JPH0550941B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe, particularly a structure of an ultrasonic probe formed to a size that can be inserted into a narrow tube such as a forceps hole of an endoscope. Regarding improvements.

[Prior Art] Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses are well known that emit ultrasonic waves into a subject such as a living body, receive the reflected echoes, and display information inside the subject such as a tomographic image.

On the other hand, endoscopes (fiberscopes) are well-known for observing the conditions inside the body cavities of a subject, and this involves inserting a fiber applicator into body cavities such as the stomach or ureter to observe and diagnose the inside. It is a device that does
Forceps are then inserted into the body cavity through this fiber applicator to collect tissue from the affected area.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Incidentally, in recent years, a probe has been inserted into the subject's body through the forceps hole of the endoscope, and in addition to macroscopic observation using the endoscope, the affected area within the subject's body has been inspected from inside. Observation using ultrasound images has been proposed.

However, the outer diameter of conventional probes is large, and the diameter of the probe is 3.5 mm to 4 mm.
It was not possible to easily insert the probe into a narrow tube such as a forceps hole of about mm size.

That is, FIG. 5 shows the structure of a conventional small probe, and the probe has a vibrator 10 made up of a plurality of vibrating elements. This vibrator 10 is composed of a reinforcing plate 12, a backing material 14 made of rubber or the like, and a vibrating element part 16 made of a piezoelectric element such as PZT. A substrate 20 on which a wiring pattern 18 is printed is adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the vibrator 10. and,
Coaxial lead wires 22 are connected to the connection portions of the wiring pattern 18 in correspondence with the respective vibrating elements. Therefore, if an excitation voltage is supplied to the vibrating element section 16 via the coaxial lead wire 22, ultrasonic waves can be emitted from the vibrating element section 16 in the direction of the arrow 100.

However, as shown in FIG. 5, the coaxial lead wires 22 are arranged on the back side of the reinforcing plate 12, so that the bundle of coaxial lead wires 22 is connected to the vibrator 10.
In addition to the thickness, the outer circumferential diameter of the probe becomes large as a whole, and there is a problem that it cannot be easily inserted into a forceps hole of an endoscope having a diameter of about 3.5 mm to 4 mm. Furthermore, if the tip of the probe is forcefully inserted into the subject while changing its orientation in various directions along the complexly curved forceps hole, a physical load may be applied to the connection section, and the probe may become damaged. Twisting occurred in the cable, causing poor contact at the connection section.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to eliminate the need for the bundle of lead wires for voltage application to affect the outer circumferential diameter of the probe.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic probe that can be easily inserted into a complicatedly curved insertion path such as a forceps hole without causing physical load or twisting on a connecting portion or a probe cable.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a substantially rectangular oscillator in which a plurality of oscillating elements are arranged and is long in the arranging direction of the oscillating elements, and an electrical connection to the oscillating elements. A rectangular substrate part is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the vibrator for wiring connection, and the rectangular substrate part extends from one longitudinal end of the rectangular substrate part and is bent at a predetermined angle. 2) A flexible board consisting of a spirally wound board part and a flexible board on which a wiring pattern to each vibrating element is printed from this winding board part to a rectangular board part, and each vibrating element The probe cable is characterized in that a plurality of lead wires for applying a voltage to the probe cable are connected to a winding substrate portion, and the winding substrate portion is spirally wound to form a probe cable.

Further, another invention is characterized in that the flexible substrates are provided on both sides of the vibrator, and connections to the vibrating element are alternately made from the flexible substrates on both sides.

[Function] According to the above configuration, the winding substrate portion to which the lead wire is connected is wound and fixed outward from one end in the longitudinal axis direction of the vibrator, so that the coaxial lead wire is connected to the longitudinal axis of the vibrator. It will be connected to one end face in the direction, thereby forming a probe cable. Therefore, since the coaxial lead wire is not connected to the back side of the reinforcing plate of the vibrator as in the conventional case, the probe can be made smaller by the amount of the bundle of lead wires.

In addition, since the probe cable is formed by spirally winding the wound substrate, the probe cable as a whole becomes flexible, and when the probe is inserted into the subject, it can be easily detected. The direction of the tip of the tentacle can be changed freely. Furthermore, according to another invention, since the flexible substrates placed on both sides of the vibrator are connected to each vibrating element alternately, the number of connections can be doubled, and the number of connections can be increased. If the number is not increased, it is possible to connect the wires with a margin.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows the outline of the configuration of the ultrasonic probe according to the first embodiment, Fig. 2 shows the manufacturing process of the probe, and Fig. 3 shows the structure of the flexible substrate. A printed wiring pattern is shown.

In FIG. 1, a vibrating element section 16 of a vibrator 10
is formed by a plurality of vibrating elements, and in this case, the ultrasonic waves are radiated upward in the figure. A flexible substrate 24 is attached to the vibrator 10, and the rectangular substrate portion 24a of the flexible substrate 24 is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the vibrator 10 and connected to the printed wire terminal of the substrate portion 24a for connecting each vibrating element. The electrodes are connected, and the wound substrate portion 24b is wound spirally as shown in the figure.

That is, the flexible substrate 24
As shown in the figure, it consists of a rectangular board part 24a and a wound board part 24b which is formed by bending at a predetermined angle and extending from the rectangular board part 24a, and a wiring pattern as shown in the figure is printed on these parts. There is. For example, the flexible substrate 24 has a width of about 4 to 6 mm and a length of about 37 mm.

FIG. 3a shows a wiring pattern when the connection portion between the flexible substrate 24 and each vibrating element is limited to one side, and in this case, the wiring corresponding to each vibrating element is connected to one long side of the rectangular substrate portion 24a. A wiring pattern is printed so that connection portions B for coaxial lead wires, which are alternately slightly shifted in position, are formed on the outer periphery of the wound substrate portion 24b in the same number as the coaxial lead wires.

FIG. 3b shows a wiring pattern in the case where the connection parts with each vibrating element are set on both sides. In this case, the connection part A-1 corresponding to each vibrating element is provided on both sides of the long side of the rectangular board part 24a. , A-2 are formed alternately, and connection portions B for coaxial lead wires, which are slightly shifted in position, are formed alternately on the outer periphery of the winding substrate portion 24b in a manner that corresponds to the number of coaxial lead wires. Print.

In the present invention, any of the wiring patterns described above may be used, but when the setting density of the transducer elements is high or the number of transducer elements is large, the wiring pattern shown in Figure b is used to connect each transducer element. Since the intervals between the printed terminals in each section can be set with a sufficient margin, it becomes possible to perform wiring work easily.

FIG. 2 shows the manufacturing process of a probe when the flexible substrate 24 of FIG. 3a is used. The rectangular substrate portion 24a is bent along the outer peripheral surface of the vibrator 10 and fixed by adhesion, and then the electrodes of each vibrating element of the vibrator 10 and the printed terminals of the wiring pattern are connected by soldering or the like.

On the other hand, the coaxial lead wire 22 is attached to the winding board portion 24b.
Connect the wires and wind them in a spiral. Next, a probe is formed by applying an exterior to the vibrator 10 manufactured as described above, and the portion around which the wound substrate portion 24b is wound is manufactured as a part of the probe cable. become.

In this case, since the flexible substrate 24 has flexibility, the entire probe cable can be made flexible, and when the probe is inserted into the subject, the tip of the probe It becomes possible to change the direction freely.

The probe formed as described above can have a smaller outer circumferential diameter due to the absence of the bundle of coaxial lead wires 22. When this probe is actually used, it will be inserted into the forceps hole of the endoscope in the direction shown by arrow 300 in FIG. becomes smaller, so the diameter is 3.5
It can be easily inserted into forceps holes as small as mm to 4 mm.

When using the flexible substrate 24 shown in FIG. 3b, the vibrator 10 is placed approximately at the center of the rectangular substrate portion 24a, and wires are alternately connected to each vibrating element from both sides of the vibrator 10. According to this, since the terminal spacing becomes wider, there are advantages such as the above-mentioned wiring work becomes easier to perform.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4, and this second embodiment consists of two flexible substrates 2.
4 is used.

The figure shows the unfolded state of the vibrator 10 when viewed from the back side, and the flexible substrates 24-1, 24
The shape and wiring pattern of -2 are formed symmetrically as shown in the figure.

Wires for each vibrating element are connected alternately to the two flexible substrates 24-1 and 24-2, and these are bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the vibrator 10 (reinforcing plate 12) so as to be stacked on the back surface of the vibrator 10 (reinforcing plate 12). , the wound substrate parts 24b-1 and 24b-2 are also wound in an overlapping manner.

According to this second embodiment, the number of connections of the coaxial lead wire 22 can be doubled, and it can be well applied to a probe with a large number of vibrating elements, and the number of connections does not need to be increased. This has the advantage that the wires can be connected with sufficient margin in some cases.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a flexible substrate having a wound substrate portion is provided, and a coaxial lead wire is connected to the wound substrate portion, so that the outer periphery of the probe The diameter can be reduced to the size of only the vibrator, and compared to conventional probes, the outer diameter can be made smaller due to the lack of a bundle of coaxial lead wires.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain a probe that can be easily inserted into a narrow tube such as a forceps hole of an endoscope device.

In addition, since the flexible substrate is flexible, the probe cable can be made flexible, allowing the direction of the tip of the probe to be freely adjusted when the probe is inserted into the body cavity of the subject. This makes it possible to easily insert it into narrow tubes such as intricately curved forceps holes without causing any physical load or twist on the connection section or probe cable.

According to another invention, since flexible substrates are provided on both sides, it is possible to reduce the outer diameter and increase the number of vibrating elements that can be connected in the probe.On the other hand, when the number of vibrating elements is not increased, It becomes possible to perform wiring work with plenty of time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the first embodiment of the ultrasonic probe according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the manufacturing process of the probe according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of a flexible substrate. A configuration diagram showing the wiring pattern, Figure 4 is the second
FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional probe. 10... Vibrator, 12... Reinforcement plate, 14... Backing material, 16... Vibration element section, 18... Wiring pattern, 20... Printed circuit board, 22... Coaxial lead wire, 24... Flexible board, 24a...
...Rectangular board part, 24b...Wound board part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A substantially rectangular parallelepiped vibrator in which a plurality of vibrating elements are arranged and elongated in the direction in which the vibrating elements are arranged, and a rectangular shape disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the vibrator for electrical connection to the vibrating elements. The wound substrate is made up of a substrate portion and a wound substrate portion which extends from one longitudinal end of the rectangular substrate portion, is bent at a predetermined angle, and is itself wound in a spiral shape around the longitudinal axis of the vibrator. It has a flexible board on which a wiring pattern for each vibrating element is printed from the part to the rectangular board part, and a plurality of lead wires for applying voltage to each vibrating element are connected to the winding board part. An ultrasonic probe characterized in that a probe cable is formed by spirally winding a wound substrate. 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the flexible substrates are provided on both sides of the transducer, and connections to the transducer elements are alternately made from the flexible substrates on both sides.