Apparatus and methods for flushing medical devices
OwnerDaniel Dadourianinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for flushing medical devices are provided. In one embodiment, a flushing apparatus includes a container of carbon dioxide, a filter, a heat exchanger and an actuator for controlling delivery of carbon dioxide from the apparatus. In another embodiment, the flushing apparatus may be a syringe and a reservoir. During use, a medical device may be connected to the flushing apparatus, and carbon dioxide may be delivered from the apparatus into one or more lumens of the medical device to flush the device with carbon dioxide, e.g., to remove trapped air within the medical device. The medical device is then removed from the apparatus and delivered into a patient's body.
Claims20
An apparatus for flushing a tubular medical instrument to facilitate air removal, the system comprising:
- a container holding carbon dioxide;
- a filter device communicating with an outlet of the container;
- a heat exchanger communicating with the filter device and the container, thereby creating a flow path for carbon dioxide from the container;
- an outlet for receiving a proximal end of a tubular medical instrument, the outlet communicating with the flow path;
- and
- an actuator for selectively opening and closing the flow path from the container to the outlet for delivering carbon dioxide from the container into a lumen of the medical instrument communicating with the outlet to flush the lumen with carbon dioxide.
A method for flushing a medical device, comprising:
- providing a source of carbon dioxide;
- connecting a proximal end of the medical device to an outlet of the source of carbon dioxide;
- activating the source of carbon dioxide to flush a lumen of the medical device with carbon dioxide;
- and
- removing the medical device from the source of carbon dioxide.
A method for flushing air from a medical device, comprising:
- providing a source of highly blood-soluble gas;
- connecting a proximal end of the medical device to an outlet of the source;
- delivering the highly blood-soluble gas into the medical device to flush a lumen of the medical device;
- and
- removing the medical device from the outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.