JP2017158897A - Image diagnostic catheter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image diagnostic catheter capable of preventing a diagnostic image from getting unclear by suppressing inflow of a blood to the inside of a lumen in a pull-back operation.SOLUTION: An image diagnostic catheter 100 includes: a rotatable drive shaft 140 having a signal transmitting/receiving part 145 at a tip end; a housing 146 provided at the tip end of the drive shaft for storing the signal transmitting/receiving part; a sheath 110 having a lumen 110a in which the drive shaft is forward/backward-movably inserted, and a communication hole 116 formed thereon for communicating the inside and the outside of the lumen; and a liquid flow generation part 10 provided in the housing, and rotating in conjunction with rotation of the drive shaft to generate a liquid flow heading for the communication hole side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a diagnostic imaging catheter.

  Conventionally, as a medical device used for acquiring a diagnostic image for diagnosing a diseased site in a living body, an intravascular ultrasonic diagnostic method (IVUS) or an optical coherence tomography diagnostic method ( There is an imaging diagnostic catheter used in an imaging diagnostic apparatus such as OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography).

  The diagnostic imaging catheter includes a drive shaft provided with a transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives a test wave, and a sheath including a lumen into which the drive shaft is inserted so as to be movable back and forth. When using the diagnostic imaging catheter, the drive shaft is moved backward while rotating the drive shaft, so that the drive shaft is moved from the distal end side to the proximal end side, so-called pull back operation (sinking operation), or the drive shaft is pushed into the distal end side. A pushing operation is performed (see Patent Document 1 below).

  When using a diagnostic imaging catheter, the sheath is filled with a priming solution such as physiological saline in order to efficiently transmit and receive a test wave. In order to discharge the filled priming liquid together with the air in the sheath to the outside of the sheath, a communication hole that communicates the inside and the outside of the lumen is provided at the distal end portion of the sheath.

JP2015-119994A

  However, during the pull-back operation, the inside of the sheath becomes negative pressure, and thus blood may flow into the lumen through the communication hole provided in the sheath. As described above, when blood flows into the lumen, the diagnostic wave may be disturbed by the blood and the diagnostic image may become unclear.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and can suppress the blood from flowing into the lumen during the pull-back operation and prevent the diagnostic image from becoming unclear. An object is to provide a diagnostic catheter.

  A diagnostic imaging catheter that achieves the above object includes a rotatable drive shaft provided with a signal transmitting / receiving unit at a distal end thereof, a housing provided at a distal end side of the drive shaft and housing the signal transmitting / receiving unit, and the drive shaft Is provided in the housing with a lumen that is inserted so as to be capable of moving forward and backward, and has a communication hole that communicates the inside and outside of the lumen, and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the drive shaft. And a liquid flow generation unit that generates a liquid flow toward the communication hole.

  According to the diagnostic imaging catheter configured as described above, a liquid flow is generated toward the communication hole side by rotating the liquid flow generation unit in conjunction with the rotation of the drive shaft during the pullback operation. For this reason, it can suppress that blood flows in into the inside of a lumen | rumen via a communicating hole by the liquid flow generate | occur | produced toward the communicating hole side. Therefore, it is possible to provide a diagnostic imaging catheter capable of preventing blood from flowing into the lumen during a pull-back operation and preventing the diagnostic image from becoming blurred.

It is a top view which shows the state by which the external apparatus was connected to the catheter for image diagnosis which concerns on embodiment of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows roughly the whole structure of the catheter for image diagnosis which concerns on embodiment, (A) is a side view of the catheter for image diagnosis before implementing pullback operation (thinning-out operation), (B) is It is a side view of the catheter for image diagnosis at the time of performing pull back operation. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the structure of the front end side and supply part of the catheter for image diagnosis which concerns on embodiment. It is an expanded sectional view showing the composition of the base end side of the diagnostic imaging catheter concerning an embodiment. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the structure of the front end side and supply part of the catheter for image diagnosis after a priming process. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the structure of the front end side and supply part of the diagnostic imaging catheter before implementation of pull back operation. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an image diagnostic catheter is inserted into a blood vessel, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a flash process is performed. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the structure of the front end side and supply part of a diagnostic imaging catheter at the time of implementation of pull back operation. FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the distal end side and the supply unit of a diagnostic imaging catheter according to Modification 1. FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the distal end side of a diagnostic imaging catheter according to Modification 2.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the following description does not limit the meaning of the technical scope and terms described in the claims. In addition, the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation, and may differ from actual ratios.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which an external device 300 is connected to the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 schematically shows the overall configuration of the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the distal end side of the diagnostic imaging catheter and the supply unit 20 according to the embodiment, and FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the proximal end side of the diagnostic imaging catheter according to the embodiment. FIG.

  The diagnostic imaging catheter 100 according to the present embodiment has both functions of an intravascular ultrasonic diagnostic method (IVUS) and an optical coherence tomographic diagnostic method (OCT), and each function can be switched or used simultaneously. Dual type possible. As shown in FIG. 1, the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 is driven by being connected to an external device 300.

  The diagnostic imaging catheter 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 (A), and 2 (B), the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 generally includes a sheath 110 to be inserted into a body cavity of a living body, and an outer side provided on the proximal end side of the sheath 110. A tube 120, an inner shaft 130 that is inserted into the outer tube 120 so as to be able to move forward and backward, a drive shaft 140 that is rotatably provided in the sheath 110 with a signal transmitting / receiving unit 145 that transmits and receives signals at the tip, The unit connector 150 is provided on the proximal end side of the tube 120 and configured to receive the inner shaft 130, and the hub 160 is provided on the proximal end side of the inner shaft 130. As shown in FIG. 3, the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 includes a guide wire insertion member 114 including a guide wire lumen 114a through which a guide wire W can be inserted, a communication hole 116 that communicates the inside and the outside of the lumen 110a, and a signal. The housing 146 that accommodates the transmission / reception unit 145 further includes the liquid flow generation unit 10 provided at the tip facing the communication hole 116 and the supply unit 20 provided on the outer periphery of the sheath 110.

  In the description of the specification, the side inserted into the body cavity of the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 is referred to as the distal end or the distal end side, and the hub 160 side provided in the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 is referred to as the proximal end or proximal end side. The extending direction of the sheath 110 is referred to as an axial direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the drive shaft 140 extends to the inside of the hub 160 through the sheath 110, the outer tube 120 connected to the proximal end of the sheath 110, and the inner shaft 130 inserted into the outer tube 120. Exist.

  The hub 160, the inner shaft 130, the drive shaft 140, the signal transmission / reception unit 145, and the liquid flow generation unit 10 are connected to each other so as to integrally move forward and backward in the axial direction. Therefore, for example, when the hub 160 is pushed toward the distal end side, the inner shaft 130 connected to the hub 160 is pushed into the outer tube 120 and the unit connector 150, and the drive shaft 140, signal transmission / reception is performed. The part 145 and the liquid flow generation part 10 move inside the sheath 110 to the distal end side. For example, when the operation of pulling the hub 160 toward the proximal end is performed, the inner shaft 130 is pulled out from the outer tube 120 and the unit connector 150 as shown by an arrow a1 in FIGS. The shaft 140, the signal transmission / reception unit 145, and the liquid flow generation unit 10 move inside the sheath 110 to the proximal end side as indicated by an arrow a2.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, when the inner shaft 130 is pushed most into the distal end side, the distal end portion of the inner shaft 130 reaches the vicinity of the relay connector 170. At this time, the signal transmission / reception unit 145 and the liquid flow generation unit 10 are located near the distal end of the sheath 110. The relay connector 170 is a connector that connects the sheath 110 and the outer tube 120.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (B), a connector 131 for preventing disconnection is provided at the tip of the inner shaft 130. The connector 131 for preventing disconnection has a function of preventing the inner shaft 130 from coming out of the outer tube 120. When the hub 160 is pulled most proximally, that is, when the inner shaft 130 is most pulled out from the outer tube 120 and the unit connector 150, the connector 131 for preventing disconnection is a predetermined position on the inner wall of the unit connector 150. It is configured to be caught on.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the drive shaft 140 includes a flexible tube 140a, and an electric signal cable 140b and an optical fiber cable 140c connected to the signal transmission / reception unit 145 are disposed therein. The tube body 140a can be configured by, for example, a multi-layer coil having different winding directions around the axis. Examples of the constituent material of the coil include stainless steel and Ni—Ti (nickel / titanium) alloy. The electric signal cable 140b can be configured by, for example, a twisted pair cable or a coaxial cable.

