JP3071180U - Flexible tube for medical device, medical device equipped with this tube - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A flexible tube for a medical device that is suitable for being incorporated in a medical device, has chemical resistance, has flexibility, and maintains the characteristics of a supply fluid. A flexible tube (1) for supplying a fluid such as water or air to a medical device, which is built in a medical device from which the medical device is led out, is made of a polymer material having low reactivity to a supply fluid. And an outer layer 3 made of a polymer material having excellent structural properties.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

 The present invention is a medical or dental medical device represented by a dental medical device or the like, which supplies a medical device such as a detachable handpiece with a medical device such as water or air to perform diagnosis and treatment. The present invention relates to a flexible tube for a medical device, which is used by being built in a medical device to be performed and maintains characteristics such as a sterilizing effect of a supplied fluid, and a medical device provided with the tube.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Taking a dental unit as an example, the medical equipment has a built-in flexible tube that supplies fluid such as water and air for cooling, for preventing cutting powder from scattering, and for various related controls. Conventionally, as a flexible tube for incorporating a medical device, it is flexible and does not break due to the limited space inside the device and the fact that many tubes are used in complicated ways for various applications. Urethane tubes with a small minimum bend radius that could be bent were used.

On the other hand, in this medical device, fluid is sequentially supplied to the medical device during use, but if the operation of the medical device is stopped, the fluid stays in these flexible tubes.

At this time, considering the case where the fluid to be supplied is tap water, in a conventional flexible tube composed of a urethane tube, the chlorine component contained in the tap water is absorbed by urethane which is a material of the flexible tube. As a result, the bactericidal performance of the residual water was reduced, and the activation and growth of various bacteria were promoted. In addition, if such residual water is left for a long period of time, the germs that have multiplied form bacterial membranes that cause water scabs and the like, and its removal has been a serious task.

[0005] The chlorine absorption rate of this urethane is such that the concentration of chlorine contained in ordinary tap water becomes almost 0 ppm in a short time of only 15 to 20 minutes. When used, it was necessary to supply fresh tap water to completely drain and replace the residual water remaining in the water supply system such as flexible tubes.

[0006] Further, urethane has poor chemical resistance, and is not suitable for the case where chemical cleaning is required for removing the above-mentioned bacterial film. From the viewpoint of this chemical resistance, attention has been paid to fluororesin materials. However, fluororesin materials were inferior in properties such as flexibility as structural materials.

As a solution to the problem of chemical resistance and flexibility, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-45219 discloses an inner layer tube 101 made of a non-porous fluorine tube as shown in FIG. A flexible tube 100 in which an outer layer tube 103 in which a reinforcing layer 102 is embedded is integrated. Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-88882 discloses an inner layer tube made of a surface-treated fluororesin as shown in FIG. 111, a spiral metal wire 112, and a medical tube 110 composed of a jacket 113 made of polyurethane, and in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-91973, a medical tube 110 is made of a flexible inner layer tube made of a fluororesin material and a composite material. An endoscope tube composed of an outer tube is proposed.

[0008] These tubes have both chemical resistance and flexibility, but all of them are exclusively used for inserting a treatment tool such as an endoscope or a catheter, and are provided with water or the like. It was not intended to supply only the above fluid and did not take into account the deterioration of properties such as the sterilization effect of the supplied fluid by the inner layer material.

The outer portion is an outer layer tube 103 in which a reinforcing layer 102 formed by braiding metal strips and a thermoplastic resin such as urethane resin are combined, or a spiral metal wire 112 is covered with a jacket 113. It had a complicated structure. Therefore, it was not suitable as a flexible tube built into a medical device with a small space and used vertically and horizontally for complicated piping.

[0010]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

 The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problem, and is provided with a flexible tube for a medical device that is suitable for being incorporated in a medical device, has chemical resistance, is flexible, and maintains the characteristics of a supply fluid. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a medical device provided with this tube.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The flexible tube for a medical device according to claim 1 is a flexible tube built in a medical device from which a medical device is led out and for supplying a fluid such as water or air to the medical device. It is characterized in that it has a laminated structure of an inner layer made of a polymer material with low reactivity and an outer layer made of a polymer material with excellent structural properties.

