JP5451289B2 - Catheter and extension device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a catheter used by being inserted into a body cavity such as a blood vessel and a vascular vessel and an extension device for the catheter.

  In order to examine an affected part in a body cavity such as a blood vessel and a vascular vessel, an ultrasonic catheter that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves in the affected part is used. For example, an ultrasonic catheter described in Patent Document 1 includes an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, a signal line connected to the ultrasonic transducer, and ultrasonic vibrations inside a sheath inserted into a body cavity. A drive shaft for rotating the child is provided. The ultrasonic catheter is connected to an external drive device that applies a driving force to the drive shaft and transmits and receives signals to and from the ultrasonic transducer via a long extension device.

  The extension device separates the ultrasonic catheter from the external drive device, thereby improving the workability by placing an external drive device larger than the ultrasonic catheter away from the operator and the patient. Can omit the sterilization of the external drive.

  When using an ultrasonic catheter, for example, the distal end of the sheath containing the ultrasonic vibrator is first carried deeper than the affected part, and then the sheath is retracted in the body cavity, thereby allowing the ultrasonic vibrator to pass through the affected part. . In this way, since the ultrasonic transducer moves from the deep part through the affected part, ultrasonic observation is continuously performed before and after the affected part, and three-dimensional data of shapes such as blood vessels and vessels is created. Can be. In addition, the ultrasonic catheter once retracted can be advanced to reconfirm the affected area and create three-dimensional data.

Japanese Patent No. 3331136

  However, in the ultrasonic catheter described in Patent Document 1, the ultrasonic transducer can rotate within the sheath, but cannot move along the axial direction within the sheath. Therefore, when using an ultrasonic catheter, as described above, it is necessary to cause the ultrasonic transducer to pass through the affected part by retracting the entire sheath within the body cavity, and the operation is complicated.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and it is possible to improve workability by allowing the transmission / reception unit (ultrasonic transducer) to move within the sheath while having an extension device. It is an object to provide a catheter and an extension device for the catheter.

The catheter of the present invention that achieves the above object has a catheter body inserted into a body cavity, and an extension device for connecting the catheter body to an external drive device for driving the catheter body. And
The catheter body includes a sheath to be inserted into a body cavity, a transmission / reception section that can move in the sheath in the axial direction within the sheath and transmit / receive a signal in the body cavity, and a sheath base in the sheath. A drive shaft that extends from the end side toward the tip side and is movable in the axial direction of the sheath and is connected to the transmission / reception unit and transmits a mechanical driving force to the transmission / reception unit; and connected to the transmission / reception unit A signal path for transmitting a signal from the transmission / reception unit, a catheter-side terminal provided on the proximal end side of the drive shaft and disposed at the end of the signal path, and provided on the proximal end side of the sheath A catheter side coupling part,
The extension device is configured to receive the driving force from the external driving device, the first driving side of the extension side connecting to the connecting portion of the catheter side, the second connecting portion of the extension side connectable to the external driving device, and the driving. An extension shaft that transmits a mechanical driving force to the shaft and is movable in the axial direction of the extension device; an extension signal path that is connectable to the signal path and transmits the signal to an external drive; and Provided on the distal end side and connectable to the catheter side terminal portion, and is provided on the extension side first terminal portion on which one end portion of the extension signal path is disposed, and on the proximal end side of the extension shaft, and the external drive apparatus and are connectable, have a, an extension side second terminal portion to which the other end portion is disposed in the extension signal path,
The catheter side connecting portion has a catheter side movement restricting portion for restricting movement of the catheter side terminal portion along the axial direction of the sheath so as to be releasable .

An extension device for a catheter of the present invention that achieves the above object includes a sheath inserted into a body cavity, a transmitter / receiver that is movable in the axial direction of the sheath and that transmits / receives signals in the body cavity, and a machine to the transmitter / receiver An extension device for a catheter for connecting a catheter main body having a drive shaft for transmitting a general driving force to an external driving device for driving the catheter main body,
An extension-side first connection portion connectable to the catheter body portion, an extension-side second connection portion connectable to the external drive device, and a drive force from the external drive device to the drive shaft of the catheter body portion An extension shaft that transmits a mechanical driving force and is movable in the axial direction of the extension device, an extension signal path that transmits a signal from the transmission / reception unit to an external drive device, and provided on the distal end side of the extension shaft. An extension side first terminal portion that is connectable to the drive shaft, is disposed at one end of the extension signal path, is provided on a base end side of the extension shaft, is connectable to the external drive device, and the extension possess a second terminal portion extending side the other end of the signal path is arranged, a,
The extension-side first connecting portion includes an extension-side movement restricting portion that releasably restricts movement of the extension-side first terminal portion along the axial direction of the extension device .

In the catheter of the present invention configured as described above, the transmission / reception unit of the catheter body is movable in the axial direction within the sheath, and a drive shaft and a signal path connected to the transmission / reception unit are provided in the extension device. Since the extension shaft and the extension signal path that are movable in the axial direction can be connected to the external drive device, the transmission / reception portion is sheathed while having an extension device that places the catheter body portion and the external drive device apart from each other. A catheter movable in the axial direction can be realized, and workability can be improved. Further, since the catheter side connecting portion has a catheter side movement restricting portion that releasably restricts movement of the catheter side terminal portion along the axial direction of the sheath, the catheter side connecting portion and the extension side connecting portion are connected to each other. Until now, the movement of the catheter side terminal portion can be restricted.

Further, the extension device for a catheter of the present invention configured as described above can connect the catheter body to an external drive device by an extension shaft and an extension signal path that are movable in the axial direction of the extension device. The catheter main body, which is movable in the axial direction within the sheath, can be connected to the external drive device at a distance, and workability can be improved. Furthermore, the extension side first connecting portion of the extension device has an extension side movement restricting portion that releasably restricts the movement of the extension side first terminal portion along the axial direction of the extension device. The movement of the extension side first terminal portion can be restricted until the extension side first connection portions are connected to each other.

  If the extension side first connecting part has an extension side movement restricting part that releasably restricts movement of the extension side first terminal part along the axial direction of the extension device, the catheter side connecting part and the extension side are provided. The movement of the extended first terminal portion can be restricted until the connecting portions are connected to each other.

  The catheter side movement restricting portion is provided to be movable by an acting force received from the extension side first connecting portion when the extension side first connecting portion is connected to the catheter side connecting portion, and is restricted by the movement. If it is made to cancel | release, since the regulation by a catheter side movement control part can be cancelled | released automatically, workability | operativity can be improved.

  When the extension side movement restricting portion restricts the movement of the extension side first terminal portion toward the distal end side or the base end side, and when the extension side first connecting portion is connected to the catheter side connecting portion, If it is provided so that it can be moved by the acting force received from the catheter side connecting part and the restriction is released by the movement, the restriction by the extension side movement restricting part can be automatically released, so that the workability can be improved. .

  When the extension side movement restricting portion of the extension device restricts the movement of the extension side first terminal portion toward the distal end side or the proximal end side, and the extension side first connecting portion is connected to the catheter main body portion. In addition, if the movement is provided by the acting force received from the catheter body and the restriction is released by the movement, the restriction by the extension side movement restricting part can be automatically released, thereby improving workability. Can do.

It is a top view which shows the ultrasonic catheter of this invention. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a joint portion between a sheath distal end member and a sheath body portion of a catheter body portion. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the proximal end side of a catheter main-body part. It is longitudinal direction sectional drawing which shows the front end side of an extension instrument. It is longitudinal direction sectional drawing which shows the base end side of an extension instrument. It is a top view which shows the ultrasonic catheter of the state by which the inner tube was most pushed in to the unit connector at the time of connecting a catheter main-body part and an extension instrument. It is a top view which shows the ultrasonic catheter of the state by which the inner tube was pulled out most from the unit connector, after connecting a catheter main-body part and an extension instrument. It is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the relationship between an ultrasonic catheter and an external drive device. It is a longitudinal section showing the catheter side connection part and the extension side first connection part before connecting the catheter main body part and the extension device. It is a longitudinal section showing a catheter side connection part and an extension side 1st connection part at the time of connecting a catheter main part and an extension instrument. It is a longitudinal section showing a catheter side connection part and an extension side 1st connection part at the time of connecting a catheter body part and an extension instrument. It is longitudinal direction sectional drawing of the catheter side connection part and extension side 1st connection part which show the time of releasing the extension side 2nd control part, after connecting a catheter main-body part and an extension instrument. It is sectional drawing of the extension instrument containing the extension side 2nd control part, (A) is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG. 12, (B) is sectional drawing which follows the BB line of FIG. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the catheter side connecting portion and the extension side first connecting portion when moving the transducer unit after connecting the catheter body and the extension device. It is longitudinal direction sectional drawing which shows the other example of the extension side 1st control part of an extension instrument.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic catheter 1 includes a catheter body 2 having an imaging core 40 for observing the inside of a body cavity, and an external driving device 100 (see FIG. 9) for driving the imaging core 40. And an extension device 3 for connecting the catheter main body 2.

