JP3881509B2

JP3881509B2 - The tip of the ultrasonic diagnostic equipment

Info

Publication number: JP3881509B2
Application number: JP2000378457A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 慎介岡田; 健一大原
Original assignee: ペンタックス株式会社
Priority date: 2000-12-13
Filing date: 2000-12-13
Publication date: 2007-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2020-12-13
Also published as: JP2002177276A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
この発明は、体腔内の超音波断層像を得るための超音波プローブが配置された超音波診断装置の先端部に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
超音波診断装置によって体腔内の超音波断層像を得ようとする場合、超音波プローブと被検部との間には一般に少なくとも２〜３cm程度の間隔をとる必要がある。
【０００３】
また、超音波は液体中は伝わり易いが空気中は伝わり難い特性を有するので、超音波プローブと被検部との間の空間に、超音波伝達性のよい脱気水等の液体を充満させる必要がある。
【０００４】
そこで一般に、挿入部先端に配置された超音波プローブを囲むように膨縮自在なサック状のバルーンを配置してその前後両端を挿入部先端の外周面に固定し、脱気水等を送り込んでバルーンを膨らませる構造をとっている。
【０００５】
そして、さらに進んでいるものとして、例えば特開平５−２９３１０５号公報に示されるものでは、バルーンが超音波走査方向の背面側へ膨らまないように規制する膨らみ規制部材を、前後両端の固定部材間に配置している。
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかし、上述のような従来の超音波診断装置の先端部においては、バルーンを超音波プローブの前後両側位置で挿入部先端の外周面に固定していることから、挿入部先端の硬質部長が長くなってしまうので、超音波診断装置を挿入される患者に大きな苦痛を与える場合がある。
【０００７】
そこで本発明は、挿入部先端の硬質部長を短縮して、検査を受ける患者の苦痛を減少させることができる超音波診断装置の先端部を提供することを目的とする。
【０００８】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記の目的を達成するため、本発明の超音波診断装置の先端部は、挿入部先端の側方を走査するように挿入部先端の側面に超音波プローブが配置されると共に、超音波プローブが配置された部分を囲んだ状態で膨縮自在にサック状のバルーンが挿入部先端に取り付けられた超音波診断装置の先端部において、バルーンの端部開口付近を、超音波プローブより後方位置で挿入部先端の外周部に固定すると共に、バルーンの胴部を走査方向の背面位置で挿入部先端の表面に固定し、超音波プローブより先側位置ではバルーンを挿入部先端に固定しないようにしたものである。
【０００９】
なお、バルーンの胴部を挿入部先端の表面に固定する手段として、挿入部先端表面の走査方向の背面位置に溝を形成すると共に、バルーンを外面側から溝に押し付けた状態で溝に係止されるバルーン固定部材を設けることにより、走査範囲の背面位置でバルーンを挿入部先端にしっかりと固定することができる。
【００１０】
また、バルーン固定部材を弾力性のある部材により形成して、バルーンを外面側から溝に押し付けた状態で溝に対して係脱自在にすることにより、バルーンを容易に着脱することができる。
【００１１】
バルーン固定部材は、挿入部先端の軸線方向に真っ直ぐな縦棒状部の先端側に、側方に伸びる横棒状部が形成された形状に形成してもよい。
【００１２】
【発明の実施の形態】
図面を参照して本発明の実施例を説明する。
図３は、超音波診断装置である超音波内視鏡の側面図であり、操作部１の下端に連結された可撓性の挿入部２の先端に、対物光学系等が内蔵された光学観察対物部３と、超音波プローブ４ａが配置された超音波走査部４が並んで設けられて、先端硬質部を形成している。
【００１３】
光学観察対物部３内の対物光学系による被写体の結像位置には固体撮像素子が配置されていて、固体撮像素子から撮像信号が送出されるようになっている。ただし、イメージガイドファイババンドルによって観察像を伝達してもよい。
【００１４】
超音波プローブ４ａは、挿入部２の先端の側方を超音波走査するように、光学観察対物部３の先側に隣接して、挿入部２の最先端部の側面に円弧状に配置されている。
【００１５】
そして、超音波走査部４を囲むように膨縮自在なバルーン５が着脱自在に取り付けられている。バルーン５は、例えば薄いシリコンゴム等によって、図４に示されるようにサック状に形成されて超音波走査部４に被せられており、図３には、バルーン５が膨らんだ状態が二点鎖線で図示されている。
【００１６】
図１は、バルーン５が膨らんでいない状態の超音波走査部４を示しており、バルーン５の端部開口の近傍が、超音波走査部４の後端部（したがって超音波プローブ４ａより後方）の外周面に形成された円周溝６に、弾力性のあるＯリング７等によって外面側から締め付けられて固定されている。ただし、Ｏリング７はバルーン５の開口端部に一体に形成してもよい。１０は、バルーン５内に脱気水を出し入れするための通水口である。
【００１７】
超音波プローブ４ａによる超音波走査方向の背面位置にあたる超音波走査部４の外壁表面には、前後方向に直線溝８が形成されている。そして、弾性変形させることにより直線溝８に係脱されるバルーン固定部材９が、弾力性のあるゴム材等によって棒状に形成されている。
【００１８】
したがって、超音波走査部４に被せられたバルーン５の外面側から押し付けるようにして、バルーン固定部材９を弾性変形させて直線溝８に係止すれば、その状態のII−II断面を図示する図２に示されるように、バルーン５の胴部がバルーン固定部材９と直線溝８との間に挟み付けられた状態に固定される。
【００１９】
その状態で、通水口１０からバルーン５内に脱気水等を送り込むことにより、図５に示されるように、バルーン５を超音波プローブ４ａの前方の走査範囲の方向に膨らませることができる。
【００２０】
その状態では、バルーン固定部材９が直線溝８内に弾力的にきつく嵌まり込んでいるので、バルーン５は、直線溝８内から外れることなく走査範囲の背面位置で超音波走査部４にしっかりと固定されている。
【００２１】
したがって、超音波走査部４の先端側の位置ではバルーン５を固定する必要がなく、その分だけ超音波走査部４の長さを短縮することができる。なお、バルーン５を取り外す際には、バルーン固定部材９とＯリング７を各々弾性変形させて直線溝８と円周溝６から取り外せばよい。
【００２２】
なお、本発明は上記実施例に限定されるものではなく、例えば直線溝８とバルーン固定部材９を、図６に図示されるように、前後方向（即ち超音波走査部４の軸線方向）に真っ直ぐな縦棒状部の先端側に側方に伸びる横棒状部が形成されたＴ字状に形成することにより、バルーン５の先端部分をより安定した状態で超音波走査部４に固定することができる。
【００２３】
また、本発明を光学観察手段が併設されていない超音波診断装置の先端部に採用することもできる。
【００２４】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば、バルーンの端部開口付近を、超音波プローブより後方位置で挿入部先端の外周部に固定すると共に、バルーンの胴部を走査方向の背面位置で挿入部先端の表部に固定し、超音波プローブより先側位置ではバルーンを挿入部先端に固定しないようにしたことにより、挿入部先端の硬質部長を短縮して検査を受ける患者の苦痛を減少させることができる。
【００２５】
そして、バルーンの胴部を挿入部先端の表面に固定する手段として、挿入部先端表面の走査方向の背面位置に溝を形成すると共に、バルーンを外面側から溝に押し付けた状態で溝に係止されるバルーン固定部材を設けることにより、走査範囲の背面位置でバルーンを挿入部先端にしっかりと固定することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１の実施例の超音波診断装置の先端部の、バルーン固定部材が直線溝内に嵌め込まれていない状態の、一部を断面で示す側面図である。
【図２】本発明の第１の実施例の超音波診断装置の先端部の、バルーン固定部材が直線溝内に嵌め込まれた状態の、図１におけるII−II断面図である。
【図３】本発明の第１の実施例の超音波内視鏡の全体構成を示す外観図である。
【図４】本発明の第１の実施例のバルーンの外観図である。
【図５】本発明の第１の実施例の超音波診断装置の先端部のバルーンが膨らんだ状態の側面図である。
【図６】本発明の第２の実施例の超音波診断装置の先端部のバルーンを取り除いた状態の斜視図である。
【符号の説明】
２挿入部
３光学観察対物部
４超音波走査部
４ａ超音波プローブ
５バルーン
６円周溝
７Ｏリング
８直線溝
９バルーン固定部材[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a distal end portion of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which an ultrasonic probe for obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image in a body cavity is arranged.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When an ultrasonic tomographic image in a body cavity is to be obtained by an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, it is generally necessary to provide an interval of at least about 2 to 3 cm between the ultrasonic probe and the test portion.
[0003]
In addition, since ultrasonic waves are easy to transmit in liquid but difficult to transmit in air, the space between the ultrasonic probe and the test part is filled with liquid such as deaerated water with good ultrasonic transmission. There is a need.
[0004]
