Patent Description:
In the collection of blood or the like of a living body, a puncture assisting tool is used to insert a needle into the skin of the living body. For example, Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a puncture instrument that includes a suction cup, a gripping part, a cavity, a nonreturn valve, and an injection needle. In the technique disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM>, by lifting the gripping part up, a negative pressure is generated inside the cavity so that the suction cup suction-attracts the skin. Then, by releasing the gripping part, the injection needle is inserted into the skin.

The <CIT> and <CIT> disclose a device which either suctions the skin or adheres to and stretches the skin, but do not disclose nor teach a combination of both functions. Citation List.

Unfortunately, the technique of Patent Literature <NUM> causes the skin to be depressed through the application of pressure by the injection needle during the insertion of the injection needle. The depression in the skin stimulates a pain sensory nerve of a living body and thus causes pain to the living body.

An aspect of the present invention has an object to achieve a puncture assisting tool that makes it possible to prevent skin from being depressed during insertion of a needle into the skin.

In order to attain the object, a puncture assisting tool in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first fixing part that is fixed to a first region of skin; and a second fixing part that is fixed to a second region of the skin; the first fixing part being movable relative to the second fixing part so as to pull the skin between the first fixing part and the second fixing part.

An aspect of the present invention makes it possible to prevent skin from being depressed during insertion of a needle into the skin.

The following description will discuss an embodiment of the present invention in detail.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the puncture assisting tool <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the puncture assisting tool <NUM> as viewed from an upward direction in <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A illustrated in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the puncture assisting tool <NUM> includes a first fixing part 10A, a second fixing part 10B, a pump 20A, and a pump 20B. Note that for simplification, <FIG> and <FIG> do not illustrate the pump 20A (suction device) and the pump 20B (suction device).

The first fixing part 10A and the second fixing part 10B have shapes that are symmetrical in the transverse direction in <FIG> and <FIG>. Thus, only the first fixing part 10A will be described herein. The first fixing part 10A includes a frame <NUM>, a support <NUM>, and an air discharge part <NUM>.

The frame <NUM> has a semicylindrical shape obtained by cutting a cylinder along a plane containing a central axis. The frame <NUM> includes: a first end 11a, which is one end of a semicylinder and is an end on a side that contacts the skin of a living body; and a second end 11b, which is another end of the semicylinder. The first end 11a has a semicircular shape and has an opening on the inside, and the second end 11b is made of a semicircular flat plate. Thus, the frame <NUM> has a shape in which a face thereof on the side that contacts the skin of a living body is open.

The frame <NUM> includes an opening 11c formed on a curved side surface of the semicylinder and in a region where the air discharge part <NUM> (described later) is installed. Furthermore, the frame <NUM> includes a groove 11d formed on a flat side surface of the semicylinder so as to be recessed inward.

The support <NUM>, in an inner part of the frame <NUM>, is formed between the first end 11a and the second end 11b in the axial direction (vertical direction in <FIG>) of the semicylindrical shape of the frame <NUM>. The support <NUM> is made of a semicircular flat plate having a radius of the same length as an inner diameter of the frame <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the support <NUM> has a plurality of air intake holes 12a formed therein that penetrate in the axial direction of the semicylindrical shape of the frame <NUM>. Note that although <FIG> differ in number of the air intake holes 12a formed in the support <NUM>, the number (density) of the air intake holes 12a formed in the support <NUM> is not particularly limited, and can be set as appropriate, provided that the strength of the support <NUM> is not greatly decreased.

The air discharge part <NUM> connects a space in the inner part of the frame <NUM> and the pump 20A to each other. The air discharge part <NUM> is provided on the side surface of the frame <NUM>. The air discharge part <NUM> has a cylindrical hole 13a formed therein. The hole 13a is connected at one end thereof to the opening 11c, which is provided in the frame <NUM>. The hole 13a is connected at another end thereof to the pump 20A, as illustrated in <FIG>.

The pump 20A is connected to the air discharge part <NUM> of the frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 10A. The pump 20A reduces pressure inside the frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 10A by sucking, via the air discharge part <NUM>, air inside the frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 10A.

The pump 20B is connected to the air discharge part <NUM> of the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 10B. The pump 20A reduces pressure inside the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 10B by sucking, via the air discharge part <NUM>, air inside the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 10B.

The following description will discuss an example of a puncture method in which the puncture assisting tool <NUM> is used. <FIG> are views each for describing an example of the puncture method in which the puncture assisting tool <NUM> is used.

According to the puncture method in which the puncture assisting tool <NUM> is used, first, the puncture assisting tool <NUM> (more specifically, the first end 11a of the frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 10A and the first end 11a of the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 10B) is brought into contact with skin S of a living body (see <FIG>). In this state, a needle N placed at a tip of a syringe (not illustrated) is located between the groove 11d formed in the frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 10A and the groove 11d formed in the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 10B, and the needle N is not inserted into the skin S of the living body. Furthermore, the first fixing part 10A and the second fixing part 10B are in contact with each other in this state.

Next, the pump 20A and the pump 20B are driven so that the pressure inside the frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 10A and the pressure inside the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 10B are reduced. Note that since the support <NUM> has the plurality of air intake holes 12a formed therein, it is possible to reduce the pressure in the whole inner part of the frame <NUM>.

The reduction in pressure inside the frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 10A and in pressure inside the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 10B causes a region (region D1 illustrated in <FIG>) of the skin S of the living body inside the first end 11a of the frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 10A to be sucked toward the inner part of the frame <NUM> (see <FIG>). This brings the skin S in the region D1 into a state of being attached to (in other words, a state of being suction-attracted to) the first fixing part 10A (more specifically, the inner part of the frame <NUM>). Similarly, the skin S in a region (region D2 illustrated in <FIG>) of the skin S of the living body inside the first end 11a of the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 10B is brought into a state of being attached to (in other words, a state of being suction-attracted to) the second fixing part 10B (more specifically, the inner part of the frame <NUM>).

Subsequently, in the above states, the first fixing part 10A and the second fixing part 10B are moved in directions (directions indicated by arrows in <FIG>) in which the first fixing part 10A and the second fixing part 10B are away from each other (see <FIG>). This causes a region (region D3 illustrated in <FIG>) of the skin S of the living body between the region D1 and the region D2 to be pulled, so that the region D3 of the skin S is tensioned (see <FIG>). Note that the first fixing part 10A and the second fixing part 10B can be moved manually by an operator or with use of a machine such as an actuator. The actuator can be, for example, an electromagnetic actuator, a piezoelectric actuator, a pneumatic actuator, or the like.

Next, the syringe is moved toward the skin S so that the needle N is inserted into the skin S of the living body. As described earlier, before the first fixing part 10A and the second fixing part 10B are moved, the needle N is located between the groove 11d formed in the frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 10A and the groove 11d formed in the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 10B. This causes a place where the needle N is inserted into the skin S to be the region D3.

Skin of a living body is ordinarily depressed through the application of pressure by a needle during insertion of the needle into the skin. The depression in the skin stimulates a pain sensory nerve of the living body and thus causes pain to the living body. In contrast, according to the puncture method of Embodiment <NUM>, the region D3 into which the needle N is inserted is tensioned as described earlier. This makes it possible to prevent the skin S from being depressed during the insertion of the needle N into the skin S. As a result, it is possible to insert the needle N into the skin S without stimulating a pain sensory nerve of the living body (in other words, without causing any pain to the living body).

Finally, by pulling up a plunger (not illustrated) stored inside the syringe, blood of the living body is sucked through the needle N so that the blood of the living body is collected.

As described earlier, the puncture assisting tool <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM> includes: the first fixing part 10A that is fixed to the region D1 serving as a first region of the skin S; and the second fixing part 10B that is fixed to the region D2 serving as a second region of the skin S. The first fixing part 10A is movable relative to the second fixing part 10B so as to pull the skin S in the region D3 between the first fixing part 10A and the second fixing part 10B.

According to the configuration, the skin in the region D3 can be tensioned in a case where the first fixing part 10A that is fixed to the region D1 of the skin S is moved relative to the second fixing part 10B that is fixed to the region D2 of the skin S. This makes it possible to prevent the skin S from being depressed during the insertion of the needle N into the skin S. As a result, it is possible to insert the needle N into the skin S without stimulating a pain sensory nerve of the living body.

The puncture assisting tool <NUM> includes the support <NUM> for supporting the skin S that has been sucked into the inner part of the frame <NUM>. The support <NUM> is provided so as to be closer to the skin of the living body (an upper side in <FIG>) than the air discharge part <NUM> in the axial direction (vertical direction in <FIG>) of the cylindrical shape of the frame <NUM> (see <FIG>). According to the configuration, the skin S that has been sucked into the inner part of the frame <NUM> is supported by the support <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. This makes it possible to prevent the air discharge part <NUM> from being covered by the skin S. That is, it is possible to prevent air intake by the pump 20A or the pump 20B from being hampered. It is therefore possible to continuously suction-attract the skin S to the puncture assisting tool <NUM>. Note that a puncture assisting tool of an aspect of the present invention can be configured to include no support <NUM>.

According to the puncture assisting tool <NUM>, the groove 11d for positioning the needle N in a state in which the first fixing part 10A and the second fixing part 10B are in contact with each other is formed in the frame <NUM> of each of the first fixing part 10A and the second fixing part 10B. This allows the place where the needle N is inserted into the skin S to be the region D3 that is tensioned.

Note that instead of the support <NUM>, which is made of the flat plate, a plurality of columnar supports can be formed inside the frame <NUM> (on the second end 11b). The plurality of columnar supports support the skin S and can take in air from a space between the respective plurality of columnar supports.

The following description will discuss another embodiment of the present invention. Note that for convenience, members having functions identical to those of the respective members described in Embodiment <NUM> are given respective identical reference numerals, and a description of those members is omitted.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a puncture assisting tool 1A of Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> is a side view of the puncture assisting tool 1A. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the puncture assisting tool 1A includes a first fixing part 31A and a second fixing part 31B.

The first fixing part 31A and the second fixing part 31B have shapes that are symmetrical in the transverse direction in <FIG>. Thus, only the first fixing part 31A will be described herein. The first fixing part 31A includes a semicylindrical member <NUM> and a gripping part <NUM>.

The semicylindrical member <NUM> has a semicylindrical shape obtained by cutting a cylinder along a plane containing a central axis. The semicylindrical member <NUM> includes: a first end 32a, which is one end of a semicylinder and is an end on a side that contacts the skin of a living body; and a second end 32b, which is another end of the semicylinder. The first end 32a and the second end 32b are each made of a semicircular flat plate. An adhesive <NUM> (e.g., mucin or the like) is affixed to the first end 32a of the semicylindrical member <NUM>.

The following description will discuss an example of a puncture method in which the puncture assisting tool 1A is used. According to the puncture method in which the puncture assisting tool 1A is used, first, the first end 32a of the semicylindrical member <NUM> of the first fixing part 31A and the first end 32a of the semicylindrical member <NUM> of the second fixing part 31B are brought into contact with skin S of the living body. This causes the adhesive <NUM> affixed to the first end 32a to stick to the skin S.

Subsequently, the gripping part <NUM> that is provided on a side surface of a frame <NUM> is gripped so that the first fixing part 31A and the second fixing part 31B are moved in directions in which the first fixing part 31A and the second fixing part 31B are away from each other. This causes a region of the skin S of the living body between regions in which the skin S has stuck to the adhesive <NUM> to be pulled, so that the region is tensioned.

Next, a needle N placed at a tip of a syringe (not illustrated) is inserted into the tensioned region of the skin S of the living body. The region into which the needle N is inserted is tensioned also in Embodiment <NUM>. This makes it possible to prevent the skin S from being depressed during the insertion of the needle N into the skin S. As a result, it is possible to insert the needle N into the skin S without stimulating a pain sensory nerve of the living body.

In Embodiment <NUM>, the adhesive <NUM> is used to cause the skin S to stick to the puncture assisting tool 1A. Note, however, that another method (e.g., an adhesive agent or the like) can be alternatively used to cause the skin S to adhere to the puncture assisting tool 1A.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a puncture assisting tool 1B of Embodiment <NUM>. (a) of <FIG> is a side view of the puncture assisting tool 1B. (b) of <FIG> is an enlarged view of a region surrounded with a frame in (a) of <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the puncture assisting tool 1B includes a first fixing part 41A and a second fixing part 41B.

The first fixing part 41A and the second fixing part 41B have shapes that are symmetrical in the transverse direction in <FIG>. Thus, only the first fixing part 41A will be described herein. The first fixing part 41A includes a semicylindrical member <NUM> and a gripping part <NUM>.

The semicylindrical member <NUM> has a semicylindrical shape obtained by cutting a cylinder along a plane containing a central axis. The semicylindrical member <NUM> includes: a first end 42a, which is one end of a semicylinder and is an end on a side that contacts the skin of a living body; and a second end 42b, which is another end of the semicylinder. The first end 42a and the second end 42b are each made of a semicircular flat plate. The first end 42a of the semicylindrical member <NUM> has a plurality of spikes <NUM> formed therein so as to protrude perpendicularly to the first end 42a. As illustrated in (b) of <FIG>, the spikes <NUM> have a thorn shape and are provided with barbs. More specifically, the spikes <NUM> have a diamond-shaped cross section.

The following description will discuss an example of a puncture method in which the puncture assisting tool 1B is used. According to the puncture method in which the puncture assisting tool 1B is used, first, the first end 42a of the semicylindrical member <NUM> of the first fixing part 41A and the first end 42a of the semicylindrical member <NUM> of the second fixing part 41B are brought into contact with skin S of the living body. This causes the spikes <NUM> formed in the first end 42a to be caught by the skin S. Note that the spikes <NUM> have a length for which the spikes <NUM> are inserted into only a shallow part of the skin S (specifically, a stratum corneum and the epidermis). With the configuration, the living body does not feel any pain even if the spikes <NUM> are inserted into the skin S.

Subsequently, the gripping part <NUM> that is provided on a side surface of a frame <NUM> is gripped so that the first fixing part 41A and the second fixing part 41B are moved in directions in which the first fixing part 41A and the second fixing part 41B are away from each other. This causes a region of the skin S of the living body between regions in which the spikes <NUM> are inserted into the skin S to be pulled, so that the region is tensioned.

Note that the spikes <NUM> have a diamond-shaped cross section as described earlier. With the configuration, the spikes <NUM> (in other words, the first fixing part 41A and the second fixing part 41B) can be easily removed from the skin S of the living body when the spikes <NUM> are moved in a direction perpendicular to the first end 42a, and the spikes <NUM> cannot be removed from the skin S of the living body when the first fixing part 41A and the second fixing part 41B are moved in the directions in which the first fixing part 41A and the second fixing part 41B are away from each other.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a puncture assisting tool 1C of Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B illustrated in <FIG>. Note that for simplification, a pump 52A and a pump 52B (each described later) are not illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the puncture assisting tool 1C includes a first fixing part 10A, a second fixing part 10B, an air flow part 51A, an air flow part 51B, the pump 52A, and the pump 52B.

The air flow part 51A has a bellows structure that contracts in response to pressure reduction. The air flow part 51A has one end that is connected via the air discharge part <NUM> to a space inside a frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 10A. The air flow part 51A has another end that is connected to the pump 52A.

Similarly, the air flow part 51B has a bellows structure that contracts in response to pressure reduction. The air flow part 51B has one end that is connected via the air discharge part <NUM> to a space inside the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 10B. The air flow part 51B has another end that is connected to the pump 52B.

The following description will discuss an example of a puncture method in which the puncture assisting tool 1C is used. (a) to (c) of <FIG> are views each for describing an example of the puncture method in which the puncture assisting tool 1C is used.

According to the puncture method in which the puncture assisting tool 1C is used, first, the first fixing part 10A and the second fixing part 10B are brought into contact with skin S of a living body (see (a) of <FIG>). Next, the pump 52A and the pump 52B are driven so that pressure inside the frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 10A and pressure inside the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 10B are reduced.

The reduction in pressure inside the frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 10A and in pressure inside the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 10B causes the skin S in a region D1 and the skin S in a region D2 to be attached to the first fixing part 10A and the second fixing part 10B, respectively (see (b) of <FIG>).

Subsequently, the pump 52A and the pump 52B are further driven so that pressure inside the air flow part 51A and pressure inside the air flow part 51B are also reduced. This causes contraction of the respective bellows structures of the air flow part 51A and the air flow part 51B. This causes the first fixing part 10A and the second fixing part 10B to be moved in directions in which the first fixing part 10A and the second fixing part 10B are away from each other (see (c) of <FIG>). This causes a region (region D3 illustrated in (c) of <FIG>) of the skin S of the living body between the region D1 and the region D2 to be tensioned.

Next, a needle N placed at a tip of a syringe (not illustrated) is inserted into the tensioned region D3 of the skin S of the living body. The region D3 into which the needle N is inserted is tensioned also in Embodiment <NUM>. This makes it possible to prevent the skin S from being depressed during the insertion of the needle N into the skin S. As a result, it is possible to insert the needle N into the skin S without stimulating a pain sensory nerve of the living body.

<FIG> is a top view of a puncture assisting tool 1D of Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C illustrated in <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the puncture assisting tool 1D includes a guide part <NUM> and an expandable part <NUM>.

The guide part <NUM> is provided at a center of the puncture assisting tool 1D. The guide part <NUM> has a cylindrical shape and has a through-hole 60a which is formed so as to extend in an axial direction (vertical direction in <FIG>) of the cylindrical shape and through which a needle N passes. The guide part <NUM> is made of a rigid material. The guide part <NUM> is formed such that an inner diameter of the guide part <NUM> (in other words, a diameter of the through-hole 60a) is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the needle N. For example, the guide part <NUM> can be formed such that the inner diameter of the guide part <NUM> is <NUM> to <NUM> times larger than the outer diameter of the needle N.

The expandable part <NUM> is made of a material (e.g., a superabsorbent polymer or the like) which expands by addition thereto of water. The expandable part <NUM> is placed so as to surround a side surface of the guide part <NUM>, and has a cylindrical shape. The expandable part <NUM> includes a first end 61a that faces skin S of a living body when the expandable part <NUM> is placed in the living body. As illustrated in <FIG>, an adhesive <NUM> is affixed to a part of a region outside the first end 61a of the expandable part <NUM>.

The following description will discuss an example of a puncture method in which the puncture assisting tool 1D is used. (a) to (c) of <FIG> are views each for describing an example of the puncture method in which the puncture assisting tool 1D is used.

According to the puncture method in which the puncture assisting tool 1D is used, first, the first end 61a side of the expandable part <NUM> is brought into contact with the skin S of the living body (see (a) of <FIG>). This causes the adhesive <NUM> affixed to the first end 61a to stick to the skin S.

Next, the expandable part <NUM> is caused to absorb water. This causes the expandable part <NUM> to expand as illustrated in (b) of <FIG>. In this case, since the guide part <NUM> is rigid, the expandable part <NUM> expands outward about a central axis of the guide part <NUM>. This causes a region of the skin S of the living body between regions in which the skin S has stuck to the adhesive <NUM> to be pulled outward, so that the region is tensioned.

Furthermore, the puncture assisting tool 1D of Embodiment <NUM> includes the guide part <NUM> that is provided with the through-hole 60a through which the needle N passes and that guides movement of the needle N. With the configuration, since the needle N is guided by the guide part <NUM> during the insertion, it is possible to prevent buckling of the needle N. In other words, it is possible to use the needle N having a small outer diameter. As a result, it is possible to prevent stimulation of pain spots of the living body.

