JPH0759776A - Ultrasonic probe for body cavity - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ultrasonic probe capable of being directly inserted in the celom or lumen. CONSTITUTION:This ultrasonic probe 40 for the body cavity is constituted so that an ultrasonic vibrator 32 and the rotary body 34 holding the ultrasonic vibrator 32 are arranged to the inside of the closure part in a sheath tube 30 and a guide tentacle 38 is provided to the leading end of the sheath tube 30. The leading end part of the sheath tube 30 has a tapered shape and the guide tentacle 38 is inserted in the opening part provided to the leading end part of the sheath tube 30. The guide tentacle 38 is composed of a resin rich in flexibility and becomes thin toward the leading end thereof. This leading end part can be easily changed in its shape, especially, by heat. A radiation contrast medium is mixed with the guide tentacle 38 so as to be capable of detecting the insertion position of the ultrasonic probe 40 by the irradiation with radiation from the outside of the body. Therefore, the ultrasonic probe 40 for the body cavity can be directly inserted in the celom.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe for body cavity, and more particularly to an ultrasonic probe for body cavity to be inserted into tubular tissue such as body cavity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there have been many ultrasonic probes for use in a body cavity for inserting an ultrasound image of a specific part of the body into a blood vessel or a lumen of various organs (eg, bile duct, pancreatic duct). This ultrasonic probe for body cavity is used, for example, a probe formed in the shape of a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel, and ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received by the probe from inside the blood vessel A tomographic image in the vicinity of the blood vessel is displayed as an image. With this, the state of the blood vessel passing through the body, the blood vessel wall of the heart blood vessel and the vicinity thereof can be observed on a monitor or the like.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional ultrasonic probe 2 for body cavity.
0 tip configuration is shown and, as shown,
The distal end of the flexible sheath tube 10 is closed, and the rotating body 14 to which the vibrator 12 is attached is disposed therein. The rotating body 14 is connected to a drive unit (not shown) by a rotating shaft 16 inserted in the sheath tube 10, and the rotating body 14 is rotated at a predetermined speed by the drive unit. Therefore, if the ultrasonic wave 100 is transmitted and received from the vibrator 12 in conjunction with the rotating body 14, a tomographic image of the rotating region of the rotating body 14 can be obtained. In addition, the sheath tube 10 is filled with water as an acoustic medium, so that the ultrasonic signal of the transducer 12 is not attenuated.

When the conventional ultrasonic probe 20 for body cavity is inserted into the body, for example, a hole is formed in a blood vessel or the like to form an introduction tube (introducer), and the introduction tube is usually used. A guide wire made of a flexible resin wire is inserted along the tubular tissue. FIG. 6 shows a structure of a conventionally used body cavity ultrasonic probe 20 and a guide wire 22 that guides the body cavity ultrasonic probe 20.

FIG. 6 (a) shows an ultrasonic probe 2 for body cavity.
The body cavity ultrasonic probe 20 in which the guide wire 22 is attached to the inside of 0 is shown. As shown in the figure, a guide wire 22 is inserted above the ultrasonic probe 20 for body cavity.

FIG. 6B is a sectional view taken along the line AA 'of the ultrasonic probe 20 for body cavity in FIG. 6A. As shown in the figure, the sheath tube 10 of the ultrasonic probe 20 for body cavity has a hole 26 for disposing the ultrasonic transducer 12 and the like and a hole 28 for penetrating the guide wire 22. Also in this case, after inserting the guide wire 22, the guide wire 2
The ultrasonic probe 20 for body cavity can be smoothly inserted into the body cavity or the like along the line 2.

[0007]

However, the above described ultrasonic probe for body cavity with a guide wire is inserted into a body cavity or a lumen when the guide wire is inserted and then the ultrasonic probe for body cavity is inserted. Since it was a two-step operation of inserting the tentacle, the operation time was long and the burden on the patient was large.

Since the thickness of the above-mentioned body-cavity ultrasonic probe with a guide wire is the thickness of the guide wire plus the thickness of the body-cavity ultrasonic probe, it has a thin tubular shape. It was very difficult to insert into the tissue.

Therefore, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-14864 proposes a probe for use in the human body, which is provided with a tip portion which has a taper toward the front and is flexible, and a sensor unit. This tip has a rounded tip and 10%
It has a slope of (vertical angle of about 12 °) and can be inserted into the nasal airway relatively easily and comfortably.

However, in this probe, since the tip portion is rotated, the cylindrical hole formed in the rear portion of the tip portion is combined with the circular ball formed in the sensor unit, and finally fixed by an adhesive. It has a structure that Therefore, the tip portion is uniquely determined for each probe, and there is a problem that the shape of the tip portion cannot be easily deformed depending on the observation site or according to the doctor's preference.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic probe for body cavity which can be directly inserted into a body cavity or a lumen.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has a sheath tube which has a closing portion at its tip and is inserted into a body cavity or a lumen, and the sheath tube. In the ultrasonic probe for body cavity, which comprises an ultrasonic transducer mounted inside the distal end of the sheath and a guide tentacle mounted to the closed portion, the ultrasonic transducer mounting portion inside the distal end of the sheath tube. Has an inner hole that allows rotation of the ultrasonic vibrator, is filled with an ultrasonic medium that surrounds the ultrasonic vibrator in the inner hole, and further, a locking recess in the closing portion,
A cover portion that covers the locking recess, the guide tentacle,
A substantially conical columnar body consisting of a base portion having an outer diameter similar to the inner diameter of the sheath tube, and a tip portion that tapers toward the tip, wherein an engaging protrusion is formed on the base portion,
The guide tentacle is detachably engaged with and integrated with the sheath tube by the locking recess and the engaging protrusion, and the sheath tube covering portion covers the integrated outer peripheral portion. It is characterized by

The invention according to claim 2 is the ultrasonic probe for body cavity according to claim 1, wherein the guide tentacle is
Engage a sheath tube with a shape selected from the guide tentacles that have various shapes according to the inner hole, shape and insertion in the body cavity or lumen and are individually formed according to the use. It is characterized in that it is engaged with the portion and is integrated with the sheath tube.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is the ultrasonic probe for body cavity according to claim 1, wherein the guide tentacle is
It is characterized in that it includes a radiological contrast material and that the insertion position of the ultrasonic probe can be confirmed while monitoring from outside the body.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ultrasonic probe for body cavity according to the first aspect, the guide tentacle is
A guide tentacle having various shapes and selected according to use is inserted into the distal end of the sheath tube, and the guide tentacle is connected to the sheath tube and integrated.

[0016]

According to the structure of the above-mentioned claim 1, the ultrasonic transducer can be inserted into the body cavity and the lumen along the tubular tissue by the guide tentacle, and the ultrasonic vibration is generated after use. The child can be separated from the sheath tube and the guide tentacle. According to the configuration of claim 2,
The shape of the guide tentacle can be easily changed according to the observation site or the doctor's preference, and the guide tentacle can be smoothly inserted along the tubular tissue without changing the shape in the body cavity or the like.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the radiation contrast material is included, it is possible to confirm the insertion position of the ultrasonic probe while irradiating radiation from outside the body and monitoring the projected image.

According to the structure described in claim 4, the doctor can connect the guide tentacle to the sheath tube by himself / herself in accordance with an observation site or the like at the time of use.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the overall structure of an ultrasonic probe 40 for body cavity according to the present invention.

The ultrasonic probe 40 for body cavity has a diameter of 2 mm.
An ultrasonic transducer 32 is provided inside the sheath tube 30 of a certain degree, and a guide tentacle 38 is attached to the tip thereof. As shown in the figure, a closed portion is provided near the distal end of the sheath tube 30, and the ultrasonic transducer 32 is provided inside the closed portion.
The rotating body 34 holding the is arranged. This rotating body 34
Is connected to a drive unit (not shown) by a rotary shaft 36 that is inserted into the sheath tube 30 as in the conventional case, and the drive unit rotates the rotating body 34 at a predetermined speed. Therefore, if ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received from the ultrasonic transducer 32 in conjunction with the rotating body 34, a tomographic image of the rotating region of the rotating body 34 can be obtained. Further, the portion of the sheath tube 30 where the rotating body 34 and the like are arranged is filled with water as an acoustic medium, so that the ultrasonic signal of the ultrasonic transducer 32 is not attenuated as in the conventional case. ing.

On the other hand, the distal end portion of the sheath tube 30 has a tapered shape, and the guide tentacle 38 is inserted and attached to the distal end opening portion. In addition, the guide tentacle 38 preferably has an outer diameter similar to the inner diameter of the sheath tube 30. As a result, at the distal end portion of the sheath tube 30,
Almost no infiltration of body fluids.

The guide tentacle 38 is made of a highly flexible polyolefin resin and becomes thinner toward the tip. The shape of the tip portion can be easily changed especially by heat or the like, but the shape is not changed by a physical external force. Therefore, the guide tentacle 38 can be inserted along the shape of the body cavity or the like. On the other hand, by irradiating and projecting the radiation from outside the body, the insertion position of the guide tentacle 38, and indirectly the insertion position of the intracorporeal ultrasonic probe 40, can be detected. For example, barium sulfate, bismuth oxide, bismuth dicarbonate or the like may be mixed. Thereby, the insertion position of the ultrasonic probe 40 for body cavity can be known accurately and easily. The shear strength of the material of the guide tentacle 38 is 85
A range of up to 45 A (ASTM D2240) is preferred.

