Pressure applying fluid transfer method

• US 6,123,697 A
• Filed: 10/08/1998
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shippert Enterprises LLC (Summit Medical, LLC)
• Original Assignee: GD Searle LLC (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Shippert, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/169,741
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 606/191-192, 606/196, 604/1-2, 604/11, 604/19, 604/500, 604/514, 604/104, 604/174-175, 604/284, 604/512, 604/540
• US Class Current: 604/514
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12104 in an air passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1219 expandable in contact with liquids
• 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 1/67 Containers incorporating a piston-type member to create suction, e.g. syringes cupping glasses A61M1/08; with a flexible member creating suction A61M1/68
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008

Abstract

A device for applying pressure using absorbed fluid is disclosed. The device has particular utility in body cavities, such as nasal or sinus passages. In one embodiment, the device includes an expandable packing member and a delivery/draining tube. The packing member is insertable into a body cavity or body wound and expands when the packing member absorbs one or more fluids. After reaching the desired expansion, the packing member contacts body walls and applies pressure thereto. The delivery/draining tube is able to deliver fluid for treatment purposes or for expanding the packing member to a desired size. The delivery/draining tube is also used in removing body or other fluids from the body cavity or wound that are absorbed by the packing member. Rehydrating fluid is also utilized in facilitating the removal of the packing member from the body cavity or wound. In another embodiment, the packing member is definable to include anterior, body and posterior sections. A wrap member is disposed about portions of the anterior section that inhibits expansion thereof by liquid, as well as preventing adhesion or unwanted engagement between said anterior section portions and parts of the body cavity in which the packing member is inserted.

Claims

1. A method for absorbing fluid while applying pressure, comprising:

inserting a packing member having a length, a thickness and a first size into an existing nasal cavity having an open beginning and an end and in which, before said inserting, said existing nasal cavity open beginning is used to receive said packing member, wherein said packing member having an outer surface that absorbs fluid in said nasal cavity and said outer surface being in open communication with and in proximity to said nasal cavity open beginning during said inserting;

receiving fluid through at least one hole formed in a tube having a channel section positioned within said thickness of said packing member, said receiving step including obtaining supplied fluid from outside of said nasal cavity, said obtaining step includes delivering said supplied fluid as one of an antibiotic, an anesthetic, a decongestant and an irrigating fluid;

absorbing fluid by said packing member with said packing member expanding to a second size due to said absorbed fluid and in which parts of said packing member are spaced from said nasal cavity when said packing member has said first size while said packing member parts contact portions of said nasal cavity when said packing member has said second size; and

applying pressure to said nasal cavity portions when said packing member expands to said second size and in which said pressure is absent when said packing member has said first size.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

attaching said tube to a patient'"'"'s head.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

providing a venting tube within said packing member to permit breathing therethrough.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

forming a proximal end of said packing member at an angle, different from 90°

, and providing a venting tube having an angle at one of its ends substantially the same as said angle of said proximal end of said packing member.

5. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said packing member has an anterior end and a posterior end and in which said inserting step includes positioning said anterior end immediately adjacent said open beginning.

6. A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said anterior end is located less than one-quarter of said length of said packing member from said open beginning.

7. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said receiving step includes supplying fluid from outside of said nasal cavity to said packing member by moving a plunger inwardly relative to a syringe barrel.

8. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

connecting a syringe using a luer member thereof to said tube.

9. A method for absorbing fluid while applying pressure, comprising:

inserting a packing member having a length, a thickness and a first size into an existing nasal cavity having an open beginning and an end and in which, before said inserting, said existing nasal cavity open beginning is used to receive said packing member, wherein said packing member having an outer surface that absorbs fluid in said nasal cavity and said outer surface being in open communication with and in proximity to said nasal cavity open beginning during said inserting;

receiving fluid through at least one hole formed in a tube having a channel section positioned within said thickness of said packing member, said receiving step including obtaining supplied fluid from outside of said nasal cavity, said obtaining step includes delivering said supplied fluid as a rehydrating fluid immediately before said packing member is removed from said nasal cavity;

absorbing fluid by said packing member with said packing member expanding to a second size due to said absorbed fluid and in which parts of said packing member are spaced from said nasal cavity when said packing member has said first size while said packing member parts contact portions of said nasal cavity when said packing member has said second size; and

applying pressure to said nasal cavity portions when said packing member expands to said second size and in which said pressure is absent when said packing member has said first size.

10. A method for absorbing fluid while applying pressure, comprising:

inserting a packing member having a length, an anterior end, a posterior end, a thickness and a first size into an existing nasal cavity having an open beginning and an end and in which, before said inserting, said existing nasal cavity open beginning is used to receive said packing member, wherein said packing member has an outer surface that absorbs fluid in said nasal cavity, with said outer surface being in open communication with and in proximity to said nasal cavity open beginning during said inserting, said inserting step including positioning said anterior end immediately adjacent said open beginning wherein said anterior end is located no greater than about one-quarter of said length of said packing member from said open beginning after completion of said positioning step;

connecting a syringe, having a barrel, a luer member at an end of said barrel and a plunger, using said luer member to a tube having a plurality of holes in communication with said packing member;

receiving fluid through said plurality of holes, said receiving step including supplying fluid from outside of said nasal cavity to said packing member by moving said plunger inwardly relative to said syringe barrel;

absorbing fluid by said packing member with said packing member expanding to a second size due to said absorbed fluid and in which parts of said packing member are spaced from said nasal cavity when said packing member has said first size while said packing member parts contact portions of said nasal cavity when said packing member has said second size; and

applying pressure to said nasal cavity portions when said packing member expands to said second size and in which said pressure is absent when said packing member has said first size.

11. A method, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said inserting step includes using a flange, which is connected to said anterior end of said packing member, having a sufficient size to prevent said flange from entering said nasal cavity.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 10, further including:

providing a venting tube within said packing member to permit breathing therethrough.

13. A method, as claimed in claim 10, further including:

forming a proximal end of said packing member at an angle, different from 90°

, and providing a venting tube having an angle at one of its ends substantially the same as said angle of said proximal end of said packing member.