Valve and surgical assistance instrument

Abstract

A valve according to the present invention controls the opening degree of a pipe by deforming a cross-sectional shape of a through-hole of the pipe, and in order to reduce the operation force, the valve comprises: a pipe that is composed of a flexible material and has the through-hole; an adjustment part that adjusts the opening degree of the through-hole by applying a force to facing side walls of the pipe; and a blocking assistance part that is provided to the pipe and assists the pipe such that the opening degree is more easily set to a fully-closed state as compared with a case in which the blocking assistance part is omitted.

Description

Valves and surgical aids

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve that controls the opening degree of a pipe by deforming the cross-sectional shape of the pipe, and to a surgical auxiliary instrument equipped with such a valve.

[0002] In laparoscopic surgery, which is performed by inserting a laparoscope, a type of endoscope, into the abdominal cavity, an electric scalpel with an electrode at the tip of a probe is used. In such an electric scalpel, the surgeon can incise the affected area and perform hemostasis on the incised area by applying electricity to the electrode using a switch provided on the grip. Such an electric scalpel is described, for example, in Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2. Note that such an electric scalpel is also used in thoracoscopic surgery in addition to laparoscopic surgery. Such an electric scalpel is also used in surgical procedures using endoscopes, including laparoscopes and thoracoscopes. Hereinafter, surgical procedures using an endoscope will also be referred to as endoscopic surgery. Hereinafter, instruments used in conjunction with endoscopes in endoscopic surgery, such as an electric scalpel, will be collectively referred to as surgical auxiliary instruments.

[0003] Among these surgical auxiliary instruments, some models have suction and water supply functions in addition to the original function of the surgical auxiliary instrument (e.g., an electric scalpel), while others have only one of the functions. In the case of a surgical auxiliary instrument with a suction function, a suction pipe is inserted from the grip to the tip of the probe. In the case of a surgical auxiliary instrument with a water supply function, a water supply pipe is inserted from the grip to the tip of the probe. In addition, the grip is provided with switches for controlling the flow rate in each of the suction pipe and the water supply pipe.

[0004] A known type of switch applied to a suction pipe and a water supply pipe is a pinch valve (see, for example, Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2). A pinch valve is used in combination with a pipe made of a flexible material, and is closed by compressing the through-hole of the pipe using the elastic force generated by an elastic body (e.g., a spring). To open the pinch valve, the surgeon applies a force to the pinch valve that counteracts the elastic force. This opens the compressed through-hole, and the pinch valve enters the open state. Hereinafter, the force applied by the surgeon to open the pinch valve is referred to as the operating force.

[0005] [online], Medtronic Corporation, [Retrieved September 19, 2023], Internet <URL: https: / / www.medtronic.com / covidien / en-us / products / electrosurgical-instruments / laparoscopic-instruments.html> [online], Johnson & Johnson Co., Ltd., [Retrieved September 19, 2023], Internet <URL: https: / / www.jnjmedtech.com / en-US / product / endopath-electrosurgery-probe-plus-ii-system>

[0006] The suction pipe is connected to the suction equipment (e.g., wall suction) of the operating room. Therefore, the inside of the through-hole of the suction pipe is under negative pressure. The water supply pipe is connected to the water supply equipment of the operating room. Therefore, the inside of the through-hole of the water supply pipe is under positive pressure.

[0007] Therefore, each of the suction and water supply pipes is designed to have a predetermined strength so that the through-holes will not be crushed or widened by this pressure (for example, 50 kPa in absolute value). Accordingly, the elastic body of the pinch valve is designed to generate an elastic force sufficient to crush each pipe to achieve the closed state. The greater this elastic force, the more reliably the pipes can be crushed. However, the greater this elastic force, the greater the operating force required from the surgeon. For surgeons who may be performing surgery over long periods of time, a smaller operating force is preferable.

[0008] The inventors of the present application measured the operating force of the pinch valve provided in the electric scalpel described in Non-Patent Document 1. As a result, the operating force was about 27 N.

[0009] One aspect of the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to reduce the operating force required in a valve that controls the opening of a pipe by deforming the cross-sectional shape of the pipe's through-hole.

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the valve of the present invention comprises a pipe made of a flexible material and having a through hole, an adjustment unit that adjusts the opening of the through hole by applying force to opposing side walls of the pipe, and a closing assistance unit that assists the pipe so that the opening is more likely to become fully closed.

[0011] A surgical assistance instrument according to one aspect of the present invention includes the above-described valve.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the operating force in a valve that controls the opening degree by deforming the cross-sectional shape of a through hole in a pipe.

[0013] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention. (a) is a three-sided view of the valve in a fully open state, and (b) is a side view of the valve in a fully closed state. A schematic diagram explaining the aperture of a valve according to a comparative embodiment of the present invention. A cross-sectional view of a modified example of the valve shown in FIG. 1. A cross-sectional view showing a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a fully closed state (upper view) and a fully open state (lower view). In each of the fully closed and fully open states, the right-hand view is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a section passing through the central axis of the pipe, and the left-hand view is a transverse cross-sectional view of the A-A' section. A longitudinal cross-sectional view (closed state and open state) and a plan view of a first modified example of the valve shown in FIG. 4. A transverse cross-sectional view of a pipe included in the valve shown in FIG. 5. A transverse cross-sectional view of a pipe included in the valve shown in FIG. 5, the pipe having a second adjustment unit. A perspective view of an electric scalpel according to a third embodiment of the present invention. An exploded perspective view of a grip included in the electric scalpel shown in FIG. 8. An exploded perspective view of a valve housed in a grip included in the electric scalpel shown in FIG. 8.

[0014] [Embodiment 1] A valve 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to Figs.

[0015] (Overview of Valve 10) In surgical procedures (hereinafter also referred to as "endoscopic surgery") performed by inserting an endoscope from outside the patient's body into the patient's body through an artificial opening in the patient's body, a surgical auxiliary instrument is used that has a suction function for aspirating excised tissue, blood, etc., or a water supply function for discharging physiological saline or other liquid for irrigating the affected area. In such surgical auxiliary instruments, the suction function or water supply function is controlled by adjusting the aperture of a suction pipe or a water supply pipe. A valve 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided in the suction pipe or water supply pipe of such a surgical auxiliary instrument, and controls the suction function and water supply function of the surgical auxiliary instrument by adjusting the aperture of the suction pipe or the water supply pipe. The valve 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below, taking as an example a case where it is applied to a surgical auxiliary instrument having a suction function or a water supply function. Note that such a surgical auxiliary instrument may have at least one of a suction function and a water supply function. Furthermore, such a surgical auxiliary instrument may further have an electric scalpel function, such as the electric scalpel D described in embodiment 3 below. Specific examples of endoscopes that can be used in combination with such surgical auxiliary instruments include laparoscopes, thoracoscopes, hysteroscopes, ureteroscopes, thyroidoscopes, mammoscopes, and arthroscopes.

