JP4789974B2 - Near-infrared probe holder that can be placed on the surface of an in vivo organ or tissue - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a near-infrared light probe holder that can be placed on the surface of an in vivo organ or tissue, and a near-infrared light monitor device including the probe holder.

  Near-infrared light having a wavelength of 600 to 1000 nm is easily absorbed by oxygenated and reduced hemoglobin and has a property of being easily transmitted through living tissue. Utilizing this property, research is being conducted to analyze the oxygenated state of hemoglobin in the blood flowing through the tissue and non-invasively investigate the activity state of the brain and muscles. In this method, near-infrared light is irradiated to the tissue from a near-infrared light probe fixed on the surface of a living tissue such as the head or muscle, and the light that is absorbed or scattered inside the living body is then emitted from the living body. By receiving light and analyzing it, non-invasive monitoring of the oxygen state of the brain and muscles in the living body is performed.

  Conventionally, a near-infrared light probe for irradiating and receiving near-infrared light used in this method is designed to be used by being fixed to an external surface (Patent Document 1).

  For this reason, it has been difficult to monitor the oxygen state of an in vivo organ or tissue in the deep part (that is, a deep part exceeding 2 to 3 cm from the surface layer) (Non-patent Document 1). Also, when organs / tissues below the diaphragm are targeted, since respiratory fluctuations are added, it is difficult to accurately monitor the oxygen state with a near-infrared light probe fixed to the external surface. Furthermore, in order to accurately monitor the oxygen state, it is necessary to fix the near-infrared light probe in close contact with the surface of the target organ / tissue, but it is designed to be used by being fixed to the external surface. However, it has been difficult to stably fix the conventional near-infrared light probe in close contact with the surface of the target organ / tissue under the in vivo environment.

JP 2006-122458 JP Hock C et al., Brain Res. 1997 May 2; 755 (2): 293-303

  An object of the present invention is to provide a near-infrared light probe holder and a near-infrared light monitor device that can be inserted into a living body and monitor the oxygen state of an in-vivo organ or tissue.

  As a result of intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventor has determined that a light-transmitting probe that irradiates near-infrared light and a light-receiving probe that receives a part of scattered / reflected near-infrared light can be used as an organ in vivo A near-infrared probe holder that can be fixed in close proximity to a tissue and can be placed in a humid environment in a living body for a long time has been developed, and the present invention has been completed.

That is, the present invention is as follows.
[1] A light-transmitting probe that irradiates an in vivo organ or tissue of a subject with near-infrared light and a light-receiving probe that receives a part of the near-infrared light scattered or reflected from the organ or tissue. A probe holder that enables the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe to be disposed close to a body organ or tissue of a body, and having the following structure:
(a) The probe holder has a columnar shape having a flat portion in which at least a part of the outer surface extends in the longitudinal direction;
(b) The probe holder includes a concave portion for accommodating the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe and the optical fiber cable connected thereto, in the flat portion;
And
(c) It has a tapered structure from the central portion along the longitudinal direction toward the distal end portion and the proximal end portion.

[2] The probe according to [1], further comprising a protective tube made of a transparent silicone resin, the protective tube having translucency, and being able to isolate the probe holder from the wet environment in the subject. holder.
[3] The probe holder according to [2], wherein a convex curved surface is formed at the tip of the protective tube.

[4] A near-field comprising the probe holder according to any one of [1] to [3], a light-transmitting probe that irradiates near-infrared light, and a light-receiving probe that receives a part of scattered / reflected near-infrared light. Infrared light tissue oxygen monitor device.
[5] The near-infrared light tissue oxygen monitoring device according to [4], wherein an optical fiber cable extending from the probe holder and connected to the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe is integrated with the probe holder.

  The probe holder of the present invention has a flat portion at a part of the outer surface. The near infrared light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe are arranged in the probe holder so that near infrared light can be irradiated and received at the flat portion. The flat portion of the probe holder is simply placed on the surface of the organ or tissue. Thus, the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe can be stably brought close to the organ or tissue surface in the living body, and the tissue oxygen state can be easily and stably monitored even in a spatially limited place in the living body. It can be performed.

