Apparatus and method to inspect microlumen of catheter
AssigneeSterilmed, Inc.
InventorJason Hill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lumen inspection device includes an elongate member and a sealing member at a distal end of the elongate member. The elongate member is inserted into a lumen of a medical instrument. The lumen inspection device is translated along the lumen. The sealing member resiliently bears against a sidewall of the lumen as the lumen inspection device is translated along the lumen of the medical instrument. A pressure source is activated to pressurize a region of the lumen adjacent to the sealing member. A fluid property of the lumen is monitored to detect whether the sealing member deforms in response to an obstruction in the lumen.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- (a) inserting an elongate member of a lumen inspection device in a lumen of a medical instrument;
- (b) translating the lumen inspection device along the lumen of the medical instrument, the lumen inspection device including a sealing member, the sealing member resiliently biasing against a sidewall of the lumen as the lumen inspection device is translated along the lumen of the medical instrument, the resilient biasing of the sealing member resulting in a resilient force being applied to the sidewall of the lumen;
- (c) activating a pressure source to pressurize a region of the lumen adjacent to the sealing member;
- and
- (d) monitoring a fluid flow rate or a fluid pressure of the pressurized region of the lumen while translating the lumen inspection device and activating the pressure source, to thereby detect whether the sealing member deforms in response to an obstruction in the lumen.
An apparatus, comprising:
- (a) an elongate wire having a proximal end and a distal end;
- (b) a stop member fixedly secured to the distal end of the elongate wire;
- and
- (c) a sealing member, the sealing member including a flared portion, the flared portion being resiliently biased to define a frustoconical shape, the sealing member having an interior region, the stop member being positioned within an interior region of the frustoconical shape, the stop member being configured to restrict distal translation of the sealing member relative to the elongate wire, the flared portion being configured to deflect inwardly to thus break a fluid seal between the sealing member and a lumen upon encountering a contaminant between the sealing member and the lumen.
A kit, comprising:
- (a) a medical instrument having a shaft defining a lumen;
- (b) a lumen inspection device comprising:
- (i) a flexible elongate member having a distal end, and
- (ii) a sealing member at the distal end of the flexible elongate member, the lumen inspection device being configured to translate through the lumen, the sealing member having a resilient bias with a flared configuration such that the sealing member is configured to resiliently bias against a sidewall of the lumen as the lumen inspection device translates through the lumen;
- (c) a pressure source operable to pressurize a region of the lumen adjacent to the sealing member as the lumen inspection device translates through the lumen;
- and
- (d) a fluid parameter monitor operable to monitor a fluid flow rate or a fluid pressure of fluid in the lumen as the lumen inspection device translates through the lumen, to thereby detect whether the sealing member deforms in response to an obstruction in the lumen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.