Medical device

Abstract

To provide a technique that prevents a distal end of a long body inserted to a sheath from relatively moving to a side where a distal end is located along an axial direction of the sheath with respect to a proximal end of the sheath when bending operation of the sheath is performed.SOLUTION: A medical device 1 includes a sheath 10 and a long body. The sheath 10 is configured such that bending operation of at least a part thereof can be performed. The sheath 10 includes a lumen 13 capable of storing at least a part of the long body. At least one of the sheath 10 and the long body includes a prevention part that prevents a distal end of the long body from relatively moving to a side where a distal end is located with respect to a proximal end of the sheath 10 along an axial direction of the sheath 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to medical devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an endoscope including a camera module with an imaging element at the tip of a camera shaft, and a catheter (hereinafter also referred to as a "sheath") through which the camera shaft can be inserted. The camera module and sheath are configured to be separable from each other. The imaging element, which is inserted into the body together with the catheter and exposed from the tip of the catheter, captures images of diagnostic and treatment areas within the body. After use, the camera module can be removed from a typical single-use sheath and reused in other sheaths of the same type. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2021 / 191989 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The sheath included in the endoscope described in Patent Document 1 and the like may be bent. Specifically, the sheath is bent by pulling a pull wire fixed in the distal region of the sheath. In this case, the sheath is compressed in the axial direction, and the distal end of an elongated body, such as a camera module, inserted into the sheath is likely to move along the axial direction of the sheath relative to the base end of the sheath toward the distal end. When the distal end of the elongated body moves along the axial direction of the sheath relative to the base end of the sheath toward the distal end, the operability of the elongated body may be reduced.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a technology that prevents the tip of an elongated body inserted into a sheath from moving relative to the base end of the sheath on the side where the tip is located along the axial direction of the sheath when the sheath is bent. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A medical device according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a sheath, at least a portion of which is configured to be bendable, and an elongated body, wherein the sheath has a lumen capable of accommodating at least a portion of the elongated body, and at least one of the sheath and the elongated body further comprises a blocking portion that prevents the tip of the elongated body from moving relative to the base end of the sheath along the axial direction of the sheath toward the side where the tip is located.

[0007] Any combination of the above components, and conversion of the expression of the present disclosure into a method, device, system, etc., are also valid aspects of the present disclosure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The medical device disclosed herein can prevent the tip of the elongated body inserted into the sheath from moving relative to the base end of the sheath on the side where the tip is located along the axial direction of the sheath when the sheath is bent. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a medical device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the distal end region of the medical device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing the distal end surface of the medical device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view of a medical device according to a second embodiment, taken at the same position as in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 6 is a cross-sectional view of a medical device according to a third embodiment, taken at the same position as in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings based on preferred embodiments. The embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present disclosure, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the present disclosure. The same or equivalent components, parts, and processes shown in each drawing are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted where appropriate. The scale and shape of each part shown in each drawing are set for convenience to facilitate explanation and should not be interpreted as limiting unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, when terms such as "first" and "second" are used in this specification or claims, unless otherwise specified, these terms do not represent any order or importance, but are intended to distinguish one configuration from another. Furthermore, some components that are not important for explaining the embodiments are omitted from each drawing.

[0011] [First embodiment] 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a medical device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The medical device 1 is, for example, an endoscope, and is used to capture images of the inside of a living body, specifically, the bile duct, pancreatic duct, etc. The medical device 1 includes a sheath 10 and a camera module 30 as an elongated body.

[0012] The sheath 10 is a long tubular member. Examples of materials for the sheath 10 include flexible materials such as resin. The length of the sheath 10 is, for example, 200 mm to 4800 mm. A handle 20 is connected to the base end (proximal end) of the sheath 10. A camera module 30 is disposed with its tip exposed from the tip (distal end) of the sheath 10. Hereinafter, for the medical device 1 and each of the components constituting the medical device 1, the direction along the axis of the sheath 10 will be referred to as the "axial direction," the direction perpendicular to the axis will be referred to as the "radial direction," and the direction around the axis will be referred to as the "circumferential direction." Furthermore, for the medical device 1 and each of the components constituting the medical device 1, the side along the axial direction where the tip is located relative to the base end of the sheath 10 will be referred to as the "tip side," and the side where the base end is located relative to the tip of the sheath 10 will be referred to as the "base side."

[0013] Although details will be described later, the camera module 30 includes a long camera shaft 32 and a camera head 31 at the tip of the camera shaft 32 (see FIG. 5). The camera head 31 includes an imaging element such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor. The sheath 10 is inserted into the duodenum from the mouth or the like, and is then inserted into the common bile duct and pancreatic duct through the papilla of Vater facing the duodenum. In this state, the camera head 31 of the camera module 30, which is located near the tip of the sheath 10, captures images of the inside of the common bile duct and pancreatic duct.

[0014] The sheath 10 can be intentionally bent by pulling a pull wire 56 (see FIG. 4) fixed to the distal region 10A, which will be described later. The sheath 10 is configured to be bendable within a desired range by varying the hardness (e.g., Shore D hardness) of the resin constituting the sheath 10 along the axial direction. The distal region 10A is a region extending a predetermined distance from the distal end of the sheath 10, for example, a region extending 50 mm from the distal end of the sheath 10 toward the proximal end.

[0015] The handle 20 is operated by a doctor, etc. A camera head 31 of the camera module 30 can be disposed near the tip of the sheath 10, and the imaging range of the camera module 30 can be changed as desired by operating the handle 20.

[0016] Fig. 2 is a side view schematically showing the distal region 10A of the medical device 1 with the camera head 31 disposed near the distal end of the sheath 10. Fig. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the distal end surface of the medical device 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the distal end surface 15 of the sheath 10 has a substantially circular camera lumen 13, a treatment tool lumen 17, and two fluid lumens 14. The camera lumen 13, the treatment tool lumen 17, and the two fluid lumens 14 each extend toward the proximal end within the sheath 10.

[0017] A small-diameter, long camera shaft 32 is inserted into the camera lumen 13. The camera head 31 forms the tip of the camera module 30 and includes an image sensor 34. The image sensor 34 is connected to an external power source, computer, etc. by a conductor that passes through the inside of the camera shaft 32 and through the inside of a cable 35 that extends from the connecting member 50 shown in FIG. 1 to the outside on the base end side.

[0018] A treatment tool such as forceps is inserted into the treatment tool lumen 17. The fluid lumen 14 supplies water to a diagnostic site or a treatment site.

[0019] 2, the tip of the camera head 31 may be disposed distally of the distal end surface 15 of the sheath 10. The tip of the camera head 31 may be disposed at a position coinciding with the distal end surface 15 of the sheath 10, or at a position closer to the base end than the distal end surface 15 of the sheath 10. The above-mentioned "state in which the tip of the camera module 30 is exposed from the tip of the sheath 10" includes cases in which the tip of the camera head 31 is disposed at any of a position distal to the distal end surface 15 of the sheath 10, a position coinciding with the distal end surface 15 of the sheath 10, and a position closer to the base end than the distal end surface 15 of the sheath 10.

[0020] 2, the sheath 10 includes, in a distal region 10A from the distal end side, a distal tip 11 and a pull wire anchor 12. To the pull wire anchor 12, the distal ends of four pull wires 56 are fixed.

[0021] 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the sheath 10 has four pull wire lumens 18 proximal to the pull wire anchor 12. A pull wire 56 is housed in each of the four pull wire lumens 18, and the tips of the four pull wires 56 are fixed to the pull wire anchor 12. Therefore, when any of the pull wires 56 is pulled proximally, the pull wire anchor 12 is pulled proximally at the position where the tip of that pull wire 56 is fixed. As a result, the sheath 10 is compressed in the axial direction at positions corresponding to the pull wires 56 pulled proximally, enabling bending of the sheath 10. When bending the sheath 10, the sheath 10 is compressed axially as a whole, including positions other than the positions corresponding to the pull wires 56 pulled proximally. Therefore, when bending the sheath 10, the tip of the camera module 30 inserted in the camera lumen 13 of the sheath 10 is likely to move relatively distally. Here, the relative movement of the tip of the camera module 30 means that the relative positional relationship between the tip of the camera module 30 and the sheath 10 changes, and the camera module 30 itself does not need to move.

[0022] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 5, the camera module 30 includes an expanded diameter section 62. The expanded diameter section 62 is a part of the outer surface of the camera module 30. The outer diameter of the expanded diameter section 62 is larger than the outer diameter of the camera module 30 on the distal side of the expanded diameter section 62. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the expanded diameter section 62 is disposed in a part of the camera shaft 32. The expanded diameter section 62 may extend to any position on the proximal side.

