JP2013006186A - Porous object and processing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a porous object that prevents a pore from being closed and being changed in shape when a notch recess reaching the pore is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the porous object having the pore, and to provide a processing method thereof.SOLUTION: A grinder 8 or the like is used to form the notch recess 3 on the outer peripheral surface 1a of the porous object 1 having the pore 2a, and thereby an opening 4 is formed where part of the pore 2a is exposed. When the notch recess 3 is formed, an entrance inhibition material 7 is introduced to the pore 2a for preventing foreign matters from entering the pore 2a from the opening 4. The entrance inhibition material 7 causes cutting scraps to be inhibited from entering the pore 2a from the opening 4, and clogging of the pore 2a is therefore prevented.

Description

  The present invention relates to a perforated body such as an optical fiber having holes that can be used for supplying a liquid and a processing method thereof.

As a technique for locally administering a chemical solution or the like to a living tissue, a pressure injection method using a porous body such as a glass microtubule or a catheter is known (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).
In the pressure injection method, by applying pressure to a drug solution or the like in a hole of a glass microtubule or a catheter or the like (porous member), the drug solution or the like is pushed out from the tip of the porous member and supplied to the living tissue. The pressure injection method is relatively easy to inject a drug solution or the like into a living tissue, and is used when it is desired to reliably administer a drug to the living tissue.

A communication optical fiber having holes (hereinafter referred to as a holey fiber) has holes with a diameter of about several microns to several tens of microns. Therefore, if liquid is injected into the holes from the base end side, the liquid is injected by pressure injection. It is easy to discharge from the distal end side, and it can be considered to be used as a perforated body that locally injects a minute amount of a chemical solution into a living tissue.
This holey fiber can be roughly classified into two types according to the guiding principle. One is a structure in which a plurality of holes are formed in a clad portion around a quartz glass core, and has a total reflection type waveguide principle. The other is a waveguide-based fiber that confines light using the two-dimensional Bragg reflection of the hole cladding, and is called a photonic band gap fiber. Is satisfied, light can be guided even if the core is a hole (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 2).

Juan M. J. Ramos, “Training Method Dramatically Effects of Acquisition of a Place Response in Rats With New Logic Regions” Of the Hippocampus (Training Method Dramatically Affects of Acquisition of a Place Response in Rats with Neurotropics and the Nr.) , 2002, p. 109-118. Kazumasa Otsuki, Mercenary, Kaichi Namekawa, “Development of high-performance holey fibers”, Engineering Technology Journal Hitachi Cable (2007.1, No. 26, pp. 71-76).

In order to form an opening for supplying liquid to a hole in a holey body such as a holey fiber, a process of forming a notch recess that reaches a hole by cutting, laser processing, etching, or the like is performed. Is called. However, when this notch is formed, the chips are clogged with the chips, the holes are closed or narrowed by the melt of the porous material, or the etching solution enters the holes and the inner surface of the holes is There was a risk that the shape of the hole changed due to erosion.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in forming a notch recess that reaches the hole on the outer peripheral surface of the holed body, the holed body that can prevent the hole from being blocked or changed in shape, and its processing It aims to provide a method.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a notch recess that reaches at least one of the holes is formed in a part of the outer peripheral surface of a perforated body having one or more holes along the major axis direction. To form an opening in which a part of the hole is exposed, and in forming the notch recess, at least a part of the hole in which the opening is formed has a foreign substance from the opening to the hole. Provided is a method for processing a perforated body in which an entry blocking material for preventing entry is introduced.
The entry preventing material is preferably a fluid introduced into the holes.
The fluid is preferably a liquid or a gas.
The entry blocking material may be a filling material filled in at least a portion of the hole where the opening is formed.
A thermoplastic resin can be used as a filler for filling the pores, and when filling the pores, the filler that has been heated and flowable can be introduced into the pores and then cured. .
The notch recess can be formed by one or more of mechanical processing, laser processing, and chemical processing.

  The present invention is a perforated body made by the above processing method, having one or a plurality of holes along the long axis direction, and reaching at least one of the holes in a part of the outer peripheral surface As a result, a perforated body in which an opening in which a part of the hole is exposed is formed is provided.

In the present invention, when forming a notch recess in the outer peripheral surface of the perforated body, an entry preventing material is introduced into the hole, so that foreign matter (cutting waste, optical fiber melt, chemical, etc.) enters the hole from the opening. Can be prevented.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent clogging, narrowing, and shape change of the pores, and to prevent adverse effects on the characteristics of the porous body (optical characteristics as an optical fiber, characteristics as a drug solution administration device, etc.).

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the optical fiber obtained by the processing method of the porous body of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the introduction apparatus which can be used for this invention, and the optical fiber connected to this. It is process drawing which shows 1st Embodiment of the processing method of the porous body of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the introduction apparatus which can be used for this invention, and the optical fiber connected to this. It is process drawing which shows 2nd Embodiment of the processing method of the porous body of this invention. It is process drawing which shows 3rd Embodiment of the processing method of the porous body of this invention.

(Foraminous)
FIG. 1 shows a holey fiber 1 which is an example of a perforated body obtained by the processing method of the present invention.
The holey fiber 1 is an optical fiber having a core 1A and a clad 1B surrounding the core 1A.
In the cladding 1B, four holes 2a to 2d are formed along the axis 1C direction (long axis direction) of the holey fiber 1. The holes 2a to 2d have a diameter of, for example, several microns to about 10 microns.
The holey fiber 1 can be made of, for example, a quartz (silica) glass material or a resin. The holey fiber 1 may have, for example, a cladding diameter of 80 to 125 μm and an outer diameter of 250 to 400 μm as a strand including a resin coating provided on the outer periphery of the cladding 1B.

The holes 2a to 2d are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the holey fiber 1 (for example, at equal intervals in the circumferential direction). The holes 2a to 2d in the illustrated example have a circular cross section, and the distance from the center of the holey fiber 1 is equal to each other for the holes 2a to 2d. The number of holes is not particularly limited, and may be 1 or 2 (for example, 4, 6, 8, 10, etc.).
In the illustrated example, the air holes 2a to 2d are formed in the clad 1B. However, the air holes 2a to 2d are not limited to this, and may be formed in the core 1A. Further, holes may be formed in both the core 1A and the clad 1B.

A cutout recess 3 reaching at least one of the holes 2a to 2d is formed in a part of the outer peripheral surface 1a of the holey fiber 1 by cutting out a part of the holey fiber 1. The cutout recess 3 may have a depth that does not reach the core 1A, or may have a depth that reaches the core 1A. The formation position of the notch recess 3 in the length direction of the holey fiber 1 is a position away from the tip 1b of the holey fiber 1 by a predetermined distance.
In the illustrated example, the notch recess 3 is formed in a part of the length direction of the holey fiber 1 (the central portion in the length direction in FIG. 1), and a bottom surface 3a that is a plane along the axis 1C direction of the holey fiber 1; It has the inner surface 3b formed in the both ends of the major axis direction of the bottom face 3a. The inner side surface 3b is a plane perpendicular to the bottom surface 3a.
In addition, the shape of the notch recessed part 3 is not restricted to this, The inner surface 3b may incline with respect to the bottom face 3a. Moreover, the notch recessed part 3 can also be formed in circular arc shape by side view.

  The cutout recess 3 may have any shape as long as it reaches at least a part of the hole 2 a and the opening 4 in which a part of the hole 2 a is exposed is formed on the inner surface of the cutout recess 3. The notch recess 3 in the illustrated example has a depth reaching the hole 2a, and the opening 4 is formed by exposing the hole 2a to the inner surface 3b. The opening 4 may be a part of the cross section of the hole 2a or the entire cross section. In the illustrated example, the notch recess 3 is formed deeper than the hole 2a, so that the entire cross section of the hole 2a is exposed to the inner side surface 3b, so that the circular opening 4 is formed.

In the following description, the opening 4 formed on the inner surface 3b (3b1) on the distal end 1b side (left side in FIG. 1) of the holey fiber 1 is referred to as an opening 4a, and the proximal end 1c side opposite to the distal end 1b side. The opening 4 formed in the inner side surface 3b (3b2) of the (right side in FIG. 1) may be referred to as an opening 4b.
By the cutout recess 3, the air hole 2a is divided into a front end side air hole 2a1 closer to the front end 1b than the opening 4a and a base end side air hole 2a2 closer to the base end 1c than the opening 4b.

  The holey fiber 1 may be one that utilizes a total reflection type waveguide principle, or one that utilizes a waveguide principle that confines light using two-dimensional Bragg reflection (a photonic band gap fiber (Photonic Band). gap Fiber)).

  In the illustrated example, the holey fiber 1 (optical fiber) is exemplified as the perforated body. However, the perforated body to be processed of the present invention is not limited to this, and one or a plurality of voids formed along the major axis direction. Any long perforated body having holes may be used. The material of the perforated body is not limited, and may be, for example, glass, resin, ceramic or the like. For example, the tubular body (glass tube) which consists of glass can be mentioned.

(Liquid administration method)
The holey fiber 1 can introduce single or plural kinds of liquids (chemical liquids and the like) into the holes 2a to 2d from the opening 4 by pressure injection, and discharge the liquid from the tip 1b side. For this reason, the holey fiber 1 can be used as a glass microtubule or a catheter (medical solution administration device) that locally administers the liquid to a living tissue. In this case, the opening 4 is a liquid supply port, and the holes 2a to 2d are liquid supply paths.
Even in a state where some or all of the holes 2a to 2d are filled with the liquid, the light can be irradiated from the tip 1b of the holey fiber 1 if the conditions for guiding light are satisfied. For this reason, it becomes possible to discharge the liquid (chemical liquid or the like) while irradiating light from the tip 1b of the holey fiber 1. Therefore, the visibility of the holey fiber 1 can be enhanced during the administration of the liquid. Moreover, since light is irradiated to the target (biological tissue etc.) which administers a liquid, it becomes easy to visually recognize the target of liquid administration.

(Perforated material processing method)
Next, a method for processing the holey fiber 1 will be described.
As a method of forming the notch recess 3 in the outer peripheral surface 1a of the holey fiber 1, for example, one or more of mechanical processing, laser processing, and chemical processing can be adopted.
Examples of mechanical processing include cutting with a cutting tool (such as a grinder), grinding with a grinding tool, and polishing with a polishing tool.
For laser processing, a laser processing apparatus having a laser light source such as a YAG laser, a carbon dioxide laser, or a solid-state laser can be used.
As the chemical processing, a method (wet etching) in which an etching solution containing hydrofluoric acid or the like is brought into contact with a part of the outer peripheral surface 1a of the holey fiber 1 can be employed. Also, dry etching is possible.
Hereinafter, the processing method of the holey fiber 1 is demonstrated in detail based on a specific example.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 2 shows an introduction device 5 that can be used for producing the holey fiber 1 and the holey fiber 1 connected thereto. The introducing device 5 includes a pressurizing device (not shown) such as a pump for introducing a fluid or a filler (described later) into the holes 2 a to 2 d of the holey fiber 1.
A proximal end 1 c opposite to the distal end 1 b of the holey fiber 1 is connected to the introduction device 5 via a connection tube 6.

The present embodiment is a method of forming a notch recess by mechanical processing (cutting) by introducing a fluid (liquid) into a hole.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the pressurization device (pump or the like) of the introduction device 5 (see FIG. 2) connected to the base end 1c side of the holey fiber 1 is operated, and the holes 2a to 2d of the holey fiber 1 are operated. Then, the liquid 7 (entrance prevention material) is introduced toward the tip 1b.
Although the liquid 7 is not specifically limited, Nonflammable liquids, such as water and cutting oil, are preferable. An introduction pressure (preferably a pressure exceeding the atmospheric pressure) higher than the atmospheric pressure is applied to the liquid 7 by the introduction device 5. The introduction pressure of the liquid 7 is desirably as high as possible. However, the pressure should be such that the holey fiber 1 itself is not broken or the liquid 7 does not leak from the joint between the holey fiber 1, the connection tube 6, and the introduction device 5. is there.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, a notch recess 3 is formed by cutting a part of the outer peripheral surface 1a of the holey fiber 1 by cutting with a grinder 8 (cutting tool). .
By forming the cutout recess 3, a part of the hole 2a is exposed to the inner side surface 3b, whereby the opening 4 is formed.

Although cutting waste (foreign matter) may be generated along with the cutting process, at least a portion of the hole 2 a where the opening 4 is formed is filled with the liquid 7, so that the cutting waste is opened by the liquid 7. 4, it becomes difficult to enter the base end side hole 2a2. The liquid 7 functions as an entry blocking material that prevents cutting chips from entering the base end side hole 2a2 from the opening 4.
When the introduction pressure of the liquid 7 is sufficiently high, the liquid 7 circulates in the base end side hole 2a2 from the base end side toward the tip end side. Even if it enters into 2a2, the cutting waste is discharged from the base end side hole 2a2 by the liquid 7 flowing out from the opening 4b.

Also in the front end side hole 2a1, the cutting waste is less likely to enter the front end side hole 2a1 from the opening 4a due to the liquid 7 in the front end side hole 2a1.
In the illustrated example, the liquid 7 has spread over the entire internal space of the holes 2a to 2d. However, the liquid 7 only needs to be able to prevent cutting chips from entering the opening 4, and the portion where the opening 4 is formed. It may be introduced only to.
Further, the liquid 7 in the holes 2 a to 2 d also functions to suppress the temperature rise of the holey fiber 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the holey fiber 1 can be connected to the introduction device 5 not only on the proximal end 1 c side but also on the distal end 1 b side. For example, the distal end 1 b and the proximal end 1 c of the looped holey fiber 1 can be connected to the introducing device 5 via the connection tube 6.
As a result, when the cutout recess 3 is formed, the liquid 7 can be introduced into the front end side hole 2a1 at a pressure equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure, and it is possible to reliably prevent cutting waste from entering the hole 2a. it can.
In the illustrated example, the notch recess 3 does not reach the holes 2b to 2d, and therefore no opening is formed for the holes 2b to 2d.

According to the processing method of the present embodiment, the notch recess 3 is formed in the outer peripheral surface 1a with the liquid 7 introduced into the holes 2a to 2d. It becomes difficult to enter 2a1.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cutting waste from clogging in the front end side hole 2a1 and to prevent adverse effects on the characteristics of the holey fiber 1 (optical characteristics, characteristics as a chemical solution administration device, etc.).

(Second Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, a fluid (gas) is introduced into a hole and a notch recess is formed by laser processing.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the pressurization device (pump or the like) of the introduction device 5 (see FIG. 2) connected to the proximal end 1c side of the holey fiber 1 is operated, and the holes 2a to 2d of the holey fiber 1 are operated. The gas 9 (entrance prevention material) is introduced toward the tip 1b.
The gas 9 (gas) is not particularly limited, but nonflammable gases such as air and nitrogen gas are preferable. An introduction pressure (preferably a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure) higher than atmospheric pressure is applied to the gas 9 by the introduction device 5. The introduction pressure of the gas 9 is desirably as high as possible. However, the pressure should be such that the holey fiber 1 itself is not broken or the gas 9 does not leak from the joint between the holey fiber 1, the connection tube 6, and the introduction device 5. is there.

5B and 5C show a process of forming the cutout recess 3 in a part of the outer peripheral surface 1a of the holey fiber 1 by laser processing with the laser beam 10.
By forming the notch recess 3, the hole 2a is exposed to the inner side surface 3b, whereby the opening 4 is formed.
With the laser processing, the inner surface of the notch recess 3 becomes high temperature and the material (glass or the like) of the holey fiber 1 may be melted. However, the melt (foreign matter) is caused to be proximal by the gas 9 in the proximal hole 2a2. It becomes difficult to enter the side holes 2a2. The gas 9 functions as an entry blocking material that prevents the melt from entering the base end side hole 2a2 from the opening 4.

When the introduction pressure of the gas 9 is sufficiently high, the gas 9 flows in the base end side hole 2a2 from the base end side toward the tip end side. Even if it enters into 2a2, the melt is discharged | emitted from the base end side hole 2a2 with the gas 9 which flows out out of the opening part 4b.
Further, the gas 9 in the holes 2 a to 2 d also functions to suppress the temperature rise of the holey fiber 1.

  As shown in FIG. 4, if the tip 1 b side of the holey fiber 1 is also connected to the introducing device 5, when the notch recess 3 is formed, the gas 9 is more than atmospheric pressure from the notch recess 3 into the tip side hole 2 a 1. It can introduce | transduce by a pressure and can prevent reliably that a molten material penetrates into the front end side hole 2a1.

According to the processing method of the present embodiment, the cutout recess 3 is formed in the outer peripheral surface 1a with the gas 9 introduced into the holes 2a to 2d, so that the melt is less likely to enter the hole 2a from the opening 4. . Moreover, the temperature increase of the holey fiber 1 can be suppressed by the gas 9, and melting can be prevented.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the holes 2a from being blocked or narrowed by the melt, and to prevent adverse effects on the characteristics of the holey fiber 1 (optical characteristics, characteristics as a drug solution administration device, etc.).

(Third embodiment)
The present embodiment is a method of filling a hole with a filler and forming a notch recess by chemical processing (etching).
As shown in FIG. 6A, a coating 12 made of a resin or the like is formed on the outer peripheral surface 1a of the holey fiber 1 in a region 14b other than the region 14a where the notch recess 3 is formed.
The pressurization device (pump or the like) of the introduction device 5 (see FIG. 2) connected to the base end 1c side of the holey fiber 1 is operated, and the filler 11 (entrance prevention material) is placed in the holes 2a to 2d of the holey fiber 1. It introduce | transduces toward the front-end | tip 1b.

The filler 11 is a fluid having a property (curability) that is cured by a temperature change or the like, and for example, a thermoplastic resin can be used.
The filler 11 is filled in at least a portion of the hole 2a where the opening 4 is formed. In the illustrated example, the filler 11 is filled in the entire internal space of the air holes 2a to 2d. However, the filler 11 only needs to be able to close the opening 4 and fills only a portion where the opening 4 is formed. May be.
When a thermoplastic resin is used, the filler 11 that has been heated in advance in the introducing device 5 and made flowable is introduced into the holes 2a to 2d and then cured by cooling.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, the holey fiber 1 is immersed in the etching solution 13. The etching solution 13 contains, for example, hydrofluoric acid.
Since the region 14a where the notch recess 3 is formed does not have the coating 12, it comes into contact with the etching solution 13, and the notch recess 3 is formed by etching. On the other hand, the region 14 b where the coating 12 is formed is not eroded by the etching solution 13.
By forming the notch recess 3, the hole 2a is exposed to the inner side surface 3b, whereby the opening 4 is formed.

Since the hole 2a is filled with the filler 11, the etching solution 13 (foreign matter) does not enter the hole 2a from the opening 4 (4a, 4b). For this reason, the inner surface of the hole 2 a is not eroded by the etching solution 13. The filler 11 functions as an entry blocking material that prevents the etching solution 13 from entering the hole 2a from the opening 4.
After removing the holey fiber 1 from the etching solution 13 and washing it, the holey fiber 1 is heated to soften the filler 11 in the holes 2a to 2d, and air is introduced from one or both ends of the holey fiber 1 to fill the filler. 11 is discharged from the holes 2a to 2d.
The filler 11 is not limited to a thermoplastic resin, and other resins (for example, an epoxy resin) may be used. In this case, in order to remove the cured resin from the pores, a resin solubilizer (e-solve 21 series manufactured by Kaneko Chemical Co., Ltd.), a release agent (manufactured by Kusunoki Chemical Co., Ltd.) or the like can be used.

According to the processing method of the present embodiment, the notch recess 3 is formed in the outer peripheral surface 1a in the state where the holes 2a to 2d are filled with the filler 11, so that the etching liquid 13 is emptied from the opening 4 by the filler 11. It becomes difficult to enter the hole 2a.
Therefore, the inner surface of the hole 2a is prevented from being eroded by the etching solution 13 and the shape and size of the hole 2a are prevented from changing, and the characteristics (optical characteristics, characteristics as a chemical solution administration device, etc.) of the holey fiber 1 are adversely affected. Can be prevented.

1 Holey fiber (optical fiber) (porous material)
1a outer peripheral surface 1C long axis 2a-2d of holey fiber hole 3 notch recess 4 opening 7 liquid (entrance prevention material) (fluid)
8 Grinder (cutting tool)
9 Gas (entrance prevention material) (fluid)
10 Laser light 11 Filling material (entrance prevention material)
13 Etching solution (foreign matter)

Claims (7)

An opening in which a part of the hole is exposed by forming a notch recess reaching at least one of the holes in a part of the outer peripheral surface of the perforated body having one or a plurality of holes along the long axis direction Forming part,
In forming the notch recess, an entrance blocking material for preventing entry of foreign matter from the opening into the hole is introduced into at least a portion of the hole where the opening is formed. Body processing method.   The perforated material processing method according to claim 1, wherein the entry blocking material is a fluid introduced into the holes.   The perforated material processing method according to claim 2, wherein the fluid is a liquid or a gas.   2. The perforated material processing method according to claim 1, wherein the entry preventing material is a filler that is filled in at least a portion of the hole where the opening is formed.   The filler filled in the pores is a thermoplastic resin, and when the pores are filled, the filler that is heated and flowable is introduced into the pores and then cured. Item 5. A method for processing a porous body according to Item 4.   The method for processing a perforated body according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the notch recess is formed by one or more of mechanical processing, laser processing, and chemical processing. . A perforated body created by the perforated body processing method according to claim 1,
An opening in which a part of the hole is exposed by forming a notch recess having one or a plurality of holes along the long axis direction and reaching at least one of the holes in a part of the outer peripheral surface A perforated body characterized in that is formed.

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