Electron beam irradiation device and electron beam irradiation method

Abstract

The invention provides an electron beam irradiation device and an electron beam irradiation method, which can keep the distance between the emitting surface of an electron beam irradiation part and an irradiated object constant when an electron beam is irradiated on a coating layer coated on the irradiated object, thereby preventing uneven curing of the coating layer coated on the irradiated object. An electron beam irradiation device (10) is provided with: an electron beam irradiation unit (110) having an emission surface (111) from which an electron beam is emitted; an inert gas supply unit (120) having an injection port for injecting an inert gas; a chamber section (130) that accommodates the ejection surface and the ejection port; a barrier section (140) that is positioned inside the chamber section and faces the emission surface; and a transport mechanism (150) configured so as to be able to dispose a part of the object to be irradiated with respect to a space (130a) located between the emission surface and the barrier section, the injection port being located on the emission surface side within the chamber section and being inclined from the emission surface side toward the barrier section side, the transport mechanism (150) being configured so as to be able to transport the part of the object to be irradiated with respect to the space (130a). In a state in which a part of the object to be irradiated is disposed in a space between the emission surface and the barrier portion, the inert gas is injected through the injection port to a position facing the emission surface in the barrier portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an electron beam irradiation apparatus and an electron beam irradiation method. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the field of medical products, sometimes in order to enable medical long member such as catheter and guide wire to move smoothly in the body of a patient, a coating liquid (for example, a coating liquid containing a hydrophilic polymer forming a lubricating coating layer) is applied to the surface of the medical long member, and a coating layer is formed on the surface of the medical long member.

[0003] In the manufacturing method of the medical long member, after the medical long member is applied with the coating liquid and the coating layer (coating layer based on the coating liquid or coating layer obtained by drying the coating liquid) is formed on the surface of the medical long member, the operation of curing the coating layer is performed. There are various methods in the method of curing the coating layer, but for the reasons of seeking the simplification of the device of irradiation energy and the reduction of manufacturing cost, etc., the method using ultraviolet is mostly adopted.

[0004] For example, in the following Patent Literature 1, an ultraviolet curing system which irradiates ultraviolet to the medical long member applied with the coating layer is disclosed. The ultraviolet curing system of Patent Literature 1 is provided with a plurality of ultraviolet lamps extending in the length direction and a frame body holding the plurality of ultraviolet lamps. PRIOR ART DOCUMENT PATENT LITERATURE

[0005] Patent Literature 1: U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 0319012 Specification SUMMARY

[0006] In the curing method of the coating layer using the ultraviolet curing system of Patent Literature 1, in the state that a plurality of medical long members applied with the coating layer are arranged at equal intervals in the inside of the frame body, ultraviolet is irradiated to each medical long member from the plurality of ultraviolet lamps, thereby, ultraviolet is equally irradiated to each part of the plurality of medical long members.

[0007] However, in the case of adopting the curing method of the coating layer based on ultraviolet, the following aspects become a problem.

[0008] Compared with electron rays, ultraviolet rays are more likely to be absorbed by an object to be irradiated and converted into heat. Therefore, in a coating curing method using ultraviolet rays, the ultraviolet rays are absorbed by the object to be irradiated, and sometimes cause a heating effect. Therefore, depending on the kind of material constituting the medical long member, there is a possibility that the material constituting the medical long member is damaged, such as deformation, due to heat generated during ultraviolet irradiation, resulting in a decrease in product quality. In addition, in a coating curing method using ultraviolet rays, although it also depends on the material forming the coating and the like, several seconds to several minutes are generally required until the coating is cured. Therefore, in the case of using a coating curing method using ultraviolet rays, it is difficult to improve the production efficiency of the medical long member.

[0009] As a solution to the above problem, a coating curing method using electron rays, which can reduce the heating effect caused by energy applied to the medical long member and shorten the time required for curing the coating, is conceivable. However, in the case of using a coating curing method using electron rays, the following problems arise.

[0010] In the case of using electron rays for curing the coating, it is necessary to irradiate the coating of the medical long member with electron rays while the medical long member on which the coating is applied is exposed to an inactive gas. Therefore, in a device for curing the coating, it is necessary to incorporate a chamber capable of being filled with an inactive gas, and a conveying mechanism for moving the medical long member to a position where electron rays are irradiated. In addition, in a coating curing method using electron rays, due to the characteristics of the curing reaction, it is necessary to keep the distance between the electron ray irradiation source and the medical long member constant to some extent compared with the case of using ultraviolet irradiation, so that curing unevenness does not occur in the coating. Therefore, in the case of using electron rays for curing the coating, it is necessary to carefully maintain the positional relationship between the electron ray irradiation source and the medical long member during the curing operation, so that the distance therebetween does not shift.

[0011] In particular, in a case where an electron beam is irradiated to an object having a length such as a medical long member, the distance between the holding position of the medical long member and the electron beam irradiation position becomes long. In addition, in a case where the object to be cured by the electron beam is a coating layer applied to the surface of the medical long member, the portion of the medical long member where the coating layer is present cannot be held, and thus it is difficult to hold both ends of the medical long member and fix the medical long member to the electron beam irradiation device. Therefore, in a case where the object to be cured by the electron beam is a coating layer applied to the surface of the medical long member, when the medical long member is moved to a position where the electron beam is irradiated (for example, when the medical long member is moved into a chamber filled with a non-active gas), unexpected deformation or misalignment of the medical long member, which can be a main cause of displacement of the distance between the electron beam irradiation source and the medical long member, is likely to occur. Therefore, there is a concern that curing unevenness occurs in the coating layer applied to the medical long member. As described above, in a case where the irradiation of the electron beam is used for curing the coating layer applied to the surface of the medical long member, it is estimated that curing unevenness is likely to occur in the coating layer, but even if the object to be irradiated by the electron beam is a member other than the medical long member, it is similarly required to take measures to keep the distance between the electron beam irradiation source and the object to be irradiated constant.

[0012] The present application has been achieved in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an electron beam irradiation device and an electron beam irradiation method, in which the distance between the emission surface of an electron beam irradiation section and an object to be irradiated can be kept constant when the electron beam is irradiated to a coating layer applied to the object to be irradiated, and thus curing unevenness can be prevented from occurring in the coating layer applied to the object to be irradiated.

[0013] The present application can be implemented by any one of the following (1) to (8).

[0014] (1) An electron beam irradiation device including: an electron beam irradiation section having an emission surface that emits an electron beam; a non-active gas supply section having a spouting port that spouts a non-active gas; a chamber section that accommodates the emission surface and the spouting port; a barrier section that is located inside the chamber section and faces the emission surface; and a conveyance mechanism configured to be able to arrange a portion of an object to be irradiated with respect to a space located between the emission surface and the barrier section, the spouting port is located on the emission surface side inside the chamber section and is inclined from the emission surface side toward the barrier section side, and the non-active gas supply section is configured to spout the non-active gas to a position in the barrier section that faces the emission surface via the spouting port in a state where the portion of the object to be irradiated is arranged to the space located between the emission surface and the barrier section.

[0015] (2) The electron beam irradiation apparatus according to (1) above, wherein the transport mechanism is located outside the chamber portion, the chamber portion has a hole portion through which a portion of the irradiated object transported by the transport mechanism is introduced into the chamber, and the transport mechanism is configured to position the portion of the irradiated object in the space between the emission surface and the barrier portion through the hole portion of the chamber portion.

[0016] (3) The electron beam irradiation apparatus according to (1) or (2) above, wherein the transport mechanism has a rail portion extending toward the chamber portion and a holding portion configured to be movable along the rail portion and to fix a portion of the irradiated object, and the transport mechanism is configured to move the holding portion along the rail portion in a state in which the irradiated object is suspended in a gravitational direction by the holding portion.

[0017] (4) The electron beam irradiation apparatus according to (3) above, wherein the irradiated object is a medical long member having a long member-shaped main portion extending in a length direction and a hub portion provided at one end portion of the main portion, the main portion has a first region coated with a lubricating coating layer that is an object of irradiation of an electron beam and a second region provided at the one end portion side compared with the first region and not coated with the lubricating coating layer, and the transport mechanism is configured to position the first region in the space between the emission surface and the barrier portion by moving the holding portion in a state in which only the hub portion is fixed by the holding portion.

[0018] (5) The electron beam irradiation apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4) above, wherein the transport mechanism has a rotation action portion that is capable of driving a rotation action of the holding portion in a state in which the irradiated object is fixed by the holding portion.

[0019] (6) The electron beam irradiation apparatus according to any one of (1) to (5) above, wherein the barrier portion has a recessed portion recessed toward a side away from the emission surface and the jet port.

[0020] (7) An electron beam irradiation method in which, in an electron beam irradiation apparatus that irradiates an electron beam to an irradiated object, the electron beam irradiation apparatus is provided with: an electron beam irradiation section having an emission surface that emits an electron beam; a non-active gas supply section having a spouting port that spouts a non-active gas; a barrier section that opposes the emission surface; and a conveyance mechanism configured to be able to arrange a portion of the irradiated object with respect to a space between the emission surface and the barrier section, in the electron beam irradiation method, in a state in which the portion of the irradiated object is arranged to the space between the emission surface and the barrier section, a non-active gas is spouted from the spouting port on the emission surface side to the irradiated object, and in a state in which the irradiated object is in contact with the barrier section by the non-active gas, an electron beam is irradiated to the irradiated object from the emission surface.

[0021] (8) In the electron beam irradiation method described in the above (7), the conveyance mechanism is provided with a rail section and a holding section configured to be able to move along the rail section and to be able to fix a portion of the irradiated object, the irradiated object being a medical long member provided with a long member-shaped main section that extends in a length direction and a hub section arranged to one end section of the main section, the main section having: a first region coated with a lubricating coating layer that becomes an irradiation target of an electron beam; and a second region arranged to a proximal end side of the first region and not coated with the lubricating coating layer, the conveyance mechanism irradiating an electron beam to the first region while spouting a non-active gas toward the irradiated object in a state in which the hub section is fixed by the holding section and the first region is arranged to the space between the emission surface and the barrier section by moving the holding section. Effects of Invention

[0022] In the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the above (1), the injection port of the non-active gas supply portion that supplies the non-active gas is located on the side of the emission surface of the electron beam irradiation portion that emits the electron beam in the chamber portion, and is inclined toward the barrier portion side from the side of the emission surface of the electron beam irradiation portion. The non-active gas supply portion injects the non-active gas from the injection port to a position in the barrier portion that opposes the emission surface of the electron beam irradiation portion in a state in which a part of the irradiated object is disposed in a space in the chamber portion between the emission surface of the electron beam irradiation portion and the barrier portion. The part of the irradiated object to which the non-active gas is injected contacts the barrier portion. The electron beam irradiation apparatus can maintain the distance between the emission surface of the electron beam irradiation portion and the irradiated object constant by contacting the part of the irradiated object with the barrier portion using the non-active gas. The electron beam irradiation apparatus can prevent the occurrence of curing unevenness in a coating layer applied to the irradiated object by emitting the electron beam from the emission surface of the electron beam irradiation portion to the irradiated object in a state in which the distance between the emission surface of the electron beam irradiation portion and the irradiated object is maintained constant.

[0023] The electron beam irradiation method of the above (7) injects the non-active gas from the injection port of the non-active gas supply portion located on the side of the emission surface of the electron beam irradiation portion to the irradiated object in a state in which a part of the irradiated object is disposed in a space between the emission surface of the electron beam irradiation portion and the barrier portion, whereby the irradiated object can be brought into contact with the barrier portion. In the electron beam irradiation method, the distance between the emission surface of the electron beam irradiation portion and the irradiated object can be maintained constant by bringing the irradiated object into contact with the barrier portion. In the electron beam irradiation method, the occurrence of curing unevenness in a coating layer applied to the irradiated object can be prevented by emitting the electron beam from the emission surface of the electron beam irradiation portion to the irradiated object in a state in which the distance between the emission surface of the electron beam irradiation portion and the irradiated object is maintained constant. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 is a plan view showing an electron beam irradiation apparatus of a first embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 is a side view showing the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the first embodiment of the present application, and is a view as seen in the direction of arrow 2A of Figure 1 . Figure 3 is a view showing a workpiece guide provided in the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the first embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view corresponding to arrow 3A-3A of Figure 1 . Figure 4 is a view for explaining the operation of the workpiece guide provided in the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the first embodiment. Figure 5is a view for explaining an irradiation method of an electron beam using the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the first embodiment, and is a view showing a state before the electron beam is emitted from the electron beam irradiation section and a state before the non-reactive gas is sprayed from the non-reactive gas supply section. Figure 6 is a view for explaining an irradiation method of an electron beam using the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the first embodiment, and is a view showing a state after the electron beam is emitted from the electron beam irradiation section and a state after the non-reactive gas is sprayed from the non-reactive gas supply section. Figure 7 is a view for explaining an irradiation method of an electron beam using the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the first embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the barrier section. Figure 8 is a view for explaining an irradiation method of an electron beam using the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the first embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the barrier section. Figure 9 is a view for explaining an irradiation method of an electron beam using the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the first embodiment, and is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the recess of the barrier section. Figure 10 is a view for explaining an irradiation method of an electron beam using the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the first embodiment, and is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the recess of the barrier section. Figure 11 is a view for explaining an irradiation method of an electron beam using the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the first embodiment, and is a view showing a state before the electron beam is emitted from the electron beam irradiation section and a state before the non-reactive gas is sprayed from the non-reactive gas supply section. Figure 12 is a view for explaining an irradiation method of an electron beam using the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the first embodiment, and is a view showing a state before the electron beam is emitted from the electron beam irradiation section and a state before the non-reactive gas is sprayed from the non-reactive gas supply section. Figure 13 is a view for explaining an irradiation method of an electron beam using the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the first embodiment, and is a view showing a state before the electron beam is emitted from the electron beam irradiation section and a state before the non-reactive gas is sprayed from the non-reactive gas supply section. Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the barrier section of the modification 1. Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the barrier section of the modification 2. Figure 16 is a plan view of the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the second embodiment of the present application. Figure 17 is a side view of the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the second embodiment of the present application, and is a view as seen from the arrow 17A direction of Figure 16 . Figure 18 is a view for explaining an irradiation method of an electron beam using the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The following describes embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description does not limit the technical scope and the meaning of the terms described in the technical solution. In addition, the size ratios of the drawings are exaggerated for ease of explanation.

[0026] <Embodiment 1> Figure 1 、 Figure 2 is a diagram that schematically shows the overall structure of the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 of the present embodiment. Furthermore, Figure 1 、 Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view that shows the chamber portion 130 in cross section so that the inside of the chamber portion 130 can be seen. Figure 3 、 Figure 4 is a diagram that shows a workpiece guide 160 provided in the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10. Figures 5-10 is a diagram for explaining an irradiation method using an electron beam of the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10. Figures 11-13 is a diagram for explaining a problem that occurs in a comparative example.

[0027] (Electron beam irradiation apparatus 10) If the overview is described with reference to Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 6 、 Figure 8 , the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 has: an electron beam irradiation portion 110 having an emission surface 111 that emits an electron beam; a non-active gas supply portion 120 having a spouting port 121 that spouts a non-active gas; a chamber portion 130 that accommodates the emission surface 111 and the spouting port 121; a barrier portion 140 that is located inside the chamber portion 130 and opposes the emission surface 111; and a conveyance mechanism 150 that is configured to be able to arrange a part of an irradiated object 300 with respect to a space 130a located between the emission surface 111 and the barrier portion 140.

[0028] In the description of the present specification, the direction in which the conveyance mechanism 150 conveys the irradiated object 300 toward the chamber portion 130 side is set as a "first conveyance direction dl", and the direction in which the conveyance mechanism 150 conveys the irradiated object 300 toward the side away from the chamber portion 130 is set as a "second conveyance direction d2". In addition, in each drawing, the length direction of the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 (the direction in which the rail portion 151 described later extends) is shown by arrows X1-X2, the width direction of the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 orthogonal to the length direction in plan view is shown by arrows Y1-Y2, and the height direction of the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 orthogonal to each of the length direction and the width direction is shown by arrows Z1-Z2. In the following description, each direction of the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 is also simply referred to as the "length direction", the "width direction", and the "height direction".

[0029] In the present embodiment, as the irradiated object 300, a medical long member 300A provided with an elongated main body portion 310 extending in the longitudinal direction is exemplified. In addition, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 is configured to simultaneously irradiate 15 medical long members 300A arranged at a prescribed interval in the width direction with electron beams. However, the specific kind and shape of the irradiated object 300, the number of medical long members 300A that can be placed in the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10, and the like are not particularly limited.

[0030] In the present embodiment, the 15 medical long members 300A each have the same structure. Therefore, one medical long member 300A is described, and the description of the other medical long members is omitted. Similarly, with respect to the same structures that are provided in the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 in correspondence with the 15 medical long members 300A, one of the structures is described, and the description of the other structures is appropriately omitted.

[0031] (Cavity portion 130) As shown in FIG. 1, the cavity portion 130 is provided with an internal space 130A in which the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the non-active gas supply portion 120 are accommodated. Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1, the cavity portion 130 is provided with an internal space 130A in which the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the non-active gas supply portion 120 are accommodated.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the cavity portion 130 is provided with an internal space 130A in which the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the non-active gas supply portion 120 are accommodated. Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1, the cavity portion 130 is provided with an internal space 130A in which the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the non-active gas supply portion 120 are accommodated.

[0033] The hole portion 135 is provided in a portion of the wall portion on the second conveyance direction d2 side in the cavity portion 130. In the present embodiment, the cavity portion 130 has 15 hole portions 135 corresponding to the number of irradiated objects 300.

[0034] The hole portion 135 can be configured to have a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the medical long member 300A. In the present embodiment, the medical long member 300A is provided with a substantially circular cross-sectional shape (see FIG. 2). Figure 9 , Figure 10 Therefore, the hole portion 135 is configured to have a circular shape through which the medical long member 300A can be inserted. However, the shape of the hole portion 135 is not particularly limited as long as the irradiated object 300 can be inserted therethrough.

[0035] An unillustrated opening and closing mechanism (gate portion) for opening and closing the hole portion 135 can be provided in the chamber portion 130. When the gas in the chamber portion 130 is replaced with the non-active gas, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 causes the opening and closing mechanism to operate to close the hole portion 135. In addition, when the medical long member 300A is moved into the chamber portion 130, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 causes the opening and closing mechanism to operate to open the hole portion 135.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, the chamber portion 130 is provided with a hole portion 135 in the height direction. The hole portion 135 is provided in the chamber portion 130 so as to be capable of allowing the medical long member 300A to pass therethrough. The hole portion 135 is provided in the chamber portion 130 so as to be capable of allowing the electron beam to pass therethrough. The hole portion 135 is provided in the chamber portion 130 so as to be capable of allowing the non-active gas to pass therethrough. Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1, the chamber portion 130 is provided with a hole portion 135 in the height direction. The hole portion 135 is provided in the chamber portion 130 so as to be capable of allowing the medical long member 300A to pass therethrough. The hole portion 135 is provided in the chamber portion 130 so as to be capable of allowing the electron beam to pass therethrough. The hole portion 135 is provided in the chamber portion 130 so as to be capable of allowing the non-active gas to pass therethrough.

[0037] The chamber portion 130 is provided with a prescribed length in the length direction. The length of the chamber portion 130 in the length direction (the length of the internal space 130A in the length direction) is arbitrarily set according to the length of the irradiation target portion of the electron beam in the medical long member 300. For example, in the case where the irradiation target portion of the electron beam is the first region 311 of the main body portion 310 of the medical long member 300A as in the present embodiment, the length of the chamber portion 130 in the length direction can be constituted so as to be capable of accommodating the entire range of the first region 311 in the length direction.

[0038] (Carrier mechanism 150) As shown in FIG. 1, the carrier mechanism 150 is located outside the chamber portion 130. Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1, the carrier mechanism 150 is located outside the chamber portion 130.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, the carrier mechanism 150 is located outside the chamber portion 130. Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1, the carrier mechanism 150 is located outside the chamber portion 130.

[0040] The space 130a between the irradiation surface 111 and the barrier portion 140 is constituted by a portion of the internal space 130A of the chamber portion 130. Specifically, in the internal space 130A, the region between the irradiation surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the barrier portion 140 corresponds to the space 130a.

[0041] As shown in Figure 1 , Figure 2 , the conveyance mechanism 150 includes a rail section 151 extending toward the chamber section 130, and a holding section 153 configured to be movable along the rail section 151 and to fix a portion of the medical long member 300A.

