JP2570556Y2 - Ultrasonic inspection equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic inspection apparatus which is inserted into a human body or the like via an endoscope to perform an ultrasonic inspection and diagnosis.

[Related Art] An ultrasonic inspection apparatus has an ultrasonic probe equipped with an ultrasonic transceiver and an ultrasonic observation apparatus, and the ultrasonic probe causes ultrasonic waves to be incident from the body wall toward the body. This is for receiving reflected echoes to obtain information on the state of the body tissue and the like, and is widely used for medical purposes and the like.

Here, in order to improve the accuracy and function of the ultrasonic examination and diagnosis, the ultrasonic transceiver is directly inserted into the body, guided to a part to be inspected and diagnosed, and transmitted and received. Such a method is being used. In addition, in addition to the examination and diagnosis by the endoscope, information on the tissue in the body cavity wall of the inspection target site is acquired,
In order to perform a three-dimensional examination, an ultrasonic probe which is inserted into a body using an endoscope as a guide has been developed. For this purpose, the ultrasonic probe is inserted through an insertion passage for inserting forceps and other treatment tools provided in the endoscope, and the ultrasonic transceiver is led out of the distal end portion of the insertion passage into the body. It is configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves. Therefore, an ultrasonic probe in which a small ultrasonic transmitter / receiver composed of a single-plate vibrator is attached to the tip of the insertion member, and an operation unit having operation means for operating the ultrasonic probe, are provided. , A flexible cord is connected thereto, and the other end of the cord is detachably connected to the ultrasonic observation apparatus.

Thus, the operation unit is fixed to the introduction portion of the insertion passage provided in the main body operation portion of the endoscope, the ultrasonic probe is inserted into this insertion passage, and the ultrasonic transmission / reception provided at the tip of the ultrasonic probe is performed. By making the device protrude from the distal end of the insertion portion of the endoscope, and moving or rotating it in the direction of pushing or retracting,
It is designed to scan.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] By the way, when performing inspection and diagnosis with an endoscope,
In order to secure an observation field of view by the endoscope, it is necessary to inflate by injecting air into a body cavity to be inspected.
In addition, it is necessary to supply water in order to wash away body fluids, foreign substances, and the like attached to the body cavity walls and the like. In addition, it is necessary to collect the water thus sent in order to circulate the water, and to suck up dirt in the body. The distal end of the insertion passage through which the treatment tool is inserted is always open inside the body cavity, and the insertion passage is used as a circulation path and a suction path for water supply. From the above, at the time of operating the endoscope, air pressure in the body cavity acts on the insertion passage, water and dirt are filled, and suction force is applied.
For this purpose, a check valve is attached to the introduction portion of the insertion passage,
The introduction section is configured to prevent communication with the atmosphere.

As described above, since the check valve is attached to the introduction portion, the check valve must be removed when using the ultrasonic probe. However, when the check valve is removed, an opening is created in the introduction portion. As a result, the insertion passage communicates with the atmosphere through the introduction portion, and the fluid overflows from the insertion portion or is sucked from the atmosphere at the time of suction, so that smooth suction is not performed.

