JP2000157546A - Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic equipment excellent in ultrasonic wave depth reachability, small in size, low in cost and capable of narrowing the diameter of an insertion part without reducing an ultrasonic vibrator. SOLUTION: At the time of inserting and arranging the tip part and insertion part of an ultrasonic wave probe 1 into the sheath insertion part 41 of an outer sheath 2, the ultrasonic vibrator 16 disposed in a housing 15 positioned on a tip side from the tip surface 20a of a sheath 20 is fitted inside the sheath insertion part 41. Then, since a space part around the ultrasonic vibrator 16 is filled with an ultrasonic wave transmission medium 99, ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic vibrator 16 are outputted to the outside through the ultrasonic wave transmission medium 99 inside the outer sheath 2 and the sheath insertion part 41 of the outer sheath 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which inserts an ultrasonic probe into an outer sheath and performs ultrasonic scanning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ultrasonic pulse is repeatedly transmitted from an ultrasonic transducer into a living tissue, and an echo of the ultrasonic pulse reflected from the biological tissue is received by the same or separate ultrasonic transducer. Then, by gradually shifting the direction of transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic pulse, the echo information collected from a plurality of directions at the test site in the living body is displayed as a two-dimensional visible image ultrasonic tomographic image. There have been proposed various ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses which can be used for diagnosis of diseases and the like.

[0003] Such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is generally based on an extracorporeal ultrasonic probe. However, an ultrasonic probe having a small diameter is inserted into a treatment instrument insertion channel or the like of an endoscope to endoscope. And an intracorporeal ultrasound probe such as one that is configured to obtain an ultrasound tomographic image of a test site including a lesion such as a cancerous mucosal tissue or a polyp under endoscopic observation. Endoscope devices provided are also used.

In recent years, various ultrasonic probes for three-dimensional scanning have been proposed which can obtain a three-dimensional image so that the shape of a tumor or the like formed on a subject can be grasped and the volume can be measured. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-56947 discloses a three-dimensional scanning ultrasonic probe that improves the followability of a distal end portion by a driving operation on a hand side operation unit.

[0005]

However, in the ultrasonic probe for three-dimensional scanning disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-56947 or the like, the distal end is sealed and the ultrasonic transmission medium is sealed. To provide a two-dimensional ultrasonic radial probe by providing an ultrasonic transducer, a signal cable, and a rotary drive transmission shaft, and further inserting and arranging the two-dimensional ultrasonic radial probe through an outer sheath to move forward and backward. .

For this reason, there are the following problems.

(1) In the ultrasonic probe for three-dimensional scanning, in order to pursue a reduction in diameter and an improvement in the depth of ultrasonic waves required for a probe in a body cavity, each component must be made thinner or smaller. However, when the size of the ultrasonic vibrator is reduced, the attenuation is increased and the depth of the ultrasonic wave is deteriorated.

(2) The ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer passes through the ultrasonic transmission medium in the sheath, the ultrasonic transmission medium in the outer sheath, and the outer sheath, and is output to the outside. Therefore, the ultrasonic wave was attenuated in these portions. Then, when bubbles are present in the ultrasonic transmission medium in the sheath and the outer sheath through which the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer passes, by the bubbles,
Ultrasonic waves are further attenuated.

(3) By providing a rotary drive motor and a forward / backward drive motor for rotating and forward / backward drive of the ultrasonic probe or the intracavity probe, the storage space becomes large and the apparatus becomes large. At the same time, noise countermeasures to be applied to each motor to prevent electric noise at the time of driving the motor from adversely affecting a weak ultrasonic signal are factors of the cost UP, and the position detection and drive control mechanisms are provided by the number of motors. There is a problem that the device becomes complicated as it becomes necessary.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to reduce the diameter of an insertion portion without reducing the size of an ultrasonic vibrator, to achieve excellent ultrasonic penetration, and to use a small and inexpensive ultra It is intended to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which is small in size, simple in structure, and capable of spiral scanning by one driving means provided in a driving section.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a driving unit having a driving unit; and a hollow driving unit detachably connected to the driving unit and transmitting a driving force from the driving unit. An outer diameter dimension enclosing the ultrasonic vibrator fixed to the tip of the shaft and the drive shaft is substantially the same diameter as the rotational diameter of the ultrasonic vibrator, and the distal end face is closer to the proximal end than the ultrasonic vibrator. An ultrasonic probe having a sheath positioned therein, and an inner hole sealing a distal end into which the sheath is inserted and arranged, a base end portion being detachably attached to the driving section, and an ultrasonic transmission medium in the inner hole. And an outer sheath to be filled.

[0013] Further, the drive section includes one drive means, and the drive means and the drive shaft are simultaneously moved with respect to the insertion axis direction by an ultrasonic vibrator fixed to the drive shaft of the ultrasonic probe. They are connected via an advancing / retreating rotating means for rotating and advancing / retreating in the insertion axis direction.

According to this structure, when the ultrasonic probe is arranged in the outer sheath, the ultrasonic transducer located on the distal end side of the distal end surface of the sheath of the ultrasonic probe is in a state of being covered only by the outer sheath. The ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer passes through the ultrasonic transmission medium in the outer sheath and the outer sheath and is output to the outside.

Further, by transmitting the driving force of one drive means to the drive shaft via the forward / backward rotation means, the ultrasonic transducer moves forward and backward while rotating.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 9 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, FIG. 2 is an overall view of an ultrasonic probe, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an outer sheath, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state of a distal end portion where an ultrasonic probe is inserted through an outer sheath, and FIG. 6 is a probe of the ultrasonic probe. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the connector, FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the outer sheath connector, FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the internal structure of the driving unit, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a configuration state of a probe in a body cavity. FIG.
4A is an overall view of the outer sheath, FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the outer sheath, FIG. 7A is a top external view of an outer sheath connector, and FIG. 8A is a side cross-sectional view of the sheath connector, and FIG.
FIG. 8B is a diagram for explaining a state where is located at the most proximal side during spiral scanning, and FIG.
It is a CC cross section shown to (a).

As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe 1, an outer sheath 2, and an outer sheath connector 3, which are each detachable. The intracavity probe 4 constructed by assembling the outer sheath connector 3 and the proximal end of the intracavity probe 4 are detachably connected, and the ultrasonic transducer described later is rotationally driven in the insertion axis direction. A driving unit 5 having driving means for driving forward or backward driving or rotating and moving forward and backward, an observation device 6 for controlling an ultrasonic signal, and an image processing device 7 having a driving control unit of the driving unit 5 and an image processing unit. And a monitor 8 for displaying an ultrasonic image based on the video signal output from the image processing device 7.

The drive section 5 is fixed to an end of the support arm 9. A signal cable 5a whose base end is bifurcated extends from the drive unit 5. At the end of the signal cable 5a, an observation device connector 5b electrically connected to the observation device 6 and the signal cable 5a are connected. Image processing device 7
And an image processing apparatus connector 5c that is electrically connected to the image processing apparatus. The observation device 6, the image processing device 7, the monitor 8, and the support arm 9 are the cart 1
0.

The observation device 6, the image processing device 7, and the image processing device 7 and the monitor 8 are electrically connected to each other via a signal cable (not shown) on a rear panel.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic probe 1
A distal end portion 11 provided with an ultrasonic vibrator, a flexible elongated insertion portion 12 connected to the distal end portion 11, and a driving end portion disposed at a base end of the insertion portion 12; 5 and the probe connector 1
3 and a hard pipe 14 provided at a continuous portion of the insertion portion 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the distal end portion 11 has a metal housing 15 formed by cutting a side surface of a hollow pipe, and a piezoelectric element, an electrode, an acoustic lens, a packing material, and the like are arranged in the housing 15. And an ultrasonic vibrator 16 configured as described above.

A coaxial cable 17 extending from the ultrasonic transducer 16 to the probe connector 13 extends.
The coaxial cable 17 is inserted through a flexible drive shaft 18 formed of a flexible coil pipe or the like having one end integrally fixed to the base end of the housing 15.

The flexible drive shaft 18 extends into the probe connector 13 like the coaxial cable, and
It is driven forward / backward by a forward / backward drive motor which is a drive unit (not shown) provided in the apparatus, and is rotationally driven by a rotary drive motor which is a drive unit. In addition, one drive means is provided with advance / retreat rotation means, which will be described later, and is simultaneously driven to advance / retreat and rotate.

The flexible drive shaft 18 has a small-diameter distal drive shaft 18a forming a distal end portion, and the distal drive shaft 1a.
8a, and a driving force transmission shaft 18b externally fitted to the shaft 8a. The front end side driving shaft 18a is inserted through an inner hole of a pipe member 19 having good slipperiness.

The pipe member 19 extends to the probe connector 13 and has a good sliding property such as a flexible Teflon, urethane, superelastic pipe or the like constituting the insertion portion 12 or has a followability in the axial direction. It is integrally fixed to the tip of the inner hole of the sheath 20 formed of a good material.

The inner diameter of the pipe member 19 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the distal drive shaft 18a of the flexible drive shaft 18, and the outer diameter is the drive force transmission shaft 18b of the flexible drive shaft 18. Is set to be larger than the outer diameter dimension of. The outer diameter of the sheath 20 is determined by the ultrasonic vibrator 1.
6 is set to be equal to or slightly larger than the rotation diameter. Thereby, the ultrasonic vibrator 1
6 is always located on the distal side from the distal end surface 20a of the sheath 20.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the outer sheath 2 is a sheath insertion portion 41 having an elongated shape and having an inner hole through which the distal end portion 11 and the insertion portion 12 of the ultrasonic probe 1 are inserted.
And a connecting portion 42 located at the rear end of the sheath insertion portion 41 and fixed integrally with the outer sheath connector 3.
It is composed of

As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the sheath insertion portion 41 is formed of a flexible and ultrasonic-permeable sheath, and the tip of the inner hole is sealed in a hemispherical shape. . The inner diameter of the sheath insertion portion 41 is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the distal end portion 11 and the insertion portion 12 of the ultrasonic probe 1. A male syringe taper 45 is connected to the proximal end of the sheath insertion portion 41 via a base 44. That is, the connection part 42 is constituted by the base 44 and the male-side syringe taper 45.

Thus, the distal end portion 1 of the ultrasonic probe 1 is inserted into the sheath insertion portion 41 of the outer sheath 2.
When the insertion portion 1 and the insertion portion 12 are inserted and arranged, as shown in FIG. 5, the ultrasonic vibrator 16 disposed in the housing 15 located on the distal side from the distal end surface 20 a of the sheath 20 is disposed in the sheath insertion portion 41. . And this ultrasonic vibrator 1
6 is filled with an ultrasonic transmission medium 99.

For this reason, the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer 16 is transmitted to the ultrasonic transmission medium 99 in the outer sheath 2.
Is output to the outside through the sheath insertion portion 41 of the outer sheath 2.

As described above, by making the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe project from the distal end surface of the sheath, the rotational diameter of the ultrasonic transducer can be increased to about the outer diameter of the sheath. it can. As a result, as compared with the related art, it is possible to reduce the diameter without changing the depth of the ultrasonic transducer by only making the sheath and the rotation drive shaft thinner without changing the size of the ultrasonic transducer.

Further, since the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer only passes through the ultrasonic transmission medium and the sheath insertion portion of the outer sheath, the ultrasonic attenuation can be reduced. As a result, the ultrasonic velocity can be further improved.

That is, a linear scan for driving the ultrasonic vibrator forward and backward in the insertion axis direction, in which the diameter of the insertion portion to be inserted into the body cavity can be reduced and the depth of ultrasonic waves is improved.
Alternatively, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus by radial scanning in which the ultrasonic transducer is driven to rotate, or spiral scanning in which the ultrasonic transducer is driven to rotate and advance / retreat in the insertion axis direction.

Further, it is not necessary to consider the ultrasonic permeability for the sheath of the ultrasonic probe, so that a material having good slipperiness or a material having good followability in the axial direction can be used to greatly improve the linear scanning property. Can be.

As shown in FIG. 6, the probe connector 13 of the ultrasonic probe 1 has a connector body 2 formed by bonding and fixing a first cover 21 and a second cover 22 made of resin.
The rotary connector unit 24 is disposed in the connector main body 23.

The tip 2 of the rotary connector unit 24
A hard shaft 25 protrudes from 4a, and a rear end of the flexible drive shaft 18 is integrally connected and fixed to a front end of the hard shaft 25. This hard shaft 2
5 is held by a bearing 27 disposed at the rear end of a base member 26 disposed in the connector main body 23. Thus, the rotation of the hard shaft 25 causes the flexible drive shaft 18 to rotate, and the housing 15 disposed at the distal end of the distal drive shaft 18a to rotate.

The proximal end portion of the sheath 20 enclosing the flexible drive shaft 18 is inserted through the hard pipe 14 and is arranged so as to cover the small-diameter distal end portion 26a of the base member 26. . Then, in this state, the fixing ring 29 in which the elastic member 28 is provided is screwed into the base member 26, whereby the elastic member 28 is compressed and expanded and deformed in the outer peripheral direction, so that the sheath 20 is formed. The base member 26 is integrally pressed and fixed.

On the other hand, a male coaxial pin 31 and a rotary torque transmitting pin 32 provided on a concentric circle of the coaxial pin 31 protrude from the rear end of the rotary connector unit 24. 16 extends through the flexible drive shaft 18 and extends to the probe connector 13.
4 is electrically connected to the coaxial pin 31 via a matching coil (not shown).

The reference numeral 30 designates a part disposed on the tip side of the bearing 27 so that the hard shaft 25 and the base member 2
6 are O-rings for maintaining watertightness, and two O-rings are arranged in the present embodiment. A rotation protection pipe 33 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the rotary connector unit 24, and the rotation protection pipe 33 is integrally fixed to the base member 26 with screws 34. Further, a stopper portion 21 for stably fixing the hard pipe 14 in the axial direction is provided at a distal end portion of the first cover 21.
In the stopper portion 21a, an expanded portion 14a which is larger than the inner diameter of the stopper portion 21a formed at the rear end of the hard pipe 14 and which is expanded in the radial direction is pressed and arranged.

As shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), the outer sheath connector 3 has a large-diameter, substantially pipe-shaped grip portion 58 which is located on the base end side and is gripped by the user. An elongated, pipe-shaped connector body 51 connected and fixed to the distal end side of a portion 58; a pipe-shaped slider 48 slidably disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the connector body 51; A substantially pipe-shaped mouthpiece receiver 47 which is disposed and fixed at the tip end and is located on the tip end side of the connector main body 51, and a through hole which is integrally fixed to the tip end of the mouthpiece receptacle 47 and has a through hole. It is mainly constituted by a female syringe taper 46 which is a connection portion with the male syringe taper 45.

A metal pipe 54 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the hard pipe 14 of the ultrasonic probe 1 is formed at the tip of the inner hole of the connector main body 51 so as to protrude toward the tip. Adhesively fixed.

The slider 48 is formed with a flat portion 49, and at the axial center of the flat portion 49 is formed a slide groove 50 which is elongated in the axial direction. In the slide groove 50, a post 52 having a cylindrical shape and an external thread formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof is provided so as to protrude from a distal end portion of the connector main body 51 so as to be orthogonal to a central axis. A knob 53 is screwed to the male screw 52.

Thus, by making the knob 53 loose, the slider 48 is moved to the slide groove 5.
It can be freely moved in the axial direction by a length of zero. When the slider 48 is freely moved and projects to a desired position, the knob 53 is tightened so that the slider 48 moved as shown in the lower sectional view of FIG. It can be fixedly arranged at the position.

At the proximal end of the inner hole of the base 47, O is provided to secure watertightness between the metal pipe 54 and the base 47.
A ring 55 is provided. The projecting length of the metal pipe 54 projecting distally from the connector main body 51 is a length extending into the base receiver 47 and the slider 48 is moved to the distalmost side when the slider 48 is moved to the distalmost side. The length is set so that the watertightness between the base 47 and the metal pipe 54 is maintained.

A hole communicating with the inner hole is provided in a middle side of the connector main body 51, and a male syringe tapered base 56 is screwed and fixed to this hole. Also,
An O-ring 57 having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the hard pipe 14 of the ultrasonic probe 1 is disposed at the base end of the inner hole of the connector main body 51.

A plurality of axially elongated grooves 59 are provided in the base end of the grip 58 in the circumferential direction for improving the gripping property. An index 60 is provided as a mark when attaching the sheath connector 3 to the drive unit 5. The connector body 51 is fixed to the tip of the grip 58 with, for example, two screws, and the inner hole of the grip 58 is fixed to the ultrasonic probe 1 and the drive unit 5 with, for example, two screws. A connection ring 61 is fixed to perform fixing. Further, a cover 63 that covers a plunger (not shown) fixed at a position rotated by 60 ° from the center of the grip 58 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface on the distal end side of the grip 58.

Here, the configuration of the drive unit 5 having one drive means for rotating and moving the ultrasonic transducer in the insertion axis direction will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8 (a), inside the driving section 5, a sheath connecting connector 64 which is hollow and fixed to the driving section 5 and is connected to the outer sheath connector 3, and the sheath connecting connector 64 And a probe fixing connector 65 which is connected to the probe connector 13 of the ultrasonic probe 1 and is movable in the driving unit 5 by a predetermined distance in the axial direction. Motor 8 that can rotate forward and reverse with double shaft type as drive source
1 are connected via an advance / retreat rotation means.

The advancing / retreating rotation means is provided with a rotating portion (not shown) having electric contacts in the probe fixing connector 65, and is fixed to a rear end of the rotating portion and protrudes from a base end side of the probe fixing connector 65. An elongated hollow transmission shaft 66, a rotation support member 67, which is rotatable at the base end of the rotation transmission shaft 66, and is disposed to restrict movement in the axial direction; An arm 68 having one end fixed to the side peripheral surface of the member 67;
A movable part 70, which is fixed to the other end of the arm 68 and movably screwed to a fixed shaft 71, which constitutes a ball screw 69, which is a movement switching means for converting a rotational movement into a forward / backward movement, A spur gear 80 fixed to the base end surface of the fixed shaft 71, and the rotation transmission shaft 66.
The hollow portion 72 shown in FIG.
a spline mechanism 72 having a
And the spur gear 8 fixed to the spline mechanism 72.
0, and the tooth portions 77 having the same number of teeth as the spur gear 80.
And a boss 76 provided with the spur gear 80.
Is fixed on the center axis of the motor 81.

