JP3745562B2 - Small diameter probe - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a small-diameter probe, and more particularly, to a structure of a small-diameter probe inserted into a blood vessel of a living body.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems]
The small diameter probe is inserted into a body cavity such as a blood vessel. The small-diameter probe includes a catheter tube, a torque wire inserted through the catheter tube, an ultrasonic transducer provided at the distal end of the torque wire, and an operation unit including a rotation mechanism provided at the proximal end of the catheter tube. It consists of.
[0003]
In conventional ultrasonic diagnosis using a thin-diameter probe, the tip of the small-diameter probe (including the ultrasonic transducer) is inserted to the site where the ultrasonic diagnosis is to be performed, and the ultrasonic transducer is rotated and scanned there. A tomographic image of a blood vessel was obtained by transmitting and receiving sound waves.
[0004]
However, the conventional small-diameter probe is not provided with a bending mechanism as seen in, for example, an endoscopic probe inserted into the stomach, and it is difficult to set a desired tomographic plane depending on the running state of the blood vessel. There is a problem that there is. Incidentally, the narrow-diameter probe is extremely thin as described above, and there is a restriction that its diameter cannot be reduced from the viewpoint of the function of the torque wire. However, with regard to the latter problem, what is capable of exhibiting sufficient torque even if it is thin is gradually being put into practical use.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a small-diameter probe capable of adjusting the angle of a radial scanning plane.
[0006]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bending mechanism that operates reliably and smoothly in a thin catheter tube.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a catheter tube inserted into a blood vessel as a body cavity , a probe shaft provided with an ultrasonic transducer at the tip, and inserted into the catheter tube, and the probe shaft. A rotational drive unit that rotationally drives, a bending mechanism that is provided in the distal end portion of the catheter tube and closer to the proximal end side than the ultrasonic transducer, is inserted through the probe shaft, and is capable of bending and deforming itself; A member that is provided on the rear side of the bending mechanism in the catheter tube and regulates the backward movement thereof; an inner tube that passes through the probe shaft; and a proximal end portion of the catheter tube, the bending mechanism; An operation portion that operates an operation wire stretched between the plurality of annular blocks, wherein the bending mechanism includes a plurality of annular blocks arranged while allowing mutual change in posture. Seen, the distal end of the operating wire is connected to the top of the annular block, bending movement of the bending mechanism by operating the operating wire while restricting the backward movement of the last annular block by said inner tube is controlled, the the bending of the bending mechanism, it inserted through said rotary drive probe shaft which is the you characterized by the bending.
[0008]
According to the above configuration, the bending mechanism is inserted into the catheter tube and can be bent by the bending operation. As a result, the probe shaft and the catheter tube inserted therein can be bent. . Therefore, the direction of the ultrasonic beam can be set to a desired direction. When the probe shaft is rotationally driven, it is desirable to configure the bending mechanism so that the rotational motion of the probe shaft can be smoothly maintained.
[0009]
Desirably, a spacer member is provided between the plurality of annular blocks, and a fastening wire is stretched between both ends of the plurality of annular blocks. In order to allow mutual change of posture between the annular blocks, it is necessary to connect them as a whole with a mechanical degree of freedom between them, so that the spacer and preferably a plurality of fastening wires Is used. Preferably, the spacer member is a pipe through which the fastening wire is inserted.
[0010]
Desirably, it is a member that is provided on the rear side of the bending mechanism in the catheter tube and restricts its backward movement, and includes an inner tube that passes through the probe shaft. The inner tube desirably also functions as a member that pushes and guides the bending mechanism into the distal end portion of the catheter tube. In the inserted state, the distal end surface of the inner tube is brought into contact with the rear end of the bending mechanism, thereby preventing the bending mechanism itself from moving backward even when the operation wire is pulled.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a small-diameter probe according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the main part thereof.
[0013]
This small-diameter probe is roughly composed of an insertion portion and an operation portion. The insertion portion is inserted into a blood vessel of a living body, for example, and the insertion portion includes the catheter tube 12, a probe shaft 14 inserted into the catheter tube 12, and ultrasonic vibration provided at the distal end portion of the probe shaft 14. A child 16, a bending mechanism 20 described in detail later, and an inner tube 22 are included. The operation portion is provided on the proximal end side of the catheter tube 12, and the operation portion is provided with a rotation drive portion of the probe shaft 14 and operation portions of operation wires 26 and 28 described later.
[0014]
Here, the probe shaft 14 is made of, for example, a torque wire and has a flexible property in itself, but twist caused by rotation is minimized. As shown in FIG. 1, the probe shaft 14 passes through the inside of the bending mechanism 20 and the inside of the internal tube 22. Note that a single transducer is used as the ultrasonic transducer 16, but an array transducer may be used instead. As shown in FIG. 1, the rear end surface of the bending mechanism 20 hits the front end surface of the inner tube 22, and the backward movement of the bending mechanism 20 is restricted. A rotating probe shaft 14 is inserted into the inner tube 22.
[0015]
Next, the bending mechanism 20 will be described in detail. The bending mechanism 20 includes a plurality of (for example, five) blocks 34, a plurality of spacers 36 provided between the blocks, two fastening wires 30 and 32 connecting the blocks located at both ends, and a leading block 34. The two operation wires 26 and 28 are connected to each other. Each block 34 has a cylindrical shape, and at least four through holes are formed around the block 34 in this embodiment. The fastening wires 30 and 32 and the operation wires 26 and 28 are inserted into the through holes. In the first block, one end of the fastening wires 30 and 32 is fixed, and one end of the operation wires 26 and 28 is also fixed. In the last block, the other ends of the fastening wires 30 and 32 are fixed, and the blocks are connected to each other. Incidentally, in a state where the plurality of blocks 34 are connected to each other by the fastening wires 30 and 32, the bending mechanism 20 can be bent as a whole, in other words, the fastening wires so as to exhibit such flexibility. A length of 30, 32 is set.
[0016]
A plurality of spacers 36 are inserted between the blocks 34 as described above. In the present embodiment, the spacers 36 are provided corresponding to the fastening wires 30 and 32, in other words, the spacers 36 are not provided for the operation wires 26 and 28 between the blocks 34. This is because the bending mechanism 20 is bent in the direction in which the two operation wires 26 and 28 are stretched. Here, although the spacer 36 is formed in a pipe shape, it can be configured in other shapes.
[0017]
FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the bending mechanism 20. Incidentally, the two operation wires 26 and 28 exiting from the bending mechanism 20 may pass through the inside of the inner tube 22 as shown in FIG. 1, or the substantial part of the inner tube 22 or the outside thereof may be inserted. Also good.
[0018]
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the bending mechanism 20. As shown in the drawing, in a plane orthogonal to the central axis of the bending mechanism 20, two fastening wires 30 and 32 are stretched on a first direction passing through the central axis, and are orthogonal to the first direction. Two operation wires 26 and 28 are stretched in the second direction. In such a configuration, if one of the operation wires is pulled to the proximal end side, the bending mechanism 20 can be bent in this direction, and the same applies to the other operation wire. Of course, it is possible to bend the bending mechanism 20 not only in the uniaxial direction but also in the biaxial direction by modifying the configuration shown in each figure. In this case, it is necessary to provide four operation wires.
[0019]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the outer diameter of the catheter tube 12 is, for example, φ1.5 mm, and the inner diameter is, for example, φ1.2 mm. The outer diameter of the bending mechanism 20 is, for example, φ1 mm, and the inner diameter is, for example, φ0.7 mm.
[0020]
FIG. 4 shows another embodiment. In this embodiment, the spacer 36 shown in FIG. 1 is not used, and instead of the plurality of blocks 40, convex edges 40A and 40B are formed at both ends thereof. By such contact between the edges, a bending action similar to that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 can be obtained. In this case, it is desirable to form the edges 40A and 40B in a gentle mountain shape, and the curvature may be set according to the bending angle.
[0021]
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a block 50 according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, the block 50 includes an outer cylinder 52, an inner cylinder 54, and a plurality of hollow thin tubes 56 inserted and fixed between them. Then, the various wires described above are inserted using any one of the hollow thin tubes 56. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the like, it is difficult to form a through hole in the block 30. However, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of hollow thin tubes are simply inserted between two cylinders, an adhesive, etc. As a result, there is an advantage that a desired number of through holes can be formed.
[0022]
According to each embodiment described above, either one of the operation wires 26 or 28 can be drawn to the proximal end side by operating a dial or a lever on an operation unit (not shown), and as a result, a bending mechanism. 20 can be bent in the pull-in direction. Of course, even in such a bent state, the probe shaft 14 can be rotationally driven, and as a result, the ultrasonic beam formed by the ultrasonic transducer 14 can be radially scanned.
[0023]
In order to smoothly rotate the probe shaft 14 as described above, it is desirable that the block 34 is made of a member having little friction due to such rotation, such as metal.
[0024]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a thin non-hollow cylindrical member is inserted instead of the plurality of hollow thin tubes 56, and a space is formed at any one of the positions so that the space functions as an insertion hole. It is also possible.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a bending function to a small-diameter probe and to set an ultrasonic beam in a desired direction.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a main configuration of a thin probe according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an external view of a bending mechanism.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bending mechanism.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a block according to another embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a block according to another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
12 catheter tube, 14 probe shaft, 16 ultrasonic transducer, 22 inner tube, 26, 28 operation wire, 30, 32 fastening wire, 34 block, 36 spacer.

Claims (3)

A catheter tube inserted into a blood vessel as a body cavity;
An ultrasonic transducer is provided at the tip, and a probe shaft inserted into the catheter tube;
A rotation drive unit for rotating the probe shaft;
A bending mechanism provided in the distal end portion of the catheter tube and closer to the proximal end than the ultrasonic transducer, inserted through the probe shaft, and capable of bending and deforming itself;
A member that is provided on the rear side of the bending mechanism in the catheter tube and restricts the backward movement thereof, and an inner tube that passes through the probe shaft;
An operation portion that is provided at a proximal end portion of the catheter tube and operates an operation wire stretched between the bending mechanism;
Including
The bending mechanism includes a plurality of annular blocks arranged while allowing mutual posture change;
The distal end of the operation wire is connected to the leading annular block, and the bending motion of the bending mechanism is controlled by operating the manipulation wire while regulating the backward movement of the last annular block by the inner tube ,
A small-diameter probe, wherein the probe shaft inserted into the bending mechanism is bent by bending of the bending mechanism. The small diameter probe according to claim 1,
A spacer member is provided between the plurality of annular blocks,
A small-diameter probe characterized in that a fastening wire is stretched between both ends of the plurality of annular blocks. The small diameter probe according to claim 2,
The small diameter probe, wherein the spacer member is a pipe through which the fastening wire is inserted.

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