Ultrasonic endoscope

• US 8,382,673 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2008
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagano, Kazuhiko, Osawa, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Luong, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/190,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20090088646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 600/459, 600/462
• US Class Current: 600/462
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/546 involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature

Abstract

An ultrasonic endoscope in which the temperature rise can be suppressed with a reduced diameter. The ultrasonic endoscope includes: an ultrasonic transducer part including plural ultrasonic transducers; an exterior member for accommodating the ultrasonic transducer part; and a heat conducting part provided inside of the exterior member and respectively connected to the ultrasonic transducer part and an inner surface of the exterior member. It is preferable that the heat conducting part has a coefficient of thermal conductivity equal to or more than 10 W/(m·K). Further, it is preferable that one of the heat conducting member and the exterior member has an electric insulation property.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic endoscope including an insertion part, and an operation part provided at the base end of the insertion part, said insertion part comprising:

an elongated tube having flexibility for insertion into a body of object;

an ultrasonic transducer part including;

plural ultrasonic transducers;

a backing material on a surface of which said plural ultrasonic transducers are arranged;

at least one wiring board provided on at least one side face of said backing material and having plural electrode pads electrically connected to said plural ultrasonic transducers; and

signal lines connected to said plural electrode pads, for transmitting signals to said plural ultrasonic transducers, respectively;

an exterior member for accommodating said ultrasonic transducer part and having an outer surface to be contacted with the body; and

a heat conducting part provided inside of said exterior member and respectively connected to said ultrasonic transducer part and an inner surface of said exterior member,

wherein said heat conducting part is directly connected to a back face of said backing material, and said heat conducting part transfers a heat generated in said plural ultrasonic transducers via said backing material to said exterior member.

2. The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein one of said heat conducting member and said exterior member has an electric insulation property.

3. The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said exterior member comprises stainless steel.

4. An ultrasonic endoscope including an insertion part, and an operation part provided at the base end of the insertion part, said insertion part comprising:

an elongated tube having flexibility for insertion into a body of object;

an ultrasonic transducer part including;

plural ultrasonic transducers;

a backing material on a surface of which said plural ultrasonic transducers are arranged;

at least one wiring board provided on at least one side face of said backing material and having plural electrode pads electrically connected to said plural ultrasonic transducers; and

signal lines connected to said plural electrode pads, for transmitting signals to said plural ultrasonic transducers, respectively; and

an exterior member for accommodating said ultrasonic transducer part, having an outer surface to be contacted with the body and including a heat conducting part connected to said ultrasonic transducer part;

wherein said heat conducting part is directly connected to a back face of said backing material, and said heat conducting part transfers a heat generated in said plural ultrasonic transducers via said backing material to said exterior member.

5. The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 4, wherein said exterior member comprises stainless steel.

6. An ultrasonic endoscope including an insertion part, and an operation part provided at the base end of the insertion part,

said insertion part comprising:

an elongated tube having flexibility for insertion into a body of object;

an ultrasonic transducer part including;

plural ultrasonic transducers;

a backing material on a surface of which said plural ultrasonic transducers are arranged;

at least one wiring board provided on at least one side face of said backing material and having plural electrode pads electrically connected to said plural ultrasonic transducers;

signal lines connected to said plural electrode pads, for transmitting signals to said plural ultrasonic transducers, respectively; and

a heat conducting part connected to an inner surface of said exterior member; and

an exterior member for accommodating said ultrasonic transducer part and having an outer surface to be contacted with the body;

wherein said heat conducting part is directly connected to a back face of said backing material, and said heat conducting part transfers a heat generated in said plural ultrasonic transducers via said backing material to said exterior member.

7. The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 6, wherein a back face of said backing material is connected to the inner surface of said exterior member.

8. The ultrasonic endoscope according to claim 6, wherein said exterior member comprises stainless steel.