Blood vessel harvesting system

A blood vessel harvesting system, which harvests blood vessels in a state of being covered by surrounding tissue, includes a separating device and a display device. The separating device includes a rod portion that is inserted into a living body, an optically transparent taper-shaped separating portion that is disposed at a distal end part of the rod portion, an endoscope portion that is disposed inside the rod portion and captures an endoscope image of an interior of the living body via the separating portion, and an ultrasound transceiver portion that is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the rod portion, irradiates the interior of the living body with an ultrasonic wave, and receives a reflected wave from the interior of the living body. The display device matches a scale of the endoscope image with a scale of an ultrasound image acquired by the ultrasound transceiver portion and simultaneously displays the endoscope image and the ultrasound image side by side on the display screen, and the display device disposes the endoscope image and the ultrasound image on the display screen such that a point in the endoscope image indicating a predetermined position in the living body matches a point in the ultrasound image indicating the predetermined position on the display screen.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2019/049296, filed Dec. 17, 2019, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-237433, filed Dec. 19, 2018, the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a blood vessel harvesting system.

BACKGROUND

A vein graft is a substitute blood vessel used in, for example, coronary artery bypass grafting, and as the vein graft, for example, a great saphenous vein graft (SVG) is used. As a method for harvesting a graft, there is a method (OVH: Open Vessel Harvesting) (first conventional method) in which skin is incised and a graft is harvested, which has been generally used so far. In addition, as another method for harvesting a graft, there is a method using an endoscope (EVH: Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting) (second conventional method). EVH has advantages such as fewer wound complications (wound infection, lymph fistula, or the like) and excellent cosmetology.

In the method using the current EVH device (second conventional method), the SVG is separated from a surrounding adipose tissue and only the SVG is harvested. In the method, for example, an operator of the EVH device first makes a small incision in the skin to secure the SVG directly underneath. Subsequently, the operator of the EVH device then separates, for example, the surrounding adipose tissue positioned on an upper side of the SVG from an upper part of an outer peripheral surface of the SVG by an optically transparent taper-shaped separator attached to a distal end part of the endoscope. In addition, the operator of the EVH device separates the surrounding adipose tissue positioned on a below side of the SVG from a lower part of the outer peripheral surface of the SVG. In addition, the operator of the EVH device separates the surrounding adipose tissue positioned on a left side of the SVG from a left part of the outer peripheral surface of the SVG. In addition, the operator of the EVH device separates the surrounding adipose tissue positioned on a right side of the SVG from a right part of the outer peripheral surface of the SVG. As a result, the SVG is in a state of hanging from the surrounding adipose tissue via a side branch extending radially from the outer peripheral surface of the SVG. Next, the operator of the dissection device inserts the dissection device into the living body in parallel with the endoscope, and executes side branch processing in which the side branch is dissected by the dissection device.

In the first conventional method and the second conventional method described above, since the SVG is harvested in an exposed state, the quality of the SVG, such as a graft patency rate, may be deteriorated due to graft damage and damage of an inner membrane associated with processing of expanding the graft by applying high pressure to the graft, which has been pointed out as a problem of the first conventional method and the second conventional method. Therefore, a no-touch method (pedicle method) in which the SVG is harvested in a state where the SVG (main trunk) is covered with the surrounding adipose tissue without touching the SVG may be used.

In the no-touch method, as described above, the SVG is harvested in a state where the SVG (main trunk) is covered with the surrounding adipose tissue without touching the SVG, and processing of expanding the vein by applying high pressure to the graft is also performed. As a result, damage to the vascular endothelium is reduced, an action of a vascular endothelial protective substance on the SVG from the surrounding adipose tissue is expected, and the graft patency rate is expected to be improved. On the other hand, the no-touch method has a problem in that there are many postoperative wound complications since the skin is incised.

Therefore, conventionally, the no-touch method by EVH has been tried. In the no-touch method by EVH at the current stage, the operator should use a conventional device to operate the endoscope based on an endoscope image in which the SVG is not visible and harvest the SVG in a state where the SVG (main trunk) is covered with the surrounding adipose tissue. In other words, the no-touch method by EVH at the current stage is considered quite difficult and difficult to use widely.

Further, conventionally, a separating device that harvests a blood vessel together with a surrounding tissue thereof is known (for example, refer to JP2017153606A). According to the technique disclosed in JP2017153606A, a separating device includes a grip portion that has an insertion lumen into which an imaging device (for example, an endoscope) can be inserted, and a separating member provided at a distal end part of the grip portion. The separating member has a separating portion provided with a processing unit that performs predetermined processing on a branched blood vessel (side branch) branched from the blood vessel, and a protruding portion protruding from the separating portion in the thickness direction of the separating portion.

However, in the technique described in JP2017153606A, for example, an endoscope image can be obtained by an imaging device, but a blood vessel is covered with a surrounding tissue. Therefore, the blood vessel does not appear in the image obtained by the imaging device, such as the endoscope image. Accordingly, the operator of the separating device disclosed in JP2017153606A should operate the separating device in a state where a position of the blood vessel cannot be grasped.

SUMMARY

In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a blood vessel harvesting system capable of grasping a position of a blood vessel covered with a surrounding tissue when operating a separating device.

One aspect of the present invention is a blood vessel harvesting system that harvests a blood vessel in a state of being covered with a surrounding tissue, the blood vessel harvesting system including a separating device, and a display device, in which the separating device includes a rod portion that is inserted into a living body, an optically transparent taper-shaped separating portion that is disposed at a distal end part of the rod portion, an endoscope portion that is disposed inside the rod portion, and captures an endoscope image of an interior of the living body via the separating portion, and an ultrasound transceiver portion that is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the rod portion, irradiates the interior of the living body with an ultrasonic wave, and receives a reflected wave from the interior of the living body, the display device includes a display screen on which the endoscope image and an ultrasound image generated based on the reflected wave received by the ultrasound transceiver portion are displayed, the display device matches a scale of the endoscope image with a scale of an ultrasound image and simultaneously displays the endoscope image and the ultrasound image side by side on the display screen, and the display device disposes the endoscope image and the ultrasound image on the display screen such that a point in the endoscope image indicating a predetermined position in the living body matches a point in the ultrasound image indicating the predetermined position on the display screen.

In the blood vessel harvesting system according to one aspect of the present invention, the ultrasound transceiver portion may irradiate a side of the separating portion with respect to a normal line of the outer peripheral surface extending from the ultrasound transceiver portion with the ultrasonic wave.

In the blood vessel harvesting system according to one aspect of the present invention, the display device may display an arc-shaped line having a radius of a predetermined size centered on a blood vessel in the ultrasound image in the endoscope image as a separating position guideline.

In the blood vessel harvesting system according to one aspect of the present invention, the blood vessel harvesting system further includes an input device that receives an input operation by an operator of the blood vessel harvesting system, in which the input device may include a separating position guideline radius setting unit that receives an input of a set value of a radius of the separating position guideline, and the display device may display the separating position guideline having the radius of the set value input to the separating position guideline radius setting unit in the endoscope image.

In the blood vessel harvesting system according to one aspect of the present invention, the separating device may further include an acoustic medium supply portion that supplies physiological saline as an acoustic medium into a living body.

In the blood vessel harvesting system according to one aspect of the present invention, the blood vessel harvesting system may further include a blood vessel pressurizing device that applies pressure into a blood vessel to be harvested during a period in which the display device displays the ultrasound image on the display screen. The blood vessel pressurizing device is preferably pressurized to such an extent that blood flows with arterial pressure from a line punctured into an artery, for example, in order to avoid damage to the vascular endothelium due to applying pressure into the blood vessel.

In the blood vessel harvesting system according to one aspect of the present invention, the blood vessel harvesting system further includes a dissection device that performs hemostasis and cutting of a side branch extending radially from an outer peripheral surface of the blood vessel to be harvested, in which the dissection device may include a clip processing unit that performs the hemostasis of the side branch and a scissors portion that performs the cutting of the side branch.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a blood vessel harvesting system capable of grasping a position of a blood vessel covered with a surrounding tissue when operating a separating device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the blood vessel harvesting system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG.1is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a blood vessel harvesting system10of the first embodiment.FIG.2is a diagram showing an example of an overall configuration of a separating device A shown inFIG.1.

