Ultrasound endoscope and method of manufacturing ultrasound endoscope
An ultrasound endoscope includes an ultrasound transducer unit provided at a distal end of the ultrasound endoscope. The ultrasound transducer unit includes: an ultrasound transducer configured to transmit and receives an ultrasonic wave; and a housing that includes a housing portion to house the ultrasound transducer, the housing portion including a plurality of protrusions configured to position the ultrasound transducer, each protrusion being arranged to face a rear surface on an opposite side to a transceiving surface of the ultrasonic wave of the ultrasound transducer, the protrusions being arranged to be across a longitudinal axis of the housing from one another.
1. An ultrasound endoscope comprising:
a housing having a first opening and including a plurality of protrusions disposed on a first rim defining the first opening; and
an ultrasound transducer cover configured to house an ultrasound transducer within a cavity having a second opening, the ultrasound transducer configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave, the ultrasound transducer cover including a first surface exposed from the housing and a second peripheral surface defining the second opening, the second peripheral surface covering the first rim;
wherein the second peripheral surface abuts the plurality of protrusions.
2. The ultrasound endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are disposed at positions apart from a distal end of the housing by a predetermined distance.
3. The ultrasound endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions each comprise a flat surface facing the second peripheral surface.
4. The ultrasound endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein an external surface of the ultrasound transducer cover is resin.
5. The ultrasound endoscope according to claim 4 , wherein the resin is made from a material same as a material of an acoustic lens.
6. The ultrasound endoscope according to claim 5 , wherein the resin is silicon resin.
7. The ultrasound endoscope according to claim 1 ,
further comprising an adhesive disposed in the housing for fixing a signal cable from the ultrasound transducer in the housing.
8. The ultrasound endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound transducer is a convex ultrasound transducer.
9. The ultrasound endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein:
the housing includes a first side surface,
the ultrasound transducer cover includes a second side surface located between the second peripheral surface and a surface configured to transmit and receive the ultrasonic wave,
the first side surface faces the second side surface, and
the first rim is adjacent to the first side surface.
10. The ultrasound endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein:
the housing comprises a proximal portion, the proximal portion being tubular and extending in a longitudinal direction; and
the first rim is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction.
11. The ultrasound endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the first rim faces the second peripheral surface.
12. The ultrasound endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are located on a distal end of the first rim.
13. The ultrasound endoscope according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of protrusions abut a distal end of the second peripheral surface, the distal end of the second peripheral surface is spaced apart from the distal end of the first rim.
14. The ultrasound endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions abut a distal end of the second peripheral surface, and the first rim abuts a proximal end of the second peripheral surface.
15. The ultrasound endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a bottom surface and a protruding surface, the protruding surface protrudes from the bottom surface in a protruding direction, the first rim is disposed on a distal end of the protruding surface in the protruding direction.
16. The ultrasound endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein
the ultrasound transducer cover includes:
a front surface opposed to the second peripheral surface, and
a side surface located between the front surface and the second peripheral surface,
the housing covers the side surface and the second peripheral surface.
17. A method of manufacturing an ultrasound endoscope,
the method comprising:
introducing an adhesive into a housing having a first opening and a first rim defining the first opening;
abutting a distal end of a second peripheral surface of an ultrasound transducer cover on a plurality of protrusions arranged on the first rim, the second peripheral surface defining a second opening of a cavity housing an ultrasound transducer, the ultrasound transducer cover having a first surface though which the ultrasound transducer is configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave;
while the adhesive is in a liquid form and while maintaining the abutting of the distal end of the second peripheral surface on the plurality of protrusions, moving a proximal end of the second peripheral surface to cover the first rim; and
curing the adhesive.
18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the first rim faces the second peripheral surface.
19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the proximal end of the second peripheral surface abuts the first rim.
20. The method according to claim 17 , wherein
the ultrasound transducer cover includes a side surface located between the second peripheral surface and a surface configured to transmit and receive the ultrasonic wave,
the housing covers the side surface and the second peripheral surface.