JPH074375B2 - Ultrasound endoscope - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an ultrasonic endoscope for observing ultrasonic waves by incorporating an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in an insertion portion.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an ultrasonic endoscope in which an ultrasonic transducer that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves is incorporated in a distal end constituent portion of an insertion portion and an ultrasonic wave is observed. An ultrasonic endoscope of this type is, for example, Shoukaisho 57.
No. 26207, a concave portion for mounting an ultrasonic transducer is formed in the main body of the tip forming portion, and an optical fiber bundle such as an image guide of an observation optical system or a light guide of an illumination optical system is inserted through the body. Insertion holes are formed respectively. Then, the ultrasonic transducer is fixed to a concave portion for mounting the ultrasonic transducer by using an adhesive or the like, and the optical fiber bundle is fixed by using an adhesive or the like while being inserted into the insertion hole. That is, the ultrasonic transducer, the optical fiber bundle, and the like are fixed to the main body of the tip forming portion.

Also, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 55-96132, there is one that is detachable by using an electrical connecting means such as a connector at the tip of the tip forming portion.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, many signal cables are connected to the ultrasonic transducer. Further, various members such as an air / water supply tube and a suction tube are inserted in the insertion portion of the endoscope together with the optical fiber bundles for the observation optical system and the illumination optical system. Therefore, when the signal cable of the ultrasonic transducer is inserted into the insertion portion of the endoscope, the space inside the insertion portion becomes significantly small, and as a result, when the insertion portion bends during use of the endoscope, However, the optical fiber bundle, the various pipes, the signal cable of the ultrasonic transducer, and the like arranged in the insertion portion interfere with each other, so that the optical fiber bundle is easily broken.

In the conventional configuration, the ultrasonic transducer, optical fiber bundle, etc. are fixed to the body of the tip configuration part, so if the optical fiber bundle of the observing optical system is damaged, it will normally work together with the damaged optical fiber bundle. The expensive ultrasonic transducer that operates must also be replaced together, which causes a problem of high cost.

In addition, a detachable ultrasonic transducer requires reliable electrical continuity using a connector, etc., which complicates the structure inside the tip structure and makes it difficult to miniaturize it. It was

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is not to complicate the structure of the insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope, and to prevent the broken optical fiber when the optical fiber bundle is broken. Sometimes only the fiber bundle can be replaced and may be economically repairable.

[Means and Actions for Solving Problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an optical system in which an opening is provided in a side surface portion of a distal end constituent body of an insertion portion, which is behind the ultrasonic transducer mounting portion, and an optical fiber bundle is connected to the opening. It is an ultrasonic endoscope in which a holder is detachably fitted and mounted.

When a component such as an optical fiber bundle connected to the optical system holder is damaged, the optical system holder can be removed, and this can be independently separated from the tip forming portion, and the damaged component can be replaced.

〔Example〕

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a distal end constituent portion 1 of an insertion portion in an ultrasonic endoscope. An electronic sector scanning type ultrasonic transducer 3 which is located on the tip side and is directed to the side is embedded and fixed to the hard body 2 of the tip forming portion 1. 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. A groove-shaped mouth portion 5 is formed inside the balloon 4, and a water supply tube 6 and a suction tube 7 are formed in the mouth portion 5.
Are connected. Then, by supplying water from the water supply tube 6 and the suction tube 7 to the inside of the balloon 4 through the mouth portion 5, the balloon 4 is inflated. Also,
By sucking the water inside the balloon 4 from the suction tube 7 through the mouth portion 5, the balloon 4 is deflated. The water supply tube 6 and the suction tube 7 are guided to the hand side through the insertion portion.

A slope portion 8 that is inclined toward the ultrasonic scanning range H side of the ultrasonic transducer 3 is formed at a portion closer to the hand than the installation position of the ultrasonic transducer 3. The outer wall surface of the inclined surface portion 8 is inclined at an angle of 45 ° with respect to the long axis of the insertion portion. In addition, an opening 10 is formed in the wall of the inclined surface portion 8 for detachably fitting and mounting the optical system holder 9. The optical system holder 9 has a collar 11 formed on the outer peripheral edge thereof, and the collar 11 has a large diameter stepped portion 12 formed on the outer peripheral edge of the opening 10.
The optical system holder 9 is tightly fitted into the opening 10. The outer surface of the optical system holder 9 coincides with the outer wall surface of the inclined surface portion 8. Further, an O-ring 14 as a sealing member fitted in a groove 13 formed in the inner peripheral surface of the opening 10 seals the optical system holder 9 and the opening 10 in a gas-tight and water-tight manner. . Further, the optical system holder 9 is fixed by fastening the collar 11 to the wall portion of the inclined surface portion 8 by a locking member 17 composed of a large screw 16 of the head 15. That is, the locking members 17 are provided at two positions on the left side and the upper side as shown in FIG. 2, and as shown in FIG.
The head 15 holds the collar 13 of the optical system holder 9 to fix the optical system holder 9.

The optical system holder 9 includes an objective lens 18 and illumination lenses 19,1.
9, a forceps port 20 and a nozzle 21 facing the outer surface of the objective lens 18 are provided. Further, the optical system holder 9 has an image guide optical fiber bundle 22 optically connected to the objective lens 18, and two light guides optically connected to the illumination lenses 19 and 19, respectively. The optical fiber bundles 23, 23 are attached and fixed. Further, a connection tube 24 communicating with the forceps port 20 is attached to the optical system holder 9, and a tube 25 communicating with the nozzle 21 is connected. A channel tube 26 is connected to the connection tube 24. In other words, optical fiber bundle 2 for image guide
2, the light guide optical fiber bundles 23, 23, the connecting tube 24, the tube 25 and the channel tube 26 are all attached to the optical system holder 9, and if the optical system holder 9 is removed, these It can be removed together.
Further, each of these members is guided to the hand side through the insertion portion of the endoscope. The image guide optical fiber bundle 22 is connected to the eyepiece section in the hand-side operation section. Further, the two optical fiber bundles 23, 23 for light guide reach the connector portion through the hand operation portion and the universal cord. The same applies to the tube 25 that communicates with the nozzle 21. Furthermore, the channel tube 26 is connected to the forceps port of the hand-held operation unit.

On the other hand, the electric cable 27 led out from the ultrasonic transducer 3
Is also guided to the operator's side through the insertion portion of the endoscope and is also connected to the connector portion through the operator's operation portion and the universal cord.

Therefore, when either or both of the image guide optical fiber bundle 22 and the light guide optical fiber bundle 23, 23 in the endoscope having the above-mentioned configuration are damaged, the locking members 17 are provided.
Is removed, the optical system holder 9 is removed from the opening 10 and is pulled out of the main body 2 of the tip forming portion 1. Thereby, the optical fiber bundle 22 for the image guide and the optical fiber bundles 23, 23 for the light guide are integrally pulled out. Then, replace the damaged parts with new ones. What to replace is optical fiber bundle 22 for image guide and optical fiber bundle 2 for light guide
Not limited to 3,23.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment uses an electronic linear scanning type ultrasonic transducer 3,
Further, the optical observation direction is side view. Other than this, it is the same as that of the above embodiment.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and includes, for example, those in which the scanning direction of the ultrasonic transducer faces the tip side, those without a groove for mounting a balloon, and the like. Further, the scanning system is not limited to the electronic system, and various modifications such as a mechanical scanning system can be implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily replace only the optical fiber bundle when the optical fiber bundle such as the image guide is damaged, without providing a complicated electrical connecting means in the tip forming portion. Moreover, the cost at the time of repair can be reduced. Further, since the observation system block and the ultrasonic transducer system block can be separately assembled at the time of assembling the ultrasonic endoscope, the assembling property is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the distal end forming portion of the ultrasonic endoscope of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is the optical view of the distal end forming portion of the ultrasonic endoscope of the first embodiment. A front view of the observation end face, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view in the vicinity of the distal end configuration portion of the ultrasonic endoscope of the second embodiment of the present invention. . 1 ... Tip component, 2 ... Main body, 3 ... Ultrasonic transducer,
9 ... Optical holder, 10 ... Opening, 17 ... Locking member, 2
2,23 …… Optical fiber bundle.

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim: What is claimed is: 1. An optical device comprising an opening provided in a side surface portion of a distal end constituent body of an insertion portion, the side surface portion being behind the ultrasonic transducer mounting portion, and an optical fiber bundle connected by being detachably fitted into the opening portion. An ultrasonic endoscope comprising a system holder. 2. A locking member for fixing the optical system holder to the body of the tip end portion, and a seal member for airtightly and watertightly holding between the opening and the optical system holder. The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 1, which is characterized.