Patent Application
20160249900
The present invention relates to elastic tubes, control devices, and medical equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to medical equipment as an endoscopic device which, for example, takes a photograph of an affected part at the time of surgery which is performed on a patient when medical procedures are performed, for example, an endoscopic device which is suitably used in single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In addition, the present invention relates to medical equipment provided with a catheter, a laser scalpel, or an electric scalpel as a medical instrument, for example.
Single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a method of removing a gallbladder by opening, in a navel of a patient, one small hole which is about 15 mm and inserting forcipes (medical instruments) and an endoscopic camera through the hole.
Since single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy leaves a scar only in a navel, single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy has the following advantages.
(1) The scar is less noticeable, which offers cosmetic advantage.
(2) Single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy causes less postoperative pain.
(3) A faster recovery time allows a patient to be discharged from the hospital after a shorter stay (2 or 3 days) than that in the existing surgery method, which makes it possible to curb medical costs.
(4) Even patients who have lost strength (elderly people) can have surgery safely because single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy puts less physical burden on the body.
On the other hand, the following are problems of the existing single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
(1) Contact between one person and another person and contact between surgery instruments occur outside the body, which hinders the movement of people and the instruments.
(2) Contact between the operator and the camera assistant.
(3) Contact between the forcipes and the endoscopic camera.
In order to solve the above-described problems, the tip part of the endoscopic device has to be formed to have a structure which allows the tip part to curve to take a photograph of a spot in an abdomen, the spot on which surgery is being performed. This curving structure is generally formed of a plurality of joints and a wire which operates the joints by pulling the joints. Moreover, as this curving structure, a structure which supplies fluid to the inside to make a film expand by the fluid pressure of the fluid and produces curving motion by tensile stress caused in the film is also known (Patent Literature 1). More specifically, a configuration which is a balloon actuator formed by combining two filmy bodies having different tensile stresses which are caused by expansion, the configuration in which, by forming one of the filmy bodies so as to have a concave shape, a plurality of spaces are partly formed between the two filmy bodies, is disclosed.
Moreover, in Patent Literature 2, for example, a configuration which produces curving movement by regulating the pressure inside a tubular body formed of a tubular elastic body and a reinforcing member which is less likely to be elastically deformed than the tubular elastic body is disclosed. In Patent Literature 3, a configuration provided with an air sac, a braid around the air sac, and a back column which is bent in an arching line and placed between the air sac and the braid is disclosed.
PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-204612 (published on Aug. 10, 2006)
PTL 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2-113104 (published on Apr. 25, 1990)
PTL 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-201958 (published on Jul. 22, 1994)
However, since the configuration disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is a complicated configuration in which two filmy bodies are combined and one of the filmy bodies is formed so as to have a concave shape, this configuration cannot be produced easily. Moreover, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Literature 2, since the reinforcing member has a size which causes the reinforcing member to cover the bottom of the tubular elastic body completely, there is a possibility that a corner on the side face of the reinforcing member may invade a human body when curving movement is produced. Furthermore, the configuration disclosed in Patent Literature 3 cannot be produced easily because this configuration is formed of a plurality of different materials.
The present invention implements a safe device with a simple structure by adopting a new structure for a curving operation at the tip part of medical equipment such as an endoscopic device and solves the problems of the above-described existing single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy, for example, by making it possible to perform the curving operation automatically by a control device.
An elastic tube according to the present invention is an elastic tube used in medical equipment, the elastic tube including: an elastic tube main body having the shape of a long and narrow hollow circular cylinder; a securing portion provided at one sealed tip of the elastic tube main body, the securing portion to which a medical instrument can be attached; and a fixing portion that can fix an inextensible body having flexibility to the elastic tube main body in the longitudinal direction thereof, in which the elastic tube expands or contracts on the side opposite to the inextensible body as a result of the pressure of gas injected into the elastic tube main body being controlled.
According to the present invention, since a structure in which gas (for example, air) is encapsulated in a soft elastic tube and the elastic tube is curved by using the pressure of the gas is adopted, even if the elastic tube makes contact with a medical procedure area (for example, an organ), the elastic tube becomes deformed and absorbs the impact caused by the contact, which prevents the medical procedure area from being damaged and ensures safety. Moreover, since the structure of the elastic tube is simple, the elastic tube can be produced at low cost and can be provided as a disposable item (can be thrown away after one use) without constraint, which makes it possible to maintain the clean state.
