Patent Publication Number: US-2022211405-A1

Title: Declogging Method and System

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/267,775, filed Feb. 5, 2019, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The exemplary and non-limiting embodiments described herein relate generally to devices and methods that relate to the clearing of obstructions from surgical instruments during surgical procedures. The exemplary and non-limiting embodiments described herein relate more particularly to pressure-operated declog mechanisms that facilitate the clearing of suction lines during use of a tissue debriding instrument. 
     Brief Description of Prior Developments 
     Debridement involves the controlled, surgical removal of damaged tissue from a wound to promote wound healing. Types of debridement techniques in current use include sharp, autolytic, chemical, mechanical, and biologic debridement. Sharp debridement techniques employ sharp devices hereinafter referred to as “debriders” that are used by surgeons to cut necrotic, infected, or otherwise damaged tissue away from healthy tissue. These debriders may be simple bladed instruments such as curettes or scalpels. More complex debriders may include ports in the blades and associated lines to supply fluid for wound irrigation and/or for suction to carry debrided tissue away from the wound during debridement procedures. 
     Debriders equipped with suction typically clog with debrided tissue when large amounts of the tissue are drawn up. Older debriders often required the use of a stylet to clear a clog. More up-to-date debriders generally use a manually-operated pressure bulb that, when squeezed, purges the clog back through the blade. Such mechanisms are generally known as “decloggers.” 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one aspect, a medical device comprises a hollow tubular connector having a first open end and a second open end, the first open end configured to be connected to a suction port of a surgical cutting device, and the second open end configured to be connected to a source of pressurized air, the hollow tubular connector comprising a first seal located proximate the first open end and having a first diameter, the first seal being configured to sealingly accommodate a tubular shank, of a first diameter, of a blade of the surgical cutting device. 
     In accordance with another aspect, a medical device comprises a squeeze bulb comprising a first end having an opening through which air is expelled upon squeezing of the squeeze bulb; and a hollow tubular connector having a first open end connected to the first open end of the squeeze bulb, and having a second open end configured to be connected to a suction port or a surgical cutting device. The squeeze bulb and the hollow tubular connector define a modular assembly that is connectable to the suction port to allow for a removal of an obstruction in the surgical cutting device. 
     In accordance with another aspect, a method or clearing an obstruction from a surgical cutting device comprises providing the surgical cutting device having a cutting assembly; providing a manually-operated squeeze bulb having a connector; connecting the surgical cutting device to the connector; and activating the squeeze bulb to pressurize the surgical cutting device to clear the obstruction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and other features of the invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side sectional view of one exemplary embodiment of a declog unit; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of insertion of a blade into the declog unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2B  is a side sectional view of the inserted blade of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of a declog unit; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of insertion of a blade into the declog unit of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 4B through 4D  are side sectional views of various inserted blades of  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a modular declog unit; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are schematic representations of exemplary embodiments of systems using the modular declog unit of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic representation another exemplary embodiment of a system using the modular declog unit of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , one exemplary embodiment of a declog unit for use with a debrider or other bladed surgical cutting device is shown generally at  100 . The declog unit  100  may be operated to apply pressure to purge obstructions of tissue, bone, and the like from the debrider. In any embodiment disclosed herein, at least the shank of the blade is tubular, and the blade may be disposable. 
     The declog unit  100  may be a valve comprising a substantially cylindrical body  105  with a bore  110  extending longitudinally from a first open end in which an instrument is inserted. and a second open end that is inserted into a pressure bulb. The first open end includes a suction. seal  120  (adjustable seal, sealing member, or the like) disposed circumferentially around the opening. The suction seal may be a circumferential rubber element such as an O-ring, QUAD-RING, U-cup seal, V-shaped seal, lip-type seal, or other element having a shape having an opening that corresponds with a circumferential shape of a portion of the instrument. The opening of the circumferential rubber element may be vsible, or it may be closed as with a self-closing duck-hill or similar type of seal used in trocar assemblies. Other seal materials, shapes, and types are also possible. The instrument may be the shank of a blade, or a cannula, tube, or the like into which the shank of a blade is inserted. 
     The first open end also includes a seal holder  125  disposed on top of the suction seal  120 , the seal holder  125  being a washer of substantially rigid material held on the first open end by snap fitting, ultrasonic welding, adhesive (such as glue), heat-staking, or the like to help maintain the suction seal  120  in place. The seal holder  125  has an opening extending therethrough, the opening being equal or larger in diameter than the opening extending through the suction seal  120  such that upon insertion. of the blade shank (or other instrument), the suction seal  120  may (in some embodiments, such as with an O-ring) expand radially outward and, upon pressurizing the declog unit  100 , be urged or held against an underside of the seal holder  125 . The seal holder  125  may be of other designs, types, or materials as well. The second open end of the body  105  of the declog unit  100  may be configured as a barb connector  130  for insertion into the pressure bulb. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A , the barb connector  130  of the declog unit  100  is inserted into a manually-operated pressure bulb  200  that is configured to expel air when squeezed by a user. As shown, the bore  110  of the declog unit  100  accommodates a blade  220  (or other instrument) of a specific size or a variable size, depending upon the type of seal, the distal end of the shank of the blade  220  being mounted in the suction seal  120  at the first open end of the body  105  of the declog unit  100 . An open window  230  is located proximate the distal end of the blade  220 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2B , when the shank of the blade  220  is inserted into the declog unit  100 , the terminus of the shank is positioned intermediate the first and second open ends of the bore  110 . When the pressure bulb  200  is operated by being squeezed by a user, air pressure is applied. through the open window  230  to pressurize the inner shank of blade  220 , thereby causing flow in. the direction indicated by arrow  240 , to purge any clogs  250  that may be lodged in. the inner shank of the blade  220  or at a cutting portion of the blade  220 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , another exemplary embodiment of a declog unit for use with a debrider or other bladed surgical device is shown generally at  300 . The declog unit  300  comprises a substantially cylindrical body  305  having a bore  310  extending longitudinally from a first open end in which the shank of a blade  220  (or cannula, tube, or the like) is inserted toward a second open end that is inserted. into the pressure bulb. The outer surface of the body  305  is tapered from the first open end to the second open end The second. open end of the body  305  may be configured as a barb connector  330  for insertion into the pressure bulb. 
     The body  305  includes suction seals and seal holders of various sizes mounted in the bore  310 . More specifically, the first open end includes a first seal holder  325  disposed on top of the first suction seal  320  (adjustable seal, sealing member, or the like), the first seal holder  325  being a washer of substantially rigid material held on the first open end by snap fitting, ultrasonic welding, adhesive (such as glue), heat-staking, or the like to maintain the first suction seal  320  in place. 
     A second seal holder  345  and a second suction seal  340  are configured similar to the first seal holder  325  and the first suction seal  320  and are positioned intermediate opposing open ends of the bore  310 , but they are of smaller diameters in order to be mounted in a narrower section of the body  305 . Additionally, the third seal. holder  365  and the third suction seal  360  are configured similar to the other seal holders and the other suction seals, but they are of even smaller diameters in order to be mounted in a still narrower section. of the body  305 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A , the barb connector  330  of the declog unit  300  is inserted into a pressure bulb  200 . The bore  310  of the declog unit  300  accommodates the shanks of blades  220  (or cannula, tube, or the like) of different sizes, the distal end of a shank being inserted into the first open end of the body  305 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4B , when a larger blade  220   a  is inserted in the first seal holder  325  and first suction seal  320 , the terminus of the shank of the blade  220   a  is positioned forward of the second seal holder  345 . Similarly, as shown in  FIG. 4C , when a medium sired blade  220   b  is inserted, the shank thereof extends through the first seal holder  325  and the first suction seal  320  as well as the second seal holder  345  and second suction seal  340 , and the terminus of the shank of the blade  220   b  is positioned forward of the third seal holder  365 . Likewise, as shown in  FIG. 4D , when a small blade  220   c  configured to be accommodated in the third seal holder  365  and third suction seal  360  is inserted, the terminus of the shank of the blade  220   c  is pushed through the third suction seal  360  and positioned forward of the second open end of the body  305 . When any size blade is inserted into the body  305 , when the pressure bulb  200  is operated by being squeezed by a user, air pressure is applied through an open window  230  located proximate the distal end of the blade  220  to purge any clogs  250  that may be lodged anywhere in the blade  220 . As stated above, in any embodiment, the device accommodated in the declog unit may be a blade shank, or a cannula, tube, or the like. 
     As shown, the first seal holder  325  and the first suction seal  320  are configured to accommodate the shank of a blade  220  of a first size, for example, blade sizes from about 4.6 millimeters (mm) to about 7 mm. The second seal holder  345  and the second suction seal  340  are configured to accommodate the shank of a blade of a second size, for example, blade sizes from about 3.1 mm to about 4.5 mm. The third seal holder  365  and the third suction seal  360  are configured to accommodate the shank of a blade of a third size, for example, blade sizes from about 2 mm to about 3 mm. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in debrider systems that employ suction, one exemplary embodiment of a modular declog unit is shown generally at  500  and is hereinafter referred to as “modular declog unit  500 .” The modular declog unit  500  comprises a connection port  510  and a manually-operated pressure bulb  200  coupled to the connection port  510 . A check valve  520  may be located in-line between the connection port  510  and the pressure bulb  200 . The modular declog unit  500  can be integrated in-line to debrider handpieces that utilize a universal/barbed connection for suction tubing. In some systems, the pressure bulb  200  can be directly coupled to the distal end of the blade  220  when a clog is detected. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6A , in one configuration of a system  600  for the intermittent use of the modular declog unit  500  with a debrider  610 , suction tubing  620  extending from the debrider  610  can be disconnected from a suction source  625  and coupled to the modular declog unit  500  when a clog is detected. In particular, when the suction tubing  620  extending from the debrider  610  terminates in a barbed connector  630 , the barbed connector  630  can be detached from the suction source  625  (or an in-line connector that is coupled to the suction source  625 ) and inserted into the modular declog unit  500 . Upon operation of the modular declog unit  500  and clearing of the clog, the barbed connector  630  can be decoupled from the modular declog unit  500  and reconnected. to the suction source  625  (or in-line connector) to resume normal operation. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6B , in another configuration of a system  600  for the intermittent use of the modular declog unit  500 , the modular declog unit  500  may be directly connected to a barbed connector  630  at the debrider  610 . More specifically, the modular declog unit  500  can be directly connected to the debrider  610  without the suction tubing  620 . Thus, the suction tubing  620  is optional in the embodiment of  FIG. 6B . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , in another configuration of a system  700  of using the modular declog unit  500  with a debrider  610 , the modular declog unit  500  can be semi-permanently coupled to the debrider  610  by being removably coupled to a 3-way 2-position valve  710 , which may be coupled to the debrider  610  through suction tubing  620  as shown, or which may be coupled directly to the debrider  610  (making suction tubing  620  optional). In another configuration, the modular declog unit  500  can be fixedly pre-attached to the valve  710 . In any configuration, the valve  710  is generally configured to toggle between a “declog mode” when a clog is detected and normal operation when no clog is present. The valve is further configured to allow suction (arrow  720 ) when the pressure bulb  200  of the modular declog unit  500  is not operated or when the valve is in a first or “1” position. When the pressure bulb  200  is operated or when the valve is in a second or “2” position, the suction is interrupted and air flows from the pressure bulb  200  through the valve  710  and to the debrider  610  (arrow  730 ), thereby allowing for the clearing of a clog at the debrider  610 . 
     Below are provided. further descriptions of various non-limiting, exemplary embodiments. The below-described exemplary embodiments may be practiced in conjunction with one or more other aspects or exemplary embodiments. That is, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, such as those described below, may be implemented, practiced, or utilized in any combination (for example, any combination that is suitable, practicable, and/or feasible) and are not limited only to those combinations described herein and/or included in the appended claims. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a medical device comprises a hollow tubular connector having a first open end and a second open end, the first open end configured to be connected to a suction port of a surgical cutting device, and the second open end configured to be connected to a source of pressurized air, the hollow tubular connector comprising a first seal located proximate the first open end and having a first diameter, the first seal being configured to sealingly accommodate a tubular shank, of a first diameter, of a blade of the surgical cutting device. 
     The medical device may further comprise a second seal located proximate the second open end and having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, the second seal being configured to sealingly accommodate a tubular shank, of a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, of a blade of the surgical cutting device. If the tubular shank of the first diameter of the blade of the surgical cutting device is inserted, a terminus of the tubular shank extends through. the first suction seal and does not extend to the second suction seal, and if the tubular shank of the second. diameter of the blade of the surgical cutting device is inserted, a terminus of the tubular shank extends through the first suction seal and through the second suction seal. The medical device may further comprise at least one third seal located in the hollow tubular connector intermediate the first seal and the second seal, the third seal being configured to sealingly accommodate a tubular shank, of a third diameter that is less than the first diameter of the blade of the surgical cutting device and greater than the second diameter of the blade of the surgical cutting device. The medical device may further comprise a first seal holder on the first seal, the first seal holder configured to maintain the first seal in place. The first seal holder may be at least one of snap fitted, ultrasonically welded, adhesively coupled, or heat. staked to the hollow tubular connector. The second open end of the body may be configured as a barbed connector. The source of pressurized air may be a manually-operated pressure bulb. The hollow tubular connector may comprise a gradually decreasing outer diameter from the first open end to the second open end. The seal may be a self-closing seal. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a medical device comprises a squeeze bulb comprising a first end having an opening through which air is expelled upon squeezing of the squeeze bulb; and a hollow tubular connector having a first open end connected to the first open end of the squeeze bulb, and having a second open end configured to be connected to a suction port of a surgical cutting device. The squeeze bulb and the, hollow tubular connector define a modular assembly that is connectable to the suction port to allow for a removal of an obstruction in the surgical cutting device. The modular assembly may be connectable to the suction port through a valve. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a method of clearing an obstruction from a surgical cutting device comprises providing the surgical cutting device having a cutting assembly; providing a manually-operated. squeeze bulb having a connector; connecting the surgical cutting device to the connector; and activating the squeeze bulb to pressurize the surgical cutting device to clear the obstruction. 
     Connecting the surgical cutting device to the connector may comprise inserting a portion of the surgical cutting device through a self-closing seal an the connector. Inserting a portion of the surgical cutting device through the self-closing seal in the connector may comprise inserting a tubular shank of a blade of the surgical cutting device through the self-closing seal. Connecting the surgical cutting device to the connector may comprise detaching a suction line from the surgical cutting device and connecting the connector on the manually-operated squeeze bulb to the surgical cutting device. Connecting the surgical cutting device to the connector may comprise connecting the surgical cutting device to a valve and connecting the connector to the valve. Activating the squeeze bulb to pressurize the surgical cutting device may comprise closing a port in the valve and interrupting a suction applied to the surgical cutting device and pressurizing the surgical cutting device. 
     It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.