Patent Publication Number: US-2022211955-A1

Title: Puncture-assistance tool, puncture device, and puncture method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to, for example, a puncture assisting tool that is used to insert a needle into the skin of a living body. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In the collection of blood or the like of a living body, a puncture assisting tool is used to insert a needle into the skin of the living body. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a puncture instrument that includes a suction cup, a gripping part, a cavity, a nonreturn valve, and an injection needle. In the technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1, by lifting the gripping part up, a negative pressure is generated inside the cavity so that the suction cup suction-attracts the skin. Then, by releasing the gripping part, the injection needle is inserted into the skin. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     [Patent Literature 1] 
     Japanese Patent Application Publication Tokukai No. 2009-112416 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     Unfortunately, the technique of Patent Literature 1 causes the skin to be greatly depressed through the application of pressure by the injection needle during the insertion of the injection needle. This stimulates a pain sensory nerve of a living body and thus causes pain to the living body. Further, the technique of Patent Literature 1 may cause the needle to be buckled during the insertion of the needle. 
     An aspect of the present invention has an object to achieve a puncture assisting tool that makes it possible to cause no pain to a living body and prevent a needle from being buckled. 
     Solution to Problem 
     In order to attain the object, a puncture assisting tool in accordance with an aspect of the present invention includes: an attachment part that is attached to skin; and a guide part that is located inside a region of the attachment part in which region the attachment part is attached to the skin, the guide part being provided with a through-hole through which a needle passes and guiding movement of the needle. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     An aspect of the present invention makes it possible to cause no pain to a living body and prevent a needle from being buckled. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a configuration of a puncture instrument in accordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a puncture assisting tool which is included in the puncture instrument. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a puncture assisting tool cut along a plane that passes through a guide part and an air discharge part which are included in the puncture assisting tool. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the puncture assisting tool as viewed from an upward direction in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
       (a) to (c) of  FIG. 6  are views each for describing an example of use of the puncture instrument. 
         FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a state in which skin of a living body has been sucked by the puncture assisting tool. 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view illustrating a state in which a needle is inserted into the living body. 
       (a) of  FIG. 9  is a plan view of a puncture assisting tool in accordance with Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and (b) of  FIG. 9  is a side view of the puncture assisting tool. 
         FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a configuration of a puncture instrument in accordance with Embodiment 3 of the present invention. 
       (a) to (c) of  FIG. 11  are views each for describing an example of use of the puncture instrument. 
         FIG. 12  is a view illustrating a configuration of a puncture instrument in accordance with Embodiment 4 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a puncture assisting tool in accordance with Embodiment 5 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates the puncture assisting tool as viewed from an upward direction in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a view for describing the structure of a first fixing part included in the puncture assisting tool and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of  FIG. 14  and illustrating a state in which pressure inside a frame of an attachment part is reduced during puncture in which the puncture assisting tool is used. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiment 1 
     The following description will discuss an embodiment of the present invention in detail. 
       FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a configuration of a puncture instrument  1  in accordance with Embodiment 1. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the puncture instrument  1  includes a puncture assisting tool  10 , a double syringe barrel  20 , and a tube  28  (air flow part). 
     Puncture Assisting Tool  10   
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the puncture assisting tool  10 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the puncture assisting tool  10  cut along a plane that passes through a guide part  12  and an air discharge part  14  (described later).  FIG. 4  illustrates the puncture assisting tool  10  as viewed from an upward direction in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the puncture assisting tool  10  includes a frame  11 , the guide part  12 , a support  13 , and the air discharge part  14 . 
     The frame  11  has a cylindrical shape. The frame  11  includes: a first end  11   a,  which is one end of a cylinder and is an end on a side that contacts the skin of a living body; and a second end  11   b,  which is another end of the cylinder. The first end  11   a  has a circular shape and has an opening on the inside, and the second end  11   b  is made of a flat plate. Thus, the frame  11  has a shape in which a face thereof on the side that contacts the skin of a living body is open. 
     Further, the frame  11  includes an opening  11   c  formed on a side surface of the cylinder and in a region where the air discharge part  14  (described later) is installed. 
