Abstract: An ultrasound endoscope includes: a plurality of piezoelectric elements that are arranged to form a cylinder such that respective longitudinal directions of the piezoelectric elements are aligned, each piezoelectric element being configured to transmit and receive an ultrasound wave; an acoustic lens that is located on outer peripheries of the piezoelectric elements, the acoustic lens being configured to converge ultrasound waves generated by the piezoelectric elements on an outside of the acoustic lens, and transmit ultrasound waves input from the outside of the acoustic lens to the piezoelectric elements; a housing configured to hold distal end sides and proximal end sides of both of the piezoelectric elements and the acoustic lens; and a flexible material that is located between either a distal end or a proximal end of the acoustic lens and the housing, and that has a lower elastic modulus than the acoustic lens.

Abstract: A substrate connection structure includes: a rigid substrate that includes a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of wiring patterns that are electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes; a flexible printed board that includes a plurality of flying leads formed on one end of the flexible printed board, the flying leads being electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes; and second protrusions that are arranged on the plurality of electrodes and on which the flying leads are arranged.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer includes: an acoustic matching layer; plural piezoelectric elements arrayed on the acoustic matching layer; and plural blocks arranged adjacent to at least one of ends of the piezoelectric elements in an elevation direction of the piezoelectric elements, each of the plural blocks including an abrasive.

Abstract: An ultrasound endoscope includes: a plurality of piezoelectric elements that are arranged to form a cylinder such that respective longitudinal directions of the piezoelectric elements are aligned, each piezoelectric element being configured to transmit and receive an ultrasound wave; an acoustic lens that is located on outer peripheries of the piezoelectric elements, the acoustic lens being configured to converge ultrasound waves generated by the piezoelectric elements on an outside of the acoustic lens, and transmit ultrasound waves input from the outside of the acoustic lens to the piezoelectric elements; a housing configured to hold distal end sides and proximal end sides of both of the piezoelectric elements and the acoustic lens; and a flexible material that is located between either a distal end or a proximal end of the acoustic lens and the housing, and that has a lower elastic modulus than the acoustic lens.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes: a casing; a plurality of piezoelectric devices that are arranged inside the casing; an acoustic matching layer that is attached to ultrasound radiation surfaces of the piezoelectric devices; a shared ground that is arranged on a surface of the acoustic matching layer to allow at least a part of the shared ground to come in contact with the piezoelectric devices; a deformation preventing member that is arranged in contact with the surface of the acoustic matching layer to surround an outer periphery of the piezoelectric devices and to be separated from the piezoelectric devices; a coaxial line configured to transmit a signal to each of the piezoelectric devices; and a circuit board that is arranged on an opposite side to the ultrasound radiation surfaces of the piezoelectric devices, the circuit board being configured to electrically connect the piezoelectric devices and the coaxial line.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes: an ultrasound transmitting and receiving portion configured to transmit and receive ultrasound; and an acoustic lens configured to radiate ultrasound emitted from the ultrasound transmitting and receiving portion to outside and transmit ultrasound incident from outside to the ultrasound transmitting and receiving portion. The ultrasound transmitting and receiving portion and the acoustic lens each include a joint surface and a water repellent portion having water repellency disposed on an outer edge side of the joint surface, the joint surface of the ultrasound transmitting and receiving portion and the joint surface of the acoustic lens being joined to each other with an adhesive including a base resin and a curing agent.

Abstract: An ultrasound endoscope includes: an insertion part including a distal-end rigid part, a curve part joined to a proximal end side of the distal-end rigid part, and a flexible tube part joined to a proximal end side of the curve part; an ultrasound transducer in which a plurality of piezoelectric elements capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasound are arranged annularly along a circumferential direction of the distal-end rigid part; an imaging sensor provided in the distal-end rigid part; an ultrasound cable including a plurality of coaxial cores that are electrically connected to the piezoelectric elements, respectively, and a metallic integration shield that covers the coaxial cores, the ultrasound cable being fixed to a proximal end side of the distal-end rigid part and on a side of an outer circumference; and a flexible substrate configured to electrically connect the piezoelectric elements and the coaxial cores to each other.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes: a casing; a plurality of piezoelectric devices that are arranged inside the casing; an acoustic matching layer that is attached to ultrasound radiation surfaces of the piezoelectric devices; a shared ground that is arranged on a surface of the acoustic matching layer to allow at least a part of the shared ground to come in contact with the piezoelectric devices; a deformation preventing member that is arranged in contact with the surface of the acoustic matching layer to surround an outer periphery of the piezoelectric devices and to be separated from the piezoelectric devices; a coaxial line configured to transmit a signal to each of the piezoelectric devices; and a circuit board that is arranged on an opposite side to the ultrasound radiation surfaces of the piezoelectric devices, the circuit board being configured to electrically connect the piezoelectric devices and the coaxial line.

