JP3619423B2 - Radial scanning forward-view ultrasound endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a radial scanning forward-viewing ultrasonic endoscope in which an objective optical system for optical observation of the front and an ultrasonic probe for performing radial scanning with ultrasonic waves are provided at the distal end of an insertion portion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An ultrasonic endoscope capable of performing optical observation and ultrasonic scanning in a body cavity generally performs ultrasonic scanning from the distal end of the insertion portion toward the side, and can optically observe the same direction as the scanning direction as much as possible. It is said that it is good, and the structure for realizing it is adopted.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the greatest existence value of an ultrasonic endoscope is that it is adjacent to an organ where an ultrasonic probe cannot be inserted by obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image of the part immediately behind the part where the mucosal surface in the body cavity is abnormal. An ultrasonic endoscope is inserted into an organ to be scanned and ultrasonic scanning is performed from there.
[0004]
Therefore, in many cases, it is effective to perform an ultrasonic scan with a radial scan around the axis of the distal end of the insertion portion, and optical observation is most convenient for confirming the front during the insertion operation of the endoscope. It is effective to look forward.
[0005]
However, such a “radial scanning forward-viewing ultrasonic endoscope” has not yet been solved such as how it can shorten the hard tip, and has been put to practical use as a commercial product. It wasn't.
[0006]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a highly practical radial scanning forward-viewing ultrasonic endoscope capable of making the distal end hard portion of the insertion portion as short as possible.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a radial scanning forward-viewing ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention is formed in an annular shape so as to perform radial scanning, and is disposed at the distal end of an insertion portion, A radial-scanning front-view type ultrasonic endoscope having an objective optical system for observing the front and having a distal end main body formed with a thin outer diameter at a front half portion to be inserted into an ultrasonic probe. The multiple flexible boards for transmitting signals to and from the ultrasonic probe are arranged in an arc around the axis of the ultrasonic probe and arranged to pass through the tip body, and the arc is circumferential An anti-rotation member for preventing relative rotation around the axis between the ultrasonic probe and the tip main body is provided at a position extended to the position where no flexible substrate is disposed.
[0008]
The anti-rotation member may be a member independent of both the ultrasonic probe and the tip body, and a groove into which the anti-rotation member is fitted may be formed in each of the ultrasonic probe and the tip body.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 shows a radial scanning forward-view ultrasonic endoscope. A bending portion 2 that is bent by remote operation is connected to a distal end of a flexible tube portion 1 that is inserted into a body cavity. An ultrasonic probe 4 is attached to a distal end body 3 connected to the distal end. Reference numeral 100 denotes an inflatable balloon that is detachably provided so as to surround the ultrasonic probe 4.
[0010]
A bending portion operation knob 6 for bending the bending portion 2 is disposed on the operation portion 5 connected to the base end of the flexible tube portion 1. Reference numeral 7 denotes a treatment instrument insertion port for inserting a treatment instrument into the treatment instrument insertion channel 15 inserted and arranged in the flexible tube portion 1.
[0011]
A video signal connector portion 81 connected to a video processor (not shown) and a light guide connector portion 82 are provided side by side at the tip of the first connecting flexible tube 8 connected to the operation portion 5. An ultrasonic signal connector portion 91 connected to an ultrasonic signal processing device (not shown) is provided at the tip of the connecting flexible tube 9.
[0012]
FIG. 1 shows the distal end portion of the insertion portion. As shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic probe 4 has an ultrasonic transducer array portion 41 formed in a substantially annular shape made of plastic. The receiving member 42 is held and integrated.
[0013]
Then, as shown in FIG. 4 illustrating the IV-IV cross section, ultrasonic waves are generated from an ultrasonic transducer array portion 41 in which a large number of ultrasonic transducers are arranged around the axis in a range of, for example, 270 ° around the axis. Signals are transmitted and received in sequence (electronic scanning), and radial scanning is performed in a direction perpendicular to the axis.
[0014]
The inner space of the ultrasonic transducer array portion 41 is formed in a cylindrical hole shape centered on the axis, and the ultrasonic transducer array is disposed at the rear end portion (upper in FIG. 3) of the ultrasonic transducer array portion 41. A flexible substrate 43 provided with wiring for transmitting signals input to and output from the portion 41 is connected and extends rearward.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 5 illustrating a VV cross section, the flexible substrate 43 is provided with a plurality of (for example, eight) flexible substrates 43 arranged in an arc around the axis of the ultrasonic probe 4.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 5, the flexible substrate 43 is arranged in an arc shape within a range of about 270 °, for example, and the flexible substrate 43 that is an extension of the arc in which the flexible substrate 43 is arranged is arranged. A groove 44 for fitting a rotation stopper member 13 to be described later is formed in a portion that is not present.