The spline mechanism 72 is formed on a shaft portion 73 having the hollow portion 72a, an elongated groove 74 provided in the shaft portion 73 in the axial direction, and the boss engaged with the groove 74. And a key 75. The other shaft of the motor 81 is provided with an encoder 82 as rotation angle detecting means for detecting the rotation angle of the shaft of the motor 81. Further, a signal cable 78 connected to an electrical contact in the probe fixing connector 65 is inserted through the hollow portion of the rotation transmission shaft 66 and the shaft portion 73, and a signal extending from the hollow portion 72 a of the shaft portion 73. The end of the cable 78 is connected to the slip ring 79. The signal cable 78 prevents stress when the spline mechanism 72 moves forward and backward,
As shown in FIG. 7B, sufficient slack is provided.

By rotating the motor 81 in a predetermined direction, the spur gear 80 fixed to one shaft of the motor 81 rotates, and the fixed spur gear 80 fixed to the spur gear 80 rotates. The shaft 71 rotates and the movable part 7
0 moves in the axial direction, so that the rotation support member 67 fixed to one end of the arm 68 fixed to the movable part 70 moves forward and backward in the same direction as the movable part 70, and the spur gear The rotation of 80 is transmitted to the meshing tooth 77, the boss 76 rotates, and the integral shaft 73 rotates via the key 75, and this rotation rotates the rotation transmission shaft 66.

That is, by rotating the motor 81 and rotating the spur gear 80, the movable part 70 disposed on the fixed shaft 71 of the spur gear 80 is moved in the axial direction, and The probe fixing connector 65 fixed integrally to the rotation transmitting shaft 66 via the rotation supporting member 67 integral with the arm 68 is moved in the axial direction, and the tooth portion 7 meshed with the spur gear 80 is provided.
The probe fixing connector 65 can be rotated via a rotating portion fixed to a rotation transmitting shaft 66 fixed to a shaft portion 73 which is rotated by a key 75 of 76 having 7.

The operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured as described above will be described. (1) Assembling of the intracavity probe 4 will be described.

An ultrasonic probe 1, an outer sheath 2, and an outer sheath connector 3 are prepared.

First, an ultrasonic transmission medium 99 is filled in the inner hole of the outer sheath 2 using, for example, a thin tube or the like.

Next, the distal end 11 of the ultrasonic probe 1 is inserted into the outer sheath connector 3, and the probe connector 1 is connected to the connection ring 61 of the outer sheath connector 3.
The ultrasonic probe 1 and the outer sheath connector 3 are integrally fixed by rotating the probe connector 13 counterclockwise when the first cover 21 of the third probe 21 abuts and contacts the first cover 21.

At this time, the insertion portion 12 of the ultrasonic probe 1
The rigid pipe 14 provided at the base end is kept watertight while being in close contact with the O-ring 57 inside the outer sheath connector 3. Further, by integrally fixing the ultrasonic probe 1 and the outer sheath connector 3,
The ultrasonic probe 1 and the outer sheath connector 3 are relatively movable in the axial direction as shown by the arrow.

Next, the ultrasonic probe 1 connected to the outer sheath connector 3 is inserted into the sheath insertion portion 41 of the outer sheath 2 filled with the ultrasonic transmission medium 99, and the male side of the outer sheath 2 is inserted. Syringe taper 45
With the female syringe taper 4 of the outer sheath connector 3.
Twist clockwise to 6 and attach. Thus, the intracavity probe 4 shown in FIG. 9 is configured.

The slider 4 has a clearance (see FIG. 5) such that the clearance between the sealing portion at the tip of the outer sheath 2 and the tip of the ultrasonic probe 1 is slightly empty.
After adjusting the position of 8, the knob 53 of the outer sheath connector 3 is tightened and fixed to complete the assembly of the intracavity probe 4.

(2) The connection of the intracavity probe 4 to the drive unit 5 will be described. First, when attaching the intracavity probe 4 to the drive unit 5, the connection ring 61 of the outer sheath connector 3 and the probe connector 13 of the ultrasonic probe 1, which are integrated, are respectively connected to the sheath connection connector 64 of the drive unit 5. After the connector 3 is inserted into the probe fixing connector 65, the outer sheath connector 3 is rotated until the connector 3 is locked. By this rotation operation, the outer sheath connector 3 is fixed to the sheath connection connector 64, and the ultrasonic probe 1 is fixed to the probe fixing connector 65. This allows the ultrasonic probe 1 to move in the relative axis within the outer sheath connector 3.

(3) The transmission of the driving force will be described. First, transmission of rotational drive will be described.

The motor 81 in the driving section 5 is rotated. Then, the rotation of the motor 81 is transmitted to the teeth 77 provided on the boss 76 meshing with the spur gear 80, and the boss 7
The shaft portion 73 of the integral spline 72 by the key 75
Is transmitted to the rotation transmitting shaft 66 and the rotating portion in the probe fixed connector 65. Then, the rotation of the rotating portion is applied to the rotation torque transmitting pin 3
2. The ultrasonic transducer 16 is rotated by being transmitted to the rotating connector unit 24, the hard shaft 25, and the flexible drive shaft 18.

Next, transmission of the forward / backward drive will be described.
The motor 81 in the drive unit 5 is rotated. Then, the rotation of the motor 81 is transmitted to the fixed shaft 71 of the ball screw 69 fixed to the spur gear 80, and the fixed shaft 71 rotates. The rotation of the fixed shaft 71 causes the movable portion 70 screwed to the fixed shaft 71 to advance and retreat in the axial direction, and the rotation support member 67 connected to the movable portion 70 via the arm 68. Similarly, it moves in the axial direction.

That is, the rotational force of the motor 81 is converted into an axial movement by the ball screw 69, and this movement is transmitted to the probe fixing connector 65 via the arm 68, the rotation support member 67, and the rotation transmission shaft 66. You. Then, the reciprocating motion is transmitted to the entire ultrasonic probe 1, and as a result, the ultrasonic transducer 16 reciprocates in the outer sheath 3 in the axial direction.

Therefore, by rotating the motor 81, the ultrasonic vibrator 16 moves forward and backward while rotating in the outer sheath 3.

When the resistance of the distal end portion of the ultrasonic probe 1 to the forward and backward movements increases due to bending or the like and a pulling force acts on the flexible drive shaft 18, the flexible drive shaft 18 extends to some extent. At this point, the driving force transmission shaft 18b abuts on the pipe member 19 provided at the distal end of the sheath 20. At this point, the sheath 20 becomes a transmission shaft for moving the ultrasonic transducer 16 forward and backward instead of the flexible drive shaft 18. Thus, the ultrasonic vibrator 16 smoothly moves forward and backward.

(4) Ultrasonic scanning will be described. By transmitting the driving force of the motor 81 to the ultrasonic vibrator 16, the ultrasonic vibrator 16 performs a reciprocating motion together with a rotational motion to perform a spiral motion. The spiral motion is a reciprocating spiral motion by switching the rotation direction of the motor 81 in the drive unit 5.

Then, an ultrasonic drive pulse is generated in synchronization with the output signal of the encoder 82 directly connected to the motor 81 in the drive section 5. This pulse is sent to the probe fixed connector 65 by the slip ring 79 and the signal cable 78, and further transmitted to the ultrasonic vibrator 16 via the rotational torque transmitting pin 32 on the ultrasonic probe side, the rotational connector unit 24, and the coaxial cable 17. Transmitted and ultrasonically driven. Thus, reciprocal spiral scanning is performed.

As described above, the driving force of one motor provided in the driving unit is transmitted to the probe fixing connector to which the probe connector of the ultrasonic probe is connected via the reciprocating rotation means, so that the ultrasonic probe can be used. Spiral scanning can be performed by rotating and moving the ultrasonic vibrator forward and backward. As a result, the size and cost of the drive unit can be reduced, and the system can be simplified.

Here, the removal of air bubbles existing in the intra-body cavity probe 4 in order to perform good ultrasonic scanning will be described. With reference to FIG. 10, the relationship between the movement of bubbles existing in the ultrasonic transmission medium 99 in the outer sheath 2 and the operation of the ultrasonic probe 1 moving in the outer sheath 2 will be described.

FIG. 10A shows a state in which the ultrasonic transducer in the outer sheath is about to move from the most distal position to the base end, and FIG. 10B shows a state in which the ultrasonic transducer is at the base end. FIG. 10C is a diagram showing a state in which the ultrasonic transducer is moving from the base end position to the distal end side again, and FIG. 10D is a diagram showing a state in which the ultrasonic transducer is moving toward the distal end side again. FIG. 10E is a diagram showing a state in which the ultrasonic transducer has moved to the distal end side, and FIG. 10E is a diagram showing a state in which the ultrasonic transducer has reached the front end again.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the inner diameter of the outer sheath 2 is φA [mm], the outer diameter of the ultrasonic probe 1 is φB [mm], and the moving speed of the ultrasonic probe 1 is V
Let p1 [mm / s] and the stroke be L [mm].

At this time, the moving time t of the ultrasonic probe 1
1 [s], the flow rate Q [mm 3] of the ultrasonic transmission medium in the outer sheath 2 due to the axial movement of the ultrasonic probe 1, and the area S [mm 2] of the clearance formed by the outer sheath 2 and the ultrasonic probe 1 The flow velocity Vm1 [mm / s] of the ultrasonic transmission medium in the clearance can be expressed by the following equations.

[0074] t1 = L / Vp1 [s] Q = πxB 2 xL / 4 [mm3] S = πx (A 2 -B 2) / 4 [mm2] Vm1 = (Q / S) / t = {B 2 / (A ² −B ² )｝ xVp 1 [mm / s] = CxVp 1 [mm / s] (B ² / (A ² −B ² ) = C (constant)).

On the other hand, if the moving speed of the ultrasonic probe 1 is Vp2 [mm / s] and the flow velocity of the ultrasonic transmission medium in the clearance is Vm2 [mm / s] as shown in FIG. to, Vm2 = (Q / S) / t = {B 2 / (a 2 -B 2)} xVp2 [mm / s] = CxVp2 [mm / s] (B 2 / (a 2 -B 2) = C (Constant)).

Here, in the ultrasonic transmission medium 99 filled in the clearance between the outer sheath 2 and the ultrasonic probe 1, the floating bubbles 84 floating in the medium and the inner peripheral surface of the outer sheath 2 2 with attached bubbles 85 attached
Kind exists.

The floating bubbles 84 and the attached bubbles 85 have forces corresponding to the flow rates Vm1 and Vm2 of the ultrasonic transmission medium, respectively.
f (Vm1) and f (Vm2) work.

The floating bubbles 84 floating in the medium have almost no resistance. Therefore, the floating bubbles 84
When the ultrasonic probe 1 moves, the ultrasonic probe 1 moves in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the ultrasonic probe 1 at the flow rates Vm1 and Vm2 of the ultrasonic transmission medium 99.

On the other hand, the frictional resistance and the surface tension between the attached bubble 85 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer sheath 2 act. Therefore, the flow rates Vm1 and Vm2 of the ultrasonic transmission medium
Thus, the attached bubble 85 does not move.

For this reason, the frictional coefficient between the outer sheath 2 and the adhesion area is defined as μ, the area of the adhered portion is Sa [mm 1], and the surface tension is F ′ [N]. Find F. Then, F = μxSa + F ′.

Here, the flow velocity Vm1,
Since Vm2 is a value determined by the moving speeds Vp1 and Vp2 of the ultrasonic probe 1, the flow rates Vm1 and V
The forces f (Vm1) and f (Vm2) corresponding to m2 are replaced with f (Vp1) and f (Vp2), respectively.

