Body-space drainage-tube debris removal
AssigneeClearflow, Inc.
InventorEdward M. Boyle, JR.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a debris removal system is provided for a body-space drainage system having one or more body tubes with a body tube lumen disposed therein. The debris-removal system comprises an elongated cleaning member and a cleaning head adapted to be advanced distally at least a portion of a length of the body tube lumen to dislodge debris therein. A collapsible sheath can be used to maintain a sterile field in the body tube lumen while the cleaning member is being used by enclosing at least a portion of the cleaning member that is not contained within the body tube lumen, and permitting external digital manipulation of the cleaning member through the sheath to advance and/or retract the cleaning member, and cleaning head, in the body tube lumen.
Claims30
A debris-removal system comprising:
- a body tube having a body tube proximal end, a body tube distal end, and a body tube lumen having a cross-sectional area;
- and
- a cleaning member adapted for manipulation within the body tube lumen, said cleaning member comprising a flexible wire filament having a flexible filament distal end and a cleaning head disposed at or adjacent said distal end of said flexible wire filament;
- wherein actuation of said cleaning member causes a corresponding actuation of said cleaning head to dislodge debris within said body tube lumen without compromising a sterile field within said body tube;
- said cleaning head being configured such that it permits free flow of material past the cleaning head across substantially the full cross-sectional area of the body tube lumen while the cleaning head is being used to dislodge debris.
A debris-removal system comprising:
- a body tube having a body tube proximal end, a body tube distal end, and a body tube lumen having a cross-sectional area;
- and
- a cleaning member disposed and adapted for manipulation within the body tube lumen, said cleaning member comprising a flexible wire filament having a flexible filament distal end that consists essentially of a tip having a cross-section that is at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of said flexible wire filament, said tip being engaged with an interior wall surface of said body tube;
- wherein actuation of said cleaning member causes a corresponding actuation of said tip against said interior wall surface to dislodge debris adhered thereto without compromising a sterile field within said body tube, said cleaning member being configured such that said tip cannot exit the body tube distal end upon advancement of said cleaning member;
- said tip being configured such that it permits free flow of material past the tip across substantially the full cross-sectional area of the body tube lumen while the cleaning head is being used to dislodge debris.
A debris-removal system comprising:
- a branched body tube comprising a proximal tube having a proximal lumen and a plurality of distal tubes having respective distal lumens, each distal lumen being in fluid communication with said proximal lumen;
- and
- a cleaning member adapted for manipulation within each distal lumen, said cleaning member comprising a flexible filament having a flexible filament distal end and a cleaning head disposed at or adjacent said distal end of said flexible filament;
- wherein actuation of said cleaning member causes a corresponding actuation of said cleaning head effective to dislodge debris within said branched body tube.
A debris-removal system comprising:
- a body tube having a body tube proximal end, a body tube distal end, and a body tube lumen having a cross-sectional area;
- and
- a cleaning member adapted for manipulation within the body tube lumen, said cleaning member comprising a flexible wire filament having a flexible filament distal end and a cleaning head disposed at or adjacent said distal end of said flexible wire filament;
- wherein actuation of said cleaning member causes a corresponding actuation of said cleaning head to dislodge debris within said body tube lumen without compromising a sterile field within said body tube;
- said cleaning head being configured such that it permits free flow of material past and around the cleaning head across the cross-sectional area of the body tube lumen while the cleaning head is being used to dislodge debris.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.