Patent ID: 6488631
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: A61B,H05K

Abstract:
An ultrasonic endoscope comprising:a bending portion in a tube and connected to a flexible tube insertable into a body, said bending portion being bent along two predetermined bending-directions perpendicular to each other, by remote control; an ultrasonic probe operatively connected to said bending portion and comprising a plurality of ultrasonic wave vibrators arranged circumferentially, said plurality of ultrasonic wave vibrators sending ultrasonic waves radially and receiving echoes of the ultrasonic waves; and a flexible circuit board that transmits signals associated with the ultrasonic waves and the echoes, said flexible circuit board comprising a plurality of flexible circuit board strips in said bending portion so as to allow a bending motion, said plurality of flexible circuit board strips extending along a central axis of said bending portion, wherein said plurality of flexible circuit board strips are arranged such that a bending-resistance to the bending motion occurs symmetrically with respect to a primary central line, which is defined on a bending section of said bending portion, which crosses said central axis and corresponds to one of said two bending-directions.