     The guide part  12  is a member for guiding movement of a needle  23  (described later). The guide part  12  has a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical shape is coaxial with the cylindrical shape of the frame  11 . The guide part  12  has a through-hole  12   a  which is formed along an axial direction (vertical direction in  FIG. 5 ) of the cylindrical shape and through which the needle  23  passes. The guide part  12  is formed such that an inner diameter of the guide part  12  (in other words, an inner diameter of the through-hole  12   a ) is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the needle  23  (described later). For example, the guide part  12  may be formed such that the inner diameter of the guide part  12  is 1.05 to 1.2 times larger than the outer diameter of the needle  23 . 
     Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a third end  12   b,  which is an end of the guide part  12  on the side that contacts the skin of a living body, is located on the same plane as the first end  11   a  of the frame  11  in the vertical direction in  FIG. 5 . 
     The support  13 , in an inner part of the frame  11 , is formed between the first end  11   a  and the second end  11   b  in the axial direction (vertical direction in  FIG. 2 ) of the cylindrical shape of the frame  11 . The support  13  is made of a circular flat plate having a diameter of the same length as an inner diameter of the frame  11 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the support  13  has a plurality of air intake holes  13   a  formed therein that penetrate in the axial direction of the cylindrical shape of the frame  11 . Note that although  FIGS. 2  to  5  differ in number of the air intake holes  13   a  formed in the support  13 , the number (density) of the air intake holes  13   a  formed in the support  13  is not particularly limited, and can be set as appropriate, provided that the strength of the support  13  is not greatly decreased. 
     The air discharge part  14  connects a space in the inner part of the frame  11  and the tube  28  to each other. The air discharge part  14  is provided on the side surface of the frame  11 . The air discharge part  14  has a cylindrical hole  14   a  formed therein. The hole  14   a  is connected at one end thereof to the opening  11   c,  which is provided in the frame  11 . The hole  14   a  is connected at another end thereof to the tube  28 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     Double Syringe Barrel  20   
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the double syringe barrel  20  includes a first syringe  21 , a first plunger  22 , the needle  23 , a second syringe  24  (suction device), and a second plunger  25 . The double syringe barrel  20  is a syringe barrel that includes two syringes which are the first syringe  21  and the second syringe  24 . 
     The first syringe  21 , the first plunger  22 , and the needle  23  are the ones for collecting blood from a living body. The first syringe  21  is stored inside the first plunger  22 . 
     The needle  23  is attached to a tip of the first plunger  22 . It is better that the outer diameter of the needle  23  is as small as possible to reduce the likelihood of causing pain to a living body. The needle  23  is hollow inside. 
     With the above configuration, by pulling up (pulling out) the first plunger  22 , it is possible to collect blood of a living body through the needle  23  which is inserted into the skin of the living body. 
     The second syringe  24  and the second plunger  25  serve as a suction device for sucking air in the inner part of the frame  11  of the puncture assisting tool  10 . The second plunger  25  is stored inside the second syringe  24 . The second syringe  24  is connected at a tip thereof to another end of the tube  28 , which another end is on the other side of the tube  28  from one end which is connected to the air discharge part  14  of the puncture assisting tool  10 . 
     With the above configuration, by pulling up the second plunger  25  inside the second syringe  24 , air in the inner part of the frame  11  of the puncture assisting tool  10  is sucked, so that pressure in the inner part of the frame  11  can be reduced. 
     Example of use of Puncture Instrument  1   
     Next, an example of use of the puncture instrument  1  will be described. (a) to (c) of  FIG. 6  are views for describing an example of use of the puncture instrument  1  (example of a puncture method). 
     In the use of the puncture instrument  1 , first of all, the first plunger  22  and the second plunger  25  are located at the lowermost parts of the first syringe  21  and the second syringe  24 , respectively, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     Next, the puncture assisting tool  10  is brought into contact with the skin S of a living body. In this state, as illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 6 , the second plunger  25  is pulled up. This sucks air in the inner part of the frame  11  of the puncture assisting tool  10  through the tube  28  and reduces pressure in the inner part of the frame  11 . Note that since the support  13  has the plurality of air intake holes  13   a  formed therein, it is possible to reduce the pressure in the whole inner part of the frame  11 . 
       FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a state in which the skin S of the living body has been sucked by the puncture assisting tool  10 . When the pressure in the inner part of the frame  11  is reduced, a region D 1  of the skin S of the living body with which region D 1  the puncture assisting tool  10  makes contact (more specifically, a region corresponding to the inner part of the frame  11 ) is sucked toward the inner part of the frame  11 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . This brings the skin S in the region D 1  into a state of being attached to (in other words, a state of being suction-attracted to) the puncture assisting tool  10  (more specifically, the inner part of the frame  11 ). In other words, the inner part of the frame  11  serves as an attachment part that is attached to the skin S. 
     Next, as illustrated in (b) of  FIG. 6 , by moving the double syringe barrel  20  toward the skin of the living body, the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S of the living body. At this time, while the inner part of the frame  11  continues to be in the state of being attached to the skin S, the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S. Further, when the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S, the movement of the needle  23  is guided by the guide part  12  of the puncture assisting tool  10 . Further, as described earlier, the cylindrical shape of the guide part  12  is coaxial with the cylindrical shape of the frame  11 . In other words, the guide part  12  is provided inside the region D 1  in which the skin S of the living body is sucked. Thus, a place where the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S of the living body is a region (region D 2  illustrated in  FIG. 7 ) of the skin S inside the region D 1  which is attached to the puncture assisting tool  10 . 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged view illustrating a state in which the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S of the living body. As described above, the above region D 1  in the skin S is in a state of being attached to the puncture assisting tool  10 . Thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the above region D 1  of the skin S is not depressed when the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S, and the depressed spot of the skin S due to the insertion is only the above region D 2  of the skin S. This results in decrease in distance (distance L illustrated in  FIG. 8 ) between the center of the needle  23  and an inner surface of the through-hole  12   a  of the guide part  12  in the direction (transverse direction illustrated in  FIG. 8 ) perpendicular to a direction in which the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S of the living body. As a result, it is possible to increase shear stress applied to the skin S by the needle  23 . This makes it possible to insert the needle  23 , which is easily buckled, into the skin S without causing the buckling of the needle  23 . 
     Further, as described earlier, to guide the needle  23 , the guide part  12  is formed such that the inner diameter of the guide part  12  (in other words, the inner diameter of the through-hole  12   a ) is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the needle  23 . Thus, the distance L is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the needle  23 . This makes it possible to increase the shear stress applied to the skin S by the needle  23 . 
     Further, since the needle  23  is guided by the guide part  12  (in other words, supported by the guide part  12 ) during the insertion, it is possible to prevent buckling of the needle  23 . 
     Then, after the needle  23  has been inserted into the skin S of the living body, the first plunger  22  is pulled up as illustrated in (c) of  FIG. 6 . In this way, by sucking blood of the living body through the needle  23 , the blood of the living body is collected. 
     As described above, the puncture assisting tool  10  in Embodiment 1 includes: the frame  11  that suction-attracts the skin S of the living body under a reduced pressure inside the frame  11 ; and the guide part  12  that is located in the inner part of the frame  11  which inner part is a region of the frame  11  to which region the skin S is attached, the guide part  12  being provided with the through-hole  12   a  through which the needle  23  passes and guiding movement of the needle  23 . 
     According to the above configuration, it is possible to insert the needle  23  into the skin S in the state in which the skin S of the living body is suction-attracted to the inner part of the frame  11 . This makes it possible to increase the shear stress applied to the skin S by the needle  23 . As a result, it is possible to insert the needle  23 , which is easily buckled, into the skin S without causing the buckling of the needle  23 . Further, since the needle  23  is guided by the guide part  12  during the insertion, it is possible to prevent buckling of the needle  23 . In other words, it is possible to use the needle  23  having a small outer diameter. As a result, it is possible to prevent stimulation of pain spots of a living body. 
     Further, in the puncture assisting tool  10 , the third end  12   b,  which is an end of the guide part  12  on the side that contacts the skin of a living body, is located on the same plane as the first end  11   a  of the frame  11  in the vertical direction in  FIG. 5 . In other words, the position of the first end  11   a,  which is a skin-side end of the frame  11 , and the position of the third end  12   b,  which is a skin-side end of the guide part  12 , are aligned with each other. Thus, it is possible to reliably suction-attract the skin S to between the first end  11   a  of the frame  11  and the third end  12   b  of the guide part  12 . This, as a result, allows a depressed spot of the skin S by the puncture to be reliably only the above-described region D 2  of the skin S. However, in the puncture assisting tool of an aspect of the present invention, the third end  12   b  of the guide part  12  may be located slightly inside the frame  11  with respect to the first end  11   a  of the frame  11 . 
     Further, the puncture assisting tool  10  includes, as the attachment part that causes the skin S to be attached to the puncture assisting tool  10 , the support  13  for supporting the skin S that has been sucked into the inner part of the frame  11 . Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the support  13  is provided so as to be closer to a living body skin side (upper side in  FIG. 5 ) than to the air discharge part  14  in the axial direction (vertical direction in  FIG. 5 ) of the cylindrical shape of the frame  11 . According to the above configuration, the skin S sucked into the inner part of the frame  11  is supported by the support  13 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . As a result, it is possible to prevent the air discharge part  14  from being covered by the skin S. That is, it is possible to prevent air intake of the second syringe  24  from being hampered. Thus, it is possible to continuously suction-attract the skin S with respect to the puncture assisting tool  10 . Note that a puncture assisting tool of an aspect of the present invention may be configured not to include the support  13 . 
     Note that instead of the support  13 , a plurality of columnar supports may be formed inside the frame  11  (on the second end  11   b ). The plurality of columnar supports support the skin S and can take in air from a space between the respective plurality of columnar supports. 
     Note that although the puncture instrument  1  of Embodiment 1 is configured to include the double syringe barrel  20  that has the first syringe  21  for collecting blood from a living body and the second syringe  24  as a suction device for sucking air in the inner part of the frame  11  of the puncture assisting tool  10 , the present invention is not limited to this configuration. A puncture instrument of an aspect of the present invention may be configured to include a first syringe  21  and a second syringe  24  which are separated from each other. Further, the suction device for sucking air in the inner part of the frame  11  of the puncture assisting tool  10  is not limited to a suction device that uses a syringe, and can be, for example, a pump or any other suction device that is capable of sucking air. In addition, a puncture assisting tool of an aspect of the present invention can be the one that includes the puncture assisting tool  10  and the above-described suction device. However, in Embodiment 1, a mechanism such as a pump as a suction device is not required. This makes it possible to reduce production costs. 
     In addition, the puncture instrument  1  of Embodiment 1 uses the hollow needle  23  to collect blood of a living body. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, an aspect can be employed in which after a needle, for which a solid needle is used, is inserted into a living body and is then removed from the living body, blood coming from the skin of the living body is collected. 
     Embodiment 2 
     The following description will discuss another embodiment of the present invention. Note that for convenience of description, members having functions identical to those described in Embodiment 1 are assigned identical referential numerals, and their descriptions are omitted here. 
     (a) of  FIG. 9  is a plan view of a puncture assisting tool  30  of Embodiment 2, and (b) of  FIG. 9  is a side view of the puncture assisting tool  30 . As illustrated in (a) and (b) of  FIG. 9 , the puncture assisting tool  30  includes a cylindrical member  31  and a guide part  12 . 
     The cylindrical member  31  has a cylindrical shape and has a through-hole  31   a  which is formed such that the guide part  12  is formed along a central axis thereof. An adhesive  32  (e.g., mucin or the like) (attachment part) is affixed to a lower surface  31   b  of the cylindrical member  31 . 
     In a puncture method of Embodiment 2, first of all, the lower surface  31   b  of the puncture assisting tool  30  is brought into contact with skin S of a living body. This causes the adhesive  32  affixed to the lower surface  31   b  to stick to the skin S. 
     Next, a needle  23  placed at a tip of a syringe (not illustrated) is inserted into the skin S of the living body. At this time, while the adhesive  32  continues to be in the state of being attached to the skin S, the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S. Further, when the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S, the movement of the needle  23  is guided by the guide part  12  of the puncture assisting tool  30 . Further, the cylindrical shape of the guide part  12  is coaxial with the cylindrical shape of the cylindrical member  31 . In other words, the guide part  12  is provided inside the lower surface  31   b  to which the skin S of the living body sticks when viewed from a downward direction in (b) of  FIG. 9 . Thus, a place where the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S of the living body is a region of the skin S inside a region which is attached to the puncture assisting tool  30 . 
     As described above, in Embodiment 2, as in Embodiment 1, it is possible to insert the needle  23  into the skin S in a state in which the region of the skin S other than a region corresponding to the inside of the guide part  12  is attached to the puncture assisting tool  30 . Moreover, since a distance is small between the center of the needle  23  and an inner surface of the through-hole  12   a  of the guide part  12  in the direction perpendicular to a direction in which the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S of the living body, it is possible to increase shear stress applied to the skin S by the needle  23 . This makes it possible to insert the needle  23 , which is easily buckled, into the skin S without causing the buckling of the needle  23 . Further, since the needle  23  is guided by the guide part  12  (in other words, supported by the guide part  12 ) during the insertion, it is possible to prevent buckling of the needle  23 . 
     In Embodiment 2, the adhesive  32  is used to cause the skin S to stick to the puncture assisting tool  30 . Note, however, that another method (e.g., an adhesive agent or the like) can be alternatively used to cause the skin S to be attached to the puncture assisting tool  30 . 
     Embodiment 3 
       FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a configuration of a puncture instrument  1 A of Embodiment 3. As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the puncture instrument  1 A includes a double syringe barrel  40  instead of the double syringe barrel  20  of Embodiment 1. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the double syringe barrel  40  includes a first syringe  41 , a first piston  42 , a string  43  (connecting member), a needle  23 , a second syringe  44 , and a second piston  45 . The double syringe barrel  40  is a syringe barrel that includes two syringes which are the first syringe  41  and the second syringe  44 . 
     The first piston  42  is stored inside the first syringe  41 . The first piston  42  is such that the length of the first piston  42  in a direction along which the first piston  42  moves (length in the vertical direction in  FIG. 10 ) is a length such that, when one end of the first piston  42  on a needle  23  side is located at a position closest to the needle  23 , the other end of the first piston  42  which is opposite the one end thereof on the needle  23  side is stored inside the first syringe  41 . 
     The second piston  45  includes a third plunger  45   a,  a fourth plunger  45   b,  and a connecting part  45   c  for connecting one end of the third plunger  45   a  and one end of the fourth plunger  45   b.  The third plunger  45   a  is a plunger corresponding to the first syringe  41 , and the fourth plunger  45   b  is a plunger corresponding to the second syringe  44 . The third plunger  45   a  is shorter than the fourth plunger  45   b  in length in the vertical direction in  FIG. 10 . 
     The string  43  has one end that is connected to an upper end of the first piston  42  and the other end that is connected to a lower end of the third plunger  45   a.  The length of the string  43  is greater than a distance between the upper end of the first piston  42  and the lower end of the third plunger  45   a  when the second piston  45  is in the lowest position (i.e., when the fourth plunger  45   b  contacts the lower end of the second syringe  44 ). 
     Example of use of Puncture Instrument  1 A 
     Next, an example of use of a puncture instrument  1 A will be described. (a) to (c) of  FIG. 11  are views for describing an example of use of the puncture instrument  1 A (example of a puncture method). 
     In the use of the puncture instrument  1 A, first of all, the first piston  42  and the second piston  45  are located at the lowermost parts of the first syringe  21  and the second syringe  24 , respectively, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . In this state, as described above, the length of the string  43  is greater than the distance between the upper end of the first piston  42  and the lower end of the third plunger  45   a  when the second piston  45  is in the lowermost position. Thus, the string  43  is in a loose state. 
     Next, the puncture assisting tool  10  is brought into contact with skin S of a living body. In this state, as illustrated in (a) of  FIG. 11 , the second piston  45  is pulled up. Thus, the third plunger  45   a  and the fourth plunger  45   b  are pulled upward. By pulling up the fourth plunger  45   b,  air in the inner part of the frame  11  of the puncture assisting tool  10  is sucked through the tube  28 , and pressure in the inner part of the frame  11  is reduced. This allows the inner part of the frame  11  to be attached to the skin S of the living body. 
     On the other hand, since the string  43  is in a loose state even when the third plunger  45   a  is pulled up, the first piston  42  is not pulled up. 
     Next, as illustrated in (b) of  FIG. 11 , by moving the double syringe barrel  40  toward the skin of the living body, the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S of the living body. At this time, while the inner part of the frame  11  continues to be in the state of being attached to the skin S, the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S. Further, when the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S, the movement of the needle  23  is guided by the guide part  23  of the puncture assisting tool  10 . 
     Next, as illustrated in (c) of  FIG. 11 , the second piston  45  is further pulled up. This brings the string  43  into a stretched state and applies tension to the string  43 . From this condition, by further pulling up the second piston  45 , the first piston  42  is pulled up through the string  43 . In this way, by sucking blood of the living body through the needle  23 , it is possible to collect the blood of the living body. 
     Embodiment 4 
       FIG. 12  is a view illustrating a configuration of a puncture instrument  1 B of Embodiment 4. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the puncture instrument  1 B includes a syringe  50  and a plunger  51  instead of the double syringe barrel  20  of Embodiment 1. In Embodiment 4, a tube  28  is connected to a space in an inner part of the syringe  50 . 
     In a puncture method of Embodiment 4, first of all, a puncture assisting tool  10  is brought into contact with skin S of a living body. In this state, the plunger  51  is pulled up. This sucks air in the inner part of the frame  11  of the puncture assisting tool  10  through the tube  28  and reduces pressure in the inner part of the frame  11 . 
     Next, the syringe  50  is moved toward the skin S of the living body so that a needle  23  is inserted into the skin S of the living body. At this time, while the inner part of the frame  11  continues to be in the state of being attached to the skin S, the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S. Further, when the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S, the movement of the needle  23  is guided by the guide part  12  of the puncture assisting tool  10 . 
     Next, the plunger  51  is further pulled up. In this way, by sucking blood of the living body through the needle  23 , the blood of the living body is collected. 
     As described above, the puncture instrument  1 B of Embodiment 4 includes the puncture assisting tool  10 , the syringe  50  having the needle  23 , and the tube  28  that connects the space in the inner part of the frame  11  of the puncture assisting tool  10  and the inner part of the syringe  50  to each other. The above configuration enables, with use of a single syringe  50 , sucking of air in the space in the inner part of the frame  11  and collection of blood of a living body. This makes it possible to simplify the configuration of the puncture instrument  1 B and reduce the production costs. 
     Embodiment 5 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a puncture assisting tool  100  of Embodiment 5.  FIG. 14  illustrates the puncture assisting tool  100  as viewed from an upward direction in  FIG. 13 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the puncture assisting tool  100  includes a first fixing part  101 A, a second fixing part  101 B, an attachment part  110 , a pump  120 A, a pump  120 B, and a pump  120 C (suction device). Note that in  FIG. 13 , the pumps  120 A to  120 C are not illustrated. 
     The first fixing part  101 A and the second fixing part  101 B have shapes that are symmetrical in the transverse direction in  FIG. 14 . Thus, only the first fixing part  101 A will be described herein.  FIG. 15  is a view for describing the structure of the first fixing part  101 A and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B illustrated in  FIG. 14 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the first fixing part  101 A includes a frame  101 , a support  102 , and an air discharge part  103 . 
     The frame  101  has a semicylindrical shape obtained by cutting a cylinder along a plane containing a central axis. The frame  101  includes: a first end  101   a,  which is one end of a semicylinder and is an end on a side that contacts the skin of a living body; and a second end  101   b,  which is another end of the semicylinder. The first end  101   a  has a semicircular shape and has an opening on the inside, and the second end  101   b  is made of a semicircular flat plate. Thus, the frame  101  has a shape in which a face thereof on the side that contacts the skin of a living body is open. 
     The frame  101  includes an opening  101   c  formed on a curved side surface of the semicylinder and in a region where the air discharge part  103  (described later) is installed. Furthermore, the frame  101  includes a groove  101   d  formed on a flat side surface of the semicylinder so as to be recessed inward. 
     The support  102 , in an inner part of the frame  101 , is formed between the first end  101   a  and the second end  101   b  in the axial direction (vertical direction in  FIG. 15 ) of the semicylindrical shape of the frame  101 . The support  102  is made of a semicircular flat plate having a radius of the same length as an inner diameter of the frame  101 . The support  102  has a plurality of air intake holes  102   a  formed therein that penetrate in the axial direction of the semicylindrical shape of the frame  101 . 
     The air discharge part  103  connects a space in the inner part of the frame  101  and the pump  120 A to each other. The air discharge part  103  is provided on the side surface of the frame  101 . The air discharge part  103  has a cylindrical hole  103   a  formed therein. The hole  103   a  is connected at one end thereof to the opening  101   c,  which is provided in the frame  101 . The hole  103   a  is connected at another end thereof to the pump  120 A, as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the air discharge part  103  of the first fixing part  101 A is connected to the pump  120 A, and the air discharge part  103  of the second fixing part  101 B is connected to the pump  120 B. 
     The attachment part  110  is located between the first fixing part  101 A and the second fixing part  101 B. The attachment part  110  includes a frame  111 , a guide part  112 , a support  113 , and an air discharge part  114 . 
     The frame  111  has a tubular shape. The frame  11  includes: a first end  111   a,  which is one end of a tube and is an end on a side that contacts the skin of a living body; and a second end  111   b,  which is another end of the tube (see  FIG. 16 ). The first end  111   a  is shaped to have an opening on the inside, and the second end  111   b  is made of a flat plate. Thus, the frame  111  has a shape in which a face thereof on the side that contacts the skin of a living body is open. 
     Further, the frame  111  includes an opening  111   c  formed on a side surface of a cylinder and in a region where an air discharge part  114  (described later) is installed (see  FIG. 16 ). 
     The guide part  112  is a member for guiding movement of a needle  23 . The guide part  112  has a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical shape is coaxial with the cylindrical shape of the frame  11 . The guide part  112  has a through-hole  112   a  which is formed so as to extend in an axial direction (vertical direction in  FIG. 16 ) of the tube and through which the needle  23  passes. 
     The support  113 , in an inner part of the frame  111 , is formed between the first end  111   a  and the second end  111   b  in the axial direction (vertical direction in  FIG. 16 ) of the cylindrical shape of the frame  111 . The support  113  is made of a flat plate. The support  113  has a plurality of air intake holes  113   a  formed therein. 
     The air discharge part  114  is provided on the side surface of the frame  111 . The air discharge part  114  has a cylindrical hole  114   a  formed therein. As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the hole  114   a  has (i) one end that is connected to an opening  111   c  provided in the frame  111  and (ii) the other end that is connected to the pump  120 C. 
     The following description will discuss an example of a puncture method in which the puncture assisting tool  100  is used. First, the puncture assisting tool  100  is brought into contact with skin S of a living body. Next, the pump  120 A and the pump  120 B are driven. This reduces pressure inside the first fixing part  101 A and pressure inside the second fixing part  101 B. 
     The reduction in pressure inside the frame  11  of the first fixing part  101 A results in a state in which a region (first region) of the skin S of the living body inside the first end  101   a  of the frame  101  of the first fixing part  101 A is attached to the frame  101  of the first fixing part  101 A. Similarly, the reduction in pressure inside the frame  101  of the second fixing part  101 B results in a state in which a region (second region) of the skin S of the living body inside the first end  101   a  of the frame  101  of the second fixing part  101 B is attached to the frame  11  of the second fixing part  101 B. 
     Subsequently, in the above states, the first fixing part  101 A and the second fixing part  101 B are moved in directions in which the first fixing part  101 A and the second fixing part  101 B are away from each other. This causes a region (third region) of the skin S of the living body between the first region and the second region to be pulled, so that the third region is tensioned. 
     Then, the pump  120 C is driven. This sucks air inside the frame  111  of the attachment part  110 . This reduces pressure inside the frame  111  of the attachment part  110 . Note that since the support  113  of the frame  111  of the attachment part  110  has the plurality of air intake holes  113   a  formed therein, it is possible to reduce the pressure in the whole inner part of the frame  111 . 
       FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of  FIG. 14  and illustrating a state in which pressure inside the frame  111  of the attachment part  110  is reduced during puncture in which the puncture assisting tool  100  is used. The reduction in pressure inside the frame  111  of the attachment part  110  results in a state in which a region (region D 4  illustrated in  FIG. 16 ) of the skin S of the living body inside the first end  111   a  of the frame  111  of the attachment part  110  is attached to the inside of the frame  111  as illustrated in  FIG. 16 . 
