US 11,684,340 B2 · Ultrasound endoscope

Abstract

An ultrasound endoscope includes: an insertion portion; an ultrasound functional unit including an ultrasound transducer; an endoscope functional unit that at least includes an imaging optical system; and a balloon locking portion configured to connect the ultrasound functional unit and the endoscope functional unit, the balloon locking portion having a groove shape that can lock a balloon. A first plane passes, in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, through a first end portion of the ultrasound transducer near the endoscope functional unit, the first plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, and the first plane is positioned closer to a proximal end than a second plane passing through a second end portion of the balloon locking portion near the ultrasound functional unit, the second plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An ultrasound endoscope, comprising:

an insertion portion extending along a longitudinal axis;
an ultrasound transducer including a plurality of piezoelectric elements, the ultrasound transducer being configured to transmit and receive an ultrasound wave, at least a portion of the plurality of piezoelectric elements extending in a longitudinal axis direction;
and
an endoscope functional portion provided at a distal end of the insertion portion, the endoscope functional portion comprising:
a connector connected to the ultrasound transducer;
and
an objective lens system comprising an objective lens,
wherein the ultrasound transducer being disposed in a body, the body having a protrusion extending in the longitudinal axis direction, the connector having a hole extending in the longitudinal axis direction, the protrusion mating with the hole to attach the body having the ultrasound transducer to the distal end of the insertion portion;
and
a proximal-most end of a portion of the ultrasound transducer that is outside of the hole is positioned proximally relative to a distal-most end of the hole of the connector.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ultrasound endoscope

Life of this patent

Ultrasound endoscope

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18