Apparatus for manufacturing polymer tube and method for manufacturing polymer tube

Abstract

This polymer tube body manufacturing device (1) comprises: a mandrel collector (13); a head (12) which has a syringe (128) having a nozzle (128b), and which is disposed so that the nozzle (128b) faces a side wall of the mandrel collector (13); and a high-voltage power source (172) which applies a voltage to the nozzle (128b) so that the nozzle (128b) has a higher potential than the mandrel collector (13). Meanwhile, the mandrel collector (13) is moved in the direction of a central axis (J1) while rotating about the central axis (J1) so that a adhesion position on a side wall of the mandrel collector (13) or in a polymer adhering to the side wall of the mandrel collector (13), where a polymer generated from a molten polymer-containing composition discharged from the nozzle (128b) adheres, sequentially changes.

Description

Polymer tube manufacturing apparatus and polymer tube manufacturing method

[0001] The present invention relates to a polymer tube manufacturing apparatus and a polymer tube manufacturing method.

[0002] A method for producing a fluororesin-based tube has been proposed, which includes a step of spinning a fiber-forming material containing a fluororesin, and a step of depositing the fibers obtained in the spinning step on a mandrel collector to form a fluororesin-based tube having a tube wall in which fluororesin fibers are deposited in the form of a nonwoven fabric (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] JP 2023-59840 A

[0004] However, the manufacturing method described in Patent Document 1 is limited to fluororesin-based tubes having a tube wall formed in a nonwoven fabric structure, and it is not possible to manufacture tubes having a wall with a fine mesh structure or a spiral structure.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned reasons, and aims to provide a polymer tube manufacturing apparatus and a polymer tube manufacturing method that can increase the variety of tube wall structures of tubes formed from polymers.

[0006] The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a long mandrel collector; a rotation drive unit that rotates the mandrel collector around a central axis along the longitudinal direction; an axial drive unit that moves the mandrel collector in the direction of the central axis along the longitudinal direction; a head that stores a liquid polymer-containing composition containing at least one type of polymer inside and has a syringe with a nozzle for discharging the polymer-containing composition inside to the outside, the head being arranged so that the nozzle faces a side wall of the mandrel collector; and a voltage application unit that applies a voltage to the nozzle so that the nozzle has a higher potential than the mandrel collector. and a control unit that controls the rotational drive unit and the axial drive unit to rotate the mandrel collector around the central axis while moving it in the central axis direction so that the adhesion position of the polymer produced from the polymer-containing composition ejected from the nozzle on the side wall of the mandrel collector or on the polymer adhered to the side wall of the mandrel collector sequentially changes in accordance with the structure of the tube wall of the polymer tube to be produced.

[0007] Another aspect of the method for manufacturing a polymer tube according to the present invention is to store a liquid polymer-containing composition containing at least one type of polymer inside, and place a syringe having a nozzle for ejecting the molten polymer-containing composition to the outside so that the nozzle of the syringe faces the side wall of a long mandrel collector. With a voltage applied to the nozzle so that the nozzle has a higher potential than the mandrel collector, the mandrel collector is rotated around a central axis along the longitudinal direction of the mandrel collector and moved in the direction of the central axis so that the adhesion position of the polymer produced from the liquid polymer-containing composition ejected from the nozzle on the side wall of the mandrel collector or the polymer adhered to the side wall of the mandrel collector changes sequentially along the structure of the tube wall of the polymer tube to be manufactured.

[0008] The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus and method according to the present invention enable precise shaping of the microstructure of the tube wall of a polymer tube, thereby increasing the variety of tube wall structures of tubes made from polymers.

[0009] 9 is a schematic diagram of a polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a head according to the first embodiment; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment; FIG. 12 is a photograph showing a state in which a polymer is being discharged near the tip of the head according to the first embodiment; FIG. 13 is a view showing a state in which a polymer is being attached to a mandrel collector in the polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment; FIG. 14 is a view showing a state in which a polymer formed from a molten polymer-containing composition discharged from the head is being overlaid on the polymer attached to the mandrel collector in the polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment; FIG. 15 is a photograph showing a polymer tube according to Example 1; FIG. 16 is a photograph showing a polymer tube according to Example 2; FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a head according to the second embodiment; FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a portion of the polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment; FIG. 19 is a photograph taken from the +X direction of FIG. 10 showing a state in which a polymer is being discharged from the tip of the head according to the second embodiment. 10 is a photograph taken from the -Y direction of FIG. 9 showing a state in which a polymer is being discharged from the tip of a head according to embodiment 2. FIG. 11 is a photograph showing a polymer tube according to example 3. FIG. 12 is a photograph showing a polymer tube according to example 4. FIG. 13 is a photograph showing a polymer tube according to example 5. FIG. 14 is a photograph showing a polymer tube according to example 6. FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a method for manufacturing a polymer tube according to example 7. FIG. 16 is a photograph showing a polymer tube according to example 7. FIG. 17 is a photograph showing a polymer tube according to example 7. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a method for manufacturing a polymer tube according to example 8. FIG. 19 is a photograph showing a polymer tube according to example 8. FIG. 19 is a photograph showing a polymer tube according to example 8. FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a method for manufacturing a polymer tube according to example 9. FIG. 19 is a photograph showing a polymer tube according to example 9. FIG. 19 is a photograph showing a polymer tube according to example 9. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to a modified example. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to a modified example.

[0010] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, a polymer tube manufacturing apparatus and a polymer tube manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to this embodiment includes a long mandrel collector, a rotation drive unit that rotates the mandrel collector about a central axis along the longitudinal direction, an axial drive unit that moves the mandrel collector in the central axis direction along the longitudinal direction, a syringe that stores a polymer-containing composition containing at least one type of polymer inside and has a nozzle for discharging the molten polymer-containing composition inside to the outside, a heater that heats the syringe from the outside to melt the polymer-containing composition, and a head that has the nozzle facing the side wall of the mandrel collector, a voltage application unit that applies a voltage to the nozzle of the syringe so that the nozzle has a higher potential than the mandrel collector, a heating unit that heats the mandrel collector, and a control unit. The control unit controls the rotational drive unit and the axial drive unit to rotate the mandrel collector about its central axis while moving it in the central axial direction so that the adhesion position of the polymer produced from the molten polymer-containing composition discharged from the discharge holes on the side wall of the mandrel collector or on the polymer adhered to the side wall of the mandrel collector changes sequentially along the structure of the tube wall of the polymer tube to be manufactured. The control unit also controls the heating unit to heat the mandrel collector so that the temperature of the adhesion position is equal to or lower than a temperature 100°C higher than the glass transition temperature of the polymer and equal to or higher than the glass transition temperature of the polymer.

[0011] 1 , a polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes a long, cylindrical mandrel collector 13, a rotational drive unit 14 that rotates the mandrel collector 13 about a central axis along the longitudinal direction, an axial drive unit 16 that moves the mandrel collector 13 in the central axial direction along the longitudinal direction, a head 12, and a heating unit 18. The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 1 also includes a support member 113 that supports the mandrel collector 13, and a base 111. The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes a high-voltage power supply 172 that applies a voltage to a conductive tablet 122 (described below) of the head 12 via a power line L1, and a heater drive unit 171 that supplies current to a heater coil 123 (described below) of the head 12, causing the heater coil 123 to generate heat.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2 , the head 12 includes a head main body 121, a conductive tablet 122, a heater coil 123, an insulating member 124, a terminal 125, a cover 127, and a syringe 128. The head main body 121 is cylindrical with a bottom, and an opening 1211a having a circular shape in a plan view is formed through the bottom wall 1211. A slit 1212a is formed at the end of the side wall 1212 of the head main body 121 on the +Z direction side, extending from the edge of the side wall 1212 on the +Z direction side in the −Z direction to allow a portion of the heater coil 123 to exit the head main body 121. Furthermore, a screw hole 1212b is formed in the side wall 1212 of the head main body 121 on the −Z direction side of the slit 1212a, into which a screw 126 for fixing the terminal 125 to the side wall 1212 is threadedly engaged. Furthermore, a communication hole 1211 b is formed at the end of the side wall 1212 of the head body 121 on the −Z direction side, which communicates from the outer wall of the head body 121 to the inner wall of the opening 1211 a of the bottom wall 1211 .

[0013] The syringe 128 comprises a syringe body 128a that stores a polymer-containing composition containing at least one type of polymer in an internal storage section, and a hollow needle-shaped nozzle 128b that is attached to the tip of the syringe body 128a and that ejects the molten polymer-containing composition stored inside the syringe body 128a to the outside.

[0014] The conductive tablet 122 is formed from metal into a cylindrical shape with a bottom. The syringe 128 is fitted inside, and a through-hole 1222a is formed through the bottom wall 1222 and abuts against the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 inserted inside. An outer flange 1223 is formed between the bottom wall 1222 and the side wall 1221 of the conductive tablet 122, extending outward in the radial direction of the conductive tablet 122. The side wall 1221, bottom wall 1222, and outer flange 1223 of the conductive tablet 122 are integrally formed from metal. The conductive tablet 122 is disposed inside the head main body 121 with the bottom wall 1222 fitted inside the opening 1211a of the head main body 121 and the outer flange 1223 engaged with the bottom wall 1211 of the head main body 121 in the +Z direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the syringe 128 is supported by the conductive tablet 122 and is disposed so that the tip of the nozzle 128 b of the syringe 128 faces the side wall of the mandrel collector 13 .

[0015] The insulating member 124 is formed into a long cylindrical shape from an insulating material with good thermal conductivity, such as ceramic, and as shown in Fig. 2, its inner diameter is longer than the outer diameter of the side wall 1221 of the conductive tablet 122 and its outer diameter is shorter than the outer diameter of the outer flange 1223 of the conductive tablet 122. The insulating member 124 is disposed inside the head main body 121 with its tip on the -Z direction side abutting the +Z direction side of the outer flange 1223 and with the side wall 1221 of the conductive tablet 122 disposed inside. Here, a gap is formed between the outer wall of the insulating member 124 and the inner wall of the head main body 121. The heater coil 123 is intended to melt the polymer-containing composition stored inside the syringe body 128a by heating the syringe 128 from the outside via the insulating member 124. The heater coil 123 is wound around the outer wall of the insulating member 124 and disposed in a gap formed between the outer wall of the insulating member 124 and the inner wall of the head body 121. The end of the heater coil 123 on the +Z direction side is inserted into a slit 1212a of the head body 121 and connected to the heater driver 171 via a power line L2. The heater coil 123 generates heat when a current is supplied from the heater driver 171 via the power line L2. The heater driver 171 supplies a current to the heater coil 123 so that the temperature of the heater coil 123 is at least higher than the melting point of the polymer-containing composition stored inside the syringe body 128a. The cover 127 is disposed so as to close the end of the head main body 121 on the +Z direction side.

[0016] The terminal 125 has a washer portion 1251 into which the shaft portion of the screw 126 is inserted, and a linear portion 1252 which is linear and formed integrally with the washer portion 1251, has a part of its tip end inserted into the communication hole 1211b of the head main body 121, and has a tip end which abuts against the end portion on the −Z direction side of the conductive tablet 122 fitted inside the opening 1211a of the head main body 121. The washer portion 1251 is electrically connected to the high-voltage power supply 172 via the power line L1.

[0017] The high-voltage power supply 172 is a voltage application unit that applies a voltage to the conductive tablet 122 so that the conductive tablet 122 has a higher potential than the mandrel collector 13. The nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 abuts against the inside of the through-hole 1222a of the conductive tablet 122, and the conductive tablet 122 and the nozzle 128b are electrically connected. As a result, the high-voltage power supply 172 applies a voltage to the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 via the conductive tablet 122.

[0018] The mandrel collector 13 is made of metal, ceramic, glass, or the like, and as shown in FIG. 1 , its end on the +Y direction side is connected to the shaft 141 of the rotation drive unit 14 via a coupling member 19, and its end on the −Y direction side is connected to a long, cylindrical support shaft 20 via the coupling member 19. The coupling member 19 has a structure in which the shaft 141 or the support shaft 20 is connected to a main body 191 made of metal, and holds the end of the mandrel collector 13 via an insulating member 192. The support shaft 20 is supported by the support member 15 so as to be rotatable about a central axis J1 along the longitudinal direction of the support shaft 20. As a result, the mandrel collector 13 is electrically insulated from the shaft 141 of the rotation drive unit 14 via the insulating member 192, and is also electrically insulated from the support shaft 20 via the insulating member 192.

[0019] The rotational drive unit 14 has a motor that rotates the shaft 141, and rotates the mandrel collector 13 about the central axis J1 via a coupling member 19, as shown by arrow AR1. The axial drive unit 16 has a support 162 that supports the rotational drive unit 14, and a linear actuator 161 that drives the support 162 in a direction along the central axis J1, as shown by arrow AR2. The axial drive unit 16 drives the rotational drive unit 14, which is supported by the support 162, in the direction of the central axis J1, using the linear actuator 161. The rotational drive unit 14 and the axial drive unit 16 each operate based on a control signal input from the control unit 21.

[0020] The heating unit 18 includes a heater module 181 and a heater driver 182 that drives the heater module 181. The heater module 181 is a so-called rubber heater, and includes a sheet-like insulating member made of electrically insulating rubber, elastomer, or the like, and a heating element embedded within the insulating member. Here, the heating element is, for example, a conductor pattern embedded within the insulating member. The heater driver 182 drives the heater module 181 by supplying current to the heating element of the heater module 181.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3 , the base 111 has a rectangular plate shape, and the heater module 181 is placed on the +Z direction side. The support member 113 is disposed on the +Z direction side of the heater module 181. This electrically insulates the mandrel collector 13 from the base 111 via the heater module 181. The support member 113 has a rectangular plate-shaped main body 1131 and ribs 1132 that are U-shaped when viewed from the Z axis direction and are formed integrally with the main body 1131 along the periphery along the three sides of the main body 1131 on the +Z direction side. Grooves 1132a into which a portion of the mandrel collector 13 is fitted are formed at both ends of the rib 1132 in the Y axis direction. The support member 113 supports the mandrel collector 13 by abutting vertically below the portions of the mandrel collector 13 that are fitted into the grooves 1132a on both sides of the portion facing the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128. Here, the heating unit 18 heats the mandrel collector 13 by heating the support member 113 with the heater module 181 and transferring the heat to the mandrel collector 13 via the portion of the support member 113 that abuts against the mandrel collector 13. More specifically, the heating unit 18 heats the mandrel collector 13 by transferring heat radiated from a heating element embedded inside the insulating member of the heater module 181 to the mandrel collector 13 via the insulating member and the support member 113 and the portion of the support member 113 that abuts against the mandrel collector 13.

[0022] The control unit 21 has, for example, a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), and controls the rotational drive unit 14 and the axial drive unit 16 to rotate the mandrel collector 13 about the central axis J1 while moving it in the direction of the central axis J1 so that the adhesion position of the polymer produced from the molten polymer-containing composition discharged from the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 on the side wall of the mandrel collector 13 or on the polymer adhered to the side wall of the mandrel collector 13 changes sequentially along the structure of the tube wall of the polymer tube to be produced. The control unit 21 also controls the heating unit 18 to heat the mandrel collector 13 so that the temperature of the polymer adhesion position is equal to or lower than a temperature 100° C. higher than the glass transition temperature of the polymer and equal to or higher than the glass transition temperature of the polymer.

[0023] Next, a method for manufacturing a polymer tube using the polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, a polymer solution is prepared by dissolving at least one polymer in an organic solvent. The polymer solution is maintained at room temperature or above room temperature to remove most of the organic solvent. The resulting polymer-containing composition, obtained by removing most of the organic solvent, is then heated to the crystallization temperature of the polymer or above its crystallization temperature to crystallize it, and then dried to produce a solid polymer-containing composition. Examples of polymers include polyglycolic acid (PGA), copolymers of glycolic acid and L-lactic acid (PGLA), copolymers of glycolic acid and DL-lactic acid (PGDLLA), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), poly-D-lactic acid (PDLA), poly-DL-lactic acid (PDLLA), copolymers of poly-L-lactic acid and ε-caprolactone (PLCL), and poly-p-dioxanone (PDO). Polymers with relatively high melting points are particularly preferred.

[0024] Next, the prepared polymer-containing composition is poured into the syringe 128 of the head 12, and then the polymer-containing composition is heated and melted by passing a current from the heater driving unit 171 to the heater coil 123. As a result, the molten polymer-containing composition is stored inside the syringe 128.

[0025] Next, the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 is placed so as to face the side wall of the mandrel collector 13, and a voltage is applied to the conductive tablet 122 and the nozzle 128b so that the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 has a higher potential than the mandrel collector 13. At this time, an electric field is generated near the surface of the mandrel collector 13, as shown by the dashed arrow in Figure 4. Then, the molten polymer-containing composition JE1 is discharged from the head 12 toward the surface of the mandrel collector 13.

[0026] Then, the mandrel collector 13 is moved in a direction along the central axis J1 while rotating about the central axis J1 so that the position where the polymer produced from the molten polymer-containing composition discharged from the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 adheres to the side wall of the mandrel collector 13 or the polymer adhered to the side wall of the mandrel collector 13 changes sequentially along the structure of the tube wall of the polymer tube to be produced. At this time, the heating unit 18 heats the mandrel collector 13 so that the temperature at the aforementioned polymer adhesion position is equal to or lower than a temperature 100° C. higher than the glass transition temperature of the polymer and equal to or higher than the glass transition temperature of the polymer.

[0027] Here, the mandrel collector 13 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow AR21 while being rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow AR11 in FIG. 5A , for example. As a result, the polymer Po1 produced from the molten polymer-containing composition discharged from the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 of the head 12 is spirally wound around the side wall of the mandrel collector 13. Thereafter, the mandrel collector 13 is moved in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow AR21 in FIG. 5A , as indicated by the arrow AR22 in FIG. 5B , while being rotated in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow AR11 in FIG. 5A , for example, as indicated by the arrow AR12 in FIG. 5B . As a result, the polymer Po1 produced from the molten polymer-containing composition discharged from the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 of the head 12 adheres to the polymer Po1 already spirally wound around the side wall of the mandrel collector 13. As a result, a polymer tube having a tube wall formed from a spirally extending polymer is formed on the side wall of the mandrel collector 13. According to the polymer tube manufacturing method of this embodiment, by adjusting the rotation direction of the mandrel collector 13 and the movement direction along the central axis J1, it is also possible to produce a polymer tube having a mesh-like tube wall.

