JP2000325469A - Tube unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To store tubes and cables connected between an inner instrument and an outer instrument in a lump to prevent the tube from being deformed and the cable from being disconnected by an external force and to use a biocompatible substance only for the tube to reduce an effect on a living body and to avoid influences on functions of the inner instrument and the living body caused by movements of a human body and the external force. SOLUTION: A tube unit has an outer tube 5 storing in a lump a tube for making a liq. flow between an inner instrument 20 and an outer instrument, an electric power cable 3 for feeding electric power into the inner instrument and a wire 4 for preventing them from being elongated, a socket 6 on which both ends of the outer tube are hooked, caps 8 being respectively mounted on the outer periphery of the socket and a protective tube 9 being hooked on the caps.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tube for accommodating a tube, a cable, and the like used for connecting a device mounted in a living body (hereinafter referred to as an internal device) and a device outside the living body (hereinafter referred to as an external device). About the unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, internal devices and external devices have been individually connected to each other by using tubes, cables, and the like. in this way,
Tubes and cables are extremely pulled or bent at the connecting parts by external force, which may cause deformation of the tubes or disconnection of the cables, causing problems in the connection between the internal device and the external device. There is a problem that the function of the device is affected. In addition, when applied to connection with artificial organs, tubes and cables etc. individually come into contact with in vivo tissues, so each tube and cable must be made of a biocompatible material, In addition, there is also a problem that when the tube is deformed or the cable is broken, it is life-threatening.
However, in order to solve these problems, the tubes and cables are collectively housed in the tubes to prevent deformation due to extreme bending of the tubes due to external forces and disconnection due to the tensile force of the cables, and to prevent disconnection between internal and external devices. A compact tube unit that does not cause problems in the connection of the tube, and a compact tube unit that reduces the effect on the living body by using biocompatible materials only for those that house tubes and cables collectively Has not yet been put to practical use.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. Tubes and cables connected between an internal device and an external device are collectively placed in the tube. Prevents tube deformation and cable breakage due to external force when housed, uses only biocompatible material for the tube to reduce the effect on the living body, and does not affect the function of internal devices or the living body by human movement or external force It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact tube unit as described above.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tube unit used for connection between an internal device and an external device, comprising: a tube for flowing a liquid or the like between the internal device and the external device; And an outer tube for accommodating the tube and the power cable. Here, the internal device refers to, for example, an artificial organ capable of substituting the function of an organ of a living body, a part embedded in the living body in an auxiliary artificial organ capable of assisting the function of the living body, or an in-vivo part for treatment or the like. The external device means, for example, a device placed outside the living body among the devices used for the above-mentioned artificial organs, auxiliary artificial organs, or treatments. Since the tube and the power cable are accommodated in the outer tube, the tube and the power cable are not directly subjected to tension or bending due to movement of a living body or external force, so that deformation of the tube and disconnection of the cable can be prevented. In addition, when used for internal devices such as artificial organs, it is not necessary to use a biocompatible material for each of the tube and the power cable. 1
The effect on the living body can be minimized because only one place is required. As the cable accommodated in the outer tube, a cable capable of transmitting a signal for controlling the internal device and a signal detected by the internal device in addition to a power cable for driving the internal device. Is also good. In addition, as a tube housed in the outer tube, a tube for delivering a drug to an affected area, a tube for delivering a lubricant or a cooling agent necessary for operating the internal device normally to the internal device, and the like. Is mentioned. A plurality of cables and tubes may be accommodated in the outer tube, respectively. With such a configuration, even if there are a plurality of necessary cables and tubes, only one penetrating portion is required, so that the burden on the living body is reduced.

[0005] The tube in the present invention may have a closed flow path through which a liquid can flow.
By forming a closed flow path through which liquid can flow in the tube, for example, it is possible to efficiently circulate a coolant to cool internal devices and circulate a lubricant. It is more preferable that the tube unit of the present invention contains a wire for preventing elongation of the tube and the power cable. By accommodating multiple tubes and wires for preventing power cable elongation together in the outer tube, the multiple tubes and power cables are prevented from elongating by the wires to prevent tube deformation and cable breakage. Can be.
The tube unit of the present invention is provided with caps respectively mounted on the outer periphery of a locking portion between the socket on the internal device where one end of the outer tube is locked and the socket on the external device where the other end is locked. It may be. A socket on the internal device side where one end of the outer tube is locked,
By providing caps attached to the outer periphery of the locking portion with the socket on the external device side where the other end is locked, the locking portion between the outer tube and each socket is protected by the cap, and the movement of the human body and It is possible to reduce the influence such as detachment due to external force. The tube unit of the present invention may be provided with a protective tube made of an elastic member that is locked to the cap and attached to the outer peripheral portion of the outer tube. The outer tube can be prevented from being extremely bent by the protective tube by providing the protective tube made of an elastic member which is fixed to the cap and attached to the outer peripheral portion of the outer tube. The influence on the tube and the power cable inside can be prevented. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The tube unit of the present invention is used for connection between an internal device and an external device of an artificial organ system having an internal device embedded in a living body and an external device provided outside the living body. here,
The artificial organ system is, for example, an artificial organ provided inside or outside a living body for assisting the operation of the heart, an auxiliary artificial organ, a driving device for driving them, a cooling device for suppressing heat generation of the driving device, A control device for controlling their operation, a filtration device for removing impurities in the circulating blood, a monitor device for monitoring their operation status, an alarm device for notifying abnormalities when abnormalities occur, and doctors and hospitals Refers to communication means for communication. By placing tubes and cables connecting these devices together in a tube unit, the burden on the living body can be greatly reduced.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is an external view of a tube unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the tube unit 1 includes an outer tube 5 that collectively accommodates a plurality of tubes (not shown), a power cable, and a wire therein, and a socket on the internal device side that holds the outer tube 5. 6, a socket on the external device side (not shown), a cap 8 mounted on the outer circumference of a locking portion between the outer tube 5 and each socket, and a cap locked on the cap and mounted on the outer circumference of the outer tube 5. A protective tube 9 made of an elastic member and a connecting device 10 on the internal device side for locking the socket 6 and connecting to the internal device 20.
And an external device 21 that is connected to a connection device on the external device side that locks a socket (not shown).

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a tube unit on the internal device side in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a partial sectional view, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A. In FIGS. 2A and 2B,
1 is a tube unit, 2 is a plurality of tubes for flowing liquid between an internal device and an external device, 3 is a power cable for supplying power to the internal device, 4 is a plurality of tubes 2 and a power cable 3 5 is an outer tube for accommodating a plurality of tubes 2, a power cable 3 and a wire 4 in a lump, and 6 is a plurality of tubes 2 and a power cable 3 with one end of the wire 4 locked. 8 is a socket on the side of the internal device where the outer tube 5 is locked, 8 is a cap mounted on the outer periphery of a locking portion between the outer tube 5 and the socket 6, and 9 is the outer tube 5 locked by the cap 8. A protective tube 10 made of an elastic member mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the connecting device 10; It is an internal device connected to the connection equipment 10.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a tube unit on an external device side according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
Is a BB cross-sectional view. 3 (a) and 3 (b)
1 is a tube unit, 2 is a plurality of tubes for flowing liquid between an internal device and an external device, 3 is a power cable for supplying power to the internal device, 4 is a plurality of tubes 2 and a power cable 3 5 is an outer tube that collectively accommodates a plurality of tubes 2, a power cable 3 and a wire 4 therein, and 7 is a plurality of tubes 2 and a power cable in which the other end of the wire 4 is locked. 3 is a socket on the external device side where the outer tube 5 is locked and the outer tube 5 is locked, 8 is a cap mounted on the outer periphery of a locking portion between the outer tube 5 and the socket 7, and 9 is an outer tube locked with the cap 8 A protective tube 21 made of an elastic member mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the reference numeral 5 is an external device connected to a connecting device (not shown). Note that connection equipment to which the socket 7 is fixed and which is connected to the external device 21 is not shown.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A plurality of tubes for flowing a liquid or the like between an internal device and an external device are formed of a biocompatible resin such as a polycarbonate urethane resin to pass through an internal device such as an artificial organ. And
Does not affect living organisms. Also, since the multiple tubes are formed with closed channels through which liquid can flow,
Gases and liquids flowing inside such as oxygen and chemicals can be circulated between the internal device and the external device, and medical treatment can be accurately performed. The power cable for supplying power to the internal device is housed in a tube molded of polyvinyl chloride resin, and protects the power cable from the outside. Since a plurality of tubes and power cables are collectively housed in the outer tube, it is sufficient to use a biocompatible resin only for the outer tube that comes into contact with the living body, and the penetration part into the living body is also one place. Can be done. In addition, since the wires are accommodated in the outer tube together with the plurality of tubes and the power cables, the wires can suppress the bending of the plurality of tubes and the power cables, and can prevent the tubes and the cables from being deformed.

One end of the outer tube is locked to a socket on the internal device side, and the other end is locked to a socket on the external device side. The plurality of tubes and the power cable in the outer tube are held in through holes through which the plurality of tubes and the power cable are provided in the respective sockets, and the wires are locked in the locking holes provided in the socket. . The wires locked in the socket suppress deformation of the plurality of tubes and the power cable in the direction of extension, thereby preventing the plurality of tubes and the power cable from breaking.

The cap provided on the outer periphery of the locking portion between the outer tube and the socket on the internal device side and the outer circumference of the locking portion on the locking portion between the outer tube and the socket on the external device side are attached to the outer tube. The outer part of the outer tube is removed from the socket by locking the outer periphery of the locking part with the socket on the internal device side or the external device side so that it is protected from the influence of human movement on the locking part and external force. Can be prevented. Also,
Since the socket on the internal device side and the socket on the external device side are made of a metal material such as biocompatible titanium, the outer tube and the socket on the internal device side and the external device side are not affected without any effect on the living body. The locking portion can be more firmly protected.

A protective tube made of an elastic member having a groove for preventing bending locked by a cap is attached to an outer peripheral portion of the outer tube near a portion where the outer tube is engaged with a socket on the internal device side or a socket on the external device side. As a result, the outer tube can be elastically prevented by the protective tube from bending near the engagement portion with the socket, and the outer tube can be connected to a plurality of tubes and the power cable in the outer tube due to human body movement and external force. Damage due to bending can be prevented. The plurality of tubes and the terminals of the power cable held in the socket on the internal device side and the socket on the external device side are respectively locked by the connecting device on the internal device side and the connecting device on the external device side, and The internal device connected to the connection device of the living body, such as an artificial heart, and the external device connected to the connection device of the external device, such as a sub-controller, are connected to the external device such as a sub-controller. A liquid or the like can flow between devices, and power can be supplied to internal devices. In addition, the socket on the internal device side and the socket on the external device side are locked by the connection device on the internal device side and the connection device on the external device side, respectively. Protected to prevent deformation from As described above, the wires that prevent deformation of the plurality of tubes and the power cable in the extension direction and the plurality of tubes and the power cable are collectively housed in the outer tube. Can be made a compact tube unit.

What constitutes an artificial organ system, for example, an artificial organ provided inside or outside a living body for assisting the operation of the heart, an artificial assist heart, a driving device for driving them, and suppression of heat generation of the driving device Cooling device, control device for controlling their operation, filtration device for removing impurities etc. in circulating blood, monitor device for monitoring their operation status, alarm device for notifying abnormalities when abnormal A large effect is obtained in that the tubes and cables connected to the communication means for contacting the doctor or the hospital are collectively housed in the tube unit, thereby greatly reducing the burden on the living body. .

[0014]

As described in detail above, in the tube unit according to the present invention, since the tube and the power cable are collectively housed in the outer tube, each of the tube and the power cable is made of a material having biocompatibility. There is no need to use a material, and only a material having biocompatibility should be used for the outer tube to be joined to the living body. In addition, since the tube is formed with a closed flow path through which liquid can flow, liquid that flows inside can be circulated between the internal device and the external device, so that medical treatment can be performed accurately. it can. In addition, since the wire locked to the socket together with the tube and power cable is housed in the outer tube, the wire suppresses the growth of the tube and power cable, preventing deformation due to tube expansion and disconnection due to power cable expansion. Can be prevented. Furthermore, by providing a cap attached to the outer periphery of the locking portion between the outer tube and each socket on the internal device side and the external device side, the locking portion is protected, and the movement of the human body on the locking portion and the external To prevent the outer tube from coming off the socket. In addition, since the socket on the internal device side and the socket on the external device side where the outer tube is locked are formed of a biocompatible metal material such as titanium, there is no effect on the living body and the inner tube and the inner tube are not affected. It is possible to more firmly protect the locking portion of the device or the external device with the socket. Furthermore, by attaching a protective tube having a groove for preventing bending to be locked by the cap on the outer peripheral portion of the outer tube near the locking portion between the outer tube and the socket on the internal device side or the external device side, The outer tube can elastically prevent extreme bending due to bending near the engagement part with the socket with the protective tube, and prevent damage to multiple tubes and power cables in the outer tube due to human body movement and external force. The effect on the human body can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a tube unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are partial cross-sectional views of the tube unit on the internal device side according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.

3A and 3B are partial cross-sectional views of a tube unit on an external device side according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tube unit 2 ... Plural tubes 3 ... Power cable 4 ... Wire 5 ... Outer tube 6 ... Socket on the internal device side 7 ... Socket on the external device side 8 ... ·· Cap 9 ··· Protective tube 10 ··· Connection equipment on the internal device side 20 ··· Internal device 21 ··· External device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 4C060 MM25 4C077 AA04 AA11 DD21 EE01 FF04 KK01 KK21

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A tube unit (1) used for connecting an internal device to an external device, wherein the tube (2) allows a liquid or the like to flow between the internal device and the external device.
And a power cable (3) for supplying power to the internal device
And an outer tube (5) accommodating the tube and the power cable. 2. The tube unit according to claim 1, wherein the tube has a closed flow path through which a liquid can flow. 3. The tube unit according to claim 1, wherein a wire (4) for preventing the tube and the power cable from extending is accommodated in the outer tube. 4. An outer periphery of a locking portion between a socket (6) on the internal device side where one end of the outer tube is locked and a socket (7) on the external device side where the other end is locked. 2. The tube unit according to claim 1, further comprising a cap (8) to be mounted. 5. The tube unit according to claim 1, further comprising a protective tube (9) formed of an elastic member and fixed to the cap and attached to an outer peripheral portion of the outer tube. 6. An artificial organ system having the tube unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5.