Blood vessel visualization device, blood vessel puncture system, and observation window member

Abstract

A blood vessel visualization device (10), a blood vessel puncture system (40), and an observation window member (12) are provided with an observation window (16) that comprises a wavelength conversion material for converting infrared light into visible light, and makes an image of infrared light visible, the infrared light having been emitted from a light source (14) and transmitted through a visualization target site (24), the light source being operable to irradiate the visualization target site (24) with infrared light to visualize a blood vessel (25) of the living body.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a blood vessel visualization device, a blood vessel puncture system, and an observation window member that irradiate a living body with near-infrared light to visualize blood vessels. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Medical professionals perform procedures for inserting a puncture needle such as an indwelling needle into a patient's blood vessel. When inserting a puncture needle, there is a demand for an improvement in the puncture success rate so that the puncture needle can be reliably inserted into a blood vessel of an appropriate diameter.

[0003] In order to improve the success rate of such puncture, various blood vessel visualization devices have been proposed that irradiate the site to be punctured with near-infrared light that has high transmittance through the living body, making it possible to grasp the course of blood vessels.

[0004] For example, the vascular visualization device of JP 2017-64094 A discloses a configuration in which near-infrared light is irradiated from a light source to the area to be punctured of a patient, a near-infrared light image reflected from the area to be punctured is captured by an imaging means, and the captured near-infrared light image is visualized and displayed on a liquid crystal display device. Summary of the Invention

[0005] However, conventional blood vessel visualization devices require device configurations such as an imaging means and a liquid crystal display device, which results in a problem of the device configuration being complicated and large in size.

[0006] Therefore, there is a demand for a blood vessel visualization device, a blood vessel puncture system, and an observation window member that are capable of visualizing blood vessels with a simpler device configuration.

[0007] One aspect of the disclosure below is a blood vessel visualization device comprising: a light source that irradiates near-infrared light onto a visualization target area for visualizing blood vessels in a living body; and an observation window containing a wavelength conversion material that converts the near-infrared light into visible light, wherein a placement area for placing the visualization target area is provided between the light source and the observation window, and the observation window visualizes a near-infrared light image that has passed through the visualization target area placed in the placement area.

[0008] Another aspect is a blood vessel puncture system including the blood vessel visualization device of the above aspect and a medical instrument capable of puncturing a region to be visualized.

[0009] Yet another aspect is an observation window member of a blood vessel visualization device that has a light source that irradiates near-infrared light onto a visualization target area for visualizing blood vessels in a living body, and visualizes blood vessels by converting the near-infrared light that has passed through the visualization target area into visible light, the observation window including a wavelength conversion material that converts near-infrared light into visible light, a frame member that holds the observation window, and a support member that forms a placement area for placing the visualization target area between the light source and the observation window, the observation window being an observation window member that visualizes a near-infrared light image that has passed through the visualization target area placed in the placement area.

[0010] According to the blood vessel visualization device, blood vessel puncture system, and observation window member of the above aspects, blood vessels can be visualized with a simple device configuration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a blood vessel visualization device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of the blood vessel visualization device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a blood vessel puncture system having the blood vessel visualization device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a blood vessel visualization device according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the blood vessel visualization device of FIG. 4A. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a blood vessel visualization device according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof and accompanying drawings.

[0013] (First embodiment) 1, a blood vessel visualization device 10 according to this embodiment has a box-shaped observation window member 12, a light source 14 arranged opposite the observation window member 12, and an observation window 16 provided in the observation window member 12. The observation window member 12 includes a pair of plate-shaped support members 18 and a plate-shaped frame member 20 provided so as to span between the support members 18.

[0014] When a lower end of the support member 18 is placed on a flat support base 22 such as the top surface of a workbench, the support member 18 supports the frame member 20 so as to face the support base 22 in a substantially parallel manner. The support member 18 keeps the frame member 20 and the support base 22 spaced apart from each other, forming an arrangement area 23 below the observation window 16 for arranging a region to be visualized 24. The distance between the frame member 20 and the support base 22 is determined by the height of the support member 18. The distance between the frame member 20 and the support base 22 may be appropriately adjusted depending on the size of the region to be visualized 24, the specifications of the light source 14, and the like.

[0015] The placement area 23 between the frame member 20 and the support base 22 has a size large enough to place a visualization target area 24 for visualizing a living body's blood vessels 25. The height of the support member 18, which determines the size of the placement area 23, is formed to have a dimension larger than the diameter of the visualization target area 24. This allows for the formation of a puncture space 27 between the frame member 20 and the visualization target area 24 into which a medical instrument 26 (FIG. 3) such as a puncture needle or catheter assembly can be inserted.

[0016] The visualization target area 24 is not particularly limited, but may be the patient's arm, as shown in Fig. 1. When the visualization target area 24 is the arm, the height of the support member 18, i.e., the distance between the support base 22 and the frame member 20, may be, for example, about 10 to 20 cm.

[0017] The inner surface 19 of the support member 18 on the side of the visualization target site 24 may be covered with a near-infrared light absorbing material having a high optical absorption rate of near-infrared light in order to prevent diffuse reflection of near-infrared light. The bottom surface 21 of the frame member 20 on the side of the visualization target site 24 may also be covered with a near-infrared light absorbing material like the inner surface 19 of the support member 18. The support member 18 and the frame member 20 may be formed of a light-shielding material that does not transmit visible light in order to limit the incidence of visible light from the outside.

[0018] A rectangular opening 28 is formed in the frame member 20 of the observation window member 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the opening 28 is formed penetrating the frame member 20 in the thickness direction. The observation window 16 is fitted and joined in the opening 28 of the frame member 20. The observation window 16 has a rectangular plate member 30 formed to a dimension that allows it to be fitted into the opening 28. The thickness of the plate member 30 is not particularly limited, but is formed to be equal to or thinner than the thickness of the frame member 20. The plate member 30 may be formed thinner than the frame member 20, and in this case, the bottom surface 31 of the plate member 30 may be disposed at a position recessed upward from the bottom surface 21 of the frame member 20.

[0019] A wavelength conversion material that converts near-infrared light into visible light is applied to the surface of the plate member 30. The wavelength conversion material that converts near-infrared light into visible light is also called an up-conversion material, and for example, the material shown in JP 2019-172992 A can be used.

[0020] As an upconversion material, a material having in its molecule a sensitizer that absorbs long-wavelength light and efficiently generates triplets, and an emitter that generates long-lifetime excited triplets by triplet-triplet energy transfer (TTET) and further generates excited singlets by collision between the excited triplets to emit fluorescence, has attracted attention because it can convert near-infrared light to visible light with high efficiency. With an observation window 16 containing such a material that can convert near-infrared light to visible light with high efficiency, a near-infrared light image that has passed through the inside of a living body can be visualized with a visible brightness.

[0021] The observation window 16 is transparent or semi-transparent to visible light, and allows direct viewing of the visualization target site 24, such as the arm, illuminated by visible light incident through a gap between the observation window member 12 and the visualization target site 24. When the light source 14 is turned on, a visualized near-infrared light image is superimposed on a visible light image formed by incident light (visible light) from the outside on the observation window 16, thereby visibly projecting blood vessels 25.

[0022] The observation window 16 is not limited to a plate member 30 made of a plate-shaped transparent material (resin or glass) coated with a wavelength converting material on its surface. The observation window 16 may be formed, for example, by dispersing the wavelength converting material in the transparent material constituting the plate member 30. In addition, the observation window 16 is not limited to the plate member 30, and may be formed of a wavelength converting film in which the wavelength converting material is contained in or coated on a flexible resin film.

[0023] The light source 14 has a light source housing 32 and a light emitting element 34 provided in the light source housing 32. The light source housing 32 is a plate-like member shaped so that the cross section is curved in a C-shape, and a slit-like gap 35 is formed between one side edge portion 32a and the other side edge portion 32b. The light source housing 32 is elastically deformable, and when the side edge portion 32a and the side edge portion 32b are deformed so as to spread apart, the visualization target portion 24 such as the patient's arm can be inserted into the inner surface 33 side of the light source housing 32. The light source housing 32 wraps around the visualization target portion 24 due to its elastic restoring force. When the light source housing 32 is attached to the visualization target portion 24 of the living body, a part of the surface 24a of the visualization target portion 24 is exposed from the gap 35 of the light source housing 32.

[0024] One or more light-emitting elements 34 are provided on the inner surface 33 of the light source housing 32. Although not particularly limited, a plurality of light-emitting elements 34 may be provided in order to irradiate the visualization target area 24 with uniform brightness. The light-emitting element 34 is disposed near the center of the light source housing 32 so as to face the gap 35 across the visualization target area 24. If near-infrared light from the light-emitting element 34 goes around the visualization target area 24 without passing through it and enters the observation window 16, it will become noise and reduce the visibility of the blood vessels 25, so the light-emitting element 34 is disposed so as to be in contact with the visualization target area 24.

