JPS63111840A - Ultrasonic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic endoscope that incorporates an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in an insertion section and performs observation using ultrasonic waves.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ultrasonic endoscope is known in which an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves is incorporated in a distal end component of an insertion section to perform observation using ultrasonic waves. In this type of ultrasonic endoscope, in addition to an ultrasonic transducer, an objective optical system, an illumination optical system, a nozzle, a forceps port, etc. are incorporated in the tip component. In particular, for strabismus-type or side-view ultrasonic endoscopes, there are optical fiber bundles for image guides, optical fiber bundles for light guides, air and water supply tubes, and forceps channels that are led out from the hard body of the tip component. Piping such as utility tubes and electrical cables are smoothly bent at the lead-out portion, and then inserted side by side into the insertion portion.

[The gap that the invention attempts to solve]

However, since the leading-out portions of the piping such as the optical fiber bundle for image guides, optical fiber bundles for light guides, air/water supply tubes, and forceps channel tubes are smoothly bent, the above-mentioned built-in members are part of the tip structure. The hard part is biased towards one side. For this reason, there is a problem in that space is taken up in the radial direction within the insertion portion, and the diameter inevitably becomes thicker.

Furthermore, in the structure disclosed in JP-A-56-158646, a prism is provided in the optical system so that the optical fiber bundle is not bent smoothly. It ends up.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to effectively use the space inside the hard part of the tip component and to reduce the diameter of the tip component. .

Means and operation for solving the point m between c] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an ultrasonic transducer and an observation optical system in the distal end component of the insertion section, and transmits the ultrasonic wave within the insertion section. In an ultrasonic endoscope in which an electric cable connected to a transducer and a built-in object such as an image guide connected to the observation optical system are inserted, the ultrasonic transducer is provided on the distal side of the distal end component. The observation optical system is located closer to the user than the ultrasonic transducer, and an electric cable led out from the ultrasonic transducer is disposed within the insertion portion so as to cross the built-in object.

Therefore, there is no need to prepare a space for leading out the electric cable extending in the radial direction in addition to a space for leading out the built-in items while curving smoothly. Therefore, the diameter of the insertion portion can be reduced by this amount.

〔Example〕

1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a distal end component 1 of an insertion section in an ultrasound endoscope. A hard body 2 of this tip component 1
An electronic sector scanning type ultrasonic transducer 3 located at the tip side and directed laterally is embedded and fixed with adhesive. Further, a balloon 4 is airtightly attached to the tip of the main body 2 to which the ultrasonic transducer 3 is attached so as to surround it. The inside of this balloon 4 has a groove-shaped opening 5.
is formed, and a water supply tube 6 and a suction tube 7 are connected to this mouth portion 5. And this water supply tube 6
The balloon 4 is inflated by supplying water from the suction tube 7 to the inside of the balloon 4 through the mouth 5.

Further, the balloon 4 is deflated by suctioning the water inside the balloon 4 from the suction tube 7 through the mouth 5. The water supply tube 6 and suction tube 7 are led to the proximal side through the insertion section.

A slope portion 8 that slopes toward the ultrasonic scanning range of the ultrasonic transducer 3 is formed at a portion closer to the user than the installation position of the ultrasonic transducer 3 . The outer wall surface of this sloped portion 8 is inclined at an angle of 45° with respect to the long axis of the insertion portion. Further, an opening 10 is formed in the wall of the sloped portion 8 to allow the optical system holder 9 to be removably fitted therein. The optical system holder 9 has a flange 11 formed on its outer periphery, and this flange 11 fits into a large diameter step 12 formed on the outer periphery of the opening 10. 10 is tightly fitted. The outer surface of the optical system holder 9 corresponds to the outer wall surface of the slope portion 8. Furthermore, an O-ring 14 as a sealing member fitted into a groove 13 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the opening 10 provides an airtight and water-tight seal between the optical system holder 9 and the opening 10. . Further, the optical system holder 9 is fixed by tightening the collar 11 to the wall of the slope portion 8 using a locking member 17 consisting of a screw with a large head 15. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, this engaging member 17 is provided in two places, on the left side and the upper part, and is screwed into the main body 2 of the tip structure IR1, and its head 15 engages the flange of the optical system holder 9. 13 and fixes the optical system holder 9.

The optical system holder 9 includes an objective lens 18 and an illumination lens 1.
9.19, a nozzle 21 facing the forceps port 20 and the outer surface of the objective lens 18 is provided. Further, the optical system holder 9 includes an image guide optical fiber bundle 22 that is optically connected to the objective lens 18, and two light guides that are optically connected to the illumination lenses 19 and 19, respectively. Optical fiber bundles 23 and 23 are attached and fixed thereto. Furthermore, this optical system holder 9 has the above-mentioned forceps opening 2.
A connecting pipe 24 that communicates with the nozzle 21 is attached, and a tube 25 that communicates with the nozzle 21 is connected. A channel tube 26 is connected to the connecting pipe 24 .

