Implanted surgical drain with drain holes for monitoring internal tissue condition

• US 7,241,287 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Photosonics Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Alfred E. Mann Institute For Biomedical Engineering At The University Of Southern California (University of Southern California)
• Inventors: Shehada, Ramez Emile Necola, Jabbour, Nicolas
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva; Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAHN, LAURA HILL
• Application Number:
  US11/420,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 604540-544, 600/301, 600372-385, 600/302, 600324-329
• US Class Current: 604/541
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/228 Sensors with optical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/413 Monitoring transplanted tissue or organ, e.g. for possible rejection reactions after a transplant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/918 for multiple suction locations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/95 with sensors for exudate composition
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/002 Implant devices for drainage of body fluids from one part of the body to another intraocular A61F9/00781; middle ear A61F11/202

Abstract

The present invention is directed to devices and methods of using a surgical drain, and more particularly to a surgical drain having at least one sensor for monitoring and/or recording the condition of the anatomical site or fluid emitted from the site where the surgical drain is placed. The invention may also include modifications of the surgical drain to improve stabilization or immobilization in the proximity of the anatomical site to be monitored.

Claims

1. A surgical drain system for draining wound fluids and sensing a physiological property of a tissue in a patient'"'"'s body comprising:

a) a surgical drain configured to be fully implanted in a patient'"'"'s body, to rest against the surface of at least one tissue in the patient'"'"'s body, to house at least one sensing element, and to drain wound fluids from the vicinity of the tissue, wherein the surgical drain is not configured to penetrate the tissue, comprising;

i. a first surface located on an outer side of the surgical drain;

ii. a drain portion configured to rest against a substantial length of the tissue within the body;

iii. a plurality of drain holes spaced along substantially the entire length of the drain portion;

iv. a first sensing element integrated with the first surface, configured to sense a physiological property of the tissue proximate to the first surface; and

b) a tube in fluid communication with the surgical drain configured to transport the drained wound fluids out of the body.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing element includes at least one optical fiber.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the physiological property sensed is selected from the group comprising:

temperature, oxygenation, hemoglobin content, perfusion, pH, NADH levels, biochemical composition, drug concentration, turgidity and pressure.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensing element detects the level of oxygenation of the tissue.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensing element detects the hemoglobin content in the tissue.

6. The surgical drain of claim 1, further including a transmitting element configured to deliver energy to the tissue proximate the first surface.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second sensing element integrated with the first surface, configured to detect a physiological property of the tissue that is different from the physiological property sensed by the first sensing element.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensing element is embedded within the surgical drain behind material that is optically transparent.

9. The system of claim 1, further including display configured to depict data corresponding to the physiological property sensed by the first sensing element.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the surgical drain further includes a second surface located on an outer side of the surgical drain different from the first surface and a second sensing element integrated with the second surface, configured to sense the same physiological property of a tissue proximate to the second surface which is different from the tissue sensed by the first sensing element.

11. The system of claim 10, further including a processor in communication with the first and the second sensing elements, and configured to compare the difference between the physiological property sensed by the first and the second sensing elements.

13. The system of claim 7 further including a display configured to depict data corresponding to the physiological property sensed by the first and the second sensing elements.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensing system is configured to sense the physiological property by sensing energy that is returned from the tissue after having been transmitted into the tissue.

12. A surgical drain system for draining wound fluids and sensing a physiological property of a tissue in a patient'"'"'s body comprising:

a) a surgical drain configured to be fully implanted in a patient'"'"'s body, to rest against the surface of at least one tissue in the patient'"'"'s body, to house at least one sensing element and to drain wound fluids from the vicinity of the tissue, wherein the surgical drain is not configured to penetrate the tissue, comprising;

i. a first surface located on an outer side of the surgical drain and a second surface located on an outer side of the surgical drain different from the first surface;

ii. a drain portion configured to rest against a substantial length of the tissue within the body;

iii. a plurality of drain holes spaced along substantially the entire length of the drain portion;

iv. a first sensing element integrated with the first surface, configured to sense a physiological property of a first tissue proximate to the first surface; and

v. a second sensing element integrated with the second surface, configured to sense the same physiological property of a second tissue proximate to the second surface;

b) a tube in fluid communication with the surgical drain configured to transport the drained wound fluids out of the body; and

c) a processor in communication with the first and the second sensing elements configured to compare the difference between the physiological property sensed by the first and the second sensing elements.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the physiological property sensed is selected from the group comprising:

temperature, oxygenation, hemoglobin content, perfusion, pH, NADH levels, biochemical composition, drug concentration, turgidity and pressure.

16. The system of claim 12, further including a display configured to depict data corresponding to a difference between the physiological property sensed by the first and second sensing elements.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the first and the second sensing systems are configured to sense the physiological property by sensing energy that has been returned from tissue after having been transmitted into the tissue.