LOW-TEMPERATURE TREATMENT DEVICE CAPABLE OF PREVENTING NEURAL DAMAGE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a low-temperature treatment device capable of preventing nerve damage. The low-temperature treatment device according to one embodiment of the present invention can comprise: a cooling pocket which is inserted and positioned in a rectum and which has a predetermined shape during expansion; and a circulation tube which has a passage through which fluid flows in and out and which is inserted into the cooling pocket so as to circulate the fluid in an inner space of the cooling pocket.

Claims

1. A low-temperature treatment device comprising: a cooling pocket inserted into and located in a rectum and having a predetermined shape during expansion thereof; and a circulation tube having a passage, through which a fluid is introduced and discharged, and inserted into the cooling pocket to circulate the fluid in a space in an interior of the cooling pocket.

2. The low-temperature treatment device of claim 1, wherein the cooling pocket has a shape corresponding to a body part of a subject, into which the cooling pocket is to be inserted, in which a prostate gland is in contact with the rectum.

3. The low-temperature treatment device of claim 2, wherein the cooling pocket comprises, during the expansion thereof; an elliptically shaped first surface; an elliptically shaped second surface disposed to be parallel to the first surface and having an area that is larger than the area of the first surface; and a connection surface connecting the first surface and the second surface.

4. The low-temperature treatment device of claim 3, wherein an internal diameter of the connection surface increases as it extends from the first surface toward the second surface.

5. The low-temperature treatment device of claim 4, wherein a portion at which the first surface and the connection surface are in contact with each other and a portion at which the second surface and the connection surface are in contact with each other are rounded.

6. The low-temperature treatment device of claim 3, wherein the first surface is inserted into the rectum earlier than the second surface and the first surface is located on an inner side of the rectum relative to the second surface.

7. The low-temperature treatment device of claim 3, wherein the cooling pocket has a predetermined fluid capacity and has the predetermined shape when the fluid corresponding to the predetermined fluid capacity is stored in the cooling pocket.

8. The low-temperature treatment device of claim 7, wherein the predetermined shape is maintained even if the fluid corresponding to an amount that is larger than the predetermined fluid capacity is injected into the cooling pocket.

9. The low-temperature treatment device of claim 1, wherein the circulation tube comprises: a first circulation tube communicating with the cooling pocket; and a second circulation tube which is bent while defining a predetermined angle with respect to the first circulation tube to communicate with the first circulation tube.

10. The low-temperature treatment device of claim 9, wherein the circulation tube comprises: a fluid injection tube that is a passage, through which the fluid to be injected into the cooling pocket flows; and a fluid discharge tube that is a passage, through which the fluid injected into the cooling pocket is discharged.

11. The low-temperature treatment device of claim 10, wherein, an injection hole to be communicated with the fluid injection tube and a discharge hole to be communicated with the fluid discharge tube are formed in the circulation tube located in an interior of the cooling pocket, the fluid is injected into the cooling pocket through the injection hole, and the fluid in the cooling pocket is discharged through the discharge hole.

12. The low-temperature treatment device of claim 10, wherein the circulation tube further comprises: a temperature measurement tube, in which a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the fluid accommodated in the cooling pocket is installed; and a pressure measurement tube, in which a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of the fluid accommodated in the cooling pocket is installed.

13. The low-temperature treatment device of claim 9, wherein the angle defined by the first circulation tube and the second circulation tube is 126 degrees to 154 degrees.

14. The low-temperature treatment device of claim 10, further comprising: a cooling bag, by which the fluid to be injected or discharged through the circulation tube is cooled.

15. The low-temperature treatment device of claim 14, wherein the cooling bag comprises a cooling passage which is bent a plurality of times, one end of the cooling passage communicates with the fluid injection tube, and an opposite end of the cooling passage communicates with the fluid discharge tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view for illustrating the low-temperature treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a perspective view for illustrating a cooling pocket of the low-temperature treatment device of FIG. 1.

[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates drawings of FIG. 2, which are viewed from one side, wherein FIG. 3a is a side view of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3b is a front view of FIG. 1.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a perspective view for illustrating a circulation tube of the low-temperature treatment device of FIG. 1.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of FIG. 4.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ of FIG. 4.

[0043] FIG. 7 is a drawing for illustrating the circulation tube of the low-temperature treatment device of FIG. 1.

[0044] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a use state of the low-temperature treatment device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0045] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0046] The present invention relates to a low-temperature treatment device which is a medical instrument. It is said in advance that the present invention does not relate to a treatment method in which a human body is not a direct target.

[0047] Hereinafter, for description, the upper side of FIG. 1 is referred to as an upper side, and the lower side of FIG. 1 is referred to as a lower side.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 1, the low-temperature treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cooling pocket 100, a circulation tube 200, a cooling bag 300, a peristaltic pump 400, and a control device 500.

[0049] First, the cooling pocket 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0050] The cooling pocket 100 is a part that is inserted into and located in a rectum and prevents damage to nerves located around the cooling pocket 100 through circulation of a fluid, which is injected and discharged (see FIG. 8).

[0051] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cooling pocket 100 has a predetermined shape during expansion thereof. The cooling pocket 100 has a predetermined fluid capacity, and has the predetermined shape when the fluid corresponding to the fluid capacity is stored in the cooling pocket 100.

[0052] In particular, the important point is that the predetermined shape is maintained even if the fluid corresponding to an amount that is larger than the fluid capacity is injected into the cooling pocket 100. A conventional low-temperature treatment device uses a balloon, the shape of which changes according to the amount of the fluid injected.

[0053] Meanwhile, in the present invention, the shape of the balloon changes according to the amount of the fluid injected when the amount of the fluid injected is smaller than the fluid capacity, but the balloon has the predetermined shape when the amount of the fluid injected coincides with the fluid capacity, and the predetermined shape is maintained even if the fluid corresponding to an amount that is larger than the fluid capacity is injected. That is, it is preferable that the cooling pocket 100 be formed of a material having a predetermined elasticity to prevent injection of the fluid corresponding to the amount that is larger than the fluid capacity.

[0054] The shape of the cooling pocket 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cooling pocket 100. FIG. 3a is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3b is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ of FIG. 2.

[0055] The cooling pocket 100 has, during the expansion thereof, an elliptically shaped first surface 101, an elliptically shaped second surface 102 disposed to be parallel to the first surface 101 and having an area that is larger than the area of the first surface 101, and a connection surface 103 connecting the first surface 101 and the second surface 102. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the widths of the first surface 101 and the second surface 102 are the same, and the height of the second surface 102 is determined to be greater than the height of the first surface 101.

[0056] Further, insertion holes, into which the circulation tube 200 is inserted, are formed in each of the first surface 101 and the second surface 102.

[0057] Because the area of the second surface 102 is larger than the area of the first surface 101, the internal diameter of the connection surface 103 increases as it extends from the first surface 101 toward the second surface 102. Further, because the cooling pocket 100 is a part that is actually inserted into the rectum, it is preferable that the cooling pocket 100 be rounded as a whole to prevent scars from occurring in the tissues around the cooling pocket 100 during the insertion process, and in particular, it is preferable that a portion at which the first surface 101 and the connection surface 103 be in contact with each other, and that a portion at which the second surface 102 and the connection surface 103 are in contact with each other be rounded.

[0058] As such, one surface of the cooling pocket 100 (specifically, a side surface of the cooling pocket) has a shape corresponding to a body part of a subject, into which the cooling pocket 100 is to be inserted, in which the prostate gland is in contact with the rectum (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 8). Due to the shape, damage to the nerves that pass by the prostate gland can be efficiently prevented during the operation for the prostate gland.

[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the first surface 101 of the cooling pocket 100 is inserted into the rectum first, and is located on an inner side of the rectum relative to the second surface 102.

[0060] Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 8, it is observed that the width of the cooling pocket 100 is uniform when the cooling pocket 100 is viewed from a side of a subject, into which the cooling pocket 100 is to be inserted, and it is observed that the width of the cooling pocket 100 increases toward the second surface 102 when the cooling pocket 100 is viewed from the front side (the shape of FIG. 5).

[0061] The circulation tube 200 is a part that has a passage, through which the fluid is introduced and discharged, and is inserted into the cooling pocket 100 to circulate the fluid in the space in the interior of the cooling pocket 100. The circulation tube 200 is inserted into the cooling pocket 100 through an insertion hole formed in the cooling pocket 100.

[0062] Referring to FIG. 4, the circulation tube 200 includes a first circulation tube 201 communicating with the cooling pocket 100, and a second circulation tube 202 which is bent while defining a predetermined angle (a) with respect to the first circulation tube 201 to communicate with the first circulation tube 201.

[0063] It is preferable that the predetermined angle (a) be 126 degrees to 154 degrees, and in particular, it is more preferable that the predetermined angle (a) be 140 degrees.

[0064] When the cooling pocket 100 is inserted into the rectum, the operator grips the circulation tube 200. Then, the cooling pocket 100 is inserted into the rectum while a force is applied in the direction of the cooling pocket 100, and the cooling pocket 100 can be inserted with less force while the circulation tube 200 is formed in a straight line.

[0065] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the rectum is not formed in a straight line but is formed such that an entrance and an inner passage of the rectum define a predetermined angle. In order to maximize the cooling efficiency of the cooling pocket 100, it is important that the cooling pocket 100 be located immediately behind the prostate gland.

[0066] According to the present invention, because the first circulation tube 201 and the second circulation tube 202 are bent while defining a predetermined angle (a), the circulation tube 200 does not press the surrounding rectum tissues even if the cooling pocket 100 is located at the location above. That is, the structure is a structure that facilitates the insertion while minimizing side-effects thereof.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 4, a fluid injection tube 210, a fluid discharge tube 220, a temperature measurement tube 230, and a pressure measurement tube 240 pass through the interior of the circulation tube 200 in a lengthwise direction thereof.

[0068] The fluid is injected into the cooling pocket 100 through the fluid injection tube 210, and the fluid accommodated in the cooling pocket 100 is discharged through the fluid discharge tube 220.

[0069] The fluid has a temperature that is lower than a temperature of the subject, and the temperature of the fluid increases because the heat of the subject is transferred to the fluid over time. Accordingly, in order to maintain cooling efficiency, it is necessary to continuously circulate the fluid. This circulation is performed through the fluid injection tube 210 and the fluid discharge tube 220. The fluid discharged through the fluid discharge tube 220 is injected into a cooling bag 300, which will be described below, to be cooled.

[0070] An injection hole 210a, which communicates with the fluid injection tube 210, and a discharge hole 220a, which communicates with the fluid discharge tube 220, are formed in the circulation tube 200 located in the interior of the cooling pocket 100. The fluid cooled by the cooling bag 300 is discharged from the injection hole 210a through the fluid injection tube 210 to be injected into the cooling pocket 100, and the fluid, the heat of which has been transferred, is discharged from the fluid discharge tube 220 through the discharge hole 220a and injected into the cooling bag 300.

[0071] A temperature sensor 231 is installed in the temperature measurement tube 230 to measure a temperature of the fluid accommodated in the cooling pocket 100, and a pressure sensor 241 is installed in the pressure measurement tube 240 to measure a pressure of the fluid accommodated in the cooling pocket 100. The thus-measured temperature and pressure are displayed on a display 510 of a control device 500, and information that is helpful for an operation is provided to the operator.

[0072] A cooling passage 310 is formed in the interior of the cooling bag 300. The cooling passage 310 communicates with the fluid injection tube 210 and the fluid discharge tube 220, and it is preferable that the cooling passage 310 be bent a plurality of times to achieve maximum cooling efficiency in the cooling bag 300. The bending angle is not limited, and the number of bends is also not limited. FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an embodiment of the cooling passage 310 which is bent three times while having an angle of 180 degrees.

[0073] In order to circulate the fluid, a part that provides circulation power is necessary. A peristaltic pump 400 performs this function, and the peristaltic pump 400 is located between the circulation tube 200 and the cooling bag 300, and the fluid injection tube 210 and the fluid discharge tube 220 are connected to the peristaltic pump 400. While the peristaltic pump 400 is operated, the fluid may circulate through the cooling bag 300, the fluid injection tube 210, the cooling pocket 100, the fluid discharge tube 220, and the cooling bag 300 in the order described.

[0074] The peristaltic pump 400 is controlled by the control device 500. The control device 500 is a part that provides electric power for operating the peristaltic pump 400, and includes a display 510 that displays a temperature and pressure of the fluid in the interior of the cooling pocket 100, and a controller 520 that controls the peristaltic pump 400.

[0075] As an example, the controller 520 may adjust the pumping speed of the peristaltic pump 400 to perform a pumping operation at a higher speed in the initial stage of the insertion to expand the cooling pocket 100, and to control the peristaltic pump 400 such that the pumping speed becomes slower than the initial speed after the expansion to make the fluid that removes heat of the tissues around the prostate gland flow.

[0076] The cooling bag 300 cools the fluid that is circulated by being accommodated in the interior of the control device 500. The fluid, its temperature having been increased by the cooling bag 300, is cooled again, followed by injection thereof into the cooling pocket 100 again.

[0077] Although the embodiments illustrated in the drawings have been described in the specification for reference such that a person skilled in the art can easily understand and realize the present invention, they are merely exemplary, and a person skilled in the art can understand that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are also possible from the embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0078] 100: cooling pocket [0079] 101: first surface [0080] 102: second surface [0081] 103: connection surface [0082] 200: circulation tube [0083] 210: fluid injection tube [0084] 220: fluid discharge tube [0085] 230: temperature measurement tube [0086] 231: temperature sensor [0087] 240: pressure measurement tube [0088] 241: pressure sensor [0089] 300: cooling bag [0090] 310: cooling passage [0091] 400: peristaltic pump [0092] 500: control device [0093] 510: display [0094] 520: controller [0095] 1000: low-temperature treatment device