  In addition, since the probe holder is covered with a silicone resin having high in-vivo stability and high near-infrared light transmittance, the light-transmitting probe and the light-receiving probe can be isolated from the wet environment in the living body. A near-infrared light probe provided with a probe holder can monitor a tissue oxygen state for a long time in a wet environment in a living body.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.
The present invention relates to a probe that houses a light-transmitting probe that irradiates near-infrared light and a light-receiving probe that receives a part of the near-infrared light that is irradiated from the light-transmitting probe and is scattered and reflected by an internal organ or tissue. The probe holder is a probe holder that allows a light-transmitting probe and a light-receiving probe housed in a probe holder to be placed close to an in vivo organ or tissue of a subject.

  The probe holder of the present invention has a columnar shape, and an outer surface thereof has a flat portion at least partially extended in the longitudinal direction.

  Usually, when monitoring the oxygen state of tissue using near-infrared light, it is necessary to bring the light-transmitting probe and the light-receiving probe close to the target organ or tissue surface. Further, in order to obtain the reproducibility of the obtained data, it is necessary that the distance between the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe is kept constant.

  The probe holder has a structure that makes it possible to place the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe close to the target organ or tissue surface while keeping the distance between the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe constant.

  In the present invention, “proximity” means that the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe irradiate the target organ or tissue surface with near infrared light, or a part of the near infrared light scattered or reflected from the organ or tissue surface. This means that the light transmission and light reception probe and the organ or tissue surface are located close enough to receive light. It also refers to the case where a part of the holder exists between the light transmitting probe and / or the light receiving probe and the target organ or tissue surface.

  The probe holder preferably has appropriate rigidity and hardness, and is composed of a member (not particularly limited, such as resin, plastic, aluminum, or wood) having appropriate rigidity and hardness. The probe holder itself is preferably composed of a light-shielding member. Preferably, it is comprised from ABS resin.

  The probe holder has a flat portion extending in the longitudinal direction on at least a part of the outer surface thereof. The flat portion is brought into close contact with the target in vivo organ or tissue surface. As a result, the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe can be brought close to the target in vivo organ or tissue surface. The size of the flat portion may vary depending on the organ or tissue to be measured, but is 31 to 36 mm in length and 8 to 12 mm in width.

  The flat portion has a concave portion for accommodating a light transmitting probe, a light receiving probe, and an optical fiber cable connected to them. The concave portion may exist at least over a range from the base side of the probe holder to the fixed position of the light transmitting probe or the light receiving probe existing on the most distal end side of the probe holder, and may have a length of 31 to 36 mm. The width of the recess may be about 4.5 mm or less. Furthermore, the depth of the concave portion only needs to be deep enough to accommodate at least two optical fiber cables, and may be 9 to 12 mm deep.

  The light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe and the optical fiber cable connected to them are accommodated in the recess. The light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe are housed in the recess so that the near infrared light irradiation surface and the light receiving surface are parallel to the flat portion of the probe holder at the fixed position of the probe provided at a specific position of the recess. Fixed. The light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe may be fixed to the fixing position in any form, for example, the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe may be fitted in the recess, and the nut, socket, screw, adhesive It is possible to fix using etc. Depending on the fixing method, it is possible to appropriately change the size and shape of the concave portion and the fixing position where the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe are fixed. The number of fixed positions of the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe may be at least two so that at least a pair of light transmitting probes and light receiving probes can be attached, but a plurality of light transmitting probes and / or light receiving probes can be attached. Two or more may be provided in each. The interval between the fixing positions for fixing the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe is 10 to 20 mm.

  The shape of the probe holder of the present invention may be a cylindrical shape having the flat portion at least partially on the outer surface thereof, or a polygonal column shape such as a triangle, a quadrangle, or a pentagon.

  The corners on the outer surface of the probe holder of the present invention are preferably rounded so as not to damage the internal organs and tissues of the subject. For example, in the cross section perpendicular to the axis along the longitudinal direction of the probe holder, the contour of the outer surface other than the flat portion has at least a U-shaped portion.

  Furthermore, the probe holder of the present invention is characterized by having a tapered structure from the central portion along the longitudinal direction toward the distal end portion and the proximal end portion. Since it has a tapered structure, it becomes easy to insert, indwell, and remove the probe holder of the present invention from an organ or tissue in the living body.

  Here, the center portion of the probe holder refers to a portion other than the distal end portion and the proximal end portion of the probe holder. The center portion is not necessarily intended to be limited to the center of the holder body, and may be a position closer to the distal end side and / or the proximal end side than the center of the holder body. The degree of taper may be the same or different from the center to the tip and from the center to the base. However, the distal end portion and the proximal end portion must not be so sharp as to damage an organ or tissue in the living body. For example, the distal end portion and the proximal end portion are preferably rounded. It is preferable that the difference between the width and height of the distal end portion or the base end portion and the central portion of the holder main body is in the range of 10 to 13 mm.

  Furthermore, the probe holder of the present invention may be covered with a protective tube made of an elastic body. The protective tube has a tubular shape with a closed tip, and can cover the entire holder body. More preferably, the protective tube covers all parts (including the optical fiber part extending from the probe holder to the light transmission light source and the light detection part in the following near-infrared light probe) that can be exposed to the humid environment in the living body. Has a sufficient length. Since the near infrared light is irradiated from the light transmitting probe through the protective tube and received by the light receiving probe, the protective tube needs to have translucency. “Translucent” means the property of transmitting near-infrared light irradiated from a light-transmitting probe and part of near-infrared light scattered or reflected from an organ or tissue in the living body, that is, does not absorb these lights. Refers to nature. Since the protective tube has translucency, it is possible to irradiate the target organ or tissue in the living body from the light transmitting probe through the protective tube, and to scatter from the in vivo organ or tissue by the light receiving probe.・ The reflected near infrared light can be received through the protective tube. It is preferable that all the side surfaces having the flat part of the protective tube have translucency, but near infrared light is irradiated from the light transmitting probe to the outside, so that the light receiving probe can receive scattered / reflected light. Only a part of the flat portion of the protective tube, that is, only the fixing position of the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe may have translucency.

  Furthermore, the protective tube is made of a material that does not damage the organ or tissue when the probe holder is inserted into an organ or tissue in the living body, placed, and removed from the organ or tissue, and the organ or tissue. It is necessary to have a shape that does not damage.

  As the elastic body forming the protective tube, it is preferable to use a transparent silicone resin having high in-vivo stability and high translucency. Preferably, the thickness of the protective tube can be 0.2 mm or less.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that a convex curved surface is formed at the tip of the protective tube. By having such a structure, the probe holder including the protective tube can be easily inserted into the living body, placed, and removed from the organ or tissue. At that time, the organ or tissue in the living body Can be prevented from being damaged. The convex curved surface preferably has a thickening structure of 6 to 12 mm so as to maintain a strength such that the shape does not change greatly when inserted into a living body. Although the structure can be constituted by a member having elasticity, it is preferable to use a silicone resin having high in vivo stability. Preferably, the protective tube and the convex curved portion at the tip thereof are integrally formed.

  Moreover, the protective tube can isolate the holder body contained therein from the moist environment in the subject body.

  In the present invention, a probe holder that does not include the protective tube and a probe holder that includes the protective tube are also referred to as a probe holder. In addition, a probe holder that does not include a protective tube may be referred to as a probe holder body.

  The present invention includes the probe holder, a light-transmitting probe that irradiates near-infrared light, and a light-receiving probe that receives a portion of the scattered / reflected near-infrared light. A contained near infrared light tissue oxygen monitoring device is included.

  The light transmission probe is a portion that irradiates near infrared light. For example, the end of the optical fiber cable is used as a main component, and near-infrared light generated from a light source and transmitted by the optical fiber cable is irradiated to an in vivo organ or tissue of the subject. The end of the optical fiber cable itself can be used as a light transmission probe.

  On the other hand, the light receiving probe is a portion that receives light scattered and reflected by the organ or tissue in the living body irradiated from the light transmitting probe. For example, the end of the optical fiber cable is a main component, and light received by the cable is transmitted to the light detection unit. The end of the optical fiber cable itself can also be used as a light receiving probe.

  It is preferable that the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe are alternately positioned, and the above-mentioned fixed position in the concave portion of the probe holder is arranged so that the near infrared light irradiation surface and the light receiving surface are parallel to the flat portion of the probe holder. It is fixed using a fixing method.

  The light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe may be provided in at least one pair, but a plurality of light transmitting probes and / or light receiving probes may be provided.

  The other end of the optical fiber cable connected to the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe is connected to a light source or a light detection unit outside the probe holder.

  In the near-infrared light tissue oxygen monitoring device of the present invention, an optical fiber cable extending from the probe holder and connected to the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe may be integrated with the probe holder. Liquid (eg, water, blood, etc.) from between two or more fiber optic cables by keeping the fiber optic cables connected to the transmitter and receiver probes in close contact with each other and integrated into the probe holder Can be prevented from entering. The optical fiber cables may be brought into close contact with each other by an adhesive or the like. Alternatively, the optical fiber cables may be brought into close contact with each other using a fixed support for fixing and maintaining the optical fiber cables in close contact with each other. The integration of the optical fiber cable and the probe holder can be performed by covering at least the optical fiber cable exposed to the living body and the probe holder with the protective tube.

  The optical fiber cable is not particularly limited as long as it has translucency and can transmit near-infrared light, but is preferably made of glass, quartz, or plastic because of its high translucency.

  As the light source, an LED or the like can be used.

  As an alternative embodiment, a light source may be fixed by the probe fixing means without using an optical fiber cable, and the in vivo organ or tissue of the subject may be directly irradiated with near infrared light from the light source.

  The light detection unit includes a light receiving element such as a photodiode or a phototransistor, and can convert the detected optical signal into an electrical signal and send it to the analysis device.

  The near infrared light probe of the present invention may further include a spectroscope, a reflector, a filter, and the like.

  Examples of the subject that can use the near-infrared light tissue oxygen monitoring apparatus of the present invention include mammals, preferably humans.

  The organ or tissue capable of monitoring the oxygen state using the near-infrared light tissue oxygen monitoring device of the present invention is not limited, and examples include the heart, liver, kidney, lung, intestinal tract, and pancreas.

  When monitoring the oxygen state of a tissue or organ in a living body, a body wall is surgically incised, and the probe portion of the device of the present invention is inserted into the living body through the incision, and placed in close contact with a specific tissue or organ. do it.

  The near-infrared light tissue monitoring apparatus of the present invention makes it possible to monitor a stable oxygen state in an organ or tissue in the holder living body.

  EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a probe holder 1 of the present invention. The probe holder 1 is made of ABS resin.

  The probe holder 1 has a flat portion 2 on the outer surface, and a portion 3 whose outer surface has a round outline in a cross section perpendicular to the axis along the longitudinal direction. Further, the structure 4 is tapered from the central portion along the longitudinal direction toward the distal end portion and the proximal end portion. The probe holder 1 has a length of 36 mm, the width of the distal end portion and the proximal end portion is 8 mm, the width of the central portion is 12 mm, the height of the distal end portion and the proximal end portion is 9 mm, The height is 12mm.

  FIG. 2 shows the recesses 5 present in the flat part 2 of the probe holder 1 and the fixing positions 6 and 6 ′ for fixing the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe. The concave portion 5 has a width of 4.5 mm and a depth of 9 mm in the flat portion 2 and extends from the base side of the probe holder 1 to the probe fixing position 6 existing on the distal end side of the probe holder 1. The fixed positions 6 and 6 ′ have a structure in which a circle having a radius of 4 mm having a center on the positive center line of the recess 5 is hollowed out at a depth of 4 mm. The distance between the centers of the fixed positions 6 and 6 'is 20 mm.

  FIG. 3 shows a protective tube 7 covering the probe holder 1. The protective tube 7 is formed of transparent silicone having translucency. A convex curved surface structure 8 formed of silicone for facilitating insertion into the living body exists at the distal end portion. The length of the hollow portion in the tube is 388 mm and the inner diameter is 9 mm so that the probe holder 1 that can be exposed to the wet environment in the living body can be covered with the following near infrared light probe. The thickness of the side surface portion 9 is 0.2 mm, and the convex curved surface structure 8 is 12 mm.

  FIG. 4 shows that the probe holder 1, the light transmitting probe 10 and the light receiving probe 11 of the present invention, and the translucent protective tube 7 are arranged in close contact with the organ or tissue in the living body of the subject. A possible near infrared light tissue oxygen monitoring device is shown. The light transmitting probe 10 and the light receiving probe 11 are fixed to the concave portion 5 provided in the flat portion 2 of the probe holder 1 at the fixed positions 6 and 6 ′, and the near infrared light irradiation surface and the light receiving surface are the flat portion 2 of the probe holder. It is fixed using an adhesive so as to be parallel. The positions of the light transmitting probe 10 and the light receiving probe 11 are interchangeable. When exchanging the position, the light transmitting probe 10 and the light receiving probe 11 may be moved with respect to each other, and the other ends of the optical fiber cables 12 and 12 ′ connected to the light transmitting probe 10 and the light receiving probe 11 are respectively detected by light. You may carry out by connecting to a part or a light source. The probe holder 1 on which the light transmitting probe 10 and the light receiving probe 11 are arranged is covered with a protective tube 7 made of translucent silicone, and is isolated from the wet environment in the living body. The light transmitting probe 10 and the light receiving probe 11 can be held close to the target organ or tissue by directly contacting the flat part 2 ′ formed in the protective tube 7 with the organ or tissue in the living body.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily and stably monitor an oxygen state in an in vivo organ or tissue, which has been difficult with the prior art. For example, if the oxygen state of an organ after organ transplantation can be monitored using near-infrared light, the onset of thrombosis and the like can be detected early. Thereby, the possibility of avoiding early organ failure after transplantation can be increased. In addition, it can be expected to make an important contribution to the early detection of various diseases in clinical practice.

FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of the probe holder of the present invention. From the left, a) Front end side front view, b) Side view, c) Base end side front view. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the concave portions present in the flat portion of the probe holder of the present invention and the fixing positions of the light transmitting probe and the light receiving probe. a) Front side front view, b) Bottom view (flat side), c) Side view FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of a protective tube having translucency of the probe holder of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional perspective view showing one embodiment of the near-infrared light tissue oxygen monitoring device of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Probe holder 2 Probe holder flat part 3 U-shaped part 4 Tapered structure 5 Recessed part 6 Fixed position 6 'Fixed position 7 Protective tube 8 Convex curved surface structure 9 Protective tube side surface part 10 Light transmitting probe 11 Light receiving probe 12 Optical fiber Cable 12 'optical fiber cable 2' Near infrared light probe holder flat part

Claims (1)

A light-transmitting probe that irradiates an in vivo organ or tissue of a subject with near-infrared light, a light-receiving probe that receives a portion of near-infrared light scattered or reflected from the organ or tissue, the light-transmitting probe, and the light reception accommodating the probe, and a probe holder that allows placing in close proximity to the light transmitting probe and receiving probe vivo organ or tissue of a subject, a near-infrared light tissue oxygen monitoring device ,
The probe holder has a columnar shape in which at least a part of the outer surface has a flat portion extending in the longitudinal direction, and a concave portion for accommodating the light transmitting probe, the light receiving probe, and an optical fiber cable connected thereto. And has a tapered structure from the central portion along the longitudinal direction toward the distal end portion and the proximal end portion,
The probe holder, the light-transmitting probe and the light-receiving probe, and the optical fiber cable connected to the light-transmitting probe and the light-receiving probe, which are exposed in a living body, are enclosed in a protective tube made of a transparent silicone resin, The near-infrared light, characterized in that the protective tube has translucency, the probe holder can be isolated from the moist environment in the body of the subject, and a convex curved surface is formed at the tip. Tissue oxygen monitor device .

Images