Furthermore, the present invention has the advantage that, since the pressure of air, for example, is used as a force curving a tube, even when the air leaks from the elastic tube, the air does not contaminate the medical procedure area. In addition, since an elastic tube which is not expanded is used as a thin tube which is inserted into a medical procedure area (the inside of a body) at the time of medical procedures, it is possible to reduce the diameter of the tip part of medical equipment (for example, an endoscope). Moreover, since automatic operation of the tip part of the medical equipment is possible, there is no need for a surgeon (a camera assistant) for operating the tip part of the medical equipment, which eliminates the possibility that the operation of the above surgeon hinders medical procedures (surgery) which are performed by a surgeon (an operator).
As described above, the present invention offers highly-improved convenience in medical practice in that, for example, it is provided as a disposable item and does not invade a human body while adopting a simple structure which can be produced easily at low cost, and it is expected that the present invention will be widely used in medical practice.
In
In
In
In
In
In
As depicted in
The elastic tube 1 has an elastic tube main body 11, a securing portion 12, and a fixing portion 13. The elastic tube main body 11 is a main member forming the elastic tube 1 and the tip thereof on the side where the endoscopic camera 2 is secured is sealed. The securing portion 12 is provided at the sealed tip of the elastic tube main body 11 and makes it possible to attach a medical instrument to the elastic tube 1. The medical instrument which is attached to the securing portion 12 is not limited to the endoscopic camera 2 and may be a catheter, a laser scalpel, or the like. The fixing portion 13 is provided on the elastic tube 1 in the longitudinal direction thereof and makes it possible to fix the inextensible body 4 thereto. Incidentally, the securing portion 12 and the fixing portion 13 are part of the elastic tube 1 and formed of the same material as the elastic tube 1.
Here, by using
Incidentally, to the securing portion 12 to which the endoscopic camera 2 is attached, a lighting LED lamp (not depicted in the drawing) can be attached in such a way as to be adjacent thereto. Moreover, in the elastic tube 1 depicted in
In (a) of
The extensibility of the inextensible body 4 simply has to be lower than the extensibility of the elastic tube main body 11 and simply has to be high enough to make the elastic tube main body 11 expand on the side opposite to the fixing portion 13 and low enough not to make the elastic tube main body 11 expand on the side where the fixing portion 13 is located. As the material of the inextensible body 4, for example, an inextensible string (a fishing line) such as glass fiber or polyamide fiber may be used or silicone which is the same material as the elastic tube 1 may be used.
Moreover, a cable connected to the medical instrument may double as the inextensible body 4. For example, an electric cord which supplies power to the endoscopic camera 2 may double as the inextensible body 4 depicted in (a) of
The non-expansive tube 3 is formed as a linear hard hollow body having the same shape as the elastic tube main body 11, that is, having the same outside diameter and inside diameter as the elastic tube main body 11, and measuring about 30 cm long and can be formed of acrylic resin.
In
(b) of
Moreover, though not depicted in the drawing, the catheter 2a may be of a guide wire type. In this case, in place of a guide wire for guiding the catheter in a direction in which the catheter should move, the elastic tube 1 is used. That is, to the non-expansive tube 3, the catheter 2a is connected without the elastic tube 1, and, to the other end of the catheter 2a on the side opposite to the non-expansive tube 3, the elastic tube 1 (one end thereof on the side opposite to the securing portion 12) is connected. It is assumed that the gas which is encapsulated in the elastic tube main body 11 is injected from the non-expansive tube 3 via the catheter 2a. As a result, by regulating the pressure of the gas encapsulated in the elastic tube main body 11, the elastic tube 1 can guide the catheter in a direction in which the catheter should move.
(c) of
As depicted in
(a) of
Moreover, in (a) of
As depicted in (a) of
(b) of
In the above-described configuration, since the inextensible body 4 and the cable connected to the medical instrument are fixed to the inside of the elastic tube main body 11, projections and depressions do not appear on the surface of the elastic tube main body 11. This facilitates the cleaning and disinfection of the elastic tube 1a, which makes it easy to reuse the elastic tube 1a.
