192 results about "Ultrasonic Endoscopy" patented technology

An ultrasonic endoscope device includes an optical image obtaining device that obtains an optical image of an examinee, an ultrasonic-image obtaining device that obtains an ultrasonic image of the examinee, a positional-information obtaining device that obtains positional information of the optical image obtaining device with respect to the examinee upon obtaining the optical image, and a matching circuit that matches up an optical image obtained from the optical image obtaining device with the ultrasonic image obtained from the ultrasonic-image obtaining device based on the positional information obtained by the positional-information obtaining device.

A backing material for suppressing the surface temperature rise of an ultrasonic probe. This backing material is provided on a back face of at least one vibrator for transmitting and / or receiving ultrasonic waves in an ultrasonic probe, and includes: a backing base material containing a polymeric material; and a heat conducting fiber provided in the backing base material, having a larger coefficient of thermal conductivity than that of the backing base material, and running through without disconnection from a first face of the backing material in contact with the at least one vibrator to a second face different from the first face.

An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus according to the present invention includes an ultrasonic endoscope having ultrasonic transducers for scanning ultrasonic wave in a living body three-dimensionally, an ultrasonic image creating portion of an ultrasonic observing apparatus for creating ultrasonic volume data based on an ultrasonic signal captured by the ultrasonic endoscope, a two-dimensional image select knob, keyboard, trackball, computing / control portion and display control portion for selecting a tomographic plane from the ultrasonic volume data by designating the angle of rotation about the straight line through two points designated on the ultrasonic volume data as the axis of rotation, and a monitor for displaying the tomographic plane selected during a scanning operation as a two-dimensional ultrasonic image.

When an ultrasound endoscope arrives at an objective area, a puncture needle is located in a scan area of a first ultrasound image. Thereby, an image of the puncture needle is delineated on the first ultrasound image. Furthermore, an ultrasound probe is inserted into the puncture needle and an ultrasound transducer of the ultrasound probe is arranged in the objective area through the puncture needle. Then, the ultrasound probe is driven and a second ultrasound image is delineated. Detailed observation inside the objective area in which the puncture needle is punctured is possible with the second ultrasound image.

A rigid tip end section which is connected to an angle section at the fore distal end of an insertion instrument of an ultrasound endoscope is housed in a casing which can be split into a main casing and a separable head block to facilitate maintenance and service of internal component parts of the rigid tip end section. An ultrasound transducer is accommodated in a front side portion of the main casing, while endoscopic observation means including an illumination means and an optical image pickup means are fitted in an inclined wall rising obliquely upward on the rear side of the ultrasound transducer. An outlet opening of a biopsy channel outlet passage is located between the ultrasound transducer and the endoscopic observation means. The main casing is adapted to accommodate the ultrasound transducer and its wiring, while the separable head block is adapted to accommodate at least part of component parts of the endoscopic observation means. The main casing and the separable head block are joined with each other through joint wall portions provided along split lines at the opposite lateral sides and at the front side thereof. A foremost one of angle rings of the angle section is detachably fitted on base end portions of the main casing and separable head block to retain these parts in a fixedly connected state.

A composite piezoelectric material capable of reducing a peak temperature of a vibrator array to be used for transmitting or receiving ultrasonic waves in ultrasonic imaging. The composite piezoelectric material includes: plural piezoelectric materials arranged along a flat surface or curved surface; and an anisotropic heat conducting material having a higher coefficient of thermal conductivity in at least one direction and provided between the plural piezoelectric materials and / or at outer peripheries of the plural piezoelectric materials.

An ultrasonic endoscope in which the temperature rise can be suppressed with a reduced diameter. The ultrasonic endoscope includes: an ultrasonic transducer part including plural ultrasonic transducers; an exterior member for accommodating the ultrasonic transducer part; and a heat conducting part provided inside of the exterior member and respectively connected to the ultrasonic transducer part and an inner surface of the exterior member. It is preferable that the heat conducting part has a coefficient of thermal conductivity equal to or more than 10 W / (m·K). Further, it is preferable that one of the heat conducting member and the exterior member has an electric insulation property.

A medical treatment device inserted into a treatment instrument insertion channel of an ultrasonic endoscope inserted into a body cavity for treating an organ in the body cavity comprises a treatment probe having an electrode portion inserted and stuck into the organ in the body cavity through the treatment instrument insertion channel of the ultrasonic endoscope for radio-frequency cautery treatment of a tissue in the organ and an ultrasonic reflection portion formed on the surface of the electrode portion of the treatment probe for reflecting an ultrasonic signal from the ultrasonic endoscope.

An ultrasonic endoscope has an ultrasonic transducer for emitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a balloon support, having the ultrasonic transducer, for supporting a balloon mounted thereon to cover the ultrasonic transducer hermetically and removably. In an ultrasonic diagnosis system, the ultrasonic endoscope includes an inflation button adapted to inflating the balloon. A deflation button is adapted to deflating the balloon. Furthermore, a flow line extends to the balloon to pass water. A pump apparatus includes a rotary pump for drawing the water through the flow line, to cause the water to flow into and out of the balloon. A pump controller controls the rotary pump, inflates the balloon by supplying the water in response to an inflation signal from the inflation button, and deflates the balloon by discharging the water in response to a deflation signal from the deflation button.

An ultrasonic endoscope comprises an insertion portion including: an angle portion; a hard distal portion; an endoscopic observation unit comprising a lighting portion and an observation portion; and an ultrasonic test unit comprising an ultrasonic transducer constituting an ultrasonic test unit, wherein the hard distal portion includes: a distal end main body including an entire portion whereat the ultrasonic transducer is attached; an observation portion block that includes a portion whereat the observation portion is attached and that is separably coupled with the distal end main body; and an elevator block that is securely held between the distal end main body and the observation portion block by engaging the distal end main body and the observation portion block, and that comprises the elevator, and wherein the distal end main body, the observation portion block and the elevator block are assembled so as to be capable of being disassembled.

The invention relates to an annular-array ultrasonic endoscope probe, a preparation method thereof and a fixing rotating device. The probe comprises a metal cylinder located in the center and a plurality of piezoelectric array elements arranged around the metal cylinder and formed by cutting piezoelectric ceramic circular rings or monocrystalline circular rings. A backing material layer is equipped between the piezoelectric array elements and the metal cylinder. A matching material layer is covering on the outer sides of the piezoelectric array elements. Decoupling materials are filled among the piezoelectric array elements. The probe further comprises a plurality of coaxial cables correspondingly connected with the piezoelectric array elements; and annular grids sleeved on the metal cylinder, each having a gear-shaped structure and applied for arranging and separating the coaxial cables. By directly cutting piezoelectric ceramic circular rings or piezoelectric monocrystalline circular rings to make the piezoelectric array elements, the probe provided in the invention prevents the problems generated when a multi-layer material with a certain thickness is forcibly reeled into a cylindrical shape in a conventional method and characterized in that the array elements are not coaxially arranged; the array elements on the interface positions are not aligned; a conventional probe is easy to be damaged, disengaged and broken, etc.

A puncture needle device detachably attached to an ultrasonic endoscope via a pipe sleeve including a non-circular collar, including a cylindrical connecting body into which the pipe sleeve is inserted, the cylindrical connecting body including an insertion limit portion which contacts the pipe sleeve to prevent it from being further inserted, and a non-circular collar receiving hole engaged with the collar and irrotatable relative thereto when the pipe sleeve is inserted; a sheath projecting from the cylindrical connecting body and inserted into an internal conduit of the ultrasonic endoscope; a puncture needle inserted into the sheath; and a lock member supported by the cylindrical connecting body and movable between an unlocked position allowing the pipe sleeve to insert and remove from the cylindrical connecting body, and a locked position wherein the lock member contacts the collar of the pipe sleeve to prevent it from removing from the cylindrical connecting body.

An ultrasonic endoscope comprises an insertion portion comprising a distal hard portion which has: an endoscopic observation unit; and an ultrasonic observation unit having ultrasonic transducers arranged circumferentially on an outer circumferential section of the distal hard portion, wherein the ultrasonic observation unit comprises an ultrasonic-wave transmission / reception unit having an tunnel-shaped path which has an inner circumferential surface formed as a backing layer; a distal block is arranged on a distal side in an axial direction of the distal hard portion with respect to a location where the ultrasonic-wave transmission / reception unit is arranged, and distal ends of respective members constituting the endoscopic observation unit are fixed to the distal block; and part of the members which constitute the endoscopic observation unit are fitted so as to be partially protruded from an inside diameter of the tunnel-shaped path toward an outer circumferential side thereof.

