JPH09108218A - Ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the whole length of a catheter from the base part to the tip part in its free state and smoothly insert it into a treatment device insertion channel by forming at least an intermediate part of the catheter into nonlinear state. SOLUTION: A catheter 11 drawn from an operation part is composed of a base end side linear part 11a, a coil part 11b, and a tip end side linear part 11c by forming a part of its flexible tube into a coil shape in molding. The base end side linear part 11a has the same length as the length from a clamp part of a clamp member 39 attached to the operation part 12 to a connector 25, the tip side linear part 11c is set to the length longer than the longest projecting length, when the tip part of the catheter 11 is made to project from the insertion part 3, and the whole length of the coil part 11b is shortened in its free state composed with that of the linear state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe which is inserted into a body cavity using an instrument insertion channel or the like of an endoscope as a guide means to perform ultrasonic scanning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic inspection apparatus for performing an ultrasonic inspection after being inserted into a body cavity has an operating section in which an inserting section into the body cavity is provided in series, and an ultrasonic transducer is provided at the tip of the inserting section. It is a thing. The insertion portion may be of a type that is directly inserted into the body cavity, or may be inserted into the body cavity through a guide means such as a treatment instrument insertion channel of the endoscope. An ultrasonic probe that is inserted into a body cavity using a guide means has a catheter that has a small diameter and is flexible so that it can be inserted into a treatment instrument insertion channel of an endoscope. Is connected to the operation unit.

The insertion portion of the endoscope is inserted up to the site in the body cavity to be inspected, the endoscopy is performed, and the site to be subjected to the ultrasonic examination is found based on the result of the endoscopy. Then, the catheter of the ultrasonic probe is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel from the treatment instrument introduction section provided in the main body operation section of the endoscope, and the tip of this catheter is moved by a predetermined length from the tip of the insertion section. Make it protrude. In this state, an ultrasonic examination is performed, but when acquiring information about internal tissue tomography over a predetermined range, the ultrasonic transducer is mechanically moved, and ultrasonic pulses are directed into the body at predetermined intervals during that time. Then, ultrasonic scanning is performed by transmitting and transmitting the reflected echo.

Here, as the ultrasonic scanning, linear scanning is performed by moving an ultrasonic transducer in a linear direction,
Radial scanning is performed by moving the ultrasonic transducer in the rotation direction. Linear scanning is performed by moving the entire catheter in the axial direction, and radial scanning is performed by rotating an ultrasonic transducer inside the catheter. Therefore, when performing linear scanning, the catheter is provided with rotation transmitting means for rotationally driving the ultrasonic transducer by remote control, although this is not always necessary when performing linear scanning. As a typical transmission means, a flexible shaft formed by winding a metal wire rod in the form of a close contact coil is used. An ultrasonic transducer is connected to the tip of the flexible shaft and mounted in a flexible tube whose tip is closed.

[0005]

Whether the linear scanning is performed or the radial scanning is performed, the catheter is made to protrude from the distal end of the insertion portion by a predetermined length, and the distal end of the catheter is subjected to the radial scanning. When doing this, it is necessary to fix it so that it does not move in the axial direction, and even when performing linear scanning, hold it stably so that it does not move too much in the axial direction in order to keep the scanning origin position constant. There is a need. For this reason, the operation portion is configured to be detachably connected to the treatment instrument lead-out portion. Therefore, the catheter is at least the length of the portion located in the main body operation portion, the length until it is withdrawn from the treatment instrument lead-out portion and connected to the operation portion, and the protrusion length from the distal end of the insertion portion,
It is longer than the entire length of the insertion part of the endoscope.