  The signal transmission / reception unit 145 includes an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 145a that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves and an optical transmission / reception unit 145b that transmits / receives light.

  The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 145a has a function of transmitting an ultrasonic wave based on a pulse signal into a body cavity and receiving an ultrasonic wave reflected from the body cavity. The ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 145a is electrically connected to the electrode terminal 166 (see FIG. 4) via the electric signal cable 140b.

  As the vibrator provided in the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 145a, for example, a piezoelectric material such as ceramics or quartz can be used.

  The optical transmission / reception unit 145b continuously transmits the transmitted measurement light into the body cavity and continuously receives the reflected light from the living tissue in the body cavity. The optical transceiver 145b is provided at the tip of the optical fiber cable 140c, and has a ball lens (optical element) having a lens function for condensing light and a reflection function for reflecting light.

  The signal transmission / reception unit 145 is accommodated in the housing 146. The proximal end side of the housing 146 is connected to the drive shaft 140. The housing 146 has a shape in which an opening is provided on a cylindrical surface of a cylindrical metal pipe, and is formed by cutting out from a metal lump, MIM (metal powder injection molding), or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid flow generation unit 10 is provided separately from the housing 146 on the communication hole 116 side (front end side) of the housing 146. A method for fixing the liquid flow generation unit 10 and the housing 146 is not particularly limited, but for example, adhesion by an adhesive. The liquid flow generation unit 10 may be provided integrally with the housing 146.

  The liquid flow generation unit 10 includes a shaft portion 11 extending in the axial direction, and a wing portion (corresponding to a propeller) 12 attached to the outer periphery of the shaft portion 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the wing portion 12 has a streamline shape that gradually decreases toward the tip side. According to the liquid flow generation unit 10 configured as described above, the liquid flow F (see FIG. 8) can be generated toward the distal end side by rotating in conjunction with the rotation of the drive shaft 140.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the sheath 110 includes a lumen 110 a into which the drive shaft 140 is inserted so as to move forward and backward. A guide wire insertion member 114 including a guide wire lumen 114a through which the guide wire W can be inserted is attached to the distal end portion of the sheath 110 in parallel with the lumen 110a provided in the sheath 110. The sheath 110 and the guide wire insertion member 114 can be integrally configured by heat fusion or the like. The guide wire insertion member 114 is provided with a marker 115 having X-ray contrast properties. The marker 115 is composed of a metal coil having high radiopacity such as Pt, Au, Ir.

  A communication hole 116 that communicates the inside and the outside of the lumen 110 a is formed at the distal end portion of the sheath 110. Further, a reinforcing member 117 for firmly joining and supporting the guide wire insertion member 114 is provided at the distal end portion of the sheath 110. The reinforcing member 117 is formed with a communication passage 117 a that communicates the inside of the lumen 110 a arranged on the proximal end side with respect to the reinforcing member 117 and the communication hole 116. Note that the reinforcing member 117 may not be provided at the distal end portion of the sheath 110.

  The communication hole 116 is a priming liquid discharge hole for discharging the priming liquid. When the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 is used, a priming process for filling the sheath 110 with a priming solution is performed in order to reduce the attenuation of ultrasonic waves due to the air in the sheath 110 and efficiently transmit and receive ultrasonic waves. When performing the priming process, the priming liquid can be discharged from the communication hole 116 to the blood vessel, and a gas such as air can be discharged from the inside of the sheath 110 together with the priming liquid.

  The distal end portion of the sheath 110, which is the range in which the signal transmission / reception unit 145 moves in the axial direction of the sheath 110, constitutes a window portion that is formed to have higher permeability of inspection waves such as light and ultrasonic waves than other portions. .

