JPH0722247Y2 - Intracorporeal ultrasound diagnostic device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial field of application] The present invention inserts an ultrasonic transducer into a body cavity to detect deep organs such as the intestinal wall, stomach wall, gallbladder, and pancreas from the inside of the body cavity with high resolution. The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic device in a body cavity for ultrasonic diagnosis.

[Conventional technology]

The intracorporeal ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus configured to perform ultrasonic diagnosis by performing signal processing while controlling the rotation of the ultrasonic transducer provided at the tip of the insertion portion to be inserted into the body cavity has been variously known. Things have been proposed.

The applicant has already proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 62-96861 a device in which an ultrasonic transducer and an ultrasonic motor are provided at the tip of an ultrasonic endoscope and the ultrasonic transducer is directly driven to rotate. is doing. In this device, a rotary shaft is attached to the rear end portion of the ultrasonic transducer and is supported by two bearings arranged at intervals. In this way, the ultrasonic transducer is rotatably supported, and an ultrasonic motor is provided in the outer peripheral direction of the rotation shaft so that the ultrasonic transducer can rotate. In this case, the rotor of the ultrasonic motor is attached to the end of the ultrasonic transducer.

On the other hand, a rotation detecting piece is provided on the rotary shaft between the two bearings, and a rotation start pulse detecting sensor is provided so as to face the rotation detecting piece so as to detect the writing position of the ultrasonic image during one rotation. There is.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

Since the conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in the body cavity is a separate body from the rotor which is a constituent element of the ultrasonic motor and the rotation detecting piece provided on the rotary shaft of the ultrasonic vibrator, the length of the hard portion of the distal end of the insertion portion is large. Will be long. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to insert the insertion portion into the deep part of the body cavity and the suffering of the subject is great.

An object of the present invention is to shorten the distal end hard part of an intracorporeal ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which an ultrasonic motor or the like is provided at the distal end of the insertion part so that the ultrasonic probe can be stably rotated without uneven rotation or phase shift. It is what

[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is designed to scan an ultrasonic beam into and out of a body cavity by an ultrasonic transducer that transmits and receives an ultrasonic beam in the distal end of an insertion part that is removably inserted into the body cavity. In a body cavity ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus provided with a rotating member and an ultrasonic motor for driving the rotating member, a rotation detecting surface is integrally formed on a surface opposite to a surface of the rotor of the ultrasonic motor facing the stator, A rotation start pulse detection sensor is provided at a required position where the rotation detection surface can be detected.

Since the rotation detection surface is integrally formed on the rotor of the ultrasonic motor as described above, the length of the hard portion at the tip of the insertion portion can be shortened as compared with the case where the rotation detection surface is provided separately.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing a first embodiment of the invention. An insertion portion 4 having a tip portion 1, a curved portion 2, and a flexible portion 3, an operation portion 5 continuous with the insertion portion 4, an eyepiece connected to the operation portion 5, and a universal cord 7 continuous with the operation portion 5. An electric cable cord 8 is provided. An endoscope connector 9 connected to a light source device (not shown) is attached to the tip of the universal cord 7, and an electric connector 10 is attached to the tip of the electric cable cord 8.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the tip portion 1. The ultrasonic probe 12 is fixed with the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 11 facing forward in the insertion axis direction, and the ultrasonic probe 12 is fixed at a position facing the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 11.
A rotary member 13 having a reflection slope of 45 ° is provided, and a rotor shaft 14 of an ultrasonic motor is fixed to the rotary member 13 by screws or the like in the insertion axis direction so as to be rotatable.

The ultrasonic motor is a rotor composed of a slider 15a and a moving body 15b.
15 and a stator 16 including a piezoelectric body 16a and an elastic body 16b. A sliding plate 17 is fixed to the rotor 15, and a pressure spring 18 such as a leaf spring presses the rotor 15 toward the stator 16 via the sliding plate 17. The rotor shaft 14 is an O-ring or X
It is sealed with a seal member 19 such as a ring, and the entire ultrasonic motor is covered with a cover 20.

FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along the line AA. As shown here, the rotation detecting surface 21 made of a combination of the reflecting surface 21a and the non-reflecting surface 21b is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 15.

On the other hand, a cutout 20a is formed in a part of the cover 20 so that the cover 20
The fiber sensor 23 provided on the outside faces the rotation detection surface 21 via the notch 20a, and detects the rotation start pulse. 24 is the piezoelectric body 16a of the stator 16
And a plurality of cables that are connected to the metal part and apply a voltage to the piezoelectric body 16a to generate a traveling wave.

A tip cap 25 made of plastic or the like that transmits ultrasonic waves is watertightly provided around the ultrasonic motor and the rotating member. The inside thereof is filled with the ultrasonic transmission medium liquid 26. Further, around the tip cap 25, a balloon for injecting a liquid 22 such as degassed water into the inside to bring the liquid 22 into close contact with the subject.
I am wearing 27.

An observation optical system 28 including an objective lens 28a, an image guide bundle 28b and the like, and an illumination optical system including an illumination lens 29a, a ride guide bundle 29b and the like on the side of the distal end portion 1 closer to the curved portion than the position of the balloon 27, and outside thereof. Not shown air supply, water supply nozzle, and forceps port are provided. Incidentally, FIG. 2C
Is a BB sectional view.

3A and 3B are perspective views showing the ultrasonic motor. A
Is a disc type ultrasonic motor, and B is an annular type ultrasonic motor. These ultrasonic motors include a piezoelectric body 16a and an elastic body 1
The stator 16 composed of 6b is a vibrating body, and the rotor 15 composed of a slider 15a and a moving body 15b is a moving body. Vibrating body 16
When the flexural vibration is generated, the moving body 15, which is strongly crimped thereto, rotates. This torque is applied to the rotor shaft 14
It is transmitted to the rotating member 26 via the so as to be rotated.

A rotation start pulse detection sensor 23 using a small photo sensor in which a reflective surface 21a and a non-reflective surface 21b are formed on the surface of the rotor 15.
Thus, the writing start position of the ultrasonic image during one rotation can be detected.

(For disk type ultrasonic motor).

In the case of the annular ultrasonic motor, the reflection surface 21a and the non-reflection surface 21b formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 15 are similarly detected by the start pulse detection sensor 23 using a fiber sensor.

The operation of ultrasonic diagnosis using the intracavity ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this embodiment will be described. When the ultrasonic probe 12 is driven, an ultrasonic beam is emitted toward the rotating member 13. Rotating member
The ultrasonic beam reflected by the reflecting surface by the rotation of 13 passes through the emission window and is emitted in the direction perpendicular to the insertion axis, and scans the subject all around the insertion axis in the same direction. The echo from the subject is received by the ultrasonic probe, the predetermined signal processing is performed, and then the image is displayed on the monitor.

In this case, the start pulse is sent from the rotation detection surface 21 attached to the rotor 15 of the ultrasonic motor that rotates the rotating member 13 to the signal processing device (not shown) once during one rotation by the rotation start pulse detection sensor 23. Then, the writing position of the image is determined.

The rotor shaft 14 is rotatably sealed by a seal member 19 provided integrally with the ultrasonic motor, and the ultrasonic transmission medium liquid 26 in the tip cap 25 does not enter the ultrasonic motor. Is being prevented.

In this embodiment, the ultrasonic motor is integrally provided with the rotation detection surface for determining the image writing start position, so that the apparatus can be simplified and downsized. Also, simplification of the device,
A seal member is provided in the ultrasonic motor for miniaturization,
Further, the rotating member is used as a mirror to emit the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic probe, and no contact brush or rotary transformer is provided.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals (same for other embodiments). In the present embodiment, the ultrasonic probe 12 is provided at the tip of the distal end portion, the rotary member 13 for emitting ultrasonic waves in the direction perpendicular to the insertion axis is provided facing the rear, and the ultrasonic member is provided behind the rotary member 13. A sonic motor is provided. A rotation detecting surface 21 is formed on the rear surface of the rotor 15 of the ultrasonic motor by printing, and a notch 20a is formed at the rear portion of the cover 20.
The small photosensor 30 for detecting the rotation start pulse provided facing 0a can detect the image writing position. In this embodiment, the observation optical system 28 is of the front direct-view type and is provided along the insertion axis. 4B is a sectional view taken along line AA and C is a sectional view taken along line BB.

It is needless to say that by adopting this embodiment, it is possible to realize simplification and miniaturization of the device as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the ultrasonic probe 12 is integrally fixed to the rotating member 13, and the ultrasonic probe is directly rotated for ultrasonic scanning. I am trying. A rotation signal transmission member 31, such as a rotary transformer or a slip ring, is provided in the cavity of the ultrasonic motor so that signals can be transmitted while rotating between the ultrasonic probe 12 and the signal cable 32.

A rotation detection surface is formed on the outer periphery of the rotor 15 of the ultrasonic motor, and a photo sensor 33 which is a rotation start pulse detection sensor is provided facing the rotation detection surface.

Since the ultrasonic probe is directly rotated in this embodiment, there is no problem such as the multiple echo by the reflection mirror method as in the above embodiments. Moreover, since the rotation signal transmitting member is arranged in the hollow portion of the ultrasonic motor and the rotation detecting surface is provided on the outer periphery of the rotor, it is possible to avoid increasing the length of the hard tip portion.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made. For example, according to the present invention, ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic probe as shown in FIG. 6 are emitted forward in the insertion axis direction, ultrasonic scanning is performed in a plane, and the puncture needle 34 can be projected and retracted in the scanning plane. Also applicable to Although not shown, an observation optical system is provided in parallel with the insertion hole of the puncture needle 34. The one shown in FIG. 6 is one in which an ultrasonic probe and an ultrasonic motor shaft are provided in a direction perpendicular to the insertion axis so as to drive the ultrasonic probe, and puncturing of a subject can be performed under ultrasonic scanning. . It goes without saying that the ultrasonic motor is provided with a rotation detection surface for detection.

[Effect of device]

As described above, according to the present invention, an ultrasonic motor is provided at the tip end, and even if the insertion portion is bent without the need for a flexible shaft or the like, stable rotation of the motor can be prevented by preventing the motor from rotating improperly and the phase being deviated. The rotation detecting mechanism at the distal end of the insertion portion of the intracorporeal ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, which can also make the soft portion thin, can be simplified and downsized, and the length of the hard portion can be shortened. This facilitates the insertion of the insertion portion into the deep part of the body cavity and reduces the pain of the subject. Further, since the drive motor and the rotation detector provided in the operation unit are not required, the operation unit is lightened and the burden on the operator can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in a body cavity according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C are cross-sectional views of a distal end portion, AA cross section, and BB cross section showing a first embodiment of the present invention. Is. 3A and 3B are exploded perspective views of a disk-type ultrasonic motor and a ring-type ultrasonic motor, and FIGS. 4A, B and C are cross-sectional views of the tip and AA of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a tip portion showing a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another tip portion to which the present invention is applied. 12 …… Ultrasonic transducer, 13 …… Rotating member 14 …… Rotor shaft, 15 …… Rotor 16 …… Stator, 21 …… Rotation detection surface 23 …… Fiber sensor (rotation start pulse detection sensor)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam within a distal end portion of an insertion portion which is removably inserted into a body cavity, and a rotating member for rotating the ultrasonic beam toward the body cavity. In an intracorporeal ultrasonic diagnostic device equipped with an ultrasonic motor that drives a member, a rotation detection surface is integrally formed on the surface of the rotor of the ultrasonic motor opposite to the surface facing the stator, and the rotation detection surface is detected. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in a body cavity, wherein a rotation start pulse detection sensor is provided at a required position where it can be performed.