JP3380419B2 - Surgical equipment for injecting plasma gas - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plasma injection surgical device for injecting a gas that has been turned into plasma into living tissue.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one of so-called electrosurgical treatments, a plasmaized gas is injected into a living tissue (affected part), and the thermal energy thereof causes surgical treatment such as blood coagulation and hemostasis (hereinafter referred to as "electrosurgical treatment"). ) Is known. Conventionally, as a plasma injection surgical device for performing this kind of electrosurgical procedure, a predetermined gas (A) is typically supplied from a gas supply pipe provided in a handpiece-shaped casing.
At the same time as injecting r) or the like) into the living tissue, a high frequency high voltage is applied between the electrode mounted in the vicinity of the gas supply pipe and the electrode mounted on the patient who is the subject (hereinafter referred to as "counter electrode plate"). It is common to apply the electromagnetic energy (that is, to generate an arc discharge) to turn the gas flowing between both electrodes into plasma. By the way, when an electrosurgical procedure is performed using a plasma jet surgical apparatus of the type using such a counter electrode, an electric current also flows in the body of the patient. For this reason, when using the above-mentioned plasma-injection surgical apparatus, it is necessary to give sufficient consideration to the contact state of the return electrode with the patient's body surface. That is, when contact failure occurs between the counter electrode plate and the patient's body surface, the current density of the patient's tissue in the vicinity of the counter electrode plate tends to increase, which may result in burn injury to the tissue part. is there. Therefore, there is a demand for the development of a plasma injection surgical device that does not require the counter electrode plate to be attached to the body surface of a patient (that is, a large current does not flow to the affected part).

An example of this type of surgical device is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-215374, instead of providing a counter electrode plate, there is described a plasma injection surgical apparatus characterized in that a pair of thin tweezers-shaped electrodes are provided at the tip of a casing provided with a gas injection port. . As shown in FIG.
In this type of plasma injection surgical apparatus, a casing 50, which is typically in the shape of a handpiece, is provided with gas supply pipes 52 (two in FIG. 4) communicating with a gas supply source (not shown), and the tip of the gas supply pipe 52 is provided. Gas that can be turned into plasma, such as argon gas, is injected from the gas injection port 54 to the outside. Here, the gas supply pipe 52 is provided with a pair of electrodes 56 connected to a high-frequency high-voltage power supply unit (not shown), and their tips are arranged in the gas flow ejected from the gas injection port 54. It is arranged so as to be exposed to the outside of the casing 50 so as to obtain it (see FIG. 4). Thus, as schematically shown in FIG. 5, when a high frequency high voltage is applied between the two electrodes 56, an arc discharge A is generated in the gas flow between the electrodes, whereby an arc discharge A in the gas flow is generated. The gas can be turned into plasma and injected into the living tissue S.

[0004]

However, in the conventional plasma injection surgical apparatus in which such a pair of electrodes 56 are exposed to the outside of the casing 50, the electrodes 56 are living body during electrosurgical treatment. The organization S may be touched. At that time, there is a risk that the high-frequency current directly flows to the living tissue S, and there is a risk that the living tissue S may be burned or electrocuted. Alternatively, when the impedance of the living tissue S to be subjected to electrosurgical treatment is relatively low, even if the pair of electrodes 56 do not touch the living tissue S as schematically shown in FIG. An arc discharge A is generated between any one of the electrodes 56 and the living tissue S.
May occur. Therefore, in FIG.
When the plasma injection surgical apparatus as shown in FIG. 2 is used for an actual electrosurgical procedure, the electrode 56 is handled and the electric power output value to the electrode 56 is controlled in order to prevent the occurrence of a burn or an electric shock in the living tissue S. It is necessary to pay close attention to the above. And, that is a burden and this type of plasma jet surgical apparatus has not always been practical.

The present invention is intended to solve the problems in the conventional plasma jet surgical apparatus having the above-mentioned pair of electrodes instead of the counter electrode plate, and the purpose thereof is to apply to living tissue (affected area). An object of the present invention is to provide a plasma injection surgical device which can prevent unexpected arc discharge and is easy to handle.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a plasma injection surgical apparatus for injecting a gas that has been turned into plasma into a living tissue, the gas supply including a gas injection port. A tube and a pair of electrodes,
The periphery of the gas injection port is made of an insulator,
The electrodes of each of the electrodes are inside the gas supply pipe.
Placed close to each other near the gas injection port
The gas is supplied in the insulated state except the end of each electrode.
Provided is a plasma jet surgical device mounted on a tube (hereinafter referred to as "plasma jet surgical device of the present invention").

In the plasma jet surgical apparatus of the present invention, a pair of electrodes connected to the high-frequency high-voltage power supply unit are both attached to the gas supply pipe in an insulated state, and the end portions of the pair of electrodes ( Typically, the tips of the electrodes) are exposed inside the gas supply pipe so as to be close to each other in the vicinity of the gas injection port whose periphery is made of an insulator. There is. Therefore, in the plasma injection surgical device of the present invention, when a high frequency high voltage is applied to the pair of electrodes, arc discharge occurs only between the exposed portions of both electrodes in the gas supply pipe, and the gas supply pipe There is no arcing outside of the device as in the prior art plasma spray surgical device with the electrodes located outside the device. Therefore,
According to the plasma injection surgical device of the present invention, the gas flowing in the gas supply pipe can be turned into plasma by the arc discharge generated in the gas supply pipe, and the gas turned into plasma without the arc discharge. Can be injected from the gas injection port to the outside. That is, according to the plasma injection surgical device of the present invention, since the arc discharge generated between the electrodes does not reach the living tissue as it is, it is possible to prevent the burn or the electric shock of the living tissue directly related to the discharge. .

[0008] Further preferred devices as a plasma jet surgical device of the present invention includes a sensor for detecting a gas supply state to the gas supply pipe, based on the detection signal from the sensor power to the pair of electrodes And a control unit for controlling supply.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of the plasma injection surgical device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Note that FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the outline of the plasma injection surgical device according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the plasma injection surgical apparatus according to the present embodiment roughly includes a gas supply pipe 47 composed of an insulator, a pair of electrodes 30, and a high-frequency high-voltage power supply section 16. The gas flow rate adjuster 15 and the gas pipe 14a corresponding to the gas supply means in the present embodiment are included. The gas flow rate adjuster 15 and the gas pipe 14a are connected to the gas supply pipe 47 so that the gas is supplied from the separately prepared gas supply source 14. A gas injection port 48 is provided at the tip of the gas supply pipe 47, and the gas supplied to the gas supply pipe 47 via the gas supply means is supplied to the gas injection port 48.
Can be injected from the outside. The periphery (peripheral portion) of the gas injection port 48 is made of an insulator such as ceramic.

On the other hand, the pair of electrodes 30 are electrically connected to the high-frequency and high-voltage power supply unit 16 and mounted in the gas supply pipe 47 while being surrounded by an insulator 32 such as ceramic and insulated from the surroundings. Has been done. In addition, the electrode 30
There is no particular limitation, but typically, a material having excellent heat resistance such as tungsten is preferable. The tip portions 34 of both electrodes 30 are formed in a needle shape suitable for electric discharge, and are arranged in the gas supply pipe 47 and exposed in the vicinity of the gas injection port 48. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the tip portions 34 are arranged close to each other. In the present embodiment, the proximity to each other means that the linear distance between the tip portions 34 of both electrodes is
It means that the tip portion 34 and the inner wall of the gas supply pipe 47 (typically the peripheral portion of the gas injection port 48) are close to each other to an extent shorter than a linear distance.