Moreover, in the above-described configuration, since the inextensible body 4 and the cable connected to the medical instrument are fixed to the inside of the elastic tube main body 11, the inextensible body 4 and the cable connected to the medical instrument are placed in such a way as to be protected by the elastic tube main body 11. As a result, if part of the inextensible body 4 and the cable connected to the medical instrument is broken for some reasons, the broken part is protected by the elastic tube main body 11, which reduces the possibility of the human body being damaged. For example, if part of the inextensible body 4 is broken for some reasons, even when the extensibility of the inextensible body 4 is lower than the extensibility of the elastic tube 1a, the risk of the human body being damaged by the broken part of the inextensible body 4 is low. Furthermore, for example, if the cable connected to the medical instrument is an electric cable, it is possible to avoid, in the human body, the adverse effects of a leakage of electricity, for example, caused by a breakage of the electric cable. In addition, since gas is injected into the elastic tube main body 11, even when the electric cable is broken, it is possible to avoid, in the elastic tube main body 11, the adverse effects of a leakage of electricity because the inside of the elastic tube main body 11 does not conduct electricity well.
Furthermore, when the inextensible body 4 which is different from the cable connected to the medical instrument is fixed to the elastic tube main body 11 as depicted in (a) and (b) of
(d) to (f) of
Moreover, when the cable connected to the medical instrument does not double as the inextensible body 4, as depicted in (f) of
In the above-described configuration, since the inextensible body 4 and the cable connected to the medical instrument are embedded between the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the elastic tube main body 11, projections and depressions do not appear on the surface (the outer periphery) of the elastic tube main body 11. This facilitates the cleaning and disinfection of the elastic tube 1b, which makes it easy to reuse the elastic tube 1b.
Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, since the inextensible body 4 and the cable connected to the medical instrument are fixed between the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the elastic tube main body 11 or inside the hollow of the elastic tube main body 11, the inextensible body 4 and the cable connected to the medical instrument are placed in such a way as to be protected by the elastic tube main body 11. As a result, when part of the inextensible body 4 and the cable connected to the medical instrument is broken for some reasons, since the broken part is protected by the elastic tube main body 11, the risk of the human body being damaged is low.
For example, when part of the inextensible body 4 is broken for some reasons, even when the extensibility of the inextensible body 4 is lower than the extensibility of the elastic tube 1b, the risk of the human body being damaged by the broken part of the inextensible body 4 is low. Moreover, for example, when the cable connected to the medical instrument is an electric cable, it is possible to avoid, in the human body, the adverse effects of a leakage of electricity, for example, caused by a breakage of the electric cable. In addition, since gas is injected into the elastic tube main body 11, even when the electric cable is broken, it is possible to avoid, in the elastic tube main body 11, the adverse effects of a leakage of electricity because the inside of the elastic tube main body 11 does not conduct electricity well.
Moreover, in the above-described configuration, the entire outer periphery of the inextensible body 4 or the cable connected to the medical instrument is fixed to the elastic tube main body 11. As a result, the angle of curve θ of the elastic tube 1b changes at a fixed rate in response to the regulation of the pressure P of the air inside the hollow of the elastic tube main body 11. This offers the advantage that the angle of curve θ of the elastic tube main body 11 is easily controlled. The above advantage will be described later in (b) of
(g) to (i) of
(g) of
Furthermore, in the example depicted in (g) of
Here, by using
Next, (c) of
As depicted in (c) of
Next, gradual application of pressure is performed, and, when the pressure from the elastic tube 1b is applied to the elastic tube 1k, the expansion is temporarily suppressed.
When application of pressure is further performed, the elastic tube 1b and the elastic tube 1k start to expand at the same time, and full-scale bending starts.
Consequently, the relationship between the pressure and the angle of curve is phased bending movement as depicted in (d) of
Moreover, since the elastic tube 1k is present on the outer perimeter of the elastic tube 1b as described above, it is possible to produce a particular effect of being capable of performing bending effectively by suppressing expansion in the tube circumferential direction (the lateral direction) which does not contribute to bending and promoting expansion in the longitudinal direction (the vertical direction) which has a direct influence on the control of the angle of curve. That is, the elastic tube 1c has anisotropic expansion and contraction characteristics with respect to a bending direction. Moreover, since unnecessary expansion of the tube in the circumferential direction is suppressed, degradation of the tube caused by mechanical stress which is produced by repeated expansion and contraction can also be prevented.