Here, the supply fluid is mainly a fluid such as water such as tap water or pressurized or decompressed air, which is supplied by the flexible tube of the present invention. Liquid water, ozone water, acid water, and water mixed with xylitol to suppress the generation of plaque, etc. The characteristics of the supply fluid are the supply fluid itself. Or the bactericidal effect, antibacterial effect, medicinal effect, detergency, etc., due to additional components such as chlorine contained in the supply fluid.

[0013] A medical device is used by attaching and detaching a medical device to and from a tube led out from a main body of the medical device, and supplying fluid, water and air, particularly tap water, to the medical device for diagnosis and treatment. Includes all medical devices, including medical devices used in dental, otolaryngology, obstetrics and gynecology, urology, ophthalmology, etc.

The medical devices include all devices that use fluids such as water and air for diagnosis and treatment, and there is no limitation on how the fluids are used. For example, in dental care devices, tap water and air are often used as fluids to cool the treatment area of teeth and to prevent scattering of cutting powder.

According to this invention, the inner layer of the flexible tube that directly contacts the supply fluid is made of a polymer material having low reactivity to the supply fluid, and the outer layer supporting the inner layer is flexible and can be bent without breaking. It is made of a high molecular material with excellent structural characteristics such as minimum bending radius and has a laminated structure.

In other words, the properties of the supply fluid are secured in the inner layer, the properties of the structure are secured in the outer layer, and the inner layer and the outer layer are formed in a laminated structure. It is what it was.

In particular, the material of the inner layer is selected not only from the viewpoint of chemical resistance but also from the viewpoint of low reactivity to the supply fluid, for example, from the viewpoint that the chlorine concentration of tap water is hardly reduced. Is the most important feature.

Therefore, there is little influence on the supply fluid that directly contacts the inner layer, and the characteristics of the supply fluid are not impaired. In other words, in the case of tap water, the reduction of the chlorine concentration is suppressed, and even if the tap water stays in the flexible tube for a long time, the sterilizing effect of the tap water is maintained.

Furthermore, the low reactivity to the supply fluid means that it is not attacked by chemicals and the like, the chemical resistance is also high, and the flexible tube can be disinfected with chemical water or the like. become.

In addition, the flexible tube of the present invention has an extremely smooth inner layer, is highly water-repellent, has a very low resistance to the passage of a fluid, can smoothly pass the fluid, and has a stain, mold, The adhesion of a biofilm or the like can be suppressed.

Further, since the characteristics of the structure are borne by the outer layer, the inner layer itself can be made very thin, and the characteristics of the structure of the outer layer are not reduced.

The outer layer exerts the characteristics as a structural body, and the entire tube has excellent flexibility. The outer diameter of the tube is about 4 mm, and the minimum bending radius can be 10 mm or less.

Further, since it has a simple structure of only the inner layer and the outer layer, is flexible, and has a small minimum bending radius, it is suitable for use in a medical device that has a limited space and requires complicated and complicated piping. .

The flexible tube having such features is, of course, suitable for being used by being built in a main tube that is always moved during medical treatment.

The flexible tube for a medical device according to the second aspect is the flexible tube for a medical device according to the first aspect, wherein the polymer material constituting the inner layer is polypropylene, polyethylene, vinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, perfluoroa. It is characterized by being one of lucoxy copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene / ethylene copolymer, and tetrafluoroethylene.

The flexible tube specifically defines the polymer material of the inner layer having low reactivity to the supply fluid.

The flexible tube for a medical device according to the third aspect is the flexible tube for a medical device according to any one of the first and second aspects, wherein the polymer material constituting the outer layer is any one of polyurethane and soft vinyl chloride. It is characterized by being.

This flexible tube specifically defines a polymer material of an outer layer having excellent structural properties.

A medical device according to a fourth aspect is characterized in that the flexible tube for a medical device according to any one of the first to third aspects is built-in.

[0030]

[Embodiment of the invention]

 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the flexible tube for a medical device of the present invention.

The flexible tube 1 is formed by laminating an inner layer 2 made of a polymer material having low reactivity to a supply fluid passing through the inside and an outer layer 3 made of a polymer material having excellent structural characteristics. It is characterized by having a structure.

Examples of the polymer material having low reactivity to the supply fluid of the inner layer 2 include polypropylene, polyethylene, vinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, perfluoroalkoxy copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene / ethylene copolymer, and tetrafluoroethylene. Tylene is selected, but in this example, polyvinylidene fluoride is used, and Teflon is used as a trade name.

This polyvinylidene fluoride has low reactivity. For example, when tap water is used as a supply fluid, a decrease in the chlorine concentration is suppressed, and even if tap water stays in the flexible tube for a long time, Maintain the sterilizing effect of tap water.

Therefore, it is not necessary to periodically perform cleaning of the flexible tube and the like, and maintenance is easy.

In addition, polyvinylidene fluoride has a smooth surface, prevents stagnant bacteria and the like, and can easily remove attached substances during washing. Further, there is an advantage that the flow path resistance to the supplied fluid is small, and the fluid can be sent at a lower pressure.

Furthermore, the low reactivity to the supply fluid means that it is not affected by chemicals and the like, and the chemical resistance is also high, so that the flexible tube 1 can be disinfected with a chemical water or the like. become.

Either polyurethane or soft vinyl chloride is selected as the polymer material having excellent structural properties constituting the outer layer 3, and polyurethane is particularly excellent in flexibility and minimum bending radius. ing.

Such a laminated structure of the inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3 is formed by a known method. The present invention is characterized in that the material of the inner layer 2 is focused on the reactivity with the supply fluid, and the manufacturing method is not limited, but the inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3 are integrated, and in particular, the flexible tube 1 is formed. It is desirable that the inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3 be integrated so that the inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3 do not shift when bent.

The outer diameter of the flexible tube 1 is suitably about 1.5 mm to about 6 mm, and in this case, the inner diameter is about 1 mm to about 4 mm. In addition, the thickness of the inner layer 2 is very thin, about 0.05 mm to 0.20 mm in the case of polyvinylidene fluoride, and does not reduce the structural characteristics of the outer layer 3.

Thus, due to the characteristics of the outer layer 3, the flexible tube 1 as a whole is also excellent in flexibility and minimum bending radius. For example, the tube outer diameter is about 4 mm, and the minimum bending radius can be 10 mm or less.

In addition, since it has a simple structure of only the inner layer and the outer layer, is flexible, and has a small minimum bending radius, it is suitable for use in a medical device that has a limited space and requires complicated and complicated piping. It is also suitable for combining multiple wires and incorporating them into the main tube together with electric wires.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing an example of a medical device provided with the flexible tube for a medical device of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a main tube incorporating the flexible tube.

FIG. 2A shows a dental unit 10 as an example of a medical device, and reference numeral 6 denotes a medical device, such as a motor handpiece, an air turbine handpiece, or a scaler. Reference numeral 4 denotes a main tube incorporating the flexible tube 1 of the present invention.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a medical device main body provided with a basin table. In the medical device main body 5, a large number of flexible tubes 1 are used for pipes for water, air, and the like. A tube 4 is led out, and tap water, pressurized air, and suction air are supplied by a flexible tube 1 built in the main tube 4 according to the medical equipment to perform diagnosis and treatment. ing.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a dental treatment table on which a patient is placed for medical treatment; 91, a tray table support arm; 92, an illuminating pole; 93, a tray table support arm 91; Display means 94 for displaying information of the medical device, reference numeral 94 denotes a tray table, and reference numeral 95 denotes a medical device holder provided on the tray table 94, in which the medical device 6 connected to the main tube 4 is accommodated in a standby state. It is as follows.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the cross-sectional structure of the main tube 4 is formed by combining several flexible tubes 1 and electric wires 4 c as necessary to form a flexible reinforcing layer 4 b and an outer layer. It is covered with the cover 4a.

