Abstract: An ultrasonic probe for microscopic operations in accordance with the present invention consists mainly of an ultrasonic probe body, an elongated tubular member, and a bent handle member. The ultrasonic probe body has a transducer assembly attached to the distal end of a soft elongated tube that is extended from a connector to be coupled to an ultrasonic observation apparatus, and has a coupler mounted on the tube thereof. The transducer assembly and tube are passed through the elongated tubular member. The handle member is attached to the proximal end of the tubular member and includes a coupling mechanism for use in coupling the coupler to the handle member so that the coupler can be uncoupled freely.

Abstract: On the side at hand of an optical probe, a whole rotation transfer connector rotates while being supported by a ball bearing and a slide bearing and, therefore, rotation is transferred to a flexible shaft. The relative position between the flexible shaft and an optical sheath is changed in accordance with the amount of screwing of a sheath stopping member on the side at hand into an outer cylinder by an external thread portion and an internal thread portion. When the optical sheath is moved furthermore, the flexible shaft is elongated due to elastic deformation because the length of the flexible shaft is regulated by the interval between a locking part of a locking member at the tip and a shaft stopping member. A tip housing is made to contact with the locking member while tension is applied to the flexible shaft by the rear end surface in the direction of the side at hand.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe for microscopic operations in accordance with the present invention consists mainly of an ultrasonic probe body, an elongated tubular member, and a bent handle member. The ultrasonic probe body has a transducer assembly attached to the distal end of a soft elongated tube that is extended from a connector to be coupled to an ultrasonic observation apparatus, and has a coupler mounted on the tube thereof. The transducer assembly and tube are passed through the elongated tubular member. The handle member is attached to the proximal end of the tubular member and includes a coupling mechanism for use in coupling the coupler to the handle member so that the coupler can be uncoupled freely.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe for microscopic operations in accordance with the present invention consists mainly of an ultrasonic probe body, an elongated tubular member, and a bent handle member. The ultrasonic probe body has a transducer assembly attached to the distal end of a soft elongated tube that is extended from a connector to be coupled to an ultrasonic observation apparatus, and has a coupler mounted on the tube thereof. The transducer assembly and tube are passed through the elongated tubular member. The handle member is attached to the proximal end of the tubular member and includes a coupling mechanism for use in coupling the coupler to the handle member so that the coupler can be uncoupled freely.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe for microscopic operations in accordance with the present invention consists mainly of an ultrasonic probe body, an elongated tubular member, and a bent handle member. The ultrasonic probe body has a transducer assembly attached to the distal end of a soft elongated tube that is extended from a connector to be coupled to an ultrasonic observation apparatus, and has a coupler mounted on the tube thereof. The transducer assembly and tube are passed through the elongated tubular member. The handle member is attached to the proximal end of the tubular member and includes a coupling mechanism for use in coupling the coupler to the handle member so that the coupler can be uncoupled freely.

Abstract: On the side at hand of an optical probe, a whole rotation transfer connector rotates while being supported by a ball bearing and a slide bearing and, therefore, rotation is transferred to a flexible shaft. The relative position between the flexible shaft and an optical sheath is changed in accordance with the amount of screwing of a sheath stopping member on the side at hand into an outer cylinder by an external thread portion and an internal thread portion. When the optical sheath is moved furthermore, the flexible shaft is elongated due to elastic deformation because the length of the flexible shaft is regulated by the interval between a locking part of a locking member at the tip and a shaft stopping member. A tip housing is made to contact with the locking member while tension is applied to the flexible shaft by the rear end surface in the direction of the side at hand.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe is located in a chamber defined in a housing to be inserted into a body cavity of a subject. A drive shaft is connected to the probe to transmit a rotational force and, for this purpose, is coupled to a drive source via a passage of an insertion section of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. A first sealing member is provided for blocking a communication between the chamber and one end of the passage, a second sealing member is provided for sealing the other end of the passage of the guide member, and a bypass communication passage is provided for enabling the passage to communicate with the chamber. An opening/closing valve is provided for opening and closing the communication passage via which an ultrasound transmitting medium is filled in the chamber and the passage of the insertion passage. The communication passage is blocked after the filling operation has been done.

Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscope comprises an insertion section having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, an ultrasonic probe disposed in the distal end portion of the insertion section and adapted to generate ultrasonic oscillations and detect reflected waves, an operating section connected to the proximal end portion of the insertion section and used to bend the insertion section, and an auxiliary operating section connected to the rear end of the operating section, the auxiliary operating section including a rotation drive unit for rotating the ultrasonic probe.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic endscope apparatus for observing an optical image of a cavity of a body under inspection by forming the optical image with the aid of an objective lens arranged in a distal end of an insertion section of an endoscope and by transmitting the optical image by means of an image guide and for observing an ultrasonic sectional image by arranging an ultrasonic vibrating element in the distal end of the insertion section, a distance between the objective lens and the cavity is measured by detecting a first echo reflected by the cavity, image data representing a locus of a section line of the ultrasonic sectional image is derived in accordance with the measured distance, the image of the section line is displayed on a display device, and the displayed image of the section line is monitored in the superimposed manner with the optical image of the cavity.

Abstract: In an endoscope apparatus, an ultrasonic vibrating element is rotatably arranged at a distal end of a flexible inserting portion, this ultrasonic vibrating element is rotated by a motor provided in a subsidiary operating portion via a flexible cable extended through the inserting portion, the distal end portion of the inserting portion is bent by operating a handle provided on a primary operating portion, which is arranged at the proximal side of the subsidiary operating portion; a forceps channel is extended through the inserting portion and an opening of the forceps channel is formed in the subsidiary portion. According to such structure, the forceps can be inserted in the forceps channel easily and existing forceps having a standard length can be used as they are.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasonic vibrating element, a rotator for rotating the ultrasonic vibrating element, an illuminating window and an observing window arranged in a side wall of an inserting portion. The apparatus is so arranged that the center axis of the inserting portion is deviated from that of the rotator with respect to the radial direction but the center of curvature of a cover window surrounding the rotator is coincident with the center axis of the rotator. Therefore, a uniform resolving power can be obtained in all directions into which the ultrasonic wave is transmitted. Then an ultrasonic image without undesired artificates is displayed on a screen of a monitor and the outer diameter of the inserting portion can be made small.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus for inspecting an object including an insertion section insertable into the object and having a distal end and a proximal end, an image guide arranged within the insertion section and having entrance and exit ends arranged at the distal and proximal ends of insertion section, respectively, an objective lens system arranged at the distal end of insertion section for forming an optical image of the object onto the entrance end of image guide, an eyepiece lens system arranged at the proximal end of insertion section for projecting the optical image transmitted through the image guide onto an observating position, a first piezo-electric bimorph arranged at the distal end of insertion section for vibrating the entrance end of image guide in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the insertion section over a given distance, a second piezo-electric element arranged at the proximal end of insertion section for vibrating the exit end of image guide in the same direction and over the