Patent ID: 8906169

Claim:
A device for the clearing of a blockage in an artificial tube completely or partially disposed within a living being, comprising: a controller having an actuator for generating repetitive motion; and a clearing member having a sheath located within the artificial tube, wherein the clearing member has a wire that extends through the sheath and extends out of a distal end of the sheath in a distal direction and is located within the artificial tube, wherein the actuator imparts repetitive motion to the wire to cause the wire to move in relation to the sheath such that a first portion of the wire moves into and out of the distal end of the sheath at a location within the artificial tube while a second portion of the wire distal to the first portion of the wire remains distal to and outside of the distal end of the sheath while the wire has the repetitive motion imparted thereon, wherein a wire tip of the wire engages the blockage in the artificial tube.