Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Material introduced into and removed from body through...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-29
2001-02-13
Yasko, John D. (Department: 3763)
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Material introduced into and removed from body through...
C604S902000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186975
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid conveying catheter and in particular, to a liquid conveying catheter for introducing a predetermined liquid into a living body and collecting a liquid from the living body.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in the medical field, catheters have been used for inspection and curing. Currently, the catheters are used for the respiration organ, digestion organ, circulatory organ, and other organs.
FIG. 8
shows a conventional liquid conveying catheter
100
comprising a liquid supply tube
101
for introducing a predetermined liquid into a living body and a liquid collecting tube
102
for collecting a surplus portion of the liquid. An insert end of the liquid supply tube
101
and an insert end of the liquid collecting tube
102
are combined together for insertion. The other end of the liquid supply tube
101
is connected to a liquid reservoir (not depicted) and a positive pressure pump
103
for feeding the liquid to the insert end. The other end of the liquid collecting tube
102
is connected to a negative pressure pump
104
.
The insert end of the liquid supply tube
101
and the insert end of the liquid collecting tube
102
are inserted into a living body. A liquid is supplied via the liquid supply tube
101
by the positive pressure pump
103
, and a surplus liquid is collected via the liquid collecting tube
102
by the negative pressure pump
104
.
Here, the liquid collecting tube
102
is often collapsed by a negative pressure, depending on the material constituting the liquid collecting tube
102
, disabling liquid flow in the liquid collecting tube
102
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a liquid conveying catheter capable of collecting a liquid at a constant rate while making the insert end very small.
The liquid conveying catheter according to the present invention is for conveying a liquid from an object from which a liquid is to be collected, the catheter comprising: a collecting tube having an insert end inserted into the object for sucking a liquid; a mixing bar extending through the collecting tube and rotatably supported; and a drive unit for rotating the mixing bar, wherein the collecting tube has a helical convex on its inner wall around the center axis of the collecting tube, so as to define a helical groove.
In this configuration, the tip end of the collecting pipe is inserted into the object to/from which a liquid is carried, and a predetermined liquid is sucked from the tip end of the collecting pipe.
For suction, a collected liquid is urged to rotate along the helical groove by the mixing bar driven by a drive unit.
Even if the collecting tube is curved or cross sectional area is reduced, the mixing bar is brought into abutment with the helical convex, preventing further deformation of the collecting tube. Thus, the liquid is sucked at a constant rate.
The aforementioned configuration may include a supply tube whose insert end is inserted into the object for discharging a liquid into the object. For example, such a configuration is provided together with an observation unit such as an image fiber unit. When the tubes are inserted into a blood vessel, the supply unit discharges a physiological saline solution as a predetermined liquid to prevent the image fiber from being covered with blood, thus assuring a field of view, while a surplus physiological saline solution is collected together with blood by the collecting tube.
This supply tube is inserted into the object simultaneously with the collecting tube. The physiological saline solution is discharged from the insert end of the supply tube while surplus physiological saline solution and blood are collected by the collecting tube.
In this configuration, the helical convex may be formed by a coil-shaped member fixed to the inner surface of the collecting tube. Here, the coil-shaped member may protrude from the insert end of the collecting tube in the insert direction. This protrusion serves as a filter for preventing a solid piece from being introduced in the collecting tube, which may cause clogging of the tube.
Moreover, instead of protruding the coil-shaped member, it is also possible to provide a number of through holes at the insert end portion of the collecting tube. This also functions in the same way.
Furthermore, the mixing bar preferably has an elliptical cross section. In this case, the liquid in the rotary radius of the mixing bar is directly urged to rotate, increasing the flow rate.
Alternatively, the mixing bar may have a circular cross section and have a helical convex on the outer circumferential surface so as to define a helical groove. Even if the collecting tube is curved or the cross section area is reduced due to lowering of the inner pressure, the helical groove assures a flow path. Thus, it is possible to obtain an increased flow rate. Furthermore, the helical convex urges the liquid to flow.
Moreover, in the configuration including the collecting tube and the supply tube, the supply tube may also have a helical convex and a mixing bar rotated by a drive unit in the same way as in the collecting tube. In such a configuration, it is possible to obtain a preferable flow even if the liquid supply pressure is increased.
It is also possible to provide a suction pump at the end of the collecting tube. This facilitates liquid suction from the collecting pipe.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5217465 (1993-06-01), Steppe
patent: 5271735 (1993-12-01), Greenfield et al.
patent: 5310406 (1994-05-01), Sharpe et al.
patent: 5785678 (1998-07-01), Griep et al.
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Suzuki Motor Corporation
Yasko John D.
LandOfFree
Liquid conveying catheter does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Liquid conveying catheter, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Liquid conveying catheter will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2610522