JPH11309218A - Gene therapy apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To safely, surely, and uniformly transducer a gene for therapy by introducing an inserting member which has an assembling section for the gene for therapy at a terminal end into a morbid section by supplying kinetic energy. SOLUTION: When an on/off changing switch 16 of a control section 2 is pressed, an on-signal is given from a control device 14 to a pulse producing means 13. Then high-voltage pulses are supplied to a solenoid 15 by the pulse producing means 13 to rapidly accelerate a magnetic core 17 to a right direction. The magnetic core 17 collides with a proximal end 20 of a shaft 3 to rapidly accelerate the shaft 3 to the right direction thereby. The shaft 3 is moved to the right direction and rebounds after colliding with a limit point 21 of an interior section of a fixed member. Metal particles 5 including a gene for therapy, which is assembled on a terminal end 4 of the shaft 3, are dispersed by an impact of this collision to be incorporated into cellular texture of a morbid section B. Gene therapy can be safely, surely and uniformly carried out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gene therapy apparatus for introducing and treating a therapeutic gene into living cells through an insertion member inserted into a body cavity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a gene transfer method in which DNA-coated metal fine particles are accelerated and shot into a plant cell to be introduced into the cell is described in Plant Cell Engineering Vol. 4 No. 1
It is known as a 1992 experiment course “Gene introduction experiment method 1” (particle gun method).

[0003] Further, a so-called DNA, which artificially manipulates a DNA sequence and the like and incorporates it into cells of other organisms, is used.
The technique of rearrangement is based on the research on paint No. 119 Mar.
1991 "Apparatus for introducing genes into cells" (Mach Impactor KPG-10).

A therapeutic device for gene therapy for introducing a therapeutic gene in vivo into a cell existing at a target site of a patient is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-300946. Genes are supplied to the surface of a living cell present at a target site in a body cavity through a probe inserted into the body cavity.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-300946 has a problem in that an electrode is pierced into the tissue of a living body to energize the tissue, thereby damaging the tissue of the energized portion. In addition, in this method, it may not be possible to make a sufficient hole in the cell wall of the lesion, so that the gene cannot be reliably introduced.

The above-mentioned Plant Cell Engineering Vol. 4 N
o. No. 1 and paint research No. 1 The method 119 uses a gunpowder or a high-pressure gas to shoot a therapeutic gene into the cells of a lesion, and requires skill in operation. In addition, since the configuration cannot be used transendoscopically, there is a problem that gene particles cannot be reliably released to a target site in a body cavity of a living body.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a gene capable of safely, reliably and evenly introducing a therapeutic gene into cells of a living tissue. It is to provide a treatment device.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a gene therapy apparatus for introducing a therapeutic gene into a lesion, wherein the gene therapy apparatus is inserted into a body cavity and is inserted into a distal end thereof. An insertion member having a mounting portion for attaching a gene,
Means for supplying kinetic energy to the insertion member and introducing the therapeutic gene into a lesion.

According to the above configuration, the therapeutic gene is attached to the distal end of the insertion member inserted into the body cavity, and kinetic energy is supplied to the insertion member, so that the therapeutic gene is reliably introduced into the lesion. be able to.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment. FIG. 1A shows a configuration in gene therapy,
It is a figure which is performing the treatment in a body cavity through an endoscope. FIG. 1B is a partially enlarged view of FIG.
FIG. 2C is a partially enlarged view of FIG. FIG.
(A)-(e) show the movement of the movable part of the gene therapy apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, an apparatus main body 1 of the gene therapy apparatus is electrically connected to an operation section 2 held by an operator (not shown) via a cable 6. Operation unit 2
A shaft 3 as an insertion member is supported by a fixing member 7 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction. The shaft 3 is guided through the mantle tube 8 fixed to the fixing member 7 to the vicinity of the lesion B in the body cavity A. The introduction into the body cavity A is performed by the insertion portion 10 of the endoscope 9. This is performed by inserting the mantle tube 8. The shaft 3 has a distal end 4 and a distal end 4
As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the metal particles 5 coated with the therapeutic gene 11 are coated on the tip of the adhesive liquid 2 as shown in FIGS.
2 attached.

