JP2020162980A - Transfer device for living body, component for the same, transfer unit and transfer kit for living body - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a transfer device for living body, a component for the same, transfer unit and transfer kit for living body, capable of smoothly transferring an object into a living body.SOLUTION: A transfer device for living body includes a cylindrical needle part 10 extending along one direction, and an outer cylinder part 20 that is a cylindrical part positioned outside of the needle part 10. The needle part 10 takes an object in through an opening 11 positioned at a tip of the needle part 10. The outer cylinder part 20 is configured such that it can be moved along the extending direction of the needle part 10 from a state where a tip of the outer cylinder part 20 protrudes from the tip of the needle part 10. In the extending direction of the needle part 10, a length Lt of an opening 21 positioned at the tip of the outer cylinder part 20 is shorter than a length Ln of the opening 11 positioned at the tip of the needle part 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a biological transfer device, a member for a biological transfer device, a biological transfer unit, and a biological transfer kit used for transferring an object into a living body.

A technique for transplanting a transplant obtained by culturing cells collected from a living body into the skin or subcutaneously of the living body has been developed. For example, attempts have been made to regenerate hair by purifying a group of cells that contribute to the formation of hair follicles, which are organs that produce hair, and transplanting this group of cells into the skin.

Hair follicles are formed by the interaction of epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells. For good hair regeneration, it is desirable that the transplanted cell population yield hair follicles with normal tissue structure and the ability to form periodic hair. Therefore, various studies and developments have been carried out on a method for producing a cell group capable of forming such hair follicles (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

International Publication No. 2017/073625 International Publication No. 2012/108069 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-29331

By the way, in order to smoothly transplant a transplant, it is desirable that the transplant contained in a container such as a culture container can be smoothly moved into a living body. For example, in a transplantation method in which the skin is incised with a scalpel, the cell groups in the culture vessel are picked one by one with tweezers, etc. and transferred into the skin, the instruments used and the movement of the cell groups are frequently repeated. It is hard to say that the transplantation will proceed smoothly.
It should be noted that these problems are common not only in cells but also in the case of transferring solid substances such as drugs and arranging them in a living body.

An object of the present invention is to provide a biological transfer device, a member for a biological transfer device, a biological transfer unit, and a biological transfer kit that enable smooth transfer of an object into a living body.

The biological transfer device that solves the above problems is a biological transfer device for arranging an object in the living body, and is a tubular needle-shaped portion extending along one direction. The needle-shaped portion that takes in the object from the opening located at the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion and the tubular portion located outside or inside the needle-shaped portion, and the cylinder is more than the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion. The tubular portion is provided with a tubular portion configured to be movable along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion from a state in which the tip portion of the shaped portion is projected, and the tubular portion is provided in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion. The length of the opening located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion is smaller than the length of the opening located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion.

The member for a biological transfer device that solves the above-mentioned problems is provided with a tubular needle-shaped portion that extends along one direction, and an object is taken in from an opening located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion and is raw. A member attached to a device for arranging the object in the body, the member having a tubular portion fitted to the outside of the needle-shaped portion and slidable along the outer peripheral surface of the needle-shaped portion. In the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion, the length of the opening located at the tip of the tubular portion is smaller than the length of the opening located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion.

The biological transfer unit that solves the above problems includes a tray having one or more planned placement areas that are areas where the object is to be placed, and a biological transfer device for transferring the object from the tray into the living body. A biological transfer unit comprising the above, wherein the biological transfer device is a tubular needle-shaped portion extending along one direction, and is described from an opening located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion. The needle-shaped portion that takes in the object located in the planned placement area and the tubular portion that is located outside or inside the needle-shaped portion, and the tubular portion rather than the tip end portion of the needle-shaped portion. The tubular portion is provided so as to be movable along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion from the state in which the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion is projected, and one needle-shaped portion is provided with respect to one planned arrangement area. Is assigned, and in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion, the length of the opening located at the tip of the tubular portion is smaller than the length of the opening located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion.

A biological transfer kit that solves the above problems includes a tray having a plurality of planned placement areas, which is an area where an object is to be placed, and a tubular needle-shaped portion extending along one direction. A biological transfer kit including a member attached to a device that takes in the object located in the planned placement area from an opening located at the tip of the shaped portion and transfers the object from the tray into the living body. The member is provided with a plurality of tubular portions that are fitted to the outside of the needle-shaped portion and is slidable along the outer peripheral surface of the needle-shaped portion, and the direction in which the needle-shaped portion extends. The length of the opening located at the tip of the tubular portion is smaller than the length of the opening located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion, and one tubular portion is used for one planned arrangement area. Is assigned.

According to each of the above configurations, the biological transfer device takes in the object from the opening of the tip of the needle-shaped portion into the inside of the needle-shaped portion, pierces the needle-shaped portion into the living body, and then inserts the object into the needle-shaped portion. It is emitted from the above opening. By using such a device, it is possible to continuously take out the object from the tray and place it in the living body by one device, so that the object can be smoothly transferred.

Then, by setting the tip of the tubular portion to protrude from the tip of the needle-shaped portion, the tubular portion into which the object is taken in is targeted as compared with the form in which the tubular portion is not provided. You can take in an object by bringing it closer to the object. Therefore, the object can easily enter the tubular portion, and as a result, the object can be smoothly taken into the needle-shaped portion. Therefore, smoother transfer of the object is possible.

In the above configuration, the end surface provided by the tip end portion of the tubular portion may be a plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion.
According to the above configuration, when the object is taken in, the tubular portion into which the object is taken can be brought closer to the object. Therefore, the object can easily enter the tubular portion.

In the above configuration, the end surface provided by the tip end portion of the tubular portion may have irregularities on a plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion.
According to the above configuration, when the object is taken in, even if the tip of the tubular portion is brought into contact with the tray holding the object, a gap is formed between the recess on the end face and the tray. , It is possible to continue suction for uptake of the object. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly take in the object.