[0017]
Returning to FIG. 3, a centering fitting portion 46 that fits with a centering fitting portion 32 of the distal end portion main body 3 to be described later has an outer peripheral surface (tip portion) with high dimensional accuracy at the rear end portion of the receiving member 42. It is formed concentrically with the boundary portion outer peripheral surface 45) adjacent to the outer surface of the main body 3. A circumferential groove 11 is formed in the distal end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member 42 for band-stopping the distal end portion of the balloon 100 that can be expanded and contracted.
[0018]
Returning to FIG. 1 again, the tip body 3 formed of a plastic material or the like has an ultrasonic transducer array portion of the ultrasonic probe 4 in the front half 33 as shown in FIG. 41 is thinly dimensioned to be fitted into the inner peripheral surface 41a of 41. The boundary outer peripheral surface 31 adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of the ultrasonic probe 4 is formed to have the same dimensions as the boundary outer peripheral surface 45 of the ultrasonic probe 4.
[0019]
A centering fitting portion 32 that fits with a centering fitting portion 46 of the ultrasonic probe 4 is formed on the front side portion of the boundary portion outer peripheral surface 31 of the distal end body 3 with the same size as the boundary portion outer peripheral surface 31 with high dimensional accuracy. It is formed on the core. In addition, a circumferential groove 12 for banding the rear end portion of the balloon 100 is formed at the rear end of the outer peripheral surface.
[0020]
An objective placement hole 34a, an illumination light guide placement hole 34b, and a treatment instrument passage hole 35 are formed in a direction parallel to the axis line in a portion closer to the front half portion 33 of the distal end portion body 3, and a rear portion thereof. A built-in passage hole 36 having an inner diameter slightly thinner than the outer diameter of the front half portion 33 is formed to the rear end.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 7 illustrating a VII-VII cross section, the flexible substrate 43 is passed through the rear half of the tip body 3 substantially on the extended position of the outer peripheral surface of the front half 33. The flexible substrate passage hole 37 is formed in an arc shape around the axis line in accordance with the arrangement position of the flexible substrate 43.
[0022]
However, in the vicinity of the rear end portion of the front end portion body 3, as shown in FIG. 8 illustrating a VIII-VIII cross section, at least one connecting portion 37a that divides the flexible substrate passage hole 37 in the middle is provided with the flexible substrate passage hole 37. The tip portion main body 3 has a strength that is not crushed by an external force.
[0023]
Returning to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the flexible substrate passage hole 37 is formed in an arc shape in a range of about 280 °, and the portion where the flexible substrate passage hole 37 is not formed is formed on the balloon 100. A liquid flow path 38 for injecting and draining deaerated water is formed in a direction parallel to the axis, and communicates with a balloon communication opening 38 a that opens in the balloon 100.
[0024]
Two liquid flow paths 38 are formed in parallel, and one of them is for exhaust. The liquid flow path 38 does not originally appear in FIG. 6 (and FIG. 1), but is also illustrated in FIG. 6 (and FIG. 1) for easy explanation. Reference numeral 39 denotes a groove for fitting the rotation preventing member 13 therein.
[0025]
Returning to FIG. 1, the ultrasonic probe 4 fitted to the front half 33 of the tip body 3 is engaged by a nut member 10 that is screwed into a male screw formed on the outer periphery of the tip portion of the tip body 3. Further, it is fixed to the intermediate step surface of the tip body 3 by pressing.
[0026]
Then, as shown in FIG. 9 illustrating the IX-IX cross section, the rectangular parallelepiped anti-rotation member 13 is fitted over the groove 44 of the ultrasonic probe 4 and the groove 39 of the distal end body 3, and the distal end The positioning of the main part 3 and the ultrasonic probe 4 in the rotational direction is regulated. Thereby, the relationship between the ultrasonic scanning direction and the direction of the observation field is set correctly. Reference numeral 17 denotes a light guide fiber for illumination.
[0027]
Returning to FIG. 1 again, in a state where the ultrasonic probe 4 is fixed to the distal end main body 3, the front half 33 of the distal end main body 3 and the inner peripheral surface 41 a of the ultrasonic transducer array 41 are fitted. Then, the centering fitting part 32 of the tip body 3 and the centering fitting part 46 of the ultrasonic probe 4 are fitted, but the gap of the former fitting part is formed larger than the gap of the latter fitting part. Has been.
[0028]
As a result, there is almost no step in the joint portion between the outer peripheral surfaces 31 and 45 of the boundary portion between the tip body 3 and the ultrasonic probe 4 exposed on the surface among the joint portion between the tip body 3 and the ultrasonic probe 4, A tip portion with good insertability for the patient is formed.
[0029]
In the objective arrangement hole 34, the objective optical system 14a is arranged at the front side portion, the solid-state imaging device 14b is arranged behind the objective optical system 14a, and a signal cable 14c for transmitting an imaging signal or the like is provided in the built-in object passage hole 36. And extends into the rear curved portion 2. The treatment instrument insertion hole 15 is connected to the treatment instrument passage hole 35 via a stainless steel pipe.
