Endoscopic ultrasonic

Abstract

The present invention provides an ultrasonic endoscope capable of improving the brushability of a communication path. The distal end portion (44) of the ultrasonic endoscope (10) includes: a balloon mounting portion (152) for detachably mounting a balloon (60) at the distal end portion (44), the balloon mounting portion (152) having a first balloon groove (154) provided on at least the proximal end side of the ultrasonic oscillator (92) over the outer periphery of the distal end portion; and a communication path (90) for supplying or sucking a fluid to or from the internal space of the balloon (60). The inlet / outlet (91) of the communication path (90) is formed to be obliquely inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion (12). The first balloon groove (154) has a shallow groove portion (158) formed such that the depth of the groove in the circumferential direction of the distal end portion (44) is shallower than other portions, and the inlet / outlet (91) of the communication path (90) is provided in the internal region of the distal end portion (44) where the shallow groove portion (158) is formed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic endoscope, and more particularly to an ultrasonic endoscope capable of mounting a balloon at the front end of an insertion portion inserted into a body cavity. Background Art

[0002] Ultrasonic endoscopes are used in the medical field. An ultrasonic endoscope integrally disposes an imaging element and an ultrasonic transducer at the front end of an insertion portion inserted into the body cavity of a subject. The ultrasonic transducer generates ultrasonic waves toward an observation site in the body cavity, receives an echo signal reflected from the observation site, and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the received echo signal to an ultrasonic observation device. Then, after performing various signal processes in the ultrasonic observation device, it is displayed as an ultrasonic tomographic image on a monitor or the like.

[0003] Since ultrasonic waves and echo signals are significantly attenuated in air, it is necessary to interpose an ultrasonic transmission medium such as water or oil between the ultrasonic transducer and the observation site. Therefore, a stretchable balloon is mounted at the front end of the ultrasonic endoscope, and the ultrasonic transmission medium is injected into the balloon to expand it, thereby bringing it into contact with the observation site. Thereby, air is excluded between the ultrasonic transducer and the observation site, preventing attenuation of ultrasonic waves and echo signals.

[0004] In order to supply and discharge the ultrasonic transmission medium to and from the inside of the balloon, or to supply and discharge air for expanding the balloon, a communication path is inserted and penetrated inside the insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope. The communication path has a front end opening that opens to the front end of the insertion portion, and the ultrasonic transmission medium or air is supplied to or discharged from the inside of the balloon through the front end opening.

[0005] After the ultrasonic endoscope is inspected, it is cleaned and disinfected, and the communication path needs to be scrubbed. In order to facilitate cleaning the communication path with a cleaning brush, for example, Patent Document 1 below describes an ultrasonic endoscope in which the entrances and exits of a balloon adsorption pipe and / or a balloon water injection pipe (equivalent to the "communication path") are inclined with respect to the axis of the insertion portion.

[0006] Prior Art Documents

[0007] Patent Documents

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-156903 Summary of the Invention

[0009] Technical Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0010] However, when a structure is provided in which the entrances and exits of the communication path are inclined with respect to the axis of the insertion portion, there are the following problems. That is, if the entrances and exits are inclined without changing the position of the front end opening of the communication path, compared with the case where the entrances and exits of the communication path are formed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the front end portion, since the entrances and exits are arranged on the outside, the balloon groove at the proximal end side of the base end of the balloon interferes with the entrances and exits. Therefore, it is necessary to move the balloon groove toward the proximal end side. If the balloon groove is arranged on the proximal end side, the overall length of the front end portion becomes longer, and when the curved portion is bent, the radius of the trajectory of the front end portion becomes larger, and a larger space is required.

[0011] The present invention has been completed in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic endoscope capable of preventing the front end portion from becoming long-sized and improving the brushing property.

[0012] Means for Solving Technical Problems

[0013] In order to achieve the object of the present invention, the ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention is a radial ultrasonic endoscope having an ultrasonic oscillator at the front end portion of the insertion portion and an observation system and an illumination system arranged at a position more forward than the ultrasonic oscillator. The front end portion includes: a balloon mounting portion for detachably mounting a balloon at the front end portion, the balloon mounting portion having a first balloon groove provided on the outer periphery of the front end portion over at least the proximal end side of the ultrasonic oscillator; and a communication path having an entrance and an exit opening to the internal space of the balloon mounted at the front end portion, the communication path being for supplying or sucking fluid to the internal space of the balloon, the entrance and the exit of the communication path being formed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, the first balloon groove having a shallow groove portion formed such that the depth of the groove is shallower than other portions in the circumferential direction of the front end portion, and the entrance and the exit of the communication path are provided in the inner region of the front end portion where the shallow groove portion is formed.

[0014] One embodiment of the present invention is preferably as follows. That is, the balloon mounting portion has a second balloon groove provided on the outer periphery of the front end portion over the front end side of the ultrasonic oscillator, and the depth of the second balloon groove is uniformly formed in the circumferential direction of the front end portion.

[0015] One embodiment of the present invention is preferably as follows. That is, in a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, the bottom surface shape of the first balloon groove is a shape in which a circle expands toward the portion where the entrance and the exit are provided.

[0016] One embodiment of the present invention is preferably as follows. That is, the central axis of the ultrasonic oscillator coincides with the central axis of the front end portion.

[0017] One embodiment of the present invention is preferably as follows. That is, the portion of the communication path more proximal than the entrance and the exit is formed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion.

[0018] Advantages of the Invention

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the front end portion from being elongated and improve the brushability of the communication path. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is a system configuration diagram of an endoscope apparatus including an ultrasonic endoscope.

[0021] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the front end portion of the insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope.

[0022] Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the front end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope.

[0023] Figure 4 is along Figure 3 Cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV.

[0024] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the comparison of the balloon mounting portions of the front end portion of the present embodiment and the front end portion of the comparative example.

[0025] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the front end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0027] Figure 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of an endoscope apparatus including the ultrasonic endoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the front end portion of the insertion portion of the ultrasonic endoscope. Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the front end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope.

[0028] As Figure 1 shown, as the endoscope apparatus 1, it is composed of a radial ultrasonic endoscope 10, a balloon 60, and a balloon control device 70. The ultrasonic endoscope 10 includes an operation unit 14 and an insertion unit 12 that is connected to the operation unit 14 and inserted into the body. A general-purpose cord 16 is connected to the operation unit 14, and the general-purpose cord 16 branches in the middle, and one of them is detachably connected to an ultrasonic observation device 17 that generates an ultrasonic tomographic image. The ultrasonic diagnostic image generated by the ultrasonic observation device 17 is displayed on a monitor 50. Further, an LG connector 18 is provided at the front end of the other general-purpose cord 16. The LG connector 18 is detachably connected to the light source device 20, and thereby illumination light is transmitted to an illumination window 54 provided at the front end of the insertion unit 12. Further, an electrical connector 24 is connected to the LG connector 18 via a cable 22, and the electrical connector 24 is detachably connected to a processor 26.

[0029] An air / water supply button 28, a suction button 30, a shutter button 32, and a function switching button 34 are arranged in parallel on the operation unit 14, and a pair of angled buttons 36, 36 are provided.

[0030] The insertion unit 12 is composed of a flexible unit 40, a bending unit 42, and a distal end unit 44 in sequence from the operation unit 14 side. The flexible unit 40 is formed by covering the outer periphery of a spirally wound metal plate with a mesh and covering its outer periphery, and has sufficient flexibility.

[0031] The bending unit 42 is configured to be remotely bent by rotating the angled buttons 36, 36 of the operation unit 14. For example, the bending unit 42 is rotatably connected to a plurality of cylindrical joint rings by pins, and a plurality of operation wires are inserted through the inside of the joint rings and guided by the pins. And, by pushing and pulling the operation wires, the joint rings rotate relative to each other and the bending unit 42 is bent. By bending the bending unit 42, the distal end unit 44 can be directed in a desired direction.

[0032] As Figure 2 shown, an ultrasonic transducer 94 having an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving surface is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end unit 44, and a plurality of ultrasonic oscillators 92 for obtaining an ultrasonic tomographic image are arranged in parallel in the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic transducer 94 radiates ultrasonic waves toward the observed part and receives the echo signals. And, when performing ultrasonic tomographic examination, a balloon 6() is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end unit 44 so as to cover the ultrasonic transducer 94.

[0033] As Figure 2 shown, an observation window (observation system) 52, illumination windows (illumination system) 54, 54, an air / water supply nozzle 56, and a treatment instrument outlet 58 are provided on the front end surface 45 of the distal end unit 44 on the front end side relative to the ultrasonic transducer 94. And, as Figure 3 shown, behind the observation window 52, an observation optical system and an imaging element 140 such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) are disposed via a prism (not shown), and a signal cable 144 is connected to the substrate 142 that supports the imaging element 140. The signal cable 144 is inserted through the insertion unit 12, the operation unit 14, and the general cord 16 and extends to the electrical connector 24 and is connected to the processor 26. Therefore, the observation image read by the observation window 52 is imaged on the light receiving surface of the imaging element 140 and converted into an electrical signal, and this electrical signal is output to the processor 26 via the signal cable 144 and converted into a video signal. Thus, the observation image is displayed on the monitor 50 connected to the processor 26.

[0034] As shown Figure 3 In the figure, the light guide member 146 and the exit end of the illumination optical system are disposed behind the illumination window 54. The light guide member 146 is inserted through the insertion portion 12, the operation portion 14, and the general-purpose cord 16, and its incident end is disposed within the LG connector 18. Therefore, by connecting the LG connector 18 to the light source device 20, the illumination light irradiated from the light source device 20 is transmitted through the light guide member 146 to the illumination optical system and irradiated forward from the illumination window 54.

[0035] The air and water supply nozzle 56 provided at the front end portion 44 communicates with a valve (not shown) operated by the air and water supply button 28. This valve communicates with the air and water supply connector 48 provided on the LG connector 18. An air and water supply mechanism (not shown) is connected to the air and water supply connector 48 to supply air and water. Therefore, by operating the air and water supply button 28, air or water is jetted from the air and water supply nozzle 56 toward the observation window 52.

[0036] The treatment instrument outlet 58 provided at the front end portion 44 communicates with the treatment instrument insertion portion 46 via the treatment instrument insertion passage 47. Therefore, by inserting a treatment instrument such as forceps from the treatment instrument insertion portion 46, the treatment instrument can be led out from the treatment instrument outlet 58. Further, the treatment instrument outlet 58 communicates with a valve (not shown) operated by the suction button 30, and this valve is connected to the suction connector 49 of the LG connector 18. Therefore, by connecting a suction mechanism (not shown) to the suction connector 49 and operating it using the suction button 30, it is possible to suction a diseased part or the like from the treatment instrument outlet 58.

[0037] On the outer periphery of the front end portion 44 of the insertion portion 12 of the ultrasonic endoscope 10, there is provided a balloon mounting portion 152 for detachably mounting a balloon 60. The balloon mounting portion 152 has a first balloon groove 154 provided on the outer periphery of the front end portion 44 over the base end side of the ultrasonic oscillator 92 and a second balloon groove 156 provided on the outer periphery of the front end portion 44 over the front end side of the ultrasonic oscillator 92. The balloon 60 is made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber. The balloon 60 has a first cylindrical portion 60A mounted on the first balloon groove 154, a second cylindrical portion 60B mounted on the second balloon groove 156, and a balloon main body 60C provided between the first cylindrical portion 60A and the second cylindrical portion 60B. The first cylindrical portion 60A and the second cylindrical portion 60B are formed in a substantially cylindrical shape that is narrowed with respect to the balloon main body 60C.

[0038] The balloon 60 is disposed in the first balloon groove 154 and the second balloon groove 156 of the balloon mounting portion 152 by inserting the insertion portion 12 therethrough. The first balloon groove 154 and the second balloon groove 156 are respectively provided according to the positions of the ends of the first cylinder portion 60A and the second cylinder portion 60B of the balloon 60 to be mounted, and the ends of the first cylinder portion 60A and the second cylinder portion 60B are respectively fitted into the first balloon groove 154 and the second balloon groove 156. The first cylinder portion 60A and the second cylinder portion 60B are formed with an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the insertion portion 12 of the ultrasonic endoscope 10 in the pre-installation state. When the balloon 60 is mounted on the insertion portion 12, the elastic forces of the first cylinder portion 60A and the second cylinder portion 60B are applied toward the radially inner side of the insertion portion 12. That is, by being mounted on the insertion portion 12, the expanded first cylinder portion 60A and second cylinder portion 60B tend to contract to their original sizes. Due to the contraction forces of the first cylinder portion 60A and the second cylinder portion 60B, the balloon 60 is held at a specified position of the insertion portion 12.

[0039] In the distal end portion 44, an entrance 91 of a communication path 90 that opens into the internal space of the balloon 60 mounted on the balloon mounting portion 152 is provided on the proximal end side of the ultrasonic oscillator 92 and on the front end side of the first balloon groove 154. The communication path 90 supplies or sucks fluid to or from the internal space of the balloon 60 via the entrance 91. As the fluid, degassed water can be cited as an ultrasonic transmission medium. By supplying degassed water into the balloon 60 to expand the balloon, it is brought into contact with the observed part in the body. Thereby, air is excluded from the scanning area of the ultrasonic wave, that is, between the observed part and the ultrasonic transducer 94, and attenuation of the ultrasonic wave and the echo signal is prevented. In addition, when the insertion portion 12 is withdrawn from the subject's body, the degassed water in the balloon 60 is discharged from the communication path 90 to contract the balloon 60.

[0040] The communication path 90 communicates with Figure 1 the balloon air supply port 38 of the operation portion 14 shown. A Figure 1 hose 80 is connected to the balloon air supply port 38, and a balloon control device 70 is connected via the hose 80. The balloon control device 70 is a device that supplies and sucks fluid to and from the balloon 60, and by supplying or sucking fluid from this balloon control device 70, fluid can be supplied or sucked to and from the balloon 60. The balloon 60 expands into a substantially spherical shape by supplying fluid and adheres to the outer surface of the insertion portion 12 by sucking fluid.

[0041] As Figure 1 shown, the balloon control device 70 mainly includes a device main body 72 and a manual switch 74 for remote control. A power switch SW1, a stop switch SW2, and a pressure display portion 76 are provided on the front surface of the device main body 72. The pressure display portion 76 is a panel that displays the pressure value of the balloon 60, and when an abnormality such as balloon breakage occurs, an error code is displayed on the pressure display portion 76.

[0042] A hose 80 for supplying and sucking fluid to the balloon 60 is connected to the front surface of the device main body 72. An anti-backflow unit 82 for preventing the backflow of body fluid when the balloon 60 is damaged is provided at the connection portion between the hose 80 and the device main body 72. The anti-backflow unit 82 is constituted by assembling a gas-liquid separation filter inside a hollow disk-shaped outer shell (not shown) that is detachably mounted on the device main body 72, and the filter is used to prevent liquid from flowing into the device main body 72.

[0043] On the other hand, various switches are provided on the manual switch 74. For example, a stop switch identical to the stop switch SW2 on the device main body 72 side, an ON / OFF switch for indicating the pressurization and depressurization of the balloon 60, a pause switch for maintaining the pressure of the balloon 60, etc. are provided. The manual switch 74 is electrically connected to the device main body 72 via a cord 84. In addition, Figure 1 Although not shown in the figure, a display unit for indicating the air supply state or the exhaust state of the balloon 60 is provided on the manual switch 74.

