Endovascular device

Abstract

Provided is an intravascular device for sensing or stimulating activity of neural tissue and having excellent delivery to blood vessels and high sensitivity of sensing or stimulation. An intravascular device (1) configured inside a blood vessel of a living organism, the first end portion (1a) of which has an electrode for sensing or stimulating activity of neural tissue located outside the blood vessel, the intravascular device (1) having: a wire member (10) having electrical conductivity; at least one electrode member (20) provided at the first end portion (1a) and electrically connected to the wire member (10); and a step difference reducing portion (30, 40) that reduces a step difference resulting from an outer diameter difference between the outer diameter of the electrode member (20) and the outer diameter of the wire member (10), the electrical resistance value between the electrode member (20) and the second end portion (1b) of the wire member (10) on the opposite side from the first end portion (1a) being 100 Ω or less.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an intravascular device for sensing or stimulating activity of neural tissue. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the past, when measuring brain waves of a living organism such as an animal or a human, a transcranial measurement of measuring brain waves is performed by attaching an electrode to the scalp. If this method is used, brain waves can be measured easily, but has the following disadvantages. That is, since only information from the surface of the brain is obtained, only brain waves near the surface of the brain can be measured, and brain waves generated in the deep part of the brain cannot be measured. In addition, since brain waves are attenuated when passing through the skull, it is difficult to perform high-precision measurement.

[0003] As a method for overcoming such disadvantages, a device for sensing or stimulating activity of neural tissue is disclosed in Patent Literature 1.

[0004] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0005] PATENT LITERATURE

[0006] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-121975 SUMMARY

[0007] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0008] However, in the device of Patent Literature 1, since the electrode is provided so as to protrude from the side surface of the core material and the insulator, it is difficult to stably manufacture the electrode in a case where, for example, a very thin outer shape is inserted into a cerebral blood vessel. In addition, the form having a spiral portion has poor transportability in a blood vessel.

[0009] The present application relates to an intravascular device for sensing or stimulating activity of neural tissue.

[0010] SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

[0011] The present application solves the above problems by the following solution. In addition, for ease of understanding, the description is made by labeling the reference numerals corresponding to the embodiments of the present application, but is not limited thereto.

[0012] The first invention relates to an intravascular device (1, 1B, 1C) configured in a blood vessel of a living body, having an electrode for sensing or stimulating an activity of a nerve tissue located outside the blood vessel at a first end portion (la), the intravascular device (1, 1B, 1C, 1D) having: a linear-shaped delivery member (10) having electrical conductivity; at least one electrode member (20, 21, 22) provided at the first end portion (la) and electrically connected to the linear-shaped delivery member (10); and a step difference reducing portion (30, 40, 70) reducing a step difference caused by an outer diameter difference between an outer diameter of the electrode member (20, 21, 22) and an outer diameter of the linear-shaped delivery member (10), an electrical resistance value between the electrode member (20, 21) and a second end portion (lb) of the first end portion (la) of the linear-shaped delivery member (10) being 100 Ω or less.

[0013] The second invention relates to an intravascular device (1, 1C) in which the step difference reducing portion (30, 40) contains at least one of a coil-shaped member (30) provided around the linear-shaped delivery member (10), a stranded wire-shaped member (80) provided around the linear-shaped delivery member (10) or along the linear-shaped delivery member (10), and a tubular member (40) made of resin provided around the linear-shaped delivery member (10) in the intravascular device (1, 1C) of the first invention.

[0014] The third invention relates to an intravascular device (1, 1C) in which at least a part of the coil-shaped member (30) is inserted into the electrode member (20, 21) in the intravascular device (1, 1C) of the second invention.

[0015] The fourth invention relates to an intravascular device (1, 1C) in which at least a part of the tubular member (40) is inserted outside the coil-shaped member (30) in the intravascular device (1, 1C) of the second invention or the third invention.

[0016] The fifth invention relates to an intravascular device (1D) in which the electrode member (22) and the linear-shaped delivery member (10) are separately configured and electrically connected by a conductor (80) in the intravascular device (1D) of the first invention.

[0017] The sixth invention relates to an intravascular device (1D) in which the conductor (80) is a coil or a stranded wire in the intravascular device (1D) of the fifth invention.

[0018] The seventh application relates to an intravascular device (1, 1B) in which the electrode member (20) is in the form of a spiral in which a metal wire is wound, in any one of the intravascular devices (1, 1B) of the first to fourth applications.

[0019] The eighth application relates to an intravascular device (1, 1B, 1C) in which the electrode member (20, 21) and the linear transport member (10) are welded, in any one of the intravascular devices (1, 1B, 1C) of the first to fifth applications.

[0020] The ninth application relates to an intravascular device (1, 1B, 1C, 1D) in which the intravascular device (1, 1B, 1C, 1D) is left in the blood vessel for more than one day, in any one of the intravascular devices (1, 1B, 1C) of the first to sixth applications.

[0021] The tenth application relates to an intravascular device (1, 1B, 1C, 1D) in which the blood vessel in which the intravascular device (1, 1B, 1C, 1D) is disposed is a cerebral vein, in any one of the intravascular devices (1, 1B, 1C) of the first to seventh applications.

[0022] Effects of the Invention

[0023] According to the present application, an intravascular device for sensing or stimulating activity of neural tissue, and which has excellent transportability to blood vessels and high sensitivity of sensing or stimulation, can be provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 is a view showing a first embodiment of an intravascular device 1 of the present application.

[0025] Figure 2 is a view showing a first embodiment of an intravascular device 1 of the present application.

[0026] Figure 3 is a view showing a first embodiment of an intravascular device 1 of the present application. Figure 2 is a view showing a first embodiment of an intravascular device 1 of the present application.

[0027] Figure 4 is a view showing a first embodiment of an intravascular device 1 of the present application. Figure 3 is a view showing a first embodiment of an intravascular device 1 of the present application.

[0028] Figure 5 is a view showing a first embodiment of an intravascular device 1 of the present application. Figure 3 is a view showing a first embodiment of an intravascular device 1 of the present application.

[0029] Figure 6 is a view showing a first embodiment of an intravascular device 1 of the present application. Figure 3The same position cuts a cross-sectional view of the intravascular device 1D of the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the present application will be described with reference to the drawings and the like.

[0031] (First Embodiment)

[0032] Figure 1 is a view showing the first embodiment of the intravascular device 1 of the present application. In addition, each of the following views is a view schematically showing, and each part is shown with its size and shape appropriately exaggerated or omitted for easy understanding. Further, in the following description, specific numerical values, shapes, materials, and the like are shown to explain, but these can be changed as appropriate. Figure 1

[0033] The intravascular device 1 of the present embodiment is used to sense or stimulate neural activity of an animal or a human or the like. The intravascular device 1 has flexibility, is formed in an elongated string shape, a first end portion 1a is disposed in a blood vessel (typically, a cerebral blood vessel) of a living being, and a second end portion 1b is electrically connected to a measurer or an oscillator or the like not shown. The intravascular device 1 is inserted into a cerebral vein through a catheter used in cerebral intravascular surgery performed in the related art. At this time, since the electrode is extremely thin and has flexibility, and is mounted on a wire member, and the outer shape also has no large concave-convex, unlike a stent, it has no expansion force, and has excellent slidability with respect to the catheter, so it has excellent deliverability to the cerebral blood vessel. Further, since contact of the wire member with the blood vessel is suppressed (particularly, the wire member in a string shape in a natural state hardly contacts the blood vessel wall as in the present embodiment), it is difficult to cause adverse phenomena even if it is left for a long time. Therefore, it is possible to safely perform intravascular indwelling for one day or more (specifically, two days or more, five days or more, seven days or more, two weeks or more, or one month or more).

[0034] Figure 2 is a view enlarging the vicinity of the first end portion 1a of the intravascular device 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the intravascular device 1 cut at the position of the arrow A-A in Figure 2 The intravascular device 1 has a wire member 10, an electrode member 20, an inner coil 30, a tubular member 40, a tip end portion 50, and a connection portion 60.

[0035] ​The wire member 10 is a member (linear transport member) provided so as to extend from the first end portion la to the second end portion lb of the intravascular device 1, and has electrical conductivity. The wire member has flexibility, and is configured to be linear (or string-like, or rod-like) as a whole, and is different from the tube body in that it does not have a lumen. As the linear transport member, a straight wire member can be used as in the present embodiment, a stranded wire member can be used, or a member in the form of a coil or a plurality of coils can be used. However, in order to reduce the electrical resistance, it is preferable to be a straight wire. The wire member 10 of the present embodiment uses a straight wire made of an alloy of Ni (nickel) and Ti (titanium). Note that the wire member 10 is not limited to the above-described material, and stainless steel can be used, for example. The large diameter portion 10b of the wire member 10 on the second end portion lb side can be provided to have a diameter of about 0.25 mm, for example. Further, the small diameter portion 10a of the wire member 10 on the first end portion la side is formed to be thinner than the large diameter portion 10b, and can be provided to have a diameter of about 0.05 mm, for example. The difference in the outer diameter between the small diameter portion 10a and the large diameter portion 10b is connected by a conical surface portion 10c in which the outer diameter gradually changes. Note that the inclination of the conical surface portion 10c is exaggerated in the drawing, and the ratio of the change is exaggerated, but the ratio of the change in the outer diameter of the conical surface portion 10c can be smaller than the ratio illustrated. An insulating coating film is formed on the surface of the wire member 10. As the insulating coating film, a PTFE (poly tetra fluoro ethylene) coating can be used, for example. Further, instead of the insulating coating film, a tube or a heat shrink tube made of PTFE, silicon, polyimide, or the like can be used for the coating. Note that the insulating coating film is not provided on the tip end portion of the wire member 10 (the vicinity of the first end portion la). This is in order to perform the welding of the tip end portion 50 described later.

[0036] The electrode member 20 is provided around the wire member 10 on the first end portion la side, and is electrically connected to the wire member 10. The electrode member 20 is composed of an electrically conductive body, which is provided so as to be exposed on the surface in order to detect a weak electric current such as a brain wave generated in the body of a person or an animal, or to conduct an electric current emitted from an oscillator to the body. In the present embodiment, the electrode member 20 is a metal wire of an alloy of Pt (platinum) and W (tungsten) wound in a spiral shape to have a form of a tightly wound coil. By using an alloy containing Pt (platinum) for the electrode member 20, visibility when observed by X-rays can be made good. Since the electrode member 20 has a form of a coil, the electrode member 20 can also have flexibility, can be made to have good deliverability to a blood vessel, and can reduce the risk of damaging the blood vessel. The diameter of the electrode member 20 can be set to, for example, 0.1 mm or more and 0.28 mm or less, and in the present embodiment, is set to 0.25 mm. Further, in order to appropriately detect an electric current or conduct an electric current, the length in the longitudinal direction of the portion of the electrode member 20 exposed to the outside side is preferably 1 mm or more, and more preferably 2 mm or more. In the present embodiment, the length in the longitudinal direction of the electrode member 20 is set to 3 mm. Further, the tip end region 20a (end portion on the first end portion la side) of the electrode member 20 can be configured to have a thinner outer diameter than the other portions of the electrode member 20 (portions closer to the second end portion lb side than the tip end side), so as to make the deliverability good. In the present embodiment, the tip end region 20a of the electrode member 20 is configured to have a thinner outer diameter than the other portions of the electrode member 20.

[0037] The inner coil 30 is a coil-shaped member provided around the wire member 10. The inner coil 30 is configured to have an outer diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the electrode member 20, and is inserted into the electrode member 20 in a range where the electrode member 20 is provided on the tip end side (first end portion la side) of the inner coil 30. That is, in this range, the inner coil 30 is arranged between the wire member 10 and the electrode member 20. The range (length) of the inner coil 30 inserted into the electrode member 20 in the longitudinal direction is only required to be at least a length in which the position of the inner coil 30 is stable. In the present embodiment, the inner coil 30 is inserted into the electrode member 20 in the entire range of the range where the electrode member 20 is provided. Further, in the present embodiment, the length (total length) of the inner coil 30 in the longitudinal direction is set to 40 mm. Further, the rear end side (second end portion lb side) of the inner coil 30 is inserted into the tubular member 40. In the present embodiment, the inner coil 30 is configured to be a spiral shape by winding a wire of an alloy of Pt (platinum) and W (tungsten) similarly to the electrode member 20. By using an alloy containing Pt (platinum) for the inner coil 30, the visibility when observed by X-rays can be made good similarly to the electrode member 20. Further, if the raw material of the inner coil 30 and the member of the electrode member 20 are set to the same material, the weldability can be made good at the welding of the tip end portion 50 described later. In addition, in the present embodiment, similarly to the electrode member 20, the inner coil 30 exemplifies a case where an alloy of Pt (platinum) and W (tungsten) is used, but the inner coil 30 can be formed of other raw materials such as stainless steel. Further, the inner coil 30 is not formed in a tightly wound coil shape, but is configured to be a coil shape with a hollow space. Thus, the inner coil 30 can also have flexibility, can be made to have good deliverability to a blood vessel, and can reduce the risk of damaging a blood vessel.

[0038] The tubular member 40 is a member made of resin provided around the wire member 10, and in a range in which the inner coil 30 is provided, the tubular member 40 is inserted outside the inner coil 30. In the present embodiment, since the inner coil 30 is not subjected to an insulation treatment, the inner coil 30 is insulated by inserting the tubular member 40 outside the inner coil 30. Further, in the present embodiment, the length (total length) of the tubular member 40 in the length direction is set to 200 mm. The tip end side (first end portion la side) of the tubular member 40 is configured to be close to the rear end of the electrode member 20 (end portion of the second end portion lb side). Further, the rear end side (second end portion lb side) of the tubular member 40 is located at the middle of the conical surface portion 10c of the wire member 10. The tubular member 40 is preferably constituted by, for example, a tube made of PTFE, PFA (Poly Tetra Fluoro Etylene), FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene), or the like, a silicon tube, a polyimide tube, or the like, or a heat shrink tube, and in the present embodiment, a heat shrink tube made of fluorine resin is used. The outer diameter of the tubular member 40 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the electrode member 20.

[0039] The inner coil 30 and the tubular member 40 have a function as a step difference reducing portion that reduces a step difference caused by the difference in the outer diameters of the electrode member 20 and the wire member 10. That is, by being provided so as to insert the inner coil 30 outside the wire member 10 and inside the electrode member 20, it is possible to reduce the step difference caused by the difference in the outer diameters of the electrode member 20 and the wire member 10. Further, since the tubular member 40 is inserted outside the inner coil 30, the step difference caused by the difference in the outer diameters of the electrode member 20 and the wire member 10 substantially disappears, and the surface of the electrode member 20 and the surface of the tubular member 40 are substantially flush.

[0040] The tip end portion 50 is provided at the most tip end on the first end portion la side and is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape. The tip end portion 50 is constituted by welding the electrode member 20 and the wire member 10. That is, the tip end portion 50 is constituted by an alloy obtained by melting and mixing the electrode member 20 and the wire member 10. By being provided with the tip end portion 50, the electrode member 20 and the wire member 10 are electrically joined. In the present embodiment, in the tip end portion 50, the inner coil 30 is also welded in addition to the electrode member 20 and the wire member 10, but the inner coil 30 can not be welded in the tip end portion 50.

[0041] In order to properly detect current from or conduct current to tissue outside the blood vessel, the resistance value between the electrode member 20 and the rear end (the end on the second end 1b side) of the wire member 10 is preferably 100Ω or less, more preferably 75Ω or less. In this embodiment, since a straight wire member 10 is used and the electrode member 20 and the wire member 10 are welded to the top end 50, a very low resistance value of 70Ω or less is achieved.

[0042] The connecting part 60 connects the rear end of the electrode member 20 (the end on the second end 1b side) and the end on the first end 1a side of the tubular member 40. The connecting part 60 can be made of adhesives such as UV-curable type, two-component mixed epoxy adhesive, cyanoacrylate instant adhesive, silicone adhesive, etc.

[0043] The endovascular device 1 of the first embodiment described above can be used for various purposes. For example, if the endovascular device 1 of this embodiment is appropriately positioned within cerebral blood vessels near the left and right hemispheres to detect brain waves, it can be used to identify epileptic foci and detect epileptic seizures. Furthermore, for diseases whose etiologies are located deep within the brain (such as epilepsy, depression, involuntary movements caused by Parkinson's disease, and long-term consciousness disorders), if the endovascular device of the present invention is appropriately positioned at the site of the etiology and provides electrical stimulation, it can be used to treat these diseases.

[0044] As explained above, the intravascular device 1 according to the first embodiment can be easily manufactured using a simple structure comprising a wire member 10, an electrode member 20, an inner coil 30, and a tubular member 40. Furthermore, the intravascular device 1 according to the first embodiment provides an intravascular device with excellent delivery to blood vessels and high sensitivity to sensing or stimulation.

[0045] (Second Implementation)

[0046] Figure 4 In contrast to the first embodiment Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the endovascular device 1B of the second embodiment has been cut at the same location. In the endovascular device 1B of the second embodiment, a second tubular member 70 is arranged to replace the inner coil 30; apart from this difference, it adopts the same shape as the endovascular device 1 of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used to mark parts that perform the same functions as in the first embodiment, and repeated descriptions are appropriately omitted.

[0047] The second tubular member 70 is configured to have an outer diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the electrode member 20, and is inserted into the electrode member 20 in a range where the electrode member 20 is provided on the top end side (first end portion la side) of the second tubular member 70. That is, in this range, the second tubular member 70 is arranged between the wire member 10 and the electrode member 20. Further, the rear end side (second end portion lb side) of the second tubular member 70 is inserted into the tubular member 40. The second tubular member 70 is preferably configured by a tube or a heat shrink tube made of, for example, PTFE, PFA (Poly Tetra Fluoro Etylene), FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene), a fluorine-based resin, silicon, polyimide, or the like. In the present embodiment, a tube made of a fluorine-based resin is used. The inner diameter of the second tubular member 70 is at least slightly larger than the outer diameter of the small diameter portion 10a of the wire member 10 in a state before assembly. In a case where a heat shrink tube is used for the second tubular member 70, the inner diameter of the second tubular member 70 after shrinkage is equal to the outer diameter of the small diameter portion 10a of the wire member 10.

[0048] In the above-described second embodiment, the second tubular member 70 is arranged instead of the inner coil 30, and thus the dimensional stability is improved, and the pushability is made better, so that the delivery to a blood vessel is made good, and the blood vessel can be easily entered.

[0049] (Third Embodiment)

[0050] Figure 5 is cut at the same position as the Figure 3 cross-sectional view of the intravascular device 1C of the third embodiment is cut at the same position as the intravascular device 1 of the first embodiment. In the intravascular device 1C of the third embodiment, the electrode member 21 is different in form, and the same form as the intravascular device 1 of the first embodiment is adopted except for this. Therefore, the same reference numerals are attached to portions that exert the same functions as the first embodiment described above, and the repeated explanation is appropriately omitted.

[0051] The electrode member 21 of the third embodiment is provided at the same position as the electrode member 20 of the first embodiment, but is cylindrical in shape, which is different from the electrode member 20 of the first embodiment. The electrode member 21 of the third embodiment can be configured by the same material as the electrode member 20 of the first embodiment.

[0052] The intravascular device 1C of the third embodiment can suppress corrosion that easily occurs in portions where metals contact each other, because the electrode member 21 is cylindrical in shape. Therefore, the intravascular device 1C of the third embodiment can prevent adverse effects such as a decrease in detection ability or signal transmission ability due to corrosion, even in a case where the intravascular device 1C is left in a blood vessel for a long period of time.

[0053] (Fourth Embodiment)

[0054] Figure 6 is cut at the same position as the cross-sectional view of the intravascular device 1D of the fourth embodiment. The intravascular device 1D of the fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it does not have the inner coil 30 in the first embodiment, in addition, the electrode member 22 and the wire member 10 are separately arranged, and has a lead wire 80, and otherwise adopts the same form as the intravascular device 1 of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the parts that function the same as the first embodiment described above, and the repeated explanation is appropriately omitted. Figure 3 The intravascular device 1D of the fourth embodiment has the wire member 10, the electrode member 22, the tubular member 41, and the lead wire 80. The wire member 10 of the fourth embodiment is not in direct contact (welded) with the electrode member 22, but is separately arranged from the electrode member 22, and otherwise is the same as the wire member 10 of the first embodiment.

[0055] The electrode member 22 is separately arranged from the wire member 10. The electrode member 22 is a substantially cylindrical shape with a spherical top end. The electrode member 22 can be composed of the same raw material as the electrode member 20 of the first embodiment, such as an alloy of Pt (platinum) and W (tungsten).

[0056] The tubular member 41 is a resin-made member provided around the wire member 10, and the top end is inserted outside the electrode member 22 to be connected to the electrode member 22. For the connection of the tubular member 41 and the electrode member 22, an adhesive, for example, can be used. The tubular member 41 can be formed of the same material as the tubular member 40 of the first embodiment.

[0057] The lead wire 80 is an electrically conductive body that electrically connects the wire member 10 and the electrode member 22. In the present embodiment, a stranded wire (stranded wire-shaped member) twisted from a plurality of nickel-titanium-made wires is used. In addition, the lead wire 80 is not limited to nickel-titanium, but can be, for example, stainless steel. Furthermore, as the lead wire 80, it is not limited to a stranded wire, but can be a straight wire, and a coil-shaped, rod-shaped, or plate-shaped electrically conductive body can also be used. In addition, in the present embodiment, a mode in which the lead wire 80 is connected at the conical surface portion 10c of the wire member 10 is shown, but it can also be connected in a mode in which it is connected near the top end of the wire member 10 (near the first end portion 1a) to be connected at a physical distance as short as possible, so that the electric resistance is further reduced. In the present embodiment, the lead wire 80 and the tubular member 41 function as a step difference reducing portion.

[0058] Figure 6

[0059] ​​According to the fourth embodiment, since the wire member 10 and the electrode member 22 are not fixed, the tubular member 41 can be flexibly deformed, and the risk of perforation can be reduced.

[0060] (Deformed modes)

[0061] The present application is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made, which are also within the scope of the present application.

[0062] (1) In the first embodiment, an example is shown in which the coil-shaped inner coil 30 wound in a spiral shape at equal intervals is arranged as a part of the structure of the step difference reducing portion. This is not limiting, and for example, a wire-shaped wire can be arranged along or wound on the wire member 10 as a part of the structure of the step difference reducing portion.

