JPH0632091Y2 - Ultrasound endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Outline] An ultrasonic endoscope in which the direction of the ultrasonic probe can be changed within the case of the distal end, and even if the direction of the probe is changed during diagnosis, the patient feels uncomfortable. With the aim of providing an ultrasonic endoscope that does not cause discomfort or discomfort, a probe having a plurality of electroacoustic conversion elements that transmit and receive ultrasonic pulses is arranged at the tip of the surface of the electroacoustic conversion element. A distal end portion that is exposed to the outside and housed in a case, a rotating means that rotates the probe to change the direction of the surface of the electroacoustic transducer, and a flexible tubular shape in which the distal end portion is connected to the distal end. An ultrasonic endoscope having a flexible part, which is formed by fixing and sealing a case and a probe with a connecting member made of a resin material having flexibility and elasticity, and rotating the probe. The probe rotates in the case when moved.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic endoscope having an ultrasonic probe at its tip, and more particularly to an ultrasonic endoscope in which the probe can be turned inside the case of the tip.

Recently, an endoscope such as a gastroscope using an optical fiber has been used as a medical device for diagnosing whether there is an abnormality by inserting the body cavity or a tubular part of the human body (hereinafter referred to as the body cavity), for example, into the gastrointestinal tract. However, the development of an ultrasonic endoscope equipped with an optical endoscope for further diagnosing the abnormality of the stomach wall surface discovered by the optical endoscope to the inside is also in progress.

In such an ultrasonic endoscope, when changing the direction of the probe at the tip when exploring the affected part in the body cavity, the tip moves with the case accommodating the probe and protrudes laterally to the affected part. Since the pressure on the vicinity causes discomfort and discomfort to the patient, a method for alleviating this is desired.

[Conventional technology]

The ultrasonic endoscope 1 is shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), and the ultrasonic probe (hereinafter referred to as the probe) 3a is in front of the case 5a at the front end of the tip 2a, that is, An electroacoustic conversion element (hereinafter referred to as conversion element) 4a composed of a plurality of arranged piezoelectric elements is exposed and fitted and fixed with an adhesive.

Further, in FIG. 5 (a), an operation portion 6a for changing the direction of the front surface of the probe 3a of the tip portion 2a is provided at the right end, and the flexible portion
It is connected to the tip portion 2a by 7a.

In the probe 3a, the rotary shaft 30 at the center of the side surface is provided at the end of the flexible portion 7a and supported by the shaft hole 71 of the column 70, and one end of the flexible portion 7a and one end of the case 5a are made of a resin material having elasticity. The rubber tube 8 is covered to prevent infiltration of body fluid. Wires 60a and 60b are guided from the rear ends of the probe 3a to the operating portion 6a.

The operation unit 6a includes an operation slide 61 to which the ends of the wires 60a and 60b are fixed, a pulley 62 to which the wire 60b is hung, a spring 63 that applies tension to the wires 60a and 60b and reduces the impact of the operation, and a guide pin. It consists of 64.
Therefore, the operation of the operation slide 61 causes the probe 3a to rotate together with the case 5a about the rotary shaft 30, and the orientation of the tip 2a is changed.

The flexible portion 7a has a tube shape (for example, about 0.2 to 1 m) having flexibility (for example, φ10 to 14 mm), and incorporates the cable 9 and the wires 60a and 60b. The cable 9 is a conversion of the probe 3a. A cable 9 which houses a signal line and a ground line (not shown) connected to the element 4a, and which is led out from the terminal end at the right end in the figure is connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body (not shown).

Since it has such a configuration, it is inserted into the body cavity from the tip portion 2a, and the affected portion or the like is searched by operating the operation portion 6a to change the direction of the tip portion, and the surface of the probe 3a is the wall surface in the body cavity. , That is, the piezoelectric element vibrates by contacting the diagnostic site and energizing the conversion element 4a, and ultrasonic waves are radiated in a scanning manner in the forward direction, reflected by the internal conditions and received, and ultrasonic waves not shown in the figure are shown. An image is displayed on the diagnostic device and a diagnosis is performed.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

