JP2017225746A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope capable of suppressing damage due to buckling of light guide fibers and image guide fibers when being adopted to a forward oblique view type endoscope.SOLUTION: An endoscope includes: a tubular flexible tube; a bending section being bendable at least in one direction; a hard distal end for holding an objective lens and an illumination lens, the optical axes of which are inclined respectively in an insertion direction in an analyte; an IG bundle whose one end faces an optical plane of the objective lens, that is formed by extending inside the bending section and the flexible tube, and is formed by bundling a plurality of image guide fibers for guiding light passing through the objective lens; an LG bundle whose one end faces an optical plane of the illumination lens, that is formed by extending inside the bending section and the flexible tube, and is formed by bundling a plurality of light guide fibers for guiding illumination light for illuminating the analyte to the illumination lens; and a spiral tube for bundling a part of the IG bundle and a part of the HG bundle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope having an image guide fiber that guides observation light received at a distal end to an imaging device provided on a proximal end side.

  Conventionally, in the medical field, an endoscope system is used when observing an organ of a subject such as a patient. An endoscope system is an endoscope having an insertion portion introduced into a subject, and an in-vivo image corresponding to an imaging signal generated by an imaging device connected to a proximal end side of the insertion portion via a cable. And a processing device that performs processing to display an in-vivo image on a display unit or the like.

  As an endoscope, for example, an image guide fiber bundle (hereinafter referred to as IG) that bundles image guide fibers that guide observation light that has passed through an objective lens provided at a distal end to an imaging element provided on a proximal end side. Bundles) and light guide fiber bundles (hereinafter referred to as LG bundles) in which light guide fibers that guide illumination light for illuminating a subject are bundled are known. As such an endoscope, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a direct-viewing type endoscope having an LG bundle.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-295531

  However, when the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is applied to a front perspective endoscope, it is necessary to bend the LG bundle or IG bundle at the tip. At this time, the light guide fiber and the image guide fiber may be buckled and damaged by a load applied by bending.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an endoscope capable of suppressing damage due to buckling of a light guide fiber and an image guide fiber when applied to a front perspective type endoscope. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, an endoscope according to the present invention has flexibility, extends in a tubular shape, and is inserted into a subject from the distal end side. A bending portion that is provided on the distal end side of the flexible tube portion and can be bent in at least one direction, and provided on the distal end side of the bending portion, and is light with respect to the insertion direction into the subject. A hard tip for holding an objective lens and an illumination lens each having an inclined axis, and one end facing the optical surface of the objective lens and extending inside the curved portion and the flexible tube portion An image guide fiber bundle formed by bundling a plurality of image guide fibers that guide light that has passed through the objective lens, one end of the image guide fiber bundle that faces the optical surface of the illumination lens, and the curved portion and the flexible tube portion Illuminates the subject. A light guide fiber bundle formed by bundling a plurality of light guide fibers that guide the illumination light to the illumination lens, a spiral tube that bundles a part of the image guide fiber bundle and a part of the light guide fiber bundle, It is provided with.

  In the endoscope according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, the spiral tube extends to an end portion on the opposite side of the end portion in the extending direction of the flexible tube portion that is connected to the curved portion. It is characterized by that.

  The endoscope according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the spiral tube has an end on the distal end side fixed to the image guide fiber bundle and the light guide fiber bundle. .

  The endoscope according to the present invention is the adhesive layer for fixing the image guide fiber bundle and the light guide fiber bundle at least between the end on the distal end side and the end of the spiral tube in the above invention. , Further provided.

  In the above invention, the endoscope according to the present invention is a tubular tube in which one end is connected to an opening provided in the distal end portion and extends inside the bending portion and the flexible tube portion. The channel is further provided.

  The endoscope according to the present invention is the endoscope according to the above-described invention, provided at the distal end, electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer, and capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and the bending portion And an ultrasonic signal line group including a plurality of signal lines inserted through the inside of the flexible tube portion.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when it applies to a front perspective type endoscope, there exists an effect that the damage by buckling of a light guide fiber and an image guide fiber can be suppressed.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an endoscope system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the distal end configuration of the insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a part of the distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention, passing through the line AA shown in FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view which makes a cut surface the plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of a part. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a part of the distal end portion of a conventional ultrasonic endoscope. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line B-B shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a part of the distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the first modification of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a part of the distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the second modification of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a part of the distal end portion at the time of manufacturing the ultrasonic endoscope according to the second modification of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a part of the distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the third modification of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the proximal end side of the insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the fourth modification of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a proximal end side of an insertion portion of a conventional ultrasonic endoscope.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter, embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. Furthermore, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part in description of drawing.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an endoscope system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The endoscope system 1 is a system that performs ultrasonic diagnosis in a subject such as a person using an ultrasonic endoscope. As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope system 1 includes a front perspective ultrasonic endoscope 2, an ultrasonic observation device 3, an endoscope observation device 4, a display device 5, and a light source device 6. With.

  The ultrasonic endoscope 2 converts an electrical pulse signal received from the ultrasonic observation apparatus 3 into an ultrasonic pulse (acoustic pulse) and irradiates the subject with an ultrasonic transducer provided at the tip thereof. At the same time, the ultrasonic echo reflected from the subject is converted into an electrical echo signal expressed by a voltage change and output.

  The ultrasonic endoscope 2 usually has an imaging optical system and an imaging device, and is inserted into the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, duodenum, large intestine) or respiratory organ (trachea, bronchi) of the subject for digestion. Imaging of either a tube or a respiratory organ can be performed. In addition, surrounding organs (pancreas, gallbladder, bile duct, biliary tract, lymph node, mediastinal organ, blood vessel, etc.) can be imaged using ultrasound. The ultrasonic endoscope 2 according to the present embodiment will be described as performing bronchial observation. In addition, the ultrasonic endoscope 2 has a light guide that guides illumination light to be irradiated onto a subject during optical imaging. The light guide has a distal end portion that reaches the distal end of the insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope 2 into the subject, and a proximal end portion that is connected to the light source device 6 that generates illumination light.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic endoscope 2 includes an insertion unit 21, an operation unit 22, a universal cord 23, and a connector 24. The insertion part 21 is a part inserted into the subject. As shown in FIG. 1, the insertion portion 21 is provided on the distal end side, is connected to a hard distal end portion 211 that holds the ultrasonic transducer 7, and a proximal end side of the distal end portion 211. A bending portion 212 that can be bent in at least one direction with respect to an axis, and a flexible tube portion 213 that is connected to the proximal end side of the bending portion 212 and has flexibility are provided. Here, although not shown in the drawings, a light guide that transmits illumination light supplied from the light source device 6 and a plurality of signal cables that transmit various signals are routed inside the insertion portion 21. In addition, a treatment instrument insertion passage for inserting the treatment instrument is formed. Here, for example, the bending portion 212 can reciprocate by bending in a predetermined direction from a state extending along the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 21. For example, the bending portion 212 includes a predetermined direction and reciprocates on a plane parallel to the predetermined direction. The bending portion 212 may be bent in a predetermined direction, or two or more directions, for example, two directions of a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. Or curved in a plurality of directions selected from the four directions of the first and second directions and the third and fourth directions orthogonal to the first and second directions, respectively. May be.

  The ultrasonic transducer 7 is a convex type that scans electronically by providing a plurality of piezoelectric elements in an array and electronically switching the piezoelectric elements involved in transmission / reception or delaying transmission / reception of each piezoelectric element. This is an ultrasonic transducer. The configuration of the ultrasonic transducer 7 will be described later.

  The operation unit 22 is connected to the proximal end side of the insertion unit 21, and is a part that receives various operations from a user such as a doctor. As shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 22 includes a bending knob 221 for performing a bending operation on the bending unit 212 and a plurality of operation members 222 for performing various operations. In addition, the operation section 22 is formed with a treatment instrument insertion port 223 that communicates with the treatment instrument insertion path and allows the treatment instrument to be inserted into the treatment instrument insertion path.