In the present embodiment, f (Vm1) and f (Vm1), which are forces corresponding to the force F required to move the attached bubbles 85 and the flow rates Vm1 and Vm2 of the ultrasonic transmission medium, are used.
(Vm2) and the relationship of | f (Vp1) | <F <| f (Vp2) | is set, and the rotation of the motor 81 in the normal rotation direction for the ultrasonic probe 1 to move in this set state. Set the speed and the rotation speed in the reverse direction.

In the outer sheath 2, the ultrasonic probe 1
The movement of the air bubbles 84 and 85 when is moved back and forth once will be described. First, as shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C, when the ultrasonic probe 1 moves at the speed Vp1 from the most extreme position (the origin position) to the most proximal position of the stroke L. The floating bubble 84 has a velocity Vm1 = CxVp1 [mm /
s] to move from the proximal end to the distal end. However, the flow stops when the tip of the ultrasonic vibrator 16 passes and comes off, and the ultrasonic vibrator 16 stops at that position.

On the other hand, the attached bubble 85 is | f (Vp1) | <
Due to the relationship of F, the state of being attached to the outer sheath 2 without moving is maintained.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 10 (c), 10 (d) and 10 (e), the moving direction of the ultrasonic probe 1 is reversed to move from the base end position to the tip end position (origin position). Speed V
Move with p2. Then, the floating bubble 84 has a velocity Vm2 = CxV from the time when the tips of the ultrasonic transducers 16 overlap.
It moves from the distal end side to the proximal end side at p2 [mm / s], and stops at the position (FIG. 10A) substantially before the movement when the ultrasonic transducer 16 returns to the origin position.

Thereafter, the ultrasonic probe 1 moves at a speed V
At p1, it moves from the origin position to the base end again and repeats reciprocating movement. At this time, the time for reversing from the speed Vp2 to the speed Vp1 (time for switching from FIG. 10E to FIG. 10A)
Is inverted from the speed Vp1 to the speed Vp2 (FIG. 10).
(C)) By making the ultrasonic transmission medium 99 longer,
The floating bubble 84 further moves toward the base end by the difference between the inversion times, that is, the distance α1.

On the other hand, regarding the attached bubbles 85, F <
Due to the relationship of | f (Vp2) |, the ultrasonic probe 1 moves by the distance β in the proximal direction by the movement of the ultrasonic probe 1, and by the inertial flow when reversing from the speed Vp2 to the speed Vp1,
Move to the position added to the base end by the distance α2.

Therefore, the single reciprocation of the ultrasonic probe 1 causes the floating bubbles 84 to have the distance α 1,
The attached bubble 85 moves toward the base end with respect to the ultrasonic vibrator 16 by a distance β + α2.

For this reason, by repeatedly performing the reciprocating motion of the ultrasonic probe 1, the floating bubbles 84 and the attached bubbles 85 are moved only in the base end direction from the ultrasonic vibrator 16 and are moved to the ultrasonic vibrator surface. Eliminates bubbles from overlapping.

As a result of actual examination, the material of the outer sheath: polyethylene, inner diameter φ2, 8 m
m Outer diameter of the ultrasonic probe φ2, 4mm When the stroke of the ultrasonic probe is 50mm, in order to remove air bubbles of about φ1mm adhering in the outer sheath, the ultrasonic probe is moved at a speed of 5mm / s, and then move the ultrasonic probe from the proximal end to the distal end at a speed of about 10 mm / s.

The removal of the bubbles may be performed before the ultrasonic scanning, that is, before the ultrasonic transducer is driven, or when the ultrasonic probe is moved from the distal end to the proximal end. When moving from the proximal end to the distal end, the ultrasonic drive may be stopped and the speed may be increased accordingly.

As described above, in the movement of the ultrasonic probe in the axial direction, the moving speed of the ultrasonic probe from the distal end to the proximal end is set to a speed at which bubbles attached to the outer sheath do not move. By setting the moving speed of moving the ultrasonic probe from the proximal end to the distal end to the speed at which the bubbles attached to the inner peripheral surface of the outer sheath move, the ultrasonic probe is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the outer sheath in the ultrasonic transmission medium. The moving bubbles can be moved to the base end side from the transducer surface to prevent ultrasonic attenuation due to the bubbles.

Further, by setting the time for inverting the movement from the distal end to the movement toward the proximal end to be longer than the time for inverting the movement from the proximal end to the movement toward the distal end, the ultrasonic transmission medium can be obtained. By moving the air bubbles floating inside from the transducer surface to the base end side, it is possible to prevent ultrasonic attenuation due to the air bubbles.

From the above, when bubbles are generated in the ultrasonic transmission medium, the ultrasonic attenuation due to the bubbles is eliminated, and a good ultrasonic image can be obtained.

In the above-described air bubble removal, the in-vivo probe is attached to the driving section, and the air bubbles are removed by changing the rotation speed of the motor in the forward rotation and the reverse rotation. May be performed manually.

In this case, the following procedure is performed before attaching the intracavity probe to the driving section. First, the outer sheath connector 3 is gripped by one hand, and the probe connector 13 of the ultrasonic probe 1 is gripped by the other hand.

Next, the axial lock between the outer sheath connector 3 and the probe connector 13 is released, and the probe connector 13 is slowly moved at a speed at which bubbles attached to the outer sheath 2 do not move. The pipe 14 is pulled out to the extent that it does not come off the O-ring 57 in the outer sheath connector 3.

Next, the probe connector 13 is pushed into the outer sheath connector 3. At this time, the process is performed at a speed at which bubbles attached to the outer sheath 2 move.

Then, it is confirmed that there is no bubble in the ultrasonic vibrator 16, and if there is a bubble, the process of extracting and pushing is repeated to move the bubble to the base end side. This eliminates the need for a speed control unit for removing bubbles in the drive unit because the removal of bubbles is performed before the drive unit is attached to the drive unit, thereby simplifying control.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing another example of the configuration of the driving section according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. FIG. 11A shows a radial scanning state.
FIG. 11B shows a spiral scanning state, FIG. 11C shows a linear scanning state, and FIG. 11D shows a scanning state.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a changeover switch that switches between a radial scanning state, a linear scanning state, and a spiral scanning state.

