JPH01300940A - Ultrasonic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the space of a means, which rotates an ultrasonic vibrator, occupying in an insert part, by constituting a rotation transmitting body of the signal transmitting body of the ultrasonic vibrator. CONSTITUTION:An ultrasonic endoscope 1 contains the first and second operating parts 2, 17, the flexible pipe 3 connected to the first operating part 2, a leading end constitution part 4 and an ultrasonic vibrator exterior member 5. An ultrasonic vibrator part 6 is arranged in the ultrasonic vibrator exterior part 5 in a freely rotatable manner and rotationally driven by a flexible shaft 7. The flexible shaft 7 is also used as the signal transmitting medium 7 of the vibrator part 6 and the signal of the vibrator part 6 is outputted from an amplifying part 2, a slip ring group 14, a brush group 15 and a lead wire 16 through the flexible shaft 7.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic endoscope, more specifically, an ultrasonic endoscope that has an ultrasonic transducer at its tip and that performs ultrasonic diagnosis directly from inside a body cavity. Regarding sonic endoscopes.

[Prior Art] Ultrasonic endoscopes have conventionally been disclosed in USP 4,572,20.
Publication No. 1, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 1983-77009, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1983
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 82944, etc., an ultrasonic transducer is placed at the tip of the insertion section, and this emits ultrasonic waves toward the affected area, and the reflected image is viewed by a viewing device A-j. It's meant to be observed. Such an ultrasound endoscope has extremely high diagnostic ability because it can observe the affected area from a short distance inside the body cavity compared to an external ultrasound observation device. Among them, an ultrasonic transducer 17 placed at the tip of the endoscope insertion section is rotated by a rotational drive source such as a motor installed in the operating section to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves in the radial direction to penetrate inside the body cavity. Mechanical scanning type, so-called mechanical radial type, ultrasonic endoscopes are widely used because they allow observation in 360° directions, making orientation easy. In recent years, this type of ultrasound endoscope has also been used to diagnose the degree of cancer invasion in the stomach, duodenum, etc., and also to diagnose the liver and pancreas via the stomach and duodenum. , has become useful for early detection of cancer, etc. through precise diagnosis.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional mechanical radial type ultrasound endoscope as described above, an ultrasound transducer placed at the tip of the insertion section is rotated by a flexible shaft. A coaxial cable was passed through L-r+, and the drive signal and reception signal of the ultrasonic transducer were transmitted through this cable. Further, this flexible shaft is further covered with a guide sheath made of tetrafluoroethylene resin or the like to protect the image guide and light guide of the endoscope.

For this reason, the installation space for the drive system that rotates the vibrator becomes larger, and the endoscope insertion section becomes thicker, which worsens the ease of insertion and causes more pain to the patient.
Moreover, this method has the problem of prolonging the diagnosis time.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to significantly reduce the outer diameter of an endoscope insertion section by reducing the space occupied within the insertion section by means for rotating an ultrasonic transducer, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic endoscope that reduces noise.

[Means and Effects for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ultrasonic transducer disposed at the distal end of an endoscope insertion section and an ultrasonic transducer disposed outside the insertion section. An ultrasonic endoscope in which a drive source for rotating a transducer is connected by a rotation transmitting body, characterized in that the rotation transmitting body is constituted by a signal transmitting body of the ultrasonic vibrator.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ultrasound endoscope showing a first embodiment of the present invention. This ultrasonic endoscope 1 consists of first and second operating sections 2, 17, a flexible tube section 3, a tip structure section 4, and an ultrasonic transducer exterior member 5, which are successively connected to the first operating section 2, 17, and the first operating section 2. The main body consists of the body cavity insertion part.

An ultrasonic transducer section 6 is rotatably disposed within the ultrasonic transducer exterior member 5, and the transducer section 6 is rotatably driven by a flexible shaft 7. The flexible shaft 7 has its distal end fixed to the handle 6a (see FIG. 2) of the vibrator section 6 extending into the distal end component 4, and after passing through the flexible tube section 3, its rear end
It extends into the operating section 2. A pulley 8 is fixed to the rear end, and a timing belt 11 is stretched between the pulley 8 and an output pulley 10 fixed to the output shaft of a motor 9, which is a rotational drive source. Further, an amplifier section 12 and a pulser 13 are fixed to the pulley 8, and a slip ring group 14 is further fixed to the pulley 8, and a brush group 15 comes into contact with the slip ring group 14. A lead wire 16 electrically connected to an ultrasonic observation device (not shown) is connected to the brush group.