  The universal cord 23 is a cable that extends from the operation unit 22 and includes a plurality of signal cables that transmit various signals and a part of the LG bundle 101 that transmits illumination light supplied from the light source device 6. is there.

  The connector 24 is provided at the tip of the universal cord 23. The connector 24 includes first to third connector portions 241 to 243 to which the ultrasonic cable 31, the video cable 41, and the light source device 6 are respectively connected.

  The ultrasonic observation apparatus 3 is electrically connected to the ultrasonic endoscope 2 via the ultrasonic cable 31 (FIG. 1), and outputs a pulse signal to the ultrasonic endoscope 2 via the ultrasonic cable 31. At the same time, an echo signal is input from the ultrasonic endoscope 2. Then, the ultrasonic observation device 3 performs a predetermined process on the echo signal to generate an ultrasonic image.

  The endoscope observation apparatus 4 is electrically connected to the ultrasonic endoscope 2 via a video cable 41 (FIG. 1) and inputs an image signal from the ultrasonic endoscope 2 via the video cable 41. . Then, the endoscope observation apparatus 4 performs a predetermined process on the image signal to generate an endoscope image.

  The display device 5 is configured by using a liquid crystal or organic EL (Electro Luminescence), a projector, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), and the like, and an ultrasonic image generated by the ultrasonic observation device 3 or an endoscope observation device 4. The endoscope image etc. which were produced | generated by are displayed.

  The light source device 6 is connected to the ultrasonic endoscope 2 and supplies illumination light for illuminating the inside of the subject to the ultrasonic endoscope 2.

  Next, the tip configuration of the insertion part of the ultrasonic endoscope will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the distal end configuration of the insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the tip 211 has an ultrasonic transducer module 214 that holds the ultrasonic transducer 7, an objective lens 215 a that forms part of the imaging optical system and captures light from the outside, and illumination. An endoscope module 215 having an illumination lens 215b that collects light and emits the light to the outside. The endoscope module 215 is formed with a treatment instrument protrusion 215 c that is an opening that communicates with the treatment instrument insertion passage formed in the insertion section 21 and projects the treatment instrument from the distal end of the insertion section 21. . Each optical axis of the objective lens 215 a and the illumination lens 215 b is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 21. In addition, the treatment instrument insertion passage extends in the vicinity of the end connected to the treatment instrument protrusion 215c in an inclined manner with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insertion section 21, and the treatment instrument extends from the treatment instrument protrusion 215c to the longitudinal axis. And projecting in an inclined direction. The longitudinal axis here is an axis along the longitudinal direction of the insertion section 21 according to the present embodiment, and is along the insertion direction of the insertion section 21 into the subject (for example, arrow Y shown in FIG. 3). Corresponds to the extending axis. That is, the optical axes of the objective lens 215a and the illumination lens 215b are inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the insertion portion 21 into the subject. In the bending portion 212 and the flexible tube portion 213, the axial direction changes depending on each position, but in the rigid tip portion 211, the longitudinal axis is an axis that forms a constant straight line. Hereinafter, in the insertion portion 21, the distal end portion 211 side is referred to as a distal end, and the side continuous with the operation portion 22 is referred to as a proximal end.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a part of the distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the present embodiment, and passes through the line AA shown in FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view which makes a plane parallel to a longitudinal axis a cut surface. The ultrasonic endoscope 2 bundles a plurality of image guide fibers that guide observation light that has passed through an objective lens 215a provided at a distal end to an image pickup device provided in a base end side, for example, the operation unit 22. An image guide fiber bundle 100 (hereinafter referred to as IG bundle 100) and a light guide fiber bundle 101 (hereinafter referred to as LG) that is a bundle of a plurality of light guide fibers that guide the illumination light that illuminates the subject to the illumination lens 215b. Bundle 101). The image guide fiber and the light guide fiber are different from each other in the number and thickness of fiber fibers provided and the length (bundle diameter) in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. For example, the IG bundle is φ1.0 mm, and the LG bundle is φ1.3 mm.

  Here, the housing 215d has a first hole 215e through which the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 are inserted, a second hole 215f through which the IG bundle 100 is inserted, and a third hole 215g through which the LG bundle 101 is inserted. And are formed. The first hole portion 215e is provided on the proximal end side in the insertion direction into the subject and extends while being inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the distal end portion 211. The second hole portion 215f extends from a part of the end portion on the distal end side of the first hole portion 215e. The third hole portion 215g is a part of the end portion on the distal end side of the first hole portion 215e and extends from a portion different from the second hole portion 215f.

  The IG bundle 100 extends inside the bending portion 212 and the flexible tube portion 213. One end of the IG bundle 100 is in contact with or opposed to the optical surface of the objective lens 251 a, and the other end is opposed to the light receiving surface of the imaging element provided inside the operation unit 22. The IG bundle 100 and the objective lens 215a are held by the IG frame 100a so as to face each other.

  The tip portion of the IG bundle 100 is positioned by being inserted into the second hole 215f of the endoscope module 215 and held by the IG frame 100a. In the IG bundle 100, the direction in which each image guide fiber extends is preferably parallel to the optical axis of the objective lens 251a at one end and orthogonal to the light receiving surface of the image sensor at the other end.

  The LG bundle 101 extends inside the bending portion 212 and the flexible tube portion 213. The LG bundle 101 has one end facing the optical surface of the illumination lens 215 b and the other end facing the light emitting surface of the light source device 6 provided in the connector 24. That is, the LG bundle 101 extends from the distal end of the insertion portion 21 to the connector 24. The LG bundle 101 and the illumination lens 215b are held by the LG frame 101a so as to face each other. The LG bundle 101 is positioned by inserting the distal end portion into the third hole 215g of the endoscope module 215 and holding the LG bundle 101 in the LG frame 101a.

  In addition, inside the bending portion 212 and the flexible tube portion 213 of the insertion portion 21, the tubular channel tube 102 that forms the above-described treatment instrument insertion passage, the ultrasonic transducer 7, the ultrasonic observation device 3, and the like. And an ultrasonic signal line group 103 formed by bundling a plurality of signal lines for transmitting signals therebetween. The channel tube 102 has one end connected to the treatment instrument protrusion 215 c and the other end connected to the treatment instrument insertion port 223.

  The bending portion 212 is provided with a plurality of bending pieces (not shown), wires for bending the bending portion 212 by operating the bending pieces, and the like. The bending piece has a cylindrical shape, and the IG bundle 100, the LG bundle 101, the channel tube 102, and the ultrasonic signal line group 103 are inserted into the bending piece.

  The IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 are partially bundled by a spiral tube 10 as shown in FIG. The spiral tube 10 is formed by spirally winding a band-shaped member or by making a spiral cut into the tube. The spiral tube 10 is formed using rubber or resin having elasticity. Specific examples include silicone rubber and low density polyethylene. The spiral tube 10 has a hollow space formed by winding, that is, the inner diameter of the spiral tube 10 is orthogonal to the maximum diameter in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the IG bundle 100 and the longitudinal direction of the LG bundle 101. It is below the sum of the maximum diameter in the direction. For example, when the IG bundle is φ1.0 mm and the LG bundle is φ1.3 mm, the inner diameter of the spiral tube 10 is preferably φ1.5 to φ2.3 mm. In this case, the pitch along the direction in which the spiral tube 10 extends is preferably about 3.0 to 10.0 mm.

  One end of the spiral tube 10 is positioned in the vicinity of the end of the casing 215d of the endoscope module 215 on the curved portion 212 side, and the other end of the end of the flexible tube portion 213 in the extending direction is It is located at the end on the operation unit 22 side. For example, the spiral tube 10 has one end at a position approximately 4.0 mm away from the housing 215d toward the proximal end, or at a position approximately 1.0 mm away from the bent portion of the IG bundle 100 and LG bundle 101 toward the proximal end. Be placed. Moreover, the extending | stretching direction here refers to the direction along the longitudinal axis in which the flexible tube part 213 is extended tubularly.

