JP2008125840A - Guide tube for transnasal endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a guide tube used for a transnasal endoscope to help its insertion in a transnasal endoscopy. <P>SOLUTION: The guide tube 1 used for a transnasal endoscope has a nearly even shape in longitudinal section. The sectional shape of the guide tube 1 comprises pluralities of ribs 11 and inwardly folding thin walls 12. The thin wall 12 that is thinner than the rib 11 connects two each radially adjacent ribs 11. This guide tube 1 reduced in diameter by inwardly folding the thin walls 12 can expand its diameter when the inwardly folded thin walls 12 develop as the transnasal endoscope 3 is inserted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an auxiliary tool used when a transnasal endoscope is inserted from a nostril.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, endoscopy is known in which an endoscope is inserted into an upper digestive tract such as the stomach for examination. In such an endoscopic examination, for example, an endoscope that is configured so that the direction of the distal end portion equipped with an imaging device such as a CCD can be remotely operated is used. Then, when performing endoscopy, the endoscope is slowly advanced while remotely controlling the direction of the distal end as appropriate according to the bending shape of the insertion path in the body of the examinee. It reaches the part.

  Examples of the endoscopy as described above include an oral endoscopy in which an endoscope is inserted from the examinee's mouth. In oral endoscopy, the endoscope may come into contact with the base of the tongue, and a feeling of vomiting due to pharyngeal reflex may be induced. Such a feeling of vomiting during the examination is a great burden on the examinee of the oral endoscopy. On the other hand, transnasal endoscopy in which an endoscope is inserted from a nostril has been carried out by reducing the diameter of an endoscope due to recent technological innovation such as downsizing of an imaging device ( For example, see Patent Document 1.) According to the transnasal endoscopy, since there is little possibility of the endoscope coming into contact with the tongue base, the occurrence of vomiting can be suppressed in advance, and the burden on the examinee can be effectively reduced.

  However, the conventional transnasal endoscopy has the following problems. That is, when the endoscope is inserted from the nostril, there is a problem that the capillaries are concentrated and the very weak nasal mucosa may be damaged. In particular, if the technique for performing transnasal endoscopy is immature, there is a high risk of bleeding or pain due to damage to the nasal mucosa.

JP 2006-68030 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and is intended to provide a guide tube for a nasal endoscope that assists the insertion of a nasal endoscope in a nasal endoscopy. is there.

A first invention is a tubular guide tube for a nasal endoscope for assisting insertion of a nasal endoscope,
It has a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is a plurality of rib portions that are convex inward and are thinner than the rib portions and are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. The guide tube for a nasal endoscope is characterized by comprising a thin wall portion configured to connect the two rib portions.

  The guide tube for nasal endoscope of the first invention is an auxiliary tool that is inserted in advance when the nasal endoscope is inserted from the nostril of the examinee. If this nasal endoscope guide tube is inserted in advance, the insertion operation can be performed relatively easily by inserting the nasal endoscope into the nasal endoscope guide tube. become. If the nasal endoscope is inserted using the guide tube for nasal endoscope, for example, the nasal mucosa can be obtained by the nasal endoscope in which an imaging device such as a CCD camera is arranged at the distal end portion. The risk of damaging these etc. can be suppressed in advance.

  In particular, the cross-sectional shape of the transnasal endoscope guide tube according to the first invention includes a plurality of the rib portions and the thin wall portion formed between the rib portions adjacent in the circumferential direction. That is, the guide tube for nasal endoscope is arranged in an annular shape so that the rib portions and the thin wall portions alternately appear in the circumferential direction in the cross-sectional shape thereof. Furthermore, in the guide tube for nasal endoscope, the rib portion is formed so as to protrude inward.

  In the nasal endoscope guide tube as described above, when the nasal endoscope is inserted, the outer peripheral surface of the nasal endoscope slides while contacting the distal end surface in the protruding direction of the rib portion. Can do. Therefore, according to the guide tube for nasal endoscope, the contact area with the nasal endoscope can be reduced, and thereby the insertion resistance caused by the sliding frictional force or the like can be suppressed. Thus, if insertion resistance can be suppressed, the operation | work which inserts a transnasal endoscope can be easily implemented now. If the insertion operation can be facilitated, it is possible to suppress the possibility that an unreasonable force acts on the examinee side, and further, the burden on the examinee can be reduced by reducing the time required for insertion.

  As described above, the nasal endoscope guide tube according to the first aspect of the present invention can suppress resistance when the nasal endoscope is inserted, and can effectively reduce the burden of acting on the examinee. It has excellent properties that can be reduced.

A second invention is a tubular guide tube for a nasal endoscope for assisting insertion of a nasal endoscope,
The rib has a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is a plurality of rib portions and two ribs that are thinner than the rib portions and are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. It consists of a thin wall part that connects the parts and can be folded inside,
The cross-sectional shape in a reduced diameter state in which the thin wall portion is folded inward is configured such that the diameter can be increased by developing the thin wall portion folded inward in response to insertion of the transnasal endoscope. It is in the guide tube for transnasal endoscopes characterized by the above-mentioned (Claim 3).

  The nasal endoscope guide tube of the second invention is inserted in advance when the nasal endoscope is inserted from the nostril of the examinee, as in the first invention. It is an auxiliary tool for assisting the insertion operation of the endoscope. In the guide tube for nasal endoscope, the thin wall portion that connects the rib portions adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction can be folded inward. Therefore, the guide tube for nasal endoscope can be easily reduced in diameter by folding the thin wall portion inward.

  The reduced diameter nasal endoscope guide tube can be inserted through the nostril relatively easily. Thereafter, when the nasal endoscope is inserted, the guide tube for the nasal endoscope can be easily expanded in diameter by unfolding the thin wall portion folded inward, and the nasal endoscope It can shift to a state where the mirror can be inserted.

  According to the guide tube for nasal endoscope, since it can be inserted from the nostril in a reduced diameter state, the burden on the examinee can be remarkably reduced as compared with the case where the nasal endoscope is directly inserted. When inserting the nasal endoscope using the nasal endoscope guide tube, the nasal endoscope guide tube is inserted in accordance with the insertion of the nasal endoscope. It only expands by expanding the diameter. Therefore, for example, rubbing against the nasal mucosa can be suppressed, and damage to the nasal mucosa can be avoided with high certainty. The burden on the examinee can be reduced very effectively by suppressing bleeding and pain caused by damage to the nasal mucosa.

  As described above, the guide tube for a nasal endoscope of the second invention can be easily inserted from the nostril in a reduced diameter state, and the above-described thin wall portion folded inward is developed to expand the thin tube portion. It has an excellent characteristic that the diameter can be expanded to such an extent that a nasal endoscope can be inserted.

In the first or second invention, the guide tube for a nasal endoscope is preferably formed with high flexibility so that it can be bent flexibly. In order to bend the transnasal endoscope guide tube flexibly, the thickness of the rib portion and the thin wall portion can be set appropriately with respect to the outer diameter, or can be selected from materials that are harmless to the human body. It is preferable to select a material excellent in flexibility and the like. As a material of the above-mentioned guide tube for nasal endoscope, for example, polypropylene, polyurethane, nylon and the like recognized as a biocompatible plastic material can be used.
The transnasal endoscope includes various types such as a flexible endoscope using an optical fiber and an electronic endoscope using an image sensor such as a CCD or a CMOS.

In the first invention, the cross-sectional shape preferably exhibits a substantially circular outer shape (claim 2).
In this case, by reducing the curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the nasal endoscope guide tube, the contact area between the outer peripheral surface of the nasal endoscope guide tube and the nasal mucous membrane can be reduced. Can be expanded. If this contact area can be expanded, the force that may act on the examinee can be distributed and transmitted from the nasal endoscope guide tube, and the possibility that the examinee may feel pain can be suppressed. become.

In the second aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the rib portion is formed so as to be convex inward in the diameter-expanded state.
In this case, when the nasal endoscope is inserted into the nasal endoscope guide tube, the insertion resistance can be reduced as in the first invention.

Moreover, it is preferable that the said guide tube for nasal endoscopes of a diameter expansion state is exhibiting the substantially circular outer shape of a cross section (Claim 5).
In this case, the curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the transnasal endoscope guide tube can be lowered, and the force acting on the examinee side, such as the nasal mucosa, can be dispersed.

  Furthermore, the arrangement interval of the rib portions in the circumferential direction may be set to less than 150 degrees, more preferably 30 degrees to 60 degrees. In this case, the outer peripheral surface of the transnasal endoscope can be supported by two or more of the plurality of rib portions. Then, the force that may act on the examinee side from the nasal endoscope via the outer peripheral surface of the nasal endoscope guide tube is dispersed in the circumferential range in which the plurality of rib portions are formed. be able to. If the force acting on the examinee side can be dispersed in this way, the pressure per unit area that may act on the nasal mucosa etc. can be effectively suppressed, and the examinee of transnasal endoscopy may feel pain etc. Can be suppressed.

In addition, when the arrangement | positioning space | interval of the said rib part is less than 30 degree | times, the arrangement density of the circumferential direction of the said rib part may become high, and there exists a possibility that the flexibility of the said guide tube for nasal endoscopes may fall. Moreover, since the circumferential length of the thin wall portion is shortened, the diameter reducing effect by folding the thin wall portion inside may not be sufficient.
On the other hand, when the arrangement interval of the rib portions exceeds 60 degrees, the arrangement interval of the rib portions in the circumferential direction becomes wide. Therefore, depending on the outer diameter of the nasal endoscope, the rib portion may come into contact with the rib portion. Otherwise, there is a risk of contact with only the thin wall portion. If it does so, there exists a possibility that the effect that the force which acts on the said guide tube for nasal endoscopes from the said nasal endoscope can be disperse | distributed and it can transmit to a test subject side will become inadequate.

In the first or second invention, the nasal endoscope guide tube is preferably formed by fixing an insertion position holding block including a grip piece configured to be gripped by the examinee with upper and lower teeth. (Claim 6).
In this case, the insertion position of the transnasal endoscope guide tube can be held with high reliability by allowing the examinee to bite the grip piece. For example, the nasal endoscope guide tube according to the operation of the nasal endoscope or the operation of a treatment instrument inserted in the nasal endoscope is displaced in the lateral or depth direction in the nostril. Thus, it is possible to prevent the possibility that an excessive pressing force acts on the nasal septal cartilage, the nasal mucosa and the like. Furthermore, for example, if the insertion position of the nasal endoscope guide tube is maintained, there is a risk that the nasal endoscope guide tube may follow the insertion direction in accordance with the insertion of the nasal endoscope. Can be suppressed.

(Example 1)
This example is an example related to the guide tube 1 for a nasal endoscope for assisting the insertion of the nasal endoscope 3. The contents will be described with reference to FIGS.
The guide tube 1 for nasal endoscope of this example is a tubular thing for assisting insertion of the nasal endoscope 3 as shown in FIGS.
This nasal endoscope guide tube 1 has a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction. And this cross-sectional shape consists of the several wall part 11 and the thin wall part 12 comprised so that folding was possible inside. The thin wall portion 12 is a portion that is thinner than the rib portion 11 and that connects the two rib portions 11 located adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction.
As shown in FIG. 1, the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 in a reduced diameter state in which the thin wall portion 12 is folded inwardly expands the thin wall portion 12 folded inward in accordance with the insertion of the nasal endoscope 3. By doing so, the diameter can be expanded as shown in FIG.
This content will be described in detail below.

  First, the configuration of the transnasal endoscope 3 will be outlined. As shown in FIG. 3, the nasal endoscope 3 includes a flexible hollow tubular insertion portion 31 having an outer diameter D3 = 5 mm, an operation portion 34 connected to the proximal end side of the insertion portion 31, and an operation portion 34. And a connector portion 35 extending from the center. The insertion portion 31 includes a distal end portion 313 that forms a distal end surface in the insertion direction, and a curved portion 312 that is positioned so as to refrain from the distal end portion 313. The distal end portion 313 has an observation window and an illumination window (not shown) on the distal end surface. The bending portion 312 is configured to be bent by remote operation using the operation portion 34.

