Resin-coated linear body

Abstract

There is room to improve the rotational tracking ability of resin-coated linear bodies. [Solution] The resin-coated wire comprises a stranded wire formed by twisting together multiple strands, and a resin layer covering the stranded wire. The resin-coated wire has a non-joined region and a joined region. The non-joined region is a part of the longitudinal direction of the resin-coated wire in which the stranded wire and the resin layer are not joined to each other, and there is a gap between the stranded wire and the resin layer. The joined region is a part of the longitudinal direction different from the non-joined region in which the stranded wire and the resin layer are joined to each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a resin-coated linear body.

Background Art

[0002] Known resin-coated linear bodies include a hollow coil body formed by twisting a plurality of linear members, and a resin outer layer covering the hollow coil body. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is room for improvement in the rotational followability of the resin-coated linear body.

[0005] This specification discloses a technology capable of solving the above problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The technology disclosed in this specification can be realized, for example, in the following forms.

[0007] The resin-coated linear body disclosed in this specification includes a stranded wire formed by twisting a plurality of elementary wires, and a resin layer covering the stranded wire. The resin-coated linear body has a non-bonding region and a bonding region. The non-bonding region is a partial region in the longitudinal direction of the resin-coated linear body where the stranded wire and the resin layer are not joined to each other and there is a gap between the stranded wire and the resin layer. The bonding region is a partial region different from the non-bonding region in the longitudinal direction where the stranded wire and the resin layer are joined to each other.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] [Figure 1] Longitudinal cross-sectional view of the resin-coated linear body of the first embodiment [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram showing a cross-section of the resin-coated linear body at position II-II in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This diagram shows a cross-section of the resin-coated linear body at position III-III in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Longitudinal cross-sectional view of the resin-coated linear body of the second embodiment [Figure 5] Longitudinal cross-sectional view of the resin-coated linear body of the third embodiment [Figure 6] This diagram shows a cross-section of a modified resin-coated linear body at the same location as Figure 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] (First Embodiment) Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the resin-coated linear body 10 of the first embodiment. In Figure 1 and subsequent figures, mutually orthogonal XYZ axes are shown to specify the direction. Figure 1 shows the state in which the central axis AX of the resin-coated linear body 10 is a straight line extending in the Z-axis direction. The resin-coated linear body 10 has a degree of flexibility that allows it to bend. In this embodiment, the longitudinal section is a section (YZ section) parallel to the extension direction (Z-axis direction) of the resin-coated linear body 10, and the transverse section is a section (XY section) perpendicular to the extension direction of the resin-coated linear body 10. In Figure 1, the first end 11 and the second end 12 are shown. The first end 11 is the end of the resin-coated linear body 10 in the longitudinal direction. In detail, the first end 11 means the end on the positive Z-axis side of the resin-coated linear body 10 and its surrounding area. The second end 12 is the end of the resin-coated linear body 10 in the longitudinal direction opposite to the first end 11. In detail, the second end 12 refers to the end of the resin-coated linear body 10 on the negative Z-axis side and its surrounding area.

[0010] The resin-coated wire 10 is a stranded wire coated with resin. In this embodiment, the resin-coated wire 10 is a resin-coated wire for medical use. The resin-coated wire 10 is a resin-coated wire for bioinsertion, for example, inserted into a biological lumen such as a blood vessel. The resin-coated wire 10 is used, for example, as an outer sheath for an endoscope, an IVUS (Intravascular Ultrasound) device, an OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) device, etc. The cross-sectional shape of the resin-coated wire 10 in this embodiment is circular. The diameter of the cross-section of the resin-coated wire 10 may be, for example, 0.50 mm or more and 0.90 mm or less, or 0.70 mm or more and 0.80 mm or less.

[0011] The resin-coated wire body 10 comprises a stranded wire 100 and a resin layer 200.

[0012] The stranded wire 100 includes a plurality of strands 102. In this embodiment, the stranded wire 100 includes eight strands (see Figures 2 and 3). The stranded wire 100 is formed by twisting together a plurality of strands 102. In this embodiment, the stranded wire 100 is a coil in which a plurality of strands 102 are wound in a helical shape. The stranded wire 100 is a tightly wound coil in which adjacent strands 102 in the longitudinal direction of the resin-coated wire body 10 are wound in contact with each other. An internal cavity 14 is formed inside the stranded wire 100. The material of the strands 102 is, for example, metal. The material of the strands 102 may be, for example, stainless steel such as SUS302, SUS304, SUS316, Ni-Ti alloy, piano wire, etc. The cross-section of the strands 102 in this embodiment is circular. The diameter of the wire strand 102 may be, for example, 0.09 mm or more and 0.21 mm or less, or 0.12 mm or more and 0.18 mm or less.

[0013] The resin layer 200 covers the stranded wire 100. The resin layer 200 improves the lubricity of the resin-coated wire 10 in a living organism, for example. The material of the resin layer 200 is not particularly limited. The material of the resin layer 200 may be a polymer such as polyurethane, polyester, polyimide, polyamide elastomer, nylon, vinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, hyaluronic acid, polyvinylpyrrolidone, or polyethylene glycol. The material of the resin layer 200 may be a homopolymer obtained by polymerizing monomers such as maleic acid, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, dimethylacrylamide, carboxybetaine, phosphobetaine, sulfobetaine, methoxyethyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, or 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, or a copolymer obtained by polymerizing the above monomers.

[0014] The resin-coated linear body 10 has a non-bonding region NA, a first bonding region CA1, and a second bonding region CA2.

[0015] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross-section CS1 of the resin-coated linear body 10 at position II-II in Figure 1. Cross-section CS1 is an example of a cross-section of the resin-coated linear body 10 in the non-bonded region NA.

[0016] The non-joined region NA is a portion of the resin-coated linear body 10 in the longitudinal direction. In the non-joined region NA, the stranded wires 100 and the resin layer 200 are not joined to each other. In this embodiment, in the non-joined region NA, the stranded wires 100 and the resin layer 200 are not joined to each other over the entire circumference of the resin-coated linear body 10 in the circumferential direction. In the non-joined region NA, there is a gap 16 between the stranded wires 100 and the resin layer 200. More specifically, in the cross-section of the resin-coated linear body 10 in the non-joined region NA, the inner circumferential surface 210 of the resin layer 200 is located radially outside the resin-coated linear body 10, which is a virtual circle 108 that connects the outermost parts of each strand 102 with the central axis AX as the center. The distance D1, which is the distance from the virtual circle 108 to the inner circumferential surface 210 in the radial direction of the resin-coated linear body 10, may be, for example, 0.02 mm or more and 0.20 mm or less, 0.05 mm or more and 0.15 mm or less, or 0.07 mm or more and 0.12 mm or less.

[0017] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross-section CS2 of the resin-coated linear body 10 at position III-III in Figure 1. Cross-section CS2 is an example of a cross-section of the resin-coated linear body 10 in the first bonding region CA1. The cross-section of the resin-coated linear body 10 in the second bonding region CA2 has the same configuration as cross-section CS2. In this specification, the first bonding region CA1 and the second bonding region CA2 are collectively referred to as "bonding region CA" to explain features common to the first bonding region CA1 and the second bonding region CA2.

[0018] The first joining region CA1 is a part of the resin-coated linear body 10 that is different from the non-joining region NA in the longitudinal direction. The first joining region CA1 is located at the first end portion 11. The second joining region CA2 is a part of the resin-coated linear body 10 that is different from the non-joining region NA and the first joining region CA1. The second joining region CA2 is located on the opposite side of the first joining region CA1 across the non-joining region NA in the longitudinal direction of the resin-coated linear body 10. The second joining region CA2 is located at the second end portion 12. In the joining region CA, the stranded wire 100 and the resin layer 200 are joined to each other. In the present embodiment, in the joining region CA, the stranded wire 100 and the resin layer 200 are joined to each other over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the resin-coated linear body 10. In the cross-section of the resin-coated linear body 10 in the joining region CA, the resin layer 200 is located inside the virtual circle 108 in the radial direction of the resin-coated linear body 10. In other words, in the joining region CA, the resin layer 200 has entered into the gaps between the adjacent strands 102 in the circumferential direction of the resin-coated linear body 10.

