Fujifilm Corporation

Satoru Okada

Yasuhiko Morimoto

Katsuya Yamamoto

Tsuneo Fukuzawa

There are provided an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and an operation method of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus capable of performing polarization processing during the execution period of ultrasound diagnosis without affecting the image quality of an ultrasound image. In the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and the operation method of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the invention, a trigger generation circuit generates a trigger for starting polarization processing. After a trigger is given, during the execution period of ultrasound diagnosis, in a non-diagnosis period which is a period other than a period for acquiring an image of each frame and during which transmission of ultrasound waves and reception of reflected waves for performing ultrasound diagnosis are not performed, within each frame time in which an image of each frame of an ultrasound image is acquired, a control circuit performs polarization processing on a plurality of ultrasound transducers.

Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and operation method of ultrasound diagnostic apparatus

In an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and an operation method of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the invention, a control circuit performs polarization processing on a plurality of ultrasound transducers in a non-diagnosis period, during which transmission of ultrasound waves and reception of reflected waves for performing ultrasound diagnosis are not performed, in a case where the cumulative driving time of the plurality of ultrasound transducers for performing the ultrasound diagnosis becomes equal to or longer than a specified time. A transmission circuit generates a first transmission signal having a driving voltage for performing ultrasound diagnosis using a pulse generation circuit in the case of performing the ultrasound diagnosis, and generates a second transmission signal having a polarization voltage for performing polarization processing using the same pulse generation circuit as in the case of generating the first transmission signal in the case of performing the polarization processing.

There is provided an endoscope capable of suppressing the degradation of a distal-end-part body over time that is caused by the sandwiching of a treatment tool. An endoscope includes a distal-end-part body that is provided at a distal end of an insertion unit. The distal-end-part body includes an elevator-housing space-forming wall that forms an elevator-housing space opened in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the insertion unit, a lead-out portion that includes a treatment tool outlet opened into the elevator-housing space, and an elevator that is provided in the elevator-housing space so as to be rotatable about a rotating shaft between a standing position and a fallen position and includes a guide surface guiding a treatment tool. The elevator-housing space-forming wall includes an opening wall portion provided on an opening side of the elevator-housing space. An opposite wall portion, which is opposite to the guide surface in a case where the elevator is in the standing position, of the opening wall portion is made of a material harder than that of all other wall portions other than the opposite wall portion.

Endoscope

An operation method of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes executing one or more imaging series of steps with an ultrasound transducer; and applying a polarization processing to the ultrasound transducer one or more of before, after, and interleaved between the one or more imaging series of steps, where the polarization processing is separate from the one or more imaging series of steps.

There is provided an ultrasound endoscope of which a distal-end-part body of an insertion unit can be reduced in size. In an ultrasound endoscope according to an embodiment of the invention, a straight pipe portion of a first three-way pipe and a straight pipe portion of a second three-way pipe are arranged adjacent to each other in a direction orthogonal to the direction of a longitudinal axis of an insertion unit, and a branch pipe portion and the straight pipe portion are arranged at positions overlapping with each other in a case where the first three-way pipe and the second three-way pipe are projected onto a plane perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis.

Ultrasound endoscope

There is provided an endoscope capable of suppressing the degradation of a distal-end-part body over time that is caused by the sandwiching of a treatment tool. An endoscope includes a distal-end-part body that is provided at a distal end of an insertion unit. The distal-end-part body includes an elevator-housing space-forming wall that forms an elevator-housing space opened in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the insertion unit, a lead-out portion that includes a treatment tool outlet opened into the elevator-housing space, and an elevator that is provided in the elevator-housing space so as to be rotatable about a rotating shaft between a standing position and a fallen position and includes a guide surface guiding a treatment tool. The elevator-housing space-forming wall includes an opening wall portion provided on an opening side of the elevator-housing space. An opposite wall portion, which is opposite to the guide surface in a case where the elevator is in the standing position, of the opening wall portion is made of a material harder than the other wall portion other than the opposite wall portion.

A control circuit of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus having an ultrasound endoscope controls a transmission circuit to generate a transmission signal, which includes a diagnostic driving pulse applied to each of a plurality of ultrasound transducers that generate ultrasound waves for acquiring an ultrasound image, in the case of acquiring the ultrasound image, and controls the transmission circuit to generate a polarization driving pulse, which has a polarization driving voltage different from voltage of the diagnostic driving pulse within the same settable voltage range as the diagnostic driving pulse and has a frequency different from a probe frequency band for acquiring the ultrasound image, in order to perform the polarization processing of the plurality of ultrasound transducers in the case of performing the polarization processing.

