Catheter type ultrasound probe

摘要

A catheter type ultrasound probe having an ultrasound transducer mounted on a rigid fore end section at the tip end of a soft and flexible body section of a catheter member to be introduced into an intracavitary portion. The catheter member includes an articular joint section which is connected between the rigid fore end section and the flexible body section, the articular joint section having front and rear joint members pivotally connected with each other for angular flexing movements in directions forward and rearward of an active face (a signal transmission and reception surface) of the ultrasound transducer on the rigid fore end section of the catheter member. A biasing mechanism is mounted on the articular joint section to urge a front joint member constantly rearward of the active face of the ultrasound transducer into a bent position off the axis of the catheter member along with the rigid fore end section. A joint operating wire is connected to the front joint member to turn same back into a straight axial position against the biasing force of the biasing mechanism.