JP2002345820A - Leading edge of ultrasonic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic endoscope whose forefront is capable of conducting puncture procedures, or the like, while observing equally favorable optical and ultrasonic tomographic images. SOLUTION: The forefront of the ultrasonic endoscope in which the ultrasonic probe 2 for scanning ultrasonic signals to be sent and received in addition to an observing window 3 housing an objective optical system 10 of a forward cross-eyed type for optically observing an ultrasonic scanning region and a protruded outlet of a processing tool, namely an outlet of a channel for the processing tool to be inserted through, is arranged nearby the rear side of the ultrasonic probe 2, wherein a non-roof prism that reflects the light reflected at the first reflecting surface 11a after entering from a plane of incidence toward a direction of an optical axis at the rear of the incident plane 11b as a prism 11 that changes a direction of an optical axis 10x in the forefront of the objective optical system 11 is arranged.

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 can be inserted into a body while performing optical observation to obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals is arranged at the distal end of an ultrasonic endoscope, and a front perspective type for optically observing an ultrasonic scanning area is provided. An observation window having a built-in objective optical system, and a treatment tool outlet, which is an exit of the treatment tool insertion channel, are arranged adjacent to the rear side of the ultrasonic probe.

FIG. 5 shows a tip of such a conventional ultrasonic endoscope, wherein 2 is an ultrasonic probe, 3 is an observation window, α is an optical observation area, and β is an ultrasonic scanning area. . As the prism 11 for converting the direction of the optical axis at the forefront of the objective optical system 10, a roof prism having a roof-shaped so-called roof reflection surface 11d for reversing the incident light beam from side to side and reflecting it is used.

[0004]

However, when a roof prism is arranged as the prism 11 at the forefront of the objective optical system 10 as described above to form a front oblique optical system, the oblique angle is reduced (that is, the oblique angle becomes closer to the forward view). The larger the size of the prism 11, the larger the prism 11 becomes.

In order to accommodate the prism 11 in the distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope without difficulty, the oblique angle is set to be larger than a certain degree. The dead space D in front of the observation window 3 which is in the optical observation region α and does not enter the ultrasonic scanning region β becomes large.

When performing a treatment of piercing a puncture needle or the like into an affected part from the treatment tool outlet of such an ultrasonic endoscope, a sheath for guiding the needle is slightly protruded from the treatment tool outlet, and in this state. It is operated to push the needle further out of the sheath.

Therefore, at the distal end of the conventional ultrasonic endoscope as described above, the optical observation image (A) and the ultrasonic tomographic image (B) are shown in FIG. When the sheath 51 of the puncture needle protruding toward the diseased part 100 is placed in a state in which the sheath 51 is favorably optically observed, the sheath 51 cannot be captured in an ultrasonic tomographic image.

Conversely, as shown in FIG.
If the image is set in a state where it can be confirmed well by the ultrasonic tomographic image (B), the diseased part 100 is located around the optical observation image (A), and the optical observation cannot be properly performed.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a distal end portion of an ultrasonic endoscope capable of performing a puncture treatment or the like while observing both an optical observation image and an ultrasonic tomographic image in a favorable state. .

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention has a distal end provided with an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals and an ultrasonic probe. An observation window having a built-in oblique front objective optical system for optically observing the sound wave scanning area, and a treatment tool outlet, which is an exit of the treatment tool insertion channel, are disposed adjacent to the rear side of the ultrasonic probe. At the front end of the ultrasonic endoscope, a prism for changing the direction of the optical axis at the forefront of the objective optical system, the light reflected from the first reflecting surface after being incident from the incident surface is reflected on the back surface of the incident surface. A non-dach prism that reflects light in the optical axis direction at a position is arranged.

Incidentally, the optical axis of the objective optical system may be arranged to be inclined toward the ultrasonic scanning direction.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the distal end of the ultrasonic endoscope, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. 1. The front half of the distal end main body 1 connected to the distal end of the insertion section flexible tube is provided with an ultrasonic signal for sector-scanning the side of the distal end main body 1. A convex type ultrasonic probe 2 is provided. β
Is the ultrasonic scanning area.