The invention has, at a distal end part thereof, an ultrasonic oscillator array in which a plurality of ultrasonic oscillators are arranged; a shielded cable including a plurality of signal lines, and a plurality of metallic shield members disposed outside the signal lines; a wiring part including a plurality of connecting parts that electrically connect the plurality of signal lines to the plurality of ultrasonic oscillators, respectively; a ground part that is electrically connected to the plurality of shield members and has heat conductivity; a sheet-like first heat-conduction member disposed on a side surface of the ultrasonic oscillator array; and a second heat-conduction member that thermally connects the first heat-conduction member to the ground part. Accordingly, an ultrasonic endoscope capable of improving diagnostic accuracy in ultrasonic diagnosis, and a method for manufacturing the ultrasonic endoscope are provided.

Ultrasonic endoscope and method for manufacturing same

An ultrasonic endoscope includes an ultrasonic vibrator unit provided at a distal end part, the ultrasonic vibrator unit being composed of at least an ultrasonic vibrator array and a first thermally conductive member, the ultrasonic vibrator array having the plurality of ultrasonic vibrators that are arranged in a cylindrical form, the first thermally conductive member being disposed thermally in contact with the ultrasonic vibrator array; a plurality of cables that are electrically connected to the ultrasonic vibrator array; and an electrically conductive structural body that is disposed to extend from a distal end side toward a proximal end side of the ultrasonic endoscope. The ultrasonic vibrator unit and the electrically conductive structural body are connected to each other via an electrically insulating second thermally conductive member. Thus, the ultrasonic endoscope that has a heat release structure which transmits the heat generated from the ultrasonic vibrator to the electrically conductive endoscopic structure housed in a distal end part and which can efficiently release the heat therefrom while electric safety is secured; and that can prevent a burn of an alimentary canal by suppressing a temperature rise of surfaces of the ultrasonic vibrators is provided.

Ultrasonic endoscope

An ultrasonic endoscope includes a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators; a distal end part that houses the plurality of ultrasonic vibrators; an electrically conductive endoscopic structure housed in or connected to the distal end part; a thermally conductive member connected to the plurality of ultrasonic vibrators; and an electrically insulating thermally conductive member connected to the endoscopic structure. The thermally conductive member and the electrically insulating thermally conductive member are connected to each other. Thus, the ultrasonic endoscope that has a heat release structure which transmits the heat generated from the ultrasonic vibrators to the electrically conductive endoscopic structure housed in the distal end part and which can efficiently release the heat therefrom while electric safety is secured; and that can prevent a burn of an alimentary canal by suppressing a temperature rise of surfaces of the ultrasonic vibrators is provided.

An ultrasonic endoscope has a laminated body that includes an ultrasonic transducer array in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are arranged, and a backing material layer that supports the plurality of ultrasonic transducers; a cable portion that includes a plurality of cables each of which is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, and a shield member that covers the plurality of cables from outside and that is made of a metal; and a first heat conductive member that is disposed on a side surface of the laminated body. The first heat conductive member is extended to the shield member that is grounded to a housing and is thermally connected to the shield member.

An ultrasonic endoscope has an ultrasonic vibrator array in which a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators are arrayed; a backing material layer that supports the ultrasonic vibrators; shield cables that each include a signal wire and a shield member for the signal wire; a flexible printed wiring board that extends on a side opposite to the ultrasonic vibrator array with respect to the backing material layer and that includes a ground portion electrically connected to the shield members; and a heat conductive layer that is provided on at least one surface of the flexible printed wiring board and connected to the ground portion, the heat conductive layer dissipating heat generated in the plurality of ultrasonic vibrators to the ground portion.

An ultrasonic endoscope has an ultrasonic transducer array in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are arranged; a backing material layer on a back side of a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, a wiring board including a plurality of electrode pads that are connected to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers; a plurality of shield cables each including a signal wire and a shield member, a wiring portion in which the plurality of signal wires are electrically connected to the plurality of electrode pads; a ground portion that is electrically connected to the shield members and that have heat conductivity; and a first heat conductive member that extends beyond the backing material layer to a side opposite to the ultrasonic transducer array with respect to the backing material layer and that is thermally connected to the ground portion.

Growing community of inventors

Ashigarakami-gun, Japan

Satoru Okada