Diagnosis device with function for angling tip probe

• US 5,307,810 A
• Filed: 11/19/1992
• Issued: 05/03/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Machida Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Machida Seisakusho
• Inventors: Odanaka, Kunio
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US07/978,759
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 128/662.03, 128/662.06, 128/772, 128/773, 128/4, 604/280
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe

Abstract

A diagnosis device which includes a probe provided at a front end of an elongate insertion portion, and has the function of angling this probe. An angle portion is provided between the insertion portion and the probe, and the angle portion includes a pair of tubular segments pivotally connected together. The pair of segments are connected to the front end of the insertion portion and the rear end of the probe, respectively. A soft protective tube is disposed inside the pair of segments at the angle portion. An operating member is connected at one end thereof to a manipulation mechanism mounted on a body, and is connected at the other end thereof to the front segment of the angle portion. The operating member is disposed outside the protective tube at the angle portion.

Claims

1. A diagnosis device comprising:

(a) a body;

(b) a hollow insertion portion extending from said body;

(c) an angle portion provided at a front end of said insertion portion, said angle portion comprising a pair of front and rear segments of a tubular shape which are pivotally connected together so that said front segment is rotatable relative to said rear segment about a rotation axis generally perpendicular to longitudinal axes of said pair of segments, said rear segment being connected to the front end of said insertion portions, and an outer periphery of at least said front segment of said angle portion being an exterior surface of said diagnosis device;

(d) a rigid probe mounted on a front end of said angle portion, said front segment being connected to a rear end portion of said probe;

(e) manipulation means mounted on said body;

(f) an operating member received in said insertion portion and extending along a length of said insertion portion, a rear end of said operating member being connected to said manipulation means, and a front end of said operating member being substantially connected to said front segment of said angle portion; and

(g) a soft protective tube received in said pair of segments at said angle portion, a portion of said operating member being disposed between said protective tube and said rear segment of said angle portion.

2. A diagnosis device according to claim 1, in which a first support member of a tubular shape is received in and fixed to the front end portion of said insertion portion, said probe having a tubular portion at its rear end portion, a second support member of a tubular shape being received in and fixed to said tubular portion, said first and second support members having respective tubular mounting portions disposed in opposed relation to each other, the diameter of said mounting portion of said first support member being smaller than the inner diameter of said insertion portion, the diameter of said mounting portion of said second support member being smaller than the inner diameter of said tubular portion of said probe, and opposite ends of said protective tube being connected to said mounting portions of said first and second support members, respectively.

3. A diagnosis device according to claim 2, in which there are provided a third support member fixedly mounted on a rear end portion of said insertion portion, and a guide tube for guiding said operating member, said first and third support members having respective through holes extending along an axis of said insertion portion, opposite ends of said guide tube being inserted in and fixed to said through holes of said first and third support members, respectively, said through hole of said first support member being open to a front end surface of said first support member, and being disposed outwardly of said protective tube, and an end of said through hole of said third support member is exposed to an exterior.

4. A diagnosis device according to claim 3, in which the front end of said operating member is releasably connected to said angle portion, and the rear end of said operating member being releaseably connected to said manipulation means.

5. A diagnosis device according to claim 4, in which said operating member is in the form of a rod, the front end of said operating member being connected to said front segment through first and second links, a rear end of said first link and the front end of said operating member being threadedly connected together, a front end of said first link and a rear end of said second link being pivotally connected together, and a front end of said second link being threaded into a rear end surface of said front segment.

6. A diagnosis device according to claim 5, in which said manipulation means comprises a pair of holder members, and a bolt which extends through one of said two holder members and is threaded into the other holder member, the rear end portion of said operating member being held between said pair of holder members.

7. A diagnosis device according to claim 1, in which said probe has an ultrasonic oscillator, there being provided a signal transmission cable which is connected at its front end to said ultrasonic oscillator and is passed through said protective tube, said insertion portion and said body to be led out to an exterior.

8. A diagnosis device according to claim 1, in which a pair of tubular mounting portions are mounted on a front end portion of said insertion portion and a rear end portion of said probe, respectively, said pair of tubular mounting portions being disposed in opposed relation to each other, the diameters of said pair of mounting portions being smaller than the inner diameters of said pair of segments, and opposite ends of said protective tube being connected to said pair of mounting portions, respectively.