JP2001276074A - Front end of ultrasonic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a front end of an ultrasonic endoscope which does not allow a jelly-like packing material applied on the surface of an ultrasonic probe to flow out in spite of lapse of an inspection time and makes it possible to obtain a good ultrasonic tomographic image. SOLUTION: A bank-like projecting wall 20 is formed along part or the whole of the outer edge of the ultrasonic probe 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tip of an ultrasonic endoscope which is inserted into a bronchus or the like while performing optical observation and used to obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image of a body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an ultrasonic probe for performing ultrasonic scanning and an observation window for performing optical observation are provided at the distal end of an ultrasonic endoscope at the distal end of an insertion section.

[0003] Ultrasonic waves have the property of hardly propagating in the air.
Therefore, in the case of an ultrasonic endoscope inserted into the stomach, there is a distance between the ultrasonic probe and the mucosal surface,
A balloon provided so as to surround the ultrasonic probe is inflated with degassed water so as to adhere to the mucosal surface.

In the case of an ultrasonic endoscope to be inserted into the bronchi, the ultrasonic probe is used in contact with the mucosal surface, so that the surface of the ultrasonic probe has a jelly-like shape such as xylocaine jelly. A filler is applied so that no air layer is interposed between the ultrasonic probe and the mucosal surface.

[0005]

However, when the examination time elapses with the ultrasonic endoscope inserted into the bronchus, the jelly-like filler gradually flows out of the surface of the ultrasonic probe and enters the space between the ultrasonic probe and the mucosal surface. In many cases, air is formed and a clear ultrasonic tomographic image cannot be obtained.

Therefore, the present invention provides a tip of an ultrasonic endoscope which can obtain a good ultrasonic tomographic image without the jelly-like filler applied to the surface of the ultrasonic probe flowing out even after the inspection time has elapsed. The purpose is to provide a part.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the tip of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention is provided with an ultrasonic probe for performing ultrasonic scanning and an observation window for performing optical observation. Has a bank-shaped protruding wall formed along part or all of the outer edge of the ultrasonic probe at the distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope provided along with the distal end of the insertion portion.

The ultrasonic probe may be a convex type ultrasonic probe, and a protruding wall may be formed along an arc-shaped outer edge of the ultrasonic probe. In this case, the arc-shaped outer edge of the ultrasonic probe may be used. May be formed by gradually reducing the amount of protrusion from both end portions to the middle portion.

The observation window may be arranged adjacent to the rear side of the ultrasonic probe, and the protruding wall may be formed along the entire outer edge except for the rear side of the ultrasonic probe.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope, in which a curved portion 10 that is bent by remote control is provided in a range of about 5 to 10 cm from the distal end of the flexible tubular insertion portion 1.

The bending section 10 connects a plurality of (for example, about 5 to 15) node rings 12 so as to be tiltable in order with rivets 13, and a pair of upper and lower operation wires 14 are attached to the base end of the flexible insertion section 1. By selectively towing from a connected operation unit (not shown), it is possible to bend by an arbitrary angle.

A metal ring 15 to which the distal end of the operating wire 14 is fixed is fitted and fixed on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end body 2.
The entire curved portion 10 is covered with an elastic outer member 11 made of, for example, a rubber tube.

A so-called convex type ultrasonic probe 3 is disposed at the front half of the distal end main body 2 connected to the distal end of the curved portion 10, and has a convexity of, for example, a radius of about 10 mm when viewed from the side. A number of ultrasonic transmitting / receiving elements are arranged side by side in the arc-shaped portion.

The ultrasonic probe 3 performs a sector scan (sector scan). For example, an ultrasonic signal is transmitted and received in a fan-shaped range of 60 ° centered on the side of the tip end body 2 (U = U). 60 °).

A large number of signal lines extending rearward from the ultrasonic probe 3 for transmitting signals input to and output from the ultrasonic probe 3 are within the flexible insertion portion 1 including the bending portion 10. It is bundled in a book and inserted and arranged as a signal cable 30, and an ultrasonic tomographic image is displayed on a monitor (not shown).