As described above, since the catheter of the ultrasonic probe is flexible and is formed of a long member, the distal end portion of the catheter, etc., should be placed on the floor or other equipment when carrying it. May come into contact with the catheter and contaminate the catheter. The ultrasonic probe is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel of the endoscope, and forceps and other treatment instruments are also inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel.
It may be necessary to insert the ultrasonic probe into the treatment instrument insertion channel and continue the examination after performing the ultrasonic examination, and to use a treatment instrument such as forceps as necessary. In this case, the ultrasonic probe is taken out from the treatment instrument insertion channel and the treatment instrument is inserted, but when the ultrasonic probe is taken out from the treatment instrument insertion channel, there is an extremely high possibility that the tip portion of the probe touches the floor surface, articles or the like. . Body fluid is attached to the tip of the catheter, and when the catheter touches another object, dirt is attached to the contact point, which is not preferable from a hygienic point of view. There is also a risk that the oscillator will be damaged. In particular, a cable that is detachably connected to the ultrasonic observation device is led out to the operation portion where the proximal end portion of the catheter is connected to the ultrasonic probe, and is therefore regulated by this cable. Therefore, it may not always be possible to carry the ultrasonic probe to a desired position. From the above, the ultrasonic probe requires extremely careful handling when carrying it as compared with a treatment tool or the like.

Further, when the catheter is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel, the catheter slides along the wall surface of the treatment instrument insertion channel, but the catheter is in line contact with or comes in contact with the wall surface of the treatment instrument insertion channel. Since it is fed in contact, the sliding resistance increases. Since the catheter is formed of a flexible member, if the sliding resistance is large, there is also a problem that the insertion operation into the treatment instrument insertion channel may be hindered.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its object is to reduce the total length from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion of the catheter in a free state in which it is not inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel. The purpose is to make the length short and to allow smooth insertion when inserting into the treatment instrument insertion channel.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is an ultrasonic probe in which a catheter connected to an operating portion is inserted into a body cavity through a guide means. Is designed so that a predetermined length from the connecting portion side to the operating portion is in a non-linear state, and the predetermined length of the tip portion is held in a linear state. That is the feature.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The outer diameter of the catheter is smaller than the inner diameter of the treatment instrument insertion channel, and thus the catheter may meander to some extent in the treatment instrument insertion channel. In addition, since the catheter has flexibility, even if it has a bending tendency, it does not cause any trouble in being inserted as a guide means, for example, in a treatment tool insertion channel of an endoscope. .

From the above, the catheter is made to have a habit. This habit is formed by, for example, winding in a coil shape or meandering in a zigzag shape. As a result, in the free state of the catheter, the total length from the connecting portion to the operating portion to the distal end portion is shortened. Since most of the catheters are located in the treatment instrument insertion channel, the habitual portion in the treatment instrument insertion channel is corrected to a substantially straight state,
Or at least the habit will be alleviated. However,
The distal end portion of the catheter is projected from the treatment instrument insertion channel, and if the portion has a habit, the catheter cannot be extended straight from the insertion portion. Therefore,
The tip portion of the catheter is straightened without giving a habit. The straight portion of the catheter is made to be somewhat longer than the length of the catheter protruding from the insertion portion.

When performing radial scanning with an ultrasonic transducer, the above-mentioned flexible shaft is provided as a rotation transmission means, and this flexible shaft is mounted in a flexible tube. When performing linear scanning, it is not always necessary to provide a flexible shaft, but a flexible shaft for adjusting the direction of the ultrasonic transducer can be provided. Therefore, the habit of catheter is
Although it can be performed on a flexible shaft, it is most preferable to form the flexible tube in a habitual state.

When the catheter is made non-linear, when it is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel, the catheter will meander in the treatment instrument insertion channel. Therefore, instead of making line contact with the inner wall of the treatment instrument insertion channel, point contact is made substantially at a plurality of locations, and the contact area is reduced. Therefore, the sliding resistance at the time of inserting the catheter is reduced, and the operability of insertion into the treatment instrument insertion channel is also improved.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an ultrasonic inspection apparatus, and FIG. 2 shows a cross section of an operating portion.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an endoscope, and the endoscope 1 is formed by connecting an insertion portion 3 to a distal end of a main body operation portion 2 which an operator holds and operates by hand. The insertion portion 3 has a flexible portion 3a from the proximal end side, and an angle portion 3b is connected to the flexible portion 3a, and a tip portion main body 3c is connected to the tip of the angle portion 3b. . Reference numeral 4 denotes a treatment instrument insertion channel through which forceps or other treatment instrument is inserted, and a proximal end portion of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 is connected to a treatment instrument introduction portion 5 provided in the main body operation unit 2 and is inserted. An opening is formed in the tip surface of the tip body 3c of the portion 3.

