Surgical drain with sensors for differential monitoring of internal condition

• US 20040254432A1
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Photosonics Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alfred E MANN Institute For Biomedical Engineering At The University of Southern California
• Inventors: Jabbour, Nicolas, Necola Shehada, Ramez Emile
• Granted Patent: US 7,244,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/327
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/228 Sensors with optical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/413 Monitoring transplanted tissue or organ, e.g. for possible rejection reactions after a transplant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/918 for multiple suction locations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/95 with sensors for exudate composition
• 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

The present invention is directed to devices and methods of using a surgical drain, and more particularly to a surgical drain having at least one sensor for monitoring and/or recording the condition of the anatomical site or fluid emitted from the site where the surgical drain is placed. The invention may also include modifications of the surgical drain to improve stabilization or immobilization in the proximity of the anatomical site to be monitored.

Claims

1. A surgical drain comprising:

a) an elongated conduit configured to be implanted in and to drain fluid from a body cavity, the elongated conduit including a first surface located on an outer side of the elongated conduit and a second surface located on an outer side of the elongated conduit that is substantially opposite of the first surface;

b) a first sensing system configured to sense a physiological property of tissue proximate to the first surface; and

c) a second sensing system configured to sense the same physiological property of tissue proximate to the second surface.

2. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the physiological property is selected from the group comprising:

temperature, oxygenation, perfusion, pH, NADH levels, biochemical composition, drug concentrations, turgidity or pressure.

3. The surgical drain of claim 1, further including at least one transmitting element configured to deliver energy to the tissue proximate to the first and second surface.

4. The surgical drain of claim 1, comprising a third sensing system configured to sense a second physiological property of tissue proximate to the conduit that is different from the physiological property sensed by the first and second sensing systems.

5. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the conduit includes a drain portion configured to rest against a substantial length of tissue within the body cavity and a plurality of drain holes spaced along substantially the entire length of the drain portion.

6. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein at least portions of the first and second sensing systems are embedded within the conduit behind material that is optically transparent.

7. The surgical drain of claim 1, further including a processing system in communication with the first and second sensing systems configured to compare a difference between the physiological property sensed by the first and second sensing systems.

8. The surgical drain of claim 7, wherein the sensing systems sense temperature and wherein the processing system is configured to compare the difference between the temperatures sensed by the first and second sensing systems.

9. The surgical drain of claim 1, further including a display configured to depict data corresponding to the physiological property sensed by the first or second sensing systems.

10. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the conduit includes a third surface located on an outer side of the conduit and a fourth surface located on an outer side of the conduit that is substantially opposite of the third surface and further including:

a third sensing system configured to sense the same physiological property of tissue proximate to the third surface; and

a fourth sensing system configured to sense the same physiological property of tissue proximate to the fourth surface.

11. The surgical drain of claim 10, further including a processing system configured to compare a difference between the physiological property sensed by the first and third sensing systems.

12. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the first and second sensing systems include optical fibers.

13. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the first sensing system includes a component that is affixed to the conduit.

14. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the component is embedded in the conduit.

15. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the component includes a sensor.

16. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the component includes an optical fiber.

17. A method of utilizing a surgical drain to monitor the condition of a tissue comprising:

implanting a surgical drain within a body cavity in proximity to tissue to be monitored, wherein the surgical drain includes a first sensing system and a second sensing system configured to sense a physiological property of the tissue;

receiving information from the first and second sensing systems regarding the physiological property of the tissue;

monitoring the information received from the first and second sensing systems to evaluate the condition of the tissue over time.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising processing information from the first and second sensing systems to compare a difference in information sensed by the first and second sensing systems.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising processing information from the first and second sensing systems to compare a difference in information received from the first and second sensing systems from different regions along the same tissue.

20. The method of claim 17, comprising processing information from the first and second sensing systems to compare a difference in information received from the first and second sensing systems from different tissues.