Method for treating filariasis in mammals excluding humans

Abstract

To provide a treatment method that enables facilitation and proper implementation of treatment of filariasis in mammals excluding humans.SOLUTION: A method for treating filariasis in mammals excluding humans comprises: (a) inserting a guide wire into the predetermined vein of the mammal (S2); (b) advancing the guide wire to a parasitic site where the filaria resides (S4); (c) guiding forceps along the guide wire to the parasitic site (S6); (d) seizing the filaria in the parasitic site with the forceps (S7); and (e) withdrawing the forceps holding the filaria to the outside of the mammal's body (S8).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to methods for treating heartworm disease in mammals other than humans. [Background technology]

[0002] A known method for treating heartworm (filariasis) is to insert flexible alligator forceps from the jugular vein into the right atrium, right ventricle, and pulmonary artery, and then grasp and remove the heartworms with the forceps from the body, as described in Non-Patent Document 1. With this method, it is necessary to repeatedly insert and remove the forceps multiple times to remove the many heartworms that have parasitized the pulmonary artery. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] Yoshinori Ohba, "Canine Heartworm Removal Using Flexible Alligator Forceps," Internet (URL: https: / / www.animalhospital.gifu-u.ac.jp / seminar / pdf / file020_01.pdf) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, to insert a flexible alligator forceps into the pulmonary artery, it is necessary to repeatedly push and bend the forceps, and since this is done without being able to visually check the position of the forceps inside the body, it relies heavily on the surgeon's sense and technique. This requires a high level of skill from the surgeon.

[0005] Even if the surgeon has advanced skills, as mentioned above, in order to remove a large number of heartworms, the surgeon must repeatedly insert and remove the forceps multiple times, which places a burden on the surgeon.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in light of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a treatment method that can easily and appropriately treat filariasis in mammals other than humans. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve this object, one aspect of the present invention provides a method for treating filariasis in a mammal other than a human, which comprises: (a) inserting a guidewire into a predetermined vein of the mammal; (b) inserting the guidewire into an infested area where a filariasis has occurred; (c) guiding forceps along the guidewire to the infested area; (d) grasping the filariasis in the infested area with the forceps; and (e) removing the forceps with the grasped filariasis from the mammal's body. This treatment method allows the forceps to be easily and appropriately guided to the infested area, and the filariasis to be removed from the mammal's body.

[0008] In the method for treating filariasis in mammals other than humans, an angiographic catheter may be inserted in step (a), and the guidewire may be inserted into the infested area while supplying a contrast medium through the angiographic catheter and observing the blood vessels with an X-ray device in step (b). This treatment method allows the guidewire to be easily and appropriately inserted into the infested area.

[0009] In any of the above methods for treating heartworm disease in mammals other than humans, steps (c), (d), and (e) may be repeated. This treatment method allows the forceps to be easily and appropriately guided repeatedly to the infested area, and many heartworms can be removed from the mammal's body.

[0010] In any of the above methods for treating heartworm disease in mammals other than humans, the predetermined vein may be the jugular vein. According to this method, forceps can be easily and appropriately inserted through the jugular vein to the infested area.

[0011] In any of the above methods for treating heartworm disease in mammals other than humans, the infested area may be a pulmonary artery, and this treatment method allows for easy and appropriate removal of heartworms parasitizing the pulmonary artery.

[0012] In any of the above methods for treating heartworm disease in mammals other than humans, in step (a), a sheath introducer may be inserted into the vein and a guidewire may be inserted through the sheath introducer. According to this method, the guidewire can be easily inserted through the sheath introducer.

[0013] In any of the above methods for treating heartworm disease in mammals other than humans, in (c), the forceps may be guided to the infested area with a gripping portion for grasping the heartworm housed inside the shaft of the forceps. This treatment method can appropriately prevent the gripping portion from coming into contact with blood vessels when guiding the forceps to the infested area. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a flowchart of a treatment method according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a structural diagram of an example of forceps that can be used in a treatment method according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are structural diagrams of another example of forceps that can be used in a treatment method according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The method for treating heartworm disease in mammals other than humans according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0016] In one embodiment, a method for treating, for example, canine heartworm disease is described.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a treatment method according to one embodiment.

[0018] The veterinarian incises the skin of the neck of the dog to be treated, for example, by the cut-down method, to expose the jugular vein (S1).

[0019] Next, the veterinarian inserts a sheath introducer into the jugular vein (S2).

[0020] Next, the veterinarian inserts a guide wire and an angiography catheter into the blood vessel through the sheath introducer (S3).

[0021] Next, the veterinarian inserts the guidewire to the infested area where the heartworms are present, while supplying a contrast medium through the angiography catheter and visualizing the blood vessels with a surgical X-ray device (S4). Infested areas include the pulmonary artery and the heart. When inserting the guidewire to the pulmonary artery, the veterinarian inserts the guidewire from the jugular vein, through the right atrium and right ventricle, and into the pulmonary artery.

[0022] Next, the veterinarian removes the angiography catheter and the sheath introducer from the dog (S5).

[0023] Next, the veterinarian repeats the processing of loop A (S6 to S8) as many times as necessary. The necessary number of times means the number of times until it is no longer necessary to remove heartworms, and may be, for example, the number of times necessary to remove all heartworms that have infested the infested area, or, if no heartworms infesting the infested area can be observed, the number of times until it is considered that all heartworms have been removed, or it may be just one time.

[0024] In processing loop A, the veterinarian guides a forceps insertable along the guidewire until the tip reaches the infested area (S6). An example of a forceps insertable along the guidewire will be described later with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

[0025] Next, the veterinarian operates the forceps guided to the infested area to grasp the heartworms present in the infested area (S7).

[0026] Next, the veterinarian removes the heartworm from the dog's body while still holding the forceps (S8), thereby removing the heartworm from the infested area.

[0027] According to the above-described treatment method, the forceps are guided to the parasitic area along the guide wire, so that the forceps can be easily and appropriately guided to the parasitic area.

[0028] An example of a forceps that can be inserted along a guide wire will now be described.

[0029] Fig. 2 is a structural diagram of an example of forceps that can be used in a treatment method according to one embodiment, showing a state in which a guide wire G is inserted through the forceps.

[0030] The forceps 10 includes a main shaft 11, a sub-shaft 12, an operating portion 13, an operating ring 14, a slider 15, and a grip portion 16.

[0031] The main shaft 11 is cylindrical and flexible enough to bend within a blood vessel. The longitudinal length of the main shaft 11 is longer than the path length from the insertion point into the body to the parasitic region. The material of the main shaft 11 is preferably antithrombotic, flexible, and biocompatible, and may be, for example, a resin material such as polyamide resin, polyolefin resin, polyethylene resin, polyester resin, polyurethane resin, silicone resin, or fluororesin.

[0032] A gripping portion 16 is disposed on the tip side of the main shaft 11 that is inserted into the body, and an operating portion 13 is connected to the base end side opposite the tip side of the main shaft 11. A control body (not shown) is provided inside the main shaft 11, which transmits a control force based on the operation of the operating portion 13 to the gripping portion 16. The control body may be, for example, a bendable wire.

[0033] The sub-shaft 12 is cylindrical and flexible enough to bend within a blood vessel. The longitudinal length of the sub-shaft 12 is, for example, longer than the path length from the insertion point into the body to the parasitic region. The material of the sub-shaft 12 is preferably antithrombogenic, flexible, and biocompatible, and may be, for example, a resin material such as polyamide resin, polyolefin resin, polyethylene resin, polyester resin, polyurethane resin, silicone resin, or fluororesin. The lumen of the sub-shaft 12 is used to insert the guidewire G. The sub-shaft 12 is formed integrally with the main shaft 11 and is bendable together with the main shaft 11. The main shaft 11 and the sub-shaft 12 may be a single shaft having two lumens.

[0034] The gripping portion 16 includes a pair of forceps for grasping an object, i.e., a heartworm, and is connected to the distal end side of a control body provided inside the main shaft 11.

[0035] The operating portion 13 is a portion that is held and operated by the surgeon to operate the forceps 10, and an operating ring 14 for inserting the thumb is disposed on the proximal end side.

[0036] The operation unit 13 is provided with a slider 15 that is slidable in the longitudinal direction.

[0037] The base end side of a control body provided inside the main shaft 11 is connected to the slider 15. In the forceps 10 of Fig. 2, when the slider 15 is slid toward the operation ring 14, a control force is transmitted to the gripping portion 16 via the control body, causing the forceps pieces of the gripping portion 16 to open, and when the slider 15 is slid away from the operation ring 14, a control force is transmitted to the gripping portion 16 via the control body, causing the forceps pieces of the gripping portion 16 to close.

[0038] When the forceps 10 are used, in step S6, the proximal end side of the guidewire G that has been inserted to the parasitic region is inserted from the distal end side to the proximal end side of the lumen of the sub-shaft 12. Next, the distal end of the forceps 10 is inserted into the jugular vein, and the forceps 10 is moved distally along the guidewire G to be guided to the parasitic region.

[0039] According to this forceps 10, by moving it along the guide wire G, the tip of the forceps 10 can be easily and appropriately guided to the parasitic area.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of another example of forceps that can be used in a treatment method according to an embodiment.

[0041] The forceps 20 includes a main shaft 21, a sub-shaft 22, an operation portion 23, an operation ring 24, a slider 25, and a grip portion 26.

[0042] The main shaft 21 is cylindrical and flexible enough to bend within a blood vessel. The longitudinal length of the main shaft 21 is longer than the path length from the insertion point into the body to the parasitic region. The material of the main shaft 21 is preferably antithrombotic, flexible, and biocompatible, and may be, for example, a resin material such as polyamide resin, polyolefin resin, polyethylene resin, polyester resin, polyurethane resin, silicone resin, or fluororesin.

[0043] A gripping portion 26 is disposed on the tip side of the main shaft 21 that is inserted into the body, and an operating portion 23 is connected to the base end side opposite the tip side of the main shaft 21. A control body (not shown) that transmits a control force based on the operation of the operating portion 23 to the gripping portion 26 is provided inside the main shaft 21.

[0044] The sub-shaft 22 is cylindrical and flexible enough to bend within a blood vessel. The longitudinal length of the sub-shaft 22 is, for example, longer than the path length from the insertion point into the body to the parasitic region. The material of the sub-shaft 22 is preferably antithrombogenic, flexible, and biocompatible, and may be, for example, a resin material such as polyamide resin, polyolefin resin, polyethylene resin, polyester resin, polyurethane resin, silicone resin, or fluororesin. The lumen of the sub-shaft 22 is used to insert the guidewire G. The sub-shaft 22 is formed integrally with the main shaft 21 and is bendable together with the main shaft 21. The main shaft 21 and the sub-shaft 22 may be a single shaft having two lumens.

[0045] The gripping portion 26 includes a plurality of linear members 26a for gripping an object, and is connected to the tip side of a control body provided inside the main shaft 21. The tip portions of the linear members 26a of the gripping portion 26 are bent toward the central axis of the main shaft 21. The material of the linear members 26a of the gripping portion 26 may be, for example, a metal material such as stainless steel.

[0046] The operating portion 23 is a portion that is held and operated by the surgeon to operate the forceps 20, and an operating ring 24 for inserting the thumb is disposed on the proximal end side.

[0047] The operation unit 23 is provided with a slider 25 that is slidable in the longitudinal direction.

[0048] The slider 25 is connected to the base end of a control body provided inside the main shaft 21. In the forceps 20 of FIG. 3, when the slider 25 is slid away from the operating ring 24, a control force is transmitted to the gripping portion 26 via the control body, causing the gripping portion 26 housed inside the main shaft 21 to protrude distally from the main shaft 21 and move the linear members 26a of the gripping portion 26 apart. When the slider 25 is slid toward the operating ring 24, a control force is transmitted to the gripping portion 26 via the control body, causing the gripping portion 26 to move proximally, narrowing the gap between the linear members 26a so that the heartworm can be grasped. When the slider 25 is slid further, the linear members 26a are retracted into the main shaft 21. However, if the linear members 26a are retracted into the main shaft 21 while the heartworm is being grasped, there is a risk that the heartworm may be cut. Therefore, when the veterinarian grasps the heartworm and removes it from the dog's body, the veterinarian removes the forceps 20 while keeping the linear member 26a out of the main shaft 21.

[0049] When using the forceps 20, in step S6, with the gripping portion 26 housed in the main shaft 21, the proximal end of the guidewire G, which has been inserted to the parasitic region, is inserted from the distal end to the proximal end of the lumen of the sub-shaft 22. Next, the distal end of the forceps 20 is inserted into the jugular vein, and the forceps 20 is moved distally along the guidewire G to guide it to the parasitic region.

[0050] Next, in step S7, the slider 25 is slid away from the operating ring 24, causing the gripping portion 26 housed in the main shaft 21 to protrude from the main shaft 21 toward the tip side and widening the gap between the linear members 26a of the gripping portion 26. Next, the slider 25 is slid toward the operating ring 24, and the gripping portion 26 is moved toward the base end side, narrowing the gap between the linear members 26a to grip the heartworm, and the linear members 26a are housed in the main shaft 21.

[0051] According to this forceps 20, the tip of the forceps 20 can be easily and appropriately guided to the parasitic region by moving it along the guide wire G. When guiding the forceps 20 to the parasitic region, the gripping portion 26 can be housed inside the main shaft 21, which eliminates the influence of the gripping portion 26 on the blood vessels and the like during guidance.

[0052] The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified in various forms without departing from the spirit thereof, for example, the following modifications are also possible.

[0053] For example, the insertion site for inserting the guide wire or forceps into the body is not limited to the jugular vein, but may be other veins such as the femoral vein or brachial vein.

[0054] In the above-described embodiment, the angiography catheter may be inserted into the body without the sheath introducer.

[0055] In the above-described embodiment, instead of inserting an angiography catheter into the body and using a surgical X-ray device, the position of the guide wire may be determined by another method, for example, ultrasound imaging, and the guide wire may be inserted to the parasitic area.

[0056] The mammal to be treated may be a cat, cow, ferret, or the like.

Claims

1. 1. A method for treating filariasis in a mammal, other than a human, comprising: (a) inserting a guidewire into a selected vein of the mammal; (b) inserting the guidewire into the infested area where the heartworm is present; (c) guiding a forceps over the guidewire to the parasitic area; (d) grasping the worm in the infested area with the forceps; (e) removing the forceps holding the heartworm from the mammal's body; A method for treating heartworm disease in mammals other than humans.

2. In the step (a), an angiography catheter is inserted; In the step (b), the guide wire is inserted into the parasitic region while a contrast medium is supplied through the angiography catheter and the blood vessel is observed with an X-ray imaging device.

2. The method for treating filariasis in mammals other than humans according to claim 1.

3. Repeat steps (c), (d), and (e).

3. The method for treating filariasis in mammals other than humans according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The predetermined vein is the jugular vein.

3. The method for treating filariasis in mammals other than humans according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The parasitic area is the pulmonary artery 3. The method for treating filariasis in mammals other than humans according to claim 1 or 2.

6. In the step (a), a sheath introducer is inserted into the vein, and a guide wire is inserted through the sheath introducer.

3. The method for treating filariasis in mammals other than humans according to claim 1 or 2.

7. In the step (c), the forceps are guided to the infested area with a gripping portion of the forceps for gripping the heartworm housed inside the shaft of the forceps.

3. The method for treating filariasis in mammals other than humans according to claim 1 or 2.

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