JPH0439333B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an intrabody cavity ultrasonic diagnostic device provided at the tip of a body insertion part, and in particular, a discharge conduit communicating with the inside of a balloon and a suction line for suctioning dirt in the body cavity. The present invention relates to a pipe switching device for selectively connecting a pipe to a suction source.

"Prior art and its problems" FIGS. 5 and 6 show a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this type. The internal insertion part 11 of the endoscope is
It consists of a flexible part 12 and a curved part 13, and an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver part 20 is provided at the tip of the curved part 13. The ultrasonic transmitter/receiver 20 includes a mounting part 21 provided at the tip of the curved part 13, a cover 23 fixed to the mounting part 21 via a connecting ring 22,
A balloon 24 is attached to the outer periphery of the cover 23 from the attachment part 21, and an ultrasonic oscillator 25 is located inside the cover 23. This ultrasonic oscillator 25 is fixed to the tip of a flexible shaft 26 that is rotationally driven by a drive system (not shown). cover 23
The side periphery of is an ultrasonic transmitting section 27, and the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic oscillator 25 are transmitted to this ultrasonic transmitting section 27 via the ultrasonic medium liquid sealed in the cover 23. communicated.

On the outer periphery of the mounting part 21 and the cover 23,
Balloon mounting grooves 28 and 29 are formed in the mounting portion 21, and the balloon mounting grooves 28 and 29 are further formed in the mounting portion 21.
A supply/discharge groove 30 is formed at an inner position of 29. A supply section 32 and a discharge channel 33 are open at the bottom of the supply/discharge groove 30, and the supply channel 32 is connected to the liquid supply port of the operation section 14 via a supply conduit 34 passing through the interior of the body insertion section 11. It is connected to 15. Also, the discharge path 33 is a discharge pipe 3 that also passes through the inside of the body insertion section 11.
5, and this discharge pipe line 35 is connected to a pipe line switching device 40 of the operating section 14.

The balloon 24 is made of a stretchable elastic material such as rubber and has a cylindrical shape, and annular parts 37 and 38 having a spherical cross section are integrally provided at both ends thereof. The annular portions 37 and 38 can expand and contract due to their elasticity, and the balloon mounting grooves 28 and 2
9 is fitted.

The intracorporeal insertion section 11 includes this ultrasonic transmitting and receiving section 20.
A suction port 41 opens diagonally above the
This suction port 41 is connected to the pipe switching device 40 via a suction pipe 42 that also passes inside the body insertion section 11 . The pipe switching device 40 selects between the suction pipe 42 and the discharge pipe 35 and connects it to a common suction pipe 44 connected to the suction pump 43. In the conventional example shown in FIG. 6, a three-way switching valve is used. It starts from 45. In this three-way switching valve 45, when the valve body 47 is rotated via the switching lever 46, the common suction path 44 communicates with the discharge pipe 35 or the suction pipe 42.

A suction operation button 50 is further provided between the common suction path 44 and the suction pump 43, and the common suction path 44 communicates with the suction pump 43 only when this suction operation button 50 is pressed. The suction operation button 50 is made of an elastic material and is movably fitted into the cylinder 51.
1 includes a suction pipe 52 connected to the suction pump 43.
and the common suction path 44 are connected. The suction operation button 50 normally causes the valve portion 53 to come into contact with the valve seat 54 due to its elasticity, thereby cutting off communication between the suction pipe 52 and the common suction path 44, but when pressed, the two communicate with each other. 55 is the suction pipe 5
2 is a leak hole that communicates with the outside when the common suction path 44 is out of communication, and when the suction operation button 50 is pressed, the valve seat 56 and the valve seat 57 come into contact, and the leak hole is closed.

To briefly explain other elements of the endoscope shown in FIG. and a pipe switching device 40 are provided.

In addition to the suction operation button 50, the main operation section 16 includes an eyepiece device 60, an operation section 61 for the bending section 13,
An air/water supply button 62 is provided, and a light guide cable 64 and an electric cable 65 are further connected. A connector 66 of the light guide cable 64 is connected to a lighting device (not shown), and light from this lighting device is guided to an illumination window 68 (FIG. 6) at the distal end of the body insertion portion 11 through a well-known light guide. Further, the connector 67 of the electric cable 65 is connected to a power supply device (not shown), and the power supply device drives the flexible shaft 26 via a drive device in the sub-operation section 16, thereby operating the ultrasonic oscillator 25. Inside the operating section 14 and the internal insertion section 11,
An image fiber is inserted to optically connect an observation window 69 (FIG. 6) at the distal end of the body insertion section 11 and the eyepiece 60, and an image inside the body cavity can be observed through the eyepiece 60.

In the conventional apparatus described above, during ultrasonic diagnosis, the balloon 24 is attached from the attachment part 21 to the cover 23, and the balloon 24 is filled with an ultrasonic transmission medium liquid such as water or oil. At the time of filling, for example, a liquid feeding cylinder is connected to the liquid feeding port 15 of the operating section 14 to supply the liquid to the supply line 34, while the discharge line 35 is connected to the line switching device 40 and the suction operation button 50. The balloon 24 is connected to a suction pump 43 through the air supply, and the inside of the balloon 24 is filled with liquid while discharging the gas inside the balloon 24 to the outside through the supply/drain groove 30. When this setting is completed, the side surface of the balloon 24 is brought into contact with the inner wall of the body cavity, and the ultrasonic oscillator 25 and flexible shaft 26
When activated, the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic oscillator 25 is transmitted to the inner wall of the body cavity via the transmission medium liquid in the cover 23 and the balloon 24, and the ultrasonic wave reflected within the inner wall of the body cavity is transmitted to the ultrasonic oscillator 25 again. A tomographic image of the inner wall of the body cavity can be obtained by capturing the image.

After the test is completed, the discharge pipe 35 is communicated with the suction pump 43 via the pipe switching device 40 and the suction operation button 50, and the transfer liquid in the balloon 24 is removed by suction.

Also, during or before and after this ultrasound diagnosis,
When suctioning filth inside the body cavity, use the pipe switching device 4.
0, the suction pipe line 42 is communicated with the suction pump 43, and when the suction operation button 50 is pressed in this state, dirt is suctioned and removed from the suction port 41.

By the way, the suction port 41 and the suction pipe line 42 are
In addition to suctioning and removing dirt, it is also used for inserting forceps, but in the conventional device described above, if the forceps insertion port communicating with the suction pipe 42 is provided at a position rearward from the pipe switching device 40, it is possible to insert the forceps. There is an operational problem in that the pipe switching device 40 cannot switch pipes. This problem can be solved by providing the forceps insertion port closer to the body insertion part than the conduit switching device 40, but this will increase the length of the operating part 14. In addition, if the discharge pipe line 35 and the suction pipe line 42 are clogged, a brush can be inserted into the suction pipe line 42 side to scrub and clean it.
A brush cannot be inserted into the 5 side.

FIG. 7 shows another conventional example of the pipe switching device 40, in which a straight discharge pipe 35 and a suction pipe 42 are connected to each other.
Branch pipes 35a and 42a are provided respectively in the branch pipes 35a and 42a, and the branch pipes 35a and 42a and the common suction path 44 are connected to the cylinder 70. A control cylinder 71 inserted into the cylinder 70 connects the common suction path 44 to the branch pipe 35a and the branch pipe. 42a is selectively communicated with. That is, the control cylinder 71 is normally located at the protruding end due to the force of the compression spring 72, and its wall surface cuts off communication between the common suction path 44, the branch pipe 35a, and the branch pipe 42a. If you press down against the force of the compression spring 72 while closing the end with your finger, the communication hole 73 in the wall will connect to the common suction path 4.
4 is made to communicate with the branch pipe 35a, and when it is rotated while being pushed down, the communication hole 74 makes the common suction path 44 and the branch pipe 42a communicate with each other.

According to this conventional device, it is possible to switch the pipes during forceps insertion and insert the abrasion brush into the discharge pipe 35 and the suction pipe 42, but the operation of the control cylinder 71 is a combination of pressing and rotation. Therefore, erroneous operations are likely to occur. Furthermore, all of the conventional pipe line switching devices 40 described above require rocking or rotating operations, and therefore have a problem of poor operability.

``Object of the Invention'' The present invention solves these problems of conventional ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, allows switching between the suction line and the discharge line with just a pressing operation, and also allows switching of the line while inserting forceps. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device equipped with a pipe switching device capable of inserting a scrubbing brush into both suction and discharge pipes.

"Summary of the Invention" The present invention comprises a pipe switching device including a cylinder and a pipe switching piston movably inserted into the cylinder.
The suction line, the discharge line, and the common suction line connected to the suction source are communicated with each other, and by pressing the line switching piston, one of the suction and discharge lines is selected and communicated with the suction source. The cylinder is further characterized in that an insertion pipe is connected to the cylinder, which is smoothly connected to each of the suction pipe line and the discharge pipe line, and into which an insert body can be inserted into the pipe from outside the cylinder.

"Embodiments of the Invention" The present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention, and the same elements as those of the conventional device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are given the same reference numerals. The feature of the present invention lies in the pipe switching device 40, and other parts are the same as the conventional device. The pipe switching device 40 includes a cylinder 80,
A pipe switching piston 81 is fitted into the cylinder 80 so as to be movable back and forth, and the pipe switching piston 81 is provided with a communicating annular groove 82 and lands 83 located on both sides of the communicating annular groove 82. 84 is an O-ring fitted into the land 83. The pipe switching piston 81 is prevented from coming off by a stopper ring 85 screwed onto one end of the cylinder 80, and a pressure knob 86 is screwed and fixed to the end protruding from the stopper ring 85. A compression spring 87 is inserted between the pressure knob 86 and the stopper ring 85, and urges the pipe switching piston 81 in the direction of protruding from the cylinder 80.

The cylinder 80 is connected to the discharge pipe 35, the suction pipe 42, and the common suction pipe 44, respectively. The common suction path 44 is orthogonal to the cylinder 80 and connected thereto, but the discharge pipe 35
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the suction pipe 42 is smoothly wound around a part of the outer circumference of the cylinder 80,
The cylinder 8
It communicates with the inside of 0. When the piping switching piston 81 is protruded by the compression spring 87, the communication hole 88 opens at a position where it is closed by the land 83, and the communication hole 89 and the common suction path 44
At the same position of the pipe switching piston 81,
It opens at a position communicating with the communicating annular groove 82.
This communication hole 89 is connected to the pipe switching piston 81.
When it is pushed in against the force of the compression spring 87, it is closed by the land 83, and at this time, the communication hole 88 communicates with the communication annular groove 82. The common suction path 44 is always in communication with the communicating annular groove 82 regardless of the position of the pipe switching piston 81.

Insertion pipes 90 and 91 are further connected to the cylinder 80 so as to be smoothly continuous with the discharge pipe line 35 and the suction pipe line 42, respectively. Discharge pipe 35
If the insertion tube 90 on the side is called a brush insertion tube and the insertion tube 91 on the suction line 42 side is called a forceps insertion tube, the tip of the brush insertion tube 90 is provided with a brush insertion mouthpiece 92 and its opening/closing stopper 93, and the forceps A Luer mouthpiece 94 and a forceps stopper 95 thereof are provided at the tip of the insertion tube 91.

The relationship between the discharge pipe 35 and the brush insertion pipe 90, and the suction pipe 42 and the forceps insertion pipe 91 is established by winding two pipes around the cylinder 80 and making a hole in a part of both pipes to connect the inside of the cylinder 80. It can also be expressed as communicating. Note that 96 is an air vent hole bored in the shaft portion of the pipe switching piston 81.

Therefore, in this device having the above configuration, when no operating force is applied to the pipe switching device 40 and the suction operation button 50, the suction pipe line 42 and the common suction passage 44 communicate with each other, but the suction operation button 50 is connected to the common suction Road 44
Since the communication between the suction pump 43 and the suction pump 43 is cut off, no suction force acts on the suction pipe line 42. Of course, the suction force does not act on the discharge pipe 35 whose communication with the common suction passage 44 is cut off by the land 83 of the pipe switching piston 81. In this state, when the suction operation button 50 is pressed, the valve portion 53 separates from the valve seat 54, so that the common suction path 44 is connected to the suction pump 43.
The suction force is applied to the suction pipe line 42. Therefore, the filth in the body cavity can be suctioned through the suction port 41.

