Patent Publication Number: US-2017367781-A1

Title: Holding device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a holding device holding a body part of a subject. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     For example, a device is known that fixes a body of a subject to a bed when X-ray imaging or radiation treatment is performed by a medical device. For example, a subject fixing device of a medical device described in Patent Document 1 is an example thereof. According to this technique, a top plate of bed for placing a subject thereon includes a bag body surrounding the subject, and the bag body is made up of a skin formed of a hard strong material and an expansion chamber formed of a soft elastic material inside thereof, and it is described that by injecting a gas or a liquid into the expansion chamber by a compressor, the subject can securely be fixed to the top plate of the bed in the state of being surrounded by the bag body. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2007-301217 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
     However, depending on a part of a subject&#39;s body to be treated, the part cannot necessarily be held sufficiently securely with the conventional technique in some cases. For example, considering treatment to the breast, the breast easily deforms due to gravity in accordance with a posture etc. of the subject, and it is therefore difficult for the conventional technique to sufficiently securely hold the breast while maintaining the shape thereof at the time of treatment. Furthermore, when it is required to keep a part such as the breast to be treated in substantially the same shape in a plurality of treatments performed at a time interval, the conventional technique may cause the shape of the part to change in each treatment. Therefore, the holding device sufficiently securely holding a body part of a subject has not been developed yet at present. 
     The present invention was conceived in view of the situations and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a holding device sufficiently securely holding a body part of a subject. 
     Solution to Problem 
     To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a holding device comprising: a holding tool including a curved surface formed in accordance with a shape of a body surface of a body part of a subject along with an adhesive layer having adhesiveness to a skin surface of the subject on the curved surface side; an elongated arm member having one end portion to which the holding tool is attached; and a fixing tool for fixing the arm member to a fixed object, attached to an end portion of the arm member on the side opposite to the end portion on the side to which the holding tool is attached. 
     Advantageous Effects of the Invention 
     The first aspect of the present invention includes: the holding tool that includes the curved surface formed in accordance with a shape of a body surface of a body part of the subject and that includes the adhesive layer having adhesiveness to the skin surface of the subject on the side of the curved surface; the elongated arm member having the one end portion to which the holding tool is attached; and the fixing tool for fixing the arm member to the fixed object, attached to the end portion of the arm member on the side opposite to the end portion on the side to which the holding tool is attached, and therefore, for example, even in a treatment targeting an easily deforming part such as the breast, the holding tool can adhere to the part with the adhesive layer, so that the part can sufficiently securely be held. Thus, the holding device sufficiently securely holding a body part of the subject can be provided. 
     A second aspect of the present invention provides the holding device recited in the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the holding tool is a breast holding tool including the curved surface formed into a cup shape in accordance with a shape of a body surface including at least one breast of the subject along with the adhesive layer on the curved surface side. Consequently, the breast can sufficiently securely be held at the time of treatment for the breast easily deformed due to gravity depending on a posture etc. of the subject. 
     A third aspect of the present invention provides the holding device recited in the first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the fixing tool is fixed to a bed having a flat plate portion on which the subject is placed. Consequently, a body part of the subject can sufficiently securely be held at the time of treatment performed while the subject is placed on the bed. 
     A fourth aspect of the present invention provides the holding device recited in any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, wherein the arm member is capable of adjusting at least one of a position and an angle in a three-dimensional direction of the holding tool with respect to the fixing tool. Consequently, the position and the angle of the holding tool can appropriately be determined with respect to the fixed object. 
     A fifth aspect of the present invention provides the holding device recited in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, wherein the holding tool includes a plurality of hole portions penetrating in a thickness direction. Consequently, while the holding tool is attached to a body part of the subject, treatments such as collecting a biological tissue in the part and injecting a marker for radiation treatment into the part can be performed with a syringe, for example. 
     A sixth aspect of the present invention provides the holding device recited in any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, wherein the holding tool is attachable to and detachable from the arm member, and wherein the holding tool matching a shape of a body surface on the body part of the subject is selected from a plurality of types of holding tools having a shape corresponding to the body part and formed into a plurality of sizes and is attached to the arm member before use. Consequently, the low-cost and practical holding device sufficiently securely holding the body part of the subject can be provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plane view of how a holding device according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a fixed object. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an example of the configuration of the holding device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of a configuration of the holding tool included in the holding device of  FIG. 2 , and a plane view of the holding tool from above. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along IV-IV of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a configuration in which a holding tool having a form different from the holding tool shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  is attached to the arm member. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view for detailed explanation of a configuration of a leading end portion provided on the arm member shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a view of another form of attachment of the fixing tool to the fixed object of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a view of another form of attachment of the holding tool to the arm member in the holding device of this embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a view of another form of the arm member included in the holding device of this embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a view of another form of the holding tool included in the holding device of this embodiment, and is a plane view of the holding tool from above. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the holding tool in the direction indicated by an arrow XI of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a view of an example of a configuration of the holding tool including a plurality of hole portions, included in the holding device of this embodiment, and is a plane view of the holding tool from above. 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the holding tool in the direction of an arrow XIII of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a view of another example of the configuration of the holding tool formed into a mesh-like configuration and included in the holding device of this embodiment, and is a plane view of the holding tool from above. 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of the holding tool in the direction indicated by an arrow XV of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic side view of how the holding device including the holding tool shown in  FIGS. 10 to 15  is attached to the fixed object. 
         FIG. 17  is a plane view of a portion of the fixed object and the holding device in the direction indicated by an arrow XVII of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is a view of another form of the fixing tool included in the holding device of this embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a view of yet another form of the fixing tool included in the holding device of this embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the effect of the holding device of this embodiment, showing how the holding tool is attached to a body part of the subject. 
         FIG. 21  is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the effect of the configuration of the holding tool provided with a plurality of hole portions, showing how the holding tool is attached to a body part of the subject. 
     
    
    
     MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings used for the following description are not necessarily accurately drawn in terms of dimensional ratios etc. of portions. Constituent elements common to embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described. 
     Embodiments 
       FIG. 1  is a view for explaining an example of a configuration of a holding device  10  that is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The holding device  10  of this embodiment is, for example, a device holding a body part of a subject (patient)  8  at the time of treatment such as particle beam treatment, X-ray treatment, γ -ray treatment, electron beam treatment, CT imaging, and MRI imaging by a medical device not shown. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the holding device  10  is preferably attached to a bed  12  serving as a fixed object before use. For example, while the subject  8  is placed on a flat plate portion  12   a  of the bed  12  in a supine posture, a body part of the subject  8  is held with respect to the bed  12 . The bed  12  is preferably supported by a supporting device not shown at the time of the treatment. More preferably, the bed  12  is transportable because of a stretcher not shown etc. to be used with. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an example of the configuration of the holding device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the holding device  10  includes a fixing tool  14 , a holding tool  16 , and an arm member  18 . The fixing tool  14  is fixed to a fixed object that is an object to which the holding device  10  is attached. Preferably, the fixing tool  14  is fixed to the bed  12  serving as the fixed object. For example, the fixing tool  14  is fixed by a fastener such as a screw to an attaching portion  12   b  described later included in the bed  12 . This form of fixation may be another form as described later with reference to  FIGS. 7, 18, 19 , etc. Preferably, the fixing tool  14  is attachable to and detachable from the fixed object to which the holding device  10  is attached. 
     In the holding device  10 , preferably, main portions of configurations of the fixing tool  14 , the holding tool  16 , and the arm member  18  are made of a synthetic resin material. The holding tool  16  is preferably formed of a synthetic resin material such as an acrylic resin, an ABS resin, and a polylactic resin. Alternatively, the holding tool  16  may be formed of a fabric member made of fiber such as glass fiber, polyester fiber, or cotton impregnated with a curing agent and cured in accordance with a shape of a body surface on the body part. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are views of a configuration of the holding tool  16  included in the holding device  10 , and  FIG. 3  is a plane view of the holding tool  16  from above while  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along IV-IV of  FIG. 3 . The holding tool  16  includes a curved surface  16   a  formed in accordance with the shape of the body surface on the body part of the subject  8 . The holding tool  16  includes an adhesive layer  20  having adhesiveness to a skin surface of the subject  8  on the curved surface  16   a  side thereof. The adhesive layer  20  is preferably provided to cover the curved surface  16   a.    
     The holding tool  16  is preferably a breast holding tool including the curved surface  16   a  as an inner surface formed into a cup shape in accordance with the shape of the body surface including at least one breast  8   b  of the subject  8  along with the adhesive layer  20  disposed on the curved surface  16   a  side thereof. The holding tool  16  is formed into a shape partially or entirely covering at least the breast  8   b  including a papilla (nipple) of the subject  8 . Therefore, preferably, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the holding tool  16  includes a space  16   n  receiving the papilla of the subject  8 , and a space  16   b  partially or entirely receiving the breast  8   b  of the subject  8 . More preferably, the holding tool  16  is formed into a shape partially or entirely covering a region including the breast  8   b,  the breastbone, the collarbone, and the ribs of the subject  8 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the holding tool  16  includes the adhesive layer  20  having adhesiveness to the skin surface of the subject  8  on the side of the curved surface  16   a  that is an inner surface formed in accordance with the shape of the body surface including the breast  8   b.  Therefore, when the holding tool  16  is attached to the breast  8   b  of the subject  8 , the adhesive layer  20  having adhesiveness to the skin surface of the breast  8   b  is included on an entire or partial surface of a part of the holding tool  16  coming into contact with the breast  8   b.  The adhesive layer  20  is preferably made of a resin material having adhesiveness such as urethane gel or silicone gel. For the adhesive layer  20 , an acrylic-, silicone-, urethane-, or rubber-based adhesive material may be used. For the adhesive layer  20 , a synthetic resin material having adhesiveness such as acrylic-, silicone-, urethane-, styrene-based elastomer may be used. As shown in  FIG. 4 , preferably, the holding tool  16  is provided with the adhesive layer  20  covering an inner circumferential surface of the space  16   n  receiving the papilla of the subject  8  and an inner circumferential surface of the space  16   b  partially or entirely receiving the breast  8   b  of the subject  8 . 
     With regard to the holding tool  16 , preferably, the holding tool  16  matching the shape of the body surface on the body part of the subject  8  is selected from a plurality of types of the holding tools  16  having a shape corresponding to the body part of the subject  8  and formed into a plurality of sizes and is attached to the arm member  18  before use. In particular, a plurality of types of the holding tools  16  including the curved surfaces  16   a  formed in accordance with shapes of body surfaces on body parts of subjects  8  is prepared in advance correspondingly to respective multiple forms expected for the shape of the body surface on the body part. At the time of treatment of the subject  8 , the holding tool  16  matching the shape of the body surface on the body part of the subject  8  is selected and used out of the plurality of types of the holding tools  16 . In this embodiment, from the plurality of types of the holding tools  16  formed into sizes and shapes corresponding to the shape of the breast  8   b  (a type of so-called cup, a difference between top-bust and under-bust, etc.), the holding tool  16  matching the shape of the body surface on the breast  8   b  of the subject  8  is appropriately selected and attached to the arm member  18  before use. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the arm member  18  is an elongated member having one end portion to which the holding tool  16  is attached and the other end portion to which the fixing tool  14  is attached. The holding tool  16  is attached to the arm member  18  by fitting an attaching portion  16   s  (see  FIG. 4  etc.) included in the holding tool  16  to a portion of a leading end portion  18   p  of the arm member  18 , for example. The holding tool  16  is preferably attachable to and detachable from the arm member  18 . The fixing tool  14  is attached to the arm member  18  at a base end portion  18   b  that is an end portion on the side opposite to the leading end portion  18   p.    
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the bed  12  includes the attaching portion  12   b  to which the fixing tool  14  is attached. Preferably, a pair or a plurality of pairs of the attaching portions  12   b  are provided to the right and left of the subject  8  placed on the bed  12  in a supine position. Each of the attaching portions  12   b  has a plurality of attaching positions arranged in a head-foot direction of the subject  8  placed on the bed  12  in a supine position such that the fixing tool  14  is selectively attached thereto. For example, multiple threaded holes for screwing a male screw related to attachment of the fixing tool  14  are arranged at substantially equal intervals. By attaching the fixing tool  14  to any of these attachment positions, the position of the base end portion  18   b  (see  FIG. 2  etc.) of the arm member  18  is determined in the head-foot direction, i.e., the direction indicated by the x-axis of  FIG. 1 , with respect to the bed  12 . 
     The arm member  18  has a multi joint structure as shown in  FIG. 2 , for example, and is therefore configured such that at least one of the position and the angle in the three-dimensional direction of the holding tool  16  attached to the leading end portion  18   p  can be adjusted with respect to the base end portion  18   b.  Preferably, the arm member  18  is configured such that at least the position in the three-dimensional direction can be adjusted. Because of this configuration of the arm member  18 , the holding device  10  enables adjustment of at least one of the position and the angle in the three-dimensional direction of the holding tool  16  with respect to the bed  12  while the fixing tool  14  is fixed to the bed  12  that is the fixed object. For example, when the head-foot direction of the subject  8  placed on the bed  12  in a supine position is defined as a reference direction, the holding device  10  enables the adjustment of at least one of the position and the angle in the three-dimensional direction of the holding tool  16  with respect to the bed  12 . In particular, as shown in  FIG. 1 , when the head-foot direction of the subject  8  placed on the bed  12  in the supine position is used as the x-axis direction to define the y-axis and the z-axis perpendicular to the x-axis and orthogonal to each other, the holding device  10  enables the adjustment of at least one of the position and the angle in the x-, y-, or z-axis direction of the holding tool  16  with respect to the bed  12 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a configuration in which a holding tool  26  having a form different from the holding tool  16  is attached to the arm member  18 .  FIG. 6  is a front view for detailed explanation of a configuration of a leading end portion  28  provided on the arm member  18  and having a form different from the leading end portion  18   p.  The holding tool  26  is individually produced for each of the subjects  8  based on information related to the shape of the breast  8   b  of the subject  8  acquired by a known three-dimensional scanner, for example. For example, the holding tool  26  including a curved surface  26   a  corresponding to the shape of the breast  8   b  of the subject  8  is produced by a known 3D printer etc. based on the information. The curved surface  26   a  is formed into a shape partially or entirely covering a region including the breast  8   b,  the breastbone, the collarbone, and the ribs of the subject  8 . The adhesive layer  20  having adhesiveness to the skin surface of the subject  8  is provided on the curved surface  26   a  side of the holding tool  26 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a spherical body  28   g  is fitted inside the leading end portion  28 . An attaching portion  26   s  of the holding tool  26  is attached to the spherical body  28   g.  With such a configuration, the holding tool  26  (the attaching portion  26   s ) can be adjusted to an arbitrary angle with respect to the leading end portion  28  of the arm member  18 . Furthermore, as indicated by arrows of  FIG. 6 , the holding tool  26  (the attaching portion  26   s ) can rotate relatively to the leading end portion  28 . Therefore, the angle of the holding tool  26  can be changed in the rotational direction around the attaching portion  26   s  with respect to the arm member  18 . The holding member  16  described above with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4  may be attached to the arm member  18  including the leading end portion  28  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
       FIG. 7  is a view of another form of attachment of the fixing tool  14  to the bed  12 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 1  described above, the fixing tool  14  is directly attached to the attaching portion  12   b  provided on the bed  12 ; however, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 7 , a bridging portion  22  is attached to the bed  12  and the fixing tool  14  is fixed to the bridging portion  22 . The bridging portion  22  is a pair of elongated members bridging between the paired attaching portions  12   b  provided to the right and left of the subject  8  placed on the bed  12  in the supine position. By attaching the bridging portion  22  to any of a plurality of attaching positions on the attaching portions  12   b,  the position of the bridging portion  22  is determined in the head-foot direction, i.e., the direction indicated by the x-axis of  FIG. 7 , with respect to the bed  12 . The fixing tool  14  is fixed at an arbitrary position in the longitudinal direction of the bridging portion  22 . By attaching the fixing tool  14  to a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction of the bridging portion  22 , the position of the fixing tool  14  is determined in the direction perpendicular to the head-foot direction, i.e., the direction indicated by the y-axis of  FIG. 7 , with respect to the bed  12 . Therefore, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 7 , the fixing tool  14  is indirectly fixed via the bridging portion  22  to the bed  12 , so that the position of the base end portion  18   b  in the arm member  18  can be determined in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction with respect to the bed  12  (i.e., the planar direction of the flat plate portion  12   a ). 
       FIG. 8  is a view of another form of attachment of the holding tool  26  to the arm member  18 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 8 , the holding tool  26  has an attaching portion  26   s  sandwiched and fixed (clamped) by a leading end portion  30  of the arm member  18 . In particular, the leading end portion  30  is provided with a gap into which the attaching portion  26   s  is inserted and, by fastening a fastener such as a screw so that the gap is narrowed while the attaching portion  26   s  is inserted in the gap, the attaching portion  26   s  is sandwiched and fixed by the leading end portion  30 . The holding tool  16  may be attached to the arm member  18  including the leading end portion  30  shown in  FIG. 8 . In this configuration, the holding tools  16 ,  26 , etc. can easily be attached to the arm member  18 . Furthermore, according to the configuration shown in  FIG. 8 , since the leading end portion  30  is not located above the attaching portion  26   s  (on the side opposite to the holding tools  16 ,  26 , etc. in the axial direction of the attaching portion  26   s ), an irradiation gantry etc. of a medical device not shown can be disposed above the attaching portion  26   s.  Therefore, as compared to the configuration described above with reference to  FIG. 2  etc., the irradiation gantry etc. can be brought closer to an affected part to be treated (e.g., the breast  8   b ) of the subject  8 , and the accuracy of treatment can be improved. 
       FIG. 9  is a view of another form of the arm member included in the holding device  10 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 9 , the holding device  10  includes an arm member  32  without a multi joint structure. In particular, the arm member  32  is formed in a predefined elongated shape as a single unit. The holding tool  26  is attached to one end portion of the arm member  32  and the fixing tool  14  is attached to the other end portion of the arm member  32 . The holding tool  16  may be attached to the arm member  32  shown in  FIG. 9 . The arm member  32  can improve the positional fixation performance of the holding tools  16 ,  26 , etc. with respect to the bed  12 . Additionally, the holding tools  16 ,  26 , etc. and the arm member  18  can easily be attached to the bed  12 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 9 , preferably, the fixing tool  14 , the holding tools  16 ,  26 , etc., and the arm member  32  are formed as a single unit by a known 3D printer etc. in accordance with the shape of the affected part to be treated (e.g., the breast  8   b ), the lesion (tumor) position, the treatment plan, etc. of the subject  8  to be treated. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  are views of another form of the holding tool included in the holding device  10 .  FIG. 10  is a plane view of a holding tool  36  from above, and  FIG. 11  is a side view of the holding tool  36  in the direction indicated by an arrow XI of  FIG. 10 . As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the holding tool  36  includes a cup portion  36   c  formed into a cup shape and an attaching portion  36   s  formed into a flat plate shape. In  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the hemispherical cup portion  36   c  is shown; however, the cup portion  36   c  may not necessarily have a hemispherical shape and is appropriately formed in accordance with the shape of the breast  8   b.  The cup portion  36   c  has a curved surface  36   a  as an inner surface formed into a cup shape in accordance with the shape of the body surface including at least the one breast  8   b  of the subject  8 . As is the case with the holding tool  16 , a space  16   n  etc. receiving the papilla of the breast  8   b  may be provided. As indicated by broken lines of  FIG. 11 , the holding tool  36  includes the adhesive layer  20  having adhesiveness to the skin surface of the subject  8  on the side of the curved surface  36   a.  The attaching portion  36   s  is provided on the side portion of the cup portion  36   c.  In particular, the attaching portion  36   s  is provided to project from the vicinity of a lower opening  36   o  (an end edge of the curved surface  20 ) of the cup portion  36   c  toward the outside (radial outside) of the cup portion  36   c.  In other words, the attaching portion  36   s  is provided at a position closer to the opening  36   o  than a top portion  36   t  of the cup portion  36   c.  Preferably, as is the case with the holding tool  16 , the holding tool  36  matching the shape of the body surface on the body part of the subject  8  is selected from a plurality of types of the holding tools  36  having a shape corresponding to the body part of the subject  8  and formed into a plurality of sizes and is attached to an arm member  38  etc. described later before use. 
     The holding tool  36  preferably includes a plurality of hole portions penetrating in the thickness direction.  FIGS. 12 and 13  are views of an example of a configuration of the holding tool  36  including a plurality of hole portions.  FIG. 12  is a plane view of the holding tool  36  from above, and  FIG. 13  is a side view of the holding tool  36  in the direction of an arrow XIII of  FIG. 12 . In the configuration shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the cup portion  36   c  includes a plurality of hole portions  36   h  penetrating in the thickness direction thereof. The hole portion  36   h  is provided to penetrate the adhesive layer  20  as well. Therefore, the adhesive layer  20  is not provided at positions corresponding to the hole portions  36   h.  In other words, when the holding tool  36  is attached to the breast  8   b  etc. of the subject  8 , the skin surface of the breast  8   b  etc. is exposed at the positions corresponding to the hole portions  36   h.  Preferably, the hole portions  36   h  are formed into such a size that at least a needle of a typical syringe or a biopsy needle can be inserted, and are circular hole portions having a diameter dimension of 4 to 5 mmø or more, for example. 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  are views of another example of the configuration of the holding tool  36  having a plurality of hole portions.  FIG. 14  is a plane view of the holding tool  36  from above, and  FIG. 15  is a side view of the holding tool  36  in the direction indicated by an arrow XV of  FIG. 14 . In the configuration shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the whole of the cup portion  36   c  is formed into a mesh-like configuration. Therefore, the cup portion  36   c  is formed into a sieve-like configuration. Gaps  36   g  of the mesh correspond to a plurality of hole portions penetrating the cup portion  36   c  in the thickness direction. The adhesive layer  20  is not provided at positions corresponding to the gaps  36   g.  When the holding tool  36  is attached to the breast  8   b  etc. of the subject  8 , the skin surface of the breast  8   b  etc. is exposed at the positions corresponding to the gaps  36   g.  Preferably, the gaps  36   g  are formed into such a size that at least a needle of a typical syringe or a biopsy needle can be inserted, and are square gaps of 4 to 5 mm or more on a side, for example. The holding tool  36  shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15  preferably has the attaching portion  36   s  and the mesh-like cup portion  36   c  integrally formed by a known 3D printer etc. Alternatively, the holding tool  36  may be configured by fixedly attaching the attaching portion  36   s  formed of a synthetic resin material etc. to the cup portion  36   c  formed of a fabric member made of fiber such as glass fiber, polyester fiber, and cotton impregnated with a curing agent and cured in accordance with the shape of the breast  8   b  etc. 
     Although the configuration of the holding tool  36  including the plurality of hole portions  36   h  and having the mesh-like configuration have been described with reference to  FIGS. 12 to 15 , the holding tool  16  described above with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4  or the holding tool  26  described above with reference to  FIG. 5  etc. may include a plurality of hole portions penetrating in the thickness direction. In particular, the holding tools  16 ,  26  may include a plurality of hole portions penetrating in the thickness direction as is the case with the holding tool  36  described above with reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 . The holding tools  16 ,  26  may be formed into the mesh-like configuration over the whole of the holding tools  16 ,  26  as is the case with the holding tool  36  described with reference to  FIGS. 14 and 15 . 
       FIGS. 16 and 17  are schematic views of how the holding device  10  including the holding tool  36  is attached to the bed  12  serving as the fixed object.  FIG. 16  is a side view when the holding device  10  and the bed  12  are viewed in the head-foot direction, i.e., the direction indicated by the x-axis of  FIG. 16 .  FIG. 17  is a plane view of a portion of the bed  12  and the holding device  10  in the direction indicated by an arrow XVII of  FIG. 16 . In  FIGS. 16 and 17 , as with the arm member  32  described above with reference to  FIG. 9 , a configuration including the arm member  38  integrally formed without a multi joint structure is exemplarily illustrated; however, the holding tool  36  is also preferably attached to an arm member formed into a multi joint structure as in the case of the arm member  18  described above with reference to  FIG. 2  etc. As shown in  FIG. 17 , a leading end portion  38   p  of the arm member  38  has a slit  38   s  formed with a width dimension allowing insertion of at least the attaching portion  36   s  of the holding tool  36 . The leading end portion  38   p  has a threaded hole (female thread)  38   f  formed penetrating from a side thereof to the slit  38   s.  As shown in  FIG. 17 , a male screw  40  is fastened to the threaded hole  38   f  with the attaching portion  36   s  inserted in the slit  38   s.  As the male screw  40  is tightened, the attaching portion  36   s  is sandwiched between one inner wall of the slit  38   s  and a leading end of the male screw  40 , so that the holding tool  36  is fixed to the arm member  38 . 
     A base end portion  38   b  of the arm member  38  is provided with a flange portion  42  as a fixing tool. The flange portion  42  is preferably integrally formed as the same member as the arm member  38 . As shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , male screws  44  inserted through through-holes not shown formed in the flange portion  42  are fastened to threaded holes in the attaching portion  12   b  of the bed  12  so that the flange portion  42  is fixed to the bed  12 . The holding device  10  having the configuration shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17  may be attached to the bed  12  in the form as shown in  FIG. 7  described above. In particular, the bridging portion  22  may be attached to the bed  12  and the flange portion  42  serving as a fixing tool may be fixed to the bridging portion  22 . Alternatively, as described in detail later with reference to  FIGS. 18 and 19 , other forms of attachment of the holding device to the bed  12  are also available. 
       FIG. 18  is a view of another form of the fixing tool included in the holding device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 18 , the holding device  10  may include a fixing tool in the form of a clip or the like  46  as an alternative to the flange portion  42  etc. In particular, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 18 , the fixing tool  46  is attached to the base end portion  38   b  of the arm member  38 . The fixing tool  46  includes a first member  46   a  and a second member  46   b.  The first member  46   a  is fixed to the base end portion  38   b  of the arm member  38 . The first member  46   a  and the second member  46   b  are provided relatively pivotally around a pivot shaft  46   c.  The first member  46   a  and the second member  46   b  are configured such that the fixed object such as the bed  12  can be sandwiched at one end portion of the fixing tool  46 . At the other end portion of the fixing tool  46 , a spring  46   s  is provided between the first member  46   a  and the second member  46   b.  When the fixed object is sandwiched between the first member  46   a  and the second member  46   b  in the fixing tool  46  configured in this way, the fixed object is grasped between the first member  46   a  and the second member  46   b  due to the elasticity of the spring  46   s  and the fixing tool  46  is fixed to the fixed object. Although  FIG. 18  exemplarily illustrates a configuration of the fixing tool  46  attached to the arm member  38 , the fixing tool  46  may be attached to the arm member  18  described above with reference to  FIGS. 2, 8 , etc., and the device may be fixed by the fixing tool  46  to the fixed object. 
       FIG. 19  is a view of yet another form of the fixing tool included in the holding device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 19 , the holding device  10  may include a fixing tool in the form of a vise or the like  48  as an alternative to the flange portion  42  etc. In particular, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 19 , the fixing tool  48  is attached to the base end portion  38   b  of the arm member  38 . The fixing tool  48  includes a base portion  48   b  having a mouth portion  48   o  with dimensions at least allowing insertion of the fixed object and a screw portion  48   s  mainly made up of a male screw. The base portion  48   b  has a threaded hole (female thread)  48   f  formed penetrating from a lower side (an end portion on the side opposite to the side to which the arm member  38  is attached) to the mouth portion  48   o.  The male screw of the screw portion  48   s  is threadably engaged with the threaded hole  48   f.  As shown in  FIG. 19 , when the male screw of the screw portion  48   s  is screwed into the threaded hole  48   f  with the fixed object such as the bed  12  inserted in the mouth portion  48   o,  the fixed object is sandwiched between one inner wall (upper inner wall) of the mouth portion  48   o  and a receiving portion  48   c  provided at an leading end of the screw portion  48   s,  and the fixing tool  48  is fixed to the fixed object. Although  FIG. 19  exemplarily illustrates a configuration of the fixing tool  48  attached to the arm member  38 , the fixing tool  48  may be attached to the arm member  18  described above with reference to  FIGS. 2, 8 , etc., and the device may be fixed by the fixing tool  48  to the fixed object. 
       FIG. 20  is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the effect of the holding device  10  of this embodiment, showing how the holding tools  16 ,  26 ,  36  (hereinafter referred to as the holding tool  16  etc.) are attached to a body part of the subject  8 . For example, in the particle beam treatment including proton beam treatment and heavy particle beam treatment, the body position of the subject  8  must appropriately be changed between the supine position, the lateral position, the prone position, etc., and additionally, since a relative positional relationship between a device irradiating a particle beam and the body of the subject  8  relates to determination of a treatment part, it is required to securely hold (fix) the body of the subject  8 . Particularly, in the particle beam treatment for the breast  8   b  of the subject  8 , the breast  8   b  must be placed away from major organs such as the heart and the lungs located near the breast  8   b  so as not to cause adverse effects on the major organs due to the irradiation of the particle beam. Since the breast  8   b  is easily affected by gravity and easily deformed in shape, the breast shape must be retained in a required body posture so as not to change the shape of the breast  8   b  during the treatment. Furthermore, in the particle beam treatment etc., it may be required to keep a part such as the breast  8   b  to be treated in substantially the same shape in a plurality of treatments performed at a time interval. The holding tool  16  etc. included in the holding device  10  of this embodiment have the configuration described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 19  and therefore allow the adhesive layer  20  to adhere to the skin surface of the part as shown in  FIG. 20  while being attached to the part such as the breast  8   b.  Thus, even when the holding tool  16  etc. are once detached from the part such as the breast  8   b  and then attached again to the part, the part can be held in the same shape as the previous time. 
       FIG. 21  is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the effect of the configuration of the holding tool  16  etc. provided with a plurality of hole portions, showing how the holding tool  16  etc. are attached to a body part of the subject  8 . For example, in biological tissue diagnosis (biopsy), it may be required to stick (insert) a needle of a syringe or a biopsy needle into an affected part so as to collect a diseased tissue (cell) in the affected part. Also in radiation treatment, it may be required to stick a needle of a syringe or a biopsy needle into an affected part so as to inject a marker into the affected part. As described above with reference to  FIGS. 12 to 15 , in the configuration of the holding tool  16  etc. provided with a plurality of the hole portions  36   h  or the gaps  36   g  serving as hole portions (hereinafter referred to as the hole portions  36  etc.), as shown in  FIG. 21 , while the holding tool  16  etc. are attached to a body part (such as the breast  8   b ) considered as the affected part of the subject  8 , a needle  50   n  of a syringe  50  can be inserted from the hole portions  36   h  etc. to stick the needle  50   n  into the body part. Therefore, while the holding tool  16  etc. are attached to the affected part, a diseased tissue in the affected part can be collected by the syringe  50 . While the holding tool  16  etc. are attached to the affected part, a marker for radiation treatment can be injected by the syringe  50  into the affected part. Particularly, the holding tool  36  described above with reference to  FIGS. 12 to 15  has the attaching portion  36   s  provided on the side portion of the cup portion  36   c  and, therefore, for example, while the holding tool  36  is attached to the breast  8   b,  the needle  50   n  of the syringe  50  can be inserted in a relatively wide range including the periphery of the papilla. 
     This embodiment includes: the holding tools  16 ,  26 ,  36  that include the curved surfaces  16   a,    26   a,    36   a  formed in accordance with a shape of a body surface of a body part of the subject  8  and that include the adhesive layer  20  having adhesiveness to the skin surface of the subject  8  on the side of the curved surfaces  16   a,    26   a,    36   a;  the elongated arm members  18 ,  32 ,  38  having one end portion to which the holding tools  16 ,  26 ,  36  are attached; and the fixing tools  14 ,  46 ,  48 , for fixing the arm members  18 ,  32 ,  38  to the bed  12  etc. serving as the fixed object, or the flange portion  42  serving as the fixing tool, attached to end portions of the arm members  18 ,  32 ,  38  on the side opposite to the end portion on the side to which the holding tools  16 ,  26 ,  36  are attached, and therefore, for example, even in a treatment targeting an easily deforming part such as the breast  8   b,  the holding tools  16 ,  26 ,  36  can adhere to the part with the adhesive layer  20 , so that the part can sufficiently securely be held. Thus, the holding device  10  sufficiently securely holding a body part of the subject  8  can be provided. 
     Since the holding tools  16 ,  26 ,  36  are breast holding tools including the curved surfaces  16   a,    26   a,    36   a  formed into a cup shape in accordance with the shape of the body surface including at least the one breast  8   b  of the subject  8  along with the adhesive layer  20  on the side of the curved surfaces  16   a,    26   a,    36   a,  the breast  8   b  can sufficiently securely be held at the time of treatment for the breast  8   b  easily deformed due to gravity depending on a posture etc. of the subject  8 . 
     Since the fixing tools  14 ,  46 ,  48  or the flange portion  42  serving as the fixing tool is fixed to the bed  12  having the flat plate portion  12   a  on which the subject  8  is placed, a body part of the subject  8  can sufficiently securely be held at the time of treatment performed while the subject  8  is placed on the bed  12 . 
     Since the arm member  18  is capable of adjusting at least one of a position and an angle in a three-dimensional direction of the holding tools  16 ,  26 ,  36  with respect to the fixing tool  14 , the position and the angle of the holding tools  16 ,  26 ,  36  can appropriately be determined with respect to the fixed object. 
     Since the holding tools  16 ,  26 ,  36  include a plurality of the hole portions  36   h  penetrating in the thickness direction or the gaps  36   g  serving as the hole portions, while the holding tools  16 ,  26 ,  36  are attached to a body part of the subject  8 , treatments such as collecting a biological tissue in the part and injecting a marker for radiation treatment into the part can be performed with the syringe  50 , for example. 
     Since the holding tools  16 ,  36  are attachable to and detachable from the arm members  18 ,  32 ,  38 , and the holding tools  16 ,  36  matching a shape of a body surface on the body part of the subject  8  are selected from a plurality of types of the holding tools  16 ,  36  having a shape corresponding to the body part and formed into a plurality of sizes and are attached to the arm members  18 ,  32 ,  38  before use, the low-cost and practical holding device  10  sufficiently securely holding the body part of the subject  8  can be provided. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be implemented in other forms. 
     For example, although the arm member  18  having a multi joint structure as shown in  FIG. 2  and the arm members  32 ,  38  integrally formed without a joint are exemplarily illustrated in the embodiments, the arm member included in the holding device  10  of the present invention is not limited thereto, and an arm member in another form may be used. For example, although the arm member  18  including two joints is exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the arm member of the present invention may include one joint (single joint) or three or more joints. A known flexible arm etc. may be used as a substitute for the arm member  18  etc. as long as the position, the angle, etc. of the holding tool  16  etc. can sufficiently securely be fixed with respect to the fixed object. The fixing tool  14  etc. may include a portion configured in an elongated shape and the portion configured in an elongated shape may substantially function as a portion of the arm member. For example, an arm member may be connected via a joint to a leading end of the portion configured in an elongated shape in the fixing tool  14 . It is also conceivable that the holding tool  26  and the arm member  32  etc. integrally formed as described above with reference to  FIG. 9  are connected via a joint to the leading end of the portion configured in an elongated shape in the fixing tool  14 . Therefore, the holding device of the present invention may be any device substantially (functionally) including a configuration corresponding to the holding tool  16  etc., the arm member  18  etc., and the fixing tool  14  etc. described in the embodiments, and the detailed forms thereof are not limited to the configurations in the embodiments described above. 
     In the embodiments described above, the bed  12  including the flat plate portion  12   a  for placing the subject  8  thereon is exemplarily illustrated as the fixed object to which the fixing tool  14  etc. are fixed; however, this is not a limitation of the fixed object to which the fixing tool  14  etc. are fixed, and various forms are conceivable. For example, the fixing tool  14  etc. may be fixed to a stand such as a tripod serving as the fixed object. The fixing tool  14  etc. may be fixed to a wall of a room in which a medical device giving treatment to the subject  8  is disposed, or to the medical device itself. 
     Although the embodiments have been described in detail in terms of the effects when the holding device  10  is used at the time of the particle beam treatment including proton beam treatment and heavy particle beam treatment, the biological tissue diagnosis, and the radiation treatment; however, the holding device of the present invention is obviously not limited to these use applications. For example, also in the case of holding a part to be treated at the time of electron beam treatment and y-ray treatment etc., the effect of the present invention can be acquired by holding the part with the holding device  10 . Also in the case of holding a part to be treated at the time of CT imaging, MRI imaging, etc., the effect of the present invention can be acquired by holding the part with the holding device  10 . 
     Although the holding device  10  holding the breast  8   b  of the subject  8  has been described in the embodiments, the object to be held by the holding device of the present invention is not limited to the breast  8   b  of the subject  8 . For example, it is conceivable that at the time of treatment of skin cancer including melanoma (malignant melanoma), X-rays etc. are irradiated to the part while stretching out (pulling) the skin in which the skin cancer exists in the body of the subject. The holding tool included in the holding device of the present invention has the adhesive layer having adhesiveness to the skin surface of the subject on the curved surface side and is therefore preferably used even when the skin of the subject is stretched out as described above, and can sufficiently securely hold the part. 
     Although not exemplarily illustrated one by one, the present invention is implemented with other various modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       8 : Subject  8   b:  Breast (Body part)  10 : Holding device  12 : Bed (Fixed object)  12   a:  Flat plate portion  14 ,  46 ,  48 : Fixing tool  16 ,  26 ,  36 : Holding tool  16   a,    26   a,    36   a:  Curved surface  18 ,  32 ,  38 : Arm member  20 : Adhesive layer  36   g:  Gap (Hole portion)  36   h:  Hole portion  42 : Flange portion (Fixing tool)