Medical wire
The medical wire design addresses the challenge of adjusting bending deformation and rigidity by varying bending rigidity through a control wire, ensuring controlled navigation and preventing buckling, thus improving maneuverability.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/JP2025/022121
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-06-19
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-19
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-26
AI Technical Summary
Conventional medical wires face difficulties in adjusting bending deformation and bending rigidity due to the backward manipulation of the manipulation wire, which can lead to buckling deformation and limited control over the bending direction.
A medical wire design with a flexible tubular body and a control wire where the bending rigidity in opposite directions is varied, allowing for controlled bending and rigidity adjustment by manipulating the control wire, preventing buckling deformation.
The design enables precise control over bending and rigidity changes, facilitating easier navigation through blood vessels by suppressing buckling and enhancing maneuverability.
Smart Images
Figure JP2025022121_26122025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Medical Wire
[0001] The present invention relates to a medical wire such as a guidewire. This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-098540, filed on June 19, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] A known medical wire configuration includes a first flexible tubular body extending in the front-rear direction and formed to be bendable, a cylindrical support body extending rearward from the rear end of the first flexible tubular body and fixed to the rear end of the first flexible tubular body, and a manipulation wire extending in the front-rear direction and inserted integrally inside the first flexible tubular body and the support body, wherein the front end of the manipulation wire is fixed to the front end of the first flexible tubular body while being spaced apart in one radial direction from the central axis of the first flexible tubular body. In this medical wire, during the process of pulling the manipulation wire rearward, the first flexible tubular body first compressively deforms in the front-rear direction and bends in a specific radial direction, and then compressively deforms in a state where the first flexible tubular body extends straight in the front-rear direction between the support body and the front end of the first flexible tubular body to which the manipulation wire is fixed, thereby increasing the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body. This allows the medical wire to be inserted into a blood vessel, and by manipulating the operating wire, the front end of the medical wire can be bent in a specific direction, allowing the blood vessel to be selected at the blood vessel branch point and the medical wire to enter the target blood vessel, and also allows the bending rigidity of the first flexible tube body to be changed.
[0003] Japanese Patent No. 7415071
[0004] However, with conventional medical wires, simply pulling the manipulation wire backward both bends the first flexible tubular body and increases the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body, which can make it difficult to adjust the bending deformation and bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body. Note that with conventional medical wires, when the rear end of the manipulation wire is pushed forward, the portion of the manipulation wire located rearward of the front end of the support body undergoes buckling deformation, and the portion of the manipulation wire located forward of the rear end of the first flexible tubular body does not displace.
[0005] The present invention provides a medical wire in which the manipulation of the manipulation wire can be changed by bending a first flexible tubular body and by increasing the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body.
[0006] A medical wire according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first flexible tubular body extending in a front-to-rear direction and formed to be bendable and deformable; a cylindrical support body extending rearward from a rear end of the first flexible tubular body and fixed to the rear end of the first flexible tubular body; and a control wire extending in the front-to-rear direction and inserted integrally inside the first flexible tubular body and the support body, wherein the front end of the control wire is fixed to the front end of the first flexible tubular body while being spaced apart in one radial direction from a central axis of the first flexible tubular body, and the bending rigidity in the other direction opposite to the one direction of the control wire at a portion of the control wire located rearward of the front end of the support body is greater than the bending rigidity in the other direction of the control wire at a portion of the control wire located forward of the rear end of the first flexible tubular body.
[0007] Because the bending rigidity in the other direction of the rear portion of the manipulation wire, which is located rearward of the front end of the support, is greater than the bending rigidity in the other direction of the front portion of the first flexible tubular body, which is located forward of the rear end of the first flexible tubular body, pushing the rear end of the manipulation wire forward can suppress buckling deformation of the rear portion of the manipulation wire, allowing the front portion of the manipulation wire to be displaced forward. As a result, when the manipulation wire is pushed forward, the front portion of the manipulation wire pulls the end of the first flexible tubular body in one radial direction forward, thereby bending the first flexible tubular body in the other radial direction opposite to the one radial direction. Conversely, when the manipulation wire is pulled rearward, the front ends of the manipulation wire and the first flexible tubular body move rearward, causing the first flexible tubular body to undergo compressive deformation while remaining straight in the front-to-rear direction between the support body and the first flexible tubular body, thereby increasing the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body. As described above, bending the first flexible tubular body and increasing the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body can achieve different manipulation of the manipulation wire.
