Catheter

Abstract

To provide a catheter capable of suppressing detachment of a long operation member from a distal end part of the catheter.SOLUTION: A catheter 10 includes a tubular body 30 having, at a distal end portion thereof, a shape imparting portion 42 curved and shaped so as to be convex in a predetermined first direction Y in a circumferential direction. The operating member 60 includes the coupling portion 61 coupled to the shape imparting portion 42 or a portion of the pipe body 30 on the distal end side with respect to the shape imparting portion 42 on the first direction Y side, the deformation portion 62 extending from the coupling portion 61 in the proximal end direction and deformable so as to be separated radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the pipe body 30, the intermediate portion 63 extending from the deformation portion 62 in the proximal end direction and accommodated in the pipe body 30 so as to be movable in the major axis direction X with respect to the pipe body 30, and the proximal end operating portion 64 located on the proximal end side with respect to the intermediate portion 63 and operable. A length L of the connection portion 61 in the major axis direction X is longer than an outer diameter D of the tube body 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a catheter having a tubular body. [Background technology]

[0002] Intravascular treatment is performed to diagnose and treat lesions in blood vessels by percutaneously inserting a long catheter. In catheter-based procedures, the surgeon first engages the catheter at a predetermined position in the blood vessel, and then passes a device through the catheter.

[0003] When passing a device through a catheter, the reaction force of insertion can cause the catheter that has been engaged with the blood vessel to become detached from the blood vessel (hereinafter referred to as "detachment"). When a catheter becomes detached, the catheter moves suddenly, bouncing, which can cause arterial dissection, blood clot dispersion, or damage to the aortic valve if it comes into contact with the aortic valve.

[0004] Furthermore, in current TRN treatment (TransRadial NeuroIntervention), when placing a catheter in the common carotid artery, the surgeon first inserts the catheter just before the aorta, and then inserts an inner catheter, with a guidewire threaded through the catheter's lumen, into the aorta. Next, the surgeon retracts the guidewire to bend the shaped tip of the inner catheter, thereby engaging the inner catheter with the common carotid artery. Next, the surgeon replaces the guidewire with a highly rigid angiography wire and advances the angiography wire deep into the external carotid artery. Next, the surgeon advances the inner catheter along the angiography wire to the external carotid artery. Next, the surgeon advances the catheter along the inner catheter to the common carotid artery. After this, the surgeon removes the inner catheter while the catheter is still engaged with the common carotid artery. As described above, the procedure for placing a catheter in the common carotid artery is extremely complicated.

[0005] Furthermore, there is a possibility of blood vessel perforation when a highly rigid contrast wire is advanced deep into the external carotid artery. There is also a possibility of blood vessel perforation when an inner catheter with a shaped tip is advanced to the external carotid artery. Furthermore, since a catheter with a certain degree of rigidity must be used to prevent catheter detachment, there is a possibility of arterial damage when the catheter is advanced to the common carotid artery.

[0006] Furthermore, the aforementioned angiography wire needs to have high rigidity at its tip to achieve high pushability, but if the rigidity is too high, the catheter may become detached from the common carotid artery due to the reaction force of insertion. Therefore, to prevent the catheter from becoming detached, applicable catheters are limited in the length of the bend and rigidity at the tip. Furthermore, to ensure that the rigidity of the catheter is sufficiently high, applicable catheters are limited to those with a large outer diameter.

[0007] Therefore, in catheter procedures, there is a demand for simplification of procedures, reduction of the possibility of damage to blood vessels, etc., and a wide range of applicable catheters.

[0008] Incidentally, Patent Document 1 discloses a catheter in which the tip of a ribbon is fixed to a hinge point on the outer circumferential surface of the catheter's tip. This catheter has improved applicability because the curvature of the catheter's tip can be adjusted according to the situation by manipulating the ribbon. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2006-528052 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] However, the catheter described in Patent Document 1 is prone to having weak hinge points, which may cause the ribbon to come off the catheter.

[0011] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a catheter that can prevent a long operating member from coming off the tip of the catheter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The catheter according to the present invention that achieves the above object is achieved by the invention described in (1) below.

[0013] (1) A catheter according to the present invention is a catheter having a tubular body with a shape-imparting portion at its tip end that has a portion that is curved and shaped to be convex in a predetermined first circumferential direction, and has an operating member that includes: a connecting portion that is connected to the shape-imparting portion or a portion of the tubular body that is distal to the shape-imparting portion on the first direction side; a deforming portion that extends proximally from the connecting portion and is deformable so as to move radially outward from the outer surface of the tubular body; an intermediate portion that extends proximally from the deforming portion and is housed in the tubular body and is movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the tubular body; and a proximal operating portion that is located proximally of the intermediate portion and is operable, and the length of the connecting portion in the longitudinal direction is longer than the outer diameter of the tubular body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The catheter described in (1) above has improved connection strength between the operating member and the tubular body, and can prevent the operating member from coming off the tubular body.

[0015] (2) In the catheter described in (1) above, at least a part of the deformable portion may be curved to be convex in the first direction. This makes it easier for the deformable portion of the operating member to fit the shape-imparting portion of the tubular body, thereby preventing the original shape of the shape-imparting portion from being obstructed by the shape of the operating member.

[0016] (3) In the catheter described in (1) or (2) above, the tubular body may have a first lumen formed from the distal end to the proximal end of the tubular body and a second lumen that slidably houses the operating member, thereby preventing interference between a device passing through the first lumen and the operating member passing through the second lumen.

[0017] (4) The catheter according to any one of (1) to (3) above may have a fixing portion that can limit movement of the operating member along the longitudinal axis direction relative to the tubular body, thereby enabling the catheter to satisfactorily maintain the state in which the deformable portion of the operating member is deformed by moving the operating member.

[0018] (5) In the catheter according to any one of (1) to (4) above, the shape of the operating member may change along the longitudinal axis, thereby allowing the catheter to be appropriately designed so that the operating member has a desired shape. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a catheter according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 2A and 2B are diagrams showing the distal end of a catheter according to an embodiment, in which (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view and (B) is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2A. [Figure 3] 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the central part of a catheter according to an embodiment, in which (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view and (B) is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3A. [Figure 4] 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a modified example of the tip portion of the catheter according to the embodiment, in which (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view and (B) is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 4A. [Figure 5] 5A and 5B are diagrams showing another modified example of the tip portion of the catheter according to the embodiment, in which (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view and (B) is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. 5A. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state in which the proximal end operating unit of the catheter according to the embodiment has been moved toward the distal end. [Figure 7]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a catheter has been extended from the radial artery to the common carotid artery. [Figure 8] 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the deformable portion of the operating member of the catheter that has been extended from the radial artery to the common carotid artery is deformed. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings may be exaggerated for convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions. In the following description, the side of the catheter that is operated by the operator will be referred to as the "proximal end" and the side that is inserted into the body will be referred to as the "distal end."

[0021] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, a catheter 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a guiding catheter or guiding sheath that is inserted from the radial artery into the common carotid artery. The catheter 10 is accessed by an operator from the right or left radial artery and reaches the right common carotid artery A4 or the left common carotid artery A3. A catheter is a long, hollow device that can be inserted into a living body and has at least one lumen, and a sheath or the like may also be included in the term catheter.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the catheter 10 has a hub 20 located on the base end side, a tubular body 30 extending from the hub 20 to the tip side, an operating member 60 extending along the tubular body 30, and a fixing portion 70 that can limit the movement of the operating member 60 along the longitudinal axis direction X of the tubular body 30.

[0023] The tubular body 30 is flexible and has a first tubular body 40 having a first lumen 41 formed along its entire length, and a second tubular body 50 having a second lumen 51 formed along its entire length and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the first tubular body 40. The outer surface of the distal end of the tubular body 30 may be coated with a hydrophilic coating.

[0024] The first tubular body 40 includes a shape-imparting portion 42 located on the distal side and a base portion 43 located closer to the proximal end than the shape-imparting portion 42. The first tubular body 40 may have a flexible distal tip at its distal end to prevent damage to the object it comes into contact with. The first tubular body 40 may also have an X-ray opaque marker at its distal end. The first tubular body 40 is formed by an inner layer 44 that forms the first lumen 41, a reinforcing body 45 that is disposed outside the inner layer 44 and surrounds the inner layer 44, and an outer layer 46 that is disposed outside the inner layer 44 and the reinforcing body 45 and surrounds the inner layer 44 and the reinforcing body 45.

[0025] Examples of materials constituting the outer layer 46 include various thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene-based, polyolefin-based, polyurethane-based, polyester-based, polyamide-based, polybutadiene-based, trans-polyisoprene-based, fluororubber-based, and chlorinated polyethylene-based elastomers, and examples thereof include combinations of one or more of these (polymer alloys, polymer blends, laminates, etc.).

[0026] The inner layer 44 is preferably made of a material that provides low friction at least in the portion that comes into contact with a device when inserting a device such as a treatment device or a guide wire into the first lumen 41. Examples of low-friction materials include fluorine-based resin materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

[0027] The reinforcing member 45 may be a braided tube made by braiding a plurality of metal wires into a tubular shape, a coil made by winding at least one metal wire in a spiral shape, a metal pipe with at least one slit formed therein, etc. The first tubular member 40 does not necessarily have to be provided with the reinforcing member 45.

[0028] The shape-imparting portion 42 is given a curved shape in advance. The shape of the shape-imparting portion 42 is not particularly limited. As an example, the distal end of the catheter 10 is formed in a Simmons (registered trademark) shape. The Simmons shape has a first curved portion 47 that bends back at an angle of more than 90 degrees to approximately 180 degrees, and a second curved portion 48 that bends in the opposite direction at an angle less than 90 degrees on the distal side of the first curved portion 47. The first curved portion 47 of the shape-imparting portion 42 is curved so as to be convex in a predetermined first direction Y in the circumferential direction of the tubular body 30. The shape-imparting portion 42 may also be curved three-dimensionally. The length of the folded distal end of the shape-imparting portion 42 is the length between the apex of the first curved portion 47 and the opening of the catheter distal end, and is, for example, 60 mm.

[0029] The base portion 43 is a tubular portion that extends substantially linearly in the longitudinal axis direction X between the shaping portion 42 and the hub 20 .

[0030] The second tubular body 50 is disposed approximately parallel to and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the first tubular body 40 on the first direction Y side of the first tubular body 40. A distal opening 52 of a second lumen 51 of the second tubular body 50 is disposed closer to the proximal end than at least a portion of the shape imparting section 42. A proximal opening 53 of the second lumen 51 is disposed near the hub 20 and closer to the distal end than the proximal end of the first tubular body 40. The proximal opening 53 may be disposed at the proximal end of the first tubular body 40 or closer to the proximal end thereof, or may be disposed at a position overlapping with the hub 20.

[0031] The operating member 60 comprises a connecting portion 61 connected to the tubular body 30, a deformation portion 62 extending from the connecting portion 61 toward the base end, an intermediate portion 63 extending from the deformation portion 62 toward the base end and passing through the second lumen 51, and a base end operating portion 64 located closer to the base end than the intermediate portion 63 and exposed to the outside.

[0032] The connecting portion 61 is connected to a portion of the tubular body 30 between the first bending portion 47 and the second bending portion 48, which are the shape-imparting portion 42, on the first direction Y side. Alternatively, the connecting portion 61 may be connected to a portion of the tubular body 30 closer to the distal end than the shape-imparting portion 42 on the first direction Y side. The connecting portion 61 is inserted between the inner layer 44 and the outer layer 46 of the first tubular body 40 and connected thereto. The length L of the connecting portion 61 in the longitudinal axis direction X is longer than the outer diameter D of the portion of the tubular body 30 to which the connecting portion 61 is connected. Therefore, the connecting portion 61 is firmly connected to the tubular body 30. The connecting portion 61 may be arranged not at the distal end of the operating member 60 but on the proximal end side of the distal end of the operating member 60.

[0033] The configuration of the connecting portion 61 is not particularly limited. For example, as in a modified example shown in Fig. 4, the connecting portion 61 may be sandwiched and connected between the outer layer 46 of the first tubular body 40 and a coating layer 49 that is disposed so as to cover the radially outer side of the outer layer 46 and is fixed to the outer layer 46. Alternatively, as in another modified example shown in Fig. 5, the wire that forms the operating member 60 may be wound around the outer peripheral surface of the first tubular body 40 multiple times. Alternatively, the wire of the connecting portion 61 that is covered with resin as shown in Fig. 2 or 4 may be wound as shown in Fig. 5. In this case, the connecting force of the connecting portion 61 to the tubular body 30 is improved.

[0034] The deforming portion 62 extends from the connecting portion 61 in the proximal direction and is deformable so as to move away radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the tubular body 30. The deforming portion 62 is shaped and curved when it is in a standalone state and not connected to the tubular body 30. The bending direction of the deforming portion 62 when it is in a standalone state preferably coincides with the bending direction of the first curved portion 47 of the shape imparting portion 42. In other words, the deforming portion 62 is connected to the tubular body 30 so that the direction in which it bends to become convex when it is in a standalone state coincides with the first direction Y of the shape imparting portion 42. Therefore, the deforming portion 62 has the same shape as at least a portion of the shape imparting portion 42 (the first curved portion 47 in this embodiment). Note that the deforming portion 62 does not have to be curved when it is in a standalone state.

[0035] The intermediate portion 63 extends from the deformed portion 62 in the proximal direction, passes through the second lumen 51 from the distal end opening 52 of the second tubular body 50 , and is slidable within the second lumen 51 .

[0036] The proximal operation section 64 is disposed closer to the proximal end than the intermediate section 63, and is exposed to the outside from the second lumen 51 through the proximal opening 53. The proximal operation section 64 may have a portion that makes it easier for the surgeon to grasp. That is, the proximal operation section 64 may have an easy-to-grasp member made of resin or the like that is fixed to a wire extending from the intermediate section 63. In this case, the wire extending from the intermediate section 63 does not need to be exposed to the outside.

[0037] The operating member 60 is formed from a single metal wire. The outer diameter of the wire is, for example, 0.254 mm (0.01 inch) or more and 0.965 mm (0.038 inch) or less, preferably 0.533 mm (0.021 inch) or less. The material constituting the operating member 60 preferably has appropriate rigidity and elasticity, such as a shape-memory alloy such as a NiTi alloy or a metal material such as stainless steel. The cross-sectional shape of the wire constituting the operating member 60 is circular in this embodiment, but is not particularly limited thereto. For example, it may be elliptical, oval, square, rectangular, or an arc shape (fan shape) that fits the outer peripheral surface of the first tubular body 40. The cross-sectional shape of the wire constituting the operating member 60 may also vary along the longitudinal axis direction X. For example, the wire may have a portion whose outer diameter tapers down or increases toward the distal end. The shape of the connecting portion 61 may be a flat plate that is wider in the circumferential direction of the tubular body 30 and thinner in the radial direction than the proximal end portion of the operating member. This can improve the connecting strength of the connecting portion 61. Furthermore, the connecting portion 61 of the wire may have a roughened surface or an uneven structure to improve the connecting strength to the tubular body 30. Furthermore, the operating member 60 may be a coil-shaped or rubber-shaped member that is expandable and contractible in the longitudinal axis direction X. Therefore, the constituent material of the operating member 60 may be resin or rubber. Furthermore, the operating member 60 may be a wire with the outer surface of a metal wire coated with resin or rubber.

[0038] The fixing portion 70 is a member that can limit movement of the operating member 60 along the longitudinal axis direction X relative to the tubular body 30. The configuration of the fixing portion 70 is not particularly limited, but for example, it has a threaded portion that can be threaded into a threaded hole that is located at the base end of the second tubular body 50 and penetrates from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface. The threaded portion can enter the second lumen 51 from the outside through the threaded hole, and can press the operating member 60 passing through the second lumen 51 against the inner wall surface of the second lumen 51, thereby fixing the operating member 60 to the tubular body 30. In this embodiment, the fixing portion 70 is located closer to the distal end of the hub 20 of the tubular body 30, but it may also be located at the hub 20.

[0039] The hub 20 has a hub opening 21 to which the proximal end of the first tubular body 40 is connected and which communicates with the first lumen 41 of the first tubular body 40 .

[0040] Next, the operation of the catheter 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, the shape-imparting portion 42 of the catheter 10 has a Simmons shape. In this case, if the deformable portion 62 of the operating member 60, which is aligned with the first curved portion 47 of the shape-imparting portion 42, is also Simmons-shaped, the shape of the shape-imparting portion 42 is less likely to be obstructed by the operating member 60. From this state, the surgeon moves the proximal operating portion 64 toward the distal end relative to the tubular body 30 and the hub 20, as shown in FIG. 6. This lengthens the deformable portion 62 of the operating member 60 that is exposed to the outside distally of the distal opening 52 of the second lumen 51. As a result, the exposed portion of the operating member 60 on the first direction Y side of the shape-imparting portion 42 bends to increase the angle of curvature and deforms to become convex in a direction away from the shape-imparting portion 42. The greater the amount of distal movement of the proximal operating portion 64, the greater the bending of the operating member 60, and the greater the restoring force (bending resistance) of the operating member 60 itself. In a bent state, the operating member 60 can generate a strong restoring force in a position-specific and direction-specific manner. When the shape-imparting portion 42 of the catheter 10 receives a force from the operating member 60, it bends so as to increase the angle of curvature.

[0042] Next, a procedure using the catheter 10 according to this embodiment will be described using an example in which the catheter 10 is inserted as a guiding catheter 10 from the radial artery to the common carotid artery. Here, as shown in Fig. 7, an example in which the catheter 10 is inserted from the right radial artery and placed in the left common carotid artery A3 will be described. Note that the surgeon may use the catheter 10 to reach the right common carotid artery A4 from the right radial artery, or may use the catheter 10 to reach the left common carotid artery A3 or the right common carotid artery A4 from the left radial artery.

[0043] The surgeon inserts a guidewire through the right radial artery, which has been punctured using standard techniques, and inserts the catheter 10, with the inner catheter 110 housed in the first lumen 41, along the guidewire into the blood vessel. At this time, the shaping portion 42 assumes a nearly straight shape due to the rigidity of the internal guidewire. The surgeon guides the inner catheter 110 from the right subclavian artery A1 through the brachiocephalic trunk A5 to the aortic arch A2. If the aortic curvature is not severe, only the guidewire and catheter 10 will suffice.

[0044] Next, the surgeon retracts the guidewire proximally beyond the shaping portion 42. As a result, the first bending portion 47 of the shaping portion 42, together with the inner catheter 110, is deformed into a Simmons shape at the aortic arch A2, as shown in FIG. 7. Next, the surgeon engages the catheter 10 and the inner catheter 110 with the left common carotid artery A3. Next, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the surgeon moves the proximal operating unit 64 toward the distal end relative to the tubular body 30 and the hub 20. As a result, the deforming portion 62 of the operating member 60, which is exposed to the outside on the first direction Y side of the shaping portion 42, bends to increase the angle of bending and protrudes in a direction away from the shaping portion 42. The protruding deforming portion 62 comes into contact with the lower portion of the aortic arch A2. As a result, the catheter 10 is firmly engaged with the left common carotid artery A3. Next, the surgeon uses the fixing portion 70 to restrict the movement of the operating member 60 relative to the tubular body 30. This allows the catheter 10 to maintain a state in which it is firmly engaged with the left common carotid artery A3. Next, the surgeon removes the inner catheter 110, leaving the catheter 10 behind.

[0045] The surgeon can then insert a treatment device or the like into the left common carotid artery A3 through the first lumen 41 of the catheter 10. At this time, the distal end of the catheter 10 remains firmly engaged with the left common carotid artery A3 due to the operating member 60 in contact with the lower part of the aortic arch A2. Therefore, even if the catheter 10 is subjected to a force due to a reaction force caused by the insertion of a device through the first lumen 41, the operating member 60 can apply a force in a direction that prevents the distal end of the catheter 10 from detaching from the left common carotid artery A3. If the operating member 60 itself is shaped, the operating member 60 can generate a higher restoring force, thereby more effectively preventing the distal end from detaching.

[0046] Furthermore, when the distal end of the catheter 10 is engaged with the left common carotid artery A3, the operating member 60 can expand radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the tubular body 30 not only in the aortic arch A2 but also in the brachiocephalic artery A5 and / or left common carotid artery A3, which are branch vessels from the aortic arch A2. This narrows the range of motion of the tubular body 30 placed in the brachiocephalic artery A5 and / or left common carotid artery A3, improving backup power. Therefore, as long as the tubular body 30 does not locally undergo excessive bending, detachment of the distal end of the catheter 10 can be suppressed.

[0047] As described above, the catheter 10 according to this embodiment is a catheter 10 having a tubular body 30 with a shape-imparting portion 42 at its distal end that is curved and shaped to be convex in a predetermined first direction Y in the circumferential direction, and the catheter 10 has an operating member 60 including: a connecting portion 61 connected to the shape-imparting portion 42 or a portion of the tubular body 30 distal to the shape-imparting portion 42 on the first direction Y side; a deforming portion 62 extending proximally from the connecting portion 61 and deformable so as to move radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the tubular body 30; an intermediate portion 63 extending proximally from the deforming portion 62 and housed in the tubular body 30 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction X relative to the tubular body 30; and a proximal operating portion 64 located proximally more proximal than the intermediate portion 63 and operable, wherein the length L of the connecting portion 61 in the longitudinal direction X is longer than the outer diameter D of the tubular body 30. This improves the connection strength of the operating member 60 to the tubular body 30, and prevents the operating member 60 from coming off the tubular body 30.

