Apparatus, and method for chemical contact dissolution of gallstones
First Claim
1. An apparatus for dissolving stones in a gallbladder comprising:
- a solvent capable of dissolving stones in the gallbladder;
a catheter having a side wall, and distal and proximal ends, said catheter including first, second and third lumens, each of the lumens including a separate hole in said catheter side wall;
a first pump connected in fluid communication with the proximal end of said first lumen;
said first pump infusing said solvent into the gallbladder at a high rate of flow;
a second pump connected in fluid communication with the proximal end of said second lumen;
said second pump aspirating said solvent and dissolved stones out of the gallbladder;
a transducer connected in fluid communication with the proximal end of the third lumen;
said transducer generating a signal indicative of intragallbladder pressure; and
a microprocessor, connected to said first and second pumps, and to said transducer, and responsive to the intragallbladder pressure indicating signal, said microprocessor controlling operation of said first and second pumps.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fully automatic organ pressure sensitive apparatus for dislodging and removing obstructions in bodily cavities or organs by both delivering and removing fluid thereto, operable by high rate continuous or intermittent infusion of fluid solvent over a set pressure range to effect rapid dissolution and removal of the obstruction without complications to the patient. By continuous feedback monitoring of fluid pressure in the bodily organ or cavity of interest, the apparatus can constantly vary infusion and aspiration rates to maintain the set pressure range. If the pressure persists above or below the set range, the apparatus activates a safety feature leading to a period of maximal aspiration and cessation of infusion, followed by cessation of solvent transfer and triggering of an alarm to alert the operator.
121 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dissolving stones in a gallbladder comprising:
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a solvent capable of dissolving stones in the gallbladder; a catheter having a side wall, and distal and proximal ends, said catheter including first, second and third lumens, each of the lumens including a separate hole in said catheter side wall; a first pump connected in fluid communication with the proximal end of said first lumen;
said first pump infusing said solvent into the gallbladder at a high rate of flow;a second pump connected in fluid communication with the proximal end of said second lumen;
said second pump aspirating said solvent and dissolved stones out of the gallbladder;a transducer connected in fluid communication with the proximal end of the third lumen;
said transducer generating a signal indicative of intragallbladder pressure; anda microprocessor, connected to said first and second pumps, and to said transducer, and responsive to the intragallbladder pressure indicating signal, said microprocessor controlling operation of said first and second pumps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus capable of dissolving stones in a gallbladder comprising:
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a solvent dissolving stones in the gallbladder.; a catheter having a side wall, and distal and proximal ends, said catheter including first and second lumens, each of the first and second lumens including a separate hole in said catheter side wall;
said holes exchanging fluid between the gallbladder and respective lumens;a first pump connected in fluid communication with the proximal end of said first lumen; a second pump connected in fluid communication with the proximal end of said second lumen; a transducer mounted near the distal end of the catheter and in direct communication with the gallbladder fluid contents;
said transducer generating a signal indicative of intragallbladder pressure; anda microprocessor, connected to said first and second pumps, and to said transducer, and responsive to the intragallbladder pressure indicating signal, said microprocessor controlling the speed and direction of operation of said first and second pumps for moving said solvent into and out of the gallbladder. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of dissolving stones in a gallbladder comprising the steps of:
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determining an upper fluid pressure limit above which fluid may leak out of the gallbladder; determining a lower fluid pressure limit below which bile may be aspirated from the bile duct into the gallbladder; infusing a solvent capable of dissolving stones in the gallbladder through a first lumen to the gallbladder at an infusion flow rate; aspirating the solvent and dissolved stones through a second lumen and from the gallbladder at an aspiration flow rate; measuring an intragallbladder pressure; and controlling the infusion and aspiration rates in response to the measured intragallbladder pressure to maintain the intragallbladder pressure substantially between the upper and lower limits. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification