Devices, Systems, and Methods for Removing Empyema from a Pleural Cavity
AssigneeChildren's Hospital & Research Center Oakland
InventorsOlajire Idowu, Sunghoon Kim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Pleural empyema removal devices are provided and enable the removal of empyema from the pleural cavity of a human or veterinary patient. The pleural empyema removal devices may be coupled with one or more additional devices, such as suction source, gas source, light source and/or camera source, and monitor. The devices and systems including the devices facilitate the removal of empyema from the pleural cavity of a patient while providing protections from damage to untargeted tissues. The devices, systems, and methods can be used in the treatment process to treat pleural empyema resulting from pleural effusions and infections stemming from various illnesses and disorders, such as pneumonia.
Claims21
-40. (canceled)
A method for removing empyema from a pleural cavity of a human or veterinary patient, the method comprising:
- inserting a device into the pleural cavity of the patient, wherein the device comprises:
- a hollow elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end, the hollow elongated member adapted to couple to a suction source at the proximal end and to enable suction at the distal end of the hollow elongated member, the hollow elongated member having a first opening at the distal end;
- a movable blade disposed within the hollow elongated member, the movable blade configured to move such that empyema suctioned through the first opening is cut by the blade;
- and
- an outer elongated member disposed around the hollow elongated member, the outer elongated member having a distal end extending past the distal end of the hollow elongated member such that the distal end of the hollow elongated member is within the outer elongated member and is adapted such that, in use, the outer elongated member contacts target empyema before the hollow elongated member and shields or prevents untargeted tissues from entering the opening of the hollow elongated member and contacting the movable blade;
- and
- a second opening at the tip of the distal end of the outer elongated member, wherein the distal end of the outer elongated member is configured such that suction from the hollow elongated member is provided at the second opening;
- advancing the distal end of the outer elongated member of the device towards a target empyema;
- suctioning the target empyema into the second opening of the outer elongated member and into the first opening of the hollow elongated member;
- and
- cutting the empyema with the movable blade as the empyema is suctioned past the movable blade, the movable blade being disposed within the distal end of the hollow elongated member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.