[0048] Furthermore, since there is no need to replace the guidewire in the procedure using the catheter 10, the procedure can be simplified. Furthermore, when using the catheter 10, there is no need to advance a highly rigid angiography wire deep into the external carotid artery, thereby reducing the possibility of blood vessel perforation. Furthermore, since there is no need to advance the inner catheter 110 deep into the external carotid artery, the possibility of blood vessel perforation by the inner catheter 110 can be reduced. Furthermore, since the catheter 10 can be prevented from detaching from the blood vessel by the operating member 60, there is no need to use a highly rigid catheter 10 to prevent detachment. This expands the range of applicable catheters 10 and reduces the possibility of arterial damage when passing the catheter 10 into the common carotid artery.

[0049] Furthermore, since the catheter 10 can appropriately maintain the shape of the shape-imparting portion 42 by the operating member 60, at least a portion of the deformable portion 62 is curved and shaped to be convex in the first direction Y. This makes it easy for the deformable portion 62 of the operating member 60 to fit along the shape-imparting portion 42 of the tubular body 30, thereby preventing the shape of the shape-imparting portion 42 from being hindered by the shape of the operating member 60.

[0050] The tubular body 30 also has a first lumen 41 formed from the distal end to the proximal end of the tubular body 30, and a second lumen 51 that slidably houses the operating member 60. This allows the catheter 10 to prevent interference between a device passing through the first lumen 41 and the operating member 60 passing through the second lumen 51.

[0051] The catheter 10 also has a fixing portion 70 that can limit movement of the operating member 60 along the longitudinal axis direction Y relative to the tubular body 30. This allows the catheter 10 to favorably maintain the state in which the operating member 60 is moved and the deformation portion 62 of the operating member 60 is deformed.

[0052] Furthermore, the shape of the operating member 60 may change along the longitudinal axis direction X. This allows the catheter 10 to be appropriately designed so that the operating member 60 has a desired shape.

[0053] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art within the technical spirit of the present invention. For example, the catheter 10 may be used for transradial coronary intervention, as well as for endovascular treatment and embolization of the arteries of the lower limbs (peripheral) or organs (visceral) such as the liver, prostate, and uterus. The lumen through which the operating member 60 of the tubular body 30 passes may be common to the lumen through which a guidewire or a device passes. Therefore, the tubular body 30 may be formed from a single tube. In this case, the tubular body 30 has a side hole that opens laterally midway along the longitudinal axis X. The intermediate portion 63 of the operating member 60, extending from the deformed portion 62 toward the proximal end, enters the lumen through this side hole, passes through the lumen, and is exposed to the outside through the hub opening 21. The surgeon can deform the deformation portion 62 of the operation member 60 by operating the proximal end operation portion 64 that extends from the hub opening 21 in the proximal direction and is exposed to the outside. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 10 Catheter 30 Body 41 First Lumen 42 Shape imparting section 51 Second Lumen 60 Operating member 61 Connecting part 62 Deformed part 63 Middle section 64 Proximal operation part 70 Fixed part D Outer diameter of the tube L Length of the connecting part along the long axis X Long axis direction Y 1st direction

Claims

1. A catheter having a tubular body provided at a distal end thereof with a shaping portion having a portion that is curved and shaped so as to be convex in a predetermined first direction in the circumferential direction, an operating member including: a connecting portion connected to the shape imparting portion or a portion of the tubular body on the distal side of the shape imparting portion on the first direction side; a deforming portion extending from the connecting portion in a proximal direction and deformable so as to move radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the tubular body; an intermediate portion extending from the deforming portion in the proximal direction and housed in the tubular body so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the tubular body; and a proximal operating portion located proximal to the intermediate portion and operable, A catheter characterized in that the length of the connecting portion in the longitudinal direction is longer than the outer diameter of the tubular body.

2. The catheter according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the deformation portion is curved so as to be convex in the first direction.

3. 3. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body has a first lumen formed from the distal end to the proximal end of the tubular body, and a second lumen that slidably houses the operating member.

4. 3. The catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing portion capable of restricting movement of the operating member along the longitudinal axis direction relative to the tubular body.

5. 3. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the operating member changes along the longitudinal axis.

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