# US 8,784,300 B2 · Devices, systems, and methods for removing empyema from a pleural cavity > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,300 B2 - Document ID: US8784300B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/364,876 - Filed: 2012-02-02 - Published: 2012-10-04 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-30 - Assignees: Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland - Applicants: Olajire Idowu; Sunghoon Kim - Inventors: Olajire Idowu; Sunghoon Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784300B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/00094: {Suction openings} - A61B 1/00165: {with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics (A61B1/07 takes precedence)} - A61B 1/05: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion - A61M 27/00: Drainage appliance for wounds or the like {, i.e. wound drains, implanted drains} ({negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90;} implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 {; middle ear drainage A61F11/202}) - A61M 2250/00: Specially adapted for animals - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for removing empyema from a pleural cavity of a human or veterinary patient, comprising: 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; 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; and at least one separating member extending across the second opening and attached to the perimeter of the second opening, and/or a pressure relief element comprising a notch or a protrusion on the perimeter of the second opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the outer elongated member and the hollow elongated member are tubular, and wherein a longitudinal axis of the outer elongated member is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the hollow elongated member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising a lighting element disposed at a distal end of the device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the lighting element is an LED or optical fiber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising a visualization element disposed at a distal end of the device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the visualization element is a camera or lens. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising a delivery member for delivering gas to a distal end of the device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the delivery member is formed adjacent to the outer elongated member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the outer elongated member is flared. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising: at least one separating member extending across the second opening and attached to the perimeter of the second opening of the outer elongated member; a lighting element disposed at a distal end of the device; and a visualization element disposed at the distal end of the device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the lighting element is an LED or optical fiber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the visualization element is a camera or lens. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, comprising a delivery member for delivering gas to the distal end of the device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the distal end of the outer elongated member is flared. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the outer elongated member includes a pressure relief element comprising a notch or a protrusion on the perimeter of the second opening. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the distal end of the outer elongated member is angled. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the distal end of the outer elongated member is removably coupled to a remainder of the outer elongated member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the outer elongated member is angled. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the outer elongated member is removably coupled to a remainder of the outer elongated member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A system for removing empyema from a pleural cavity of a human or veterinary patient, comprising: a device according to claim 1; an actuating source coupled to the device to activate movement of the movable blade; and a suction source coupled to the device to provide suction to the hollow elongated member of the device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, comprising: a gas source coupled to the device, wherein the device comprises a delivery member for delivering gas to a distal end of the device, and wherein the gas source is coupled to the gas delivering lumen. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the delivery member is adjacent to the outer elongated member. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, comprising a monitor communicatively coupled to the device to display images of the pleural cavity. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, comprising a camera source coupled to the device, the camera source receiving light via an optical fiber and lens disposed at a distal end of the device, the camera source converting the light into images or digital representations of images. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A kit comprising; a device according to claim 1, wherein the distal end of the outer elongated member is removably coupled to a remainder of the outer elongated member; and one or more additional distal ends that removably couple to the remainder of the outer elongated member. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The kit of claim 25, comprising: an actuating source removably couplable to the device, the actuating source to activate movement of the movable blade when coupled; and a suction source removably couplable to the hollow elongated member, the suction source to provide suction within the hollow elongated member when coupled. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The kit of claim 26, comprising: a gas source removably couplable to the device, wherein the device comprises a delivery member for delivering gas to a distal end of the device, and wherein the gas source is removably couplable to the delivery member. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The kit of claim 27, wherein the delivery member is adjacent to the outer elongated member. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The kit of claim 25, comprising a monitor to display images of the pleural cavity when communicatively coupled. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) A method for removing empyema in a pleural cavity of a human or veterinary patient, the method comprising: inserting a distal end of an empyema removal device according to claim 1 into a pleural cavity of a human or veterinary patient; advancing the distal end of the device towards empyema; suctioning the empyema into the second opening of the outer elongated member and into the first opening of the hollow elongated member; cutting the empyema with a movable blade as the empyema is suctioned past the movable blade, the movable blade disposed within the distal end of the hollow elongated member. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, comprising: emitting light into the pleural cavity from a lighting element disposed at the distal end of the device; and displaying photographic or video images of the pleural cavity on a monitor or viewing device. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein the outer elongated member includes at least one separating member extending across and attached to the perimeter of the second opening of the outer elongated member such that empyema suctioned within the second opening is penetrated by the at least one separating member. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein the distal end of the outer elongated member is flared. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, comprising delivering gas to a distal end of the device via a delivery member. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, wherein carbon dioxide is delivered to the distal end of the device to inflate the pleural cavity of the patient. ### Claim 36 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein the suctioning is activated and deactivated by a trigger element on the device. ### Claim 37 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, comprising suctioning the empyema into a depository coupled to a proximal end of the device. ### Claim 38 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the distal end of the outer elongated member is removably coupled to a remainder of the outer elongated member, and wherein the method comprises: removing the distal end of the outer elongated member from the remainder of the outer elongated member; and coupling a new distal end to the remainder of the outer elongated member. ### Claim 39 A device for removing empyema from a pleural cavity of a human or veterinary patient, comprising: 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; 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; and at least one separating member extending across the second opening and attached to the perimeter of the second opening. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The device according to claim 39, wherein the outer elongated member comprises a pressure relief element comprising a notch or a protrusion on the perimeter of the second opening. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The device according to claim 39, wherein the outer elongated member and the hollow elongated member are tubular, and wherein a longitudinal axis of the outer elongated member is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the hollow elongated member. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The device according to claim 39, comprising a lighting element disposed at a distal end of the device. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The device according to claim 42, wherein the lighting element is an LED or optical fiber. ### Claim 44 (depends on 39) The device according to claim 39, comprising a visualization element disposed at a distal end of the device. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The device according to claim 44, wherein the visualization element is a camera or lens. ### Claim 46 (depends on 39) The device according to claim 39, comprising a delivery member for delivering gas to a distal end of the device. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The device according to claim 46, wherein the delivery member is formed adjacent to the outer elongated member. ### Claim 48 (depends on 39) The device according to claim 39, wherein the distal end of the outer elongated member is flared.