Body-space drainage-tube debris removal

• US 10,667,884 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2017
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ClearFlow, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ClearFlow, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyle, Jr., Edward M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Osinski, Bradley J
• Application Number:
  US15/421,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20170135780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/701 for flexible tubular instruments, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/70 Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/76 Handpieces specially for suction-irrigation A61M1/774, aspiration tips A61M1/84
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0019 Cleaning catheters or the like, e.g. for reuse of the device, for avoiding replacement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2027/004 with at least a part of the circuit outside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0205 Materials having antiseptic or antimicrobial properties, e.g. silver compounds, rubber with sterilising agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/101 Pleural cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/002 Implant devices for drainage of body fluids from one part of the body to another intraocular A61F9/00781; middle ear A61F11/202

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a debris removal system is provided for a body-space drainage system having one or more body tubes with a body tube lumen disposed therein. The debris-removal system comprises an elongated cleaning member and a cleaning head adapted to be advanced distally at least a portion of a length of the body tube lumen to dislodge debris therein. A collapsible sheath can be used to maintain a sterile field in the body tube lumen while the cleaning member is being used by enclosing at least a portion of the cleaning member that is not contained within the body tube lumen, and permitting external digital manipulation of the cleaning member through the sheath to advance and/or retract the cleaning member, and cleaning head, in the body tube lumen.

Claims

1. A method of clearing debris from a body tube, comprising:

a. drawing suction through a proximal end of a body tube whose distal end is implanted in a patient'"'"'s body cavity, wherein the body tube partially defines a closed-suction system;

b. draining a fluid from the patient'"'"'s body cavity through the proximal end of the body tube; and

c. actuating from outside the body tube a cleaning member within a lumen of the body tube to dislodge debris therein, without interrupting the suction within the closed-suction system, wherein the cleaning member comprises a flexible wire filament that extends distally from a proximal opening of the body tube.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said actuating the cleaning member does not compromise a sterile field within the body tube.

3. The method of claim 1, the cleaning member comprising a distal end and a cleaning head disposed at or adjacent the distal end of the flexible wire filament.

4. The method of claim 3, the cleaning head being configured such that it permits free flow of material past the cleaning head through the lumen of the body tube regardless whether the cleaning head is at rest or is being actuated to dislodge debris.

5. The method of claim 3, the cleaning member being configured such that the distal end cannot exit the body tube distal end upon advancement of the cleaning member.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein actuating the cleaning member causes a corresponding actuation of the cleaning head against an interior wall surface of the lumen of the body tube.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising expelling a fluid from the distal end.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising a filament manipulation device coupled to a proximal end of the cleaning member.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the filament manipulation device is configured to impart vibratory excitation to the cleaning member.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein debris dislodged by the cleaning member is drawn through the lumen of the body tube and out the proximal end thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting the cleaning member through a collapsible sheath in communication with the body tube.