Attraction attachments and stabilizers

Abstract

This invention provides a suction attachment capable of sufficiently suppressing vibrations caused by the heart's beating during coronary artery bypass surgery at the contact portion of the suction attachment, and capable of preventing breakage problems after coronary artery bypass surgery, as well as a stabilizer equipped with the suction attachment. The suction attachment 50, mounted on a stabilizer 100 that suppresses vibrations on the surface of the heart of a patient undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, has a flexible channel 60 that forms a suction flow path 61 together with the heart surface when in contact with the patient's heart surface. The flexible channel 60 is a C-shaped tunnel that serves as a passageway for the transplanted blood vessel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a suction attachment and stabilizer, and more particularly to a suction attachment and stabilizer for use in coronary artery bypass surgery in humans and animals. Prior Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a hemostatic device for maintaining the vascular anastomosis site used in coronary artery bypass surgery. This device is a suction cup with a flexible channel that surrounds the coronary artery and can adhere to the heart wall. Its distinguishing feature is a treatment opening at the center for exposing the anastomosis site of the coronary artery for treatment, and an exhaust pipe for discharging air is connected to the flexible channel. Furthermore, it discloses that the flexible channel is either donut-shaped (as shown in claim 2 of Patent Document 1 and Figure 2) or horseshoe-shaped (as shown in claim 3 of Patent Document 1 and Figure 4). Existing technical documents Patent documents

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3036686 Specification Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem that the invention aims to solve However, in the case of a donut-shaped flexible channel, the hemostasis retention device disclosed in Patent Document 1 will surround the transplanted blood vessel after the flexible channel is anastomosed on the surface of the heart within the central processing opening. Therefore, it is necessary to then perform a process to break the flexible channel, create space for the transplanted blood vessel to pass through, and remove the flexible channel (see paragraph

[0030] of Patent Document 1).

[0005] However, if the flexible channel is broken, there is a possibility of producing small fragments of the flexible channel that are difficult to see with the naked eye. If these fragments remain around the heart, they may damage the heart after surgery, thus posing a problem.

[0006] On the other hand, the hemostasis retention device described in Patent Document 1, when the flexible channel is horseshoe-shaped, although it does not require breakage treatment, the vibration of the heart surface caused by the heart beating during surgery will be transmitted to the treatment opening through the relatively large open part of the horseshoe shape, and cannot fully perform its function as a stabilizer.

[0007] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a suction attachment that can sufficiently suppress the vibration of the contact portion of the suction attachment caused by the beating of the heart during surgery, and to avoid the problem of breakage after surgery, as well as a stabilizer having the suction attachment. [Methods for solving technical problems]

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention is a suction attachment installed on a stabilizer that suppresses vibrations on the surface of the heart of a patient undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. The stabilizer has a flexible channel that, when in contact with the heart surface, forms a suction flow path together with the heart surface. The flexible channel has a C-shaped tunnel shape that serves as a passage for the transplanted blood vessel.

[0009] Additionally, a C-shaped flexible plate supports the shape of the flexible channel, and the gap between one end of the flexible channel and the other end corresponds to the position of the gap between one end of the flexible plate and the other end.

[0010] In addition, the width of the gap between one end and the other end of the flexible channel can be deformed as the flexible channel deforms.

[0011] In addition, the flexible channel may have several locking parts at its upper outer corner.

[0012] The suction flow path can also have: a relatively thick, straight-section inner inclined portion and a relatively thin, curved-section outer inclined portion.

[0013] The flexible channel may have a suction port connected to the suction flow path.

[0014] In addition, the stabilizer of the present invention connects the aforementioned suction attachment to its main body via a universal adapter. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the schematic appearance of the stabilizer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows the top view, cross-sectional view, and side view of the stabilizer 100 shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional photograph, top view, front view, and side view of the attraction attachment 50 shown in Figure 1, etc. Figure 4 shows the top view, front view, and sectional view of the flexible channel 60 shown in Figure 3. Implementation

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the schematic appearance of the stabilizer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2(a) is a top view of the stabilizer 100 shown in Figure 1. Figure 2(b) is a cross-sectional view (AA) of the stabilizer 100 shown in Figure 2(a). Figure 2(c) is a left view of the stabilizer 100 shown in Figure 2(a). Figure 2(d) is a right view of the stabilizer 100 shown in Figure 2(a).

