JPH0313281Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea] The present invention relates to an ultrasound endoscope.

Until now, when observing organs using an endoscope, the surface of the organ was mainly observed using an observation optical system made of optical fibers, etc., but with the advancement of ultrasonic tomography, Efforts have been made to obtain tomographic images of organs non-invasively. This technology is
An ultrasonic transducer is installed at the tip of the endoscope, and the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic transducer are scanned over a certain range of organs, and the reflected echoes are amplified and displayed to identify abnormal areas within the organ. The purpose of this test is to examine differences in acoustic reflection.

By the way, when performing scanning with an ultrasonic transducer, it is necessary to bring the surface of the ultrasonic transducer into close contact with the object to be measured in order to improve acoustic contact. This is because if the contact condition is not good, good reflected echoes cannot be obtained.

In order to improve the contact between the ultrasonic transducer and the measurement target, conventionally, the ultrasonic transducer was covered with a balloon.
It was filled with liquid and adhered to the target.

However, the above conventional technology has a complicated structure,
Further, when air is mixed into the liquid, it appears as a light spot in the reflected echo image, causing problems such as the image becoming unclear.

The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to bring the ultrasonic transducer into close contact with the measurement target using a simple configuration. It is characterized by opening its mouth and bringing it into close contact with the measurement target while applying suction.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional explanatory diagram of the main parts, where 1 is a light guide of the endoscope, and 2 is an image. light guide 1 has light source 3
Illumination light is transmitted from the tip section 4 to illuminate the object 5, and the operator observes the image through the eyepiece section 6 at the rear end of the image guide 2.

An ultrasonic vibrator 7 is disposed at the tip 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic transducer 7 has a transducer 8 made of ceramic or the like in the center, a cover 9 and a lens body 10 on the top surface, and a backing material 11 and a backing material 11 on the back surface. Connection terminals 12 are provided, and these are integrally molded with synthetic resin or the like. An opening 14 is provided in the mold material 13 toward the vicinity of the lens body 10.
Further, a flow path 15 following the opening 14 is communicated with a suction means 16 such as a pump provided outside the endoscope. Note that the cough suction means 16 may be used in combination with a suction means normally provided in an endoscope to suction the body cavity.

The connection terminal 12 of the ultrasonic transducer 7 is connected to the oscillation circuit 1
This causes the vibrator 8 to oscillate, which is focused by the lens body 10 and then transmitted to the target 5. In addition, the reflected echo from the object 5 is received by the transducer 8, and then is transmitted to the connecting terminal 1.
2 to an amplifier circuit 18, and thereafter displayed on a display means 19 such as a cathode ray tube.

Note that in order to improve the contact between the object 5 and the ultrasonic transducer 7, water may be poured through the opening 14 or a jelly-like substance may be discharged.

Next, to explain the operation of the above configuration, when scanning the object 5 with the ultrasonic vibrator 7, when suction is performed through the opening 14 provided in the mold material 13 of the ultrasonic vibrator 7, the ultrasonic vibration child 7 lens body 10
comes into close contact with the surface of object 5. By continuing scanning in this state, there are no inclusions between the lens body 10 and the object 5, and it is possible to obtain reflected ultrasound echoes with good acoustic characteristics.

As described above, according to the ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention, an opening is provided near the wave transmitting/receiving surface of the ultrasonic transducer, and suction is performed through the opening. This allows the wave transmitting/receiving surface to be brought into close contact with the target, which has the effect of allowing ultrasonic diagnosis to be performed under good acoustic characteristics.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional explanatory diagram of the main parts. 5...Object, 7...Ultrasonic transducer, 8...Vibrator, 9
...Cover, 10... Lens body, 11... Backing material, 12... Connection terminal, 13... Mold material, 14...
Opening, 15... Channel, 16... Suction means, 17... Oscillation circuit, 18... Amplification circuit, 19... Display means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In an endoscope equipped with an ultrasonic transducer at the tip,
An ultrasonic endoscope characterized in that openings are provided on both sides of the wave transmitting/receiving surface of an ultrasonic transducer, and each opening is communicated with a flow path connected to a suction means.