In the above configuration, the end surface provided by the tip end portion of the needle-shaped portion includes an inclined portion inclined inward in the radial direction so as to approach the base end portion of the needle-shaped portion, and the inclined portion includes an inclined portion. The base end portion of the end face in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion may be included.
According to the above configuration, when the object is taken in, the object is prevented from being caught on the end face of the needle-shaped portion.

In the above configuration, at least one of the inner peripheral surface of the needle-shaped portion and the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion may be made of a material that suppresses adhesion of the object.
According to the above configuration, the object that has entered the inside of the tubular portion easily flows into the inside of the needle-shaped portion.

In the above configuration, the tubular portion may be located outside the needle-shaped portion and may be slidable along the outer peripheral surface of the needle-shaped portion.

According to the above configuration, as compared with arranging the tubular portion inside the needle-shaped portion, assembling and moving the tubular portion with respect to the needle-shaped portion becomes simple. In particular, since the tubular portion for exposing the tip of the needle-shaped portion can be easily moved, the object is promptly placed in the living body after the object is taken into the needle-shaped portion. be able to.

According to the present invention, the object can be smoothly transferred into the living body.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the cell transplantation apparatus which is an example of the biological transfer apparatus about one Embodiment of a biological transfer apparatus. The figure which shows the cross-sectional structure of the needle-shaped part and the outer cylinder part provided with the cell transplantation apparatus of one Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the cross-sectional structure of the cell transplantation apparatus of one Embodiment. The figure which shows the cross-sectional structure of the cell transplantation apparatus of one Embodiment in the form which includes a plurality of needle-like portions. The figure which shows the arrangement of the cell transplantation apparatus and the tray which holds an implant in the transplantation method using the cell transplantation apparatus of one Embodiment. The figure which shows the other example of the arrangement of the cell transplantation apparatus and the tray which holds an implant in the transplantation method using the cell transplantation apparatus of one Embodiment. The figure which shows the other example of the arrangement of the cell transplantation apparatus and the tray which holds an implant in the transplantation method using the cell transplantation apparatus of one Embodiment. The figure which shows the containment process of the transplant in the transplant method using the cell transplant apparatus of one Embodiment. The figure which shows the containment process of the transplant in the transplant method using the cell transplant apparatus of one Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the movement of the outer cylinder part in the transplantation method using the cell transplantation apparatus of one Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the movement of the outer cylinder part in the transplantation method using the cell transplantation apparatus of one Embodiment. The figure which shows the arrangement process of the transplantation in the transplantation method using the cell transplantation apparatus of one Embodiment. The figure which shows the arrangement process of the transplantation in the transplantation method using the cell transplantation apparatus of one Embodiment. The figure which shows the arrangement of the apparatus and a tray at the time of using the cell transplantation apparatus provided with a plurality of needle-like portions in the transplantation method using the cell transplantation apparatus of one Embodiment. The figure which shows the cross-sectional structure of the needle-shaped part and the outer cylinder part provided with the cell transplantation apparatus of a modified example. The figure which shows the lateral structure of the needle-like part provided in the cell transplantation apparatus of a modified example. The figure which shows the cross-sectional structure of the needle-shaped part and the outer cylinder part provided with the cell transplantation apparatus of a modified example. The figure which shows the cross-sectional structure of the needle-shaped part and the outer cylinder part provided with the cell transplantation apparatus of a modified example. The figure which shows the cross-sectional structure of the needle-shaped part and the outer cylinder part provided with the cell transplantation apparatus of a modified example together with a tray.

An embodiment of a biological transfer device, a biological transfer device member, a biological transfer unit, and a biological transfer kit will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14. The biological transfer device of the present embodiment is embodied in a cell transplant device used for cell transplantation.

[Transplant]
The cell transplantation apparatus of this embodiment is used for transplanting a cell group into a living body as a transplant. The target area for transplantation is at least one of the intradermal and subcutaneous areas, or a tissue such as an organ. First, the cell group to be transplanted will be described.

The cell group to be transplanted includes a plurality of cells. The cell group may be an aggregate of a plurality of aggregated cells, or may be an aggregate of a plurality of cells bound by cell-cell binding. Alternatively, the cell group may be composed of a plurality of dispersed cells. Further, the cells constituting the cell group may be undifferentiated cells or cells that have been completely differentiated, and the cell group includes undifferentiated cells and differentiated cells. May be good. The cell group is, for example, a cell mass (spheroid), a primordium, a tissue, an organ, an organoid, a mini-organ, or the like.

A group of cells has the ability to act on tissue formation in a living body by being placed in a target area. An example of such a cell group is a cell aggregate containing cells having stem cell properties. The cell group to be transplanted contributes to hair growth or hair growth by being arranged, for example, intradermally or subcutaneously. These cell groups have the ability to function as hair follicle organs, differentiate into hair follicle organs, induce or promote the formation of hair follicle organs, or induce or promote the formation of hair in hair follicles. .. In addition, the cell group may include cells that contribute to the control of coat color, such as pigment cells or stem cells that differentiate into pigment cells. In addition, the cell group may include vascular cells.

Specifically, an example of the cell group to be transplanted in the present embodiment is a hair follicle primordium, which is a primitive hair follicle organ. The hair follicle primordium contains mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells. In the hair follicle organ, mesenchymal cells, dermal papilla cells, induce the differentiation of hair follicle epithelial stem cells, and the hair follicle cells repeat division in the hair follicle formed thereby to form hair. To. The hair follicle primordium is a group of cells that differentiate into these hair follicle organs.

The hair follicle primordium is, for example, a mixture of mesenchymal cells derived from mesenchymal tissue such as the hair papilla and epithelial cells derived from epithelial tissue located in the bulge region or the base of the hair bulb under predetermined conditions. It is formed by culturing. However, the method for producing a hair follicle primordium is not limited to the above example. Further, the origin of the mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells used for producing the hair follicle primordia is not limited, and these cells may be cells derived from the hair follicle organ, and the hair follicle organ is It may be a cell derived from a different organ or a cell derived from a pluripotent stem cell.
In addition, the transplanted product may include a member that assists the transplantation of the cell group together with the cell group.

