Patent ID: 6488632
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: A61B

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 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 ultrasonic wave 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 first central axis of said bending portion; and an ultrasonic wave coaxial cable that is provided in said flexible tube and comprising a plurality of ultrasonic wave coaxial signal lines, each of said plurality of ultrasonic wave coaxial signal lines being separate and extending from said ultrasonic wave coaxial cable along a second central axis of said flexible tube and being connected to said plurality of flexible circuit board strips, wherein said plurality of ultrasonic wave coaxial signal lines are more flexible than the plurality of circuit board strips so as to absorb compressing and extending forces, which act along the first and second central axes, against said plurality of flexible circuit board strips, against said plurality of ultrasonic wave coaxial signal lines, and against said ultrasonic wave coaxial cable.