In the example shown inFIGS.1and2, the blood vessel harvesting system10of the first embodiment is used to harvest a blood vessel GR (refer toFIG.3) to be used as a substitute blood vessel such as a great saphenous vein graft, or the like, in a state of being covered with a surrounding tissue SR (refer toFIG.3) having a uniform thickness. The blood vessel harvesting system10includes the separating device A, a display device B, an input device C, a blood vessel pressurizing device D, a dissection device E, and a control unit F.

The separating device A separates the surrounding tissue SR from the blood vessel GR and the like. The separating device A includes a rod portion A1, a separating portion A2, an endoscope portion A3, an ultrasound transceiver portion A4, an acoustic medium supply portion A5, and a grip portion A6.

The rod portion A1is a part inserted into an interior IV of the living body (refer toFIG.3) from a small incision in the skin.

In the example shown inFIGS.1and2, the rod portion A1has a substantially cylindrical shape (has a circular cross-sectional shape), but in other examples, a rod A1may have a flat shape, for example, similarly to the base portion of the JP2017153606A (may have an elliptical cross-sectional shape).

In the example shown inFIGS.1and2, the separating portion A2is formed in a tapered shape (for example, a substantially conical shape) by an optically transparent material. The separating portion A2is disposed at the distal end part A11of the rod portion A1. The separating portion A2includes a top portion A21.

The endoscope portion A3is disposed inside the rod portion A1. The endoscope portion A3captures an endoscope image B11of an interior of a living body via the separating portion A2. The endoscope portion A3is an imaging device for an endoscope. The endoscope portion A3includes an illumination portion (not shown) for irradiating the interior IV of the living body with illumination light, and a camera portion (not shown) for capturing an image (endoscope image B11) of the interior IV of the living body illuminated by the illumination light. The top portion A21of the separating portion A2is disposed on, for example, a central axis (optical axis) of the camera portion.

The ultrasound transceiver portion A4is disposed on an outer peripheral surface A12of the rod portion A1. The ultrasound transceiver portion A4includes an oscillator unit (not shown) that irradiates the interior IV of the living body with an ultrasonic wave US (refer toFIG.3) and receives the reflected wave from the interior IV of living body.

FIG.3is a diagram showing an example of an irradiation direction of an ultrasonic wave US irradiated from an ultrasound transceiver portion A4.

In the example shown inFIG.3, the irradiation direction of the ultrasonic wave US irradiated from the ultrasound transceiver portion A4is set to an advancing direction (right side ofFIG.3) of the separating device A by, for example, an acoustic lens (not shown). More specifically, the ultrasound transceiver portion A4irradiates a side (right side ofFIG.3) of the separating portion A2with respect to a normal line A12L of the outer peripheral surface A12of the rod portion A1extending from the ultrasound transceiver portion A4with the ultrasonic wave US.

InFIG.3, SB indicates a side branch extending radially from an outer peripheral surface of the blood vessel GR to be harvested. SRC indicates a cavity formed in the interior IV of the living body by the separating portion A2separating the surrounding tissue SR of the blood vessel GR.

In the example shown inFIG.3, as described above, the ultrasound transceiver portion A4irradiates the side of the separating portion A2with respect to the normal line A12L of the outer peripheral surface A12of the rod portion A1extending from the ultrasound transceiver portion A4with the ultrasonic wave US, but in other examples, the ultrasound transceiver portion A4may irradiate a direction different from that of the example shown inFIG.3with the ultrasonic wave US.

In the example shown inFIGS.1and2, the acoustic medium supply portion A5supplies, for example, physiological saline, as an acoustic medium to which the ultrasonic wave US irradiated from the ultrasound transceiver portion A4propagates, to the interior IV of living body. The grip portion A6is gripped by an operator of the separating device A.

In another example, the separating device A may not include the acoustic medium supply portion A5.

In the example shown inFIGS.1and2, the control unit F generates an ultrasound image B12of the interior IV of the living body based on the reflected wave from the interior IV of the living body received by the ultrasound transceiver portion A4. Specifically, the control unit F generates the ultrasound image B12of the interior IV of the living body by performing processing such as luminance modulation for the reflected wave from the interior IV of living body.

The display device B displays the endoscope image B11captured by the endoscope portion A3and the ultrasound image B12generated by the control unit F. The display device B includes a display screen B1on which the endoscope image B11and the ultrasound image B12are displayed. In addition, the display device B displays a boundary line B13between the endoscope image B11and the ultrasound image B12on the display screen B1.

The operator of the separating device A can grasp a position, a direction, and the like of the surrounding tissue SR to be separated by the separating portion A2by viewing the endoscope image B11displayed on the display screen B1. The operator of the separating device A can proceed with separation processing while grasping a position of the blood vessel GR and the side branch SB and a thickness of the surrounding tissue SR to be left in the state of adhering to the blood vessel GR by viewing the ultrasound image B11and the endoscope image B12displayed on the display screen B1.

FIG.4is a diagram explaining an example of a separating position SRP set for harvesting a blood vessel GR in a state of being covered with a surrounding tissue SR having a uniform thickness.

In the example shown inFIG.4, in order to harvest the blood vessel GR in a state of being covered with the surrounding tissue SR having a uniform thickness (for example, a thickness of 5 mm), the separating position SRP, which is a position at which the surrounding tissue SR is separated by the separating portion A2of the separating device A, is set on a cylindrical surface centered on the blood vessel GR.

InFIG.4, the SRT indicates an upper part of the separating position SRP of the surrounding tissue SR, which is positioned above the blood vessel GR. The SRB indicates a lower part of the separating position SRP of the surrounding tissue SR, which is positioned below the blood vessel GR. The SRL indicates a left part of the separating position SRP of the surrounding tissue SR, which is positioned on the left side of the blood vessel GR. The SRR indicates a right part of the separating position SRP of the surrounding tissue SR, which is positioned on the right side of the blood vessel GR.

FIG.5Ais a diagram showing an example of a relationship between a blood vessel GR and an ultrasound transceiver portion A4of a separating device A when an upper part SRT of a surrounding tissue SR is separated at a separating position SRP by the separating portion A2of the separating device A.

In the example shown inFIG.5A, when the upper part SRT of the surrounding tissue SR is separated at the separating position SRP by the separating portion A2of the separating device A, the separating device A is operated by the operator of the separating device A such that the ultrasound transceiver portion A4is positioned below the top portion A21of the separating portion A2and faces the blood vessel GR.

FIG.6Ais a diagram showing an example of an endoscope image B11and an ultrasound image B12displayed on a display screen B1of a display device B when an operation for positioning the separating portion A2of the separating device A at the separating position SRP of the upper part SRT of the surrounding tissue SR shown inFIG.5Ais performed.

In the example shown inFIGS.1and6A, the display device B matches a scale of the endoscope image B11with a scale of the ultrasound image B12, and simultaneously displays the endoscope image B11and the ultrasound image B12side by side on the display screen B1. In addition, the display device B disposes the endoscope image B11and the ultrasound image B12on the display screen B1such that a point B11A in the endoscope image B11indicating a predetermined position in the interior IV of the living body and a point B12A in the ultrasound image B12indicating the predetermined position match with each other on the display screen B1.

More specifically, in the example shown inFIG.6A, the top portion A21of the separating portion A2disposed on the central axis (optical axis) of the camera portion of the endoscope portion A3of the separating device A and the blood vessel GR covered with the surrounding tissue SR are simultaneously displayed on the display screen B1of the display device B. Therefore, the operator of the separating device A can perform separation processing of the upper part SRT of the surrounding tissue SR by the separating portion A2while grasping a position of the blood vessel GR covered with the surrounding tissue SR (that is, while grasping a distance between the blood vessel GR and the separating portion A2of the separating device A).

That is, in the example shown inFIG.6A, the operator of the separating device A can make a thickness of the upper part SRT of the surrounding tissue SR covering the upper part of the outer peripheral surface of the blood vessel GR to be harvested uniform by operating the separating device A while grasping a position of the blood vessel GR covered with the surrounding tissue SR.

In the example shown inFIGS.1and6A, the display device B displays an arc-shaped line having a radius of a predetermined size centered on a blood vessel GR in the ultrasound image B12in the endoscope image B11as a separating position guideline B11G.

In another example, the separating position guideline B11G may not be displayed in the endoscope image B11.

In the example shown inFIG.6A, the top portion A21of the separating portion A2(refer toFIGS.1and2) displayed in the endoscope image B11is positioned above the separating position guideline B11G. Therefore, the operator of the separating device A can grasp that it is necessary to move the separating portion A2downward to perform the separation processing of the upper part SRT of the surrounding tissue SR by the separating portion A2.

FIG.5Bis a diagram showing an example of a relationship between a blood vessel GR and an ultrasound transceiver portion A4of a separating device A when a lower part SRB of a surrounding tissue SR is separated at a separating position SRP by the separating portion A2of the separating device A.

In the example shown inFIG.5B, when the lower part SRB of the surrounding tissue SR is separated at the separating position SRP by the separating portion A2of the separating device A, the separating device A is operated by the operator of the separating device A such that the ultrasound transceiver portion A4is positioned above the top portion A21of the separating portion A2and faces the blood vessel GR.

FIG.6Bis a diagram showing an example of an endoscope image B11and an ultrasound image B12displayed on a display screen B1of a display device B when an operation for positioning the separating portion A2of the separating device A at the separating position SRP of the lower part SRB of the surrounding tissue SR shown inFIG.5Bis performed.

In the example shown inFIGS.1and6B, similarly to the example shown inFIG.6A, the display device B matches a scale of the endoscope image B11with a scale of the ultrasound image B12, and simultaneously displays the endoscope image B11and the ultrasound image B12side by side on the display screen B1. In addition, the display device B disposes the endoscope image B11and the ultrasound image B12on the display screen B1such that a point B11B in the endoscope image B11indicating a predetermined position in the interior IV of the living body and a point B12B in the ultrasound image B12indicating the predetermined position match with each other on the display screen B1.

More specifically, in the example shown inFIG.6B, the top portion A21of the separating portion A2disposed on the central axis (optical axis) of the camera portion of the endoscope portion A3of the separating device A and the blood vessel GR covered with the surrounding tissue SR are simultaneously displayed on the display screen B1of the display device B. Therefore, the operator of the separating device A can perform separation processing of the lower part SRB of the surrounding tissue SR by the separating portion A2while grasping a position of the blood vessel GR covered with the surrounding tissue SR (that is, while grasping a distance between the blood vessel GR and the separating portion A2of the separating device A).

That is, in the example shown inFIG.6B, the operator of the separating device A can make a thickness of the lower part SRB of the surrounding tissue SR covering the lower part of the outer peripheral surface of the blood vessel GR to be harvested uniform by operating the separating device A while grasping a position of the blood vessel GR covered with the surrounding tissue SR.

In addition, in the example shown inFIGS.1and6B, similarly to the example shown inFIG.6A, the display device B displays an arc-shaped line having a radius of a predetermined size centered on a blood vessel GR in the ultrasound image B12in the endoscope image B11as a separating position guideline B11G.

In another example, the separating position guideline B11G may not be displayed in the endoscope image B11.

In the example shown inFIG.6B, the top portion A21of the separating portion A2(refer toFIGS.1and2) displayed in the endoscope image B11is positioned above the separating position guideline B11G. Therefore, the operator of the separating device A can grasp that it is necessary to move the separating portion A2downward to perform the separation processing of the lower part SRB of the surrounding tissue SR by the separating portion A2.

FIG.5Cis a diagram showing an example of a relationship between a blood vessel GR and an ultrasound transceiver portion A4of a separating device A when a left part SRL of a surrounding tissue SR is separated at a separating position SRP by the separating portion A2of the separating device A.

In the example shown inFIG.5C, when the left part SRL of the surrounding tissue SR is separated at the separating position SRP by the separating portion A2of the separating device A, the separating device A is operated by the operator of the separating device A such that the ultrasound transceiver portion A4is positioned on the right side of the top portion A21of the separating portion A2and faces the blood vessel GR.

FIG.6Cis a diagram showing an example of an endoscope image B11and an ultrasound image B12displayed on a display screen B1of a display device B when an operation for positioning the separating portion A2of the separating device A at the separating position SRP of the left part SRL of the surrounding tissue SR shown inFIG.5Cis performed.

In the example shown inFIGS.1and6C, similarly to the example shown inFIG.6A, the display device B matches a scale of the endoscope image B11with a scale of the ultrasound image B12, and simultaneously displays the endoscope image B11and the ultrasound image B12side by side on the display screen B1. In addition, the display device B disposes the endoscope image B11and the ultrasound image B12on the display screen B1such that a point B11C in the endoscope image B11indicating a predetermined position in the interior IV of the living body and a point B12C in the ultrasound image B12indicating the predetermined position match with each other on the display screen B1.

More specifically, in the example shown inFIG.6C, the top portion A21of the separating portion A2disposed on the central axis (optical axis) of the camera portion of the endoscope portion A3of the separating device A and the blood vessel GR covered with the surrounding tissue SR are simultaneously displayed on the display screen B1of the display device B. Therefore, the operator of the separating device A can perform separation processing of the left part SRL of the surrounding tissue SR by the separating portion A2while grasping a position of the blood vessel GR covered with the surrounding tissue SR (that is, while grasping a distance between the blood vessel GR and the separating portion A2of the separating device A).

That is, in the example shown inFIG.6C, the operator of the separating device A can make a thickness of the left part SRL of the surrounding tissue SR covering the left part of the outer peripheral surface of the blood vessel GR to be harvested uniform by operating the separating device A while grasping a position of the blood vessel GR covered with the surrounding tissue SR.

In addition, in the example shown inFIGS.1and6C, similarly to the example shown inFIG.6A, the display device B displays an arc-shaped line having a radius of a predetermined size centered on a blood vessel GR in the ultrasound image B12in the endoscope image B11as a separating position guideline B11G.

In another example, the separating position guideline B11G may not be displayed in the endoscope image B11.

In the example shown inFIG.6C, the top portion A21of the separating portion A2(refer toFIGS.1and2) displayed in the endoscope image B11is positioned on the separating position guideline B11G. Therefore, the operator of the separating device A can understand that the separation processing of the left part SRL of the surrounding tissue SR should be performed by the separating portion A2at a current position.

FIG.5Dis a diagram showing an example of a relationship between a blood vessel GR and an ultrasound transceiver portion A4of a separating device A when a right part SRR of a surrounding tissue SR is separated at a separating position SRP by the separating portion A2of the separating device A.

In the example shown inFIG.5D, when the right part SRR of the surrounding tissue SR is separated at the separating position SRP by the separating portion A2of the separating device A, the separating device A is operated by the operator of the separating device A such that the ultrasound transceiver portion A4is positioned on the left side of the top portion A21of the separating portion A2and faces the blood vessel GR.

FIG.6Dis a diagram showing an example of an endoscope image B11and an ultrasound image B12displayed on a display screen B1of a display device B when an operation for positioning the separating portion A2of the separating device A at the separating position SRP of the right part SRR of the surrounding tissue SR shown inFIG.5Dis performed.

In the example shown inFIGS.1and6D, similarly to the example shown inFIG.6A, the display device B matches a scale of the endoscope image B11with a scale of the ultrasound image B12, and simultaneously displays the endoscope image B11and the ultrasound image B12side by side on the display screen B1. In addition, the display device B disposes the endoscope image B11and the ultrasound image B12on the display screen B1such that a point B11D in the endoscope image B11indicating a predetermined position in the interior IV of the living body and a point B12D in the ultrasound image B12indicating the predetermined position match with each other on the display screen B1.

More specifically, in the example shown inFIG.6D, the top portion A21of the separating portion A2disposed on the central axis (optical axis) of the camera portion of the endoscope portion A3of the separating device A and the blood vessel GR covered with the surrounding tissue SR are simultaneously displayed on the display screen B1of the display device B. Therefore, the operator of the separating device A can perform separation processing of the right part SRR of the surrounding tissue SR by the separating portion A2while grasping a position of the blood vessel GR covered with the surrounding tissue SR (that is, while grasping a distance between the blood vessel GR and the separating portion A2of the separating device A).

That is, in the example shown inFIG.6D, the operator of the separating device A can make a thickness of the right part SRR of the surrounding tissue SR covering the right part of the outer peripheral surface of the blood vessel GR to be harvested uniform by operating the separating device A while grasping a position of the blood vessel GR covered with the surrounding tissue SR.

In addition, in the example shown inFIGS.1and6D, similarly to the example shown inFIG.6A, the display device B displays an arc-shaped line having a radius of a predetermined size centered on a blood vessel GR in the ultrasound image B12in the endoscope image B11as a separating position guideline B11G.

In another example, the separating position guideline B11G may not be displayed in the endoscope image B11.

In the example shown inFIG.6D, the top portion A21of the separating portion A2(refer toFIGS.1and2) displayed in the endoscope image B11is positioned on the right side of the separating position guideline B11G. Therefore, the operator of the separating device A can grasp that it is necessary to move the separating portion A2to the left side to perform the separation processing of the right part SRR of the surrounding tissue SR by the separating portion A2.

In the example shown inFIG.1, the input device C receives an input operation of the operator of the blood vessel harvesting system10. The input device C includes a radius setting unit C1. The radius setting unit C1receives, for example, an input of a set value of a radius of the separating position guideline B11G (refer toFIG.6Aand the like) by the operator of the separating device A.

In another example, the input device C may not include the radius setting unit C1.

FIG.7Ais a diagram showing an example of an endoscope image B11and an ultrasound image B12displayed on a display screen B1of a display device B when a radius of a separating position guideline B11G is set to the first set value.FIG.7Bis a diagram showing an example of an endoscope image B11and an ultrasound image B12displayed on a display screen B1of a display device B when a radius of a separating position guideline B11G is set to the second set value (>the first set value).

In the example shown inFIGS.1and7A, the radius of the separating position guideline B11G is set to the first set value via the radius setting unit C1of the input device C. The display device B displays the separating position guideline B11G having the radius of the first set value input to the radius setting unit C1in the endoscope image B11. Therefore, the operator of the separating device A can grasp that it is necessary to move the separating portion A2to the lower side (lower side ofFIG.7A) in order to harvest the blood vessel GR in a state of being covered with the surrounding tissue SR having a substantially cylindrical shape and the radius of the first set value.

In the example shown inFIGS.1and7B, the radius of the separating position guideline B11G is set to the second set value (>the first set value) via the radius setting unit C1of the input device C. The display device B displays the separating position guideline B11G having the radius of the second set value input to the radius setting unit C1in the endoscope image B11. Therefore, the operator of the separating device A can grasp that it is necessary to move the separating portion A2to the upper side (upper side ofFIG.7B) in order to harvest the blood vessel GR in a state of being covered with the surrounding tissue SR having a substantially cylindrical shape and the radius of the second set value.

In the example shown inFIG.1, the blood vessel pressurizing device D applies pressure into the blood vessel GR to be harvested during a period in which the display device B displays the ultrasound image B12on the display screen B1. For example, when the great saphenous vein graft is to be harvested, in order to improve the visibility of the great saphenous vein graft in the ultrasound image B12, cannulation is performed at the wound, and blood applied with arterial pressure flows into the great saphenous vein graft by connecting a catheter extended from a sheath placed in the femoral artery.

In another example, the blood vessel harvesting system10may not include the blood vessel pressurizing device D.

In the example shown inFIG.1, the dissection device E includes a hemostatic and cutting processing unit E3that performs hemostasis and cutting (side branch processing) of the side branch SB (refer toFIG.3). The hemostatic and cutting processing unit E3includes, for example, a pair of electrodes having a bipolar structure.

Since the side branch SB having a certain thickness is displayed on the ultrasound image B12even when it is embedded in the surrounding tissue SR, the operator of the separating device A can grasp the side branch SB requiring hemostatic and cutting processing before the side branch SB appears on the endoscope image by viewing the ultrasound image B12displayed on the display screen B1. This reduces the appearance of an unexpected side branch SB and reduces damage to the side branch SB and blood vessel GR.