Reference numeral 10 denotes an ultrasonic probe, which is composed of a catheter 11 and a cable cord 13 which is detachably connected to an operating portion 12 and an ultrasonic observation device (not shown).

The catheter 11 is, as shown in FIG.
A flexible tube 20 having a closed tip is provided, and a rotary body 21 is arranged at a distal end portion in the flexible tube 20, and an ultrasonic transducer 22 is attached to the rotary body 21. A flexible shaft 23 is connected to the rotating body 21, and the flexible shaft 23 is made of a tubular member having flexibility in the bending direction, such as a close contact coil, and has good crush resistance. It is preferable to use a metal wire rod which is wound in multiple layers such as double wire or triple wire wire, or is wound in a multi-row in which a plurality of wire wires are arranged. The signal lines 24 a and 24 b drawn from the ultrasonic transducer 22 are inserted into the flexible shaft 23. The proximal end of the catheter 11 is a connector 25. That is, the fixed tube 25a is connected to the base end of the flexible tube 20, and the rotary tube 25b is connected to the tip of the flexible shaft 23.

The operating portion 12 has a casing 30, and a rotary shaft 31 is rotatably provided in the casing 30. The rotary shaft 31 is rotationally driven by a motor 32, and the rotary shaft 31 has The rotation is detected by the encoder 33. Therefore, in order to transmit the rotational force from the motor 32 to the rotary shaft 31 and to transmit the rotation of the rotary shaft 31 to the encoder 33, there are provided transmission means each including a pulley and a belt. In order to connect the catheter 11 to the casing 30, an opening 34 is formed in the casing 30, a cylindrical portion 35 is erected around the opening 34, and the rotary shaft 31 faces the opening 34. . The fixed barrel 25a of the connector 25 of the catheter 11 is fitted into the cylindrical portion 35, and the rotary barrel 25b is connected to the rotary shaft 31. Further, the rotary connector 31 is attached to the rotary shaft 31.
Cable from the rotary connector 36.
7 is pulled out, and the cable 37 is inserted in the cable cord 13 together with a power supply line to the motor 32 and the encoder 33, a signal line from the encoder 33, and the like.

The operating portion 12 is attached to the treatment instrument introducing portion 5, and for this purpose, the casing 30 is provided with a connecting portion 38 connected thereto. This connecting portion 38 is
It is inserted into the treatment instrument introducing portion 5, and has a through hole formed therein for inserting the catheter 11. Further, the catheter 11 is bent in an arch shape until it is led out from the connecting portion 38 and connected to the operating portion 12, and a clamp member 39 is provided in the vicinity of the connecting portion 38. The catheter 11 led out from the portion 38 is clamped by the clamp member 39, and the lock screw 39
It is fixed by screwing a. Then, by changing the clamp position of the catheter 11 by the clamp member 39, it is possible to adjust the projection length of the portion of the distal end of the catheter 11 in which the ultrasonic transducer 22 is incorporated from the insertion portion 3 of the endoscope 1. It is done like this.

In the above structure, the catheter 11 is
As shown in FIG. 3, it is not linear, but is wound in a coil. This coil-shaped portion is not provided over the entire length of the catheter 11, but a predetermined length from the connecting portion to the operating portion 12, that is, the connector 25, and a predetermined length on the distal end side in which the ultrasonic transducer 22 is incorporated. The length is a straight line. Therefore, catheter 1
1 is composed of a base end side linear portion 11a, a coiled portion 11b, and a tip end side linear portion 11c. Here, in order to form the coil-shaped portion 11b, either one or both of the flexible tube 20 and the flexible shaft 23 that form the catheter 11 are given a habit. Flexible tube 20
Is formed by, for example, extrusion molding. Therefore, when the flexible tube 20 is formed into a coil shape, the coiled portion 11b can be easily formed. .

