JPH08150213A - Gene injector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a gene injector which can surely inject genes into a wide area of the biomedical tissue. CONSTITUTION: The gene injector consists of a needle 10 which can be thrust into the biomedical tissue 2, an elastic part 4 attached to the needle 10 which can keep the gene 3 and can be inserted to the biomedical tissue 2 together with the needle 10, and air pumping mechanisms 5 and 6 which pump air into the elastic part 4. When air is supplied to the elastic part 4 by the air pumping mechanisms 5 and 6, the elastic part 4 bursts, so that the gene 3 inside the elastic part 4 will flow into the biomedical tissue 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is, for example, introduced into a body cavity through an endoscope and injects a drug such as a gene or gene inclusion body or a therapeutic agent (including a test agent) into a tissue site in the body cavity. The present invention relates to a drug injection device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, gene therapy research has been widely conducted. Gene therapy is a method in which a predetermined gene is introduced into a cell of a patient and the gene is expressed to perform the treatment. As a means for introducing this gene into a patient's cells, there are a method of taking the cell out of the living body, introducing the gene into the body and returning it to the body, and a method of directly introducing the gene into the living body cell of the patient. is there. Whichever method is used, administration of a gene to a treatment site in a body cavity requires a special device.

[0003]

A technique for administering a gene to an affected area in a body cavity can be considered as, for example, Jitsukaihei 1
-68052 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-15081 are used.

However, in the procedure using such an endoscopic injection needle, since the gene is locally injected only in an extremely narrow portion, a sufficient therapeutic effect over a wide range cannot be expected. Moreover, in order to administer a gene to a wide range, it is necessary to repeat the puncture of an injection needle many times in the body cavity, which requires a very difficult and troublesome procedure, and the burden on the patient is considerably large, which is desirable. Not a thing.

On the other hand, a technique of simply and widely spreading the gene on the affected area is conceivable, but the gene easily flows after the spreading, and reliable treatment cannot be expected. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to:
An object of the present invention is to provide a drug injection device that can reliably administer a drug over a wide range of living tissues.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a drug injection device of the present invention has an injection needle capable of puncturing a living tissue, and a therapeutic drug that is held and held and attached to the injection needle. An elastic body capable of being pierced into a living tissue together with an injection needle, and an air feeding means for pressure-feeding the gas into the elastic body. By feeding the gas into the elastic body through the air feeding means, elasticity is obtained. The body is ruptured and the drug in the elastic body is injected into the living tissue.

According to this structure, when the elastic body swells greatly due to the pressure of the gas fed by the air feeding means and the elastic body ruptures beyond its elastic limit, the elastic body accommodates and holds it in the elastic body. The used drug is widely dispersed in the living tissue.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. The drug injection device 1 of the present embodiment includes a tubular puncture needle 10, a balloon 4 inserted through an inner hole of the puncture needle 10, and air supply means 5 and 6 for sending gas into the balloon 4 under pressure. ing.

The tip of the puncture needle 10 is formed in a tapered sharp shape in order to enhance the puncture ability. The balloon 4 is made of an elastic material, and its tip 4 a is exposed at the tip opening of the puncture needle 10. And
The therapeutic gene 3 is filled in the exposed tip portion 4a of the balloon 4.

An air supply pipe 5 leading to a pressure pump 6 is connected to the proximal side of the balloon 4 so that gas can be pressure-fed into the balloon 4 through the air supply pipe 5. When the therapeutic gene 3 is administered to a living tissue using the drug injection device 1 having such a configuration, first, the drug injection treatment instrument 1 is introduced into a body cavity through a treatment instrument insertion channel of an endoscope (not shown). Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the puncture needle 1
The target tissue 2 is punctured with the tip of 0. Then, in this state, the pressure pump 6 is driven, and the gas is pressure-fed into the balloon 4 through the air feeding pipe 5.

The balloon 4 has a distal end portion 4a which is not constrained by the inner surface of the puncture needle 10 by the pressure of the gas fed under pressure.
Expands greatly. When the tip 4a ruptures beyond its elastic limit, the momentum of the rupture causes the tip 4a to rupture.
The therapeutic gene 3 filled therein is widely spread in the tissue 2. This state is shown in FIG.

As described above, the drug injection device 1 of the present embodiment can administer a drug to a wide range at a time, so that it is remarkably effective in gene administration which is desired to be administered to a wide range of tissues. It can be effective.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The drug injection device 20 of the present embodiment includes a tubular puncture needle 10 and an elastic tube 22 fitted on the outer periphery of the puncture needle 10.

The tip of the elastic tube 22 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the puncture needle 10, and the elastic coefficient of a portion 22a adjacent to the fixed portion is formed to be relatively small. The tube portion 22a having a small elastic coefficient
The therapeutic gene 3 is filled between the needle and the puncture needle 10. Although not shown, an air supply pipe leading to a pressure pump is connected to the proximal side of the elastic tube 22 so that gas can be pressure-fed between the elastic tube 22 and the puncture needle 10 through the air supply pipe. There is.

When the therapeutic gene 3 is administered to a living tissue using the drug injection device 20 having such a configuration, the puncture needle 10 is punctured into the target tissue 2 in the same manner as in the first embodiment ( (See FIG. 3), in this state, gas is pressure-fed between the elastic tube 22 and the puncture needle 10.

In the elastic tube 22, the tube portion 22a having a small elastic coefficient expands largely in the radial direction due to the pressure of the gas fed under pressure. Then, when the tube portion 22a ruptures beyond its elastic limit, the therapeutic gene 3 filled in the tube portion 22a is widely spread in the tissue 2 by its momentum. This state is shown in FIG.

As described above, since the medicine injection device 20 of this embodiment can spray the medicine in the circumferential direction, it can administer the medicine in a wider range than that of the first embodiment.
Further, since the elastic tube 22 is attached to the outer circumference of the puncture needle 10 and the medicine is filled between the elastic tube 22 and the puncture needle 10, more medicine can be accumulated than in the first embodiment. .

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The drug injection device 40 of this embodiment includes an outer sheath 34.
An inner sheath 35 that is inserted into the outer sheath 34 so as to be able to move forward and backward and that has a conductive puncture needle 30 at its tip, and a balloon 4 that is inserted through the inner holes of the inner sheath 35 and the puncture needle 30. I have it.

At the base end of the inner sheath 35, a plug 33 connected to a high frequency power source is fitted. Further, the plug 33 is provided with an insulating base 36. Puncture needle 3
The tip of 0 is formed as a tapered portion 31 which is chamfered. In addition, the puncture needle 30 has a conductive wire 32.
And is electrically connected to the plug 33 via.

The balloon 4 is made of an elastic material, and its tip 4a is exposed at the tip opening of the puncture needle 30. Then, the exposed tip portion 4 of the balloon 4
The therapeutic gene 3 is filled in a. The proximal side of the balloon 4 is also provided with a cap 36 through an inner hole of the plug 33.
An air supply pipe 5 leading to a pressure pump is connected to the projecting end portion. That is, the gas can be pressure-fed into the balloon 4 through the air supply pipe 5.

When the therapeutic gene 3 is administered to a living tissue using the drug injection device 40 having such a configuration, first,
After introducing the treatment tool 40 for drug injection into the body cavity and confirming the target tissue site under endoscopic observation, the puncture needle 30 is positioned at this tissue site, and then a high-frequency current from a high-frequency power source is applied. The puncture needle 3 is supplied to the puncture needle 30 via the plug 33 and the conductive wire 32, and is radiated by high-frequency energy.
Puncture 0 to the target tissue site.

Then, in this punctured state, the pressure pump is driven to pressure-feed the gas into the balloon 4 through the air-feeding pipe 5. As a result, the tip portion 4a of the balloon 4, which is not restrained by the inner surface of the puncture needle 10, inflates greatly due to the pressure of the gas that is pumped. And this tip 4a
When the substance ruptures beyond its elastic limit, the therapeutic gene 3 filled in the tip portion 4a is widely dispersed in the tissue by its momentum.

As described above, the drug injection device 40 of the present embodiment is designed to puncture the puncture needle 10 while incising the tissue by applying high-frequency current to the puncture needle 10 to cut tissue. After confirming the target tissue site under endoscopic observation, the puncture needle 10
If a high frequency current is applied to the puncture needle 10 by locating the puncture needle at the target tissue site, the puncture needle 10 may accidentally puncture other tissue in the process of introducing the puncture needle 10 into the body cavity. The situation can be avoided, and in the process of puncturing the target tissue site with the puncture needle 10, the chamfered shape of the tip of the puncture needle 30 in addition to the action of high-frequency energy improves the ability to puncture the tissue.

By the way, in the present embodiment, the example in which the drug is sprayed through the balloon 4 has been described. However, the drug is directly poured into the inner sheath 35 through the mouthpiece 36 to inject the drug into the tissue from the puncture needle 10. May be performed.

By the above-described modes, various configurations shown in the following sections can be obtained. 1. An injection needle capable of puncturing a biological tissue, an elastic body which holds and holds a therapeutic agent and which is attached to the injection needle and can be inserted into the biological tissue together with the injection needle, and air feeding for pressure-feeding gas into the elastic body. Means for injecting gas into the elastic body through the air supply means to rupture the elastic body and inject the drug in the elastic body into the biological tissue.

2. The drug injection device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is a balloon that is inserted through the inner hole of the injection needle. 3. The drug injection device according to item 1, wherein the elastic body is attached to the outer circumference of the injection needle.

4. The drug injection device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is ruptured after puncturing the living tissue with the injection needle. 5. The drug injection device according to claim 4, wherein a high-frequency current is applied to the injection needle.

6. A conductive injection needle capable of puncturing living tissue, a high-frequency supply means for supplying a high-frequency current to the injection needle, and a therapeutic drug that is housed and held and is attached to the injection needle and inserted into the living tissue together with the injection needle. An elastic body that can be inserted, and an air supply unit that pressure-feeds gas into the elastic body, and the injection needle pierces the living tissue with the energy of the high-frequency current supplied to the injection needle through the high-frequency supply unit, and the injection is performed. A drug injection device characterized by injecting a drug in an elastic body into a biological tissue by rupturing an elastic body that has been inserted into the biological tissue together with a needle through the air supply means.

In the drug injecting device having the constitution of the sixth item, the injection needle is punctured while the tissue is incised by the high frequency energy by energizing the injection needle with a high frequency current. After confirming under the endoscopic observation, if the injection needle is positioned at this target tissue site and a high-frequency current is applied to the injection needle, the injection needle will be mistaken in the process of being introduced into the body cavity. It is possible to avoid the situation of puncturing other tissues.

7. Item 7. The drug injection device according to Item 6, wherein the tip of the injection needle is formed as a tapered portion formed by chamfering. 8. Item 7. The drug injection according to Item 6, wherein a high-frequency current is applied to the injection needle to pierce the injection needle into the tissue, and then the elastic body is ruptured to inject the drug in the elastic body into the biological tissue. apparatus. 9. 9. The drug injection device according to any one of items 1 to 8, wherein the drug is a therapeutic gene.

[0031]

As described above, according to the drug injection device of the present invention, the drug can be reliably administered over a wide range of living tissue.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a state diagram showing a state in which a drug injection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is inserted into a tissue.

FIG. 2 is a state diagram showing a state in which a drug is injected into tissue using the drug injection device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a state diagram showing a state in which the drug injection device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is inserted into a tissue.

4 is a state diagram showing a state in which a drug is injected into a tissue using the drug injection device of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a drug injection device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 20, 40 ... Drug injection device, 2 ... Tissue, 3 ... Gene (drug), 4 ... Balloon (elastic body), 5 ... Air supply pipe (air supply means), 6 ... Pressure pump (air supply means), 10 , 30 ... puncture needle (injection needle), 22 ... elastic tube (elastic body).

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yutaka Yanuma 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koji Kambara 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Ueda 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An injection needle capable of puncturing a living tissue, an elastic body that holds and holds a therapeutic agent and is attached to the injection needle and can be inserted into the living tissue together with the injection needle, and a gas inside the elastic body. And an air supply means for pressure-feeding the elastic body to blow the gas into the elastic body through the air supply means to rupture the elastic body and inject the drug in the elastic body into the biological tissue. Drug injection device.