JP2008073206A - Tension retainer and its implant device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tension retainer and its implant device effectively used for treatment of various types of diseases (for example, sleep apnea syndrome) and injuries and for a procedure after the treatment aiming mainly at retaining a biotissue in a state deformed by constriction or tension. <P>SOLUTION: This tension retainer 1 comprises a unidirectional needle 2 having a thorn-shaped part 3 and, when it is once inserted in one direction in a tissue T, being never pulled out in the inverse direction thereto, a narrow and long link part 4 linked to the unidirectional needle 2 for pulling the unidirectional needle 2 in the inverse direction, and an inverse-directional needle 5 linked with the link part 4 in the opposite side to the unidirectional needle 2 and retaining the state applying a tensile force to the unidirectional needle 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tension holding tool mainly intended to hold a living tissue in a state where tension is applied to the tissue so that the tissue is contracted or pulled, and an implant device thereof.

  Conventionally, sleep apnea syndrome has been treated with a nasal continuous positive pressure breathing therapy device (Nasal CPAP) to continuously supply positive pressure air from the nasal mask to prevent airway closure or to fix the lower chin. A treatment or coping method such as making the mouthpiece sleep with the mouthpiece in the mouth has been taken. However, these methods are very burdensome and uncomfortable for the patient. In addition, as another treatment method, there is a method of removing the uvula by surgery, but there are problems such as pain, voice change, and food and drinks easily flowing back to the patient. Furthermore, as a recent method, a method of preventing loosening by embedding an insert made of a predetermined material in the uvula or tongue base to make the nearby tissue scarred or fibrotic and hardened is clinically tried. However (see Non-Patent Document 1 below), this method merely hardens the tissue, and surgery for implanting the insert is not easy.

Prosthodontics Intermedica web page accessible at URL: http://www.teeth-usa.com/Treatment/Snoring/snoring1.html

  Thus, the main purpose of the present invention is to maintain a state in which a living tissue is deformed or contracted by deformation, treatment of various diseases (for example, sleep apnea syndrome) and injury, and treatment after the treatment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tension holder and its implant device that are effectively used for the above.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the tension holder according to the present invention has a catch portion, and when the needle is inserted in one direction into a tissue, the one-way needle that does not come out in the opposite direction to the one direction, A one-way needle connected to the one-way needle for pulling the one-way needle in the opposite direction; and the one-way needle opposite to the one-way needle. And a holding portion for holding a state where a tensile force is applied to the.

  In the tension holder according to the present invention, the holding portion is an opposite direction needle in which a one-way needle having the same configuration as the one-way needle is connected to the connecting portion in a direction opposite to the one-way needle. Also good.

  In the tension holder of the present invention, at least a part of the tension holder may be formed of a bioabsorbable material.

  Further, in the tension holder according to the present invention, the connecting portion is made of a thread, and the holding section penetrates a structure different from the structure where the one-way needle stays and the thread penetrates on the other structure. It may be a fastening member fixed to the thread so as to be caught.

  In the tension holder of the present invention, the fastening member may be formed of a heat shrinkable crimping tube that is sheathed on the yarn.

  The tension holder according to the present invention is capable of releasing the tension holder at the end of the opposite-direction needle of the tension holder, and the tension holder including the one-way needle, the continuous portion, and the opposite-direction needle. A connecting rod to be connected, and an outer cylinder in which the tension holder and the connecting rod are movably accommodated in a cylinder, and the tip of the tension holder on the one-way needle side is formed like an injection needle It consists of.

  In the implant device for a tension holder according to the present invention, a grip portion is provided at an end portion of the connecting rod, and the tension holder is configured to hold the connection portion by gripping the end portion of the needle in the opposite direction with the grip portion. It is connected to the stick | rod, The said holding | grip part may be comprised so that the said tension | tensile_strength holding tool may be released by going out from the said outer cylinder.

