JPH02265534A - Ultrasonic wave endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To optically observe the observation plane nearly equal to the observation plane in the ultrasonic wave scanning by forming an ultrasonic wave vibrator group by arranging an ultrasonic wave vibrator in annular form onto the top edge part of an insertion part and forming a gap onto a wiring member which is connected with the ultrasonic wave vibrator and transmits signals and installing an optical system and a channel hole into the gap. CONSTITUTION:The top edge part 19 of the insertion part of a side view type ultrasonic wave endoscope is formed by winding and attaching an ultrasonic wave vibrator group 5 and a flexible substrate 15 in annular form onto the periphery of a hard top edge constitution part 20. A flexible pipe is connected behind the top edge constitution part 20 through a curved part. The both edges of the ultrasonic wave vibrator group 5 and the flexible substrate 15 are joined by a joint part 21, and the cut parts 16 and 17 of the flexible substrate 15 are set oppositely, and a gap 22 is formed by the cut parts 16 and 17 and a hole formed on the top edge constitution part 20. A lighting lens 23, objective lens 24, and a channel hole are arranged in nearly straight line form in the axial direction into the gap 22. The equal plane to the scanning plane by an ultrasonic beam can be observed by an optical system by arranging the lighting lens 23, objective lens 24, and a channel hole 25 into the gap 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an improvement in an ultrasonic endoscope in which a large number of ultrasonic transducers are arranged in an annular shape at the distal end of an insertion section.

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventionally, an ultrasonic transducer that scans in the radial direction by arranging a large number of ultrasonic transducers in an annular shape and sequentially selectively operating arbitrary groups of transducers has been used. Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-31155 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1983-
It has been proposed in Publication No. i 49615, etc. and,
An intrabody cavity ultrasonic probe using a large number of ultrasonic transducers arranged in an annular shape has also been developed, and a method for manufacturing the probe is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 14623/1983.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9(a), this ultrasonic probe is constructed by placing a lead titanium zirconate (lead titanium zirconate) of approximately the same shape and size on a damper material 1 that is flexible and formed into a rectangular shape. An ultrasonic transducer plate 2 made of materials such as PZT) and an acoustic matching layer 3 are adhered one after another, leaving the lower damper material 1 as shown in Fig. 9(b).
As shown in FIG. 1, the cut F! is cut at a predetermined pitch in a direction perpendicular to one side in the longitudinal direction using a cutting means such as a wire saw. 4 is inserted into a large number of ultrasonic transducers 2a to form an ultrasonic transducer group 5, and this ultrasonic transducer group 5 is arranged in an annular shape around a cylindrical support member 6 as shown in FIG. 9(C). It is manufactured by winding and gluing.

The signal from the eyebrow sound wave 2a is extracted using, for example, a flexible substrate. In this case, Fig. 10 (
As shown in a), the flexible substrate 7 is connected to the ultrasonic transducer group 5, and each ultrasonic transducer 2a is wired to the pattern 8 on the flexible substrate 7, as shown in FIG. 10(b). As shown in FIG.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, there is also a method of providing a cylindrical terminal block 11 on which terminals 10 are formed to extract signals. In this case, the support member 12 is adhered to the peripheral surface of the terminal block 11, and each ultrasonic vibrator 2a and the terminal 10 are connected by wiring 13. Note that the ultrasonic transducer group 5 may be wound around the peripheral surface of the terminal block 11 in an annular shape and bonded thereto.

By the way, by combining an optical system with an intracorporeal ultrasound probe,
In an ultrasonic endoscope that enables simultaneous optical observation and ultrasonic observation, it is desirable that the optical system be able to observe in the same direction as the ultrasonic scanning direction. However, in an endoscope with an annular ultrasonic transducer 2a provided at the distal end of the insertion portion, the ultrasonic transducer group 5 is provided in the portion facing the ultrasonic observation surface. It is not possible to set up a system.

Furthermore, as described above, the pattern 8 of the flexible substrate 7 or the wiring 13 of the terminal block 11 is provided on the peripheral surface of the tip of the insertion portion near the ultrasonic transducer group 5, so that the optical system cannot be connected. It cannot be placed. Therefore, in the configuration in which the ultrasonic transducer group 5 is provided in an annular shape at the distal end of the insertion section, when optical observation and ultrasonic observation are performed simultaneously, the observation surface is approximately the same as the observation surface by the ultrasonic transducer. There was a problem in that it was impossible to observe with an optical system.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and includes:
An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic endoscope that can optically observe an observation surface that is substantially the same as an observation surface by ultrasonic scanning.

[Means for Solving the Problems] An ultrasound endoscope according to the present invention has ultrasound transducers arranged in a ring at the distal end of an insertion section to form an ultrasound transducer group, and A gap is provided in the wiring member that is connected to the wiring member to transmit signals, and at least one of the optical system and the channel hole is disposed in the gap.

[Operation] In the present invention, for example, a gap is formed in the vicinity of the ultrasonic transducer group for observing the same region using an optical system at the same time as ultrasonic observation using an ultrasonic transducer.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the distal end of the insertion section of an ultrasound endoscope, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the ultrasonic transducer group and the flexible substrate.

In FIG. 3, the ultrasonic transducer group 5 is shown in FIGS.
It is molded as shown in b). That is, an ultrasonic transducer 2a is formed on the damper material 1, with the acoustic matching layer 3 as an upper layer and divided into a large number of parts by the grooves 4.

The flexible substrate 15 is formed to have the same width as one longitudinal side of the ultrasonic transducer group 5, and notches 16 and 17 are formed at predetermined positions facing each other at both ends in the width direction.

Patterns 18 made of copper foil or the like are formed on the flexible substrate 15, and each of these patterns 18 and the ultrasonic transducer group 5
are connected to each ultrasonic transducer 2a by a lead wire (not shown) or the like. Note that these patterns 18 are bent near the notches 18 and 17, and the patterns 18 are bent near the notches 18 and 17.
．． 17.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the insertion section distal end 19 of the side-viewing ultrasonic endoscope has a third
It is formed by winding and bonding the ultrasonic transducer group 5 and flexible substrate 15 shown in the figure in an annular shape. A flexible tube (not shown) is connected to the rear of the distal end component 20 via a curved part (not shown). By joining both ends of the ultrasonic transducer group 5 and the flexible substrate 15 at the joint portion 21, the notch portions 16.17 of the flexible substrate 15 face each other, and the notch portions 16.17 and the tip structure portion 20 are connected to each other. A gap 22 is formed by the provided hole. In this gap 22, an illumination lens 23, an objective lens 24, and a channel hole 25 such as a forceps hole are arranged approximately in series in the axial direction. and a light guide 26 extending inside the tip component 20,
Further, on the back side of the objective lens 24, another objective lens (not shown) and an image guide 27 extending from the proximal side like the light guide 26 face the channel hole 25 as needed. An extended channel 28 for forceps or the like is connected.

According to such a configuration, the inside of the body cavity is illuminated by the light guide 26 and the illumination lens 23, and the image inside the body cavity illuminated by the illumination light is transmitted to the objective lens 24 and the image guide 2.
7, the information is transmitted to the eyepiece of the operating section connected to the rear of the flexible tube, and while being visually observed through the eyepiece, the distal end of the insertion section 1 is
9 is inserted, and the annular ultrasonic transducer group 5 of the insertion section distal end 19 is brought into contact with the subject, and an arbitrary number of transducers 2a from the ultrasonic transducer group 5 are selectively operated to detect the phase difference. By giving , the ultrasonic beam is focused and the ultrasonic beam is transmitted and received, thereby performing ultrasonic observation of the object through the monitor of the ultrasonic observation device. Since the transducers 2a are arranged in an annular shape, scanning in the radial direction can be performed by sequentially shifting the selected transducers 2a.

As described above, by arranging the illumination lens 23, objective lens 24, and channel hole 25 in the gap 22 formed by the cutout 16.17 of the flexible substrate 15 and the hole of the tip component 20, The optical system allows observation of the same surface as the surface scanned by the acoustic beam.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. Fourth
In the figure, the same parts as in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanation will be omitted.

In this embodiment, instead of the image guide 27, a solid-state image carrier 29 such as a C0D (charge coupled device) is used.

That is, instead of the end face of the image guide, a solid-state image carrier 29 is disposed at the imaging position of the objective lens 24 or an objective lens (imaging lens), etc. further provided as necessary, to photoelectrically convert the object image. Then, the signal is output to a video processor (not shown) via a signal line 30, and the image of the subject is displayed on the monitor screen of the video processor.

It is clear that this embodiment also has the same effects as the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

The third embodiment is an example in which a signal from an ultrasonic transducer 2a is transmitted via a terminal 32 provided on a cylindrical terminal block 31.

The configuration of the ultrasonic transducer group 5 is the same as in the first embodiment. This ultrasonic transducer group 5 is wound around and bonded to the peripheral surface of the terminal block 31. Terminals 32 are disposed at the circumferential end of one end surface of the terminal block 31, and each ultrasonic vibrator 2a and each terminal 32 are connected by wiring 34. Terminal/base 31
A part of the circumferential end of the holder is opened to form a gap 33. In the vicinity of this gap 33, the wiring 34 is bent,
It is formed along the gap 33. In the gap 33, an illumination lens 23, an objective lens 24, and a channel hole 25 are arranged substantially in series in the axial direction, and a light guide 26 (not shown) is arranged opposite the illumination lens 23. Similar to the first embodiment, an image guide 27 (not shown) is provided opposite the objective lens 24, and a channel 28 (not shown) is provided opposite the channel hole 25. be. It is clear that the same effects as in the first example can be obtained in this embodiment as well.

6 and 7 relate to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the insertion portion distal end portion 38 of the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 7 is an ultrasonic transducer group 5 and a flexible 3 is a plan view showing a substrate 35. FIG.

In FIG. 7, the configuration of the ultrasonic transducer group 5 is the same as that in the first embodiment. The flexible substrate 35 is formed to have the same width as one longitudinal side of the ultrasonic transducer group 5, and has a notch 36 formed in the vicinity of the ultrasonic transducer group 5 approximately in the width direction. . Patterns 31 made of copper foil or the like are formed on the flexible substrate 35, and each of these patterns 37 and each ultrasonic transducer 2a of the ultrasonic transducer group 5 are connected by a lead wire or the like (not shown). Note that these patterns 37 are bent near the notch 36 and are formed along the notch 36 .

In FIG. 6, the insertion portion distal end 38 has the ultrasonic transducer group 5 and flexible substrate 35 shown in FIG.
It is formed by joining and gluing. Notch part 3
6 and a hole provided in the tip component 20 at the same position as the notch 36 forms a gap 40. This gap 40
An illumination lens 23, an objective lens 24, and a channel hole 25 are arranged substantially in series in the axial direction, and the illumination lens 2
A light guide 26 faces the back of the lens 3, an image guide 27 faces the back of the objective lens 14, and a channel 28 is connected to the channel hole 25.

It is clear that this embodiment also has the same effects as the first embodiment. By the way, in the joint portion 39,
The arrangement pitch of the ultrasonic transducers 2a is different from other parts. For this reason, when ultrasonic observation is performed using the ultrasonic transducer 2a near the connection part 39, the resolution is worse than when using the ultrasonic transducer 2a in other parts. Therefore,
It is preferable to use the ultrasonic transducer 2a in a portion other than the vicinity of the joint portion 39. For this reason, the optical system is placed at a position away from the joint 39, and a high-resolution ultrasonic image and an optical image can be obtained simultaneously.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment is an example in which a terminal block 41 is used.

This embodiment differs from the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5 in that the gap 42 provided in the terminal block 41 is located on the substantially opposite side of the joint 43. It is clear that the same effects as in the fourth embodiment can be obtained in this embodiment as well.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the optical system, channel hole, etc. can be arranged by effectively utilizing the gap provided in the wiring member, and the same part can be observed using the optical system. This has the effect that observation using ultrasound can be performed simultaneously.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the distal end of the insertion section of an ultrasound endoscope, and FIG.
The figure is a sectional view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an ultrasonic transducer group and a flexible substrate, FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 and 7 relate to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the distal end of the insertion section of the fourth embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe; FIG. 11 and 11 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the transmission of signals from the ultrasonic probe. 2a... Ultrasonic transducer, 5... Ultrasonic transducer group, 1
5... Flexible board, 19... Insertion part tip end,
22... Gap, 23... Illumination lens, 24... Objective lens, 25... Channel hole.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An ultrasonic transducer group consisting of ultrasonic transducers arranged in an annular shape at the distal end of an insertion section; a wiring member connected to the ultrasonic transducers to transmit signals; An ultrasonic endoscope comprising: a gap provided in a wiring member; and an optical system and/or a channel hole disposed using the gap.