Radial scan, forward viewing ultrasonic endoscope
AssigneeAsahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsKenichi Ohara, Toshiyuki Hashiyama
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a radial scan, forward viewing ultrasonic endoscope, a plurality of flexible substrates (43) for transmitting signals to and from ultrasonic probe (4) extend rearward from ultrasonic probe (4), flexible substrate passage hole (37) of an arcuate cross-sectional shape through which flexible substrates (43) pass is formed in front end portion body (3) in an axial direction, and the wirings on flexible substrates (43) are connected to signal cable (47) passing through the insertion portion of the endoscope.
Claims11
A radial scan, forward viewing ultrasonic endoscope having an ultrasonic probe that is formed in annual shape to permit radial scan and which is provided at the front end of an insertion portion, and a front end portion body that is fitted with objective optics for examining the area ahead of said insertion portion and which has a smaller outside diameter in the front half which is fitted into said ultrasonic probe, wherein a plurality of flexible substrates for transmitting signals to and from said ultrasonic probe extend rearward from said ultrasonic probe, a flexible substrate passage hole of an arcuate cross-sectional shape through which said flexible substrates pass is formed in said front end portion body in an axial direction, and the wirings on said flexible substrates are connected to a signal cable passing through said insertion portion.
A radial scan, forward viewing ultrasonic endoscope having an ultrasonic probe that is formed in annual shape to permit radial scan and which is provided at the front end of an insertion portion, and a front end portion body that is fitted with objective optics for examining the area ahead of said insertion portion and which has a smaller outside diameter in the front half which is fitted into said ultrasonic probe, wherein a plurality of flexible substrates for transmitting signals to and from said ultrasonic probe are arranged in arcs around the longitudinal axis of said ultrasonic probe and allowed to pass through said front end portion body and a rotation preventing member for preventing relative rotation of said ultrasonic probe and said front end portion body around the longitudinal axis is provided in a position in that area of a circumferential extension of the series of arcs where no flexible substrate is provided.
A radial scan, forward viewing ultrasonic endoscope having an ultrasonic probe that is formed in annual shape to permit radial scan and which is provided at the front end of an insertion portion, a front end portion body that is fitted with objective optics for examining the area ahead of said insertion portion and which has a smaller outside diameter in the front half which is fitted into said ultrasonic probe, and an inflatable balloon provided to surround said ultrasonic probe, wherein a plurality of flexible substrates for transmitting signals to and from said ultrasonic probe are arranged in arcs around the longitudinal axis of said ultrasonic probe and allowed to pass through said front end portion body, and fluid channels that communicate into said balloon are provided in a position in that area of a circumferential extension of the series of arcs where no flexible substrate is provided.
An ultrasonic endoscope comprising:
- a flexible tube portion;
- a forward end portion body having an ultrasonic probe and connected to the flexible tube portion;
- and
- a plurality of flexible substrates, extending from the forward end portion body to the flexible tube portion, for signal transmission to and from the ultrasonic probe, wherein the flexible substrates are arranged to pass through a predetermined first circumferential area of the forward end portion body, and to define a second circumferential area thereof, where no flexible substrate is provided.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.