JP3003961B2 - Endoscope - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope for performing ultrasonic diagnosis by inserting an ultrasonic probe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity, it is possible to observe internal organs in the body cavity and to perform various treatments using a treatment tool inserted into a treatment tool channel as necessary. Endoscopes are widely used. In addition to being used for medical purposes, it is also used for observing and inspecting an object in a pipe of a boiler, a machine, a chemical plant, or the like, or in a machine, for industrial use. In addition, various types of electronic endoscopes using a solid-state imaging device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) at an end of the insertion portion as an imaging unit are also used.

By the way, conventionally, an endoscope having a forceps channel has used an ultrasonic probe which performs ultrasonic diagnosis using the forceps channel. When performing an ultrasonic diagnosis, an ultrasonic probe is inserted into a forceps channel and guided to a target site, and then the ultrasonic probe oscillates an ultrasonic beam to perform an ultrasonic diagnosis.

[0004]

There are two types of ultrasonic probes to be inserted into an endoscope;
Some are forward sector scans. These probes have a fixed scanning direction, and there are directions in which scanning cannot be performed. For this reason, there has been a problem that the diagnosis is overlooked or that it takes time to perform a sufficient diagnosis. These problems can be solved by changing the scanning direction. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 56-60545 proposes a device provided with a rotatable flat mirror at the tip. Ultrasonic waves are reflected by a flat mirror, and the angle of the flat mirror is changed to change the direction of ultrasonic scanning. However, in the above-described device, since a member for rotating the flat mirror must be provided at the distal end of the ultrasonic probe, there is a disadvantage that the structure of the distal end is complicated and it is difficult to reduce the diameter.

When an ultrasonic probe is inserted into a forceps channel of an endoscope, there is no conventional means for fixing the ultrasonic probe, so that the fixing position of the ultrasonic probe cannot be determined, and the probe moves during scanning. This caused deterioration of the ultrasonic image.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has a simple structure and a small diameter by eliminating the need for a flat mirror for an ultrasonic probe inserted into a treatment tool insertion hole such as a forceps channel. It is an object to be able to change the direction of the ultrasonic scan.

[0007]

An endoscope according to the present invention has an insertion portion to be inserted into a portion to be inspected, and has an ultrasonic probe for conducting ultrasonic diagnosis by guiding the insertion portion to the distal end side of the insertion portion. An endoscope having a treatment tool channel that can be inserted,
Ultrasonic beam deflecting means for deflecting at least part of the path of the ultrasonic beam oscillated by the ultrasonic probe is provided at the distal end of the insertion section.

[0008]

In this configuration, ultrasonic waves are oscillated from the ultrasonic probe inserted into the treatment instrument channel of the endoscope, and at least a part of the oscillated ultrasonic beam is deflected by the deflection provided at the distal end of the insertion section. The emission direction can be changed by the means.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an endoscope tip, and FIG. 3 is an endoscope tip shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a relationship between the endoscope and the ultrasonic probe, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a reflection state of the ultrasonic beam.

An endoscope 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an elongated and flexible insertion section 2 and an operation section 3 connected to the rear end of the insertion section 2. The operation unit 3 is provided with a flexible universal cord (not shown) on the side, and is connected to a light source device (not shown) via a connector (not shown) provided at an end of the universal cord.

The operating section 3 has an eyepiece 3a on the rear end side for visually observing an endoscope image, and an operation knob 3b on the side for performing a bending operation of the bending section 3, which will be described later. And a forceps channel port 3c communicating with the forceps channel.

The insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1 has a rigid distal end portion 4, a bendable bending portion 5, and a flexible flexible tube portion 6 connected in order from the distal end side. .

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a distal end cover 7 is provided on the distal end side of the distal end portion 4. On the front side of the front end cover 7, a projection 7a is formed on a part thereof, and two illumination windows 9 and a forceps channel 10 as a treatment instrument channel are provided on the other surface. The protrusion 7a
An observation window 8 is provided on the front surface.

The forceps channel 10 includes a tip cover 7.
The front is open. As shown in FIG. 3, a distal end member 7b is fitted on the rear end side of the distal end cover 7, and a bending piece 11 of the bending portion 5 is attached to the distal end member 7b. The tip component 7b and the curved portion 5 are covered with a skin rubber 12.