In an ultrasonic endoscope, excessive temperature rise due to heat generated from ultrasonic transducers and / or an image pickup device is prevented. The ultrasonic endoscope includes: an ultrasonic transducer part including plural ultrasonic transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and a backing material provided on a back of the plural ultrasonic transducers and having plural signal terminals provided on a surface opposite to the plural ultrasonic transducers; a signal line holding part including a highly heat conducting filler filling a space holding a group of shield lines electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducers via the plural signal terminals, and coupled to the backing material; and a highly heat conducting layer provided in contact with the signal line holding part, and thereby coupled to the signal line holding part.

In an ultrasonic probe to be used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for medical use, the temperature rise due to heat generated from ultrasonic transducers can be suppressed. The ultrasonic probe includes: an ultrasonic transducer array in which plural ultrasonic transducers are arranged with gaps in between; a casing for accommodating at least the ultrasonic transducer array; and channels for circulation of a liquid heat transfer material in the gaps between the plural ultrasonic transducers.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has an ultrasonic endoscope, an ultrasonic observing portion, a position detecting unit, a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse. Cross-sectional planes in parallel therewith are set to radial tomographic images, an intersecting line segment is obtained between a radial tomographic image and the cross-sectional plane, the intersecting line segments are combined, and a route tomographic image is generated. It is easily recognized how the lesion is spreading along the luminal portion during the examination by advancing and returning a radial scanning ultrasonic probe. Further, which part in the luminal portion is scanning during the examination can easily be recognized during the examination.

An ultrasonic endoscope in which the temperature rise can be suppressed with a reduced diameter. The ultrasonic endoscope includes: an ultrasonic transducer part including plural ultrasonic transducers; an exterior member for accommodating the ultrasonic transducer part; and a heat conducting part provided inside of the exterior member and respectively connected to the ultrasonic transducer part and an inner surface of the exterior member. It is preferable that the heat conducting part has a coefficient of thermal conductivity equal to or more than 10 W / (m·K). Further, it is preferable that one of the heat conducting member and the exterior member has an electric insulation property.

An ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention includes: two or more ultrasonic transducer cells, each of which has a lower electrode, a first insulating layer placed on the lower electrode, a cavity placed on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer placed on the cavity, and an upper electrode placed above the second insulating layer; channels which communicate the cavities with each other; the second insulating layer placed on the channels; holes formed in the second insulating layer placed on the channels; and sealing portions which seal the holes, where that part of the sealing portions which enters the channels is the same in cross-sectional shape as the holes.

The present invention provides an ultrasonic endoscope which enables a leakage current to a standing table to diffuse appropriately to an earth wire when the high frequency disposal appliances are used. The standing table (60) arranged at the front end part (34) of the ultrasonic endoscope(1) and a driving mechanism are assembled into standing table components (72) integrally via a conductive part, and are accepted and kept by an accepting part formed by an insulating front end part main body (36). An angle ring (a front end ring) (250) is embedded at the frontmost end of a bending part (32) at the periphery at the base end side of the front end part main body (36), the front end ring (250) and the standing table components (72) (an assembly main body 80) are connected via a conductive screw (270) embedded in a conduction hole (220). The angle ring is connected with the earth wire, so that the leakage current leaking to the standing table (60) from the disposal appliance is discharged to the earth wire via the angle ring of the bending part (32).

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has an ultrasonic endoscope, an ultrasonic observing portion, a position detecting unit, a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse. Cross-sectional planes in parallel therewith are set to radial tomographic images, an intersecting line segment is obtained between a radial tomographic image and the cross-sectional plane, the intersecting line segments are combined, and a route tomographic image is generated. It is easily recognized how the lesion is spreading along the luminal portion during the examination by advancing and returning a radial scanning ultrasonic probe. Further, which part in the luminal portion is scanning during the examination can easily be recognized during the examination.

In an ultrasonic probe to be used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for medical use, ultrasonic transducers are cooled while sufficiently absorbing ultrasonic waves released to the back of the ultrasonic transducers without causing attenuation of ultrasonic waves transmitted or received by the ultrasonic transducers. The ultrasonic probe includes: an ultrasonic transducer array including plural ultrasonic transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; an acoustic matching layer provided on a front of the ultrasonic transducer array; a cooling mechanism directly or indirectly provided on a back of the ultrasonic transducer array and including a porous member; a backing material provided on the back of the ultrasonic transducer array via at least the cooling mechanism; and channels for circulation of a liquid heat transfer material in the cooling mechanism.