[0008] The operating wire may be integrally formed from the same material along its entire length, and the outer diameter of the portion of the operating wire located rearward of the front end of the support may be larger than the outer diameter of the portion of the operating wire located forward of the rear end of the first flexible tubular body.
[0009] The operating wire is integrally formed from the same material along its entire length, and the outer diameter of the rear portion of the operating wire located behind the front end of the support is larger than the outer diameter of the front portion located ahead of the rear end of the first flexible tubular body. Therefore, compared to, for example, a case where the front portion and the rear portion of the operating wire are formed from different materials and joined together, the operating wire can be easily formed with durability.
[0010] According to the above aspect of the present invention, the manipulation of the manipulation wire can be made different by bending the first flexible tubular body and by increasing the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body.
[0011] 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a medical wire according to an embodiment.
[0012] An embodiment of the medical wire will be described below with reference to Fig. 1. The medical wire 1 is a guidewire including a first flexible tubular body 11, an operating wire 12, an operating section 13, a support member 14, and a second flexible tubular body 15. The first flexible tubular body 11, the operating wire 12, the operating section 13, the support member 14, and the second flexible tubular body 15 are formed of, for example, a metal material. Note that the materials forming the first flexible tubular body 11, the operating wire 12, the operating section 13, the support member 14, and the second flexible tubular body 15 may be changed as appropriate. The second flexible tubular body 15 and the operating section 13 may not be provided.
[0013] The operation unit 13 and the support body 14 are formed in a cylindrical shape and disposed coaxially with the central axis O1 of the first flexible tubular body 11. Hereinafter, the side where the first flexible tubular body 11 is located with respect to the support body 14 in the direction in which the central axis O1 extends will be referred to as the front side, the side where the operation unit 13 is located with respect to the support body 14 in the direction in which the central axis O1 extends will be referred to as the rear side, and the direction in which the central axis O1 extends will be referred to as the front-rear direction. A direction intersecting the central axis O1 as viewed from the front-rear direction will be referred to as the radial direction, and a direction going around the central axis O1 as viewed from the front-rear direction will be referred to as the circumferential direction.
[0014] The first flexible tubular body 11 extends in the front-rear direction and is formed to be bendable. The first flexible tubular body 11 is a coil spring extending in the front-rear direction. The coil is wound around a central axis O1. The size of the first flexible tubular body 11 in the front-rear direction is, for example, 10 mm. The outer diameter of the first flexible tubular body 11 is large enough to be inserted into a blood vessel (for example, 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm). The outer shape and size of the first flexible tubular body 11 as viewed in the front-rear direction are constant over the entire length in the front-rear direction. The diameter of the wire material forming the first flexible tubular body 11 is constant over the entire length.
[0015] The diameter of the wire forming the first flexible tubular body 11 does not have to be constant along its entire length, and the outer shape and size of the first flexible tubular body 11 as viewed in the front-rear direction do not have to be constant along its entire length in the front-rear direction. For example, the outer diameter of the first flexible tubular body 11 may decrease toward the front. The first flexible tubular body 11 is not limited to a coil spring, and may be, for example, a tubular body having a peripheral wall that extends continuously along its entire length in both the front-rear direction and the circumferential direction.
[0016] The support body 14 extends rearward from the rear end of the first flexible tubular body 11 and is fixed to the rear end of the first flexible tubular body 11. The support body 14 may be formed to be bendable. The rear end opening edge of the first flexible tubular body 11 abuts against the front end opening edge of the support body 14 in the front-rear direction. The front end of the support body 14 and the rear end of the first flexible tubular body 11 are fixed by, for example, soldering, brazing, adhesive, or crimping. In the illustrated example, a cylindrical intermediate fixing member 23 made of, for example, solder, brazing material, or adhesive extends forward from the front end of the support body 14. The outer peripheral surface of the intermediate fixing member 23 is seamlessly connected to the outer peripheral surfaces of the support body 14 and the first flexible tubular body 11 in the front-rear direction.
