HK1137673A1 - Handle for catheters - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a handle for a catheter with excellent operability, capable of easily stopping an operating part at an optionally selected position in the axial direction. <P>SOLUTION: The handle for the catheter includes a handle body 24, the operating part 22 movably attached to the handle body 24 in the axial direction, and a ring-shaped elastic member 42 interposed between the handle body 24 and the operating part 22. The elastic member 42 is in contact with a tapered surface 40 formed in a part of the handle body 24 or a part of the operating part 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

Catheter handle

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a catheter handle with good operability.

Background

Various catheters have been proposed as medical catheters. A catheter handle is usually provided on the proximal end side of the catheter. The catheter handle proposes various proposals depending on the kind of catheter.

For example, an operation portion of a catheter handle may be bent or stretched in order to operate a distal end portion of a catheter.

As a catheter handle used in such a case, for example, as shown in patent document 1 below, a handle having a piston structure in which a driving member is incorporated in a long cylinder has been proposed. In this conventional handle, the outer diameter of the piston and the inner diameter of the cylinder are constant in the axial direction.

Depending on the method of using the catheter, the distal end of the catheter may be inserted into the body of a patient, and the distal end of the catheter may be bent to maintain its original shape. In such a case, the axial movement of the operation portion needs to be braked with respect to the catheter handle. Therefore, a structure has been proposed in which an annular elastic member such as an O-ring is attached between the outer periphery of the piston and the inner periphery of the cylinder, and the operation portion of the handle for the pipe can be braked at an arbitrary position in the axial direction.

However, since the outer diameter of the piston and the inner diameter of the cylinder are constant in the axial direction, the conventional handle has a problem that the moving operation of the operating portion of the handle is increased from the beginning to make the operation difficult in order to improve the braking performance. Further, if the operability is improved, there is a problem that the braking performance is reduced.

[ patent document 1] Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2003-319915

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a catheter handle which is excellent in operability and in which an operation portion can be easily stopped at an arbitrary axial position.

Means for solving the problems

In order to achieve the above object, a catheter handle according to the present invention includes: the handle includes a handle body, an operating portion attached to the handle body so as to be movable in an axial direction, and an annular elastic member attached between the handle body and the operating portion, the elastic member being in contact with a tapered surface formed in a part of the handle body or a part of the operating portion.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the proximal end of the catheter tube is fixed to the operating portion, the elastic member is attached to the handle body, a part of the operating portion is fitted into the inner periphery of the handle body, the tapered surface is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the operating portion fitted into the inner periphery of the handle body, the operation wire is inserted into the catheter tube, the distal end of the operation wire is fixed to a part of the distal end of the catheter tube, the proximal end of the operation wire is fixed to a part of the handle body, and when the operating portion is moved in the distal end direction with respect to the handle body, the elastic member is moved in the axial direction with respect to the tapered surface toward the side where the outer diameter of the tapered surface is large.

Preferably, a tapered surface having an outer diameter that decreases in the distal end direction is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the operating portion fitted into an inner periphery of the handle body, and an inner peripheral surface of the elastic member is configured to be movable in the axial direction while being in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the tapered surface.

Preferably, the distal end of the catheter tube is operated by moving the operation portion in the axial direction relative to the handle body.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a proximal end of a catheter tube is fixed to the handle body, the operating portion is axially movably attached to a part of an outer periphery of the handle body, a tapered surface is formed on a part of an inner periphery of the operating portion, an outer periphery of the elastic member is in contact with the tapered surface, an inner periphery of the elastic member is in contact with a part of an outer periphery of the handle body, an operating wire is inserted into the catheter tube, a distal end of the operating wire is fixed to a part of a distal end of the catheter tube, a proximal end of the operating wire is fixed to a part of the operating portion, an axial position of the handle body in contact with the elastic member is changed in response to an axial movement of the operating portion with respect to the handle body, and the operating portion is moved in an axial direction with respect to the handle body, and operating the distal end of the catheter tube to make the direction of the operation part moving to the distal end side relative to the handle body consistent with the direction of the increased outer diameter of the conical surface.

The inner circumference of the operating portion is formed with a tapered surface having an outer diameter increasing in a distal direction, the outer circumference of the elastic member is in contact with the tapered surface, and the inner circumference of the elastic member is in contact with a part of the outer circumference of the handle body so as to be movable in an axial direction.

Preferably, the tapered surface is formed on a push ring attached between the operation portion and a part of the handle body.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a catheter handle which is easy to handle and which can easily stop an operating portion at an arbitrary axial position.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of a catheter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a main part sectional view of the handle for a catheter shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view further showing a main portion of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the operation unit is moved from the state of fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a half sectional perspective view of a catheter handle according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a main portion of fig. 5.

Description of the symbols

2. 2a.. the front end may be biased toward the operating catheter 4, 4a.. the catheter tube 20, 20a.. the catheter use handle 22, 22a.. the operating button 24.. the handle body 30.. the operating wire 40a, 40a.. the tapered surface 42.. the O-ring 42a.. the annular elastic member

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

First embodiment

As shown in fig. 1, the tip according to an embodiment of the present invention is biased toward the catheter 2, for example, for diagnosing or treating arrhythmia, and a tip piece 10 and a plurality of intermediate rings 12 are attached to the distal end of a catheter tube (tube member) 4. The distal end piece 10 and the intermediate ring 12 function as electrodes and are connected and fixed to the catheter tube 4 by, for example, adhesion with an adhesive.

A handle body 20 is mounted to the proximal end of the catheter tube 4. The catheter tube 4 and the handle body 20 are internally provided with lead wires, respectively, and the leading ends of the lead wires are electrically connected to the leading end piece 10 and the intermediate ring 12 constituting the electrode. The proximal ends of these wires are connected to a connector 21, and the connector 21 is fixed to the rear end of the handle body 20 shown in fig. 2. Further, an operation button 22 for performing a deflecting operation (swing operation) of the distal end portion of the catheter tube 4 is attached to the handle body 20.

The catheter tube 4 may be formed of a hollow tube member or a tube member having the same properties in the axial direction, and preferably has a distal end portion having relatively good flexibility and a proximal end portion integrally formed in the axial direction with respect to the distal end portion and having relatively rigidity with respect to the distal end portion. In fig. 1, the length of the catheter tube 4 is shown as being short, but in reality, it is about several times to several tens times longer than the axial length of the handle body 20.

The catheter tube 4 is made of synthetic resin such as polyolefin, polyamide, polyether polyamide, or polyurethane. The outer diameter of the conduit pipe 4 is generally about 0.6 to 3mm, and the inner diameter thereof is about 0.5 to 2.5 mm. The lead wires connected to the tip end piece 10 and the intermediate ring 12 constituting the electrode shown in fig. 1 are insulated from the axial lumen of the catheter tube 4.

The tip piece 10 and the intermediate ring 12 shown in fig. 1 are made of a metal having high conductivity, such as aluminum, copper, stainless steel, gold, or platinum. In order to have a good contrast against X-rays, it is preferable that the tip piece 10 and the intermediate ring 12 be made of platinum or the like. The outer diameters of the distal end piece 10 and the intermediate ring 12 are not particularly limited, but are preferably about the same as the outer diameter of the conduit tube 4, and are usually about 0.5 to 3 mm.

A swinging head member is housed inside the catheter tube 4 near the distal end thereof. The swing head member is not particularly limited, and is formed of, for example, a leaf spring. The distal end of the operation wire 30 shown in fig. 2 to 4 is connected and fixed to the leaf spring as the head swing member.

The outer diameter of the manipulation wire 30 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.01 to 0.3mm, and more preferably 0.03 to 0.08 mm. The manipulation wire 30 is made of, for example, a Ni — Ti-based superelastic alloy, but is not necessarily made of a metal. The operation wire 30 may be made of, for example, a high-strength non-conductive wire.

The proximal end of the manipulation wire 30 is fixed to a wire tension adjuster 32 as shown in fig. 2 after the tension of the manipulation wire 30 is adjusted in the present embodiment. The wire tensioning device 32 is mounted inside the handle body 24 of the handle 20 so as to be freely movable in the axial direction. The tension of the operation wire 30 can be adjusted by fixing the wire tension adjuster 32 at a predetermined axial position inside the handle body 24.

As shown in fig. 2, the proximal end of the catheter tube 4 is fixed to the operation button 22 and the operation cylinder 28 via a sleeve 26. The operation button 22 and the operation cylinder 28 correspond to an operation portion. The operation cylinder 28 is inserted into a shaft hole 25 formed in the handle body 24 and is axially movable relative to the handle body 24.

The operator grasps the grip body 24 with one hand and operates the operation button 22 with the fingers of the one hand to operate the operation cylinder 28 movably in the axial direction with respect to the grip body 24. Since the operation cylinder 28 is connected and fixed to the proximal end of the catheter tube 4, when the operation cylinder 28 is moved in the axial direction relative to the handle body 24, the proximal end of the catheter tube 4 is moved in the axial direction relative to the operation wire 30. The distal end of the operation wire 30 is fixed to a swinging member provided near the distal end of the catheter tube 4, and the proximal end of the operation wire 30 is fixed to a wire tension adjuster 32 fixed to the handle 20.

When the operation cylinder 28 is moved to the distal end side, the proximal end of the catheter tube 4 is relatively moved to the distal end side while the proximal end of the operation wire 30 is held and fixed to the wire tension adjuster 32. In this case, by the operation of the operation cylinder 28, the operation wire 30 is tensioned, and the catheter tube 4 is axially compressed. Further, since the length of the operation wire 30 and the catheter tube 4 in the axial direction is almost constant, the catheter tube 4 and the operation wire 30 are bent. As a result, as shown in fig. 1, the distal end portion of the catheter tube 4 performs a yaw operation as indicated by an arrow a.

That is, the distal end of the catheter 2 can be moved in a meandering manner in the a direction by operating the operation button 22 of the handle 20 shown in fig. 1 in the axial direction X. Further, when the handle body 20 is rotated around the axis, the direction of the catheter 2 in the a direction can be freely set in a state of being inserted into the body cavity.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 3 and 4, a tapered surface 40 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the operation cylindrical body 28. The tapered surface 40 is a tapered surface whose outer diameter decreases toward the distal end side of the handle body 24. Preferably, the axial length of the tapered surface 40 is equal to or longer than the axial length of the range in which the operation knob 22 is relatively movable in the axial direction with respect to the handle body 24. Specifically, the axial length of the tapered surface 40 is preferably 5 to 20 mm. The cone inclination angle of the conical surface 40 is preferably 0.1-2.0 degrees relative to the axis.

The maximum outer diameter of the tapered surface 40 is smaller than or equal to the inner diameter of the shaft hole 25 shown in fig. 2, and determines that the operation cylinder 28 is movable in the axial direction X inside the shaft hole 25. The axial length of the operation cylinder 28 is preferably 40 to 80mm longer than the axial length of the tapered surface 40.

An inner peripheral surface of an O-ring 42 as an annular elastic member is in sliding contact with the tapered surface 40. The O-ring 42 is removably mounted in an O-ring groove 46 formed between a cover 44 attached to the distal end of the handle body 24 and the handle body 24. The outer peripheral surface forming the O-ring 42 is always in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the O-ring groove 46, and at the same time, the inner peripheral surface of the O-ring 42 is always in contact with the tapered surface 40. Here, it is preferable that a gap 47 exists in the O-ring groove 46 in the axial direction. The O-ring 42 is made of rubber such as silicone rubber, nitrile rubber, or fluororubber, or synthetic resin.

The operator grips the grip main body 24 with one hand, operates the operation button 22 with the fingers of the one hand, and operates the operation cylinder 28 with respect to the grip main body 24, for example, from the state shown in fig. 3 to the state shown in fig. 4. In this case, since the operation cylinder 28 is connected and fixed to the proximal end of the catheter tube 4, the catheter tube 4 moves relative to the operation wire 30 in the axial direction. As a result, as shown in fig. 1, the distal end portion of the catheter tube 4 is changed from the linear state to the bent state shown by the arrow a.

In the present embodiment, the operation cylinder 28 is moved in the distal end direction with respect to the handle body 24, whereby the O-ring 42 is moved in the axial direction with respect to the operation cylinder 28 from the side where the outer diameter of the tapered surface 40 is small to the side where the outer diameter is large. That is, in this case, the force in the direction in which the O-ring 42 expands in the circumferential direction increases in accordance with the movement. Further, since the inner diameter of the O-ring groove 46 is constant, the distance between the operation cylinder 28 and the O-ring groove 46 is narrowed in accordance with the movement, the force with which the O-ring 42 presses the operation cylinder 28 and the cover 44 is increased, and the frictional force between the O-ring 42 and the operation cylinder 28 is increased.

When the operation cylinder 28 is moved in the proximal end direction with respect to the handle body 24, the O-ring 42 is positioned at a position where the outer diameter of the tapered surface 40 is smallest with respect to the operation cylinder 28. Therefore, in this case, since the gap between the operation cylinder 28 and the O-ring groove 46 is the widest, the force with which the O-ring 42 presses the operation cylinder 28 and the cover 44 is the smallest, and the frictional force between the O-ring 42 and the operation cylinder 28 is reduced. Therefore, at the initial stage of the movement of the operation knob 22 in the direction away from the axial direction with respect to the grip main body 24, the operation knob 22 is moved in the axial direction by a light force.

Even if the finger is separated from the operation button 22, the operation button 22 is not moved in the axial direction by the frictional force of the O-ring 42 contacting the tapered surface 40 having a large outer diameter as shown in fig. 4. Therefore, even if the finger is released from the operation button 22, the distal end of the catheter tube 4 shown in fig. 1 can be kept in a bent state.

In order to straighten the distal end portion of the catheter tube 4 shown in fig. 1, the operation button 22 may be moved in the axial direction against the frictional force of the tapered surface 40 and the O-ring 42 to return from the state shown in fig. 4 to the state shown in fig. 3. At this time, since the O-ring 42 moves from the large outer diameter portion to the small outer diameter portion of the tapered surface 40, the frictional force between the tapered surface 40 and the O-ring 42 gradually becomes small.

Second embodiment

The catheter handle 20a of the embodiment shown in fig. 5 and 6, in which the distal end is deflectable to the operation catheter 2a, has the same configuration and operation effects as those of the catheter handle 20 of the first embodiment, in which the distal end is deflectable to the operation catheter 2, except for the following, and redundant description is omitted.

The handle 20a is connected to the fixed catheter tube 4a at the distal end of the handle body 24a of the handle 20a by a sheath 26 a. The operation wire 30 is disposed movably in the axial direction X inside the catheter tube 4a, and the proximal end of the wire 30 is connected and fixed to the slider 50 so as to adjust the tension of the wire 30.

As shown in fig. 6, the plate-shaped slide piece 50 is coupled and fixed to the annular operation button 22a through a slide hole 60 formed in the handle body 24 a. The slide piece 50 is formed so as to be movable in the axial direction X along the slide hole 60 with respect to the handle body 24a together with the operation button 22a. The slide hole 60 is formed at two positions 180 degrees symmetrical in the circumferential direction of the handle body 24a, and the axial length thereof defines the range in which the operation knob 22a and the slide plate 50 are axially movable.

The annular cover 54 is axially detachably connected to the operation button 22a, and an elastic member housing groove 46a is formed therebetween. The elastic member housing groove 46a houses the annular elastic member 42a and a washer (press ring) 52, and the washer 52 has a tapered surface 40a that is pressed against the outer periphery thereof.

The inner peripheral surface of the washer 52 has a predetermined clearance with respect to the outer periphery of the handle body 24 a. The annular elastic member 42a has an inner peripheral surface contacting the outer periphery of the handle body 24a, and the annular elastic member 42a moves in the axial direction simultaneously with the movement of the slide piece 50, and has an inner peripheral surface sliding against the outer periphery of the handle body 24 a.

The operator grips the grip main body 24a with one hand, operates the operation button 22a with the fingers of one hand, pulls the slide piece 50 into the proximal end side with respect to the grip main body 24a along the slide hole 60, and operates the state shown in fig. 6. In this case, the operation wire 30 is pulled toward the proximal end side, and the operation wire 30 is pulled with respect to the catheter tube 4a. As a result, as shown in fig. 1, the distal end portion of the catheter tube 4 is bent from the linear state as indicated by arrow a.

In the present embodiment, when the slide piece 50 moves in the axial direction on the proximal end side with respect to the handle body 24a, the annular elastic member 42a is pressed toward the side where the outer diameter of the tapered surface 40a of the elastic member accommodating groove 46a is larger. In this case, the annular elastic member 42a can be deformed to the side where the outer diameter of the elastic member housing groove 46a is larger, and as a result, the force of the annular elastic member 42a fastening the handle body 24a is weakened, and the frictional force between the annular elastic member 42a and the handle body 24a is reduced. Therefore, at the initial stage of the movement of the operation knob 22a in the proximal end direction with respect to the grip main body 24a, the operation knob 22a is moved in the axial direction by a light force.

Even if the finger is separated from the operation button 22a, as shown in fig. 6, the slider 50 and the operation button 22a are pulled in the distal direction by the tension of the operation wire 30. In this case, the elastic member accommodating groove 46a is pressed to the side where the outer diameter of the tapered surface 40a is smaller. That is, the annular elastic member 42a is deformed to press the elastic member housing groove 46a toward the side where the outer diameter is smaller, and as a result, the force of the annular elastic member 42a tightening the handle body 24a is increased, and the frictional force between the annular elastic member 42a and the handle body 24a is increased.

Therefore, even if the finger is separated from the operation knob 22, the operation knob 22a does not move in the axial direction, and the distal end portion of the catheter tube 4 shown in fig. 1 can maintain the bent state.

In order to keep the distal end of the catheter tube 4 shown in fig. 1 straight, the operation button 22a may be moved toward the distal end in the axial direction against the frictional force between the inner circumferential surface of the elastic member 42a and the outer circumferential surface of the grip main body 24 a.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the catheter handle according to the present invention is not limited to the catheter whose tip is biased in the illustrated embodiment, and may be applied to other catheters.

Claims (4)

1. A handle for a catheter, comprising: a handle body, an operation portion mounted to be movable in an axial direction with respect to the handle body, and an annular elastic member mounted between the handle body and the operation portion,

the proximal end of the catheter tube is fixed to the operating portion,

the elastic component is arranged on the handle body,

an operation cylinder constituting the operation portion is inserted into an inner periphery of the handle body,

a tapered surface having an outer diameter decreasing toward a distal end is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the operation cylinder inserted into an inner periphery of the handle body,

an inner peripheral surface of the elastic member is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the tapered surface and is configured to be movable in an axial direction,

an operation wire is inserted into the catheter tube,

the distal end of the steering wire is secured to a portion of the distal end of the catheter tube,

the proximal end of the operating wire is fixed to a portion of the handle body,

when the operating part moves relative to the handle body from the proximal end to the distal end, the distal end of the catheter tube bends, and the elastic part moves relative to the conical surface in the axial direction toward the side with the larger outer diameter of the conical surface.

2. The catheter handle according to claim 1, wherein when the operating portion is moved in a direction from the proximal end to the distal end with respect to the handle body, the distal end of the catheter tube is bent from a straight state, and the elastic member is moved in an axial direction with respect to the tapered surface toward a side where the outer diameter of the tapered surface is larger.

3. A handle for a catheter, comprising: a handle body, an operation portion mounted to be movable in an axial direction with respect to the handle body, a push ring mounted between the operation portion and a part of the handle body and movable in the axial direction with respect to the handle body together with the operation portion, and an annular elastic member mounted between the handle body and the push ring,

the proximal end of the catheter tube is fixed on the handle body,

the operating part and the push ring are mounted on a part of the periphery of the handle body in an axially free moving way,

a tapered surface with a diameter increasing toward the distal end is formed on the inner periphery of the partial push ring,

the outer periphery of the elastic component is contacted with the conical surface,

the inner circumference of the elastic component contacts with part of the outer circumference of the handle body to form a structure capable of moving along the axial direction,

an operation wire is inserted into the catheter tube,

the distal end of the steering wire is secured to a portion of the distal end of the catheter tube,

the proximal end of the operating wire is fixed to a part of the operating portion,

the axial position of the handle body in contact with the elastic component changes corresponding to the axial movement of the operating part and the push ring relative to the handle body,

through relative the handle body for the operating portion reaches push ring moves from distal end to proximal end direction, the distal end of pipe fitting is tortuous, simultaneously, elastomeric element is bulldozed to the big one side of diameter of conical surface.

4. The catheter handle according to claim 3, wherein the distal end of the catheter tube is bent from a straight state by moving the operation portion and the pushing ring from the distal end to the proximal end with respect to the handle body, and the elastic member is pushed to a side of the tapered surface having a larger diameter.