Patent Application
20220370821
The present invention relates to puncture devices and phototherapy methods.
Known technology involves injecting a test subject with a drug that specifically accumulates in cancer cells and kills the cancer cells by reacting to near-infrared light, and subsequently irradiating the cancer cells with near-infrared light by using an optical fiber inserted into the body of the test subject (e.g., see Patent Literature 1). If there are cancer cells in, for example, the pancreas located deep inside the body, an endoscope is inserted deep into the body to, for example, the stomach or the duodenum, and a needle assembly is inserted into the body via a channel in the endoscope. Then, in a state where the needle assembly has punctured the cancer cells in, for example, the pancreas, the optical fiber inserted in a needle tube of the needle assembly is made to protrude from the needle tip, and the cancer cells are irradiated with light via the optical fiber.
A first aspect of the present invention is directed to a puncture device comprising: a metallic needle tube having a longitudinal axis; and a tube that is accommodated within the needle tube, the tube being capable of accommodating an optical fiber along the longitudinal axis, the tube being composed of a cylindrical optically-transparent material. The needle tube comprises a needle tip member and a needle base member. The needle tip member is fixed to a distal end of the tube and has a blade surface at a tip of the needle tip member. The needle base member is disposed at a position where the needle base member covers a proximal end of the tube relative to the needle tip member and is movable along the longitudinal axis. The needle base member is advanced to cause a distal end of the needle base member to abut on a proximal end of the needle tip member, and the needle base member is retracted to cause the distal end of the needle base member to move away from the proximal end of the needle tip member in a direction of the longitudinal axis.
A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a puncture device comprising: a metallic needle tube having a blade surface at a distal end of the needle tube; and an optical fiber accommodated within the needle tube, the optical fiber extending along a longitudinal axis of the needle tube. The distal end of the needle tube is provided with a side hole with an opening oriented in a direction intersecting the longitudinal axis and that exposes a light radiation range in which light is emitted from the optical fiber. A distal end of the light radiation range in a direction of the longitudinal axis is positioned toward the distal end of the needle tube relative to a distal end of the side hole in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and a proximal end of the light radiation range in the direction of the longitudinal axis is positioned toward a proximal end of the needle tube relative to a proximal end of the side hole in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
A third aspect of the present invention is directed to a phototherapy method comprising: inserting an ultrasonic endoscope into an alimentary canal; rendering an irradiation site within a body by using the ultrasonic endoscope inserted in the alimentary canal; causing a needle tube accommodating a tube composed of an optically transparent material to protrude from a distal end of the ultrasonic endoscope inserted in the alimentary canal; causing the protruding needle tube to puncture a vicinity of the irradiation site; exposing a portion of the tube from the needle tube in a state where the needle tube has punctured the vicinity of the irradiation site; and transmitting light emitted from an optical fiber through the tube exposed from the needle tube to irradiate the irradiation site with the light.
A puncture device and a phototherapy method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The needle tip member 7 has a blade surface 7a obtained by diagonally cutting the tip end along a plane that intersects the longitudinal axis. The tip end of the needle tip member 7 may have an opening or may be sealed. Furthermore, in a state where a proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7 is engaged with the distal end of the tube 5, the needle tip member 7 is fixed to the distal end of the tube 5.
The needle base member 9 is disposed at a position where it covers the proximal end of the tube 5 relative to the needle tip member 7, and is provided so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the tube 5. Moreover, the proximal end of the needle base member 9 extends to the needle slider 19. A distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 has an inner diameter slightly larger than and an outer diameter substantially equal to those of the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7.
The tube 5 is capable of accommodating an optical fiber 11 along the longitudinal axis. Furthermore, the tube 5 is transparent or white and is composed of, for example, resin that scatters or transmits light ranging between 670 nm and 850 nm. The proximal end of the tube 5 extends to the needle slider 19. The distal end of the tube 5 may have an opening or may be sealed.
For example, as shown in
The distal end of the optical fiber 11 is provided with a light radiation section (i.e., a light radiation range) 11c that radiates light from the side surface of the optical fiber 11 by causing a portion of light optically guided from the proximal end toward the distal end of the core layer 11a to be transmitted through the cladding layer 11b without being reflected at the boundary surface between the core layer 11a and the cladding layer 11b. For example, the light radiation section 11c has a predetermined length from the distal end toward the proximal end of the optical fiber 11.
The light radiation section 11c is constituted of a scattering agent (i.e., resin or glass particles) 11d applied to a part of the core layer 11a or to the boundary between the core layer 11a and the cladding layer 11b. The portion of light optically guided from the proximal end of the core layer 11a can be scattered radially outward from the optical fiber 11 by the light radiation section 11c.
As shown in
The needle slider 19 includes a slider body 21 having a longitudinal axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the sheath 13, and also includes a pipe sliding section (i.e., a needle-tube operating section) 29 supported so as to be movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the slider body 21.
As shown in
For example, as shown in
For example, as shown in
As shown in
For example, as shown in
In the pipe sliding section 29, the rail member 26A of the rail 25 extends through the internal space H1, and the rail member 26B of the rail 25 extends through the internal space H2. The partition 29a is disposed in a gap between the rail member 26A and the rail member 26B. Accordingly, the pipe sliding section 29 is provided so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the rail 25 while being positioned in the radial direction.
In the pipe sliding section 29, the proximal end of the needle base member 9 is fixed on the central axis of the partition 29a. When the pipe sliding section 29 is moved along the rail 25, the needle base member 9 of the needle tube 3 is advanced and retracted in the longitudinal direction relative to the tube 5 fixed to the proximal end 27 of the slider body 21.
When the needle base member 9 of the needle tube 3 is advanced in the longitudinal direction relative to the tube 5, for example, as shown in
On the other hand, when the needle base member 9 of the needle tube 3 is retracted in the longitudinal direction relative to the tube 5, for example, as shown in
Furthermore, as shown in
When the lock button 29c is moved to an unlocking position P1 shown in
On the other hand, when the lock button 29c is moved to a locking position P2 shown in
For example, the protrusions 25b are disposed at a position where the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 is positioned in abutment with the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7 and a position where the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 is positioned away from the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7 in the longitudinal direction by a predetermined distance.
The proximal end of the sheath 13 is fixed to the operating body 17. By moving the operating body 17 along the longitudinal axis relative to the attachment adapter 15, the sheath 13 fixed to the operating body 17 is advanced and retracted relative to the attachment adapter 15 along the longitudinal axis together with the tube 5 fixed to the needle slider 19 and the needle tube 3 fixed to the pipe sliding section 29.
Furthermore, when the needle slider 19 is moved along the longitudinal axis relative to the operating body 17, the tube 5 fixed to the proximal end 27 of the needle slider 19 is advanced and retracted relative to the sheath 13 fixed to the operating body 17 along the longitudinal axis together with the needle tube 3 fixed to the pipe sliding section 29.
Furthermore, as shown in
Next, a phototherapy method using the puncture device 1 according to this embodiment will be described below.
The following description relates to an example where the phototherapy method according to this embodiment is applied to the cancer cells Z existing in the pancreas Y, as shown in
As shown in a flowchart in
While the cancer cells Z in a tomographic image of the pancreas Y located near the alimentary canal X are being observed through the ultrasonic endoscope 100, the ultrasonic endoscope 100 is moved forward or rearward (step S3), and the ultrasonic endoscope 100 is disposed at a position where the cancer cells Z can be rendered (step S4).
Once the ultrasonic endoscope 100 is disposed at the position where the cancer cells Z can be rendered, the puncture device 1 positioned in a state where the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 of the needle tube 3 is in abutment with the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7 is inserted into the body via the channel in the ultrasonic endoscope 100, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Furthermore, since the needle tube 3 is composed of metal, the needle tube 3 can be reliably viewed within an ultrasonic image acquired by the ultrasonic endoscope 100. A surgeon views the ultrasonic image to confirm the positional relationship between the needle tube 3 and the cancer cells Z (step S7). Specifically, before the cancer cells Z are irradiated with the near-infrared light L emitted from the optical fiber 11 within the needle tube 3, the position of the needle tube 3 relative to the cancer cells Z is confirmed in the ultrasonic image.