  The catheter body 2 includes a distal-side sheath 20 that is inserted into a body cavity, and a proximal-side catheter-side connection section 50 that is connected to the extension device 3 without being inserted into the body cavity. In this specification, the side inserted into the body cavity of the ultrasonic catheter 1 is referred to as the distal end side, and the side not inserted into the body cavity is referred to as the proximal end side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the sheath 20 includes a sheath tip member 21 and a sheath body 22. The sheath tip member 21 and the sheath body portion 22 are bonded to each other through the filling liquid inlet / outlet member 23 so as to cover the sheath tip member 21.

  An X-ray contrast marker 24 is provided between the sheath tip member 21 and the sheath body 22 so that the tip position of the ultrasonic catheter 1 can be confirmed under fluoroscopy when inserted into a body cavity. .

  A hole 222 is formed in the sheath distal end member 21, and the guide wire 25 passes through the hole 222. The guide wire 25 is inserted into the body cavity in advance, and the ultrasonic catheter 1 is guided to the affected area while passing the guide wire 25 through the sheath distal end member 21.

  In addition, the filling fluid inlet / outlet member 23 and the sheath main body portion 22 are formed with a priming lumen 221 that is a hole for allowing a physiological saline solution filled in the sheath main body portion 22 to flow to the outside.

  An imaging core 40 is incorporated in the sheath 20 so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the sheath 20. The imaging core 40 includes a transducer unit 41 for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves (signals) toward a body cavity tissue, and a drive shaft 42 that attaches the transducer unit 41 to the tip and rotates the transducer unit 41. The transducer unit 41 includes an ultrasonic transducer 411 (transmission / reception unit) that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, and an ultrasonic transducer housing 412 that houses the ultrasonic transducer 411.

  The drive shaft 42 is flexible and has a characteristic capable of transmitting the rotational power generated in the external drive device 100 to the vibrator unit 41, such as a three-layer coil in which the right and left and the winding direction are alternated. It is composed of a multilayer coiled tube. When the driving shaft 42 transmits the rotational power, the vibrator unit 41 rotates, and the affected part in the body cavity such as a blood vessel and a vascular vessel can be observed 360 degrees. Further, a signal path 54 for transmitting a signal detected by the transducer unit 41 to the catheter side connecting portion 50 shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the catheter side connecting portion 50 on the proximal end side of the catheter main body portion 2 includes a catheter side joint 51, a catheter side movement restricting portion 53, a connecting portion main body 55, and an O-ring 58 serving as a seal member. And an anti-kink protector 57.

  The catheter side joint 51 has an opening 511 on the proximal end side of the catheter main body 2, and a catheter side terminal portion 52, which is a male connector, is disposed inside. The proximal end side of the drive shaft 42 is fixed to the catheter side terminal portion 52, and the proximal end side of the signal path 54 is electrically connected. The catheter side terminal portion 52 can be connected from the opening 511 side of the catheter side joint 51 to the extension side first terminal portion 61 (see FIG. 4) which is a female connector included in the extension device 3. The mechanical and electrical connection between the part 2 and the extension device 3 becomes possible.

  The signal path 54 has one end connected to the catheter side terminal portion 52 and the other end passing through the drive shaft 42 and connected to the transducer unit 41 (see FIG. 2). The observation result in the transducer unit 41 is transmitted from the catheter-side terminal portion 52 to the external drive device 100 via the extension signal path 64 (see FIG. 5) of the extension device 3, subjected to appropriate processing, and displayed as an image. The

  The catheter side movement restricting portion 53 abuts on the catheter side terminal portion 52 to restrict the movement of the catheter side terminal portion 52 and the drive shaft 42 in the proximal direction, and the catheter side terminal portion 52 is placed inside the catheter side joint 51. Can be held in. The catheter side movement restricting portion 53 is provided so as to pass through a through hole 512 provided in the peripheral wall of the catheter side joint 51, and is rotatably connected with a direction intersecting with the axial direction of the catheter as a rotation axis. In this embodiment, two catheter side movement restricting portions 53 are provided symmetrically in the circumferential direction of the catheter side joint 51, but may be one, or three or more. The catheter side movement restricting portion 53 is biased by a spring 531 so as to hold the catheter side terminal portion 52 on the distal end side.

  The connection portion main body 55 is formed with a port 551 for injecting a physiological saline solution for bleeding air. The connecting portion main body 55 is injected with physiological saline from the port 551, and introduces the physiological saline into the sheath main body 22 without leaking outside. Note that an O-ring 58 is installed between the connecting portion main body 55 and the catheter side joint 51 so that the physiological saline does not leak to the opening 511 side of the catheter side joint 51.

  A part of the sheath main body 22 is fitted into the connecting portion main body 55, and the kink protector 57 is disposed around the sheath main body 22 and the connecting portion main body 55. The kink protector 57 is formed of a material having a hardness intermediate between the hardness of the sheath main body 22 and the hardness of the connecting portion main body 55, and the sheath main body at the portion where the sheath main body 22 is exposed from the connecting portion main body 55. 22 bending and twisting can be prevented.

  When the drive shaft 42 slides in the axial direction of the sheath, the drive shaft 42 slides with the O-ring 58. Therefore, the proximal end portion sliding with the O-ring 58 can slide while ensuring the sealing of the physiological saline. It is covered with such a flexible resin 43. The flexible resin described above may be a metal pipe.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the extension device 3 includes an extension-side second connecting portion 80 located on the base end side, a unit connector 32 connected to the extension-side second connecting portion 80 via the inner tube 33, an external connector An extension-side first connecting portion 70 connected to the unit connector 32 via the tube 36 and connected to the catheter-side connecting portion 50 is provided. 4 and 5, the extension device 3 has an extension shaft 60 connected to the drive shaft 42 of the catheter body 2 inside, and the extension shaft 60 has a signal path of the catheter body 2. An extension signal path 64 connected to 54 is passed inside. The extension shaft 60 is formed of a multilayer coiled tube similar to the drive shaft 42 described above, but may be configured differently.

  The extension-side second connecting portion 80 holds the extension shaft 60 and the inner tube 33 as shown in FIGS. When the inner tube 33 is pushed into or pulled out of the unit connector 32 and the outer tube 36, the extension shaft 60 is slid in the outer tube 36 in an axial direction in conjunction with the extension tube 60. The state of movement of the extension shaft 60 by pushing and pulling out the inner tube 33 is as shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a view showing the ultrasonic catheter 1 in a state where the inner tube 33 is most pushed into the unit connector 32 when the catheter main body 2 and the extension device 3 are connected, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a view showing the ultrasonic catheter 1 in a state in which an inner tube 33 is most pulled out from a unit connector 32 after connecting the instrument 3.

  In the state where the inner tube 33 is pushed in most, as shown in FIG. 6, the inner tube 33 reaches the end on the distal end side to the vicinity of the distal end of the outer tube 36, that is, the vicinity of the extension-side first connecting portion 70. To do. In this state, the transducer unit 41 is located near the tip of the sheath 20.

  In the state where the inner tube 33 is pulled out most, as shown in FIG. 7, in the inner tube 33, the connector holding portion 62 formed at the tip is caught by the inner wall of the unit connector 32, and the portions other than the vicinity of the caught tip are exposed. . In this state, the transducer unit 41 is pulled back while leaving the sheath 20, so that the transducer unit 41 is positioned at a position toward the proximal end by the amount of the inner tube 33 being pulled out. By moving the transducer unit 41 while rotating, it is possible to create three-dimensional data of shapes such as blood vessels and blood vessels.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the extension-side first connecting portion 70 on the distal end side of the extension device 3 includes an extension-side tip joint 71, an extension-side first movement restricting portion 72 (extension-side movement restricting portion), and an extension-side first connecting portion 70. 2 movement restriction part 73 (extension side movement restriction part). An extension side first terminal portion 61, which is a female connector that can move in the axial direction, is disposed inside the extension side tip joint 71.

  The extension-side distal joint 71 has an inner peripheral surface that covers the outer peripheral surface of the catheter-side joint 51 (see FIG. 3), and is formed in a tapered shape with the inner peripheral surface side of the distal end surface 711 being chamfered.

  The extension-side first movement restricting portion 72 is provided so as to project from the recess 712 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the extension-side tip joint 71 toward the inner peripheral surface, and is attached to the inner peripheral surface by a spring 721 in the recess 712. It is energized. The extension-side first movement restricting portion 72 is formed with a tapered surface 722 inclined at the distal end side with respect to the catheter central axis, and formed with a restricting surface 723 perpendicular to the catheter central axis. The restriction surface 723 abuts on the distal end side of the annular portion 621 of the connector holding portion 62 provided on the distal end side of the extension shaft 60 and restricts the movement of the connector holding portion 62 and the extension side first terminal portion 61 toward the distal end side. .

