JP2001321378A - Ultrasonic probe system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic probe system of a front scan type which prevents the burst of a balloon by discharging an ultrasonic transmission medium in the balloon without detaching an O-ring from an O-ring disposing groove. SOLUTION: An annular groove 31 is formed of a liquid-tight face 32 which is a bottom face, a front side step part 33 composed of a front side plane 33a and a front side side-face 33b formed shallower in depth dimension that the liquid-tight face 32, and a rear side step part 34 composed of a rear side plane 34a and a rear side side-face 34b. Ridgelines formed with faces rising from the liquid-tight face 32 to the planes 33a and 34a are provided with R-chamfer parts. The O-ring is movable on a front side face part formed of the R-face and the front side plane 33a and on a rear side face part formed of the R-face and the rear side plane 34a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic wave which is inserted into a body cavity such as a gastrointestinal tract or a bronchus, and in which an ultrasonic transmission medium is injected into a balloon covering an ultrasonic vibrator portion to perform ultrasonic observation in an expanded state. Regarding the probe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been known an endoscope inserted into a body cavity, an ultrasonic endoscope provided with an ultrasonic probe at a distal end thereof, and a rectal probe inserted into the rectum for ultrasonic observation. Insertable ultrasound probes are used for medical diagnosis.

In such an ultrasonic probe, a good image cannot be obtained if air is interposed between a site to be observed and the ultrasonic probe. For this reason, water is stored in the vicinity of the observation target site, or a balloon filled with an ultrasonic transmission medium such as water is attached to an ultrasonic probe to draw a good ultrasonic image.

[0004] Various proposals have been made for an ultrasonic probe using this balloon.
Japanese Patent No. 6168 discloses a balloon for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided with a balloon mounting portion formed of an elastic body and having a variable diameter in order to enable the balloon to be efficiently and easily mounted on the distal end portion of the insertion portion. A mounting jig is disclosed.

In the case of rendering an ultrasonic image with an ultrasonic probe using the balloon, the size of the balloon must be controlled. At this time, the surgeon generally adjusts the amount of the ultrasonic transmission medium to be injected or sucked into and discharged from the balloon.

In order to prevent the balloon from being ruptured or falling off from the distal end portion when the ultrasonic transmission medium is excessively injected into the balloon, a medium conduit for sending the ultrasonic transmission medium is used in the ultrasonic probe. The injection amount of the ultrasonic transmission medium is limited by forming a small diameter to some extent or using a small syringe.

[0007]

However, in the case where the diameter of the conduit is formed to be small in order to limit the injection amount of the ultrasonic medium, it takes a long time to inflate the balloon to a desired size. Is a cumbersome task. Further, when a small syringe is used, when air bubbles enter the balloon, it is difficult to remove the air bubbles. This is because, in order to remove bubbles in the balloon, it is effective to supply a large amount of the ultrasonic transmission medium into the balloon once and then suction it.

In order to solve these problems, the applicant of the present invention has proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-295849 a configuration of an ultrasonic endoscope for preventing the balloon from being ruptured or falling off. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9 (a), which illustrates a state in which the ultrasonic transmission medium is injected and the balloon is inflated, before and after the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 101 of the ultrasonic endoscope distal end portion 100, a thin-walled tube is formed. At both ends of the balloon 102, grooves 103 and 104 for forming O-rings 102a and 102b formed in an O-ring shape are formed. Front O-ring arrangement groove 1 located at the front of ultrasonic transmitting / receiving section 101
Numeral 03 has a tip side inclined surface 103a inclined with respect to the bottom surface and a base end side surface substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface, and the rear O-ring arrangement groove portion 104 has a distal end side and a base surface substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface. It has an end side surface.

As a result, when the injection of the deaerated water 105 as the ultrasonic transmission medium into the balloon 102 is continued,
Before the balloon 102 reaches the expansion limit at which the balloon 102 ruptures, as shown in FIG. 19B, which illustrates a state in which the internal pressure inside the balloon is increased and the degassed water 105 is discharged, the O-ring portion of the balloon 102 102a comes off the front O-ring arrangement groove 103, and the degassed water 105 in the balloon 102 is discharged. This prevents the balloon 102 from being ruptured and falling off from the distal end of the insertion portion.

However, it has been difficult for an ultrasonic endoscope using the balloon to realize a forward-scanning ultrasonic probe configured to scan forward in the insertion direction. Further, in order to perform the ultrasonic inspection again, in order to perform the work of mounting the O-ring portion 102a that has come off from the front-side O-ring arrangement groove 103 to prevent rupture, in the front-side O-ring arrangement groove 103, The ultrasonic endoscope must be removed from the body cavity once.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when the ultrasonic transmission medium is excessively injected into the balloon and the internal pressure rises to a predetermined value or more, the O-ring portion comes off the O-ring arrangement groove portion. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic probe system having a balloon corresponding to a forward scan type that reliably discharges an excessively injected ultrasonic transmission medium out of a balloon without preventing the balloon from bursting. .

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An ultrasonic probe system according to the present invention comprises an ultrasonic probe having at least one annular groove for mounting a balloon on an outer peripheral surface in the vicinity of an ultrasonic transmission / reception section, and an annular groove for mounting the balloon. An ultrasonic probe system comprising: an O-ring portion formed in an O-ring shape to be disposed; and a balloon which expands and contracts by injection and discharge of an ultrasonic transmission medium having at least one open end. The annular groove is wider than the outer dimensions of the O-ring portion, and a liquid-tight surface which is a bottom surface whose surface is formed smoothly so that the O-ring portion comes into close contact with the O-ring portion at a predetermined depth from the outer peripheral surface. The O is formed on the front side and the rear side in the insertion direction from the dense surface, and the depth dimension from the outer peripheral surface gradually or continuously becomes shallower as going toward the outer peripheral surface side.
An O-ring portion moving surface on which the ring portion is movable, and a discharge groove formed at a predetermined depth in the O-ring portion moving surface, with one end located near the liquid-tight surface and the other end located near the outer peripheral surface. Is provided.

According to this structure, when the internal pressure of the balloon rises and the O-ring portion of the balloon disposed on the liquid-tight surface moves on the O-ring portion moving surface, the opening of the discharge groove is formed inside the balloon. The ultrasonic transmission medium in the balloon is discharged to the outside of the balloon through the discharge groove without the O-ring portion coming out of the annular groove for mounting the balloon at the side and the external side.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an ultrasonic endoscope system, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a balloon attached to a probe, FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the annular groove for mounting a balloon formed in the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating the configuration of the annular groove for mounting the balloon. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an injection state, FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating one operation of the balloon mounting groove, and FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another operation of the balloon mounting groove.

FIG. 4 (a) is a longitudinal sectional view of the annular groove for mounting the balloon, FIG. 4 (b) is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 4 (a), and FIG. FIG. 5 (b) shows a state in which an ultrasonic transmission medium is injected into the balloon, and FIG. 6 (a) shows a state in which the ultrasonic transmission medium is excessively supplied. FIG. 6B illustrates a state in which the O-ring moves to the front side when the internal pressure rises to a predetermined level or more. FIG. 6B illustrates the state in which the O-ring moves to the front to discharge the ultrasonic transmission medium in the balloon. FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the ultrasonic inspection is performed by pressing the distal end surface of the balloon against the body cavity wall.
In (b), the distal end surface of the balloon is pressed more than necessary, and the internal pressure of the balloon rises to a predetermined level or more.
FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a state in which the ring portion moves to the rear side.
(C) is a figure which shows the state which the O-ring part moves to the back side, and discharges the ultrasonic transmission medium in a balloon.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic endoscope system according to the present embodiment includes an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 30 of a front sector scanning type which protrudes from a rigid end portion 11 of an insertion portion 10 inserted into a body cavity. Endoscope 1 having a so-called ultrasonic probe, a light source unit (not shown) for supplying illumination light to an illumination optical system provided in the ultrasonic endoscope 1, and an ultrasonic vibrator. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 including a drive control unit for performing control and a signal processing unit for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the ultrasonic transducer, and displaying an image signal generated by the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 as an ultrasonic image It mainly comprises a monitor 3 for recording, an image recording device 4 for recording an image displayed on the monitor 3, and the like.

The ultrasonic endoscope 1 has a flexible insertion portion 10 to be inserted into a body cavity, a main operation portion 5 serving also as a grip portion connected to a base end of the insertion portion 10, and Sub-operation unit 7 provided at the rear end of main operation unit 5 and having eyepiece unit 6
And a light source connector 8a that is detachably connected to a light source unit (not shown) at a base end extending from a side portion of the main operation unit 5 and connected to a light source unit (not shown).
And an ultrasonic cord 9 having an ultrasonic connector 9a extending from a side of the sub-operation unit 7 and detachably connected to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 2 at a base end thereof. It is mainly composed.

The insertion portion 10 includes, in order from the distal end, a rigid distal end portion 11 formed of a hard member, a curved portion 12 that can be bent vertically and horizontally, and a flexible tube portion formed of a flexible and elongated sheath. 13 are connected. The main operation section 5 is provided with a treatment instrument insertion port 5a. The main operation unit 5
Is provided with a bending operation knob 5b for bending the bending portion 12 in a desired direction, an air supply / water supply button 5c for performing air supply and water supply operations, and a suction button 5d for performing suction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the balloon 20 used in the present embodiment is formed in a bag shape from a material having elasticity, such as natural rubber and silicone rubber, and having excellent biocompatibility and ultrasonic permeability. ing. An opening 21 of the balloon 20 is provided with an O-ring 23 formed by rolling an edge 22 shown by a dashed line from the end side into an O-ring shape. The diameter of the O-ring 23 (d in the figure) and the opening of the O-ring 23 (D in the figure) are appropriately set.

As shown in FIG. 3, the distal end surface 11a of the distal end rigid portion 11 of the ultrasonic endoscope 1 has an illumination window facing the distal end surface of an image guide (not shown), and an observation surface facing the distal end surface of the light guide. A window is provided, and an opening of a treatment tool insertion channel communicating with the treatment tool insertion port 5a is formed, and a front sector scanning type ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 30 protruding from the distal end surface 11a is provided. .

