PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an insertion part distal end structure of an ultrasonic endoscope allowing a puncture needle to project at a desired angle from a forceps channel exit without damage around the forceps channel exit caused by insertion/removal of the puncture needle.SOLUTION: The ultrasonic endoscope has an ultrasonic scan part block at the distal end of the insertion part for acquiring an ultrasonic tomographic image of a region to be observed and an optical observation part block in the rear of the ultrasonic scan part block for acquiring an optical image of the region to be observed, and a channel exit opening of the forceps channel penetrating the insertion part is disposed in the optical observation block. In the ultrasonic endoscope, a metal block having a tubular coupler connected to the forceps channel, a bending guide passage connected to the tubular coupler and the channel exit opening is connected to the distal end of the forceps channel, and the metal block is embedded and fixed in the optical observation block.COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT【課題】穿刺針の挿脱による鉗子チャンネル出口付近の破損がなく、該鉗子チャンネル出口から穿刺針を所望の角度で突出させることができる超音波内視鏡の挿入部先端構造を提供する。【解決手段】挿入部先端に、観察部位の超音波断層像を得る超音波走査部ブロックと、該超音波走査部ブロックの後方に位置して観察部位の光学像を得る光学観察部ブロックを有し、該光学観察ブロックに、挿入部を通る鉗子チャンネルのチャンネル出口開口を設けた超音波内視鏡において、鉗子チャンネルの先端部に、該鉗子チャンネルに接続される筒状連結体とこの筒状連結体に連なる曲折ガイド通路とチャンネル出口開口とを有する金属ブロックを接続し、この金属ブロックを光学観察ブロックに埋込固定した。【選択図】図3
