Surgical drain with sensors for monitoring fluid lumen

• US 20040230179A1
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Photosonics Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alfred E MANN Institute For Biomedical Engineering At The University of Southern California, University of Southern California
• Inventors: Shehada, Ramez Emile Necola
• Granted Patent: US 7,267,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/541
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/228 Sensors with optical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/413 Monitoring transplanted tissue or organ, e.g. for possible rejection reactions after a transplant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/918 for multiple suction locations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/95 with sensors for exudate composition
• 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

The present invention is directed to devices and methods of using a surgical drain, and more particularly to a surgical drain having at least one sensor for monitoring and/or recording the condition of the anatomical site or fluid emitted from the site where the surgical drain is placed. The invention may also include modifications of the surgical drain to improve stabilization or immobilization in the proximity of the anatomical site to be monitored.

Claims

1. A surgical drain comprising:

an elongated conduit configured to be implanted in and to drain fluid from a body cavity; and

a first sensing system configured to sense a physiological property of a substance within the drain lumen.

2. The surgical drain of claim 1 configured to drain blood, puss, bile or intestinal contents.

3. The surgical drain of claim 1, comprising a second sensing system configured to sense a different physiological property than the first sensing system.

4. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the physiological property is selected from the group comprising:

oxygenation, perfusion, temperature, pH, NADH levels, biochemical composition, drug concentration, turgidity or pressure.

5. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the conduit includes a drain portion configured to rest against a substantial length of tissue within the body cavity and a plurality of drain holes spaces along substantially the entire length of the drain portion.

6. The surgical drain of claim 1, comprising a display in communication with the first sensing system, wherein the display is configured to depict data corresponding to the physiological property sensed by the first sensing system.

7. A surgical drain comprising:

an elongated conduit configured to be implanted in and to drain fluid from a body cavity, the elongated conduit including a lumen having a first position and a second position located within the lumen;

a first transmitting element configured to deliver energy to the lumen proximate to the first position; and

a first sensing system configured to receive energy proximate to the lumen second position.

8. The surgical drain of claim 7, wherein the first transmitting element and first sensing system are embedded within the conduit behind material that is optically transparent.

9. The surgical drain of claim 7, wherein the first position and second position are located on substantially opposite sides of the drain lumen.

10. The surgical drain of claim 7, wherein the lumen includes a third position and a fourth position, further comprising:

a second transmitting element configured to deliver energy to the lumen proximate to the third position; and

a second sensing system configured to receive energy proximate to the lumen fourth position.

11. The surgical drain of claim 10, further comprising a processing system in communication with the first and second sensing systems configured to compare a difference between the energy detected by the first and second sensing systems.

12. The surgical drain of claim 10, comprising a third sensing system configured to sense a different physiological property than the first sensing system.

13. The surgical drain of claim 10, wherein the physiological property is selected from the group comprising:

oxygenation, perfusion, temperature, pH, NADH levels, biochemical composition, drug concentration, turgidity or pressure.

14. The surgical drain of claim 10, wherein the conduit includes a drain portion configured to rest against a substantial length of tissue within the body cavity and a plurality of drain holes spaces along substantially the entire length of the drain portion.

15. The surgical drain of claim 10, comprising a display in communication with the third sensing system, wherein the display is configured to depict data corresponding to the physiological property sensed by the third sensing system.

16. A method of utilizing a surgical drain to monitor substances in a drain lumen comprising:

implanting a surgical drain having a surgical drain lumen within a body cavity in proximity to a tissue to be monitored, wherein the surgical drain includes a first sensing system configured to sense a physiological property of a substance within a drain lumen;

receiving information from the first sensing system regarding a substance within the drain lumen;

monitoring the information received from the sensing system to evaluate the condition of the tissue over time.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising transmitting energy within the drain lumen and receiving energy with the first sensing system.

18. The method of claim 16, further including processing the information received from the first sensing system.

19. The method of claim 18, further including displaying information received from the first sensing system.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein implanting the surgical drain comprises anchoring the surgical drain to a tissue within the body cavity.

21. A method of utilizing a surgical drain to monitor substances in the drain lumen comprising:

implanting a surgical drain within a body cavity in proximity to tissue to be monitored, wherein the surgical drain includes a first and a second sensing system configured to sense a physiological property of a substance within the drain lumen;

receiving information from the first and second sensing systems regarding substances in the drain lumen;

monitoring the information received from the first and second sensing systems to evaluate the condition of the tissue over time.

22. The method of claim 21, comprising processing information from the first and second sensing systems to compare a difference in information received from the first and second sensing systems.

23. The method of claim 21, comprising processing information from the first and second sensing systems to compare a difference in information received from the first and second sensing systems proximate to different positions along the drain lumen.