[0016] In this embodiment, the valve 10 includes a pipe 11 having a through hole 13. The opening degree of the pipe 11 corresponds to the opening degree of the through hole 13 of the pipe 11 and the opening degree of the valve 10. In this embodiment, the state in which the opening degree of the pipe 11 is the highest is referred to as a fully open state, and the state in which the opening degree of the pipe 11 is the lowest is referred to as a fully closed state.

[0017] (Configuration of the valve 10) The configuration of the valve 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the valve 10.

[0018] Fig. 1(a) is a three-view diagram of the valve 10 in a fully open state, and Fig. 1(b) is a side view of the valve 10 in a fully closed state. In the three-view diagram shown in Fig. 1(a), the diagram located at the upper left is a top view of the valve 10, the diagram located to the right of the top view is a side view of the valve 10, and the diagram located below the top view is a cross-sectional view of the valve 10.

[0019] The valve 10 includes a pipe 11 , a first closing assist section 14 , a second closing assist section 15 , and an adjustment section 19 .

[0020] [Pipe 11] As shown in Fig. 1(a), the pipe 11 is configured with a cylindrical side wall 12. That is, the pipe 11 has a through hole 13 that is laterally surrounded by the side wall 12 (see the cross-sectional view in Fig. 1(a)). Hereinafter, the inner wall and the outer wall of the side wall 12 will be referred to as the inner wall 121 and the outer wall 122, respectively. The through hole 13 penetrates the pipe 11 from one end to the other end. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the transverse section of the pipe 11 having the through hole 13 is annular. Note that, hereinafter, the transverse section refers to a section in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pipe 11. Furthermore, hereinafter, when simply referred to as a cross-sectional shape, it refers to the cross-sectional shape in the transverse section. In this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the through hole 13 is determined by the major axis A that intersects with each other. Ｌ and minor axis A Ｓ Here, the longest line segment among the line segments connecting the opposing inner walls 121 is defined as the major axis A. Ｌ In addition, the shortest line segment among the line segments connecting the opposing inner walls 121 is the long axis A Ｌ The line segment passing through the midpoint of Ｓ Long axis A Ｌ and minor axis A Ｓare perpendicular to each other. In this embodiment, a rounded rectangle is used as the cross-sectional shape of the through hole 13. The rounded rectangle used here includes straight lines only at positions corresponding to the long sides and does not include straight lines at positions corresponding to the short sides. This rounded rectangle is similar to the shape of a track used in track and field events. However, the cross-sectional shape of the through hole 13 is not limited to this and may be, for example, an ellipse or an egg shape. As described above, since the cross-sectional shape of the through hole 13 is a rounded rectangle, it can be said that the side wall 12 is composed of a pair of side walls 12S corresponding to the pair of long sides and a pair of side walls 12L corresponding to the pair of short sides. The pair of side walls 12S has an inner wall 121 and an outer wall 122 that are aligned along the long axis A. Ｌ A pair of side walls parallel to the minor axis A Ｓ The pair of side walls 12L are arranged so that the inner wall 121 and the outer wall 122 are spaced apart from each other along the long axis A. Ｌ a pair of side walls that are not parallel to the major axis A Ｌ are arranged so as to sandwich the

[0021] As shown in the side views of FIGS. 1A and 1B , the pipe 11 receives a force from the adjustment unit 19 (described later) and the cross-sectional shape thereof deforms (collapses), thereby adjusting the opening of the pipe 11, i.e., the opening of the through-hole 13, and controlling the suction function or water supply function of the surgical auxiliary instrument. Therefore, the pipe 11 is made of a flexible material that deforms when subjected to the force from the adjustment unit 19. Flexible materials for the pipe 11 include resin materials. Specific examples of resin materials include vinyl chloride and silicone. The material for the pipe 11 is not limited to resin and can be selected from flexible materials. The hardness and thickness of the side wall 12 of the pipe 11 can be determined as appropriate.

[0022] The pipe 11 provided in the valve 10 according to this embodiment may be a suction pipe or a water supply pipe in a surgical auxiliary instrument having a suction function or a water supply function, or may be a pipe connected to a suction pipe or a water supply pipe in a surgical auxiliary instrument having a suction function or a water supply function.

[0023] 1A and 1B, the adjustment unit 19 applies a force to a pair of opposing side walls 12S of the pipe 11 to deform the cross-sectional shape of the pipe 11 and adjust the opening degree of the through hole 13 of the pipe 11. Here, the side walls 12S are the side walls 12 of the pipe 11 whose outer walls 122 are in contact with the adjustment unit 19. As an example, the adjustment unit 19 adjusts the opening degree of the through hole 13 by adjusting the opening degree of the through hole 13 along the minor axis A of the cross-sectional shape of the through hole 13. Ｓ The adjustment unit 19 applies a force to the pair of side walls 12S along a first direction (the y-axis direction in FIG. 1 ) parallel to the axis of the pipe 11 and sandwiching the pair of side walls 12S between them, thereby deforming the cross-sectional shape of the pipe 11 and adjusting the opening degree of the through hole 13 of the pipe 11. The adjustment unit 19 also applies a force to the pair of side walls 12S along the first direction and separating the pair of side walls 12S from each other, thereby deforming the cross-sectional shape of the pipe 11 and increasing the opening degree of the through hole 13 of the pipe 11.

[0024] In this embodiment, the adjustment unit 19 is configured to include one adjustment unit 191 and the other adjustment unit 192 arranged via the pipe 11. In this case, the one adjustment unit 191 and the other adjustment unit 192 are arranged so as to be in contact with the pipe 11. The one adjustment unit 191 or the other adjustment unit 192 arranged in this manner adjusts the opening degree of the through hole 13 by applying a force to a pair of opposing side walls 12S of the pipe 11.

[0025] 1B, the other adjustment unit 192 applies a force to the pair of side walls 12S that sandwiches the pair of side walls 12S, thereby deforming the cross-sectional shape of the pipe 11 so that the opposing inner walls 121 approach each other, thereby bringing the inner walls 121 of the pipe 11 into close contact with each other, i.e., bringing the opening of the through hole 13 to a fully closed state. The other adjustment unit 192 also applies a force to the pair of side walls 12S that separates the pair of side walls 12S, thereby returning the cross-sectional shape of the pipe 11 to a spindle shape, thereby bringing the distance between the opposing pair of side walls 12S to a maximum, i.e., bringing the opening of the through hole 13 to a fully open state. The other adjustment unit 192 also controls the force to sandwich the pair of side walls 12S or the force to separate the pair of side walls 12S, thereby arbitrarily adjusting the opening of the through hole 13 from a fully open state to a fully closed state.