As shown in
In this case, it is preferable that the needle base member 9 positioned away from the needle tip member 7 in the longitudinal direction not be retracted to a position where the needle base member 9 falls out of the pancreas Y and that the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 be retained in an organ, that is, the pancreas Y, having the cancer cells Z while the cancer cells Z are being irradiated with the light emitted from the optical fiber 11. With the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 being retained in the pancreas Y, the needle tip member 7 and the needle base member 9 of the needle tube 3 are fixed to the pancreas Y. Accordingly, a force that causes the tube 5 exposed from the needle tube 3 to buckle, that is, a force acting in a direction intersecting the longitudinal axis of the needle tube 3, can be prevented from being applied to the tube 5.
Subsequently, in the state where the tube 5 is partially exposed from the needle tube 3, the near-infrared light L emitted from a light source is caused to enter the optical fiber 11. The near-infrared light L entering the optical fiber 11 propagates through the core layer 11a of the optical fiber 11 to the distal end, and is output radially in all directions from the light radiation section 11c provided at the distal end.
Because the tube 5 covering the periphery of the light radiation section 11c is exposed, the near-infrared light L output from the light radiation section 11c and transmitted through the exposed region of the tube 5 is radiated onto the cancer cells Z disposed at the radially outer side of the needle tube 3 (step S9). Accordingly, the drug preliminarily administered to the patient damages the cancer cells Z by reacting to the near-infrared light L, thereby killing the cancer cells Z.
As described above, with the puncture device 1 and the phototherapy method according to this embodiment, when the needle tube 3 is to puncture the vicinity of the cancer cells Z, the needle tip member 7 of the needle tube 3 is supported by the needle base member 9, so that the pushability required for puncturing can be ensured. Moreover, when the cancer cells Z are to be irradiated with the light from the optical fiber 11, the optical fiber 11 does not protrude from the blade surface 7a at the distal end of the needle tube 3, so that the outer surface of the optical fiber 11 can be prevented from being scraped as a result of sliding against the blade surface 7a. Consequently, breakage of the optical fiber 11 caused by the blade surface 7a of the needle tube 3 can be prevented, while the pushability of the needle tube 3 can be ensured.
This embodiment can be modified as follows.
In this embodiment, the proximal end of the tube 5 is fixed to the proximal end 27 of the slider body 21. Alternatively, for example, as shown in
In this case, the proximal end of the tube 5 may extend toward the proximal end relative to the position of the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 corresponding to a case where the needle base member 9 is in a most retracted state. The metal wire 31 may extend in the longitudinal direction of the sheath 13 and may be fixed or attached to the proximal end of the tube 5 and the proximal end 27 of the slider body 21.
In this modification, for example, as shown in
In this embodiment, the needle tube 3 punctures the vicinity of the cancer cells Z in a state where the optical fiber 11 is fitted in the tube 5. Alternatively, until the needle tube 3 punctures the cancer cells Z after the puncture device 1 is inserted into the body via the channel in the ultrasonic endoscope 100, a narrow metallic member, such as a stylet 33, may be fitted in the tube 5, as shown in
According to this modification, the stylet 33, which is more rigid, is fitted into the tube 5 in place of the optical fiber 11, so that the needle tube 3 can be prevented from buckling between the needle base member 9 and the needle tip member 7 when the puncture device 1 is being inserted into the channel in the ultrasonic endoscope 100 or when the needle tube 3 is puncturing the cancer cells Z.
In this embodiment, one of the outer surface of the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 and the outer surface of the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7 may be provided with a tapered section or a step, and the other one of the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 and the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7 may be in abutment with the tapered section or the step.
For example, in an example shown in
The distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 and the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7 overlap in the radial direction, so that the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 and the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7 can be securely coupled to each other in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, in a state where the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 is in abutment with the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7, the boundary between the needle base member 9 and the needle tip member 7 is less likely to buckle.
In this modification, a step may be provided in place of the tapered section 7c. Furthermore, the outer surface of the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 may be provided with a tapered section or a step whose outer diameter gradually decreases toward the distal end. In a state where the tapered section or the step of the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 is in abutment with the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7, the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 may cover the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7.
In this modification, the configuration is not limited to that described above so long as the distal end 9a and the proximal end 7b overlap in the radial direction in a state where the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 is in abutment with the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7. For example, as shown in
With this configuration, the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 and the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7 can be securely coupled to each other in the longitudinal direction while the outer surface of the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 and the outer surface of the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7 are flush with each other. Alternatively, the shape of the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 and the shape of the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7 may be inverted from the above configuration. In other words, the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 may include a small diameter section, and the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7 may include a large diameter section.