[0042] The rail section 151 extends in a substantially straight line along the length direction of the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10. In the present embodiment, the direction in which the rail section 151 extends is substantially the same as the length direction of the medical long member 300A.

[0043] The holding section 153 is configured to fix the hub section 320 provided at one end portion of the medical long member 300A. The "one end portion of the medical long member 300A" is a portion corresponding to the proximal end portion of the medical long member 300A, and is an end portion on the side to be held and operated by a medical practitioner such as a doctor by fingers or the like in a surgery using the medical long member 300A.

[0044] The holding section 153 can be configured to be connectable to and separable from the rail section 151. In the case where the holding section 153 is configured to be connectable to and separable from the rail section 151, at a preparation stage for starting irradiation of an electron beam from the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 to the medical long member 300A, an operator can fix the medical long member 300A to the holding section 153 in a state where the holding section 153 is separated from the rail section 151. In addition, the operator can connect the holding section 153 to the rail section 151 in a state where the medical long member 300A is fixed to the holding section 153. Further, the holding section 153 can have a structure that is not connectable to and separable from the rail section 151.

[0045] The holding section 153 can be connected to the rail section 151 via a slide section 154. The rail section 151 is configured to be linearly movable along the slide section 154. When the slide section 154 is moved along the rail section 151, the holding section 153 is moved along the rail section 151 in conjunction with the movement of the slide section 154.

[0046] The holding section 153 can be configured to have a chuck section that fixes the hub section 320 in a mechanically detachable manner by fitting the hub section 320 to the holding section 153. However, the holding section 153 is not particularly limited in terms of the specific structure as long as it can fix and release the medical long member 300A at least in part. In addition, the portion of the medical long member 300A to be fixed to the holding section 153 can be a portion other than the hub section 320.

[0047] As shown in Figure 1 , Figure 2As shown, the transport mechanism 150 has a rotating action part 155 that can drive the rotating action of the holding part 153 when the medical strip member 300A is fixed to the holding part 153.

[0048] The rotating actuation unit 155 and the holding unit 153 are integrally formed. With the hub 320 fixed by the holding unit 153, if the rotating actuation unit 155 is driven to rotate, the hub 320 maintains its fixed state via the holding unit 153 while rotating in conjunction with the movement of the rotating actuation unit 155. The rotating actuation unit 155 enables the medical elongated component 300A to rotate around the central axis 310c of the main body 310 of the medical elongated component 300A (see reference). Figure 9 , Figure 10 ).

[0049] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, the electron beam irradiation device 10 has a workpiece guide 160 disposed at a predetermined position on the track section 151. Figure 3 It is along Figure 1 The cross-sectional view shown by arrow 3A-3A.

[0050] The workpiece guide 160 has the function of guiding the movement of the medical strip component 300A on the outside of the cavity portion 130.

[0051] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, the workpiece guide 160 has a first guide portion 161 and a second guide portion 162 configured to be able to approach and move away from each other.

[0052] like Figure 3 As shown, with the first guide portion 161 and the second guide portion 162 arranged at a predetermined distance, a support hole 163 is formed between the first guide portion 161 and the second guide portion 162 to support the medical strip component 300A when it is inserted. When the transport mechanism 150 transports the medical strip component 300A, the electron beam irradiation device 10 supports a portion of the medical strip component 300A at the support hole 163, thereby enabling the medical strip component 300A to move smoothly along the transport directions d1 and d2.

[0053] The size of the support hole 163 formed between the first guide portion 161 and the second guide portion 162 can be adjusted by changing the distance between the first guide portion 161 and the second guide portion 162. For example, as Figure 4As shown, by reducing the distance between the first guide portion 161 and the second guide portion 162, the size of the support hole 163 can be reduced. Therefore, by adjusting the size of the support hole 163 according to the size and cross-sectional shape of the irradiated object 300 (medical strip component 300A) that is being transported by the transport mechanism 150, the movement of various irradiated objects 300 can be guided by the workpiece guide 160. Furthermore, each guide portion 161, 162 can be mounted on the track portion 151, for example, via a support portion 165, which has a sliding groove that can slidably hold each guide portion 161, 162.

[0054] The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 of this embodiment, as described above, has a structure capable of simultaneously irradiating up to 15 medical strip components 300A with electron beams. Therefore, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 is provided with 15 holding parts 153, rotating parts 155, and workpiece guides 160.

[0055] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the transport mechanism 150 is configured such that the handle 153 moves along the track 151 while the medical strip component 300A is suspended in the direction of gravity by the handle 153.

[0056] When transporting the medical strip component 300A, the transport mechanism 150, with the hub 320 fixed to the handle 153, is suspended in a state where the other end (equivalent to the "front end (end end)" of the medical strip component 300A) located opposite to the end where the hub 320 is located is positioned downwards in the direction of gravity (in a state of natural extension without applying external force to the main body 310 of the medical strip component 300A). The transport mechanism 150 is able to maintain the suspension of the medical strip component 300A as described above while moving the medical strip component 300A linearly along the first transport direction d1 and the second transport direction d2.

[0057] like Figure 5 , Figure 7 As shown, the transport mechanism 150 is configured to transport the medical strip component 300A with a gap g formed between the barrier portion 140 and the medical strip component 300A when no inactive gas is ejected from the nozzle 121 of the inactive gas supply portion 120.

[0058] In the irradiation of the electron rays using the electron ray irradiation device 10, at a stage before the start of the irradiation of the electron rays to the first region 311 of the main body portion 310 of the medical long member 300A, a state in which the non-active gas is not sprayed from the non-active gas supply portion 120 to the medical long member 300A in the chamber portion 130. In this state, the medical long member 300A becomes a state in which it is not in contact with the barrier portion 140. Therefore, before the non-active gas is sprayed from the non-active gas supply portion 120 to the medical long member 300A, the conveyance mechanism 150 can move the medical long member 300A in a state in which the prescribed gap g is provided between the barrier portion 140 and the medical long member 300A.

[0059] (electron ray irradiation portion 110) As shown in Figure 5 , Figure 6 , the electron ray irradiation portion 110 has an emission surface 111 which is disposed in a manner facing the direction in which the electron rays are emitted.

[0060] The electron ray irradiation portion 110 is disposed in the same side as the disposition side of the non-active gas supply portion 120 in the internal space 130A of the chamber portion 130. That is, the electron ray irradiation portion 110 and the non-active gas supply portion 120 are disposed in the side opposite to the barrier portion 140 in the height direction (arrow Z1-Z2 direction) of the chamber portion 130.

[0061] Between the barrier portion 140 and the emission surface 111 of the electron ray irradiation portion 110, there is a space 130a which is located on the extension line of the spraying direction of the non-active gas sprayed from the non-active gas supply portion 120.

[0062] The emission surface 111 is disposed so as to irradiate the electron rays in the chamber portion 130 in a direction which is substantially perpendicular with respect to the barrier portion 140 which is disposed in a manner facing the electron ray irradiation portion 110.

[0063] The energy of the electron rays emitted from the emission surface 111 of the electron ray irradiation portion 110 can be arbitrarily set according to the material of the object to be cured by the electron rays, etc. In the case where the lubricating coating layer 311a applied to the medical long member 300A as in the present embodiment becomes the object to be cured, the energy of the electron rays can be set to, for example, 10 keV to 500 keV.

[0064] (non-active gas supply portion 120) As shown in Figure 5 , Figure 6 , the non-active gas supply portion 120 has a spraying port 121 and a nozzle body 123. The spraying port 121 is disposed at one end portion of the nozzle body 123.

[0065] The injection port 121 of the non-active gas supply part 120 is located inside the chamber part 130 on the side of the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation part 110, and is inclined from the side of the emission surface 111 toward the side of the barrier part 140. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the non-active gas injected from the injection port 121 is injected toward the side of the barrier part 140 obliquely to the front side in the inclined direction of the injection port 121. Figure 6

[0066] As shown in FIG. 7, the non-active gas supply part 120 injects the non-active gas from the injection port 121 in a state where a part of the medical long member 300A (a part of the first region 311) is arranged to the space 130a between the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation part 110 and the barrier part 140. The non-active gas injected from the injection port 121 is injected toward a position in the barrier part 140 opposite to the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation part 110. Figure 6

[0067] The non-active gas injected from the injection port 121 of the non-active gas supply part 120 toward the space 130a moves a part of the medical long member 300A arranged to the space 130a toward the barrier part 140. The non-active gas supply part 120 arranges a part of the medical long member 300A to a position opposite to the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation part 110 with the space 130a interposed and in contact with the barrier part 140 by the non-active gas injected from the injection port 121.

[0068] The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can press each part of the medical long member 300A sequentially moved toward the space 130a by the carrying mechanism 150 to the barrier part 140 during continuous injection of the gas from the injection port 121 of the non-active gas supply part 120. The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can maintain the distance (the straight line distance LA shown in FIG. 8) between the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation part 110 and a part of the medical long member 300A by pressing the part of the medical long member 300A to the barrier part 140 by the non-active gas injected from the injection port 121 of the non-active gas supply part 120. Figure 6

[0069] ​​​The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 is capable of moving the medical long member 300A along the first conveying direction dl while emitting the electron beam from the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation section 110, in a state where the distance between the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation section 110 and the portion of the medical long member 300A is kept constant. Therefore, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 is capable of continuously emitting the electron beam to each portion in the length direction of the medical long member 300A in a state where the distance between the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation section 110 and each portion in the length direction of the medical long member 300A is kept constant. Thus, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 is capable of preventing the occurrence of curing unevenness in each portion in the length direction of the first region 311 of the medical long member 300A.

[0070] As the non-active gas used in the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10, for example, helium gas, neon gas, argon gas, xenon gas, nitrogen gas, or the like can be used.

[0071] The blow pressure X MPa of the non-active gas emitted from the emission port 121 of the non-active gas supply section 120 can be set, for example, in the range of 0.01 MPa < X MPa < 1 MPa.

[0072] In addition, in a case where the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 is configured to have at least one non-active gas supply section 120, the emission angle θ1 of the non-active gas emitted from one emission port 121 (see FIG. 2) can be set, for example, in the range of 10° < θ1 < 90° (preferably, 30° < θ1 < 90°). Figure 6

[0073] In addition, the distance from the emission port 121 of the non-active gas supply section 120 to the bottom 144 of the barrier section 140 (the straight line distance between the emission port 121 and the bottom 144 of the barrier section 140 along the emission angle θ1) can be set, for example, in the range of 0 mm < L mm < 500 mm.

[0074] Further, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can have a plurality of non-active gas supply sections. For example, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can press another portion of the medical long member 300A to the barrier section 140 side by the non-active gas emitted from the emission port of another non-active gas supply section, in addition to the portion of the medical long member 300A pressed to the barrier section 140 by the non-active gas emitted from the emission port 121 of the non-active gas supply section 120, thereby further reducing the misalignment or the like of the medical long member. In a case where the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 has a plurality of non-active gas supply sections, the other non-active gas supply sections than the non-active gas supply section 120 can be arranged, for example, in the range of 0 mm < D mm < 500 mm from the emission port 121 of the non-active gas supply section 120 along the first conveying direction dl. Figure 5 ​The inactive gas supply unit is positioned between the inactive gas supply unit 120 and the electron beam irradiation unit 110, or positioned on the opposite side of the electron beam irradiation unit 110 from the electron beam irradiation unit 110 via the emission surface 111. When other inactive gas supply units besides the inactive gas supply unit 120 are positioned as described above, the injection angle of the inactive gas injected from the injection port of the other inactive gas supply units can be set, for example, within the range of 10° < θ ≤ 170°.

[0075] (Barrier section 140) like Figure 7 , Figure 8 As shown, the barrier portion 140 has a plurality of wall portions 141 and a plurality of recesses 143 divided between a group of wall portions 141.

[0076] also, Figure 7 It shows in Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of the barrier portion 140, indicated by the middle arrow 7A, where the inactive gas was not sprayed. Figure 8 It shows in Figure 6 Cross-sectional view of the barrier portion 140, indicated by the middle arrow 8A, where the inactive gas was sprayed.

[0077] Each wall portion 141 has a shape that protrudes substantially vertically within the chamber portion 130 toward the side where the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the inactive gas supply portion 120 are disposed. The recess 143 has a cross-sectional shape that is recessed toward the side away from the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the nozzle 121 of the inactive gas supply portion 120 (in this embodiment, the side of arrow Z1).

[0078] In the barrier section 140, at the position furthest from the ejection surface 111 and the nozzle 121, a bottom 144 with a generally straight cross-sectional shape is provided. For example... Figure 6 , Figure 8 As shown, when an inactive gas is sprayed onto the medical strip component 300A, at least a portion of the first region 311 of the medical strip component 300A is in contact with the bottom 144.

[0079] like Figure 7 As shown, when no inactive gas is being injected from the nozzle 121 of the inactive gas supply section 120 (or in areas where inactive gas is not being injected), the first region 311 of the main body 310 of the medical strip member 300A will not be pressed against the barrier section 140 by the inactive gas. Therefore, the first region 311 of the main body 310 of the medical strip member 300A is disposed with a gap g between it and the bottom 144.

[0080] like Figure 8As shown, if the non-active gas is ejected from the ejection port 121 of the non-active gas supply portion 120, the first region 311 of the main body portion 310 of the medical long member 300A is pressed by the non-active gas to the barrier portion 140. Thus, the first region 311 of the main body portion 310 of the medical long member 300A becomes in contact with the bottom portion 144. As described above, in the electron beam irradiation method of the present embodiment, in the state where the first region 311 of the main body portion 310 of the medical long member 300A is in contact with the barrier portion 140 (the bottom portion 144 of the barrier portion 140), the electron beam is emitted from the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 toward the space 130a (refer to Figure 6 ).

[0081] (Medical long member 300A) As shown in Figure 1 , Figure 2 , the medical long member 300A includes a long body portion 310 extending in the longitudinal direction and a hub portion 320 provided at one end portion of the body portion 310.

[0082] As shown in Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 9 , Figure 10 , the body portion 310 of the medical long member 300A can be configured to include a first region 311 coated with a lubricating coating layer 311a that becomes an electron beam irradiation target, and a second region 312 provided at the one end portion side (proximal end side) of the first region 311 and not coated with the lubricating coating layer 311a.

[0083] The region of the medical long member 300A that becomes an electron beam irradiation target is the first region 311 coated with the lubricating coating layer 311a. Therefore, when performing the operation of irradiating the electron beam, the conveyance mechanism 150 moves the medical long member 300A along each of the conveyance directions dl, d2 at least within the range of the space 130a in the chamber portion 130 where the first region 311 is disposed.

[0084] The conveyance mechanism 150 is configured to move the holding portion 153 in a state where only the hub portion 320 of the medical long member 300A is fixed by the holding portion 153, thereby disposing the first region 311 of the medical long member 300A in the space 130a in the chamber portion 130. Therefore, during the curing of the lubricating coating layer 311a based on the irradiation of the electron beam, only the hub portion 320 of the medical long member 300A is directly imparted with the holding force (external force) by being held by the conveyance mechanism 150 in the medical long member 300A.

[0085] The body portion 310 of the medical long member 300A can be formed, for example, of a tube having a lumen 315 (refer to Figure 9 ,Figure 10 In the case where the main body portion 310 of the medical long member 300A is composed of a tubular member made of resin, as a material constituting the main body portion 310, for example, a polyamide resin, a polyethylene resin or a polypropylene resin, a polyolefin resin, a modified polyolefin resin, a cyclic polyolefin resin, an epoxy resin, a polyurethane resin, a diallyl phthalate resin (allyl resin), a polycarbonate resin, a fluorine resin, an amino resin (urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine resin, benzoguanamine resin), a polyester resin, a styrene resin, an acrylic resin, a polyacetal resin, a vinyl acetate resin, a phenol resin, a vinyl chloride resin, a silicone resin (silicon resin), a polyether resin, a polyimide resin, or the like, or a mixture thereof, or two or more kinds of the above-mentioned high molecular materials can be exemplified. Further, the main body portion 310 of the medical long member 300A can contain a wire-shaped metal material as a reinforcing member inside the resin material. In this case, as the metal material, for example, a nickel-titanium alloy, a cobalt-chromium alloy, a magnesium alloy, stainless steel, platinum, tungsten, or the like can be exemplified.

[0086] The medical long member 300A is, for example, a catheter having a long main body portion 310 and a hub portion 320. Specifically, the catheter is a contrast catheter, a support catheter, a microcatheter, a balloon catheter, or the like.

[0087] Further, the medical long member 300A can be composed of a guide wire known in the medical field, for example. In the case where the medical long member 300A is composed of a guide wire, the hub portion 320 can not be attached to one end portion of the medical long member 300A. Further, in the case where the medical long member 300A is composed of a guide wire, as a constituting material, for example, a super-elastic alloy such as a nickel-titanium alloy, a copper-zinc alloy, or the like, a metal material such as stainless steel can be exemplified.

[0088] As a material constituting the lubricating coating layer 311a applied to the medical long member 300A, for example, any material can be used as long as it absorbs water and exhibits lubricity. For example, a hydrophilic material or the like can be exemplified. Specific examples are shown below. Note that in the specific examples, the term "methacryl-" includes both acryl- and methacryl-. Thus, for example, the term "methacrylic acid" includes both acrylic acid and methacrylic acid. Similarly, the term "(meth)acryl-" includes both acryl- and methacryl-. Thus, for example, the term "(meth)acryl group" includes both acryl group and methacryl group.

[0089] Hydrophilic materials constituting the lubricating coating 311a include, for example, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide-based high molecular substances, cellulose-based high molecular substances such as carboxymethyl cellulose, acrylamide-based high molecular substances such as polyacrylamide and polydimethylacrylamide, hyaluronic acid, polyacrylic acid, maleic anhydride-based high molecular substances such as maleic anhydride-methyl vinyl ether copolymer, water-soluble nylon (registered trademark), and derivatives thereof.

[0090] In order to firmly immobilize the hydrophilic polymer to the medical long member 300A, the hydrophilic material constituting the lubricating coating 311a can be a hydrophilic copolymer containing a monomer having a reactive functional group (hereinafter also referred to as "reactive monomer") and a hydrophilic monomer. In the present specification, the "reactive functional group" refers to a functional group capable of undergoing a cross-linking reaction with other monomers by electron beam irradiation or the like or capable of reacting (bonding) with the surface of the medical long member 300A.

[0091] The above-described reactive functional group is not particularly limited and can be an epoxy group, a halide group, an aldehyde group, an isocyanate group, an anhydride group, a vinyl group, a (meth)acryloyl group, or the like. These reactive functional groups can exist alone in the reactive monomer, or a plurality of them can exist.

[0092] The reactive monomer used in the present application preferably has a reactive functional group and exhibits hydrophobicity at least compared to the hydrophilic monomer used at the time of manufacturing the copolymer in a body fluid and a water-based solvent. As such a reactive monomer, specifically, monomers having an epoxy group in the molecule such as glycidyl acrylate, glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), methyl glycidyl methacrylate, and allyl glycidyl ether; monomers having a halide group in the molecule such as methacryloyl chloride, methacryloyl bromide, and methacryloyl iodide; monomers having an aldehyde group in the molecule such as methacrylaldehyde, butenal, acrolein, and isobutenal; monomers having an isocyanate group in the molecule such as (meth)acryloyloxy methyl isocyanate, (meth)acryloyloxy ethyl isocyanate, (meth)acryloyloxy propyl isocyanate, and (meth)acryloyl isocyanate; monomers having an anhydride group in the molecule such as maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride, and citraconic anhydride; monomers having a vinyl group in the molecule such as vinyl chloride; and the like can be exemplified, and glycidyl acrylate, glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), methyl glycidyl methacrylate, and allyl glycidyl ether are preferable. These reactive monomers can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0093] In addition, the hydrophilic monomer is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, N-methylacrylamide, N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA), acrylamide, acryloyl morpholine, acryloyloxyethylphosphocholine, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl-D-glucoside, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl-D-mannoside, vinyl methyl ether, (meth)acrylic acid-2-hydroxyethyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid-4-hydroxybutyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid-2-hydroxypropyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid-2-hydroxybutyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid-6-hydroxyhexyl ester, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol mono(meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid-1-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl ester, diethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate, 1,6-hexanediol mono(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol penta(meth)acrylate, neopentyl glycol mono(meth)acrylate, trimethylolpropane di(meth)acrylate, trihydroxyethylamine di(meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid-4-hydroxycyclohexyl ester, 2-hydroxy-3-phenoxy(meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid-4-hydroxycyclohexyl ester, cyclohexanedimethanol mono(meth)acrylate, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate, and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate. Of these, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, acrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acryloyloxyethyl dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, and vinyl pyrrolidone are preferable. These hydrophilic monomers can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0094] In addition, in order to simply and firmly immobilize the hydrophilic polymer to the medical long member 300A, the hydrophilic material constituting the lubricating coating 311a can be a material containing only a hydrophilic monomer. In this case, the hydrophilic monomer contains a (meth)acryloyl group capable of undergoing a cross-linking reaction with another hydrophilic monomer by electron beam irradiation or capable of undergoing a reaction (bonding) with the surface of the medical long member 300A. For example, such a hydrophilic monomer is a hydrophilic monomer containing a (meth)acryloyl group among the aforementioned hydrophilic monomers. The material containing only a hydrophilic monomer is a material containing only a (meth)acryloyl group among the aforementioned hydrophilic monomers or a material obtained by combining two or more hydrophilic monomers containing a (meth)acryloyl group.

[0095] The hub portion 320 can be formed of a material harder than the main body portion 310. As the material constituting the hub portion 320, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polycarbonate, polystyrene, or the like can be exemplified.

[0096] (Irradiation method of electron beam) Next, the electron beam irradiation method of this embodiment will be described.

[0097] The electron beam irradiation method of this embodiment is as follows: In an electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 for irradiating electron beams onto a medical strip component 300A, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 includes: an electron beam irradiation unit 110 having an emission surface 111 for emitting electron beams; an inactive gas supply unit 120 having an injection port 121 for injecting inactive gas; a barrier unit 140 facing the emission surface 111; and a transport mechanism 150 configured to be able to transport the electron beams through the space 1 between the emission surface 111 and the barrier unit 140. A portion of a medical strip component 300A is configured in 30a. The method of irradiating the medical strip component 300A with electron beams includes: with a portion of the medical strip component 300A configured in a space 130a between an emission surface 111 and a barrier portion 140, injecting an inactive gas into the medical strip component 300A from a nozzle 121 located on the side of the emission surface 111; and irradiating the medical strip component 300A with electron beams from the emission surface 111 while the medical strip component 300A is in contact with the barrier portion 140 through the inactive gas.

[0098] The following describes each step of the electron beam irradiation method.

[0099] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the operator fixes the medical strip component 300A to the holding part 153. In this embodiment, 15 medical strip components 300A are placed in the width direction (lateral arrangement direction) of the electron beam irradiation device 10.

[0100] The operator secures only the hub 320 of the medical strip component 300A to the holding part 153. The operator secures the medical strip component 300A to the holding part 153 with the holding part 153 detached from the track part 151. The hub 320 is made of a material harder than the main body 310. Therefore, by securing only the hub 320 of the medical strip component 300A to the holding part 153, the electron beam irradiation device 10 can prevent accidental deformation or damage to parts other than the hub 320 of the main body 310.

[0101] Next, the operator connects the holding part 153 to the track part 151.

[0102] Next, the operator transmits an instruction of the gist of starting the irradiation operation of the electron rays based on the electron ray irradiation apparatus 10 to the electron ray irradiation apparatus 10. In the case where the electron ray irradiation apparatus 10 is provided with an operation start button, the operator can start the operation by pressing the operation start button. Further, the operator can also perform the transmission of the operation start instruction to the electron ray irradiation apparatus 10 by operating an information terminal apparatus or an external controller or the like.

[0103] When the operation start instruction is issued from the operator, the electron ray irradiation apparatus 10 starts the non-active gas purge by ejecting the non-active gas (for example, nitrogen) from the non-active gas supply portion 120. At this time, the electron ray irradiation apparatus 10 supplies the nitrogen from the non-active gas supply portion 120 into the chamber portion 130, and replaces the gas in the chamber portion 130 with the non-active gas, thereby removing the gas in the chamber portion 130. The electron ray irradiation apparatus 10 can also be provided with an unillustrated exhaust mechanism (a pipe and a pump for exhaust or the like) for exhausting the gas in the chamber portion 130 to the outside of the chamber portion 130. Further, the hole portion 135 is maintained in a state of being closed by an opening and closing mechanism (omitted from illustration) during the implementation of the non-active gas purge.

[0104] The electron ray irradiation apparatus 10 emits the electron rays from the emission surface 111 of the electron ray irradiation portion 110 after reaching a prescribed oxygen concentration in the chamber portion 130.

[0105] The electron ray irradiation apparatus 10 opens the hole portion 135 in a state of being closed by the opening and closing mechanism (omitted from illustration).

[0106] The electron ray irradiation apparatus 10 causes the transport mechanism 150 to operate, and moves the gripping portion 153 in which the hub portion 320 of the medical long member 300A is fixed, along the rail portion 151 toward the first transport direction dl. At this time, the transport mechanism 150 moves the gripping portion 153 along the direction of the gravity force in which the medical long member 300A is suspended, thereby moving the medical long member 300A into the chamber portion 130. The medical long member 300A is introduced into the chamber portion 130 from the other end portion side of the medical long member 300A via the hole portion 135 in a state of being fixed to the hub portion 320 by the gripping portion 153.

[0107] As described above, the electron ray irradiation apparatus 10 can move the medical long member 300A along the direction of the gravity force in a state of suspending the medical long member 300A by the transport mechanism 150, and thus can exert the following effects.

[0108] Generally, the application of the lubricating coating 311a to the medical long member 300A is performed by dip coating in which the medical long member 300A is moved in the same direction as the direction of gravity in which the transport mechanism 150 moves the medical long member 300A. Therefore, in the case where a series of manufacturing processes in which the dip coating of the medical long member 300A is performed and then the curing of the lubricating coating 311a is directly shifted are considered, the curing of the lubricating coating 311a is performed while the medical long member 300A is moved in the direction of gravity in a suspended state, and thus the work efficiency of the manufacturing processes can be improved.

[0109] In addition, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can prevent the medical long member 300A from coming into contact with each portion of the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 by moving the medical long member 300A in the direction of gravity in a state in which the medical long member 300A is suspended by the transport mechanism 150. For example, a gap g (see FIG. 6) can be formed between the medical long member 300A and the barrier portion 140 at a portion of the medical long member 300A to which the non-active gas is not sprayed, and thus the medical long member 300A can be prevented from coming into contact with the barrier portion 140 at an unintended portion. Thus, peeling and falling of the lubricating coating 311a applied to the main body portion 310 of the medical long member 300A can be prevented. Figure 7

[0110] In addition, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can maintain the outer shape of the medical long member 300A in such a manner that the entire length of the medical long member 300A becomes a substantially straight shape due to the weight by moving the medical long member 300A in the direction of gravity in a state in which the medical long member 300A is suspended by the transport mechanism 150. Therefore, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can more appropriately maintain the distance between the medical long member 300A and the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 when the lubricating coating 311a applied to the medical long member 300A is irradiated with the electron beam.

[0111] The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can support a portion of the medical long member 300A by the workpiece guide 160 disposed between the chamber portion 130 and the gripping portion 153 when the medical long member 300A is moved by the transport mechanism 150. Therefore, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can smoothly move the medical long member 300A along a straight path along the rail portion 151 when the medical long member 300A is moved by the transport mechanism 150.

[0112] As described above, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can perform the irradiation of the lubricating coating 311a applied to the medical long member 300A with the electron beam while the medical long member 300A is moved in the direction of gravity in a state in which the medical long member 300A is suspended by the transport mechanism 150. Figure 5 , Figure 6 ​As shown, the electron beam irradiation device 10 moves the medical strip component 300A via the transport mechanism 150, allowing it to pass through the space 130a within the chamber section 130. As the medical strip component 300A passes through the space 130a in its first region 311, the electron beam irradiation device 10 injects inactive gas from the nozzle 121 of the inactive gas supply section 120 in an inclined direction toward the barrier section 140. For example, the inactive gas supply section 120 can inject inactive gas with an injection angle θ1 set to 45° and an injection pressure set to 0.05 MPa.

[0113] The nozzle 121 of the inactive gas supply unit 120 is inclined toward the first transport direction d1. Therefore, the inactive gas ejected from the nozzle 121 is blown onto the medical elongated component 300A while flowing toward the first transport direction d1. Thus, the inactive gas supply unit 120 can, through the inactive gas ejected from the nozzle 121, bring the medical elongated component 300A into contact with the barrier portion 140 within a predetermined range along the first transport direction d1 from near the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation unit 110. As a result, the electron beam irradiation device 10 can effectively suppress the swaying or deflection of the medical elongated component 300A within the chamber portion 130.

[0114] like Figure 6 As shown, the electron beam irradiation device 10 does not directly spray inactive gas onto the portion of the medical strip component 300A that is not located within the chamber portion 130. Therefore, during the transport of the medical strip component 300A via the transport mechanism 150, a gap g is formed between the portion of the medical strip component 300A not located within the space 130a and the barrier portion 140. Thus, the electron beam irradiation device 10 can prevent the portion not located within the space 130a from accidentally contacting the barrier portion 140 during the movement of the medical strip component 300A via the transport mechanism 150, thereby preventing the lubricating coating 311a applied to the first region 311 from peeling or falling off.

[0115] The electron beam irradiation device 10 presses the first region 311 of the medical strip member 300A against the barrier portion 140 by injecting inactive gas from the nozzle 121 of the inactive gas supply unit 120. By pressing the first region 311 of the medical strip member 300A against the barrier portion 140, the electron beam irradiation device 10 can maintain a constant distance between the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation unit 110 and the first region 311 of the medical strip member 300A at a position corresponding to the space 130a.

[0116] The electron beam irradiation device 10 continuously injects inactive gas from the injection port 121 of the inactive gas supply unit 120, and can maintain a state in which each part of the medical strip component 300A is in continuous contact with the barrier portion 140 as each part passes through the space 130a along the length direction. The electron beam irradiation device 10, by implementing the injection of inactive gas based on the inactive gas supply unit 120, the movement of the medical strip component 300A along the first transport direction d1 based on the transport mechanism 150, and the irradiation of electron beams from the electron beam irradiation unit 110, can irradiate each part of the first region 311 of the medical strip component 300A arranged sequentially in the space 130a with electron beams at equal distances while keeping the distance between the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation unit 110 and the main body 310 of the medical strip component 300A constant.

[0117] like Figure 8 As shown, the barrier portion 140 has a recess 143 in which the medical elongated component 300A is positioned when inactive gas is injected from the inactive gas supply portion 120 into the first region 311 of the medical elongated component 300A. The recess 143 is recessed toward the side that is away from the emission surface 111 and the injection port 121. The first region 311 of the medical elongated component 300A, which has been injected with inactive gas, moves away from the injection port 121 and is contained within the recess 143. Therefore, the electron beam irradiation device 10 can prevent the first region 311 of the medical elongated component 300A from being significantly misaligned in the width direction (arrow Y1-Y2 direction). As a result, the electron beam irradiation device 10 can more reliably maintain a constant distance between the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the first region 311 of the medical elongated component 300A when irradiating the first region 311 of the medical elongated component 300A with electron beams. Furthermore, in the case where the electron beam irradiation device 10 is configured to simultaneously irradiate multiple medical strip components 300A with electron beams as in this embodiment, the barrier portion 140 can also prevent the medical strip components 300A adjacent to each other in the width direction (arrow Y1-Y2 direction) from accidentally contacting each other due to the inactive gas ejected from the nozzle 121.

[0118] After the electron beam irradiation device 10 passes through the space 130a along the entire length of the first region 311 of the medical strip component 300A, which becomes the object of electron beam irradiation, as... Figure 9 , Figure 10 As shown, the rotating action unit 155 is activated, causing the medical strip component 300A to rotate 180° about the central axis 310c of the main body 310.

[0119] The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 stops the injection of the inactive gas from the inactive gas supply portion 120 while rotating the medical long member 300A. The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can prevent the lubricating coating layer 311a from being rubbed off by the barrier portion 140 and the like by stopping the injection of the inactive gas from the inactive gas supply portion 120 while rotating the medical long member 300A. In Figure 9 , Figure 10 The portion of the lubricating coating layer 311a that is cured by the electron beam irradiation to the first region 311 of the main body portion 310 while moving the medical long member 300A in the first conveyance direction dl is illustrated by reference numeral 311b.

[0120] The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 moves the medical long member 300A in the second conveyance direction d2 by operating the conveyance mechanism 150 after rotating the medical long member 300A by 180° as described above. The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 moves the medical long member 300A in the second conveyance direction d2 by the conveyance mechanism 150, thereby causing the first region 311 of the medical long member 300A to pass through the space 130a. The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 performs the injection of the inactive gas from the inactive gas supply portion 120 and the irradiation of the electron beam from the electron beam irradiation portion 110 while moving the medical long member 300A in the second conveyance direction d2 in the same manner as when moving the medical long member 300A in the first conveyance direction dl. The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 moves the medical long member 300A in the second conveyance direction d2 and passes through the space 130a after rotating the medical long member 300A by 180°, thereby being able to irradiate the electron beam to the side of the face that is opposite to the side of the face that was irradiated with the electron beam when moving the medical long member 300A in the first conveyance direction dl. Thus, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 is able to irradiate the electron beam to the entire circumference of the medical long member 300A equally.

[0121] In the present embodiment, the medical long member 300A is not disposed in the entire length direction within the chamber portion 130 when irradiating the electron beam to the first region 311 of the medical long member 300A, but only a portion of the length direction of the first region 311 is disposed within the chamber portion 130. Thus, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can be prevented from becoming a large device structure in the length direction of the chamber portion 130.

[0122] The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 moves the holding portion 153 to the prescribed position (the initial position on the one end portion side of the track portion 151) after the irradiation of the electron beam to the first region 311 of the medical long member 300A is completed. The operator can detach the holding portion 153 to which the medical long member 300A is fixed from the track portion 151.

[0123] Through the above operation, the irradiation of the electron beam to the medical long member 300A is completed.

[0124] Here, reference is made to Figures 11-13 The problems that can occur in the comparative example of the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 and the irradiation method of the electron beam of the present embodiment are described.

[0125] In the comparative example shown in Figure 11 , the irradiation of the electron beam to the medical long member 600 is performed from the electron beam irradiation portion 500 while the medical long member 600 is suspended by the holding portion in the weight direction with one end portion (proximal end portion) of the medical long member 600 being held, and the medical long member 600 is moved along the first and second conveyance directions dl, d2.

[0126] In the comparative example, since only one end portion of the medical long member 600 is fixed by the holding portion, the other end portion (distal end portion) of the medical long member 600 is not fixed. If the medical long member 600 is moved along the first and second conveyance directions dl, d2 in this state, the medical long member 600 can "wobble" in a direction crossing the respective conveyance directions dl, d2 from the one end portion of the medical long member 600 as a starting point. If the medical long member 600 wobbles as such, it is difficult to keep the distance between the emission surface 511 of the electron beam irradiation portion 500 and the medical long member 600 constant. As a result, in the medical long member 600, the solidification of the lubricating coating layer can be uneven in each portion in the length direction of the medical long member 600.

[0127] In the comparative example shown in Figure 12 , Figure 13 , an example in which the respective conveyance directions dl, d2 of the medical long member 600 are set to the lateral direction (a direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity) is shown. In the case where the respective conveyance directions dl, d2 are set to the lateral direction, there is a concern that the medical long member 600 can "float" in a direction crossing the respective conveyance directions dl, d2 as shown in Figure 12 , and the medical long member 600 can be damaged as shown in Figure 13The other end portion of the medical long member 600 is "warped" in a direction crossing each of the conveyance directions dl, d2 as shown. In a case where such floating or warping of the medical long member 600 occurs, as in a case where the medical long member 600 is shaken, it is difficult to keep the distance between the emission surface 511 of the electron beam irradiation unit 500 and the medical long member 600 constant. As a result, in the medical long member 600, curing unevenness of the lubricating coating occurs in each portion in the length direction of the medical long member 600.

[0128] As a countermeasure to prevent the problems described in each of the above-described examples, for example, a method described below is conceivable.

[0129] For example, it is conceivable to insert a core member in the medical long member 600 and convey the medical long member 600 in a state where the medical long member 600 is given rigidity and straightness. It is considered that even if such a countermeasure is adopted, in a case where the diameter of the medical long member 600 is relatively small (for example, the outer diameter is 0.3 mm to 5.0 mm), it is difficult to give sufficient rigidity and straightness. In addition, on the basis of an increase in the process of installing (inserting) the core member to the medical long member 600, management (management of bending and cleanliness) of the core member is also required, and thus productivity is reduced.

[0130] For example, it is conceivable to hold both end portions (one end portion and the other end portion) of the medical long member 600 and convey the medical long member 600 in a state where tension is applied in the length direction of the medical long member 600. In a case where such a countermeasure is adopted, a load based on the holding is applied to the other end portion of the medical long member 600, and thus there is a concern that crushing or deformation occurs in the other end portion of the medical long member 600. In addition, in a case where crushing or deformation occurs in the other end portion of the medical long member 600, a process of removing the portion where the crushing or deformation occurs is further required. Moreover, in the medical long member 600, there is a case where a front end shape such as an R chamfer shape is attached to the other end portion (front end portion) of the medical long member 600 depending on the product specifications. If a situation where the other end portion of the medical long member 600 has to be finally removed as described above is considered, the countermeasure of holding both end portions of the medical long member 600 cannot be applied to the medical long member 600 to which the front end shape is attached. Moreover, in a case where a mechanism that holds both end portions of the medical long member 600 is provided in the electron beam irradiation device, it is necessary to configure the chamber portion to have a size that can accommodate the entire portion including both end portions of the medical long member 600. Thus, the device structure is large-sized, and the gas replacement efficiency when the inside of the chamber portion is replaced with a non-active gas is significantly reduced.

[0131] In order to address the above-described problems, in the present embodiment, by partially blowing the non-active gas toward the medical long member 300A disposed in the space 130a in the chamber portion 130, a portion of the medical long member 300A is brought into contact with the barrier portion 140, and thus the distance between the medical long member 300A and the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 is kept constant. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the uneven curing of the lubricating coating layer 311a accompanying the "wobbling", "floating", "warpage", and the like of the medical long member 300A. In addition, as a countermeasure against the problems of "wobbling", "floating", "warpage", and the like, it is not necessary to insert a core member into the medical long member 300A or to hold both end portions of the medical long member 300A. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the problems accompanying the use of the core member and the problems accompanying the holding of both end portions of the medical long member 300A. Therefore, the electron beam irradiation apparatus of the present embodiment can be suitably used for a medical long member having a length of 10 cm or more and / or an outer diameter of 5.0 mm or less. In addition, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 of the present embodiment can be particularly suitably used for a medical long member (particularly, a catheter, a guide wire) having a length of 100 cm or more and an outer diameter of 5.0 mm or less.

[0132] As described above, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes: an electron beam irradiation portion 110 having an emission surface 111 that emits an electron beam; a non-active gas supply portion 120 having a spouting port 121 that spouts a non-active gas; a chamber portion 130 that accommodates the emission surface 111 and the spouting port 121; a barrier portion 140 located in the chamber portion 130 and facing the emission surface 111; and a conveyance mechanism 150 configured to be able to dispose a portion of a medical long member 300A with respect to a space 130a located between the emission surface 111 and the barrier portion 140, the spouting port 121 is located on the emission surface 111 side in the chamber portion 130 and is inclined from the emission surface 111 side toward the barrier portion 140 side, and the non-active gas supply portion 120 is configured to spout the non-active gas toward a position in the barrier portion 140 facing the emission surface 111 via the spouting port 121 in a state in which the portion of the medical long member 300A is disposed in the space 130a located between the emission surface 111 and the barrier portion 140.

[0133] In the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10, the injection port 121 of the non-active gas supply portion 120 that supplies the non-active gas is located on the side of the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 in the chamber portion 130, and is inclined toward the barrier portion 140 side from the side of the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110. The non-active gas supply portion 120 injects the non-active gas from the injection port 121 to the position in the barrier portion 140 that opposes the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110, in a state in which a portion of the medical long member 300A is disposed in the space 130a in the chamber portion 130 between the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the barrier portion 140. The portion of the medical long member 300A to which the non-active gas is injected is in contact with the barrier portion 140. The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 is able to maintain the distance between the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the medical long member 300A constant by bringing the portion of the medical long member 300A into contact with the barrier portion 140 using the non-active gas. The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 is able to prevent curing unevenness in the lubricating coating layer 311a applied to the medical long member 300A by emitting the electron beam from the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 to the medical long member 300A in a state in which the distance between the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the medical long member 300A is maintained constant.

