JP5817538B2 - Extruded product manufacturing method and extrusion molding apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an extrusion molded article and an extrusion molding apparatus.

  As a technique for forming a hollow molded body having a hollow extending in the longitudinal direction by extrusion molding, there are those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

The extrusion mold of Patent Document 1 has an outer die (bushing portion in the same document) in which a material flow path is formed, and a pin disposed in the material flow path, and flows through the material flow path Is extruded through an extrusion port (die exit in the same document). A liquid or gas passage is formed inside the pin.
Patent Document 1 describes that a hollow fiber is formed by flowing a coagulating liquid or a coagulating gas through a passage in a pin.

The extrusion apparatus of Patent Document 2 has a pin arranged in the center of a material flow path formed in a die, and this pin has an air blowing hole for forming a hollow in the center of a molded product. Yes.
Patent Document 2 describes that a tubular molded product is extruded using this extrusion molding apparatus.

  The pins of Patent Documents 1 and 2 are both provided in a cantilever manner. That is, only the base end of the pin is fixed to the mold, and the portions other than the base end are separated from the mold.

JP 2008-049649 A JP 2003-103599 A

The inventor has found the following technical problems in the techniques of Patent Documents 1 and 2.
In the techniques of Patent Literatures 1 and 2, as described above, a cantilever type pin is provided in the material flow path. For this reason, the tip side portion of the pin may be displaced from a desired position due to the pressure received from the resin. If extrusion molding is performed in a state where the position of the tip side portion of the pin is shifted, the hollow in the extruded product is shifted from the desired arrangement. This defect becomes more prominent as the hollow formed in the extruded product has a smaller diameter, that is, the pin has a smaller diameter.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when forming an extruded product having a hollow or the like extending in the longitudinal direction therein, the hollow or the like in the extruded product is placed in a desired arrangement with high accuracy. Provided are a method for producing an extruded product and an extrusion molding apparatus.

According to the present invention, a fluid supply pipe provided in a cantilever manner so that the tip thereof faces the extrusion direction of the molding material in the material flow path of the extrusion molding die is provided between the fluid supply pipe and the peripheral wall of the material flow path. A step of supporting by a supporting member disposed between;
Starting the supply of the molding material to the material flow path;
By pushing the support member with the molding material, the support member is moved to the extrusion port side of the extrusion mold while the fluid supply pipe is supported by the support member, and the support member is discharged from the extrusion port. And a process of
A step of forming a molded product by continuously discharging the molding material from the extrusion port while supplying the fluid to the extrusion port through the fluid supply pipe, and subsequently discharging the molding material;
The manufacturing method of the extrusion molded product characterized by having.

  According to this manufacturing method, while the fluid supply pipe provided in a cantilever manner in the material flow path of the extrusion mold is supported by the support member, the support member is pushed by the molding material and moved to the extrusion port side. Then, after the support member is discharged from the extrusion port, the molding material is continuously discharged from the extrusion port to form a molded product. That is, the fluid supply pipe can be supported by the support member until the flow of the molding material in the material flow path is stabilized. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the tip side portion of the fluid supply pipe is displaced from a desired position due to the pressure received from the molding material. Therefore, when molding an extrusion molded product having a hollow or the like extending in the longitudinal direction, the hollow or the like in the extrusion molded product can be arranged with high accuracy.

The present invention also includes an extrusion mold in which a material flow path is formed,
A fluid supply pipe provided in a cantilever manner so that the tip thereof faces the extrusion direction of the molding material in the material flow path;
A support member disposed between the fluid supply pipe and the peripheral wall of the material flow path, and supporting the fluid supply pipe;
Have
Provided is an extrusion molding apparatus characterized in that the support member is movable to the extrusion port side of the extrusion mold while supporting the fluid supply pipe, and can be discharged from the extrusion port to the outside. To do.

  According to the present invention, when an extruded product having a hollow or the like extending in the longitudinal direction is formed inside, the hollow or the like in the extruded product can be placed in a desired arrangement with high accuracy.

It is a sectional side view of the extrusion molding apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 2. It is front sectional drawing along the AA of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the molded product manufactured by the manufacturing method of the extrusion molded product which concerns on 1st Embodiment, Among these, (a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (b) is II sectional drawing of (a). It is. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows an example of the catheter manufactured by the manufacturing method of the extrusion molded product which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is II-II sectional drawing of FIG. It is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view for demonstrating operation | movement of a catheter, (a) shows the catheter of a natural state, (b) shows the catheter of the state which pulled the operation line. It is a sectional side view of the principal part expansion of the extrusion molding apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 9. It is a sectional side view of the principal part expansion of the extrusion molding apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment, (a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view among these, (b) shows a cross-sectional view, respectively. It is a sectional side view of the principal part expansion of the extrusion molding apparatus concerning 4th Embodiment, (a) shows a 1st example among these, (b) shows a 2nd example, respectively.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an extrusion molding apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view along the line AA in FIG.

The extrusion molding apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is provided in an extrusion mold 110 in which a material flow path 150 is formed, and a cantilever type so that the tip in the material flow path 150 faces the extrusion direction of the molding material. A fluid supply pipe (for example, a gas supply pipe 160), and a peripheral wall of the fluid supply pipe and the material flow path 150 (in this embodiment, the peripheral wall of the material flow path 150 is the outer peripheral surface of the tip 131 of the inner die 130) And a support member 170 that supports the fluid supply pipe. The supporting member 170 can move to the extrusion port 111 side of the extrusion mold 110 while supporting the fluid supply pipe, and can be discharged from the extrusion port 111 to the outside. The extrusion direction is a direction in which the molding material is extruded from the extrusion port 111 of the extrusion mold 110, and is the left side of FIGS.
Details will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the extrusion mold 110 of the extrusion molding apparatus 100 includes an outer die 120 and an inner die 130 disposed inside the outer die 120.

  The outer die 120 includes a front part 121 and a rear part 122, for example. The rear portion 122 may be called a base of the extrusion mold 110. In this case, the outer die 120 is configured only by the front portion 121 shown in FIG.

  The inner die 130 includes a cylindrical tip portion 131, a middle portion 132 and a rear portion 133 that are each formed in a truncated cone shape, and a flange portion 134 that is positioned behind the rear portion 133. The tip portion 131, the middle portion 132, the rear portion 133, and the flange portion 134 are arranged coaxially with each other.

  The middle part 132 and the rear part 133 are reduced in diameter in the extrusion direction of the molding material. That is, each of the middle part 132 and the rear part 133 has a tapered frustum shape (thinner toward the front end side).

In the inner die 130, an insertion hole 135 is formed linearly along the central axis. The insertion hole 135 passes through the tip portion 131, the middle portion 132, the rear portion 133, and the flange portion 134.
Accordingly, the tip 131 is cylindrical. In other words, the tip 131 has a straight (straight) hollow shape.

  The outer diameter of the front end portion 131 of the inner die 130 is smaller than the outer diameter of the front end surface 132 a of the middle portion 132. The distal end surface 132a is a stepped surface located at the boundary between the distal end portion 131 and the middle portion 132, and faces forward (leftward in FIGS. 1 to 3). The tip 131 projects from the center of the tip surface 132a in the extrusion direction.

  The diameter of the rear end of the middle part 132 is equal to the diameter of the front end of the rear part 133. The diameter of the flange portion 134 is larger than the diameter of the rear end of the rear portion 133.

  A hollow portion 125 that accommodates the inner die 130 is formed inside the outer die 120. The hollow portion 125 is formed from the front end of the front portion 121 to the rear end of the rear portion 122 and penetrates the outer die 120 back and forth.

  The outer peripheral shape of the inner die 130 is formed in a shape along the peripheral wall of the hollow portion 125, and the inner die 130 is disposed in the hollow portion 125 of the outer die 120.

In the hollow portion 125 of the outer die 120, a portion (first hollow portion) that accommodates the middle portion 132 of the inner die 130 has a tapered frustum shape.
Moreover, in the hollow part 125, the site | part (2nd hollow part) which accommodates the front-end | tip part 131 of the inner die 130 is formed in the linear form (straight shape) along an extrusion direction, and it is an extrusion port from the front-end | tip of a 1st hollow part. 111.

As described above, the outer die 120 is formed with a tapered first truncated cone-shaped hollow portion and a straight-shaped second hollow portion communicating from the tip of the first hollow portion to the extrusion port 111.
The inner die 130 includes a first mold part (middle part 132) disposed in the first hollow part and a second mold part (tip part 131) disposed in the second hollow part. Yes. The first mold part (middle part 132) is formed in a tapered frustum shape. The second mold part (front end part 131) is connected to the front end surface 132a of the first mold part (middle part 132) and has a straight shape having a smaller diameter than the front end surface 132a.
In addition, at least a partial section (for example, a downstream section 152 described later) of the material flow path 150 is formed by the distance between the inner die 130 and the outer die 120.

  Here, the material flow path 150 will be described in detail.

For example, the upstream section 151 of the material flow path 150 is formed in the outer die 120.
More specifically, the upstream portion 151 a of the upstream section 151 is formed in the rear portion 122 of the outer die 120.
A downstream portion 151 b of the upstream section 151 is configured by a clearance between the rear portion 122 and the front portion 121 of the outer die 120.

  A molten molding material (resin material) is supplied from the material supply device (not shown) to the most upstream portion of the upstream portion 151a of the upstream section 151.

  On the other hand, the downstream section 152 of the material flow path 150 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the inner die 130 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer die 120 (the peripheral wall of the hollow portion 125).

  More specifically, the upstream portion 152 a of the downstream section 152 is configured by a clearance between the tip end portion of the rear portion 133 of the inner die 130 and the inner peripheral surface of the front portion 121 of the outer die 120. ing.

  The remaining portion of the upstream portion 152 a of the downstream section 152 is configured by a clearance between the outer peripheral surface of the middle portion 132 of the inner die 130 and the inner peripheral surface of the front portion 121 of the outer die 120. This portion (hereinafter referred to as a tapered channel 153 (FIG. 2)) has a ring-shaped cross section and a tapered shape with a tapered diameter. That is, the tapered channel 153 has a shape that is narrowed toward the tip side.

  The downstream portion 152 b of the downstream section 152 is configured by a clearance between the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion 131 of the inner die 130 and the inner peripheral surface of the front portion 121 of the outer die 120. This portion is a channel having a ring-shaped (donut-shaped) cross-sectional shape, and a straight channel (hereinafter referred to as a straight channel 154 (FIG. 2)) extending linearly along the extrusion direction. ). The cross-sectional shape and cross-sectional dimension of the straight channel 154 are constant regardless of the position in the extrusion direction. The inner diameter of the straight channel 154 (defined by the outer diameter of the tip 131) is constant regardless of the position in the extrusion direction. The outer diameter of the straight channel 154 (defined by the inner peripheral surface of the front portion 121 of the outer die 120) is also constant regardless of the position in the extrusion direction.

Thus, the material flow path 150 includes a tapered tapered flow path 153, a straight flow path 154 that is positioned between the tapered flow path 153 and the extrusion port 111, and extends along the extrusion direction. ,have. The tip of the tapered channel 153 communicates with the base end of the straight channel 154.
The flow direction of the molding material in the tapered flow path 153 is inclined (that is, intersects) with respect to the flow direction of the molding material in the straight flow path 154.

  The front end of the material flow path 150 is an extrusion port 111 for discharging the molding material from the extrusion mold 110 to the outside (left side in FIGS. 1 to 3).

  Next, the gas supply pipe 160 will be described in detail.

  The gas supply pipe 160 is provided on the inner die 130. For example, the gas supply pipe 160 is integrally formed with the inner die 130. The gas supply pipe 160 protrudes from the front end surface 132a of the middle part 132 in the extrusion direction.

The gas supply pipe 160 is provided in a cantilever manner so that the tip of the gas supply pipe 160 faces the extrusion direction in the material flow path 150.
More specifically, the gas supply pipe 160 is disposed in the straight channel 154.

  The gas supply pipe 160 is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion 131 and also from the inner peripheral surface of the outer die 120 (specifically, the inner peripheral surface of the front portion 121).

  The gas supply pipe 160 is arranged offset from the center in the cross section of the material flow path 150. In the present embodiment, the center position of the material channel 150 in the cross section is the center position of the tip 131 of the inner die 130, and therefore does not constitute the material channel 150.

  Each gas supply pipe 160 is arranged around the tip 131 of the inner die 130. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, two gas supply pipes 160 are arranged around the tip portion 131 at intervals of 180 degrees.

The base end of the gas supply pipe 160 is supported by the tip of the first mold part (middle part 132), and is arranged around the second mold part (tip part 131).
More specifically, in the cross section, the gas supply pipes 160 are disposed at rotationally symmetric positions with respect to the center of the insertion hole 135 in the distal end portion 131 of the inner die 130.

  The gas supply pipe 160 is formed in a straight line shape. The axis of each gas supply pipe 160 is parallel to each other. Moreover, the axis of the gas supply pipe 160 and the axis of the tip 131 of the inner die 130 (that is, the axis of the insertion hole 135) are parallel to each other. These directions are also parallel to the extrusion direction. That is, the gas supply pipe 160 is arranged along the extrusion direction so that the tip thereof faces the extrusion direction.

  In addition, the extrusion mold 110 has a hollow tip (that is, an insertion hole 135 formed inside) as a main pipe having a diameter larger than that of the gas supply pipe 160 at the center of the material flow path 150. ing. The extrusion mold 110 supplies a core wire (core material) or a fluid to the extrusion port 111 via the tip portion 131 (main pipe). That is, the core wire or the fluid is discharged from the tip of the tip 131 through the insertion hole 135. Thereby, a long molded product having a large-diameter hollow at the center is formed. As will be described later, in the present embodiment, specifically, for example, a core wire is supplied to the extrusion port 111 via the distal end portion 131.

The extrusion mold 110 has a plurality of (for example, two) gas supply paths 136 that supply gas to the gas supply pipe 160. Each gas supply path 136 has a one-to-one correspondence with the gas supply pipe 160 and communicates with the corresponding gas supply pipe 160.
The gas supply path 136 is formed inside the inner die 130, for example. These gas supply paths 136 are arranged around the insertion hole 135.

  The gas supply path 136 is connected to a gas supply source (not shown), and supplies the gas introduced from the gas supply source to the corresponding gas supply pipe 160. The gas supply pipe 160 supplies gas from its tip to the extrusion port 111.

  Thereby, in the case of this embodiment, the small diameter hollow extended in a longitudinal direction is formed in the inside of a molded article. This hollow is formed at a position corresponding to the tip of the gas supply pipe 160 in the molded product.

In the case of the present embodiment, a plurality of gas supply pipes 160 are provided, and the gas supply pipes 160 are equally arranged around the front end portion 131 of the inner die 130. In other words, the extrusion mold 110 has a plurality of fluid supply pipes (gas supply pipes 160) arranged evenly around the main pipe.
For this reason, in addition to the large-diameter hollow formed in the center, the molded product has a plurality of small-diameter cavities around the large-diameter hollow, and the small-diameter hollows are equiangularly spaced. Be placed.

  For example, a recess 126 that is recessed rearward is formed on the front surface of the outer die 120. The recess 126 includes a flat surface 124 that is orthogonal to the extrusion direction and faces forward. An extrusion port 111 is opened in the flat surface 124.

  The front end surface of the front end portion 131 of the inner die 130 is flush with the flat surface 124, for example.

  In the extrusion direction, the position of the tip of the gas supply pipe 160 may be the same as the flat surface 124 or may protrude slightly forward (leftward in FIGS. 1 to 3) from the flat surface 124. Alternatively, it may be located slightly behind the flat surface 124 (to the right in FIGS. 1 to 3).

Here, the molding material flowing in the tapered channel 153 flows into the base end portion (upstream portion) of the straight channel 154. As described above, the tapered channel 153 is a tapered channel having a ring-shaped cross section, and the flow direction of the molding material in the tapered channel 153 is the same as that of the molding material in the straight channel 154. It intersects the flow direction.
Therefore, the gas supply pipe 160 receives a pressure (load) in a direction intersecting with the extending direction (that is, the extrusion direction) of the gas supply pipe 160 from the molding material.

  More specifically, the molding material gathered from the periphery flows into the base end portion of the straight channel 154. For this reason, the gas supply pipe 160 receives a pressure (load) in a direction in which the gas supply pipe 160 is bent toward the distal end portion 131 side of the inner die 130.

  In addition, the molding material does not easily enter the inner peripheral side of the gas supply pipe 160 (between the gas supply pipe 160 and the tip portion 131), and easily flows on the outer peripheral side (between the gas supply pipe 160 and the outer die 120). . For this reason as well, pressure (load) in a direction in which the gas supply pipe 160 is bent toward the distal end portion 131 of the inner die 130 is applied to the gas supply pipe 160.

  If extrusion is performed in a state where the tip of the gas supply pipe 160 is displaced from the desired position due to the pressure received from the molding material, the (small-diameter) hollow formation position in the molded product is also displaced from the desired position. End up.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the supporting member 170 described in detail below is disposed in the material flow path 150 (particularly, in the straight flow path 154), and the gas supply pipe 160 is supported by the supporting member 170 and molded. Start supplying materials. Thereby, the shift | offset | difference and deformation | transformation of the gas supply pipe | tube 160 by the pressure received from a molding material are suppressed.

  In the case of this embodiment, the support member 170 is a ring-shaped member as shown in FIGS. The support member 170 is formed with a through-hole 170a penetrating the support member 170 in the front-rear direction (extrusion direction) at the center in the cross section.

  The support member 170 is disposed between the distal end portion 131 and the gas supply pipe 160 so that the distal end portion 131 of the inner die 130 is inserted into the through hole 170a. That is, the support member 170 is disposed between the peripheral wall of the material flow path 150 (in this case, the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion 131) and the gas supply pipe 160.

  The inner peripheral surface 171 of the support member 170 (the peripheral wall of the through hole 170a) abuts (surface contact) along the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion 131. The outer peripheral surface 172 of the support member 170 is in point contact with each gas supply pipe 160 (see FIG. 4).

  In this way, the support member 170 supports each gas supply pipe 160. That is, in the present embodiment, the tip 131 of the inner die 130 supports each gas supply pipe 160 via the support member 170.

  The term “support” as used herein refers to applying a reaction force against the fluid pressure received from the molding material from the support member 170 to the gas supply pipe 160 (more specifically, from the tip 131 of the inner die 130. It is applied to the gas supply pipe 160 via the member 170.

Since the support member 170 is arranged as described above, the support member 170 supports at least a portion of the gas supply pipe 160 that is behind the gas supply pipe 160 when viewed from the tapered flow path 153. . Therefore, the support member 170 can apply a reaction force against a strong pressure applied to the gas supply pipe 160 to the gas supply pipe 160 particularly at the junction between the tapered flow path 153 and the straight flow path 154.
Therefore, deformation of the gas supply pipe 160 can be effectively suppressed.

In the case of this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the support member 170 is constant regardless of the position in the extrusion direction.
Further, in the present embodiment, the support member 170 has a cross-sectional shape different from the cross-sectional shape of the material flow path 150, and the support member 170 does not block the cross-section of the material flow path 150.

The support member 170 may be made of, for example, a metal having the same material as that of the extrusion mold 110, or may be made of other materials (for example, ceramic, heat-resistant resin, etc.).
However, if the thermal expansion coefficient of the support member 170 is larger than the thermal expansion coefficient of the extrusion mold 110, the slidability of the support member 170 in the material flow path 150 may be reduced due to the thermal expansion of the support member 170. There is sex. For this reason, it is preferable that the thermal expansion coefficient of the supporting member 170 is equal to or less than the thermal expansion coefficient of the material constituting the extrusion mold 110.

  The support member 170 can move (specifically, slide) in the extrusion direction (that is, the extrusion port 111 side) in the straight channel 154.

  When a molding material (specifically, for example, a molten resin material) is supplied from the upstream side of the material flow path 150, the support member 170 is moved downstream of the straight flow path 154 (by a pressure received from the molding material ( It moves to the extrusion port 111 side) and is discharged from the extrusion port 111 to the outside of the extrusion mold 110.

Even when the support member 170 moves to the downstream side of the straight channel 154 due to the pressure received from the molding material, the gas supply pipe 160 is discharged until the support member 170 is discharged from the extrusion port 111 to the outside of the extrusion mold 110. Continue to support.
That is, the support member 170 moves to the extrusion port 111 side of the extrusion mold 110 while supporting the gas supply pipe 160 and is discharged from the extrusion port 111 to the outside.
Therefore, the gas supply pipe 160 can be supported by the support member 170 until the flow of the molding material in the straight channel 154 is stabilized.

Even after the support member 170 is discharged from the extrusion port 111, a long molded product is formed by the molding material continuously discharged from the extrusion port 111.
The cross-sectional shape of this molded product is almost the same shape as the cross-section of the material flow path 150.
Note that the support member 170 does not exist in the extrusion mold 110 during molding of the molded product.

  During molding of the molded product, gas is supplied to the extrusion port 111 via each gas supply pipe 160. As a result, a hollow 91 (FIG. 5) is formed in the molded product at a position corresponding to the tip of the gas supply pipe 160, and the hollow 91 has a shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the molded product.

As shown in FIG. 5, a molded product 90 formed by extrusion molding is configured by, for example, a molding material (for example, a resin material) being deposited around a core wire (core material) 92.
The molded product 90 becomes, for example, an outer layer 60 of the catheter 10 described later.

Next, a method for manufacturing a catheter will be described as an example of a method for manufacturing an extruded product according to the present embodiment.
In this manufacturing method, a fluid supply pipe (for example, a gas supply pipe 160) provided in a cantilever manner so that the tip thereof faces the extrusion direction of the molding material in the material flow path 150 of the extrusion mold 110 is replaced with a fluid supply pipe. And a supporting member 170 disposed between the material flow path 150 and the peripheral wall of the material flow path 150.
The manufacturing method further includes a step of starting supply of the molding material to the material flow path 150.
This manufacturing method further moves the support member 170 toward the extrusion port 111 of the extrusion mold 110 while supporting the fluid supply pipe by the support member 170 by pushing the support member 170 with the molding material. Is discharged from the extrusion port 111.
This manufacturing method further forms the molded product 90 by continuously discharging the molding material from the extrusion port 111 following the discharging step while supplying the fluid to the extrusion port 111 through the fluid supply pipe. The process of carrying out.
The molded product 90 has, for example, a hollow 91 extending in the longitudinal direction thereof.

  Here, before explaining this manufacturing method in detail, the catheter 10 manufactured by this manufacturing method will be described.

The catheter 10 is a suitable example that is an intravascular catheter used by being inserted into a blood vessel.
As shown in FIG. 6, the catheter 10 has a sheath 16 as a long main body.
In this specification, the predetermined length region including the distal end (tip) DE of the catheter 10 (and the sheath 16) is referred to as the distal end portion 15 of the catheter 10 (and the sheath 16). Similarly, the predetermined length region including the proximal end (proximal end) PE of the catheter 10 (and the sheath 16) is referred to as the proximal end (proximal end) 17 of the catheter 10 (and the sheath 16) (see FIG. 8).

  A main lumen 20 and a sub-lumen 30 are formed inside the sheath 16. The main lumen 20 and the sub-lumen 30 extend along the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 6) of the sheath 16 (the catheter 10). The main lumen 20 is disposed at the center of the transverse cross section (cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction) of the sheath 16, and the sub lumen 30 is disposed around the main lumen 20. More specifically, in the cross section, the sub-lumens 30 are arranged at rotationally symmetric positions with respect to the center of the main lumen 20.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the catheter 10 has a plurality of sublumens 30, for example. Each sub-lumen 30 has a smaller diameter than the main lumen 20. That is, in the case of this embodiment, the main lumen 20 having a diameter larger than that of the sub-lumen 30 is formed in the sheath 16 along the longitudinal direction of the sheath 16.

  The sub-lumens 30 and the main lumen 20 and the sub-lumen 30 are arranged separately from each other. The plurality of sub-lumens 30 are distributed around the main lumen 20. In the example of FIG. 7, the number of sub-lumens 30 is two, and the sub-lumens 30 are arranged around the main lumen 20 at intervals of 180 degrees.

  The operation lines 40 are accommodated in the sub-lumens 30, respectively. That is, the operation line 40 is inserted through each sub-lumen 30.

  The operation line 40 is movable relative to the sub-lumen 30 in the longitudinal direction of the sub-lumen 30 by sliding with respect to the peripheral wall of the sub-lumen 30. That is, the operation line 40 is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the sub-lumen 30.

The operation wire 40 may be formed of a single wire, but may be a stranded wire formed by twisting a plurality of thin wires.
The number of fine wires constituting one stranded wire is not particularly limited, but is preferably 3 or more. A suitable example of the number of thin wires is three or seven. When the number of fine lines is 3, the three fine lines are arranged point-symmetrically in the cross section. When the number of fine lines is seven, the seven fine lines are arranged point-symmetrically in a honeycomb shape in the cross section.

  In addition to flexible metal wires such as low carbon steel (piano wire), stainless steel (SUS), titanium or titanium alloy, the material of the wire constituting the operation wire 40 (or the fine wire constituting the stranded wire) Poly (paraphenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyimide (PI) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), boron fiber, etc. Polymer fibers can be used.

  Here, examples of the structure of the sublumen 30 include the following two structures.

  In the first structure, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a hollow tube 32 formed in advance is embedded in an outer layer 60 (described later) along the longitudinal direction of the sheath 16. The lumen is sublumen 30. That is, in these examples, the sub-lumen 30 is constituted by the lumen of the hollow tube 32 embedded in the sheath 16.

  The hollow tube 32 can be made of, for example, a thermoplastic resin. Examples of the thermoplastic resin include low friction resins such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

  In the second structure, the sub-lumen 30 is formed by forming a long hollow along the longitudinal direction of the sheath 16 in the outer layer 60 (described later).

  More specifically, the sheath 16 includes, for example, an inner layer 21, an outer layer 60 formed by laminating around the inner layer 21, and a coat layer 64 formed around the outer layer 60.

  The inner layer 21 is made of a tubular resin material. A main lumen 20 is formed at the center of the inner layer 21.

  The outer layer 60 is made of the same or different resin material as the inner layer 21. The sub-lumen 30 is formed inside the outer layer 60.

  The coat layer 64 constitutes the outermost layer of the catheter 10 and is made of a hydrophilic material. The coat layer 64 may be formed only in a region extending over a part of the distal end portion 15 of the sheath 16, or may be formed over the entire length of the sheath 16.

Examples of the material of the inner layer 21 include a fluorine-based thermoplastic polymer material. Specifically, the fluorine-based thermoplastic polymer material is, for example, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), or perfluoroalkoxy fluororesin (PFA).
By configuring the inner layer 21 with such a fluorine-based resin, the delivery property when supplying a contrast medium or a drug solution to the affected area through the main lumen 20 is improved.

  The material of the outer layer 60 is, for example, a thermoplastic polymer. As this thermoplastic polymer, polyimide (PI), polyamideimide (PAI), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), nylon elastomer, polyurethane (PU), ethylene-vinyl acetate resin (EVA) And polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polypropylene (PP).

  The coat layer 64 is made hydrophilic by molding it with a hydrophilic resin material such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or polyvinyl pyrrolidone. The coat layer 64 may be formed by subjecting the outer surface of the outer layer 60 to lubrication so that at least the outer surface of the outer layer 60 is hydrophilic.

  The sheath 16 is made of, for example, a resin material. The resin material constituting the sheath 16 may contain an inorganic filler. For example, as the resin material constituting the outer layer 60 that occupies most of the thickness of the sheath 16, a material containing an inorganic filler can be used.

  Examples of the inorganic filler include barium sulfate and bismuth subcarbonate. By mixing such an inorganic filler in the outer layer 60, the X-ray contrast property is improved.

For example, the catheter 10 further includes a coil 50 wound around the inner layer 21. The coil 50 is configured, for example, by bending one or more wire rods 52 formed of an elastic body in a spiral shape. As a material of the wire 52 constituting the coil 50, for example, a metal is preferably used. However, the material is not limited to this example, and any other material may be used as long as the material has higher rigidity and elasticity than the inner layer 21 and the outer layer 60. (For example, resin) may be used. Specifically, for example, stainless steel (SUS), nickel titanium alloy, steel, titanium, or copper alloy can be used as the metal material of the wire 52. Although the cross-sectional shape of the wire 52 is not particularly limited, for example, a rectangular shape or a circular shape is a preferable example.
The coil 50 is included in the outer layer 60.
In the present embodiment, the sub-lumen 30 is formed outside the coil 50 inside the outer layer 60.

  The catheter 10 may have a blade layer (not shown) instead of the coil 50. The blade layer is formed by knitting a wire in a mesh shape, and is disposed at the same position as the coil 50.

  The distal end portion 15 of the catheter 10 is provided with a ring-shaped marker 66 made of a material that does not transmit radiation such as X-rays. Specifically, the marker 66 is made of a metal material such as platinum. For example, the marker 66 is provided around the main lumen 20 and inside the outer layer 60.

Here, the typical dimension of each component of the catheter 10 of this embodiment is demonstrated.
The radius of the main lumen 20 is about 200 to 300 μm, the thickness of the inner layer 21 is about 10 to 30 μm, the thickness of the outer layer 60 is about 100 to 150 μm, the outer diameter of the coil 50 is 500 to 860 μm, and the inner diameter of the coil 50 is the diameter. It can be 420-660 micrometers.
The radius (distance) from the axial center of the catheter 10 to the center of the sublumen 30 is about 300 to 350 μm, and the inner diameter (diameter) of the sublumen 30 is 40 to 100 μm. And the thickness of the operation line 40 shall be about 30-60 micrometers.
The outermost diameter (radius) of the catheter 10 is about 350 to 450 μm, that is, the outer diameter is less than 1 mm in diameter. Thereby, the catheter 10 of the present embodiment can be inserted into a blood vessel such as a celiac artery.

FIG. 8 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view for explaining the operation of the catheter 10 according to the present embodiment. Among these, FIG. 8A shows the catheter 10 in a natural state, that is, in a state where the operation line 40 is not pulled. FIG. 8B shows the catheter 10 in a state where the operation line 40 is pulled.
In FIG. 8, only one of the two operation lines 40 of the catheter 10 is illustrated.

  The distal end portion 41 of the operation line 40 is fixed to the distal end portion 15 of the sheath 16. A mode in which the tip 41 of the operation line 40 is fixed to the distal end 15 is not particularly limited. For example, the tip 41 of the operating line 40 may be welded or fastened to the marker 66, welded to the distal end 15 of the sheath 16, or the distal end of the marker 66 or the sheath 16 with an adhesive. 15 may be adhered and fixed.

  The sublumen 30 is open at least on the proximal end PE side of the catheter 10. The base end portion 42 of the operation line 40 protrudes from the opening of the sub-lumen 30 toward the proximal end PE. The base end portion 42 is connected to an operation portion 70 provided on the proximal end PE side of the sheath 16. The operation unit 70 is a mechanism that bends the distal end portion 15 of the catheter 10 by the operator pulling the two operation lines 40 individually or by simultaneously pulling the two operation lines 40. Detailed illustration and description regarding the structure of the operation unit 70 are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, when the operation portion 70 is operated and the proximal end portion 42 of the operation line 40 is pulled rightward in the drawing as indicated by an arrow, the operation line is not connected to the distal end portion 15 of the catheter 10. A tensile force is applied through 40. When the tensile force is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the distal end 15 of the sheath 16 bends toward the sublumen 30 through which the operation line 40 is inserted, with the axis of the catheter 10 as a reference. That is, the distal end portion of the sheath 16 is bent by pulling the proximal end portion 42 of the operation line 40.

  Here, the bending of the sheath 16 includes a mode in which the sheath 16 bends in a “shape” and a mode in which the sheath 16 is bent like a bow.

The distal end 15 of the catheter 10 is bent in a first direction and a second direction which is the opposite direction by selectively pulling the two operation lines 40 by an operation on the operation unit 70. Can be made. The first direction and the second direction are included in the same plane.
Therefore, the direction of the distal end DE of the catheter 10 can be freely controlled by combining the torque operation for axially rotating the entire catheter 10 inserted into the endoscope with the traction operation.
Furthermore, the amount of bending of the distal end DE of the catheter 10 can be adjusted by adjusting the pulling amount of the operation line 40.
For this reason, the catheter 10 of this embodiment can be made to approach in a desired direction, for example with respect to body cavities, such as a branching blood vessel.

  Next, the manufacturing process of the catheter 10 as described above will be described in detail.

  For example, as will be described below, the catheter 10 is manufactured by separately creating each part of the catheter 10 and combining them.

The outer layer 60 is created by extruding a resin material as a molding material by the above-described extrusion molding apparatus 100. At the time of this extrusion molding, the core wire 92 (mandrel) (see FIG. 5) is extruded together with the resin material, so that the resin material to be the outer layer 60 is deposited around the core wire 92.
Although the material of a core wire is not specifically limited, As an example, copper or a copper alloy, alloy steels, such as carbon steel and SUS, nickel, or a nickel alloy can be mentioned.
A release treatment may optionally be performed on the surface of the core wire. As the mold release treatment, optical or chemical surface treatment may be performed in addition to the application of a release agent such as fluorine or silicon.

Here, in order to form a long hollow 91 (FIG. 5) along the longitudinal direction at each position where the sub-lumen 30 is formed by the hollow tube 32 being embedded in the outer layer 60 later. Extrusion molding is performed while discharging gas from each of the gas supply pipes 160. The inner diameter of the hollow 91 is larger than the outer diameter of the hollow tube 32. This is to facilitate the process of inserting the hollow tube 32 into the hollow 91 later.
After extrusion, the hollow outer layer 60 can be created by pulling out the core wire 92. In addition, the wire diameter of the core wire 92 used for forming the outer layer 60 is larger than the outer diameter of the coil 50. This is to facilitate the process of covering the outer layer 60 around the coil 50 (and the inner layer 21) later.

  The inner layer 21 is created by extruding a resin material with an extrusion molding device (not shown) different from the extrusion molding device for creating the outer layer 60. At the time of this extrusion molding, the resin material to be the inner layer 21 is adhered around the core wire by extruding the core wire together with the resin material. The diameter of the core wire corresponds to the diameter of the main lumen 20. The inner layer 21 may be formed by a dispersion forming apparatus.

  The coil 50 is created through a step of winding a wire rod around the core wire (core wire different from that for creating the inner layer 21 and for creating the outer layer 60). Thereafter, the core wire in the coil 50 is pulled out.

  Thereafter, the coil 50 is placed around the inner layer 21 with the core wire. Accordingly, at this stage, the core wire is still inserted into the inner layer 21.

  The hollow tube 32 is formed by extruding a resin material by an extrusion molding apparatus (not shown) separate from the extrusion molding apparatus for creating the inner layer 21 and the extrusion molding apparatus 100 for creating the outer layer 60. Create by. Here, a hollow is formed at the center of the hollow tube 32 by performing extrusion molding while discharging a fluid such as gas from a discharge tube disposed at the center of the extrusion port (nozzle) of the extrusion molding apparatus.

  In addition, a dummy core wire inserted into the hollow tube 32 is separately prepared, and the dummy core wire is inserted into the hollow tube 32.

After the outer layer 60 is formed and the coil 50 is put around the inner layer 21, the outer layer 60 is put around the coil 50. Accordingly, the core wire (used for forming the inner layer 21), the inner layer 21, the coil 50, and the outer layer 60 are arranged concentrically in order from the center side.
Next, a hollow tube 32 (with a dummy core wire) is inserted into each hollow of the outer layer 60.

  Next, a heat shrinkable tube (not shown) is placed around the outer layer 60. Next, the heat shrinkable tube is contracted by heating, and the outer layer 60 is tightened from the surroundings, and the outer layer 60 is melted. The heating temperature is higher than the melting temperature of the outer layer 60 and lower than the melting temperature of the inner layer 21. By this heating, the outer layer 60 and the inner layer 21 are joined by welding. At this time, the resin material constituting the outer layer 60 encloses the coil 50, and the resin material impregnates the coil 50. Further, the outer layer 60 and the hollow tube 32 are joined by welding.

  Next, the heat shrinkable tube is removed from the outer layer 60 by cutting the heat shrinkable tube and tearing the heat shrinkable tube.

  Next, after pulling out the dummy core wire from the hollow tube 32, the operation wire 40 is inserted into the hollow tube 32.

  Separately, a marker 66 that is an annular metal member is prepared.

  Next, fixation of the distal end portion of the operation line 40 to the marker 66 and caulking fixation of the marker 66 to the periphery of the distal end portion of the outer layer 60 are performed.

  Next, a member (not shown) serving as an inlet for a chemical solution or the like is connected to the base end portion of the main lumen 20.

  Next, the core wire in the inner layer 21 is pulled out. The core wire is pulled out in a state where the core wire is reduced in diameter by pulling both ends in the longitudinal direction of the core wire. As a result, a hollow serving as the main lumen 20 is formed at the center of the inner layer 21.

  Next, the base end portion of the operation line 40 is connected to the operation unit 70 created separately.

  Thus, the sheath 16 is bent by a pulling operation with respect to the operation line 40.

  Next, the coat layer 64 is formed.

  Thus, the catheter 10 having a structure having the hollow tube 32 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be produced.

  Here, the process of extruding the molded product 90 using the extrusion molding apparatus 100 will be described in more detail.

  First, the support member 170 is inserted into the material flow path 150 of the extrusion mold 110 before molding. As a result, the gas supply pipe 160 is supported in the straight channel 154.

The position where the support member 170 is set in the material flow path 150 before molding is, for example, the rear part (base end part) of the straight flow path 154 as shown in FIG. However, if the distance between the support member 170 and the front end surface 132a is too narrow, it is difficult to suitably perform the advance operation of the support member 170 by the pressure of the molding material.
For this reason, a certain amount of space is provided between the support member 170 and the distal end surface 132a. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 3, the position of the rear end of the support member 170 is the same as or earlier than the front end position of the joining portion of the tapered channel 153 and the straight channel 154. To do.

  Next, while supplying gas to the extrusion port 111 via each gas supply pipe 160 and supplying the core wire 92 (mandrel) to the extrusion port 111 via the insertion hole 135, the resin material melted into the material flow path 150 Start supplying.

  The resin material sequentially flows from the upstream section 151 to the downstream section 152 of the material flow path 150. In the downstream section 152, the resin material sequentially flows from the tapered channel 153 to the straight channel 154.

Here, the support member 170 previously disposed in the straight flow path 154 is pushed forward by the pressure received from the resin material flowing into the straight flow path 154. The support member 170 continues to support the gas supply pipe 160 while moving forward.
For this reason, it can control that the position of gas supply pipe 160 shifts by the pressure of resin material.

  Eventually, when the support member 170 reaches the tip of the straight channel 154, it is discharged from the extrusion port 111 to the outside (left side in FIGS. 1 to 3).

  Even after the support member 170 is discharged from the extrusion port 111, the resin material is continuously discharged from the extrusion port 111. A long molded product 90 is constituted by the discharged resin material.

  The molded product 90 is made of a resin material attached around the core wire 92. In the molded product 90, a hollow 91 extending in the longitudinal direction is formed at a position corresponding to the tip of each gas supply pipe 160.

  In addition, a pulling device (not shown) is arranged at a position facing the extrusion port 111 of the extrusion mold 110, and the molded product 90 pushed out from the extrusion port 111 is pulled forward by the pulling device, Extrusion molding may be performed.

  By adjusting the extrusion speed of the resin material, the take-up speed of the molded product by the take-up device, the flow rate of the air blown out from the gas supply pipe 160, etc., a long and continuous hollow 91 (lumen) having a desired diameter is made into the molded product. Can be formed.

  Here, the support member 170 supports the gas supply pipe 160 until the support member 170 moves forward and moves away from the gas supply pipe 160. Therefore, while suppressing the displacement of the gas supply pipe 160 due to the pressure of the resin material, the resin material is filled throughout the material flow path 150 to stabilize the flow of the resin material in the material flow path 150 (resin material Can be rectified).

Since the flow of the resin material is continuously maintained in a stable state (rectified state) even after the support member 170 is separated from the gas supply pipe 160 and discharged from the extrusion port 111, the pressure of the resin material The shift of the position of the gas supply pipe 160 due to is suppressed.
Thereby, the position of the hollow 91 in the molded product 90 can be set to a desired arrangement with high accuracy.

  At the stage where the support member 170 is separated from the gas supply pipe 160, the material flow path 150 is filled with the resin material, and there is substantially no void in the resin material. Therefore, formation of voids in the molded product 90 can also be suppressed.

  The support member 170 is newly set in the material flow path 150 every time the extrusion molding apparatus 100 starts a new extrusion. That is, when the extrusion molding is newly started, the support member 170 is set in the material flow path 150 after emptying (removing) the resin material in the extrusion mold 110.

  According to the first embodiment as described above, the support member 170 is molded while the gas supply pipe 160 provided in a cantilever manner in the material flow path 150 of the extrusion mold 110 is supported by the support member 170. The hollow 91 extending in the longitudinal direction is continuously discharged by continuously discharging the molding material from the extrusion port 111 after the support member 170 is discharged from the extrusion port 111 by being moved toward the extrusion port 111 by being pushed by the material. The molded product 90 having the inside is molded. That is, the gas supply pipe 160 can be supported by the support member 170 until the flow of the molding material in the material flow path 150 is stabilized. Therefore, the possibility that the tip of the gas supply pipe 160 is displaced from a desired position due to the pressure received from the molding material can be reduced. Therefore, when molding the molded product 90 having a hollow extending in the longitudinal direction therein, the hollows in the molded product 90 can be arranged in a desired manner with high accuracy.

Note that there is a strong demand for reducing the diameter of medical devices used by entering the body such as the catheter 10 so that the degree of invasiveness to the patient can be further reduced. For this reason, it is extremely important to reduce the diameter of the lumen formed in the medical device.
According to the present embodiment, since the position of the gas supply pipe 160 can be prevented from shifting due to the pressure of the molding material, the diameter of the gas supply pipe 160 is further reduced, and a lumen having a smaller diameter is formed in the molded product 90. It becomes easy.

  Further, when the position of the gas supply pipe 160 is offset from the center of the cross section of the material flow path 150, the gas supply pipe 160 has a pressure in a direction crossing the extending direction. It is easy to receive. In the present embodiment, in particular, in such a case, it is possible to suppress the displacement of the tip of the gas supply pipe 160 due to the pressure received from the molding material.

  Further, the material flow path 150 is a tapered tapered flow path 153, and a straight straight flow path 154 that is positioned between the tapered flow path 153 and the extrusion port 111 and extends in the extrusion direction; The tip of the tapered channel 153 communicates with the base end of the straight channel 154, and the flow direction of the molding material in the tapered channel 153 is the same as the flow direction of the molding material in the straight channel 154. When the gas supply pipe 160 intersects the straight flow path 154 and is disposed in the straight flow path 154, the gas supply pipe 160 is easily displaced from a desired position by the pressure received from the molding material.

  As a more specific example of such a case, the extrusion mold 110 has an outer die 120 and an inner die 130 disposed inside the outer die 120, and the outer die 120 is tapered. The first hollow having a truncated cone shape and the second hollow having a straight shape communicating from the distal end of the first hollow to the extrusion port 111 are formed, and the inner die 130 is formed in a tapered truncated cone shape and has a first hollow shape. The first mold part (middle part 132) disposed inside and the front end surface 132a of the first mold part are formed in a straight shape having a smaller diameter than the front end surface 132a, and are disposed in the second hollow. A second mold portion (tip portion 131), and at least a partial section (for example, the downstream section 152) of the material flow path 150 is formed by a distance between the inner die 130 and the outer die 120, Ga Supply pipe 160 has its base end is supported by the tip portion of the first mold portion, and that is disposed around the second mold part.

  In this embodiment, even in such a case, it is possible to suppress the displacement of the tip of the gas supply pipe 160 due to the pressure received from the molding material.

  In such a case, the support member 170 can support the gas supply pipe 160 at least in the gas supply pipe 160 as viewed from the tapered flow path 153, thereby forming the mold more reliably. The position shift of the tip of the gas supply pipe 160 due to the pressure received from the material can be suppressed.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 9 is an enlarged side sectional view of a main part of an extrusion molding apparatus (not shown) as a whole according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

  The extrusion molding apparatus according to the second embodiment is different from the extrusion molding apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment only in the points described below, and is otherwise related to the first embodiment. The configuration is the same as that of the extrusion molding apparatus 100.

In the first embodiment, the example in which the support member 170 has a cross-sectional shape different from the cross-sectional shape of the material flow path 150 and the support member 170 does not block the cross-section of the material flow path 150 has been described.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the transverse cross-sectional shape of the support member 170 is equal to the cross-sectional shape of the material flow path 150, and the support member 170 has the cross-sectional shape of the material flow path 150. Block.

  Also in this embodiment, the support member 170 is disposed between the gas supply pipe 160 and the peripheral wall of the material flow path 150 to support the gas supply pipe 160. However, in the case of the present embodiment, the peripheral wall of the material flow path 150 referred to here is the inside of the front portion 121 of the outer die 120 located around the tip portion 131 in addition to the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion 131 of the inner die 130. Including the peripheral surface.

  In the case of this embodiment, the support member 170 is a ring-shaped member as shown in FIGS. The support member 170 is formed with a through hole 170a as in the first embodiment, and a through hole 170b through which the gas supply pipe 160 is inserted is formed around the through hole 170a.

Also in the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface 171 (the peripheral wall of the through hole 170a) of the support member 170 abuts (surface contact) along the outer peripheral surface of the tip 131.
On the other hand, the outer peripheral surface 172 of the support member 170 contacts (surface contact) along the inner peripheral surface (the peripheral surface of the hollow portion 125) of the front portion 121 of the outer die 120.
Further, the peripheral wall of the through hole 170 b of the support member 170 abuts (surface contact) along the outer peripheral surface of the gas supply pipe 160.

  In this way, the support member 170 supports each gas supply pipe 160. That is, in the present embodiment, the tip 131 of the inner die 130 and the front 121 of the outer die 120 support each gas supply pipe 160 via the support member 170.

  Here, the support means that a reaction force that resists the fluid pressure received from the molding material is applied from the support member 170 to the gas supply pipe 160 (more specifically, the distal end portion 131 of the inner die 130 and the outer die 131). (Provided from the front part 121 of the die 120 to the gas supply pipe 160 via the support member 170).

  The support member 170 is disposed in the material flow path 150 so that the tip 131 of the inner die 130 is inserted into the through hole 170a and the gas supply pipe 160 is inserted into the through hole 170b.

Also in this embodiment, the molding method of the molded product 90 by the extrusion molding apparatus 100 is the same as that in the first embodiment.
However, in the case of this embodiment, the transverse cross-sectional shape of the support member 170 is equal to the transverse cross-sectional shape of the material flow path 150, and the support member 170 closes the cross-sectional shape of the material flow path 150. For this reason, when the supply of the resin material to the material flow path 150 is started, the upstream side of the support member 170 is filled with the resin material, and the rear surface of the support member 170 is directed to the extrusion port 111 while receiving a uniform pressure from the resin material. And move forward.
Therefore, as compared with the first embodiment, the advance operation of the support member 170 by the pressure of the resin material can be realized more reliably.

According to the second embodiment as described above, the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained, and the following effects can be obtained.
Since the support member 170 has a shape that closes the cross section of the material flow path 150, the support member 170 can be more easily and reliably moved forward by the pressure of the material flow path, and supported by the molding material. When the member 170 is pushed in the extrusion direction, the pressure of the molding material can be made uniform over the entire cross section of the material flow path 150, so that the rectifying action of the molding material can be obtained more preferably than in the first embodiment.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 11 is an enlarged side sectional view of an essential part of an extrusion molding apparatus (not shown) according to the third embodiment, in which (a) is a longitudinal sectional view and (b) is a transverse sectional view. .

  The extrusion molding apparatus according to the third embodiment is different from the extrusion molding apparatus according to the second embodiment only in the points described below, and the other points are the extrusion molding apparatus according to the second embodiment. It is configured in the same way.

  In the case of the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the support member 170 does not allow the resin material to pass from the upstream side of the material flow path 150 to the extrusion port 111 side, and the gas does A vent hole 173 is formed to allow passage from the upstream side to the extrusion port 111 side. The ventilation hole 173 penetrates the support member 170 in the extrusion direction. The position and number of the air holes 173 in the support member 170 are arbitrary. For example, the air hole 173 has a linear shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, air holes 173 are formed at a plurality of locations of the support member 170.

The inner diameter of the vent hole 173 is extremely small so that the molten resin material does not enter the vent hole 173.
However, the gas existing on the upstream side of the support member 170 in the material flow path 150 from before the resin material is supplied, or the gas (void) contained in the molten resin material passes through the vent hole 173 and passes through the support member. 170 can be discharged to the extrusion port 111 side.

  It is sufficient that the molten resin material does not substantially enter the vent hole 173, and a small amount of resin material enters the vent hole 173, or a very small amount of resin material does not pass. It may be allowed to pass through the pores 173 to the extrusion port 111 side.

In the case of this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the resin material passes from the upstream side of the material flow path 150 to the extrusion port 111 side between the support member 170 and the peripheral wall of the material flow path 150. In addition, there is a clearance 174 that allows gas to pass from the upstream side of the material flow path 150 to the extrusion port 111 side.
Here, as described above, the peripheral wall of the material flow path 150 includes the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion 131 and the inner peripheral surface of the front portion 121 of the outer die 120 positioned around the tip portion 131.
The clearance 174 is configured by, for example, forming a groove portion 175 extending in the extrusion direction on the peripheral surface of the support member 170.

  In the example of FIG. 11, the resin material is not passed between the support member 170 and the outer peripheral surface of the gas supply pipe 160 from the upstream side of the material flow path 150 to the extrusion port 111 side, and gas is not used. There is a clearance 176 that passes from the upstream side of the flow path 150 to the extrusion port 111 side. The clearance 176 is configured, for example, by forming a groove portion 177 extending in the pushing direction on the peripheral wall of the through hole 170b of the support member 170.

  It is sufficient that the molten resin material does not substantially enter the clearances 174 and 176, and a minute amount of resin material enters the clearances 174 and 176, or a minute amount of resin material It may be allowed to pass through the clearances 174 and 176 to the extrusion port 111 side.

  FIG. 11 shows an example in which the support member 170 is formed with the vent hole 173 and both the clearances 174 and 176 exist. However, any one of the vent hole 173 and the clearances 174 and 176 is shown. There may be only one or two.

  In the case of the present embodiment, when the molded product 90 is molded by the extrusion molding apparatus 100 as in the second embodiment, the resin material is passed through the air holes 173 and the clearances 174 and 176. The gas is allowed to pass from the upstream side to the extrusion port 111 side while not passing from the upstream side (upstream side of the support member 170) to the extrusion port 111 side (extrusion port 111 side of the support member 170). Thereby, the residual of the void in the molded article 90 can be suppressed more reliably.

  According to the third embodiment as described above, the same effects as those of the second embodiment described above can be obtained, and voids remaining in the molded product 90 can be more reliably suppressed.

[Fourth Embodiment]
FIG. 12 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of an essential part of an extrusion molding apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, in which (a) shows a first example and (b) shows a second example.
The extrusion molding apparatus (FIG. 12A) according to the first example of the fourth embodiment is different from the above-described extrusion molding apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment only in the points described below. In the point, it is comprised similarly to the extrusion molding apparatus 100 which concerns on said 1st Embodiment.
Further, the extrusion molding apparatus (FIG. 12B) according to the second example of the fourth embodiment is different from the extrusion molding apparatus according to the second or third embodiment only in the points described below. In other respects, the configuration is the same as that of the extrusion apparatus according to the second or third embodiment.

  In the first to third embodiments, the example in which the cross-sectional shape of the support member 170 is constant regardless of the position in the extrusion direction has been described. However, in this case, the frictional resistance between the support member 170 and the extrusion mold 110 is large. For this reason, when the support member 170 is moved to the extrusion port 111 side by the pressure of the resin material, and when the support member 170 is pushed into the material flow path 150 and set before extrusion, the support member 170 is pushed in the extrusion direction. Or it may not be able to move smoothly in the opposite direction.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 12A, a clearance 181 exists between the end of the support member 170 on the extrusion direction side and the peripheral wall of the material flow path 150. A clearance 182 exists between the end of the support member 170 on the extrusion direction side and the outer peripheral surface of the gas supply pipe 160.
The clearance 181 is formed between the tip 131 of the inner die 130 and the inner peripheral surface 171 of the support member 170. The clearance 182 is formed between the gas supply pipe 160 and the outer peripheral surface 172 of the support member 170.
Each of these clearances 181 and 182 gradually expands in the extrusion direction.
The clearance 181 is configured, for example, by increasing the inner diameter of the through hole 170a toward the extrusion direction.
The clearance 182 is configured, for example, by reducing the diameter of the support member 170 toward the extrusion direction.

In the example of FIG. 12A, a clearance 183 exists between the end of the support member 170 opposite to the extrusion direction and the peripheral wall of the material flow path 150. What is the extrusion direction of the support member 170? A clearance 184 exists between the opposite end and the outer peripheral surface of the gas supply pipe 160.
The clearance 183 is formed between the tip 131 of the inner die 130 and the inner peripheral surface 171 of the support member 170. The clearance 184 is formed between the gas supply pipe 160 and the outer peripheral surface 172 of the support member 170.
These clearances 183 and 184 gradually expand toward the opposite side to the extrusion direction.
The clearance 183 is configured, for example, by expanding the inner diameter of the through hole 170a toward the side opposite to the extrusion direction.
The clearance 184 is configured, for example, by reducing the outer diameter of the support member 170 toward the side opposite to the extrusion direction.

Thus, in the example of FIG. 12A, the clearance 181 exists between the end portion of the support member 170 on the extrusion direction side and the peripheral wall of the material flow path 150, and the clearance 181 is directed in the extrusion direction. Gradually expanding. In addition, a clearance 182 exists between the end of the support member 170 on the extrusion direction side and the outer peripheral surface of the gas supply pipe 160, and the clearance 182 gradually increases in the extrusion direction.
Thereby, when the support member 170 is moved to the extrusion port 111 side by the pressure of the resin material, the support member 170 can be smoothly moved in the extrusion direction.

Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 12A, a clearance 183 exists between the end of the support member 170 opposite to the extrusion direction and the peripheral wall of the material flow path 150, and the clearance 183 corresponds to the extrusion direction. Is gradually expanding towards the other side. In addition, a clearance 184 exists between the end of the support member 170 opposite to the extrusion direction and the outer peripheral surface of the gas supply pipe 160, and the clearance 184 gradually expands in the extrusion direction. .
Thus, when the support member 170 is pushed into the material flow path 150 and set before extrusion, the support member 170 can be smoothly moved in the direction opposite to the extrusion direction.

On the other hand, clearances 181, 182, 183, and 184 also exist in the example of FIG.
Of these, the clearances 181 and 183 are the same as in the example of FIG.

The clearances 182 and 184 are formed between the inner peripheral surface of the front part 121 of the outer die 120 and the outer peripheral surface 172 of the support member 170.
The clearance 182 gradually expands in the extrusion direction, and the clearance 184 gradually expands in the direction opposite to the extrusion direction.
The clearance 182 is configured, for example, by reducing the diameter of the support member 170 toward the extrusion direction.
The clearance 184 is configured, for example, by reducing the outer diameter of the support member 170 toward the side opposite to the extrusion direction.

In the example of FIG. 12B, a clearance 185 exists between the end of the support member 170 on the extrusion direction side and the outer peripheral surface of the gas supply pipe 160, and is opposite to the extrusion direction of the support member 170. A clearance 186 exists between the end of the gas supply pipe and the outer peripheral surface of the gas supply pipe 160.
The clearance 185 gradually expands in the extrusion direction, and the clearance 186 gradually expands in the direction opposite to the extrusion direction.
The clearance 185 is configured, for example, by expanding the inner diameter of the through hole 170b toward the extrusion direction.
The clearance 186 is configured, for example, by expanding the inner diameter of the through hole 170b toward the side opposite to the extrusion direction.

Thus, in the example of FIG. 12B, clearances 181 and 182 exist between the end of the support member 170 in the extrusion direction and the peripheral wall of the material flow path 150, and the clearances 181 and 182 are It gradually expands in the direction of extrusion. In addition, a clearance 185 exists between the end of the support member 170 on the extrusion direction side and the outer peripheral surface of the gas supply pipe 160, and the clearance 185 gradually increases in the extrusion direction.
Thereby, when the support member 170 is moved to the extrusion port 111 side by the pressure of the resin material, the support member 170 can be smoothly moved in the extrusion direction.

Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 12B, clearances 183 and 184 exist between the end of the support member 170 opposite to the pushing direction and the peripheral wall of the material flow path 150, and the clearances 183 and 184 are It gradually expands toward the opposite side to the extrusion direction. In addition, a clearance 186 exists between the end of the support member 170 opposite to the extrusion direction and the outer peripheral surface of the gas supply pipe 160, and the clearance 186 gradually expands in the extrusion direction. .
Thus, when the support member 170 is pushed into the material flow path 150 and set before extrusion, the support member 170 can be smoothly moved in the direction opposite to the extrusion direction.

  Thus, according to the fourth embodiment, the presence of the clearances 181 to 186 can reduce the frictional resistance between the support member 170 and the extrusion mold 110. Therefore, when the support member 170 is moved to the extrusion port 111 side by the pressure of the resin material, and when the support member 170 is pushed into the material flow path 150 and set before extrusion, the support member 170 is moved in the extrusion direction or It can be moved smoothly in the opposite direction.

  In each of the embodiments described above, a method of feeding the core wire 92 (core wire extrusion molding) when the molded product 90 is extruded is illustrated. You may employ | adopt the system (drawing molding) which supplies fluid (air or water).

  In each of the above embodiments, the gas supply pipe 160 is exemplified as the fluid supply pipe. However, the fluid supply pipe may supply a liquid such as water to the extrusion port 111. Also in this case, the hollow 91 can be formed in the molded product 90 at a position corresponding to the tip of the fluid supply pipe, as described above.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which the hollow 91 is formed in the molded product 90 has been described, but instead of forming the hollow 91, it is configured by filling a material different from the molding material (hereinafter, different material). Further, a different material filling portion (not shown) may be formed in the molded product 90. In this case, extrusion molding of the molded product 90 is performed in the same manner as in each of the above embodiments while supplying the flowing different material to the extrusion port 111 via the fluid supply pipe. Thereby, a resin material filling portion extending in the longitudinal direction is formed in the molded product 90.

  In each of the above embodiments, an example in which a tubular product is molded as the molded product has been described. However, the molded product may be a sheet-shaped product having a long hollow inside.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Catheter 15 Distal end part 16 Sheath 17 Proximal end part 20 Main lumen 21 Inner layer 30 Sublumen 32 Hollow tube 40 Operation line 41 Tip part 42 Base end part 50 Coil 52 Wire material 60 Outer layer 64 Coat layer 66 Marker 70 Operation part 90 Molded product 91 Hollow 92 Core wire 100 Extrusion molding device 110 Extrusion mold 111 Extrusion port 120 Outer die 121 Front portion 122 Rear portion 124 Flat surface 125 Hollow portion 126 Recess 130 Inner die 131 Front end portion 132 Middle portion 132a Front end surface 133 Rear portion 134 Flange Part 135 Insertion hole 136 Gas supply path 150 Material flow path 151 Upstream section 151a Upstream section 151b Upstream section downstream section 152 Downstream section 152a Downstream section upstream section 152b Downstream section downstream section 153 Taper-shaped channel 154 Straight Channel 160 gas Supply pipe 170 支保 member 170a through hole 170b through hole 171 inner peripheral surface 172 the outer peripheral surface 173 vents 174 clearance 175 groove 176 clearance 177 groove 181 Clearance 182 Clearance 183 Clearance 184 Clearance 185 Clearance 186 Clearance DE distal end PE proximal end

Claims (20)

A fluid supply pipe provided in a cantilever manner so that the tip thereof faces the extrusion direction of the molding material in the material flow path of the extrusion mold is disposed between the fluid supply pipe and the peripheral wall of the material flow path. A step of supporting by a supporting member,
Starting the supply of the molding material to the material flow path;
By pushing the support member with the molding material, the support member is moved to the extrusion port side of the extrusion mold while the fluid supply pipe is supported by the support member, and the support member is discharged from the extrusion port. And a process of
A step of forming a molded product by continuously discharging the molding material from the extrusion port while supplying the fluid to the extrusion port through the fluid supply pipe, and subsequently discharging the molding material;
A method for producing an extrusion-molded product, comprising:   The method for manufacturing an extruded product according to claim 1, wherein the fluid supply pipe is disposed offset from a center in a cross section of the material flow path. The extrusion mold has a main pipe having a diameter larger than that of the fluid supply pipe at the center of the material flow path,
The method for producing an extruded product according to claim 2, wherein the molded product is molded while supplying a core material or a fluid to the extrusion port through the main pipe. The extrusion mold has a plurality of the fluid supply pipes arranged evenly around the main pipe,
The method for producing an extruded product according to claim 3, wherein the molded product is molded while supplying a fluid from each of the plurality of fluid supply pipes to the extrusion port. The material flow path is
A tapered channel with a tapered shape;
A straight channel having a straight shape that is located between the tapered channel and the extrusion port and extends along the extrusion direction;
Have
The tip of the tapered channel communicates with the proximal end of the straight channel,
The flow direction of the molding material in the tapered channel intersects the flow direction of the molding material in the straight channel,
The fluid supply pipe is disposed in the straight channel,
5. The support member according to claim 1, wherein the support member supports at least a portion of the fluid supply pipe that is behind the fluid supply pipe as viewed from the tapered flow path. Extruded product manufacturing method.   The method for manufacturing an extruded product according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the support member orthogonal to the extrusion direction is equal to a cross-sectional shape of the material flow path. The molding is performed through a ventilation hole formed in the support member, a clearance between the support member and the peripheral wall of the material flow path, or a clearance between the support member and the outer peripheral surface of the fluid supply pipe. while the material from an upstream side of the material flow path so as not to pass into the extrusion port side, the gas from the upstream side to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that passing into the extrusion port side The manufacturing method of the extrusion molded article of description. An extrusion mold in which a material flow path is formed;
A fluid supply pipe provided in a cantilever manner so that the tip thereof faces the extrusion direction of the molding material in the material flow path;
A support member disposed between the fluid supply pipe and the peripheral wall of the material flow path, and supporting the fluid supply pipe;
Have
The extrusion molding apparatus, wherein the support member is movable to the extrusion port side of the extrusion mold while supporting the fluid supply pipe, and can be discharged to the outside from the extrusion port.   The extrusion apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the fluid supply pipe is disposed offset from a center in a cross section of the material flow path. The extrusion mold has a main pipe having a diameter larger than that of the fluid supply pipe at the center of the material flow path,
The extrusion molding apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a core material or a fluid is supplied to the extrusion port through the main pipe.   11. The extrusion molding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the extrusion mold includes a plurality of the fluid supply pipes arranged evenly around the main pipe. The material flow path is
A tapered channel with a tapered shape;
A straight channel having a straight shape that is located between the tapered channel and the extrusion port and extends along the extrusion direction;
Have
The tip of the tapered channel communicates with the proximal end of the straight channel,
The flow direction of the molding material in the tapered channel intersects the flow direction of the molding material in the straight channel,
The extrusion apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the fluid supply pipe is disposed in the straight channel. The extrusion mold is
An outer die,
An inner die disposed inside the outer die;
Have
In the outer die,
A first hollow with a tapered frustum shape;
A second hollow with a straight shape communicating from the tip of the first hollow to the extrusion port;
Formed,
The inner die is
A first mold part formed in a tapered frustum shape and disposed in the first hollow;
A second mold part that is connected to the front end surface of the first mold part, has a straight shape smaller in diameter than the front end surface, and is disposed in the second hollow;
Have
An interval between the inner die and the outer die forms at least a partial section of the material flow path,
13. The extrusion molding according to claim 12, wherein the fluid supply pipe is disposed around the second mold part with a base end supported by a distal end surface of the first mold part. apparatus.   The extrusion apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the support member supports at least a portion of the fluid supply pipe that is behind the fluid supply pipe when viewed from the tapered flow path.   The extrusion molding apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the support member orthogonal to the extrusion direction is equal to a cross-sectional shape of the material flow path. The support member is formed with a vent hole that does not allow the molding material to pass from the upstream side of the material flow path to the extrusion port side and allows gas to pass from the upstream side to the extrusion port side,
Or
Between the supporting member and the peripheral wall of the material flow path, there is a clearance that does not allow the molding material to pass from the upstream side to the extrusion port side and allows gas to pass from the upstream side to the extrusion port side. Exists or
Or
A clearance between the support member and the outer peripheral surface of the fluid supply pipe that does not allow the molding material to pass from the upstream side to the extrusion port side and allows gas to pass from the upstream side to the extrusion port side. The extrusion molding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein A clearance exists between an end of the support member on the extrusion direction side and a peripheral wall of the material flow path, and the clearance gradually increases in the extrusion direction. Item 15. The extrusion apparatus according to any one of Items 8 to 14 . A clearance exists between an end of the support member on the extrusion direction side and an outer peripheral surface of the fluid supply pipe, and the clearance is gradually enlarged toward the extrusion direction. The extrusion apparatus as described in any one of Claims 8 thru | or 14 . There is a clearance between the end of the support member opposite to the extrusion direction and the peripheral wall of the material flow path, and the clearance gradually increases toward the opposite side of the extrusion direction. The extrusion molding apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 14 , wherein There is a clearance between the end of the support member opposite to the pushing direction and the outer peripheral surface of the fluid supply pipe, and the clearance gradually increases toward the opposite side of the pushing direction. The extrusion apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 14 , wherein the extrusion molding apparatus is provided.

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