JP2003126094A - Balloon for ultrasonic diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the balloon for the ultrasonic diagnostic device which is capable of inflating it to meet a range of ultrasonic scanning in use, not causing the slightest fear of its breakage while handling it before installation. SOLUTION: The ultrasonic diagnostic device which is shaped as a cylindrical column consisting of an elastic material fixed in a way of being flexibly attachable and detachable, covering a periphery of a forefront 1a of an insertion section of the ultrasonic diagnostic device of a nearly cylindrical shape and tightly bolted with the forefront 1a of the insertion section by a fastening ring 5a which is integrally fixed with both edges, where its balloon 5 is inflated when a liquid is filled in a space between the forefront 1a of the insertion section and the peripheral surface, and the portions other than that of the fastening ring 5a at both edges are formed in a shape of a nearly tapered tube of a fixed thickness whose maximum inner diameter A is smaller than the maximum external diameter B of the forefront 1a of the insertion section.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a balloon of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which is detachably attached to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image in a body cavity. 2. Description of the Related Art When an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used to obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image of a body cavity, it is generally necessary to provide a distance of at least about 2 to 3 cm between an ultrasonic probe and a test portion. There is. [0003] Further, since ultrasonic waves have a property of being easily transmitted in a liquid but hardly transmitted in the air, the space between the ultrasonic probe and the test portion is provided with degassed water having good ultrasonic transmission properties. Need to fill with liquid. Therefore, generally, an inflatable balloon made of silicon rubber or the like is attached so as to surround the ultrasonic probe disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and degassed water or the like is sent into the balloon to mount the balloon. It has an inflatable structure. When an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which such a balloon is attached is, for example, an ultrasonic endoscope having an optical observation window provided on the distal end surface, the distal end of the insertion section incorporating the ultrasonic probe is substantially formed. Being formed in a cylindrical shape, the balloon is formed in a cylindrical shape so as not to cover the distal end surface of the insertion portion, and fastening rings that are fixedly fastened to the distal end of the insertion portion are integrally formed at both front and rear ends of the balloon. . [0006] The balloon of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is formed as thin as possible because a large thickness affects the quality of an ultrasonic tomographic image. [0007] However, it is preferable that the balloon is as thin as possible in the use state. However, it is not rare that the balloon is broken down during handling until it is used by forming it extremely thin. [0008] Further, the balloon is uniformly inflated as a whole when the liquid is fed into the inside, and the largest inflated near the center. However, the center of the balloon is not always located at the center of the ultrasonic scanning range. There is a case where the quality of the ultrasonic tomographic image is deteriorated due to the displacement. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a balloon of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which has a low risk of being damaged during handling before mounting and which can be formed into a bulged shape corresponding to an ultrasonic scanning range when used. . In order to achieve the above object, a balloon of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention has an outer peripheral surface formed at a distal end of an insertion portion of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. A tubular body made of a resilient material that is removably attached to the covering state, and is fixedly fastened to the distal end of the insertion portion by a fastening ring formed integrally at both ends, and between the outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the insertion portion. In the balloon of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that expands by filling the space with a fluid, portions other than the fastening rings at both ends are formed into a substantially tapered cylindrical shape with a constant thickness, and the maximum inner diameter is set to the maximum outside diameter of the distal end of the insertion portion. It is formed smaller than the diameter. Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a distal end portion of an insertion section 1 of an ultrasonic endoscope which is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and an observation window 2 for optically observing the front is arranged on the distal end surface of the insertion section 1. ing. The ultrasonic probe 3 is formed in an annular shape surrounding the distal end of the insertion portion 1 and performs radial scanning for emitting and receiving ultrasonic waves radially around the axis of the distal end portion of the insertion portion 1. ing. An inflatable balloon 5 is detachably attached so as to surround the ultrasonic probe 3 and cover the outer periphery of the distal end portion of the insertion section 1. In FIG. 2, the balloon 5 is hatched by a broken line. FIG. 1 shows a state before the balloon 5 is attached to the insertion portion 1. The balloon 5 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of a substantially cylindrical tip portion main body 1 a which is the main body of the tip portion of the insertion portion 1. A pair of circumferential grooves 4 are formed at both front and rear positions of the ultrasonic probe 3. A balloon 5 whose cross section is shown in FIG.
Is formed in a cylindrical shape from a material having a high elasticity such as a thin silicon rubber or the like, and has an O-ring-shaped annular fastening ring 5a fitted into the circumferential groove 4 at both ends thereof.
Are formed integrally with the balloon 5. The balloon 5 is formed in a substantially tapered cylindrical shape with a constant thickness at portions other than the fastening rings 5a at both ends, and the maximum inner diameter A thereof is equal to the maximum outer diameter B of the distal end body 1a (in this embodiment). Is smaller than the ultrasonic probe 3). As a result, the balloon 5 is attached to the distal end main body 1a, so that the whole is elongated and becomes thinner. Therefore, the balloon 5 can be made thicker and more durable than a state suitable for use. There is little risk of damage during handling before use. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the fastening rings 5a at both ends of the balloon 5 are fitted into the respective circumferential grooves 4 so that the portions of the circumferential grooves 4 are elastically extended. The balloon 5 is locked in the tightened state, and the balloon 5 is attached to the distal end body 1a in a state surrounding the ultrasonic probe 3. Then, since the balloon 5 is formed in a substantially tapered cylindrical shape, the elongation rate of the balloon 5 is gradually different depending on the portion, and the portion Q ( In this embodiment, the thickness of the front portion is reduced. With such a configuration, deaerated water or the like is fed into the balloon 5 from the water passage 7 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end body 1a so as to open at a position surrounded by the balloon 5, and the balloon 5 Is expanded, the thin part Q expands more than the thick part P as shown in FIG. Therefore, by selecting the degree of change of the taper of the balloon 5, the position where the balloon 5 is most inflated can be arbitrarily set. Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the present invention may be applied to a balloon of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus without an optical observation function. According to the balloon of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, portions other than the fastening rings at both ends are formed in a substantially tapered cylindrical shape with a constant thickness, and the maximum inner diameter is set at the tip of the insertion portion. By forming the balloon smaller than the maximum outer diameter, the balloon alone can be formed thicker and more durable than in a state suitable for use, and there is little risk of breakage during handling until use. Also, by selecting the degree of change in the taper of the balloon, the position of the largest inflation can be arbitrarily set, so that a high-quality ultrasonic tomographic image having a bulging shape corresponding to the ultrasonic scanning range can be obtained. Obtainable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view (a side sectional view of a balloon) showing a state before a balloon is attached to an ultrasonic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a distal end portion of an insertion section of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partial side sectional view showing a state in which a balloon is attached to the ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention in a state where a balloon is inflated. [Description of Signs] 1 Insertion section 1a Tip end body (tip of insertion section) 3 Ultrasonic probe 4 Circumferential groove 5 Balloon 5a Clamping ring A Maximum inside diameter B of balloon Maximum outside diameter P Tip section main body Small portion of elongation Q Large growth rate part

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A cylindrical body made of a resilient material, which is detachably attached in a state of covering an outer peripheral surface of a distal end of an insertion portion of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. There is a balloon of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which is fixedly fastened to the distal end of the insertion portion by a fastening ring integrally formed at both ends and inflated by filling a space between the outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the insertion portion with a fluid, A balloon for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, characterized in that portions other than the fastening rings at both ends are formed in a substantially tapered cylindrical shape with a constant thickness, and the maximum inner diameter is formed smaller than the maximum outer diameter at the distal end of the insertion portion. .