An objective lens system 1 is provided inside the illumination window 7.
At the rear end of the objective lens system 13, a front end of an image guide 14 made of a fiber bundle is provided, and the rear end of the image guide 14 is connected to the eyepiece 3a. At the rear ends of the two illumination windows 9, a light distribution lens and a light guide (not shown) are provided, and illumination light is supplied from the light source device via the light guide.

The projecting portion 7a of the tip cover 7 has a surface facing the opening side of the forceps channel 10 inclined with respect to the axial direction, for example, at 45 degrees, and has an inclined surface as an ultrasonic beam deflecting means. Are provided.
The reflecting plate 15 is made of, for example, metal or resin and has a concave surface with a circular arc shape and a smooth surface, and reflects an ultrasonic beam emitted by an ultrasonic probe described later. The reflection plate 15 may be formed such that the slope of the projection 7a is smooth.

A channel hole 7c constituting the forceps channel 10 is axially penetrated inside the distal end cover 7. The channel hole 7c is formed to have a greater diameter than the front end side from the middle to the rear end side to fit the channel connection pipe 10a. The channel hole 7c forms a step 7d even when the channel connecting pipe 10a is fitted, and the ultrasonic probe is positioned by the step 7d.
Further, a channel tube 10b is externally fitted to the channel connecting tube 10a.
Communicates with the forceps channel opening 3c. Therefore, for example, forceps or an ultrasonic probe can be inserted from the forceps channel opening 3c and guided to the opening on the distal end portion 4 side.

On the other hand, the ultrasonic probe 20 shown in FIG.
The configuration is such that radial scanning is performed by emitting ultrasonic waves to the side. The ultrasonic probe 20 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and has a probe outer skin 21. The probe outer skin 21 is formed to have a narrow diameter from the front end to the middle and a large diameter from the middle to the rear end, thereby reducing the length of the probe. A positioning contact portion 21a is formed as a joint. When the ultrasonic probe 20 is inserted into the forceps channel 10, the narrow and thick portions of the distal end cover 7 a and the narrow and thick portions of the probe outer cover 21 of the ultrasonic probe 20 are fitted respectively. At the same time, the step portion 7d and the positioning contact portion 21a come into contact with each other and are positioned.

An ultrasonic transducer 23 supported by a rotatable flexible shaft 22 is provided in a probe outer cover 21 of the ultrasonic probe 20. The ultrasonic transducer 23 emits ultrasonic waves perpendicularly to the axial direction, and rotates to perform radial scanning. Step 7d
And the positioning contact portion 21a contact the ultrasonic probe 20
In the state where is positioned, the emission end of the ultrasonic vibrator 23 and the reflection plate 15 of the distal end portion 7 face each other.

In this configuration, the ultrasonic probe 20 is inserted into the forceps channel 10 and fitted as shown in FIG. 4, and the positioning contact portion of the ultrasonic probe 20 is fitted to the step 7d of the forceps channel 10. 21a abuts and is positioned. In this state, when the ultrasonic transducer 23 of the ultrasonic probe 20 rotates, ultrasonic waves (indicated by solid arrows in the figure) are emitted to the side as shown in FIG. Is obtained. Among them, the ultrasonic wave emitted in the direction of the reflection plate 15 is bent in a substantially right-angle direction as shown in FIG. 5A, and therefore, a forward sector tomographic image can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, since the ultrasonic probe 20 can be positioned and fixed in the forceps channel 10, a stable ultrasonic tomographic image without blur can be obtained. In addition to the lateral radial tomographic image, a forward sector tomographic image can be obtained, and the diagnostic function is improved.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a distal end portion of an endoscope according to a modification of the present invention. In the present modification, as shown in FIG. 6, a channel opening 15a for a puncture needle is provided on the surface of the reflection plate 15, so that the puncture needle can be inserted through the forceps channel opening 3c of the operation unit 3. The other configuration and operation and effect are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

In this modification, in addition to the operation and effect of the first embodiment, puncturing can be performed under observation of an ultrasonic tomographic image. For example, even if a lesion is located deep, reliable puncturing can be performed. Can be. And the structure for that is made simple.

