JPH08182675A - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an ultrasonic probe which can materialize the stop control of a drive motor in the case that a probe part and a rotation drive part are cut off, easily and at low cost. CONSTITUTION: In an ultrasonic probe 10 composed of a mounting and demounting part 11 on probe side, in which a torque cable 11a for transmission of torque where an ultrasonic oscillator is mounted at the tip is arranged inside and which has a thin probe capable of insertion into the mouth of a forceps of an endoscope, and a mounting and demounting part 13 on a rotation drive part side which is attached capably of mounting and demounting to the mounting and demounting part 11 on probe side and has a drive motor 13 for transmitting torque to the torque cable 11a, the on and off of the drive motor 13a is switched by the mounting and demounting of the mounting and demounting part 11 on the probe side and the mounting and demounting part 13 on the rotation drive part side.

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 transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and more particularly to an insertion portion to be inserted into the body and a drive motor for rotating a vibrator provided at the tip of the insertion portion. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe in which a rotation drive unit provided is detachably attached.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a small-diameter ultrasonic probe which can be inserted from a forceps opening of an endoscope has been known. FIG. 3 shows a small-diameter ultrasonic probe inserted into the forceps opening of the endoscope. As shown in FIG. 3, the small-diameter ultrasonic probe 100 is inserted from the forceps port 201 of the endoscope 200.

The small-diameter ultrasonic probe 100 is a small-diameter probe in which a torque cable for transmitting a rotational motion having an ultrasonic transducer mounted at its tip is disposed inside and which can be inserted into the forceps port of an endoscope. It is generally configured to be attachable / detachable to / from the probe portion side that it has and the rotation drive portion side that has a drive motor for transmitting rotational power to the torque cable.

When attaching and detaching the probe portion and the rotation drive portion, the rotation of the motor is stopped before attachment and detachment in order to prevent danger and prevent damage to equipment.

However, there is a possibility that the probe unit and the rotary drive unit may be erroneously attached or detached while the motor is still rotating. Therefore, in the conventional small-diameter ultrasonic probe, when the probe unit and the rotation drive unit are fitted or separated from each other, a means for detecting it is provided in a detachable portion including the rotation drive unit, and The probe unit is provided with a unit for driving a detection unit, and when the detection unit detects disconnection between the probe unit and the rotation drive unit, the motor is stopped, and when the fitting is detected, the motor is stopped. Was controlled to operate.

[0006]

However, in the conventional ultrasonic probe, the fitting or disconnection of the probe part and the rotary drive part is detected, and the detected result is used as the source of the rotary drive part. Since the motor is controlled, there is a problem that the control system becomes complicated, the failure rate increases, and the cost also increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to easily and inexpensively perform stop control of a drive motor when the probe unit and the rotary drive unit are separated from each other. It is to provide an ultrasonic probe that can be realized.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a probe section in which a torque cable for transmitting a rotational motion having an ultrasonic transducer mounted at its tip is disposed inside, and a probe section An ultrasonic probe, which is detachably attached to a probe unit and includes a rotation drive unit having a drive motor for transmitting rotational power to the torque cable, wherein the rotation drive unit rotates the drive motor. A first connecting part connected to the shaft; and two switch contacts connected in series to electrical wiring to the drive motor, the probe part being connected to the torque cable. A second connecting portion that can be fitted to the first connecting portion, and the two switch contacts are brought into contact with the two switch contacts when the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are fitted to each other. Continuity to connect between contacts It is characterized by having a contact, the.

[0009]

According to the above construction, the probe portion having the torque cable for transmitting the rotational motion, in which the ultrasonic transducer is mounted at the tip portion, is disposed inside, and the probe cable detachably attached to the probe portion. An ultrasonic probe comprising a rotation drive unit having a drive motor for transmitting rotational power to the first connection unit provided on the rotation drive unit and connected to a rotation shaft of the drive motor. When the second connecting portion provided on the probe portion and connected to the torque cable is fitted, two switch contacts connected in series to the electric wiring to the drive motor are attached to the probe portion. Since the two contact points for switching are brought into contact with each other by contacting the provided contact point for conduction, stop control of the drive motor when the probe section and the rotation drive section are separated is easy, and It can be achieved to the valence.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a first ultrasonic probe according to the present invention.
It is sectional drawing which shows an Example.

