Ultrasound endoscope

Abstract

An ultrasound endoscope having an endoscopic observation system along with an ultrasound scan system. An outlet opening of an instrument passage, which is shunted from a biopsy channel of the endoscope, is located within a view field of an endoscopic image pickup window, which largely overlaps a scan range of the ultrasound scan system. A puncture instrument having a sharp-pointed rigid needle at the instrument outlet opening, which is in the view field of the endoscopic image pickup, can be monitored by way of the endoscopic observation system to check its position for safety purposes, from a slightly projected position to a largely projected position whenever it spontaneously gets out of the instrument outlet opening. Once the puncture needle is driven into an intracavitary wall toward a diseased portion in target, it can be monitored through the ultrasound scan system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.