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 4, and shows a cross-sectional view of the extension device 3 in the extension-side second restricting portion 73. The extension-side second movement restricting portion 73 includes a ring portion 731 provided in a groove 713 provided in an annular shape on the inner peripheral surface of the extension-side tip joint 71 so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the catheter central axis. On both sides in the moving direction of the ring portion 731, a first push portion 732 and a second push portion 733 that penetrate the peripheral wall of the extension-side tip joint 71 are formed to protrude. The inner diameter of the ring portion 731 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the annular portion 621 of the connector holding portion 62. The extension-side second movement restricting portion 73 is slidably held on the extension-side tip joint 71 by the first push portion 732 and the second push portion 733, and the first push portion 732 or the second push portion 733 is placed outside. It is possible to move by pushing in. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the first pushing portion 732 is pushed in, and a part of the ring portion 731 of the extension-side second movement restricting portion 73 comes into contact with the proximal end side of the annular portion 621 of the connector holding portion 62 and extends. The movement of the first side terminal portion 61 toward the distal end side is restricted. When the second pushing portion 733 is pushed in from this state, the extension-side second movement restricting portion 73 moves to the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 8, and the center axes of the ring portion 731 and the annular portion 621 are substantially aligned. The extension-side second movement restricting portion 73 does not contact the annular portion 621 of the connector holding portion 62, and the restriction is released.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the extension-side second connecting portion 80 on the base end side of the extension device 3 is connected to the extension-side base end joint 81, the extension-side second terminal portion 82, which is a male connector, and the rotor 83. It has a pipe 84, an extension-side base end body 86, and a kink protector 87.

  The extension side base end joint 81 has an opening 811 on the base end side, and the extension side second terminal portion 82 and the rotor 83 are disposed inside. The extension-side second terminal portion 82 can connect the drive device terminal portion 107, which is a female connector included in the external drive device 100, from the opening 811 side of the extension-side proximal joint 81 (see FIG. 9). The mechanical and electrical connection between the external driving device 100 and the extension-side second terminal portion 82 becomes possible.

  The rotor 83 holds the connection pipe 84 in a non-rotatable manner, and rotates integrally with the extension-side second terminal portion 82. The connection pipe 84 holds the extension shaft 60 at the end opposite to the rotor 83 side in order to transmit the rotation of the rotor 83 to the extension shaft 60. An extension signal path 64 is passed through the connection pipe 84, and one end of the extension signal path 64 passes through the extension-side second terminal portion 82 and the other end passes through the extension shaft 60. It is connected to the first terminal portion 61 (see FIG. 4).

  A part of the inner tube 33 is fitted into the extension-side base end body 86, and a kink protector 87 is disposed around the inner tube 33 and the extension-side base end body 86. The kink protector 87 is made of a material having a hardness intermediate between the hardness of the inner tube 33 and the extension-side proximal end body 86, and the inner tube 33 is exposed at the portion where the inner tube 33 is exposed from the extension-side proximal end body 86. It is possible to prevent the tube 33 from being bent and twisted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the unit connector 32 includes a unit connector main body 34 and a cover member 35.

  In the unit connector main body 34, the outer tube 36 attached to the extension-side first connecting portion 70 is inserted, and the inner tube 33 extending from the extension-side second connecting portion 80 is inserted into the outer tube 36.

  A connector holding portion 62 is fixed to the tip of the inner tube 33 extending from the extended second connecting portion 80. Therefore, even when the extension-side second connecting portion 80 is most pulled, that is, when the inner tube 33 is most pulled out from the outer tube 36, the connector holding portion 62 is hooked on the inner wall of the unit connector main body 34 and the inner portion from the unit connector 32. There is no possibility that the tube 33 will come off.

  As described above, in the ultrasonic catheter 1 of the present invention, since the inner tube 33 can be pushed into the outer tube 36, the extension-side second connecting portion 80 can be pushed or pulled toward the unit connector 32. The core 40 can move in the ultrasonic catheter 1. It should be noted that the outer tube 36 and the inner tube 33 are not necessarily filled with a physiological saline solution, and need not necessarily be sealed tubes.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the external drive device 100 includes a scanner device 101 incorporating an external drive source such as a motor, an axial movement device 102 that holds the scanner device 101 and moves the scanner device 101 in the axial direction, and a scanner device. 101 includes a control unit 103 that controls the axial movement device 102 and a display unit 104 that displays an image obtained by the transducer unit 41. The axial movement device 102 includes a scanner gripping portion 105 that grips and fixes the scanner device 101 and a support portion 106 that supports the unit connector 32 so that the sheath 20 does not shift during movement.

  The scanner device 101 is connected to the extension-side second terminal portion 82 of the extension device 3, thereby transmitting and receiving signals from the transducer unit 41 of the catheter main body 2, and simultaneously driving force for rotating the drive shaft 42. To communicate.

  Next, the operation of the ultrasonic catheter 1 when observing the inside of the body cavity of the present invention will be described.

  In the ultrasonic catheter 1 of the present invention, ultrasonic scanning is performed by transmitting the rotational motion of the motor in the scanner device 101 to the drive shaft 42 and rotating the housing 412 fixed to the tip of the drive shaft 42. This is performed by scanning an ultrasonic wave transmitted and received by the ultrasonic transducer 411 provided in the housing 412 in a substantially radial direction. The ultrasonic image obtained here is a transverse cross-sectional image in the blood vessel. In addition, by pulling the entire ultrasound catheter 1 toward the proximal side and moving the imaging core 40 in the longitudinal direction, a 360 ° cross-sectional image of the surrounding tissue body in the axial direction in the blood vessel can be obtained in a scanning manner. Can do.

  Before the sheath 20 of the ultrasonic catheter 1 is inserted into the body cavity, a priming operation for filling the inside of the ultrasonic catheter 1 with physiological saline is performed. By performing this priming operation and removing the air in the ultrasonic catheter 1, it is possible to increase the propagation efficiency of the ultrasonic wave and to prevent the air from entering the body cavity such as a blood vessel.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the catheter body 2 is provided in a state where the catheter side terminal portion 52 is held inside the catheter side joint 51 and the movement of the catheter side terminal portion 52 is restricted by the catheter side movement restricting portion 53. The That is, the transducer unit 41 is positioned on the distal end side in the sheath 20 as shown in FIG. By restricting the catheter side terminal portion 52 in this way, the catheter side first terminal portion 52 is held at a position suitable for connection until the catheter side connection portion 50 and the extension side first connection portion 70 are connected to each other. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent problems such as the transducer unit 41 falling out of the sheath.

  In this state, physiological saline is injected from the port 551. The injected physiological saline solution is filled into the sheath 20 in order from the catheter side connecting portion 50. When the catheter body 2 is completely filled with the physiological saline, the physiological saline is removed from the priming lumen 221 formed on the sheath tip member 21 of the sheath 20. Thereby, filling of the physiological saline is confirmed. The filling of the physiological saline may be confirmed by injecting the physiological saline from the priming lumen 221 and overflowing the physiological saline from the port 551.

  Next, the guide wire 25 previously inserted into the body cavity is passed through the sheath distal end member 21, the sheath 20 is inserted into the body, and the insertion is stopped after the distal end of the sheath 20 exceeds the affected area. At this time, since the transducer unit 41 is located on the distal end side in the sheath 20, the transducer unit 41 is also disposed at a position beyond the affected part.

  Next, the extension device 3 is prepared. As shown in FIG. 4, the extension device 3 is provided in a state where the connector holding portion 62 and the extension-side first terminal portion 61 are held by the extension-side first movement restricting portion 72 and the extension-side second movement restricting portion 73. . By restricting the connector holding portion 62 and the extension side first terminal portion 61 in this way, the extension side is positioned at an appropriate position for connection until the catheter side connection portion 50 and the extension side first connection portion 70 are connected to each other. The first terminal portion 61 can be held, and inadvertent movement of the extension-side first terminal portion 61 can be prevented. After that, as shown in FIG. 10, in order to connect the extension device 3 to the catheter main body 2, the catheter side joint 51 of the catheter main body 2 is brought close to the extension side distal end joint 71 of the extension device 3. At this time, since the distal end surface 711 of the extension side distal end joint 71 is formed in a tapered shape, the catheter side joint 51 can be easily inserted, and the workability is excellent.

  When inserted further, as shown in FIG. 11, the distal end surface 711 of the extension side distal end joint 71 comes into contact with the catheter side movement restricting portion 53, and the catheter side movement restricting portion 53 rotates against the drag of the spring 531, The restriction on the terminal portion 52 is released. At this time, since the distal end surface 711 of the extension side distal end joint 71 is formed in a tapered shape, the catheter side movement restricting portion 53 can be smoothly and reliably released. Thus, since the catheter side movement restricting portion 53 is automatically released by the acting force received from the extension side first connecting portion 70, workability is improved.