As shown in FIG. 11A, a distal spur gear 89 having a different outer diameter is integrally provided at the distal end of the first spur gear 88 of the present embodiment. A second spur gear 90 having the same number of teeth meshing with the distal spur gear 89 is provided at the base end of the shaft constituting the ball screw 69. The motor 81 is provided with a lever 91 serving as a scanning switching means for selecting linear scanning, radial scanning, or spiral scanning. The motor 81 with the lever 91, the encoder 82, and the first spur gear 88 can be integrally moved by a predetermined distance in the axial direction.

As shown in (d), the lever 91 is
A predetermined scanning is performed by protruding from the outer surface 92 of the driving unit 5 and selecting the projecting position of the lever 91 from three modes.

That is, by making the lever 91 coincide with the radial position in FIG. 9D, the first spur gear 88 and the teeth 77 of the boss 76 are engaged with each other as shown in FIG. , The tip side spur gear 89 and the second spur gear 90
Are in a non-meshing state, and a radial mode is set.

When the lever 91 is moved to the spiral position, the motor 81, the encoder 82 and the first spur gear 88 move to the front end side in the axial direction, and as shown in FIG. The spur gear 89 and the second spur gear 90 mesh with each other, and the teeth 77 of the boss 76 mesh with the first spur gear 88 to enter a spiral mode.

By setting the lever 91 to the linear position, the motor 81, the encoder 82 and the first spur gear 88 are further moved to the front end side in the axial direction, and as shown in FIG. 89 and the second spur gear 90 are engaged with each other, while the first spur gear 88 and the teeth 77 of the boss 76 are engaged.
Are in a non-meshing state, and a linear mode is set.

As described above, by providing the drive unit with the lever for integrally moving the motor, the encoder and the first spur gear in the axial direction as the switching means for switching the scanning method, not only the spiral scanning but also the radial only Scanning and linear single scanning can be selectively performed.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining another configuration of the tip portion of the ultrasonic probe.

As shown in the drawing, in the ultrasonic probe 1 of the present embodiment, a flexible drive shaft 86 is provided at the rear end of the housing 15, and a sheath 87 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the drive shaft 86. However, the drive shaft 86 is rotatably coated.

The outer diameter of the sheath 87 is substantially the same as that of the housing 15, and the inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the drive shaft 86. As a result, the drive shaft 86 is rotatable within the sheath 87, but is configured so as to be substantially integrated by the frictional resistance between the drive shaft 86 and the sheath 87 when moving in the axial direction. is there.

As a result, the clearance between the sheath and the drive shaft is narrowed so as to be integrated when moving in the axial direction, so that it is possible to provide an ultrasonic probe with a small number of parts and a simple structure. become.

The present invention is not limited to only the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Appendix] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration can be obtained.

(1) A drive unit provided with drive means, and an ultrasonic vibrator fixedly attached to the tip of a hollow drive shaft which is detachably connected to the drive unit and transmits drive force from the drive means. An ultrasonic probe having an outer diameter dimension containing the drive shaft and having substantially the same diameter as the rotational diameter of the ultrasonic vibrator, and having a sheath whose distal end face is located closer to the proximal end than the ultrasonic vibrator,
An outer sheath having an inner hole that seals a distal end into which the sheath is inserted and arranged, a base end portion is detachable from the driving unit, and an ultrasonic transmission medium is filled in the inner hole. Ultrasound diagnostic equipment.

(2) The drive section has one drive means, and the drive means rotates an ultrasonic vibrator fixed to a drive shaft of the ultrasonic probe in the direction of the insertion axis. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an advancing / retreating rotating means for advancing / retreating in the insertion axis direction.

(3) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Appendix 1, wherein the drive shaft, the sheath of the ultrasonic probe, and the outer sheath have flexibility.

(4) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the driving shaft, the sheath of the ultrasonic probe, and the outer sheath are detachable from the driving section.

(5) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the outer sheath is detachable from the drive shaft and the sheath.

(6) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the outer diameter of the drive shaft is smaller in diameter at the tip end than at other parts.

(7) The ultrasonic diagnosis according to appendix 1, wherein the inner diameter of the sheath is larger than the outer diameter of the drive shaft, and a pipe member through which the distal end of the drive shaft is inserted is disposed in the inner bore of the distal end. apparatus.

Thus, when the drive shaft is extended by the bending operation of the insertion portion or the like, the drive shaft comes into contact with the pipe member to move the sheath integrally with the drive shaft in the axial direction. .

(8) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to appendix 2, wherein the drive shaft provided on the sheath is mounted on a bearing that is rotatable and can be moved by a fixed distance in the axial direction.

(9) The driving means is an advancing / retreating means for advancing / retreating the ultrasonic vibrator in the direction of the insertion axis. When the ultrasonic vibrator is moved from the distal end side to the proximal end side,
When moving the ultrasonic vibrator so that air bubbles present in the ultrasonic transmission medium and attached to the inner surface of the sheath maintain that state, while moving the ultrasonic vibrator from the base end side to the distal end side The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic vibrator is moved such that bubbles existing in the ultrasonic transmission medium and attached to the inner surface of the sheath move away from the inner surface of the sheath.

Thus, when the ultrasonic transducer moves from the distal end to the proximal end, a flow from the proximal end to the distal end occurs in the ultrasonic transmission medium. The strength of the flow at this time is smaller than the sum of the frictional resistance against the inner surface of the sheath and the surface tension, which is the amount of force required to move the air bubbles away from the inner surface of the sheath. The air bubbles adhering to the inner surface remain at that position without moving.

On the other hand, when the ultrasonic transducer moves from the proximal end to the distal end, a flow from the distal end to the proximal end occurs in the ultrasonic transmission medium. The strength of the flow at this time is larger than the sum of the frictional resistance against the inner surface of the sheath and the surface tension, which is the amount of force required to move the air bubbles away from the inner surface of the sheath. The air bubbles adhering to the inner surface move away from the inner surface of the sheath to the base end side, which is the direction in which the ultrasonic transmission medium flows. In other words, the bubbles that exist in the ultrasonic transmission medium and adhere to the inner surface of the sheath are moved by the ultrasonic vibrator,
It moves toward the base end side of the ultrasonic transducer.