According to the above-mentioned conventional method, when the direction of the distal end portion is changed by operating the operating portion, as shown in FIG. 6, there is a portion where the entire distal end portion rotates to project laterally at the front and rear positions. Since the width method b when the direction is changed is larger than the width dimension a when the direction of the part is not changed, there is a problem that the inner wall is pressed during diagnosis to give a feeling of strangeness or discomfort.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic endoscope which does not give a patient a feeling of discomfort or discomfort even if the orientation of the probe is changed during diagnosis.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention. In the figure, 3 is a probe, 4 is a conversion element, 5 is a case, 2 is a probe 3 in which a plurality of conversion elements 4 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic pulses are arranged, and the surface of the conversion element 4 is exposed at the tip. A tip portion housed in the case 5; 6 a rotating means for rotating the probe 3 to change the direction of the surface of the conversion element 4; 7 a flexible portion in which the tip portion 2 is connected to the tip. A tube-shaped flexible portion, 10 is a connecting member made of a resin material having flexibility and elasticity for the case 5 of the tip portion 2 and the probe 3.

Therefore, the probe 3 is configured to rotate in the case 5 when the probe 3 is rotated by the rotating means 6.

[Action]

Since the case 5 of the tip portion 2 and the probe 3 are fixed and sealed by the connecting member 10, the probe 3 can be attached to the connecting member 10 when the probe 3 is rotated by the rotating means 6. The flexibility and elasticity allow the orientation to be changed within the case 5, and even if the orientation of the probe 3 is changed, the tip 2 does not project and the thickness does not change, so that the patient feels uncomfortable and uncomfortable. It is possible to obtain an ultrasonic endoscope that does not give

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same reference numerals denote the same objects throughout the drawings. First in Figure 2
Those corresponding to the figure are shown surrounded by a one-dot chain line.

In the ultrasonic endoscope 1a shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the distal end portion 2b is
The probe 3a is housed in the case 5b, and the probe 3a is rotatably supported by the shaft hole 50 provided in the case 5b at the rotation shaft 30 at the center of the side surface of the probe 3a. The inner periphery of 5b is a coupling member 10a made of a flexible and elastic resin material such as rubber.
And are sealed so as to prevent the infiltration of body fluid.

The tip of the flexible portion 7b is connected to the end of the case 5b with an adhesive or the like, and the operation portion 6a is provided at the rear end of the flexible portion 7b.

With such a configuration, when the distal end portion 2b is inserted into the body cavity and the operating portion 6a is operated to change the direction of the distal end portion 2b, as shown in FIG. Since the probe 3a rotates inside the case 5b to change the direction of the front surface, no protrusion is formed on the side of the tip 2b.

Therefore, since the thickness of the tip 2b does not change even if the orientation of the probe 3a is changed, the wall surface in the body cavity is not pressed and the patient does not feel discomfort or discomfort.

In the above example, the operation slide 61 and the wire 60 are used as the rotating means.
Although the method using a and 60b has been described, it is needless to say that another method may be used, and for example, a method in which a lever attached to the probe is swung by a plunger magnet may be used.

[Effect of device]

As described above, according to the present invention, the direction of the probe is changed by fixing and sealing the probe housed in the case of the tip end portion to the case with a coupling member having flexibility and elasticity. However, since it rotates in the case, there is no bulge at the tip, and there is an effect that the patient does not feel discomfort or discomfort during use.

[Brief description of drawings]

 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a detailed view of essential parts of the embodiment, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the embodiment, and FIG. Is a configuration diagram showing a conventional ultrasonic endoscope, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the conventional example. In the figure, 1,1a is an ultrasonic endoscope, 2,2a, 2b are tip portions, 3,3a is a probe, 4,4a is a conversion element, 5,5a, 5b is a case, and 6 is a rotating means. , 6a is an operation part, 7,7a, 7b are flexible parts, 10 and 10a are connecting members 60a, 60b are wires.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A case (1) wherein a probe (3) having a plurality of electroacoustic transducers (4) for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic pulses is arranged with the surface of the electroacoustic transducer (4) exposed at the tip. 5) a tip portion (2) housed in the tip, a turning means (6) for turning the probe (3) to turn the surface of the electroacoustic transducer (4), and the tip portion (2). 2) is an ultrasonic probe having a flexible tube-shaped flexible portion (7) connected to the tip, wherein the case (5) and the probe of the tip portion (2) are The probe (3) is fixed and sealed by a coupling member (10) made of a resin material having flexibility and elasticity, and the probe (3) is rotated by the rotating means (6). An ultrasonic endoscope characterized in that the probe (3) sometimes rotates in the case (5).