Abstract:
Disclosed is a motorized apparatus for rotating suction tubes during a medical surgical operation. The apparatus consists of a lightweight motor, motor housing and drive assembly capable of automatically rotating a vacuum curette or similar suction tube at the bodily sight of a surgical procedure. In practice, the motor generates rotational force capable of rotating the suction tube, avoiding the risks of repetitive stress injuries&#39; to surgeons and surgical assistants.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/325,090, filed Sep. 26, 2001.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to surgical devices. Specifically, the invention relates to a motorized apparatus for rotating suction tubes used in the evacuation of solutions and tissues from a surgical operation. The device is particularly suited for rotating vacuum curettes within the human body during endoscopic surgery. In this application, the invention may be used to safely and efficiently evacuate blood or other fluids and tissues from the site of a surgical procedure.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Surgery can cause fluids and tissues to be released or introduced at the bodily site of an operation. When these solutions are unwanted or in excessive quantities, a surgeon will periodically evacuate the site of an operation during a surgical procedure. In practice, medical personnel employ vacuum pumps and tubing to suction solutions out of the body. Generally, flexible suction tubing connects the vacuum pump to a handle that is held by the surgeon or surgical assistant whenever suctioning is required. The handle, in turn, is connected to a rigid or semi-rigid vacuum curette. The curette is attached so that it can be rotated relative to the handle, and is adapted to be inserted into the body to provide an inlet for suctioned solutions. When suctioned, these solutions pass through the inlet tip of the curette and are carried through the tubing to a reservoir associated with the pump.  
           [0004]    Typically, the curette must be rotated while it is inserted in the body to efficiently evacuate solutions from the site of an operation. Until now, the curette has been rotated manually. Specifically, when suction was required and the vacuum curette was inserted in the body, the surgeon or surgical assistant rotated the curette constantly by spinning the curette between the fingers of the hand holding the tube-handle-curette assembly. Depending on the surgical procedure and the patient&#39;s condition, suction and manual rotation of the vacuum curette could be required numerous times during a surgery and over extended durations.  
           [0005]    In this way, previously known suctioning devices required medical personnel to rotate the curette for sustained and repetitive periods of time. These physical demands placed surgeons and surgical staff at risk for developing injuries to the hand and wrist, like carpal tunnel syndrome. Such injuries can be painful and potentially debilitating to a surgeon&#39;s medical practice. Thus, what is needed is a reliable, convenient and cost-effective way to automate the rotation of the curette within the vicinity of a surgical procedure. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a surgical system including the handheld rotational device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in relation to a patient&#39;s body.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a side view of the handheld rotational device of the present invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a cross-section view the handheld rotational device of FIG. 2.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a partial end view of the drive assembly of the handheld rotational device of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]    The device of the present invention automates the rotation of a vacuum curette during surgical procedures. The device is adapted to comfortably fit in a user&#39;s hand and provide controlled rotation of the vacuum curette. More particularly, the invention uses a motor and drive system to transmit rotational force to the curette. In this way, the curette can be rotated while providing suction at the bodily site of a surgical procedure, without the risk of injuries to the user&#39;s hand and wrist.  
         [0011]    As shown in FIG. 1, a system  10  to suction solutions and tissues out of the body is provided. The system  10  generally comprises a device  100  linked to a medical vacuum pump  110  by flexible tubing  115 . Power for device  100  can be transmitted by connections associated with flexible tubing  115  or by separate connections to appropriate power supplies that are generally understood in the art. Flexible tubing  115  is attached to device  100  at a fixed, barbed connector (not visible), which in turn is connected to rotational tube  120  running through the device  100 . A vacuum curette  125  generally known in the art is connected to the rotational tube  120  opposite the device&#39;s connection with flexible tubing  115 . Within device  100 , rotational force is transmitted to rotational tube  120 . In practice, the device allows flexible tubing  115  to remain fixed relative to the device, while curette  125  is automatically rotated by rotational force applied to rotational tube  120  from within device  100 . As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum curette  125  is inserted into a patient&#39;s body to evacuate solutions and tissues during a surgical procedure. The vacuum created by vacuum pump  110  suctions solutions from within the body through rotating curette  125 , rotational tube  120  and flexible tubing  115 . As is commonly understood in the art, suctioned fluids and tissues are ultimately collected in a reservoir associated with pump  110  after passing through flexible tubing  115 .  
         [0012]    A side profile of the device  100  is shown in FIG. 2. Rotational tube  120  can be seen running through device  100 . Rotational tube  120  is sealeably connected to fixed, barbed connector  200  within device  100 . Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 collectively, one will understand that a user can comfortably hold device  100  by grasping motor housing  215 . In this orientation, the device of the present invention is held in one hand, flexible tubing  115  is affixed to device  100  at connector  200 , and rotational tube  120  with vacuum curette  125  can be automatically rotated at the site of an operation.  