  According to the tension holder according to the present invention, the unidirectional needle is inserted into a desired position in the tissue, and then the continuous portion is pulled to apply tension to the tissue to cause contraction deformation or tensile deformation, and this deformation state is obtained. Since it can be held by the holding part, for example, it is possible to perform effective treatment for sleep apnea syndrome by embedding this tension holder in the tongue base or uvula and maintaining the contraction deformation state. It can be used effectively for treatment of illness and injury, and treatment after the treatment.

  Moreover, in the implant device of the tension holder according to the present invention, the outer cylinder is stabbed to a desired position in the tissue, and then the outer cylinder is retracted by a predetermined amount with respect to the tension holder and the connecting rod. The unidirectional needle of the holder is exposed in the tissue, and then the connecting rod is pulled to apply tension to the tissue via the unidirectional needle to cause contraction deformation or tensile deformation. Finally, the outer cylinder is further retracted. In addition, by releasing the opposite direction needle from the connecting rod, the opposite direction needle is caught and the deformed state of the tissue can be maintained. This operation can be performed through only one needle hole that pierces the tip of the outer cylinder without incising the skin. Therefore, according to the implant device of the tension holder of the present invention, the operation of implanting the tension holder can be performed very easily and with less burden on the patient.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The term “tissue” used in the following mainly refers to biological tissue having flexibility that can be deformed by applying tension, such as ligaments such as the uvula, tongue base, limbs and vocal cords, tendons, muscles, and cartilage. It is meant that other biological tissues (eg, relatively hard bones, ligaments, tendons, etc.) are also included.

  FIG. 1 shows a tension holder 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The tension holder 1 includes a one-way needle 2, a continuous portion 4, and an opposite-direction needle (holding portion) 5. The unidirectional needle 3 has a plurality of stabbed portions (hook portions) 3 on the outer peripheral portion, and these stabbed portions 3 extend in a direction that forms an acute angle with respect to the shaft portion 2 a of the unidirectional needle 2. . As a result, the one-way needle 2 can be pierced in one direction in the tissue, but does not come out in the opposite direction to the one direction when the stab-like portion 3 is caught in the tissue. .

  Note that the number of the stab-like portions 3 is not necessarily limited to a plurality, and may be one as long as the function as the catching portion can be sufficiently achieved. Further, the stretching angle of the stab-like portion 3 with respect to the shaft portion 2a is not necessarily an acute angle, as long as it does not hinder the unidirectional needle 2 from being pierced and can sufficiently function as a catching portion. May be right or obtuse. Furthermore, the hooking portion is not limited to a stab-like shape, and can be any shape as long as it does not hinder the piercing of the one-way needle 2 and can sufficiently function as the hooking portion. Also good.

  The continuous portion 4 is formed of an elongated shaft (or thread), and is continuous with the end portion of the shaft portion 2 a of the one-way needle 2. The one-way needle 2 and the continuous portion 4 may be integrally formed, or may be continuously provided at the joint portion 7a by a method such as welding. Moreover, the thing of various length may be prepared for the continuous arrangement part 4 according to a use.

  The continuous portion 4 is connected to the opposite direction needle 5 on the side opposite to the one-way needle 2. The opposite direction needle 5 is formed by connecting a one-way needle having the same configuration as that of the one-way needle 2 to the connecting portion 4 in a direction opposite to the one-way needle 2. That is, the shaft portion 5a and the barb portion 6 of the opposite direction needle 5 correspond to the shaft portion 2a and the barb portion 3 of the one-way needle 2, respectively. Moreover, the opposite direction needle | hook 5 and the connection part 4 may be shape | molded integrally, or may be connected with the junction part 7b by methods, such as welding.

In the tension holder 1 of the present embodiment, all of the one-way needle 2, the continuous portion 4, and the opposite-direction needle 5 are, for example, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, copolymers thereof, polyamino acid, biological protein, polysaccharide It is formed of a bioabsorbable polymer material such as. In this case, the entire tension holder 1 may be manufactured as an integrally molded product of, for example, polylactic acid, or each part 2, 4, 5 may be manufactured as a separate member and combined together as described above. Good.
In the tension holder 1, at least a part of the one-way needle 2, the continuous portion 4, and the opposite-direction needle 5 may be formed of a bioabsorbable polymer material.
Furthermore, the shaft portion 2a of the one-way needle 2 and the shaft portion 5a of the opposite-direction needle 5 are integrally formed as an extension of the continuous portion 4, and the continuous portion 4 is formed as a yarn knitted with, for example, a polylactic acid fiber. For example, polylactic acid barbs 3 and 6 manufactured as separate members may be fixed to both ends of the yarn, respectively. As this fixing method, welding, heat shrink caulking, or the like is used.

  The material used for the tension holder 1 is not limited to the bioabsorbable polymer material, and may be another polymer material that is not bioabsorbable. For example, cobalt chromium alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, It may be a metal material such as stainless steel or tantalum, or may be a ceramic material such as alumina ceramic, apatite, or crystallized glass.

Next, the implant device 10 of the tension holding device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
The implant device 10 includes an elongated outer cylinder 13 made of, for example, metal or resin. The distal end portion 13a of the outer cylinder 13 is formed in the shape of an injection needle so that the tissue can be punctured. The tension holder 1 and the connecting rod 11 connected thereto are accommodated in the outer cylinder 13.

  The tension holder 1 is accommodated and disposed near the distal end portion 13a of the outer cylinder 13 with the one-way needle 3 facing the distal end portion 13a. One end of the connecting rod 11 is provided with a grip portion 12 that is split into two in the shape of a hook. The gripping portion 12 is strongly gripped by being pressed by the inner wall of the outer cylinder 13 with the tip of the needle 5 in the opposite direction of the tension holder 1 sandwiched between the two crotch portions, and thus connected to the tension holder 1. A rod 11 is connected. The tension holder 1 and the connecting rod 13 connected in this way are arranged so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction with respect to the outer cylinder 3.

  The other end portion of the connecting rod 11 protrudes from the end portion of the outer cylinder 13 to the outside, and a scale 14 is attached to this protruding portion. The scale 14 can accurately measure the amount of backward movement of the outer cylinder 13, which will be described later. In addition, when the outer cylinder 13 is formed of a transparent material, a scale may be attached to the outer cylinder 13 and the connecting rod 11 may be marked as a measurement origin.

In addition, the holding | grip method of the tension holding tool 1 by the holding part 12 is not limited to what was mentioned above, The thing of another form may be sufficient. For example, the tip portion of the opposite direction needle 5 is formed in a columnar shape, while the grip portion 12 of the adjusting rod 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the tip portion of the opposite direction needle 5 is press-fitted into the grip portion 12. Alternatively, the tension holder 1 may be held by opening the forked portion of the gripping portion 12 and the two portions of the gripping portion 12 may be closed to release the tension holding device 1. Alternatively, the tension holder 1 may be gripped and released by moving a key-shaped protrusion provided as a grip.
Moreover, the connection method of the connecting rod 11 with respect to the tension | tensile_strength holding tool 1 is not restricted to grasping, Other connection methods may be sufficient. For example, the tension retainer 1 and the connecting rod 11 may be connected by screwing, and when the connection is released, the connecting rod 11 may be rotated to release the screwing.
Furthermore, the implant device 10 may be configured such that the outer tube 13 and the connecting rod 11 have flexibility so that they can be used even in a curved state.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3A and 3B, the implant method of the said tension | tensile_strength holding tool 1 using the said implant apparatus 10 is demonstrated.
First, as shown in FIGS. 3A (a) and 3 (b), the distal end 13a of the implant device 10 is pierced into a target tissue T, and the piercing operation is stopped when the distal end 13a reaches a desired position. Next, as shown in FIG. 3A (c), the outer cylinder 13 is moved backward by a predetermined amount with respect to the connecting rod 11, and the one-way needle 2 of the tension holder 1 is exposed from the distal end portion 13a of the outer cylinder 13. And placed in the tissue T.

