Patent ID: 6673021
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An ultrasound probe to be introduced into a body cavity by way of a guide passage and an ultrasound image observation terminal with an ultrasound signal processor and a viewing screen, said ultrasound probe including an ultrasound scanner head attached to a distal end of a flexible cord to be placed in the guide passage at the time of introduction into a body cavity and constituted by a plural number of ultrasound transducer elements for making electronic scans, a plural number of signal lines passed through said flexible cord and connected respectively to said ultrasound transducer elements, a proximal end portion of said flexible cord being led out of said guide passage and disconnectibly connected to said ultrasound image observation terminal:said ultrasound probe comprising: a flexible wiring film in the shape of said relatively narrow strip having a root end portion thereof fixedly attached to said proximal end portion of said flexible cord of said ultrasound probe and adapted to be coiled into a helical roll substantially of a cylindrical shape along an axial extension line of said flexible cord for passage through said guide passage; said flexible wiring film having a plural number of wire connection points formed on a surface thereof at positions closer to said root end for connection thereto of said signal lines from said ultrasound transducer elements, and a plural number of electrodes formed in intermediate and opposite end portions and each connected with a corresponding one of said wire connection points through a wiring pattern; and said electrodes of said flexible wiring film being adapted to be disconnectively connected to contact points provided on a contact unit of a relay means.