JPH025768Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic lithotripter probe for crushing stones in body cavities such as the bladder, urethra, and kidney by ultrasonic vibration.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

Generally, this type of ultrasonic lithotripsy probe consists of a Languevent type ultrasonic transducer, a built-in gripping part, and a transmission tube that transmits ultrasonic vibrations (UK, PAT,
GB2116045A). Stones are crushed by vibrating the tip of the transmission tube, which serves as an insertion portion, against stones in the body cavity.

Incidentally, the rear metal block and the fastening nut constituting the LangeVant type vibrator vibrate as the piezoelectric element vibrates. Therefore, in order to minimize the vibration loss at this time, it is desirable to keep these vibrating parts out of contact with other members.

However, in this ultrasonic probe, a cord for applying a driving voltage to the ultrasonic transducer is taken out to the rear of the grip along the rear metal block and the nut. Therefore, the possibility of contact with this power cord is extremely high.

If they come into contact with each other during vibration, not only will there be a vibration loss, but also frictional heat will be generated and the outer sheath of the cord will melt, increasing the possibility that electrical problems such as short circuits will occur. Of course, it is possible to avoid this problem as much as possible by increasing the distance between the two, but this method is actually difficult due to dimensional limitations.

Another possibility is to actively secure the cord to the rear metal block and nut.
The acoustic characteristics change, which is not only desirable, but also causes vibration loss.

[Purpose of invention]

This invention was made with attention to the above circumstances,
The purpose is to provide an ultrasonic lithotripter probe that prevents the power cord from coming into direct contact with the ultrasonic vibrator.

[Summary of the idea]

In the ultrasonic lithotripsy probe of the present invention, a piezoelectric element is held between the annular front and rear metal blocks from the front and back, and the rear metal block is connected to the front metal block by a fastening member provided at the rear of the rear metal block. An ultrasonic vibrator is provided to be fastened to the piezoelectric element, a power cord is provided to supply a driving current to the piezoelectric element, and the power cord is connected to the rear metal block on the outer periphery of at least one of the rear metal block or the fastening member. Alternatively, a vibration-absorbing soft member is fixedly provided at a distance from the fastening member to regulate the vibration.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce vibration loss during vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator, and in particular, it is possible to suppress the generation of frictional heat, so it is possible to avoid the occurrence of electrical problems such as melting of the outer cover of the power cord and short circuits. .

[Example of idea]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an ultrasonic lithotripsy probe 1, which consists of a grip part 2 and an insertion part 3. The grip part 2 is made up of an exterior case 4 that houses a Languevant type vibrator 5, and the Languevant type vibrator 5 is composed of a piezoelectric element 6, an electrode plate 7, a front metal block 8, and a rear metal block 9. ing. The piezoelectric element 6 and electrode plate 7 are sandwiched between front and rear metal blocks 8, 9. Furthermore, the front metal block 8 has a bolt portion 1.
0 is integrally attached, thereby forming an integrated component 11. The bolt portion 10 passes through the piezoelectric element 6, the electrode plate 7 and the rear metal block 9. The piezoelectric element 6, electrode plate 7, and rear metal block 9 are compressed and fixed by a nut 12 screwed onto the bolt portion 10. This Languevent type vibrator 5 is supported and fixed to the exterior case 4 by screws 13 at the vibration nodes. That is, in this embodiment, the peripheral surface of the front metal block 8 is fixed with screws 13. A collar 14 is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the front end of the front metal block 8.
This collar 14 is abutted against the front end of the outer case 4.

The rear end surface of a conical horn 15 is in close contact with the front end surface of the front metal block 8, and is connected and fixed by a screw 16. Furthermore, a metal pipe 17 serving as a transmission tube constituting the insertion portion 3 is connected to the tip of the horn 15 . That is, this pipe 1
7 is connected and fixed by tightly fitting its base end into a connecting hole 18 formed coaxially with the tip of the horn 15 and welding it.

On the other hand, the rear end of the front cover 21 is screwed into the outer periphery of the front end of the exterior case 4 . This front cover 21 surrounds the horn 15. Furthermore, a retaining ring 23 is attached to the tip of the front cover 21. Two circumferential grooves 24 are formed on the inner surface of the retaining ring 23, and an elastic O-ring 25 is fitted into each circumferential groove 24. And each elasticity O
The ring 25 elastically contacts the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical end of the horn 15 to shield the space therebetween.

Further, a cap 28 for connecting a suction tube 27 is screwed and fixed through the rear end wall 26 of the exterior case 4 in a watertight manner. Inside the cap 28 is a small diameter portion 2 formed at the protruding end of the bolt portion 10.
9 is loosely fitted. Further, two circumferential grooves 31 are formed on the inner surface of the cap 28, and each circumferential groove 31
Elastic O-rings 32 are fitted into each of them. Each of the elastic O-rings 32 elastically contacts the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion 29 to shield the space therebetween.

By the way, through holes 33 and 34 are bored in the center of the integrated part 11 of the Languevent type vibrator 5 and the horn 15 along the axial direction thereof.
These and the inner hole 35 of the pipe 17 are aligned on the same straight line and communicate with each other, and form a suction hole 36. The inner diameter of the through hole 34 in the horn 15 is equal to the inner diameter of the inner hole 34 of the pipe 17.
and smaller than that of the through hole 33 in the integrated part 11. In other words, the inner hole 35,
The inner diameters of the through holes 34 and 33 increase in this order. Further, the inner diameter of the cap 28 is even larger than that of the through hole 33.

On the other hand, on the outer periphery of the rear metal block 9, there are two
A circumferential groove 41 is formed, and a circumferential groove 42 is also formed on the outer periphery of the nut 12. One elastic O-ring 43 is fitted into each of the circumferential grooves 41 of the rear metal block 9. Further, two elastic O-rings 44 are fitted into the circumferential groove 42 of the nut 12. Each of the elastic O-rings 43 and 44 constitutes a flexible member interposed between the Languevain type vibrator 5 and a power cord 45 led to the electrode plate 7 of the piezoelectric element 6. This member prevents the power cord 45 from directly hitting the metal parts of the rear metal block 9 and the nut 12. The power cord 45 passes through the rear end wall 26 of the exterior case 4 and is led to an external power source (not shown). A duct 46 is provided. Inside this lead-out duct 46 is a power cord 45.
Two resilient O-rings 47 are provided for receiving. Furthermore, an elastic tube 48 for securing is attached to the rear end of the lead-out duct 46 .

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a plurality of slits 49 are formed at the most distal end of the pipe 17 as the insertion section 3, forming an abutting section 50 that contacts a stone in the body cavity. And this abutment part 5
The surface of 0 is coated with a super hard film 51 such as TiN. Note that this film 51 covers the abutting portion 5.
Not limited to 0. It may be provided throughout the pipe 17.

Next, how to use the ultrasonic lithotripsy probe 1 will be explained. FIG. 5 shows a case where a stone 52 formed in the kidney is crushed. That is, a sheath 55 of a nephroscope 54 is inserted into the nephroscope 53 in advance, and a scope 56 with a treatment instrument insertion channel is inserted into the sheath 55. Additionally, an injection tube 57 at the proximal end of the sheath 55
Physiological saline is perfused into the kidney 53 through the drainage tube 58 and the supply/drainage path (not shown) in the sheath 55. Then, the insertion portion 3 of the ultrasonic lithotripsy probe 1 is inserted into the kidney 53 through the treatment instrument insertion channel (not shown) of the scope 56. Then, as shown in FIG.
The abutting portion 50 is directed toward the stone 52 under observation with a renal speculum 54 protruding from the tip of the nephroscope 54.

Here, a driving voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 6 from the power source. As a result, ultrasonic vibrations are generated in the Languevin type vibrator 5, and these vibrations are amplified by the horn 15 and transmitted to the abutment portion 50 provided with the hard coating 51 via the pipe 17 (transmission pipe). . Therefore, when the ultrasonically vibrating abutment part 50 is pressed against the calculus 52, the vibration becomes a crushing force,
The stone 52 is crushed.

Further, at the time of this crushing, suction is carried out through the suction tube 27 and the suction hole 36 by a suction pump (not shown), so that the crushed fragments are expelled from the body through the suction hole 36 along with the physiological saline.

By the way, elastic O-rings 43 and 44 as soft members are attached to the outer peripheries of the rear metal block 9 and the nut 12 of the Languevan type vibrator 5, and these elastic O-rings 43 and 44 are connected to the side of the Languevant type vibrator 5 and the power source. Since the power cord 45 is interposed between the power cord 45 and the Languevin type vibrator 5, the power cord 45 does not come into direct contact with the Languevin type vibrator 5, and even if it does, it only comes into contact with the elastic O-rings 43 and 44. be.

Since each of the elastic O-rings 43 and 44 is a flexible member, even if the power cord 45 touches them, they will be in a so-called soft contact state. Therefore, the oscillator 5
Even if the O-rings 43 and 44 vibrate, the vibration
It is elastically absorbed by the power cord 45, and the generation of frictional heat from contact with the power cord 45 is greatly reduced. In addition, the vibration operation becomes a so-called non-contact state, and the acoustic characteristics do not change.
Also, vibration loss is extremely low.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention. That is, in this embodiment, a silicon tube 60, which is a flexible member, is fitted over the respective outer peripheries of the rear metal block 9 and the nut 12.
This also produces the same effects as described above.

Further, the present invention has a horn 15 as shown in FIG.
may be formed integrally with the front metal block 8.

Further, instead of the silicone tube 60, a heat-shrinkable tube made of Teflon or the like may be fitted with a shrinkable tube.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, in the present invention, a flexible member is interposed between the ultrasonic vibrator and the power cord, so the power cord does not come into direct contact with the vibrating member on the ultrasonic vibrator side. Even if they make contact, the vibrations are absorbed through the above-mentioned soft member, so that it is a so-called soft contact. Therefore, no frictional heat is generated, and electrical problems such as short circuits due to melting of the outer cover of the power cord are avoided. Also,
There is no need to change the acoustic characteristics of the ultrasonic transducer and cause vibration loss. In other words, it ensures stable and best operating conditions.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of an ultrasonic lithotripsy probe showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tip of the insertion portion thereof, Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the tip thereof, and Fig. 4 5 is a front view of the tip thereof, FIG. 5 is a view of the probe in use, and FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a vibrator according to another embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Ultrasonic lithotripter probe, 5... Languevin type vibrator, 6... Piezoelectric element, 8... Front metal block, 9... Rear metal block, 10... Bolt part, 43... O-ring, 44 ...O-ring, 4
5...Power cord, 60...Silicon tube.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A piezoelectric element, an annular front metal block and a rear metal block that sandwich the piezoelectric element from the front and back, and a front metal block provided at the rear of the rear metal block. an ultrasonic vibrator consisting of a fastening member fastened to the block; a power cord supplying a driving current to the piezoelectric element; an ultrasonic vibrator fixed to the outer periphery of at least one of the rear metal block or the fastening member, An ultrasonic lithotripsy probe characterized by comprising a vibration-absorbing soft member that is spaced apart from a rear metal block or a fastening member to regulate vibration.