[Cell transplant device]
As shown in FIG. 1, the cell transplantation device 100 includes a needle-shaped portion 10 extending along one direction, an outer cylinder portion 20 located outside the needle-shaped portion 10, and a support portion that supports the needle-shaped portion 10. It has 30 and. The outer cylinder portion 20 is an example of a tubular portion. Further, the cell transplantation device 100 includes a suction unit 40 that sucks the inside of the needle-shaped portion 10. The support portion 30 may also serve as the suction portion 40.

First, a detailed configuration of the needle-shaped portion 10 and the outer cylinder portion 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the needle-shaped portion 10 has a tubular shape and has an opening 11 at the tip portion thereof. The tip of the needle-shaped portion 10 has a shape in which the cylinder is cut diagonally with respect to the extending direction thereof, and is sharp. The outer shape of the needle-shaped portion 10 is not particularly limited, but for example, the needle-shaped portion 10 extends in a cylindrical shape, and the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 10 has a shape obtained by cutting the cylinder diagonally with respect to the extending direction. The end surface 12 of the tip end portion of the needle-shaped portion 10, that is, the end surface 12 for partitioning the opening 11, is inclined with respect to the extending direction which is the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion 10.

The outer cylinder portion 20 has a tubular shape fitted to the outside of the needle-shaped portion 10. The outer cylinder portion 20 extends in the same direction as the needle-shaped portion 10, that is, in the extending direction. The tip of the needle-shaped portion 10 is passed through the inside of the outer cylinder portion 20, and the outer peripheral surface of the needle-shaped portion 10 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 20. As long as the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 20 has a shape along the outer peripheral surface of the needle-shaped portion 10, the outer shape of the needle-shaped portion 10 is not particularly limited. For example, when the needle-shaped portion 10 extends in a cylindrical shape, if the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 20 is cylindrical, the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 20 may be cylindrical or square tubular. You may.

The end surface 22 of the tip portion of the outer cylinder portion 20, that is, the end surface 22 for partitioning the opening 21 of the outer cylinder portion 20 at the tip portion is a plane orthogonal to the stretching direction. In such a configuration, the length Lt of the opening 21 of the outer cylinder portion 20 in the stretching direction is 0, and the length Lt is smaller than the length Ln of the opening 11 of the needle-shaped portion 10 in the stretching direction.

The outer cylinder portion 20 is configured to be slidable along the needle-shaped portion 10. Specifically, when the outer cylinder portion 20 is moved along the needle-shaped portion 10, the state in which the opening 11 of the needle-shaped portion 10 is located inside the outer cylinder portion 20 is changed to a needle outside the outer cylinder portion 20. It is possible to switch to a state in which the opening 11 of the shape portion 10 is exposed. In other words, the outer cylinder portion 20 is configured to be movable along the needle-shaped portion 10 from a state in which the tip portion of the outer cylinder portion 20 protrudes from the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 10.
The length of the outer cylinder portion 20 in the stretching direction may be a length that allows the opening 11 of the needle-shaped portion 10 to be accommodated inside the outer cylinder portion 20.

The materials of the needle-shaped portion 10 and the outer cylinder portion 20 are not particularly limited. Each of the needle-shaped portion 10 and the outer cylinder portion 20 is made of, for example, metal or resin. Examples of the resin material constituting the outer cylinder portion 20 include fluororesin and silicone. When the outer cylinder portion 20 is transparent, it is easy to confirm that the implant is taken into the outer cylinder portion 20.

The outer cylinder portion 20 is elastically deformable and may be attached to the needle-shaped portion 10 by utilizing elasticity. Alternatively, the outer cylinder portion 20 may be attached to the needle-shaped portion 10 by using a member for fixing the outer cylinder portion 20 to the needle-shaped portion 10. Further, the needle-shaped portion 10 or the outer cylinder portion 20 may have a structure such as a groove or a protrusion for locking the outer cylinder portion 20 at a predetermined position with respect to the needle-shaped portion 10.

It is preferable that at least one of the inner peripheral surface of the needle-shaped portion 10 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 20 is made of a material that suppresses adhesion of the implant. For example, the material constituting the tubular structure of the needle-shaped portion 10 and the outer tubular portion 20 may have a property of suppressing the adhesion of the implant, or by applying a coating to the inner peripheral surface of the tubular structure. A surface layer may be formed, and the surface layer may have a property of suppressing adhesion of the implant. Examples of the material for forming the surface layer include silicone and polyethylene glycol.

The internal space of the needle-shaped portion 10 may have a size suitable for accommodating the implant. For example, when the implant is a group of cells that contributes to hair growth or hair growth and is an aggregate of cells such as a cell mass and a primordium, the internal space of the needle-shaped portion 10 accommodates one implant. It is preferable to have a size suitable for this. Specifically, the inner diameter of the needle-shaped portion 10 is preferably larger than the expected diameter of the implant. For example, the diameter of the sphere when the cell group, which is an aggregate of the above cells, is approximated to a sphere, that is, the diameter of the smallest sphere circumscribing the cell group is about 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm. As the needle-shaped portion 10, for example, a 25 G injection needle can be used. In this case, the inner diameter of the needle-shaped portion 10 is 0.4 mm, the outer diameter of the needle-shaped portion 10 is 0.5 mm, and the length from the tip end to the base end of the end face 12 of the needle-shaped portion 10 in the stretching direction is It is 2.8 mm.

The outer diameter of the needle-shaped portion 10 is preferably small as long as the strength of the needle-shaped portion 10 is guaranteed. The smaller the outer diameter of the needle-shaped portion 10, the smaller the thickness of the side wall of the needle-shaped portion 10, so that the transplant is less likely to be caught by the end of the side wall when the transplant is taken into the inside of the needle-shaped portion 10. .. Specifically, the thickness of the side wall of the needle-shaped portion 10 is preferably 50 μm or less.

The support portion 30 may be a member formed separately from the needle-shaped portion 10, or may be integrally formed with the needle-shaped portion 10. When the support portion 30 is a member formed separately from the needle-shaped portion 10, the support portion 30 surrounds the outside of the portion extending from the tip end portion of the needle-shaped portion 10 and supports the needle-shaped portion 10. For example, the needle-shaped portion 10 is assembled to the support portion 30 by passing the needle-shaped portion 10 through the hole of the support portion 30. When the support portion 30 is integrally formed with the needle-shaped portion 10, the needle-shaped portion 10 protrudes from the surface of the support portion 30. The outer shape of the support portion 30 is not particularly limited.

The suction unit 40 has a mechanism for sucking the inside of the needle-shaped portion 10. The suction unit 40 may further have a function of pressurizing the inside of the needle-shaped portion 10 by air pressure. FIG. 3 shows an example of a cell transplantation device 100 including a support portion 30 that also serves as a suction portion 40 having a suction and pressurizing function in the needle-shaped portion 10.

The support portion 30 shown in FIG. 3 has an injection tubular structure, and includes a tubular body 31 connected to the base end portion of the needle-shaped portion 10 and a pusher 32 located inside the tubular body 31. There is. The tubular body 31 has a tubular shape having an inner diameter larger than that of the needle-shaped portion 10. In the tubular body 31, the inside of the needle-shaped portion 10 is sucked by pulling the pusher 32, and the inside of the needle-shaped portion 10 is pressurized by pushing the pusher 32.
The suction unit 40 is not limited to the above configuration, and may include, for example, a pump mechanism connected to the needle-shaped portion 10 and perform suction or pressurization by driving such a mechanism.

The number of needle-shaped portions 10 included in the cell transplanting device 100 is not particularly limited, and the cell transplanting device 100 may include a single needle-shaped portion 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. May include a plurality of needle-shaped portions 10 as shown by. When the cell transplantation device 100 includes a plurality of needle-shaped portions 10, the arrangement of the plurality of needle-shaped portions 10 is not particularly limited, and the plurality of needle-shaped portions 10 may be arranged regularly or irregularly. You may be. When the cell transplantation device 100 includes a plurality of needle-shaped portions 10, it is preferable that one supporting portion 30 collectively supports all the needle-shaped portions 10. That is, it is preferable that the plurality of needle-shaped portions 10 are supported by one supporting portion 30, thereby forming the cell transplantation device 100 in which the plurality of needle-shaped portions 10 are integrated. Further, the suction to the needle-shaped portion 10 may be performed independently for each needle-shaped portion 10, or may be performed collectively for the plurality of needle-shaped portions 10.

When the cell transplantation device 100 includes a plurality of needle-shaped portions 10, an outer cylinder portion 20 is arranged for each of the plurality of needle-shaped portions 10. The outer cylinder portion 20 may be an independent cylinder for each needle-shaped portion 10, or the side walls of the outer cylinder portions 20 adjacent to each other may be connected to form one member. When the side walls of the outer cylinder portions 20 adjacent to each other are connected to each other, the side walls may be connected to each other at least in a part in the stretching direction. FIG. 4 illustrates a form in which a plurality of outer cylinder portions 20 are connected to form one member. In FIG. 4, the side walls of the outer cylinder portions 20 adjacent to each other are connected to each other in the entire stretching direction.

When the cell transplantation device 100 includes a single needle-shaped portion 10, one outer cylinder portion 20 constitutes a member for a biological transfer device, and when the cell transplantation device 100 includes a plurality of needle-shaped portions 10, each The set of the outer cylinder portion 20 attached to the needle-shaped portion 10 constitutes a member for a biological transfer device. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when a plurality of outer cylinder portions 20 are connected to form one member, this member 25 is a member for a biological transfer device.

[Porting method]
A method of transplanting a transplant using the cell transplant device 100 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, before transplantation, the transplanted product Cg is held in a tray 50 such as a culture container together with the protective liquid Pl. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the transplant Cg and the protective liquid Pl are placed in the recess 51 of the tray 50, and the transplant Cg is located near the bottom of the recess 51.

The mode of holding the transplant Cg and the protective liquid Pl in the tray 50 is not limited to the form in which the transplant Cg and the protective liquid Pl are held in the recess 51. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the transplant Cg may be located near the bottom of the recess 51, and the protective liquid Pl may be contained in the entire area of the tray 50 including the recess 51 and the upper portion thereof. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, the transplant Cg and the protective liquid Pl may be arranged on the plane of the tray 50. If the fluidity of the protective solution Pl is low, it is possible to separate the transplant Cg together with the protective solution Pl for each transplant Cg and place it on a plane.

In short, the tray 50 has a planned placement area, which is a region where the transplant Cg is to be placed, and the transplant Cg may be held in the planned placement area. The planned placement area is, for example, a recess 51 or a predetermined area on a plane. When the tray 50 is a culture container and cells are cultured in the tray 50 to form a transplant Cg, it is easier to proceed with the cell culture in the form in which the tray 50 has the recess 51. The tray 50 is preferably made of a material that does not easily adhere to cells.

The protective liquid Pl may be any liquid that does not easily inhibit the survival of cells, and is preferably a liquid that has a small effect on the living body when injected into the living body. For example, the protective liquid Pl is a liquid that protects the skin, such as physiological saline, petrolatum, or a lotion, or a mixture of these liquids. The protective liquid Pl may contain additive components such as nutritional components. When the tray 50 is a culture vessel and the transplant Cg is cultured in the tray 50, the protective solution Pl may be a medium for culturing cells, or may be a liquid exchanged from the medium. There may be. The liquid containing the implant Cg and the protective solution Pl can be a low-viscosity fluid or a high-viscosity fluid. In addition, the liquid material may have a structure in which the transplant Cg and the protective liquid Pl are held in a matrix formed of a polymer material or the like. At this time, examples of the polymer material forming the matrix include collagen and hyaluronic acid.