In FIG. 1, an ultrasonic probe 10 is constituted, and a torque cable for transmitting a rotational motion having an ultrasonic transducer mounted on the tip is disposed inside and inserted into the forceps port of the endoscope. Only a connecting portion between a probe side attachment / detachment portion having a possible small diameter probe and a rotation drive portion side attachment / detachment portion having a drive motor for transmitting rotational power to the torque cable is shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the ultrasonic probe 10 of the first embodiment, a torque cable 11a for transmitting a rotational movement having an ultrasonic vibrator (not shown) mounted at its tip is disposed inside. And a probe side attachment / detachment section 11 having a small-diameter probe that can be inserted into the forceps opening of the endoscope, and a probe side attachment / detachment section 1
1 detachably attached to the torque cable 11
and a rotary drive unit side attachment / detachment unit 13 having a drive motor 13a for transmitting rotational power to a. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic probe 10 is inserted into the body together with the endoscope 200 by inserting the thin probe through the forceps opening 201 of the endoscope 200.

The rotary drive unit side attachment / detachment unit 13 protects the concave socket 15 connected to the rotary shaft of the drive motor 13a and the concave socket 15 and also serves as the probe side attachment / detachment unit 1.
It has a fixed part 17 fixed to 1 and two switch contacts 21a and 21b made of a printed wiring board which is attached to the fixed part 17 and is connected in series to the electric wiring 19 to the drive motor 13a.

The electric wiring 19 is connected to a power source (not shown). The drive motor 13a is rotated by the electric power supplied from the power source through the electric wiring 19.

The probe-side attachment / detachment portion 11 is connected to the torque cable 11a and can be fitted into the concave socket 15. The convex plug 23 and the two switches when the concave socket 15 and the convex plug 23 are fitted to each other. Contacts 21a, 21
printed wiring board 2 for holding conductive contacts 25a, 25b electrically contacting b and conductive contacts 25a, 25b and electrically connecting conductive contacts 25a, 25b
7 and. The printed wiring board 27 is connected to the guide 11b that protects the torque cable 11a. The conduction contacts 25a, 25b are optimally pin-shaped contacts having a spring inside, but the contact is not limited to this, and when the concave socket 15 and the convex plug 23 are fitted, two switch contacts 21a, Any material may be used as long as it makes electrical contact with 21b.

Further, the concave socket 15 and the convex plug 23
The length with which and are fitted is two contact points for switches 21a, 2
Immediately before the contact between 1b and the contacts 25a, 25b for conduction and immediately after disconnection, the power from the drive motor 13 is formed long enough to be transmitted to the torque cable 11a. That is, it is formed long enough to fit even at the position immediately before contact and immediately after separation. As a result, the power from the drive motor 13 is applied to the torque cable 11a before fitting.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the detachable part from being broken.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic probe 10 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

When mounting the probe side attachment / detachment section 11 and the rotation drive section side attachment / detachment section 13, two switch contacts 21 are provided.
From the contact between a and 21b and the contacts 25a and 25b for conduction,
The mating of the concave socket 15 and the convex plug 23 is performed earlier. Therefore, when the probe side attachment / detachment section 11 and the rotation drive section side attachment / detachment section 13 are completely attached, the power from the drive motor 13a is first transmitted to the torque cable 11a.

When the probe side attachment / detachment section 11 and the rotation drive section side attachment / detachment section 13 are separated, two switch contacts 2 are used.
The contact between the contacts 1a and 21b and the contacts 25a and 25b for conduction is separated earlier than the fitting between the concave socket 15 and the convex plug 23. Therefore, immediately after the probe side attachment / detachment section 11 and the rotation drive section side attachment / detachment section 13 are moved to separate from each other, the power transmission from the drive motor 13a to the torque cable 11a is stopped.

As described above, in the ultrasonic probe 10 of the first embodiment, when the probe side attachment / detachment section 11 and the rotation drive section side attachment / detachment section 13 are attached, the probe side attachment / detachment section 11 and the rotation drive section side attachment / detachment section 13 are attached. When the and are completely attached, the power from the drive motor 13a is transmitted for the first time to separate the probe side attachment / detachment section 11 from the rotary drive section side attachment / detachment section 13 when the probe side attachment / detachment section 11 and the rotation drive are performed. Immediately after moving the part side attachment / detachment part 13, the power transmission from the drive motor 13a to the torque cable 11a is stopped, so that the concave socket 15 and the convex plug 23 can be prevented from being broken. Therefore, the stop control of the drive motor 13a when the probe side attachment / detachment section 11 and the rotation drive section side attachment / detachment section 13 are separated can be realized easily and at low cost.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the ultrasonic probe according to the present invention.

In FIG. 2, an ultrasonic probe 50 is constructed, and a torque cable for transmitting rotational movement, which has an ultrasonic transducer mounted on the tip thereof, is disposed inside and inserted into the forceps port of the endoscope. Only a connecting portion between a probe side attachment / detachment portion having a possible small diameter probe and a rotation drive portion side attachment / detachment portion having a drive motor for transmitting rotational power to the torque cable is shown.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the ultrasonic probe 50 of the second embodiment, a torque cable 51a for transmitting a rotational movement having an ultrasonic transducer (not shown) mounted on the tip is disposed inside. And a probe-side attaching / detaching portion 5 having a small-diameter probe that can be inserted into the forceps opening of the endoscope, and a probe-side attaching / detaching portion 5
1 is detachably attached to the torque cable 51.
and a rotation drive unit side attachment / detachment unit 53 having a drive motor 53a for transmitting rotational power to a. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic probe 50 is inserted into the body together with the endoscope 200 by inserting the thin probe through the forceps opening 201 of the endoscope 200.

The rotary drive unit side attaching / detaching portion 53 protects the concave socket 55 connected to the rotary shaft of the drive motor 53a and the concave socket 55, and the probe side attaching / detaching portion 5
1, a cylindrical fixing portion 57 into which the probe 1 is inserted, and the electric wire 59a to the drive motor 53a, which is attached to the side surface of the fixing portion 57 in parallel with the attachment / detachment direction of the probe side attachment / detachment portion 51 and the rotation drive side attachment / detachment portion 53. It has two contacts 61a and 61b electrically connected to 59b. The two contacts 61a,
61b is optimally a contact having an urging force, but the contact is not limited to this and may be any one that makes electrical contact with the two contacts 61a, 61b when the concave socket 55 and the convex plug 63 are fitted together. , Whatever may be used. Further, the two contacts 61a and 61b are attached to the side surface of the fixed portion 57 in parallel with the attachment / detachment direction of the probe side attachment / detachment portion 51 and the rotation drive portion side attachment / detachment portion 53, but the present invention is not limited to this. The probe-side attaching / detaching portion 51 and the rotation-driving-side-side attaching / detaching portion 53 may be attached to the side surface of the member 57 at right angles to the attaching / detaching direction. in this case,
The contacts 61a and 61b are electrically connected (conduction) almost at the same time.
/ Is cut off.

The electric wires 59a and 59b are connected to a power source (not shown). Further, the drive motor 53a is rotated by the electric power supplied from the power source through the electric wires 59a and 59b.

The probe side attachment / detachment portion 51 is connected to the torque cable 51a and can be fitted into the concave socket 55. The convex plug 63 and the two contact points when the concave socket 55 and the convex plug 63 are fitted to each other. And a metal plate 65 that electrically connects 61a and 61b. The metal plate 65 is connected to the guide 51b that protects the torque cable 51a.

Further, the concave socket 55 and the convex plug 63
The length at which and are fitted is formed long enough to allow the power from the drive motor 53a to be sufficiently transmitted to the torque cable 51a immediately before the contact between the two contacts 61a, 61b and the metal plate 65 and immediately after the separation. To be done.

Next, the operation of the ultrasonic probe 50 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

When the probe side attachment / detachment section 51 and the rotation drive section side attachment / detachment section 53 are attached, the concave socket 55 and the convex plug 63 are fitted by contact between the two contacts 61a and 61b and the metal plate 65. It is done earlier. Therefore, when the probe side attachment / detachment section 51 and the rotation drive section side attachment / detachment section 53 are completely attached, the power from the drive motor 63a is first transmitted to the torque cable 61a.