When a high voltage is applied to both electrodes 30 from the high-frequency high-voltage power supply unit 16, arc discharge (A in the figure) may occur only between the electrode tip portions 34. At this time, from the gas supply source 14 to the gas supply pipe 4
By supplying a gas (typically, an argon gas) to 7, the gas flowing near the electrode tip portion 34 can be turned into plasma by the electromagnetic energy accompanying the arc discharge A. Further, since the periphery (peripheral portion) of the gas injection port 48 is made of an insulator, the arc discharge A
Will not be transmitted to the outside through the peripheral portion of the gas injection port 48. Therefore, according to the plasma injection surgical apparatus according to the present embodiment, only the high temperature gas (P in the figure) that has been turned into plasma by the arc discharge generated between the electrode tip portions 34 is discharged from the gas injection port 48 to the outside (living body). Tissue).

During arc discharge, the electrode tip portion 34 is generally about 300 due to the discharge.
Although a high temperature of 0 ° C. or higher can be reached, according to the plasma injection surgical device of the present embodiment, as a result of disposing the electrode tip portion 34 inside the gas supply pipe 47, the gas supply pipe 47 during arc discharge. The electrode tip portion 34 can be cooled by the gas flow flowing therein. For this reason,
It is possible to prevent loss of the electrode tip portion 34 due to overheating.

Next, an example in which the plasma injection surgical device according to this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is further embodied will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that FIG. 2 schematically shows the overall configuration of a plasma injection surgical device according to the present embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as the present plasma injection device) in which the plasma injection surgical device of the present invention is further embodied. It is a perspective view. As shown in FIG. 2, the plasma injection apparatus is roughly composed of a tabletop stationary apparatus main body 10 and the apparatus main body 1.
And a handpiece 12 connected to 0.

The handpiece 12 in the present plasma injection apparatus has a ceramic working portion 46 having the gas supply pipe 47 (FIG. 1) formed therein, and a working portion 46 that accommodates and supports the working portion 46 and is gripped by an operator. And a grip portion 42 made of a synthetic resin casing member formed in a pencil shape. As shown in FIG. 2, the handpiece 12 includes a cable 21 and a connector 21a covered with an insulator.
It is electrically connected to the apparatus main body 10 via. It should be noted that this cable 21 is used for the high-frequency high-voltage power supply unit 1 described later.
It has two conducting wires corresponding to the pair of electrodes 30 connected to the electrode 6. Further, the handpiece 12 is also connected to the apparatus main body 10 by the gas supply tube 22 and the joint portion 22a, and the gas supply tube 22 is connected to the gas supply pipe 47 (FIG. 1) in the operation portion 46 of the handpiece 12. Is in communication with. As a result, the present handpiece 12 is passed through the later-described gas flow rate adjuster 15 and the gas pipe 14a provided in the main body 10 of the present plasma injection device.
An inert gas (argon gas or the like) can be supplied to the inner gas supply pipe 47. Then, the inert gas sent to the gas supply pipe 47 is the tip portion of the gas supply pipe 47 (that is,
The gas is ejected to the outside from a gas injection port 48 provided at the front end of the working portion 46 of the present handpiece 12.

The cable 21 is used for the handpiece 12
The gas supply pipe 47 is drawn into the working portion 46.
The above-mentioned two lead wires are installed in the insulated state (see FIG. 1). Thus, the tip portions 34 of the conducting wires (that is, the pair of electrodes 30) are thinly formed in a needle shape, and the gas supply pipe 47 is provided in the vicinity of the gas injection port 48.
They are exposed close to each other inside (see FIG. 1). With this configuration, when a high-frequency high voltage is applied to the pair of needle electrode tip portions 34 via the cable 21 in the present plasma injection device, arc discharge can be generated only between the tip portions 34. Then, the generated arc discharge causes the inert gas injected from the gas injection port 48 to the outside (affected part) to be plasmatized, and the electrosurgical treatment of the affected tissue is performed by the thermal energy transmitted by the plasmatized gas. be able to.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, a push-button switch 44 and a printed circuit board (not shown) are provided in a part of the grip portion 42 of the present handpiece 12 as in the conventional electrosurgical handpiece. The switch mechanism arranged is provided. Thereby, the operator operates the switch 44 with a finger during the electrosurgical procedure to supply gas from the plasma injection apparatus main body 10 to the handpiece 12 and output power to the needle electrode tip portion 34. ON / OFF control can be performed.

Next, the structure of the main body of the plasma injection device 10 will be described. FIG. 3 shows the main body 1 of the plasma injection device.
It is the block diagram which showed the internal structure of 0 typically. Figure 3
As shown schematically in FIG. 1, the plasma injection apparatus body 10 includes a handpiece 12 similar to a conventional surgical apparatus of this type.
Further, a gas flow rate controller 15 for supplying an inert gas at a constant pressure, a high-frequency high-voltage power supply unit 16 including a high-frequency amplifier and a step-up transformer, and a control unit 18 for controlling the operation of the plasma injection device are provided. ing.

The gas flow controller 15 provided in the main body 10 of the plasma injection apparatus is a valve for supplying a certain amount of an inert gas such as argon gas to the handpiece 12. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the gas flow rate regulator 15 is connected to an external inert gas supply source (here, an argon gas cylinder and a pressure regulator are included. The same applies hereinafter) 14 via a gas pipe 14a. Connected,
The gas supply tube 22 communicates with the gas pipe 14a and the joint portion 22a. The gas flow rate regulator 15 is electrically connected to the control unit 18,
The operation is controlled based on the operation signal from the control unit 18. Therefore, a predetermined flow rate of the inert gas (here, argon gas; the same applies hereinafter) can be delivered to the gas supply pipe 47 in the handpiece 12.

The control unit 18 is an operation panel 20 installed on the surface of the plasma injection apparatus main body 10 (see FIG. 2).
Based on the operation signal input from the above action power value setting switch, the gas flow rate adjusting knob, or the like, or the signal received from the switch mechanism provided in the handpiece 12,
The power output value supplied from the high-frequency high-voltage power supply unit 16 to the handpiece 12 and the inert gas supply amount are controlled. The control unit 18 is typically composed of a CPU (processor), a ROM, a RAM, an input processing circuit, an output processing circuit, a gas flow rate control circuit, and the like. The CPU controls the entire plasma injection device according to a predetermined control program stored in the ROM. The control program includes a program for controlling the power output to the handpiece 12 or the opening / closing of the gas flow rate regulator 15. The RAM temporarily stores input / output signals to be processed by the control program. The input processing circuit is the handpiece 12
In response to the operation signal sent from the switch mechanism or the operation panel 20, the data is converted into a data format that can be processed in the control unit 18, and is transferred to the CPU or the RAM via the bus. The output processing circuit uses the high-frequency high-voltage power supply unit 16 according to the output control data sent from the CPU via the bus.
Is a circuit for supplying action electric power to the electrode 30 provided in the handpiece 12. The gas flow rate control circuit is a circuit for controlling the opening and closing of the gas flow rate regulator 15 according to the gas flow rate control data sent from the CPU via the bus.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in the present plasma injection device, a state of supply of the inert gas flowing in the gas pipe 14a to a part of the gas pipe 14a in the downstream region of the gas flow rate regulator 15 is set. A sensor 17 for detecting is provided in a state of being electrically connected to the control unit 18.
The structure of the sensor 17 itself is a general one that can indirectly detect the supply state of the inert gas in the gas pipe 14a from the pressure change or the gas flow velocity difference in the gas pipe 14a, and the detection signal is sent to the control unit 18 at any time. Sent. Then, the control unit 18
Is a high-frequency high-voltage power supply unit 1 based on the received detection signal.
It is possible to control the power output supplied from 6 to the handpiece 12. That is, in this plasma injection device, the operating power is applied from the high frequency high voltage power supply unit 16 to the electrode 30 according to the output control data only when the inert gas is supplied into the gas pipe 14a at a predetermined flow velocity (or pressure). Output processed as supplied.

Hereinafter, an operation mode of the surgical apparatus when performing an electrosurgical procedure (blood coagulation processing of an affected area based on arc discharge) using the above plasma injection apparatus will be described. First, by turning on a main switch (not shown) provided on the operation panel 20 installed on the surface of the plasma ejecting apparatus main body 10, electric power is supplied to the apparatus main body 10 from a general single-phase AC power source. It Then, the operator who holds the handpiece 12 makes the handpiece 1
By turning on the push-button type switch 44 provided in the device 2, the operation signal from the control unit 18 is transmitted to the apparatus main body 10.
It is transmitted to the gas flow rate adjuster 15 provided in (see FIG. 3). As a result, the gas flow rate controller 15 is opened, and the gas supply source 14 is connected to the gas pipe 14a and the sensor 1.
The inert gas is supplied to the gas supply pipe 47 in the handpiece 12 via the gas supply tube 7 and the gas supply tube 22. The inert gas thus supplied to the gas supply pipe 47 is then injected from the gas injection port 48 to the outside (affected part).

At this time, in the present plasma injection device, the supply state of the inert gas flowing through the gas pipe 14a is detected by the sensor 17 based on the gas flow velocity difference or pressure change, and the detection signal is controlled. Has been transmitted to the section 18. When a detection signal indicating that a predetermined amount of gas is being supplied into the gas pipe 14a (and thus the gas supply pipe 47) is transmitted from the sensor 17 to the control unit 18, the control unit An operation signal is transmitted from 18 to the high frequency high voltage power supply unit 16. Then, the high-frequency high-voltage power supply unit 1
A predetermined high frequency high voltage is applied from 6 to the pair of electrode tip portions 34, which are exposed and arranged in the gas supply pipe 47, via the cable 21. When the gas of a predetermined level is no longer supplied into the gas pipe 14a for some reason, the sensor 17 sends a detection signal to that effect to the control unit 18, and immediately the high-frequency high-voltage power supply unit 16 is sent.
To stop supplying power to the pair of electrode tip portions 34.

As a result of applying a predetermined high frequency high voltage to the pair of electrode tip portions 34, the pair of electrode tip portions 3
An arc discharge is generated between the four, and the inert gas flowing around the arc is turned into plasma. Then, the operator operates the handpiece 12 to bring the tip (gas injection port 48) of the handpiece 12 close to the affected part, so that the affected part can be irradiated with the plasma-generated gas ejected from the gas injection port 48. At this time,
As described above, since the periphery of the gas injection port 48 is formed of an insulator (ceramic or the like), the arc discharge is not directly transmitted to the outside. Therefore, according to the present plasma spraying device, it is possible to prevent accidental burn or electric shock due to the arc discharge from occurring in the affected area during electrosurgical treatment.

When the operator completes the electrosurgical treatment of the affected area in accordance with the above-mentioned operation procedure, based on the signal from the control section 18 which is transmitted by turning off the push button type switch 44 on the handpiece 12. The supply of operating power to the pair of electrode tip portions 34 is stopped. At the same time, the gas flow rate regulator 15 stops, and the supply of the inert gas to the handpiece 12 ends. And finally the operation panel 2
By turning off the main switch above 0, the power supply to the main body 10 of the plasma injection device is also terminated. As described above, according to the present plasma ejection device, it is not necessary to attach the counter electrode plate to the body surface of the patient when performing electrosurgical treatment on the affected area.
Further, in the present plasma injection device, since the pair of needle-shaped electrodes (that is, the above-mentioned tip portion 34) for causing arc discharge are arranged in close proximity to each other while being surrounded by the insulator in the gas supply pipe 47, they are located in the affected area. No arc discharge is generated outside that may cause unexpected burns or electric shock.

Although a preferred embodiment of the plasma injection surgical device of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not intended to be limited to this embodiment.
For example, in the plasma injection surgical device of the present invention according to the above-described embodiment, the gas supply pipe including the pair of electrodes is housed in a handpiece-shaped casing, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a large remote control, for example. It may be provided in a type of manipulator-shaped casing. Further, the sensor for detecting the gas supply state is not limited to the so-called indirect detection type sensor as in the above-described embodiment, but a direct or physical sensor that utilizes the physical or chemical characteristics of those gases depending on the type of the raw material gas used. It may be of a detection type. In addition,
The gas used in this surgical device is argon gas (A
When r is used, the protein in the living body can be solidified at a low temperature. The present invention is not limited to the above) and can be appropriately selected according to the content of electrosurgical treatment. For example,
In addition to the above Ar, He, CO ₂ , O _2, etc., or a mixed gas thereof is preferably used in the practice of the present invention.

[0027]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a plasma injection surgical device which is easy to handle and which can prevent the occurrence of an unexpected arc discharge to a living tissue (affected part) without using a counter electrode. it can.

That is, in the plasma injection surgical apparatus of the present invention, when a high frequency high voltage is applied to a pair of electrodes mounted in an insulated state on the gas supply pipe, both electrodes in the gas supply pipe are brought close to each other. The arc discharge is generated only between the exposed tip portions, and the arc discharge is not generated outside the device as in the conventional plasma injection surgical device in which the electrode is arranged outside the gas supply pipe. Therefore, according to the plasma injection surgical device of the present invention, the gas flowing in the gas supply pipe can be turned into plasma by the arc discharge generated in the gas supply pipe, and the plasma can be turned into the plasma without the arc discharge. The gas can be injected to the outside from the gas injection port. For this reason, in the plasma injection surgical device of the present invention, the arc discharge generated between the electrodes does not reach the living tissue as it is, so that it is possible to prevent the burn or the electric shock of the living tissue directly related to the discharge.

Further, the present invention is characterized by comprising a sensor for detecting a gas supply state to the gas supply pipe, and a control unit for controlling supply of electric power to the pair of electrodes based on a detection signal from the sensor. In the plasma injection surgical device of the present invention, the timing of applying the high frequency high voltage to the pair of electrodes can be determined by using the supply state of the gas flowing in the gas supply pipe as an index. Therefore, according to the plasma injection surgical device of the present aspect, the start / stop (on / off) of the arc discharge between the pair of electrodes can be controlled by operating the gas supply to the gas supply pipe. At the same time, it is possible to prevent accidental arc discharge from occurring when the gas supply to the gas passage is interrupted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a plasma injection surgical device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the overall configuration of a plasma injection surgical device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of a plasma injection surgical device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a conventional plasma injection surgical device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing one mode of generation of arc discharge and plasma in a conventional plasma jet surgical device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing one form of generation of arc discharge in a conventional plasma jet surgical device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Device body 12 handpieces 14 Gas supply source 14a gas pipe 15 Gas flow controller 16 High frequency high voltage power supply 17 sensors 18 Control unit 21 cable 22 Gas supply tube 30 electrodes 32 insulator 34 Tip 47 gas supply pipe 48 gas injection port

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Masayoshi Uchida No. 28 Kita-Ima fixed-value delivery company, MEX, Inc., Bisai City, Aichi Prefecture (72) Inventor Takao Furudate, No. 28 Kita-Imoji delivery fee, Kita-Ima, Aichi prefecture (56) References JP-A-63-215374 (JP, A) JP-A-62-107871 (JP, A) JP-A-2-154750 (JP, A) JP-A-4-22354 (JP, A) Kai 62-240043 (JP, A) Special Table Sho 64-500402 (JP, A) US Patent 5041110 (US, A) International Publication 96/20653 (WO, A1) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 18/04

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plasma injection surgical device for injecting a plasmatized gas into a biological tissue, comprising a gas supply pipe having a gas injection port , and a pair of electrodes, wherein the periphery of the gas injection port is The pair of electrodes has an end portion of each electrode inside the gas supply pipe.
Parts near the gas injection port
Are placed, and the parts other than the ends of the electrodes are insulated and
A plasma spray surgical device mounted on a gas supply tube . Provided 2. A sensor for detecting the gas supply state to the gas supply pipe, and a control unit for controlling the supply of power to the <br/> pair of electrodes based on the detection signal from the sensor
That plasma jet surgical apparatus according to claim 1.