Therefore, in general, a sac-like balloon that can be expanded and contracted is disposed so as to surround the ultrasonic probe disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion, and both front and rear ends thereof are fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion, and deaerated water or the like is sent in. It has a structure that inflates the balloon.
[0005]
As a further advancement, for example, in the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-293105, a bulge regulating member that regulates the balloon so that it does not bulge to the back side in the ultrasonic scanning direction is provided between the fixed members at the front and rear ends. Is arranged.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the distal end portion of the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as described above, since the balloon is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the insertion portion at both front and rear positions of the ultrasonic probe, the length of the hard portion at the distal end of the insertion portion is long. As a result, there is a case where a patient who is inserted with the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is caused a great pain.
[0007]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a distal end portion of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can reduce the pain of a patient undergoing an examination by shortening the rigid length of the distal end of an insertion portion.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic probe is disposed on the side of the distal end of the insertion section so that the distal end of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention scans the side of the distal end of the insertion section. At the distal end of the ultrasound diagnostic device where a sac-shaped balloon is attached to the distal end of the insertion section so as to be inflatable and contractible while surrounding the placed portion, the vicinity of the end opening of the balloon is inserted at a position behind the ultrasound probe. Fixed to the outer periphery of the distal end of the head, and the body of the balloon is fixed to the surface of the distal end of the insertion section at the back position in the scanning direction, and the balloon is not fixed to the distal end of the insertion section at a position ahead of the ultrasonic probe. It is.
[0009]
As a means to fix the body of the balloon to the surface of the distal end of the insertion portion, a groove is formed at the back position in the scanning direction of the surface of the distal end of the insertion portion, and the balloon is locked to the groove while being pressed against the groove from the outer surface side. By providing the balloon fixing member, the balloon can be firmly fixed to the distal end of the insertion portion at the back position of the scanning range.
[0010]
In addition, the balloon can be easily attached and detached by forming the balloon fixing member from an elastic member so that the balloon can be freely engaged with and disengaged from the groove while being pressed against the groove from the outer surface side.
[0011]
The balloon fixing member may be formed in a shape in which a lateral bar-like portion extending laterally is formed on the distal end side of a vertical bar-like portion straight in the axial direction of the distal end of the insertion portion.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 3 is a side view of an ultrasonic endoscope that is an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. An optical system in which an objective optical system or the like is incorporated at the distal end of a flexible insertion portion 2 connected to the lower end of the operation portion 1. The observation objective unit 3 and the ultrasonic scanning unit 4 in which the ultrasonic probe 4a is arranged are provided side by side to form a hard tip portion.
[0013]
A solid-state image sensor is disposed at the imaging position of the subject by the objective optical system in the optical observation objective unit 3, and an imaging signal is transmitted from the solid-state image sensor. However, the observation image may be transmitted by an image guide fiber bundle.
[0014]
The ultrasonic probe 4a is arranged in an arc shape on the side surface of the most distal portion of the insertion portion 2 adjacent to the front side of the optical observation objective portion 3 so as to ultrasonically scan the side of the distal end of the insertion portion 2. ing.
[0015]
A balloon 5 that can be expanded and contracted is detachably attached so as to surround the ultrasonic scanning unit 4. The balloon 5 is formed in a sac shape as shown in FIG. 4 by, for example, thin silicon rubber or the like and is placed on the ultrasonic scanning unit 4. FIG. 3 shows a state where the balloon 5 is inflated. It is shown in the figure.
[0016]