Next, when the pressure knob 86 of the conduit switching device 40 is pressed with the suction operation button 50 released, the land 83 closes the communication hole 89 and cuts off the communication between the suction conduit 42 and the common suction path 44. This time, the communication annular groove 82 opens the communication hole 88 to allow the discharge pipe line 35 and the common suction line 44 to communicate with each other. Therefore, when the suction operation button 50 is pressed in this state, that is, when both the pipe line switching device 40 and the suction operation button 50 are pressed, the suction force of the suction pump 43 acts on the discharge pipe line 35 side. Therefore, when filling the balloon 24 of the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver 20 with liquid, the air inside the balloon 24 can be exhausted and the liquid filled inside the balloon 24 can be removed by suction.

Furthermore, when inserting forceps or a scraping brush into the suction pipe 42 or when inserting a scraping brush into the discharge pipe 35, the forceps plug 95 or opening/closing plug 93 is removed, and the forceps insertion pipe 91 and brush insertion pipe 90 are removed.
You can insert forceps or a brush through it. That is, the forceps enter from the forceps insertion tube 91 into the suction conduit 42 smoothly connected thereto, and the brush
From the brush insertion tube 90 it enters the discharge line 35 which is also smoothly connected thereto. The forceps or brush can be inserted regardless of the position of the line switching piston 81, so the line can be switched while the forceps are being inserted, or the brush can be used for scrubbing and cleaning while the gas or liquid inside the balloon 24 is being sucked. can be carried out freely. Further, as long as the forceps plug 95 is closed, suction can be performed from the suction conduit 42 even when the opening/closing plug 93 is opened and a brush is inserted.

"Effects of the Invention" As described above, the device of the present invention selectively connects the discharge pipe that communicates with the inside of the balloon covering the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver and the suction pipe that is capable of suctioning dirt in the body cavity to the suction source. Since the conduit switching device is composed of a cylinder and a piston, the conduit can be switched with a one-touch pressing operation. The cylinder is equipped with insertion pipes that smoothly communicate with the discharge pipe and the suction pipe, so if both pipes become clogged, a brush can be inserted to easily scrub and clean them. Furthermore, since the forceps can be inserted into the suction channel regardless of the switching position of the channel switching device, the channel can be switched while the forceps are being inserted.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing an embodiment of the ultrasonic diagnostic device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the entire endoscope device, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are taken along the - line in FIG. 1. ,−
5 is a front view of the entire conventional endoscope equipped with an ultrasound diagnostic device, and FIG. 6 is a main part corresponding to FIG. 1 showing an example of a conventional ultrasound diagnostic device. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of another example of a conventional pipe switching device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... In-body insertion part, 20... Ultrasonic transmitter/receiver part, 24... Balloon, 25... Ultrasonic oscillator,
35...Discharge pipe, 40...Pipe switching device, 41
...Suction port, 42...Suction pipe line, 43...Suction pump, 44...Common suction path, 50...Suction operation button, 80...Cylinder, 81...Pipe line switching piston, 82...Communicating annular shape Groove, 83...Land, 8
6...Press ring, 87...Compression spring, 88,8
9...Communication hole, 90...Brush insertion tube, 91...
Forceps insertion tube, 93...opening/closing stopper, 95...forceps stopper.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A suction conduit capable of aspirating dirt in the body cavity and a discharge conduit communicating with the balloon of the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving unit are opened at the distal end of the body insertion part of the endoscope, and the endoscope is operated by In an intrabody cavity ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided with a pipe line switching device for selectively connecting the suction pipe line and the discharge pipe line to the suction source, the pipe line switching apparatus is connected to a cylinder and inside the cylinder. It is composed of a movably inserted pipe switching piston, and the cylinder of the pipe switching device is connected to the suction pipe and the discharge pipe, as well as the common suction pipe connected to the suction source, and the cylinder is connected to the cylinder of the pipe switching device. 1. An intrabody cavity ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, characterized in that an insertion tube is connected to a suction conduit and a discharge conduit, each of which smoothly communicates with the other, and into which an insert body can be inserted from outside the cylinder. 2. In claim 1, the pipe line switching piston is urged to move in one direction by a spring means, communicates the suction pipe line with the common suction line at its moving end, and resists the spring means. When you move the
An intrabody cavity ultrasonic diagnostic device that communicates the drainage pipe and common suction channel. 3. In claim 1 or 2, a suction operation button is provided between the common suction path and the suction source, which normally cuts off communication between the two and allows communication between the two when pressed. Intrabody ultrasound diagnostic device.