[0019] The resin-coated linear body 10 of the present embodiment can be manufactured, for example, by the following manufacturing method. An operator manufactures the stranded wire 100 by twisting a plurality of strands 102 together. The operator manufactures the resin layer 200 by extruding the resin that becomes the material of the resin layer 200. At this time, the operator manufactures the resin layer 200 such that the inner diameter of the resin layer 200 is larger than the outer diameter of the stranded wire 100. The operator covers the stranded wire 100 with the resin layer 200. The operator heats the resin layer 200 located in the region that becomes the joining region CA in the resin-coated linear body 10, and welds the stranded wire 100 and the resin layer 200. Thereby, the stranded wire 100 and the resin layer 200 are joined. By the above method, the resin-coated linear body 10 having the non-joining region NA and the joining region CA is manufactured.

[0020] As described above, the resin-coated linear body 10 of the present embodiment includes a stranded wire 100 in which a plurality of strands 102 are twisted together, and a resin layer 200 that covers the stranded wire 100. The resin-coated linear body 10 has a non-bonding region NA and a bonding region CA. The non-bonding region NA is a partial region in the longitudinal direction of the resin-coated linear body 10, where the stranded wire 100 and the resin layer 200 are not joined to each other, and there is a gap 16 between the stranded wire 100 and the resin layer 200. The bonding region CA is a partial region different from the non-bonding region NA in the longitudinal direction, where the stranded wire 100 and the resin layer 200 are joined to each other.

[0021] According to the resin-coated linear body 10 of the present embodiment, since it has the non-bonding region NA, the strands 102 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the resin-coated linear body 10 can move freely relative to each other, and the rotational followability of the resin-coated linear body 10 is improved. Specifically, the rotational followability means the performance that when the base end portion of the resin-coated linear body 10 is rotated by a technician, the tip end portion rotates following the rotation of the base end portion. The base end portion is the end portion of the resin-coated linear body 10 that is gripped by the technician, and the tip end portion is the end portion of the resin-coated linear body 10 on the side opposite to the end portion gripped by the technician. Further, according to the resin-coated linear body 10 of the present embodiment, since it has the bonding region CA, the resin layer 200 is suppressed from peeling off from the stranded wire 100.

[0022] In the resin-coated linear body 10 of the present embodiment, the bonding region CA is the first bonding region CA1, and the resin-coated linear body 10 further has a partial region different from the non-bonding region NA and the first bonding region CA1 in the longitudinal direction, where the stranded wire 100 and the resin layer 200 are joined to each other and is located on the side opposite to the first bonding region CA1 across the non-bonding region NA in the longitudinal direction, having a second bonding region CA2. According to the resin-coated linear body 10 of the present embodiment, since it has the first bonding region CA1 and the second bonding region CA2, the resin layer 200 is more effectively suppressed from peeling off from the stranded wire 100.

[0023] In the resin-coated wire 10 of this embodiment, the first bonding region CA1 is located at the first end 11 in the longitudinal direction, and the second bonding region CA2 is located at the second end 12, which is the end opposite to the first end 11 in the longitudinal direction. According to the resin-coated wire 10 of this embodiment, since the first bonding region CA1 is located at the first end 11 and the second bonding region CA2 is located at the second end 12, the peeling of the resin layer 200 from the stranded wire 100 is more effectively suppressed.

[0024] (Second Embodiment) Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the resin-coated linear body 10a of the second embodiment. In the following, parts of the resin-coated linear body 10a of this embodiment that are common with the resin-coated linear body 10 of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted as appropriate.