The apparatus body 1 includes a pulse generating means 13.
And a control device 14 are provided. Pulse generation means 1
3 and the control device 14 are provided with a solenoid 15 inside the operation unit 2.
And an ON / OFF switch 16.
A magnetic core 17 is supported by a spring 18 inside the operation unit 2, and a spring 19 and a shaft 3 are mounted inside the fixed member 7.
And a limit point 21 for the movement of the shaft 3 is provided.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When an ON / OFF switch 16 provided on the operation unit 2 is pressed, the control device 14 in the apparatus main body 1 transmits an ON signal to the pulse generator 13, and the pulse generator 13 generates a high-voltage pulse. When the high voltage pulse from the pulse generating means 13 is supplied to the solenoid 15, the magnetic core 17 rapidly accelerates as shown in FIG.
It collides with the proximal end 20 as shown in FIG.

The shaft 3 which has received the collision of the magnetic core 17 accelerates rapidly, collides again when it reaches the limit point 21 inside the fixing member 7 as shown in FIG. As a result of the impact of the collision, the metal particles 5 containing the therapeutic gene 11 attached to the distal end 4 scatter from the distal end 4 as shown in FIG. Is taken into the tissue cells C at the lesion B as shown in FIG.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, the therapeutic gene 11 is forcibly taken into the lesion B by utilizing the method of applying kinetic energy to the magnetic body by generating an electromagnetic field, so that it is safe and secure. Gene therapy can be performed reliably and evenly.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description is omitted. This embodiment is different from the gene therapy apparatus of the first embodiment in that the metal particles 5 coated with the therapeutic gene 11 and the syringe 23 for storing the adhesive liquid 22 and the metal particles 5 and the adhesive liquid 22 are transferred from the syringe 23 to the distal end. 4, a catheter 25, which is a flow path for the metal particles 5 and the adhesive liquid 22, and an outer tube 8 for inserting the catheter 25.
The second insertion portion 26 is added.

Incidentally, the syringe 23 is usually held by a second operator different from the operator (not shown) of the operation unit 2. Next, only the operation of the second embodiment that is different from that of the first embodiment will be described. After once firing the metal particles 5 coated with the therapeutic gene 11 from the distal end 4 to the lesion B, the new metal particles 5 containing the adhesive liquid 22 stored in the syringe 23 are pressed against the piston 24. , Can be supplied to the distal end 4 via a catheter 25.

For this reason, even after the metal particles 5 are once fired at the lesion B, new metal particles 5 can be repeatedly supplied, so that the shaft 3 is removed and the metal particles 5 are attached to the distal end 4 each time. Since there is no need, gene therapy can be performed effectively.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the outer tube 8 of the gene therapy apparatus according to the first embodiment is provided with a fiber 32 connected to a scintillator 31 which is shielded from light by a radiolucent member. The mantle tube 8 is connected to an image processor 35 via an optical cable 34 for protecting the fiber 32. The image processor 35 includes a fiber 32
, An endoscope 9 and an image processor 35 are connected by an image cable 33.

The optical sensor 38 and the signal monitor 39, the signal monitor 39 and the imaging means 40, and the imaging means 40 and the endoscope 9
Are electrically connected to the image signal generation section 41. The image processor 35 is connected to an image cable 36.
Is connected to the monitor 37. Reference numeral 30 denotes radiation emitted from the lesion B in the body cavity A.

Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described based on. In FIG. 4B, radiation 30 emitted from a lesion B in a body cavity A is converted into an optical signal by a scintillator 31 provided in a mantle tube 8. The optical signal is transmitted from the fiber 32 inside the mantle tube 8 via the optical cable 34 to the optical sensor 3 inside the image processor 35.
8 and is converted into an electric signal by the optical sensor 38.

The converted electric signal is analyzed by a signal monitor 39 connected to an optical sensor 38, converted into image information, and sent to an imaging means 40. In the imaging means 40,
Receiving the image information on the lesion B from the signal monitor 39 and the image information from the image signal generator 41 inside the endoscope 9, a video signal emphasizing the lesion B is created, and the image is displayed on the monitor 37. Send a signal. As a result, an endoscopic image showing the position of the lesion is displayed on the monitor 37.

As a result, the operator can confirm on the monitor 37 the position of a lesion which does not appear on the surface of the body cavity, which cannot be recognized by an endoscope, so that efficient and reliable gene therapy can be performed. It can be performed.

FIG. 5 shows the shaft 3 in each of the above embodiments.
14 shows a modified example of the distal end 4 of FIG. FIG. 5 (a)
The attachment surface 4a of the metal particle 5 at the distal end 4 is formed in an uneven shape. By forming in this manner, the mounting amount of the metal particles 5 is larger than that in the case where the mounting surface 4a is flat. Therefore, it is effective in introducing a large amount of genes at once.

FIG. 5B shows that the mounting surface 4b of the metal particle 5 at the distal end 4 is formed in a hemispherical convex shape. By forming in this manner, the metal particles 5 are scattered in the direction of diffusion. For this reason, it is effective when performing gene transfer over a wide range.

FIG. 5C shows that the mounting surface 4c of the distal end 4 of the metal particle 5 is formed in a hemispherical concave shape. By forming in this manner, the metal particles 5 scatter in the direction of convergence. Therefore, it is effective when a large amount of genes are introduced into a narrow range.

FIG. 5D shows a hood 45 attached to the distal end 4. Extending the hood 45 in the longitudinal direction is effective in guiding the scattering direction of the metal particles 5 and preventing the metal particles 5 from falling.

FIG. 5 (e) is advantageous in that the distal end 4 is detachable from the shaft 3, and the distal end 4 having a different shape can be replaced according to the application. According to the embodiment, the following configuration is obtained.

(Supplementary Note 1) A gene therapy apparatus for introducing a therapeutic gene into a lesion, comprising an insertion member which is inserted into a body cavity and has a mounting portion for mounting the therapeutic gene at a distal end, and the insertion member Means for supplying kinetic energy to the target and introducing the therapeutic gene into a lesion.

(Supplementary note 2) The gene therapy apparatus according to Supplementary note 1, wherein the therapeutic gene is introduced into a lesion part in a state attached to metal particles. (Supplementary note 3) The gene therapy apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein the gene therapy apparatus is used in combination with an endoscope.

(Supplementary Note 4) The gene therapy apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein a means for repeatedly attaching the therapeutic gene to the insertion member is provided. (Supplementary note 5) The gene therapy apparatus according to supplementary note 1, further comprising: means for detecting biological information emitted from the lesion, and means for notifying an operator of information on the lesion detected by the detection means. . (Supplementary note 6) The gene therapy apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein an attachment portion of the insertion member for attaching the therapeutic gene is replaceable.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, an attachment for attaching a therapeutic gene is provided at the distal end of an insertion member inserted into a body cavity, and kinetic energy is supplied to the insertion member. By introducing the therapeutic gene into the lesion, the therapeutic gene is safe inside tissue in a living body,
There is an effect that it can be introduced reliably and evenly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a)
The longitudinal side view of the gene therapy apparatus, (b) is a partially enlarged view,
(C) is a partial enlarged view of (b).

FIGS. 2A to 2E are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a gene therapy apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a longitudinal side view of a gene therapy apparatus, and FIG.

FIGS. 5A to 5E are views showing modified examples of the distal end in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference numeral 3: shaft (insertion member) 4: distal end 11: therapeutic gene 17: magnetic core (kinetic energy supply means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hideto Yoshimine 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Hideki Koyanagi 2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Inside Olympus Optical Industries, Ltd. (72) Inventor Akio Uchiyama 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo In-house Olympus Optical Industries, Ltd. (72) Shoichi Gotanda 2-43 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Makoto Inaba 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A gene therapy apparatus for introducing a therapeutic gene into a lesion, comprising: an insertion member having a mounting portion inserted into a body cavity to attach the therapeutic gene to a distal end thereof; Means for supplying energy and introducing the therapeutic gene into a lesion.