FIG. 1 shows the ultrasonic scanning unit 4 in a state where the balloon 5 is not inflated, and the vicinity of the end opening of the balloon 5 is the rear end portion of the ultrasonic scanning unit 4 (therefore, behind the ultrasonic probe 4a). The outer circumferential surface 6 is fixed by being tightened from the outer surface side by an elastic O-ring 7 or the like. However, the O-ring 7 may be formed integrally with the opening end of the balloon 5. Reference numeral 10 denotes a water passage for taking in and out the deaerated water in the balloon 5.
[0017]
A linear groove 8 is formed in the front-rear direction on the outer wall surface of the ultrasonic scanning unit 4 corresponding to the back surface position in the ultrasonic scanning direction by the ultrasonic probe 4a. A balloon fixing member 9 that is engaged with and disengaged from the linear groove 8 by being elastically deformed is formed in a rod shape by an elastic rubber material or the like.
[0018]
Therefore, if the balloon fixing member 9 is elastically deformed and locked to the linear groove 8 so as to be pressed from the outer surface side of the balloon 5 placed on the ultrasonic scanning unit 4, the II-II section in that state is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 2, the body of the balloon 5 is fixed in a state of being sandwiched between the balloon fixing member 9 and the linear groove 8.
[0019]
In this state, by sending deaerated water or the like from the water inlet 10 into the balloon 5, the balloon 5 can be inflated in the direction of the scanning range in front of the ultrasonic probe 4a as shown in FIG.
[0020]
In this state, since the balloon fixing member 9 is elastically tightly fitted in the linear groove 8, the balloon 5 is firmly attached to the ultrasonic scanning unit 4 at the back position of the scanning range without coming out of the linear groove 8. It is fixed.
[0021]
Therefore, it is not necessary to fix the balloon 5 at the position on the distal end side of the ultrasonic scanning unit 4, and the length of the ultrasonic scanning unit 4 can be shortened accordingly. When the balloon 5 is removed, the balloon fixing member 9 and the O-ring 7 may be elastically deformed and removed from the linear groove 8 and the circumferential groove 6.
[0022]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the linear groove | channel 8 and the balloon fixing member 9 are set to the front-back direction (namely, axial direction of the ultrasonic scanning part 4). It is possible to fix the distal end portion of the balloon 5 to the ultrasonic scanning unit 4 in a more stable state by forming a T-shape in which a lateral bar-shaped portion extending laterally is formed on the distal end side of the straight vertical rod-shaped portion. it can.
[0023]
In addition, the present invention can also be adopted at the tip of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that is not provided with an optical observation means.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the vicinity of the end opening of the balloon is fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the distal end of the insertion portion at a position behind the ultrasonic probe, and the body of the balloon is fixed to the front portion of the distal end of the insertion portion at the back position in the scanning direction. By fixing and preventing the balloon from being fixed to the distal end of the insertion portion at a position ahead of the ultrasonic probe, it is possible to reduce the pain of the patient undergoing the examination by shortening the rigid length of the insertion portion distal end.
[0025]
Then, as a means to fix the body of the balloon to the front surface of the insertion section, a groove is formed at the back position in the scanning direction of the front surface of the insertion section, and the balloon is locked to the groove while being pressed from the outer surface side to the groove. By providing the balloon fixing member, the balloon can be firmly fixed to the distal end of the insertion portion at the back position of the scanning range.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a part in cross-section of a distal end portion of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a state where a balloon fixing member is not fitted in a straight groove.
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1 in a state where a balloon fixing member is fitted into a straight groove at the distal end portion of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an external view showing the overall configuration of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an external view of a balloon according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which a balloon at the distal end of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is inflated.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention in a state in which a balloon at the tip is removed.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Insertion section 3 Optical observation objective section 4 Ultrasonic scanning section 4a Ultrasonic probe 5 Balloon 6 Circumferential groove 7 O-ring 8 Linear groove 9 Balloon fixing member

