Method for dissolving a solidified mass in vivo, and apparatus for use in said method
First Claim
1. A method for dissolving a solidified mass in vivo, comprising:
- introducing a dissolving agent into a localized area of a patient'"'"'s body;
injecting an agitating fluid into and withdrawing the agitating fluid from the localized body area to stir the dissolving agent therein, wherein a body fluid is withdrawn from the body area with the agitating fluid;
separating the withdrawn body fluid from the withdrawn agitating fluid; and
reintroducing the separated agitating fluid into the localized body area to further stir the dissolving agent therein.
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Abstract
A method for dissolving a solidified mass in vivo, and apparatus for oscillating a fluid into and out from a body area. The method comprises introducing a dissolving agent into a body area, and oscillating an agitating fluid into and out from that body area to stir the dissolving agent therein. Body fluids withdrawn from the body area with the agitating fluid are separated therefrom, and the separated agitating fluid is reintroduced into the body area to further stir the dissolving agent. The apparatus comprises a pump to force fluid into and to draw the fluid from a body area, a trap for collecting body fluids aspirated from the body area, and fluid lines to connect the pump to the trap and the trap to the body area.
35 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for dissolving a solidified mass in vivo, comprising:
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introducing a dissolving agent into a localized area of a patient'"'"'s body; injecting an agitating fluid into and withdrawing the agitating fluid from the localized body area to stir the dissolving agent therein, wherein a body fluid is withdrawn from the body area with the agitating fluid; separating the withdrawn body fluid from the withdrawn agitating fluid; and reintroducing the separated agitating fluid into the localized body area to further stir the dissolving agent therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for dissolving a solidified mass in vivo, comprising:
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introducing a dissolving agent into a localized area of a patient'"'"'s body; oscillating an agitating fluid into and out of the localized body area to stir the dissolving agent therein, wherein bile is withdrawn from the body area with the agitating fluid; separating the withdrawn bile from the withdrawn agitating fluid in a bile trap; and recycling back into the body area agitating fluid separated from the bile to further stir the dissolving agent. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. Apparatus for oscillating a fluid into and out from a localized body area, comprising:
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a pump for forcing fluid into and drawing the fluid from the body area in a continuous, cyclical manner; and fluid delivery means for connecting the pump to the body area to conduct the fluid therebetween, and including (i) a fluid trap for collecting body fluid aspirated from the body area, and including means for discharging body fluid from the fluid trap, (ii) a first fluid line for connecting the pump to the fluid trap to conduct fluid therebetween, and (iii) a second fluid line for connecting the fluid trap to the body area, with the fluid trap located in series between the pump and the body area, to conduct fluid between the fluid trap and the body area. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for oscillating a fluid into and out from a localized body area comprising:
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a pump to inject fluid into and aspirate fluid from the body area in a continuous, cyclical manner; and fluid delivery means for connecting the pump to the body area to conduct fluid therebetween, and including (i) a fluid trap to collect body fluid aspirated from the body area, and including (a) an inlet, (b) an outlet, (c) body fluid discharge means to discharge body fluid from the fluid trap, and (d) gas discharge means to vent gases and vapors from the fluid trap, (ii) a first fluid line connected to the pump and secured to the inlet of the fluid trap to conduct fluid between the pump and the fluid trap, and (iii) a second fluid line secured in the outlet of the fluid trap, for connecting the fluid trap to the body area, with the fluid trap located in series between the pump and the body area, to conduct fluid between the fluid trap and the body area. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification