Wound mediating device

• US 8,123,744 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Podhajsky, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUPCZEY, JR, RONALD JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/511,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,009 Days
• Field of Search: 606 32- 42, 606213-215
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/00 Devices for applying media, e.g. remedies, on the human body devices for handling toiletry or cosmetic substances A45D; absorbent pads, e.g. swabs, A61F13/15

Abstract

A wound mediating device is provided to facilitate healing of tissue. The wound mediating device includes a wound mediating substance encapsulated in microbubbles which are suspended in a slurry. The slurry is stored in, and supplied from, any suitable container configured for use with a surgical instrument capable of propelling the slurry towards tissue.

Claims

1. A wound mediating surgical instrument comprising:

an electrosurgical instrument having an internal chamber;

a fluid pressure source coupled to the electrosurgical instrument and in fluid communication with the internal chamber, the fluid pressure source operable to provide a fluid stream through the internal chamber;

an active electrode that receives an energy signal from a generator, wherein when the electrosurgical instrument is operated in a first mode the active electrode ionizes the fluid stream as the fluid stream flows toward a wound to coagulate tissue;

a wound mediating device coupled to the electrosurgical instrument and including a container, a slurry disposed within the container, a plurality of microbubbles suspended in the slurry and a wound mediating substance encapsulated in the microbubbles; and

a valve for selectively introducing the slurry into the fluid stream of the internal chamber downstream of the fluid pressure source in a second operating mode where the active electrode ionizes the fluid stream as the fluid stream and slurry flow toward the wound, wherein the fluid stream is a gas.

2. The wound mediating surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the wound mediating device is removably attached to the surgical instrument.

3. The wound mediating surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the wound mediating substance is at least one of an antibacterial agent, an antifungal agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an antimicrobial agents, an antiseptics, a chemotherapy agent, a coagulant, a hormone, a cancer tumor adjuvant, a local anesthetic, a pain mediator, a vasoconstrictor, a wound closing adhesive, a blood clotting factor, a growth factor, an interleukin, a cytokines, an inflammatory mediating factor, a chemokine and a matrix-metalloproteinase.

4. The wound mediating surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the microbubble is at least one of a liposome, a micelle, and a microsphere.

5. The wound mediating surgical instrument as recited in claim 3, further comprising a capillary tube connected to a distal end of the electrosurgical instrument, wherein the capillary tube applies a thin stream to the wound.

6. The wound mediating surgical instrument as recited in claim 5, wherein the fluid stream is argon.

7. A method of treating a wound during surgery comprising the steps of:

encapsulating a wound mediating substance in microbubbles;

suspending the microbubbles in a slurry;

storing the slurry in a container;

supplying a pressurized gas into a fluid stream;

activating an electrode to ionize the fluid stream and coagulate tissue at a wound site;

selectively drawing the slurry out of the container and into the fluid stream; and

directing the fluid stream towards a wound in tissue.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the pressurized gas is supplied through an electrosurgical instrument.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of selectively drawing the slurry is controlled by a valve.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the pressurized gas and the slurry are operatively combinable within a wound mediating instrument.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the wound mediating substance is at least one of a wound closing adhesive, a blood clotting factor, a growth factor, an interleukin, a cytokines, an inflammatory mediating factor, a chemokine and a matrix-metalloproteinase.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the source of pressurized gas is argon.