Claims

An ultrasonic probe is disposed on the side of the distal end of the insertion portion so as to scan the side of the distal end of the insertion portion, and a sac-like balloon is inflated and contracted in a state of surrounding the portion where the ultrasonic probe is disposed. In the tip of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus attached to the tip of the insertion part,
The vicinity of the end opening of the balloon is fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the distal end of the insertion portion at a position behind the ultrasonic probe, and the barrel portion of the balloon is fixed to the surface of the distal end of the insertion portion at the back position in the scanning direction. The distal end portion of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, wherein the balloon is not fixed to the distal end of the insertion portion at a position ahead of the ultrasonic probe.

As a means for fixing the body of the balloon to the surface of the distal end of the insertion section, a groove is formed at the back surface position in the scanning direction of the distal end surface of the insertion section, and the balloon is pressed against the groove from the outer surface side The distal end portion of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a balloon fixing member that is locked in the groove.

The distal end of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the balloon fixing member is formed of an elastic member, and is detachable with respect to the groove in a state where the balloon is pressed against the groove from the outer surface side. Department.

The ultrasonic diagnosis according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the balloon fixing member is formed in a shape in which a lateral bar-like portion extending laterally is formed on the distal end side of a vertical rod-like portion straight in the axial direction of the distal end of the insertion portion. The tip of the device.