Upon incorporating the transplanted product Cg into the needle-shaped portion 10, the cell transplanting device 100 is in a state in which the opening 11 at the tip of the needle-shaped portion 10 is located inside the outer cylinder portion 20. That is, the tip of the outer cylinder 20 is located at the tip of the cell transplant device 100. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the tip end portion of the outer cylinder portion 20 is brought close to the implant Cg in the protective liquid Pl, and the inside of the needle-shaped portion 10 is sucked by the operation of the suction portion 40. As a result, the inside of the outer cylinder portion 20 is also sucked, and as shown in FIG. 9, the transplant Cg is drawn into the outer cylinder portion 20 from the opening 21 at the tip portion of the outer cylinder portion 20 together with the protective liquid Pl. Is done. Further, according to the flow of the protective liquid Pl by suction, the implant Cg enters the inside of the needle-shaped portion 10 through the opening 11 of the needle-shaped portion 10.

In order to take the transplanted Cg into the needle-shaped portion 10, the portion of the needle-shaped portion 10 having a tubular side wall, that is, from the base end portion of the opening 11 to the proximal end side of the needle-shaped portion 10. It is necessary to pull in the transplant Cg.

In tray 50, the implant Cg is submerged in the protective solution Pl. Therefore, when the outer cylinder portion 20 is not provided, even if the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 10 is brought close to the implant Cg, the implant Cg and the above are provided by a distance corresponding to the length Ln of the opening 11 in the stretching direction. It will be separated from the part where the side wall is tubular. As a result, even if suction is performed, it is difficult for the transplanted Cg to enter the inside of the needle-shaped portion 10. This problem becomes more remarkable as the length Ln of the opening 11 becomes longer. For example, the steeper the inclination of the end face 12 of the needle-shaped portion 10 and the sharper the tip portion, the more the needle-shaped portion 10 is transplanted into the inside. It becomes difficult to take in the substance Cg.

If the transplant Cg is floated by vibrating the tray 50, it becomes easier to take in the transplant Cg, but the need for the step of applying vibration causes deterioration of the transplant efficiency, and when the transplant Cg is taken in, In addition, a large amount of protective liquid Pl is taken into the needle-shaped portion 10, which also causes deterioration of transplantation efficiency.

On the other hand, in the cell transplantation device 100 of the present embodiment, when the transplanted product Cg is taken into the needle-shaped portion 10, the tip portion of the outer cylinder portion 20 is in a state of protruding from the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 10. .. In the outer cylinder portion 20, the side wall has a tubular shape up to the end surface 22 of the tip portion, and if the transplant Cg is pulled into this tubular portion, the transplant Cg can be taken in. Therefore, as compared with the case where the outer cylinder portion 20 is not provided, the position where the transplant Cg needs to be drawn can be brought closer to the transplant Cg, so that the transplant Cg can be easily taken in.

When the implant Cg is taken into the needle-shaped portion 10, the outer cylinder portion 20 is moved, and the opening 11 of the needle-shaped portion 10 is exposed from the outer cylinder portion 20. As shown in FIG. 10, the opening 11 of the needle-shaped portion 10 may be exposed by moving the outer cylinder portion 20 toward the proximal end side of the needle-shaped portion 10, or as shown in FIG. 11, the outer cylinder portion The opening 11 of the needle-shaped portion 10 may be exposed by moving 20 toward the tip end side of the needle-shaped portion 10 and removing it from the needle-shaped portion 10. The portion of the needle-shaped portion 10 exposed from the outer cylinder portion 20 includes at least a portion that enters the living body when the transplant Cg is placed in the target region for transplantation. The outer cylinder portion 20 may be moved manually or electrically by using a motor or the like.

In the present embodiment, since the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 10 is exposed by sliding the outer cylinder portion 20 with respect to the needle-shaped portion 10, the step of exposing the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 10 can be easily performed. Therefore, after the transplant Cg is taken into the needle-shaped portion 10, it can be quickly placed in the target region for transplantation, and the deterioration of the transplant Cg can be suppressed.

After exposing the tip of the needle-shaped portion 10, the cell transplantation device 100 is carried to a transplantation site such as a skin Sk in a living body, and as shown in FIG. 12, the needle-shaped portion 10 is stabbed in the transplantation site. At this time, since the tip of the needle-shaped portion 10 is exposed and the tip of the needle-shaped portion 10 has a shape that easily sticks into the transplantation site, the cell transplantation device 100 can smoothly enter the transplantation site. As a result, the tip of the needle-shaped portion 10 enters the inside of the transplantation site, and the opening 11 is arranged in the target area for transplantation. When attempting to transplant a group of cells that contribute to hair growth or hair growth, the target area is at least one of intradermal and subcutaneous.

As shown in FIG. 13, for example, by pressurizing the inside of the needle-shaped portion 10, the implant Cg contained in the needle-shaped portion 10 comes out from the opening 11 together with the protective liquid Pl. As a result, the implant Cg is placed in the target area. After that, the needle-shaped portion 10 is pulled out from the transplantation site.

As described above, the transplantation of the transplanted product Cg into the target region is completed. According to the above-mentioned transplantation method using the cell transplantation device 100, the transplantation Cg can be continuously taken out from the tray 50 and placed in the target area for transplantation by one device, so that the cells can be smoothly transplanted. Is possible.

FIG. 14 shows one step of a transplantation method using a cell transplantation device 100 including a plurality of needle-shaped portions 10. In FIG. 14, a plurality of outer cylinder portions 20 are connected at a base end portion in a stretching direction to form a member 25 which is a member for a biological transfer device.

When a cell transplant device 100 having a plurality of needle-shaped portions 10 is used, when the transplant Cg is taken in, the positions of the cell transplant device 100 and the tray 50 are positioned so that the needle-shaped portions 10 and the transplant Cg face each other. By being combined, the transplant Cg can be collectively housed in the plurality of needle-shaped portions 10. Then, by releasing the implant Cg from each needle-shaped portion 10, a plurality of implant Cg can be collectively arranged in the target region. Therefore, the efficiency of transplantation is further increased.

Specifically, the number and arrangement of the planned arrangement areas in the tray 50, the number and arrangement of the needle-shaped portions 10 in the cell transplantation device 100, and the number and arrangement of the outer cylinder portions 20 are for one planned arrangement area. One needle-shaped portion 10 and one outer cylinder portion 20 are set so as to correspond to each other. As a result, when the tray 50 and the cell transplantation device 100 face each other along the stretching direction, one planned arrangement region, one needle-shaped portion 10, and one outer cylinder portion 20 face each other. In other words, one needle-shaped portion 10 and one outer cylinder portion 20 are assigned to one planned placement area, and the planned placement area and the needle-shaped portion 10 have a one-to-one correspondence, and the placement schedule There is a one-to-one correspondence between the region and the outer cylinder portion 20.

Since one needle-shaped portion 10 is assigned to one planned placement area, the implant incorporated into one needle-shaped portion 10 by adjusting the number of transplants Cg to be placed in one planned placement area. The number of Cg can be adjusted. Therefore, it is easy to accommodate a certain number of transplanted Cg in the plurality of needle-shaped portions 10. For example, the implant Cg is preferably contained in each needle-shaped portion 10 one by one.

Even when the number of the planned placement areas of the tray 50 is one and the number of the needle-shaped portion 10 and the outer cylinder portion 20 of the cell transplantation device 100 is one, the planned placement area and the needle-shaped portion are formed. If the portions 10 are configured to face each other, it can be said that one needle-shaped portion 10 and one outer cylinder portion 20 are assigned to one planned arrangement area.

Further, when the number and arrangement of the needle-shaped portions 10 in the cell transplantation device 100 match the number and arrangement of the planned arrangement areas as one group, the tray 50 may include a plurality of groups of the planned arrangement areas. .. In such a configuration, the uptake of the transplant Cg into the cell transplant device 100 and the placement of the transplant Cg in the target region are repeated, and the uptake of the transplant Cg is performed for each group of the planned placement regions. As described above, even when the tray 50 includes a plurality of groups of the planned placement areas, it can be said that one needle-shaped portion 10 and one outer cylinder portion 20 are assigned to one scheduled placement area.

In the above configuration, the cell transplantation device 100 and the tray 50 form a biological transfer unit, and the biological transfer device member and the tray 50 form a biological transfer kit.

[Modification example]
Modification examples of the cell transplantation device 100 will be described in order.
As shown in FIG. 15, the end surface 12 of the tip end portion of the needle-shaped portion 10 approaches the base end portion of the needle-shaped portion 10 inward in the radial direction, in other words, the space inside the needle-shaped portion 10. It may have an inclined portion 13 inclined toward. The inclined portion 13 includes a base end portion of the end face 12. The base end portion of the end face 12 is a portion including the base end of the end face 12, which is a point located closest to the base end side of the needle-shaped portion 10 in the stretching direction. The inclined portion 13 has a different angle from the surface along the opening 11. Specifically, when the direction connecting the base end and the tip end of the end surface 12 is the inclination direction of the opening 11 and the inclination in the inclination direction with respect to the stretching direction is positive, the inclination of the inclined portion 13 with respect to the stretching direction is negative.

For example, as shown in FIG. 16, when the end face 12 is viewed from a direction orthogonal to the stretching direction, the region from the base end of the end face 12 to the central portion between the tip end and the base end is defined as the inclined portion 13. FIG. 15 illustrates a form in which the end face 12 has an elliptical ring shape and is composed of three planes. The range of the inclined portion 13 is not particularly limited, and the inclined portion 13 may include at least the base end portion of the end face 12.

When the base end portion of the end face 12 is along the inclined direction, the base end portion of the end face 12 has a structure in which the base end portion protrudes toward the opening 11, so that when the implant enters the inside of the needle-shaped portion 10. , It may get caught in the base end portion of the end surface 12. Since the base end portion of the end face 12 constitutes the inclined portion 13 and is inclined toward the space inside the needle-shaped portion 10, it is possible to prevent the implant from being caught in the base end portion of the end face 12. Therefore, the uptake of the implant into the needle-shaped portion 10 can proceed smoothly.

As shown in FIG. 17, the end surface 22 of the tip end portion of the outer cylinder portion 20 does not have to be a flat surface, and may have irregularities with respect to a flat surface orthogonal to the stretching direction. The irregularities are arranged along the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder portion 20. If the end face 22 has such an uneven structure, the face and the end face 22 of the tray 50 even if the end face 22 is brought into contact with the portion of the tray 50 holding the transplant when the transplant is taken in. A gap is formed between the recess and the recess. Therefore, since the protective liquid flows into the outer cylinder portion 20 through the gap, the suction can be continued. Therefore, the uptake of the transplant can be smoothly promoted.

The length Lt of the opening 21 of the outer cylinder portion 20 is the length from the tip end to the base end of the opening 21 in the stretching direction, and even when the end face 22 has irregularities, the length Lt of the opening 21 Is smaller than the length Ln of the opening 11 of the needle-shaped portion 10.

As described above, according to the biological transfer device of the present embodiment, the effects listed below can be obtained.
(1) By using the cell transplantation device 100, the transplantation can be continuously taken out from the tray 50 and placed in the living body by one device, so that the transplantation can be smoothly transplanted. ..

(2) By taking in the implant in a state where the tip of the outer cylinder 20 protrudes from the tip of the needle-shaped portion 10, the tubular portion into which the implant is taken is brought closer to the implant and transplanted. You can take in things. Therefore, the implant can easily enter the tubular portion, and as a result, the implant can be smoothly taken into the needle-shaped portion 10. Therefore, smoother transplantation is possible.

(3) In the form in which the end surface 22 of the tip end portion of the outer tubular portion 20 is a plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion 10, when the implantable material is taken in, the tubular portion into which the transplanted material is taken in is formed by the implantable material. You can get closer. Therefore, the implant can be taken in more smoothly.

(4) In a form in which the end surface 22 of the tip end portion of the outer cylinder portion 20 has irregularities on a plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion 10, the tip end portion of the outer cylinder portion 20 is placed on the tray 50 when the transplant is taken in. Even if they are brought into contact with each other, suction can be continued. Therefore, the uptake of the transplant can be smoothly promoted.

(5) If the end face 12 of the tip end portion of the needle-shaped portion 10 includes the inclined portion 13 and the inclined portion 13 includes the base end portion of the end face 12, the implant is brought into the end face 12 when the implant is taken in. It is suppressed from being caught.

(6) If the inner peripheral surface of the needle-shaped portion 10 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 20 are made of a material that suppresses adhesion of the implant, the implant is placed inside the outer cylinder portion 20. An object easily flows into the needle-shaped portion 10, and when the implant is placed in the target area, the implant easily comes out of the needle-shaped portion 10. Therefore, the transplantation can proceed more smoothly.

(7) The tip of the needle-shaped portion 10 is exposed from the outer cylinder portion 20 by sliding the outer cylinder portion 20 with respect to the needle-shaped portion 10. Therefore, since the outer cylinder portion 20 for exposing the tip end portion of the needle-shaped portion 10 can be easily moved, the implant is promptly moved to the target region after the implant is taken into the needle-shaped portion 10. Can be placed. Therefore, deterioration of the transplant can be suppressed.

(Other forms)
The above-described embodiment and modification can be modified and implemented as follows.
-The inner diameter of the outer cylinder portion 20 does not have to be constant. For example, the inner diameter of the tip portion of the outer cylinder portion 20 may be gradually expanded toward the end face 22 within a range in which the suction force is maintained. With such a configuration, a large opening 21 can be secured, so that the transplant can easily enter the opening 21.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 18, the inner diameter of the portion of the outer cylinder portion 20 located on the distal end side of the distal end portion of the needle-shaped portion 10 when the implant is taken in is the inner diameter of the needle-shaped portion 10. The inner diameter of the outer cylinder portion 20 may be changed so that the inner diameter of the portion surrounding the needle-shaped portion 10 becomes equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the needle-shaped portion 10 when the implant is taken in. In other words, the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 20 has a step portion 23 along the end surface 12 of the needle-shaped portion 10 when it is attached to the needle-shaped portion 10 when the implant is taken in. In FIG. 18, the end face 12 of the needle-shaped portion 10 and the stepped portion 23 are shown separately for easy understanding, but they are arranged so as to be in contact with each other when the transplant is taken in. Will be done. According to such a configuration, the diameter of the flow path through which the implant passes is constant from the inside of the outer cylinder portion 20 to the inside of the needle-shaped portion 10, and no step is formed at the end surface 12, so that the implant can be placed on the end surface 12. It is suppressed from being caught. The outer shape of the outer cylinder portion 20 may be constant or may change according to the inner diameter.

The end face 22 of the outer cylinder portion 20 may be inclined with respect to the stretching direction, that is, the length Lt of the opening 21 along the stretching direction does not have to be 0. If the length Lt of the opening 21 is smaller than the length Ln of the opening 11 of the needle-shaped portion 10, the tubular portion into which the implant is taken in is more likely to be taken in than when the outer cylinder portion 20 is not provided. The part of can be brought closer to the transplant.

-At least a part of the outer cylinder portion 20 may be elastically deformed or plastically deformed. Further, the outer cylinder portion 20 may have a portion that can be elastically deformed and a portion that can be plastically deformed. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, if the outer cylinder portion 20 includes a deformable portion in the portion protruding from the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 10 when the implant is taken in, the outer cylinder portion 20 The portion 20 can be deformed to bring its tip closer to the implant Cg. Therefore, since the degree of freedom in the positional relationship between the needle-shaped portion 10 and the transplanted product at the time of taking up the transplanted material is increased, it is possible to facilitate the uptake of the transplanted material.

-The other structure of the needle-shaped portion 10 may be different from that of the above-described embodiment as long as the needle-shaped portion 10 has an opening 11 at the tip portion that serves as an intake port and a discharge port for the implant. For example, the internal space of the needle-shaped portion 10 may extend in a direction inclined with respect to the stretching direction. Further, the tubular member such as the needle-shaped portion 10 and the outer cylinder portion 20 has openings at the tip end portion and the base end portion, and these openings are communicated with each other through the space inside the cylinder. It is not limited to the structure extending in a cylindrical shape. If the length Lt of the opening 21 of the outer cylinder portion 20 is smaller than the length Ln of the opening 11 of the needle-shaped portion 10 in the stretching direction, the outer cylinder portion 20 is divided into the outer shape of the tubular member and the inside of the tubular member. The shape of the space to be formed may be columnar, pyramidal, prismatic, and is not particularly limited. Further, the needle-shaped portion 10 may have a structure for fastening the implant in the region from the middle of the stretching direction to the tip portion in the internal space. For example, a change in the cross-sectional area in the internal space or an arrangement of a filter or a net-like structure may prevent the transplant from flowing to the proximal end side of the predetermined position in the internal space.

-Instead of the outer cylinder portion 20, a tubular portion is arranged inside the needle-shaped portion 10, and the tip portion of the tubular portion protrudes from the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 10, that is, a tubular portion from the opening 11. The implant may be aspirated with the tip of the portion protruding. The implant is held at the tip so as to close the opening at the tip of the tubular portion, or is held by the tubular portion by being pulled into the tubular portion, and the tubular portion is needle-shaped. By being moved with respect to the portion 10, it is taken into the inside of the needle-shaped portion 10 together with the tip portion of the tubular portion. Even with such a configuration, if the length of the opening at the tip of the tubular portion is smaller than the length of the opening 11 of the needle-shaped portion 10 in the stretching direction, the tubular portion is taken in when the implant is taken in. The part can be brought closer to the implant.

-The cell group to be transplanted does not have to be a cell group that contributes to hair growth or hair growth, and may be a cell group that exerts a desired effect by being arranged in a living body. For example, the cell group to be transplanted may be a cell group that exerts an effect for cosmetic purposes such as elimination of wrinkles on the skin and improvement of a moisturizing state. Further, the object to be transferred into the living body by the biological transfer device is not limited to the cell group, and may be a solid substance such as a drug.

(Example)
The cell transplantation device as the above-mentioned biological transfer device will be described with reference to specific examples.

<Example 1>
200 μL of pure water was added to a 96-well plate (manufactured by Sumitomo Bakelite: prime surface), and plastic beads having a diameter of 210 μm were placed one by one as a model of the cell group. A cell transplantation device equipped with a 25 G injection needle as a needle-shaped portion and a transparent tube made of Teflon as an outer cylinder portion was prepared. The outer cylinder portion can slide toward the base end side of the needle-shaped portion.

Using a cell transplant device, the plastic beads precipitated on the 96-well plate were taken up. Suction at the time of uptake was performed using a syringe pump under the conditions of rate = 1000 μL / min and volume = 150 μL. When the plastic beads were taken in 10 times, the plastic beads could be taken into the inside of the needle-shaped portion in all of the 10 times. When the outer cylinder portion was removed from the needle-shaped portion and the plastic beads were taken in in the same manner, the plastic beads could not be taken into the inside of the needle-shaped portion in all of the 10 times.

<Example 2>
200 μL of dermal papilla cell growth medium (manufactured by PromoCell) was added to a 96-well plate (manufactured by Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd .: prime surface), and 4 × 10 ³ cells of human dermal papilla cells (manufactured by PromoCell) were seeded. The cells were cultured for 72 hours in an atmosphere of 5% CO ₂ and 37 degrees. After culturing, it was confirmed that a cell mass having a diameter of about 200 μm was formed.

Using the same cell transplantation apparatus as in Example 1, the cell mass precipitated on the 96-well plate was taken up. Suction at the time of uptake was performed using a syringe pump under the conditions of rate = 500 μL / min and volume = 150 μL. When the cell mass was taken up 10 times, the cell mass could be taken up inside the needle-shaped part in all of the 10 times. When the outer cylinder portion was removed from the needle-shaped portion and the cell mass was taken up in the same manner, the cell mass could not be taken into the inside of the needle-shaped portion in all of the 10 times.

<Example 3>
Regarding the cell transplantation apparatus used in Examples 1 and 2, the outer cylinder portion was moved to the proximal end side of the needle-shaped portion to expose the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion. The length of the tip of the exposed needle-shaped portion is 5 mm. When the needle-shaped part was pierced into the skin of the extracted nude mouse (manufactured by Charles River Japan), the needle-shaped part could be penetrated into the skin.

10 ... Needle-shaped part, 11 ... Opening, 12 ... End face, 13 ... Inclined part, 20 ... Outer cylinder part, 21 ... Opening, 22 ... End face, 30 ... Support part, 40 ... Suction part, 50 ... Tray, 51 ... Recessed part , 100 ... Cell transplantation device.

Claims (9)

A biological transfer device for arranging an object in a living body.
A tubular needle-shaped portion extending along one direction, the needle-shaped portion that takes in the object from an opening located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion, and the needle-shaped portion.
A tubular portion located outside or inside the needle-shaped portion, from a state in which the tip portion of the tubular portion protrudes from the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion, along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion. With the tubular portion configured to be movable
In the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion, the length of the opening located at the tip of the tubular portion is smaller than the length of the opening located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion. The biological transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the end surface provided by the tip end portion of the tubular portion is a plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion. The biological transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the end surface provided by the tip end portion of the tubular portion has irregularities on a plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion. The end face provided by the tip of the needle-shaped portion includes an inclined portion that is inclined inward in the radial direction so as to approach the base end portion of the needle-shaped portion.
The biological transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inclined portion includes a base end portion of the end surface in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one of the inner peripheral surface of the needle-shaped portion and the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion is made of a material that suppresses adhesion of the object. Biological transfer device. The biological transfer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tubular portion is located outside the needle-shaped portion and is slidable along the outer peripheral surface of the needle-shaped portion. apparatus. A member having a tubular needle-shaped portion extending along one direction, taking an object inside through an opening located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion, and attaching to a device for arranging the object in a living body. And
A tubular portion fitted to the outside of the needle-shaped portion and slidable along the outer peripheral surface of the needle-shaped portion is provided.
A member for a biological transfer device in which the length of an opening located at the tip of the tubular portion in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion is smaller than the length of the opening located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion. A tray having one or more planned placement areas, which is the area where the object is to be placed,
A biological transfer unit including a biological transfer device for transferring the object from the tray into the living body.
The biological transfer device is
A tubular needle-shaped portion extending along one direction, and the needle-shaped portion that takes in the object located in the planned placement area from an opening located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion.
A tubular portion located outside or inside the needle-shaped portion, from a state in which the tip portion of the tubular portion protrudes from the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion, along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion. With the tubular portion configured to be movable
One needle-shaped portion is assigned to one planned placement area.
In the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion, the length of the opening located at the tip of the tubular portion is smaller than the length of the opening located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion. A tray with multiple planned placement areas, which is the area where the object will be placed, and
It is provided with a tubular needle-shaped portion extending along one direction, and the object located in the planned placement area is taken into the inside through an opening located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion, and the object is taken into the living body from the tray. A biological transfer kit comprising a member attached to a device for transferring an object.
The member includes a plurality of tubular portions that are fitted to the outside of the needle-shaped portion and is slidable along the outer peripheral surface of the needle-shaped portion, and the cylinder is formed in a direction in which the needle-shaped portion extends. The length of the opening located at the tip of the shaped portion is smaller than the length of the opening located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion.
A biological transfer kit in which one tubular portion is assigned to one planned placement area.