  Then, in that state, the outer cylinder 13 and the connecting rod 11 are pulled together in the direction opposite to the piercing direction. Then, the one-way needle 2 is pulled through the opposite-direction needle 5 and the connecting portion 4, but as shown in FIG. 3B (d), the stab-like portion 3 of the one-way needle 2 is caught in the tissue T. Since the tension holder 1 is prevented from coming off, the tension acts on the tissue T and the tissue T contracts and deforms. Finally, as shown in FIGS. 3B (e) and 3 (f), the outer cylinder 13 is further moved backward with respect to the adjustment rod 11 and pulled out from the tissue T. As a result, the gripping portion 12 of the adjustment rod 11 is released from the pressure applied by the inner wall of the outer cylinder 13, so that the gripping force of the tension holder 1 is lost. Therefore, when the adjustment rod 11 is pulled out from the tissue T in this state, the adjustment rod 11 is removed. The tension retainer 1 that has been disconnected from is left in the tissue T. At this time, when the stab 6 of the opposite direction needle 5 is caught in the tissue T, the tissue T is held in a state of being contracted and deformed by tension.

As described above, according to the tension holder 1 of the present embodiment, the one-way needle 2 is inserted through the continuous portion 4 and the opposite-direction needle 5 after the one-way needle 2 is inserted into a desired position in the tissue T. Since the tension can be applied to the tissue T to cause the tissue T to contract and deform, and this deformed state can be held by the opposite direction needle 5, for example, the tension holder 1 is embedded in the tongue base or uvula to maintain the contracted and deformed state. By doing so, it can be effectively used for treatment of various illnesses and injuries, such as effective treatment for sleep apnea syndrome, and treatment after the treatment.
However, the tension retainer 1 that is entirely formed of a bioabsorbable material is gradually absorbed in the tissue T over the course of a certain period and loses its original shape. However, it may be necessary to implant the tension holder 1 again.

  Further, in the implant device 10 of the tension holder according to the present embodiment, the distal end portion 13a of the outer cylinder 13 is pierced to a desired position in the tissue T, and then the outer cylinder 13 is placed with respect to the tension holder 1 and the connecting rod 11. The unidirectional needle 2 of the tension retainer 1 is exposed in the tissue T by moving backward by a fixed amount, and then the tension is applied to the tissue T via the unidirectional needle 2 by pulling the connecting rod 13 to contract and deform. Finally, the outer tube 13 is further retracted and the opposite direction needle 5 is released from the connecting rod 11 so that the opposite direction needle 5 is caught and the deformed state of the tissue T can be maintained. Therefore, according to the implant device 10 of the tension holder, the implantation operation of the tension holder 1 can be performed very easily and with less burden on the patient without making an incision in the skin.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the tension holder 20 of 2nd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.
In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same member as 1st Embodiment, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The tension retainer 20 includes a one-way needle 2 and a thread 4 made of, for example, polylactic acid, which is a continuous portion provided continuously to the one-way needle 2. The tension holder 20 further includes a polylactic acid thread 21 extending from the tip of the one-way needle 2, a curved first metal square needle 22 connected to the thread 21, and the opposite side of the one-way needle 2. And a second metal square needle 23 connected to the end of the thread 4. In the tension holder 20 of the present embodiment, for example, a cylindrical heat-shrink crimping tube (fastening member) 24 made of polylactic acid is used as the holding portion.

  The fastening member is not limited to the heat-shrink crimping tube, but is fixed in another form (for example, a crimping member that is mechanically crushed and fixed to the thread 4, and is tied to the thread 4. Member, etc.).

Then, the usage method of the tension | tensile_strength holder 20 which consists of the said structure is demonstrated.
First, the 1st metal square needle 22 is pierced and penetrated to the structure | tissue which becomes the object which hold | maintains the one-way needle | hook 2 inside. Then, by pulling the penetrating first metal square needle 22, the unidirectional needle 2 is moved to a desired position in the tissue and is retained.