  The sheath 110, the guide wire insertion member 114, and the reinforcing member 117 are formed of a flexible material, and the material is not particularly limited. For example, the styrene-based, polyolefin-based, polyurethane-based, polyester-based, polyamide-based, Various thermoplastic elastomers such as polyimide, polybutadiene, trans polyisoprene, fluororubber, chlorinated polyethylene, etc. are listed, and one or a combination of two or more of these (polymer alloy, polymer blend) , Laminates, etc.) can also be used. A hydrophilic lubricating coating layer that exhibits lubricity when wet can be disposed on the outer surface of the sheath 110.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the supply unit 20 is provided fixed to the sheath 110 on the outer periphery of the sheath 110. The supply unit 20 is provided on the proximal end side of the sheath 110. By providing the supply unit 20 on the proximal end side of the sheath 110 as described above, the supply unit 20 is guided when the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 is inserted into the lumen 500a of the guiding catheter 500 as described later. Interference with the catheter 500 can be suitably prevented. Therefore, it is possible to suitably prevent the occurrence of problems such as the supply unit 20 coming off, the supply unit 20 not expanding, and other medical devices cannot be inserted into the guiding catheter 500 and the procedure cannot be performed.

  Although the fixing method with respect to the sheath 110 of the supply part 20 is not specifically limited, For example, it is adhesion | attachment with an adhesive agent. The supply unit 20 is in communication with the lumen 110 a through a through hole 118 provided in the sheath 110. The through-hole 118 has a diameter that allows the priming liquid to pass through when a predetermined pressure or more is applied (in a priming process or a pull-back operation described later).

  The supply unit 20 includes a space 20 </ b> S inside and is configured to be able to expand and contract (see the arrow in FIG. 3). The supply unit 20 expands in a normal state, and contracts in a state in which the space 20S has a negative pressure. Examples of a material constituting the supply unit 20 include silicone rubbers such as polyethylene; polypropylene; methyl silicone rubber (MQ), vinyl methyl silicone rubber (VMQ), fluorosilicone rubber (FVMQ), and phenylmethyl silicone rubber (PMQ). And resin materials such as elastomer materials such as polyamide elastomer.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the hub 160 determines the position (direction) of the hub 160 when connecting the hub body 161 having a hollow shape, the port 162 communicating with the inside of the hub body 161, and the external device 300. Projections 163a and 163b, a seal member 164a that seals the base end side from the port 162, a connection pipe 164b that holds the drive shaft 140, and a bearing 164c that rotatably supports the connection pipe 164b, It has a connector portion 165 in which an electrode terminal 166 mechanically and electrically connected to the external device 300 is disposed.

  An inner shaft 130 is connected to the tip of the hub body 161. The drive shaft 140 is pulled out from the inner shaft 130 inside the hub body 161. A protective tube 133 is disposed between the inner shaft 130 and the drive shaft 140. The protective tube 133 has a function of preventing the drive shaft 140 from being damaged due to interference between the inner shaft 130 and the drive shaft 140.

  In order to transmit the rotation of the rotor 167 to the drive shaft 140, the connection pipe 164b holds the drive shaft 140 at the tip of the connection pipe 164b that is the end opposite to the rotor 167. An electric signal cable 140b and an optical fiber cable 140c (see FIG. 3) are inserted into the connection pipe 164b. One end of the electric signal cable 140b and the optical fiber cable 140c is driven to the electrode terminal 166, and the other end is driven. It passes through the shaft 140 and is connected to the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 145a and the optical transmission / reception unit 145b. The reception signals in the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 145a and the optical transmission / reception unit 145b are transmitted to the external device 300 via the electrode terminal 166, subjected to predetermined processing, and displayed as an image.

  Referring to FIG. 1 again, the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 is connected to and driven by the external device 300.

  As described above, the external device 300 is connected to the connector portion 165 (see FIG. 4) provided on the proximal end side of the hub 160.

  The external device 300 includes a motor 300a that is a power source for rotating the drive shaft 140 and a motor 300b that is a power source for moving the drive shaft 140 in the axial direction. The rotational motion of the motor 300b is converted into axial motion by a ball screw 300c connected to the motor 300b.

  The operation of the external device 300 is controlled by a control device 320 electrically connected thereto. The control device 320 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory as main components. The control device 320 is electrically connected to the monitor 330.

  Next, an example of using the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1, the external device 300 is connected to the connector portion 165 of the diagnostic imaging catheter 100. Thereafter, the user pulls the hub 160 to the most proximal side (see FIG. 2B), connects the syringe S containing the priming liquid to the port 162, and presses the pusher of the syringe S to remove the priming liquid. The sheath 110 is injected into the lumen 110a.

