Methods and Devices to Clear Obstructions from Medical Tubes
AssigneeClear Catheter Systems, Inc.
InventorEdward M. Boyle, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, such as a chest tube, is disclosed in various embodiments. In embodiments, the device features a guide wire that extends from a drainage canister and can be advanced and withdrawn through a medical tube, such as a chest tube, via an actuator. The guide wire is actuated so as to maintain the sterile field within the chest tube and the associated suction pathway. Methods of clearing a medical tube of obstructions using such a device are also disclosed.
Claims35
A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube, comprising a drainage canister having a drainage port for the introduction of material into the canister, a guide-member actuator, and a guide member extending through said drainage port, said guide-member actuator being operable to advance and/or withdraw said guide member through said drainage port.
A method of clearing obstructions from a medical tube, comprising establishing fluid communication between said medical tube and an interior of a drainage canister for collecting material drained through said medical tube, and advancing a guide member that extends from said canister through said medical tube.
A medical tube drainage system comprising:
- a drainage canister having a fluid chamber;
- a drainage tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being coupled to the drainage canister, the drainage tube comprising a lumen therethrough, the drainage tube lumen being in fluid communication with the fluid chamber;
- a medical tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the medical tube comprising a lumen therethrough, the proximal end of the medical tube being coupled to the distal end of the drainage tube, the medical-tube lumen being in fluid communication with the lumen of the drainage tube;
- and
- a guide wire having a proximal portion terminating at a proximate end and a distal portion terminating at a distal end, the proximal portion of the guide wire extending through the fluid chamber and at least partially out of said drainage canister through an actuator port, the distal portion of the guide wire extending through the lumen of the drainage tube and into the lumen of the medical tube, wherein the guide wire is adapted such that the distal end of the guide wire can be extended into and withdrawn from the medical tube by pushing and pulling the guide wire proximal end, the distal end of the guide wire being adapted to dislodge obstructing material from the medical tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.