An annular groove (hereinafter referred to as an annular ring) for mounting the O-ring portion 23 of the balloon 20 which is arranged to cover the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving unit 30 is provided on the peripheral surface on the root portion side of the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving unit 30. A groove (abbreviated as a groove) 31 is formed in the circumferential direction.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (a), the annular groove 31 is a surface on which the O-ring portion 23 indicated by a dotted line provided on the balloon 20 is arranged so as to be in close contact with the balloon 20 to ensure liquid tightness. A liquid-tight surface 32 formed at a predetermined depth from the side peripheral surface 30a of the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 30 and having a smooth surface so as to enhance the adhesion to be the bottom surface of the annular groove 31; 32, the liquid-tight surface 3
2, a front side step portion 33 formed of a front side flat surface 33a having a depth dimension smaller than 2 and a front side surface 33b rising vertically from the front side flat surface 33a in a side circumferential direction, and a rear side of the liquid-tight surface 32. And a rear side surface 3a formed so as to have a depth dimension smaller than that of the liquid-tight surface 32 and a rear side surface 3 rising vertically from the rear side plane 34a in the direction of the peripheral surface.
4b. That is, the annular groove 31 has a shape in which a convex character is inverted.

The front plane 33a and the front plane 3
A ridge formed by the surface rising from the liquid-tight surface 32 with respect to 3a, the rear plane 34a, and a surface rising from the liquid-tight surface 32 with respect to the rear plane 34a. The ridgeline is provided with a so-called R chamfer formed to have an appropriate radius. As a result, when the internal pressure of the balloon 20 rises, the front side surface formed by the R surface, the front side surface 33a and the rear side surface formed by the R surface, and the rear side surface 34a are forced into the O-ring portion. 23 is an O-ring part moving surface that can move.

The width W of the liquid-tight surface 32 is formed wider than the diameter of the O-ring portion 23. Further, the bottom surface of the annular groove 31 for mounting the balloon (the liquid-tight surface 3).
The outer diameter dimension in 2) is called a mounting section diameter dimension with respect to the opening diameter dimension, and the opening diameter dimension of the O-ring section 23 is an annular groove 3.
1 is smaller than the diameter of the mounting portion. By appropriately setting the dimensions of the mounting portion and the opening diameter, the mounting force of the O-ring portion 23 on the annular groove 31 becomes a desired amount.

A front discharge groove 35 which is, for example, elongated in the longitudinal direction is formed in the front flat surface 33a and the front side surface 33b of the front step 33. One opening of the front-side discharge groove 35 is located near the liquid-tight surface 32, and the other opening is formed in the side peripheral surface 30a. Similarly, an elongated rear discharge groove 36 is formed in the rear flat surface 34a and the rear side surface 34b of the rear step 34.

The front discharge groove 35 is formed over the front flat surface 33a and the front side surface 33b of the front step 33, and is formed on the bottom surface 35a of the front discharge groove 35 in the front flat surface 33a. The position is the liquid-tight surface 3
2 is formed so as to be flush or shallower than that. Similarly,
The rear discharge groove 36 is formed over a rear plane 34a and a rear side surface 34b of the rear step 34, and the position of the bottom surface 36a of the rear discharge groove 36 in the rear plane 34a is: It is formed flush with the liquid-tight surface 32 or shallower than it. Thus, when the O-ring portion 23 is disposed on the liquid-tight surface 32, the ultrasonic transmission medium in the balloon 20 is not discharged out of the balloon through the discharge grooves 35 and 36.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, all ridge lines formed in the annular groove 31 are provided with R chamfers. This prevents the surface of the balloon 20 from being damaged by hitting the ridge line, the O-ring portion 23 from being caught on the ridge line, and the like.

The discharge grooves 35, 36 are formed, for example, four in the circumferential direction, and are evacuated into the balloon 20 by at least one front discharge groove 35 formed in the front flat surface 33a. An opening 37a of a balloon conduit 37 is provided to allow injection or suction of an ultrasonic transmission medium such as water. Thus, when the O-ring portion 23 is disposed on the liquid-tight surface 32 of the annular groove 31, the ultrasonic transmission medium can be injected into the balloon 20. Opening 3
The position of 7a may be on the distal end side or on the proximal end side as long as it is in the front side discharge groove 35. The operation of the balloon mounting annular groove 31 configured as described above will be described. First, FIG.
As shown in (a), the O-ring 23 of the balloon 20 is fitted into the liquid-tight surface 32 of the annular groove 31. This allows
A force is exerted on the O-ring 23 to contract in the center direction, so that the O-ring 23 is in liquid-tight contact with the liquid-tight surface 32, and the balloon 20 is mounted on the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving section 30. Thereafter, if necessary, the surgeon makes the balloon line 3
By injecting the ultrasonic transmission medium 40 such as degassed water through 7, the balloon 20 gradually expands as shown in FIG.

When the operator continues to inject the ultrasonic transmission medium 40 into the balloon 20, the balloon 20 is further inflated and the internal pressure increases. As a result, a force for pulling the balloon 20 toward the distal end and a force for expanding the O-ring portion 23 outward are gradually applied to the balloon 20, as indicated by arrows.