A feature of the present invention is that the guide tentacle 38 can be attached to the distal end of the sheath tube 30.
Therefore, it is possible to directly insert the intracorporeal ultrasonic probe 40 into the body cavity or the like without inserting the intracorporeal ultrasonic probe into two stages as in the conventional case. Can be shortened. Moreover, since the guide wire is not used, the diameter of the ultrasonic probe 40 for body cavity can be made thin. Therefore, the ultrasonic probe 40 for body cavity can be easily inserted even into a thin portion of the tubular tissue. Furthermore, since the guide tentacle 38 having a shape according to the tubular tissue structure of the observation site or a doctor's preference can be selected and attached to the distal end of the sheath tube 30, the operability is significantly improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a metal ring 43 for attaching and detaching the guide tentacle 38 is provided inside the distal end opening portion of the sheath tube 30. At the base of the guide tentacle 38, a metal ring 43
There is provided a metal hook 42a for fitting with. Once the hook 42a is fitted to the ring 43, it cannot be removed by a physical external force. Therefore, after observing with ultrasonic waves, the ultrasonic probe 4 for intracorporeal
Even if 0 is pulled out, the guide tentacle 38 does not remain in the body.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the ring 43 and the hook 42a. The ring 43 is formed by embedding the support portion thereof in the closed portion of the sheath tube 30, while
The hook 42a is formed by embedding the support portion in the base portion of the guide tentacle 38. Further, as shown in the figure, the tip portion of the hook 42a has a slidable end piece, which opens inward of the hook 42a when the hook 42a is mounted in the ring 43 and closes after mounting. It is a thing. Therefore, once the hook 42 is fitted to the ring 43, it does not come off by a physical external force. However, the shape of the hook 42a is not limited to this, and may be any structure as long as it does not easily come off after mounting.

FIG. 3 shows a typical shape of the guide tentacle 38.

The shape shown in the figure is an example of a typical shape of the J-turn type guide tentacle 38.
a is what is called a pigtail. In addition, there are shapes shown in the guide tentacles 38b and 38c, and the shape of the guide tentacle 38 to be used is determined according to the tubular tissue structure of the observation site or according to the doctor's preference.

The shape of the guide tentacle 38 can be transformed into a desired shape by heat or the like as described above.

As described above, the guide tentacle 38 is attached to the sheath tube 30.
The intracorporeal ultrasonic probe 40 that can be mounted on the body tube has been described. As shown in FIG. 4, a doctor uses a heat iron 50 to heat-seal the guide tentacle 38 in a desired shape by heat fusion when using the sheath tube 30. It may be a structure to be bonded to.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The ultrasonic probe for body cavity can be directly inserted into the body cavity or the like without inserting the ultrasonic probe for body cavity into two stages as in the conventional case, and thus the operation time can be shortened. .

Further, since the guide wire is not used, the diameter of the ultrasonic probe for body cavity can be reduced. Therefore, the ultrasonic probe for body cavity can be easily inserted even into a narrow portion of the tubular tissue.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of an ultrasonic probe for body cavity according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a sheath tube ring and a guide tentacle hook.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a typical shape of a guide tentacle.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another method of connecting the guide tentacle and the sheath tube.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a distal end portion of a conventional ultrasonic probe for body cavity.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a structure of a conventional body cavity ultrasonic probe with a guide wire.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 Sheath Tube 32 Ultrasonic Transducer 34 Rotating Body 36 Rotating Shaft 38 Guide Tentacle 40 Ultrasonic Probe for Body Cavity 42a Hook 43 Ring

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroaki Wakabayashi 6-22-1, Mure, Mitaka City, Tokyo Aloka Co., Ltd. Hutech Co., Ltd. ME Division (72) Inventor Masanori Kimura 1144, Higashiushigaya, Sowa Town, Sarushima-gun, Ibaraki Prefecture Hirakawa Hutech Co., Ltd. ME Division

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sheath tube having a closed portion at the tip and inserted into a body cavity or a lumen, an ultrasonic transducer mounted inside the distal end of the sheath tube, and attached to the closed portion. In a body cavity ultrasonic probe including a guide tentacle, an ultrasonic transducer mounting portion inside a distal end of the sheath tube has an inner hole that allows the ultrasonic transducer to rotate, and The transducer is filled with an ultrasonic medium that surrounds the inside of the inner hole, and the closing portion has a locking recess and a covering portion that covers the locking recess, and the guide tentacle has an inner diameter of the sheath tube. It is a substantially conical columnar body composed of a base portion having an outer diameter similar to that of and a tip portion that tapers toward the tip, and an engagement protrusion portion is formed on the base portion, and the engagement recess portion and the engagement protrusion portion are formed. Section allows the guide tentacle to be attached to and detached from the sheath tube. Engaged is integrated into the covering portion of the sheath tube body cavity ultrasonic probe characterized by comprising covering the integrated peripheral portion. 2. The ultrasonic probe for body cavity according to claim 1, wherein the guide tentacle has various shapes according to the shape of the inner hole in the body cavity or the lumen and its insertion. The ultrasonic probe for body cavity is characterized in that a shape selected from the guide tentacles individually formed according to the above is engaged with an engaging portion of the sheath tube, and is joined and integrated with the sheath tube. Tentacles. 3. The ultrasonic probe for body cavity according to claim 1, wherein the guide tentacle includes a radiological contrast material, and the insertion position of the ultrasonic probe can be confirmed while monitoring from outside the body. A characteristic ultrasonic probe for body cavities. 4. The ultrasonic probe for body cavity according to claim 1, wherein the guide tentacle has various shapes, and the guide tentacle selected according to use is inserted into the distal end of the sheath tube. An ultrasonic probe for body cavity, characterized by being integrated with the sheath tube.