JP2014018282A - Ultrasonic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To hold water in a gap for easily transmitting ultrasonic waves even when a gap is formed between a wall part of a subject and an ultrasonic wave transmission/reception surface, and to provide ultrasonic images according to a scan range of the ultrasonic waves.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic endoscope 1 includes: an insertion part 2 to be inserted to a subject; a distal end hard part 2aa disposed at a distal end of the insertion part 2; an ultrasonic wave transmission/reception part 12 provided with an ultrasonic wave transmission/reception surface 12a for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and provided on the distal end hard part 2aa at the distal end of the insertion part 2; a groove part 40 which is a groove formed between the distal end hard part 2aa and the ultrasonic wave transmission/reception part 12, and in which a part of the ultrasonic wave transmission/reception surface 12a and a part of the surface of the distal end hard part 2aa face each other; and a hydrophilic part 41 which is disposed on surfaces 12a1 and 2a1 of at least one of the distal end hard part 2aa and the ultrasonic wave transmission/reception surface 12a in the groove part 40, and has hydrophilicity.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic endoscope including a hard tip portion disposed at the tip of an insertion portion and an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit provided at the hard tip portion.

  Conventionally, an ultrasonic endoscope for ultrasonic diagnosis of a subject has been used. Some ultrasonic endoscopes include a convex-type ultrasonic transmission / reception unit having an ultrasonic transmission / reception surface for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves. The convex-type ultrasonic transmission / reception unit is configured by arranging a plurality of transducer arrays in a convex arc shape.

  As an ultrasonic endoscope having such a convex-type ultrasonic transmission / reception unit, for example, there is an ultrasonic endoscope described in Patent Document 1. This ultrasonic endoscope includes a distal end rigid portion disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion, and an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit having an ultrasonic transmission / reception surface for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves and having an ultrasonic scanning region as a front perspective view. ing.

JP 2007-236414 A

  However, in the ultrasonic endoscope described in Patent Document 1, a step portion is formed between the distal end hard portion and the ultrasound transmitting / receiving portion in the cross section of the distal end portion in the direction along the central axis of the distal end hard portion. It has a configuration. That is, a step portion exists between the hard tip portion and the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface of the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit.

  For this reason, in this ultrasonic endoscope, the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit is pressed when performing ultrasonic diagnosis by pressing the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit disposed at the distal end of the ultrasonic endoscope against the subject. A gap is formed between the surface portion of the subject and the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface near the stepped portion.

  For example, depending on the target organ of the subject, there is a relatively hard mucosa even if it is a normal mucosa, and in the case of such a hard mucosa, this hard mucosa is in close contact with the ultrasound transmitting / receiving surface near the stepped portion. Since it cannot be done, there is a gap.

  When such a gap exists, air having a large difference from the acoustic impedance of the living body accumulates. As a result, the ultrasonic image portion of the subject cannot be drawn in the ultrasonic scanning range corresponding to the gap portion. .

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even if a gap is formed between the surface of the subject and the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface, water for facilitating transmission of ultrasonic waves is formed in the gap. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic endoscope that can hold and obtain an ultrasonic image corresponding to an ultrasonic scanning range.

  An ultrasonic endoscope according to an aspect of the present invention has an insertion portion for insertion into a subject, a distal end hard portion disposed at a distal end of the insertion portion, and an ultrasonic transmission / reception surface that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. An ultrasonic transmission / reception unit provided at the distal end hard portion at the distal end of the insertion portion, and a groove disposed between the distal end hard portion and the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit, and a part of the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface And a groove part facing a part of the surface of the tip hard part, and a hydrophilic part disposed on at least one surface of the tip hard part side and the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface of the groove part and having hydrophilicity And a sex part.

  According to the ultrasonic endoscope of the present invention, even if a gap is formed between the surface of the subject and the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface, water for facilitating transmission of ultrasonic waves is held in the gap, An ultrasonic image corresponding to the ultrasonic scanning range can be obtained.

The figure explaining the structure of the ultrasonic endoscope which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the front-end | tip part of the ultrasonic endoscope of FIG. Sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. The enlarged view of the groove part vicinity arrange | positioned between the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface of FIG. 3, and a front-end | tip hard part. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the hydrophilic property in a hydrophilic part Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the hydrophilic property in a hydrophilic part Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the hydrophilic property in a hydrophilic part The figure which shows the ultrasonic endoscope image displayed on a monitor when the hydrophilic part is not provided The figure which shows the ultrasonic endoscope image displayed on the monitor at the time of providing a hydrophilic part

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an ultrasonic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, an ultrasonic endoscope 1 according to this embodiment includes an elongated insertion portion 2 to be inserted into a subject, an operation portion 3 provided at the proximal end of the insertion portion 2, and the operation portion. 3 and a universal cord 4 extending from the side portion.

  An endoscope connector 5 is provided at the base end portion of the universal cord 4. An ultrasonic cable 6 extends from the side of the endoscope connector 5. An ultrasonic connector 7 is provided at the proximal end of the ultrasonic cable 6.

  The insertion portion 2 can be a long length from the distal end side to the distal end of the operation portion 3 from the distal end portion 2a formed of a hard member, the bending portion 2b configured to be bendable, and the proximal end of the bending portion 2b. The flexible tube portion 2c having flexibility is configured to be connected.

  The distal end portion 2a includes an ultrasonic transducer unit 10, and the ultrasonic vibration unit 10 includes a convex-type ultrasonic transmission / reception unit described later. The ultrasonic transducer unit 10 can scan ultrasonic waves on the ultrasonic observation region 10A for scanning a predetermined angle range in a direction inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the insertion axis direction. In other words, the ultrasonic transducer unit 10 has an ultrasonic observation region 10A that scans in a slightly diagonally forward direction.

  The operation unit 3 is provided with an angle knob 3a for performing a bending operation. The operation unit 3 is provided with an air / water supply button 3b for performing air supply and water supply operations and a suction button 3c for performing suction. Further, the operation unit 3 is provided with a treatment instrument insertion port 3d for guiding the treatment instrument into the body cavity.

  Next, the structure of the front-end | tip part 2a of the insertion part 2 of FIG. 1 is demonstrated using FIGS. 2 is a perspective view showing the distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2, and FIG. It is an expanded sectional view of the groove part vicinity arrange | positioned between parts.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the distal end portion 2a of the insertion portion 2 has a distal end hard portion 2aa which is a main component of the distal end portion 2a. An ultrasonic transducer unit 10 for obtaining image information is provided.

  The ultrasonic transducer unit 10 is constituted by a unit, for example, and is a part of the ultrasonic transducer unit 11, and an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 12 is provided at the tip of the ultrasonic transducer unit 11. ing. The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 12 is integrally disposed in a notch formed at a substantially central portion of the distal end portion of the ultrasonic transducer unit 11.

  The tissue contact surface 11a that constitutes a part of the ultrasonic transducer unit 11 and the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a that is the transducer lens surface of the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 12 protrude from the distal end surface 21 of the distal end hard portion 2aa.

  On the other hand, on the distal end surface 21 of the distal end hard portion 2aa, an observation window 22a constituting the observation optical system 22, an illumination window 23a constituting the illumination optical system 23, and a treatment instrument guide from which a treatment instrument such as a puncture needle is led out. An outlet (hereinafter abbreviated as outlet) 24, an air / water supply nozzle 25 for ejecting fluid such as water or air toward the observation window 22a, and a sub-water supply channel 26 for supplying water forward. Is provided.

  The observation window 22a, the illumination window 23a, and the air / water supply nozzle 25 are arranged together on one side, for example, on the right side in the figure with respect to the outlet 24. The observation window 22a, the illumination window 23a, and the air / water supply nozzle 25 are arranged outside the ultrasonic observation region 10A (see FIG. 3).