[0044] The balloon control device 70 supplies fluid to the balloon 60 to expand it, and controls its pressure value to a specified value to keep the balloon 60 in an expanded state. And, fluid is sucked from the balloon 60 to contract it, and its pressure value is controlled to a specified value to keep the balloon 60 in a contracted state.

[0045] The balloon control device 70 is connected to a balloon dedicated monitor 86, and when expanding and contracting the balloon 60, the pressure value, expansion and contraction states of the balloon 60 are displayed on the balloon dedicated monitor 86. In addition, the pressure value, expansion and contraction states of the balloon 60 can be superimposed on the observation image of the ultrasonic endoscope 10 and displayed on the monitor 50.

[0046] As Figure 3 shown, in the communication path 90, the inlet / outlet 91 of the communication path 90 is formed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis A of the insertion portion 12, and the portion closer to the proximal end side than the inlet / outlet 91 is formed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 12. By forming the inlet / outlet 91 of the communication path 90 obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 12, when cleaning the communication path 90 with a cleaning brush, the cleaning brush inserted from the proximal end side of the communication path 90 can be inserted along the inlet / outlet 91 of the communication path 90. Therefore, the body fluid and residues near the inlet / outlet 91 can be efficiently cleaned with the cleaning brush.

[0047] Figure 4 is along Figure 3A cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV (at the position of the first balloon groove 154) (a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 12). In addition, in cross-section IVA, the description of the contents other than the entrances and exits of the communication path 90 inside the distal end portion 44 is omitted. And cross-section IVB is a view showing only the bottom surface shape of the first balloon groove 154 from cross-section IVA. As Figure 4 shown, the outer shape of the distal end portion 44 is formed in a circular shape. Then, when observing in cross-section, the bottom surface shape of the first balloon groove 154 is a shape in which a part of the circular shape formed along the outer shape of the distal end portion 44 bulges outward. By making a part of the bottom surface shape of the first balloon groove 154 into a shape that bulges outward, the first balloon groove 154 has a shallow groove portion 158, which is formed such that the depth of the groove is shallower than other parts in the circumferential direction of the distal end portion 44.

[0048] By providing the shallow groove portion 158 in the first balloon groove 154, a space can be provided in the inner region inside the distal end portion 44 corresponding to the amount of the region where the depth of the groove is made shallower. In the present embodiment, by providing the entrances and exits 91 of the communication path 90 in the inner region of the shallow groove portion 158, the entrances and exits 91 of the communication path 90 can be formed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion 12 without changing the position of the first balloon groove 154 in the longitudinal axis direction and without changing the outer shape of the distal end portion 44.

[0049] Figure 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the comparison of the balloon mounting portions of the distal end portion of the present embodiment and the distal end portion of a comparative example. In the distal end portion 344 of Comparative Example 1, the communication path 390 is formed parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the distal end portion 344 from the proximal end side of the distal end portion 344, and the entrances and exits 391 are formed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A. At this time, when cleaning the communication path 390 from the proximal end side using a cleaning brush, it is difficult to insert the cleaning brush through to the entrances and exits 391 for cleaning.

[0050] On the other hand, in the distal end portion 444 of Comparative Example 2, the entrances and exits 491 of the communication path 490 are formed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis A. Thereby, the cleaning brush inserted from the proximal end side of the communication path 490 can be inserted through the entrances and exits 491 for cleaning. However, at this time, by forming the entrances and exits 490 obliquely, it interferes with the first balloon groove 454 at the proximal end side of the end portion where the balloon 60 is mounted. Therefore, it is necessary to change the position of the first balloon groove 454 from the position P1 of the first balloon groove 354 of the distal end portion 344 of Comparative Example 1 to the position P2. Therefore, in the distal end portion 444, the position of the proximal end side where the balloon is mounted is far from the front end, so it is necessary to lengthen the length of the distal end portion 444, and when the bending portion 42 is bent, the radius of the trajectory of the distal end portion becomes larger.

