JP4330557B2 - Artificial blood vessel manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an artificial blood vessel and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to an artificial blood vessel having physical properties similar to a biological blood vessel and a method for manufacturing the same.

Currently, in the clinic, artificial blood vessels made of artificial materials are widely used as substitute blood vessels to replace pathologically deteriorated blood vessels. In such artificial blood vessels, various proposals have been made to satisfy the requirements as substitute blood vessels such as non-toxicity, durability and antithrombotic properties. For example, in Patent Document 1, in order to satisfy the durability and easiness of suturing included in the necessary conditions as a substitute blood vessel, a plurality of layered materials in which a plurality of collagen filaments are arranged substantially in parallel are stacked at a predetermined angle and bonded. An artificial blood vessel has been proposed in which the collagen non-woven fabric is molded into a tubular shape.
JP 2004-188037 A

  However, the conventional artificial blood vessels represented by the above-mentioned proposals are manufactured through a complicated process, so that the manufacturing cost cannot be suppressed, and the resulting artificial blood vessel becomes expensive. There is.

  In addition, in such an artificial blood vessel application, it is needless to say that it is important to use in the above-mentioned clinical practice, but in order to acquire the surgical technique in the pre-clinical stage that may damage the human body. It is also extremely important to use it for education and practice. In such an artificial blood vessel for education and practice, when using an expensive artificial blood vessel as described above, the burden on the user becomes extremely large, which may be a hindrance when sufficiently acquiring a surgical technique. There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and can be manufactured inexpensively without going through a complicated process, and has excellent elasticity and extensibility included in the necessary conditions as a substitute blood vessel. An object is to provide a blood vessel and a method for producing the same.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention relates to a step of inserting a rod-like body into a tubular body made of a fiber, and a pair of mold members formed with a groove portion for accommodating the tubular body into which the rod-like body is inserted. A step of injecting a mixed material of a product obtained by mixing a curing agent into liquid silicone and a product obtained by mixing a curing agent into a gel material into the groove and drying for a certain period of time, and inserting the rod-shaped body A step of accommodating the formed tubular body in the groove of one of the mold members, a step of covering the mold member so that the tubular body is received in the groove of the other mold member, and a state of accommodating the tubular body And a step of leaving the pair of mold members for a certain period of time while applying a certain pressure, and a step of pulling out the rod-shaped body from the tubular body. is there. As a result, the present invention makes it possible to inexpensively manufacture an artificial blood vessel that is included in necessary conditions as a substitute blood vessel and has excellent elasticity and extensibility without going through complicated steps.

  In the method for producing an artificial blood vessel according to the present invention, it is desirable that the fibrous tubular body is formed by weaving specific chemical fibers by plain weaving or twill weaving or by knitting by warp knitting. When the tubular body is formed in this way, it becomes possible to impart extensibility to the tubular body. In particular, when a tubular body is formed by plain weaving, twill weaving, or warp knitting, it is possible to give the tubular body characteristics similar to an elastic plate that forms part of the arterial wall.

  Furthermore, in the method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to the present invention, a groove may be formed on the surface of the rod-shaped body. In this case, since the elasticity of the artificial blood vessel is reinforced by the groove portion, it is possible to give the artificial blood vessel a characteristic more similar to a biological blood vessel.

  In particular, it is preferable that the groove portion formed in the rod-like body has a spiral shape. Thus, when the groove part formed in a rod-shaped body is made into a spiral shape, it becomes possible to easily pull out the rod-shaped body by pulling out the rod-shaped body while rotating along the groove part formed in the spiral shape. .

  The method for producing an artificial blood vessel according to the present invention is suitable for producing an artificial blood vessel used for education or practice for acquiring a surgical technique. That is, since an artificial blood vessel having elasticity and extensibility similar to a biological blood vessel can be manufactured at a low cost, it is possible to provide an artificial blood vessel suitable for use in education or practice for learning a surgical technique.

  According to the present invention, a gel-like substance produced by inserting a rod-like body into a tubular body made of a fibrous material and mixing a curing agent in the groove section of a pair of mold members formed with a groove section that accommodates the tubular body. The tubular body is accommodated in the groove portion of one mold member and the mold member is covered so that the rod-shaped body is accommodated in the groove portion of the other mold member, and the tubular body is accommodated. Since the rod-shaped body is pulled out from the tubular body after being allowed to stand for a certain period of time while applying a certain pressure to the pair of mold members in the state, it can be manufactured inexpensively without going through a complicated process. It is possible to provide an artificial blood vessel excellent in elasticity and extensibility included in the necessary conditions and a method for producing the same.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In the present invention, a rod-like body is inserted into a tubular body made of a fibrous material, and a gel-like substance produced by mixing a curing agent is injected into the groove portions of a pair of mold members formed with a groove portion that accommodates the tubular body. In a state where the tubular body is housed in a groove of one mold member and the mold member is covered so that the rod-shaped body is housed in the groove of the other mold member. After leaving for a certain time while applying a certain pressure to a pair of mold members, by pulling out the rod-shaped body from the tubular body, it can be manufactured inexpensively without going through a complicated process, a necessary condition as a substitute blood vessel To provide an artificial blood vessel excellent in elasticity and extensibility. In particular, in the present invention, since an artificial blood vessel having elasticity and extensibility similar to a biological blood vessel can be produced at low cost, an artificial blood vessel suitable for use in education or practice for learning a surgical technique is provided. Is possible. Hereinafter, the member used at each process of the manufacturing method of the artificial blood vessel which concerns on this invention, and the processing content using the said member are demonstrated.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a tubular body used in a method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention. The tubular body 1 shown in FIG. 1 is formed by weaving or knitting a specific chemical fiber. As the specific chemical fiber, for example, wooly nylon, polyester, rayon or the like is used. In each chemical fiber, for example, 8, 12, 16, 24, 40 and 70 deniers are used. The tubular body 1 corresponds to, for example, an elastic plate forming a part of an arterial wall in a state where an artificial blood vessel is manufactured by being covered with a predetermined gel substance as will be described later.

  When the tubular body 1 is formed by weaving specific chemical fibers, for example, plain weave or twill weave (jersey weave) is used. On the other hand, when a specific chemical fiber is formed by knitting, for example, warp knitting is used. Thus, it becomes possible to impart extensibility to the tubular body 1 by forming the tubular body 1 by weaving or knitting specific chemical fibers. In particular, when the tubular body 1 is formed by plain weaving, twill weaving, or warp knitting, it is possible to give the tubular body 1 characteristics similar to an elastic plate that forms part of the artery wall. In the present embodiment, the case where the tubular body 1 is formed by twilling 40 denier woolly nylon will be described.

  In the artificial blood vessel manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, the rod-shaped body 2 is inserted into the tubular body 1 configured as described above. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state where a rod-like body is inserted into the tubular body. The rod-shaped body 2 is composed of a conductive metal (hereinafter, the rod-shaped body 2 composed of such a metal is appropriately referred to as “metal rod 2”). The metal rod 2 is made of stainless steel, for example. When the metal rod 2 is inserted into the tubular body 1, it is preferable that the tubular body 1 is disposed at the central portion of the metal rod 2 and both ends of the metal rod 2 are exposed as shown in FIG. 2.

  Next, in the method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to the present embodiment, a predetermined gel substance is attached around the tubular body 1 in which such a metal rod 2 is inserted. For this reason, the tubular body 1 in which the metal rod 2 is inserted is accommodated so as to be sandwiched between the groove portions of the pair of mold members in which the groove portions for accommodating the tubular body 1 are formed. At that time, the predetermined gel-like substance is injected into the grooves formed in the respective mold members and dried for a predetermined time.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a pair of mold members in which grooves for accommodating the tubular body 1 in which the metal rod 2 is inserted are formed. In FIG. 3, only one mold member is shown, and the other mold member having the same shape is omitted. As shown in FIG. 3, the mold member 3 has a long shape corresponding to the length of the artificial blood vessel manufactured by the artificial blood vessel manufacturing method according to the present embodiment. A groove 4 is formed in the mold member 3 along the longitudinal direction. The groove portion 4 is provided in a shape that accommodates substantially half of the tubular body 1 in which the metal rod 2 is inserted. That is, the entire tubular body 1 into which the metal rod 2 is inserted is accommodated in a state in which the groove portions 4 formed in the respective mold members 3 are opposed to each other.

  In the method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to the present embodiment, a predetermined gel-like substance is injected into the groove portion 4 of the mold member 3 having such a shape and dried for a predetermined time. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a predetermined gel-like substance is injected into the groove 4 of the mold member 3 shown in FIG. The capacity of the predetermined gel substance 5 injected into the groove 4 is preferably set to a capacity corresponding to half the depth of the groove 4, for example. This is because the gel substance flows out when the tubular body 1 with the metal rod 2 inserted therein is accommodated.

  Here, the predetermined gel-like substance that permeates the tubular body 1 in which the metal rod 2 is inserted will be described. A given gel-like substance is a product obtained by mixing a certain percentage of a curing agent with a specific liquid silicone, and a product obtained by mixing a certain percentage of a specific curing agent with respect to a specific gel-like substance. It is produced by mixing and stirring the product. Specifically, 80 grams of the first liquid silicone (Asahi Kasei Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd .: RTV-2 VP7550) and 20 grams of the second liquid silicone (Asahi Kasei Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd .: SLJ3253) total 100 grams. In contrast, 2 to 4% of a curing agent (Asahi Kasei Wacker Silicone Co., Ltd .: CATALYST T-40) is mixed and stirred. The gel-like substance produced | generated by this is called gel-like substance (A).

  On the other hand, a specific gel-like substance (manufactured by Exeal Corporation: human skin gel, hardness 0) is mixed with 5% of a special curing agent for 15 grams and stirred. The gel-like substance produced | generated by this is called gel-like substance (B). And after defoaming the said gel-like substance (A) and the gel-like substance (B) for 5 minutes, respectively, it rapidly mixes and stirs at room temperature (20-30 degreeC). The gel-like substance produced | generated by this is called gel-like substance (C). This gel-like substance (C) corresponds to the predetermined gel-like substance 5 described above.

  In the method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to the present embodiment, when such a predetermined gel-like substance is generated, the gel-like substance (B) is colored with a specific color pigment so as to approximate the appearance of a biological blood vessel. I do. Specifically, a specific color (for example, red) pigment is mixed before mixing the special curing agent and stirring, thereby coloring the gel material (B) with a specific color.

  An appropriate amount of the predetermined gel-like substance 5 generated in this way is injected into the groove portions 4 of the pair of mold members 3. The predetermined gel-like substance 5 starts to harden in about 15 minutes after being injected into the groove 4. In the method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to the present embodiment, the tubular body 1 into which the metal rod 2 is inserted at the timing at which the predetermined gel-like substance 5 injected into the groove 4 starts to harden is used as one mold. It mounts so that it may be accommodated in the groove part 4 of the member 3. FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the tubular body placed at the timing when the gel substance injected into the groove of one mold member starts to harden. As shown in FIG. 5, half of the tubular body 1 into which the metal rod 2 is inserted is accommodated in the groove portion 4.

  Similarly to the case where the tubular body 1 is placed in the groove 4 of one mold member 3, the other mold member 3 is started at the timing when the predetermined gel-like substance 5 injected into the groove 4 of the other mold member 3 starts to harden. The mold member 3 is placed so that the tubular body 1 is accommodated in the groove portion 4. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a state of the tubular body that is covered with the mold member so that the tubular body is accommodated in the groove portion of the other mold member. In FIG. 6, one mold member 3 on which the tubular body 1 is placed is shown as a mold member 3D, and the other mold member 3 to be covered is shown as a mold member 3U. As shown in FIG. 6, when the other mold member 3 is covered, the tubular body 1 is completely accommodated in the groove portions 4 formed in the pair of mold members 3, and only the metal rod 2 exposed from both end portions thereof. Will protrude from the mold member 3.

  After the tubular body 1 is accommodated in the grooves 4 formed in the pair of mold members 3 in this way, in the method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to the present embodiment, a certain pressure is applied to the pair of mold members 3. Leave for a certain period of time. Specifically, a pressure of 10 Kg is applied to the pair of mold members 3 and left in a state of being fixed at room temperature (20 to 30 ° C.) for 24 hours. Thereby, the predetermined gel-like substance 5 injected into the groove portions 4 of the pair of mold members 3 is cured.

  Any method may be used to apply a certain pressure to the pair of mold members 3. As the simplest method, it is conceivable to place the pair of mold members 3 on a flat surface and place a 10 kg weight thereon. However, this method is merely an example, and the method for applying a constant pressure to the pair of mold members 3 is not limited to this, and can be changed as appropriate. In particular, it is preferable as an embodiment to automate a part or the whole of work in consideration of improvement in workability.

  In this way, after leaving for a certain period of time while applying pressure to the pair of mold members 3, the tubular body 1 is taken out from the pair of mold members 3. Thereby, the tubular body 1 in the state shown in FIG. 7 is obtained. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a predetermined gel substance is adhered to the entire tubular body.

  In this way, after obtaining the tubular body 1 in a state where the predetermined gel-like substance 5 is attached to the entire tubular body 1, in the method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to the present embodiment, the metal rod 2 is removed from the tubular body 1. Pull out. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a state after the metal rod 2 is pulled out from the tubular body 1. As shown in FIG. 8, after the metal rod 2 is pulled out, the predetermined gel-like substance 5 penetrates into the fibrous portion of the tubular body 1 and is cured with an appropriate elasticity. On the other hand, the fiber part of the tubular body 1 is given extensibility by weaving specific chemical fibers. Thereby, the tubular body 1 which has the elasticity and extensibility which approximate a biological blood vessel is comprised.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an artificial blood vessel manufactured through this process. As shown in FIG. 9, in the artificial blood vessel, a predetermined gel substance 5 is attached to the upper layer of the hollow tubular body 1. In addition, although the predetermined gel-like substance 5 has permeated the tubular body 1, details thereof are omitted in FIG. Thus, the surface of the artificial blood vessel is formed by covering the peripheral surface of the tubular body 1 with the predetermined gel substance 5.

  By cutting both end portions of the artificial blood vessel thus obtained to a desired length, an artificial blood vessel by the method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to the present embodiment is completed. In the artificial blood vessel manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, since the surface of the artificial blood vessel is constituted by the predetermined gel substance 5, the surface may become sticky. Assuming such a case, it is preferable as an embodiment to add a step of attaching a predetermined powder for suppressing stickiness to the final step. In this case, an excessive amount of the predetermined powder generated on the surface of the artificial blood vessel. Since rattling is suppressed, it is possible to approximate the surface characteristics of a biological blood vessel.

  Here, an artificial blood vessel having one type of outer diameter has been described, but one having a larger or smaller outer diameter can be manufactured. As an operation example when manufacturing artificial blood vessels having different outer diameters, for example, it is conceivable to change the diameters of the groove portions 4 of the pair of mold members 3. Further, as an example of work when manufacturing a product having a small outer shape, the amount of the predetermined gel substance 5 attached to the tubular body 1 may be reduced.

  Thus, according to the method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to the present embodiment, a pair of mold members in which a rod-like body 2 is inserted into a tubular body 1 made of a fiber and a groove portion 4 for accommodating the tubular body 1 is formed. A predetermined gel-like substance 5 produced by mixing a curing agent is injected into the groove 4 of 3 and dried for a predetermined time, and the tubular body 1 is accommodated in the groove 4 of one mold member 3 (for example, 3D). At the same time, the mold member 3 is placed so that the tubular body 1 is accommodated in the groove portion 4 of the other mold member 3 (for example, 3U). And, since the rod-shaped body 2 is pulled out from the tubular body 1 after being left standing for a certain period of time while applying a certain pressure to the pair of mold members 3 in a state where the tubular body 1 is accommodated, a complicated process is performed. Therefore, it is possible to provide an artificial blood vessel that can be manufactured at low cost and has excellent elasticity and extensibility that are included in the necessary conditions as a substitute blood vessel.

  In particular, in the method for producing an artificial blood vessel according to the present embodiment, the surface of the artificial blood vessel is constructed by infiltrating the tubular body 1 with a gel material 5 produced by mixing a curing agent. Thus, since the gel-like substance 5 produced by mixing a curing agent is used on the surface of the artificial blood vessel, the heat resistance of the artificial blood vessel can be improved and the strength of the surface can be adjusted.

  In the method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to the present embodiment, as described above, since an artificial blood vessel having elasticity and extensibility that approximates a biological blood vessel can be manufactured at low cost, education for learning a surgical technique or It is possible to provide a suitable artificial blood vessel when used for practice. In particular, when applied to an artificial blood vessel used for education or practice, as described above, by changing the elasticity of the artificial blood vessel, an artificial similar to a pathological biological blood vessel (for example, an arteriosclerotic blood vessel). Blood vessels can be manufactured. As a result, it is possible to learn a surgical technique for a pathological biological blood vessel that can usually be learned only in the clinic.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications. In the above-described embodiment, the size, shape, and the like illustrated in the accompanying drawings are not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed within a range in which the effect of the present invention is exhibited. In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the object of the present invention.

  For example, in the method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to the above-described embodiment, a case where an artificial blood vessel is manufactured using a rod-shaped body 2 having a normal peripheral surface is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the shape of the rod-like body 2 can be appropriately modified. For example, a groove portion may be formed on the peripheral surface of the rod-shaped body 2. In this case, it is preferable as an embodiment to make the groove formed in the rod-like body 2 spiral. When the groove is formed in a spiral shape, the rod-shaped body 2 can be easily pulled out by pulling out the rod-shaped body 2 while rotating along the groove formed in a spiral shape. Hereinafter, a modification in which a spiral groove is formed on the peripheral surface of the rod-like body 2 will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the rod-like body 2 having a spiral groove (hereinafter referred to as “spiral groove”) formed on the peripheral surface. As shown in FIG. 10, a spiral groove 2 </ b> A that is led from one end to the other end is formed on the peripheral surface of the rod-like body 2. When the method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to the above embodiment is executed using the rod-like body 2 in which the spiral groove 2A is formed in this manner, a predetermined gel-like substance 5 is attached to the entire rod-like body 2. In this case, the shape of the gel-like substance 5 around the rod-like body 2 is different from the above embodiment.

  That is, when the method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to the above embodiment is executed using the rod-shaped body 2 in which the spiral groove 2A is formed, the predetermined gel-like substance 5 enters the spiral groove 2A. And when it dries for a fixed time, it hardens | cures with the shape which entered 2 A of spiral grooves. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an artificial blood vessel manufactured using the rod-shaped body 2 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, when manufactured using the rod-shaped body 2 shown in FIG. 10, unlike the cross section of the artificial blood vessel shown in FIG. 9, a predetermined shape formed along the spiral groove 2 </ b> A inside the tubular body 1. The gel-like substance 5 is arranged.

  In the artificial blood vessel manufactured in this way, the elasticity in the artificial blood vessel is reinforced by the gel-like substance 5 that has entered the spiral groove 2A. Therefore, the artificial blood vessel is given characteristics more similar to those of a biological blood vessel. It becomes possible.

  In the present invention, a rod-like body is inserted into a tubular body made of a fibrous material, and a gel-like substance produced by mixing a curing agent is injected into the groove portions of a pair of mold members formed with a groove portion that accommodates the tubular body. In a state where the tubular body is housed in a groove of one mold member and the mold member is covered so that the rod-shaped body is housed in the groove of the other mold member. After being left for a certain period of time while applying a certain pressure to a pair of mold members, the rod-shaped body can be withdrawn from the tubular body so that it can be manufactured at low cost without going through a complicated process and is necessary as a substitute blood vessel. The present invention provides an artificial blood vessel excellent in elasticity and extensibility included in conditions, and has industrial applicability.

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the tubular body used with the manufacturing method of the artificial blood vessel which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram shown about the state at the time of a rod-shaped body being inserted in the tubular body. It is a schematic diagram shown about a pair of type | mold member in which the groove part which accommodates the tubular body in which the rod-shaped body was inserted is formed. It is a schematic diagram shown about the state which inject | poured the predetermined gel-like substance into the groove part of the type | mold member shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram shown about the state of the tubular body mounted at the timing which the gel-like substance inject | poured into the groove part of one type | mold member begins to harden | cure. It is a schematic diagram shown about the state of the tubular body which covered the said mold member so that a tubular body may be accommodated in the groove part of the other mold member. It is a schematic diagram shown about the state which made predetermined gel-like substance adhere to the whole tubular body. It is a schematic diagram shown about the state after pulling out a rod-shaped body from a tubular body. It is sectional drawing of the artificial blood vessel manufactured through the manufacturing process of the artificial blood vessel which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the rod-shaped body in which the spiral groove part was formed in the surrounding surface. It is sectional drawing of the artificial blood vessel manufactured using the rod-shaped body shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1: Tubular body 2: Bar-shaped body (metal bar)
3: Mold member 4: Groove part 5: Gel-like substance

Claims (9)

Inserting a rod-like body into a tubular body made of fiber;
Obtained by mixing a hardener into a product obtained by mixing a hardener into liquid silicone and a gel-like substance in the groove of a pair of mold members formed with a groove that accommodates the tubular body into which the rod-like body is inserted. Injecting a mixed substance with the product to be dried and drying for a certain period of time;
Accommodating the tubular body into which the rod-like body is inserted in the groove of one of the mold members;
Covering the mold member so that the tubular body is received in the groove of the other mold member;
Leaving the tubular body for a certain period of time while applying a certain pressure to the pair of mold members; and
Extracting the rod-shaped body from the tubular body;
A method for producing an artificial blood vessel, comprising:   The method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to claim 1, wherein the fibrous tubular body is formed by weaving specific chemical fibers.   The method for producing an artificial blood vessel according to claim 2, wherein the tubular body made of the fibrous material is formed by plain weaving a specific chemical fiber.   The method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to claim 2, wherein the fibrous tubular body is formed by twilling a specific chemical fiber.   The method for producing an artificial blood vessel according to claim 1, wherein the fibrous tubular body is formed by knitting a specific chemical fiber.   6. The method for producing an artificial blood vessel according to claim 5, wherein the tubular body made of the fiber is formed by warp knitting a specific chemical fiber.   The method for producing an artificial blood vessel according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a groove is formed on a surface of the rod-shaped body.   8. The method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to claim 7, wherein the groove is formed on a spiral.   The method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an artificial blood vessel used for education or practice for acquiring a surgical technique is manufactured.

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