Elastic structure ligature thread

Abstract

To obtain an easy-to-use elastic ligature thread. [Solution] The present invention solves the problem by providing a structural ligating thread that has elasticity derived from its physical structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an elastic structure ligation thread.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, ligation (suture) threads used in surgical operations and the like are known. A drainage catheter is implanted in the body to discharge accumulated body fluids, bile, etc. In the case of a drain connected to an organ such as the bile duct, after being left in the body for a predetermined period, the drain needs to be removed by a doctor.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Generally, to connect a drain to an organ in the body (such as the bile duct), a ligation thread derived from physical properties has been used. For example, elastic surgical sutures such as elastic monofilaments or multifilaments made of resin are used. The elastic ligation thread itself expands and contracts like rubber due to the material it is made of. After leaving the drain in place for a predetermined period to promote postoperative recovery and then carefully pulling it out from outside the body, the elastic ligation thread wound around the gallbladder duct into which the drain tube was inserted contracts due to its elasticity based on its physical properties, blocking the bile duct. However, the elasticity of the elastic ligation thread is determined by the physical properties of the elastic resin that is the material. The rubber elasticity of the elastic resin is unstable with respect to environmental factors such as temperature, and the elasticity is not constant. Therefore, even if it seems that ligation has been successfully performed at first glance, in reality, the bile duct may not be blocked as intended, and reoperation may be required. The present invention aims to provide an easy-to-use elastic ligating thread with consistent elasticity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This invention solves the problem by providing a structural ligating thread that has elasticity derived from its physical structure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, we were able to obtain an elastic ligating thread that is easy to use. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the surgical procedure. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the surgical procedure (Example 1 of Procedure 5). [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the surgical procedure (Example 2 of Procedure 5). [Figure 4] Figure 4(a-0) is a magnified view of a conventional elastic ligature thread 9 made of elastomer monofilament or multifilament. Figure 4(a-1) is a bundle of conventional elastic ligature threads 9 made of elastomer. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a successful example using a conventional elastic ligating thread 9 made of elastomer. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of a failure example using a conventional elastic ligating thread 9 made of elastomer. [Figure 7] Figure 7(A-1) is an external view of coil ligature thread 1A, which is an example of elastic structure ligature thread 11, and Figure 7(A-2) is an external view of coil ligature thread 1A when pulled to the left and right. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows examples of other elastic ligatures; Figure 8(B-1) is an external view of ring ligature 1B, and Figure 8(B-2) is an external view of ring ligature 1B when pulled to the left and right. Figure 8(C-1) is an external view of bendable ligature 1C, and Figure 8(C-2) is an external view of bendable ligature 1C when pulled to the left and right. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different figures indicate parts with the same function, and redundant explanations in each figure will be omitted as appropriate.

[0009] (Example: Gallstone (gallbladder) removal surgery) The example describes a case where gallstones accumulated in gallbladder 3, and gallbladder 3 was removed. Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram of the surgical procedure. The diagram omits unnecessary details to clearly illustrate the effects of the present invention, and the organ scales are not accurate. In this specification, an elastic ligature thread that stretches and contracts due to its rubber elasticity, such as an elastomer elastic ligature thread 1, is referred to as an elastic ligature thread 1 based on its physical properties. In contrast, an elastic ligature thread 1 that has a physical shape, such as a coil spring, is called a structural elastic ligature thread 11.

[0010] (Gallbladder removal) The gallbladder (3) is an organ adjacent to the liver (2). The gallbladder (3) stores bile produced by the liver (2) and secretes it into the duodenum when needed (during meals). Bile is secreted from liver cells, branches into numerous hepatic ducts, and is collected in the common hepatic duct (21). It then passes through the cystic duct (31) and is temporarily stored in the gallbladder (3). The common hepatic duct (21) and the cystic duct (31) merge at a branching point (22), and the bile is sent to the duodenum through the common bile duct (32). Patients with many gallstones in the gallbladder (3) may undergo surgery to remove the gallbladder (3). Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram of the surgical procedure (part 1). The surgical procedure, specifically the use of elastic ligature 1 to prevent the drainage catheter 4 from coming loose, remains the same in both conventional and current examples. From (Step 1) to (Step 2), the gallbladder 3 is removed by a doctor due to a large accumulation of gallstones. The cystic duct 31 is cut at the section 311 and removed, leaving a longer portion for the procedure described later.

