Medical light guide and medical tube position checking system

Abstract

A medical light guide 4 is provided with an assembly 42 in which a plurality of linear light guide bodies 41 are bundled and which has a first plane 44 and a second plane 45 respectively formed at the two ends of the light guide bodies 41 in the axial direction. The first plane 44 has an annular shape formed along a circumferential direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

Description

Medical light guide and medical tube position confirmation system

[0001] The present invention relates to a medical light guide and a medical tube position confirmation system.

[0002] In medical settings, patients who have difficulty taking food and drink orally are given the nutrients they need through a method called enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition uses a medical tube, and one type of this method is called nasogastric tube feeding. In nasogastric tube feeding, a medical tube is inserted through the patient's nostrils and the tip of the medical tube is extended to the stomach. Nutrients and food and drink are then injected through the proximal end of the medical tube, which is located outside the patient's body.

[0003] There is known a technique for confirming that the distal end of a medical tube has passed through the esophagus and reached the stomach (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] International Publication No. 2019 / 215791

[0005] Patent Literature 1 discloses a medical tube position confirmation system. This system is configured to guide light incident from an input end and emit it from an output end, and includes a light guide inserted into the medical tube, and a light source connected to the light guide and emitting light including wavelengths that are transmitted through living tissue. When the medical tube is inserted through a patient's nostril with the light guide inserted into the medical tube, the light emitted from the output end of the light guide transmits through the living tissue, making it possible to confirm whether the medical tube has reached the stomach.

[0006] In the system of Patent Document 1, a medical tube is inserted through the patient's nostrils with a light guide inserted therein. The medical tube may remain inserted in the patient's nostrils for one to two weeks. In this case, the operator must check the position of the tip of the medical tube inside the patient's body each time nutrients or food or drink are injected. However, it is cumbersome for the operator to insert a light guide into the medical tube each time.

[0007] One possible solution would be to provide the medical tube with a light guide function and insert only the medical tube through the patient's nostrils. However, many commercially available light sources are point light sources and are configured to diffuse light. Therefore, even if light emitted from the light source is irradiated onto the annular end surface of the medical tube on the outside of the body, the difference between the shape of the light source and the shape of the tube end surface on the light incident side results in a poor light incidence rate, and only a small amount of light is incident on the end surface on the outside of the body of the medical tube. Therefore, because only a small amount of light reaches the tip of the medical tube inside the body, it is difficult to determine the position of the tip of the medical tube inside the body.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a component for efficiently directing light emitted from a light source into an end face of a medical tube on the outside of the body.

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, a medical light guide is provided, which comprises an assembly of multiple linear light guides bundled together to form a first plane and a second plane at both ends of the axial direction of the light guides, and the first plane has a ring shape along a circumferential direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0010] According to the present invention, light emitted from the light source can be efficiently incident on the end surface of the medical tube outside the body.

[0011] 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a medical tube position confirmation system 1. FIG. 1 is a front view of a distal end 31 of a medical tube 3. FIG. 2 is a front view of a proximal end 32 of a medical tube 3. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a medical light guide 4, as viewed from arrows A and B. FIG. 4 is a view of a medical light guide 4 according to a modified example, as viewed from arrow B in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a core 43. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a medical light guide 4 according to a modified example, as viewed from arrows A and B. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a medical tube 3 inserted into a body. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a medical tube 3 inserted into a body. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a medical light guide 4 having a fixing device 50, as viewed from arrows A and B. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a medical light guide 4 according to a modified example, as viewed from arrows A and B. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a medical light guide 4 according to a modified example, as viewed from arrows C and D. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a medical light guide 4 according to a modified example, as viewed from arrows C and D. 10 is a front view of a distal end portion 31 of a medical tube 3 in a modified example. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a medical tube position confirmation system 1 including a connector 60.

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, although the embodiments described below are subject to various limitations that are technically preferable for implementing the present invention, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0013] 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a medical tube position confirmation system 1. The medical tube position confirmation system 1 includes a light source device 2, a medical tube 3, and a medical light guide 4.