Abstract: An ultrasound observation apparatus includes: a sheet including a first transducer, a first transducer region, a columnar portion, and a film portion configured to connect a plurality of first upper electrodes in the first transducer region and a second surface of the columnar portion in an arrangement direction C; and a bonding portion provided between the first transducer positioned on a second end portion in the first transducer region and the columnar portion and configured to maintain a state in which the sheet is rounded such that the film portion becomes an external surface, and the first transducer positioned on the second end portion and a first surface of the columnar portion are attached to each other.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes: an acoustic matching layer having a sheet-shaped member whose both ends are bonded together by adhesive to define a cylindrical shape and configured to adjust acoustic impedance of ultrasound; piezoelectric elements arranged along a circumferential direction on an inner periphery of the acoustic matching layer and configured to emit ultrasound in response to an input signal and configured to convert ultrasound from outside into an echo signal; a disc-shaped structural member provided on one end side of the acoustic matching layer in a longitudinal direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction, a part of an outer side surface of the structural member being fixed inside the acoustic matching layer. The structural member has a water repellent portion on a part of the outer side surface such that the water repellent portion faces, in a radial direction, a gap between the both ends of the acoustic matching layer.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes: an ultrasound transmitting and receiving unit provided on an insertion portion configured to be inserted into a subject, the ultrasound transmitting and receiving unit having a plurality of piezoelectric elements annularly arrayed to transmit ultrasound to the subject and receive an ultrasound echo reflected from the subject; a balloon locking portion attached on a distal end side of the ultrasound transmitting and receiving unit and having a groove portion for locking an opening end part of a balloon that covers the ultrasound transmitting and receiving unit, the balloon locking portion being formed of metal or carbon, the balloon locking portion having, on an outer periphery thereof, a depression leading to the groove portion; and an insulating portion provided between the ultrasound transmitting and receiving unit and the balloon locking portion, the insulating portion being formed of insulating material.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer array is formed by stacking an acoustic lens on a laminated body of a transducer section including transducers and first acoustic matching layers, and a second acoustic matching layer. Arrangement of the laminated body is such that a groove width of a groove portion of the transducer section is equal to or greater than a groove width of a groove portion of the second acoustic matching layer.

Abstract: An ultrasound observation apparatus includes: a sheet including a first transducer, a first transducer region, a columnar portion, and a film portion configured to connect a plurality of first upper electrodes in the first transducer region and a second surface of the columnar portion in an arrangement direction C; and a bonding portion provided between the first transducer positioned on a second end portion in the first transducer region and the columnar portion and configured to maintain a state in which the sheet is rounded such that the film portion becomes an external surface, and the first transducer positioned on the second end portion and a first surface of the columnar portion are attached to each other.

Abstract: Included are a cylindrical holding portion, a groove engageable with a balloon band removed from a balloon engagement groove provided in an outer periphery of an ultrasound transducer unit, a cut portion provided in the holding portion, the cut portion allowing the holding portion to radially expand in a radial direction, and an abutment portion provided on a second opening side relative to the groove on an inner peripheral face of the holding portion.

Abstract: Included are a cylindrical holding portion, a groove engageable with a balloon band removed from a balloon engagement groove provided in an outer periphery of an ultrasound transducer unit, a cut portion provided in the holding portion, the cut portion allowing the holding portion to radially expand in a radial direction, and an abutment portion provided on a second opening side relative to the groove on an inner peripheral face of the holding portion.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes an insertion portion having a distal end portion and at least two channels; an optical observation system provided on one surface of the distal end portion so as to face an axial direction different from a direction of an insertion axis X of the insertion portion; a first channel opening provided on one surface of the distal end portion near the optical observation system; an ultrasound transducer array provided on the one surface of the distal end portion and having a scanning surface Z parallel to the insertion axis; and a second channel opening provided on a proximal end side of the ultrasound transducer array.

Abstract: An ultrasound endoscope has an ultrasound probe which is disposed at a distal end side of a distal end rigid portion configuring a distal end portion out of a flexible tube portion, a bending portion and the distal end rigid portion configuring an insertion portion, and forms an ultrasound scanning surface having a normal line in a direction orthogonal to an endoscope insertion axis L1, and a treatment instrument outlet of a treatment hole in the distal end rigid portion. The ultrasound probe is configured by a plurality of ultrasound transducers arranged in a convex circular arc shape, and a center of curvature of the plurality of ultrasound transducers is disposed at a proximal end side from the treatment instrument outlet.

Abstract: When an ultrasound endoscope arrives at an objective area, a puncture needle is located in a scan area of a first ultrasound image. Thereby, an image of the puncture needle is delineated on the first ultrasound image. Furthermore, an ultrasound probe is inserted into the puncture needle and an ultrasound transducer of the ultrasound probe is arranged in the objective area through the puncture needle. Then, the ultrasound probe is driven and a second ultrasound image is delineated. Detailed observation inside the objective area in which the puncture needle is punctured is possible with the second ultrasound image.

Abstract: A treatment instrument system according to the present invention includes: an endoscope having a treatment instrument channel; an ultrasound probe inserted through the treatment instrument channel of the endoscope; an ultrasound observing apparatus having a blood flow display function and a distance measuring function; a treatment instrument having, at a distal end portion, an ultrasound scattering portion for scattering ultrasound; and an over tube having an endoscope insertion path through which the endoscope can be inserted and a treatment instrument insertion path through which the treatment instrument can be inserted, and having, at a distal end portion, an ultrasound scattering portion for scattering ultrasound.

Abstract: An electronic radial ultrasonic probe comprising an electronic radial array which comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers being continuously arrayed circularly around an insertion axis as center and also for which a transmission/reception of an ultrasonic wave is controlled by electronically selecting the plurality of ultrasonic transducer, comprises: a support member equipped on the electronic radial array; a lock member featured with a cavity in which the support member is inserted and with a lock groove for locking a balloon which is mounted in a manner to cover the electronic radial array and in which an ultrasonic medium is filled; and a filler member which is constituted by an adhesive material converting from a fluid state to a solid state, and is filled in the cavity.