An ultrasonic endoscope having a small size and a slight temperature rise of an insertion part even when the transmission output of an ultrasonic transducer part is increased or an imaging device is attached thereto. The ultrasonic endoscope includes: an ultrasonic transducer part having plural ultrasonic transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; a flexing part for flexibly supporting the ultrasonic transducer part; a coupling part for coupling the flexing part to an operation part; a covering material for covering at least the flexing part and the coupling part; and a heat-conducting member provided inside of the covering material and coupled to the ultrasonic transducer part, for transferring heat generated in the ultrasonic transducer part to the operation part.

An ultrasonic endoscope capable of suppressing temperature rise of an insertion part without increase in diameter. The ultrasonic endoscope includes: an ultrasonic transducer part having plural ultrasonic transducers; an exterior member for holding the ultrasonic transducer part; an opening formed in the exterior member; a heat conducting member arranged inside of the exterior member and connected to the ultrasonic transducer part; and a heat radiating member provided on an outer surface of the exterior member and connected to the heat conducting member via the opening. For example, a part of the heat radiating member is located within the opening and the part is connected to the heat conducting member. The heat radiating member is electrically insulated from the ultrasonic transducer part.

The invention provides an ultrasonic endoscope which is provided with an endoscope observation component on a rigid part at the top of an insert part. The endoscope observation component is at least provided with an illuminating part and an observation part at the top and is provided with an electronic scanning ultrasonic observation component at the periphery of a mounting part. the ultrasonic endoscope is characterized in that in the ultrasonic observation component configuration, a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators are arranged in a cylinder-shaped or an arc-shaped ultrasonic vibrator array and a cylinder-shaped cushion is formed at the inner side; a plurality of terminals at one side connected with poles of the ultrasonic vibrators, terminals at the other side connected with cables respectively and a flexible substrates forming a wiring pattern between the terminals at one side and the terminals at the other side are arranged between the ultrasonic vibrators array and the cushion; the flexible substrate has a step-shaped structure which forms a big diameter part of the terminals at one side at the exterior side and a small diameter part of the terminals at the other side at the exterior side, and the inner side of the small diameter part is provided with a ring-shaped supporting part.

An ultrasonic endoscope comprising an insertion portion comprising a distal hard portion which has: an endoscopic observation unit; and an ultrasonic observation unit fitted on an outer circumferential section of the endoscopic observation unit, wherein: the ultrasonic observation unit comprises: an ultrasonic transducer array having ultrasonic transducers, and a backing layer cylindrically formed on an inner circumferential surface of the ultrasonic transducer array; and a flexible circuit board on which formed are first terminals each connected to an electrode of a respective one of the ultrasonic transducers, second terminals to which cables are respectively connected, and wiring patterns respectively formed between the first and second terminals, wherein the flexible circuit board has a stepped structure having a large-diameter section on which the first terminals are formed and a small-diameter section on which the second terminals are formed, and an annular support section is formed on an inner circumferential side of the small-diameter section.

A photoacoustic-ultrasonic dual-mode endoscope includes: a probe and a probe driving unit, wherein the probe includes: a coaxially configured optical and electromagnetic rotary waveguide assembly including an optical fiber, the optical fiber including a core and a cladding, and a conductive path coaxially arranged with the optical fiber; a scanning tip located at an end of the coaxially configured optical and electromagnetic rotary waveguide assembly and configured to deliver a laser beam to an object to be examined and detect a photoacoustic signal and an ultrasonic signal generated from the object to be examined; and a plastic catheter surrounding outer surfaces of the coaxially configured optical and electromagnetic rotary waveguide assembly and the scanning tip, wherein the conductive path includes: a first conductive path including a portion coaxially arranged with the optical fiber; and a second conductive path including a portion coaxially arranged with the optical fiber and insulated from the first conductive path.

An ultrasonic endoscope is provided with: a vibrator unit (2) which has an upper surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces connecting the upper surface and the bottom surface and which performs the transmission and reception of an ultrasonic wave on the upper surface side; a cable (4a) which transmits and receives an electric signal from the vibrator unit (2) and which is connected to a side surface; an electrically conductive sealed case (5) which covers the side surfaces and the bottom surface, the electrically conductive sealed case (5) having an outlet opening (17), out of which the cable (4a) is led, and also having a flexible extended section (18) which is extended from at least the upper surface side of the outlet opening (17); and a housing (3) which holds the vibrator unit (2) through the sealed case (5) and which has a cable insertion path (21) into which the cable (4a) and the extended section (18) are inserted.