JPS628173B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved endoscope for diagnosing deep internal organs by inserting it into the stomach, intestines, etc.

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses for diagnosing inside body cavities are becoming popular by applying ultrasonic waves to the medical field. This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is composed of an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver including an ultrasonic transducer that emits and receives ultrasonic waves, and the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver is attached to the distal end portion of a flexible cylindrical tube. When making a diagnosis, this ultrasonic transmitter/receiver is inserted into an organ to be diagnosed, such as the stomach or intestines, and the ultrasonic transducer emits ultrasonic pulses intermittently into the body cavity for a very short period of time. Then, as the ultrasound waves propagate through the human tissues, a portion of them will be reflected back from the boundaries of different tissues, as the acoustic properties of each tissue and organ differ somewhat depending on the type.

During the propagation of this ultrasound pulse, the reflected echoes that occur one after another are detected by an ultrasound transducer, and when these are displayed on a cathode ray tube, etc., and the distribution of acoustic properties of body tissues is observed, healthy tissue and tumor tissue are detected. It has different acoustic properties from other devices, and it is now possible to determine the presence or absence of an abnormality within the tissue and its location from the pattern displayed on the cathode ray tube. However, when inserting and operating an ultrasound transmitter/receiver into a body cavity, the interior of the organ is completely dark and the ultrasound transmitter/receiver cannot be seen from the outside, making the operation blind. It is extremely difficult to guide the diagnostic target within the body cavity. Therefore, a problem arises in that accurate diagnostic information cannot be obtained.

Therefore, endoscopes in which an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver is incorporated into the main body have been developed. The one shown in FIG. 1 is one example, and its configuration will be explained.
In the figure, a is a flexible cylindrical tube, and an ultrasonic transducer c constituting an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device b is attached to the tip of the flexible tube, and an optical fiber is attached to the side next to the ultrasonic transducer c. An illumination optical system e consisting of d is provided. Furthermore, an observation optical system j consisting of an optical fiber f, an objective lens g, a prism h, and an observation window i is provided adjacent to the illumination optical system e. Then, this tip component is inserted into an organ to be diagnosed such as the stomach or intestine, and while observing the inside of the body cavity illuminated by the illumination optical system e using the observation optical system j, the ultrasonic transducer c It is becoming more and more inducing. However, if the endoscope has a structure in which the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device (b) is built into the main body of the endoscope, the distal end becomes large because the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device (b) is built into the tip component, and ultrasound diagnosis is generally unnecessary. When used as an endoscopy, it causes unnecessary pain to the patient.

