Body cavity drainage devices and related methods
AssigneeMerit Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorHARRISON M. LAZARUS
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Body cavity drainage devices and associated methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments a body cavity drainage device comprises a drainage tube having a proximal end and a distal end; and an automated means to move the distal end of the drainage tube about a body cavity of a patient. In some embodiments, the distal end of the drainage tube may be moved by one or more of the application of a magnetic field, the insertion or withdrawal of fluid from a closed lumen, and manipulation by an external motion generator. In additional embodiments, a body cavity drainage device includes at least a second open lumen for the insertion of a fluid into a body cavity. In yet further embodiments, an internal tissue may be massaged from within a body cavity of a patient.
Claims20
A body cavity drainage device for a patient, comprising:
- a drainage tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a wall, the distal end being configured to be inserted into a body cavity of the patient defined by soft tissue during use of the body cavity drainage device;
- one or more flexible members disposed within one or more closed lumens extending longitudinally through the wall of the drainage tube;
- and
- an activation device attached to the proximal end of the drainage tube and configured to be positioned at least partially external to the patient during use of the body cavity drainage device, the activation device operably connected to the one or more flexible members and configured to apply a tension to the one or more flexible members to bend the drainage tube.
A body cavity drainage device for a patient, comprising:
- a drainage tube having a proximal end and a distal end;
- an activation device disposed at the proximal end of the drainage tube, the activation device comprising:
- a pinion gear attached to a control device;
- a first rack meshed with the pinion gear;
- a second rack meshed with the pinion gear;
- and
- first and second flexible members extending along a length of the drainage tube and attached to the drainage tube at or near the distal end of the drainage tube, each of the first and second flexible members attached to the first and second racks, respectively.
A method of providing a treatment within a body cavity comprising:
- positioning a distal end of a drainage tube within the body cavity;
- and
- automatically moving the distal end of the drainage tube within the body cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.