Patent Publication Number: US-2016220101-A1

Title: Device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a medical device to receive or transmit power wirelessly. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A trocar is combined with an inner needle having a sharp puncture needle at the forward end, and the inner needle in such a state is punctured through a body wall of a patient so as to be inserted into the abdominal cavity. After being inserted into the abdominal cavity, the inner needle is removed so as to leave the trocar at the body wall, and then the trocar is used as a guide tube for a treatment tool that is for treatment in the abdominal cavity. 
     Some treatment tools inserted into a body of the subject via an insertion hole of a trocar are connected to a cable to receive power required for the treatment. Such a cable hinders the manipulation by an operator during operation and degrades the operability. 
     In the case of a treatment tool including a manipulation wire to transmit the manipulation by an operator mechanically, AC magnetic field generated at the power-transmission coil is applied to the manipulation wire as well, meaning that high-frequency induction current may flow through the manipulation wire. The manipulation wire is inserted in the manipulation portion manipulated by the operator, and so the high-frequency current may flow through the manipulation portion internally. The induction current flowing through the manipulation wire may adversely affect the power transmission/reception efficiency. 
     In the case of a flexible endoscope equipped with a power-transmission coil as well, when AC magnetic field is generated to transmit power to a treatment tool inserted into a channel wirelessly, induction current may flow through a manipulation wire of a manipulation portion with which an operator manipulates a curved part. 
     A medical device is desired, which is configured so that little or no induction current flows through a manipulation wire of a manipulation portion manipulated by an operator. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a medical device which is configured so that little or no induction current flows through a manipulation wire of a manipulation portion manipulated by an operator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial cross-sectional view of a treatment tool of a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a treatment tool of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a manipulation wire of the treatment tool in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded cross-sectional view of the treatment tool that is a modification example 1 of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of a treatment tool that is modification example 2 of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VB-VB of  FIG. 5A  that is modification example 2 of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a treatment tool that is modification example 3 of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 7A  is a schematic representation of a manipulation wire of a treatment tool that is modification example 4 of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 7B  is a schematic representation of a manipulation wire of a treatment tool that is modification example 5 of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 7C  is a schematic representation of a manipulation wire of a treatment tool that is modification example 6 of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 7D  is a schematic representation of a manipulation wire of a treatment tool that is modification example 7 of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is an illustration of a treatment tool of a second embodiment and an endoscope of a third embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view of the treatment tool and endoscope of the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a partial cross-sectional view of the endoscope of the third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As used herein, the term “about” indicates that the value listed may be somewhat altered, as long as the alteration does not result in nonconformance of the process or structure to the illustrated embodiment. For example, for some elements the term “about” can refer to a variation of ±0.1%, for other elements, the term “about” can refer to a variation of ±1% or ±10%, or any point therein. 
     As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” parallel would mean that the object is either completely parallel or nearly completely parallel. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. 
     First Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the following describes a treatment tool  20  that is a device of a first embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the treatment tool  20  makes up an operating system  1  with a trocar  10  as an insertion aid and a power unit  30 . The treatment tool  20  for surgical operation can be inserted into a body of a subject  9  via an insertion hole  10 H of the trocar  10  that is punctured through a body wall of the subject  9 . Although the operating system  1  allows an endoscope or the like also to be inserted into the body via another trocar, the descriptions thereof are omitted. 
     The treatment tool  20  can be a high-frequency treatment tool that includes: a manipulation portion  24 ; an elongated insertion portion  22  that can be inserted into a body of the subject  9 ; an optional treatment portion  21  that is disposed on the forward end side (distal-end) of the elongated insertion portion  22 ; a manipulation wire  25  and a power-reception coil (power-reception portion)  29 . The manipulation wire  25  can be made of metal with high rigidity, e.g., stainless steel (SUS) or nickel titanium (Ni—Ti) alloy, through which the elongated insertion portion  22  can be inserted, and is configured to transmit the manipulation at the manipulation portion  24  to the treatment portion  21 . 
     The treatment portion  21  can be used for treatment in the body of the subject  9  and can include a pair of jaws  21 A and  22 B that can open and close. For example, when the operator grasps the manipulation portion  24 , the jaws  21 A and  22 B are closed, and when the operator releases the manipulation portion  24 , the jaws  21 A and  22 B are open. 
     While pinching tissue to be treated between the jaws  21 A and  22 B, high-frequency current can be applied to the jaws  21 A and  22 B for treatment, such as for incision or for stopping of bleeding. 
     Power for treatment can be transmitted wirelessly to the treatment tool  20  from the trocar  10 . 
     For this transmission, a solenoid-type power-transmission coil  19  is wound around the insertion hole  10 H of the trocar  10  at the outer periphery. When receiving AC power from a power unit  30  via a cable  35 , the power-transmission coil  19  generates AC magnetic field. 
     The power unit  30  outputs high-frequency and power of between about 10 W to about 100 W, for example. The AC magnetic field generated by the power-transmission coil  19  has a frequency that can be selected appropriately in the range of about 100 kHz to about 20 MHz, for example, about 13.56 MHz. 
     Then the power-reception coil  29  of the treatment tool  20  is inductively coupled with the power-transmission coil  19  of the trocar  10 , such that the power-reception coil  29  receives power wirelessly via the AC magnetic field. The power received by the power-reception coil  29  is converted into high-frequency power at a power-reception circuit (not illustrated), which is then applied to the jaws  21 A and  22 B. 
     In the treatment tool, the manipulation wire  25  is inserted through the power-reception coil  29  internally. Thus, AC magnetic field generated by the power-transmission coil  19  of the trocar  10  is applied to the manipulation wire  25  as well. AC magnetic field is applied to the manipulation wire  25  when the manipulation wire is disposed outside of the power-reception coil  29  also. Induction current therefore flows through the manipulation wire  25 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the manipulation wire  25  of the treatment tool  20  includes a first wire  26  having one end connected to the treatment portion  21  on the forward end side of the elongated insertion portion  22 , and a second wire  28  having one end connected to the manipulation portion  24 . Then the first wire  26  and the second wire  28  are connected mechanically, but are substantially insulated electrically. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , for example, the first wire  26  and the second wire  28  are both made of metal, and are connected with a heat-shrinkable tube  27  so that they are not in direct contact with each other. 
     The heat-shrinkable tube  27  is a shape-memory plastic tube that shrinks into a pre-memorized shape by heating and is made of an insulating material, such as silicone resin or fluorine resin. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the connecting part, i.e., the heat-shrinkable tube  27  is disposed closer to the manipulation portion  24  than the power-reception coil  29  when the power-transmission coil  19  and the power-reception coil  29  are electromagnetically coupled. Induction current flows through the first wire  26  due to the AC magnetic field generated by the power-transmission coil  19 . The induction current, however, does not substantially flow to the second wire  28  from the first wire  26 . 
     The treatment tool  20  is configured so that little or no induction current flows through the second wire  28  of the manipulation portion  24  manipulated by the operator. This can eliminate the risk of heat generated at the second wire  28  or a failure of the intensity of electromagnetic wave to achieve a specific absorption rate (SAR) due to induction current, for example. 
     At least one of the first wire  26 B and the second wire  28  may be used as a signal line or a ground potential line. 
     High-frequency current may flow through an unexpected path. One example of a method to address this is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The elongated insertion portion side of the treatment tool  20  can include one or more elements  20 X made of a low dielectric loss insulating material. In other words, the treatment tool  20  and the manipulation portion  24  can be electrically insulated with an element  20 X made of a relatively low dielectric loss insulating material, e.g., polystyrene, polyethylene, or fluorine resin having dielectric loss tangent of 0.01 or less. The element  20 X may be a connecting member that connects removably with the manipulation portion  24  and the elongated insertion portion  22 . 
     The above describes a bipolar-type high-frequency treatment tool as the treatment tool  20 , which may be various treatment tools having a manipulation wire to manipulate a manipulation portion on the forward end side, e.g., a monopolar-type electrosurgical knife, and similar effects can be obtained therefrom. 
     The above describes the treatment tool  20  that receives power wirelessly via the power-reception coil  29  that is electromagnetically coupled with the power-transmission coil  19  of the trocar  10  as an insertion aid. The treatment tool may be one that receives power wirelessly via a power-reception electrode that can be capacitively-coupled with a power-transmission electrode (power-transmission portion) of an insertion aid, and such a configuration of the present invention has the same effects when induction current flows through the manipulation wire. 
     Thus, a medical device can include a manipulation wire that is made up of a first wire having one end connected to the forward end side, to which AC magnetic field or AC electrical field is applied, and a second wire having one end connected to the manipulation portion and the other end of the second wire being connected to the first wire and insulated from the first wire. In such a medical device, little or no induction current flows through the manipulation wire of the manipulation portion manipulated by the operator. 
     Modification Example 1 
     The manipulation wire of the treatment tool  20  may include a first wire having one end connected to the treatment portion  21  on the forward end side and a second wire having one end connected to the manipulation portion  24  and the other end of the second wire connected to the first wire and being substantially electrically insulated from the first wire. 
     For example, a manipulation wire  25 A of the treatment tool as modification example 1 in  FIG. 4  includes a first wire  26  made of metal and a second wire  28  made of metal that are connected via a connecting member  27 A including a first member  27 A 1  and a second member  27 A 2  that fit with each other. That is, the first wire  26  is joined with the first member  27 A 1 , and the second wire  28  is joined with the second member  27 A 2 . 
     The connecting member  27 A may be an insulating material made of fluorine resin such as poly tetra fluoro ethylene (PTFE), or poly ether ether ketone (PEEK). 
     When the first wire  26  and the second wire  28  of the treatment tool are mechanically connected via a connecting member made of an insulating material, such a treatment tool has the substantially same effects as those of the treatment tool  20 . 
     Modification Example 2 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , any one of a first wire  26 A and a second wire  28 A of a treatment tool as modification example 2 is stranded wire including a plurality of metal element wires  26 AS made of, for example, stainless steel (SUS) or nickel titanium (Ni—Ti) alloy, that are stranded into one. 
     Stranded wire is resistant to stretching and has good durability against bending. 
     Modification Example 3 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in the manipulation wire of a treatment tool as modification example 3, at least a first wire  26 B is stranded and includes metal element wires  26 BS each including metal element wire  26 B 1  coated with an insulating material  26 B 2 . The second wire also may have the same configuration as that of the first wire  26 B. 
     AC magnetic field is applied to the first wire  26 B. Since each metal element wire  26 BS is insulated, meaning that eddy current generated has a shorter loop length, loss is relatively small and the amount of heat generated also is relatively small. 
     When the first wire  26 B is used as a signal line, since each metal element wire  26 B 1  is relatively thin in diameter, increase in electrical resistance due to proximity effect can be suppressed. As a result, the first wire  26 B can have good transmission efficiency and the amount of heat generated is relatively small. 
     Polyurethane can be used for coating of metal conducting wires. Coating of metal element wire used for a treatment tool can be made of a material having relatively high heat resistance, such as heat-resistant polyurethane, nylon, polyester, fluorine resin or polyparaxylylene. 
     Modification Example 4 
     The manipulation wire can be made of metal or one manipulation wire  25 B can be made of an insulating material illustrated in  FIG. 7A  in some specifications. 
     Modification Example 5 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7B , a manipulation wire  25 C may include a first wire  26  made of metal and a second wire  28 C made of an insulating material that are connected via a connecting member  27 C, and in this configuration also, little or no induction current flows through the second wire  28 C of the manipulation portion  24  manipulated by an operator. The connecting member  27 C may be an electrically-conductive member. 
     The insulating wire can be made of PEEK with relatively high rigidity. Stranded wire including a plurality of element wires made of an insulating material that are stranded may also be used. 
     Modification Example 6 
     A manipulation wire  25 D illustrated in  FIG. 7C  includes a connecting member that is an insulating wire  27 D made of PEEK, for example. Since magnetic field can be applied to a part of the wire passing through the power-reception coil  29 , i.e., a part passing through the power-transmission coil  19 , relatively large induction current flows therethrough and eddy current is generated, which may degrade the power transmission/reception efficiency. To avoid or lessen this, insulating wire  27 D can be used, which can prevent induction current from flowing into the manipulation portion side and can prevent the degradation of the power transmission/reception efficiency. 
     Modification Example 7 
     A manipulation wire  25 E illustrated in  FIG. 7D  includes two wires  26 E 1  and  26 E 2  connected to the treatment portion  21 , and a wire  28 E connected to the wires  26 E 1  and  26 E 2  via connecting members  27 E 1  and  27 E 2 . The wire  28 E is mechanically connected to the manipulation portion  24  not at an end portion but at portion near the middle. In the wire  28 E, when the manipulation portion  24  rotates by wire  26 E 1  receiving tensile stress to the manipulation portion side, for example, the wire  26 E 2  receives compressive stress to the treatment part side. 
     Although the above describes the manipulation wire including a first wire and a second wire connected, three or more wires may be connected. In those embodiments, a connecting part made of an insulating material may be disposed at a portion closer to the manipulation portion than the position of the power-reception coil. 
     Second Embodiment 
     A medical device of the present embodiment is a treatment tool  50  that is inserted into a channel of an endoscope  40 . That is, an insertion aid for the treatment tool  50  is the endoscope  40  instead of the trocar  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , an operating system  1 A includes the treatment tool  50  of the present embodiment, the endoscope  40 , a processor  61  that is connected to the endoscope  40  via a universal cord  43  and processes a signal, a power supply unit  60  and a monitor  62  to display an image. 
     The endoscope  40  includes a channel  40 H that is an insertion hole into which an elongated insertion portion  42  to be inserted into a body of a subject is inserted. The channel  40 H may be a flexible resin tube. The detailed configuration of the endoscope  40  will be described in a third embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the treatment tool  50  includes a manipulation portion  54  manipulated by an operator, a treatment part  51  on the forward end side, and an elongated insertion portion  52  into which a manipulation wire  55  is inserted, the manipulation wire transmitting the manipulation from the manipulation portion  54  to the treatment part  51 . The treatment tool  50  is inserted from an insertion hole  40 HA of the channel  40 H in the manipulation portion  54  of the endoscope  40 , and passes through the elongated insertion portion  42  (soft part  42 C, curved part  42 B, forward-end part  42 A), and the treatment part  51  on the forward end side protrudes from an opening  40 HB. 
     A power-transmission coil  49  wound around the channel  40 H of the endoscope  40  generates AC magnetic field. Treatment is then performed at the treatment part  51  with power received by a power-reception coil  59  that is electromagnetically coupled with the power-transmission coil  49 . 
     The manipulation wire  55  of the treatment tool  50  includes a first wire  56  having one end connected to the treatment part  51  on the forward end side of the elongated insertion portion  52 , a second wire  58  having one end connected to the manipulation portion  54 , and an insulating connecting member  57 . The first wire  56  and the second wire  58  are connected mechanically, but are insulated electrically. 
     Although the insertion aid for the treatment tool  50  of the present embodiment is the endoscope  40 , its basic configuration is similar as that of the treatment tool  20  of the first embodiment, and has a similar function. That is, little or no induction current flows through the manipulation wire  58  of the manipulation portion  54  manipulated by an operator. 
     The configurations of the modification examples of the first embodiment may be used in the treatment tool  50  of the present embodiment as well. 
     Third Embodiment 
     A medical device of the present embodiment includes an endoscope  40  as an insertion aid. That is, an operating system  1 A illustrated in  FIG. 8  includes the treatment tool  50  of the second embodiment, and the endoscope  40  of the present embodiment. 
     The endoscope  40  as an insertion aid has a different basic configuration from that of the treatment tool  50  or the like. However, they are common in that AC magnetic field is applied to the manipulation wire. 
     As already described, the endoscope  40  includes a power-transmission coil  49  that generates AC magnetic field to transmit power to the treatment tool  50  inserted into the channel  40 H. Then as illustrated in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 10 , the endoscope  40  includes a manipulation wire  45  that passes through the elongated insertion portion  42 , the manipulation wire  45  being able to manipulate the curved part  42 B that changes the direction of the forward-end part  42 A at which an imaging part  41  is disposed. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the manipulation wire  45  includes a first wire  46 A and a second wire  48 A that are connected via an insulating connecting member  47 A, and a first wire  46 B and a second wire  48 B that are connected via an insulating connecting member  47 B. One end of the first wire  46 A and the other first wire  46 B are connected to the curved part  42 B on the forward end side. The other ends of the second wire  48 A and the other second wire  48 B are connected to an angle knob of the manipulation portion  54 . The second wire  48 A and the other second wire  48 B may be one wire such that their other ends on the manipulation portion side are connected. 
     In the endoscope  40 , AC magnetic field generated at the power-transmission coil  49  is applied to the manipulation wire  45  as well. 
     The first wires  46 A,  46 B and the second wires  48 A,  48 B, however, are connected mechanically, but are substantially insulated electrically. 
     Although the endoscope  40  of the present embodiment is an insertion aid, its basic configuration is similar as those of the treatment tools  20  and  50 , and has a similar function. That is, little or no induction current flows through the manipulation wire  48 A or  48 B of the manipulation portion  44  manipulated by an operator. 
     The configurations of the modification examples of the first embodiment may be used in the endoscope  40  of the present embodiment as well. 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be changed, combined and adapted variously without changing the gist of the present invention. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1 ,  1 A operating system 
           10  trocar 
           19  power-transmission coil 
           20  treatment tool 
           21  treatment part 
           22  elongated insertion portion 
           24  manipulation portion 
           25  manipulation wire 
           26  first wire 
           27  heat-shrinkable tube 
           28  second wire 
           29  power-reception coil 
           30  power unit 
           40  endoscope 
           40 H channel 
           42  elongated insertion portion 
           42 A forward-end part 
           42 B curved part 
           44  manipulation part 
           45  manipulation wire 
           49  power-transmission coil 
           50  treatment tool 
           51  treatment part 
           52  elongated insertion portion 
           54  manipulation part 
           55  manipulation wire 
           56  first wire 
           57  connecting member 
           58  second wire 
           59  power-reception coil 
           60  power unit