Implanted surgical drain with sensing and transmitting elements for monitoring internal tissue condition

• US 7,252,659 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• 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:
  US10/775,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 604540-541, 600301-302, 600372-385, 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 fluid and detecting spectral energy from a tissue area of a patient'"'"'s body comprising:

a) a surgical drain configured to be 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 at least one transmitting element, and to drain fluid from the vicinity of the tissue, wherein the surgical drain is not configured to penetrate the tissue, comprising;

i) a first outer surface and a second outer surface different from the first outer surface;

ii) a first transmitting element integrated with the first outer surface and configured to deliver energy to a first tissue area proximate to the first outer surface; and

iii) a first sensing element integrated with the first outer surface, configured to detect spectral energy emitted from the first tissue area that is derived from the delivered energy;

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

c) a processor in communication with the first sensing element, configured to determine a first color that is representative of the detected spectral energy; and

d) a display configured to depict the first color.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the surgical drain further comprises a second transmitting element integrated with the second outer surface and configured to deliver energy to a second tissue area proximate to the second outer surface which is different from the first tissue area, and a second sensing element integrated with the second outer surface configured to detect spectral energy emitted from the second tissue area that is derived from the delivered energy, wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the second sensing element to determine a second color representative of the second tissue area and to display the second color.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to compare a difference between the spectral energy detected by the first and the second sensing elements.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensing element and the first transmitting element are embedded within the surgical drain behind optically transparent material.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the surgical drain includes a drain portion configured to rest against a substantial length of the tissue and comprises a plurality of drain holes spaced along substantially the entire length of the drain portion.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the surgical drain further includes at least one optical fiber.

7. A surgical drain system for draining fluid and detecting spectral energy from a tissue area of a patient'"'"'s body comprising:

e) a surgical drain configured to be 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 at least one transmitting element, and to drain fluid from the vicinity of the tissue, wherein the surgical drain is not configured to penetrate the tissue comprising;

i) a first outer surface and a second outer surface different from the first outer surface;

ii) a transmitting element integrated with the first outer surface and configured to deliver energy to a first tissue area proximate to the first outer surface; and

iii) a first sensing element integrated with the first outer surface, configured to detect spectral energy emitted from the first tissue area, wherein the emitted spectral energy is derived from the delivered energy;

f) a tube in fluid communication with the surgical drain configured to transport the drained fluid out of the body;

g) a processor in communication with the first sensing element is configured to determine a first numerical color value representative of the detected spectral energy; and

h) a display configured to depict the first numerical color value.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the surgical drain further comprises a second transmitting element integrated with the second outer surface and configured to deliver energy to a second tissue area proximate to the second outer surface which is different from the first tissue area, and a second sensing element integrated to the second outer surface configured to detect spectral energy emitted from the second tissue area that is derived from the delivered energy, wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the second sensing element to determine a second numerical color value representative of the second tissue area and to display the second numerical color value.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to compare a difference between the spectral energy detected by the first and the second sensing elements.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the first sensing element and the first transmitting element are embedded within the surgical drain behind optically transparent material.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the surgical drain includes a drain portion configured to rest against a substantial length of the tissue and comprises a plurality of drain holes spaced along substantially the entire length of the drain portion.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the surgical drain further comprises at least one optical fiber.