  Of the observation window 22a, the illumination window 23a, and the air / water supply nozzle 25, the arrangement position of the air / water supply nozzle 25 is set so as to be the most distant from the ultrasonic observation region 10A. This is because the air / water supply nozzle 25 is provided so as to protrude with respect to the distal end surface 21 of the distal end hard portion 2aa. That is, when the protruding air / water supply nozzle 25 is disposed close to the ultrasonic observation region 10A, the ultrasonic wave radiated from the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a is reflected by the air / water supply nozzle 25 and is transmitted into the ultrasonic image. This is because an image of the air supply nozzle may be reflected.

  Further, the arrangement positions of the illumination window 23a, the observation window 22a, and the air / water supply nozzle 25 are taken into consideration for the purpose of improving the observation performance, improving the cleaning performance, and reducing the outer diameter of the endoscope distal end. Are arranged on a straight line.

  The observation window 22a is arranged at an upper position in the figure away from the ultrasonic transducer unit 10 in consideration of the observation visual field range of the observation optical system 22. This eliminates the inconvenience that the observation field is obstructed by the ultrasonic transducer section 10 and a part of the endoscopic image is missing during endoscopic observation.

  On the other hand, the arrangement position of the illumination window 23 a is set to an upper position on the outer periphery of the observation window 22 a far from the ultrasonic transducer unit 10 in consideration of the illumination light irradiation range of the illumination optical system 23. Thus, during endoscopic observation, the shadow of the ultrasonic transducer unit 10 is not reflected in the observation image.

  Note that the observation window 22a and the illumination window 23a are provided in the observation portion distal surface 21a configured to slightly protrude from the distal surface 21. Further, the auxiliary water supply channel port 26 is arranged on the other side opposite to the side where the observation window 22a, the illumination window 23a, and the air / water supply nozzle 25 are arranged, and is arranged outside the ultrasonic observation region 10A. ing.

Next, the internal configuration of the tip 2a will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a mounting member 2ab for mounting the tube connecting pipe 28 and the main body portion 32 of the ultrasonic transducer unit 11 is provided in the distal end hard portion 2aa. The attachment member 2ab includes a treatment instrument insertion channel hole (hereinafter, abbreviated as a treatment instrument hole) 27 that constitutes the treatment instrument outlet 24, and an ultrasonic transducer unit arrangement hole (hereinafter simply referred to as an arrangement hole). 32a is formed.

  The distal end hard portion 2aa is not shown in addition to the treatment instrument hole 27 and the arrangement hole 32a, but a through hole in which an observation optical system is provided, a through hole in which an illumination optical system is provided, air supply / water supply A through hole for supplying air and water for supplying fluid ejected from the nozzle 25, a through hole constituting the auxiliary water supply channel port 26, and the like are provided.

A tube connecting pipe 28 (described later) and a main body portion 32 of the ultrasonic transducer unit 11 are fixed to the attachment member 2ab so as to be fitted.
On the proximal end side of the treatment instrument hole 27, one end portion of the tube connection pipe 28 is inserted and fixed to the attachment member 2ab. One end of a channel tube 29 constituting the treatment instrument insertion channel is externally connected to the tube connecting pipe 28 at the other end. The other end of the channel tube 29 communicates with the treatment instrument insertion port 3d (see FIG. 1).

  Then, the treatment instrument inserted through the treatment instrument insertion port 3 d smoothly moves through the channel tube 29, the tube connection pipe 28, and the treatment instrument hole 27 and is led out from the treatment instrument outlet port 24.

  The main body 32 of the ultrasonic transducer unit 11 is disposed in the arrangement hole 32a of the attachment member 2ab. The distal end portion of the insulating tube 32 b is fixed to the proximal end portion of the main body portion 32. An ultrasonic cable 33 in which a plurality of signal lines respectively extending from a plurality of piezoelectric elements constituting the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 12 are grouped is inserted into the insulating tube 32a.

  The insulating tube 32 b extends through the insertion portion 2 and extends the other end to the operation portion 3. The ultrasonic cable 33 extends through the insertion portion 2, the operation portion 3, the universal cord 4, the endoscope connector 5, and the ultrasonic cable 6 to the ultrasonic connector 7.

