Nozzle, coating device, and coating method

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a nozzle, a coating device, and a coating method that are configured to be able to apply a coating liquid selectively and easily to any part of a medical long body. [Solution] A nozzle 30 includes a nozzle tip portion 40 that has a retaining space 41A capable of retaining a coating liquid C to be applied to a shaft W, and a nozzle main body portion 50 that has a lumen 51 for sending the coating liquid to the nozzle tip portion and an opening portion 53 for linking the lumen and the retaining space to each other.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a nozzle, a coating device, and a coating method for applying a coating liquid to a medical elongated body. [Background technology]

[0002] Long medical bodies (e.g., shafts), which are components of medical devices such as catheters and guidewires, may be coated with various coating liquids according to the product specifications.

[0003] On the other hand, medical elongated bodies are often formed by combining multiple members by a method such as heat fusion. In this case, the fusion strength may decrease when the members coated with a coating liquid are fused. In this case, in order to avoid a decrease in the strength of the fused portion, after applying a coating to the member, the coating may be removed only from the fused portion, and another member may be fused.

[0004] In the above-mentioned manufacturing method, the manufacturing process is complicated because a process of partially removing the coating is added. In order to solve the above problem, if it were possible to selectively apply a coating liquid to any part of the medical elongated body, it would be possible to suppress the complication of the manufacturing process. As an example of an apparatus for realizing such a manufacturing method, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a nozzle capable of applying a coating liquid to a part of the medical elongated body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Special table number 2009-501056 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the nozzle described in Patent Document 1 is configured as a jet-type nozzle that sprays the coating liquid onto the medical elongated body. Therefore, it is not easy to accurately apply the coating liquid to only a desired part of the medical elongated body. It is considered that if a masking or the like is provided on the medical elongated body, it is possible to separate the coating liquid application area from the non-coating area and accurately apply the coating liquid, but since a process of providing and removing the masking is required, it is difficult to suppress the complication of the manufacturing work.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a nozzle, an application device, and an application method that can selectively and easily apply a coating liquid to any part of a medical elongated body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The nozzle for achieving the above object has a nozzle tip portion having a holding space capable of holding a coating liquid to be applied to a medical elongate body, a lumen for delivering the coating liquid to the nozzle tip portion, and a nozzle body portion having an opening portion communicating the lumen with the holding space. The nozzle tip has an insertion portion that enables the medical elongated body to be inserted into the holding space from the tip side of the nozzle tip, and the insertion portion has a width greater than that of the medical elongated body before and after the medical elongated body is inserted into the holding space.

[0009] Further, a coating method for achieving the above object is a coating method for coating a medical elongated body with a coating liquid, the coating method comprising: moving the nozzle and the medical elongated body relatively along the axial direction of the medical elongated body in a state in which the medical elongated body is brought into contact with the coating liquid held at a nozzle tip portion of the nozzle; and applying the coating liquid to any part in the axial direction of the medical elongated body. In the nozzle tip, a holding space capable of holding the coating liquid is defined, and the nozzle tip has an insertion portion that enables the medical elongated body to be inserted into the holding space from the tip side of the nozzle tip, and by inserting the medical elongated body into the insertion portion, the medical elongated body is positioned in the holding space without coming into contact with the nozzle tip.

[0010] In addition, a coating method that achieves the above-mentioned object is a coating method for applying a coating liquid to a medical elongated body, in which the nozzle and the medical elongated body are moved relatively along the axial direction of the medical elongated body while the medical elongated body is brought into contact with the coating liquid held at the nozzle tip portion of the nozzle, thereby applying the coating liquid to any part of the medical elongated body in the axial direction. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a nozzle, an application device, and an application method that can selectively and easily apply a coating liquid to any part of a medical elongated body. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a coating apparatus according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a nozzle according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a nozzle tip portion and a nozzle main body according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 4A is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle taken along arrows 4A-4A shown in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] 5 is a side view of the nozzle as viewed in the direction of arrow 5A shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart showing each step of a coating method according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] 1A to 1C are diagrams for explaining a coating method according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] 1A to 1C are diagrams for explaining a coating method according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] 1A to 1C are diagrams for explaining a coating method according to an embodiment. [Figure 10] 1A to 1C are diagrams for explaining a coating method according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] 1A to 1C are diagrams for explaining a coating method according to an embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a plan view of a nozzle tip according to a modified example. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a plan view of a nozzle tip according to a modified example. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a plan view of a nozzle tip according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following description does not limit the technical scope or meaning of terms described in the claims. Also, the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0014] Fig. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of a coating apparatus 10 equipped with a nozzle 30 according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 to Fig. 5 show the device configuration of the nozzle 30. Fig. 6 to Fig. 11 show a method of coating a coating liquid C using the nozzle 30.

[0015] In this embodiment, a catheter shaft (hereinafter simply referred to as "shaft W") is exemplified as a medical elongated body (workpiece) W to which the coating liquid C is applied. However, the coating object is not limited to a catheter shaft.

[0016] <Coating equipment> The coating device 10 has a chamber 11 provided with a working space for coating a coating liquid C onto a shaft W, as shown in FIGS.

[0017] The chamber 11 has an opening / closing door 12 that separates the inside and outside of the chamber 11, an upper work set table 13a and a lower work set table 13b on which the shaft W is set, a core bar (jig) 14 through which the shaft W is inserted, a work guide 15 that guides the shaft W, an outer diameter measuring instrument 16 that measures the outer diameter of the shaft W, a droplet confirmation sensor 17 for checking the retention state of the coating liquid C at the nozzle tip 40, a movement mechanism 110 that controls the movement of the nozzle 30, a coating liquid supply mechanism 120 that applies the coating liquid C to the shaft W, and a control unit 130 that controls the operation of each part of the coating device 10.

[0018] The opening and closing door 12 can be configured as, for example, an electromagnetic lock type door.

[0019] The upper work set stand 13a and the lower work set stand 13b can hold and fix the shaft W. When the shaft W is set on each of the work set stands 13a, 13b, a core bar 14 is inserted into a lumen (not shown) of the shaft W, thereby preventing the shaft W from breaking or bending. The work guide 15 guides (supports) the shaft W on the lower work set stand 13b side.

[0020] The outer diameter measuring device 16 measures the outer diameter of the shaft W coated with the coating liquid C. The outer diameter measuring device 16 detects the thickness of the coating liquid C applied to the shaft W by measuring the outer diameter of the shaft W. In addition, the outer diameter measuring device 16 determines whether the coating liquid C has been applied to the shaft W with an appropriate thickness.

[0021] The droplet confirmation sensor 17 detects whether or not the coating liquid C is held at the nozzle tip 40 when the coating liquid C is applied to the shaft W. The droplet confirmation sensor 17 can be configured, for example, as a laser detector that irradiates a laser beam toward the nozzle 30 when the nozzle 30 passes between the droplet confirmation sensors 17, and confirms the presence or absence of the coating liquid C based on the passing state of the laser beam.

[0022] The moving mechanism 110 has a linear actuator 18a for forward and backward movement that moves the nozzle 30 toward and away from each work set table 13a, 13b on which the shaft W is set, and a linear actuator 18b for up and down movement that moves the nozzle 30 along the axial direction of the shaft W set on each work set table 13a, 13b (up and down direction in the figure).

[0023] The coating device 10 applies the coating liquid C to the shaft W by operating the linear actuators 18a, 18b of the movement mechanism 110 as described below.

[0024] When starting application of the coating liquid C using the nozzle 30, the coating device 10 moves the nozzle 30 close to the shaft W by the linear actuator 18a for forward and backward movement (see FIG. 7). The coating device 10 moves the nozzle 30 along the axial direction of the shaft W by the linear actuator 18b for up and down movement with the shaft W in contact with the coating liquid C held in the nozzle 30. This allows the coating liquid C to be applied to the shaft W (see FIGS. 8 and 9). After completing application of the coating liquid C using the nozzle 30, the coating device 10 moves the nozzle 30 away from the shaft W by the linear actuator 18a for forward and backward movement (see FIG. 11). Note that the coating device 10 can be configured so that the shaft W can be relatively close to the nozzle 30, or the nozzle 30 and the shaft W can be moved along the axial direction of the shaft W.

[0025] The coating liquid supply mechanism 120 has a dispenser 19a that holds a predetermined amount of coating liquid C, a tube 19b connected to the dispenser 19a, a syringe 19c connected to the dispenser 19a via the tube 19b, and a nozzle 30 connected to the syringe 19c.

[0026] When starting application of the coating liquid C, the coating device 10 sends the coating liquid from the dispenser 19a to the syringe 19c based on instructions from an operator (such as input of work content). The coating device 10 also controls the operation of the syringe 19c to control the amount of coating liquid C supplied to the nozzle 30. In this embodiment, the dispenser 19a is configured to be capable of performing a liquid sending operation of supplying the coating liquid C from the dispenser 19a to the nozzle 30 and a suction operation of returning the coating liquid C supplied to the nozzle 30 to the dispenser 19a.

[0027] The control unit 130 can be configured by a known microcomputer including a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc. The control unit 130 comprehensively controls the operation of each part of the coating device 10. The CPU of the control unit reads out various programs stored in advance in the ROM into the RAM and executes them, thereby executing predetermined processing. The control unit 130 also functions as a memory unit that stores various setting information and control programs, and as a calculation unit that executes calculations of the amount of coating liquid C to be sent, etc.

[0028] <Nozzle> As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the nozzle 30 has a nozzle tip portion 40 and a nozzle main body portion 50.

[0029] The nozzle tip 40 is provided with a holding portion 41 capable of holding the coating liquid C to be applied to the shaft W.

[0030] The nozzle body 50 includes a lumen 51 for delivering the coating liquid C to the nozzle tip 40 and an opening 53 that connects the lumen 51 to the holder 41 .

[0031] The lumen 51 of the nozzle body 50 communicates with the syringe 19c. The coating liquid C supplied to the nozzle tip 40 through the syringe 19c and the nozzle body 50 is guided to the holder 41 through the opening 53. As shown in FIG. 2, a liquid leakage prevention valve 20 can be disposed at the connection between the nozzle body 50 and the syringe 19c.

[0032] The nozzle 30 is configured to be able to suck the coating liquid C held in the holding part 41 and the coating liquid C applied to the shaft W through the opening 53 and the lumen 51 of the nozzle main body 50 (see FIG. 10). Switching between the application operation of the coating liquid C and the suction operation of the coating liquid C by the nozzle 30 can be controlled by the control part 130 (see FIG. 1).

[0033] The nozzle tip portion 40 has a first branch portion 43 and a second branch portion 44 branched off at the tip side of the nozzle body portion 50 .

[0034] A holding space 41A constituting the holding part 41 is defined between the first branch part 43 and the second branch part 44. The holding space 41A communicates with the outside of the holding space 41A in a direction (the direction indicated by the arrows a1-a2 in FIG. 3) perpendicular to the extending direction of each of the branch parts 43, 44. The nozzle tip part 40 can hold the coating liquid C supplied through the opening 53 in the holding space 41A (gap) between the first branch part 43 and the second branch part 44 by the surface tension of the coating liquid C.

[0035] The first branch portion 43 has a first portion 43a extending away from the nozzle body 50, and a second portion 43b extending in a substantially straight line from the tip of the first portion 43a.

[0036] The second branch portion 44 has a first portion 44a extending away from the nozzle body 50, and a second portion 44b extending in a substantially straight line from the tip of the first portion 44a.

[0037] The first portion 43a of the first branch portion 43 and the first portion 44a of the second branch portion 44 extend approximately symmetrically in directions away from each other with respect to the opening 53. The second portion 43b of the first branch portion 43 and the second portion 44b of the second branch portion 44 extend approximately parallel to each other with a fixed interval between them.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the nozzle tip portion 40 has an insertion portion 45 that enables the shaft W to be inserted into the holding portion 41 from the tip side of the nozzle tip portion 40.

[0039] The insertion portion 45 is configured by a gap formed between the tip of the first branch portion 43 and the tip of the second branch portion 44.

[0040] The nozzle tip portion 40 has a substantially Y-shaped planar shape by having a first branched portion 43, a second branched portion 44, and an insertion portion 45 (see FIGS. 4 and 10).

[0041] Each branched portion 43, 44 of the nozzle tip 40 extends so that the gap between them gradually widens from the nozzle body 50 side. The coating liquid C supplied from the opening 53 spreads gradually to each of the second portions 43b, 44b side along each of the first portions 43a, 44a, which have narrow gaps between them. Therefore, the nozzle tip 40 can hold the coating liquid C in a relatively narrow gap immediately after the coating liquid C is supplied from the opening 53. Therefore, the nozzle tip 40 can suitably hold the coating liquid C in the holding space 41A formed between each branched portion 43, 44 due to the surface tension of the coating liquid C.

[0042] The nozzle 30 (nozzle tip portion 40 and nozzle body portion 50) may be made of a material such as stainless steel.

[0043] The type of coating liquid C is not particularly limited, but for example, when the shaft W is used as a component of a catheter, a fluororesin or the like can be used. The viscosity of the coating liquid C can be adjusted as desired depending on the size, shape, area, etc. of the holding portion 41 formed between the first branch portion 43 and the second branch portion 44.

[0044] Next, a method for applying the coating liquid C using the application device 10 and the nozzle 30 will be described.

[0045] FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the steps of the coating method of the coating liquid C.

[0046] 6, the method of applying the coating liquid C includes supplying the coating liquid C to the nozzle tip 40 (S11), holding the coating liquid C in the holding portion 41 (holding space 41A) of the nozzle tip 40 (S12), bringing the nozzle 30 relatively close to the shaft W (S13), starting application of the coating liquid C (S14), moving the nozzle 30 relatively along the axial direction of the shaft W (S15), sucking the coating liquid C through the nozzle 30 as necessary (S16), and moving the nozzle 30 relatively away from the shaft W (S17). Each step will be described below.

[0047] 2, an operator who applies the coating liquid C to the shaft W supplies the coating liquid C to the nozzle tip 40. The operator holds the coating liquid C in a holding portion 41 formed on the nozzle tip 40.

[0048] 7, with the coating liquid C held by the holder 41, the worker brings the nozzle 30 close to the shaft W. Here, the nozzle 30 is brought close to the shaft W, but the shaft W may be brought close to the nozzle 30, or both the nozzle 30 and the shaft W may be brought close to each other.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 8, an operator starts applying the coating liquid C to the shaft W by bringing the shaft W into contact with the coating liquid C held in the holding part 41. The nozzle tip 40 is formed with an insertion part 45 that enables the shaft W to be inserted into the holding part 41 (see Figs. 2 and 3). Therefore, the shaft W can be easily positioned in the holding part 41 by bringing the nozzle 30 relatively close to the shaft W.

[0050] 9, with the shaft W placed in the holder 41, the operator moves the nozzle 30 relatively along the axial direction of the shaft W. Here, the nozzle 30 is moved relative to the shaft W, but the shaft W may be moved relative to the nozzle 30, or both the nozzle 30 and the shaft W may be moved.

[0051] When the shaft W is placed in the holding portion 41, the coating liquid C comes into contact with the shaft W while surrounding the shaft W in the circumferential direction (see FIG. 2). This makes it possible to prevent the coating liquid C from being applied unevenly to a portion of the shaft W in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, by moving the nozzle 30 in the axial direction of the shaft W while the shaft W is surrounded in the circumferential direction by the coating liquid C, the coating liquid C can be applied to the entire circumference of the shaft W in the range in which the nozzle 30 is moved. This makes it possible to apply the coating liquid C evenly in the circumferential direction of the shaft W along any portion of the shaft W in the axial direction, similar to the case where the coating liquid C is dip-coated onto the shaft W.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 10, after applying the coating liquid C over a predetermined range in the axial direction of the shaft W, the worker aspirates excess coating liquid C via the lumen 51 as necessary. For example, when there is excess coating liquid C remaining at the end of application of the coating liquid C on the shaft W, the coating liquid C can be aspirated. Also, for example, when the nozzle 30 is separated from the shaft W, the coating liquid C held in the holding portion 41 can be aspirated, thereby preventing excess coating liquid C from remaining at the end of application of the coating liquid C on the shaft W. Note that the suction of the coating liquid C may be performed as necessary and may be omitted as appropriate.

[0053] 11, after the worker finishes applying the coating liquid C to the shaft W, the worker separates the nozzle 30 from the shaft W. Here, the nozzle 30 is separated from the shaft W, but the shaft W may be separated from the nozzle 30, or both the nozzle 30 and the shaft W may be separated from each other.

[0054] In addition, when the shaft W is configured as the shaft of a catheter, the position of the shaft W to which the coating liquid C is applied can be set to a portion excluding the tip and base ends of the shaft W. By not applying the coating liquid C to the tip end of the shaft W, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the fusion strength of another shaft due to the influence of the coating liquid C when fusing the shaft W to the shaft W. In addition, by not applying the coating liquid C to the base end of the shaft W, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the fusion strength of another shaft due to the influence of the coating liquid C when fusing the shaft W to the shaft W. In addition, when applying the coating liquid C to a balloon catheter, for example, the balloon portion and the shaft portion of the balloon catheter can be coated by different methods. In this case, the balloon portion can be coated by dipping or spraying before and after coating the shaft portion using the nozzle 30 or the coating device 10, and the balloon portion and the shaft portion coated by each method can be fused.

[0055] As described above, according to this embodiment, with the coating liquid C held in the holding portion 41 (holding space 41A) of the nozzle tip portion 40, the shaft W is placed in the holding portion 41, and the nozzle 30 and the shaft W are moved relatively along the axial direction of the shaft W, whereby the coating liquid C can be appropriately applied to any part in the axial direction of the shaft W. Therefore, after the coating liquid C is applied to the shaft W, it is not necessary to remove the coating from the shaft W at the part to which other members are fused. This makes it possible to prevent the catheter manufacturing process from becoming complicated.

[0056] Furthermore, by disposing the shaft W inside the holding part 41, the coating liquid C can be disposed so as to surround the outer circumference of the shaft W, thereby preventing uneven coating in the circumferential direction of the shaft W. Therefore, by applying the coating liquid C using the nozzle 30, it is possible to obtain the same effect as dip coating, while eliminating the need to hold and manage a large amount of the coating liquid C as in dip coating. This makes it possible to reduce material costs, reduce the impact on the health of workers and the environmental load, and reduce the workload required for long-term management of the coating liquid.

[0057] <Modifications of the nozzle tip> 12 to 14 show modified examples of the nozzle tip portion 40. In FIG.

[0058] As long as the nozzle tip 40 has a holding portion 41 (holding space 41A) capable of holding the coating liquid C, the specific shape is not particularly limited.

[0059] The nozzle tip portion 40 may have a substantially V-shaped planar shape, for example, as shown in Fig. 12. The nozzle tip portion 40 may have a substantially C-shaped planar shape, for example, as shown in Fig. 13. The nozzle tip portion 40 may have an asymmetric geometric shape in which the branched portions 43, 44 are asymmetric, for example, as shown in Fig. 14. The nozzle tip portion 40 may have a substantially U-shaped planar shape, for example.

[0060] Even when applying coating liquid C using each nozzle tip 40 shown in the modified example, the coating liquid C can be suitably applied over any range in the axial direction of the shaft W by moving the nozzle 30 and the shaft W relatively along the axial direction of the shaft W while the shaft W is in contact with the coating liquid C held by the holding portion 41.

[0061] The nozzle, coating device, and coating method according to the present invention have been described above based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modified examples described in the specification, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0062] For example, the nozzle tip does not need to be provided with an insertion portion that allows the medical elongated object to be inserted into the holding portion from the distal side of the nozzle tip. In such a configuration, the shaft can be placed in the holding portion by approaching the nozzle tip from above or below the holding portion.

