阅读说明：本技术 内窥镜系统和曲针输送方法 (Endoscope system and curved needle delivery method ) 是由 瓮纮介 于 2018-07-31 设计创作，主要内容包括：内窥镜系统包括：套管,其具有近位端和远位端,形成有从近位端延伸到远位端的主管腔和副管腔；内窥镜,其具有通道,该内窥镜用于向主管腔插入；轴,其为挠性,进退自如地配置于副管腔内；以及针保持件,其设于轴的顶端,用于保持曲针,通过对轴的操作,针保持件能够使所保持的曲针移动到从副管腔的顶端开口突出的位置,针保持件构成为,伴随着轴的绕其长度轴线的转动,能够使由针保持件保持着的从副管腔的顶端开口突出的曲针的一部分从副管腔的顶端开口的前方的位置移动到已插入于主管腔中的内窥镜的所述通道的前方的位置。(An endoscope system includes: a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end, defining a primary lumen and a secondary lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; an endoscope having a channel, the endoscope for insertion into the main lumen; a shaft which is flexible and is disposed in the auxiliary lumen so as to be freely advanced and retracted; and a needle holder provided at a distal end of the shaft and configured to hold the curved needle, the needle holder being capable of moving the held curved needle to a position protruding from a distal end opening of the secondary lumen by an operation of the shaft, the needle holder being configured to be capable of moving a part of the curved needle protruding from the distal end opening of the secondary lumen, which is held by the needle holder, from a position in front of the distal end opening of the secondary lumen to a position in front of the channel of the endoscope inserted into the primary lumen, in association with a rotation of the shaft about a longitudinal axis thereof.)

1. An endoscope system, wherein,

the endoscope system includes:

a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end, formed with a primary lumen and a secondary lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end;

an endoscope having a channel, the endoscope being insertable into the main lumen;

a shaft which is flexible and is disposed in the auxiliary lumen so as to be able to advance and retreat;

a needle holder provided at a tip end of the shaft for holding a curved needle; and

a curved needle having a tip end and a rear end, the curved needle being held by the needle holder,

the needle holder is capable of moving the curved needle held by the needle holder to a position protruding from the top end opening of the secondary lumen by the operation of the shaft,

the needle holder is configured to be capable of moving a part of the curved needle, which is held by the needle holder and protrudes from the distal end opening of the secondary lumen, from a position in front of the distal end opening of the secondary lumen to a position in front of the channel of the endoscope inserted into the main lumen, in accordance with rotation of the shaft about the longitudinal axis thereof.

2. The endoscopic system of claim 1,

the secondary lumen has a curved needle receiving portion capable of receiving at least a tip end of the curved needle,

the needle holder is configured to be capable of moving the held distal end of the curved needle to a position where the needle holder is accommodated in the curved needle accommodating portion by operating the shaft.

3. The endoscopic system of claim 2,

the curved needle housing is a groove formed in the wall of the sleeve, and is open at the tip of the secondary lumen.

4. The endoscopic system of claim 3,

the groove is formed in an arc shape and configured to receive the entire curved needle.

5. The endoscopic system of claim 3,

the sub-lumen has an internal space with a non-circular cross-section at a position closer to the proximal end side than the curved needle housing portion, and restricts rotation of the needle holder when a part of the needle holder is positioned in the internal space.

6. A curved needle transport method using an endoscope system, the endoscope system comprising: a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; an endoscope having a channel, the endoscope being insertable into the cannula; a shaft which is flexible and is provided in the sleeve so as to be freely advanced and retracted; a needle holder provided at a tip end of the shaft; and a curved needle having a tip end and a rear end, the curved needle being held by the needle holder, wherein,

the curved needle conveying method comprises the following steps:

a step A of introducing the curved needle into the digestive tract together with the sleeve into which the endoscope is inserted, in a state in which the distal end of the curved needle is accommodated in the wall of the sleeve;

step B, after the step A, making the curved needle protrude from the sleeve;

a step C of moving a part of the curved needle to the front of the channel of the endoscope inserted in the sleeve after the step B;

step D, inserting a needle holder into the channel of the endoscope;

step E of projecting the needle holder from the channel and gripping a part of the curved needle held by the needle holder with the needle holder; and

step F, after the step E, detaching the needle holder from the curved needle held by the needle holder.

