JP3198903B2 - 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 which is inserted into a body cavity to acquire information on a tomographic tissue in a body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to be inserted into a body has a configuration in which a small-diameter insertion section is continuously provided on an operation section, and an ultrasonic vibrator is provided at the tip of the insertion section. The insertion section is inserted into the body of the patient, the tip of the insertion section is guided to a predetermined ultrasonic inspection target section, the ultrasonic transducer is operated, and ultrasonic scanning is performed over a predetermined range. Here, ultrasonic scanning includes linear scanning in which scanning is performed in a linear direction, radial scanning and sector scanning in which scanning is performed in a rotating direction, and a method in which mechanical scanning in which ultrasonic transducers are mechanically moved is performed. Arrange ultrasonic transducers in a predetermined direction,
There is also an electronic scanning type that operates these sequentially.

When mechanical scanning is performed in the rotation direction, an ultrasonic vibrator disposed at the distal end of the insertion section is mounted on a rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft is driven to rotate. The rotating shaft is rotationally driven by a rotary driving means such as a motor. However, since the rotary driving means cannot be provided in the insertion portion which needs to be reduced in diameter, the rotary driving means is provided in the operation section or the like. A rotation transmitting means having flexibility is interposed between the rotating shaft and the rotating shaft. As the rotation transmitting means, for example, a flexible shaft formed by winding a metal wire in a tight coil shape or the like is used. Also,
When performing ultrasonic scanning, it is necessary to detect the position of the ultrasonic transducer in the rotational direction. For this purpose, an encoder is provided. However, this encoder is also provided on the operation unit or the like. By detecting the rotation angle of the shaft, the position of the ultrasonic transducer is detected.

In order to perform ultrasonic scanning, a drive signal for transmitting an ultrasonic pulse is supplied to an ultrasonic transducer, and a reflected echo signal received by the ultrasonic transducer is taken out. It is necessary to connect the signal transmission path to the ultrasonic transducer. This signal transmission path is usually configured to be inserted into a flexible shaft as a coaxial cable and extended inside an operation unit or the like, and connected to a rotary connector, a slip ring, or the like.

In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs mechanical scanning in the rotational direction, a rotation axis for rotating the ultrasonic transducer is usually provided in the axial direction of the insertion portion. It becomes a plane orthogonal to the axis of the insertion portion.

By the way, there is an ultrasonic endoscope in which an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and an endoscope are combined. In this ultrasonic endoscope, the observation field of the endoscope is directed to the front of the insertion section. Therefore, as described above, if the scanning plane of the ultrasonic transducer is in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the insertion section, ultrasonic observation in the endoscope observation field cannot be performed. When the affected part is found as a result of the diagnosis using ultrasonic waves, a treatment such as injecting an injection solution or performing suction is performed by inserting a puncture treatment tool into the body. In this case, it is necessary to confirm the position of the puncture device in the body by ultrasonic observation. However, if the scanning surface of the ultrasonic transducer is in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the insertion section, the puncture treatment tool must also be led out in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the insertion section. In order to insert the puncture device into the body, it is necessary to provide rigidity at least for a certain length of the distal end portion of the puncture device. Is extremely difficult.

In consideration of the above points, when scanning the ultrasonic transducer in the rotational direction, a rotary shaft is provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the insertion portion, and the rotary shaft is driven to rotate. In the case where the scanning surface of the ultrasonic vibrator is substantially in the axial direction of the insertion portion, for example,
No. 0 publication. In this known ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a flexible shaft is connected to one end of a rotating shaft that supports an ultrasonic vibrator, and the flexible shaft is bent by approximately 90 ° to be in the axial direction of the insertion portion. I'm trying to change direction. When a close contact coil is used as the flexible shaft, it is possible to transmit rotation even if the flexible shaft is bent by 90 °.

[0008]

By the way, a coaxial cable consisting of a path for transmitting a drive signal and a path for transmitting an ultrasonic reception signal is provided in the flexible shaft. Because the coaxial cable is inserted into the flexible shaft that is inserted together with the insertion member, the diameter of the core wire in this coaxial cable becomes extremely thin, for example, 0.1 mm or less.