[0017] The outer diameter of the support 14 is equal to the outer diameter of the first flexible tubular body 11 and is large enough to be inserted into a blood vessel (e.g., 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm). The outer shape and size of the support 14 as viewed in the front-rear direction are constant over the entire length in the front-rear direction. Note that the outer shape and size of the support 14 as viewed in the front-rear direction do not have to be constant over the entire length in the front-rear direction. For example, the outer diameter of the support 14 may decrease toward the front. The outer shapes and sizes of the support 14 and the first flexible tubular body 11 as viewed in the front-rear direction may be different from each other. In this case, it is preferable that the support 14 does not protrude radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the first flexible tubular body 11 as viewed in the front-rear direction.
[0018] The operation unit 13 is provided rearward of the support body 14. The operation unit 13 protrudes rearward from the support body 14. The operation unit 13 is provided to be movable in the front-rear direction relative to the support body 14. In the illustrated example, the rear end of the support body 14 is inserted into the front portion of the operation unit 13. Note that the front end opening edge of the operation unit 13 and the rear end opening edge of the support body 14 may face each other in the front-rear direction, or the front portion of the operation unit 13 may be inserted into the rear end of the support body 14. The rear end of the operation wire 12 is fixed to the operation unit 13 by, for example, soldering, brazing, adhesive, or crimping. In the illustrated example, the rear end opening of the operation unit 13 is closed by a rear fixing member 24 made of, for example, a solder material, a brazing material, or an adhesive, and the rear end of the operation wire 12 is embedded in the rear fixing member 24.
[0019] The operation wire 12 extends in the front-rear direction and is inserted integrally inside the first flexible tubular body 11 and the support body 14. The operation wire 12 is formed to be elastically deformable. The front end of the operation wire 12 is fixed to the front end of the first flexible tubular body 11 by, for example, soldering, brazing, adhesive bonding, or crimping, in a state spaced apart from the central axis O1 in one radial direction X. The rear end of the operation wire 12 protrudes rearward from the support body 14. Note that a plurality of operation wires 12 may be provided at intervals in the circumferential direction.
[0020] The operation wire 12 extends straight in the front-rear direction over its entire length. The size of the operation wire 12 in the front-rear direction is determined depending on the size of the patient's body and may be, for example, 2000 mm to 3000 mm. Note that the operation wire 12 may extend in the front-rear direction while bending, for example. Alternatively, only the front end of the operation wire 12 may be spaced apart from the central axis O1 in one radial direction X, and the portion of the operation wire 12 located rearward of the front end may be disposed coaxially with the central axis O1, for example.
[0021] In the illustrated example, the front end opening of the first flexible tubular body 11 is closed by a front fixing member 25 made of, for example, solder, brazing material, or adhesive. The outer peripheral surface of the front fixing member 25 is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the first flexible tubular body 11 without any step in the front-to-rear direction. The front end of the operation wire 12 is embedded in the front fixing member 25.
[0022] The bending rigidity of the intermediate section 11a of the first flexible tubular body 11, which is located between the front end (front fixing member 25) and the rear end (middle fixing member 23), decreases from the rear to the front. In the illustrated example, the first flexible tubular body 11 includes a first hard tubular section 22 having high bending rigidity and a pair of first soft tubular sections 21 having lower bending rigidity than the first hard tubular section 22 and sandwiching the first hard tubular section 22 in the front-to-rear direction. Of the pair of first soft tubular sections 21, the first soft tubular section 21 located on the front side has a size of, for example, 1 mm in the front-to-rear direction. Of the pair of first soft tubular sections 21, the number of turns of the first soft tubular section 21 located on the front side is greater than the number of turns of the first soft tubular section 21 located on the rear side. Note that the number of turns of the former may be equal to or less than the number of turns of the latter.
