Drain catheter

The present invention relates to a drain catheter.

In the medical field, drainage is drainage, which causes blood, pus, exudate, digestive juice, air, etc. to be discharged from the patient's body. A medical tube to be inserted for drainage is called a drain catheter, and various drain catheters are used depending on the clinical department.

However, in the conventional drain catheter, since suction is performed by the side hole and the tip hole, an organ or the like which is a soft tissue may be sucked, which may be in close contact with the side hole or the like. Furthermore, adverse events such as perforation may occur due to the close contact of the tips. On the other hand, for example, in the catheter disclosed in Patent Document 1, a so-called pigtail having a curved tip is provided, and a side hole extending in the longitudinal direction is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the pigtail. This prevents adhesion to the tissue.

<p><patcit num="1"><text>Actual Kaihei 5-76448</text></patcit></p>

<p num="0005"> However, although the catheter as described above has a pigtail, its performance is not sufficient. For example, in the above catheter, since the side hole and the opening flow path at the tip are connected to one flow path, there is a problem that drainage or exhaust cannot be performed if this flow path is blocked.</p><p num="0006"> The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a drain catheter having excellent drainage and exhaust properties.</p>

<p num="0007"> The drain catheter according to the present invention includes a tubular drainage portion and a tubular liquid collection portion which is connected to the tip end side of the drainage portion and has a curved portion which is at least partially curved. The liquid portion has a branch region provided with at least one partition for forming a plurality of flow paths in at least a part in the axial direction, and the internal space of the branch region of the liquid collecting portion is formed by the partition. It is partitioned into at least one main flow path and at least one sub-flow path extending over the entire length of the liquid collection section, and the main flow path and the sub-flow path communicate with the internal space of the drainage section, respectively. The axial tip of the main flow path opens to the outside through a tip opening formed at the tip of the liquid collecting portion, and each of the sub flow paths is a peripheral surface formed on the outer peripheral surface of the branching region. It opens to the outside through a surface opening.</p><p num="0008"> The drain catheter according to the present invention has a curved portion formed in the liquid collecting portion in order to prevent a perforation from being formed in the soft tissue. According to the present invention, a plurality of flow paths are formed in the liquid collecting portion, and each of these flow paths is formed with an opening to the outside, so that one flow path attracts and closes the soft tissue. Even if it is, since suction from another flow path is possible, it is possible to prevent poor drainage and poor exhaust. The peripheral surface opening may be provided in either a portion communicating with the main flow path in the branch region or a liquid collecting portion other than the branch region.</p><p num="0009"> Further, since the liquid collecting portion is formed with a partition wall that separates the main flow path and the sub flow path, the outer shape of the liquid collecting portion can be reinforced from the inside. Therefore, it is possible to prevent kinking when the drain catheter is bent.</p><p num="0010"> A peripheral opening can be provided at any position in the liquid collecting portion of the drain catheter. That is, a peripheral opening may be provided in the curved portion. In addition, the liquid collecting portion may be provided with at least one straight portion that is connected to the curved portion and extends linearly, and the peripheral surface opening can be formed in the straight portion. In this way, when the peripheral surface opening is formed in the straight portion, the shape of the opening is less likely to be deformed than in the case where it is formed in the curved portion. That is, for example, when an opening is formed in a curved portion, the opening is easily deformed when an external force that changes the diameter of the curved portion is applied, but when a peripheral opening is formed in a straight portion, the opening is deformed by an external force. Therefore, more stable suction becomes possible.</p><p num="0011"> In the drain catheter, the position of the straight portion is not particularly limited, but it can be arranged between the drainage portion and the curved portion.</p><p num="0012"> Alternatively, in the drain catheter, the straight portion can be arranged on the distal end side of the curved portion. The straight portion can be provided at two locations, and in this case, it can be provided between the drainage portion and the curved portion and at two locations on the tip side of the curved portion.</p><p num="0013"> In the drain catheter, the peripheral opening of the liquid collecting portion can be formed into various shapes, and for example, it can be formed in a slit shape extending along the axial direction of the liquid collecting portion. Thereby, the suction area can be expanded.</p><p num="0014"> The axial tip of the subchannel can be terminated inside the liquid collecting portion.</p><p num="0015"> Alternatively, the axial tip of the sub-flow path may communicate with the main flow path inside the liquid collection section. In this way, when the main flow path is closed in the branch region, drainage from the tip opening becomes possible through the sub flow path.</p><p num="0016"> In the drain catheter, the peripheral opening can be formed on the inner surface side of the curved portion.</p><p num="0017"> In the drain catheter, the number of the sub-channels is not particularly limited, but for example, two can be provided.</p>