Therefore, characteristics such as the sterilizing effect of tap water supplied by the flexible tube 1 are maintained, and even if tap water or the like is kept for a long time, the growth of various bacteria is suppressed. At the same time, since the flexible tube 1 has excellent structural characteristics such as flexibility and minimum bending radius, it does not hinder the operability of the medical device mounted on the main tube incorporating the flexible tube.

In other words, although the flexible tube having such a characteristic is not shown in this medical treatment device 10, it is particularly suitable for a complicated fluid conduit used in the medical treatment device main body 5 having a small space. It is also used for main tubes that are constantly moved during medical treatment, and has the same effect.

[0049]

[Effect of the invention]

 As understood from the above description, according to the flexible tube for a medical device according to the first aspect, the inner layer of the flexible tube that directly contacts the supply fluid is made of a polymer material having low reactivity to the supply fluid. The outer layer that supports the inner layer is made of a polymer material with excellent structural properties such as flexibility and the minimum bending radius that can be bent without breaking, and a laminated structure, so that both properties are exhibited synergistically. Therefore, the characteristics of the structural body such as flexibility and minimum bending radius are excellent without impairing the characteristics of the supply fluid.

Further, the low reactivity to the supply fluid means that it is not affected by chemicals and the like, and the chemical resistance is high. In addition, the inner layer is very smooth and highly water-repellent, has extremely low resistance to the passage of fluid, and allows fluid to pass smoothly, preventing the adhesion of dirt, mold, biofilm, etc. to the inner surface. it can. In addition, the simple structure of only the inner layer and outer layer is flexible and has a small minimum bending radius, so it is suitable for use in medical equipment that has limited space and requires complicated and complicated piping. .

According to the flexible tube for a medical treatment device according to the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the flexible tube according to the first aspect, the high molecular material of the inner layer having low reactivity to the supply fluid is specifically defined. In addition, the inner layer of the tube exhibiting the above effects can be easily formed.

According to the flexible tube for a medical device according to the third aspect, in addition to the effects of the flexible tube according to the first or second aspect, a polymer material of the outer layer having excellent structural characteristics is specifically used. Therefore, the outer layer of the tube exhibiting the above effects can be easily formed.

According to the medical device according to the fourth aspect, since the medical device includes the main tube having the flexible tube for the medical device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the main tube is provided. It is possible to provide a medical treatment device that exhibits the effect of the flexible tube.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a flexible tube for a medical device according to the present invention.

2A is a perspective view showing an example of a medical device provided with a flexible tube for a medical device of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a main tube incorporating the flexible tube.

3A is a configuration explanatory view showing an example of a conventional flexible tube, and FIG. 3B is a longitudinal sectional view showing another example of a conventional flexible tube.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flexible tube 2 Inner layer 3 Outer layer 4 Main tube 5 Medical device main body 6 Medical device 10 Medical device

Claims (4)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. A flexible tube for supplying a fluid such as water or air to a medical device, wherein the flexible tube is built in a medical device from which the medical device is derived, and is made of a polymer material having low reactivity to a supplied fluid. A flexible tube for a medical device, wherein the flexible tube has a laminated structure of an inner layer formed and an outer layer made of a polymer material having excellent structural properties. 2. The flexible tube for a medical device according to claim 1, wherein the polymer material constituting the inner layer is polypropylene, polyethylene, vinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride,
A flexible tube for a medical device, which is any one of a perfluoroalkoxy copolymer, a tetrafluoroethylene / ethylene copolymer, and tetrafluoroethylene. 3. The flexible tube for a medical device according to claim 1, wherein the polymer material constituting the outer layer is any one of polyurethane and soft vinyl chloride. tube. 4. A medical device comprising the medical device flexible tube according to claim 1.