[0023] The first soft tube section 21 is formed so that the distance (inter-wire gap) between adjacent wires in the front-to-rear direction is wider than that of the first hard tube section 22. As a result, the bending rigidity of the first soft tube section 21 is smaller than that of the first hard tube section 22, and the first soft tube section 21 located in the intermediate section 11a of the first flexible tubular body 11 is easily bent flexibly to follow the bending of the blood vessel. The inter-wire gap in the first soft tube section 21 is, for example, 0.04 mm. In the illustrated example, adjacent wires in the first hard tube section 22 in the front-to-rear direction abut against each other. In other words, the first hard tube section 22 is formed as a tightly wound coil spring. As a result, in the intermediate section 11a of the first flexible tubular body 11, the first hard tube section 22 is easily bent flexibly to follow the bending deformation of the first soft tube section 21.
[0024] Of the pair of first soft tube sections 21, a front portion of the first soft tube section 21 located on the front side is joined or adhered to the front fixing member 25, and a rear portion of this first soft tube section 21 is located between the front fixing member 25 and the intermediate fixing member 23. Of the pair of first soft tube sections 21, the first soft tube section 21 located on the rear side is joined or adhered over its entire length to the intermediate fixing member 23. Therefore, of the first flexible tube 11, the intermediate section 11a located between the front fixing member 25 and the intermediate fixing member 23 is composed of the entire first hard tube section 22 and the rear portion of the first soft tube section 21 located on the front side of the pair of first soft tube sections 21. As a result, the bending rigidity of the intermediate section 11a of the first flexible tube 11 decreases stepwise from the rear to the front. Note that the bending rigidity of the intermediate section 11a of the first flexible tube 11 may also decrease linearly from the rear to the front. In the illustrated example, the length in the front-rear direction of the first hard pipe section 22 is longer than the length in the front-rear direction of the rear part of the first soft pipe section 21 that is located on the front side of the pair of first soft pipe sections 21. Note that the length of the former may be shorter than the length of the latter.
[0025] The second flexible tubular body 15 extends in the front-rear direction and is formed to be bendable. The second flexible tubular body 15 is inserted inside the first flexible tubular body 11. The front end of the second flexible tubular body 15 is fixed to at least one of the front ends of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the operation wire 12, and the rear end of the second flexible tubular body 15, which is located rearward of the front end, is fixed to at least one of the support body 14 and the rear end of the first flexible tubular body 11. The second flexible tubular body 15 protrudes in both the front-rear direction from the first flexible tubular body 11. Note that the second flexible tubular body 15 does not have to protrude in the front-rear direction from the first flexible tubular body 11.
[0026] At least one of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15 is a coil spring extending in the front-rear direction. In the illustrated example, both the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15 are coil springs extending in the front-rear direction. The coil of the second flexible tubular body 15 is wound around the central axis O2. The winding directions of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15 are opposite to each other. However, the winding directions of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15 may be the same as each other. Either one of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15 is not limited to a coil spring and may be, for example, a tubular body having a peripheral wall that extends continuously over the entire length in both the front-rear direction and the circumferential direction.
[0027] The bending rigidity of the intermediate section 15a of the second flexible tube 15, which is located between the front end section (front fixing member 25) and the rear section (middle fixing member 23), decreases from rear to front. In the illustrated example, the second flexible tube 15 is configured by connecting a second soft tube section 31, which has low bending rigidity, and a second hard tube section 32, which has higher bending rigidity than the second soft tube section 31, in this order from front to rear. The second soft tube section 31 protrudes forward from the first flexible tube 11, and the second hard tube section 32 protrudes rearward from the first flexible tube 11. The length of the second soft tube section 31 in the front-to-rear direction is slightly shorter than the length of the second hard tube section 32 in the front-to-rear direction.
[0028] The second soft tube section 31 is formed so that the distance (inter-wire gap) between adjacent wires in the front-to-rear direction is wider than that of the second hard tube section 32. As a result, the bending rigidity of the second soft tube section 31 is smaller than that of the second hard tube section 32, and the second soft tube section 31 located in the intermediate section 15a of the second flexible tubular body 15 is easily bent flexibly to follow the bending of the blood vessel. In the illustrated example, adjacent wires in the second hard tube section 32 in the front-to-rear direction abut against each other. In other words, the second hard tube section 32 is formed as a tightly wound coil spring. As a result, the second hard tube section 32 in the intermediate section 15a of the second flexible tubular body 15 is easily bent flexibly to follow the bending deformation of the second soft tube section 31.
[0029] A front portion of the second soft tube section 31 is joined or bonded to the front fixing member 25. As a result, the front end of the second flexible tubular body 15 is fixed to the front end portions of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the operating wire 12 via the front fixing member 25. The rear portion of the second soft tube section 31 is located between the front fixing member 25 and the intermediate fixing member 23. The intermediate fixing member 23 is joined or bonded to the outer circumferential surface of a portion of the second hard tube section 32 located between the front end portion located inside the first flexible tubular body 11 and the rear end portion located inside the support body 14. As a result, the rear portion of the second flexible tubular body 15 located rearward of the front end portion is fixed to the support body 14 and the rear end portion of the first flexible tubular body 11 via the intermediate fixing member 23. In the illustrated example, the intermediate fixing member 23 does not close the inside of the second hard tube section 32, and the inside of the support body 14 is in communication with the rear portion of the second soft tube section 31 through the inside of the second hard tube section 32.
[0030] The intermediate section 15a of the second flexible tubular body 15, located between the front fixing member 25 and the middle fixing member 23, is composed of the rear section of the second soft tubular section 31 and the front end section of the second hard tubular section 32. As a result, the bending rigidity of the intermediate section 15a of the second flexible tubular body 15 decreases stepwise from the rear to the front. Alternatively, the bending rigidity of the intermediate section 15a of the second flexible tubular body 15 may decrease linearly from the rear to the front. In the illustrated example, the length in the front-rear direction of the rear section of the second soft tubular section 31 is longer than the length in the front-rear direction of the front end section of the second hard tubular section 32. Alternatively, the length of the former may be shorter than the length of the latter. Within the intermediate section 11a of the first flexible tubular body 11, the rear section of the second soft tubular section 31 straddles the boundary between the first hard tubular section 22 and the first soft tubular section 21 located at the front of the pair of first soft tubular sections 21 in the front-rear direction.
[0031] The operation wire 12 is inserted inside the second flexible tubular body 15. The central axis O2 of the second flexible tubular body 15 and the front end of the operation wire 12 are spaced apart in one radial direction X from the central axis O1 of the first flexible tubular body 11. The front end of the operation wire 12 is fixed to the front end of the second flexible tubular body 15 by, for example, soldering, brazing, bonding, or crimping, in a state spaced apart in one radial direction X from the central axis O2 of the second flexible tubular body 15. The operation wire 12 is disposed on the end of the inner circumferential surface of the second flexible tubular body 15 in the one radial direction X.
[0032] In order to move the medical wire 1 smoothly within a blood vessel with less snagging, the outer surface of the medical wire 1 may be coated with a hydrophilic or hydrophobic material. Examples of hydrophilic materials include polyvinylpyrrolidone, maleic acid-based resins, and hyaluronic acid-based resins, while examples of hydrophobic materials include fluorine-based resins (PTFE, PFA, etc.), silicone-based resins, etc.
[0033] In this embodiment, the bending rigidity in the other direction Y, which is opposite to the one direction X, of the portion of the operation wire 12 located rearward of the front end (intermediate fixed member 23) of the support body 14 is greater than the bending rigidity in the other direction Y of the portion of the operation wire 12 located forward of the rear end (intermediate fixed member 23) of the first flexible tubular body 11. The operation wire 12 is integrally formed into a rod shape using the same material over its entire length. The outer diameter of the portion of the operation wire 12 located rearward of the front end of the support body 14 is greater than the outer diameter of the portion of the operation wire 12 located forward of the rear end of the first flexible tubular body 11.
[0034] In the illustrated example, the operation wire 12 is formed in a multi-stage rod shape with an outer diameter that decreases toward the front. The operation wire 12 is formed in a solid rod shape. Note that the operation wire 12 may be configured so that the outer diameter decreases linearly from the rear to the front, or the operation wire 12 may be formed in a hollow rod shape (tube shape). Furthermore, by forming holes that open in the radial direction on the outer circumferential surface of the operation wire 12, the bending rigidity in the other direction Y of the portion of the operation wire 12 that is located rearward of the front end of the support body 14 may be made greater than the bending rigidity in the other direction Y of the portion of the operation wire 12 that is located forward of the rear end of the first flexible tubular body 11.
[0035] The operating wire 12 is configured by connecting a front portion 17, an intermediate portion 18, and a rear portion 19 in this order from front to rear. The front portion 17, the intermediate portion 18, and the rear portion 19 each have the same outer diameter over their entire length in the front-to-rear direction. The outer diameter of the front portion 17 is smaller than the outer diameters of the intermediate portion 18 and the rear portion 19. The outer diameter of the rear portion 19 is larger than the outer diameters of the front portion 17 and the intermediate portion 18. The front portion 17, the intermediate portion 18, and the rear portion 19 each extend straight in the front-to-rear direction. The front portion 17, the intermediate portion 18, and the rear portion 19 are arranged coaxially with a common axis (not shown) extending in the front-to-rear direction. The front end surfaces 17a, 18a, and 19a of the front portion 17, the intermediate portion 18, and the rear portion 19 extend straight in the radial direction and face forward.
[0036] The central axes of the front portion 17, the intermediate portion 18, and the rear portion 19 do not necessarily have to coincide with one another. For example, the central axis of the front portion 17 may be closer to the X direction than the central axes of the intermediate portion 18 and the rear portion 19, and the central axis of the rear portion 19 may be closer to the Y direction, opposite the X direction, than the central axes of the front portion 17 and the intermediate portion 18. In this configuration, the ends of the X direction on the outer circumferential surfaces of the front portion 17, the intermediate portion 18, and the rear portion 19 may be continuous without any steps in the front-to-rear direction. The outer diameter of the intermediate portion in the front-to-rear direction of the front portion 17 and the intermediate portion 18 may be smaller than the outer diameter of the remaining portions. The front end surfaces 17a, 18a, 19a of the front portion 17, the intermediate portion 18, and the rear portion 19 may extend forward as they extend radially inward. The front portion 17 and the rear portion 19 may be formed into a rod shape extending in the front-to-rear direction, and the intermediate portion 18 may be a stranded wire.
[0037] The rear end of the rear section 19 is embedded in the rear fixing member 24. The rear section 19 is inserted into the rear end of the support body 14 so as to be movable back and forth. The front end surface 18a of the intermediate section 18 is located within the rear ends of the intermediate sections 11a, 15a of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15, respectively. The front section 17 is located forward of the rear end of the first flexible tubular body 11.
[0038] The front end of the front section 17 is located forward of the front end of the first flexible tubular body 11 and is located within the front end of the second flexible tubular body 15. The front end of the front section 17 may protrude forward from the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15 and be bent in one direction X or the other direction Y to engage with the edge of the front end opening of the first flexible tubular body 11 or the edge of the front end opening of the second flexible tubular body 15. Regardless of the direction in which the front end of the front section 17 is bent, when the operating wire 12 is pushed forward, the intermediate sections 11a, 15a of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15 are bent in the other direction Y. In this configuration, the front end of the front section 17 may be folded back backward.
[0039] The front end of the front section 17 may be bent in the other direction Y and formed into a curved shape that protrudes diagonally forward toward the one direction X, or the outer circumferential surface of the front section 17 may be formed with a first flat surface facing the one direction X and a second flat surface facing the other direction Y, or the front section 17 may be formed in a plate shape with its front and back surfaces facing the one direction X and the other direction Y, or the outer circumferential surface of the middle section 18 may be formed with a hole that opens radially in a direction perpendicular to the one direction X and the other direction Y. In these cases, when the operating wire 12 is pushed forward, the middle sections 11 a, 15 a of the first flexible tubular body 11 and the second flexible tubular body 15 are easily bent in the other direction Y.
