Surgical drain with positioning and protective features

• US 7,419,483 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Photosonics Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Alfred E. Mann Institute For Biomedical Engineering At The University Of Southern California (University of Southern California)
• Inventors: Shehada, Ramez Emile Necola
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAND, MELANIE JO
• Application Number:
  US10/776,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 604541-543, 604/509
• US Class Current: 604/543
• 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. An implantable surgical drain configured to be placed against at least one tissue within a patient'"'"'s body for draining fluid and sensing at least one physiological property of the tissue, comprising:

a) an elongated conduit housing configured to be implanted in the patient'"'"'s body and to rest against a substantial length of a first tissue within the body, and to drain wound fluid from the body, the elongated conduit comprising;

i. a first and a second surface on an outer side and along the length of the elongated conduit;

ii. a plurality of drain openings in the first and the second surface positioned along substantially the entire length of the elongated conduit, configured to drain wound fluid from the body;

iii. a first and a second drain lumen positioned within the elongated conduit housing in fluid communication with the plurality of the drain openings;

iv. at least one sensing element positioned along the first surface in proximity to the drain openings of the elongated conduit configured to sense a physiological property of the first tissue; and

v. an at least one inflatable compartment positioned within the elongated conduit housing between the first and the second drain lumens, positioned behind the at least one sensing element, configured when inflated to push the at least one sensing element in a substantially orthogonal direction with respect to the first surface against the first tissue so as to enhance contact between the sensing element and the first tissue; and

b) a tube in fluid communication with the first and the second drain lumens configured to transport the drained wound fluid out of the body.

2. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensing element and the at least one inflatable compartment are positioned at about the same position along the length of the surgical drain.

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

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

4. The surgical drain of claim 1, further comprising multiple sensing elements configured to sense different physiological properties.

5. The surgical drain of claim 1, further including a display configured to depict data corresponding to the physiological property sensed by the at least one sensing element.

6. The surgical drain of claim 1, further comprising a pump in communication with an interior portion of the at least one inflatable compartment.

7. The surgical drain of claim 1, further comprising a pressure monitor in communication with the interior portion of the at least one inflatable chamber compartment.

8. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the surgical drain further includes an anchor configured to stabilize the position of the surgical drain relative to the first tissue in the body.

9. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the surgical drain further includes a projection extending from the outer side, wherein the projection is configured for insertion into tissue in the body.

10. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the surgical drain further includes a first loop extending from the outer side.

11. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the surgical drain further includes adhesive on at least a portion of the outer side.

12. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the surgical drain further includes a flap extending from the outer side.

13. The surgical drain of claim 1, further comprising a second sensing element configured to sense the same physiological property of a different second tissue.

14. The surgical drain of claim 13, wherein the at least one inflatable compartment is positioned behind the first and the second sensing elements and is configured to simultaneously push the first and the second sensing elements against the first and the second tissue, respectively.

15. The surgical drain of claim 1, wherein the inflatable compartment is configured to simultaneously push against a different second tissue while pushing the sensing element against the first tissue.