     Next, a syringe (not illustrated) is moved toward the skin S so that the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S of the living body. Here, according to the puncture assisting tool  100  of Embodiment 5, the region into which the needle  23  is inserted in the skin S is in the state of being tensioned by the first fixing part  101 A and the second fixing part  101 B. Thus, the amount of depression of the skin S by the puncture with the needle  23  is smaller as compared with the amount of depression of the skin S by the puncture with the needle  23  in Embodiment 1. As a result, it is possible to further increase shear stress applied to the skin S by the needle  23 . This makes it possible to further increase the chance of inserting the needle  23 , which is easily buckled, into the skin S without causing the buckling of the needle  23 . 
     Moreover, according to the puncture assisting tool  100 , the needle  23  is guided, during the puncture, by the guide part  112  provided in the attachment part  110 . This makes it possible to prevent buckling of the needle  23 . In other words, it is possible to use the needle  23  having a small outer diameter. As a result, it is possible to prevent stimulation of pain spots of a living body. 
     Further, according to the puncture assisting tool  100 , the guide part  112  is located inside a region of the attachment part  110  to which region the skin S is attached. This allows a place where the needle  23  is inserted into the skin S of the living body to be a region of the skin S inside the attachment part  110  region. 
     Aspects of the present invention can also be expressed as follows: 
     A puncture assisting tool of an aspect of the present invention includes: an attachment part that is attached to skin; and a guide part that is located inside a region of the attachment part in which region the attachment part is attached to the skin, the guide part being provided with a through-hole through which a needle passes and guiding movement of the needle. 
     The puncture assisting tool of an aspect of the present invention can be configured such that the attachment part suction-attracts the skin. 
     The puncture assisting tool of an aspect of the present invention can be configured such that the attachment part sticks or adheres to the skin. 
     The puncture assisting tool of an aspect of the present invention can be configured such that the attachment part has a frame that surrounds the region in which the attachment part is attached to the skin and that has an inner part in which pressure is reduced, and a position of a skin-side end of the frame and a position of a skin-side end of the guide part are aligned with each other. 
     The puncture assisting tool of an aspect of the present invention can be configured such that the attachment part has a support that supports the skin which has been sucked into the attachment part. 
     The puncture assisting tool of an aspect of the present invention can be configured to further include a suction device that sucks air inside the attachment part. 
     A puncture instrument of an aspect of the present invention includes: the above puncture assisting tool; a syringe that has a needle and serves as a suction device; and an air flow part that connects a space inside the attachment part and a space inside the syringe. 
     The puncture instrument of an aspect of the present invention includes: the above puncture assisting tool; a first syringe that includes a needle; a piston that is stored inside the first syringe; a second syringe that serves as a suction device; a plunger a part of which is stored inside the second syringe; and an air flow part that connects a space inside the attachment part and a space inside the second syringe, wherein the plunger and the piston are connected to each other via a connecting member, and when the plunger is pulled out, air inside the attachment part is sucked by the second syringe, and then the piston is pulled up via the connecting member. 
     A puncture method of an aspect of the present invention is a puncture method in which any of the above puncture assisting tools is used, the puncture method including: inserting a needle into the skin while the attachment part continues to be in a state of being attached to the skin. 
     The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, but can be altered by a skilled person in the art within the scope of the claims. The present invention also encompasses, in its technical scope, any embodiment derived by combining technical means disclosed in differing embodiments. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1 ,  1 A,  1 B puncture instrument 
       10 ,  30 ,  100  puncture assisting tool 
       11  frame (attachment part) 
       11   a,    101   a,    111   a  first end (skin-side end) 
       12 ,  23 ,  112  guide part 
       12   a,    31   a,    112   a  through-hole 
       12   b  third end (skin-side end) 
       13 ,  113  support 
       23  needle 
       24 ,  44  second syringe (suction device) 
       28  tube (air flow part) 
       32  adhesive (attachment part) 
       110  attachment part 
       120 C pump (suction device) 
     S skin