[0040] As described above, according to the medical wire 1 of this embodiment, the bending rigidity in the other direction Y of the rear portion (part of the intermediate portion 18 and the rear portion 19) of the manipulation wire 12 located rearward of the front end portion (middle fixing member 23) of the support body 14 is greater than the bending rigidity in the other direction Y of the front portion 17 (front portion) located forward of the rear end portion (middle fixing member 23) of the first flexible tubular body 11. Therefore, when the manipulation wire 12 is pushed forward, it is possible to suppress buckling deformation of the rear portion of the manipulation wire 12, and it is possible to displace the front portion 17 of the manipulation wire 12 forward. As a result, when the manipulation wire 12 is pushed forward, the end portion of the first flexible tubular body 11 in one radial direction X is pulled forward by the front portion 17 of the manipulation wire 12, and it is possible to bend the first flexible tubular body 11 in the other radial direction Y opposite to the one radial direction X. Conversely, when the operation wire 12 is pulled rearward, the front ends of the operation wire 12 and the first flexible tubular body 11 move rearward, and the first flexible tubular body 11 undergoes compressive deformation while remaining extended straight in the front-to-rear direction between the support body 14, thereby increasing the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body 11. As described above, bending the first flexible tubular body 11 and increasing the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body 11 can cause different operations of the operation wire 12.
[0041] The operating wire 12 is integrally formed from the same material over its entire length, and the outer diameter of the rear portion of the operating wire 12, which is located behind the front end of the support body 14, is larger than the outer diameter of the front portion 17, which is located ahead of the rear end of the first flexible tubular body 11. Therefore, compared to, for example, a case where the front portion 17 of the operating wire and the rear portion of the operating wire are formed from different materials and joined together, the operating wire 12 can be easily formed with durability.
[0042] In this embodiment, the first flexible tubular body 11 is a coil spring that extends in the front-rear direction and has a size in the front-rear direction of about 10 mm, and of the pair of first soft tubular sections 21 having a wire gap, the first soft tubular section 21 that is located on the front side and that constitutes a part of the intermediate section 11 a of the first flexible tubular body 11 has a wire gap of about 0.04 mm and is short in the front-rear direction of about 1 mm. Therefore, when the operation wire 12 is pulled rearward, it is possible to eliminate the wire gap and bring the first soft tubular section 21 into a tightly wound state before bending deformation occurs, and when the operation wire 12 is pulled rearward, the bending rigidity of the first flexible tubular body 11 can be increased without bending deformation of the intermediate section 11 a of the first flexible tubular body 11.
[0043] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0044] For example, the bending rigidity of the intermediate portions 11 a, 15 a may be the same over the entire length in the front-rear direction. The bending rigidity of the rear portion of the operation wire 12 located rearward of the front end portion (middle fixing member 23) of the support body 14 may be greater than the bending rigidity of the front portion (front portion 17) located forward of the rear end portion (middle fixing member 23) of the first flexible tubular body 11. The operation wire 12 may be configured such that a plurality of rod bodies made of different materials and formed to have the same outer diameter are joined in the front-rear direction.
[0045] In addition, it is possible to replace the components in the above-described embodiments with well-known components as appropriate, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the above-described embodiments and variations may be combined as appropriate.
[0046] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 medical wire 11 first flexible tubular body 12 operating wire 14 support 15 second flexible tubular body O1 central axis of first flexible tubular body X one direction Y other direction
Claims
1. A medical wire comprising: a first flexible tubular body extending in the front-rear direction and formed to be bendable; a cylindrical support body extending rearward from the rear end of the first flexible tubular body and fixed to the rear end of the first flexible tubular body; and a control wire extending in the front-rear direction and inserted integrally into the first flexible tubular body and the support body, wherein the front end of the control wire is fixed to the front end of the first flexible tubular body while being spaced apart in one radial direction from the central axis of the first flexible tubular body, and the bending rigidity in the other direction opposite to the one direction of the control wire at a portion located rearward of the front end of the support body is greater than the bending rigidity in the other direction of the control wire at a portion located forward of the rear end of the first flexible tubular body.
2. The medical wire according to claim 1, wherein the operating wire is integrally formed from the same material over its entire length, and the outer diameter of the portion of the operating wire located rearward of the front end of the support is larger than the outer diameter of the portion of the operating wire located forward of the rear end of the first flexible tubular body.
Citation Information
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