Applicator

Abstract

To provide an applicator capable of easily changing the injection site of a drug in endoscopic surgery.SOLUTION: An applicator 1 includes a tubular sheath 2, and a connector 3 attached to one end of the sheath 2 and connected to a drug injection instrument 7 for injecting a drug D. The sheath 2 is formed of a material that is transparent and flexible. According to this configuration, by freely bending the flexible sheath 2 within a body cavity, the injection site of the drug D supplied through the sheath 2 can be easily changed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an applicator used in endoscopic surgery. [Background technology]

[0002] Endoscopic surgery is a procedure in which a surgical video camera (scope) is inserted into the abdominal or thoracic cavity, and the state of the cavity is photographed by the video camera and monitored on a monitor. For example, in laparoscopic surgery, three or four incisions of about one centimeter are made in the abdomen, and a long, cylindrical instrument called a trocar (trocar / sleeve) is inserted into each of these incisions (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Then, the affected area is treated by operating energy devices such as forceps and electric scalpels inserted into the abdominal cavity through these trocars.

[0003] Such procedures can be performed directly by a doctor at the surgical site, or indirectly by a doctor at the surgical site or a remote location via a surgical robot. In recent years, the number of surgeries covered by insurance has expanded, and new entrants have been entering the market following the expiration of basic patents. As a result, the price of surgical robots has dropped significantly, leading to a rapid increase in the number of facilities introducing them.

[0004] To stop bleeding in laparoscopic surgery, an instrument called an applicator is used. The applicator has a long pipe, one end of which is connected to a syringe filled with a hemostatic agent. The pipe is then inserted into a trocar, the other end (tip) of the pipe is placed at the affected area, and when the syringe plunger is pressed in this state, the hemostatic agent in the syringe is injected into the affected area from the tip of the pipe. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6318225 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the applicators described above, the pipe portion is generally made of a hard material, and therefore, when changing the injection location of the hemostatic agent (medicine), although it is easy to move the tip of the pipe portion along the extension direction of the pipe portion, moving it in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction can cause the pipe portion to come into contact with an organ or the like, making it difficult to move the pipe portion.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an applicator that allows easy change of the injection site of a drug during endoscopic surgery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention is an applicator for use in endoscopic surgery, comprising a tubular sheath and a connector attached to one end of the sheath and connected to a drug injection device for injecting a drug, wherein the sheath is made of a transparent and flexible material.

[0009] It is preferable that the applicator further comprises a grip assist provided at the other end of the sheath so as to be in sliding contact with the outer periphery of the sheath.

[0010] The connector preferably has a cylindrical portion provided at its upper end along the extension direction of the sheath, a threaded portion provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion, and a receiving portion forming the inner wall of the cylindrical portion, and the threaded portion is connected to the lock base of the drug injection device via a luer lock, and the receiving portion is connected to the round base of the drug injection device via a luer taper. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the applicator of the present invention, the injection site of the drug supplied through the sheath can be easily changed by freely bending the flexible sheath. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an applicator according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 illustrates syringe connection to the applicator. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is another view showing the syringe connection to the applicator. [Figure 4] 10(a) and 10(b) are diagrams showing the operation of injecting a drug using the applicator. [Figure 5] A diagram showing laparoscopic surgery. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An applicator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. This applicator is used to inject a liquid drug (e.g., a hemostatic agent) into an affected area during endoscopic surgery such as laparoscopic surgery or thoracoscopic surgery.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, applicator 1 comprises a tubular sheath 2 and a connector 3 attached to one end (the upper end in the illustrated example) of sheath 2 and connected to a drug injection device (not shown) for injecting a drug. Sheath 2 has an outlet 21 at its other end (the lower end in the illustrated example) through which the drug is discharged, and is made of a transparent and flexible material, such as a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer. The dimensions of sheath 2 are, for example, 4.5 mm diameter and 400 mm length. Connector 3 is made of, for example, ABS resin, and has a cylindrical portion 31 at its upper end that is provided along the extension direction of sheath 2, with a threaded portion 32 provided on the outer periphery of cylindrical portion 31.

[0015] The applicator 1 also includes a grip assist 4 near the outlet 21 of the sheath 2. The grip assist 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is positioned so that its inner periphery is in sliding contact with the outer periphery of the sheath 2, preventing it from easily moving along the sheath 2. The grip assist 4 is made of a material harder than the sheath 2, such as polyvinyl chloride. The dimensions of the grip assist 4 are, for example, Φ6.5 mm x length 40 mm.

[0016] The applicator 1 further includes a stylet wire 5 inserted into the sheath 2, and a cap 6 attached to one end (the upper end in the illustrated example) of the stylet wire 5. The stylet wire 5 is made of, for example, stainless steel. The cap 6 has a threaded portion 61 on its inner periphery that threadably engages with the threaded portion 32 of the connector 3, and with the stylet wire 5 inserted into the sheath 2, the threaded portions 32, 61 threadably engage with each other, thereby allowing the cap 6 to be detachably attached to the connector 3. The stylet wire 5 and cap 6 prevent the sheath 2 from bending unnecessarily during transportation of the applicator 1, and are removed before the applicator 1 is used.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the drug injection device is constituted, for example, by a syringe 7. In the illustrated example, the syringe 7 has a locking base having a threaded portion 72 formed on the inner periphery of a cylindrical tip 71, which threadably engages with the threaded portion 32 of the connector 3. The threaded portion 32 is detachably connected to the locking base of the syringe 7 via a luer lock formed by threadably engaging with the threaded portion 72. Drug D filled in the syringe 7 flows into the sheath 2 through the connector 3 by pushing the plunger 73, and is ultimately discharged from the outlet 21 of the sheath 2.

[0018] 3, the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 31 is configured as a receiving portion 33 for receiving the round base so that the syringe 7 or dropper (not shown) having a round base cylindrical tip 71 can also be used. The receiving portion 33 is detachably connected to the round base of the syringe 7 via a luer taper that fits the outer periphery of the round base.

[0019] Next, the operation of the applicator 1 configured as described above when used in laparoscopic surgery will be described. First, as shown in Fig. 2, for example, a syringe 7 filled with a drug D is attached to the connector 3 via a luer lock formed by threaded engagement of the threaded portions 32 and 72. In this state, the sheath 2 and the grip assist 4 are introduced into the abdominal cavity through a trocar (not shown).

[0020] Next, as shown in Figure 4(a), the grip assist 4 attached to the sheath 2 is grasped with forceps C introduced into the abdominal cavity through another trocar. At this time, the grip assist 4 is made of a material harder than the sheath 2, so the inner cavity of the sheath 2 is less likely to be crushed by the grasping force of the forceps C. In addition, the grip assist 4 has a larger diameter than the sheath 2, so it is easy to grasp with the forceps C even when remotely operated via a surgical support robot, and it has good operability.

[0021] Then, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the forceps C is operated to position the outlet 21 of the sheath 2 facing the affected area A. At this time, since the sheath 2 is made of a flexible material, the sheath 2 bends smoothly when the forceps C is operated. In this way, the outlet 21 can be positioned at any position by freely bending the flexible sheath 2 within the abdominal cavity, so the injection site of the drug supplied through the sheath 2 can be easily changed. Furthermore, since the sheath 2 is made of a transparent material, the state and remaining amount of the drug within the sheath 2 can be visually observed, providing good operability.

[0022] The applicator according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may be modified in various ways. For example, the applicator does not necessarily have to include a grip assist, and may be configured without a grip assist. Furthermore, the drug injected using the applicator is not limited to a hemostatic agent, and may be another drug. Furthermore, the applicator may be used not only for laparoscopic surgery, but also for other endoscopic surgical procedures such as thoracoscopic surgery. [Explanation of symbols]

[0023] 1 applicator 2 sheath 21 Outlet (other end of sheath) 3 Connectors 4 Grip Assist 7. Syringe (medicinal injection device) D. Drugs

Claims

1. An applicator for use in endoscopic surgery, a tubular sheath; and a connector attached to one end of the sheath and connected to a drug injection device for injecting a drug; The applicator is characterized in that the sheath is made of a transparent and flexible material.

2. 2. The applicator according to claim 1, further comprising a grip assist provided at the other end of the sheath so as to be in sliding contact with the outer periphery of the sheath.

3. the connector has a cylindrical portion provided at its upper end along the extension direction of the sheath, a threaded portion provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion, and a receiving portion forming an inner wall of the cylindrical portion, the threaded portion is connected to a locking group of the drug injection device via a Luer lock; 3. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is connected to a round base of the drug injection device via a luer taper.

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