JP3892665B2 - Ultrasound diagnostic balloon - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a balloon for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that is detachably attached to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image in a body cavity and a method for attaching the balloon.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When an ultrasonic tomographic image in a body cavity is to be obtained by an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, it is generally necessary to provide an interval of at least about 2 to 3 cm between the ultrasonic probe and the test portion.
[0003]
In addition, since ultrasonic waves are easy to transmit in liquid but difficult to transmit in air, the space between the ultrasonic probe and the test part is filled with liquid such as deaerated water with good ultrasonic transmission. It is necessary to let
[0004]
Therefore, in general, an inflatable balloon is disposed so as to surround the ultrasonic probe disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and both front and rear ends of the balloon are fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the insertion portion, and deaeration is performed. It has a structure that inflates the balloon by sending water.
[0005]
In order to fix such a balloon to the distal end of the insertion portion, an elastic O-ring arranged so as to surround the end portion of the balloon may be fitted into the entire circumferential groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the insertion portion. .
[0006]
However, if the O-ring is formed separately from the balloon, the balloon may come out of the tightening fixing portion by the O-ring and come off due to the force with which the balloon is inflated.
[0007]
Therefore, for example, a resilient fastener ring is formed integrally with the balloon around the end opening portion of the balloon made of silicon rubber or the like to prevent the balloon from coming out of the fastening portion. Yes.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional apparatus as described above, as shown in FIG. 4, when deaerated water or the like is fed into the balloon 5 and the balloon 5 is inflated, the inflating force is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 1. It acts in the direction in which the ring 6 is pushed out from the entire circumferential groove 4, and the ring 6 floats, so that the deaerated water leaks from the gap and the balloon 5 cannot be inflated sufficiently. In some cases, the balloon 5 may come off.
[0009]
Therefore, according to the present invention, when the balloon is inflated, the ring formed integrally with the opening of the end of the balloon does not rise, and the balloon is sufficiently inflated to take a distance between the ultrasonic probe and the test portion. An object of the present invention is to provide a balloon for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a method for attaching the balloon.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the balloon for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention has a resilient ring integrally formed at the end opening portion and formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can be attached to the insertion portion in an inflatable and inflatable manner by surrounding the ultrasonic probe disposed in the insertion portion by fitting the fastening ring in the entire circumferential groove, the fastening ring is connected to the inner periphery of the end opening. It is formed on the side.
[0011]
In addition, the method for attaching the balloon for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention includes an elastic ring formed integrally with the balloon so as to surround the end opening of the balloon, and the outer peripheral surface of the insertion part of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In the attachment method of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which the balloon is attached to the insertion portion so as to be inflatable and contractible in a state of surrounding the ultrasonic probe arranged in the insertion portion by being fitted into the circumferential groove formed in It is positioned on the inner peripheral side of the end opening of the balloon and is fitted into the entire circumferential groove of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 shows a distal end portion of an insertion portion 1 of an ultrasonic endoscope that is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. An observation window 2 for optically observing the front is disposed on the distal end surface of the insertion portion 1. ing.
[0013]
The ultrasonic probe 3 is formed in an annular shape surrounding the distal end of the insertion portion 1, and performs radial scanning around the axis A of the distal end portion of the insertion portion 1 to emit and receive ultrasonic waves radially. . An inflatable balloon 5 surrounds the ultrasonic probe 3 and is detachably attached to the distal end portion of the insertion portion 1.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 3, the balloon 5 is formed into a cylindrical shape by a material having a high elasticity such as thin silicon rubber, and has an O-ring shape on the inner peripheral side of the opening portions at both ends. An annular clamp ring 6 is formed integrally with the balloon 5.
[0015]
FIG. 1 schematically shows a side cross-sectional view of the distal end portion of the insertion portion 1, and the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion main body 1 a that is the main body of the distal end portion of the insertion portion 1 is entirely positioned at both front and rear positions of the ultrasonic probe 3. A circumferential groove 4 extending around the circumference is formed (hereinafter referred to as “entire circumferential groove 4”).
[0016]
The ring 6 of the balloon 5 is formed so that the wire diameter is slightly narrower than the circumferential groove 4 and the ring diameter is smaller than the diameter of the circumferential groove 4. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, by fitting the fastening rings 6 at both ends of the balloon 5 into the circumferential grooves 4, the fastening rings 6 are elastically extended and locked to the circumferential grooves 4. The balloon 5 is attached to the tip body 1a so as to surround the ultrasonic probe 3.
[0017]
Then, the balloon 5 is inflated by feeding deaerated water or the like into the balloon 5 from the water flow port 7 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip end main body 1 a so as to open at a position surrounded by the balloon 5.
[0018]
Then, since the fastening ring 6 is located on the inner peripheral side of the end opening of the balloon 5, as shown by a number of arrows in FIG. 4 acts in the direction of pressing.
[0019]
Accordingly, since the tightening force of the tightening ring 6 does not loosen, deaerated water does not leak out from the inside of the balloon 5, and the balloon 5 can be inflated greatly to ensure a sufficient distance from the test portion. There is no risk of losing.
[0020]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, when the balloon is formed in a sac shape, the present invention may be applied to only one end opening portion of the balloon. The invention may be applied to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having no optical observation function.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the collar formed integrally with the balloon for enclosing the ultrasonic probe is positioned on the inner peripheral side of the end opening of the balloon so as to be fitted into the entire circumferential groove of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. As a result, the force to inflate the balloon acts in the direction of pressing the fastening ring into the entire circumferential groove. The distance to the test part can be taken, and there is no possibility that the balloon will come off.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view of a distal end portion of an insertion portion of an ultrasonic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a distal end portion of an insertion portion of an ultrasonic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a balloon according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic side sectional view of a distal end portion of an insertion portion of a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insertion part 1a Tip part main body 3 Ultrasonic probe 4 Circumferential groove 5 Balloon 6 Fastening ring 7 Water passage

Claims (1)

An elastic fastener ring is integrally formed at the end opening portion, and the fastener ring is fitted into the entire circumferential groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, thereby being arranged in the insertion portion. In the balloon for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that is attached to the insertion portion so as to be freely expandable and contractible in a state of surrounding the ultrasonic probe,
In the state of the balloon for ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus alone, the vicinity of the end adjacent to the collar is formed in an outwardly convex curved surface whose diameter decreases toward the collar , and the collar is A balloon for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the balloon is formed on an inner peripheral side of the end opening so as not to protrude outward from the end opening .

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