JPS6371804A - Infrared-ray waveguide - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use an endoscope and an infrared-ray waveguide together and to easily execute heating treatment by providing a flexible far infrared-ray reflecting layer consisting of metallic inside the flexible exodermis tube and filling fluid having light transmissivity for preventing oxidation inside the exodermis tube. CONSTITUTION:The infrared-ray waveguide 1 is of its outer diameter where the exodermis tube 2 can be freely inserted into a processing tool insertion channel 4. A flexible flex member 5 is provided on the whole surface of the inner periphery in the tube 2. Both end parts of the tube 2 are sealed with a sealing body 6 having light transmissivity, and inactive gas 7 is filled inside the tube 2. On executing heating treatment with using the infrared-ray waveguide 1 like this, the waveguide 1 connected to an infrared-ray generator 8 is inserted into the processing tool insertion channel 4 of the endoscope 3, and with observing the endoscope 3, the tip of the waveguide 7 is disposed in the position of a tumor. Then, an infrared-ray from the infrared-ray generator 8 reflects the inner peripheral surface of the flex member 5, passes through the sealing body 6, and the tumor is heated by the far infrared-ray.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an infrared waveguide for guiding infrared rays to an affected area.

[Prior Art] As a cancer (tumor) treatment, thermotherapy, which kills cancer tissue by heating the affected area, is known. Some of these thermal treatments use long infrared waveguides to guide infrared light to the affected area.

Such infrared waveguides have conventionally been constructed entirely from metal pipes.

Then, by placing the tip on the affected area and sending infrared rays generated by an infrared generator from the hand side, the affected area was irradiated with infrared rays and the tissue was heated.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, since the entire body is rigid, it lacks flexibility, and it has been considered difficult to heat tissue within the body cavity using an endoscope.

The present invention was made in view of these problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an infrared waveguide with high flexibility.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] A flexible far-infrared reflective layer 5 made of metal is provided on the inner surface of the flexible outer tube 2, and the inside of the outer tube 2 is transparent to prevent oxidation. The infrared waveguide 1 is configured by enclosing a fluid 7 having a certain temperature, thereby facilitating the heating operation using the endoscope 3.

[Example] The present invention will be described below based on an example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows the structure of an infrared waveguide 1, in which 2 is a long flexible outer tube. The outer skin tube 2 has an outer diameter that allows it to be freely inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 of the endoscope 3. And this outer skin tube 2
A flexible flex material 5 (which corresponds to a far-infrared reflective layer and is formed by spirally molding a strip material) is provided over the inner circumferential surface of the material. Flex material 5 is 99.99
It is composed of aluminum metal (best for reflecting far infrared rays) with a purity of 99.9999% to 99.9999%.
Infrared rays incident from one end of the outer skin tube 2 can be guided to the other end by a reflective surface formed on the inner surface. Then, both ends of the outer skin tube 1 are sealed with translucent sealing bodies 6, 6, and an inert gas 7 (a fluid for preventing oxidation is added to the inside of the outer skin tube 1).
It is enclosed. Helium gas, neon gas, krypton gas, cannon gas, etc. are used as the inert gas 7, so that oxidative corrosion of the flex shrine 5 can be prevented without impairing the guiding of far infrared rays.

Therefore, when performing thermal treatment using such an infrared waveguide 1, an infrared generator 8 is used as shown in FIG.
The infrared waveguide 1 connected to the infrared waveguide 1 is inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel 4 of the endoscope 3. Then, if the tip of the infrared waveguide 1 is appropriately placed at the location of the tumor (cancer) and the infrared generator 8 generates infrared rays during the observation of the family celebration f23, the far infrared rays will pass through the inert gas 7. It is guided toward the tip side while being reflected by the inner circumferential surface of the flex material 5. As a result, the tumor within the body cavity is heated by the far infrared rays emitted from the sealing body 6 at the tip of the infrared waveguide 1. However, 3a in FIG. 2 indicates a light source device of the endoscope 3.

Thus, by adopting the highly flexible infrared waveguide 1,
Easy to use with endoscope 3! This means that fever can be treated. Moreover, inert gas 7 and flex material 5
It has the advantage that it can prevent oxidation of IIF,'j and always maintain a high reflectance. Specifically, when aluminum oxidizes to aluminum oxide, the reflectance decreases, but the inert gas 7 prevents oxidation.

Although a flex material (far-infrared reflective layer) was used in one embodiment, the invention is not limited to this. For example, high-purity aluminum (99.99% to 99.999%) may be used instead of the flex material.
It is also possible to use a braid (aluminum wire braided into a cylinder) with a purity of 9%, metal foil, or coating with a high-purity aluminum layer (metal).

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, an infrared waveguide with high flexibility can be provided.

As a result, thermotherapy can be easily performed using both an endoscope and an infrared waveguide. Moreover, since the fluid sealed in the outer skin tube can prevent oxidation of the far-infrared reflective layer, a high reflectance can be maintained at all times, ensuring efficient treatment.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an infrared waveguide according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the infrared waveguide combined with an endoscope;
It is a block diagram which shows the state at the time of H fever treatment. 2... Outer tube, 5... Flex material (far-infrared reflective layer), 6... Sealing body, 7... Inert gas (fluid to prevent oxidation). Applicant's representative Patent attorney Atsushi Tsuboi Taku 557'j-t-E Ya) Showa Town, 12, FT1 Director of the Patent Office Kuro 1) Akio Tono1, Patent Application No. 1988-2175192 , Name of the invention Infrared waveguide 3, Relationship with the person making the amendment Patent applicant (037) Olympus Optical Industry Company 4, Agent 3-7-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo UBE Building 6
, Specification subject to amendment 7.1, γ tF? Specification page 3, line 4] From the latter half of line 1 to the first half of line 1-1, "cannon gas" is treated as "xenon gas" under Wf pressure.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A flexible far-infrared reflective layer made of metal is provided on the inner surface of a flexible outer tube, and a translucent fluid is sealed inside the outer tube to prevent oxidation. Infrared waveguide.