[0030]
A flexible piping tube 16 is connected to each of the two liquid flow paths 38, and both ends are fixed to the circumferential grooves 11, 12 in the balloon 100 from the operation unit 5 side via the piping tube 16. The deaerated water can be taken in and out, and the balloon 100 can be expanded and contracted.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible substrate 43 that transmits a signal input to and output from the ultrasonic transducer array portion 41 passes through the flexible substrate passage hole 37 formed in the distal end portion main body 3, and the rear curved portion 2. Have been passed in.
[0032]
In the latter half portion of the flexible substrate passage hole 37, as shown in FIG. 10, in order to avoid interference with the connecting portion 37a, the adjacent flexible substrates 43 are arranged so as to overlap each other, and the rear curved portion 2 is arranged. Have been passed in.
[0033]
In the bending portion 2, all signals input to and output from the ultrasonic transducer array portion 41 are transmitted by wiring formed on the thin flexible substrate 43. Therefore, there is no need to insert a signal cable into the bending portion 2.
[0034]
The flexible substrate 43 is arranged in an arc shape surrounding various built-in objects such as the signal cable 14c of the solid-state imaging device 14b, the treatment instrument insertion channel 15, and the light guide fiber 17. Therefore, various built-in objects are inserted and arranged in the bending portion 2 so that the internal space cannot be wasted, and the bending portion 2 can be formed thin.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 11, the flexible substrates 43 are formed to have different lengths, but even the shortest flexible substrate 43 is set to a length that passes through the curved portion 2, and the flexible tube portion The signal line 47a of the signal cable 47 inserted and disposed in 1 is connected to the distal end of the signal cable 47a in the longitudinal direction in the flexible tube portion 1 while being displaced in the longitudinal direction.
[0036]
The diameter of the connecting portion between the signal line 47a of the signal cable 47 and the flexible substrate 43 becomes thick due to soldering or the like, but by shifting the position in order, it is possible to avoid becoming locally thick as a whole. The flexible tube portion 1 and the curved portion 2 can be formed thin.
[0037]
FIG. 12 illustrates the connecting portion disposed in the flexible tube portion 1, and the distal end portion of the signal cable 47 in which a large number of signal lines 47 a are combined into one is connected in the flexible tube portion 1. Each signal line 47a is loosened in units of one signal line 47a and connected to one flexible substrate 43, and each of the signal lines 47a is bundled together by shrink-coating a flexible heat-shrinkable tube 48. ing. Such a configuration is effective in preventing disconnection of each signal line 47a.
[0038]
The end portions of the respective heat shrinkable tubes 48 are sequentially shifted in position. As a result, the flexibility of the flexible tube portion 1 does not change abruptly, and it is also possible to avoid the change in the overall diameter from becoming smooth and the diameter becoming thicker. And the flexible thick heat-shrinkable tube 49 is shrink-coated so that all the parts are bundled together.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a plurality of flexible boards for transmitting signals input to and output from the ultrasonic probe are arranged in an arc shape around the axis of the ultrasonic probe and arranged to pass through the tip body, By providing an anti-rotation member for preventing relative rotation around the axis between the ultrasonic probe and the tip body at a position where the arc is extended in the circumferential direction and the flexible substrate is not disposed. The ultrasonic probe and the distal end main body can be compactly connected, and the distal end rigid portion of the insertion portion is configured to be as short as possible so that the radial scanning forward-viewing ultrasonic endoscope with good insertability and high practicality can be obtained. Can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a distal end portion of an insertion portion of a radial scanning forward-viewing ultrasonic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing the overall configuration of a radial scanning forward-view ultrasonic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of an ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the distal end portion main body according to the embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a passing state of the flexible substrate according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a state of a rear end portion of the flexible substrate according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a side view of a connection portion between the flexible substrate and the signal cable according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Bending portion 3 Tip body 4 Ultrasonic probe 10 Nut member 13 Anti-rotation member (anti-rotation member)
39, 44 Groove 43 Flexible substrate

Claims (2)

An ultrasonic probe formed in an annular shape so as to perform radial scanning and disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion, and a tip into which the objective optical system for observing the front of the insertion portion is attached and inserted into the ultrasonic probe A radial scanning forward-viewing ultrasonic endoscope having a distal end main body formed with a thin outer diameter of a side half,
A plurality of flexible substrates for transmitting signals input to and output from the ultrasonic probe are arranged in an arc shape around the axis of the ultrasonic probe and arranged to pass through the tip body, and the arc is An anti-rotation member for preventing relative rotation around the axis of the ultrasonic probe and the tip body is provided at a position extended in the circumferential direction and at which the flexible substrate is not disposed. A radial scanning forward-view type ultrasonic endoscope characterized by the above. The rotation prevention member is a member independent of both the ultrasonic probe and the tip body, and a groove into which the rotation prevention member is fitted is formed in each of the ultrasound probe and the tip body. 1. A radial scanning forward-view type ultrasonic endoscope according to 1.

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