PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic endoscope system capable of improving visibility of a puncture needle without decreasing a frame rate.SOLUTION: A center frequency Fr of ultrasonic wave for a puncture needle detection to be transmitted from an ultrasonic cell 50c is set to a substantially low value such that the echo wave of the ultrasonic wave for the puncture needle detection can avoid interference with an echo wave of the ultrasonic wave for a biological observation to be transmitted from ultrasonic cells 50a and 50b. Then, a spiral recessed groove 39 is formed on the puncture needle 39, and a distance (a) between edges of the recessed groove 39 is optimized, so that the natural frequency of the puncture needle 38 is made to match the center frequency of the ultrasonic wave for the puncture needle detection.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】フレームレートを低下させることなく穿刺針の視認性を向上することができる超音波内視鏡システムを提供する。【解決手段】超音波セル50cから送信される穿刺針検出用の超音波の中心周波数Frを、当該穿刺針検出用超音波のエコー波が超音波セル50a,50bから送信される生態観察用の超音波のエコー波との干渉を回避可能な十分に低い値に設定する。その上で、穿刺針39上に螺旋状の凹溝39を設け、この凹溝39間のエッジ間の距離aの最適化によって、穿刺針38の固有振動数と穿刺針検出用超音波の中心周波数とを合致させる。【選択図】図1