On the slope formed in the distal end body 2 adjacent to the rear side of the ultrasonic probe 3, a treatment tool outlet 6 is opened in a direction in which the treatment tool projects on the scanning surface of the ultrasonic probe 3. Are located. A treatment tool insertion channel 61 inserted through the entire length of the flexible insertion portion 1 is connected to the treatment tool protrusion port 6 through a connection pipe 62.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the inclined surface of the distal end body 2 as viewed from the direction of arrow III in FIG. 2. The treatment tool projection 6 has an opening formed at the center, and one of the left and right sides thereof. , An observation window 4 for optically obliquely observing the front is arranged, and an illumination window 5 for emitting illumination light for illuminating the optical observation region is arranged on the other side.

The observation optical axis is arranged obliquely upward, for example, about 45 ° to 60 ° from the front of the distal end body 2, and the oblique front including the ultrasonic scanning range in the screen is shown. Optically observed in no eyepiece.

FIG. 1 shows a cross section taken along the line II in FIG. 2, and a protruding wall 20 is formed so as to protrude from the distal end main body 2 along the outer edges on both left and right sides of the ultrasonic probe 3 having an arc shape. .

However, as shown in FIG. 2, when viewed from the side, the ridge line of the protruding wall 20 is formed in an arc shape having a larger radius of curvature than the ultrasonic probe 3, and is viewed from the surface of the ultrasonic probe 3. Is formed so that the amount of protrusion of each of them gradually decreases from both end portions to the middle portion.

A protruding wall 20 is also formed on the outer edge of the distal end portion of the ultrasonic probe 3 so as to protrude from the distal end main body 2, and the protruding wall 20 is provided on the entire outer edge portion except the rear side of the ultrasonic probe 3. ing.

When the ultrasonic endoscope thus constructed is used by inserting its distal end into the bronchus, the jelly supply tube 100 protrudes from the treatment tool outlet 6 to the surface of the ultrasonic probe 3. Xylocaine jelly 101
To fill the space between the ultrasonic probe 3 and the mucosal surface 200 with the xylokine jelly 101. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the jelly supply tube 100 has been pulled back to the treatment tool outlet 6.

In this manner, an ultrasonic tomogram can be obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic probe 3 in a state where no air layer exists between the ultrasonic probe 3 and the mucosal surface 200. Since the protruding wall 20 surrounds the periphery of the surface of the ultrasonic probe 3, it is difficult for the xylocaine jelly 101 to flow out of the surface of the ultrasonic probe 3, and even if the time elapses, the distance between the ultrasonic probe 3 and the mucosal surface 200 is increased. A state in which no air layer is present is maintained, and a good ultrasonic image can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, if the protruding wall 20 is provided along at least a part of the outer edge of the ultrasonic probe 3, the effect is accordingly exhibited. Alternatively, the protruding wall 20 may be provided along the entire outer edge of the ultrasonic probe 3.

[0025]

According to the present invention, a bank-shaped protruding wall is formed along part or all of the outer edge of the ultrasonic probe, so that the ultrasonic probe can be applied to the surface of the ultrasonic probe even after the inspection time has elapsed. The obtained jelly-like filler does not flow out, and a good ultrasonic tomographic image can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a distal end portion of an ultrasonic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Tip body 3 Ultrasonic probe 20 Projection wall 101 Xylocaine jelly (jelly-like filler) 200 Mucosal surface

Claims (4)

[Claims] An outer end of an ultrasonic probe at an end of an ultrasonic endoscope provided with an ultrasonic probe for performing ultrasonic scanning and an observation window for performing optical observation at a distal end of an insertion portion. A bank-shaped protruding wall is formed along part or all of the end of the ultrasonic endoscope. 2. The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic probe is a convex type ultrasonic probe, and said protruding wall is formed along an arc-shaped outer edge of said ultrasonic probe. Tip. 3. The distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the protruding wall along the arc-shaped outer edge of the ultrasonic probe is formed so as to gradually reduce the protruding amount from both end portions to an intermediate portion. 4. The observation window is arranged adjacent to the rear side of the ultrasonic probe, and the protruding wall is formed along the entire outer edge except for the rear side of the ultrasonic probe. Item 4. The distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to item 1, 2 or 3.