[0028] Thereafter, the polymer tube formed on the side wall of the mandrel collector 13 is removed from the mandrel collector 13 .

[0029] 6A and 6B show polymer tubes according to Examples 1 and 2, which were fabricated using the polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 2001 according to the present embodiment. In Examples 1 and 2, polycaprolactone (PCL) was used as the polymer. The polymer tube according to Example 1 has a tube wall formed from a polymer extending in a spiral shape. The polymer tube according to Example 2 has a mesh-like tube wall.

[0030] As described above, according to the polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 1 and polymer tube manufacturing method of the present embodiment, the mandrel collector 13 is heated so that the temperature at the side wall of the mandrel collector 13 or at the polymer attachment position where the polymer, produced from the molten polymer-containing composition discharged from the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128, is attached is equal to or lower than a temperature 100° C. higher than the glass transition temperature of the polymer, but higher than the glass transition temperature of the polymer. This prevents the polymer from becoming glassy or experiencing a significantly reduced viscosity at the polymer attachment position, enabling precise shaping of the microstructure of the polymer tube wall. This increases the variety of tube wall structures available for polymer-formed tubes.

[0031] Second Embodiment A polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the structure of the head and the support member that supports the mandrel collector.

[0032] As shown in Figure 7, a polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 2001 according to this embodiment includes a mandrel collector 13, a rotational drive unit 14 that rotates the mandrel collector 13 about a central axis along the longitudinal direction, an axial drive unit 16 that moves the mandrel collector 13 in the central axial direction along the longitudinal direction, a head 2012, and a heating unit 18. The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 1 also includes a support member 2113 that supports the mandrel collector 13, and a base 111. The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes a high-voltage power supply 172 that applies a voltage to a conductive core 2130 (described below) of the head 2012 via a power line L1, and a heater drive unit 171 that supplies current to a heater coil 2123 (described below) of the head 2012 to cause the heater coil 2123 to generate heat. In Figure 7, components similar to those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those in Figure 1.

[0033] 8A and 8B, the head 2012 has a head main body 2121, a conductive core 2130, a heater coil 2123, an insulating member 2124, a terminal unit 2125, a lid 2127, and a syringe 128. In Figures 8A and 8B, the same components as those in embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in Figure 2. The head main body 2121 has a long cylindrical side wall 21212 and a cone portion 21211 that closes the end of the side wall 21212 in the -Z direction and that tapers in diameter in the -Z direction. The cone portion 21211 is provided with a hole 21211a that is circular in plan view and extends from its end on the -Z direction in the -Z axis direction, and a through-hole 21211b that has an inner diameter smaller than that of the hole 21211a and penetrates from the -Z direction end of the hole 21211a to the -Z direction end of the cone portion 21211. Furthermore, a slit 21212a is formed at the end on the +Z direction side of the side wall 21212 of the head main body 2121. The slit 21212a extends from the +Z direction edge of the side wall 21212 in the -Z direction and allows a portion of the heater coil 2123 to exit the head main body 2121. The terminal unit 2125 includes a terminal 21251 that is embedded in the cone portion 21211 and has a tip that abuts the conductive core 2130, and a terminal cover 21252 that is attached to the cone portion 21211 to cover the terminal 21251. The terminal 21251 is electrically connected to the high voltage power supply 172 via a power supply line L1.

[0034] The conductive core 2130 is formed from metal into a cylindrical shape with a bottom, into which the syringe 128 is fitted, and a through-hole 21302a is formed that penetrates the bottom wall 21302 and abuts against the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 inserted inside. The side wall 21301 and bottom wall 21302 of the conductive core 2130 are formed as a continuous, integrated piece from metal. The conductive octopus core 2130 is disposed inside the head main body 2121 with the bottom wall 21302 fitted into the hole 21211a and the through-hole 21211b of the head main body 2121. As shown in FIG. 7 , with the syringe 128 supported by the conductive core 2130, the tip of the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 is positioned so as to face the side wall of the mandrel collector 13.

[0035] The insulating member 2124 is formed into a long cylindrical shape from an insulating material with good thermal conductivity, such as ceramic, and as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B , its inner diameter is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the side wall 21301 of the conductive core 2130. The insulating member 2124 is disposed inside the head main body 2121 with its tip end on the −Z direction side abutting the +Z direction side of the cone portion 21211 of the head main body 2121. A gap is formed between the outer wall of the insulating member 2124 and the inner wall of the head main body 2121. The heater coil 2123 is wound around the outer wall of the insulating member 2124 and disposed in the gap formed between the outer wall of the insulating member 2124 and the inner wall of the head main body 2121. The end of the heater coil 2123 on the +Z direction side is inserted into a slit 21212a of the head main body 2121 and connected to the heater drive unit 171 via a power line L2. The cover 2127 is disposed so as to close the end of the head main body 2121 on the +Z direction side.

[0036] 9 , the base 111 has a rectangular plate shape, and the heater module 181 is placed on the +Z direction side. The support member 2113 is disposed on the +Z direction side of the heater module 181. This electrically insulates the mandrel collector 13 from the base 111 via the heater module 181. The support member 2113 has a rectangular plate-shaped main body 21131 and three ribs 21132 formed integrally with the main body 21131 at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction on the +Z direction side of the main body 21131. Grooves 21132a into which a portion of the mandrel collector 13 is fitted are formed at both ends of the ribs 21132 in the Y-axis direction. The support member 2113 supports the mandrel collector 13 in a state of contacting from vertically below the portions of the mandrel collector 13 that are fitted into the grooves 21132a on both sides of the portion facing the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128. Here, the heating unit 18 heats the support member 2113 with the heater module 181, and transfers the heat to the mandrel collector 13 via the portions of the support member 2113 that are in contact with the mandrel collector 13, thereby heating the mandrel collector 13.

[0037] Next, a method for manufacturing a polymer tube using the polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 2001 according to this embodiment will be described. First, a polymer solution is prepared by dissolving at least one polymer in an organic solvent. The polymer solution is maintained at room temperature or above room temperature to remove most of the organic solvent. The polymer-containing composition obtained after removing most of the organic solvent is then heated to the crystallization temperature of the polymer or above the crystallization temperature to crystallize it and then dried, thereby preparing a solid polymer-containing composition. The prepared polymer-containing composition is then poured into the syringe 128 of the head 12, and the heater driver 171 applies current to the heater coil 123 to heat and melt the polymer-containing composition. The nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 is then positioned facing the sidewall of the mandrel collector 13, and a voltage is applied to the conductive tablet 122 and the nozzle 128b so that the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 has a higher potential than the mandrel collector 13. 10A and 10B, the molten polymer-containing composition JE1 is discharged from the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 toward the surface of the mandrel collector 13. Here, Fig. 10A is a photograph taken from the +X direction of Fig. 9, and Fig. 10B is a photograph taken from the -Y direction of Fig. 9.

[0038] Then, the mandrel collector 13 is rotated about the central axis J2001 and moved in a direction along the central axis J2001 so that the position at which the polymer produced from the molten polymer-containing composition discharged from the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 adheres to the side wall of the mandrel collector 13, or to the polymer adhered to the side wall of the mandrel collector 13, sequentially changes along the structure of the tube wall of the polymer tube to be produced. In this way, a polymer tube having a tube wall made of polymer is formed on the side wall of the mandrel collector 13. The polymer tube formed on the side wall of the mandrel collector 13 is then removed from the mandrel collector 13.

[0039] 11A to 11D show polymer pipes according to Examples 3 to 6, which were fabricated using the polymer pipe manufacturing apparatus 2001 according to the present embodiment. In Examples 3 to 6, polycaprolactone (PCL) was used as the polymer.

[0040] Furthermore, using the polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 2001 according to this embodiment, a polymer tube according to Example 7 was fabricated by rotating the mandrel collector 13 and moving it in the direction of the central axis J2001 so that the tip of the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 traced a path, for example, as shown in FIG. 12A, relative to the side wall of the mandrel collector 13. In Example 7, a copolymer of glycolic acid and L-lactic acid (PGLA) was used as the polymer. The polymer tube according to Example 7 is shown in FIGS. 12B and 12C.

[0041] Furthermore, using the polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 2001 according to the present embodiment, a polymer tube according to Example 8 was fabricated by rotating the mandrel collector 13 and moving it toward the central axis J2001 so that the tip of the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 traced a path relative to the sidewall of the mandrel collector 13, such as that shown in FIG. 13A. In Example 7, a copolymer of glycolic acid and L-lactic acid (PGLA) was used as the polymer. The polymer tube according to Example 7 is shown in FIGS. 13B and 13C.

[0042] Furthermore, using the polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 2001 according to this embodiment, a polymer tube according to Example 8 was fabricated by rotating the mandrel collector 13 and moving it toward the central axis J2001 so that the tip of the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 traced a path, for example, as shown in FIG. 14A, relative to the side wall of the mandrel collector 13. In Example 7, a copolymer of glycolic acid and L-lactic acid (PGLA) was used as the polymer. The polymer tube according to Example 7 is shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C.

[0043] As described above, the polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 2001 and the polymer tube manufacturing method according to this embodiment also enable precise shaping of the microstructure of the tube wall of a polymer tube, similar to Embodiment 1. Therefore, it is possible to increase the variety of tube wall structures of tubes formed from polymers.

[0044] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments. For example, the support member may have a rectangular plate-shaped main body 1131 and an annular rib that is square-shaped when viewed from the Z-axis direction and is formed integrally with the main body 1131 so as to cover the entire periphery of the main body 1131 on the +Z direction side. Furthermore, the support member may have two ribs that protrude toward the +Z direction at each of both longitudinal ends of the main body 1131 and rotatably support the mandrel collector 13 at their tips.

[0045] In the embodiment, for example, the mandrel collector 13 may have a structure in which a flow path through which a liquid flows is formed inside. In this case, a liquid supply unit (not shown) may be provided to supply hot water or oil to the flow path, the temperature of which is adjusted to be equal to or lower than the glass transition temperature of the polymer by 100° C. or more, but equal to or higher than the glass transition temperature of the polymer.

[0046] In the second embodiment, for example, as in the polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 3001 shown in Fig. 15, a chamber 3030 may be provided that is provided to entirely cover the head 2012 and the mandrel collector 13. The chamber 3030 may also be provided with a temperature regulator (not shown) that maintains the temperature around at least the mandrel collector 13 within the chamber 3030 at a temperature between room temperature (25°C) and 200°C. Alternatively, in the second embodiment, a cabinet (not shown) that covers only the periphery of the mandrel collector 13 and on the outside of which the head 2012 is disposed may also be provided.

[0047] In each embodiment, an example has been described in which a heating unit 18 that heats the mandrel collector 13 is provided. However, this is not limiting, and a cooling mechanism 4018 that cools the mandrel collector 13 may be provided, as in the polymer tube manufacturing apparatus 4001 shown in FIG. 16 . Here, the cooling mechanism 4018 includes a cooling module 4181 having a Peltier element and a heat transfer member formed of a metal sheet to which the Peltier element is fixed, and a current source 4182 that supplies current to the Peltier element of the cooling module 4181. In addition, a sheet-like insulating member made of electrically insulating rubber, elastomer, or the like is interposed between the heat sink and the support member 2113.

[0048] In this case, the control unit controls the rotational drive unit 14 and the axial drive unit 16 to rotate the mandrel collector 13 about the central axis J2001 and move it in the direction of the central axis J2001 so that the adhesion position of the polymer produced from the molten polymer-containing composition discharged from the nozzle 128b of the syringe 128 on the side wall of the mandrel collector 13 or on the polymer adhering to the side wall of the mandrel collector 13 changes sequentially along the structure of the tube wall of the polymer tube to be produced. In addition, the control unit may control the cooling mechanism 4018 so that the mandrel collector 13 is cooled so that the temperature at the polymer adhesion position becomes equal to or lower than a preset reference temperature.

[0049] The polymer-containing composition according to this modification may use a polymer containing natural materials, such as collagen, cellulose, fibroin, etc. In this case, the reference temperature may be set to, for example, a temperature lower than 25°C and equal to or higher than -30°C.

[0050] This configuration allows for the fabrication of polymeric tubes having walls formed from natural materials.

[0051] In each embodiment, an example has been described in which the head 12, 2012 has the heater coil 123, 2123 for melting the polymer-containing composition stored inside the syringe body 128a by heating the syringe 128 from the outside of the syringe 128 via the insulating member 124. However, if a polymer-containing composition that is liquid at room temperature (25°C) is used as the polymer-containing composition stored inside the syringe body 128a, the heater coil 123, 2123 may not be provided. In this case, examples of polymers contained in the polymer-containing composition include natural materials that are liquid at room temperature and natural materials dissolved in inorganic solvents such as water or organic solvents such as alcohol, i.e., photocurable resins containing plant-derived components, resins derived from soybean oil, natural resins containing cellulose nanofibers, polyamides such as collagen, gelatin, and fibroin, polysaccharides such as cellulose, chitosan, and agarose, polyterpenes such as polyisoprene, phenolic aromatic polymers such as lignin, and polyesters such as polyhydroxyalkanoic acid, shellac, and suberin.

[0052] The present invention allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the present invention and do not limit the scope of the present invention. That is, the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of the invention equivalent thereto are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

[0053] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-055431, filed on March 29, 2024. The entire specification, claims and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-055431 are incorporated herein by reference.

[0054] The present invention is suitable for producing a stent having a fine tube wall structure.

[0055] 1, 2001, 3001: polymer tube manufacturing apparatus, 12: head, 13: mandrel collector, 14: rotation drive unit, 15, 113, 2113: support member, 16: axial drive unit, 18: heating unit, 19: coupling member, 20: support shaft, 21: control unit, 111: base, 121: head body, 122: conductive tablet, 123, 2123: heater coil, 124, 192: insulating member, 125: terminal, 126: screw, 127, 2127: cover body, 128: syringe, 128a: syringe body, 128b: nozzle, 141: shaft, 161: linear actuator, 1 62: Support, 171, 182: Heater driving unit, 172: High voltage power supply, 181: Heater module, 191, 1131: Main body, 1132: Rib, 1132a: Groove, 1211, 1222: Bottom wall, 1211a: Opening, 1211b: Communication hole, 1212, 1221: Side wall, 1212a: Slit, 1212b: Screw hole, 1212c: Insertion hole, 1221a: Storage portion, 1222a: Discharge hole, 1223: Outer flange, 1251: Washer portion, 1252: Line portion, 2130: Conductive core, J1, J2001: Central shaft, JE1: Polymer-containing composition, L1, L2: Power line, Po1: Polymer

Claims

1. A mandrel collector comprising: a long mandrel collector; a rotational drive unit that rotates the mandrel collector around a central axis along the longitudinal direction; an axial drive unit that moves the mandrel collector in the direction of the central axis along the longitudinal direction; a head that stores a liquid polymer-containing composition containing at least one type of polymer inside and has a syringe with a nozzle for discharging the polymer-containing composition inside to the outside, the head being arranged so that the nozzle faces a side wall of the mandrel collector; a voltage application unit that applies a voltage to the nozzle so that the nozzle has a higher potential than the mandrel collector; and a control unit that controls the rotational drive unit and the axial drive unit to move the mandrel collector in the direction of the central axis while rotating around the central axis so that the adhesion position of the polymer produced from the polymer-containing composition discharged from the nozzle on the side wall of the mandrel collector or on the polymer adhered to the side wall of the mandrel collector sequentially changes in accordance with the structure of the tube wall of a polymer tube to be manufactured. Polymer tube manufacturing equipment.

2. The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head further comprises a heater that heats the syringe from the outside thereof to melt the polymer-containing composition.

3. The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising support members for supporting the mandrel collector in a state of contacting the mandrel collector from below on both sides of a portion thereof facing the nozzle.

4. The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the support member supports the mandrel collector at least three positions in the longitudinal direction of the mandrel collector.

5. A polymer tube manufacturing apparatus as described in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a heating unit that heats the mandrel collector, and the control unit controls the heating unit so that the mandrel collector is heated so that the temperature at the attachment position is not higher than a temperature that is 100°C higher than the glass transition temperature of the polymer, but is not lower than the glass transition temperature of the polymer.

6. The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a heating unit that heats the mandrel collector, wherein the heating unit heats the support member and transfers heat to the mandrel collector via a portion of the support member that abuts against the mandrel collector, thereby heating the mandrel collector.

7. The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mandrel collector is electrically insulated.

8. The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a coupling member that holds at least one longitudinal end of the mandrel collector via a first insulating member; and a base that supports the support member via a second insulating member, wherein the rotational drive unit rotates the mandrel collector via the coupling member, the axial drive unit drives the rotational drive unit in the central axial direction of the mandrel collector, and the heating unit heats the mandrel collector by transmitting heat radiated from a heating element embedded inside the second insulating member to the mandrel collector via the second insulating member and the support member, and through the portion of the support member that abuts against the mandrel collector.

9. The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a cooling mechanism for cooling the mandrel collector, wherein the control unit controls the cooling mechanism so that the mandrel collector is cooled so that the temperature at the attachment position becomes equal to or lower than a preset reference temperature.

10. The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a cooling mechanism that cools the mandrel collector by cooling the support member and thereby cooling the mandrel collector via the portion of the support member that abuts against the mandrel collector.

11. The polymer tube manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the polymer-containing composition contains at least one polymer selected from polyglycolic acid, a copolymer of glycolic acid and L-lactic acid, a copolymer of glycolic acid and DL-lactic acid, poly-L-lactic acid, poly-D-lactic acid, poly-DL-lactic acid, a copolymer of L-lactic acid and ε-caprolactone, and poly-p-dioxanone.

12. A method for manufacturing a polymer tube, comprising: storing a liquid polymer-containing composition containing at least one type of polymer inside; arranging a syringe having a nozzle for discharging the molten polymer-containing composition inside to the outside; arranging the nozzle of the syringe so that it faces the side wall of a long mandrel collector; applying a voltage to the nozzle so that the nozzle has a higher potential than the mandrel collector; and moving the mandrel collector in the direction of the central axis while rotating around the central axis along the longitudinal direction of the mandrel collector so that the adhesion position of the polymer produced from the liquid polymer-containing composition discharged from the nozzle on the side wall of the mandrel collector or on the polymer adhered to the side wall of the mandrel collector changes sequentially along the structure of the tube wall of the polymer tube to be manufactured.

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