Further, an objective lens 20. lighting window (not shown),
Image guide 21. A light guide (not shown) and the like are provided, and the image guide 21 and the light guide are passed through the flexible tube 3 and the first operating section 2, and then extend into the second operating section 17. The image guide 21 is arranged such that its end face faces one eyepiece lens in the eyepiece section 18 disposed outside the second operation section 17, and the ride guide is connected to the universal cord 1 from the second operation section 17.
It is coupled to a light source device (not shown) via 7a. In addition, the air supply system, which is necessary for the function of the endoscope,
The suction system is omitted.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the inside of the ultrasonic transducer exterior member 5 and the tip component 4. It is formed of an open cap-shaped short cylinder, and an ultrasonic transducer section 6 is rotatably disposed inside. Further, the tip structure portion 4 whose tip portion is tightly fitted into the exterior member 5 also has a
It is formed of a relatively thick short cylindrical body whose front end surface is a donut-shaped disk and whose rear surface is open, and the outer circumferential stepped portion of the front end surface is the inner circumferential surface of the rear end of the exterior member 5. It is tightly fitted and integrated with the exterior member 5. Also,
A flexible tube portion 3 is provided at the outer circumferential stepped portion of the rear end portion of the tip structure portion 4.
A spiral tube 22 and an outer skin 23 covering it
The tips of each are tightly fitted. The objective lens 20 is disposed on a part of the outer periphery of the distal end component 4 through a cover glass 24 exposed to the outside, and the objective lens 20 is provided with the distal end surface of the image guide 21. are set up opposite each other.

The ultrasonic transducer section 6 disposed within the exterior member 5 is mounted within a transducer mounting member 25 made of a conductive material.
The ultrasonic transducer 27 fixed by the ultrasonic transducer 27, the acoustic lens 28 placed on the wave transmitting/receiving surface of the transducer 27, and the damping moon 2
It consists of 9. The vibrator claw (=j part member 5 is formed of a short cylindrical body with open upper and lower surfaces, and is disposed within the exterior member 5 so that the upper and lower surfaces are perpendicular to the axial direction of the insertion section. Therefore, the open end surfaces of the upper and lower surfaces face the circumferential surface of the exterior member 5.The vibrator-shaped handle portion 6a is laterally attached to a central portion of the outer circumferential surface of the attachment portion II5. The handle 6a extends out from the ultrasonic transducer 27.
The stem portion 6a extends into the tip component 4 from the center opening 4a of the donut-shaped front end surface of the tip component 4.

In the transducer mounting member 25 configured as described above, an ultrasonic transducer 27 is placed horizontally at a position near the outside in the middle thereof, with its wave transmitting/receiving surface facing the open end surface of the upper surface of the member 2.
6, and an acoustic lens 28 which also serves as a matching layer is fixed to the wave transmitting/receiving surface 2. In addition, a damping member 29 is placed on the opposite side of the wave transmitting/receiving surface.
6 is filled in. The handle 6a extending into the tip component 4 is rotatably supported by a bearing member 30 such as a bearing fixed to the component 4, and a stepped portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rear end. The tip of an I/x pull shaft 7 (formed by tightly wound conductive elastic wire in the form of a coil) is firmly attached to and fixed to the narrow diameter portion 6b.

This flexible shaft 7 may be formed into a double winding. Also, the tip 41. A fixing member 32 for integrally attaching the bearing member 30 to the component 4 is screwed into the component 4 inside the acid part 4, and a guide tube covering the flexible shaft 7 is attached to this fixing part 432. 33 is attached by tightening with a nut 34, and the flexible shaft 7
A conductive wire 35 for transmitting a driving pulse signal for transmission to the ultrasonic transducer 27 and for transmitting a signal for reception by the transducer 27 to an external amplifier is inserted inside. This conductive wire 35 is formed of an electric wire coated with an insulation coating 35b, and the insulation coating conductor 35 is inserted through the center of the wire.
A is a signal transmission line that passes through the inside of the vibrator-like handle 6a and connects to the ultrasonic transducer 2 in the transducer mounting part Jr) I25.
It is connected to the signal line terminal of 7. The earth line terminal of the ultrasonic transducer 27 is connected to the transducer claw A-1 member 25 by a conductive wire 36 through an opening 26a of the receiver member 26. The flexible shaft 7, in which the conductive wire 35 and the conductive wire 36 of the ground line are electrically coupled via the conductive handle 6a, constitutes a conventional coaxial cable, and is connected to the amplifier section 1-2 and the pulser section, respectively. 13 (see Figure 1).

