JPH0523337A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve finer diameter and a change in the direction of an ultrasonic scanning with a simple construction with respect to an ultrasonic probe to be inserted through a insertion hole of a treating device of a forceps channel. CONSTITUTION:A reflector 15 is provided at a protrusion 7a at a tip part 7 of an endoscope as opposed to an opening of a forceps channel 10 while a step part 7d is provided inside the forceps channel 10. An ultrasonic probe 20 is inserted and fitted into the forceps channel 10 while a positioning contact part 21a of an ultrasonic probe 20 is made to abut the step part 7b of the forceps channel 10. An ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic probe 20 positioned stably is changed forward in course from the side being reflected with the reflector 15.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope which is inserted into an ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic diagnosis.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity, it is possible to observe internal organs in the body cavity and, if necessary, to perform various therapeutic treatments using a treatment instrument inserted into a treatment instrument channel. Endoscopes are widely used. Further, it is used not only for medical purposes but also for industrial purposes for observing and inspecting objects in pipes of boilers, machines, chemical plants, etc., or machines. Further, various electronic endoscopes in which a solid-state image pickup device such as a charge coupled device (CCD) is used as an image pickup means at the tip of the insertion portion are also used.

By the way, conventionally, in an endoscope having a forceps channel, an ultrasonic probe for performing ultrasonic diagnosis using the forceps channel is used. When performing ultrasonic diagnosis, the ultrasonic probe was inserted into the forceps channel, guided to the target site, and then the ultrasonic probe oscillated an ultrasonic beam to perform ultrasonic diagnosis.

[0004]

The type of ultrasonic probe to be inserted into the endoscope is a lateral radial scanning type,
There is a front sector scan type. The scanning direction of these probes is fixed, and some directions cannot be scanned. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time to overlook the diagnosis or to make a sufficient diagnosis. These problems can be solved by changing the scanning direction. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-60545 proposes that a rotatable flat plate mirror is provided at the tip. The ultrasonic wave is reflected by the flat mirror, and the direction of the ultrasonic scan is changed by changing the angle of the flat mirror. However, in the above-mentioned one, since the member for rotating the flat mirror has to be provided at the tip of the ultrasonic probe, there is a drawback that the structure of the tip becomes complicated and it becomes difficult to reduce the diameter.

Further, when the ultrasonic probe is inserted into the forceps channel of the endoscope, since there is no conventional means for fixing the ultrasonic probe, the fixing position of the ultrasonic probe is not fixed and the probe moves during scanning. It was a cause of deterioration of the ultrasonic image.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and does not require a flat plate mirror or the like for an ultrasonic probe inserted through a treatment tool insertion hole such as a forceps channel, and has a simple structure and a fine structure. The purpose is to be able to change the direction of ultrasonic scanning.

[0007]

An endoscope of the present invention has an ultrasonic probe for inserting into a subject to be examined, and an ultrasonic probe for guiding ultrasonic waves to the distal end side of the inserted portion. An endoscope having a treatment instrument channel that can be inserted,
Ultrasonic beam deflecting means for deflecting the path of at least a part of the ultrasonic beam oscillated by the ultrasonic probe is provided at the tip of the insertion section.

[0008]

With this configuration, ultrasonic waves are oscillated from the ultrasonic probe inserted into the treatment instrument channel of the endoscope, and at least a part of the oscillated ultrasonic beam is deflected at the tip of the insertion portion. The emitting direction can be changed by the means.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a distal end portion of the endoscope, and FIG. 3 is a distal end portion of the endoscope shown in FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the relationship between the endoscope and the ultrasonic probe, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the reflection state of the ultrasonic beam.

The endoscope 1 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with an elongated and flexible insertion portion 2 and an operation portion 3 connected to the rear end of the insertion portion 2. The operation section 3 is provided with a flexible universal cord (not shown) on the side, and a light source device (not shown) is connected to the universal cord via a connector (not shown) provided at an end of the universal cord.

Further, the operation section 3 has an eyepiece section 3a on the rear end side for allowing the naked eye observation of an endoscopic image, and an operation knob 3b on the side section for performing a bending operation of the bending section 3, which will be described later. A forceps channel opening 3c communicating with the forceps channel is provided.

The insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1 has a rigid distal end portion 4, a bendable bending portion 5 and a flexible tube portion 6 which are flexible in sequence from the distal end side. ..