  And the base end side of the front-end | tip hard part 2aa which accommodated the built-in thing in this way is coat | covered with the outer skin rubber 31 extended from the curved part 2b. The distal end portion of the outer rubber 31 is integrally fixed by a bobbin adhering portion 34 provided on the distal end hard portion 2aa.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 12 is disposed at the center of the tissue contact portion of the ultrasonic transducer unit 11. The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 12 includes, for example, a plurality of piezoelectric elements 9. The plurality of piezoelectric elements 9 are arranged so as to form a convex arc.

  Further, the ultrasonic transducer unit 11 has a tissue contact portion 11b. The tissue contact portion 11b includes an arcuate tissue contact surface 11a (see FIG. 2). The main body 32 is disposed in the arrangement hole 32a of the attachment member 2ab.

The ultrasonic endoscope 1 of the present embodiment is a groove formed between the distal end hard portion 2aa and the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 12 of the ultrasonic transducer unit 10, and is a part of the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a. And the groove part 40 which a part of surface of the front-end | tip hard part 2aa opposes has.
And this ultrasonic endoscope 1 has the hydrophilic part 41 which has hydrophilicity in at least one surface of the front-end | tip hard part 2aa side and the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a among this groove part 40. As shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the hydrophilic portion 41 will be described with respect to the configuration provided on the surface 12a1 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 12a of the groove portion 40, but is not limited to this, and the tip of the groove portion 40 is not limited thereto. You may comprise by providing only in the surface 2a1 by the side of the hard part 2aa, or both. Further, the hydrophilic portion 41 shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 is described with a thickness larger than the actual thickness in order to easily explain the configuration of the hydrophilic portion 41 that is this constituent element. It is not limited.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the groove portion 40 includes a part of the surface 12a1 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 12a, a part of the surface 2a1 of the hard tip portion 2aa disposed to face the surface 12a1, and the surface 12a1, 2a1 and a bottom surface portion 40a of the groove portion 40 formed between 2a1.

  By providing the groove portion 40 between the distal end hard portion 2aa and the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a in this way, it becomes easy to guide water for facilitating transmission of ultrasonic waves. In particular, water has entered the groove portion 40. In some cases, new water can be drawn efficiently.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, in order to efficiently retain the water attracted to the groove portion 40, the hydrophilic portion 41 is provided on a part of the surface 12 a 1 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 12 a of the groove portion 40. Is provided.

  The hydrophilic portion 41 is formed by surface treatment including surface film formation or surface modification, and has a function of facilitating drawing and holding water into the groove portion 40 by utilizing the property of being easily mixed with water.

In the case where the surface treatment is a surface film-forming treatment, the hydrophilic portion 41 is made of, for example, titanium oxide on a part of the surface 12a1 of the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a formed of a resin-based material such as an epoxy resin. It is formed by surface deposition.
The surface treatment for surface film formation is not limited to titanium oxide. For example, the hydrophilic portion 41 may be formed by coating with a hydrophilic member such as a photocurable resin or a polyurethane resin. Good.

Further, when the surface treatment is a surface modification treatment, the hydrophilic portion 41 is plasma-discharged with respect to a part of the surface 12a1 of the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a formed of a resin-based material such as silicon rubber, for example. Alternatively, it is formed by performing a corona discharge treatment.
The surface treatment for surface modification is not limited to such plasma discharge and corona discharge. For example, the hydrophilic portion 41 may be formed using UV ozone treatment or sand blast treatment.

  Moreover, when forming the hydrophilic part 41 by such surface treatment, the hydrophilic part 41 is formed by sputtering etc., masking as needed. By performing the masking, the hydrophilic portion 41 can be reliably formed in a desired predetermined region of the partial surface 12a1 of the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 12a or the partial surface 2a1 of the distal end hard portion 2aa.

  In the present embodiment, the hydrophilic portion 41 may be formed by a surface treatment method suitable for the material of the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a and the distal end hard member 2aa, for example, while masking each part before assembly. If coating such as sputtering is performed, the hydrophilic portion 41 having hydrophilicity can be efficiently formed.

  Moreover, although the hydrophilic part 41 was provided in the partial surface 12a1 of the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a, as shown with the dotted line of FIG. 2, the tissue contact surface 11a of the ultrasonic transducer | vibrator unit 11 is needed as needed. A part of the surface 12a2 may be further provided to draw and hold water more. That is, you may comprise so that the arrangement area of the hydrophilic part 41 may become large.

Next, the hydrophilicity of the hydrophilic part 41 provided in the ultrasonic endoscope 1 of the present embodiment and a specific configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
5-7 is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the hydrophilic property in a hydrophilic part.
The ultrasonic endoscope 1 of the present embodiment can effectively draw water into the groove portion 40 and hold it by the hydrophilic portion 41. In this case, it is desirable that the hydrophilic portion 41 is formed so that the hydrophilicity is as high as possible, and water is efficiently attached to the surface in the groove portion 40 and kept.

  Here, the hydrophilicity in the hydrophilic portion 41 will be described in detail. The hydrophilicity of the hydrophilic portion 41 provided on a part of the surface 12a1 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 12a forming the groove portion 40 is an ultrasonic medium such as water. This is due to the adhesion energy E.

ここで、図７に示すように、ｈを液滴の頂点までの高さ、ｒを液滴の半径、θを液滴の左右端点と頂点を結ぶ直線の、固体表面に対する角度を接触角とすると、半径ｒは下記[式２]で表され、さらに、滑落角αと接触角θとの関係は、下記[式３]で表される。 For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when a droplet is placed on a surface corresponding to the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a, θa is the advancing angle of the droplet, θr is the receding angle of the droplet, and α is the sliding angle of the droplet. , Ρ is the density of the droplet, and V is the volume of the droplet,
The adhesion energy E to the surface of the droplet can be obtained from FIG. 6 and the following [Equation 1].
[Formula 1]

Here, as shown in FIG. 7, h is the height to the top of the droplet, r is the radius of the droplet, θ is the angle of the straight line connecting the left and right end points and the vertex of the droplet with respect to the solid surface, and the contact angle. Then, the radius r is expressed by the following [Formula 2], and the relationship between the sliding angle α and the contact angle θ is expressed by the following [Formula 3].

［式３］

すると、上記[式１]、 [式２]、 [式３]により、液滴の付着エネルギＥは、下記[式４]により導き出すことができる。 [Formula 2]

[Formula 3]

Then, the adhesion energy E of the droplet can be derived by the following [Expression 4] from the above [Expression 1], [Expression 2], and [Expression 3].

そこで、実際に溝部４０の超音波送受信面１２ａの一部の表面１２ａ１に水Ｗが十分に保持されるのに好適な付着エネルギＥ、および液滴の高さｈ、滑落角αを得るための実験を行った。この実験結果によれば、ｈ＝０．４、α＝８０°という条件を満足したときに、効率良く水を表面１２ａ１に保持することができる実験結果が得られた。
すなわち、このときの付着エネルギＥは、上記[式４]を用いて算出すると、下記の[表１]に示すように、０．１５となる。 [Formula 4]

Therefore, in order to obtain adhesion energy E suitable for the water W to be sufficiently held on a part of the surface 12a1 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 12a of the groove 40, the height h of the droplet, and the sliding angle α. The experiment was conducted. According to this experimental result, when satisfying the conditions of h = 0.4 and α = 80 °, an experimental result that can efficiently hold water on the surface 12a1 was obtained.
That is, the adhesion energy E at this time is 0.15 as shown in the following [Table 1] when calculated using the above [Formula 4].

Here, when the state in which the water W sufficiently enters and mixes in the opening of the groove 40 is an optimum state, the height h of the water droplet is an ultrasonic wave that forms the opening of the groove 40 as shown in FIG. It is desirable to correspond to a separation distance L between a part of the surface 12a1 of the transmission / reception surface 12a and the surface 2a1 of the hard tip portion 2aa.
The separation distance L is the distance from the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a to the point where the line perpendicular to the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a contacts the protruding portion of the distal end hard portion 2aa at the opening of the groove 40, that is, The distance between the sound wave transmitting / receiving surface 12a and the distal end hard portion 2aa is the shortest distance.

すなわち、前記[表１]に示すように、本実施形態における親水性部４１は、溝部４０における超音波送受信面１２ａの一部の表面１２ａ１と先端硬質部２ａａの一部の表面２ａ１との離間距離Ｌ（ｈ）が０．１〜０．２ｍｍの場合には、純水Ｗに対する接触角θが５０°以下であることが好ましく、より好ましくは３０°となるように構成すればよい。 In the present embodiment, considering that the hydrophilicity of the hydrophilic portion 41 is optimal to have an adhesion energy of 0.15 as described above, the separation distance L (h) The combinations with the contact angle θ of water with respect to the water droplets W are as shown in [Table 1] below.
[Table 1]

That is, as shown in [Table 1], the hydrophilic portion 41 in the present embodiment is a space between a part of the surface 12a1 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 12a and a part of the surface 2a1 of the distal end hard part 2aa in the groove 40. When the distance L (h) is 0.1 to 0.2 mm, the contact angle θ with respect to the pure water W is preferably 50 ° or less, and more preferably 30 °.

  Further, the hydrophilic portion 41 has a separation distance L (h) of 0.2 to 0.4 mm between a part of the surface 12a1 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 12a and a part of the surface 2a1 of the distal end hard part 2aa in the groove 40. In this case, the contact angle θ with respect to the pure water W is preferably 80 ° or less, and more preferably 50 °.

  In addition, the hydrophilic portion 41 has a separation distance L (h) between a part of the surface 12a1 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 12a and a part of the surface 2a1 of the distal end hard part 2aa in the groove 40 of 0.4 to 0.6 mm. In this case, the contact angle θ with respect to the pure water W is preferably 100 ° or less, and more preferably 80 °.

  By providing the hydrophilic part 41 having such hydrophilicity, the water W that has entered the groove part 40 can be effectively retained by the adhesion energy.

  In addition, the arrangement | positioning area | region of the direction along the central axis O2 of the ultrasonic transducer | vibrator part 10 of the hydrophilic part 41 is not limited to the area | region shown in FIGS. The arrangement region of the hydrophilic portion 41 on the partial surface 12a1 of the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a and the partial surface 2a1 of the distal end hard portion 2aa may be enlarged.

  In the present embodiment, as an evaluation method for evaluating whether or not such a hydrophilic portion 41 is sufficiently provided on a part of the surface 12a1 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 12a of the groove portion 40 by the surface treatment described above. There is a hydrophilicity evaluation method as described later.

  As this hydrophilicity evaluation method, for example, evaluation is performed using a wetting angle measuring device that measures a wetting angle that is a contact angle θ of pure water. In this case, a drop of distilled water is dropped on the measurement surface of the wetting angle measuring device. The droplet amount at this time is preferably, for example, 0.05 ml to 0.1 ml. Moreover, it is desirable to set the measurement temperature at the time of this measurement to 25 °, for example, and to measure the wetting angle of the dropped droplet. The presence or absence of hydrophilicity and the level of hydrophilicity in the hydrophilic portion 41 can be evaluated using a wetting angle measuring device under such conditions.

  Next, operations that are characteristic of the ultrasonic endoscope 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 8, and 9. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic endoscope image displayed on the monitor when the hydrophilic portion is not provided, and FIG. 9 is an ultrasonic wave displayed on the monitor when the hydrophilic portion is provided. It is a figure which shows an endoscopic image.

  Under the ultrasonic observation using the ultrasonic endoscope 1 in the present embodiment, the surgeon places the distal end portion 2a of the insertion portion 2 on the wall portion 100 of the subject to be ultrasonically observed as shown in FIG. Contact and perform ultrasonic observation.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, a gap S is formed between the wall 100, which is a part of the subject, and the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a. In the conventional technique, the subject is placed in the gap S. The surface of the wall part 100 which is a part of the wall cannot enter, and water which is an ultrasonic medium cannot be retained.

  For this reason, ultrasonic waves cannot be transmitted / received from the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 12a in the region corresponding to the gap S, and as a result, an ultrasonic scanning range narrower than the ultrasonic observation region 10A which is a normal ultrasonic scanning range. The ultrasonic observation is performed in the ultrasonic observation region 10a. Therefore, an ultrasonic image 100A having a chipped portion 100a as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the monitor, and there is a possibility that the subject cannot be correctly ultrasonically observed.

  However, if the ultrasonic endoscope 1 of the present embodiment is used, the groove portion 40 is provided between the distal end hard portion 2aa and the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a, and therefore water W for facilitating transmission of ultrasonic waves. In particular, when water W enters the groove 40, new water can be efficiently drawn.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the hydrophilic portion 41 having hydrophilicity as described above is provided on a part of the surface 12 a 1 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 12 a of the groove portion 40.

For this reason, for example, before the tip portion 2a comes into contact with the surface of the wall portion 100 which is a part of the subject, water is supplied from the auxiliary water supply channel port 26 and water W as an ultrasonic medium is supplied to the groove portion 40. For example, the water W can be efficiently held on at least a portion of the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a where the gap S is formed, specifically, a part of the surface 12a1 of the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the hydrophilic portion 41 can draw and hold the water W not only in the groove portion 40 but also in the gap S.

  As a result, since the ultrasonic observation can be performed in the normal ultrasonic observation region 10A by pressing the tip 2a against the wall portion 100 of the subject again, the normal ultrasonic wave as shown in FIG. The sound wave image 100B can be displayed on the monitor.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even if the gap S is formed between the wall 100 of the subject and the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 12a, the ultrasonic wave is provided by providing the hydrophilic portion 41 in the groove 40. Therefore, it is possible to realize an ultrasonic endoscope that can hold water in a gap so that an ultrasonic image can be obtained according to a normal scanning range of ultrasonic waves.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasound endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 2a ... Tip part 2aa ... Tip hard part 2ab ... Mounting member 2b ... Curved part 2c ... Flexible tube part 3 ... Operation part 3a ... Angle knob 3b ... Air supply / water supply button 3c ... Suction button 3d ... treatment instrument insertion port 4 ... universal cord 5 ... endoscope connector 6 ... ultrasonic cable 7 ... ultrasonic connector 9 ... piezoelectric element 10 ... ultrasonic transducer 10A ... ultrasonic observation region 11 ... ultrasonic vibration Sub unit 12 ... Ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 12a ... Ultrasonic transmitter / receiver surface 12a1 ... Surface 21 ... Front end surface 22 ... Observation optical system 22a ... Observation window 23 ... Illumination optical system 23a ... Illumination window 24 ... Treatment instrument outlet 25 ... Air supply / water supply Nozzle 26 ... Sub-water channel 27 ... Treatment device hole 32 ... Main body portion 32a ... Arrangement hole 40 ... Groove portion 40a ... Bottom portion 41 ... Hydrophilic portion 100 ... Wall portions 100A, 100B ... Ultrasonic image

Claims (7)

An insertion section for insertion into a subject;
A hard tip portion disposed at a tip of the insertion portion;
An ultrasonic transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves, and an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit provided at the distal end hard portion at the distal end of the insertion portion;
A groove formed between the distal end hard portion and the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit, wherein a part of the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface and a part of the surface of the distal end hard portion are opposed to each other,
Among the groove portions, a hydrophilic portion that is disposed on at least one surface of the distal end hard portion side and the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface and has hydrophilicity,
An ultrasonic endoscope characterized by comprising:   The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic portion is formed by surface treatment including surface film formation or surface modification.   The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 2, wherein when the surface treatment is the surface film formation, the hydrophilic portion is formed of titanium oxide.   The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 2, wherein when the surface treatment is the surface modification, the hydrophilic portion is formed by plasma discharge or corona discharge.   The ultrasonic endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a contact angle with respect to pure water in the hydrophilic portion is 100 degrees or less.   The ultrasonic endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a contact angle with respect to pure water in the hydrophilic portion is 80 degrees or less.   The ultrasonic endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a contact angle with respect to pure water in the hydrophilic portion is 50 degrees or less.

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