JP3330419B2 - Thermal treatment applicator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal treatment applicator with a cooling function for radiating electromagnetic waves to a diseased part of a living tissue while refluxing a cooling liquid to carry out thermal treatment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-180279, for example, high-frequency electromagnetic energy is radiated to an affected part of a living tissue, such as a malignant tumor or a benign tumor, to perform a thermal treatment, There is a thermal treatment applicator with a cooling function for circulating a cooling liquid inside the applicator in order to prevent a burn due to an excessive rise in temperature of the tissue surface in contact with the applicator.

[0003]

Among the applicators for thermal treatment having a cooling function, an applicator for treating a prostate which is used by being inserted into a narrow lumen, such as the urethra, is used. Since the diameter is extremely small, it is difficult to circulate a large amount of cooling liquid by installing a cooling balloon or the like around the radiating portion that emits electromagnetic wave energy. It has a lumen structure, and the lumen formed by this is used as a flow path for cooling liquid reflux.

However, in this structure, the lumen has a small diameter, and the sheath member has only one outward path and one return path that constitute the coolant return path. Therefore, the sheath member comes into contact with the tissue surface. It was difficult to cool the surface uniformly over the entire circumference.

[0005] On the other hand, there is a structure in which the cooling liquid recirculation path has a double pipe structure. Even with this structure, if the flow rate of the cooling liquid is extremely small, the surface of the sheath member extends over the entire circumference. It is difficult to cool uniformly. In addition, depending on the insertion direction of the applicator, the coolant may be biased in the coolant return path due to the influence of gravity or the like. In this case as well, the surface of the sheath member must be cooled uniformly over the entire circumference. Was difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to ensure a sufficient flow rate of a cooling liquid and, even when the flow rate of the cooling liquid is small, to reduce the electromagnetic wave radiating portion. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal treatment applicator that can uniformly cool an applicator surface around the entire circumference.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems] To solve the above problems
In addition, the heat treatment applicator of the present invention has a predetermined space.
An insertion member formed inside and inserted into a body cavity;
It is arranged inside the insertion member and heats the affected part in the body cavity.
Antenna that can radiate electromagnetic waves
Said antenna comprising an outer conduit and an inner conduit
Contact area in the body cavity heated by the electromagnetic waves from the
Cooling liquid along the inner peripheral surface of the insertion member.
A reflux pipe for recirculating air, and the inner pipe of the reflux pipe
Radially between the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion member.
At least three partitions, circumferentially dividing said outer conduit
And at least one partition.

[0008]

According to the above construction, the coolant flows independently through the plurality of coolant channels and spreads evenly in the entire circumferential direction of the surface of the applicator.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal treatment applicator 1 of the present embodiment includes an insertion portion 2 inserted into a body cavity, and a hand portion 10 provided on the proximal end side of the insertion portion 2. The main body of the insertion section 2 is constituted by a sheath member 2a having flexibility. The sheath member 2a has an outer diameter that can be inserted into the urethra 8 shown in FIG. 5, for example, and is formed of a resin such as silicone rubber.

As shown in FIG. 2, inside the sheath member 2a, an inner flow path 5b for forming a return path of the refluxed coolant is provided.
Are provided substantially coaxially with the sheath member 2a. Further, inside the sheath member 2a, there are provided two outer flow paths 5a, 5a forming the outward path of the cooling liquid outside the inner flow path 5b. The inner flow path 5b is substantially entirely surrounded by these two outer flow paths 5a, 5a having substantially the same shape. That is, the outer flow paths 5a, 5a
Inner tube portion 12 of sheath member 2a forming inner channel 5b
The outer space 13 is provided so as to divide the space between the outer tube portion 13 and the outer tube portion 13 forming the outer shape of the sheath member 2a.
Further, a plurality of communication holes 5c for communicating the outer flow path 5a and the inner flow path 5b are provided on the distal end side of the sheath member 2a, and the communication hole 5c, the outer flow path 5a, and the inner flow path 5b provide: A cooling liquid ring channel 5 of the applicator 1 is configured. The outer channels 5a, 5a and the inner channel 5b are provided over the entire length of the insertion section 2. Thus, the book
In the embodiment, the return channels (return pipes) 5 are substantially coaxial with each other.
Outer channels (outer pipelines) 5a, 5a and inner channels
(Inner conduit) 5b, and the coolant is inserted into the sheath member (insertion).
(Inlet member) 2a to be recirculated along the inner peripheral surface thereof, and
Outer peripheral surface of inner flow path 5b of flow path 5 and inner circumference of sheath member 2a
The surface is separated by two partition portions 30 and
Thereby, the outer flow paths 5a, 5a are divided in the circumferential direction.
Is what it is.

