Oral cavity insertion tool

Abstract

To provide an oral cavity insertion tool which enables medical equipment, such as a sonde, to be readily inserted into an oral cavity of a rodentia animal in a procedure, such as an oral administration of an administration substance into the rodentia animal, and can prevent the medical equipment from being damaged.SOLUTION: A cylindrical oral cavity insertion tool 10 is to be inserted from a mouth 21 of a rodentia animal 20, and has a lumen 10A extending in a longitudinal axis direction, a first end 11 in a distal side in the longitudinal axis direction, and a second end 12 in a proximal side. The first end 11 and the second end 12 each has an opening communicating with the lumen 10A. In a side of the second end 12 with respect to a middle point 13 in the longitudinal axis direction, the oral cavity insertion tool 10 has an enlarged diameter part 15 in which the diameter of the lumen 10A is enlarged from a side of the first end 11 to a side of the second end 12. The enlarged diameter part 15 has at least one avoidance part 16 for avoiding a tooth 22 of the rodentia animal 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an oral cavity insert that is inserted through the mouth of a rodent. [Background technology]

[0002] When administering drugs or feed orally to laboratory animals such as mice and rats, a thin, tubular medical device called a probe is used. The distal end of the probe is inserted into the oral cavity of the laboratory animal, and the substance to be administered is injected from the proximal end of the probe, allowing the substance to be forcibly administered from the esophagus to the stomach or respiratory tract of the laboratory animal.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a stainless steel sonde. Metallic sondes are inferior in flexibility, so resin sondes have also been devised. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a sonde that includes a tip portion formed from a metallic conduit, a base portion formed from a metallic conduit, and a flexible intermediate tube that connects the tip portion and the base portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 1-104112 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 4-37417 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Rodents such as mice and rats have two incisors that continue to grow on both the upper and lower jaws. When a probe is inserted into the oral cavity of a rodent, the incisors can damage the probe. In this regard, a metal probe as disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the advantage of being less susceptible to damage, but is inferior in terms of flexibility and cost. In addition, the probe disclosed in Patent Document 2 uses both metal and synthetic resin to maintain flexibility while preventing damage caused by the teeth of the test animal, but the structure is complex and expensive, making it unsuitable as a disposable probe.

[0006] Furthermore, when inserting the probe into the oral cavity of a rodent, the distal end of the probe must be pushed further out of the oral cavity of the rodent while avoiding the rodent's teeth, which requires skill on the part of the user.

[0007] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an oral cavity insertion device that allows a medical instrument such as a probe to be easily inserted into the oral cavity of a rodent during a procedure such as orally administering a substance to be administered to the rodent, and that prevents damage to the medical instrument. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The oral cavity insertion device according to the embodiment of the present invention that can solve the above problems is as follows. [1] A cylindrical oral insertion device to be inserted through the mouth of a rodent, the oral insertion device having an inner cavity extending in a longitudinal direction, and a first end on the distal side and a second end on the proximal side in the longitudinal direction, the first end and the second end each having an opening communicating with the inner cavity, and an enlarged diameter portion in which the inner cavity enlarges in diameter from the first end side to the second end side on the second end side of a midpoint in the longitudinal direction, the enlarged diameter portion having at least one avoidance portion for avoiding the teeth of the rodent.

[0009] The oral cavity insertion tool has an expanded diameter portion whose inner cavity expands from the first end side to the second end side at the second end side proximal to the midpoint in the longitudinal direction, so that the expanded diameter portion can conform to the shape of the mouth of the rodent from the back of the mouth to the mouth entrance, and the oral cavity insertion tool can be easily placed in the oral cavity of the rodent. By inserting a medical instrument such as a probe into the inner cavity of the oral cavity insertion tool from the second end side of the oral cavity insertion tool placed in this manner, damage to the medical instrument caused by being bitten by the rodent can be prevented. In addition, since the medical instrument is inserted from the second end on the expanded diameter side, it is easy to advance the medical instrument from the second end side to the first end side toward the back of the oral cavity of the rodent. Furthermore, since the medical instrument is inserted from the second end which is more expanded in diameter, the medical instrument can be inserted from any direction, making it easy to perform the procedure regardless of the skill or dominant hand of the user.

[0010] The oral cavity insertion tool has at least one avoidance portion in the enlarged diameter portion for avoiding the teeth of the rodent. The enlarged diameter portion of the oral cavity insertion tool inserted into the oral cavity of the rodent comes into contact with the oral cavity wall and teeth of the rodent, but since the enlarged diameter portion has an avoidance portion, the teeth of the rodent can be avoided by the avoidance portion. This allows the enlarged diameter portion to be stably positioned in the oral cavity without the rodent opening its mouth too wide. In addition, since the biting action of the rodent can be tolerated to a certain extent, a medical instrument such as a probe can be inserted while reducing stress on the rodent.

[0011] The oral cavity insertion device according to the embodiment of the present invention is preferably any one of the following items [2] to

[10] . [2] The oral cavity insertion device according to [1], wherein an outer diameter of the oral cavity insertion device at the midpoint is smaller than an outer diameter of the oral cavity insertion device at the second end. [3] The oral cavity insertion device according to [1] or [2], wherein the area of ​​the inner cavity of the expanded diameter portion is maximized at the second end. [4] The oral cavity insertion device according to [1] or [2], wherein the area of ​​the inner cavity of the expanded diameter portion is greatest on the first end side relative to the second end in the longitudinal axis direction. [5] The oral cavity insertion instrument according to any one of [1] to [4], which has a curved portion closer to the first end than the enlarged diameter portion in the longitudinal axis direction. [6] The oral cavity insertion device described in [5], wherein the avoidance portion is arranged on one side of a plane that is perpendicular to a plane including a central axis of the curved portion and includes a central axis of the enlarged diameter portion, and the first end is arranged on the other side of the plane. [7] The oral cavity insertion device described in [6], wherein the avoidance portion includes a first avoidance portion arranged on the one side and a second avoidance portion arranged on the other side. [8] The oral cavity insertion device according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the avoidance portion is a hole. [9] The oral cavity insertion device described in [8], wherein the hole has a major axis and a minor axis, and the hole is formed so that the major axis is aligned along the circumferential direction of the oral cavity insertion device and the minor axis is aligned along the longitudinal axis direction of the oral cavity insertion device.

[10] The oral cavity insertion device described in [8] or [9], wherein the holes include a first hole disposed on the first end side and a second hole disposed on the second end side in the longitudinal axis direction. Effect of the Invention

[0012] The oral cavity insertion device described above makes it possible to easily insert a medical instrument such as a probe into the oral cavity of a rodent during a procedure such as orally administering a substance to be administered to the rodent, and prevents damage to the medical instrument. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an oral cavity insertion instrument according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an oral cavity insertion device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 3 is an end view of a second end of the oral cavity insert shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an oral cavity insertion device according to an embodiment of the present invention is inserted from the mouth of a rodent. [Diagram 5] 3 is a plan view of the oral cavity insertion instrument shown in FIG. 2, viewed from the avoidance portion side. FIG. [Figure 6]6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 6 is another example of the plan view of FIG. 5. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along a longitudinal axis of the oral cavity insertion instrument shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] 9 is another example of the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an oral cavity insertion device according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 11 is an end view of the second end of the oral cavity insert shown in FIG. 10. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an oral cavity insertion device according to still another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The present invention will be described below based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be modified as long as it meets the purpose described above and below, and all of these modifications are included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, hatching and component symbols may be omitted in each drawing for convenience, but in such cases, the specification and other drawings should be referred to. In addition, the dimensions of various components in the drawings may differ from the actual dimensions because priority is given to helping understand the features of the present invention.

[0015] An oral cavity insertion tool according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 12. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an oral cavity insertion tool according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an oral cavity insertion tool according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is an end view of the second end of the oral cavity insertion tool shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view showing a state in which an oral cavity insertion tool according to an embodiment of the present invention is inserted from the mouth of a rodent. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the expanded diameter part of the oral cavity insertion tool shown in Fig. 2, seen from the side of the avoidance part. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is another example of the plan view in Fig. 5, showing a configuration in which the avoidance part is a hole. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view in the longitudinal axis direction including the central axis of the oral cavity insertion tool shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is another example of the cross-sectional view shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an oral cavity insertion tool according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 11 is an end view of the second end of the oral cavity insertion tool shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the expanded diameter part of an oral cavity insertion tool according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] The distal side of the oral cavity insertion instrument is the side that is first inserted into the mouth of the rodent in the longitudinal axis direction x of the oral cavity insertion instrument and is the side that is ultimately positioned at the back of the rodent's body. The proximal side of the oral cavity insertion instrument is the side opposite the distal side and is the side that is located closer to the user's hand.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, oral cavity insertion device 10 is a cylindrical oral cavity insertion device 10 to be inserted from mouth 21 of rodent 20, and has an inner cavity 10A extending in the longitudinal axis direction x, a first end 11 on the distal side and a second end 12 on the proximal side in the longitudinal axis direction x, and has openings 11A and 12A at first end 11 and second end 12, respectively, communicating with inner cavity 10A, and has an expanded diameter section 15 where inner cavity 10A expands in diameter from the first end 11 side to the second end 12 side, on the second end 12 side of a midpoint 13 in the longitudinal axis direction x.

[0018] Since the inner cavity 10A of the expanded diameter portion 15 is expanded from the first end 11 side to the second end 12 side on the second end 12 side of the midpoint 13, the expanded diameter portion 15 can conform to the shape from the back of the oral cavity 23 of the rodent 20 to the entrance of the mouth 21, and the oral cavity insertion tool 10 can be easily placed in the oral cavity 23 of the rodent 20. By inserting a medical instrument such as a probe 30 from the second end 12 side of the oral cavity insertion tool 10 thus placed into the inner cavity 10A of the oral cavity insertion tool 10 as shown by the arrow direction in Fig. 4, damage to the medical instrument due to being bitten by the rodent 20 can be prevented. In addition, since the medical instrument is inserted from the opening 12A of the second end 12 on the side with a larger diameter, it becomes easy to advance the medical instrument from the second end 12 side to the first end 11 side to the back of the oral cavity 23 of the rodent 20. Furthermore, because the medical instrument is inserted from the opening 12A of the second end 12, which has a larger diameter, the medical instrument can be inserted from any direction without worrying about hitting the teeth 22 or the area around the mouth 21. This makes it easier for the user to perform the procedure regardless of their skill or dominant hand.

[0019] In this specification, the probe 30 is described as a representative example of a medical instrument to be inserted into the cavity 10A of the oral cavity insertion instrument 10. However, the medical instrument to be inserted into the cavity 10A of the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 may be an endoscope or a catheter other than the probe 30.

[0020] The rodent 20 is an animal belonging to the order Rodentia of the class Mammalia. The rodent 20 is relatively small and has a pair of upper and lower teeth 22 (incisors). The rodent 20 includes, for example, mice, rats, guinea pigs, guinea pigs, hamsters, beavers, squirrels, mole rats, porcupines, capybaras, etc. Among them, mice, rats, and guinea pigs are suitable as experimental animals.

[0021] When orally administering drugs or feed to laboratory animals as described above, a thin tubular instrument such as the probe 30 is used. The probe 30 may be made of resin or metal, or may be composed of resin and metal, but a resin probe 30 is preferably used as a disposable probe 30 for oral administration to laboratory animals because it is flexible and can be manufactured inexpensively. Even if the probe 30 is made of resin, the use of the oral cavity insertion tool 10 can prevent the probe 30 from being damaged by the teeth 22.

[0022] The oral cavity insertion instrument 10 is cylindrical and has an inner cavity 10A. The length of the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 in the longitudinal axis direction x can be, for example, 10 mm or more, 15 mm or more, 20 mm or more, 30 mm or more, 50 mm or more, and 200 mm or less, 150 mm or less, 100 mm or less, etc. The thickness of the cylindrical shape of the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 can be, for example, 0.5 mm or more, 1 mm or more, 1.5 mm or more, 2 mm or more, and 10 mm or less, 8 mm or less, 5 mm or less, 3 mm or less, etc.

[0023] As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, it is preferable that the area of ​​the inner cavity 10A of the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 gradually increases from the distal end to the proximal end of the enlarged diameter portion 15. Here, the area of ​​the inner cavity 10A refers to the cross-sectional area of ​​the inner cavity 10A in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction x at each position in the longitudinal axis direction x. Since the area of ​​the inner cavity 10A gradually increases in the enlarged diameter portion 15, the enlarged diameter portion 15 can easily achieve the above-mentioned effects. In addition, it becomes easier to slide the teeth 22 of the rodent 20 along the outer surface of the enlarged diameter portion 15, and it becomes easier to guide the teeth 22 to the avoidance portion 16 described below.

[0024] As will be described later, the oral cavity insertion device 10 has an avoidance portion 16, and the outer edge of the lumen 10A in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction x at a position where the avoidance portion 16 is arranged in the longitudinal axis direction x and the outer edge of the opening 12A of the second end 12 are interrupted as shown in Fig. 3. The cross-sectional area of ​​the lumen 10A and the area of ​​the opening 12A at the position where the avoidance portion 16 is arranged are obtained assuming that the outer edge of the lumen 10A and the opening 12A that are closed are formed by connecting both ends of the avoidance portion 16 in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction x.

[0025] 8, the expanded diameter portion 15 may have a linear shape in a cross section taken along the longitudinal axis direction x. Alternatively, although not shown, the expanded diameter portion 15 may have a curved shape in a cross section taken along the longitudinal axis direction x, or may have both a linear shape and a curved shape.

[0026] In the longitudinal axis direction x, the length of expanded diameter portion 15 can be 20% or more, 30% or more, 50% or more, and 95% or less, 90% or less, 80% or less, 70% or less, etc., of the length from midpoint 13 to second end 12 of oral cavity insertion instrument 10. If the length of expanded diameter portion 15 in the longitudinal axis direction x is within the above range, the above effect can be achieved.

[0027] Since oral cavity insertion instrument 10 has enlarged diameter portion 15, it is preferable that the area of ​​opening 12A of second end 12 is larger than the area of ​​opening 11A of first end 11, and the area of ​​opening 12A of second end 12 can be 1.5 times or more, 2 times or more, 3 times or more, 5 times or more, or 30 times or less, 20 times or less, 10 times or less, etc., the area of ​​opening 11A of first end 11.

[0028] The shape of opening 11A at first end 11 is not particularly limited as long as first end 11 can be inserted into the back side of oral cavity 23 of rodent 20. The shape of opening 11A at first end 11 is preferably, for example, a circular shape such as a circle or an ellipse, a polygonal shape such as a square or a rectangle, or a rounded polygonal shape such as a square with rounded corners or a rectangle with rounded corners, and more preferably a circular shape such as a circle or an ellipse. When opening 11A at first end 11 has a circular shape such as a circle or an ellipse, oral cavity insertion instrument 10 is less likely to get caught on the wall of a body cavity such as oral cavity 23 of rodent 20.

[0029] The shape of the opening 11A at the first end 11 may have a major axis and a minor axis. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the shape of the opening 11A at the first end 11 may have a major axis and a minor axis by being an ellipse formed by cutting a tube at an angle.

[0030] 1 and 2, the opening 11A of the first end 11 may be perpendicular to the central axis X. That is, a point on the edge of the opening 11A of the first end 11 may be located at the same position in the longitudinal axis direction x. Here, the opening 11A of the first end 11 being perpendicular to the central axis X includes the opening 11A extending in a range of -5° to +5° with respect to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction x.

[0031] The shape of the opening 12A at the second end 12 is not particularly limited as long as it is larger than the shape of the opening 11A at the first end 11. The shape of the opening 12A at the second end 12 is preferably a circular shape such as a circle or an ellipse, a polygonal shape such as a square or a rectangle, or a rounded polygonal shape such as a square with rounded corners or a rectangle with rounded corners, and more preferably a circular shape such as a circle or an ellipse. By having the shape of the opening 12A at the second end 12 be a circular shape such as a circle or an ellipse, the oral cavity insertion tool 10 is less likely to get caught on the wall of the body cavity such as the oral cavity 23 of the rodent 20 or the edge of the mouth 21. When the avoidance portion 16 is provided at the second end 12, the shape of the opening 12A at the second end is preferably a shape with a cutout portion provided in the above shape, for example, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0032] The cross-sectional shape of the cavity 10A of the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 may be the same or different along the longitudinal axis direction x.

[0033] Specifically, the length of the major axis of the opening 11A of the first end 11 can be 1 mm or more, 2 mm or more, 3 mm or more, and 10 mm or less, 8 mm or less, 5 mm or less, etc. The major axis of the opening 11A of the first end 11 is, for example, the diameter when the shape of the opening 11A is a circle, the major axis when the shape of the opening 11A is an ellipse, and the length of the long side when the shape of the opening 11A is a rectangle or a rectangle with rounded corners. An oral cavity insertion device 10 in which the major axis of the opening 11A of the first end 11 is short can be easily used for a relatively small rodent 20 such as a mouse, and an oral cavity insertion device 10 in which the major axis of the opening 11A of the first end 11 is long can be easily used for a relatively large rodent 20 such as a rat.

[0034] The length of the major axis of opening 12A of second end 12 may be appropriately set so as to form expanded diameter portion 15. When oral cavity insertion device 10 is used for a relatively small rodent 20 such as a mouse, the length of the major axis of opening 12A of second end 12 may be 5 mm or more, 8 mm or more, and 30 mm or less, 20 mm or less, 15 mm or less, 12 mm or less, 10 mm or less, etc., and when oral cavity insertion device 10 is used for a relatively large rodent 20 such as a rat, the length may be 8 mm or more, 10 mm or more, 15 mm or more, and 70 mm or less, 50 mm or less, 40 mm or less, 35 mm or less, 30 mm or less, 20 mm or less, etc.

[0035] As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 has at least one avoiding portion 16 in the expanded diameter portion 15 for avoiding teeth 22 of a rodent 20. The expanded diameter portion 15 of the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 inserted into the oral cavity 23 of a rodent 20 comes into contact with the walls and teeth 22 of the oral cavity 23 of the rodent 20, but since the expanded diameter portion 15 has the avoiding portion 16, it is possible to avoid the teeth 22 of the rodent as shown in Fig. 4. This allows the expanded diameter portion 15 to be stably positioned in the oral cavity 23 without opening the mouth 21 of the rodent 20 too widely. In addition, since the biting action of the rodent 20 can be tolerated to a certain extent, a medical instrument such as a probe 30 can be inserted while reducing stress on the rodent 20.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, avoidance portion 16 is preferably formed by removing enlarged diameter portion 15 in the vicinity of second end 12, that is, at the proximal end portion of oral cavity insertion instrument .

[0037] 5, the avoidance portion 16 may be provided continuously from the second end 12 to a predetermined position on the first end 11 side in the longitudinal axis direction x. An example of such an avoidance portion 16 is a configuration in which the outer edge of the expanded diameter portion 15 at the second end 12 is recessed toward the first end side, i.e., the proximal side, in the longitudinal axis direction x. The shape of the recess may be a part of a circle such as a circle or an ellipse, a part of a polygon such as a rectangle, a part of a polygon with rounded corners such as a rectangle with rounded corners, or a combination thereof, or may be an irregular shape.

[0038] If the avoidance portion 16 is provided continuously in the longitudinal axis direction x from the second end 12 to a predetermined position on the first end side, a missing portion of the enlarged diameter portion 15 as shown in Figure 3 is also formed at the second end 12, making it easier to position the teeth 22 of the rodent 20 in the avoidance portion 16.

[0039] The length of the avoidance portion 16 in the longitudinal direction x can be, for example, 1 / 20 or more, 1 / 15 or more, 1 / 10 or more, etc., of the length of the longitudinal direction x of the enlarged diameter portion 15. If the lower limit of the length of the longitudinal direction x of the avoidance portion 16 is within the above range, it becomes easy to arrange the teeth 22 of the rodent 20 in the avoidance portion 16. In addition, the length of the longitudinal direction x of the avoidance portion 16 can be, for example, 1 / 2 or less, 1 / 3 or less, 1 / 4 or less, etc., of the length of the longitudinal direction x of the enlarged diameter portion 15. If the upper limit of the length of the longitudinal direction x of the avoidance portion 16 is within the above range, the teeth 22 can be avoided by the avoidance portion 16 while the mouth 21 of the rodent 20 is opened by the enlarged diameter portion 15, while preventing a decrease in the strength of the enlarged diameter portion 15.

[0040] In a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction x, the length of the avoidance portion 16 in the circumferential direction of the enlarged diameter portion 15 can be, for example, 1 / 50 or more, 1 / 40 or more, 1 / 30 or more, etc. of the circumferential length of the enlarged diameter portion 15 at the position where the avoidance portion 16 is provided. If the lower limit of the circumferential length of the avoidance portion 16 is within the above range, the teeth 22 of the rodent 20 can be arranged in the avoidance portion 16. In addition, the length of the avoidance portion 16 in the circumferential direction of the enlarged diameter portion 15 can be, for example, 1 / 4 or less, 1 / 6 or less, 1 / 8 or less, etc. of the circumferential length of the enlarged diameter portion 15 at the position where the avoidance portion 16 is provided. If the upper limit of the circumferential length of the avoidance portion 16 is within the above range, the teeth 22 can be avoided by the avoidance portion 16 while the mouth 21 of the rodent 20 is opened by the enlarged diameter portion 15 while preventing a decrease in the strength of the enlarged diameter portion 15. Here, the circumferential length of the expanded diameter portion 15 can be measured on the assumption that a closed outer edge of the expanded diameter portion 15 is formed by connecting both ends of the avoidance portion 16 in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction x.

[0041] When a plurality of avoidance portions 16 are provided in the circumferential direction of the expanded diameter portion 15, the lengths of the respective avoidance portions 16 in the longitudinal axis direction x and in the circumferential direction may be the same or different.

[0042] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, the avoidance portion 16 may be a hole 16A. The hole 16A is preferably formed in the wall of the enlarged diameter portion 15 near the second end 12 of the enlarged diameter portion 15, i.e., at the proximal end of the oral cavity insertion device 10. Since the avoidance portion 16 is a hole 16A, the enlarged diameter portion 15 is provided with a partly missing avoidance portion 16 at the proximal end of the oral cavity insertion device 10 closer to the first end 11 than the second end 12, and the second end 12 of the enlarged diameter portion 15 has no missing portion, and the rigidity of the enlarged diameter portion 15 can be improved. This makes it easier for the oral cavity insertion device 10 to keep the mouth 21 of the rodent 20 open, and makes it easier to protect the medical device when a medical device such as a probe 30 is inserted into the cavity 10A of the oral cavity insertion device 10. Furthermore, since the avoidance portion 16 is a hole 16A having a closed contour, the teeth 22 of the rodent 20 can fit into the hole 16A. This makes it difficult for the teeth 22 avoided by the avoidance portion 16 to shift, and allows the oral cavity insertion tool 10 to be stably positioned within the oral cavity 23 of the rodent 20.

[0043] In the longitudinal axis direction x, the length L from the second end 12 to the proximal end of the hole 16A can be, for example, 1 / 10 or more, 1 / 8 or more, 1 / 5 or more, etc. of the length of the hole 16A. If the length L is a predetermined value or more, it is easy to improve the rigidity of the expanded diameter portion 15. Also, the length L can be, for example, 2 times or less, 1.5 times or less, 1 time or less, etc., of the length of the hole 16A. If the length L is a predetermined value or less, the length of the portion proximal to the avoidance portion 16 that protrudes proximally from the mouth 21 of the rodent 20 can be shortened, and the oral cavity insertion device 10 can be made compact and easy to use.

[0044] Hole 16A has a major axis and a minor axis, and hole 16A is preferably formed so that the major axis is along the circumferential direction of oral cavity insertion device 10 and the minor axis is along the longitudinal axis direction x of oral cavity insertion device 10. Since teeth 22 of rodent 20 have a flat shape, hole 16A having the above configuration can make teeth 22 fitted in hole 16A less likely to shift in the longitudinal axis direction x. This can make the placement of oral cavity insertion device 10 in oral cavity 23 of rodent 20 more stable.

[0045] 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 to 9, the outer diameter of oral cavity insertion device 10 at midpoint 13 is preferably smaller than the outer diameter of oral cavity insertion device 10 at second end 12. Since midpoint 13 of oral cavity insertion device 10 is a portion that is inserted deeper into oral cavity 23 of rodent 20 than second end 12, the smaller outer diameter at midpoint 13 makes it easier to insert the portion including midpoint 13.

[0046] The outer diameter of the oral cavity insertion device 10 at the midpoint 13 can be, for example, 1 / 20 or more, 1 / 15 or more, 1 / 10 or more, or 1 / 2 or less, 1 / 3 or less, 1 / 5 or less, etc. of the outer diameter of the oral cavity insertion device 10 at the second end 12.

[0047] It is preferable that the outer diameter of the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 does not change from the first end 11 to the midpoint 13 in the longitudinal axis direction x. Here, "the outer diameter of the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 does not change" means that the rate of change in the outer diameter is 10% or less. The rate of change in the outer diameter may be 0%, or may be 0% or more and 5% or less, 3% or less, 2% or less, or 1% or less. This allows the portion of the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 from the first end 11 to the midpoint 13 to be more easily inserted deep into the oral cavity 23 of the rodent 20.

[0048] 4, with the oral cavity insertion device 10 inserted into the oral cavity 23 of the rodent 20, the second end 12 is preferably positioned outside the mouth 21 of the rodent 20. This makes it easier to insert a medical instrument such as a probe 30 into the inner cavity 10A of the oral cavity insertion device 10.

[0049] 8, it is preferable that the area of ​​cavity 10A of enlarged diameter portion 15 is maximum at second end 12. Since enlarged diameter portion 15 has the area of ​​cavity 10A maximum at second end 12, when inserting oral cavity insertion instrument 10 from mouth 21 of rodent 20, teeth 22 can be inserted deeper into oral cavity 23 while sliding along the outer surface of enlarged diameter portion 15, making it easier to position teeth 22 near second end 12 and to have them avoid contact with avoidance portion 16.

[0050] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, the expanded diameter section 15 may be configured such that the area of ​​the lumen 10A is maximum on the first end 11 side rather than the second end 12 in the longitudinal axis direction x. In this case, it is preferable that the expanded diameter section 15 has a region where the area of ​​the lumen 10A does not change proximal to the position where the area of ​​the lumen 10A is maximum. Here, "the area of ​​the lumen 10A does not change" means that the rate of change in the area of ​​the lumen 10A is 10% or less. The rate of change in the area may be 0%, or may be 0% or more and 5% or less, 3% or less, 2% or less, or 1% or less. In this case, it is preferable that at least a part of the avoidance section 16 is disposed in the region where the area of ​​the expanded diameter section 15 does not change. With this configuration, when inserting oral cavity insertion instrument 10 through mouth 21 of rodent 20, teeth 22 can be inserted deep into oral cavity 23 while sliding them over the outer surface of enlarged diameter section 15, and then teeth 22 can be arranged in a region where the area of ​​cavity 10A does not change, making it easy to avoid teeth 22 at avoidance section 16. In addition, because a region where the area of ​​cavity 10A does not change can be arranged at the entrance of mouth 21 of rodent 20, displacement of oral cavity insertion instrument 10 can be easily prevented.

[0051] In the configuration shown in Fig. 8, the area of ​​the lumen 10A of the expanded diameter section 15 is maximum at the second end 12, and therefore the opening 12A of the second end 12 constitutes the proximal end of the expanded diameter section 15. In the configuration shown in Fig. 9, the cross-sectional area of ​​the lumen 10A in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction x is maximum at a position closer to the first end 11 than to the second end 12 in the longitudinal axis direction x, and the area of ​​the lumen 10A does not change from that position to the second end 12. In this configuration as well, it is preferable that the opening 12A of the second end 12 constitutes the proximal end of the expanded diameter section 15.

[0052] When the expanded diameter section 15 has a configuration in which the area of ​​the inner cavity 10A is maximum on the first end 11 side rather than the second end 12 in the longitudinal axis direction x, and the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 has a region where the area of ​​the inner cavity 10A does not change proximal to the expanded diameter section 15, the length of the region where the area of ​​the inner cavity 10A does not change in the longitudinal axis direction x can be 5% or more, 10% or more, 20% or more, or 70% or less, 60% or less, 50% or less, etc. of the length from the midpoint 13 to the second end 12 of the oral cavity insertion instrument 10. In addition, the length of the region where the area of ​​the inner cavity 10A does not change in the longitudinal axis direction x can be 3% or more, 5% or more, 10% or more, or 60% or less, 50% or less, 40% or less, etc. of the length of the expanded diameter section 15.

[0053] As shown in Figures 2, 4, 8, and 9, the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 preferably has a curved portion 14 on the first end 11 side of the expanded diameter portion 15 in the longitudinal axis direction x. By inserting the curved portion 14 from the mouth 21 of the rodent 20 toward the back along the wall of the body cavity, the portion of the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 on the first end 11 side of the expanded diameter portion 15 can be easily inserted to the back of the oral cavity 23 of the rodent 20. The curved portion 14 can be advanced to the back of the oral cavity 23 of the rodent 20 so that the first end 11 of the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 reaches the back of the oral cavity 23 of the rodent 20, for example, the esophagus or airway.

[0054] The central axis X in the curved portion 14 is preferably on the same plane A. That is, the curved portion 14 is preferably not twisted. Here, the curved portion 14 preferably has a proximal end and a distal end, and the proximal end of the curved portion 14 is the position where the extending direction of the central axis X, which is a constant direction on the proximal side of the proximal end, starts to curve, and the distal end of the curved portion 14 is the position where the extending direction of the central axis X, which was curved in the curved portion 14, becomes constant. The curved portion 14 is preferably configured so that the central axis X is on the plane A in at least a part from the proximal end to the distal end, and more preferably configured so that the central axis X is on the plane A throughout the entire portion from the proximal end to the distal end.

[0055] 2, 8, and 9, the degree of curvature of the curved portion 14 can be defined as an angle α between a tangent to the central axis X at the proximal end of the curved portion 14 and a tangent to the central axis X at the distal end of the curved portion 14 in the inward direction of the curved portion 14. The angle α is not particularly limited as long as the curved portion 14 can be inserted deep into the oral cavity 23 of the rodent 20, but can be, for example, 90° or more, 100° or more, 120° or more, and 175° or less, 170° or less, 160° or less, 150° or less, etc.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 4, when the shape of the opening 11A at the first end 11 is an ellipse formed by cutting a tube obliquely and has a long axis and a short axis, it is preferable that one end of the long axis located on the inside of the curved portion 14 is located distal to the other end located on the outside of the curved portion 14 in the longitudinal axis direction x. This makes it easier for the first end 11 to follow the wall of the body cavity of the rodent 20 when the first end 11 is advanced from the mouth 21 of the rodent 20 to the back of the oral cavity 23. Alternatively, depending on the site to which the first end 11 is inserted, one end of the long axis located on the inside of the curved portion 14 may be located proximal to the longitudinal axis direction x than the other end located on the outside of the curved portion 14. Alternatively, the opening 11A at the first end 11 may be formed by cutting the tube obliquely so that both ends of the long axis face in any direction depending on the site to which the first end 11 is inserted and the ease of insertion. When opening 11A at first end 11 is formed by cutting a tube obliquely, the cut surface preferably extends in the range of -45° to +45° with respect to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction x. This range is more preferably -30° to +30°, and even more preferably -15° to +15°. This prevents first end 11 from becoming too sharp and from injuring the wall of the body cavity, such as oral cavity 23, of rodent 20.

[0057] As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6, the curved portion 14 is located closer to the first end 11 than the enlarged diameter portion 15 in the longitudinal axis direction x, and it is preferable that the avoidance portion 16 is arranged on one side of a plane B that is perpendicular to a plane A including the central axis X of the curved portion 14 and includes the central axis X of the enlarged diameter portion 15, and the first end 11 is arranged on the other side. Figs. 3 and 6 show planes A and B. When the curved portion 14 is inserted toward the back from the mouth 21 of the rodent 20, plane B that is perpendicular to the plane A including the central axis X of the curved portion 14 and includes the central axis X of the enlarged diameter portion 25 extends in the width direction of the mouth 21 of the rodent 20. The avoidance portion 16 is arranged on one side of this plane B (above plane B in Figs. 3 and 6), and the first end 11 is arranged on the other side (below plane B in Figs. 3 and 6), so that the avoidance portion 16 can avoid the upper teeth 22a of the rodent 20. Since the teeth 22 of the rodent 20 used as the experimental animal have upper teeth 22a longer than lower teeth 22b, the above-mentioned configuration allows the longer upper teeth 22a to be avoided by the avoidance portion 16. This improves the effect of the avoidance portion 16.

[0058] Since the other side of plane B (the lower side of plane B in Figures 3 and 6) is the part that abuts against the shorter lower teeth 22b of the rodent 20, the avoidance portion 16 does not need to be provided on the other side of plane B.

[0059] 10 and 11, it is preferable that the avoiding portion 16 includes a first avoiding portion 16a disposed on one side of the plane B and a second avoiding portion 16b disposed on the other side. This allows the upper teeth 22a of the rodent 20 to be avoided by the first avoiding portion 16a and the lower teeth 22b to be avoided by the second avoiding portion 16b when the curved portion 14 is inserted toward the back of the mouth 21 of the rodent 20. This allows the effect of the avoiding portion 16 to be further improved.

[0060] It is preferable that the circumferential length of the first avoidance portion 16a disposed on one side of plane B, i.e., the side opposite the first end 11 with respect to plane B, be longer than the circumferential length of the second avoidance portion 16b disposed on the other side of plane B. Since the upper teeth 22a of the rodent 20 avoided by the first avoidance portion 16a are larger than the lower teeth 22b, the above configuration makes it easier to allow the teeth 22 to be avoided by the avoidance portion 16.

[0061] It is preferable that the length of the first avoiding portion 16a in the longitudinal direction x is longer than the length of the second avoiding portion 16b in the longitudinal direction x. Since the upper teeth 22a of the rodent 20 avoided by the first avoiding portion 16a are larger than the lower teeth 22b, the above configuration makes it easier to allow the teeth 22 to be avoided by the avoiding portion 16.

[0062] The first avoidance portion 16a and the second avoidance portion 16b may both be holes 16A, or both may be missing portions in which the second ends 12 are missing on the first end 11 side in the longitudinal axis direction x, or one of them may be a hole 16A and the other may be a missing portion.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 12, when the avoidance portion 16 is a hole 16A, the hole 16A preferably includes a first hole 16A-1 arranged on the first end 11 side and a second hole 16A-2 arranged on the second end 12 side in the longitudinal axis direction x. By providing a plurality of holes 16A in the longitudinal axis direction x, the teeth 22 can be avoided from the first hole 16A-1 arranged on the first end 11 side of the enlarged diameter portion 15 having a smaller area of ​​the inner cavity 10A when the oral cavity insertion device 10 is used for a rodent 20 such as a mouse having a small mouth 21, and the teeth 22 can be avoided from the second hole 16A-2 arranged on the second end side of the enlarged diameter portion 15 having a larger area of ​​the inner cavity 10A when the oral cavity insertion device 10 is used for a rodent 20 such as a rat having a large mouth 21. In this way, one oral cavity insertion device 10 can be applied to various rodents 20.

[0064] When multiple holes 16A are provided in the longitudinal axis direction x, it is preferable that the area of ​​the first hole 16A-1 arranged on the first end 11 side is larger than the area of ​​the second hole 16A-2 arranged on the second end 12 side. Since the teeth 22 of rodents 20 having larger oral cavities 23 are also larger, the above configuration makes it easier to allow the teeth 22 to avoid the avoidance portion 16.

[0065] The multiple holes 16A may be formed only on one side of the plane B, i.e., on the side opposite the first end 11 with respect to the plane B, or may be formed on both sides of the plane.

[0066] Although not shown, a hole 16A may be formed on the first end 11 side of the avoidance portion 16 where the second end 12 of the enlarged diameter portion 15 is missing. The avoidance portion 16 on the second end 12 side allows the teeth 22 to be avoided when the oral cavity insertion device 10 is used for a rodent 20 such as a rat having a large mouth 21, and the hole 16A on the first end 11 side allows the teeth 22 to be avoided when the oral cavity insertion device 10 is used for a rodent 20 such as a mouse having a small mouth 21.

[0067] The oral cavity insertion tool 10 is preferably made of a resin. Examples of the resin constituting the oral cavity insertion tool 10 include fluorine-based resins, silicone-based resins, polyolefin-based resins, polyester-based resins, polyurethane-based resins, polyamide-based resins, and natural rubbers such as latex rubber. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. If the oral cavity insertion tool 10 is made of a resin, the oral cavity insertion tool 10 can be softened when it is inserted from the mouth 21 to the oral cavity 23 of the rodent 20, so that the stress of the rodent 20 can be reduced. In addition, since the oral cavity insertion tool 10 is easy to manufacture at low cost, the oral cavity insertion tool 10 can be made disposable after each procedure, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of the procedure.

[0068] Alternatively, the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 may be made of a metal. Examples of metals constituting the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 include stainless steel, iron, copper, and aluminum. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. If the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 is made of a metal, damage to the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 caused by contact with the teeth 22 of the rodent 20 can be easily prevented. This improves durability, and allows the oral cavity insertion instrument 10 to be washed and used repeatedly.

[0069] Alternatively, the oral cavity insertion tool 10 may be made of resin and metal.

[0070] As described above, the oral cavity insertion device 10 can be used to prevent damage to medical instruments such as the probe 30 during procedures such as orally administering a substance to the rodent 20. In addition, the oral cavity insertion device 10 can easily open the mouth 21 of the rodent 20, and a medical instrument can be easily inserted into the oral cavity 23 of the rodent 20 regardless of the skill or dominant hand of the surgeon performing the procedure. Furthermore, by securing an insertion passage using the oral cavity insertion device 10, it is possible to perform procedures such as inserting multiple medical instruments consecutively into the oral cavity 23 of the rodent 20 or inserting another medical instrument through a gap between the oral cavity insertion device 10 and the mouth 21 of the rodent 20. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 10: Oral insertion tool 10A: lumen 11: 1st end 11A: First end opening 12: 2nd end 12A: Opening at second end 13: Midpoint 14: Curved section 15: Expanded diameter part 16: Avoidance part 16a: 1st avoidance part 16b:Second avoidance part 16A: Hole 16A-1: 1st hole 16A-2: 2nd hole 20:Rodents 21: Mouth 22: Teeth 22a: upper teeth 22b: Lower teeth 23: Oral cavity 30: Sonde A: A plane including the central axis of the curved part B: A plane perpendicular to plane A and including the central axis of the enlarged diameter portion L: Length from the second end to the proximal end of the hole x: Longitudinal direction

Claims

1. A cylindrical oral cavity insertion device that is inserted into the mouth of a rodent, a lumen extending in a longitudinal direction; The catheter has a first end on a distal side and a second end on a proximal side in a longitudinal direction, The first end and the second end each have an opening communicating with the inner cavity, The inner cavity has an expanded diameter portion in which the inner cavity expands in diameter from the first end side to the second end side on the second end side relative to a midpoint in the longitudinal axis direction, The oral cavity insertion tool has at least one avoidance portion on the enlarged portion for avoiding the teeth of the rodent.

2. The oral cavity insertion device according to claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the oral cavity insertion device at the midpoint is smaller than an outer diameter of the oral cavity insertion device at the second end.

3. The oral cavity insertion instrument according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the area of ​​the inner cavity of the expanded diameter portion is maximized at the second end.

4. The oral cavity insertion device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the area of ​​the inner cavity of the expanded diameter portion is greatest on a side of the first end relative to the second end in the longitudinal axis direction.

5. The oral cavity insertion instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a curved portion on the first end side relative to the enlarged diameter portion in the longitudinal axis direction.

6. 6. The oral cavity insertion device according to claim 5, wherein the avoidance portion is disposed on one side of a plane that is perpendicular to a plane including a central axis of the curved portion and that includes a central axis of the enlarged diameter portion, and the first end is disposed on the other side of the plane.

7. The oral cavity insertion device according to claim 6 , wherein the avoidance portion includes a first avoidance portion disposed on the one side and a second avoidance portion disposed on the other side.

8. The oral cavity insertion device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the avoidance portion is a hole.

9. The oral cavity insertion device according to claim 8, wherein the hole has a major axis and a minor axis, and the hole is formed so that the major axis is along a circumferential direction of the oral cavity insertion device and the minor axis is along a longitudinal axis direction of the oral cavity insertion device.

10. The oral cavity insertion device according to claim 9 , wherein the holes include a first hole disposed on the first end side and a second hole disposed on the second end side in the longitudinal axis direction.

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