On the other hand, the inside of the ultrasonic transducer exterior member 5 is filled with an ultrasonic transmission medium 37 made of an ultrasonic transmission liquid, and this transmission medium is also filled into the guide tube 33 through the opening 4a and the bearing member 3Q. This serves to reduce the friction between the flexible shaft 7 and the guide tube 33. Additionally, grooves 38 and 39 are formed in the outer circumferential surface of the thick tip of the exterior member 5 and in the outer circumferential surface of the tip constituting portion 4 near the front. These grooves 38 and 39 are portions to which a balloon is attached and fixed to bring the body cavity wall and the ultrasonic wave transmitting portion into close acoustic contact so that no air gap is formed.

Note that the air supply hole and air passage for balloon expansion are omitted.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic endoscope 1 in this embodiment configured as described above will be explained. First, ultrasound endoscope 1
Before inserting the body cavity insertion part into the body cavity, a well-known vibrator-shaped balloon (not shown) is attached to the distal end of the V
Attach by fixing both ends to the three grooves 38. Next, this body cavity insertion section is inserted into the body cavity, and the ultrasonic transducer section 6 at the distal end is guided to and brought close to the target site under observation using an endoscope. Next, the balloon is inflated by an air supply means (not shown) to bring it into close contact with the wall of the body cavity. Then, the ultrasonic transducer section 6 is connected to the motor 9. Pulley 10. Timing belt 11° pulley 8. It is rotated via a flexible shaft 7. The amount of rotation is detected by an encoder or the like (not shown), and the pulser 13 drives the ultrasonic transducer 27 at fixed angle intervals to generate ultrasonic waves, which are focused by the acoustic lens 28 and directed toward the target area. fire. Then, the reflected ultrasonic waves are received by the ultrasonic transducer 27, and the received signals are transmitted to the amplifier section 12 through the conductive wire 35, the handle 6a, and the flexible shaft 7.

And slip ring group 14. The ultrasonic image is observed through the brush group 15° lead wire 16 using a viewing device (not shown).

In the ultrasonic endoscope 1 of this embodiment configured as described above, the diameter of the flexible shaft is thinner than that of a conventional coaxial cable in which the coaxial cable is passed through the flexible shaft to the extent that the shield part of the coaxial cable can be omitted. can, therefore,
The outer diameter of the endoscope insertion portion can be reduced, and the patient's pain can be reduced accordingly.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of the tip of an ultrasonic endoscope showing a second embodiment of the present invention. The main parts of this ultrasonic endoscope 41 are constructed almost the same as the ultrasonic endoscope 1 shown in FIGS. The explanation will be omitted and only the different parts will be explained. .

The ultrasonic transducer section 6A in this ultrasonic endoscope 41 is configured almost the same as the ultrasonic transducer section 6 in the ultrasonic endoscope 1, except that its handle 6a is a bearing formed of a bearing. The difference is that the inner ring 30a of the member 30 is formed, and the flexible shaft is connected to the conductive wire 31.
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the first embodiment is formed by the following.

The outer ring, which contacts the inner ring 30a through the ball, is fixed in a tube 4b extending inwardly from the tip component 4, and a conductive guide tube 4 is provided in the rear narrow diameter portion of the tube 4b.
0 is tightly fitted and fixed in a watertight manner by a fixing member 42 screwed into the tube body 4b.

A conductive wire 31 that also serves as a flexible shaft is inserted into the conductive guide tube 40 . This conductive wire 31 is formed of an insulated wire, and its tip is inserted into the handle portion 6a from inside the guide tube 40, and the conductive wire 31a at the center is inserted into the transducer mounting member 25 as a signal transmission line. It is connected to the electrode terminal of the acoustic wave vibrator 28. On the other hand, the earth line 31b of the same vibrator 28
is electrically connected to the vibrator mounting member 25 made of a conductive material, and is connected to the conductive guide tube 40 via the bearing member 30 so as to have the same potential.

In the second embodiment configured in this way, the conductive wire 3
1 rotates in the conductive guide tube 40 to rotate the ultrasonic transducer section 6A. The transmitted and received signals are transmitted by the conductive wire 31 and the conductive guide tube 40, and then transmitted to the pulser and amplifier section.

Further, since the conductive wire 31 in this second embodiment also serves as a flexible shaft, glass fiber may be mixed into the insulating cover 31c in order to improve its rotation transmission properties. Furthermore, the ultrasonic transmission medium 37 filled in the exterior member 5 may be a conductive liquid.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the conductive guide tube 40 in the ultrasonic endoscope 41 shown in FIG. The diameter of the insertion portion can be further reduced.

Next, a third embodiment of an electronic radial type ultrasonic endoscope that meets the purpose and also facilitates assembly and repair work will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of the distal end portion of the electronic radial endoscope of this embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line A--A in FIG. 5. This ultrasonic endoscope 1 is of a direct viewing type, and as shown in FIG. , a cylindrical ultrasonic transducer holding member 65 to which this tip fitting 64 is attached, and a tip support which is attached to the tip of the flexible tube 67 and into which the ultrasonic transducer holding part 65 is fitted. The members 66 are configured to be assembled independently.The rear surface of the objective optical system 62 faces the front end surface of the image guide 68, and the rear surface of the illumination lens 63 faces the front end surface of the six light guides. Electronic radial ring-shaped ultrasonic transducers 70 are arranged in the outer circumferential groove of the ultrasonic transducer holding member 65, and the upper surface of these ultrasonic transducers 70 is Acoustic matching layer 7
Acoustic lenses 72 are respectively disposed through 1.

The signal terminal of the ultrasonic transducer 70 is connected to a signal cable 74 inserted into the flexible tube 67 via a connecting member 73 made of a flexible printed circuit board. As shown in FIG. 6, the signal cables 74 are bundled into an appropriate number of cables to form a cable bundle 75 that connects the central shrine including the built-in components of the image guide 68 and light guide 69) and the operation wires. Wire receiving member 7 through which is inserted
6, the space occupied within the flexible tube of the signal cable, that is, the signal transmission member, can be minimized.

Therefore, the outer diameter of the flexible tube 67, ie, the body cavity insertion portion, can be minimized to facilitate insertion and reduce patient pain.

Further, in the ultrasonic endoscope 61 of this embodiment, the outer diameter of the flexible tube can be minimized as described above, and in the manufacturing process, as shown in FIG. A tip support member 66 is attached to the tip of the unit 17, and an ultrasonic transducer holding member 65 in which an ultrasonic transducer 70 to which one end of a signal cable 74 is already connected is installed is attached to the tip support member 66. 2 image guide 68. The end fitting 64 to which built-in items such as the light guide 69 are attached is formed as one unit, which is inserted and fixed with fixing screws 77 and 78 (see FIG. 5), respectively. In addition, in Figure 5,
Reference numerals 79 and 80 refer to the tip support portion Vi66, respectively.
, ultrasonic transducer holding member 65. These are O-rings for maintaining airtightness between the end fittings 64. in this way,
By assembling each unit and assembling the whole as a whole, assembly work can be made extremely easy, and if each unit is damaged or malfunctions, only that part can be replaced or repaired. You can also get the effect.

Although each of the above embodiments has been described with reference to an ultrasonic endoscope, the present invention is not limited to ultrasonic endoscopes, but can also be applied to a simple catheter type that does not include an observation optical system. Of course it can be done.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the cross-sectional area of the rotation drive means can be reduced by using the flexible shaft that rotates the ultrasonic transducer part as a shield wire of the coaxial cable, In addition, since the guide tube is used as a shield and the signal transmission line is used as a direct rotational drive means, the space occupied by the rotational transmission means in the endoscope insertion section can be significantly reduced, and the endoscope It is possible to provide an ultrasonic endoscope that has the remarkable effect of reducing the outer diameter of the insertion portion, improving insertability, shortening observation time, and reducing patient pain.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the overall configuration of an ultrasound endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a main part of the distal end of the ultrasound endoscope shown in FIG. 1. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the main part of the distal end of an ultrasound endoscope showing a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a guide in the ultrasound endoscope shown in FIG. 3; FIG. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing another example of the tube; FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded side view showing the assembly process of the unit type of the ultrasonic endoscope shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 1.41.61...Ultrasound endoscope 7...
...Flexible shaft (rotation transmission body) 9
......Motor (drive source for rotating the vibrator) 27... Ultrasound wave vibrator

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An ultrasonic endoscope in which an ultrasonic transducer disposed at the distal end of the endoscope insertion section and a drive source for rotating the transducer provided outside the insertion section are connected by a rotation transmission body. An ultrasonic endoscope, wherein the rotation transmitting body is constituted by a signal transmitting body of the ultrasonic transducer.