JP4199522B2 - The tip of a radial scanning ultrasound endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a distal end portion of a radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope that scans an ultrasonic signal around an axis of a distal end portion of an insertion portion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 2, the radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope generally has an optical observation window 2 and an illumination window 3 disposed on the distal end surface 1 a of the distal end main body 1 connected to the distal end of the insertion portion, and is annular. An ultrasonic transducer 11 and an acoustic lens 12 surrounding the ultrasonic transducer 11 are arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the tip body 1 (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-153469 A
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional radial scanning type ultrasonic endoscope as described above, the inner peripheral surface 11a of the ultrasonic transducer 11 is annularly disposed at a position that is considerably recessed from the outer periphery of the distal end body 1. As a result, the space for passing the observation optical member, the illumination member and other so-called built-in objects 50 from the rear to the distal end surface 1a of the distal end main body 1 is narrowed, and a sufficient optical observation function cannot be obtained. .
[0005]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a distal end portion of a radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope in which a built-in object for obtaining a sufficient optical observation function can be inserted and disposed in the distal end portion main body without shortage.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the distal end portion of the radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope of the present invention has an optical observation window disposed on the distal end surface of the distal end body connected to the distal end of the insertion portion, In the distal end portion of the radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope in which an annular ultrasonic transducer is arranged on the outer peripheral portion, the inner peripheral surface of the ultrasonic transducer is larger than the diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the rear end portion of the distal end main body. It is formed in a diameter.
[0007]
In addition, if an acoustic lens is arranged around the outer surface of the ultrasonic transducer and the outer peripheral surface portion of the acoustic lens is the maximum diameter of the distal end portion of the insertion portion, an ultrasonic tomographic image can be easily obtained without a balloon. Obtainable.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a distal end portion of a radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope. A front end surface of a distal end portion body 1 connected to a distal end of a flexible insertion portion is visually in front of the distal end portion body 1. An optical observation window 2 and an illumination window 3 for observation are arranged side by side, and a treatment tool protrusion or the like (not shown) is also arranged.
[0009]
At the rear position of the optical observation window 2, an objective optical system 4 is built in the tip body 1. Then, an image guide fiber bundle 5 in which an image incident end face is disposed at a projection position of a subject by the objective optical system 4 is inserted and fixed from the rear in a hole formed in the tip end body 1 in the axial direction. .
[0010]
A light guide fiber bundle 6 is inserted and fixed from behind in a hole formed in the rear end position of the illumination window 3 so as to penetrate the tip body 1 in the axial direction. In addition, it may replace with the image guide fiber bundle 5 and may arrange | position a solid-state image sensor.
[0011]
The front half of the tip body 1 has a larger outer diameter than the rear half, and an ultrasonic signal is transmitted around the axis of the tip body 1 in a groove formed in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery thereof. An annular ultrasonic transducer 11 for radial scanning is fitted in, and an annular acoustic lens 12 made of a rubber material or the like is closely attached to the outer peripheral surface of the ultrasonic transducer 11. All the parts are formed in a circular cross-sectional shape centering on the axis of the tip body 1.
[0012]
In addition, deaerated water is sent and discharged into a flexible substrate 13 for transmitting a signal input / output to / from the ultrasonic transducer 11 and a balloon (not shown) attached so as to surround the ultrasonic transducer 11. For this purpose, the water supply / drainage channel 7 and the like are arranged from the rear curved portion 20 to a middle position in the tip body 1. Reference numeral 8 denotes a pair of circumferential grooves for fixing the balloon.
[0013]
The bending portion 20 is arranged at the distal end portion of the flexible insertion portion so that it can be bent by remote operation from the proximal end side of the flexible insertion portion, and a plurality of (for example, about 5 to 20 pieces) are arranged. A known node ring is configured to be rotatably connected with a rivet or the like.
[0014]
A portion near the tip of the most advanced node ring 21 is fitted on the outer periphery of the rear end portion of the tip portion main body 1 and connected and fixed to the tip portion main body 1 with a small screw (not shown). Reference numeral 22 denotes a rubber outer tube that covers the bending portion 20.
[0015]
In the distal end portion of the radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment configured as described above, the diameter D1 of the inner peripheral surface 11a of the ultrasonic transducer 11 is equal to the rear end portion (that is, the curved portion) of the distal end portion main body 1. 20 is a diameter equal to or greater than the diameter D2 of the outer peripheral surface. That is, D1 ≧ D2.
[0016]
Therefore, a space for allowing a built-in object (image guide fiber bundle 5, light guide fiber bundle 6 and the like) to pass from the inside of the bending portion 20 to the tip surface 1a of the tip portion main body 1 is not narrowed in the middle of the tip portion main body 1. A sufficient optical observation function can be obtained by arranging a sufficient amount of built-in objects corresponding to the diameter of the flexible insertion portion.
[0017]
Further, the outer peripheral surface portion of the acoustic lens 12 has the maximum diameter of the distal end portion of the flexible insertion portion including the curved portion 20. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image by relatively easily bringing the acoustic lens 12 into close contact with the mucosal surface in the body cavity without necessarily attaching a balloon to the distal end main body 1.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in the distal end portion of the radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope in which the annular ultrasonic transducer is disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the distal end portion main body, the inner circumferential surface of the ultrasonic transducer is By forming it at a diameter that is equal to or larger than the diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the rear end portion, the space for passing the built-in object from the rear end portion of the tip end body to the tip surface is not narrowed in the middle of the tip end body. A built-in object for obtaining the optical observation function can be inserted and arranged in the tip body without any shortage.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a distal end portion of a radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side partial sectional view of a distal end portion of a conventional radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tip part main body 1a Tip surface 2 Optical observation window 3 Illumination window 5 Image guide fiber bundle (built-in thing)
6 Light guide fiber bundle (built-in)
7 Feed / drain channel 11 Ultrasonic vibrator 11a Inner peripheral surface 12 Acoustic lens 13 Flexible substrate 20 Curved portion 21 Cutting edge node ring D1 Diameter of inner peripheral surface of ultrasonic vibrator D2 Outer peripheral surface of rear end portion of tip body Diameter of

Claims (2)

The distal end of a radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope in which an optical observation window is disposed on the distal end surface of the distal end body connected to the distal end of the insertion section, and an annular ultrasonic transducer is disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the distal end body. In the department,
The outer peripheral surface of the tip body is all formed in a circular cross-sectional shape centering on the axis, and the half near the tip of the tip body is formed as a large-diameter part having a larger outer diameter than the half near the rear end. a pair of circumferential grooves for fixing the balloon is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the vicinity of the front and rear end of the large diameter portion, the inner peripheral surface of the ultrasonic transducers of the rear end portion of the tip body is formed to the diameter of larger than the diameter of the outer peripheral surface, with grooves in which the ultrasonic transducer is fitted is formed at a position between the pair of circumferential groove of the large diameter portion,
A flexible substrate for transmitting a signal input / output to / from the ultrasonic transducer and a water supply / drainage channel for performing water supply / drainage in the balloon are inserted and arranged in the insertion portion, from the central axis position of the insertion portion. Thus, a distal end portion of a radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope, wherein the flexible substrate is disposed outside the water supply / drainage channel. 2. The radial scanning ultrasonic ultrasonic wave according to claim 1, wherein an acoustic lens is disposed so as to surround an outer surface of the ultrasonic transducer, and an outer peripheral surface portion of the acoustic lens is a maximum diameter of a distal end portion of the insertion portion. The tip of the endoscope.

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