An observation window 3 and an illumination window 4 are arranged on an inclined surface 5 formed on the rear half of the distal end body 1 toward the ultrasonic scanning region β. And as shown in FIG.
An emission end of an illumination light guide 8 is disposed behind the illumination window 4, and a solid-state imaging device 6 is disposed at a position where an objective optical system 10 disposed behind the observation window 3 projects a subject.

As shown in FIG. 2, a treatment tool outlet 9 is formed in the rear half of the distal end body 1 alongside the observation window 3 and the illumination window 4. A treatment instrument raising piece 14 that swings by operating the operation wire 13 from a non-operating section is provided.

The objective optical system 10 is of a front oblique type arranged so as to optically observe the ultrasonic scanning area β, and the optical axis 10 is located at the back of the observation window 3 which is the foremost part of the objective optical system 10.
A prism 11 for changing the direction of x is arranged. α
Is an optical observation area.

The prism 11 used here is a non-dach prism, and the light reflected from the first reflecting surface 11a after being incident from the incident surface facing the back surface of the observation window 3 is positioned on the rear surface 11b of the incident surface. At the optical axis 10x of the objective optical system 10.

By forming the prism 11 of this type to form the front oblique optical system, it is possible to make the prism 11 very small. However, since the size is small and it is difficult to increase the oblique angle, the objective 11 The optical axis 10x of the optical system 10 is disposed so as to be inclined toward the ultrasonic scanning direction from the axial direction of the distal end body 1 (that is, the side approaching the side view).

By employing such an optical system,
As compared with the case where the roof prism is used as the prism 11, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 5 (the inclination angle with respect to the axis of the distal end body 1) can be increased.

As a result, the dead space D in front of the observation window 3 which is in the optical observation region α and does not enter the ultrasonic scanning region β.
3, the sheath 51 of the puncture needle projecting from the treatment instrument projection port 9 is favorably optically observed as shown in the optical observation image (A) and the ultrasonic tomographic image (B) in FIG. In this state, the affected part 100 and the sheath 51 can be satisfactorily captured even in the ultrasonic tomographic image (B).

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the procedure of projecting the puncture needle 52 from the sheath 51 toward the diseased part 100 is observed in good condition using the optical observation image (A) and the ultrasonic tomographic image (B). Can be done while.

[0021]

According to the present invention, as the prism for changing the direction of the optical axis at the forefront of the objective optical system, the light reflected from the first reflecting surface after being incident from the incident surface is positioned at the rear surface of the incident surface. By arranging the non-dach prism reflecting in the optical axis direction in the above, the prism can be formed small, and the dead space in front of the observation window, which is an optical observation area and does not enter the ultrasonic scanning area, can be reduced. Therefore, the puncture treatment or the like can be performed while observing both the optical observation image and the ultrasonic tomographic image in a favorable state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an optical observation image and an ultrasonic tomographic image of an ultrasonic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention side by side.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an optical observation image and an ultrasonic tomographic image of an ultrasonic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention side by side.

FIG. 5 is a partial side sectional view of a distal end portion of a conventional ultrasonic endoscope.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an optical observation image of a conventional ultrasonic endoscope and an ultrasonic tomographic image side by side.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an optical observation image of a conventional ultrasonic endoscope and an ultrasonic tomographic image side by side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tip main body 2 Ultrasonic probe 3 Observation window 5 Slope 9 Treatment tool outlet 10 Objective optical system 10x Optical axis 11 Prism 11a First reflection surface 11b Back surface (reflection surface) (A) Optical observation image (B) Ultrasound Tomographic image D Dead space α Optical observation area β Ultrasonic scanning area

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An observation window in which an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals for scanning is arranged, and a front perspective type objective optical system for optically observing the ultrasonic scanning area is built in, A treatment tool projection port, which is an exit of the treatment tool insertion channel, has a distal end portion of an ultrasonic endoscope arranged adjacent to the rear side of the ultrasonic probe, and has an optical axis at the forefront of the objective optical system. As a prism that changes direction,
A tip portion of an ultrasonic endoscope, comprising: a non-dach prism that reflects light rays reflected on a first reflecting surface after being incident from an incident surface in a direction of the optical axis at a back surface of the incident surface. 2. The distal end of an ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein an optical axis of said objective optical system is disposed so as to be inclined toward said ultrasonic scanning direction.