Abstract: There are provided an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and an operation method of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus capable of performing polarization processing during the execution period of ultrasound diagnosis without affecting the image quality of an ultrasound image. In the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and the operation method of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the invention, a trigger generation circuit generates a trigger for starting polarization processing. After a trigger is given, during the execution period of ultrasound diagnosis, in a non-diagnosis period which is a period other than a period for acquiring an image of each frame and during which transmission of ultrasound waves and reception of reflected waves for performing ultrasound diagnosis are not performed, within each frame time in which an image of each frame of an ultrasound image is acquired, a control circuit performs polarization processing on a plurality of ultrasound transducers.

Abstract: The ultrasonic endoscope includes: an insertion part that includes a tip, a base end, and a longitudinal axis; an ultrasonic transducer that is provided at the tip of the insertion part; a locking groove that is a balloon mounting portion which is disposed closer to the base end of the insertion part than the ultrasonic transducer is and on which a balloon wrapping the ultrasonic transducer is detachably mounted; a balloon pipe line that extends in the insertion part; a tip-side opening surface of the balloon pipe line that is provided closer to the tip than the locking groove and has components normal to a direction of the longitudinal axis; and a groove portion which is formed toward the tip from the tip-side opening surface as a starting point and of which at least a part overlaps the ultrasonic transducer in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: In an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and an operation method of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the invention, a control circuit performs polarization processing on a plurality of ultrasound transducers in a non-diagnosis period, during which transmission of ultrasound waves and reception of reflected waves for performing ultrasound diagnosis are not performed, in a case where the cumulative driving time of the plurality of ultrasound transducers for performing the ultrasound diagnosis becomes equal to or longer than a specified time. A transmission circuit generates a first transmission signal having a driving voltage for performing ultrasound diagnosis using a pulse generation circuit in the case of performing the ultrasound diagnosis, and generates a second transmission signal having a polarization voltage for performing polarization processing using the same pulse generation circuit as in the case of generating the first transmission signal in the case of performing the polarization processing.

Abstract: A fixing sleeve that is fitted outward on a connecting portion between a connecting pipe and a treatment tool inserting tube for fixation of the connecting portion comprises a cylindrical sleeve body, an arc-shaped portion that is connected to a proximal end side of the sleeve body, is formed to be coaxial with a sleeve center axis of the sleeve body and has a center angle smaller than 180°, and a projection portion that is formed along a peripheral direction of the sleeve center axis on an inner peripheral surface in the arc-shaped portion in a radial inside of the sleeve center axis. A part of the treatment tool inserting tube is flexibly deformed in a convex shape by the projection portion, and the part thereof is supported by the projection portion.

Abstract: There is provided an endoscope apparatus which can notify an operator whether or not a forceps elevator is in a reclined state by simple and inexpensive means. The endoscope includes: a forceps elevator which is erectably provided at the distal end part of an operation part that is provided to the insertion part. The forceps elevator has an erecting motion range from a minimum angular position to a maximum angular position. The operation part includes an index which is shielded by the erecting operation member when the forceps elevator is in the minimum angular position, and which is exposed when the forceps elevator is in a position in which the forceps elevator is erected from the minimum angular position.

Abstract: There is provided an endoscope apparatus in which a forceps elevator can be operated according to the operator's intention even when a treatment tool has large bending stiffness. The forceps elevator is erectably provided in a distal end part of the insertion part of the endoscope apparatus and guides the treatment tool led out from the distal end part. The forceps elevator has an erecting motion range from a minimum angular position to a maximum angular position. If a state in which the treatment tool is not led out from the distal end part is assumed, the erecting operation lever for operating the movement of the forceps elevator has: a first operation range where the erecting operation lever is operated within the erecting motion range of the forceps elevator; and a second operation range where the erecting operation lever is operated beyond the first operation range.