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a tip cover 7 is provided on the tip side of the tip portion 4. On the front side of the tip cover 7, a projection 7a is formed on a part thereof, while on the other surface, two illumination windows 9 and a forceps channel 10 as a treatment tool channel are provided. The protrusion 7a
An observation window 8 is provided on the front surface of the.

The forceps channel 10 includes a tip cover 7
It has an opening on the front. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a tip forming member 7b is fitted to the rear end side of the tip cover 7, and the bending piece 11 of the bending portion 5 is attached to the tip forming member 7b. The tip forming member 7b and the curved portion 5 are covered with an outer rubber 12.

The objective lens system 1 is provided inside the illumination window 7.
3 is mounted, the front end of an image guide 14 made of a fiber bundle is provided at the rear end of the objective lens system 13, and the rear end of the image guide 14 is connected to the eyepiece 3a. Further, a light distribution lens and a light guide (not shown) are provided at the rear ends of the two illumination windows 9, and the illumination light is supplied from the light source device via the light guide.

The projecting portion 7a of the tip cover 7 has a surface facing the opening side of the forceps channel 10 that is inclined with respect to the axial direction, for example, 45 degrees, and serves as an ultrasonic beam deflecting means on the inclined surface. Is provided with the reflection plate 15.
The reflecting plate 15 is made of, for example, a metal or a resin whose surface is an arcuate concave surface and is formed smoothly, and reflects an ultrasonic beam emitted from an ultrasonic probe described later. The reflection plate 15 may have the slope of the protrusion 7a formed smoothly.

A channel hole 7c forming the forceps channel 10 is axially penetrated inside the tip cover 7. The channel hole 7c is formed to be thicker than the front end side from the middle to the rear end side, and the channel connecting pipe 10a is fitted therein. The channel hole 7c forms a step portion 7d even when the channel connecting pipe 10a is fitted, and the step portion 7d positions the ultrasonic probe.
In addition, a channel tube 10b is externally fitted to the channel connecting pipe 10a.
Communicates with the forceps channel port 3c. Therefore, for example, forceps or an ultrasonic probe can be inserted through the forceps channel port 3c and guided to the opening on the side of the distal end portion 4.

On the other hand, the ultrasonic probe 20 shown in FIG.
It is configured to emit ultrasonic waves to the side and perform radial scanning. The ultrasonic probe 20 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and has a probe outer skin 21. By forming the probe outer skin 21 from the front end side to the middle side and forming the wide side from the middle side to the rear end side, A positioning contact portion 21a is formed as a joining portion. Then, when the ultrasonic probe 20 is inserted into the forceps channel 10, the narrow portion and the large portion of the tip cover 7a and the narrow portion and the large portion of the probe outer skin 21 of the ultrasonic probe 20 are fitted to each other. At the same time, the stepped portion 7d and the positioning contact portion 21a come into contact with each other to be positioned.

In addition, an ultrasonic transducer 23 supported by a rotatable flexible shaft 22 is provided inside the probe skin 21 of the ultrasonic probe 20. The ultrasonic transducer 23 emits ultrasonic waves perpendicularly to the axial direction and rotates to perform radial scanning. Step portion 7d
And the positioning contact portion 21a contact each other, and the ultrasonic probe 20
In the state where is positioned, the emitting end of the ultrasonic transducer 23 and the reflecting plate 15 of the tip portion 7 face each other.

With this configuration, the ultrasonic probe 20 is inserted into the forceps channel 10 and fitted together as shown in FIG. 4, and the positioning contact portion of the ultrasonic probe 20 is attached to the step portion 7d of the forceps channel 10. 21a abuts and is positioned. In this state, as the ultrasonic transducer 23 of the ultrasonic probe 20 rotates, ultrasonic waves (indicated by solid arrows in the figure) are emitted to the side as shown in FIG. A radial tomographic image of is obtained. Among them, the ultrasonic waves emitted in the direction of the reflection plate 15 have their paths bent substantially at right angles as shown in FIG. 5 (a), so that a front sector tomographic image can be obtained.

In this embodiment, since the ultrasonic probe 20 can be positioned and fixed in the forceps channel 10, it is possible to obtain a stable ultrasonic tomographic image without blurring. Further, it is possible to obtain a forward sector tomographic image together with a lateral radial tomographic image, which improves the diagnostic function.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a distal end portion of an endoscope according to a modified example of the present invention. In this modification, as shown in FIG. 6, a channel opening 15a for a puncture needle is provided on the surface of the reflection plate 15 so that the puncture needle can be inserted through the forceps channel port 3c of the operation unit 3. The other configurations and effects are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to omit the description.