[0026] In this embodiment, the other adjustment unit 192 applies force to the pair of side walls 12S of the pipe 11 to deform the cross-sectional shape of the pipe 11 and adjust the opening degree of the through hole 13, but one adjustment unit 191 may apply force to the pair of side walls 12S of the pipe 11 to deform the cross-sectional shape of the pipe 11 and adjust the opening degree of the through hole 13. Alternatively, one adjustment unit 191 and the other adjustment unit 192 may apply force to the pair of side walls 12S to adjust the opening degree of the through hole 13.

[0027] Furthermore, the valve 10 according to this embodiment may further include a second adjustment unit, with the above-described adjustment unit 19 being the first adjustment unit. Ｌ The second adjustment unit applies a force to the pair of side walls 12L along a second direction (the x-axis direction in FIG. 1 ) parallel to the first direction and sandwiching the pair of side walls 12L between them. Here, the side walls 12L are the side walls 12 of the pipe 11 whose outer walls 122 do not contact the adjustment unit 19. By applying a force to sandwich the pair of side walls 12L between them, the second adjustment unit can reduce the force required to separate the side walls 12S when increasing the opening degree of the through hole 13. Furthermore, the second adjustment unit can adjust the force required to sandwich the side walls 12S between them when decreasing the opening degree of the through hole 13.

[0028] [Closure assisting part 14] The closure assisting part 14, which is an example of a first closure assisting part, is provided in the pipe 11 and assists in making it easier for the opening of the through-hole 13 to become fully closed. The closure assisting part 14 is provided in a section of the pipe 11 that receives force from the adjustment part 19. In this embodiment, as described above, the closure assisting part 14 is provided in a section of the pipe 11 that receives force from the adjustment part 19. Ｌ and minor axis A Ｓ The through hole 13 is configured to have the following configuration. In the valve 10, this configuration functions as the closure assisting portion 14. In this way, the pipe 11 including the closure assisting portion 14 receives a force from the adjustment portion 19, and the valve 10 adjusts its opening degree.

[0029] [Second closure assisting part 15] The second closure assisting part 15 is provided in the pipe 11, similar to the first closure assisting part 14, and assists the through-hole 13 to be easily brought into a fully closed state. As an example, the second closure assisting part 15 is provided on the pipe 11 so as to be easily brought into a fully closed state by at least one of the inner wall 121 and the outer wall 122 and the long axis A of the through-hole 13. Ｌ and the inclination of at least one of the inner wall 121 and the outer wall 122 is discontinuous. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1( b ), the second closure assisting portion 15 is a section that is provided at the intersection of the major axis A Ｌ The major axis A is located at the intersection with Ｌ The sign of the inclination of the outer wall 122 changes on both sides of the intersection point between the major axis A and the outer wall 122. Ｌ The intersection of the outer wall 122 and the second closing assist section 15 is a point where the inclination of the outer wall 122 is discontinuous. Ｌ It has a spindle shape with a sharp intersection.

[0030] The function of the second closure assisting part 15 will be described below with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the aperture of a valve (comparative embodiment) that is not provided with the second closure assisting part 15. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals are used to designate components that have the same functions as the components described above.

[0031] 2 , a valve 1010 according to the comparative embodiment includes a pipe 1011 and an adjustment unit 19 consisting of one adjustment unit 191 and the other adjustment unit 192. The pipe 1011 is a pipe 11 that does not include a second closing assist unit 15, and the side wall 1012, inner wall 1121, outer wall 1122, and through hole 1013 correspond to the side wall 12, inner wall 121, outer wall 122, and through hole 13 of the pipe 11.

[0032] For valves with pipes that do not have check valves installed within their through-holes, such as pipe 11 and pipe 1011, the fully open state is defined as a state in which no force is applied to the side walls. The valve opening degree when a clamping force is applied to the side walls is defined as the ratio of the cross-sectional area of ​​the through-hole when a clamping force is applied to the cross-sectional area of ​​the through-hole in the fully open state (cross-sectional area in the transverse cross section). Therefore, the fully closed state (0% opening degree) is when the through-hole in the pipe is completely collapsed and its cross-sectional area becomes zero. In addition to the fully open and fully closed states, Figure 2 also illustrates opening degrees of 5% and 1%. Note that the cross-sectional view of the pipe in Figure 2 is a schematic diagram, and the opening degrees of 5% and 1% are approximate values.

[0033] In the valve 1010, the other adjustment unit 192 applies an operating force to the side walls 1012 to pinch the side walls 1012, thereby deforming the cross-sectional shape of the pipe 1011 so that the opposing inner walls 1121 approach each other, and gradually decreasing the opening degree from 100%. At this time, when the inner walls 1121 are in approximate contact with each other (see the opening degree of 1% in FIG. 2), an internal space T is formed on both ends of the through hole 1013. Ｈ In order to bring the valve 1010 from this state to the fully closed state (0% opening), further operating force is required. The operating force required here is large, even though it is only to slightly reduce the opening. This is thought to be due to the continuous structure of the side wall 1012.

[0034] On the other hand, the valve 10 according to this embodiment is provided with the second closing assist portion 15 on the outer wall 122 of the pipe 11. As a result, the outer wall 122 and the long axis A ＬThe side wall 122 is easily bent in the vicinity of the intersection of the minor axis A Ｓ In other words, when the inner walls 121 are in contact with each other, it is difficult for internal spaces to be formed at both ends of the through hole 13. Therefore, it is possible to fully close the valve 10 with less force than in the case of the valve 1010.

[0035] Although the valve 10 according to this embodiment is configured to include the first closure assisting part 14 and the second closure assisting part 15, the second closure assisting part 15 can be omitted. That is, the valve 10 may be configured to include only the first closure assisting part 14. In this case, the first closure assisting part 14 is simply referred to as the closure assisting part. Furthermore, although the valve 10 according to this embodiment is configured to include the first closure assisting part 14 and the second closure assisting part 15, it may also include a third closure assisting part. Like the first closure assisting part 14 and the second closure assisting part 15, the third closure assisting part is provided in the pipe 11 and assists in making it easier for the through-hole 13 to be fully closed. A specific example of the third closure assisting part is a check valve. By providing a check valve in the pipe 11 as the third closure assisting part, the valve 10 can be fully closed with even less operating force than when the valve 10 includes the first closure assisting part 14 and the second closure assisting part 15.

[0036] (Variation of Valve 10) A variation of the valve 10 (hereinafter referred to as "valve 10A") will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the valve 10A in a fully open state. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals will be used to designate components having the same functions as those described for the valve 10.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, the bulb 10A has a through hole 13 extending along the major axis A Ｌ The valve 10A is provided with a pipe 11 in which a second closing assist portion 15 is also provided at the intersection of the outer wall 121 and the pipe 11. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the through-hole 13 of the pipe 11 has a spindle shape, similar to the outer wall 122 in the cross-sectional view of the valve 10. The valve 10A is provided with a pipe 11 in which a second closing assist portion 15 is provided at the intersection of the outer wall 121 and the pipe 11. Ｌ and the inner wall 121, and the major axis A of the through hole 13 Ｌand the outer wall 122, the second closure assist portion 15 is provided at the intersection of the pipe 11 and the outer wall 122. Ｌ The valve 10A can be fully closed with less operating force than the valve 10 having a pipe 11 provided only at the intersection of the outer wall 122 and the outer wall 123.

[0038] [Embodiment 2] A valve 20 according to another embodiment (embodiment 2) of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0039] (Overview of Valve 20) The valve 20 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is a valve equipped with a pipe made of a flexible material, and is a pinch valve type valve that adjusts the opening of the pipe by compressing the through-hole of the pipe using the elastic force generated by an elastic body. The valve 20 is connected to a suction pipe or a water supply pipe in a surgical auxiliary instrument having a suction function or a water supply function as described above, and controls the suction function and water supply function of the surgical auxiliary instrument by adjusting the opening of the pipe equipped with the valve 20. Below, the valve 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described using as an example a case in which it is applied to a surgical auxiliary instrument having a suction function or a water supply function.

[0040] In this embodiment, the valve 20 includes a pipe 21 having a through hole 23. The opening degree of the pipe 21 can also be expressed as the opening degree of the through hole 23 and the opening degree of the valve 20.

[0041] (Configuration of valve 20) The configuration of valve 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of valve 20. In particular, the upper diagram is a cross-sectional view of valve 20 in a fully closed state, and the lower diagram is a cross-sectional view of valve 20 in a fully open state. Furthermore, in each of the fully closed and fully open states, the right diagram is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along a cross section passing through the central axis of the pipe, and the left diagram is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the A-A' cross section.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 4 , the valve 20 includes a pipe 21 , a closing assist portion 24 , a connector 26 , a functional pipe 27 , and an adjustment portion 29 .

[0043] [Pipe 21] The pipe 21, which constitutes the main portion of the valve 20, is cylindrical and has a through-hole 23. For example, the through-hole 23 is a through-hole that connects one end of the pipe 21 to the other. The cross-sectional shape of the pipe 21 having the through-hole 23 is circular, with a hole at the center that is the cross-section of the through-hole 23. However, the cross-sectional shape of the pipe 21 is not limited to circular and can be determined as appropriate. The pipe 21 receives a force from the adjustment unit 29 (described later), and the cross-sectional shape deforms to adjust the opening of the through-hole 23 of the pipe 21, thereby controlling the suction function or water supply function of the surgical auxiliary instrument. Therefore, the material constituting the pipe 21 is preferably flexible enough to deform under the force from the adjustment unit 29. Examples of flexible materials constituting the pipe 21 include resin materials. Specific examples of resin materials include vinyl chloride. The material constituting the pipe 21 is not limited to resin (e.g., vinyl chloride) and can be selected from among flexible materials.

[0044] [Functional Pipe 27] The functional pipe 27 is a pipe with a through hole and is a pipe for performing a predetermined function in the surgical auxiliary instrument. For example, if the surgical auxiliary instrument has a suction function or a water supply function, the functional pipe 27 is a suction pipe or a water supply pipe. If the functional pipe 27 is a suction pipe, one end of the functional pipe 27 is connected to the suction equipment (e.g., wall suction) of the operating room. If the functional pipe 27 is a water supply pipe, it is connected to the water supply equipment of the operating room. Furthermore, the other end of the functional pipe 27 that is not connected to the suction equipment or water supply equipment of the operating room is connected to the pipe 21 via the connector 26.

[0045] [Connector 26] The connector 26 connects the above-mentioned pipe 21 and functional pipe 27. As an example, the connector 26 has a through hole, and the pipe 21 is connected to one end thereof, and the functional pipe 27 is connected to the other end thereof.

[0046] [Closing Assist Unit 24] The closing assist unit 24 is provided in the pipe 21 and assists in closing the through-hole 23. In this embodiment, the closing assist unit 24 is a check valve provided inside the pipe 21 that opens and closes when a force is applied from a predetermined direction. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 , the check valve is composed of a pair of valves. When no force is applied to the side wall 22 of the pipe 21, the pair of valves allows fluid to flow in the forward direction (from right to left in the longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 ) but prevents fluid from flowing in the reverse direction (from left to right in the longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 ). Furthermore, the check valve opens when a force is applied to the side wall 22 so that the contact portions of the pair of valves separate. Therefore, when the valve 10 is used as a switch interposed in a suction pipe, the orientation of the valve 10 is determined so that the suction direction is the reverse direction described above. On the other hand, when the valve 10 is used as a switch to be inserted into a water supply pipe, the direction of the valve 10 is determined so that the water supply direction is the forward direction as described above. In endoscopic surgery, the suction direction and the water supply direction are opposite to each other, so the direction of the valve 10 is also opposite when inserted into a suction pipe and when inserted into a water supply pipe.

[0047] As shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 4, the force for opening the check valve may be a force in a direction along the portion where the pair of valves contact each other (a force in the vertical direction in Fig. 4), which is a force in a direction that pinches the side wall 22. Alternatively, the force may be a force in a direction that intersects with the portion where the pair of valves contact each other (a force in the horizontal direction in Fig. 4), which is a force that separates the portion where the pair of valves contact each other. In this embodiment, the former force is used as the force for opening the check valve.

[0048] When the latter force is used to open the check valve, the adjustment unit 29 described below may be used as the first adjustment unit, and a second adjustment unit may be further provided. The second adjustment unit is configured to apply a force to the side wall 22 in a direction along the portion where the pair of valves contact each other (a force in the vertical direction in FIG. 4 ), that is, a force in a direction that sandwiches the side wall 22. As described below with reference to FIG. 7 , the second adjustment unit is configured to apply a preload to the side wall 22 that makes it easier to open the check valve.

[0049] In the case where the pipe 11 does not have a check valve, as in the case of the first embodiment, the opening degree of the valve 10 can be defined using the ratio of the cross-sectional areas. On the other hand, in the case where the pipe 21 has a check valve, as in the present embodiment, the maximum value of the cross-sectional area of ​​the transverse cross section of the through hole 23 is not self-evident. Therefore, in this embodiment, the opening degree of the valve 20 is not defined, and the valve 20 will be described using a closed state in which the check valve is closed and an open state in which the check valve is open.

[0050] [Adjustment Unit 29] The adjustment unit 29 adjusts the opening degree of the pipe 21 by applying a force to the pipe 21. As an example, when a check valve is provided inside the pipe 21 as the closure assisting unit 24, the adjustment unit 29 adjusts the opening degree of the through-hole 23 by applying a force to the side wall 22 of the pipe 21 in a direction that opens the check valve. The adjustment unit 29 includes one adjustment unit 291, the other adjustment unit 292, a push-down unit 293, and an elastic body 294.

[0051] As shown in Figure 4, the one adjustment unit 291 and the other adjustment unit 292 are arranged to face each other on the pipe 21, with the section in which the closure assist unit 24 is located interposed between them. The other adjustment unit 292 has a gap that exposes the side wall 22 of the pipe 21. The push-down unit 293 is arranged to contact the side wall 22 of the pipe 21 through the gap in the other adjustment unit 292 when the valve 20 is in a fully closed state (see the upper view in Figure 4). An elastic body 294 (e.g., a spring) is provided between the other adjustment unit 292 and the push-down unit 293, and the elastic force generated by the elastic body 294 is used to insert or pull the push-down unit 293 into or out of the gap, thereby deforming the cross-sectional shape of the pipe 21 and opening or closing the check valve, which is the closure assist unit 24.

[0052] (Adjustment of Opening Degree of Through-hole 23) Adjustment of the opening degree of the through-hole 23 will be described with reference to the left side view of FIG.

[0053] As shown in the left diagram of FIG. 4 , the valve 20 includes a check valve as a closure assisting unit 24 inside the pipe 21. The check valve is oriented so that it opens and closes when subjected to a force parallel to the plane of the drawing. As shown in the upper left diagram of FIG. 4 , when no force is applied to the check valve in the valve 20, i.e., when the cross-sectional shape of the pipe 21 does not change (deform), the check valve is closed, and the aperture of the through-hole 23 is fully closed. Also, as shown in the lower left diagram of FIG. 4 , when a force parallel to the plane of the drawing is applied to the push-down portion 293 in the valve 20, i.e., a force that clamps the side walls 22 of the pipe 21 between the push-down portion 293 and one of the adjustment portions 291, the check valve is opened, and the aperture of the through-hole 23 is fully opened. Furthermore, by adjusting the magnitude of the force applied to the push-down portion 293, the degree of opening of the check valve and, therefore, the aperture of the through-hole 23, can be adjusted.

[0054] A typical pinch valve includes a pipe made of a flexible material, and uses an elastic force generated by an elastic body to crush the through-hole of the pipe, thereby achieving a fully closed state of the pipe. To fully close the pipe, an elastic force is required to crush the through-hole of the pipe to the extent that the inner walls of the pipe come into contact with each other. To fully open the pipe from such a fully closed state, a force is required to counteract the elastic force required to fully close the through-hole of the pipe. In other words, when using such a pinch valve as a surgical auxiliary instrument, the surgeon is required to exert an operating force equivalent to the elastic force required to fully close the through-hole of the pipe.

[0055] In contrast, the valve 20 employs a configuration in which a check valve is provided as the closure assisting section 24 inside the pipe 21. The valve 20 uses the elastic force generated by the elastic body 294 to collapse the through-hole of the pipe, thereby opening the check valve and realizing a fully open state of the pipe. Therefore, the elastic force generated by the elastic body 294 only needs to be sufficient to open the check valve, and this elastic force is smaller than the elastic force that collapses the through-hole 23 to the point where the inner walls of the pipe 21 come into contact with each other. Therefore, when the valve 20 is used as a surgical assisting instrument, the operating force required by the surgeon can be reduced compared to when a general pinch valve is used as a surgical assisting instrument.

[0056] (Modification of Valve 20) A modification of the valve 20 (hereinafter referred to as "valve 30") will be described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6. Figs.

[0057] (Overview of Valve 30) Valve 30 is a pinch valve type valve that includes a pipe made of a flexible material and adjusts the opening of the pipe by widening the through hole of the pipe using elastic force generated by an elastic body. That is, while valve 20 uses elastic force to deform the cross-sectional shape of the pipe so as to crush the through hole of the pipe, valve 30 differs in that it adjusts the opening of the pipe by deforming the cross-sectional shape of the pipe so as to widen the through hole of the pipe.

[0058] (Configuration of valve 30) The configuration of the valve 30 will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the valve 30 (closed state and open state), and Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the pipe 31 provided in the valve 30 at the BB' cross-section.

[0059] 5 and 6, the valve 30 includes a pipe 31, a first closure assisting part 34, a second closure assisting part 35, and an adjustment part 39. The second closure assisting part 35 is similar to the second closure assisting part 15 described in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0060] [Pipe 31] The pipe 31 constituting the main part of the valve 30 has a cylindrical shape and has a through hole 33. As an example, the through hole 33 is a through hole that connects one end of the pipe 31 to the other end. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 6 , the cross section of the pipe 31 having the through hole 33 has a cross section that includes a hole that is the cross section of the through hole 33 at the center. Furthermore, in the cross section of the pipe 31, the cross section of the through hole 33 may be elliptical or may be spindle-shaped provided with a second closure assisting portion 35.

[0061] The pipe 31 also has a protrusion 38 on the outer wall 32 for attaching an adjustment unit 39 (described later) to the pipe 31. By attaching the adjustment unit 39 via the protrusion 38, the cross-sectional shape of the pipe 31 changes shape in accordance with the movement of the adjustment unit 39. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the through-hole 33 is changed to expand the internal space of the through-hole 33, thereby adjusting the opening of the pipe 31. Therefore, the material constituting the pipe 31 is preferably a flexible material that can be deformed by the force from the adjustment unit 39. Examples of flexible materials constituting the pipe 31 include resin materials. Specific examples of resin materials include polyvinyl chloride. The material constituting the pipe 31 is not limited to resin (e.g., polyvinyl chloride) and can be appropriately selected from among flexible materials.

[0062] [First closure assisting part 34] The first closure assisting part 34 is provided inside the pipe 31 and assists in making it easier for the through-hole 33 to be fully closed. The valve 30 is provided with a check valve as the first closure assisting part 34. As shown in Fig. 5 , the check valve is composed of two valves and is provided on each of the opposing inner walls of the pipe 31.

[0063] [Adjustment Unit 39] The adjustment unit 39 adjusts the opening degree of the pipe 31 by applying a force to the pipe 31. As an example, the adjustment unit 39 applies a force to the outer walls 32 of the pipe 31 to separate the outer walls 32, thereby deforming the cross-sectional shape of the pipe 31. The adjustment unit 39 includes one adjustment unit 391, the other adjustment unit 392, a push-down portion 393, and an elastic body 394.

[0064] 5 , a gap is provided between one adjustment part 391 and the other adjustment part 392, and the adjustment part 39 is attached to the pipe 31 by fitting the protrusion 38 into the gap. The push-down part 393 is attached to one adjustment part 391 via an elastic body 394. As a result, the adjustment part 39 uses the elastic force generated by the elastic body 394 to push down or release the push-down part 393, thereby applying a force to the outer walls 32 of the pipe 31 to separate the outer walls 32.

[0065] (Adjustment of Opening Degree of Through-hole 33) Adjustment of the opening degree of the through-hole 33 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG.

[0066] As described above, the valve 30 includes a check valve as the closure assisting unit 24 inside the pipe 31. The two valves constituting the check valve are provided on opposing inner walls of the pipe 31 and open and close in response to deformation of the cross-sectional shape of the pipe 31. As an example, when the cross-sectional shape of the pipe 31 is not deformed, i.e., when no force is applied to the pipe 31 from the adjusting unit 39, the two valves of the check valve close to fully close the through-hole 33 (see the upper diagram of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6). Furthermore, when the adjusting unit 39 applies a force to the outer walls 32 of the pipe 31 to separate the outer walls 32, the two valves of the check valve open to increase the opening of the through-hole 33. When the two valves of the check valve are fully open, i.e., when the outer walls 32 are farthest apart, the through-hole 33 is fully open (see the lower diagram of FIG. 5). The opening degree of the through-hole 33 may be arbitrarily adjustable by adjusting the magnitude of the force that the adjustment unit 39 applies to the outer walls 32 to separate the outer walls 32 from each other.

[0067] As described above, similar to valve 20, valve 30 uses the elastic force generated by elastic body 394 to deform the cross-sectional shape of pipe 31 so as to widen the through-hole of the pipe, thereby opening the check valve and realizing a fully open state of pipe 31. Therefore, the elastic force generated by elastic body 394 only needs to be sufficient to open the check valve, and this elastic force is smaller than that of a typical pinch valve. Therefore, when valve 30 is used in a surgical assist instrument, the operating force required by the surgeon can be reduced compared to when a typical pinch valve is used in a surgical assist instrument.

[0068] 7, the valve 30 has the adjustment unit 39 as the first adjustment unit, and adjusts the major axis of the through hole 33 (the major axis A shown in FIG. 1) ＬThe device may further include second adjustment units R1 and R2 that apply a force to the side walls 32 to sandwich the opposing side walls 32 together along a second direction (the x-axis direction in FIG. 7 ) parallel to the y-axis direction (corresponding to the x-axis direction in FIG. 7 ). The second adjustment units R1 and R2 may have any structure as long as they are capable of applying a force to the side walls 32 to sandwich the side walls 32 together along the second direction. For example, the second adjustment units R1 and R2 may be a pair of wall surfaces that face each other, or the second adjustment units R1 and R2 may be a pair of ribs that are respectively provided along the y-axis direction. Furthermore, one of the second adjustment units R1 and R2 may be a wall surface and the other a rib. In this embodiment, a wall surface is used as the second adjustment unit R1, and a rib is used as the second adjustment unit R2.

[0069] In this embodiment, the second adjustment unit R1 is fixed in its position in the x-axis direction, and the second adjustment unit R2 is configured to be adjustable in its position in the x-axis direction. This configuration allows the distance between the second adjustment unit R1 and the second adjustment unit R2 in the x-axis direction to be adjusted. Therefore, the magnitude of the force acting on the sidewalls 32 along the x-axis direction and sandwiching the sidewalls 32 can be adjusted. That is, the second adjustment units R1 and R2 can adjust the preload LP that is applied to the sidewalls 32 in advance. The adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the second adjustment unit R2 in the x-axis direction is not limited. For example, the position of the second adjustment unit R2 in the x-axis direction may be continuously adjustable using a screw, or may be configured to allow selection of one of multiple discrete positions using multiple grooves or pawls spaced apart from each other.

[0070] By using the second adjustment units R1 and R2 to apply a preload LP to the side walls 32 along the x-axis direction and sandwiching the side walls together, it is possible to reduce the operating force required to open the first closure assist unit 34 using the adjustment unit 39. Note that the preload LP can be appropriately set within a range in which the first closure assist unit 34 does not open when no operating force is applied by the adjustment unit 39. The greater the preload LP within this range, the more the operating force required to open the first closure assist unit 34 can be reduced.

[0071] As described above, the valve 30 shown in FIG. 7 uses a fixed-position wall as the second adjustment portion R1 and a rib that moves along the x-axis as the second adjustment portion R2. The position of this movable rib (i.e., the distance between the second adjustment portions R1 and R2) may be configured to be adjustable by the surgeon (user) or may be configured to be adjustable only by the manufacturer of the valve 30 during manufacturing. The former configuration allows the surgeon to customize the operating force required to open the valve 30 depending on the surgeon's finger strength, hand size, preferences, etc. The latter configuration allows the manufacturer to offer multiple valves 30 with different operating forces, allowing the surgeon to select and use a valve 30 with the operating force they prefer.

[0072] [Embodiment 3] An electric scalpel D according to another embodiment (Embodiment 3) of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs.

[0073] (Outline of Electric Scalpel D) An outline of the electric scalpel D according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the electric scalpel D.

[0074] The electric scalpel D according to a third embodiment of the present invention is one aspect of a surgical auxiliary instrument equipped with a suction valve 40a and a water supply valve 40b according to one aspect of the present invention. The electric scalpel D is an electric scalpel used in endoscopic surgical procedures, such as laparoscopic surgery, and is composed of an electrode 1, a probe 2, a connection portion 3, and a main body 4, as shown in FIG. 8 . The electric scalpel D can incise an affected area and perform hemostasis on the incised area by supplying current to the electrode 1 from the main body 4. In laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon adjusts the position of the electrode 1 and controls the current supplied to the electrode 1 by manipulating the grip 41 of the main body 4. The electric scalpel D has suction and water supply functions in addition to its function as an electric scalpel. However, a surgical auxiliary instrument according to one aspect of the present invention may have at least one of the suction and water supply functions. The electric scalpel D shown in FIG. 8 employs a straight grip 41. The straight-type grip 41 refers to a grip in which the axis of the grip 41 held by the surgeon is parallel to the axis of the probe 2 described below. In such a straight-type grip 41, the axis of the grip 41 and the axis of the probe may be configured to be coaxial. However, in the electric scalpel D, the shape of the grip 41 is not limited to a straight type and can be determined as appropriate. An example of a shape of the grip 41 other than the straight type is a pistol type. The pistol-type grip refers to a grip in which the axis of the grip held by the surgeon is not parallel to the axis of the probe 2 (i.e., they intersect).

[0075] (Internal Structure of Grip 41) The internal structure of the grip 41 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the grip 41 provided in the electric scalpel D.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 9, the grip 41 includes a suction valve 40a, a water supply valve 40b, a suction pipe 47a, and a water supply pipe 47b.

[0077] The suction pipe 47a is a suction pipe whose one end is connected to the suction equipment (for example, wall suction) in the operating room, and secures the surgical field during surgery by suctioning blood, tissue, etc. from the affected area.

[0078] The suction valve 40a is a valve provided in the suction pipe 47a, and its function is controlled by adjusting the opening of the suction pipe 47a. Details of the suction valve 40a will be described later with reference to another drawing.

[0079] The water supply pipe 47b is a water supply pipe whose one end is connected to the water supply equipment in the operating room, and discharges saline or the like to cleanse the affected area.

[0080] The water supply valve 40b is a valve provided in the water supply pipe 47b, and its function is controlled by adjusting the opening of the water supply pipe 47b. The details of the water supply valve 40b will also be described later with reference to other drawings.

[0081] The locations of the suction valve 40a, the water supply valve 40b, the suction pipe 47a, and the water supply pipe 47b inside the grip 41 are not particularly limited and can be designed as appropriate. For example, in the grip 41, the locations of the suction valve 40a and the suction pipe 47a and the water supply valve 40b and the water supply pipe 47b may be interchanged.

[0082] (Configuration of suction valve 40a and water supply valve 40b) The configuration of the suction valve 40a and the water supply valve 40b will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the valves housed in the grip 41 of the electric scalpel D.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 10 , the suction valve 40a and the water supply valve 40b have similar configurations. Therefore, the configuration of the suction valve 40a will be described here. Note that components designated by the same reference numerals in the suction valve 40a and the water supply valve 40b indicate the same components or features. However, as described above in the section on the closure assist unit 24, the suction valve 40a and the water supply valve 40b are installed in opposite directions. In FIG. 10 , as can be seen from FIGS. 8 and 9 , the probe 2 is located on the left side. Therefore, the suction direction is from left to right in FIG. 10 , and the water supply direction is from right to left in FIG. 10 . Therefore, the pipe 41a (described later) is arranged in the suction valve 40a so that the direction from left to right is the opposite direction as described above. Furthermore, the pipe 41b (described later) is arranged in the water supply valve 40b so that the direction from right to left is the opposite direction as described above.

[0084] The suction valve 40a includes a pipe 41a, a connector 46a, and an adjustment unit 49a.

[0085] The pipe 41a is a pipe having a through hole, and both ends are connected to the suction pipe 47a. The pipe 41a has projections 48a on each of the opposing outer walls.

[0086] The connectors 46a are provided on both ends of the pipe 41a, respectively, and connect the pipe 41a to the suction pipe 47a.

[0087] The adjustment unit 49a adjusts the opening degree of the pipe 41a by applying a force to the opposing outer walls of the pipe 41a to separate the outer walls. In this embodiment, the adjustment unit 49 includes the other adjustment unit 492a and a push-down unit 493a.

[0088] The other adjustment part 492a is inserted so that one end thereof is hooked onto the protrusion 48a of the pipe 41a, and the other end thereof is fixed so that it is hooked onto a push-down part 493a (described later).

[0089] The depression portion 493a is composed of a button and a lever that are operated by the surgeon. One end of the lever is attached to the button, and the other end of the other adjustment portion 492a is fixed to the end farther from the button so that the other end of the lever is hooked onto it.

[0090] Therefore, when the surgeon presses the button, the end of the lever to which the other end of the other end 291a is attached is raised. Lifting this lever end raises the other adjustment part 492a, which applies a force to the opposing outer walls of the pipe 41a to separate them, thereby increasing the opening of the pipe 41a. Thus, the suction valve 40a controls the suction function of the electric scalpel D by adjusting the opening of the pipe 41a. The water supply valve 40b controls the water supply function of the electric scalpel D by adjusting the opening of the pipe 41b through a similar operation.

[0091] [Additional Notes] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0092] In order to solve the above problems, the valve of the first aspect of the present invention comprises a pipe made of a flexible material and having a through hole, an adjustment unit that adjusts the opening of the through hole by applying force to opposing side walls of the pipe, and a closing assist unit that assists the pipe so that the opening is more likely to become fully closed.

[0093] According to the above configuration, since the adjustment unit includes the closure assist unit, the opening is more likely to be fully closed than when the closure assist unit is omitted. That is, the force required for the adjustment unit to fully close the opening is reduced compared to when the closure assist unit is omitted. Therefore, this valve can reduce the operating force in a valve that controls the opening of a pipe by deforming the cross-sectional shape of the through-hole of the pipe.

[0094] The configuration without a closure assisting part, which is the comparison target of this valve, refers to a configuration in which the cross-sectional shape of the through-hole in the pipe that constitutes the valve is circular and no check valve is provided. In other words, the comparison target of this valve refers to a valve that uses a simple pipe with a through-hole that is circular in cross-sectional shape.

[0095] Furthermore, in a valve according to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the valve according to the first aspect described above, the cross-sectional shape of the through hole in the blocking assistance section has a long axis and a short axis that intersect with each other, and the adjustment section applies a force to the side walls along a first direction parallel to the short axis and that clamps the side walls together, thereby bringing the opening to a fully closed state.

[0096] According to the above configuration, the cross-sectional shape of the closing assist portion has a major axis and a minor axis that intersect with each other. Therefore, compared to when the cross-sectional shape is circular, the adjustment portion can fully close the opening with less force. Therefore, the valve can further reduce the operating force.