In this embodiment, the protrusions 25b on the rail member 26A and the lock button 29c on the pipe sliding section 29 are used for positioning the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 at two positions, namely, a position where the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 is in abutment with the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7 and a position where the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 is positioned away from the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7 in the longitudinal direction. The number of positions may be one or may be two or more, so long as the distal end 9a of the needle base member 9 can at least be positioned in abutment with the proximal end 7b of the needle tip member 7.
In this embodiment, the rail member 26A is provided with the rail groove 25a having the protrusions 25b, and the pipe sliding section 29 is provided with the lock button 29c. Alternatively, for example, as shown in
In this embodiment, the light radiation section 11c of the optical fiber 11 is constituted of the scattering agent 11d. The light radiation section 11c may be of any type so long as it can cause a portion of light optically guided from the proximal end of the core layer 11a to be scattered radially outward from the optical fiber 11. For example, as shown in
For example, as shown in
Moreover, the light radiation section 11c may be constituted by partially removing the cladding layer 11b from the distal end 9a to expose the core layer 11a.
In this embodiment and the modifications, it is preferable that the relationship between a distance A of a range in which the tube 5 is partially exposed from the needle tube 3 and a length B of the light radiation section 11c of the optical fiber 11 be set as follows. For example, the pipe sliding section 29 is moved maximally toward the proximal end relative to the slider body 21. In other words, the pipe sliding section 29 is moved until the proximal end surface thereof abuts on the proximal end 27 of the slider body 21. In this state, for example, as shown in
In this case, the distal end of the light radiation section 11c may be positioned toward the distal end of the needle tube 3 relative to the proximal end of the needle tip member 7. Moreover, the proximal end of the light radiation section 11c may be positioned toward the proximal end of the needle tube 3 relative to the position of the distal end of the needle base member 9 when the proximal end surface of the pipe sliding section 29 is in abutment with the proximal end 27 of the slider body 21. With this configuration, the portion of light optically guided from the proximal end of the core layer 11a of the optical fiber 11 can be reliably scattered radially outward from the needle tube 3.
The relationship between the distance A of the range in which the tube 5 is partially exposed and the length B of the light radiation section 11c does not necessarily have to be applied to the case where the needle base member 9 slides relative to the tube 5. For example, as shown in
In this case, the distance A between the distal end and the proximal end of the side hole 3a in the longitudinal direction of the needle tube 3 may be greater than the length B from the distal end to the proximal end of the light radiation section 11c of the optical fiber 11. Furthermore, the distal end of the light radiation section 11c may be positioned toward the distal end of the needle tube 3 relative to the distal end of the side hole 3a. Moreover, the proximal end of the light radiation section 11c may be positioned toward the proximal end of the needle tube 3 relative to the proximal end of the side hole 3a.
In this embodiment, the needle tube 3 is separated into the needle tip member 7 and the needle base member 9. Alternatively, for example, as shown in
In this modification, it is similarly preferable that the needle tip not be retracted to a position where the needle tip falls out of the pancreas Y and that the needle tip be retained in an organ, that is, the pancreas Y, having the cancer cells Z while the cancer cells Z in the pancreas Y are being irradiated with the light emitted from the optical fiber 11. Accordingly, a force that causes the tube 5 exposed from the needle tube 3 to buckle or a force that causes the optical fiber 11 to bend, that is, a force acting in the direction intersecting the longitudinal axis of the needle tube 3, can be prevented from being applied to the optical fiber 11.
As a result, the above-described embodiment leads to the following aspects.
A first aspect of the present invention is directed to a puncture device comprising: a metallic needle tube having a longitudinal axis; and a tube that is accommodated within the needle tube, the tube being capable of accommodating an optical fiber along the longitudinal axis, the tube being composed of a cylindrical optically-transparent material. The needle tube comprises a needle tip member and a needle base member. The needle tip member is fixed to a distal end of the tube and has a blade surface at a tip of the needle tip member. The needle base member is disposed at a position where the needle base member covers a proximal end of the tube relative to the needle tip member and is movable along the longitudinal axis. The needle base member is advanced to cause a distal end of the needle base member to abut on a proximal end of the needle tip member, and the needle base member is retracted to cause the distal end of the needle base member to move away from the proximal end of the needle tip member in a direction of the longitudinal axis.
According to this aspect, the tube accommodating the optical fiber along the longitudinal axis is accommodated within the metallic needle tube. In a state where the needle base member of the needle tube is advanced to bring the distal end of the needle base member into abutment with the proximal end of the needle tip member, the needle tip member is supported by the needle base member. Accordingly, the pushability required for puncturing, that is, the rigidity of the needle tube for transmitting a force from the proximal end to the distal end of the needle tube, can be ensured. On the other hand, when the needle base member of the needle tube is retracted to move the distal end of the needle base member away from the proximal end of the needle tip member in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the tube composed of the optically transparent material and covered with the needle base member becomes partially exposed. Accordingly, light emitted from the optical fiber and transmitted through the exposed region of the tube can be radiated from around the needle tube.
Consequently, when the needle tube is to puncture the vicinity of the irradiation site, the needle tip member of the needle tube is supported by the needle base member, so that the pushability required for puncturing can be ensured. Moreover, when the irradiation site is to be irradiated with the light from the optical fiber, the optical fiber does not protrude from the blade surface at the distal end of the needle tube, so that the outer surface of the optical fiber can be prevented from being scraped as a result of sliding against the blade surface. Consequently, breakage of the optical fiber caused by the blade surface of the needle tube can be prevented, while the pushability of the needle tube can be ensured.
In the above aspect, the puncture device may further comprise: a sheath that accommodates the needle tube so as to be movable along the longitudinal axis; an operating body fixed to a proximal end of the sheath; and a needle slider that is supported so as to be movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the operating body, the needle slider being connected to the tube.
According to this configuration, when the needle slider is moved along the longitudinal axis relative to the operating body, the needle tip member of the needle tube fixed to the distal end of the tube can be advanced and retracted in the direction of the longitudinal axis relative to the sheath.
In the above aspect, the puncture device may further include: a sheath that accommodates the needle tube so as to be movable along the longitudinal axis; an operating body fixed to a proximal end of the sheath; a needle slider supported so as to be movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the operating body; and a connection member that connects the needle slider and the tube.
According to this configuration, when the needle slider is moved along the longitudinal axis relative to the operating body, the connection member is pushed and pulled in the direction of the longitudinal axis, so that a pushing force and a pulling force are transmitted to the tube. Consequently, the needle tip member of the needle tube fixed to the distal end of the tube can be advanced and retracted in the direction of the longitudinal axis relative to the sheath.
In the above aspect, the needle slider may comprise a slider body to which the proximal end of the tube is fixed and a needle-tube operating section that is supported so as to be movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the slider body and to which a proximal end of the needle base member is fixed.
According to this configuration, when the needle-tube operating section is moved along the longitudinal axis relative to the slider body, the needle base member of the needle tube can be advanced and retracted in the direction of the longitudinal axis relative to the tube.
In the above aspect, the puncture device may further include a positioning mechanism in which the slider body and the needle-tube operating section position the distal end of the needle base member in abutment with the proximal end of the needle tip member.
According to this configuration, the positioning mechanism can maintain the distal end of the needle base member in abutment with the proximal end of the needle tip member.
In the above aspect, the positioning mechanism may perform the positioning in a switchable manner between a state where the distal end of the needle base member is in abutment with the proximal end of the needle tip member and a state where the distal end of the needle base member is positioned away from the proximal end of the needle tip member in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
According to this configuration, the positioning mechanism performs the positioning in a switchable manner so as to be capable of not only maintaining the distal end of the needle base member in abutment with the proximal end of the needle tip member but also maintaining the distal end of the needle base member away from the proximal end of the needle tip member in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
In the above aspect, the distal end of the needle base member and the proximal end of the needle tip member may overlap in a radial direction in a state where the distal end of the needle base member is in abutment with the proximal end of the needle tip member.
According to this configuration, the distal end of the needle base member and the proximal end of the needle tip member can be securely coupled to each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis. Consequently, in the state where the distal end of the needle base member is in abutment with the proximal end of the needle tip member, the boundary between the needle base member and the needle tip member is less likely to buckle.
