JPH0497759A - Thermotherapy apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve a cooling and heating efficiently in a thermotherapy apparatus of the present invention by moving a bubble removing means to a sheath to allow the removal of bubble generated within a cooling liquid passage. CONSTITUTION:An applicator 10 is inserted into a tubular cavity of a living body A and an electromagnetic wave radiating section 14 is arranged in the proximity to a position of a lesion B of cancer or the like. Thereafter, a pump 6 is driven to supply a cooling liquid to the applicator 10 through a feed liquid tube 5a from a feed liquid tank 7a and the cooling liquid within the applicator 10, finished with cooling inside the applicator 10, is discharged to a waste liquor tank 7b through an waste liquor pipeline 5b. Then, an oscillator 3 and a microwave controller 4 are driven to supply a microwave to the applicator 10 through a relay cable 1b and a connector 2, and the tumor lesion B is irradiated with the microwave from a microwave radiating section 14. This enables heating treatment of a tumor B generated deep in the periphery of the tubular cavity of the living body A without damaging a mucous layer of a wall surface of the tubular cavity by heating.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a thermotherapy device that applies high-frequency electromagnetic waves to an affected area of a tumor such as cancer to perform thermotherapy on the affected area.

[Prior Art] Recently, treatment using heat has been attracting attention as a method for treating tumors such as cancer. In particular, for cancers that occur in hollow organs,
A so-called intraluminal applicator has been developed that performs thermotherapy by directly inserting into a lumen and heating the affected area to about 43°C.

Such intracavitary applicators include, for example,
As described in Publication No. 109152, a cooling liquid is circulated around the electrode that emits electromagnetic waves to cool the contact area between the applicator and the lumen wall and the living tissue in the vicinity, thereby cooling the affected area of the living body. There are things that heat things up efficiently.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when the applicator is inserted into the lumen and electromagnetic waves are emitted from the electrode, the temperature of the coolant circulating around the electrode is heated by the electromagnetic waves and rises. Small bubbles appear in the coolant. Some of these bubbles are discharged to the outside together with the coolant, but many of them adhere to the inner surface of the coolant flow path.

If air bubbles adhere to the inner surface of the cooling path, the cooling efficiency of the applicator will decrease and the radiation of electromagnetic waves will be inhibited.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a thermal treatment device that can efficiently cool and heat the affected area of a living body by removing air bubbles that remain in the coolant flow path while heating the affected area. The purpose is to provide.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A thermotherapy device according to the present invention includes an intracavitary applicator inserted into a body cavity of a living body, in which the intracavitary applicator includes a sheath that is guided into the body cavity. and,
A heating electromagnetic wave emitting section disposed within the sheath and irradiating electromagnetic waves toward the living body; a cooling liquid flow path formed locally in the electromagnetic wave emitting section within the sheath; The present invention is characterized in that it includes a bubble removing means movably arranged with respect to the sheath, and by moving the bubble removing means with respect to the sheath, bubbles generated in the coolant flow path are removed.

[Operation] When performing thermal treatment on a tumor-affected area using this thermal treatment device, the applicator is inserted into the body cavity, and the warming electromagnetic wave emitting section is placed in a position close to the affected area.

Then, while circulating the coolant in the coolant flow path, electromagnetic waves are irradiated from the warming electromagnetic wave emitting section toward the affected area of the living body.

This cools the living tissue near the sheath and warms the affected area to the required temperature. Furthermore, by moving the bubble removing means with respect to the sheath, the bubbles generated in the coolant flow path are discharged to the outside together with the coolant without remaining in the coolant flow path.

[Embodiment] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the thermotherapy device of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2 as a whole, the thermotherapy device of this embodiment includes an intracavity applicator 10 that is inserted into the body cavity of a living body A from the distal end side. This applicator 10 includes a transmission cable 1a led out from the proximal end and a connector 2.
and a relay cable 1b to a microwave oscillator 3 that generates microwaves as electromagnetic waves. A microwave output control device 4 is interposed on the output side of the microwave oscillator 3 to control the microwaves supplied to the applicator 10. Reference numeral B indicates an area affected by a tumor such as cancer.

Furthermore, the applicator 10 has a liquid supply tube and a pump 6.
is connected to the liquid supply tank 7a via the liquid drain tube 5b.
It is connected to the drain tank 7b via. By driving this pump 6, the cooling liquid in the liquid supply tank 7a is sent into the applicator 10 via the liquid supply tube 5a, and after cooling the inside of this applicator 10, it is drained from the liquid drain tube 5b. The liquid is discharged into the liquid tank 7b.

As shown in detail in FIG. 1, the applicator 10 has a hollow sheath 12 whose distal end is closed and guided into the body cavity, and a microwave transmission cable 1a is extended within the sheath 12. The proximal side of the transmission cable 1a is led out from the sheath 12 and connected to the connector 2, and the distal end side is provided with an antenna section, ie, a microwave radiating section 14, which is a warming electromagnetic wave radiating section. The microwaves supplied via the connector 2 and the transmission cable 1a are irradiated from this microwave radiation section 14 toward the living body.

In order to circulate the cooling liquid within the sheath 12 during heating treatment of the affected part of the living body, a liquid supply mouthpiece 16 and a liquid drainage mouthpiece 18 are provided on the proximal side of the sheath 12.

Each of these caps 16, 18 is connected to the liquid supply tube 5 and the liquid drain tube 8 shown in FIG. 1, respectively. A coolant flow path is formed in the sheath 12 so that the coolant supplied from the liquid supply cap 16 circulates around the circumference of the microwave radiating section 14 and is discharged from the drain cap 18. Note that the liquid feeding mouthpiece 16 and the liquid drainage mouthpiece 18 are arranged, for example, offset from each other in the axial direction of the applicator 10, and through holes are formed in the inner cylinder 20, which will be described later, at positions corresponding to these respective mouthpieces. Alternatively, the coolant flow path may be formed between the inside and outside of the inner cylinder 20, or it may be installed as in each embodiment described later.

Furthermore, inside the sheath 12, there is an inner cylinder 2 surrounding the transmission cable 1a.
0 is arranged as a bubble removing means.

This inner cylinder 20 extends coaxially with the sheath 12,
A portion surrounding the microwave emitting portion 14 on the tip side is a spiral portion 2.
2, and the proximal side has a sheath 12 and a transmission cable 1.
A is sealed with an O-ring 11, respectively. At the proximal end of the inner cylinder 20 protruding from the sheath 12,
A flange-shaped grip portion 24 is formed that can be gripped by an operator, and the inner tube 20 can be rotated with respect to the sheath 12 by this grip portion 24 . When the inner cylinder 20 is rotated, the spiral portion 22 surrounding the microwave radiating section 14 also rotates, causing the cooling liquid to flow back around the microwave radiating section 14, or to prevent the cooling liquid flowing through the cooling liquid flow path. The flow is locally stirred around the periphery of the microwave radiator 14.

When administering thermal treatment to an affected part of a living body using the above-mentioned thermal treatment device, it is performed as follows.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the applicator 10 is inserted into the lumen of the living body A, and the electromagnetic wave emitting part 14 is inserted into the lumen of the living body A.
Place it close to the location. After that, the pump 6 is driven to supply the coolant from the liquid feed tank 7m to the applicator 10 via the liquid feed tube 5a, and the coolant that has finished cooling inside the applicator 10 is passed through the drain pipe 5b. Drainage tank 7
Discharge to b. Then, the oscillator 3 and microwave control device w4 are driven to supply microwaves to the applicator 10 via the relay cable 1b and connector 2, and the microwave radiator 14 irradiates the tumor affected area B with the microwaves. Thereby, the tumor B that has developed deep around the lumen of the living body A can be treated by heating without damaging the mucous layer on the lumen wall surface by heating.

While the thermotherapy is being performed in this manner, air bubbles are generated around the microwave radiating section 14 due to the heating of the cooling fluid around the microwave radiating section 14 .

Some of the air bubbles generated in the coolant flow path in the sheath 12 flow together with the coolant and are discharged through the drain tube 5b, but some of them adhere to the inner surface of the sheath 12 and reduce the flow of the coolant. Stay on the road. Air bubbles that remain in the coolant flow path reduce the efficiency of cooling and microwave radiation.

In this embodiment, the inner cylinder 20 is held at the grip portion 24 at the proximal end thereof.
Air bubbles attached to the coolant flow path are removed by rotating the coolant through the coolant flow path. In other words, 1 out of 1! i20 sheath 1
2, the spiral portion 22 disposed around the microwave emitting portion 14 also rotates, stirring the cooling liquid.

This causes the bubbles to be shocked and separated from the attachment site,
It is discharged to the outside together with the coolant. The inner cylinder 20 may be rotated periodically at fixed intervals during the heating treatment, or may be rotated constantly.

Therefore, the above-mentioned thermotherapy device can sufficiently remove air bubbles generated around the microwave radiating section 14 during the heat treatment,
There is no reduction in cooling efficiency due to air bubbles or microwave irradiation failure, and it is possible to efficiently and safely warm the tumor-affected area B deep within the living body.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the applicator 10 described above.

In the applicator 10 of this modification, the inner cylinder 30 has a bottom wall 30a on the proximal side, and a drain port 31 penetrates the sheath 12 and projects outward from near the bottom wall 30m. A drain mouthpiece 18 is connected to the drain port 31 through a valve 28. Therefore, a cooling path is formed in the sheath 12 from the outside of the inner tube 30 to the tip thereof and to the inside of the inner tube 30.

Further, the transmission cable 1a is disposed so as to be movable in the axial direction passing through the jf 130a of the inner cylinder 30, and is sealed with an O-ring 11 against the sheath 12 on the proximal side.

The distal end side of the transmission cable 1a, that is, the distal end side of the microwave radiating part 14, is connected to the inner surface of the distal end part of the sheath 12 via a spring 26, and a brush is provided at the axial center of the microwave radiating part 14 as a bubble removing means. 32 is attached. This brush 32 is formed over the entire circumference of the microwave radiating section 14, and its tip is in contact with the inner surface of the inner cylinder 30.

The action of the applicator 10 of this modification is the same as that of the one shown in FIG. After the peripheral portion of the inner microwave radiating section 14 of 30 is cooled, the liquid is discharged to the outside from the drain mouthpiece 18 via the drain port 31 and the valve 28 . Then, the microwaves supplied from the transmission cable 1a are irradiated from the microwave radiation section 14 toward the living body.

When the cooling liquid is heated by the microwave irradiated from the microwave radiator 14, bubbles tend to adhere to the inner surface of the inner cylinder 30 at the side of the microwave radiator 14. - Now, when the connector 2 is pulled in the axial direction of the applicator 10, the spring 26 is expanded, and the transmission cable 1a and therefore the microwave emitting part 14 are moved relative to the inner tube 30 and the sheath 12, and this microwave emitting part The brush 32 attached to 14 also moves. As a result, air bubbles attached to the inner surface of the inner cylinder 30 are removed and discharged to the outside together with the coolant. The spring 26 returns the transmission cable 1a to its original position, and keeps the microwave radiator 14 at a constant position.

Furthermore, the valve 28 provided in the drain cap 18 is temporarily closed,
By temporarily increasing the pressure of the coolant inside the sheath 12 and then instantaneously opening the valve 28, the pressure of the bubbles accumulated inside the coolant flow path changes, making it easier for the bubbles to be discharged to the outside. Become.

In addition, in this modification, the brush 32 is attached to the axially movable microwave radiation part 14, but conversely, the inner cylinder 30 is made movable in the axial direction as in the first embodiment, and this It is also possible to attach a brush to the outer or inner circumference of the inner cylinder 30.

Next, a thermotherapy device according to a second embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in FIG. 4 as a whole, this thermotherapy device is inserted into the body cavity of a living body A in the same way as in the above embodiment, and has an applicator 10 that emits microwaves, which are electromagnetic waves, from inside the body cavity.
Equipped with This applicator 10 is supplied with microwaves from an oscillator 3, and the micro, which is an electromagnetic wave radiating part at the tip, has a radiating part 1. emits microwaves from The surface temperature of the microwave radiator 14 is detected by a thermometer 8, and the microwave output in the microwave radiator 14 and the temperature of the affected area are adjusted based on the temperature information obtained by the thermometer 8. A controller 9 is connected to the total 8 and the oscillator 3. Further, a cooling device 7 that circulates the cooling liquid inside the applicator 10 and maintains the cooling liquid at a required temperature is connected to the applicator 10 via a liquid supply tube 5a and a liquid drainage tube 5b.

As shown in detail in FIG. 5, the sheath 12 of the applicator 10 has a hollow structure with its tip closed with a cap 12a, and within this sheath 12, a coaxial cable 13 as a transmission cable extends in the axial direction. and this coaxial cable 1
3 is concentrically surrounded by an inner cylinder 40. A temperature sensor 8a that sends temperature information to a thermometer 8 (FIG. 4) is fixed to the outer periphery of this sheath 12, and its sensor portion 8b is connected to the outer periphery of the sheath 12, which is the highest temperature, corresponding to the microwave radiating section 14. It is placed in the area.

The coaxial cable 13 is disposed along the axis, with the outer conductor 15 at the tip exposed. A gap 17 is provided in the axial center of the exposed outer conductor 15 to separate the outer conductor parts 15a and 15b from each other. This exposed outer conductor portion 15a.

15b and the gap 17 are covered with an insulator (not shown). The outer conductor portions 15a, 15b and the gap 17 approximately correspond to the range of the microwave radiating portion 14 of the applicator 10.

The inner cylinder 40 is made of an insulator, and a plurality of spacers 42 are provided on the outer periphery of the distal end thereof at positions corresponding to the exposed outer conductor 15. The illustrated spacer 42 is formed of a plurality of ring-shaped members, but is not limited to this, and may be formed of a small piece of a predetermined thickness, or one or more elongated members spirally arranged around the outer periphery of the inner cylinder 40. It may be wrapped around it and fixed to it. Further, the open end of the inner tube 40 is arranged at a predetermined distance from the inner surface of the cap 12a at the end of the sheath 12.

Further, on the proximal side of the applicator 10, the inner cylinder 40 is fixed to a drain pipe connecting member 44 provided with a drain cap 18, and the sheath 12 is located on the distal end side of this drain pipe connecting member 44, and It is fixed to a liquid feeding pipe connecting member 46 provided with a liquid mouthpiece 16.

The drain pipe connecting member 44 is connected to the inner cylinder 4- through the drain cap 18.
The inner hole 23 of 0 is connected to the drain tube 5b, and the coaxial cable 13 is further inserted through the insertion hole 45. A groove is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole 45, and the sealing member 11 is disposed within this groove. Therefore, the coaxial cable 13 can slide in a liquid-tight manner with respect to the drain pipe connecting member 44 in the circumferential direction and the axial direction. Similarly, the liquid supply pipe connecting member 46 connects the sheath 12 through the liquid supply mouthpiece 16.
The gap 21 between the inner cylinder 40 and the inner cylinder 40 is communicated with the liquid supply tube 5a, and the inner cylinder 40 and the coaxial cable 13 are further inserted through the insertion hole 47. A groove is formed in the inner circumferential surface of each of the insertion holes 4 and 7, and a sealing member 11 is disposed within this groove. Therefore, the inner cylinder 40 can slide in a liquid-tight manner in the circumferential direction and the axial direction with respect to the liquid feeding pipe connecting member 46.

As a result, the coolant sent from the liquid supply tube 5a to the liquid supply mouthpiece 16 flows from the gap 21 between the sheath 12 and the inner cylinder 40 to the gap between the inner cylinder 40 and the cap 1'2a. After cooling the microwave radiating section 14, the liquid is sent to the drain tube 5b through the inner hole 23 of the inner tube 40 and the drain fitting 18.

This cooling liquid is preferably degassed water, distilled water, pure water, etc. 62 The thermotherapy device [1 is used as follows.

First, as shown in Figure 4, insert the applicator 1 into the lumen of the living body.
0, and move the microwave emitting part 12 to tumor affected area B such as cancer.
Place it at the position. Thereafter, the cooling device 7 is driven to circulate the cooling liquid into the applicator 10 via the liquid sending tube 5a and the liquid draining tube 5b. Then, the oscillator 3, thermometer 8, and controller 9 are driven to control the temperature of the microwave radiating section 14 while irradiating the tumor affected area B with microwaves.

By irradiating the microwafer, the tumor affected area B is heated to about 43°C. The contact area between the sheath 12 and the lumen in the microwave radiating part 14 is 4 depending on the symptoms of the tumor affected area B.
The temperature is set and controlled to a constant value of 3°C or lower or 43°C or higher. Here, it is assumed that the temperature is controlled at 43°C.

While performing the thermal treatment in this manner, air in the coolant flowing back inside the applicator 10 becomes bubbles, causing the outer conductor 15, the inner cylinder 4o, the sheath 12, or
It begins to adhere to the spacer 42.

FIG. 6 shows an example of temperature changes measured by the temperature sensor 8a. Microwave radiation part 1 which was initially 36℃ (body temperature)
The surface of the seal 12 at 4 is heated to 43° C. by microwave radiation. When the temperature exceeds 43°C, the output is reduced to zero by the controller 9 (so-called on/off control).
. When air bubbles begin to adhere to the spacer 42 and the like, the cooling of the microwave radiating section 14 by the cooling liquid becomes insufficient, and the temperature may exceed 44.degree. C., as shown in section 6 shown in FIG.

When a phenomenon in which the temperature exceeds the set temperature occurs as described above, the drain pipe connecting member 44 or the coaxial cable 14 is rotated or moved in the axial direction to apply vibration. This causes the bubbles to separate and flow with the coolant. After this, the thermal treatment can be continued at the set temperature.

Therefore, according to the thermotherapy device of this embodiment, since the air bubbles in the applicator 10 can be removed and the microwave attenuation can be kept small at all times during heating, the affected part B of the tumor such as cancer can be reliably heated and treated. can.

The bubbles can be removed by rotating the inner tube 40 or coaxial cable 13 inserted into the applicator 10 or by moving it in the axial direction. Air bubbles can be removed in this state, and there is no need to remove the applicator 10 each time, so it can be used repeatedly.

7 and 8 show a first variation of the applicator used in the second embodiment. The same parts as in each of the above embodiments are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, this applicator 1
0, the inner cylinder 50 has a plurality of hemispherical convex portions 52 that protrude outward. These protrusions 52 may be arranged as appropriate, and one or more may be provided on the same circumference, and the axial intervals of these protrusions 52 may be constant or irregular. . Further, the shape of these convex portions 52 is not limited to a hemispherical shape, but can also be formed into an appropriate shape such as a pyramidal shape or a prismatic shape.

Similar to the second embodiment, this applicator 10 can remove air bubbles by rotating or moving the inner cylinder 50 or coaxial cable 13 in the axial direction if air bubbles adhere to the inside of the applicator 10. There is no need to remove the applicator 10 to remove air bubbles, making it easy to use. Also,
When the applicator 10 is bent, the convex portion 52 provided on the inner tube 50 acts as a spacer. therefore,
The gap 21 between the inner cylinder 50 and the sheath 12 can be maintained at all times, the flow of the coolant hardly changes, and the applicator 10
Even when it is bent, it can be heated in the same way as when it is straight.

Note that although the illustrated convex portion 52 is provided on the outside of the inner cylinder 50, it may be provided on the inside of the sheath 12 as well.

In this way, in addition to providing the convex portion 52 on the inner cylinder 50 as in the first modification, the applicator 10 also has the second and third protrusions described above.
It is also possible to form it like a modified example.

FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 are the second modified examples.

As shown in FIG. 9, the inner cylinder 60 of this applicator 10 has a cross-sectional shape of a portion closer to the hand than the microwave emitting portion 14 on the distal end side, which is formed into a circular shape as shown in FIG. However, the cross-sectional shape of the portion corresponding to the microwave radiating section 14 is formed into an elliptical section 62 as shown in FIG. Further, different from this, the cross section of the portion corresponding to the microwave radiating section 14 may be formed into a polygonal shape.

By forming the cross section of the portion of the inner cylinder 60 corresponding to the microwave emitting part 14 into a non-circular shape in this way, when the inner cylinder 60 is rotated, the inside and outside of the inner cylinder 60 are cooled by the elliptical part 62. The flow of the liquid is greatly disturbed, and air bubbles are easily separated from the inner tube 60 and the like, and are discharged from the applicator 10 by the cooling liquid.

Therefore, air bubbles can be easily removed simply by rotating the inner cylinder 60.

In the third modification shown in FIG. 12, the inner cylinder 70 of the applicator 10 is formed into a tapered part 72 whose diameter increases toward the distal end at a portion corresponding to the microwave emitting part 14, and the inner cylinder 70 of the applicator 10 is formed into a tapered part 72 whose diameter increases toward the distal end. The side part is formed into a cylindrical shape.

When the inner cylinder 70 is moved in the axial direction, the microwave emitting part 1
The tapered portion 72 corresponding to No. 2 suddenly changes the cross-sectional area of the coolant flow between the inside and outside, causing pressure fluctuations.

This pressure fluctuation and the flow of the coolant cause the bubbles to separate and flow together with the coolant. Therefore, air bubbles can be easily removed by simply moving the inner cylinder 70 in the axial direction.

FIG. 1813 shows a fourth modification of the applicator.

This applicator 10 connects a coaxial cable 13 to a sheath 1.
2 and placed on the outside of the inner cylinder 80.

The coaxial cable 13 has the outer conductor 15 at the tip exposed like the applicator 10 described above, has a gap 17 in the center, and divides the outer conductor 15 into outer conductor parts 15a and 15b to form the microwave radiating part 14. . A plurality of external conductors 15 may be exposed and arranged around the circumference of the inner tube 80 in the microwave radiating section 14 . The inner tube 80 is made of an X-ray opaque material, and a support shaft 12b extending from the center of the cap 12a at the distal end of the sheath 12 is inserted into the inner tube 80. This support shaft 12b is made of a flexible material, and its outer diameter is dimensioned to form a gap between it and the inner tube 80 through which the cooling fluid can flow.

On the proximal side of the applicator 10, the inner cylinder 80 and the coaxial cable 13 are inserted through an inner hole 85 of a fixing ring 84 and are integrally fixed to each other with adhesive or the like. Furthermore, the gap created in the inner hole 85 is filled with a filler or the like to form a liquid-tight state.

Further, a liquid supply pipe connecting member 86 having a liquid supply port 85 is fixed to the proximal end of the sheath 12, and the liquid supply port 85 is communicated with the inner hole 81 of the sheath 12. A fixing ring 84 is inserted into the proximal end of the liquid feeding pipe connecting member 86, and the outer periphery of the fixing ring 84 is sealed with the O-ring 11. As a result, the fixing ring 84 can rotate or move in the axial direction with respect to the liquid feeding tube connecting member 86, sealing the proximal end of the liquid feeding tube connecting member 86, and sealing the inner hole 81 of the sheath 12. A coolant flow path for the coolant via the liquid supply port 85 is formed by the inner hole 83 of the inner cylinder 80 and the inner hole 83 of the inner cylinder 80 .

Furthermore, the sensor portion 8b of the temperature sensor 8a is placed at the highest temperature portion of the microwave radiating portion 14 (at a plurality of required locations when the plurality of external conductors 15 are placed exposed).

The applicator 1o according to this modified example is useful when performing thermotherapy on an affected part B of a tumor such as cancer, which is unevenly distributed in a part of the lumen of a living body A, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 14, the radiating part 14 of the micro applicator 1o is inserted into the lumen and placed close to the tumor affected area B. Then, the fixing ring 8 is oriented so that the exposed external conductor 15 faces the direction of the tumor affected area B (upward in FIG. 14).
Rotate 4.

After that, the cooling liquid is supplied from the liquid supply port 85 and the sheath 12
Microwave irradiation is started while the coolant is flowing back into the coolant flow path through the inner hole 81 of the inner tube 8o and the inner hole 83 of the inner cylinder 8o.