[0023] As shown in Figure 5, the sheath 10 includes a reduced diameter section 64. The reduced diameter section 64 is a part of the inner surface of the sheath 10 that constitutes the camera lumen 13. The inner diameter of the reduced diameter section 64 is smaller than the inner diameter of the inner surface of the sheath 10 on the proximal side of the reduced diameter section 64. In the example shown in Figure 5, the reduced diameter section 64 is a part of the inner surface of the distal tip 11 and the inner surface of the pull wire anchor 12.

[0024] The outer diameter of the expanded diameter portion 62 is larger than the inner diameter of the reduced diameter portion 64. As a result, when the expanded diameter portion 62 moves relatively toward the tip side, the tip of the expanded diameter portion 62 abuts against the reduced diameter portion 64. In this way, the expanded diameter portion 62 and the reduced diameter portion 64 collectively form a blocking portion that blocks the tip of the camera module 30 from moving relatively toward the tip side. In addition, the blocking portion is disposed in at least a part of the tip region 10A.

[0025] The outer diameter of the expanded diameter portion 62 or the inner diameter of the contracted diameter portion 64 may include a sloped portion that becomes smaller toward the distal end. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the sloped portion 66 is part of the inner surface of the pullwire anchor 12. On the distal side of the first position P of the sloped portion 66, the inner diameter of the contracted diameter portion 64 is smaller than the outer diameter of the expanded diameter portion 62. In other words, the contracted diameter portion 64 is the inner surface of the sheath 10 on the distal side of the first position P of the sloped portion 66.

[0026] The outer diameter of the camera module 30 on the distal side of the enlarged diameter section 62 is smaller than the inner diameter of the reduced diameter section 64. Therefore, the distal end of the camera module 30 (camera head 31) can be disposed in the reduced diameter section 64. When the blocking section prevents the distal end of the camera module 30 from moving relative to the distal end, the distal end of the camera head 31 is disposed near the distal end of the sheath 10. In the example shown in FIG. 5 , when the blocking section prevents the distal end of the camera module 30 from moving relative to the distal end, the distal end of the camera head 31 is disposed at a position slightly protruding from the distal end of the sheath 10.

[0027] In this way, in the medical device 1, when the sheath 10 is bent, the tip of the camera module 30 as an elongated body inserted into the sheath 10 can be prevented from moving relatively toward the tip side.

[0028] [Second embodiment] A second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 6. In the following embodiments, among the components described in the first embodiment, the same content as in the first embodiment may be applied to the components not described below.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a medical device 2 according to a second embodiment, taken at the same position as in FIG. 5. The components of the medical device 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 are also the same for the medical device 2. As shown in FIG. 6, the camera module 30 of the medical device 2 includes a first helical portion 68. The first helical portion 68 is a part of the outer surface of the camera module 30. The maximum outer diameter of the first helical portion 68 is larger than the outer diameter of the camera module 30 on the distal side of the first helical portion 68. The maximum outer diameter of the first helical portion 68 is the outer diameter of the first helical portion 68 at the position where the outer diameter is greatest. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the first helical portion 68 is a helical thread arranged on a part of the outer surface of the camera shaft 32. The first helical portion 68 may extend to any position on the proximal side.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 6, the sheath 10 of the medical device 2 includes a second helical portion 70. The second helical portion 70 is a part of the inner surface of the sheath 10 that constitutes the camera lumen 13. The minimum inner diameter of the second helical portion 70 is smaller than the inner diameter of the inner surface of the sheath 10 on the proximal side of the second helical portion 70. The minimum inner diameter of the second helical portion 70 is the inner diameter of the second helical portion 70 at the position where the inner diameter is smallest. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the second helical portion 70 is a helical groove in a part of the inner surface of the pull wire anchor 12.

[0031] The first helical portion 68 and the second helical portion 70 have corresponding shapes. That is, the outer diameter of the first helical portion 68 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the second helical portion 70. Therefore, when the tip of the camera module 30 moves relatively toward the tip side, the threads of the first helical portion 68 can be screwed together while meshing with the grooves of the second helical portion 70 by rotating the camera module 30 to one side in the circumferential direction. In this case, the first helical portion 68 functions as a male screw, and the second helical portion 70 functions as a female screw corresponding to the first helical portion 68.

[0032] The maximum outer diameter of the first spiral portion 68 is larger than the minimum inner diameter of the second spiral portion 70. Therefore, when the first spiral portion 68 and the second spiral portion 70 are screwed together, even if an attempt is made to move the first spiral portion 68 relatively toward the tip side, at least a portion of the first spiral portion 68 abuts against the second spiral portion 70. In this way, the first spiral portion 68 and the second spiral portion 70 collectively form a blocking portion that blocks the tip of the camera module 30 from moving relatively toward the tip side. In addition, the blocking portion is disposed in at least a portion of the tip region 10A.

[0033] When the first spiral portion 68 and the second spiral portion 70 are screwed together, the camera module 30 cannot be rotated any further in one circumferential direction. Therefore, when the tip of the camera module 30 is prevented from moving relative to the tip side, the first spiral portion 68 and the second spiral portion 70 function as a rotation prevention portion that prevents relative movement of the camera module 30 in one circumferential direction. In other words, the first spiral portion 68 and the second spiral portion 70 constitute a prevention portion as well as a rotation prevention portion.

[0034] With the first helical portion 68 and the second helical portion 70 screwed together, the tip of the camera module 30 cannot be moved relative to the base end unless the camera module 30 rotates to the other circumferential side (the opposite side from the one side described above) with respect to the sheath 10. Therefore, it can be said that the first helical portion 68 and the second helical portion 70 as a whole prevent the tip of the camera module 30 from moving relative to the tip end and the base end. In the medical device 2, it is expected that the first helical portion 68 and the second helical portion 70 will be screwed together before the sheath 10 and the camera module 30 are inserted into the body.

[0035] The outer diameter of the camera module 30 on the distal side of the first spiral portion 68 is smaller than the minimum inner diameter of the second spiral portion 70. Therefore, the distal end of the camera module 30 (camera head 31) can be disposed in the second spiral portion 70. When the blocking portion prevents the distal end of the camera module 30 from moving relative to the distal end, the distal end of the camera head 31 is disposed near the distal end of the sheath 10. In the example shown in FIG. 6, when the blocking portion prevents the distal end of the camera module 30 from moving relative to the distal end, the distal end of the camera head 31 is disposed at a position slightly protruding from the distal end of the sheath 10.

[0036] In this way, similar to the medical device 1, the medical device 2 can prevent the tip of the camera module 30, which is an elongated body inserted into the sheath 10, from moving relatively toward the tip side when the sheath 10 is bent. Furthermore, in a state in which the tip of the camera module 30 is prevented from moving relatively toward the tip side, the medical device 2 prevents the camera module 30 from moving relatively toward one side in the circumferential direction. This reduces the possibility that the image captured by the camera module 30 will rotate.

[0037] [Third embodiment] A third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 7 to 9. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a medical device 3 according to the third embodiment, taken at the same position as in Figure 5. The configurations of the medical device 1 described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 are also the same for the medical device 3.

[0038] 7, the camera module 30 of the medical device 3 includes a first portion 72. The first portion 72 is a part of the outer surface of the camera shaft 32.

[0039] 7, the sheath 10 of the medical device 3 includes a second portion 74. The second portion 74 is a part of the inner surface of the sheath 10 that constitutes the camera lumen 13, and is located on the proximal end side of the reduced diameter portion 76. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the second portion 74 is the inner surface of the pull wire anchor 12.

[0040] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 7 . FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 7 . FIGS. 8 and 9 show only the first portion 72, the second portion 74, and their vicinities. The shape of the first portion 72 in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction is the same on the proximal side shown in FIG. 8 and the distal side shown in FIG. 9 , and both are rectangular. On the other hand, the shape of the second portion 74 in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction is different on the proximal side and the distal side. Specifically, the shape of the second portion 74 in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction is circular on the proximal side shown in FIG. 8 , and is a rectangle slightly larger than the first portion 72 on the distal side shown in FIG. 9 . As a result, when the camera module 30 is disposed in the camera lumen 13 of the sheath 10, with the distal end of the first portion 72 located near the position of line CC in FIG. 7 , the first portion 72 can rotate without being hindered by the second portion 74, as shown in FIG. 8 . On the other hand, when the tip of the first portion 72 is near the position of line DD in Fig. 7, the rotation of the first portion 72 is prevented by the second portion 74 as shown in Fig. 9, thereby suppressing rotation of the camera module 30. In this way, the first portion 72 and the second portion 74 as a whole form a rotation prevention part that prevents relative movement of the camera module 30 to both sides in the circumferential direction.

[0041] The shape of the second portion 74 in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction may be configured to change smoothly from the base end side to the tip end side. For example, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the shape may gradually change from a circular shape to a rectangular shape from the base end side to the tip end side. This allows the second portion 74 to guide the position of the first portion 72 in the circumferential direction when the tip end of the camera module 30 moves relatively toward the tip end side.

[0042] The shapes of the first portion 72 and the second portion 74 in the plane perpendicular to the axial direction are not limited to the shapes shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 . Any shape may be used as long as rotation of the distal end of the first portion 72 is not inhibited on the proximal end side of the second portion 74 and rotation of the distal end of the first portion 72 is inhibited on the distal end side of the second portion 74. For example, the shape of the plane perpendicular to the axial direction on the distal end side of the second portion 74 does not have to be rectangular and may have another polygonal shape. The shapes of the plane perpendicular to the axial direction on the distal end side of the first portion 72 and the second portion 74 do not have to be corresponding shapes. The shapes of the plane perpendicular to the axial direction on the first portion 72 may be different shapes in the axial direction.

[0043] The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above. The above-described embodiments merely illustrate specific examples of implementing the present disclosure. The content of the embodiments does not limit the technical scope of the present disclosure, and many design modifications, such as changing, adding, or deleting components, are possible within the scope of the concept of the present disclosure defined in the claims. A new embodiment with design modifications will combine the effects of the combined embodiments and modifications. In the above-described embodiments, content that allows such design modifications is emphasized by using notations such as "in this embodiment" or "in this embodiment," but design modifications are also permitted even in content without such notation. Any combination of components included in each embodiment is also valid as an aspect of the present disclosure. Hatching on cross sections in the drawings does not limit the material of the hatched object.

[0044] The embodiments may be specified by the following items.

[0045] [1st item] a sheath (10) configured to be at least partially bendable; an elongated body; The sheath (10) has a lumen (13) capable of accommodating at least a portion of the elongated body. At least one of the sheath (10) and the elongated body further includes a blocking portion that blocks the distal end of the elongated body from moving relative to the sheath (10) toward the distal end of the sheath (10). Medical devices (1).

[0046] According to the medical device (1) of the first aspect, when the sheath (10) is bent, the distal end of the elongated body housed in the lumen (13) of the sheath (10) can be prevented from moving relative to the distal end of the sheath (10) with respect to the sheath (10). Therefore, when the sheath (10) is bent, the distal end of the elongated body inserted into the sheath (10) does not move relative to the distal end of the sheath (10), thereby improving the operability of the elongated body.

[0047] [Second item] The blocking portion is disposed in at least a part of a distal end region (10A) which is a region extending from the distal end of the sheath (10) to a predetermined distance. Medical devices as described in item 1 (1).

[0048] According to the medical device (1) of the second aspect, the distal end of the elongated body can be prevented from moving relative to the sheath (10) toward the distal end side of the sheath (10) within the distal end region (10A) of the sheath (10). Therefore, compared to a case where the suppression unit is disposed closer to the base end than the distal end region (10A), the distal end of the elongated body housed in the lumen (13) of the sheath (10) can be more effectively prevented from moving relative to the sheath (10) toward the distal end side of the sheath (10) when the sheath (10) is bent.

[0049] [3rd item] the blocking section includes an expanded diameter section (62) that is a part of the elongated body and has an outer diameter larger than that of the distal end side of the elongated body, and a reduced diameter section (64) that is a part of the inner surface of the sheath (10) that constitutes the lumen (13) and has an inner diameter smaller than that of the proximal end side of the lumen (13); The outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion (62) is larger than the inner diameter of the reduced diameter portion (64). A medical device as described in item 1 or 2 (1).

[0050] According to the medical device (1) of the third aspect, the outer diameter of the expanded diameter portion (62) of the elongated body is larger than the inner diameter of the reduced diameter portion (64) of the sheath (10), so that when the distal end of the elongated body housed in the lumen (13) of the sheath (10) moves relative to the sheath (10) toward the distal end of the sheath (10), the expanded diameter portion (62) comes into contact with the reduced diameter portion (64). Therefore, the medical device (1) of the third aspect can effectively prevent the distal end of the elongated body from moving relative to the sheath (10) toward the distal end of the sheath (10).

[0051] [4th item] At least one of the sheath (10) and the elongated body further includes a rotation preventing portion that prevents relative movement of the elongated body relative to the sheath (10) in at least one circumferential direction when the preventing portion prevents the tip of the elongated body from moving relative to the tip side. A medical device as described in item 1 or 2 (1).

[0052] According to the medical device (1) of the fourth aspect, in addition to preventing the distal end of the elongated body from moving relative to the sheath (10) toward the distal end of the sheath (10), it is also possible to prevent the elongated body from moving relative to the sheath (10) toward at least one side in the circumferential direction. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult for the relative position between the elongated body and the sheath (10) to shift in the circumferential direction.

[0053] [Item 5] At least one of the blocking portion and the rotation blocking portion includes a first spiral portion (68) on the outer surface of the elongated body, and a second spiral portion (70) on the inner surface of the sheath (10) that forms the lumen (13) and has a shape corresponding to the first spiral portion (68). Medical devices listed in item 4 (1).

[0054] According to the medical device (1) relating to the fifth item, by threading the first spiral portion (68) and the second spiral portion (70), it is possible to more reliably prevent at least one of the following: the elongated body from moving relative to the sheath (10) toward the tip side of the sheath (10), and the relative position between the elongated body and the sheath (10) from shifting in the circumferential direction.

[0055] [Item 6] The rotation prevention portion is a part of the inner surface of the sheath (10) that constitutes the lumen (13), and the shape of a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the lumen (13) in the rotation prevention portion differs between the distal end side and the proximal end side. Medical devices listed in item 4 (1).

[0056] According to the medical device (1) relating to the sixth item, for example, if the tip side of a part of the inner surface of the sheath (10) is shaped to be more effective at suppressing the rotation of the elongated body than the base side, the relative position between the elongated body and the sheath (10) in the circumferential direction can be made less likely to shift.

[0057] [Item 7] The elongated body is a camera module (30) including a long camera shaft (32) and an imaging element (34) at the tip of the camera shaft (32). A medical device (1) according to any one of items 1 to 6.

[0058] The medical device 1 according to the seventh aspect can be an endoscope having a camera module 30 as the elongated body. Therefore, when the sheath 10 is bent, the tip of the camera module 30 inserted into the sheath 10 can be prevented from moving relative to the sheath 10 toward the tip of the sheath 10, thereby enabling stable imaging by the camera module 30. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1, 2, 3...medical device, 10...sheath, 10A...tip region, 30...camera module, 32...camera shaft, 34...imaging element, 62...expanded diameter portion, 64...contracted diameter portion, 68...first spiral portion, 70...second spiral portion.

Claims

1. a sheath configured to be at least partially bendable; an elongated body; the sheath has a lumen capable of accommodating at least a portion of the elongated body; At least one of the sheath and the elongated body further includes a blocking portion that blocks the distal end of the elongated body from moving relative to the proximal end of the sheath toward the distal end along the axial direction of the sheath. Medical equipment.

2. The blocking portion is disposed in at least a part of a distal end region, which is a region extending from the distal end of the sheath to a predetermined distance. The medical device of claim 1.

3. the blocking section includes an expanded diameter section that is a part of the elongated body and has an outer diameter larger than that of a distal end side of the elongated body, and a reduced diameter section that is a part of the inner surface of the sheath that constitutes the lumen and has an inner diameter smaller than that of a proximal end side of the lumen, The outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion is larger than the inner diameter of the reduced diameter portion. The medical device of claim 1.

4. At least one of the sheath and the elongated body further includes a rotation preventing portion that prevents relative movement of the elongated body relative to the sheath in at least one circumferential direction when the preventing portion prevents the relative movement of the tip of the elongated body. The medical device of claim 1.

5. At least one of the blocking portion and the rotation blocking portion includes a first spiral portion on an outer surface of the elongated body, and a second spiral portion on an inner surface of the sheath that forms the lumen and has a shape corresponding to the first spiral portion. The medical device according to claim 4.

6. the rotation prevention portion is a part of the inner surface of the sheath that constitutes the lumen, and the shape of a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the lumen in the rotation prevention portion differs between the distal end side and the proximal end side. The medical device according to claim 4.

7. The elongated body is a camera module including a long camera shaft and an imaging element at the tip of the camera shaft. A medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images