JP2010012067A - Ultrasonic electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic electronic endoscope not lowering assembling workability for passing an ultrasonic signal conductor even if an ultrasonic signal connector is provided to the leading end of the branch cable branched and extending from a video connector, reducing the loss of an ultrasonic signal to prevent the deterioration of an acoustic effect and obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image of good quality. <P>SOLUTION: A relay substrate 18 for dividing/relaying the ultrasonic signal conductors 19A and 19B for transmitting the ultrasonic signal on the midway positions of them between an ultrasonic probe 2 and the ultrasonic signal connector 8 is arranged in the video connector 5, and the signal conductor 19B thicker than the signal conductor 19A arranged between the ultrasonic probe 2 and the relay substrate 18 is used between the ultrasonic signal connector 8 and the relay substrate 18 as the ultrasonic signal conductors 19A and 19B. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic electronic endoscope in which an ultrasonic probe for obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image and a solid-state imaging device for imaging an optical observation image are juxtaposed at the distal end of an insertion portion.

  In order to use an ultrasonic electronic endoscope, an ultrasonic signal observation device for processing ultrasonic signals input / output to / from an ultrasonic probe and an imaging signal input / output to / from a solid-state imaging device are processed. And a video processor are required. Therefore, the ultrasonic electronic endoscope is provided with an ultrasonic signal connector connected to the ultrasonic signal observation apparatus and a video connector connected to the video processor.

  Conventionally, such an ultrasonic signal connector and a video connector are provided at the distal end of a flexible cable that is individually extended side by side from the operation unit of the ultrasonic electronic endoscope (for example, Patent Document 1).

However, if the two flexible cables are extended from the operation portion and are blurred, the operation may be significantly hindered. Therefore, flexible cables are combined into one, and a video connector is attached to the tip of the cable, and an ultrasonic signal connector is attached to the tip of a branch cable that branches off from the video connector and improves operability. (For example, Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-314402 JP 2007-330351 A

  If the ultrasonic signal connector is attached to the tip of a branch cable that branches off from the video connector and extends, the number of flexible cables that are entangled with the operation section becomes one, so that the operability is greatly improved.

  However, when assembling the ultrasonic electronic endoscope, the ultrasonic signal conductor extending from the ultrasonic probe at the distal end of the insertion portion is flexible along with the imaging signal cable and the like from the insertion portion flexible tube through the operation portion. In the configuration in which only the ultrasonic signal conductor is passed through the branch cable from the video connector to the ultrasonic signal connector through the cable, the ultrasonic signal conductor becomes longer (for example, about 4 m) and the assembly workability is improved. It will be much worse.

  Also, since the ultrasonic signal conducting wire cannot be inserted into the insertion portion flexible tube unless it is made as thin as possible in relation to other built-in components in the insertion portion flexible tube, the length of the ultrasonic signal conducting wire is long. If the length is longer than the conventional length by the length of the branch cable (for example, about 1 m), the acoustic effect is deteriorated due to a signal loss accompanying an increase in electrical resistance, and the quality of the tomographic image is lowered.

  In the present invention, even when the ultrasonic signal connector is provided at the tip of the branch cable that branches off from the video connector, the assembly workability for passing the ultrasonic signal conductor does not deteriorate. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic electronic endoscope that can obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image of good quality with little loss of signal for use and no deterioration in acoustic effect.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic electronic endoscope according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic probe for obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image of a subject, a solid-state imaging device for taking an optical observation image of the subject, and Is attached to the distal end of the insertion portion, and is connected to an ultrasonic signal observation device for processing an ultrasonic signal input / output to / from the ultrasonic probe, and input / output to / from the solid-state imaging device. An ultrasonic signal connector provided at the tip of a flexible branch cable that branches off and extends from the video connector In an electronic endoscope, a relay board for dividing / relaying an ultrasonic signal conducting wire for transmitting an ultrasonic signal between an ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic signal connector at an intermediate position in the video connector is provided in the video connector. Arrangement Those were.

  Note that, as the ultrasonic signal conducting wire, a signal conducting wire thicker than the signal conducting wire disposed between the ultrasonic probe and the relay substrate may be used between the ultrasonic signal connector and the relay substrate.

  Also, in the video connector, the end of the ultrasonic signal conductor used between the ultrasonic signal connector and the relay board is bent in a loop and the direction is reversed by approximately 180 ° to the relay board. In this case, the connecting portion for connecting the end portion of the ultrasonic signal conductor used between the ultrasonic signal connector and the relay board is a branch of the plate surface of the relay board. It is good to be provided near the edge part on the opposite side to the cable side.

  According to the present invention, the relay board for dividing / relaying the ultrasonic signal conducting wire for transmitting the ultrasonic signal between the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic signal connector at the midway position is provided in the video connector. As a result, even if the ultrasonic signal connector is provided at the end of the branch cable extending from the video connector, the assembly workability for passing the ultrasonic signal conductor does not deteriorate. By using a signal conductor thicker than the signal conductor disposed between the ultrasonic probe and the relay board as the signal lead for the acoustic wave between the connector for the ultrasonic signal and the relay board, the loss of the ultrasonic signal is reduced. The acoustic effect does not deteriorate even if the amount is small, and an ultrasonic tomographic image of good quality can be obtained.

  An ultrasonic probe for obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image of the subject and a solid-state imaging device for imaging an optical observation image of the subject are provided at the distal end of the insertion portion, and input / output to / from the ultrasonic probe. An ultrasonic signal connector connected to an ultrasonic signal observation device for processing an acoustic signal, and a video connector connected to a video processor for processing an imaging signal inputted to and outputted from the solid-state imaging device In an ultrasonic electronic endoscope in which an ultrasonic signal connector is provided at the tip of a flexible branch cable that branches off and extends from a video connector, between the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic signal connector A relay board for dividing / relaying the ultrasonic signal conducting wire for transmitting the ultrasonic signal is arranged in the video connector, and the ultrasonic probe, the relay board, and the ultrasonic signal conducting wire are arranged in the video connector. Thick signal conductor from the arranged signal conductor between, used between the relay board and the connector ultrasonic signal.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is an external view showing the overall configuration of the ultrasonic electronic endoscope, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing its main wiring and the like.

  The flexible insertion portion 1 covered with a flexible tube has a length of, for example, about 50 cm to 1 m, and an ultrasonic probe 2 for obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image of the subject is provided at the most distal portion. Has been placed. In addition, a solid-state imaging device 3 for capturing an optical observation image of the subject is built in a position immediately after the ultrasonic probe 2.

  1 denotes a video processor for processing an imaging signal input / output to / from the solid-state imaging device 3, and 60 denotes an ultrasonic signal for processing an ultrasonic signal input / output to / from the ultrasonic probe 2. It is a sound wave signal observation apparatus, and each is provided independently.

  The video processor 50 is connected to a video image monitor device for displaying an optical observation image obtained by being picked up by the solid-state image pickup device 3, and the ultrasonic signal observation device 60 is ultrasonically scanned by the ultrasonic probe 2. An ultrasonic tomographic image monitor device for displaying the ultrasonic tomographic image obtained in this way is incorporated. However, those illustrations are omitted.

  The base end of the insertion unit 1 is connected to the lower end of the operation unit 4, and the video connector 5 detachably connected to the video processor 50 extends from a position near the upper end of the operation unit 4. It is attached to the tip of the cable 6. Reference numerals 5a and 5b shown in FIG. 2 are known electronic signal connector portions and light guide connector portions. The length of the flexible cable 6 is about 1.5 m, for example, and the light guide fiber bundle is also inserted therethrough.

  An ultrasonic signal connector 8 that is detachably connected to the ultrasonic signal observation device 60 is attached to the distal end of a flexible branch cable 7 that branches off and extends from the video connector 5. The length of the branch cable 7 is, for example, about 1 m.

  Further, the upper half of the operation unit 4 is obtained by a video image remote control switch 11 for performing control (for example, recording, freeze, etc.) related to an optical observation image obtained by the solid-state imaging device 3 and the ultrasonic probe 2. And an ultrasonic image remote control switch 12 for performing control (for example, recording, freezing, etc.) related to the ultrasonic tomographic image.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a video connector board 13 to which all electrical wirings connected to the video processor 50 side are connected is arranged in the video connector 5, and the solid-state imaging device 3 and the video connector board are arranged. 13 is connected by an imaging signal cable 14, and the video image remote control switch 11 and the video connector board 13 are connected by a video image remote control signal conductor 15.

  In the ultrasonic signal connector 8, an ultrasonic signal connector substrate 17 to which all electrical wirings connected to the ultrasonic signal observation device 60 side are connected is disposed. However, the ultrasonic probe 2 and the ultrasonic signal connector board 17 are not directly connected, and the ultrasonic signal conductors 19A and 19B are divided in the video connector 5 and are connected by the relay board 18. It is being relayed.

  The ultrasonic probe 2 and the relay board 18 are connected by a probe-side ultrasonic signal conductor 19A, and the relay-side ultrasonic signal connector board 17 is connected by a connector-side ultrasonic signal conductor 19B. As a result, the ultrasonic probe 2 and the ultrasonic signal connector board 17 are electrically connected via the relay board 18.

  Further, the ultrasonic image remote control switch 12 and the relay substrate 18 are connected by an ultrasonic image switch-side remote control signal line 20A, and the relay image 18 and the ultrasonic signal connector substrate 17 are ultrasonic images. Connector-side remote control signal line 20B, whereby the ultrasonic image remote control switch 12 and the ultrasonic signal connector board 17 are electrically connected via the relay board 18.

  3 and 4 are partial sectional views showing the state of the relay board 18 arranged in the video connector 5. The relay board 18 is fixedly held in the video connector 5 by the board support frame 22 or the like. Yes. Reference numeral 23 shown in FIG. 3 is a known check valve for discharging air inside the ultrasonic electronic endoscope when the external atmospheric pressure decreases.

  As shown in FIG. 5 which is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 4, the plurality of ultrasonic signal conductor connector receivers 181 disposed on the relay substrate 18 are formed at the end of the probe-side ultrasonic signal conductor 19A. The ultrasonic signal conducting wire connector 190 is inserted and connected, and the ultrasonic image switch side remote control signal line 20A is connected to the remote control signal line connection terminal 182 by soldering or the like. Further, the branch cable signal line 7a including the connector side ultrasonic signal conducting wire 19B and the ultrasonic image connector side remote control signal line 20B is connected to the branch line connecting terminal 183.

  Since the relay board 18 is provided in the video connector 5, the ultrasonic signal connector 8 is provided at the tip of the branch cable 7 that branches from the video connector 5. The assembly workability for passing the probe-side ultrasonic signal conducting wire 19A through the insertion portion 1 or the like at the time of manufacturing an ultrasonic electronic endoscope or the like does not deteriorate, and the assembly can be performed easily and quickly.

  In such an electrical wiring, a probe connecting the ultrasonic probe 2 and the relay board 18 as the connector-side ultrasonic signal conducting wire 19B connecting the ultrasonic signal connector board 17 and the relay board 18. A signal line thicker than the side ultrasonic signal line 19 </ b> A (for example, the diameter of the metal conductive line is about 1.5 to 2 times thicker and the electric resistance is small) is used.

  As a result, even if a connector-side ultrasonic signal conductor 19B of about 1 m is further provided at the tip of the probe-side ultrasonic signal conductor 19A for transmitting the ultrasonic signal output from the ultrasonic probe 2, the ultrasonic wave The loss of signal for use is small, the acoustic effect is not deteriorated, and an ultrasonic tomographic image of good quality can be obtained.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6 which is a VI-VI cross-sectional view in FIG. 4, the signal line in the branch cable connected between the ultrasonic signal connector board 17 and the relay board 18 in the video connector 5. 7a (that is, the connector-side ultrasonic signal conducting wire 19B and the ultrasonic image connector-side remote control signal line 20B) are connected to the relay board 18 in a state where the ends are bent in a loop and the direction is reversed by approximately 180 °. Yes. In FIG. 4, the loop portion is shown by a two-dot chain line. As a result, even if tension is applied to the signal line 7a in the branch cable, no load is applied to the branch line connection terminal 183, and the signal line connection state at the branch line connection terminal 183 is kept peaceful.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the connection part (branch line connection terminal 183) for connecting the end part of the signal line 7 a in the branch cable is the edge on the opposite side of the branch cable 7 side of the plate surface of the relay board 18. It is provided near the section. Therefore, the signal line 7a in the branch cable does not interfere with other signal lines in the vicinity of the relay board 18.

It is a block diagram which shows the main wiring etc. of the ultrasonic electronic endoscope of the Example of this invention. 1 is an external view showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic electronic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front fragmentary sectional view of the video connector of the ultrasonic electronic endoscope of the Example of this invention. It is side surface fragmentary sectional view of the video connector of the ultrasonic electronic endoscope of the Example of this invention. It is an enlarged view of the relay board | substrate part of the ultrasonic electronic endoscope of the Example of this invention. It is VI-VI sectional drawing in FIG. 4 of the ultrasonic electronic endoscope of the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insertion part 2 Ultrasonic probe 3 Solid-state imaging device 5 Video connector 7 Branch cable 7a Signal line in branch cable 8 Ultrasonic signal connector 18 Relay board 19A Probe side ultrasonic signal conductor 19B Connector side ultrasonic signal conductor 50 Video Processor 60 Ultrasonic signal observation device

Claims (4)

An ultrasonic probe for obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image of the subject and a solid-state imaging device for taking an optical observation image of the subject are provided at the distal end of the insertion portion, and are input to and output from the ultrasonic probe. An ultrasonic signal connector connected to an ultrasonic signal observation device for processing an ultrasonic signal, and a video connector connected to a video processor for processing an imaging signal inputted to and outputted from the solid-state imaging device In an ultrasonic electronic endoscope in which the ultrasonic signal connector is provided at the tip of a flexible branch cable that branches off and extends from the video connector,
A relay board for dividing / relaying the ultrasonic signal conducting wire for transmitting the ultrasonic signal between the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic signal connector at an intermediate position is disposed in the video connector. An ultrasonic electronic endoscope characterized by that.   As the ultrasonic signal conducting wire, a signal conducting wire thicker than the signal conducting wire disposed between the ultrasonic probe and the relay substrate is used between the ultrasonic signal connector and the relay substrate. Item 2. The ultrasonic electronic endoscope according to Item 1.   In the video connector, the end of the ultrasonic signal conducting wire used between the ultrasonic signal connector and the relay board is bent in a loop and the direction is reversed by approximately 180 °. The ultrasonic electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic electronic endoscope is connected to a substrate.   The connecting portion for connecting the end portion of the ultrasonic signal conducting wire used between the ultrasonic signal connector and the relay board is opposite to the branch cable side of the plate surface of the relay board. The ultrasonic electronic endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the ultrasonic electronic endoscope is provided in the vicinity of an edge of the endoscope.

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