JP4441280B2 - Electronic Radial Scanning Ultrasound Endoscope Tip - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a distal end portion of an electronic radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope.

An ultrasonic endoscope that performs radial scanning electronically is an objective for performing optical observation in front of the distal end body within a certain diameter around the axis of the distal end body disposed at the most distal portion of the insertion portion. An optical system, a light guide for illumination, and a treatment instrument insertion channel are arranged, and a number of ultrasonic transducers for electronic radial scanning are arranged around the axis in a range outside a certain diameter of the distal end body. The configured ultrasonic probe is arranged, and a balloon that can be inflated and contracted to surround the ultrasonic probe is attached to the distal end body (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP2002-153465

  In a radial scanning type ultrasonic endoscope, it is desirable to be able to scan ultrasonically around the entire axis of the distal end portion over 360 °. It is necessary to arrange the sound wave vibrators uniformly on the entire circumference around the axis of the tip body.

  Further, in order to inflate / deflate the balloon, it is possible to provide a balloon expansion conduit for sending fluid to the balloon and a balloon contraction conduit for discharging the fluid from the balloon separately, so that the inflation / expansion operation can be performed quickly. It is effective from the viewpoint of sex.

  However, after arranging a plurality of ultrasonic transducers uniformly around the entire circumference of the tip portion main body axis, and further trying to arrange two conduits, a balloon expansion conduit and a balloon contraction conduit, As a result, the size of any of the objective optical system, the illumination light guide, and the treatment instrument insertion channel must be sacrificed, and the function as the endoscope may be degraded.

  Therefore, the present invention can be used as an endoscope even if the balloon expansion conduit and the balloon contraction conduit are separately provided, which can scan the entire circumference of the axis of the tip end portion of the whole body 360 degrees continuously without interruption. It is an object of the present invention to provide a distal end portion of an electronic radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope excellent in overall performance without degrading the function of the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, the distal end portion of the electronic radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope of the present invention has a distal end within a certain diameter around the axis of the distal end main body arranged at the most distal end portion of the insertion portion. An objective optical system, an illumination light guide, and a treatment instrument insertion channel for optical observation in front of the head body are arranged, and electronically performs radial scanning in a range outside a certain diameter of the tip body. An electronic radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope in which an ultrasonic probe in which a large number of ultrasonic transducers are arranged around the axis is arranged, and a balloon that can be expanded and contracted around the ultrasonic probe is attached to the tip body. At the tip of the mirror, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are evenly arranged around the axis of the tip body so that it can be ultrasonically scanned 360 degrees around the axis of the tip body. Each ultrasonic vibration A plurality of flexible boards for transmitting signals input and output to and from the ultrasonic probe are arranged in a distributed manner around the axis of the tip part body and drawn out from the ultrasonic probe into the insertion part at the back, and a fluid is sent to the balloon A balloon expansion conduit and a balloon contraction conduit for discharging fluid from the balloon are separately provided and communicated with a hole opened in the balloon at a position rearward of the ultrasonic probe. And the balloon contraction conduit are respectively disposed in different gap portions between a plurality of flexible substrates in a range outside a certain diameter of the tip end main body.

  According to the present invention, the balloon expansion conduit and the balloon contraction can be used even when the flexible substrate is uniformly arranged over the entire circumference in order to scan the entire circumference of the axis of the distal end portion ultrasonically over the entire 360.degree. All of the objective optical system, the illumination light guide, and the treatment instrument insertion channel are sacrificed in size by arranging the conduits in different gaps between the plurality of flexible substrates outside the fixed diameter of the tip body. Without this, it is possible to configure the distal end portion of the electronic radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope having excellent overall performance without deteriorating the function as the endoscope.

  A plurality of ultrasonic transducers are arranged uniformly on the entire circumference around the axis of the distal end body so that the ultrasonic scanning can be performed seamlessly over the entire 360 ° circumference around the axis of the distal end body. A plurality of flexible boards for transmitting signals input / output to / from the child are arranged around the axis of the tip body and are drawn out from the ultrasonic probe into the insertion section behind it, and the fluid is sent into the balloon The balloon expansion tube and the balloon contraction tube for discharging the fluid from the balloon are separately provided and communicated with a hole opened in the balloon at a position rearward of the ultrasonic probe. The path and the balloon contraction conduit are respectively disposed in different gap portions between the plurality of flexible substrates in a range outside a certain diameter of the distal end main body.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
2 is a front view of the distal end surface of the insertion portion of the electronic radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope, FIG. 3 is a side sectional view thereof, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

  3 and 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a bending portion formed in the vicinity of the distal end of the insertion portion so as to be bent by a remote operation from an operation portion (not shown) connected to the proximal end side of the insertion portion. Yes, the tip end body 2 is connected to the foremost part.

