Combined otic aspirator and medication dispenser
AssigneeAuris Medical AG
InventorsDon Reed, Chris Sakezles
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for making an incision in the tympanic membrane, withdrawing fluid from the tympanic cavity and administering a medicament to the space behind the tympanic membrane is provided. The device has a barrel-shaped casing (1) having a rotatable end turret (38). A first trigger (2) allows a shaft (18) to pierce the tympanic membrane and a tubular vacuum cartridge (32). The cartridge allows aspiration of fluid. A second trigger (4) causes medicament (34) to be released into the space behind the tympanic membrane.
Claims12
A device for making an incision in the tympanic membrane, withdrawing fluid from the tympanic cavity or middle ear and administering a medicament to the tympanic cavity or middle ear, said device comprising a barrel shaped casing having a rotatable end turret adapted to engage tubular elements:
- (a) a first actuating trigger which activates a first tubular element in which is disposed a spring-loaded, hollow piercing shaft having a first end which is adapted to penetrate a tympanic membrane when it is extended from said barrel shaped casing by the action of said spring and a second internal end which is adapted to engage an end of a tubular vacuum cartridge having a seal;
- (b) said tubular vacuum cartridge having a seal, being positioned in said barrel shaped casing and having an axial spring for providing axial rotation in said barrel, when said hollow piercing shaft is completely extended from said barrel casing, said tubular vacuum cartridge having a seal, said vacuum cartridge being adapted to axially move into register with said second internal end of said piercing shaft to expose said hollow piercing element to the effect of vacuum in said tubular vacuum container in order to aspirate fluid from said tympanic cavity or middle ear;
- (c) a second trigger actuating axial spring loaded tubular medicament chamber having a seal, which is positioned in said barrel casing and is adapted to rotate under the action of said second trigger and engage the second internal end of said piercing element and release medicament into the tympanic cavity or middle ear.
A method for administering a liquid medicament into the tympanic cavity or middle ear which comprises making an incision in the tympanic membrane, withdrawing fluid from the tympanic cavity or middle ear and administering a medicament to the tympanic cavity or middle ear by passing a hollow piercing shaft through the tympanic membrane by means of a device comprising a barrel shaped casing having a rotatable end turret adapted to engage tubular elements:
- (a) a first actuating trigger which activates a first tubular element in which is disposed a spring-loaded, hollow piercing shaft having a first end which is adapted to penetrate a tympanic membrane when it is extended from said barrel shaped casing by the action of said spring and a second internal end which is adapted to engage an end of a tubular vacuum cartridge having a seal;
- (b) said tubular vacuum cartridge having a seal, being positioned in said barrel shaped casing and having an axial spring for providing axial rotation in said barrel, when said hollow piercing shaft is completely extended from said barrel casing, said tubular vacuum cartridge having a seal, said vacuum cartridge being adapted to axially move into register with said second internal end of said piercing shaft to expose said hollow piercing element to the effect of vacuum in said tubular vacuum container in order to aspirate fluid from a space behind said tympanic membrane;
- (c) a second trigger actuating axial spring loaded medicament chamber having a seal, which is positioned in said barrel casing and is adapted to rotate under the action of said second trigger and engage the second internal end of said piercing element and release medicament into the tympanic cavity or middle ear.
A method for obtaining a specimen of fluid from the tympanic cavity or the middle ear which comprises making an incision in the tympanic membrane, withdrawing fluid from the tympanic cavity or middle ear which comprises passing a hollow piercing shaft through the tympanic membrane by means of a device comprising a barrel shaped casing having a rotatable end turret adapted to engage tubular elements:
- (a) a first actuating trigger which activates a first tubular element in which is disposed a spring-loaded, hollow piercing shaft having a first end which is adapted to penetrate a tympanic membrane when it is extended from said barrel shaped casing by the action of said spring and a second internal end which is adapted to engage an end of a tubular vacuum cartridge having a seal;
- (b) said tubular vacuum cartridge having a seal, being positioned in said barrel shaped casing and having an axial spring for providing axial rotation in said barrel, when said hollow piercing shaft is completely extended from said barrel casing, said tubular vacuum cartridge having a seal, said vacuum cartridge being adapted to axially move into register with said second internal end of said piercing shaft to expose said hollow piercing element to the effect of vacuum in said tubular vacuum container in order to aspirate fluid from a space behind said tympanic membrane;
- and
- (c) recovering said fluid from said tubular vacuum chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.