JP2017185226A - Artificial tongue or tongue implantation type actuator, artificial tongue and artificial tongue system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an artificial tongue or tongue implantation type actuator, an artificial tongue and an artificial tongue system in which a deglutition function of a tongue part can artificially be realized with a simple structure, even if all or a portion of the tongue part is malfunction.SOLUTION: An artificial tongue or tongue implantation type actuator has: an electric power receiving unit; a long plate-shaped thermoelectric element (Peltier element, etc.) connected so as to input electric power from the electric power receiving unit; a long shape memory alloy disposed in one surface side of the thermoelectric element, having at least both ends and an intermediate part fixed to the thermoelectric element, and shrinking or bending by the heating of the thermoelectric element; and a heat sink fixed at the other surface side of the thermoelectric element and having heat dissipation. An artificial tongue has an elastic body for the artificial tongue in collaboration with the actuator. The artificial tongue system has the artificial tongue or tongue implantation type actuator concerning the present invention, and the electric power transmission unit for transmitting the electric power to the electric power receiving unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator, an artificial tongue, and an artificial tongue system.

Conventionally, as surgery for advanced tongue cancer, partial excision, partial excision, complete excision, etc. of the tongue have been performed as radical surgery. If the entire tongue is removed, the patient's swallowing function is completely lost. Therefore, leave as much of the normal tissue of the tongue as possible without cancer tissue, and for the missing part, excise the abdominal muscles and subcutaneous tissue with free blood vessels, fill it with the missing part, and anastomoses the blood vessels A complex reconstruction operation has been performed.
Conventional surgery for tongue cancer is complicated and invasive to patients. Moreover, since the neural function of the tongue has not recovered, there is a problem that the reconstructed tongue is useless for the swallowing function.

  Techniques relating to tongue cancer surgery and the like are presented in Non-Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 2, for example. After surgery to remove tongue cancer, the fact is that swallowing and peristalsis cannot be reproduced as if they were in a healthy state, and patients are unable to eat well, often resulting in accidental swallowing pneumonia. Many have a death outcome.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an artificial tongue used for assisting swallowing of a patient who has excised the tongue due to tongue cancer or the like, and has a support portion having an outer shape conforming to the shape in the lower jaw dentition in the oral cavity, a movable portion, The movable tongue includes a front tongue member, an intermediate tongue member swingably connected to the front tongue member via an arm, and an artificial tongue having a back tongue member.

JP 2012-135392 A

Akiaki Maeda, Shunichi Sennen, Forefront of Tongue and Oral Cancer Treatment Device to improve swallowing function after surgery (explanation): Satoshi Nakajima (Kurume University School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology) , December 2012, (0030-6622) Vol. 115, No. 12, P.1016-1022 Takeshi Beppu (National Cancer Institute Ariake Hospital Head, Kazuyoshi Kawabata, Hiroki Mitani, Satoshi Sugitani, Hiroyuki Yonekawa, Hirofumi Fukushima, Toru Sasaki, Wataru Shimbashi, Akihiro Sakai, Hirofumi Matsuyama, Hirofumi Shoji, Shiro Tanaka, Kiyoaki Tsukahara , Chisato Oguri, Chihiro Fushimi, Kensuke Aoki, Keisuke Yamazaki, Makoto Kurose, Seichi Yoshimoto, Shingo Kamada, Resection and Reconstruction Seamless collaboration aimed at improving QOLSeamless Collaboration in head and neck cancer reconstruction surgery, head and neck cancer, April 2009, (1349-5747) Volume 35 No.1, P.1-4

  However, the artificial tongue described in Patent Document 1 described above has a problem that it has a mechanically complicated structure. There is also a problem that it is difficult to actively move the artificial tongue.

The artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator of the present invention has at least the following configuration.
An artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator,
A power receiver;
A long plate-like thermoelectric element (such as a Peltier element) connected to be able to input power from the power receiving unit;
A long shape memory alloy that is disposed on one surface side of the thermoelectric element, at least both ends and an intermediate portion are fixed to the thermoelectric element, and contracts or bends by heating of the thermoelectric element;
And a heat sink having heat dissipation fixed to the other surface side of the thermoelectric element.

The artificial tongue of the present invention has at least the following configuration.
The artificial tongue has an elastic body for artificial tongue that cooperates with the actuator according to the present invention.

Moreover, the artificial tongue system of this invention comprises the following structures at least.
The artificial tongue system includes the artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator according to the present invention, and a power transmission unit that transmits power to the power reception unit.

The artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator according to the present invention has a simple configuration and can be artificially attached to the tongue even when all or part of the tongue is malfunctioning, for example, by tongue cancer extraction. A swallowing function and the like can be realized.
Moreover, according to this invention, the artificial tongue which has the said actuator and the elastic body for artificial tongues can be provided.
Moreover, according to this invention, the artificial tongue system provided with the said actuator can be provided.

The conceptual diagram of the artificial tongue system which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) is an actuator non-operation, (b) is a figure which shows an example of each actuator at the time of an actuator operation | movement. The functional block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the artificial tongue system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The conceptual diagram which shows an example of the movable main-body part of the actuator which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) at the time of actuator non-operation, (b) is a figure which shows an example of the actuator at the time of the heating of the shape memory alloy by a Peltier element, (c) is a figure which shows an example of the actuator at the time of cooling of the shape memory alloy by a Peltier device. The perspective view which shows an example of the actuator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The conceptual diagram which shows an example of operation | movement of the artificial tongue which has an actuator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of operation | movement of the artificial tongue which has an actuator which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) is an initial stage, (b) is at the time of the drive of the 1st movable main-body part of an actuator, (c) is 2nd FIG. 4D is a diagram illustrating when the movable main body is driven, FIG. 4D is a diagram illustrating when the third movable main body is driven, and FIG. 5E is a diagram illustrating when each actuator is not driven. The figure which shows an example of the actuator which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) at the time of actuator non-drive, (b) at the time of the heating of the shape memory alloy by a Peltier element, (c) at the time of the cooling of the shape memory alloy by a Peltier element FIG. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the movable main body of the actuator shown in FIG. 7, (a) when the actuator is not operating, (b), (c), and (d) when the shape memory alloy is heated by the Peltier element. The figure which shows an example of operation | movement, (e) is a figure which shows an example at the time of an actuator non-operation. The perspective view which shows an example of the actuator arrange | positioned in a tongue part. The upper surface conceptual diagram which shows an example of the actuator arrange | positioned in a tongue part. The conceptual diagram which shows an example of the operation which implants the actuator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows an example of the movable main-body part of the actuator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The conceptual diagram of the artificial tongue system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a figure which shows an example of a balloon deflated state (relaxed state), (b) is a figure which shows an example of a balloon expanded state. Conceptual diagram of an origami type actuator (power actuator), (a) is a perspective view showing an example when the shape memory alloy is relaxed, (b) is a diagram viewed from the fluid inlet / outlet side of (a), (c) is a shape memory The figure which shows an example at the time of an alloy shrink | contracting, (d) is the figure visually recognized from the liquid entrance / exit side of (c).

An artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a power receiving unit, a long plate-like thermoelectric element (Peltier element) connected so that power from the power receiving unit can be input, A long shape memory alloy (coil shape, long plate shape, etc.) that is arranged on one surface side of the thermoelectric element, at least both ends and intermediate portions are fixed to the thermoelectric element, and contracts or bends by heating of the thermoelectric element And a heat sink having heat dissipation fixed to the other surface side of the thermoelectric element. For example, the artificial tongue has an elastic body for artificial tongue that cooperates with the actuator according to the present invention.
Moreover, the artificial tongue system which concerns on embodiment of this invention has the said electric power transmission part which transmits electric power to the electric power reception part of the said artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator, and an actuator.

  For example, after surgical removal of cancer tissue under the tongue mucosa after tongue cancer surgery, in order to embody swallowing peristaltic movement, inside the tongue mucosa after removal of cancer tissue, By embedding an actuator or the like according to the present invention and actively bending the actuator, a swallowing function can be realized, and oral contents such as a food lump can be fed to the pharyngeal larynx side.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment of the present invention includes the contents shown in the drawings, but is not limited to this. In the following description of each drawing, parts that are common to the parts that have already been described are assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions are partially omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an artificial tongue system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an actuator 10 disposed inside the body and an external device 20 disposed outside the body. Examples of power supply from the external device 20 to the actuator 10 include an electromagnetic induction method, a resonance coupling method, and a microwave transmission / reception method. In this embodiment, an electromagnetic induction method via a coil is adopted as power supply.

  The actuator 10 includes a movable main body 1, a power receiving coil (secondary coil (internal coil)) serving as a power receiving unit 15, and a power receiving unit 15. And an in-vivo control device 16 that controls the timing of power supply to the movable main body 1 and the like. The movable main body 1 of the actuator 10 may be disposed in the artificial tongue elastic body 17 of the artificial tongue 18. The elastic body 17 for artificial tongue is formed in a shape that compensates for the outer shape conforming to the shape in the lower jaw dentition in the oral cavity and the whole or part of the tongue portion excised by surgery or the like. The elastic body 17 is made of, for example, a resin material such as silicon.