In particular, when performing diagnosis by inserting an ultrasonic probe into the insertion path via a check valve, the ultrasonic probe is held in a state of being inserted through the insertion path for a relatively long time. Backflow fluid, such as body air, water, or dirt, leaks out of the gap between the probe and the check valve, or the air is sucked in during suction, preventing it from exerting sufficient suction power. When the auxiliary water supply is performed from the position, most of the water does not flow to the insertion passage side but overflows to the introduction portion. In particular, the ultrasonic probe is scanned by a push-pull operation, and when the ultrasonic probe is repeatedly scanned, the amount of overflow of the backflow fluid from the introduction portion becomes extremely large. Moreover, when water is interposed between the ultrasonic transmitter and receiver and the body cavity wall, and when this water is used as an ultrasonic wave propagation member, the water is continuously interposed between the ultrasonic transmitter and receiver to prevent foreign matter from intervening therebetween. Due to the water supply, the water pressure in the body increases, and the backflow rate into the insertion passage increases, so that there is a problem that the amount of overflow water from the introduction part is particularly large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the purpose of the present invention is to restrict the movement of the ultrasonic probe in a state of being inserted into the insertion path of the endoscope, without special restriction.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic inspection apparatus capable of reliably preventing the introduction portion of the insertion passage from communicating with the atmosphere.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a soft ultrasonic probe inserted into an insertion passage for inserting a treatment tool such as forceps formed in an endoscope, An operation unit for operating the ultrasonic probe, and a mounting portion connected to the operation unit, the mounting portion is detachably fitted to the introduction portion of the insertion passage via a seal member, and is fixed. Means to be fixed to the introduction portion, and the mounting portion, while forming a linear probe insertion passage for slidably inserting the ultrasonic probe therein,
At a position connected to the probe insertion passage, a seal member that seals between the mounting portion and the ultrasonic probe inserted into the insertion passage is provided, and the ultrasonic member is guided through the seal member. The acoustic wave probe is characterized in that it is configured to be detachably connected to the operation unit in a manner to draw a loop.

[Action] An ultrasonic probe is inserted into a body cavity through a treatment tool or other insertion passage of an endoscope, and this insertion passage is used as a suction path or the like, and supplies an ultrasonic propagation medium into the body. Therefore, it is necessary to seal a portion of the introduction path in the insertion passage. However, since the ultrasonic probe is made of a soft member, simply arranging a seal member at this site cannot effectively exert the sealing function, and in order to strengthen the sealing function, the ultrasonic probe Increasing the force on the probe significantly increases the resistance of the ultrasound probe to axial movement.

In order to ensure that the ultrasonic probe, which is a soft member, exerts a sealing function without impairing the movement of the ultrasonic probe, a mechanism for guiding the ultrasonic probe is detachably attached to the introduction portion, and the guide mechanism, the introduction portion, and the ultrasonic probe And a sealing member between them. As the guide mechanism, an attachment portion connected to the operation unit of the ultrasonic probe is used. The attachment portion is connected to the operation unit, and the attachment portion is detachably fixed to the introduction portion of the insertion passage by the fixing means, so that the operation unit can be held in a stable state. In addition, a probe insertion passage is provided in the attachment portion, and the probe insertion passage penetrates in a straight line in the axial direction of the attachment portion, so that the ultrasonic probe made of a flexible member is guided by the probe insertion passage. Is done. In addition, the ultrasonic probe led out of the probe insertion passage has an arbitrary extra length and is connected to the operation unit. This extra length is
After the ultrasonic probe is drawn out of the probe insertion passage, it is detachably connected to the operation unit so as to draw a loop. Thus, the portion of the ultrasonic probe that is led out from the probe insertion path can be smoothly and smoothly connected to the operation unit. By thus extending the ultrasonic probe in a loop shape, the ultrasonic probe can be extended almost straight from the probe insertion passage provided with the seal member, and unreasonable force is applied to the flexible ultrasonic probe and the seal member. And the variation between the length of the insertion passage of the endoscope and the length of the ultrasonic probe can be effectively absorbed by this loop portion.

Sealing of the portion of the introduction portion communicating with the insertion passage of the endoscope is performed between the attachment portion and the introduction portion, and between the attachment portion and the ultrasonic probe. Since the attachment portion is formed of a hard member, the seal between the introduction portion and the attachment portion can be easily sealed by interposing an O-ring or the like. In order to exert a sealing function between the mounting portion and the ultrasonic probe, a sealing member is disposed at a position where the ultrasonic probe is held in a linear state. That is, the seal member is disposed at a position where the ultrasonic probe is held in a linear state by the probe insertion passage in the attachment portion. As a result, the sealing member is disposed at a position where the shape of the ultrasonic probe is extremely stable, and the sealing function is fully exhibited,
In addition, the movement of the ultrasonic probe becomes smooth.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an ultrasonic inspection apparatus, 5 denotes an operation unit, and 20 denotes an endoscope. The ultrasonic inspection apparatus 1 is inserted into a body or the like through the endoscope 20. Has become. As is well known, the endoscope 20 includes a main body operation unit 21.
For inserting a treatment tool such as forceps and other members
22 is formed, and the introduction portion 22 communicates with an insertion passage 24 for a treatment tool or the like that opens at the distal end of the insertion portion 23 to be inserted into the body. The ultrasonic inspection apparatus 1 is guided into the body from the introduction section 22 through the insertion passage 24, and can perform ultrasonic inspection and diagnosis. Then, a check valve 25 (see a phantom line in FIG. 3) for closing a member such as the treatment tool and the ultrasonic inspection apparatus 1 when the member is not inserted is attached to the introduction portion 22. It has become. In order to fix the check valve 25, a flange 26a is
The mounting ring 26 provided with is screwed.

The ultrasonic inspection apparatus 1 includes an insertion member 3 having a small ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 2 formed of a single-plate vibrator mounted at a distal end thereof, and the ultrasonic probe 4 scans the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 2 at a base end thereof. An operation unit 5 for operating and detecting the scanning position is connected, and a flexible cable 7 removably connected to the ultrasonic observation device 6 extends to the operation unit 5. In the insertion member 3 of the ultrasonic probe 4, the mounting portion of the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 2 is formed of a hard member, and most other portions are formed of a soft member. It is detachably attached to the provided connector section 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, an operating rod 9 is mounted on the operating unit 5 as operating means for pushing and pulling the insertion member 3, and a connecting arm 10 is mounted on the operating rod 9. Thus, a base end portion of the insertion member 3 is connected to the connection arm 10. Therefore, when the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 2 provided at the distal end of the insertion member 3 is led out from the distal end of the insertion portion 23 of the endoscope 20, the operating rod 9 is pushed and pulled by a finger or the like so that the insertion member 3 is moved. Is moved in the direction of projecting from the insertion portion 23 or in the direction of being retracted into the insertion portion 23, thereby causing the ultrasonic transceiver 2 attached to the tip of the insertion member 23 to scan in a linear direction while moving the ultrasonic transceiver 2 toward the body. Sound waves can be transmitted and received. The displacement of the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 2 is detected by an encoder 11 built in the operation unit 5 and is used as a position signal in an ultrasonic image.

Next, in order to support the operation unit 5 in a state where it is fixed to the endoscope 20, a bracket 5a is connected to the operation unit 5, and the bracket 5a is connected to the introduction section 22.
A mounting portion 12 that is detachably fitted to is provided in series. As is apparent from FIG. 3, the mounting portion 12 is formed of a substantially cylindrical member, and has a probe insertion passage 12a for allowing the ultrasonic probe 4 to pass therethrough.
An O-ring 13 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting portion 12, and a lip seal 14 is mounted on the inner peripheral surface.

Therefore, when the mounting portion 12 is mounted on the introduction portion 22, the space between the mounting portion 12 and the inner surface of the introduction portion 22 is sealed by the O-ring 13. When the ultrasonic probe 4 is inserted into the probe insertion passage 12a, a lip is provided therebetween. Sealed by a seal 14. Thus, since the insertion member 3 is a member having flexibility, it is more convenient to use a lip seal having a larger deflection amount than an O-ring or the like as a seal at this portion. In addition, the lip seal 14 is provided on the mounting portion 12, and is mounted at a position that is continuous with the end of the probe insertion passage 12a that linearly penetrates in the axial direction. Accordingly, the ultrasonic probe 4 is attached to the mounting portion 12 attached to the introduction portion 22 so as to draw a loop from the position of the connection connector portion 8 of the operation unit 5.
The ultrasonic probe 4 is guided into the probe insertion passage 12a, and the contact portion of the ultrasonic probe 4 with the lip seal 14 is at an arbitrary position.