When the force for pulling the balloon 20 toward the distal end and the force for expanding the O-ring portion 23 outward become larger than the mounting force for contracting the O-ring portion 23 toward the center, FIG. 6 (a), a force for expanding the O-ring portion 23 and a force for pulling the distal end side act on the O-ring portion 23, so that the O-ring portion 23 disposed on the liquid-tight surface 32 becomes O-shaped as indicated by an arrow. As shown in a broken line in the figure and FIG. 6B, the vehicle moves over the R surface which is the ring moving surface and moves on the front plane 33a of the front step 33. At this time, since the ridge has an R-plane, the balloon 20
The surface does not hit the ridge line and the surface is not scratched, and the O-ring portion 23 is not caught on the ridge line.

As the O-ring portion 23 moves, the front-side discharge grooves 3 are formed inside and outside the balloon 20.
The ultrasonic transmission medium 40 injected into the balloon 20 is discharged to the outside of the balloon 20 through the front-side discharge groove 35 by the position of the groove opening 5. As a result, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 6B, the balloon 20 contracts, and the balloon 20 is prevented from being ruptured and dropped due to excessive supply of the ultrasonic transmission medium 40. At this time, the O-ring portion 23 is located on the front side flat surface 33a.

Further, as shown in FIG.
When the operator presses the balloon 20 against the body cavity wall with excessive force in the direction of the arrow while performing ultrasound observation by pressing 0 against the body cavity wall, the internal pressure of the balloon 20 increases, As shown by the arrows, the balloon 20 is gradually applied with a force for expanding outward and a force for pressing the O-ring portion 23 toward the root.

FIG. 7B shows that when the force for expanding the balloon 20 outward and the force for pressing the O-ring portion 23 toward the root are larger than the mounting force of the O-ring portion 23, FIG. As described above, the force that expands the O-ring portion 23 and the force that pushes the O-ring portion toward the root act, and the O-ring portion 23 disposed on the liquid-tight surface 32 is the O-ring portion moving surface as indicated by the arrow. As shown in a broken line in the figure and FIG. 7C, the vehicle moves over the R surface and moves on the rear plane 34a of the rear step 34.

As described above, similarly to the above, since the opening of the front discharge groove 35 is located inside and outside the balloon 20, the ultrasonic transmission medium 40 injected into the balloon 20 can be moved backward. The balloon 20 is discharged out of the balloon 20 through the side discharge groove 36. Therefore, the balloon 20
The rupture of the balloon 20 prevents the balloon 20 from being ruptured and dropped when the operator accidentally presses the balloon 20 against the body cavity wall with excessive force. At this time, the O-ring portion 23 is located on the rear plane 34a.

In the above embodiment, the difference between the diameter of the O-ring portion 23 of the balloon 20 and the diameter of the opening of the O-ring portion 23 and the diameter of the mounting portion on the liquid-tight surface 32 of the annular groove 31 is described. And the liquid-tight surface 32 and the bottom surface 33
By appropriately setting the level difference between the balloon 20a and the balloon 34a, the maximum inflatable diameter of the balloon 20 disposed in the annular groove 31 can be set to a desired size.

As described above, the annular groove for mounting the O-ring portion provided on the balloon is provided on the liquid-tight surface to which the O-ring portion is in close contact, and the O-ring is positioned on the front and rear sides of the liquid-tight surface. An O-ring part moving surface enabling the movement of the ring part,
The O-ring part formed on the opening side of the bag-shaped balloon is disposed on the liquid-tight surface of the annular groove for mounting the balloon by being configured with the discharge groove having a predetermined depth formed on the O-ring part moving surface. This allows the balloon to be inflated by injecting the ultrasound transmission medium into the balloon.

When the ultrasonic transmission medium is excessively injected into the balloon, or when an excessive external force acts on the balloon inflated during the examination and the internal pressure rises to a predetermined pressure or more, the O-ring is generated by the internal pressure. By disposing the portion on the O-ring portion moving surface, the ultrasonic transmission medium can be discharged to the outside of the balloon by the discharge groove communicating between the inside and the outside of the balloon, so that the balloon can be prevented from bursting and falling off.

With these features, the balloon can be prevented from being ruptured and dropped even if the balloon mounting annular groove for mounting the O-ring portion of the balloon is provided at one place. Ultrasonic inspection can be performed by wearing. In addition, this balloon is provided at a low cost because only one O-ring part is required.

Further, when performing an ultrasonic inspection continuously,
When the ultrasonic endoscope is once removed from the body cavity and the O-ring portion is arranged on the liquid-tight surface of the annular groove, the O-ring portion of the balloon does not completely come off the annular groove, and the Since it is arranged on the bottom surface, the operation of fitting the O-ring portion into the liquid-tight surface can be easily performed.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining another configuration of the annular groove for mounting a balloon according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The annular groove 31 </ b> A of the present embodiment is configured such that the O-ring portion 23 moves on the O-ring portion moving surface without coming off the balloon mounting annular groove 31 due to an increase in the internal pressure of the balloon 20. Ultrasonic transmission medium 4
0 is discharged out of the balloon through the discharge grooves 35 and 36, thereby preventing the balloon 20 from being ruptured and falling off. On the other hand, when the ultrasonic transmission medium 40 is discharged and the internal pressure of the balloon 20 decreases, O The O-ring 23 is disposed on the liquid-tight surface 32 again by the mounting force of the ring 23 to maintain the liquid-tight state.

As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, the front side step 33 and the rear side step 34 provided on the front side and the rear side of the liquid-tight surface 32 of the annular groove 31 are provided with the front side flat surface 3.
Instead of forming the front side 3a and the rear side plane 34a, the front side inclined plane 33c and the rear side inclined plane which smoothly incline from the liquid-tight surface 32 and continuously change so that the depth dimension from the outer peripheral surface becomes shallower. 34c. That is, the R surface,
A front side surface formed by the front side inclined surface 33c and an R surface,
When the internal pressure of the balloon 20 changes, the O-ring portion 23 is formed.
Is a movable O-ring portion moving surface.

The inclined surfaces 33c and 34c may be formed directly from the liquid-tight surface 32 without providing the R portion in the figure. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

As a result, as described in the first embodiment, the ultrasonic transmission medium 40 is excessively injected into the balloon 20 or the balloon 2 which is inflated during the examination.
When an excessive external force acts on the inner surface of the balloon 20 and the internal pressure of the balloon 20 rises, the O-ring portion 23 of the balloon 20 may have the R surface and the front inclined surface 33c or the R surface and the rear inclined surface 34.
Move c in the direction of arrow U. Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, the discharge grooves 35,
36, the ultrasonic transmission medium 40 injected into the balloon 20 is removed from the discharge groove 3.
The balloon 20 is discharged out of the balloon 20 through the balloon 36 to prevent the balloon 20 from being ruptured or dropped.

Further, in this embodiment, when the pressure in the balloon 20 is reduced in a state where the ultrasonic transmission medium 40 is sufficiently discharged or when the operator performs suction of the ultrasonic transmission medium 40, the balloon 20 is contracted. Accordingly, the opening diameter size is contracted by the mounting force of the O-ring portion 23 which has been in the expanded state. That is, the O-ring portion 23 is provided between the front inclined surface 33c and the R surface or the rear inclined surface 34c and the R surface.
The surface is moved in the direction of arrow D, and is again placed on the liquid-tight surface 32 to be in a liquid-tight state.

When the O-ring 23 of the balloon 20 moves, an appropriate R chamfer is provided at each ridge of the annular groove 31 as described above.
The O-ring portion 23 is not damaged, and the O-ring portion is not disturbed.

The O-ring portion 23 of the balloon 20
And the difference between the diameter of the opening of the O-ring portion 23 of the balloon 20 and the diameter of the mounting portion of the liquid-tight surface 32 of the annular groove 31, the step of the R surface with respect to the liquid-tight surface 32, and the front inclined surface 33c. The maximum inflatable diameter of the balloon 20 can be set to a desired size by appropriately setting the inclination angle of the rear inclined surface 34c.

As described above, by providing the inclined surface having the predetermined inclination angle in the step portion forming the annular groove for mounting the balloon, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, the ultrasonic wave is emitted outside the balloon through the discharge groove. The communication medium is discharged, and the pressure in the balloon is reduced.
The ring can move on the inclined surface and be repositioned on the liquid-tight surface. This eliminates the need to remove the ultrasonic endoscope and refit the O-ring portion on the liquid-tight surface. That is, the ultrasonic examination can be performed by inflating the balloon again by injecting the ultrasonic transmission medium without removing the ultrasonic endoscope from the body cavity.

It should be noted that, as shown in FIG.
Instead of forming inclined surfaces 33c and 34c on the front side step portion 33 and the rear side step portion 34, respectively, the liquid-tight surface 32 is smoothly formed as shown in FIG. The front concave surface 33d and the rear concave surface 34d that continuously change so that the depth dimension from the outer peripheral surface becomes shallower.
May be formed to form the annular groove 31B.

At this time, the radius of the curved surfaces 33d and 34d is set to be larger than the radius of the O-ring portion 23 of the balloon 20. In addition, the positions of the bottom surfaces of the front-side discharge groove 35 and the rear-side discharge groove 36 are higher than the liquid-tight surface 32 by a predetermined height dimension h. Thereby, the same operation and effect as described above can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the front step 33 is used.
In place of the rear step portion 34, the front side surface portion 38 includes the front concave surface 33d and the front side surface 33b, and the rear side surface portion 39 includes the rear concave surface 34d and the rear side surface 34b.

Here, the O-ring portion 2 of the balloon 20
3, the difference between the diameter of the opening of the O-ring portion 23 of the balloon 20 and the diameter of the mounting portion of the liquid-tight surface 32 of the annular groove 31, and the radius and height h of the concave curved surface are appropriately set. Thereby, the maximum inflatable diameter of the balloon 20 can be set to a desired size.

Further, instead of forming inclined surfaces 33c and 34c on the front step 33 and the rear step 34 of the annular groove 31, respectively, as shown in FIG. A front convex curved surface 33e and a rear convex curved surface 34e that change smoothly and continuously from the liquid-tight surface 32 so that the depth dimension from the outer peripheral surface becomes shallow are formed to form an annular groove 31B. You may.

Thus, in addition to the effects described above, the width of the annular groove 31 can be reduced as much as possible. Therefore, the operability of the ultrasonic endoscope can be improved by shortening the length dimension of the distal end hard portion 11. Other functions and effects are the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

Here, the O-ring portion 2 of the balloon 20
3, the difference between the diameter of the opening of the O-ring portion 23 of the balloon 20 and the diameter of the mounting portion of the liquid-tight surface 32 of the annular groove 31, the radius of the convex surface, and the height of the step are appropriately set. This allows the maximum inflatable diameter of the balloon 20 to be set to a desired size.

In this embodiment, the ultrasonic endoscope 1 is provided with the ultrasonic transmission / reception section 30 of the forward sector scanning type. However, the ultrasonic scanning method is a radial scanning type or a linear scanning type. And any other format. The scanning mechanism may be either mechanical scanning or electronic scanning.

FIGS. 11 to 14 relate to an embodiment in which a balloon is attached to a radial scanning type ultrasonic transmission / reception unit.
11 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a balloon mounting annular groove formed in the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a balloon mounted on the probe. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sound wave transmission medium is discharged, and FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the relationship and operation between the tracheal tube and the ultrasonic probe.

FIG. 13A is a view showing a state in which a balloon is mounted on the ultrasonic transmission / reception section, FIG. 13B is a view showing a state in which the ultrasonic transmission medium is discharged from the inside of the balloon, and FIG.
FIG. 4 (a) shows a state in which the ultrasonic probe is removed from the tracheal tube with the balloon inflated, and FIG. 14 (b)
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the ultrasonic transmission medium is discharged from inside the balloon.

As shown in FIG. 11, in this embodiment, the distal end rigid section 11 of the ultrasonic endoscope is provided with a radial scanning type ultrasonic transmitting / receiving section 30A. In order to mount the O-ring portions 20a and 20b of the balloon 20A shown in FIG. 12 on the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving portion 30A, a distal-side O-ring arrangement groove 41 is formed at a distal end portion, and an annular groove 42 is formed at a proximal end portion. ing.

The tip-side O-ring arrangement groove 41 is a substantially U-shaped groove having a simple sectional shape, and the annular groove 42 has substantially the same structure as the annular groove 31B shown in FIG. Are formed in a shape in which the steps are omitted from the discharge grooves 35 and 36.

As shown in FIG. 12, the balloon 20A used in the present embodiment is in the form of a tube having both ends opened.
O-ring-shaped distal end O-ring portions 20 at both ends
a and a base end side O-ring portion 20b. The diameter of the distal-side O-ring portion 20a is substantially the same as or smaller than the width of the distal-side O-ring arrangement groove 41, and the diameter of the proximal-side O-ring portion 20b is the same as in the above-described embodiment. It is configured to be smaller than the width dimension of the liquid-tight surface 32.

The diameter and opening diameter of the distal O-ring 20a may be different from the diameter and opening of the proximal O-ring 20b, but they may be substantially the same. desirable. The opening diameter of the proximal O-ring portion 20b of the balloon 20A is smaller than the mounting portion of the distal O-ring arrangement groove 41, and the opening diameter of the proximal O-ring portion 20b is smaller than that of the annular groove 42. It is smaller than the mounting part diameter.

As shown in FIG. 13A, when the operator injects the ultrasonic transmission medium 40 into the balloon 20A, the balloon 20A expands. And this balloon 20A
When the ultrasonic transmission medium 40 is further injected into the inside, the balloon 20A further expands as shown by a two-dot chain line, the internal pressure rises, and the force or the O-ring portion 20b which tries to spread outward as shown by the arrow. The force which pushes to the root side is added.

When the internal pressure of the balloon 20A reaches a certain level, the proximal O-ring 20b is expanded, as shown in FIG. 42 from the liquid-tight surface 32 to the rear-side convex curved surface 34e. This allows the balloon 20
The ultrasonic transmission medium 40 injected into the A is discharged out of the balloon through the rear discharge groove 36, and
A rupture and falling off are prevented.

Thereafter, the pressure in the balloon 20A is reduced and the distal pulling force and the radial expanding force applied to the proximal O-ring portion 20b are released, and the proximal O-ring portion is released. The base-side O-ring portion 20b is again arranged on the liquid-tight surface 32 by the mounting force of 20b, and maintains the liquid-tight state.

Next, by injecting the ultrasonic transmission medium 40, the balloon 20A can be inflated again for ultrasonic inspection without removing the ultrasonic endoscope from the body cavity. On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
When the operator mistakenly tries to remove the ultrasonic endoscope 1 in a state where the balloon 20A is inflated from the tracheal tube 50 as shown by an arrow during the examination using the Abuts on the tip end surface of F.50.

At this time, a force for pulling in the distal direction and a force for expanding in the radial direction are applied to the proximal O-ring portion 20b of the balloon 20A. When the amount of force for removing the ultrasonic endoscope 1 reaches a certain level, the proximal O-ring portion 20b moves from the liquid-tight surface 32 of the annular groove 42 to the front convex curved surface 33e.

Thus, the ultrasonic transmission medium 40 injected into the balloon 20A is discharged out of the balloon through the front-side discharge groove 35, so that the balloon 20A is prevented from bursting and falling off.

Thereafter, when the operator stops the withdrawal operation, the distal pulling force and the radial expanding force applied to the proximal O-ring portion 20b are released, and the proximal O-ring portion 20b is released. Due to the mounting force, the proximal O-ring portion 20b is disposed on the liquid-tight surface 32 again to maintain the liquid-tight state. In addition, by configuring the diameter size and the opening diameter size of the distal-side O-ring portion 20a and the diameter size and the opening diameter size of the proximal-side O-ring portion 20b to be substantially the same, the balloon 2
The above-described operation can be obtained without giving a distinction between the distal end side and the proximal end side to 0A.

By the way, when the ultrasonic transmission medium is excessively supplied to the bag-shaped balloon 20 disposed in the ultrasonic transmitting / receiving section 30A protruding from the distal end rigid portion 11 of the insertion section 10, the balloon may burst, Dropping from the transmitting / receiving unit 30A may be prevented by the following configuration.

FIGS. 15 to 18 show an ultrasonic probe for preventing the balloon from being ruptured or falling off due to an increase in the pressure inside the balloon. FIG. 15 shows an ultrasonic transmitting / receiving section and an O-ring section of the balloon. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a groove portion, FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a balloon is attached to an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit, FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an ultrasonic transmission medium in the balloon is discharged out of the balloon, and FIG. FIGS. 18A to 18C are diagrams for explaining another configuration of the groove portion in which the O-ring portion of the balloon is arranged.

FIG. 15A is a longitudinal sectional view, and FIG.
FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.
16B is a cross-sectional view in the longitudinal direction, and FIG.
17A is a longitudinal sectional view, and FIG.
FIG. 18B is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 15A, a balloon mounting groove 60 into which the O-ring portion 23 of the balloon 20 is fitted is provided at the base end of the ultrasonic sector transmitting / receiving section 30 of the front sector scanning type of this embodiment. ing. This balloon mounting groove 60 is
The groove width is formed to be substantially the same as the diameter of the O-ring portion 23, and the bottom surface 61 has a smooth surface that is liquid-tight when in contact with the O-ring portion 23. On the other hand, when the O-ring portion 23 is in contact with the front and rear side surfaces 62 and 63, the surface is matte-treated (see FIG. 15B) to such an extent that liquid tightness cannot be maintained. Processing that leaves fine irregularities is applied.

As shown in FIG. 15B, the cross-sectional shape of the bottom surface 61 of the balloon mounting groove 60 is substantially circular.
One flat portion 61b formed by cutting out a part thereof is provided. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the bottom surface 61 is the circular portion 61.
a and the plane portion 61b. An appropriate R chamfer is provided on the ridge formed by the circular portion 61a and the flat portion 61b.

The O-ring 23 of the balloon 20 is fitted into the balloon mounting groove 60. Then, as shown in FIG. 16B, the liquid-tight state is maintained by contacting the circular portion 61a and the flat portion 61b of the bottom surface 61 by the mounting force of the O-ring portion 23. Therefore, by supplying the ultrasonic transmission medium 40 into the balloon 20 from a balloon channel (not shown), the balloon 20 is inflated as shown in FIG.

Here, when the operator continues to supply the ultrasonic transmission medium 40 into the balloon 20, the balloon 20 is further inflated, and the balloon 20 is given a force to expand outward as indicated by the arrow. Join.

When the internal pressure of the balloon 20 rises to some extent, a force for expanding the O-ring 23 outward is applied to the O-ring 23. At this time, the balloon mounting groove 6
O with respect to the flat portion 61b provided on the bottom surface 61
Since the contact force of the ring portion 23 is weaker than the contact force of the ring portion 23 with the circular portion 61a, the internal pressure for expanding the flat portion 61
When the force becomes larger than the force for tightening b, FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), O positioned on the flat portion 61b
The gap 65 is formed with the ring portion 23 separated from the bottom surface 61 and raised.

As a result, the liquid-tight state between the O-ring portion 23 and the bottom surface 61 is released, and the O-ring portion 23 and the side surface 6 are released.
Since the liquid-tightness of the ultrasonic transmission medium 40 does not become liquid-tight, the ultrasonic transmission medium 40 flows out of the gap 65 where the O-ring portion 23 of the flat portion 61b is lifted up, and the balloon 20 does not contract or expand further.

As described above, the bottom surface of the balloon mounting groove is constituted by the circular portion and the flat portion, and the adhesive force to the bottom surface of the O-ring portion is changed. Can form a gap to discharge the ultrasonic transmission medium in the balloon to the outside.

Further, since the width of the balloon mounting groove is substantially the same as the diameter of the O-ring portion of the balloon, the length of the rigid portion at the distal end can be reduced.
Thereby, the operability of the ultrasonic endoscope can be improved.

In this embodiment, the circular portion 61a of the bottom surface 61 of the balloon mounting groove 60 has one flat portion 61b.
However, as shown in FIG. 18A, two flat portions 61b are formed on the bottom surface 61 of the balloon mounting groove 60.
18 (b), a curved surface portion 61c having a larger curvature than the circular portion 61a instead of the flat portion 61b as shown in FIG. 18 (b), or a balloon mounting groove as shown in FIG. 18 (c). The outer shape of the bottom surface 61 of the 60 may be an elliptical portion 61d.

