Method and apparatus for preventing air embolisms

• US 6,641,558 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maquet Cardiovascular LLC (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: A-Med Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Spangler, Jonathan, Aboul-Hosn, Walid N, Kanz, William R
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CAMTU TRAN
• Application Number:
  US09/786,703
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 604/123, 604/124, 604/26, 604/27, 604/23, 604/122, 604/149, 604/506, 604/264, 604/93.01
• US Class Current: 604/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3419 Sealing means between cannula and body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3492 against the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/36 Other treatment of blood in a by-pass of the natural circulatory system, e.g. temperature adaptation, irradiation ; Extra-corporeal blood circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3653 Interfaces between patient blood circulation and extra-corporal blood circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3659 Cannulae pertaining to extracorporeal circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3666 Cardiac or cardiopulmonary bypass, e.g. heart-lung machines
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/367 Circuit parts not covered by the preceding subgroups of group A61M1/3621

Abstract

Method and apparatus for preventing air embolisms during surgical procedures which involves providing a fluid source in communication with an aperture extending into an anatomical cavity such that fluid may be delivered into the cavity when a condition of negative pressure exists in the cavity, thereby preventing the introduction of air into the cavity.

Claims

1. A method of preventing an air embolism in an anatomical cavity that is subject to a negative pressure condition, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) forming an aperture in said anatomical cavity,

(b) providing a fluid source,

(c) providing a fluid conduit,

(d) coupling said fluid conduit to said fluid source and said aperture, such that fluid is drawn from said fluid source into said anatomical cavity in response to said negative pressure condition.

2. The method of claim 1, including the steps of:

providing said fluid delivery conduit with a first opening and a second opening; and

providing a sealing member across said first opening of said fluid delivery conduit.

3. The method of claim 2, including the steps of:

providing an aperture in said sealing member;

introducing an instrument through said aperture in said sealing member; and

extending said instrument into said anatomical cavity.

4. The method of claim 2, including the steps of:

providing a second sealing member across said second opening of said fluid delivery conduit;

providing an aperture in said second sealing member;

passing said instrument through said aperture in said sealing member; and

extending said instrument into said anatomical cavity.

5. The method of claim 1, including the step of:

positioning said fluid delivery conduit such that said fluid delivery conduit extends through said aperture into said anatomical cavity.

6. The method of claim 1, including the step of:

positioning said fluid delivery conduit such that said fluid delivery conduit does not extend through said aperture into said anatomical cavity.

7. The method of claim 1, including the steps of:

controlling the delivery of fluid from said fluid source based on a parameter indicative of a negative pressure within said anatomical cavity; and

selecting said parameter from at least one of pressure within said anatomical cavity, pressure within said fluid delivery conduit, flow rate of fluid through said fluid delivery conduit, oxygen content of fluid within said anatomical cavity, and oxygen content of fluid being removed from said anatomical cavity.

8. The method of claim 1, including the step of:

controlling the delivery of fluid from said fluid source based on a parameter indicative of a negative pressure within said anatomical cavity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said parameter comprises one of pressure within said anatomical cavity, pressure outside said anatomical cavity, flow rate of fluid being delivered into said anatomical cavity, oxygen content of fluid within said anatomical cavity, and oxygen content of fluid being removed from said anatomical cavity.

10. An apparatus for preventing air embolisms, comprising:

a fluid source in communication with an aperture extending into an anatomical cavity such that fluid may be delivered into said anatomical cavity when a condition of negative pressure exists in said anatomical cavity, and

a fluid delivery conduit in communication with said aperture, said fluid delivery conduit being coupled to said fluid source to deliver fluid into said anatomical cavity and positioned such that said fluid delivery conduit does not extend into said anatomical cavity.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said fluid delivery conduit includes a first opening and a second opening, and further comprising a sealing member disposed across said first opening of said fluid delivery conduit.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said sealing member includes an aperture for receiving an instrument therethrough.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, including a second sealing member disposed across said second opening of said fluid delivery conduit, said second sealing member including an aperture for receiving said instrument therethrough.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, including a controller for controlling the delivery of fluid from said fluid source based on a parameter indicative of a negative pressure within said anatomical cavity.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said parameter comprises one of pressure within said anatomical cavity, pressure outside said anatomical cavity, flow rate of fluid being delivered into said anatomical cavity, oxygen content of fluid within said anatomical cavity, and oxygen content of fluid being removed from said anatomical cavity.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, said controller including a sensor for sensing at least one of said parameters.