  The spiral tube 10 may be configured such that the end of the endoscope module 215 on the housing 215d side is fixed to the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 using an adhesive. As the adhesive, known adhesive means such as a double-sided tape and a rubber adhesive can be applied. Moreover, when the spiral tube 10 is formed of polyethylene, it can be fixed to the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 by heat welding.

  By bundling the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 with the spiral tube 10, each flexibility is reduced as compared with the case where the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 are provided independently. Thereby, for example, when the bending portion 212 is bent, the bending degree of the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 bundled by the spiral tube 10 is set so that the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 which are independently arranged are bent. It becomes smaller than the degree to do.

  FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a part of the distal end portion of a conventional ultrasonic endoscope. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line B-B shown in FIG. 4. In the conventional configuration in which the spiral tube 10 is not provided and the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 are independently provided, the IG bundle is formed in the space formed inside the insertion portion 21, for example, the bending portion 212. 100 and LG bundle 101 can move freely. The bending portion 212 is also inserted with the channel tube 102 and the ultrasonic signal line group 103 having larger diameters than the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101, and is designed to have an inner diameter that can accommodate all of them. Therefore, a space S in which the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 can move is formed in the bending portion 212. The bending operation of the bending portion 212 causes the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 to be violently bent and bent. There is a risk of bending.

  On the other hand, in the configuration according to the present embodiment, the flexibility as the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 is reduced by bundling the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 with the spiral tube 10. For this reason, even if the bending part 212 performs a bending operation | movement, it can suppress that the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 ramp up inside the bending part 212. FIG. Thereby, buckling of the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 can be suppressed.

  Moreover, since the member that bundles the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 is the spiral tube 10, the spiral tube 10 can be easily removed from the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101, and is removed after removing a part. It is also possible to shorten the spiral tube 10 by cutting the portion. Thus, by making the member that bundles the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 into the spiral tube 10, it is possible to easily attach and remove the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 and adjust the length of the spiral tube 10. .

  According to the first embodiment described above, since the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 that are inserted through the insertion portion 21 are bundled by the spiral tube 10 in the front perspective type ultrasonic endoscope 2. The flexibility of the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 is reduced, and when applied to a front perspective endoscope, breakage due to buckling of the light guide fiber and the image guide fiber can be suppressed.

  The spiral tube 10 may be wound with a constant pitch, may have a partially different pitch, or may have a partially different length in the axial direction of the winding. May be.

(Modification 1 of Embodiment 1)
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a part of the distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the first modification of the embodiment of the present invention. In the first modification, a spiral tube 10A is provided instead of the spiral tube 10 described above. The spiral tube 10A bundles the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101. One end of the spiral tube 10A extends to the inside of the casing 215d of the endoscope module 215, specifically, to the first hole 215e, and the other end is an end of the flexible tube portion 213 on the operation portion 22 side. Located in the department.

  According to the first modification, since one end of the spiral tube 10A extends to the inside of the first hole 215e of the casing 215d of the endoscope module 215, the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 are bundled. One end of the spiral tube 10A can be fixed to the housing 215d.

(Modification 2 of Embodiment 1)
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a part of the distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the second modification of the embodiment of the present invention. In the second modification, a spiral tube 10B is provided instead of the spiral tube 10 described above. The spiral tube 10B bundles the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101. One end of the spiral tube 10B is located in the vicinity of the end portion on the bending portion 212 side of the casing 215d of the endoscope module 215, and the other end is connected to the flexible tube portion 213 in the bending portion 212. Located near the edge.

  FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a part of the distal end portion at the time of manufacturing the ultrasonic endoscope according to the second modification of the embodiment of the present invention. At the time of manufacturing the ultrasonic endoscope 2 in the second modification, the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 are provided by the auxiliary spiral tube 104 that extends with a length equivalent to the length of the flexible tube portion 213 to the end on the operation portion 22 side. Bundle. The auxiliary spiral tube 104 is provided on the proximal end side of the spiral tube 10B and is connected to the spiral tube 10B. The spiral tube 10B and the auxiliary spiral tube 104 have the same length as the spiral tube 10 described above. In this state, by inserting the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 into the flexible tube portion 213, the damage caused by the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 being caught and buckled in the flexible tube portion 213 is suppressed. Can do. After the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 are inserted until they extend from the end of the flexible tube portion 213, the auxiliary spiral tube 104 is removed, whereby the configuration shown in FIG. 7 can be obtained.

  As described above, by using the auxiliary spiral tube 104, buckling of the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 when the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 are inserted into the flexible tube portion 213 during manufacturing can be suppressed. . The spiral tube 10B and the auxiliary spiral tube 104 may be formed using the same material, or may be formed using different materials. The auxiliary spiral tube 104 is preferably formed using a material having good smoothness in addition to elasticity, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene, and more preferably thin, for easy removal. The thickness here is a difference between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the auxiliary spiral tube 104.

  According to the second modification, since the portions bent by the bending operation of the bending portion 212 are bundled by the spiral tube 10B, the portions of the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 are bundled. Breakage due to buckling of the light guide fiber and the image guide fiber can be suppressed while the degree of freedom inside the flexible tube portion 213 is ensured.

(Modification 3 of Embodiment 1)
FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a part of the distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the third modification of the embodiment of the present invention. In the third modification, a part of the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 exposed from the tip of the spiral tube 10 is fixed by the adhesive layer 105. The adhesive layer 105 is formed using an elastic adhesive, for example, a silicone rubber adhesive. Although the adhesive layer 105 extends to the inside of the first hole 215e in FIG. 9, it is provided so as to cover at least the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 exposed between the tip of the spiral tube 10 and the housing 215d. It only has to be.

  According to the third modification example, a part of the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 exposed from the tip of the spiral tube 10 is fixed by the elastic adhesive layer 105, so that it extends from the tip of the spiral tube 10. The fixed IG bundle 100 and LG bundle 101 can be fixed to reduce the flexibility of the covering portion.

  In the third modification, if the adhesive layer 105 is also provided at the tip of the spiral tube 10, the position of the spiral tube 10 with respect to the IG bundle 100 and the LG bundle 101 can be fixed.

(Modification 4 of Embodiment 1)
FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the proximal end side of the insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the fourth modification of the embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth modification, a spiral tube 10C is provided instead of the spiral tube 10 described above. The spiral tube 10 </ b> C extends from the proximal end of the flexible tube portion 213 into the operation portion 22. In the fourth modification, the base end of the spiral tube 10 </ b> C extends from the flexible tube portion 213, thereby suppressing the bending amount of the IG bundle 100.

  The IG bundle 100 is disposed on the proximal end side so as to face the imaging element 201a. The IG bundle 100 and the image sensor 201a are held inside a cylindrical holding member 201. The holding member 201 is supported by the frame 200. A cover lens 201b is provided on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 201a. For example, the IG bundle 100 is in contact with the surface of the cover lens 201b opposite to the side on which the image sensor 201a is provided, or has a preset distance via a relay lens (not shown). Opposite.

  The IG bundle 100 is designed to be longer in consideration of a case where it is manufactured slightly shorter due to manufacturing errors. For this reason, the IG bundle 100 bends between the end of the flexible tube portion 213 and the holding member 201. FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a proximal end side of an insertion portion of a conventional ultrasonic endoscope. When the main body 224 of the operation unit 22 is attached in a state where the IG bundle 100 is bent, the IG bundle 100 cannot be accommodated in the main body 224 depending on the amount of bending as shown in FIG. There is a possibility that the IG bundle 100 is pinched and damaged by the end of the IG and the end of the main body 224.

  On the other hand, in the configuration according to the fourth modification, the spiral tube 10 </ b> C is extended from the flexible tube portion 213 to reduce the flexibility of the IG bundle 100 extended from the flexible tube portion 213 and bend. Reduce the amount. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 10, the IG bundle 100 can be accommodated in the main body 224 without sandwiching the IG bundle 100 between the end of the flexible tube portion 213 and the end of the main body 224.

