TW202008970A - Balloon type electrode catheter - Google Patents

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a balloon-type electrode catheter that can be introduced intravascularly without impairing the ability of a sheath or an endoscope to be inserted into a lumen and that also makes it possible to cauterize lesion tissue over a wide area. This balloon-type electrode catheter comprises: an outer tube (10); an energization connector (21); a balloon (30) that has a neck part (33), (35) at either end of an expanding part (31); an inner tube (41); a distal-end tip (46); strip electrodes (51)-(54) that are formed on an outer surface of the balloon (30); a metal ring (60) that is installed at a distal-end-side neck part (31) such that an inner circumferential surface thereof contacts a distal-end part of each of the strip electrodes (51)-(54); and a conducting wire (70) that electrically connects the energization connector (21) and each of the strip electrodes (51)-(54) as a result of a distal end thereof being fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the metal ring (60) and a base end thereof being fixed to the energization connector (21).

Description

Balloon electrode catheter

The present invention relates to a balloon-type electrode catheter, and more specifically, to a balloon-type electrode catheter that is introduced into the vasculature and performs high-frequency cauterization treatment on the vasculature and surrounding tissues.

As a balloon-type electrode catheter (intravascular cautery device) for performing high-frequency cauterization treatment on a vessel and its surrounding tissues, it has been introduced in the past to include an outer tube (catheter shaft) and a connection The balloon at the front end of the outer tube, the inner tube (lead wire lumen) inserted into the outer lumen and the inside of the balloon, and the lumen tube (supply tube) inserted into the outer lumen for supplying fluid into the balloon Lumen), and a lumen (return lumen) used to discharge the fluid supplied into the balloon and inserted into the outer lumen, and a surface electrode (high-frequency electrode) provided on the outer surface of the balloon (please refer to the description below) Patent Literature 1).

The balloon constituting the balloon-type electrode catheter described in Patent Document 1 has an expansion portion that expands and contracts, and necks formed at both ends thereof, and the proximal-side neck is fixed to the outer tube, and the distal-side neck is It is fixed to the inner tube (lead wire lumen).

According to the balloon electrode catheter described in Patent Document 1, by energizing a high-frequency current to the surface electrode provided on the outer surface of the balloon, high-frequency cauterization treatment can be performed on the vessel or the surrounding lesion tissue. Furthermore, by circulating the fluid supplied from the lumen (supply lumen) into the balloon inside the balloon and then discharging it from the lumen (return lumen), the inside of the balloon can be cooled.

On the other hand, in the balloon-type electrode catheter for electrically isolating the pulmonary vein, as a form of applying high-frequency current to the surface electrode formed on the outer surface of the balloon, it is a balloon fixed to the tip of the catheter core The neck (the neck at the base end side of the connector for energization) is provided with a metal ring, the surface electrode is electrically connected to the metal ring, and the metal ring is electrically connected to the connector for energization by a wire The form of sexual connection is proposed by the inventor of the present case (please refer to Patent Document 2 described later). [Prior Technical Literature] [Patent Literature]

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Special Publication No. 2013-532564 Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2016-185296 (especially Figure 4)

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In a balloon-type electrode catheter for high-frequency cauterization of a vessel or its surrounding tissues as described in Patent Document 1, the form of a surface electrode formed by energizing a high-frequency current to the outer surface of the balloon is as follows The form described in Patent Document 2, that is, a metal ring is attached to a balloon neck (base end side neck) fixed to an outer tube (catheter core), and electricity is conducted through the metal ring.

However, in the cavity constituting the outer tube of the balloon-type electrode catheter described in Patent Document 1, an inner tube (lead wire lumen) through which the guide wire is inserted is used for the inner package, and for cooling The lumen (the supply lumen and the return lumen) through which the fluid circulates has a large outer diameter.

In particular, when using balloon-type electrode catheters for cauterization of neoplasms (tumor), etc., in order to improve the cooling effect of the surrounding tissue of the surface electrode, it is necessary to increase the flow of fluid circulating inside the balloon. Therefore, it is necessary to use Increasing the diameter of the lumen tube through which the cooling fluid circulates must be accompanied by an increase in the outer diameter of the outer tube.

Moreover, when the base end side neck of the balloon is fixed on the outer tube of such a large outer diameter, and then a metal ring is further installed on the base end side neck, the outer diameter of the metal ring will be greatly increased. The outer diameter (shaft diameter or coating diameter) limited by the sheath and the endoscope used when introducing the electrode catheter, causing the metal ring to hook when the balloon electrode catheter is introduced To the opening of the sheath or endoscope used, the balloon electrode catheter cannot be inserted into these lumens.

The present invention is based on the above problems. The object of the present invention is to provide a balloon-type electrode catheter, which can be introduced into the vasculature without impairing the penetration of the sheath used and the endoscope, and the vascular or its The surrounding lesion tissue can be treated with cauterization on a large scale. Another object of the present invention is to provide a balloon-type electrode catheter that can perform cauterization treatment on the vessel or its surrounding tissue in a uniform manner along the circumferential direction of the vessel. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a balloon-type electrode catheter which has an excellent cooling effect on the inside of the balloon, and further has an excellent cooling effect on the tissue around the surface electrode. [Means to solve the problem]

(1) The balloon-type electrode catheter of the present invention is a balloon-type electrode catheter that is introduced into the vasculature to perform high-frequency cauterization treatment on the vasculature or surrounding tissues, and is characterized by having: The outer tube has a central cavity and a plurality of secondary cavities arranged around it, and A connector for energization, which is disposed on the base end side of the outer tube, and The balloon has an expansion portion that expands and contracts, and a neck continuous to both ends thereof, and is fixed to the front end portion of the outer tube by the base-side neck, so that the balloon is connected to the front end side of the outer tube, and An inner tube inserted into the central cavity of the outer tube, extending from the opening of the central cavity toward the inside of the balloon and extending inside the balloon, and having a lumen capable of inserting a lead wire, and A front end top piece having a lumen communicating with the lumen of the inner tube, connected to the front end of the inner tube in the interior of the balloon, and fixed to the neck on the front end side to extend out toward the outside of the balloon ,with The surface electrode is composed of a metal thin film which is the outer surface of the balloon formed in the expansion portion and the neck on the front end side, and The metal ring is installed on the neck of the front end of the balloon by making its inner peripheral surface contact with the front end of the surface electrode, and is electrically connected to the surface electrode, and The leading end of the wire is fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the metal ring, extends inside the balloon and the auxiliary cavity of any one of the outer tubes, and its base end is fixed to the connector for energization. The surface electrode is electrically connected to the above-mentioned connector for electrical conduction.

According to the balloon-type electrode catheter having such a configuration, since the surface electrode formed on the outer surface of the balloon can be electrically connected to the current-carrying connector via the metal ring and the wire, a high-frequency current can be reliably conducted to the surface electrode. In this way, cauterization can be performed on a wide range of vessels or surrounding tissues.

In addition, the neck of the front end of the balloon used to install the metal ring is fixed to the neck of the front end top piece. Since the neck is fixed to the neck of the outer end of the outer tube, the outer diameter is extremely small, so it can be Make the outer diameter of the metal ring installed on the front side neck smaller than the outer diameter of the outer tube and the base side neck. In this way, when the balloon-type electrode catheter is introduced, the metal ring will not be caught in the opening of the sheath and the endoscope, so it will not damage the balloon-type electrode catheter. Endoscopic insertability.

(2) In the balloon-type electrode catheter of the present invention, it is preferable that the surface electrode is formed by a plurality of strips extending along the axial direction of the balloon and arranged at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction of the balloon Electrode, and the inner peripheral surface of the metal ring is in contact with each tip portion of the strip electrode.

According to the balloon-shaped electrode catheter having such a configuration, each of the plurality of strip-shaped electrodes formed at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction of the balloon can be electrically connected to the current-carrying connector via a metal ring and a wire For each of the plurality of strip-shaped electrodes, a high-frequency current can be evenly conducted, whereby the vessel or the surrounding tissue can be homogeneously cauterized along the circumferential direction of the vessel.

(3) In the balloon-type electrode catheter of the present invention, it is preferable that the metal ring is coated with insulation.

According to the balloon electrode catheter thus constituted, the metal ring when energized can be prevented from becoming high temperature, and normal tissues around the metal ring can be prevented from being burned.

(4) In the balloon electrode catheter of the present invention, preferably: At least one of the secondary chambers included in the outer tube is a secondary chamber for fluid supply for supplying fluid into the balloon to circulate the fluid; At least one of the sub-chambers included in the outer tube is a sub-chamber for fluid discharge for discharging the fluid supplied into the balloon from the inside of the balloon to circulate the fluid.

(5) In the balloon electrode catheter of (4) above, preferably: The expansion portion of the balloon includes the front end portion of the outer tube fixed to the base end side neck of the balloon; The opening of the sub-chamber for fluid supply is located closer to the front end side than the intermediate position in the axial direction of the expansion portion, The opening of the fluid discharge sub-chamber is located at or near the base end of the expansion portion.

According to the balloon-shaped electrode catheter thus constituted, the supply port of the fluid supplied toward the inside of the balloon and the discharge port of the fluid discharged from the inside of the balloon change their positions in the axial direction relative to each other. After being filled with fluid), the flow of fluid from the front end side to the base end side can still be formed to make the fluid flow inside the balloon, so the inside of the balloon can be sufficiently cooled, and thus the surroundings of the surface electrode can be cooled sufficiently Organization.

(6) In the balloon electrode catheter of (4) and (5) above, it is preferable that the number of the auxiliary chambers for fluid supply is larger than the number of the auxiliary chambers for fluid discharge.

According to the balloon electrode catheter configured as described above, the inside of the balloon can be maintained at a constant pressure (expansion pressure).

(7) In the balloon electrode catheter of the present invention, preferably: The outer diameter of the front end portion of the outer tube to which the base end side neck of the balloon is fixed is formed to be smaller than the outer diameter of the base end portion of the outer tube; The outer diameter of the base end side neck of the balloon is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the base end portion of the outer tube.

According to the balloon electrode catheter thus constituted, since the outer diameter of the base end side neck having the largest outer diameter is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the base end portion of the outer tube, the inner cavity of the sheath and endoscope There will be no obstruction by the base side neck. In addition, the outer diameter of the outer tube can be used as the maximum diameter limited by the sheath or the endoscope, so the diameters of the fluid supply sub-cavity and fluid discharge sub-cavity of the outer tube can be sufficiently ensured, and the The cooling effect inside the balloon is further improved.

(8) In the balloon-type electrode catheter of the present invention, it is preferable that a temperature sensor is arranged on the wall of the balloon. [Effect of the invention]

According to the balloon-type electrode catheter of the present invention, the sheath used and the lumen of the endoscope can be introduced into the vasculature without impairing penetration, and the vessel or the surrounding lesion tissue can be Perform cautery treatment on a large scale. In addition, the balloon-type electrode catheter according to the present invention is provided with a surface electrode composed of a plurality of strip-shaped electrodes, and the vessel or its surrounding tissue can be homogeneously cauterized along the circumferential direction of the vessel. Furthermore, the balloon-type electrode catheter according to the present invention includes an outer tube, and the outer tube has a sub-lumen for fluid supply opening to the distal end side of an intermediate position in the axial direction of the expansion portion of the balloon, and an opening to the balloon Compared with the conventional balloon electrode catheter, the proximal end of the expansion part of the expansion part or the auxiliary cavity for fluid discharge has an excellent cooling effect on the inside of the balloon, and further has an excellent cooling effect on the tissue around the surface electrode.

<Embodiment>

The balloon-type electrode catheter 100 of this embodiment is a balloon-type electrode that is introduced into the vasculature and uses high-frequency cauterization to treat focus tissues such as neoplasms (tumors) located in the vasculature and surrounding tissues catheter.

The balloon electrode catheter 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 24 includes: An outer tube 10, which is composed of a circular tubular portion 11 and a semi-circular tubular portion 13, and has a central cavity 10L and sub-lumens 101L to 112L arranged around it; and An electrical connector 21, which is disposed on the base end side of the outer tube 10; and The balloon 30 has an expansion portion 31 that expands and contracts, and necks (front end-side neck 33 and base-end-side neck 35) that are continuous at both ends thereof, and the base-end-side neck 35 is fixed to constitute an outer tube A circular tubular portion 11 at the front end of 10, and by enclosing a semi-circular tubular portion 13 that constitutes the front end of the outer tube 10 in the expansion portion 31, the balloon 30 is connected to the front end side of the outer tube 10; and The inner tube 41 has a guide wire lumen, which is inserted into the central cavity 10L of the outer tube 10, extends from the opening of the central cavity 10L toward the inside of the balloon 30, and extends inside the balloon 30; with The front end top piece 46 has a lumen (lead wire lumen) that communicates with the guide wire lumen of the inner tube 41, is connected to the front end of the inner tube 41 inside the balloon 30, and is fixed to the front side neck 33 and extend toward the outside of the balloon 30; and The strip electrodes 51 to 54 (surface electrodes) are formed of metal thin films formed on the outer surfaces of the expanded portion 31 of the balloon 30 and the front end side neck 33; and The metal ring 60 is attached to the front end side neck 33 of the balloon 30 by making its inner peripheral surface contact with the respective front end portions of the strip electrodes 51 to 54 to electrically connect the respective strip electrodes 51 to 54 Sexual connection; and The leading end of the wire 70 is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the metal ring 60, and extends inside the balloon 30 and the auxiliary cavity 112L of the outer tube 10 (the round tubular portion 11), and its base end is connected to the electrical connector 21; and The temperature sensor (thermocouple) 80 has its front end (temperature measuring portion 81) embedded in the tube wall of the expansion portion 31 of the balloon 30, and extends to the tube wall of the expansion portion 31 and the base-side neck 35 and outside The lumen 106L of the tube 10 (round tubular portion 11) has a base end connected to the electrical connector 21.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, symbol 20 is a Y connector connected to the base end side of the outer tube 10, 22 is a fluid supply connector, 23 is a fluid discharge connector, and 24 is a guide wire connector , 26 is a wire protection tube, 27 is a fluid supply tube, and 28 is a fluid discharge tube.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, 14, 15, 17 to 22, the outer tube 10 constituting the balloon electrode catheter 100 is composed of a circular tubular portion 11 and a semicircular tubular portion 13 constitute. A part of the base end portion and the front end portion of the outer tube 10 is constituted by the circular tubular portion 11, and a front end portion (except for the aforementioned part) of the outer tube 10 is constituted by the semi-circular tubular portion 13.

As shown in FIG. 17, FIG. 19 and FIG. 21, inside the circular tubular portion 11 of the outer tube 10, there are formed: a central cavity 10L, and 12 strips arranged around it at equal angular (30°) intervals The auxiliary chambers 101L to 112L. In the circular tubular portion 11, each of the sub-cavities 101L to 112L is formed by a lumen tube surrounding them. These lumen tubes are fixed by the adhesive resin forming the circular tubular portion 11.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, inside the semi-circular tubular portion 13 of the outer tube 10, sub-cavities 101L to 105L are continuously formed from the inside of the circular tubular portion 11. In the semicircular tubular portion 13, the lumen used to surround each of the sub-cavities 101L to 105L is fixed by the adhesive resin forming the semicircular tubular portion 13.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sub-cavities 101L to 105L arranged inside the circular tubular portion 11 and the semi-circular tubular portion 13 are the front end surfaces of the semi-circular tubular portion 13 which are the front end surfaces of the outer tube 10, respectively. 14 is open.

Each of the sub-chambers 101L to 105L communicates with the fluid supply connector 22 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. By this, the sub-chambers 101L to 105L (five sub-chambers formed in the 12 sub-chambers of the outer tube 10) become "sub-chambers for fluid supply" for supplying fluid to the inside of the balloon 30 (expansion part 31) ". Here, as the fluid supplied to the inside of the balloon 30, physiological saline can be exemplified.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the central cavity 10L and the sub-cavities 106L to 112L formed inside the circular tubular portion 11 are respectively opened at the front end surface 12 of the circular tubular portion 11. However, the openings of the sub-cavities 106L, 110L, and 112L are closed by the sealing material 90 shown in FIG. 17.

Each of the sub-chambers 107L to 111L communicates with the fluid discharge connector 23 shown in FIG. 1. By this, the sub-chambers 107L to 109L and 111L (four sub-chambers formed in the 12 sub-chambers of the outer tube 10) serve to remove the fluid that has been supplied to the inside of the balloon 30 (expansion part 31) from the balloon "Sub-cavity for fluid discharge" discharged inside 30.

The constituent material of the outer tube 10 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include polyamides, polyetherpolyamides, polyetheramide block copolymers (PEBAX (registered trademark)), and polyamides such as nylon. Among these amine resins, PEBAX is ideal.

The outer diameter of the outer tube 10 (outer diameter at the base end portion to be described later) is usually 1.0 mm to 3.3 mm, and an example of a suitable cut is 1.45 mm. The diameter of the central cavity 10L of the outer tube 10 is usually set to 0.35 mm to 0.95 mm, and an example of a suitable cut is set to 0.85 mm. The diameters of the sub-cavities 101L to 112L of the outer tube 10 are usually set to 0.10 mm to 0.75 mm, and an example of a suitable cut is set to 0.25 mm. The length of the outer tube 10 is usually set to 100 mm to 2200 mm, and an example of a suitable cut is set to 1800 mm.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a Y connector 20 is connected to the base end side of the outer tube 10. As shown in FIG. 23, the lumen tubes surrounding the sub-lumens 101L to 105L and the sub-lumens 107L to 111L of the outer tube 10 enter the Y connector 20 from the base end of the outer tube 10.

As shown in FIG. 24, the base end portion of the lumen tube surrounding the sub-chambers 101L to 105L (sub-chamber for fluid supply) is connected (fixed by the adhesive 95) to the single-chamber structure inside the Y connector 20的fluid supply tube 27. The fluid supply tube 27 extends out of the Y connector 20, and the base end of the fluid supply tube 27 is connected to the fluid supply connector 22.

The base end portion of the lumen tube surrounding the sub-chambers 107L to 111L is connected (fixed by the adhesive 95) to the fluid discharge tube 28 of single-chamber structure inside the Y connector 20. The fluid discharge tube 28 extends out of the Y connector 20, and the base end of the fluid discharge tube 28 is connected to the fluid discharge connector 23.

The balloon 30 constituting the balloon electrode catheter 100 is composed of an expansion portion 31 that expands and contracts, a front-end neck portion 33 that continues to the front end of the expansion portion 31, and a proximal-end neck portion 35 that continues to the proximal end of the expansion portion 31 .

The expansion portion 31 of the balloon 30 is a space-forming portion that expands by supplying fluid to the inside and contracts by discharging fluid from the inside. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the expansion portion 31 of the balloon 30 is composed of a cylindrical portion 311, a front-end conical portion 313 from the front end of the cylindrical portion 311 to the base end of the front-end neck 33, And from the base end of the cylindrical portion 311 to the base end side conical portion 315 of the base end side neck 35 front end.

The base end side neck 35 is fixed to the front end portion of the outer tube 10 (the front end portion constituted by the circular tubular portion 11), and the expansion portion 31 encloses the front end portion of the outer tube 10 (by the semi-circular tubular portion 13) The configured front end portion) connects the balloon 30 to the front end side of the outer tube 10.

Here, the front end portion of the outer tube 10 to which the proximal end neck 35 of the balloon 30 is fixed (the circular tubular portion 11 shown in FIG. 19) has its surface layer portion removed, and its outer diameter becomes larger than the proximal end neck 35 The outer diameter of the base end portion (circular tubular portion 11 shown in FIG. 21) of the outer tube 10 is not fixed. In addition, the outer diameter of the proximal end neck portion 35 shown in FIG. 19 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the proximal end portion of the outer tube 10 shown in FIG. 21.

