JP3655807B2 - Ultrasound endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic endoscope in which an ultrasonic probe and an objective optical system for optical observation are provided at the tip of an insertion portion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an ultrasonic endoscope, a signal transmission member for transmitting a signal input / output to / from the ultrasonic probe needs to be inserted and arranged in the insertion portion. Generally, a signal obtained by binding a large number of signal lines into one. A cable is used as a signal transmission member.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the signal cable occupies a large cross section in the insertion part, it restricts the arrangement of other built-in objects, especially in the adjacent part (curved part) at the tip of the insertion part where the degree of freedom of arrangement is small. Therefore, the diameter of the portion becomes thick and the insertion property into the body cavity is deteriorated, and the pain given to the patient into which the ultrasonic endoscope is inserted is larger than that of a normal endoscope.
[0004]
In view of this, the present invention can effectively insert an internal space in the vicinity of the distal end of the insertion portion to insert and arrange the signal transmission member, and can improve the insertability by reducing the outer diameter of the insertion portion. An object is to provide an endoscope.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, an ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention has a bending portion that is bent by remote operation connected to a distal end of a flexible tube portion that forms an insertion portion, and transmits and receives an ultrasonic signal. In an ultrasonic endoscope in which an ultrasonic probe and an objective optical system for performing optical observation are arranged on the tip side from the curved portion, a signal transmission member for transmitting signals input to and output from the ultrasonic probe A plurality of flexible boards are connected to the ultrasonic probe, and the plurality of flexible boards are passed through the bending portion and connected to the signal cable at positions different in the longitudinal direction in the flexible tube portion.
[0006]
A plurality of flexible boards may be arranged in the shape of an arc surrounding other built-in objects in the bending portion.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 shows an ultrasonic endoscope. A bending portion 2 that is bent by remote operation is connected to a distal end of a flexible tube portion 1 that is inserted into a body cavity, and is connected to a distal end of the bending portion 2. An ultrasonic probe 4 is attached to the distal end body 3. Reference numeral 100 denotes an inflatable balloon that is detachably provided so as to surround the ultrasonic probe 4.
[0008]
A bending portion operation knob 6 for bending the bending portion 2 is disposed on the operation portion 5 connected to the base end of the flexible tube portion 1. Reference numeral 7 denotes a treatment instrument insertion port for inserting a treatment instrument into the treatment instrument insertion channel 15 inserted and arranged in the flexible tube portion 1.
[0009]
A video signal connector portion 81 connected to a video processor (not shown) and a light guide connector portion 82 are provided side by side at the tip of the first connecting flexible tube 8 connected to the operation portion 5. An ultrasonic signal connector portion 91 connected to an ultrasonic signal processing device (not shown) is provided at the tip of the connecting flexible tube 9.
[0010]
FIG. 1 shows the distal end portion of the insertion portion. As shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic probe 4 has an ultrasonic transducer array portion 41 formed in a substantially annular shape made of plastic. The receiving member 42 is held and integrated.
[0011]
Then, as shown in FIG. 4 illustrating the IV-IV cross section, ultrasonic waves are generated from an ultrasonic transducer array portion 41 in which a large number of ultrasonic transducers are arranged around the axis in a range of, for example, 270 ° around the axis. Signals are transmitted and received in sequence (electronic scanning), and radial scanning is performed in a direction perpendicular to the axis.
[0012]
The inner space of the ultrasonic transducer array portion 41 is formed in a cylindrical hole shape centered on the axis, and the ultrasonic transducer array is disposed at the rear end portion (upper in FIG. 3) of the ultrasonic transducer array portion 41. A flexible substrate 43 provided with wiring for transmitting signals input to and output from the portion 41 is connected and extends rearward.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 5 illustrating a VV cross section, the flexible substrate 43 is provided with a plurality of (for example, eight) flexible substrates 43 arranged in an arc around the axis of the ultrasonic probe 4.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 5, the flexible substrate 43 is arranged in an arc shape within a range of about 270 °, for example, and the flexible substrate 43 that is an extension of the arc in which the flexible substrate 43 is arranged is arranged. A groove 44 for fitting a rotation stopper member 13 to be described later is formed in a portion that is not present.
[0015]
Returning to FIG. 3, a centering fitting portion 46 that fits with a centering fitting portion 32 of the distal end portion main body 3 to be described later has an outer peripheral surface (tip portion) with high dimensional accuracy at the rear end portion of the receiving member 42. It is formed concentrically with the boundary portion outer peripheral surface 45) adjacent to the outer surface of the main body 3. A circumferential groove 11 is formed in the distal end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member 42 for band-stopping the distal end portion of the balloon 100 that can be expanded and contracted.
[0016]
Returning to FIG. 1 again, the tip body 3 formed of a plastic material or the like has an ultrasonic transducer array portion of the ultrasonic probe 4 in the front half 33 as shown in FIG. 41 is thinly dimensioned to be fitted into the inner peripheral surface 41a of 41. The boundary outer peripheral surface 31 adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of the ultrasonic probe 4 is formed to have the same dimensions as the boundary outer peripheral surface 45 of the ultrasonic probe 4.
[0017]
A centering fitting portion 32 that fits with a centering fitting portion 46 of the ultrasonic probe 4 is formed on the front side portion of the boundary portion outer peripheral surface 31 of the distal end body 3 with the same size as the boundary portion outer peripheral surface 31 with high dimensional accuracy. It is formed on the core. In addition, a circumferential groove 12 for banding the rear end portion of the balloon 100 is formed at the rear end of the outer peripheral surface.
[0018]
An objective placement hole 34a, an illumination light guide placement hole 34b, and a treatment instrument passage hole 35 are formed in a direction parallel to the axis line in a portion closer to the front half portion 33 of the distal end portion body 3, and a rear portion thereof. A built-in passage hole 36 having an inner diameter slightly thinner than the outer diameter of the front half portion 33 is formed to the rear end.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 7 illustrating the VII-VII cross section, the flexible substrate 43 is passed through the rear half of the tip body 3 substantially on the extended position of the outer peripheral surface of the front half 33. The flexible substrate passage hole 37 is formed in an arc shape around the axis line in accordance with the arrangement position of the flexible substrate 43.
[0020]
However, in the vicinity of the rear end portion of the front end portion main body 3, as shown in FIG. The tip portion main body 3 has a strength that is not crushed by an external force.
[0021]
Returning to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the flexible substrate passage hole 37 is formed in an arc shape in a range of about 280 °, and the portion where the flexible substrate passage hole 37 is not formed is formed on the balloon 100. A liquid flow path 38 for injecting and draining deaerated water is formed in a direction parallel to the axis, and communicates with a balloon communication opening 38 a that opens in the balloon 100.
[0022]
Two liquid flow paths 38 are formed in parallel, and one of them is for exhaust. The liquid flow path 38 does not originally appear in FIG. 6 (and FIG. 1), but is also illustrated in FIG. 6 (and FIG. 1) for easy explanation. Reference numeral 39 denotes a groove for fitting the rotation preventing member 13 therein.
[0023]
Returning to FIG. 1, the ultrasonic probe 4 fitted to the front half 33 of the tip body 3 is engaged by a nut member 10 that is screwed into a male screw formed on the outer periphery of the tip portion of the tip body 3. Further, it is fixed to the intermediate step surface of the tip body 3 by pressing.
[0024]
9, the rectangular parallelepiped anti-rotation member 13 is fitted over the groove 44 of the ultrasonic probe 4 and the groove 39 of the distal end portion body 3, as shown in FIG. The positioning of the main part 3 and the ultrasonic probe 4 in the rotational direction is regulated. Thereby, the relationship between the ultrasonic scanning direction and the direction of the observation field is set correctly. Reference numeral 17 denotes a light guide fiber for illumination.
[0025]
Returning to FIG. 1 again, in a state where the ultrasonic probe 4 is fixed to the distal end main body 3, the front half 33 of the distal end main body 3 and the inner peripheral surface 41 a of the ultrasonic transducer array 41 are fitted. Then, the centering fitting part 32 of the tip body 3 and the centering fitting part 46 of the ultrasonic probe 4 are fitted, but the gap of the former fitting part is formed larger than the gap of the latter fitting part. Has been.
[0026]
As a result, there is almost no step in the joint portion between the outer peripheral surfaces 31 and 45 of the boundary portion between the tip body 3 and the ultrasonic probe 4 exposed on the surface among the joint portion between the tip body 3 and the ultrasonic probe 4, A tip portion with good insertability for the patient is formed.
[0027]
In the objective arrangement hole 34, the objective optical system 14a is arranged at the front side portion, the solid-state imaging device 14b is arranged behind the objective optical system 14a, and a signal cable 14c for transmitting an imaging signal or the like is provided in the built-in object passage hole 36. And extends into the rear curved portion 2. The treatment instrument insertion hole 15 is connected to the treatment instrument passage hole 35 via a stainless steel pipe.
[0028]
A flexible piping tube 16 is connected to each of the two liquid flow paths 38, and both ends are fixed to the circumferential grooves 11, 12 in the balloon 100 from the operation unit 5 side via the piping tube 16. The deaerated water can be taken in and out, and the balloon 100 can be expanded and contracted.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible substrate 43 that transmits a signal input to and output from the ultrasonic transducer array portion 41 passes through the flexible substrate passage hole 37 formed in the distal end portion main body 3, and the rear curved portion 2. Have been passed in.
[0030]
In the latter half portion of the flexible substrate passage hole 37, as shown in FIG. 10, in order to avoid interference with the connecting portion 37a, the adjacent flexible substrates 43 are arranged so as to overlap each other, and the rear curved portion 2 is arranged. Have been passed in.
[0031]
In the bending portion 2, all signals input to and output from the ultrasonic transducer array portion 41 are transmitted by wiring formed on the thin flexible substrate 43. Therefore, there is no need to insert a signal cable into the bending portion 2.
[0032]
The flexible substrate 43 is arranged in an arc shape surrounding various built-in objects such as the signal cable 14c of the solid-state imaging device 14b, the treatment instrument insertion channel 15, and the light guide fiber 17. Therefore, various built-in objects are inserted and arranged in the bending portion 2 so that the internal space cannot be wasted, and the bending portion 2 can be formed thin.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 11, the flexible substrates 43 are formed to have different lengths, but even the shortest flexible substrate 43 is set to a length that passes through the curved portion 2, and the flexible tube portion The signal line 47a of the signal cable 47 inserted and disposed in 1 is connected to the distal end of the signal cable 47a in the longitudinal direction in the flexible tube portion 1 while being displaced in the longitudinal direction.
[0034]
The diameter of the connecting portion between the signal line 47a of the signal cable 47 and the flexible substrate 43 becomes thick due to soldering or the like, but by shifting the position in order, it is possible to avoid becoming locally thick as a whole. The flexible tube portion 1 and the curved portion 2 can be formed thin.
[0035]
FIG. 12 illustrates the connecting portion disposed in the flexible tube portion 1, and the distal end portion of the signal cable 47 in which a large number of signal lines 47 a are combined into one is connected in the flexible tube portion 1. Each signal line 47a is loosened in units of one signal line 47a and connected to one flexible substrate 43, and each of the signal lines 47a is bundled together by shrink-coating a flexible heat-shrinkable tube 48. ing. Such a configuration is effective in preventing disconnection of each signal line 47a.
[0036]
The end portions of the respective heat shrinkable tubes 48 are sequentially shifted in position. As a result, the flexibility of the flexible tube portion 1 does not change abruptly, and it is also possible to avoid the change in the overall diameter from becoming smooth and the diameter becoming thicker. And the flexible thick heat-shrinkable tube 49 is shrink-coated so that all the portions are bundled together.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a plurality of flexible boards can be connected to an ultrasonic probe as a signal transmission member for transmitting signals inputted to and outputted from the ultrasonic probe, and the plurality of flexible boards can be passed through the bending portion. By connecting to the signal cable at a position that differs in the longitudinal direction in the flexible tube portion, the signal transmission member can be inserted and arranged effectively using the internal space near the distal end of the insertion portion, and the outer diameter of the insertion portion can be reduced. Insertability can be improved by increasing the diameter.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a distal end portion of an insertion portion of an ultrasonic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of an ultrasonic probe according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the distal end portion main body according to the embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a passing state of the flexible substrate according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a state of a rear end portion of the flexible substrate according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a side view of a connection portion between the flexible substrate and the signal cable according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flexible pipe part 2 Bending part 3 Tip part main body 4 Ultrasonic probe 43 Flexible board 47 Signal cable 47a Signal line 48 Heat contraction tube

Claims (2)

Is connected curved portion which is bent by remote control to the distal end of the flexible tube portion forming the insertion portion, an ultrasonic probe for emitting receive ultrasound signals and the objective optical system for performing optical observation the curved is disposed on the distal end side of the part from the part, in the ultrasonic endoscope in which a plurality of flexible substrates are connected to the ultrasonic probe as a signal transmission member for transmitting signals to be input to the ultrasonic probe,
The plurality of flexible boards are formed to have different lengths so that even the shortest flexible board is set to a length that passes through the curved portion, and is passed through the curved portion in a state surrounding other built-in objects. An ultrasonic endoscope characterized in that it is connected to a signal cable at a position different in the longitudinal direction in the flexible tube. A plurality of signal lines drawn from the signal cable and connected to the flexible boards are bundled together by covering and shrinking a heat-shrinkable tube for each of the plurality of signal lines connected to the flexible boards. 2. The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein all of the plurality of heat-shrinkable tubes that are sequentially displaced in a direction are bundled together at a position near the signal cable by a heat-shrinkable tube thicker than the heat-shrinkable tube. mirror.

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