<p num="0018"> According to the drain catheter according to the present invention, drainage / exhaustability can be improved.</p>

<figref num="1">It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the drain catheter of this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a side view of FIG.</figref><figref num="3">FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.</figref><figref num="4">FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.</figref><figref num="5">FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG.</figref><figref num="6">FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG.</figref><figref num="7">It is a partial side view which shows another example of the drain catheter shown in FIG.</figref><figref num="8">It is a side view which shows another example of the drain catheter shown in FIG.</figref><figref num="9">It is a side view which shows another example of the drain catheter shown in FIG.</figref><figref num="10">It is a figure which shows another example of the cross section of a drain catheter.</figref>

&lt;1. Drain catheter structure&gt; Hereinafter, an embodiment of the drain catheter according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the drain catheter according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. In the following description, the left side in FIG. 2 will be referred to as the tip side or the front side, and the right side will be referred to as the base end side or the rear side, and other drawings will be described with reference to this. Further, the line passing through the center of the cross section of the drain catheter is defined as the axis X.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drain catheter is composed of an elongated molded body having a substantially circumferential outer peripheral portion. Specifically, the hub 1, the drainage unit 2, and the liquid collection unit 3 are connected in this order from the base end side to the tip end side. The members 1, 2, and 3 are joined by adhesion, heat fusion, or the like. Further, the liquid collecting portion 3 is composed of a straight portion 31 extending in a straight line and a curved portion 32 in which a part of the liquid collecting portion 3 is curved. Hereinafter, each part will be described.

The hub 1 is provided at the rear end of the drain catheter, and is formed in a cylindrical shape by a hard resin material. The base end side of the hub 1 is detachably connected to a suction device (not shown), as will be described later. Specifically, a pair of protrusions 11 are formed on the peripheral edge of the rear end of the hub 1 so as to project outward in the radial direction with the axial center X in between. Then, the protrusion 11 is screwed into the suction device.

Next, the drainage unit 2 and the liquid collection unit 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a tubular drainage portion 2 is attached to the tip end side of the hub 1. The drainage portion 2 is made of a transparent and flexible resin material and occupies most of the length of the drain catheter. As shown in FIG. 3, the cross-sectional shape of the internal space 20 of the drainage portion 2 is circular. A liquid collecting portion 3 is connected to the end portion on the tip end side of the liquid draining portion 2.

The liquid collecting portion 3 is composed of a straight portion 31 connected to the tip side of the draining portion 2 and extending linearly, and a curved portion 32 connected to the tip side thereof, and is colored transparent or white. It is made of a flexible resin material. As shown in FIG. 4, the straight portion 31 has substantially the same outer diameter as the drainage portion 2, and the outer peripheral surface of the straight portion 31 has two slits (peripheral surface openings) 33a, which communicate with the inside. 33b is formed. The slits 33a and 33b extend in the axial direction and are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. The number of slits is not particularly limited, but as the number of slits increases, the number of branched flow paths increases, and as a result, when the diameters are the same, the flow paths become narrower. Therefore, the number of slits is preferably 2 to 6, more preferably 2 to 4, and particularly preferably 2.

The inside of the straight portion 31 is partitioned by three partition walls and has three flow paths extending in the axial direction. More specifically, the three partition walls, that is, the first, second, and third partition walls 34a, 34b, and 34c extend radially outward from the axial center X of the straight portion 31, and are connected to the inner wall surface of the straight portion 31. ing. The partition walls 34a, 34b, and 34c are connected at an angle of about 120 degrees, whereby three flow paths having a fan-shaped cross section of substantially the same size are formed inside the straight portion 31. .. Hereinafter, these will be referred to as the first, second and third flow paths 35a, 35b and 35c. Further, the proximal end side of these three flow paths 35a, 35b, 35c communicates with the internal space 20 of the drainage portion 2. Of these three flow paths 35a, 35b, 35c, the slits 33a, 33b described above are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the straight portion 31 corresponding to the first and second flow paths 35a, 35b, respectively. That is, the slit 33a communicates with the first flow path 35a, and the slit 33b communicates with the second flow path 35b.

A tubular curved portion 32 is integrally formed on the tip end side of the straight portion 31. As described above, the proximal end side of the three flow paths 35a, 35b, 35c communicates with the internal space 20 of the drainage portion 2, but the third flow of the three flow paths 35a, 35b, 35c Only the tip end side of the road 35c communicates with the curved portion 32. On the other hand, the first and second flow paths 35a and 35b are terminated near the tip of the straight portion 31, do not communicate with the curved portion 32, and are not open to the outside.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the curved portion 32 is curved in a U shape from the tip of the straight portion 31, and the distal end side extends linearly toward the proximal end side of the catheter. As shown in FIG. 5, the cross-sectional shape of the internal space 30 of the curved portion 32 is circular. The tip of the curved portion 32 is formed in a tapered shape, and the tip opening 36 is formed at the tip. The tip opening 36 communicates with the internal space 30 of the curved portion 32. That is, the third flow path 35c of the straight portion 31 described above communicates with the tip opening 36 via the internal space 30 of the curved portion 32.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, on the outer peripheral surface of the curved portion 32, a plurality of side holes 37 are formed on the surface facing the proximal end portion side (inner surface having a small radius of curvature). The side holes 37 are formed in a circular shape, and are formed in a row at predetermined intervals along the axis X. The side holes 37 communicate with the internal space 30 of the curved portion 32.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the outer peripheral surface or inner wall surface from the drainage portion 2 to the vicinity of the tip of the liquid collection portion 3 of the drain catheter is a linear mark made of an impermeable material that does not allow X-rays to pass through. 8 is provided. The mark 8 extends along the axial direction and is used for recognizing the position of the third flow path 35c of the straight portion 31, and when the drain catheter is placed in the patient's body, it is irradiated with X-rays. It is also used as a marker for contrast when performing a predetermined confirmation operation. The place where the mark 8 is provided is not particularly limited, and may be provided at a position where the flow paths of the slits 33a and 33b can be recognized, if necessary. When the mark 8 is provided on the inner wall surface of the drain catheter, it is necessary to form the portion with a transparent material so that the mark 8 can be visually recognized from the outside.

The material of the drainage portion 2 and the liquid collection portion 3 of the drain catheter described above may be any material having elasticity that is safe to be placed in the body, particularly in a blood vessel. Examples of such a material include polyurethane, silicone, polyvinyl chloride, polybutadiene, polyamide, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, etc., but they have the property of maintaining hardness outside the body and flexibility inside the body. It is preferable to use polyurethane. By forming the material having such flexibility, the curved portion 32 of the liquid collecting portion 3 can be flexibly deformed, and for example, the vicinity of the linear tip portion can also be curved (see the broken line in FIG. 2). .. Further, when the catheter is inserted by the Seldinger method described later, the curved portion 32 can be deformed until it becomes linear.

In addition, the drain catheter may be subjected to antithrombotic treatment in order to prevent the formation of a thrombus by contact with blood during indwelling. Antithrombotic treatment is a method of immobilizing a plasminogen activator such as urokinase on the catheter surface of a base material by a chemical binding method (see Patent No. 14068630 for details), and an anticoagulant factor such as heparin is immobilized on the catheter surface. Various methods have been developed, such as a method of converting, but the method is not limited to a specific method. The range of antithrombotic treatment may be the inner surface, the outer surface, or both of the drain catheter as long as it is in contact with the living body.

Further, the drain catheter is subjected to a lubricity treatment such as coating the surface of a base material with a hydrophilic polymer compound in order to facilitate insertion into a subcutaneous tissue or a blood vessel (for example, JP-A-10-). It may be (see 248919). Many methods have been developed for the lubricity treatment, but any method may be selected. Further, the range of the lubrication treatment may be any part as long as it comes into contact with the human body or a tool for indwelling the catheter.

The drain catheter can have various lengths, for example, the total length can be about 50 to 500 mm, preferably 100 to 300 mm. Of these, the liquid collecting portion 3 can be 10 to 300 mm, preferably 15 to 200, and more preferably 20 to 100 mm. The outer diameter of the drain catheter can be set to about 1 to 10 mm, more preferably 2 to 6 mm, and even more preferably 2 to 4 mm. The inner diameter of the drainage portion 2 can be set to 90% to 30%, preferably 70% to 50% of the outer diameter.

&lt;2. How to use the drain catheter&gt; Next, a method of using the drain catheter configured as described above will be described. First, local anesthesia is performed at the insertion site of the drain catheter, and then the drain catheter is placed at the target site by the Seldinger method. Specifically, a metal puncture needle is punctured at a target site, and a guide wire is inserted into the metal puncture needle. Then, after the guide wire is placed at the target site, the metal puncture needle is removed. At this time, a puncture needle with a plastic cannula can be used instead of the metal puncture needle. In this case, the puncture needle with a plastic cannula is punctured at the target site, and then the inner needle is removed. Following this, the guide wire is inserted into the cannula, the guide wire is placed at the target site, and then the cannula is removed.

In this way, after the guide wire is placed, a small incision is made in the insertion site as needed, and then a dilator is inserted along the guide wire to expand the insertion site. Subsequently, after removing the dilator, the drain catheter is placed at the target site along the guide wire. Then, by operating the suction device, drainage and gas generated in the patient's thoracic cavity and the like are removed via the drain catheter. In this case, the drainage liquid is sucked from the slits 33a and 33b, the tip opening 36, and the side hole 37. Then, it passes through the drain catheter and is sucked into the storage container of the suction device.

&lt;3. Features&gt; As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the tip of the catheter is curved, it is possible to prevent the tip from sticking into the soft tissue to form a perforation. Further, since a plurality of flow paths are formed in the liquid collecting portion 3 and slits 33a and 33b and a tip opening 36 that open to the outside are formed in each of these flow paths, one opening sucks the soft tissue. Even if it is closed, suction from another opening is possible, so that it is possible to prevent poor drainage and poor exhaust. In particular, since the slits 33a and 33b are formed in the straight portion 31, the shape of the opening is unlikely to change as compared with the case where the slits 33a and 33b are formed in the curved portion 32. That is, for example, when an opening extending in the longitudinal direction is formed in the curved portion 32, the opening is easily deformed when an external force that changes the diameter of the curved portion 32 is applied, but the slit 33a, When 33b is formed, deformation due to an external force can be prevented, so that stable suction becomes possible.

Further, since the liquid collecting portion 3 is formed with partition walls 34a, 34b, 34c for partitioning the flow paths 35a, 35b, 35c, the outer shape of the liquid collecting portion 3 can be reinforced from the inside. Therefore, it is possible to prevent kinking when the drain catheter is bent.

Further, since a plurality of side holes 37 are formed on the inner surface of the curved portion 32 facing the proximal end portion side, liquid can be collected from here as well. In particular, these side holes 37 are formed on the inner surface of the curved portion 32 and are difficult to be directly adsorbed to the tissues in the body, so that stable liquid collection is possible. More specifically, a side hole can be formed in a region in the circumferential direction of the curved portion 32 as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. As shown in the figure, the side hole 37 can be formed in a range α of about 270 ° (135 ° on each side of the line T) sandwiching the line T passing through the center of the inner surface of the curved portion 32. This range α corresponds to the inner surface side of the present invention. However, in order to suppress adsorption to the tissue, this range is preferably 180 ° or less, and more preferably 120 ° or less. It should be noted that all the side holes 37 need not be formed within the above-mentioned range α of about 270 °, and at least one of them may be in this range.

Further, these side holes 37 may be substantially circular or elliptical. The side hole 37 can be formed in a slit shape, but when the curved portion 32 is deformed, it is easily deformed, so that it is preferably substantially circular. By doing so, a more stable liquid collection is performed. Is possible.

Similarly, since the slits 33a and 33b formed in the straight portion 31 are also formed on the inner surface side facing the tip portion of the curved portion 32, it is difficult to directly adsorb to the tissues in the body and stable liquid collection can be performed. It is possible. Further, the range in the circumferential direction in which such a slit is formed is also the same range α as the side hole 37 described above, that is, as shown in FIG. 6, the slits 33a and 33b are centered on the inner surface of the curved portion 32. It can be formed in a range α of about 270 ° (135 ° on each side of the line T) sandwiching the passing line T. This range α corresponds to the inner surface side of the present invention. However, in order to suppress adsorption to the tissue, this range is preferably 180 ° or less, and more preferably 120 ° or less. It should be noted that all the slits 33 need not be formed within the above-mentioned range α of about 270 °, and at least one of them may be in this range.