[0051] In contrast, in the front end portion 44 of the present embodiment, a shallow groove portion 158 is provided in the first balloon groove 154, and an entrance / exit 91 of the communication path 90 is provided in the inner region thereof, thereby preventing interference between the entrance / exit 91 and the first balloon groove 154. Therefore, the position of the first balloon groove 154 can be set at the same position P1 as the front end portion 344. Therefore, even if the entrance / exit 91 is formed obliquely, an increase in the length of the front end portion 44 can be prevented.

[0052] Moreover, as in the present embodiment, by providing the shallow groove portion 158 in the first balloon groove 154 and disposing the entrance / exit 91 of the communication path 90 inside the shallow groove portion 158, the entrance / exit 91 of the communication path 90 can be moved toward the outer side inside the front end portion 44 without changing the arrangement of the internal objects inside the front end portion 44.

[0053] Thus, in the present embodiment, by providing the shallow groove portion 158 in the first balloon groove 154 of the front end portion 44, the entrance / exit 91 of the communication path 90 is formed obliquely without moving the position of the first balloon groove 154 toward the proximal end side. Therefore, the structure of the present embodiment can be adopted without changing the outer shape of the front end portion 44. Thus, as Figure 2 shown, a structure can be adopted in which the central axis in the length direction of the ultrasonic oscillator 92 coincides with the central axis in the length direction of the front end portion 44. In addition, "the central axis in the length direction of the ultrasonic oscillator coincides with the central axis in the length direction of the front end portion" is not limited to the case where the central axes completely coincide, and a deviation of the central axis caused by manufacturing errors is included in the scope of the invention.

[0054] Moreover, the depth of the groove of the second balloon groove 156 on the front end side of the ultrasonic oscillator 92 provided in the balloon mounting portion 152 is formed uniformly in the circumferential direction of the front end portion 44. In addition, "the depth is formed uniformly in the circumferential direction" is not limited to the case where it is completely uniform in the circumferential direction, and a deviation of the depth caused by manufacturing errors is included in the scope of the invention. By making the depth of the second balloon groove 156 uniform in the circumferential direction, the balloon mounted on the front end portion 44 can be prevented from falling off easily.

[0055] As the depth of the first balloon groove 154, for example, it can be set as follows. In the first balloon groove 154, the depth H1 of the shallow groove portion 158 can be set to be 0.1 mm or more and 0.2 mm or less, and the depth H2 of the other portions except the shallow groove portion 158 can be set to be 0.45 mm or more and 0.55 mm or less. Also, the thickness T of the lips of the first cylindrical portion 60A and the second cylindrical portion 60B of the balloon 60 can be set to φ1.5 mm, for example. At the deepest part of the first balloon groove 154, the thickness T of the lips of the first cylindrical portion 60A and the second cylindrical portion 60B of the balloon 60 and the depth H2 of the first balloon groove 154 are 1 / 4 or more and 1 / 3 or less of the lips of the first cylindrical portion 60A and the second cylindrical portion 60B of the balloon 60. The depth H1 of the shallow groove portion 158 is preferably set to a depth such that the balloon does not deviate or come off from the lips of the first cylindrical portion 60A and the second cylindrical portion 60B of the balloon 60.

[0056] As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the longitudinal dimension of the distal end portion 44 from becoming longer, and it is possible to improve the brushability of the communication path 90.

[0057] The ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and several improvements or modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Hereinafter, modification examples will be described.

[0058] <Modification Example>

[0059] Figure 6 It is a cross-sectional view showing a modification example of the distal end portion of the ultrasonic endoscope. When observing in cross-section, the internal shape of the distal end portion 244 of the ultrasonic endoscope of the modification example is a circular shape and is offset from the outer shape of the distal end portion 244. Also, the bottom surface shape of the first balloon groove 254 is a circular shape and is offset from the outer shape of the distal end portion 244.

