MECHANICAL LEECH SYSTEM

• US 20140309619A1
• Filed: 04/09/2014
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomine Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Biomine Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Agarwal, Jayant, Ho, Scott, Kuhlman, Jessica, Thompson, Andy
• Granted Patent: US 9,522,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/80 Suction pumps A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/92 with liquid supply means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1586 Holding accessories for holding infusion needles on the body holding devices for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0478 Heparin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/11 Laminar flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body

Abstract

A mechanical leech system may include a fluid exchange assembly. The fluid exchange assembly may be attached to a patient'"'"'s target tissue area via suturing or the like, and may be activated to perform blood removal and treatment agent infusion. The fluid exchange assembly may include an inflow pathway for infusion of treatment agents into the tissue area, and an outflow pathway for removal of blood. The outflow pathway may be sized and/or shaped to promote laminar fluid flow and avoid coagulation. The assembly may include a channel housing, gasket, and base. Needles seated in the assembly may receive blood from a patient and infuse a treatment agent into the patient. The assembly may be connectable to a pump to urge the blood and the treatment agent through the inflow and outflow pathways. A cradle optionally provides protection and storage for the assembly.

Claims

1. A system for promoting fluid exchange within a target tissue area, the system comprising:

a first needle comprising a first lumen sized to receive blood from target tissue area;

a second needle comprising a second lumen sized to receive blood from the target tissue area; and

a housing comprising;

a first outflow channel comprising a first branch, a second branch, and an exit branch in fluid communication with the first branch and the second branch;

an outflow exit port in fluid communication with the exit branch;

a first outflow entrance port in fluid communication with the first branch;

a second outflow entrance port spaced apart from the first outflow entrance port and in fluid communication with the second branch;

wherein the first and second needles are coupled to the first outflow entrance port and the second outflow entrance port, respectively, such that blood flows from the first lumen into the first branch and from the second lumen into the second branch; and

wherein the first outflow channel is shaped to promote laminar flow of blood from the first and second outflow entrance ports to the outflow exit port.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first branch comprises, along a majority of its length, a first cross-sectional area, the second branch comprises, along a majority of its length, a second cross-sectional area, and the exit branch comprises, along a majority of its length, an exit cross-sectional area;

wherein the first cross sectional area is substantially equal to the second cross-sectional area; and

wherein the exit cross-sectional area is substantially equal to the sum of the first and second cross-sectional areas.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first branch and the second branch are substantially equal in length.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first branch, the second branch, and the exit branch cooperate to define a T-shape.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third needle comprising a third lumen;

wherein the housing further comprises;

an inflow channel; and

an inflow exit port in fluid communication with the inflow channel;

wherein the third needle is coupled to the inflow exit port to permit fluid to flow from the inflow channel into the third lumen.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises:

a fourth needle comprising a fourth lumen sized to receive blood from the target tissue area;

a fifth needle having a fifth lumen sized to receive blood from the target tissue area; and

wherein the housing further comprises;

a second outflow channel comprising a second outflow channel first branch, a second outflow channel second branch, and a second outflow channel exit branch in fluid communication with the second outflow channel first branch and the second outflow channel second branch;

a second outflow channel outflow exit port in fluid communication with the second outflow channel exit branch;

a second outflow channel first outflow entrance port in fluid communication with the second outflow channel first branch;

a second outflow channel second outflow entrance port spaced apart from the second outflow channel first outflow entrance port and in fluid communication with the second outflow channel second branch;

wherein the fourth and fifth needles are coupled to the second outflow channel first outflow entrance port and the second outflow channel second outflow entrance port, respectively, such that blood flows from the fourth lumen into the second outflow channel first branch and from the fifth lumen into the second outflow channel second branch; and

wherein the second outflow channel is shaped to promote laminar flow of blood from the second outflow channel first outflow entrance port and the second outflow channel second outflow entrance port to the second outflow channel outflow exit port.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises at least one securement opening sized to receive a suture to secure the housing to the target tissue area.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cradle shaped to retain the housing, wherein the cradle comprises a plurality of openings sized to receive the first and second needles.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a channel housing coupled to a base, wherein the channel housing comprises the first outflow channel, and the base comprises the first outflow entrance port, the second outflow entrance port, and the outflow exit port.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a gasket positioned between the channel housing and the base to restrict fluid leakage from the first outflow channel.

11. A system for promoting fluid exchange within a target tissue area, the system comprising:

a first needle comprising a first lumen sized to receive blood from target tissue area;

a second needle comprising a second lumen sized to receive blood from the target tissue area; and

a housing comprising;

a first outflow channel;

an outflow exit port in fluid communication with the first outflow channel;

an first outflow entrance port in fluid communication with the first outflow channel;

a second outflow entrance port spaced apart from the first outflow entrance port and in fluid communication with the first outflow channel;

wherein the first and second needles are coupled to the first outflow entrance port and the second outflow entrance port, respectively, such that blood flows from the first lumen into the first outflow channel and from the second lumen into the first outflow channel;

wherein the outflow exit port is adapted to be connected to an external pump; and

wherein the housing contains no moving parts.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a third needle comprising a third lumen;

wherein the housing further comprises;

an inflow channel; and

an inflow exit port in fluid communication with the inflow channel;

wherein the third needle is coupled to the inflow exit port to permit fluid to flow from the inflow channel into the third lumen.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the system further comprises:

a fourth needle comprising a fourth lumen sized to receive blood from the target tissue area;

a fifth needle having a fifth lumen sized to receive blood from the target tissue area; and

wherein the housing further comprises;

a second outflow channel;

a second outflow channel outflow exit port in fluid communication with the second outflow channel;

a second outflow channel first outflow entrance port in fluid communication with the second outflow channel;

a second outflow channel second outflow entrance port spaced apart from the second outflow channel first outflow entrance port and in fluid communication with the second outflow channel;

wherein the fourth and fifth needles are coupled to the second outflow channel first outflow entrance port and the second outflow channel second outflow entrance port, respectively, such that blood flows from the fourth lumen into the second outflow channel and from the fifth lumen into the second outflow channel.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first outflow channel comprises a first branch, a second branch, and an exit branch, and wherein the first outflow channel is shaped to promote laminar flow of blood through the first outflow channel.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a channel housing coupled to a base, wherein the channel housing comprises the first outflow channel, and the base comprises the first outflow entrance port, the second outflow entrance port, and the outflow exit port.

16. A method for promoting fluid exchange within a target tissue area, the method comprising:

penetrating the target tissue area with a first needle, a second needle, and a third needle, wherein the first, second and third needles are seated in a housing;

from outside the housing, exerting pressure on blood to draw the blood from the target tissue area through the first needle and the second needle into the housing;

conducting the blood from the first and second needles into a first outflow channel in the housing;

conducting the blood out of the housing through a first outflow exit port;

from outside the housing, exerting pressure on a treatment agent to urge the treatment agent to flow into an inflow channel in the housing, the treatment agent flowing through a first inflow entrance port into the inflow channel;

conducting the treatment agent through an inflow exit port and into the third needle; and

conducting the treatment agent from the third needle into the target tissue area.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein drawing the blood from the target tissue area and urging the treatment agent into the inflow channel are carried out simultaneously.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising attaching the housing to the target tissue area by passing a suture through a securement opening in the housing and securing the suture to the target tissue area.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

connecting the first outflow exit port and the first inflow entrance port to a pump external to the housing; and

activating the pump to exert the pressure on the blood and exert the pressure on the treatment agent.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

penetrating the target tissue area with a fourth needle and a fifth needle, wherein the fourth and fifth needles are seated in the housing;

from outside the housing, exerting pressure on the blood to draw the blood from the target tissue area through the fourth needle and the fifth needle into the housing;

conducting the blood into a second outflow channel in the housing; and

conducting the blood out of the housing through a second outflow exit port.