the steering wires extend along the longitudinal walls of the first wall portion on a second side of the rotation plane.
18 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the first trunnion extends from a first side and the second trunnion extends from a second side of a body of the steering actuator, wherein a rotation plane of the body of the steering actuator passes between the first side and the second side, wherein the frame comprises a main wall, the main wall providing a base of the liquid-tight chamber, and wherein the first wall portion protrudes orthogonally from the main wall and through the rotation plane.
19 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the first trunnion extends from a first side and the second trunnion extends from a second side of a body of the steering actuator, wherein a rotation plane of the body of the steering actuator passes between the first side and the second side and traverses the first wall portion, wherein the frame forms a base of the liquid-tight chamber, the base being surrounded by the first wall portion and facing the second wall portion, wherein the base is on a first side of the rotation plane, and wherein the second wall portion is on a second side of the rotation plane.
20 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a first channel and a second channel formed integrally with the frame, wherein the first wire tube is adhesively bonded to the first channel, and wherein the second wire tube is adhesively bonded to the second channel.
21 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a main wall, a support wall, and parallel arms at the proximal end of the frame, wherein the support wall protrudes orthogonally from the main wall and extends longitudinally between the arms and the proximal wall, and wherein the arms comprise the bearings.
22 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the first shell part and the second shell part are attached at a seam, the seam comprising an aperture, and the steering actuator comprising a control lever extending outwardly through the aperture at the seam.
23 . An endoscope system comprising:
a monitor; and
the endoscope of claim 1 ,
wherein the endoscope is connectable to the monitor, and the monitor is configured to display an image captured by the image sensor.
24 . A method of assembling the endoscope of claim 1 , the method comprising:
arranging the frame in the first shell part or the second shell part;
arranging the circuit at the first wall portion;
liquid sealing the first wall portion to form the liquid-tight chamber; and
closing the first shell part and the second shell part to enclose the cavity and accommodate and secure the frame within the cavity.
25 . The method of claim 24 , the method further comprising arranging the second wall portion adjacent to the first wall portion to form an interface between the first wall portion and the second wall portion; and applying a first substance to liquid-seal the interface between first wall portion and the second wall portion.
26 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising inserting the one or more cables through the liquid-tight port of the liquid-tight chamber; adding a second substance to an entrance compartment of the liquid-tight port so that the second substance envelops the one or more cables in the entrance compartment; and causing the second substance to or letting the second substance liquid-seal the liquid-tight port.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the frame comprises a first channel and a second channel formed integrally with the frame and extending on the opposite sides of the frame, the method further comprising arranging the first wire tube in the first channel and the second wire tube in the second channel, the first wire tube accommodating the first steering wire, and the second wire tube accommodating the second steering wire; applying a third substance in the first channel and in the second channel; and causing or letting the third substance cure so as to fix the first wire tube in the first channel and the second wire tube in the second channel.