JPH05205537A - Multicore cable for medical equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a cable capable of easily performing the waterproofing at the end part of the cable without the problem of residual ethylene-oxide gas. CONSTITUTION:A styrene thermoplastic elastomer is used as the ouer cover of a cable. Bushes 2 made of the same styrene thermoplastic elastomer are integrally formed with an outer cover 1 at the end part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multicore cable used in medical equipment such as ultrasonic diagnostic equipment and ultrasonic endoscopes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an outer jacket of a multi-core cable used for medical equipment, PVC or silicone of a special composition is used, in which additives of the outer jacket, especially harmful heavy metals are not eluted.

[0003]

Recently, the sterilization has been strengthened by immersing the cable together with water at the start of use of the medical device or by using ethylene oxide gas. For this reason, in cables with PVC or silicone as a jacket, problems such as waterproofing of cable ends and residual ethylene oxide gas have come to be a problem. Further, from the viewpoint of the safety of the device, the standard of leakage current becomes strict, and there is a strong demand for improvement of insulation resistance. Regarding waterproofing, we tried to insert a waterproofing ring at the end molding and to make the cable and bush integral with each other by subjecting the surface of the cable to special treatment. Also, in order to eliminate the residual ethylene oxide gas, it must be left for a long time after disinfection to prevent the ethylene oxide gas from passing through.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A styrene thermoplastic elastomer is used as a cable jacket, and a bush at the end of the cable is also molded by using a styrene thermoplastic elastomer. It was found that the problem of 1 was solved, and the ethylene oxide gas remained. The styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer referred to here is, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer in which the hard phase is polystyrene and the soft phase is hydrogenated butyl rubber, and a stabilizer, an antiaging agent, a filler, etc. added as necessary. Can be used.

[0005]

[Example] Insulated electric wire having a conductor of 40 μm or more and a thickness of 0.2 mm covered with polyethylene foam, and a wire 3 of 30 μm
A total of 100 coaxial cores with 0 wound horizontally and a protective layer of polyester tape wound on the outside are collectively braided on them, and the outside is the Sumitomo TPES
An outer cover made of B-2610 (trade name of thermoplastic elastomer manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) was extrusion-coated. Furthermore, the bush 2 shown in FIG.
Molded with B-2610.

[0006]

When silicone is used as the jacket, the non-crosslinked silicone is extremely weak in mechanical strength, so it is indispensable to crosslink it during cable production. Therefore, after cutting the cable to the length required for device connection in the finished product,
Even if an attempt is made to mold the bush at the end portion, the bush cannot be integrally molded. As described above, the waterproof ring is inserted or the cable jacket bush is bonded with the silicone adhesive.

When PVC is used as the jacket, the PVC is non-crosslinked, and if a bush is molded on the end portion with the same composition as the jacket, it is possible to make a seemingly integral molding. However, probably due to the plasticizer used for PVC, there is a problem that the interface between the outer cover and the bush is not completely waterproof, and bacteria and dirt are accumulated on the interface. Further, there is a problem in safety because the insulation resistance is lowered by immersion in water.

On the other hand, as in the present invention, in the cable using the styrene thermoplastic elastomer for the jacket, the bush and the bush are also provided at the ends so that the jacket and the bush are completely integrated. Next to
It turns out that it is waterproof enough. Moreover, the insulation resistance does not decrease even when immersed in water, and the safety is sufficient.

Further, the styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer has good permeability to ethylene oxide gas, and after disinfection with ethylene oxide gas, the residual ethylene oxide disappears in a short time, and the equipment can be efficiently utilized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which a bush is provided at a cable end.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Cable jacket 2: Bush (molded integrally with cable)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A multicore cable for a medical device, wherein a styrene thermoplastic elastomer is used as a cable jacket. 2. A waterproof structure for a cable end portion, characterized in that a bush is integrally molded with the outer sheath by using the styrene thermoplastic elastomer on the cable end portion using the styrene thermoplastic elastomer as the cable sheath. ..