  The tip portion main body 2 is formed by two members, a main body portion 2A whose rear half portion is formed in a double cylinder shape and a tip nut portion 2B screwed and fixed to the outer periphery of the tip portion. The endoscope member arrangement hole 2a having a constant diameter that opens to the rear end surface is formed around the axis except for the vicinity of the tip.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an observation window 3, an illumination window 4, and a treatment instrument protrusion 5 are disposed on the distal end surface of the main body 2 </ b> A. As shown in FIG. 3, the imaging surface of the solid-state imaging device 7 is arranged at the imaging position of the subject by the objective optical system 6 arranged in the back of the observation window 3, and the front side of the tip body 2 is located. An imaging signal of the optical observation image of the subject is sent out by the CCD signal cable 8.

  Further, a treatment instrument insertion channel 9 is connected to the rear of the treatment instrument protrusion 5, and an exit end of an illumination light guide 10 is arranged behind the illumination window 4 as shown in FIG. The instrument insertion channel 9 and the illumination light guide 10 are inserted into the endoscope member arrangement hole 2a together with the CCD signal cable 8, and are not rearwardly protruded from the diameter of the endoscope member arrangement hole 2a. Is drawn into the curved portion 1.

  The tip nut portion 2B is formed in a donut shape and is screwed to the outer periphery of the tip end of the main body portion 2A, and ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received radially around the axis of the tip portion main body 2 at the rear portion of the tip nut portion 2B. The annular ultrasonic probe 11 that performs the radial scanning is arranged so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate portion of the main body 2A.

  In the ultrasonic probe 11, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 11 a are evenly distributed over the entire circumference around the axis of the tip body 2 (for example, as shown in FIG. 2, 60 ultrasonic transducers 11 a have 6 ° By being driven electronically in order, radial scanning can be performed seamlessly around the axis of the tip body 2 over the entire 360 ° circumference.

  The rear end portion of the ultrasonic probe 11 faces the front end portion of the outer cylindrical portion of the main body portion 2A formed in a double cylindrical shape, and shows a VV cross section in FIG. As also shown, a plurality of flexible boards 12 for transmitting signals input to and output from each ultrasonic transducer 11a are inserted into the space between the double cylinders of the main body 2A, Adhesive 13 is filled.

  For example, four sets of flexible substrates 12 obtained by folding and overlapping two substrates are provided, and each of them is printed with a conductive line connected to, for example, 15 ultrasonic transducers 11a.

  Then, they are arranged at intervals of about 90 ° around the axis of the tip portion main body 2 and are drawn from the ultrasonic probe 11 through the gap of the double cylinder of the main body portion 2A into the rear curved portion 1. And is passed through the entire length of the insertion portion.

  On the front and back surfaces of the flexible substrate 12 arranged in such a manner, in order to prevent the wiring from being disconnected by an external force, it extends from the position in the space of the main body 2A to the entire length behind the VI- in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6 showing the VI cross section, two electrically insulating reinforcing flexible sheets 14 are closely arranged. As the reinforcing flexible sheet 14, for example, a polyester resin-based, polyethylene resin-based, or fluororesin-based synthetic resin sheet can be used.

  And in the rear part from the rear end of the front-end | tip part main body 2, the electrically insulating heat-shrink tube 15 is further adhere | attached on the outer surface, as FIG. 1 which shows the II cross section in FIG. Thus, mechanical and electrical protection of the flexible substrate 12 is achieved. As the heat shrinkable tube 15, for example, a synthetic resin tube such as polyester resin, polyethylene resin, fluorine resin, or silicon resin can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the main body portion 2A of the front end portion main body 2 is formed in a shape in which the inner portion and the outer portion of the double cylinder structure are partially connected integrally in the vicinity of the rear end portion, A substrate passage hole 16 through which the flexible substrate 12 and the reinforcing flexible sheet 14 along the flexible substrate 12 pass is formed through the portion in the front-rear direction. Two substrate passage holes 16 having an arc shape of, for example, about 150 ° around the axis of the main body 2A are formed at 180 ° symmetrical positions around the axis.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the reinforcing flexible sheet 14 is placed in a position slightly ahead of the front end of the substrate passage hole 16 from the rear of the tip end body 2 into the substrate passage hole 16 during assembly. Of the reinforcing flexible sheet 14 on the back side of the two reinforcing flexible sheets 14 provided in close contact with the front and rear surfaces of each flexible substrate 12 when the flexible substrate 12 is inserted. The part 19 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical part of the main body part 2A.

  As a result, in the process of assembling the flexible substrate 12 to the distal end portion body 2, the reinforcing flexible sheet 14 is securely inserted to the position of the stepped portion 19 and does not enter further, and is positioned accurately. The adhesive 13 is fixed to the tip body 2 by curing.

  A balloon 20 for removing an air layer from between the ultrasound probe 11 and the subject is detachable by an O-ring-shaped annular band 21 or the like in a circumferential groove formed at both front and rear ends of the tip body 2. Fixed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a supply / drainage hole 24 is formed at a position near the rear end of the distal end portion main body 2 at a portion located in the balloon 20 on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 2A. A communication hole 25 that communicates with the liquid hole 24 is formed in a state that the rear end of the main body 2 </ b> A extends in a direction parallel to the axis of the front end main body 2.

  Thus, by arranging the supply / drainage hole 24 behind the ultrasonic probe 11, the communication hole 25 (and a balloon expansion tube 26 and a balloon contraction tube 27 described later) are positioned with respect to the ultrasonic probe 11. Since there is no interference, the communication hole 25 (and a balloon expansion tube 26 and a balloon contraction tube 27 described later) can be disposed outside the diameter of the endoscope member disposition hole 2a.

  Although only one supply / drainage hole 24 appears in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 6, the supply / drainage hole 24 is for leading and discharging liquid into the balloon 20. They are formed independently of each other at 180 ° symmetrical positions around the axis of the main part 2.

  The communication holes 25 communicating with the respective supply / drainage holes 24 are formed so as to be pulled out to the rear end of the main body portion 2A in a direction parallel to the axis of the front end portion main body 2, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. The tip of a balloon expansion tube 26 for feeding a fluid such as deaerated water into the balloon 20 is connected to one of the communication holes 25 at a 180 ° symmetrical position, and the other is connected to the fluid from the balloon 20. A balloon contraction tube 27 for discharging is connected.

  Each of the balloon expanding tube 26 and the balloon deflating tube 27 passes through the curved portion 1 rearward and is drawn rearward in the insertion portion. As shown in FIG. 1, the balloon expansion tube 26 and the balloon contraction tube 27 are divided into different gap portions between the plurality of flexible substrates 12 arranged at intervals of 90 °, as shown in FIG. Are arranged.

  The two communication holes 25 to which the balloon expansion tube 26 and the balloon contraction tube 27 are separately connected are, as shown in FIG. 6, the inner side and the outer side of the main body 2A formed in a double cylinder shape. Are connected to each other so as to pass through a portion (a portion between the two substrate passage holes 16) located at a 180 ° symmetrical position.

  With such a configuration, even if the flexible substrate 12 is evenly arranged over the entire circumference in order to perform ultrasonic scanning around the axis of the distal end portion body 2 seamlessly over the entire 360.degree. And the balloon contraction tube 27 are both arranged outside the diameter of the endoscope member arrangement hole 2a of the distal end main body 2, and the objective optical system 6, the illumination light guide 10, and the treatment instrument insertion channel 9 are all sized. It is possible to adopt a configuration that does not degrade the performance as an endoscope without sacrificing the above.

It is II sectional drawing in FIG. 4 of the front-end | tip part of the electronic radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope of the Example of this invention. 1 is a front view of a distal end portion of an electronic radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of the electronic radial scanning type ultrasonic endoscope of the Example of this invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2 of the electronic radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 4 of the distal end portion of the electronic radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 4 of the distal end portion of the electronic radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 tip body 2A body 2B tip nut 2a Endoscope member placement hole (constant diameter)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Observation window 4 Illumination window 5 Treatment tool protrusion 6 Objective optical system 9 Treatment tool insertion channel 10 Illumination light guide 11 Ultrasonic probe 11a Ultrasonic vibrator 12 Flexible substrate 14 Reinforcement flexible sheet 15 Heat shrinkable tube 16 Substrate Passage hole 20 Balloon 24 Supply / drainage hole 25 Communication hole 26 Balloon expansion tube (Balloon expansion conduit)
27 Balloon contraction tube (balloon contraction conduit)

Claims (1)

An objective optical system, an illumination light guide, and a treatment instrument insertion channel for performing optical observation in front of the distal end body within a certain diameter around the axis of the distal end body disposed at the most distal portion of the insertion section, And an ultrasonic probe in which a large number of ultrasonic transducers for electronic radial scanning are arranged around the axis is disposed in a range outside the certain diameter of the tip body. In the distal end portion of the electronic radial scanning ultrasonic endoscope in which a balloon that can be expanded and contracted to surround the acoustic probe is attached to the distal end body,
The plurality of ultrasonic transducers are evenly arranged on the entire circumference around the axis of the tip end body so that the circumference of the axis of the tip end body can be ultrasonically scanned over the entire 360 ° circumference, A plurality of flexible substrates for transmitting signals input / output to / from each ultrasonic transducer are distributed and arranged around the axis of the tip body, and drawn from the ultrasonic probe into the insertion portion behind the ultrasonic probe. A balloon expansion conduit for feeding fluid into the balloon and a balloon contraction conduit for discharging fluid from the balloon are separately provided and opened in the balloon at a position behind the ultrasonic probe. The balloon expansion conduit and the balloon contraction conduit are each in a range outside the predetermined diameter of the tip body. Tip of the electronic radial scan type ultrasonic endoscope, characterized in that arranged in different gap section between Rekishiburu substrate.

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