  The operation unit 34 includes an operation knob 345 for bending the bending portion 312, a water supply operation valve 346 for injecting cleaning water into the observation window, an insertion port 348 for inserting a treatment instrument, and the like. Part. The connector portion 35 is a portion where a connector for connecting a light source device (not shown), a connector for connecting a video device, and the like are arranged. The transnasal endoscope 3 is configured so that it can be inspected with an inspection instrument such as a forceps protruded from the distal end portion 313 via the insertion port 348 and treated with a therapeutic instrument such as a high-frequency snare.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the guide tube 1 for the nasal endoscope of this example is inserted in advance before inserting the nasal endoscope 3 from the nostril 50 of the examinee 5. This is an auxiliary tool for facilitating insertion of the endoscope 3. The transnasal endoscope guide tube 1 is a tubular member made of flexible polypropylene, which is a biocompatible plastic material with little harm to a living body. The transnasal endoscope guide tube 1 made of soft polypropylene is excellent in flexibility and can be bent flexibly.

  In the guide tube 1 for transnasal endoscope, the corner of the tip in the insertion direction is rounded so as not to damage the nasal mucosa 51 and the like when inserted. The transnasal endoscope guide tube 1 is formed by fixing a mouthpiece-shaped insertion position holding block 13 via a substantially rectangular plate portion 15 provided on the rear end side in the insertion direction. The insertion position holding block 13 of this example is made of polypropylene which is a biocompatible plastic material.

  The insertion position holding block 13 includes a grip piece 131 for the examinee 5 to grasp with the upper and lower teeth 55, and a mouse pad portion 132 applied to the lip of the examinee 5. The mouse pad portion 132 has a substantially rectangular recess portion 135 provided on the surface on the side of the examiner, and an insertion port 130 that opens and penetrates the recess portion 135. On the other hand, a substantially rectangular plate portion 15 corresponding to the recessed portion 135 is provided at the rear end portion of the guide tube 1 for nasal endoscope. In this example, the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 is fixed to the insertion position holding block 13 in a state where the plate portion 15 is disposed in the hollow portion 135.

  As described above, the transnasal endoscope guide tube 1 of the present example is one in which the insertion position holding block 13 is fixed in a state where the plate portion 15 at the rear end is disposed in the recessed portion 135. The transnasal endoscope guide tube 1 adopting such a fixing structure is highly safe with almost no risk of falling off from the insertion position holding block 13 in the insertion direction.

  In addition, according to the guide tube 1 for nasal endoscope of this example which provided the plate part 15 in the rear end, it is also possible to perform a nasal endoscopy without using the insertion position holding block 13. . This is because the plate portion 15 larger than the nostril 50 can be engaged with the outlet of the nostril 50, so that the possibility that the transnasal endoscope guide tube 1 falls into the nostril 50 can be avoided. Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a mesh hole in the plate portion 15. In this case, it is possible to breathe the nose of the examinee 5 through this mesh hole, and the examination burden can be reduced.

In addition to the polypropylene of this example, various materials such as polyethylene, polyurethane, nylon, and polyvinyl chloride can be employed as the material for the guide tube 1 for the nasal endoscope.
As the material of the insertion position holding block 13, various materials such as polyethylene, polyurethane, polystyrene, ABS resin, etc. can be adopted in addition to the polypropylene of this example.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the insertion position of the transnasal endoscope guide tube 1 can be held with high reliability if the examinee 5 bites the grip piece 131 of the insertion position holding block 13. . That is, it is possible to prevent the follow-up in the insertion direction of the transnasal endoscope guide tube 1 accompanying the insertion of the transnasal endoscope 3. Further, according to the operation of the nasal endoscope 3 or the operation of a treatment instrument or the like inserted through the nasal endoscope 3, the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 extends in the lateral direction or the depth direction of the nostril 50. The risk of displacement can be suppressed. Therefore, if the examinee 5 bites the grip piece 131, there is a possibility that rubbing or the like may occur between the nasal mucosa 51 and the like according to the displacement in the insertion direction of the transnasal endoscope guide tube 1, The possibility that the guide tube 1 for a nasal endoscope may exert an excessive pressing force on the nasal septal cartilage 501 or the nasal mucosa 51 can be suppressed with high certainty.

  Next, the characteristic cross-sectional shape of the guide tube 1 for nasal endoscope of this example is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 2, the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 in the expanded diameter state is substantially uniform in the longitudinal direction and has a cross-sectional shape having a substantially circular outer shape with an outer diameter D2 of about 7.2 mm. have. This cross-sectional shape exhibits a shape in which rib portions 11 provided at eight circumferentially spaced intervals and thin wall portions 12 that connect rib portions 11 adjacent in the circumferential direction are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the rib portion 11 has a convex shape toward the inside and is thicker in the radial direction than the thin wall portion 12. The inscribed circle diameter d1 of the eight rib portions 11 is 6.2 mm, and the inscribed circle diameter d2 of the thin wall portion 12 is 6.6 mm. The rib portion 11 has a radial thickness of about 0.5 mm, and the thin wall portion 12 has a radial thickness of about 0.3 mm. In addition, the transnasal endoscope suitable for the guide tube 1 for transnasal endoscope of this example has an outer diameter of about 5 to 5.9 mm. In FIG. 2, the cross section of the transnasal endoscope 3 of this example having an outer diameter D3 = 5 mm is illustrated by a dotted circle.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the reduced diameter nasal endoscope guide tube 1 is in a state in which a thin wall portion 12 formed between rib portions 11 adjacent in the circumferential direction is folded inward. The rib part 11 is a part like an umbrella bone, for example, and the thin wall part 12 is a part like an umbrella cloth. The structure of the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 of this example in which the thin wall portion 12 is folded inward is more similar to the opening / closing structure of a Japanese umbrella such as a snake eye umbrella that folds the umbrella fabric inward rather than the western umbrella. The transnasal endoscope guide tube 1 of this example can realize a reduced diameter state with an outer diameter D1 of about 3 mm by folding the thin wall portion 12 inward. In FIG. 1, the outer diameter D3 = 5 mm of the nasal endoscope 3 is illustrated by a dotted circle.

  The transnasal endoscope guide tube 1 of this example is in a reduced diameter state as shown in FIG. 1 in a state before use. And the guide tube 1 for nasal endoscopes of this reduced diameter state can be manufactured with the following manufacturing methods, for example. In the manufacturing method of the reduced diameter nasal endoscope guide tube 1 of this example, first, an intermediate processed product having substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the enlarged nasal endoscope guide tube 1 of FIG. After that, the intermediate processed product is drawn. Hereinafter, the manufacturing method of the guide tube 1 for transnasal endoscopes of this example is outlined.

  First, in producing the intermediate processed product, as shown in FIG. 5, upstream end surfaces 610 having raw material supply holes 611 drilled at eight locations on substantially the same circumference, and an enlarged nasal cavity A molding die 61 having a downstream end surface 615 provided with a gap 612 having a shape substantially coincident with the cross-sectional shape of the endoscope guide tube 1 (see FIG. 1) is used. In this mold 61, each raw material supply hole 611 provided so as to correspond to the arrangement position of the rib portion 11 of the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 in the expanded state communicates with the gap portion 612 on the opposite side. ing. If this mold 61 is used, an intermediate processed product having a cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 2 can be formed by supplying the raw material in a molten state to the raw material supply hole 611.

  Next, the above-described intermediate processed product is drawn. In the drawing process, as shown in FIG. 6, the guide tube 1 for a nasal endoscope in a reduced diameter state is obtained as shown in FIG. 1 by passing a substantially cylindrical drawing mold 62. The through hollow hole 620 of the drawing die 62 is a hole that gradually decreases in diameter from one end side toward the other. The inner peripheral shape 621 of the through-hole 620 at the end on the side where the intermediate workpiece is supplied substantially matches the outer cross-sectional shape of the intermediate workpiece. The inner peripheral shape 622 of the through-hole 620 at the other end substantially matches the circumscribed circle shape of the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 in a reduced diameter state as shown in FIG.

  The inner circumferential shape 625 of the AA cross section located in the middle of the drawing die 62 is a convex guide portion corresponding to the circumferential position of the thin wall portion 12 of the transnasal endoscope guide tube 1. 623. According to the convex guide portion 623, when the diameter of the guide tube 1 for nasal endoscope is reduced, it is possible to give an opportunity to fold the thin wall portion 12 inward. When the intermediate processed product is drawn using the drawing die 62, the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 having a reduced diameter is used as a final product based on the intermediate processed product as shown in FIG. Obtainable.