[0097] Furthermore, in a valve according to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the valve according to the second aspect described above, a configuration is adopted in which the closure assisting part is a first closure assisting part, and in the cross-sectional shape, a second closure assisting part is provided at the intersection of at least one of the inner wall and outer wall of the pipe and the longitudinal axis, in which the inclination of at least one of the inner wall and outer wall is discontinuous.

[0098] According to the above configuration, when the adjustment unit sets the opening to the fully closed state, the side wall is more likely to bend near the intersection, making it easier for the inner walls to adhere to each other. Therefore, compared to when the second closing assist unit is not provided at the intersection, the adjustment unit can set the opening to the fully closed state with even less force, thereby further reducing the operating force.

[0099] Furthermore, in the valve according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the valve according to the third aspect described above, a configuration is adopted in which a check valve, which is a third closure assisting part, is provided in the through hole.

[0100] According to the above configuration, since the through hole is provided with a check valve as a third closing assisting part, the adjustment part does not need to use a large force to pinch the side walls together to fully close the opening. Therefore, compared to when a check valve is not provided in the pipe, the adjustment part can fully close the opening with even less force, thereby further reducing the operating force.

[0101] Furthermore, in a valve according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the valve according to any one of the second to fourth aspects described above, a configuration is adopted in which the adjustment unit increases the opening by applying a force to the side walls along the first direction and separating the side walls from each other.

[0102] When a conventional pinch valve is applied to a suction pipe, the pipe must be designed to have sufficient strength to maintain the cross-sectional shape of the through-hole of the pipe against negative pressure generated inside the pipe. As a result, the operating force of a pinch valve installed on a suction pipe tends to be heavier than that of a pinch valve installed on a water supply pipe. According to the above configuration, the adjustment unit can apply a force to the side walls along the first direction to separate the side walls. Therefore, even if the through-hole is crushed due to negative pressure, the adjustment unit can be used to forcibly increase the opening of the through-hole. According to this valve, the pipe strength can be reduced compared to conventional valves, thereby reliably reducing the operating force required when applied to a suction pipe.

[0103] Furthermore, in a valve according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the valve according to any one of the second to fifth aspects described above, a configuration is adopted in which the adjustment unit serves as a first adjustment unit and further includes a second adjustment unit that applies a force to the side walls along a second direction parallel to the major axis and that clamps the side walls together.

[0104] According to the above configuration, the aperture of the through hole can be adjusted using not only the first adjustment unit that applies a force along the first direction but also the second adjustment unit that applies a force along the second direction. For example, the aperture of the through hole can be increased by increasing the force with which the second adjustment unit clamps the side walls. Therefore, the second adjustment unit functions as a preload mechanism for adjusting the operating force of the valve. This valve therefore makes it easy to adjust the operating force to the surgeon's preference.

[0105] Furthermore, in the valve according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the valve according to any one of the first to sixth aspects described above, a configuration is adopted in which the through hole is provided with a check valve which is the blocking assistance part.

[0106] According to the above configuration, the through-hole is provided with a check valve as a closing assisting part. Therefore, the adjustment part can fully close the opening with less force than when the pipe is not provided with a closing assisting part. Therefore, the valve can further reduce the operating force.

[0107] Furthermore, in a valve according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the valve according to any one of the second to fourth aspects described above, a configuration is adopted in which the adjustment unit increases the opening by applying a force to the side wall in a direction that opens the check valve.

[0108] According to the above configuration, even if a check valve is provided in the through hole, the valve can be opened according to the user's intention and with a small operating force.

[0109] Furthermore, in the valve according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the valve according to the seventh or eighth aspect described above, a configuration is adopted in which the cross-sectional shape of the pipe in the blocking assist section is circular.

[0110] Because this valve is equipped with a check valve as a closing assist section, it is possible to further reduce the operating force even when using a pipe with a circular cross section. Since most pipes on the market have a circular cross section, using a pipe with a circular cross section increases the degree of freedom in valve design, which in turn reduces the manufacturing costs of the valve.

[0111] A surgical assistance instrument according to a tenth aspect of the present invention includes the valve according to any one of the first to ninth aspects described above.

[0112] The surgical assisting instrument configured in this manner exhibits the same effects as the valve according to any one of the first to ninth aspects of the present invention.

[0113] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrode 2 Probe 3 Connection part 4 Main body 10, 10A, 20, 30, 40a, 40b, 1010 Valve 11, 21, 31, 41a, 41b, 1011 Pipe 12, 22, 32, 1012 Side wall 121, 1121 Inner wall 122, 1122 Outer wall 13, 23, 33, 1013 Through hole 24 Closure assist part 14, 34 First closure assist part 15, 35 Second closure assist part 19, 29, 39, 49, 191, 192, 291, 292, 391, 392, 492a Adjustment part 27 Functional pipe 38, 48a Protrusion 40a Suction valve 40b Water supply valve 41 Grip 47a Suction pipe 47b Water supply pipe 293, 393, 493a Push-down part 294, 394 Elastic body

Claims

1. A valve comprising: a pipe made of a flexible material and having a through hole; an adjustment unit that adjusts the opening of the through hole by applying force to opposing side walls of the pipe; and a closure assist unit provided on the pipe that assists the pipe in reaching a fully closed state more easily than if the closure assist unit was omitted.

2. A valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that in the closure assistance section, the cross-sectional shape of the through hole has a long axis and a short axis that intersect with each other, and the adjustment section brings the opening to a fully closed state by applying a force to the side walls along a first direction parallel to the short axis and squeezing the side walls together.

3. The valve as described in claim 2, characterized in that the closure assist portion is a first closure assist portion, and in the cross-sectional shape, a second closure assist portion is provided at an intersection of at least one of the inner wall and outer wall of the pipe and the longitudinal axis, in which the inclination of at least one of the inner wall and outer wall is discontinuous.

4. The valve according to claim 3, characterized in that the through hole is provided with a check valve which is a third closure auxiliary part.

5. A valve as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the adjustment section increases the opening by exerting a force on the side walls along the first direction that separates the side walls from each other.

6. A valve as described in any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the adjustment unit serves as a first adjustment unit, and further comprises a second adjustment unit that applies a force to the side walls along a second direction parallel to the major axis and that clamps the side walls together.

7. The valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the through hole is provided with a check valve which is the closure assisting portion.

8. The valve according to claim 7, characterized in that the adjustment section increases the opening degree by applying a force to the side wall in a direction that opens the check valve.

9. The valve according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that in the blocking assistance portion, the cross-sectional shape of the pipe is circular.

10. A surgical auxiliary instrument comprising the valve according to claim 2 or 7.

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