Surgery – Means or method for facilitating removal of non therapeutic...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-15
2002-11-12
Casler, Brian L. (Department: 3763)
Surgery
Means or method for facilitating removal of non therapeutic...
C604S093010, C604S286000, C604S264000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06478789
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to implantable wound drains.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally wounds resulting from surgical procedures are either closed at the end of the surgical procedure or allowed to close in the course of the body's natural healing process. Surgical wounds typically produce a fluid commonly referred to as exudate. Therefore whenever surgical wounds are closed, a means must be provided to drain the accumulating exudate from the site of the wound to promote satisfactory healing.
Many prior art wound drain devices have attempted to provide adequate drainage for surgical wounds. One such prior art device includes a drain section consisting of a length of tubing perforated with small holes through the tubing wall. Exudate from the surgical wound typically enters the tubing through the small holes and is suctioned away from the wound via the tubing lumen. However, the use of a single lumen increases the likelihood of clogging resulting from debris or new tissue ingrowth entering through the small holes. In addition, the structural weakness of the walls of the tubing often leads to the formation of kinks.
Another prior art wound drain device consists of a central core with radially projecting strut portions. The strut portions are equal in size and are spaced at equal angles relative to one another. The periphery of the wound drain is defined by a plurality of overhang portions at the end of each of the four strut portions, thereby forming four T-shaped members. The overhang and strut portions cooperate to form four longitudinal lumens extending the length of the drain. This prior art design does not provide for the even distribution of suction over the length of the wound drain.
Yet another prior art surgical wound drain device includes a pair of spaced apart flanges with a web disposed therebetween having a single longitudinal lumen with apertures formed transversely through the flanges and intersecting the lumen. Not only does the use of a single lumen design increase the likelihood of blockages, this design does not enable the even distribution of suction throughout the length of the drain.
Another prior art wound drain device consists primarily of a triple lumen catheter body. A three-tube connector having a suction port, an irrigation port and an air intake port is adapted for connection to the catheter body at its proximal end. This prior art design is susceptible to fluid back ups causing clogging and lose of air venting capabilities. Additionally, the three lumens require a larger opening in the wound often leading to greater patient discomfort.
Another prior art wound drain device includes two lumens. The first lumen is used for applying suction to a wound area. A check valve element and an antibacterial filter are positioned in line communication with a second lumen to prevent backflow of fluids through the second lumen into the filter. This design does not provide for the even distribution of suction over the length of the wound drain.
Yet another prior art device consists of a perforated tubing for surgical drainage applications. The tubing is comprised of a body having a central passageway in the clover-leaf cross-sectional appearance with four longitudinally extending grooves spaced at ninety degree arcuate intervals about the body. Perforations interconnect the grooves with the passageway. The perforations are in the form of a series of holes in the bottoms of the grooves. The use of a central passageway increases the likelihood of clogs occurring.
Another prior art wound drain device consists of multiple parallel lumens to convey fluid away from a surgical wound. This design includes a plurality of holes and at least one longitudinal slot extending interiorly from the outside surface which admits fluids into the lumens. Internal holes divert fluid away from blocked lumens. The external holes and slots are susceptible to new tissue ingrowth. Additionally, uniform suction is not present throughout the length of the wound drain.
Thus what is needed is a device which provides for the adequate drainage of exudate from surgical wounds. The device should be designed to maximize the drainage of exudate while minimizing the possibility of tissue ingrowth. The device should further provide generally consistent suction throughout the length of the device and minimize patient discomfort with a streamline design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a wound drain device which enables the adequate drainage of exudate from surgical wounds. The present invention is designed to maximize the drainage of exudate while minimizing the possibility of tissue ingrowth. The present invention further provides generally consistent suction throughout the length of the wound drain. Additionally patient discomfort is minimized as the present invention has a relatively streamline design.
The present invention is directed to a wound drain including a plurality of ducts, a plurality of lumens and a plurality of portals. The ducts provide an entrance for exudate from the wound site into the wound drain. The lumens provide drainage channel for exudate from the wound site. The portals provide fluid communication between the ducts and the lumens. The portals are adapted and arranged to approximately provide uniform suction along the length of the wound drain.
The distance between adjacent portals may be varied such that the distance between portals positioned further away from the suction source is less than the distance between the portals positioned closer to the suction source. The portals may vary in size such that the portals closer to the suction source are smaller in size than the portals located further away from the suction source.
REFERENCES:
patent: 105038 (1870-03-01), Liddell
patent: 1596754 (1926-08-01), Moschelle
patent: 1879249 (1932-09-01), Honsaker
patent: 2134152 (1938-10-01), Schwarzmayr
patent: 2450217 (1948-09-01), Alcorn
patent: 3260258 (1966-07-01), Berman
patent: 3582234 (1971-06-01), Mamaroneck et al.
patent: 3590820 (1971-07-01), Nehra et al.
patent: 3599641 (1971-08-01), Sheridan
patent: 3623484 (1971-11-01), Schulte
patent: 3630206 (1971-12-01), Gingold
patent: 3630207 (1971-12-01), Kahn et al.
patent: 3860008 (1975-01-01), Miner et al.
patent: 3993080 (1976-11-01), Loseff
patent: 4007743 (1977-02-01), Blake
patent: 4089506 (1978-05-01), Blake
patent: 4307723 (1981-12-01), Finney
patent: 4398910 (1983-08-01), Blake et al.
patent: 4429693 (1984-02-01), Blake et al.
patent: 4465481 (1984-08-01), Blake
patent: 4508533 (1985-04-01), Abramson
patent: 4523920 (1985-06-01), Russo
patent: 4573965 (1986-03-01), Russo
patent: D288962 (1987-03-01), Blake
patent: 4650463 (1987-03-01), Leveen et al.
patent: 4676530 (1987-06-01), Nordgren et al.
patent: 4717379 (1988-01-01), Ekholmer
patent: 4753640 (1988-06-01), Nichols et al.
patent: 4976684 (1990-12-01), Broadnax, Jr.
patent: 4995863 (1991-02-01), Nichols et al.
patent: 5035764 (1991-07-01), Blake
patent: 5116310 (1992-05-01), Seder et al.
patent: 5140983 (1992-08-01), Jinotti
patent: 5160325 (1992-11-01), Nichols et al.
patent: 5242720 (1993-09-01), Blake
patent: 5360414 (1994-11-01), Yarger
patent: 5380314 (1995-01-01), Herweck et al.
patent: 5511965 (1996-04-01), Batdorf et al.
patent: 5549579 (1996-08-01), Batdorf et al.
patent: 5562622 (1996-10-01), Tihon
patent: 5817071 (1998-10-01), Dewindt et al.
patent: 6099513 (2000-08-01), Spehalski
patent: 2240026 (1973-06-01), None
Brown David
Spehalski Stephen R.
Allegiance Corporation
Casler Brian L.
Maynard Jennifer J.
Rozycki Andrew G.
LandOfFree
Wound drain with portals to enable uniform suction does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Wound drain with portals to enable uniform suction, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Wound drain with portals to enable uniform suction will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2981135