GB2494730A

GB2494730A - Non-clogging suction device

Info

Publication number: GB2494730A
Application number: GB1200696.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Elena Georgina Addison; Edward Altman; Nina Jevahoff
Original assignee: MEDILOC SCIENCE
Current assignee: MEDILOC SCIENCE
Priority date: 2012-01-17
Filing date: 2012-01-17
Publication date: 2013-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2032-01-17
Also published as: GB2494730B; GB201200696D0

Abstract

A suction device for aspiration of intra-abdominal fluid and debris comprising a negative pressure source (not shown), a suction tube 13, a chamber 10 containing a rotating loop shaped blade 9 which is rotated by an engine (not shown), and an outlet tube 12, wherein in use aspirated viscous fluid is sucked through the suction tube 13 into the chamber 10 and the fluid is broken down by the rotating blade 9, before exiting the outlet 12. A lever 8 is used to adjust the suction pressure by compressing spring 6 which covers or uncovers slot 7. The device allows the aspiration to be liquefied proximal from the distal end without the risk of damaging tissue.

Description

NON-CLOGGING SUCTION DEVICE (NCSD)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Aspiration of the intra-abdominal fluid and debris is required during different stages of the operation to protect the intra-abdominal space from contamination and/or to remove blood or tissue fluids occurring during the operation. Aspiration is essential for obtaining a clean surgical area and relatively more difficult in laparoscopic surgery because of the suctioning of the omentum and intestine with the aspirator.

A typical device consists of a tube with special cups and nozzles to perform different types of suction. The tube is connected to a handle that is connected to a central suction hose. The handle includes a device that controls the volume of suction and irrigation. However these devices are not very effective for aspirating viscous fluids such as clotted blood, contents of cysts, thick secretions and viscid forms of pus with and without semi-solid elements.

These pathological fluids clog the tip and efferent tubes of these suction devices resulting in the need to frequently replace or unblock the device. This causes a significant disturbance during surgery and in doing so can be critical to patient safety.

Efforts to overcome this problem resulted in the introduction of different types of suction tubes and Ozer et a/have reported a new sponge tip suction tube (STST), which allows the surgeon easier suctioning of intra-abdominal fluid 1 Ison eta/have described an endoscopic liquidiser and surgical aspirator (ELSA). ELSA can liquefy solid pathological tissues by employing a rotating blade in the form of a drill or a propeller as a mechanical fragmenting agent and evacuator of tissue fragments using suction 2 Another type of suction device was designed equipped with rotating blades at the distal end of the instrument, near the suction tip. US patents 5,275,609 and 5,290,303 describe devices for removing target objects from a body passageway. The devices employ a rotating spiral woven coil as a mechanical fragmenting agent and the evacuation of the fragments of the target object is carried out by suction force.

However these devices are still not widely used because of the potential safety concerns over soft tissue (pericardial fat, omentum, intestines and fallopian tubes) suction and/or damage by the propeller located in a close proximity to the suction tip in some models.

I

THE INVENTION

The present invention is an improved NON-CLOGGING SUCTION DEVICE (NCSD), which overcomes the above mentioned limitations and provides an improved non-clogging, suction rate controlled device that does not damage surrounding tissues.

NCSD is comprised of an outer tube (2) and an inner tube (1) connected to a handle (11) connected to a chamber (10). A loop shaped blade (9) connected by a rotor (14) with high velocity electric/pneumatic motor is located inside the chamber (10) of the handle. Suctioned product is moved into the chamber (10) by negative pressure and transformed into a homogenous discharge by loop-shaped blade (9) rotating at high speed.

The discard is removed through suction outlet tube (12) and collected without clogging the suction system The shorter outer tube (2) surrounds an inner tube (1) and can be moved forth and back along the inner tube by pressing on the lever (8), located on the distal end of the outer tube (2) The inner tube contains a 10mm length and 2mm width slot (7) near the handle at the proximal end of the instrument. The outer tube is connected to the spiral spring (6), and its movement is operated by a lever (8), which moves the outer tube compressing the spiral spring (6) and closing the slot (7). By pushing the lever (8) with index and / or middle fingers, the spiral spring (6)is compressed allowing the outer tube (2) to cover the slot. This activates the suction by introducing a negative pressure inside the instrument.

By smoothly using the index and / or middle fingers to move the sliding outer tube (2) up and down, the suction pressure is regulated within the range of a maximum to zero almost instantaneously providing the appropriate suction pressure. When the slot (7) is totally closed, a maximum suction pressure is achieved, and when the opening is fully opened the suction pressure is brought back to zero. This creates an easy and prompt way to regulate suction pressure, thus removing the need of suction adjustment by the additional personnel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS IN FIGURE 1.

The external tube (2) defining a suction route (13) is connected to a chamber (10) and a suction outlet (12) for removing aspirated fluids.

The chamber (10) contains a rotating loop-shape blade (9) for fragmentation of semi solid elements and is connected to a rotor (14) which can be further connected to a pneumatic or an electric high velocity engine (NOT SHOWN).

The device has a vertical handle (11) connected to the chamber (10).

The sheath defining a suction route (13) consists of both an internal tube (1) and external tube (2). The internal tube (1) is provided with a length-wise slot (7) at the proximal end near the chamber. The distal end of the internal tube has an open tip (13) for suction.

The external tube (2) tightly surrounds the inner tube (1). The distal part of an internal tube (1) has an open tip (3) for suction and the proximal part of this tube has a long-wise slot (7) and a flange (5) behind the slot. The external tube (2) is shorter than the internal tube (1) and has a lever (8) and flange (4) on its proximal end. The external tuber (2) is 0.5 cm shorter than the internal tube (1), and can be moved back and forth. The external tube (2) is connected to the spiral spring (6) located between flanges and its movement is operated by a lever (8), which moves the external tube compressing the spiral spring and closing the opening slot (7).

By pushing the lever (8) with the index finger, the spring (6) is compressed allowing the sheath of the external tube to cover the slot (7). This activates suction by introducing a negative pressure inside the instrument.

The back movement is performed by pressing on the lever (8) with the surgeons index finger. The forward movement is performed by releasing the lever (8) therefore releasing the spiral spring (6) located on the distal end of the inner tube.

By smoothly using the index finger to move the sliding external tube up and down it is possible to open or to close the slot (7) gradually. This varies the suction pressure within the range from maximum to zero almost instantaneously, providing the appropriate suction pressure at any surgical time.

Under the action of applied negative pressure, the aspirated viscous fluid with semi-solid elements is brought via the suction route (13) into the chamber(10) where loop-shape blade (9), rotating by high velocity engine, transforms fluid into homogeneous discharge, which goes through the suction outlet tube (12) into the collector without clogging the surgical suction device.

NCSD is the improved surgical suction device, which provides permanent effective suction during evacuation of pathological viscous thick fluids from body cavities during of endoscopic and open surgery.

In addition, the improved device of the present invention avoids aspiration and damage of surrounding soft tissues due to smooth regulation of the negative pressure and application of appropriate force of suction the surgery.

REFERENCES: 1. M. Tahir Ozer, A. lhsan Uzar, Mehmet Eryilmaz, Ozcan Altinel, Sezai Demirbas, Ismail Arslan, and C. Turgut Tufan. Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques. September 2008, 18(5): 747-750.

2. Ison KT, Coptcoat MJ, Timoney A, Wickham JE: The development and application of a new surgical device--the Endoscopic Liquidiser and Surgical Aspirator (ELSA). J Med Eng Technol. 1989 Nov-Dec;1 3(6):285-9.