Devices for clearing blockages in in-situ artificial lumens
Inventors
Bagwell, Roger B • Park, Brian M • Mulvihill, Maureen L • Hernandez Meza, Gabriela • Crespo, Josue R • Frankhouser, Paul L
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9101700-B2
Publication Date
2015-08-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
Devices and methods for the effective clearing of artificial tubes, especially in-situ clearing of artificial tubes in a living being is covered in this disclosure. An elongated clearing member includes either a fixed or an adjustable element that selectively defines the portion of the elongated clearing member that is insertable within the artificial tube. The proximal end of the clearing member is releasably secured to the driving mechanism and the driving mechanisms may comprise a wide variety of repetitive motion drivers such as voice coil motors, piezoelectric actuators, pneumatic actuators, DC motors, etc. These devices/methods may comprise a free-standing console for hands-free operation or may comprise hand-held versions. The distal working end of the clearing member may comprise tips of differing functions, including an irrigation/aspiration feature.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to devices for the in situ clearing of blockages in a tube, where the tube is at least partially disposed within a living being. The device includes a controller having a housing and an actuator for generating repetitive motion, with the controller located external to the living being. A clearing member is releasably coupled to the controller for insertion into the tube, and the clearing member includes a first end coupled to the actuator, at least one flexible section that permits axial displacement, and a second end suitable for repetitively engaging and disrupting the blockage.
The clearing member is configured to repetitively engage and disrupt the blockage within one of a straight and a curved portion of the tube. The device further includes a depth-control collar that engages a sheath of the clearing member and is free from engagement with a wire of the clearing member, so the wire is disposed through the depth-control collar and moves relative to the depth-control collar. In one configuration, the sheath has a port for irrigation and/or aspiration, with the wire not located in the port, and irrigation and/or aspiration is conducted through a terminal distal end face while a proximal isolation relationship is maintained between an opening for the wire and the port.
Another aspect of the invention includes coordinating irrigation and aspiration with the actuator-driven repetitive motion of the clearing member. In these configurations, the clearing member includes an irrigation port located at a terminal distal end of the clearing member and an aspiration port located at a terminal distal end of the clearing member, with the wire and sheath having corresponding port functions. The device specifies that aspiration and irrigation are conducted through respective ports while the wire moves relative to the sheath and, in at least one configuration, the irrigation port and aspiration port move relative to one another during irrigation and aspiration.
Claims Coverage
The document contains multiple independent claims that share the same overall concept of an external controller driving a releasably coupled clearing member for in situ blockage clearing in a tube disposed within a living being. These claims emphasize seven inventive features, including depth-control collar isolation, coordinated irrigation and aspiration porting, magnetic coupling, motor-driven reciprocating motion, and specific wire/sheath geometry relationships.
External controller with repetitive motion and releasably coupled clearing member
A controller located external to the living being having an actuator for generating repetitive motion, and a clearing member releasably coupled to the controller and suitable for insertion in the tube, with a flexible section permitting axial displacement so the clearing member repetitively engages and disrupts the blockage within one of a straight and a curved portion of the tube.
Depth-control collar free from engagement with the wire while the wire moves
A depth-control collar that engages a sheath of the clearing member and is free from engagement with a wire of the clearing member, wherein the wire is disposed through the depth-control collar and moves relative to the depth-control collar.
Sheath terminal distal end irrigation/aspiration with wire isolated from the port
The sheath has a port for irrigation and/or aspiration, wherein the wire of the clearing member is not located in the port, wherein irrigation and/or aspiration is conducted through a terminal distal end face of the sheath, and wherein the wire extends out of an opening located at the terminal distal end face with an isolation relationship in fluid isolation with the port.
Magnetic releasable coupling between clearing member and actuator
The releasable coupling between the clearing member and the actuator is magnetic.
Motor with scotch yoke translating rotary motion to reciprocating motion
An actuator comprising a motor that translates rotary motion of the motor into reciprocating motion.
Irrigation and aspiration with terminal distal end ports on clearing member
The clearing member has an irrigation port located at a terminal distal end and an aspiration port located at a terminal distal end, where irrigation is conducted through the irrigation port of the clearing member and aspiration is conducted through the aspiration port of the clearing member.
Wire and sheath port assignment for irrigation and aspiration
The wire of the clearing member has the irrigation port, and the sheath has the aspiration port, wherein irrigation is conducted through the irrigation port and aspiration is conducted through the aspiration port.
Coordinated irrigation/aspiration with ports moving relative to one another during repetitive wire motion
A device where the clearing member irrigates and aspirates via an irrigation port and an aspiration port at a terminal distal end, and the wire moves relative to the sheath during irrigation and aspiration such that the irrigation port and the aspiration port move relative to one another.
Hollow lumen wire positioned to directly face inner surface
A hollow lumen wire whose outer surface directly faces an inner surface of an artificial tube.
Irrigation/aspiration through distal sheath ports while wire moves relative to sheath
A configuration where the sheath has both the irrigation port and the aspiration port at a terminal distal end, the wire has a closed distal working end, and the irrigation and aspiration is conducted through the irrigation and aspiration ports while the actuator repeatedly moves the wire relative to the sheath.
Brush on the wire
The clearing member includes a clearing member brush located on the wire.
Hollow lumen wire with radial offset relative to sheath (not coaxial) and circumference constraint
A configuration where the sheath defines an irrigation port at a terminal distal end, the wire is a hollow lumen wire, irrigation and aspiration is conducted through the port of the sheath and the hollow lumen of the wire, and the wire is not coaxial with the sheath by specifying a circular-cross-section relationship with wire circumference less than the irrigation port circumference and a radial offset relative to the sheath.
Overall, the claim set covers an external controller driving repetitive motion for in situ blockage clearing using a flexible, releasably coupled clearing member with a depth-control collar that is free from wire engagement, along with coordinated irrigation and aspiration through terminal distal ports implemented by the wire and sheath. Several claim refinements further define magnetic coupling, motor drive translation, specific distal irrigation and aspiration routing, simultaneous irrigation and aspiration coordination during wire motion, and wire/sheath geometry relationships including a hollow lumen wire and a not-coaxial radial offset constraint.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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