7. A curved needle delivery method as in claim 6,

step F comprises the following actions: and a needle holder configured to hold a part of the curved needle held by the needle holder outside the passage, and to move the needle holder relative to the needle holder along a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

8. A curved needle delivery method as in claim 6,

the step C comprises the following actions: rotating the needle holder holding the curved needle about the length axis of the shaft.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an endoscope system provided with a sheath and a curved needle delivery method.

Background

Currently, a flexible endoscope is introduced into the digestive tract to perform various treatments. A wider range of operations using a flexible endoscope has been studied, and operations involving suturing have also been studied.

Patent document 1 discloses a trocar with a built-in curved needle.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2003-284722

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In the sleeve described in patent document 1, since the curved needle is connected to the sleeve, it is difficult to suture at a position distant from the sleeve. In addition, since the sewing is performed by rotating the connected curved needle, the sewing method that can be performed is also limited.

As another method for introducing a curved needle, a method is known in which a curved needle is grasped by a needle holder or the like inserted through an endoscope, and the curved needle is passed through a cannula and introduced into the body. However, when the digestive tract is strongly curved in the body, the curved needle may interfere with the inner surface of the cannula and be difficult to introduce.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope system and a curved needle delivery method that can easily introduce a curved needle into the digestive tract and can cope with various sutures.

Means for solving the problems

A first aspect of the present invention is an endoscope system.

The endoscope system includes: a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end, defining a primary lumen and a secondary lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; an endoscope having a channel, the endoscope being insertable into the main lumen; a shaft which is flexible and is disposed in the auxiliary lumen so as to be freely advanced and retracted; a needle holder provided at a tip end of the shaft for holding the curved needle; and a curved needle having a tip end and a rear end, the curved needle being held by the needle holder.

The needle holder is configured to be capable of moving a part of the curved needle, which is held by the needle holder and protrudes from the distal end opening of the secondary lumen, from a position in front of the distal end opening of the secondary lumen to a position in front of the channel of the endoscope inserted into the primary lumen, in association with the rotation of the needle holder around the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

A second aspect of the present invention is a curved needle delivery method using an endoscope system.

An endoscope system includes: a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; an endoscope having a channel, the endoscope being insertable into the cannula; a shaft which is flexible and is provided in the sleeve so as to be freely advanced and retracted; a needle holder provided at a tip end of the shaft; and a curved needle having a tip end and a rear end, the curved needle being held by the needle holder.

The curved needle conveying method comprises the following steps: step A, under the state that the top end of the curved needle is accommodated in the wall of the sleeve, the curved needle and the sleeve inserted with the endoscope are guided into the alimentary canal; step B, after step A, making the curved needle protrude from the sleeve; a step C of moving a part of the curved needle to the front of the channel of the endoscope inserted in the sleeve after the step B; step D, inserting a needle holder into the channel of the endoscope; step E, enabling a needle holder to protrude from the channel, and using the needle holder to hold a part of the curved needle held by the needle holder; and a step F of detaching the needle holder from the curved needle held by the needle holder after the step E.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, the curved needle can be easily introduced into the digestive tract, and various sutures can be handled.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an endoscope system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view showing a distal end portion of a flexible endoscope of the endoscope system.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a sleeve of the endoscope system.

Fig. 4 is a view of the main body of the sleeve viewed from the distal end side.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the distal end portion of the trocar holder of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing step C of the curved needle conveying method according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing step E of the curved needle transport method.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing step F of the curved needle transport method.

Fig. 9 is a view showing a flexible endoscope of an endoscope system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a view showing an appropriate gripping range of the curved needle.

Fig. 11 is a view showing an example of the positional relationship between the flexible endoscope and the sleeve, which facilitates grasping of the curved needle in the second embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a view showing a part of a curved needle and a needle holder according to a modification.

Detailed Description

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 8.

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an endoscope system 1 according to the present embodiment. The endoscope system 1 includes a flexible endoscope 100 and a sleeve 10 through which the flexible endoscope 100 passes.

