Body-space drainage-tube debris removal

• US 8,702,662 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ClearFlow, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ClearFlow, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyle, Edward M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSINSKI, BRADLEY JAMES
• Application Number:
  US12/914,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20110040285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96.01, 604/106, 604/267, 606/159
• US Class Current: 604/267
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22 Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on the inside of inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus; Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320775 Morcellators, impeller or propeller like means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/701 for flexible tubular instruments, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/70 Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/76 Handpieces specially for suction-irrigation A61M1/774, aspiration tips A61M1/84
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0019 Cleaning catheters or the like, e.g. for reuse of the device, for avoiding replacement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2027/004 with at least a part of the circuit outside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0205 Materials having antiseptic or antimicrobial properties, e.g. silver compounds, rubber with sterilising agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/101 Pleural cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202
• 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

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a debris removal system is provided for a body-space drainage system having one or more body tubes with a body tube lumen disposed therein. The debris-removal system comprises an elongated cleaning member and a cleaning head adapted to be advanced distally at least a portion of a length of the body tube lumen to dislodge debris therein. A collapsible sheath can be used to maintain a sterile field in the body tube lumen while the cleaning member is being used by enclosing at least a portion of the cleaning member that is not contained within the body tube lumen, and permitting external digital manipulation of the cleaning member through the sheath to advance and/or retract the cleaning member, and cleaning head, in the body tube lumen.

Claims

1. A debris-removal system comprising:

a body tube having a body tube proximal end, a body tube distal end, and a body tube lumen having a cross-sectional area; and

a cleaning member adapted for manipulation within the body tube lumen, said cleaning member comprising a flexible wire filament having a flexible filament distal end and a cleaning head disposed at or adjacent said distal end of said flexible wire filament;

wherein advancement and/or retraction of said cleaning member causes a corresponding advancement and/or retraction of said cleaning head to dislodge debris within said body tube lumen without compromising a sterile field within said body tube, said cleaning member being configured such that the flexible filament distal end cannot exit the body tube distal end upon advancement of said cleaning member;

said cleaning head being configured such that it permits free flow of material past and around the cleaning head across the cross-sectional area of the body tube lumen while the cleaning head is being used to dislodge debris.

2. The debris-removal system of claim 1, said cleaning head being disposed at the flexible filament distal end.

3. The debris-removal system of claim 1, further comprising a suction drawn in said body tube lumen from the body tube proximal end, wherein debris dislodged from said interior wall surface by said cleaning head is drawn through said body tube lumen and out the body tube proximal end via said suction.

4. The debris-removal system of claim 1, said cleaning head having a straight cross-section.

5. The debris-removal system of claim 4, said cross-section being obliquely angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the flexible filament.

6. The debris-removal system of claim 1, further comprising a collapsible sheath in communication with said body tube lumen, said collapsible sheath being adapted to contain at least a portion of the cleaning member that is not contained within the body tube lumen, wherein compromising said sterile field on advancement and/or retraction of said cleaning member is avoided by external digital manipulation of the cleaning member, through said collapsible sheath, to advance and/or retract the same in said body tube lumen.

7. The debris-removal system of claim 6, said collapsible sheath being provided in communication with a distal end of said body tube lumen via a coupler.

8. The debris-removal system of claim 1, said cleaning member being disposed within said body tube lumen.

9. The debris-removal system of claim 1, said flexible filament being sufficiently flexible to traverse a curvature of said body tube lumen.

10. The debris-removal system of claim 1, said body tube lumen being under a vacuum drawn from the body tube proximal end.

11. The debris removal system of claim 1, said cleaning head comprising a distal tip of said flexible filament.

12. A debris-removal system comprising:

a body tube having a body tube proximal end, a body tube distal end, and a body tube lumen having a cross-sectional area; and

a cleaning member disposed and adapted for manipulation within the body tube lumen, said cleaning member comprising a flexible wire filament having a flexible filament distal end that consists essentially of a tip having a cross-section that is at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of said flexible wire filament, said tip being engaged with an interior wall surface of said body tube;

wherein advancement and/or retraction of said cleaning member causes a corresponding advancement and/or retraction of said tip against said interior wall surface to dislodge debris adhered thereto without compromising a sterile field within said body tube, said cleaning member being configured such that said tip cannot exit the body tube distal end upon advancement of said cleaning member;

said tip being configured such that it permits free flow of material past and around the tip across the cross-sectional area of the body tube lumen while the cleaning head is being used to dislodge debris.

13. The debris-removal system of claim 12, further comprising a suction drawn in said body tube lumen from the body tube proximal end, wherein debris dislodged from said interior wall surface by said tip is drawn through said body tube lumen and out the body tube proximal end via said suction.

14. The debris-removal system of claim 12, said tip having a straight cross-section.

15. The debris-removal system of claim 14, said cross-section being obliquely angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the flexible filament.

16. The debris-removal system of claim 12, further comprising a collapsible sheath in communication with said body tube lumen, said collapsible sheath being adapted to contain at least a portion of the cleaning member that is not contained within the body tube lumen, wherein compromising said sterile field on advancement and/or retraction of said cleaning member is avoided by external digital manipulation of the cleaning member, through said collapsible sheath, to advance and/or retract the same in said body tube lumen.

17. A debris-removal system comprising:

a branched body tube comprising a proximal tube having a proximal lumen and a plurality of distal tubes having respective distal lumens, each distal lumen being in fluid communication with said proximal lumen; and

a cleaning member adapted for manipulation within each distal lumen, said cleaning member comprising a flexible filament having a flexible filament distal end and a cleaning head disposed at or adjacent said distal end of said flexible filament;

wherein advancement and/or retraction of said cleaning member causes a corresponding advancement and/or retraction of said cleaning head effective to dislodge debris within said branched body tube.

18. The debris removal system of claim 17, said distal tubes branching from said proximal tube at a common location.

19. The debris removal system of claim 17, said cleaning member being operable to advance said cleaning head into any of said distal lumens to dislodge debris therein.

20. The debris removal system of claim 17, comprising only one cleaning member.

21. The debris removal system of claim 17, said cleaning head being configured such that it permits free flow of material past the cleaning head through a lumen of said body tube regardless whether the cleaning head is at rest within said lumen or is being advanced and/or retracted therein to dislodge debris.

22. The debris removal system of claim 17, said system being configured such that the flexible filament distal end cannot exit the body tube upon advancement of said cleaning member.

23. The debris removal system of claim 17, comprising a plurality of cleaning members, each said distal lumen having an associated one of said cleaning members to dislodge debris therefrom.