JP3077497B2 - Ultrasound diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which an ultrasonic transducer is mounted on a shaft member such as an insertion part into a body, and a balloon is mounted on the shaft member. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus equipped with a balloon that can be worn and has good shape retention in a worn state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses are broadly classified into a type that transmits an ultrasonic pulse from the epidermis of a patient and a type that transmits an ultrasonic pulse from a body wall near an affected part when inserted into the body. There is. FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a representative example of the latter. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body operation section, 2 denotes an insertion section into a body cavity, and the insertion section 2 is formed of a shaft member. The flexible portion 3 is configured to bend flexibly along the insertion path. An angle portion 4 is provided at a distal end side of the flexible portion 3, and a hard distal portion 5 is continuously provided at a distal end portion of the angle portion 4. . The ultrasonic transducer 6 is mounted on the rigid distal end portion 5, and the angle portion 4 is for directing the rigid distal end portion 5 in a desired direction. Further, the distal end hard portion 5 may be configured as an ultrasonic endoscope having an endoscope observation mechanism including an illumination window and an observation window on the distal end surface or side surface.

[0003] As a diagnostic method using the ultrasonic transducer 6, for example, in the case of the B-mode diagnostic method, a predetermined range is scanned. As this scanning method, there are a mechanical scanning method and an electronic scanning method. Examples include linear scanning, radial scanning, and sector scanning.

[0004] Regardless of which method is used for scanning, if air is present between the ultrasonic transducer and the inner wall of the body cavity, the transmitted and received ultrasonic signals are significantly attenuated. Therefore, an ultrasonic transmission medium for suppressing attenuation of ultrasonic waves is interposed between the ultrasonic transducer and the body wall, and a balloon is used for this purpose. In particular, when trying to acquire ultrasonic information at a position directly below the mucous membrane in the body wall, the ultrasonic transducer is separated from the body wall by a predetermined distance, and an ultrasonic transmission medium is interposed therebetween, so-called stand-off. Balloons are also used to provide functions. The balloon is made of a flexible thin film member having excellent acoustic characteristics, is mounted so as to cover the ultrasonic transducer, and is configured to enclose an ultrasonic transmission medium such as degassed water therein.

Here, two types of balloons are conventionally used. First, a balloon 10 shown in FIG. 11 has a bag portion 10a in which a flexible thin film member is formed in a bag shape, and a locking portion 10 made of an elastic ring at its opening.
b are connected in series. In the balloon 10, a circumferential concave groove 5a is formed on the base end side of the portion where the ultrasonic transducer 6 is mounted in the distal end hard portion 5 of the insertion portion 2, and the locking portion 10b of the balloon 10 is It is mounted so as to fit into the groove 5a. Here, the locking portion 10b is for preventing the balloon 10 from deviating from the distal end hard portion 5, and for this reason, the locking portion 10b has a smaller diameter than the concave groove 5a in a free state, This locking part 10
By fitting the b into the concave groove 5a so as to spread it out, it is fixed to the relevant portion.

The balloon 11 shown in FIG. 12 has a first and second locking portions 11b and 11b made of elastic rings at both ends of a cylindrical portion 11a having a flexible thin film member formed in a cylindrical shape. 1
1c. Then, the ultrasonic transducer 6 on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end hard portion 5
The first and second concave grooves 5a and 5b, which are larger than the inner diameter of the first and second locking portions 11b and 11c of the balloon 11 in the free state, are provided on the front and rear sides of the arrangement portion. And the first and second locking portions 11b,
11c is fitted into the first and second concave grooves 5a and 5b in a state where the balloon is expanded.
Both ends of 1 are fixed to portions before and after the ultrasonic transducer 6.

[0007]

By the way, the aforementioned 2
While each type of balloon has its advantages,
There are drawbacks. First, the balloon 10 of FIG. 11 having the bag portion 10a can be easily mounted on a predetermined position of the distal end hard portion 5 by using the balloon mounting jig 12 shown in FIG.

That is, the balloon mounting jig 12 has a cylindrical main body 13, and the inner diameter of the cylindrical main body 13 is larger than the outer diameter of the distal end hard portion 5 in the insertion section 2.
A piston 14 is slidably inserted into the cylindrical main body 13, a rod 15 is connected to the piston 14, and an operation portion 16 is provided at an end of the rod 15. The distal end portion of the cylindrical body 13, that is, the end portion opposite to the extending direction of the rod 15 is thinned to form a fitting portion 17 on the outer surface side of which the locking portion 10 b of the balloon 10 is fitted. ing.

The jig 1 for mounting a balloon having the above configuration
When the balloon 10 is mounted on the distal end hard portion 5 using the second member 2, first, the locking portion 10 b of the balloon 10 is connected to the fitting portion 17.
And the piston 15 together with the fitting portion 17.
Approach to a position close to the side. As a result, the cylindrical body 13 is connected to the piston 14 and the envelope portion 10 of the balloon 10.
a forms a closed space. Therefore, the operation unit 1
When the gripper 6 is gripped and the rod 15 is pulled out from the cylindrical body 13, the piston 14 slides along the inner surface of the cylindrical body 13, and the bag portion 10 a comes into close contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical body 13. Then, it is drawn into the cylindrical main body 13. The distal end hard portion 5 is provided with a concave groove 5a provided therein.
Is pushed into the vicinity of the distal end portion of the cylindrical body 13 to release the locking portion 10b of the balloon 10 from the fitting portion 17 of the cylindrical body 13, so that the locking portion 10b can be easily formed into the concave groove 5a. Can be fitted.

On the other hand, since the other type of balloon 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape having both ends opened, it is not possible to mount the balloon 11 to the rigid distal end portion 5 using the above-described jig. Can not. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
First, the first locking portion 11b of the balloon 11 is pushed and spread with a finger, and is covered with the distal end hard portion 5;
The position must be shifted to the position a and fitted into the groove 5a, and then the second locking portion 11c must be fitted into the groove 5b in a similar manner. here,
In order to stably fix the locking portions 11b and 11c without deviating from the distal end hard portion 5, it is necessary to provide a considerable diameter difference between the locking grooves 11b and 11c and the concave grooves 5a and 5b. It is extremely difficult to mount the balloon 11 by the above method, and there is a problem that the working efficiency is low.

Next, locking portions 11 are provided at both ends of the cylindrical portion 11a.
b, 11c, the balloon 11 is provided with the ultrasonic transducer 6 as shown in FIG.
Is formed, and an annular ultrasonic transmission medium enclosing chamber for accommodating the same is formed, and its shape retention property, that is, a substantially uniform shape over the entire circumference of the peripheral body of the hard distal end portion 5 is obtained. On the other hand, in the balloon 10 of FIG. 11, the base end side is locked with respect to the ultrasonic transducer 6, but the distal end side is not regulated at all, so that it can be freely expanded in this direction. It has become. An ultrasonic transmission medium is sealed in the balloon 10 after the insertion section 2 is inserted into the body. To facilitate the supply of the ultrasonic transmission medium, an ultrasonic transmission medium having a low viscosity is usually used. Because the medium is used,
Due to the action of external force, gravity, or the like, the distal end swells and deforms in an arbitrary direction. For example, in the case of performing radial scanning, the distance from the ultrasonic transducer 6 to the part to be diagnosed is determined by the rotation of the ultrasonic transducer 6. There is a problem that it differs depending on the angular position. Further, the interval between the stand-off layers is controlled by the balloon 10,
The state becomes substantially impossible.

In short, the balloon having a bag shape has the advantage that it can be easily attached to the rigid distal end portion 5, but the shape of the balloon cannot be stabilized during ultrasonic diagnosis. There is. On the contrary,
Although the cylindrical balloon has a drawback that it is difficult to mount it on the distal end hard portion 5, it is characterized in that the stability of the shape is obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to make it easy to mount a balloon and to sufficiently exhibit a shape retaining function when the balloon is mounted. is there.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an ultrasonic transducer for a shaft member.
Attach the ultrasonic transducer mounting part of this shaft member
A balloon made of a flexible thin film member to cover the
And the ultrasonic transmission medium is sealed in the balloon.
And transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic transducer.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that is configured to perform
Is closer to the proximal end than the mounting position of the ultrasonic transducer.
At the same position as the ultrasonic transducer.
A mounting part is provided on the tip side from the mounting position of the
Is made of a flexible thin film member, one end of which is open.
Except for the mouth, there is a bag-shaped bag that prevents air from escaping.
This bag has elastic around the opening on one end.
A locking portion which is formed of a ring and is fitted in the concave groove.
The other side of this bag is detachable from the mounting part.
It is characterized in that it has a configuration in which a fastening portion fixed to is provided .

[0015]

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which the balloon is mounted on the shaft member.
In order to use the jig for mounting a balloon shown in (1), a bag must be provided. Therefore, the balloon is formed in a shape in which the bag portion is connected to the locking portion. In addition, if the locking portion of the balloon to the shaft member is located at one position on the base end side of the ultrasonic transducer, shape retention is deteriorated. Even when the ultrasonic transmission medium is enclosed, the shape retention is improved. Therefore, a fixing portion is provided in the bag portion of the balloon, and the fixing portion is fixed to a mounting portion provided on the distal end side of the portion where the ultrasonic transducer of the shaft member is disposed, thereby preserving the shape of the balloon. Improve the properties. Of course, even if the fastening portion is provided, the air bag does not have a part through which air can escape, so that when the air bag is mounted on the shaft member using the jig for mounting the balloon, a sealed space is provided between the air bag and the piston. Is formed, and this bag portion can be brought into close contact with the inner surface of the tubular member.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a balloon, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a distal end hard portion of an insertion portion as a shaft member of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus equipped with the balloon.

The balloon 20 has a bag portion 20a made of a flexible thin film member, and a locking portion 20b made of an elastic ring is connected to a portion on the opening side of the bag portion 20a. The portion of the container 20a is formed of a member having good acoustic characteristics. An elastic protruding portion 20c that forms a fastening portion is continuously provided at a tip end portion of the bag portion 20a so as to protrude inward. This elastic projection 20c
Has a substantially spherical shape, the middle portion of which is most bulged, and the side of the bulging portion connected to the container 20a is narrowed.

An ultrasonic transducer 22 for performing electronic scanning is mounted on a side surface of the distal end hard portion 21 in the insertion portion of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which the balloon 20 is mounted. The ultrasonic transducer 22 is provided with a number of ultrasonic transducers arranged in the axial direction of the distal end hard portion 21. By sequentially driving these ultrasonic transducers, electronic linear scanning or electronic convex scanning is performed. Can be done.

The distal end hard portion 21 is provided with a circumferential concave groove 23 on the outer peripheral surface at a position closer to the base end side than the portion where the ultrasonic transducer 22 is mounted. , Are fitted in the concave grooves 23. Thus, the locking portion 20b is in its free state,
The inner diameter is smaller than the diameter of the groove bottom of the groove 23, so that when the locking portion 20b is fitted in the groove 23,
The balloon 2 is maintained in tension.
0 is prevented from dropping from the distal end hard portion 21.
A mounting recess 24 is formed on the distal end surface of the distal end hard portion 21. The mounting recess 24 has an elastic projection 2 provided on the balloon 20 with a diameter of an opening portion on the distal end surface.
0c is substantially the same size as the constricted portion on the side connected to the bag portion 20a, and the back portion is a hollow portion substantially the same as or larger than the most protruding portion of the elastic projection 20c. Furthermore, between the formation part of the concave groove 23 in the distal end hard part 21 and the mounting part of the ultrasonic transducer 22,
A fluid supply path 25 for supplying an ultrasonic transmission medium made of deaerated water or the like is open.

The present embodiment is configured as described above, and this ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is inserted into a body cavity to perform ultrasonic diagnosis. Thus, when performing an ultrasonic diagnosis, the balloon 20 is attached in advance. The balloon 20 has an opening only at a portion where the locking portion 20b made of an elastic ring is provided, and the other portion is formed with an elastic projection 20c. Since there is no part to be pulled out, the balloon mounting jig 12 shown in FIG.
Can be mounted on the distal end hard portion 21 in the same manner as that of mounting, and the locking portion 20b can be engaged with the concave groove 23 of the distal end hard portion 21. Thereby, the covering of the distal end hard portion 21 of the balloon 20 can be performed extremely easily.

After the balloon 20 has been mounted on the rigid distal end portion 21 as described above, an elastic projection 20c as a fastening portion provided on the balloon 20 is provided on the distal end surface of the rigid distal end portion 21 for attachment. It is fitted into the recess 24. This work
For example, it can be easily performed by pushing the elastic projection 20c into the mounting recess 24 with fingers. Here, since the opening diameter of the mounting recess 24 is smaller than the bulging portion of the elastic projection 20c, when the elastic projection 20c is fitted, the elastic projection 20c is elastically deformed, and The elastic projection 20c is securely fixed to the mounting recess 24 because it is restored when it enters the recess 24.
In the case of 0, the swelling in the direction protruding from the distal end hard portion 21 is regulated.

In this manner, the balloon 20 is mounted on the distal end rigid portion 21 and inserted into the body cavity. When the distal end hard portion 21 is located at a site where ultrasonic diagnosis is to be performed, the balloon 20 is inflated by supplying an ultrasonic transmission medium via the fluid supply path 25. And balloon 20
When the ultrasonic transducer 22 is operated and an ultrasonic pulse is transmitted toward the body in a state where the ultrasonic wave is in contact with the inner wall of the body cavity, the ultrasonic wave is reflected at a tomographic portion of the body tissue,
Since the reflected echo is received by the ultrasonic transducer 22, the received signal is extracted and subjected to predetermined signal processing, thereby obtaining an ultrasonic image of a scan site in the body.

Therefore, when air is present in the transmission path when transmitting an ultrasonic pulse, the attenuation of the ultrasonic signal becomes remarkable. Vessel part 2 made of a flexible thin film of balloon 20
Since the fluid is sealed in the inside of Oa, if the fluid is pressed against the inner wall of the body cavity with a certain force, the entire surface comes into close contact, and it is possible to prevent air from intervening in the transmission path of the ultrasonic pulse. Further, in order to acquire ultrasonic information of the surface layer of the body wall, the ultrasonic transducer 22 must be separated from the body wall by a predetermined distance, and a so-called stand-off must be provided between the ultrasonic transducer 22 and the body. The balloon 20 also performs this stand-off function.

Here, an ultrasonic transmission medium is sealed inside, but since this ultrasonic transmission medium has fluidity, it tends to move in an arbitrary direction under the influence of gravity or the like. For this reason, if only the function of excluding air from the transmission path of the ultrasonic pulse needs to be exhibited, a large amount of ultrasonic transmission medium can be sealed inside the balloon 20 to achieve this function to some extent. Can be demonstrated. However, if the ultrasonic transmission medium can move freely, it is difficult to accurately exhibit the stand-off function for keeping the distance from the ultrasonic transducer 22 to the body wall. Unless the movement of the ultrasonic transmission medium is restricted, the stand-off function cannot be exhibited accurately.

At the base end side of the ultrasonic transducer 22, the locking portion 20b of the balloon 20 engages with the concave groove 23,
Further, on the distal end side of the ultrasonic transducer 22, the elastic projection 20c is engaged with the mounting concave portion 24. Therefore, the direction in which the balloon 20 expands is the direction away from the peripheral body of the distal end hard portion 21, that is, the stand-off. In the direction protruding forward from the distal end hard portion 21, that is, in a direction unrelated to the standoff. Therefore, the balloon 2 is filled with the ultrasonic transmission medium.
The shape retention of 0 is good, and the amount of standoff can be controlled based on the amount of the ultrasonic transmission medium enclosed.

Next, FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an ultrasonic transducer 31 for performing mechanical radial scanning is provided at a distal end hard portion 30 in an insertion portion of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. That is, the distal end hard portion 30 is made of a resin material having excellent acoustic characteristics, and is formed into a hollow hollow cap shape. The ultrasonic transducer 31 is mounted on a rotating body 33 mounted on the tip of a rotation transmitting member 32 for rotationally driving by remote control. Therefore, the rotating body 33
The ultrasonic transducer 31 can transmit and receive the ultrasonic signal in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.

The balloon 34 attached to the distal end rigid portion 30 has a locking portion 34b made of an elastic ring at the opening side at the distal end of the bag portion 34a, and is fixed at the back side. An elastic ring 34c is formed continuously, and the inside of the elastic ring 34c
The fragile portion 34d has the same structure as that of FIG. In order to fix the balloon 34 at the front and rear portions of the position where the ultrasonic transducer 31 is mounted in a state where the balloon 34 is mounted on the distal end rigid portion 30, first, a circumferential concave groove 35 is formed at the base end side. Has been established. On the other hand, the distal end surface of the distal end hard portion 30 is provided with a screw hole 36 as a mounting portion, and a mounting screw 37 is screwed into the screw hole 36. The surface of the mounting screw 37 on the side where the head 37a is connected to the shaft portion 37b is a flat surface, and its outer diameter is larger than the diameter of the elastic ring 34c of the balloon 34. Reference numeral 38 in the figure denotes a fluid supply path for supplying an ultrasonic transmission medium into the balloon 34.

The balloon 34 constructed as described above also
Although the elastic ring 34c is provided, only the portion where the locking portion 34b is provided is open, so the tip is also set using the balloon mounting jig 12 used when the balloon 10 is mounted. The rigid portion 30 can be covered, and the locking portion 34 b can be fitted into the concave groove 35 of the distal rigid portion 30. In this state, the elastic ring 34 of the balloon 34
c is in contact with the distal end surface of the distal end hard portion 30 so as to surround the screw hole 36. Then, the mounting screw 37 is screwed into the screw hole 36 from above the balloon 34. Since the inside of the elastic ring 34c is a fragile portion 34d, the mounting screw 37 can easily break through the fragile portion 34d and screw into the screw hole 36. Moreover, the fragile part 34
Since the elastic ring 34c, which is significantly thicker than the fragile portion 34d, is provided on the outer side of the fragile portion 34d, only the fragile portion 34d is damaged, and the elastic ring 3c is damaged.
There is no possibility that the damaged area spreads over the portion of the bag portion 34a beyond 4c. Moreover, since the head 37a of the mounting screw 37 has an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the elastic ring 34c, when the mounting screw 37 is tightened, the elastic ring 34c is elastically deformed, and the balloon 34 is deformed. When the ultrasonic transmission medium is sealed in the inside,
The ultrasonic transmission medium does not leak out from the part d.

Also with this configuration, the balloon 34 is fixed at a position before and after the ultrasonic transducer, so that the shape of the ultrasonic transmission medium is improved when the ultrasonic transmission medium is sealed. A stand-off layer having a substantially uniform thickness can be formed on the entire circumference of the body.

When the balloon 34 is mounted on an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the type shown in FIG. 2, as shown in FIG.
Further, a screw hole 42 connected to the concave portion 41 is formed in advance.
When the balloon 34 is mounted and the mounting screw 37 is screwed into the screw hole 42, the head 37 of the mounting screw 37
Since a is embedded in the concave portion 41, the distal end surface of the distal end hard portion 40 can be in a state without projections. In this case, since the envelope portion 34a of the balloon 34 is bent at the peripheral edge of the concave portion 41, it is preferable that the peripheral edge be rounded so as not to be damaged.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the balloon 50 has an elastic portion at the opening side at the distal end of the bag portion 50a. The point that the locking portion 50b made of a ring is provided is the same as that of the balloon 34, but a thick elastic member 50c that forms a fastening portion is formed on the deep portion of the bag portion 50a. I have. This elastic member 50 c is
1 is approximately the same size as the outside diameter, and the central portion thereof is a weakened portion 50d having a reduced thickness. The distal end rigid portion 51 to which the balloon 50 is attached is provided with a concave groove 52 into which the locking portion 50b is fitted, and a screw hole 53 is formed in the distal end surface, as in the above-described embodiments. I have. The screw hole 53 is fixed by using a mounting screw 54 whose outer diameter of the head portion 54a is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the distal end hard portion 51. That is, after the balloon 50 is mounted on the distal end hard portion 51 using the balloon mounting jig 12, the weak portion 50 d of the balloon 50 is arranged at a position corresponding to the screw hole 53, and the mounting screw 54 The shaft portion 54b is screwed into the screw hole 53 so as to break through the fragile portion 50d.

With the above construction, the balloon 50 cannot be bulged in the direction of the distal end of the distal end rigid portion 51 at all, so that the shape retaining property is further improved and the head of the mounting screw 54 is secured. Since the entire elastic member 50c having a large area is pressed by the portion 54a, the balloon 5
The airtightness within 0 is even better.

FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
0 is similar to each of the above-described embodiments in that a circumferential concave groove 61 is formed at a position closer to the base end than the position where the ultrasonic transducer is disposed. On the other hand, the balloon 62 attached to the distal end rigid portion 60 has a locking portion 62b made of an elastic ring formed at the opening side portion at the distal end of the bag portion 62a. The same is true for the fitting. Anyway,
The distal end surface portion 60a of the distal end rigid portion 60 is provided with an attachment piece 63 integrally or separately from the distal end rigid portion 60 and connected to the distal end surface of the distal end rigid portion 60 by means such as screwing. And the tip surface 60 of the mounting piece 63
On the side facing a, an annular second functioning as an attachment portion
Are formed. The second concave groove 63a is inclined in a direction away from the distal end face portion 60a as going from the opening side to the groove bottom. The attachment portion on the balloon 62 side detachably attached to the second concave groove 63a constituting the attachment portion is provided at a portion near the distal end side of the bag portion 62a, and has an inner diameter of the attachment piece 63. Second locking portion 6 made of an elastic ring having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter
2c. Here, a portion surrounded by the second locking portion 62c is also a bag portion 62a.

Also by adopting such a configuration, the balloon 62 is opened only at the portion where the locking portion 62a is formed, so that the balloon mounting jig 12 is used to cover the balloon distal end hard portion 60. Thus, the locking portion 62 b made of an elastic ring can be fitted into the concave groove 61. On the other hand, depending on the balloon attachment jig 12, but can not be mounted a second locking portion 62c which constitutes the fastening portion to the second groove 63a of the mounting piece 63, the second locking portion If 62c is mounted on the mounting piece 63 and moved by the thickness thereof, it will be fixed to the second groove 63a .
It is not particularly difficult to do it manually. Further, since the second groove 63a is inclined, when the ultrasonic transmission medium is sealed in the balloon 62,
Even if a pulling force acts on the second locking portion 62c due to the bulging of 2a, it does not easily deviate from the second concave groove 63a . For this reason, it is not necessary to make the diameter difference between the inner diameter of the second locking portion 62c and the outer diameter of the mounting piece 63 in the free state too large.
The mounting of c in the second groove 63a can be performed more easily.

FIG. 9 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which a circumferential concave groove 71 is formed in a distal end hard portion 70 on the base end side from the position where an ultrasonic transducer is disposed. The balloon 72 attached to the distal end rigid portion 70 is
The locking portion 72
B is formed, and the locking portion 72b is fitted in the concave groove 71, and this is the same as in each of the above-described embodiments. As the attachment portion provided on the distal end hard portion 70,
A second concave groove 73 formed in an annular shape is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the distal end hard portion 70 on the distal end side, and a resilient fit in the second concave groove 73 as a fastening portion on the balloon 72 side. It comprises a second locking portion 72c formed of a ring. In addition,
The inside of the second locking portion 72c is also extended by the bag portion 72a. Here, a concave groove 71 formed in the distal end hard portion 70
The second concave groove 73 is not in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the distal hard portion 70, but the concave groove 71 on the proximal end is inclined toward the distal end toward the groove bottom, and the concave groove 73 on the distal end is ,
Contrary to this, it is inclined toward the base end side toward the groove bottom.

With such a configuration, the fourth
The balloon 72 can be attached to the distal end hard portion 70 in the same manner as described in the embodiment. Moreover, in the case of the balloon 72, the inner diameter of the second locking portion 72c is smaller than the portion of the distal end portion of the distal end hard portion 70 having the largest outer diameter. Goes beyond the portion having the largest outer diameter, it is mounted in the second concave groove 73 as it is, so that the mounting is further facilitated.
In addition, the balloon 72 is provided with the first and second locking portions 72b, 7b.
The balloon 72 is turned back at 2c.
The first and second locking portions 72b and 72c are respectively formed by the concave groove 71 and the second concave groove
No force acts in a direction deviating from the position 3 and the extremely stable state is maintained, so that the first and second locking portions 72b, 72
Even if the tightening force on the groove 71 and the second groove 73 by c is relatively weak, there is no deviation from them. Therefore, the mounting of the balloon 72 is further facilitated.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a locking portion for fitting and fixing a balloon to a concave groove provided on a base end side of a portion of a shaft member provided with an ultrasonic transducer, and the locking portion. And a bag portion connected to the portion. The bag portion has a fastening portion detachably fastened to a mounting portion provided at a position on the tip side of the ultrasonic transducer of the shaft member. With this configuration, the balloon is easily mounted on the shaft member, and when the balloon is mounted and the ultrasonic transmission medium is sealed therein, the balloon is inflated toward the distal end of the shaft member by the ultrasonic transmission medium. Thus, there is an effect that the function of maintaining the shape of the balloon can be sufficiently exhibited.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory view of a balloon mounted on an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a hard distal end portion of the insertion section of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with the balloon of FIG. 1 mounted.

FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory view of a balloon mounted on an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view of a hard distal end portion of the insertion section of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with the balloon of FIG. 3 mounted.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a state in which the balloon according to the second embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the distal end hard portion of the insertion section of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a balloon mounted on an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an external view of a hard distal end portion of the insertion section of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with the balloon of FIG. 4 mounted.

FIG. 8 is an external view of a hard distal end portion of an insertion section of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in a state where a balloon is mounted according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an external view of a distal end hard portion in an insertion section of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in a state where a balloon is mounted according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an external view of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a distal end hard portion to which a bag-shaped balloon is mounted.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of a configuration of a distal end hard portion to which a cylindrical balloon is mounted.

13 is a cross-sectional view of the jig for mounting the balloon of FIG. 11;

14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the balloon of FIG. 12 is attached to a distal end hard portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Jig for mounting balloon 13 Cylindrical body 14 Piston 17 Fitting portion 20, 34, 50, 62, 72 Balloon 20a, 34a, 50a, 62a, 72a Bag portion 20b, 34b, 50b, 62b, 72b Locking portion 20c Elastic protruding part 21, 30, 40, 51, 60, 70 Hard tip part 22, 31 Ultrasonic transducer 23, 35, 52, 61, 71 Groove 24 Mounting concave part 34c Elastic ring 34d Weak part 36, 42, 53 Screw holes 37, 54 Mounting screws 62c, 72c Second locking portion 63 Mounting pieces 63a, 73 Second concave groove

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 8/00-8/14 A61B 1/00-1/32

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] An ultrasonic transducer is mounted on a shaft member, and an ultrasonic transducer mounting portion of the shaft member is mounted on the shaft member.
Attach a balloon made of a flexible thin film member to cover it,
With the ultrasonic transmission medium sealed in this balloon,
Send and receive ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic transducer
In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the mounting position of the ultrasonic transducer is provided on the shaft member.
A groove is provided on the base end side of the
A mounting part is provided on the tip side from the mounting position of the transducer.
The balloon is made of a flexible thin film member, one end of which is open.
A bag-shaped container that prevents air from leaking outside this opening
The bag has an elastic ring around the opening at one end.
And a locking portion to be fitted into the concave groove is provided, and the other side of the bag portion is fixed detachably to the mounting portion.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a configuration in which a fixing portion is provided . 2. A mounting portion provided on the shaft member is a mounting concave portion which is opened at a tip end surface of the shaft member and has a deeper portion on the inner side than the opening portion. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic projection is fitted into the recess, and the elastic projection has a bulging portion larger than an opening of the mounting recess. 3. The mounting portion provided on the shaft member includes a screw hole provided at a tip of the shaft member, and a screw screwed into the screw hole. 2. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said screw is inserted into a screw hole, and said head is formed of an elastic thick portion pressed against a surface of said shaft member by a head thereof. . 4. The elastic thick part is formed in an annular shape,
4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a thin fragile portion for facilitating the insertion of the screw is provided inside the annular shape. 5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said thick elastic portion is formed in a circular shape. 6. The mounting portion provided on the shaft member is a circumferential concave groove provided at a distal end portion of the shaft member, and the fastening portion of the balloon is elastically engaged with the concave groove. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is a ring. 7. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the concave groove is an inclined concave groove that is inclined from the opening side toward the groove bottom with respect to the axis of the hard distal end portion. 8. A cylindrical member having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member, and a locking portion of the balloon is engaged with an outer peripheral portion on a distal end side of the cylindrical member to form a base of the cylindrical member. Negative pressure generating means is connected to the end side, and the bag portion of the balloon is inflated by the negative pressure generating means so as to be in close contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical member, and the shaft member is moved from the distal end side of the cylindrical member. The balloon is mounted on the shaft member by using a balloon mounting jig for inserting and inserting the locking portion of the balloon in a state of being engaged with the concave groove of the shaft member. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: