Patent Publication Number: US-2005143658-A1

Title: Ultrasonic endoscope and ultrasonic signal cable connector device

Description:
This application claims benefit of Japanese Application No. 2003-435623 filed on Dec. 26, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an ultrasonic endoscope having an ultrasonic connector that connects to ultrasonic measuring equipment and observes the body cavity using ultrasonic wave, and to an ultrasonic signal cable connector device.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Various types of endoscopes are widely used in the medical field, which are inserted into the body cavity to observe the living-body tissue or perform biopsy or treatment.  
      One type of such endoscopes is the ultrasonic endoscope. This ultrasonic endoscope has an ultrasonic transducer on the distal end of the insertion portion that is to be inserted in the body cavity. The ultrasonic transducer of this ultrasonic endoscope transmits ultrasonic wave to the living-body tissue, and receives the ultrasonic wave reflected from the living-body tissue. Thus, an ultrasonic tomographic image is generated by the various observation equipment connected to the ultrasonic endoscope, and the living-body tissue can be observed.  
      This ultrasonic endoscope is provided on the proximal end portion of the ultrasonic signal cable, as described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-139927 for example, and has an ultrasonic connector that connects to an ultrasonic measuring equipment. This ultrasonic connector is provided with, for example, four Flexible Printed Circuits (hereafter “FPC”). The four FPCs each are connected to one end of each of multiple groups of signal lines. Further, the other end of each group of the multiple signal lines is connected to piezoelectric elements making up an electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer.  
      The FPCs and the multiple signal lines divided into groups are connected by the signal lines being soldered to contact pads provided on the FPCs.  
      Further, an FPC extension connecting pad is made for connecting an extension FPC. One end of this extension FPC can be inserted into the FPC connector of the ultrasonic connector and fixed. This FPC and the extension FPC are connected by the extension FPC connecting pad provided on the FPC being soldered to the pad provided on the extension FPC.  
      Further, the multiple signal lines extending from the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic endoscope are divided into multiple groups, with an FPC disposed for each group.  
      A relatively large number, more than several dozen, of the above-described signals lines are built in, although this depends upon the number of piezoelectric elements. Therefore, the ultrasonic signal cable can have a narrower external diameter, the width of the multiple piezoelectric elements can be set narrow, and the electric connecting unit of the signal lines can also be set narrow, resulting in the much narrower diameter of the signal lines, as illustrated in the drawings of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-139927.  
      Further, the dimensions of the FPCs connected with the ultrasonic signal cable need to be smaller in diameter than that of the ultrasonic signal cable channel, in order to pass through the ultrasonic signal cable channel which has a small diameter, that is positioned in the insertion unit and so forth.  
      Therefore, the land width and the land spacing of the contact pad provided on the FPC is made to be very small. Accordingly, the assembly worker needs to have a high degree of skill for soldering the extremely fine signal lines to the contact pad for electric connection.  
      On the other hand, the FPC connector width and the FPC connector spacing of the multiple FPC connectors provided on the connecting connector of the ultrasonic connector are set relatively wide. Thus, the multiple FPC connectors are arranged so as to avoid contact failure. This ultrasonic connector has an extension FPC for ease of attaching to the connecting connector, and the extension FPC has a contact pad wherein the pad width and pad spacing is set so as to correspond to the FPC connector.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to one aspect of the present invention, an ultrasonic signal cable connector device, to be used with an ultrasonic endoscope device comprising an ultrasonic endoscope having an electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer provided on an insertion tip to be inserted in the body cavity, for generating ultrasonic wave as to the living-body tissue cavity and receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected from the body cavity tissue so as to generate ultrasonic signals, and ultrasonic measuring equipment for performing driving control of the ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic endoscope and generating ultrasonic image signals generated from the ultrasonic signal, comprises: an ultrasonic signal cable having a plurality of signal lines connected to the electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer; an ultrasonic connector for connecting the ultrasonic signal cable to the ultrasonic measuring equipment; a rectangular wiring board that has approximately the same or smaller width dimension as the external diameter of the ultrasonic signal cable; a plurality of signal line connecting lands arrayed in parallel on the surface of one of the short sides of the wiring board for electrically connecting the plurality of signal lines of the ultrasonic signal cable; a plurality of contact piece lands arrayed in a column longitudinally on the surface of the wiring board for electrically connecting the plurality of connecting connector pieces provided to the ultrasonic connector; and a plurality of wiring patterns for connecting the plurality of signal line connecting lands and contact piece lands that are provided on the surface of the wiring board.  
      The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following description referring to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a description diagram illustrating the configuration of an ultrasonic endoscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the configuration of an ultrasonic connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a plan view illustrating the configuration of an ultrasonic signal cable according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a front view illustrating the configuration of an ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a back view illustrating the configuration of a connector receptacle provided on the ultrasonic connector that is connected to the ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a plan view illustrating the attached state of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device and the connector receptacle according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view illustrating the attached state of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device and the connector receptacle according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a front view illustrating the configuration of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a back view illustrating the configuration of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 11  is a plan view illustrating the configuration of a connector receptacle wherein the ultrasonic signal cable connector of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is attached;  
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the connector receptacle wherein the ultrasonic signal cable connector of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is attached;  
       FIG. 13  is a plan view illustrating the configuration of a connecting board for connecting the ultrasonic signal cable connector of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device and the connector receptacle according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a connecting board for connecting the ultrasonic signal cable connector of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device and the connector receptacle according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 15  is a plan view illustrating the attached state of the ultrasonic signal cable connector of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device and the connector receptacle according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the attached state of the ultrasonic signal cable connector of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device and the connector receptacle according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 17  is a front view illustrating the configuration of the ultrasonic signal cable connector of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 18  is a back view illustrating the configuration of the ultrasonic signal cable connector of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     First Embodiment  
      The configuration of the ultrasonic endoscope of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In  FIG. 1 , an ultrasonic endoscope  61  primarily comprises an insertion portion  62  that is inserted into the body cavity, an operating unit  63  provided on the rear end of the insertion portion  62 , an eyepiece  64  provided on the proximal end of the operating unit  63 , a universal cord  65  extending from the operating unit  63 , an endoscope connector  66  provided on the proximal end of the universal cord  65  that is connected to a light source device (not shown), and an ultrasonic signal cable  67  that extends from the endoscope connector  66  and has an ultrasonic connector  68  on the distal end thereof. Now, the ultrasonic connector  68  which is this connector unit is connected to an ultrasonic measuring equipment (not shown).  
      The insertion portion  62  is formed with a small diameter. The insertion portion  62  comprises, in order from the distal end, a hard distal-end portion  69 , a bending portion  70 , and a long flexible portion  71  that is capable of bending. An ultrasonic transducer unit  73  is located on the distal end side of the hard distal-end portion  69 . An electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer, wherein multiple piezoelectric elements that send and receive ultrasonic wave are arrayed, is located on the ultrasonic transducer unit  73 .  
      Disposed on the operating unit  63  are a bending knob  72 , an air and water feed button, a suction button, an insertion opening for forceps treatment instruments, and so forth.  
      The bending knob  72  is an operating knob for bending the bending portion  70  of the insertion portion  62  in the desired direction. The air and water feed button is operated in the moment wherein air or water is fed to the air and water feeding channel provided within the insertion portion  62 . The suction button is operated in the moment wherein air or water is suctioned into the suction channel. The insertion opening for forceps treatment instruments is an opening for the forceps channel through which forceps treatment instruments are inserted.  
      The optical image of the internal body cavity from the object lens provided on the hard distal-end portion  69  of the insertion portion  62  is guided by the image guide, and visually confirmed at the eyepiece  64 .  
      The illumination light from the light source device wherein the endoscope connector  66  is connected is guided through the universal cord  65 , and a light guide that is passed through the inside of the operating unit  63  and the insertion portion  62 . The illumination light is then emitted from the hard distal-end portion  69  onto the observation portions in the body cavity. The ultrasonic signal cable  67  that extends from the endoscope connector  66  is passed through the universal cord  65 , and the ultrasonic signal cable channel (not shown) provided on the insertion portion  62  and the operating unit  63 . One end of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  is connected to the electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic transducer unit  73 , and the other end thereof is connected to the ultrasonic connector  68 . The ultrasonic connector  68  is connected to the ultrasonic measuring equipment (not shown) that performs sending/receiving drive control of the ultrasonic wave from the electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic transducer unit  73 .  
      Further, the ultrasonic signal cable  67  is connected to the multiple piezoelectric elements of the electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer provided in the ultrasonic transducer unit  73 . Multiple signals lines which are signal core lines, to be described below, that send/receive the ultrasonic signal from the piezoelectric elements, pass through the inside of the ultrasonic signal cable  67 . These multiple signals lines are grouped in groups with a predetermined number of lines each.  
      The ends of the multiple signal lines in the ultrasonic signal cable  67  are connected electrically to the multiple piezoelectric elements of the electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer provided on the ultrasonic transducer unit  73 . The multiple signal lines are separated into multiple bundles as will be described below, and are inserted in the ultrasonic signal cable channel opening provided on the hard distal-end portion  69  of the insertion portion  62  from the other end side that is not connected with the piezoelectric elements. The ultrasonic signal cable  67  passes through the ultrasonic signal cable channel and is connected to the ultrasonic connector  68 . Now, the ultrasonic signal cable channel is an insertion hole that is located within the bending portion  70  of the insertion portion  62 , the flexible portion  71 , the operating unit  63 , the universal cord  65 , and the endoscope connector  66 .  
      An ultrasonic signal cable connector device to be described below is provided on the distal end of the signal lines of each ultrasonic signal cable  67  for each group wherein the signal lines have been grouped together. This ultrasonic signal cable connector device is connected to the connecting connector  20  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the ultrasonic connector  68 .  
      Next, the configuration of the ultrasonic connector  68  will be described, with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional diagram of an ultrasonic connector.  
      The ultrasonic connector  68  mainly comprises a metal frame  96  in an approximately rectangular box shape, a cable insertion hole  100 , multiple connector receptacles  20 , four to be specific, an insulating sheet  103 , multiple matching boards  101 , two to be specific, a base board  104 , a metal board  107 , and a connector unit  108 . The cable insertion hole  100  is an insertion hole for inserting the ultrasonic signal cable  67  into the metal frame  96 . Multiple ultrasonic signal cable connector devices to be described below, which are provided on the distal end of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  that is inserted from the cable insertion hole  100 , are attached to the connector receptacle  20 . The ultrasonic signal cable connector devices are each attached to the connecting connectors  102 , and in the moment wherein they are connected, the insulating sheet  103  is provided between the metal frame  96  and the ultrasonic signal cable connector device. In other words, the insulating sheet  103  insulates the metal frame  96  and the ultrasonic signal cable connector device in the moment that the ultrasonic signal cable connector device is connected to the connector receptacle  20 . The matching boards  101  are electrically connected to the multiple connector receptacles  20 . The matching boards  101  are boards wherein matching circuits are formed. The matching circuits perform the matching between the ultrasonic measuring equipment and the electronic scanning ultrasonic transducer that is connected to the ultrasonic signal cable  67 . The base board  104  is connected to the multiple matching boards  101 . Further, the base board  104  has multiple connector pins for the purpose of connecting to the ultrasonic measuring equipment. The metal board  107  covers the area of the connector pin of the base board  104 , and is fixed to the metal frame  96 . In the moment that the ultrasonic connector  68  is connected to the ultrasonic measuring equipment, the connector unit  108  has the metal frame  96  and the metal board  107  to be at the same electric potential as the reference potential of the ultrasonic measuring equipment.  
      The configuration of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  that is connected to the ultrasonic connector  68  will be described with  FIG. 3 . The ultrasonic signal cable  67  comprises an overall insulator covering  87 , multiple coaxial lines  85   a  through  85   d , and an overall shield  86  that bundles the coaxial lines  85   a  through  85   d . Multiple signal core lines  81  are located within the coaxial lines  85   a  through  85   d.    
      The multiple signal core lines  81  are each covered with an insulator layer  82 . A shield  83  surrounds each of the insulator layers  82 . An insulator covering layer  84  surrounds and covers the shields  83 . In other words, inside of the coaxial lines  85   a  through  85   d , the signal core lines  81  that are covered by the insulator layer  82 , the shield  83  and the insulator covering layer  84  are grouped together with several lines in a unit.  
      On the distal ends of the multiple coaxial lines  85   a  through  85   d , ultrasonic signal cable connector devices  10   a  through  10   d  that are connecting boards are each connected (hereafter, the ultrasonic signal cable connector devices  10   a  through  10   d  may be individually or collectively referred to as “ultrasonic signal cable connector device  10 ”). The ultrasonic signal cable connector devices  10   a  through  10   d  are connected, in order, along the length of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  on the distal ends of the coaxial lines  85   a  through  85   d , each set apart only the length L of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device  10 . In other words, the ultrasonic signal cable connector devices  10   a  through  10   d  are located in a perpendicular direction to the length of the ultrasonic signal cable  67 , so as not to overlap the others.  
      The ultrasonic signal cable connector device will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 4 through 6 .  FIG. 4  is a front view illustrating the configuration of the first embodiment of an ultrasonic signal cable connector device relating to the present invention,  FIG. 5  is a back view illustrating the configuration of a connecting board of a connector receptacle provided on the ultrasonic connector of the first embodiment of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device relating to of the present invention,  FIG. 6  is a plan view illustrating the attached state of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device to the ultrasonic connector relating to the present invention, and  FIG. 7  is a sectional view illustrating the attached state of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device to the cable connector relating to the present invention.  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the ultrasonic signal cable connector device (hereafter referred to as “cable connector”)  10  relating to the first embodiment of the present invention is a wiring board  11  wherein connection lands or wiring patterns are formed on the face of the insulation base board.  
      The wiring board  11  is formed in a rectangular shape, wherein the length of at least the short side is formed to be equal to or less than the external diameter of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  that is passed through the ultrasonic signal cable channel of the ultrasonic endoscope  61 , or less than the internal diameter of the ultrasonic signal cable channel. Now, the wiring board  11  can be either a hard board or a soft flexible board.  
      The wiring board  11  is divided into a cable connecting portion  12  that connects the ultrasonic signal cable  67  lengthwise, and a connector connecting unit  13  that connects the ultrasonic connector  68 . Multiple signal line connecting lands  15   a  through  15   n  and a grounding land  14  are provided on the cable connecting portion  12 .  
      The signal line connecting lands  15   a  through  15   n  are located in a parallel line in the lengthwise direction of the wiring board  11 , and are electrically connected to the multiple signal core lines  81  of the coaxial lines  85   a  through  85   d  of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  by means of soldering.  
      The grounding land  14  is electrically connected to the multiple shields  83  that are covering the multiple signal core lines  81  and the insulator layers  82  by means of soldering.  
      The connector connecting unit  13  provides multiple grounding patterns, two to be specific,  16   a  and  16   b , multiple wiring patterns  17   a  through  17   n , multiple contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n , and multiple grounding contact piece lands, two to be specific,  19   a  and  19   b.    
      The multiple contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n  are formed wherein each is approximately the same shape and size, and are located in a vertical row with approximately equal spacing therebetween, along the lengthwise direction of the central portion of the wiring board  11 .  
      The multiple grounding contact piece lands  19   a  and  19   b  are formed wherein each is approximately the same shape and size as the contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n , and are located in a vertical row on the distal end side of the contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n  (to the right side in  FIG. 3 ), with approximately equal spacing between.  
      The grounding patterns  16   a  and  16   b  extend from the ends of both sides of the grounding lands  14  of the cable connecting portion  12 , along the length of the surface of the wiring board  11 , and are each connected to the corresponding grounding contact piece lands  19   a  and  19   b.    
      The wiring patterns  17   a  through  17   n  extend from the signal line connecting lands  15   a  through  15   n  of the cable connecting portion  12 , along the length of the surface of the wiring board  11 , and are each connected to the corresponding contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n.    
      In other words, when the multiple signal core lines  81  of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  are connected by soldering to each of the signal line connecting lands  15   a  through  15   n  of the cable connecting portion  12 , connection thereof is made electrically to the contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n  via the wiring patterns  17   a  through  17   n  of the connector connection unit  13 .  
      Further, when each of the shields  83  of the signal core lines  81  are connected by soldering to the grounding land  14  of the cable connecting portion  12 , connection thereof is made electrically to the grounding contact piece lands  19   a  and  19   b  via the grounding patterns  16   a  and  16   b  of the connector connection unit  13 .  
      The cable connector  10  thus configured is connected to each of the coaxial lines  85   a  through  85   d  on the ultrasonic signal cable  67 .  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the above-described connector receptacle  20  has on the surface of the wiring board  21  multiple contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n  provided on the connector connecting unit  13  of the cable connector  10 , and multiple contact point lands  22   a  through  22   n  wherein each is approximately the same shape and size as the grounding contact piece lands  19   a  and  19   b , with approximately equal spacing between, and multiple grounding contact point lands, two to be specific,  23   a  and  23   b.    
      Multiple connecting patterns  24   a  through  24   n  and multiple ground patterns, two to be specific,  25   a  and  26   b , each extend from the contact point lands  22   a  through  22   n  and the grounding contact point lands  23   a  and  23   b , and are connected to the matching board  101 .  
      In other words, the multiple contact point lands  22   a  through  22   n  and the two grounding contact point lands  23   a  and  23   b  that are provided on the surface of the wiring board  21  of the connector receptacle  20  are formed in a shape and size so as to overlap and make contact with the contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n  and the grounding contact piece lands  19   a  and  19   b  respectively of the connector connecting unit  13  of the cable connector  10 .  
      A connector attaching frame  26  that surrounds three sides of the area formed by the contact point lands  22   a  through  22   n , the grounding contact point lands  23   a  and  23   b , the wiring patterns  24   a  through  24   n , and the grounding patterns  25   a  and  25   b , is provided on the surface of the wiring board  21  of the connector receptacle  20 . The connector attaching frame  26  is approximately the same shape as the wiring board  11  of the connector connecting unit  13  of the cable connector  10 , and is a member for positioning of the connector connecting unit  13  in the moment that the connector connecting unit  13  is overlapped with the connector receptacle  20 .  
      The method for connecting the cable connector  10  and the connector receptacle  20  will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . The connector connecting unit  13  of the cable connector  10  is attached inside the connector attaching frame  26 . When the connector connecting unit  13  is attached to the connector attaching frame  26 , the contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n  and the grounding contact piece lands  19   a  and  19   b  of the connector connecting unit  95  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the cable connector  10  make contact with the contact point lands  22   a  through  22   n  and the ground contact point lands  23   a  and  23   b  of the connector receptacle  20 , respectively.  
      The cable connector  10  that is attached to the connector attaching frame  26  is pressed down and fixed by a pressing fixation piece  31  of the connector receptacle  20 . The pressing fixation piece  31  comprises a pressing face  32  that makes contact with at least the back face of the connector connecting unit  13  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the cable connector  10 , multiple recessed portions, two to be specific,  33   a  and  33   b  that give elasticity to the pressing face  32  as well as avoids contact with the connector attaching frame  26 , multiple leg portions, two to be specific,  34   a  and  34   b , extending from the recessed portions  33   a  and  33   b  that are located on the surface of the wiring board  21  of the connector receptacle  20 , and multiple external thread screws, two to be specific,  35   a  and  35   b , that fix the leg portions  34   a  and  34   b  to the wiring board  21  of the connector receptacle  20 .  
      In other words, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , after the connector connecting unit  13  of the cable connector  10  is attached to the connector attaching frame  26  of the connector receptacle  20 , the pressing fixation piece  31  is placed on the back face of the cable connector  10 , and fixes the leg portions  34   a  and  34   b  of the pressing fixation piece  31  with the two external thread screws  35   a  and  35   b . Thus, in order for the pressing face  32  of the pressing fixation piece  31  to press the cable connector  10 , the contact piece lands  17   a  through  17   n  and the grounding contact piece lands  18   a  and  18   b  of the connector connecting unit  13  of the cable connector  10  are pressed on to the corresponding contact point lands  22   a  through  22   n  and the grounding contact point lands  23  and  23   b  respectively, and each makes contact.  
      As described above, the cable connector  10  has a rectangular shape wiring board  11  wherein the width is less than at least the internal diameter of the ultrasonic signal cable channel of the endoscope insertion portion  62 . The wiring board  11  of the cable connector  10  comprises two sections, the cable connecting portion  12  that has grounding lands  14  that are connected to the shields  83  and the multiple signal line connecting lands  15   a  through  15   n  that are positioned in a row to connect to the corresponding multiple signal core lines  81  of the ultrasonic signal cable  67 , and the connector connecting unit  13  that has multiple contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n  and grounding lands  19   a  and  19   b  that are positioned in a vertical row with approximately equal spacing in the center portion in the lengthwise direction of the wiring board  11  that are each connected to the signal line connecting lands  15   a  through  15   n  and the grounding land  14 .  
      The cable connector  10  connects the contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n  and the grounding lands  19   a  and  19   b  of the cable connector  10  to the corresponding contact point lands  22   a  through  22   n  and the grounding contact point lands  23   a  and  23   b  of the connector receptacle  20 , by overlapping the connector receptacle  20  provided on the ultrasonic connector  68 , and also by pressing and fixing the pressing fixation piece  31 .  
      Now, an electroconductive member such as electroconductive rubber or the like may be placed on the contact surfaces between the lands  18   a  through  18   n ,  19   a ,  19   b ,  22   a  through  22   n ,  23   a , and  23   b , so that conductivity is ensured upon the contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n  and the grounding lands  19   a  and  19   b  of the cable connector  10  each making contact with the corresponding contact point lands  22   a  through  22   n  and the grounding contact point lands  23   a  and  23   b  of the connector receptacle  20 .  
      Consequently, with the ultrasonic signal cable connector device  10  of the present embodiment, soldering work to connect to the connecting connector  102  of the ultrasonic connector  68  can be eliminated. Therefore, connection to the ultrasonic connector  68  is made easier and can be simplified.  
     Second Embodiment  
      Next, an ultrasonic signal cable connector device relating to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 8 through 16 . Now, only the points of the present embodiment that differ from the configuration of the first embodiment will be described; configurations which are the same will be denoted with the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.  
       FIG. 8  is a plan view of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device,  FIG. 9  is a back view of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device,  FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device,  FIG. 11  is a plan view illustrating the configuration of the connector receptacle wherein the ultrasonic signal cable connector of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device is attached, and  FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the connector receptacle wherein the ultrasonic signal cable connector of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device is attached.  FIG. 13  is a plan view illustrating the configuration of a connecting board for connecting the ultrasonic signal cable connector of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device and the connector receptacle,  FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a connecting board for connecting the ultrasonic signal cable connector of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device and the connector receptacle,  FIG. 15  is a plan view illustrating the attached state of the ultrasonic signal cable connector of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device and the connector receptacle, and  FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the attached state of the ultrasonic signal cable connector of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device and the connector receptacle.  
      The above-described cable connector  10  according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a grounding land  14 , a signal line connecting land  15 , a grounding pattern  16 , a wiring pattern  17 , an contact piece land  18 , and a grounding contact piece land  19  on one surface of the wiring board  11 .  
      On the other hand, the cable connector  40  of the present embodiment has two grounding lands  14  and  14 ′, one on each face, multiple signal line connecting lands  15   a  through  15   n  and  15 ′ a  through  15 ′ n , a total of four grounding patterns  16   a ,  16   b ,  16 ′ a ,  16 ′ b , two on each face, multiple wiring patterns  17   a  through  17   n  and  17 ′ a  through  17 ′ n , multiple contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n  and  18 ′ a  through  18 ′ n , and a total of four grounding contact piece lands  19   a ,  19   b ,  19 ′ a ,  19 ′ b , two on each face, on both faces  11   a  and  11   b  of the wiring board  11 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 through 10 . Hereafter, the description will refer to only the numeral of the reference numeral for each land and each pattern (for example, the signal line connecting lands  15   a  through  15   n  and  15 ′ a  through  15 ′ n  will be referred to as signal line connecting lands  15  and  15 ′).  
      The grounding lands  14  and  14 ′, the signal line connecting lands  15  and  15 ′, the grounding patterns  16  and  16 ′, the wiring pattern  17  and  17 ′, the contact piece lands  18  and  18 ′, and the grounding contact piece lands  19  and  19 ′ that are provided on both faces  11   a  and  11   b  of the wiring board  11  are formed with approximately the same shape and size for each land and pattern. Now, the two faces  11   a  and  11   b  of the wiring board  11  may be referred to as the front face  11   a  and back face  11   b  in the description below.  
      Thus, the two faces  11   a  and  11   b  of the wiring board  11  each has two grounding lands  14  and  14 ′, one on each face, multiple signal line connecting lands  15  and  15 ′, a total of four grounding patterns  16  and  16 ′, two on each face, multiple wiring patterns  17  and  17 ′, multiple contact piece lands  18  and  18 ′, and a total of four grounding contact piece lands  19  and  19 ′, two on each face, and thus the number of signal lines on the ultrasonic signal cable  67  connected to the cable connector  40  can be approximately doubled. In other words, the two coaxial lines  85   a  and  85   b  of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  described with reference to  FIG. 3  can be grouped together as one, and further, the multiple signal core lines  81  within the coaxial lines  85   a  and  85   b  can be connected to one cable connector  40 .  
      Now, the connector connecting unit  13  of the cable connector  40  has a first positioning hole  27   a  near the center of the cable connecting portion  12 , and a second positioning hole  27   b  near one corner of the distal end side of the connector connecting unit  13 .  
      First and second positioning shafts  45   a  and  45   b  of the connector receptacle  41  that is the wiring board to be described below, which is the connecting receiving unit  20  in the first embodiment, provided on the connecting connector  102  of the ultrasonic connector  68 , are passed through the first and second positioning holes  27   a  and  27   b.    
      Next, the connector receptacle  41  provided on the connecting connector  102  of the ultrasonic connector  68  that corresponds to the cable connector  40  wherein the ultrasonic signal cable  67  is capable of being connected will be described with reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 .  
      On one face of the connector receptacle  41  a rectangular recessed portion  42  wherein the cable connector  40  attaches is formed. The recessed portion  42  is formed to have approximately the same thickness as the thickness of the wiring board  11  of the cable connector  40 , and is a recessed portion formed in approximately the same shape as the wiring board  11 . In the center portion in the lengthwise direction of the recessed portion  42  bottom face is provided the multiple first contact point lands  43   a  through  43   n  and multiple first grounding contact points lands, two to be specific,  44   a  and  44   b  that are positioned with approximately equal spacing and formed to have approximately similar shape and size as the corresponding multiple contact piece lands  18 ′ a  through  18 ′ n  and the two grounding contact piece lands  19 ′ a  and  19 ′ b  provided on the back face  11   b  of the wiring board  11  of the cable connector  40 .  
      A first positioning shaft  45   a  that is passed through the first positioning hole  27   a  of the cable connector  40 , as seen in  FIG. 11  near the left side in the drawing, of the first contact point lands  43   a  through  43   n , is provided on the recessed portion  42  so as to protrude in the perpendicular direction from the bottom face thereof. Further, a second positioning shaft  45   b  that is passed through the second positioning hole  27   b  of the cable connector  40 , as seen in  FIG. 11  to the lower side, of the first contact point land  44   b , is provided on the recessed portion  42  so as to protrude in the perpendicular direction from the front face thereof.  
      In other words, the two, first and second, positioning shafts  45   a  and  45   b  are passed through the two, first and second, positioning holes  27   a  and  27   b  of the wiring board  11  from the back face side of the cable connector  40 , and the wiring board  11  is attached to the recessed portion  42 . Thus, the contact piece lands  18 ′ a  through  18 ′ n  and the grounding contact piece lands  19 ′ a  and  19 ′ b  of the back face  11   b  of the wiring board  11  each makes contact with the corresponding first contact point lands  43   a  through  43   n  and the first grounding contact point lands  44   a  and  44   b  of the recessed portion  42 .  
      Now, a wiring pattern and a grounding pattern for the purpose of connecting to the matching board  101  each extend from the first contact point lands  43   a  through  43   n  and the first grounding contact point lands  44   a  and  44   b  of the recessed portion  42 , although this is not illustrated.  
      Further, multiple second contact point lands  48   a  through  48   n  and multiple second grounding contact point lands, two to be specific,  49   a  and  49   b  are formed on the plane portion  47  adjacent to the recessed portion  42  of the connector receptacle  41 . The second contact point lands  48   a  through  48   n  and the grounding contact point lands  49   a  and  49   b  are formed to have approximately the same shape and size as the corresponding first contact point lands  43   a  through  43   n  and grounding contact point lands  44   a  and  44   b , and are positioned on the surface of the plane portion  47  with approximately equal spacing.  
      A third positioning shaft  45   c  is provided near the side in the center section in the lengthwise direction (the upper part of  FIG. 11 ) of the second contact point lands  48   a  through  48   n  of the plane portion  47 . Now, two screw holes  46   a  and  46   b , wherein the external thread screws are screwed in to attach and fix the connecting board  51  to be described below, are provided near one side corresponding to the lengthwise direction (the vertical direction of  FIG. 11 ) of the recessed portion  42  and the plane portion  47  of the connector receptacle  41 .  
      Now, a wiring pattern and a grounding pattern for the purpose of connecting to the matching board  101  each extend from the second contact point lands  48   a  through  48   n  and the second grounding contact point lands  49   a  and  49   b  of the plane portion  47 , although this is not illustrated.  
      Next, the connecting board  51  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 . On one face of the connecting board  51 , multiple third contact point lands  52   a  through  52   n  and multiple third grounding contact point lands, two to be specific,  53   a  and  53   b  are provided. The multiple third contact point lands  52   a  through  52   n  and the two grounding contact point lands  53   a  and  53   b  are formed in approximately the same shape and size so as to make contact with the respective multiple contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n  and the two grounding contact piece lands  19   a  and  19   b  provided on the front face  11   a  of the wiring board  11  of the corresponding cable connector  40 , and are positioned with approximately equal spacing, and are located after the position is determined on one face of the connecting board  51 .  
      Further, multiple fourth contact point lands  52 ′ a  through  52 ′ n  and multiple fourth grounding contact point lands, two to be specific,  53 ′ a  and  53 ′ b  are provided on one side of the connecting board  51  so as to line up with the third contact point lands  52   a  through  52   n  and the third grounding contact point lands  53   a  and  53   b . The fourth contact point lands  52 ′ a  through  52 ′ n  and the fourth grounding contact point lands  53 ′ a  and  53 ′ b  are formed in approximately the same shape and size so as to make contact with the corresponding second contact point lands  48   a  through  48   n  and the second grounding contact point lands  49   a  and  49   b  of the connector receptacle  41 , and are also positioned with approximately equal spacing and determined where to be positioned on the face of the connecting board  51 .  
      The third contact point lands  52   a  through  52   n  and the third grounding contact point lands  53   a  and  53   b  of the connecting board  51  are electrically connected to the corresponding fourth contact point lands  52 ′ a  through  52 ′ n  and the fourth grounding contact point lands  53 ′ a  and  53 ′ b  by the wiring patterns  54   a  through  54   n  or the grounding patterns  55   a  and  55   b.    
      Further, first through third positioning holes  56   a  through  56   c  provided in the positions corresponding to the first through third positioning shafts  45   a  through  45   c  provided on the connector receptacle  41 , and screw openings  57   a  and  57   b  provided in the positions corresponding to the attaching screw holes  46   a  and  46   b  of the connector receptacle  41 , are bored in the connecting board  51 .  
      The connection of the cable connector  40 , the connector receptacle  41 , and the connecting board  51 , with such a configuration, will be described with reference to  FIGS. 15 and 16 .  
      The multiple signal core lines  81  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  are connected to the signal line connecting lands  15   a  through  15   n , the grounding land  14 , the signal line connecting lands  15 ′ a  through  15 ′ n , and the grounding land  14 ′ provided on both faces  11   a  and  11   b  of the wiring board  11  of the cable connector  40 .  
      For example, the signal core lines  81  and the shields  83  of the coaxial lines  85   a  are each soldered to the corresponding signal line connecting lands  15   a  through  15   n  and the grounding contact piece land  14  on the front face  11   a  of the wiring board  11 , and further, the signal core lines  81  and the shields  83  of the coaxial lines  85   b  are each soldered to the corresponding signal line connecting lands  15 ′ a  through  15 ′ n  and the grounding contact piece land  14 ′ on the back face  11   b  of the wiring board  11 , and are thus electrically connected.  
      The cable connector  40  that is electrically connected to the ultrasonic signal cable  67  is inserted from the distal end side of the endoscope insertion unit  71  (see  FIG. 1 ), and passes through to extend to the ultrasonic connector  68 . The connector receptacle  41  is provided on the connecting connector  102  of the ultrasonic connector  68 , and is attached to the recessed portion  42  of the connector receptacle  41  from the back face  11   b  side of the wiring board  11  of the cable connector  40 .  
      At this time, the first and second positioning shafts  45   a  and  45   b  provided on the recessed portion  42  are passed through the first and second positioning holes  27   a  and  27   b  provided on the cable connector  40 , and the cable connector  40  is attached to the connector receptacle  41 . When the position of the cable connector  40  is determined by the first and second positioning shafts  45   a  and  45   b  and attached to the recessed portion  42  of the connector receptacle  41 , the contact piece lands  18 ′ a  through  18 ′ n  and the grounding contact piece lands  19 ′ a  and  19 ′ b  provided on the back face  11   b  side of the wiring board  11  electrically connect to the corresponding contact point lands  43   a  through  43   n  and the grounding contact point lands  44   a  and  44   b  of the recessed portion  42 .  
      When the cable connector  40  is attached to the recessed portion  42  of the connector receptacle  41 , the first through third positioning holes  56   a  through  56   c  of the connecting board  51  are each inserted into the first through third positioning shafts  45   a  through  45   c  of the connector receptacle  41 . Then, one face of the connecting board  51  is positioned on the connector receptacle  41  so as to face the plane portion  47  of the connector receptacle  41  and the front face  11   a  of the wiring board  11  of the cable connector  40  that is attached to the recessed portion  42 .  
      In other words, when the connecting board  51  is positioned on the connector receptacle  41 , the third contact point lands  52   a  through  52   n  and the grounding contact point lands  53   a  and  53   b  make contact with the corresponding contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n  and the grounding contact piece lands  19   a  and  19   b  provided on the front face  11   a  of the wiring board  11 .  
      Further, the fourth contact point lands  52 ′ a  through  52 ′ n  and the grounding contact point lands  53 ′ a  and  53 ′ b  on the connecting board  51  make contact with the corresponding second contact point lands  48   a  through  48   n  and the grounding contact point lands  49   a  and  49   b  provided on the plane portion  47  of the connector receptacle  41 . In this state, the connecting board  51  is fixed to the connector receptacle  41  by means of the external thread screws  58   a  and  58   b  passing through the screw openings  57   a  and  57   b , and screwing the connecting board  51  in place to the attaching screw holes  46   a  and  46   b  of the connector receptacle  41 .  
      Thus, the contact piece lands  18   a  through  18   n  and  18 ′ a  through  18 ′ n  and the grounding lands  19   a ,  19   b ,  19 ′ a , and  19 ′ b  provided on the two sides  11   a  and  11   b  of the wiring board  11  of the cable connector  40  are electrically connected to the matching board  101  via the connector receptacle  41  and the connecting board  51 .  
      Accordingly, the cable connector  40  can be made with a smaller sideways width because of the multiple signal core lines  81  of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  being capable of connecting to both sides. Therefore, insertion of the endoscope insertion portion  62  into the ultrasonic signal cable channel can be greatly improved. Further, the endoscope insertion portion  62  itself can have a smaller diameter because the ultrasonic signal cable channel of the endoscope insertion portion  62  has a smaller diameter.  
      Further, the cable connector  40  can have fewer connectors to the ultrasonic signal cable  67  because the many signal core lines  81  of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  are connected to the two faces  11   a  and  11   b  of the wiring board  11  of the cable connector  40 , and the insertion operation into the ultrasonic signal cable channel becomes easier.  
      Further, the cable connector  40  is easily connected to the ultrasonic connector  68  by being sandwiched between the connector receptacle  41  and the connecting board  51 , wherein the connector receptacle  41  overlaps and attaches the cable connector  40  with the ultrasonic connector  68 . In particular, since no soldering work is necessary for the connection between the cable connector  40  and the ultrasonic connector  68 , attaching the cable connector  40  to the ultrasonic connector  68  can be performed more efficiently.  
     Third Embodiment  
      Next, the ultrasonic signal cable connector device relating to the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 17 and 18 .  
       FIG. 17  is a front view illustrating the configuration of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device relating to the third embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 18  is a back view illustrating the configuration of the ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.  
      The cable connector  60  of the present embodiment is provided with multiple signal line connecting lands  62   a  through  62   n  and  62 ′ a  through  62 ′ n  and two grounding lands, one on each face,  63  and  63 ′ that are electrically connected by soldering the shield  83  and the signal core line  81  of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  to both the front and back faces of the cable connecting portion  12 ′ of the wiring board  61  that is formed in a rectangular shape, similar to the above-described second embodiment.  
      The connector connecting unit  13 ′ of one face (hereafter may be referred to as “front face”)  61   a  of the wiring board  61  of the cable connector  60  is provided with multiple grounding patterns, two to be specific,  64   a  and  64   b  that extend from both ends of the connecting land  63  of the cable connecting portion  12 ′, and multiple wiring patterns  79  that each extends from the multiple signal line connecting lands  62   a  through  62   n , and two grounding contact piece lands  65   a  and  65   b  that each connects to the grounding patterns  64   a  and  64   b , and multiple contact piece lands  66   a  through  66   n  that each connects to the wiring patterns  79 , and multiple grounding contact piece lands that have a through hole (hereafter referred to as “grounding contact piece land with through hole”)  65   c  and  65   d , and multiple contact piece lands that have a through hole (hereafter referred to as “contact piece land with through hole”)  67   a  through  67   n.    
