Medical wire

Abstract

This medical wire comprises: a first flexible tube body that extends in the front-back direction and has been formed so as to be bendable; an operating wire that extends in a front-back direction and is inserted inside the first flexible tube body; and a support body anchored at the back end of the first flexible tube body. The front end of the operating wire is anchored to the front end of the first flexible tube body while, in one radial direction, being spaced apart from the center axis of the first flexible tube body.

Description

Medical Wire

[0001] The present invention relates to a medical wire such as a guidewire. This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-097625, filed on June 14, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, for example, a guidewire has been known as a medical wire, comprising a first flexible tubular body (outer flexible tubular body 4) extending in the front-rear direction and formed to be bendable, a manipulation wire (core shaft) extending in the front-rear direction and inserted inside the first flexible tubular body, and a support fixed to the rear end of the first flexible tubular body. Generally, a guidewire is inserted into a blood vessel and used to guide a balloon or a stent to a chronic total occlusion lesion or the like in a state where the guidewire penetrates a chronic total occlusion lesion or the like in the blood vessel. When penetrating a chronic total occlusion lesion or the like with the guidewire, the following procedure is taken, for example. First, a guidewire (first guidewire) inserted into a microcatheter is advanced into the blood vessel to reach a chronic total occlusion lesion or the like in the blood vessel. The microcatheter is left in the blood vessel, and the guidewire (first guidewire) that has been used is removed. Thereafter, a guidewire (second guidewire) with a higher tip load, etc. than the guidewire (first guidewire) is reinserted into the microcatheter and pierced into the chronic total occlusion lesion, etc., and the guidewire (second guidewire) and microcatheter penetrate the chronic total occlusion lesion, etc. Thereafter, the guidewire (second guidewire) with the higher tip load, etc. is removed, and the original guidewire (first guidewire) with the lower tip load, etc. is reinserted into the microcatheter, leaving the microcatheter in the blood vessel while penetrating the chronic total occlusion lesion, etc. After the guidewire (first guidewire) has reached a position where it penetrates the chronic total occlusion lesion, etc., the microcatheter is removed, leaving the guidewire (first guidewire) in place.

[0003] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-199

[0004] With conventional guidewires, in order to penetrate a chronic total occlusion or the like, it is necessary to insert and remove guidewires with different bending stiffness, such as tip load, into and from blood vessels, etc., and use different guidewires accordingly. Furthermore, in order to select a blood vessel at a vascular bifurcation and advance into the target blood vessel before reaching a chronic total occlusion or the like, it is necessary to insert and remove the guidewire from the blood vessel and fine-tune the curvature of the front end of the guidewire (the bending tendency called preshape) outside the body. There has been a demand for reducing the surgical time.

[0005] The present invention provides a medical wire that can shorten the time required for surgery.

[0006] A medical wire according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first flexible tubular body extending in the front-rear direction and formed to be bendable and deformable, a control wire extending in the front-rear direction and inserted inside the first flexible tubular body, and a support body fixed to the rear end of the first flexible tubular body, wherein the front end of the control wire is fixed to the front end of the first flexible tubular body in a state spaced apart in one radial direction from the central axis of the first flexible tubular body.

[0007] The front end of the manipulation wire is fixed to the front end of the first flexible tubular body while being spaced apart in one radial direction from the central axis of the first flexible tubular body. Therefore, when the manipulation wire is pulled rearward, the first flexible tubular body undergoes compressive deformation and bends in a specific radial direction. This allows the manipulation wire to be manipulated to select a blood vessel at a vascular bifurcation and advance the medical wire into the target blood vessel while bending the front end of the medical wire in a specific direction. This reduces the physician's dependency on the sense of manipulation when guiding the medical wire along the blood vessel to reach a chronic total occlusion lesion or the like, and eliminates the need to insert or remove the medical wire from the blood vessel to fine-tune the curvature of the front end of the medical wire outside the body. Furthermore, when the manipulation wire is pulled rearward, the front end of the manipulation wire and the front end of the first flexible tubular body move rearward, compressing and deforming the first flexible tubular body in the front-to-rear direction between the support and the first flexible tubular body, thereby increasing the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body. Therefore, the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body can be changed by manipulating the manipulation wire while the medical wire is inserted into the blood vessel. As a result, when penetrating a chronic total occlusion or the like with the medical wire, the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body is kept low until the medical wire enters a blood vessel and reaches the chronic total occlusion or the like within the blood vessel. Then, when the medical wire is thrust into the chronic total occlusion or the like and penetrates the chronic total occlusion or the like with the medical wire, the manipulation wire is pulled backward to increase the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body. After penetrating the chronic total occlusion or the like with the medical wire, the manipulation wire is released to return the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body to its original low state. This eliminates the need to insert and remove medical wires with different bending rigidities from the blood vessel or the like to penetrate the chronic total occlusion or the like. As a result, the surgical time can be shortened.

[0008] The first flexible tubular body may have a bending rigidity that decreases from the rear to the front in an intermediate portion located between the front end and the rear end.

[0009] The bending rigidity of the intermediate section of the first flexible tubular body, located between the front and rear ends, decreases from rear to front. This makes it possible to precisely bend only the front end of the medical wire in a specific direction by manipulating the operating wire, allowing the medical wire to be easily inserted into a target blood vessel by selecting the blood vessel at a vascular bifurcation point.

[0010] The device may further include a second flexible tubular body that is inserted inside the first flexible tubular body, extends in the front-to-rear direction, and is formed to be bendable and deformable, wherein the operating wire is inserted inside the second flexible tubular body, the central axis of the second flexible tubular body and the front end of the operating wire are spaced apart from the central axis of the first flexible tubular body in one radial direction, the front end of the second flexible tubular body is fixed to at least one of the front end of the first flexible tubular body and the front end of the operating wire, and the rear end of the second flexible tubular body, which is located rearward of the front end, is fixed to at least one of the support body and the rear end of the first flexible tubular body.

[0011] The medical wire includes a second flexible tubular body. Therefore, when the manipulation wire is pulled rearward, the first and second flexible tubular bodies are compressed and deformed while bending in one radial direction. This makes it possible to easily adjust (design) the relationship between the manipulation force applied to the manipulation wire and the bending shape of the front end of the medical wire, for example, while maintaining the outer diameter of the medical wire.

[0012] The second flexible tube may have a middle portion located between a front end portion and a rear portion, the middle portion having a bending rigidity that decreases from the rear portion to the front portion.

[0013] The bending rigidity of the middle part of the second flexible tube, located between the front end and the rear end, decreases from the rear to the front, so that by manipulating the operating wire, only the front end of the medical wire can be bent with precision in a specific direction.

[0014] At least one of the first flexible tubular body and the second flexible tubular body may be a coil spring extending in the front-rear direction.

[0015] At least one of the first flexible tubular body and the second flexible tubular body is a coil spring extending in the front-rear direction, which makes it easy to obtain a medical wire whose front end can be bent in a specific direction when the manipulation wire is pulled rearward.

[0016] The device may further include an operation unit provided behind the support, to which the operation wire is fixed and which is movable in the front-rear direction relative to the support.

[0017] An operating section to which the operating wire is fixed is provided behind the support, which improves the operability of the medical wire compared to when the operating wire is directly operated.

[0018] According to the above aspect of the present invention, the time required for surgery can be shortened.

[0019] 1A and 1B are longitudinal cross-sectional views of a medical wire according to a first embodiment, a medical wire according to a second embodiment, and a medical wire according to a third embodiment.

[0020] A first embodiment of the medical wire will be described below with reference to Fig. 1. The medical wire 1 is a guide wire including a first flexible tubular body 11, an operating wire 12, an operating section 13, and a support body 14. The first flexible tubular body 11, the operating wire 12, the operating section 13, and the support body 14 are formed of, for example, a metal material. Note that the materials forming the first flexible tubular body 11, the operating wire 12, the operating section 13, and the support body 14 may be changed as appropriate. The operating section 13 may not be provided.

[0021] The operation unit 13 and the support body 14 are formed in a cylindrical shape and disposed coaxially with the central axis O1 of the first flexible tubular body 11. Hereinafter, the side where the first flexible tubular body 11 is located with respect to the support body 14 in the direction in which the central axis O1 extends will be referred to as the front side, the side where the operation unit 13 is located with respect to the support body 14 in the direction in which the central axis O1 extends will be referred to as the rear side, and the direction in which the central axis O1 extends will be referred to as the front-rear direction. A direction intersecting the central axis O1 as viewed from the front-rear direction will be referred to as the radial direction, and a direction going around the central axis O1 as viewed from the front-rear direction will be referred to as the circumferential direction.

[0022] The first flexible tubular body 11 extends in the front-rear direction and is formed to be bendable. The first flexible tubular body 11 is a coil spring extending in the front-rear direction. The outer diameter of the first flexible tubular body 11 is large enough to be inserted into a blood vessel (e.g., 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm). The outer shape and size of the first flexible tubular body 11 as viewed in the front-rear direction are constant over the entire length in the front-rear direction. The diameter of the wire material forming the first flexible tubular body 11 is constant over the entire length.

[0023] The diameter of the wire material forming the first flexible tubular body 11 does not have to be constant along its entire length. Furthermore, the outer shape and size of the first flexible tubular body 11 as viewed in the front-rear direction do not have to be constant along its entire length in the front-rear direction. For example, the outer diameter of the first flexible tubular body 11 may decrease toward the front. The first flexible tubular body 11 is not limited to a coil spring, and may be, for example, a tubular body having a peripheral wall that extends continuously along its entire length in both the front-rear direction and the circumferential direction.

[0024] The support body 14 is fixed to the rear end of the first flexible tubular body 11. The support body 14 extends in the front-rear direction and is formed to be bendable. The rear end opening edge of the first flexible tubular body 11 abuts against the front end opening edge of the support body 14 in the front-rear direction. The front end of the support body 14 and the rear end of the first flexible tubular body 11 are fixed together by, for example, soldering, brazing, adhesive bonding, or crimping.

[0025] In the illustrated example, a cylindrical intermediate fixing member 23 made of, for example, solder, brazing material, or adhesive extends forward from the edge of the front-end opening of the support body 14. The thickness of the intermediate fixing member 23 is equal to the diameter of the wire forming the first flexible tubular body 11, which is a coil spring. With the rear-end opening of the first flexible tubular body 11 open, the rear end of the first flexible tubular body 11 is embedded in the intermediate fixing member 23. The outer circumferential surface of the intermediate fixing member 23 is seamlessly connected to the outer circumferential surfaces of the support body 14 and the first flexible tubular body 11 in the front-rear direction, and the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate fixing member 23 is seamlessly connected to the inner circumferential surfaces of the support body 14 and the first flexible tubular body 11 in the front-rear direction.

[0026] The outer diameter of the support 14 is equal to the outer diameter of the first flexible tubular body 11 and is large enough to be inserted into a blood vessel (e.g., 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm). The outer shape and size of the support 14 as viewed in the front-rear direction are constant over the entire length in the front-rear direction. Note that the outer shape and size of the support 14 as viewed in the front-rear direction do not have to be constant over the entire length in the front-rear direction. For example, the outer diameter of the support 14 may decrease toward the front. The outer shapes and sizes of the support 14 and the first flexible tubular body 11 as viewed in the front-rear direction may be different from each other. In this case, it is preferable that the support 14 does not protrude radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the first flexible tubular body 11 as viewed in the front-rear direction.

[0027] The operation unit 13 is provided rearward of the support body 14. The operation unit 13 protrudes rearward from the support body 14. The operation unit 13 is provided to be movable in the front-rear direction relative to the support body 14. In the illustrated example, the rear end of the support body 14 is inserted into the front portion of the operation unit 13. Note that the front end opening edge of the operation unit 13 and the rear end opening edge of the support body 14 may face each other in the front-rear direction, or the front portion of the operation unit 13 may be inserted into the rear end of the support body 14. The rear portion of the operation wire 12 is fixed to the operation unit 13 by, for example, soldering, brazing, adhesive, or crimping. In the illustrated example, the rear end opening of the operation unit 13 is closed by a rear fixing member 24 made of, for example, a solder material, a brazing material, or an adhesive, and the rear portion of the operation wire 12 is embedded in the rear fixing member 24.

[0028] The operation wire 12 extends in the front-rear direction and is inserted inside the first flexible tubular body 11. The operation wire 12 is formed to be elastically deformable. The front end of the operation wire 12 is fixed to the front end of the first flexible tubular body 11 by, for example, soldering, brazing, adhesive bonding, or crimping, in a state spaced apart from the central axis O1 in one radial direction. Note that multiple operation wires 12 may be provided at intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0029] The operation wire 12 extends straight in the front-rear direction. Note that the operation wire 12 may extend in the front-rear direction while being bent, for example. The operation wire 12 is disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the inner circumferential surface of the support body 14. The rear portion of the operation wire 12 protrudes rearward from the support body 14. Of the front end portion of the operation wire 12, a protruding portion 12a protruding forward from the first flexible tubular body 11 is bent in one radial direction and engaged with the edge of the front end opening of the first flexible tubular body 11. The protruding portion 12a of the operation wire 12 is located at the same radial position as, or radially inward from, the outer circumferential surface of the front end portion of the first flexible tubular body 11. The tip surface of the operation wire 12 faces in one radial direction.