The flexible endoscope 100 includes an elongated insertion portion 110 having flexibility. An operation portion 120 is provided at the proximal end portion of the insertion portion 110. By operating the operation portion 120, the bending portion 111 of the insertion portion 110 can be bent in a desired direction. The insertion portion 110 is provided with a passage through which a treatment instrument such as a needle holder or forceps passes. A known flexible endoscope can be used as the flexible endoscope 100 of the present embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the distal end portion of the insertion portion 110. An illumination unit 112 for illuminating an observation target and an observation mechanism 113 for acquiring an image of the observation target are disposed at the distal end portion of the insertion portion 110. The observation mechanism 113 includes an optical system including a lens, an image pickup element, and the like. A channel 114 extending within the insert 110 opens at the top end of the insert 110. The proximal end of the channel 114 opens as a forceps opening 115 (see fig. 1) near the operation portion 120.

The cannula 10 includes a cylindrical main body 11, and an attachment 18 and a needle holding device (needle holding device)20 attached to the main body 11.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the tip side of the sleeve 10. The main body 11 is elongated and flexible. The main body 11 has a main lumen 12 through which the insertion section 110 of the flexible endoscope 100 passes and a sub-lumen 16 extending in a tube wall inside the main body 11. The main lumen 12 and the secondary lumen 16 extend from the proximal end 11a (see fig. 1) to the distal end 11b of the main body 11.

The sub-lumen 16 extends in the longitudinal direction of the main body 11, and has a curved needle housing 16b at the distal end portion thereof, which extends in the circumferential direction of the main body 11. Fig. 4 is a view of the main body 11 in a state where the attachment 18 is not attached, as viewed from the distal end 11b side. As shown in fig. 4, the curved needle housing 16b is a substantially arc-shaped groove that opens at the distal end of the main body 11, and is connected to the distal end of the sub-lumen 16 so as to communicate with the sub-lumen 16. That is, the curved needle housing portion 16b is a groove formed in the wall of the sleeve 10, and opens at the distal end of the sub-lumen 16.

The attachment 18 is a cylindrical member attached to the distal end of the main body 11, and improves the insertion property of the cannula 10. The attachment 18 is formed of a flexible member, and as shown in fig. 3, has a proximal end portion 18a fitted to the body 11 and a tapered distal end portion 18 b. A wire 19 is attached to the proximal end portion 18a, and the wire 19 extends in the lumen of the cannula 10.

The attachment 18 is formed in a cylindrical shape by spirally winding a strip-shaped member. Therefore, the attachment 18 can be recovered to the outside of the body through the inside of the main body 11 by deforming the attachment into a band shape by an operation described later.

As shown in fig. 3, the curved needle holder 20 has an elongated shaft 21 and a needle holder 22 attached to the tip of the shaft 21.

The shaft 21 has flexibility and rotation transmissibility to such an extent that rotation around the longitudinal axis on the proximal end side can be transmitted to the distal end. Specific examples of the shaft 21 include a coil wire formed of a metal element wire.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the distal end portion of the curved needle holder 20.

As shown in fig. 5, the needle holder 22 of the present embodiment is a plate-like member having a through hole 22 a. The needle holder 22 may have another shape such as a rod shape as long as it can be accommodated in the sub-lumen 16. An elastic member 22b such as rubber or an elastic body is disposed in the through hole 22 a. The slit 22c extends from the through hole 22a to the tip of the needle holder 22. The width of the slit 22c is larger than the diameter of the held curved needle 50 (see fig. 4).

As shown in fig. 4, the curved needle 50 is a substantially circular arc-shaped needle having a sharp tip 50a and a rear end 50b connected to the suture thread 51. The curved needle 50 passes through the through hole 22a to elastically deform the elastic member 22 b. That is, the curved needle 50 is supported by the needle holder 22 by the restoring force of the elastic member 22 b. The curved needle 50 is accommodated in the curved needle accommodating portion 16b in a state of being supported by the needle holder 22 (first state). The suture 51 may be received in any portion of the auxiliary lumen 16.

As shown in fig. 3, shaft 21 passes through secondary lumen 16. As shown in fig. 1, a handle 24 and a stopper 23 are attached to a base end portion of the shaft 21 that protrudes toward the base end side of the body 11. The user can move (advance and retreat) the curved needle holder 20 in the longitudinal direction of the sub-lumen 16 in the first lumen or rotate the curved needle holder 20 about the longitudinal axis by grasping the handle 24 and operating the shaft 21.

The stopper 23 limits the maximum advancing amount of the curved needle holder 20 by interfering with the main body 11. The fixed position of the stopper 23 is movable in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 21. By changing the fixed position of the stopper 23, the maximum advancing amount of the curved needle holder 20 can be adjusted. The stopper 23 is in contact with the main body 11 in a state before use. Therefore, in the state before use, the shaft cannot advance relative to the main body 11.

As shown in fig. 3, the attachment 18 attached to the main body 11 covers the top end opening of the secondary lumen 16. That is, in the state where the attachment 18 is attached, the curved needle 50 does not protrude into the main lumen 12 nor out of the main body 11.

The operation of the endoscope system 1 configured as described above when used will be described.

The operator inserts the insertion section 110 of the flexible endoscope 100 into the main lumen 12 from the proximal end 11a side of the cannula 10.

The operator inserts the sleeve 10 and the flexible endoscope 100 into the digestive tract, and moves the distal end of the sleeve 10 to the vicinity of the treatment target site while observing the inside of the body with the flexible endoscope 100 (step a).

In step a, the curved needle 50 and the suture thread 51 housed in the sleeve 10 are also introduced into the digestive tract of the patient.

The operator projects the flexible endoscope 100 from the sleeve 10 and performs a treatment on a target site using various treatment instruments projecting from the channel 114. The treatment instrument may be inserted into the channel 114 after the sleeve 10 reaches the vicinity of the treatment target site, or may be inserted into the channel 114 in advance when the flexible endoscope 100 is inserted into the sleeve 10.

When the treatment of the target site progresses to the stage of suturing, the operator slightly retracts the flexible endoscope 100 with respect to the sleeve 10 to determine the position of the proximal end 18a of the attachment 18. The flexible endoscope 100 is pulled out from the sleeve 10 while gripping the wire 19 extending from the proximal end portion 18a with a forceps protruding from the channel 114. The attachment 18 is pulled at the proximal end 18a to be deformed into a band shape, and is detached from the distal end 11b of the body 11 and collected outside the body.

By detaching the attachment 18 from the main body 11, the top end opening of the sub-lumen 16 formed in the main body 11 is exposed.

The operator reinserts flexible endoscope 100 into sleeve 10 and moves the distal end of flexible endoscope 100 to the vicinity of distal end 11b of main body 11. The operator moves the stopper 23 of the curved needle holder 20 to a position close to the handle 24, and presses the stopper into the handle 24. The curved needle holder 20 is advanced relative to the main body 11 by the pushing operation of the handle 24, the needle holder 22 is moved, and the curved needle 50 supported by the needle holder 22 protrudes from the sub-lumen 16 (second state, step B).

Immediately after step B, the curved needle 50 advances only in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 21, and thus is in a positional relationship substantially overlapping with the wall of the body 11 when the body 11 is viewed from the front. Since a general treatment instrument used in combination with the flexible endoscope 100 can only advance and retreat and rotate, it is difficult to grasp the curved needle at that position.

When the operator operates the handle 24 to rotate the curved needle holder 20 about the longitudinal axis, the needle holder 22 and the curved needle 50 are rotated, and as shown in fig. 6, a part of the curved needle 50 can be moved to the front of the channel 114 opened at the distal end of the flexible endoscope 100 (step C).

The operator inserts a needle holder (needle grader) from the forceps opening 115 (step D), and grasps the curved needle 50 with the needle holder 131 protruding from the channel 114 as shown in fig. 7 (step E). In step D, a portion of the curved needle 50 moves to the front of the channel 114, so the curved needle 50 can be easily grasped just by advancing the needle holder 131.

The operator grips the curved needle 50 with the needle holder 131 and pulls the handle 24 to retreat the curved needle holder 20 with respect to the body 11 and the needle holder 131. By this operation, needle holder 22 is separated from needle holder 131 along the length direction of shaft 21. The curved needle 50 held by the needle holder 131 is pushed away from the elastic member 22b, passes through the slit 22c, and is pulled out from the needle holder 22. By this operation, as shown in fig. 8, the curved needle 50 is handed over from the curved needle holder 20 to the needle holder 131 (step F).

The operator performs desired suturing on the target site using the needle holder 131 holding the curved needle 50. Since the flexible endoscope 100 can move relative to the sleeve 10, the suturing of the portion distant from the sleeve 10 is also easy, and the flexible endoscope can cope with various types of suturing.

After the suture is completed, the operator cuts the suture. The needle holder 131 holding the curved needle 50 is retracted together with the flexible endoscope 100 with respect to the sleeve, and the curved needle 50 held by the needle holder 131 is moved into the main lumen 12 of the main body. The sleeve 10 and the flexible endoscope 100 are pulled out while keeping the curved needle 50 in the main lumen 12.

The curved needle transport method of the present embodiment includes the above steps a to F. In step a, even a curved needle having a size that cannot be accommodated in the channel 114 of the flexible endoscope 100 can be introduced into the digestive tract without contacting the digestive tract. In step C, even if the needle holder 131 cannot be bent by itself, step E can be executed.

The endoscope system 1 of the present embodiment includes the above-described sleeve 10. The sub-lumen 16 of the hub 10 has a substantially arc-shaped curved needle housing portion 16b, and therefore the curved needle 50 can be completely housed in the wall of the main body 11. As a result, the sharp distal end 50a of the curved needle 50 does not protrude into the main lumen 12 and does not interfere with the flexible endoscope 100 inserted into the main lumen 12.

The curved needle holding instrument 20 can be rotated relative to the main body 11 about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 21, and therefore step C can be easily performed.

Since the needle holder 22 has the slit 22c extending from the through hole 22a to the tip end of the needle holder, step F can be easily executed simply by gripping the curved needle 50 with the needle holder 131 and retracting the curved needle holder 20 with respect to the main body 11.

The curved needle holding device 20 has a stop 23, thus preventing the curved needle from being unintentionally moved out of the secondary lumen 16 after the accessory 18 is detached from the body 11.

When the curved needle transport method according to the present embodiment is performed using the endoscope system 1, it is necessary to properly position the channel 114 of the flexible endoscope 100 and the curved needle holder 20 in order to smoothly perform steps C and D.

Such alignment can be performed by various methods as exemplified below.

Marks to be used as references for positioning are provided on one or both of the sleeve 10 and the flexible endoscope 100.

One of the sleeve 10 and the flexible endoscope 100 is provided with a key, and the other is provided with a key groove. The key and the key groove are provided at positions where the channel 114 and the curved needle holder 20 are in an appropriate positional relationship when they are fitted to each other.

In addition, the endoscope system and the curved needle conveying method according to the present embodiment may be variously modified. Several modifications are exemplified below, but not all of them can be exemplified, and other modifications can be made. These modifications may be combined in 2 or more kinds as appropriate.

Part of the curved needle housing portion 16b may be open to the main lumen. Further, a part of the curved needle 10 other than the tip 50a may protrude from the opening.

An opening communicating with the sub-lumen may be formed in the outer peripheral surface of the main body 11, and an end of the suture thread 51 connected to the curved needle 50 may be pulled out from the opening.

Instead of providing the handle 24 to the curved needle holder 20, the shaft 21 may be grasped and operated.

The shaft 21 may be provided with an index serving as a reference for the position of the stopper 23 to be moved. For example, when the curved needle holder 20 is advanced until the stopper 23 positioned at the index interferes with the main body 11, the curved needle 50 supported by the needle holder 22 and the needle holder 131 protruding from the channel 114 are preferably positioned and sized within the visual field of the flexible endoscope 100 at appropriate positions.

Step D may also be performed before step C, B. If the frequency is low but only the target portion is sutured, it may be performed before step a.

In step F, the curved needle holder 20 may be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 21. In this case, the slit communicating with the through hole 22a may be opened by extending in any one of the directions orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 9 to 12. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those already described, and redundant description is omitted.

Fig. 9 shows a distal end portion of a flexible endoscope 200 according to the present embodiment. The insertion section 210 of the flexible endoscope 200 is provided with 2 external channels 211 and 212. Needle holders 231 and 232 pass through the external channels 211 and 212, respectively. Needle holder 231 and needle holder 232 have curved portions 231a, 232a, respectively. The bending portions 231a and 232a have the same structure as the bending portion 111 of the flexible endoscope 100, and can be bent in a desired direction by an operation performed by an operator. That is, needle holders 231 and 232 have a higher degree of freedom than needle holder 131 of the first embodiment.

In the case of performing a curved needle transport method using the endoscope system of the present embodiment including the flexible endoscope 200 and the sleeve 10, for example, when the needle holder 22 is rotated from the state shown in fig. 11 in step C, a part of the curved needle 50 moves forward of the outer channel 211, and the curved needle can be easily gripped by the needle holder 231 protruding from the outer channel 211.

When the curved needle transport method is executed by the endoscope system of the present embodiment, the needle holder 231 has a high degree of freedom, and therefore, step C may not necessarily be performed. That is, even if a part of the curved needle 50 moved out of the main body 11 in step B is not positioned in front of the overtravel passage 211, the curved needle 50 can be grasped by the needle holder 231 by operating the curved portion 231a of the needle holder 231 and moving the tip end of the needle holder 231 toward the curved needle 50. Therefore, the curved needle holder of the present embodiment may not be rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

In step F, the distal end portion of the needle holder 231 holding the curved needle 50 is moved in a direction away from the needle holder 22, and the curved needle 50 is pulled out from the through hole 22a, whereby the curved needle 50 can be delivered. Therefore, in the needle holder 22 of the present embodiment, the slit 22c is not essential.

The ease of suturing varies depending on the position where the needle holder grasps the curved needle 50. In the curved needle shown in fig. 10, if the needle holder is grasped in a certain range R1 between the longitudinal direction middle portion C and the rear end 50b, suturing is easy. Hereinafter, an example of the positional relationship between the flexible endoscope 200 and the sleeve 10 in which the needle holder can easily grip the range R1 when the curved needle is delivered is shown.

In the example of the positional relationship shown in fig. 11, the rear end 50b of the curved needle 50 housed in the curved needle housing portion 16b is located higher than the exteriorly disposed channel 211. As a result, the range R1 is located at substantially the same height as the outer channel 211, and the range R1 is closer to the outer channel 211. Therefore, the amount of movement of the needle holder 231 required to grasp the range R1 is reduced, and the operation of step E is simplified.

Further, the needle holder 22 supports the curved needle 50 between the intermediate portion C and the distal end 50a, and therefore does not interfere with the operation of the needle holder 231 to grasp the range R1.

Various modifications can be made to the endoscope system and the curved needle conveying method according to the present embodiment. Several modifications are exemplified below, but not all of them can be exemplified, and other modifications can be made. These modifications may be combined in 2 or more kinds as appropriate.

The number of external channels may be 1, or 3 or more.

An inner space having a non-circular cross section may be provided in the sub-lumen 16 on the base end side of the curved needle housing portion. In this configuration, the proximal end portion of the needle holder 22 is positioned in the noncircular internal space by adjusting the forward/backward movement range of the curved needle holder 20, and the needle holder 22 can be prevented from rotating in steps after step C. As a result, when the curved needle 20 is received by the needle holder 231, the needle holder 22 can be prevented from rotating unintentionally and interfering with the delivery.

As shown in fig. 12, a portion of the curved needle 50 through which the through hole 22a passes may be formed in a shape having a gradually decreasing diameter as it approaches the distal end 50 a. In this case, the restoring force of the elastic member 22b moves the curved needle 50 toward the rear end 50b, so that the elastic member 22b can assist the needle holder 231 in the action of pulling out the curved needle from the through hole 22 a.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and application examples, and the combination of the components may be changed, various modifications may be made to the components, or the components may be deleted without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Industrial applicability

The present invention can be applied to an endoscope system and a curved needle delivery method.

Description of the reference numerals

1. An endoscope system; 10. a sleeve; 11a, the proximal end (of the cannula); 11b, the distal end (of the cannula); 12. a main lumen; 16. a secondary lumen; 16b, a curved needle accommodating part; 21. a shaft; 22. a needle holder; 50. a curved needle; 50a, tip (of curved needle); 50b, the rear end (of the curved needle); 100. 200, a flexible endoscope; 114. a channel.