Abstract A combined endoscope and ultrasonic diagnostic device for the examination of a body cavity interior, an ultrasonic probe tip (23) being mounted to be inserted directly into a body cavity and transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to diagnose an internal organ or the like within the body cavity with the aid of an endoscope (27) contained in a housing forming an insertion sheath (21) and inserted into the body cavity to observe the body cavity interior. In this kind of diagnostic device, the field of view of the endoscope may be adversely intercepted by the probe tip, and/or the position in which the probe tip is to contact an internal organ can not be viewed if the probe tip can not be sighted via the endoscope, so that with known devices it is difficult to bring the probe tip into close contact with the internal organ in a predetermined position, and to check the position of contact with the internal organ. The proposed device has a probe tip (23) with a window (22/ for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, mounted on a bendable part (24) provided on the front of a long insertion sheath (21) and the endoscope (27) is positioned to view through an incised window (25) in the outer periphery of the insertion sheath (21) to the rear of the bendable part (24) so that the probe tip (23) may be viewed via the endoscope (27) when the bendable part (24) is operated.
A combined endoscope and ultrasonic diagnostic device wherein the endoscope is incorporated in a housing of an ultrasonic probe which forms an insertion sheath, characterised in that the probe tip has a window for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves when in contact with an internal organ within a body cavity, the window being provided at the tip of a curvable curving part mounted on an elongate insertion sheath to be inserted into the body cavity, the insertion sheath, probe tip and curving part all being of substantially equal diameter, an incised window being formed on the outer periphery of the insertion sheath to the rear of the above mentioned curving part and the endoscope being housed within the insertion sheath to extend from said incised window to extend from the outer end of the sheath.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A combined endoscope and ultrasonic diagnostic device wherein the endoscope is incorporated in a housing of an ultrasonic probe which forms an insertion sheath, characterised in that the probe tip has a window for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves when in contact with an internal organ within a body cavity, the window being provided at the tip of a curvable curving part mounted on an elongate insertion sheath to be inserted into the body cavity, the insertion sheath, probe tip and curving part all being of substantially equal diameter, an incised window being formed on the outer periphery of the insertion sheath to the rear of the above mentioned curving part and the endoscope being housed within the insertion sheath to extend from said incised window to extend from the outer end of the sheath.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which said endoscope is constructed as an integral structure with said insertion sheath.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which said endoscope is constructed as a unit which is telescopically insertable into said insertion sheath.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the curving part curves in the direction of the field of view of the endoscope and the probe tip is formed to be within the field of view of said endoscope.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
44 words
A device as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the direction of the field of view of the endoscope and of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving window provided in the probe tip are arranged in directions mutually intersecting at right angles.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
40 words
A device as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the direction of the field of view of the endoscope and the curved direction of the curving part are set to the right as seen from the operators position.