Patent Description:
In general, tube body cleaning apparatuses are used to observe a narrow intratubular environment that may not be viewed with a naked eye by connecting a camera to an end of a system. The tube body cleaning apparatus may be used to inspect and diagnose narrow spaces that are difficult to be viewed with the naked eye without any dismantlement or cutting in all fields across industries such as aviation, power plants, automobiles, machinery, shipping, heavy industry, and construction. Alternatively, the tube body cleaning apparatus may be used as a catheter for diagnosing and treating a disease by observing an internal environment of a human body, such as an internal organ and a blood vessel of the human body. For example, <CIT> discloses a tube body cleaning apparatus comprising a body having a set length, and formed of a flexible material, an expansion member located at one point of the body in the length direction, configured to expand to increase a volume protruding outward from the body, a piston part movable back and forth within a cylinder part, and a support part connected to the piston part, and a work member, and relates to a method and a device for acting or an obstruction present in a body vessel, using a catheter to be introduced into this body vessel, the distal end of which comes to lie close to the obstruction and this distal end is positioned relative to the vessel wall. In <CIT> a device for removing material from body lumens and cavities is described, wherein the devices can be magnetically navigated and/or controlled. <CIT> describes a catheter device for treatment of disease in biological conduits wherein the catheter device has a fluid sealed treatment chamber, including infusion and aspiration, which can be used to stabilize a treatment site. In <CIT> an apparatus that can simultaneously cleaning and inspection the inner surface of a pipe is described.

The present invention provides a body of a flexible material having a set length and a tube body cleaning apparatus comprising the body capable of effectively cleaning the tube body.

In addition, the present invention provides a tube body cleaning apparatus capable of performing a work while being effectively fixed to a periphery of a cleaning target region.

In addition, the present invention provides a tube body cleaning apparatus that may be effectively moved to the cleaning target region.

According to the present invention, in accordance with claim <NUM>, a tube body cleaning apparatus includes: a body having a set length, and formed of a flexible material; an expansion member located at one point of the body in the length direction, and configured to expand to increase a volume protruding outward from the body; a piston part movable back and forth within a cylinder part is formed inside a front end of the body; a support part connected to the piston part, and located outside the body, and having a support groove formed in a ring shape in a circumferential direction to the support part; a magnetic member provided as a ring-shaped permanent magnet along the circumference of the support groove and capable of relative rotation with respect to the support part; and a work member provided along the outer circumference of the magnetic member in a ring shape, fixedly coupled to the magnetic member, having an outer surface gradually increased in diameter from the front end to the rear end and protrusions having a spiral structure formed on the outer surface, when a magnetic field is applied from the outside, the magnetic member and the work member rotate together around the axis of the support part to perform a drilling motion.

In addition, a driving fluid guide part for supplying a driving fluid to the inside of the cylinder part is formed inside the body, the piston part is capable of moving forward and backward within the cylinder part by supplying the driving fluid.

In addition, the tube body cleaning apparatus may further include a guide magnetic member located at a front end of the body and the work member may be located on a front side of the body, and movable back and forth with respect to the body.

In addition, the expansion member may include: a front expansion member located between the support member and the front end of the body; and a front fluid guide part connected to the front expansion member to supply a fluid for expansion into a space formed inside the front expansion member, a rear expansion member may be located rearward of the work magnetic member; and a rear fluid guide part may be connected to the rear expansion member to supply a fluid for expansion into a space formed inside the rear expansion member.

In addition, the tube body cleaning apparatus may further include a guide magnetic member located at the front end of the body on a front side of the front expansion member.

The present invention is, in accordance with claim <NUM>, also directed to a body of a flexible material having a set length; an expansion member located at one point of the body in the length direction, and configured to expand to increase a volume protruding outward from the body; a support member spaced apart from the front end of the body by a set distance to the rear, positioned at one point in the length direction of the body, and having a support groove formed in a ring shape on an outer circumferential surface; a magnetic member provided as a ring-shaped permanent magnet along the support groove and capable of relative rotation with respect to the support member; and a work member provided along the outer circumference of the magnetic member in a ring shape, fixedly coupled to the magnetic member, having an outer surface gradually increased in diameter from the front end to the rear end and protrusions having a spiral structure formed on the outer surface, when a magnetic field is applied from the outside, the magnetic member and the work member rotate together around the axis of the support to perform a drilling motion.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a tube body cleaning apparatus capable of effectively cleaning a tube body can be provided.

In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a tube body cleaning apparatus capable of performing a work while being effectively fixed to a periphery of a cleaning target region can be provided.

In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a tube body cleaning apparatus that may be effectively moved to the cleaning target region can be provided.

According to the present invention, a tube body cleaning apparatus includes: a body having a set length, and formed of a flexible material; an expansion member located at one point of the body in the length direction, and configured to expand to increase a volume protruding outward from the body; a piston part movable back and forth within a cylinder part is formed inside a front end of the body; a support part connected to the piston part, and located outside the body, and having a support groove formed in a ring shape in a circumferential direction to the support part; a magnetic member provided as a ring-shaped permanent magnet along the circumference of the support groove and capable of relative rotation with respect to the support part; and a work member provided along the outer circumference of the magnetic member in a ring shape, fixedly coupled to the magnetic member, having an outer surface gradually increased in diameter from the front end to the rear end and protrusions having a spiral structure formed on the outer surface, when a magnetic field is applied from the outside, the magnetic member and the work member rotate together around the axis of the support part to perform a drilling motion.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments may be modified into various other forms, and the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the following embodiments. The invention is limited by the appended claims.

The present embodiment is provided to more completely describe the present invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, in the drawings, a shape of an element has been exaggerated to emphasize a clearer description.

<FIG> is a view showing a tube body cleaning apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a sectional view showing the tube body cleaning apparatus of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may include a body <NUM>, a support member <NUM>, a magnetic member <NUM>, a work member <NUM>, and an expansion member <NUM>.

Hereinafter, a direction in which the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> moves when the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> approaches a cleaning target region (OP of <FIG>) within a tube body (T of <FIG>) to perform a work will be referred to as a forward direction.

The body <NUM> may be formed in a rod shape having a set length. A section of the body <NUM> perpendicular to a length direction of the body <NUM> may be formed in a circular shape, a polygonal shape, or the like. A cylinder part <NUM> may be formed inside a front end of the body <NUM>. The cylinder part <NUM> may be configured as an empty space having a set volume. A section of the cylinder part <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to the length direction may be uniformly formed in the length direction. The cylinder part <NUM> may be connected to a driving fluid guide part <NUM>. For example, the driving fluid guide part <NUM> may be configured as a flow path formed inside the body <NUM>, and may have the same area of a section perpendicular to the length direction as the cylinder part <NUM> or a smaller area of the section perpendicular to the length direction than the cylinder part <NUM>. In addition, the driving fluid guide part <NUM> may be formed in a piping structure and located on an outer surface of the body <NUM>, and a front end of the fluid guide part <NUM> may be connected to the cylinder part <NUM>. The body <NUM> may be formed of a flexible material.

The support member <NUM> may be connected to the front end of the body <NUM>. The support member <NUM> may be movable back and forth with respect to the body <NUM>. The support member <NUM> may include a piston part <NUM> and a support part <NUM>.

The piston part <NUM> may be formed in a plate shape having an area corresponding to an area of the section of the cylinder part <NUM>, and located in the cylinder part <NUM>. The piston part <NUM> may be movable back and forth within the cylinder part <NUM> by a driving fluid supplied to the cylinder part <NUM> through the driving fluid guide part <NUM>. The driving fluid supplied to control a position of the piston part <NUM> may be a liquid having stability against injection into a human body, such as physiological saline.

A connection part <NUM> having a rod shape may extend forward from a front surface of the piston part <NUM>. The connection part <NUM> may be located in a connection hole <NUM>, which is formed at the front end of the body <NUM> so as to be connected to the cylinder part <NUM>, and a front end of the connection part <NUM> may be located outside the body <NUM>.

The support part <NUM> may be connected to the front end of the connection part <NUM>, and the magnetic member <NUM> may be fixed to the support part <NUM>. For example, a support groove (not shown) may be formed in a ring shape in a circumferential direction of the support part <NUM>, and the magnetic member <NUM> may be formed in a ring shape corresponding to the support groove so as to be located in the support groove. In this case, the magnetic member <NUM> may be fixed to the support part <NUM>, or rotatable with respect to the support part <NUM>. When the magnetic member <NUM> is fixed to the support part <NUM>, the support member <NUM> may be rotatable with respect to the body <NUM>. In addition, the support groove may be located in one area of the support part <NUM> in the circumferential direction, and the magnetic member <NUM> may be formed in a shape corresponding to the support groove so as to be located in the support groove. Further, at least two support grooves may be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the support part <NUM> by a set distance, and the magnetic member <NUM> may be located in each of the support grooves. The magnetic member <NUM> may be a permanent magnet. The magnetic member <NUM> may be configured such that an N-pole and an S-pole are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the length direction of the body <NUM>. In addition, the magnetic member <NUM> may be configured such that the N-pole and the S-pole are arranged in the length direction of the body <NUM>. Further, the magnetic member <NUM> may be configured such that the N-pole and the S-pole are arranged in a direction inclined with respect to the length direction of the body <NUM> by a set angle.

The work member <NUM> may be rotatable with respect to the body <NUM> about an axis defined in the length direction of the body <NUM> on a front side of the body <NUM>. The work member <NUM> may be movable back and forth with respect to the body <NUM>. The work member <NUM> may be connected to the support member <NUM> or the magnetic member <NUM> so as to be rotatable with respect to the body <NUM> together with the support member <NUM> or the magnetic member <NUM>. For example, the work member <NUM> may be connected to an outer surface of the magnetic member <NUM>. In detail, the work member <NUM> may be formed in a ring structure and located around an outer circumference of the magnetic member <NUM>, or may be formed in an arc structure and located in a partial area around the outer circumference of the magnetic member <NUM>. In addition, a plurality of work members <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other along the outer circumference of the magnetic member <NUM>. As another example, the work member <NUM> may be located around an outer circumference of a front or rear end of the support part <NUM>. In this case, the configuration of the work member <NUM> is not limited to a configuration that is physically separate from the magnetic member <NUM> or the support member <NUM>. For example, the work member <NUM> may be configured as a component that is separate from the magnetic member <NUM> or the support member <NUM> and attached to the magnetic member <NUM> or the support member <NUM>, and may be a component formed by processing a shape of a part of the magnetic member <NUM> or the support member <NUM>.

The work member <NUM> may be configured such that a rear end of the work member <NUM> protrudes outward more as compared with a front end of the work member <NUM>. For example, an outer surface of the work member <NUM> may be inclined toward an outside from a front side to a rear side of the work member <NUM>.

A work part <NUM> may be formed on the outer surface of the work member <NUM>. For example, the work part <NUM> may have roughness, such as grooves, concavo-convex portions, and protrusions having a spiral structure, so as to improve efficiency of a work of removing a substance attached to an inner surface of the tube body T or chipping away the inner surface of the tube body T as the work part <NUM> rotates in contact with the inner surface of the tube body T.

The expansion member <NUM> may be located at one point of the body <NUM> in the length direction. For example, the expansion member <NUM> may be located at the front end of the body <NUM> adjacent to the work member <NUM>. The expansion member <NUM> may be formed in a ring shape around a circumference of the body <NUM>, or may be configured in a form of at least one protrusion provided in a circumferential direction of the body <NUM>. The expansion member <NUM> may expand to increase a volume protruding outward from the body <NUM>.

The expansion member <NUM> may be connected to a fluid guide part <NUM>. The fluid guide part <NUM> may supply a fluid for expansion into a space formed inside the expansion member <NUM>. The fluid for expansion may be a liquid having stability against injection into a human body, such as physiological saline. <FIG> illustrates a case in which the fluid guide part <NUM> is located on the outer surface of the body <NUM> in the length direction of the body <NUM>. However, a scheme of configuring the fluid guide part <NUM> is not limited the above-described scheme, and the fluid guide part <NUM> may be formed in a piping structure inside the body <NUM> in the length direction of the body <NUM>.

A guide magnetic member <NUM> may be additionally provided at one point of the body <NUM> in the length direction. The guide magnetic member <NUM> may be directly fixed to the outer surface of the body <NUM>, located in a groove formed in the outer surface of the body <NUM>, or fixed to a structure located on the outer surface of the body <NUM>.

The guide magnetic member <NUM> may be formed in a ring shape, or may be located in a partial area around an outer circumference of the body <NUM>. In addition, at least two guide magnetic members <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other by a set distance in the circumferential direction of the body <NUM>. The guide magnetic member <NUM> may be a permanent magnet. The guide magnetic member <NUM> may be configured such that an N-pole and an S-pole are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the length direction of the body <NUM>. In addition, the guide magnetic member <NUM> may be configured such that the N-pole and the S-pole are arranged in the length direction of the body <NUM>. Further, the guide magnetic member <NUM> may be configured such that the N-pole and the S-pole are arranged in a direction inclined with respect to the length direction of the body <NUM> by a set angle. The guide magnetic member <NUM> may be located at the front end of the body <NUM>. For example, the guide magnetic member <NUM> may be located forward of the expansion member <NUM>, or may be located in an area in which the expansion member <NUM> is formed.

<FIG> are views showing a method of using the tube body cleaning apparatus of <FIG>.

<FIG> is a view showing a state in which the tube body cleaning apparatus is moved to a cleaning target region in a tube body.

Referring to <FIG>, first, after the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> is moved to a cleaning target region OP in the tube body T, a front region of the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may be fixed to a periphery of the cleaning target region OP. The tube body T, which is a cleaning target, may be a blood vessel of a living body. A force for moving the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> forward within the tube body T may be provided by the guide magnetic member <NUM>, the magnetic member <NUM>, or the guide magnetic member <NUM> and the magnetic member <NUM>.

In detail, when a magnetic field is applied to the guide magnetic member <NUM> or the magnetic member <NUM> from the outside of the tube body T, a force may act on the guide magnetic member <NUM> or the magnetic member <NUM> due to an interaction with the magnetic field. In addition, the magnetic field may be applied to the guide magnetic member <NUM> or the magnetic member <NUM> such that a torque may be generated, so that the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may be rotated about the axis defined in the length direction to move within the tube body T while performing a drilling motion. In this case, the torque generated in the guide magnetic member <NUM> or the magnetic member <NUM> may be represented by Formula <NUM> as follows. <MAT> (Magnetic field: Be, Te: Torque generated in magnetic member <NUM>, m: Magnetic moment of magnetic member <NUM>).

In addition, in order to generate the drilling motion, the magnetic field may be applied as follows. <MAT> (B<NUM>: Intensity of magnetic field, f: Rotation frequency, N: Unit vector of rotation axis, U: Unit vector perpendicular to rotation axis).

In this case, a position, a direction, a size, and the like of the magnetic field acting on the guide magnetic member <NUM> or the magnetic member <NUM> may be adjusted, so that the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may move within the tube body T so as to move to the cleaning target region OP. In addition, the magnetic field may be applied to the guide magnetic member <NUM> and the magnetic member <NUM> while being individually controlled.

<FIG> is a view showing a state in which the tube body cleaning apparatus is fixed to a periphery of the cleaning target region.

Referring to <FIG>, when the work member <NUM> is moved so as to be located at the periphery of the cleaning target region OP, a fluid may be supplied through the fluid guide part <NUM> to expand the expansion member <NUM>, so that the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may be fixed. In this case, the expansion member <NUM> may preferably expand to the extent that the expansion member <NUM> and the inner surface of the tube body T are pressed against each other, so that the expansion member <NUM> may be prevented from being arbitrarily separated from a fixed position.

<FIG> is a view showing a state in which the tube body cleaning apparatus removes a substance attached to the tube body in the cleaning target region.

Referring to <FIG>, when the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> is fixed, the driving fluid may be supplied to the cylinder part <NUM> through the driving fluid guide part <NUM> so as to move the support member <NUM> and the work member <NUM> forward. In addition, the magnetic field applied to the magnetic member <NUM> may be adjusted to generate a torque in the magnetic member <NUM>, so that the magnetic member <NUM> and the work member <NUM> may be rotated.

When the work member <NUM> is rotated while the body <NUM> is not fixed to the tube body T, and when the body <NUM> is rotated while a position of the work member <NUM> in a forward-rearward direction with respect to the body <NUM> is fixed, there may be a limit to efficiency of removing the substance in the cleaning target region through the rotation of the work member <NUM>. Meanwhile, according to the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> of an embodiment of the present invention, in a state in which the body <NUM> is fixed to the tube body T, the work member <NUM> may clean the tube body T by rotating while moving forward, so that the substance in the cleaning target region OP may be effectively removed.

<FIG> is a view showing a state in which the tube body cleaning apparatus is additionally moved forward, and <FIG> is a view showing a state in which the cleaning target region is expanded through expansion of an expansion member.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the cleaning is performed by the drilling motion of the work member <NUM>, the fluid of the expansion member <NUM> may be discharged through the fluid guide part <NUM>, so that the expansion member <NUM> may be contracted. Thereafter, the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may additionally move forward. In this case, a process of moving the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> forward may be the same as the process described above with reference to <FIG>. When the expansion member <NUM> is located in the cleaning target region OP as the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> moves additionally, the fluid may be supplied to the expansion member <NUM> through the fluid guide part <NUM> so as to expand the expansion member <NUM>. Accordingly, the cleaning target region OP of the tube body T may be expanded toward the outside, so that an area of the cleaning target region OP may be increased. Then, after the expansion member <NUM> is contracted, the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may additionally move forward to perform a work, or may move rearward so as to be discharged out of the tube body T.

<FIG> is a view showing a tube body cleaning apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a sectional view showing the tube body cleaning apparatus of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may include a body <NUM>, a magnetic member <NUM>, a work member <NUM>, and an expansion member <NUM>.

The body <NUM> may be formed in a rod shape having a set length. A front end of the body <NUM> may be tapered. A section of the body <NUM> perpendicular to a length direction of the body <NUM> may be formed in a circular shape, a polygonal shape, or the like. The body <NUM> may be formed in a hollow structure in which at least one area inside the structure is empty. For example, the body <NUM> may be formed in a tube structure having an inside that is empty in the length direction. The body <NUM> may be formed of a flexible material.

The magnetic member <NUM> may be located at one point in the length direction of the body <NUM>. For example, support members <NUM> and <NUM> may be provided at one point in the length direction of the body <NUM>. The support members <NUM> and <NUM> may be located outside the body <NUM>, and the magnetic member <NUM> may be located in a support groove (not shown) formed on outer sides of the support members <NUM> and <NUM>. The support groove may be formed in a ring shape in a circumferential direction of the body <NUM>, and the magnetic member <NUM> may be formed in a ring shape corresponding to the support groove so as to be located in the support groove. In addition, the support groove may be located in one area of the body <NUM> in the circumferential direction on the support members <NUM> and <NUM>, and the magnetic member <NUM> may be formed in a shape corresponding to the support groove so as to be located in the support groove. Further, at least two support grooves may be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the body <NUM> by a set distance, and the magnetic member <NUM> may be located in each of the support grooves. The magnetic member <NUM> may be a permanent magnet. The magnetic member <NUM> may be configured such that an N-pole and an S-pole are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the body <NUM>. In addition, the magnetic member <NUM> may be configured such that the N-pole and the S-pole are arranged in the length direction of the body <NUM>. Further, the magnetic member <NUM> may be configured such that the N-pole and the S-pole are arranged in a direction inclined with respect to the length direction of the body <NUM> by a set angle.

The magnetic member <NUM> may include a guide magnetic member 30a and a work magnetic member 30b.

The guide magnetic member 30a may be located at the front end of the body <NUM>. The guide magnetic member 30a may be located on a guide support member <NUM> located at the front end of the body <NUM> with the above-described structure. The guide magnetic member 30a may be fixed to the body <NUM>. In addition, the guide magnetic member 30a may be fixed to the guide support member <NUM>.

The work magnetic member 30b may be spaced rearward from the front end of the body <NUM> by a set distance so as to be located at one point in the length direction of the body <NUM>. The work magnetic member 30b may be rotatable with respect to the body <NUM> about an axis defined in the length direction of the body <NUM>. For example, the work magnetic member 30b may be located on a work support member <NUM> with the above-described structure, and the work support member <NUM> may be rotatable with respect to the body <NUM>. In addition, a support groove may be formed in a ring shape in the work support member <NUM>, and the work magnetic member 30b may be formed in a ring shape corresponding to the support groove so as to be rotatably located in the support groove.

The work member <NUM> may be rotatable with respect to the body <NUM> about the axis defined in the length direction of the body <NUM> at one point in the length direction of the body <NUM>. The work member <NUM> may be connected to the work magnetic member 30b so as to be rotatable with respect to the body <NUM> together with the work magnetic member 30b. For example, the work member <NUM> may be connected to an outer surface of the work magnetic member 30b. In detail, the work member <NUM> may be formed in a ring structure and located around an outer circumference of the work magnetic member 30b, or may be formed in an arc structure and located in a partial area around the outer circumference of the work magnetic member 30b. In addition, a plurality of work members <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other along the outer circumference of the work magnetic member 30b. In this case, the configuration of the work member <NUM> is not limited to a configuration that is physically separate from the work magnetic member 30b. For example, the work member <NUM> may be configured as a component that is separate from the work magnetic member 30b and attached to the work magnetic member 30b, and may be a component formed by processing a shape of a part of the work magnetic member 30b.

A work part <NUM> may be formed on the outer surface of the work member <NUM>. For example, the work part <NUM> may have roughness, such as grooves, concavo-convex portions, and protrusions having a spiral structure, so as to improve efficiency of a work of removing a substance attached to an inner surface of a tube body T or chipping away the inner surface of the tube body T as the work part <NUM> rotates in contact with the inner surface of the tube body T.

The expansion member <NUM> may be located at one point of the body <NUM> in the length direction. The expansion member <NUM> may be formed in a ring shape around a circumference of the body <NUM>, or may be configured in a form of at least one protrusion provided in a circumferential direction of the body <NUM>. The expansion member <NUM> may expand to increase a volume protruding outward from the body <NUM>.

The expansion member <NUM> may include a front expansion member 50a and a rear expansion member 50b.

The front expansion member 50a may be located in a front region of the body <NUM>. The front expansion member 50a may be located forward of the work magnetic member 30b and the work member <NUM>. The front expansion member 50a may be located rearward of the guide magnetic member 30a. The front expansion member 50a may be connected to a front fluid guide part <NUM>. The front fluid guide part <NUM> may supply a fluid for expansion to a space formed inside the front expansion member 50a. The fluid for expansion may be a liquid having stability against injection into a human body, such as physiological saline. <FIG> illustrates a case in which the front fluid guide part <NUM> is located on an outer surface of the body <NUM> in the length direction of the body <NUM>. However, a scheme of configuring the front fluid guide part <NUM> is not limited to the above-described scheme, and the front fluid guide part <NUM> may be located in a space formed inside the body <NUM> in the length direction of the body <NUM>, may be located on an inner surface of the body <NUM>, or may be formed in a piping structure inside the body <NUM>.

The rear expansion member 50b may be spaced rearward from the front expansion member 50a by a set distance. The rear expansion member 50b may be located rearward of the work magnetic member 30b and the work member <NUM>. The rear expansion member 50b may be connected to a rear fluid guide part <NUM>. The rear fluid guide part <NUM> may supply a fluid for expansion to a space formed inside the rear expansion member 50b. The fluid for expansion may be a liquid having stability against injection into a human body, such as physiological saline. <FIG> illustrates a case where the rear fluid guide part <NUM> is located on an outer surface of the front fluid guide part <NUM> in the length direction of the body <NUM>. However, a scheme of configuring the rear fluid guide part <NUM> is not limited to the above-described scheme, and the rear fluid guide part <NUM> may be located on the outer surface of the body <NUM> in a region other than the front fluid guide part <NUM> in the length direction of the body <NUM>, may be located in a space formed inside the body <NUM>, may be located on an inner surface of the body <NUM>, or may be formed in a piping structure inside the body <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view showing a state in which the tube body cleaning apparatus is moved to a cleaning target region in a tube body, and <FIG> is a view showing a state in which a front region of the tube body cleaning apparatus is fixed to a periphery of the cleaning target region.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, first, after the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> is moved to a cleaning target region OP in the tube body T, a front region of the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may be fixed to a periphery of the cleaning target region OP. The tube body T, which is a cleaning target, may be a blood vessel of a living body. A force for moving the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> forward within the tube body T may be provided by the magnetic member <NUM>. In detail, when a magnetic field is applied to the magnetic member <NUM> from the outside of the tube body T, a force may act on the magnetic member <NUM> due to an interaction with the magnetic field. In addition, the magnetic field may be applied to the magnetic member <NUM> such that a torque may be generated, so that the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may be rotated about the axis defined in the length direction to move within the tube body T while performing a drilling motion. In this case, the torque generated in the magnetic member <NUM> may be represented by Formula <NUM> described above.

In addition, in order to generate the drilling motion, the magnetic field may be applied according to Formula <NUM> as described above.

In this case, a position, a direction, a size, and the like of the magnetic field acting on the magnetic member <NUM> may be adjusted, so that the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may move within the tube body T so as to move to the cleaning target region OP. In addition, the magnetic field may be applied to the guide magnetic member 30a and the work magnetic member 30b while being individually controlled. Accordingly, due to a force applied to the guide magnetic member 30a and a force applied to the work magnetic member 30b, the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may be controlled to move to a work target region such that the body <NUM> is bent to correspond to a shape of the tube body T during a movement process.

When the work member <NUM> is moved so as to be located at the periphery of the cleaning target region OP, a fluid may be supplied through the front fluid guide part <NUM> to expand the front expansion member 50a, so that the front region of the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may be fixed. In this case, the front expansion member 50a may preferably expand to the extent that the front expansion member 50a and the inner surface of the tube body T are pressed against each other, so that the front expansion member 50a may be prevented from being arbitrarily separated from a fixed position.

<FIG> is a view showing a state in which a position of the tube body cleaning apparatus is adjusted with respect to the tube body, and <FIG> is a view showing a state in which a rear expansion member expands.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the front region of the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> is fixed, the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may be located with respect to the tube body T. When the front region of the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> is fixed, a direction of a rotation axis of the work member <NUM> may be misaligned with a length direction of the tube body T in a region where the work member <NUM> is located. When a force is applied to the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> in a rearward direction, the body <NUM> of the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may be stretched tight. In this case, a degree of misalignment between the rotation axis of the work member <NUM> and the length direction of the tube body T may be corrected. In this state, the rear expansion member 50b may expand to additionally fix the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM>. Thereafter, a torque may be generated in the work magnetic member 30b through the magnetic field applied to the work magnetic member 30b, so that the work magnetic member 30b and the work member <NUM> may be rotated. Accordingly, the inner surface of the tube body T may be cleaned by the work member <NUM>.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, after the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> is moved to the cleaning target region OP within the tube body T, a position of the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may be fixed by the expansion member <NUM>. Accordingly, at an unintended time point, such as when the tube body T is cleaned as the work member <NUM> rotates, the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> may be prevented from being moved by a force due to the fluid flowing through the tube body T, a force acting on the work member <NUM> in a work process, and the like.

In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the rotation axis of the work member <NUM> may be fixed by the front expansion member 50a and the rear expansion member 50b. Accordingly, when the tube body T is cleaned, a direction in which the rotation axis of the work member <NUM> is directed may be prevented from being arbitrarily changed by the force applied to the work member <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a portion in which a magnetic member is located in a tube body cleaning apparatus according to another embodiment, and <FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing a portion in which the magnetic member is located in the tube body cleaning apparatus of <FIG>.

Since a configuration and a function of a tube body cleaning apparatus 1a according to <FIG> and <FIG> are identical or similar to the configuration and the function of the tube body cleaning apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> except for a portion where the magnetic member 30b is located, redundant descriptions thereof will omitted, so that components corresponding thereto have been omitted in <FIG> and <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a body 10a may include a first frame <NUM> and a second frame <NUM>.

The first frame <NUM> may be formed in a rod shape having a set length. A section of the first frame <NUM> perpendicular to a length direction of the first frame <NUM> may be formed in a circular shape, a polygonal shape, or the like. The first frame <NUM> may be formed of a flexible material. A first insertion part <NUM> having a depth that is greater than or equal to a set value in the length direction may be formed at one end of the first frame <NUM>. For example, the first insertion part <NUM> may be configured as a groove having a set depth in the length direction. In addition, the first frame <NUM> may be formed in a tube structure, so that an inner space of the first frame <NUM> formed in the length direction may be configured as the first insertion part <NUM>.

The second frame <NUM> may be foamed in a rod shape having a set length. A section of the second frame <NUM> perpendicular to the length direction may correspond to the first frame <NUM>. The second frame <NUM> may be formed of a flexible material. A second insertion part (not shown) having a depth that is greater than or equal to a set value in the length direction may be formed at one end of the second frame <NUM>. For example, the second insertion part may be configured as a groove having a set depth in the length direction. In addition, the second frame <NUM> may be formed in a tube structure, so that an inner space of the second frame <NUM> formed in the length direction may be configured as the second insertion part.

The first frame <NUM> and the second frame <NUM> may be connected to each other by a connection part <NUM>. The connection part <NUM> may be formed in a rod shape having a set length. The connection part <NUM> may be formed of a flexible material. The connection part <NUM> may have a smaller area of a section perpendicular to the length direction than each of the first frame <NUM> and the second frame <NUM>. The magnetic member 30b formed in a ring structure may be fitted to the connection part <NUM>, one end of the connection part <NUM> may be fitted to the first insertion part <NUM> so as to be connected to the first frame <NUM>, and an opposite end of the connection part <NUM> may be fitted to the second insertion part so as to be connected to the second frame <NUM>. The magnetic member 30b may have an outer circumference having a shape corresponding to an outer circumference of each of the first frame <NUM> and the second frame <NUM>. The magnetic member 30b may be fixed to the connection part <NUM> so as to be configured as the guide magnetic member 30a described above, or may be rotatable with respect to the connection part <NUM> so as to be configured as the work magnetic member 30b described above.

According to the tube body cleaning apparatus 1a of one embodiment of the present invention, the outer circumference of the magnetic member 30b may correspond to an outer circumference of the body 10a. Accordingly, a size of the outer circumference of the tube body cleaning apparatus 1a may be reduced.

In addition, according to the tube body cleaning apparatus 1a of one embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic member 30b may be directly connected to the body 10a that is formed of a flexible material. Accordingly, flexibility of the tube body cleaning apparatus 1a may be increased, and the tube body cleaning apparatus 1a may be prevented from being damaged while the tube body cleaning apparatus 1a is bent.

According to another embodiment, the connection part <NUM> may be connected to one end of the first frame <NUM>. Accordingly, the first frame <NUM> may be connected to the second frame <NUM> such that the connection part <NUM> is inserted into the insertion part of the second frame <NUM> while being fitted to the magnetic member 30b.

Claim 1:
A tube body cleaning apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a body (<NUM>) having a set length, and formed of a flexible material;
an expansion member (<NUM>) located at one point of the body (<NUM>) in the length direction, and configured to expand to increase a volume protruding outward from the body (<NUM>);
a piston part (<NUM>) movable back and forth within a cylinder part (<NUM>) is formed inside a front end of the body (<NUM>);
a support part (<NUM>) connected to the piston part (<NUM>), and located outside the body, and having a support groove formed in a ring shape in a circumferential direction to the support part (<NUM>);
a magnetic member (<NUM>) provided as a ring-shaped permanent magnet along the circumference of the support groove and capable of relative rotation with respect to the support part (<NUM>); and
a work member (<NUM>) provided along the outer circumference of the magnetic member (30b) in a ring shape, fixedly coupled to the magnetic member (30b), having an outer surface gradually increased in diameter from the front end to the rear end and protrusions (<NUM>) having a spiral structure formed on the outer surface
when a magnetic field is applied from the outside, the magnetic member (<NUM>) and the work member (<NUM>) rotate together around the axis of the support part to perform a drilling motion.