[0134] In addition, in the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10, the conveyance mechanism 150 is located outside the chamber portion 130, the chamber portion 130 has a hole portion 135 that is able to introduce a portion of the medical long member 300A conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 150 into the chamber portion 130, and the conveyance mechanism 150 is configured to dispose the portion of the medical long member 300A in the space 130a between the emission surface 111 and the barrier portion 140 by the hole portion 135 of the chamber portion 130.

[0135] The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 configured as described above is able to dispose the portion of the medical long member 300A in the space 130a in the chamber portion 130 smoothly because the conveyance mechanism 150 is located outside the chamber portion 130, and the chamber portion 130 is able to introduce the medical long member 300A conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 150 into the chamber portion 130 via the hole portion 135 of the chamber portion 130.

[0136] Further, in the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10, the conveyance mechanism 150 includes a rail portion 151 extending toward the chamber portion 130, and a holding portion 153 configured to be movable along the rail portion 151 and to be capable of fixing a portion of the medical long member 300A, and the conveyance mechanism 150 is configured to move the holding portion 153 along the rail portion 151 in a state where the medical long member 300A is suspended in the gravitational direction by the holding portion 153.

[0137] The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 configured as described above is capable of preventing the medical long member 300A from coming into contact with each portion of the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 unintentionally by moving the medical long member 300A in the gravitational direction in a state where the medical long member 300A is suspended by the conveyance mechanism 150. In particular, in the medical long member 300A, a gap g can be formed between a portion not subjected to the non-active gas blowing and the barrier portion 140, and thus the medical long member 300A can be prevented from coming into contact with the barrier portion 140 at an unintended portion. Further, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 is capable of maintaining the outer shape of the medical long member 300A in a manner that the entire length of the medical long member 300A is in a substantially straight shape by the self-weight by moving the medical long member 300A in the gravitational direction in a state where the medical long member 300A is suspended by the conveyance mechanism 150. Thus, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 is capable of more appropriately maintaining the distance formed between the medical long member 300A and the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 when irradiating the lubricating coating layer 311a applied to the medical long member 300A with the electron beam.

[0138] Further, in the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10, the irradiated object 300 is the medical long member 300A including a long member-shaped main body portion 310 extending in the length direction and a hub portion 320 provided at one end portion of the main body portion 310, and the main body portion 310 has a first region 311 to which a lubricating coating layer 311a that is an object of irradiation with the electron beam is applied, and a second region 312 that is provided at the one end portion side of the main body portion 310 as compared with the first region 311 and is not applied with the lubricating coating layer 311a, and the conveyance mechanism 150 is configured to dispose the first region 311 to the space 130a between the emission surface 111 and the barrier portion 140 by moving the holding portion 153 in a state where only the hub portion 320 is fixed by the holding portion 153.

[0139] The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 configured as described above can prevent an unintended deformation or a crushing of the main body portion 310 of the medical long member 300A during the implementation of each work using the apparatus 10 in a state where only the hub portion 320 of the medical long member 300A is fixed to the holding portion 153. In addition, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can move the medical long member 300A in a state where the other end portion (the front end portion) of the medical long member 300A is not restrained by using other members, since the medical long member 300A is moved in a state where only the hub portion 320 of the medical long member 300A is fixed to the holding portion 153. Therefore, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can smoothly move the other end portion of the medical long member 300A outside and inside the chamber portion 130.

[0140] In addition, in the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10, the conveyance mechanism 150 has the rotation action portion 155 that can drive the rotation action of the holding portion 153 in a state where the holding portion 153 fixes the medical long member 300A.

[0141] The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 configured as described above can rotate the medical long member 300A by 180° with the center axis 310c of the main body portion 310 as a reference by the action of the rotation action portion 155 after the entire range in the length direction of the first region 311 of the medical long member 300A that is the irradiation target of the electron beam passes through the space 130a once. The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can irradiate the electron beam to both the side surface on one side in the circumferential direction of the main body portion 310 and the side surface on the other side on the opposite side by again moving the medical long member 300A and passing through the space 130a while irradiating the medical long member 300A with the electron beam after the medical long member 300A is rotated by 180°. Thus, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can irradiate the electron beam to the entire range in the circumferential direction of the medical long member 300A equally.

[0142] In the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10, the barrier portion 140 has the recessed portion 143 recessed toward the side that is apart from the emission surface 111 and the jet port 121.

[0143] The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 configured as described above can be configured to, when the non-active gas is blown against the medical long member 300A disposed in the space 130a, receive the first region 311 of the main body 310 in the recessed portion 143. Thus, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can prevent the first region 311 of the medical long member 300A from being largely misaligned in the width direction (arrow Y1-Y2 direction). Thus, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 can more reliably maintain the distance between the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the first region 311 of the medical long member 300A constant when the electron beam is irradiated against the first region 311 of the medical long member 300A. In addition, in the case where the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 is configured to simultaneously irradiate the electron beam against a plurality of medical long members 300A, the barrier portion 140 can also prevent the adjacent medical long members 300A from accidentally contacting each other in the width direction (arrow Y1-Y2 direction) due to the non-active gas ejected from the ejection port 121 by the recessed portion 143.

[0144] In the electron beam irradiation method of the present embodiment, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 that irradiates the electron beam against the medical long member 300A includes: an electron beam irradiation portion 110 having an emission surface 111 that emits the electron beam; a non-active gas supply portion 120 having an ejection port 121 that ejects the non-active gas; a barrier portion 140 that opposes the emission surface 111; and a conveyance mechanism 150 configured to be able to dispose a portion of the medical long member 300A with respect to a space 130a located between the emission surface 111 and the barrier portion 140. The electron beam irradiation method includes: in a state where the portion of the medical long member 300A is disposed in the space 130a located between the emission surface 111 and the barrier portion 140, ejecting the non-active gas from the ejection port 121 located on the emission surface 111 side against the medical long member 300A; and in a state where the medical long member 300A is in contact with the barrier portion 140 by the non-active gas, irradiating the electron beam from the emission surface 111 against the medical long member 300A.

[0145] In the electron beam irradiation method, the non-active gas is sprayed from the spray port 121 of the non-active gas supply portion 120 located on the side of the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 toward the medical long member 300A in a state in which a portion of the medical long member 300A is disposed in the space 130a located between the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the barrier portion 140, whereby the medical long member 300A can be brought into contact with the barrier portion 140. In the electron beam irradiation method, by bringing the medical long member 300A into contact with the barrier portion 140, the distance between the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the medical long member 300A can be kept constant. In the electron beam irradiation method, by irradiating the medical long member 300A with the electron beam from the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 in a state in which the distance between the emission surface 111 of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the medical long member 300A is kept constant, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of curing unevenness in the lubricating coating layer 311a applied to the medical long member 300A.

[0146] In addition, in the electron beam irradiation method, the conveyance mechanism 150 includes the rail portion 151 and the gripping portion 153 configured to be movable along the rail portion 151 and to be capable of fixing a portion of the medical long member 300A, and the irradiated object 300 is the medical long member 300A including the long member-shaped main portion 310 extending in the longitudinal direction and the hub portion 320 disposed at one end portion of the main portion 310, the main portion 310 including the first region 311 to which the lubricating coating layer 311a that is an object of irradiation of the electron beam is applied, and the second region 312 disposed at the one end portion side as compared with the first region 311 and not applied with the lubricating coating layer 311a, the electron beam irradiation method including: irradiating the first region 311 with the electron beam while spraying the non-active gas toward the medical long member 300A in a state in which the first region 311 is disposed in the space 130a located between the emission surface 111 and the barrier portion 140.

[0147] In the aforementioned electron beam irradiation method, the movement of the medical elongated component 300A and the irradiation of the first region 311 of the main body 310 coated with a lubricating coating 311a are performed with only the hub 320 of the medical elongated component 300A fixed to the holding part 153. Therefore, in the electron beam irradiation method, accidental deformation or damage to the main body 310 of the medical elongated component 300A can be prevented during various operations performed based on the electron beam irradiation device 10. Furthermore, since the medical elongated component 300A is moved with only the hub 320 fixed to the holding part 153, it can be moved without constraining the other end (front end) of the medical elongated component 300A using other components. Therefore, in the electron beam irradiation method, the other end of the medical elongated component 300A can move smoothly inside and outside the chamber 130.

[0148] Next, variations and a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the variations and the second embodiment, content that is repeated in the descriptions already provided will be omitted. Furthermore, content not specifically described can be assumed to be the same as in the aforementioned embodiments.

[0149] <Variation Example> Figure 14 The barrier portion 140A of modified example 1 is shown in the figure. Additionally, Figure 15 The barrier portion 140B of modified example 2 is shown in the figure.

[0150] In the aforementioned embodiment, the recess 143 of the barrier portion 140 is formed between the wall portions 141 extending substantially vertically from the bottom 144 (see reference). Figure 7 , Figure 8 However, there are no particular restrictions on the construction and shape of the recesses in the barrier section.

[0151] For example, such as Figure 14 As shown in the barrier portion 140A, the recess 143a can also be formed between a pair of V-shaped wall portions 141a that extend in a generally linear manner, expanding toward the emission surface 111 side of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the injection port 121 side (arrow Z2 side) of the inactive gas supply portion 120. Additionally, for example, as... Figure 15 As shown in the barrier portion 140B, the recess 143b can also be formed between a pair of wall portions 141b that extend in a curved manner in a way that expands toward the emission surface 111 side of the electron beam irradiation portion 110 and the nozzle 121 side of the inactive gas supply portion 120.

[0152] In order to have the ability to Figure 14 , Figure 15When the barrier portions 140A and 140B are configured with recesses 143a and 143b formed by the cross-sectional shapes of the various modified examples shown, the medical elongated member 300A can be held in place by contacting the narrower bottom 144. Therefore, by configuring the barrier portions 140A and 140B with recesses having the shapes shown in the various modified examples, misalignment in the width direction (arrow Y1-Y2 direction in the figure) of the medical elongated member 300A can be effectively prevented when it comes into contact with the barrier portion 140. On the other hand, the barrier portion 140 described in the aforementioned embodiment (refer to...) Figure 7 Compared to the barrier portions 140A and 140B in the various modifications, the depth of the recess 143 can be set to be larger. Therefore, compared to the barrier portions 140A and 140B in the various modifications, the barrier portion 140 can effectively prevent the medical elongated component 300A disposed in the recess 143 from detaching from the recess 143 when a higher pressure inactive gas is sprayed onto it. Based on this viewpoint, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 10 more preferably includes the barrier portion 140.

[0153] <Second Implementation> Figure 16 , Figure 17 The electron beam irradiation apparatus 10A of the second embodiment is shown in the figure.

[0154] Figure 16 This is a top view of the electron beam irradiation device 10A. Figure 17 From Figure 16 Side view of the electron beam irradiation device 10A as seen in the direction of arrow 17A. Figure 16 , Figure 17 This is a partial cross-sectional view showing the chamber portion 130 so that the interior of the chamber portion 130 can be seen.

[0155] In the aforementioned embodiment, the transport mechanism 150 of the electron beam irradiation device 10A is configured to transport the medical elongated component 300A while suspending it along the direction of gravity. That is, the electron beam irradiation device 10A is configured such that the track portion 151 extends in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction), and the entire device is arranged longitudinally. On the other hand, the transport mechanism 150 of the electron beam irradiation device 10A in this embodiment is configured to transport the medical elongated component 300A in a horizontal direction (horizontal direction) intersecting the direction of gravity.

[0156] like Figure 17 As shown, the track section 151 is mounted on the designated platform 30. The main body 20 is located on the upper side of the chamber section 130 (arrow Z1 side).

[0157] Figure 18 A state at the time of irradiation of the electron rays using the electron ray irradiation apparatus 10A is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the electron ray irradiation section 110 and the inactive gas supply section 120 are disposed on the upper side of the chamber section 130 (the arrow Zl side). Figure 18

[0158] The barrier section 140 is disposed on the lower side of the chamber section 130 (the arrow Z2 side) in a manner facing the electron ray irradiation section 110 and the inactive gas supply section 120. Also, as with the foregoing embodiment, the inactive gas supply section 120 is disposed at a position closer to the hole section 135 in the chamber section 130 than the electron ray irradiation section 110.

[0159] At the time of irradiation of the electron rays using the electron ray irradiation apparatus 10A, as with the foregoing embodiment, the inactive gas is sprayed from the inactive gas supply section 120 toward the portion of the medical long member 300A disposed in the space 130a. The portion of the medical long member 300A disposed in the space 130a is brought into contact with the barrier section 140 by being sprayed with the inactive gas. The inactive gas supply section 120 sprays the inactive gas in an oblique direction from the upper side of the chamber section 130 toward the lower side of the chamber section 130. Thus, the electron ray irradiation apparatus 10A is able to press the medical long member 300A efficiently against the barrier section 140 disposed on the lower side of the chamber section 130.

[0160] The electron ray irradiation apparatus 10A is able to maintain the distance between the emission surface 111 of the electron ray irradiation section 110 and the medical long member 300A constant at the position corresponding to the space 130a by bringing a portion of the medical long member 300A into contact with the barrier section 140. The electron ray irradiation apparatus 10 is able to prevent curing unevenness from occurring in each portion in the length direction of the medical long member 300A by emitting the electron rays from the emission surface 111 of the electron ray irradiation section 110 in a state in which the distance between the emission surface 111 of the electron ray irradiation section 110 and the medical long member 300A is maintained constant.

[0161] The foregoing describes the electron ray irradiation apparatus and the method of irradiation of the electron rays according to the present application by way of the embodiments and the modified examples, but the present application is not limited only to the contents described in the specification and can be modified as appropriate based on the recitations of the technical solutions.

[0162] ​In the embodiments and modifications, a medical long member coated with a lubricating coating layer is exemplified as the irradiated object. However, the irradiated object to which the present application is applied can be various members in which it is desired to keep the distance between the irradiation surface of the electron beam irradiation portion and the irradiated object constant. For example, the irradiated object can be a medical instrument such as a stent, a puncture needle for injection, or a member other than the medical instrument such as a wire, a string, or a hose. In addition, the object to be cured by the irradiation of the electron beam is not limited to the lubricating coating layer, and for example, can be an antibacterial coating layer, an antithrombotic coating layer, or a medicament coating layer including a material to be cured by the irradiation of the electron beam. In addition, in a case where an intermediate coating layer for improving the adhesion between the surface of the medical long member and the lubricating coating layer is present between the surface of the medical long member and the lubricating coating layer, the object to be cured by the irradiation of the electron beam can be the intermediate coating layer. In addition, the object of the electron beam irradiation can be the surface of the irradiated object without a coating layer for the purpose of modifying the surface of the irradiated object (for example, surface hydrophilization, adhesion improvement) or modifying the physical properties (for example, improvement of heat resistance, improvement of mechanical strength).

[0163] The electron beam irradiation apparatus of the present application is not particularly limited in the specific structure as long as the irradiated object is brought into contact with the barrier portion by the non-active gas jetted from the non-active gas supply portion and the electron beam is irradiated toward the irradiated object from the irradiation surface of the electron beam irradiation portion in the state where the irradiated object is in contact with the barrier portion. For example, the jetting port 121 of the non-active gas supply portion 120 can be inclined obliquely toward the first conveyance direction dl side as in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, but can be inclined obliquely toward the second conveyance direction d2 side. In this case, the non-active gas supply portion 120 is disposed at a position on the arrow X2 side (the arrow dl side where the conveyance mechanism 150 moves the irradiated object 300) compared to the electron beam irradiation portion 110. Therefore, the configuration and disposition of each portion of the electron beam irradiation apparatus are not limited to the contents described in the specification.

[0164] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-127578 filed on August 4, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0165] 10 Electron beam irradiation apparatus 10A Electron beam irradiation apparatus 110 Electron beam irradiation portion 111 Irradiation surface 120 Non-active gas supply portion 121 Jetting port 130 Chamber portion 130A Internal space of chamber portion 130a Space between the emission surface and the barrier portion 135 Hole portion 140 Barrier portion 140A Barrier portion 140B Barrier portion 143 Concave portion 143a Concave portion 143b Concave portion 150 Carrying mechanism 151 Track portion 153 Gripping portion 155 Rotating action portion 160 Workpiece guide 300 Irradiated object 300A Medical long member 310 Main body portion of the medical long member 311 First region 311a Lubricating coating before curing 311b Lubricating coating after curing 312 Second region 315 Lumen 320 Bushing portion LA Straight-line distance between the emission surface and the irradiated object d1 First carrying direction d2 Second carrying direction g Gap θ1 Ejection angle

Claims

1. An electron beam irradiation apparatus comprising: an electron beam irradiation section having an emission surface that emits an electron beam; a non-active gas supply section having a spouting port that spouts a non-active gas; a chamber section that accommodates the emission surface and the spouting port; a barrier section that is located within the chamber section and opposes the emission surface; and a conveyance mechanism configured to be capable of arranging a portion of an object to be irradiated with respect to a space located between the emission surface and the barrier section, wherein the spouting port is located on the emission surface side within the chamber section and is inclined from the emission surface side toward the barrier section side, and wherein the non-active gas supply section is configured to spout the non-active gas from the spouting port to a position in the barrier section that opposes the emission surface in a state in which the portion of the object to be irradiated is arranged in the space located between the emission surface and the barrier section.

2. The electron beam irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance mechanism is located outside the chamber section, the chamber section has a hole section that is capable of introducing the portion of the object to be irradiated conveyed by the conveyance mechanism into the chamber, and the conveyance mechanism is configured to arrange the portion of the object to be irradiated in the space located between the emission surface and the barrier section by the hole section of the chamber section.

3. The electron beam irradiation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the conveyance mechanism has a rail section that extends toward the chamber section and a gripping section that is configured to be capable of moving along the rail section and capable of fixing the portion of the object to be irradiated, and the conveyance mechanism is configured to move the gripping section along the rail section in a state in which the object to be irradiated is suspended in a direction of gravity by the gripping section.

4. The electron beam irradiation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the object to be irradiated is a medical long member that has a long member-shaped main body section that extends in a length direction and a hub section that is arranged at one end section of the main body section, the main body section has a first region that is coated with a lubricating coating layer that is an object of irradiation of the electron beam and a second region that is arranged at the one end section side as compared with the first region and is not coated with the lubricating coating layer, and the conveyance mechanism is configured to arrange the first region in the space located between the emission surface and the barrier section by moving the gripping section in a state in which only the hub section is fixed by the gripping section.

5. The electron beam irradiation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the conveyance mechanism has a rotation action section that is capable of driving a rotation action of the gripping section in a state in which the object to be irradiated is fixed by the gripping section.

6. The electron beam irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the barrier section has a recessed section that is recessed toward a side that is away from the emission surface and the spouting port. In an electron beam irradiation apparatus that irradiates an electron beam to an object to be irradiated, the electron beam irradiation apparatus comprises: an electron beam irradiation section having an emission surface that emits an electron beam; a non-active gas supply section having a spouting port that spouts a non-active gas; a barrier section that opposes the emission surface; and ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 7. An electron beam irradiation method wherein, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ a carrying mechanism configured to be able to arrange a part of the irradiated object with respect to a space between the emission surface and the barrier portion, in the electron beam irradiation method, in a state where the part of the irradiated object is arranged in the space between the emission surface and the barrier portion, non-active gas is ejected toward the irradiated object from the ejection port on the emission surface side, in a state where the irradiated object is in contact with the barrier portion by non-active gas, the irradiated object is irradiated with an electron beam from the emission surface.

8. The electron beam irradiation method according to claim 7, wherein the carrying mechanism has a rail portion and a holding portion configured to be able to move along the rail portion and to fix a part of the irradiated object, the irradiated object is a medical long member having a long member-shaped main portion extending in a length direction and a hub portion arranged at one end portion of the main portion, the main portion has a first region coated with a lubricating coating layer that is an object of irradiation with an electron beam, and a second region arranged on the one end portion side compared with the first region and not coated with the lubricating coating layer, the carrying mechanism, in a state where only the hub portion is fixed by the holding portion, moves the holding portion to arrange the first region in the space between the emission surface and the barrier portion, and irradiates the first region with an electron beam while ejecting non-active gas toward the irradiated object.

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