The invention relates to a medical suction tube; particularly to a suction tube having an improved tip.
Suction tubes are used in many surgical and medical procedures to evacuate blood and fluids from a patient. During surgery, blood and other body fluids are commonly removed to permit visual inspection of the surgical site and to recycle the blood or otherwise dispose of the fluids. Suction tubes can be in the form of a hand-held wand or in the form of an extended flexible tube having the proximal end connected to a vacuum or suction source, and having the distal end with openings therein for sucking the fluids into and along the length of the tube. Modern suction tubes are typically produced in sterile packs for one-time use and are then disposable.
Some examples of early prior art devices directed to improved tips for suction devices include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,963,028; 4,068,664; and 4,767,404.
A current widely-used disposable suction tube is shown in
The foregoing prior art suction tube has several desirable features in that the stainless steel spring provides a desirable weight to the tip and it is easily positioned near the bottom of the cavity being drained. The coils of the spring provide numerous opening for the entry of fluids to flow into and along the interior channels down to the distal end of the inner tube. The spring is also flexible and “springy” for easy maneuvering into passages within the patient and operating field.
The foregoing prior art, spring tip suction tube has an occasional but very serious problem. In certain situations, related to the positioning of the tip within the patient and the flexing of the spring, the patient's internal tissue can become pinched and locked between adjacent coils of the spring. This situation is compounded as the suction tube may also become tangled, and it is very difficult to release the pinched tissue from the tip of the suction tube. When the pinched tip is located in a inaccessible location, it is necessary for the surgeon to cut the suction line to remove the suction force on the tip; and if it can not then be released, the suction tip must be surgically removed, or in extreme situations, be physically pulled out with the patients tissue still retained between the coils; and the area related to the torn tissue must also be treated or repaired.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a suction tube having a smooth tip that can not pinch or damage the tissue of a surgical patient.
It is another object to provide a suction tube having a smooth tip with sufficient weight to orient the tip in a desired downward position near the lowest level of the fluid cavity.
The foregoing objects are accomplished by a medical suction tube having an improved suction tube tip comprising: a tubular connector, an inner suction tube, a stainless steel spring over the inner suction tube, all enclosed within a tubular outer cover.
The tubular connector is suitably molded from a medical grade rigid thermoplastic material and has a proximal end having an outer diameter for engaging the inner diameter of the suction tube, and has a distal end having an inner diameter and an outer diameter. The inner suction tube is suitably formed of flexible thermoplastic material, and has a proximal end to be connected within the inner diameter of the tubular connector, and has a distal end having laterally extending retaining fingers.
The spring is positioned on the inner suction tube and the inner suction tube is sealed within the inner diameter of the connector. The spring is retained between the distal end of the connector and the retaining fingers on the distal end of the inner suction tube.
The tubular outer cover encloses the inner suction tube and spring, and has a proximal end with an inner diameter connected over the outer diameter of the distal end of the tubular connector, and has an enclosed distal end. The cover further includes a plurality of longitudinal flutes extending along the outer surface, and has a plurality of apertures arranged in the flutes.
A second embodiment includes the same suction tube, tubular connection, inner suction tube and tubular outer cover. However, rather than utilizing a coiled wire spring to obtain the desired weight and flexibility of the suction tube tip, the second embodiment features a plurality of tubular sleeves. The plurality of tubular sleeves can be a variety of materials, having various lengths and thickness', but are preferably arranged in alternating stainless steel sleeves and flexible plastic sleeves.
The first embodiment and the second embodiment, and the reasonably variations thereof provide an improved suction tube tip having a smooth consistent outer diameter having a weighted distal end.
While the novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims, the invention will be better understood along with other features thereof from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
Referring first to
Referring particularly to
The proximal end 18 of the connector 14 is engaged within the flexible suction tube 12 by suitable adhesive, heat and/or sonic welding processes to seal and secure the bonded connection.
The inner suction tube 22 is suitably formed of flexible medical grade thermoplastic (i.e., pvc, polyethylene, etc.) having a length of about 1.500 inches and an outer diameter of about 0.090 inches. The inner suction tube has a proximal end 26 for engaging the inner diameter of the distal end 20 of the tubular connector 14, and has a distal end 28 having a plurality of retaining fingers 30 extending laterally from the distal end. The inner suction tube can further include small longitudinal flutes 31 (see
A closely coiled wire in the form of a spring 32 is utilized to provide the desired weight and flexibility to the suction tube tip 10. A suitable coiled wire or spring is formed from stainless steel wire having a diameter of about 0.001 inches wound into coils having diameters of about 0.100 inches and having a free length of about 1.25 inches. The spring is positioned on the inner suction tube 22, and the proximal end 26 of the inner suction tube is then sealed by suitable adhesive or bonding within the distal end 20 of the tubular connector 14. The spring is securely retained between the proximal end of the connector and the retaining fingers 30 on the distal end of the inner suction tube.
The tubular outer cover 24 is utilized to provide the smooth exterior surface enclosing the inner suction tube 22 and the spring 32. The cover is suitably molded of clear flexible thermoplastic (i.e. pvc), and has an outer diameter of about 20 French (0.265 inches) and a proximal end 34 having an inner diameter of about 0.205 inches connected over the outer diameter at the distal end 20 of the tubular connector 14, and has a rounded enclosed distal end 36. The distal end of the cover has a central aperture 38 (about 0.010 inches in diameter) and the cover includes a plurality of additional apertures 40 (about 0.006 inches in diameter) preferably arranges in about four longitudinal recessed flutes 42 extending along the length of the cover. The recessed flutes allow the suction tip to smoothly be maneuvered within the operating field without snagging by the apertures, and further preclude the apertures from being occluded by contact with the tissue of the patient or surgical debris.
Referring particularly to
The distal end sub assembly of the spring 32 surrounding the inner suction tube 22 is quite similar in weight, flexibility and function to the spring tip of the prior art. The present invention has the advantageous features of the prior art, and the smooth outer cover 24 eliminates the serious disadvantages of the prior art.
Referring now to
As shown particularly in
While specific embodiments and examples of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is realized that modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.