Liquid seal assembly for a rotating torque tube

• US 20040230213A1
• Filed: 03/10/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Limited (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pathway Medical Technologies, Inc. (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Torrance, Casey, Wulfman, Edward I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,475,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/167
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00137 End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/01 Guiding arrangements therefore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320725 with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements A61B17/32075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3462 with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals expandable cannulas A61B17/3417
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22049 Means for locking the guide wire in the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320032 Details of the rotating or oscillating shaft, e.g. using a flexible shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/84 Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/85 : with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/06 : Haemostasis valves, i.e. gaskets sealing around a needle, catheter or the like, closing on removal thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0606 : without means for adjusting the seal opening or pressure A61M39/0693 takes precedence

Abstract

A sealing assembly hinders or prevents air or other fluid from seeping between various components of a medical device by use of a liquid seal. An infusion port is for introducing a sealing liquid to immerse a flood space between a liner that surrounds a torque tube and/or within the torque tube, thereby creating a liquid seal around the torque tube and lubricating the torque tube. The length of the liner and the cross sectional space of the flood space are adjusted to control flow rate. An aspiration port may force suction pressure into a lumen extending along the length of the medical device in a distal direction. The liquid seal also prevents diluting of the suction pressure by stopping ingress of air.

Claims

1. An assembly for creating a liquid seal in a medical device, the assembly comprising:

a liner wrapped around a rotatable torque tube to form a flood space there within, the liner extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the torque tube, and

a sealing member with an infusion port for infusing a sufficient amount of liquid in the flood space to create a seal around the torque tube.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the flood space includes a clearance area between the liner and torque tube.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the torque tube is a coiled drive shaft and the flood space includes gaps between the coils.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the torque tube includes a lumen for a guide wire and the flood space includes the lumen.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further a suction port for aspirating fluid from a lumen extending within a catheter and wherein the liner separates lower pressure in the flood space from adjacent higher pressure outside or proximal to the flood space.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the liner has a distal terminal end at an intersect area within the catheter and the pressure at the liner distal terminal end at least substantially equals the pressure of the lumen at the intersect area.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein liquid traveling in the flood space is forced to exit the flood space at the intersect area and travel into the lumen.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the liner has a length that reduces fluid flow rate and restricts the amount of liquid exiting the flood space.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the liner length is between 6 and 30 inches.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing member further comprises an overflow port for exit of excess liquid and wherein the torque tube extends through the overflow port.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the liquid is blood that is extracted from a patient during use of the medical device on the patient.

12. An assembly for creating a liquid seal in a medical device, the assembly comprising:

a liner wrapped around a rotatable torque tube to form a flood space there within, the liner extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the torque tube, and

a sealing member comprising;

an infusion port for infusing a sufficient amount of liquid between the torque tube and the liner to create a seal around the torque tube, and

a suction port for aspirating fluid from a lumen extending within a catheter enclosing the liner,

wherein the liner separates adjacent pressure outside or proximal to the flood space from pressure in the flood space.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the liner has a distal terminal end at an intersect area within the catheter and liner has a length, such that the pressure at the liner distal terminal end to at least substantially equals the pressure of the lumen at the intersect area.

14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein liquid traveling in the flood space exits the flood space at the intersect area and travels into the lumen.

15. A medical device comprising:

a rotatable torque tube;

a catheter enclosing at least a portion of the torque tube; and

a sealing assembly comprising;

a liner wrapped around a rotatable torque tube to form a flood space there within, the liner extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the torque tube, and

a sealing member with an infusion port for infusing a sufficient amount of liquid in the flood space to create a seal around the torque tube.

16. The medical device of claim 15, further including a drive system coupled to the torque tube to rotate the torque tube.

17. The medical device of claim 15, further including a hand held unit and the sealing assembly are housed within the hand held unit.