[0063] For example, the medical elongated body may be a member other than the shaft of a catheter. As an example, the present invention can be applied to the application of a coating liquid (e.g., a PTFE coating liquid) to an elongated medical instrument such as a guidewire. There is also no particular restriction on the application to various medical instruments other than a guidewire.

[0064] As long as the coating device includes a nozzle and a moving mechanism, there are no particular limitations on the configuration, arrangement, control method, etc. of each mechanism.

[0065] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-050970 filed on March 25, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 10 Coating equipment 19a Dispenser 19b tube 19c Syringe 30 Nozzles 40 Nozzle tip 41 Holding part 41A Holding space 43 First Branch 43a First part of the first branch 43b Second part of the first branch 44 Second Branch 44a First part of the second branch 44b Second part of the second branch 45 Insertion section 50 Nozzle body 51 lumens 53 Opening 110 Moving mechanism 120 Coating liquid supply mechanism 130 Control section C Coating Fluid W shaft (long shaft for medical use)

Claims

1. A nozzle tip portion having a holding space capable of holding a coating liquid to be applied to a medical elongated body; a nozzle body including a lumen for supplying the coating liquid to the nozzle tip and an opening for connecting the lumen to the holding space, the nozzle tip portion has an insertion portion that enables the medical elongated object to be inserted into the holding space from a tip side of the nozzle tip portion, The insertion portion has a width greater than that of the elongated medical object before and after the elongated medical object is inserted into the holding space.

2. the nozzle tip portion has a first branch portion and a second branch portion branched at a tip side of the nozzle body, The nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the retention space is defined between the first branch portion and the second branch portion.

3. The nozzle according to claim 2 , wherein each of the first branched portion and the second branched portion has a first portion extending from the nozzle body and a second portion extending in a substantially linear manner from a tip of the first portion.

4. The nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the coating liquid held in the holding space and the coating liquid applied to the medical elongated body are capable of being sucked in through the opening and the lumen of the nozzle body.

5. A nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 4; a movement mechanism for controlling movement of the nozzle and / or the medical elongated body, The moving mechanism is an application device that applies the coating liquid to any part of the medical elongated body in the axial direction by relatively moving the nozzle and the medical elongated body along the axial direction of the medical elongated body while a portion of the medical elongated body is placed in the holding space.

6. A coating method for coating a coating liquid on a medical elongated body, comprising the steps of: a coating method for coating a medical elongated body with the coating liquid held at a nozzle tip portion of a nozzle, the nozzle and the medical elongated body being moved relatively along an axial direction of the medical elongated body, the coating liquid being applied to any portion of the medical elongated body in the axial direction, a holding space capable of holding the coating liquid is defined in the nozzle tip portion, and the nozzle tip portion has an insertion portion that enables the medical elongated object to be inserted into the holding space from a tip side of the nozzle tip portion, The application method includes inserting the elongated medical object into the insertion portion to place the elongated medical object within the holding space without contacting the nozzle tip portion.

7. The application method described in Claim 6, wherein the nozzle and the medical elongated body are moved relatively along the axial direction of the medical elongated body while the medical elongated body is placed in the holding space.

8. The coating method according to claim 7 , further comprising the steps of: applying the coating liquid to the medical elongated body; and sucking the coating liquid held in the holding space and / or the coating liquid applied to the medical elongated body.

9. A nozzle tip portion having a holding space capable of holding a coating liquid to be applied to a medical elongated body; a nozzle body including a lumen for supplying the coating liquid to the nozzle tip and an opening for connecting the lumen to the holding space, The nozzle tip is capable of applying the coating liquid to the medical elongated body inserted into the holding space without coming into contact with the medical elongated body.

10. A coating method for applying a coating liquid to a medical elongated body, comprising: A coating method comprising: bringing the medical elongated body into contact with the coating liquid held at a nozzle tip portion of a nozzle, while maintaining the nozzle tip portion and the medical elongated body out of contact, and moving the nozzle and the medical elongated body relatively along the axial direction of the medical elongated body, thereby applying the coating liquid to any portion of the medical elongated body in the axial direction.

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