The proximal linear portion 11 of the catheter 11
The length a is at least as long as the length from the portion clamped by the clamp member 39 to the connector 25. Here, since the clamp position of the catheter 11 by the clamp member 39 is appropriately adjusted, it is necessary to take some extra length. The tip-side linear portion 11c is set to have a dimension longer than the longest protruding length when the tip portion of the catheter 11 is projected from the insertion portion 3.

The present embodiment is constructed as described above, and the catheter 11 in the ultrasonic probe 10 is used.
In the free state, since the coiled portion 11b is held in a coiled state, the coiled portion 1 is
The total length is shorter than when 1b is straightened. Also,
Even if the operating portion 12 is grasped and the catheter 11 is moved so as to be shaken, the amplitude of the tip portion becomes small. Therefore, when carrying the operating portion 12 while holding the operating portion 12 and hanging the catheter 11 downward, the tip portion of the catheter 11 is less likely to come into contact with the floor surface or other equipment, and therefore the catheter 11 is soiled. Also, after use, there is no possibility that contaminants such as body fluid adhered to the surface will adhere to the floor surface, articles and the like. Therefore, the catheter 11 is convenient to carry, and the reduction of the total length of the catheter 11 is also convenient for storing the catheter 11 when it is not used, and for cleaning and disinfecting.

In order to perform an ultrasonic examination with the insertion portion 3 of the endoscope 1 inserted in the body cavity, the connector 25 of the catheter 11 is connected to the operation portion 12, and the catheter 11 is inserted into the treatment instrument introducing portion. 5 into the treatment instrument insertion channel 4. Here, the catheter 11 is provided with a coiled portion 11b, but since the catheter 11 is a flexible member, the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 is provided while correcting the coiled portion 11b into a straight state. Try to push it inside. As a result, the catheter 11 advances while slidingly contacting the inner wall of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4, but as shown in FIG. 4, the coiled portion 11b of the catheter 11 is corrected so as to be in a straight state. Since the catheter 11 has a bending tendency and the outer diameter of the catheter 11 is smaller than the inner diameter of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 to some extent, the coiled portion 11b does not become completely straight and the range regulated by the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 is present. It becomes a meandering state. Therefore, the portion of the coil-shaped portion 11b is substantially in point contact with the inner surface of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4. As a result, the catheter 11 has a smaller sliding area in the treatment instrument insertion channel 4, and smoothly advances with a light force,
The tip portion projects from the tip portion main body 3c by a predetermined length.

In the above state, the casing 3 of the operating portion 12
The motor 32 provided in 0 is operated to rotationally drive the rotary shaft 31. As a result, the rotational force is transmitted to the flexible shaft 23, and the flexible shaft 23 rotates about its axis, which is connected to the tip of the flexible shaft 23 and rotationally drives the rotating body 21 having the ultrasonic transducer 22 mounted thereon. Then, the rotation of the rotary shaft 31, that is, the ultrasonic transducer 22
The rotation angle of the ultrasonic transducer 2 is detected by the encoder 33, and each time the ultrasonic transducer 22 rotates by a predetermined angle, the ultrasonic transducer 2
2 is driven to transmit an ultrasonic pulse toward the inside of the body, and then receive a reflection echo from the internal tissue section. A radial ultrasonic image is acquired by converting the ultrasonic reflected echo signal into an electric signal, extracting the electric signal, transmitting the electric signal to the ultrasonic observation apparatus, and performing predetermined signal processing by the ultrasonic observation apparatus.

As described above, when performing ultrasonic scanning, it is necessary to hold the portion of the distal end of the catheter 11 where the ultrasonic transducer 22 is provided in a predetermined state with respect to the inner wall of the body cavity. Therefore, if the portion of the insertion portion 3 protruding from the tip end body 3c is warped or bent, the state of the inner wall of the body cavity is not stable. However, although the catheter 11 has the coiled portion 11b, the distal end portion thereof is the distal end side linear portion 11c, and the portion protruding from the insertion portion 3 is in a substantially linear state.
By bending the angle portion 3b in a desired direction or the like so that the distal end portion main body 3c is directed in a desired direction and the catheter 11 is projected, the catheter 11 can be held in a predetermined state with respect to a site to be subjected to ultrasonic examination. .

The coiled portion 11b is inserted in the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 in a meandering state. This meandering is regulated to some extent by the inner wall of the treatment instrument insertion channel 4, but the length thereof is still changed depending on the state of the meandering in the treatment instrument insertion channel 4. However, since the catheter 11 has a certain amount of extra length in the portion located outside the treatment instrument introducing portion 5 and can be clamped at a desired position by the clamp member 39, the treatment instrument insertion channel is provided. Even if the length of the portion located inside 4 changes slightly, the catheter 11 can be adjusted by adjusting the clamp position by the clamp member 39.
It is possible to hold the distal end portion of the insertion portion 3 in a state of protruding from the insertion portion 3 by a predetermined length. Moreover, since the base end side of the catheter 11 is also the base end side linear portion 11a, there is no bending tendency between the clamp portion by the clamp member 39 and the connecting portion to the operating portion 12, and the arch-like shape is formed. The shape of the part is stable.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this second embodiment, the operating section 4 is used.
The catheter 41 connected to 0 is composed of a proximal end linear portion 41a and a distal end linear portion 41c on the side connected to the operating portion 40 and the distal end side, respectively, and the proximal end linear portion 41a and the distal end linear portion are formed. The point between 41c and 41c is similar to that of the first embodiment described above in that it is habituated. However, this habit is not a coil shape but a zigzag portion 41b. As described above, by providing the zigzag portion 41b, the total length of the catheter 41 is shortened in the free state. Further, when it is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel 4, it is straightened and straightened. Moreover, in the treatment instrument insertion channel 4, the zigzag portion 41 of the catheter 41 is formed.
Since b is in a substantially point contact state, the operability of inserting the catheter 41 into the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 is improved.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, at least the intermediate portion of the catheter is bent so as to be in a non-linear state, and the tip portion is kept in a linear state for a predetermined length. Therefore, in a free state in which the catheter is not inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel, the total length from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion of the catheter is shortened, and when the catheter is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel, there is an effect that it can be smoothly inserted. Play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an operation unit.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a catheter.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view showing a state where the catheter is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel.

FIG. 5 is an external view of a catheter showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope 2 Main body operation part 3 Insertion part 4 Treatment tool insertion channel 5 Treatment tool introduction part 10 Ultrasonic probe 11,41 Catheter 11a, 41a Base end side linear part 11b Coil-shaped part 11c, 41c Tip side linear part 12, 40 Operation part 20 Flexible tube 22 Ultrasonic transducer 23 Flexible shaft 30 Casing 38 Connection part 39 Clamp member 41b Zigzag part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic probe in which a catheter is connected to an operating portion and the catheter is inserted into a body cavity through a guide means. In the ultrasonic probe, the catheter is habituated so that at least an intermediate portion thereof is in a non-linear state. The ultrasonic probe is characterized in that the tip portion is held in a straight line for a predetermined length. 2. The catheter has a linear state of a predetermined length from a connecting portion to the operating portion, and the operating portion is provided with a clamp member for clamping an arbitrary position of the linear portion. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe is provided. 3. The habitual part of the catheter is
A coil-shaped one.
Alternatively, the ultrasonic probe according to claim 2. 4. The habitual part of the catheter is
The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ultrasonic probe has a zigzag shape.