  The movable main body 1 of the actuator 10 is formed in an elongated shape. The movable main body 1 is configured to be bendable according to the power from the power receiver 15.

  The movable main body 1 has a shape memory alloy and bends in a predetermined direction when the shape memory alloy contracts or expands according to the power from the power receiving unit 15. Details of the structure of the movable main body 1 will be described later.

  A power receiving coil (internal coil) as the power receiving unit 15 outputs power from the external device 20 to the movable main body 1 under the control of the internal control device 16.

  The in-vivo control device 16 controls the timing of power supply from the power receiver 15 to the movable main body 1 and the like.

  The external device 20 includes a power transmission coil (primary coil (external coil)) as the power transmission unit 21, an external control device as the power transmission control unit 22 that controls the power transmission timing of the power transmission unit 21, and the like. . Specifically, the power transmission control unit 22 outputs power from the power source 23 such as a DC power source or an AC power source to the power transmission unit 21.

  In the present embodiment, power is supplied from the power transmission coil as the power transmission unit 21 to the power reception coil as the power reception unit 15 by the electromagnetic induction method. As the distance between the power transmission coil and the power reception coil increases, the efficiency of power supply decreases. In the present embodiment, it is preferable that power is supplied when the distance between the power transmission coil and the power reception coil is about several mm to several cm.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, when the power transmission coil as the power transmission unit 21 and the power reception coil as the power reception unit 15 are separated by a predetermined distance or more, the movable main body 1 of the actuator is moved to. Is not supplied, and the movable main body 1 is not bent. When the food lump S is eaten, the food lump S is positioned on the tongue T in the oral cavity.

As shown in FIG. 1B, when the user brings the power transmission coil and the power reception coil close to several millimeters to several centimeters, the power transmission coil as the power transmission unit 21 is changed to the power reception unit 15. Power is supplied to the power receiving coil. Electric power is supplied from the power receiving unit 15 to the movable main body 1 of the actuator, and the movable main body 1 is bent, whereby the food lump S moves from the lip L side to the pharyngeal P side, thereby realizing a swallowing function. .
As shown in FIG. 1A, when the user is separated from the power transmission coil and the power reception coil by a predetermined distance or more, power is not supplied to the movable main body 1 of the actuator, and the movable main body 1 Returns to its original unbent state.
That is, the user actively adjusts the distance between the power transmission coil as the power transmission unit 21 and the power reception coil as the power reception unit 15 to actively bend and restore the movable main body 1 of the actuator. It can be performed.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 1B, in-vivo control with the power transmission coil as the power transmission unit 21 and the power reception coil as the power reception unit 15 approaching several mm to several cm. The swallowing function may be realized by controlling the timing of supplying power from the power receiver 15 to the movable main body 1 by cooperation of at least one of the device 16 and the power transmission controller 22 or both.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the actuator has a plurality of movable main body portions 1, and the movable main body portions are arranged in parallel. The actuator may include, for example, about 1 to several tens of movable main bodies 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the actuator has five movable main body portions 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E. The movable main body portions 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E are arranged in parallel from the lip side to the pharynx side. Each of the plurality of movable main body portions may be connected, or may be arranged at a predetermined distance apart.

As shown in FIG. 2, the in-vivo control device 16 of the actuator 10 includes a power conversion circuit 161, a switch unit 162 (drive circuit), a control unit 163, and the like.
The control unit 163 controls the switch unit 162 (driving circuit) with the power output from the power receiving coil serving as the power receiving unit 15 via the power conversion circuit 161, so that the plurality of movable main body units 1A and 1B. The timing for supplying to one or more of 1C, 1D, and 1E is controlled. Moreover, the control part 163 can set the direction of the electric current supplied to each movable main body part via the switch part 162, and controls the heat generation and heat absorption of the thermoelectric element (Peltier element) in the movable main body part 1. The bending state or non-bending state of the movable main body 1 of the actuator can be controlled.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the movable main body 1 of the actuator 10 includes a shape memory alloy 11, a thermoelectric element 12, a heat sink 13, a fixing portion 14, and the like. A thermoelectric element 12 is disposed on the shape memory alloy 11, and a heat sink 13 is disposed on the thermoelectric element 12. The shape memory alloy 11 and the thermoelectric element 12 are fixed at least at both ends and an intermediate portion by fixing portions 14 such as an adhesive.

