Methods and devices to clear obstructions from medical tubes
First Claim
1. A method of clearing obstructions from a medical tube, comprising coupling a guide tube in fluid communication with a medical tube thereby defining a common passageway through the respective tubes comprising a sterile field, wherein an elongate guide member is entirely disposed within said common passageway, and actuating said guide member without compromising the sterile field to correspondingly actuate a clearance member attached to or formed with said guide member in said medical tube, wherein said clearance member presents a substantially unobstructed pathway for the flow of material from a location in said medical tube distal to said clearance member to a location in said medical tube proximal to said clearance member regardless whether said clearance member is being actuated or is at rest within said medical tube.
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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.
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Citations
30 Claims
- 1. A method of clearing obstructions from a medical tube, comprising coupling a guide tube in fluid communication with a medical tube thereby defining a common passageway through the respective tubes comprising a sterile field, wherein an elongate guide member is entirely disposed within said common passageway, and actuating said guide member without compromising the sterile field to correspondingly actuate a clearance member attached to or formed with said guide member in said medical tube, wherein said clearance member presents a substantially unobstructed pathway for the flow of material from a location in said medical tube distal to said clearance member to a location in said medical tube proximal to said clearance member regardless whether said clearance member is being actuated or is at rest within said medical tube.
- 11. A method of clearing obstructions from a medical tube, comprising providing a passageway comprising a sterile field that is at least partially defined within a medical tube, wherein an elongate guide member extends in said passageway, actuating said guide member from outside said medical tube without compromising the sterile field to correspondingly actuate a clearance member attached to or formed with said guide member in said medical tube, and withdrawing debris from said medical tube through and out of said passageway past a full extent of said guide member that is located in said passageway, wherein said clearance member presents a substantially unobstructed pathway for the flow of material from a location in said medical tube distal to said clearance member to a location in said medical tube proximal to said clearance member regardless whether said clearance member is being actuated or is at rest within said medical tube.
- 15. A method of clearing obstructions from a medical tube, comprising providing a medical tube that at least partially defines an unbranched passageway comprising a sterile field, wherein an elongate guide member extends in said unbranched passageway, actuating said guide member without compromising the sterile field to correspondingly actuate a clearance member attached to or formed with said guide member in said medical tube, and withdrawing debris from said medical tube through said unbranched passageway, wherein said clearance member presents a substantially unobstructed pathway for the flow of material from a location in said medical tube distal to said clearance member to a location in said medical tube proximal to said clearance member regardless whether said clearance member is being actuated or is at rest within said medical tube.
- 17. A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, comprising a medical tube that at least partially defines a passageway comprising a sterile field for the passage of patient secretions from said medical tube out a proximal end of said passageway, and an elongate guide member disposed entirely within and extending in said passageway, said guide member being actuable from outside said medical tube without compromising said sterile field to correspondingly actuate a clearance member attached to or formed with said guide member in said medical tube, said clearance member being configured such that it presents a substantially unobstructed pathway for the flow of material from a location in said medical tube distal to said clearance member to a location in said medical tube proximal to said clearance member regardless whether said clearance member is being actuated or is at rest within said medical tube.
- 21. 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, said loop lying in a plane at a predetermined angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said guide wire, wherein said loop presents a substantially unobstructed pathway for the flow of material from a location in said medical tube distal to said clearance member to a location in said medical tube proximal to said clearance member regardless whether said clearance member is being translated or is at rest within said medical tube.
- 24. A method of clearing obstructions from a medical tube, comprising providing a medical tube that at least partially defines a sterile field, wherein a guide member is entirely disposed within said sterile field, and actuating said guide member without compromising the sterile field to correspondingly actuate a clearance member attached to or formed with said guide member in said medical tube, wherein said clearance member presents a substantially unobstructed pathway for the flow of material from a location in said medical tube distal to said clearance member to a location in said medical tube proximal to said clearance member regardless whether said clearance member is being actuated or is at rest within said medical tube.
Specification