JP3672747B2 - Connecting guide wire - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connecting guide wire used to guide a distal end of a catheter to a target location when the catheter is inserted into a tubular organ of a human body such as a blood vessel, a ureter, a bile duct, or a trachea.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, for inspection and treatment of human tubular organs such as blood vessels, ureters, bile ducts, trachea, etc., a catheter is inserted to administer contrast agents, etc., or a portion of tissue is collected with forceps through the catheter. Has been done. When inserting a catheter, a relatively thin and flexible guide wire is first inserted into the tubular organ, and after the distal end of the guide wire reaches the target location, the catheter is inserted along the outer periphery of the guide wire. The guide wire is pulled out.
[0003]
By the way, when a coronary artery stenosis is expanded using a balloon catheter, it may be necessary to replace the catheter in order to increase the size of the balloon. In this case, the guide wire is removed and replaced with a replacement guide wire that is approximately twice the length of the catheter, which allows the catheter to be pulled out and a new catheter inserted around the replacement guide wire. Need to be able to do. Such a replacement guide wire is required to have a length of about 300 cm.
[0004]
On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-299146, a plug means formed by grinding an end portion to be connected to a guide wire is attached to the tip end portion of an extension wire, and from a pipe having a portion bent along an axis. A structure is disclosed in which an extension wire is connected to an end of a guide wire by being inserted into a socket means.
[0005]
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-89581, the proximal end of the guide wire is screwed into the tubular extension, or the proximal end of the guide wire is spirally connected to the tubular extension by means such as frictional engagement. A structure is disclosed.
[0006]
Furthermore, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-116746, a sheath portion is formed at the proximal end of the first guide wire, a fitting portion is formed at the distal end of the second guide wire, and the fitting portion is press-fitted into the sheath portion. Thus, a structure for connecting the second guide wire to the proximal end of the first guide wire is disclosed.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in order to obtain a guide wire as long as 300 cm, if one core wire is to be processed, large facilities and man-hours are required, resulting in an extremely high manufacturing cost.
[0008]
In addition, the structures disclosed in JP-A-7-299146, JP-A-8-89581, and Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-116746 may cause the guide wire to be pulled out, and the connecting portion may be complicated and difficult to process. There is a problem that the strength of the connecting portion is insufficient.
[0009]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a connection guide wire that can be easily manufactured without requiring large facilities and man-hours even with a long guide wire, and has high strength and reliability of the connection portion.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention is the same as the portion exposed from the resin film and covered with the resin film from the end portions of the pair of guide wires to be connected which are coated with the resin film. A core wire protruding with an outer diameter, and a metal tube in which these core wires are inserted from both ends, the core wire and the metal tube are fixed by fixing means, the pair of guide wires are connected, And the connection guide wire characterized by the outer diameter of the said metal tube being the same as the outer diameter including the resin film of the said guide wire, or smaller than that.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the end portions of a pair of guide wires to be connected coated with a resin film protrude with the same outer diameter as the portions exposed from the resin film and covered with the resin film. A core wire, and a metal tube in which these core wires are inserted from both ends, the core wire and the metal tube being fixed by a fixing means, whereby the pair of guide wires are connected, and the metal tube The outer diameter of the guide wire is smaller than the outer diameter including the resin film, the end of the metal tube is pushed into the end surface of the resin film, and the resin film covers the outer periphery of the end of the metal tube. A connecting guide wire is provided that is covered.
[0013]
According to the first invention, by inserting the core wires of the pair of guide wires from both ends of the metal tube and fixing them by the fixing means, a guide wire having a desired length can be easily created, Compared to machining the core wire, the equipment can be made smaller, and man-hours and labor can be reduced. Further, the pair of guide wires can be firmly connected to increase reliability. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the metal tube is the same as or smaller than the outer diameter of the guide wire including the resin film, and the inner wall is not caught on the soft inner wall of the human tubular organ such as a blood vessel or the inner wall of the catheter, and the inner wall is damaged. Therefore, a safer guide wire can be provided.
[0014]
According to the second invention, in addition to the effect of the first invention, the end of the metal tube is pushed into the end surface of the resin film, and the resin film covers the outer periphery of the end of the metal tube, and the resin film Therefore, the resistance when the guide wire is inserted into the human body tubular organ can be further reduced.
[0015]
In addition, it is preferable that the said metal tube and the said core wire are a superelastic material or stainless steel, and can obtain the softness | flexibility and pushability suitable for a guide wire by it.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a connecting guide wire according to the present invention. The pair of guide wires 10 and 20 to be connected in this embodiment includes core wires 11 and 21 and resin films 12 and 22 coated on the outer circumferences of the core wires 11 and 21.
[0017]
As the core wires 11 and 21, an elastic material such as a super elastic material, stainless steel, or a piano wire is used. As the superelastic material, a Ni—Ti alloy, a Cu—Zn—X (X = Al, Fe, etc.) alloy, a Ni—Ti—X (X = Fe, Cu, V, Co, etc.) alloy or the like is preferably used.
[0018]
The Ni-Ti alloys and the like are widely known as shape memory alloys having a shape memory effect and a superelastic (pseudoelastic) effect. Unlike ordinary metal materials that are permanently deformed due to deformation strain exceeding the point, even if deformation strain exceeding the yield point is applied, when the material is unloaded, it returns to its original shape without permanent deformation. Since the return characteristic is also large, it is suitable as a core material for a guide wire, and it is preferable that the temperature condition for exerting the superelasticity (pseudoelasticity) effect is set at or below the body temperature of a human or animal. For superelasticity (pseudoelasticity), JIS H 7001 issued by the Japanese Standards Association can be referred to.
[0019]
In addition, it is preferable that the core wire 11 arrange | positioned at the front end side has a main-body part and the front-end | tip part which is made into a small diameter with respect to a main-body part, and this front-end | tip part becomes a small diameter gradually toward the forefront. A shape such as a taper shape or a step shape is preferable. In addition, it is preferable that a radiopaque metal is attached to a distal end portion (not shown) of the core wire 11 by means of adhesion, welding or the like, for example, in a coil shape or a chip shape. As the radiopaque metal, for example, gold, platinum, silver, bismuth, tungsten, or an alloy containing these metals is preferably used.
[0020]
Resin films 12 and 22 are coated on the outer circumferences of the core wires 11 and 21 in order to provide slipperiness and prevention of thrombus adhesion. As the resin films 12 and 22, for example, polyurethane, polyether block amide, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polypropylene, polyamide, polystyrene, fluorine resin, silicon resin, or the like is employed. The resin films 12 and 22 may be covered with a resin tube. Further, the resin films 12 and 22 may contain a radiopaque material. As the radiopaque material, powders such as bismuth, barium sulfate, and tungsten are preferably used.
[0021]
Furthermore, the outer periphery of the resin films 12 and 22 may be covered with a hydrophilic resin film (not shown). The hydrophilic resin film is a resin having a hydrophilic group such as —OH, —CONH ₂ , —COOH, —NH ₂ , —COO ⁻ , —SO ^{3 —} , and preferably the surface of the resin films 12 and 22. Those having a functional group capable of binding to are preferably employed. For example, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol and the like are preferably employed.
[0022]
At the ends of the pair of guide wires 10 and 20 to be connected, the resin films 12 and 22 are peeled off to expose the core wires 11 and 21, and the adhesive S is applied to the outer periphery of the core wires 11 and 21. Applied.
[0023]
The metal tube 30 for connecting the pair of guide wires 10 and 20 is made of the same material as the core wires 11 and 21 and has an inner diameter into which the core wires 11 and 21 can be inserted.
[0024]
Then, the core wires 11 and 21 protruding from the end portions to be connected of the pair of guide wires 10 and 20 are inserted from both end portions of the metal tube 30 and fixed by the adhesive S, thereby the pair of guide wires. 10 and 20 can be connected. The outer diameter of the metal tube 30 is the same as or smaller than the outer diameter of the guide wires 10 and 20 including the resin films 12 and 22.
[0025]
When the outer diameter of the metal tube 30 is smaller than the outer diameter including the resin films 12 and 22 of the guide wires 10 and 20, as shown in FIG. 8, the end surfaces 12a and 22a of the resin films 12 and 22 are Since the end portion 30a of the metal tube 30 is pushed in, the resin films 12 and 22 cover the outer periphery of the end portion 30a of the metal tube 30, and the end portions of the resin films 12 and 22 are reduced in diameter. The resistance when inserted into the tubular organ can be further reduced.
[0026]
FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of a connecting guide wire according to the present invention. In the following description, substantially the same parts as those in the embodiment of FIG.
In this embodiment, the core wires of the guide wires 10 and 20 are inserted into the metal tube 30, and the core wire and the metal tube 30 are fixed by spot welding M.
[0027]
3 and 4 show still another embodiment of the connecting guide wire according to the present invention.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, recesses 13 and 23 are formed in the core wires 11 and 21 of the guide wires 10 and 20. The metal tube 30 has a pair of parallel cuts 31 and two pieces 32 formed between them. When the core wires 11 and 21 are inserted, the positions of the piece portions 32 are also provided corresponding to the recesses 13 and 23 of the core wires 11 and 21.