  Further, when the extension-side distal joint 71 and the catheter-side joint 51 are brought closer to each other, as shown in FIG. 12, the proximal end portion of the catheter-side joint 51 is in contact with the tapered surface 722 of the extension-side first movement restricting portion 72, The 1 movement restricting portion 72 is pushed into the recess 712 of the extension-side tip joint 71, and the restriction of the extension-side first terminal portion 61 to the tip side is released. Thus, since the extension side 1st movement control part 72 is automatically cancelled | released by the action force received from the catheter side connection part 50, workability | operativity improves. Further, as shown in FIG. 14A, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIGS. 12 and 12, the extension-side second movement restricting portion 73 moves toward the base end side of the extension-side first terminal portion 61. Therefore, the catheter-side terminal portion 52 that is a male connector is efficiently pushed into the extension-side first terminal portion 61 that is a female connector, and the catheter-side terminal portion 52 and the extension-side first terminal portion 61 are thus pushed. Are mechanically and electrically connected.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 14B, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIGS. 13 and 13, the second pushing portion 733 of the extension side second movement restricting portion 73 is pushed in, and the extension side first The restriction | limiting of the movement to the base end side of the connector holding part 62 holding the terminal part 61 is cancelled | released.

  Next, the extension device 3 is connected to the external drive device 100 (see FIG. 9). That is, the extension-side second terminal portion 82 is connected to the drive device terminal portion 107 of the external drive device 100, and the unit connector 32 is connected to the support portion 106 of the external drive device 100. As a result, the drive shaft 42 of the catheter body 2 is mechanically connected to the external drive device 100 via the extension shaft 60 of the extension device 3, and the transducer unit 41 of the catheter body 2 is extended by the extension device 3. It is electrically connected to the external drive device 100 through the signal path 64.

  Thereafter, the position of the sheath 20 is fixed, and the transducer unit 41 is used to observe the front and rear of the affected area while holding the unit connector 32 by the external driving device 100 and pulling the extended second connecting part 80 toward the hand. At this time, as shown in FIG. 15, since the catheter side terminal portion 52 and the extension side first terminal portion 61 are connected, the transducer unit 41 is moved in the axial direction and rotated around the axial direction. Thus, a cross-sectional image of 360 ° in the surrounding tissue body extending in the axial direction in the blood vessel can be obtained by scanning up to an arbitrary position.

  In the above description, after inserting the sheath 20 into the body cavity, the catheter body 2 and the extension device 3 are connected, and then the restriction by the extension-side second movement restricting portion 73 is released, and then the extension device 3 and the external drive are connected. Although the apparatus 100 is connected, the order of these operations may be different.

  According to the ultrasonic catheter 1 according to the present embodiment, a catheter capable of moving the ultrasonic transducer 411 in the sheath 20 in the axial direction while having the extension device 3 can be realized. Therefore, the ultrasonic transducer 411 can be moved within the sheath 20, and the ultrasonic catheter 1 and the external driving device 100 can be separated from each other via the extension device 3 while ensuring high workability. When the ultrasonic catheter 1 and the external drive device 100 are separated from each other, generally, the external drive device 100 larger than the ultrasonic catheter 1 can be arranged away from the operator to improve workability. Furthermore, by disposing the external drive device 100 away from the operator and the patient, sterilization treatment of the external drive device 100 can be omitted in some cases.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to an ultrasonic catheter has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to other diagnostic catheters. For example, the present invention can be applied to a diagnostic catheter using optical interference tomography (OCT). In OCT, measurement light is incident on a living body, and the living body can be observed based on light that has been scattered, absorbed, reflected, or refracted in the living body. In this case, an optical fiber is used as the signal path. Therefore, not only ultrasonic waves but also any signals applicable for detection such as light, magnetic field, and sound can be applied to the signals.

  In the above embodiment, the extension-side distal joint 71 is connected so as to cover the outside of the catheter-side joint 51, but the catheter-side joint 51 is connected so as to cover the extension-side distal joint 71. There may be.

  Further, the catheter side movement restricting portion 53, the extension side first movement restricting portion 72, and the extension side second movement restricting portion 73 may be in different forms, or may not necessarily be provided. For example, FIG. 16 shows another example of the extension-side first movement restricting portion 92 of the extension device. The extension-side first movement restricting portion 92 is formed as a part of the extension-side tip joint 91 so as to be elastically deformable. May be. In FIG. 16, the same reference numerals are given to configurations common to the present embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

  Further, the extension-side second movement restricting portion 73 of the extension device 3 does not have to be manually released. For example, when the extension-side tip joint 71 and the catheter-side joint 51 are connected, the extension-side tip joint 71 is connected. It is good also as a structure similar to the extension side 1st movement control part 92 so that it may cancel | release automatically after receiving action force from.

  In addition, the outer tube 36 is fixed to the extension-side first connection portion 70 and the inner tube 33 is fixed to the extension-side second connection portion 80. On the contrary, the outer tube 36 is fixed to the extension-side second connection portion 80. The inner tube 33 may be fixed to the extended first connecting portion 70 in the portion 80.

