Method of utilizing a surgical drain with sensors for monitoring internal tissue condition

• US 7,264,616 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• 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:
  US11/420,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 604540-541, 600373-385, 600310-311, 600/302, 600324-329, 600/549, 607/88
• 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 method of utilizing a surgical drain to monitor the condition of a tissue in a body, comprising:

a. fully implanting a surgical drain configured to be implanted within the body to rest against a surface of but not penetrating the tissue to be monitored and to drain fluid from the vicinity of the tissue, wherein the surgical drain includes a sensing element that is integrated with the surgical drain and configured to sense a physiological property of the tissue;

b. sensing, by the sensing element, energy indicative of the physiological property directly from the tissue;

c. receiving information corresponding to the sensed energy, wherein the information pertains to a physiological property of the tissue; and

d. monitoring the information received so as to evaluate the condition of the tissue over time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue condition monitored is from the group comprising:

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

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting energy to the tissue, and receiving energy emitted from the tissue with the sensing element, wherein the emitted energy is derived from the transmitted energy.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising transmitting energy through the tissue, and receiving energy with the sensing element, wherein the energy is derived from the transmitted energy.

5. The method of claim 1, further including processing the information.

6. The method of claim 5, further including displaying the information.

7. The method of claim 5, further including determining that the information has been acquired properly.

8. The method of claim 5, further including determining a lack of contact between the surgical drain and the tissue.

9. The method of claim 8, further including inflating an inflatable chamber that is housed in the surgical drain to decrease the distance between the tissue and the sensing element.

10. The method of claim 8, further including applying suction to a lumen within the surgical drain to decrease the distance between the tissue and the sensing element.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein implanting the surgical drain comprises anchoring the surgical drain to a tissue within the body.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the surgical drain after monitoring is not desired.