Methods and devices to clear obstructions from medical tubes
First Claim
1. A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, the device comprising a shuttle guide tube having an inner diameter, a shuttle member disposed outside the guide tube and adapted to translate along a length thereof, an elongate guide member, a clearance member attached to or formed integrally with said guide member, and a magnetic guide secured to said guide member, said magnetic guide being adapted to be magnetically coupled to said shuttle member through a wall of said guide tube so that translation of said shuttle member along the length thereof induces a corresponding translation of said guide member.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, such as a chest tube, is disclosed in various embodiments. The device features a shuttle member that is magnetically coupled to a guide wire within a guide tube, through the guide-tube wall, so that translation of the shuttle member induces a corresponding translation of the guide wire within the guide tube, without penetrating or compromising the guide-tube wall. In this manner, when the guide tube is coupled to a medical tube where obstructions have formed, the guide wire and clearance member may be inserted into and withdrawn from the medical tube, via actuation of the shuttle member, to engage and help clear such obstructions from the medical tube without compromising the sterile field. Methods of clearing a medical tube of obstructions are also disclosed.
-
Citations
57 Claims
- 1. A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, the device comprising a shuttle guide tube having an inner diameter, a shuttle member disposed outside the guide tube and adapted to translate along a length thereof, an elongate guide member, a clearance member attached to or formed integrally with said guide member, and a magnetic guide secured to said guide member, said magnetic guide being adapted to be magnetically coupled to said shuttle member through a wall of said guide tube so that translation of said shuttle member along the length thereof induces a corresponding translation of said guide member.
-
30. A method of clearing obstructions from a medical tube, comprising coupling a shuttle guide tube with a medical tube;
- and translating a shuttle member disposed outside the guide tube along a length thereof to correspondingly translate an elongate guide member that is at least partially disposed within said guide tube and magnetically coupled to said shuttle member through a wall of said guide tube, thereby correspondingly translating a clearance member attached to or formed with said guide member through said medical tube.
- View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
- 35. A method of clearing obstructions from a medical tube, comprising coupling a shuttle guide tube with a medical tube, thereby defining a sterile field within the respective tubes, and translating a shuttle member disposed outside the guide tube along a length thereof to correspondingly translate an elongate guide member that is at least partially disposed within said guide tube without compromising the sterile field, thereby correspondingly translating a clearance member attached to or formed with said guide member through said medical tube.
-
36. A chest-tube assembly comprising a chest tube, a clearance device adapted to couple with and dislodge debris accumulated within said chest tube, and a CO2 sensor provided in fluid communication with said chest tube to sense the presence of CO2 in said chest tube.
Specification