  The shape memory alloy 11 is formed in a long shape or a coil shape, and is formed so as to contract or bend in the longitudinal direction when the thermoelectric element 12 is heated. In this embodiment, the shape memory alloy 11 is formed in a long plate shape.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the thermoelectric element 12 is connected to the power receiving unit 15 directly or via the in-vivo control device 16 so that the power from the power receiving unit 15 can be input. The thermoelectric element 12 is a long plate-like Peltier element or the like. The Peltier element as the thermoelectric element 12 has, for example, a structure in which a plurality of p-type semiconductors and n-type semiconductors are alternately connected in a π-shape between a pair of plate-like metal electrodes. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, the thermoelectric element 12 absorbs heat on the heat sink 13 side and generates heat on the shape memory alloy 11 side when a direct current flows in the specified direction. As shown in FIG. 4, when a direct current is passed in the reverse direction (the reverse direction to the specified direction), the heat sink 13 side generates heat and the shape memory alloy 11 side absorbs heat.

  The heat sink 13 is fixed to the upper surface side of the thermoelectric element 12 with an adhesive or the like, and has heat dissipation and flexibility. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the heat sink 13 includes a plate-like main body portion 13a and a plurality of protruding portions 13b protruding upward from the main body portion 13a. The plate-like main body portion 13a may be divided into a plurality of pieces. Further, a material having heat dissipation properties may be provided around the heat sink 13. Further, the shape of the heat sink 13 is not limited to the above embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, when a direct current is passed through the thermoelectric element 12 in a specified direction, the thermoelectric element 12 is provided so that the heat sink 13 side absorbs heat and the shape memory alloy 11 side generates heat. The shape memory alloy 11 contracts due to heat from the thermoelectric element 12. Since both end portions and intermediate portions of the shape memory alloy 11 and the thermoelectric element 12 are fixed by the fixing portions 14 such as an adhesive, the movable main body 1 of the actuator is bent in the stacking direction of the shape memory alloy 11 and the thermoelectric element 12. To do.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3C, when a direct current is passed through the thermoelectric element 12 in the reverse direction (reverse to the specified direction), the heat sink 13 side generates heat and the shape memory alloy 11 side absorbs heat. Is provided. The shape memory alloy 11 extends, and the movable main body 1 of the actuator is in an original non-bent state (long plate shape).
As shown in FIG. 3A, when the current applied to the thermoelectric element 12 is set to 0, the shape memory alloy 11 naturally dissipates heat, so that the movable main body 1 of the actuator becomes non-original. It may be in a bent state (long plate shape).

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, the protrusion 13b of the heat sink 13 may be formed in a plurality of ring shapes and have flexibility. In detail, the movable main body 1 of the actuator shown in FIG. 4 includes a protrusion 13b formed in a ring shape, which deforms flexibly when an external force is applied from above, and returns to its original shape when there is no external force. Is configured to return. That is, the heat sink 13 of the movable main body 1 of the actuator shown in FIG. 4 has both flexibility and heat dissipation.

  An example of the operation of the movable main body 1 of the actuator and the elastic body 17 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the movable main body portions 1A, 1B, and 1C are arranged in order from the lip L side to the pharynx P side. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the movable main body portions 1A, 1B, and 1C of the actuators may be connected to each other, or may be arranged apart from each other by a predetermined interval.

  When the actuator is not driven, as shown in FIG. 6A, the movable main body portions 1A, 1B, and 1C of each actuator are in an unbent state, and the elastic body 17 has a predetermined initial shape.

As shown in FIG. 6 (b), when the first movable main body 1A is driven, the movable main body 1A bends, and as shown in FIG. 6 (c), the second movable main body 1B is moved. When driven, the movable main body 1A bends, and as shown in FIG. 6D, when the third movable main body 1C is driven, the movable main body 1C bends, as shown in FIG. As described above, the original initial shape is obtained when each movable main body is not driven.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the movable body 1A, the movable body 1B, and the movable body 1C of the actuator are driven and controlled so as to bend in order from the lip L side to the pharynx P side. The swallowing motion can be realized in a simulated manner so that the 17 bent apex portions tp move from the lip L side to the pharyngeal P side.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the movable main body of the actuator, a plurality of thermoelectric elements 12 (Peltier elements) are juxtaposed to the long shape memory alloy 11 via the fixing portions 14, and each thermoelectric element A heat sink 13 is provided on 12. An elastic body 17 is provided around the movable main body. 7 is a switch that supplies a direct current from a power source to each thermoelectric element 12 (Peltier element) at a predetermined timing and in a predetermined current direction. It is configured to have a function. In FIG. 8, the fixing portion 14 is not shown.

  The shape memory alloy 11 shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 is bent in a predetermined direction when heated by the thermoelectric element 12 (Peltier element), and is not bent when cooled or not driven by the thermoelectric element 12 (Peltier element). It is comprised so that it may become. Specifically, the shape memory alloy 11 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is located on the surface side to which the thermoelectric element 12 is fixed, and has a portion 111 having a small shrinkage ratio in the longitudinal direction when heated by the thermoelectric element 12, and a thermoelectric element. And a portion 112 which is located on the opposite side of the surface to which the element 12 is fixed and has a large shrinkage rate in the longitudinal direction when heated by the thermoelectric element 12. The portion 111 having a small shrinkage rate has substantially the same fixing function as the fixing portion with respect to the portion 112 having a large shrinkage rate. Therefore, when the portion 112 having a large shrinkage rate contracts in the longitudinal direction during heating, the shape memory is obtained. The alloy 11 is configured to bend in a predetermined direction. The portion 111 having a small shrinkage rate is not limited to the shape memory alloy, and may be a metal member having a small shrinkage rate during heating or substantially zero shrinkage rate, such as an adhesive. The fixing portion may be fixed to the portion 112 having a large shrinkage rate during heating.

Next, an example of the operation of the actuator shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7A, no current is supplied to the thermoelectric element 12 (Peltier element) when not driven.
When current is supplied to each thermoelectric element 12 so that the thermoelectric element 12 heats the shape memory alloy 11 as shown in FIG. 7B, the shape memory alloy 11 is heated to a predetermined value by the heat from each thermoelectric element 12. Bend in the direction.
When current is supplied to each thermoelectric element 12 so that the thermoelectric element 12 cools the shape memory alloy 11 as shown in FIG. 7C, the shape memory alloy 11 is in an initial non-bent state.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, in the actuator, a plurality of thermoelectric elements 12 are juxtaposed with the long shape memory alloy 11, and the bending top tp of the elastic body 17 is bent in order from the lip side to the pharynx side. In addition, by controlling the current supplied to each thermoelectric element 12 (Peltier element), it is possible to realize a swallowing operation in a simulated manner so that the bent top tp of the elastic body 17 moves from the lip side to the pharynx side. .

The movable main body 1 of the actuator may be disposed at a predetermined position in the tongue T in the oral cavity. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the long movable main body 1 of three actuators may be embedded in the tongue T from the lip L side to the pharynx P side.
Further, as shown in FIG. 10, depending on the shape of the tongue tip, the distance between the movable main body portions 1 of the adjacent actuators may be arranged so that the lip L side is shorter than the pharyngeal P side. Good. It is preferable to arrange the actuators appropriately according to the shape of the user's oral cavity and the state of the oral cavity after the operation.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the movable main body 1 and the elastic body 17 of the actuator used in the artificial tongue system according to the embodiment of the present invention are formed in an elongated bar shape, and the power from the coil of the power transmission unit 21. May be formed in a rod shape (elongated shape), and the in-vivo control device 16 may be formed in a small size. That is, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the rod-shaped actuator 10, the power receiving unit 15, and the like are easily inserted (implanted) into the human body using the instrument 500 having an elongated cylindrical part such as an endoscope apparatus. Is possible.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 described above, the shape memory alloy of the movable main body of the actuator is formed in a long plate shape, but is not limited to this form. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the shape memory alloy 11B (11) of the movable main body of the actuator may be formed in a coil shape. The shape memory alloy 11B (11) of this embodiment is formed such that when heated, the length in the axial direction contracts and returns to the original length when cooled.

Next, an artificial tongue system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram of an artificial tongue system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating an example of a balloon in a deflated state (relaxed state), and FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating an example of a balloon in an expanded state.
FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram of an origami type actuator (power actuator). Specifically, FIG. 14 (a) is a perspective view showing an example when the shape memory alloy is relaxed, and FIG. 14 (b) is a diagram viewed from the fluid inlet / outlet side of FIG. 14 (a). (c) is a figure which shows an example at the time of shape memory alloy contracting, FIG.14 (d) is the figure visually recognized from the liquid inlet / outlet side of FIG.14 (c).
13A and 13B show an example of the power actuator 301 and the balloon-type movable part 401 actually produced by the inventors. Further, the shape memory alloy is not shown in FIG.

  The artificial tongue system 100 according to the present embodiment includes an actuator disposed inside the body and an external device 20 disposed outside the body. Examples of power supply from the external device 20 to the actuator include an electromagnetic induction method, a resonance coupling method, and a microwave transmission / reception method. In this embodiment, an electromagnetic induction method via a coil is adopted as power supply.

  In this embodiment, as an actuator arranged in the body, a power actuator 301 provided in the vicinity of the lower jaw of the body and a balloon type movable part 401 provided in the vicinity of the tongue in the body and driven by the power actuator 301 are separated. Arranged.

  A power receiving coil (internal coil) as the power receiving unit 15 outputs power from the external device 20 to the power actuator 301 under the control of the internal control device 16.

  The in-vivo control device 16 controls the timing of power supply from the power receiving unit 15 to the power actuator 301 and the like.

  The external device 20 includes a power transmission coil (primary coil (external coil)) as the power transmission unit 21, an external control device as the power transmission control unit 22 that controls the power transmission timing of the power transmission unit 21, and the like. . Specifically, the power transmission control unit 22 outputs power from the power source 23 such as a DC power source or an AC power source to the power transmission unit 21.

  Specifically, the artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a power receiving coil (secondary coil (internal coil)) as the power receiving unit 15 and silicon oil or the like inside. A variable capacity container 302 containing the liquid, a power actuator 301 including a shape memory alloy 303 that changes the capacity of the variable capacity container 302 in accordance with the power supplied from the power receiver 15, and a variable capacity type A balloon-type movable unit 401 that is communicated with the container 302 via the tube member 403 and is movable by inflow or outflow of liquid via the tube member 403;

  The power actuator 301 (origami type actuator) includes a variable capacity container 302 that stores liquid therein and a plurality of shape memory alloys 303. Specifically, the variable capacity container 302 is a container having an arbitrary shape such as a hollow polygonal column shape or a cylindrical shape, and in the example shown in FIGS. The liquid inlet / outlet 302h is formed on one surface of the pair of triangular faces, and the pipe member 403 is connected to the liquid inlet / outlet 302h. As shown in FIG. 14, the variable capacity container 302 is provided with a plurality of shape memory alloys 303 in which each vertex of a pair of triangular surfaces is obliquely connected to the side surfaces. On the side surface of the variable capacity container 302, a fold line portion is provided as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b). The folding line portion is formed to be a twisted position with respect to the shape memory alloy.

An example of the operation of the artificial tongue system 100 of this embodiment will be described.
When power (current) is supplied from the external device 20 to the shape memory alloy 303 via the power receiving unit 15, the shape memory alloy 303 contracts in the longitudinal direction, and the side surface of the variable capacity container 302 is bent. The capacity of the variable capacity container 302 is reduced, and the liquid accommodated therein flows into the balloon type movable part 401 via the tube member 403. The balloon-type movable unit 401 has a balloon 402 (elastic body for artificial tongue) as an elastic body made of a predetermined material such as a resin. The balloon 402 is expanded by the inflow of liquid, pushes up the tongue, and enters the oral cavity. Narrow.

  When the power supply from the external device 20 is stopped, the shape memory alloy 303 is relaxed, the balloon 402 of the balloon-type movable unit 401 is contracted (relaxed), the inside of the oral cavity is widened, and the liquid that has flowed out of the balloon 402 is the tube member. It flows into the variable capacity container 302 through 403. As shown in FIGS. 14 (a) and 13 (a), in the state where the shape memory alloy 303 is relaxed, the capacity of the variable capacity container 302 is expanded (increased) by the inflow of the liquid, Store.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the power actuator 301 provided in the vicinity of the lower jaw of the body and the balloon-type movable part 401 provided near the tongue in the body and driven by the power actuator 301 are separately disposed. Therefore, even when the balloon-type movable unit 401 is relatively small, the balloon-type movable unit 401 can be efficiently driven by the inflow or outflow of liquid. For example, a swallowing function of the tongue can be artificially realized.

  If the power actuator 301 has a structure in which the container expands and contracts by the supplied electric power and the liquid accommodated therein flows into or out of the balloon-type movable unit 401 via the tube member 403, the above-described implementation is performed. It is not limited to the form, and may have any structure.

As described above, the actuator 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is an artificial tongue actuator, a tongue implantable actuator, or the like. The actuator 10 is disposed on the one side of the thermoelectric element 12, the power receiving unit 15, a long plate-like thermoelectric element 12 (Peltier element) connected so that the power from the power receiving unit 15 can be input. A long shape memory alloy 11 (coil shape, long plate shape, etc.) that at least both ends and an intermediate portion are fixed to the thermoelectric element 12 by a fixing portion 14 such as an adhesive and contracts or bends by heating of the thermoelectric element 12. ) And a heat sink 13 having heat dissipation fixed to the other surface side of the thermoelectric element 12. In the present embodiment, the artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator 10 described above is provided in the body.
That is, for example, even when all or a part of the tongue is dysfunctional due to tongue cancer extraction or the like, the swallowing function of the tongue can be artificially realized with a simple configuration.

  Further, the shape memory alloy 11 of the actuator 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is formed in a coil shape or a long plate shape. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the shape memory alloy 11 is formed so that the length in the major axis direction is shorter during heating than during normal or cooling. The shape memory alloy 11 and the thermoelectric element 12 are fixed at both ends and intermediate portions by fixing portions 14 such as an adhesive. When the shape memory alloy 11 is heated by the thermoelectric element 12, the length of the shape memory alloy 11 in the long axis direction is increased. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the heat sink 13 side opposite to the shape memory alloy 11 side of the actuator 10 is bent so as to have a convex shape. That is, the artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator 10 that can be bent easily with a simple configuration can be provided.

  In the actuator 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of thermoelectric elements 12 and shape memory alloys 11 are arranged in parallel (see FIGS. 7 and 8), and the thermoelectric elements 12 arranged in parallel from the power receiving unit 15. The internal control device 16 is provided as a control unit that controls the supply timing of the power to be supplied. The power transmission control unit 22 provided outside the body may control the supply timing of the power supplied to each thermoelectric element of the actuator 10. For example, the control unit controls the timing of supplying power to the thermoelectric elements 12 of the actuators arranged in parallel so as to simulate the operation of the tongue, such as swallowing operation and sound generation operation. Simulated operation can be realized.

  The artificial tongue 18 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an artificial tongue elastic body 17 that cooperates with the actuator 10. More specifically, it is possible to provide the artificial tongue 18 in which the elastic body 17 for artificial tongue can be bent according to the bending operation of the actuator 10 when the actuator is driven.

  An artificial tongue system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator 10 and a power transmission unit 21 that transmits power to a power reception unit. In the present embodiment, a coil is employed as the power transmission unit 21. That is, it is possible to provide an artificial tongue system 100 that can drive the actuator 10 with a simple configuration.

  The artificial tongue system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an external control device as the power transmission control unit 22 that controls the power transmission timing of the power transmission unit 21 such as a coil that is the external device 20. That is, the external control device can operate the artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator 10 provided in the body at a predetermined timing, and the artificial tongue 18 can perform a simulated operation such as a swallowing operation.

  Further, the artificial tongue system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention embodies swallowing peristaltic motion after surgical removal of a cancer tissue under the mucous membrane of the tongue by, for example, tongue cancer surgery. It has an actuator using a shape memory alloy embedded inside (lower part) of the tongue mucosa after removal of cancer tissue, embodies swallowing movement of the tongue, and easily delivers oral contents to the pharyngeal larynx be able to.

  In the artificial tongue system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the actuator 10, the in-vivo control device 16 and the like can be embedded in the jaw part of the body, the lower part of the tongue mucous membrane, and the like. The movement can be reproduced and the oral contents can be easily transported to the larynx.

  Moreover, as described above, the implantable artificial tongue system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the actuator 10 (drive actuator) and the transcutaneous energy transmission unit for transmitting energy to the actuator 10 (drive actuator). (A coil that is the power receiving unit 15, the in-vivo control device 16, and the like) are arranged in the body. That is, a complete implantable artificial tongue drive system can be provided.

  In the artificial tongue system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the actuator is arranged in parallel from the lip side to the pharynx side near the tongue portion in the oral cavity, and the control unit sequentially stores the shape memory from the lip side to the pharynx side. Since the alloy is controlled to bend, the peristaltic motion for transporting food in the oral cavity and the swallowing motion can be reproduced.

  In the artificial tongue system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the movable part of the actuator 10 which is the movable part in the tongue of the artificial tongue 18 is formed in a bar shape (elongated shape), and the power receiving unit 15 such as a secondary coil. Is formed in a rod shape (elongated shape). That is, it is possible to easily insert (implant) the rod-shaped actuator 10 or the power receiving unit 15 into the human body using an endoscope apparatus or the like. Further, the small in-vivo control device 16 can be easily inserted (implanted) into the human body using an endoscope device or the like.

  Also, after surgery for tongue cancer, patients who have had their cancer tissue removed and lost their swallowing function can reproduce tongue movement with an implantable artificial tongue system, swallow food and drink, and eat. It is possible to provide an artificial tongue system that gives patients happiness to take in, prevents accidental ingestion, prevents the occurrence of aspiration pneumonia, and dramatically increases the prognosis of the patient.

  Further, even when a malfunction such as the tongue not moving occurs due to nerve blockage to the tongue, etc., the user can actively enter the actuator by embedding the actuator according to the present invention below the tongue. By driving the actuator, the tongue can be moved and the swallowing function can be realized.

  Further, even when the entire tongue portion is deleted by surgery, an artificial tongue having an artificial tongue elastic body is arranged in the oral cavity, and the actuator 10 is provided in the artificial tongue elastic body. The artificial tongue can be moved by actively driving the actuator, and a swallowing function can be realized.

  Moreover, even when a part of the tongue is excised by surgery, the actuator 10 is embedded in the remaining part of the tongue, and an artificial tongue provided with an elastic body for artificial tongue is provided in the part of the tongue that is excised. By providing the actuator 10 in the artificial tongue elastic body, the user can actively drive the actuator to move the remaining portion of the tongue and the artificial tongue, thereby realizing a swallowing function.

  In addition, in the artificial tongue system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the device that reproduces the swallowing function of the fully-implanted tongue is embodied, so that the patient can enjoy a meal, do not swallow, throat, It is possible to prevent aspiration pneumonia, improve life prognosis, rehabilitate and work, and have great effects on the Japanese national economy.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and there are design changes and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. Is included in the present invention.
Further, the embodiments described in the above drawings can be combined with each other as long as there is no particular contradiction or problem in the purpose and configuration.
Moreover, the description content of each figure can become independent embodiment, respectively, and embodiment of this invention is not limited to one embodiment which combined each figure.

  In addition, a hydraulic, hydraulic, or pneumatic drive type balloon is embedded in the lower part of the tongue mucosa, and the working medium is operated at a predetermined timing by the bending operation of the actuator from a tank that stores the working medium such as oil, water, and air. The function of the tongue may be artificially realized by inputting and outputting.

  The actuator, artificial tongue, and artificial tongue system according to the present invention are not limited to the above embodiment, and are not limited to reproduction of swallowing movement after tongue cancer surgery, but are used for the epiglottis, esophagus, stomach tube, and intestinal tract. May be. The actuator may be an implantable type that is involved in swallowing, peristaltic movement, sphincter mechanism, and the like. It is not particularly limited to the tongue.

  The implantable artificial tongue system according to the present invention can also be widely used as an implantable artificial digestive tract system.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Movable main-body part 10 ... Actuator (artificial tongue actuator, tongue part implantation type actuator)
11 ... Shape memory alloy 12 ... Thermoelectric element (Peltier element)
13 ... Heat sink 14 ... Adhering part 15 ... Electric power receiving part (secondary coil (internal coil))
16 ... Internal control device 17 ... Elastic body (elastic body for artificial tongue)
18 ... Artificial tongue 20 ... External device 21 ... Power transmitter (primary coil (external coil))
22 ... Power transmission control unit (external control device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 23 ... Power supply 100 ... Artificial tongue system 301 ... Power actuator 302 ... Variable capacity type container 401 ... Balloon type movable part 402 ... Balloon (elastic body for artificial tongue)
403 ... Tube member L ... Lip P ... Pharynx T ... Tongue

Claims (7)

An artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator,
A power receiver;
A long plate-like thermoelectric element connected to be able to input power from the power receiving unit;
A long shape memory alloy that is disposed on one surface side of the thermoelectric element, at least both ends and an intermediate portion are fixed to the thermoelectric element, and contracts or bends by heating of the thermoelectric element;
An artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator, comprising: a heat sink having heat dissipation fixed to the other surface of the thermoelectric element.   2. The artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy has a coil shape or a long plate shape. A plurality of the thermoelectric elements and the shape memory alloy are juxtaposed,
It has a control part which controls the supply timing of the electric power supplied to the said thermoelectric element arranged in parallel from the said electric power receiving part, The artificial tongue use or tongue part implantable type of Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Actuator. A power receiver;
A power actuator comprising: a variable capacity container that contains liquid therein; and a shape memory alloy that changes the capacity of the variable capacity container in accordance with the power supplied from the power receiver;
A balloon-type movable portion that communicates with the variable-capacity container via a tube member and is movable by the inflow or outflow of the liquid via the tube member; Type actuator.   An artificial tongue having an elastic body for an artificial tongue that cooperates with the actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The artificial tongue or tongue implantable actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An artificial tongue system, comprising: a power transmission unit configured to transmit power to the power reception unit.   The artificial tongue system according to claim 6, further comprising a power transmission control unit that controls power transmission timing of the power transmission unit.

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