In the blood vessel harvesting system10of the first embodiment, as described above, the endoscope image B11of the interior IV of the living body captured by the endoscope portion A3and the ultrasound image B12generated based on the reflected wave received by the ultrasound transceiver portion A4are displayed simultaneously side by side. Therefore, the operator of the separating device A can proceed with the separation processing of the surrounding tissue SR while viewing the endoscope image B11while grasping a position of the blood vessel GR covered with the surrounding tissue SR by viewing the ultrasound image B12. As a result, the operator of the separating device A can harvest the blood vessel GR in a state of being covered with the surrounding tissue SR having a uniform thickness.

In addition, in the blood vessel harvesting system10of the first embodiment, as described above, the ultrasound transceiver portion A4irradiates a side (right side ofFIG.3) of the separating portion A2with respect to a normal line A12L of the outer peripheral surface A12of the rod portion A1extending from the ultrasound transceiver portion A4with the ultrasonic wave US. Therefore, the display device B can display the ultrasound image B12at a position adjacent to a position included in the endoscope image B11in the interior IV of living body.

In addition, in the blood vessel harvesting system10of the first embodiment, as described above, the display device B displays an arc-shaped line having a radius of a predetermined size centered on a blood vessel GR in the ultrasound image B12in the endoscope image B11as a separating position guideline B11G. Therefore, the blood vessel harvesting system10can reduce the difficulty of the separation processing of the surrounding tissue SR by the operator of the separating device A as compared with a case where the separating position guideline B11G is not displayed.

In addition, in the blood vessel harvesting system10of the first embodiment, as described above, the display device B displays the separating position guideline B11G having the radius of the set value input to the radius setting unit C1in the endoscope image B11. Therefore, the display device B can display the separating position guideline B11G having a radius of a different size in the endoscope image B11according to the input of the set value to the radius setting unit C1.

In addition, in the blood vessel harvesting system10of the first embodiment, as described above, the acoustic medium supply portion A5supplies, for example, physiological saline, as an acoustic medium to which the ultrasonic wave US irradiated from the ultrasound transceiver portion A4propagates, to the interior IV of living body. Therefore, the ultrasound image B12can be made clearer as compared with a case where the acoustic medium is not supplied to the interior IV of living body.

In the blood vessel harvesting system10of the first embodiment, as described above, the blood vessel pressurizing device D applies pressure into the blood vessel GR to be harvested during a period in which the display device B displays the ultrasound image B12on the display screen B1. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the blood vessel GR is crushed during a period in which the display device B displays the ultrasound image B12on the display screen B1. As a result, the display device B can clearly display the blood vessel GR in the ultrasound image B12as compared with a case where no pressure is applied in the blood vessel GR to be harvested.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the blood vessel harvesting system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The blood vessel harvesting system10of the second embodiment is configured similarly to the blood vessel harvesting system10of the above-described first embodiment, except for the points described later. Accordingly, according to the blood vessel harvesting system10of the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the blood vessel harvesting system10of the above-described first embodiment described above can be obtained except for the points described later.

FIG.8is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a blood vessel harvesting system10of the second embodiment.

In the example shown inFIG.1, the dissection device E includes the hemostatic and cutting processing unit E3that performs hemostasis and cutting (side branch processing) of the side branch SB (refer toFIG.3), but in the example shown inFIG.8, the dissection device E includes clip processing units E1and a scissors portion E2.

In the example shown inFIG.8, the side branch processing is performed by the clip processing units E1and the scissors portion E2. Specifically, the clip processing units E1perform the hemostasis of the side branch SB. The scissors portion E2performs cutting of the side branch SB in a state in which the hemostasis of the side branch SB is performed by the clip processing units E1on both sides of the scissors portion E2.

As described above, EVH has advantages in terms of wound complications and cosmetology, but there are also aspects in which problems have been pointed out in terms of graft damage and graft patency rate. On the other hand, the no-touch method is a method that is expected to improve the patency rate of a vein graft, but at present, a harvesting method in which the skin is incised is the mainstream, and there are disadvantages in terms of wound complications and cosmetology. When the no-touch method by EVH can be easily performed with such a new device, it may be possible to obtain advantages in both aspects, which leads to patient benefit, and development.

Both EVH and the no-touch method are not yet widely used in Japan, but EVH is widely used mainly in the United States, and is expected to expand overseas.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and modifications may be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The configurations described in each of the above-described embodiments and examples may be combined.