[0028]
And after inserting the core wires 11 and 21 from the both ends of the metal tube 30, as shown in FIG. 4, the said piece parts 32 and 32 are crimped and it is made to fit in the said recessed parts 13 and 23, and the metal tube 30 is interposed. A pair of guide wires 10 and 20 are connected.
[0029]
In addition, the core wires 11 and 21 are inserted into the metal tube 30 and crimped without forming the concave portions 13 and 23 of the core wires 11 and 21 as described above and the piece 32 formed by the notch 31 of the metal tube 30. It is possible to fix it alone.
[0030]
Here, caulking is to fix both the core wire by inserting the core wire into the metal tube and then applying pressure from the outside of the metal tube to the inside to deform the metal tube and possibly the core wire. It has a high strength against breakage and is useful.
[0031]
5 and 6 show still another embodiment of the connecting guide wire according to the present invention.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, at least two holes 33 are formed in the metal tube 30. These holes 33 are formed at positions corresponding to the core wires 11 and 21 when the core wires 11 and 21 of the guide wires 10 and 20 are inserted.
[0032]
And after inserting the core wires 11 and 21 from the both ends of the metal tube 30, the brazing material 34 is made to flow in from the hole 33, and the metal tube 30 and the core wires 11 and 21 are fixed.
[0033]
FIG. 7 shows a connection guide wire as a reference example for understanding the present invention. In the guide wire of this reference example, the tips 11a and 21a of the core wires 11 and 21 protruding from the ends to which the guide wires 10 and 20 are connected are reduced in diameter and bonded to the outer periphery and the reduced diameter step portions 11b and 21b. Agent S is applied. And the front-end | tip parts 11a and 21a of the said core wires 11 and 21 are inserted in the metal tube 30 of the internal diameter which can insert this front-end | tip parts 11a and 21a substantially fit, and it adheres with the adhesive agent S.
[0035]
The term “fixing” as used in the present invention refers to a substantially non-detachable strong connection, and the adhesion, welding, caulking, brazing, etc. mentioned in the above examples are useful as the fixing means. There is no particular problem as long as equivalent strong connection is possible.
[0036]
The length of the metal tube is preferably 5 to 15 mm, the inserted core wire is difficult to come out, and the connecting portion including the metal tube can flexibly follow the bending of the product. The inner diameter of the metal tube is preferably about 0.01 to 0.02 mm larger than the outer diameter of the core wire to be inserted, and the core wire is more difficult to be removed when the end portion comes to the center of the metal tube.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the connecting guidewire of the present invention, the core wires of the pair of guidewires are respectively inserted from both ends of the metal tube and fixed by fixing means such as adhesion, welding, caulking, brazing, or the like. Thus, a guide wire having a desired length can be easily created, and the equipment can be made smaller and the number of steps and labor can be reduced as compared with processing a single core wire. Further, the pair of guide wires can be firmly connected to increase reliability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a connecting guide wire of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a coupled guide wire according to another embodiment of the present invention in a coupled state.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing still another embodiment of the connecting guide wire of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a connected state in the same embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing still another embodiment of the connection guide wire of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a connected state in the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a connection guide wire as a reference example for understanding the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing a connecting portion in an embodiment of the connecting guide wire of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 20 Guide wire 11, 21 Core wire 12, 22 Resin film 13, 23 Recess 30 Metal tube 31 Notch 32 Single part 33 Hole 34 Brazing material

Claims (2)

  Core wires that are exposed from the resin film and project with the same outer diameter from the end portions of the pair of guide wires to be connected coated with the resin film, and these core wires are at both ends. And the core wire and the metal tube are fixed by fixing means, so that the pair of guide wires are connected, and the outer diameter of the metal tube is equal to that of the guide wire. A connecting guide wire characterized by being equal to or smaller than an outer diameter including a resin film.   Core wires that are exposed from the resin film and project with the same outer diameter from the end portions of the pair of guide wires to be connected coated with the resin film, and these core wires are at both ends. And the core wire and the metal tube are fixed by fixing means, so that the pair of guide wires are connected, and the outer diameter of the metal tube is equal to that of the guide wire. The connection is characterized in that the outer diameter of the metal tube is smaller than the outer diameter including the resin film, the end of the metal tube is pushed into the end surface of the resin film, and the resin film covers the outer periphery of the end of the metal tube. Guide wire.

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