Embodiment <NUM> is configured such that the expandable part has a cylindrical shape. Note, however, that the present invention is not limited to the configuration. In an aspect of the present invention, the expandable part <NUM> can be rectangular when viewed in the direction of the central axis of the guide part <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a puncture assisting tool 1E of Embodiment <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the puncture assisting tool 1D includes a second fixing part 70B instead of the second fixing part 10B of the puncture assisting tool <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>.

A guide part <NUM> is formed, at a center of a surface of the second fixing part 70B which surface faces a first fixing part 10A, so as to extend in a direction (vertical direction in <FIG>) in which a needle N moves. The guide part <NUM> has a cylindrical shape and is provided with a through-hole 71a through which the needle N passes. The second fixing part 70B is similar in configuration to the second fixing part 10B of Embodiment <NUM>, except that the second fixing part 70B has the guide part <NUM> formed therein.

With the configuration, the puncture assisting tool 1E allows skin in a region between a first region and a second region of skin S to be tensioned in a case where the first fixing part 10A that is fixed to the first region is moved relative to the second fixing part 70B that is fixed to the second region. This makes it possible to prevent the skin S from being depressed during the insertion of the needle N into the skin S. As a result, it is possible to insert the needle N into the skin S without stimulating a pain sensory nerve of the living body.

Furthermore, according to the puncture assisting tool 1E, since the needle N is guided by the guide part <NUM> during the insertion, it is possible to prevent buckling of the needle N. In other words, it is possible to use the needle N having a small outer diameter. As a result, it is possible to prevent stimulation of pain spots of the living body.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a puncture assisting tool 1F of Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the puncture assisting tool 1F as viewed from an upward direction in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the puncture assisting tool 1F includes a first fixing part 101A, a second fixing part 101B, an attachment part <NUM>, a pump 120A, a pump 120B, and a pump 120C. Note that in <FIG>, the pumps 120A to 120C are not illustrated.

A description of the first fixing part 101A and the second fixing part 101B is omitted here. This is because the first fixing part 101A and the second fixing part 101B are similar in configuration to the first fixing part 10A and the second fixing part 101B, respectively, of Embodiment <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, an air discharge part <NUM> provided to a frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 101A is connected to the pump 120A, and the air discharge part <NUM> provided to the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 101B is connected to the pump 120B.

The attachment part <NUM> is located between the first fixing part 101A and the second fixing part 101B. The attachment part <NUM> includes a frame <NUM>, a guide part <NUM>, a support <NUM>, and an air discharge part <NUM>.

The frame <NUM> has a tubular shape. The frame <NUM> includes: a first end 111a, which is one end of a tube and is an end on a side that contacts the skin of a living body; and a second end 111b, which is another end of the tube (see <FIG>). The first end 111a is shaped to have an opening on the inside, and the second end 111b is made of a flat plate. Thus, the frame <NUM> has a shape in which a face thereof on the side that contacts the skin of a living body is open.

Further, the frame <NUM> includes an opening 111c formed on a side surface of a cylinder and in a region where an air discharge part <NUM> (described later) is installed (see <FIG>).

The guide part <NUM> is a member for guiding movement of a needle N. The guide part <NUM> has a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical shape is coaxial with the cylindrical shape of the frame <NUM>. The guide part <NUM> has a through-hole 112a which is formed so as to extend in an axial direction (vertical direction in <FIG>) of the tube and through which the needle N passes.

The support <NUM>, in an inner part of the frame <NUM>, is formed between the first end 111a and the second end 111b in the axial direction (vertical direction in <FIG>) of the cylindrical shape of the frame <NUM>. The support <NUM> is made of a flat plate. The support <NUM> has a plurality of air intake holes 113a formed therein.

The air discharge part <NUM> is provided on the side surface of the frame <NUM>. The air discharge part <NUM> has a cylindrical hole 114a formed therein. As illustrated in <FIG>, the hole 114a has (i) one end that is connected to an opening 111c provided in the frame <NUM> and (ii) the other end that is connected to the pump 120C.

The following description will discuss an example of a puncture method in which the puncture assisting tool 1F is used. First, the puncture assisting tool 1F is brought into contact with skin S of a living body. Next, the pump 120A and the pump 120B are driven. This reduces pressure inside the first fixing part 101A and pressure inside the second fixing part 101B.

The reduction in pressure inside the frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 101A results in a state in which a region (first region) of the skin S of the living body inside a first end 11a of the frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 101A is attached to the frame <NUM> of the first fixing part 101A. Similarly, the reduction in pressure inside the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 101B results in a state in which a region (second region) of the skin S of the living body inside the first end 11a of the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 101B is attached to the frame <NUM> of the second fixing part 101B.

Subsequently, in the above states, the first fixing part 101A and the second fixing part 101B are moved in directions in which the first fixing part 101A and the second fixing part 101B are away from each other. This causes a region (third region) of the skin S of the living body between the first region and the second region to be pulled, so that the third region is tensioned.

Then, the pump 120C is driven. This sucks air inside the frame <NUM> of the attachment part <NUM>. This reduces pressure inside the frame <NUM> of the attachment part <NUM>. Note that since the support <NUM> of the frame <NUM> of the attachment part <NUM> has the plurality of air intake holes 113a formed therein, it is possible to reduce the pressure in the whole inner part of the frame <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D of <FIG> and illustrating a state in which pressure inside the frame <NUM> of the attachment part <NUM> is reduced during puncture in which the puncture assisting tool 1F is used. The reduction in pressure inside the attachment part <NUM> of the frame <NUM> results in a state in which a region (region D4 illustrated in <FIG>) of the skin S of the living body inside the first end 111a of the frame <NUM> of the attachment part <NUM> is attached to the inside of the frame <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

Next, a syringe (not illustrated) is moved toward the skin S so that the needle N is inserted into the skin S of the living body. A region into which the needle N is inserted is tensioned. This makes it possible to prevent the skin S from being depressed during the insertion of the needle N into the skin S. As a result, it is possible to insert the needle N into the skin S without stimulating a pain sensory nerve of the living body.

Furthermore, according to Embodiment <NUM>, the skin S is attached to the inner part of the frame <NUM> of the attachment part <NUM>. With the configuration, the region into which the needle N is inserted is further tensioned as compared with Embodiment <NUM>. This makes it possible to prevent the skin S from being depressed during the insertion of the needle N into the skin S.

Moreover, according to the puncture assisting tool 1F, the needle N is guided, during the puncture, by the guide part <NUM> provided in the attachment part <NUM>. This makes it possible to prevent buckling of the needle N. In other words, it is possible to use the needle N having a small outer diameter. As a result, it is possible to prevent stimulation of pain spots of the living body.

Further, according to the puncture assisting tool 1F, the guide part <NUM> is located inside a region of the attachment part <NUM> to which region the skin S is attached. This allows a place where the needle N is inserted into the skin S of the living body to be a region of the skin S inside the attachment part <NUM> region.

In Embodiment <NUM>, the pumps 120A to 120C are used as (i) a suction device for sucking air inside the first fixing part 101A, (ii) a suction device for sucking air inside the second fixing part 101B, and (iii) a suction device for sucking air inside the attachment part <NUM>, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In an aspect of the present invention, a syringe can be used as a suction device.

Claim 1:
A puncture assisting tool (<NUM>) comprising:
a first fixing part (10A) that is fixed to a first region of skin; and
a second fixing part (10B) that is fixed to a second region of the skin;
characterized in that:
the first fixing part (10A) is movable relative to the second fixing part (10B) so as to pull the skin between the first fixing part (10A) and the second fixing part (10B),
the first fixing part (10A) suction-attracts the skin, and
the first fixing part (10A) has a support (<NUM>) that supports the skin which has been sucked into the first fixing part (10A),
the second fixing part (10B) suction-attracts the skin, and
the second fixing part (10B) has a support (<NUM>) that supports the skin which has been sucked into the second fixing part (10B).