  When the priming liquid is injected into the lumen 110a, the priming liquid is discharged to the outside of the sheath 110 through the communication passage 117a and the communication hole 116 as shown in FIG. Or the like can be discharged from the inside of the sheath 110 to the outside (priming process).

  Further, when the priming liquid is injected into the lumen 110 a, the priming liquid is supplied to the supply unit 20 provided on the outer periphery of the sheath 110 through the through hole 118 provided in the sheath 110. As a result, the priming liquid is stored in the supply unit 20. At this time, since the communication hole 116 and the communication passage 117a are formed, the interior of the lumen 110a is in a state equal to the air pressure. At this time, the supply part 20 will be in the expanded state, as shown in FIG.

  After the priming process, the user pushes the hub 160 until it abuts against the base end of the unit connector 150 (see FIG. 2A), and as shown in FIG. Move to the side. In this state, the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 is inserted into the lumen 500a of the guiding catheter 500 (see FIG. 7A). The guiding catheter 500 is inserted in advance into the blood vessel 600 along the guide wire W in advance.

  Next, the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 is advanced along the lumen 500 a and protrudes from the distal end opening of the guiding catheter 500. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7A, while the guide wire W is inserted through the guide wire lumen 114a, the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 is further pushed along the guide wire W to be inserted into a target position in the blood vessel 600. . As the guiding catheter 500, a known guiding catheter provided with a port (not shown) to which a syringe (not shown) can be connected at the base end can be used.

  Next, a flush process is performed in which the blood 601 in the blood vessel 600 is washed away with a flush liquid F1 such as a contrast medium. Similarly to the priming process described above, the syringe containing the flush liquid F1 is connected to the port of the guiding catheter 500, and the pusher of the syringe is pushed to inject the flush liquid F1 into the lumen 500a of the guiding catheter 500. The flush fluid F1 passes through the lumen 500a of the guiding catheter 500 and is introduced into the blood vessel 600 through the distal end opening as indicated by an arrow c in FIG. 7B. The introduced flash solution F1 causes blood 601 around the distal end portion of the sheath 110 to be washed away, and the flash solution F1 is filled around the distal end portion of the sheath 110.

  When obtaining a tomographic image at a target position in the blood vessel 600, as shown in FIG. 8, the signal transmission / reception unit 145 and the liquid flow generation unit 10 move to the proximal side while rotating together with the drive shaft 140 (pullback operation). ). At this time, the signal transmission / reception unit 145 transmits / receives the inspection wave.

  The rotation and movement operation of the drive shaft 140 is controlled by the control device 320. The connector portion 165 provided in the hub 160 is rotated while being connected to the external device 300, and the drive shaft 140 is rotated in conjunction with the rotation. The rotation speed of the connector portion 165 and the drive shaft 140 is, for example, 1800 rpm.

  Further, based on a signal sent from the control device 320, the signal transmission / reception unit 145 transmits ultrasonic waves and light into the body. A signal corresponding to the reflected wave and the reflected light received by the signal transmission / reception unit 145 is sent to the control device 320 via the drive shaft 140 and the external device 300. The control device 320 generates a tomographic image of the body cavity based on the signal sent from the signal transmission / reception unit 145 and displays the generated image on the monitor 330.

  By moving the liquid flow generation unit 10 to the proximal end side while rotating in this way, a liquid flow F of a spiral priming liquid is generated toward the distal end side as shown in FIG. On the other hand, since the inside of the sheath 110 becomes negative pressure by moving the drive shaft 140 to the proximal end side, blood inflow pressure P is generated from the outside to the inside of the lumen 110a through the communication hole 116. Since the pressure of the liquid flow F is larger than the inflow pressure P, it is possible to suppress blood from flowing into the lumen 110a. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the diagnostic image from becoming unclear due to the examination wave being disturbed by blood.

  Further, as the drive shaft 140 moves to the proximal end side, the volume of the region R1 between the liquid flow generation unit 10 and the reinforcing member 117 gradually increases. On the other hand, as the liquid flow F is generated toward the distal end side, the supply unit 20 contracts, and the priming liquid in the supply unit 20 passes through the lumen 110a through the through-hole 118 of the sheath 110 to the distal end side. (See arrow V in FIG. 8). As a result, the priming solution can be replenished to the region R1 whose volume gradually increases with pullback. For this reason, in the pullback operation, the region R1 between the liquid flow generation unit 10 and the reinforcing member 117 can be filled with the priming liquid. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress blood from flowing into the lumen 110a. Therefore, it is possible to more suitably prevent the diagnostic wave from becoming unclear due to the blood being disturbed by the test wave.

  As described above, the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 according to the present embodiment includes the rotatable drive shaft 140 provided with the signal transmission / reception unit 145 at the distal end, and the signal transmission / reception unit 145 provided at the distal end side of the drive shaft 140. The housing 146 is provided in the housing 146, and is provided with a housing 110, a sheath 110 provided with a lumen 110a into which the drive shaft 140 is inserted so as to be movable back and forth, and a communication hole 116 that communicates the inside and the outside of the lumen 110a. The liquid flow generation unit 10 generates the liquid flow F toward the communication hole 116 by rotating in conjunction with the rotation of the shaft 140. Note that the drive shaft 140 of the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 according to the present embodiment rotates clockwise from the proximal end side toward the distal end side, and the wing portion 12 of the liquid flow generating unit 10 is matched to the rotation direction of the drive shaft 140. The shape of is decided.

  According to the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 configured as described above, the liquid flow F is directed toward the communication hole 116 by rotating the liquid flow generation unit 10 in conjunction with the rotation of the drive shaft 140 during the pullback operation. Will occur. For this reason, it is possible to prevent blood from flowing into the lumen 110a through the communication hole 116 due to the liquid flow F generated toward the communication hole 116 side. Therefore, it is possible to provide the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 that can suppress blood from flowing into the sheath 110 during the pull-back operation and prevent the diagnostic image from becoming unclear.

  Furthermore, since the liquid flow generation part 10 can be rotated in synchronization with the rotation of the housing 146, the liquid flow F can be generated reliably. Further, since the liquid flow generation unit 10 is disposed at a location near the communication hole 116, the liquid flow F is quickly propagated to the communication hole 116. Therefore, it is possible to more suitably suppress blood from flowing into the sheath 110.

  In addition, the liquid flow generation unit 10 is provided at the tip of the housing 146 that faces the communication hole 116. According to this configuration, since it is possible to suppress an increase in the radial size of the housing 146, the housing 146 interferes with the sheath 110, and the rotation of the signal transmission / reception unit 145 accommodated in the housing 146 is hindered. This can be suitably prevented.

  Further, the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 is provided in the interior with the volume decreasing as the liquid flow F toward the communication hole 116 is generated by the movement of the liquid flow generation unit 10 toward the proximal end while rotating. It further has the supply part 20 which supplies the priming liquid to be directed toward the communication hole 116 side. According to this configuration, as described above, the priming liquid can be replenished to the region R1 between the liquid flow generating unit 10 and the reinforcing member 117 whose volume gradually increases during the pullback operation. For this reason, the region R1 can be filled with the priming liquid during the pullback operation. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress blood from flowing into the lumen 110a, and it is possible to more suitably prevent the diagnostic wave from being disturbed by the blood and the diagnostic image from becoming unclear.

  In addition, the liquid flow generation unit 10 includes a wing unit 12 that generates a liquid flow F as the drive shaft 140 rotates. For this reason, the liquid flow F can be more suitably generated toward the communication hole 116 side.

<Modification 1>
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the distal end side of the diagnostic imaging catheter 200 and the supply unit 20 according to the first modification. In FIG. 9, the housing 246 is partially shown in a front view for easy understanding.

  The diagnostic imaging catheter 200 according to Modification 1 is different from the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 according to the above-described embodiment in the position where the liquid flow generation unit 210 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the diagnostic imaging catheter 200 according to Modification 1 includes a signal transmission / reception unit 145 at the distal end of the drive shaft 140. The signal transmission / reception unit 145 is accommodated in the housing 246.

  The housing 246 is configured to be slightly smaller in the radial direction than the housing 146 according to the embodiment in order to prevent the liquid flow generator 210 provided on the outer periphery of the housing 246 from interfering with the sheath 110. .

  The liquid flow generator 210 is provided on the outer periphery of the housing 246 and has a propeller shape. The liquid flow generator 210 is provided separately from the housing 246. The method for fixing the liquid flow generating part 210 and the housing 246 is not particularly limited, but for example, adhesion by an adhesive. The liquid flow generation unit 210 may be provided integrally with the housing 246.

  According to the diagnostic imaging catheter 200 according to the modified example 1 configured as described above, in the same way as the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 according to the above-described embodiment, the liquid is interlocked with the rotation of the drive shaft 140 during the pullback operation. As the flow generator 210 rotates, a liquid flow F is generated on the communication hole 116 side. For this reason, blood can be prevented from flowing into the lumen 110a. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the diagnostic image from becoming unclear.

<Modification 2>
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the distal end side of the diagnostic imaging catheter 400 according to the second modification.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, the diagnostic imaging catheter 400 according to the second modification is different from the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 according to the above-described embodiment in that a supply unit is not provided.

  Compared to the diagnostic imaging catheter 100 according to the embodiment, the diagnostic imaging catheter 400 according to the second modification configured as described above generates a liquid flow during the pullback operation because the supply unit 20 is not provided. It is relatively difficult to make the region R1 between the portion 10 and the reinforcing member 117 filled with the priming liquid. However, since the liquid flow F toward the communication hole 116 is generated by the liquid flow generator 10, it is possible to suppress blood from flowing into the sheath 110. In addition, even if blood flows into the lumen 110a, the speed at which the drive shaft 140 is pulled toward the base end during pullback operation is faster than the speed at which blood flows into the lumen 110a. It is possible to prevent blood from entering the outer side of 145 in the radial direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the diagnostic image from becoming unclear due to the examination wave being disturbed by blood.

  As described above, the diagnostic imaging catheter according to the present invention has been described through the embodiment and the modification. However, the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the embodiment and the modification, and is based on the description of the scope of claims. Can be changed as appropriate.

  For example, during the pull back operation, as the drive shaft 140 moves to the proximal end side, the priming liquid filled in the sheath 110 or the outer tube 120 by the priming process is supplied from the proximal end side to the distal end side. A route that can be used may be provided. According to this configuration, since the priming liquid is supplied to the region R1 between the liquid flow generation unit 10 and the reinforcing member 117 along with the pullback operation, the region R1 can be filled with the priming liquid. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress blood from flowing into the lumen 110a. Therefore, it is possible to more suitably prevent the diagnostic wave from becoming unclear due to the blood being disturbed by the test wave.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, as an application target of the diagnostic imaging catheter according to the present invention, a dual type in which an intravascular ultrasonic diagnostic method and an optical coherence tomographic diagnostic method are used together is taken as an example. Those using optical sensors other than optical coherence tomography such as spectroscopy, catheters for image diagnosis used alone in intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) alone It is also possible to apply to the diagnostic imaging catheter used.

10, 210 Liquid flow generator,
12 Habe (propeller),
20 supply section,
100, 200, 400 Diagnostic imaging catheter,
110 sheath,
110a lumens,
116 communication hole,
140 drive shaft,
145 signal transmitter / receiver,
146, 246 housing,
F Liquid flow.

Claims (4)

A rotatable drive shaft provided with a signal transmitting and receiving unit at the tip, and
A housing that is provided on a distal end side of the drive shaft and accommodates the signal transmitting and receiving unit;
A sheath having a lumen into which the drive shaft is inserted so as to be movable back and forth, and a communication hole formed to communicate the inside and the outside of the lumen;
An imaging diagnostic catheter, comprising: a liquid flow generation unit that is provided in the housing and generates a liquid flow toward the communication hole side by rotating in conjunction with rotation of the drive shaft.   The diagnostic imaging catheter according to claim 1, wherein the liquid flow generation unit is provided at a distal end of the housing facing the communication hole.   As the liquid flow generating section rotates and moves toward the base end, the liquid flow toward the communication hole is generated, so that the volume is reduced and the fluid provided inside is directed toward the communication hole. The diagnostic imaging catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a supply unit that supplies the image.   4. The diagnostic imaging catheter according to claim 1, wherein the liquid flow generation unit includes a propeller that generates the liquid flow with the rotation of the drive shaft. 5.