The difference between the diameter of the O-ring 23 of the balloon 20, the diameter of the opening in the O-ring 23 of the balloon 20 and the diameter of the mounting portion of the bottom surface 61 of the balloon mounting groove 60, and the flat portion of the bottom 61. By appropriately setting the size and number of 61b and the curvature when the surface is curved, the maximum inflatable diameter of the balloon 20 can be set to a desired size.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Appendix] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration can be obtained.

(1) An ultrasonic probe in which at least one annular groove for mounting a balloon is formed on an outer peripheral surface in the vicinity of an ultrasonic transmitting / receiving section, and an O-ring section formed in an O-ring shape to be disposed in the annular groove for mounting a balloon. A balloon that expands and contracts by injecting and discharging an ultrasonic transmission medium having at least one open end, wherein the annular groove for mounting the balloon is wider than an outer dimension of the O-ring portion. A liquid-tight surface, which is a bottom surface having a smooth surface such that the O-ring portion is in close contact with the O-ring portion at a predetermined depth from the outer peripheral surface, and formed on the front side and the rear side in the insertion direction from the liquid-tight surface. An O-ring portion moving surface on which the O-ring portion is movable, the depth of which is gradually or continuously reduced as the depth from the outer circumferential surface approaches the outer circumferential surface; Is formed at a predetermined depth, the ultrasound probe system that one end the other end positioned near the liquid-tight surface; and a discharge groove positioned near the outer peripheral surface.

(2) The ultrasonic probe system according to appendix 1, wherein a stepwise ridgeline of the O-ring portion moving surface that changes stepwise is formed as a smooth curved surface.

(3) The ultrasonic probe system according to appendix 1, wherein the O-ring portion moving surface is an inclined surface having a continuously decreasing depth.

(4) The ultrasonic probe system according to appendix 1, wherein the O-ring portion moving surface is a convex or concave curved surface whose depth dimension is continuously reduced.

[0088]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the ultrasonic transmission medium is excessively injected into the balloon and the internal pressure rises to a predetermined level or more, the O-ring portion comes off the O-ring arrangement groove. It is possible to provide an ultrasonic probe system equipped with a balloon compatible with a forward scanning type that reliably discharges an excessively injected ultrasonic transmission medium out of the balloon without preventing the balloon from bursting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 7 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a view for explaining an example of the configuration of an ultrasonic endoscope system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a balloon attached to a probe.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a balloon mounting annular groove formed in an ultrasonic transmitting / receiving unit.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating the configuration of an annular groove for mounting a balloon.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a balloon mounted state and an ultrasonic transmission medium injection state.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining one operation of the balloon mounting groove.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining another operation of the balloon mounting groove.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another configuration of the annular groove for mounting a balloon according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another configuration of the annular groove.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another configuration of the annular groove.

11 to 14 show an embodiment in which a balloon is mounted on a radial scanning type ultrasonic transmission / reception unit, and FIG. 11 is a view for explaining the configuration of a balloon mounting annular groove formed in the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a balloon attached to a probe.

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining a state in which the balloon is mounted and a state in which the ultrasonic transmission medium in the balloon is discharged.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the relationship and operation between a tracheal tube and an ultrasonic probe.

15 to 18 show an ultrasonic probe for preventing the balloon from being ruptured or falling off due to an increase in the pressure inside the balloon, and FIG. 15 shows an arrangement of an ultrasonic transmitting / receiving section and an O-ring section of the balloon. For explaining the groove to be formed

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a state in which a balloon is attached to the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the ultrasonic transmission medium in the balloon is being discharged out of the balloon.

FIG. 18 is a view for explaining another configuration example of the groove for arranging the O-ring of the balloon.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a balloon is mounted on a conventional ultrasonic probe and a state in which an ultrasonic transmission medium in the balloon is discharged.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Ultrasonic transmission / reception part 31 ... Balloon mounting annular groove 32 ... Liquid tight surface 33 ... Front side step part 33a ... Front side plane 34 ... Back side step part 34a ... Back side plane 35 ... Front side discharge groove 36 ... Back side Drain groove

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic probe having at least one annular groove for mounting a balloon on an outer peripheral surface in the vicinity of an ultrasonic transmitting / receiving section, and an O-ring formed in an O-ring shape disposed in the annular groove for mounting a balloon. An ultrasonic probe system comprising: a balloon that expands and contracts by injecting and discharging an ultrasonic transmission medium having at least one open end, wherein the balloon mounting annular groove is wider than an outer dimension of the O-ring portion; At a predetermined depth dimension from the outer peripheral surface, the O
A liquid-tight surface, which is a bottom surface whose surface is formed smoothly so that the ring portion is in close contact, and formed on the front side and the rear side in the insertion direction from the liquid-tight surface, and the depth dimension from the outer peripheral surface is the outer peripheral surface side. The O-ring portion is gradually or shallowed gradually as it goes. The O-ring portion moving surface is movable, and the O-ring portion moving surface is formed with a predetermined depth, and one end is located near the liquid-tight surface. An ultrasonic probe system comprising: a discharge groove whose other end is located near the outer peripheral surface.