7 to 9 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the distal end of the endoscope, FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the distal end of the endoscope shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a relationship between an endoscope and an ultrasonic probe.

In the present embodiment, a reflecting plate 30 having a convex reflecting surface is provided in place of the concave reflecting plate 15 of the first embodiment. In addition, a rotatable flexible shaft 2
The ultrasonic vibrator 23 supported by 2 is configured to be able to move forward and backward. In addition, the same configurations and operations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 9, by moving the ultrasonic transducer 23 forward and backward, the reflection position of the ultrasonic beam on the reflecting plate 30 also changes.

In this embodiment, since the ultrasonic transducer 23 is moved forward and backward and the convex reflector 30 is used, the direction of the forward scan can be largely changed, so that a wider field of view can be observed. Become. The other configuration and operation and effect are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

The present invention can be applied to an electronic endoscope in addition to the optical fiber endoscope. Also, as the scanning method, an example of mechanical radial scanning has been described,
It may be performed by electronic radial scanning.

FIG. 10A shows an ultrasonic probe 40 configured to optically observe the surface of the ultrasonic tomographic plane. This ultrasonic probe 40
Inside the distal end side, for example, an ultrasonic transducer 41 supported by a rotatable flexible shaft (not shown) is provided, and as shown in FIG. 10B, which is a view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. An optical reflection member 42 is provided on almost the half circumference of the outer peripheral surface on the distal end side.

The ultrasonic probe 40 is inserted through a forceps channel 46 opening to the end portion 45 of the endoscope, and guided to the opening on the distal end side. The end surface of the endoscope 4 is provided on the reflecting surface of the optical reflecting member 42 whose rear end is formed obliquely.
The illumination light transmitted by the light guide 48 is incident via the light distribution lens 47 provided on the light source 5. Therefore, the illuminating light is reflected by the reflecting surface of the ultrasonic probe 40 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction, thereby enabling side-endoscope observation.

In FIG. 12, the ultrasonic probe 40 shown in FIG. 10 is provided with an illumination light reflecting means.
The ultrasonic probe 50 has a configuration in which a light guide, which is an illumination light transmitting means, is provided.

In the ultrasonic probe 50 shown in FIG. 12, a light guide 51 made of a fiber bundle is formed and arranged in a thin and flat shape, the inside thereof is inserted, and the end is exposed on the outer peripheral surface on the distal end side. . Alternatively, a small light distribution lens may be provided at the end of the light guide 51. With this configuration, lateral endoscope observation is enabled. Others
About the same composition and an effect as FIG. 10, it is the same and description is abbreviate | omitted.

FIG. 12B is a view in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 12A, and FIG. 11 shows a streak of illumination light displayed on a monitor by an electronic endoscope and an ultrasonic probe. Are shown.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, the ultrasonic probe inserted into the insertion hole of the treatment tool such as the forceps channel can be reduced in diameter with a simple structure by eliminating the need for a flat mirror. There is an effect that the direction of the ultrasonic scan can be changed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a distal end portion of the endoscope.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the distal end portion of the endoscope shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a relationship between an endoscope and an ultrasonic probe.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a reflection state of an ultrasonic beam.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a distal end portion of an endoscope according to a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a distal end portion of an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the distal end portion of the endoscope shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a relationship between an endoscope and an ultrasonic probe.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a probe that enables endoscopic observation of an ultrasonic tomographic surface.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a monitor display screen of the ultrasonic probe.

FIG. 12 is another schematic configuration diagram of an ultrasonic probe different from FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 4 ... Tip part 7a ... Protrusion part 7d ... Step part 10 ... Forceps channel 15 ... Reflection plate 20 ... Ultrasonic probe 21a ... Positioning contact part

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An apparatus having an insertion portion to be inserted into a test portion,
In an endoscope having a treatment instrument channel through which an ultrasonic probe for conducting ultrasonic diagnosis by leading to the distal end side of the insertion portion, at least a part of a path of an ultrasonic beam oscillated by the ultrasonic probe is deflected. An endoscope, wherein an ultrasonic beam deflecting means for causing the endoscope is provided at a distal end of the insertion section.