Patent ID: 6468221
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
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; 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 durable for the bending motion of said bending portion; a plurality of elastic members that extend along the central axis, each of said plurality of elastic members touching a corresponding flexible circuit board strip among said plurality of flexible circuit board strips; and heat shrinking tubes that coat said plurality of elastic members and said plurality of flexible circuit board strips after a heat shrinking process.