IRRIGATION AND ASPIRATION DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20080154183A1
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aardvark Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aardvark Medical, LLC
• Inventors: Slone, Clinton N., BAKER, Peter Christensen, Lovette, James Michael, Strasser, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,959,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/246 for cleaning of the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/772 operating alternately
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/774 Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3337 Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/82 Internal energy supply devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0208 before use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0212 after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0216 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0258 by means of electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0283 with at least two inner passageways, a first one for irrigating and a second for evacuating suction-irrigation systems A61M1/77; aspiration tips with fluid supply means A61M1/85; for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92

Abstract

An irrigation and aspiration system is disclosed. The system can be configured to aspirate and irrigate alone, sequentially or concurrently. The system can be configured to aspirate and irrigate the nasal cavity. The system can be manually controlled. The system can have removable and easily cleanable reservoirs for aspirant and irrigant.

Claims

1. A portable, handheld device for irrigating with an irrigant and aspirating biological tissue and/or secretions comprising:

a body;

a head connected to the body;

a first port in the head, the first port configured to deliver an irrigant to outside of the head;

a second port in the head, the second port configured to receive an aspirant from outside of the head; and

wherein the head comprises an aspirant reservoir in direct fluid communication with the second port; and

a fluid control system comprising a pump, wherein the fluid control system is configured to control an irrigation delivery pressure of the irrigant outside of the head.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the head is articulatably connected to the body.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the aspirant reservoir is removably attachable to the remainder of the head.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the aspirant reservoir is dishwasher safe.

5. The device of Claim. 1, wherein the head is articulatable within the head.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the head further comprises an irrigant reservoir comprising the irrigant.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the irrigant reservoir is removable from the head.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the irrigant reservoir is configured to be refilled while in the device with the irrigant from an external source.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the head is configured with a larger radius distal to the first port and the second port to prevent overinsertion of the head into a natural body orifice.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid control system is configured to control an aspirant suction pressure of the aspirant into the head.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the fluid control system is configured to simultaneously irrigate and aspirate.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the fluid control system is electronically driven.

13. The device of claim 10, further comprising a manual control configured to control the fluid control system.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the fluid control system comprises a second valve configured to control the aspiration suction pressure.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid control system comprises a first valve configured to control the irrigation delivery pressure.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises a diaphragm pump.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the diaphragm pump comprises a dual diaphragm pump.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises a piston.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid control system comprises a first motor.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a power source.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the head is removably attachable to the body.

22. A method for a user to irrigating and aspirating a natural body orifice comprising:

holding an entire device in a hand of the user, wherein the device is portable;

simultaneously irrigating at an irrigation pressure inside the nose with a device and aspirating at an aspiration pressure inside the nose with the device, wherein the device comprises a body and a head connected to the body, an irrigant reservoir, an aspirant reservoir, a first port in the head in fluid communication with the irrigant reservoir, and a second port in the bead in direct fluid communication with the aspirant reservoir; and

wherein irrigating comprises delivering an irrigant from the irrigant reservoir, through the first port and into the natural body orifice with an irrigation pressure, and

wherein aspirating comprises receiving an aspirant from the natural body orifice, through the second port and directly into the aspirant reservoir with an aspiration pressure.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising articulating the head with respect to the body.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the simultaneously irrigating and aspirating 23 comprises varying the irrigation pressure between non-zero irrigation pressures.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the simultaneously irrigating and aspirating comprises varying the aspirating pressure between non-zero aspiration pressures.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising electronically controlling the irrigation pressure and the aspiration pressure.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising storing in the device the irrigant.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising storing in the device the aspirated aspirant.