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 guide tube having an inner diameter, a shuttle member disposed outside the guide tube and adapted to translate along a length thereof, and a clearance member in the form of a loop that is insertable in and translatable through a medical tube during use, said loop having an opening that permits the flow of material through said loop, wherein translation of said shuttle member along the length of said guide tube induces a corresponding translation of said clearance member.
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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 clearance member in the form of a loop. The loop desirably has a diameter that substantially corresponds to the inner diameter of the medical tube. Also desirably, the loop presents a substantially unobstructed pathway therethrough for the flow of material from a location in the medical tube distal to the loop to a location in the medical tube proximal to the loop regardless whether the clearance member is being translated or is at rest in the medical tube. Methods of utilizing such a device are also disclosed.
229 Citations
33 Claims
- 1. A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, the device comprising a guide tube having an inner diameter, a shuttle member disposed outside the guide tube and adapted to translate along a length thereof, and a clearance member in the form of a loop that is insertable in and translatable through a medical tube during use, said loop having an opening that permits the flow of material through said loop, wherein translation of said shuttle member along the length of said guide tube induces a corresponding translation of said clearance member.
- 2. A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, the device comprising a guide tube having an inner diameter, a medical tube having an inner diameter and a proximal end adapted to be coupled to a distal end of said guide tube, and a clearance member in the form of a loop translatable through said medical tube when the medical tube is coupled to the guide tube, said loop having an opening that permits the flow of material through said loop, said loop having a diameter that substantially corresponds to the inner diameter of said medical tube.
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11. A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, the device comprising a medical tube having an inner diameter, a clearance member in the form of a loop adapted to be translated through said medical tube to dislodge debris accumulated therein, said loop having a diameter that substantially corresponds to the inner diameter of said medical tube, said loop presenting a substantially unobstructed pathway therethrough for the flow of material from a location in said medical tube distal to said loop to a location in said medical tube proximal to said loop regardless whether said clearance member is being translated or is at rest within said medical tube.
- 12. A method of clearing obstructions from a medical tube, comprising translating through said medical tube a clearance member in the form of a loop having a diameter substantially corresponding to an inner diameter of said medical tube to thereby dislodge debris within said medical tube, wherein said loop presents a substantially unobstructed pathway therethrough for the flow of material from a location in said medical tube distal to said loop to a location in said medical tube proximal to said loop regardless whether said clearance member is being translated or is at rest within said medical tube.
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14. A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, the device comprising a tube having an inner diameter, and a clearance member in the form of a loop , said loop having an opening that permits the flow of material through said loop, and a shuttle member disposed outside said tube and adapted to translate along a length thereof, wherein translation of said shuttle member along the length of said tube induces a corresponding translation of said clearance member via a magnetic coupling through a wall of said tube.
- 15. 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, and a clearance member that is insertable in a medical tube, wherein translation of said shuttle member along the length of said guide tube induces a corresponding translation of said clearance member via a magnetic coupling through a wall of said guide tube.
- 22. 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 induce a corresponding translation of a clearance member through said medical tube via a magnetic coupling through a wall of said guide tube, whereby translation of said shuttle member to induce the corresponding translation of said clearance member does not compromise the sterile field.
- 26. A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, the device comprising a medical tube, a clearance member in the form of a loop adapted to be translated through said medical tube via a guide wire to dislodge debris accumulated therein, a guide tube having a distal end adapted to be coupled to a proximal end of said medical tube, and a shuttle member disposed outside the guide tube and adapted to translate along a length thereof, wherein translation of said shuttle member along the length of said guide tube induces a corresponding translation of said clearance member, said loop lying in a plane at a predetermined angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said guide wire.
- 27. A method of clearing obstructions from a medical tube, comprising translating through said medical tube, via a guide wire, a clearance member in the form of a loop to thereby dislodge debris within said medical tube, said loop lying in a plane at a predetermined angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said guide wire, wherein translation of a shuttle member along a length of a guide tube induces a corresponding translation of said clearance member within said medical tube.
Specification