(10) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to appendix 9, wherein ultrasonic scanning is performed only when the ultrasonic transducer moves from the distal end to the proximal end.

(11) The above-mentioned reciprocating operation is repeated several times without ultrasonic scanning to move bubbles from the ultrasonic transducer to the base end side, and then ultrasonic scanning is started at a predetermined reciprocating speed. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 9.

(12) By the forward / backward movement of the drive shaft,
The switching time when the ultrasonic vibrator switches from the movement toward the distal end to the movement toward the proximal end is switched from the movement toward the distal end to the movement toward the distal end from the movement of the ultrasonic vibrator. 10. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is set to be longer than the switching time when the switching is performed.

Thus, when the ultrasonic transducer moves from the distal end side to the proximal end side, the flow from the proximal end side to the distal end side generated in the ultrasonic transmission medium causes the ultrasonic transducer to be present in the ultrasonic transmission medium. Bubbles having no resistance to the floating flow move from the proximal end to the distal end in the same direction as the flow of the ultrasonic transmission medium at the same speed as the flow velocity.

When the moving direction of the ultrasonic transducer, which has moved from the distal end to the proximal end, is switched from the proximal end to the distal end, a flow due to inertia occurs in the ultrasonic transmission medium.
Since the switching time at this time is short, almost no inertial flow occurs, so that the position of the bubble does not change.

Next, the ultrasonic transducer starts to move from the base end to the tip end. At this time, a flow from the distal end side to the proximal end side occurs in the ultrasonic transmission medium, and by this flow,
The bubbles existing in the ultrasonic transmission medium and having no resistance to the floating flow move from the distal end side to the proximal end side at the same speed as the ultrasonic transmission medium flow, and return to the original position.

Next, when the moving direction of the ultrasonic transducer, which has been moving from the base end to the distal end, is switched from the distal end to the proximal end, a similar inertial flow occurs in the ultrasonic transmission medium. The switching time at this time is longer than the switching time when the moving direction of the ultrasonic transducer moving from the distal end side to the proximal end side is switched from the proximal end side to the distal end side. The bubble moves to the proximal side from the original position. That is, the air bubbles that existed and floated in the ultrasonic transmission medium move toward the base end side from the ultrasonic vibrator due to the difference in the switching time during the forward / backward movement of the ultrasonic vibrator.

(13) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to Supplementary Note 2, wherein the driving means is a rotary drive source capable of normal rotation and reverse rotation.

(14) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to appendix 13, wherein the rotation drive source has a rotation angle detecting means.

(15) The forward / backward rotating means is a rotary motion transmitting means for transmitting the rotary motion of the rotary drive source to the ultrasonic vibrator as a rotary motion, and the motion for converting the rotary motion of the rotary drive source into forward / backward motion 3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: switching means; and a forward / backward movement transmitting means for transmitting the forward / backward movement obtained by the movement switching means to the ultrasonic vibrator as forward / backward movement.

(16) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to appendix 15, wherein the rotational motion transmitting means is a spline mechanism.

(17) The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to appendix 15, wherein the motion switching means is a ball screw.

(18) The advance / retreat rotation means may be selectively
16. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising scanning switching means for switching to any one of a rotational motion transmitting state, an advancing / retracting motion transmitting state, or a rotational motion and an advancing / retracting motion transmitting state.

Thus, in addition to the spiral search, the ultrasonic scanning can be performed by the radial scanning alone or the linear scanning alone.

(19) A pulling-back step of pulling the ultrasonic vibrator disposed via the drive shaft in the distal end portion of the sheath filled with the ultrasonic transmission medium at a speed at which bubbles attached to the inner surface of the sheath do not move, and the pulling-back step A method for removing air bubbles present in an ultrasonic transmission medium of an ultrasonic probe, comprising: a pushing step of pushing an ultrasonic vibrator moved to a proximal end side at a moving speed of air bubbles adhering to an inner surface of a sheath via the drive shaft.

[0140]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the diameter of the insertion portion without reducing the size of the ultrasonic vibrator, to achieve excellent ultrasonic penetration, and to use a small and inexpensive ultrasonic wave. A diagnostic device can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 9 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an overall view of an ultrasonic probe.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating a configuration of a tip portion of the ultrasonic probe.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an outer sheath.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state of a distal end portion when an ultrasonic probe is inserted and arranged in an outer sheath.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a configuration of a probe connector of the ultrasonic probe.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a connector for an outer sheath.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of a driving unit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration state of an intracavity probe.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the relationship between the movement of bubbles existing in the ultrasonic transmission medium in the outer sheath and the movement of the ultrasonic probe moving in the outer sheath.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the configuration of the driving unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another configuration of the distal end portion of the ultrasonic probe.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic probe 2 ... Outer sheath 15 ... Housing 16 ... Ultrasonic vibrator 18 ... Flexible drive shaft 20 ... Sheath 41 ... Sheath insertion part

Claims (2)

[Claims] A driving unit having a driving unit; an ultrasonic vibrator fixedly attached to a tip of a hollow driving shaft that is detachably connected to the driving unit and transmits a driving force from the driving unit; An ultrasonic probe having a sheath having an outer diameter dimension substantially equal to the rotational diameter of the ultrasonic vibrator and enclosing the drive shaft, the distal end surface of which is located closer to the base end than the ultrasonic vibrator; An inner sheath that has an inner hole that seals the distal end into which the insertion hole is inserted, a base end portion is detachably attached to the driving unit, and an inner wall is filled with an ultrasonic transmission medium. Ultrasound diagnostic device characterized by the following. 2. The drive unit includes one drive unit, and the drive unit and the drive shaft are simultaneously moved with respect to an insertion axis direction by an ultrasonic vibrator fixed to a drive shaft of the ultrasonic probe. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating means for rotating and moving in a direction of the insertion axis.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as described in the above.