Development of a smart endoscope system with extra-wide view as well as local curing treatments

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An endoscope, "Smart and Ultra-fine Catheter" Endoscope with Extra-Wide View and Local Curing Treatments" was developed to observe the lesions deep in the human body where exact examinations using conventional methods had been impossible because of their location. Ultrasound generated by a transducer located outside of the human body is transmitted into the region of interest using a specially designed flexible transmission line composed of a thin quartz fiber. The Ultra-fine Catheter is flexible and can easily bended according to the curvature of the tube-like structures of the human body, i.e.urinary tract or digestive organs. It can be inserted into the organs without hazard by combination use of palpation sensors mounted at the very tip of endoscope.The main results of the project are as follows.1.For medical application of shape memory alloy(SMA) actuator, we investigated the TiNiCu alloy thin foils by rapid-spolidification(RS) technique and discovered RS/Ti50Ni50-xCux(X=8-17at%) … More alloy has very narrow temperature hysteresis within 10℃ and rapid response speed in one thermal cycle near body temperature(=36℃).2.We developed a rapid-solidified giant magnetostrictive Fe-29.6at% alloy foil having about 600 micro-strain at 0.5Tesla as a non contact type actuator controllable by magnetic field.3.A sensor to display the contact condition between the catheter and the body structures was developed. The sensor is composed of synthetic rubber layers and three strain gauges. The sensor at the very tip of the catheter is 12mm in external diameter and 15mm in length. The equation relating the contact condition to the output of sensor is formulated by using three gauge outputs. The obtained results correlated well with the estimated information from the initial applied condition.4.A flexible transmission line was developed, which allows transmission of ultrasound without loss of energy at the frequency range of 2MHz to 20MHz. The transmission line exhibits considerable dispersion, as that used for the FM chirp pulse compressive system.5.An efficient method to transmit ultrasonic wave to the transmission line was developed. A quarter wave length region was formed at the both end of the transmission line. Ultrasonic wave was coupled to the transmission line using an elliptical mirror.6.AB-mode imaging system for intraluminal ultrasonography using the pulse compression method was developed. The developed transmission line is used to separate the transmitting and receiving signals in the system. To focus the ultrasonic beam onto a target, an elliptical mirror is also used.4.An algorithm to demonstrate three-dimentional display of the image obtained by the system was also developed.8.The above-mentioned fruitful results allows us to design and fabricate the micro active endoscope for developing smart catheter with extra-wide view and Local curing treatments. Less