[0018] The stabilizer 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2(a) to 2(d) is designed to suppress vibrations on the surface of the patient's heart during coronary artery bypass grafting. Figures 1 and 2(a) to 2(d) show the clamping part 10, the main body 20, the arm part 30, the tube part 40, and the suction attachment 50, as described below.

[0019] The clamping part 10 is used to fix the stabilizer 100 to other surgical instruments (not shown), including a thoracotomy device, near the operating table. The clamping part 10 can achieve this fixation in any shape and structure, as long as it does not obstruct the surgery. The clamping part 10, as commonly used in medical devices, can be made of stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, resin, etc.

[0020] The main body 20, as shown in FIG1, is connected to the clamping part 10 and the arm part 30. As shown in FIG2(b), the main body 20 includes: a gripping part 21 for operation by a doctor or other operator; an operating part 22 for fixing the arm part 30 in a state of being deformed into a predetermined shape; a spring-loaded member 23 screwed to the operating part 22; and a metal wire 24 passing through the cylinder of the arm part 30 and having one end fixed to the suction attachment 50 side and the other end fixed to the spring-loaded member 23.

[0021] Regarding the various parts of the main body 20, such as the grip 21, the operating part 22, and the spring-loaded part 23 commonly used in medical devices, they may be made of resin, for example, and the metal wire 24 may be made of stainless steel, for example.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the arm 30 is connected to the main body 20 at one end and to the suction attachment 50 at the other end. The arm 30 is flexible and can deform appropriately. The flexibility of the arm 30 requires a degree of rigidity that allows it to maintain its deformed shape without the application of external force. The arm 30, as commonly used in medical devices, can be made of stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, etc.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2(a), tube 40 is connected at one end to suction attachment 50 and at the other end to a pressure-reducing pump (not shown). Tube 40 is also flexible. Tube 40, as commonly used in medical devices, can be made of vinyl chloride or the like.

[0024] The suction attachment 50 is connected to the arm 30 via a universal adapter and is also connected to the tube 40. The suction attachment 50 is characterized by its general C-shaped shape, flexibility, and deformability.

[0025] The suction attachment 50 can be reused by sterilization, or it can be disposable and replaced for each patient.

[0026] Figure 3(a) is a perspective photograph of the attraction attachment 50 shown in Figure 1, etc. Figure 3(b) is a CAD top view of the attraction attachment 50 shown in Figure 3(a). Figure 3(c) is a CAD front view of the attraction attachment 50 shown in Figure 3(a). Figure 3(d) is a CAD right view of the attraction attachment 50 shown in Figure 3(a).

[0027] Figure 4(a) is a top view of the flexible channel 60 shown in Figure 3(a). Figure 4(b) is a front view of the flexible channel 60 shown in Figure 4(a). Figure 4(c) is a CC cross-sectional view of the flexible channel 60 shown in Figure 4(a). Figure 4(d) is a DD cross-sectional view of the flexible channel 60 shown in Figure 4(a).

[0028] The suction attachment 50, as shown in Figure 3(a), can be roughly divided into: a flexible channel 60 that contacts the surface of the patient's heart, and a flexible plate 70 that supports the shape of the flexible channel 60.

[0029] First, the flexible channel 60 will be described. The flexible channel 60 is the site that comes into contact with the surface of the heart of a patient undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. The flexible channel 60 can be made of, for example, silicone, polyurethane, vinyl chloride, or polycarbonate. One or both of the inner and outer surfaces of the flexible channel 60 can be appropriately textured.

[0030] The flexible channel 60, through texturing and other processes, can achieve the following advantages: by roughening the inner surface, an anti-slip effect can be obtained on the contact surface with the heart surface; in addition, by roughening the outer surface, the operability when removing it from the mold during manufacturing is improved.

[0031] The hardness of the flexible channel 60 varies depending on its size, especially its thickness, but can be, for example, around 50 to 90. The flexible channel 60, as shown in Figure 3(b) and Figure 4(a), is roughly C-shaped.

[0032] The dimensions of the flexible channel 60 are not limited to these, but for example, the length equivalent to the outer diameter can be set to about 4.0cm to 4.5cm, the length equivalent to the inner diameter can be set to about 1.5cm to 2.0cm, and the height can be set to about 0.8cm to 1.2cm.

[0033] Furthermore, the flexible channel 60, being roughly C-shaped, has a gap between one end 62A and the other end 62B. In this embodiment, this gap can be used as a pathway for a transplanted vessel anastomosed to a coronary artery.

[0034] In other words, the C-shaped flexible channel 60 has a pathway for transplanted blood vessels that anastomose with the surface of the heart, thus differing from the shape of a donut and also from the shape of a horseshoe, as it does not have a relatively large open portion.

[0035] Therefore, the width of this gap (the distance between one end 62A and the other end 62B), while not limited to this, can be set to approximately 0.15cm to 0.40cm, considering that the diameter of a typical transplanted blood vessel is 0.1cm to 0.25cm. Thus, the flexible channel 60 has only a relatively small open portion.

[0036] The width of the gap is approximately 3% to 10% of the average circumference of the outer and inner perimeters of the flexible channel 60. This can be easily derived from the aforementioned median value of 1.75 cm for the length equivalent to the outer diameter and 1.0 cm for the length equivalent to the inner diameter.

[0037] That is, if the flexible channel 60 is considered to be in the shape of a donut, the average value of the outer and inner diameters is 1.375 cm, and the average circumference of the outer and inner circumferences obtained by multiplying it by pi is about 4.32 cm. The width of the aforementioned gap, which is 0.15 cm to 0.40 cm, is about 3.4% to about 9.3% of the average circumference.

[0038] It should be noted that Patent Document 1 alone does not disclose the dimensions of the horseshoe-shaped open portion. However, looking at Figure 4 of Patent Document 1 alone, the width of the horseshoe-shaped open portion is approximately 15% of the average circumference.

[0039] Furthermore, the flexible channel 60 is flexible, thus allowing one end 62A and the other end 62B to be widened or narrowed in the planar or transverse direction of the flexible channel 60. Therefore, assuming that in the case of surgery using a larger than usual graft vessel, the aforementioned gap of the flexible channel 60 can be appropriately enlarged to adequately ensure the accessibility of the graft vessel after anastomosis with the coronary artery.

[0040] Furthermore, even if a transplanted blood vessel that is not thicker than a typical transplanted blood vessel is not used, the curvature of the heart surface will change depending on the location where the transplanted blood vessel is installed. Therefore, it is sufficient to use the flexible channel 60 by deforming it in the cutting direction according to its location.

[0041] Furthermore, the flexible channel 60, as shown in Figure 3(b) and Figure 4(a), has, for example, four locking portions 64 at its upper outer corner. Each locking portion 64 can be used to lock surgical sutures or the like that passing through the pericardium of the heart.

[0042] Therefore, the size of the opening on each locking part 64, while not limited to this, is, for example, 0.10cm to 0.80cm. It should be noted that each locking part 64 can be easily cut off using ordinary or medical scissors if the doctor determines that it is unnecessary to use it.

[0043] In addition, as shown in Figure 3(c) and Figure 4(c), the flexible channel 60 has a suction flow path 61. The suction flow path 61 is a closed space formed between the flexible channel 60 and the surface of the heart, and its shape is a roughly C-shaped tunnel.

[0044] As shown in Figure 3(d) and Figure 4(b), the flexible channel 60 has a connecting part 63 at the suction port 65, which communicates with the suction flow path 61. The connecting part 63 has a skirt-shaped top and a skirt-shaped base, with the top connected to the tube part 40 and the base connected to the suction port 65.

[0045] The flexible channel 60, while in contact with the heart surface of a patient undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, depressurizes at a pressure of approximately 150 mmHg to 500 mmHg under the action of the tube 40 connected via the connector 63 and a depressurizing pump (not shown), thereby venting air from the suction flow path 61.

[0046] It should be noted that the suction flow path 61 can be set as a single C-shaped flow path directly connected to the suction port 65 in a 1:1 ratio, or it can be divided into N flow paths and set as a common flow path, which is connected to the suction port 65 in parallel in an N:1 ratio through the common flow path.

[0047] In addition, the manufacturing conditions for the suction port 65 can be such that, with the center point of the flexible channel 60 in Figure 4(a) as the origin, the angle between the axis of the suction port 65 toward the origin and the center line passing through the gap between one end 62A and the other end 62B and toward the origin is about 10°.

[0048] Furthermore, the suction port 65, for example, adopts a two-section structure in which the outer part has a smaller diameter, for example, about 0.3cm to 0.4cm, and the inner part has a larger diameter, about 0.4cm to 0.6cm, and the base of the connecting part 63 is located in the larger diameter part to prevent it from falling off.

[0049] Near the suction port 65 in the suction flow path 61, as shown in Figure 4(c), a rib 66 is formed. The rib 66 can prevent the patient's heart surface from being sucked over and blocking the suction port 65 due to suction through the tube 40, etc., and can also prevent stress from the tube 40 side from concentrating near the suction port 65.

[0050] Rib 66, although an example consisting of 4 ribs is shown in Figure 4(c), is not limited to this number of ribs. It should be noted that in this example, each rib is such that its thickness is, for example, about 0.1 cm to 0.15 cm, and its size (length toward the center of the flexible channel 60) is about 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm.

[0051] In addition, the suction flow path 61, as shown in FIG4(d), has: a relatively thick inner inclined portion 67 with a straight cross section, a relatively thin outer inclined portion 68 with a curved cross section, and a main body portion 69 connecting the inner inclined portion 67 and the outer inclined portion 68.

[0052] The dimensions of the inner inclined portion 67 are not limited to these, but for example, its thickness is set to 0.15cm to 0.25cm, and it extends at an angle of 40° to 50° relative to the plane direction of the flexible channel 60, such that the thickness of its lower surface is 0.1cm to 0.2cm, its length in the horizontal direction is about 0.4cm to 0.6cm, and its length in the vertical direction is about 0.5cm to 0.7cm.

[0053] While the dimensions of the outer inclined portion 68 are not limited to these, for example, its thickness is set to about half the thickness of the inner inclined portion 67, i.e., 0.08cm to 0.15cm. Its thickness center is located at a position, for example, 0.25cm to 0.32cm away from the outer peripheral end of the main body portion 69. It is then bent vertically downward to about half the height of the flexible channel 60, and then bent outward with a radius of curvature of 0.6cm to 0.8cm, so that the thickness of the lower surface is 0.1cm to 0.2cm.

[0054] Regarding the suction flow path 61, as mentioned above, the heart is roughly spherical in shape. Therefore, when the flexible channel 60 comes into contact with the surface of the heart, in most cases, a closed space is formed by the inner inclined portion 67, the outer inclined portion 68 and the surface of the heart, and this closed space becomes the suction flow path 61.

[0055] Therefore, if suction is then performed through the pipe section 40, and exhaust is performed through the suction flow path 61, the relatively thick inner inclined section 67 is slightly deformed into an arc shape, while the relatively thin outer inclined section 68 is greatly deformed into an arc shape.

[0056] Furthermore, the heart surface portion near the suction flow path 61 is adsorbed towards the suction flow path 61, thus the heart surface portion in the inner region of the C-shape becomes planar, and the vibration caused by the patient's heartbeat is difficult to be transmitted to the treatment opening.

[0057] It should be noted that when the flexible channel 60 comes into contact with the heart surface, even if a gap is created between them instead of forming a closed space, if the gap is narrow, the nearby heart surface will be drawn in and the gap will be filled by suction. On the other hand, if the gap is large, the flexible channel 60 can be deformed to narrow the gap.

[0058] Next, the flexible sheet 70 will be described. The flexible sheet 70 can be made of, for example, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, etc. The flexible sheet 70 can be manufactured by cutting, for example, a stainless steel sheet with a thickness of about 0.1 cm to 0.2 cm.

[0059] The flexible plate 70, as shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b), includes: a pair of support portions 71 having one end 72A and the other end 72B and being C-shaped in general; a joint portion 74 for universal connection between the attraction attachment 50 and the arm portion 30; a triangular base portion 73 connecting the support portions 71 and the joint portion 74; and a pair of openings 75 formed on the base portion 73.

[0060] It should be noted that the gap between one end 72A and the other end 72B of the flexible plate 70 corresponds to the position of the gap between one end 62A and the other end 62B of the flexible channel 60. Therefore, these gaps can be used as access routes for transplanted blood vessels, and they can also be deformed in the planar or transverse direction of the flexible channel 60 and the flexible plate 70.

[0061] The dimensions of the support part 71 are not limited to these, but for example, the length equivalent to the outer diameter can be set to about 2.8cm to 4.3cm, the length equivalent to the inner diameter can be set to about 1.3cm to 1.8cm, and the width between one end 72A and the other end 72B can be set to about 0.4cm to 0.6cm.

[0062] The dimensions of the base 73 are not limited to these, but for example, the length (the vertical length of Figure 3(b)) can be set to about 1.3cm to 1.8cm, and the width (the horizontal length of Figure 3(b)) can be set to about 2.5cm to 3.5cm.

[0063] The dimensions of the joint 74 are not limited to these, but for example, the diameter of the ball at the top can be set to about 0.4cm to 0.6cm, the diameter of the cylindrical part connected to the base 73 can be set to about 0.25cm to 0.3cm, and the length can be set to about 0.8cm to 1.2cm.

[0064] The size of the opening 75 is not limited to this, but for example, the diameter can be set to about 0.2cm to 0.4cm. The opening 75 functions as the insertion port of the positioning clamp that holds the flexible plate 70 during the manufacture of the suction attachment 50, and as the insertion port of the tip of the tweezers that hold the flexible plate 70 when using the suction attachment 50.

[0065] The attachment 50 can be manufactured by integrally molding the flexible channel 60 and the flexible plate 70, or by making them into separate parts and assembling them by mounting the flexible plate 70 onto the flexible channel 60.

[0066] In this embodiment, although the case of using the stabilizer in human cardiovascular surgery is assumed, it can also be used in coronary artery bypass surgery on animals such as dogs, cats, horses, cattle, and sheep, not just humans.

[0067] As described above, according to the suction attachment 50 of this embodiment, the flexible channel is not formed in a horseshoe shape, thus it can sufficiently suppress the vibration caused by the heart beating during coronary artery bypass surgery. Furthermore, the flexible channel is not formed in a ring shape, thus it can avoid the problem of disassembling the transplanted blood vessel.

[0068] 10: Clamping part 20: Main body 21: Control Department 22: Control Unit 23: Spring-loaded components 24: Metal wire 30: Arms 40: Management Department 50: Attracting attachments 60: Flexible Channel 61: Attraction Flow Path 62A: One end 62B: The other end 63: Connecting part 64: Locking part 65: Suction port 66: Ribs 67: Inner inclined part 68: Outer sloping part 69: Main body 70: Flexible board 71: Support Department 72A: One end 72B: The other end 73: Base 74: Joint 75: Opening 100: Stabilizer

Claims

1. A suction attachment mounted on a stabilizer to suppress vibrations on the surface of the heart of a patient undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, wherein the suction attachment has a flexible channel that, upon contact with the heart surface, forms a suction flow path together with the heart surface, the flexible channel having a C-shaped tunnel shape that serves as a pathway for the graft vessel; wherein, The suction flow path has a relatively thick, straight-sectioned inner inclined portion and a relatively thin, curved-sectioned outer inclined portion.

2. The attraction attachment as described in claim 1, wherein, A C-shaped flexible plate supports the shape of the flexible channel, and the gap between one end of the flexible channel corresponds to the position of the gap between one end of the flexible plate.

3. The attraction attachment as described in claim 1, wherein, The width of the gap between one end and the other end of the flexible channel can be deformed as the flexible channel deforms.

4. The attraction attachment as described in claim 1, wherein, The flexible channel has several locking parts at its upper outer corner.

5. The attraction attachment as described in claim 1, wherein, The flexible channel has an suction port connected to the suction flow path.

6. A stabilizer having an attraction accessory as described in any one of claims 1 to 5 connected to its body via a universal joint.

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