JPH01285251A - Ultrasonic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make an ultrasonic endoscope fine by miniaturizing an ultrasonic probe, by a method wherein the unnecessary ultrasonic wave oscillated from the under surface of an electroacoustic converter element is passed through a sonic wave absorbing body to be reflected by the curved surface of a reflecting body while the reflected wave is further passed through the sonic wave absorbing body to advance toward an opening part. CONSTITUTION:The case Sb of the ultrasonic probe 2b mounted in the leading end part of the hollow part 11a of a searching part 1b is longer than the total width of converter elements 21a, 21b,... and formed into a flat shape. The entire surface of the case 8, which is provided with a reflecting body 9a having a curved surface 90a, on the right-hand side thereof becomes an opening part 80a. A sonic wave absorbing body 7b is received between the under surface of the ultrasonic probe 2a and the curved surface 90a up to the vicinity of the opening part 80a and the reflecting body 9a is formed from a material reflecting an ultrasonic wave. When the curved surface 9a receives the ultrasonic waves oscillated from the under surfaces of the converter elements 21a, 21b,... to pass through the sonic wave absorbing body 7a, said ultrasonic waves are reflected from the right-hand positions of the converter elements 21a, 21b,... toward the right-hand opening part 80a. By this method, the unnecessary vibration oscillated from the under surfaces of the converter elements 21a, 21b,... can be absorbed by making the distance passing through the sonic wave absorbing body 7b long.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] An ultrasonic endoscope having a curved reflector that reflects unnecessary sound waves emitted from the rear surface of an electroacoustic transducer element of an ultrasonic probe toward the side surface of the opening of a sound wave absorber case. , the purpose of this is to provide an ultrasonic endoscope that can be thinned by forming an ultrasonic probe into a flat shape.The hollow hole is closed at the tip, and only the tip is a hard part and the other parts are flexible. A tubular probe section with flexible or flexible parts is bonded to a housing case in which electroacoustic transducers are arranged on the front side and a sound wave absorber is housed on the rear side so that they are in contact with each other over the entire surface. an ultrasonic probe that is built into the exploration section and whose front side is exposed from the side wall of the tip of the exploration section; An ultrasound endoscope for diagnosing by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves by inserting the tip of the probe into the body cavity and bringing the ultrasound probe into contact with the inner surface of the body cavity. A reflector that has an opening that completely opens the side of the housing case that is remote from the tip of the probe, and a curved surface that reflects the sound waves emitted from the rear surface of the electroacoustic transducer in the direction of the opening inside the housing case. and a sound wave absorber is housed between the rear surface of the electroacoustic transducer and the reflector.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic endoscope equipped with an ultrasonic probe at its tip, and in particular, removes unnecessary sound waves oscillated from the rear surface of an electroacoustic transducer of the ultrasonic probe toward the side of the opening of a sound wave absorber case. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic endoscope having a curved reflector that reflects light.

Recently, endoscopes such as gastrocameras using optical fibers have been used as medical instruments to diagnose the presence or absence of abnormalities by inserting them into body cavities or tubular parts of the human body (hereinafter referred to as "intrabody cavities")9, for example, into the stomach and intestines. However, progress is being made in the development of ultrasound endoscopes for diagnosing abnormalities in the gastric wall surface discovered by optical endoscopy.

When such an ultrasound endoscope is inserted into a body cavity, a thick tip causes pain to the patient, so it is desirable to make it as thin as possible. In addition, in order to meet the demand for the development of a compound endoscope that is combined with an optical endoscope, we would like to secure space by flattening the ultrasound probe of an ultrasound endoscope.

However, reducing the thickness of the sound wave absorber that absorbs unnecessary vibrations on the back of the electroacoustic transducer element of the ultrasound probe cannot be made thinner because the image quality will be impaired, so a method to solve this problem is desired. It is rare.

[Conventional technology]

As shown in FIG. 4, the ultrasonic probe 2a is fitted into the side wall of the tip of the probe portion 1a, which has a rounded tip, with its front surface exposed and protruding slightly (for example, about 1.5 mm). There is.

The exploration part 1a has a nearly circular cross section (for example, φ10~12 mm)
), and has a built-in cable 3 connected to the ultrasound probe 2a, and the cable 3 led out from the terminal end is connected to the ultrasound diagnostic equipment main body (not shown). It is connected.