This invention was made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a structure in which an endoscope body and an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device can be detachably attached, and when performing an ultrasonic diagnosis, an ultrasonic When the transmitting/receiving device is attached and an endoscopy is performed, the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device is removed and the size of the tip component of the endoscope body during endoscopy is reduced to avoid causing unnecessary pain to the patient. The present invention aims to provide such an endoscope.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7.
This will be explained with reference to the figures. Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 2 is an operating section of the endoscope, and this operating section 1 is provided with an eyepiece section 2. As shown in FIG. Furthermore, a universal cord 3 and a flexible cylindrical tube 4 are connected to the operating section 1. The operating section 1, eyepiece section 2, universal cord 3, and flexible tube 4 form a main body 5 of the endoscope.
The tip portion 4a of the flexible cylindrical tube 4 is provided with a connecting portion 6 formed by threading the outer peripheral surface of the tip. An ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 7 or a tip cap 28, which will be described later, is connected to this connecting portion 6.
is selectively attached. Furthermore, an illumination optical system 9 is installed adjacent to the connecting portion 6 of the tip component 4a, and an observation optical system 10 is installed adjacent to the illumination optical system 9. The illumination optical system 9 is formed from an optical fiber 11 that passes through the flexible tube 4, and the observation optical system 10 is formed from an optical fiber 11 that passes through the flexible tube 4.
The optical fiber 12 inserted through the optical fiber 12, an objective lens 13 facing the end face of the optical fiber 12, a prism 14, and an observation window 15 constitute a side-viewing endoscope. Further, two connecting wires 16, 16 are inserted into the flexible cylindrical tube 4, and one end of these connecting wires 16, 16 is connected to an electrical connection attached to the end surface of the connecting portion 6. It is connected to connection sockets 17, 17 for. The other ends of the connecting wires 16, 16 are connected to a pulse generation circuit and an amplification detection circuit (not shown) through the universal cord 3, and the amplification detection circuit is further connected to a display device such as a cathode ray tube (not shown). There is. Next, the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver device 7 will be described. Reference numeral 18 represents a connecting ring, and reference numeral 19 represents a cover. The connecting ring 18 and the cover 19 are rotatably connected to form the external appearance. Ultrasonic transducer 2 that emits and receives ultrasonic waves inside this cover 19
0 is included. Connection cords 21, 21 connected to this ultrasonic transducer 20 are attached to connection pins 2 attached to the side end wall surface 19a of the cover 19.
2 and 22, there is also a screw 23 on the inner circumferential surface of the connecting ring 18 that can be freely screwed into the threaded portion of the connecting portion 6.
is threaded so that the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver device 7 can be detachably attached to the flexible cylindrical tube 4. That is, the connection pins 22, 22 are connected to the sockets 17, 22,
It is arranged corresponding to the position No. 17. Further, the pin height is set to a dimension such that when the screw 23 of the connecting ring 18 and the threaded portion of the connecting portion 6 face each other, the tip of the pin touches the tips of the sockets 17, 17. 18 to connecting part 6
After aligning the ends of the connecting pins 22, 22 with the sockets 17, 17, the cover 9 is rotated using the connecting ring 1 as a guide. At this position, connect the tips of the connecting pins 22, 22 to the socket 1.
7, 17, and then rotate the connecting ring 18 and screw it into the connecting pins 22, 17.
22 is inserted into the sockets 17, 17 all the way to the back. However, an electrical connection is made by fitting the connecting pins 22, 22 into the sockets 17, 17, and a mechanical connection is made by screwing the connecting portion 6 and the connecting ring 18. During this installation, the position of the ultrasonic transducer 20 is determined in advance so that it is oriented in the same direction as the observation optical system 10 and the illumination optical system 9, and the ultrasonic transducer 20 is directed in the viewing direction of the observation optical system 10. This allows diagnosis to be made by oscillating in the same lateral direction. In addition, when making a diagnosis by emitting ultrasonic waves diagonally forward with respect to the viewing direction of the observation optical system 10, the pointing direction of the ultrasonic transducer 24 is directed diagonally forward as shown in FIG. The ultrasonic transmitting and receiving device 25 located at be done. In addition, the observation optical system 1
When making a diagnosis by emitting ultrasonic waves forward with respect to the visual field direction 0, the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 27 is positioned with the pointing direction of the ultrasonic transducer 26 facing forward, as shown in FIG. Similarly to the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 15, it is detachably attached by screwing into the connecting portion 6 of the flexible tube 4, and the ultrasonic waves are directed in the forward direction. In addition, 28 shown in FIG. 7 is a tip cap with a screw 29 threaded on the inner circumferential surface, which is used for endoscopy and can be detachably attached to the connection part 6 of the flexible tube 4. This is to prevent damage to organs within the body cavity caused by the sharp parts of the screws that form the connecting portion 6.

However, when performing ultrasound diagnosis of the stomach, intestines, etc. using an endoscope configured in this way,
An ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 7, 25, 27 suitable for the part to be diagnosed is selected and attached by screwing into the connecting portion 6 of the tip component 4a. Specifically, the connecting ring 18 is aligned with the end surface of the connecting portion 6, and then the cover 19 is rotated to connect the connecting pins 22, 22.
match the positions of the sockets 17, 17, and fit the tips. After that, the connection is made by screwing in the connecting ring 18 by rotating it and inserting the connecting pins 22, 22 into the sockets 17, 17. In this operation, the connecting pins 22, 22 and the sockets 17, 17 are connected. are electrically connected. Then, this ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 7 is inserted into the stomach, and the region to be diagnosed is observed while observing the stomach wall illuminated by the illumination optical system 9 through the observation optical system 10 from the eyepiece 2. The ultrasonic wave transmitter/receiver 7 is guided to.
Thereafter, the ultrasonic pulse is oscillated from the ultrasonic transducer 20 by the pulse generation circuit, and the tissue boundary,
The reflected echo reflected from the abnormal part of the tissue is displayed as a tomographic image on the display device via the ultrasound transducer 20 and the amplification/detection circuit. The presence or absence of an abnormality is then diagnosed based on the displayed tomographic image.

When an endoscope is used for endoscopic examination, the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 7 is removed from the connecting portion 6, and the distal end cap 28 is screwed into the connecting portion 6 and attached. After this, as in the above ultrasonic diagnosis, the tip component 4a is placed on the diagnosis target area such as the stomach.
is inserted, and the stomach wall surface illuminated by the illumination optical system 9 is observed and inspected from the eyepiece 2 via the observation optical system 10.

In this way, the connecting part 6 is provided on the tip component 4a of the flexible tube 4, and the screw 23 is provided on the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 7, so that the tip component 4a and the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 7 can be mechanically attached and detached. At the same time, the connection sockets 17, 17 are connected to the connection part 6, and the connection pins 2 of the ultrasonic transducer 20 are connected to the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 7.
2 and 22 are provided, and their connection sockets 17 and 1 are provided.
7. The tip component portion 4a from the connecting pins 22, 22;
Since the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 7 is electrically connected detachably, when performing ultrasonic diagnosis,
The ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 7 can be attached to the distal end component 4a, and the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 7 can be easily removed when performing an endoscopy that does not require ultrasonic diagnosis. That is, in ultrasonic diagnosis, since the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver 7 can be easily guided to the diagnosis target area while observing with the observation optical system 10, the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver 7 can be guided accurately and quickly. It can be positioned at the region to be diagnosed and accurate diagnostic information can be obtained. Further, in an endoscopy, the ultrasound transmitting/receiving device 7 can be removed and the size of the distal end of the distal end portion 4a can be reduced to perform the examination, so that the examination does not cause unnecessary pain to the patient.

