Nasal cavity drainage and stoppage system

• US 6,027,478 A
• Filed: 10/09/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medical Purchasing Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medical Purchasing Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Katz, Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thanh, LoAn H.
• Application Number:
  US08/947,577
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 604/35, 604/49, 604/54, 604/94, 604/96, 604/102, 604/275, 604/276, 606/192, 606/194, 606/196, 606/199
• US Class Current: 604/102.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12104 in an air passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• 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: A61M 1/84 Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose

Abstract

A method for simultaneously isolating the flow of blood in a nasal cavity and withdrawing the blood from the nasal cavity is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of inserting a catheter into the nasal cavity. The catheter is composed of a tube and a duct and a forward end capable of being enlarged to form a balloon. Once the catheter is positioned in the nasal passage, air is pumped into the catheter through the tube to inflate the balloon. The inflated balloon forms a seal within the nasal cavity that prevents the flow of blood beyond the seal.

Simultaneously, blood is drawn into the catheter by applying a suction force to the duct. Suction may be accomplished by attaching a vacuum at the opposite end of the catheter and connecting it to the duct. The blood is drawn into the duct through a plurality of holes that connect the periphery of the catheter with the duct. The blood thus drawn into the duct is removed from the nasal cavity and disposed away from it.

Claims

1. A method for simultaneously isolating the flow of blood in a nasal cavity and withdrawing the blood from the nasal cavity, comprising the steps of:

inserting a catheter having a tube and a duct in said nasal cavity;

inflating a balloon located near a forward end of the tube to form a seal within said nasal cavity; and

withdrawing blood from within said nasal cavity through at least one hole in the periphery of said tube into said duct without disturbing the surrounding nasal cavity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising said withdrawal being a suctioning of said blood through said duct.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising said withdrawing blood into said duct through plurality of holes disposed about said catheter.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deflating said balloon, and

withdrawing said catheter from the nasal cavity.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising said balloon returning to its original shape after being deflated.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising withdrawing said blood through a plurality of holes.