[0060] By making the internal space and the first balloon groove 254 into a circular shape as in the past and offsetting them from the outer shape of the distal end portion 244, it is possible to form a shallow groove portion 258 in the offset direction. By offsetting the internal space as well, it is possible to arrange the entrances and exits 91 of the communication path 90 at a position more outside than in the past. As a result, it is possible to obliquely form the entrances and exits 91 of the communication path 90 without moving the position of the first balloon groove 254 toward the proximal end side in the longitudinal axis direction of the distal end portion 44. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the distal end portion 244 from becoming longer, and it is possible to clean the communication path 9() using a cleaning brush. Also, since the shape of the internal space of the distal end portion does not change, the internal configuration of the ultrasonic endoscope is not changed.

[0061] Symbol Explanation

[0062] 1 - Endoscope device, 10 - Ultrasonic endoscope, 12 - Insertion section, 14 - Operation section, 16 - Universal cord, 17 - Ultrasonic observation device, 18 - LG connector, 20 - Light source device, 22 - Cable, 24 - Electrical connector, 26 - Processor, 28 - Air / water supply button, 30 - Suction button, 32 - Shutter button, 34 - Function switching button, 36 - Bend angle knob, 38 - Balloon air supply port, 40 - Flexible section, 42 - Bending section, 44, 244 - Tip section, 45 - Front end face, 46 - Disposal instrument insertion section, 47 - Disposal instrument insertion passage, 48 - Air / water supply connector, 49 - Suction connector, 50 - Monitor, 52 - Observation window, 54 - Illumination window, 56 - Air / water supply nozzle, 58 - Disposal instrument outlet, 60 - Balloon, 60A - First cylinder section, 60B - Second cylinder section, 60C - Balloon main body, 70 - Balloon control device, 72 - Device main body, 74 - Manual switch, 76 - Pressure display section, 80 - Hose, 82 - Anti - backflow unit, 84 - Cord, 86 - Balloon dedicated monitor, 90, 390, 490 - Communication path, 91, 391, 491 - Inlet / outlet, 92 - Ultrasonic vibrator, 94 - Ultrasonic transducer, 140 - Imaging element, 142 - Substrate, 144 - Signal cable, 146 - Light guide, 152 - Balloon mounting section, 154, 254, 354, 454 - First balloon groove, 156 - Second balloon groove, 158, 258 - Shallow groove section.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic endoscope, which is a radial ultrasonic endoscope having an ultrasonic oscillator at the front end of the insertion portion and the observation system and the illumination system arranged at a position closer to the front end side than the ultrasonic oscillator, wherein, the front end portion includes: a balloon mounting portion for detachably mounting a balloon at the front end portion, the balloon mounting portion having a first balloon groove provided on at least the proximal end side of the ultrasonic oscillator over the outer periphery of the front end portion; and a communication path having an entrance and exit opening to the internal space of the balloon mounted on the front end portion, the communication path being for supplying or sucking fluid to the internal space of the balloon, the entrance and exit of the communication path are formed obliquely inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, the first balloon groove has a shallow groove portion formed such that the depth of the groove is shallower than other portions in the circumferential direction of the front end portion, the entrance and exit of the communication path are provided in the inner region of the front end portion where the shallow groove portion is formed and closer to the ultrasonic oscillator.

2. The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein, the balloon mounting portion has a second balloon groove provided on the front end side of the ultrasonic oscillator over the outer periphery of the front end portion, the depth of the second balloon groove is uniformly formed in the circumferential direction of the front end portion.

3. The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, the bottom surface shape of the first balloon groove is a shape in which a circle expands toward the portion where the entrance and exit are provided.

4. The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, the central axis of the ultrasonic oscillator coincides with the central axis of the front end portion.

5. The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, the portion of the communication path closer to the proximal end side than the entrance and exit is formed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion.

Images