JP3881511B2 - Ultrasound endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic endoscope in which an optical observation member and an ultrasonic scanning member are provided at the distal end of an insertion portion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an ultrasonic endoscope, it is necessary to connect an illumination light guide for optical observation and an ultrasonic signal cable to an external light source device and an ultrasonic signal control device.
[0003]
However, since it is normal that the light source device and the ultrasonic signal control device are not integrated, the light guide for illumination and the ultrasonic signal cable are separated in the connection portion to the light source device and the ultrasonic signal control device. It will take the structure.
[0004]
Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 9, a flexible light guide protective tube 11 in which an illumination light guide is inserted and a flexible ultrasonic signal cable protective tube in which an ultrasonic signal cable is inserted and arranged. 12 are extended separately from the operation unit 1 and, as shown in FIG. 10, a single flexible common protective tube 10 extending from the operation unit 1 is protected by a light guide. Some are branched into a tube 11 and an ultrasonic signal cable protection tube 12.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the structure in which the light guide protective tube 11 and the ultrasonic signal cable protective tube 12 are completely separated as shown in FIG. 9, the illumination light guide and the ultrasonic signal cable are separately connected to the operation unit 1. Therefore, the workability during assembly and disassembly repair is poor.
[0006]
On the other hand, in the structure in which the light guide protection tube 11 and the ultrasonic signal cable protection tube 12 are branched in the middle as shown in FIG. There is a drawback that the operation is hindered.
[0007]
Therefore, the present invention provides an ultrasonic endoscope having a structure in which the illumination light guide and the ultrasonic signal cable are extended from the operation unit so that the workability during assembly and disassembly and repair is good and the operability is not hindered. The purpose is to provide a mirror.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the ultrasonic endoscope of the present invention, the optical observation member and the ultrasonic scanning member are provided at the distal end of the insertion portion, and the illumination light guide and the ultrasonic signal cable are provided from the operation portion. In an ultrasonic endoscope that is extended and connected separately to an external light source device and an ultrasonic signal control device, the light guide for illumination and the ultrasonic signal cable pass through one common passage at the part that exits the operation unit. In addition to being passed through the hole, it is branched at a position adjacent to the outside, and is inserted into a flexible protective tube independent of each other.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the ultrasonic endoscope. An optical observation objective unit 3 including an objective optical system and the like, an ultrasonic probe, and the like are provided at the distal end of the insertion unit 2 connected to the lower end of the operation unit 1. The arranged ultrasonic scanning unit 4 is provided side by side.
[0010]
A solid-state image sensor is disposed at the imaging position of the subject by the objective optical system in the optical observation objective unit 3, and an imaging signal is transmitted from the solid-state image sensor. However, the observation image may be transmitted by an image guide fiber bundle.
[0011]
From the rear surface of the upper half of the operation unit 1, as shown in FIG. 1 which is a plan view, a flexible light guide protective tube 11 in which a light guide fiber bundle 6 for illumination is inserted and arranged, A flexible ultrasonic signal cable protective tube 12 in which the acoustic signal cable 8 is inserted and arranged extends.
[0012]
The light guide fiber bundle 6 and the ultrasonic signal cable 8 are passed through one common passage hole 21a, which will be described later, in a portion extending from the operation portion 1, and in a branching portion 20 provided adjacent to the outside thereof. The light guide protective tube 11 and the ultrasonic signal cable protective tube 12 which are branched and provided independently of each other are inserted and arranged separately. Reference numerals 13 and 14 denote bends for reducing the sudden bending of the end portion of the light guide protective tube 11 and the end portion of the ultrasonic signal cable protective tube 12, respectively.
[0013]
An ultrasonic signal connector 19 connected to an ultrasonic signal control device (not shown) is connected to the tip of the ultrasonic signal cable protective tube 12, and a light source device (not shown) is connected to the tip of the light guide protective tube 11. A light guide connector 15 connected to the video processor is coupled. Reference numeral 16 denotes a light guide connecting pipe, 17 denotes an imaging signal connector, 18 denotes an air / water feeding base, and a suction base or the like is disposed on the back side of the light guide connector 15.
[0014]
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the branching portion 20, and a single cylindrical common support tube 21 protrudes rearward from the operation unit 1, and the internal space of the common support tube 21 is a light guide. A common passage hole 21 a through which the fiber bundle 6 and the ultrasonic signal cable 8 pass is formed.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 4 showing the IV-IV cross section, in addition to the illumination light guide fiber bundle 6, the imaging signal cable 7 and the ultrasonic signal cable 8, the common support tube 21 has a common passage hole 21 a. Tubes for air, water supply, suction, etc. are inserted in a bundle.
[0016]
A branch support member 22 is fixed to the protruding end of the common support tube 21, in which the base end cap 11 a of the light guide protection tube 11 and the base end cap 12 a of the ultrasonic signal cable protection tube 12 are connected side by side. Reference numeral 12 b denotes a connection base that connects the base end base 12 a and the folding stopper 14 of the ultrasonic signal cable protection tube 12 to the branching support member 22.
[0017]
And the ultrasonic signal cable 8 is taken out of the common support cylinder 21 from the branch hole 21b formed in the side wall of the common support cylinder 21, and also as shown in FIG. The light guide fiber bundle 6 and the imaging signal cable 7 are guided straight into the light guide protective tube 11 through the common passage hole 21a of the common support tube 21 together with tubes and the like. ing.
[0018]
Reference numeral 23 shown in FIG. 3 denotes a branch portion cover for preventing the ultrasonic signal cable 8 from being exposed at the branch portion 20. Reference numeral 24 denotes a space cover for covering a space necessary for mounting the branch portion cover 23, and is fastened and fixed by a rubber ring 25.
[0019]
6 to 8 show an assembling process of the branching portion 20, and illustrations of built-in components such as the light guide fiber bundle 6 and the ultrasonic signal cable 8 are omitted.
As shown in FIG. 6, the ultrasonic signal cable protection tube 12 is attached to the branching support member 22 in advance via a connection base 12b, and the rubber ring 25 is expanded and retracted to the operation unit 1 side. In the state where the cover 23 is allowed to play, the branching support member 22, the light guide protective tube 11, the anti-folding 13 and the like are connected in order, and the base of the common support tube 21 and the light guide protective tube 11 as shown in FIG. The end cap 11 a is fixed with screws 26.
[0020]
Finally, as shown in FIG. 8, the branch portion cover 23 is moved rearward so that the passing portion of the ultrasonic signal cable 8 is covered and fixed with screws 26, and the space where the branch portion cover 23 has moved is spaced. The cover 24 is attached, and the outside is fastened and fixed with a rubber ring 25.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the light guide for illumination and the ultrasonic signal cable are passed through one common passage hole at the portion coming out of the operation portion, and branched at a position adjacent to the outside thereof, so that they are independent of each other. By being inserted into the protective tube, assembly and disassembly / repair are easy and workability is good, and since there is no connecting portion or the like in the middle of the protective tube, there is an excellent effect that does not hinder the operability of the operator.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of an ultrasonic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of an ultrasonic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan sectional view of a branching portion of a light guide protective tube and an ultrasonic signal cable protective tube of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3 of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 3 of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing an assembling process of a branch portion of the light guide protective tube and the ultrasonic signal cable protective tube of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing an assembling process of a branch portion of the light guide protective tube and the ultrasonic signal cable protective tube of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing an assembly process of a branching portion of the light guide protective tube and the ultrasonic signal cable protective tube of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a first example of a conventional ultrasonic endoscope.
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a second example of a conventional ultrasonic endoscope.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation part 2 Insertion part 3 Optical observation objective part 4 Ultrasonic scanning part 6 Light guide fiber bundle (Light guide for illumination)
8 Ultrasonic signal cable 11 Light guide protective tube 12 Ultrasonic signal cable protective tube 20 Branch portion 21 Common support cylinder 21a Common passage hole 21b Branch hole 22 Branch portion support member

Claims (1)

An optical observation member and an ultrasonic scanning member are provided at the distal end of the insertion portion, and an illumination light guide and an ultrasonic signal cable are extended from the operation portion to be separately provided to an external light source device and an ultrasonic signal control device. In the connected ultrasound endoscope,
The illumination light guide and the ultrasonic signal cable are passed through one common passage hole at the portion exiting from the operation section, and branched at a position adjacent to the outside thereof, so that they are independent from each other in a flexible protective tube. An ultrasonic endoscope characterized in that it is inserted into the endoscope.

Images