In other words, the image guide optical fiber bundle 22, the light guide optical fiber bundle 23, 23, the connecting tube 24, and the tube 25.
The channel tubes 26 and 26 are all attached to the optical system holder 9, and if the optical system holder 9 is removed, these can also be removed together. Further, each of these members is guided to the proximal side through the insertion portion of the endoscope. The image guide optical fiber bundle 22 is connected to an eyepiece section in the hand operation section. Further, the two light guide optical fiber bundles 23 and 23 reach the connector section through the hand operation section and the universal cord. The same applies to the tube 25 communicating with the nozzle 21. Furthermore, the channel tube 26
is connected to the forceps port of the hand control unit.

The image guide optical fiber bundle 22, the light guide optical fiber bundle 23, 23, the connecting tube 24, and the tube 25 are arranged at four angles in the axial direction of the insertion section, as shown in FIG.
5°, that is, it begins to lead out in a direction perpendicular to the slope of the slope portion 8, and the inside of the insertion portion, particularly the inner cavity 28 of the tip component portion.
The insertion portion curves smoothly within the insertion portion, and finally becomes parallel to the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion.

On the other hand, an electric cable 2 led out from the ultrasonic transducer 3
7 is similarly led to the hand side through the insertion section of the endoscope, and is connected to the connector section through the hand operation section and the universal cord. A large number of electric cables 27 led out from the ultrasonic transducer 3 are guided rearward along the longitudinal direction of the insertion section through one side of the inner space 28 of the distal end component, and then immediately bent into the built-in member. It intersects this at a portion thereof, reaches the opposite portion in the inner cavity 28 of the distal end component, and is guided rearward along the longitudinal direction of the insertion portion. In other words, a large number of electric cables 27 led out from the ultrasonic transducer 3 are arranged in the inner cavity 28 of the tip component part, avoiding the built-in members. Note that the plurality of electric cables 27 are divided into two, and are guided to the rear of the insertion section through the left and right sides of the built-in objects so as to sandwich them therebetween. Also, the first
As shown in the figure, the electrical cable 27 and the built-in object intersect in the vertically curved direction.

Since, as in the above configuration, a large number of electric cables led out from the ultrasonic transducer 3 intersect with the built-in member within the cavity of the insertion section, the space within the distal end component can be used effectively. The diameter of the part can be reduced. In addition, since a large number of electric cables led out from the ultrasonic transducer 3 intersect with the built-in member, a large amount of space is available for the curved portion of the built-in member in the cavity of the insertion section, thereby alleviating sudden bending. This can reduce damage to internal components.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention. This embodiment uses an electronic linear scanning type ultrasonic transducer 3,
Furthermore, the optical observation direction is side view. Other than this, the structure is the same as that of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the shape of the tip portion of the main body 2 of the tip component 1 in which the ultrasonic transducer 3 is provided and the mounting direction of the ultrasonic transducer 3 are changed from side view to perspective view in the first embodiment. be. Also, there are no balloons.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and includes, for example, those in which the scanning direction of the ultrasonic transducer is directed toward the distal end, and those without a groove for attaching a balloon. Further, the present invention is not limited to an electronic scanning method, and may be a mechanical scanning method, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

【Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the space within the tip component can be used effectively, so the diameter of the tip component can be reduced. In addition, since the multiple electrical cables led out from the ultrasonic transducer intersect with the built-in member, the curved portion of the built-in member can take up a large amount of space within the cavity of the insertion section, thereby alleviating sudden bending. , damage to internal objects can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the tip component of an ultrasound endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the tip of an ultrasound endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view of the optical observation end face of the component, FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the vicinity of the tip component of the ultrasound endoscope according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the optical observation end surface of the component.
FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the distal end component of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Tip component, 2... Main body, 3... Ultrasonic transducer, 22. 23... Optical fiber bundle, 27... Electric cable, 28... Inner cavity of the tip component. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Jun Tsuboi Figure 3 Figure 4

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An ultrasonic transducer and an observation optical system are provided in the distal end component of the insertion section, and an electric cable connected to the ultrasonic transducer and an image guide connected to the observation optical system are provided inside the insertion section. In an ultrasonic endoscope that is inserted through a built-in object such as, the ultrasonic transducer is provided on the distal end side of the distal end component, and the observation optical system is provided on the proximal side of the ultrasonic transducer. An ultrasonic endoscope characterized in that an electric cable led out from the ultrasonic transducer crosses the built-in object within the insertion portion. (2) The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the electric cable is divided into two parts within the distal end component of the insertion section.