Patent Description:
Colon cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in the colon and rectum and is mostly adenocarcinoma that occurs specifically in the mucous membrane of the colon. Although most colon cancers are adenocarcinoma, some are squamous cell carcinoma, malignant lymphoma, and malignant sarcoma. Colon cancer occurs due to invasion of cancers in surrounding organs into the large intestine, or metastasis of cancers in other areas to the large intestine. Most of adenocarcinomas develop from benign tumors (polyps) which are adenomas.

These colon cancers can be classified into ascending colon cancer, descending colon cancer, and rectal cancer depending on the location of the lesion. The incidence of descending colon cancer is higher than that of ascending colon cancer, and the incidence of rectal cancer is higher than that of descending colon cancer. This is because the influence of pancreatic enzymes on the large intestine decreases from the ascending colon to the descending colon.

In general, colon cancer surgery involves incisions at upper and lower ends of a lesion to cut away the lesion, connection of normal areas, and suturing. However, leakage occurring at the anastomosis site may cause serious complications after surgery and may threaten the patient's life. In addition, it causes long-term anastomotic stricture and seriously degrades the patient's quality of life.

The incidence of leakage after colon cancer surgery is reported to be very high (for example, about <NUM>% to <NUM>%). In addition, unlike colon cancer patients who are capable of normal bowel movements after surgery and recovery, in the case of rectal cancers which most frequently occur, since a large area adjacent to the anus is removed through surgery even though the anus remains, rectal cancer patients suffer impaired bowel activity after surgery and recovery.

In order to reduce negative effects of such an anastomosis leakage, colostomy is usually performed. However, colostomy has a problem in that the patient has to carry a colostomy bag where feces collect at all times due to a risk of leakage of stools due to peristalsis of the large intestine. In addition, patient's daily life activities are limited and leaking stools cause odor.

The management of a stoma resulting from colostomy is very cumbersome and uncomfortable. Above all, many patients suffer from extreme mental pain due to the odor caused by leaked stool, the prejudice of people around them, the limitation of daily life activities, and discomfort when wearing clothes. That is, the management of the stoma lowers the quality of life.

In order to solve the problems, an artificial intestinal tract for diverting stool away from a bowel is used.

A conventional artificial intestinal tract is composed of an intestinal tube and a pair of fixation tubes. The artificial intestinal tract is inserted into the bowel of a patient, and the fixation tubes and the intestinal tract are fastened with an intestinal band.

The most important thing in the use of the artificial intestine is to stably fix the artificial intestinal tract to the patient's intestinal tract, to prevent necrosis of the intestinal tract, and to easily remove the artificial intestinal tract after a certain period of time.

To this end, research on biodegradable bands is being actively conducted.

The biodegradable band is provided between the fixation tubes. The band must stably fix the artificial intestinal tract, needs to not be significantly deformed or loosened by peristalsis, and needs to be appropriately tensioned not to cause intestinal necrosis when it is fixed to the intestine.

A conventional biodegradable band is installed such that a band having an appropriate length and being made of a biodegradable material is manually wound around an intestine between fixation tubes. An end of the band is cut and fixed by a band installation machine.

However, with the conventional method, it is not easy to supply a band with a suitable length depending on a patient, that is, a band with a proper tension, and it is difficult to quickly supply a suitable band to a patient during surgery. <CIT> discloses an apparatus comprising an implantable mechanically adjustable band configured to form a restriction in a patient, an adjustment mechanism in communication with the band and being operable to provide a mechanical adjustability of the band, and a sensor in communication with one or both of the mechanically adjustable band or the adjustment mechanism, wherein the sensor is configured to sense a physical parameter which is associated with operation of the band and which varies with the inner diameter defined by the band. <CIT> discloses an apparatus and method of treating an aneurysm by applying to an aneurysmal blood vessel a band around its exterior surface and at the position where the attachment system of the graft attaches the graft to the vessel, wherein a strap gun device and a method for using a strap gun device permits a surgeon to secure the material band or strap around the blood vessel with the use of only a single hand.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the problems occurring in the related art and a first objective of the present invention is to provide a band tightening apparatus for binding an intestine with a band, the apparatus being capable of supplying a band having an appropriate tension to a patient.

A second objective of the present invention is to provide a band tightening apparatus for binding an intestine with a band, the apparatus being capable of tightening a band around an intestine such that a smooth blood flow in the wall of the intestine can be maintained, by maintaining a distance between the band and a fixing pin that fixes the band.

A third objective of the present invention is to provide a band tightening apparatus in which a fixing pin can be separated from a holder by a preset suitable tension and the fixing pin is positioned at a position at which the band has an optimum tension. Thus, a doctor can easily cut away a residual portion of the band.

In order to accomplish the first through third objectives, the present invention provides a band tightening apparatus for binding an intestine with a band, the apparatus including: a band having an elongated shape; a fixing pin including a passage-providing member into which one end of the band passes; a holder configured to be assembled with and disassembled from the fixing pin and configured to fix one end of the band; and a pulling member configured to move the holder, in which a second end of the band is moved such that the band surrounds an intestine, is moved through the passage-providing member of the fixing pin, and is fixed to the holder,wherein the pulling member includes a guide member along which a hook moves.

The pulling member may pull the holder toward the inside thereof so that a distance between the fixing pin and the band is adjusted to be a preset reference distance.

According to the invention, the pulling member has a guide member for guiding movement of a hook.

The holder may have pin fixing portions at respective side ends thereof, and the pin fixing portions may release the fixing pin when a pulling force is applied to the fixing pin by the pulling member.

The holder may include band fixing portions that fix the respective side edges of the band.

The fixing pin may include a fixing protrusion that restricts a direction in which the band moves such that the band moves only toward the inside of the pulling member.

The reference distance may range from <NUM> to <NUM>.

The guide member may have a slot-shaped opening linearly extending in a longitudinal direction of the guide member, a portion of the guide member may be exposed through the opening, and the exposed portion may be a curved surface.

The guide member may be an elongated member such that the hook moves along the longitudinal direction of the guide member.

The pulling member may have a pressure sensor installed therein to measure a pulling force generated by the hook to pull the holder.

An inner surface of the guide member may not be uniform in height.

The pin fixing portions fix the fixing pin by pressing the fixing pin from respective sides. When the holder is pulled toward the inside of the holder and the pulling force is applied to the fixing pin, the pin fixing portions are separated from the fixing pin.

The band has notches at respective side edges thereof, each of the band fixing portions has a protrusion corresponding to one of the notches, and the band is fixed by the protrusions fitted into the respective notches.

The protrusion may protrude from the inner surface of the fixing pin and may have an inclined surface. The protrusion allows the band to move toward the inside of the pulling member and prevents the band from moving outward from the pulling member.

The band tightening apparatus for binding an intestine with a band, according to the present invention, can apply a band maintaining an optimum tension to a patient. The apparatus maintains the distance between the band and the fixing pin that fixes the band, thereby optimally tightening the band such that intestinal relaxation and contraction and smooth blood circulation are allowed. In addition, when a predetermined pulling force is applied to the fixing pin, the fixing pin can be easily separated from the holder so that a doctor can easily cut away a redundant portion of the band, which is present outside the fixing pin.

It should be noted that the terms and words used in the specification and the claims should not be construed as being limited to ordinary meanings or dictionary definitions but should be construed in a sense and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present disclosure, on the basis that the inventor can properly define the concept of a term to describe its invention in the best way possible.

It will be further understood that the terms "comprises", "includes" or "has", when used in this specification, specify the presence of an element, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "~ part", "~ unit", "module", "stage", "apparatus" and the like mean a unit for processing at least one function or operation and may be implemented by hardware, software, or both.

The terms used in embodiments of the present invention will be first briefly described, and the embodiments will be then described in detail.

As the terms used in the embodiments of the present invention, general terms currently widely used are selected while considering functions in the present invention. However, the terms may vary depending on the intention of an ordinarily skilled person in the field, judicial precedents, and the emergence of new technologies, etc. In addition, there may be terms arbitrarily selected by the inventor(s). In this case, the meaning thereof will be described in detail in the description of the present invention. Therefore, the term used in the present invention should not be defined not on the name of a simple term but should be defined on the basis of the meaning of the term and the entire contents of the present invention.

Terms used in the specification, "first", "second", etc. can be used to discriminate one component from another component, but the order or priority of the components is not limited unless specifically stated. These terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing a component from another component. For example, a first constitutive element may be referred as a second constitutive element, and the second constitutive element may be also referred to as the first constitutive element. Moreover, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It will be further understood that the terms "comprises", "includes", or "has" when used in this specification specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or combinations thereof.

In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the module or unit performs at least one function or operation, and may be implemented with hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. In addition, a plurality of modules or units may be integrated into at least one module or unit and may be implemented as at least one processor except for modules or units that need to be implemented with specific hardware.

When an element is described as being "connected to", "combined with", or "coupled to" another element, it should be understood that the element may be connected to, combined with, or coupled to another element directly or with another element interposing therebetween.

Throughout the specification, examples of a band <NUM> include a long band, an auxiliary band, a biodegradable strip, a biodegradable band, and the like.

Throughout the description herein, the band <NUM> is implemented with a long band, an auxiliary band, a biodegradable strip, a biodegradable band, or the like. Alternatively, the band <NUM> may be implemented with a combination of a long band and an auxiliary band. When the band <NUM> is implemented with a combination of a long band and an auxiliary band, the long band and the auxiliary band are combined to each other by a fixing hook so as not to be separated from each other. When the band is a combination of a long band and an auxiliary band, the auxiliary band is disposed to come into contact with the outer surface of an intestine.

The long band is made of a woven fabric, and is required not to be loosened when it is wound around the intestine. The long band is required not to be deformed by the peristalsis of the large intestine and to have an optimum tensile strength. The long band is made of a biodegradable material so that it can be biologically decomposed after a certain period of time and is configured not to damage the surface of the wall of the large intestine. The long band is usually of a mesh type that is woven with a biodegradable suture.

The auxiliary band is made of a polymer material such as polyurethane and is made of a slippery and transparent material. The long band and the auxiliary band are made of a material that automatically breaks when a tensile stress applied to the bands exceeds a predetermined value.

Hereinbelow, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a band according to the present invention, and <FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating the band, a fixing pin, and a holder according to the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, a band <NUM> has an elongated shape. The band <NUM> has notches <NUM> at respective side edges thereof. Here, the notches <NUM> provided at the respective side edges of the band <NUM> may have an arbitrary shape. One end of the band <NUM> is fixed and the other end of the band <NUM> is moved such that the band <NUM> is wound around an intestine.

A fixing pin <NUM> includes a passage-providing member <NUM> through which one end of the band <NUM> passes. Specifically, a second end of the band <NUM> passes through the passage <NUM>. That is, the second end of the band <NUM> is moved in a circumferential direction of the intestine so that the band <NUM> is wound around the intestine and is then passed through the passage of the passage-providing member <NUM>.

A holder <NUM> is configured to be assembled with and disassembled from the fixing pin <NUM>.

The holder <NUM> includes pin fixing portions <NUM> formed at respective side edges thereof. The pin fixing portions <NUM> are made of an elastic material. The pin fixing portions <NUM> fix the fixing pin <NUM> by pressing the respective sides of the fixing pin <NUM>.

When the holder <NUM> is pulled and thus the pulling force is applied to the fixing pin <NUM>, the pin fixing portions <NUM> perpendicularly press the fixing pin <NUM>, thereby locking the fixing pin <NUM>.

When a force of pulling the holder <NUM> is stronger than a force that the pin fixing portions <NUM> press the fixing pin <NUM>, the pin fixing portions <NUM> are separated from the respective side surfaces of the fixing pin <NUM> so that the holder <NUM> can be released from the fixing pin <NUM>.

The side surfaces of the fixing pin <NUM>, which are pressed by the pin fixing portions <NUM>, are provided with respective recesses <NUM> that are shaped to correspond to the respective pin fixing portions <NUM>. Thus, the pin fixing portions <NUM> can be easily separated.

The holder <NUM> is configured to fix the first end or the second end of the band <NUM>. That is, after the second end of the band <NUM> is moved in a circumferential direction of the intestine such that the band <NUM> is wound around the outer surface of the intestine, the second end of the band <NUM> is passed through the passage of the passage-providing member <NUM> of the fixing pin and is then fixed to the holder <NUM>.

The holder <NUM> includes band fixing portions <NUM> that respectively fastens the sides of the band <NUM>. Specifically, the holder <NUM> is composed of a first holder case <NUM> and a second holder case <NUM>, and the band fixing portion <NUM> is provided inside the holder <NUM>.

Each of the band fixing portions <NUM> has a protrusion corresponding to one of the recesses <NUM> of the band <NUM>. The protrusions are inserted into the respective recesses or notches <NUM> so that the band <NUM> is locked by the band fixing portions <NUM>.

Each of the band fixing portions <NUM> is composed of a first band fixing portion <NUM> and a second band fixing portion <NUM>. Each of the first and second band fixing portions <NUM> and <NUM> has a protrusion corresponding to one of the recesses or notches <NUM> of the band <NUM>. As described above, since each of the band fixing portions <NUM> is composed of the first band fixing portion <NUM> and the second band fixing portion <NUM>, the band <NUM> can be securely locked.

The holder <NUM> has a loop portion <NUM> into which a hook <NUM> to be described later is to be hooked. The loop <NUM> is shaped to correspond to the shape of the hook <NUM>. The loop <NUM> may be formed in a second portion of the holder <NUM> rather than a first portion into which the band <NUM> is inserted.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating the fixing pin according to one embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating the fixing pin according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the fixing pin <NUM> includes a pin case <NUM> and a passage-providing member <NUM>. The pin case <NUM> has recesses <NUM> at respective side surfaces thereof. The recesses <NUM> are formed to correspond to the pin fixing portions <NUM>, respectively.

The passage-providing member <NUM> is inserted into the fixing pin <NUM>. The passage-providing member <NUM> has a passage through which the band <NUM> to passes.

In addition, the inner surface of the passage-providing member <NUM> is provided with fixing protrusions <NUM> that restricts a direction in which the band <NUM> moves. That is, the fixing protrusions <NUM> allow the band <NUM> to move only in one direction.

The fixing protrusions <NUM> are formed to protrude from the inner surface of the passage-providing member <NUM> and are inclined. That is, the fixing protrusions <NUM> are formed such that the band <NUM> moves over the inclined surfaces of the fixing protrusions <NUM> when the band <NUM> moves in one direction.

However, when the band <NUM> moves over the inclined surfaces of the fixing protrusions <NUM> and moves in the reverse direction, the protrusions <NUM> prevent the band <NUM> from moving in the reverse direction.

Thus, the fixing protrusions <NUM> restrict the direction of movement of the band <NUM> so that the band <NUM> moves only toward the inside of the pulling member <NUM> but does not move toward the outside of the pulling member <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an exemplary operation according to one embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a view illustrating an exemplary operation according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a first end of the band <NUM> is passed through the fixing pin <NUM> and is then fixed to the holder <NUM>, and a second end of the band <NUM> is moved along the outer surface of an intestine <NUM> in a circumferential direction so that the band <NUM> is wound around the intestine <NUM> and is then fixed to the holder <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a pulling member according to one embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating the pulling member according to one embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a side elevation illustrating the pulling member according to one embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a side elevation illustrating a pulling member according to another embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a hook, a pressure sensor, a threaded portion, a gear, a release-preventing portion, and a force generation unit, according to the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, a pulling member <NUM> enables the holder <NUM> to move into the pulling member <NUM> by pulling the holder <NUM>. The pulling member <NUM> pulls the fixing pin <NUM> when the fixing pin <NUM> is combined with the holder <NUM>.

The pulling member <NUM> includes a body <NUM> and a guide member <NUM>.

The pulling member <NUM> pulls the holder <NUM> toward the pulling member so that a distance between the fixing pin and the band <NUM> is adjusted to a preset reference distance.

For example, the reference distance ranges from <NUM> to <NUM> and is preferably <NUM>. That is, an allowable error of the reference distance ranges from ±<NUM> to ±<NUM>.

More specifically, this reference distance is set to be equal to the outer diameter of a bowl management system for fecal diverting, which is installed in a bowel (intestinal tract).

That is, since the outer diameter of the bowel (intestinal tract) changes depending on the outer diameter of the bowel management system installed in the bowel (intestinal tract), the reference distance needs to be equal to the outer diameter of the bowel management system.

More specifically, when the outer diameter of the bowel management system installed in the bowl (intestinal tract) is <NUM>, and when a force of <NUM> gmN to <NUM> gmN is applied, the distance (i.e., reference distance) between the fixing pin <NUM> and the band <NUM> is set to be in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>.

The reference distance is increased or decreased according to the outer diameter of the bowel management system.

The reference distance is determined such that the intestine can be completely surrounded by the band. When the reference distance is determined, intestinal relaxation and contraction and blood circulation need to be considered.

When applying a predetermined pulling force is applied to the holder <NUM> by the pulling member <NUM>, the pull member <NUM> can return a hook <NUM> to be described later to a default position without requiring an additional force. This operation will be described below.

The body <NUM> and the guide member <NUM> of the pulling member <NUM> form a housing. The body <NUM> and the guide member <NUM> are separate members to be combined to form the housing. Alternatively, the body <NUM> and the guide member <NUM> are integrated.

The guide member <NUM> is an elongated member along which the hook <NUM> moves.

The guide member <NUM> has an elongated opening extending in a longitudinal direction. The surface exposed through the elongated opening of the guide member <NUM> is a curved surface. The curved surface is designed to conform to the shape of an intestine because a curved surface of the band <NUM> comes into contact with the bowel when the pulling member <NUM> pulls the holder <NUM> toward the inside of the pulling member <NUM>.

That is, since the outer surface of the intestine is a curved surface, the outer surface of the band <NUM> is also curved. When one surface of the guide member <NUM>, which is to come into contact with the outer surface of the band <NUM>, is curved, it is possible to prevent the outer surface of the wall of the intestine or the outer surface of the band <NUM> from being damaged.

An end of the hook <NUM> is rounded. The end of the hook <NUM> is hooked into a loop <NUM>. When the end of the hook <NUM> is curved, a second side of the guide member <NUM> in a longitudinal direction is open to form a guide line for movement of the hook.

In addition, an operation unit <NUM> is formed on the outer surface of the body <NUM> to manipulate the pulling member <NUM>. Thus, an electrical signal can be generated as necessary and a push button is used to switch on and off a power supply unit <NUM>. When a user pushes the push button <NUM>, the pulling member <NUM> pulls the holder <NUM> toward the inside of the pulling member <NUM>.

In addition, a window <NUM> is formed at a portion of the outer surface of the body <NUM>, and the window <NUM> is formed to be transparent. The user can visually check the movement of the release-preventing protrusion <NUM> through the window <NUM>. Thus, the user can check how hard the holder <NUM> is pulled by the pulling member, i.e., by which length the band <NUM> is pulled by the pulling member <NUM>.

The outer surface of the body <NUM> is also provided with a display unit <NUM>. The value of the pulling force of the pulling member <NUM> is displayed on the display unit <NUM>. That is, by displaying the pulling force applied to the holder <NUM> is measured by the pressure sensor <NUM> to be described below, and the measured force is displayed on the display unit. Thus, the user can conveniently use the apparatus while checking the pulling force applied to the band.

In addition, information of an electrical signal generated from the operation unit <NUM> according to the user's intention is also displayed on the display unit <NUM>.

When the pulling force applied to the holder <NUM> through manipulation of the operation unit <NUM> is increased or decreased, an increase or decrease in the pulling force is displayed on the display unit <NUM>. In addition, the state of charge (SoC) of the battery in the power supply unit <NUM> is displayed on the display unit <NUM>.

With the use of the operation unit <NUM>, at least one of the magnitude and duration of the pulling force to be applied to the holder <NUM> is set, and a pulling force according to the magnitude and duration that are preset is applied to the holder <NUM>.

That is, the holder <NUM> and the fixing pin <NUM> can be separated by the force that is preset, and the band <NUM> can be wound around the outer surface of the intestine according to the magnitude and duration of the force.

The hook <NUM> is installed in the guide member <NUM>, and the pressure sensor <NUM>, a threaded portion <NUM>, a release-preventing portion <NUM>, a release-preventing protrusion <NUM>, a gear <NUM>, a for generating portion <NUM>, and a power supply unit <NUM> are installed in the body <NUM>.

Here, the hook <NUM> is formed to be fitted into the loop <NUM> of the holder <NUM>. The pressure sensor <NUM> measures the pulling force when the hook <NUM> pulls the holder <NUM>. Here, the pressure sensor <NUM> is disposed in a place where the pulling force of the hook <NUM> can be measured when the hook <NUM> pulls the holder <NUM>.

That is, in the present specification, for convenience of description, the pressure sensor <NUM> is disposed between the hook <NUM> and the thread portion <NUM>. However, the arrangement of the pressure sensor <NUM> is not limited to a position between the hook <NUM> and the threaded portion <NUM>.

The hook <NUM> may be disposed on a first surface of the pressure sensor <NUM>.

The threaded portion <NUM> may be disposed on a second surface of the pressure sensor <NUM>. In addition, the gear <NUM> may be disposed on the outer surface of the thread portion <NUM>, and the release-preventing portion 333is disposed on one side of the thread portion <NUM>.

The inner surface of the gear <NUM> is provided screw threads corresponding to the screw threads of the threaded portion <NUM>. The outer surface of the gear <NUM> is provided gear teeth so as to correspond to a force transfer unit of the force generation unit <NUM>.

That is, the force generation unit <NUM> generates a driving force when it is powered by the power supply unit <NUM> and transfers the generated driving force to the gear <NUM> through the force transfer unit. The gear <NUM> rotates by the transferred driving force and transfers a driving force to the threaded portion <NUM>. The thread portion <NUM> pulls the hook <NUM> using the transferred driving force, thereby applying the pulling force to the holder <NUM>. With the structure described above, it is possible to apply the pulling force to the holder <NUM> on the basis of the driving force generated by the force generation unit <NUM>.

In addition, the surface of the release-preventing portion <NUM> is provided with the release-preventing protrusion, thereby preventing the gear <NUM> from escaping. That is, by preventing the excessive movement of the gear <NUM>, it is possible to prevent the hook <NUM> from applying an excessive force to the holder <NUM>.

When the hook <NUM> applies a force to the holder <NUM>, the pressure sensor <NUM> detects a pressure corresponding to the preset force. In this case, the force generation unit <NUM> generates a force to move the hook <NUM> to an initial position (default position).

The gear <NUM> and the thread portion <NUM> receive the force for moving the hook <NUM> to the default position, and the hook <NUM> returns to the default position due to the force.

That is, the hook <NUM> can apply a preset pulling force to the holder <NUM>. When the hook <NUM> applies a preset pulling force to the holder <NUM>, additional force is not applied to the holder <NUM> by the hook <NUM>. The hook <NUM> can be returned to the default position at which the hook <NUM> is located before applying the force to the holder <NUM>.

Therefore, a doctor can conveniently cut the band <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an exemplary operation according to one embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a view illustrating an exemplary operation according to one embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a plan view illustrating an exemplary operation according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Specifically, <FIG> illustrates a state in which the band <NUM> is wound around the intestine <NUM> and one end of the band <NUM> is passed through the fixing pin <NUM> and is fixed to the holder <NUM>. It is further illustrated that the hook <NUM> is hooked into the loop of the holder <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a state in which the hook <NUM> hooked into the loop <NUM> applies a pulling force to the holder <NUM>, thereby pulling the band <NUM>, the fixing pin <NUM>, and the holder <NUM>. <FIG> is a plan view illustrating a state in which the hook <NUM> hooked into the loop <NUM> applies a pulling force to the holder <NUM>, thereby pulling the band <NUM>, the fixing pin <NUM>, and the holder <NUM>.

<FIG> are views illustrating comparison among the heights of regions of an inner surface of a guide member, the height of a fixing pin, and the height of a holder, according to one embodiment of the present invention; <FIG> is a plan view illustrating comparison among the heights of regions of an inner surface of a guide member, the height of a fixing pin, and the height of a holder, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the fixing pin is released from the pin fixing portions, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate a case where there are height differences on the inner side of the guide member <NUM>, and <NUM> denotes the height of an accommodation space formed in the guide member320. In addition, <NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG> denotes the height of the holder, and <NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG> denotes the height of the fixing pin <NUM>.

That is, since the value of the height of the holder <NUM> is less than the value of the height of the accommodation space in the guide member <NUM> that has a height difference on the inner surface thereof, the holder <NUM> can be received in the accommodation space defined in the guide member <NUM>. However, since the value of the height of the fixing pin <NUM> is greater than the value of the height of the accommodation space, the fixing pin <NUM> cannot be received in the accommodation space. That is, the fixing pin is stopped by a stepped portion of the inner surface of the guide member <NUM>.

<FIG> is an enlarged view illustrating a state in which the pin fixing portion <NUM> is separated from the recess <NUM> of the fixing pin. In addition, when the hook is hooked into the loop <NUM> and the hook <NUM> pulls the holder <NUM> toward the inside of the pulling member <NUM>, the pulling force is applied to the band <NUM>, the fixing pin <NUM>, and the holder <NUM>.

In this case, the band <NUM>, the fixing pin <NUM>, and the holder <NUM> will be moved into the guide member <NUM>, and the holder <NUM> is introduced into the accommodation space of the guide member <NUM>. However, since the fixing pin <NUM> cannot be received in the accommodation space, it is block by the stepped portion. When the force of pulling the fixing pin <NUM> toward the inside of the pulling member is continuously applied, the force becomes stronger than the force of perpendicularly pressing the side surfaces of the fixing pin <NUM> by the pin fixing portion <NUM>. At this time, the pin fixing portion <NUM> are separated from the respective recesses <NUM> so that the fixing pin <NUM> and the holder <NUM> are separated from each other.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an exemplary operation according to one embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a view illustrating an exemplary operation and a reference distance according to one embodiment of the present invention.

More specifically, <FIG> illustrates a state in which the pin fixing portions <NUM>- are released from the respective recesses <NUM>, the holder <NUM> is introduced into the accommodation space of the guide member <NUM>, and the fixing pin <NUM> is blocked by the stepped portion.

In addition, referring to <FIG>, in the process in which the holder <NUM> is introduced into the accommodation space of the guide member <NUM>, the band <NUM> is also pulled toward the inside of the pulling member <NUM> (i.e., toward the inside of the guide member <NUM>). Therefore, tensile stress is applied to the band <NUM> wound around the intestine <NUM>. Thus, the band <NUM> is contracted to fit to the outer size of the intestine <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a state in which the holder <NUM> is pulled toward the inside of the pulling member <NUM> so that the distance between the fixing pin <NUM> and the band <NUM> is adjusted to be a preset reference distance A. The reference distance A means a distance between the outer surface of the band <NUM> and the fixing pin <NUM>. This reference distance A ranges from <NUM> to <NUM> as described above. The range is determined such that the intestine can be surrounded by the band <NUM> during relaxation and contraction of the intestine <NUM>.

In addition, as described above, since the exposed outer surface of the guide member <NUM> is curved, when the holder <NUM> is pulled into the pulling member <NUM>, although the exposed surface of the guide member <NUM> comes into contact with the outer surface of the band <NUM> wound around the outer surface of the intestine <NUM>, damage to the outer surface of the band <NUM> does not occur.

<FIG> illustrates a case where the band <NUM> is wound around the intestine <NUM> to have an ideal tension, the fixing pin <NUM> and the holder <NUM> are separated from each other, and the hook <NUM> is disengaged from the loop <NUM>. A portion of the band <NUM>, which is positioned between the fixing pin <NUM> and the holder <NUM>, is cut so that the band <NUM> can be wound with an ideal tension on the outer surface of the intestine <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the portion of the band <NUM>, which is present between the fixing pin <NUM> and the holder <NUM>, is cut away.

That is, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, after the band <NUM> is fixed to the outer surface of the intestine <NUM> by the fixing pin <NUM>, a specific portion of the band <NUM> (a portion present between the fixing pin <NUM> and the holder <NUM>) can be cut with scissors or an ultrasonic cutting machine.

<FIG> are views illustrating a change in shape of a band according to contraction and relaxation of an intestine.

Referring to <FIG>, the intestine <NUM> contracts and relaxes. When the band <NUM> is wound around the outer surface of the intestine <NUM> without a reference distance secured between the fixing pin and the band, an optimum tension of the band <NUM> cannot be maintained during the contraction and relaxation of the intestine <NUM>.

Therefore, as described above, by pulling the holder <NUM> toward the inside of the pulling member <NUM> so that the distance between the fixing pin <NUM> and the band <NUM> becomes a reference distance A which is, for example, in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>, the band <NUM> with an ideal tension can be wound around the intestine <NUM>. Even during the relaxation of the intestine <NUM>, the ideal tension of the band <NUM> can be maintained due to the presence of the gap between the fixing pin <NUM> and the band <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a state in which the band <NUM> is wound around the outer surface of the intestine <NUM> that is contracted, and <FIG> illustrates a state in which the band <NUM> is wound around the outer surface of the intestine <NUM> that is relaxed.

<FIG> are views illustrating a guide member provided with an anti-friction portion, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG> (a) are side views illustrating a state in which the guide member <NUM> is provided with an anti-friction portion <NUM>, (b) is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the guide member <NUM> is provided with the anti-friction portion <NUM>, (c) is an operational view in which the guide member <NUM> is provided with the anti-friction portion <NUM>. The anti-friction portion <NUM> prevents friction between the band <NUM> and the guide member <NUM>.

More specifically, one surface of the guide member <NUM> is open, an outer surface of the guide member is a curved surface, and the anti-friction portion <NUM> is disposed on the outer surface of the guide member <NUM>.

The anti-friction portion <NUM> is implemented with a wheel or irregularities. Thus, the friction between the outer surface of the band <NUM> and one surface of the guide member <NUM> is minimized.

Here, the number of the anti-friction portions <NUM> is one or more. That is, the number of the anti-friction portions is not limited to four although four anti-friction portions are illustrated in <FIG>.

By minimizing the friction between the outer surface of the band <NUM> and one surface of the guide member <NUM>, it is possible to prevent the band <NUM> wound around the intestine is insufficiently tightened.

As described above, the construction and operation of the band tightening apparatus for intestinal binding according to the present invention have been described with reference to various embodiments. Although specific embodiments have been described in the description of the present invention, various modifications thereto are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claim 1:
A band tightening apparatus for binding an intestine (<NUM>) with a band (<NUM>), the apparatus comprising:
a band (<NUM>) having an elongated shape;
a fixing pin (<NUM>) having a passage-providing unit (<NUM>) through which one end of the band (<NUM>) passes;
a holder (<NUM>) configured to be assembled with and disassembled from the fixing pin (<NUM>) and configured to fix one end of the band (<NUM>); and
a pulling member (<NUM>) configured to move the holder (<NUM>),
wherein the band (<NUM>) is configured to be wound to surround an outer surface of an intestine (<NUM>) and a second end of the band (<NUM>) is passed through a passage of the passage-providing unit (<NUM>) and is fixed to the holder (<NUM>),
characterized in that the pulling member (<NUM>) includes a guide member (<NUM>) along which a hook (<NUM>) moves.