  Next, the second metal square needle 23 is pierced and penetrated into a tissue different from the tissue including the one-way needle 2 (for example, bone, cartilage, etc., hereinafter simply referred to as “different tissue”). Then, by pulling the penetrating second metal square needle 23, tension is applied to the tissue including the one-way needle 2 to cause deformation. Finally, the caulking tube 24 is fixed to the yarn 4 by applying heat to the caulking tube 24 sheathed on the yarn 4 via the second metal square needle 23 while maintaining the deformation, and contracting and deforming. To do. As a result, the caulking tube 24 is hooked on the surface of the other tissue, so that the state in which the tissue is pulled and deformed is maintained. Finally, the first metal square needle 22 and the second metal square needle 23 are removed by cutting the threads 4 and 21 respectively.

  The tension retainer 20 of the present embodiment, for example, holds the vocal fold ligament function by pulling and holding the vocal fold muscle for a patient who is unable to speak by removing the vocal fold ligament for the purpose of removing cancer or the like. Can be effectively used for treatment of various illnesses and injuries, such as substituting with vocal cord muscles, and treatment after the treatment.

  In addition, although tension holders 1 and 20 of each embodiment mentioned above were explained as what is used in order to hold a flexible organization in the state of contraction deformation or tensile deformation, tension maintenance concerning the present invention is explained. The device may otherwise be used to maintain tension on relatively hard tissue that is not deformed or difficult to deform (eg, bone, cartilage, ligament, tendon, etc.).

The whole side view of the tension holder of a 1st embodiment. The whole block diagram of the implant device of a tension holder. The figure for demonstrating the procedure at the time of implanting a tension holder. The figure for demonstrating the procedure at the time of implanting a tension | tensile_strength holding tool following FIG. 3A. The whole side view of the tension holder of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,20 ... Tension holding | maintenance tool 2 ... One-way needle | hook 3,6 ... Sting-like part (hook part)
4 ... Consecutive portion 5 ... Opposite direction needle (holding portion)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Implant apparatus 11 ... Connecting rod 12 ... Gripping part 13 ... Outer cylinder 21 ... Thread 22 ... 1st metal square needle 23 ... 2nd metal square needle 24 ... Heat-shrink crimping tube

Claims (7)

  By having a catching portion, a one-way needle that does not come out in the opposite direction to the one direction when inserted into the tissue in one direction, and a one-way needle connected to the one-way needle to pull the one-way needle in the opposite direction. And a holding portion that is connected to or arranged on the side opposite to the one-way needle and holds a state in which a tensile force is applied to the one-way needle. Tension retainer.   The said holding | maintenance part is an opposite direction needle | hook formed by connecting the one way needle | hook of the same structure as the said one way needle | hook with the said connection part in the direction opposite to the said one way needle | hook. The tension retainer described.   The tension holder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least a part of the tension holder is made of a bioabsorbable material.   The connecting portion is made of a thread, and the holding section is fixed to the thread so that the thread passes through a structure different from the structure where the one-way needle stays and is caught on the other structure. The tension holder according to claim 1, wherein the tension holder is a member.   The tension holder according to claim 4, wherein the fastening member is formed of a heat-shrink caulking tube sheathed on the yarn.   The tension holder according to claim 2, a connecting rod releasably connected to an end of the opposite direction needle of the tension holder, and the tension holder and the connecting rod in a cylinder And an outer cylinder in which the tip of the one-way needle side of the tension holder is formed like an injection needle.   A gripping portion is provided at an end of the connecting rod, and the tension holding tool is connected to the connecting rod by gripping an end of the needle in the opposite direction with the gripping portion, and the gripping portion is The implant device of the tension holder according to claim 6, wherein the tension holder is released by exiting from the outer cylinder.

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