JP2006141881A - Peristaltic motion conveying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for conveying an object without excising a blocked part of a transport path when a lesion not excisable by surgery appears in the esophagus. <P>SOLUTION: Bidirectional shape memory alloys 101 are attached to a plurality of parts of a stent 100 retained in the transport path, and driven to sequentially change a tube cross-sectional area in a conveying direction to convey the object in one direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus that is placed in a lumen and performs a peristaltic motion to convey an object.

Conventionally, a method is known in which a stent is inserted and a transport tube is expanded in order to ensure patency when a tumor occurs in a transport tube in the body and the tube is blocked.
At that time, when inserted into the body using a shape memory alloy so as to be suitable for the shape of the transport pipe, the shape changes depending on the living body temperature in the transport pipe, and the cross-sectional area of the transport pipe is expanded, thereby providing patency. Also known are stents that hold the like.
In addition, the present inventors proposed a method for attaching an artificial transport tube capable of peristaltic movement after excising a tumor-occurring portion in Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-299347.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-299347

However, since the conventional stent is not driven, there is a possibility that the object may be caught when passing through.

Nitinol and other stents using shape memory alloys are also used, but these are mainly shaped by setting the transformation temperature close to the body temperature, so that the shape is suitable for the shape of the affected area when inserted into the body. There is no stent that can change the shape of the memory and use the shape memory alloy as an actuator to convey the object in a more physiological movement.

When the stent is attached, the transport tube is in a state where the cross-sectional area of the transport tube is greatly enlarged, so the stent, which is often made of a material that is less flexible than the conventional living body, compresses the space of other organs. There was a fear. In particular, when used in the esophagus, it is placed inside the ribs and may affect the trachea, heart, spine and important organs, so there is a need to reduce the cross-sectional area of the tube.

When using the previously proposed peristaltic device, it is necessary to replace the affected part with a prosthetic device using the peristaltic device, but resection is difficult when the physical strength is significantly reduced. It could not be used for lesions that cannot be removed by surgery, such as esophageal cancer.

In addition, it has been difficult to use a mechanical mechanism such as a screw or a pressure mechanism such as a pump as a stent actuator because of space problems.

In order to solve these problems, the bidirectional shape memory alloy is attached to the stent so that the stent placed inside the transportation path operates during the transportation of the object. The shape memory alloy is heated to generate a contraction force and change the tube cross-sectional area. At this time, by making it possible to perform an operation for enlarging the tube cross-sectional area from the normal state, it is possible to eliminate clogging of an object even if a stent having a normal tube cross-sectional area is used.

By using the present invention, it is possible to carry out conveyance by a peristaltic movement without eliminating the blocked portion of the transport pipe.
In particular, it can be installed for lesions that cannot be excised, such as terminal esophageal cancer, and the influence on other organs can be suppressed.

Bidirectional shape memory alloy was attached to the stent as an actuator, and it was driven by a temperature control device so that the tube cross-sectional area of the stent was changed, and the object could be conveyed.
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the outline of the outside and the inside of a stent and a peristaltic motion device in the first embodiment of the present invention.
100 is a stent, 101 is a shape memory alloy, 102 is a temperature control device, and 103 is a thin film.
In addition, the shape memory alloy 101 is made of a bidirectional shape memory alloy so that each part has a quantitative and quick response to shrinkage and shape recovery, has a strong contraction force, and has a coil shape. Thus, the contraction force and contraction length are further increased.
The plurality of shape memory alloys 101 are wound around a plurality of locations of the stent 100 and further connected to the temperature control device 102.
The temperature control device 102 is an electric heating device, and each shape memory alloy 101 is heated separately by electric heating. By adopting the electric heating method, responsiveness and controllability are improved. Yes.
The shape memory alloy 101 contracts and recovers by sequentially energizing and releasing the heated shape memory alloy 101 in the transport direction, and the tube cross-sectional area of the stent 100 is sequentially reduced and expanded in the transport direction. And transport the object.
The thin film 103 is formed of a flexible material and does not hinder the operation of the shape memory alloy 101 and the stent 100 and is heated during the operation, and the shape memory alloy 101 and the stent 100 are heated. It arrange | positions on the outer side of the stent 100 so that the influence of a shape change may be reduced.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the outside and the inside of the stent and the peristaltic device in the second embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 105 denotes a stent, 104 denotes a stent provided inside the stent 103, and 102 denotes a temperature control device.
The shape memory alloy 101 is attached so as to connect the open end of the inner stent 104 and the open end of the outer stent 105.
FIG. 3A is a schematic sectional view showing the state before the operation.
When the shape memory alloy 101 is heated by the temperature control device, the state shown in FIG.
FIG. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the operating state. When the shape memory alloy 101 contracts, the open end of the inner stent 104 receives a tensile force in the tube direction and extends.
The stent 104 that has received a tensile force in the tube direction from the network structure of the stent is deformed to reduce the tube cross-sectional area.
By connecting the stent or by separately providing a plurality of connection points by the shape memory alloy of the internal stent 104, it is possible to realize a stent capable of changing the tube cross-sectional area of the partial portion.
As a result, a stent capable of conveying an object in one direction as in the first embodiment is obtained.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of the stent in the third embodiment.
100 is a stent, 101 is a shape memory alloy, and the shape memory alloy 100 is coiled.
The shape memory alloy 101 is attached to the stent 100 along the tube direction of the stent 100. The shape memory alloy 101 generates a contraction force by energization heating, and a force in the tube direction is generated in the stent 100.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state in which the shape memory alloy 101 is contracted and the cross-sectional area of the stent 100 is enlarged.
By reducing the length of the stent 100 in the tube direction, the stent 100 is deformed so that the tube cross-sectional area is expanded from the stitch-like structure of the stent.

In addition, when the structure shown in the first and second embodiments is used, there is a risk that clogging is likely to occur in the case of a device in which the cross-sectional area of the stent is reduced, but the structure of the third embodiment is combined. Thus, the occurrence of clogging can be solved by performing an operation of enlarging the tube.
By this. The normal tube cross-sectional area of the stent placed in the transport tube can be reduced, and the occupied volume can be suppressed.
In particular, when used in the esophagus, the load on the surrounding vital organs such as the heart, spine, and trachea can be suppressed, enabling safer food intake for patients with reduced physical strength.

In addition, this example is an exemplification, and other attachments such as replacement of the electric heating means with another heating device, use of a shape memory alloy in the form of a thin wire or plate, and attachment to the stent in a spiral shape, etc. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the structure and apparatus can be used, or can be attached to other biological transport pipes, slurry-type transport pipes, etc., and such deformed structures are within the scope of the present invention. Will.

The present invention enables peristaltic movement even for occlusion due to an unresectable tumor that has occurred in a transport tube such as the esophagus by the peristaltic stent itself placed in the body. It can be installed with a structure that reduces the influence on other organs.

Schematic of the first embodiment of the present invention Schematic of the second embodiment of the present invention Schematic sectional view before operation of the second embodiment of the present invention Schematic sectional view during operation of the second embodiment of the present invention Schematic showing the state before operation of the third embodiment of the present invention. Sectional drawing which shows the state in operation | movement of the 3rd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Stent 101 Shape memory alloy 102 Temperature control apparatus 103 Thin film 104 Internal stent 105 External stent

Claims (6)

A stent inserted into the transport tube, a bidirectional shape memory alloy attached to the stent,
A peristaltic motion conveying device comprising a temperature control device, wherein the temperature control device controls the contraction and shape recovery of the shape memory alloy to change the stent cross-sectional area and convey the object. Exercise transport device. 2. The peristaltic motion conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contraction force of the shape memory alloy operates so as to expand the cross-sectional area of the pipe. The peristaltic transport apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transport pipe is an esophagus. The peristaltic motion conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy is installed to be wound around the stent. The peristaltic motion conveying device according to claim 1, wherein a shape memory alloy is attached to the open end of the stent. The peristaltic motion conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy is installed along the tube direction of the stent.

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