Next, the behavior of this phased bending movement may be adjusted by providing proper clearance between the elastic tube 1k disposed on the outer perimeter and the elastic tube 1b by leaving a space therebetween, or the bending movement may be adjusted by changing the modulus of elasticity of each of the elastic tubes 1b and 1k. In order to change the modulus of elasticity, the material may be changed or an adjustment may be made by changing the thickness. It is preferable to reduce a load on bending by using, for example, a stretchier material or a thinner tube in a position closer to the outer perimeter. Moreover, by adopting a configuration in which the cross section of the outer tube has a corrugated structure and little tension is applied until this corrugated shape becomes flat, an effect equivalent to that obtained by using a hollow tube may be obtained and, by reducing the region of the hollow part, the outside diameter of a bending device may be reduced.
For further enhancement of this effect, the plurality of elastic tubes on the outer perimeter may have a bellows structure (see (a) of
Moreover, for the above-described plurality of bending points, the pressure at which bending starts may be regulated by combining the above-described various structures as appropriate such that bending movements in the bending points are performed at the same time or bending is performed in order from a bending point located at the tip, for example.
Next, (h) of
Next, (i) of
Incidentally, in (i) of
Moreover, the cable 14 connected to the medical instrument, the cable 14 depicted in (e) of
Furthermore, when the cable connected to the medical instrument does not double as the inextensible body 4, as in the drawing depicted in (f) of
Incidentally, the inextensible body 4 or the cable 14 and the elastic sheet may be configured so as to be in contact with the outer periphery and the inner periphery of the elastic tube main body 11. However, in order to enhance the mechanical strength of the elastic tube 1b, as depicted in (d) to (f) of
In the above-described configuration, since the inextensible body 4 or the cable 14 connected to the medical instrument and the elastic sheet are embedded between the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the elastic tube main body 11, projections and depressions do not appear on the surface (the outer periphery) of the elastic tube main body 11. This facilitates the cleaning and disinfection of the elastic tube 1c, which makes it easy to reuse the elastic tube 1c.
Moreover, in the above-described configuration, since the inextensible body 4 and the cable 14 connected to the medical instrument are fixed between the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the elastic tube main body 11 or inside the hollow of the elastic tube main body 11, the inextensible body 4 and the cable 14 connected to the medical instrument are placed in such a way as to be protected by the elastic tube main body 11 and the added elastic sheet. As a result, when part of the inextensible body 4 and the cable 14 connected to the medical instrument is broken for some reasons, since the broken part is protected by the elastic tube main body 11 and the elastic sheet, the risk of the human body being damaged is low.
In the above-described configuration, it is possible to avoid the above-described adverse effects on the human body caused by the cable connected to the medical instrument, for example. Furthermore, since it is possible to make compact an area near the medical instrument secured to the elastic tube 1, the cable connected to the medical instrument does not hinder medical procedures.
Next, (a) to (d) of
(a) of
Next, the behavior of this phased bending movement may be adjusted by providing proper clearance between the elastic tube 1m disposed on the outer perimeter and the elastic tube 1c by leaving a space therebetween, or the bending movement may be adjusted by changing the modulus of elasticity of each of the elastic tubes 1c and 1m. In order to change the modulus of elasticity, the material may be changed or an adjustment may be made by changing the thickness. It is preferable to reduce a load on bending by using, for example, a stretchier material or a thinner tube in a position closer to the outer perimeter. Moreover, by adopting a configuration in which the cross section of the outer tube has a corrugated structure and little tension is applied until this corrugated shape becomes flat, an effect equivalent to that obtained by using a hollow tube may be obtained and, by reducing the region of the hollow part, the outside diameter of the bending device may be reduced.
For further enhancement of this effect, the plurality of elastic tubes on the outer perimeter may have a bellows structure (see (a) of
Next, (b) of
Next, (c) of
Next, (d) of
As depicted in (a) to (c) of
It is desirable to use, as the bending portion 31, an elastic tube provided with a single or a plurality of outer tubes (or elastic sheets) around a single elastic tube main body 11 like the elastic tubes depicted in (g) to (i) of
Next, the effect of making the multi-joint bending portion 30 perform bending movement in a plurality of points will be described. As depicted in (b) of
Moreover, in addition thereto, as depicted in (c) of
In
In this embodiment, as an example of the air pressure variable portion, the piston 21, the piston driving portion 24, and the piston controlling portion 26 are used. However, an air pressure regulating valve (not depicted in the drawing) or the like may be used in place of the piston 21, the piston driving portion 24, and the piston controlling portion 26. Moreover, the microphone 25 is used as an example of the instruction accepting portion, but a foot switch (not depicted in the drawing) or the like may be used in place of the microphone 25.
For example, when the endoscopic camera 2 can curve upward or downward on a display screen of the camera monitor 6, if the operator 105 produces the voice “upward”, the display screen of the camera monitor 6 starts to move so as to display an upper portion of the displayed image. Then, the voice “stop” produced by the operator 105 stops the movement of the display screen on the camera monitor 6. Moreover, if the voice produced by the operator 105 is “downward”, the display screen on the camera monitor 6 moves to a lower portion of the displayed image.
When the display screen of the camera monitor 6 is moved in a horizontal direction, it is necessary to adjust the position of the flexible stand 7 in advance such that the direction in which the elastic tube 1 curves is the horizontal direction. Incidentally, the endoscope portion 10 is maintained in a predetermined position by the flexible stand 7 attached to an operating table 8 and the position is adjusted by the operator 105 by manual operation.
The elastic tube 1 used in the medical procedures and the like depicted in
(a) of
For example, when the pressure P of the air W inside the elastic tube main body 11 is increased (at the time of application of pressure), the angle of curve θ of the elastic tube 1 monotonously increases gently in response to an increase in the air pressure to a point near a pressure of 230 kPa. After the pressure P exceeds a point near 230 kPa, the angle of curve θ of the elastic tube 1 sharply increases in response to an increase in the pressure P. Moreover, when the pressure P of the air W inside the elastic tube main body 11 is reduced (at the time of pressure reduction), the angle of curve θ of the elastic tube 1 monotonously decreases gently in response to a reduction in the pressure P to a point near a point at which the pressure P becomes 230 kPa. After the pressure P is reduced to a point near 230 kPa and becomes lower, the angle of curve θ of the elastic tube main body 11 sharply decreases in response to a reduction in the pressure P to a point near a point at which the pressure P becomes 170 kPa. Then, after the pressure P is reduced to a point near 170 kPa and becomes lower, the angle of curve θ of the elastic tube main body 11 monotonously decreases again gently in response to a reduction in the pressure P.
By setting the curve characteristics of the elastic tube main body 11 which are depicted in (a) of
(b) of
For example, when the pressure P of the air W inside the elastic tube main body 11 is increased (at the time of application of pressure), the angle of curve θ of the elastic tube 1b increases nearly linearly in response to an increase in the air pressure from a point near a pressure of 100 kPa to a point near 260 kPa. Moreover, when the pressure P of the air W inside the elastic tube main body 11 is reduced (at the time of pressure reduction), the angle of curve θ of the elastic tube 1b decreases linearly in response to a reduction in the pressure P from a point at which the pressure P is 260 kPa to a point near a point at which the pressure P becomes 100 kPa.
As described above, at the time of application of pressure and at the time of pressure reduction, every time the pressure P increases or decreases, the angle of curve θ of the elastic tube 1b changes at each fixed rate, and hysteresis characteristics depicted in (a) of
By setting the curve characteristics of the elastic tube main body 11 depicted in (b) of
Moreover, the elastic tube 1 may be configured so as to be operated automatically. For example, when the endoscopic camera 2 depicted in
Furthermore, the elastic tube 1 may be operated manually through use of a tablet terminal (not depicted in the drawing). For example, when an assistant (not depicted in the drawing) to an operator (for instance, the operator 105 in
An elastic tube (1) according to a first aspect of the present invention is an elastic tube used in medical equipment (an endoscopic device 100), the elastic tube including: an elastic tube main body (11) having the shape of a long and narrow hollow circular cylinder; a securing portion (12) provided at one sealed tip of the elastic tube main body, the securing portion to which a medical instrument (an endoscopic camera 2, a catheter 2a, a laser scalpel 2c) can be attached; and a fixing portion (13) that can fix an inextensible body (4) having flexibility to the elastic tube main body in the longitudinal direction thereof, in which the elastic tube expands or contracts on the side opposite to the inextensible body as a result of the pressure of gas injected into the elastic tube main body being controlled.
According to the present invention, the above elastic tube offers highly-improved convenience in medical practice in that, for example, it is provided as a disposable item and does not invade a human body while adopting a simple structure which can be produced easily at low cost, and it is expected that the elastic tube will be widely used in medical practice.
In the elastic tube (1) according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect described above, the fixing portion may fix the inextensible body formed of a material whose extensibility is lower than the extensibility of the elastic tube main body to the elastic tube main body.
In the above-described configuration, the inextensible body formed of a material whose extensibility is lower than the extensibility of the elastic tube main body is fixed to the elastic tube main body. For example, when silicone is used in the inextensible body as the same material as the elastic tube, the inextensible body formed of a silicone material is easily fixed to the elastic tube main body. As a result, even when an unexpected impact caused by contact at the time of medical procedures is given to the elastic tube main body to which the inextensible body formed of a silicone material is fixed, it is possible to prevent the inextensible body formed of the silicone material from being detached from the elastic tube. Moreover, for example, when polyamide fiber is used in the inextensible body, the inextensible body is not easily fixed to the elastic tube formed of a silicone material. This is effective in detaching the inextensible body from the elastic tube with ease.
In the elastic tube (1) according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect described above, the fixing portion may fix a cable connected to the medical instrument to the elastic tube main body as the inextensible body.
In the above-described configuration, the cable connected to the medical instrument is fixed to the elastic tube main body. This makes it possible to curve the elastic tube by using an object which is used at the time of medical procedures. As a result, the elastic tube has a simple structure in which a new inextensible body is not provided and therefore can be produced easily at low cost.
In the elastic tube (1) according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects described above, the fixing portion may be placed between the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the elastic tube main body.
In the above-described configuration, the entire outer periphery of the inextensible body or the cable connected to the medical instrument is fixed to the elastic tube main body. As a result, the angle of curve of the elastic tube changes at a fixed rate in response to the regulation of the pressure P of the air inside a hollow of the elastic tube main body. This offers the advantage that the angle of curve of the elastic tube main body is easily controlled.
In the elastic tube (1) according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects described above, the fixing portion may be placed inside a hollow of the elastic tube main body.
In the above-described configuration, since the inextensible body 4 and the cable connected to the medical instrument are fixed to the inside of the elastic tube main body 11, projections and depressions do not appear on the surface of the elastic tube main body 11. This facilitates the cleaning and disinfection of the elastic tube 1a, which makes it easy to reuse the elastic tube 1a.
Moreover, in the above-described configuration, since the inextensible body 4 and the cable connected to the medical instrument are fixed to the inside of the elastic tube main body 11, the inextensible body 4 and the cable connected to the medical instrument are placed in such a way as to be protected by the elastic tube main body 11. As a result, when part of the inextensible body 4 and the cable connected to the medical instrument is broken for some reasons, since the broken part is protected by the elastic tube main body 11, the risk of the human body being damaged is low. For example, if part of the inextensible body 4 is broken for some reasons, even when the extensibility of the inextensible body 4 is lower than the extensibility of the elastic tube 1a, the risk of the human body being damaged by the broken part of the inextensible body 4 is low. Furthermore, for example, if the cable connected to the medical instrument is an electric cable, it is possible to avoid, in the human body, the adverse effects of a leakage of electricity, for example, caused by a breakage of the electric cable. In addition, since gas is injected into the elastic tube main body 11, even when the electric cable is broken, it is possible to avoid, in the elastic tube main body 11, the adverse effects of a leakage of electricity because the inside of the elastic tube main body 11 does not conduct electricity well.
In the elastic tube (1) according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second, or fourth aspect described above, the elastic tube main body may place a cable connected to the medical instrument inside a hollow of the elastic tube main body.
In the above-described configuration, even when the inextensible body 4 which is different from the cable connected to the medical instrument is fixed to the elastic tube main body 11 by the fixing portion 13, the cable connected to the medical instrument is placed inside the hollow of the elastic tube main body 11. As a result, it is possible to avoid the above-described adverse effects on the human body caused by the cable connected to the medical instrument. Moreover, since it is possible to make compact an area near the medical instrument secured to the elastic tube 1, the cable connected to the medical instrument does not hinder the medical procedures.
In the elastic tube (1) according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects described above, the elastic tube may be a tube which is more likely to expand and contract in a longitudinal direction than in a circumferential direction and exhibits different anisotropic expansion and contraction characteristics with respect to a bending direction.
In the above-described configuration, it is possible to produce a particular effect of being capable of performing bending effectively by suppressing expansion of the tube in the circumferential direction (the lateral direction) which does not contribute to bending and promoting expansion of the tube in the longitudinal direction (the vertical direction) which has a direct influence on bending. Moreover, since unnecessary expansion of the tube in the circumferential direction is suppressed, degradation of the tube caused by mechanical stress which is produced by repeated expansion and contraction can also be suppressed.
In the elastic tube (1) according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect described above, the elastic tube exhibiting different anisotropic expansion and contraction characteristics with respect to the bending direction may have a structure in which a mesh elastic body is fixed.
In the elastic tube (1) according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects described above, the elastic tube may be a tube exhibiting phased expansion and contraction characteristics in response to the magnitude of an internal pressure.
In the above-described configuration, it is possible to equalize the degrees of bending in a plurality of points.
In the elastic tube (1) according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the seventh to ninth aspects described above, the elastic tube may have a multiple-layer structure formed of a plurality of elastic tubes or an anisotropic extensible elastic body having, for example, a mesh appearance.
In the elastic tube (1) according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect described above, the plurality of elastic tubes may be formed of elastic tubes having different moduli of elasticity or anisotropic extensible elastic bodies having different moduli of elasticity.
A control device (20) according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention may be a control device that controls expansion and contraction of the elastic tube according to the first aspect described above and include an instruction accepting portion (a microphone 25) that accepts an instruction to make the elastic tube expand or contract and an air pressure variable portion (a piston 21, a piston driving portion 24, a piston controlling portion 26) that varies the pressure of gas injected into a hollow of the elastic tube main body based on the instruction accepted by the instruction accepting portion.
In the above-described configuration, since the tip part of the medical equipment is operated by the control device, a surgeon (a camera assistant 104) for operating the tip part of the medical equipment is unnecessary and therefore the operation which is performed by the surgeon (the assistant 104) does not hinder medical procedures (surgery) which are performed by another surgeon (an operator 105). This allows the surgeon (the operator 105) to concentrate on the medical procedures (surgery).
In the control device (20) according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the twelfth aspect described above, the air pressure variable portion may be automatically operated in accordance with information acquired by the medical instrument.
In the above-described configuration, the elastic tube is automatically curved by automatic operation of the air pressure variable portion. For example, when an endoscopic camera is used as the medical instrument, a configuration in which an image taken by the endoscopic camera is displayed on a camera monitor (6) and, at the same time, the image taken by the endoscopic camera is acquired and analyzed by the control device is adopted. Then, in accordance with the information obtained by the analysis by the control device, the air pressure variable portion is automatically operated and the pressure of the gas encapsulated in the elastic tube main body is automatically regulated, which makes it possible to change the angle of curve of the endoscopic camera automatically. Incidentally, it is assumed that image data and so forth indicating the progress of medical procedures are stored in the control device in advance.
As a result, since the medical instrument is automatically moved even when an operator who performs medical procedures does not give an instruction to move the medical instrument, the operator can concentrate on the medical procedures.
Medical equipment (100) according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention may include the elastic tube in the first aspect described above and the control device in the twelfth aspect described above.
The medical equipment (100) according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention may include, in the fourteenth aspect described above, an endoscopic camera (2), a catheter (2a), a laser scalpel (2c), or an electric scalpel as the medical instrument.
The above-described configuration makes it possible to provide medical equipment having both the advantage of the elastic tube according to the present invention and the advantage of the control device according to the present invention.
In particular, medical procedures using the endoscopic camera, the catheter, the laser scalpel, or the electric scalpel tend to be performed frequently. Thus, by providing the endoscopic camera, the catheter, the laser scalpel, or the electric scalpel in the medical equipment of the present invention as the medical instrument, it becomes possible to offer the advantages of the present invention more widely in medical practice.
Incidentally, the present invention can also be described as follows.
That is, the elastic tube according to the present invention may have different anisotropic expansion and contraction characteristics with respect to a bending direction.
Moreover, the elastic tube having different expansion and contraction characteristics with respect to the bending direction may have an anisotropic extensible elastic body having, for example, a mesh appearance, the anisotropic extensible elastic body fixed thereto.
Furthermore, the elastic tube according to the present invention may have phased expansion and contraction characteristics with respect to the internal pressure.
In addition, the elastic tube according to the present invention may be configured to have a multiple-layer structure formed of a plurality of elastic tubes or an anisotropic extensible elastic body having, for example, a mesh appearance. Furthermore, the elastic tube according to the present invention may be configured to have a nesting structure formed of a plurality of elastic tubes or an anisotropic extensible elastic body having, for example, a mesh appearance.
Moreover, the elastic tube of the present invention may be configured such that the plurality of elastic tubes are formed of elastic tubes having different moduli of elasticity or anisotropic extensible elastic bodies having, for example, mesh appearance, the anisotropic extensible elastic bodies having different moduli of elasticity.
Furthermore, the endoscopic device according to the present invention can also be described as an endoscopic device including: an expansible elastic tube having the shape of a long and narrow hollow circular cylinder, the elastic tube in which air is encapsulated; a camera secured to the tip of the elastic tube portion, the tip of the elastic tube portion which is sealed; a non-expansive tube that is connected to the other end of the elastic tube portion in such a way as to communicate therewith and has the shape of a hollow circular cylinder, the non-expansive tube in which air is encapsulated; an inextensible body having flexibility, the inextensible body fixed to the elastic tube portion in a length direction; a connecting tube having the shape of a hollow circular cylinder and having flexibility and a non-expansive property, the connecting tube connected to the non-expansive tube portion; and a controlling portion that performs variable control of the air pressure inside the elastic tube via the connecting tube and the non-expansive tube, the endoscopic device in which the air pressure inside the elastic tube is controlled by the controlling portion and the elastic tube is curved at an arbitrary angle by making the elastic tube expand and contract on the side opposite to the inextensible body by the air pressure.
In addition, the endoscopic device according to the present invention may have, in the endoscopic device having the above-described configuration, a configuration in which the controlling portion includes a piston and a syringe which change the air pressure inside the elastic tube, an air pressure sensor which senses the air pressure, a piston driving portion which varies the air pressure by bringing the piston into operation in the syringe, a microphone which inputs voice of an operator, and a piston controlling portion which controls the piston driving portion by accepting inputs of a voice signal input by the microphone and a detection signal of the air pressure sensor and the controlling portion controls the piston driving portion by the piston controlling portion in response to the voice of the operator and changes the air pressure inside the elastic tube.
Moreover, the endoscopic device according to the present invention may have, in the endoscopic device having the above-described configuration, a configuration in which the inextensible body is formed of polyamide fiber.
Furthermore, in the endoscopic device according to the present invention, in the endoscopic device having the above-described configuration, the inextensible body may be an electric cord which supplies power to the camera.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be changed and modified in various ways within the scope of the claims, and any embodiment that is obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments is also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, by combining the technical means disclosed in the embodiments, it is possible to create a new technical feature.
The present invention can be suitably used in elastic tubes, control devices, and medical equipment. In particular, the present invention can be used in medical equipment provided with an endoscopic camera, a catheter, a laser scalpel, or an electric scalpel in medical practice.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-222672 | Oct 2013 | JP | national |
| 2014-031079 | Feb 2014 | JP | national |
| 2014-113356 | May 2014 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2014/073943 | 9/10/2014 | WO | 00 |
