Process for treating a patient with hydrocephalus utilizing an external medical draining system

• US 6,540,727 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Harper, Derek J., Hampton, Lawrence L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, CATHERINE SERKE
• Application Number:
  US09/874,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 604/540-541, 604/322-323, 604/325-326, 604/317-318, 604/543-544, D24/108, D24/111, D24/127-129
• US Class Current: 604/322
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/70 Gravity drainage systems drainage containers not being adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0464 Cerebrospinal fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/08 Supports for equipment
• 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

Abstract

A process for treating a patient with hydrocephalus is disclosed which utilizes an external medical drainage system having a slide interface between a mounting assembly and a disposable drip assembly. The mounting assembly is generally reusable and the drip assembly disposable. The mounting assembly includes a clamp which is fastenable to the pole, and a support rail affixed to the clamp and which has a longitudinal slot that defines an open-face elongated channel. The drip assembly includes a key adjustably positionable within the channel, a graduated cylinder supported by the key, a drainage bag fluidly connected to the graduated cylinder, and tubing extending from the graduated cylinder opposite the drainage bag. A portion of the key disposed within the channel has a cross-sectioned configuration substantially matching the cross section of the channel. The key extends through the slot, but the channel is configured such that the support rail provides means for restricting the key to longitudinal movement within the channel. A lock fixes the key at a desired location within the channel.

Claims

1. A process for treating a patient with hydrocephalus, comprising the steps of:

attaching an adjustably positionable pole mounting assembly to a pole adjacent to the patient, the pole mounting assembly having an elongated channel and a longitudinal slot which defines an open-face of the channel, and clamp adjustably fastenable to the pole, and a support rail fixed to the clamp and which forms the elongated channel;

attaching a zero reference stopcock fluidly connected to the disposable drainage assembly, to the clamp;

slidably mounting a disposable drip assembly to the pole mounting assembly;

inserting a catheter into a ventricular system of the patient and fluidly connecting the catheter to the disposable drip assembly;

positioning the pole mounting assembly and disposable drip assembly to a predetermined position relative to the catheter; and

controllably draining fluid from the patient'"'"'s ventricular system to the disposable drip assembly.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the pole mounting assembly includes a clamp adjustably fastenable to the pole, and a support rail fixed to the clamp and which forms the elongated channel.

3. The process of claim 2, including the step of attaching a zero reference stopcock fluidly connected to the disposable drainage assembly, to the clamp.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the attaching step comprises inserting a bolt through an aperture of the clamp and into contact with the pole.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein the bolt includes a knob which facilitates the release and tightening of the bolt so that the pole mounting assembly and disposable drip assembly can be repositioned with one hand.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the mounting step includes the step of inserting a key extending from a disposable drip assembly through the slot and into the channel of the pole mounting assembly such that the disposable drip assembly is slidably positionable along the length of the channel.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the positioning step includes substantially aligning the pole mounting assembly with the catheter using a leveling device associated with the pole mounting assembly.

8. The process of claim 7, wherein the leveling device comprises a laser.

9. A process for treating a patient with hydrocephalus, comprising the steps of:

attaching an adjustably positionable pole mounting assembly to a pole adjacent to the patient, the pole mounting assembly including a clamp adjustably fastenable to the pole, and a support rail fixed to the clamp and which forms an elongated channel and a longitudinal slot which defines an open-face of the channel;

slidably mounting a disposable drip assembly to the pole mounting assembly by inserting a key extending from a disposable drip assembly through the slot and into the channel of the pole mounting assembly such that the disposable drip assembly is slidably positionable along the length of the channel;

inserting a catheter into a ventricular system of the patient and fluidly connecting the catheter to the disposable drip assembly;

substantially aligning the pole mounting assembly with the catheter and positioning the disposable drip assembly to a predetermined position along the channel; and

controllably draining fluid from the patient'"'"'s ventricular system to the disposable drip assembly.

10. The process of claim 9, wherein the attaching step comprises inserting a bolt through an aperture of the clamp and into contact with the pole.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the bolt includes a knob which facilitates the release and tightening of the bolt so that the pole mounting assembly and disposable drip assembly can be repositioned with one hand.

12. The process of claim 9, including the step of attaching a zero reference stopcock fluidly connected to the disposable drainage assembly, to the clamp.

13. The process of claim 9, wherein the key of the disposable drainage assembly has a cross-sectional configuration substantially matching that of the channel such that it is limited to longitudinal travel within the channel.

14. The process of claim 9, wherein the disposable drainage assembly includes a screw threadable through the key and into frictional contact with the pole mounting assembly within the channel to fix the disposable drip assembly in place along the length of the channel.

15. The process of claim 14, wherein the screw extends from the slot and is configured to be loosened and tightened and the disposable drip assembly moved along the length of the channel with one hand.

16. The process of claim 9, wherein the disposable drainage assembly includes a graduated cylinder supported by the key, a drainage bag fluidly connected to the graduated cylinder, and tubing extending from the graduated cylinder opposite the drainage bag.

17. The process of claim 9, wherein the aligning step includes using a leveling device to substantially align the pole mounting assembly with the catheter.

18. The process of claim 17, wherein the leveling device comprises a laser.

19. A process for treating a patient with hydrocephalus, comprising the steps of:

attaching an adjustably positionable pole mounting assembly to a pole adjacent to the patient, the pole mounting assembly including a clamp adjustably fastenable to the pole, and a support rail fixed to the clamp and which forms an elongated channel and a longitudinal slot which defines an open-face of the channel;

slidably mounting a disposable drip assembly to the pole mounting assembly by inserting a key extending from a disposable drip assembly through the slot and into the channel of the pole mounting assembly such that the disposable drip assembly is slidably positionable along the length of the channel, wherein the disposable drainage assembly includes a screw threadable through the key and into frictional contact with the pole mounting assembly within the channel to fix the disposable drip assembly in place along the length of the channel, the screw extending from the slot and being configured to be loosened and tightened and the disposable drip assembly moved along the length of the channel with one hand;

attaching a zero reference stopcock fluidly connected to the disposable drainage assembly, to the clamp;

inserting a catheter into a ventricular system of the patient and fluidly connecting the catheter to the disposable drip assembly;

substantially aligning the zero reference stopcock with the catheter and positioning the disposable drip assembly to a predetermined position along the channel; and

controllably draining fluid from the patient'"'"'s ventricular system to the disposable drip assembly.

20. The process of claim 19, wherein the attaching step comprises inserting a bolt through an aperture of the clamp and into contact with the pole.

21. The process of claim 20, wherein the bolt includes a knob which facilitates the release and tightening of the bolt so that the pole mounting assembly and disposable drip assembly can be repositioned with one hand.

22. The process of claim 19, wherein the key of the disposable drainage assembly has a cross-sectional configuration substantially matching that of the channel such that it is limited to longitudinal travel within the channel.

23. The process of claim 19, wherein the disposable drainage assembly includes a graduated cylinder supported by the key, a drainage bag fluidly connected to the graduated cylinder, and tubing extending from the graduated cylinder opposite the drainage bag.

24. The process of claim 19, wherein the aligning step includes using a leveling device to substantially align the pole mounting assembly with the catheter.

25. The process of claim 24, wherein the leveling device comprises a laser.

26. A process for treating a patient with hydrocephalus, comprising the steps of:

attaching an adjustably positionable pole mounting assembly to a pole adjacent to the patient, the pole mounting assembly having an elongated channel and a longitudinal slot which defines an open-face of the channel;

slidably mounting a disposable drip assembly to the pole mounting assembly;

inserting a catheter into a ventricular system of the patient and fluidly connecting the catheter to the disposable drip assembly;

positioning the pole mounting assembly and disposable drip assembly to a predetermined position relative to the catheter; and

controllably draining fluid from the patient'"'"'s ventricular system to the disposable drip assembly;

wherein the mounting step includes the step of inserting a key extending from the disposable drip assembly through the slot and into the channel of the pole mounting assembly such that the disposable drip assembly is slidably positionable along the length of the channel.

27. The process of claim 26, wherein the key of the disposable drainage assembly has a cross-sectional configuration substantially matching that of the channel such that it is limited to longitudinal travel within the channel.

28. The process of claim 26, wherein the disposable drainage assembly includes a screw threadable through the key and into frictional contact with the pole mounting assembly within the channel to fix the disposable drip assembly in place along the length of the channel.

29. The process of claim 28, wherein the screw extends from the slot and is configured to be loosened and tightened and the disposable drip assembly moved along the length of the channel with one hand.

30. The process of claim 26, wherein the disposable drainage assembly includes a graduated cylinder supported by the key, a drainage bag fluidly connected to the graduated cylinder, and tubing extending from the graduated cylinder opposite the drainage bag.

31. A process for treating a patient with hydrocephalus, comprising the steps of:

attaching an adjustably positionable pole mounting assembly to a pole adjacent to the patient, the pole mounting assembly having an elongated channel and a longitudinal slot which defines an open-face of the channel;

slidably mounting a disposable drip assembly to the pole mounting assembly and inserting a key extending from the disposable drip assembly through the slot and into the channel of the pole mounting assembly such that the disposable drip assembly is slidably positionable along the length of the channel;

inserting a catheter into a ventricular system of the patient and fluidly connecting the catheter to the disposable drip assembly;

positioning the pole mounting assembly and disposable drip assembly to a predetermined position relative to the catheter; and

controllably draining fluid from the patient'"'"'s ventricular system to the disposable drip assembly;

wherein the positioning step includes substantially aligning the pole mounting assembly with the catheter using a laser leveling device associated with the pole mounting assembly.