  The extension amount of the spiral tube 10C from the flexible tube portion 213 is appropriately set according to the distance to the holding member 201 and the hollow space formed by the main body portion 224. By extending the spiral tube 10C from the flexible tube portion 213, there is an effect of suppressing the amount of bending.

  The embodiments for carrying out the present invention have been described so far, but the present invention should not be limited only by the above-described embodiments and modifications. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, and can include various embodiments without departing from the technical idea described in the claims. Moreover, you may combine suitably the structure of embodiment and a modification.

  In the above-described embodiment, the piezoelectric element has been described as an example of emitting an ultrasonic wave and converting an ultrasonic wave incident from the outside into an echo signal. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be an element manufactured using Mechanical Systems (for example, C-MUT (Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers) or P-MUT (Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers)).

  The ultrasonic transducer may be a linear transducer, a radial transducer, or a convex transducer. When the ultrasonic transducer is a linear transducer, the scanning area is rectangular (rectangular, square), and when the ultrasonic transducer is a radial or convex transducer, the scanning area is fan-shaped or annular. Eggplant. In addition, the ultrasonic endoscope may be one that mechanically scans the ultrasonic transducer, or a plurality of elements are arranged in an array as the ultrasonic transducer, and the elements involved in transmission and reception are switched electronically. Alternatively, electronic scanning may be performed by delaying transmission / reception of each element.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example is described as an ultrasonic endoscope, but the present invention can also be applied to a front perspective type endoscope that does not include an ultrasonic transducer. The present invention can be applied to any configuration that is a front perspective type and has a fiber that guides light received at the distal end to the proximal end side.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope system 2 Ultrasound endoscope 3 Ultrasound observation apparatus 4 Endoscope observation apparatus 5 Display apparatus 6 Light source apparatus 7 Ultrasonic vibrator 21 Insertion part 22 Operation part 23 Universal code 24 Connector 31 Ultrasound cable 41 Video Cable 100 Image guide fiber bundle (IG bundle)
101 Light guide fiber bundle (LG bundle)
102 Channel tube 103 Ultrasonic signal line group 104 Auxiliary spiral tube 105 Adhesive layer 211 Tip portion 212 Bending portion 213 Flexible tube portion 214 Ultrasonic transducer module 215 Endoscope module 215a Objective lens 215b Illumination lens 215c Treatment tool protrusion 215d Case 221 Bending knob 222 Operation member 223 Treatment instrument insertion port

Claims (6)

A flexible tube portion that is flexible and extends in a tubular shape and is inserted into the subject from the distal end side;
A bending portion provided on a distal end side of the flexible tube portion and capable of bending in at least one direction;
A hard tip for holding an objective lens and an illumination lens, which are provided on the tip side of the curved portion and whose optical axes are inclined with respect to the insertion direction into the subject;
One end is opposed to the optical surface of the objective lens, and extends inside the curved portion and the flexible tube portion, and bundles a plurality of image guide fibers that guide light that has passed through the objective lens. An image guide fiber bundle
A plurality of light guide fibers having one end facing the optical surface of the illumination lens and extending inside the bending portion and the flexible tube portion, and guiding illumination light for illuminating a subject to the illumination lens A light guide fiber bundle,
A spiral tube that bundles a part of the image guide fiber bundle and a part of the light guide fiber bundle;
An endoscope characterized by comprising: 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the spiral tube extends to an end portion on the opposite side to a side connected to the curved portion, of an end portion in the extending direction of the flexible tube portion. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein an end of the spiral tube on the distal end side is fixed to the image guide fiber bundle and the light guide fiber bundle. An adhesive layer for fixing the image guide fiber bundle and the light guide fiber bundle between at least the end on the tip side and the end of the spiral tube;
The endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising: A tubular channel having one end connected to an opening provided in the tip and extending into the bending portion and the flexible tube portion;
The endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising: An ultrasonic transducer provided at the tip and capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves;
An ultrasonic signal line group consisting of a plurality of signal lines that are electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer and are inserted through the bending portion and the flexible tube portion;
The endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising:

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