With this, it is possible to prevent the proximal end neck 35 from impairing the penetration of the sheath used for introducing the balloon electrode catheter 100 or the lumen of the endoscope. In addition, since the outer diameter of the outer tube 10 can be regarded as the maximum diameter limited by the sheath or the endoscope (it is not necessary to consider the expansion of the outer diameter caused by the thickness of the proximal end neck), the outer tube 10 can be sufficiently secured The diameters of the auxiliary chambers 101L to 112L can further enhance the cooling effect inside the balloon 30.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front end surface 14 of the semi-circular tubular portion 13 with the openings 101L to 105L of the fluid supply sub-portions is located closer to the front end than the axial intermediate position of the expansion portion 31 of the balloon 30 Located sideways near the front end of the cylindrical portion 311. As a result, the fluid flowing through the fluid supply sub-chambers 101L to 105L is discharged from each opening located near the front end of the cylindrical portion 311 in the front end direction, and the discharged fluid can reach the expansion portion 31 (the front end side cone) Near the front end of the portion 313), a flow of fluid from the front end side to the base end side can be formed inside the balloon 30 (expansion portion 31).

If the opening of the secondary chamber for fluid supply is located closer to the proximal end than the axial intermediate position of the expansion portion of the balloon, even after the balloon is expanded, even if the fluid is discharged from the opening toward the front end, it cannot be This fluid reaches the vicinity of the front end of the expansion portion, so that the flow of the fluid from the front end side to the base end side cannot be formed inside the balloon.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the fluid discharge sub-chambers 107L to 109L and 111L have a front end surface 12 of a circular tubular portion 11 having an opening, which is located at the base end of the expansion portion 31.

The constituent material of the balloon 30 is not particularly limited, and the same materials as conventionally known balloons constituting balloon catheters can be used, and examples include polyamides such as polyamide, polyetherpolyamide, PEBAX, and nylon. Resins; thermoplastic polyether urethane, polyether urethane urea, fluoropolyether urethane urea, polyether urethane urea resin and polyether urethane Polyurethane resins such as ester urea amide.

The diameter of the balloon 30 (expansion portion 31) is usually set to 0.7 mm to 30.0 mm, and an example of a suitable cut is set to 2.0 mm. The outer diameter of the proximal end neck 35 of the balloon 30 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the proximal end portion of the outer tube 10, and is usually set to 1.0 mm to 3.3 mm, and an appropriate example is set to 1.45 mm. The length of the balloon 30 (expansion portion 31) is usually 8 mm to 50 mm, and an example of a suitable cut is 20 mm.

In the balloon electrode catheter 100 of the present embodiment, the inner shaft is constituted by the inner tube 41 and the front tip 46. The inner tube 41 constituting the balloon electrode catheter 100 has a lumen (lead wire lumen) through which the lead wire can be inserted, and is inserted into the central cavity 10L of the outer tube 10 (round tubular portion 11), and its front end portion It extends from the opening of the central cavity 10L toward the inside of the balloon 30 (expansion part 31).

The front end portion of the inner tube 41 extending toward the inside of the balloon 30 (expansion portion 31) extends in the state where the semicircular portion of the outer circumferential surface is covered by the semicircular tubular portion 13, on the base end side of the expansion portion 31 The inside of the conical portion 315, the cylindrical portion 311, and the front end side conical portion 313 are connected to the front end top 46 in the inside of the front end side conical portion 313.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the base end portion of the inner tube 41 enters the Y connector 20 from the base end of the outer tube 10 (the opening on the base end side of the central cavity 10L), It extends inside the Y connector 20 to the outside of the Y connector 20, and the base end of the inner tube 41 is connected to the lead connector 24.

As a constituent material of the inner tube 41, the same material as the inner tube constituting a balloon catheter can be used, but it is preferably a PEEK resin (polyether ether ketone resin) using a crystalline thermoplastic resin having excellent mechanical properties.

The outer diameter of the inner tube 41 is the same as or slightly smaller than the diameter of the central cavity 10L of the outer tube 10 inserted through it, and is usually set to 0.34 mm to 0.99 mm, and an appropriate example is set to 0.84 mm. The inner diameter of the inner tube 41 is usually set to 0.31 mm to 0.92 mm, and an appropriate example is set to 0.68 mm.

The distal tip 46 constituting the balloon-type electrode catheter 100 has a lumen (lead wire lumen) that communicates with the lead wire lumen of the inner tube 41, inside the conical portion 313 of the distal end side of the expansion portion 31 of the balloon 30 It is connected to the front end of the inner tube 41 and is fixed to the front-end side neck 33 to extend out of the balloon 30. The front end of the front end top piece 46 is open.

The constituent material of the distal tip 46 is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include polyamide-based resins such as polyamide, polyetherpolyamide, PEBAX, and nylon, and polyurethane. .

The inner diameter of the distal tip 46 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the inner tube 41, and is usually set to 0.31 mm to 0.92 mm, and an appropriate example is set to 0.68 mm. The outer diameter of the distal tip 46 is usually set to 0.35 mm to 2.6 mm, and an example of suitable cutting is set to 1.0 mm. The outer diameter of the front end side neck 33 of the balloon 30 to which the front end top piece 46 is fixed is usually set to 0.37 mm to 3.3 mm, and an appropriate example is set to 1.18 mm.

As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 to FIG. 15, the outer surface of the balloon 30 (the cylindrical portion 311 of the expansion portion 31 and the front-end conical portion 313 and the front-end neck 33) is used as The surface electrodes for energizing high-frequency current are strip electrodes 51 to 54 formed of a metal thin film extending in the axial direction of the balloon 30 and arranged at 90° intervals along the circumferential direction of the balloon 30.

Examples of the constituent material of the metal thin film constituting the strip electrodes 51 to 54 include gold, platinum, silver, copper, alloys thereof, and stainless steel. The thickness of the metal thin film constituting the strip-shaped electrodes 51 to 54 is preferably 0.5 μm to 5.0 μm, preferably 1.0 μm to 2.5 μm. If the film thickness is too small, during the operation (during high-frequency energization), the metal thin film may become hot due to Joule heat. On the other hand, when the film thickness is too large, the metal thin film may be difficult to follow: the shape of the balloon accompanying expansion and contraction may impair the expansion and contraction of the balloon.

The method of forming the metal thin film constituting the strip electrodes 51 to 54 on the outer surface of the balloon 30 is not particularly limited, and a common metal thin film forming method such as vapor deposition, sputtering, electroplating, printing, etc. can be used.

As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 6, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, a metal ring 60 is attached to the neck portion 33 of the front end side of the balloon 30. The inner ring surface of the metal ring 60 constituting the balloon-type electrode catheter 100 is provided so as to contact the front end portions of the strip electrodes 51 to 54 and is crimped and fixed on the front end side neck portion 33 by Here, each of the strip electrodes 51 to 54 is electrically connected to the metal ring 60.

As a constituent material of the metal ring 60, platinum or a platinum-based alloy can be mentioned. As shown in FIG. 9, the metal ring 60 is insulated and covered with a resin material 65. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the metal ring 60 from becoming high temperature when energized, and it is possible to prevent the normal tissue around the metal ring 60 from being burned.

The inner diameter of the metal ring 60 mounted on the front-end side neck 33 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the front-end side neck 33, and is usually set to 0.37 mm to 3.3 mm, and an appropriate example is set to 1.18 mm. The outer diameter of the metal ring 60 mounted on the front-end neck 33 is smaller than the outer diameter of the outer tube 10 and the base-end neck 35, and it is usually set to 0.98 mm to 3.28 mm. 1.32mm.

The leading end of the wire 70 is fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the metal ring 60. The guide wire 70, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, extends inside the wall of the front end top piece 46, and then follows the inner tube 41 as shown in FIGS. 12, 14, and 15 It extends inside the expansion portion 31 of the balloon 30, and then extends to the auxiliary cavity 112L of the outer tube 10 (the circular tubular portion 11) as shown in FIGS. 17, 19, and 21, and then to FIGS. 23 and 23 As shown in FIG. 24, it extends inside the Y connector 20, passes through the inside of the wire protection tube 26 extending from the Y connector 20, and then extends out from the Y connector 20.

The base end of the wire 70 is connected to the electrical connector 21. The electrical connector 21 has both a function as a connector for energizing high-frequency current to each of the strip electrodes 51 to 54 and a thermoelectric device for connecting the temperature sensor 80 to a temperature measuring device The function of the coupling connector.

By connecting each of the strip electrodes 51 to 54 to the electrical connector 21 via the metal ring 60 and the wire 70, it is possible to conduct high-frequency current equally to each of the strip electrodes 51 to 54.

Examples of the constituent material of the lead wire 70 include copper, silver, gold, platinum, tungsten, and alloys of these metals, and are preferably coated with an electrically insulating protective coating such as fluorine-based resin.

As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5, FIG. 15 to FIG. 20, a temperature sensor 80 composed of a thermocouple is embedded in the tube wall of the balloon 30. The temperature measurement portion 81 (temperature measurement contact) of the temperature sensor 80 is located on the wall of the expansion portion 31.

As shown in FIG. 19 to FIG. 22, the temperature sensor 80 enters the sub-cavity 106L of the outer tube 10 (circular tubular portion 11) from the wall of the base-end neck 35 of the balloon 30 and extends in the sub-cavity The cavity 106L, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, then extends inside the Y connector 20 together with the wire 70, and then extends from the Y connector 20 through the inside of the wire protection tube 26 extending from the Y connector 20 Go out. The base end of the temperature sensor 80 is connected to the electrical connector 21.

According to the balloon-type electrode catheter 100 of the present embodiment, each of the strip-shaped electrodes 51 to 54 formed on the outer surface of the balloon 30 can align the lesions located in the vasculature or its surroundings with a high frequency Cauterization treatment.

In addition, by attaching the metal ring 60 to the front end side neck of the balloon 30 such that its inner peripheral surface contacts the front end portions of the strip electrodes 51 to 54, each of the strip electrodes 51 to 54 Since it is electrically connected to the electrical connector 21 via the metal ring 60 and the wire 70, it is possible to conduct high-frequency current equally to each of the strip electrodes 51-54, whereby it can be along the circumference of the vessel Orientation of the lesion tissue in the vessel or surrounding area is treated with cauterization.

In addition, the outer diameter of the metal ring 60 installed on the front end side neck 33 of the balloon 30 is smaller than the outer diameter of the outer tube 10 and the base end side neck 35, so the metal ring 60 does not occur. The fact that the hook is caught in the opening of the sheath or endoscope used for introduction does not impair the insertability of the balloon electrode catheter 100 into the lumen of the sheath or endoscope.

In addition, each of the sub-chambers 101L to 105L for fluid supply is opened at the front end surface 14 of the semi-circular tubular portion 13 located near the front end of the cylindrical portion 311 of the expansion portion 31 of the balloon 30, and the sub-chamber 107L for fluid discharge Each of ~109L and 111L is open at the front end surface 12 of the circular tubular portion 11 located at the base end of the expansion portion 31 of the balloon 30, whereby even after the balloon 30 is expanded (after the interior has been filled with fluid), It is still possible to form a flow of fluid from the front end side to the base end side to make the fluid flow inside the balloon 30.

In particular, the fluid discharged from the openings of the fluid supply sub-chambers 101L to 105L in the front end direction hits the inner wall surface of the conical portion 313 on the front end side of the expansion portion 31 and then follows the cylindrical portion 311 of the expansion portion 31 And the inner wall surface of the proximal end side conical portion 315 flows toward the proximal end, whereby the fluid can be circulated inside the balloon 30 (expansion portion 31).

As a result, the inside of the balloon 30 can be efficiently cooled over the entire area of the expansion portion 31, whereby the tissue around the strip electrodes 51 to 54 is sufficiently cooled, and the tissue can be reliably prevented Fibrosis (fibrosis).

In addition, since there are five sub-chambers 101L to 105L for fluid supply arranged in the outer tube 10 and four sub-chambers 107L to 109L and 111L for fluid discharge, the inside of the balloon 30 can be maintained at a constant pressure (expansion pressure) ).

Examples of the applicable conditions of the balloon-type electrode catheter 100 of the present embodiment include vessels or neoplasms surrounding the vagus nerve, etc. Specifically, cholangiocarcinoma, lung cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, and adrenal glands can be cited. Tumor, renal artery vagus nerve, etc.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but can be variously modified. For example, the position of the front end surface 14 of the semi-circular tubular portion 13 inside the balloon 30 (the opening positions of the fluid supply sub-chambers 101L to 105L) is as long as the front end side than the axial intermediate position of the expansion portion 31 That is, it may not be located near the front end of the cylindrical portion 311 of the expansion portion 31.

Furthermore, in the balloon-type electrode catheter of the present invention, the opening of the auxiliary cavity for fluid supply and/or the auxiliary cavity for fluid discharge may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube, and the fluid may be discharged/discharged in the radial direction of the outer tube .

In addition, the opening of the auxiliary chamber for fluid supply may be located at the base end of the expansion portion of the balloon or the vicinity thereof, and the opening of the auxiliary chamber for fluid discharge may be located more than the axial intermediate position of the expansion portion Set on the front side.

Furthermore, the sub-chamber for fluid supply and the sub-chamber for fluid discharge may be mutually opened at the same axial position.

100‧‧‧Balloon lead 10‧‧‧Outer tube 10L‧‧‧Central cavity 101L～105L‧‧‧Sub chamber (sub chamber for fluid supply) 107L～109L, 111L‧‧‧Sub chamber (sub chamber for fluid discharge) 106L, 110L, 112L 11‧‧‧Round tubular part 12‧‧‧Front end of the round tubular part 13‧‧‧Semicircular tubular part 14‧‧‧Front end of semi-circular tubular part 20‧‧‧Y connector 21‧‧‧Electrical connector 22‧‧‧ fluid supply connector 23‧‧‧ fluid discharge connector 24‧‧‧Lead wire connector 26‧‧‧Wire protection tube 27‧‧‧Fluid supply tube 28‧‧‧Fluid discharge tube 30‧‧‧Balloon 31‧‧‧Expansion Department 311‧‧‧Cylinder part 313‧‧‧ Conical part at the front end 315‧‧‧Conical part at the base end 33‧‧‧Front side neck 35‧‧‧base side neck 41‧‧‧Inner tube 46‧‧‧ Front piece 51～54‧‧‧band electrode (surface electrode) 60‧‧‧Metal ring 70‧‧‧Wire 80‧‧‧Temperature sensor (thermocouple) 81‧‧‧Temperature measurement part of temperature sensor 90‧‧‧Sealing material 95‧‧‧ Adhesive

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a balloon electrode catheter according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the balloon-type electrode catheter shown in FIG. 1 (a front view including a cross section taken along line II-II of FIG. 1). Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the front end portion of the balloon electrode catheter shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the tip portion (tip end side of the balloon) of the balloon electrode catheter shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the front end portion (base end side of the balloon) of the balloon electrode catheter shown in Fig. 1. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2 (detailed view of section VI). FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 6 (detailed view of section VII). Fig. 8 is a partially enlarged view of Fig. 2 (detailed view of section VIII). Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a partially enlarged view of Fig. 9 (detailed view of part X). Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in Fig. 1. Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line XII-XII of Fig. 1; Fig. 13 is a partially enlarged view of Fig. 12 (detailed view of part XIII). Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV in Fig. 1; Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along line XV-XV in Fig. 1; Fig. 16 is a partially enlarged view of Fig. 15 (a detailed view of the XVI part). Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line XVII-XVII of Fig. 1; Fig. 18 is a partially enlarged view of Fig. 17 (detailed view of section XVIII). Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken along the line XIX-XIX of Fig. 1; FIG. 20 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 19 (detailed view of the XX part). Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXI-XXI in Fig. 1. FIG. 22 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 21 (detailed view of part XXII). Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken along the line XXIII-XXIII of Fig. 1; Fig. 24 is a sectional view taken along the line XXIV-XXIV of Fig. 1;

10‧‧‧Outer tube

10L‧‧‧Central cavity

11‧‧‧Round tubular part

12‧‧‧Front end of the round tubular part

13‧‧‧Semicircular tubular part

14‧‧‧Front end of semi-circular tubular part

30‧‧‧Balloon

31‧‧‧Expansion Department

311‧‧‧Cylinder part

313‧‧‧ Conical part at the front end

315‧‧‧Conical part at the base end

33‧‧‧Front side neck

35‧‧‧base side neck

41‧‧‧Inner tube

46‧‧‧ Front piece

51~54‧‧‧ Ribbon electrode (surface electrode)

60‧‧‧Metal ring

70‧‧‧Wire

80‧‧‧Temperature sensor (thermocouple)

81‧‧‧Temperature measurement part of temperature sensor

Claims (8)

A balloon-type electrode catheter is used to introduce into the vasculature and perform high-frequency cauterization treatment on the vasculature or surrounding tissues. The outer tube has a central cavity and a plurality of secondary cavities arranged around it, and A connector for energization, which is disposed on the base end side of the outer tube, and The balloon has an expansion portion that expands and contracts, and a neck that is continuous at both ends thereof, and is fixed to the front end portion of the outer tube by the base-side neck, so that the balloon is connected to the front end side of the outer tube, with An inner tube inserted into the central cavity of the outer tube, extending from the opening of the central cavity toward the inside of the balloon and extending inside the balloon, and having a lumen capable of inserting a lead wire, and The front end top piece has a lumen communicating with the lumen of the inner tube, is connected to the front end of the inner tube in the interior of the balloon, and is fixed to the neck of the front end to extend toward the outside of the balloon. with The surface electrode is composed of a metal thin film which is the outer surface of the balloon formed in the expansion portion and the neck on the front end side, and The metal ring is installed on the neck of the front end of the balloon by making its inner peripheral surface contact with the front end of the surface electrode, and is electrically connected to the surface electrode, and The leading end of the wire is fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the metal ring, extends inside the balloon and the auxiliary cavity of any one of the outer tubes, and its base end is fixed to the connector for energization. The surface electrode is electrically connected to the above-mentioned connector for electrical conduction. The balloon electrode catheter according to item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein, The surface electrode is a plurality of strip-shaped electrodes formed to extend along the axial direction of the balloon and arranged at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction of the balloon, and the inner circumferential surface of the metal ring is in contact with the strip-shaped Each tip of the electrode. The balloon electrode catheter according to item 1 or 2 of the patent application scope, wherein, The metal ring is covered with insulation. The balloon electrode catheter according to item 1 or 2 of the patent application scope, wherein, At least one of the secondary chambers included in the outer tube is a secondary chamber for fluid supply for supplying fluid into the balloon to circulate the fluid; At least one of the sub-chambers included in the outer tube is a sub-chamber for fluid discharge for discharging the fluid supplied into the balloon from the inside of the balloon to circulate the fluid. The balloon electrode catheter according to item 4 of the patent application scope, wherein, The expansion portion of the balloon includes the front end portion of the outer tube fixed to the base end side neck of the balloon; The opening of the sub-chamber for fluid supply is located closer to the front end side than the intermediate position in the axial direction of the expansion portion, The opening of the fluid discharge sub-chamber is located at or near the base end of the expansion portion. The balloon electrode catheter according to item 4 of the patent application scope, wherein, The number of the auxiliary chambers for fluid supply is greater than the number of the auxiliary chambers for fluid discharge. The balloon electrode catheter according to item 1 or 2 of the patent application scope, wherein, The outer diameter of the front end portion of the outer tube to which the base end side neck of the balloon is fixed is formed to be smaller than the outer diameter of the base end portion of the outer tube; The outer diameter of the base end side neck of the balloon is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the base end portion of the outer tube. The balloon electrode catheter according to item 1 or 2 of the patent application scope, wherein, A temperature sensor is arranged on the wall of the balloon.

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