[0014] (Light Source Device) The light source device 2 supplies light to the medical light guide 4. The light source device 2 has a housing 21 and a light-emitting unit 22. The housing 21 has a light source 23 inside. The light source 23 generates light containing a wavelength that transmits through a living body. The light-emitting unit 22 has a group of lenses (not shown) for focusing the light generated by the light source 23 and emits the focused light to the outside. By connecting the medical light guide 4 to the light-emitting unit 22, the light source device 2 can supply the light generated by the light source 23 to the medical tubing 3 through the medical light guide 4. The light generated by the light source 23 is used to confirm the position of the tip 31 of the medical tubing 3. Details will be described later. The light source device 2 may also have a power connector for connection to a power source (not shown).

[0015] (Medical Tube) The medical tube 3 is a long, flexible tubular body. The medical tube 3 is, for example, a nutrition tube, a catheter, or a central venous nutrition catheter. The medical tube 3 has a distal end 31, a proximal end 32, and a light guide 33.

[0016] The distal end 31 and the proximal end 32 are opposite ends of the medical tube 3. As shown in FIG. 2 , the distal end 31 has an annular end surface 34 when viewed in the axial direction. The distal end 31 is the end that is inserted into the patient's body. As shown in FIG. 3 , the proximal end 32 has an annular end surface 35 when viewed in the axial direction. The proximal end 32 is the end that is placed outside the patient's body. The proximal end 32 is connected to the medical light guide 4. The end surface of the distal end 31 may be closed (in which case, a hole for discharging the nutrient solution may be provided on the side of the tube) or a light scattering member may be provided on the end surface.

[0017] The light guiding section 33 is a long member that guides light. The light guiding section 33 is, for example, an optical fiber. A plurality of light guiding sections 33 are arranged inside the tubing material of the medical tubing 3. The length of the light guiding section 33 is equal to the length of the medical tubing 3. One end of the light guiding section 33 is arranged on the end face 34 of the distal end section 31. The other end of the light guiding section 33 is arranged on the end face 35 of the proximal end section 32. By arranging the light guiding section 33 in this manner, light that enters the end face 35 of the proximal end section 32 exits from the end face 34 of the distal end section 31 through the light guiding section 33. Note that the light guiding section 33 may be arranged along the inner wall surface of the medical tubing 3 rather than inside the tubing material of the medical tubing 3.

[0018] The medical tube 3 is used in a procedure for nasogastric tube feeding. Specifically, an operator inserts the medical tube 3 through a patient's nasal cavity and passes the distal end 31 of the medical tube 3 through the esophagus to the patient's stomach. Then, nutrients and / or food are injected from the proximal end 32 of the medical tube 3, which is located outside the patient's body. This allows the nutrients and / or food to be directly supplied to the patient's stomach.

[0019] (Medical Light Guide) The medical light guide 4 is a component that allows light emitted from the light source device 2 to efficiently enter the end surface 35 of the proximal end 32 of the medical tube 3. The medical light guide 4 may be frustoconical, as shown in the central perspective view of Fig. 4. The medical light guide 4 has an assembly 42 formed by bundling a plurality of linear light guides 41, and a core material 43.

[0020] The light guide 41 is a linear, elongated member that guides light. The light guide 41 is, for example, an optical fiber and has a core and a cladding. The core transmits light emitted from the light source device 2. The core is made of a material such as quartz, glass, or plastic. The cladding fills the outside of the core. The cladding is made of a material such as quartz, glass, or plastic, which has a smaller refractive index than the core. Light that enters the light guide 41 propagates through the core while repeatedly undergoing total reflection at the interface between the core and the cladding. Note that if the light guide 41 is made of plastic, it is more flexible than quartz or glass, making it easier to connect the medical light guide 4 to the light source device 2 and the medical tubing 3.

[0021] The assembly 42 is formed by bundling a plurality of light guides 41. The assembly 42 is formed by solidifying the plurality of light guides 41 with resin. The assembly 42 may have a truncated cone shape. The plurality of light guides 41 are arranged so that both ends are aligned. The lengths of the plurality of light guides 41 arranged in this manner vary depending on their locations in the assembly 42. Specifically, the lengths of the plurality of light guides 41 arranged radially outward of the assembly 42 are longer than those arranged near the central axis of the assembly 42.

[0022] In this embodiment, the diameter of the light guide 41 is 50 micrometers. The number of light guides 41 constituting the assembly 42 is 980. The number of light guides 41 constituting the assembly 42 can be changed to any number depending on the diameter of the light guide 41 and the size of the assembly 42.

[0023] A second plane 45 is formed at one end of the assembly 42. The second plane 45 is formed by only the plurality of light guides 41, or by the plurality of light guides 41 and a resin that fixes the positions of the light guides 41. As shown in the view of arrow A in FIG. 4 , in this embodiment, the second plane 45 is circular when viewed in the axial direction. The second plane 45 is the plane that connects to the light-emitting unit 22 of the light source device 2. The diameter of the second plane 45 is set to any size, for example, between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm, and is 1.5 mm in this embodiment.

[0024] A first flat surface 44 is formed at the other end of the assembly 42. The first flat surface 44 is formed by only the light guides 41, or by the light guides 41 and a resin that fixes the positions of the light guides 41. As shown in the view of arrow B in FIG. 4 , in this embodiment, the first flat surface 44 is an annular region formed by the light guides 41 along a circumferential direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and the annular shape is divided into four. The first flat surface 44 is the flat surface that connects to the medical tubing 3. The diameter of the first flat surface 44 is set to any size, for example, between 1.0 mm and 5.0 mm, inclusive, and is 2.7 mm in this embodiment. The diameter of the first flat surface 44 is approximately equal to the diameter of the medical tubing 3. In this embodiment, since the medical light guide 4 has a truncated cone shape, the diameter of the first flat surface 44 is larger than the diameter of the second flat surface 45.

[0025] Here, the annular shape along the circumferential direction perpendicular to the axial direction includes not only the above-mentioned shape in which the annular shape is divided into multiple parts and each part is distributed annularly along the circumferential direction, but also an undivided annular shape as shown in Figure 5.

[0026] The core material 43 is a member that is inserted into the first plane 44 side of the assembly 42. As shown in FIGS.

[0027] The center portion 46 is a cylindrical member. The center portion 46 is circular when viewed in the axial direction. The axial length of the center portion 46 is shorter than the length of the light guide body 41.

[0028] The protrusions 47 are members extending from the surface of the central portion 46 in a radial direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the axis of the central portion 46. In the present embodiment, four protrusions 47 are provided at 90-degree intervals in the circumferential direction, which is perpendicular to the axial and radial directions of the central portion 46. Note that the diameter of the core material 43 including the protrusions 47 is preferably equal to the diameter of the region formed by the plurality of light guides 41 on the first plane 44.

[0029] As shown in the view of arrow B in Fig. 4 , when the core material 43 is inserted into the first flat surface 44 side of the assembly 42, the arrangement of the multiple light guides 41 on the first flat surface 44 side is divided by the core material 43. As a result, the first flat surface 44 of the assembly 42 is divided, and the annular shape is divided into four when viewed in the axial direction. Note that, when the core material 43 is inserted into the assembly 42, the surface of the core material 43 that is arranged on the first flat surface 44 side may be flush with the first flat surface 44, or may be inserted further back and be located further back than the first flat surface 44.

[0030] By inserting the core material 43 so that the first flat surface 44 of the assembly 42 is divided into four, the multiple light guides 41 that form the assembly 42 are pushed outward in the radial direction of the assembly 42 by the core material 43 inserted on the side of the first flat surface 44. This causes a restoring force to be generated in the multiple light guides 41 on the side of the first flat surface 44, causing them to return to the inside in the radial direction of the assembly 42. This restoring force then acts to hold the core material 43, and the core material 43 is held and fixed by the restoring force of the multiple light guides 41 and the resin around the light guides 41.

[0031] When the first plane 44 is not divided, the first plane 44 may be a ring-shaped region. When multiple light guides 41 are arranged on such a first plane 44, the multiple light guides 41 may not be evenly arranged on the first plane 44, resulting in regions where no light guides 41 are arranged. On the other hand, when the first plane 44 is divided into four regions by the core material 43 as described above, the multiple light guides 41 are pushed outward in the radial direction. In this case, by arranging the core material 43 at the center of the assembly 42 of the multiple light guides 41, the multiple light guides 41 are evenly arranged in each region of the first plane 44. As a result, light emitted from the first plane 44 is emitted uniformly from the four regions.

[0032] Furthermore, the multiple light guides 41 may be composed of light guides 41A and 41B having different specifications. For example, the light guide 41A has a different diameter than the light guide 41B. FIG. 7 shows a medical light guide 4 having light guides 41A and 41B. The view from the arrow A in FIG. 7 is a view of the medical light guide 4 having the light guides 41A and 41B as seen from the second flat surface 45 of the assembly 42. The view from the arrow B in FIG. 7 is a view of the medical light guide 4 having the light guides 41A and 41B as seen from the first flat surface 44 of the assembly 42. The diameter of the light guide 41A is smaller than that of the light guide 41B. The number of light guides 41A constituting the assembly 42 is greater than that of the light guides 41B. Both the light guide 41A and the light guide 41B are arranged in each of the four regions of the first flat surface 44. With this configuration, even if the light guides 41A are unevenly arranged, the light guides 41B, which are more easily arranged evenly, are arranged in each region, thereby reducing the difference in the amount of light emitted from each region of the four-divided first plane 44. In other words, the light emitted from the first plane 44 is likely to be emitted uniformly from the four regions.

[0033] The medical light guide 4 is disposed between the light source device 2 and the medical tubing 3, connecting them. The length of the medical tubing 3 is set to be slightly longer than the distance from the patient's stomach to their nostrils. Therefore, if the length of the medical light guide 4 is short, the distance from the light source device 2 to the patient's face will be too close. However, by setting the length of the medical light guide 4 to be long, the distance between the light source device 2 and the patient's face can be increased when the operator inserts the medical tubing 3 through the patient's nostrils. As a result, it is easier for the operator to insert the medical tubing 3.

[0034] 8 and 9 , the state of the medical tube 3 inside the body will be described. The medical tube 3 is connected to the light source device 2 via the medical light guide 4. Specifically, the end surface 35 of the proximal end 32 of the medical tube 3 is connected to the first flat surface 44 of the medical light guide 4. In other words, the end surface 35 and the first flat surface 44 are the connecting surfaces. The second flat surface 45 of the medical light guide 4 is connected to the light-emitting portion 22 of the light source device 2.

[0035] Light generated by the light source 23 of the light source device 2 travels from the light-emitting unit 22 through the medical light guide 4 and enters the end face 35. The light that has entered the end face 35 reaches the end face 34 of the distal end portion 31 through the light-guiding unit 33 and is emitted from the end face 34. In other words, the light generated by the light source 23 of the light source device 2 exits from the end face 34 of the distal end portion 31.

[0036] The medical tube 3 is inserted from the tip 31 into the patient's nasal cavity or oral cavity. Figure 8 shows an example in which the medical tube 3 is inserted through the nasal cavity. As the medical tube 3 is further inserted into the patient's body, the tip 31 of the medical tube 3 is inserted into the esophagus. As the medical tube 3 is further inserted into the patient's body, the tip 31 of the medical tube 3 reaches the patient's stomach. Figure 9 shows the state in which the tip 31 of the medical tube 3 has reached the patient's stomach.

[0037] When the switch of the light source device 2 is turned on at any time during the process of inserting the medical tubing 3 into the body, light is emitted from the end surface 34 of the distal end 31 of the medical tubing 3. The worker can confirm the position of the distal end 31 of the medical tubing 3 by visually checking the light that is emitted from the end surface 34 and passes through the patient. Alternatively, the worker may confirm the position of the distal end 31 of the medical tubing 3 by detecting the light that is emitted from the end surface 34 of the medical tubing 3 and passes through the patient using an imaging device or the like.

[0038] [Modifications] The medical light guide 4 may be a combination of the modifications described below.

[0039] (1) Modification 1 The assembly 42 does not have to be configured by bundling a plurality of light guides 41 and then solidifying them with resin. In this case, the plurality of light guides 41 may be bundled by a fixture 50 as shown in FIG. 10 . The fixture 50 is, for example, an annular elastic body. Note that the shape of the fixture 50 is not limited as long as it has the function of bundling the plurality of light guides 41. Alternatively, the fixture 50 may be an annular rigid body. In this case, the fixture 50 is tapered from the small diameter side toward the large diameter side.

[0040] (2) Modification 2 The number of protrusions 47 that the core 43 has may be other than 4. Note that the number of divisions of the first plane 44 changes depending on the number of protrusions 47.

[0041] (3) Modification 3 The core material 43 may not have the protrusion 47. In this case, the core material 43 is formed only by the cylindrical center portion 46 and has a circular shape when viewed in the axial direction. Since the core material 43 is formed only by the cylindrical center portion 46, the first plane 44 is not divided. In other words, as shown in FIG. 5 , the first plane 44 has an undivided annular shape.

[0042] (4) Modification 4 The center 46 and the protrusions 47 of the core material 43 may have a shape that gradually tapers from one surface to the other surface in the axial direction, as shown in Fig. 11. Furthermore, when the core material 43 does not have the protrusions 47, the center 46 may have a conical shape.

[0043] (5) Modification 5 The medical light guide 4 does not have to have the core material 43 .

[0044] (6) Modification 6 As shown in Fig. 12 , the medical light guide 4 may be cylindrical. The view from the arrow C in Fig. 12 is a view of the cylindrical medical light guide 4 viewed from the second flat surface 45 side of the assembly 42. The view from the arrow D in Fig. 12 is a view of the cylindrical medical light guide 4 viewed from the first flat surface 44 side of the assembly 42. In the cylindrical medical light guide 4, the multiple light guides 41 may be arranged in a ring shape on the first flat surface 44 side as shown in the view from the arrow D in Fig. 12 , and may be arranged in a circle on the second flat surface 45 side as shown in the view from the arrow C in Fig. 12 .

[0045] The light guide 41 may be tapered. That is, the diameter of the light guide 41 increases from one end to the other end. FIG. 13 shows a medical light guide 4 having a tapered light guide 41. The view from the arrow C in FIG. 13 is a view of the medical light guide 4 having the tapered light guide 41 as seen from the second flat surface 45 of the assembly 42. The view from the arrow D in FIG. 13 is a view of the medical light guide 4 having the tapered light guide 41 as seen from the first flat surface 44 of the assembly 42. One end (the end with a smaller diameter) of the light guide 41 is disposed on the first flat surface 44 side. Meanwhile, the other end (the end with a larger diameter) of the light guide 41 is disposed on the second flat surface 45 side. Here, when the medical light guide 4 is cylindrical, the diameters of the first flat surface 44 and the second flat surface 45 are the same. The diameter of the light guide 41 is narrower on the first plane 44 side and wider on the second plane 45 side. Therefore, as shown in the view of arrow C in Fig. 13 , the light guides 41 are arranged in a circular shape on the second plane 45. On the other hand, as shown in the view of arrow D in Fig. 13 , the light guides 41 are arranged in an annular shape on the first plane 44.

[0046] (8) Modification 8 The light guide section 33 of the medical tubing 3 may be an annular member as shown in Figure 14. The light guide section 33 is disposed inside the tubing material of the medical tubing 3.

[0047] (9) Variation 9 When the light guide 33 of the medical tubing 3 is an optical fiber, the light guide 33 has a two-layer structure consisting of a central core and a cladding that has a lower refractive index than the core and surrounds the core. In this case, the light guide 33 may be formed only with a core, with the tubing material of the medical tubing 3 functioning as the cladding. The core of the light guide 33 of the medical tubing 3 may also be liquid. In this case, a hole extending in the axial direction of the medical tubing 3 from end face 34 to end face 35 is formed inside the tubing material of the medical tubing 3. Then, with one end of the hole blocked with a solid member, a liquid core is injected into the hole. The other end of the hole is then blocked with a solid member, and the liquid core is sealed in the hole.

[0048] (10) Modification 10 In the medical light guide 4, the resin that fixes the light guide 41 may be colored in a complementary color to the light emitted by the light source device 2. With this configuration, the medical light guide 4 is colored in a complementary color to the light emitted by the light source device 2. Here, complementary colors refer to a combination of colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. For example, the complementary color of red is blue-green. In other words, when the light source device 2 emits red light, the medical light guide 4 is colored blue-green. This allows light leaking from the light guide 41 to be absorbed by the complementary color, preventing it from interfering with the worker's work.

[0049] (11) Modification 11 As shown in Figure 15, the medical tube position confirmation system 1 may include a connector 60 that covers the connection surface between the medical tube 3 and the medical light guide 4, i.e., the area where the end surface 35 and the first flat surface 44 make surface contact. The connector 60 is colored in a complementary color to the light emitted by the light source device 2. For example, if the light source device 2 emits red light, the connector 60 is colored blue-green. The connector on the medical tube 3 side may also function as a connector when administering a nutritional supplement.

[0050] [Effects] (Aspect 1) In this embodiment, the medical light guide 4 includes an assembly 42 that bundles together a plurality of linear light guides 41 and forms a first plane 44 and a second plane 45 at both ends of the axial direction of the light guides 41, and the first plane 44 has an annular shape along a circumferential direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0051] According to the above-described medical light guide 4, by causing light from the light source device 2 to be incident on the second flat surface 45, the light enters the multiple light guides 41 without being scattered by reflection or refraction, and the light exits from the first flat surface 44. Furthermore, because the shape of the first flat surface 44 is such that the light is distributed in an annular shape along the circumferential direction perpendicular to the axial direction, the light exiting from the first flat surface 44 exits toward the annular end surface 35 on the proximal end 32 side of the medical tubing 3. Therefore, the light exiting from the light source can be efficiently incident on the end surface of the medical tubing outside the body.

[0052] In particular, by matching the diameter of the first flat surface 44 of the medical light guide 4 with the diameter of the proximal end 32 of the medical tubing 3, the efficiency with which light is incident from the light source device 2 through the medical light guide 4 and into the medical tubing 3 is increased. Furthermore, when the diameter of the first flat surface 44 is matched with the diameter of the plurality of light guiding sections 33 arranged in an annular shape on the medical tubing 3, or when the diameter of the first flat surface 44 is matched with the diameter of the annular light guiding section 33 as shown in FIG. 20 , the efficiency with which light is incident from the light source device 2 through the medical light guide 4 and into the medical tubing 3 is increased.

[0053] Furthermore, the light source device 2 generates heat during use. Therefore, if the light source device 2 and the medical tubing 3 were connected without the medical light guide 4, the medical tubing 3 could be damaged by the heat generated by the light source device 2. Therefore, by using the medical light guide 4, the light source device 2 and the medical tubing 3 are connected via the medical light guide 4. As a result, the possibility of damage to the medical tubing 3 can be reduced.

[0054] (Aspect 2) In Aspect 1, the annular shape of the first plane 44 of the medical light guide 4 is divided.

[0055] According to the above-described medical light guide 4, the light guide 41 can be easily arranged evenly in each divided region of the first plane 44, so that the amount of light emitted from the first plane 44 tends to be uniform in each divided region.

[0056] (Aspect 3) In Aspect 1 or 2, the medical light guide 4 has a circular second plane 45 .

[0057] According to the above-described medical light guide 4, since the second plane 45 is circular, when the light-emitting section 22 of the light source device 2 that comes into contact with the second plane 45 is circular, light is efficiently incident from the light-emitting section 22 toward the second plane 45.

[0058] (Aspect 4) In any of Aspects 1 to 3, the medical light guide 4 has a plurality of light guides 41 hardened with resin to form an assembly 42.

[0059] According to the above-described medical light guide 4, the multiple light guides 41 are solidified with resin, so that the position of the light guides 41 does not shift during use of the medical light guide 4, and light can be emitted from the first plane 44 in a stable state.

[0060] (Aspect 5) In any of Aspects 1 to 4, the medical light guide 4 further includes a fixture 50 for bundling a plurality of light guide bodies 41 together.

[0061] According to the above-described medical light guide 4, since the multiple light guides 41 are bundled together by the fixing device 50, the position of the light guides 41 is less likely to shift while the medical light guide 4 is in use, and light can be emitted from the first plane 44 in a stable state.

[0062] (Aspect 6) In any of Aspects 1 to 5, the medical light guide 4 further includes a core material 43 that is inserted into the first plane 44 side of the assembly 42 and that maintains the shape of the first plane 44 .

[0063] According to the above-described medical light guide 4, the core material 43 can easily maintain the first plane 44 in a circularly distributed shape along the circumferential direction, which makes it easier to bring the first plane 44 into contact with the end face 35 of the annular-shaped medical tube 3, and makes it easier for light emitted from the first plane 44 to be incident on the end face 35 more efficiently.

[0064] (Aspect 7) In Aspect 6, the medical light guide 4 has a core material 43 that is circular when viewed in the axial direction.

[0065] According to the above-described medical light guide 4, the core material 43 has a circular shape when viewed in the axial direction, which makes it easier to maintain the first flat surface 44 in the annular shape that is the shape of the end surface 35 of the medical tubing 3. Therefore, light emitted from the first flat surface 44 can be more efficiently incident on the end surface 35.

[0066] (Aspect 8) In aspect 6, the medical light guide 4 has a core material 43 having a cylindrical central portion 46 and a protrusion 47 extending radially from the side of the central portion 46 perpendicular to the axial direction, and the first plane 44 is divided by the protrusion 47.

[0067] According to the above-described medical light guide 4, the core material 43 has the protrusions 47, which divide the first plane 44. This allows the first plane 44 to be formed uniformly without deviation when viewed in the axial direction of the plurality of light guides 41. Therefore, light can be emitted uniformly from the first plane 44.

[0068] (Aspect 9) A medical tube position confirmation system 1 includes a medical light guide 4 according to any one of aspects 1 to 8, a light source device 2 that supplies light to the medical light guide 4, and a medical tube 3 that is connected to the medical light guide 4 and to which light is supplied.

[0069] According to the above-described medical tube position confirmation system 1, light emitted by the light source device 2 is supplied to the medical tube 3 through the medical light guide 4. Specifically, the light is supplied to the base end 32 of the medical tube 3 and is emitted from the tip end 31. Therefore, when an operator inserts the medical tube 3 through the patient's nasal cavity or oral cavity and leads it to the stomach, the operator can perform the operation while checking the position of the tip end 31.

[0070] (Aspect 10) In Aspect 9, the medical light guide 4 has a resin that fixes the light guide body 41 and is colored in a complementary color to the light.

[0071] According to the above-described medical tube position confirmation system 1, the resin that secures the medical light guide 4, particularly the light guide body 41, is colored in a complementary color to the light emitted from the light source device 2. Therefore, when the light source device 2 and the medical light guide 4 are connected, light that leaks from the connection is absorbed by the complementary color. As a result, the worker's work is less likely to be hindered by the leaked light.

[0072] (Embodiment 11) In embodiment 9 or 10, medical tube position confirmation system 1 further includes connector 60 that is colored in a complementary color to the light and covers the connection surface between medical light guide 4 and medical tube 3.

[0073] According to the above-described medical tube position confirmation system 1, the connector 60, which is colored in the complementary color of the light emitted from the light source device 2, covers the connection surface between the medical light guide 4 and the medical tube 3. Therefore, when light leaks from the connection surface between the two, the light leaking from the connection is absorbed by the complementary color. As a result, the worker's work is less likely to be hindered by the leaked light.

[0074] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Medical tube position confirmation system 2... Light source device 3... Medical tube 4... Medical light guide 41... Light guide body 42... Aggregate 43... Core material 44... First plane 45... Second plane 46... Center portion 47... Protrusion 50... Fixing tool 60... Connector

Claims

1. A medical light guide comprising an assembly of a plurality of linear light guides bundled together to form a first plane and a second plane at each end of the axial direction of the light guides, wherein the first plane has an annular shape extending along a circumferential direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

2. The medical light guide of claim 1, wherein the annular shape is segmented.

3. A medical light guide according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second plane is circular.

4. A medical light guide according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of light guides are hardened with a resin to form the assembly.

5. A medical light guide according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a fixture for bundling a plurality of said light guides together.

6. A medical light guide according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a core material inserted into the first flat surface side of the assembly to maintain the shape of the first flat surface.

7. The medical light guide according to claim 6, wherein the core material is circular when viewed in the axial direction.

8. A medical light guide as described in claim 6, wherein the core material has a cylindrical central portion and protrusions extending radially from a side surface of the central portion perpendicular to the axial direction, and the first plane is divided by the protrusions.

9. A medical tube position confirmation system comprising: a medical light guide according to any one of claims 1 to 8; a light source device that supplies light to said medical light guide; and a medical tube that is connected to said medical light guide and through which said light is supplied.

10. The medical tube location confirmation system of claim 9, wherein said medical light guide is colored the complementary color of said light.

11. The medical tube position confirmation system according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising a connector that is colored in a complementary color to the light and covers the connection surface between the medical light guide and the medical tube.

Images