In this modification, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, it is possible to perform puncture while observing an ultrasonic tomographic image. For example, reliable puncture can be performed even if the lesion is at a deep position. You can And the structure for that is made simple.

7 to 9 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the endoscope distal end portion, FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the endoscope distal end portion shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the relationship between an endoscope and an ultrasonic probe.

In this embodiment, instead of the concave reflecting plate 15 of the first embodiment, a reflecting plate 30 having a convex reflecting surface is provided. In addition, the flexible shaft 2 that can rotate freely
The ultrasonic transducer 23 supported by 2 is configured to be movable back and forth. Other configurations and operations similar to those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 9, by moving the ultrasonic transducer 23 forward and backward, the reflection position of the ultrasonic beam on the reflecting plate 30 also changes.

In this embodiment, since the ultrasonic transducer 23 is moved forward and backward and the convex reflecting plate 30 is used, the direction of the forward scan can be largely changed, and a wider field of view can be observed. Become. Other configurations and effects are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The present invention can be applied to electronic endoscopes as well as optical fiber endoscopes. Also, as the scanning method, an example of mechanical radial scanning was shown,
It may be performed by electronic radial scanning.

By the way, FIG. 10A shows an ultrasonic probe 40 configured so that the surface of the ultrasonic tomographic plane can be optically observed. This ultrasonic probe 40
Inside the distal end side, for example, an ultrasonic transducer 41 supported by a rotatable flexible shaft (not shown) is provided, and as shown in FIG. 10B which is a view in the direction of arrow A of FIG. An optical reflection member 42 is provided on almost the half circumference of the outer peripheral surface on the tip side.

The ultrasonic probe 40 is inserted through the forceps channel 46 opening at the endoscope tip portion 45 and guided to the tip side opening. Then, the endoscope front end portion 4 is formed on the reflecting surface of the optical reflecting member 42 whose rear end side is formed obliquely.
Illumination light transmitted by the light guide 48 enters through the light distribution lens 47 provided in FIG. Therefore, the illumination light is reflected by the reflecting surface of the ultrasonic probe 40 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction, and enables lateral endoscopic observation.

Further, in FIG. 12, the ultrasonic probe 40 shown in FIG. 10 is provided with a reflecting means for illuminating light.
The ultrasonic probe 50 is provided with a light guide which is a means for transmitting illumination light.

In the ultrasonic probe 50 shown in FIG. 12, a light guide 51 consisting of a fiber bundle is formed and arranged in a thin and flat shape, is inserted through the inside, and its end is exposed on the outer peripheral surface on the tip side. .. Alternatively, a small light distribution lens may be arranged at the end of the light guide 51. With this configuration, lateral endoscopic observation is possible. Other,
The same configurations and effects as those in FIG. 10 are the same, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 12 (b) is a view in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 12 (a), and FIG. 11 shows a display illumination light streak and an ultrasonic probe on a monitor by an electronic endoscope. Is shown.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, a flat mirror can be dispensed with for an ultrasonic probe inserted through a treatment tool insertion hole such as a forceps channel, and the ultrasonic probe can be made fine with a simple structure. There is an effect that the direction of ultrasonic scanning can be changed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope according to a first embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a distal end portion of the endoscope.

3 is a cross-sectional view of a distal end portion of the endoscope shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the endoscope and the ultrasonic probe.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a reflection state of an ultrasonic beam.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a distal end portion of an endoscope according to a modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a distal end portion of an endoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a cross-sectional view of the endoscope distal end portion shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the endoscope and the ultrasonic probe.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a probe that enables endoscopic observation of an ultrasonic tomographic surface.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a monitor display screen of the ultrasonic probe.

FIG. 12 is another schematic configuration diagram of an ultrasonic probe different from FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 4 ... Tip part 7a ... Protrusion part 7d ... Step part 10 ... Forceps channel 15 ... Reflector 20 ... Ultrasonic probe 21a ... Positioning contact part

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. An insertion part to be inserted into an inspected part,
In an endoscope having a treatment instrument channel that can guide an ultrasonic probe for conducting ultrasonic diagnosis by guiding the ultrasonic probe to the distal end side of the insertion part, at least part of the ultrasonic beam oscillated by the ultrasonic probe is deflected. An endoscope characterized in that ultrasonic beam deflecting means is provided at a tip portion of the insertion portion.