Furthermore, various types of ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving devices 7, 25, and 27 can be attached to the distal end component 4a depending on the necessity of diagnosis, so that ultrasonic diagnosis for various purposes can be performed.

Note that this invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the connection between the tip component of the endoscope body and the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device was made mechanically removable by screwing, but other different means were used to connect the tip component and the ultrasonic generator. The receiving device may be detachable, and the electrical connection between the tip component and the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device may be
In the above embodiment, the connection socket and the connection pin are inserted into each other to allow attachment and detachment, but the attachment and detachment may be made by other different means.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver device is detachably attached to the tip component of the side view type endoscope body, but the tip configuration of the direct view type endoscope body is An ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving device may be detachably attached to the portion, an example of which is shown in FIGS. 8 to 11. That is, numeral 31 in the figure is the tip constituent part of the flexible cylindrical tube 32, and inside this is the optical fiber 33.
An illumination optical system 34 and an observation optical system 38 formed from an optical fiber 35, objective lenses 36, 36 facing the end face of the optical fiber 35, and an observation window 37 are installed inside. The optical system 34 and the observation optical system 38 constitute a direct-view endoscope main body 39 that observes the front of the distal end portion 31. When performing an endoscopy, the tip cap 39 is used by being removably screwed into a screw 40 provided on the outer periphery of the tip of the tip component 31, and when performing ultrasonic diagnosis, the tip cap 39 is used. 39 and remove the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 41 as shown in FIG. 10, that is, the cover 4.
2, an optical reflecting mirror 42 is disposed at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the viewing direction of the observation optical system 38.
and an ultrasonic transducer 43 oriented in the same direction as the viewing direction of the reflecting mirror 42. A connecting ring 44 of a side-view type ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 41 is removably screwed into the connecting ring 44. or the first
As shown in FIG. 1, an ultrasonic transducer 45 is arranged to be oriented in the same direction as the viewing direction of the observation optical system 38.
Even if a direct-field type ultrasonic wave transmitter/receiver 46 with a built-in device is removably screwed in for diagnosis, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained. In this case as well, the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving devices 41, 46
By installing the electrical connection, the connection socket 4
7, 47 and connection pins 49, 49, 50, 50.

Further, an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 49 as shown in FIG. 52, and an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device 49 formed by rotatably supporting a door body 54 with an ultrasonic transducer 53 installed on the other side is removably screwed into the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device. 49 into a region to be diagnosed in a body cavity, the door body 54 is closed as shown in FIG.
When the ultrasonic transducer 53 is rotated 180 degrees and opened by an operation outside the body, and the direction of the ultrasonic transducer 53 is set in the same direction as the viewing direction of the observation optical system 38 to diagnose the inside of the body cavity, the fixed part 51 is fixed due to the structure. Since the thickness of the observation optical system 38 can be reduced and the front field of view of the observation optical system 38 can be expanded, it is possible to eliminate the obstruction of the field of view by the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver 46 as shown in FIG. 11 above. .

As explained above, according to the present invention, at least one of the tip component and the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device is provided with a mechanical connection means for mechanically connecting them and an electrical connection means for electrically connecting them. Since the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving device is made detachable, the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving device can be attached when performing ultrasonic diagnosis, and can be removed when performing endoscopic examination. Therefore, the size of the distal end component in endoscopy can be reduced, resulting in the effect of not causing unnecessary pain to the patient.

Furthermore, various types of ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving devices can be attached to the distal end component according to the necessity of diagnosis, so that it is possible to perform ultrasonic diagnosis for a wide variety of purposes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a longitudinal side view showing a conventional endoscope;
The figure is a side view showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
Figures 5 and 6 are longitudinal sectional side views showing different ultrasonic transmitter/receivers detachably attached to the tip component, Figure 7 is a side sectional view showing the tip cap, and Figure 8 is a side sectional view of the tip cap. FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view showing the tip cap of another embodiment of the invention, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are different ultrasonic waves that are detachably attached to the tip component. FIG. 12 is a vertical side view showing a different ultrasonic transmitting and receiving device, FIG. 13 is a vertical side view showing the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving device in a closed state, and FIG. 14 is the same. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view showing the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver in an open state. 4a...Tip component, 7...Ultrasonic transmitter/receiver,
10...Observation optical system.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 At least a tip component having an observation optical system and an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device are provided, and at least one of the tip component and the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device is provided with a mechanical connection means for mechanically connecting the two. What is claimed is: 1. An endoscope characterized in that an electrical connection means is provided for electrically connecting the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device, and the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device is detachably attached.