  Moreover, the male connector and female connector which comprise the terminal part in this embodiment may be a reverse structure, or may be a connector of another form. For example, an optical fiber can be used as the signal path 54 and the extension signal path 64, and an optical connector can be used as the connector.

1 Ultrasonic catheter (catheter),
2 catheter body,
3 Extension equipment,
20 sheath,
41 vibrator unit (transceiver),
42 drive shaft,
50 catheter side connection,
52 catheter side terminal,
53 catheter side movement restricting section,
54 signal path,
60 extension shaft,
61 Extension side first terminal part,
64 Extension signal path,
70 extension side first connecting part,
72, 91 extension side first movement restriction part (extension side movement restriction part),
73 Extension side second movement restriction part (extension side movement restriction part),
80 extension side second connecting part,
82 Extension side second terminal part,
100 external drive,
411 Ultrasonic transducer (transmission / reception unit).

Claims (6)

A catheter main body inserted into a body cavity, and an extension device for connecting the catheter main body to an external drive device for driving the catheter main body,
The catheter body includes a sheath inserted into a body cavity;
A transmitting / receiving unit capable of moving in the sheath in the axial direction of the sheath and transmitting / receiving signals in a body cavity;
A drive shaft that extends from the proximal end side of the sheath toward the distal end side in the sheath and is movable in the axial direction of the sheath, and is connected to the transmitting / receiving unit and transmits a mechanical driving force to the transmitting / receiving unit;
A signal path that is connected to the transmission / reception unit and transmits a signal from the transmission / reception unit;
A catheter-side terminal portion provided on the proximal end side of the drive shaft and disposed with an end portion of the signal path;
A catheter side connecting portion provided on the proximal end side of the sheath, and
The extension device includes an extension-side first connecting portion connectable to the catheter-side connecting portion;
An extended second connecting portion connectable to the external drive device;
An extension shaft that receives a driving force from the external driving device and transmits a mechanical driving force to the driving shaft, and is movable in the axial direction of the extension device;
An extension signal path that is connectable to the signal path and transmits the signal to an external drive;
An extension-side first terminal portion provided on the distal end side of the extension shaft and connectable to the catheter-side terminal portion, wherein one end portion of the extension signal path is disposed;
Wherein provided on the base end side of the extension shaft is connectable to the external drive device, have a, an extension side second terminal portion to which the other end portion is disposed in the extension signal path,
The catheter-side connecting portion includes a catheter-side movement restricting portion that releasably restricts movement of the catheter-side terminal portion along the axial direction of the sheath . 2. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the extension-side first connecting portion has an extension-side movement restricting portion that releasably restricts movement of the extension-side first terminal portion along the axial direction of the extension device. . The catheter side movement restricting portion is provided to be movable by an acting force received from the extension side first connecting portion when the extension side first connecting portion is connected to the catheter side connecting portion, and is restricted by the movement. The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the catheter is released . The extension side movement restricting portion restricts the movement of the extension side first terminal portion toward the distal end side or the base end side, and when the extension side first connecting portion is connected to the catheter side connecting portion, The catheter according to claim 2, wherein the catheter is movably provided by an acting force received from the catheter side connecting portion , and the restriction is released by the movement.   A sheath inserted into the body cavity, a transmission / reception unit that is movable in the axial direction of the sheath and that transmits and receives signals in the body cavity, and a catheter body that includes a drive shaft that transmits a mechanical driving force to the transmission / reception unit, An extension device for a catheter for connecting to an external drive device for driving the catheter body,
  An extension-side first connecting portion connectable to the catheter body portion;
  An extended second connecting portion connectable to the external drive device;
  An extension shaft that receives a driving force from the external driving device and transmits a mechanical driving force to the driving shaft of the catheter body, and is movable in the axial direction of the extension device;
  An extension signal path for transmitting a signal from the transmission / reception unit to an external drive device;
  An extension-side first terminal portion provided on a distal end side of the extension shaft and connectable to the drive shaft; and one end portion of the extension signal path is disposed;
  An extension-side second terminal portion provided on the base end side of the extension shaft and connectable to the external drive device, and having the other end of the extension signal path disposed thereon;
  The extension-side first connecting portion includes an extension-side movement restricting portion that releasably restricts movement of the extension-side first terminal portion along the axial direction of the extension device. The extension side movement restricting part restricts the movement of the extension side first terminal part toward the distal end side or the base end side, and when the extension side first connecting part is connected to the catheter body part, the catheter The extension device according to claim 5, wherein the extension device is provided so as to be movable by an acting force received from the main body, and the restriction is released by the movement .

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