Surgical drain with sensors for monitoring internal tissue condition by transmittance

• US 7,322,971 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva; Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAHN, LAURA HILL
• Application Number:
  US10/775,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20040254431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 604540-544, 604317-357, 604/114, 604/504, 600/488, 600/507, 600/549, 600/561, 600/587, 600/593, 600485-486, 600504-505, 600546-547
• US Class Current: 604/540
• 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

Devices and methods of using a surgical drain, and more particularly 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. Modifications may be made to 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, 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 the tissue within the body;

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

b) a first element branching out from the first surface of the surgical drain and configured for insertion in the tissue inside the patient'"'"'s body and to emit energy into the tissue;

c) a second element branching out from the first surface of the surgical drain and configured for insertion in the tissue inside the patient'"'"'s body and to receive energy from the tissue; and

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

2. The surgical drain of claim 1 wherein the first and second elements include optical fibers.

3. The surgical drain of claim 1 wherein the received energy is indicative of a physiological property of the tissue.

4. The surgical drain of claim 3, wherein the physiological property is selected from the group comprising:

oxygenation, perfusion, pH, NADH levels, biochemical composition, or drug concentration.

5. The surgical drain of claim 1 wherein the second element is configured to receive energy from the tissue that is a derivative of the energy emitted into the tissue by the first element.

6. 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, 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 the tissue within the body;

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

b) a first element branching out from the first surface of the surgical drain and configured for insertion in the tissue inside the patient'"'"'s body and to emit energy into the tissue;

c) a second element embedded in the first surface of the surgical drain and configured to receive energy from the tissue; and

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

7. The surgical drain of claim 6 wherein the first and second elements include optical fibers.

8. The surgical drain of claim 6 wherein the received energy is indicative of a physiological property of the tissue.

9. The surgical drain of claim 8 wherein the physiological property is selected from the group comprising:

oxygenation, perfusion, pH, NADH levels, biochemical composition, or drug concentration.

10. The surgical drain of claim 6 wherein the second element is configured to receive energy from the tissue that is a derivative of the energy emitted into the tissue by the first element.

11. 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, 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 the tissue within the body;

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

b) a first element branching out from the first surface of the surgical drain and configured for insertion in the tissue inside the patient'"'"'s body and to receive energy from the tissue;

c) a second element embedded in the first surface of the surgical drain and configured to emit energy into the tissue; and

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

12. The surgical drain of claim 11 wherein the first and second elements include optical fibers.

13. The surgical drain of claim 11 wherein the received energy is indicative of a physiological property of the tissue.

14. The surgical drain of claim 13, wherein the physiological property is selected from the group comprising:

oxygenation, perfusion, pH, NADH levels, biochemical composition, or drug concentration.

15. The surgical drain of claim 14 wherein the first element is configured to receive energy from the tissue that is is a derivative of the energy emitted into the tissue by the second element.

16. 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, 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 the tissue within the body;

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

b) a sensing element branching out from the first surface of the surgical drain and configured for insertion in the tissue inside the patient'"'"'s body and to sense energy within the tissue that is indicative of a physiological property of the tissue; and

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