[0030] In the illustrated example, the front end opening of the first flexible tubular body 11 is closed by a front fixing member 25 made of, for example, solder, brazing material, or adhesive. The outer peripheral surface of the front fixing member 25 is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the first flexible tubular body 11 without any step in the front-to-rear direction. The front end of the operation wire 12, including the protruding portion 12a, is embedded in the front fixing member 25.

[0031] The bending rigidity of the intermediate section 11a of the first flexible tubular body 11, which is located between the front end (front fixing member 25) and the rear end (middle fixing member 23), decreases from the rear to the front. In the illustrated example, the first flexible tubular body 11 includes a first hard tubular section 22 having high bending rigidity and a pair of first soft tubular sections 21 which have lower bending rigidity than the first hard tubular section 22 and sandwich the first hard tubular section 22 in the front-to-rear direction. Of the pair of first soft tubular sections 21, the number of turns of the front first soft tubular section 21 located on the front side is greater than the number of turns of the rear first soft tubular section 21 located on the rear side. Note that the number of turns of the front first soft tubular section 21 may be equal to or less than the number of turns of the rear first soft tubular section 21.

[0032] The first soft tube section 21 is formed so that the distance (inter-wire gap) between adjacent wire members in the front-to-rear direction is wider than that of the first hard tube section 22. As a result, the bending rigidity of the first soft tube section 21 is smaller than that of the first hard tube section 22, and the first soft tube section 21 flexibly bends to follow the bending of the blood vessel. In the illustrated example, adjacent wire members in the front-to-rear direction in the first hard tube section 22 abut against each other. In other words, the first hard tube section 22 is formed as a tightly wound coil spring. As a result, in the intermediate section 11 a of the first flexible tubular body 11, the first hard tube section 22 can flexibly bend to follow the bending deformation of the first soft tube section 21.

[0033] Of the pair of first soft tube sections 21, the front portion of the front first soft tube section 21 located on the front side is joined or bonded to the front fixing member 25, and the rear portion of the front first soft tube section 21 is located between the front fixing member 25 and the intermediate fixing member 23. Of the pair of first soft tube sections 21, the rear first soft tube section 21 located on the rear side is joined or bonded over its entire length to the intermediate fixing member 23. Therefore, of the first flexible tube 11, the intermediate section 11a located between the front fixing member 25 and the intermediate fixing member 23 is composed of the entire first hard tube section 22 and the rear portion of the front first soft tube section 21 of the pair of first soft tube sections 21 located on the front side. As a result, the bending rigidity of the intermediate section 11a of the first flexible tube 11 decreases stepwise from the rear to the front. Note that the bending rigidity of the intermediate section 11a of the first flexible tube 11 may also decrease linearly from the rear to the front. In the illustrated example, the length in the front-rear direction of the first hard pipe section 22 is longer than the length in the front-rear direction of the rear part of the front first soft pipe section 21 that is located on the front side of the pair of first soft pipe sections 21. Note that the length in the front-rear direction of the first hard pipe section 22 may be shorter than the length in the front-rear direction of the rear part of the front first soft pipe section 21.

[0034] As described above, with the medical wire 1 according to this embodiment, the front end of the manipulation wire 12 is fixed to the front end of the first flexible tubular body 11 in a state spaced apart in one radial direction from the central axis O1 of the first flexible tubular body 11. Therefore, when the manipulation wire 12 is pulled rearward, the first flexible tubular body 11 is compressed and deformed while bending in one radial direction. This allows the front end of the medical wire 1 to be bent in a desired direction by manipulating the manipulation wire 12, thereby selecting a blood vessel at a vascular bifurcation and advancing the medical wire 1 into the target blood vessel. This reduces the physician's dependency on the sense of manipulation when guiding the medical wire 1 along the blood vessel to reach a chronic total occlusion lesion or the like, and also eliminates the need to insert and remove the medical wire from and into the blood vessel to fine-tune the curvature of the front end of the medical wire outside the body.

[0035] Furthermore, when the manipulation wire 12 is pulled rearward, the front end of the manipulation wire 12 and the front end of the first flexible tubular body 11 move rearward, and the first flexible tubular body 11 is compressed and deformed in the front-to-rear direction between the support body 14, thereby increasing the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body 11. Therefore, by manipulating the manipulation wire 12 while the medical wire 1 is inserted into a blood vessel, the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body 11 can be changed.

[0036] As a result, when the medical wire 1 is to penetrate a chronic total occlusion lesion or the like, the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body 11 is kept low until the medical wire 1 is advanced into a blood vessel and reaches the chronic total occlusion lesion or the like within the blood vessel, and when the medical wire 1 is thrust into the chronic total occlusion lesion or the like and penetrates the chronic total occlusion lesion or the like with the medical wire 1, the manipulation wire 12 is pulled rearward to increase the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body 11, and after penetrating the chronic total occlusion lesion or the like, the manipulation of the manipulation wire 12 is released to return the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body 11 to its original low state. This eliminates the need to use different medical wires with different bending rigidities by inserting and removing them from the blood vessel or the like to penetrate a chronic total occlusion lesion or the like.

[0037] As a result, the operation time can be reduced.

[0038] The bending rigidity of the intermediate portion 11a of the first flexible tubular body 11, which is located between the front end (front fixing member 25) and the rear end (middle fixing member 23), decreases from the rear to the front. Therefore, by manipulating the operating wire 12, the front end of the medical wire 1 can be bent with precision in a desired direction, and the blood vessel can be selected at a blood vessel branch point, allowing the medical wire 1 to easily enter the target blood vessel.

[0039] An operation section 13 to which the operation wire 12 is fixed is provided behind the support 14. Therefore, the operability of the medical wire 1 can be improved compared to when the operation wire 12 is directly operated.

[0040] Next, a medical wire 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 2. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted, with only the differences being described.

[0041] In the medical wire 2 of this embodiment, a second flexible tubular body 15 extending in the front-rear direction and formed to be bendable and deformable is inserted inside the first flexible tubular body 11. The front end of the second flexible tubular body 15 is fixed to at least one of the front end of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the front end of the operation wire 12. The rear end of the second flexible tubular body 15, located rearward of the front end, is fixed to at least one of the support body 14 and the rear end of the first flexible tubular body 11. The second flexible tubular body 15 protrudes in both the front-rear direction from the first flexible tubular body 11. Note that the second flexible tubular body 15 does not have to protrude in the front-rear direction from the first flexible tubular body 11.

[0042] At least one of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15 is a coil spring extending in the front-rear direction. In the illustrated example, both the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15 are coil springs extending in the front-rear direction. The winding directions of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15 are opposite to each other. However, the winding directions of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15 may be the same as each other. Either one of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15 is not limited to a coil spring and may be, for example, a tubular body having a peripheral wall that extends continuously over the entire length in both the front-rear direction and the circumferential direction.

[0043] The bending rigidity of the intermediate section 15a of the second flexible tube 15, which is located between the front end section (front fixing member 25) and the rear section (middle fixing member 23), decreases from rear to front. In the illustrated example, the second flexible tube 15 is configured by connecting a second soft tube section 31, which has low bending rigidity, and a second hard tube section 32, which has higher bending rigidity than the second soft tube section 31, in this order from front to rear. The second soft tube section 31 protrudes forward from the first flexible tube 11, and the second hard tube section 32 protrudes rearward from the first flexible tube 11. The length of the second soft tube section 31 in the front-to-rear direction is slightly shorter than the length of the second hard tube section 32 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0044] The second soft tube section 31 is formed so that the distance (inter-wire gap) between adjacent wires in the front-to-rear direction is wider than that of the second hard tube section 32. As a result, the bending rigidity of the second soft tube section 31 is smaller than that of the second hard tube section 32, and the second soft tube section 31 flexibly bends to follow the bending of the blood vessel. In the illustrated example, adjacent wires in the front-to-rear direction in the second hard tube section 32 abut against each other. In other words, the second hard tube section 32 is formed as a tightly wound coil spring. As a result, in the intermediate section 15a of the second flexible tube 15, the second hard tube section 32 can flexibly bend to follow the bending deformation of the second soft tube section 31.

[0045] A front portion of the second soft tube section 31 is joined or bonded to the front fixing member 25. As a result, the front end of the second flexible tubular body 15 is fixed to the front end of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the front end of the operating wire 12 via the front fixing member 25. The rear portion of the second soft tube section 31 is located between the front fixing member 25 and the intermediate fixing member 23. The intermediate fixing member 23 is joined or bonded to the outer circumferential surface of a portion of the second hard tube section 32 located between the front end located inside the first flexible tubular body 11 and the rear end located inside the support body 14. As a result, the rear portion of the second flexible tubular body 15 located rearward of the front end is fixed to the support body 14 and the rear end of the first flexible tubular body 11 via the intermediate fixing member 23. In the illustrated example, the intermediate fixing member 23 does not close the inside of the second hard tube section 32, and the inside of the support body 14 is in communication with the rear portion of the second soft tube section 31 through the inside of the second hard tube section 32.

[0046] The intermediate section 15a of the second flexible tubular body 15, which is located between the front fixing member 25 and the middle fixing member 23, is composed of the rear section of the second soft tubular section 31 and the front end section of the second hard tubular section 32. As a result, the bending rigidity of the intermediate section 15a of the second flexible tubular body 15 decreases stepwise from the rear to the front. Note that the bending rigidity of the intermediate section 15a of the second flexible tubular body 15 may also decrease linearly from the rear to the front. In the illustrated example, the length in the front-rear direction of the rear section of the second soft tubular section 31 is longer than the length in the front-rear direction of the front end section of the second hard tubular section 32. Note that the length in the front-rear direction of the rear section of the second soft tubular section 31 may also be shorter than the length in the front-rear direction of the front end section of the second hard tubular section 32. The rear part of the second soft tube section 31 straddles the boundary between the first hard tube section 22 and the front first soft tube section 21 located at the front of the pair of first soft tube sections 21 within the intermediate section 11a of the first flexible tube body 11 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0047] The operation wire 12 is inserted inside the second flexible tubular body 15. The central axis O2 of the second flexible tubular body 15 and the front end of the operation wire 12 are spaced apart in one radial direction from the central axis O1 of the first flexible tubular body 11. The front end of the operation wire 12 is fixed to the front end of the second flexible tubular body 15 by, for example, soldering, brazing, adhesive bonding, or crimping, while being spaced apart in one radial direction from the central axis O2 of the second flexible tubular body 15. The operation wire 12 is disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the second flexible tubular body 15.

[0048] Of the front end of the operation wire 12, a protruding portion 12a protruding forward from the second flexible tubular body 15 is bent in one radial direction and engaged with the front end opening edge of the second flexible tubular body 15. The protruding portion 12a of the operation wire 12 is located at the same radial position as the outer circumferential surface of the front end of the first flexible tubular body 11, or is located radially inward. The protruding portion 12a of the operation wire 12 is spaced forward from the front end opening edge of the first flexible tubular body 11 and faces the front-to-rear direction. A front fixing member 25 is also filled between the protruding portion 12a of the operation wire 12 and the front end opening edge of the first flexible tubular body 11, and the front end of the operation wire 12, including the protruding portion 12a, is embedded in the front fixing member 25. The tip surface of the operation wire 12 faces in one radial direction.

[0049] As described above, the medical wire 2 according to this embodiment also has the same effects as the medical wire 1 shown in FIG.

[0050] The first flexible tubular body 11 is provided with a second flexible tubular body 15. Therefore, when the manipulation wire 12 is pulled rearward, the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15 are bent in one radial direction while being compressed and deformed. This makes it possible to easily adjust (design) the relationship between the manipulation force on the manipulation wire 12 and the bent shape of the front end of the medical wire 2, for example, while maintaining the outer diameter of the medical wire 2.

[0051] The bending rigidity of the intermediate portion 15a of the second flexible tubular body 15, which is located between the front end portion (front fixing member 25) and the rear portion (middle fixing member 23), decreases from the rear to the front. Therefore, by manipulating the operating wire 12, the front end portion of the medical wire 2 can be bent with high precision in a desired direction.

[0052] At least one of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15 is a coil spring extending in the front-rear direction, so that the medical wire 2 can be easily obtained with its front end bent in a desired direction when the manipulation wire 12 is pulled rearward.

[0053] Next, a medical wire 3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 3. In the third embodiment, the same components as those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted, with only the differences being described.

[0054] In the medical wire 3 of this embodiment, a protruding portion 12a of the front end of the manipulation wire 12 that protrudes forward from the second flexible tubular body 15 is bent in one radial direction and then folded back rearward to be engaged with the front end opening edge of the second flexible tubular body 15. A circumferential portion of the front end of the second flexible tubular body 15 is radially sandwiched by the front end of the manipulation wire 12. The distal end surface of the manipulation wire 12 faces rearward. The distal end surface of the manipulation wire 12 abuts against or is close to the front end opening edge of the first flexible tubular body 11.

[0055] As described above, the medical wire 3 according to this embodiment also has the same effects as the medical wire 2 shown in FIG.

[0056] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0057] For example, the bending rigidity of the intermediate portions 11a, 15a may be the same over the entire length in the front-rear direction.

[0058] In addition, it is possible to replace the components in the above-described embodiments with well-known components as appropriate, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the above-described embodiments and variations may be combined as appropriate.

[0059] For example, aspects of the present invention are as follows: <1> A medical wire comprising: a first flexible tubular body extending in a front-rear direction and formed to be bendable and deformable; a manipulation wire extending in the front-rear direction and inserted inside the first flexible tubular body; and a support body fixed to a rear end of the first flexible tubular body, wherein a front end of the manipulation wire is fixed to the front end of the first flexible tubular body in a state spaced apart from a central axis of the first flexible tubular body in one of radial directions. <2> The medical wire according to <1>, wherein the bending rigidity of an intermediate portion of the first flexible tubular body, which is located between the front end and the rear end, decreases from the rear to the front. <3> The medical wire according to <1> or <2>, further including a second flexible tubular body inserted inside the first flexible tubular body, extending in a front-rear direction, and formed to be bendable and deformable, wherein the operation wire is inserted inside the second flexible tubular body, a central axis of the second flexible tubular body and a front end of the operation wire are spaced apart from the central axis of the first flexible tubular body in one radial direction, the front end of the second flexible tubular body is fixed to at least one of the front end of the first flexible tubular body and the front end of the operation wire, and a rear portion of the second flexible tubular body located rearward of the front end is fixed to at least one of the support body and the rear end of the first flexible tubular body. <4> The medical wire according to <3>, wherein the bending rigidity of an intermediate portion of the second flexible tubular body located between the front end and rear portion decreases from the rear to the front. <5> The medical wire according to <3> or <4>, wherein at least one of the first flexible tubular body and the second flexible tubular body is a coil spring extending in the front-rear direction. <6> The medical wire according to any one of <1> to <5>, further comprising an operation unit provided behind the support body, to which the operation wire is fixed and which is movable in the front-rear direction relative to the support body.

[0060] According to the present invention, a medical wire that can shorten the time required for surgery can be provided.

[0061] 1, 2, 3 Medical wire 11 First flexible tubular body 11a Middle portion of first flexible tubular body 12 Operating wire 13 Operating portion 14 Support body 15 Second flexible tubular body 15a Middle portion of second flexible tubular body O1 Central axis of first flexible tubular body O2 Central axis of second flexible tubular body

Claims

1. A medical wire comprising: a first flexible tubular body extending in the front-rear direction and formed to be bendable; an operating wire extending in the front-rear direction and inserted inside the first flexible tubular body; and a support fixed to the rear end of the first flexible tubular body, wherein the front end of the operating wire is fixed to the front end of the first flexible tubular body in one of the radial directions away from the central axis of the first flexible tubular body.

2. The medical wire according to claim 1, wherein the bending rigidity of the intermediate portion of the first flexible tubular body located between the front end and the rear end decreases from the rear to the front.

3. The medical wire according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a second flexible tubular body inserted inside the first flexible tubular body, extending in the front-to-rear direction and formed to be bendable and deformable, the operating wire being inserted inside the second flexible tubular body, the central axis of the second flexible tubular body and a front end of the operating wire being spaced apart from the central axis of the first flexible tubular body in one radial direction, the front end of the second flexible tubular body being fixed to at least one of the front end of the first flexible tubular body and the front end of the operating wire, and a rear end of the second flexible tubular body located rearward of the front end being fixed to at least one of the support body and the rear end of the first flexible tubular body.

4. The medical wire according to claim 3, wherein the bending rigidity of the intermediate portion of the second flexible tubular body located between the front end portion and the rear portion decreases from the rear portion to the front portion.

5. The medical wire according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the first flexible tubular body and the second flexible tubular body is a coil spring extending in the front-rear direction.

6. The medical wire according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an operating section provided behind the support, to which the operating wire is fixed and which is movable in the forward and backward directions relative to the support.

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