A coaxial cable 3 for transmitting electromagnetic waves is disposed inside the inner flow path 5b at the axial position of the sheath member 2a. As shown in FIG. 5, the base end of the coaxial cable 3 is connected via a connector 3b to a thermotherapy apparatus body 9 having a built-in microwave oscillator. In addition, coaxial cable 3
Some of the distal side outer jacket of the coaxial cable 3 and the external conductor
Radiation for radiating electromagnetic waves composed by removing the body
It is formed as an antenna 3a . Radiation antenna 3a
Can radiate electromagnetic waves from the tip of the applicator 1 to the outside.

The sheath member 2a includes a sheath member 2
A plurality of temperature sensors 4 having a sensitive point 4a on the surface of a are provided. This temperature sensor 4 includes a sheath member 2a
The temperature of the mucosal surface of the urethra 8 with which the surface comes into contact can be detected. As shown in FIG. 5, the temperature sensor 4 is connected to the thermotherapy apparatus main body 9 via a signal transmission connector 4c provided on the hand side.

A balloon 6 for restricting the applicator 1 to a desired position is provided on the outer periphery of the distal end of the sheath member 2a.
Is provided. Fluid can be supplied to the inside of the balloon 6 via a balloon channel 7 provided inside the sheath member 2a. In this case, an opening 7 a for communicating the balloon 6 with the balloon channel 7 is formed at the tip of the balloon channel 7. In addition, a valve 7b for opening and closing the balloon channel to the outside is provided at the base end of the balloon channel 7.

Next, a case where the thermal treatment of the prostate 21 is performed by using the thermal treatment applicator 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG.
The insertion portion 2 of the applicator 1 is inserted into the urethra 8 of the penis 35, and the radiation antenna 3a is positioned at the site of the prostate 21 which is a lesion. In this state, the tip of the insertion section 2 is
In order to protrude into the bladder 23, the balloon 6 at the distal end of the insertion portion 2 protruding into the bladder 23 is inflated to bring the balloon 6 into contact with the inner peripheral wall of the opening of the bladder 23. Thereby, the positioning of the whole applicator is performed. In order to inflate the balloon 6, a fluid may be supplied into the balloon 6 through the balloon channel 7.

Next, an electromagnetic wave is radiated from the radiating antenna 3a located at the site of the prostate 21. The prostate 21 is heated by the electromagnetic waves radiated from the radiation antenna 3a.
Further, while the heating treatment by the electromagnetic wave is being performed, the cooling liquid always moves or stops inside the cooling liquid return path 5 to prevent the mucous membrane of the urethra 8 from overheating. Also, in this case,
The temperature of the heated portion is constantly monitored by the temperature sensor 4, and the electromagnetic wave oscillator is controlled by the temperature control unit of the apparatus main body 9 so that the prostate 21 is heated to the target temperature.

The coolant flows through the outer flow path 5a divided into two as shown in FIG. 2 and reaches the tip of the applicator 1,
It flows into the inside flow path 5b through the communication path 5c. Then, it flows through the inner flow path 5b to the rear end of the applicator 1 and is discharged outside the applicator. Here, as the medium used as the cooling liquid, water, sterilized water, purified water, and the like are preferable in consideration of cooling performance, electromagnetic wave characteristics, and the like. In addition, for example, a trace amount of bismuth powder or barium is added to these cooling liquids.
To create an applicator or coolant in the body.
You may observe shadows.

As described above, in the thermal treatment applicator 1 of the present embodiment, the outer flow path 5a forming the cooling liquid return path 5 is adjacent to the outer surface of the applicator 1 over substantially the entire circumference. In addition, the surface of the applicator 1 around the radiation antenna 3a can be uniformly cooled in all circumferential directions, and the safety of treatment can be improved.

Further, in this configuration, since there are a plurality of outer flow paths 5a, it is possible to secure a sufficient flow rate of the cooling liquid and improve the cooling effect. Further, even when the flow rate of the cooling liquid is extremely small, since the plurality of outer flow paths 5a exist, the cooling liquid can be spread evenly in the entire circumferential direction of the surface of the applicator 1 to improve the cooling effect. Can be.

Further, the outer flow path 5 is divided into two sections so as to divide the space between the inner pipe section 12 of the sheath member 2a forming the inner flow path 5b and the outer pipe section 13 forming the outer shape of the sheath member 2a.
a, 5a, the coolant is supplied to the outer flow path 5
a and 5a flow independently. Therefore, even if the coolant is biased due to the influence of gravity or the like, the bias can be minimized.