A check valve 25 is mounted on the introduction unit 22. When the ultrasonic probe 4 of the ultrasonic inspection apparatus 1 is inserted, the check valve 25 is detached from the introduction unit 22 and then the operation unit 5 is The mounting portion 12 provided continuously is mounted. And
In order to fix the mounting portion 12 in a mounted state, a hook lever 15 as a fixing means is mounted on the bracket 9a, and an engaging portion piece 15a of the hook lever 15 is a flange of a mounting ring 26 in the introduction portion 22. It is designed to engage with the portion 26a.

The present embodiment is configured as described above, and its operation will now be described.

First, the insertion section 23 of the endoscope 20 is inserted into a body, and is guided to a target site where a predetermined examination and diagnosis is to be performed. In this state, the check valve 25 attached to the introduction section 22 provided in the main body operation section 21 of the endoscope 20 is detached. Then, the mounting portion 12 of the operation unit 5 is inserted and fitted into the introduction portion 22, and the mounting portion 12 is fixed by the action of the hook lever 15.

Thereafter, the probe insertion path 12
The ultrasonic probe 4 of the ultrasonic inspection apparatus 1 is inserted through a, and the ultrasonic probe 4 of the ultrasonic inspection apparatus 1 is inserted through the insertion passage 24 of the endoscope 20 from the distal end of the insertion section 23. A predetermined length is derived. Therefore, after the operating rod 9 mounted on the operating unit 5 is once pushed into the operating unit 5, the operating rod 9 is operated in a direction to pull it back. Thus, the ultrasonic transceiver 2 provided at the tip of the insertion member 3 is scanned along the body cavity wall. During this time, an ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 2 to the body, the reflected echo is received, and the received signal is transmitted to the ultrasonic observation device 6 together with the position signal of the ultrasonic transmitter / receiver 2 from the encoder 11. After transmitting the signal and performing predetermined signal processing in the ultrasonic observation device 6, information on a tissue tomogram in the body is displayed as an ultrasonic image on the motor device 6a.

By fixing the mounting portion 12 to the introduction portion 22 of the endoscope 20, the ultrasonic inspection apparatus 1 is stably held, and the operation and operation of inserting the ultrasonic probe 4 into the insertion passage 24 are performed. The ultrasonic transceiver 2 can be smoothly and easily scanned along the body cavity wall by operating the rod 9. Moreover,
The O-ring 13 seals the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the mounting portion 12 and the inner peripheral surface of the introduction portion 22, and inserts the inner peripheral surface of the mounting portion 12 into the ultrasonic probe 4 of the ultrasonic inspection apparatus 1. The portion 3 is sealed by a lip seal 14 so as to be kept in a gas-liquid tight state completely shielded from the atmosphere. In particular, the lip seal 14 is disposed at a position that is continuous with the probe insertion passage 12a in the mounting portion 12, and the ultrasonic probe 4 is in a state where the posture is controlled so as to be linear at this position. The sealing function between the ultrasonic probe 4, which is a soft member, and the mounting portion 12 is fully exhibited, and the gas-liquid tight state is reliably maintained. In addition, since the lip seal 14 does not need to exert a very strong pressing force on the ultrasonic probe 4, the movement of the ultrasonic probe 4 when scanning is smooth.

Therefore, even if the ultrasonic inspection apparatus 1 is kept attached to the endoscope 20 for a long time, or if the ultrasonic inspection apparatus 1 is repeatedly pushed and pulled, the body air, water, dirt, etc. There is no danger of the backflow fluid leaking out. In addition, insertion passage 24
When a negative pressure is generated to aspirate body fluids or the like, the suction force does not decrease due to the suction of the atmosphere, and when the auxiliary water is supplied from a position near the introduction portion, this water is inserted into the passage. It does not flow to the side 24 and there is no risk of overflowing from the introduction part 22 to the outside.

