JPS6251633B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an endoscope with a microwave heater capable of heating and treating a part of the inside of a living body cavity.

The principle of treating an affected area such as a malignant tumor in a living body by heating it to kill the cells is already known. However, it can be said that there is still no effective therapeutic means based on this principle. For example, the following methods are known as means for heating an affected area within a body cavity. First, using the air and water supply ports and suction ports provided at the tip of the endoscope, blow hot air or warm water from the air and water ports to the affected area within the body cavity, and then blow the warm air or water from the suction port. There is a method of collecting hot water and performing heat treatment. However, although this method can be expected to be effective to some extent when the malignant tumor is exposed on the surface of the body, when the tumor is located deep within the body, blood circulation in normal tissue on the surface side may prevent the temperature from rising. Because the body controls itself, the heat is not transmitted deep into the body, making it ineffective.

In addition, using a conventional high-frequency scalpel or laser scalpel for endoscopy has been considered as another method, but these instruments are originally used for surgically removing the affected area, and they may accidentally remove normal tissue. If it comes into contact with tissue, it is not practical because there is a risk that even the normal tissue will be killed. Moreover, even if the output could be reduced, it would not be effective against deep affected areas for the same reason as mentioned above.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to
It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope with a microwave heater that can safely and reliably heat-treat even deep affected areas.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 is an endoscope, and the endoscope main body 2 is composed of an insertion section 3 to be inserted into a living body cavity and an operation section 4 on the proximal side.
The insertion section 3 is formed by connecting a distal end component 7 to a distal end of a flexible tube section 5 via a curved section 6.
is curved by rotating the angle knob 8 of the operating section 4, so that the direction of the tip component 7 can be selectively operated. Furthermore, a flexible light guide cable 9 is provided in the operation section 4.
are connected, and this light guide cable 9
At the tip of the socket part 11 of the illumination light source device 10
A connector 12 that can be attached to is attached and fixed. Then, the insertion section 3 and the operation section 4 of the endoscope main body 2
A light guide 13 made of, for example, an optical fiber bundle is inserted over each part of the light guide cable 9, and the light guide 13 transmits the illumination light from the illumination light source device 10 to the tip component 7.
The illumination window 1 formed in this tip component 7
Illumination light is emitted from 4. Further, an image guide 15 made of, for example, an optical fiber bundle is inserted inside each of the insertion section 3 and the operation section 4 of the endoscope main body 2, and an observation window 16 formed in the distal end component 7 and an objective Guides the optical image obtained through the lens 17 to the eyepiece section 18 of the operation section 4,
It is now possible to observe the field of view inside the living cavity.
The illumination window 14 and the observation window 16 are arranged side by side on the distal end surface 20 of the main body 19 of the distal end component 7, and constitute a so-called direct view type endoscope 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the distal end component 7 has a heater 2 located on the distal end surface 20 of the main body 19 and emits microwaves to heat the affected area within the body cavity.
1 is embedded. This heater 21 consists of a dipole antenna 22 that emits microwaves and a reflector 23 that directs the emitted microwaves forward and provides directivity. A rotating parabolic reflector is used. Note that the reflector 23
is made of a metal material to prevent side radiation, and a protective film 24 made of a material with a low dielectric constant, such as vinyl chloride, is attached to the front opening to prevent bodily fluids from entering the inside. There is. The antenna 22 is not limited to a dipole type, but may be a pole type, and its shape is not limited. The outside of the heater 21 is covered with a cover 25 for preventing side radiation heat and for insulation. In other words,
The heater 21 is installed in a recess 26 formed in the main body 19 with a cover 25 interposed therebetween. This cover 25 is made of a flame-retardant insulating material such as epoxy resin or ceramic with high strength, but if the main body 19 itself is made of such a material, the cover 25 is unnecessary.

Further, the antenna 22 of the heater 21 is connected to a transmission path inserted into the endoscope body 2, such as a transmission line 27 for transmitting microwave current. That is, the transmission line 27 is inserted into a flexible tube 28 provided across the insertion section 3 and the operation section 4 of the endoscope main body 2 so as to be able to move forward and backward, and its tip is inserted into a through hole 25a formed in the cover 25. From reflector 2
3, and the antenna 22 is attached to the tip thereof. Further, the transmission line 27 has its rear end led out from an insertion hole 29 formed in the operating section 4, and a connector 30 is connected and fixed to this end.
This connector 30 is connected to a microwave oscillation power supply device 31. Therefore, the position of the antenna 22 within the reflector 23 can be adjusted by moving the transmission line 27 forward and backward through the portion led out from the insertion hole 29. The transmission line 27 is composed of a so-called coaxial cable, which has a core wire 32 as shown in FIG.
, a dielectric material 33 surrounding this, and a shielding material 34 covering the outside thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2, the microwave oscillation power supply device 31 includes a power supply section 35, an oscillation section 36 provided with an oscillation tube (not shown) that sends a microwave current to the transmission line 27, and a cooling section that cools the oscillation tube. It consists of 37.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained. If a malignant tumor occurs in the body cavity, insert the insertion section 3 of the endoscope body 2 into the body cavity, observe the inside of the body cavity to find the affected area, and remove the curved part 6.
By bending the heater 21, the heater 21 is directed toward the affected area. In this state, the microwave oscillation power supply device 3
1 is brought into oscillation mode, and a microwave current is sent from the oscillation section 36 to the transmission line 27 and sent to the antenna 22 of the heater 21, thereby emitting microwaves. Then, the microwave is reflected by the reflector 23 of the heater 21 and emitted forward to heat the affected area, but the microwave can penetrate a distance of about 10 cm, although it varies depending on the wavelength and the tissue of the living body. Because of its high permeability, it is possible to heat treat not only the affected area on the inner surface of the body cavity, but also the lesions deep below the surface. Moreover, the antenna 22 can change its position within the reflector 23 by manipulating the transmission line 27. For example, Figure 3a
As shown in FIG.
If the microwave is located at the rear of the focal point F as shown in FIG. 3b, the microwave can be emitted in a substantially parallel direction, and if the microwave is located behind the focal point F as shown in FIG. 3b, the microwave can be emitted forward at a predetermined angle. Furthermore, if the reflector 2 is positioned in front of the focal point F as shown in Figure 3c,
The microwave reflected by the reflecting surface 23a of No. 3 can be emitted at an angle converging at a point P in front of the reflector 23. Therefore, during treatment, it is possible to emit microwaves according to the size of the affected area, which not only eliminates the risk of destroying surrounding normal tissue, but also by changing the radiation angle of the microwaves. Since the intensity of the emitted microwaves can be changed, the microwaves can be emitted with the same intensity even if the distance between the heater 21 and the affected area changes, which also improves the safety of the treatment. improves. Further, since it is not necessary to operate the oscillating section 36 to change the strength of the microwave, operability is good. Furthermore, since the radiation angle of the microwave can be changed, treatment can be performed without keeping the distance between the tip of the endoscope body 2 and the affected area constant, making it easier to operate the endoscope body 2 and allowing the operator to You can concentrate on your treatment.

Note that the means for controlling the radiation angle of microwaves in the present invention may be as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. That is, in this embodiment, the radiation angle of the microwave is controlled by changing the inclination angle of the reflective surface 23a of the reflector 23. That is, the cover 25 is provided with a housing portion 38 having a truncated conical cross section, and the reflector 23 is provided with two grooves 39 so that its peripheral wall can be elastically deformed in the radial direction. The reflector 23 was attached and fixed to the transmission line 27. Further, the transmission line 27 was covered with a reinforcing tube 40. Note that this reinforcing tube 40 is not necessarily necessary.

According to such a configuration, by moving the transmission line 27 back and forth, the spread angle of the peripheral wall of the reflector 23 whose outer surface is in pressure contact with the inner surface of the housing portion 38 changes, so that the reflection surface 23a of the reflector 23 changes. The radiation angle of the reflected microwave can be changed as in the above embodiment. That is, by increasing the spread angle of the reflector 23, the microwaves can be spread out, and conversely, by making the spread angle smaller, the microwaves can be focused in front of the reflector 23.

In addition, in this other embodiment, the reflector has three
-Four grooves may be provided, or by constructing a reflector that can be elastically deformed in the radial direction by overlapping a plurality of plates, this part may be formed like a structure with grooves. It may also be possible to eliminate the loss of the reflective surface in .

As described above, the present invention provides a heater consisting of an antenna and a reflector that gives directivity to the microwaves radiated from the antenna in the distal end component of the endoscope body. Since a control means is provided to control the radiation angle of the emitted microwaves, when performing heat treatment on the affected area within the body cavity, the microwaves can be emitted according to the size of the affected area, thereby destroying surrounding normal tissue. Such risks can be eliminated. In addition, the strength of the microwave can be changed by changing the radiation angle of the microwave, making it easy to treat the area with microwaves of a constant strength regardless of the distance between the endoscope tip and the affected area, making it easier to operate. This has the effect of improving safety and safety.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 3 show one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 1 is a perspective view of the entire endoscope, Figure 2 is a sectional view of the main parts, and Figures 3a, b, and c are of the antenna. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a heater portion showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view thereof. 2...Endoscope main body, 7...Tip component, 21...
... Heater, 22 ... Antenna, 23 ... Reflector,
27...Transmission line.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A heater consisting of an antenna and a reflector that gives directionality to the microwaves radiated from the antenna is provided in the distal end component of the endoscope body, and microwave current is transmitted to the heater. 1. An endoscope with a microwave heater connected to a transmission line, characterized in that the heater is provided with a control means for controlling a radiation angle of microwaves radiated from the antenna. 2. The endoscope with a microwave heater according to claim 1, wherein the control means is provided with an antenna that can move forward and backward with respect to the reflector. 3. The endoscope with a microwave heater according to claim 1, wherein the control means is capable of adjusting the angle of the reflective surface of the reflector.