[0063] (2) In each of the embodiments, an example is shown in which the electrode member 20 (or the electrode member 21) is arranged at the most end of the first end portion la. This is not limiting, and for example, the electrode member can be provided at a position away from the most end of the first end portion la, i.e., a position closer to the second end portion lb side than the first end portion la. Further, the electrode member is not limited to one, and a plurality of electrode members can be provided.

[0064] (3) In the first embodiment, an example is shown in which the inner coil 30 and the tubular member 40 are provided as the step difference reducing portion. This is not limiting, and for example, the step difference reducing portion can be constituted by a wire-shaped member and a tubular member. As the wire-shaped member, in addition to the form of the wire 80 shown in the fourth embodiment, a wire-shaped member formed into a tube by braiding can also be used. Further, the wire-shaped member can be arranged around the wire member, can be wound on the wire member, or can be arranged along the wire member.

[0065] In addition, each of the embodiments and the deformed modes can be appropriately combined and used, but detailed description is omitted. Further, the present application is not limited to each of the embodiments described above.

[0066] Explanation of reference numerals

[0067] 1, 1B, 1C: intravascular device;

[0068] 1a: first end portion;

[0069] 1b: second end portion;

[0070] 10: wire member (wire-shaped delivery member);

[0071] 10a: small diameter portion;

[0072] 10b: large diameter portion;

[0073] 10c: conical surface portion;

[0074] 20: electrode member;

[0075] 20a: tip end region;

[0076] 21: electrode member;

[0077] 30: inner coil (coil-shaped member, step difference reducing portion);

[0078] 40: tubular member (step difference reducing portion);

[0079] 50: tip end portion;

[0080] 60: connecting portion;

[0081] 70: second tubular member (step difference reducing portion).

Claims

1. An intravascular device configured in a blood vessel of a living organism, having an electrode for sensing or stimulating an activity of a nerve tissue located outside the blood vessel at a first end portion thereof, the intravascular device comprising: a linear-shaped delivery member having an electric conductivity, having a small-diameter portion at the first end portion, and having a large-diameter portion at a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, the large-diameter portion being formed to be thicker than the small-diameter portion; at least one electrode member provided at the first end portion and electrically connected to the linear-shaped delivery member; and a step difference reducing portion that reduces a step difference caused by an outer diameter difference between an outer diameter of the electrode member and an outer diameter of the linear-shaped delivery member, wherein an electrical resistance value between the second end portion of the linear-shaped delivery member opposite to the first end portion and the electrode member is 100 Ω or less.

2. The intravascular device according to claim 1, wherein the step difference reducing portion is any one of: the step difference reducing portion includes a coil-shaped member, a stranded wire-shaped member, and a tubular member, or the step difference reducing portion includes the coil-shaped member or the stranded wire-shaped member, and the tubular member, or the step difference reducing portion includes only the tubular member, wherein the coil-shaped member is provided around the linear-shaped delivery member, the stranded wire-shaped member is provided around the linear-shaped delivery member, or the stranded wire-shaped member is provided along the linear-shaped delivery member, and the tubular member is made of resin and provided around the linear-shaped delivery member.

3. The intravascular device according to claim 2, wherein, in the case where the step difference reducing portion includes the coil-shaped member, at least a portion of the coil-shaped member is inserted into the electrode member.

4. The intravascular device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein, in the case where the step difference reducing portion includes the coil-shaped member and the tubular member, at least a portion of the tubular member is inserted outside the coil-shaped member.

5. The intravascular device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode member and the linear-shaped delivery member are separately configured, and the electrode member and the linear-shaped delivery member are electrically connected by an electrically conductive body.

6. The intravascular device according to claim 5, wherein the electrically conductive body is a coil or a stranded wire.

7. The intravascular device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electrode member is in a form in which a metal wire is wound in a spiral shape.

8. The intravascular device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electrode member and the linear-shaped delivery member are welded.

9. The intravascular device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the intravascular device is left in the blood vessel for one day or more.

10. The intravascular device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a blood vessel in which the intravascular device is configured is a cerebral vein. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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