[0025] The resin-coated wire 10a of this embodiment comprises a stranded wire 100a and a resin layer 200. The surface 102SCa of the stranded wire 102a in the bonding region CA is rougher than the surface 102SN of the stranded wire 102a in the non-bonding region NA. In the resin-coated wire 10a of this embodiment, groove cutting is performed on the surface 102SCa of the stranded wire 102a. By performing groove cutting, grooves 103 are formed on the portion of the surface 102SCa that faces the radially outer side of the resin-coated wire 10. Because grooves 103 are formed on the surface 102SCa, it is relatively rougher than the surface 102SN. The resin layer 200 enters into the grooves 103 and is bonded to the stranded wire 100a.

[0026] In this specification, surface roughness of a wire refers to the roughness (irregularity) of the wire surface itself, and does not refer to grooves formed between adjacent wires. In this specification, surface roughness of a wire refers to at least one of the following: roughness that can be compared visually with the naked eye or under a microscope, and roughness that can be compared using a parameter (arithmetic mean roughness Ra).

[0027] The roughness that can be compared visually with the naked eye or a microscope is specifically compared as follows: The worker cuts the resin-coated wire so that the longitudinal cross-section can be observed. The worker observes the surface of the wire using, for example, a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The worker compares the value obtained by dividing the number of surface irregularities of the wire in the joining region by the longitudinal length of the joining region with the value obtained by dividing the number of surface irregularities of the wire in the non-jointed region by the longitudinal length of the non-jointed region. This allows for a comparison of the surface roughness of the wire in the joining region and the surface roughness of the wire in the non-jointed region.

[0028] The roughness that can be compared using the parameter (arithmetic mean roughness Ra) is specifically compared as follows: The operator compares the arithmetic mean roughness Ra of the wire surface in the bonded area, measured by a surface texture measuring instrument (e.g., a laser microscope manufactured by Keyence Corporation), with the arithmetic mean roughness Ra of the wire surface in the non-bonded area. This allows for a comparison of the surface roughness of the wire surface in the bonded area and the surface roughness of the wire surface in the non-bonded area.

[0029] As described above, in the resin-coated wire body 10a of this embodiment, the surface 102SCa of the strand 102a in the bonding region CA is rougher than the surface 102SN of the strand 102a in the non-bonding region NA. According to the resin-coated wire body 10a of this embodiment, the bonding strength between the strand 102a and the resin layer 200 is improved by increasing the contact area between the strand 102a and the resin layer 200 in the bonding region CA, thereby more effectively suppressing the peeling of the resin layer 200 from the stranded wire 100a.

[0030] (Third embodiment) Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the resin-coated linear body 10b of the third embodiment. In the following, parts of the resin-coated linear body 10b of this embodiment that are common with the resin-coated linear body 10 of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted as appropriate.

[0031] The resin-coated wire 10b of this embodiment comprises a stranded wire 100b and a resin layer 200. The surface 102SCb of the stranded wire 102b in the bonding region CA is rougher than the surface 102SN of the stranded wire 102b in the non-bonding region NA. In the resin-coated wire 10b of this embodiment, the surface 102SCb of the stranded wire 102b is subjected to a roughening treatment. As the roughening treatment, known treatment methods such as blasting, acid treatment, and sanding may be used. By applying the roughening treatment, a rough surface 104 is formed on the portion of the surface 102SCb that faces radially outward from the resin-coated wire 10. Because the rough surface 104 is formed, the surface 102SCb is relatively rougher than the surface 102SN. The resin layer 200 penetrates into the recesses of the rough surface 104 and is bonded to the stranded wire 100b.

[0032] As described above, in the resin-coated wire body 10b of this embodiment, the surface 102SCb of the strand 102b in the bonding region CA is rougher than the surface 102SN of the strand 102b in the non-bonding region NA. According to the resin-coated wire body 10b of this embodiment, the bonding strength between the strand 102b and the resin layer 200 is improved by increasing the contact area between the strand 102b and the resin layer 200 in the bonding region CA, thereby more effectively suppressing the peeling of the resin layer 200 from the stranded wire 100b.

[0033] (modified version) The technologies disclosed herein are not limited to the embodiments described above and can be modified in various forms without departing from their essence, for example, the following modifications are possible.

[0034] Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross-section CS1c of the modified resin-coated linear body 10c at the same position as in Figure 2. In the following, for parts of the modified resin-coated linear body 10c that are common with the resin-coated linear body 10 of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used, and their descriptions will be omitted as appropriate.

[0035] The modified resin-coated wire 10c comprises a stranded wire 100c and a resin layer 200. The stranded wire 100c includes a plurality of individual wires 102c. Each individual wire 102c includes a core wire 105 and side wires 106. The core wire 105 is an individual wire located on the central axis AX in each longitudinal cross-section of the resin-coated wire 10c. The side wires 106 are individual wires located around the core wire 105 in each longitudinal cross-section of the resin-coated wire 10c. The resin-coated wire 10c includes eight side wires 106. The side wires 106 are spirally wound around the core wire 105. The stranded wire may be hollow without a core wire, as in the above embodiment, or it may include a core wire, as in this modified example.

[0036] In a resin-coated linear body, there may be one bonding region, or there may be three or more bonding regions.

[0037] In the joining region, the stranded wire and the resin layer do not necessarily have to be joined to each other over the entire circumference of the resin-coated linear body. In other words, in the joining region, the stranded wire and the resin layer only need to be joined to each other over at least a portion of the circumference of the resin-coated linear body.

[0038] The bonding region does not necessarily have to be located at the longitudinal end of the resin-coated linear body. The bonding region may also be located in the middle of the longitudinal portion of the resin-coated linear body.

[0039] The materials of each component in the above embodiment are merely examples and can be modified in various ways. For example, the cross-section of the wire may be circular or non-circular, and may be a polygon such as a semicircle, triangle, or quadrilateral, and is not limited to these. The method for manufacturing the resin-coated wire 10 in the above embodiment is merely an example and can be modified in various ways.

[0040] Each of the features described in each of the embodiments described above may be appropriately combined with other embodiments or modified versions. Each of the features described in the modified versions described above may be appropriately combined with embodiments. Each of the features described in each of the embodiments described above may be appropriately omitted. Each of the features described in the modified versions described above may be appropriately omitted.

Claims

1. A resin-coated linear body (10), A stranded wire (100) is made by twisting together multiple strands (102), A resin layer (200) covering the stranded wire (100), Equipped with, The resin-coated linear body (10) is A portion of the longitudinal direction of the resin-coated linear body (10) is a non-joined region (NA) in which the stranded wire (100) and the resin layer (200) are not joined to each other, and there is a gap (16) between the stranded wire (100) and the resin layer (200), A resin-coated linear body (10) having a bonded region (CA) in which the stranded wire (100) and the resin layer (200) are bonded to each other, in a region different from the non-bonded region (NA) in the longitudinal direction.

2. A resin-coated linear body (10a, 10b) according to claim 1, The resin-coated wires (10a, 10b) have surfaces (102SCa, 102SCb) in the bonded region (CA) that are rougher than the surfaces (102SN) of the wires (102a, 102b) in the non-bonded region (NA).

3. A resin-coated linear body (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, The aforementioned bonding region (CA) is the first bonding region (CA1), The resin-coated linear body (10) further comprises a second bonded region (CA2) located on the opposite side of the first bonded region (CA1) in the longitudinal direction, with respect to the non-bonded region (NA) and the first bonded region (CA1), in which the stranded wire (100) and the resin layer (200) are bonded to each other.

4. A resin-coated linear body (10) according to claim 3, The first joining region (CA1) is located at the first end (11) in the longitudinal direction, The second bonding region (CA2) is a resin-coated linear body (10) located at the second end (12), which is the end opposite to the first end (11) in the longitudinal direction.

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