  In addition, it can replace with this example and the said intermediate processed product can also be made into a final product. In this case, a jig member such as the drawing die 62 may be provided separately. In this case, the practitioner of the nasal endoscopy can reduce the size suitable for use by passing the enlarged nasal endoscope guide tube 1 (see FIG. 2) through the jig member. The diameter state (see FIG. 1) can be set.

  Next, a method for inspecting the nasal endoscope 3 using the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 will be specifically described. In carrying out the transnasal endoscopy, as shown in FIG. 4, the reduced-diameter transnasal endoscope guide tube 1 (see FIG. 1) is inserted from the nostril 50 of the examinee 5 and the rear. The end insertion position holding block 13 is advanced until it reaches near the nostril 50. Then, the insertion position of the transnasal endoscope guide tube 1 is held with high accuracy by causing the examinee 5 to bite the grip piece 131 of the insertion position holding block 13. In this example, the transnasal endoscope guide tube 1 is arranged in a range including a bent path from the nasal cavity entrance to the esophagus entrance.

  Here, according to the guide tube 1 (see FIG. 1) for the nasal endoscope, the outer diameter D1 = about 3 mm, which is very thin, excellent in flexibility, and flexible, the bending shape of the insertion path. It can be inserted relatively easily while conforming to.

  Thereafter, the nasal endoscope 3 is inserted through the insertion port 130 of the insertion direction position fixing block 13. At this time, the transnasal endoscope guide tube 1 expands the diameter by expanding the thin wall portion 12 that is folded inward sequentially in accordance with the advancement of the transnasal endoscope 3. 3 insertions are acceptable. Then, by inserting the nasal endoscope 3 into the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 in this way, the distal end of the distal end portion of the inspection target site is safely passed through the bending path from the nasal cavity entrance to the esophageal entrance. 313 is reached.

  If the nasal endoscope 3 is inserted through the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 as described above, the burden on the examinee 5 is remarkably reduced as compared with the case where the nasal endoscope 3 is directly inserted. Can do. That is, if the guide tube 1 for nasal endoscope is used, the possibility that the hard tip 313 of the nasal endoscope 3 directly contacts the nasal mucosa 51 and the like can be reliably suppressed. Therefore, the risk of damaging the nasal mucosa 51 and the like with the transnasal endoscope 3 can be suppressed.

  Moreover, according to the guide tube 1 for nasal endoscope of this example, when inserting the nasal endoscope 3, the outer peripheral surface is supported through the front end surfaces of the plurality of rib portions 11 so that the nasal endoscope is supported. The contact area with the endoscope 3 can be reduced. Therefore, the insertion resistance at the time of inserting the transnasal endoscope 3 is suppressed, and thereby the insertion operation can be further facilitated. If the insertion operation is facilitated, the insertion operation can be completed efficiently and in a short time without applying an excessive force by the person performing the transnasal endoscopy. Therefore, the burden on the examinee 5 can be further suppressed.

  Furthermore, the nasal endoscope 3 inserted through the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 has two or more rib portions whose outer peripheral surfaces protrude toward the inner peripheral side of the nasal endoscope guide tube 1. 11 can be supported. Therefore, the force acting on the examinee 5 side from the nasal endoscope 3 through the outer peripheral surface of the guide tube 1 for nasal endoscope is within the circumferential range where the two or more rib portions 11 are formed. To be distributed. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the examinee 5 feels pain.

  Furthermore, if the nasal endoscope 3 is inserted using the guide tube 1 for nasal endoscope, the burden on the examinee 5 can be effectively reduced when performing inspections and treatments after the insertion. Can do. That is, the outer periphery of the nasal endoscope 3 is also used when the direction of the distal end portion 313 of the nasal endoscope 3 is remotely operated to photograph a region to be examined or to treat a tumor or the like found in the region to be examined. The force acting from the surface can be distributed and transmitted to the examinee 5 through the transnasal endoscope guide tube 1. Therefore, according to the transnasal endoscope guide tube 1, it is possible to suppress the possibility of pain during examination or treatment.

  As described above, if a nasal endoscopy is performed using the guide tube 1 for nasal endoscope of this example, the examination and treatment can be performed with extremely high safety. The burden can be reduced very effectively.

  Further, if the transnasal endoscope guide tube 1 of this example is used, the risk of damaging the nasal mucosa 51 and the like can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the need for drugs that have been administered by injection or the like in conventional nasal endoscopy, such as vasoconstrictors that suppress bleeding and local anesthetics that relieve pain. And if the necessity of these chemical | medical agents can be reduced, a simpler administration method can be employ | adopted or administration itself may become unnecessary. As a simple drug administration method, for example, there is a method in which a drug is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the guide tube 1 for nasal endoscope and the drug is administered according to contact with the nasal mucosa 51. .

  In this example, the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 in the reduced diameter state is used, but the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 in the expanded diameter state can be inserted from the nostril. As described above, the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 of this example is soft and excellent in flexibility, and can be easily reduced in diameter by folding the thin wall portion 12 inward. It is. Therefore, according to the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 in the expanded state, it can be inserted with less burden on the examinee 5 while flexibly responding to the bending shape and cross-sectional shape of the insertion path. .

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the cross-sectional shape of the guide tube 1 for nasal endoscope may be one in which wide rib portions 11 having a circumferential formation width of about 10 degrees are arranged every 90 degrees. good. In addition, when forming the circumferential formation width | variety wide in this way, it is good to set the arrangement | positioning space | interval of the said rib part 11 to 60 degree | times-120 degree | times.

Furthermore, in this example, as shown in FIG. 2, an intermediate processed product having substantially the same cross-sectional shape as that of the nasal endoscope guide tube 1 in an expanded state is formed. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1, a final product having substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the reduced diameter nasal endoscope guide tube 1 can be directly molded using a molding die.
Further, in this example, the reduced diameter state is formed by folding the thin wall portion 12 inward, but instead, as shown in FIG. 8, the reduced diameter state is obtained by folding the thin wall portion 12 outward. Can also be realized.

Sectional drawing which shows the cross-sectional structure of the guide tube for nasal endoscopes of the diameter reduction state in Example 1. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of the guide tube for nasal endoscopes of the diameter expansion state in Example 1. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a transnasal endoscope in Example 1. FIG. 1 is a human body cross-sectional view showing a nasal cavity structure in Example 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a mold for molding an intermediate processed product in Example 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a drawing die for obtaining a final product in Example 1. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-sectional structure of the guide tube for other nasal endoscopes in Example 1. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of the guide tube for nasal endoscopes of the other diameter reduction state in Example 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Guide tube for nasal endoscope 11 Rib part 12 Thin wall part 13 Insertion position holding block 131 Grasping piece 132 Mouse pad part 3 Nasal endoscope 31 Insertion part 313 Tip part 5 Testee 50 Nostril 51 Nasal mucosa 61 Molding Mold 62 Drawing mold

Claims (6)

A tubular guide tube for nasal endoscope for assisting insertion of nasal endoscope,
It has a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is a plurality of rib portions that are convex inward and are thinner than the rib portions and are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. A guide tube for a nasal endoscope, comprising: a thin wall portion configured to connect the two rib portions.   The guide tube for a nasal endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape has a substantially circular outer shape. A tubular guide tube for nasal endoscope for assisting insertion of nasal endoscope,
The rib has a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction, and the cross-sectional shape is a plurality of rib portions and two ribs that are thinner than the rib portions and are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. It consists of a thin wall part that connects the parts and can be folded inside,
The cross-sectional shape in a reduced diameter state in which the thin wall portion is folded inward is configured such that the diameter can be increased by developing the thin wall portion folded inward in response to insertion of the transnasal endoscope. A guide tube for a nasal endoscope, characterized by   The guide tube for a nasal endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the rib portion is formed so as to be convex inward in a diameter-expanded state.   The guide tube for a nasal endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the guide tube is configured to exhibit a substantially circular outer shape in cross-section in the expanded state.   The guide tube for a nasal endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an insertion position holding block including a grip piece configured to be held by upper and lower teeth is fixed by a test subject. .

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