Silent effusion removal

• US 9,078,783 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Morriss, John H., Liu, Greg, Girotra, Rohit, Vo, Tom Thanh, Jenkins, Thomas, Makower, Joshua, Newhauser, Richard Roy Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): McEvoy, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZPIRA, JULIE ANN
• Application Number:
  US12/645,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20100217296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,030 Days
• Field of Search: 606/109, 606/162, 604/514, 128/898
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/006 Ear cleaners, e.g. curettes cotton tips A61F13/38; cleaning by suction A61M1/71, by irrigation A61M3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/202 Surgical middle-ear ventilation or drainage, e.g. permanent; Implants therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/815 the barrel serving as aspiration container, e.g. in a breast pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/84 Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0675 Eustachian tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0202 with electronic control means or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0262 manually, e.g. by squeezing a bulb
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0279 Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means

Abstract

A method is disclosed for clearing effusion from an ear. The method may include applying liquid to an ear canal, which is proximal to a perforated tympanic membrane, which is proximal to a middle ear containing effusion, applying an ear device to seal and pressurize the liquid inside the ear canal, the ear device regulating the amount of pressure inside the ear canal, and inducing a Eustachian tube, which is distal to the middle ear, to open, which causes the fluid to displace the effusion into the Eustachian tube.

Claims

1. A method for clearing effusion from an ear, the method comprising:

(a) applying liquid to an ear canal, which is proximal to a perforated tympanic membrane, the perforated tympanic membrane being proximal to a middle ear containing effusion;

(b) applying an ear device to seal and pressurize the liquid inside the ear canal;

(c) pressurizing the liquid inside the ear canal, the ear device regulating the amount of pressure inside the ear canal; and

(d) inducing a Eustachian tube, which is distal to the middle ear, to open, which causes the pressurized liquid to displace the effusion into the Eustachian tube such that the effusion flows from the middle ear into the Eustachian tube under the influence of at least the pressurized liquid.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising supplying additional liquid to the to the ear device.

3. A method for clearing effusion from an ear, the method comprising:

(a) identifying an effusion in a middle ear;

(b) after identifying the effusion, applying liquid to an ear canal;

(c) applying an ear device to seal and pressurize the liquid inside the ear canal;

(d) pressurizing the liquid inside the ear canal, the ear device regulating the amount of pressure inside the ear canal; and

(d) inducing a Eustachian tube, which is distal to the middle ear, to open, which causes the pressurized liquid to displace the effusion into the Eustachian tube such that the pressurized liquid drives the effusion to flow from the middle ear into the Eustachian tube.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising supplying additional liquid to the device.

5. A method for clearing effusion from an ear, the method comprising:

(a) applying an ear device to seal an ear canal, which is proximal to a perforated tympanic membrane, the perforated tympanic membrane being proximal to a middle ear containing effusion;

(b) pressurizing the ear canal with air;

(c) inducing a Eustachian tube, which is distal to the middle ear, to open; and

(d) providing pressurized air to the ear canal while the Eustachian tube is open thereby causing the pressurized air to displace the effusion into the Eustachian tube.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising supplying additional air pressure to the ear device.

7. A method for clearing liquid from an ear canal, the method comprising:

(a) applying a device including a wicking tip to a liquid inside an ear canal to wick the liquid from the ear canal; and

(b) applying negative pressure to the device to aid in wicking the liquid, wherein the wicking tip regulates turbulence caused by wicking the liquid by having a plurality of pores or interstitial spaces preventing cavitation.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the wicking tip includes a porous and absorbent material.

9. A method for removing liquid from an ear canal, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a trigger to apply suction to a device in an ear canal filled with liquid, the device including a lumen for removing the liquid;

(b) applying suction to the device;

(c) detecting an imminent creation of noise caused by the suction; and

(d) reducing suction until the imminence of noise subsides.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising increasing suction to the device after the imminence of noise, or noise, subsides.

11. A method for silently removing effusion from a middle ear, comprising:

(a) implanting a tympanostomy tube including a central lumen into a tympanic membrane;

(b) inserting a device having an Archimedes'"'"' screw into the central lumen; and

(c) actuating the Archimedes'"'"' screw to remove lodged effusion adjacent to the tympanic membrane.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein actuating comprises rotating the Archimedes'"'"' screw.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein actuating further comprises moving the Archimedes'"'"' screw in and out of the device.