In the above aspect, a light radiation range in which light is emitted from the optical fiber may be wider in the direction of the longitudinal axis than a range in which the tube is exposed in a state where the distal end of the needle base member is positioned maximally away from the proximal end of the needle tip member in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
According to this configuration, the portion of light optically guided by the optical fiber can be reliably scattered radially outward from the needle tube.
In the above aspect, in the state where the distal end of the needle base member is positioned maximally away from the proximal end of the needle tip member in the direction of the longitudinal axis, a distal end of the light radiation range in the direction of the longitudinal axis may be positioned toward the distal end of the needle tube relative to the proximal end of the needle tip member and a proximal end of the light radiation range in the direction of the longitudinal axis may be positioned toward the proximal end of the needle tube relative to the distal end of the needle base member.
A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a puncture device comprising: a metallic needle tube having a blade surface at a distal end of the needle tube; and an optical fiber accommodated within the needle tube, the optical fiber extending along a longitudinal axis of the needle tube. The distal end of the needle tube is provided with a side hole with an opening oriented in a direction intersecting the longitudinal axis and that exposes a light radiation range in which light is emitted from the optical fiber. A distal end of the light radiation range in a direction of the longitudinal axis is positioned toward the distal end of the needle tube relative to a distal end of the side hole in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and a proximal end of the light radiation range in the direction of the longitudinal axis is positioned toward a proximal end of the needle tube relative to a proximal end of the side hole in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
According to this aspect, light emitted from the light radiation range of the optical fiber can be radiated radially outward from the needle tube via the side hole in the needle tube in a state where the optical fiber is accommodated within the needle tube without protruding from the blade surface of the needle tube. Furthermore, since the distal end of the needle tube is simply provided with the side hole, the rigidity of the needle tube can be ensured. Consequently, breakage of the optical fiber caused by the blade surface of the needle tube can be prevented, while the pushability of the needle tube required for puncturing can be ensured.
A third aspect of the present invention is directed to a phototherapy method comprising: inserting an ultrasonic endoscope into an alimentary canal; rendering an irradiation site within a body by using the ultrasonic endoscope inserted in the alimentary canal; causing a needle tube accommodating a tube composed of an optically transparent material to protrude from a distal end of the ultrasonic endoscope inserted in the alimentary canal; causing the protruding needle tube to puncture a vicinity of the irradiation site; exposing a portion of the tube from the needle tube in a state where the needle tube has punctured the vicinity of the irradiation site; and transmitting light emitted from an optical fiber through the tube exposed from the needle tube to irradiate the irradiation site with the light.
In the above aspect, the needle tube may be partially retained in an organ having the irradiation site when the portion of the tube is to be exposed.
According to this configuration, the needle tip member and the needle base member of the needle tube are fixed to the organ having the irradiation site. Consequently, a force that causes the tube exposed from the needle tube, that is, a force acting in a direction intersecting the longitudinal axis of the needle tube, can be prevented from being applied to the tube.
In the above aspect, the needle tube may be separable into a needle tip member fixed to a distal end of the tube and a needle base member disposed at a position where the needle base member covers a proximal end of the tube relative to the needle tip member. The needle tube protruding from the distal end of the ultrasonic endoscope may puncture the vicinity of the irradiation site in a state where the needle tip member and the needle base member are coupled to each other in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the needle tube. The portion of the tube may be exposed from the needle tube by moving the needle base member away from the needle tip member in the direction of the longitudinal axis in a state where the needle tube has punctured the vicinity of the irradiation site.
In the above aspect, the needle base member may be retained in an organ having the irradiation site while the irradiation site is being irradiated with the light emitted from the optical fiber.
In the above aspect, a needle tip of the needle tube may be retained in the organ having the irradiation site while the irradiation site is being irradiated with the light emitted from the optical fiber.
The present invention is advantageous in that it can prevent breakage of an optical fiber caused by a blade surface of a needle tube while maintaining an ability to puncture a target organ.
This is a continuation of International Application PCT/JP2020/005946, with an international filing date of Feb. 17, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/JP2020/005946 | Feb 2020 | US |
| Child | 17874426 | US |
