Pneumothorax medical treatment device
First Claim
1. A medical device for treating tension pneumothorax in a human patient, said device comprising:
- a housing including an outlet, an interior chamber in fluid communication with the outlet and a needle mount in an end of the housing opposite to the outlet,a hollow needle including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end is seated in and secured to the needle mount of said housing, wherein the hollow needle extends from the housing to the distal end, the distal end is configured to penetrate a chest wall of the human patient and an exposed outer surface of the hollow needle is visible while the hollow needle is inserted into the chest wall,a hollow stylet permanently within and coaxial to the hollow needle, wherein the hollow stylet includes a proximal end extending into the interior chamber, a distal portion having a closed end, and an internal passage within the hollow stylet extending from the distal portion to an outlet at the proximal end of the hollow stylet,wherein the hollow stylet is slidably received in said hollow needle such that an outer surface of the hollow stylet slides against an inner surface of the hollow needle, and the hollow stylet slides between an extended position at which the closed end of the hollow stylet extends beyond the distal end of said hollow needle, and a retracted position at which the closed end of the hollow stylet is retracted within the hollow needle,said hollow stylet including at least one aperture in the distal portion and forming an inlet to the internal passage within the hollow stylet,a spring configured to bias said hollow stylet towards said extended position, wherein the spring is within the interior chamber of the housing, between the proximal end of the hollow stylet and the outlet to the housing, and does not overlap with the stylet, anda spring support fixed to the proximal end of the stylet and including a passage with an inlet aligned with the proximal end of the stylet and an outlet at an end of the spring in the interior chamber of the housing, wherein the spring support overlaps with the spring and the stylet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides for an improved medical device used to remove gas and liquid from the plural cavity between the lung and the chest wall in both stationary and mobile applications. The present invention generally comprises a hollow needle with a hollow closed end stylet slidably received in the needle. The stylet is spring-biased to extend out of the needle end as a safety tip but when pressured is moved to a retracted position to allow for insertion through the chest wall. The pressure needed to insert the needle/stylet combination through the chest wall is applied by a housing at the end of the needle which is contoured for easy grip. While not being applied to the chest wall, the stylet comprises a safety tip, which makes the device safe to handle and apply in stationary or mobile applications. Further, the housing includes a one-way valve is configured permit only the passage of air and bodily fluid out of the pleural cavity without a secondary structure needed. The present invention is useful in safely and effectively treating a variety of related conditions including pneumothorax (collapsed lung), tension pneumothorax (collapsed lung pressing on the heart), and pneumohemothorax (collapsed lung with air and bodily fluids in the pleural cavity).
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A medical device for treating tension pneumothorax in a human patient, said device comprising:
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a housing including an outlet, an interior chamber in fluid communication with the outlet and a needle mount in an end of the housing opposite to the outlet, a hollow needle including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end is seated in and secured to the needle mount of said housing, wherein the hollow needle extends from the housing to the distal end, the distal end is configured to penetrate a chest wall of the human patient and an exposed outer surface of the hollow needle is visible while the hollow needle is inserted into the chest wall, a hollow stylet permanently within and coaxial to the hollow needle, wherein the hollow stylet includes a proximal end extending into the interior chamber, a distal portion having a closed end, and an internal passage within the hollow stylet extending from the distal portion to an outlet at the proximal end of the hollow stylet, wherein the hollow stylet is slidably received in said hollow needle such that an outer surface of the hollow stylet slides against an inner surface of the hollow needle, and the hollow stylet slides between an extended position at which the closed end of the hollow stylet extends beyond the distal end of said hollow needle, and a retracted position at which the closed end of the hollow stylet is retracted within the hollow needle, said hollow stylet including at least one aperture in the distal portion and forming an inlet to the internal passage within the hollow stylet, a spring configured to bias said hollow stylet towards said extended position, wherein the spring is within the interior chamber of the housing, between the proximal end of the hollow stylet and the outlet to the housing, and does not overlap with the stylet, and a spring support fixed to the proximal end of the stylet and including a passage with an inlet aligned with the proximal end of the stylet and an outlet at an end of the spring in the interior chamber of the housing, wherein the spring support overlaps with the spring and the stylet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for treating a tension pneumothorax in a human patient with a medical device comprising:
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a housing with an outlet, a mount, and an interior chamber between the outlet and the mount; a hollow needle including a proximal end secured to the mount of the housing, and a shaft extending from said housing to a distal end, wherein the shaft has an exposed outer surface, a hollow stylet including an open proximal end, a closed distal end and an interior passage extending from an opening adjacent the closed distal end to the open proximal end that is open to the interior chamber of the housing; and
said hollow stylet is slidably received in said hollow needle such that an outer surface of the hollow stylet slides against an inner surface of the hollow needle as the hollow stylet moves between an extended position at which the closed distal end of said hollow stylet extends beyond the distal end of said hollow needle, and a retracted position at which the closed distal end of said stylet is retracted within said hollow needle;a spring configured to bias said hollow stylet towards said extended position, wherein the spring is within the interior chamber of the housing, between the proximal end of the hollow stylet and the outlet to the housing and does not overlap the hollow stylet; and a spring support fixed to the proximal end of the stylet and including a passage with an inlet aligned with the proximal end of the stylet and an outlet at an end of the spring in the interior chamber of the housing, wherein the spring support overlaps with the spring and the stylet, said method comprising; while grasping the housing, applying a downward pressure to the closed end of said stylet to temporarily overcome said spring bias and move said stylet into said retracted position, continuing said application of pressure as said distal end of said hollow needle passes through the chest wall and continuing the application of pressure only until said distal end enters the pleural cavity of said patient, and monitoring a depth of the insertion of the hollow needle into the chest by visually inspecting the outer surface of the hollow needle. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification