Surgery – Endoscope – Having imaging and illumination means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-26
2001-05-29
Leubecker, John P. (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Endoscope
Having imaging and illumination means
C600S104000, C600S463000, C600S113000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238336
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic endoscope, both an objective optical system for optical observation and an ultrasonic transducer being incorporated into the tip of the endoscope.
2. Description of the Related Art
Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a combination of endoscopy and ultrasonography, a small ultrasonic transducer (ultrasonic probe) being incorporated into the tip of an endoscope. Two different instrument types of EUS are currently available: a linear-type echo endoscope (providing an ultrasonic view which extends parallel to the shaft axis of the instrument) and a radial-type echo endoscope (providing a 360° ultrasonic panoramic view which extends perpendicular to the shaft axis of the instrument). These types each have merits and demerits and are thus selectively used depending on the circumstances.
EUS is used for taking ultrasonic tomograms or plane sectional images of, e.g., a viscera or part of a viscera which is located at the back or behind a mucous membrane. When the EUS is used in an endoscope, a needle (an aspiration needle or an injection needle) which is introduced into the body through a treatment tool insertion channel is penetrated into a target part through a mucous membrane. In this case, when the radial-type echo endoscope is used, the course of the needle cannot be monitored since only a small part of the whole image of the needle appears in any plane sectional images, so that the penetration depth cannot be monitored. Therefore, an operation using the radial-type echo endoscope cannot be said to be performed with safety. On the other hand, when the linear-type echo endoscope is used, the course of the needle can be monitored since the needle is guided in an ultrasonic scanning surface therealong, so that the penetration depth can be clearly monitored. However, since any other plane sectional images of the surroundings of the penetrated portion cannot be monitored at all, while the plane sectional image of the penetrated portion is monitored, it is difficult to make sure if the penetrated portion is actually an appropriate portion to be penetrated by the needle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic endoscope with which the needle can be properly and accurately penetrated into a target part while accurately monitoring the state of penetration in a plane sectional image.
To achieve the object mentioned above, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic endoscope that includes: an objective optical system provided at a tip portion of the ultrasonic endoscope; a treatment tool insertion channel provided along the ultrasonic endoscope, the treatment tool insertion channel having an exit opening at the tip portion; a linear-scanning ultrasonic transducer, provided at the tip portion, for scanning a first scanning plane section which lies on a plane including a shaft axis of the tip portion; and a radial-scanning ultrasonic transducer, provided at the tip portion, for scanning a second scanning plane section which lies on a rotational plane about the shaft axis, wherein the linear-scanning ultrasonic transducer and the radial-scanning ultrasonic transducer are positioned so that the first scanning plane section intersects the second scanning plane section within an optical field of the objective optical system, and wherein the treatment tool insertion channel is formed so that the tip of an tubular instrument, inserted into the treatment tool insertion channel, projects outwards from the exit opening to pass an intersection between the first scanning plane section and the second scanning plane section.
Preferably, the ultrasonic endoscope further includes a display (e.g., a TV monitor) for simultaneously displaying a first image obtained through the linear-scanning ultrasonic transducer and a second image obtained through the radial-scanning ultrasonic transducer.
Preferably, the ultrasonic endoscope further includes a device for moving the tip of the tubular instrument, which projects outwards from the exit opening, in a direction along the intersection.
Preferably, the moving device includes a rotatable member which is positioned in the vicinity of the exit opening to abut against the tip of the tubular instrument.
Preferably, the linear-scanning ultrasonic transducer and the radial-scanning ultrasonic transducer are arranged adjacent to each other so that the radial-scanning ultrasonic transducer is positioned closer to the top of the tip of the ultrasonic endoscope than the linear-scanning ultrasonic transducer.
Preferably, the radial-scanning ultrasonic transducer is positioned so that the second scanning plane section is inclined rearwardly by a predetermined angle with respect to the shaft axis, wherein the objective optical system is positioned so that the optical field of the objective optical system covers both the first scanning plane section and the second scanning plane section.
Preferably, the linear-scanning ultrasonic transducer is positioned between the radial-scanning ultrasonic transducer and the objective optical system, the objective optical system being positioned to extend an optical axis thereof forwardly towards the intersection.
Preferably, the objective optical system includes a shield glass which is fixed to the tip portion adjacent to the exit opening.
Preferably, the shield glass is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the shaft axis to face the intersection.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic endoscope that includes: an objective optical system provided at a tip portion of the ultrasonic endoscope; a treatment tool insertion channel provided along the ultrasonic endoscope, the treatment tool insertion channel having an exit opening at the tip portion; a radial-scanning ultrasonic transducer, provided at the tip portion, for scanning one scanning plane section which lies on a rotational plane about a shaft axis of the tip portion; and a linear-scanning ultrasonic transducer, provided at the tip portion to be positioned between the exit opening and the radial-scanning ultrasonic transducer, for scanning another scanning plane section which lies on a plane including the shaft axis, wherein the linear-scanning ultrasonic transducer and the radial-scanning ultrasonic transducer are positioned so that the one scanning plane section intersects the another scanning plane section within an optical field of the objective optical system, and wherein the treatment tool insertion channel is formed so that the tip of an tubular instrument, inserted into the treatment tool insertion channel, projects outwards from the exit opening to pass an intersection between the one scanning plane section and the another scanning plane section.
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No.10-51582 (filed on Mar. 4, 1998) which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Leubecker John P.
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