[0011] (Drainage catheter) After the gallbladder 3 is removed, blood, pus, exudate, digestive fluid, air, etc. may remain. The drainage catheter 4 needs to be left in the body for a while to remove these unwanted substances. (Step 3) is a step of creating an insertion incision 312 for inserting the drainage catheter 4 into the cystic duct 31 remaining when the gallbladder 3 is removed. (Step 4) The drainage catheter 4 is inserted from the insertion incision 312 incised in the previous step toward the common bile duct 32. 35 is the ligation position, and in the next (Step 5), the cystic duct 31 and the drainage catheter 4 passed inside are ligated from the outside at this position.

[0012] Figures 2 and 3 are examples of (Step 5) and illustrate some of various ligation examples. Figure 2 (Step 5a) is an example of tightly tying the drainage catheter 4 with the elastic ligation thread 1 so that it does not come out. Using the glass passer 42 and the splitter 43, the knot is tightly tied.

[0013] (Step 5b) is an example of fixing the drainage catheter 4 with the clip 5 so that it does not come out and then ligating it.

[0014] (Step 5C) in Figure 3 is an example of applying tension to the drainage catheter 4 so that it does not come out by twisting the elastic ligation thread 1. The twisted elastic ligation thread 1 is ligated.

[0015] (Step 5d) in Figure 3 is an example of folding the elastic ligation thread 1 to form a loop, passing the end of the elastic ligation thread 1 through the loop and tying it. After this, the elastic ligation thread 1 is ligated while applying tension so that the drainage catheter 4 does not come out.

[0016] (Conventional elastomer-made ligation thread) Figure 4(a - 0) is an enlarged view of a conventional elastic ligation thread 9 made of a monofilament or multifilament of elastomer. Figure 4(a - 1) is a bundle of the conventional elastic ligation thread 9 made of elastomer. Conventional elastic ligating threads made of elastomer 9 have rubber elasticity inherent in the material itself and can stretch and contract. Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of a successful case using a conventional elastic ligature made of elastomer 9. In (Step 5), one end of the drainage catheter 4 is inside the common bile duct 32, while the other end is outside the body, draining bodily fluids accumulated in the common bile duct 32. After a predetermined period following cholecystectomy, a procedure to remove the drainage catheter 4, i.e., (Step 6), is performed. By carefully removing the other end of the drainage catheter 4 that is outside the body, the elastic ligature 1, which has rubbery elasticity, narrows, and a cystic duct obstruction section 37 is created.

[0017] Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of a failure example using a conventional elastic ligating thread 9 made of elastomer. Conventional elastic ligating threads made of elastomers with rubber elasticity are sensitive to temperature because they expand and contract due to the material's rubber properties. Furthermore, it is difficult to stabilize their properties during manufacturing, resulting in variations in rubber elasticity between production batches. Even if a doctor makes a knot 36 with the specified strength and ligates it, the obstruction portion 37 of the cystic duct may not be closed as planned in Figure 5 (step 6), and bile may leak into the body from the cystic duct 31.

[0018] (Elastic ligating thread) Figure 7(A-1) is an external view of a coiled ligature thread 1A, which is an example of an elastic structured ligature thread 11, and (A-2) is an external view of the coiled ligature thread 1A when it is pulled to the left and right. The elastic structured ligature thread 11 does not have rubber elasticity in the material itself, but utilizes elasticity due to its physical structure (deformation of its physical shape), such as a spring. The metal or resin material that makes up a spring is formed into a very thin shape and then molded into a spring. The elastic structured ligature thread 11 looks like a thread, but it stretches and contracts.

[0019] The materials used include metal materials such as 304 stainless steel alloy, 316 stainless steel alloy, pure titanium, and titanium 6-4 alloy, as well as resin materials such as rigid polyester, rigid polyethylene, and rigid nylon that do not possess rubber elasticity. In some cases, materials such as resin or titanium are suitable for use with MRI. The diameter of the elastic ligature suture 11 ranges from 0.5 mm to 50 mm, and the diameter of the wire forming the coil is approximately 0.01 mm to 5 mm. While elastic ligature sutures 1 are not used in all surgeries, the thinnest ligature sutures are used to connect lymphatic vessels, and the thickest ligature sutures are used to connect Achilles tendons, for example. The elastic ligature suture 11 used in gallbladder removal surgery had a diameter of approximately 1 mm, and the wire forming the elastic ligature suture 11 had a diameter of approximately 0.15 mm.

[0020] The wire diameter and the metal material forming the coil of the elastic ligature thread 11 do not vary and can be easily controlled, and the elasticity due to the physical structure of the elastic ligature thread 11 is very stable. Therefore, failures like those shown in Figure 6 (Step 6) caused by the instability of the physical properties of elastomers, etc., cannot occur. Figure 8 shows examples of other elastic ligatures 11, where Figure 8(B-1) is an external view of the ring ligature 1B and Figure 8(B-2) is an external view of the ring ligature 1B when pulled to the left and right. Figure 8(C-1) is an external view of the bendable ligature 1C and Figure 8(C-2) is an external view of the bendable ligature 1C when pulled to the left and right.

[0021] The ring ligature thread 1B is described as having spring elasticity such that the ring portion 13 always maintains a circular shape. When the ring ligature thread 1B is pulled from side to side, the individual ring portions 13 deform into ellipses, but try to return to their original ring shape. The connections between the ring portions 13 bend freely, contributing to the flexibility of the ring ligature thread 1B.

[0022] To explain the flexible ligature thread 1C, it has a spring-elastic bendable portion 14. When pulled from side to side, the bendable portion 14 deforms, but it tries to return to its original shape in proportion to the degree of deformation. The joint portion 15 bends freely, contributing to the flexibility of the flexible ligature thread 1C.

[0023] (Summary of examples) The elastic ligature thread 1 made of elastomer requires the artisanal adjustment of the elastomer's physical properties, making product variation unavoidable. Furthermore, the elastic ligature thread 1 made of elastomer is sensitive to temperature and other factors, and its elasticity changes depending on the surgical environment. In contrast, the elastic structural ligating thread 11 utilizes the elasticity resulting from the deformation (structure) of the object, and machinery can be used to create the structure, thus maintaining stable performance.

[0024] While embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments, and any design changes or other modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included. Furthermore, the aforementioned embodiments can be combined by utilizing each other's technologies, as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in their purpose, configuration, etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0025] 1. Elastic ligature thread 11 Elastic Ligation Thread 1A Coil Ligation Thread 1B Ring Ligation Thread 13. Ring section (spring elastic region) 1C Flexed Lig Thread 14. Flexed section (spring elastic region) 15 Joint 2 Liver 21 Common hepatic duct 22 Branching point 3. Gallbladder 31. Cholecystic duct 311 Cutting section 312 Insertion incision 32 Common bile duct 35 Ligation position 36 knots 37. Obstruction of the cystic duct 4. Drainage catheter 42 Grasper 43 Splitter 5 clips 9. Conventional elastic ligating thread (monofilament)

Claims

1. Elastic ligature thread possessing elasticity derived from its physical structure.

2. The elastic ligature thread according to claim 1, wherein the elastic ligature thread is for medical use.

3. The elastic ligating thread according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the physical structure is a coil.

4. The elastic ligature thread according to claim 1, wherein the material is suitable for MRI imaging.

5. An elastic ligating thread according to any one of claims 1, having a diameter of 0.5 mm to 50 mm.

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