Further, by mixing an X-ray-contrastable substance into the cooling liquid, the applicator 1 inside the living body can be treated during treatment.
Since the state of reflux of the cooling liquid flowing through the device can be confirmed, the safety of treatment can be further improved.

In this embodiment, the outer passage 5a is cooled.
Although the forward path of the liquid was used and the inner flow path 5b was used as the return path of the cooling liquid,
The direction of this flow path may be reversed. FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
Is shown. The thermal treatment applicator 20 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the outer channel 5a is divided into six. That is, in the present embodiment, the return flow path (return pipe) 5
Are arranged substantially coaxially with each other in an outer channel (outer channel) 5
a, 5a and an inner flow path (inner conduit) 5b. The coolant is recirculated along the inner peripheral surface of the sheath member (insertion member) 2a. The space between the inner peripheral surface of the sheath member 2a and the inner peripheral surface is radially partitioned by the six partition portions 30, whereby the outer channel 5
a and 5a are divided in the circumferential direction.

In this configuration, since the number of divisions of the outer flow path 5a is larger than that of the first embodiment, the surface of the applicator 20 around the radiating antenna 3a extends over the entire circumferential direction more than in the first embodiment. It can be cooled uniformly. As described above, by increasing the number of divisions of the outer flow path 5a, the outer surface of the applicator 20 can be uniformly cooled even when the coolant is extremely small.

FIG . 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
is there. The heat treatment applicator 30 of the present embodiment has a circular shape.
It has eleven outer channels 5a formed in a shape. You
That is, in the present embodiment, the return flow paths (return pipe lines) 5
Outer channels (outer pipelines) 5a, 5a arranged substantially coaxially
And an inner flow path (inner pipe) 5b.
When it is recirculated along the inner peripheral surface of the insertion member (insertion member) 2a
In both cases, the outer peripheral surface of the inner flow path 5b of the annular flow path 5 and the sheath member
The space between the inner peripheral surface 2a and the inner peripheral surface 2a is formed by 12 partitions 30.
It is radially partitioned, whereby the outer channels 5a, 5a
Are divided in the circumferential direction. In addition, the outer channel
The shape of the conduit 5a may be rectangular instead of circular.

As described above, by designing the shape of the conduit of the sheath member 2a to an optimum shape in consideration of workability, an inexpensive applicator 30 can be provided without impairing the performance and safety of the applicator 30. be able to.

[0025]

As described above, in the thermal treatment applicator of the present invention, the cooling liquid flow path extending in the same flow path direction in the insertion section is provided over the entire circumference of the insertion section which comes into contact with the living body. Therefore, the surface of the applicator around the electromagnetic wave radiating portion can be uniformly cooled in all circumferential directions, and the safety of treatment can be improved.

Further, in this configuration, since a plurality of the coolant flow paths are present, the flow rate of the coolant can be sufficiently ensured to improve the cooling effect. In addition, even when the flow rate of the coolant is extremely small, since there are a plurality of coolant channels, it is possible to improve the cooling effect by spreading the coolant evenly in the entire circumferential direction of the surface of the applicator. it can. Further, since the coolant flows independently through the plurality of coolant channels, even if the coolant is biased by the influence of gravity or the like, the bias can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a thermal treatment applicator according to a first embodiment of the present invention, taken along a central axis.

FIG. 2 is a radial sectional view of the thermal treatment applicator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a radial cross-sectional view of a thermal treatment applicator showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a radial cross-sectional view of a thermal treatment applicator showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a state diagram showing a state in which the electromagnetic wave radiating portion at the tip of the thermal treatment applicator is positioned and fixed to the prostate.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 20, 30 ... applicator for thermal treatment, 2 ... insertion section, 3 ... coaxial cable, 3a ... radiation antenna (electromagnetic radiation section), 5 ... coolant return path (cooling means), 5a ... outer pipe (cooling) (Liquid flow path), 5b: inside conduit, 5c: communication hole.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-180279 (JP, A) JP-A-5-76610 (JP, A) JP-A-4-297279 (JP, A) JP-A-4- 108460 (JP, A) Actually open sho 59-68556 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61N 5/02 A61F 7/12

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A predetermined space is formed inside a body cavity.
An insertion member to be inserted, and disposed inside the insertion member, for heating an affected part in a body cavity.
And an outer pipe and an inner pipe arranged substantially coaxially with each other.
And is heated by the electromagnetic waves from the antenna
A coolant for cooling a contact portion in a body cavity;
A recirculation conduit for recirculating along the inner peripheral surface of the material; an outer peripheral surface of the inner conduit of the recirculation conduit;
Radially partition between the inner peripheral surface and the outer conduit.
Thermal therapy applicator, characterized by comprising at least three or more of the partition portion, the split direction.