Abstract:
This invention relates generally to a unique device in which the several guide wires for catheters or other interventional devices used in a typical endovascular procedure for diagnostics or other purposes are temporarily stored and presented to surgical team and in which the used devices and collected bodily fluids are securely disposed of after sealing lid is attached.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a unique device in which the several guide wires for catheters or other interventional devices used in a typical endovascular procedure for diagnostics or other purposes are presented, stored and disposed of in a secure, ordered and easily accessible manner. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Guide wires of different diameters, lengths, materials and construction may be used in the same procedure. These wires are typically delivered to the operating room in sterile bags in a coiled form and start at approximately 75 cm. in length. They are removed from the bags and inserted into a patient&#39;s body into a tubular structure of interest. The external portion is coiled by hand and typically stored under a sterile towel or placed in a bowl filled with a saline solution. Once a guide wire is in place, a balloon catheter, stent or atherectomy device may be sent along the wire and the wire removed and later reused for another stenosis or sight of interest or it may be advanced further into the patient. These wires are difficult to handle while avoiding contact with non-sterile surfaces. It is not easy for a physician to select the desired wire or catheter for the procedure if several are stored together and tangling of adjacent wires is also a problem. If a wire should uncoil unexpectedly a chance for contact with a non-sterile surface occurs. Open bowls filled with various wires are not very stable. A device which attempts to provide an ordered storage of wire catheter devices during an endovascular procedure was described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,825 Samuels 2000 wherein a long tube which can be coiled or elongated with a funnel type opening on one end and a slotted cover for the funnel end is disclosed. The various catheters are inserted through the various slots which separate the ends of the catheters but do not keep them isolated from each other and in a sterile environment. A ring or collar can be placed around the base or the face of the funnel such that it is held in an elevated attitude keeping fluids in the elongated tube from escaping. The most significant problem with these type storage devices is that the various catheters are all enclosed within the same tube and cross contamination or tangling is not only possible but likely. The described device also is not very stable and spills in use or post procedure handling are possible. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a stable temporary storage platform for catheters, guide wires, stents and other such devices used during the course of an interventional or diagnostic procedure. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a secure method of disposal of catheters, stents, guidewires and other such devices. 
     A further object is to provide a secure method for disposal of contaminated body fluids collected during a procedure. 
     A further object is to provide an ordered storage platform that keeps the devices from touching each other, thus eliminating the tangling problem and the separate device locations can be labeled for easy identification and retrieval. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       In order that Endobin may be more fully understood it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial exploded perspective view of an Endobin assembly showing only two of the eight baffles. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of base  50 . 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of base  50 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of baffle  20 . 
         FIG. 5  is a section view of baffle  20 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of top plate  28 . 
         FIG. 7  is a section view of top plate  28 . 
         FIG. 8  is a 4× partial sectional view of top plate  28 . 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of lid  36 . 
         FIG. 10  is a section view of lid  36  cut along section lines  10 - 10 . 
         FIG. 11  is a 4× partial sectional view of lid  36 . 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of base  50  with eight baffles  20  inserted. 
         FIG. 13  is a partially exploded side view of an Endobin. Catheters and wires, shown here in phantom lines, are for illustrative purposes only and form no part of this invention. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     The same reference numbers are used to refer to the same or similar parts.
           14 —Endobin assembly     16 —flange     18 —detent groove     20 —baffle     22 —inward extension     24 —exterior upstanding baffle rim     26 —interior upstanding baffle rim     28 —top plate     30 —bin access holes     32 —center funnel     34 —reservoir access hole     36 —lid     38 —interior base wall     40 —exterior reservoir wall     42 —reservoir bottom     44 —top plate to base detent     46 —top plate to lid detent     48 —lid to top plate retainer ring     50 —base     52 —reservoir     54 —wires and catheters shown in phantom lines not part of this invention     56 —access pocket       

     DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention, in its several embodiments, meets the above mentioned objectives. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a stable temporary storage platform for catheters, guide wires, stents and other such devices  54  used during the course of an interventional procedure. This is accomplished by molding base  50  with a ratio of diameter to height of approximately 2:1. In the preferred embodiment, Endobin  14  is approximately 20.3 cm. in diameter and 10.1 cm. tall. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a secure method of disposal of catheters, stents, guidewires and other such devices  54 . When the procedure is completed the various devices can be completely inserted through access holes  30  in top plate  28  and lid  36  snapped in place making a neatly disposable package. 
     A further object is to provide a secure method for disposal of contaminated body fluids collected during a procedure. The center of Endobin  14  is a well or reservoir for discarded body fluids that are captured by the center funnel  32  and guided into reservoir  52  by way of reservoir access hole  34 . Again snapping lid  36  onto top plate  28  seals Endobin  14  assembly and makes it a safe package for disposal. 
     A further object is to provide an ordered storage platform that keeps the devices  54  from touching each other, thus eliminating the tangling problem. Each wire  54  is coiled on it own separate level, entered through its own access hole  30  and access pocket  56  and separated by the plurality of baffles  20 . The separate device access holes  30  can be labeled for easy identification and retrieval of the stored devices  54  protruding from them. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows an exploded perspective view of an Endobin  14  with a break in the view between a bottom baffle  20  and a top baffle  20 . For the preferred embodiment there are 8 baffles  20  that are dropped into base  50 , rotating 45 degrees between each successive baffle, fitting inward extension  22  between flanges  16  and against exterior reservoir wall  40 . This assembly creates access pockets  56  bottomed by inward extension  22  of each baffle, open to the top plate  28  which has matching access holes  30  aligned over access pockets  56 . This view also shows lid  36  which, when snapped over top plate  28 , makes a sealed package for disposal. 
       FIG. 2  shows a top view of base  50 . In the preferred embodiment of Endobin  14 , the base is comprised of an approximately 20.3 cm. diameter by 10.1 cm. tall cylinder open at the top and closed at the bottom with a concentric 12.7 cm. diameter interior reservoir  52  also open at the top and closed at the bottom and approximately 10.1 cm. tall. The exterior reservoir wall  40  has radial flanges the full height, protruding outward approximately 12.7 mm., spaced around the perimeter at 45 degree intervals. Base  50  can be molded from any of the engineering thermoplastics as it will not be a sterilization vehicle and won&#39;t be subjected to temperature or humidity extremes. Flexibility and lubricity are important properties to aid in the snap together assembly of top plate  28  to base  50  and lid  36  to top plate  28 . Wall thickness in the preferred embodiment is approximately 2.4 mm. A detent groove on the outside wall of base  50 , approximately 4.8 mm. below the top of said wall, provides the detent snap location for bump  44  in top plate  28 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the side walls and bottom  42 , plus the reservoir walls and one of the radial fins  16  of base  50  in a section view. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4  we have a top view of baffle  20 . This baffle  20  is also molded of an engineering thermoplastic and is comprised of an annular ring with approximately 12.7 mm. upstanding walls  24  and  26 , with an internal diameter of approximately 15.24 cm. that allows for slipping over flanges  16  and an external diameter small enough to allow for an easy slip fit into base  50 . The internal upstanding wall  26  is broken for an approximate 45 degree section and inward extension  22  of the bottom wall of baffle  20  is angled inward approximately 12.7 mm. such that it rests against exterior reservoir wall  40  and between right and left flanges  16 . Wall thicknesses are again approximately 2.4 mm. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross section showing inward extension  22  and upstanding rims  24  and  26 . 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of top plate  28  disclosing an approximately 20.3 cm. diameter disc approximately 2.4 mm. thick, with perimeter walls extending above and below the disc approximately 5.2 mm. The top surface of the disc has eight access holes  30  approximately 12.7 mm in diameter on approximately 14 cm. diameter centers, equally spaced at approximately 45 degree intervals. The center of the disc has an approximate 5.1 cm. diameter funnel  32  opening downward to a 12.7 mm. diameter reservoir access hole  34  approximately 2.4 mm. below the bottom of the distending wall as shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 8  shows a retaining ring  44  for snapping top plate  28  into detent groove  18  on base  50  midway down the inside of the distending wall. Around the outside perimeter at the top of the upstanding wall is detent bump  46  for snapping into lid to top retainer snap  48 . 
       FIG. 9  shows an approximately 20.3 cm. diameter lid  36  sufficiently larger than top plate  28  to allow for snap fitting over top plate  28 .  FIG. 10  shows a cross section of lid  36  with its approximate 2.4 mm. wall thickness and 9.6 mm. height.  FIG. 11  is a 4× partial blowup view of lid  36  to illustrate its top retainer snap  48  details. Lid  36  snapped over top plate  28  which is snapped onto base  50  makes this a liquid tight disposable case for used devices  54  and contaminated body fluids trapped in reservoir  52 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a top view of eight baffles  20  stacked inside base  50  with each baffle  20  progressively rotated 45 degrees before stacking. Inward extension  22  forms a bottom of access pocket  56  which is bounded by exterior reservoir wall  40 , right and left flanges  16 , and interior upstanding baffle rims  26  of eight baffles  20 , allowing access to each level though access holes  30  in top plate  28  aligned above access pockets  56 . 
       FIG. 13  shows catheters or wires  54 , shown in phantom lines and not part of this invention, are inserted through access holes  30  down into Endobin  14  until they hit inward extension  22  at the bottom of access pocket  56 . Wire  54  is then turned outward and moved circumferentially around baffle  20  between interior and exterior upstanding rims  26  and  24  respectively, until as much as needed is enclosed within Endobin  14 . Access holes  30  are labeled to make selection of the appropriate device  54  easier and the devices  54  each having their own level will not tangle. The devices  54  should also be much less likely to touch a non-sterile surface. The diameter to height ratio of 2:1 makes the Endobin  14  very stable. Its stability can be improved even further by adding water to the interior reservoir  52 . If bodily fluids do run down device  54  wires and get on top plate  28  they will be directed into the reservoir  52  by the sloping surface of funnel  32  through reservoir access hole  34 . 
     When the procedure is completed, wires or catheters  54  are shoved through the access holes  30  and lid  36  is snapped into place making a secure, disposable package. 
     Operation of the Preferred Embodiments: 
     An Endobin  14  apparatus is positioned in close proximity to a patient that is ready to undergo an endovascular procedure. The catheters, guidewires and other such devices  54  used in such a procedure are typically presented in coiled form in sterile bags with twist wires to prevent uncoiling into their natural straight wire shape. The devices are removed from their plastic bags and ties and the proximal ends are fed though access holes  30  in top plate  28 , down though access pockets  56  until they contact inward extension  22  of bottom wall of a baffle  20 . The device is then rotated outward though a break in the upstanding interior side wall  26  of baffle  20  and into a channel or bin formed by the interior and exterior upstanding walls  24  and  26 , the bottom wall of baffle  20  and the bottom wall of the next baffle  20  up in the stack. Once the proximal end of device  54  is started into the channel it is fed circumferentially around the channel until only the distal end of the device is protruding above top plate  28  far enough to be easily grasped by attending physician. Wire devices  54  are inserted into a tubular member inside a patient&#39;s body and fed along the member until it reaches the point of interest or action. Once an action is completed the device  54  may be further advanced into the member, partially retracted or completely removed from the body, sometimes to be reused later in the procedure other times to be disposed of. It is not uncommon for some bodily fluids to leak from the body during the procedure and run along the wires  54 . Top plate  28  is sloped downward towards a reservoir access hole  34  at its center to allow for collection of such waste fluids into impermeable reservoir  52  for later disposal. 
     When the procedure is completed the distal ends of devices  54  are pushed completely to the top surface of top plate  28  and sealing lid  36  is attached over top plate  28  securely and the whole Endobin  14  unit is disposed of without danger to the disposing personnel. 
     The description of the Endobin  14  above is not intended to limit this invention to an eight device storage system. Scaling in both size and plurality of devices to be stored or used in a given procedure can be easily understood by someone of ordinary skill in these arts. Although the preferred embodiment is described with the component parts injection molded from an engineering grade of thermoplastic it is not so limited and several or all of the components could be constructed from other materials and techniques familiar to those of ordinary skill in these fabrication arts.