Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – With means for cutting – scarifying – or vibrating tissue
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-17
2002-01-22
Nguyen, Anhtuan T. (Department: 3763)
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
With means for cutting, scarifying, or vibrating tissue
C604S319000, C604S543000, C600S583000, C606S178000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06340354
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the treatment of thrombosis, venous insufficiency, stimulation of blood circulation, and the like, and in particular to an Automated Compulsory Blood Extraction System (ACBES) configured to provide an efficient and safe means for the measured extraction of blood utilizing a device providing, in effect, an artificial leech, but without the infection, control, care, and other limitations associated with the medicinal leech.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes recent micro technological advances to provide a micro mechanical device which mimics and improves upon the bloodletting properties of the medicinal leech utilizing a micro mechanical valve, drive pump, and micro sensor arrangement cooperating with a tertiary jaw array having teeth situated thereon.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates an extraction device which may have a head size of one centimeter or less, and which may be utilized in number about the affected area of the patient to provide controlled, precision, pulsed blood extraction via vacuum induction, supplying a controlled dosage of anticoagulant, histamine anesthetic, or the like.
Alternative embodiments of the present invention includes an independent, single needle, stationary design configured primarily for emergency use, a multi-needle piston design, a large extraction area array design including concentric needles of adjustable depth, and a deep extraction needle design, providing various configuration blood extraction systems designed for a variety of specialized operations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
While medicinal leeches (Hirudo Medicinalus) have been utilized for treating a variety of ailments for hundreds of years, medical science has yet to provide a device which surpasses the effectiveness of the leech for certain applications, hence their continued extensive use in medicine today for stimulating circulation and related treatments.
Even today, the most commonly reported method for restoring circulation to damaged tissue has been through the use of medicinal leeches. In spite of the limitations, the leech has remained the best and only means of compulsory blood extraction for the purpose of stimulating circulation in tissue having restricted circulation.
The lack of control variables such as flow rate, flow pressure, vacuum magnitude, fluid injection and total extraction volume limits the physicians ability to tailor the extraction via vacuum induction, supplying a controlled dosage of anticoagulant, histamine anesthetic, or the like.
Alternative embodiments of the present invention include an independent, single needle, stationary design configured primarily for emergency use, a multi-needle piston design, a large extraction area array design including concentric needles of adjustable depth, and a deep extraction needle design, providing various configuration blood extraction systems designed for a variety of specialized operations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
While medicinal leeches (Hirudo Medicinalus) have been utilized for treating a variety of ailments for hundreds of years, medical science has yet to provide a device which surpasses the effectiveness of the leech for certain applications, hence their continued extensive use in medicine today for stimulating circulation and related treatments.
Even today, the most commonly reported method for restoring circulation to damaged tissue has been through the use of medicinal leeches. In spite of the limitations, the leech has remained the best and only means of compulsory blood extraction for the purpose of stimulating circulation in tissue having restricted circulation.
The lack of control variables such as flow rate, flow pressure, vacuum magnitude, fluid injection and total extraction volume limits the physicians ability to tailor the extraction process for each individual application. Also, bacteria in the leech gut the can be transferred to a patient, adding complications to an already critical state.
The leech is generally used only as a last resort for reestablishing circulation to tissue threatened with hypoxia due to the absence of blood flow. There are many cases where the leech would be used by physicians if it had reliable operation characteristics and there was no chance of infection.
Devices which may have some pertinence to the present, searched for invention may include:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,034 teaches a system for facilitating thrombolytic therapy including a sensor monitoring blood flow rate, and alarm means for indicating blood flow above a predesignated rate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,926 teaches a suction metering and mixing device for collecting body fluids, including blood, and simultaneously mixing an anticoagulant therewith.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,407 teaches an “Electronic Monitoring System for Drainage Device” comprising a monitoring system for monitoring body fluids passing through, detecting and indicating when a bubble is sensed therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,919 teaches a “Thrombectomy Apparatus” comprising first and second lumens enveloping, and an additional chamber in the second lumen having a longitudinal passage for enveloping a safety change wire therein.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,141,501 and 5,163,926 teaches a “Suction Metering and Mixing Device” comprising a device having a chamber for controlling the flow of anticoagulant into a suction wand, said wand further including a first suction tube, and second anti-coagulant tube.
Notwithstanding many attempts at replacing the leech with mechanical devices and the like, some of which are taught above, medicine has yet to find a suitable replacement.
An article published in
Medical Update
(May 1995) by E. W. Brown estimates 65,000 leeches are used each year for medical purposes. These applications are restricted to the limited “last resort” cases, since the leech has an inherent unreliability and promotes a possibility of infection.
As indicated the utilization of a medicinal leech in medicine has its shortcomings; for example, the medicinal leech can be used for relieving vascular occlusion but not arterial occlusion, since the latter case has a high risk of infection from bacteria transferred from the leech. Thus, an artificial leech which would be sterile, thus can be used in arterial occlusion cases. This limitation of medicinal leeches, as well as other cases reported in literature, indicate the number of case applications for the artificial leech is expected to expand beyond the current range of medicinal leech use. Brown (1995) reports that leeches are used for over 5000 cases per year. This number would be greater if the treat of infection and the unreliable nature of the creatures could be eliminated.
The medicinal leech as seen a resurgence in use for practical application as a means of restoring circulation to damaged tissue. In the 1960's, British surgeons began applying the leech to post operative regions of sutured tissue to encourage blood flow. After surgery, some tissues will not be able to drain blood due to venous blockage. The practice became prevalent in America after Dr. Joe Upton used leeches to restore circulation to a reattached ear in 1986. The leeches were credited with saving the ear since the low drainage pressure of venous system was unable to restart circulation. Publication of this success brought the acceptance of leeches as an essential means of restoring circulation to damaged limbs.
Leeches are common through out the world. They all are parasites that prey on warm blooded animals. The medicinal leech (hirudo medicinalis) is of particular use because of its size and the minimal wound it produces. A leech can survive for nearly a year without feeding. Medical practice has found that six months of starving a leech leaves them strong enough to attach themselves immediately upon introduction to the patient.
The leech has the following desired characteristics for the surface extraction of blood:
1) the leech can be placed near the wound site by a medical attendant,
2) the size
Nguyen Anhtuan T.
Regard Ltd Joseph T
Thissell Jeremy
LandOfFree
Automated compulsory blood extraction system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Automated compulsory blood extraction system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Automated compulsory blood extraction system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2858449