      The wiring patterns  79  are formed with predetermined spacing that is approximately equal to the right and left thereof, towards the center shaft in the lengthwise direction of the wiring board  61  that is in a rectangular shape on the front face  61   a  of the wiring board  61 . The grounding contact piece lands  65   a  and  65   b  and the contact piece lands  66   a  through  66   n  are formed in approximately the same shape and size, and positioned with equal spacing, along both long edges of the rectangular shaped wiring board  61  on the front face  61   a  of the wiring board  61 .  
      The two grounding contact piece lands with through holes  65   c  and  65   d , and the multiple contact piece lands with through holes  67   a  through  67   n , are formed in approximately the same shape as the two grounding lands  64   a  and  64   b , and the multiple contact piece lands  66   a  through  66   n , and are each positioned between the grounding lands  64   a  and  64   b , and the contact piece lands  66   a  through  66   n.    
      As illustrated in  FIG. 18 , the connector connecting unit  13 ′ of the other face (hereafter may be referred to as “back face”)  61   b  of the wiring board  61  of the cable connector  60  is provided with multiple grounding patterns, two to be specific,  64 ′ a  and  64 ′ b  that extend from both ends of the connecting land  63 ′ of the cable connecting portion  12 ′, and multiple wiring patterns  79 ′ that each extends from the signal line connecting lands  62 ′ a  through  62 ′ n , and multiple grounding through holes, two to be specific,  65 ′ c  and  65 ′ d  that each connects to the two grounding patterns  64 ′ a  and  64 ′ b , and multiple through holes  67 ′ a  through  67 ′ n  that are each connected to the multiple wiring patterns  79 ′.  
      The wiring patterns  79 ′ are formed with predetermined spacing that is approximately equal to the right and left thereof, towards the center shaft in the lengthwise direction of the wiring board  61   a  that is in a rectangular shape on the back face  61   b  of the wiring board  61 . The grounding through holes  65 ′ c  and  65 ′ d  and the through holes  67 ′ a  through  67 ′ n  are each electrically connected to the grounding contact piece lands with through holes  65   c  and  65   d  and the contact piece lands with through holes  67   a  through  67   n  that are provided on the front face  61   a  of the wiring board  61 .  
      In other words, the cable connector  60  is arranged such that the multiple signal line connecting lands  62   a  through  62   n  and  62 ′ a  through  62 ′ n  and the two grounding contact piece lands  63  and  63 ′ formed on the front and back faces  61   a  and  61   b  of the cable connecting portion  12 ′ of the wiring board  61  can connect to the corresponding multiple signal core lines  81  and the multiple shields  83  of the ultrasonic signal cable  67 . The multiple signal core lines  81  and the multiple shields  83  of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  connected to the front face  61   a  of the wiring board  61  of the cable connector  60  are connected to the corresponding grounding contact piece lands  65   a  and  65   b  and the connecting contact piece lands  66   a  through  66   n  via the grounding patterns  64   a  and  64   b  and the wiring patterns  65   a  through  65   n.    
      Further, the multiple signal core lines  81  and the multiple shields  83  of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  connected to the back face  61   b  of the wiring board  61  are connected to the corresponding grounding through holes  65 ′ c  and  65 ′ d  and the through holes  67 ′ a  through  67 ′ n  via the grounding patterns  64 ′ a  and  64 ′ b  and the wiring patterns  79 ′.  
      In other words, the multiple signal core lines  81  and the multiple shields  83  of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  connected to the back face  61   b  of the wiring board  61  are electrically connected to the corresponding grounding contact piece lands with through hole  65   c  and  65   d  and the contact piece lands with through hole  66   a  through  66   n  provided on the front face  61   a  of the wiring board  61 , via the grounding through holes  65 ′ c  and  65 ′ d  and the through holes  67 ′ a  through  67 ′ n.    
      Therefore, the cable connector  60  enables the cable connecting portion  12 ′ to connect the signal core lines  81  and the shields  83  of the ultrasonic signal cable  67  to the two faces  61   a  and  61   b  of the wiring board  61 , and the multiple contact piece lands  65   a  through  65   d  and  66   a  through  66   n  and  67   a  through  67   n  that are connected to the ultrasonic connector  68  are provided on one face. The multiple signal core lines  81  and the shields  83  connected to the back face  61   b  of the wiring board  61  are electrically connected to the corresponding contact piece lands  65   c  and  65   d  and  67   a  through  67   n  provided on the front face  61   a  of the wiring board  61 , via each of the through holes  65 ′ c ,  65 ′ d , and  67 ′ a  through  67 ′ n.    
      Note that, contact point lands are formed on the connector receptacle  41  for connecting the above-described cable connector  60  to the ultrasonic connector  68  which can make connection facing the corresponding grounding contact piece lands  65   a  through  65   d , the contact piece lands  66   a  through  66   n , and the contact piece lands with through hole  67   a  through  67   n  of the connector connecting unit  13 ′ of the cable connector  60 . Thus, the cable connector  60  easily connects to the ultrasonic connector  68 .  
      As described above, the ultrasonic signal cable connector device according to the present invention can be formed so as to be capable of passing through the ultrasonic cable channel of an endoscope and so forth, and can be connected to the ultrasonic connector without necessitating soldering work.  
      Having described the preferred embodiments of the invention referring to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and various changes and modifications thereof could be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.