&lt;4. Modification example&gt; Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the drain catheter may be formed by molding each portion along the longitudinal direction and then joining them, or may be formed by integral molding.

The configuration of the curved portion 32 is not particularly limited, and at least a part thereof may be curved. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, the whole may be curved in a spiral shape.

In the above embodiment, the first and second flow paths 35a and 35b are terminated in the straight portion 31, but may be configured to communicate with the internal space 30 of the curved portion 32. In this way, for example, when the third flow path 35c is closed, the liquid can be drained from the tip opening 36 via the first and second flow paths 35a and 35b.

Further, in the above embodiment, the straight portion 31 is arranged between the curved portion 32 and the drainage portion 2 in the liquid collecting portion 3, but the position of the straight portion 31 is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a straight portion 31 may be provided on the tip side of the curved portion 32. In this case, the curved portion 32 is directly connected to the drainage portion 2. Then, the straight portion 31 has a plurality of flow paths 35a, 35b, 35c as described above, and the flow path branches into three from the curved portion 32 to the straight portion 31, one of which is the tip opening 34. Extends to. The remaining two flow paths have slits 33 formed on their peripheral surfaces and are terminated at the tip of the straight portion 31.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, two straight portions 31a and 31b may be provided in the liquid collecting portion 3. In this example, straight portions 31a and 31b are provided on the distal end side and the proximal end side of the curved portion 32, respectively. In this way, the number of slits increases, so that more effective liquid absorption becomes possible.

Further, in the above embodiment, the partition walls 34a, 34b, 34c are formed in the straight portion 31 to form a plurality of flow paths 35a, 35b, 35c, but the partition wall for forming the plurality of flow paths is a straight portion. It can be formed not only on the 31 but also on the curved portion 32. In the liquid collecting unit 3, the region where such a partition wall is formed is the branching region of the present invention. In this case, the above-mentioned side holes and slits can also be formed in the curved portion 32 in which the partition wall is formed, and the range in the circumferential direction in which these are formed is as described above. Further, although the liquid collecting portion 3 is formed by connecting the curved portion 32 and the straight portion 31, the liquid collecting portion 3 can be formed only by the curved portion 32.

In the above embodiment, the circular side hole 37 is formed on the inner surface of the curved portion 32, but a slit-shaped side hole can also be provided. However, the side hole is not always necessary and may not be provided.

Further, the number of flow paths formed in the branch region is not particularly limited, and may be 2 or 4 or more by changing the number of partition walls. The number of slits communicating with the respective flow paths 35a and 35b may not be one, and a plurality of slits may be formed for one flow path. Further, the peripheral surface opening formed in the straight portion 31 does not have to be slit-shaped, and for example, a plurality of small holes may be arranged in the axial direction, or may be formed by one opening such as a circular shape or a rectangular shape. You can also. Further, an opening can be formed at a position corresponding to the third flow path 35a on the outer peripheral surface of the drain catheter. That is, at least one opening of slits 33a, 33b or other shapes (circular, rectangular, elliptical, etc.) such as those formed in the first and second flow paths 35a, 35b can be formed.

Further, the shapes of the internal spaces of the liquid collecting portion 3 and the draining portion 2 do not necessarily have to be circular, and may be irregular as shown in FIG. In this example, a plurality of recesses 41 are formed on the inner wall surface of the internal space in a cross-sectional view (three in this example), and these recesses 41 are formed so as to extend in the axial direction. By doing so, it is possible to prevent kinking when the drainage portion is bent because a part of the wall thickness is increased while ensuring the inner diameter cross-sectional area that affects the flow rate.

In the above embodiment, the drainage portion 2 is transparent and the liquid collection portion 3 is colored transparent or white, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the color of each portion may be changed as appropriate. it can.

2 Drainage part 3 Liquid collector 31 straight part 32 Curved part 33a, 33b slit (peripheral opening) 35a 1st flow path (secondary flow path) 35b 2nd flow path (secondary flow path) 35c 3rd flow path (main flow path) 36 Tip opening