[0025] The light emitting element 34 is, for example, a near-infrared LED or a near-infrared laser oscillator that emits near-infrared light, and emits near-infrared light with a wavelength centered at 700 nm to 2500 nm, preferably 700 nm to 1400 nm, and more preferably 780 nm to 940 nm. Near-infrared light in this wavelength band has excellent permeability to biological tissue, but is easily absorbed by red blood cells. Therefore, blood vessels 25 containing many red blood cells can be visualized as shadows. A power supply circuit (not shown) is provided in the light source housing 32, and the light emitting element 34 is turned on by this power supply circuit.

[0026] The light source 14 is disposed below the observation window 16 while being attached to the area to be visualized 24. The light source housing 32 is disposed so that the gap 35 faces the observation window 16. At this time, the light emitting element 34 is disposed so as to face the observation window 16 with the area to be visualized 24 in between.

[0027] The blood vessel visualization device 10 of this embodiment is configured as described above. Next, the blood vessel puncture system 40 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 3, the blood vessel puncture system 40 includes a medical instrument 26 in addition to the blood vessel visualization device 10. The medical instrument 26 is a puncture needle or catheter assembly, and has a puncture section 42 at its tip end that is inserted into the visualization target site 24. A needle tip 44 capable of puncturing subcutaneously is formed at the tip of the puncture section 42. The medical instrument 26 is formed to a size that allows it to be inserted into the puncture space 27 between the visualization target site 24 and the observation window 16, and the puncture section 42 and the needle tip 44 can be viewed through the observation window 16.

[0029] The blood vessel visualization device 10 and blood vessel puncture system 40 of this embodiment are configured as described above, and their operation will be described below.

[0030] 3, first, a user such as a doctor or nurse attaches the light source 14 to the visualization target area 24 (e.g., a patient's arm) of the blood vessel visualization device 10. The light source 14 is attached to the visualization target area 24 in an orientation such that the gap 35 of the light source housing 32 is located at the area to be punctured with the medical instrument 26. The light source 14 and the visualization target area 24 are placed on the support base 22. At that time, the visualization target area 24 is placed so that the gap 35 of the light source 14 faces upward.

[0031] Thereafter, the observation window member 12 is placed on the support base 22 so as to cover the visualization target area 24 on which the light source 14 is attached. Since the support member 18 of the support base 22 is formed with dimensions sufficiently larger than the visualization target area 24, a puncture space 27 into which a medical instrument 26 can be punctured is formed between the frame member 20 and the visualization target area 24.

[0032] Thereafter, the user turns on the light-emitting element 34 of the light source 14. Near-infrared light is emitted from the light-emitting element 34. As shown in Fig. 2, the near-infrared light emitted from the light-emitting element 34 passes through the biological tissue of the visualization target area 24 and is emitted from the surface 24a of the visualization target area 24 exposed in the gap 35. As the near-infrared light passes through the biological tissue of the visualization target area 24, more of the near-infrared light is absorbed in the portion of the blood vessels 25 that contains a large number of red blood cells, and the luminance of the near-infrared light in the portion of the blood vessels 25 decreases.

[0033] Near-infrared light emitted from surface 24a of visualization target region 24 is converted into visible light in observation window 16. A visualized image appears in observation window 16, in which low-luminance blood vessels 25 appear as relatively dark shadows and other tissue areas appear relatively bright.

[0034] Since visible light from within the room is incident on the visualization target area 24 through the gaps in the observation window member 12 and the observation window 16, the visualization target area 24 can be viewed through the observation window 16. In the observation window 16, the appearance of the visualization target area 24 in visible light can be viewed with the shadows of blood vessels 25 based on near-infrared light superimposed thereon.

[0035] Thereafter, the user punctures the blood vessel 25 in the visualization target area 24 with a medical instrument 26 such as a puncture needle or a catheter assembly. The user can easily find a blood vessel 25 of an appropriate diameter suitable for puncturing from the shape of the blood vessel 25 in the observation window 16. In addition, the user can visually confirm the visualization target area 24 and the blood vessel 25 therein through the observation window 16 without moving his or her line of sight, so that the user can puncture the blood vessel 25 with the medical instrument 26 more easily and reliably.

[0036] The blood vessel visualization device 10, the blood vessel puncture system 40, and the observation window member 12 of this embodiment provide the following advantages.

[0037] The vascular visualization device 10 of this embodiment comprises a light source 14 that irradiates near-infrared light onto a visualization target area 24 to visualize a blood vessel 25 of a living body, and an observation window 16 containing a wavelength conversion material that converts the near-infrared light into visible light. Between the light source 14 and the observation window 16, a placement area 23 for placing the visualization target area 24 is provided, and the observation window 16 visualizes a near-infrared light image that has passed through the visualization target area 24 placed in the placement area 23.

[0038] According to the above configuration, blood vessels 25 can be visualized with a simple device configuration without using an imaging device, a display device, etc. Also, since the light source 14 is disposed at a position facing the observation window 16 across the visualization target area 24 and is disposed in contact with the visualization target area 24, it is possible to reduce the incidence of near-infrared light that does not pass through biological tissue, and only the near-infrared light that has transmitted through the visualization target area 24 can be visualized by the observation window 16, thereby improving the visibility of blood vessels 25.

[0039] In the blood vessel visualization device 10, a puncture space 27 into which the medical instrument 26 can be inserted may be formed in the visualization target site 24. This is advantageous because the medical instrument 26 can be inserted into the blood vessel 25 while the blood vessel 25 is being visually observed through the observation window 16, without moving the line of sight.

[0040] The above blood vessel visualization device 10 may further include a support member 18 that supports the observation window 16 at a distance from the visualization target site 24, and a puncture space 27 may be provided between the observation window 16 and the visualization target site 24. According to this configuration, a medical instrument 26 can be placed in the puncture space 27 between the observation window 16 and the visualization target site 24, and the medical instrument 26 can be punctured into the blood vessel 25 while visually observing the medical instrument 26 and the visualization target site 24 through the observation window 16.

[0041] In the above blood vessel visualization device 10, the observation window 16 may be formed by applying a wavelength conversion material to a plate-shaped transparent material (resin or glass). According to this configuration, the near-infrared light transmitted through the visualization target site 24 can be visualized by the wavelength conversion material on the surface of the observation window 16.

[0042] In the above blood vessel visualization device 10, the observation window 16 may be made of a flexible resin film containing a wavelength conversion material. With this configuration, the observation window 16 can be made thinner.

[0043] In the above-described blood vessel visualization device 10, the observation window 16 may be transparent or semi-transparent to visible light. With this configuration, the visualization target site 24 can be directly viewed with visible light through the observation window 16, so that the user can easily grasp the puncture position of the medical instrument 26.

[0044] The blood vessel puncture system 40 of the present embodiment includes the above-mentioned blood vessel visualization device 10 and a medical instrument 26 capable of puncturing a visualization target site 24. With this configuration, the user can puncture a blood vessel 25 with the medical instrument 26 while visually checking the blood vessel 25.

[0045] In the above-described vascular puncture system 40, the medical device 26 may be a puncture needle or a catheter assembly.

[0046] The observation window member 12 of this embodiment is an observation window member 12 of a blood vessel visualization device 10 that has a light source 14 that irradiates near-infrared light onto a visualization target area 24 to visualize a living body's blood vessels 25, and visualizes the blood vessels 25 by converting the near-infrared light that has passed through the visualization target area 24 into visible light, and is equipped with an observation window 16 containing a wavelength conversion material that converts near-infrared light into visible light, a frame member 20 that holds the observation window 16, and a support member 18 that forms a placement area 23 between the light source 14 and the observation window 16 for placing the visualization target area 24, and the observation window 16 visualizes a near-infrared light image that has passed through the visualization target area 24 placed in the placement area 23.

[0047] According to the above-described observation window member 12, the blood vessels 25 can be visualized with a simple device configuration.

[0048] Second embodiment 4A and 4B, in the blood vessel visualization device 10A of this embodiment, an observation window member 12A and a light source 14A are integrated together. Note that in the blood vessel visualization device 10A, the same components as those in the blood vessel visualization device 10 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0049] As shown in the figure, the observation window member 12A of the blood vessel visualization device 10A has a frame member 20 that holds the observation window 16, and a pair of support members 18 that support the frame member 20. The light source 14A also has a plate-shaped light source housing 32 with a cross section curved into a C-shape, and a plurality of light-emitting elements 34 provided on an inner surface 33 of the light source housing 32.

[0050] The support member 18 of the observation window member 12A is integrally connected to the light source housing 32. The distance L between the light source housing 32 and the frame member 20 is set to a dimension larger than the width W of the light source housing 32 so that a puncture space 27 can be formed between the area to be visualized 24 and the observation window 16 when the area to be visualized 24 is positioned.

[0051] The blood vessel visualization device 10A of this embodiment is configured as described above, and provides the same effects as the blood vessel visualization device 10 described with reference to FIGS.

[0052] Third embodiment As shown in Fig. 5, the blood vessel visualization device 10B and blood vessel puncture system 40B of this embodiment are provided with an observation window 16B arranged so as to contact the visualization target site 24. The observation window member 12B is composed only of the observation window 16B. Note that in the blood vessel visualization device 10B, the same components as those in the blood vessel visualization device 10 described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 are given the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0053] The blood vessel visualization device 10B includes an observation window 16B and a light source 14. The observation window 16B is made of a wavelength conversion film in which a wavelength conversion material is contained in or applied to a flexible resin film. The observation window 16B is transparent or semi-transparent, and allows the visualization target site 24 to be viewed using visible light, and also converts near-infrared light emitted from the light source 14 and transmitted through the visualization target site 24 into visible light and displays it.

[0054] The observation window 16B is disposed so as to contact the surface 24a of the visualization target site 24. If necessary, the observation window 16B can also be disposed so as to be wrapped around the visualization target site 24. In addition, since the observation window 16B is made of a thin resin film, it can be punctured with a puncture needle. Therefore, the user can puncture the blood vessel 25 of the visualization target site 24 with the medical instrument 26 through the observation window 16B. That is, in the blood vessel visualization device 10B of this embodiment, a puncture space 27 is formed outside (above) the visualization target site 24 and the observation window 16B (observation window member 12B).

[0055] The blood vessel visualization device 10B of this embodiment is configured as described above and provides the following effects.

[0056] In the blood vessel visualization device 10B of the present embodiment, the puncture space 27 is provided above the observation window 16B. According to this configuration, the puncture space 27 for operating the medical instrument 26 can be made wide, making it easier to operate the medical instrument 26.

[0057] In the above-described blood vessel visualization device 10B, the observation window 16B is disposed in contact with the visualization target area 24. By disposing the observation window 16B in the vicinity of the visualization target area 24 in this manner, near-infrared light transmitted through the visualization target area 24 can be converted into visible light without waste, so that the blood vessels 25 can be imaged more clearly and the visibility of the blood vessels 25 is preferably improved.

[0058] In the above-described blood vessel visualization device 10B, the observation window 16B may be formed so as to be puncturable with the medical instrument 26, and configured so that the observation window 16B can be punctured together with the observation window 16B from the puncture space 27 into the visualization target site 24. With this configuration, the position where the blood vessel 25 is imaged and the puncture position coincide with each other, allowing the user to more accurately puncture the blood vessel 25 with the medical instrument 26.

[0059] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. a light source that irradiates a visualization target site for visualizing blood vessels of a living body with near-infrared light; an observation window including a wavelength conversion material that converts near-infrared light into visible light; a placement area for placing the visualization target site is provided between the light source and the observation window; The observation window visualizes a near-infrared light image that has passed through the visualization target site that is placed in the placement area, in a blood vessel visualization device.

2. The blood vessel visualization device according to claim 1 , wherein the light source is configured to come into contact with the region to be visualized.

3. 3. A blood vessel visualization device as described in claim 1 or 2, comprising a support member that supports the observation window at a distance from the area to be visualized, and a puncture space is formed between the observation window and the area to be visualized, into which a medical instrument can be inserted.

4. 3. The blood vessel visualization device according to claim 1, wherein the observation window is disposed in contact with the region to be visualized.

5. 5. The blood vessel visualization device according to claim 4, wherein the observation window is formed so as to be puncturable by a medical instrument, and the observation window can be punctured together with the medical instrument into the visualization site.

6. 5. The blood vessel visualization device according to claim 1, wherein the observation window is formed by applying the wavelength conversion material to a plate-shaped transparent material.

7. 6. The blood vessel visualization device according to claim 1, wherein the observation window is made of a flexible resin film containing the wavelength conversion material.

8. 8. The blood vessel visualization device according to claim 1, wherein the observation window is transparent or semi-transparent to visible light.

9. The blood vessel visualization device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, A medical instrument capable of puncturing the visualization target site; A vascular puncture system comprising:

10. 10. The vascular puncture system of claim 9, wherein the medical device is a puncture needle or a catheter assembly.

11. An observation window member of a blood vessel visualization device having a light source that irradiates near-infrared light onto a visualization target site for visualizing blood vessels of a living body, and that visualizes blood vessels by converting the near-infrared light that has passed through the visualization target site into visible light, an observation window including a wavelength conversion material that converts near-infrared light into visible light; A frame member for holding the observation window; a support member that forms an arrangement area for arranging the visualization target site between the light source and the observation window; the observation window visualizes a near-infrared light image that has passed through the visualization target site that is arranged in the arrangement region.

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