         [0013]    Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 as a group, vent hole  205  and slideable collar  210  can be seen on rotational tube  120 . A user can slide collar  210  on rotational tube  120  from a position fully exposing vent hole  205 , to a position fully covering vent hole  205 . In this way, a user can control the vacuum suction at the inlet of curette  125  when a vacuum is applied to the device through flexible tubing  115 . In particular, when vent hole  205  is fully covered by slideable collar  210 , a uniform vacuum is transmitted from pump  110  to the tip of curette  125 , as if flexible tubing  115 , rotational tube  120  and curette  125  were a single length of solid tubing. However, when collar  210  is slideably moved to expose vent hole  205 , the suction force generated by pump  110  is vented before reaching the curette  125 . Vent hole  205  and slideable collar  210  thus allow a user to quickly turn on or off the vacuum suction at the inlet tip of curette  125 . In an alternative embodiment, an electrical switch on the device  100  or the pump  110  may be utilized to turn the vacuum suction on or off. In yet another alternative, a plurality of vent holes may be provided to adjust the suction pressure generated by the system  10 .  
         [0014]    As further seen in FIG. 2, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention rotational tube  120  is secured in relation to sturdy and lightweight motor housing  215 . At either end of motor housing  215 , end plates  220  and  225  are affixed to securely hold the components of device  100  in relation to one another. Rotational tube  120  passes through the device by way of one or more bearings or bushings known to those in the art that reduce friction and wear when rotational tube  120  is rotating. Reinforcement member  230  is optionally included to provide structural reinforcement to device  100 , as well as a convenient location for various power controls and a channel for power connections for the device that will be apparent to those in the art.  
         [0015]    A cross-section of device  100  is illustrated in FIG. 3. End cap  225  is shown composed of two parts  225 A and  225 B. In this configuration, end cap  225  provides a point of attachment for a motor  235 , as well as an accessible, but enclosed, compartment for a drive assembly  240 . Motor  235  is affixed to end plate  225 A by one or more fasteners  237 . Drive assembly  240  includes motor shaft  245 , drive pulley  250 , drive belt  255  and transfer pulley  260 . In practice, drive pulley  250  is affixed to the shaft  245  of motor  235 . When activated, motor  235  produces a rotational force that is transmitted to drive pulley  250  through motor shaft  245 .  
         [0016]    Correspondingly, transfer pulley  260  is securely affixed to rotational tube  120 . In turn, rotational force from drive pulley  250  is transferred to transfer pulley  260  and rotational tube  120  by way of drive belt  255 . Thus, motor  235  is capable of rotating rotational tube  120  through the drive assembly  240 . One skilled in the art will recognize that drive assembly  240  can be composed of a system of various and/or numerous belts and pulleys, or even a variety of toothed gears. In this way, drive assembly  240  can be adapted to transfer rotational force at a variety of drive ratios, depending on the number and size of pulleys, belts or gears employed. This flexibility allows the device to accommodate a wide range of motor speeds and surgical demands. Thus, for example, a motor operating at 28 revolutions per minute (RPM) could rotate rotational tube  120  and vacuum curette  125  at a rate of 23 RPM through a reducing gear ratio in drive assembly  240 .  
         [0017]    Those skilled in the art will further understand that motor  235  can be any one of a number of various units capable of imparting rotational motion. For example, motor  235  can be a small electric motor powered by batteries or standard alternating current. Alternatively, motor  235  can be a compact, air, liquid or other fluid driven turbine, conveniently powered by a pressurized or circulating fluid source. In yet another alternative, motor  235  can consist of a narrow, flexible drive shaft connected to a freestanding electric motor or air driven turbine unit. In this alternative, the comparatively bulky or heavy parts of the motor  235  can be distributed relative device  100 .  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 shows a partial end-view of drive assembly  240 . As described, drive pulley  250  is attached to motor shaft  245 , and is capable of transferring rotational force to transfer pulley  260  by way of belt  255 . Fasteners  237 A and  237 B are provided to hold motor  235  (not visible) in place relative to motor housing  215 .  
         [0019]    As seen in FIGS.  1 - 4 , it is now possible, with the invented surgical device  100 , to automate the rotation of a vacuum curette and avoid the painful and debilitating injuries associated with previously known suction devices. In practice, users can easily and comfortably hold the device  100  by grasping motor housing  215  in one hand. Vacuum suction at the tip of vacuum curette  125  can be controlled by sliding collar  210  in relation to vent hole  205 . Power and controls for motorization of the device can conveniently be located within reinforcement member  230 . The device can readily be operated with one hand to automatically rotate a vacuum curette and evacuate the bodily site of a surgical procedure.  
         [0020]    A distinct advantage of this device is its efficient automation of rotating suction tubes during surgery. The invention is suitable for any medical procedure that requires vacuum suctioning, including at least, endoscopic surgical procedures. Specifically, the device is well-suited for, among others, termination of pregnancy procedures.