An operating section 10 is provided near the terminal end of the exploring section 1a, and the distal end of the exploring section 1a is configured to curve vertically and horizontally by operating the operating section 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ultrasonic probe 2a includes a plurality of electroacoustic transducer elements (hereinafter referred to as transducer elements) 21a, 21b, . 50 μm), and a matching layer 20 made of epoxy resin is provided on the front surface.

The conversion elements 21a, 21b, . Further, a common ground Fi5 is similarly connected to the upper surface of the opposite end of the conversion elements 21a, 21b, . . . .

A case 8a made of epoxy resin or ceramic is bonded to the lower surface of the conversion elements 21a, 21b, - with an adhesive, and the bottom of the case 8a is open.

Inside the case 8a is a sound wave absorber 7a made of an epoxy resin material mixed with metal powder (for example, iron oxide powder).
Injected from the bottom of a, the conversion elements 21a, 21b, ...
It is housed so that it is in full contact with the bottom surface of the

The sound wave absorber 7a has the function of absorbing and attenuating unnecessary ultrasonic waves downward in the figure from the conversion elements 21a, 21b, . . . is housed in.

With such a configuration and function, the probe section 1a is inserted into the body cavity from the distal end, and the operating section 10 is operated to curve the distal end, so that the surface of the ultrasound probe 2a is aligned within the body cavity. The conversion elements 21a, 21 are brought into contact with the wall surface, that is, the diagnostic site.
When electricity is applied to b, -, the piezoelectric element vibrates, and ultrasonic waves are emitted upward in a scanning manner.The ultrasonic waves are reflected and received by the internal conditions, and are displayed as images on an ultrasonic diagnostic device (not shown) for diagnosis. It will be done.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

According to the above conventional method, if the probe section is thick, it will pressurize or injure the inner wall when inserted into the body cavity, causing pain to the patient, so it is desirable to make it as thin as possible, but the electroacoustic transducer element of the ultrasound probe The thickness of the sound wave absorber on the back side cannot be made thin because it needs to be thick enough to absorb unnecessary vibrations, so it is difficult to make the probe part thinner.

■There is also a strong demand for the development of a composite endoscope that combines an optical endoscope and an ultrasound endoscope, and in order to meet this demand, the ultrasound probe must be made smaller and the optical fiber of the optical endoscope, etc. It is necessary to secure a space to accommodate this, but this is difficult for the same reason.

There is a problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic endoscope whose ultrasonic probe can be made flat and thin.

[Means to solve the problem]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is an exploration part, 7 is a sound wave absorber, 8 is a housing case, 11 is a hollow hole, 21 is a conversion element, 90 is a curved surface, 2 is a front side with the conversion elements 21 arranged, and a rear side with a housing case 8. The ultrasonic probe 80 is glued and built into the exploration part 1 and has its front surface exposed from the side wall of the tip of the exploration part l. The opening 9 is a reflector having a curved surface 90 that reflects the sound waves emitted from the rear surface of the conversion element 21 in the direction of the opening 80 in the housing case 8 .

Therefore, the sound wave absorber 7 is configured to be accommodated between the rear surface of the conversion element 21 and the curved surface 90 of the reflector 9.

[Effect]

Unnecessary ultrasonic waves emitted from the lower surface of the conversion element 21 pass through the sound wave absorber 7, are reflected by the curved surface 90 of the reflector 9, and further pass through the sound wave absorber 7 to proceed toward the opening 80. As a result, the distance through which the ultrasonic wave passes through the sound wave absorber 7 becomes longer, and the ultrasonic wave is absorbed.

Therefore, the thickness of the housing case 8 can be reduced to make it flat, and the ultrasonic probe 2 can be made smaller.
Ultrasonic endoscopes can be made thinner.

[Embodiment] FIG. 2 shows a composite endoscope having the functions of an optical endoscope and an ultrasonic endoscope as an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are shown surrounded by a dashed line.

As shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the exploration section 1b is
It is made of a flexible tubular material, and the hollow hole 11a is closed at the tip to provide a rounded shape.

An ultrasonic probe 2b is attached to the tip of the hollow hole 11a of the exploration part 1b.
is built-in, and the conversion element 21a,
The front surfaces of 21b, - are exposed. Although not shown, a cable 3a is flexibly connected to the ultrasonic probe 2b as described in the conventional example, and the cable 3a is led out to the rear end of the exploration section 1b.

Further, the exploration section 1b includes an observation optical fiber 2. which constitutes an optical endoscope. Optical fiber for lighting 3.14. and an intake/exhaust nozzle 15 are built in and similarly led out to the rear end.

The case 8b of the ultrasonic probe 2b has conversion elements 21a, 21
b.

It is longer than the full width of the ultrasonic probe and has a depth that is more flat than the case leakage of the ultrasonic probe described in the conventional example, and a reflector 9a having a curved surface 90a is provided inside the case 8b. In the figure 8b, the right end side surface is completely opened to form an opening 80a.

The sound wave absorber 7b is housed between the lower surface of the ultrasound probe 2a and the curved surface 90a, and the sound wave absorber 7b is housed close to the opening 80a.

The reflector 9a is made of a material 1 that reflects ultrasonic waves, such as stainless steel or quartz glass, and has a curved surface 90.
When the ultrasonic wave oscillated from the lower surface of the conversion elements 21a, 21b, . . . and passed through the sound wave absorber 7b is received, as shown in FIG. It is formed so as to be reflected toward the right side, that is, toward the opening 80a.

With such a configuration, the tip of the probe 1b is inserted into the body cavity, the surface of the ultrasound probe 2b is brought into contact with the diagnosis site, and the transducer 21a, 21b, . . . Diagnosis is performed by emitting ultrasonic waves in a scanning manner and receiving reflected sound waves. At this time, the conversion elements 21a and 21b.

Unwanted vibrations oscillated from the lower surface of - pass through the sound wave absorber 7b, are reflected by the curved surface 90a of the reflector 9a, and proceed through the sound wave absorber 7b toward the opening 80a. During this time, the distance that the ultrasonic wave passes through the sound wave absorber 7b becomes longer, and the ultrasonic wave is absorbed and attenuated.

In this way, by securing the distance through which the sound waves pass through the sound wave absorber 7b and absorbing unnecessary vibrations, the thickness of the housing case 8b can be reduced and flattened, so that ultrasonic waves can be The probe 2b can be made smaller, and the ultrasonic endoscope can be made thinner. Moreover, the configuration of the optical endoscope can be incorporated into the extra space, and a composite endoscope can be obtained without increasing the thickness of the exploration section.

In the above example, we explained the case of a combined endoscope, but if only an ultrasound endoscope is used, a thin exploration section can be obtained, making it easier to insert into the body cavity, which can cause a burden on the patient. .

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, unnecessary ultrasonic waves emitted from the back surface of the conversion element are reflected by the reflector, and by ensuring a distance to pass through the sound wave absorber and absorbing unnecessary vibrations, Since the ultrasound probe is flattened and miniaturized, the ultrasound endoscope can be made thinner, reducing the burden on the patient during insertion, without compromising diagnostic image quality.

■It is possible to obtain a composite endoscope in combination with an optical endoscope without making it thicker.

There is an effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram of the principle of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the reflector of the embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a diagram of a conventional ultrasonic endoscope. The side view shown in FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional ultrasound probe. Not 2 diagrams (τ's 1) implementation Ida・'jqk31 ト4罎J sentence () ``Yes Jth
3 times

Claims (1)

[Claims] A tubular exploration part (1) with a hollow hole (11) closed at the tip, where only the tip is a hard part and the other parts are flexible, or all parts are flexible. , a storage case (8) in which the electroacoustic transducer elements (21) are arranged on the front surface and the sound wave absorber (7) is housed on the rear surface so as to be in contact with each other over the entire surface.
is glued and built into the probe section (1).
), the ultrasonic probe (2) has its front surface exposed from the side wall of the distal end of the probe (2), and the electroacoustic transducer (21
) and a cable led out to the rear end of the probe (1), and the tip of the probe (1) is inserted into the body cavity to insert the ultrasound probe (2). An ultrasound endoscope for diagnosing by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves by bringing the probe into contact with the inner surface of the body cavity, wherein the side surface of the storage case (8) remote from the tip of the exploration section (1) is entirely covered. The housing case (8) has an opening (80) and a curved surface (90) that reflects sound waves emitted from the rear surface of the electroacoustic transducer (21) in the direction of the opening (80). An ultrasonic endoscope comprising: a reflector (9), and the sound wave absorber (7) is housed between the rear surface of the electroacoustic transducer (21) and the reflector (9).