Furthermore, since the ultrasonic probe 4 led out from the probe insertion passage 12a of the mounting portion 12 extends straight, and is connected to the operation unit 5 so as to draw a loop, the insertion portion 3 of the ultrasonic probe 4 is removed. The lip seal 14 can be smoothly slid along the lip seal 14 without excessive force being applied thereto. In addition, the lip seal 14 has an extra length corresponding to the scanning range, and the entire length of the ultrasonic probe 4 and the endoscope mirror
Variations between the total length of the 20 insertion passages 24 can be absorbed.

In the above-described embodiment, the ultrasonic transceiver is configured to scan in the linear direction.
The scanning may be performed by rotating the ultrasonic transceiver. Further, as the seal member, not only the above-described O-ring and lip seal but also seal members having various structures can be used.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention guides the ultrasonic probe when inserting the flexible ultrasonic probe through the insertion passage of the endoscope, and connects the flexible ultrasonic probe to the ultrasonic probe. A mounting portion for supporting the operating unit, the mounting portion is detachably fitted to the introduction portion via a sealing member, and the mounting portion is not fixed to the insertion portion in the insertion passage by fixing means. , And inside this mounting part,
Form a linear probe insertion path for inserting the ultrasonic probe, and at a position that continues to the probe insertion path,
An ultrasonic probe, which seals between the mounting portion and the ultrasonic probe inserted into the insertion passage, is interposed, and the ultrasonic probe led out through the seal member draws a loop to operate the operation unit. Since the operation unit is configured to be detachably connected to the endoscope, the operation unit can be stably held at the introduction portion of the endoscope via the mounting portion, and the operation unit extends in a loop from the operation unit. The ultrasonic probe can be inserted into the insertion path in a linear state through the probe insertion path of the mounting portion, and the insertion operation and the scanning operation of the ultrasonic transceiver can be performed extremely smoothly and easily. Since the seal member is arranged at a position connected to the probe insertion passage where the probe is held in a linear posture, the seal member is replaced with an ultrasonic probe made of a soft member. It does not press too hard, that is, it minimizes the restriction on the movement of the ultrasonic probe, and no excessive force acts on the flexible ultrasonic probe or the seal member. The probe can prevent the fluid from leaking out of the insertion portion or being sucked in from the atmosphere at the time of suction, preventing smooth suction from being performed. Since the ultrasonic probe derived from the insertion path is connected to the operation unit in a loop, the variation in the length of the ultrasonic probe and the length of the insertion path of the endoscope can be absorbed by this loop. And so on.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an external view showing an ultrasonic inspection apparatus together with an endoscope, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an operation unit, and FIG. FIG. 1: Ultrasonic inspection device, 2: Ultrasonic transceiver, 3: Insertion member, 4:
Ultrasonic probe, 5: operation unit, 6: ultrasonic observation device,
12: mounting part, 12a: probe insertion passage, 13: O-ring, 14: lip seal, 15: hook lever, 20: endoscope, 21: main body operation part, 22: introduction part, 23: insertion part, 24: Insertion passage.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-61-64240 (JP, A) JP-A-57-168648 (JP, A) JP-A-63-143021 (JP, A) JP-A-63-64241 302836 (JP, A) JP-A-2-46821 (JP, A) JP-A-62-189042 (JP, A) JP-A-58-19222 (JP, A) JP-A-62-275438 (JP, A) Shokai Sho 57-67712 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A soft ultrasonic probe inserted into an insertion passage through which a treatment tool such as forceps formed in an endoscope is inserted, an operation unit for operating the ultrasonic probe, and the operation unit A mounting portion connected to the insertion passage, the mounting portion is detachably fitted to the introduction portion of the insertion passage via a seal member, and is fixed to the introduction portion by fixing means. The part has a linear probe insertion passage for slidably inserting the ultrasonic probe therein, and is inserted through the attachment part and the insertion passage at a position continuous with the probe insertion passage. The ultrasonic probe is provided with a seal member for sealing between the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic probe led out through the seal member is detachably connected to the operation unit in a loop. Constitution Ultrasonic inspection apparatus characterized by the.