Plasma Guidewire

Abstract

To improve insulation performance of a plasma guide wire.SOLUTION: A plasma guide wire includes: a guide wire body; a first tube formed by insulating resin and covering an end side of the guide wire body; a second tube formed by insulating resin and covering a base end side of the guide wire body; and a third tube which is formed by insulating resin, covers an intermediate part of the guide wire body positioned between an end side and a base end side, has an end part coupled to the base end part of the first tube, and has the base end part coupled to an end part of the second tube. At least one of the first tube, the second tube, and the third tube forms between itself and the guide wire body a gas layer filled with gas.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a plasma guidewire. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, plasma ablation therapy, which uses a plasma flow to ablate biological tissue, has become known as a treatment method for arrhythmias that cause abnormalities in the heartbeat rhythm and chronic total occlusions (CTOs) in which blood vessels are blocked by lesions. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an endoscopic drainage tube retainer that can be used in such plasma ablation therapy. The endoscopic drainage tube retainer described in Patent Document 1 includes a drainage tube made of an electrically insulating flexible tube, a guidewire made of a conductive flexible wire, and a high-frequency power supply connection means for passing a high-frequency current through the guidewire. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-084065 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the endoscopic drainage tube retainer described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the drainage tube (used to provide electrical insulation) directly covers the outer surface of the guidewire, resulting in poor insulation performance. In particular, plasma ablation therapy, unlike conventional thermal ablation therapy, requires a high voltage of approximately 700 V to be applied to the guidewire, and therefore requires improved insulation performance. Furthermore, the endoscopic drainage tube retainer described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the guidewire, through which high-frequency current is passed, is easily inserted into and removed from the drainage tube (used to provide electrical insulation), requiring careful handling. This problem is not limited to the vascular system, but is common to all plasma guidewires inserted into biological lumens, such as the lymphatic system, biliary system, urinary system, respiratory system, digestive system, secretory glands, and reproductive organs, for plasma ablation therapy. Additionally, improvements in flexibility and operability have been desired for plasma guidewires.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve at least part of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to improve the insulating performance of a plasma guidewire. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve at least part of the above-mentioned problems, and can be realized in the following aspects.

[0007] (1) According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plasma guidewire comprising: a guidewire body having a core shaft and a coil body surrounding a distal portion of the core shaft; a first cylindrical tube made of insulating resin and covering the distal end of the guidewire body; a second cylindrical tube made of insulating resin and covering the proximal end of the guidewire body; and a third cylindrical tube made of insulating resin and covering an intermediate portion of the guidewire body between the distal end and the proximal end, the third tube having a distal end joined to the proximal end of the first tube and a proximal end joined to the distal end of the second tube, wherein at least one of the first tube, the second tube, and the third tube forms a gas layer filled with gas between the guidewire body and the first tube, the second tube, and the third tube.

[0008] According to this configuration, the guidewire body is covered with the first, second, and third tubes, each made of an insulating resin. This insulates the guidewire body from the outside, thereby providing the plasma guidewire with insulating properties. Furthermore, at least one of the first, second, and third tubes forms a gas-filled gas layer between itself and the guidewire body. Taking air as an example of a gas, the volume resistivity of air is higher than that of resin, so air can be said to have better insulating properties than resin. Furthermore, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas, for example, is known to have even better insulating properties than air. Therefore, by providing a gas layer filled with such a gas with high insulating properties in the plasma guidewire, the insulating properties of the plasma guidewire can be improved compared to a configuration without a gas layer. As a result, the surgeon can safely perform plasma ablation treatment using the plasma guidewire.

[0009] (2) In the plasma guidewire of the above aspect, the first tube may form a gas layer filled with the gas between itself and the guidewire body. The first tube covering the distal end of the guidewire body may be made thinner to improve flexibility or made of a flexible resin material compared to the second tube covering the proximal end of the guidewire body and the third tube covering the intermediate portion of the guidewire body. In this regard, according to the present configuration, the first tube forms a gas-filled gas layer between it and the guidewire body, so that even if the insulating performance of the first tube itself is inferior to that of the second or third tube, the gas layer can improve the insulating performance of the portion where the first tube is located (in other words, the distal portion of the plasma guidewire).

[0010] (3) In the plasma guidewire of the above aspect, the thickness of the gas layer may be 1 μm or more and 100 μm or less. With this configuration, the thickness of the gas layer is 1 μm or more, ensuring the insulation distance necessary to suppress electrical leakage and suppressing electrical leakage and the occurrence of dielectric breakdown due to electrical leakage. Even if electrical leakage does occur, the amount of leakage current can be reduced. Furthermore, the thickness of the gas layer is 100 μm or less, achieving both insulation performance and ease of use of the plasma guidewire (e.g., delivery performance and operability).

[0011] (4) The plasma guidewire of the above form may further include a fixing portion for fixing the guidewire body to any one of the first tube, the second tube, and the third tube, and the fixing portion may not be provided in at least one of the first section in which the guidewire body is covered by the first tube, the second section in which the guidewire body is covered by the second tube, and the third section in which the guidewire body is covered by the third tube. According to this configuration, the fixing portion is not provided in at least one of the first section, the second section, and the third section, thereby improving the flexibility of the plasma guide wire compared to a configuration in which fixing portions are provided in all of the first, second, and third sections.

[0012] (5) The plasma guidewire of the above form may further include a tip fixing portion provided at the tip end of the first tube and fixing the first tube to the guidewire main body, and a base end fixing portion provided at the base end of the second tube and fixing the second tube to the guidewire main body, and the tip fixing portion and the base end fixing portion may obstruct the flow of gas inside and outside the plasma guidewire. According to this configuration, a distal end fixing portion is provided at the distal end of the first tube, and a proximal end fixing portion is provided at the proximal end of the second tube, and the distal end fixing portion and the proximal end fixing portion obstruct the flow of gas inside and outside the plasma guidewire. Therefore, when the plasma guidewire is gripped or bent, the gas that forms the gas layer inside the plasma guidewire can be prevented from leaking out of the plasma guidewire. As a result, the insulating performance of the plasma guidewire can be further improved.

[0013] (6) In the plasma guidewire of the above form, the outer diameter of the intermediate portion of the guidewire body may be smaller than the outer diameter of the tip side of the guidewire body and smaller than the outer diameter of the base side of the guidewire body, and the outer diameter of the third tube covering the intermediate portion may be smaller than the outer diameter of the first tube covering the tip side and smaller than the outer diameter of the second tube covering the base side. This configuration allows the outer shape of the plasma guidewire (specifically, the outer shapes of the first, second, and third tubes) to be shaped to match the outer shape of the guidewire body, thereby enabling the plasma guidewire to be made thinner while maintaining its mechanical properties (e.g., torque transmission and support characteristics).

[0014] (7) In the plasma guidewire of the above embodiment, the third tube may be arranged so that its tip overlaps the base end of the first tube and its base end overlaps the tip end of the second tube, and the outer surface of the tip end of the third tube may be joined to the inner surface of the base end of the first tube, and the outer surface of the base end of the third tube may be joined to the inner surface of the tip end of the second tube. According to this configuration, the third tube has its tip end positioned overlapping the base end of the first tube, its base end positioned overlapping the tip end of the second tube, and the outer surface of the third tube is joined to the inner surfaces of the other tubes (the first and second tubes), thereby preventing gas from leaking from the boundary between the third tube and the other tubes (the first and second tubes).

[0015] (8) In the plasma guidewire of the above embodiment, at least an intermediate portion of the third tube located between the tip end and the base end may not be covered by the first tube and the second tube and may be exposed to the outside. According to this configuration, at least the intermediate portion of the third tube located between the tip and base ends is not covered by the first and second tubes and is exposed to the outside, so that the third section of the plasma guidewire (the section where the guidewire body is covered by the third tube) can be made thinner and can be configured flexibly.

[0016] The present invention can be realized in various forms, such as a plasma guidewire, a plasma ablation system equipped with a plasma guidewire and an RF generator, a guidewire that ablates (cauterizes) biological tissue using heat rather than plasma, and a method for manufacturing a plasma guidewire or a guidewire. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of a plasma guide wire. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the guidewire body and the first, second, and third tubes extracted from FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a gas layer. [Figure 4] 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a cross-sectional configuration taken along line AA in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of a plasma guidewire according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of a plasma guidewire according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of a plasma guidewire according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of a plasma guidewire according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of a plasma guide wire according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of a plasma guide wire according to a seventh embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] First Embodiment Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of a plasma guidewire 1. The plasma guidewire 1 is a device used to open chronic total occlusions (CTOs) and treat mild to moderate stenosis, significant stenosis, arrhythmias, etc. by ablating (cauterizing) biological tissue using a plasma flow. The following description will exemplify the use of the plasma guidewire 1 for opening a CTO in a blood vessel, but the plasma guidewire 1 can also be inserted into biological lumens, such as the lymphatic system, biliary system, urinary system, respiratory system, digestive system, secretory glands, and reproductive organs, and is not limited to the vascular system.

[0019] In FIG. 1, the axis passing through the center of the plasma guidewire 1 is represented by axis O (dash line). In the example of FIG. 1, axis O coincides with the axis passing through the centers of each component of the plasma guidewire 1, namely, the first tube 10, the second tube 20, the third tube 30, the tip electrode 40, the core shaft 50, and the coil body 60. However, axis O may differ from the central axis of each component of the plasma guidewire 1. FIG. 1 also illustrates mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes. The X axis corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the plasma guidewire 1, the Y axis corresponds to the height direction of the plasma guidewire 1, and the Z axis corresponds to the width direction of the plasma guidewire 1. The left side of FIG. 1 (-X axis direction) is referred to as the "distal side" of the plasma guidewire 1 and each component, and the right side of FIG. 1 (+X axis direction) is referred to as the "proximal side" of the plasma guidewire 1 and each component. Of the two ends in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction), the end located on the distal end side is called the "distal end," and the other end located on the proximal end side is called the "proximal end." The distal end and its vicinity are called the "distal portion," and the proximal end and its vicinity are called the "proximal end portion." The distal end side is inserted into the living body, and the proximal end side is operated by an operator such as a doctor. These points are also common to Figure 1 and subsequent figures.

[0020] The plasma guide wire 1 has a long outer shape and includes a first tube 10, a second tube 20, a third tube 30, a core shaft 50, a tip electrode 40, a coil body 60, a coil fixing portion 70, a first fixing portion 71, a second fixing portion 72, a third fixing portion 73, a fourth fixing portion 74, and a tip marker 81.

[0021] The tip electrode 40 is electrically conductive and generates a discharge between itself and another electrode (not shown). The tip electrode 40 is located at the most distal end of the plasma guidewire 1 (i.e., at the distal end of the plasma guidewire 1). The tip electrode 40 has an outer shape that tapers from the proximal end to the distal end to facilitate smooth movement of the plasma guidewire 1 through a blood vessel. The proximal end of the tip electrode 40 is joined to the distal end 11 of the first tube 10 and the distal end of the core shaft 50. Any bonding agent, such as an epoxy adhesive, can be used for joining. Laser welding or other joining methods may also be used. The other electrode is provided in another device (not shown). The other device may have any configuration. For example, the other device may be a catheter having another electrode at its distal end and through which the plasma guidewire 1 is inserted, another guidewire having another electrode at its distal end, or a pad having another electrode.

[0022] The core shaft 50 is electrically conductive and constitutes the central axis of the plasma guidewire 1. The core shaft 50 has an elongated outer shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the plasma guidewire 1. The core shaft 50 has, from the distal end to the proximal end, a thin-diameter section 51, a first tapered section 52, a second tapered section 53, and a thick-diameter section 54. The thin-diameter section 51 is the part of the core shaft 50 with the smallest outer diameter and has a substantially cylindrical shape with a substantially constant outer diameter from the distal end to the proximal end. The first tapered section 52 is a section provided between the thin-diameter section 51 and the second tapered section 53 and has an outer shape in which the diameter decreases from the proximal end to the distal end. The second tapered section 53 is a section provided between the first tapered section 52 and the thick-diameter section 54 and has an outer shape in which the outer diameter decreases from the proximal end to the distal end at an angle different from that of the first tapered section 52. The large-diameter portion 54 is the portion of the core shaft 50 where the outer diameter is the largest, and has a generally cylindrical shape with a generally constant outer diameter from the tip to the base end. The base end 55 of the large-diameter portion 54 is a protruding portion of the base end surface of the large-diameter portion 54.

[0023] In this embodiment, "substantially constant" is synonymous with "generally constant," meaning that the diameter is generally constant while allowing for variations due to manufacturing errors, etc. In addition, in this embodiment, the "outer diameter" and "inner diameter" refer to the length of the longest part in any cross section when the cross section of the member (or lumen) is elliptical.

[0024] The RF generator 100 shown in FIG. 1 is a device that outputs high-frequency power between a first terminal 110 and a second terminal 120. A second cable 121 is connected to a proximal end 55 of a core shaft 50 of the plasma guide wire 1. The second cable 121 is a conductive electric wire. The second cable 121 extends from the second terminal 120 of the RF generator 100 and electrically connects the RF generator 100 and the plasma guide wire 1. A first cable 111 is connected to another device having the other electrodes described above. The first cable 111 is a conductive electric wire. The first cable 111 extends from the first terminal 110 of the RF generator 100 and electrically connects the RF generator 100 and the other device. The first cable 111 and the second cable 121 may be provided with cable connectors (connection terminals for physically and electrically connecting cables to each other).

[0025] The coil body 60 is electrically conductive and is disposed so as to surround a portion of the core shaft 50 on the distal side. In the example of FIG. 1 , the coil body 60 is disposed so as to surround the small-diameter portion 51 and a portion of the first tapered portion 52 on the distal side of the core shaft 50. The coil body 60 is formed by spirally winding an electrically conductive wire 61. The coil body 60 may be a single-strand coil formed by winding a single wire, a multi-strand coil formed by winding multiple wires, a single-strand stranded coil formed by winding a single strand of a twisted wire obtained by twisting multiple wires together, or a multi-strand stranded coil formed by winding multiple twisted wires obtained by twisting multiple wires together. The core shaft 50 and the coil body 60 are collectively referred to as the "guidewire main body."

[0026] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the guidewire body and the first, second, and third tubes 10, 20, and 30, respectively, from FIG. 1. FIG. 2(A) illustrates the guidewire body, and FIG. 2(B) illustrates the first, second, and third tubes 10, 20, and 30. Hereinafter, the portion of the guidewire body where the coil body 60 is provided will also be referred to as the "distal side of the guidewire body." The portion of the guidewire body where the second tapered portion 53 and the large-diameter portion 54 are provided will also be referred to as the "proximal side of the guidewire body." The portion of the guidewire body located between the distal side and the proximal side (specifically, the portion where the first tapered portion 52 is exposed from the coil body 60) will also be referred to as the "intermediate portion of the guidewire body." FIG. 2(A) illustrates outer diameters Φ50a, Φ50b, and Φ50c of the distal side, intermediate portion, and proximal side of the guidewire body, respectively. The outer diameter Φ50a is equal to the outer diameter of the coil body 60. The outer diameter Φ50b is equal to the outer diameter of any portion of the first tapered portion 52 exposed from the coil body 60. The outer diameter Φ50c is equal to the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 54. As shown in FIG. 2(A), the outer diameter Φ50b of the intermediate portion of the guidewire body is smaller than the outer diameter Φ50a on the tip side and smaller than the outer diameter Φ50c on the base side.

[0027] The first tube 10 is a cylindrical tubular body made of insulating resin. The first tube 10 is disposed proximal to the distal electrode 40 and covers the distal end of the guidewire body. In the example of FIG. 1, the first tube 10 covers the outer periphery of the coil body 60 and a distal portion of the first tapered portion 52 of the core shaft 50 that is exposed from the coil body 60 proximal to the coil body 60. As shown in FIG. 2, the inner diameter Φ101 of the first tube 10 is larger than the outer diameter Φ50a of the distal end of the guidewire body. The thickness T10 of the first tube 10 can be determined arbitrarily.

[0028] The second tube 20 is a cylindrical tubular body made of insulating resin. The second tube 20 is disposed closer to the proximal end than the third tube 30 and covers the proximal end of the guidewire main body. In the example of FIG. 1, the second tube 20 covers the proximal end of the first tapered portion 52 of the core shaft 50, the second tapered portion 53, and the large-diameter portion 54. Note that the proximal end 55 of the large-diameter portion 54 is not covered by the second tube 20 and is exposed to the outside. As shown in FIG. 2, the inner diameter Φ201 of the second tube 20 is larger than the outer diameter Φ50c of the proximal side of the guidewire main body. The thickness T20 of the second tube 20 can be determined arbitrarily.

[0029] The third tube 30 is a cylindrical tubular body made of insulating resin. The third tube 30 is disposed between the first tube 10 and the second tube 20 and covers the intermediate portion of the guidewire body. In other words, the third tube 30 covers a central portion of the guidewire body that is not covered by either the first tube 10 or the second tube 20. In the example of FIG. 1, the third tube 30 covers a portion of the first tapered portion 52 of the core shaft 50 of the guidewire body. As shown in FIG. 2, the inner diameter Φ301 of the third tube 30 is larger than the outer diameter Φ50b of the intermediate portion of the guidewire body. The thickness T30 of the third tube 30 can be determined arbitrarily. The thicknesses T10, T20, and T30 may be the same or different from each other.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2(B), the distal end 31 of the third tube 30 is joined to the proximal end 12 of the first tube 10. The proximal end 32 of the third tube 30 is joined to the distal end 21 of the second tube 20. The outer diameter Φ30 of the third tube 30 is smaller than the outer diameter Φ10 of the first tube 10 and is smaller than the outer diameter Φ20 of the second tube 20. As shown in FIG. 2(B), the distal end 31 of the third tube 30 is arranged overlapping the proximal end 12 of the first tube 10, and the proximal end 32 of the third tube 30 is arranged overlapping the distal end 21 of the second tube 20. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface 34 of the distal end 31 of the third tube 30 is joined to the inner peripheral surface 13 of the proximal end 12 of the first tube 10. Similarly, the outer peripheral surface 34 of the base end 32 of the third tube 30 is joined to the inner peripheral surface 23 of the tip end 21 of the second tube 20. Note that the portion of the third tube 30 located between the tip end 31 and the base end 32 (also referred to as the "middle portion" of the third tube 30) is not covered by the first tube 10 or the second tube 20 and is exposed to the outside.

[0031] Any bonding agent such as an epoxy adhesive can be used to bond the first tube 10, the second tube 20, and the third tube 30. In Fig. 1, the bonded portion between the third tube 30 and the first tube 10 is shown as a distal bonded portion 82 (circled in a dashed line), and the bonded portion between the third tube 30 and the second tube 20 is shown as a proximal bonded portion 83 (circled in a dashed line). As shown in Fig. 2(B), the bonded assembly of the first, second, and third tubes 10, 20, and 30 of this embodiment has a narrowed shape in the middle where the third tube 30 is provided.

[0032] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of gas layers 41, 42, and 43. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a cross-sectional configuration along line AA in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 3. FIG. 5(A) is an enlarged view of the plasma guidewire 1 near the proximal end of the coil body 60. FIG. 5(B) is an enlarged view of the plasma guidewire 1 near the proximal end of the core shaft 50. For ease of explanation, in FIGS. 3 to 5, only gas layers 41, 42, and 43 of the plasma guidewire 1 shown in FIG. 1 are hatched with diagonal lines.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the first tube 10 forms a gas layer 41 filled with gas between it and the guidewire main body. Specifically, the first tube 10 forms the gas layer 41 between the inner circumferential surface 13 of the first tube 10 and the outer circumferential surface of the guidewire main body (specifically, the outer circumferential surface of the coil body 60 and the outer circumferential surface of the first tapered portion 52 exposed from the coil body 60). As shown in FIG. 4, the gas layer 41 is provided over the entire circumferential direction between the first tube 10 and the guidewire main body. Furthermore, the gas layer 41 is provided over the entire longitudinal direction from the distal end to the proximal end of the first tube 10 (specifically, the entire longitudinal direction from the proximal end of the first fixing portion 71 to the distal end of the second fixing portion 72), except for the locations where the first fixing portion 71 and the second fixing portion 72 are provided.

[0034] 3 to 5, second tube 20 forms gas layer 42 filled with gas between it and the guidewire main body. Specifically, second tube 20 forms gas layer 42 between inner circumferential surface 23 of second tube 20 and the outer circumferential surface of the guidewire main body (specifically, the outer circumferential surface of the proximal end of first tapered portion 52, the outer circumferential surface of second tapered portion 53, and the outer circumferential surface of large diameter portion 54). Like gas layer 41, gas layer 42 is provided over the entire circumferential direction between second tube 20 and the guidewire main body. Furthermore, gas layer 42 is provided over the entire longitudinal direction from the distal end to the proximal end of second tube 20 (specifically, the entire longitudinal direction from the proximal end of third fixing portion 73 to the distal end of fourth fixing portion 74), except for the locations where third fixing portion 73 and fourth fixing portion 74 are provided.

[0035] 3 to 5, the third tube 30 forms a gas layer 43 filled with gas between it and the guidewire main body. Specifically, the third tube 30 forms the gas layer 43 between the inner circumferential surface 33 of the third tube 30 and the outer circumferential surface of the guidewire main body (specifically, the outer circumferential surface of the first tapered portion 52 exposed from the coil body 60). Similar to the gas layer 41, the gas layer 43 is provided over the entire circumferential direction between the third tube 30 and the guidewire main body. Furthermore, the gas layer 43 is provided over the entire longitudinal direction from the distal end to the proximal end of the third tube 30 (specifically, the entire longitudinal direction from the proximal end of the second fixing portion 72 to the distal end of the third fixing portion 73), except for the locations where the second fixing portion 72 and the third fixing portion 73 are provided.

[0036] Any gas can be used as the gas that constitutes the gas layers 41, 42, and 43, as long as it has higher insulating performance than the insulating resin that forms the first, second, and third tubes 10, 20, and 30. For example, air, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas, or hydrogen (H2) gas can be used as the gas that constitutes the gas layers 41, 42, and 43. When air is used as the gas, the gas layers 41, 42, and 43 can also be called air layers 41, 42, and 43.

[0037] Here, the thickness of gas layer 41 is defined as the distance between the inner circumferential surface 13 of first tube 10 and the guidewire body. Similarly, the thickness of gas layer 42 is defined as the distance between the inner circumferential surface 23 of second tube 20 and the guidewire body, and the thickness of gas layer 43 is defined as the distance between the inner circumferential surface 33 of third tube 30 and the guidewire body. In the plasma guidewire 1 of this embodiment, the thicknesses of gas layers 41, 42, and 43 are all 1 μm or more and 100 μm or less. In the plasma guidewire 1 of this embodiment, the maximum thickness Tmax of gas layers 41, 42, and 43 is the distance between the outer circumferential surface of first tapered portion 52 at the portion shown in FIG. 5(A), i.e., the position corresponding to the proximal end of coil fixing portion 70 that fixes the proximal end of coil body 60 to core shaft 50, and the inner circumferential surface 13 of first tube 10. Furthermore, in the plasma guide wire 1 of this embodiment, the minimum thickness Tmin of the gas layers 41, 42, 43 is the part shown in Figure 5 (B), i.e., the distance between the outer surface of the thick diameter portion 54 and the inner surface 23 of the second tube 20.

[0038] Returning to FIG. 1, the explanation will be continued. The coil fixing portion 70 is a member that fixes the base end of the coil body 60 and a part of the first tapered portion 52 of the core shaft 50. The first fixing portion 71 is provided at the distal end portion 11 of the first tube 10 and is a member that fixes the distal end portion 11 of the first tube 10 and the guidewire main body (specifically, the distal end portion of the coil body 60 and the distal end portion of the small diameter portion 51). As shown in FIG. 1, the first fixing portion 71 is provided over the entire circumferential direction between the inner circumferential surface 13 of the first tube 10 and the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion 51, and inhibits the flow of gas between the inside and outside of the plasma guidewire 1 (specifically, the flow of gas that constitutes the gas layer 41). The first fixing portion 71 corresponds to the "tip fixing portion."

[0039] The second fixing portion 72 is provided at the distal end portion 31 of the third tube 30, and is a member that fixes the distal end portion 31 of the third tube 30, the proximal end portion 12 of the first tube 10, and the guidewire body (specifically, a part of the first tapered portion 52). As shown in Fig. 1, the second fixing portion 72 is provided over the entire circumferential direction between the inner circumferential surface 13 of the first tube 10 and the inner circumferential surface 33 of the third tube 30 and the outer circumferential surface of the first tapered portion 52, and obstructs the flow of gas between the gas layer 41 and the gas layer 43.

[0040] The third fixing portion 73 is provided at the proximal end 32 of the third tube 30, and is a member that fixes the proximal end 32 of the third tube 30, the distal end 21 of the second tube 20, and the guidewire body (specifically, a part of the first tapered portion 52). As shown in Fig. 1, the third fixing portion 73 is provided over the entire circumferential direction between the inner circumferential surface 33 of the third tube 30, the inner circumferential surface 23 of the second tube 20, and the outer circumferential surface of the first tapered portion 52, and inhibits the flow of gas between the gas layer 43 and the gas layer 42.

[0041] The fourth fixing portion 74 is provided at the proximal end 22 of the second tube 20 and is a member that fixes the proximal end 22 of the second tube 20 to the guidewire main body (specifically, the proximal end of the large-diameter portion 54). As shown in FIG. 1 , the fourth fixing portion 74 is provided over the entire circumferential direction between the inner circumferential surface 23 of the second tube 20 and the outer circumferential surface of the large-diameter portion 54, and inhibits the flow of gas between the inside and outside of the plasma guidewire 1 (specifically, the flow of gas that constitutes the gas layer 42). The fourth fixing portion 74 corresponds to the "proximal-end fixing portion." The first fixing portion 71, the second fixing portion 72, the third fixing portion 73, and the fourth fixing portion 74 are also collectively referred to simply as the "fixing portions."

[0042] Here, the section of the guidewire main body covered by the first tube 10 is referred to as the "first section S1," the section of the guidewire main body covered by the second tube 20 is referred to as the "second section S2," and the section of the guidewire main body covered by the third tube 30 is referred to as the "third section S3." In this case, the plasma guidewire 1 of this embodiment has fixing sections provided in all of the first section S1, second section S2, and third section S3. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, in the plasma guidewire 1 of this embodiment, the base end of the first section S1 partially overlaps the distal end of the third section S3, and the base end of the third section S3 partially overlaps the distal end of the second section S2.

[0043] The tip marker 81 is insulating, colored in any color, and functions as a mark indicating the position of the tip electrode 40. The tip marker 81 is an annular member disposed at the tip portion 11 of the first tube 10 so as to surround the outer circumferential surface 14 of the first tube 10.

[0044] The core shaft 50 and the tip electrode 40 can be made of any conductive material, such as chromium molybdenum steel, nickel chromium molybdenum steel, stainless steel such as SUS304, nickel titanium alloy, etc. The tip electrode 40 may also be formed by melting the tip of the core shaft 50 with a laser or the like.

[0045] The first tube 10, the second tube 20, the third tube 30, and the tip marker 81 can be formed of any insulating material, such as a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkoxyethylene (PFA), polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylene-propylene copolymers, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, thermoplastic resins such as polyvinyl chloride, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, cross-linked ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and polyurethane, super engineering plastics such as polyamide elastomer, polyolefin elastomer, silicone rubber, latex rubber, polyether ether ketone, polyetherimide, polyamide imide, polysulfone, polyimide, and polyethersulfone, etc. The first tube 10, the second tube 20, the third tube 30, and the tip marker 81 may be formed of the same material, or may be formed of different materials depending on the performance required of the plasma guidewire 1 (e.g., flexibility of the tip, torque transmission, shape retention, etc.).

[0046] The coil fixing portion 70, the first fixing portion 71, the second fixing portion 72, the third fixing portion 73, and the fourth fixing portion 74 can be formed using any bonding agent, for example, any bonding agent such as an epoxy adhesive.

[0047] With the plasma guidewire 1 of FIG. 1, the surgeon delivers the plasma guidewire 1 to the vicinity of the biological tissue (e.g., CTO) to be ablated, and then outputs high-frequency power from the RF generator 100 while the distal electrode 40 of the plasma guidewire 1 is positioned near the CTO. Then, due to a potential difference between the distal electrode 40 of the plasma guidewire 1 and another electrode of another device, a streamer corona discharge occurs between the distal electrode 40 and the other electrode. This streamer corona discharge enables ablation of the CTO located near the distal electrode 40 of the plasma guidewire 1. In the plasma guidewire 1 of this embodiment, the guidewire body through which high-frequency current flows is fixed to the first tube 10, the second tube 20, and the third tube 30, which provide electrical insulation. Therefore, compared to a case in which these tubes are freely insertable and detachable, excessive care is not required in handling, improving safety.

[0048] As described above, in the plasma guidewire 1 of the first embodiment, the guidewire main body (core shaft 50 and coil body 60) is covered with the first tube 10, the second tube 20, and the third tube 30, each made of an insulating resin. This insulates the guidewire main body from the outside, thereby providing the plasma guidewire 1 with insulating properties. Furthermore, the first tube 10, the second tube 20, and the third tube 30 each form gas-filled gas layers 41, 42, and 43 between themselves and the guidewire main body. Taking air as an example of a gas, the volume resistivity of air is higher than that of resin, so air can be said to have better insulating properties than resin. Furthermore, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas, for example, is known to have even better insulating properties than air. Therefore, by providing the plasma guidewire 1 with gas layers 41, 42, and 43 filled with such a gas with high insulating properties, the insulating properties of the plasma guidewire 1 can be improved compared to a configuration without a gas layer. As a result, the operator can safely perform plasma ablation treatment using the plasma guide wire 1.

[0049] Here, the first tube 10 covering the distal end of the guidewire body (core shaft 50 and coil body 60) may be formed to have a thinner thickness T10 or made of a flexible resin material to improve flexibility compared to the second tube 20 covering the proximal end of the guidewire body and the third tube 30 covering the intermediate portion of the guidewire body. In this regard, according to the plasma guidewire 1 of the first embodiment, the first tube 10 forms a gas layer 41 filled with gas between it and the guidewire body. Therefore, even if the insulating performance of the first tube 10 itself is inferior to that of the second tube 20 or the third tube 30, the gas layer 41 can improve the insulating performance of the portion where the first tube 10 is located (in other words, the distal portion of the plasma guidewire 1).

[0050] Furthermore, in the plasma guidewire 1 of the first embodiment, the thickness of the gas layers 41, 42, and 43 is 1 μm or more, so that an insulation distance necessary to suppress electric leakage can be ensured, thereby suppressing the occurrence of electric leakage and the occurrence of dielectric breakdown due to electric leakage. Even if electric leakage does occur, the amount of leakage current can be reduced. Note that if the thickness of the gas layers 41, 42, and 43 is less than 1 μm, a sufficient insulation distance cannot be ensured, which may result in electric leakage and an increase in the amount of leakage current during the procedure. Note that in the plasma guidewire 1 of the first embodiment, the thickness of the gas layers 41, 42, and 43 is 100 μm or less, so that both insulation performance and usability of the plasma guidewire 1 (e.g., delivery performance and operability) can be achieved. Note that if the thickness of the gas layers 41, 42, and 43 is greater than 100 μm, the insulation performance can be improved, but the usability of the plasma guidewire 1 (e.g., delivery performance and operability) will be reduced. For example, if the outer diameters Φ10, Φ20, Φ30 of the first, second, and third tubes 10, 20, and 30 are increased to make the thicknesses of the gas layers 41, 42, and 43 greater than 100 μm, the plasma guidewire 1 will become thicker, reducing the delivery performance of the plasma guidewire 1 to curved portions of blood vessels and narrow blood vessels. Also, if the outer diameter of the core shaft 50 is reduced to make the thicknesses of the gas layers 41, 42, and 43 greater than 100 μm, the mechanical performance of the plasma guidewire 1 (for example, torque transmission and support characteristics) will decrease, reducing the operability of the plasma guidewire 1.

[0051] Furthermore, in the plasma guidewire 1 of the first embodiment, a distal end fixing portion (first fixing portion 71) is provided at the distal end of the first tube 10, and a proximal end fixing portion (fourth fixing portion 74) is provided at the proximal end of the second tube 20, and the distal end fixing portion and the proximal end fixing portion inhibit the flow of gas inside and outside the plasma guidewire 1. Therefore, when the plasma guidewire 1 is gripped or bent during a procedure, gas that constitutes the gas layers 41, 42, and 43 inside the plasma guidewire 1 can be prevented from leaking out of the plasma guidewire 1. As a result, the insulating performance of the plasma guidewire 1 can be further improved.

[0052] Furthermore, in the plasma guidewire 1 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2(A), the outer diameter Φ50b of the intermediate portion of the guidewire main body (core shaft 50 and coil body 60) is smaller than the outer diameter Φ50a of the distal end of the guidewire main body and smaller than the outer diameter Φ50c of the proximal end of the guidewire main body. Also, as shown in FIG. 2(B), the outer diameter Φ30 of the third tube 30 covering the intermediate portion is smaller than the outer diameter Φ10 of the first tube 10 covering the distal end and smaller than the outer diameter Φ20 of the second tube 20 covering the proximal end. Therefore, the outer shape of the plasma guidewire 1 (specifically, the outer shapes of the first, second, and third tubes 10, 20, and 30) can be shaped to match the outer shape of the guidewire main body. As a result, the plasma guidewire 1 can be made thinner while maintaining its mechanical performance (e.g., torque transmission and support characteristics).

[0053] Furthermore, according to the plasma guidewire 1 of the first embodiment, the third tube 30 has the distal end 31 arranged to overlap the proximal end 12 of the first tube 10, the proximal end 32 arranged to overlap the distal end 21 of the second tube 20, and the outer peripheral surface 34 of the third tube 30 joined to the inner peripheral surfaces 13, 23 of the other tubes (the first and second tubes 10, 20), thereby preventing gas from leaking from the boundaries between the third tube 30 and the other tubes (the first and second tubes 10, 20). In other words, according to the plasma guidewire 1 of the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent gas constituting the gas layers 41, 42, 43 from leaking to the outside from the distal joint 82 and the proximal joint 83.

[0054] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment of the plasma guidewire 1, at least the intermediate portion of the third tube 30 located between the tip end 31 and the base end 32 is not covered by the first tube 10 and the second tube 20 and is exposed to the outside, so that the third section S3 of the plasma guidewire 1 (Figure 1: the section where the guidewire body is covered by the third tube 30) can be made thinner and the plasma guidewire 1 can be configured flexibly.

[0055] Second Embodiment FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of a plasma guidewire 1A of the second embodiment. The plasma guidewire 1A of the second embodiment has the configuration described in the first embodiment, but includes a second tube 20A instead of the second tube 20, and does not include the gas layer 42 or the fourth fixing portion 74. As shown in FIG. 6, the inner circumferential surface 23 of the second tube 20A contacts the outer circumferential surface of the large-diameter portion 54 of the core shaft 50. Therefore, the gas layer 42 filled with gas is not formed between the second tube 20A and the guidewire main body. Furthermore, because the second tube 20A and the large-diameter portion 54 are arranged in contact with each other, the fourth fixing portion 74 that fixed the second tube 20 to the large-diameter portion 54 in FIG. 1 is omitted.

[0056] As described above, the configuration of the plasma guidewire 1A can be modified in various ways, and the second tube 20A does not need to form a gas layer between itself and the guidewire main body. While the example of Fig. 6 illustrates a case in which the second tube 20A does not form a gas layer, the first tube 10 does not need to form a gas layer between itself and the guidewire main body (in other words, gas layer 41 may be omitted), and the third tube 30 does not need to form a gas layer between itself and the guidewire main body (in other words, gas layer 43 may be omitted). The plasma guidewire 1A of the second embodiment described above can also achieve the same effects as the first embodiment described above.

[0057] <Third embodiment> 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of a plasma guidewire 1B of the third embodiment. The plasma guidewire 1B of the third embodiment does not include the second fixing portion 72 and the third fixing portion 73 in the configuration described in the first embodiment. In the plasma guidewire 1B shown in FIG. 7, the third tube 30 is only joined to the first tube 10 by a distal joint 82 and to the second tube 20 by a proximal joint 83, and is not fixed to the core shaft 50. In other words, in the plasma guidewire 1B, no fixing portion is provided in the third section S3.

[0058] As described above, the configuration of the plasma guidewire 1B can be modified in various ways, and the third section S3 need not necessarily have a fixing portion. The example of FIG. 7 illustrates a case in which the second fixing portion 72 and the third fixing portion 73 are omitted, thereby eliminating the fixing portion in the third section S3. However, the first fixing portion 71 and the second fixing portion 72 may be omitted, thereby eliminating the fixing portion in the first section S1. Alternatively, the third fixing portion 73 and the fourth fixing portion 74 may be omitted, thereby eliminating the fixing portion in the second section S2. Furthermore, for example, only the second fixing portion 72 may be omitted, only the third fixing portion 73 may be omitted, or only the fourth fixing portion 74 may be omitted. Furthermore, additional fixing portions not described in the first embodiment may be provided.

[0059] The plasma guidewire 1B of the third embodiment as described above also achieves the same effects as the first embodiment, because the third tube 30 is joined to the first tube 10 and the second tube 20 at the distal joint 82 and the proximal joint 83. Furthermore, according to the plasma guidewire 1B of the third embodiment, a fixing portion is not provided in at least one of the first section S1, the second section S2, and the third section S3, and therefore the flexibility of the plasma guidewire 1 can be improved compared to a configuration in which fixing portions are provided in all of the first, second, and third sections S1, S2, and S3.

[0060] <Fourth embodiment> 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of a plasma guidewire 1C according to a fourth embodiment. The plasma guidewire 1C according to the fourth embodiment has the same configuration as that described in the first embodiment, except that a third tube 30C is provided instead of the third tube 30, a second fixing portion 72C is provided instead of the second fixing portion 72, a third fixing portion 73C is provided instead of the third fixing portion 73, a distal-side joint 82C is provided instead of the distal-side joint 82, and a proximal-side joint 83C is provided instead of the proximal-side joint 83.

[0061] The third tube 30C has an outer diameter Φ30C that is larger than the outer diameter Φ10 of the first tube 10 shown in FIG. 2(B) and is larger than the outer diameter Φ20 of the second tube 20 shown in FIG. 2(B). As shown in FIG. 8, the third tube 30C is arranged such that the distal end 31 of the third tube 30C overlaps the proximal end 12 of the first tube 10, and the proximal end 32 of the third tube 30C overlaps the distal end 21 of the second tube 20. Therefore, the inner circumferential surface 33 of the distal end 31 of the third tube 30C is joined to the outer circumferential surface 14 of the proximal end 12 of the first tube 10. Similarly, the inner circumferential surface 33 of the proximal end 32 of the third tube 30C is joined to the outer circumferential surface 24 of the distal end 21 of the second tube 20. In the configuration of Fig. 8, the entire third tube 30C from the distal end to the proximal end is not covered by the first tube 10 or the second tube 20, and is exposed to the outside. In the configuration of Fig. 8, the joining relationship (inner surface / outer surface) between the third tube 30 and the first tube 10 and the second tube 20 is opposite to that in the first embodiment, so the joining portion between the third tube 30 and the first tube 10 is shown as a distal joining portion 82C, and the joining portion between the third tube 30 and the second tube 20 is shown as a proximal joining portion 83C.

[0062] The second fixing portion 72C is provided at the proximal end 12 of the first tube 10 and fixes the proximal end 12 of the first tube 10 to the guidewire main body (specifically, a part of the first tapered portion 52). The third fixing portion 73C is provided at the distal end 21 of the second tube 20 and fixes the distal end 21 of the second tube 20 to the guidewire main body (specifically, a part of the first tapered portion 52). Note that the second fixing portion 72C and the third fixing portion 73C may also be configured to fix the third tube 30, as in the first embodiment.

[0063] As described above, the configuration of the plasma guidewire 1C can be modified in various ways. The outer diameter Φ30C of the third tube 30C, the outer diameter Φ10 of the first tube 10, and the outer diameter Φ20 of the second tube 20 may be changed as desired. For example, as shown in FIG. 8 , the outer diameter Φ30C of the third tube 30C may be set to the largest so that the third tube 30C covers the proximal end 12 of the first tube 10 and the distal end 21 of the second tube 20. Alternatively, the outer diameters of the first, second, and third tubes 10, 20, and 30C may be gradually reduced from the proximal end to the distal end (i.e., Φ20 > Φ30C > Φ10), so that the outer diameter of the plasma guidewire 1C gradually decreases from the proximal end to the distal end. The plasma guidewire 1C of the fourth embodiment described above can also achieve the same effects as the first embodiment described above.

[0064] Fifth Embodiment 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of a plasma guidewire 1D of the fifth embodiment. The plasma guidewire 1D of the fifth embodiment has the same configuration as the first embodiment, except that the third tube 30 is replaced by a third tube 30D, the second fixing portion 72 is replaced by a second fixing portion 72D, and the third fixing portion 73 is replaced by a third fixing portion 73D. Furthermore, the plasma guidewire 1D of the fifth embodiment does not have the distal joint 82 and the proximal joint 83 described in the first embodiment.

[0065] The third tube 30D has an outer diameter Φ30D that is equal to the outer diameter Φ10 of the first tube 10 shown in FIG. 2(B) and equal to the outer diameter Φ20 of the second tube 20 shown in FIG. 2(B). Here, "same" and "equal" do not necessarily mean exact agreement, but rather allow for differences due to manufacturing errors and the like. The distal end 31 of the third tube 30D is located closer to the proximal end than the proximal end 12 of the first tube 10, and the third tube 30D does not overlap with the first tube 10. Similarly, the proximal end 32 of the third tube 30D is located closer to the distal end than the distal end 21 of the second tube 20, and the third tube 30D does not overlap with the second tube 20. Furthermore, the distal end 31 of the third tube 30D is not joined to the first tube 10, and the proximal end 32 of the third tube 30D is not joined to the second tube 20.

[0066] The second fixing portion 72D fills the gap between the distal end 31 of the third tube 30D, the proximal end 12 of the first tube 10, and the third tube 30D and the first tube 10. As shown in FIG. 9 , the second fixing portion 72D is also formed to protrude from the outer circumferential surfaces of the third tube 30D and the first tube 10, thereby suppressing leakage of gas from the second fixing portion 72D. The third fixing portion 73D fills the gap between the proximal end 32 of the third tube 30D, the distal end 21 of the second tube 20, and the third tube 30D and the second tube 20. The third fixing portion 73D is also formed to protrude from the outer circumferential surfaces of the third tube 30D and the second tube 20, thereby suppressing leakage of gas from the third fixing portion 73D. As shown in Figure 9, in the plasma guidewire 1D, the first section S1 in which the guidewire body is covered with the first tube 10, the second section S2 in which the guidewire body is covered with the second tube 20, and the third section S3 in which the guidewire body is covered with the third tube 30D do not overlap.

[0067] As described above, the configuration of the plasma guidewire 1D can be modified in various ways, and the third tube 30D does not have to overlap with the first tube 10 or the second tube 20. The plasma guidewire 1D of the fifth embodiment as described above can also achieve the same effects as the first embodiment. Furthermore, the plasma guidewire 1D of the fifth embodiment can be configured to have a uniform outer diameter.

[0068] Sixth Embodiment 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of a plasma guidewire 1E according to a sixth embodiment. The plasma guidewire 1E according to the sixth embodiment further includes a shrink tube 84 in addition to the configuration described in the first embodiment, and does not include a tip marker 81.

[0069] The shrink tube 84 is a heat-shrinkable tube that covers the joint (distal joint 82) between the first tube 10 and the third tube 30. The thickness T84 of the shrink tube 84 is thinner than the thickness T10 of the first tube 10 shown in FIG. 2(B), thinner than the thickness T20 of the second tube 20, and thinner than the thickness T30 of the third tube 30. The shrink tube 84 has a stepped annular shape, with the distal end having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter Φ10 of the first tube 10 and the proximal end having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter Φ30 of the third tube 30. After being placed over the outside of the joint (distal joint 82) between the first tube 10 and the third tube 30, the shrink tube 84 is heated to assume the shape shown in FIG. 10.

[0070] As described above, the configuration of the plasma guidewire 1E can be modified in various ways, and it may further include other components not described in the first embodiment, such as shrink tube 84, or it may omit components described in the first embodiment, such as tip marker 81. The plasma guidewire 1E of the sixth embodiment as described above can also achieve the same effects as the first embodiment described above.

[0071] Furthermore, according to the plasma guidewire 1E of the sixth embodiment, the joint (tip-side joint 82) between the first tube 10 and the third tube 30 is covered with a shrink tube 84. This prevents the first tube 10 and the third tube 30 from separating due to peeling at the tip-side joint 82, and also prevents gas leakage from the peeled area. Furthermore, since the thickness T84 of the shrink tube 84 is thinner than the thicknesses T10, T20, and T30, the plasma guidewire 1 can be kept smaller in diameter than when the insulating first, second, and third tubes 10, 20, and 30 are stacked. Furthermore, when the plasma guidewire 1 is used in combination with a catheter having another electrode, the distal end of the plasma guidewire 1 (specifically, the first section S1 and the second section S2) protrudes from the distal opening of the catheter during use. The plasma guidewire 1 is configured to be flexible, particularly at the tip end (particularly the first section S1 and second section S2), and therefore, when the plasma guidewire 1 is protruded from the tip end opening of the catheter, friction may occur between the tip end opening of the catheter and the joint (tip end joint 82) between the first tube 10 and the third tube 30. In this regard, with the plasma guidewire 1E of the sixth embodiment, a structure resistant to friction can be achieved by using the shrink tube 84.

[0072] Seventh Embodiment FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of a plasma guidewire 1F of the seventh embodiment. The plasma guidewire 1F of the seventh embodiment has the same configuration as that described in the first embodiment, but the distal end of the plasma guidewire 1F is pre-shaped. In other words, a curved shape is imparted to the distal end of the plasma guidewire 1F. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the first tube 10 and the guidewire main body covered by the first tube 10 of the plasma guidewire 1 are curved. Even when the distal end of the plasma guidewire 1 is pre-shaped in this way, the gas layer 41 exists throughout the entire circumferential direction between the first tube 10 and the guidewire main body and throughout the entire longitudinal direction from the distal end to the proximal end of the first tube 10, just as in the first embodiment.

[0073] As described above, the configuration of the plasma guidewire 1F can be modified in various ways, and the distal end side of the plasma guidewire 1 may be pre-shaped. While the example of Fig. 11 illustrates a case in which the first tube 10 and the guidewire main body covered by the first tube 10 are curved, the third tube 30 and the guidewire main body covered by the third tube 30 may also be curved in addition to the first tube 10. Even in this case, the gas layer 43 exists over the entire circumferential direction between the third tube 30 and the guidewire main body, and over the entire longitudinal direction from the distal end to the proximal end of the third tube 30, just as in the first embodiment.

[0074] The plasma guidewire 1F of the seventh embodiment as described above can also achieve the same effects as the first embodiment. Furthermore, since the plasma guidewire 1F of the seventh embodiment has a pre-shaped distal end, the blood vessel selectivity of the plasma guidewire 1F can be improved. Furthermore, since the distal end is pre-shaped, the angle formed between the distal end of the plasma guidewire 1F and the biological tissue can be increased. As a result, the depth of the hole formed in the biological tissue by ablation using the plasma guidewire 1F can be further increased, making it easier to achieve the ablation effect.

[0075] <Modification of this embodiment> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the following modifications are also possible.

[0076] [Variation 1] In the first to seventh embodiments, one example of the configuration of the plasma guidewires 1, 1A to 1F has been described. However, various modifications are possible to the configuration of the plasma guidewires 1, 1A to 1F. For example, the first tube 10, the second tube 20, and the third tube 30 may be integrally configured. For example, the thicknesses of the gas layers 41, 42, and 43 may be less than 1 μm in order to reduce the diameter of the plasma guidewire 1. For example, the thicknesses of the gas layers 41, 42, and 43 may be greater than 100 μm in order to further improve the insulating performance of the plasma guidewire 1. For example, the first fixing portion 71 may not fix the core shaft 50. In this case, the first fixing portion 71 may fix the distal end portion 11 of the first tube 10 to the coil body 60 (guidewire main body) and allow gas to flow between the inside and outside of the plasma guidewire 1.

[0077] For example, the core shaft 50 constituting the guidewire main body is not limited to the above-described shape and may have any shape. For example, at least some of the small diameter section 51, first tapered section 52, second tapered section 53, large diameter section 54, and base end section 55 exemplified in the above embodiment may be omitted. For example, the guidewire main body may include additional components not described above. For example, an inner coil body may be provided inside the coil body 60.

[0078] [Variation 2] The configurations of the plasma guidewires 1, 1A to 1F of the first to seventh embodiments and the configuration of the plasma guidewires 1, 1A to 1F of the first modification may be combined as appropriate. For example, the plasma guidewires 1, 1A to 1E described in the second to sixth embodiments may adopt the configuration in which the distal end is preshaped as described in the seventh embodiment. For example, the plasma guidewires 1, 1A to 1D described in the second to fifth embodiments may be provided with the shrink tube 84 described in the sixth embodiment. For example, the plasma guidewires 1A, B described in the second and third embodiments may be configured to include the third tube 30C described in the fourth embodiment. For example, the plasma guidewire 1A described in the second embodiment may adopt a configuration in which the second fixing portion 72 and the third fixing portion 73 described in the third embodiment are omitted.

[0079] This aspect has been described above based on embodiments and modifications. However, the above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of this aspect and are not intended to limit this aspect. This aspect may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and equivalents thereof are included in this aspect. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it may be deleted as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 1, 1A to 1F...Plasma guide wire 10...1st tube 11...Tip 12...Proximal end 13...Inner peripheral surface 14...Outer surface 20, 20A...Second tube 21...Tip 22...Proximal end 23…Inner peripheral surface 24…Outer surface 30, 30C, 30D...Third tube 31...Tip 32...Proximal end 33…Inner peripheral surface 34...Outer surface 40…Tip electrode 41, 42, 43...Gas layer 50...Core shaft 51...Small diameter section 52...First tapered section 53...Second tapered section 54…Large diameter part 55...Proximal end 60...Coil body 61...Elemental wire 70...Coil fixing part 71...First fixed part 72,72C,72D…Second fixed part 73,73C,73D…Third fixed part 74…Fourth fixed part 81...Tip marker 82,82C…Tip side joint part 83,83C…Proximal joint part 84...Shrink tube 100...RF generator 110…1st terminal 111...1st Cable 120…Second terminal 121...Second cable

Claims

1. A plasma guidewire, a guidewire body having a core shaft and a coil body arranged to surround a portion of the distal end side of the core shaft; a cylindrical first tube made of insulating resin, the first tube covering the distal end side of the guidewire body; a cylindrical second tube made of insulating resin, the second tube covering the proximal end side of the guidewire body; a cylindrical third tube made of insulating resin, covering an intermediate portion of the guidewire body located between the distal end side and the proximal end side, the third tube having a distal end joined to the proximal end side of the first tube and a proximal end joined to the distal end side of the second tube; Equipped with A plasma guidewire, wherein at least one of the first tube, the second tube, and the third tube forms a gas layer filled with gas between the guidewire body and the first tube, the second tube, and the third tube.

2. 2. The plasma guidewire according to claim 1, A plasma guidewire, wherein a gas layer filled with the gas is formed between the first tube and the guidewire body.

3. The plasma guide wire according to claim 1 or 2, A plasma guidewire, wherein the thickness of the gas layer is 1 μm or more and 100 μm or less.

4. The plasma guidewire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a fixing portion that fixes any one of the first tube, the second tube, and the third tube to the guidewire body, A plasma guidewire in which the fixing portion is not provided in at least one of the first section in which the guidewire body is covered with the first tube, the second section in which the guidewire body is covered with the second tube, and the third section in which the guidewire body is covered with the third tube.

5. The plasma guidewire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a distal end fixing portion provided at a distal end portion of the first tube and fixing the first tube and the guidewire body; a proximal end fixing portion provided at a proximal end of the second tube and fixing the second tube and the guidewire body; Equipped with The distal end fixing portion and the proximal end fixing portion hinder the flow of the gas inside and outside the plasma guidewire.

6. The plasma guide wire according to any one of claims 1 to 5, an outer diameter of the intermediate portion of the guidewire body is smaller than an outer diameter of the distal end portion of the guidewire body and is also smaller than an outer diameter of the proximal end portion of the guidewire body; A plasma guidewire, wherein the outer diameter of the third tube covering the intermediate portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the first tube covering the tip side and smaller than the outer diameter of the second tube covering the base end side.

7. 7. The plasma guidewire according to claim 6, the third tube is disposed so that a distal end portion thereof overlaps with a proximal end portion of the first tube and a proximal end portion thereof overlaps with a distal end portion of the second tube, The third tube has an outer circumferential surface at a distal end joined to an inner circumferential surface at a proximal end of the first tube, The plasma guidewire, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the base end of the third tube is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the tip end of the second tube.

8. The plasma guide wire according to any one of claims 1 to 7, A plasma guide wire, wherein at least an intermediate portion of the third tube located between the distal end and the proximal end is not covered by the first tube and the second tube and is exposed to the outside.

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