TWI703955B - Balloon type electrode catheter - Google Patents

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a balloon-type electrode catheter, which can be introduced into the vasculature without impairing the sheath and the lumen of the endoscope, and can reach the lesion tissue Carry out extensive cauterization. The balloon-type electrode catheter of the present invention is provided with an outer tube (10), a connector (21) for energization, and a balloon (30), which has necks (33), ( 35), and the inner tube (41), and the top end piece (46), and the strip electrodes (51) to (54), which are formed on the outer surface of the balloon (30) and the metal ring (60), which The peripheral surface is attached to the front neck (31) and the lead (70) so as to contact the front ends of the strip electrodes (51) to (54), and the front ends are fixed to the inner circumference of the metal ring (60) The base end is fixed to the current-carrying connector (21), thereby electrically connecting the strip electrodes (51) to (54) to the current-carrying connector (21).

Description

Balloon electrode catheter

The present invention relates to a balloon-type electrode catheter. More specifically, it relates to a balloon-type electrode catheter that is introduced into the vasculature to perform high-frequency cauterization on the vessel and its surrounding tissues.

As a balloon-type electrode catheter (intravascular cauterization device) for high-frequency cauterization of the vessel and its surrounding tissues, it has been introduced in the past to have: an outer tube (catheter shaft) and a connection The balloon at the front end of the outer tube, the inner tube (guide wire lumen) inserted into the outer lumen and the inside of the balloon, and the lumen (supply tube) used to supply fluid to the inside of the balloon and inserted into the outer lumen Lumen), a lumen (reflux lumen) for expelling fluid supplied to the inside of the balloon and inserted into the outer lumen, and a surface electrode (high-frequency electrode) provided on the outer surface of the balloon (please refer to the following Patent Document 1).

The balloon constituting the balloon-type electrode catheter described in Patent Document 1 has an expansion part that expands and contracts, and necks formed at both ends of the balloon. The proximal neck is fixed to the outer tube and the distal neck is covered. Fixed to the inner tube (guide wire lumen).

According to the balloon-type electrode catheter described in Patent Document 1, by applying high-frequency current to the surface electrode provided on the outer surface of the balloon, high-frequency cauterization can be performed on the vessel or the surrounding lesion tissue. In addition, the fluid supplied from the lumen (supply lumen) to the inside of the balloon is circulated inside the balloon and then discharged from the lumen (return lumen) to cool the inside of the balloon.

On the other hand, in the balloon-type electrode catheter used to electrically isolate the pulmonary veins, as a form of applying high-frequency current to the surface electrode formed on the outer surface of the balloon, the balloon is fixed to the tip of the catheter shaft core. A metal ring is installed on the neck (neck at the base end side of the side of the power connector) to electrically connect the surface electrode to the metal ring, and the metal ring is electrically connected to the power connector through a wire. The form of sexual connection is proposed by the inventor of this case (please refer to Patent Document 2 mentioned later). [Prior Technical Literature] [Patent Literature]

Patent Document 1: Japanese Special Form No. 2013-532564 Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-185296 (especially Figure 4)

[The problem to be solved by the invention]

In the balloon-type electrode catheter used to perform high-frequency cauterization on the vessel or its surrounding tissue as described in Patent Document 1, as a form of applying high-frequency current to the surface electrode formed on the outer surface of the balloon, In the mode described in Patent Document 2, a metal ring is attached to a balloon neck (base end side neck) fixed to an outer tube (catheter shaft), and electricity is supplied through the metal ring.

However, the cavity constituting the outer tube of the balloon-type electrode catheter as described in Patent Document 1 contains an inner tube (guide wire lumen) through which the guide wire can be inserted and used for cooling. The lumen (supply lumen and return lumen) through which fluid flows, so its outer diameter is large.

Especially when the balloon electrode catheter is used for cauterization treatment of neoplasms (tumors), in order to improve the cooling effect of the surrounding tissues of the surface electrode, the flow rate of the fluid circulating in the balloon must be increased. Therefore, it is necessary to use The lumen through which the cooling fluid flows has increased in diameter, and with this, it is necessary to further increase the outer diameter of the outer tube.

In addition, when the base end neck of the balloon is fixed to the outer tube with such a large outer diameter, and then a metal ring is further installed on the base end neck, the outer diameter of the metal ring will be greatly increased. The ground exceeds the outer diameter (axial core diameter or sheath diameter) restricted by the sheath and endoscope used when the electrode catheter is introduced. When the balloon-type electrode catheter is introduced, the metal ring hook is caught To the opening of the sheath or endoscope used, the balloon electrode catheter cannot be inserted into these cavities.

The present invention is developed based on the above problems. The object of the present invention is to provide a balloon-type electrode catheter, which can be introduced into the vasculature without impairing the insertability of the sheath and the lumen of the endoscope, and is suitable for the vessel or its The surrounding lesion tissue can be burned in a large area. Another object of the present invention is to provide a balloon-type electrode catheter, which can uniformly cauterize the vessel or its surrounding tissues along the circumferential direction of the vessel. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a balloon-type electrode catheter, which has an excellent cooling effect on the inside of the balloon, and further has an excellent cooling effect on the tissue around the surface electrode. [Means to solve the problem]

(1) The balloon-type electrode catheter of the present invention is a balloon-type electrode catheter that is used to introduce into the vasculature to perform high-frequency cauterization on the vessel or its surrounding tissues, and is characterized by: The outer tube, which has a central cavity and a plurality of auxiliary cavities arranged around it, and A connector for energization, which is arranged on the proximal side of the outer tube, and A balloon that has an expanding portion that expands and contracts and a neck portion that is continuous at both ends, and is fixed to the front end of the outer tube by the base end side neck, so that the balloon is connected to the front end of the outer tube, and The inner tube is inserted into the central cavity of the outer tube, extends from the opening of the central cavity toward the inside of the balloon and extends inside the balloon, and has a lumen capable of inserting a guide wire, and A tip top piece having: a lumen connected to the lumen of the inner tube, connected to the tip of the inner tube in the interior of the balloon, and fixed to the neck of the tip side to extend toward the outside of the balloon ,with A surface electrode, which is composed of a metal thin film formed on the outer surface of the balloon in the expansion portion and the tip side neck, and A metal ring is mounted on the neck of the tip side of the balloon by making its inner peripheral surface contact the tip of the surface electrode, and is electrically connected to the surface electrode, and The leading end of the lead wire is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the metal ring and extends inside the balloon and the sub-cavity of the outer tube, and the base end is fixed to the electrical connector, thereby connecting the The surface electrode is electrically connected with the above-mentioned energizing connector.

According to the balloon-type electrode catheter constructed in this way, since the surface electrode formed on the outer surface of the balloon can be electrically connected to the energizing connector via the metal ring and the wire, it is possible to reliably conduct high-frequency current to the surface electrode. In this way, a large-scale cauterization treatment can be performed on the vessel or the surrounding lesion tissue.

In addition, the neck of the front end of the balloon used to install the metal ring is the neck fixed to the top of the front end. Compared with the neck of the base end fixed to the outer tube, the outer diameter of the neck is extremely small. Make the outer diameter of the metal ring installed on the neck of the front end smaller than the outer diameter of the outer tube and the neck of the base end. Therefore, when the balloon-type electrode catheter is introduced, the metal ring will not be caught in the sheath or the opening of the endoscope, so it will not damage the balloon-type electrode catheter’s protection against the sheath. The penetration of the inner cavity of the endoscope.

(2) In the balloon-type electrode catheter of the present invention, it is preferable that the surface electrode is formed in a manner extending along the axial direction of the balloon and arranged along the circumferential direction of the balloon at equal angular intervals. Shaped electrode, and the inner peripheral surface of the metal ring is brought into contact with each tip portion of the strip electrode.

According to the balloon electrode catheter constructed in this way, since each of the plurality of strip electrodes formed at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction of the balloon can be electrically connected to the current-carrying connector via the metal ring and the lead wire, For each of the plurality of strip electrodes, the high-frequency current can be evenly conducted, so that the vessel or the surrounding tissue can be uniformly cauterized along the circumferential direction of the vessel.

(3) In the balloon-type electrode catheter of the present invention, it is preferable that the metal ring is provided with an insulating coating.

According to the balloon electrode catheter constructed in this way, it is possible to prevent the metal ring from becoming high temperature when energized, and it is possible to prevent the normal tissue around the metal ring from being burnt.

(4) In the balloon-type electrode catheter of the present invention, preferably: At least one of the sub-cavities of the outer tube is a sub-cavity for fluid supply for supplying fluid to the inside of the balloon to circulate the fluid; At least one of the sub-cavities included in the outer tube is a sub-cavity for discharging fluid for discharging the fluid supplied to the inside of the balloon from the inside of the balloon to allow the fluid to circulate.

(5) In the balloon electrode catheter of (4) above, preferably: The expansion portion of the balloon includes: the front end portion of the outer tube fixed to the base end side neck of the balloon; The opening of the sub-cavity for fluid supply is located closer to the tip side than the middle position of the expansion part in the axial direction, The opening of the fluid discharge sub-cavity is located at or near the base end of the expansion part.

According to the balloon-type electrode catheter configured in this way, the supply port for the fluid supplied to the inside of the balloon and the discharge port for the fluid discharged from the balloon are mutually changed in the axial direction. Even after the balloon is expanded (the inside is already After being filled with fluid), a fluid flow from the tip side to the base side can still be formed to make the fluid flow inside the balloon, so the inside of the balloon can be sufficiently cooled, and the surroundings of the surface electrode can be sufficiently cooled Organization.

(6) In the balloon-type electrode catheters of (4) and (5) above, it is preferable that the number of the fluid supply sub-cavities is greater than the number of the fluid discharge sub-cavities.

According to the balloon-type electrode catheter constructed as described above, the inside of the balloon can be maintained at a certain pressure (expansion pressure).

(7) In the balloon-type electrode catheter of the present invention, preferably: The outer diameter of the front end portion of the outer tube to which the base end side neck of the balloon is fixed is formed to be smaller than the outer diameter of the base end portion of the outer tube; The outer diameter of the proximal neck portion of the balloon is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the proximal portion of the outer tube.

According to the balloon-type electrode catheter constructed in this way, since the outer diameter of the proximal side neck with the largest outer diameter is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the proximal end of the outer tube, the sheath and the inner cavity of the endoscope The penetrating property will not be hindered by the neck of the base end. In addition, the outer diameter of the outer tube can be used as the maximum diameter restricted by the sheath or the endoscope. Therefore, the diameter of the auxiliary cavity for fluid supply and the auxiliary cavity for fluid discharge of the outer tube can be sufficiently ensured, and can be used The cooling effect inside the balloon is further improved.

(8) In the balloon electrode catheter of the present invention, it is preferable that a temperature sensor is arranged on the wall of the balloon. [Invention Effect]

According to the balloon-type electrode catheter of the present invention, the sheath and the lumen of the endoscope can be introduced into the vasculature without impairing penetration, and can reach the vessel or the surrounding lesion tissue Perform cauterization on a large scale. In addition, the balloon-type electrode catheter according to the present invention is provided with a surface electrode composed of a plurality of belt-shaped electrodes, and the vessel or its surrounding tissue can be uniformly cauterized along the circumferential direction of the vessel. Furthermore, the balloon-type electrode catheter according to the present invention is provided with an outer tube, and the outer tube has: a fluid supply sub-cavity opened at the tip side than the middle position of the expansion part of the balloon in the axial direction, and a sub-cavity for fluid supply opened in the balloon Compared with the conventional balloon-type electrode catheter, the proximal end of the expansion part or the adjacent fluid discharge sub-cavity has an excellent cooling effect on the inside of the balloon, and further has an excellent cooling effect on the tissue around the surface electrode.

<Implementation form>

The balloon-type electrode catheter 100 of this embodiment is a balloon-type electrode that is introduced into the vasculature and used for high-frequency cauterization to treat tumors (tumors) in the vasculature and surrounding tissues. catheter.

The balloon electrode catheter 100 shown in Figures 1 to 24 is provided with: An outer tube 10, which is composed of a round tubular portion 11 and a semicircular tubular portion 13, and has a central cavity 10L and sub-lumens 101L to 112L disposed around it; and The electrical connector 21 is disposed on the base end side of the outer tube 10; and The balloon 30 has an expanding portion 31 that expands and contracts, and necks (front-end neck 33 and proximal-side neck 35) continuous to both ends thereof, and the proximal-side neck 35 is fixed to the outer tube. The round tubular portion 11 at the front end of 10, and the semicircular tubular portion 13 constituting the front end of the outer tube 10 is enclosed by the expansion portion 31, so that the balloon 30 is connected to the front end side of the outer tube 10; and The inner tube 41, which has a guide wire lumen, is inserted into the central cavity 10L of the outer tube 10, extends from the opening of the central cavity 10L toward the inside of the balloon 30, and extends inside the balloon 30; with The tip end piece 46 has a lumen (guide wire lumen) connected to the guide wire lumen of the inner tube 41, is connected to the tip of the inner tube 41 in the interior of the balloon 30, and is fixed to the neck of the tip side 33 and extend toward the outside of the balloon 30; and Strip electrodes 51 to 54 (surface electrodes), which are formed by a metal thin film formed on the outer surface of the expanded portion 31 of the balloon 30 and the outer surface of the front end side neck 33; and The metal ring 60 is attached to the neck 33 on the tip side of the balloon 30 by making its inner peripheral surface contact the tip portions of the strip electrodes 51 to 54, and is electrically connected to the strip electrodes 51 to 54. Sexual connection; and The leading end of the lead 70 is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the metal ring 60 and extends inside the balloon 30 and the auxiliary cavity 112L of the outer tube 10 (round tubular portion 11), and the base end is connected to the electrical connector 21; and The temperature sensor (thermocouple) 80 has its front end (temperature measuring part 81) embedded in the tube wall of the expansion part 31 of the balloon 30, and extends on the tube wall of the expansion part 31 and the base end side neck 35 and outside The base end of the lumen 106L of the tube 10 (round tubular portion 11) is connected to the electrical connector 21.

In Figures 1 and 2, the symbol 20 is the Y connector connected to the base end of the outer tube 10, 22 is the fluid supply connector, 23 is the fluid discharge connector, and 24 is the lead connector , 26 is a wire protection tube, 27 is a fluid supply tube, and 28 is a fluid discharge tube.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, 14, 15, and 17 to 22, the outer tube 10 constituting the balloon electrode catheter 100 is composed of a circular tubular portion 11 and a semicircular tubular portion 13 constitute. The base end and a part of the front end of the outer tube 10 are composed of a circular tubular portion 11, and the front end of the outer tube 10 (except for the above-mentioned part) is composed of a semicircular tubular portion 13.

As shown in Figure 17, Figure 19 and Figure 21, in the cylindrical portion 11 of the outer tube 10, there are formed a central cavity 10L, and 12 strips arranged at equal angles (30°) around it. Sub-cavity 101L～112L. In the circular tubular portion 11, each of the auxiliary cavities 101L to 112L is formed by a lumen tube surrounding it. These lumens are fixed by the adhesive resin forming the circular tubular portion 11.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, in the semicircular tubular portion 13 of the outer tube 10, sub-cavities 101L to 105L are continuously formed from the inside of the circular tubular portion 11. In the semicircular tubular portion 13, the lumen used to surround each of the auxiliary cavities 101L to 105L is fixed by the adhesive resin forming the semicircular tubular portion 13.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the sub-cavities 101L to 105L arranged inside the circular tubular portion 11 and the semicircular tubular portion 13 are respectively located on the front end surface of the semicircular tubular portion 13 as the front end surface of the outer tube 10. 14 is an opening.

Each of the sub-cavities 101L to 105L communicates with the fluid supply connector 22 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thereby, the sub-cavities 101L to 105L (5 sub-cavities of the 12 sub-cavities formed in the outer tube 10) become "sub-cavities for fluid supply" for supplying fluid to the inside of the balloon 30 (expansion part 31) ". Here, as the fluid supplied to the inside of the balloon 30, physiological saline can be exemplified.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the central cavity 10L and the sub-cavities 106L to 112L formed inside the circular tubular portion 11 are opened on the front end surface 12 of the circular tubular portion 11, respectively. However, the openings of the sub-cavities 106L, 110L, and 112L are closed by the sealing material 90 shown in FIG. 17.

Each of the sub-cavities 107L to 111L is in communication with the fluid discharge connector 23 shown in Fig. 1. Thereby, the sub-cavities 107L to 109L and 111L (4 sub-cavities of the 12 sub-cavities formed in the outer tube 10) are used to supply the fluid that has been supplied to the inside of the balloon 30 (expansion portion 31) from the balloon 30 "Sub-chamber for fluid discharge".

The material of the outer tube 10 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include polyamide, polyether polyamide, polyether polyamide block copolymer (PEBAX (registered trademark)), and polyamide such as nylon. Among the amine resins, PEBAX is ideal.

The outer diameter of the outer tube 10 (the outer diameter at the base end described later) is usually 1.0 mm to 3.3 mm, and an appropriate example is 1.45 mm. The diameter of the central cavity 10L of the outer tube 10 is usually set at 0.35 mm to 0.95 mm, and a suitable example is set at 0.85 mm. The diameter of the auxiliary cavity 101L to 112L of the outer tube 10 is usually set to 0.10mm to 0.75mm, and an appropriate example is set to 0.25mm. The length of the outer tube 10 is usually set to 100 mm to 2200 mm, and an appropriate example is set to 1800 mm.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a Y connector 20 is connected to the base end side of the outer tube 10. As shown in FIG. 23, the lumens surrounding the sub-lumens 101L to 105L and the sub-lumens 107L to 111L of the outer tube 10 enter the Y connector 20 from the base end of the outer tube 10.

As shown in Figure 24, the proximal end of the lumen surrounding the sub-lumen 101L to 105L (sub-lumen for fluid supply) is in the inside of the Y connector 20 and is connected (fixed by the adhesive 95) in a single-lumen structure The fluid supply pipe 27. The fluid supply tube 27 extends to the outside of the Y connector 20, and the base end of the fluid supply tube 27 is connected to the fluid supply connector 22.

The base end of the lumen surrounding the sub-lumen 107L to 111L is connected (fixed by the adhesive 95) to the fluid discharge tube 28 of a single lumen structure in the inside of the Y connector 20. The fluid discharge tube 28 extends to the outside of the Y connector 20, and the base end of the fluid discharge tube 28 is connected to the fluid discharge connector 23.

The balloon 30 constituting the balloon-type electrode catheter 100 is composed of an expanding portion 31 that expands and contracts, a distal neck portion 33 that continues to the front end of the expansion portion 31, and a proximal side neck portion 35 that continues to the proximal end of the expansion portion 31 .

The expansion part 31 of the balloon 30 is a space forming part that expands when the fluid is supplied to the inside, and contracts when the fluid is discharged from the inside. As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the expansion portion 31 of the balloon 30 is composed of a cylindrical portion 311, a tip-side conical portion 313 from the front end of the cylindrical portion 311 to the base end of the tip-side neck 33, And the base end side conical part 315 from the base end of the cylindrical part 311 to the front end of the base end side neck 35 is comprised.

The base end side neck 35 is fixed to the front end of the outer tube 10 (the front end formed by the circular tubular portion 11), and the expansion portion 31 includes the front end of the outer tube 10 (by the semicircular tubular portion 13 The front end of the outer tube 10 is connected to the balloon 30.

Here, the front end portion of the outer tube 10 (the circular tubular portion 11 shown in FIG. 19) to which the proximal neck portion 35 of the balloon 30 is fixed has its surface portion removed, and its outer diameter becomes larger than that of the proximal neck portion 35. The outer diameter of the base end portion (the circular tubular portion 11 shown in FIG. 21) of the outer tube 10 that is not fixed is still small. In addition, the outer diameter of the base end side neck 35 shown in FIG. 19 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the base end portion of the outer tube 10 shown in FIG. 21.

Thereby, it is possible to prevent the proximal neck 35 from impairing the penetration of the sheath used for introducing the balloon-type electrode catheter 100 or the inner cavity of the endoscope. In addition, since the outer diameter of the outer tube 10 can be set as the maximum diameter restricted by the sheath or the endoscope (it is not necessary to consider the expansion of the outer diameter caused by the thickness of the base end side neck), the outer tube 10 can be sufficiently secured The diameter of the auxiliary cavity 101L-112L can further improve the cooling effect inside the balloon 30.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the tip surface 14 of the semicircular tubular portion 13 with openings in the fluid supply sub-cavities 101L to 105L is located closer to the tip than the axial middle position of the expansion portion 31 of the balloon 30 It is located on the side near the front end of the cylindrical portion 311. With this, the fluid circulating in the fluid supply sub-cavities 101L to 105L is discharged from the openings located near the front end of the cylindrical portion 311 in the tip direction, and the discharged fluid can reach the expansion part 31 (tip side cone In the vicinity of the tip of the portion 313), the flow of fluid from the tip side to the proximal side can be formed in the balloon 30 (expansion portion 31).

If the opening position of the sub-cavity for fluid supply is located closer to the proximal side than the axial middle position of the expansion part of the balloon, after the balloon is expanded, even if the fluid is discharged from the opening in the distal direction, it cannot be used. Since this fluid reaches the vicinity of the tip of the expansion part, the flow of fluid from the tip side to the proximal side cannot be formed in the inside of the balloon.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the distal end surface 12 of the circular tubular portion 11 in which the fluid discharge sub-cavities 107L to 109L and 111L are open is located at the base end of the expansion portion 31.

The constituent material of the balloon 30 is not particularly limited, and the same materials as the conventionally known balloons constituting the balloon catheter can be used, for example, polyamide, polyether polyamide, PEBAX, nylon and other polyamides can be used. Series resin; thermoplastic polyether urethane, polyether polyurethane urea, fluoropolyether urethane urea, polyether polyurethane urea resin and polyether polyurethane urea Polyurethane resins such as ester urea amides.

The diameter of the balloon 30 (expanded portion 31) is usually 0.7 mm to 30.0 mm, and an appropriate example is 2.0 mm. The outer diameter of the base end side neck 35 of the balloon 30 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the base end of the outer tube 10, and is usually set to 1.0 mm to 3.3 mm, and a suitable example is set to 1.45 mm. The length of the balloon 30 (expanded portion 31) is usually 8 mm to 50 mm, and an appropriate example is 20 mm.

In the balloon electrode catheter 100 of this embodiment, the inner tube 41 and the tip 46 form an inner shaft. The inner tube 41 constituting the balloon-type electrode catheter 100 has a lumen (guide wire lumen) into which a guide wire can be inserted, and is inserted into the central cavity 10L of the outer tube 10 (round tubular portion 11), and its tip is It extends from the opening of the central cavity 10L toward the inside of the balloon 30 (expansion portion 31).

The distal end of the inner tube 41 that extends toward the inside of the balloon 30 (expanded portion 31) is on the base end side of the expanded portion 31 with the semicircular portion of the outer peripheral surface covered by the semicircular tubular portion 13 The inside of the cone part 315, the cylindrical part 311, and the tip side cone part 313 are connected to the tip end piece 46 in the inside of the tip side cone part 313.

On the other hand, the base end of the inner tube 41, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, enters the Y connector 20 from the base end of the outer tube 10 (the opening on the base end side of the central cavity 10L). It extends inside the Y connector 20 and extends to the outside of the Y connector 20. The base end of the inner tube 41 is connected to the lead connector 24.

As the constituent material of the inner tube 41, the same material as the inner tube constituting the conventionally known balloon catheter can be used, but PEEK resin (polyether ether ketone resin), which is a crystalline thermoplastic resin with excellent mechanical properties, is preferably used.

The outer diameter of the inner tube 41 is the same as or slightly smaller than the diameter of the central cavity 10L through which the outer tube 10 is inserted, and is usually set at 0.34 mm to 0.99 mm, and an appropriate example is set at 0.84 mm. The inner diameter of the inner tube 41 is usually set to 0.31 mm to 0.92 mm, and an appropriate example is set to 0.68 mm.

The tip 46 constituting the balloon-type electrode catheter 100 has a lumen (guide wire lumen) communicating with the guide wire lumen of the inner tube 41, and is located inside the tip side conical portion 313 of the expansion portion 31 of the balloon 30 It is connected to the front end of the inner tube 41 and fixed to the front-end side neck 33 to extend toward the outside of the balloon 30. The front end of the front end top piece 46 is open.

The constituent material of the tip top member 46 is not particularly limited, but for example, polyamide resins such as polyamide, polyether polyamide, PEBAX, nylon, etc., polyurethane, etc. .

The inner diameter of the tip end piece 46 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the inner tube 41, and is usually set at 0.31 mm to 0.92 mm, and a suitable example is set at 0.68 mm. The outer diameter of the tip 46 is usually set at 0.35 mm to 2.6 mm, and an appropriate example is set at 1.0 mm. The outer diameter of the front-end side neck 33 of the balloon 30 to which the front-end top piece 46 is fixed is usually set to 0.37 mm to 3.3 mm, and a suitable example is set to 1.18 mm.

As shown in FIGS. 3-7 and 9-15, the outer surface of the balloon 30 (the cylindrical portion 311 of the expanding portion 31, the tip-side conical portion 313, and the tip-side neck 33) are used as The surface electrodes for energizing the high-frequency current are strip electrodes 51 to 54 formed of metal thin films extending along the axial direction of the balloon 30 and arranged at 90° intervals along the circumferential direction of the balloon 30.

Examples of the constituent material of the metal thin film constituting the strip electrodes 51 to 54 include gold, platinum, silver, copper, alloys of these, stainless steel, and the like. The film thickness of the metal thin film constituting the strip electrodes 51 to 54 is preferably 0.5 μm to 5.0 μm, and preferably 1.0 μm to 2.5 μm. When the film thickness is too small, during surgery (during high-frequency energization), the metal thin film may become high temperature due to Joule heat. On the other hand, when the film thickness is too large, the metal film may be difficult to follow: the shape of the balloon changes with expansion and contraction, which may impair the expansion and contraction of the balloon.

The method of forming the metal thin film constituting the strip electrodes 51 to 54 on the outer surface of the balloon 30 is not particularly limited, and ordinary metal thin film forming methods such as vapor deposition, sputtering, electroplating, printing, etc. can be used.

As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 6, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, a metal ring 60 is attached to the neck 33 on the tip side of the balloon 30. The metal ring 60 constituting the balloon-shaped electrode catheter 100 is provided with its inner peripheral surface in contact with the tip portion of each of the strip electrodes 51 to 54 and is fixed by caulking on the tip side neck 33. Here, each of the strip electrodes 51 to 54 is electrically connected to the metal ring 60.

As a constituent material of the metal ring 60, platinum or platinum-based alloys can be cited. As shown in FIG. 9, the metal ring 60 is insulated and covered by a resin material 65. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the metal ring 60 from becoming high temperature when energized, and to prevent the normal tissue around the metal ring 60 from being burnt.

The inner diameter of the metal ring 60 attached to the front neck portion 33 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the front neck portion 33, and is usually set to 0.37 mm to 3.3 mm, and an appropriate example is set to 1.18 mm. The outer diameter of the metal ring 60 installed on the front neck 33 is smaller than the outer diameter of the outer tube 10 and the base neck 35, and is usually set at 0.98 mm to 3.28 mm. An appropriate example is 1.32mm.

The tip of the lead wire 70 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the metal ring 60. The wire 70, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, is extended in the tube wall of the front end top member 46, and then, as shown in FIGS. 12, 14, and 15, along the inner tube 41 Extend inside the expansion portion 31 of the balloon 30, and then extend to the secondary cavity 112L of the outer tube 10 (round tubular portion 11) as shown in Figures 17, 19, and 21, and then as shown in Figures 23 and 21 As shown in Figure 24, it extends inside the Y connector 20, passes through the inside of the wire protection tube 26 extending from the Y connector 20, and then extends from the Y connector 20.

The base end of the wire 70 is connected to the electrical connector 21. The electrical connector 21 is equipped with the function of a connector for energizing each of the strip electrodes 51 to 54 with high frequency current, and a thermoelectric device for connecting the temperature sensor 80 to the temperature measuring device. The function of the coupling connector.

By connecting each of the strip electrodes 51 to 54 to the electrical connector 21 via the metal ring 60 and the wire 70, the high frequency current can be conducted to each of the strip electrodes 51 to 54 equally.

Examples of the constituent material of the lead wire 70 include copper, silver, gold, platinum, tungsten, and alloys of these metals, and an electrically insulating protective coating such as fluorine-based resin is preferably applied.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 15 to 20, a temperature sensor 80 composed of a thermocouple is embedded and arranged in the tube wall of the balloon 30. The temperature measuring part 81 (temperature measuring contact) of the temperature sensor 80 is located on the tube wall of the expansion part 31.

As shown in Figs. 19-22, the temperature sensor 80 extends from the wall of the base-end neck 35 of the balloon 30 into the sub-lumen 106L of the outer tube 10 (round tubular portion 11) and extends in the sub-lumen. The cavity 106L then extends inside the Y connector 20 together with the wire 70 as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, passes through the inside of the wire protection tube 26 extending from the Y connector 20, and then extends from the Y connector 20 Get out. The base end of the temperature sensor 80 is connected to the electrical connector 21.

According to the balloon-type electrode catheter 100 of this embodiment, by each of the strip electrodes 51 to 54 formed on the outer surface of the balloon 30, it is possible to align the lesions located in the vessel or its surroundings and perform high frequency in a wide range. Cautery treatment.

Furthermore, by attaching the metal ring 60 to the tip side neck of the balloon 30 so that its inner peripheral surface is in contact with the tip of each of the strip electrodes 51 to 54, each of the strip electrodes 51 to 54 Since it is electrically connected to the electrical connector 21 via the metal ring 60 and the wire 70, the high-frequency current can be evenly conducted to each of the strip electrodes 51 to 54, thereby, it can be along the circumference of the vessel Homogeneous cauterization of the lesion tissue located in the vessel or its surroundings.

In addition, the outer diameter of the metal ring 60 installed on the tip side neck 33 of the balloon 30 is smaller than the outer diameter of the outer tube 10 and the base end side neck 35, so that the metal ring 60 does not cause such problems as The opening of the sheath or endoscope used when the hook is introduced does not impair the penetration of the balloon-type electrode catheter 100 into the sheath or the inner cavity of the endoscope.

Furthermore, each of the fluid supply sub-cavities 101L to 105L has an opening at the front end 14 of the semicircular tubular portion 13 located near the front end of the cylindrical portion 311 of the expansion portion 31 of the balloon 30, and the fluid discharge sub-cavity 107L Each of ~109L and 111L is open at the front end surface 12 of the circular tubular portion 11 located at the base end of the expansion portion 31 of the balloon 30, so that even after the balloon 30 is expanded (after the inside is filled with fluid), It is still possible to form a flow of fluid from the front end side to the base end side, so that the fluid flows inside the balloon 30.

In particular, the fluid discharged from the openings of the fluid supply sub-cavities 101L to 105L in the tip direction hits the inner wall surface of the conical portion 313 at the front end of the expansion portion 31, and then follows the cylindrical portion 311 of the expansion portion 31 And the inner wall surface of the base end side conical portion 315 flows in the base end direction, whereby the fluid can be circulated in the balloon 30 (expansion portion 31).

As a result, the inside of the balloon 30 can be efficiently cooled over the entire area of the expansion portion 31, whereby the tissues around the strip electrodes 51 to 54 are sufficiently cooled, and the tissues can be reliably prevented Be fibrosis (fibrosis).

In addition, since there are five sub-cavities 101L to 105L for fluid supply arranged in the outer tube 10, and four sub-cavities 107L to 109L and 111L for fluid discharge, the inside of the balloon 30 can be maintained at a constant pressure (expansion pressure). ).

Examples of diseases to which the balloon-type electrode catheter 100 of this embodiment can be applied are vessels or surrounding neoplasms and the vagus nerve. Specifically, cholangiocarcinoma, lung cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, and adrenal glands can be mentioned. Tumor, renal artery vagus nerve, etc.

Above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, the position of the tip surface 14 of the semicircular tubular portion 13 (the opening positions of the fluid supply sub-cavities 101L to 105L) in the balloon 30 is set to be on the tip side than the axial middle position of the expansion portion 31 It does not need to be located near the front end of the cylindrical portion 311 of the expansion portion 31.

In addition, in the balloon-type electrode catheter of the present invention, the openings of the fluid supply sub-cavity and/or the fluid discharge sub-cavity may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube, and the fluid may be discharged/discharged in the radial direction of the outer tube .

In addition, the opening of the auxiliary cavity for fluid supply may be positioned at or near the base end of the expansion part of the balloon, and the opening of the auxiliary cavity for fluid discharge may be positioned more than the middle of the expansion part in the axial direction. It is set by the way located on the front side.

In addition, the sub-cavity for fluid supply and the sub-cavity for fluid discharge may be opened at the same axial position.

100: Balloon electrode catheter 10: Outer tube 10L: Central cavity 101L～105L: Sub-cavity (Sub-cavity for fluid supply) 107L～109L, 111L: Sub-cavity (Sub-cavity for fluid discharge) 106L, 110L, 112L: auxiliary cavity 11: Round tubular part 12: The front end of the round tubular part 13: Semicircular tubular part 14: The front end of the semicircular tubular part 20: Y connector 21: Electrical connector 22: Connector for fluid supply 23: Connector for fluid discharge 24: Lead wire connector 26: Wire protection tube 27: Fluid supply pipe 28: Pipe for fluid discharge 30: Balloon 31: Expansion 311: Cylindrical part 313: Conical part on the tip side 315: Conical part on the base side 33: Front neck 35: basal neck 41: inner tube 46: Front end piece 51～54: Strip electrode (surface electrode) 60: Metal ring 70: Wire 80: Temperature sensor (thermocouple) 81: The temperature measuring part of the temperature sensor 90: Sealing material 95: Adhesive

Figure 1 is a plan view of a balloon electrode catheter according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the balloon electrode catheter shown in Fig. 1 (a front view including a cross-section along the line II-II in Fig. 1). Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the tip portion of the balloon electrode catheter shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the tip portion (the tip side of the balloon) of the balloon-type electrode catheter shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the tip portion (base end side of the balloon) of the balloon-type electrode catheter shown in Fig. 1. Figure 6 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 2 (detailed view of part VI). Fig. 7 is a partial enlarged view of Fig. 6 (detailed view of part VII). Fig. 8 is a partial enlarged view of Fig. 2 (detailed view of part VIII). Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a partial enlarged view of Fig. 9 (detailed view of part X). Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in Figure 1. Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII in Fig. 1. Fig. 13 is a partial enlarged view of Fig. 12 (detailed view of part XIII). Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV in Figure 1. Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line XV-XV in Fig. 1. Figure 16 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 15 (detailed view of XVI part). Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line XVII-XVII in Fig. 1. Figure 18 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 17 (detailed view of part XVIII). Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIX-XIX in Figure 1. Figure 20 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 19 (detailed view of part XX). Figure 21 is a sectional view taken along the line XXI-XXI in Figure 1. Figure 22 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 21 (detailed view of part XXII). Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken along the line XXIII-XXIII in Fig. 1. Fig. 24 is a sectional view taken along the line XXIV-XXIV in Fig. 1.

10: Outer tube 10L: Central cavity 11: Round tubular part 12: The front end of the round tubular part 13: Semicircular tubular part 14: The front end of the semicircular tubular part 30: Balloon 31: Expansion 311: Cylindrical part 313: Conical part on the tip side 315: Conical part on the base side 33: Front neck 35: basal neck 41: inner tube 46: Front end piece 51～54: Strip electrode (surface electrode) 60: Metal ring 70: Wire 80: Temperature sensor (thermocouple) 81: The temperature measuring part of the temperature sensor

Claims (8)

A balloon-type electrode catheter is a balloon-type electrode catheter that is used to introduce into the vasculature to perform high-frequency cauterization on the vessel or its surrounding tissues, which is characterized by: The outer tube, which has a central cavity and a plurality of auxiliary cavities arranged around it, and A connector for energization, which is arranged on the proximal side of the outer tube, and A balloon having an expanding part that expands and contracts, and a neck that is continuous at both ends, and is fixed to the front end of the outer tube by the base end side neck, so that the balloon is connected to the front end of the outer tube, with An inner tube that is inserted into the central cavity of the outer tube, extends from the opening of the central cavity toward the inside of the balloon and extends inside the balloon, and has a lumen through which a guide wire can be inserted, and A tip top piece, which has a lumen communicating with the lumen of the inner tube, is connected to the tip of the inner tube in the interior of the balloon, and is fixed to the neck of the tip side to extend toward the outside of the balloon, with A surface electrode, which is composed of a metal thin film formed on the outer surface of the balloon in the expansion portion and the tip side neck, and A metal ring is mounted on the neck of the tip side of the balloon by making its inner peripheral surface contact the tip of the surface electrode, and is electrically connected to the surface electrode, and The leading end of the lead wire is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the metal ring and extends inside the balloon and the sub-cavity of the outer tube, and the base end is fixed to the electrical connector, thereby connecting the The surface electrode is electrically connected with the above-mentioned energizing connector. The balloon-type electrode catheter as described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein: The surface electrode is a plurality of strip electrodes formed in a manner extending along the axial direction of the balloon and arranged at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction of the balloon, and the inner peripheral surface of the metal ring is in contact with the strip shape Each tip of the electrode. Such as the balloon electrode catheter described in item 1 or 2 of the scope of patent application, wherein: The metal ring is covered with an insulating coating. Such as the balloon electrode catheter described in item 1 or 2 of the scope of patent application, wherein: At least one of the sub-cavities of the outer tube is a sub-cavity for fluid supply for supplying fluid to the inside of the balloon to circulate the fluid; At least one of the sub-cavities included in the outer tube is a sub-cavity for discharging fluid for discharging the fluid supplied to the inside of the balloon from the inside of the balloon to allow the fluid to circulate. The balloon-type electrode catheter described in item 4 of the scope of patent application, wherein: The expansion portion of the balloon includes: the front end portion of the outer tube fixed to the base end side neck of the balloon; The opening of the sub-cavity for fluid supply is located closer to the tip side than the middle position of the expansion part in the axial direction, The opening of the fluid discharge sub-cavity is located at or near the base end of the expansion part. The balloon-type electrode catheter described in item 4 of the scope of patent application, wherein: The number of the sub-cavities for fluid supply is larger than the number of the sub-cavities for fluid discharge. Such as the balloon electrode catheter described in item 1 or 2 of the scope of patent application, wherein: The outer diameter of the front end portion of the outer tube to which the base end side neck of the balloon is fixed is formed to be smaller than the outer diameter of the base end portion of the outer tube; The outer diameter of the proximal neck portion of the balloon is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the proximal portion of the outer tube. Such as the balloon electrode catheter described in item 1 or 2 of the scope of patent application, wherein: A temperature sensor is arranged on the wall of the balloon.

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