Ultrasound endoscope

An insertion portion for an ultrasound endoscope, the insertion portion comprising:

• a transducer unit being configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave;
• a bendable tube arranged proximally relative to the transducer unit, the bendable tube including a plurality of ring-shaped members that are rotatably joined with each other along a longitudinal axis direction such that the bendable tube is bendable in at least first and second directions;
• a flexible tube arranged proximally relative to the bendable tube;
• and
• a flexible board disposed on an inside of the bendable tube, the flexible board being configured to electrically connect to the transducer unit,
• wherein the flexible board includes a helical portion formed in a helical shape within an inner surface of each of the plurality of ring-shaped members, the helical portion being fixed to the inner surface at a fixing portion of the inner surface at at least every other ring-shaped member of the plurality of ring-shaped members.

An ultrasound endoscope comprising:

• an insertion portion extending along a longitudinal axis direction, the insertion portion comprising a bendable tube and a flexible tube;
• and
• a transducer unit arranged on a distal end side of the insertion portion, the transducer unit being configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave;
• the bendable tube being arranged proximally relative to the transducer unit, the bendable tube including a plurality of ring-shaped members that are rotatably joined with each other along the longitudinal axis direction such that the bendable tube is bendable in at least first and second directions;
• the flexible tube being arranged proximally relative to the bendable tube;
• wherein a flexible board disposed on an inside of the bendable tube, the flexible board being configured to electrically connect to the transducer unit, the flexible substrate having a first end, a second end and a middle portion between the first and second end;
• and
• the middle portion of the flexible board includes a helical portion formed in a helical shape within an inner surface of each of the plurality of ring-shaped members, the middle portion of the helical portion being fixed to the inner surface at a fixing portion of the inner surface at at least two of the plurality of ring-shaped members.