When the flexible shaft is rotated around an axis in a state where the flexible shaft is bent by 90 °, the bent portion vibrates violently, and a bending load is repeatedly applied to a coaxial cable, particularly, a very fine core wire. Will be disconnected. For this reason, in the above-described prior art, a solution is to guide the bent portion of the flexible shaft so as to be inserted into a hard pipe, thereby restricting the movement other than the rotation direction. Thus, the vibration of the flexible shaft is minimized.

However, when the flexible shaft is rotated in the hard pipe, the flexible shaft frequently comes into contact with and separates from the inner surface of the hard pipe, causing complicated movements. Since they are not connected, smooth transmission of rotation is impaired, resulting in a large resistance to rotation of the flexible shaft and a possibility of uneven rotation. In particular, in order to perform ultrasonic scanning, it is necessary to accurately detect the position of the ultrasonic transducer in the rotation direction, but the encoder for detecting the position of the ultrasonic transducer is a hard pipe of a flexible shaft from the ultrasonic transducer. When the rotational force is not smoothly transmitted by the flexible shaft, there is a problem that the position of the ultrasonic transducer cannot be accurately detected by the encoder.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to enable a flexible shaft to smoothly and accurately transmit a rotational force to an ultrasonic vibrator. To prevent disconnection of the signal cable due to vibration of the signal cable.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a rotating shaft which is provided at the tip of an insertion portion and extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the insertion portion. An ultrasonic transducer that scans in the rotating direction is attached to the rotating shaft, and flexible shafts are connected to both ends of the rotating shaft, and both flexible shafts are turned in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the insertion portion in the axial direction. And take it out of the insertion section and rotate the base ends of both flexible shafts.
It is characterized in that it is configured to be connected to the means .

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to scan an ultrasonic transducer in a rotational direction and direct its scanning surface in an axial direction of an insertion portion, a rotating shaft connected to the ultrasonic transducer is substantially orthogonal to an axis of the insertion portion. In the direction that you want. The rotating shaft extends on both sides of the ultrasonic transducer, and connects the flexible shaft to both ends. These two flexible shafts are turned around 90 ° from the connection to the rotating shaft, extend in the axial direction of the insertion portion, and are taken out of the insertion portion. These two flexible shafts are pulled out of the insertion section. For example, an operation section connected to the insertion section is provided with a rotation drive unit, and is connected to the rotation drive unit or further pulled out from the operation section. The ultrasonic observation apparatus may be inserted into a cable and extended to the ultrasonic observation apparatus, and the ultrasonic observation apparatus may be provided with a rotation drive unit and connected thereto.

By rotating the ultrasonic vibrator with two flexible shafts, the rotational force can be transmitted more reliably even if there is a large sliding resistance. In addition, the inside of both flexible shafts can be used as a space for providing a signal transmission path, so that the signal path for the drive signal and the signal path for the transmission of the ultrasonic reception signal can be routed on separate paths. . As a result, it is not necessary to use a coaxial cable, and it can be constituted by a coated cable.
The diameter of the signal cable can be increased or the signal cable can be formed with a stranded wire, and the strength is improved. Thus, even if the direction change portion of the flexible shaft vibrates during rotation, inconveniences such as disconnection of the signal line are prevented, so that it is not necessary to regulate the flexible shaft with a hard pipe or the like. As a result, the rotational force can be smoothly and accurately transmitted to the ultrasonic vibrator via both flexible shafts.

It is preferable that the flexible shaft is formed of a close-contact coil wound with a metal wire. The ultrasonic reception signal is weak, and is not an essential requirement to prevent signal distortion and noise, but this ultrasonic reception signal transmission path allows a signal cable to be inserted into the flexible shaft. It is preferable to do so. By increasing the inner diameter of this flexible shaft,
Make the signal cable diameter as large as possible. The path for supplying the drive signal can also be formed by a signal cable, but it is not always necessary to use an independent signal cable. Here, the flexible shaft is made of a metal wire wound,
In addition, since the flexible shaft is inserted into the flexible tube, the flexible tube can be formed of an insulating member, and the whole or at least a portion of the direction changing portion can be used as a signal transmission path. Therefore, when a signal cable is inserted into both flexible shafts, the same wire diameter and inner diameter are used, but when one of the flexible shafts is used as a signal transmission path, the flexible shaft may be thinned. it can.

Although the two flexible shafts rotate around their axes, it is preferable that both flexible shafts are driven to rotate by a single motor in order to synchronize the two flexible shafts. Then, the rotation from the motor is transmitted to both flexible shafts via the rotation transmission mechanism. To this end, a drive gear is connected to the motor, one flexible shaft is connected to the first driven gear, and the other flexible shaft is connected to the second driven gear. Then, the driving gear is meshed with the first driven gear, and the first driven gear is meshed with the second driven gear. When the motor is driven, both flexible shafts can be rotated synchronously. At this time, both flexible shafts rotate in opposite directions. Therefore, when the flexible shaft is formed of a close contact coil, the winding direction of the coils needs to be opposite.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the following description, a configuration configured as an ultrasonic endoscope will be described.
The present invention is not limited to this, and may not include an endoscope observation mechanism.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an ultrasonic endoscope. In the figure, 1 is an ultrasonic endoscope main body, 2 is an endoscope observation unit, and 3 is an ultrasonic observation unit. The ultrasonic endoscope 1 includes an insertion portion 10 to be inserted into a body cavity, a main body operation portion 11 connected to a base end of the insertion portion 10, and a universal cord 12 pulled out from the main body operation portion 11. Be composed. The insertion portion 10 is a flexible portion 10a that is bent in an arbitrary direction following the insertion path for most of the length from the side of the continuous portion to the main body operation portion 11, and the distal end of the flexible portion 10a Is the angle 10b
However, at the tip of the angle portion 10b, a tip portion main body 10c is provided.
Are sequentially provided. The distal end main body 10c is provided with an endoscope observation mechanism and an ultrasonic observation mechanism, which will be described later. The angle section 10b can be operated at an angle in order to turn the distal end main body 10c in an arbitrary direction. It has a configuration.

The distal end of the universal cord 12 is branched into three, one of which is detachably connected to the light source of the light source / processor 2a constituting the endoscope observation device unit 2. The light source connector 12a is provided. Another one is an electric connector 12b detachably connected to the processor of the light source / processor 2a.
The other is an ultrasonic connector 12c detachably connected to the signal processing unit 3a of the ultrasonic observation apparatus unit 3. The endoscope observation unit 2 and the ultrasonic observation unit 3 further include monitors 2b and 3b for displaying an endoscope image and an ultrasonic image.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the distal end surface of the distal end body 10c and its cross section. As is clear from FIG. 2, an endoscope observation mechanism 20 is provided on an upper side and an ultrasonic observation mechanism 30 is provided on a lower side of the distal end surface of the distal end portion main body 10c.

The endoscope observation mechanism 20 is provided with an illumination window 21 for irradiating illumination light toward the inside of the body and an observation window 22 for observing the inside of the body under this illumination. A lens is mounted, and a light guide faces the illumination lens. An objective lens is mounted on the observation window 22, and an incident end of a solid-state image sensor or an image guide faces an image forming position of the objective lens. further,
In addition to the illumination window 21 and the observation window 22, a treatment tool deriving unit 23 for deriving the treatment tool is provided, and further, the injection nozzle 2 that supplies a cleaning fluid to the observation window 22.
4 are provided.

The ultrasonic observation mechanism 30 includes a tip main body 10c.
, A housing 31 protrudes toward the front, and an ultrasonic vibrator 32 is provided in the housing 31. As shown in FIG. Supported. The rotating member 33 has rotating shafts 33a and 33b at both ends thereof.
33b is extended in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axis of the insertion portion 10, and extends through the housing 31 into three chambers 31a to 31c.
It is rotatably mounted on partition walls 34a and 34b, which are formed in a partition, via a bearing 35. An ultrasonic oscillator 32 is disposed in a chamber 31b between the partition walls 34a and 34b,
This chamber 31b becomes a sealed ultrasonic transducer storage room. At least the chamber 31b is filled with an ultrasonic transmission medium such as liquid paraffin in order to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals by the ultrasonic transducer 32 without loss. Therefore, of the housing 31,
The portion of the chamber 31b functions as an ultrasonic window 36.

The chambers 31 on both sides in the housing 31
a, a rotating shaft 33a, 33b extending into the inside 31c, a flexible shaft 37 constituting a rotation transmitting means.
a and 37b are connected to each other. The flexible shafts 37a and 37b are respectively provided in the chamber 3
1a and 31c, the direction of the insertion portion 10
In the axial direction. Insertion passages 38a, 38b are formed in the distal end body 10c, and the flexible shafts 37a, 37b are connected to the insertion passages 38a, 38b.
38b. Flexible shaft 37
Reference numerals a and 37b denote an end portion main body 10c of the insertion portion 10, an angle portion 10b and a flexible portion 10a connected thereto.
, And extends into the main body operation section 11, but is inserted through the flexible sleeves 39a and 39b in the angle section 10b and the soft section 10a. In addition,
40a and 40b are connection pipes for connecting the flexible sleeves 39a and 39b to the insertion passages 38a and 38b.

The flexible shafts 37a and 37b are
It is formed by winding a metal wire in the form of a contact coil. When rotating in only one direction, it may be formed with a single contact coil. On the contrary, it can be provided in multiple layers, formed in multiple strips by winding a plurality of metal wires at the same time, or can be formed in multiple strips. Here, since the flexible shafts 37a and 37b scan in the rotation direction, there is no need to change the rotation direction. Therefore, in order to reduce the diameter of the flexible shafts 37a and 37b and enlarge the inner diameter, a single shaft is used. It is preferable to form the contact coil.

The ultrasonic transducer 32 is connected to two signal paths, namely, a signal path of a drive signal for transmitting and receiving signals and a signal path of transmitting an ultrasonic reception signal. Signal processing unit 2a of ultrasonic observation unit 2
It is drawn up to. Flexible shaft 37a, 3
Since 7b is a hollow member, a signal cable 41a for driving signals and a signal cable 41 for transmitting ultrasonic reception signals are provided.
b is inserted into the flexible shafts 37a and 37b, respectively. And the flexible shaft 37
The a and 37b extend into the main body operation unit 11 with the signal cables 41a and 41b inserted therethrough and the flexible sleeves 39a and 39b covered on the outside.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a mounting plate 42 is provided in the main body operation section 11, and the flexible shafts 37a and 37b are connected to the flexible sleeves 39a and 3b.
In the state of being inserted into 9b, it is guided to the position of this mounting plate 42. And the flexible sleeves 39a, 39b
Connecting pipes 43a, 43b attached to the mounting plate 42
And the flexible shaft 37a,
37b is connected to drive shafts 44a and 44b which are provided so as to freely penetrate the mounting plate 42.

A motor 45 is provided in the main body operation unit 11 as a rotation driving means, and a driving gear 46 is connected to the motor 45. Further, the drive shafts 44a,
44b includes first and second driven gears 47a, 47
7b are connected. The driving gear 46 meshes with the first driven gear 47a, and the first driven gear 4a
7a meshes with the second driven gear 47b. Motor 4
When the driving gear 46 is rotated in the direction of the arrow by the arrow 5, the first and second driven gears 47a and 47b rotate in the opposite directions as indicated by the arrows. Here, when the flexible shafts 37a and 37b are rotated in these directions, they are wound in the direction in which the coils come into close contact. Therefore, the winding directions of the flexible shafts 37a and 37b are opposite. Further, the first driven gear 47a is
The input gear 48a of the encoder 48 is meshed with the drive gear 46 and the second driven gear 47b.

The signal cables 41a and 41b extend through the flexible shafts 37a and 37b and
It is connected to electrodes 49a and 49b inserted in 4a and 44b. For this purpose, the drive shafts 44a and 44b are formed of an electrically insulating member or the first and second drive gears 47 are provided.
a and 47b are formed of an electrically insulating member. And electrode 4
9a and 49b are in contact with the brush electrodes 51a and 51b connected to the cables 50a and 50b. As a result, the electrodes 49a, which rotate together with the drive shafts 44a, 44b,
49b and the cables 50a and 50b are electrically connected.

The present embodiment is configured as described above. Next, a case will be described in which the ultrasonic endoscope 1 performs various tests using an endoscope and ultrasonic waves in a patient's body. The operation will be described.

First, the insertion section 10 of the ultrasonic endoscope 1 is inserted into a body cavity of a patient, and is guided to a predetermined examination target section. Here, an angle portion 10b is continuously provided to the distal end portion main body 10c at the distal end of the insertion portion 10.
0b can be bent in a desired direction by an angle operation, so that the distal end of the insertion section 10 can be turned in a desired direction, and the endoscope observation mechanism 20 provided in the distal end main body 10c allows the distal end of the insertion section 10 to be bent. The image is displayed on the monitor 2b of the endoscope observation device unit 2, and the insertion section 10 is inserted while confirming the image on the monitor 2b, whereby the image can be easily and reliably guided to the inspection target section. Of course, the insertion path in the body cavity is bent in various directions, but the flexible portion 10a follows the insertion path and bends in any direction.

When the distal end main body 10c is guided to the object to be inspected, the condition inside the body is inspected via the endoscope observation mechanism 20. What can be inspected by the endoscope observation mechanism 20 is the state of the surface of the body cavity wall and the like. Therefore, when information on the body tissue is required, the ultrasonic observation mechanism 30 is operated. Here, since the ultrasonic observation field of view by the ultrasonic observation mechanism 30 is in front of the insertion section 10, various field ranges can be obtained by turning the tip main body 10c of the insertion section 10 in an arbitrary direction. Thus, a deep part of a narrow place and other parts can be included in the ultrasonic observation field of view, for example, the pancreatic bile duct is put into the ultrasonic observation field from inside the stomach.

When a site suspected of a lesion is found based on the observation by the endoscope observation mechanism 20, for example, an ultrasonic image is transmitted / received to / from the site, thereby obtaining an ultrasonic image related to a tissue tomography in the body. Is displayed on the monitor 3b of the ultrasonic observation apparatus unit 3. Here, the ultrasonic scanning surface is directed forward of the insertion section 10, and the center of the observation field of view is hardly different from the center of the observation field of the endoscope. If the part where ultrasonic observation is to be performed is located at the center, it is possible to perform ultrasonic observation of a necessary portion almost accurately. Further, as a result of diagnosis by ultrasonic observation, when an affected part or the like is found, a puncture treatment tool is inserted into the body from the treatment tool derivation unit 23. By arranging, the tip of the puncture device can be placed in the ultrasonic observation field of view when the puncture device is derived from the treatment device derivation unit 23 and inserted into the body. The puncture treatment instrument can be guided smoothly and reliably to the position where the treatment is to be performed.

In order to perform ultrasonic observation, the drive gear 46 is driven to rotate by the motor 45. Due to this rotation, the first and second driven gears 47a and 47b rotate, and this rotation is transmitted to the drive shafts 44a and 44b, respectively. The flexible shafts 37a and 37b connected to the drive shafts 44a and 44b respectively rotate around the axes, and this rotation is changed by about 90 ° in the distal end main body 10c, and then the rotation shafts 33a and 33b are rotated. The transmitted power causes the rotating body 33 on which the ultrasonic vibrator 32 is mounted to rotate. Here, the rotating shaft 33 of the flexible shafts 37a and 37b
Although the connecting portion to the a and 33b is turned by approximately 90 ° in this manner, the rotating body 33 is driven on both sides, and the turning portion is restricted. , The driving force can be transmitted efficiently and the flexible sleeve 3
Even if there is considerable resistance in the transmission path of the rotational force due to sliding with 9a and 39b, the rotating body 33 provided with the ultrasonic vibrator 32 can be smoothly driven to rotate, and the transmission efficiency of the rotational force is reduced. improves.

Since the rotation of the ultrasonic transducer 32 is detected by the encoder 48, the signal cable 41 is provided at every predetermined rotation angle based on the detection signal of the encoder 48.
A drive signal is supplied from a to the ultrasonic transducer 32, an ultrasonic pulse is transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer 32 toward the body, and a reflected echo from the body is received by the ultrasonic transducer 32. Then, the ultrasonic reception signal is taken out via the signal cable 41b and transmitted from the brush electrode 51b and the cable 50b to the signal processing unit 3a of the ultrasonic observation device 3, and the signal processing is performed by the signal processing unit 3a. Thus, an ultrasonic image is displayed on the monitor 3b. Here, the encoder 48 detects the rotation angle of the base end portion of the flexible shaft 37a, and the transmission efficiency of the rotational force in the rotational force transmission path between this portion and the rotating member 33 is good. As a result, the rotation unevenness is suppressed, the rotation delay can be suppressed to a minimum, and the detection accuracy of the position of the ultrasonic transducer 32 by the encoder 48 is also improved.

Since no restriction is made at the direction changing portions of the flexible shafts 37a and 37b, vibration occurs when the flexible shafts 37a and 37b rotate. However, the signal cables 41a and 41b are inserted into the separate flexible shafts 37a and 37b, respectively. Since the insertion space of the signal cables 41a and 41b can be widened, it is possible to use the signal cables 41a and 41b which have a large wire diameter and are configured to be insulated. As a result, the signal cables 41a, 41
b, the strength of the flexible shaft 37
The wires are not easily broken by the vibrations of a and 37b.

Here, two signal cables are provided as follows:
The drive signal transmission path and the ultrasonic reception signal transmission path, apart from the ultrasonic reception signal path for transmitting a weak signal, the drive signal can use the flexible shaft itself as its transmission path. That is, since the flexible shafts 37a and 37b are made of a metal wire, they can be formed of a conductive member. Further, the flexible sleeves 39a and 39b can be formed of an insulating resin material. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, one of the rotating shafts 62 extending on both sides of the rotating body 61 on which the ultrasonic vibrator 60 is mounted is formed of a conductor, and the rotating shaft 62 is The flexible shaft 63 is connected in an electrically conductive state. Although the flexible shaft 63 can be used as a signal transmission path as it is, it does not vibrate after passing through the direction changing portion of the flexible shaft 63, so that the signal cable 64 is connected on the way. preferable.

With this configuration, the ultrasonic vibrator 60
When the flexible shaft 63 is rotated around the axis in order to rotate the signal cable 64, the signal cable 64 does not pass through this portion despite the vibration of the direction changing portion. There is no fear. Since the direction changing portion of the flexible shaft has only a very short length, it can be used as a path for transmitting an ultrasonic reception signal only during that time.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, the ultrasonic vibrator is mounted, and the rotary shaft is extended from both sides of the rotary body having the rotary shaft substantially orthogonal to the axis of the insertion portion, so that both rotary shafts can be rotated. axis
To the flexible shaft,
The shafts are driven to rotate by the rotation driving means.
So that the ultrasonic vibrator provided on the rotating body can be
Can be rotated reliably and accurately without unevenness
This has the effect of transmitting torque, for example .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an ultrasonic endoscope as an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a distal end surface of an insertion section.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a configuration explanatory view of a rotation drive mechanism of the ultrasonic transducer.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along a line YY in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a configuration in which a flexible shaft is used as a part of a signal path.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ultrasonic endoscope 10 Insertion part 10c End part main body 20 Endoscope observation mechanism 22 Observation window 23 Treatment tool derivation part 30 Ultrasonic observation mechanism 31 Housing 32, 60 Ultrasonic transducer 33, 61 Rotating member 33a, 33b, 62 Rotating shaft 37a, 37b, 63 Flexible shaft 39a, 39b Flexible sleeve 41a, 41b, 64 Signal cable 45 Motor 46 Drive gear 47a, 47b Follower gear 48 Encoder

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A rotary shaft extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the insertion portion is provided at the tip of the insertion portion, and an ultrasonic transducer that scans in the rotation direction is mounted on the rotation shaft. A flexible shaft is connected to both ends of the rotating shaft, and both flexible shafts are turned in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the insertion portion in the direction of the axis, and taken out of the insertion portion.
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the base ends of both of these flexible shafts are connected to a rotation driving means. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a signal cable is inserted through each of said flexible shafts. 3. The ultrasonic wave according to claim 1, wherein both the flexible shafts are formed of a close contact coil spring, and at least one of the flexible shafts has at least a direction changing portion as a signal transmission path. Diagnostic device. 4. The two flexible shafts are formed of a close contact coil spring, and one of the direction changing portions of the flexible shaft is used as a signal transmission path, and a portion other than the direction changing portion is connected to a signal transmission path by a signal cable. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a signal cable is inserted through the flexible shaft. 5. The rotation drive means comprises a drive motor and a gear transmission mechanism. The gear transmission mechanism meshes with a drive gear connected to the drive motor and drives one flexible shaft to rotate one of the flexible shafts. And a second driven gear that meshes with the first driven gear and rotates the other flexible shaft, and the two flexible shafts are wound in opposite directions. 2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is formed of a close-contact coil and configured to rotate and drive both flexible shafts synchronously.