If bubbles are generated, the fixing ring 84 is rotated to remove the bubbles.

Therefore, this applicator 10 is safe because it can reduce the microwave irradiation to normal tissue when administering thermal treatment to a tumor such as cancer in the lumen that occurs unevenly, and it can be used in any direction in the circumferential direction. Even if cancer etc. is unevenly distributed, the applicator 10
By simply turning the fixing ring 84 after inserting the external body 15, the external body 15 can be directed towards the cancer, making it extremely easy to use.

Further, since the fixing ring 84 can also move in the axial direction, it is possible to perform delicate positioning in the axial direction after inserting the applicator 10, so that the position can be adjusted to minimize the microwave irradiation to the normal tissue. Easy to choose.

Furthermore, even if air bubbles are generated, the air bubbles can be removed simply by rotating the fixing ring 84, so that the applicator 10 can be applied to the microwave radiating section 14 without having to be removed from the living body A during microwave irradiation. Inner cylinder 80 and sheath 12
It can remove air bubbles attached to the skin, unobstructed microwave radiation during heating, and can reliably heat the affected area to treat cancer, and has excellent operability.

Furthermore, since there is no need for the patient to remove the applicator 10 to remove air bubbles during treatment, the pain caused by inserting and removing the applicator 10 can be reduced, and therefore, it is easy to use for the operator as well. Easy to handle.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above, according to the thermotherapy device of the present invention,
By moving the bubble removing means with respect to the sheath, bubbles generated in the coolant flow path can be removed, allowing efficient cooling and heating.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 is a schematic sectional view of an applicator of a thermotherapy device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the entire applicator, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a modified example of the applicator of FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the entire thermotherapy device of the second embodiment, and FIG.
The figure is a longitudinal sectional view of the applicator of the second embodiment, FIG. 6 is a graph showing an example of the change in surface temperature of the applicator over time, and FIG. 7 is a first modification of the applicator of the second embodiment. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of the second modification, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are X-X line and X in FIG. 9, respectively
A sectional view along the I-X I line, FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a part of the third modification, FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view of a part of the fourth modification, and FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of the fourth modification. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of how the applicator is used. 10... Applicator, 12... Sheath, 14...
Microwave radiation section, 15... external conductor, 16... liquid supply cap, 18... liquid drain cap, 20, 30. '40.50
゜60.70.80...Inner cylinder. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Atsushi Tsuboi Figure 1 Figure 1, Case description Japanese Patent Application No. 2-215800 2, Name of the invention Thermal therapy device 3, Amendment person case Relationship Patent Applicant (037) Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. 4, Agent 3-7-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100 Telephone 03 (502) 3181 (Main Representative) Specification, Drawings 7, Contents of Amendments ( 1) Correct "liquid supply tube" on page 5, line 7 of the specification cylinder to "liquid supply tube 5aJ." (2) "Liquid supply tube 5 and drain tube 8 shown in FIG. 1" on page 6, lines 9-10 of specification box are corrected to "liquid supply tube 5a and drain tube 5bJ shown in FIG. 2." (3) "Microwa" on page 16, line 14 of the specification is corrected to "microwave." (4) "Seal 12" on page 17, line 7 of the specification section is corrected to "sheath 12." (5) “Inner hole 85” on page 22, line 8 and line 10 of the specification
is corrected to "inner hole". (6) Figures 3 and 13 in the drawings are corrected as shown in the attached sheet.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a thermotherapy device that has a heating applicator that is inserted into a body cavity, the heating applicator includes a sheath that is inserted into the body cavity, and a heating device that is placed inside the sheath and irradiates electromagnetic waves toward the living body. an electromagnetic wave emitting part for use in the electromagnetic wave emitting part, a coolant flow path formed around the electromagnetic wave emitting part in the sheath, and a bubble removing means movably disposed in the coolant flow path with respect to the sheath. A thermotherapy device, characterized in that air bubbles generated in the coolant flow path are removed by moving the air bubble removal means with respect to the sheath.