Device for in situ clearing of occlusions in tubing

Inventors

Bagwell, Roger B • Clement, Ryan S • Erdley, Katherine M • Mulvihill, Maureen L

Assignees

Actuated Medical Inc

Abstract

An occlusion clearing device and system for removing material from an artificial tube in situ includes a clearing stem having aspiration and irrigation conduits, where the irrigation conduit is disposed interior to, and terminates within the aspiration conduit. Material enters the clearing stem through aspiration, and irrigation is provided within the aspiration conduit to assist in aspiration through the clearing stem. A handset includes aspiration and irrigation tubing connecting to sources therefor, and further includes valves to control the flow through the tubing and conduits. These valves may be operated simultaneously with an actuator located on the handset, which may be done with one hand. A coupler at the operative end allows the clearing stem to gain access to the artificial tube for clearing while maintaining a closed system with a ventilator. Reciprocating motion may be generated and provided to the clearing stem to aid in occlusion removal.

Core Innovation

The invention provides an in situ clearing device/system for occlusive material in an artificial tube, including an aspiration conduit defining an aspiration lumen with at least one opening at an operative distal end. An irrigation conduit is positioned within and parallel to the aspiration lumen and terminates within the aspiration lumen at a preselected distance from the at least one opening. A handset provides an aspiration port and an irrigation port with aspiration tubing and irrigation tubing in fluid communication with the respective aspiration lumen and irrigation lumen.

The invention addresses clearing by arranging the irrigation conduit to exit within the aspiration lumen, such that irrigation that exits the irrigation conduit is substantially aspirated away from the operative distal end through the aspiration lumen. In this architecture, an aspiration source provides negative pressure for aspiration from the operative distal end to the aspiration source, while an irrigation source provides irrigant to the irrigation lumen such that the irrigant flows through the irrigation lumen, exits the irrigation conduit, and is substantially aspirated away through the aspiration lumen.

The system further includes a coupler at the distal end with a sealing diaphragm and optionally provides a ventilator port and lavage port, supporting a closed system. A single-hand handset connects to aspiration and irrigation sources via respective tubing and includes separate valves that can be actuated, with an actuator optionally having a lock. The device can also deliver reciprocating or oscillating motion to the clearing stem via a shaft and selectable motor types to assist aspiration and insertion while reducing clogging and fluid leakage.

Claims Coverage

The document contains two independent claims covering a dual-lumen clearing stem with separate handset ports and a system that adds aspiration and irrigation sources so irrigation is substantially aspirated away through the aspiration lumen. The independent claims include three core inventive features: the dual conduit configuration with a termination distance relationship, the handset with separate aspiration and irrigation fluid connections, and the source-driven negative-pressure aspiration and irrigant flow path.

Across the independent claims, the key coverage centers on the dual-lumen clearing stem where irrigation is positioned within and terminates within the aspiration lumen at a preselected distance from the aspiration opening, and on handset-based separation of aspiration and irrigation ports via respective tubing. The independent system claim further requires aspiration and irrigation sources configured so irrigant exiting the irrigation conduit is substantially aspirated away through the aspiration lumen under negative-pressure aspiration.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications