JP2003299655A - Body cavity insertion-type ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the leakage of a gas in a state that a puncture needle is not inserted into a needle groove with respect to an ultrasonic probe to be inserted into a trocar as a cylindrical member. <P>SOLUTION: An attachment 24 is mounted on a probe body 11. A seal member 26 of the attachment 24 is inserted into the needle groove 20. Whereby the needle groove 20 is blocked, and a clearance between an inner peripheral face of a packing 18 and an outer peripheral face of the probe body 11 can be packed. Whereby the leakage of the gas from the celomic cavity to the external through the needle groove 20 can be prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe inserted into a body cavity, and more particularly to an ultrasonic probe used in laparoscopic surgery.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In laparoscopic surgery, a tubular member (trocar) is inserted into the abdominal cavity through the epidermis, and carbon dioxide gas is filled into the abdominal cavity to expand the abdominal cavity.
By inserting a surgical instrument such as an endoscope (laparoscope) and forceps into the inside of the tubular member, the affected area is operated. In such an operation, ultrasonic diagnosis is often performed, and an ultrasonic probe for insertion into a body cavity is used for that purpose. That is, the ultrasonic probe has a substantially rod-like shape, is inserted inside the tubular member, and transmits / receives ultrasonic waves in the body cavity.

As a result, a tomographic image or the like is displayed on the display, and the doctor observes the state or position of the affected area on the ultrasonic image. Then, if necessary, puncture is performed for collecting tissue or injecting a drug. Therefore, a needle groove for guiding the puncture needle is formed along the axial direction on the outer surface of the probe main body.

[0004]

A rubber packing is provided inside the tubular member. This is to seal the gap between the outer surface of the tubular member and the inner surface of the tubular member when an instrument such as an ultrasonic probe is inserted inside the tubular member. It is intended to prevent leakage to the outside of the body. The rubber packing has a disc shape having an opening in the center, and the opening is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the instrument to be inserted.

However, when the ultrasonic probe having the needle groove is inserted into the cylindrical member (before the puncture needle is attached), the inner peripheral edge of the rubber packing does not enter much into the needle groove and there Becomes a gas leak passage. In that case, gas injection or the like must be performed again.

An object of the present invention is to reduce or prevent gas leakage from the needle groove in an ultrasonic probe having a needle groove without a puncture needle inserted in the needle groove.

An object of the present invention is to reduce and eliminate gas leakage and to allow a puncture needle to be quickly inserted into a needle groove during puncture.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an ultrasonic probe which is inserted inside a tubular member inserted into a body cavity and which transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. There is a needle groove for guiding the puncture needle formed on the outer surface of the probe body, and the needle groove is inserted into the needle groove in a non-attached state in which the puncture needle is not attached to the needle groove, A seal member that is removed from the inside of the needle groove prior to the attachment of the puncture needle, the seal member being provided at a position corresponding to the packing formed on the tubular member.

According to the above construction, the seal member allows
Since the space of the needle groove is closed or the space is narrowed, it is possible to prevent or reduce the leakage of gas through the needle groove.

Preferably, the seal member is provided on the base end side of the needle groove and has a shape extending along the needle groove. Since the packing is generally provided on the proximal side of the tubular member, the sealing member is correspondingly provided on the proximal side of the needle groove. If the seal member has a rod-like (or needle-like) shape, even if the relative positional relationship between the tubular member and the probe main body shifts in the axial direction, that is, with respect to the probe main body, The seal can be maintained even after packing.

[0011] Preferably, the apparatus includes an attachment which includes the seal member and is detachably provided at a base end portion of the probe main body. According to this configuration, the attachment can be removed prior to the attachment of the puncture needle to quickly prepare for puncture. It is also possible to form a means for closing the needle groove on the probe body itself.

Preferably, a main body side engaging portion is formed at a base end portion of the probe main body, and the attachment has an attachment side engaging portion which engages with the main body side engaging portion.

Preferably, the main body side engaging portion has at least one engaging groove, and the attachment side engaging portion has at least one engaging protrusion.

Preferably, the attachment is inserted and removed in the axial direction of the probe main body. When the ultrasonic probe is inserted in the tubular member, the sealing member is located inside the tubular member, and it is difficult to remove the sealing member in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction. Therefore, it is desirable to perform insertion / extraction in the axial direction.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is an ultra-thin body which is inserted into a tubular member for laparoscopic surgery inserted into a body cavity and is provided at the tip of the probe main body. An ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves with an ultrasonic transducer, wherein a needle groove for guiding a puncture needle formed on the outer surface of the probe body, and a puncture needle attached to the needle groove In a non-wearing state in which it is not mounted, means for preventing or reducing gas leakage from the inside of the body cavity through the needle groove by closing the needle groove at a portion corresponding to packing formed in the tubular member, It is characterized by including.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an ultrasonic probe for insertion into a body cavity according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a usage state thereof.

In FIG. 1, an ultrasonic probe for insertion into a body cavity (hereinafter referred to simply as a probe) is used in laparoscopic surgery.
The trocar 13 shown in FIG.

The trocar 13 is a tubular member that is inserted into the abdominal cavity through the epidermis, and the trocar 13 is
It is roughly divided into a base end portion 14 and an insertion tube 15. Here, the insertion tube 15 is a portion to be inserted into the body cavity, and when the insertion tube 15 is inserted into the body cavity,
The proximal end portion 14 is positioned outside the body. A through hole (not shown) is formed in the proximal end portion 14, and a packing 18 for preventing gas from flowing out from the abdominal cavity is provided in the through hole. As shown in the figure, the packing 18 is made of a ring-shaped rubber material or the like, and has an opening formed in the center thereof.

The probe is roughly divided into a probe body 11 and a cable 12. Cable 12
It is connected to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (not shown). An array vibrator (not shown) including a plurality of vibration elements is provided in the tip portion 11A of the probe body 11. An ultrasonic beam is formed using this array transducer, and when the ultrasonic beam is electronically scanned, a scanning surface is formed. An ultrasonic image is formed on the basis of the echo data captured on the scanning surface, and the ultrasonic image is displayed on the display.

The base end portion 11B of the probe body 11 is bent in a dogleg shape as shown in the drawing, and the base end portion 11B is formed.
Constitutes a gripping part.

The probe body 11 is formed with a needle groove 20 extending along the axial direction thereof. The needle groove 20 is shown in FIG.
The cross section has a U shape as shown in FIG. A puncture needle (not shown) is inserted into the needle groove 20 when the drug is injected into the affected area or the affected tissue is collected.

As shown in FIG. 1, the probe of this embodiment has an attachment 24 which is detachably attached to the probe body 11. Attachment 2
4 is composed of an attachment base 28 and a rod-shaped seal member 26 extending from the attachment base 28. The attachment base 28 is the base end 11 of the probe body 11.
It is attached to B. Specifically, the attachment 24 is inserted into the above-mentioned proximal end portion 11B along the central axis of the needle groove 20, while when the attachment 24 is removed, the attachment 24 is directly attached along the central axis of the needle groove 20. It is pulled out to the front side.

The seal member 26 has a constant length L, that is, it extends in the axial direction. Therefore, the inside of the needle groove 20 can be filled with the seal member 26 over a certain range on the proximal end side of the probe body 11. The seal member 26 functions as a groove filling member or a plug member.

The attachment base 28 is formed with a pair of left and right arms, and an engaging projection 34 is formed at the lower end thereof. The pair of engagement projections 34 mechanically engage with the pair of engagement grooves 32 formed on both side surfaces of the base end portion 11B when the attachment 24 is mounted on the base end portion 11B. In that state, the engagement groove 32 has a deeper groove that acts as a detent, so that the engagement state is maintained. On the other hand, when the attachment 24 is pulled out along the axial direction toward the front side, the engagement groove 32 is engaged. The protrusion 34 disengages from the engagement groove 32. That is, the engagement protrusion 34 and the engagement groove 32 together function as a mounting means for the attachment 24.

In FIG. 2, the attachment 24 is shown at the base end 1.
The state of being attached to 1B is shown as an enlarged view. Further, FIG. 3 shows a state in which the seal member 26 fills the inside of the needle groove 20 in the mounted state of the attachment 24. As shown in FIG. 3, a columnar or rod-shaped seal member 26 is arranged in the U-shaped needle groove 20, so that the space in the needle groove 20 is almost completely filled with the seal member 26. . As a result, the gap existing between the inner peripheral surface of the packing 18 and the outer peripheral surface of the probe body 11 (particularly the groove inner surface) is effectively eliminated.
That is, the problem of gas flowing out from the abdominal cavity to the outside through the needle groove 20 can be eliminated or mitigated by such groove filling.

In the above description, the pair of engaging projections 34
And the pair of engaging grooves 32 are combined to attach the
Although, is attached, it goes without saying that another mechanism can be adopted as a means for attaching the attachment 24. Further, in the present embodiment, the attachment 24 is detached from the probe main body 11 prior to the subsequent attachment of the puncture needle.
A mechanism for filling the inside of the needle groove 20 may be provided in the probe body 11. Further, although the seal member 26 having a circular cross section is used in the present embodiment, the seal member 26 having a U-shaped cross section is used in order to more effectively eliminate the gap. May be. Since the seal member 26 has a fixed length, it is possible to maintain the above-mentioned sealed state even if the probe body 11 moves to the trocar 13 in the axial direction to some extent.

Next, a method of using the probe according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, in S101, the trocar 13 shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into the body cavity, and necessary preparations are made for using the trocar 13. In S102, the probe to which the attachment 24 is attached is inserted into the trocar 13.

In step S103, ultrasonic diagnosis is executed using the inserted probe. Specifically, an ultrasonic image is formed based on a reception signal obtained by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and the ultrasonic image is displayed on the display. Therefore, the user can confirm the position of the affected area, the orientation of the probe, and the like by observing the ultrasonic image.

At S104, the attachment 24 is removed from the probe prior to puncturing. In this state, the needle groove 20 forms a leak path, but immediately after the attachment 24 is removed, the puncture needle is quickly inserted into the needle groove 20.
Such a leak is virtually non-issue if plugged into.

At S106, the puncture needle is pulled out from the needle groove 20 along the axial direction. After that, ultrasonic diagnosis is performed again if necessary, and then the probe is pulled out from the trocar 13 in S107.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Gas leakage from the needle groove can be reduced or prevented in the state where the puncture needle is not inserted in the needle groove.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a body cavity insertion type ultrasonic probe according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the configuration shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a seal member is inserted into the needle groove.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of use of an ultrasonic probe inserted into a body cavity.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 probe body, 12 cable, 13 trocar, 20 needle groove, 24 attachment, 26 sealing member, 32 engaging groove, 34 engaging protrusion.

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 4C301 AA02 BB22 EE13 EE20 FF04                       FF19 GA01                 4C601 BB05 BB06 EE11 EE30 FE01                       FF03 FF05 GA01

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, which is inserted into a tubular member pierced into a body cavity, the puncture needle being formed on an outer surface of a probe main body. A needle groove for guiding, and a seal member that enters the needle groove in a non-attached state in which the puncture needle is not attached to the needle groove, and is removed from the needle groove before attaching the puncture needle to the needle groove. And the seal member is provided at a position corresponding to the packing formed on the tubular member, wherein the ultrasonic probe is inserted into a body cavity. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is provided on the proximal end side of the needle groove and has a shape extending along the needle groove. An ultrasonic probe that can be inserted into a body cavity. 3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, further comprising an attachment that includes the seal member and is detachably attached to a proximal end portion of the probe main body. Ultrasonic probe. 4. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 3, wherein a main body side engagement portion is formed at a base end portion of the probe main body, and the attachment engages with the main body side engagement portion. An ultrasonic probe for insertion into a body cavity, which has an attachment side engaging portion. 5. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 4, wherein the main body side engaging portion has at least one engaging groove, and the attachment side engaging portion has at least one engaging protrusion. An ultrasonic probe for insertion into a body cavity, characterized by: 6. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 3, wherein the attachment is inserted and removed in the axial direction of the probe main body. 7. An ultrasonic transducer, which is inserted into a tubular member for laparoscopic surgery inserted into a body cavity, and which transmits and receives ultrasonic waves with an ultrasonic transducer provided at the tip of the probe main body. An ultrasonic probe, comprising: a needle groove for guiding a puncture needle formed on an outer surface of the probe body; and a tubular member in a non-attached state in which a puncture needle is not attached to the needle groove. And a means for preventing or reducing gas leakage from the inside of the body cavity through the needle groove, by closing the needle groove at a site corresponding to the packing formed in the body cavity insertion type superstructure. Sonic probe.