When the probe side attachment / detachment section 51 and the rotation drive section side attachment / detachment section 53 are separated, two contact points 61a, 61 are provided.
The contact between b and the metal plate 65 is cut off earlier than the fitting between the concave socket 55 and the convex plug 63. For this reason,
Immediately after moving the probe side attachment / detachment portion 51 and the rotation drive portion side attachment / detachment portion 53 to separate them, the power transmission from the drive motor 53a to the torque cable 51a is stopped.

As described above, in the ultrasonic probe 50 of the second embodiment, when the probe side attachment / detachment section 51 and the rotation drive section side attachment / detachment section 53 are attached, the probe side attachment / detachment section 51 and the rotation drive section side attachment / detachment section 53 are mounted. When the and are completely attached, the power from the drive motor 53a is transmitted to the torque cable 51a for the first time, and when the probe side attachment / detachment portion 51 and the rotation drive unit side attachment / detachment portion 53 are separated, Immediately after moving the drive unit side attachment / detachment unit 53, the power transmission from the drive motor 53a to the torque cable 51a is stopped, so that the concave socket 55 and the convex plug 63 can be prevented from being broken. Therefore, stop control of the drive motor 53a when the probe side attachment / detachment section 51 and the rotation drive section side attachment / detachment section 53 are separated can be realized easily and at low cost.

The ultrasonic probe 10 of the first embodiment,
The ultrasonic probe 50 according to the second embodiment has been described as an example in which the ultrasonic probe 50 is applied to a small-diameter ultrasonic probe, but the invention is not limited to this.
Probe side attachment / detachment section 11 (51) and rotation drive section attachment / detachment section 1
If 3 (53) is removable, it can be applied to any ultrasonic probe such as an endoscope probe.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, a probe portion having an ultrasonic transducer mounted on the tip thereof and having a torque cable for transmitting rotational movement provided therein is detachable from the probe portion. An ultrasonic probe which is attached to a rotary drive unit having a drive motor for transmitting rotary power to the torque cable, and a first connecting unit connected to a rotary shaft of the drive motor. A second switch contact that is connected in series to the electric wiring to the drive motor, and that is connected to the torque drive cable, and that can be fitted to the first connecting part. And a conduction contact for contacting the two switch contacts and electrically connecting the two switch contacts when the first connection part and the second connection part are fitted to each other. It has in the probe part , Stop control of the drive motor when the rotational driving unit and the probe unit is detached easily and inexpensively realized.

Further, the length at which the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are fitted together is determined by the drive motor just before the contact between the switch contact and the conduction contact and immediately after the disconnection. Is formed long enough to be sufficiently transmitted to the torque cable, it is possible to prevent the first connecting part and the second connecting part from being broken when the probe part and the rotary drive part are attached and detached. It can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of an ultrasonic probe according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the ultrasonic probe according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a small-diameter ultrasonic probe inserted into a forceps port of an endoscope.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 50 Ultrasonic probe 11a, 51a Torque cable 11b, 51b Guide 11 Probe side attachment / detachment section 13a, 53a Drive motor 13, 53 Rotation drive section attachment / detachment section 15, 55 Recessed socket 17, 57 Fixed section 19, 59a, 59b Electric Wiring 21a, 21b
Switch contacts 23, 63 Convex plugs 25a, 25b Conducting contacts 27 Printed wiring boards 61a, 61b Contacts 6
5 metal plates

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A probe unit having a torque cable for transmitting rotational movement, which has an ultrasonic transducer mounted on a tip thereof, disposed therein, and a probe unit removably attached to the probe unit for applying rotational power to the torque cable. An ultrasonic probe comprising a rotary drive unit having a drive motor for transmission, wherein the rotary drive unit is connected to a rotation shaft of the drive motor, and the drive motor. A switch connecting point that is connected in series to the electric wiring, and the probe section is connected to the torque cable and can be fitted to the first connecting section. A contact for contacting the two switch contacts to establish electrical connection between the two switch contacts when the first connecting part and the second connecting part are fitted to each other. And ultrasonic probe. 2. The length at which the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are fitted to each other from the drive motor immediately before the contact between the switch contact and the contact for conduction and immediately after the disconnection thereof. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, wherein the ultrasonic probe is formed long enough to be sufficiently transmitted to the torque cable.