Abstract: The ultrasonic endoscope includes: an insertion part that includes a tip, a base end, and a longitudinal axis; an ultrasonic transducer that is provided at the tip of the insertion part; a locking groove that is a balloon mounting portion which is disposed closer to the base end of the insertion part than the ultrasonic transducer is and on which a balloon wrapping the ultrasonic transducer is detachably mounted; a balloon pipe line that extends in the insertion part; a tip-side opening surface of the balloon pipe line that is provided closer to the tip than the locking groove and has components normal to a direction of the longitudinal axis; and a groove portion which is formed toward the tip from the tip-side opening surface as a starting point and of which at least a part overlaps the ultrasonic transducer in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: There is provided an endoscope apparatus in which a forceps elevator can be operated according to the operator's intention even when a treatment tool has large bending stiffness. The forceps elevator is erectably provided in a distal end part of the insertion part of the endoscope apparatus and guides the treatment tool led out from the distal end part. The forceps elevator has an erecting motion range from a minimum angular position to a maximum angular position. If a state in which the treatment tool is not led out from the distal end part is assumed, the erecting operation lever for operating the movement of the forceps elevator has: a first operation range where the erecting operation lever is operated within the erecting motion range of the forceps elevator; and a second operation range where the erecting operation lever is operated beyond the first operation range.

Abstract: There is provided an endoscope apparatus which can notify an operator whether or not a forceps elevator is in a reclined state by simple and inexpensive means. The endoscope includes: a forceps elevator which is erectably provided at the distal end part of an operation part that is provided to the insertion part. The forceps elevator has an erecting motion range from a minimum angular position to a maximum angular position. The operation part includes an index which is shielded by the erecting operation member when the forceps elevator is in the minimum angular position, and which is exposed when the forceps elevator is in a position in which the forceps elevator is erected from the minimum angular position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hood for an ultrasonic endoscope and an ultrasonic endoscope that prevent a body wall from getting into close contact with an observation window at a time such as when an ultrasonic transducer is brought into close contact with the body wall. In a hood for an ultrasonic endoscope to be attached to the ultrasonic endoscope, a notch is formed at a front edge of the hood, and a front edge corner at an observation window side along the notch is provided as an eaves-shaped part. The eaves-shaped part protrudes in front of the observation window, and when an ultrasonic transducer is brought into close contact with the body wall, the eaves-shaped part lies between the body wall and the observation window, thereby preventing the body wall from getting into close contact with the observation window.

Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscope includes an ultrasonic vibrator unit provided at a distal end part, the ultrasonic vibrator unit being composed of at least an ultrasonic vibrator array and a first thermally conductive member, the ultrasonic vibrator array having the plurality of ultrasonic vibrators that are arranged in a cylindrical form, the first thermally conductive member being disposed thermally in contact with the ultrasonic vibrator array; a plurality of cables that are electrically connected to the ultrasonic vibrator array; and an electrically conductive structural body that is disposed to extend from a distal end side toward a proximal end side of the ultrasonic endoscope. The ultrasonic vibrator unit and the electrically conductive structural body are connected to each other via an electrically insulating second thermally conductive member.

Abstract: The invention has, at a distal end part thereof, an ultrasonic oscillator array in which a plurality of ultrasonic oscillators are arranged; a shielded cable including a plurality of signal lines, and a plurality of metallic shield members disposed outside the signal lines; a wiring part including a plurality of connecting parts that electrically connect the plurality of signal lines to the plurality of ultrasonic oscillators, respectively; a ground part that is electrically connected to the plurality of shield members and has heat conductivity; a sheet-like first heat-conduction member disposed on a side surface of the ultrasonic oscillator array; and a second heat-conduction member that thermally connects the first heat-conduction member to the ground part. Accordingly, an ultrasonic endoscope capable of improving diagnostic accuracy in ultrasonic diagnosis, and a method for manufacturing the ultrasonic endoscope are provided.

Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscope includes a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators; a distal end part that houses the plurality of ultrasonic vibrators; an electrically conductive endoscopic structure housed in or connected to the distal end part; a thermally conductive member connected to the plurality of ultrasonic vibrators; and an electrically insulating thermally conductive member connected to the endoscopic structure. The thermally conductive member and the electrically insulating thermally conductive member are connected to each other. Thus, the ultrasonic endoscope that has a heat release structure which transmits the heat generated from the ultrasonic vibrators to the electrically conductive endoscopic structure housed in the distal end part and which can efficiently release the heat therefrom while electric safety is secured; and that can prevent a burn of an alimentary canal by suppressing a temperature rise of surfaces of the ultrasonic vibrators is provided.

Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscope has an ultrasonic transducer array in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are arranged; a backing material layer on a back side of a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, a wiring board including a plurality of electrode pads that are connected to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers; a plurality of shield cables each including a signal wire and a shield member, a wiring portion in which the plurality of signal wires are electrically connected to the plurality of electrode pads; a ground portion that is electrically connected to the shield members and that have heat conductivity; and a first heat conductive member that extends beyond the backing material layer to a side opposite to the ultrasonic transducer array with respect to the backing material layer and that is thermally connected to the ground portion.

Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscope has an ultrasonic vibrator array in which a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators are arrayed; a backing material layer that supports the ultrasonic vibrators; shield cables that each include a signal wire and a shield member for the signal wire; a flexible printed wiring board that extends on a side opposite to the ultrasonic vibrator array with respect to the backing material layer and that includes a ground portion electrically connected to the shield members; and a heat conductive layer that is provided on at least one surface of the flexible printed wiring board and connected to the ground portion, the heat conductive layer dissipating heat generated in the plurality of ultrasonic vibrators to the ground portion.

Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscope has a laminated body that includes an ultrasonic transducer array in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are arranged, and a backing material layer that supports the plurality of ultrasonic transducers; a cable portion that includes a plurality of cables each of which is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, and a shield member that covers the plurality of cables from outside and that is made of a metal; and a first heat conductive member that is disposed on a side surface of the laminated body. The first heat conductive member is extended to the shield member that is grounded to a housing and is thermally connected to the shield member.

Abstract: A ultrasonic oscillator unit including an ultrasonic oscillator array in which a plurality of oscillators are arranged in a circular-arc shape; an electrode part that is provided on at least one end surface of the plurality of oscillators perpendicular to a longitudinal direction thereof and that is electrically connected with the oscillators; a backing material layer that is disposed on a rear surface of the ultrasonic oscillator array; and a cable wiring part including a flexible printed wired board. The flexible printed wired board includes a cable connecting part that extends to a lower side of the backing material layer, is separated into a plurality of belt-like pieces, and has, in a comb shape, a plurality of strip-like electrode parts in which at least one electrode pad is linearly disposed in the longitudinal direction of each of the belt-like pieces.

Abstract: An ultrasonic oscillator unit including an ultrasonic oscillator array in which a plurality of ultrasonic oscillators are arranged; an electrode part having a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to the plurality of ultrasonic oscillators, respectively; a circular-arc backing material layer disposed on a rear surface of the ultrasonic oscillator array; three or more wiring boards electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes of the electrode part; and three or more connectors to which a plurality of cables are connected, respectively. The three or more wiring boards are respectively mounted to the three or more connectors and electrically connect the plurality of electrodes of the electrode part to the plurality of cables. The three or more connectors are arranged on a rear surface side of the backing material layer in a width direction.

Abstract: A ultrasonic-oscillator unit including an ultrasonic-oscillator array in which a plurality of ultrasonic-oscillators are arranged in a semicylindrical shape; an electrode part of the ultrasonic-oscillator array provided on an end surface of the ultrasonic-oscillator array perpendicular to an arrangement surface of the plurality of ultrasonic-oscillators; and a backing material layer that is disposed on an inner back surface of the ultrasonic-oscillator array; and a cable wiring part in which a plurality of cables are respectively disposed on a plurality of wiring lines electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes of the electrode part. The width of the backing material layer perpendicular to the arrangement surface of the plurality of ultrasonic-oscillators becomes smaller toward a side opposite to the arrangement surface of the plurality of ultrasonic-oscillators. A cable wiring part electrically connected to the electrode part is provided along the width of the backing material layer.

Abstract: The ultrasonic oscillator unit has: an ultrasonic oscillator array in which a plurality of ultrasonic oscillators are arranged; an electrode part having a plurality of electrodes provided on an end surface side of the ultrasonic oscillator array and electrically connected to the plurality of ultrasonic oscillators, respectively; a backing material layer that is disposed on a back surface of the ultrasonic oscillator array, has an outer surface having a circular-arc cross-section and is provided with a recess on the inside thereof opposite to the outer surface; a wiring board having a plurality of wiring lines electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes of the electrode part; and a cable wiring part in which a plurality of cables connected to the plurality of wiring lines, respectively, are wiring-connected; at least a portion of the cable wiring part being included in the recess of the backing material layer.