Holders for medical equipment, etc.

Abstract

To provide an inexpensive holder excellent in convenience and installation flexibility for holding medical equipment such as a digestive organ endoscope at a predetermined spatial position and in a predetermined direction in place of its user, which can be easily operated, and can hold instruments of various shapes and sizes.SOLUTION: There is provided a holder composed of a body part and a holding part detachably connected to the body part, including a flexible tube body having flexibility and shape holding properties. The flexible tube body is deformed according to a cross-sectional shape, size, thickness, softness, etc. of an instrument to be held. Then, the instrument is placed on it so as to hold the instrument, or the instrument is wound with the flexible tube body so as to hold the instrument more firmly.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a holder that can hold the insertion section of a gastrointestinal endoscope (scope) (the flexible section with a camera at the tip that is inserted into the patient's body) in the spatial position and direction desired by the endoscopist (operator) or his / her assistant during examination or treatment using the scope.

[0002] When performing examinations or treatments using a scope, the surgeon generally operates the scope with both hands. The surgeon grasps the control section of the scope with the left hand and the insertion section with the right hand to operate the entire scope. The control section is equipped with a handle for bending the tip of the scope, various switches, and an opening (forceps port) through which forceps such as puncture needles are inserted into the tip of the scope. The surgeon uses his right hand to insert, remove, and twist the insertion section of the scope into the patient's body, and performs examinations and treatments based on the image of the affected area displayed on a monitor.

[0003] However, during an examination or treatment, there are times when the surgeon must temporarily remove his or her right hand from the scope insertion tube. For example, this can occur when the surgeon needs to use his or her right hand to operate a switch on the control panel held with the left hand, to adjust the extension or removal of the forceps inserted through the forceps port on the control panel, to operate a switch on the endoscope system (processor) to adjust the image quality, or to hold or operate other instruments such as a syringe with the right hand.

[0004] At this time, the moment the surgeon removes his or her right hand from the scope insertion portion, the position of the tip of the scope and the affected area may become misaligned.

[0005] This misalignment occurs when the surgeon lets go of the scope insertion section, causing the part of the scope insertion section outside the patient's body to fall downward, pulling the tip of the scope toward the base, or by eliminating the pushing force (tension) and twisting force (torque) that the surgeon had been applying to the scope insertion section to maintain the optimal positional relationship between the tip of the scope and the affected area.

[0006] This type of misalignment can be a major problem, as it can cause the affected area on the monitor to move off-screen or to a location that is difficult to see, making it impossible to continue the examination or treatment. This is particularly problematic in examinations and treatments that require precise scope manipulation, such as endoscopic ultrasound examinations using an ultrasound endoscope equipped with ultrasound diagnostic elements, and endoscopic submucosal dissection, which involves the en bloc removal of cancer in the surface layer of the digestive tract wall.

[0007] As a countermeasure, many medical facilities have newly prepared and deployed staff (assistants) to temporarily hold the scope in the desired spatial position and orientation, following the surgeon's instructions, when the surgeon lets go of the scope insertion section.

[0008] However, hiring a new assistant just to hold the scope would lead to increased personnel costs, which would increase medical care costs, and many facilities are unable to hire an assistant in the first place due to a lack of personnel, so this countermeasure has left issues unresolved.

[0009] Furthermore, gastrointestinal endoscopic examinations and treatments that use X-ray fluoroscopy, such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic biliary stent insertion, often require particularly precise scope manipulation, and therefore always require the deployment of an assistant to hold the scope. In these cases, the assistant, who is closer to the patient than the surgeon and continues to hold the scope near the patient's mouth, is exposed to a higher dose of X-ray radiation (exposure) than the surgeon, which has been a problem. The daily occupational exposure of medical professionals has been a major issue, and some kind of solution has been desired for many years.

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the medical field, a holder is provided that holds a scope in place of the surgeon or caregiver during examination or treatment using a scope.

[0011] As a holding device for holding flexible equipment or instruments such as a scope, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a "flexible tube holder for medical equipment, which has flexibility and shape-retaining properties and is arranged along the flexible tube to be held, and includes a fixing member that detachably fixes the shape-retaining member and the flexible tube to be held."

[0011] Furthermore, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a holder that is "a device for holding a hose or the tip of a hose for medical equipment, which uses a flexible bellows tube in its main tube that is strong enough to stand on its own, has a detachable holder at the tip of the main tube that holds the hose or the tip of the hose, and is equipped with a thin support base at the bottom." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] Publication No. 316849 [Patent Document 2] JP Patent Publication No. 2003-24444 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] However, the above-described conventional techniques have the following problems when holding a scope. (Patent Document 1) states: (1) The problem of difficulty in holding a heavier scope than a medical tube or hose and lack of holding stability: The above-mentioned holder is designed to hold flexible tubes such as lightweight hollow hoses weighing tens to hundreds of grams, such as those used in medical inhalers, suction machines, and respiratory support devices. When holding a flexible tube, the shape-retaining member of the holder is arranged parallel to the axis of the flexible tube from the fixing point where the holder is fixed. However, when the holder is used to hold a heavy, long device such as a scope weighing 1 kg or more up to the tip, the shape-retaining member cannot withstand the weight and may bend downward, or may fall downward around the fixing point, making it impossible to maintain the correct position or orientation. Increasing the shape-retaining performance (strength) of the shape-retaining member would enable it to hold the scope, but in this case, it would require more force (effort) and time to deform the shape-retaining member to match the desired position and orientation of the scope. During gastrointestinal endoscopic examinations and treatments, the position and orientation of the scope are frequently changed, making it impractical to use it as a scope holder. (2) Furthermore, the holders of the above-mentioned prior art have the problem that attaching and detaching the held equipment is time-consuming. In other words, the method of use of the holders is not intended for flexible tubes, such as hoses for respiratory assistance machines, to be frequently attached and detached during use. In this holder, the flexible tube is attached and fixed by tightly wrapping it with a shape-retaining member using a fixture, sometimes multiple fixtures are required, to bind it together. However, this fixing method is time-consuming and time-consuming. Using the holders of the above-mentioned prior art as a holder for a scope that must be frequently attached and detached during examination or treatment is practically unsuitable because each attachment and detachment interrupts the flow and rhythm of the surgeon's procedure, reduces the efficiency of the procedure, and increases stress. (3) Furthermore, the above-mentioned holders have the problem that they require a lot of work to reuse. That is, after use, they must be washed, dried, and disinfected or sterilized as necessary to prevent infection, etc., which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.

[0014] In addition, in (Patent Document 2), (1) The problem of insufficient versatility: in this holder, the shape of the hard holder that secures the hose or the tip of the hose must match the cross-sectional shape and size (thickness) of the hose or the tip of the hose to be held. In order to use it with scopes with thicknesses ranging from 5 mm to 14 mm, multiple types of holders suitable for each scope thickness must be produced and stored, and the holder must be replaced with the optimal holder for each scope before use, which makes operation cumbersome and inconvenient. (2) Furthermore, the holder of the above-mentioned holding device has the problem that it cannot firmly fix flexible or elastic devices or instruments. In other words, in order to firmly fix a flexible or elastic device such as a scope to the hard holder of the holding device, the scope must be fitted into the holder or a fixing bolt must be pressed against the scope. In this case, there is a risk of deforming or damaging the (expensive) scope, making it difficult to hold the scope in practice. (3) There is also the problem of a lack of flexibility in installation. In other words, the holder is equipped with a thin support base, which allows the holder to be stably installed by clamping the part into the bed or futon. However, due to this feature, the holder can only be installed on the edge of the bed or futon. Alternatively, in order to stably install the holder in the middle of the bed or futon, the thickness of the support base is so thin that it is necessary to provide a support base with a larger installation surface or heavier weight by increasing the area of ​​the bottom of the support base. This results in an extremely limited location on the bed or futon where the holder can be installed around the patient. (4) Furthermore, the support base could not be firmly and securely fixed to the installation surface, resulting in a lack of stability. For example, a surgeon or patient may accidentally bump into the support, causing the support and the device it holds to move from their optimal position during use. There is also the risk of the support base falling off the bed, resulting in injury or damage.

[0015] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and aims to provide a holder for holding medical equipment such as a scope, which has a simple configuration, is stable enough to firmly hold even a scope which is heavier than a hose or tube, can be attached and detached easily and instantly, requires little effort for reuse, and is versatile enough to be adapted to equipment of various thicknesses, has excellent installation flexibility, ease of installation, fixation stability, and low cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] In order to solve the above problems, a holder according to the present invention has the following configuration. The holder described in claim 1 of the present invention is a holder for holding a medical device such as a scope, and comprises a main body portion that is installed or fixed to a surface or object on which it is installed, and a holding portion that is arranged above or to the side of the main body portion, and the flexible tubular body installed in the holding portion has flexibility and shape-retaining properties and can be changed in shape to match the cross-sectional shape and size of the medical device, and the flexible tubular body is configured to contact the medical device on a surface that intersects with the axis of the medical device, and to support the medical device by placing it on the flexible tubular body, or to hold the medical device by wrapping the flexible tubular body around the medical device. This configuration has the following effects. (1) A main body can be provided that can be installed or firmly fixed at any position on the patient bed or at a position close to the patient, such as a handrail, and the structure can be designed to hold the equipment to be held directly above the main body or at a position close to the main body. This has the advantage that the weight of equipment such as a scope, which is heavier than medical hoses and tubes, can be stably supported and the structure can be designed to have excellent holding stability. (2) The holder according to the present invention can be configured to hold a device by deforming the shape of the flexible tubing provided in the holding part in accordance with the cross-sectional shape, size, and thickness of the device to be held, and then placing the device on the deformed flexible tubing or winding the flexible tubing around the device to hold it more firmly. Therefore, the device can be attached to or detached from the holder simply by placing the device on the flexible tubing, lifting it off the flexible tubing, or deforming the flexible tubing to adjust the winding force, which has the advantage of being easy and quick. (3) The flexible tube that holds the equipment can change its shape to make it easier to hold depending on the cross-sectional shape, size, and thickness of the equipment, so it has the advantage of being highly versatile and able to hold scopes of various thicknesses without having to replace parts, etc.

[0017] The holder according to claim 2 is the holder according to claim 1, in which the flexible tube has a thickness of 5 mm to 30 mm, is elastic, and has one or more flexible tubes. This configuration provides the following effects in addition to the effects of claim 1. (1) By increasing the number of flexible tubes that come into contact with the device to be held, the number of contact points and the contact area between the holder and the device can be increased, making it easier to hold the device more stably and improving holding stability. (2) The flexible tube that comes into contact with the device to be held has elasticity, so that when the flexible tube comes into contact with the device, the flexible tube is easily deformed in accordance with the cross-sectional shape of the device, which has the advantage of making it easier to hold the device without deforming or damaging it. (3) If the diameter of the flexible tubular body is 5mm to 30mm, the same as a human finger, the flexible tubular body can be used to hold many devices and instruments designed to be held by humans, improving versatility. Furthermore, to maintain the cleanliness of the flexible tubular body, the holder including the flexible tubular body can be covered with commercially available human gloves before use. If the holder is covered with new disposable medical gloves (disposable gloves), each costing a few yen, each time, the effort and cost of cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing the device after use can be reduced.

[0018] The holder according to claim 3 is the holder according to claim 1, and has a configuration in which the weight of the entire holder including the main body is 1 kg to 6 kg. This configuration provides the following effects in addition to the effects of claim 1. (1) With a holder of the above weight, the user can easily lift and move the holder by hand, or simply place it on a patient bed or table, where it will remain stable due to its own weight. This offers the advantages of excellent installation flexibility, allowing it to be placed anywhere on the installation surface, and also of excellent ease of installation, allowing the holder's position to be quickly changed to accommodate the frequent changes in patient position (e.g., supine, lateral, prone) during endoscopic examinations and treatments. Experiments using patient beds actually used in endoscopic treatment rooms found that holders weighing less than 1 kg were unable to stably hold the endoscope on the flexible bed, while those weighing 6 kg or more were too heavy for the user to lift or move by hand, potentially hindering comfortable and safe operation in the field and reducing convenience.

[0019] The holder described in claim 4 is the holder described in claim 1, and has a configuration in which the holder has a main body equipped with a clamping mechanism that can firmly and immovably fix the holder to the structure on which it is installed. This configuration provides the following effects in addition to the effects of claim 1. (1) The support device can be firmly and securely fixed to a patient bed, table, or other object, eliminating the risk of the patient moving unexpectedly and displacing the support device, or the support device falling off the object. For example, in endoscopic examinations and treatments using X-ray fluoroscopy, the patient's position is rarely changed during the examination or treatment, and the support device's position is rarely changed during the examination or treatment. Therefore, in such cases, it may be desirable to be able to fix the support device to a structure such as the patient bed frame or handrail. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] As described above, the holder of the present invention provides the following advantageous effects. According to the invention described in claim 1, the following effects are obtained. (1) It has excellent holding stability, being able to firmly hold even heavy equipment such as scopes compared to hoses and tubes, is highly versatile, being able to hold equipment and instruments of various sizes and thicknesses, can easily and instantly attach and detach the equipment to be held, is cordless and convenient to use anywhere as it does not require a driving energy source such as electricity or compressed air, and has a simple structure using only inexpensive parts, making it possible to provide a holding device with excellent low cost.

[0021] According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effects of claim 1, the following effects are obtained. (1) The holding performance and stability when holding an instrument are improved, and it can be used by covering it with inexpensive, commercially available disposable medical gloves. This provides a highly convenient holding device that eliminates the hassle and operational costs of cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing for reuse.

[0022] According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effects of claim 1, the following effects are obtained. (1) It is possible to provide a holder that is easy to install, allowing it to be installed simply by placing it in any position on a patient bed, etc., and also allowing it to be easily lifted and carried by hand, and its position to be easily changed during examination or treatment.

[0023] According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the effects of claim 1, the following effects are obtained. (1) It is possible to provide a holder that can be fixed to a fixed structure such as a patient bed frame or handrail and has excellent fixing stability and safety. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are a top perspective view and a side view, respectively, of a holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1A is a top perspective view of a main body and a holding part constituting a holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a bottom perspective view of the main body and a holding part constituting the holder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of a holding part of a holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1A is a perspective view showing a state in which the flexible tubular body of the holder of the first embodiment of the present invention has been deformed to match the shape, size, and orientation of the scope to be held; 1B is a perspective view showing the state in which the scope is placed on the deformed flexible tubular body and its spatial position and orientation are maintained; and 1C is a perspective view showing the state in which the flexible tubular body is wrapped around the scope with an appropriate tightening force to firmly hold the scope. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the holder according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used; [Figure 6] 1A is a top perspective view showing the main configuration of a holder according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the holder fixed to an installation portion. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the holder according to the second embodiment of the present invention is used; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a holder according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. In each figure, the dimensions and proportions of each component are appropriately changed for ease of viewing.

[0026] (Embodiment 1) 1(A) is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a holder according to the present invention. The holder 1a comprises a main body 2a and a holding part 3. The holder 1a is placed on an installation surface 4 such as a patient bed or table when in use.

[0027] 1(B) is a side view of the holder 1a. It is desirable that the main body 2a has a handle such as an uneven portion 5 so that the holder 1a can be easily gripped when lifting or moving it. Furthermore, since the holder 1a is to be placed near the patient, it is desirable that the holder 1a has a shape that is free of sharp corners and edges.

[0028] 2(A) is a top perspective view showing the main configuration of the holder 1a, and FIG. 2(B) is a bottom perspective view. The holder 1a can also be structured so that the main body 2a and the holding part 3 are separable.

[0029] The holder 3 of the holder 1a has flexibility and shape retention, and includes three flexible tubes 6 that come into contact with and hold the device to be held.

[0030] Regarding the holding unit 3, the flexible tubular bodies 6 that make up the holding unit 3 may be designed to be directly detachable from the main body 2a, but when the holder 1a is equipped with multiple flexible tubular bodies 6 as in the first embodiment, the flexible tubular bodies 6 can be collected in an attachment 7 provided on the holding unit 3, and the holding unit 3 can be provided as an assembly. This makes it convenient, for example, when replacing multiple flexible tubular bodies 6, as they can be detached and replaced all at once.

[0031] The main body 2a and the holding part 3 can also be joined by inserting a connecting bolt 8 through the main body 2a and engaging it with a connecting bolt hole 9 provided on the bottom surface of the attachment 7 of the holding part 3.

[0032] It is desirable that at least the surface of the outer surface of the main body 2a that comes into contact with the installation surface 4 on which the holder 1a is placed be provided with an anti-slip member 10 such as an uneven surface or rubber feet to prevent the holder 1a from slipping on the installation surface 4.

[0033] The materials of the components that make up the main body 2a should not only have high mechanical strength, but also have physical properties and chemical resistance that can withstand sterilization (high-temperature, high-pressure steam sterilization, ethylene oxide gas sterilization, etc.) and alcohol disinfection that may be performed as needed, considering that this holder 1a will be used in medical settings, etc. Specifically, it is desirable to manufacture the holder 1a using a combination of metals such as stainless steel, and resins such as polyether ether ketone, silicone rubber, and fluororubber.

[0034] The main body 2a may be any object with a low center of gravity and a total weight of 1 kg to 6 kg for the holder 1a. With this weight, it can be stably installed on the ground surface 4 simply by placing it thereon, and a weight within this range allows the user to easily lift and move the holder 1a by hand. For example, if the main body 2a is made of stainless steel and has a truncated cone shape, the bottom can be made circular with a diameter of about 10 cm (height of about 4 cm), and the small footprint allows for great flexibility in installation.

[0035] 3 is a perspective view showing the main components of the holding unit 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which includes a flexible tubular body 6, an attachment 7, and a flexible tubular body fixing screw 14.

[0036] The flexible tube 6 can be made up of a metal wire 11 made of aluminum, stainless steel or the like, which has flexibility and shape retention, a hollow elastic protective member 12, and a protective cap 13.

[0037] The metal wire 11 preferably has a diameter of about 1 to 8 mm if made of aluminum, or about 0.5 to 4 mm if made of stainless steel. A diameter within this range allows the user to easily and freely change the shape of the wire by hand, and also maintains shape retention for stable holding of the device. Instead of the metal wire 11, a flexible pipe or tube such as a bellows tube or spiral tube made of metal or resin, which maintains flexibility and shape retention similar to the metal wire 11, may be used.

[0038] The elastic protective member 12 can be made of, for example, a cylindrical soft and elastic urethane sponge or a rubber tube such as silicone.

[0039] A non-sharp protective cap 13 made of resin or metal is connected to the tip of the metal wire 11 to prevent the wire from damaging the user or the device being held.

[0040] The flexible tubular body 6 preferably has a diameter of 5 to 30 mm, which is about the same as a human finger. This makes it easier for the holder of the present invention to grasp and hold many devices and instruments, such as scopes, that are designed to be held by the human hand, and also makes it possible to cover the instruments, including the flexible tubular body 6, with commercially available disposable medical gloves to maintain cleanliness.

[0041] In FIG. 3, the flexible tubular body 6 is fixed to the attachment 7 using the flexible tubular body fixing screw 14, but other fixing methods such as adhesive or press fitting may also be used.

[0042] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a method for holding an insertion section 15a of a digestive endoscope (scope) in the holder 1a as an example of the device to be held.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 1A, in the first step, the shape of any or all of the flexible tubular bodies 6 is deformed to match the cross-sectional shape and size (thickness) of the scope insertion section 15a to be held, as well as the desired spatial position and orientation. Next, in the second step, as shown in FIG. 1B, the scope insertion section 15a is placed on the deformed flexible tubular bodies 6, thereby holding the scope insertion section 15a in a predetermined spatial position and orientation. Furthermore, if it is desired to hold the scope insertion section 15a with a more firm grip and fix it while applying tension or torque to it, in the third step, as shown in FIG. 1C, the flexible tubular bodies 6 can be wound around the scope insertion section 15a with an appropriate tightening force. Increasing the tightening force can provide more secure and stable holding of the scope insertion section 15a, while loosening the tightening force can provide lighter holding while allowing fine adjustment of the spatial position and orientation of the held section.

[0044] 5 is a perspective view showing the state in which the scope insertion portion 15a is held by the holder 1a during actual examination or treatment using a gastrointestinal endoscope. During treatment on a patient 18 in a lateral position on a patient bed 17, an operator 16 uses his right hand, which has been holding the scope insertion portion 15a, to operate the scope operation portion 15b held by the left hand, or to operate the endoscope system 19 to adjust image quality. Even if the operator 16 releases his right hand from the scope insertion portion 15a, the scope insertion portion 15a is still held by the holder 1a, so that the position of the tip of the scope and the affected area inside the patient's body does not shift, allowing for efficient treatment.

[0045] The holder 1a, due to its own weight, exhibits flexibility in installation, allowing it to be freely and stably installed at any position on the patient bed 17, and in addition, the holder 1a can be easily and quickly changed to the optimum position each time in response to changes in the patient's position (supine, lateral, prone, etc.), which occur frequently during examinations and treatments. Also, because there is no need to attach or detach it to the patient bed 17, etc., it can be quickly prepared or removed even if it suddenly becomes necessary or unnecessary during a procedure.

[0046] In the holder 1a of the present invention, the flexible tubular body 6 of the holder 1a grasps the device to be held and simultaneously maintains the spatial position and orientation of the device. Therefore, the flexible tubular body 6 functions as both a holding and fixing mechanism, such as a holder or fixture for attaching the device to be held, which was necessary in conventional holding devices, and a movable support mechanism, such as an arm, that keeps the spatial position and orientation of the device movable. Therefore, simply by deforming the shape of the flexible tubular body 6, the device to be held can be easily and quickly attached / detached, or the spatial position and orientation of the device can be changed. With the holder 1a, the spatial position and orientation of the scope insertion section 15a can be adjusted while simultaneously attaching it to the holder 1a. This allows the surgeon to hold the scope as intended in an extremely short time, which is convenient for the surgeon because it allows the surgeon to maintain the flow and rhythm of the procedure.

[0047] As shown in (0036) and (0038), the flexible tubular body 6 is made of a main material such as a metal wire 11 covered with an elastic protective member 12 made of sponge or the like. Therefore, even if the device to be held is placed on the flexible tubular body 6 or is held by wrapping the flexible tubular body 6 around it, the device will not be damaged.

[0048] Furthermore, when the elastic protective member 12 comes into contact with the device to be held, its elastic properties cause the contact area and its surrounding area to deform in accordance with the cross-sectional shape of the device to be held, increasing the contact area and frictional force between the two, thereby also exerting the effect of increasing holding stability.

[0049] Furthermore, due to the characteristics shown in (0048), the elastic protective member 12 can hold hollow soft instruments such as tubes for infusion or suction, or straws used in drinking water care, without excessively crushing the inner space by adjusting the winding force (tightening force) of the flexible tubular body 6, thereby increasing the versatility of the member to be able to hold instruments of various hardness (softness).

[0050] The holder of the present invention is characterized in that the diameter of the flexible tubular body 6 is approximately the same as that of a human finger, as shown in (0040). This allows the holder to hold almost any device or instrument used by hand by adding three to five flexible tubular bodies 6 depending on the application. For example, it can hold various medical instruments used by doctors (syringes, forceps, endoscopes, IV tubes, etc.) or nursing care equipment such as mugs with straws used by caregivers when providing drinking water. In the case of a mug, the flexible tubular body 6 can be inserted into the handle of the mug and then wrapped around the entire mug with an appropriate tightening force, just as a human hand would do, to stably hold the mug. Thus, the holder of the present invention is versatile enough to hold instruments and instruments of various shapes, sizes (diameters), and hardness (softness), including scopes.

[0051] Furthermore, by making the diameter of the flexible tubular body 6 approximately the same as a human finger, it becomes possible to cover the flexible tubular body 6 or the holding unit 3 including the flexible tubular body 6 with commercially available gloves to maintain its cleanliness. Specifically, the finger portions of disposable medical gloves commonly used in medical and nursing care settings can be placed over the flexible tubular body 6 or the holding unit 3 including the flexible tubular body 6. In the case of holder 1a including three flexible tubular bodies 6 as in the first embodiment, after placing the index finger, middle finger, and ring finger portions of disposable gloves over each of the three flexible tubular bodies 6, the remaining portions of the thumb and little finger can be wrapped around the base of the flexible tubular bodies 6 or the attachment 7 and tied to secure them. By replacing inexpensive disposable gloves, each costing a few yen, with new ones each time the holder is used, the cleanliness of the flexible tubular body 6 or the holding unit 3 including the flexible tubular body 6 can be maintained.

[0052] Furthermore, if the palm of the glove is placed over the main body 2a, the entire holder 1a can be kept clean, eliminating the need for washing, disinfecting, and sterilizing after each use.

[0053] Alternatively, a cover specifically for this holder can be provided and used by covering all or part of the holder. If the cover is made of a rubber material with high surface friction resistance and elasticity (shock absorption), it can increase the grip when lifting the holder and reduce injury or damage if dropped. Furthermore, increasing the variety of designs and colors would be even more desirable, allowing users to choose according to their usage environment and preferences.

[0054] (Embodiment 2) FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing the main configuration of a holder 1b in embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing a clamp structure 20 provided on the holder 1b fixed to an installed object 21 such as the frame of a patient bed or a handrail.

[0055] This type of holder 1b also consists of a main body 2b and a holding part 3, and the main body 2b is equipped with a connecting bolt 8 for connecting the holding part 3 and a clamp structure 20 that provides fixing stability by being fixed firmly to the installed object 21.

[0056] 7 is a perspective view showing how the above-mentioned holder 1b is used to hold the scope insertion portion 15a in a case where the patient's position is hardly changed during actual examination or treatment using a gastrointestinal endoscope. In cases where the patient's position is hardly changed and the installation position of this holder is hardly changed during use, using holder 1b that employs main body 2b equipped with clamp structure 20 can prevent the holder from being displaced due to unintentional contact with holder 1b by the patient or surgeon, or from falling, which could lead to injury or damage, thereby improving safety during use.

[0057] As described above, in the holder according to the present invention, as in the first and second embodiments, the main body portion 2a or 2b and the holding portion 3 can be separated and each can be provided as a separate item.

[0058] This makes it possible to select a main body with an appropriate shape and characteristics according to the application and location of the holder and use it in combination with the holder 3, and also makes it economical because even if the holder 3 deteriorates through repeated use or is damaged due to carelessness, it is only necessary to replace the entire holder 3 or only a part of it. Alternatively, when the holder according to the present invention is used in surgery involving laparotomy or thoracotomy, the holder 3 can be manufactured and provided as a disposable item to ensure the functionality, safety, sterility, and cleanliness of the holder 3, which comes into direct contact with the instruments and tools used in the surgery.

[0059] In the embodiment described in this specification, an example in which three flexible tubular bodies 6 are provided has been described, but the number of flexible tubular bodies 6 is not limited to this example.

[0060] Furthermore, although a scope has been mainly used as an example of an instrument to be held by this holder, the instrument is not limited to this example. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061]

[0033] 1a... holder in second form, 1b... holder in second form, 2a... main body in first form, 2b... main body in second form, 3... holder, 4... installation surface on which holder 1a is installed, 5... uneven portion (handle portion) provided on main body 2a, 6... flexible tubular body, 7... attachment, 8... connecting bolt, 9... connecting bolt hole, 10... anti-slip member, 11... metal wire, 12... elastic protective member, 13... protective cap, 14... flexible tubular body fixing screw, 15a... insertion portion of scope, 15b... operation portion of scope, 16... endoscopist (operator), 17... patient bed, 18... patient, 19... endoscopy system, 20... clamp structure provided on main body 2b, 21... installation object for fixing holder 1b

Claims

1. A holder for holding a medical device such as a gastrointestinal endoscope, The holder includes a movable main body portion that is installed or fixed to a surface or object on which the holder is installed; a holding portion disposed above or to the side of the main body portion; the flexible tube of the holding portion has flexibility and shape retention, and can be changed in shape to match the cross-sectional shape and size of the medical device, The flexible tubular body contacts the medical device on a surface that intersects with the axis of the medical device, and the medical device is supported by being placed on the flexible tubular body or wound around the medical device, thereby holding the medical device; A holder characterized by:

2. The holder is The device is provided with one or more flexible tubes each having elasticity and a diameter of 5 mm to 30 mm. The holder according to claim 1,

3. The holder is The weight of the entire holder including the main body is 1 kg to 6 kg. The holder according to claim 1,

4. The holder is the flexible tube is made up of a plurality of members made of different materials; The holder according to claim 1,

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